GENETIC VARIENTS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDHOOD-ONSET AND ADULTHOOD-ONSET HODGKIN LYMPHOMA – August 8, 2022
WHY IS INSULIN SO EXPENSIVE – August 5, 2022
WHITE HOUSE DECLARES MONKEYPOX A NATIONAL EMERGENCY – August 4, 2022
POSITIVE RESULTS FOR PATISIRAN IN PATIENTS WITH ATTR AMYLOIDOSIS AND CARDIOMYOPATHY – August 3, 2022
HIGHER-DOSE FLUOROQUINOLONES ASSOCIATED WITH SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS IN OLDER ADULTS WITH ADVANCED CKD– August 2, 2022
New York Encourages Vaccinations as Polio Identified in Wastewater – August 2, 2022
Feature Stories
Prostasin: A New Potential BioMarker for Diabetes and Cancer Mortality
Understanding the link between diabetes and cancer has been the focus of intense research for many years. A new study suggests that people with elevated levels of the plasma protein prostasin may be at higher risk of developing diabetes. The findings also indicate that individuals with elevated levels of both blood sugar and prostasin appear at a significantly greater risk
BA.5 Variant Dominant in the US, While New Strain (BA.2.75, AKA: Centaurus) Emerges in India
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the BA.5 Variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is now the most dominant strain in the US. Currently, there is no evidence that this variant causes more serious illness. However, case numbers and hospitalizations do seem to be rising and it has been suggested that this new variant may be able to
Whole Exome Sequencing May Predict Response to Immunotherapy for Some Cancer Patients
Researchers have developed a two-step approach using whole exome sequencing to predict whether cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy. Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, have transformed the treatment of advanced cancers. However, these therapies have not worked for everyone. To better predict who will benefit from immunotherapy, scientists have developed various biomarkers that help anticipate immunotherapy treatment response. Several
CDC Activates Emergency Operations Center for Monkeypox
The number of West African monkeypox cases in the US has risen significantly in the last week to 349. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched an Emergency Operations Center that will monitor and coordinate the emergency response to monkeypox and mobilize additional personnel and resources. The Center is staffed by 300 CDC staff in collaboration with
Gene Variants May Affect Survival in Parkinson’s Patients
How long someone lives with Parkinson’s disease may depend on specific gene mutations, according to new research presented at the 8th European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress in Vienna Austria. Researchers studied the records of 2,037 Parkinson’s disease patients from their first hospital visit and believe the genetic variants may shed light on how fast or slow Parkinson’s disease progresses
14th Century DNA Links Origin of Medieval Black Death to Kyrgyzstan
The debate about the origins of the medieval Black Death pandemic (AD 1346–1353) has focused on evidence from cemeteries in the Chüy Valley near Lake Issyk-Kul in modern-day Kyrgyzstan. These sites are thought to have victims of a 14th-century epidemic because of the tombstone dated 1338–1339 that attributes deaths to ‘pestilence’. In a new study, an international team of researchers reports
Vegan Diet Promotes Weight Loss
A new study finds that weight loss was most associated with an increased intake of legumes, and decreased intake of meat, fish, and poultry. Participants on the vegan diet lost an average of 13 pounds and 9.1 pounds of fat mass. Body weight and fat mass did not decrease in the group that made no diet changes. “Our research shows
Priorix Approved for the Prevention of Measles, Mumps and Rubella
Today the FDA approved Priorix for the prevention of measles, mumps and rubella in individuals 12 months of age and older. Measles is an acute viral respiratory illness that is characterized by a prodrome of fever, malaise, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis, and pathognomonic enanthema (Koplik spots) followed in 1- 2 days by a maculopapular rash. Signs and symptoms usually appear
Possible Link Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Depression
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects some 1.6 million Americans. Approximately 30% of these patients develop depression. Is there a link between the 2 conditions? A new study from Keck Medicine of USC shows that patients diagnosed with IBD were 9 times as likely to develop depression then the general population. In addition, their siblings who did not suffer from IBD were almost twice as
Tubby-like protein-3 (Tulp3) Mutation Associated with Liver, Kidney, and Heart Disease
A study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics has identified that progressive liver, kidney, and heart fibrosis may be related to TULP3 mutations in some patients. Professor John Sayer, Deputy Dean of Clinical Medicine at Newcastle University, said: “Our finding has a huge implication for better diagnosis and management of kidney and liver disease in some patients. What
Monkeypox: Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, and Vaccine Info
Today the World Health Organization reported 80 confirmed cases of monkeypox with another possible 50 being investigated worldwide. In the US, there is a case in Massachusetts, another possible case in New York, and the CDC advised healthcare professionals in the US to be on the lookout for more cases. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of
Older Adults Share How to Age Well – Even During a Pandemic
New findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging show that most people over 50 years of age say their health is as good as it was before the start of the pandemic in March 2020, or even better. While the majority of the results were positive, 20% of those in their 50s and early 60s, and 14% of those over
Prostasin: A New Potential BioMarker for Diabetes and Cancer Mortality
Understanding the link between diabetes and cancer has been the focus of intense research for many years. A new study suggests that people with elevated levels of the plasma protein prostasin may be at higher risk of developing diabetes. The findings also indicate that individuals with elevated levels of both blood sugar and prostasin appear at a significantly greater risk
BA.5 Variant Dominant in the US, While New Strain (BA.2.75, AKA: Centaurus) Emerges in India
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the BA.5 Variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is now the most dominant strain in the US. Currently, there is no evidence that this variant causes more serious illness. However, case numbers and hospitalizations do seem to be rising and it has been suggested that this new variant may be able to
Whole Exome Sequencing May Predict Response to Immunotherapy for Some Cancer Patients
Researchers have developed a two-step approach using whole exome sequencing to predict whether cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy. Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, have transformed the treatment of advanced cancers. However, these therapies have not worked for everyone. To better predict who will benefit from immunotherapy, scientists have developed various biomarkers that help anticipate immunotherapy treatment response. Several
CDC Activates Emergency Operations Center for Monkeypox
The number of West African monkeypox cases in the US has risen significantly in the last week to 349. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched an Emergency Operations Center that will monitor and coordinate the emergency response to monkeypox and mobilize additional personnel and resources. The Center is staffed by 300 CDC staff in collaboration with
Gene Variants May Affect Survival in Parkinson’s Patients
How long someone lives with Parkinson’s disease may depend on specific gene mutations, according to new research presented at the 8th European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress in Vienna Austria. Researchers studied the records of 2,037 Parkinson’s disease patients from their first hospital visit and believe the genetic variants may shed light on how fast or slow Parkinson’s disease progresses
14th Century DNA Links Origin of Medieval Black Death to Kyrgyzstan
The debate about the origins of the medieval Black Death pandemic (AD 1346–1353) has focused on evidence from cemeteries in the Chüy Valley near Lake Issyk-Kul in modern-day Kyrgyzstan. These sites are thought to have victims of a 14th-century epidemic because of the tombstone dated 1338–1339 that attributes deaths to ‘pestilence’. In a new study, an international team of researchers reports
Vegan Diet Promotes Weight Loss
A new study finds that weight loss was most associated with an increased intake of legumes, and decreased intake of meat, fish, and poultry. Participants on the vegan diet lost an average of 13 pounds and 9.1 pounds of fat mass. Body weight and fat mass did not decrease in the group that made no diet changes. “Our research shows
Priorix Approved for the Prevention of Measles, Mumps and Rubella
Today the FDA approved Priorix for the prevention of measles, mumps and rubella in individuals 12 months of age and older. Measles is an acute viral respiratory illness that is characterized by a prodrome of fever, malaise, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis, and pathognomonic enanthema (Koplik spots) followed in 1- 2 days by a maculopapular rash. Signs and symptoms usually appear
Possible Link Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Depression
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects some 1.6 million Americans. Approximately 30% of these patients develop depression. Is there a link between the 2 conditions? A new study from Keck Medicine of USC shows that patients diagnosed with IBD were 9 times as likely to develop depression then the general population. In addition, their siblings who did not suffer from IBD were almost twice as
Tubby-like protein-3 (Tulp3) Mutation Associated with Liver, Kidney, and Heart Disease
A study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics has identified that progressive liver, kidney, and heart fibrosis may be related to TULP3 mutations in some patients. Professor John Sayer, Deputy Dean of Clinical Medicine at Newcastle University, said: “Our finding has a huge implication for better diagnosis and management of kidney and liver disease in some patients. What
Monkeypox: Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, and Vaccine Info
Today the World Health Organization reported 80 confirmed cases of monkeypox with another possible 50 being investigated worldwide. In the US, there is a case in Massachusetts, another possible case in New York, and the CDC advised healthcare professionals in the US to be on the lookout for more cases. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of
Older Adults Share How to Age Well – Even During a Pandemic
New findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging show that most people over 50 years of age say their health is as good as it was before the start of the pandemic in March 2020, or even better. While the majority of the results were positive, 20% of those in their 50s and early 60s, and 14% of those over