A combination of ibrutinib and venetoclax was found to provide lasting disease remission in patients with newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Findings from the single-institution Phase II study were published today in JAMA Oncology and provide the longest follow-up data on patients …
Treating sleep apnea with CPAP therapy is associated with lower risk of heart problems
Findings from a recent study show that patients with untreated, moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea had a higher risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event, but the risk of incident heart problems was decreased in those who used CPAP therapy.
Why everyone should care about health disparities – and what to do about them
The coronavirus pandemic and the equity movement have shined a spotlight on longstanding systemic problems that contribute to health disparities linked with factors such as race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status and sexual identity.
Beyond remission: From alcohol dependence to optimal mental health
New research published online in the journal Substance Use & Misuse is good news for those struggling with alcohol dependence: the possibility of ending this dependency gets easier with age. Moreover, more than half of individuals who have been dependent on alcohol are free of any addictions or mental illness, and nearly 40% are in …
Healthy levels of vitamin D may boost breast cancer outcomes
Breast cancer patients who have adequate levels of vitamin D—the “sunshine vitamin”—at the time of their diagnosis have better long-term outcomes, a new study finds.
Video: The effects of the pandemic on people living with dementia
Dr. Katya Numbers from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unique risks to people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Study highlights need to monitor oxygen therapy in children with pneumonia
Oxygen therapy can save the lives of children with pneumonia, but careful monitoring is needed to reduce harm, avoid over-reliance and protect supply.
A new technique for correcting disease-causing mutations
Gene editing, or purposefully changing a gene’s DNA sequence, is a powerful tool for studying how mutations cause disease, and for making changes in an individual’s DNA for therapeutic purposes. A novel method of gene editing that can be used for both purposes has now been developed by a team led by Guoping Feng, the …
Could your smart watch alert you to risk of sudden death?
Researchers have developed an algorithm that could ultimately enable smart watches to alert wearers to potentially deadly changes in their heart rhythm. The research, presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference, could help to identify people at risk of sudden death.
A history of blood clots is not usually any reason to avoid the AstraZeneca vaccine
As hematologists, we look after many patients who have had blood clots in the past or take blood thinners. They often ask: “should I have the AstraZeneca vaccine?”