Sabin Dang, MD, from the Retina Institute in Missouri, expressed frustration over the long waits for insurers to respond to prior authorization requests in ophthalmology. He highlighted the inefficiencies in the current system that not only waste time but also impact patient care. Pieter Cohen, MD, of Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, challenged the traditional
Health
The dangers of social media on mental health have been well-documented, with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently highlighting the risks in a New York Times op-ed. However, the specific challenges faced by Black teen girls due to the intersection of racism and sexism are often overlooked in these discussions. Anthropologist Philomena Essed’s concept of “gendered
The recent healthcare fraud crackdown led by the Justice Department has uncovered a series of fraudulent schemes across the U.S., totaling more than $2.7 billion in false claims. Nearly 200 people, including doctors, nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals, have been charged in what Attorney General Merrick Garland described as a wide-reaching effort to hold
The recent FDA approval of the first point-of-care test for hepatitis C virus (HCV) marks a significant milestone in the fight against this infectious disease. The Xpert HCV test and GeneXpert Xpress System have been granted marketing authorization, allowing at-risk adults to be rapidly diagnosed and immediately connected to care if needed. This innovative test
The study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting delved into the tumor immune microenvironments of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) at both the primary and metastatic sites. The objective was to explore how the immune composition could potentially influence the effectiveness of checkpoint inhibitors in treating TNBC. Yuan Yuan, MD, PhD, who
As a physician, it is important to encourage patients to adopt an attitude of gratitude for any progress they make in their health journey, regardless of the size. The concept of “Dayenu” teaches us to celebrate small victories, which can contribute to patient satisfaction and overall mental well-being. By appreciating the small steps and improvements
Disrupted circadian rhythms in cognitively normal adults have been found to be associated with higher subsequent amyloid-beta levels, according to recent prospective data. This relationship was particularly strong in individuals who carry the APOE4 gene. The findings remained consistent even after excluding participants with baseline Alzheimer’s pathology. Researchers conducted a study involving 319 participants in
The recent announcement by the FDA expanding the indication of efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc (Vyvgart Hytrulo) to include treatment for adults with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a significant milestone in the field of neurology. This decision provides hope to patients suffering from this rare and debilitating immune-mediated neuromuscular disorder by offering a new,
A recent study conducted by David Preiss, MBChB, PhD, at the University of Oxford has shown that fenofibrate, a cholesterol drug, can reduce the progression of early diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy among diabetes patients. The trial demonstrated a 27% reduction in disease progression over 4 years compared to a placebo. This finding is significant as
The drug sample that was recently tested contained a dangerous cocktail of substances, including multiple nitazenes, fentanyl analogues, xylazine, diphenhydramine, caffeine, and medetomidine. The mention of medetomidine in particular caught my attention, as it has been linked to a recent surge in overdoses. While opioid overdoses are unfortunately nothing new to me, this particular case