Hospitals are facing a shortage of blood culture bottles, necessary for diagnosing bloodstream infections. This shortage could last into September. Healthcare providers are concerned about the potential impact on patient care, as identifying pathogens and their susceptibility to antibiotics is crucial for treatment. Hospitals are implementing measures to conserve supplies, such as using expired bottles…
The author, Adam Skeen, reflects on his experience transitioning from a physician associate (PA) to a medical student. He discusses the limited training and lack of knowledge depth in the PA curriculum, emphasizing the need for standardized quality and national scope of practice for PAs. Skeen advocates for recruiting and retaining more doctors to address…
A study found that eliminating racial disparities in colon cancer testing in the United States would significantly reduce colon cancer incidence and death rates among Black people. Despite improvements in screening rates, Black Americans still experience higher rates of colon cancer and lower survival rates compared to white Americans. The study showed that closing the…
Researchers in the United States studied the use of the Virchow foundational model for computational analysis of pathological reports to predict biomarkers and identify cells in various forms of cancer. This model was trained on a large dataset of whole-slide images and demonstrated high accuracy in detecting both common and rare cancers. The study highlighted…
Topical delgocitinib, a pan-Janus kinase inhibitor, showed promise in treating moderate to severe chronic hand eczema in two phase 3 trials involving nearly 1000 patients. Patients using delgocitinib experienced reduced severity and symptoms of the condition compared to those using a placebo cream. The treatment was well tolerated, with most adverse events being mild to…
Topical delgocitinib, a pan-Janus kinase inhibitor, was found to be well tolerated and effective in reducing the severity and symptoms of moderate to severe chronic hand eczema in two phase 3 trials involving nearly 1,000 patients. The primary endpoint of achieving treatment success was met in a higher number of patients receiving delgocitinib compared to…
Researchers from the University of Sheffield and COMSATS University Pakistan have discovered that a naturally occurring sugar called 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR) could stimulate hair growth in men with male pattern baldness. The study found that 2dDR promoted new blood vessel formation and encouraged hair regrowth in mice with testosterone-induced hair loss. The results suggest that this…
This year saw significant advancements in neurotech, with companies like Neuralink conducting brain implant trials and Motif Neurotech releasing a neurostimulator. This has sparked excitement in the field, signaling a transformative moment for the industry. To fully harness the potential of neurotech, establishing trust with the public is crucial. Integrating neuroscience technologies into daily life…
Vision Ireland has launched a new initiative called the Vision Van to raise awareness about the importance of good eye health. The van is equipped with tools for early detection of eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration. The initiative was supported by donations, including from Irish Paralympian Peter Ryan. The van will provide simulation services,…
California lawmakers are working on legislation to protect children from the negative effects of social media, addressing mental health concerns among young people. However, these efforts face legal challenges from the tech industry, which argues that regulating social media infringes on free speech rights. Proposed bills aim to limit social media notifications to children, require…
A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that exposure to benzene at work increased the odds for developing lung cancer. Researchers analyzed data from 14 case-control studies involving over 12,000 individuals with lung cancer and over 15,000 controls. They found that even low levels of benzene exposure were…
In 2021, Sanjaya Singh, known for his contributions in immunology and oncology, left Johnson & Johnson. His former colleague, Peter Lebowitz, was intrigued and considered a potential partnership. However, Singh and venture capital firm Omega Funds proposed a different idea to Lebowitz: to join their new biotech company as CEO. Lebowitz found the opportunity compelling…
A retired GP and senior research fellow in Leeds, UK, Arnold Zermansky expresses frustration at the term “deprescribing” in articles. Having spent three decades researching patients and their medications, he believes the term oversimplifies the complex process of adjusting or stopping medications. Zermansky compares it to describing football as being about the ball rather than…
The study conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that an AI model, GPT-4V, was accurate in diagnosing patients based on clinical images and text summaries, but often made mistakes in describing images and explaining reasoning. The researchers highlight the potential of AI in medicine but emphasize the importance of human expertise…
A study on the relationship between physical activity, pain, and depressive symptoms in individuals with osteoarthritis-related pain found that physical activity can reduce depressive symptoms by decreasing pain levels. The study included 552 participants and showed that those who engaged in more physical activity reported fewer depressive symptoms. The study also found that the relationship…
Acute pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal condition, with increasing incidence linked to metabolic syndrome and obesity. Gallstones, heavy alcohol use, hypertriglyceridemia, and certain medications are common causes. Predicting severity is challenging, but a new panel may help. Acute pancreatitis can lead to post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus, with statins potentially protecting against it. Procalcitonin levels may guide…
Health officials in Kerala, India, have issued an alert about a Nipah virus outbreak after a 14-year-old boy died from the infection. Nipah is transmitted from fruit bats to humans and other animals through close contact or body fluids. It can also spread directly between people. The virus can cause severe complications like respiratory infections…
Direct primary care company Vitable has raised $16 million in Series A funding to expand into new markets. Vitable works with small to medium-sized businesses, offering in-home and virtual primary care services through an app. The funding round was led by Cherryrock Capital and included participation from other investors. Citi Impact Fund invested due to…
Duke-NUS Medical School is launching a $20 million incubator called LIVE Ventures to help commercialize academic research projects and turn scientific breakthroughs into clinical applications. The initiative aims to provide expertise and resources from the public and private sectors to evaluate the product-market fit for project commercialization, starting with a focus on chronic inflammatory diseases….
En Clemmons, Carolina del Norte, la oficina del sheriff está introduciendo drones equipados con Desfibriladores Externos Automáticos (DEA) para asistir en casos de paro cardíaco. Esta iniciativa busca mejorar los tiempos de respuesta y aumentar la supervivencia de quienes sufren episodios cardíacos. Estudios piloto en los condados de Forsyth y James City están midiendo la…
The video exclusive features Leonard Calabrese, DO, discussing the top stories in the July issue of Healio Rheumatology. The focus is on chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, with insights from experts like Georg Schett, MD, on its potential breakthrough in treating autoimmune diseases. Calabrese also highlights a feature on Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company…
President Biden has endorsed Vice President Harris, who has a more left-leaning approach to health care. Harris supports Medicare for All and drug pricing reforms, and is a strong advocate for reproductive rights. A new report from HSBC on health investment shows promising trends for the first half of 2024, with increased investments across all…
Alexander Woywodt, a consultant nephrologist, agrees with Issa and colleagues that healthcare systems must consider sustainability in their functioning. He notes that video consultations can help reduce the carbon footprint of care. Woywodt’s regional renal center studied the carbon dioxide saving from converting a large proportion of appointments from face-to-face to video consultations in a…
A team of researchers has developed a novel method for improving drug testing for esophageal cancer using 3D cell culture technology. They created a tumor spheroid model on a chip with inverse opal hydrogel scaffolds to better mimic tumor environments. This platform allows for more accurate assessment of chemotherapeutic agents by simulating physiological conditions cancer…
Migraines are a neurological disorder with symptoms like severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Pubescent girls with a family history of migraines are at higher risk. Hadas Nahman-Averbuch leads two studies at Washington University to understand why migraines develop in adolescents, focusing on brain connectivity and changes during puberty. The studies,…
Experts are calling for a reevaluation of the role of body mass index (BMI) in defining obesity and the classification of obesity as a disease to prevent unintended consequences. They argue that BMI remains a useful tool for addressing adiposity, especially across different racial and ethnic groups, but caution against using BMI alone to define…
A study found that a healthy prenatal diet can lower the risk of autism in children by 22%. Researchers analyzed data from over 96,000 mother-infant pairs and discovered that a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, and whole grains reduced the risk of autism. Children born to mothers who followed a healthy diet also…
A study compared six humans, OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Anthropic’s Claude3-Opus to answer medical questions. The humans performed better than the AI, with GPT-4 performing worse than Claude3-Opus. The questions were based on medical knowledge from a Knowledge Graph by Kahun, based on peer-reviewed sources. 105,000 questions were used to prepare the AI models. Both AI…
Researchers from Radboud University in the Netherlands identified specific neural processes responsible for regulating emotions in people with anxiety. They found that highly anxious individuals receive a stronger signal from their amygdala, which controls fear, leading to difficulties in managing emotional responses. This results in their brain recruiting less effective areas to help regulate emotions….
Sun Life has partnered with Hinge Health to offer digital access to musculoskeletal care for its members. Hinge Health provides access to health coaches, surgeons, therapists, and technology for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. Sun Life members can access Hinge Health through the Health 360 app. This partnership aims to help employers manage rising healthcare costs…
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Researchers have identified three subtypes of chronic rhinosinusitis and trajectories of asthma and allergy in middle-aged adults. Children with asthma, frequent head colds, and tonsillitis at age 7 are at higher risk for chronic rhinosinusitis in middle age. Comorbidity prevalence increased with chronic rhinosinusitis severity. The study, based on the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, found…
Health Care Inc. is a newsletter that tracks the flow of money in medicine. An audit revealed that Express Scripts, a major pharmacy benefit manager, overcharged U.S. Postal Service employees by $45 million for prescription drugs. The overcharges were linked to drug rebates that were supposed to be refunded but were kept by Ascent Health…
The ongoing shortage of the pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) Creon in the UK is causing significant worry and stress for patients, doctors, and pharmacists. The Department of Health and Social Care issued a national patient safety alert due to limited availability of active pharmaceutical ingredients and manufacturing constraints. This drug is used to treat…
A virtual reality module focusing on Black maternal health shows a Black woman, Marilyn Hayes, being mistreated by her white, male physician during a postpartum checkup. This interactive training aims to raise awareness of implicit bias and cultural competency skills among physicians and medical students. The module highlights how stereotypes and bias can negatively impact…
Consumer-consented data is used in clinical trials and digital health programs to streamline patient screening and enhance recruitment. Benefits include increased efficiency, patient safety, and reduced enrollment times. Challenges include data fragmentation and privacy regulations. Strategies to encourage patient consent include transparency and education. Ensuring data quality involves verification, standardization, monitoring, and advanced technologies. Ethical…
In the past decade, clinical outcomes for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma have improved. Liver cirrhosis is present in most cases, affecting prognosis and treatment safety. Clinical trials for immunotherapies excluded patients with moderate liver dysfunction, leading to debate about treatment options. A study compared outcomes of patients with moderate liver dysfunction receiving immunotherapy or…
Researchers have found that consuming beta-glucan, a type of fiber found in oats and barley, can lead to significant weight loss. This fiber interacts with gut bacteria to produce molecules like butyrate, which can help reduce body weight and fat, improve glucose regulation, and regulate appetite. Beta-glucan is also believed to have benefits for gut…
The clinical research industry is shifting its focus towards building equity and inclusion in clinical trials, leading to more accurate and robust results. Defining equity, inclusivity, and diversity is essential to ensure everyone can participate in research. Implementing community assessments, tailored recruitment strategies, and engaging with local leaders are crucial steps to boost inclusivity. Diversity…
An open letter to Prof Claire Collins and Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, Co-Chairs of the Organising Committee for the WONCA Europe Conference 2024, expressed concerns about the conditions faced by GP colleagues in Gaza. The letter urged for solidarity with Ukrainian and Palestinian family physicians affected by war and called for Russia to stop the conflict…
Personify Care has partnered with Consultmed to integrate e-referral management into their digital patient pathways, creating a seamless process from GP referral to discharge. Core Schedule and TimeSmart.AI have also collaborated to simplify scheduling and resource allocation for healthcare organizations. HNECC PHN in New South Wales has granted funding for five digital health projects, including…
In Clemmons, North Carolina, drones may be dispatched to deliver automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in response to 911 calls reporting cardiac arrests. This initiative aims to reduce response times and increase survival rates for individuals experiencing cardiac episodes. Similar programs are being explored nationwide to utilize drones for medical emergencies, including drug overdoses and trauma…
A study conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found that implementing universal screening of tobacco use and opt-out tobacco treatment referral as standard care can improve access to tobacco treatment services for Black and Hispanic patients. The study showed that these patients had higher acceptance rates for tobacco treatment compared to white and Asian…
A study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology found that transgender individuals face double the risk of severe liver disease and a higher share of cirrhosis from heavy drinking compared to the general population. The study looked at 15 years of health data from 330,000 cirrhosis patients and found that alcohol was the most…
Research published in Circulation found that people in their 50s with severe peripheral artery disease (PAD) are more likely to undergo leg amputation within one to five years after emergency surgery to restore blood flow compared to people in their 80s. PAD is when arteries narrow due to cholesterol deposits, affecting blood flow to lower…
A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives explored the link between midlife residential greenness and cognitive decline later in life. The research, conducted on Nurses’ Health Study participants, found that higher exposure to green spaces in midlife was associated with better cognitive function and slower cognitive decline. Factors like socioeconomic status, urbanicity, and APOE-ɛ4 status…
Increased dietary intake of vitamin B1 is associated with a lower prevalence of constipation, especially among men and individuals without hypertension or diabetes. A study of 10,371 adults found that higher B1 intake was linked to a 23% reduction in constipation risk. This suggests that a well-balanced diet rich in vitamin B1 may help alleviate…
The CDC has issued a warning about a listeria outbreak linked to sliced deli meat, with 28 infections reported in 12 states and two deaths. New York has reported the most cases. Officials caution that the outbreak may extend beyond confirmed states due to underreporting. Most affected individuals reported eating deli-sliced turkey and liverwurst. High-risk…
Artiva Biotherapeutics raised $167 million in an IPO to fund cell therapy clinical trials for autoimmune diseases. Their therapy, AlloNK, made from donor cells, is being tested in lupus patients and other autoimmune conditions. The company believes it is the first to receive FDA approval for an allogeneic NK cell therapy in autoimmune disease. Artiva…
Dr. Chris Luke questions how time is being used, highlighting the importance of timing in various aspects of life. He discusses the time-consuming nature of pursuing a medical career and the delays and frustrations faced in securing necessary resources in the field. Luke shares stories of colleagues overcoming obstacles to provide timely care, emphasizing the…