FDA Takes Bold Stance: Ensuring Pulse Oximeters Work for All Skin Tones!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a bold step to rectify a pressing issue in healthcare — the reliability of pulse oximeters across diverse skin tones. These devices, which measure blood oxygen levels, have come under fire for their inconsistent performance, particularly for individuals with darker skin. This highlights a sobering truth in medicine: clinical outcomes shouldn’t be a game of chance influenced by one’s pigmentation. It’s about time we confront this inequity head-on.,Dr. Michelle Tarver, leading the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, has made it clear — “This draft guidance is aligned with the FDA’s broader commitment to helping facilitate the development of high-quality, safe, and effective medical devices.” With this initiative, the FDA isn’t merely pushing for accuracy; they are advocating for a healthcare system where every patient, no matter their background, receives equitable treatment.,The crux of the FDA’s strategy lies in proposing new guidelines that refine the study designs and validation procedures for pulse oximeters. The aim is straightforward: to eliminate performance discrepancies that have left so many patients vulnerable. During this process, the agency has undertaken a thorough analysis of extensive data sets, comprising laboratory testing and real-world performance metrics to ensure accuracy across the spectrum of skin tones. This rigorous evaluation underscores the FDA’s steadfast commitment to fostering an inclusive healthcare environment.,Pulse oximeters are not just devices; they are critical tools that influence clinical decisions. Yet, the FDA acknowledges their limitations. These gadgets are useful, yes, but “pulse oximeters have limitations and a risk of inaccuracy under certain circumstances.” This statement sends a powerful message — reliance on technology must come with scrutiny, particularly in the medical field where lives hang in the balance.,In a shift that could streamline access to reliable medical devices, the FDA is poised to expedite the review process for existing pulse oximeters that can meet the new performance criteria without substantial changes. Imagine a rapid 30-day turnaround for decisions, granting healthcare providers swift access to safe, effective tools they can trust. It’s a win-win situation; manufacturers can adapt, and patients receive the quality care they deserve.,But here’s the kicker — this draft guidance does not extend to pulse oximeters marketed as general wellness products. So next time you see one in a convenience store, remember: “To date, a large number of pulse oximeters available over the counter or for sporting/aviation are considered general wellness products that have not been evaluated by the FDA for use in clinical decision-making.” This is a crucial reminder for consumers to exercise caution — when it comes to your health, don’t settle for unverified gadgets.,Transparency is also a cornerstone of this initiative. The FDA plans to establish a publicly accessible webpage listing all FDA-cleared pulse oximeters intended for medical use. This resource is designed to empower healthcare providers and everyday consumers alike, enabling informed decisions in an often confusing market landscape.,As the FDA opens the floor for public comments on their draft guidance, stakeholders are presented with an invaluable opportunity — to influence the final recommendations. For the next 60 days, these comments will be meticulously reviewed, further ensuring that the final guidance resonates with the diverse voices of the patient population that this initiative is meant to serve.,The bottom line? Ensuring equal access to reliable medical devices like pulse oximeters is not just a regulatory move — it’s a monumental leap toward a fairer healthcare system. With the FDA leading this charge, we are witnessing a pivotal juncture in medical history. This isn’t just a makeover for pulse oximeters; it’s a transformation that recognizes and celebrates the inherent diversity within our communities, prioritizing the well-being of every individual, irrespective of their skin tone.

Kristen Bell reveals Dax Shepard watching football during the Golden Globes: ‘Priorities’

Netflix musical thriller “Emilia Perez” topped the slate of films nominated for the 2025 Golden Globes. The awards air Jan. 5.

Dax Shepard is always ready for some football, even while attending one of Hollywood’s biggest events of the year.

In an Instagram story, Kristen Bell shared a video taken from inside Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards, which showed that her husband was watching football on his phone in the middle of the ceremony.

The clip started out with Bell filming the Golden Globes stage while seated behind presenters Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie, who were giving out the award for best animated film.

But while Ford and Mackie spoke, Bell panned over to show that Shepard had his head down and was focused on watching Sunday’s game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings. The “Armchair Expert” podcast host had the game streaming on his phone, which was placed between his legs.

“#Priorities,” Bell wrote on top of the clip.

The two were seated so close to the stage that Shepard could be seen looking down at his lap on the Golden Globes telecast while Ford and Mackie were presenting. The Detroit Lions ultimately defeated the Minnesota Vikings during Sunday’s game.

Shepard accompanied Bell to the Golden Globes, where she was nominated for best actress in a comedy series for her Netflix show “Nobody Wants This.” Her co-star Adam Brody, who attended the ceremony with wife Leighton Meester, was also nominated for best actor in a comedy series, and the show competed for best comedy series. “Nobody Wants This” did not end up winning any Golden Globes, with Bell losing her award to Jean Smart from “Hacks,” best actor in a comedy series going to Jeremy Allen White from “The Bear,” and best comedy series being awarded to “Hacks.”

Shepard isn’t the only star whose love of sports has conflicted with their awards show attendance.

Last year, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star Rob McElhenney, a huge fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, posted a photo of himself watching a game between the Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while in the audience at the Emmy Awards.

“Who schedules the Emmys the same night as the @eagles #gobirds #FlyEaglesFly,” McElhenney wrote on X.

Zendaya and Tom Holland are reportedly engaged amid those Golden Globes rumors

It seems Zendaya and Tom Holland are gearing up to to web-sling down the aisle and into married life.

The “Spider-Man” co-stars are reportedly engaged after more than three years of dating. TMZ reported Monday that Holland proposed to the “Challengers” and “Dune: Part Two” star during the holidays in a “very intimate setting in one of Zendaya’s family homes.”

Representatives for the actors didn’t respond immediately to The Times’ requests for confirmation Sunday night and Monday.

News of the reported engagement broke mere hours after Zendaya turned heads at 2025 Golden Globes, where she was spotted wearing a massive diamond ring on her left ring finger, according to Times columnist Amy Kaufman. The ring in question was not mentioned in a press release from Bulgari that detailed Zendaya’s other red carpet bling.

When Kaufman asked, “Are you engaged?,” Zendaya flashed her ring, smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders.

Sunday’s awards ceremony wasn’t the first time Zendaya addressed engagement rumors. In September 2023, the Emmy-winning “Euphoria” star shut down rumors after sparking social media speculation. In a since-expired Instagram selfie, she was seen showing off a black Golden State Warriors hat and a pearl ring on her left hand.

She explained at the time in an Instagram story that the rumors had her feeling like “I can’t post anything, you guys.”

“I posted it for my hat. Not for the ring on my right finger, you guys,” she said and laughed in the video that circulated on X and Instagram. “Seriously, you think that’s how I would drop the news? What?”

The actors, both 28, first shared the screen in 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Holland starred as the titular Marvel hero and Zendaya as his classmate Michelle “MJ” Jones. Though they started off as platonic partners onscreen, offscreen their chemistry was palpable. Remember that signature episode of “Lip Sync Battle”?

A year after the movie premiered, she told Variety that she and Holland were simply friends.

In the 2019 sequel, “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” things start getting serious between Holland’s hero and Zendaya’s “MJ,” and they shared their first onscreen kiss.

Years later, that spark finally manifested offscreen as the co-stars were first spotted kissing in public in July 2021, months before the premiere of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

They made their relationship red carpet official at the blockbuster’s London premiere on December 2021. Since then, Tomdaya has made appearances at numerous red carpet events, basketball games and Beyoncé’s Renaissance world tour.

In August 2023, Zendaya told Elle why she prefers to keep her relationship with the “Uncharted” star private — save for the occasional Instagram post.

“I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love,” she said. “But also, I do have control over what I choose to share. It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist.”

Holland is set to swing back into theaters in 2026 for the fourth installment of his “Spider-Man” series, though it’s unclear whether his reported fiancée will return as MJ.

Melania Trump documentary from Brett Ratner to be released by Amazon

Company says film will give an ‘unprecedented behind-the-scenes look’ and ‘truly unique story’

Melania Trump will be the subject of a new documentary directed by Brett Ratner and distributed by Amazon Prime Video. The streaming arm of the tech giant got exclusive licensing rights for a streaming and theatrical release later this year, the company said Sunday.

Filming is already under way on the documentary. The company said in a statement that the film will give viewers an “unprecedented behind-the-scenes look” at the former and incoming US first lady and also promised a “truly unique story”.

She also released a self-titled memoir late last year. Her husband Donald begins a second presidency on 20 January after serving as the US’s commander in chief from 2017 to 2021.

The film is the latest connection between Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Donald Trump. The company in December announced plans to donate $1m to help fund the president-elect’s second inauguration – and said that it would also stream the event on its Prime Video service, a separate in-kind donation worth another $1m.

The two men had been at odds in the past. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at the Washington Post, which Bezos owns. But he’s struck a more conciliatory tone recently as Amazon and other tech companies seek to improve their relationship with the incoming president.

In December, Bezos expressed some excitement about potential regulatory cutbacks in the coming years and said he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term.

Bezos in October did not allow the Post to endorse a presidential candidate, a move that led to tens of thousands of people canceling their subscriptions and to protests from journalists with a deep history at the newspaper. This weekend, a Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist quit her job there after an editor rejected her sketch of the newspaper’s owner and other media executives bowing before the president-elect.

The film also marks the first project that Ratner has directed since he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, including actor Olivia Munn, in the early days of the #MeToo reckoning in November 2017. Ratner, whose lawyer denied the allegations, directed the Rush Hour film series, Red Dragon and X-Men: The Last Stand.

Fernando Sulichin, an Argentine film-maker, is executive producer of the film, which began shooting in December.

Melania Trump, Donald Trump’s third wife, has been an enigmatic figure since her husband announced he was running in the 2016 election. She had sought to maintain her privacy even as she served as first lady, focusing on raising their son, Barron, and promoting her “Be Best” initiative to support the “social, emotional, and physical health of children”.

While she appeared at her husband’s campaign launch event for 2024 and attended the closing night of the Republican national convention in July, she has otherwise stayed off the campaign trail, though the demands of again being first lady may dictate a higher public profile after her husband’s second inauguration day.

FDA Tackles Inequity: Pulse Oximeters Get a Makeover for All Skin Tones!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is making waves with a bold new initiative focused on pulse oximeters — those essential devices that measure blood oxygen levels and are integral to clinical decision-making. Recent scrutiny has unveiled a glaring issue: these gadgets often fail to deliver reliable results for individuals with darker skin tones. This has sparked the FDA into action, showcasing a commitment to equity in healthcare that is long overdue.

“Although pulse oximetry is useful for estimating blood oxygen levels, pulse oximeters have limitations and a risk of inaccuracy under certain circumstances,” the FDA warns, signaling a need for change. With the agency’s new draft guidance, they’re aiming not only for accuracy but also for a more inclusive approach to medical device validation. This is about leveling the playing field — ensuring that every patient, regardless of skin pigmentation, receives accurate readings when it counts the most.

Dr. Michelle Tarver, the director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, emphasized this mission: “This draft guidance is aligned with the FDA’s broader commitment to helping facilitate the development of high-quality, safe, and effective medical devices.” No longer should clinical outcomes be a dice roll based on the color of one’s skin. The proposed recommendations are set to refine clinical study designs and validation efforts for pulse oximeters, tackling the performance discrepancies that have emerged across a spectrum of skin tones.

Among the keys to this initiative is the anticipation that many existing pulse oximeters on the market can adapt to meet the new performance criteria without hefty modifications. If manufacturers can prove their devices perform comparably across different skin types — even with updated labels and no major hardware or software changes — the FDA aims to expedite the review process. We’re talking about a brisk 30-day turnaround for decisions, ensuring timely access to safe and accurate equipment. This is not just a win for medical professionals; it’s a victory for patients who deserve better.

However, it’s worth noting that this draft guidance doesn’t extend to pulse oximeters marketed as general wellness products. You know, the ones that often sneak into shopping carts with little oversight? “To date, a large number of pulse oximeters available over the counter or for sporting/aviation are considered general wellness products that have not been evaluated by the FDA for use in clinical decision-making,” warns the agency. This distinction is critical — a reminder for consumers to be cautious about trusting unverified devices that could impact their health.

Transparency is key in this new landscape. The FDA plans to launch a publicly accessible webpage listing all FDA-cleared pulse oximeters intended for medical use. This resource will empower healthcare providers and the general public to make informed choices, steering clear of the confusion that often plagues the market.

The FDA’s new direction originates from an in-depth review of countless data sets, including laboratory tests and real-world performance metrics. They’ve engaged with scientists, clinicians, and manufacturers, hosted advisory committee meetings, and even partnered with academic institutions to conduct studies focused on device accuracy for individuals with diverse skin tones. This comprehensive evaluation underlines the agency’s commitment to a healthcare system that prioritizes accuracy and equity.

As the FDA opens the floor for public comments on this draft guidance — a process that will last 60 days — stakeholders have a unique opportunity to influence the final recommendations. The agency will meticulously review these comments, ensuring that the final guidance aligns with the voices of a diverse patient population.

The bottom line? Ensuring equal access to reliable medical devices like pulse oximeters is a crucial step toward a fairer healthcare system. It’s about time we challenge outdated practices that put certain demographics at a disadvantage. With the FDA leading this charge, we are witnessing a significant shift toward a more equitable future in healthcare — a transformation that celebrates diversity and prioritizes the well-being of every individual, regardless of their skin tone.

Shifting Tides: Tenofovir Alafenamide Emerges as a Promising Player in Hepatitis B Treatment

As the tide turns in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, healthcare professionals are increasingly discerning the potential advantages of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) over its predecessor, entecavir (ETV). The transition is likened to a strategic chess match—each clinical trial and study unveiling new data, impacting the delicate balance of patient care in this complex field. In recent months, the spotlight has shone brightly on TAF, revealing promising insights into its efficacy and safety profile that have left many within the medical community buzzing with anticipation.

while diving into the ins and outs of hepatitis B treatment, the cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been at the forefront of researchers’ minds. Using Kaplan-Meier curves—a statistical method to estimate outcomes over time—scientists have unearthed critical data. Alarmingly, in the ETV continuation group, two patients developed HCC. It’s an unsettling statistic, showcasing the reality of this chronic condition. However, the difference in HCC incidence between patients sticking with ETV versus those switching to TAF didn’t reach statistical significance, landing at a p-value of 0.08. Numbers tell an important story, yet they obscure the human impact; here, we see young men battling advanced fibrosis and precarious low platelet counts—a harrowing reality that extends beyond mere statistics.

TAF is often touted as the “safer sibling” within the family of nucleic acid analogs. Emerging clinical studies suggest that TAF reduces the frequency of adverse effects—namely renal dysfunction and diminished bone density—that have historically concerned patients about long-term implications. “The evidence is stacking up, and it’s hard to ignore,” one researcher remarked, and it’s a sentiment echoed by many in the field. While at the 48-week mark, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) outperformed ETV in HBsAg-lowering effects, TAF is demonstrating its mettle, emerging as a formidable force in the treatment landscape of hepatitis B.

Yet, as with any shifting paradigm, the transition isn’t without its hurdles. The study’s findings revealed a decline in HB core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels, which left much to be desired in terms of optimal patient outcomes. “While the numbers might tell one story, the nuanced reality of patient experiences reminds us that this is far from a simple matter.” Indeed, patient experiences are as critical as the statistics that underpin treatment decisions.

The ramifications of these findings resonate far beyond clinical settings, influencing patient care, treatment planning, and long-term management strategies. The medical community is tasked with weighing the advantages and potential pitfalls of TAF as they seek to provide patients with a treatment regimen that doesn’t merely aim at efficacy, but equally prioritizes safety. “It’s not just about switching medications,” said a spirited advocate for patient-centric care; “it’s about ensuring that patients receive the most effective and safest care possible, tailored uniquely to their circumstances.”

Standing at this crossroads of hepatitis B treatment, a fervor of excitement fills the air. The prospect of TAF as a viable alternative invigorates both patients and providers, equipping them with knowledge, research, and an unwavering commitment to better health outcomes. The journey toward comprehensive care for hepatitis B is far from over, but the emergence of TAF signals a hopeful path forward—one that intertwines science with the personal narratives of those affected, illustrating the profound connection between treatment and the human experience.

Mike Rinder, former Scientology exec who became an Emmy-winning whistleblower, dies at 69

Mike Rinder, a former senior executive with the Church of Scientology who later pivoted to criticizing the controversial religious organization publicly with a blog, a podcast and a docuseries co-starring ex-member Leah Remini, has died. He was 69.

The Emmy winner posted about his own impending death Sunday on his personal blog, announcing that the missive — titled “Farewell” — would be the last post on his website.

“I have shuffled off this mortal coil in accordance with the immutable law that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes,” his message said, adding, “I rest in peace.”

“My only real regret is not having achieved what I said I wanted to — ending the abuses of Scientology, especially disconnection and seeing [my son] Jack into adulthood,” the whistleblower wrote. “If you are in any way fighting to end those abuses please keep the flag flying — never give up.”

The Tampa Bay Times reported that Rinder died Sunday in Palm Harbor, Fla., due to esophageal cancer.

Rinder — who appeared in the bombshell 2015 documentary “Going Clear” and produced and appeared in the subsequent A&E docuseries “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” — said his website would remain active as an archive with more than 4,000 posts. He described the site as “a labor of love and passion which has allowed me to speak my mind and offer my perspective with no outside filters.”

“I have been lucky — living two lives in one lifetime. The second one the most wonderful years anyone could wish for with all of you and my new family!” he added.

In a message cross-posted on Rinder’s Instagram page, his wife, Christie, confirmed his death.

“I speak for so many when I say the sadness and pain we feel mirror the depth of our unwavering love for you,” she wrote. “Your courage, bravery, and integrity are unmatched and will forever inspire us. You have been the pillar of stability in our lives, filling our days with your strength, wisdom, love, laughter and devotion. The world will remember you. My best friend, my hero, my love, Michael John Rinder.”

Journalist Tony Ortega, who has long covered Scientology, announced in a June 2023 post on his Underground Bunker blog that Rinder had advanced esophageal cancer.

“Mike Rinder sent us an email today, to let us know that he had shuffled off this mortal coil,” Ortega tweeted Sunday. “That was so like him, thoughtful to the end. We’re just coming to grips with this news.”

Remini posted about visiting Rinder in Florida in December amid his cancer battle and praised the community that mobilized to care for him and his family during his final days. The “King of Queens” star has not yet posted publicly about Rinder’s death, and her representative did not immediately respond Monday to The Times’ request for comment.

Rinder was born on April 19, 1955, in Adelaide, Australia. He was raised as a Scientologist after his parents joined the organization when he was about 6. He said that he “finally escaped the organization” in 2007 when he was 52, publicly speaking out against it in an investigative series for the St. Petersburg Times in 2009.

As a child, he traveled with his family from Australia to England twice in the 1960s to visit the home of sci-fi writer and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. His parents participated in advanced Scientology courses and auditing — or counseling — and he joined the senior-level Sea Organization when he graduated from high school in April 1973.

“This is the dedicated core of scientology, Sea Org members sign a billion year commitment to forward the aims of scientology and live communally with other Sea Org members, pretty much out of touch with the outside world,” Rinder said on his website.

He said that as an adult he first met Hubbard, a God-like figure in the organization, in October 1973 aboard Hubbard’s ship Apollo. He remained in Sea Org until 2007, getting married and having two children who were born into Sea Org branches based in Clearwater, Fla., and in Hemet.

The “A Billion Years” author said he and his first wife, Cathy, divorced after he left the church and his mother, daughter Taryn and son Benjamin “disconnected” from him, along with his brother, sister and members of their family.

The ex-member accused Sea Org of fostering a culture of “violence and abuse that had become endemic” under the leadership of Hubbard successor David Miscavige, who took over when Hubbard died in 1986.

“While Hubbard had been unpredictable, sometimes cruel and harsh and other times humorous and compassionate, Miscavige was exclusively cruel and harsh. He had seized power and held onto it ruthlessly,” Rinder wrote on his website.

During the 1980s, Rinder became the executive director of Office of Special Affairs and a public-facing representative for the organization. He handled media and public relations and said he oversaw much litigation for and against the church, dealing with “the so-called enemies” of Scientology and directing their “destruction.” During that time, he said, the church coordinated smear and intimidation campaigns against journalists, former members and critics of Scientology.

More recently, Rinder served as a source for the The Times on stories about the high-profile trials of actor Danny Masterson and director Paul Haggis, who have both been affiliated with the church. The church has publicly denounced Rinder and Remini, who testified on ex-member Haggis’ behalf, and said that they “have no credibility” and make up lies about the church for money. The organization has also waged a campaign to cut down Rinder’s credibility and said he was removed from the church “in total disgrace” by its ecclesiastical leader, “stripped of any authority and ultimately expelled for gross malfeasance.”

Representatives for the church did not immediately respond Monday to The Times request for comment.

Rinder is survived by his second wife, Christie, their son Jack and Christie’s son Shane. In lieu of flowers, he asked that contributions be made Jack’s college fund.

“Let the flowers grow and look to the future,” Rinder wrote on his website.

‘I stand by it’: ‘Conclave’ screenwriter claps back at Megyn Kelly’s ‘anti-Catholic’ accusation after Golden Globe win

Not everyone is a fan of Conclave. Last Sunday Megyn Kelly, a lifelong Catholic, took to X/Twitter to rant about the Catholic-themed thriller, and stated that watching it was a “huge mistake.” Last night, after the movie won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Golden Globes, screenwriter Peter Straughan addressed Kelly’s comments.

The writer spoke to Variety after his win, and while he didn’t check Kelly’s rant first-hand, he had a lot to say about how Conclave depicts Catholicism, as well as his own relationship with religion. During her rant, Kelly called the award-winning movie “disgusting” and “anti-Catholic,” to which Straughan fired back:

“I don’t think the film is anti-Catholic. I was brought up Catholic. I was an altar boy. I think the core message of ‘Conclave’ is about the church always having to re-find its spiritual core, because it deals so much with power. That’s always been a careful, difficult balance. To me, that was a very central Catholic ideal that I was brought up with. I stand by it.”

General audiences and critics also don’t seem to have a problem with Conclave. The movie became a surprise hit in theaters in late 2024, and had its release date moved up once distrubutors realized that it could be a strong Oscar contender. Sure enough, Conclave is dominating the awards season along with blockbusters like Wicked and Dune: Part 2. But this also means that the movie’s popularity will put it on the radar of people who otherwise wouldn’t even consider watching it.

Conclave stars Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter franchise) as a cardinal who, after the Pope’s death, starts to uncover a conspiracy helmed by other cardinals as to who will succeed the deceased in one of the most powerful positions in the world. The cast also features John Lithgow (The Old Man), Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) and Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet). The thriller was directed by previous Oscar nominee Edward Berger (All Quiet On The Western Front), and Straughan adapted the story from a best-selling novel by author Robert Harris.

In her viral rant, Megyn Kelly mentioned the cast and director by name, and stated it was a “shame” they made that movie. The biggest problem for her was [spoiler alert] the fact that it is revealed that the Pope was intersex, which infuriated the journalist. She wrote:

I wish I had known so I wouldn’t have watched it. There are almost no redeeming characters in the movie – every cardinal is morally bankrupt/repulsive. The only exception of course is the intersex pope (who – surprise! – has female reproductive parts) & the cardinal who keeps her secret – bc of course that kind of Catholic secret-keeping must be lionized. I’m disgusted. What a thing to release to streaming just in time for Christmas. They would never do this to Muslims, but Christians/Catholics are always fair game to mock/belittle/smear.”

Despite what Kelly stated, Muslims have been the target of Hollywood for decades, which frequently depicts Middle Easterners as terrorists or religious fanatics — or both. The change in how Muslim characters are represented is fairly recent, and it will still be a long while until the prejudice that movies helped construct is torn down.

Conclave currently holds a 93% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes. At the Golden Globes, it was also nominated in the Best Movie, Best Director and acting categories for Rossellini and Fiennes.

Megyn Kelly unloads on Golden Globe-nominated ‘Conclave’ as…

Megyn Kelly unloaded on the Golden Globe-nominated movie “Conclave” — then scolded the actors who starred in the “anti-Catholic” film in a spoiler-fileld takedown.

The movie, which stands at a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, follows religious leaders as they work to select the new pope while unearthing dark secrets and corruption within the Roman Catholic Church. The film, nominated in six Golden Globes categories, is based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris.

Kelly took to X ahead of the Golden Globes Sunday evening to criticize the film and scold the actors who starred in it.

“Just made the huge mistake of watching the much-celebrated “Conclave” & it is the most disgusting anti-Catholic film I have seen in a long time,” the media personality said. “Shame on Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci & John Lithgow for starring in it & shame on director Edward Berger (among others). ‘Spoiler:’ They make THE POPE INTERSEX!”

“There are almost no redeeming characters in the movie – every cardinal is morally bankrupt/repulsive,” she went on. “The only exception of course is the intersex pope (who – surprise! – has female reproductive parts) & the cardinal who keeps her secret – bc of course that kind of Catholic secret-keeping must be lionized.

“I’m disgusted. What a thing to release to streaming just in time for Christmas. They would never do this to Muslims, but Christians/Catholics are always fair game to mock/belittle/smear.”

“Conclave” is up for Original Score, Screenplay of a Motion Picture, and Drama Motion Picture. Director Edward Berger, actor Ralph Fiennes and supporting actress Isabella Rossellini were also nominated.

Kelly’s post saw a mixed response from her fans across all religions.

“Try being Mormon (church of Jesus Christ). It’s a double whammy: Christian which a lot of other Christians make fun of. We get it from both sides,” one user wrote.

Others broke with Kelly and bashed the Vatican and Pope as “corrupt.”

“They are not what you think they are,” said one user. “They don’t represent Christ. Huge difference between being a Christian and what they are doing in the Vatican.”

Navigating the New Frontier: The Rise of Tenofovir Alafenamide in Hepatitis B Treatment

Shifting gears in the treatment landscape of chronic hepatitis B, healthcare professionals are increasingly turning their attention to the transition from entecavir (ETV) to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). This strategic switch has kicked up a storm of curiosity—especially as recent studies peel back the layers on the efficacy, safety, and long-term implications of these antiviral therapies. It’s like watching a chess game unfold—every move calculated, each potential outcome considered.

Take a look at the cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary concern for patients battling this chronic condition. Researchers harnessed Kaplan-Meier curves to glean critical insights, and what emerged was quite telling. In the continuation group on ETV, two patients developed HCC—an alarming statistic, but notably, the difference in incidence between those sticking with ETV and those who switched to TAF didn’t reach significance, landing at a p-value of 0.08. This figure—a number grounded in statistics—hides a human story, particularly when the affected individuals were relatively young men, grappling with advanced fibrosis and low platelet counts. The intertwining of these factors with treatment outcomes is fascinating and warrants deeper exploration.

Now, let’s talk about TAF—often hailed as the safer sibling in the class of nucleic acid analogs. Recent studies show that TAF boasts a lower incidence of adverse effects like renal dysfunction and diminished bone density, making it a compelling choice for patients concerned about long-term health. The evidence is stacking up, and it’s hard to ignore. Sure, at the 48-week mark, TDF (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) might outpace ETV in HBsAg-lowering effects, but TAF is proving itself a formidable contender in this treatment arena. We might be looking at a new dawn in hepatitis B care—one that prioritizes not just efficacy, but safety as well.

However, even with promising data, the journey toward effective treatment is not without its bumps. The decline in HB core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels observed during the study left much to be desired. So, while the numbers might tell one story, the nuanced reality of patient experiences reminds us that this is far from a simple matter.

The implications of these findings ripple outward, touching various aspects of patient care, treatment planning, and long-term management strategies. As the medical community continues to weigh the advantages and potential pitfalls of these therapies, one thing becomes clear—it’s not just about switching medications. It’s about ensuring that patients receive the most effective and safest care possible, tailored uniquely to their circumstances.

As we stand at this crossroads in hepatitis B treatment, there’s an undeniable excitement in the air—an anticipation of what the future might hold. With TAF emerging as a viable alternative, patients and providers alike are charged with the task of navigating this evolving landscape, armed with knowledge, research, and an unyielding commitment to better health outcomes.