In Today’s Note:

• Tornado Damages Pfizer Plant in North Carolina🌪

• In-N-Out Burger Bans Employees in 5 states from wearing masks🍔

• Schizophrenia Research Breakthrough🧠

• 988 mental health line gets 5 million calls in the first year📞

"Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going." - Sam Levenson

Tornado Damages Pfizer Plant in North Carolina🌪

1/Pfizer Pharmaceutical Plant in North Carolina Severely Damaged by Tornado

A violent tornado slammed North Carolina on Wednesday, causing catastrophic damage to a major Pfizer pharmaceutical factory in Rocky Mount. With wind speeds of up to 150 mph, the tornado blew out portions of the plant's roofs and scattered over 50,000 pallets of medicine, exposing them to rain and wind. While Pfizer verified that no significant injuries were reported among its employees, the damage to the vast production complex may result in long-term shortages of pharmaceuticals, particularly anesthetic and sterile injectable treatments needed in U.S. hospitals.

2/Torrential Rain and Flooding in Kentucky

During the same time period, heavy rains caused considerable flooding in sections of Kentucky, including Mayfield and Wingo. Thunderstorm-caused flash floods created a "life-threatening situation," causing Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to proclaim a state of emergency. Meteorologists predicted that up to 10 inches of rain might fall in regions along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, worsening the floods.

3/Record-breaking temperatures in California and Florida

In addition to severe weather, some states in the United States experienced high heat. Phoenix, Arizona, set a new all-time low temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the city endured 19 consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, Miami had its 16th consecutive day with heat indices above 105 degrees. The persistent heat and rising sea surface temperatures heightened fears of heat-related diseases and an increasing number of heat-related fatalities. Scientists blame these catastrophic weather occurrences on human-caused climate change and the effect of a newly developed El Nino, which has contributed to world heat records.

In-N-Out Burger bans employees in 5 states from wearing masks🍔

1/In-N-Out Burger Introduces Controversial No-Mask Policy in Five States

In-N-Out Burger, a prominent fast food company, has announced a new policy that would prohibit staff from wearing masks in five states (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Utah), emphasizing the importance of customer service. Employees who desire to wear a mask must obtain a valid medical note exempting them from the restriction beginning August 14, and those who do must wear a company-provided N95 mask. The decision has caused outrage on social media and worries among public health professionals, who claim it contradicts the CDC's COVID-19 recommendations.

2/Under Fire

The latest move by In-N-Out Burger to prevent employees from wearing masks in some areas is not the first time the company has received criticism for its stance on COVID-19 policy. Some of its California outlets, including those in San Francisco and Pleasant Hill, were briefly closed down in 2021 for failing to meet local immunization standards. The chain's main legal and business officers defended the decision, noting that they disagreed with government rules that require private businesses to discriminate against consumers based on their vaccination status, sparking more discussion and controversy.

Somatic Genetic Mutations Are the Unknown Causes🧠

1/ Link Between Schizophrenia and Somatic Genetic Mutations

According to a study published in Cell Genomics, there is a link between schizophrenia and somatic genetic alterations, which arise early in fetal development but are not inherited from parents. Researchers examined over 20,000 blood samples and discovered that the genes NRXN1 and ABCB11 are linked to schizophrenia when they are altered during fetal development. This ground-breaking discovery throws new insight on the function of non-inherited genetic variants in mental diseases and pave the way for future research into additional potential related mutations.

2/Somatic Mutations and Novel Genes in Schizophrenia

The study, published in Cell Genomics, demonstrates a strong relationship between somatic genetic alterations and schizophrenia, calling into question the long-held belief that the condition is primarily controlled by inherited genes. When genes NRXN1 and ABCB11 are altered during fetal development, they may have a role in schizophrenia risk. The finding of ABCB11's link to treatment-resistant schizophrenia, as well as its expression in particular subsets of dopamine-carrying neurons in the brain, sheds fresh light on the disorder's complexities. This work emphasizes the importance of investigating more brain-specific mutations and somatic deletions or duplications as possible risk factors for schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

Successes and Challenges of the 988 National Crisis Line📞

1/The 988 National Crisis Line's Successes and Challenges

In its first year of operation, the 988 national crisis line, which replaced the old 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, has shown great success. It has handled about 5 million calls, chats, and messages, a 35% increase over the prior line. Texting has become a popular way to seek assistance, with over 665,000 messages sent, resulting in shorter average wait times. Despite the advances, there are still obstacles to solve, such as increasing service awareness, managing personnel shortages, and guaranteeing call routing privacy.

2/Segment 2: Immediate Action Is Required to Fully Realize the Potential of the 988 Crisis Line

While the 988 crisis line has made significant progress in aiding people suffering with mental health issues, more work is urgently needed to save lives and reach its full potential. The emphasis must be on boosting public knowledge, as just 18% of adults in the United States are currently aware of the 988 line. Additionally, initiatives to enhance infrastructure and expand personnel and training at local contact centers are critical for timely and effective responses to persons in distress. Furthermore, addressing the concerns of vulnerable populations, such as LGBTQ+ people, and extending post-crisis assistance, such as mobile crisis teams staffed by mental health specialists, will be critical moving ahead.

Disclaimer: This health newsletter is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. The views expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and not necessarily of the publisher or editor. Any information presented should be carefully evaluated and discussed with a healthcare provider before making any changes to medical or lifestyle choices