Peter DeLeeuw

Republican SNAP cuts threaten Alabama's economy and food security Experts warn that Republicans' plan to slash food assistance could devastate Alabama's economy, increase hunger, and strain state resources.

🚨 Republicans just passed a plan to gut food assistance and shift the cost to Alabama.
If this becomes law, our state could be on the hook for $115M to $431M a year.
💰 That’s money we don’t have.
🍽️ It means more kids, seniors, and working families will go hungry.

www.alreporter.com/2025/05/19/r...

NC Court of Appeals gives over 60,000 challenged voters 15 days to prove eligibility The majority wrote that, even though they have the authority to completely throw out the contested ballots, they decided to instead mandate a cure period for most of the challenged voters.

If you are an NC resident and voted in November, please check if your name or the names of any family areone of the 60K votes being challenged. If so, confirm ASAP with your Board of Elections. You only have two weeks.

The website to check linked in the reply.

www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

For though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire - Thomas Paine

Gastric cancer is a leading cause of preventable deaths in certain U.S. populations. Our clinical practice update 📑 covers primary and secondary prevention. Learn more: buff.ly/yUkIP2h
#Gastriccancer

How a Canadian scientist and a venomous lizard helped pave the way for Ozempic - National | Globalnews.ca In 1984, Dr. Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist from the University of Toronto, discovered a hormone that helped pave the way for popular diabetes drugs such as Ozempic.

This is the most relevant article to NIH and research cuts I’ve seen.

Imagine if this was today , how many people would be saying “Why are we studying Gila Monsters and their impact on diabetes ? That’s wasted money !”

globalnews.ca/news/9793403...

The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax ProPublica has obtained a vast cache of IRS information showing how billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett pay little in income tax compared to their massive wealth — sometimes,…

#FYI: ProPublica obtained a vast cache of IRS information showing how billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk pay little in income tax compared to their massive wealth — sometimes, even nothing.

(Published 2021)

Totally unqualified and dangerous

Trump pauses funding for anti-HIV program that prevented 26 million AIDS deaths On Friday, a memorandum signed by Marco Rubio called for a 90-day cessation of foreign aid. That would likely put on hold the work of PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Marco Rubio halted all humanitarian spending on Friday — including PEPFAR. That means 20 million people who had their HIV under control with medication will now see their disease progress toward AIDS, and they are also at much greater risk of spreading HIV. Disastrous.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...

How Our Gut Microbiome Can Drive Sugar Cravings More Evidence for Our Gut Taking Center Stage for What We Eat

We ought to change "sweet tooth" to "sweet gut"! erictopol.substack.com/p/how-our-gu...

You were right.

The only person in the world with a functioning pig organ is thriving after a record 2 months An Alabama woman passed a major milestone Saturday to become the longest living recipient of a pig organ transplant – healthy and full of energy with her new kidney for 61 days and counting. “I’m supe...

An Alabama woman passed a major milestone Saturday by becoming the longest-living recipient of a pig organ transplant – healthy and full of energy with her new kidney for 61 days and counting.
ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/01/25/t...
#NephSky #KidneySky #MedSky

In 48 hours, we've seen:
1️⃣ Withdrawal from WHO 🏥
2️⃣ Halted communications from CDC, NIH & FDA 🛑
3️⃣ Cancellation of scientific gatherings/panels ❌
4️⃣ Suspension of U.S. foreign aid for 90 days 🌍
5️⃣ Exit from the Paris Climate Agreement 🌡️

Public health & global collaboration at stake. #LeadershipMatters

On this Day in 2021 Post-Transcriptional Genetic Silencing of BCL11A to Treat Sickle Cell Disease Visual representation of “CRISPR-Cas9” from the NEJM Illustrated Glossary. The NEJM identity sits at the bottom.

This paper described the groundbreaking, first gene-editing therapy for sickle cell disease to be approved by the FDA. We now have 2 approved stem cell therapies that can cure sickle cell disease. Revisit the paper: nej.md/33JG0cJ

#MedSky #Hematology

Some ultraprocessed foods may be stopping the body from fighting cancer cells, new study finds High amounts of omega-6 fatty acids have been linked to chronic inflammation and colorectal cancer development

Certain ultraprocessed foods high in omega-6 fatty acids may be preventing the body from fighting off colorectal cancer cells, a recent study published in the British Society of Gastroenterology has found. www.salon.com/2024/12/12/s...

If you want to understand why healthcare pricing is horrific, the first thing to know is that our system puts 100% of the credit risk for deductibles, copays and co-insurance on hospitals and doctors. That's insane.

We have turned them into Sub Prime Lenders 🧵

JAK Inhibitor Comes Up Short in Phase III Crohn's Disease Trial Investigational drug filgotinib demonstrated limited efficacy in DIVERSITY study

JAK Inhibitor Comes Up Short in Phase III Crohn's Disease Trial

www.medpagetoday.com/gastroentero... via @medpagetoday.bsky.social #GastroSky #MedSky #IBDSky

Guava all the way!

S2817 A Chance Finding: Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis... : Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology | ACG An abstract is unavailable.

Interesting case (maybe a chicken v egg scenario) and why I counsel patients on risks beyond bleeding, infection and perforation. Splenic laceration = underdiagnosed. While not relevant to this case, minimize tension/hooking at the splenic flexure, and don't reduce with the stiffener on #GastroSky

Controlling MPOX, Narcan access, Vaccines, Record enrollment in the ACA, Medicaid expansion. Medicare negotiations.

When folks look back at the Biden admin- they will see how much success we had at HHS.

We really did so much good.

But does anyone care?

I am not sure.

Love asking what’s bothering you the most. Great question. Also love asking the patient if there is anything I can do for them. Gives them some sense of control and that people care.

I wish the upcoming administration could take their concern for fluoride and put it towards lead contamination. Hoping some of the work done by the Biden administration continues.

Yes, biodegradable microplastics are a real thing How long they last depends on where they end up

My latest feature for @cenmag.bsky.social examines biodegradable and compostable polymers as a solution to microplastic pollution.

Spoiler: While there are plenty of ways to use these materials smartly, microplastics are mostly a problem that new plastic can't solve!
cen.acs.org/materials/po...

I had a patient today with a recent upper GI bleed who’s Hgb dropped from 9 to 6 with no change in vitals. Thought I was going to have to rescope but repeat Hgb came back at 10 and that made my week. If labs don’t make sense repeat them. #gastrosky #GIsky

Mechanically strong yet metabolizable supramolecular plastics by desalting upon phase separation Plastics that can metabolize in oceans are highly sought for a sustainable future. In this work, we report the noncovalent synthesis of unprecedented plastics that are mechanically strong yet metaboli...

Discovery of a biodegradable, fully recyclable plastic
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Physicians press Alabama Medicaid on child gun violence prevention • Alabama Reflector A physician told Alabama’s Medicaid the state is missing federal funds to reimburse pediatricians for providing firearm safety counseling in primary care.

Via @alander.bsky.social: A physician told Alabama’s Medicaid Agency Thursday that the state needed to spend newly-available federal money to address child gun violence cases.

#Medsky
#GIsky
#CRSsky

Every GI fellow should staple this table to their soul.

Thanks @bealoquebea.bsky.social

For your patients without insurance or poor prescription coverage @costplusdrugs.com is a great option. Has PPIs and other GI medications that will really lower cost.

Colorectal neoplasia surveillance intervals in IBD.
- high-definition white light colonoscopy ✅
- good bowel preparation✅

#IBDSky

www.cghjournal.org/article/S154...

A Seminole pumpkin (small pumpkin) hanging on the vine

My garden didn’t do as well as I wanted this year but I did get a few Seminole pumpkins. These small pumpkins taste like butternut squash and can handle the heat and humidity of the southeast. They do best on trellises, and were grown by many Native American tribes. What a cool plant!