What to Know About Marty Makary, Trump’s Potential FDA Pick

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/what-to-know-about-marty-makary-trumps-potential-fda-pick/ Multiple reports suggest that president-elect Donald Trump is considering Marty Makary, MD, MPH, to run the FDA. Here’s what to know. Makary served as the editor-in-chief of MedPage Today from January 2020 through the end of 2021. The Johns Hopkins surgeon and health policy researcher has written three books on medicine […]

New FDA Panel Weighs In on Regulating Generative AI in Healthcare

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/new-fda-panel-weighs-in-on-regulating-generative-ai-in-healthcare/ A newly assembled FDA advisory committee recommended several approaches to how the agency should handle regulation of generative artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled medical devices during a 2-day meeting that wrapped up Thursday. The Digital Health Advisory Committee (DHAC) held its first meeting to offer guidance to the FDA on a slew of […]

California Case Is the First Confirmed Bird Flu Infection in a U.S. Child

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/california-case-is-the-first-confirmed-bird-flu-infection-in-a-u-s-child/ Health officials on Friday confirmed bird flu in a California child — the first reported case in a U.S. minor. The child had mild symptoms, was treated with antiviral medication, and is recovering, the CDC said in announcing the test results. State officials have said the child attends day care and […]

Clonazepam Recall Grows Over Dangerous Labelling Error

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/clonazepam-recall-grows-over-dangerous-labelling-error/ Endo USA, Inc, has expanded its previously announced recall of clonazepam orally disintegrating tablets due to a packaging error that could be life-threatening. An ongoing investigation by the company has identified the possibility that certain clonazepam product lots contain cartons printed with the incorrect strength and National Drug Code (NDC) code […]

Preserve the National Institute of Nursing Research’s Independence

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/preserve-the-national-institute-of-nursing-researchs-independence/ Darcy-Mahoney is a professor, neonatal nurse practitioner, researcher, and educator. Menon is the dean of a college of nursing. Murray is dean emerita, professor, and chief diversity officer at a school of nursing. The positioning of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) as an independent entity within NIH is essential […]

Major Shifts in Urothelial Cancer Care: Immunotherapy Redefines Standards

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/major-shifts-in-urothelial-cancer-care-immunotherapy-redefines-standards/ Recent advances in immunotherapy and combination therapies are revolutionizing the treatment landscape for both metastatic and muscle-invasive urothelial cancer. In this exclusive MedPage Today video, Vadim Koshkin, MD, of the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the latest updates, including the effects of enfortumab vedotin […]

Georgia Disbands Maternal Mortality Committee Over Leaked Abortion Info

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/georgia-disbands-maternal-mortality-committee-over-leaked-abortion-info/ Georgia’s top health official dismissed all members of a state committee that investigates pregnancy-related maternal deaths after a committee member presumably released information about two such deaths. In a letter first reported by ProPublica and dated November 8, state public health commissioner Kathleen Toomey, MD, MPH, said whoever shared the information […]

Ophthalmologists Warn Against Surgery to Change Eye Color

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ophthalmologists-warn-against-surgery-to-change-eye-color/ Welcome to Culture Clinic, MedPage Today‘s collaboration with Northwell Health to offer a healthcare professional’s take on the latest viral medical topics. While some consumers are turning to products marketed as eye color-changing drops in search of their preferred hue, others are pursuing an even more invasive option, reportedly paying thousands […]

Year in Review: Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/year-in-review-inflammatory-bowel-disease/ Notable news about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in 2024 included a study evaluating loss of response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, new FDA approvals, problems with placebos, and extended data on a promising new drug. Top-Down Treatment Beat Step-Up Approach Clinical trial researchers reported that early and intensive “top down” […]

What is methanol and how does it affect the body?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/what-is-methanol-and-how-does-it-affect-the-body/ Getty Images The UK Foreign Office advises travellers: “Take care if offered, particularly for free, or when buying spirit-based drinks. If labels, smell or taste seem wrong then do not drink.” Travellers are being warned of the dangers of methanol poisoning after six tourists to Laos have died. Methanol is an […]

Parents ‘devastated’ over daughter’s suspected poisoning death

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/parents-devastated-over-daughters-suspected-poisoning-death/ Squire Patton Boggs Simone White’s parents described their daughter as a “soul who gave so much” The parents of British lawyer Simone White, who died in a suspected poisoning in Laos, have said they are “devastated” by the “terrible tragedy”. Ms White, from Orpington, south-east London, died in hospital after drinking […]

PVI Add-Ons Provide Better Control of Persistent AF

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/pvi-add-ons-provide-better-control-of-persistent-af/ The addition of linear ablation plus ethanol infusion to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) improves control of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) better than PVI alone, a multicenter randomized trial shows. With the two add-ons to PVI, “freedom from AF recurrences without anti-arrhythmia drugs was achieved in 70.7% of patients, compared to 61.5% […]

Managing Patient Concerns in Axial Spondyloarthritis

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/managing-patient-concerns-in-axial-spondyloarthritis/ People with back pain face some uncertainty in diagnosis that is unsettling to patients and physicians alike. But once a diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is made, concerns often shift to both disease-specific questions and more general issues about disease chronicity and healthcare interactions. “Given the chronic and often progressive nature […]

Three Important Changes in AASM’s New Restless Legs Syndrome Guidelines

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/three-important-changes-in-aasms-new-restless-legs-syndrome-guidelines/ The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has updated its guidelines for the treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS) for the first time in 12 years. In this video interview, guideline author John Winkelman, MD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, highlights the three key changes […]

First Long-Term Study ID’s Recovery Time for Brain Disorder

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/first-long-term-study-ids-recovery-time-for-brain-disorder/ Recovery from anti–N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis can take 3 years or longer, with lingering memory, language and emotional problems, results of a new study suggest.  After a 3-year recovery period for young adults with the condition, 34% had continued impairment and 65% scored below average in one or more areas of […]

Treatment of Oligometastatic EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/treatment-of-oligometastatic-egfr-mutant-lung-cancer/ EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective treatments for EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, even after undergoing systemic therapy, patients may have oligometastatic disease. “A lot of patients respond well to current treatment options — whether it is osimertinib [Tagrisso] with or without platinum-based chemotherapy or amivantamab [Rybrevant] with […]

Higher Early-Onset CRC Mortality Seen in Minorities

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/higher-early-onset-crc-mortality-seen-in-minorities/ TOPLINE: Death rates for patients aged METHODOLOGY: US rates of EOCRC are increasing, with differences across racial and ethnic groups, but few studies have provided detailed risk estimates in the categories of Asian American and of Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as the contribution of sociodemographic factors to […]

Nationwide Beef Recall; 23% of U.S. Adults Underinsured; Deaths From Tainted Booze

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/nationwide-beef-recall-23-of-u-s-adults-underinsured-deaths-from-tainted-booze/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. A nationwide recall involving 160,000 pounds of ground beef was announced after 15 people were sickened by E. coli. (Newsweek) Meanwhile, federal officials declared an end to the deadly listeria outbreak tied to Boar’s Head meat. (AP) President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs […]

Canadian Scientists Keep Watchful Eye on H5N1 Human Case

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/canadian-scientists-keep-watchful-eye-on-h5n1-human-case/ Now that Canada has confirmed its first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) linked to H5N1, virologists and infectious disease experts are urging caution around surveillance, infection control, and the potential for spread among mammals and humans. The patient, a teenager in British Columbia, was hospitalized on November 8 […]

What Has Canada Learned About Cannabis Since Legalization?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/what-has-canada-learned-about-cannabis-since-legalization/ More than 6 years after the legalization of nonmedical cannabis, Canadian scientists are reporting a mix of observations. Legalization has improved drug safety and reduced some health harms yet also raised questions about new high-strength products and consumer decision-making. Based on the latest 2024 data from Statistics Canda, about a third […]

As GLP-1 Use Surges, Clinicians Weigh Benefits and Risks

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/as-glp-1-use-surges-clinicians-weigh-benefits-and-risks/ Rates of overweight and obesity have more than doubled in the United States during the last three decades, according to a new analysis. By 2050, it’s anticipated that 213 million adults (age, > 25 years) and 43 million children and adolescents will have overweight or obesity. The results led authors of […]

Residency to Reality: The Job Outlook for New Docs

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/residency-to-reality-the-job-outlook-for-new-docs/ What does the employment market hold for new physician recruits? From alternative scheduling arrangements to improved work-life balance, the outlook for doctors is positive. Medscape Medical News Source link : https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/residency-reality-job-outlook-new-docs-2024a1000lc2?src=rss Author : Publish date : 2024-11-22 13:09:26 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source. Author : News Health […]

How to Calm Rosacea-Related Facial Erythema, Flushing

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/how-to-calm-rosacea-related-facial-erythema-flushing/ LAS VEGAS — When patients with rosacea consult Julie C. Harper, MD, about persistent facial erythema, she often recommends brimonidine 0.33% gel or oxymetazoline 1% cream. These agents “work fast” and “improve redness quickly,” Harper, a dermatologist who practices in Birmingham, Alabama, said at the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) […]

Stand-Alone Adjuvant Immunotherapy for Early TNBC?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/stand-alone-adjuvant-immunotherapy-for-early-tnbc/ The role of adjuvant immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains uncertain. Standard therapy for TNBC includes neoadjuvant pembrolizumab  with chemotherapy followed by pembrolizumab, with or without chemotherapy, after surgery.  One lingering uncertainty has been whether continuing immunotherapy after surgery provides any survival benefit (see previous story).  But there’s another question […]

Stages I-III Screen-Detected CRC Boosts Disease-Free Survival

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/stages-i-iii-screen-detected-crc-boosts-disease-free-survival/ TOPLINE: Patients with stages I-III screen-detected colorectal cancer (CRC) have better disease-free survival rates than those with non-screen–detected CRC, an effect that was independent of patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics. METHODOLOGY: Patients with screen-detected CRC have better stage-specific overall survival rates than those with non-screen–detected CRC, but the impact of screening […]

Anastrozole Increases Height in Children With CAH

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/anastrozole-increases-height-in-children-with-cah/ TOPLINE: Adjunct treatment with anastrozole in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) delays the rate of bone maturation and increases the predicted adult height over 6 years, with no significant increase in hydrocortisone doses. METHODOLOGY: Aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole, have been used off-label to increase height in children with short […]

Men Who Heavily Drink Carry Higher Risk for Late AMD

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/men-who-heavily-drink-carry-higher-risk-for-late-amd/ TOPLINE: Moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk for progression to late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in men. Geographic atrophy (GA) progression developed more quickly in women. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial to investigate the associations between alcohol consumption and the risk […]

When Cancer Therapy Affects the Skin: A Guide for Clinicians

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/when-cancer-therapy-affects-the-skin-a-guide-for-clinicians/ Nearly every medication comes with side effects, and in cancer therapies, they can be severe. Clinicians must often weigh the benefits of treatment against potential adverse effects. At the 29th Training Week for Practical Dermatology and Venerology in Munich, Germany, specialists explored the manifestations of cutaneous drug reactions and how to […]

AI Tool Identifies Undiagnosed Early-Stage MASLD

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ai-tool-identifies-undiagnosed-early-stage-masld/ SAN DIEGO — An artificial intelligence (AI)–driven algorithm may be able to accurately detect early-stage metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) based on imaging findings and other criteria in patient electronic medical records, according to new research. Among the patients identified by the algorithm as meeting the criteria for MASLD, only […]

Holly Bowles sixth to die of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/holly-bowles-sixth-to-die-of-suspected-methanol-poisoning-in-laos/ Beaumaris Football Club Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones were travelling together when they fell ill A second Australian teenager has died of suspected methanol poisoning, bringing to six the number of foreign tourists who have died after apparently drinking tainted alcohol in Laos. The family of Holly Bowles, 19, […]

Oxidative Stress Marker May Signal Fracture Risk in T2D

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/oxidative-stress-marker-may-signal-fracture-risk-in-t2d/ TOPLINE: Elevated levels of plasma F2-isoprostanes, a reliable marker of oxidative stress, are associated with an increased risk for fractures in older ambulatory patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) independently of bone density. METHODOLOGY: Patients with T2D face an increased risk for fractures at any given bone mineral density; oxidative stress […]

Anxiety and Vomiting in Kids Undergoing Sedation in the ED

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/anxiety-and-vomiting-in-kids-undergoing-sedation-in-the-ed/ TOPLINE: Preprocedural anxiety levels among children undergoing procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) with ketamine in the emergency department are not associated with the incidence of vomiting, according to a new study. METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted between 2019 and 2020 at a hospital in Tehran and enrolled 93 children (mean age, […]

Anti-TNF Therapy Lowers Gestational Diabetes Risk in IBD

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/anti-tnf-therapy-lowers-gestational-diabetes-risk-in-ibd/ TOPLINE: Exposure to antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy during the first 140 days of pregnancy is associated with a significant decrease in the risk of developing gestational diabetes (GD) among women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODOLOGY: Elevated levels of TNF have been observed in women with GD, suggesting a potential […]

Methanol poisoning deaths highlight SE Asia’s fake alcohol problem

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/methanol-poisoning-deaths-highlight-se-asias-fake-alcohol-problem/ Getty Images Towns like Vang Vieng in Laos – where the fatal poisonings took place – are known stops on the backpacking trail through South East Asia Suspected methanol poisoning from tainted drinks has reportedly killed six tourists in a Laos holiday town in the past fortnight. A British woman, two […]

Creatine: The science behind the gym supplement with benefits for both brain and body

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/creatine-the-science-behind-the-gym-supplement-with-benefits-for-both-brain-and-body/ Creatine supplements are commonly available in powder form Shutterstock/RHJPhtotos Creatine is one of the most widely studied performance-enhancing substances in the world. Once dismissed as just a bodybuilding supplement, its public popularity has grown hand-in-hand with interest from scientists. The supplement is generally associated with improved strength and muscle mass, but […]

Chronic Pain Affects One in Four Americans, CDC Reports

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/chronic-pain-affects-one-in-four-americans-cdc-reports/ Chronic pain affected nearly one in four U.S. adults, new CDC survey data showed. In 2023, 24.3% of adults had chronic pain lasting 3 months or longer, reported Jacqueline Lucas, MPH, and Inderbir Sohi, MSPH, of the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Moreover, 8.5% of U.S. adults had high-impact […]

Lack of Clinical Benefit of Andexanet Flummoxes FDA Panel

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/lack-of-clinical-benefit-of-andexanet-flummoxes-fda-panel/ FDA advisors pushed for nuance in discussing whether andexanet alfa (Andexxa) should gain full approval, citing uncertainties about which dose and in which patients it could be best used to stop bleeding. Members of the Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee agreed on Thursday that andexanet has a demonstrated ability […]

What’s the Status of the Proposed Ban on Menthol Cigarettes?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/whats-the-status-of-the-proposed-ban-on-menthol-cigarettes/ Biden administration officials have many regulations they’d like to finalize before the end of the president’s term, but it’s unclear whether a proposed rule banning menthol cigarettes is among them. The proposed menthol cigarette ban was originally announced in April 2022. At the time, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a […]

Malaria Vaccine Delivered by Mosquito Bite Shows Safety, Efficacy

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/malaria-vaccine-delivered-by-mosquito-bite-shows-safety-efficacy/ Immunization with a second-generation genetically attenuated parasite was safe and provided strong protection from malaria infection in young adults, a small clinical trial in the Netherlands suggested. Protective efficacy against malaria infection occurred in eight of nine participants (89%) receiving a late-liver-stage attenuated malaria parasite (GA2), reported Meta Roestenberg, MD, PhD, […]

Common chemical in drinking water hasn’t been tested for safety

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/common-chemical-in-drinking-water-hasnt-been-tested-for-safety/ Millions of US residents may be drinking water containing the potentially harmful compound Yiu Yu Hoi/Getty Images A common disinfectant in drinking water breaks down into a chemical compound that we know almost nothing about, including whether it has any potential toxic health effects to those who drink it. Chlorine has […]

Clinicians React to Trump’s Appointees; Beyonce in the OR? Diagnosing Shiny Legs

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/clinicians-react-to-trumps-appointees-beyonce-in-the-or-diagnosing-shiny-legs/ The following contains links to social media websites including X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. “Probably the biggest health threat to our children in decades,” said pediatrician @dr_rossome, referring to president-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead HHS. Meanwhile, emergency physician Darien Sutton, MD, MBA, […]

Trump Is Back: What This Could Mean for Health Policy

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/trump-is-back-what-this-could-mean-for-health-policy/ Gostin, Radhakrishnan, and Friedman are experts in health law and policy. The first Trump administration was marked by mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic and politicization of public health agencies. In 2020, Donald Trump’s appointed HHS secretary demanded the right to review and change CDC’s weekly COVID-19 reports for health professionals. The […]

Use of Home-Based OCT for Neovascular AMD Could Lead to More Timely Treatment

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/use-of-home-based-oct-for-neovascular-amd-could-lead-to-more-timely-treatment/ A retrospective review of home-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) monitoring for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) found that treatment should have been performed earlier in more than half of the cases. The findings were presented last month at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting. In this exclusive MedPage Today video, Paul […]

Flooding May Be the Climate Health Hazard of Our Time, Report Suggests

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/flooding-may-be-the-climate-health-hazard-of-our-time-report-suggests/ Floods are emerging as a major health hazard with inequitable global effects — both short and long term — as climate change alters weather patterns. Flooding is the most common climate hazard, affecting more than 1.65 billion people from 2000 to 2019, with approximately 104,614 lives lost, reported Yuming Guo, MD, […]

‘Suicide Capsule’ Creator Rejects Allegation That First User May Have Been Strangled

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/suicide-capsule-creator-rejects-allegation-that-first-user-may-have-been-strangled/ GENEVA — The right-to-die activist behind a new “suicide capsule” said he rejects “absurd” allegations that the U.S. woman who was said to be its first user may have actually been strangled. Philip Nitschke, MBBS, PhD, of advocacy group Exit International said Wednesday he wasn’t on hand for the woman’s death […]

Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis Linked to Pesticide Exposure

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/crohns-disease-ulcerative-colitis-linked-to-pesticide-exposure/ A study in Gastroenterology linked inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk with past exposure to environmental pollutants, mostly pesticides. In this interview, study author Manasi Agrawal, MD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, discusses the findings. The following is a transcript of her remarks: The […]

U.S. Towns Plunge Into Debates About Fluoride in Water

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/u-s-towns-plunge-into-debates-about-fluoride-in-water/ For about 50 years, adding cavity-preventing fluoride to drinking water was a popular public health measure in Yorktown, a leafy town north of New York City. But in September, the town’s supervisor used his emergency powers to stop the practice. The reason? A recent federal judge’s decision that ordered U.S. regulators […]

New Agent for Biliary Tract Cancer Approved

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/new-agent-for-biliary-tract-cancer-approved/ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved zanidatamab (Ziihera, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) as monotherapy for previously treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive biliary tract cancer (BTC). This approval makes the bispecific antibody the first HER2-targeted treatment to carry the indication.  Zanidatamab binds two separate regions on the HER2 cell surface […]

Vaping Linked to Higher Risk of Blurred Vision & Eye Pain

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/vaping-linked-to-higher-risk-of-blurred-vision-eye-pain/ TOPLINE:  Adults who use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes/vapes) had more than double the risk for developing uveitis than nonusers, with elevated risks persisting for up to 4 years after initial use. This increased risk was observed across all age groups and affected both men and women as well as various ethnic groups. […]

Which Breast Cancer Patients Can Skip Postop Radiotherapy?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/which-breast-cancer-patients-can-skip-postop-radiotherapy/ TOPLINE:  The Profile for the Omission of Local Adjuvant Radiation (POLAR) biomarker, a 16-gene molecular signature, can help predict locoregional recurrence in patients with ER-positive early breast cancer following breast-conserving surgery as well as which patients will benefit most from adjuvant radiotherapy. Overall, patients with a high POLAR score derived a […]

FDA Approves Zanidatamab for Biliary Tract Cancer

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-approves-zanidatamab-for-biliary-tract-cancer/ The FDA on Wednesday granted accelerated approval to zanidatamab (Ziihera), a bispecific antibody, for pretreated HER2-positive biliary tract cancer. Approval stipulates use in unresectable or metastatic cases, with HER2 positivity defined as an immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 3+. According to drugmaker Jazz Pharmaceuticals, the antibody binds to two extracellular sites on […]

Briton Simone White dies after suspected mass poisoning in Laos

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/briton-simone-white-dies-after-suspected-mass-poisoning-in-laos/ Squire Patton Boggs Simone White was holidaying in south-east Asia A British lawyer has died after a suspected methanol poisoning thought to have killed four others in Laos, south-east Asia. Simone White, 28, from Orpington, south-east London, was among a number of people taken to hospital following the incident in the […]

Diet’s Role in Parkinson’s Disease

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/diets-role-in-parkinsons-disease/ Interest is growing in the role of nutrition as means of slowing, or even preventing, neurodegeneration in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). For 15 years, John Duda, MD, national director of the VA Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers, has urged his patients to “keep waiting” for effective treatments to […]

World’s thinnest spaghetti won’t please gourmands but may heal wounds

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/worlds-thinnest-spaghetti-wont-please-gourmands-but-may-heal-wounds/ The pasta nanofibres Beatrice Britton/Adam Clancy Scientists have produced the world’s thinnest spaghetti strands, 200 times slimmer than a human hair. These would challenge even the speediest chef, overcooking in a fraction of a second, but they could have applications in medicine and industry. Adam Clancy at University College London and […]

Naked Doc Investigated; Urologist Gets Life in Prison; Man Charged in Doc’s Murder

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/naked-doc-investigated-urologist-gets-life-in-prison-man-charged-in-docs-murder/ A newly released video shows Arkansas doctor David Diffine, MD, walking around his clinic nude and performing a sexual act in front of his workers. The state medical board has been investigating the incident. (WDBJ) New York urologist Darius Paduch, MD, PhD, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted […]

Matt Hancock says NHS was ‘hours’ from PPE running out in Covid

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/matt-hancock-says-nhs-was-hours-from-ppe-running-out-in-covid/ The NHS in England came within “six or seven hours” of running out of gowns and other protective equipment during the Covid pandemic, Matt Hancock has said. The former health secretary was giving evidence for the third time at the Covid inquiry, about the impact on healthcare systems. He stated there […]

Novel Therapy Reduced Liver Fat, Improved Fibrosis in MASH

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/novel-therapy-reduced-liver-fat-improved-fibrosis-in-mash/ Patients with biopsy-confirmed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and fibrosis who received a novel small molecule thyroid hormone receptor agonist achieved statistically significant reductions in liver fat, the phase IIb randomized VOYAGE trial showed. At week 12, patients receiving VK2809 had significant reductions in liver fat, ranging from -49.5% with the 2.5-mg […]

Policy Experts Split on Dr. Oz Nomination to Lead CMS

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/policy-experts-split-on-dr-oz-nomination-to-lead-cms/ President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of cardiothoracic surgeon and former talk show host Mehmet Oz, MD, to serve as Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator has divided policy experts, with some saying he is not qualified for the job while others assert that his medical degree and skill as a […]

AMA in RFK Jr.’s Crosshairs; Cinnamon Bun Recall; FDA Probes PFAS in Seafood

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ama-in-rfk-jr-s-crosshairs-cinnamon-bun-recall-fda-probes-pfas-in-seafood/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may seek to remove the American Medical Association from its role in drawing up billing codes for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Financial Times) Television personality and engineer Bill Nye said Kennedy “lost his way” with […]

Deprescribe Low-Value Meds to Reduce Polypharmacy Harms

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/deprescribe-low-value-meds-to-reduce-polypharmacy-harms/ VANCOUVER, British Columbia — While polypharmacy is inevitable for patients with multiple chronic diseases, not all medications improve patient-oriented outcomes, members of the Patients, Experience, Evidence, Research (PEER) team, a group of Canadian primary care professionals who develop evidence-based guidelines, told attendees at the Family Medicine Forum (FMF) 2024. In a […]

Canadian Survey Reveals Sexual Harassment in Medicine

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/canadian-survey-reveals-sexual-harassment-in-medicine/ In a new Medscape survey, nearly 1 in 10 Canadian physicians said they’ve personally experienced sexual abuse, harassment, or misconduct at their medical workplace during the past 3 years. Similarly, 9% said they’ve witnessed sexual abuse, harassment, or misconduct. About 2% said they’ve been accused of sexual harassment or misconduct in […]

Shoulder Pain Pointers for Primary Care

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/shoulder-pain-pointers-for-primary-care/ The causes of shoulder pain may be as common as a traumatic injury or as rare as a systemic inflammatory condition, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The combination of joints, tendons, and muscles that make up the shoulder can present diagnostic and clinical challenges, but several experts shared […]

US Alcohol-Related Deaths Double in Two Decades

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/us-alcohol-related-deaths-double-in-two-decades/ TOPLINE: US alcohol-related mortality rates increased from 10.7 to 21.6 per 100,000 between 1999 and 2020, with the largest rise of 3.8-fold observed in adults aged 25-34 years. Women experienced a 2.5-fold increase, while the Midwest region showed a similar rise in mortality rates. METHODOLOGY: Analysis utilized the US Centers for […]

Calgary Supervised Consumption Site Closure at an Impasse

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/calgary-supervised-consumption-site-closure-at-an-impasse/ Amid substantially rising opioid-related deaths and other harms in Canada, the city of Calgary is grappling with the potential closure of the Sheldon Chumir supervised consumption site. The site, and others like it, provides “a place where people can use preobtained drugs in a monitored, hygienic environment to reduce harm from […]

How to Stop Bone Loss After Denosumab? No Easy Answers

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/how-to-stop-bone-loss-after-denosumab-no-easy-answers/ Patients who discontinue treatment with the osteoporosis drug denosumab, despite transitioning to zoledronate, show significant losses in lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) within a year, according to the latest findings to show that the rapid rebound of bone loss after denosumab discontinuation is not easily prevented with other therapies — […]

The Strange Untold Story of How Science Solved Narcolepsy

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/the-strange-untold-story-of-how-science-solved-narcolepsy/ It was 1996, and Masashi Yanagisawa was on the brink of his next discovery. The Japanese scientist had arrived at the University of Texas Southwestern 5 years earlier, setting up his own lab at age 31. After earning his medical degree, he’d gained notoriety as a PhD student when he discovered […]

Denosumab Raises Hypocalcemia Risk in Chronic Kidney Disease

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/denosumab-raises-hypocalcemia-risk-in-chronic-kidney-disease/ TOPLINE: Denosumab treatment for osteoporosis raises the risk for hypocalcemia, which worsens with advancing stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), in those with CKD–Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) and in those undergoing dialysis. METHODOLOGY: There is a paucity of data regarding treatments for osteoporosis in patients with advanced CKD, who often […]

Side Effects of GLP-1 Drugs: What Doctors Should Know

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/side-effects-of-glp-1-drugs-what-doctors-should-know/ Just a few years after some TikTok videos spiked the demand, one in eight US adults has tried Ozempic (semaglutide) or another drug in its class. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications have revolutionized obesity medicine. But they’re not without problems. In the early days of the social media craze, […]

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Proves Effective in Refractory RA

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/vagus-nerve-stimulation-proves-effective-in-refractory-ra/ WASHINGTON — An implantable vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device effectively treats moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients who had previously failed at least one biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD), according to results from a phase 3 trial. Of the 242 patients in the RESET-RA study, all […]

New Tools Address Older Patients’ Well-Being in Healthcare

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/new-tools-address-older-patients-well-being-in-healthcare/ Could assessing the well-being of older patients create better treatment plans? Researchers with the US Department of Veterans Affairs posit that doing so just might improve patient quality of life. In an article in the Medical Care, Dawne Vogt, PhD, and her colleagues described two surveys of well-being developed for use […]

What Kind of Support Do Canada’s Rural Physicians Need?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/what-kind-of-support-do-canadas-rural-physicians-need/ Physicians who choose to practice in remote and rural areas of Canada need considerably more support, including the ability to take sick or elder care leave when needed, according to a new analysis. Rural generalist physicians are increasingly leaving their posts to seek better working conditions and avoid burnout, according to […]

‘Watershed Moment’: Semaglutide Effective in MASH

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/watershed-moment-semaglutide-effective-in-mash/ SAN DEIGO — Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, appears to safely and effectively treat metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) among patients with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis, according to interim results from a phase 3 trial. At 72 weeks, a 2.4-mg once-weekly subcutaneous dose of semaglutide demonstrated superiority compared […]

When Appendicitis Recurs: Two Case Studies

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/when-appendicitis-recurs-two-case-studies/ Stump appendicitis is a rare complication that occurs when the residual appendix becomes inflamed after an appendectomy. It is estimated to occur in between 0.002% and 0.15% of cases, although it may be underreported due to diagnostic challenges. The condition involves inflammation of the remaining appendix tissue, often resulting from incomplete […]

As Populations Age, Occam’s Razor Loses Its Diagnostic Edge

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/as-populations-age-occams-razor-loses-its-diagnostic-edge/ The principle of parsimony, often referred to as “Occam’s razor,” favors a unifying explanation over multiple ones, as long as both explain the data equally well. This heuristic, widely used in medical practice, advocates for simpler explanations rather than complex theories. However, its application in modern medicine has sparked debate. “Hickam’s […]

Examining T4/T3 Combination Therapy in Hypothyroidism

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/examining-t4-t3-combination-therapy-in-hypothyroidism/ CHICAGO — Levothyroxine (LT4) monotherapy remains the standard treatment for hypothyroidism, although a subset of patients continue to have hypothyroidism despite normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and serum-free thyroxine levels. LT4 and liothyronine (LT3) combination therapy to improve hypothyroidism remains a topic of interest. A clinical session at the recent American Thyroid […]

Diet and Activity Deficits Persist in People With HIV

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/diet-and-activity-deficits-persist-in-people-with-hiv/ Less than 10% of adults living with HIV in the United States meet recommendations for physical activity and a healthy diet, based on data from approximately 700 individuals in the PROSPER-HIV study. Healthy lifestyle behaviors, physical activity and a healthy diet, can reduce the risk for comorbidities and extend the period […]

Et Tu, Sweden? More Needed to Support LGBTQ+ Mental Health

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/et-tu-sweden-more-needed-to-support-lgbtq-mental-health/ LISBON, PORTUGAL — Almost half of surveyed LGBTQ+ people born in Sweden have experienced perceived discrimination and more than a third have mental health symptoms, according to data presented here at the 17th European Public Health Conference (EPH) 2024. Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet explored the unmet mental health needs of […]

Checkpoint Inhibitors Seem Safe in Autoimmune Disease

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/checkpoint-inhibitors-seem-safe-in-autoimmune-disease/ WASHINGTON — Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy does not increase mortality in people with preexisting autoimmune diseases, new research has found.  Results from a large database analysis of patients with and without autoimmune diseases suggest it is safe to treat them with ICI if they develop a cancer for which it […]

Depression Affects Remission in Patients With RA or PsA

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/depression-affects-remission-in-patients-with-ra-or-psa/ TOPLINE: Depression is associated with lower odds of achieving remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) over 2 years of follow-up.  METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed data from two cohorts in the Netherlands to assess the impact of depression and anxiety on remission in 400 patients with RA and […]

Most US Adults Plan to Skip Annual COVID Vaccines

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/most-us-adults-plan-to-skip-annual-covid-vaccines/ Most US adults continue to plan on skipping an annual COVID vaccine. About 6 in 10 people say they probably won’t get an updated shot this year, despite the CDC’s recommendation that everyone do so, according to results of a new survey from the Pew Research Center. When asked why people […]

Elevated Stroke Risk Following NAION

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/elevated-stroke-risk-following-naion/ Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is significantly associated with persistently elevated risk for stroke, independent of typical cardiovascular risk factors, a large multinational cohort study showed.  Stroke risk was three to five times higher in the first 3 months following NAION diagnosis, and the risk remained high over 10 years […]

Ultraprocessed Foods Linked to Faster Biological Aging

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ultraprocessed-foods-linked-to-faster-biological-aging/ TOPLINE: Consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), such as carbonated drinks, processed meats, and sweet or savory packaged snacks, is associated with accelerated biological aging, as measured by 36 blood-based biomarkers, and factors other than poor nutritional content may be to blame. METHODOLOGY: Previous studies have reported an association between high consumption […]

Health Prices Are Getting More Transparent, but It’s Still Not Enough, Experts Say

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/health-prices-are-getting-more-transparent-but-its-still-not-enough-experts-say/ WASHINGTON — Health transparency rules have helped researchers gain more insight into hospital pricing practices, Ge Bai, PhD, CPA, said here Wednesday at an event sponsored by Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. The price transparency regulations that were part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “gave us unprecedented insight […]

Anesthesiologist Gets 190 Years for Tampering With IV Bags Used in Surgeries

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/anesthesiologist-gets-190-years-for-tampering-with-iv-bags-used-in-surgeries/ A Dallas anesthesiologist was sentenced Wednesday to 190 years in prison for injecting a nerve-blocking agent and other drugs into bags of intravenous fluid at a surgical center where he worked, leading to the death of a coworker and causing cardiac emergencies for several patients. The emergencies began 2 days after […]

Now a Win for Nerve Stimulation in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/now-a-win-for-nerve-stimulation-in-rheumatoid-arthritis/ WASHINGTON — A small implant delivering electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve outperformed a sham treatment in relieving rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms among patients who failed at least one biologic or targeted synthetic drug, a researcher reported here. After 24 weeks, 51.5% of patients randomized to active stimulation achieved ACR20 responses […]

‘A Watershed Moment’: GLP-1 Drug Succeeds in Late-Stage MASH Trial

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/a-watershed-moment-glp-1-drug-succeeds-in-late-stage-mash-trial/ Semaglutide (Wegovy) improved liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and led to greater rates of MASH resolution, an interim analysis of a phase III trial showed. In part 1 of the so-called ESSENCE trial, treatment with the GLP-1 receptor agonist resulted in higher week-72 rates of steatohepatitis resolution […]

Laryngeal Dystonia Symptoms Improve With Novel Treatment

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/laryngeal-dystonia-symptoms-improve-with-novel-treatment/ Sodium oxybate provided temporary relief for laryngeal dystonia patients who were alcohol-responsive. The neurologic disorder causes laryngeal muscle spasms, leading to a chronically strained voice. Several public figures, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Diane Rehm, have the condition. Sodium oxybate (Xyrem), a drug approved to treat people with narcolepsy, provided […]

Genetic Carrier Screening Changed Couples’ Reproductive Decision Making

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/genetic-carrier-screening-changed-couples-reproductive-decision-making/ Couples who were found to be genetic carriers for autosomal recessive or X-linked genetic conditions often opted to change their reproductive strategy, a large Australian population-based study found. Overall, 1.9% of the 9,107 couples tested had an increased chance of having a child with certain genetic conditions, and 76.6% of these […]

For AF, LAA Rivals Anticoagulants After Ablation

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/for-af-laa-rivals-anticoagulants-after-ablation/ A left atrial appendage (LAA) closure device provides long-term thromboembolic protection that is equivalent to direct oral anticoagulants after ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF), along with a lower risk of bleeding, according to the multicenter, randomized OPTION trial. Based on this trial, which is the first to compare LAA closure with […]

Experts Release Recs on Off-Label Use of Oral Minoxidil for Hair Loss

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/experts-release-recs-on-off-label-use-of-oral-minoxidil-for-hair-loss/ An international expert consensus statement provided best-practice recommendations for the off-label use of low-dose oral minoxidil among patients with hair loss. Using a modified Delphi process, 43 hair-loss specialist dermatologists from 12 countries reached consensus on 76 items, including diagnoses for which oral minoxidil may provide benefit, indications for oral versus […]

Texas Has Sued Three Doctors Over Youth Gender-Affirming Care

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/texas-has-sued-three-doctors-over-youth-gender-affirming-care/ In less than a month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued three doctors who provide gender-affirming care to minors in an attempt to enforce a state law that bans such care. The first lawsuit, filed October 17, alleged that May Lau, MD, MPH, of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, […]

Psych Hospitals Investigated; Internet & Well-Being; Trump’s Mental Institutions

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/psych-hospitals-investigated-internet-trumps-mental-institutions/ The Department of Justice launched an investigation into whether adults with serious mental illness were unnecessarily institutionalized in Michigan state-run psychiatric hospitals. (CBS News) In a phase II trial of major depressive disorder, five of seven participants experienced remission after two doses of an investigational psilocybin therapy (CYB003), said developer Cybin. […]

Eliminate Clozapine REMS, FDA Panels Say

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/eliminate-clozapine-rems-fda-panels-say/ Two US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panels are urging the agency to eliminate the risk management program for the antipsychotic drug clozapine, saying that restrictions are limiting access to a life-changing and life-saving medication for people with schizophrenia. Members of the Drug Safety and Risk Management and Psychopharmacologic Drugs […]

Postpartum Depression Rose Significantly Over Past Decade

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/postpartum-depression-rose-significantly-over-past-decade/ Diagnoses of postpartum depression (PPD) increased significantly across all racial and ethnic groups and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) categories over the past decade, according to a California-based cross-sectional study. An analysis of more than 400,000 pregnancies found that prevalence of PPD doubled from 2010 to 2021 (9.4% vs 19%), according […]

Advocates Fear Trump Will Reimpose Abortion ‘Gag Rule’ Governing U.S. Aid to Africa

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/advocates-fear-trump-will-reimpose-abortion-gag-rule-governing-u-s-aid-to-africa/ EPWORTH, Zimbabwe — Carrying her infant daughter, 19-year-old Sithulisiwe Moyo waited 2 hours to get birth control pills from a tent pitched in a poor settlement on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. The outreach clinic in Epworth provides Moyo with her best shot at achieving her dream of returning to […]

GLP-1 Use Prior to Surgery: Analyzing the Updated Guidance

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/glp-1-use-prior-to-surgery-analyzing-the-updated-guidance/ Glatter is an assistant professor of emergency medicine. Papadakos is a director of critical care medicine and a professor of anesthesiology, surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, and internal medicine. Since the modern practice of anesthesia has evolved, providers have been concerned about pulmonary aspiration — when gastric contents enter the lung, resulting in […]

Tapered Steroid Dosing Safe, Effective in Severe Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/tapered-steroid-dosing-safe-effective-in-severe-alcohol-associated-hepatitis/ Tapering doses of corticosteroids was safer than, and just as effective as, a fixed dose in patients with severe alcohol-associated hepatitis, a randomized trial showed. Patients who received a tapered dose of prednisolone starting at 40 mg and reduced by 10 mg weekly over the course of 4 weeks compared with […]

What to Know About Jay Bhattacharya, Trump’s Potential NIH Pick

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/what-to-know-about-jay-bhattacharya-trumps-potential-nih-pick/ Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, of Stanford University in California, has emerged as President-elect Donald Trump’s top pick to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to reporting from the Washington Post. Amid Trump’s stated plans to “restructure federal agencies,” Bhattacharya would indeed be an outsider coming in to lead the […]

Sustained Viral Suppression in Multidrug-Resistant HIV With Lenacapavir at 3 Years

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/sustained-viral-suppression-in-multidrug-resistant-hiv-with-lenacapavir-at-3-years/ In 3-year data from the CAPELLA study, the subcutaneous, long-acting capsid inhibitor lenacapavir (Sunlenca) demonstrated sustained suppression with no emergence of resistance in highly treatment-experienced individuals with multidrug-resistant HIV. The findings were presented at the recent IDWeek annual meeting in Los Angeles. In this MedPage Today video, Joseph Eron, MD, of […]

Science Weighs in on Suicide Prevention

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/science-weighs-in-on-suicide-prevention/ Suicide and self-harm continue to be serious concerns in Europe, despite decreasing rates over the past two decades. In 2021 alone, 47,346 people died by suicide in the European Union, close to 1% of all deaths reported that year. Measures have been taken at population, subpopulation, and individual levels to prevent […]