Daydreaming in class is normal for many students, but when Jasmine Banovic spaces out in class, it’s the sign of a serious health condition. Banovic, now 21, was actually having a type of epileptic seizure that’s known as “absence seizures.” Graphic Designer Hides Seizures Under the Guise of ‘Daydreaming’ For five years, the graphic designer from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire kept her seizures a secret from everyone but her family, best friend, and...
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Cimzia injection approved for new inflammatory arthritis indication
(HealthDay)—Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) injection has been approved to treat adults with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with objective signs of inflammation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced. The injection is the first treatment approved for nr-axSpA. Approval was based on data from a randomized clinical trial of 317 adult patients with nr-axSpA and objective signs of inflammation as indicated by magnetic resonance imaging showing elevated C-reactive protein levels...
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Contraceptive Jewelry from Georgia Tech
MATERIALS, OB/GYN, REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE Contraceptives are very effective, as long as they’re administered on a tight schedule. All too often many women forget or ignore to take the pill, leading to unwanted surprises. Researchers at Georgia Tech, taking into account today’s fashion of wearing unusual jewelry, have developed an earring, necklace, ring, and a wrist watch, each integrating...
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Cystic fibrosis: Existing drug may improve lung function
By Monica Beyer Fact checked by Paula Field Researchers say a drug that is already available on the market can help those affected by cysticfibrosis. Amphotericin, which is an antifungal medication, might help people with cystic fibrosis fight the chronic bacterial lunginfections that tend to occur with this disease, according to a recent study. “The really exciting news is that amphotericin is a...
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Knee osteoarthritis: A low-carb diet may relieve symptoms
By Ana Sandoiu Fact checked by Gianna D’Emilio A randomized controlled study finds that a diet low in carbs can relieve pain for people who have knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most widespread form of arthritis among older adults in the United States. Knee osteoarthritis, in particular, affects about 10 percent of men and 13 percent of women ages 60...
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Immunotherapy combination effective for patients with rare neuroendocrine cancer
A combination of two common immunotherapy drugs shrinks rare, aggressive neuroendocrine tumors, according to new research results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019, held March 29-April 3 in Atlanta. Results from the SWOG Cancer Research Network trial known as DART, short for Dual Anti-CTLA-4 and Anti-PD-1 Blockade in Rare Tumors, show a significant clinical benefit for patients with high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma, a cancer of the neuroendocrine cells that often forms tumors...
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Questions remain about safety of Parkinson disease psychosis drug
(HealthDay)—There are many unanswered questions about the safety and effectiveness of a drug used to combat hallucinations and delusions in Parkinson disease patients, says a report from a drug safety group. The nonprofit Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) called for Nuplazid to have stronger warnings on its label for patients and their families, CNNreported. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration deemed the drug a “breakthrough” medication and gave it an expedited...
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UC San Diego Health treats first cancer patient with stem-cell derived natural killer cells
After 10 years in remission, Derek Ruff’s cancer returned, this time as stage IV colon cancer. Despite aggressive rounds of chemotherapy, palliative radiotherapy and immunotherapy, his disease progressed. In February 2019, as part of a phase I clinical trial at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, Ruff became the first patient in the world to be treated for cancer with a human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapy called FT500. “This is...
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FDA approves mavenclad for treating multiple sclerosis
(HealthDay)—Mavenclad (cladribine) tablets were approved to treat adult patients with relapsing-remitting and active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) who have inadequately responded to or cannot tolerate an alternate drug for MS, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday. The approval was based on efficacy data from a clinical trial of 1,326 patients with relapsing forms of MS who...
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Three easy measures to predict metabolic syndrome in elderly
MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC./GENETIC ENGINEERING NEWS New Rochelle, NY, April 2, 2019–A new study found a surprisingly high rate of metabolic syndrome among individuals aged 60-100 years. Three easy-to-measure anthropometric indicators were predictive of metabolic syndrome in both men and women and could be useful for indicating the need for preventive care and further testing,...