Novel Aldosterone Synthase Inhibitor Cuts Albuminuria in Phase II Trial
PHILADELPHIA — An oral investigational aldosterone synthase inhibitor (ASI) cut albuminuria by nearly 40% in people in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a phase II trial. The 10-mg dose of ASI BI 690517 yielded an average 37.4% (95% CI -52.2 to -18.2%) greater reduction in urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) from baseline to week 14 compared […]
Is red meat intake linked to inflammation?
Inflammation is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the impact of diet on inflammation is an area of growing scientific interest. In particular, recommendations to limit red meat consumption are often based, in part, on old studies suggesting that red meat negatively affects inflammation — yet more recent studies […]
Trial Design, Treatment Options Spotlighted in Xylazine Conference
Longer observation periods following treatment and safety considerations for chronic and frequent users are among the many research issues about xylazine-laced fentanyl that need addressing, Rachel Wightman, MD, said at a meeting on mitigating risks from human xylazine exposure sponsored by the Reagan-Udall Foundation. “I take care of patients that are using fentanyl 10 plus […]
Acetazolamide May Help COPD Patients Reach New Heights
Acetazolamide may prevent some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from suffering altitude-related adverse health effects (ARAHE) when traveling, a randomized controlled trial showed. In patients with moderate to severe COPD traveling to and staying for 2 days at 3,100 m, ARAHE occurred in 50% of those taking acetazolamide compared with 74% of those […]
Albuminuria Testing Falling Short in Patients at Risk for CKD
Many cases of albuminuria may be missed in the U.S. due to lack of testing among patients at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), a cohort study suggested. Examining electronic health records for nearly 200,000 patients with hypertension or diabetes, only 17.5% underwent albuminuria testing, reported Chi D. Chu, MD, MAS, of the University of […]
Dexamethasone or Surgery for Chronic Subdural Hematoma?
Dexamethasone treatment failed to demonstrate noninferiority to surgery for chronic subdural hematoma and was associated with more complications and a greater risk of later surgery, according to results of a randomized study terminated early due to safety and outcome concerns. In the DECSA trial, the odds ratio of a better functional outcome score with dexamethasone […]
Chronic Pain Detected in the Brain for the First Time
Chronic pain was detected in the human brain for the first time, researchers reported. Data were collected over months from four participants with refractory neuropathic pain who had intracranial electrodes implanted, according to Prasad Shirvalkar, MD, PhD, of the University of California San Francisco, and co-authors. Over 3 to 6 months, participants reported their pain […]
Mucus Plugs in Airways of COPD Patients Linked to Higher Mortality
WASHINGTON — Mucus plugs obstructing the airways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were associated with higher all-cause mortality compared with no mucus plugs, according to an observational retrospective analysis. Over a median 9.5-year follow-up, mortality rates were 34.0%, 46.7%, and 54.1% in patients who had mucus plugs in zero, one to two, […]
Sodium Thiosulphate Not Much Help for Calciphylaxis in CKD
Intravenous sodium thiosulphate flopped for treating calciphylaxis in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), researchers reported. In a systematic review and meta-analysis, there was no significant difference in skin lesion improvement seen across 12 studies of patients treated with and without IV sodium thiosulphate (risk ratio 1.23, 95% CI 0.85-1.78), found Wen Wen, MD, MMSc, […]
HIIT Workout Helps Walking Recovery After Stroke
High-intensity walking exercise helped chronic stroke patients regain walking capacity compared with more moderate training, a pilot randomized trial showed. While there was no significant difference between high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity aerobic training in 6-minute walk test distance changes after 4 weeks (27 vs 12 m, P=0.28), the more vigorous training had greater […]