Immunotherapy May Hold Promise for Skin Cancers After Kidney Transplant
The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors given as part of an immunosuppressive regimen for kidney transplant recipients with advanced cutaneous cancers may be effective and safe, depending on the regimen, two small studies suggested. In the first study among 12 kidney transplant recipients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) who were treated with cemiplimab […]
Probiotics for Preterm Infants Could Pose Serious Danger, FDA Warns
The FDA warned the public Thursday that certain probiotic products given to preterm infants in hospital settings are potentially dangerous. The agency also sent warning letters to Abbott Nutrition and Infinant Health, two makers of probiotic products that the FDA said violate federal laws. “Preterm infants who are administered a probiotic product are at risk […]
Antibody Slows Beta-Cell Loss Early in Type 1 Diabetes
A course of teplizumab (Tzield) may help preserve beta-cells when given early after a type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis, similar to the anti-CD3 antibody’s delay on progression from preclinical disease, the randomized PROTECT trial showed. Two 12-day courses of the drug resulted in 59.3% less loss of beta-cell function, with higher stimulated C-peptide levels at […]
How a mere 12% of Americans eat half the nation’s beef, creating significant health and environmental impacts
A new study has found that 12% of Americans are responsible for eating half of all beef consumed on a given day, a finding that may help consumer groups and government agencies craft educational messaging around the negative health and environmental impacts of beef consumption. Those 12% — most likely to be men or people […]
Colchicine Stumbles for Protecting the Heart From Thoracic Surgery
AMSTERDAM — Anti-inflammatory colchicine (Lodoco) given perioperatively around major non-cardiac thoracic surgery did not cut atrial fibrillation (Afib) or myocardial injury complications, the COP-AF trial showed, although with some positive post hoc endpoints. Clinically important Afib occurred in 6.4% of colchicine-treated patients and 7.5% of placebo recipients (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.65-1.10, P=0.22), David Conen, […]
Preterm babies given certain fatty acids have better vision
Preterm babies given a supplement with a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have better visual function by the age of two and a half. This has been shown by a study at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, covers 178 extremely preterm babies at the […]
Long-Acting Injection Preferred Over Daily Pills for PrEP
BRISBANE, Australia – When given a choice for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent infection with HIV, women preferred injectable cabotegravir (Apretude) every 2 months rather than an oral pill daily, researchers reported here. About 78% of women enrolled in the landmark HPTN 084 trial said they preferred the injection over taking the pills, said Mina […]
Long-Acting HIV Drug Promising for Treatment-Naive Patients
Lenacapavir (Sunlenca) given every 26 weeks along with daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppressed HIV on par with conventional regimens in the first-line setting in the phase II CALIBRATE trial. Viral suppression to fewer than 50 copies/mL at week 54 was 85-90% across all three groups given the drug whether orally or subcutaneously every 26 weeks […]
Weight Loss Advice From GPs Falls Flat for Patients With Obesity
Weight loss advice given by general practitioners (GPs) to patients with obesity appeared to be lacking, one U.K.-based qualitative study suggested. In an analysis of 159 audio recordings of patient consultations from the Brief Interventions for Weight Loss trial, the most common advice was diet and exercise, typically following an “eat less and do more” […]
Making Low-Dose tPA Work for Japanese DOAC Users With Ischemic Stroke
Despite concerns about the potential bleeding risk, IV thrombolysis could be safely given to ischemic stroke patients within a day of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy, according to observational data from Japan. Between DOAC users and peers not taking oral anticoagulants within 48 hours of stroke onset, rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, accompanied by a […]