But I Lost 25 pounds!

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The recent analysis in JAMA focused on serious stomach disorders and GLP-1 agonists.

Researchers in Canada compared safety outcomes for GLP-1 agonists and bupropion-naltrexone, an older class of weight-loss medication. The retrospective analysis included 4144 people with obesity who were prescribed liraglutide, 613 prescribed semaglutide, and 654 prescribed the older treatment. People with a diabetes code in their health record were excluded from the study.

The GLP-1 group had a 9 times greater risk of pancreatitis, a 4 times greater risk of bowel obstruction, and a more than 3 times greater risk of gastroparesis, which causes stomach paralysis. The absolute risks in the GLP-1 group, however, were all about 1% or less per year of GLP-1 use. And semaglutide and liraglutide were not associated with biliary disease, which affects the gallbladder and bile production.

As Semaglutide’s Popularity Soars, Rare but Serious Adverse Effects Are Emerging — https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2812192

Sorry, but as a reasonably normal human who lost >200 pounds without surgery or drugs I just don’t get it. We all want the easy way out I guess.

But Both Are Legal…right? – Updated

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“We found that alcohol and THC together significantly reduced, and in some cases prevented, the ability of the prefrontal cortex in drug-exposed rats to undergo plasticity in the same way that the brains from control animals can,” said Linyuan Shi, a graduate student in the Gulley lab. “The effects were apparent in rats exposed to either drug alone, and they were most pronounced with co-exposure to both drugs. We also found the impaired plasticity was likely due to changes in signaling caused by gamma-aminobutyric acid, a chemical messenger in the brain. When we used a chemical that enhances GABA, it could rescue the deficits we saw in the animals that had been exposed to the drugs.”

Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Combined use of alcohol and THC can affect rat brains, study finds.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 November 2023 — https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231130121946.htm

I’m glad I am not a rat.

Young adults who simultaneously use alcohol and marijuana (SAM) consume more drinks, are high for more hours in the day, and report more negative alcohol-related consequences.

On SAM use days, participants consumed an average of 37% more drinks, with 43% more negative alcohol consequences, were high for 10% more hours, and were more likely to feel clumsy or dizzy, compared with non-SAM use days.

Simultaneous Marijuana, Alcohol Use Linked to Worse Outcomes — https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/996595?icd=login_success_gg_match_norm&isSocial

Hmmm…

But Both Are Legal…right?

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“We found that alcohol and THC together significantly reduced, and in some cases prevented, the ability of the prefrontal cortex in drug-exposed rats to undergo plasticity in the same way that the brains from control animals can,” said Linyuan Shi, a graduate student in the Gulley lab. “The effects were apparent in rats exposed to either drug alone, and they were most pronounced with co-exposure to both drugs. We also found the impaired plasticity was likely due to changes in signaling caused by gamma-aminobutyric acid, a chemical messenger in the brain. When we used a chemical that enhances GABA, it could rescue the deficits we saw in the animals that had been exposed to the drugs.”

Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Combined use of alcohol and THC can affect rat brains, study finds.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 November 2023 — https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/11/231130121946.htm

I’m glad I am not a rat.

The Best Retirement Letter Ever

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That’s it!

My favorite excerpt from the letter:

Let’s be honest, some people in academia are horrible, arrogant, selfish and narcissistic. And no matter how much the people at the top say they deal with bad behaviour, the nasty folk do have an annoying habit of getting promoted. The way in which academia selects and rewards particular skill sets produces an over-concentration of people who are low on empathy. I’ve met a lot of those ‘special’ colleagues over the years (no names mentioned obviously). I will not miss them one jot. They create a toxic working environment , dominate the discourse, ride roughshod over the rules, and cause a great deal of harm to others and get away scot-free. They’ve done me significant mental damage, but I can now happily forget them and move on with life.

My recommendation to anyone starting out in academia is stand your ground, challenge these energy vampires and politely make it clear that you don’t want to play their stupid toxic games. They really don’t have the power that they want you to believe they have, even though the system tends to promote them to roles that are beyond their emotional competence to fulfill. Pity them for the lack of other things to do with their lives. And, remember that 98% of what we do as academics is of no importance at all out there in the real world, so when a self-entitled colleague insists that their work on their favourite gene is earth-shattering; more important than anything you could ever do; and a good reason for their career to be advanced faster than yours; just smile and ignore them. Do your own thing, at your own pace. Have a life outside the university and remember that it’s just a job.

https://journalofhumannutritionanddieteticseditor.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/thats-it/

Scary Charts – 11.24.23

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Source: https://www.statista.com/chart/31306/countries-with-the-highest-annual-increases-in-consumer-prices/

I suppose this should make us feel better about higher prices in the US.

More good news – lithium is cheap again.

Lithium “Shortage” Bubble Implodes (Again), Price Collapsed 77% in a Year, as Demand and Production Both Surged – https://wolfstreet.com/2023/11/23/lithium-shortage-bubble-implodes-once-again-as-demand-and-production-both-surged/

Now all we need to do is find people who want and can afford to buy an EV.

Last month, Ford had laid off some workers building the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. Competitor General Motors also said it was postponing adding more production capacity for its electric Chevrolet Silverado EV citing slow-growing demand.

Ford battery plant is back on track but scaled down — https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/21/business/ford-battery-plant-downscaled/index.html

Average new electric vehicle prices are actually down by more than $14,000 compared with 2022, settling at around $50,683 on average, thanks to a combination of increased supply, the arrival of more affordable models and trim levels and aggressive price cuts by Tesla, the largest EV manufacturer in the US.

Cheapest Electric Cars for 2023 — https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/the-most-affordable-electric-cars-for-2023/

The Dark Side of TikTok – Scary Charts 11.19.23

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In just three years, the share of U.S. adults who say they regularly get news from TikTok has more than quadrupled, from 3% in 2020 to 14% in 2023.

More Americans are getting news on TikTok, bucking the trend seen on most other social media sites — https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/15/more-americans-are-getting-news-on-tiktok-bucking-the-trend-seen-on-most-other-social-media-sites/

While TikTok is an engaging entertainment and social connection platform, there are better sources for in-depth personal financial advice. Many finance content creators sell the allure of quick wealth and success, leading neophyte investors to risky decisions that may have lasting consequences. 

TikTok Personal Financial Advice Not To Take —https://due.com/tiktok-personal-financial-advice-not-to-take/

This will not end well.

Did the Baby Boomers Ruin the Housing Market?

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Close to 40% of all mortgages are paid off in this country. That’s mostly baby boomers.

That generation has the ability to sell their homes that are up like 500%, ignore 7% mortgages and buy in cash when they relocate for retirement.

I guess that makes sense but I would blame the unhealthy market on so many other factors before ever getting to the boomers.

Here’s my list in no particular order: The Fed, HGTV, the pandemic, remote work, the government (for not incentivizing the building of more homes), the Great Financial Crisis (totally screwed up the homebuilders), NIMBYs and Taylor Swift (her tickets are so expensive no one can afford a house).

If we want to fix the housing market, we have to build more houses.

It’s as simple as that.

6 Questions I’m Pondering At the Moment – https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2023/09/6-questions-im-pondering-at-the-moment/

Agree.