The Menopause Society of Ireland recently held a conference in Dublin discussing current and future trends in menopause treatment, highlighting the importance of research and innovation in the field. The availability of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products for menopausal women was seen as a positive step, alongside the emergence of menopause clinics and more trained…
After extensive negotiations, Democrats and Republicans in Congress reached an agreement on a year-end health package that includes new regulations for drug companies and opioid programs. However, President-elect Donald Trump criticized the deal for giving Democrats too much and threatened Republicans who might vote for it. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a doctor in…
Deaths attributed to cold temperatures in the United States have more than doubled in the past 2 decades, with rising cold-related mortality being linked to factors such as homelessness, substance abuse, and social isolation. Researchers found that while mean temperatures are increasing overall, severe winter weather episodes have also become more frequent, leading to an…
Ionis Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval for Tryngolza, a therapy for familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS), a rare genetic disease. The drug, olezarsen, was found to lower triglyceride levels and reduce the risk of pancreatitis. Ionis believes Tryngolza could also benefit patients with high triglycerides, with potential peak sales of $1.8 to $2 billion. This approval marks…
The article discusses the challenges of providing emergency medical services in the Arctic, particularly when it comes to transporting a polar bear. The authors explore the unique obstacles and procedures that must be considered when dealing with medical emergencies in this harsh environment. The team of authors includes a PhD candidate, a medical rescue technician,…
A global analysis found that an estimated 61.8 million people were autistic in 2021, with ASD being one of the top ten causes of non-fatal health burden for youth. Prevalence is higher among males compared to females, with disparities across regions. The urgent need for early detection and support for autistic individuals worldwide is emphasized,…
A recent review debunks myths around eggs and obesity, finding that moderate consumption of eggs does not increase the risk of obesity in healthy humans. Most egg-derived nutrients are actually beneficial, reducing the probability of obesity by regulating lipid metabolism. Individual responses to dietary cholesterol vary, with some classified as “high responders” who may experience…
The US FDA has approved remestemcel-L for steroid-refractory acute graft-vs-host disease in children 2 months and older. This is the first MSC product approved by the FDA. The treatment was found effective in a phase 3 study with 30% of participants having a complete response and 41% having a partial response. Common adverse reactions include…
A 61-year-old woman from Canada had her right leg amputated due to delayed medical care following a knee replacement surgery. Roseanne Milburn faced complications and suffering after a post-surgery infection led to a delay in treatment caused by bed shortages at hospitals. The untreated infection resulted in irreversible damage to her leg, forcing her to…
Investors in digital health startups remain optimistic despite a slight decline in investment in 2024 compared to the previous year. Artificial intelligence is a key focus for investors, with millions expected to be poured into AI-powered healthcare tools in the future. Startups that can prove their value and align with customer metrics are currently favored…
Preventing osteoporosis requires a broad approach that includes lifestyle changes, nutrition, medication, and public health initiatives. Osteoporosis primarily affects postmenopausal women and the elderly but can also impact men and younger individuals. Risk factors include age, genetics, hormone levels, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions. Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, physical activity, and fall prevention…
The new enrollments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) seem to be up to a million less than last year’s record number, due to issues with the program facing the outgoing Biden administration. The re-election of Donald Trump for a second term has created uncertainty about the future of the healthcare law. The government has…
Former professional soccer players have a higher risk of dementia compared to the general population, despite having lower rates of modifiable dementia risk factors. A study in Scotland found that former soccer players had a 3.02 times greater risk of dementia over a 21-year period. The risk was linked to hypertension and depression among these…
The House of Representatives task force on artificial intelligence released a report addressing key issues in health care, including AI regulation and reimbursement. Lawmakers are concerned about the current payment mechanisms for AI tools in health care. Meanwhile, a major health care legislation package, including a Medicare telehealth expansion, is in jeopardy after criticism from…
Lakshmi Krishnan, founding director of medical humanities and assistant professor of medicine, discusses the evolution of climate fiction, also known as cli-fi, in her article “From plague to planetary crisis.” She explores how literature has reflected and addressed environmental issues throughout history and how this genre has become increasingly relevant in the face of the…
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease where motor neurons necessary for muscle movements die off, leading to paralysis. Researchers developed a method to create motor neurons from ALS patients’ stem cells, allowing for drug testing tailored to individual patients. This technique produces mature motor neurons in just two weeks, similar to those in…
A study led by UCLA researchers identified a potential blood test biomarker, placental growth factor (PlGF), for detecting changes in blood vessels related to cognitive impairment and dementia. Elevated levels of PlGF were associated with increased vascular permeability, fluid accumulation in the brain’s white matter, and cognitive decline. The study included a diverse sample of…
Hypofractionated radiation has become the preferred treatment for various types of cancer, offering higher doses in fewer sessions compared to conventional therapy. Despite evidence supporting its effectiveness and safety, many patients do not receive this treatment option due to reimbursement challenges. Studies have shown that hypofractionation may be more cost-effective and convenient for patients and…
Liam Handley, a non-smoking, fit, and healthy man from the UK, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer despite not fitting the typical profile of a lung cancer patient. Doctors initially attributed his symptoms to anxiety and delayed necessary tests, leading to a delayed diagnosis. His mother, Lynn, highlights the importance of raising awareness about lung…
Women’s telehealth company Wisp and food as medicine platform Nourish have teamed up to provide nutrition counseling support to patients on GLP-1 medications. New York City-based Wisp offers treatments for sexual and reproductive health needs and launched a weight care program that includes prescriptions for weight loss medications. Through the partnership, Wisp patients can access…
The Mental Health Commission in Ireland has reported a 48.61 per cent reduction in restrictive practices in mental health centres from 2019 to 2023. This decrease is attributed to the introduction of new Rules and Code by the Commission in January 2023. The report documented a decrease in episodes of physical restraint and seclusion, indicating…
New enrollments in the Affordable Care Act are expected to fall short of last year’s record numbers by as much as a million, as the Biden administration faces challenges in the program. The upcoming Trump administration brings uncertainty to the future of the health law. The Biden administration has implemented policies to reduce fraudulent enrollments…
In a recent interview with Healio, Dr. Cynthia Fok discussed the prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in U.S. women and the current treatment options available. She emphasized the importance of taking UTIs seriously and ensuring appropriate care for women. WikiGuidelines also published clinical practice guidance on preventing, diagnosing, and managing UTIs. In other news,…
As 2024 comes to a close, First Opinion is releasing essays on AI in medicine and biopharma. Recent events, such as the attempted assassination of Donald Trump by Thomas Matthew Crooks, highlight the potential dangers of AI-powered chatbots in aiding violent individuals. Language models, like ChatGPT, lack the ability to recognize and appropriately respond to…
The Scandinavian social democracies are known for their excellent public services supported by high taxation, productivity, education, and equality. Norway in 2021 had a tax-to-GDP ratio of 42.2% compared to 33.5% in the UK and 24.5% in the US, with low income inequality (Gini coefficient of 22.7). However, can other nations replicate this model? The…
An elderly patient in Louisiana is in critical condition with severe avian influenza, the first serious human case in the United States during the 2024 outbreak. This brings the total number of infections to 61, with California declaring an emergency. The patient was exposed to sick and dead birds and is now hospitalized. Concerns are…
A new global study shows a 60% drop in deaths from diarrheal diseases worldwide, with the highest mortality rates still among children and the elderly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The study, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, reports 1.2 million deaths in…
The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee of the FDA discussed the safety concerns surrounding the development of an RSV vaccine for infants, particularly mRNA vaccines produced by Moderna. While RSV is a serious respiratory disease in infants, potential side effects of the vaccine have led Moderna to halt their study for children aged…
As the H5N1 bird flu spreads across the nation, California has declared a state of emergency due to hundreds of cases in dairy herds. The virus has also caused the first severe human case in Louisiana. Governor Gavin Newsom issued the emergency declaration to streamline the state’s response to the outbreak, which has affected 865…
Congress released a stopgap funding bill this week that includes a significant healthcare package. The package includes reforms to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), such as requiring them to pass on drug rebates and prohibits linking their compensation to drug prices. There are also extensions to Medicare telehealth flexibilities and temporary boosts to Medicare physician fee…
Dr. Ray O’Connor discusses the latest clinical papers on Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Deprescribing medication in older and frailer patients can simplify drug regimens and reduce adverse effects, as shown in the OPTiMISE trial. Antihypertensive deprescribing in patients aged 80 and over showed no increase in hospitalization or mortality. Nursing home residents who underwent antihypertensive deprescribing…
In February 2002, the movie “John Q.” about health insurance topped the box office, portraying a father taking a hospital hostage over a denied heart transplant. Public outrage against health insurers has been ongoing for decades, including anger at HMOs, rescinded coverage, and slow patient access to care. Despite occasional reform, such as the Affordable…
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that children and young adults who underwent tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy had a higher risk for stress-related disorders later in life. The study, conducted in Sweden, included over 1 million individuals and found that those who had the surgeries were more likely to develop stress-related disorders, including PTSD….
Brain-computer interfaces have the potential to greatly benefit individuals with disabilities, but concerns about privacy and data usage may slow down the technology’s progress to the market. These devices can help people communicate or operate robotic limbs, but protecting neural data and providing post-implantation support are critical areas that need to be addressed. The industry…
General practitioner Victoria Wilson hosts a weekly live show on Hospital Radio Exeter, where she takes music requests and dedications from patients. She believes it is a way to interact with patients and provide them with entertainment and distraction during their hospital stay. The Hospital Broadcasting Association supports 170 such stations in the UK, with…
A study found that surgeons are quicker and more successful at completing a buzz wire game compared to other hospital staff, with surgeons completing the game within five minutes in 84% of cases. Surgeons were also more likely to swear during the task, while nurses and non-clinical staff showed higher rates of frustration noises. The…
A recent study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation has identified nicotinamide (NAM) and pyridoxine (PN) as safe and natural solutions to support muscle stem cells and combat age-related muscle degeneration. These FDA-approved nutrients enhance muscle repair and regeneration by activating specific cellular signaling pathways critical for muscle cell growth and differentiation. The decline…
The FDA has approved ensartinib for the treatment of ALK-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in adults who have not received an ALK inhibitor. The approval was based on the eXalt3 trial, which showed ensartinib patients had longer progression-free survival compared to those receiving crizotinib, the current standard of care. Findings also…
Nine-year-old Remington “Remi” Bateman started a GoFundMe after her insurance claim for a prosthetic arm was denied. She raised $30,000 and decided to use the money to buy robotic arms for two other kids in need. Remi’s family filed the insurance claim for the prosthetic arm, which was deemed medically necessary by doctors, but was…
Addiction risks from opioid drugs stem from their targeting of receptors in the central nervous system. SiteOne Therapeutics is developing non-opioid approaches to treating pain by focusing on sodium channels in the peripheral nervous system. NaV1.7 and NaV1.8 are key channels that transmit pain signals, with SiteOne’s lead program targeting NaV1.7. The company’s technology enables…
The author shares a personal experience with a tooth abscess and the challenges they face in accessing timely healthcare. They discuss the potential benefits of using AI-driven health risk calculator apps to help patients assess their own unique risk factors and make informed decisions about seeking treatment. The author emphasizes the importance of ensuring that…
The American Academy of Pediatrics has changed its stance on breastfeeding for individuals with HIV, now supporting shared decision-making for those who wish to breastfeed. Research shows that the risk of transmitting the virus to the infant is low when the parent is on antiretroviral medication and has an undetectable viral load. The AAP recommends…
Three Democratic senators are asking for an investigation into the costs of Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement program, which has cost tens of millions in federal and state dollars for administration and consulting fees. The senators are concerned about the true costs of the Republican health care agenda and want an independent watchdog to assess the…
The REACTION study presented at the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition showed that ravulizumab maintained control of intravascular hemolysis and stable hemoglobin levels in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria previously treated with eculizumab. The study included 80 patients who switched from eculizumab to ravulizumab. Researchers observed a decrease in breakthrough hemolysis events and transfusion needs…
The United States has confirmed its first severe human infection of H5N1 bird flu in Louisiana. The person likely contracted the virus from contact with sick or dead birds in a backyard flock. Until now, all confirmed H5N1 cases in the US had mild symptoms. Genetic sequencing indicates that the virus circulating in wild birds…
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes the importance of peace to achieve global health, highlighting the devastating impact of conflict on healthcare. From Gaza to Sudan to Ukraine, conflict leads to displacement, malnutrition, and violence, with attacks on healthcare facilities compounding the crisis. WHO calls for the protection of healthcare under international humanitarian law and…
Researchers from Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin implemented a screening and telephone-based intervention program for unhealthy alcohol use at a large Federally Qualified Health Center in Texas. The study showed significant reductions in alcohol use among a diverse patient population, including uninsured or low-income individuals. The program involved screenings, counseling…
Research shows that daily glucocorticoids promote glioblastoma growth and synchronize its circadian rhythms with the host, impacting tumor progression. Circadian rhythms play a significant role in glioblastoma treatment, with previous studies showing timing chemotherapy to circadian rhythms improves efficacy. Glucocorticoids, often used in glioblastoma treatment, are also under circadian regulation and can either suppress or…
Jessica Borelli, a psychology professor, has found joy in blending Hanukkah and Christmas traditions with her Catholic husband. She initially felt like an outsider admiring Christmas decorations but now integrates light into their celebrations symbolizing warmth and unity. Research shows that exposure to light, such as holiday displays, can boost mood, reduce stress, and trigger…
Research suggests that certain jobs, such as taxi and ambulance drivers, may reduce the risk of death from Alzheimer’s disease due to the cognitive demands of constant navigation. The study examined nearly 9 million people across 443 professions, finding that only a small percentage of drivers died from Alzheimer’s compared to other occupations. However, researchers…