(HealthDay)—For patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) levels and established cardiovascular disease, hepatocyte-directed antisense oligonucleotide AKCEA-APO(a)-LRX (APO(a)-LRX) reduces lipoprotein(a) levels, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Sotirios Tsimikas, M.D., from the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center at the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,...
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Coffee consumption does not affect insulin sensitivity
(HealthDay)—Consumption of four cups of coffee daily does not impact insulin sensitivity, according to a study published online Dec. 31 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Derrick Johnston Alperet, from the National University of Singapore, and colleagues conducted a 24-week trial involving 126 overweight, non-insulin-sensitive adults aged 35 to 69 years. Participants were randomly assigned...
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New classification system for tumors can guide diagnosis and treatment options for cancer
CENTER FOR GENOMIC REGULATION Based on the largest study of cancer patients of its kind, scientists have created a new way of classifying tumours. Clinicians can use genome sequencing to assign their patients’ tumours to one of sixteen groups in the new classification system, ten of which provide important information for the diagnosis and treatment...
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Combining 2 rapid tests for the accurate diagnosis of Chagas disease in the field
This strategy would facilitate the diagnosis of chronically infected individuals in endemic regions with poorly equipped laboratories BARCELONA INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH (ISGLOBAL) The combined use of two commercially available rapid diagnostic tests is effective for accurately diagnosing chronic Chagas disease in the field, according to a study funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)...
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Waning treatment for immune deficiency is a warning for all ‘one-and-done’ therapies
MEDGADGET EDITORSANESTHESIOLOGY, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, MEDICINE, PEDIATRICS Seventh Sense Biosystems, a company based outside of Boston, MA, won FDA clearance for its TAP device to be used by laypersons to collect blood. Moreover, the device is now cleared to be used at home by individuals for “wellness testing,” according to the company. “We’re very excited about...
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Waning treatment for immune deficiency is a warning for all ‘one-and-done’ therapies
By ERIC BOODMAN As a new mother, she didn’t know to look for blue-tinged lips. She could just tell her baby’s color was off. On a chest X-ray, the clean, white-against-dark curves of his ribs were obscured, clouded by fluid. Pneumonia. That tipped Ray Ballard’s physicians off: He had a form of severe combined immunodeficiency...
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FDA Warns of ‘Serious’ Respiratory Problems With Gabapentin
Megan Brooks Life-threatening breathing difficulties can occur in patients who use gabapentin or pregabalin with opioids or other drugs that depress the central nervous system, as well as those with underlying respiratory impairment and the elderly, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned in a drug safety communication issued today. “Reports of gabapentinoid abuse...
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FDA OKs Crizanlizumab, First Targeted Therapy for Sickle Cell Crisis
Megan Brooks The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved crizanlizumab (Adakveo, Novartis) to reduce the frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis in patients aged 16 years or older with sickle cell disease. “Vaso-occlusive crisis can be extremely painful and is a frequent reason for emergency department visits and hospitalization for patients with sickle cell disease,”...
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FDA warns of breathing risks with popular nerve drugs
by Matthew Perrone U.S. health regulators are warning that popular nervous system medications can cause dangerous breathing problems when combined with opioids and certain other drugs. The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it would add new warnings to packaging for Neurontin, Lyrica and generic versions, which are used to treat seizures, nerve pain, restless...
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What is Superman Syndrome?
By Hidaya Aliouche, B.Sc .Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH Superman syndrome, also known as 47, XYY, is a condition classified as a chromosomal aneuploidy (which is an abnormality in chromosome structure and/or number) in which males have an additional Y chromosome. The normal male sex chromosomes are XY; in the case of Superman syndrome,...