Research on treating disease with medication. Covers psychedelics, combination cancer therapy, opioid treatment in pregnancy, and personalized guidelines.
Researchers have discovered biomarkers that predict response to treatment and proposed therapeutic solutions for patients who do not respond well. The study identifies the molecular mechanisms determining patients' response to certain drugs used in clinical trials.
A phase I/II clinical trial indicates that older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia respond well to the experimental drug ibrutinib, which has few side effects and a high one-year survival rate. The study suggests that ibrutinib deserves further testing as a first-line therapy for elderly CLL patients.
A new maintenance therapy, lenalidomide, has been shown to improve outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who have undergone a stem cell transplant. The study found that patients treated with lenalidomide had a 59% chance of surviving free of disease progression after three years.
Children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) who do not respond to standard treatments may not benefit from rituximab, according to a recent study. The drug, which targets the immune system, was found to be ineffective in reducing protein excretion in urine after three months of treatment.
A new study found that how well people respond to their first drug treatment for newly diagnosed epilepsy can predict their likelihood of having more seizures. The study showed that 50% of participants were seizure-free after the first drug, while only 4% remained seizure-free after the third drug regimen.
A study published in Neurology found that the response to initial treatment can predict future seizure risk. The research followed 1,098 people with newly diagnosed epilepsy for up to 26 years and found that 50% were seizure-free after the first drug tried, while 4% became seizure-free after the third.
Research published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery found that high volume endovascular stroke centers have faster times to treatment, higher reperfusion rates, and improved clinical outcomes. Patients treated at these centers are more likely to have blood flow restored and survive
In a new analysis, rituximab shows promising results in treating chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder that destroys blood cells. The treatment promotes long-term response in approximately one quarter of patients, with normalized platelet counts lasting at least five years.
A one-year study has found that Avastin and Lucentis have similar effectiveness in treating the most common cause of blindness in developed countries. The treatment approach, where drugs are administered as needed rather than monthly, resulted in almost identical levels of vision improvement.
A new analysis by French researchers identified patients with low phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) levels and low expression of the protein LKB1 as likely to benefit from everolimus treatment in breast cancer, contradicting initial hypotheses.
A systematic review of 50 years of data found antipsychotic drugs significantly reduce relapse rates and hospitalizations in patients with schizophrenia. However, they also experience more adverse side effects, including movement disorders and weight gain.
Researchers found that ALS patients who receive feeding tubes before emergency situations fare better, with longer median survival and lower mortality rates. Patients also have polarized preferences for expensive treatments like Riluzole, which modestly prolongs length of life.
A recent study published in the European Heart Journal found that RAAS inhibitors significantly reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with high blood pressure. The treatment was shown to have a beneficial effect on mortality, particularly for ACE inhibitor users.
Researchers analyzed data from 4,168 Medicare beneficiaries with advanced non-small cell lung cancer aged 65 or older. They found no significant difference in overall survival between those treated with bevacizumab and those receiving standard chemotherapy alone. The study's findings suggest that bevacizumab should not be considered th...
A large-scale study shows that introducing sophisticated biologic therapies early in treatment improves response to medication and reduces the need for surgery. Patients treated with biologic therapies earlier were significantly less likely to need steroids and required fewer surgeries related to their Crohn's disease.
A Canadian study found that off-label prescribing is common in primary care, with 11% of medications prescribed for indications not approved by regulators. The study also identified medications with multiple approved indications as having lower rates of off-label use.
A mobile stroke unit (MSU) strategy roughly halves the time from initial call to treatment decision and can increase the number of eligible patients receiving life-saving treatment. The MSU approach breaks reported times for stroke management and substantially reduces delays in diagnosis and therapy.
John A. Kaufman, a professor and Frederick S. Keller Chair of Interventional Radiology, was awarded the 2012 Dr. Charles T. Dotter Lecture for his extraordinary contributions to the field. The award also recognizes his dedication to interventional radiology training and education.
A clinical trial involving 14 TNBC tumors explores the use of whole-genome sequencing to identify potential treatment options. The study aims to advance personalized medicine and guide treatment for individual patients.
Researchers found that over 68% of participants failed to take medication daily, with young men who smoke and drink alcohol being the least likely to follow treatment. High rates of hypertension remain steady in the region, contrary to Western Europe's decline.
Researchers from BUSM and BUSPH have developed a modified version of the Short Inventory of Problems (SIP) to help identify patients with drug use consequences. The new tool, SIP-Drug Use, is valid and brief, making it suitable for primary care physicians.
A new study by the University of Leicester has demonstrated that botulinum toxin is an effective treatment for overactive bladder, providing relief from symptoms such as urinary incontinence and urgency. The study found that 4 in 10 women became completely continent again after six weeks and a third remained continent after six months.
A team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has developed a new theranostic agent for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The agent combines a diagnostic test with targeted therapy to provide personalized treatments for pediatric leukemia.
The $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide medication and treatment to uninsured patients in the Augusta area, while also expanding rapid testing and education efforts. With this funding, nearly 1,300 HIV-positive patients can receive life-long treatment with a single pill daily.
A recent study published in JAMA found that patients with epilepsy who underwent brain surgery soon after failing to respond to drug treatment had a lower risk of seizures during the 2nd year of follow-up. The study showed that 73% of participants in the surgical group were seizure-free, compared to 0% in the medical group.
Researchers found that inhalation of interferon-gamma three times a week for at least 80 weeks improved lung function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The treatment was well-tolerated and showed no systemic side effects.
A new drug has been developed by a Canadian scientist that protects the brain against damaging effects of a stroke, preventing brain cell death and preserving brain function. The study used cynomolgus macaques as an ideal model for humans and showed remarkable recoveries in several scenarios.
A new study found that patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have not responded to interferon treatments experience significant long-term benefits when switching to imatinib. Up to 93% of patients survive at least eight years, compared to only three to six years prior to imatinib.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that pridopidine binds to the sigma-1 receptor, a previously unknown mechanism of action. This finding could lead to new treatments for schizophrenia, Parkinsonian tremors, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Research suggests that daily or nightly dialysis sessions at home or in the clinic may provide more benefits for some patients with kidney failure, improving their health and survival. However, additional research is needed to determine if extended or more frequent treatments are beneficial for all dialysis patients.
The study will review evidence of practices used to support children with ADHD that do not involve drugs, such as classroom management programmes or psychological therapies. The research aims to identify which methods work best to reduce the symptoms of ADHD and provide best value for money.
A new study reveals that secondhand smoke results in graft rejection in transplant patients, with a specific enzyme's expression being key to the process. Researchers found that SHS suppressed an enzyme produced by innate immune cells, hindering long-term islet allograft survival.
A nano-enabled intranasal formulation of teriparatide is being developed to treat osteoporosis, with the potential to provide easier administration and enhance efficacy. The project combines Critical Pharmaceuticals' nanotechnology expertise with the University of Nottingham's world-leading research capabilities.
A new iPad app, DASH II, is being trialled in Newcastle and North Tyneside hospitals to help doctors and patients make informed decisions about stroke treatment. The app provides visual interpretations of risks and benefits, enabling medical teams to explain predicted outcomes clearly.
Researchers developed a predictive model that differentiates between dengue fever and its deadly form, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), using protein biomarkers. The model is based on IL-10 and seven distinct proteins, accurately predicting DHF in 100% of cases.
Researchers have created a computer simulation to identify bottlenecks in the emergency stroke care process, allowing for earlier clot-busting treatment. The analysis of over 1400 episodes has led to a doubling of patients receiving treatment within three hours.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) cases in the UK are projected to increase by a third by 2020, with 679,000 individuals affected. The majority of these cases will be in women, and prevalence rates will rise sharply with age.
A study published by the NIH shows that Kineret therapy is effective in stopping the progression of organ damage in people with neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID). By preventing organ inflammation, scientists were able to preserve organ function in most patients.
A new schedule pinpointing the length of time it takes for therapeutic drugs to work out of a horse's system has been developed, providing greater certainty for horse owners, trainers, and vets. This will enable them to make better-informed decisions about treatment regimes and reduce the risk of false positives.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota developed an antidote for cyanide poisoning called Sulfanegen, which can be administered rapidly by intra-muscular injection. The treatment could save lives in mass casualty emergencies and smoke inhalation incidents, where current treatments require medical professionals' expertise.
The US is facing a growing threat of multi-drug resistant gonorrhea, with treatment options rapidly dwindling due to increasing antibiotic resistance. The CDC has seen a 17-fold increase in drug susceptibility, leading scientists to call for collective action from healthcare providers and drug companies.
The Solitaire With the Intention for Thrombectomy (SWIFT) trial showed that the new device opened blocked vessels without causing symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in 61% of patients, compared to 24% with the MERCI retriever. The device also led to better survival three months after stroke, with a 17.2% mortality rate versus 38.2% wi...
A new mathematical model assesses the impact of therapies on tumor-immune interactions, optimizing treatment dosage and duration to minimize tumor growth while maximizing immune cell activity. The study aims to improve cancer therapy by identifying personalized treatment protocols tailored to individual patient conditions.
Frequent anti-infective shortages can alter clinical care, leading to worse outcomes for patients, particularly hospitalized individuals. Multidisciplinary stewardship programs and enhanced regulatory oversight are proposed solutions to mitigate the impact of these shortages.
A study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology reveals a significant reduction in new cases of legal blindness in Denmark, with the rate of blindness from AMD falling by over 50% between 2000 and 2010. The introduction of new treatment for wet AMD has been credited with this progress.
The new resource, Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment: Know What to Ask, highlights critical questions people should ask when choosing a treatment program. It recommends five key questions to help individuals and families make an informed choice during a stressful time.
Scientists developed a new strategy to fight infectious diseases by blocking pathogen entry into cells rather than killing the bug itself. This approach targets specific elements of the infection process inside the host body and has shown promising results in treating Leishmania parasites.
Researchers found that AICAR, an experimental therapy, protected animals from heat-induced sudden death and may hold promise for treating people with enhanced susceptibility to heat stroke. The drug works by reducing calcium leakage from RYR1, thus diminishing heat-induced contractions and muscle damage.
A study of over 26,000 patients found that therapeutic hypothermia was used in only 0.35% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases in the US. Despite its proven benefits in reducing mortality and improving neurologic outcomes after a heart attack, hypothermic therapy is not being widely adopted in clinical practice.
A new study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that aquatic therapy beginning 6 days after TKA significantly improved results. In contrast, delaying its onset after THA may be more appropriate. Aquatic therapy has been shown to reduce effusion in the knee joint, leading to less pain.
Patients treated with diuretic chlorthalidone had significantly lower death rates and longer life expectancy compared to placebo, according to a study published in JAMA. The researchers found that long-term antihypertensive therapy was associated with 1 day prolongation of life expectancy free from cardiovascular death per month.
Research finds that ACE inhibitors and ARBs have different effects on heart health in dialysis patients, with some benefiting from one over the other. The findings emphasize the need for tailored treatment approaches, highlighting the importance of long-term clinical trials.
A new study has identified the most effective ways to assess progression in Huntington's disease, which could speed up the development of disease-modifying drugs. The findings suggest that measures derived from brain imaging techniques are the most effective at detecting disease progression over time.
Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a second faulty gene, sequestosome1, contributing to the degeneration of motor neurons in ALS. The study provides new insights into the disease's progression and potential targets for drug therapies.
A new therapeutic target, EGFR, has been identified for treating Cushing disease. Clinical trials are necessary to investigate the effects of gefitinib in patients with this condition.
Researchers are studying two enzymes to combat the flu virus, which causes 36,000 US deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations annually. The goal is to identify targets for drug therapies that can block the spread of the influenza virus.
A new study finds mycophenolate mofetil superior to azathioprine as a maintenance therapy for lupus nephritis, with improved patient outcomes and reduced side effects. The study included 227 patients from 19 countries and showed that mycophenolate mofetil was more effective in treating the condition.
A novel point-of-care genetic test has been shown to be clinically feasible and accurate, enabling rapid personalization of anti-platelet therapy for patients at risk. The study demonstrates that tailored treatment successfully protected all patients with the at-risk genetic variant from adverse events.
A first-of-its-kind study found that brain stimulation significantly reduced 'medically refractory' epileptic seizures in adults. The NeuroPace Responsive Neurostimulation System delivered electrical pulses to stop seizures, providing a new treatment option for patients who have tried multiple medications and surgery without success.
A study found that patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who responded well to etanercept treatment had lower disability scores, younger age at onset, and fewer disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs used before treatment. These factors are associated with a better long-term outcome.