Grace O’Connor — Health & Science Editor An international clinical trial called ISLEND-1 has demonstrated that a once-weekly oral tablet combining islatravir and lenacapavir is as effective as standard daily HIV treatments. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study found that more than 93% of participants maintained viral suppression over 48 weeks. For millions of people living with HIV, … Read more
Clinical data from the S1706 trial indicates that concurrent administration of the PARP inhibitor olaparib with radiotherapy in inflammatory breast cancer patients significantly increases grade 3 toxicities. The pursuit of better locoregional control in inflammatory breast cancer has led researchers to test whether PARP inhibitors can sensitize tumors to radiation. However, a phase 2 trial … Read more
Researchers have established a target blood level range of 750 to 1,150 ng/mL for hydroxychloroquine in lupus patients, balancing disease control with the prevention of toxicities like retinopathy. Rheumatologists managing systemic lupus erythematosus faced a persistent clinical challenge: how to dose hydroxychloroquine safely. Standard clinical practice relies on body weight to calculate a daily regimen. … Read more
The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces its second-largest and fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain. As the death toll surpasses 1,700, the World Health Organization and international partners have accelerated clinical trials for experimental treatments, preventive drugs, and mRNA vaccines in Canada and the U.K. The outbreak, officially declared … Read more
Current NHS criteria used by general practitioners to screen and refer women under 50 for breast cancer are too narrow, missing up to 95% of patients who develop the disease, according to a study published in the cam.ac.uk. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Institute of Cancer Research, London, analyzed data from 1,258 … Read more
A collaborative study led by researchers at Howard University and the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences has found that certain genes involved in the human immune response carry markers from ancient battles with infectious diseases, which may influence how individuals respond to COVID-19. The research identifies rare genetic variants that could explain … Read more
The East London NHS Foundation Trust, rated outstanding by regulators, must save millions this year. The cuts threaten up to 330 jobs across London and Bedfordshire. Unions plan strike ballots over the reductions, while leaders defend the fiscal target as essential for safe care. East London NHS Foundation Trust Faces Savings Target A mental health … Read more
A 37-year-old woman experienced suspected biphasic anaphylaxis after her first known subcutaneous dose of tirzepatide, according to a case report published by Cureus. The patient required emergency treatment for respiratory and cardiovascular distress, followed by a second reaction an hour later, highlighting the potential for severe hypersensitivity reactions to the dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor … Read more
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired autoimmune disorder causing recurrent arterial or venous thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity. Managing APS is a balancing act between preventing life-threatening clots and avoiding major bleeding. For years, the gold standard has been long-term anticoagulation using vitamin K antagonists, typically maintained at an international normalised ratio of 2.0–3.0. However, the … Read more
Recent research from the University of Copenhagen indicates that the human brain is biologically wired to defend a higher body weight once it has been gained. This biological “memory” triggers hunger hormones and reduces energy expenditure to prevent weight loss, making long-term weight maintenance a physiological challenge rather than a failure of willpower. For years, … Read more