The American College of Physicians recommends increasing funding for health services and prioritizing health promotion in Indigenous communities. Community-driven public policy is also necessary to address historical trauma, social determinants of health, and inadequate access to healthcare services.
A new study from UCLA found that students who attended high-performing charter schools had a 50% lower rate of alcohol use disorder compared to waitlisted students. Males in the intervention group also reported better physical health and lower obesity rates, while females did not show similar benefits.
A Swedish cohort study found that direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) were associated with a lower risk of kidney function decline or kidney failure compared to vitamin K antagonists (VKA). DOACs also showed a lower risk of acute kidney injury.
A national US kidney disease registry found that 60% of participants were unaware of their kidney function level, hindering clinical trial recruitment. The National Kidney Foundation Patient Network aims to address this issue through real-world data collection and patient-centered research.
Anemia is common among adults with advanced kidney disease, associated with adverse outcomes and low eGFR levels. Effective iron supplementation is a low-risk intervention to address this issue, emphasizing the need for increased testing and treatment.
Reduced kidney function and increased urine albumin excretion are associated with brain volume reduction in regions typically affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementia etiologies. Cognitive decline is common in patients with kidney disease, and this study provides new insights into the etiology and localization of brain damage.
A novel study in Virginia uses state all-payer claims data to accurately assess and predict future primary care workforce needs. The approach differentiates physicians with primary care training from those who practice true primary care, providing a more accurate estimate of U.S. primary care capacity.
A cohort study found that endoscopists performing colonoscopies in FIT-based screening programs should aim for markedly higher ADRs compared to primary colonoscopy screening. The study suggests that high ADRs are associated with lower colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. Researchers recommend using ADR targets, including differen...
A new study from Michigan Medicine found that adults with more chronic health conditions are at higher risk of serious financial problems, including late payments, poor credit scores, and bankruptcy. The study analyzed nearly 3 million privately insured adults and found that those with seven or more chronic conditions had three to four...
Researchers analyzed over 6,700 patients treated for blood clots and irregular heart rhythms. Stopping aspirin significantly reduced bleeding complications by 32.3% and prevented one major bleeding event per every 1,000 patients who stopped taking aspirin.
Researchers surveyed FAU residents on perceptions, coping strategies, and mental health during the pandemic. Residents reported effective coping mechanisms like acceptance, self-distraction, and emotional support, but found depression and anxiety levels in normal ranges.
The study found a significant decline in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis rates over time, with consistent differences in risk by race and age. The decline suggests improvements in clinical practice and highlights the importance of uniform coding standards to identify additional risk factors.
A cross-sectional study of over 25,000 adults found that approximately 70% of identified adrenal tumors were nonfunctioning, regardless of participant's age. The prevalence of adrenal tumors increased with age, from 0.2% in young adults to 3.2% in older adults.
Participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is associated with improved birth outcomes, including lower infant mortality. The review also found that WIC participants are more likely to receive child preventative services, such as vaccines.
A prespecified subgroup analysis of East Asian adults with lupus nephritis found that belimumab added to standard therapy improved kidney outcomes significantly. The study also showed no new safety concerns were raised in the subgroup.
A study found melamine and cyanuric acid in nearly all pregnant participants' samples, with higher levels in women of color and those with greater tobacco exposure. Regulatory action is needed to limit exposure to these carcinogenic chemicals.
A study of 641 participants found that midlife and older Hispanic/Latinx adults were more likely to experience prolonged loneliness, with 16% persistently lonely. The researchers suggest that culturally important familism was disrupted by social distancing, and reduced access to transportation and community activities may contribute to...
A large cross-sectional study found that baseline plasma antigen levels are highly associated with both the severity of pulmonary illness and clinically important patient outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Higher antigen levels were linked to increased risk of pulmonary worsening and delayed hospital discharge.
A prospective cohort study found that drinking two or more cups of black tea per day is associated with a moderately lower mortality risk. The findings suggest that tea can be part of a healthy diet.
Researchers analyzed 2.8 million adults with chronic disease diagnoses and found a correlation between adverse credit outcomes and rising medical debt. The study highlights the significant financial burden associated with chronic conditions.
A case-control study found that pregnant women with higher folate levels are at a lower risk of having children with congenital heart disease. The researchers measured red blood cell folate levels and found that those with CHD had significantly lower median levels than those without CHD.
A large-scale clinical study reveals high cumulative rebleeding rates among patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. The study identified overt OGIB, anticoagulants, and liver cirrhosis as independent predictors of rebleeding, emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-ups.
The AABB has released clinical practice guidelines for the appropriate use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma, recommending its use for nonhospitalized patients at high risk for disease progression. The guidelines suggest that CCP is most effective when transfused with high neutralizing titers early after symptom onset.
Researchers discovered 13 cases of asymptomatic MSM with positive monkeypox virus PCR results in anal samples, raising concerns about the outbreak's transmission dynamics. The findings suggest that vaccination may not be an effective strategy for preventing infection, highlighting the need for expanded public health interventions.
A national study by UC San Francisco found that basic home blood pressure cuffs and smartphone-connected devices have no significant difference in improving blood pressure control. After six months, patients who used basic cuffs had a lower blood pressure reduction compared to those using Bluetooth-enabled devices.
The new guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for managing patients on warfarin, DOACs, and antiplatelet drugs before and after surgeries. It aims to minimize preventable bleeding and thrombotic events by standardizing approaches and protocols.
A cohort study found that reinfection rates are low after successful hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in people who inject drugs, suggesting a benefit of treatment in this population. The risk for reinfection was highest among those with ongoing injecting drug use and needle sharing.
A study by West Virginia University found that over 7% of junior high and high school students in rural Appalachia identified as gender-diverse, including nonbinary or transgender identities. This exceeds previous estimates and highlights the need for support services in these areas.
A 12-month exercise program improved physical functioning and aerobic exercise capacity in adults with CKD stages G3b-4. The program, which included resistance and aerobic exercise, showed no significant impact on cardiovascular risk factors.
Researchers found that orally administering gold nanoclusters to mice with colitis eliminated reactive oxygen species, increased antioxidant enzymes, and inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines without side effects. The nanoclusters also showed benefits over natural enzymes used in traditional IBD treatments.
The Women's Preventive Services Initiative issues guidelines for preventing obesity in midlife women, recommending counseling on healthy eating and physical activity. The guideline aims to mitigate concerns about weight stigma by normalizing counseling among all midlife women, regardless of BMI status.
A new study found that over half of adult cancer survivors experience significant hearing problems after chemotherapy treatment. The researchers also discovered that platinum and taxane drugs, commonly used to treat the majority of cancers, are linked to high rates of hearing loss and tinnitus.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has issued a position paper on the ethical use of genetic testing and precision medicine in internal medicine. The guidelines address key issues such as incidental findings, education for physicians and patients, and counseling needs. ACP emphasizes the need for ongoing surveillance and anticoag...
A new clinical model predicts hospital mortality and major adverse kidney events in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. The proposed model exhibits good performance for outcome prediction, enabling timely interventions to promote kidney recovery.
The study reveals the involvement of serotonin and its receptor HTR2A in NAFLD pathology. Hepatic blockade of autonomic neural signals reduced NAFLD progression by inhibiting 5-HT, HTR2A, and lipogenic gene expression.
A secondary analysis of the CARDIA Lung study found that a substantial proportion of middle-aged adults with normal spirometry findings had emphysema on CT scan. Race-specific interpretations of spirometry may underestimate respiratory symptom burden and risk for death in Black adults, perpetuating structural racial inequities.
A five-month field experiment involving 199 primary care physicians found that comparing performance to peers decreased job satisfaction while increasing burnout. The study also showed that training leaders on how to best support physicians mitigated such negative effects.
Lumasiran, an RNA interference therapeutic, has been shown to reduce oxalate levels in patients with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) who have relatively preserved kidney function. In the ILLUMINATE-C study, lumasiran resulted in substantial reductions in plasma oxalate with acceptable safety in patients on hemodialysis.
A study of 3069 ICU patients found racial and ethnic disparities in oxygen supplementation, with Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients receiving less oxygen than white patients. Pulse oximeter performance may be contributing factor to these disparities.
A longitudinal cohort study found significant reductions in liver disease and mortality among people with HCV infection who received treatment. The study's findings suggest that continued testing, treatment, and community-based interventions could lead to the elimination of HCV infection within the next decade.
A new study found that the fourth COVID-19 vaccine reduces the risk of death among elderly individuals in long-term care facilities by 72%. The study, which included approximately 40,000 residents, also showed a significant reduction in hospitalizations and infections.
A long-term study of 3,926 adults with CKD found that higher levels of physical activity reduced the risk of atherosclerotic events, new-onset heart failure, and death. The association was strongest for incident peripheral arterial disease and reinforces current guideline recommendations.
Regularly active adults showed lower all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates compared to physically inactive peers. Weekend warriors who performed recommended levels of weekly physical activity one to two times also had similar mortality rates as regularly active participants.
A cross-sectional study found significant differences between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and directly measured GFR (mGFR), highlighting the importance of considering uncertainty in eGFR calculations. Researchers suggest renaming eGFR as a population average GFR to improve accuracy.
Following the leaked SCOTUS draft ruling, internet searches for abortion medication increased by 350,000 during the first week of May. These searches were more prevalent in states with restrictive reproductive rights.
Residents in predominantly Black communities are more likely to live near a hospital with a certified stroke center but face lower chances of receiving optimal treatment. The study also reveals significant disparities in access to stroke centers based on income and geographic location.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) says inadequate access to nutritious food negatively impacts the health of many Americans, exacerbating social factors and leading to various health issues. The ACP recommends strengthening the nation's food insecurity response and empowering physicians to address social drivers of health.
A systematic review of 84 studies found insufficient evidence that multivitamins or supplements can prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer in healthy adults. In contrast, diet and exercise are key to maintaining health. Whole fruits and vegetables contain a mixture of vitamins, phytochemicals, fiber, and other nutrients that act syn...
A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that Medicare could save up to $3.6 billion by purchasing generic drugs at the same prices as the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. The researchers compared the price of 89 generic drugs sold by MCCPDC to the price Medicare paid in 2020 and estimated potential savings of up to $3....
A new study led by UCSF found that routine screening for and removal of precancerous anal lesions can significantly reduce the risk of anal cancer. The study, known as ANCHOR Study, showed a 57% reduction in anal cancer among people with HIV who underwent treatment for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL).
Researchers analyzed data from 433,000 veterans to assess vaccine side effects over 38 weeks. The study found no significant differences in adverse event risk between the two vaccines.
A nationwide study in Sweden found that receiving red blood cells from female donors does not increase the risk of death in transfused patients. The study controlled for lower haemoglobin levels in women's blood and found no difference in survival rates between male and female donors.
Healthcare workers must be vigilant in detecting and managing suspected monkeypox cases while avoiding stigmatization of affected communities. The authors stress the importance of careful infection control practices and community allyship with men who have sex with men to combat the outbreak.
A study found that internal medicine interns spend only about 10 minutes per hour, or less than 1%, of their shift time with patients. The use of a real-time locating system to track the residents' movement improved the efficiency and accuracy of this assessment.
African Americans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more likely to experience flare-ups due to inadequate sleep, which may boost their risk by up to 95%. The study, published on June 6, 2022, suggests that poor sleep quality may partially explain why African American patients tend to fare worse than white 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 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.
Patients with primary glomerular diseases have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events, including coronary artery disease and stroke. The study found that inclusion of kidney-specific risk factors improved the prediction of cardiovascular events.
A cohort study found that moderate coffee consumption, especially unsweetened coffee, is associated with a lower risk of death. The results suggest that adults who drink 1.5 to 3.5 cups of coffee per day may be less likely to die during a 7-year follow-up period compared to non-coffee drinkers.
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.