There are an estimated 15 million people in the United States with active cancer. “We are seeing patients with active cancer every single day in our emergency department and most cancer centers with attached emergency departments are experiencing the exact same thing,” says David Adler of the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is a...
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Three-drug combo improves lung function in most common genetic form of cystic fibrosis
DALLAS – Oct. 31, 2019 – A phase three clinical trial that UT Southwestern participated in determined that a three-drug combination improved lung function and reduced symptoms in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who have a single copy of the most common genetic mutation for the disease. Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration approved...
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Survey reveals the hidden costs of care cascades
Almost all physician reported seeing incidental findings set off a cascade of care for a patient, many of which did not lead to clinically meaningful outcomes yet caused harm to patients and their physicians Just about any medical test can turn up an incidental finding that leads to a cascade of follow-up tests. For instance,...
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Compression garments can ease lymphedema. Covering costs? Not so easy
by Carmen Heredia Rodriguez Every morning, Britta Vander Linden dons compression stockings, a cumbersome process she calls “putting on my legs.” She relies on the garments to stand and walk without intense leg pain and swelling. That’s because Vander Linden, 44, was born with lymphedema. The condition affects the lymphatic system, a network of lymph...
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Association Between Levothyroxine Treatment and Thyroid-Related Symptoms Among Adults Aged 80 Years and Older With Subclinical Hypothyroidism
Simon P. Mooijaart, MD, PhD1,2; Robert S. Du Puy, MD3; David J. Stott, MD4; et alPa Author Affiliations Article InformationJAMA. Published online October 30, 2019. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.17274 Key PointsQuestion Among adults aged 80 years and older with subclinical hypothyroidism, what is the association between treatment with levothyroxine and thyroid-related symptoms? Findings In this pooled analysis of...
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Potential genetic markers of multiple sclerosis severity
JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE In a bid to determine factors linked to the most debilitating forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have identified three so-called “complement system” genes that appear to play a role in MS-caused vision loss. The researchers were able to single out these genes — known to be...
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Some 15,000 Spaniards may be unaware they are suffering from the rare bone disease hypophosphatasia
by University of Granada Scientists from the research group CIBERFES and the University of Granada (UGR) have implemented a protocol for effectively detecting hypophosphatasia and have discovered two new genetic mutations associated with this disease, which is often confused with other bone ailments. Extrapolating the data from their study, published in Scientific Reports, they estimate that between...
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Measles infection wipes our immune system’s memory leaving us vulnerable to other diseases
by Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Scientists have shown how measles causes long-term damage to the immune system, leaving people vulnerable to other infections. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of Amsterdam and their collaborators revealed that the measles virus deletes part of the immune system’s memory, removing previously existing immunity to other infections, in...
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High levels of two hormones in the blood raise prostate cancer risk
by National Cancer Research Institute Men with higher levels of ‘free’ testosterone and a growth hormone in their blood are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to research presented at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference. Other factors such as older age, ethnicity and a family history of the disease are already known...
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Acute kidney injury often seen with checkpoint inhibitor use
Harish Seethapathy, M.B.B.S., from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues examined the frequency, severity, etiology, and predictors of AKI among patients receiving checkpoint inhibitor therapy from May 2011 to December 2016. Data were included for 1,016 patients (average age, 63 years). The researchers found that overall, 17 percent of patients receiving checkpoint inhibitor therapy...