#medicine

A high intake of niacin has been linked to improved lung function and a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Research suggests that niacin, also known as vitamin B3, plays a role in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the lungs, which are key factors in the development of COPD. This finding…

Cigna Healthcare partnered with HelloFresh to offer discounted meal kits to their members, aiming to improve access to healthy food. HelloFresh, a German company, delivers food and recipes to people’s homes. The partnership will give up to 12 million members of Cigna’s employer customers access to discounted meals. The companies are also working together to…

Dr. Ray O’Connor provides a summary of clinical studies and their implications in practice. One study found that the burden of diseases related to high BMI in Asia has increased considerably over the past few decades. Another study concluded that running therapy outperformed antidepressants in impacts on physical health while being comparable in mental health…

A study in a gynecologic oncology clinic found that using an electronic medical record (EMR)–integrated system for screening health-related social resource needs (HRSN) resulted in improved patient reach compared to a paper-based system. The study aimed for a screening compliance rate of more than 90% and found that the rate increased from 52% with the…

Vessi Medical, an Israeli company, closed a $16.5 million Series A funding round for its cryotherapy technology to treat non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The company’s cryo spray aims to offer a minimally invasive alternative to the surgical first-line therapy for NMIBC. ALIVE- Israel HealthTech Fund, Agriline, and a strategic investor led the investment….

The Biden administration is cracking down on insurance plans’ prior authorization policies for certain health plans participating in federal programs, such as Medicare Advantage or the Affordable Care Act marketplace. States are also taking action to pass their own restrictions on prior authorization requirements. Doctors and hospitals are supporting these efforts, with some states passing…

Dr. Rachna T. Shroff discussed the CIRCULATE and COBRA studies at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. These studies evaluated the role of circulating tumor DNA in guiding treatment decisions for patients with colon cancer. Dr. Shroff emphasized that these studies show advancements in integrating novel technologies, therapies, and multidisciplinary techniques to bring about the best…

A recent study published in Nature Medicine found that a telehealth consultation and mail delivery of abortion pills is safe and effective, with a 97.7% success rate in completing abortions. The study involved over 6,000 patients and also compared the safety and effectiveness of telehealth abortion with in-person prescriptions. The results are comparable with previous…

Alaska health officials have reported the first human death from a new virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The deceased was an elderly man with a history of cancer treatment. He developed symptoms in September, including a tender red swelling in his right armpit, and sought medical help multiple times over the…

Hospitals are fighting to maintain higher Medicare payments for their services, including at hospital-owned physician practices. This unequal arrangement is seen as driving up costs for patients and taxpayers and incentivizing hospital consolidation. The House passed a bill that included a provision for site-neutral payment for medical infusions, which would save Medicare an estimated $3.7…

In a recent study, researchers investigated the effects of a diet of selenium- and/or zinc-enriched eggs (SZE) on oxidative stress, cognitive impairment, and intestinal flora in aging mice. The study found that the SZE diet reduced organ damage and improved cognitive function in mice models by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut microbiota. The study…

Prescription drugs help with medical conditions, but can also have unwelcome side effects. It’s important to communicate with your doctor and pharmacist about these side effects. New drugs may have unknown side effects, so you may ask about switching to an older, more established drug. Some side effects can be temporary and tolerable, but others…

In a large observational study of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), researchers found that one third of patients had inflammatory arthritis (IA), which was associated with poor quality of life and physical function. The study included 1717 adults with SSc, and IA was defined as the presence of synovitis in one or more joints. Patients…

Post-infectious cough affects 11-25% of adults after a respiratory illness, lasting 3-8 weeks. It can arise due to inflammatory reaction, mucous production, and bronchial sensitivity. Medications like inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators have little evidence supporting their effectiveness. In most cases, the cough resolves on its own without medication. Coughs lasting over 8 weeks may require…

Home insulin pump use has been found to be safe for hospitalized children with diabetes who do not have active ketoacidosis. A study conducted by researchers supports the continued use of insulin pumps for these patients, as it was found to be effective and did not increase the risk of adverse events. The study aimed…

In the first episode of Debunked: Slaughtering Myths, Bad Practices and Sacred Cows in Healthcare, co-hosts Arundhati Parmar and Samir Batra discuss bad billing practices in healthcare, with a focus on Arundhati’s foot fracture. They also address the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, drug pricing, and a healthcare transaction between General Catalyst and Summa Health….

A new study published in the Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia journal validates a new tool called the Values and Preferences Elicitation Questionnaire – Cure and Survival Preference Scale (VPEQ-CSPS) for identifying the values and preferences of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The tool aims to incorporate patient values and preferences into MM treatment decisions…

Genetic testing company Invitae has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, aiming to continue operations using existing cash and seeking to sell its business. The San Francisco-based company seeks approval to use cash on hand to fund the case and has listed assets of $500 million to $1 billion and liabilities of $1 billion to $10…

Readers wrote health policy valentines about prescription drug pricing, medical debt, and primary care shortages. The winning entries were turned into cartoons by staff illustrator Oona Tempest. Jennifer Reck’s poem talked about traveling to a place where drugs cost less, and Sunshine Moore Anger’s poem described the relief of not having cancer but being in…

The article discusses a study that found that macular neovascularization (MNV) and complete retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and outer retina atrophy (cRORA) continue to grow even with frequent anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The growth of MNV was observed to be continuous, while cRORA developed in association with increasing MNV size. Researchers also…

A leaked draft agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association has sparked concerns over access to affordable generic medicines. The agreement, which is expected to be concluded by April, proposes changes to India’s patent and regulatory laws, including granting six years of data exclusivity to drug manufacturers. This would give brand-name drugmakers an…

Elinor Cleghorn’s book “Unwell Women” outlines the historical bias in medicine’s approach to women’s health. Women have been excluded from clinical trials, and their health needs have been seen as limited to reproductive issues. However, in recent years, companies have capitalized on women’s health as a source of profit, using feminist language to promote their…

A new study from the University of Cambridge suggests that school uniform policies could be restricting physical activity among young people, especially primary school-aged girls. The research, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, used data from over a million 5-17-year-olds internationally. The study found that in countries where most schools require uniforms,…

Researchers explored the factors influencing cytokine release, an essential component of the body’s immunological response. The study involved 1,000 participants and measured the levels of various cytokines after immunological activation. The study revealed that smoking, CMV latent infection, and body mass index were significant drivers of cytokine response variability. Smoking was associated with inflammation and…

In 2018, Michael B. Greene, PhD, was contacted by a woman who might be his biological daughter. He donated sperm in the 1970s as a graduate student in New York City and had signed an anonymity contract. With the rise of DNA tests, she and her sister hired a genealogist to track down Greene, which…

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the esophagus, with symptoms ranging from dysphagia to vomiting, and occurs in both children and adults. EoE incidence rates are increasing globally, with the highest rates in the US, Western Europe and Australia, and certain environmental and food exposures may contribute to its development. Diagnosis involves…

An elderly man has died from a severe case of the Alaskapox virus, the first human fatality linked to this rare virus, which was previously associated with mild illness in animals and humans. The virus belongs to the family of viruses that causes smallpox and was first detected in an adult near Fairbanks in 2015….

Lymphocytosis, a condition characterized by an increased level of lymphocytes in the blood, has been found to be associated with a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This suggests a potential link between these two conditions. The research highlights the need for further investigation into the relationship between lymphocytosis and hypothyroidism,…

In 2023, the pharmaceutical marketing landscape underwent significant changes due to the rise of artificial intelligence, digitalization of health data, and the integration of marketing automation tools. As the industry moves into 2024, the focus will be on digital transformation and personalized marketing, patient-centric strategies, targeted messaging using clinical data, innovative content marketing, and global…

The HSE’s 2024 National Service Plan includes a range of measures such as a three-year urgent and emergency care plan, expanding the disability service workforce, and adding 22 critical care beds. With a budget of €23.5 billion, the plan aims to cut costs associated with agency staff, invest in new service developments, and allocate once-off…

A study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine found that a short-duration antibiotic course for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) was just as effective as usual care with respect to mortality and pneumonia recurrences. The REGARD-VAP trial included 461 adults from 6 hospitals in Nepal, Singapore, and Thailand. Participants were randomly assigned to either a short-duration antibiotic…

A survey by Atomik Research and Ernst & Young found that 96% of healthcare executives believe investing in healthcare technology is worthwhile, but 71% said overall hospital expenses have not decreased. 90% of executives reported that digital tools have freed up time to care for providers’ needs and have improved operational efficiency. 86% see potential…

The No Surprises Act was intended to protect patients from surprise out-of-network medical bills, but it has also come with some challenges. The law has successfully protected millions of patients from surprise bills, limiting the amount patients can be billed for out-of-network services. However, the law has also created chaos in the system, with a…

confidence in utilizing this drug to not only help improve patient quality of life, but also to help treat psoriasis in patients with different skin tones,” Chovatiya said. These findings are important as they demonstrate the effectiveness of guselkumab in diverse patient populations, providing further evidence of its potential as a treatment option for psoriasis….

A new biotech startup called Latigo Biotherapeutics has launched with $135 million in funding after being incubated by California VC Westlake Village BioPartners for three years. The startup is developing a non-opioid pain medicine called LTG-001, currently in Phase 1 trial, that aims to block pain-signaling neurons by targeting a sodium channel called NaV 1.8….

Physician and postdoctoral researcher Amani Meaidi emphasizes the importance of further research on the safety of vaginal estrogen therapy for genitourinary syndrome of menopause as demand for the treatment increases. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause affects over 50% of women transitioning to menopause, causing symptoms such as pain during intercourse, vaginal irritation, and urinary tract infections….

A university research paper published in Nature Cancer provides new insights into the role of efferocytosis in pancreatic cancer metastasis to the liver. University of Liverpool researchers found high levels of immunosuppressive macrophages in PDAC metastases and were able to block this pathway, which improved T cell activation and reduced tumor burden. The study used…

Researchers assessed acupuncture’s effects on ischemic stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a nationwide study. RA involves severe joint inflammation and increases stroke risk. Traditional treatment has side effects. Acupuncture provides a potential alternative due to its anti-inflammatory effects. The study involved data from Taiwan’s health insurance research database and analyzed newly diagnosed RA…

Modest weight loss of just 2% to 5% of your total body weight can lead to significant health improvements. Research shows that losing this amount of weight can lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, ease joint pain, improve cardiovascular health, and benefit triglyceride levels. Even a 5 to 10-pound…

A new study suggests that neurologic damage following acute viral infections may be attributed to the body’s excessive immune response to the infection. Researchers identified a specific population of T cells called CD8+ T cells that became overactivated during viral infection and likely caused the damage. The research was conducted using a mouse model of…

A recent study found that familiar scents could be more powerful than words in helping depressed individuals recover. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, revealed that familiar scents facilitated the recall of specific autobiographical memories in people with depression. In the study, participants with clinical depression were given…

A study published in JAMA found that infusing glutamate during cardiac surgery can reduce kidney injury. The study involved 1,000 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with half receiving a glutamate infusion and half receiving a placebo. The results showed that the group receiving the glutamate infusion had a lower incidence of kidney injury. The researchers suggested…

Chronic pain is a growing issue in the workplace, affecting up to 40% of the workforce and leading to significant economic costs. The impact of chronic pain includes lost workdays, reduced productivity, and negative effects on employee well-being. Employers are not fully aware or equipped to address this problem, and the healthcare industry has not…

The South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen is recruiting for a position with a salary range of £88,799 to £119,723 per annum. The reference number for the position is 52875520 and the closing date for applications is Friday 8th March at 3.30pm. For full criteria, job description, and application form, applicants can visit jobs.hscni.net and…

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use gabapentinoids for epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and other chronic pain have an increased risk for severe COPD exacerbations. The study involved a population-based cohort and used a time-conditional propensity score-matched, new-user design to assess the risk….

Zocdoc has introduced a new Guided Search tool to help patients find the right in-network healthcare provider based on their symptoms and treatment needs. Quest Diagnostics launched the MelaNodal Predict test to personalize treatment decisions for patients with melanoma. WellSpan Health partnered with KeyCare to expand virtual primary care and behavioral health services, allowing patients…

Lawmakers and regulators in Washington are considering how to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, but industry experts believe there is a risk of overregulation. The impact of AI on health care is significant, with the FDA approving over 692 AI products. Government policymakers are already behind and struggling to keep up. There is…

The risk for ipsilateral periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) within 5 years of the index infection in patients with total hip or knee arthroplasty is low, with only 1% to 2% of patients experiencing this complication. No ipsilateral infections occurred within 1 year of the index infection. These findings were presented at the American Academy of…

Lawmakers are considering increasing doctors’ Medicare pay to offset a 3.4% Medicare pay cut that went into effect on Jan 1. The cut resulted from the expiration of pandemic-era bonuses lawmakers chose to give the industry. The pay increase was discussed in negotiations over a stopgap funding bill earlier this year, but a fix hasn’t…