Polymyalgia rheumatica is a condition that causes muscle pain and stiffness. It often affects older adults. Corticosteroids are usually the go-to treatment. But what happens when they don't work or cause too many side effects? That's where sarilumab comes in. It's a medication that's been approved for adults with this condition. The goal is to see how it affects pati...
The time it takes to restart a heart after a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital is crucial. The longer it takes, the worse the outcome for the patient. Everyone knows that quick CPR and defibrillation by bystanders are key. But what about other factors that can drag out the process? One big question is whether giving the first dose of epinephrine through the bone (...
Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is a condition that affects many people who have had a stroke. The good news is that most individuals with PSE can manage their seizures effectively with the right medications. These medications are known as anti-seizure medications (ASMs). However, not all ASMs are created equal. Some older types, known as first-generation ASMs, have a sig...
In the US, around 40 million people face food insecurity. This means they do not always have enough food to eat. This is a big problem for many cancer patients. It is important to understand how food insecurity affects the chances of surviving cancer. This issue is closely tied to health inequalities. Health inequalities are unfair differences in health between ...
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is growing fast. It is especially useful in intensive care units (ICUs). AI can help doctors make better decisions. It can also improve patient care. But there are ethical issues to consider. Privacy, fairness, and patient autonomy are big concerns. These issues must be addressed throughout the lifecycle of AI too...
Cancer patients often face a range of symptoms that can be tough to manage. One often overlooked aspect of cancer care is nutrition. The way a person eats can significantly influence how they feel and respond to treatment. However, the impact of a single nutrition counseling session on how patients feel has not been widely studied. A recent effort looked into this by...
Emergency rooms around the world are under immense strain. Aging populations, people with multiple health issues, and a lack of staff are just a few of the challenges they face. To tackle these problems, hospitals are turning to technology. One solution gaining traction is the use of digital kiosks. These machines can handle patient check-ins and help with the initia...
In the world of cancer treatment, making the right call on which drugs to approve is a big deal. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, or NICE, is at the heart of this process. They often rely on a measure called overall survival, which tracks how long patients live after treatment. But sometimes, the data from clinical trials just isn't enough. Can...
A recent study looked into how soon people start moving their hands after surgery can affect how well they heal. The focus was on people who had surgery to fix broken bones in their fingers or hands. The goal was to see if starting to move the hand sooner or later after surgery makes a difference in how well the hand heals and how well it works afterward. The resear...
The journey of a medical student is not easy. They start out with a heart full of kindness, ready to make a difference. However, as they go through their training, they often find that their ability to feel and show empathy decreases. This is not a new discovery. It has been observed for over a hundred years. So, what causes this change? The medical education system...