Quest Diagnostics and Google’s Fitbit are partnering on a study called Wearables for Metabolic Health (WEAR-ME) to examine how wearable technology can improve metabolic health. The study will combine Fitbit’s data with health information from Quest Diagnostics’ lab tests to assess metabolic health and potentially prevent disease. Metabolic health is measured by five markers, and…
The Biden administration announced a final rule changing how insurers in federal programs like Medicare Advantage use prior authorization, which has long prevented many patients from accessing doctor-recommended care. The rule will require some insurers to adopt an electronic process for prior authorization and respond to requests within specified time frames. However, it only applies…
A study published in Neurology found that in a cohort of 1,412 older adults with stroke, there was no significant difference in readmission risk for different stroke subtypes. The study followed up participants for all-cause readmission after their initial stroke and found that the risk of readmission was high for all subtypes in the short…
The traditional approach of selling digital therapeutics as prescription drugs has proven to be unsuccessful, as demonstrated by the bankruptcy of Pear Therapeutics. Despite receiving FDA clearance for its app treating substance use disorders and insomnia, Pear Therapeutics struggled to get insurers to cover their treatments. Sticking to their original plan ultimately cost the company…
The annual cost of using agency and bank staff to provide healthcare in the NHS across the UK has risen to over £10 billion, according to a report by LaingBuisson. The agency healthcare staffing market value was £5.1 billion in 2022-23, with most of the spending (£4.6 billion) on hospital staff and £500 million on…
MIT neuroscientists have found distinct patterns of electrical activity across different brain layers. In the deeper layers, neurons dominate slower oscillations called alpha and beta waves, and in the topmost layers, they are dominated by rapid oscillations known as gamma waves. This pattern is consistent across many different brain regions and several animal species, including…
Despite the end of declared health emergencies regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, 20,000 people in the United States and countless others overseas have died from the virus since October. The pandemic is still ongoing, and while vaccines and treatments have helped reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths, the virus is still surging. Influenza and respiratory…
Carolyn Glaviano was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) on her birthday after experiencing eye pain. Her friend Cassie provided support by bringing her food and staying with her in the hospital. Carolyn also relied on her friend and roommate Sarah for support during medical appointments and procedures. She discussed how her diagnosis impacted her friendships,…
Cyclosporine is the gold standard for treating atopic dermatitis in adults requiring systemic treatment, but there are numerous other molecules being explored. Dupilumab, tralokinumab, Janus kinase inhibitors, and other molecules have shown promise for treating atopic dermatitis in both adults and children. Lebrikizumab, nemolizumab, rocatinlimab, amlitelimab, temtokibart, and tapinarof are among the other drugs being…
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…
