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Brain scan could predict success of spinal surgery for chronic pain

A 10-minute brain scan can predict the effectiveness of a risky spinal surgery to alleviate intractable pain. The Kobe University result gives doctors a much-needed biomarker to discuss with patients considering spinal cord stimulation.

3 Dec 2024

Key risk factors influencing mortality rates in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis patients

A systematic review reveals chronic pulmonary aspergillosis mortality is driven by age and underlying conditions, highlighting the need for targeted therapies.

3 Dec 2024

Disrupted sleep patterns identified in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

The prevalence of MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) is exploding in most regions of the world, boosted by increased obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

2 Dec 2024

Low levels of arsenic exposure linked to increased kidney cancer risk

New research findings from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health indicate that exposure to even low levels of arsenic poses significant health risks, including an increased risk of kidney cancer.

2 Dec 2024

Text message reminders fail to boost long-term medication adherence

A new study published today in JAMA reveals text message reminders for patients who delay refilling their medications didn't help improve how regularly they refilled medications over a year.

2 Dec 2024

Study reveals pathways behind organ damage in severe COVID-19

New research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on the pathways that drive organ damage and death in severe COVID-19 and helps explain why survivors of the disease can experience long-term complications.

2 Dec 2024

CMS introduces new payment model to improve kidney transplant outcomes

A new final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this week for a mandatory alternative payment model called the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model aimed to improve the number of life-saving kidney transplants for patients whose kidneys have failed.

2 Dec 2024

Hypothalamic deep brain stimulation restores walking after spinal cord injury

Scientists have identified neurons in the lateral hypothalamus that can be targeted through deep brain stimulation to improve walking after spinal cord injury (SCI). This innovative approach shows promise in both animal models and initial human trials, paving the way for groundbreaking treatments.

2 Dec 2024

Concizumab shows promising results for hemophilia patients

For people with the bleeding disorder hemophilia, life can seem like one continuous state of alertness. If they accidentally cut their finger while chopping vegetables, they have to immediately administer the clotting factor protein that their body either lacks or does not produce enough of.

2 Dec 2024

Researchers discover new cause of cytokine storm in COVID-19

As part of the COVID-19 International Research Team, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Pittsburgh and Weill Cornell Medicine discovered a novel cause of cytokine storm - the extreme inflammatory response associated with increased risk of death in COVID-19 infection.

2 Dec 2024

Natural polyphenol boosts mitochondrial function and muscle performance during aging

Oleuropein enhances mitochondrial calcium uptake, reversing age-related declines in muscle function and energy metabolism, with promising clinical potential.

2 Dec 2024

Engineered stone countertop workers at risk for silicosis

Durable and attractive, engineered stone countertops are a popular feature in modern American kitchens, but the workers who build them are risking their health.

2 Dec 2024

Homebound seniors living alone often slip through health system’s cracks

Carolyn Dickens, 76, was sitting at her dining room table, struggling to catch her breath as her physician looked on with concern.

2 Dec 2024

Who gets obesity drugs covered by insurance? In North Carolina, it helps if you’re on Medicaid

After losing and regaining the same 20-plus pounds more times than she could count, Anita Blanchard concluded that diets don't work.

2 Dec 2024

Can beef fit in a heart-healthy diet? Review provides new insights

A systematic review suggests unprocessed beef has minimal impact on cardiovascular health markers.

1 Dec 2024

Capsule sponge test revolutionizes GERD diagnosis, reduces unnecessary endoscopies

Capsule sponge testing, a minimally invasive diagnostic tool, effectively triages gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients, reducing unnecessary endoscopies by 70% and accurately identifying high-risk cases for Barrett’s esophagus and cancer in real-world clinical settings.

1 Dec 2024

Ultra-processed foods increase active psoriasis risk, study shows

This study highlights a significant link between high ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and active psoriasis, independent of BMI and other factors. The findings emphasize UPFs' contribution to proinflammatory pathways in individuals with this chronic skin condition.

1 Dec 2024

Research sheds light on how fat cells safely enlarge to store energy

A team at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), led by Professor Miguel Ángel del Pozo Barriuso, who heads the Mechanoadaptation and Caveolae Biology group at the CNIC, has identified an essential mechanism in fat cells (adipocytes) that enables them to enlarge safely to store energy.

28 Nov 2024