A study found a link between childhood and adolescent stress and later risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Researchers analyzed 276 participants and found that consistently high stress led to higher risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and other cardiometabolic factors. They used the Perceived Stress Scale to measure stress levels from childhood until early adulthood. Those…
Zydus Lifesciences has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Pimavanserin capsules and tablets. The company’s new medication is intended to treat certain conditions and has passed regulatory requirements. Additionally, the company uses cookies for various purposes such as analytics and advertising. By continuing to use their site, users are…
General Catalyst launched a new company named Health Assurance Transformation Corporation in October. The company aims to advise health systems on technology deployment, develop an interoperability model, and acquire and operate a health system to demonstrate digital transformation. HATCo signed a letter of intent to acquire Summa Health, a three-hospital health system in Ohio. The…
The European Parliament has approved the European Health Data Space (EHDS) to enable secure and efficient use of health data by researchers, innovators, institutions, and industry. This will accelerate medical product development and treatments. Ireland received €3.6 million in EU funding to establish a health data access body. Safeguards will control data usage. The framework…
A study published in JAMA Network Open suggested that there is no link between the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and pancreatic cancer risk among adults with type 2 diabetes over a period of up to 7 years. The researchers conducted a cohort study on over 500,000 participants and found no significant increase…
General Catalyst’s HATCo plans to purchase Summa Health, a nonprofit healthcare system in Ohio, with an aim to drive long-term transformation and growth. Summa Health reported an operating loss in 2023, but HATCo’s investment is expected to bring near-term benefits and sustainable change through value-based care and innovation. The deal will focus on implementing tech-enabled…
El uso de inteligencia artificial (IA) para analizar mamografías es una tendencia en la práctica clínica de rutina, pero su valor y costo adicional para los pacientes no están claros. Un estudio de RadNet mostró mejoras en la detección de cánceres con el uso de IA, pero su efectividad en EE. UU. aún no está…
Diana V. Do, MD, discussed the balance between efficacy and risk when it comes to geographic atrophy medications at Retina 2024. She emphasized the importance of considering efficacy, safety, cost, and treatment burden when selecting a medication for patients. Two FDA-approved therapies for geographic atrophy, Syfovre and Izervay, were discussed, and it was noted that…
Negotiations to add extra health care policies to the stopgap funding bill fell apart. The provisions included a raise in Medicare pay rates for physicians, funding for community health centers, and some behavioral health policies. Lawmakers were considering attaching new health care spending items to the package, but those talks broke down and they decided…
Peter J Enoch was a dedicated and highly accomplished general practitioner who worked at Littlewick Medical Centre, Ilkeston, for over three decades. He was born in 1934 in Wednesfield and graduated from Newcastle Medical School in 1957. Enoch also served in the Royal Air Force for five years, reaching the rank of Squadron leader. Throughout…
A study explored the use of local vibration in combination with extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to treat plantar fasciitis (PF), a condition characterized by severe heel pain. Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial with 34 participants, splitting them into two groups: one receiving ESWT alone and the other receiving a combination of local vibration…
A study in Nature Medicine focused on the relationship between early-life gut virome, or viruses in the gut, and the development of childhood asthma, independent of bacteria. The gut virome, specifically temperate phage taxa, was found to be associated with preschool asthma risk, along with the host genetics and the bacteriome. The study, conducted with…
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable neurological disease that affects each person differently. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include fatigue, blurry vision, muscle spasms, mood issues, and balance problems. The disease, which is an autoimmune condition, can affect work and home life, social and economic effects may include reduced work hours,…
A study found that 9 in 10 adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are not aware of their diagnosis. Primary care providers should improve screening for CKD since only 40% of those with diabetes and insurance receive appropriate testing. New drugs, such as SGLT2 inhibitors and nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, have considered the benefits of…
Incorporating a belly tightening cream into your skincare routine can transform your appearance and boost confidence. With carefully selected ingredients, these creams address concerns like sagging, stretch marks, and cellulite, promoting elasticity and firmer skin. Enriched with natural ingredients, they tighten, tone, and rejuvenate the delicate skin around the abdomen. The ritual of applying the…
Researchers have developed a smartphone app aimed at preventing falls in older adults. The app uses a combination of balance tests and questionnaires to assess the user’s risk of falling. Based on the results, the app then provides personalized recommendations for exercises and activities to improve balance and reduce the risk of falling. The app…
CPSI sold its subsidiary, American HealthTech, to PointClickCare Technologies. PointClickCare will now take over American HealthTech’s customer base in the post-acute care market. PointClickCare aims to address operational inefficiencies in healthcare and improve care delivery, patient experience, and access to real-time insights. The company’s EHR platform and technology solutions are designed to serve various healthcare…
The author discusses the need for decisive action in Ireland to address the issues of e-cigarettes and smoking. Vaping was initially promoted as an alternative to smoking but has become a concern due to its appeal to children and young adults and potential health risks. The addictive nature of nicotine in e-cigarettes and their role…
Research from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that there is a widespread myth that smoking marijuana is safer than smoking tobacco. The belief that Cannabis smoke is less harmful is not true, and it is important for people to be aware of the potential health risks associated with secondhand cannabis smoke. This…
A mother in North Carolina filed a complaint with the federal government in March 2022 after her second-grade son, who has autism and other conditions, repeatedly punched himself in the face in a seclusion room at Buckhorn Creek Elementary. Documents show that restraint and seclusion were part of her son’s special education plan, and the…
Frederick W. Miller, MD, PhD, reflects on his career in medicine and rheumatology, which began with his father’s diagnosis of melanoma. He pursued a combined MD-PhD program at Case Western Reserve University and completed his medical internship at Emory University and residency at Stanford University. He fell in love with rheumatology during his rotation at…
Due to the pandemic, patients have become more comfortable with obtaining their medications online. Direct-to-consumer telehealth has made it easy to schedule virtual visits and obtain prescriptions quickly, with medications being shipped directly to patients’ doorsteps. Eli Lilly has introduced a platform called LillyDirect that allows patients to access and fill prescriptions for its drugs…
Consultants in England from the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association have turned down the government’s recent pay offer, which would have resulted in a pay rise of up to 12.8% for this year, in addition to a 6% increase in 2023-24. Out of the consultants who voted, 58% rejected the package, with concerns about the…
A study conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London has found that the regular use of nicotine-replacement products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine patches, during pregnancy is not associated with adverse pregnancy events or poor pregnancy outcomes. The study, published in the journal Addiction, analyzed data collected from over 1,100 pregnant smokers attending…
Researchers reviewed recent advancements in migraine therapy, specifically the classification of the disease and clinical and diet intervention advancements aimed at significantly reducing the frequency, pain, and severity of attacks. They found that CGRP receptor antagonists and monoclonal antibodies, along with dietary and physical activity modifications, can substantially increase the number of migraine-free monthly days…
TikTok health tips can be dangerous and unsupported, like using castor oil in the bellybutton or drinking “medical grade” alkaline water. Snacking on raw potatoes, ear candling, eye mucus fishing, and bed rotting are also risky, as are the BORG challenge and borax/baking soda libations. Medical professionals caution against these practices, as they can lead…
Newly released documents show that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared cannabis to have legitimate medical use and advocates for its reclassification from Schedule I to Schedule III on controlled substances list. The 252-page report was sent to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in August 2023, after being leaked to news…
Caring for a patient at home requires a good hospital bed for comfort and efficiency. Factors to consider when choosing a bed include the patient’s mobility, need to transfer to other equipment, available room space, and aesthetic appeal. Some recommended hospital beds for home use are the Point A Premium 3 Function Full Electric Hospital…
A study has found a causal link between skipping breakfast and weight gain as well as higher levels of LDL cholesterol. The research suggests that skipping breakfast can lead to increased hunger and overeating later in the day, contributing to weight gain. Additionally, those who skip breakfast tend to have higher levels of LDL cholesterol,…
Social media can negatively affect the mental health of children and teens. At CES 2024, Google’s Megan Jones Bell discussed five ways they are protecting child mental health on YouTube. This includes implementing break and bedtime reminders, limiting recommendations of harmful content, updating crisis resource panels, partnering with the World Health Organization to define mental…
More than 100,000 people were removed from hospital waiting lists last year without receiving treatment, according to data analysis by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA). The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) validation process was responsible for the removals, which involved hospital administration contacting patients on waiting lists to ensure they still required treatment. The…
Holly Maloney, managing director at General Catalyst, emphasizes the need for digital health stakeholders to focus on improving care access, outcomes, cost, and workforce retention. She discusses the potential for AI to assist with the administrative burden in healthcare and drive truly personalized solutions. Maloney also anticipates continued healthy funding at early stages in 2024,…
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Researchers found that almost one in five patients diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) using the 2020 definition would not be diagnosed using the updated 2023 definition. The syndrome is associated with SARS-CoV-2 and usually occurs 2 to 6 weeks after a child is infected. The new definition no longer requires the presence…
The FDA approved a CRISPR-based therapy for beta thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder. The treatment, called Casgevy and developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, was expected to be approved and was ahead of the FDA’s deadline. This approval expands the use of the same therapy that was approved for sickle cell disease in December….
A study conducted in the United Kingdom revealed that over 7000 cases of hospital admission or death due to Covid-19 could have been avoided during a single wave of the pandemic if everyone had received the recommended number of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination doses. Researchers used individual level health data to analyze undervaccination across the UK and…
The research at the Leibniz Institute has shown that human killer T cells, as well as destroying damaged or infected cells, can support tissue regeneration via the secretion of growth factors and immune messengers. This effect can also promote tumor growth. The results indicate a potential to promote wound closure and tissue functionality restoration, but…
Study found that a significant percentage of the UK population was not vaccinated or boosted against COVID-19 by summer 2022, leading to thousands of hospitalizations and deaths that could have been prevented with better vaccine coverage. The research, published in The Lancet, analyzed anonymized health data and found that one third to half of the…
Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of stage 3-4a cervical cancer in combination with chemoradiation therapy. This marks the 40th indication for the drug, which has been used to treat 19 different types of cancer. The approval was based on a trial showing that patients receiving pembrolizumab…
A new study has found that people who use the drug phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) for erectile dysfunction along with nitrates, a medication for chest pain, are at higher risk of early death. Erectile dysfunction is a common condition in middle-aged and older men due to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other factors. The study evaluated…
The use of suction drains in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is linked to higher blood loss and the need for transfusions. This finding suggests that the use of suction drains may not provide significant benefits in TKA procedures and may actually pose potential risks. It is important for medical professionals to consider the implications…
The No Surprises Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act have led to significant operational and transparency changes for payers. Provider network operations are now under pressure due to regulations, labor challenges, and inaccuracies in databases, affecting patient access to care and satisfaction levels. Health plans are rethinking their provider network operations and seeking management tools to…
More than 1,500 Irish consultants, representing 35% of the consultant workforce, have signed the new public-only Sláintecare contract. This includes 306 new consultants and 1,242 who switched from previous contracts. The top three specialties choosing the new contract are general medicine, anaesthetics, and surgery. This contract means consultants will only treat public patients in public…
Donald Trump has promised to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, even though his administration failed to pass a replacement plan in 2017. Despite never presenting his own Obamacare replacement, Trump’s administration accomplished some health care policy changes that remain in place today. His administration’s “Operation Warp Speed” also created a covid-19 vaccine in…
Nick Ruth, MBA, of Sydnexis, provides an update on SYD-101, a treatment for progressive myopia in pediatric patients, at Hawaiian Eye 2024. The company plans to release data for the eye drop in the second quarter of 2024. Ruth also discusses the involvement of big technology companies in pediatric myopia treatment and the positive direction…
Share your new hires, promotions, and other changes with us and we’ll help spread the news. This week, ROME Therapeutics hired Heike Keilhack as their new chief scientific officer. Prior to this, she held the same position at Ribon Therapeutics. Don’t forget to take some time for fun too! For the full story, visit STAT+….
In a piece for an election year, Michael Marmot, director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity, writes about the importance of hope and taking action to create a fairer, healthier society. He stresses the need for politicians to inspire hope by addressing the growing health inequalities and improving the population’s health. Marmot emphasizes that…
A new study indicates that cannabis does not have a significant effect on the treatment of opioid addiction among individuals receiving treatment for opioid use disorder. The study suggests that cannabis does not hinder or help the treatment of opioid use disorder. It challenges the requirement in some U.S. treatment programs that patients need to…
Parenting a child with any health condition is challenging, but it’s important for parents to also prioritize their own well-being. Tips for taking care of yourself while caring for a child with central precocious puberty (CPP) include allowing yourself time to process the diagnosis, leaning on your doctor for information, acknowledging and processing your emotions…
A recent study observed that variations in free T3 levels are associated with socioeconomic factors, aging, and mortality in adults with normal thyroid function. TSH and T4 are typically used to assess thyroid function, but the study suggests that directly measuring T3 is important for better stratifying the effects of variations in the HPT-axis. The…