Regular cannabis use is bad for the heart; home health agencies drop telehealth amid funding gaps; new eye surgery may boost AMD cell therapies – Morning Medical Update

Regular marijuana use linked to impaired vascular function, UCSF study finds

Chronic cannabis use — whether smoked or consumed as edibles — is tied to significantly reduced blood vessel function, a new UC San Francisco study published in JAMA Cardiology shows. Among 55 healthy adults who used marijuana at least three times a week for a year or more, researchers found vascular function was halved compared to non-users, mirroring effects seen in tobacco smokers. Smoking cannabis also altered blood serum in ways harmful to blood vessel lining, though this effect was not observed in edible users. The findings suggest both methods carry cardiovascular risks via distinct mechanisms.

Telehealth use wanes in home health care amid lack of Medicare reimbursement

A national survey led by UC Irvine found that many home health care agencies are discontinuing telehealth services due to the absence of Medicare reimbursement, despite widespread adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Published in Health Services Research, the study showed telehealth use rose from 23% of agencies in 2019 to 65% in 2021, then dropped as nearly one-fifth abandoned the service by 2024. Researchers warn that without policy changes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), growing demand for home health services may outpace innovations that could improve care and cut costs.

NIH develops new eye surgery method to advance cell therapy for macular degeneration

National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have tested a novel surgical technique in animals that enables the implantation of multiple tissue grafts in the retina — potentially improving treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Published in JCI Insight, the study shows that the method allows researchers to compare grafts side-by-side and confirms that lab-grown retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell patches can preserve vision and regenerate the eye’s blood supply. The approach may expand treatment areas in future clinical applications and builds on NIH’s ongoing trials of stem cell-derived retinal therapies.