Dataemia

A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that pregnant women who receive an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination or booster during pregnancy can protect their infants against symptomatic COVID-19 infection for at least six months after birth. This underscores the importance of getting vaccinated during pregnancy to ensure infants are born with strong protection until they…

MedCity INVEST Pitch Perfect 2023 is a premier healthcare investment event on May 21-22 in Chicago. It brings together over 300 healthcare investors, startups, and executives at the Ritz Carlton for networking and panels on healthcare investment trends. The event covers health tech, biopharma, devices, and diagnostics investment opportunities. Limited spots are available, so secure…

The Alliance of Age Sector NGOs conducted a review that found significant failures in delivering commitments for older people in Ireland. The review identified a lack of publication of waiting lists for housing adaptations, failure to translate the National Positive Ageing Strategy into action, and a lack of a plan to tackle loneliness and isolation…

A review of 45 articles with a total of 28,183 participants focused on the correlation between pain, function, and disease progression in patients with first carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA). The study found that imaging results and radiography-based staging systems had significant associations with pain but lacked strong correlations with functional status or disease progression. Osteophytes…

Sharp HealthCare in San Diego has launched a Spatial Computing Center of Excellence focusing on utilizing the Apple Vision Pro augmented reality headset to enhance patient care. The center will partner with Epic and Elsevier and explore the impact of spatial computing on various specialties and clinical roles, collaboration, education, and treatments in healthcare. The…

Julie Rovner from KFF Health News, along with other panelists, provides an update on the challenges to the Medicare prescription-drug negotiation program, the impending Medicare pay cut, and other health policy news, including the retirement of Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and anti-abortion groups calling for states to outline health exceptions to abortion bans. Senator Ron…

A pooled analysis of 10 Asian-based studies found that chronic kidney disease and compromised kidney function were significantly associated with late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study used individual-level data from the Asian Eye Epidemiology Consortium and included over 50,000 individuals from China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and Singapore. The prevalence of AMD was 9.7%,…

The Department of Health and Human Services is appointing new members to its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices after criticism for not filling previous vacancies. They are increasing the committee’s size to 16 voting members, appointing Helen Keipp Bredenberg Talbot as chair, and selecting several other health professionals. There was concern that without the new…

Retired GP and psychiatrist, David Zigmond, believes that increasing the number of physician associates (PAs) working in hospitals and primary care could add to the demoralization of the GP workforce. While the government plans to use PAs to offload work from doctors and improve patient care, Zigmond argues that this plan overlooks the complexities of…

Disparities in HIV testing and care for people with intellectual disabilities are being addressed by a study conducted at the University of Michigan Health. The research found that there are large gaps in HIV care for Black patients as well as for patients with autism and co-occurring intellectual disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities are at…

City of Hope treated the oldest person to be cured of a blood cancer and achieve remission for HIV after receiving a blood stem cell transplant with a rare genetic mutation. The patient, 68-year-old Paul Edmonds, has lived with HIV for over 31 years and achieved remission for acute myelogenous leukemia and HIV after receiving…

If you’re exercising and have a cold, it’s usually okay to keep doing so. However, exercising with a fever isn’t advisable as it can make you sicker. Experts suggest using the neck check, which determines what percentage of sick individuals should exercise. If symptoms like a cough and congestion persist for too long, discontinue exercise…

A cohort study of primary care patients with obesity found that weight management treatments (WMTs) were significantly associated with ≥ 5% weight loss for individuals, but low WMT utilization hindered population-level benefit. The study included 149,959 primary care patients from a Michigan academic health system and found that the prevalence of obesity increased from 39.2%…

ColonBroom is a dietary supplement aimed at reducing bloating and improving digestive health for women aged 25-40. It contains 85% psyllium husk fiber, which promotes regular bowel movements and supports heart health. The supplement is free from artificial additives, GMOs, and gluten, making it a healthy and vegan-friendly choice. Reviews from users have been positive,…

A high intake of niacin has been linked to improved lung function and a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Research suggests that niacin, also known as vitamin B3, plays a role in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the lungs, which are key factors in the development of COPD. This finding…

Cigna Healthcare partnered with HelloFresh to offer discounted meal kits to their members, aiming to improve access to healthy food. HelloFresh, a German company, delivers food and recipes to people’s homes. The partnership will give up to 12 million members of Cigna’s employer customers access to discounted meals. The companies are also working together to…

Dr. Ray O’Connor provides a summary of clinical studies and their implications in practice. One study found that the burden of diseases related to high BMI in Asia has increased considerably over the past few decades. Another study concluded that running therapy outperformed antidepressants in impacts on physical health while being comparable in mental health…

A study in a gynecologic oncology clinic found that using an electronic medical record (EMR)–integrated system for screening health-related social resource needs (HRSN) resulted in improved patient reach compared to a paper-based system. The study aimed for a screening compliance rate of more than 90% and found that the rate increased from 52% with the…

Vessi Medical, an Israeli company, closed a $16.5 million Series A funding round for its cryotherapy technology to treat non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The company’s cryo spray aims to offer a minimally invasive alternative to the surgical first-line therapy for NMIBC. ALIVE- Israel HealthTech Fund, Agriline, and a strategic investor led the investment….

The Biden administration is cracking down on insurance plans’ prior authorization policies for certain health plans participating in federal programs, such as Medicare Advantage or the Affordable Care Act marketplace. States are also taking action to pass their own restrictions on prior authorization requirements. Doctors and hospitals are supporting these efforts, with some states passing…

Dr. Rachna T. Shroff discussed the CIRCULATE and COBRA studies at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. These studies evaluated the role of circulating tumor DNA in guiding treatment decisions for patients with colon cancer. Dr. Shroff emphasized that these studies show advancements in integrating novel technologies, therapies, and multidisciplinary techniques to bring about the best…

A recent study published in Nature Medicine found that a telehealth consultation and mail delivery of abortion pills is safe and effective, with a 97.7% success rate in completing abortions. The study involved over 6,000 patients and also compared the safety and effectiveness of telehealth abortion with in-person prescriptions. The results are comparable with previous…

Alaska health officials have reported the first human death from a new virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The deceased was an elderly man with a history of cancer treatment. He developed symptoms in September, including a tender red swelling in his right armpit, and sought medical help multiple times over the…

Hospitals are fighting to maintain higher Medicare payments for their services, including at hospital-owned physician practices. This unequal arrangement is seen as driving up costs for patients and taxpayers and incentivizing hospital consolidation. The House passed a bill that included a provision for site-neutral payment for medical infusions, which would save Medicare an estimated $3.7…

In a recent study, researchers investigated the effects of a diet of selenium- and/or zinc-enriched eggs (SZE) on oxidative stress, cognitive impairment, and intestinal flora in aging mice. The study found that the SZE diet reduced organ damage and improved cognitive function in mice models by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut microbiota. The study…

Prescription drugs help with medical conditions, but can also have unwelcome side effects. It’s important to communicate with your doctor and pharmacist about these side effects. New drugs may have unknown side effects, so you may ask about switching to an older, more established drug. Some side effects can be temporary and tolerable, but others…

In a large observational study of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), researchers found that one third of patients had inflammatory arthritis (IA), which was associated with poor quality of life and physical function. The study included 1717 adults with SSc, and IA was defined as the presence of synovitis in one or more joints. Patients…

Post-infectious cough affects 11-25% of adults after a respiratory illness, lasting 3-8 weeks. It can arise due to inflammatory reaction, mucous production, and bronchial sensitivity. Medications like inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators have little evidence supporting their effectiveness. In most cases, the cough resolves on its own without medication. Coughs lasting over 8 weeks may require…

Home insulin pump use has been found to be safe for hospitalized children with diabetes who do not have active ketoacidosis. A study conducted by researchers supports the continued use of insulin pumps for these patients, as it was found to be effective and did not increase the risk of adverse events. The study aimed…

In the first episode of Debunked: Slaughtering Myths, Bad Practices and Sacred Cows in Healthcare, co-hosts Arundhati Parmar and Samir Batra discuss bad billing practices in healthcare, with a focus on Arundhati’s foot fracture. They also address the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, drug pricing, and a healthcare transaction between General Catalyst and Summa Health….

A new study published in the Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia journal validates a new tool called the Values and Preferences Elicitation Questionnaire – Cure and Survival Preference Scale (VPEQ-CSPS) for identifying the values and preferences of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The tool aims to incorporate patient values and preferences into MM treatment decisions…

Genetic testing company Invitae has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, aiming to continue operations using existing cash and seeking to sell its business. The San Francisco-based company seeks approval to use cash on hand to fund the case and has listed assets of $500 million to $1 billion and liabilities of $1 billion to $10…

Readers wrote health policy valentines about prescription drug pricing, medical debt, and primary care shortages. The winning entries were turned into cartoons by staff illustrator Oona Tempest. Jennifer Reck’s poem talked about traveling to a place where drugs cost less, and Sunshine Moore Anger’s poem described the relief of not having cancer but being in…

The article discusses a study that found that macular neovascularization (MNV) and complete retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and outer retina atrophy (cRORA) continue to grow even with frequent anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The growth of MNV was observed to be continuous, while cRORA developed in association with increasing MNV size. Researchers also…

A leaked draft agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association has sparked concerns over access to affordable generic medicines. The agreement, which is expected to be concluded by April, proposes changes to India’s patent and regulatory laws, including granting six years of data exclusivity to drug manufacturers. This would give brand-name drugmakers an…

Elinor Cleghorn’s book “Unwell Women” outlines the historical bias in medicine’s approach to women’s health. Women have been excluded from clinical trials, and their health needs have been seen as limited to reproductive issues. However, in recent years, companies have capitalized on women’s health as a source of profit, using feminist language to promote their…

A new study from the University of Cambridge suggests that school uniform policies could be restricting physical activity among young people, especially primary school-aged girls. The research, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, used data from over a million 5-17-year-olds internationally. The study found that in countries where most schools require uniforms,…

Researchers explored the factors influencing cytokine release, an essential component of the body’s immunological response. The study involved 1,000 participants and measured the levels of various cytokines after immunological activation. The study revealed that smoking, CMV latent infection, and body mass index were significant drivers of cytokine response variability. Smoking was associated with inflammation and…

In 2018, Michael B. Greene, PhD, was contacted by a woman who might be his biological daughter. He donated sperm in the 1970s as a graduate student in New York City and had signed an anonymity contract. With the rise of DNA tests, she and her sister hired a genealogist to track down Greene, which…

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the esophagus, with symptoms ranging from dysphagia to vomiting, and occurs in both children and adults. EoE incidence rates are increasing globally, with the highest rates in the US, Western Europe and Australia, and certain environmental and food exposures may contribute to its development. Diagnosis involves…

An elderly man has died from a severe case of the Alaskapox virus, the first human fatality linked to this rare virus, which was previously associated with mild illness in animals and humans. The virus belongs to the family of viruses that causes smallpox and was first detected in an adult near Fairbanks in 2015….

Lymphocytosis, a condition characterized by an increased level of lymphocytes in the blood, has been found to be associated with a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This suggests a potential link between these two conditions. The research highlights the need for further investigation into the relationship between lymphocytosis and hypothyroidism,…

In 2023, the pharmaceutical marketing landscape underwent significant changes due to the rise of artificial intelligence, digitalization of health data, and the integration of marketing automation tools. As the industry moves into 2024, the focus will be on digital transformation and personalized marketing, patient-centric strategies, targeted messaging using clinical data, innovative content marketing, and global…

The HSE’s 2024 National Service Plan includes a range of measures such as a three-year urgent and emergency care plan, expanding the disability service workforce, and adding 22 critical care beds. With a budget of €23.5 billion, the plan aims to cut costs associated with agency staff, invest in new service developments, and allocate once-off…

A study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine found that a short-duration antibiotic course for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) was just as effective as usual care with respect to mortality and pneumonia recurrences. The REGARD-VAP trial included 461 adults from 6 hospitals in Nepal, Singapore, and Thailand. Participants were randomly assigned to either a short-duration antibiotic…

A survey by Atomik Research and Ernst & Young found that 96% of healthcare executives believe investing in healthcare technology is worthwhile, but 71% said overall hospital expenses have not decreased. 90% of executives reported that digital tools have freed up time to care for providers’ needs and have improved operational efficiency. 86% see potential…

The No Surprises Act was intended to protect patients from surprise out-of-network medical bills, but it has also come with some challenges. The law has successfully protected millions of patients from surprise bills, limiting the amount patients can be billed for out-of-network services. However, the law has also created chaos in the system, with a…

confidence in utilizing this drug to not only help improve patient quality of life, but also to help treat psoriasis in patients with different skin tones,” Chovatiya said. These findings are important as they demonstrate the effectiveness of guselkumab in diverse patient populations, providing further evidence of its potential as a treatment option for psoriasis….