A team of researchers led by the University of California San Diego has identified a genetic pathway that causes some individuals to develop an abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, after experiencing a heart attack. They have also identified a drug candidate that can block this pathway. The team reported their findings in a study published […]
Health insurance on demand? Some are betting on it
A startup is trying to shake up health insurance by letting customers buy some of their coverage only when they need it. Bind Benefits has designed insurance that gives patients coverage for most medical needs and then has them buy additional protection for planned procedures like knee surgery. Bind also pushes patients to think more […]
Drug treatment could offer new hope for some patients with brain bleeding
A drug treatment, already approved for use in patients, could offer new hope for some patients with brain bleeding and strokes. New research, led by the University of Glasgow and published today in Human Molecular Genetics, has shown that the compound sodium phenyl butyric acid could be used to reduce brain bleeding which can cause […]
Some research may be encouraging ineffective prescriptions, says new study
A new paper published by McGill University researchers in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that some clinical trials may promote the use of ineffective and costly treatments. That’s the opposite of what clinical trials are aimed at, namely preventing ineffective and costly treatments from being taken up by physicians and patients. The researchers focused their attention […]
Questions about the romaine warning? Here are some answers
Avoid all romaine lettuce, but don’t worry about your turkey. With two food poisoning outbreaks making headlines before Thanksgiving, the messages about what’s safe to eat can be hard to keep straight. Here’s what you should know before you sit down for dinner. WHAT LETTUCE OUTBREAK? On Tuesday, U.S. health officials issued an unusually broad […]
Immunotherapy may become new first line treatment in some metastatic colorectal cancers
Immunotherapy with nivolumab and low-dose ipilimumab could become a new first line treatment in patients with some metastatic colorectal cancers following late-breaking results from the CheckMate-142 trial reported at the ESMO 2018 Congress in Munich. The drug combination shrank tumours and had beneficial effects on survival in patients with microsatellite instabiliy (MSI)-high metastatic colorectal cancer. […]
Emotions: how humans regulate them and why some people can’t
Consider the following scenario: You are nearing the end of a busy day at work, when a comment from your boss diminishes what’s left of your dwindling patience. You turn, red-faced, towards the source of your indignation. It is then that you stop, reflect, and choose not to voice your displeasure. After all, the shift […]
Some Clinicians, Patients Record Clinic Visits for Patient Use
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 — A considerable proportion of clinicians and patients report having recorded a clinic visit for the patient’s personal use, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Paul J. Barr, Ph.D., from Dartmouth College in Lebanon, N.H., and colleagues administered two parallel cross-sectional […]
A potential new way to treat some of the most common blinding diseases
Many eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, exhibit increased permeability of blood vessels in the macular (central) portion of the retina leading to abnormal fluid accumulation and vision loss. Therapies targeting a specific cytokine, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have transformed clinical care; however, not all patients respond well. A new report in […]
Researchers find answers as to why some people are at risk of gout
University of Otago researchers have helped characterise a genetic variant that enables new understanding of why some people are at risk of gout, a painful and debilitating arthritic disease. Gout is caused by persistently elevated levels of urate in the blood, which causes severe joint pain and swelling, especially in peoples’ toes, knees, elbows, wrists […]