Bile duct cancers are a tough bunch to beat. They are tricky because they come in different forms and are hard to treat. For a long time, doctors have used a combo of gemcitabine and cisplatin to help patients feel better, even if it couldn't cure them. This was the go-to treatment for over ten years. But now, things are changing. Two big studies, TOPAZ-1 and KEYNOTE...
The idea of helping adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in a shorter time frame is gaining traction. A recent effort focused on a 12-week therapy program called Road Maps. This program is designed to serve as a middle ground in the care process for those diagnosed with BPD. The goal was to see if this program could make a real difference in a shorter pe...
Interstitial lung diseases are a group of conditions that cause scarring of the lungs. They can lead to sudden flare-ups, known as acute exacerbations. These flare-ups are particularly tough to manage in cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a type of lung disease with an unknown cause. The outcome for patients experiencing these flare-ups is often grim, with a hig...
A recent study has shed light on the potential benefits of arimoclomol for individuals with Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC). This study, known as NPC-002, was a 12-month trial. It was designed to be double-blind and randomized, with a placebo group for comparison. The main goal was to see how arimoclomol affected the progression of NPC. The results were measured us...
The world of clinical trials is changing fast. The focus is now on putting patients first. This means making sure they stay involved, follow the rules, and want to take part. To do this, more trials are using technology to reach patients where they are. This is called decentralized clinical trials or DCTs. But, is this really making things better for patients? The i...
The hunt for volunteers in liver disease studies is tough. Why? Because liver issues like cancer and scarring are complicated. Doctors need to check many details to find the right people. This is usually done by hand, which takes ages and can lead to mistakes. But there's hope on the horizon. Artificial intelligence, or AI, might be the answer. It can quickly go thro...
Afatinib and capecitabine are two drugs that are being tested together in a clinical trial. This trial is for people who have cancers that are hard to treat. These cancers include pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, biliary tract cancers, and other solid tumors. The epidermal growth factor receptor is a protein. It is found on the surface of cells. It helps ce...
Bile duct cancer, also known as biliary tract carcinoma, is a tough nut to crack. It is a serious disease that has not seen many breakthroughs in treatment. It is not all doom and gloom, though. Researchers have been testing out different ways to fight this disease. They have been looking at combining different types of treatments to see if they can improve the o...
Kidney surgery can be tough on the body. One of the main concerns is protecting the kidney from damage. One way to do this is by using a substance called mannitol. It is often given to patients before the blood flow to the kidney is temporarily stopped during surgery. This is a common step in a procedure known as nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). This type of surge...
Semaglutide is a game-changer in the fight against type 2 diabetes and obesity. It is a type of drug that mimics natural hormones in the body. This drug is available in two forms: a pill and an injection. Both have shown impressive results in managing weight and blood sugar levels over the long term. First, let's talk about the big picture. Obesity and type 2 di...