Regulators Will Likely Continue to Make Development Difficult, Even After Aging is Recognized as a Medical Condition
It is the nature of regulators at the FDA to aim for zero risk at any cost, and this is particularly apparent in the case of preventative therapies intended to be deployed widely in comparatively healthy people. Absent unusual political pressure, any number of ongoing deaths while therapies are assessed is treated as an acceptable cost to avoid even small numbers of deaths that may occur due to use of a new therapy. Thus even after aging is recognized as a medical condition by regulators, it is likely that they will make it too expensive to assess potential therapies. Instead, companies will gain clinical approval for trea...
Source: Fight Aging! - October 25, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs

AI in health care: possibilities and ethical questions [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! We sit down with Farhan S. Imran, a hematology-oncology physician. Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of health care and technology, discussing the impact of computers on the doctor-patient relationship, the role of AI in medicine, and the ethical questions surrounding artificial Read more… AI in health care: possibilities and ethical questions [PODCAST] originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 24, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Podcast Health IT Source Type: blogs

In Search of Mammalian Gene Duplications Correlated with Species Longevity
Duplication of a genetic sequence is a common occurrence over evolutionary time, one of the mechanisms by which species evolve. Noteworthy duplications include the many versions of cancer suppressor gene TP53 that are observed in the elephant genome. Large animals have many more cells than small animals, and so the evolution of greater size must be accompanied by the evolution of ways to greatly reduce cancer risk per cell. Researchers here report on the results of searching for specific gene duplications in mammalian species that correlate with species longevity. This provides starting points for further study of t...
Source: Fight Aging! - October 24, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs

My breast cancer journey: Why mammograms matter
25 years ago, at the age of 42, I had my first mammogram, which was part of my routine checkup. I had no symptoms at the time. I was devastated when the radiologist discovered a shadow in my left breast. To confirm this, a biopsy was scheduled, and indeed, the biopsy confirmed that I had Read more… My breast cancer journey: Why mammograms matter originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 24, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Oncology/Hematology Source Type: blogs

Serum Galectin-3 Correlates with Frailty Risk
In this study, we aimed to address the change of Gal-3 levels in human whole blood with frailty. We performed serum biochemical and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) microarray analyses in humans to determine the secretory phenotype characteristics of frailty. Furthermore, we used the frail mouse model to study the significantly altered behavioral phenotype and associated secreted Gal-3 levels in blood samples to reveal the Gal-3-dependent inflammatory dysregulation of frailty. (Source: Fight Aging!)
Source: Fight Aging! - October 23, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs

Turning adversity into hope: my path to a career in medicine
I have wanted to work in medicine ever since my eleven-year-old cousin passed out during my uncle’s birthday party. He suddenly fainted when we were supposed to cut the cake. We rushed to the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed him with blood cancer after a couple of months, which was too late for him to survive. Read more… Turning adversity into hope: my path to a career in medicine originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 23, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Infectious Disease Source Type: blogs

Does this T wave pattern mean anything?
Written by Michael Doyle DO and Timothy Palmieri MD. Edited by Bracey, Meyers, Grauer, and SmithA 50-something-year-old female with a history of an unknown personality disorder and alcohol use disorder arrived via EMS following cardiac arrest with return of spontaneous circulation. The described rhythm was an irregular, wide complex rhythm. By EMS report, open pill bottles were found nearby at the scene, including quetiapine, fluoxetine, hydroxyzine, and gabapentin. She was successfully revived after several rounds of ACLS including defibrillation and amiodarone.On arrival to the ED the patient was intubated with normal vi...
Source: Dr. Smith's ECG Blog - October 23, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Bracey Source Type: blogs

Bonus Features – October 22, 2023 – 57% of patients accessed portals or medical records in 2022, 21 orgs make Level 10 in the 2023 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired Survey, and more
This article will be a weekly roundup of interesting stories, product announcements, new hires, partnerships, research studies, awards, sales, and more. Because there’s so much happening out there in healthcare IT we aren’t able to cover in our full articles, we still want to make sure you’re informed of all the latest news, announcements, and stories happening to help you better do your job. News Nearly six in 10 (57%) of patients accessed online medical records or patient portals in 2022, according to the latest ONC data brief. This total has doubled since 2017. This compares to 73% of patients who were offered acc...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - October 22, 2023 Category: Information Technology Authors: Brian Eastwood Tags: Healthcare IT @EqualityHealth 9amHealth Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation Amazon Web Services Artisight Avidex CareCloud Censinet CHIME Densitas Fairtility First Health Advisory FOLX Health Health iPASS Healthcare IT T Source Type: blogs

When a breast lump is as scary as Halloween
October is an important month for many, but I’m not actually talking about Halloween. However, for many, it can be a reminder of something very scary that happened in their lifetime. For me, it isn’t October, a month dedicated to breast cancer awareness. March was when breast pain and a self-detected lump would lead me Read more… When a breast lump is as scary as Halloween originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 21, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Conditions Oncology/Hematology Source Type: blogs

VT? Or Supraventricular tachycardic rhythm with aberrancy?
A 70 something male presented in severe respiratory distress.The patient had altered mental status and so he was prepared for intubation.  Before intubation, he became  hypotensive.On the monitor patient had wide-complex tachycardia. The following 12-lead was obtained:What do you think?Differential is ventricular tachycardia versus supraventricular tachycardia with aberrancy versus sinus tachycardia with a aberrancy.  There are possible P waves in lead II. But these could be an extension of the QRS, so sinus tach is not certain.  Certainty could come with the use of Lewis leads. Much easi...
Source: Dr. Smith's ECG Blog - October 21, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Steve Smith Source Type: blogs

Combining CAR-T Therapy with Tumor-Seeking Bacteria
T cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) aggressively attack other cells bearing surface markers that match that receptor. This approach is expensive, as it requires engineering cells taken from a patient, and developing CARs specific to each cancer subtype, but has so far proven effective against a number of forms of cancer. Not all cancers are consistent in markers expressed by cancer cells, however, and many cancers exhibit rapid evolution of tumor cell characteristics - only a marginal slowing of progress is achieved when much of the cancer can quickly become immune to a therapeutic approach. ...
Source: Fight Aging! - October 19, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs

miRNA Therapy Slows Cancer Growth
Scientists at Purdue University have developed a microRNA therapy designed to slow tumor growth. The technology takes advantage of the tendency of several cancer types to express an excess of surface receptors that bind folate (vitamin B9) and draw it into the cell interior. By attaching the microRNA strand to a folate molecule, the researchers could target it to cancer cells. This targeting specificity is advantageous in reducing the potential for side-effects elsewhere in the body, and in reducing the required dose to achieve a tangible anti-cancer effect. The researchers hope that the treatment will expand the therapeut...
Source: Medgadget - October 19, 2023 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Genetics Oncology Source Type: blogs

Questions grow about the validity and usefulness of direct-to-consumer blood tests for Alzheimer ’s Disease
For the first time, people worried about their risk of Alzheimer’s disease can go online, order a blood test, and receive results in the privacy of their homes. This might seem appealing on the surface, but the development has Alzheimer’s researchers and clinicians up in arms. The Quest Diagnostics blood test, AD-Detect, measures elevated levels of amyloid-beta proteins, a signature characteristic of Alzheimer’s. Introduced in late July, the test is targeted primarily at people 50 and older who suspect their memory and thinking might be impaired and people with a family history of Alzheimer’s or genetic risks for t...
Source: SharpBrains - October 19, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Judith Graham at Kaiser Health News Tags: Brain/ Mental Health AD-Detect Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s biomarker amyloid-beta proteins brain health brain pathology cognitive cognitive-symptoms mini-strokes neurology neuropsychologist Quest Diagnostics sleep apnea Source Type: blogs

GoodWill ’ s Lessons for Health Care
By KIM BELLARD The New York Times had an interesting profile this weekend about how Goodwill Industries is trying to revamp its online presence – transitioning from its legacy ShopGoodwill.com to a new platform GoodwillFinds — in the amidst of numerous other online resellers.  It zeroed in on the key distinction Goodwill has: But Goodwill isn’t doing this just because it wants to move into the 21st century. More than 130,000 people work across the organization, while two million people received assistance last year through its programs, which include career navigation and skills training. Those opportu...
Source: The Health Care Blog - October 18, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Health Policy Cleveland Clinic community health Goodwill HCA Kaiser Permanente Kim Bellard United Healthcare UPMC Source Type: blogs

Health Data Analytics Institute (HDAI) Announces $31 Million Funding Round to Scale Predictive Risk Platform
Investment will Drive Expansion of New AI Platform, In Use by Houston Methodist and Additional Health Systems Health Data Analytics Institute (HDAI)— an artificial intelligence (AI) company focused on empowering clinicians, optimizing care pathways, and improving patient outcomes — today announced an oversubscribed Series C financing to scale its predictive risk platform. “We are grateful for the continued support of our investors, who recognize the value to be unlocked by transforming huge volumes of health data into actionable insights,” said Nassib Chamoun, Founder and CEO at HDAI. “HDAI is commi...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - October 17, 2023 Category: Information Technology Authors: Healthcare IT News Tags: Health IT Company Healthcare IT Cleveland Clinic Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Ed Kania HDAI Health Data Analytics Institute Health IT Funding Health IT Fundings Health IT Investment HealthVision Hlth Houston Methodist Nassib Cham Source Type: blogs