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Simple intervention can prevent lifelong disability in premature babies

Giving women at risk of premature birth a simple magnesium sulphate infusion (or 'drip') can prevent their babies from developing cerebral palsy, a recent Cochrane review has confirmed. The drug itself costs approximately £5 (~$6.50) per dose in England, and requires hospital admission with experienced staff to administer the drug safely to the mother.

24 Sep 2024

Digital health investment could save millions from noncommunicable diseases

An investment today of an additional US$0.24 per patient per year in digital health interventions, such as telemedicine, mobile messaging and chatbots, can help save more than 2 million lives from noncommunicable diseases over the next decade, says a new report released jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and ITU (International Telecommunication Union).

23 Sep 2024

WHO calls for action to support adolescent mental and sexual health

Increased investment is urgently needed to address evolving health risks and meet the mental and sexual and reproductive health needs for the nearly 1.3 billion adolescents (aged 10-19 years) globally, according to a new scientific publication released by the World Health Organization (WHO).

23 Sep 2024

NIH awards 5.4 million for genomics integration in learning health systems

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is awarding $5.4 million in first-year funding to establish a new program that supports the integration of genomics into learning health systems.

23 Sep 2024

Urgent call for long-term investment in antibiotic research

Antibiotic resistance is a global public health threat. Modern health systems rely on antibiotics to prevent and treat infections, and the need for new drugs is urgent.

23 Sep 2024

Study uncovers novel genetic variant associated with intellectual disability

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have published a pivotal study in Nature Genetics (DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01917-1) that sheds light on a novel genetic variant associated with intellectual capacities and educational outcomes.

23 Sep 2024

Hospital discharges against medical advice tied to increased overdose risk

People who initiate a premature or "before medically advised" (BMA) hospital discharge have a 10-fold increase in the risk of drug overdose in the following month, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.240364.

23 Sep 2024

U.S. health system underperforms despite massive spending, while Australia and the Netherlands excel

A recent Commonwealth Fund report compares health systems across 10 countries, revealing that the U.S. ranks last overall despite high healthcare spending, with significant gaps in health outcomes, equity, and access to care.

22 Sep 2024

FIND Lp(a) machine learning model aims to transform cardiovascular disease screening

Today, the Family Heart Foundation®, a leading research and advocacy organization, announced the successful completion of the Flag, Identify, Network and Deliver™ “FIND Lp(a)” machine learning model – a first-of-its-kind offering being implemented in care delivery systems across the United States.

19 Sep 2024

High altitude linked to increased congenital heart disease in women

The global prevalence of congenital heart disease is higher among women who live in high altitudes, according to a new study being presented at ACC Latin America 2024 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

18 Sep 2024

Survey reveals significant gaps in global pandemic preparedness

Abbott announced the findings of a new survey; among leading infectious disease experts around the world on the state of pandemic preparedness and found that while most agree that preparation has improved since the COVID-19 pandemic, respondents say significant gaps remain in building surveillance programs to identify emerging pathogens, public health funding and having adequate testing infrastructure capabilities.

18 Sep 2024

New system improves blood thinner safety

Doctors and pharmacists treating people with blood thinners can reduce the rate of inappropriate dosing - as well as blood clots and strokes that can result from it - using an electronic patient management system, a study suggests.

17 Sep 2024

Addressing anxiety in patients undergoing active surveillance for low-risk cancers

Patients with low-risk cancers undergoing active surveillance face a favorable long-term prognosis. David Haggstrom, M.D., MAS, makes the case that it's time for the medical field to help manage the anxiety caused by waiting.

16 Sep 2024

New study finds no bias in opioid treatment suggestions by AI models

A new study from Mass General Brigham researchers provides evidence that large language models (LLMs), used for generative artificial intelligence (AI), ChatGPT-4 and Google's Gemini, demonstrated no differences in suggested opioid treatment regimens for different races or sexes.

16 Sep 2024

AI-powered treatment allocation improves public health outcomes

A new study sheds light on a promising approach using machine learning to more effectively allocate medical treatments during a pandemic or any time there's a shortage of therapeutics.

14 Sep 2024

New initiative aims to set gold standards for palliative care training

Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illnesses.

13 Sep 2024

‘What happens three months from now?’ Mental health after Georgia High School shooting

About an hour after gunfire erupted at Apalachee High School, ambulances started arriving at nearby Northeast Georgia Medical Center Barrow with two students and two adults suffering from panic attacks and extreme anxiety, not bullet wounds.

13 Sep 2024

New screening tool assesses digital health readiness in diverse patient populations

In a new study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have developed a novel screening tool to measure digital health readiness, which will be critical in addressing barriers to telehealth adoption among diverse patient populations.

10 Sep 2024

Expert survey unveils underestimated health impacts of weather and climate on mortality

The study analyzes expert views on climate's role in mortality, linking weather hazards to health outcomes and highlighting urgent preventive strategies.

10 Sep 2024

Aging immune system fuels cancer growth

A novel study by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai addresses a critical yet under-explored question in cancer research: Why is aging the biggest risk factor for cancer? The study reveals how an aging immune system spurs tumor growth, offering new insights into cancer prevention and treatment, especially for older adults.

6 Sep 2024