The link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma patients who smoke and their willingness to quit smoking is a crucial aspect of their overall health. A recent multicenter trial conducted in Turkey has shed light on the impact of immediate smoking cessation assistance on quit rates among these patient populations. The results of
Health
Health officials in Missouri recently reported a case of bird flu in a hospitalized patient who had no known contact with dairy cows or any other animals associated with the ongoing outbreak. This incident marks the 14th case of bird flu in the United States since March, with one additional case reported in 2022. The
Doping is a concept that has plagued the world of sports for decades, tarnishing the reputations of athletes and casting doubt on the integrity of competitions. The recent case of No. 1-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that come with unintentional doping. Sinner’s ordeal began with the innocent
The news of Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei being set on fire by her boyfriend is absolutely horrifying. This kind of violence against women is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any society. It is heartbreaking to hear about such a talented and hardworking athlete meeting such a tragic end. The shooting
A recent test-negative, case-control study led by Diya Surie, MD, from the CDC in Atlanta, investigated the effectiveness of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination among older adults aged 60 and over during the first season of use. The study revealed a promising finding – a substantial reduction in the risk of hospitalization due to RSV
The use of biosimilar drugs in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis has been a topic of interest in recent research studies. A study conducted in Spain by Martínez-Vidal et al. explored the impact of biosimilar versions of etanercept and adalimumab on patient retention compared to the originator products. The findings revealed differences in discontinuation rates
Upon analyzing the REC-CAGEFREE I randomized trial, it was found that drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty as the initial strategy for de novo coronary artery stenoses did not perform as well as stenting. The study showed that DCB with rescue use of drug-eluting stents (DES) almost doubled the composite 24-month rate of cardiovascular death, target vessel
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) are common conditions that often require antithrombotic therapy. A recent trial, EPIC-CAD, evaluated the use of edoxaban (Savaysa) monotherapy in these patients and compared it with dual antithrombotic therapy. The results of the trial revealed significant improvements in net outcomes, particularly in terms of bleeding and
Recent research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) meeting challenges the common practice of maintaining high potassium levels after cardiac surgery in an attempt to prevent post-surgical atrial fibrillation (Afib). The study, led by Benjamin O’Brien, MD, PhD, of Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, found that this practice did not have the desired effect of
Alzheimer’s disease has long been a topic of research and debate in the medical field. One particular gene, APOE4, has been under scrutiny for its role in the development of the disease. A recent breakthrough by a working group of senior investigators, convened by the Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP), has shed new light on