Researchers found that cytomegalovirus (CMV) can speed the progression of glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer, when particular genes are shut off. CMV was found to stimulate tumor-cell proliferation by activating a biochemical cell pathway called STAT3.
Researchers have discovered that genetically engineered immune cells can promote healing in mice infected with a neurological disease similar to multiple sclerosis. The new finding suggests that immune cells could be engineered to create a new treatment for people with MS.
The American Thoracic Society has released new clinical practice guidelines on sleep apnea, sleepiness, and driving risk for non-commercial drivers. The guidelines recommend assessing daytime sleepiness and recent crashes or near-misses due to sleepiness, fatigue, or inattention.
Resuscitation efforts should be guided by expert advice, taking into account scenarios where CPR may not be beneficial. Key considerations include witness status, time elapsed since cardiac arrest, patient wishes expressed through living wills or proxies, and potential risks to medical personnel.
Researchers found that the experimental drug selumetinib significantly improved progression-free survival, with nearly 16 weeks of PFS, and showed significant tumor shrinkage in patients with advanced uveal melanoma. This breakthrough offers a new treatment option for a historically untreatable disease.
Researchers found that crizotinib boosts median disease progression time to 7.7 months, compared to 3 months with standard chemotherapy, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer harboring an abnormal ALK gene.
Mount Sinai researchers identified genetic markers for survival in melanoma patients and found high readmission rates after cancer surgery in non-teaching hospitals and among black patients. They also discovered low prevalence of spousal HPV infection, reassuring long-term partners that their risk is very low.
Two MGH-led studies show crizotinib is superior to chemotherapy for advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer, with over double the progression-free survival. A second study reports the first crizotinib resistance in a ROS1-positive lung tumor, revealing the mechanism underlying that resistance.
The American Thoracic Society has released new clinical practice guidelines on sleep apnea and driving risk, highlighting the significant role of obstructive sleep apnea in daytime sleepiness and crashes. The guidelines recommend assessing patients for sleepy driving and providing treatment to reduce the risk of accidents.
In the UK, healthcare staff cannot test unconscious patients for HIV without consent, despite the risk of infection and potential psychological impact. Experts argue that changing the law would protect both patients and healthcare workers.
A new osteoporosis treatment has shown promise in improving bone density in young people with cystic fibrosis, who often struggle with low bone mass despite standard treatments. The drug, bisphosphonates, has been found to significantly increase bone mineral density and reduce the risk of fractures in these patients.
A study led by Johns Hopkins investigators found that long-term couples need not change their sexual practices due to low oral HPV infections among spouses/partners. Persistent oral HPV infections are a risk for developing oropharyngeal cancers, but the study suggests these risks remain low.