Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is a safe and effective therapy for treating breakthrough bleeds (BTBs) in patients with hemophilia A, according to a study published in Haemophilia. Although emicizumab is an effective therapy for preventing bleeding, many patients still experience BTBs. Activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) is used for managing hemophilia-associated bleeding but is…

According to a survey from the Cleveland Clinic, patients are still hesitant about using AI in medical diagnosis, despite the increasing demand for virtual healthcare solutions. The survey found that the availability of virtual second opinion (VSO) services increased the likelihood of patients seeking a second opinion. However, almost 40% of respondents are wary of…

Nikki Haley, a GOP candidate for the presidential nomination, supports birth control despite being pro-life. However, in conservative circles, birth control is controversial and linked to abortion. The support for birth control remains strong among all voters. The conflation of birth control and abortion began in the late 1990s. Title X, a federal family planning…

The American Lung Association’s latest report examines the potential benefits of zero-emission transportation and electricity for children’s health. The report predicts a significant improvement in children’s health if all new cars and trucks are zero-emission by 2035 and if clean energy powers the nation’s electric grid by 2035. Transportation pollution poses a significant risk to…

Novavax has agreed to refund up to $400 million to an international organization after a dispute over Covid-19 shots. Gavi, a public-private partnership, found itself with vaccines that were no longer needed as demand dried up last year. This agreement follows events surrounding the initial efforts to create a global vaccination program where vaccine makers…

A man in his 50s experienced left-sided tongue paralysis, difficulty speaking and swallowing after a mixed drug overdose in the intensive care unit. He required respiratory support and was intubated four times, including once after removing the tube himself. Laryngoscopy showed reduced movement of the left vocal cord and pooling of saliva. Further imaging did…

The team of scientists from Trinity College Dublin has discovered the underlying cause of brain fog linked with long COVID. They found that patients suffering from long COVID and brain fog have disrupted blood vessels in the brain and a hyperactive immune system. Understanding this cause is important as it will allow for the development…

Selkirk Pharma, Inc. has completed the Aseptic Process Simulation (APS) qualification of its sterile manufacturing facility, increasing its fill/finish capacity for injectable drugs, vaccines, and biological therapeutics. The purpose-built facility operates with advanced technology to ensure high quality and high yields, meeting Annex 1 compliance standards for European markets and the highest quality standards for…

For individuals with relapsing forms of MS, early treatment with an effective disease-modifying therapy (DMT) is crucial. The right medication can help manage symptoms, reduce the frequency of relapses, and slow the progression of the disease. It is important to work with a healthcare provider to find the most suitable DMT, as there are several…

In a study of patients with cryptogenic stroke and evidence of atrial cardiopathy without atrial fibrillation, the use of apixaban did not significantly reduce recurrent stroke risk compared with aspirin. The trial was stopped due to futility after enrolling 1015 of the planned 1100 patients. Recurrent stroke occurred at a similar rate in both groups,…

Recent research has revealed that your birth month may influence your susceptibility to influenza. A study in the U.S. found that children born in October are more likely to get vaccinated against the flu during the same month and are at a reduced risk of contracting influenza. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…

Bavarian Nordic, the maker of the only FDA-approved vaccine for mpox, experienced record revenue due to skyrocketing demand for its product during the outbreak. As a result, the company has chosen to focus on infectious disease and is discontinuing its cancer vaccine development. The decision comes after their cancer vaccine candidate reached Phase 1 testing…

The Irish Doctors Orchestra is a group of medical professionals who are also classically trained musicians. They will be performing at Ulster Hall in Belfast on March 3, 2024 to raise funds for Children in Northern Ireland. The orchestra was founded during the Covid-19 pandemic and most recently raised €8,000 for the Children’s Grief Centre….

New research published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that exposure to officer-involved killings of unarmed Black individuals is linked to worse sleep health among Black adults in the US. The study found that there were significant increases in short and very short sleep following these killings. The findings highlight the impact of structural racism, specifically…

Medical Microinstruments, a surgical robotics company, secured $110 million in a Series C financing round led by Fidelity Management & Research Company, with participation from existing investors. The company offers the Symani Surgical System, a robotic technology for microsurgery and supermicrosurgery, allowing surgeons to replicate human hand movements at a micro level during soft tissue…

Steven Garner, and his brother Glenn, were sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of a man. While in prison, Garner joined the nation’s first prison hospice program at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. He cared for dying inmates for 25 years and collaborated with the prison warden to create a self-sufficient…

A study published in BMJ found that chronic exposure to fine particulate matter was associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular conditions in older adults. The researchers found that there is “no safe threshold” for the chronic effect of air pollution on overall cardiovascular health. Exposure to particulate matter between 9 and 10…

German researchers have developed CAR-T therapy for autoimmune disorders such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The therapy involves modifying a patient’s T cells in a lab to better target disease. The therapy has shown positive results in clinical trials, with patients experiencing a reduction or elimination of symptoms. Experts are cautiously optimistic but…

An NHS trust in Devon has been urged to recruit more obstetric consultants after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission found a shortage of experienced doctors in its maternity service. Torbay Hospital’s maternity services were rated as needing improvement, with the report highlighting a lack of obstetric medical staff and a risk of avoidable…

A new diagnostic tool for femoral osteoporosis has been developed by a team of researchers from UPF BCN MedTech unit, companies 3D-Shaper Medical and CETIR Medical Group, and Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. This tool calculates the risk of femoral osteoporosis fracture using 3D images with biomechanical simulations. The tool is more…

A new publication in Acta Materia Medica journal addresses the challenges of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer treatment. The authors conducted a network meta-analysis of 55 randomized controlled trials involving 32,522 patients to rank the safety of various ICI therapies. They found that ICIs increase the risk of…

A neurologist diagnosed Darbi Haynes-Lawrence with relapsing-remitting MS 13 years ago, leaving her grappling with the reality of her disabling condition. This battle has included negative thoughts and skepticism from others due to her unseeable symptoms. She was initially denied support from doctors who claimed her issues were stress-related. After being diagnosed with MS, her…

Public attitudes toward assisted dying are evolving, but it is also important to consider the opinions of doctors, as they may be the ones prescribing or administering life-ending medication in the event of a change in the law. A majority of the public, 65%, support legalizing assisted dying, and 50% of doctors support a change…

If you often wake up during the night to urinate, you might have a condition called nocturia, which affects millions of people worldwide. It can be caused by various underlying issues, such as excess fluids before bedtime, bladder obstruction, an enlarged prostate, or certain medications. Many adults experience this condition, but not all are diagnosed…

The President & CEO of a rural Vermont health system emphasizes the importance of the 340B Drug Pricing Program in enabling hospitals to provide affordable, high-quality health care to rural communities. The program allows hospitals to access prescription pharmaceuticals at a reduced price, helping them offer comprehensive services to low-income, senior, and medically vulnerable individuals….

New funding of €1.6 million has been announced for organ donation and transplant services, in anticipation of the Human Tissue Bill passing both houses of the Oireachtas. The bill will introduce a new legal framework for organ donation, including an ‘opt-out’ register. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly stated that the funding will support the early phases…

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in children under 15 has increased globally from 1990 to 2019, with higher incidence and prevalence rates. However, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and mortality rates have decreased during this time. RHD is more prevalent in less economically developed countries, with the burden being higher in Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the…

Detect-Ion has secured a research contract with the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) to develop a sensor to identify aerosol-based chemical threats. The company will develop a compact sensor platform called Spectral using AI to detect and identify aerosolized chemical threats, with the goal of making critical decision-making easier and faster. Rapid detection of…

The United States is currently experiencing a fourth wave of the opioid epidemic, with experts identifying a significant increase in the use of multiple substances at the same time, especially the combination of fentanyl with methamphetamine or cocaine. Over 93% of fentanyl-positive urine samples contained additional substances, and the use of methamphetamine and fentanyl together…

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that opioid use was associated with an increased risk of serious falls, especially in the first 28 days after initiation, among adults of all ages. Researchers emphasized the need to consider fall risks when prescribing opioids, particularly for individuals with preexisting risk factors for falls, including frailty…

Alison Sbrana contracted infectious mononucleosis as a college student, which led to her developing myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This disease affects 4.3 million American adults, leading to chronic fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and changes in the brain’s functionality. However, research on ME/CFS is limited, with no current treatment available. A recent study from the National…

The UK’s medicines regulator has reclassified codeine linctus as a prescription-only drug due to concerns about abuse, dependency, and overdose. This decision was made after reports of recreational use of the drug. Codeine linctus will now require a prescription to purchase in an effort to limit its misuse and potential harm to individuals. Source link

New research suggests that age-related changes in gene and protein expression in the skeletal muscles of older individuals may be influenced more by physical inactivity and chronic inflammation rather than primary aging processes. The study found that physical inactivity and chronic inflammation are the most important drivers of secondary aging, which are changes caused by…

A proposal to reinstate expanded Child Tax Credits in the United States centers around a study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers, which reveals that the now-expired 2021 CTC expansion benefitted families facing COVID-19-related job and health struggles. The 2021 CTC expansion eased food insufficiency by 11% in households with children…

End-of-life doulas provide emotional and practical support to individuals who are dying, as well as their families. The doulas work to personalize the dying person’s final days by helping them reflect on their life, plan for their death, and engage in activities or conversations that bring them comfort. Doulas may also provide support to family…

A single-center study found that many children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) also suffer from skin conditions. Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, reviewed the medical charts of 425 children and adolescents with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis between 1999 and 2017. They found that acne, eczema, and perianal skin tags were the most…

Facial surgery requires a balance between artistic expression and surgical precision, as highlighted by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Artur Diaz Carandell is a highly experienced cranio-maxillo-facial surgeon with a commitment to detail and expertise in facial aesthetics, reconstruction, and rejuvenation. He utilizes innovative non-invasive surgical techniques and embraces scientific precision in his practice….

In 2000, the FDA regulated the use of reprocessed single-use devices in the U.S. to address concerns about patient safety. Reprocessing has environmental benefits, reducing CO2 emissions and carbon footprints. As the U.S. falls behind, other countries like the UK and France are implementing sustainability efforts in healthcare, particularly in electrophysiology (EP). Reprocessing has potential…

Limited progress has been made on the Government’s commitment to end the admission of children to adult psychiatric units, with a policy review finding that long waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services are negatively affecting children. There were 72 beds in four public child in-patient units, but only 51 were operational due…

A study published in Arthritis Care & Research found that COVID-19 vaccination was not associated with flares of systemic rheumatic disease (SRD). The fear of disease flares has led to hesitancy among patients with SRD to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This study aimed to determine the association between COVID-19 vaccination and SRD flares. The research…

French startup Bioptimus has secured $35 million in seed funding to develop an AI foundation model for biology. The company plans to merge biology with generative AI to drive breakthroughs and innovation in biomedicine. The founders include former scientists from Google DeepMind and French AI company Owkin. Bioptimus will use Owkin’s data generation capabilities and…

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be replacing Humira with the biosimilar Hadlima on its national formulary, as announced by Organon. Hadlima is a TNF inhibitor indicated for the treatment of various conditions and became the fourth FDA-approved biosimilar to Humira in 2019. The drug is available in a pre-filled syringe or an autoinjector,…

Ring Therapeutics, a gene therapy startup launched by Flagship Pioneering, has laid off 19 employees, just under 20% of its staff. Sonata Therapeutics, another Flagship startup, has also let go of a third of its staff. Private biotechs are facing funding scarcity, forcing startups to make tough choices on staffing and priorities. Ring Therapeutics is…

Last week marked the 70th anniversary of the UK government recognizing that smoking causes lung cancer. Cases of lung cancer had increased significantly since the end of World War I, and epidemiological work by Richard Doll and Austin Bradford Hill solidified the link between smoking and the disease. The response to this risk was muted,…

Dr. Sarosh Irani, a neurologist and researcher at Mayo Clinic, explains the importance of early treatment for encephalitis, a disease involving inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis can be caused by infections or immune system issues, with two primary types: infectious and autoimmune. Symptoms can develop quickly and include headache, fever, and more severe manifestations such…

An international study has identified new genetic locations associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. It uses multiancestry biobanks and millions of samples from around the world. The findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, detail ancestry and sex-specific genetic loci associated with POAG. It identified 17 new genetic loci associated with glaucoma, five of which were specific…

A recent study published in Cardiology has suggested that exercise benefits women more than men; conclusions are based on findings involving 400,000 survey respondents. Women who exercise regularly reduced their risk of early death by 24%, while men had only a 15% risk reduction. The benefits extended to protection from heart problems and strokes, further…

The FDA has approved iloprost injection for treating severe frostbite in adults to reduce the risk of amputation. A randomized trial showed that iloprost alone had a 0% risk of amputation based on bone scans, compared to 60% with buflomedil on day 7. The most common adverse events with iloprost are headache, flushing, heart palpitations,…

A study of nearly 100 million vaccinated individuals across eight countries found a slight increase in the risk of certain adverse health effects linked to COVID-19 vaccination. These effects include myocarditis, pericarditis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. AstraZeneca’s vaccine was linked to a higher risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome and blood clots, while the Moderna vaccine was associated…