Scarlett McNally, a professor and orthopaedic surgeon, highlights several issues in the healthcare system, particularly in the NHS. These issues include backlogs, overworked staff, lack of time, and administrative burdens on doctors. She argues that introducing administrative roles like doctors’ assistants could help doctors use their time more productively. McNally suggests that more support staff…

Scientists at Rice University have developed a noninvasive method to monitor gene expression in the brain using a simple blood test. The research team engineered a unique class of molecules known as “released markers of activity” (RMAs), which can be used to measure gene expression through a blood test, allowing scientists to study brain development,…

A recent study published in Nature Mental Health investigates whether nicotine-related beliefs influence brain processes in a dose-dependent manner. Researchers examine the influence of perceived nicotine dose on the human brain, using nicotine as a test case. The study finds that beliefs about nicotine strength can elicit dose-dependent responses in specific areas of the brain,…

Advocating for yourself when diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer is crucial. Janet Shomaker’s experience with the diagnosis and treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer highlights the importance of being “responsibly selfish” and taking control of your treatment plan, while allowing friends and family to support you. Cancer experts emphasize the need to learn from trusted sources,…

New data from Mayo Clinic shows a low rate of pulmonary aspiration during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists. Researchers analyzed 4134 procedures and found only two definite cases of pulmonary aspiration, resulting in a cumulative incidence of 4.8 per 10,000 procedures. Both cases occurred under monitored anesthesia care and the patients…

A study published in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health found that people on a predominantly plant-based or vegetarian diet have a 39% lower risk of getting COVID-19 infection compared to omnivores. The severity of the infection was also less in those on a vegetarian diet. The study included 702 adult volunteers and showed…

1800 hospitals in Uttar Pradesh have received notices for violating fire safety norms. These notices come as part of efforts to ensure that all healthcare facilities in the state follow proper fire safety measures. The state government is taking this issue seriously and has initiated actions to address the violations. This is important for the…

GSK has committed $270 million to gain access to early-stage assets in the cancer therapy class of antibody drug conjugates. After divesting its oncology business in 2015, the company has decided to re-enter the field, focusing on therapeutic modalities like immuno-oncology, synthetic lethality, and tumor cell targeting. They are prioritizing hematological malignancies, gynecological cancers, lung…

Click on the image to register for the GP Paediatric Study Evening, focusing on children’s health in Ireland. The event is featured on the Irish Medical Times website. Source link

A small trial has shown positive results in reducing depression symptoms in cancer patients using psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy. Patients experienced a rapid decrease in depressive symptoms, and almost half achieved full remission after the treatment. Psilocybin did not produce any serious adverse side effects, and most patients had a positive perception of the…

At the JPM Healthcare Conference, Amazon announced the launch of its new Health Condition Programs, allowing customers to access digital health benefits through their employer or insurance carrier. Chronic care management company Omada Health is the launch partner, offering services for conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Omada focuses on data-driven behavior change…

Doctors and patients in the US are frustrated with the prior authorization process required by health insurance companies. Medicare Advantage insurers had to process an average of 1.5 prior authorization requests per patient in 2021. Legislation to regulate prior authorization has strong support from lawmakers, but a bill has not yet passed Congress. The Centers…

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that infants and toddlers experienced socio-emotional development delays during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 60,171 families enrolled in the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) between 2015 and 2021. The researchers examined the impact of COVID-19 on children’s socioemotional development, finding that all pandemic cohorts had higher odds of positive…

The Food and Drug Administration’s top regulator of gene therapies, Peter Marks, suggested granting some form of full approval to Elevidys, the Sarepta Therapeutics gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, based on his comments in a STAT event. He did not comment specifically on the ongoing FDA review of Elevidys. However, Marks described a hypothetical…

Victoria Atkins, the health and social care secretary, has urged BMA officials to come up with a reasonable pay offer for junior doctors in England. Atkins stated that the BMA’s demand for a 35% pay rise is unaffordable for taxpayers and called for the Junior Doctors Committee to show seriousness in negotiating. This comes after…

The average maternal age in Canada has increased, with 25% of all mothers at childbirth being aged 35 and older in 2021, a significant rise from 16% in 2001 according to data from Statistics Canada. Pregnant women over 35 face higher risks for maternal and fetal complications. Aging affects women’s fertility with gradual decline from…

A study from örebro University suggests that exposure to PFAS chemicals affects the metabolism of unborn children and may lead to an increased risk of certain diseases later in life, such as cancer and diabetes. These “forever chemicals” are commonly used in everyday products and have been found in the livers of fetuses, causing changes…

Flu symptoms can be alleviated with antiviral drugs or natural remedies at home. To relieve symptoms, stay hydrated, drink herbal tea, and avoid caffeinated drinks. Chicken soup may also help. Rest is key, and breathing moist air can help ease congestion. A warm compress on the forehead can help with headaches. Cough drops and zinc…

The World Health Organization (WHO) had to cancel a mission to deliver medical supplies to northern Gaza due to a lack of security guarantees, marking the fourth time since December that their efforts have been thwarted by logistical challenges and ongoing violence in the region. Heavy bombardment, movement restrictions, and disrupted communications have made it…

Excessive screen time in children under the age of two has been linked to sensory processing issues, as revealed by a study in JAMA Pediatrics. Sensory processing disorder occurs when the brain has trouble processing information from the senses, leading individuals to become oversensitive, under-responsive, or overresponsive to sensations. Researchers found that children exposed to…

Aprocitentan has been found to be effective in lowering blood pressure in patients with chronic kidney disease and resistant hypertension. This medication has shown promise in managing the challenging condition of high blood pressure in patients with kidney disease. The use of cookies is also mentioned in the content, indicating that the website uses cookies…

Karen Lynch discussed CVS Health’s commitment to increased transparency in pharmacy benefit management and pharmacy reimbursement models at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference in San Francisco. The company plans to launch the TrueCost model for pharmacy reimbursement in 2025, aiming to make their pharmacy business more sustainable and transparent. This move comes amid the FTC’s…

During the Covid-19 pandemic, one-fifth of small nursing homes in Ireland closed, leading to multinational companies dominating the private home sector. Research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) showed that almost 700 beds were closed in public long-term residential care homes during this period. Large nursing home operators now provide the majority of…

A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that children aged 5 to 17 who received up to 100-mg chlorpromazine equivalents of antipsychotic medication did not face an increased risk of mortality. However, young adults aged 18 to 24 who received doses over 100 mg faced a significantly elevated risk for death. The study included over…

The article discusses the struggles of African American women in the U.S. healthcare system in obtaining a correct diagnosis for latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). LADA can be misdiagnosed as Type 2 diabetes, leading to incorrect treatment and management. The article highlights the stories of women who were initially misdiagnosed and struggled to get…

A study examining the effectiveness of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) over a 4-year period found that two doses of the vaccine provided strong protection against herpes zoster, or shingles, even in patients on corticosteroids. The overall vaccine effectiveness was 64% for one dose and 76% for two doses, with the effectiveness of full vaccination…

Pharmaceutical company GSK has announced its $1 billion upfront purchase of Aiolos Bio, an asthma-focused drug developer. The deal includes up to an additional $400 million in payments if certain milestones are met. Aiolos, based in San Francisco and London, was just launched last year and announced a $245 million Series A round in October….

Santhanam Sundar, a consultant oncologist at Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust in the UK, emphasizes that every patient seeks the best available treatment. In self-funded and insurance-based health systems, people make value-based judgments and accept the risks that come with their choices. However, in taxpayer-funded systems, patients do not have the same level of control…

A team of researchers has developed the MindEar app to help individuals overcome tinnitus through training and sound therapy delivered via a smartphone app. The app includes training programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, and sound therapy to aid in managing tinnitus symptoms. The app helps individuals to practice focus through a training program, equipping the mind…

Researchers studied lavender essential oils in suppressing atopic dermatitis (AD) and found they effectively inhibit this skin condition and that linalyl acetate is the main contributor. The study used cell lines to establish the anti-AD benefits without human or animal testing. The tested components notably inhibit Artemin, a skin-stretching neurotrophic factor, and air pollution-induced AD,…

The “man cold” myth suggests that men handle colds and the flu worse than women, but experts say there is no significant difference in the immune system between the two genders. Some studies have indicated that men may have more symptoms when they have a cold, possibly due to biological differences, while others believe that…

Tandem Diabetes Care’s t:slim X2 Insulin Pump is the first in the US to integrate the Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Sensor, approved in 2023 for use with automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. This sensor allows for 15 days of wear for both adults and children and connects wirelessly to the t:slim pump, providing glucose…

Scientists have developed a new antibiotic, Zosurabalpin, to treat drug-resistant bacteria that cause deadly infections in humans. This antibiotic has shown promising results in treating highly drug-resistant strains of Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in mouse models. CRAB is a pathogen resistant to almost all antibiotics and responsible for deadly infections in the blood, urinary tract,…

Researchers have discovered that the common antibiotic erythromycin may have potential as a treatment for myotonic dystrophy, a genetic neuromuscular disorder. This finding opens up new possibilities for treating this debilitating condition. The antibiotic works by targeting the RNA in the cells, which is misregulated in individuals with myotonic dystrophy. This discovery could lead to…

Uber Health has partnered with Socially Determined to provide supplemental benefits to patients, including transportation, food, and prescription delivery. Uber Health offers non-emergency medical transportation, grocery and prescription delivery, and more than 3,000 healthcare organizations use their platform. Socially Determined provides social risk analytics for healthcare organizations to understand and address social barriers to healthcare…

A rural practice in county Wexford is seeking an assistant starting in January 2023, with the option to wait for the right candidate. The position involves working with one full time and two part time GPs for 4-6 sessions per week. The practice is fully computerized and provides 15 minute appointments with a practice nurse…

A study published in Addiction found that Medicaid expansion in the US could help alleviate drug-related epidemics among impoverished people who inject drugs (PWID) by increasing health insurance coverage and reducing unmet needs for care. The study used data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance and the Kaiser Family…

Healthcare data analytics company Socially Determined and Uber Health are partnering to improve access to food, prescription delivery, and transportation services by using social determinants of health analytics. Socially Determined offers an analytics platform that provides data insights into social risk factors. Uber Health aims to help Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and commercial insurance beneficiaries by…

The winter season has brought an increase in respiratory illnesses, particularly with a sharp uptick in emergency room visits and hospitalizations for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. A new COVID-19 variant, JN.1, is spreading rapidly, representing 39% to half of the cases. The updated vaccines, rapid tests, and medical treatments are effective against this variant. Hospitalizations…

The author reflects on their unexpected journey into infectious diseases, from being a medical student to becoming an attending physician. They describe the ever-changing landscape of the field and the passion that drives them, emphasizing the need for more people to enter this specialty. The author acknowledges the great strides made in treating diseases like…

Christopher Boerner, CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb, emphasized the company’s 150-year history at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. Despite facing a 27% stock drop, he noted the company’s renewal and the emergence of new medicines to replace expiring patents. Investors may struggle with the decline of Bristol’s top-selling medicines like Eliquis, Revlimid, and Opdivo, as…

The UCL Institute of Health Equity (IHE) found in a new report that over a million people outside of England’s wealthiest areas lived shorter lives than expected between 2011 and the start of the pandemic. The report used Office for National Statistics data to analyze excess deaths among those living outside the wealthiest 10% of…

Alcohol allergies are rare, but people can experience allergy-like symptoms when drinking. Symptoms including wheezing, headaches, and skin flushing mimic causesbut are actually alcohol exacerbating underlying conditions like asthma, hives, and rhinitis. The term “alcohol intolerance” is used to define the body’s lack of necessary enzymes to digest and eliminate alcohol, resulting in unusual symptoms….

A study published in Scientific Reports found that better physical fitness is related to better attention and concentration among adolescent students. Evidence suggests that individuals with better physical fitness perform better in cognition and attention tests and achieve more cognitive benefits from physical activity interventions. The study makes observations on the relationship between different fitness…

The content provides a comprehensive overview of indoor air quality and the health effects of particulate matter, with information from sources such as the EPA, CDC, National Academies of Sciences, and various experts. It covers the control of moisture in homes, the health risks of indoor exposure to particulate matter, the effects of smoking and…

Over the past ten years, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have made a significant impact in treating type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Recent studies suggest that these drugs may also benefit patients with rheumatologic diseases such as gout and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These findings raise the potential for expanding the use…

The popularity of portable EKG machines is increasing due to growing health awareness. These compact devices allow individuals to monitor their heart health at home or on the go. This guide helps navigate the selection process for the best portable EKG machines for 2024, taking into consideration features and individual needs. It lists and describes…

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, does not have a causal impact on the susceptibility or prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A study found no significant association between the two conditions. The findings suggest that treating GERD may not necessarily improve the outcomes of IPF. The impact of GERD on IPF remains unclear, and further…

Rural healthcare and pharmaceutical networks are vulnerable to cyberattacks, with potential consequences including patient data breaches, medical identity theft, financial fraud, and compromised patient safety. The cost of cyberattacks is rising, with healthcare organizations facing significant financial losses. Implementing strong cybersecurity measures, such as network assessment, risk management planning, security protocol adoption, staff training, proactive…

A new report reveals that 40% of service users in Ireland have never had an STI test before. The HSE-funded home testing service has seen a significant increase in demand, with over 100,000 kits ordered in 2023. The service allows anyone over 17 to discreetly test for STIs at home, with reactive results leading to…