July 2024

Microsoft is partnering with Mass General Brigham and University of Wisconsin to research and innovate AI models for medical imaging. The collaboration aims to develop medical imaging copilot applications to help radiologists interpret images, generate reports, and analyze data. The partners will explore real-world use cases in clinical workflows, utilizing Microsoft’s Nuance radiology reporting platform….

Planned Parenthood’s political and advocacy organizations plan to use over $40 million to target GOP candidates who have opposed access to abortion and other reproductive rights. They are focusing on flipping the House and maintaining control of the Senate and presidency. Planned Parenthood Action Fund has endorsed Kamala Harris for president, citing her strong stance…

The FDA has approved a dissolvable hormonal contraceptive pill called Femlyv for individuals who have difficulty swallowing their medication. This pill, which was previously approved as a swallowable tablet, is designed to be taken once daily by placing it on the tongue, allowing it to disintegrate, and then drinking water. Femlyv is the first FDA-approved…

CVS Caremark has agreed to pay $45 million to settle allegations that rebates were not passed through properly in Illinois. Pfizer’s gene therapy for hemophilia A showed promise in reducing patient bleeds, but doubts remain about its ability to provide a cure or meaningful treatment option. The data may be enough for approval, but experts…

The UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will appoint a covid corruption commissioner to recoup billions lost to contract fraud during the pandemic. The Labour Party pledged in their manifesto to use all means to recover public funds lost from fraud and flawed contracts. This move comes in response to allegations of corruption in contracts signed by…

A study by deCODE Genetics found that sequence variants drive the correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression, which are also linked to diseases and human traits. Nanopore sequencing technology allows for real-time analysis of DNA sequences, including DNA methylation, providing opportunities to understand how noncoding variants lead to diseases. The study shows that sequence…

Data from the A4 study, the largest clinical trial of pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, is now available to researchers. The study involved screening over 7,500 individuals, enrolling 1,169 with pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s, and collecting data for 4.5 years. Insights from the data include the link between amyloid buildup and cognitive decline. The data is shared through A4STUDYDATA.ORG…

A single-center study found that shifting the timing of nutritional insulin from pre- to post-prandial reduced the risk of hypoglycemia without affecting severe hyperglycemia rates or hospital length of stay. The retrospective study at a community hospital included adult inpatients receiving nutritional insulin, with outcomes showing reduced rates of any hypoglycemia following the intervention. However,…

High systolic blood pressure over time significantly increases the risk of developing a stroke, according to a study published in the journal Jama Network. Researchers found that even a small increase in blood pressure was associated with a 20% increased risk of overall and ischemic strokes, and a 31% increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Race…

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and other providers have filed a class action lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group (UHG) for losses from the Change Healthcare cyberattack. They argue that UHG did not take adequate precautions against the attack, causing financial losses for providers. Change Healthcare, acquired by UHG, processes 15 billion transactions annually and was…

South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen is looking to hire a Respiratory & General Internal Medicine specialist with a salary range of £94,127 – £126,907 per annum pro rata. The closing date for applications is Friday 16th August 2024 at 3:30pm. A waiting list may be established for future vacancies. Applicants must demonstrate how they…

New York-based mental health platform Headway secured $100 million in Series D funding, increasing its valuation to $2.3 billion. The funding round was led by Spark Capital and included existing investors like a16z, Thrive Capital, and Accel, as well as new investor Forerunner Ventures. Headway plans to expand its services to individuals with Medicare Advantage…

El farmacéutico Mark Mikhael ha perdido 50 libras en 12 meses gracias a medicamentos para la pérdida de peso. Aunque muchos atribuyen su éxito a marcas como Wegovy o Zepbound, Mikhael se inyecta versiones formuladas por su propia empresa, al igual que muchas otras personas en Estados Unidos. Grandes farmacias de compuestos están proporcionando dosis…

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease or end-stage kidney disease may experience more frequent episodes of hypoglycemia. Dialysis treatment can also affect blood glucose levels. Research suggests that patients with end-stage kidney disease, particularly young, Black, and female patients, are at higher risk for hypoglycemia. The kidneys play a more significant role in glucose regulation…

Hospitals are facing a shortage of blood culture bottles, necessary for diagnosing bloodstream infections. This shortage could last into September. Healthcare providers are concerned about the potential impact on patient care, as identifying pathogens and their susceptibility to antibiotics is crucial for treatment. Hospitals are implementing measures to conserve supplies, such as using expired bottles…

The author, Adam Skeen, reflects on his experience transitioning from a physician associate (PA) to a medical student. He discusses the limited training and lack of knowledge depth in the PA curriculum, emphasizing the need for standardized quality and national scope of practice for PAs. Skeen advocates for recruiting and retaining more doctors to address…

A study found that eliminating racial disparities in colon cancer testing in the United States would significantly reduce colon cancer incidence and death rates among Black people. Despite improvements in screening rates, Black Americans still experience higher rates of colon cancer and lower survival rates compared to white Americans. The study showed that closing the…

Researchers in the United States studied the use of the Virchow foundational model for computational analysis of pathological reports to predict biomarkers and identify cells in various forms of cancer. This model was trained on a large dataset of whole-slide images and demonstrated high accuracy in detecting both common and rare cancers. The study highlighted…

Topical delgocitinib, a pan-Janus kinase inhibitor, was found to be well tolerated and effective in reducing the severity and symptoms of moderate to severe chronic hand eczema in two phase 3 trials involving nearly 1,000 patients. The primary endpoint of achieving treatment success was met in a higher number of patients receiving delgocitinib compared to…

Topical delgocitinib, a pan-Janus kinase inhibitor, showed promise in treating moderate to severe chronic hand eczema in two phase 3 trials involving nearly 1000 patients. Patients using delgocitinib experienced reduced severity and symptoms of the condition compared to those using a placebo cream. The treatment was well tolerated, with most adverse events being mild to…

Researchers from the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University Pakistan have discovered that a naturally occurring sugar called 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) could stimulate hair growth in men with male pattern baldness. The study found that 2dDR promoted new blood vessel formation and encouraged hair regrowth in mice with testosterone-induced hair loss. The results suggest that this…

This year saw significant advancements in neurotech, with companies like Neuralink conducting brain implant trials and Motif Neurotech releasing a neurostimulator. This has sparked excitement in the field, signaling a transformative moment for the industry. To fully harness the potential of neurotech, establishing trust with the public is crucial. Integrating neuroscience technologies into daily life…

Vision Ireland has launched a new initiative called the Vision Van to raise awareness about the importance of good eye health. The van is equipped with tools for early detection of eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration. The initiative was supported by donations, including from Irish Paralympian Peter Ryan. The van will provide simulation services,…

California lawmakers are working on legislation to protect children from the negative effects of social media, addressing mental health concerns among young people. However, these efforts face legal challenges from the tech industry, which argues that regulating social media infringes on free speech rights. Proposed bills aim to limit social media notifications to children, require…

A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that exposure to benzene at work increased the odds for developing lung cancer. Researchers analyzed data from 14 case-control studies involving over 12,000 individuals with lung cancer and over 15,000 controls. They found that even low levels of benzene exposure were…

In 2021, Sanjaya Singh, known for his contributions in immunology and oncology, left Johnson & Johnson. His former colleague, Peter Lebowitz, was intrigued and considered a potential partnership. However, Singh and venture capital firm Omega Funds proposed a different idea to Lebowitz: to join their new biotech company as CEO. Lebowitz found the opportunity compelling…

A retired GP and senior research fellow in Leeds, UK, Arnold Zermansky expresses frustration at the term “deprescribing” in articles. Having spent three decades researching patients and their medications, he believes the term oversimplifies the complex process of adjusting or stopping medications. Zermansky compares it to describing football as being about the ball rather than…

The study conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that an AI model, GPT-4V, was accurate in diagnosing patients based on clinical images and text summaries, but often made mistakes in describing images and explaining reasoning. The researchers highlight the potential of AI in medicine but emphasize the importance of human expertise…

A study on the relationship between physical activity, pain, and depressive symptoms in individuals with osteoarthritis-related pain found that physical activity can reduce depressive symptoms by decreasing pain levels. The study included 552 participants and showed that those who engaged in more physical activity reported fewer depressive symptoms. The study also found that the relationship…

Acute pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal condition, with increasing incidence linked to metabolic syndrome and obesity. Gallstones, heavy alcohol use, hypertriglyceridemia, and certain medications are common causes. Predicting severity is challenging, but a new panel may help. Acute pancreatitis can lead to post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus, with statins potentially protecting against it. Procalcitonin levels may guide…

Health officials in Kerala, India, have issued an alert about a Nipah virus outbreak after a 14-year-old boy died from the infection. Nipah is transmitted from fruit bats to humans and other animals through close contact or body fluids. It can also spread directly between people. The virus can cause severe complications like respiratory infections…

Direct primary care company Vitable has raised $16 million in Series A funding to expand into new markets. Vitable works with small to medium-sized businesses, offering in-home and virtual primary care services through an app. The funding round was led by Cherryrock Capital and included participation from other investors. Citi Impact Fund invested due to…

Duke-NUS Medical School is launching a $20 million incubator called LIVE Ventures to help commercialize academic research projects and turn scientific breakthroughs into clinical applications. The initiative aims to provide expertise and resources from the public and private sectors to evaluate the product-market fit for project commercialization, starting with a focus on chronic inflammatory diseases….

En Clemmons, Carolina del Norte, la oficina del sheriff está introduciendo drones equipados con Desfibriladores Externos Automáticos (DEA) para asistir en casos de paro cardíaco. Esta iniciativa busca mejorar los tiempos de respuesta y aumentar la supervivencia de quienes sufren episodios cardíacos. Estudios piloto en los condados de Forsyth y James City están midiendo la…

The video exclusive features Leonard Calabrese, DO, discussing the top stories in the July issue of Healio Rheumatology. The focus is on chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, with insights from experts like Georg Schett, MD, on its potential breakthrough in treating autoimmune diseases. Calabrese also highlights a feature on Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company…

President Biden has endorsed Vice President Harris, who has a more left-leaning approach to health care. Harris supports Medicare for All and drug pricing reforms, and is a strong advocate for reproductive rights. A new report from HSBC on health investment shows promising trends for the first half of 2024, with increased investments across all…

Alexander Woywodt, a consultant nephrologist, agrees with Issa and colleagues that healthcare systems must consider sustainability in their functioning. He notes that video consultations can help reduce the carbon footprint of care. Woywodt’s regional renal center studied the carbon dioxide saving from converting a large proportion of appointments from face-to-face to video consultations in a…

A team of researchers has developed a novel method for improving drug testing for esophageal cancer using 3D cell culture technology. They created a tumor spheroid model on a chip with inverse opal hydrogel scaffolds to better mimic tumor environments. This platform allows for more accurate assessment of chemotherapeutic agents by simulating physiological conditions cancer…

Migraines are a neurological disorder with symptoms like severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Pubescent girls with a family history of migraines are at higher risk. Hadas Nahman-Averbuch leads two studies at Washington University to understand why migraines develop in adolescents, focusing on brain connectivity and changes during puberty. The studies,…

Experts are calling for a reevaluation of the role of body mass index (BMI) in defining obesity and the classification of obesity as a disease to prevent unintended consequences. They argue that BMI remains a useful tool for addressing adiposity, especially across different racial and ethnic groups, but caution against using BMI alone to define…

A study found that a healthy prenatal diet can lower the risk of autism in children by 22%. Researchers analyzed data from over 96,000 mother-infant pairs and discovered that a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, and whole grains reduced the risk of autism. Children born to mothers who followed a healthy diet also…

A study compared six humans, OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Anthropic’s Claude3-Opus to answer medical questions. The humans performed better than the AI, with GPT-4 performing worse than Claude3-Opus. The questions were based on medical knowledge from a Knowledge Graph by Kahun, based on peer-reviewed sources. 105,000 questions were used to prepare the AI models. Both AI…

Researchers from Radboud University in the Netherlands identified specific neural processes responsible for regulating emotions in people with anxiety. They found that highly anxious individuals receive a stronger signal from their amygdala, which controls fear, leading to difficulties in managing emotional responses. This results in their brain recruiting less effective areas to help regulate emotions….

Sun Life has partnered with Hinge Health to offer digital access to musculoskeletal care for its members. Hinge Health provides access to health coaches, surgeons, therapists, and technology for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. Sun Life members can access Hinge Health through the Health 360 app. This partnership aims to help employers manage rising healthcare costs…

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Researchers have identified three subtypes of chronic rhinosinusitis and trajectories of asthma and allergy in middle-aged adults. Children with asthma, frequent head colds, and tonsillitis at age 7 are at higher risk for chronic rhinosinusitis in middle age. Comorbidity prevalence increased with chronic rhinosinusitis severity. The study, based on the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, found…

Health Care Inc. is a newsletter that tracks the flow of money in medicine. An audit revealed that Express Scripts, a major pharmacy benefit manager, overcharged U.S. Postal Service employees by $45 million for prescription drugs. The overcharges were linked to drug rebates that were supposed to be refunded but were kept by Ascent Health…

The ongoing shortage of the pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) Creon in the UK is causing significant worry and stress for patients, doctors, and pharmacists. The Department of Health and Social Care issued a national patient safety alert due to limited availability of active pharmaceutical ingredients and manufacturing constraints. This drug is used to treat…

A virtual reality module focusing on Black maternal health shows a Black woman, Marilyn Hayes, being mistreated by her white, male physician during a postpartum checkup. This interactive training aims to raise awareness of implicit bias and cultural competency skills among physicians and medical students. The module highlights how stereotypes and bias can negatively impact…

Consumer-consented data is used in clinical trials and digital health programs to streamline patient screening and enhance recruitment. Benefits include increased efficiency, patient safety, and reduced enrollment times. Challenges include data fragmentation and privacy regulations. Strategies to encourage patient consent include transparency and education. Ensuring data quality involves verification, standardization, monitoring, and advanced technologies. Ethical…