Vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been a topic of discussion, particularly for adults ages 60 and older. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently reaffirmed that the benefits of RSV vaccination likely outweigh the small risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with the vaccine. Dr. Amadea Britton, a member of the
Health
Barzolvolimab, a novel anti-KIT monoclonal antibody, has shown promising results in reducing the severity of hives in adults suffering from chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who have not found relief with antihistamines. According to a randomized phase II trial, patients treated with different doses of barzolvolimab experienced a significant improvement in the 7-day Urticaria Activity Score
The odds of achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) and improved overall survival (OS) among patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy may vary based on race/ethnicity. A retrospective cohort study revealed that Black women with TNBC were less likely to achieve pCR compared to white women, while Hispanic women were more likely
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently released updated infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines for managing outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg disease. The aim of these updated guidelines is to address the issue of “inappropriate practices” that have been observed during past outbreaks. This is crucial as outbreaks of these deadly viruses have continued
The issue of disparities in life expectancy is a pressing concern that affects many communities across the United States. In Washington, D.C., for example, there is a stark contrast in life expectancy between different neighborhoods. The gap between the average life expectancy in the city and in affluent suburbs like Bethesda, Maryland is staggering, with
In a recent study conducted by Irene Xin-Yin Wu, PhD, and colleagues at Central South University in Hunan, China, the relationship between adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors and the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was explored. The findings revealed a significant association between healthy lifestyle choices and a lower risk of developing IBS over
An analysis conducted by Pieter Cohen, MD, and colleagues revealed significant differences in the accuracy and contamination levels of galantamine sold as dietary supplements versus generic drugs. While generic drugs contained galantamine quantities ranging from 97.5% to 104.2% of the labeled content, dietary supplements varied greatly, with quantities anywhere from 2% to 110% of the
A recent phase III trial from China revealed that a three-dose vaccine regimen, known as HEV239 or Hecolin, demonstrated high efficacy in preventing hepatitis E virus infections in adults over a decade. The study, led by Shoujie Huang, MSc, from the Jiangsu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, reported an efficacy rate of 83.1%
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has recently endorsed the use of fecal microbiota-based therapies for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs). The guideline recommendations suggest that immunocompetent adults with recurrent CDIs should receive such therapies after completing treatment with standard-of-care antibiotics. On the other hand, mildly or moderately immunocompromised adults with recurrent CDIs are advised to
It has been found that annual breast cancer screening starting at age 40 and continuing up to age 79 resulted in the greatest reduction in mortality, according to a study comparing various screening scenarios. This study, conducted by Debra L. Monticciolo, MD, and her colleagues at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, highlighted the importance of early and