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Mass General Brigham study finds virtual care team strategy improved treatment for heart failure patients

A virtual care team consisting of physicians and pharmacists improved the adoption of life-saving therapies in patients with heart failure, leading to increased use of evidence-based treatments and better patient outcomes. The strategy was safe and effective, with comparable length of stay and safety events between the groups.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 6, 2023

Newly identified personalized immunotherapy combination treats an aggressive form of advanced prostate cancer

Researchers discovered a new personalized immunotherapy combination that treats aggressive forms of advanced prostate cancer. By blocking PD-1-expressing macrophages and Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation, the therapy significantly improves response rates in PTEN-deficient cancers.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalClinical Cancer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2023

Tuberculosis patients see dramatic cut in treatment duration, treatment effectiveness remains

A groundbreaking study found that a new TB treatment strategy can shorten treatment duration while maintaining effectiveness. The TRUNCATE-TB trial showed that an initial 8-week treatment period followed by retreatment for those not cured was as effective as the standard 6-month treatment but halved the average total time on treatment.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 20, 2023

Identified mechanism involved in development and intensification of cancer treatment-related pain

A study found that immune checkpoint inhibitors enhance chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain by blocking interaction between macrophages and neurons via PD1-PDL1 synergy. This discovery could lead to the development of therapeutic alternatives to prevent pain while maintaining anti-neoplastic effects.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalCancer Immunology Research·DateJan 30, 2023

Study discovers triple immunotherapy combination as possible treatment for pancreatic cancer

Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a novel triple immunotherapy combination targeting checkpoints in T cells and myeloid suppressor cells, improving anti-tumor responses and survival rates in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer. The study found that neutralizing specific immunosuppressive mechanisms dramatical...

Largest study of its kind reveals adjuvant chemotherapy improves overall survival for pancreatic cancer patients

A nationwide retrospective study showed that adjuvant chemotherapy after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery significantly improved overall survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, regardless of lymph node status or resection margins. The study included nearly 900 patients and was published in JAMA Oncology.

ADHD medication for amphetamine addiction linked to reduced risk of hospitalization and death

A large registry-based study found lisdexamfetamine to be associated with the lowest risk of hospitalisation and death in people with amphetamine addiction. The medication showed a significant reduction in hospitalisation due to substance use disorder and any cause or death, while benzodiazepine and antidepressant use were linked to po...

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateNov 16, 2022

NIH grant funds HIV research

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are awarded a $3.5 million NIH grant to examine how alcohol use alone or in combination with fentanyl affects HIV medications, including PrEP medication. The study aims to determine metabolite signatures and pharmacological biomarkers of PrEP in HIV-negative populations.

Overcoming resistance to colon cancer treatment

Researchers at UNIGE have discovered a way to overcome resistance to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer, using an optimized combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This breakthrough opens up new avenues for developing targeted therapies that can effectively treat patients with low five-year survival rates.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCancers·TypeNews article·DateOct 27, 2022

Better, shorter combination treatment for people with visceral leishmaniasis shown to be effective in Eastern Africa

A new, shorter combination treatment has been shown to be effective in treating visceral leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa. The treatment, which combines miltefosine and paromomycin, is safer and reduces hospitalization time by 18%, eliminating the need for painful daily injections.

SourceDrugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 29, 2022

Using artificial intelligence to improve tuberculosis treatments

Using artificial intelligence, researchers from Tufts University have devised rules for faster and more effective identification of potential new drug cocktails against tuberculosis. The study developed a set of design principles to assemble drug combinations, reducing the amount of testing needed before moving to further study.

SourceTufts University·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 14, 2022

Researchers discover potential new melanoma treatment giving hope to patients

A phase II study found that treating late-stage, treatment-resistant melanoma patients with a combination of Azacitidine and Carboplatin significantly increases their survival times. The treatment re-sensitized cancer cells to immunotherapy, allowing the body's immune system to fight the cancer.

SourceHunter Medical Research Institute·JournalCancer Research Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 5, 2022

COVID OUT clinical trial suggests metformin effective at reducing odds of serious outcomes for COVID-19 patients seeking early treatment

The study found that metformin lowers the odds of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or death due to COVID-19 by over 40 percent. Metformin also showed a significant reduction in serious outcomes when prescribed early in the onset of symptoms.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 18, 2022

Anti-rejection medication and immunotherapy kicks cancer and protects kidney transplants

Researchers at the University of South Australia have discovered that combining anti-rejection medication with immune checkpoint inhibitors can significantly reduce the risk of organ rejection and eliminate cancer cells in a quarter of patients. The study involved 22 patients with renal transplants and incurable locally advanced or met...

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 18, 2022

LSU Health Research suggests novel combination therapy for triple-negative breast cancer

Researchers at LSU Health Sciences Center have discovered a novel combination therapy that effectively treats chemo-resistant triple-negative breast cancer. The treatment combines two existing FDA-approved drugs, ceritinib and enzalutamide, to target the growth of cancer cells, showing promise for improving treatment outcomes.

Math model predicts efficacy of drug treatments for heart attacks

Researchers at Ohio State University created a mathematical model that assesses the efficacy of immunomodulatory drugs in treating myocardial infarctions. The study found that certain combinations of these drug inhibitors were more efficient at reducing inflammation, offering new possibilities for improving patient outcomes.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 17, 2022

Study of more than four million pregnant women and their offspring links exposure to antiseizure medication in pregnancy with increased risk of autism and intellectual disability

A study of over 4 million pregnancies found that exposure to valproate and topiramate during pregnancy doubles the risk of autism and intellectual disability in children. The largest such study confirms previous findings and highlights the need for informed decision-making on treatment options.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateMay 31, 2022

Researchers at the GIST develop deep learning model to predict adverse drug-drug interactions

Researchers developed a deep learning-based model to predict drug-drug interactions using gene expression data. The DeSIDE-DDI model can identify potentially dangerous pairs and act as a drug safety monitoring system, helping establish the correct usage of drugs in the development phase.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalJournal of Cheminformatics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 4, 2022

Combination of drugs for obesity and Type 2 diabetes may be more effective than a single therapy

Canadian and German researchers have identified personalized prescriptions that combine drugs to treat obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The combination therapy shows higher effectiveness in some patients and fewer side effects compared to single drugs. Studies are now needed to understand why individuals respond differently to the treatment.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalFrontiers in Endocrinology·DateMay 3, 2022

Study: Black kidney transplant patients exhibit faster clearance rates of key immunosuppressive medicine tacrolimus

A new study found that Black kidney transplant recipients exhibit a faster clearance rate of tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive drug. The study suggests that considering both sex and race when dosing tacrolimus may reduce adverse effects and enhance transplant outcomes.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPharmacotherapy The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy·DateApr 18, 2022

Innovative AI technology aids personalized care for diabetes patients needing complex drug treatment

Researchers developed an AI method to analyze electronic health record data and predict optimal drug regimens for type 2 diabetes patients with similar characteristics. The algorithm successfully supported medication selection for over 83% of patients, leading to better management of the disease and improved patient engagement.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalJournal of Biomedical Informatics·DateMar 25, 2022