A new study reveals traditional Medicare spends significantly more on post-hospital care for people in their 60s than private insurance, despite similar clinical outcomes. The additional spending could be reduced by changing the payment structure to bring it closer to that used by private insurance.
A new study reveals that young people aged 14-24 overwhelmingly support the right of transgender individuals to use the bathroom they feel most comfortable in. Contrary to current policies in many schools, youth respondents believe bathroom use is a personal and private decision, and a matter of equality, freedom, and human rights. Thi...
A new study found that people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who have a heart attack are less likely to receive evidence-based treatment. Despite this, researchers emphasize that MCI does not necessarily mean reduced benefit from treatment and that patients should still receive care when indicated.
Research from Michigan Medicine identified anxiety as a key factor linked to more opioid use after surgery. The study also found younger age, non-white race, and sleep disturbance to be associated with increased opioid consumption. Clinicians may target these factors to personalize pain management and reduce opioid misuse.
A recent study published in Pain Medicine found that self-administered acupressure can improve symptoms of chronic low back pain. Researchers compared three groups: relaxing acupressure, stimulating acupressure, and usual care, with the acupressure groups experiencing pain and fatigue improvement after six weeks.
A phase 1 clinical trial found that combining AZD1775, a Wee1 inhibitor, with radiation and gemcitabine resulted in better-than-expected overall survival in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The median overall survival was 22 months, surpassing previous results for the same treatment combination.
A Michigan-wide effort to reduce opioid prescribing for common surgeries resulted in a nearly 30% decrease in prescription size, without affecting patient pain or satisfaction. The study's success suggests an opportunity for other states to build on Michigan's experience and further reductions in prescription size.
A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine highlights the need for increased awareness of mental health disorders among adults with cerebral palsy. The research team found that adults with cerebral palsy have a higher age-standardized prevalence of mental health disorders compared to those without the condition.
A review of 33 years' worth of medical studies reveals key areas for new research to explore. The study found that only a few hundred studies have been published on the topic, many with methodological flaws. Experts recommend more research on larger samples, school- and family-level risk factors, and protective factors.
A recent study of over 308,000 women who gave birth from 2008 to 2016 found that nearly half received opioid prescriptions as part of their birth experience, with one in every hundred still filling them a year later. The percentage of women filling opioid prescriptions declined over time, suggesting growing awareness of the national op...
A new study found that having an intensive care unit within the emergency department improved care and survival rates for all emergency department patients. The study, which examined Michigan Medicine's own EC3 unit, observed a decrease in mortality rates and ICU admissions among emergency department patients.
A new position statement suggests resistance training is crucial for improving the health and longevity of older adults. It provides evidence-based recommendations for successful resistance training programs, highlighting practical applications and functional benefits.
A new study identifies an enzyme critical for normal wound healing in diabetes, suggesting a potential treatment with allopurinol. In diabetic mice, blocking uric acid production improved healing rates.
A survey of early career oncologists found that women are less likely to attend scientific meetings due to family obligations. Onsite childcare is essential to promote work-life integration and increase female participation.
Researchers developed electrocardiomatrix technology that outperforms standard cardiac telemetry in detecting atrial fibrillation after a stroke. The technology converts ECG signals into a three-dimensional heatmap for rapid inspection of all collected heartbeats, minimizing false positives and negatives.
A study found that 40% of primary care clinics refuse new patients taking opioid painkillers, reducing access to needed care. Larger clinics and those offering safety-net coverage were more likely to accept these patients.
A new study from Michigan Medicine found that nearly 12% of patients with acute ankle sprain injuries filled an opioid prescription within seven days of diagnosis. Additionally, 8.4% of individuals who had not previously taken opioids were prescribed them three months after the original diagnosis.
A new study found that nearly two-thirds of pneumonia patients in Michigan hospitals received excessive antibiotic prescriptions, with most written during the discharge process. This over-treatment can lead to physical side effects and does not improve patient outcomes.
A new study by Michigan Medicine researchers found that hospital readmission rates for hip and knee replacement patients have slowed to nearly half their previous rate despite expanded penalties. The study suggests that the program may have hit its 'floor' and raises questions about the power of expanding it.
A new poll suggests that many grandparents are storing their medications in easy-to-reach places, posing a risk of accidental poisoning or intentional misuse. The poll found that nearly 80% of grandparents keep their medications in the same place as usual when their grandchildren visit, and 72% store them in purses or bags.
A review of 117 efforts to reduce low-value care found that most measured only the reduction of test and treatment use, while few assessed intended patient benefits or unintended consequences. Only half of ongoing studies aim to measure patient-reported outcomes, highlighting a need for more comprehensive evaluation.
A Michigan Medicine study found that white women and those with higher education levels are more likely to seek fertility treatment than other groups. Nearly 12.5% of women reported experiencing infertility, but only 33% of those with lower education levels sought care.
A new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine highlights the potential for emergency departments to reduce low-value imaging tests and associated costs. By analyzing data from a statewide quality network, researchers estimate that implementing benchmark standards could avoid $3.8 million in annual spending on unnecessary care.
A study led by Michigan Medicine has revealed the presence of naturally occurring DMT in mammalian brains, sparking interest in its role within human brains. The discovery was made possible by detecting DMT in brain neurons using techniques such as in situ hybridization.
The study identified three ways in which the FOXA1 gene mutates to trigger prostate cancer: FAST, FURIOUS, and LOUD. Class 1 mutations cause rapid DNA traversal, class 2 mutations prevent normal FOXA1 from binding, and class 3 mutations create duplications of oncogenes. These alterations have different clinical implications for patients.
Researchers found that levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in the blood contribute to stroke risk in diabetic patients. The study discovered a strong association between NfL levels and stroke occurrence, suggesting that adding this protein to existing stroke risk scores can increase accuracy.
The M-RISE program aims to develop innovative therapies to prevent brain damage caused by cardiac arrest, with a focus on early treatments delivered by bystanders and first responders. The program will explore neuroprotective agents and strategies to improve survival rates and outcomes for patients affected by cardiac arrest.
A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that one-third of ophthalmic patients have discrepancies between clinician notes and EHR-generated medication lists. This inconsistency may lead to avoidable medication errors, threatening patient safety.
A new scoring system measures the impact of living with multiple chronic illnesses, revealing a faster decline in thinking and memory abilities for those with higher scores. People with higher multimorbidity scores are also more likely to die by suicide and experience poor mental well-being.
A new study aims to develop safe throwing amounts for young baseball players by tracking their total number of throws and intensity. The research team will use sensor technology to capture data on 10-11 year old male competitive pitchers over 12 months.
A new study shows that children who received all doses of the rotavirus vaccine had a 33% lower risk of getting diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The study, published in Scientific Reports, used nationwide health insurance data and found that the vaccine was associated with a 94% lower rate of hospitalization for rotavirus infection.
A team of experts from the Firearm Safety Among Children and Teens (FACTS) consortium has published a list of 26 urgent questions for rigorous studies to address pediatric firearm injury prevention. The questions cover various aspects, including access, storage, and exposure to firearms, as well as the effectiveness of programs and tec...
A pain management protocol called Enhanced Recovery After Surgery has been shown to be effective in reducing opioid prescriptions after C-sections. The protocol involves a combination of long-acting opioids and non-narcotic medications to limit inpatient morphine use, resulting in shorter hospital stays and improved patient satisfaction.
A U-M study analyzed 3,870 clothing items and found that one in 11 featured food graphics, with two-thirds being unhealthy. The analysis suggests that food graphics on kids' clothes may influence children's eating habits and reinforce obesity-promoting messaging.
A new Michigan Medicine research found that intensive care unit admission was associated with improved 30-day mortality rates for patients who had a STEMI heart attack and weren't clearly indicated for an ICU or non-ICU unit. The study analyzed Medicare data from over 100,000 patients hospitalized with STEMI and showed a clear benefit ...
A new technique using laser angiography illuminated blood flow during laryngectomy surgery, identifying patients at highest risk of wound healing issues. This approach may enable surgeons to adjust during surgery or recovery to improve outcomes, with potential interventions including wider tissue removal and extended hospital stays.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine discovered a previously unrecognized link between inflammation and deep vein thrombosis, finding that blocking a key inflammatory molecule reduced clot formation in mice.
A recent study shows a dramatic rise in opioid overdose deaths among American veterans, mainly caused by heroin and synthetic opioids. The research emphasizes the need to provide care to veterans with non-prescription opioid use disorder, independent of prescription opioid use.
Researchers discovered that removing a pair of negative immune signals can stimulate beta cell proliferation, allowing the pancreas to produce more insulin. The findings, made in mice, could lead to new treatments for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Many Americans in their 50s and early 60s worry about declining brain health, taking supplements or doing puzzles to stave off brain decline. However, few have talked with their doctors about evidence-based ways to prevent memory loss, potentially missing out on proven strategies.
At SAEM 2019, experts like Rebecca Cunningham emphasized the need for gun safety beyond 'gun control', focusing on injury prevention. Meanwhile, a study found opportunities to reduce over-testing in emergency departments through data analysis and targeted quality improvement initiatives.
A new study reveals that medical residents experience accelerated telomere shortening, a marker of aging and disease risk, due to prolonged work hours. The research suggests that reducing stress through better work-life balance could help mitigate this effect.
A new study found that 1 in 167 opioid prescriptions were filled by patients whose family members had a history of 'doctor and pharmacy shopping', increasing the risk of misuse and overdose. The research highlights the importance of helping patients store and dispose of opioids safely to prevent family member misuse.
A new study reveals stark racial and financial divides in opioid addiction treatment, with white patients receiving nearly four times as many buprenorphine prescriptions as black patients. The study also found that three-quarters of buprenorphine prescriptions were given to those who paid cash or had private insurance.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine are investigating new treatments for autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma and lupus. The study aims to develop targeted therapies that minimize immune system impairment and reduce susceptibility to infections.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new method for detecting RNA fragments in blood plasma that were invisible to traditional methods. This breakthrough has potential applications in cancer detection, autoimmune side-effects monitoring, and understanding human gene activity.
A study by Kellogg Eye Center reveals that herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) cases tripled in 12 years, mostly affecting older adults. Shingles vaccination provides strong protection from HZO complications, but its use is not widespread.
Researchers found a new pathway to killing cancer cells by targeting ferroptosis, a type of cell death linked to immune cells. The study suggests that combining ferroptosis sensitizer and checkpoint inhibitor treatments creates a strong immune response that fights tumors.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine developed a smartphone-based tool that uses artificial intelligence to analyze retinal images and detect diabetic retinopathy. The device, called RetinaScope, achieved high sensitivity and specificity rates in a study, outperforming human graders in detecting the condition.
Researchers discover that inhibiting neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, can prevent blood clots in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. The study found that two drugs, CGS21680 and dipyridamole, reduced the formation of sticky structures called NETs that trigger blood clots.