Eleven states and Washington, D.C. provide full health insurance coverage to low-income immigrants, regardless of legal status. Enrollment in these programs could nearly double by 2025 as more states initiate or expand coverage. The increase in coverage comes amid growing hostility toward migrants. Some conservatives believe states will regret expanding coverage due to the cost….
Nighttime heartburn affects four out of five people with regular heartburn and acid reflux. Over-the-counter and prescription medication can treat symptoms, but preventing heartburn is key. Tips to prevent nighttime heartburn include sleeping on your left side, losing weight, elevating your upper body while sleeping, wearing loose-fitting clothes, avoiding trigger foods, and not eating big…
Although clinical trials show that AI can increase adenoma detection rates (ADR) during colonoscopy, real-world results vary. Some studies show improvement, while others don’t. AI use in the US and Europe has increased the proportion of patients needing intensive surveillance, leading to increased patient burden and healthcare costs. However, AI has shown potential in maintaining…
A new study found that owning a pet could slow cognitive decline in older adults living alone. Cognitive decline impairs a person’s ability to learn, remember, and make judgments, and can lead to conditions such as dementia. Living alone has been linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline, with a population-attributable fraction of 8.9%….
A study suggests that high preoperative blood sugar levels may increase the risk of periprosthetic joint infection after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The researchers found that patients with elevated blood sugar levels had a higher incidence of infection compared to those with normal levels. This highlights the importance of managing blood sugar levels in patients…
The healthcare industry is facing challenges and opportunities, including the rise of artificial intelligence, increasing cost pressures, and M&A activity. West Monroe identified three trends to watch for in the industry: data strategy, advanced analytics, and AI. AI has the potential to improve workflows and simplify administrative tasks in healthcare. However, foundational investments in data…
The perception of marijuana has changed due to legalization in the US and Canada, with more people believing that smoking or being exposed to marijuana smoke is safer than tobacco. A study surveyed over 5,000 US adults, finding that the percentage of those who believe marijuana smoke is safer increased from 35% in 2017 to…
The U.S. Court of Appeals has temporarily paused the International Trade Commission’s ban on sales of Apple’s Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 in the U.S. following an appeal by Apple. The suspension allows Apple to resume selling its smartwatches with the disputed blood oxygen feature. The ban was initially imposed to protect medtech…
A study presented at the European Headache Federation found that treatment with 100 mg of ubrogepant in the prodromal phase of a migraine attack prevented the development of headaches within 24 hours post-dose. The study examined the safety and efficacy of ubrogepant in 480 individuals and found that 45.5% of ubrogepant-treated prodrome events achieved a…
First Opinion published top six most-read essays of the year on various topics including the X-waiver for buprenorphine prescribing, long Covid and its brain science, and the new estimate of autism. The most-read article advocated for spreading the word about the bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act of 2023, which removed the X-waiver for prescribing…
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) supports the use of digital pathology as a substitute for light microscopy in reviewing cancer screening histopathology slides. Digital pathology allows pathologists to view glass slides on a computer screen instead of through a microscope. The UK NSC believes that digital pathology can improve accuracy and efficiency in…
Researchers studied the effects of GFH009, a potent and selective CDK9 inhibitor, on the treatment of hematologic malignancies. GFH009 demonstrated antiproliferative activity in cell lines derived from human hematological malignancies, inhibiting tumor growth and inducing apoptosis. In preclinical models, GFH009 significantly prolonged the survival of rodents with the condition. The study found that GFH009 rapidly…
Three researchers from Johns Hopkins wrote an article in JAMA Surgery urging the medical community to dismiss the belief that many transgender and gender diverse individuals regret gender affirming surgery (GAS). They reported findings from a retrospective look at evidence-based studies and found that less than 1% of TGD people who receive GAS report regret,…
The article discusses the author’s personal journey with differentiated thyroid cancer. They share their experience of diagnosis, treatment, and the emotional impact of living with cancer. The author discusses the challenges they faced, such as side effects of treatment and managing anxiety. They also emphasize the importance of finding a supportive medical team and seeking…
A study using claims data from commercially insured and Medicare Advantage enrollees found that postoperative anticoagulation early after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with a bioprosthetic valve was associated with improved survival and a lower risk for thromboembolic events. The study included 10,589 patients who underwent SAVR and found that warfarin use early postoperatively was…
Staying hydrated can help ease discomforts after festive meals. Warm water can improve digestion and gut microbiota. Herbal or spiced tea can reduce bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea. Prune juice has laxative benefits and can improve stool frequency and consistency. Kombucha can reduce high blood sugar and has antibacterial properties. Green juices and smoothies are…
The US FDA has rejected Amgen’s lung cancer drug Lumakras for full approval. The decision was based on concerns about the drug’s effectiveness and safety. This decision means that the drug can only be used under the FDA’s accelerated approval program, which allows for earlier access to promising drugs but requires additional studies to confirm…
Medicaid spending on prescription drugs has increased despite lower utilization of prescription medications, according to a KFF report based on data from 2016 to 2022. This is attributed to the continuous enrollment provision during the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to historic highs in Medicaid enrollment. However, despite the growth in enrollment, prescription drug utilization was…
Omecamtiv mecarbil is an effective and safe treatment for both men and women with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and sex-specific factors do not impact its benefits or risks. A study compared omecamtiv mecarbil with a placebo in patients with HFrEF and found that the rates of the primary endpoint of first HF…
Samsung Health app has launched a new Medications tracking feature to help users manage their medications, with alerts for taking and refilling medicines. Indian researchers have developed an AI tool to identify carpal tunnel syndrome in ultrasound videos, and the tool can automatically measure the cross-sectional area of the median nerve. Chinese University of Hong…
Donald Brown, a 55-year-old man with depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts, was struggling to keep up with the requirements of a special diversion program aimed at keeping people with mental illness out of jail. If he failed to complete the program, he faced possible incarceration. Critics worry that mental health courts can be expensive, resource-intensive,…
Dr. Steven P. Furr, President of the American Academy of Family Physicians, reflects on his 39-year experience as a family physician in Jackson, Alabama. He highlights the importance of the patient-physician relationship in primary care and the new add-on code G2211 for Medicare patient visits, emphasizing the uniqueness of primary care physicians’ involvement in their…
STAT will host a biotech event on Jan. 8 and a virtual JPM conference recap on Jan. 12. STAT+ subscribers attending the event will have access to a co-working space in San Francisco with free coffee, snacks, and Wi-Fi. The event aims to help participants get the most out of the JPM conference. Participants are…
A study found that the long-acting monoclonal antibody nirsevimab, marketed as Beyfortus, reduced respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated hospital admissions in infants by 83%. The study included over 8000 infants who were randomly assigned to receive nirsevimab or standard care. The results showed that only 0.3% of infants in the nirsevimab group were admitted to…
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that the quality of low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) impacts weight change among U.S. adults. Five LCD indices were examined, and each 1-standard deviation increase in different LCD scores was linked to varying weight changes. Specifically, animal-based and unhealthy LCD scores were associated with greater weight gain, while vegetable-based…
A new research paper was published in Oncotarget’s Volume 14 on December 20, 2023, entitled, “The pharmacodynamic and mechanistic foundation for the antineoplastic effects of GFH009, a potent and highly selective CDK9 inhibitor for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.” The study aimed to summarize current knowledge underlying the mechanism of action (MOA) of GFH009, a…
The market for dietary supplements in the United States is growing rapidly, with consumers spending over $48 billion in 2021 and projected to grow 5% annually. At least half of U.S. adults take dietary supplements. Despite enthusiasm, experts worry about adverse effects and lack of evidence for many supplements. However, supplements like prenatal folic acid…
Regular moderate to vigorous physical activity is associated with larger brain size in key regions, including gray and white matter and the hippocampus, according to new research. The study analyzed MRI brain scans from 10,125 healthy adults and found that increased days of moderate to vigorous activity correlated with larger normalized brain volume in several…
A recent study from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm found that the rate of hospitalizations for RSV infection in children is higher than for the omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 or influenza. RSV causes mild symptoms like a cold, but severe cases can lead to pneumonia and bronchiolitis. The research revealed that hospitalization rates for RSV…
Clear aligners have been found to provide stable positive overbite in patients with anterior open bite. This means that they can effectively correct the alignment of the upper and lower teeth, leading to improved overbite. The use of cookies on the website is also mentioned, indicating that they are used for analytics, advertising, and site…
The FDA has issued a new alert regarding the use of promethazine hydrochloride, an old drug used for allergic reactions, motion sickness, and post-operative nausea and vomiting. The alert specifically covers the administration of the drug as a deep intramuscular injection or a slow intravenous injection, recommending the former to reduce the risk of severe…
The National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre (NPEC) will hold its annual study day on January 19, titled “From pre-pregnancy to postpartum: understanding maternal adverse outcomes”. The event will be a hybrid event held at the Midlands Hotel in Portlaoise, featuring speakers such as Prof Krish Nirantharakumar and Deirdre Daly discussing various research projects. Other speakers include…
The REHAB-HF trial found that a physical intervention produced similar improvements in physical function and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) among Black and White individuals. The study involved a translational, tailored, progressive, 1-on-1 multidomain physical rehabilitation intervention compared with attention control patients for older individuals hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure. The intervention resulted in…
Boston-based healthcare company Heranova Lifesciences, focusing on women’s reproductive health, pregnancy, and menopause, has launched with $13.5 million in seed and seed+ funding. The company offers diagnostic testing and therapeutics for endometriosis, bacterial vaginosis, genetic testing, and fertility. They plan to develop non-invasive endometriosis tests and therapeutic programs for bacterial vaginosis and endometriosis with the…
In this content, Dan Weissmann talks about the issue of hospitals suing patients who can’t afford to pay their medical bills. He discusses his conversation with Scott Purcell, CEO of ACA International, on the effects of these lawsuits on patients. The content also covers the findings of investigations into hospital bill lawsuits in Maryland, Wisconsin,…
The study found that contamination of health care environments near patients with C. auris occurs quickly, often within 4 hours of disinfection. Most C. auris carriers were found to be co-colonized with at least one bacterial multidrug-resistant organism. This highlights the need for broadly effective interventions to reduce colonization burden and environmental contamination against multiple…
Conflict zones have caused a high spike in multidrug-resistant infections in Ukraine and Gaza. Historically, conflicts have always created perfect conditions for drug resistance. An increasing historical number of global conflicts signify that the rise of drug-resistant diseases may have been underestimated. The appearance and growth of drug resistance have mainly been driven by the…
Shree Datta, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in London, UK, critiques a study by Muraca and colleagues on trauma during operative vaginal deliveries. She points out that the severity of perineal tears is influenced by ethnicity, specifically South Asian and Black women being at higher risk. Datta also emphasizes the importance of addressing maternal consent…
Scientists at the University of Lausanne have identified Tcf7+ CD8+ T cells as precursors to stem-like central memory T cells (TCM cells) and have tracked their development in response to viral infection. These T cells are essential to the adaptive immune system and play a critical role in generating long-lasting immunity. The identification of TCM…
A study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that low-carbohydrate diets with healthy fats and plant-based proteins contribute to slower long-term weight gain in comparison to low-carb diets with unhealthy fats and animal proteins. Using data from over 120,000 participants over a period of 32 years, the study found that low-carb diets…
Sleep deficit is a global problem, with Omagh, Northern Ireland residents being kept awake by a persistent hum and vibration. The Worldwide Hum is only heard by 2-4% of people and is related to low-frequency noise from human or industrial sources such as traffic, ventilation systems, and airplanes. Low-frequency noise disrupts sleep, causing increased light…
In Quebec, wait lists for surgery, including cancer operations and nonelective surgery, are increasing. The number of patients waiting for cancer surgery has risen from 4160 in January to 4401 in October, and elective surgery wait lists have grown by about 2000 patients. This has led to concerns about patients being lost due to long…
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), known as “zombie deer disease,” is a fatal neurological infection affecting deer, elk, and moose. It has been reported in 31 U.S. states. CWD is a progressive illness that causes brain and spinal cord damage and is transmitted through body fluids. Although there are no known cases in humans, concern exists…
Bristol Myers Squibb announced plans to acquire RayzeBio for USD 4.1 billion. This move aligns with Bristol Myers Squibb’s strategy to expand its oncology pipeline. RayzeBio’s expertise in targeted radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment will complement Bristol Myers Squibb’s existing portfolio. The acquisition is expected to enhance the company’s ability to develop innovative therapies for patients…
The RSNA 109th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting in Chicago focused on innovation in radiology, with discussions shaping the future of the field in 2024 and beyond. Major trends highlighted at the conference included the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology, a renewed focus on health equity, and efforts to enhance the patient experience….
A study published in JAMA Neurology found that children with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are less likely to experience progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) or relapse-associated worsening over a decade of follow-up compared to individuals with adult- or late-onset MS. However, PIRA increases rapidly in this patient population beginning in young adulthood. The study included…
Executives in the digital health space shared the most significant events in healthcare in 2023, including the rise of generative AI, the impact of ChatGPT, the fall of Silicon Valley Bank, and Medicaid disenrollment. The launch of generative AI, particularly ChatGPT, and the release of Apple Vision Pro were unexpected and are poised to fundamentally…
Healio’s coverage of research on ultraprocessed foods covers the significant impact these foods have on nutrition and health. Studies have shown a link between ultraprocessed foods and conditions like obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression, and mortality. However, some experts argue that there is not yet enough evidence to support policies against their consumption. The top ultraprocessed…
Apple Watches were facing a sales ban due to a feature similar to Masimo’s pulse oximeter. The ITC had issued the import ban in October, which went into effect on Tuesday after President Biden declined to veto it. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals approved Apple’s request to continue selling the devices while reviewing the…
Walking wasn’t a popular pastime until the late 1700s. The term “pedestrianism” originally had a sporting connotation. It became a leisure activity in the 1780s, popularized by famous walkers such as Charles Dickens and the Lake poets. City streets during the 1800s were dirty and unsanitary, creating jobs for street sweepers and pure finders. These…