Californians are set to vote on proposed reforms to the 340B Drug Discount Program, a key revenue source for hospitals and health clinics, spearheaded by apartment builders. The program provides significant discounts on drugs, estimated at 20% to 50% of drug prices, or even higher. Nonprofit hospitals and clinics that treat low-income patients benefit from…
Gynecologic examinations are important for detecting cancers early. It is essential to build a trusting relationship with your gynecologist, communicate changes in your body, stay informed about your health, and seek a second opinion if needed. Advocating for yourself includes expressing concerns, discussing symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, early satiety, and vulvar discomfort,…
A study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2024 annual meeting found that patients who have multiple orthopedic surgeries during the same hospital stay are at risk of malnutrition due to repeated fasting, which can slow recovery and increase the risk of death. Patients are often required to fast for at least eight hours before surgery to…
At the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress, data was presented from a phase 2 trial involving 64 patients showing that treatment with ruxolitinib cream was effective in reducing the signs and symptoms of cutaneous lichen planus, including itch and skin pain. Ruxolitinib cream was well tolerated and resulted in significant improvements in disease…
Neal K. Shah discusses Kamala Harris’ “Medicare at Home” proposal, expressing skepticism about the potential unintended consequences of expanding government control over healthcare. He argues for a more market-oriented approach that empowers families with choices and addresses the shortage of caregivers. Shah suggests supporting and compensating family caregivers directly, rather than solely focusing on professional…
A new international research alliance, MpoxVax AFRIVAC, led by University College Dublin, aims to address the Mpox epidemic in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The consortium, funded by the European Commission, will deploy technology and expertise to combat the outbreak. The Irish arm of the trial will study immune responses to the…
Different imaging modalities are effective for diagnosing geographic atrophy, with newer technologies such as blue-light fundus autofluorescence providing sharper contrast than traditional color fundus photography. Retina imaging using confocal color, green fundus autofluorescence, and OCT are also effective for diagnosis and monitoring progression of geographic atrophy. While microperimetry is not ideal for initial diagnosis, it…
CVS Health has appointed David Joyner as the new CEO, replacing Karen Lynch in an effort to improve the struggling company’s performance. Joyner, who previously held positions at CVS Caremark and CVS Health, has a long history with the company and its acquisitions. Lynch stepped down in agreement with the company’s board. Following the announcement,…
The study suggests that regular exercise may help reduce the severity of hangover symptoms. The research involved undergraduate students who engaged in at least 30 minutes of physical activity per week. The findings showed a significant association between exercise and decreased hangover symptoms. Exercise may modulate pain response, improve sleep quality, enhance metabolism, and reduce…
A case report published in Oncoscience discusses a 51-year-old man with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and brain metastasis who achieved a complete and long-lasting response to immunotherapy after whole brain radiotherapy. Approximately 20% of lung cancer patients have brain metastases at diagnosis, impacting prognosis and quality of life. The use of immune…
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended granting marketing authorization for a new diagnostic tool for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection called Siiltibcy. The test uses antigens derived from M. tuberculosis to provoke a delayed skin reaction indicating infection. Tuberculosis is a major global health issue, with millions of people affected each year. Siiltibcy’s diagnostic accuracy…
Generative artificial intelligence is increasingly being utilized in the pharmaceutical industry, automating tasks and providing valuable insights from unstructured information. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it is becoming a solution for many challenges within the industry. AI applications include drug discovery, clinical trial optimization, patient selection, and predicting treatment outcomes. The upfront cost…
Prof Michael Barry, the clinical director of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, stated that the biggest challenge in the medicines area will be determining the availability of new obesity treatments to patients. One such treatment, tirzepatide, also known as Mounjaro, is set to undergo a health technology assessment to decide if it should be made…
At the AAO meeting, Adam K. Muzychuk, MD, FRCSC discussed the defocus curve performance of the enVista Envy trifocal IOL and the enVista monofocal IOL from Bausch + Lomb. Results from a multicenter study showed that the trifocal IOL had a continuous range of approximately 4 D on the defocus curve, compared to 2 D…
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals CEO discussed the expansion of their heart drug vutrisiran, which is effective in treating ATTR cardiomyopathy. The company’s stock reached an all-time high, exceeding $38 billion in market value. Merck’s new data suggests competition for AstraZeneca and Sanofi’s RSV prophylactic Beyfortus. The potential approval of clesrovimab could offer advantages over Beyfortus in preventing…
New research using brain mapping tools suggests that Alzheimer’s disease damages the brain in two phases, with the first phase causing damage slowly and silently before symptoms appear, and the second phase causing more widespread damage in conjunction with symptoms. The study analyzed brains of 84 people and revealed that damage to inhibitory neurons in…
Studies presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2024 reveal that younger adults with colon cancer are often diagnosed at later stages and have more aggressive tumors, leading to long-term negative impacts on their lives. Rates of colon cancer among adults under 45 have increased in recent years. Research on sociodemographic factors and…
Korjuny, a medication approved by the European Medicines Agency, is used for the intraperitoneal treatment of malignant ascites in patients not eligible for further systemic anticancer therapy. The medication contains catumaxomab, a monoclonal bispecific trifunctional antibody that targets tumor cells and T cells. Clinical trials have shown that Korjuny reduces the need for paracenteses in…
The 2022 Dobbs decision has weakened federal protections for abortion and led to states imposing stricter laws, hindering access to abortion for millions of women. This has disproportionately affected low-income and minority women, leading to health disparities and poorer outcomes. Healthcare providers are facing challenges and legal risks, impacting patient care. The decision also raises…
Healthcare staff are urging pregnant women to get the whooping cough vaccine to protect their newborns from a surge in cases of pertussis. In Ireland, there have been 514 cases of whooping cough this year, compared to only 18 cases in 2023. Infants under six months are most at risk, with two-thirds of cases in…
The UniMóvil program in southern Texas uses a mobile clinic to provide women’s health care, including birth control, to rural areas. The program aims to increase access to long-acting contraception in areas with fewer doctors and limited resources. Despite challenges such as funding and sustainability, mobile clinics like UniMóvil play a crucial role in bridging…
Patients now have unprecedented access to their healthcare providers through online portals, leading to an increase in communication outside of traditional methods like on-call pagers. The lack of guidelines for these new communication channels can blur the lines between personal and professional relationships. Establishing clear guidelines for patient-provider communication, including expectations for timing and frequency,…
CVS Health is appointing David Joyner as the new chief executive, taking over from Karen Lynch. The company has faced financial challenges and a declining stock price, prompting the need for new leadership. Joyner will need to address issues within the Aetna health insurance business and navigate FTC scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers. Meanwhile, Donald…
Launer discusses the importance of incorporating “generalism” into medical practice, particularly in the field of palliative care where holistic care is crucial. He highlights the benefits of considering the patient’s “whole self” and implementing a biopsychosocial model of care. This approach has been proven to lead to better outcomes for patients, including reduced healthcare costs,…
A blood test can predict preeclampsia risk in laboring women, which can lead to preventative measures to protect both mother and baby. Preeclampsia, a dangerous complication of pregnancy, affects 5-10% of pregnant women and is more common in Black women. The ratio of two blood proteins, fibrinogen and albumin, can indicate preeclampsia risk when measured…
A preoperative nutrition program can improve patient outcomes and save healthcare systems money, according to a study presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2024. By providing nutrients to support the immune system before surgery, hospital stays and postoperative complications can be reduced. The study analyzed data from 4,078 surgical cases and found…
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has upheld a decision to deny marketing authorization for Masitinib, an oral treatment for ALS, due to concerns about the reliability of the data supporting the drug. Masitinib is intended to reduce inflammation and protect nerve cells from damage in ALS patients. The EMA also confirmed the decision to not…
HLTH 2024 at the Venetian Expo Center in Las Vegas from October 20 to 23 will showcase startups focused on improving care coordination, detecting diseases earlier, and healthy aging solutions. Specialized programming will cover critical topics in health insurance and pharma industries. The Physician Roundtable program offers insights from physicians. Startups like BioTrillion, HerHealthAI, and…
Dr. Brendan O’Shea attended the Irish Global Health Network Annual Conference at the RCSI in October 2024. The conference focused on promoting health equity for a better planet. Keynote speakers discussed the challenges in global health, including HIV-related stigma, mental health, and the degradation of health infrastructure. The conference highlighted the importance of partnerships, research,…
Lyft driver Tramaine Carr in Atlanta provides critical medical transportation for seniors and sick patients, often serving as a friend and social worker during long drives to hospitals. Across Georgia, ride-hail services like Lyft and Uber play a crucial role in transporting patients to medical appointments, especially in rural areas where hospitals have closed. While…
A study presented at Retina Subspecialty Day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in Chicago showed that a Fas inhibitor demonstrated strong efficacy signals in patients with more than 8 days of macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The study assessed the safety and efficacy of intravitreal ONL1204 in these patients, with results showing a trend…
Health care leaders from various political backgrounds discussed policy priorities for the upcoming U.S. election at STAT’s Summit. Former officials from the Biden, Trump, and Obama administrations, along with industry executives, touched on topics such as Medicare, drug pricing, and artificial intelligence. Joe Grogan criticized Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act for destabilizing Medicare Part D and…
The over-reliance on symptom scales in Parkinson’s disease research complicates the interpretation of trial results for patients and clinicians. Symptom scales, such as the UPDRS III and PDQ-39, may show statistical significance but not necessarily clinical relevance. To address this issue, researchers should prioritize hard outcomes like mortality, serious adverse events, hospital admissions, and falls…
Research suggests that genetics and lifestyle play a role in longevity, with genetics appearing to have a greater impact. Caloric restriction has been shown to increase lifespan in animals, with genetic variations affecting aging. A recent study in mice examined different models of caloric restriction, finding that genetics were more influential than dietary interventions. While…
Indigenous communities in Latin America are being left out of the global HIV/AIDS response, leading to a lack of access to life-saving medicines and prevention tools. They feel invisible and excluded, with no data on HIV prevalence in their communities. These communities are urging for representation and targeted interventions to combat the disease, as they…
The CHMP recommended marketing authorization for Eltrombopag Viatris, a generic medicine for primary immune thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenia associated with chronic hepatitis C virus, and severe aplastic anemia. It is bioequivalent to the reference product Revolade and stimulates platelet production by interacting with the thrombopoietin receptor. It is indicated for adults and children with primary ITP, and…
A recent study found that the use of Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine Systems (LNG-IUS) for contraception is associated with a slightly elevated risk of breast cancer. The study involved 78,595 women between the ages of 15 and 49 who began using the intrauterine system between 2000 and 2019. After an average follow-up period of 6.8 years, 1,617…
Significant capital is being invested in artificial intelligence for drug discovery processes, promising to revolutionize biological identification and optimization. Companies need to prepare for increased productivity through AI-driven discovery, potentially reducing the timeline for drug development. Challenges such as costly clinical trials, delayed commercialization, and limited drug lifecycles can be addressed by AI, which streamlines…
The annual event of the Irish Pakistani Professionals Association (IPPA) is set to take place in 2024, as reported by Irish Medical Times. This event brings together professionals from the Irish and Pakistani communities to network, collaborate, and celebrate their shared heritage. Attendees can expect a range of activities, speakers, and opportunities to further their…
KFF Health News and KCUR are following the stories of people injured during the mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl celebration. Survivors are seeking a sense of safety in the aftermath of the shooting that left one person dead and at least 24 people injured. The shooting has shattered the sense of…
At the AAO meeting, Dr. Calvin Roberts discusses two “moonshot” ophthalmology programs from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) program aims to restore vision through whole eye transplantation, while the Ocular Laboratory for Analysis of Biomarkers (OCULAB) program focuses on developing a tear-based biomarker measurement system. The…
Get your daily dose of health and medicine with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. The latest STAT Summit featured discussions on topics like Atul Gawande and biased algorithms, the moral injury of UnitedHealth Group’s Optum, and the impact of race on patient care. The summit also highlighted the research on the exposome and the Asian…
In a study by Compassion in Dying, it was found that there are several lessons for healthcare professionals when it comes to improving decision-making processes with patients at the end of their lives. These conversations can be difficult, especially with the pressures in the NHS, and require time and the presence of multiple people, such…
A study of over 28 million patients presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 annual meeting found that multiple orthopedic surgeries during the same hospital stay increase the risk of malnutrition due to repeated fasting. This fasting can slow recovery and increase the risk of death. Patients are typically directed to fast for at least eight hours…
Sweden has achieved the UNAIDS and WHO targets for the HIV epidemic, making it the first country globally to reach these goals. The 95-95-95 target indicates that 95 percent of people with HIV are diagnosed, receiving treatment, and have undetectable virus levels. Sweden has exceeded these targets, with 96 percent diagnosed, 99 percent receiving treatment,…
The CHMP recommended marketing authorization for Fluad and Flucelvax vaccines for influenza immunization in Europe, ideal for children from 2 years old, adults, and those with comorbidities. They recommended a revised composition for Nuvaxovid targeting the JN.1 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and updating Bimervax targeting the Omicron XBB.1.16 SARS-CoV-2 subvariant for the 2024/2025 vaccination…
Malaria cases in Europe are increasing due to infected mosquitoes being transported on planes and in luggage, sparking local infections of Odyssean malaria. A study in Eurosurveillance identified 145 cases in five years, with most in France. Prevention measures and surveillance are needed to address this growing threat. Factors contributing to the increase include changes…
Gilead Sciences has voluntarily withdrawn cancer drug Trodelvy from the U.S. market for the treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma after a failed confirmatory study. The drug, an antibody drug conjugate targeting the TROP-2 protein, had received accelerated FDA approval in 2021. Despite its success in breast cancer indications, Trodelvy failed to meet the primary endpoint…
On October 18th, 2024, Brendan wrote a piece of content that needs to be summarized. Source link
KFF Health News senior correspondent Aneri Pattani discussed Ohio’s $2 billion opioid settlement funds on WOSU Public Media. Senior fellow Céline Gounder talked about undiagnosed ADHD in U.S. adults on CBS. Health News contributor Andy Miller talked about the health impact of a chemical fire in Georgia on WUGA. KFF Health News is a national…