Medicine
Why does cancer immunotherapy work for some and not others?
Why does cancer immunotherapy work for some and not others? A new study published in Nature found that naturally occurring autoantibodies can significantly boost or hinder the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy by up to 10-fold. The researchers mapped autoantibodies from 374 cancer patients treated with checkpoint immunotherapy and 131 untreated healthy individuals, using a novel […]
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Vaccines hold tantalizing promise in the fight against dementia
Vaccines hold tantalizing promise in the fight against dementia Vaccines may hold promise in reducing the risk of dementia, with one study suggesting that the shingles vaccine could lower the risk by as much as 20%. The study used a policy change in Wales to compare vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, finding that the vaccine reduced […]
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Are you really allergic to penicillin? A pharmacist explains why there’s a good chance you’re not − and how you can find out for sure
Are you really allergic to penicillin? A pharmacist explains why there’s a good chance you’re not − and how you can find out for sure Only 1% of Americans who report a penicillin allergy actually have one, making it likely that many people are incorrectly labeled as allergic. A penicillin skin test can safely determine […]
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Heart drug kills dangerous antibiotic resistant bacteria
Heart drug kills dangerous antibiotic resistant bacteria Fendiline, a heart drug previously used to treat arrhythmia, has been found to selectively kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The researchers identified a specific weakness in the lipoprotein trafficking pathway of the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, which is weakened in resistant bacteria. The study employed an entirely new strategy to target […]
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AI in health care could save lives and money − but change won’t happen overnight
AI in health care could save lives and money − but change won’t happen overnight Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by analyzing patient data prior to surgery, helping doctors make faster and more accurate diagnoses, and streamlining hospital workflows. However, AI’s impact on healthcare so far has been relatively low due […]
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The Supreme Court upholds free preventive care, but its future now rests in RFK Jr.’s hands
The Supreme Court upholds free preventive care, but its future now rests in RFK Jr.’s hands The US Supreme Court has upheld free preventive care under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in a 6-3 ruling, preserving access to health screenings and interventions for approximately 150 million Americans. The decision, written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, rejected […]
📰 News
I’m a physician who has looked at hundreds of studies of vaccine safety, and here’s some of what RFK Jr. gets wrong
I’m a physician who has looked at hundreds of studies of vaccine safety, and here’s some of what RFK Jr. gets wrong Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s statements on vaccine safety have been widely criticized for being factually incorrect, casting doubt on public confidence in vaccines. The author, an infectious disease physician, has reviewed hundreds of […]
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Are the medications you take safe?
Are the medications you take safe? A Harvard University physician-researcher, Jerry Avorn, argues that the FDA’s approval process for prescription drugs needs to be strengthened. The Accelerated Approval Program, introduced in the 1990s, has allowed over half of new drugs onto the market without rigorous proof of effectiveness. Avorn cites numerous examples of ineffective or […]
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Family and friends shoulder the real cost of dementia − $224B in unpaid care
Family and friends shoulder the real cost of dementia − $224B in unpaid care The true cost of dementia care in the US is estimated to be $277 billion per year, five times higher than the initial medical spending estimate of $53 billion. The majority of this cost ($224 billion) is attributed to unpaid care […]
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Kaiser Permanente using artificial intelligence to improve patient care
Kaiser Permanente using artificial intelligence to improve patient care Kaiser Permanente is utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance patient care. The use of ambient AI eliminates the need for real-time note-taking, allowing doctors to focus more on their patients. This innovative approach enables doctors to engage more fully with their patients and provide better care. By […]
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