Higher Rates of Staph Infection for Hispanics on Dialysis, CDC Says
Hispanic dialysis patients have significantly higher rates of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections compared with white dialysis patients, according to a CDC study. In 2020, rates of S. aureus bloodstream infections in hemodialysis patients were 40% higher among Hispanic patients versus non-Hispanic whites (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.7, P<0.001), reported Shannon Novosad, MD, […]
Adding Docetaxel to RT Improves Survival in Cisplatin-Ineligible Head & Neck Cancer
Adding docetaxel to radiation therapy (RT) improved survival outcomes in cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, a phase III randomized trial showed. At a median follow-up of 32.4 months, the 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 42% with docetaxel plus RT and 30.3% with RT alone (HR 0.673, 95% CI […]
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Promising for Crohn’s Fistulas
DENVER — Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can help heal bowel fistulas in patients with advanced Crohn’s disease, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis. Overall, use of HBOT was associated with a 87% clinical response rate for all fistula subtypes, with more than half of the patients achieving clinical remission, or closure of the fistula […]
Wearable Tech Shows Promise for Predicting IBD Flares
DENVER — A smart watch app may help physicians and patients pinpoint and predict inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flares, researchers reported. When a person with IBD has a normal gut environment, a bell curve is produced by the watch application, explained Robert Hirten, MD, of the Icahn School of Medicine/Susan and Leonard Feinstein Inflammatory Bowel […]
Type 2 Diabetes Patients Can Also Benefit From Fully Closed-Loop System
Even patients with type 2 diabetes can benefit from using a fully closed-loop insulin delivery system, also known as an artificial pancreas, according to an open-label crossover trial. In the randomized trial of 28 adults, patients spent a greater average proportion of time in target glucose range — 70 to 180 mg/dL (3.9 to 10.0 […]
MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Eases Pain From Bone Metastases
MRI-guided focused ultrasound improved pain and quality of life for patients with bone metastases, similar to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), according to a prospective nonrandomized phase II trial in Italy. At 1-month follow-up, the overall response rates were 91% for those who underwent focused ultrasound and 67% for those who underwent EBRT (P<0.001), with […]
Optimizing Treatment for Older Patients With HR+ Low-Risk Breast Cancer
The time has come to revisit the practice of omitting adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for older patients with early hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer and instead consider a more individualized approach to RT and hormonal therapy, authors of a review article argued. Modern technology and treatment protocols have reduced the toxicity and improved the tolerability of […]
Adagrasib Shows Anti-Tumor Activity in Heavily Pretreated KRAS-Mutant CRC
Adagrasib (Krazati) demonstrated antitumor activity in heavily pretreated patients with KRAS G12C-mutated, metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), according to phase I/II study results. Monotherapy with the oral KRAS inhibitor led to responses in 19% (95% CI 8-33) of 43 evaluable patients with CRC, with a median duration of response of 4.3 months (95% CI 2.3-8.3) and […]
Topical Gene Therapy Heals Blistering Skin Disease Lesions
A novel topical gene therapy healed most lesions among patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic blistering skin disease, the GEM-3 trial showed. Topical administration of beremagene geperpavec (B-VEC) led to complete healing of 67% of treated wounds as compared with 22% of those exposed to placebo at 6 months (P=0.002), reported M. Peter […]
Intermittent fasting may reverse type 2 diabetes, according to study: Study finds people with diabetes who fast intermittently may no longer need medication
After an intermittent fasting diet intervention, patients achieved complete diabetes remission, defined as an HbA1c (average blood sugar) level of less than 6.5% at least one year after stopping diabetes medication, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Intermittent fasting diets have become popular in recent […]