Study adds evidence that cancer stem cells drive adenocarcinoma; suggests new strategy that makes tumor cells less “stem-like” BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Epigenetic therapies — targeting enzymes that alter what genes are turned on or off in a cell — are of growing interest in the cancer field as a way of making a cancer less...
Year: <span>2018</span>
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Blocking a protein to prevent injuries caused by radiation therapy
It is possible to prevent certain injuries that can occur in radiation therapy against cancer. By blocking the activity of a plasma protein during and immediately after radiation, the patient can be protected against injury. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis at Umeå University, Sweden. “Injury in radiation therapy can be painful and...
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New immunotherapy improves MS symptoms
A world-first clinical trial of a new cellular immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) has improved symptoms and quality of life for the majority of patients. The treatment targets the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and is based on a theory formulated by University of Queensland and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) researcher Professor Michael Pender. This...
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Self-management program for patients with COPD boosts quality of life, cuts re-hospitalization
Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that a program designed to enhance self-care and lead to more seamless management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults successfully reduced rates of emergency room visits and hospitalization, and the burdensome symptoms and limitations caused by the condition. Micrograph showing emphysema (left – large empty spaces) and lung...
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Insulin shortage could affect 40 million people with type 2 diabetes
About 40 million people who will need insulin to manage their type 2 diabetes in 12 years’ time will not get it unless access to the drug is significantly improved, according to new research. Diagnoses of type 2 diabetes are soaring worldwide, linked to the obesity epidemic. Not all of those diagnosed will need insulin,...
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Immunotherapy side effects may be more common than thought
Elizabeth Jane Cathcart-Rake, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues used administrative claims data from a large U.S. commercial insurance database (OptumLabs Data Warehouse) to retrospectively identify patients with NSCLC who received programmed cell death 1 or programmed death ligand 1 inhibitors from 2015 through 2017. The frequencies of immune-related adverse events...
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NPs and PAs can effectively manage diabetes in primary care
George L. Jackson, Ph.D., from the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System in North Carolina, and colleagues used data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for 368,481 adult patients with diabetes treated pharmaceutically at 568 VA primary care facilities. (HealthDay)—Diabetes outcomes do not differ for patients treated with a primary care provider who...
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Anabolic steroids linked to higher rates of premature death in men
Men who use androgenic anabolic steroids–such as testosterone–may face a higher risk of early death and of experiencing more hospital admissions, according to a new Journal of Internal Medicine study. For the study, 545 men who used androgenic anabolic steroids were matched with 5,450 controls. In addition, 644 men who were sanctioned because they refused...
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Backpack Health’s App for People with Rare Diseases in Developing Countries: Interview with CEO
Backpack Health, a health-tech company based in Boston, has partnered with two organizations specializing in rare diseases, Care Beyond Diagnosis and FYMCA Medical, to bring their mobile and cloud-based health management application to patients with rare diseases living in low-income countries. Rare diseases can be significantly challenging for affected patients, with mountains of paperwork required to keep track of...
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Computer-brain link helps ‘locked in’ people chat, surf web
These are activities taken for granted by most, but denied to paralyzed people who’ve lost the use of their arms and hands. Now, thanks to a brain implant, a small group of paralyzed patients can directly operate an off-the-shelf tablet device just by thinking about it. BrainGate trial participant plays Beethoven on digital piano. Credit:...