Prior Authorization Harms Cancer Care, Radiation Oncologists Say
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/prior-authorization-harms-cancer-care-radiation-oncologists-say/ TOPLINE: Prior authorization may cause treatment delays for patients, prompt physicians to choose less optimal treatments, cause patients to abandon treatments, and result in adverse events and sometimes death, according to the latest survey of US radiation oncologists. METHODOLOGY: The physician specialty with the highest rate of nondrug prior authorization is […]
A Bittersweet Remedy for Diabetes Risk
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/a-bittersweet-remedy-for-diabetes-risk/ TOPLINE: Consuming five or more servings per week of dark chocolate is associated with a lower risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared with infrequent or no consumption. Conversely, a higher consumption of milk chocolate does not significantly affect the risk for diabetes and may contribute to greater weight gain. METHODOLOGY: […]
Are Medicare Advantage Plans Unfairly Denying Radiotherapy?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/are-medicare-advantage-plans-unfairly-denying-radiotherapy/ TOPLINE: Medicare Advantage plans are inappropriately denying radiation therapy services significantly more frequently than other health services, new data show. METHODOLOGY: Medicare Advantage plans are expected to cover all services that Traditional Medicare covers (outside of hospice care). Radiotherapy services for cancer are included in Medicare Advantage plan coverage. In the […]
NHS busier than ever heading into winter
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/nhs-busier-than-ever-heading-into-winter/ The NHS in England is busier than it has ever been heading into winter, the country’s medical director is warning. Prof Sir Stephen Powis said rising rates of flu and the vomiting bug norovirus were putting hospitals under huge strain. Around 95% of beds were occupied at the start of December […]
GLP-1s Hold Promise for Addiction but Questions Remain
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/glp-1s-hold-promise-for-addiction-but-questions-remain/ Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) prescriptions for diabetes and obesity treatment are soaring, as is the interest in their potential for treating an array of other conditions. One area in particular is addiction, which, like obesity and diabetes, has been increasing, both in terms of case numbers and deaths from drug […]
Inflammation Predicts Increased Fracture Risk in IBD
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/inflammation-predicts-increased-fracture-risk-in-ibd/ TOPLINE: A 12-month period of histological inflammation is linked to a modestly increased risk for fracture in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the most pronounced increase observed in patients who are also corticosteroid-naive. METHODOLOGY: Although patients with IBD are known to have a heightened risk for fractures, it is […]
As-Needed Blood Pressure Meds in Hospital Linked to Kidney Injury
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/as-needed-blood-pressure-meds-in-hospital-linked-to-kidney-injury/ TOPLINE: Veterans receiving blood pressure (BP) medication as needed while hospitalized were at a 23% higher risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) and a 1.5-fold greater risk for potentially dangerous rapid reductions in BP. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed the records of 133,760 veterans (90% men; mean age, 71.2 years) hospitalized in Veterans […]
Nirsevimab Reduces Risk for Severe RSV in AI/AN Children
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/nirsevimab-reduces-risk-for-severe-rsv-in-ai-an-children/ Use of nirsevimab was associated with an approximately 80% reduction in illness due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections among American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) infants, based on data from more than 700 children younger than 20 months. AI/AN children have disproportionately high rates of hospitalization for RSV in part […]
Millions May Lose Coverage if Trump Cuts Medicaid Funding
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/millions-may-lose-coverage-if-trump-cuts-medicaid-funding/ With Donald Trump’s return to the White House and Republicans taking full control of Congress in 2025, the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion is back on the chopping block. More than 3 million adults in nine states would be at immediate risk of losing their health coverage should the GOP reduce […]
Reassuring New Data on In Utero Exposure to Antiseizure Meds
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/reassuring-new-data-on-in-utero-exposure-to-antiseizure-meds/ Verbal abilities in children at age 6 years who were exposed to antiseizure medication (ASM) in utero were similar to their counterparts who were not exposed, new research showed. However, exposure-dependent outcomes were more nuanced, with lamotrigine exhibiting positive and levetiracetam potential negative associations at certain blood concentrations. “Because all ASMs […]
Up to 30% of Patients in German Hospitals Are Malnourished
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/up-to-30-of-patients-in-german-hospitals-are-malnourished/ Between 20% and 30% of hospitalized patients in Germany suffer from malnutrition, which may result in serious consequences in some cases. “Malnutrition is not a minor issue. It often leads to complications during treatment and significantly reduces the quality of life for those affected,” emphasized Matthias Pirlich, MD, PhD, a practicing […]
Biomarkers Identified in Patients With sJIA and Lung Disease
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/biomarkers-identified-in-patients-with-sjia-and-lung-disease/ WASHINGTON — Children who have systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis with lung disease (sJIA-LD) have distinct biomarker profiles that may hold potential in eventually detecting LD earlier and identifying personalized treatment, according to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2024 Annual Meeting. Established risk factors for LD, which affects […]
‘Killer’ cells explain differences in immunity between the sexes
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/killer-cells-explain-differences-in-immunity-between-the-sexes/ Immune cells are vital for our survival, but can turn nasty and attack healthy cells KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY As women age, they produce an increasing number of “killer” immune cells, which hunt down and destroy infected cells. This discovery, and the fact that the same isn’t true of men, could […]
QI Initiative Reduced Institution’s JIA Racial Disparities
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/qi-initiative-reduced-institutions-jia-racial-disparities/ WASHINGTON — A quality improvement project aimed at reducing racial disparities in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) led to a modest reduction in the overall clinical Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (cJADAS) and a 17% reduction in the disparity gap between Black and White patients, according to a study presented at the […]
Are Endocrine Disruptors Really a Threat to Health?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/are-endocrine-disruptors-really-a-threat-to-health/ Endocrine disruptors (EDs) — chemicals in the environment that could affect human endocrine function — are increasingly becoming a prominent concern for the public as well as professionals. At its 40th congress, the French Society of Endocrinology hosted a public lecture on the subject, given by Nicolas Chevalier, MD, PhD, professor […]
Thoracic Endovascular Repair Effective for Aortic Injury
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/thoracic-endovascular-repair-effective-for-aortic-injury/ TOPLINE: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) effectively treats blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI), with acceptable long-term survival, low reintervention rates, and early diagnosis of manageable complications with timely intervention. METHODOLOGY: This 20-year retrospective study (2001-2021) analyzed 95 patients (median age, 42 years; 84% men) who underwent TEVAR for BTAI at four […]
Only adverts showing junk food covered by TV ban
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/only-adverts-showing-junk-food-covered-by-tv-ban/ Brands that make unhealthy foods will be able to get round the government’s junk food advertising ban if their adverts don’t show products that break the rules. From October 2025, foods that are high in fat or sugar will not be able to be advertised on television before 9pm, or in […]
NHS worker filmed and shared patient’s mental health breakdown
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/nhs-worker-filmed-and-shared-patients-mental-health-breakdown/ BBC/Sabbiyah Pervez Film of Julie Trafford during a mental heath crisis was taken by a member of NHS staff and posted in a WhatsApp group A patient whose mental breakdown was secretly filmed by an NHS worker and shared on WhatsApp says she has been left feeling “dirty, angry and confused”. […]
NHS gets 12 years to roll out new weight-loss drug
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/nhs-gets-12-years-to-roll-out-new-weight-loss-drug/ A new weight-loss jab will be rolled out on the NHS in England – but it could take 12 years for everyone to receive it, the NHS drugs advisory body says. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) final draft guidance on Mounjaro has recommended it starts being given […]
FDA OKs First Drug Targeting NRG1 Gene Fusion in Pancreatic, Lung Cancers
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-oks-first-drug-targeting-nrg1-gene-fusion-in-pancreatic-lung-cancers/ The FDA granted accelerated approval to the bispecific antibody zenocutuzumab (Bizengri) for NRG1 gene fusion-positive pancreatic adenocarcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on Wednesday. The approval stipulates use in advanced, unresectable, or metastatic disease that progressed on prior systemic therapy. Zenocutuzumab is the first approved therapy for NSCLC or pancreatic […]
New Study Teases Out Chocolate and Diabetes Connection
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/new-study-teases-out-chocolate-and-diabetes-connection/ Eating more dark chocolate was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, an analysis of prospective cohort studies suggested. Among participants across three studies of healthcare workers, those who consumed ≥5 servings per week of dark chocolate had a 21% lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared with those […]
CTE Evident in Brains of Deceased Ice Hockey Players
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cte-evident-in-brains-of-deceased-ice-hockey-players/ Ice hockey players’ CTE risk increased with more years of play. Nearly all brains donated by professional hockey players had evidence of CTE. Donors represent a subset of athletes who often have symptoms of brain disease while alive. The number of years an athlete played ice hockey correlated with his risk […]
RNA Interference Therapeutic Shows Promise for Chronic Hepatitis B
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/rna-interference-therapeutic-shows-promise-for-chronic-hepatitis-b/ In adults with chronic hepatitis B infection receiving viral suppression therapy, coupling an investigational small interfering RNA therapy with an immunomodulator led to substantial declines in blood levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), according to a randomized phase II trial. Out of five medication regimens given for 48 weeks in […]
FDA approves Bizengri for NSCLC, pancreatic cancer
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-approves-bizengri-for-nsclc-pancreatic-cancer/ The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to zenocutuzumab-zbco (Bizengri, Merus) as an intravenous infusion for the treatment of certain adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Specifically, the systemic agent was approved for those with advanced, unresectable, or metastatic NSCLC or pancreatic adenocarcinoma […]
Healthcare Workers Compete on Social Media to Raise Money to Fight Hunger
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/healthcare-workers-compete-on-social-media-to-raise-money-to-fight-hunger/ Healthcare workers have been taking part in — and posting about — a physician-founded social media competition to raise funds for food banks and other organizations under the name “Healthcare Workers vs Hunger,” or HCWvsHunger. The competition was started in December 2020 by Angela Weyand, MD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at the […]
Tirzepatide Tops Semaglutide for Weight Loss in Head-to-Head Trial, Eli Lilly Says
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/tirzepatide-tops-semaglutide-for-weight-loss-in-head-to-head-trial-eli-lilly-says/ Adults on the obesity medication tirzepatide (Zepbound) lost more weight on average than those on semaglutide (Wegovy) in a head-to-head trial of the two injectables, Eli Lilly announced on Wednesday. In topline data from the open-label phase IIIb SURMOUNT-5 trial, people on tirzepatide lost 20.2% of their body weight compared with […]
Serious Outcomes of Steatotic Liver Disease Hit Men and Women Differently
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/serious-outcomes-of-steatotic-liver-disease-hit-men-and-women-differently/ Serious outcomes associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — including liver cancer, cirrhosis, heart disease, and more — affect men and women differently, a large cohort study of privately insured Americans indicated. Men had a more than twofold greater risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with women (HR 2.59, […]
Prenatal Cell-Free DNA Sequencing May Help Detect Cancer in Mothers
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/prenatal-cell-free-dna-sequencing-may-help-detect-cancer-in-mothers/ Use of a standardized cell-free (cf)DNA-sequencing and cancer-screening protocol detected cancer in nearly half of pregnant or postpartum women who initially received unusual or nonreportable clinical cfDNA-sequencing results, the IDENTIFY study showed. In 107 patients, 48.6% of those who received unusual or nonreportable clinical cfDNA-sequencing results had an occult cancer, reported […]
Lead Exposure From Vehicle Exhaust Contributed to Millions of New Psych Disorders
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/lead-exposure-from-vehicle-exhaust-contributed-to-millions-of-new-psych-disorders/ Lead exposure from vehicle exhaust during childhood may have dramatically increased the number of psychiatric disorders in the U.S. and altered the state of mental health across the population, according to an observational study. Over 75 years, researchers found that exposure to leaded gasoline — which peaked in use during the […]
Makers of Sickle Cell Disease Gene Therapy to Participate in Payment Model, CMS Says
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/makers-of-sickle-cell-disease-gene-therapy-to-participate-in-payment-model-cms-says/ Vertex Pharmaceuticals and bluebird bio have entered into an agreement with CMS to participate in a new Medicaid payment model for gene-based sickle cell anemia treatments, the agency announced Wednesday. “The Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model will increase access to promising therapies that improve the chances of people living longer, […]
GLP-1s: The Medications Redefining Diabetes and Obesity Treatment
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/glp-1s-the-medications-redefining-diabetes-and-obesity-treatment/ Jeremy Faust is editor-in-chief of MedPage Today, an emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and a public health researcher. He is author of the Substack column Inside Medicine. Follow In part one of this three-part Instagram Live discussion, MedPage Today editor-in-chief Jeremy Faust, MD, talks about how […]
Supreme Court Appears Likely to Uphold Bans on Transgender Care for Minors
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/supreme-court-appears-likely-to-uphold-bans-on-transgender-care-for-minors/ Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, a majority of the Supreme Court seemed reluctant Wednesday to block Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of […]
Holiday Alone Time; Depression Indication for Antipsychotic? Lithium and CKD
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/holiday-alone-time-depression-indication-for-antipsychotic-lithium-and-ckd/ More than half of respondents in a national survey from Ohio State University said it’s very important to their mental health to have adequate time alone during the holidays. Psychological interventions helped prevent the onset of major depressive disorder in adults with subthreshold depressive symptoms, a 30-trial meta-analysis found. (Lancet Psychiatry) […]
Minimally Invasive Procedure May Reduce Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/minimally-invasive-procedure-may-reduce-symptoms-of-knee-osteoarthritis/ A minimally invasive procedure may reduce symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, results of a German retrospective single-center study suggested. In patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis that didn’t respond to conservative treatments, quality-of-life and pain scores improved by 87% and 71%, respectively, at 1-year follow-up after receiving genicular artery embolization, reported […]
RFK Jr.’s Extremist Views on CDC; Hysterectomy Misconceptions; Blowing Up the NIH?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/rfk-jr-s-extremist-views-on-cdc-hysterectomy-misconceptions-blowing-up-the-nih/ Welcome to the latest edition of Investigative Roundup, highlighting some of the best investigative reporting on healthcare each week. RFK Jr. Likened CDC to Child Abusers and Fascists Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead HHS, may soon be able to bring his extremist views to an agency […]
More DEI Bans Will Have Dire Side Effects for Public Health
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/more-dei-bans-will-have-dire-side-effects-for-public-health/ Bravo is an assistant professor at University of Miami’s School of Nursing. As a registered nurse, I’ve seen how cross-cultural misunderstandings can lead to poor care for my fellow Hispanic patients and families. Sometimes this happens because medical staff see them as “good patients” who are “low-maintenance.” But in reality, they […]
Nearly 30% of U.S. Drugstores Closed in One Decade, Study Shows
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/nearly-30-of-u-s-drugstores-closed-in-one-decade-study-shows/ Nearly three out of 10 U.S. drugstores that were open during the previous decade had closed by 2021, new research shows. Black and Latino neighborhoods were most vulnerable to the retail pharmacy closures, which can chip away at already-limited care options in those communities, researchers said in a study published in […]
Lilly’s Zepbound Tops Wegovy for Weight Loss in Head-to-head Trial
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/lillys-zepbound-tops-wegovy-for-weight-loss-in-head-to-head-trial/ (Reuters) -Eli Lilly said on Wednesday patients on obesity drug Zepbound lost 47% more weight than those who were given Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy in the first large, head-to-head trial of the highly in-demand rival medicines. The drugmaker’s shares rose marginally in premarket trading, while Novo Nordisk’s Copenhagen-listed shares slipped about 1%. […]
Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Linked to Higher CVD Risk
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cutaneous-lupus-erythematosus-linked-to-higher-cvd-risk/ TOPLINE: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk is higher with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than with psoriasis. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective matched longitudinal study compared the incidence and prevalence of ASCVD of 8138 individuals with CLE; 24,675 with SLE; 192,577 with psoriasis; and 81,380 control individuals. The disease-free […]
ITP Drug Disappoints in Hospitalized COVID Patients With Hypoxemia
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/itp-drug-disappoints-in-hospitalized-covid-patients-with-hypoxemia/ The spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor fostamatinib (Tavalisse) did not improve outcomes in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 and hypoxemia, a phase III randomized trial showed. Among 400 patients, the mean number of oxygen-free days was 13.4 for patients in the fostamatinib group and 14.2 for those in the placebo group (adjusted OR […]
Rural-Urban Gap Widens in Obstetric Care Access
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/rural-urban-gap-widens-in-obstetric-care-access/ TOPLINE: Between 2010 and 2022, hospital-based obstetric care declined significantly across the United States, with 52.4% of rural hospitals and 35.7% of urban hospitals not offering obstetric services by 2022. Rural hospitals experienced a steeper increase in the percentage of facilities without obstetrics than urban counterparts, despite several national maternity care […]
Porridge and crumpets fall under new ad ban
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/porridge-and-crumpets-fall-under-new-ad-ban/ Getty Images Certain types of porridge with added sugar are classified as “junk food” under the ban – though porridge products with no added sugar, salt or fat are exempt. Certain types of porridge, crumpets and breakfast cereals are included in a list of products that fall under a new junk […]
UnitedHealth CEO Killed; Mystery Illness Kills 143; RFK Jr.’s Fluoridated Water Biz
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/unitedhealth-ceo-killed-mystery-illness-kills-143-rfk-jr-s-fluoridated-water-biz/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in Manhattan this morning in a possible targeted attack. (New York Times) An unknown disease characterized by high fever and severe headaches killed 143 people in the the Democratic Republic of Congo’s southwest […]
The Best Upfront Regimen for Unresectable CRC Liver Mets?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/the-best-upfront-regimen-for-unresectable-crc-liver-mets/ What is the best upfront chemotherapy option for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and unresectable liver metastases? A new report demonstrated why patients benefit most from starting on a two-drug chemotherapy regimen — FOLFOX or FOLFIRI — instead of a three-drug regimen — FOLFOXIRI. The CAIRO5 trial compared overall survival among […]
Iron Overload: The Silent Bone Breaker
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/iron-overload-the-silent-bone-breaker/ TOPLINE: Patients with serum ferritin levels higher than 1000 μg/L show a 91% increased risk for any fracture, with a doubled risk for vertebral and humerus fractures compared with those without iron overload. METHODOLOGY: Iron overload’s association with decreased bone mineral density is established, but its relationship to osteoporotic fracture risk […]
Digital Coaching Reduces Blood Pressure in Early Pregnancy
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/digital-coaching-reduces-blood-pressure-in-early-pregnancy/ TOPLINE: Digital lifestyle coaching through the Smarter Pregnancy program reduces maternal blood pressure (BP) by approximately 2 mmHg during the first trimester of pregnancy. The program enhances lifestyle behaviors through personalized coaching on vegetable and fruit intake, smoking cessation, and alcohol abstinence. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed data from the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort […]
Medicare Advantage, Part D Plans Limit Ondansetron Access
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/medicare-advantage-part-d-plans-limit-ondansetron-access/ TOPLINE: Among patients with cancer, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans frequently used prior authorization for ondansetron and often imposed quantity limits on the low-cost antiemetic. Despite ondansetron being more affordable in Medicare Advantage plans, both plan types charge significantly higher prices than the Cost Plus Drug Company. […]
Ontario Expands Mental Health Services for Paramedics
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ontario-expands-mental-health-services-for-paramedics/ The Ontario government is investing more than $32 million to support access to mental health services for paramedics and other first responders. The new Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel program will provide specialized services for public safety personnel, who face serious challenges every day in their work. The new […]
Three-Year Medical School Catching on Across the US
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/three-year-medical-school-catching-on-across-the-us/ When it comes to medical education, it appears that history does indeed repeat itself. Take 3-year, accelerated medical school programs, a concept that was first introduced during WWII in response to physician shortages at home and on the battlefield. Today, they’re offered by over 30 schools across the nation. Accelerated MD programs […]
Key Topics in 2025 GOLD Report Include CVD Risk, Spirometry
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/key-topics-in-2025-gold-report-include-cvd-risk-spirometry/ Comparison measures of lung function and improved categorization of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk were among the key updates to the 2025 report from the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) (GOLD). Spirometry information now includes more comprehensive information on lower limit of normal (LLN), z-scores, and reference values, said […]
‘Controversial brain surgery stopped my migraines’
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/controversial-brain-surgery-stopped-my-migraines/ Anna Hill Anna Hill used to suffer from debilitating migraines A woman who suffered debilitating migraines for nine years says her symptoms have gone, after paying for “risky” surgery. Neurologists told Anna Hill, 41, there was no explanation for her condition that once saw her suffering a 94-day migraine. She became […]
Nasal Spray Diuretic Evades Heart Failure Drug Flaw
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/nasal-spray-diuretic-evades-heart-failure-drug-flaw/ CHICAGO — A nasal spray formulation of bumetanide, a diuretic drug, could help treat heart failure by preventing the resistance that can develop to oral forms of the drug, a preliminary safety and efficacy study in healthy volunteers showed. Diuretic resistance is a common problem in patients with heart failure, said Eric […]
The Push for Off-Label Rx to Treat Long COVID: What Works?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/the-push-for-off-label-rx-to-treat-long-covid-what-works/ Charlie McCone, a San Francisco marketing specialist, developed long COVID in 2020, recovered and developed it again in 2021. He’s been sick with fatigue and shortness of breath since then, spending many hours of every day in bed. Only one drug helped his shortness of breath, he said. But doctor after […]
Investigational Drugs Look Promising for Osteoarthritis Pain
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/investigational-drugs-look-promising-for-osteoarthritis-pain/ WASHINGTON — Investigational treatments aimed specifically at reducing pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA) are moving forward in parallel with disease-modifying approaches. “We still have very few treatments for the pain of osteoarthritis…It worries me that people think the only way forward is structure modification. I think while we’re waiting for some […]
Lucy Letby interviewed in prison over Liverpool baby deaths
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/lucy-letby-interviewed-in-prison-over-liverpool-baby-deaths/ Cheshire Constabulary Lucy Letby is serving 15 whole-life terms Lucy Letby has been interviewed by police in prison under caution as part of ongoing investigations into more baby deaths at two hospitals, Cheshire Constabulary has confirmed. The force said it had “recently” spoken to the former neonatal nurse over deaths and […]
Is Eastern Europe Missing Out?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/is-eastern-europe-missing-out/ A new, long-acting injectable to prevent HIV infection could be a “game-changer” in ending the AIDS epidemic, if all who would benefit can access it. In the phase 3, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial PURPOSE 1, 100% of 2134 women aged 16-25 years in South Africa and Uganda who received a twice […]
Flu Shot Reminders Improve Use in Heart Attack Survivors
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/flu-shot-reminders-improve-use-in-heart-attack-survivors/ An electronic nudge explaining the cardiovascular benefits of the influenza vaccine increased vaccination rates, particularly among people who had previously had a heart attack, showed the NUDGE FLU series of clinical trials. Influenza has the potential to be a dangerous infection on its own, but it increases the risk for cardiovascular […]
Hospice leaders warn hundreds of beds out of use
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/hospice-leaders-warn-hundreds-of-beds-out-of-use/ Getty Images About 300 hospice inpatient beds are currently closed or out of use in England, hospice leaders have warned. They say a lack of funding and staff are the primary reasons why some of England’s 170 hospices have had to close beds permanently or take them out of use. Hospice […]
‘We’re attacked and abused as we try to save lives’
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/were-attacked-and-abused-as-we-try-to-save-lives/ BBC Nutan Patel-West said racist abuse and violent attacks had made her fearful while on duty Violence and abuse against paramedics and emergency call handlers is on the rise, with reported cases up by more than a third since 2019, the BBC has found. Almost 45,000 assaults were recorded by ambulance […]
Daily Chores May Provide Cardiovascular Protection in Women Who Don’t Exercise
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/daily-chores-may-provide-cardiovascular-protection-in-women-who-dont-exercise/ Short bursts of incidental daily activity were tied to fewer long-term major adverse cardiovascular events in women without a formal exercise routine. So-called “vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity” can be related to activities for one’s occupation, housework, or transportation. These findings were not observed in men, and sex-specific physical activity guidelines […]
Most Top Medical Journals Prohibit Use of AI During Peer Review Process
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/most-top-medical-journals-prohibit-use-of-ai-during-peer-review-process/ Most of the top 100 medical journals provide guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during the peer review process, with many explicitly prohibiting its use, a study showed. Of the 78 top journals that provide this guidance, 59% prohibit its use in peer review, while the rest allow its […]
Stem Cell Selection Unneeded for SSc Transplant Therapy?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/stem-cell-selection-unneeded-for-ssc-transplant-therapy/ Autologous stem cell transplant for patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc), without selecting for a particular hematopoietic cell type, performed about as well in a new single-arm trial as was seen earlier with CD34+ stem cell transplant. Three-quarters of the study’s 20 patients survived 5 years without relapse or recurrence, and […]
Cognitive Performance Falls as Metal Exposure Rises
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cognitive-performance-falls-as-metal-exposure-rises/ Metal exposure measured in urine was tied to lower cognitive performance and increased dementia risk. Having at least one copy of the APOE4 allele may modify this association. The study assessed exposure to both essential and non-essential metals. Traces of nine essential metals and non-essential metals in urine were linked with […]
Hello Buprenorphine, Step Into My Practice
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/hello-buprenorphine-step-into-my-practice/ Wakeman is an addiction medicine specialist and an associate professor of medicine. After years of alarming increases in opioid overdose deaths, the U.S. finally saw a 1-year decline from 84,000 to 81,000 in 2023. While the marginal drop is encouraging, we cannot rest on this achievement or count on it to […]
HIPEC for Recurrent, Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer Fails to Improve PFS
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/hipec-for-recurrent-platinum-sensitive-ovarian-cancer-fails-to-improve-pfs/ Patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer did just as well with cytoreductive surgery alone as they did with surgery plus intraperitoneal chemotherapy, according to a randomized trial. Median progression-free survival (PFS) improved from 23 months with surgery alone to 25 months with the addition of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a nonsignificant […]
Modified Donanemab Dosing May Reduce ARIA-E Risk in Early Alzheimer’s
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/modified-donanemab-dosing-may-reduce-aria-e-risk-in-early-alzheimers/ Modified titration of donanemab (Kisunla) for early Alzheimer’s disease significantly reduced the frequency of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities with edema and effusion (ARIA-E) compared to standard dosing, while maintaining sufficient amyloid reduction, according to findings from the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 6 trial presented at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease conference in Madrid. In […]
Early Dementia Predictors; Neural Data Privacy; An Artist’s Journey Into Parkinson’s
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/early-dementia-predictors-neural-data-privacy-an-artists-journey-into-parkinsons/ A new RAND analysis evaluated the predictive power of 181 potential risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia. Family mental illness history was associated with aggression risk in people with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, an autopsy study showed. (Neurology) Hypothalamic deep brain stimulation helped patients walk after spinal cord injury. (Nature Medicine) […]
Timelier U.S. Guidelines; Spouse’s Personality & CVD; ‘Hostile’ Cardiologists Out
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/timelier-u-s-guidelines-spouses-personality-hostile-cardiologists-out/ To facilitate more timely guideline updates, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have committed to annual guideline “maintenance” and single recommendation updating. (Journal of the American College of Cardiology) Having a spouse with a Type D (“distressed”) personality was associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes for patients with […]
ADA Advises Against Compounded GLP-1s; Growth Hormone Therapy Guide; T1D Outcomes Up
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ada-advises-against-compounded-glp-1s-growth-hormone-therapy-guide-t1d-outcomes-up/ The American Diabetes Association (ADA) urged healthcare providers against prescribing non-FDA approved compounded GLP-1 and dual GIP/GIP-1 receptor agonists for type 2 diabetes or obesity and instead recommended switching to a different FDA-approved medication if an agent is unavailable. (Diabetes Care) Patients with hypothyroidism who lost more than over 5 lb […]
Stone Workers Often Present With Atypical, Advanced Features of Silicosis
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/stone-workers-often-present-with-atypical-advanced-features-of-silicosis/ Workers who build engineered stone countertops often present with atypical and advanced features of silicosis, which may be missed by physicians, delaying diagnosis and treatment, according to findings from a cross-sectional pilot study. Among 21 workers who underwent preliminary analysis at a large urban safety-net hospital, 48% had atypical imaging features […]
Better Drugs Through AI? What Machine Learning Can Teach Big Pharma.
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/better-drugs-through-ai-what-machine-learning-can-teach-big-pharma/ Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way companies do business — helping programmers write code and fielding customer service calls with chatbots. But the pharmaceutical industry is still waiting to see whether AI can tackle its biggest challenge: finding faster, cheaper ways to develop new drugs. Despite billions poured into research, […]
Supreme Court Doesn’t Seem Convinced FDA Was Unfair in Blocking Flavored Vapes
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/supreme-court-doesnt-seem-convinced-fda-was-unfair-in-blocking-flavored-vapes/ A majority of Supreme Court justices didn’t seem convinced Monday that federal regulators misled companies before refusing to allow them to sell sweet-flavored vaping products following a surge in teen e-cigarette use. The conservative-majority court did raise questions about the FDA crackdown that included denials of more than a million nicotine […]
How monitoring your sweat could reveal the state of your health
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/how-monitoring-your-sweat-could-reveal-the-state-of-your-health/ Your sweat holds a lot of information about the state of your health Ryan Pierse/Getty Images Wow, you’re quite salty,” says Stefan van der Fluit, looking over my numbers. I could have told him that. I have just done a sweaty, 45-minute workout on an exercise bike and the salt is […]
Some Older Adults Think Stopping CRC Screening at Age 75 Is ‘Unacceptable’
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/some-older-adults-think-stopping-crc-screening-at-age-75-is-unacceptable/ Although a majority of older adults said that guidelines limiting colorectal cancer (CRC) screening after age 75 were acceptable, a substantial minority did not agree, according to results from a cross-sectional study. Among over 1,200 older adults, a weighted estimate of 60.4% said guidelines on stopping CRC screening at age 75 […]
Harvey Weinstein Hospitalized; Medicare Advantage Under Trump; NFL Icon’s Health
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/harvey-weinstein-hospitalized-medicare-advantage-under-trump-nfl-icons-health/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Former film producer Harvey Weinstein was hospitalized after an “alarming blood test.” (AP News) President-elect Donald Trump’s health nominees were COVID-19 skeptics. Politico analyzed how their COVID views have aged and what the evidence actually says. Medicare Advantage insurers are likely to […]
Why do Ozempic and Wegovy seem to treat everything?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/why-do-ozempic-and-wegovy-seem-to-treat-everything/ It is rare that a drug becomes a household name and even rarer for one to become a superstar, but with its ability to grab headlines, Ozempic is the Taylor Swift of pharmaceuticals. So just what lies behind its star power? Even as the drug and its derivatives take off, researchers […]
BCG Vaccine May Protect Against Long COVID Symptoms
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/bcg-vaccine-may-protect-against-long-covid-symptoms/ TOPLINE: Administering the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine during the active phase of COVID-19 may help protect against the development of long COVID. METHODOLOGY: A phase 3 clinical trial initiated in early 2020 investigated the effect of the BCG vaccine injected during active infection on COVID-19 progression in adults with mild or […]
Heart Benefits of Exercise Vary by Race, Exercise, Sex
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/heart-benefits-of-exercise-vary-by-race-exercise-sex/ Disparities in participation may be preventing women and racial and ethnic minorities from deriving the full cardiovascular benefits of exercise, according to a new review. Women derive greater cardiovascular benefits from exercise and have reduced rates of sudden cardiac death than men, according to the review. Moreover, Black race or ethnicity […]
Prasugrel Bests Ticagrelor in Acute Coronary Syndrome Care
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/prasugrel-bests-ticagrelor-in-acute-coronary-syndrome-care/ TOPLINE: Prasugrel is associated with lower rates of mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke than ticagrelor under conditions of routine care of patients discharged after invasive treatment for acute coronary syndrome, with the effects being particularly pronounced in those with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). METHODOLOGY: Researchers used data from a German […]
Is Bariatric Surgery at Risk of Becoming Obsolete?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/is-bariatric-surgery-at-risk-of-becoming-obsolete/ The availability of second-generation obesity drugs (glucagon-like peptide 1 [GLP-1] analogues) has raised questions about the role of bariatric surgery. During its 40th annual congress in October 2024, the French Society of Endocrinology held a debate on this topic. Emmanuel Disse, MD, PhD, an endocrinologist at Lyon University Hospital, Lyon, argued […]
PFAS Exposure Can Impair Thyroid Homeostasis in Adults
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/pfas-exposure-can-impair-thyroid-homeostasis-in-adults/ TOPLINE: Exposure to individual or mixed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is associated with changes in peripheral rather than central thyroid hormone sensitivity. METHODOLOGY: PFASs are widely recognized for their persistence in the environment and potential endocrine-disrupting effects. A cross-sectional study investigated associations between PFAS exposures and thyroid homeostasis parameters in […]
Expert Discusses the ‘Four Pillars of Acne Pathogenesis’
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/expert-discusses-the-four-pillars-of-acne-pathogenesis/ LAS VEGAS — For clinicians who rely on generic tretinoin 0.5% as their go-to treatment for patients with acne, Shanna Miranti, MPAS, PA-C, offers some straightforward advice: You can do better. Shanna Miranti, MPAS, PA-C “Friends don’t let friends write generic tretinoin only because there are so many better options out […]
Covid corruption commissioner gets to work
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/covid-corruption-commissioner-gets-to-work/ The new Covid corruption commissioner has started an investigation into personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud. Tom Hayhoe’s first task will be reviewing the £8.7bn of PPE bought during the pandemic that then had to be written off the government’s books. Mr Hayhoe is also likely to review the previous government’s abandoning […]
All Docs Need More Tech Training
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/all-docs-need-more-tech-training/ Artificial intelligence (AI) is already changing healthcare, but data science training for clinicians and medical students is still largely elective. The vast majority of doctors believe that needs to change. According to a soon-to-be-published Medscape report, AI Adoption in Healthcare, 85% of practicing physicians agreed: The use of AI in medicine […]
ADA Advises Against Using Compounded GLP-1 RA Medications
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ada-advises-against-using-compounded-glp-1-ra-medications/ In a new statement, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has advised against the use of compounded glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) and dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 RA medication classes. The ADA recommends GLP-1 RA and GIP/GLP-1 RA medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for […]
FDA Approves Ustekinumab Biosimilar Yesintek
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-approves-ustekinumab-biosimilar-yesintek/ The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ustekinumab-kfce (Yesintek) as a biosimilar to ustekinumab (Stelara) for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. This is the sixth ustekinumab biosimilar approved by the FDA. The biosimilar was developed by Biocon Biologics, a biosimilars company based […]
Consider All Prior Fractures During Osteoporosis Assessment, Study Suggests
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/consider-all-prior-fractures-during-osteoporosis-assessment-study-suggests/ Fractures that occurred at any prior time in adulthood were associated with fracture risk in older adults, a cohort study indicated. In fact, a first fracture in younger adulthood was linked with the greatest increased risk. Compared with no fracture, any non-high-trauma fracture during ages 20 to 39 years was associated […]
Study: Patients Better Be Very Literate to Understand These Handouts
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/study-patients-better-be-very-literate-to-understand-these-handouts/ Patient education materials (PEMs) in rheumatology and general medicine demanded greater literacy than is typically recommended, researchers found. Handouts from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the JAMA Network group required a 10th-grade reading level on average by one metric, and a college-sophomore level by another, according to Yazmin Rustomji, […]
Drug Prices Negotiated by Medicare Still Higher Than Other Countries’
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/drug-prices-negotiated-by-medicare-still-higher-than-other-countries/ Prices for the first 10 drugs negotiated by Medicare fell from their initial net prices, but all drugs except one remained more expensive in the U.S. than in peer countries, researchers said. Compared with their net prices prior to negotiation, negotiated prices for the 10 drugs ranged from 8% lower for […]
Beta-Blockers Tied to Delayed Huntington’s Disease Progression
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/beta-blockers-tied-to-delayed-huntingtons-disease-progression/ Beta-blocker use was tied with slower symptom progression in people with early motor-manifest Huntington’s disease. In a people with genetically confirmed premanifest Huntington’s, beta-blocker use was associates with a later age at symptom onset. The autonomic nervous system may be a novel target to help slow Huntington’s progression. Beta-blocker therapy was […]
Long List of Tasks Awaits New CDC Director, Experts Say
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/long-list-of-tasks-awaits-new-cdc-director-experts-say/ Former representative Dave Weldon, MD (R-Fla.), President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to run the CDC, will have his work cut out for him, one infectious disease expert says. Anne Schuchat, MD, former principal deputy director of the CDC, said that among the critical duties for Weldon, should he be confirmed by the […]
Indoor Air Purification Improved Pulmonary Health in Kids
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/indoor-air-purification-improved-pulmonary-health-in-kids/ Indoor air purification improved pulmonary health markers among children living in a region with severe air pollution, a cluster randomized trial showed. Among 79 kids living in Mengzhou City in China, the time-weighted personal fine particulate matter concentration decreased by 45.14% during the air purification period (mean 21.49 μg/m3) compared with […]
Fat in the Belly Correlates With Brain Amyloid
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fat-in-the-belly-correlates-with-brain-amyloid/ Higher levels of visceral fat were correlated with more amyloid plaque in the brains of cognitively normal individuals, according to a study that hints as to why individuals with obesity are more prone to dementia. Amyloid levels were higher among individuals with obesity compared to those without obesity (P=0.008), and were […]
Myelofibrosis: Transformation to Leukemia | MedPage Today
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/myelofibrosis-transformation-to-leukemia-medpage-today/ A subset of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) — clonal disorders of hematopoietic stem cells that include polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia, as well as primary myelofibrosis — will transition to post-MPN, or secondary, acute myeloid leukemia (AML). “Some people call it AML — I like to make the distinction and […]
Novel Therapies for Asthma in the Pipeline
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/novel-therapies-for-asthma-in-the-pipeline/ In this exclusive MedPage Today video, Michael E. Wechsler, MD, a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health in Denver, discusses some of the novel treatments and strategies that he believes are going to have the potential to benefit patients with severe asthma over the next few years. Following is a transcript of […]
What If…? | MedPage Today
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/what-if-medpage-today/ Fred Pelzman is an associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell, and has been a practicing internist for nearly 30 years. He is medical director of Weill Cornell Internal Medicine Associates. Over this past long Thanksgiving holiday weekend, in addition to eating way too much turkey and stuffing, and being thankful […]
Fauci Facepalms Won’t Cut It in the Second Trump Administration
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fauci-facepalms-wont-cut-it-in-the-second-trump-administration/ Oxman is an intensive care physician and associate professor of medicine. It was one of the more memorable images of the COVID pandemic. Anthony Fauci, MD, a prominent member of the White House COVID task force and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stands at the back […]
HIV Doesn’t Cause AIDS and Other Conspiracies RFK Jr. Endorsed
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/hiv-doesnt-cause-aids-and-other-conspiracies-rfk-jr-endorsed/ Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s views on vaccines are well known, but the environmental lawyer tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to be the next HHS Secretary has touted other questionable claims, from man-made chemicals turning children gay to antidepressants being responsible for mass shootings. Here are a few. That HIV Does Not […]
A Twice-Yearly Shot Could Help End AIDS. But Will It Get to Everyone Who Needs It?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/a-twice-yearly-shot-could-help-end-aids-but-will-it-get-to-everyone-who-needs-it/ It’s been called the closest the world has ever come to a vaccine against HIV. The twice-yearly shot was 100% effective in preventing HIV infections in a study of women, and results published Wednesday show it worked nearly as well in men. Drugmaker Gilead said it will allow cheap, generic versions […]
The Supreme Court Takes Up Tennessee’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/the-supreme-court-takes-up-tennessees-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-for-minors/ Advocates for transgender rights are turning to a conservative-dominated Supreme Court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people. The justices on Wednesday are taking up the issue of gender-affirming care for transgender minors, which has been banned by Tennessee […]