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Long-term use of enzyme-inducing antiseizure medications (eiASMs) is linked to a significant increase in incident cardiovascular disease risk in patients with epilepsy, new research suggests. It’s the latest in a growing body of research demonstrating negative effects of eiASMs — and has prompted some neurologists to question the drugs’ continued use. Results from the study

The risk of dying while being treated for acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) — often a last resort — more than doubled during the second wave of the pandemic, researchers reported. Of 28 patients placed on ECMO from April through September 2020, nine (32%) died. Among the 13

Do masks work? And if so, should you reach for an N95, a surgical mask, a cloth mask or a gaiter? Over the past year and a half, researchers have produced a lot of laboratory, model-based and observational evidence on the effectiveness of masks. For many people it has understandably been hard to keep track

The first European consensus on vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis has been developed by the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) and the European Academy of Neurology (EAN). The document, announced at last week’s ECTRIMS meeting, proposes a standard for vaccination in patients with MS, including a global vaccination strategy

As winter looms and hospitals across the U.S. continue to be deluged with severe cases of COVID-19, flu season presents a particularly ominous threat this year. We are researchers with expertise in vaccination policy and mathematical modeling of infectious disease. Our group, the Public Health Dynamics Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, has been modeling

People with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a threefold greater likelihood of having up to five or more comorbidities in comparison with people in the general population, according to the results of two separate US population-based studies. The higher rate of comorbidities seen included many of those commonly reported before, such as cardiovascular and renal

The addition of abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) to standard therapy with docetaxel plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) significantly improved overall survival in patients with de novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer, as reported at the European Society for Medical Oncology virtual meeting. In this exclusive MedPage Today video, Xin Gao, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston,

Ivermectin is an over 30-year-old wonder drug that treats life- and sight-threatening parasitic infections. Its lasting influence on global health has been so profound that two of the key researchers in its discovery and development won the Nobel Prize in 2015. I’ve been an infectious disease pharmacist for over 25 years. I’ve also managed patients

For women with breast cancer who undergo mastectomy and opt for implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR), the use of a mesh device does not appear to offer any advantage over conventional techniques. A European study involving 155 women found that the use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) did not lead to fewer reoperations, nor was it

COVID-19 has killed Native Americans at twice the rate of White Americans, underscoring the health inequities and deep-rooted distrust tribal nations have of federal government entities. Dr Mary Hasbah Roessel And yet, Native Americans have the highest vaccination rates of any major racial or ethnic group in the United States. Like many other tribal nations,

The classic definition of a “quack” — dating as far back as the 1500s — is a medical charlatan, a “fraudulent pretender to medical skills.” Derived from the old Dutch kwakzalver, or hawker of salves, quacks typically mislead patients into buying useless or even harmful therapies by falsely promising miraculous cures. Picture a snake oil

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Police departments around the U.S. that are requiring officers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 are running up against pockets of resistance that some fear could leave law enforcement shorthanded and undermine public safety. Police unions and officers are pushing back by

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. American children gained a lot of weight in the last year, setting a dangerous trajectory towards metabolic disease that requires urgent policy change, according to a new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Our nation’s safety net is fragile, outdated,

Dear recent graduates, I would be remiss if I didn’t begin by congratulating you on everything you have accomplished so far. Surviving medical school and applying for residency should be celebrated. Often, we glide by without a second thought, and it’s a shame. In the words below I will share a few insights into applying

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s attorney general said Friday that he won’t seek disciplinary action against doctors who prescribe controversial, off-label drugs to treat and prevent coronavirus infections, as long as they get informed consent from patients and don’t engage in misconduct. The office of Attorney General Doug Peterson released a legal opinion saying it

After going through a divorce and a six-year break from the music industry, the famous singer surprised everyone with a slimmer figure in fall of 2019. But what exactly is Adele’s weight loss diet? Here’s how the Brit singer slimmed down. Adele’s Weight Loss Transformation After going through a long hiatus, the 15-time Grammy Award winner is ready to

A mainstay of treatment for prostate cancer is to deprive it of androgens, the hormones that make it grow. The testes are the main source of these hormones, so treatment can consist of either surgical removal of these organs or use of drugs to block their hormone production. Over time, some prostate cancers become resistant

Brent Blue, MD, the coroner of Teton County, Wyoming, gave a press conference on Tuesday updating his office’s findings in the Gabrielle Petito death investigation. About a month ago, he announced the manner of death as a homicide and said that determination of the cause of death was pending additional investigation following the completion of

Among postmenopausal women who received an epidural steroid injection (ESI) in the lumbar spine to treat back and leg pain arising from a compressed nerve in the spine, levels of bone formation biomarkers were decreased. The decrease in levels persisted more than 12 weeks, results from a new study show. In addition, serum cortisol levels

If you train regularly or you want to become an athlete, then you’ve probably heard of workout supplements and how these can benefit you. Made especially to help athletes and people with active lifestyles, sports and workout supplements help maintain your level of performance so you can reach your fitness goals sooner. You can add muscle by simply eating right

Lupin Pharmaceuticals is recalling all batches of irbesartan tablets USP 75 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg and irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) tablets USP 150 mg/12.5 mg and 300 mg/12.5 mg because of the potential presence of the N-nitrosoirbesartan impurity. “As part of Lupin’s ongoing assessment, analysis revealed that certain tested active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) batches

In a “Clinical Challenges” series on metastatic breast cancer, MedPage Today reviewed current recommendations and strategies for starting end-of-life care discussion, surgery for de novo metastatic disease, and the role and future of checkpoint inhibitors in this setting. Test your knowledge on each aspect of the series with the following three-question quiz. Correct answers and

Researchers have proposed the use of ratios, in addition to in vitro allergy testing, to provide more accurate diagnosis of allergy. The concept is outlined in an article published in Clinical and Translational Allergy. “Determination of sIgE [serum-specific IgE] to a whole extract or to a single component might not be sufficient to make an accurate

Sometimes, no matter how much we take care of ourselves, we still get sick out of nowhere. The same goes for our pet dogs, but unlike us, they suffer in silence as they are unable to say if something’s wrong. As dog owners, we must be aware of which conditions, illnesses and diseases are most likely to affect our beloved pets. It’s our responsibility to

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. The plasma D-dimer assay has been used, along with clinical prediction scores, to rule out pulmonary embolism (PE) in critically ill patients for decades, but a new study suggests it may not be the right test to use in hospitalized COVID-19

SAN ANTONIO — The bispecific antibody faricimab performed at least as well as standard anti-VEGF therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) with increased durability, data from four randomized trials showed. The dual-targeted agent achieved noninferiority to aflibercept (Eylea) for best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and reduction in central subfield thickness (CST)

Did you know that millions of people all over the world are functionally blind simply because they don’t have access to proper eye exams and eyeglasses? That’s why this October 14, we once again bring attention to blindness and other vision problems as we recognize World Sight Day 2021. How to Choose Glasses for a Child

SAN ANTONIO — Unexpected, severe, vision-threatening adverse events have quashed hopes for a safe and effective gene therapy for diabetic retinal disease. Three patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) developed hypotony requiring surgical treatment, followed by severe, progressive decline in vision. Additionally, intraocular inflammation (IOI), sometimes severe, occurred in almost all patients treated with ADVM-022,