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Phase 3 trial assesses clazakizumab in kidney transplant recipients with caAMR

A phase 3 trial on clazakizumab in patients with chronic active antibody-mediated rejection after kidney transplantation did not meet primary efficacy outcomes and was stopped early. The study aimed to recruit 350 participants but was halted following an interim analysis showing no significant difference between clazakizumab and placebo in kidney function. The trial, which had…

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Simple Blood Test Before Labor May Help Predict Preeclampsia: Researchers Say

Preeclampsia is a dangerous pregnancy complication affecting around 10% of pregnant women, leading to high blood pressure, stroke, premature birth, and maternal deaths. Researchers at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 annual meeting discovered that a simple blood test measuring the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) can predict a woman’s risk of developing preeclampsia upon labor admission. Elevated FAR levels…

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Seaport Therapeutics Secures $225M for New Kind of Depression Drug

Seaport Therapeutics has raised $225 million to advance a lead drug candidate for depression treatment, utilizing a platform technology called Glyph. The drug candidate, SPT-300, is a prodrug that converts into allopregnanolone to modulate the GABA-A receptor in the central nervous system. The new capital will help Seaport reach important clinical milestones. Additionally, other biotech…

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Coroner’s reports shed light on assisted death in Ontario

Recent reports from the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario shed light on the reasons why Canadians are choosing medical assistance in dying (MAiD), with euthanasia being the method used over 99.9% of the time. The reports reveal instances of patients being euthanized despite having untreated mental illness and addictions, unclear medical diagnoses, and…

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Dapagliflozin Safe and Effective in CKD Stages 4 and 5

New research shows that dapagliflozin has significant benefits in treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with severe stages of the disease. The drug, when combined with integrated CKD care, improved outcomes compared to CKD care alone. The DAPA advKD trial included patients with an eGFR less than 20 mL/min/1.73 m2, which is a first…

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Guidelines To Reduce Your Risk Of First Stroke

Every year in the U.S., over half a million people experience their first stroke, a serious condition that can be deadly. The American Stroke Association’s new prevention guidelines aim to prevent up to 80% of strokes by identifying and managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. Healthcare providers are encouraged to…

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Disabled women outline how partners withhold medication as part of abusive behaviour

A study found that abused disabled women often feel that their disability makes professionals less likely to believe their disclosures of abuse. Incidents of immuno-compromised disabled women being exposed to Covid-19 and having medication withheld highlight intimate partner abuse in new research. The study included interviews and surveys with disabled women who had experienced abuse,…

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5 questions about dietary guidelines and an ‘impossible restriction’

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are largely ignored, have a significant impact on federal nutritional assistance programs. A recent advisory panel discussed recommendations for the next set of guidelines, addressing issues like added sugar and ultra-processed foods. Despite limited evidence, experts emphasize the importance of these guidelines in improving diets and health. Challenges in…

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Average income increases after bariatric surgery, analysis suggests

in earnings of around £3,700 per year post-surgery. The increase was attributed to a higher likelihood of being employed following the procedure. This highlights the potential economic benefits of bariatric surgery in addition to the well-documented health benefits. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers looking to address the social and economic…

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How asbestos exposure continues to be a dire health risk in the UK, 25 years after it was banned

Asbestos, banned in the UK since 1999, still poses a serious health risk. Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Despite known dangers, asbestos remains common in school buildings, with damaged fibers causing high risks. The material is safe when undisturbed but poses dangers when airborne. Strict enforcement of regulations,…

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Investigating the relationship between COPD and liver disease in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder leading to liver disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A study analyzed AATD individuals with and without COPD to characterize its effects on liver disease and gene expression. Liver tissues of AATD individuals with COPD showed upregulation of genes related to fibrosis, extracellular matrix remodeling, collagen…

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Europe’s Polio-Free Status Is Not a Done Deal

The European Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (RCC) has warned that Europe’s polio-free status is at risk due to inadequate enforcement of action plans for potential outbreaks. Concerns include containment breaches at vaccine manufacturing facilities and declining immunization coverage in some countries. Despite no wild poliovirus in circulation in 2023, six EU/EEA…

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4 Things That Worry FDA Commissioner Robert Califf

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf discussed healthcare AI at the HLTH conference, stating the challenge of balancing regulation with creativity. The FDA can’t monitor all AI developments and providers struggle with ongoing validation. Califf worries that AI may worsen health disparities by segregating profitable and unprofitable patients. He notes the U.S. healthcare system’s primary care deficiencies…

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Sharp increase in opioid prescriptions after knee replacement surgery

A study by clinicians at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh found a 280% increase in patients prescribed strong opioids after knee replacement surgery. The study, published in the Irish Medical Journal, highlighted the need for better education on opioid use among doctors and patients. The researchers suggested that inadequate preoperative counselling, patient expectations, and concerns…

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Chronic spontaneous urticaria symptoms improve in 1 week with remibrutinib

Remibrutinib, a highly selective Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor, showed promising results in improving chronic spontaneous urticaria symptoms in patients who did not respond to H1 antihistamines. Studies found that patients experienced significant improvements in urticaria activity, itch severity, and hives severity with remibrutinib treatment, with over 50% of patients achieving minimal important differences in their…

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Staff shortages have worsened safety of mental health patients by preventing therapeutic care

Due to workforce shortages in mental healthcare, staff are struggling to provide adequate therapeutic care, resulting in worsened safety and potential re-traumatization of patients. The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) emphasized the importance of therapeutic care and found cases where patients were harmed, feared for their safety, or were re-traumatized. HSSIB published a report…

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Limited Kidney Benefits With Finerenone in Heart Failure

The FINEARTS-HF trial found that treatment with finerenone reduced the risk of macroalbuminuria in patients with heart failure, but did not significantly impact estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)-based kidney outcomes. The study showed that finerenone improved heart failure outcomes and cardiovascular mortality, with no significant kidney benefits observed. Patients on finerenone had no significant differences…

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Can Color Impact Healthcare Culture?

Hospitals have a long history of using specific colors to convey cleanliness, modernity, and authority. However, patients today often feel unsafe and alienated in hospital settings where colors are selected without their input. It may be time for a shift towards patient-led color palettes, where patients have control over the colors in their healthcare experience….

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Country’s first audit of in-hospital cardiac arrests underway

Hospitals in the east and southeast of Ireland are participating in a pilot project running until March 2025, which includes the country’s first audit of in-hospital cardiac arrests. The audit aims to investigate if care for deteriorating patients is being provided to expected standards. The participating hospitals will collect and analyze data on cardiac arrest…

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Can You Rely on Your Mammogram To Identify Heart Disease Risk?

Some medical practices are now offering screening for breast arterial calcification during mammograms to assess heart disease risk. While this screening may provide additional information to patients, experts question its value, as breast arterial calcification may not be a strong indicator of heart disease risk. Studies have shown an association between the two, but more…

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Kidney transplant patients with more pain report less involvement in social activities

Patients with moderate to severe pain after kidney transplantation report lower social participation, highlighting the need for more clinical attention to chronic pain management in this population. A study presented at ASN Kidney Week analyzed data from 282 kidney transplant recipients and found that those with higher pain interference levels were less likely to participate…

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Sexual harassment: New legislation should be tightened to protect doctors, says union

The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) has expressed concern that doctors are not adequately protected against sexual harassment by third parties under the new Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023. This legislation, coming into force on 26 October, requires employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. However, HCSA believes…

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South Africa has amended its research guidelines to allow for heritable human genome editing

South Africa recently made changes to its national health research guidelines allowing for the creation of genetically modified children through genome editing. This move has sparked ethical concerns worldwide, especially in light of previous controversial cases involving gene editing of babies. The guidelines lack alignment with existing laws in South Africa, raising questions about the…

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AKI Intervention Falls Short of Improving Patient Outcomes

A study presented at Kidney Week 2024 shows that recommendations made by a dedicated kidney action team failed to improve clinical outcomes for hospitalized patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), despite increasing the rate of best-practice implementation within 24 hours. The intervention, involving personalized recommendations by a physician and pharmacist team, did not lead to…

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Do nothing…or do something?

Dr. Brendan O’Shea discusses the importance of UNAIDs Global Partnership for Action in eliminating all HIV-related stigma and discrimination. He emphasizes the need to take action rather than doing nothing to combat this issue. The partnership aims to create a safe and supportive environment for individuals living with HIV. Dr. O’Shea highlights the impact of…

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Adjuvant radiation reduces recurrence of localized cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

A study presented at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Annual Meeting found that adjuvant radiation after clear margin surgery decreased the risk of local and locoregional recurrence and nodal metastasis in patients with localized high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The study involved 1,267 patients with high-risk tumors who underwent Mohs surgery or wide local…

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The patent system’s ‘fundamental flaws’

First Opinion is a platform on STAT that features articles on life sciences written by experts in the field. The platform encourages discussion through Letters to the Editor in response to the articles. In one article, Daniel Skovronsky defends the current patent system, but a reader argues that it favors costly drugs over more cost-effective…

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Online IVF Injection Training Boosts Patient Confidence

Online training about in vitro fertilization (IVF) was found to increase patient confidence compared to in-person training, according to a study presented at the 2024 ASRM conference. The study showed that both groups of patients, regardless of training method, demonstrated improved comprehension of the IVF process. While both groups rated their knowledge and confidence similarly,…

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