Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries, including concussions. Dr. Sam Bureau of the Concussion Legacy Foundation emphasizes that CTE can be prevented by reducing exposure to brain trauma, especially in youth sports. Research is ongoing to develop diagnostic tests and treatment options for CTE. The longer a career…
California has recently passed a law allowing trained physician assistants to perform first-trimester abortions without a supervising physician present. This move is seen as a way to expand access to abortion care, especially in rural areas where access is limited. The American Medical Association has historically opposed such expansions in scope of practice, but the…
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that starting urate-lowering therapy (ULT) during a gout flare does not impact the severity, duration, or risk of recurrence over the following month. The study included six randomized controlled trials with a total of 455 participants. Results showed no differences in pain scores, time to resolution of the flare,…
The lack of health data on LGBTQ+ people has significant consequences, as evidenced by struggles to receive appropriate care for conditions more prevalent in transgender women. Social and structural stigma contribute to disparities in healthcare access, insurance coverage, risk factors, and mental health challenges within the LGBTQ+ community. Calls for increased collection of LGBTQ+ health…
A recent survey conducted by the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians found that 55% of consultants have noticed an increase in patients with ill health related to social and economic factors in the past three months. The annual census also revealed that 24% of doctors report that a majority of their workload is…
The NCI-MATCH clinical trial published in Clinical Cancer Research found that the drug combination trastuzumab-pertuzumab, approved for HER2-positive breast cancer, shrank tumors in patients with other cancers with high levels of the HER2 gene. NCI-MATCH is one of the largest precision oncology trials globally, offering potential treatment options for patients with advanced HER2-amplified cancers. While…
A study from Texas A&M University found that only 9% of older Americans were vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) despite the threat of increased hospitalization and deaths from the virus. RSV, along with COVID-19 and influenza, forms a ‘tripledemic’ in the US. The study, published in Health Affairs Scholar, surveyed seniors over 60 and…
Pompe disease is a rare disorder that can often take years to diagnose due to its similarity to other conditions and its rarity. Newborn screenings are making it easier to diagnose babies with the disease, allowing for immediate treatment to start. Symptoms of Pompe disease can show up at any age, from infancy to adulthood,…
A longitudinal study involving 436 patients with chronic GVHD found that patients with sclerotic and combination disease had worse symptoms and quality-of-life impairment compared to those with epidermal disease. The study used two validated patient-reported outcome tools to measure these factors. PROs were also found to predict non-relapse mortality for all three disease subtypes, indicating…
A new study has found a causal connection between air pollution and suicide rates, particularly affecting elderly women. Researchers from India and the U.S. found that China’s efforts to reduce air pollution have prevented 46,000 suicide deaths over five years. The study suggests that environmental factors, such as air pollution, can have a significant impact…
