In 2003, two opposing political party leaders in the U.S. Senate, Tom Daschle and Bill Frist, joined forces to support President George W. Bush in authorizing the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Their motivation stemmed from the recognition that saving lives was paramount, transcending political differences. PEPFAR’s impact has been nothing short
Health
Being a young physician in an impoverished rural area of Iran opened my eyes to a world of daily challenges, difficult decisions, and profound stories. I found solace in documenting these experiences as a means of making sense of it all. Initially, these narratives were solely for my own survival, a way to navigate the
The recent FDA approval of zuranolone, a pill for postpartum depression (PPD), is a significant scientific achievement. This new treatment, along with IV infused brexanolone, are the only approved psychopharmacological treatments specifically for PPD. The development of these drugs, which target allopregnanolone and modulate the GABAA receptor, offers hope for improving the well-being of mothers
The use of sterile gloves has long been considered an essential practice in preventing infections during wound treatment. However, a recent meta-analysis of randomized trials challenges this conventional wisdom. The analysis, conducted by Loai Albarqouni, MD, MSc, PhD, and his team at Bond University in Queensland, Australia, suggests that the use of sterile gloves may
Health spending in the United States has always been a topic of great concern. It is an issue that affects individuals, families, and the entire nation. In 2022, health spending in the U.S. rose by 4.1%, reaching a staggering $4.5 trillion. While this increase is lower than the 10.6% growth seen in 2020, it is
The healthcare industry is on the brink of a revolutionary change. Five healthcare companies have taken a significant step towards establishing a nationwide network for exchanging patient health information. This groundbreaking development has the potential to shape the future of healthcare as we know it. During an event held at the headquarters of the U.S.
Axatilimab, an investigational monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated promising results in the treatment of recurrent/refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), according to findings from the phase II AGAVE-201 trial. These results, presented at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting by Daniel Wolff, MD, PhD, indicate that axatilimab achieved rapid and durable responses in patients with cGVHD.
Autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) has emerged as a more effective treatment option compared to CAR T-cell therapy for patients with relapsed large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) in complete remission, according to a retrospective analysis. The study, presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting, demonstrated that ASCT was associated with significantly fewer relapses at 2
Breast cancer remains a significant health concern for women globally, and advancements in treatment options have led to more personalized approaches based on individual patient characteristics. One such approach is the use of bilateral mastectomy, particularly in women with a pathogenic BRCA1 variant. However, a recent international analysis has questioned the survival benefits of this
A recent phase II trial, KEYLYNK-009, explored the efficacy of a maintenance strategy involving a checkpoint blockade and a PARP inhibitor for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Unfortunately, the results indicated that this approach did not improve survival outcomes for unselected patients with TNBC. Despite the disappointing findings, the trial did demonstrate a good