Youths say no to tobacco; organ transplant oversight; allergic to baby food? – Morning Medical Update

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Reducing e-cigarette use

“Youth e-cigarette use drops to lowest level in a decade,” the news release said, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is calling that a win. In real numbers, that means 2.13 million middle and high school students were vaping in 2023, down to 1.63 million this year. It’s a huge drop from the peak in 2019, when more than 5 million youths reported using e-cigarettes. The data come from the National Youth Tobacco Survey released this month by FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Law and process for organ transplants

The U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act was approved in 2023 to overhaul the nation’s system for matching donors with patients in need of lifesaving medical care. How is it working out? The U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee and its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations aim to find out in a hearing this week.

Food allergies in babies

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has published the final research plan, “Early Allergen Introduction to Prevent Food Allergies in Infants: Counseling.” Check it out here, and get ready for an upcoming opportunity for comment once a draft recommendation is published.