Mask Mandates Return; Health Workers to Strike; Top Healthcare Data Breaches of 2024
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/mask-mandates-return-health-workers-to-strike-top-healthcare-data-breaches-of-2024/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Also note that MedPage Today will be closed Wednesday in observance of New Year’s Day. Look for Morning Break again on Thursday, January 2. Several Illinois hospitals are requiring masks as respiratory infections climb. (NBC Chicago) For the first time, surgical robots […]
Panel Offers Best Practice Statement for Microbiota Testing
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/panel-offers-best-practice-statement-for-microbiota-testing/ TOPLINE: Microbiota analysis is not ready for use in clinical practice to diagnose disease or guide treatment, a new expert consensus statement concluded. METHODOLOGY: An international multidisciplinary panel of experts was convened to establish a framework to regulate the provision of microbiome testing, minimize the use of inappropriate tests, and pave […]
AI in Healthcare: Accountability a Key Focus in 2025
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ai-in-healthcare-accountability-a-key-focus-in-2025/ This year, MedPage Today reported on a slew of developments for artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. In this report, we examine what lies ahead for healthcare AI in the new year. In November, a newly-assembled FDA advisory committee held a 2-day meeting to develop guidance for the agency on questions around […]
Colchicine Guards Heart While Fighting Gout Flares
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/colchicine-guards-heart-while-fighting-gout-flares/ TOPLINE: Gout patients who take colchicine at the start of urate-lowering therapy have a lower risk for cardiovascular events than those who do not receive prophylaxis. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective cohort study of 99,800 patients (mean age, 62.8 years; 74.4% men; 85.1% White) newly diagnosed with gout between January 1997 and March 2021 […]
10 Kidney Transplants in 2 Days: Coordination Matters
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/10-kidney-transplants-in-2-days-coordination-matters/ Even the highest-volume kidney transplant centers average fewer than two transplants a day, so conducting 10 in just 2 days is an extreme rarity. But that’s what happened at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, during a stressful — but successful — Labor Day weekend. Vanderbilt’s transplant teams were called […]
Is BMI Good for Anything These Days? Yes — At Least for Now
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/is-bmi-good-for-anything-these-days-yes-at-least-for-now/ Many experts, over many years, have questioned the value of using body mass index (BMI) to determine a patient’s health status. “A person’s health is influenced by a complex mix of health behaviors, genetic factors, lean mass, fitness, and environmental risks,” Holly Ann Russell, MD, author of a recent commentary titled […]
Durvalumab Is Not Superior to Cetuximab in Head, Neck Cancer
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/durvalumab-is-not-superior-to-cetuximab-in-head-neck-cancer/ TOPLINE: Compared with cetuximab with concurrent radiotherapy, adjuvant durvalumab alongside radiotherapy did not enhance outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who are ineligible for cisplatin. METHODOLOGY: Although cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy is the standard treatment for advanced HNSCC, cisplatin is contraindicated in many patients. Optimal management […]
Beta-Blockers Show Promise in Curbing HD Progression
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/beta-blockers-show-promise-in-curbing-hd-progression/ TOPLINE: Beta-blocker use is associated with a 34% reduction of onset in premanifest Huntington disease (preHD) and slower progression in early motor-manifest Huntington disease (mmHD), new research shows. METHODOLOGY: In this longitudinal multicenter study, 174 beta-blocker users with preHD (mean age, 46.4 years; 66% women) were matched with 174 nonusers (mean […]
‘Miscarriage is not dark secret to hide’ singer says as she is made MBE
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/miscarriage-is-not-dark-secret-to-hide-singer-says-as-she-is-made-mbe/ Getty Images Klass has spoken openly about the impact of suffering four miscarriages Myleene Klass has been recognised in this year’s New Year Honours for services to women’s health, miscarriage awareness and to charity. Speaking to the BBC, the musician and TV presenter said she was “utterly shocked and surprised” to […]
Wantage teen honoured in New Year Honours for cancer fundraising
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/wantage-teen-honoured-in-new-year-honours-for-cancer-fundraising/ TEAM MIKAYLA Mikayla Beames (right) set up the charity, which donated more than £2,000 worth of Christmas gifts to children’s cancer wards A teenager who has lived with cancer since she was four has been recognised in the New Year Honours List for raising money for other children with the disease. […]
Wales Ambulance Service urges to ‘drink sensibly’ over New Year
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/wales-ambulance-service-urges-to-drink-sensibly-over-new-year/ Getty Images The critical incident comes after new rules for patients and visitors to wear masks across several health boards amid flu concerns Welsh ambulance service chiefs have urged the public to “drink sensibly” at New Year to help reduce demand on emergency services that suffered a 340-call backlog on Monday. […]
Can elite sport damage women’s fertility?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/can-elite-sport-damage-womens-fertility/ Getty Images Laura always wondered if her body was running on empty Olympic gold-medallist Dame Laura Kenny is Britain’s most successful female athlete. She has two young boys but also had a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy, and has always wondered if the physical toll of elite sport had damaged her […]
Omega Fatty Acid Changes Tied to Lower Proliferation Rate in Early Prostate Cancer
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/omega-fatty-acid-changes-tied-to-lower-proliferation-rate-in-early-prostate-cancer/ A short-term randomized study of active surveillance for prostate cancer showed that fish oil supplementation was associated with a reduction in a biomarker of disease progression. During a year of follow-up, prostate biopsies showed about a 15% decrease in the Ki-67 index in patients who received fish oil capsules enriched for […]
Jimmy Carter Made Eradicating Guinea Worm Disease a Top Mission
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/jimmy-carter-made-eradicating-guinea-worm-disease-a-top-mission/ Nobel Prize-winning peacemaker Jimmy Carter spent nearly four decades waging war to eliminate an ancient parasite plaguing the world’s poorest people. Rarely fatal but searingly painful and debilitating, Guinea worm disease infects people who drink water tainted with larvae that grow inside the body into worms as much as 3 feet […]
Behavioral Intervention Eases Chronic Pain for Dialysis Patients
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/behavioral-intervention-eases-chronic-pain-for-dialysis-patients/ A cognitive behavioral intervention eased chronic pain for people with kidney failure on maintenance hemodialysis, a randomized clinical trial found. After 12 weeks, pain coping skills training (PCST) reduced the interference of pain on activities of daily life compared with usual care, with a between-group difference of -0.49 points on the […]
Environmentally Friendlier COPD Inhaler May Also Be More Effective
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/environmentally-friendlier-copd-inhaler-may-also-be-more-effective/ There was a notable gap in effectiveness between metered-dose and dry-powder formulations of single-inhaler triple therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to real-world data. Metered-dose inhaler budesonide-glycopyrrolate-formoterol (Breztri Aerosphere) was associated with a higher risk of a first moderate or severe COPD exacerbation (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04-1.14) compared […]
Modest Decline in Patient Portal Messages After Billing Initiative Launched
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/modest-decline-in-patient-portal-messages-after-billing-initiative-launched/ Billing for certain patient portal messages was associated with a modest decrease in message volume in a large health system, researchers found. In the 6 months after starting to bill for some messages as “e-visits,” the volume of patient-initiated medical advice message threads decreased 8.8% compared with the same dates in […]
Gene Therapy Improves Motor Function in Children With SMA
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/gene-therapy-improves-motor-function-in-children-with-sma/ (Reuters) – Swiss drugmaker Novartis said on Monday its gene therapy helped improve motor function in children with a rare muscle disorder that leaves patients too weak to walk, talk and swallow. Novartis was testing the therapy, onasemnogene abeparvovec or OAV101 IT, in a late-stage trial of patients between the ages […]
Diversity Reporting Improved in Pulse Oximetry Testing After FDA Guidance
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/diversity-reporting-improved-in-pulse-oximetry-testing-after-fda-guidance/ There was “low but improving uptake” of reporting about the diversity of participants in summary documents for FDA-cleared pulse oximeters after voluntary guidance was issued in 2013, an analysis of public FDA records found. Reports of race, ethnicity, or skin tone occurred 320 times in 12.5% of 767 FDA summary documents […]
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US President, Has Died at 100
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/jimmy-carter-the-39th-us-president-has-died-at-100/ Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term, and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on […]
Share Covid data, World Health Organization tells China
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/share-covid-data-world-health-organization-tells-china/ The World Health Organization has urged China to share data on the origins of the Covid pandemic, five years on from its start in the city of Wuhan. “This is a moral and scientific imperative,” the WHO said in a statement to mark what it called the “milestone” anniversary. “Without transparency, […]
Using Immune Biomarkers to Guide Treatment in TNBC
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/using-immune-biomarkers-to-guide-treatment-in-tnbc/ High levels of immune infiltrates are strongly prognostic for favorable outcomes independently of nodal status in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) High levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which are easy to obtain and report, indicate an active antitumor immune response, said Roberto Salgado, MD, PhD, of the Peter MacCallum […]
Blinatumomab Plus Chemotherapy New Standard for Children With B-Cell ALL
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/blinatumomab-plus-chemotherapy-new-standard-for-children-with-b-cell-all/ The randomized phase III AALL1731 trial presented at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting showed that adding the bispecific T-cell engager blinatumomab (Blincyto) to chemotherapy significantly improved disease-free survival for children with newly diagnosed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this exclusive MedPage Today video, Rachel Rau, MD, of the […]
Experts Lament ‘Anemic’ Response to H5N1, Worried About What 2025 Will Bring
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/experts-lament-anemic-response-to-h5n1-worried-about-what-2025-will-bring/ This year, human cases of H5N1 bird flu ramped up in the U.S., particularly after the virus made its way into dairy cattle herds. In this report, experts share their concerns about what may happen with H5N1 in the year ahead. The Biden administration’s response to H5N1 avian influenza, or bird […]
Lupus Patients See More Vascular Risk, but It’s Modifiable
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/lupus-patients-see-more-vascular-risk-but-its-modifiable/ Atherosclerosis progression was more than twice as common in younger people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than in healthy controls in a prospective study from Greece, but the rate difference narrowed substantially with sustained SLE remission and conventional cardiovascular risk factor management. Among 95 SLE patients and 71 age- and sex-matched […]
Out With the Old, In With the New
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/ Fred Pelzman is an associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell, and has been a practicing internist for nearly 30 years. He is medical director of Weill Cornell Internal Medicine Associates. 2024 — what a year it has been. And so much more lies ahead for us, for our patients, and […]
Jimmy Carter Dies; Norovirus Surges; Havana Syndrome Probe Faults CIA Response
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/jimmy-carter-dies-norovirus-surges-havana-syndrome-probe-faults-cia-response/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner, died at age 100. (AP) In his decades as a former president, Carter helped deliver basic health and sanitation to millions of people worldwide and set a new […]
Stem Cell Transplant Effective for Children With Arthritis
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/stem-cell-transplant-effective-for-children-with-arthritis/ TOPLINE: Stem cell transplantation tames some refractory systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis–related lung disease that does not respond to other treatment. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective cohort study of 13 children with refractory systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis–related lung disease (sJIA-LD) who had allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Children whose median age was 9 years […]
MRI-Guided SBRT Cuts Long-Term Toxicities in Prostate Cancer
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/mri-guided-sbrt-cuts-long-term-toxicities-in-prostate-cancer/ TOPLINE: Aggressive margin reduction with MRI-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) led to a significantly lower incidence of late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities at 2 years compared with CT-guided SBRT in men with localized prostate cancer, new data showed. METHODOLOGY: MRI-guided SBRT is known to reduce planning margins in prostate cancer and […]
Pilot Program Cuts ADHD Diagnosis, Treatment Times
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/pilot-program-cuts-adhd-diagnosis-treatment-times/ With long wait times for behavioral healthcare delaying diagnosis and treatment of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an approach in primary care could fast-track care for patients. The Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Minnesota in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, implemented a pair of screening tools that reduced […]
Tildrakizumab Shows Durable Response in Scalp Psoriasis
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/tildrakizumab-shows-durable-response-in-scalp-psoriasis/ TOPLINE: Tildrakizumab was well tolerated and achieved sustained response in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis of the scalp in a phase 3 study. METHODOLOGY: A 72-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3b trial enrolled 231 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis of the scalp. Patients were randomly assigned […]
PAs Share Their Many Side Hustles
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/pas-share-their-many-side-hustles/ Since the pandemic, many workers across industries are working a 9-to-5 while building new businesses or engaging in some sort of “side hustle.” In fact, a recent CBS News report estimated that nearly 50% of American employees work some type of side gig — and physician associates (PAs) are no exception. […]
‘My autistic sons have taught me so much’
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/my-autistic-sons-have-taught-me-so-much/ John Thompson James says he hopes his two children can live as independently as possible in the future James Hunt used to spend his days commuting to London, where he ran a successful marketing firm. But his children Jude and Tommy were diagnosed as autistic when they were toddlers, and he […]
Sotagliflozin Not Approved as Type 1 Diabetes Add-On
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/sotagliflozin-not-approved-as-type-1-diabetes-add-on/ The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declined to approve sotagliflozin (Zynquista) as an adjunct to insulin therapy for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Announced by Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., on December 20, 2024, the FDA’s complete response letter decision follows the October 31, 2024 11-3 […]
Biologic Use Predicts Remission Success in RA
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/biologic-use-predicts-remission-success-in-ra/ TOPLINE: Patients who require biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for severe RA are less likely to achieve sustained DMARD-free remission than those not needing the medication. METHODOLOGY: Patients with early RA from the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic (EAC; n = 627) and the Rotterdam Early Arthritis Cohort (tREACH) trial (n = […]
Education Boosts Safe Sharps Disposal in Diabetic Care
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/education-boosts-safe-sharps-disposal-in-diabetic-care/ TOPLINE: A program combining theoretical training with free disposal containers can effectively increase knowledge and improve sharps waste disposal practices among patients with diabetes. METHODOLOGY: A significant number of patients with diabetes administer insulin at home. Unsafe waste disposal including insulin pens, syringes, and lancets increases the risk for needle-stick injuries, […]
Broken Sleep Linked to MASLD
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/broken-sleep-linked-to-masld/ TOPLINE: Fragmented sleep — that is, increased wakefulness and reduced sleep efficiency — is a sign of metabolic dysfunction—associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a study using actigraphy showed. METHODOLOGY: Researchers assessed sleep-wake rhythms in 35 patients with MASLD (median age, 58 years; 66% were men; 80% with metabolic syndrome) and 16 […]
Ozempic and Wegovy have heart health benefits beyond just weight loss
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ozempic-and-wegovy-have-heart-health-benefits-beyond-just-weight-loss/ Illustration of semaglutide activating a key receptor, called GLP-1 JUAN GAERTNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Alamy The active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, a drug called semaglutide, can have direct beneficial effects on the heart within weeks, in addition to the longer-term benefits of losing weight, an animal study has shown. The finding suggests […]
Early Postpartum IUD Doesn’t Spike Healthcare Utilization
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/early-postpartum-iud-doesnt-spike-healthcare-utilization/ TOPLINE: Healthcare utilization after immediate and delayed intrauterine device (IUD) placement postpartum was comparable, with the immediate placement group making slightly fewer visits to obstetricians or gynecologists (OB/GYNs). While immediate placement was associated with increased rates of imaging, it showed lower rates of laparoscopic surgery for IUD-related complications. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted […]
Jimmy Carter Dies at Age 100. His Legacy in Public Health Lives On
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/jimmy-carter-dies-at-age-100-his-legacy-in-public-health-lives-on/ Share on PinterestFormer U.S. president Jimmy Carter died at age 100. His lasting legacy in public health lives on. Ken Krakow/Getty Images Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president, died at age 100 in his hometown in Plains, Georgia. The former president left a long legacy working in public health. In recent […]
No EoE-Esophageal Cancer Link Found in Large US Study
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/no-eoe-esophageal-cancer-link-found-in-large-us-study/ TOPLINE: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is not associated with the development of esophageal cancer in privately insured US adults younger than 65 years. METHODOLOGY: Because chronic inflammation is associated with several cancers, but some studies suggest that allergic inflammation, like that of EoE, might offer a protective benefit, researchers examined whether EoE […]
Axolotl Shows Promise in Unlocking Skin Regeneration Secrets
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/axolotl-shows-promise-in-unlocking-skin-regeneration-secrets/ For over 200 years, researchers have been captivated by axolotl salamanders (Ambystoma mexicanum) and their remarkable regenerative abilities, seeking to uncover secrets that could revolutionize regenerative medicine, including the scarless healing of wounds. “The axolotl salamander is the most studied animal ever in science for its neotenic ability to regenerate,” Jill […]
Doxycycline Kits Boost Chlamydia Treatment in ED
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/doxycycline-kits-boost-chlamydia-treatment-in-ed/ TOPLINE: Doxycycline discharge kits significantly improve guideline-directed treatment and reduce time to definitive treatment in patients with chlamydia who were discharged from the emergency department (ED). METHODOLOGY: A single-center retrospective chart review included adults with positive chlamydia tests in the ED between 2021 and 2023. In total, 98 received doxycycline discharge […]
‘It’s Much More Severe, and It’s Much More Dangerous’: What We Heard This Year
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/its-much-more-severe-and-its-much-more-dangerous-what-we-heard-this-year/ In place of our usual “What We Heard This Week” feature, and as part of our year-end wrap-ups, we’ve selected some of the best quotes our reporters heard in 2024. “It’s not just some little fever or some little rash. It’s much more severe, and it’s much more dangerous.” — Sarah […]
What Harvey Weinstein’s Lawsuit Reminds Us About Healthcare Behind Bars
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/what-harvey-weinsteins-lawsuit-reminds-us-about-healthcare-behind-bars/ Spencer is an internal medicine physician and assistant professor of medicine. Dubhashi is a fourth-year medical student. In early 2024, Mark Spencer, MD, co-authored an op-ed on the inadequate healthcare provided in jails and prisons nationwide, as well as the mistreatment of ill incarcerated individuals, even after they arrive in the […]
How Social Determinants of Health Are Linked to Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/how-social-determinants-of-health-are-linked-to-outcomes-in-multiple-myeloma/ A study presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting revealed that multiple myeloma patients with higher socioeconomic deprivation, as measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), experienced poorer outcomes, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. In this exclusive MedPage Today video, Catherine Forbes, PharmD, of Roswell Park Comprehensive […]
Have the New Pulmonary Hypertension Drugs Changed the Game?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/have-the-new-pulmonary-hypertension-drugs-changed-the-game/ In March, we reported on back-to-back FDA approvals for two treatments in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In this report, we follow up on what has happened since. After the FDA approved both combination macitentan/tadalafil (Opsynvi) and the biologic therapy sotatercept (Winrevair) for WHO group 1 pulmonary hypertension (PH, or PAH) over […]
How Well Do You Know 2024’s Top Stories?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/how-well-do-you-know-2024s-top-stories/ The 24-hour news cycle is just as important to medicine as it is to politics, finance, or sports. At MedPage Today, new information is posted daily, but keeping up can be a challenge. As an aid for our readers, and for a little amusement, here is a 10-question quiz based on […]
Fairy Tales and Sleep; Cognitive Impairment in AI
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fairy-tales-and-sleep-cognitive-impairment-in-ai/ TTHealthWatch is a weekly podcast from Texas Tech. In it, Elizabeth Tracey, director of electronic media for Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, and Rick Lange, MD, president of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, look at the top medical stories of the week. This week’s topics include […]
CMS Moved to Expand Obesity Drug Coverage. Private Insurers Need to Step Up.
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cms-moved-to-expand-obesity-drug-coverage-private-insurers-need-to-step-up/ Zucchi is a physician assistant at a medical weight-loss clinic. In July 2024, Joseph Zucchi, PA-C, MPAS, wrote about how stigma and misconceptions were creating barriers to GLP-1 obesity medication uptake, on top of systemic barriers like high costs and inadequate insurance coverage. As part of our review of the past […]
Integrating MRD in Myeloma: Guidance for Therapy Escalation and De-escalation
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/integrating-mrd-in-myeloma-guidance-for-therapy-escalation-and-de-escalation/ At the American Society of Hematology annual meeting, a roundtable discussion highlighted the evolving role of minimal residual disease (MRD) as a treatment endpoint in multiple myeloma, exploring its implications for therapy escalation, de-escalation, and discontinuation. MedPage Today brought together three expert leaders in the field: Moderator Joseph Mikhael, MD, is […]
GLP-1 Agents and Suicide: Making Sense of 2024’s Mixed Data
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/glp-1-agents-and-suicide-making-sense-of-2024s-mixed-data/ In January, we reported on the FDA clearing GLP-1 receptor agonists of suicidality risk following a preliminary evaluation. In this report, we follow up on what has happened since. Not long after the FDA wrapped its preliminary investigation of GLP-1 receptor agonists and suicidal thoughts or actions, the European Medicines Agency […]
‘I couldn’t stop pulling out my eyelashes’
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/i-couldnt-stop-pulling-out-my-eyelashes/ Isobel Perl Four years ago, Isobel Perl was living with friends in London and thriving. She was working for a big accountancy firm and had a busy social life. Then the pandemic hit and she lost her job. Aged 25, she had to move back in with her parents in Watford. […]
Cats Can Get Sick With Bird Flu. Here’s How to Protect Them.
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cats-can-get-sick-with-bird-flu-heres-how-to-protect-them/ The death of an Oregon house cat and a pet food recall are raising questions about the ongoing outbreak of bird flu and how people can protect their pets. Bird flu has been spreading for years in wild birds, chickens, turkeys, and many other animals. It was first confirmed in U.S. […]
Hopes for consistent care for women during surgical menopause
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/hopes-for-consistent-care-for-women-during-surgical-menopause/ Jenny Smith Photography Diane Danzebrink campaigned to improve menopause awareness after her mental health was affected “to the point of almost taking my life” Hundreds of women who are “plunged into surgical menopause” are “being failed by the NHS”, says a menopause support campaigner. Diane Danzebrink, 58, from Norfolk, has called […]
Essex first responder praised for saving man in cardiac arrest
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/essex-first-responder-praised-for-saving-man-in-cardiac-arrest/ A community first responder has been praised for “almost certainly saving the life” of a man in his village by attending a 999 call about chest pains as he neared the end of his shift. Vounteer Phil Fuller had driven round to assess Robert McWilliams, 75, when the patient went into […]
Bird Flu Virus Likely Mutated Within Louisiana Patient, CDC Says
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/bird-flu-virus-likely-mutated-within-louisiana-patient-cdc-says/ A genetic analysis suggested the bird flu virus mutated inside a Louisiana patient who contracted the nation’s first severe case of the illness, the CDC said this week. Scientists believe the mutations may allow the virus to better bind to receptors in the upper airways of humans — something they said […]
AI Model Has Promise for Predicting Checkpoint Inhibitor Activity in NSCLC
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ai-model-has-promise-for-predicting-checkpoint-inhibitor-activity-in-nsclc/ Artificial intelligence (AI)-aided analysis of pathology slides showed potential as a predictive biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a multicenter study showed. The deep-learning model (called Deep-IO) achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.75 for objective response in a […]
Suicide Risk Lower for Veterans With PTSD Who Start Evidence-Based Therapy
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/suicide-risk-lower-for-veterans-with-ptsd-who-start-evidence-based-therapy/ Initiating cognitive processing therapy or prolonged exposure (CPT/PE) sessions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was associated with lower suicide risk in military veterans in an observational study, but completing an adequate course of CPT/PE sessions was not. Among nearly 850,000 veterans newly diagnosed with PTSD, starting CPT/PE treatment was linked with […]
What Was 2024’s Top Story?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/what-was-2024s-top-story/ (MedPage Today) — Top stories in 2024 included major developments in abortion and bird flu, the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, the selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead HHS, new indications for GLP-1 drugs, and more. Source link : https://www.medpagetoday.com/surveys/surveys/113570 Author : Publish date : 2024-12-27 18:20:47 Copyright for syndicated […]
Most Americans Blame Insurance Profits, Denials Alongside the Killer in CEO’s Death
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/most-americans-blame-insurance-profits-denials-alongside-the-killer-in-ceos-death/ Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger, according to a new poll. In the survey from NORC at the University of Chicago, about eight in 10 U.S. adults said […]
FDA Proposes New Testing Rules to Ensure Cosmetics Are Asbestos-Free
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-proposes-new-testing-rules-to-ensure-cosmetics-are-asbestos-free/ Cosmetic companies would have to take extra steps to ensure that any products containing talc are free of asbestos under a federal rule proposed Thursday. The proposal from the FDA and mandated by Congress is intended to reassure consumers about the safety of makeup, baby powder, and other personal care products. […]
Can Tumor Mutational Burden Guide Treatment in Metastatic Breast Cancer?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/can-tumor-mutational-burden-guide-treatment-in-metastatic-breast-cancer/ A study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium examined whether tumor mutational burden (TMB) was associated with outcomes in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients treated with either pembrolizumab (Keytruda) or chemotherapy. Findings showed that patients with high TMB had numerically more favorable survival when treated with the […]
Metastatic Cancer ‘Thrivers’; Celebrity Cancer Diagnoses; ‘Would He Have Lived?’
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/metastatic-cancer-thrivers-celebrity-cancer-diagnoses-would-he-have-lived/ Metastatic cancer “thrivers” offer hope and inspiration to others with cancer. (Washington Post) A California court ordered the Regents of the University of California to pay former UCLA Health oncologist Lauren Pinter-Brown, MD, almost $18 million, including lawyers’ fees, following a finding in favor of the plaintiff in a sex discrimination […]
Medicare Will Cover Blood Tests to Monitor for Transplant Rejection, for Now
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/medicare-will-cover-blood-tests-to-monitor-for-transplant-rejection-for-now/ In August, we reported on the decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to not pursue a proposed Medicare policy that would have restricted coverage of a blood test used to monitor for transplant rejection. In this report, we follow up on what has happened since. Some transplant […]
Eat, Drink, and Be Wary
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/eat-drink-and-be-wary/ (MedPage Today) — In the last year, Claire Panosian Dunavan, MD, wrote two op-eds for MedPage Today pertaining to dangerous foodborne disease outbreaks. As part of our review of the past year’s biggest events, Panosian Dunavan revisited this topic… Source link : https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/parasites-and-plagues/113563 Author : Publish date : 2024-12-27 16:37:18 Copyright […]
Mezigdomide Combinations Show Promise in Multiple Myeloma
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/mezigdomide-combinations-show-promise-in-multiple-myeloma/ The phase I/II CA057-003 trial presented at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting showed promising results with novel mezigdomide-based combinations in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In this exclusive MedPage Today video, David Samuel Dicapua Siegel, MD, of the John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, discusses the potential […]
Stem Cell Transplantation Still the Main Treatment Option for Beta-Thalassemia
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/stem-cell-transplantation-still-the-main-treatment-option-for-beta-thalassemia/ While gene therapy has emerged as a promising alternative for treating beta-thalassemia, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only widely accessible curative option for this inherited blood disorder. “The best candidates for transplant are ideally children less than 8 years of age, but they actually do quite well up to […]
Transitioning From Pediatric to Adult Care for Beta-Thalassemia
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/transitioning-from-pediatric-to-adult-care-for-beta-thalassemia/ Patients with beta-thalassemia major (also known as Cooley’s anemia) have a reduction or absence of beta protein in their hemoglobin, resulting in severe anemia, which requires regular blood transfusions beginning early in childhood. These lifelong transfusions lead to iron overload, which requires chelation therapy to prevent organ failure. Historically, thalassemia was […]
5 Ways to Get Started with Weekend Warrior Workouts
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/5-ways-to-get-started-with-weekend-warrior-workouts/ Share on PinterestWeekend warriors reap significant health benefits, similar to those who follow a more traditional exercise schedule. FG Trade/Getty Images Weekend warriors get their exercise in over a couple of days (like the weekend) rather than throughout the week. Studies have shown this exercise pattern results in significant health benefits, […]
Weirdest Medical Cases of 2024; CDC Sees Concerning H5N1 Changes; The King’s Speech
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/weirdest-medical-cases-of-2024-cdc-sees-concerning-h5n1-changes-the-kings-speech/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Brain worms … 200 COVID shots … butt eels: Gizmodo reviews the weirdest medical cases of 2024. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said that Israeli warplanes struck a Yemeni airport just as he was about to board a flight. […]
Testing Elacestrant With Other Targeted Drugs for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/testing-elacestrant-with-other-targeted-drugs-for-metastatic-breast-cancer/ Findings from the phase Ib/II ELEVATE trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium demonstrated the potential of the oral selective estrogen receptor degrader elacestrant (Orserdu) in combination with various targeted agents — including abemaciclib (Verzenio), palbociclib (Ibrance), and everolimus — for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In this […]
Expert Tips for Managing GLP-1 Medication Side Effects
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/expert-tips-for-managing-glp-1-medication-side-effects/ Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) medications have become a powerful weight loss tool in a country where 40% of the population is obese. Patients taking these medications can experience weight loss, a life changing amount for those who have been struggling with weight and related health problems for much of their lives. […]
Coffee Consumption Linked to Specific Gut Bacterium
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/coffee-consumption-linked-to-specific-gut-bacterium/ TOPLINE: Coffee consumption is associated with the abundance of the gut bacterium Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus, suggesting that specific foods can affect the intestinal microbiome. METHODOLOGY: The researchers selected coffee as a model to investigate the interplay between specific foods and the intestinal microbial community. They conducted a multicohort, multiomic analysis of US […]
‘I’m 27, and my disability admin feels like a full-time job’
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/im-27-and-my-disability-admin-feels-like-a-full-time-job/ Sofia Brizio Sofia Brizio says small things like arranging travel, that might take a non-disabled person less than a minute, could take half an hour for her to sort Sofia Brizo spends four hours a day on what she calls “disability admin”. The 27-year-old PHD student, who has cerebral palsy, said […]
To Britain on Legalizing Assisted Dying: Proceed With Caution
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/to-britain-on-legalizing-assisted-dying-proceed-with-caution/ Joel Zivot is an associate professor of anesthesiology/surgery at Emory University and a senior fellow at the Emory Center for Ethics. Follow In November, the British Parliament advanced a bill that would be making assisted dying legal under certain circumstances. As part of our review of the past year’s biggest events, […]
Peace on Earth: Envisioning a Role for AI
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/peace-on-earth-envisioning-a-role-for-ai/ David Nash is the Founding Dean Emeritus and Dr. Raymond C. and Doris N. Grandon Professor of Health Policy at the Jefferson College of Population Health. He is a board-certified internist. Follow If Time had a “Hottest Topic of 2024” cover, artificial intelligence (AI) would surely be a contender. AI is […]
Less Sleep During and After Pregnancy May Spell Future Heart Troubles
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/less-sleep-during-and-after-pregnancy-may-spell-future-heart-troubles/ Persistently short sleep duration during and after pregnancy was tied to a greater risk for adverse cardiometabolic outcomes, a secondary analysis of cohort study data showed. Women who said they slept fewer than 7 hours a night during and after pregnancy had higher odds of new-onset metabolic syndrome (adjusted odds ratio […]
Kidney Decline Faster After Severe COVID vs Other Pneumonia
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/kidney-decline-faster-after-severe-covid-vs-other-pneumonia/ COVID-19 infection may be harder on the kidneys than other respiratory tract infections, a Swedish observational study indicated. Comparing the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before and after COVID, individuals had a mean eGFR decline that was 5.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 faster after infection in hospitalized cases and 3.2 mL/min/1.73 […]
Mydriatic Microdrops May Be Better for Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/mydriatic-microdrops-may-be-better-for-retinopathy-of-prematurity-screening/ Mydriatic microdrops during retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening were noninferior to standard drops, which have been associated with cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal adverse events, a randomized trial showed. Among 83 preterm infants, microdrops were superior to standard drops for mydriatic efficacy — a measurement of dilation — at 45 minutes (mean difference […]
COVID-19 Takes a Greater Toll on Kidneys Than Pneumonia
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/covid-19-takes-a-greater-toll-on-kidneys-than-pneumonia/ TOPLINE: COVID-19 survivors show a more pronounced decline in kidney function than those who recover from pneumonia caused by other infections. This decline in kidney function, measured by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), is particularly steep among individuals who require hospitalization for COVID-19. METHODOLOGY: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, […]
Frontline Mosunetuzumab Shows High Response Rates in Follicular Lymphoma
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/frontline-mosunetuzumab-shows-high-response-rates-in-follicular-lymphoma/ At the recent American Society of Hematology annual meeting, early data from the Mithic-FL1 Trial demonstrated impressive response rates with frontline mosunetuzumab (Lunsumio) in high-tumor-bulk follicular lymphoma, positioning the bispecific antibody as a potential alternative to chemotherapy-based regimens. In this second of four exclusive episodes, MedPage Today brought together three expert […]
FDA Says Decongestant in Many Cold Medicines Doesn’t Work. So What Does?
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/fda-says-decongestant-in-many-cold-medicines-doesnt-work-so-what-does/ Changes are coming to the cold and cough aisle of your local pharmacy: U.S. officials are moving to phase out the leading decongestant found in hundreds of over-the-counter medicines, concluding that it doesn’t actually relieve nasal congestion. Phenylephrine is used in popular versions of Sudafed, DayQuil, and other medications, but experts […]
Cardiac Reoperation Timing Shows No Effect on Mortality
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/cardiac-reoperation-timing-shows-no-effect-on-mortality/ TOPLINE: Compared with later cardiac reoperations, early reoperations demonstrate increased technical complexity with longer operative times and higher requirements for blood transfusion yet show no significant difference in rates of mortality. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted this study to explore how the interval between previous cardiac surgeries and subsequent reoperations affects operative mortality […]
Vedolizumab Reduces Postoperative Crohn’s Disease Recurrence
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/vedolizumab-reduces-postoperative-crohns-disease-recurrence/ TOPLINE: Vedolizumab treatment within 4 weeks of ileocolonic resection outperformed placebo in preventing postoperative endoscopic recurrence of Crohn’s disease in patients with at least one risk factor for recurrence, the REPREVIO trial found. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted the multicenter REPREVIO trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab, an α4β7 integrin […]
Pediatric Central Line Skin Reactions Lack Rx Protocols
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/pediatric-central-line-skin-reactions-lack-rx-protocols/ TOPLINE: A survey of dermatologists found that while all respondents receive inpatient central line dressing (CLD)-related consults, most lack **standardized protocols for managing adverse skin reactions and reported varying management approaches. METHODOLOGY: Researchers developed and administered a 14-item Qualtrics survey to 107 dermatologists providing pediatric inpatient care through the Society for […]
Risk of Adverse Events Differ Among Men and Women With MASLD
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/risk-of-adverse-events-differ-among-men-and-women-with-masld/ TOPLINE: Women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) have a higher risk for cirrhosis, whereas men with MASLD have elevated risks for hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic decompensation, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and non–sex-specific cancers. METHODOLOGY: MASLD represents a leading cause of liver and nonliver adverse events; however, current data on […]
Baroreflex Sensitivity May Predict Dementia Risk in Seniors
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/baroreflex-sensitivity-may-predict-dementia-risk-in-seniors/ TOPLINE: Impairment in cardiac baroreflex sensitivity, which helps regulate blood pressure, is associated with an increased risk for dementia and mortality in older adults not taking antihypertensive medications. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the association between cardiac baroreflex sensitivity and the risk for dementia and death in […]
Bird flu kills 20 big cats at Washington animal sanctuary
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/bird-flu-kills-20-big-cats-at-washington-animal-sanctuary/ Twenty big cats – including a Bengal tiger and four cougars – have died of bird flu over the past several weeks at an animal sanctuary in the state of Washington. “This tragedy has deeply affected our team, and we are all grieving the loss of these incredible animals,” the Wild […]
Why US obesity rates fell for the first time in decades
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/why-us-obesity-rates-fell-for-the-first-time-in-decades/ Obesity rates in the US have begun falling Evgeniya Pavlova/Getty Images For decades, rates of obesity in the US have climbed – but that trend may be changing. The number of adults with obesity dipped ever so slightly in 2023, suggesting the country has reached a turning point in this public […]
£90,000-a-year Patient Safety Commissioner role remains unfilled
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/90000-a-year-patient-safety-commissioner-role-remains-unfilled/ PA Media A recruitment drive for Scotland’s first ever Patient Safety Commissioner has failed for a second time. MSPs passed a law creating the new independent public advocate for NHS patients in September last year. The first round of interviews for the £89,685-a-year role in April failed to produce a suitable […]
Eczema Patients Do Well With Self-Guided Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/eczema-patients-do-well-with-self-guided-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/ Self-guided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) proved noninferior to clinician-guided CBT for reducing symptom severity in adults with eczema, a randomized trial from Sweden found. At 12 weeks of follow-up, similar improvements on the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) were reported whether CBT was self- or clinician-guided (4.60 vs 4.20 points, respectively), with […]
ART & Heart Safety; Eosinophil Counts Post MI; Antibiotics Fall Short After TAVR
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/art-eosinophil-counts-post-mi-antibiotics-fall-short-after-tavr/ Use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) was not significantly associated with an increased long-term risk of cardiovascular diseases in women, according to a meta-analysis. (European Heart Journal) A randomized trial in China showed that a pharmacist-led management model improved medication adherence among patients with chronic heart failure. (JAMA Network Open) Sixteen […]
Lindsey Vonn Thinks Her New Titanium Knee Could Start a Trend in Skiing
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/lindsey-vonn-thinks-her-new-titanium-knee-could-start-a-trend-in-skiing/ ST. MORITZ, Switzerland — When Lindsey Vonn last raced on the World Cup circuit nearly 6 years ago, the constant pain in her knee left her in tears and led to retirement. Flash forward to Vonn’s comeback race on a titanium knee at age 40 last weekend, and the American skiing […]
Imcivree Label Expanded; Weight Loss With Weekly Injection; Kidney Donation Chain
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/imcivree-label-expanded-weight-loss-with-weekly-injection-kidney-donation-chain/ The FDA expanded the indication for setmelanotide (Imcivree) to include children as young as 2 years with syndromic or monogenic obesity due to Bardet-Biedl syndrome or genetically confirmed pro-opiomelanocortin, said maker Rhythm Pharmaceuticals. Among patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy receiving bremelanotide in the small phase IIb BREAKOUT study, 71% achieved […]
Ozempic for Alzheimer’s? What Drives Brain Age; Primary Care Alzheimer’s Guideline
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/ozempic-for-alzheimers-what-drives-brain-age-primary-care-alzheimers-guideline/ Two clinical trials investigating semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) as an early Alzheimer’s treatment are expected to wrap up in 2025. (New Scientist) Researchers say stem cell treatments for Parkinson’s disease or epilepsy may enter the clinic soon. (Nature) Vascular-related lifestyles and health were associated with brain appearance, with healthier profiles tied to […]
Higher-Dose Anticoagulation Not a Sure Bet for Hospitalized COVID Patients
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/higher-dose-anticoagulation-not-a-sure-bet-for-hospitalized-covid-patients/ Therapeutic-dose anticoagulation with heparins reduced 28-day mortality compared with prophylactic doses in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Higher-dose anticoagulation was associated with a greater risk for major bleeding, but fewer thromboembolic events, compared with lower-dose anticoagulation. Notably, the 22 trials included in this meta-analysis had primarily evaluated heparins, with only one study […]
Vaccine Injury Claims Spiked During COVID
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/vaccine-injury-claims-spiked-during-covid/ The federal Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) fielded a massive influx of claims due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). CICP received approximately 27 times more claims in response to the COVID pandemic than it had received in the whole first decade […]
Bill Clinton Hospitalized; Lower Cost Ozempic? WHO Withdrawal Planned
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/bill-clinton-hospitalized-lower-cost-ozempic-who-withdrawal-planned/ Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Former President Bill Clinton was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. on Monday with a fever, according to his spokesperson. (AP) Could this generic approval lead to lower cost semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)? (USA Today) For patients wanting to pause […]
Doc Indicted in Old Rape Case; Telehealth Death Suit; $66M Plastic Surgery Award
Source link : https://www.newshealth.biz/health-news/doc-indicted-in-old-rape-case-telehealth-death-suit-66m-plastic-surgery-award/ Ohio doctor Frederick Tanzer, MD, has been indicted on federal charges related to a rape case from 1989. (KCTV) A family sued Amazon One Medical alleging a 45-year-old patient died after a telehealth visit with the company. He reported being short of breath, coughing up blood, and having his feet turn […]