NYC's health plan for city employees recently scrapped coverage for weight loss drugs called GLP-1s. Almost 400, 000 employees are affected, many of whom find these drugs quite effective. But the city says it'll save money by doing this. Interestingly, other chronic diseases like diabetes usually ge
When your heart gets infected by a nasty bug called Staphylococcus aureus, things can get really serious, really fast. About one in five people with this infection, called infective endocarditis, don't make it. This has been the sad truth for a long time, with no big improvements recently. Doctors
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a tough-to-treat type of epilepsy that often starts in childhood and sticks around. It's known for many types of seizures, especially tonic ones, which can make people fall and hurt themselves. Plus, it comes with learning difficulties and behavior issues. Doctors re
Pancreatic cancer, especially the type called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is very dangerous. A medicine called paclitaxel, or PTX, is often given through a needle (intravenously) to treat this cancer. PTX can trigger a special type of cell death that helps the immune system fight cancer
Radiation therapy often fails to trigger the desired immune response due to tumor hypoxia, poor stimulation, and an immunosuppressive environment. Scientists have developed a unique nanoplatform called THUNDER that enhances radiation therapy's effectiveness. This platform stays in the bloodstream lo
Imagine a life changed by a small device. Nick Fournie, now 62, knows this well. His depression journey started 40 years ago, turning his life upside down. Medications caused more harm than good. Then, a nurse suggested vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). This treatment uses electric pulses to stimulate
Ever wondered how guidelines for treating skin conditions get updated? Well, Europe's latest S2k guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa, also known as acne inversa, are out, and they're packed with new insights. This isn't just a revamp of the old 2015 S1 guidelines; it's a whole new ball game. Hi
Headaches aren't just grown-up problems—kids can get them too. In fact, many kids end up in the emergency room because of headaches. Doctors in the ER have a tricky job: they need to figure out if the headache is just a common problem like a migraine or a tension headache, or if it's something more
Imagine a world where every child is loved and protected. Sadly, this isn't always the case. Child abuse is a huge problem that affects many kids. But here's a big issue - not all kids get the same help when they need it. Some get more support, others less. Why is that? Kids come from all sorts of
Most people recognize Mark Hamill as the heroic Luke Skywalker from Star Wars. But not many know he's also behind the infamous laugh of DC's Joker. This role didn't happen overnight; it was an unexpected twist in his career. Years later, post-Star Wars, Mark found himself auditioning for Batman: The
