A chance spotting of a fossil results in a major scientific discovery

Ichthyosaur fossil confirmed for the first time in western Japan — also the first late Triassic ichthyosaur found in Japan

Okayama University of Science

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From left to right: Dr. Hirokazu Yukawa, Professor Takafumi Kato, and Curator Kyoko Ikari examine the Triassic fossil-bearing rock that led to the discovery of Japan’s first ichthyosaur from western Japan.

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Credit: Okayama University of Science

A vertebrate fossil discovered in a rock from the Late Triassic period (approximately 220 million years ago) in Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture, has been confirmed through joint research by Okayama University of Science and other institutions to be the first ichthyosaur fossil ever found in western Japan. The discovery was announced by Professor Takafumi Kato of the Department of Dinosaur Paleontology and his research team at the Palaeontological Society of Japan’s annual meeting, held on June 29 at Hokkaido University. This marks the first time an ichthyosaur has been identified from strata dating to this period in Japan. Experts in ichthyosaur research have called attention to the find, noting that ichthyosaur fossils from this era are “exceptionally rare worldwide.”

                                      

The fossil was embedded in a block of muddy sandstone measuring 59 cm wide, 34.5 cm deep, and 26 cm high. The rock had been on display at the Nariwa Museum of Art in Takahashi City as a fossil of Monotis, a Late Triassic index fossil bivalve. Records show the specimen had already been on display prior to the museum’s 1994 renovation and was known to have been sourced from Takahashi.

On July 26, 2023, while leading an educational field program for middle and high school students, Professor Kato, along with his longtime colleague Dr. Hirokazu Yukawa of the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, happened to glance at the side of the rock during a lecture in the museum’s fossil gallery—and noticed a sizable bone fragment embedded in it. “Wait—that’s a bone!” he exclaimed. Upon closer inspection, he observed a porous structure typical of spongy bone, with a very thin layer of compact bone—features characteristic of marine-adapted reptiles. With his expertise in paleontology, Professor Kato quickly realized the significance.

 

Wondering how much fossil material was inside, the team cut a 14 cm-thick slab from the rock and examined it using a CT scanner at the University of Fukui’s School of Medical Sciences. They confirmed 21 bone fragments, including ribs, vertebrae, and a scapula. Their analysis revealed four distinct characteristics:

1. The vertebrae were thin and had a distinctive hourglass shape.
2. Each vertebra featured two rib articulation surfaces.
3. The ribs were grooved and had a gourd-shaped cross-section.
4. The scapula was slender and constricted in the middle.

These features led the team to conclude that the fossil belonged to an ichthyosaur.

 

Until now, all ichthyosaur fossils discovered in Japan—including Utatsu Gyoryu (Utatsusaurus) from the Early Triassic, Kudanohama Gyoryu (Mixosaurus) from the Middle Triassic, and Hosoura Gyoru (Leptopterygius) from the Early Jurassic—had been found in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture.

 

Commenting on the discovery, Dr. Ryosuke Motani, a leading authority on ichthyosaurs from the University of California, Davis, stated:

“The Norian age represents a critical transition in ichthyosaur evolution, when open-ocean species were nearly fully developed from their coastal ancestors. However, ichthyosaur fossils from this era are extremely rare globally, with well-preserved examples only known from British Columbia, Canada. The fact that one has now been found in Japan suggests that these advanced ichthyosaurs may have been capable of crossing the Panthalassic Ocean, which was even larger than today’s Pacific. This is a highly significant finding.”

The Norian is a stage of the Late Triassic spanning approximately 227 to 206 million years ago. The Panthalassic Ocean was the massive global ocean that surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea during that time.

 

Before the academic presentation, a press conference was held at Takahashi City Hall. Among those present were Mayor Yoshio Ishida, Professor Kato, Dr. Yukawa, and Nariwa Museum of Art curator Kyoko Ikari. Mayor Ishida expressed his enthusiasm for the discovery, stating, “We’re hopeful that continued research will lead to even more findings. We see this discovery as an opportunity to stimulate regional revitalization and public interest.”

 

Professor Kato emphasized the importance of the museum’s role in preserving local specimens and serving as an educational resource. “This discovery was made possible because the Nariwa Museum of Art has continuously maintained and managed regional materials, and because it functioned as an educational platform,” he noted. Speaking about the fossil itself, he added, “The shape of the scapula is particularly telling. It may indicate a high swimming ability, though further detailed analysis is needed. In any case, this fossil will serve as a valuable clue in understanding ichthyosaur evolution.”

 

Reflecting on the moment of discovery, he shared:

“I’ve made it a habit to look at rocks and fossils from different angles, always thinking, ‘Is there something more here?’ After doing this for over 40 years, this is the first time I’ve stumbled upon something like this. It was truly an unforgettable moment.”

 

The ichthyosaur fossil is scheduled to be on display for about a month at the Nariwa Museum of Art during the summer break. It is expected to be a valuable educational tool, helping children learn about both Earth’s profound history and their local heritage.

 

Acupuncture eases opioid therapy: 84% of patients slash methadone by 20%, boosting immune response and rebalancing gut microbiota

Single-cell RNA and metabolomics reveal boosted antiviral gene activity and restored bile acid balance

Research

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Schematic overview of the current study.

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Credit: Copyright © 2025 Yiming Chen et al.

Acupuncture significantly lowers methadone doses for people undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder, while restoring antiviral immune responses and rebalancing gut microbiota and metabolism. This randomized, placebo-controlled study shows that adding acupuncture to standard methadone maintenance can ease side effects of long-term opioid therapy and support safer, more effective addiction management.

Low-Risk Acupuncture Emerges as Integrative Solution to Methadone's Immune and Metabolic Side Effects

Opioid use disorders affect tens of millions worldwide and carry risks of infection, metabolic disruption, and gut imbalance. Methadone maintenance helps curb illicit opioid use but can suppress immunity, alter metabolism, and disturb gut bacteria. This study provides evidence that acupuncture—a low-risk, non-pharmacological therapy recognized by the WHO—can reduce the required methadone doses, enhance antiviral defenses, and partially rebalance gut and metabolic disturbances. Findings could inform treatment guidelines for addiction specialists, public health policymakers, and patients seeking integrative care.

“We felt encouraged to find that a non-drug therapy like acupuncture can safely lower methadone requirements while reawakening patients' antiviral defenses and rebalancing their gut health,” says Prof. Fangfang Qi. “This opens a promising integrative path for addiction treatment that could dramatically improve patients' long-term well-being.”

Key Outcomes: 84% of Patients Cut Methadone ≥20%, Antiviral Genes Activated, Gut Microbiome Rebalanced

The study revealed several important outcomes:

• 84% of patients receiving real acupuncture cut their daily methadone dose by at least 20% over eight weeks, compared to 39% with sham treatment.
• Acupuncture triggered antiviral gene activity in classical monocytes and other immune cells, suggesting stronger defense against viral infections.
• Intercellular signaling via galectin-9 between monocytes and other immune cells increased after acupuncture, indicating enhanced coordination of immune responses.
• Gut bacteria shifts included higher levels of Bilophila species, which are associated with bile-acid processing and healthier gut barrier function.
• Blood metabolites showed reduced markers of bile acid overproduction and restored glutamine-glutamate pathways, indicating an improved metabolic balance.

Multi-Omics, from Single-Cell RNA to Metagenomics, Decode Acupuncture's Mechanisms in a Patient-Blinded Trial

In a patient-blinded trial, 48 individuals on stable methadone therapy were randomly assigned to real or sham acupuncture for eight weeks. Researchers collected blood, stool, and plasma before and after treatment. They applied single-cell RNA sequencing to blood immune cells, broad-spectrum metabolomics to plasma, and whole-metagenome sequencing to fecal samples. Computational models linked changes at the cellular, microbial, and metabolic levels with clinical outcomes. Follow-up lab experiments in monocyte cultures tested how bile acids and galectin-9 affect immune signaling.

Acupuncture Could Enhance Safe Methadone Tapering and Holistic Addiction Care

This multi-omics study provides clinical and mechanistic proof that acupuncture can safely reduce methadone requirements and counteract opioid-induced immune and gut disturbances. Integrating acupuncture into methadone maintenance programs may improve patient outcomes and lower the burden of long-term opioid therapy.

Published in Research in June 2025 (https://doi.org/10.34133/research.0741), the research article was authored by researchers from the following institutions: Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Harvard Medical School, Jiangsu Medical College, State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, and Mayo Clinic.

Sources: https://doi.org/10.34133/research.0741

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Journal

Research

DOI

10.34133/research.0741 

Method of Research

News article

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Single-Cell RNA Transcriptomics and Multi-omics Analyses Reveal the Clinical Effects of Acupuncture on Methadone Reduction

 

Mental health from supermarket shelves? This is the evidence we have about over-the-counter herbal products and dietary supplements used for depression

Guest editorial by Rachael Frost, a senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University and author of a new Frontiers in Pharmacology article

Frontiers

by Rachael Frost

Most people have heard of St John’s Wort and omega-3s. But did you know there are a lot more over-the-counter herbal products and supplements out there targeting depression? In our review of clinical trials of these products, we found 64 different over-the-counter (OTC) products that have been evaluated for depression – but with differing levels of evidence for each.  

Why look at this topic? 

Depression is increasingly common, to the extent that it is sometimes described as an epidemic. In the UK, 11.3% of people report mild depressive symptoms, 4.2% moderate depressive symptoms, and 3.3% severe depressive symptoms. Many of us know someone who struggles with minor or moderate levels of depression, or we may struggle from depressive symptoms ourselves. Often, we will try many things to help, such as antidepressants, talking therapies, meditation, or exercise. One common treatment people try is OTC products which are widely available and accessible from supermarkets, pharmacies, health food shops, and online.  

Once you start looking into which OTC product might be helpful, the list becomes endless. This is particularly the case if you read online blogs or look at social media promotion of various products. How do we know what is evidence-based? What products are effective? Are they safe?  

Given my background, I was naturally interested in understanding which products might be helpful and where research should focus next.  

What did we do? 

As a team we reviewed 23,933 study records and 1,367 papers. Overall, we found 209 clinical trials that assessed 64 OTC products for depression where the product was taken for more than one week. We focussed on the most rigorous way of evaluating the effectiveness and safety – clinical trials. Studies in adults aged 18-60 years with depression symptoms or a diagnosis were included. We also checked if there was an age bias by reviewing trials in older people separately and found there is. This project is part of a larger series of studies, also looking into products for anxiety and insomnia. 

It can be challenging to classify OTC products – different countries have different regulations, and some products are commonly used in some places but not in others. Two volunteers from the public helped us to narrow our choices, which helped us exclude some very obscure products, such as eels’ head powder!   

So what did we find?  

We anticipated a lot of studies, but over 200 was more than we expected! We had to recruit an intern to help us to sort through the findings. Studies were not always straightforward – some tested multiple doses or products, some were in addition to antidepressants and in some trials people had a range of physical conditions in addition to depression. We grouped our findings into products with substantive evidence (more than 10 trials), emerging evidence (between two and nine trials), and single trials only.  

The products with substantive evidence are those that are well known – omega-3s (39 trials), St John’s Wort (38), probiotics (18) and vitamin D (14) – as well as saffron (18), which is important in the Middle East and parts of Asia.   

Compared to placebo, fewer omega-3 trials found effects for depression than those that found no effects. However, St John’s Wort and saffron more often showed effects compared to placebo, and similar results to prescription antidepressants. Probiotics and vitamin D were more likely to reduce depressive symptoms than placebo.  

Out of the 18 products with emerging evidence, folic acid, lavender, zinc, tryptophan, rhodiola, and lemon balm were the most promising. Bitter orange, Persian lavender, and chamomile tea also showed positive effects in two trials each. Some products that are gaining in popularity, such as melatonin, magnesium, and curcumin, showed mixed effects upon depression across multiple clinical trials. Mixed results were also found for cinnamon, echium, vitamin C, and a combination of vitamin D plus calcium. Prebiotics, which support the good bacteria in our gut, and a supplement called SAMe did not seem to be better than placebo. 41 products had only a single trial available. This is helpful as a starting point, but does not give us conclusive evidence.  

It’s good news that very few safety concerns arose from any of these products, whether they were taken alone or in combination with antidepressants. However, a healthcare professional should always be consulted on whether a product might interact with something else you are taking. A higher standard of safety reporting in trials is essential – only 145 (69%) of the examined studies fully reported any side effects from the products.  

What do we recommend for the future? 

Whilst 89 trials tested products in combination with antidepressants, few looked at whether taking OTC products whilst having talking therapies has an additional effect. There was also only one study that looked at whether taking an OTC product (folic acid) saved the health service money – it was not more effective than placebo and did not lead to savings – but knowing more about this would be useful in future. Some evidence is also available for often overlooked OTC products.

So, what we have is relatively conclusive evidence for some products. When we looked at surveys of what people commonly take, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, and echium emerged as commonly consumed products with an emerging evidence base, which we recommend be studied further. Other commonly used herbal medicines for depressive symptoms are ginseng, gingko, lime flowers, orange blossom, and peppermint, but no studies have evaluated these products. Thus, our study has pioneered an exploration into what research is needed to further assess such widely used health care products. 

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Journal

Frontiers in Pharmacology

DOI

10.3389/fphar.2025.1609605 

Method of Research

Literature review

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Understanding the research landscape of over-the-counter herbal products, dietary supplements and medications evaluated for depressive symptoms in adults: A scoping review

Article Publication Date

15-Jul-2025

COI Statement

The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

 

Efforts to eradicate invasive mussels likely to kill off many Idaho animal species

Oxford University Press USA

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A new paper in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, published by Oxford University Press, finds that efforts to eradicate invasive molluscs in Idaho’s Snake River may kill off valuable freshwater species.

Dreissenid mussels such as zebra and quagga mussels are invasive aquatic species that disrupt freshwater ecosystems and cause major economic and social damage. In the United States, observers first found Dreissenid mussels in the Great Lakes, likely introduced via international shipping vessels, in 1988. In subsequent decades Dreissenid mussels spread to lakes and rivers throughout the eastern and central United States, causing dramatic shifts in food chains, collapsed fisheries, altered biogeochemistry, decreased dissolved oxygen levels, increased algal blooms, and, from 1989 through 2004, an estimated $267 million in mitigation costs to water treatment and electrical plants.

Much of the western U.S. remains uninfested. But in late 2023, the State of Idaho found larval and adult quagga mussels in the Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho, the first known occurrence in the Columbia River Basin. To prevent the spread of quagga mussels throughout the basin, Idaho introduced an eradication plan to treat the river with a copper-based molluscicide for 10 days. This molluscicide contains 28.2% copper ethanolamine and 9.1% metallic copper. In total, the state dumped some 46,000 gallons of molluscicide in the river.

People use copper-based chemical treatments to eradicate invasive mussels commonly in small ponds and lakes, but not often in large rivers. Researchers here assessed the transport and fate of the copper and its exposure and effects on the other organisms living downstream in or around the Snake River.

They collected water samples at seven locations throughout the treatment period. While the researchers found that nearly half of the original mass of copper was gone from the water by the end of the observation, dissolved copper concentrations were higher than the toxic limit for more than two weeks after the copper treatment began.

Overall animal abundance decreased from 54% to 94% at the sites the researchers assessed, this was driven by reduced numbers of water nymph worms, flatworms, midge flies, freshwater shrimp, and pebblesnails, Other animals, including the New Zealand mud snail, the gyro snail, and the tadpole snail, disappeared altogether from the river. However, small numbers of new organisms appeared after the treatment, including sludge worms, seed shrimp, and several new insects, including the buffalo gnat.

The apparent effect of the copper on animals and habitats as far as almost 40 miles downstream of the treatment is especially striking and potentially consequential for federally listed threatened or endangered animals living in the area. The change in animal diversity due to the copper treatment has potentially serious implications for the diets and habitats of other animals, including protected fish in the region.

The paper, “Fate and effects to the benthic community of a copper treatment to eradicate invasive mussels in a large western river, USA,” is available (at midnight on July 15th) at https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgaf119.

Direct correspondence to: 
Austin K. Baldwin
Research Hydrologist
U.S. Geological Survey
230 N Collins Rd.
Boise, ID 83702
akbaldwi@usgs.gov

To request a copy of the study, please contact:
Daniel Luzer 
daniel.luzer@oup.com

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Journal

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

DOI

10.1093/etojnl/vgaf119 

Method of Research

Systematic review

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Fate and effects to the benthic community of a copper treatment to eradicate invasive mussels in a large western river, USA

Article Publication Date

15-Jul-2025

COI Statement

N/A

 

Obesity rates in Canada increased after start of COVID-19 pandemic

Canadian Medical Association Journal

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Did the COVID-19 pandemic affect obesity rates in Canada? A new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.241421 found obesity rates based on body mass index (BMI) increased faster in the 4 years after the start of the pandemic than in the previous 11 years, especially in younger adults.

“Compared with the average increase during the 11 years before the pandemic, the prevalence of obesity [as measured by BMI] increased at a greater rate during the 4 years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2023), suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions may have adversely affected obesity prevalence in Canada,” writes Dr. Laura Anderson, associate professor, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact and co-director of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, with coauthors.

Obesity is a risk factor for a range of diseases and can negatively affect a person’s health and well-being as well as increase the burden on the health care system. Rates in Canada were increasing before the pandemic, with higher rates of more severe obesity.

The large study, which included data on 746 250 adults aged 18 and older, looked at trends in BMI over 15 years, from January 2009 to March 2020 and from April 2020 to December 2023. Researchers found that BMI-defined obesity rates increased from 25% in 2009 to 33% in 2022, an absolute increase of about 8%. After the pandemic started, obesity increased by just over 1 percentage point a year, about twice the pre-pandemic rate of increase. As well, obesity rates in males and females narrowed, with a 9% increase in obesity in females compared with a 7% increase in males. Obesity rates were highest in people who were White or Black.

“We observed important subgroup differences, with several groups that had a lower historical prevalence of obesity showing a substantial increase during the pandemic, including females and young adults. This raises concerns about potential adverse long-term consequences,” write the authors.

The authors observed a small increase in underweight adults during the study period and note that being underweight can have negative health effects. They caution that efforts to address rising rates of obesity should consider unintended effects of weight control messaging on people with eating disorders.

Investment in research and approaches to obesity prevention and treatment are needed and should be a priority for funders and policy-makers.

The research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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Journal

Canadian Medical Association Journal

DOI

10.1503/cmaj.241421 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Trends in obesity defined by body mass index among adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional study of the 2009–2023 Canadian Community Health Surveys

Article Publication Date

14-Jul-2025

 

Not all "forever chemicals" are equal: Experts call for nuanced PFAS policy to protect human and public health and the environment

Articles in Heart Rhythm highlight the urgent need to distinguish between harmful PFAS and essential fluoropolymers used in medical technology

Elsevier

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This image demonstrates the use of fluoropolymers poly(ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in common cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) lead constructions. A. Coaxial pacing lead; B. Coradial pacing lead; C. Lumenless pacing lead; D. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) lead.

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Credit: Heart Rhythm / Vatterott et al.

The public, legislators, and media often group per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” which are found globally in countless products, into a single category. While certain PFAS are harmful for human and public health, new articles in Heart Rhythm, the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society, the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, and the Pediatric & Congenital Electrophysiology Society, published by Elsevier, emphasize that fluoropolymers, a specific class of PFAS, are not considered environmental contaminants and are indispensable for use in medical devices. Experts call for a balanced approach to protect both the environment and availability of essential medical technologies.

PFAS are found in a constellation of products across all sectors of commerce and all parts of the globe. These industries include textiles, aerospace, communications, electronics, pharmaceuticals, energy, and healthcare.

In their article “The role of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in medical devices and delivery systems: Why the electrophysiologist should care,” Heart Rhythm Society member and clinician from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Pierce J. Vatterott, MD, and biomaterial scientists Paul D. Drumheller, PhD, Nadine Ding, PhD, and Joyce Wong, PhD, explain, “Due to their high chemical stability, PFAS are persistent in the environment and certain PFAS have been linked to water contamination, environmental effects, and human disease. Two noteworthy substances are the water-soluble, small-molecule compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). These two compounds are considered environmental contaminants by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

PFAS encompass over 12,000 compounds besides PFOA and PFOS and fall into distinct classes that have vastly different chemical, biological, and toxicological properties. One specific class of PFAS – fluoropolymers – are essential to human and public health, especially to cardiac electrophysiology. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, approximately 250,000 approved medical devices contain fluoropolymers. These fluoropolymers undergo extensive biocompatibility and pre-clinical testing and have not been linked to health issues associated with their long-term use. Fluoropolymers are significantly larger than water-soluble PFAS and are not considered environmental contaminants by the EPA.

Fluoropolymers are critical in all phases of medical device use (e.g., cardiac implantable electronic devices, ablation catheters and sheaths), including their manufacturing process, performance, and delivery within the human body.

Noted expert Roger Carrillo, MD, MBA, FHRS, Chief of Surgical Electrophysiology at Palmetto General Hospital, Miami, emphasizes: “Fluoropolymers play a crucial role in thousands of modern medical devices. Their unique properties have enabled the miniaturization of valves, created slippery surfaces for catheters, and provided the flexibility and electrical insulation essential for components of leads and cardiac pacemakers. Unlike smaller PFAS molecules linked to health concerns and water contamination, these large polymers have not been associated with such issues. It is imperative that clinicians understand the important differences within this diverse class of compounds. Dr. Vatterott et al.’s contribution in Heart Rhythm provides a concise, detailed, and informative insight into this topic.”

The authors point out, "At present, no other class of materials exists with fluoropolymers’ unique combined properties including lubricity, biostability, temperature tolerance, strength, flexibility, and electrical insulation. For over 50 years, they have been safely used in medical devices such as brain shunts, cardiac valves, catheters, vascular grafts, pacemakers, and defibrillator systems. Fluoropolymers enable minimally invasive procedures, improve long-term device function, reliability, and allow significant advancements including device miniaturization."

In the accompanying article “PFAS regulations and the potential impacts on patient care,” the authors highlight key proposed and enacted bans and restrictions, particularly in the US at the federal and state levels, Canada, and the European Union. “Many legislations seek to regulate these over 12,000 distinct chemicals as a single class, motivated by the known risks of specific water-soluble, small-molecule compounds, i.e., they do not distinguish between toxic water-soluble small-molecule PFAS and medical fluoropolymers. These efforts are threatening the availability of fluoropolymers even in cases where medical device exclusions are allowed,” notes lead author Paul D. Drumheller, PhD, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, Washington, DC.

The authors of the accompanying editorial "What every electrophysiologist should know and worry about," Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD, FHRS, Medical College of Virginia / VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, and Charles D. Swerdlow MD, FHRS, Smidth Heart Institute at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, say, “Because small-molecule PFAS are toxic, PFAS are increasingly being regulated worldwide; and much legislation does not distinguish between small, toxic molecules and medical fluoropolymers. PFAS manufacturers are not waiting for these regulations to take effect. They are exiting the medical fluoropolymer market, threatening the supply chain for all medical products that use fluoropolymers. Thus, these proposed and enacted regulations have important implications for clinical electrophysiologists worldwide. The articles in Heart Rhythm help us better understand the complex issues surrounding PFAS and medical fluoropolymers.”

Dr. Vatterott concludes, “Loss of access to fluoropolymers will have profound negative effects for our patients and on the practice of medicine, especially cardiac electrophysiology. It is critical to find a path that protects our environment but ensures the availability of fluoropolymers that are essential in medical devices, minimally invasive procedures, and drives ongoing innovation in medical technology.”

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Journal

Heart Rhythm

DOI

10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.05.057 

Method of Research

Commentary/editorial

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

The role of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in medical devices and delivery systems: Why the electrophysiologist should care

Article Publication Date

14-Jul-2025