TikTok’s Beef Tallow Skin Care Hack: Does It Work?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/tiktoks-beef-tallow-skin-care-hack-does-it-work/ Share on PinterestPeople on TikTok are claiming that beef tallow (animal fat) is an effective facial moisturizer that can help hydrate your skin and reduce acne, but dermatologists say it can do more harm than good. RECVISUAL/Getty Images A new TikTok trend has people spreading beef tallow on their skin. Purported […]

FDA OKs Bioengineered Vessel to Reduce Limb Amputations After Vascular Trauma

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-oks-bioengineered-vessel-to-reduce-limb-amputations-after-vascular-trauma/ The FDA on Friday approved acellular tissue engineered vessel (Symvess), an off-the-shelf product for treating vascular trauma in the extremities of adults. The one-time, single-use therapy — the first of its kind — is indicated for use as a vascular conduit for arterial injuries that require urgent revascularization to avoid the […]

FDA Approves First Sleep Apnea Drug

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-approves-first-sleep-apnea-drug/ The FDA approved tirzepatide (Zepbound) for adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity, the agency announced late Friday. Used along with diet and exercise, this marks the first and only prescription medicine for the comorbid conditions. “Today’s approval marks the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive […]

Next-in-Class Once-Daily Pill Approved for Cystic Fibrosis

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/next-in-class-once-daily-pill-approved-for-cystic-fibrosis/ The FDA approved a once-daily oral combination of vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor (Alyftrek) for cystic fibrosis (CF) in adults and children 6 years and up, drugmaker Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced on Friday. Eligible patients must have at least one mutation in F508del or another responsive mutation in the CFTR gene. Of note, the CFTR modulator […]

Public Health Experts Decry Louisiana’s Ban on Vaccine Promotion

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/public-health-experts-decry-louisianas-ban-on-vaccine-promotion/ In the wake of state public health officials barring promotion of certain vaccines — as is occurring in Louisiana — physicians and medical societies must speak out about the value of vaccination in children as well as adults, public health experts said Friday. “Medical societies can speak out,” Georges Benjamin, MD, […]

Are Antibiotics Linked to Dementia? New Study Weighs In

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/are-antibiotics-linked-to-dementia-new-study-weighs-in/ Over 4.7 years of follow-up, no link emerged between antibiotic use and dementia risk in healthy older adults. However, the findings may not apply to the general older population. Earlier evidence about the relationship between antibiotic use and cognition has been mixed. Antibiotic use didn’t raise the risk of dementia in […]

Flu Season Is Underway, as Cases Surge in Some Areas and Vaccinations Lag

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/flu-season-is-underway-as-cases-surge-in-some-areas-and-vaccinations-lag/ The U.S. flu season is underway, with cases surging across much of the country, health officials said Friday. The CDC noted sharp increases in several measures, including lab tests and emergency department visits. “It’s been increasing at a pretty steady pace now for the past several weeks. So yeah, we are […]

Telehealth Pathway for IBD Surgery Expanded Access to Care in Small Study

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/telehealth-pathway-for-ibd-surgery-expanded-access-to-care-in-small-study/ ORLANDO — Utilization of a “total telemedicine pathway” for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) surgery saved a considerable amount of mileage and time for patients treated at an academic IBD center, according to a small study presented here. For 13 included patients, using telemedicine for all preoperative and postoperative visits saved a […]

First Drug Approved for Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/first-drug-approved-for-familial-chylomicronemia-syndrome/ The FDA approved olezarsen (Tryngolza) as the first drug for adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that can cause triglyceride levels to reach the thousands. A first-in-class antisense oligonucleotide, olezarsen is indicated in conjunction with a low-fat diet. Approval was supported by the phase III Balance trial, which […]

Employers Press Congress to Cement Health Price Transparency Before Trump’s Return

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/employers-press-congress-to-cement-health-price-transparency-before-trumps-return/ It seems simple: Require hospitals and insurers to post their negotiated prices for most healthcare services and — bingo — competition follows, yielding lower costs for consumers. But nearly 4 years after the first Trump administration’s regulations forced hospitals to post massive amounts of pricing information online, the effect on patients’ […]

No Seed Oil-Colon Cancer Link; Avoiding Prostate Biopsy; Top Cancer Advances

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/no-seed-oil-colon-cancer-link-avoiding-prostate-biopsy-top-cancer-advances/ Seed oils (sunflower, sesame, etc.) are not driving the surge in colon cancer cases among younger people. (Science Feedback) Only 4% of men with an elevated PSA but a normal MRI developed aggressive prostate cancer 3 years later, offering a biopsy-sparing approach. (JAMA Oncology) Ten biotech companies expected to be at […]

Next-Generation Therapies for Multiple Myeloma

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/next-generation-therapies-for-multiple-myeloma/ The treatment landscape for multiple myeloma is evolving rapidly, with novel therapies offering renewed hope for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. At this year’s American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting, several studies highlighted innovative approaches that address the unmet needs of heavily pretreated patients, including those resistant to existing […]

A Thin Shred of My Sanity Remained. Then I Hit My Breaking Point.

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/a-thin-shred-of-my-sanity-remained-then-i-hit-my-breaking-point/ DeParis is the director of quality and clinical standards at the American Academy of Ophthalmology. I distinctly remember one Tuesday morning during the second half of my first year of ophthalmology residency in 2014. It was 6 a.m., and I was hysterically crying while standing in my kitchen, holding a pair […]

Sticking With CDK4/6 Inhibitors for Breast Cancer Wins in Post-Progression Setting

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/sticking-with-cdk4-6-inhibitors-for-breast-cancer-wins-in-post-progression-setting/ Patients with advanced estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer that progressed on CDK4/6 inhibitors had better survival if they continued CDK4/6 inhibition plus endocrine therapy rather than switch to endocrine therapy alone, a large meta-analysis showed. The hazard for progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) decreased by about 40% when patients continued […]

What Can Be Done for Severe RSV Cases in Adults?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/what-can-be-done-for-severe-rsv-cases-in-adults/ Though there are now respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines approved by the FDA and recommended by the CDC for certain high-risk adults, what happens when someone ends up with severe illness from the virus? “It really is just supportive care,” Angela Branche, MD, of the University of Rochester Medical Center in […]

Quads, Frailty, and the Future: Evolving Frontline Strategies in Multiple Myeloma

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/quads-frailty-and-the-future-evolving-frontline-strategies-in-multiple-myeloma/ Using quadruplet regimens with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies, such as daratumumab (Darzalex) or isatuximab (Sarclisa), has significantly advanced frontline therapy for both transplant-eligible and transplant-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, according to data presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting. MedPage Today brought together three expert leaders in […]

Randy Moss’ Rare GI Cancer: Here’s What to Know

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/randy-moss-rare-gi-cancer-heres-what-to-know/ Former NFL wide receiver Randy Moss announced last week that he underwent a 6-hour surgery for a rare and aggressive gastrointestinal cancer. Moss, 47, detailed in an Instagram Live video that a tumor was found in his bile duct, “right between the pancreas and the liver.” He said he was hospitalized […]

Asymptomatic Brain Metastases in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/asymptomatic-brain-metastases-in-egfr-mutant-nsclc/ Brain metastases are a common problem in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), occurring in about one-fifth to one-quarter of patients. Many brain metastases will be asymptomatic at diagnosis. “Brain metastases are very often detected on screening MRI, which is part of the standard work-up for patients with suspected […]

State Bars Health Workers From Pushing COVID Vax; Cold Deaths; Marburg Outbreak Ends

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/state-bars-health-workers-from-pushing-covid-vax-cold-deaths-marburg-outbreak-ends/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Louisiana is no longer allowing public health workers to promote vaccines for COVID, the flu, or mpox. (NPR) In an effort to avert a government shutdown, House Republicans abandoned pharmacy benefit manager reforms in the funding bill. (The Hill) Medicare’s negotiated drug […]

Do We Need CV Risk Equations to Guide Statin Use?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/do-we-need-cv-risk-equations-to-guide-statin-use/ An individual’s estimated risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years is widely used to guide preventative medication prescriptions with statins or antihypertensive drugs in those who have not yet had such an event. To estimate that risk, doctors use equations that include different risk factors, […]

The Lifesaving Legacy of Vaccines

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/the-lifesaving-legacy-of-vaccines/ 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 2 of this exclusive video interview, MedPage Today‘s editor-in-chief Jeremy Faust, MD, talks with Perri Klass, […]

Will an mRNA vaccine target the norovirus strain behind surging cases?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/will-an-mrna-vaccine-target-the-norovirus-strain-behind-surging-cases/ Transmission electron micrograph of parts of the norovirus pathogen BSIP SA/Alamy A global international trial of an mRNA vaccine against norovirus is getting underway with the aim of reducing the health burden caused by the infamous “winter vomiting” bug. The trial has been complicated by the emergence of a new norovirus […]

Clinicians More Likely to Flag Black Kids’ Injuries as Abuse

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/clinicians-more-likely-to-flag-black-kids-injuries-as-abuse/ TOPLINE:  Among children with traumatic injury, those of Black ethnicity are more likely than those of White ethnicity to be suspected of experiencing child abuse. Young patients and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds also face an increased likelihood of suspicion for child abuse (SCA). METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed data on pediatric patients […]

Is Whole Blood Making a Comeback to Civilian Practice?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/is-whole-blood-making-a-comeback-to-civilian-practice/ A clinical trial in Finland will seek to determine whether emergency services can safely use whole blood for transfusions before patients reach the hospital. Other trials held in the United Kingdom and France suggest the return of whole blood is being considered as a replacement product for acute bleeding. Whole blood […]

MMRV Safety Assessed in Children on Methotrexate, Dupilumab

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/mmrv-safety-assessed-in-children-on-methotrexate-dupilumab/ TOPLINE: A retrospective analysis finds no adverse events (AEs) in children receiving a live attenuated vaccine against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) while on dupilumab or methotrexate treatment, challenging current recommendations. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a retrospective search of electronic medical records at a pediatric tertiary care center between 2017 and […]

Post-Exertional Malaise in Fatiguing Diseases: What to Know

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/post-exertional-malaise-in-fatiguing-diseases-what-to-know/ Identifying the phenomenon of post-exertional malaise (PEM) in patients with fatiguing conditions is critical because it necessitates a far more cautious approach to exercise, experts said. PEM is a defining feature of the condition myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and it is present in many people with long COVID. It is […]

How to Stay Sharp and Healthy

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/how-to-stay-sharp-and-healthy/ Laura Vater remembers sneaking into her home after 12-hour night shifts during medical training while her husband distracted their toddler. The stealthy tag-teaming effort helped her get enough undisturbed sleep before returning to an Indiana University hospital the following night to repeat the pattern. “He would pretend to take out the […]

Best Ways Med Students Can Retain Knowledge

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/best-ways-med-students-can-retain-knowledge/ Medical school has been likened to drinking from a fire hose. Students have just 4 years to absorb the deluge of content they’ll need to practice medicine. It takes 3-4 hours of studying every day just to stay on track, and as medical candidates approach their board exams, the study time […]

Study Supports Pediatric Concussion Management Approach

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/study-supports-pediatric-concussion-management-approach/ Children aged 5-12 years with concussion have similar recovery trajectories, regardless of whether the injury is linked to sports or to other causes, such as falls, new data indicated. “With that result, it means we don’t need to change management protocols” depending on the cause of the concussion, study author Andrée-Anne […]

Same GP at each appointment for patients most in need

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/same-gp-at-each-appointment-for-patients-most-in-need/ Patients most “in need” should be able to see the same doctor at every appointment in their local GP surgery, the government says. GPs will be rewarded financially if they do this and if they go “above and beyond” preventing common killers like heart disease or treating high blood pressure early, […]

IL-6 Receptor Inhibitors Show Early Promise for CPPD

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/il-6-receptor-inhibitors-show-early-promise-for-cppd/ Interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6r) inhibition is a promising approach for the treatment of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), although no prospective studies have been conducted to date. Nevertheless, a retrospective analysis of patients treated with the IL-6r inhibitor tocilizumab, presented at American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2024 Annual Meeting, showed improved […]

Equity Gaps in T1D Technology Persist in BC, Despite Funding

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/equity-gaps-in-t1d-technology-persist-in-bc-despite-funding/ Although universal coverage of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices in 2021 led to improved care for children with diabetes in British Columbia, equity gaps for the most deprived persist, a new analysis showed. Despite an increase in CGM uptake across all levels of deprivation 1 year after universal CGM funding was […]

Finally, a New Option for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/finally-a-new-option-for-posttraumatic-stress-disorder/ A drug that combines the atypical antipsychotic brexpiprazole and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline provides significantly greater relief of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms than sertraline plus placebo, results of a phase 3 trial showed. The medication is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and […]

Lowering Urate May Protect Kidneys in Gout Patients With CKD

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/lowering-urate-may-protect-kidneys-in-gout-patients-with-ckd/ TOPLINE: Achieving serum urate to below 6 mg/dL with urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in patients with gout and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage III is not linked to an increased risk for severe or end-stage kidney disease. METHODOLOGY: Researchers emulated analyses of a hypothetical target trial using a cloning, censoring, and weighting […]

Monitoring Heart Health Crucial in Patients With Anorexia

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/monitoring-heart-health-crucial-in-patients-with-anorexia/ TOPLINE: Patients with anorexia nervosa are at significantly increased risk for cardiovascular conditions such as congestive heart failure and cardiac arrest compared with people without an eating disorder, researchers found. The risk for many of these conditions declines after 5 years of follow-up, whereas the risk for ischemic heart disease rises […]

HRQOL the Same With CDK4/6 Inhibitors in 1st or 2nd Line

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/hrqol-the-same-with-cdk4-6-inhibitors-in-1st-or-2nd-line/ SAN ANTONIO — For patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, health-related quality of life is the same whether they receive CDK4/6 inhibitors in the first or second line of therapy, according to investigators in the SONIA trial. The health-related quality of life data come from a new analysis of […]

Cardiovascular Impact After Preterm Birth

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cardiovascular-impact-after-preterm-birth/ TOPLINE: Adults aged 50 years who were born preterm have a higher risk for hypertension but lower risk for cardiovascular events than those born at term, with similar risks for diabetes, prediabetes, and dyslipidemia between groups. METHODOLOGY: The researchers conducted a prospective cohort study of the Auckland Steroid Trial — the […]

Genetic Markers May Predict TNF Inhibitor Response in RA

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/genetic-markers-may-predict-tnf-inhibitor-response-in-ra/ TOPLINE: Genetic markers, specifically tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 2 (TNFR2) gene polymorphisms, may predict response to TNF inhibitor therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This approach could optimize treatment and improve patient outcomes. METHODOLOGY: The study aimed to determine if TNFR2 gene polymorphisms could serve as biomarkers for treatment […]

T-DXd Preserves QOL, Brain Function in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/t-dxd-preserves-qol-brain-function-in-her2-breast-cancer/ SAN ANTONIO — More than half of patients with pretreated HER2-positive advanced or metastatic breast cancer who received the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd; Enhertu) had preservation of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and neurological function at 1 year, even when the cancer had metastasized to brain, an analysis of data […]

CT Timing Affects Injury Assessment in Pediatric Trauma

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ct-timing-affects-injury-assessment-in-pediatric-trauma/ TOPLINE: Children with blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) and positive CT scans for abdomen/pelvis (CT a/p) have more severe injuries and longer hospital stays, whereas those with negative scans may not require transfer to a trauma center, a study suggests. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective analysis included 923 pediatric patients (mean age, 8.2 years; […]

Follicular Lymphoma Therapy Shows Cost-Time Trade-Offs

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/follicular-lymphoma-therapy-shows-cost-time-trade-offs/ TOPLINE: SAN DIEGO — Despite its significantly higher acquisition costs, lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel, Breyanzi) demonstrated better survival and quality of life as well as fewer time toxicity challenges than mosunetuzumab in patients with follicular lymphoma who have received at least two prior lines of therapy, according to a modeling study presented […]

Cardiovascular Risk in T1D: LDL Focus and Beyond

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cardiovascular-risk-in-t1d-ldl-focus-and-beyond/ Estimation of cardiovascular risk (CVR) in individuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) was a key topic presented by Sophie Borot, MD, from Besançon University Hospital, Besançon, France, at the 40th congress of the French Society of Endocrinology. Borot highlighted the complexities of this subject, outlining several factors that contribute to […]

When Kids See the World Differently: Insights Into AIWS

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/when-kids-see-the-world-differently-insights-into-aiws/ “Mom, I saw dad’s head get bigger!” Such a statement made by a child would likely alarm that child’s parents. But the child might actually be describing symptoms of Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS), a neurologic condition aptly named after Lewis Carroll’s famous novel. Awareness of this condition in children is […]

AI is trained to spot warning signs in blood tests

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ai-is-trained-to-spot-warning-signs-in-blood-tests/ Getty Images AI can potentially spot much more from a blood test than currently possible This is the third feature in a six-part series that is looking at how AI is changing medical research and treatments. Ovarian cancer is “rare, underfunded, and deadly”, says Audra Moran, head of the Ovarian Cancer […]

Long COVID Symptoms Improve With Outpatient Intervention

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/long-covid-symptoms-improve-with-outpatient-intervention/ A brief intervention based on cognitive and behavioral therapy improved physical function in people with long COVID. Improvements were sustained throughout the 12-month study period. Self-reported physical function was better for long COVID patients after a brief outpatient program based on cognitive and behavioral therapy, a pragmatic trial in Norway showed. […]

White Bread Out, Salmon In: FDA Releases ‘Healthy’ Food Claim Rule

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/white-bread-out-salmon-in-fda-releases-healthy-food-claim-rule/ Salmon, low-fat yogurt, trail mix, olive oil, and eggs are among the foods that can now be called “healthy” under a final rule issued by the FDA on Thursday. Meanwhile, fortified white bread and highly sweetened yogurt and cereal, which previously qualified as “healthy,” failed to meet updated criteria. This final […]

For IBD, No Cardiovascular Risk Difference Between JAK, TNF Inhibitors

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/for-ibd-no-cardiovascular-risk-difference-between-jak-tnf-inhibitors/ ORLANDO — Major cardiovascular event risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was no greater with Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors than with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, according to a retrospective single-center study. In a matched analysis, rates of major adverse cardiac events were 3.10% for patients taking the JAK […]

Dispelling Polio Misinfo; What’s ‘Runner’s Toe’? Even Nurses Make Mistakes

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/dispelling-polio-misinfo-whats-runners-toe-even-nurses-make-mistakes/ The following contains links to social media websites including X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. In response to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s lawyer petitioning the FDA to revoke approval of the polio vaccine used in the U.S., researcher Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD, posted: “Lack of science literacy is going to […]

Flu-Like Mystery Disease in Congo Could Be More Than Just Malaria

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/flu-like-mystery-disease-in-congo-could-be-more-than-just-malaria/ A man in western Congo died Thursday with hemorrhagic fever symptoms, leading officials to suspect that a still-unidentified virus may be involved alongside malaria in a mysterious outbreak that has killed dozens of people, health authorities said. Congo authorities said last week that they suspected malaria in the flu-like disease outbreak, […]

Mail-Order Stool Testing for IBD Favorable to Patients

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/mail-order-stool-testing-for-ibd-favorable-to-patients/ ORLANDO — Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) reported mostly favorable responses with the use of mail-order kits for stool sample collections, according to a survey study. Among survey respondents with IBD who had used the mail-order option, 90.5% said they would recommend using a mail-order kit for future stool sample […]

FDA Approves Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for Refractory Acute GVHD in Kids

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-approves-mesenchymal-stromal-cell-therapy-for-refractory-acute-gvhd-in-kids/ Reaching the end of a long road to approval, the first mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) finally reached the FDA green light. The approval of remestemcel-L (Ryoncil) specifies use in pediatric patients 2 months or older with steroid-refractory acute GVHD. The cellular therapy received a […]

Mosunetuzumab in Follicular Lymphoma: Durable Responses and Manageable Safety

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/mosunetuzumab-in-follicular-lymphoma-durable-responses-and-manageable-safety/ At the recent American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting, updated data on mosunetuzumab (Lunsumio) in relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma revealed durable responses, particularly in high-risk patients. In this first of four exclusive episodes, MedPage Today brought together three expert leaders in the field, all from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical […]

FDA OKs Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for GVHD

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-oks-mesenchymal-stromal-cell-therapy-for-gvhd/ The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved remestemcel-L (Ryoncil, Mesoblast Ltd), an allogeneic bone marrow‒derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy for steroid-refractory acute graft-vs-host disease (SR-aGVHD) in children 2 months of age or older.  It’s the first MSC product approved by the FDA for any indication. According to a […]

Tirzepatide Officially Off FDA’s Shortage List

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/tirzepatide-officially-off-fdas-shortage-list/ The shortage of the diabetes and obesity injectable tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) has been resolved, the FDA announced Thursday. As a result, compounders will have a grace period of 60 to 90 days to wrap up production and distribution of the combination GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist during which the FDA won’t take legal […]

Tirzepatide Officially Off FDA’s Shortage List

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/tirzepatide-officially-off-fdas-shortage-list/ The shortage of the diabetes and obesity injectable tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) has been resolved, the FDA announced Thursday. As a result, compounders will have a grace period of 60 to 90 days to wrap up production and distribution of the combination GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist during which the FDA won’t take legal […]

Ex-Wife of Ambushed Doc Arrested; Gender-Affirming Care Suit; COVID Testing Scheme

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ex-wife-of-ambushed-doc-arrested-gender-affirming-care-suit-covid-testing-scheme/ The ex-wife of a Los Angeles doctor who was murdered in an ambush outside his office has been arrested for the crime along with four other suspects. (People) A 20-year-old student is suing multiple California healthcare providers and hospitals alleging she was wrongly diagnosed with gender dysphoria and “fast-tracked” to puberty […]

A Letter to Healthcare Leaders on ‘Transforming’ the System

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/a-letter-to-healthcare-leaders-on-transforming-the-system/ Singer is executive director of a healthcare consultancy. In any industry, there’s a boundary of performance for which the operational state-of-the-art is attained. This is a place of maximum convergence and hyper-commoditization. It’s a place where expertise of the past has lost its balance, unable and ill-equipped to surf the steady-breaking […]

U.S. Deaths Are Down and Life Expectancy Is Up, but Improvements Are Slowing

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/u-s-deaths-are-down-and-life-expectancy-is-up-but-improvements-are-slowing/ U.S. life expectancy jumped last year, and preliminary data suggest there may be another — much smaller — improvement this year. Death rates fell last year for almost all leading causes, notably COVID-19, heart disease, and drug overdoses, according to the CDC report released Thursday. That translated to adding nearly a […]

Evolving Testing and Diagnostic Paradigms in Alzheimer’s Disease

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/evolving-testing-and-diagnostic-paradigms-in-alzheimers-disease/ The author of this article is an employee of Eli Lilly and Company. Every 65 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s disease.1,2 More than 6 million Americans over age 65 are living with it today; it’s the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. among individuals age 65 and […]

Serious Catheter Recall; Justice Department Sues CVS; 2025’s Health Theme

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/serious-catheter-recall-justice-department-sues-cvs-2025s-health-theme/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Boston Scientific issued a recall involving updated instructions for its POLARx and POLARx FIT cryoablation balloon catheters following several reports of atrio-esophageal fistula that led to seven injuries and four deaths. The Department of Justice accused CVS of knowingly filling illegal opioid […]

AI Has Entered the Med School Building

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ai-has-entered-the-med-school-building/ As it stands in 2024, there’s virtually no field immune to, or untouched by, artificial intelligence (AI). In the 2 years since OpenAI launched ChatGPT into the world, the technology has seeped into every corner of our lives, and medicine is no different. As it becomes increasingly ubiquitous, medical schools around […]

Vedolizumab Edges Out Infliximab for Ulcerative Colitis in Real-World Study

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/vedolizumab-edges-out-infliximab-for-ulcerative-colitis-in-real-world-study/ ORLANDO — Vedolizumab (Entyvio) and infliximab (Remicade) led to mostly similar 1-year outcomes in patients with ulcerative colitis previously untreated with a biologic, but the integrin receptor antagonist vedolizumab slightly edged out the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker in some areas, according to a real-world dataset. At 52 weeks, there was […]

Despite Strong Data, Hypofractionated Radiation Underused

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/despite-strong-data-hypofractionated-radiation-underused/ In recent years, hypofractionated radiation has eclipsed conventionally fractionated radiation as the preferred treatment option for a range of cancer types, including early breast, prostate, lung, and rectal cancers.  A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that hypofractionated regimens, which provide higher doses of radiation in fewer sessions, are at least […]

More Americans Than Ever Suffer from Chronic Pain

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/more-americans-than-ever-suffer-from-chronic-pain/ More Americans than ever are hurting with enduring, life-restricting pain. Like obesity, this condition is on the rise, according to figures in a new NCHS Data Brief from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2023, 24.3% of US adults had chronic pain, and 8.5% had high-impact chronic pain […]

Post-Remission, Skip Stem Cell Transplant?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/post-remission-skip-stem-cell-transplant/ Patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who show undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD) after initial treatment with chemotherapy show no significant overall or progression-free survival benefit from subsequent stem cell transplantation compared with those receiving maintenance therapy alone, new research shows. “[These findings] could be practice-changing, because over 70% of patients […]

Physician Union Drives Have Skyrocketed, Data Show

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/physician-union-drives-have-skyrocketed-data-show/ While fewer than 10% of US physicians are unionized, the number of official union drives among private-sector doctors have skyrocketed in the last 2 years compared to two decades prior, according to a new JAMA study.  Researchers counted 21 union drives in 2023 and 12 in the first 5 months of […]

Europe Forms Alcohol Health Alliance to Reduce Alcohol Harms

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/europe-forms-alcohol-health-alliance-to-reduce-alcohol-harms/ The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) and the European Association for the Study of the Liver held a symposium on December 11 to establish the European Alcohol Health Alliance to reduce alcohol-related harms across Europe.  Europe has the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world. Alcohol is […]

Fitness Watch Bands Laden With PFHxA May Pose Health Risks

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fitness-watch-bands-laden-with-pfhxa-may-pose-health-risks/ TOPLINE: Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) is found in fluoroelastomer watch bands at concentrations of up to 16,662 ng/g, highlighting the need for further research on dermal absorption and exposure risks. METHODOLOGY: Fluoroelastomers are a subclass of polymeric per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used to help wearable device materials maintain their […]

Enticing Rural Residents to Practice Where They Train

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/enticing-rural-residents-to-practice-where-they-train/ Andrew Fry, MD, grew up in a small rural Pennsylvania community about 40 miles southwest of Harrisburg. He completed medical school and residency in the state and, after graduating last year, is now a family medicine doctor in a nearby rural area within an hour from his hometown. Fry is an […]

Noninvasive Microbiome Test May Identify Crohn’s and UC

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/noninvasive-microbiome-test-may-identify-crohns-and-uc/ International researchers have uncovered potentially diagnostic gut microbiome signatures and metabolic pathways associated specifically with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Targeted droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR)‒based quantification of bacterial species led to convenient inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) diagnostic assays that “are sufficiently robust, sensitive and cost-effective for clinical […]

Prison Needle Exchange Programs Reduce Healthcare Costs

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/prison-needle-exchange-programs-reduce-healthcare-costs/ Canada’s prison needle exchange programs (PNEPs) not only reduce bloodborne infections but also are cost-effective, according to a new study.  The results suggest that every dollar invested in current PNEPs or in expanding these programs would save $2 in hepatitis C and injection-related infection treatment costs. This return on investment strongly […]

Should Patients With Thyroid Issues Take GLP-1s? It Depends

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/should-patients-with-thyroid-issues-take-glp-1s-it-depends/ Clinicians frequently reach out to Catherine Varney, DO, asking if it’s safe to prescribe glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) to patients with thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism, goiter, hyperthyroidism, and nodules. The concerns often stem from prior animal studies that revealed a link between the medications and abnormal alterations […]

OUD Care Improved with Nurse Support, Use of Opioid Agonists

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/oud-care-improved-with-nurse-support-use-of-opioid-agonists/ Employing a nurse care manager to work with patients who have an opioid addiction and prescribing partial or full opioid agonists can help more people enter treatment in primary care settings, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open. The addition of a nurse who helped clinicians check urine screens, […]

Skin Cancer Risk Increased After Blood or Marrow Transplant

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/skin-cancer-risk-increased-after-blood-or-marrow-transplant/ TOPLINE: Survivors of blood or marrow transplant (BMT) face a significant risk of developing cutaneous malignant neoplasms, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma, with a cumulative incidence of 27.4% over 30 years, according to the results of a cohort study. METHODOLOGY: The retrospective cohort study included […]

The Unsolved Mystery of AI Drug Dev

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/the-unsolved-mystery-of-ai-drug-dev/ The question has been lingering for years in medical science circles. Since 2020, when the artificial intelligence (AI) model AlphaFold made it possible to predict protein structures, would the technology open the drug discovery floodgates? Short answer: No. At least not yet. The longer answer goes something like this: A drug […]

Popular Diabetes Drug May Raise Vascular Surgery Risk

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/popular-diabetes-drug-may-raise-vascular-surgery-risk/ TOPLINE: Among older veterans with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors as an add-on therapy is associated with a higher risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD)-related surgical events than the use of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. METHODOLOGY: Some placebo-controlled randomized trials have reported an […]

T-DXd Effective in HR+/HER2-Low BC After Endocrine Failure

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/t-dxd-effective-in-hr-her2-low-bc-after-endocrine-failure/ New analysis of the DESTINY-Breast06 trial demonstrated that trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) provides meaningful clinical benefit regardless of time to progression on prior endocrine therapy, offering a promising option for patients with hormone receptor–positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) low or ultra-low metastatic breast cancer. The findings, presented at […]

Can AI Tool Guide CDK4/6 Inhibitor Use in Breast Cancer?

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/can-ai-tool-guide-cdk4-6-inhibitor-use-in-breast-cancer/ SAN ANTONIO — A machine learning model, which incorporates both clinical and genomic factors, helps predict which patients with hormone receptor–positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HER2–) metastatic breast cancer will benefit from adding a CDK4/6 inhibitor to frontline endocrine therapy, according to new research.  There is a huge need […]

Online Intervention Offers Hope for Epilepsy Stigma

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/online-intervention-offers-hope-for-epilepsy-stigma/ LOS ANGELES — A new online intervention called RISE ABOVE aims to help people with epilepsy overcome internalized stigma, and a small, open-label pilot study showed that it is well accepted and hinted at potential efficacy. “Global estimates indicate that one out of two [people with epilepsy] are affected by stigma […]

New POI Guideline Streamlines Diagnosis

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/new-poi-guideline-streamlines-diagnosis/ An updated guideline for the management of premature/primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) simplifies criteria for an early diagnosis to better inform treatment. The guideline, published in the journal Climacteric, includes 145 recommendations on symptoms, diagnosis, causation, sequelae, and treatment of POI based on the latest evidence. New data suggest a global POI […]

Infants Exposed to Minoxidil May Develop Hypertrichosis

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/infants-exposed-to-minoxidil-may-develop-hypertrichosis/ In April 2023, the Navarra Pharmacovigilance Center (NPC) became aware of a case involving an infant who developed progressive hair growth on their back, legs, and thighs (hypertrichosis) over the course of 2 months. During an interview with the family, it was revealed that the infant’s father had been using 5% […]

Hospices in England to receive £100m funding

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/hospices-in-england-to-receive-100m-funding/ Hospices in England are to receive £100m of government funding over two years to improve end-of-life care, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced. Another £26m is going to hospices for children and young people, which is a continuation of money previously given through a grant. It comes after hospice leaders warned […]

Allergic Contact Dermatitis: New Culprits

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/allergic-contact-dermatitis-new-culprits/ New allergens responsible for contact dermatitis emerge regularly. During the Dermatology Days of Paris 2024 conference, Angèle Soria, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at Tenon Hospital in Paris, France, outlined four major categories driving this trend. Among them are (meth)acrylates found in nail cosmetics used in salons or do-it-yourself false nail kits […]

Surgeons Best at Dexterity Game, but They Swear More

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/surgeons-best-at-dexterity-game-but-they-swear-more/ Surgeons beat out other hospital staff when it came to a “buzz wire” dexterity game, but they also were more likely to swear while playing, researchers found. A far larger proportion of surgeons completed the game within 5 minutes (84%) compared with physicians (57%), nurses (54%), and non-clinical staff (51%; P […]

Virtual UTI Care Linked to Rising Antibiotic Use

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/virtual-uti-care-linked-to-rising-antibiotic-use/ TOPLINE: Virtual visits for urinary tract infection (UTI) increased by more than 600% from 2015 to 2022, with overall UTI encounters growing by 325.9%. The rate of antibiotic dispensation climbed by 227.3% per 1000 patients, outpacing the 159.8% increase in positive urine cultures. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study analyzing […]

Physical Exams Add Less Than 5 Minutes to Neurology Consults

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/physical-exams-add-less-than-5-minutes-to-neurology-consults/ A hands-on neurological examination adds The findings, published online on December 4 in Neurology: Clinical Practice, appear to support earlier claims by clinical neurologists that an effective physical exam can be performed in the space ≤ 5 minutes. For their research, John Ney, MD, of the Yale School of Medicine, Yale […]

Camrelizumab Helpful Addition to Breast Cancer Treatment

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/camrelizumab-helpful-addition-to-breast-cancer-treatment/ TOPLINE: Adding camrelizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy increases pathological complete response rate to 56.8% vs 44.7% with placebo in early or locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer. The combination shows consistent benefits across patient subgroups with a manageable safety profile. METHODOLOGY: A randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial enrolled 441 females (median age, 48 […]

Cannabis Use in Pregnancy Fails to Ease Mental Health Issues

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cannabis-use-in-pregnancy-fails-to-ease-mental-health-issues/ TOPLINE: Among 504 pregnant individuals, 46.8% reported using cannabis during pregnancy, with 58.1% citing mental health reasons. Cannabis use did not accelerate improvement in depression or stress symptoms compared with nonusers, even among those specifically using it for mental health relief. METHODOLOGY: A cohort study recruited 504 pregnant individuals (median age, […]

Time for Standard Alert-Based PRO Monitoring in BC

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/time-for-standard-alert-based-pro-monitoring-in-bc/ SAN ANTONIO — Weekly patient-reported outcomes monitoring combined with an automated alert system improved fatigue and overall quality of life and prolonged survival in patients with advanced breast cancer, according to the results of the PRO-B study.  The study demonstrated that “implementing alert-based [patient-reported outcome] monitoring in routine care settings across […]

Mother behind Martha’s Rule shares scheme’s early success

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/mother-behind-marthas-rule-shares-schemes-early-success/ Merope Mills Merope Mills began her campaign after an inquest found a change of care plan could have saved Martha’s life Almost one out of every eight phone calls made under the Martha’s Rule scheme has led to a potentially life-saving change of treatment, NHS England has revealed. The scheme allows […]

Alzheimer’s Mortality Lowest for Taxi, Ambulance Drivers

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/alzheimers-mortality-lowest-for-taxi-ambulance-drivers/ Taxi drivers and ambulance drivers — two groups of people with jobs that require frequent spatial and navigational processing — had the lowest proportions of deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s disease, an analysis of U.S. death certificates showed. Of nearly 9 million people who had died with occupational information, 3.88% had Alzheimer’s […]

UnitedHealth Strategically Limits Access to Critical Treatment for Kids With Autism

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/unitedhealth-strategically-limits-access-to-critical-treatment-for-kids-with-autism/ This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. There was a time when Sharelle Menard thought her son would never be able to speak. She couldn’t soothe Benji when […]

Parents Lose Sleep to Kids’ Eczema

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/parents-lose-sleep-to-kids-eczema/ Parents of children with eczema are more likely to be short on sleep and to use medication to try to get more of it, a retrospective National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) analysis showed. In a sample weighted to be nationally representative, 45.2% of those who reported having a child with atopic […]

You Can Tell SpA Patients That TNF Inhibitors May Cut Fracture Risk

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/you-can-tell-spa-patients-that-tnf-inhibitors-may-cut-fracture-risk/ Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors were at significantly lower risk for hip and spine fractures compared with those receiving only nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a large claims-based study indicated. In records from the Merative MarketScan Database, which covers nearly everyone in the U.S. with […]

Skipping Chest-Wall Irradiation After Mastectomy in Intermediate-Risk Breast Cancer

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/skipping-chest-wall-irradiation-after-mastectomy-in-intermediate-risk-breast-cancer/ SAN ANTONIO — Postmastectomy chest-wall irradiation (CWI) for intermediate-risk breast cancer had no impact on long-term survival, results of a large British study showed. After a median follow-up of 9.6 years, irradiated patients had a 10-year overall survival (OS) of 81.4% versus 82% for those who had no CWI. CWI led […]

Trump Says He’ll Preserve Access to Polio Vaccine, Equivocated on Other Shots

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/trump-says-hell-preserve-access-to-polio-vaccine-equivocated-on-other-shots/ President-elect Donald Trump on Monday held a wide-ranging news conference in which he said he would preserve access to the polio vaccine but equivocated on other vaccines, pledged to look at bringing down the costs of pharmaceuticals, and noted that he was open to saving TikTok from being banned next month. […]

Major Congenital Heart Defects in Fetus Linked to Worse Obstetric Outcomes

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/major-congenital-heart-defects-in-fetus-linked-to-worse-obstetric-outcomes/ Pregnancies with fetal major congenital heart defects (CHDs) had significantly higher rates of poor obstetric outcomes than those without defects, a decade-long Danish nationwide cohort study found. Nearly 23% of pregnancies with fetal major CHDs exhibited adverse obstetric outcomes compared with 9% of those without them (adjusted OR 2.96, 95% CI […]

Cosibelimab OK’d for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cosibelimab-okd-for-cutaneous-squamous-cell-carcinoma/ The FDA approved cosibelimab (Unloxcyt) for treating metastatic or locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) in adults who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. Approval of the new PD-L1 blocking antibody was based on results from CK-301-101, a multicenter, open-label, phase I trial that included 109 patients with […]

Experts Debate AQUILA Trial Findings in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/experts-debate-aquila-trial-findings-in-smoldering-multiple-myeloma/ Treating high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma with single-agent daratumumab (Darzalex) delayed progression to active myeloma, according to findings from the phase III AQUILA trial presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting. MedPage Today brought together three expert leaders in the field: Moderator Joseph Mikhael, MD, is joined by Amrita […]

Plastic chemicals linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide

Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/plastic-chemicals-linked-to-hundreds-of-thousands-of-deaths-worldwide/ Plastic food packaging can expose people to chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) Shutterstock/Trong Nguyen Hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of cases of heart disease worldwide may be linked to chemicals in common plastic products, suggesting that more stringent regulations on such toxins could benefit public health. Maureen Cropper […]