Semaglutide, an FDA-approved drug used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, has shown potential to reduce alcohol consumption and addictive behaviors such as the craving for drugs and alcohol. Preclinical studies on rodents and monkeys have demonstrated that semaglutide can reduce the consumption of food and addictive substances like alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, and amphetamines….
Regular tooth brushing is linked to a reduced risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia and lower ICU mortality rates, particularly among patients on mechanical ventilation. Hospital-acquired pneumonia occurs when bacteria in the mouth infect the lungs. Weakened immune systems increase susceptibility to this condition. A study found that brushing teeth twice daily is associated with shorter hospital…
A recent study found that a moderate low-carbohydrate diet has beneficial effects for adults with type 1 diabetes. The diet was shown to improve blood sugar control and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. The study suggests that carefully managed carbohydrate intake can positively impact the health of individuals with type 1 diabetes. The results highlight…
Blue Shield of California has chosen an unbundled approach to pharmacy benefits management, which is a departure from standard practices. This model, referred to as virtual PBM, allows payers to select best-in-class partners to manage individual or multiple pharmacy benefit management functions. It is seen as an attractive alternative to the traditional model, offering benefits…
The CAI National Patient Safety in Anaesthesia Conference, KP Moore Competition, and Winter College Lecture will take place in Dublin on November 17, 2023. The event will feature various presentations and discussions on patient safety in anaesthesia. The conference aims to provide a platform for professionals to share best practices and research in this field….
A study presented at the Future of Parkinson’s Disease Conference found that short-term use of daily cannabis (CBD/low THC) by patients with Parkinson’s disease did not improve motor symptoms compared to a placebo. The study included 61 patients, with the cannabis group showing a reduction in motor symptoms, but not significantly different from the placebo…
ME/CFS is a syndrome that affects millions of people worldwide, causing crushing fatigue, muscle aches, and difficulty sleeping, among other symptoms. While the cause of this illness has been a mystery, recent research has discovered a potential link between ME/CFS and a protein called WASF3. The study found that some ME/CFS patients have higher levels…
AppliedVR has expanded its contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide virtual reality-based chronic low back pain therapies to veterans. The program, called RelieVRx, was cleared by the FDA in 2021 and offers an eight-week in-home VR therapy program for patients. AppliedVR is working with the VA to set national standards for…
Many individuals, especially Black and Hispanic people, are facing dire consequences as the Social Security Administration attempts to recover overpayments, with some people receiving notices to repay amounts in the tens of thousands of dollars that they allegedly were overpaid. Denise Woods, for example, had her disability payments terminated without notice and is now driving…
The use of menopausal hormone therapy for treatment of bothersome hot flashes in women is complex, with conflicting studies causing confusion about risks and benefits. Many clinicians are reluctant to prescribe hormone therapy due to uncertainty around evidence-based guidelines, despite recent data suggesting it may be safe and appropriate for most women at low cardiovascular…
Mary Brown, the director of the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation, was upset about a Saturday Night Live skit that made a mockery of sickle cell disease. The skit contained stereotypes and made sickle cell, which affects 100,000 Americans, look like a joke. Three sickle cell advocacy groups condemned the sketch, and advocates felt that the…
Ethan Waisberg and his colleagues warn about the substantial threat to ocular health from cork eye injuries when opening bottles of champagne or sparkling wine. They highlight the potential for significant injuries, including permanent blindness, and the need for preventive measures such as warning labels and alternative packaging materials. They cite studies that have documented…
A study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ found that sales of emergency contraception in the US increased by about 10% in the week after the New Year holiday, indicating a greater risk of unprotected sex associated with this time period. The researchers also suggest unmet contraceptive needs in the US, given the…
The inability to burp, known as retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD), is caused by the throat’s muscle failing to relax and allow gas to be released. A study of 199 affected adults found that R-CPD leads to abdominal bloating, embarrassing gurgling noises, excessive flatulence, and difficulty vomiting. Many participants did not seek help or felt they…
Heart failure is caused by various conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary disease, diabetes, obesity, and sleep apnea. Lifestyle changes and medication, including ACE inhibitors and beta blockers, can improve survival rates for heart failure patients. Other advanced therapies include pacemakers, defibrillators, LVADs, or heart transplant. Lifestyle changes such as low-sodium diets and exercise…
A new study shows that after the elimination of mandatory training for prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, prescriptions for the drug decreased, but total doses and Medicaid payments increased. The study compared 2020 and 2021 data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services State Drug Utilization Data, finding a 3.1% decrease in the…
The food choices we make not only impact our overall health but can also affect how the medications we take work in our bodies. Some foods can interact with certain medications, causing them to be less effective or leading to unwanted side effects. For example, alcohol can interact with various medications and lead to complications…
Estrogen-only use after hysterectomy is linked to a higher risk of dementia in women. This finding came from a study that looked at the relationship between hormone therapy and dementia. The study suggests that estrogen-only therapy may have a negative impact on brain health. The use of cookies on the website is also mentioned, with…
The partnership between Hello Alpha and TrestleTree aims to support overweight and obese patients through primary care, mental health support, chronic condition management and coaching. Hello Alpha provides virtual women’s health services, while TrestleTree connects people to a health coach. Patients will receive care and prescriptions from Hello Alpha and access to a health coach…
Dr Aisling Loy is a Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine at St James’s Hospital in Dublin. She is also the national specialty director for GUM training, medical director of Himerus Health, a lecturer in Trinity College Dublin, and the Medical Director for women’s health service and anti-human trafficking HSE clinic. In addition to her work, she…
Employer Direct Healthcare, a network company for employers who self-fund healthcare coverage, raised $92 million in secondary investment from Insight Partners, bringing its valuation to $1 billion. The company also hired new members for its executive team, including a chief growth officer, chief product officer, head of communications and general manager of oncology solution. Employer…
Millions of Americans live in “ambulance deserts,” with the most rural areas being more than an hour away from emergency medical services (EMS). These areas struggle to sustain ambulance services due to low patient volumes, reimbursement rates, and staffing shortages. Rural Americans have less access to healthcare and are at a higher risk of dying…
The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to Ocelot Bio’s OCE-205, a mixed vasopression 1a receptor agonist-antagonist peptide for the treatment of ascites resulting from all causes except cancer. This is the second orphan drug designation for OCE-205, the first being for hepatorenal syndrome with acute kidney injury in 2022. OCE-205 has shown potential in…
This content discusses the impact of science, health policy, and medicine on everyday life, covering topics such as abortion restrictions affecting pregnant cancer patients, the high cost of health care in the US compared to other countries, the use of teaching kitchens for food as medicine, and the faith of Americans in the healthcare system….
The High Court ruled that a junior doctor who sent unwanted sexually explicit messages to two nurses should have faced sanctions from the medical practitioners tribunal. The tribunal had initially decided to take no action against the doctor, citing exceptional circumstances and his exemplary work. The General Medical Council (GMC) appealed this decision, arguing that…
Acute myeloid leukemia has very poor outcomes due to high relapse rates among those who go into remission, making it important to identify potential targets for new treatments. Researchers from the University of Birmingham, Newcastle University, the Princess Maxima Center of Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, and the University of Virginia have identified a highly specific…
Denise Woods, a 51-year-old woman from Georgia, lost her three-bedroom house when the Social Security Administration terminated her disability payments of $2,048 per month and demanded $58,000 in overpaid funds. With the government withholding her benefits until 2026, Woods was forced to live in her car. Many others also suffer consequences from the SSA’s overpayments,…
The article discusses how social support is important in managing life with geographic atrophy (GA) which can affect daily activities and lead to emotional challenges. It advises on the importance of connection, family and friends can help you through life with GA not only by providing emotional support but also assisting with daily tasks. Joining…
Obesity is more common in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) than those with Kawasaki disease. This association results in more severe presentation, laboratory results, and outcomes of MIS-C, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. MIS-C exhibits distinct inflammatory processes, with obesity contributing to worse outcomes. Researchers analyzed data…
A study from the University of Virginia School of Nursing found that waking up to an alarm could lead to a rise in blood pressure, increasing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack. The study revealed that those who were forced awake had a morning blood pressure surge 74% greater…
. A 3rd year student at BJ Medical College, studying for their MBBS degree, has taken their own life just days before an important exam. The pressure and stress of academic expectations may have contributed to this tragic decision. This incident sheds light on the mental health struggles that students face, and the need for…
Molina Healthcare and Bright Health Group have agreed to lower the purchase price of Molina buying Bright Health’s Medicare Advantage business, reducing it from $600 million to $500 million. The amended price reflects financial trouble for Bright Health due to debts it owes to JPMorgan and the federal government. Of the $500 million, $100 million…
Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Londonderry is seeking candidates for a position with a salary range of £88,799 – £119,723 per annum. The closing date for applications is Friday 12th January 2024 at 3:30pm. A waiting list may be created for future vacancies within the next six months. For full criteria, job description, and application form,…
LUMA Vision, a maker of 4D cardiac imaging and navigation platform, has secured $22 million in Series A3 financing led by existing and new investors. The company, which developed VERAFEYE, a cardiac-focused 4D imaging and navigation platform, aims to use the funds for FDA clearance in the U.S., commercialization, and further platform development. The CEO…
Arvid Herrman, a 68-year-old Wisconsin farmer, chose to have a mechanical pump called HeartMate 3 implanted in his heart after being too old and sick for a heart transplant. Unfortunately, the device led to his death, and a lawsuit by his daughter alleges that a defect in the device’s locking mechanism caused multiple strokes, a…
Approximately 75% of patients in rheumatoid arthritis remission who taper TNF inhibitors to withdrawal experience a flare within 3 years, according to a study presented at ACR Convergence 2023. Just 15% of patients in RA remission who remained on stable TNF inhibition demonstrated flare during the same time period. The randomized, multicenter study found that…
Amy Abernethy, Verily’s president of product development and chief medical officer, is leaving the company to start a non-profit aimed at revolutionizing the health care system’s data collection. The company has assured its employees that it is well-equipped to move towards her vision of speeding up product development in clinical research. However, from an external…
The Office for National Statistics Infection Survey estimated that there were 1.7 million people living with long covid symptoms in the UK as of March 2023. Those infected in 2020 had the highest chance of developing long covid, but people are still developing it following reinfection. Long covid is associated with significant health service use…
A study led by Karolinska Institutet suggests that statins may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in some patients. The study found that people with Alzheimer’s dementia who were treated with statins experienced slower cognitive decline compared to those who were not treated with statins. However, the study was observational and could not establish a…
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…