In two new studies, NIH researchers found no evidence of brain injury or abnormalities among people who experienced Havana syndrome, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey/Ohio.

Related: How can you avoid becoming a 'medical mystery'?

• Illinois: Amid an ongoing cost-cutting initiative, Walgreens is closing two distribution centers in Connecticut and Florida and laying off over 600 workers. At the Connecticut location, 322 workers will be laid off, and 324 workers will be laid off at the Florida location. According to Walgreens spokesperson Marty Maloney, the facilities' last day of operations is May 17, and employees who are laid off will receive severance and separation pay. "We are focused on aligning our operational structure to best serve our patients and customers. This includes an evaluation of our distribution center operations in order to streamline capacities to best support our stores," Maloney said. "We are grateful for the many contributions our team members at these facilities have made and we are committed to supporting them during this transition." Aside from these distribution center closures, Walgreens has also closed many of its VillageMD stores in several states and cut hundreds of jobs at its corporate headquarters to save costs. (Davis, Crain's Chicago Business/Modern Healthcare, 3/18)
• Maryland: According to two new studies from NIH researchers, there is no significant evidence of brain injuries or abnormalities in most clinical measures among U.S. government personnel who experienced anomalous health incidents (AHI), or Havana syndrome. Havana syndrome refers to a variety of strange symptoms, including hearing piercing sounds, vertigo, and nausea, experienced by U.S. officials while working overseas. Around 1,500 cases of Havana syndrome have been reported worldwide, but a clear cause has yet to be pinpointed. In one of the NIH studies, researchers examined MRI scans of 81 people with AHIs and 48 matched controls between June 2018 and November 2022. In the other study, researchers evaluated 86 people with AHIs and 30 controls on several clinical measures between June 2018 and July 2022. Overall, the researchers found that there were no differences in MRI measures of brain structure of function between people with AHIs and matched controls. Although the studies did not find any evidence of injury, Leighton Chan, acting chief scientific officer at the NIH Clinical Center and the study's lead author, said that "it's important to acknowledge that these symptoms are very real, cause significant disruption in the lives of those affected, and can be quite prolonged, disabling, and difficult to treat." (NIH press release, 3/18; George, MedPage Today, 3/18; Beasley, Reuters, 3/18)
• New Jersey/Ohio: Kroger on Monday announced plans to sell its specialty pharmacy arm to CarelonRx, a subsidiary of Elevance Health. Kroger Specialty Pharamacy, which was launched in 2012, provides resources, counseling, and clinical care for patients with chronic illnesses. However, Kroger's in-store pharmacies and walk-in clinics are not part of its deal with CarelonRx. Both companies have entered into a definitive agreement about the sale, and the deal is expected to close in the second half of 2024 after receiving regulatory approval and closing conditions. "As part of our regular review of assets, it became clear that our strong specialty pharmacy business unit will better meet its full potential outside of our business," said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health. "We are confident this transaction will help the business to grow and deliver better results for patients. We look forward to working toward a smooth transition for associates and patients." (Devereaux, Modern Healthcare, 3/19)

While most people don't anticipate becoming a "medical mystery," the path to an accurate diagnosis can be "surprisingly complex, strewn with cognitive land mines, logistical roadblocks and red herrings." Writing for the Washington Post, Sandra Boodman offers five tips for patients on how to avoid becoming a medical mystery.