Researchers compared facility fees for three common colonoscopy procedures at hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. They found that the fees were approximately 55% higher at hospitals compared to ambulatory surgery centers. The study, published in JAMA Health Forum, used data from four major insurers and included 13,287 in-network fees from hospitals and 17,052 fees from…
The Texas Medicaid program has agreed to cover costs for doctors to assess 4-month-old infertility patient Sufyan Pashai in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sufyan’s older brother has metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a gene mutation, and Sufyan is a candidate for treatment to prevent the disease from manifesting. This gene therapy called Libmeldy is…
A clinical editor discusses the potential fallacy of relying on easily measured data from wearable technology to inform mental health care, emphasizing the importance of considering the impact on patients. A study on lung cancer screening raises concerns about the high rate of complications found in those who undergo invasive tests after a positive screening…
Cedar-Sinai investigators have developed a way to use electronic health records to identify hospitalized patients with dementia. The method, outlined in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, is designed to help care teams provide tailored and targeted interventions for patients with dementia. An algorithm searches for dementia diagnoses and appropriate prescriptions in patients’ health…
Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have identified a promising new pharmaceutical compound called thiophene F-8 that successfully kills leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells. This could lead to new forms of therapy. Aguilera’s lab screened 1,300 different compounds and found thiophene F-8 successful in inducing cell death in leukemia and lymphoma cells….
The content discusses how isometric exercises have been found to be especially effective in lowering blood pressure. Isometric exercises involve holding a position to flex muscles, which constricts blood vessels leading to a buildup of metabolites and a release of nitric oxide, causing blood vessels to dilate. Research has shown that isometric exercises such as…
The FDA has not found any evidence linking glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications used for type 2 diabetes and obesity to suicidal thoughts or actions. This determination was made after reviewing clinical trial data and reports to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. While the agency cannot definitively rule out a small…
A recent study found that a person consumes around 240,000 tiny plastic particles from one liter of bottled water, raising concerns about the potential health impacts of micro-nano plastics. Researchers developed a new imaging technique to estimate the quantity of microplastics in bottled water and found significantly higher levels than previously reported. The study also…
Olanzapine and samidorphan combination has been found to be effective for the long-term treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This medication has shown promising results in managing the symptoms of these mental health conditions. In addition, cookies are used on the website for analytics, advertising, and to improve the site. By continuing to use the…
The FDA has found no evidence that GLP-1 drugs used for diabetes and weight loss cause suicidal thoughts or actions. Reports in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System prompted the review, but the agency determined that the reports did not demonstrate a clear relationship with GLP-1 drugs. However, the agency will continue to look into…
