Study Validates Accuracy of PREDICT Prognostication Tool in Breast Cancer
The PREDICT prognostication tool was able to estimate overall survival (OS) with decent accuracy in a large independent U.S. dataset of breast cancer patients, researchers reported. From more than 700,000 patients in the National Cancer Database (NCDB), the free online tool estimated median and mean 5-year OS rates ranging from 83.3% to 84.4%, as compared […]
Pediatric Asthma Risk Score Robust Across Diverse Backgrounds
The Pediatric Asthma Risk Score (PARS) remained an effective tool for estimating asthma risk when used for patients of varying backgrounds, a study of 10 cohorts found. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) for the PARS assessment was 0.76 (95% CI 0.74-0.78), with AUC scores ranging from 0.61-0.83 across the cohorts, reported Gurjit […]
Researchers map the effects of dietary nutrients on disease
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and King’s College London have created a tool to predict the effects of different diets on both cancerous cells and healthy cells. Their work could help disentangle the subtle metabolic changes associated with different types of nutrients, and improve our understanding of the link between diet and disease. Metabolism […]
A New Tool to Report Medical Trainee Mistreatment Reveals Thorny Issues
With the introduction of an online tool at an academic medical center, trainees there were able to report incidents of mistreatment and show that a small number of faculty were responsible for the bulk of unprofessional behavior, according to a cohort study. From a pool of 4,200 medical students, residents, clinical fellows, graduate students, and […]
Clinical Decision Tool Cuts Inappropriate BMA Therapy in Prostate Cancer
SAN DIEGO — An algorithm-based decision tool eliminated inappropriate prescribing of bone-modifying agents (BMA) in patients with advanced prostate cancer, according to a VA-based study. Prior to implementing the tool, inappropriate BMA prescribing was found in more than 50% of cases of men with metastatic sensitive-resistant prostate cancer (mCSPC) without bone metastases at the George […]
How Much You Need To Walk Every Day To Cut Your Risk Of Heart Disease
Walking is a powerful tool for both our physical and mental health ― perhaps even more powerful than we think. Walking an estimated 21 minutes a day can reduce your risk of heart disease by 30%, according to a Harvard Health special report published in 2017 that has been used often to underscore the importance […]
New light-powered catalysts could aid in manufacturing
Chemical reactions that are driven by light offer a powerful tool for chemists who are designing new ways to manufacture pharmaceuticals and other useful compounds. Harnessing this light energy requires photoredox catalysts, which can absorb light and transfer the energy to a chemical reaction. MIT chemists have now designed a new type of photoredox catalyst […]
Drastic Drop in Antibiotic Overuse for Common Urology Procedure: How They Did It
NEW ORLEANS — Using a tool to classify patients’ infection risk and providing education and systems-level changes in the urology department safely reduced prophylactic antibiotic use around cystoscopy, according to a single-center study. Total antibiotic use dropped nearly 30% with the combined approach, a significant difference compared with before the intervention, said Kelly R. Pekala, […]
New algorithm could simplify decisions for ship channel dredging: Research project suggests how resources can be optimized
A new decision-support tool could become a game changer in the dredging of ship channels. Millions of dollars are at stake every time a major ship channel is cleaned up. Delays in dredging can cost even more by triggering increased risks, repeated maintenance and lost revenue. In either case, the task cannot be put off […]
Diagnosing sports-related concussions may be harder than thought: Study raises questions about common concussion assessment tool
The tool being used to diagnose concussions might be overestimating the condition and wrongly identifying symptoms like fatigue and neck pain caused from intense exercise and not a brain injury, according to Rutgers researchers. This new research raises new questions about the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT), a questionnaire widely used along with other methods […]