Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Older women undergoing breast reconstruction may have increased risks for complications

For women undergoing breast reconstruction after mastectomy, older age is associated with small but significant increases in certain complications, reports a study in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

20 Dec 2024

New review discusses the expanding horizons of AI in medical sciences

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has grown remarkably, fueled by innovative foundation models (FMs) such as GPT-n series by OpenAI, and derived large language models (LLMs) like Chat generative pre-trained transformer, popularly known as ChatGPT.

20 Dec 2024

New prediction model improves early detection of infected pancreatic necrosis

A new prediction model for infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) offers a groundbreaking approach to improving patient outcomes.

20 Dec 2024

AI model enhances early detection of skin cancer with high accuracy

Skin cancer remains the most common form of cancer worldwide, often presenting as benign skin conditions that are difficult to differentiate, even for experienced dermatologists.

20 Dec 2024

Reducing hand hygiene monitoring could save hospitals time and money

Hand hygiene (HH) monitoring in hospitals could be reduced significantly, allowing infection preventionists to redirect efforts toward quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

20 Dec 2024

Navigating the emotional landscape of volunteer–patient interactions

When a volunteer supports a patient, a special and often rather unequal relationship can develop between the helper and the person receiving the help. Researchers have now investigated this relationship and offer guidance on finding the right balance.

20 Dec 2024

Study reveals poor diet quality among pregnant and postpartum individuals

New research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst finds a pervasive low-quality diet among pregnant and postpartum individuals, reflecting "an urgent need for widespread improvement."

19 Dec 2024

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': End-of-year chaos on Capitol Hill

After weeks of painstaking negotiations, Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate agreed to a major year-end package of health bills, including new regulations for drug companies and pharmacy benefit managers, and renewals of programs to combat opioid abuse and prepare for the next possible pandemic.

19 Dec 2024

Obamacare sign-ups lag after Trump election, legal challenges

New enrollments under the Affordable Care Act are on pace to trail last year's record numbers by as many as a million as the outgoing Biden administration confronts upheavals in the program.

19 Dec 2024

LLMs show potential as aids for clinicians during physical exams

Physical examinations are important diagnostic tools that can reveal critical insights into a patient's health, but complex conditions may be overlooked if a clinician lacks specialized training in that area.

19 Dec 2024

Multiple chronic conditions linked to kidney function decline in older adults

Older adults with multiple chronic conditions may face a high risk of kidney function decline, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

19 Dec 2024

Research identifies key stressors impacting midwives' wellbeing

Research into stress among midwives has identified the most effective actions individual midwives and healthcare trusts can make to enhance wellbeing and reduce negative outcomes, including staff leaving the profession.

19 Dec 2024

Surgeons slow to adopt new biomaterials for bone defects

Two million bone transplants are performed worldwide yearly, including half a million in the United States alone. Yet, a QUT-led study has found surgeons are slow to adopt newly developed biomaterials or tissue-engineered solutions.

19 Dec 2024

NHS risks developing two-tier hospital system due to underfunding and poor infrastructure

A combination of continued NHS underfunding, poorly maintained infrastructure and increasing numbers of patients risks creating a two-tier hospital system in England, a leading financial expert has warned.

19 Dec 2024

New target identified for malaria treatment

Malaria, caused by a parasite transmitted to humans through an infected mosquito's bite, is a leading cause of illness and death worldwide.

18 Dec 2024

Research shows link between socioeconomic status and cancer life expectancy

Despite significant progress in cancer treatments, the benefits are not experienced equally across different socioeconomic groups.

18 Dec 2024

Genetic testing improves care for pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders

Adding genetic testing to the evaluation of pediatric patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) resulted in more individualized care, including changes in medication, referrals to clinical trials or specialists, and surveillance for potential medical issues, according to a new UCLA Health study.

18 Dec 2024

Space experiment shows faster maturation of brain organoids in microgravity

Microgravity is known to alter the muscles, bones, the immune system and cognition, but little is known about its specific impact on the brain.

18 Dec 2024

Nutraceuticals: exploring potential benefits and challenges of an unregulated healthcare frontier

Nutraceuticals offer potential health benefits, from migraine relief to cognitive support, but safety and regulatory issues must be addressed for effective use.

18 Dec 2024

New drug approach shows promise in treating metabolic liver diseases

A MedUni Vienna study has identified a new approach to the drug treatment of metabolic liver diseases. In an experimental study, pharmacological inhibition of an enzyme that plays a central role in fat metabolism promoted liver health reduced liver fat, inflammation and fibrotic remodeling (connective tissue scarring).

18 Dec 2024