Every year, influenza sweeps through France, leading to over 1 million visits to doctors, 20, 000 hospital stays, and sadly, around 9, 000 deaths. This virus doesn't discriminate, but it does hit some groups harder than others. Adults aged 50 and over are at a higher risk. Why? As people age, they often develop long-term health issues. These conditions make it toughe...
The 100, 000 Genomes Project is a big deal in the world of genetics. It's all about sequencing genomes to find extra bits of information. This isn't just about finding out what makes us unique. It's also about discovering health risks that people might not know they have. But there's a catch. Returning these extra findings isn't cheap. So, how do we figure out if it'...
In many developing countries, tuberculosis (TB) often goes undetected or is diagnosed too late. This delay leads to unnecessary suffering, deaths, and further spread of the disease. One promising solution is decentralized testing, which brings accurate TB diagnosis closer to where people live. The Truenat MTB assays are a prime example of this approach. They offer po...
Brazil is preparing for a potential outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). This virus can cause big problems. It can lead to the loss of many animals, lower the production of livestock and meat, and increase spending on control and eradication. Plus, it can lead to trade restrictions, which can hurt the economy even more. To get ready, researchers looked at f...
The financial impact of cancer treatments goes far beyond the cost of the drugs themselves. Side effects from these treatments can rack up significant bills, and if these costs are not accurately measured, it can skew the overall assessment of a treatment's value. The extra costs from side effects are often overlooked. These costs can include things like extra h...
In January 2024, Chinese officials gave the green light to nirsevimab. This drug is designed to shield infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In Shanghai, researchers wanted to see if using nirsevimab for babies was a good deal. They looked at two plans: giving the shot all year or just during certain months. They also considered two scenarios: if the shot w...
Cholesterol is a big deal. It plays a huge role in heart health. High levels of the bad kind, called LDL, can lead to serious heart problems. Doctors often prescribe atorvastatin to help manage this. It's effective, but the original brand can be pricey. Now, there's a second generic version on the market. This raised a question: does it work just as well? A study wa...
Let's dive into the world of kidney disease treatment. Two main options exist for people with failing kidneys: home dialysis and in-center dialysis. Home dialysis, done daily, has some clear benefits. It can improve a person's quality of life and offer more flexibility in scheduling. However, the costs and potential life-saving benefits of this treatment method have ...
Tonsil issues in adults can be a real pain. For years, the go-to fix has been a tonsillectomy. This is where doctors remove the tonsils completely. But recovery can be tough. It often involves a lot of pain and time off work. So, researchers have been looking into a different approach: laser tonsillotomy. This method uses a laser to reduce the size of the tonsils ins...
Bariatric surgery has been a top choice for tackling obesity. It offers substantial and lasting weight loss. For instance, procedures like sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass have shown impressive results. After a decade, these surgeries can lead to a total weight loss of 23. 4% and 26. 9%, respectively. Even more complex surgeries, like the duodenal switch, can ac...