Erdafitinib Continues to Show Efficacy in Urothelial Carcinoma
The pan-FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor erdafitinib (Balversa) was active and safe in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, according to long-term follow-up of a phase II study. At a median follow-up of 24 months, the investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) was 40% among 101 patients with prespecified FGFR alterations treated with erdafitinib, reported […]
Dietary fiber improves outcomes for melanoma patients on immunotherapy
Melanoma patients receiving therapy that makes it easier for their immune system to kill cancer cells respond to treatment better when their diet is rich in fiber, according to a large, international research collaboration that includes the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy. Published today in Science, the study led by the University of Texas […]
Obesity and hypertension: Researchers discover novel mechanisms
Hypertension is a widespread comorbidity of patients with obesity that greatly increases the risk of mortality and disability. In recent years, researchers have found that a high-calorie diet increases the density of blood vessels (hypervascularization) in the hypothalamus — an important “eating control” area in our brain. Researchers hypothesized that elevated hormone levels of leptin […]
How Do You Fix Kleptomania? Disorder, Treatment, Causes
There is no cure for kleptomania; however, patients can manage the mental illness through counseling and behavioral modification techniques. Kleptomania is a psychological illness characterized by an uncontrollable and compulsive desire to steal. Kleptomania has no cure but can be managed in patients through counseling and behavioral modification techniques. Though it is difficult to treat […]
Several Factors Contribute to GI Bleeding Mortality Risk
Patients who developed upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding during a hospital stay experienced worse adverse outcomes than those admitted for upper GI bleeding alone, French researchers found in a prospective study. Currently hospitalized patients (dubbed “inpatients”) with upper GI bleeding showed a significantly higher mortality rate at 6 weeks than patients hospitalized for GI bleeding alone […]
FDA OKs PD-1 Inhibitor for Adjuvant Treatment of Kidney Cancer
The FDA approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the adjuvant treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) for patients who have an intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy, or following nephrectomy and resection of metastatic lesions, the agency announced. Approval was based on results from the KEYNOTE-564 trial, which demonstrated that adjuvant pembrolizumab following nephrectomy significantly […]
‘Concerning’ Opioid Prescribing in Patients With Cirrhosis
Nearly one in five patients with cirrhosis were prescribed opioids during outpatient visits, more often than not by a primary care physician (PCP), according to a national analysis of over 10 million ambulatory visits. From 2006 to 2016, 17% of all outpatient visits for patients with cirrhosis resulted in an opioid prescription, usually a refill, […]
Managing Agitation in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
For patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder who exhibit agitation, suboptimal treatments have been overused while better-tolerated and possibly more-effective interventions have been underused, according to findings reported at Psych Congress, held virtually and in San Antonio. In this first of four exclusive episodes, MedPage Today brought together three expert leaders in the field — […]
Iron Load in NAFLD Tied to Higher Liver Cancer Risk
Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) had a significantly higher risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on elevated biomarker levels of serum iron or transferrin saturation, a researcher reported. In an analysis of over 18,000 NAFLD patients, elevated serum iron levels over 175 μg/dL were associated with a more than two-fold higher risk […]
Researchers find benefits and drawbacks to two-step surgical approach for ‘leaky heart valves’: Study finds better short-term outcomes, but increased need for a pacemaker
Patients with mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation, a condition sometimes called “leaky heart valves,” appeared to do better after two years if they had a tricuspid valve repair at the time of mitral valve surgery, according to a study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a part of the National Institutes […]