A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dexmedetomidine and propofol are equally effective and safe for light sedation in critically ill patients. The study, which enrolled 422 adults with sepsis, found similar patient outcomes between the two sedatives.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have discovered the coronavirus's 'Achilles' heel', a proofreading enzyme called nsp14-ExoN. This enzyme regulates RNA recombination and can be targeted to block viral replication, potentially leading to new treatments for COVID-19.
Researchers identified genetic factors increasing pneumonia risk in patients of European and African ancestry, highlighting potential disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. The study may aid efforts to identify high-risk patients and develop targeted treatments.
A theoretical model describes the cause of autism as a combination of socially valued traits and co-occurring disabilities, accounting for most cases. The BAPCO-DMAP theory explains how positive traits of autism interact with development and disabilities.
A study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center found lower degrees of myocarditis in athletes with a history of COVID-19 compared to previously reported rates. The research highlights the importance of considering cardiac MRI as an additional screening tool for detecting myocarditis in athletes.
A large international study found that COVID-19 patients in ICUs were subject to a significantly higher burden of delirium and coma, with 82% comatose and 55% delirious. The study attributes this to outdated sedation practices and reduced family visitation.
A large-scale electronic health record study found that functional seizures are prevalent and often misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures. The study also discovered novel associations between functional seizures and cerebrovascular disease, including stroke, as well as psychiatric disorders such as PTSD and depression.
Researchers discovered that abatacept reduced severity of myocarditis in genetic mouse model and human patients. The study provides a potential new treatment option for patients with immune-related side effects from immunotherapies.
A recent study reveals unique mutation patterns in the genes PIK3CA, GNAS, SMAD3, and TSC2 among young patients with appendiceal cancer. These findings suggest potential for targeted therapies, such as alpelisib, which have already been approved for advanced breast cancer.
Researchers found COVID-19 infected individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are three times more likely to have severe illness or require hospitalization compared to those without diabetes. The study urges policymakers to prioritize these individuals for COVID-19 vaccination.
Researchers have identified specific geographic areas in the US where women diagnosed with early-onset colorectal cancer before age 50 face higher mortality rates. The study found nearly one quarter of adults in hot spot counties reported no physical activity, and fertility may contribute to this variation.
Population-wide screening of 30-year-old women resulted in 75 fewer cancer cases per 100,000 women, with a gain of 288 quality-adjusted-life-years compared to 97 for women aged 45.
A national study published in JAMA found that hydroxychloroquine did not improve clinical outcomes for adult patients hospitalized with respiratory illness related to COVID-19. The study, which enrolled 479 patients, showed no evidence that the drug prevented death or helped patients recover more quickly.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that children are less likely to get infected or have severe symptoms due to lower levels of an enzyme called TMPRSS2. The research suggests that blocking this enzyme could potentially treat or prevent COVID-19 in older people.
A new Vanderbilt-designed prediction model can identify infants at high risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) after opioid exposure, allowing for early discharge and potentially reducing hospital costs. The tool uses several factors, including gestational age, type of opioids, and other drugs, to estimate the risk of NAS.
A recent study found that COVID-19 spreads rapidly within US households, infecting 51% of individuals living with someone who tested positive. The study discovered that secondary infections occurred within five days of the first household member experiencing symptoms, highlighting the importance of quarantine measures.
A study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that only 54% of medical practitioners have prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to HIV-vulnerable patients, highlighting a need for increased adoption of the preventive medication.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center are conducting a clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of nasal saline irrigations in reducing COVID-19 symptoms and transmissibility. The study aims to explore if nasal hygiene can be used as an affordable and accessible treatment option.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is launching a clinical trial of promising treatments for COVID-19 in the outpatient setting as part of the ACTIV-2 protocol. The study aims to find a safe and effective treatment for non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV13 has significantly reduced socioeconomic disparities and Black-white-based racial disparities for invasive pneumococcal disease. The study found a large decrease in the overall incidence of pneumococcal disease and markedly reduced race-based disparities.
A nationwide study of convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19 will be conducted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The randomized trial aims to test whether infusions of plasma can help hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center discovered a cashew shell compound that promotes myelin repair in laboratory experiments. The compound, anacardic acid, inhibits an enzyme involved in gene expression, leading to increased production of IL-33 and rapid induction of myelin genes and proteins.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that pregnant women face significant challenges accessing opioid treatment, including limited provider availability and high out-of-pocket costs. The study calls for policymakers to intervene and establish systems for timely access to life-saving medications.
Research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women who consume alcohol during early pregnancy face a higher risk of miscarriage. The study analyzed data from over 5,500 women and found an incremental 8% increase in miscarriage risk each week of alcohol use.
A new study reveals that non-white Americans, especially Asian Americans, are at a higher risk of gastric cancer compared to non-Hispanic whites. The risk is highest among Korean Americans age 50 and older, who have a 12-fold to 14.5-fold higher risk of developing stomach cancer.
A new study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers finds that Medicare Part D plans favor generic drugs over brand-name counterparts, with only 0.9% of plans covering only the brand name in 2019. Generic drugs were often on the same or lower cost-sharing tier as brand names, saving patients out-of-pocket costs.
A study found that smokers, even those with a lower body mass index (BMI), have a higher risk of depositing fat in organs and tissues compared to non-smokers. This excess fat can disrupt normal functions and increase health complications such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
A new national survey found that 27% of parents reported worsening mental health for themselves, while 14% reported worsening behavioral health in their children. The loss of regular child care arrangements also significantly impacted families, with 24% reporting a decline.
Newly released CCC19 data show a racial disparity in access to Remdesivir, an antiviral drug that shortens hospital stays, and increased mortality associated with dexamethasone, a steroid. Black patients were half as likely to receive Remdesivir as white patients.
Researchers have shown that when one optic nerve is damaged, the opposite optic nerve shares its metabolic energy with the brain. This sharing process helps explain how neurodegeneration spreads between brain regions in diseases like glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that post-surgical bleeding is associated with a higher mortality rate compared to blood clots. The researchers analyzed nearly 15 years of data on millions of patients and found that bleeding had a consistent signal for mortality, while blood clots did not.
A multidisciplinary team has developed a new technique to recover human lungs declined for transplant through cross-circulation between the human lung and a xenogeneic host. This breakthrough increases organ availability, saving lives of those waiting on the transplant list.
A study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that among healthcare workers with COVID-19 antibodies, 42% reported no symptoms, suggesting a higher risk of transmission. The study also showed that patients with COVID-19 tend to remain ill longer than with other respiratory infections.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center report that remdesivir potently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 in human lung cell cultures and improved lung function in mice. The study provides the first rigorous demonstration of potent inhibition of SARS-CoV-2.
Scientists have discovered previously unreported genetic and cellular changes in the lungs of people with pulmonary fibrosis, a devastating lung-scarring disease. The findings provide remarkable insights into the fundamental mechanisms driving disease pathology in PF and may aid the search for new ways to treat or prevent the condition.
A five-year outcomes study of 30 patients found that early-stage deep brain stimulation (DBS) decreased the risk of disease progression and polypharmacy compared to optimal medical therapy alone. The study showed significant improvements in motor symptoms, with DBS patients requiring less medication for symptom management.
A new international trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology suggests that carboplatin-paclitaxel is the optimal chemotherapy regimen for treating inoperable anal cancer. The study found a trend toward improved survival and less toxicity compared to cisplatin-5FU, with overall survival rates of 20 months vs 12.3 months.
The study found that patients treated with chemotherapy had a significantly increased risk of dying from COVID-19, while those on anticoagulants and corticosteroids also faced higher mortality risks. In contrast, immunotherapies showed no increased risk of mortality.
Pregnant patients with COVID-19 are often excluded from drug trials due to lack of fetal safety data. A new position paper suggests using electronic health record (EHR) data to simulate drug trials, identifying safer therapeutics for treatment. This approach could offer an alternative to delivering all pregnant patients with COVID-19.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center discovered that C. diff uses a protein system called HsmRA to capture heme from blood cells, building a protective shield against threats from the immune system and antibiotics. This finding suggests novel strategies for weakening its defenses.
A new study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers found that opioid prescriptions after childbirth are associated with a higher risk of overdose and persistent use. Over 160,000 pregnant women were followed for their opioid prescription filling rates after delivery.
A multinational consortium reports that people with cancer have a higher risk of dying from COVID-19, particularly those with active cancer and impaired performance status. The study found no association between cancer treatments and 30-day mortality, suggesting that these therapies can continue during the pandemic with caution.
Researchers propose target trials to gather human drug exposure data for pregnant people, offering a basis for causal inference. Genomic data and organ-on-a-chip technologies will help validate results, making this a valid and ethical workflow for large-scale drug screening.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that doxycycline did not reduce the growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients over a two-year period. The study included 254 patients who were randomly assigned to take either doxycycline or a placebo, with no differences in aneurysm growth between the two groups.
A Vanderbilt-led study found that pregnant women involved in the criminal justice system are less likely to receive medications for opioid use disorder compared to their peers. Medication rates increased by 68% in states that expanded Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act.
Rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome have plateaued, with NAS per 1,000 live births stabilizing in 2016 after peaking in 2014. The study found significantly higher rates than 20 years ago, highlighting the need for continued action to improve outcomes.
A retrospective cohort study published in Pediatrics found that unplanned extubations in preterm infants were associated with worse in-patient outcomes, extended length of stay, and increased hospital costs. The study estimated direct hospital costs of about $60 million as a result of UEs in babies less than 28 weeks at birth.
A new study finds that Medicare patients with rheumatoid arthritis are seeing higher out-of-pocket spending for specialty biologic medications, despite the closure of the Part D coverage gap. The annual average cost has dropped only 21% between 2010 and 2019.
Researchers have developed a risk-stratification tool to identify patients with low-risk penicillin allergies in the MICU. Direct oral challenge with amoxicillin has been shown to remove up to 60% of all penicillin allergies without symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Researchers analyzed DNA haplotypes associated with hereditary prostate cancer (HPC) and found that one mutation increased risk by 22-fold. The study identified 183 variants linked to HPC at genome-wide significance, shedding light on the genetic factors contributing to disease.