Articles tagged with Drug Studies
A long-term study found that cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of developing both reduced ejection fraction and preserved ejection fraction heart failure. Former smokers retained a higher risk of heart failure for decades after quitting, with the risk decreasing only after 30 years without smoking.
The proposed ban on menthol cigarettes aims to address health inequities in the Black community. The Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies has found a strong link between menthol use and higher smoking rates among young people and reduced success in quitting.
A secondary analysis of the MOVe-OUT trial found molnupiravir-treated participants had a decreased need for respiratory interventions and fewer COVID-19-related acute care visits. Additionally, they showed faster normalization of biomarkers and were discharged earlier than placebo-treated patients.
A review of 25 trials found that synthetic cannabis products with high THC-to-CBD ratios improved chronic pain, but were associated with higher risks of adverse events. In contrast, products with comparable THC-to-CBD ratios showed few benefits in overall functioning.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dostarlimab was effective in treating a subtype of rectal cancer, showing remarkable responses and resolving difficult symptoms. The treatment offers a more effective and less toxic alternative to traditional chemotherapy and radiation.
A new study found that patients with multiple myeloma who received a three-drug combination therapy had improved progression-free survival if they underwent an autologous stem cell transplant soon after treatment. The use of maintenance lenalidomide also conferred substantial clinical benefit.
A Phase 3 clinical trial is investigating the effectiveness of a combination of two immunotherapy drugs, nemvaluekin alfa and pembrolizumab, compared to standard chemotherapy for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The trial aims to provide a novel treatment option with better efficacy and safety profiles.
A study of patients with high-risk renal cell carcinoma found that those taking everolimus daily after surgery lived longer without disease recurrence. The results, although narrowly missed statistical significance, showed improvement primarily in very high-risk disease, with a 21% improvement in RFS for those with the highest risk.
A study of over 3,000 adults found that RAAS inhibitors lowered aneurysm rupture risk by 18%. Using proper antihypertensive medications can decrease the risk of a ruptured aneurysm. The study suggests that nearly 18% of ruptured aneurysms may be prevented with RAAS inhibitors.
A new drug combination of ramucirumab and pembrolizumab significantly extended overall survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who had progressed on prior immunotherapy. The study found a 31% reduction in risk of death compared to standard therapy, with median overall survival times of 14.5 months.
A Mayo Clinic study found that disparities in opioid treatment access persist among women, Black and Hispanic populations. Despite increased access, these groups continue to face systemic barriers, including racism, mistrust of healthcare professionals, and lack of clinicians able to prescribe buprenorphine.
A combination of ramucirumab and pembrolizumab reduced the risk of death by 31% compared to standard care in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who had previously failed immunotherapy. The study found that these patients lived significantly longer, with a mean overall survival time of 14.6 months.
The NIH has launched a clinical trial testing dupilumab, an approved treatment for moderate-to-severe asthma, in children with poorly controlled allergic asthma living in low-income urban neighborhoods. The study aims to define the activity levels of gene networks associated with asthma attacks and improve lung function.
A team of MIT researchers has developed drug-carrying nanoparticles that can efficiently penetrate the brain and kill glioblastoma cells. Using a human tissue model, they showed that the particles could get into tumors and deliver chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin, which effectively killed tumor cells.
A global black market for COVID-19 antiviral drugs is emerging, putting patients' health in jeopardy due to unequal distribution and substandard products. The investigation found that patients are buying pills online without medical supervision, increasing the risk of birth defects and viral resistance.
Researchers created oil-based gels that can deliver a variety of medications, including those for infectious diseases, in a stable and palatable form. The gels can be used to administer drugs to children and adults with difficulty swallowing pills, and could have a significant impact on improving medication adherence.
A new UK study has found that only one in three patients with gout were prescribed preventative medication within a year of diagnosis, indicating poor care quality. The study also revealed that just one in six patients achieved the target blood urate level recommended by the British Society for Rheumatology.
Research reveals pridopidine enhances autophagy in ALS model, reducing toxic protein aggregation and promoting neuronal health. The study supports pridopidine's potential as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's.
A new study found that Medicare spent $1.2 billion on 36 drugs with no confirmed clinical benefits, mainly for cancer-related indications. The study suggests reforming the FDA's accelerated approval program to reduce waste and ensure patients receive effective treatments.
Researchers at West Virginia University are studying the mechanisms behind Alzheimer's disease and PTSD, using animal models to investigate how stressful events affect brain cells. They aim to understand the role of estrogen and high-cholesterol diet in developing the disease.
A study led by Tel Aviv University researchers reveals a common mechanism underlying genetic mutations associated with autism, schizophrenia, and other neurological disorders. The discovery points to an experimental drug developed by the team as a potential treatment for these conditions.
A landmark trial found that a widely used diabetes drug, metformin, is not effective against the most common forms of early-stage breast cancer. However, researchers discovered a potential benefit for individuals with HER2-positive breast cancer, which accounts for about 20% of all breast cancers.
A review of 38 randomized controlled trials found that counseling patients about contraceptive use and providing contraceptives increases use without increasing STI risk or reducing condom use. The interventions also decrease unintended pregnancy in trials designed to evaluate this outcome.
Research found that e-cigarette users spent more on healthcare services, including hospital stays, ER visits, and doctor appointments. The study estimated $15.1 billion in annual healthcare expenditures attributable to e-cigarette use in the US.
Researchers at University of Utah Health have found a natural chemical in soft corals that shows promise in treating cancer. The discovery allows for the first steps of re-creating the chemical in the laboratory, opening up possibilities for producing it on a large scale.
A lifestyle intervention program of increased physical activity and healthy eating, or taking the medication metformin, were found to be effective long-term in delaying or preventing Type 2 diabetes in adults with prediabetes. However, neither approach reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease over a 21-year follow-up period.
A study published in Human Reproduction found that men with obesity who lost weight saw a 50% increase in sperm concentration and a 40% increase in sperm count over an 8-week period. This improvement was sustained for up to 52 weeks and even doubled for those who maintained weight loss after a year
A Johns Hopkins Medicine study found that a protein called STING responds to clean-up signals in brain cells damaged by Parkinson’s disease by creating a cycle of inflammation that accelerates the disease’s progression. In mice with deactivated STING proteins, there was less microglial activity and brain cell death.
This study analyzed supportive evidence for FDA approvals of 49 novel drugs in 2020. The study's findings provide insight into the key design characteristics of pivotal trials supporting these drug approvals.
A recent study found that 70% of adults with stage 3 or 4 cancer were at risk of drug-drug interactions, highlighting the importance of deprescribing medications to avoid harm. The study's results emphasize the need for education and problem-solving to address polypharmacy in older adults with cancer.
Research on experimental drug NU-9 invents by Northwestern University scientists reveals it is more effective than existing FDA-approved drugs for ALS treatment. NU-9 also repairs the axons of diseased upper motor neurons in ALS mouse model, offering a potential new approach to treating the devastating disease.
A global study found a combination of two drugs dramatically reduces the chances of suffering an asthma attack. The combination of albuterol and budesonide lowers the number of sudden episodes of shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing in patients.
A Rutgers study found that individuals with opioid-use disorder who used non-prescribed buprenorphine before entering treatment were twice as likely to remain in care. Those who used the medication also had significantly lower rates of opioid use during the first six months in treatment.
A new lymphoma treatment, zanubrutinib, has been found to be effective in 80% of patients with marginal zone lymphoma, resulting in significant cancer shrinkage. However, its impact on follicular lymphoma is less pronounced.
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) announced that TVT: The Structural Heart Summit will feature 12 studies as Late-Breaking Clinical Science and Featured Clinical Research. These studies highlight advances in transcatheter aortic valve replacement, mitral, tricuspid, and left atrial appendage occlusion therapies.
Researchers developed an algorithm to quickly identify two cancer drugs that work well together, reducing testing time from three years to eight weeks. The new method uses gene expression data to prioritize potential combinations and has been confirmed in lab tests.
Researchers found that targeting both tumor and lymph node microenvironments with nanomedicine improves treatment response for metastatic triple negative breast cancer. Long-term tumor remission was achieved in mice models using nanoparticles to deliver immune-modulating drugs.
A study published in JCI Insight reveals that epigenetic drugs targeting BRD4 significantly reduce scarring in patients with scleroderma. The findings could lead to repurposing these drugs for faster relief from debilitating symptoms of this chronic disease.
A new study suggests that supplementing a diet with Ascidiacea, also known as sea squirts, reverses some main signs of aging in animal models. The researchers found that plasmalogens, vital to body processes, decrease with age and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
A Rutgers University study found that expanding prison opioid treatment programs could reduce the risk of overdose and death among ex-inmates. The researchers suggest that further education on post-release opioid risks is necessary to increase participation in these programs.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo found that combining diuretics and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors with ibuprofen can lead to acute kidney injury in people with certain medical profiles. The combination may be a 'triple whammy' that exacerbates dehydration, which is a major factor in acute kidney injury.
Scientists discovered that intermittent dosing of PI3Kδ inhibitors can reduce toxicity while maintaining anti-tumor immunity in patients with head and neck cancers. This finding holds promise for improving treatment outcomes and saving lives.
The BMJ recommends offering additional cholesterol-lowering drugs to adults at high heart disease risk, particularly those with 'bad' LDL cholesterol levels above 70 mg/dl. Ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors are recommended for the high and very high risk group, but not for those in the low risk category.
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.
Scientists at Scripps Research developed a new method called CATCH to image where drugs bind to their targets across different tissues and with higher precision than ever before. This technique allows for better understanding of why one drug is more potent or has a particular side effect compared to another.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have demonstrated the efficacy of adalimumab in treating early-stage Dupuytren's disease. The trial found that patients receiving adalimumab experienced softening and reduction in size of treated nodules, with sustained effects up to nine months after treatment.
Researchers found that genetic mutations in the MAPK pathway, key to normal cell growth, can also make head and neck cancer vulnerable. Individualized genomic analysis can identify specific mutations and target drugs, offering a promising approach to precision medicine.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treating even mild forms of high blood pressure during pregnancy is safe and beneficial for both mother and developing baby. The study's results demonstrated a significant decrease in pregnancy complications, including severe preeclampsia and preterm births.
Researchers from Columbia University have developed a plug-and-play multi-organ chip, customized to the patient, consisting of engineered human heart, bone, liver, and skin linked by vascular flow. The model allows for long-term studies and can be optimized for personalized therapy optimization in cancer and systemic diseases.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a new class of material called pZC that can withstand acidic stomach conditions and dissolve in the small intestine. This innovation could revolutionize oral medication delivery, increasing the number of medications that can be taken orally.
Researchers will enroll 1,000 adults in a placebo-controlled trial to assess the effects of low-cost phentermine on weight loss and related health metrics over two years. The study aims to provide long-term treatment options for patients struggling with obesity.
Researchers developed a disposable electrochemical sensor using graphite-based molecularly imprinted polymers to detect theophylline levels. The sensor can identify low concentrations of theophylline (2.5 μg/mL) in whole blood within 3 seconds, enabling real-time monitoring and potential overdose prevention.
A new study validates the Canadian Syncope Risk Score as a reliable tool to identify patients at low risk for serious outcomes after 30 days, potentially reducing hospitalization rates. The score showed better performance than another validated score, but its clinical utility remains uncertain and warrants further research.
Research suggests that EMFs can cause Alzheimer's disease by building up calcium levels in brain cells. This increase leads to changes in the brain, which develop conditions for Alzheimer's. The study highlights the importance of reducing EMF exposure to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's.
Researchers have engineered a tiny living heart chamber replica to study disease progression and test new treatments. The miniPUMP device mimics the real organ's mechanics, allowing for accurate tracking of how the heart grows in embryos and studying the impact of disease.
A randomized controlled trial found that furosemide increases the risk of electrolyte adverse events but no difference in hearing loss or nephrocalcinosis was observed. The study suggests caution when using furosemide in preterm infants at high risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
A NIH-funded study found that patients with retinal vein occlusion experience significant visual acuity gains, but require long-term monitoring and treatment. After five years, many participants retained an average of three lines of improvement in their visual acuity.
A Canadian study of over 12,000 hospital admissions found that updated product label changes did not reduce rates of accidental acetaminophen overdose. The study suggests additional measures are needed to prevent these episodes beyond just labeling changes.
A study examined the frequency of FDA's extrapolation of pivotal trial data to approved indications, finding it occurred in 45% of cases. This practice may lead to different clinical results in real-world use compared to trials.
A mutated gene in more than 20% of breast cancer recurrences promotes metastasis and resistance to hormone therapy. Researchers identify potential vulnerabilities, leading to the development of personalized treatment approaches.