Researchers developed and tested deep ensemble models (DEMs) to automatically diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and determine symptom severity through high-resolution retinal images in a study published in JAMA Network Open. They used 1,890 photos from 958 participants and found their models could diagnose ASD with a high level of accuracy. Additionally, the models could…

Even though geographic atrophy (GA) may lead to loss of central fine detail vision, it does not result in complete blindness. However, it is normal to struggle with feelings of sadness and worry after being diagnosed with GA. There are tools and technology to help individuals with GA stay active and independent, such as magnifiers…

A meta-analysis of clinical trials and real-world studies found that infections are responsible for almost half of all nonrelapse deaths among patients with advanced blood cancers treated with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. The study also showed that the cumulative incidence rates of nonrelapse mortality were not reported in many of the clinical trials…

Researchers from Newcastle University found that traditional Christmas dinner dishes can have significant health benefits. Carrots, in particular, were found to reduce cancer risk, with a 20% reduction in the risk of all types of cancer for those who eat five servings per week. Roasted potatoes were recommended to be cooked in an air fryer,…

A study published in JAMA found that maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy may provide protection for infants in the first few months of life. The study suggests that infants born to mothers who received the influenza vaccine during pregnancy had a lower risk of influenza and influenza-like illness in the first six months of life….

Massachusetts-based Butterfly Network is partnering with Silicon Valley startup Mendaera to expand the reach of its ultrasound technology. Mendaera will build custom robotics around Butterfly’s ultrasound-on-a-chip technology to create a system for surgical precision. This is the second partnership for Butterfly, as the company sees the broad applicability of its technology beyond its core ultrasound…

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation reported a record high level of overcrowding in hospitals in 2023, with over 121,000 patients without a bed. However, the Health Service Executive disputes these figures, stating that trolley numbers are down compared to the same period last year. The five most overcrowded hospitals in 2023 were named, with…

An international panel of experts used the Delphi method to develop consensus on guidance for managing adults with drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and published their recommendations in JAMA Dermatology. The panel identified 7 categories to address and conducted a literature review to draft statements for consideration. After a 2-round Delphi exercise…

The HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum discussed tactical pathways to AI adoption in healthcare, emphasizing the need for strategic priorities, setting clear goals, and measuring success. Cleveland Clinic’s focus is on provider productivity and supporting quality of life, while Concord Technologies stressed the importance of starting small and showing results quickly. HANYS emphasized the need…

Mia Bloomer, a low-income California resident, utilized Medi-Cal to hire doula Priya Kalyan-Masih during her pregnancy, a service she had access to since January. Bloomer’s partner was imprisoned during her pregnancy, but Kalyan-Masih provided support and included him in the birth experience. California’s Medicaid program compensates doulas with fixed rates for service and during labor…

The drug rademikibart showed improvements in lung function and asthma control for adults with moderate to severe persistent asthma in a phase 2b trial. Patients experienced greater lung function improvements when receiving rademikibart every 2 weeks compared to those who received a placebo. The drug was generally well tolerated and led to significant improvements in…

The 2020 Census shows that “Some other race” is the second most common race in America, after white, making up a significant portion of the population. Broad categorization, such as “Asian,” groups different populations with distinct health challenges together, leading to inadequate public health data. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s limited racial categories…

The BMA has reached an agreement with the UK government on a pay offer for specialty and specialist doctors, with proposed pay uplifts of 6.10-9.22% for 2021 contracts based on experience and pay scale. SAS doctors on closed contracts can move to the 2021 contract if they wish. In addition, there is a 6% pay…

A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health has found that air conditioning and heating systems have contributed largely to reducing mortality due to extreme temperatures in Spain. Although temperatures have increased over the years, there has been a significant decrease in heat and cold-related mortality. Air conditioning helps to decrease deaths due…

A study found that hospital coffee machines do not spread disease and a general ban on them is not necessary. Researchers in Germany assessed the microbial population in healthcare-associated coffee machines and found that while there was microbial growth detected on every coffee machine, most of the detected species were harmless commensals and only a…

The autopsy report for Matthew Perry has raised concerns over the risks of ketamine use, a drug used for depression treatment. Experts warn of potential acute effects, like nausea and high blood pressure, and advise it should only be administered under medical supervision. The drug’s interaction with other medications and its potential for respiratory depression…

A study published in The Lancet Public Health last spring suggesting that hearing aids may reduce dementia risk has been retracted due to a coding error identified by the authors. The error led to the data for people with and without hearing aids being switched, rendering their findings false. The journal takes research integrity seriously…

Researchers found a link between early-life diseases and lifetime childlessness. A study of 2.5 million people in Finland and Sweden showed that 74 diseases were significantly associated with being childless. 15-20% of people aged 50 are without children in Western European and East Asian countries, but little is known about the impact of specific diseases…

Dr. Satendra Singh, a professor at UCMS, has been awarded the National Annual Award for Medical Humanities in 2023. This award recognizes his significant contributions to the field of medical humanities. The use of cookies on the website is mentioned, with a statement about agreeing to their use by continuing to use the site. For…

Eli Lilly plans to acquire Point Biopharma, a company specializing in cancer therapy, for $1.4 billion. Point’s drug, PNT2002, met the main goal of its clinical trial for prostate cancer, but its effectiveness compared to Novartis’s radiopharmaceutical, Pluvicto, is in question. The trial showed the Point drug leading to a median rPFS of 9.5 months,…

Carrick Medical Centre in Carrick On Shannon, Co Leitrim is looking for a GP to work 6 sessions per week for a year, with potential for a long-term arrangement. The practice currently has 4 doctors, 2 GP trainees, and 3 nurses in a new primary care center. They are also members of Nowdoc. Interested individuals…

A meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials found that the placement of intraoperative drains during spinal procedures does not significantly affect the risk of postoperative wound complications such as hematomas or surgical site infections. There was no statistical difference in wound infection incidence, overall wound complications, postoperative hematomas, pain scores, or procedure duration between patients…

Digital health executives predict that funding in 2024 will increase for companies with proven helpful platforms for healthcare providers and patients, while those not showing value will be forced to dissolve. Mergers and acquisitions will be prominent, and genAI companies may take center stage in garnering funding. The traditional digital health funding seen during and…

The Social Security Administration head sent an apology letter to members of Congress, following underestimating the extent of overpayments to beneficiaries. This was days after news organizations reported the agency demanding money back from over 2 million people each year, twice what had been disclosed at a House panel. Concerns have been brought up over…

The prevalence of transgender-related diagnosis codes in the United States increased nearly ninefold from 2014 to 2021, with significant increases in HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis prescriptions in this population, according to a study. The researchers found that the proportion of transgender patients prescribed gender-affirming hormone therapy also rose. Clinicians can use encounters for gender-affirming…

A livestream event at 1 p.m. ET will discuss the development and impact of precision cancer medicines over the past two decades, with a focus on new approaches. Featured speakers include experts from the American Association for Cancer Research, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. The event will be moderated…

Amohia Boulton, research centre director at Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development in New Zealand, discusses the negative impact of repealing smoke-free legislation on Māori health outcomes. Smoking is a major problem in New Zealand, causing 13 deaths daily, with Māori suffering disproportionately. While smoking rates have decreased, Māori adult smoking rates are still…

A study published in JAMA Network Open demonstrated improvement in maladaptive behaviors, such as irritability, in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through the use of high-protease pancreatic replacement therapy. The therapy was found to be associated with minimal side effects and led to significant decreases in symptoms of irritability, hyperactivity/noncompliance, and inappropriate speech,…

EQT X fund has entered into an agreement to acquire Zeus Company Inc from the Tourville family. Zeus is known for designing and developing fluoropolymer tubing for medical devices and has delivered innovative components for complex catheters for over 50 years. The company serves over 300 customers globally, and EQT plans to invest in additional…

The author reflects on their experience with chemotherapy, highlighting the things they wish they had known before starting treatment. They discuss the changing nature of cancer cases, the unpredictability of chemo side effects, the importance of waiting to see how one’s body reacts, and the physical and emotional challenges they faced. They emphasize the need…

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing an outbreak of Mpox, also known as monkeypox, prompting the CDC to issue a health advisory. The virus causes a rash and other symptoms such as headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. The outbreak involves a more contagious and severe strain of the virus. The…

A study conducted by Ohio State University reveals concerning eating habits of U.S. adults, with the average adult consuming a meal’s worth of snacks per day. These snacks contribute almost a quarter of daily caloric intake and one-third of added sugar. Participants in the study consumed between 400 and 500 calories a day in snacks….

A case study reports on the treatment of a woman with severe vasospastic angina using diltiazem. The patient had experienced severe chest pain and was found to have coronary artery spasm. Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, was administered and led to a significant reduction in symptoms and an improvement in her overall condition. The case…

The nursing and healthcare workforce is currently experiencing a mental health pandemic, with high rates of burnout, stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide. This is linked to turnover, worsening the nursing shortage, and preventable medical errors. System issues such as short staffing, long shifts, and bureaucratic tasks contribute to this crisis. Nurses in organizations with supportive…

Junior doctors in Ireland are planning to ballot for industrial action in response to an HSE recruitment freeze. Last year, 97% of doctors voted in favor of industrial action to address dangerous working conditions. The freeze will prevent the hiring of extra doctors, leading to longer shifts and increased stress. In response to the recruitment…

A study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with lower levels of adiposity in children, regardless of their weight status. Researchers conducted a longitudinal analysis using data from the Transitions and Activity Changes in Kids (TRACK) study, following 5th grade students from 21 elementary…

In 2024, experts predict that AI will continue to have a significant impact on healthcare. Neil Patel of Redesign Health sees organizations developing AI strategies independent of a single platform. Doug Hirsch of GoodRx emphasizes the need for AI solutions to address fundamental healthcare challenges rather than flashy technology. Kourosh Davarpanah of Inato expects swift…

Milagro, a Peruvian immigrant in California, has had limited access to health care due to her immigration status. Newly expanded Medi-Cal coverage will soon provide her and other immigrants with better access to health care. Advocates face challenges in reaching this population and working through fears and barriers. Extensive outreach and resources are available to…

ZimVie Inc. has announced FDA clearance of its spinal fixation system and instruments for use with the spine and trauma navigation system from Brainlab. The combination of the Vital spinal fixation system and instruments from ZimVie with the spine and trauma navigation system from Brainlab offers surgeons an optimized instrument and implant for complex and…

Illumina, the leading maker of DNA sequencing machines, has announced that it will divest Grail, the developer of a multi-cancer screening test, due to objections from regulators in the U.S. and Europe following a merger in August 2021 that was deemed anti-competitive. The decision follows a court ruling and Illumina aims to finalize the deal…

Some text was accidentally removed from the end of the third paragraph during the final stages of processing an article by Ruth Garside and colleagues (BMJ 2023;383:p2745; doi:10.1136/bmj.p2745). The online version has been fixed to include the missing content. Source link

In a study from the University of Michigan Health, parents share different ways they support their kids in their goals. Among many parents’ top resolutions for the New Year are developing more patience, spending less time on phones, and better consistency with discipline and healthier family habits. The research shows that nearly three in four…

A recent study in the Netherlands evaluated the effectiveness of the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine in reducing hospitalizations and ICU admissions among previously vaccinated adults aged 60 and over from October to December 2023. The study found that the vaccine was 70.7% effective against hospitalization and 72.3% effective against ICU admission. The research had limitations, such…

Coughs are responsible for sending over 30 million people to doctor’s offices every year and are the most common medical symptom in the United States. Despite this, medication does not necessarily provide relief. Despite billions of dollars being spent on over-the-counter treatments, studies show that there is limited evidence that these products can effectively alleviate…

New research presented at the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium suggests that young women with BRCA-mutated breast cancer can become pregnant and carry a healthy baby to term without experiencing worse disease outcomes. The study included 4732 young women from across the globe who had been diagnosed with stage I-III invasive breast cancer and…

“2023 has seen the most dengue cases in recorded history, primarily in the Western Hemisphere with around five million infections and 5,500 deaths, the highest since 1980. The surge in cases is linked to rising temperatures, rapid urbanization, and climate change. Factors such as poor sanitation, inadequate health systems, and climate change have attracted more…

A study suggests that a healthful vegetarian diet may help improve insomnia. The study found that participants who followed a vegetarian diet experienced better sleep quality compared to those who consumed a non-vegetarian diet. The findings indicate the potential impact of diet on sleep patterns and overall health. This highlights the importance of considering dietary…

In this episode of MedCity FemFwd, Marielle Farina discusses the gender disparity in out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. She co-authored a report that found employed women have $15.4 billion more in healthcare costs than employed men. She explores the reasons behind this and shares insights on how employers can address and close this benefit gap. This podcast…

The Irish National Audit of Stroke (INAS) National Report 2022 found that almost one-in-four stroke patients were inadequately prescribed blood thinners, had paused their medication, or regularly forgot to take it. The report also revealed that 18% of stroke patients had atrial fibrillation before their stroke, and 10% were diagnosed after. Only 69% of patients…

An observational study in Japan found that anifrolumab, a new treatment targeting the interferon pathway, effectively improved disease activity and reduced glucocorticoid (GC) doses among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study included patients who failed to achieve Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) and those who experienced minor flares after achieving LLDAS. An…