Search results for: hospital

Immunotherapy Largely Untested in Patients with Autoimmune Disease

Andrew M. Seaman | June 6, 2016

(Reuters Health)—The safety and effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy is largely unknown in patients with autoimmune diseases, researchers say—and that might account for up to a quarter of individuals with lung cancer. Patients with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis or psoriasis, have been mostly excluded from clinical trials testing immunotherapies over fears that…

Biomarkers Differentiate Crohn’s Disease from Ulcerative Colitis

Marilynn Larkin | June 4, 2016

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Newly identified biomarkers could aid in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and help guide therapy, Canada-based researchers report. Accurately differentiating between Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is important for ensuring early and appropriate treatment. However, the conditions can’t be reliably distinguished based on clinical symptoms, site of disease,…

Bacterial Curli Amyloid: Researchers Examine the Role of Bacterial Infection in Lupus Pathology

Richard Quinn | June 3, 2016

New research has found that the amyloid protein curli triggers immune activation and autoantibody production in lupus-prone and wild-type mice. Stefania Gallucci, MD, says these results provide insight into the mechanisms of bacterial infection that may result in lupus…

FDA Restricts Use of Systemic Fluoroquinolones Due to Side Effects & Will Review Application of Apadaz for Pain

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | June 1, 2016

The FDA has issued new safety guidelines for systemic fluoroquinolones, restricting their use to patients with no alternative treatment options…

Rheumatology & Other Medical Residents Have High Risk of Depression

Richard Quinn | May 27, 2016

Over the past 40 years, the prevalence and risk of depression for medical residents has increased, according to research from Douglas A. Mata, MD, MPH, and colleagues. Addressing this phenomenon may be vital for the future of rheumatology and medicine…

Osteoarthritis Treatments: Monoclonal Antibody Starts Clinical Trial & Fasinumab Promising for Treating Pain

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | May 25, 2016

Recent clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of GSK3196165, a monoclonal antibody, and fasinumab, a nerve growth factor antibody, in treating patients with osteoarthritis and pain…

Doubts Mount over Merger of Health Insurers Anthem, Cigna

Bill Berkrot | May 24, 2016

(Reuters)—Wall Street expressed growing doubts about a pending $54 billion merger of U.S. health insurers Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp. on Monday as news of management squabbles added to concerns over its review by antitrust regulators. Cigna shares closed down 4% at $126.15, well below Anthem’s original $188 per share offer of cash and stock…

Baricitinib Has Promising Clinical Trial Results for Treating RA

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | May 18, 2016

Recent clinical trials have shown that baricitinib is safe and effective for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have proved non-responsive to multiple biologic treatments…

TNF Blocking Drugs Persist in Infants after Exposure In-Utero

Anne Harding | May 15, 2016

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Babies born to mothers who took anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents during pregnancy have detectable drug in their bodies up to 12 months of age, new findings show. These infants should therefore not receive live vaccines during their first year of life, Dr. Mette Julsgaard of Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark and…

Drug Company Gifts Linked to Doctors’ Prescribing Habits

Andrew M. Seaman | May 15, 2016

(Reuters Health)—Doctors who receive payments or gifts from pharmaceutical companies are more likely to prescribe brand name medications, a new study suggests. Dr. James Yeh, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and colleagues write May 9 online in JAMA Internal Medicine that some states require doctors to report what they receive from drug companies….