The phase III trial of mirtazapine, an inexpensive antidepressant, failed to show any benefit over a placebo in alleviating severe, persisting breathlessness from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial lung disease (ILD). The study’s primary outcome, “worst breathlessness” over the past 24 hours, as measured on a 0-10 numeric rating scale, showed no significant
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Recent research has indicated that CAR T-cell therapy does not pose a higher risk of second primary malignancies (SPM) compared to other standard-of-care cancer therapies. In a systematic literature review and meta-analysis, a total of 5,517 patients were examined, showing a 5.8% rate of SPM with a median follow-up of 21.7 months. Interestingly, the study
Obesity in young children has become a growing concern, with many struggling to achieve a healthy weight through lifestyle interventions alone. However, a recent phase IIIa trial called SCALE Kids has shed light on a potential solution involving the use of liraglutide (Saxenda) in combination with lifestyle changes. The trial, led by Claudia Fox, MD,
The analysis of two phase III trials examining the efficacy of perioperative nivolumab in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients shows promising results in reducing the risk of disease recurrence or death post-surgery. The study compared patients who received neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant nivolumab versus patients who did not receive
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma patients who smoke face significant challenges when attempting to quit smoking. However, a recent multicenter trial conducted in Turkey has shed light on the effectiveness of linking these patients to smoking cessation clinics for immediate assistance. The study, presented at the annual European Respiratory Society (ERS) congress in
The recent case of bird flu infection in a hospitalized patient in Missouri has raised concerns due to the lack of known contact with dairy cows or animals associated with the outbreak. This incident marks the 14th person in the U.S. affected by bird flu since its detection in cows earlier this year. While the
The recent scandal involving No. 1-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner has rocked the sports world, as he tested positive for a banned substance – clostebol. The substance was found in an over-the-counter spray that is available without a prescription in Italy, where Sinner’s physical trainer purchased it. This incident has raised questions about the accessibility
In a recent study led by Dr. Diya Surie from the CDC in Atlanta, the effectiveness of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination among older adults was evaluated. The study, published in JAMA, found that RSV vaccination in adults aged 60 and over during the period from October 2023 to March 2024 was associated with a
Patients with inflammatory arthritis face various challenges when it comes to choosing the right biologic therapy for their condition. A recent study conducted in Spain delved into the impact of biosimilars versus originator products on treatment continuation and identified some interesting findings. The study, published in the Journal of Rheumatology, revealed that patients starting biosimilar
The REC-CAGEFREE I randomized trial compared drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty with stenting as the initial strategy for de novo coronary artery stenoses. The results showed that DCB with rescue use of drug-eluting stents (DES) led to a significantly higher rate of adverse cardiovascular events compared to intended stenting. This study, presented by Ling Tao, MD,