Diet

WellTheory, a digital health company focusing on autoimmune diseases, launched a women’s health program to support those with hormonal conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, postpartum, hypothyroidism, and menopause. The program includes hormone testing, personalized care plans, educational programs, and ongoing support through video calls and messaging. Research shows that hormonal imbalances can trigger autoimmune conditions,…

There have been almost 2,000 cases of Covid-19, RSV, and influenza reported in the past week, with a surge in hospitalizations expected over Christmas and New Year. The HSE is preparing for a peak in flu cases by the end of the year, with significant pressure on healthcare services and staff. Older people and those…

Colorado has passed a new gun tax to generate revenue for victim services. The tax is 6.5% on guns, ammunition, and gun parts, expected to generate $39 million yearly. The funds will support crime victim services, mental health for veterans and youth, and school security. The tax aims to address the rise in firearm deaths…

Wearable devices may help track the effects of antiseizure medications on the autonomic nervous system in young people with epilepsy. A study conducted at Boston Children’s Hospital involved 92 individuals and found that electrodermal activity was highest at peak post-intake time in those who took multiple antiseizure medications. The study suggests that integrating this data…

James Mannion, a former heroin user incarcerated in a Portland jail, pleaded for buprenorphine to manage his opioid use disorder. Despite his self-diagnosis and repeated requests for help, he was denied the medication and later died from an opioid overdose in jail. This incident reflects a larger issue within the U.S. criminal justice system, where…

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women aged 30 to 65 should be screened for cervical cancer every five years with an HPV test. They have included self-collected HPV tests as an option, where women can collect their own samples with a swab. This choice is found to be just as effective as…

Diagnosing osteoarthritis in the late stages when cartilage damage is severe can be challenging, as it is difficult to differentiate from other types of arthritis and determine the best treatment plan. Researchers have developed a new diagnostic test using two markers in the synovial fluid of patients’ joints, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, and interleukin‐8. By…

A study in The BMJ found that taxi and ambulance drivers, whose jobs involve spatial and navigational processing, have lower rates of death from Alzheimer’s disease compared to other occupations. The hippocampus region in the brain, used for spatial memory, may be enhanced in these drivers, potentially reducing Alzheimer’s risk. Analyzing data from death certificates,…

First-degree family history of mental illness is associated with increased aggression in individuals exposed to repetitive head impact and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A study examined data from deceased adult male brain donors and found that 70% had CTE, with a significant link between family history of mental illness and aggression in those with CTE,…

The FDA has issued a boxed warning for the menopausal drug Veozah, cautioning about the risk of severe liver injury. Veozah is used to treat hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, but can cause rare but serious liver damage. Symptoms of liver injury include fatigue, nausea, itching, yellowing of the eyes, and more. Patients…

With chronic heart failure still a leading cause of death in the U.S., medical device companies are releasing innovative products to help manage the disease. The FDA recently cleared Withings’ BPM Pro 2 cellular blood pressure monitor, designed for remote monitoring of heart failure patients. The monitor allows clinicians to program questions for patients to…

A review of 156 national cancer control plans showed disparities in access to life-saving treatments. The study, coordinated by The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), found challenges in resource allocation and equitable access. While progress has been made in financing and early detection strategies, disparities still exist between high and low-income countries. The review…

President-elect Donald Trump’s candidates for federal health agencies have conflicting views on policies such as abortion limits, vaccine safety, covid-19 response, and the use of weight-loss medications. Choices made by Trump’s administration, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., may lead to internal friction over public health initiatives. Kennedy, known for rejecting opposing views when confronted with…

A study published in Neurology found that greater blood pressure variability over time was associated with lower cognitive scores in older adults, particularly in Black adults. Researchers analyzed data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project and found that higher blood pressure variability was linked to lower cognitive scores at follow-up visits. The study suggests…

Republican senators are meeting with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services Secretary, for his confirmation. Despite concerns about his views on vaccines, no senator has outright opposed his nomination. Kennedy has falsely claimed polio vaccines were more harmful than the virus and one of his associates sought to remove a…

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect of electrically heated mittens on physical hand function in people with osteoarthritis of the hands. 200 participants were assigned to wear either heated mittens or control mittens daily for six weeks. The primary outcome, change in hand function, showed no significant difference between the two…

Research published in the European Heart Journal suggests that drinking a small or moderate amount of wine can reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular disease in individuals following a Mediterranean diet. The study, led by Professor Ramon Estruch, measured tartaric acid in participants’ urine as an objective measure of wine consumption. Results showed a 50%…

New research delves into how Neanderthal genes and critical markers like PITX2 impact tooth size, shedding light on human evolution. The study explores genetic factors influencing dental structure variations in humans, revealing 18 genome regions associated with tooth crown dimensions. Specific genes involved, such as PITX2 and HS3ST3A1, play a role in dental crown morphogenesis….

Research on hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has redefined the condition as a systemic inflammatory disease, moving away from the previous concept of follicular occlusion. Treatment strategies are evolving with the use of targeted anti-inflammatory therapies such as bimekizumab. Studies have shown that HS activity is not limited to lesional skin, with inflammation also found in non-lesional…

Navneet Kaur is a Senior Manager in Regulatory Affairs with a passion for science and patient health. She has extensive experience in compliance and regulatory practices, spanning multiple markets globally. Kaur emphasizes the importance of preventing setbacks through audits and regulatory inspections, ensuring compliance and product safety. Her career has included roles in quality control,…

A drug being developed by Teva Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi for inflammation has shown positive results in a Phase 2b clinical trial for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The drug, duvakitug, targets a protein called TL1A to reduce inflammation associated with IBD. Results showed higher rates of remission and response compared to placebo, with good safety…

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is calling for donors to make appointments to give blood over the festive season to meet the demand of 10,000 appointments needed in the next three weeks. The service is importing additional blood supplies and scheduling extra clinics to support Irish hospitals. Donors are urged to keep their appointments, as…

President-elect Donald Trump’s stance on mass deportations and tougher immigration restrictions is causing fear and mistrust among California immigrants, impacting their participation in health care programs like Medi-Cal. Immigrants are worried about deportation and are hesitant to enroll in health coverage, despite potential benefits. The incoming Trump administration’s expected cuts to Medicaid funding and enrollment…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in multidrug-resistant Shigella sonnei infections, primarily among people experiencing homelessness in downtown Vancouver. The number of infections rose from 8.3 cases per year to 56.5 cases per year. Researchers identified a dominant strain resistant to most antibiotics but susceptible to ceftriaxone. The affected population shifted from…

Namandjé Bumpus, the principal deputy commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, is leaving the agency. Commissioner Robert Califf informed staff of her departure in an email. This news was shared on STAT, an exclusive platform for subscribers. Bumpus’s departure will leave a vacancy in a key leadership position at the FDA. Source link

NHS England reports that one in eight phone calls made to hospitals under the Martha’s rule program have resulted in life-saving changes to treatment. Early data from pilot sites show patients have been transferred to intensive care, given antibiotics, or provided with oxygen due to the scheme. Martha’s rule allows patients and families to request…

Researchers at NERF have published two studies revealing how visual information is processed in the brain. The studies show the complexity and flexibility of visual information processing, challenging the traditional view of a simple linear process. One study focused on how visual information is transmitted across interconnected brain regions, while the other examined how the…

Antibiotics are vital for treating bacterial infections, but they can negatively impact the gut microbiota. A study on using probiotics to restore gut bacteria post-antibiotic treatment found limited evidence on their effectiveness. While some probiotics can reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea, the ability to restore the gut microbiota remains uncertain. The lack of conclusive evidence highlights the…

Children with newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) treated with eltrombopag as a frontline therapy show improved platelet responses compared to standard care. This research, presented at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, is the first in 30 years to test a new drug for pediatric ITP. Eltrombopag was found to provide sustained hemostatic platelet…

The food choices we make today can significantly impact our health in the future, including our risk for colon cancer. Studies show that ultra-processed foods and seed oils used in cooking are driving the rise in colon cancer rates, particularly among young people. These processed foods and unhealthy oils can lead to inflammation in the…

Dr. Desislava Hite, an emergency physician in the Pacific Northwest, founded Ayuda Medical in 2019 with her husband Michael to prevent drug overdoses and complications. Their wearable device, ARMband, detects overdoses and alerts for help, potentially saving lives. The company has received support from the NIH and NIDA, and is conducting clinical studies for FDA…

The new WHO Collaborating Centre in Dublin, located at the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI, will offer technical advice to WHO on developing systems for continuous professional development and leadership education for nurses and midwives. At the launch event, Co-Directors Professor Michael Shannon and Professor Thomas Kearns, along with other officials from RCSI…

La promesa de deportaciones masivas y restricciones migratorias de Trump está generando desconfianza en el sistema de salud entre los inmigrantes en California. También está afectando la participación en programas como Medi-Cal. A pesar del miedo a la deportación, algunos inmigrantes encuentran optimismo en las posibles mejoras económicas bajo la administración de Trump. Sin embargo,…

Dr. Raza Hoda discussed findings from the DESTINY-Breast04 and DESTINY-Breast06 trials at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The retrospective study evaluated patients with metastatic breast cancer to determine their eligibility for HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugates. The study found no significant differences in clinical and pathologic variations among patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-low, HER2-ultralow, and HER2-null…

In the summer of 2008, a visiting Fulbright professor in Japan was misdiagnosed with advanced kidney disease due to differences in genetic adaptation to sodium levels between populations. The professor, of African American descent, discovered that his ancestors were from a sodium-deficient region in West Africa. This experience sparked a journey into genomic history and…

Fairytales princesses are celebrated, especially by Disney movies, but they often face health hazards. Snow White’s lack of social interaction can lead to health issues, while Jasmine’s loneliness may impact her mental health. Cinderella’s exposure to dust and magical glitter poses risks of occupational lung disease. Pocahontas’s cliff dive could result in injuries, and Aurora’s…

A study in The BMJ found that coaching inexperienced clinicians just before carrying out a medical procedure improves their success rate and patient safety. The study involved training sessions for intubating infants, which can be challenging and stressful. Participants who received coaching had a 10% higher success rate on their first attempt compared to those…

LECO Instruments UK Ltd. has announced a collaboration with the Liverpool Training Centre for Metabolomics to provide training in metabolomics using their PEGASUS® BT 4D GC×GC Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer. The collaboration will focus on training early-career scientists in metabolomics applications in biological sciences. Dr. Cate Winder and Dr. Warwick Dunn, co-directors of the Liverpool Training…

Adding camrelizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early or locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer increased the pathological complete response rate to 56.8% compared to 44.7% with placebo. The study, involving 441 participants in China, showed consistent benefits across patient subgroups with a manageable safety profile. Grade 3 or higher adverse events were higher in the camrelizumab-chemotherapy…

Dr. MaryBeth Ayer warns that sleep issues like waking up in the middle of the night or feeling exhausted all day could indicate high cortisol levels. Symptoms to watch out for include night sweats, racing thoughts, and grinding teeth. High cortisol can lead to weight gain, acne, and other health issues. To manage cortisol levels,…

Neurocrine Biosciences has received FDA approval for a new therapy called Crenessity for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). CAH is an inherited disorder affecting cortisol production, leading to hormone imbalances that can be fatal. Crenessity is a non-steroidal drug that blocks hormone secretion and reduces the need for high doses of steroids, which have many side…

A recent scientific paper emphasizes the global impact of long Covid on healthcare systems and society, estimating an annual economic impact of $1 trillion. In Ireland, around 120 frontline HSE workers are still unable to return to work due to ongoing symptoms. Long Covid clinics have been established, but patients have faced delays in receiving…

Tescha Hawley, a member of the Gros Ventre Tribe, discovered that her son’s birth hospital bills had been sent to debt collectors, halting her plans to buy a house. Despite the federal government’s promise to pay for her care through the Indian Health Service’s Purchased/Referred Care program, she still faced years of financial consequences, including…

A recent study found that patients with a familial emergency contact, such as a spouse or first- and second-degree relative, had better outcomes after total hip or knee arthroplasty compared to those with a non-familial emergency contact. The study, which analyzed data from over 37,000 surgeries performed at a single institution, showed that patients with…

Congress is close to finalizing a deal to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) as part of a government funding package. This deal includes funding for public health programs, expansion of telehealth services, and significant changes to PBMs. The pharmaceutical industry has been pushing for these changes, especially after Democrats passed a drug pricing law in…

Justine M Naylor explores a new approach for teaching clinical skills that focuses on lifelong, learner-centered continuing professional development (CPD) for all stages of a medical career. The goal is to improve patient care, prevent clinician burnout, and enhance quality and safety in healthcare settings. A recent study by Flynn and colleagues showed success with…

Disney princesses face serious real-world health hazards despite their fairy-tale endings, warn experts in The BMJ. Snow White’s lack of social interaction puts her at risk of cardiovascular disease and early death, while Jasmine’s loneliness and exposure to her pet tiger pose health risks. Belle’s close contact with the Beast exposes her to infectious diseases,…

A study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging investigated the impact of breakfast energy intake and quality on cardiometabolic health in older adults. Both high- and low-energy breakfasts and low-quality breakfasts were found to increase triglyceride levels, body fat, worsen kidney function, and reduce HDL cholesterol levels. Regular breakfast consumption is associated…

The FDA has approved tapinarof cream, 1% for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults and pediatric patients over 2 years old. Marketed by Organon as VTAMA, tapinarof cream was initially approved in May 2022 for plaque psoriasis. Results from ADORING studies showed significant improvement in AD symptoms with tapinarof cream compared to vehicle alone….

A 35-year-old Indian man was allegedly manipulated into getting a vasectomy in a state government investigation. The man from Navi Sedhavi village in Mehsana district in Ahmedabad was taken to a health center under false pretenses and given a drink that caused him to lose consciousness. When he awoke, the procedure had already been performed…