The U.S. government agency Health Resources & Services Administration warned Sanofi about facing sanctions for changing payment methods in the 340B Drug Discount Program. The agency stated that Sanofi could be terminated from the program if it proceeds with the changes without approval from the Department of Health and Human Services. Sanofi planned to provide…
Architectural health research conducted by Cleo Valentine emphasizes the importance of creating happier and healthier built environments, especially in urban areas where over half of the world’s population resides. The built environment can have a significant impact on public health, and it is crucial for architects, developers, and authorities to collaborate and prioritize health considerations…
As the holiday season approaches, Australia is experiencing a rise in COVID cases, particularly in Victoria and Tasmania, marking the fourth year of a summer increase and the second year with a six-month gap between waves. Various factors such as the XEC variant are contributing to the current surge. The possibility of future waves every…
Researchers from Northwestern Medicine and Penn State have developed a tool called PlacentaVision that uses computer vision and AI to analyze photographs of the placenta to detect abnormalities associated with infection and neonatal sepsis. The tool could potentially improve neonatal and maternal care by providing early identification of placental infection. PlacentaVision is intended to be…
President-elect Donald Trump suggested the possibility of removing some vaccinations if he deems them dangerous during an interview with TIME. This comment came in relation to his nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has expressed skepticism about vaccines in the past. Despite claims that vaccines cause autism being debunked by medical professionals, Trump expressed…
Chronic pain affects around 50 million adults in the U.S. and is often misunderstood by healthcare professionals. The use of prescription opioids for pain management has led to addiction and other risks. Research suggests that chronic pain may be linked to the brain’s perception of pain rather than structural issues in the body. Chiropractic care,…
Ireland has launched its first National Mental Health Research Strategy, aligning with the national mental health policy ‘Sharing the Vision’. The strategy aims to enhance mental health services and supports in Ireland by increasing funding, prioritizing research areas, strengthening research infrastructure, and collaborating with stakeholders. An oversight group will ensure the strategy’s goals are achieved….
Hilda Jaffe, de 102 años, decidió vender su casa en Nueva Jersey y empezar una nueva vida en un apartamento en Manhattan. Vive sola, independiente y activa, realizando sus propias tareas diarias. Es un ejemplo de longevidad y bienestar en la vejez. A pesar de algunos problemas de salud, Jaffe se mantiene en forma, socialmente…
A study conducted on patients with invasive melanoma found that tumor upstaging led to higher mortality rates, with upstaged tumors showing a 36% mortality rate compared to 19.5% in non-upstaged tumors. Factors contributing to upstaging included older age, male sex, non-White race, location on the head or neck, larger clinical size, and longer time from…
Chief executive Ralph de la Torre of Steward Health Care received a phone call from the state’s top health official after a nurse at Good Samaritan Medical Center was fired for a fatal mistake. The incident involved a patient, Jennifer Knight, who suffered a heart attack while waiting in line at the hospital. Due to…
The UK government has implemented an indefinite ban on the use of puberty blockers for individuals under 18 with gender dysphoria due to safety concerns. This decision follows the advice of the Commission on Human Medicines. Emergency measures introduced last May to temporarily ban puberty suppressing hormones have now been extended indefinitely. The ban came…
After the fall of the al-Assad regime in Syria, large stockpiles of the illicit drug captagon were uncovered by Syrian rebels, linking the fallen regime to its manufacture and distribution. Captagon was once a pharmaceutical drug used for conditions like ADHD and narcolepsy before becoming an illicit substance with similar effects to amphetamines. The drug…
Prostate cancer hijacks the normal growth regulation program of the prostate by reprogramming the androgen receptor to promote cell growth. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine discovered that the androgen receptor, usually responsible for maintaining healthy prostate cells, is altered in cancer to drive tumor development. The study identified genes that normally suppress cell growth but…
Instructions on wound healing can involve disturbing images, but day-to-day dermatologic wound care focuses on basics and innovative approaches. Dermatologists are at the forefront of wound repair, making and repairing more wounds than any other specialty. Clinical pearls discussed by wound treatment expert Robert S. Kirsner included repurposing drugs like dupilumab and topical beta-blockade for…
A new study from the American Medical Association found that Americans spend an average of 12.4 years living with diseases, longer than any other country. Mental and substance-use disorders and musculoskeletal diseases contribute the most to this time. Women spend 2.6 more years sick than men, with an average of 13.7 years. Globally, people spend…
The healthcare industry is facing challenges that have eroded patient trust and increased dissatisfaction. Effective marketing and communication strategies are essential to rebuild trust in healthcare systems and combat misinformation. Transparency, consistency, and empathy are key pillars in building trust, along with personalized communication, combating misinformation, and leveraging digital tools for engagement. Healthcare organizations must…
St James’s Hospital in Dublin has been honored with the ‘Golden Hip’ award for its excellence in hip fracture care. The hospital demonstrated its commitment to improving outcomes for patients by implementing the ‘Code Hip’ initiative, which improved compliance with Irish hip fracture standards. They have consistently achieved high compliance rates for admission to orthopaedic…
The Hispanic and Latino population in Elko, Nevada has grown to over a quarter of the city’s population, leading to an increase in non-English speakers, particularly Spanish speakers. This trend is part of a wider shift towards diversity in rural America, with the White population decreasing and more racial and ethnic minorities moving into rural…
In a Healio Video Perspective, Cynthia Matossian, MD, FACS, and David Evans, PhD, MBA, discuss the importance of effectively redesigning a practice website. Evans emphasized focusing the website on solving patients’ vision problems and not just showcasing technology or the surgeon. He suggested that the main message of the website should revolve around improving vision…
Novo Holdings, the parent company of Novo Nordisk, has received approval to proceed with its $16.5 billion acquisition of Catalent, a contract drug manufacturer. U.S. regulators have declined to challenge the deal, and the companies expect to close the transaction in the next few days. The European Commission has also approved the deal. The acquisition…
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK announced new measures to streamline, flexibilize, and make clinical trials more transparent. The changes include an amendment to the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004, which will be debated in the new year and implemented in early 2026 after a 12-month period….
A shortage of generic platinum chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin, and carboplatin in early 2023 did not result in increased mortality rates among patients with advanced cancer compared to the previous year. Prescription rates for the drugs only fell by less than three percent overall and 15.1 percent at the peak of the shortage. Alternative therapies such…
The ZEST clinical trial aimed to evaluate niraparib for preventing breast cancer recurrence in patients with ctDNA, but failed due to low patient enrolment. Lessons learned include starting ctDNA testing during treatment, including high-risk patients to increase ctDNA-positive cases, and intervening promptly with appropriate therapies for MRD. Detecting ctDNA post-treatment is crucial for preventing recurrence….
The European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended granting marketing authorization for two drugs to prevent COVID-19: Kavigale, a monoclonal antibody, and Kostaive, a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine. Kavigale contains sipavibart, an immunoglobulin that binds to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Kostaive includes zapomeran, a self-replicating mRNA that induces the production of neutralizing…
Republican Rep. Hillary Hickland from Texas wants sexually explicit items removed from common stores like Walmart and Target to protect children. She filed HB 1549 to limit the sale of sex toys to adult-oriented businesses only, citing concerns about protecting children’s innocence while shopping. The bill aims to prevent regular retail stores from selling such…
Medication affordability is a growing issue in the US, with 9 million Americans not taking their medications due to high costs. The US spends more on prescriptions per capita than any other nation, leading to worse outcomes for patients who can’t afford medications for chronic diseases. Hospitals can play a key role in addressing this…
The England and Wales Court of Protection considered whether an elderly lady with serious memory impairment, living in residential care, had the capacity to engage in sexual relationships. The lady, PS, had been in a loving relationship with WP for two decades, despite her memory impairment and alcohol-related issues. Expert evidence suggested that with a…
Patients are being billed for minor procedures as “surgery” to increase profits for doctors and hospitals. Examples include a splinter removal and freezing a skin tag, which were both classified as surgery to charge hundreds of dollars. The use of surgical billing codes for routine procedures has increased, leading to surprise bills for patients. The…
The study highlights the disproportionate hospitalization and mortality rates among BIPOC populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing vaccination and reducing comorbidities among BIPOC communities can help decrease race-based hospitalization disparities. Interventions such as equalizing vaccination rates, reducing work exposures, and decreasing comorbidities showed promising results in balancing out symptomatic infection rates and hospitalizations among different…
Have a new hire, promoted employee, or filled a difficult position at your company? Share the news with us and we’ll help spread the word. Don’t hesitate to let us know who is joining or leaving your team. In other news, Accent Therapeutics has promoted Serena Silver to chief scientific officer from vice president, biology….
The BMA’s Scottish General Practitioners Committee (SGPC) is demanding action from the Scottish government to prevent GPs from going on strike. They are responding to motions passed at a recent conference, which highlighted years of underinvestment in general practice and stagnant pay for GPs. The committee has produced a position statement outlining their concerns and…
Japanese dentists are testing a pioneering drug that may allow people with missing teeth to grow new ones, avoiding the need for dentures or implants. The drug works by jumpstarting the growth of dormant third-generation teeth buds hidden beneath the gums. Clinical trials have shown promising results in regrowing teeth in mice and ferrets by…
A new publication in Acta Materia Medica journal discusses the potential of neocryptolepine and its derivatives in cancer treatment. The article outlines the structures of 228 neocryptolepine derivatives, with some showing promising cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. The study highlights compounds that have good cytotoxicity against gastric and colorectal cancer cells, with potential mechanisms of…
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the use of Rytelo (imetelstat) for adult patients with transfusion-dependent anemia due to myelodysplastic syndromes, a group of cancers affecting blood cells in the bone marrow. These diseases can lead to fatigue, infections, and bleeding disorders, with a risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia. Imetelstat blocks telomerase activity,…
In response to the skyrocketing cost of EpiPens, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law requiring health insurers to cover at least two auto-injectors per patient, limiting annual out-of-pocket costs to $100. The cost of EpiPens has risen by 600% since 2007, making it difficult for individuals with severe allergies to afford this life-saving…
The Patients Before Monopolies Act (PBM Act) introduced by U.S. senators and representatives aims to prohibit the combined ownership of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and pharmacies. The bill requires parent companies of PBMs to divest their pharmacy businesses within three years. It comes as PBMs face scrutiny for having major power over drug prices and…
A recent survey conducted in Ireland found that self-reported long Covid symptoms are more common among women and those in their forties. The most common symptoms reported by those still experiencing long Covid include fatigue, cognitive issues, joint or muscle pain, sleep disturbances, and breathlessness. The study involved 4,671 participants, with 16% reporting ever experiencing…
California’s Care program, which orders mental illness and drug treatment for residents, has expanded statewide but is falling short of objectives. The program allows for court-ordered treatments including housing and social services for those with severe mental illness or addiction. Despite initial goals to serve 2,000 people by 2024, only 787 Care petitions were filed…
A recent study published in JAMA Health Forum revealed a decrease in the prevalence of obesity in the United States in 2023, marking the first drop since 2013. The study found a slight decrease in mean population BMI in 2023 compared to the previous year, after almost a decade of steady increases. GLP-1 receptor agonists…
Sign up for the biotech newsletter to stay informed about the latest developments in the field. Editas Medicine is laying off staff and shifting focus to in vivo gene editing. Ionis Pharmaceuticals is changing its commercialization strategy to maximize profit. There are disagreements in Trump’s circle regarding GLP-1 drugs. Drugmakers are not lobbying against RFK…
Geeta Nargund, founder of Create Health Foundation, addresses the issue of “medical misogyny” affecting women in the UK in a recent report. The report emphasizes the urgent need for healthcare professional education to improve diagnosis and treatment of reproductive health conditions. Lack of investment in women’s health issues like endometriosis and menopause costs the UK…
A study led by UCLA Health found that a diet low in omega-6 and high in omega-3 fatty acids, along with fish oil supplements, significantly reduced the growth rate of prostate cancer cells in men undergoing active surveillance. Participants followed a personalized diet plan and took fish oil capsules for a year. The study showed…
A recent poll found that friends play a crucial role in the lives of adults aged 50 and older. However, those with health issues may face challenges in maintaining friendships. 90% of older adults have at least one close friend, and 75% feel they have enough close friends. Those with poor physical or mental health…
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended marketing authorizations for two treatments for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Paxneury, containing guanfacine, has been approved for reducing ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity and impulsivity. It will be available as prolonged-release tablets. The EMA also recommended Tuzulby, containing methylphenidate hydrochloride, for once-daily dosing to improve attention…
A UCLA student, Kaya Clementine Breen, is suing California doctors for allegedly misdiagnosing her with gender dysphoria at age 12, leading to irreversible gender transition treatments. Breen was sexually abused as a child, leading to anxiety, depression, and PTSD. At 11, she expressed doubts about her gender and was quickly diagnosed as transgender at school…
Redesign Health, a company focused on creating healthcare startups, has closed a $175 million investment for a new fund to support the creation of more startups. Some venture firms participating in the funding round include Declaration Partners, Euclidean Capital and True North Advisors. Redesign helps founders navigate the complexities of healthcare by providing support in…
The HSE is looking for a General Practitioner for the GMS Scheme in Coole, Co Westmeath. The panel size is approximately 2,118 as of December 5, 2024. The premises are owned by a property group, and potential applicants must discuss the lease/rental of the premises before applying. Contact details for the property group can be…
Un número creciente de personas, incluyendo a los mayores y sin hogar, están muriendo de frío en California durante el invierno. La hipotermia causada por bajas temperaturas fue la causa principal de la muerte de 166 californianos el año pasado, más del doble que hace una década. El aumento de muertes por hipotermia está relacionado…
Researchers found that vaccine hesitancy is more common among patients who seek information from the media and the internet. Factors such as social media algorithms, anti-vaccine tweets, and conspiracy theories drive patients’ hesitancy. Physicians recommend shared decision-making to address this issue, emphasizing the importance of understanding patients’ perspectives and building trust through storytelling. In another…
South African regulators have determined that Vertex Pharmaceuticals has adequately provided access to its cystic fibrosis medications, resolving a controversy over treatment costs. Patient activists are unhappy with the decision, arguing that the arrangement is unfair and will result in some patients continuing to suffer and die. This issue began when families and activists petitioned…