News

An analysis of open-access skin image datasets available to train machine learning algorithms to identify skin cancer has revealed that darker skin types are markedly underrepresented in the databases, researchers in the United Kingdom report. Out of 106,950 skin lesions documented in 21 open-access databases and 17 open-access atlases identified by David Wen, BMBCh, from

A national antibiotic stewardship program at ambulatory care centers was associated with reduced antibiotic prescribing during the pandemic, both overall and for acute respiratory infection cases, according to findings presented at the 2021 virtual IDWeek. In this exclusive MedPage Today video, study author Sara Keller, MD, MPH, MSPH, assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins

Now that the U.S. has shifted its focus onto the rollout of the booster shots, many people are wary of the possible side effects of the additional doses, considering that the main series of vaccines caused some form of discomfort to their bodies upon administration. Clinical trials showed that the common side effects of Pfizer’s

Daphna and Alexander Cardinale LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two California couples gave birth to each others’ babies after a mix-up at a fertility clinic and spent months raising children that weren’t theirs before swapping the infants, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles. Daphna Cardinale said she and her husband, Alexander, had immediate

There is still this sense of uncertainty when it comes to the overall COVID-19 situation as several countries are reporting more cases while some are noting drops in transmissions. Amid the pandemonium, many are turning booster shots as a way to generate optimum protection against SARS-CoV-2. And so far, there is mounting evidence that the

The use of race/ethnicity in medicine to explain and interpret pulmonary function test (PFT) differences between individuals may contribute to biased medical care and research. Furthermore, it may perpetuate health disparities and structural racism, according to a study published in CHEST. Current practices of PFT measurement and interpretation are imperfect in their ability to accurately describe

Oral steroids helped reduce the risk of major kidney outcomes for patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, the TESTING study found. In a randomized trial of 503 participants, those who received oral methylprednisolone saw a 47% risk reduction for a composite kidney outcome — defined as a 40% eGFR decline or kidney failure resulting in

The COVID-19 situation may have improved drastically in the recent months compared to when the pandemic started, but some people are still left with traces of the virus through symptoms that manifest longer than the usual. This is common among long COVID sufferers, and even kids are not spared from this condition.  Understanding Long COVID

In September, when Texas’ near-total abortion ban took effect, Planned Parenthood clinics in the Lone Star State started offering every patient who walked in information on Senate Bill 8, as well as emergency contraception, condoms and two pregnancy tests. The plan is to distribute 22,000 “empowerment kits” this year. “We felt it was very important

Just a few years after the successful launch of dupilumab (Dupixent), new biologics are expanding the treatment arsenal for serious cases of atopic dermatitis. Yet as these topical and oral JAK inhibitors pave the way to more personalized care, safety concerns and screening considerations make it challenging for doctors to discuss these new treatment options

Welcome to this week’s edition of Healthcare Career Insights. This weekly roundup highlights healthcare career-related articles culled from across the Web to help you learn what’s next. Lisa Grabl is president of the locum tenens division of CompHealth, the nation’s largest locum tenens physician staffing company and a leader in permanent and temporary allied healthcare

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. With the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, there’s been concern about possible allergic reactions to polyethylene glycol (PEG), an ingredient used to stabilize lipid nanoparticles in the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA vaccines. Two posters presented at this year’s American College of Allergy,

LOS ANGELES, California — If a patient with psoriasis presents with dactylitis, inflammatory back pain, and/or tendon inflammation, think psoriatic arthritis until proven otherwise. At the annual fall meeting of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants, Amanda Mixon, PA-C, said that psoriatic arthritis (PsA) occurs in 20% to 30% of individuals with psoriasis, “but my

TTHealthWatch is a weekly podcast from Texas Tech. In it, Elizabeth Tracey, director of electronic media for Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Rick Lange, MD, president of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, look at the top medical stories of the week. This week’s topics include protection from COVID-19 vaccines versus from

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Healthcare workers in a recent Medscape poll largely favored getting a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for themselves, but numbers varied by their healthcare role. Respondents in health business/administration topped the list among those likely to get the booster, at 85%. Physicians

Some women may find it more challenging to lose weight. If you want to do more than just diet and exercise to lose the extra pounds, then you can support your efforts by taking a safe and effective weight loss supplement. Why Women Find it Harder to Lose Weight According to experts, women have a harder

LOS ANGELES, CA — Treat-to-target protocols for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis exist in the literature outside of the United States, but consensus efforts focused on treat-to-target in the United States are limited, according to Zelma Chiesa Fuxench, MD, MSCE. Dr Zelma Chiesa Fuxench “While they tell you what you should strive for, they don’t really

It starts innocently enough. Perhaps a sports injury, an accident, surgery, or a work-related incident. The physician prescribes pain medication, and for the majority of people, it ends there. The patient takes it as needed and discontinues it when they get better. But for those with a genetic predisposition for substance use disorders (SUD), stopping

Eating disorders began to spike among young people shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts believe the increase occurred due to disruptions in daily living, emotional distress and more time spent on social media – which research has shown can lead to lower self-esteem and negative body image. One peer-reviewed study indicates that

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization announced a global campaign to combat ageism — discrimination against older adults that is pervasive and harmful but often unrecognized. “We must change the narrative around age and ageing” and “adopt strategies to counter”

Previous COVID-19 infection may provide the body with protection against SARS-CoV-2, but it wouldn’t be on the same level as the type of protection vaccination gives, a new study has revealed.  Protection From Past Infection The idea of gaining immunity against a pathogen after overcoming an infection is not new. This adaptive immunity is what

Undergoing general or spinal anesthesia does not alter short term adverse events in patients undergoing outpatient total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery, according to researchers from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, led by Mark C. Kendall, MD, who retrospectively evaluated outcomes during the 72-hours after outpatient TKAs. For the study, published

While people with multiple sclerosis (MS) used cannabis to manage various symptoms, they often did not ask their doctor for guidance, according to a study presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) meeting. In this exclusive MedPage Today video, study author Robert Fox, MD, of the Mellen Center for MS at the Cleveland

Ask anyone what their favorite morning drink is, and there’s a high chance they’ll say it’s coffee. Whether you’re at the dinner table nursing a cup of coffee as you browse through morning emails or sipping a latte during your midday break, there are only a few things in life that are as comforting as coffee.

Over half of people who believed they were transgender, transitioned to the opposite sex, but then regretted it and transitioned back — known as detransitioners — felt they did not receive adequate evaluation from a doctor or mental health professional before starting transition, new research indicates. In what is thought to be the first study to

If you’re struggling with eczema, then you’re very familiar with the itchiness, dryness, swelling and general discomfort. These are enough to ruin your day. But is there a cure for it? Here’s what you need to know.  What is Eczema? Atopic dermatitis or commonly known as eczema is one of the most common skin conditions that affect children

The applicability of the results of the ISCHEMIA trial to real-world clinical practice in the United States has been called into question by a new study showing that less than a third of US patients with stable ischemic heart disease (IHD) who currently undergo intervention would meet the trial’s inclusion criteria. The ISCHEMIA trial, first

Ahead of an advisory committee on the matter, FDA staff expressed concerns over conflicting efficacy data on a carbetocin nasal spray for treating various symptoms brought on by Prader-Willi syndrome. On Thursday, the FDA’s Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee will decide whether drug developer Levo Therapeutics has provided enough evidence to support the claim that the