The early estimates on the effectiveness of flu shots in the current U.S. winter flu season are somewhat promising. According to health officials at a CDC vaccines meeting, the vaccines have shown to be approximately 40% effective in preventing adults from falling ill to the point where they needed medical treatment. Moreover, children who received
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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently reaffirmed the benefits of vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for adults ages 60 and older, despite the small risk of vaccine-related Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Dr. Amadea Britton from the CDC’s RSV adult vaccination work group highlighted during the ACIP meeting that while some cases of GBS
Barzolvolimab, a novel anti-KIT monoclonal antibody, has shown promising results in reducing the severity of hives in adults with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who are unresponsive to antihistamines. A recent phase II trial demonstrated the efficacy of Barzolvolimab in improving the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) within a short time frame, highlighting its potential as a
The results of a recent retrospective cohort study revealed that among patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, there was a noticeable difference in the odds of achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) based on race/ethnicity. The study, conducted by Maggie L. DiNome, MD, and colleagues at Duke University School of Medicine, found
In response to the ongoing outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently updated its infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines. This update aims to address the “inappropriate practices” that have been observed during past outbreaks of these deadly diseases. The WHO’s decision to revise its IPC guidelines was based
The health disparities across different regions within the United States are staggering. In places like Washington, D.C. and its surrounding areas, there can be a difference of more than a decade in life expectancy between neighborhoods. This trend is not unique to the nation’s capital; cities like Chicago, New York, and New Orleans also face
Healthy lifestyle behaviors have been shown to have a significant impact on the incidence of various health conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A recent study conducted by Irene Xin-Yin Wu, PhD, and colleagues from Central South University in Hunan, China, explored the association between adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors and the development of IBS
An analysis conducted by Pieter Cohen, MD, of Cambridge Health Alliance, revealed significant discrepancies between galantamine sold as prescription drugs and galantamine sold as dietary supplements. The study found that across 10 brands of dietary supplements, the actual quantity of galantamine varied widely, ranging from 2% to 110% of the labeled quantity. In contrast, generic
A recent phase III trial conducted in China has shown that a three-dose vaccine regimen is highly effective in preventing hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in adults over a 10-year period. The study found that the HEV239 vaccine, also known as Hecolin, had an efficacy rate of 83.1% in the modified intention-to-treat analysis and 86.6%
The recent guidelines endorsed by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) regarding the use of fecal microbiota-based therapies for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) have sparked much discussion and debate within the medical community. While the guidelines recommend the use of such therapies for certain conditions, they also caution against their use in others. This article