The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended cladribine (Mavenclad, Merck Serono) for adults in England with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). This decision makes the NHS the first healthcare system in Europe to widely offer the at-home tablet for patients with active MS. The final draft guidance means cladribine is an option for … Read more
TOPLINE: A 12-week supervised high-intensity exercise programme was feasible for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), leading to potential improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiovascular risk factors, and psychological outcomes, without an increased risk for arrhythmias. METHODOLOGY: This study examined the feasibility and impact of an individualised high-intensity exercise programme in patients with HCM recruited at three … Read more
TOPLINE: The occurrence of acute brain lesions was lower with a transseptal puncture than with a conventional retrograde aortic approach in patients undergoing left ventricular catheter ablation, with no significant difference in the safety or efficacy profile between both approaches. METHODOLOGY: Previous studies suggested that catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation results in new brain lesions … Read more
The search for a solution to antimicrobial resistance found something. And researchers found it in a true “it’s always the last place you look” location. Australian oysters. Or more specifically, Australian oyster blood. We know antimicrobial resistance claims at least 1 million lives each year, and experts suspect that number to double by 2050. To … Read more
A teaspoon of salt. This is the amount of sodium that US dietary guidelines recommend that people consume a day. Yet salt consumption is often higher than the recommended amount. The progression of evidence about the effect of salt on cardiovascular health has marched forward from studies showing a reduction in consumption associated with lower … Read more
Many celebrities are talking enthusiastically about their experiences with weight-loss drugs — especially semaglutide-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs; Ozempic, Wegovy). It’s no surprise that the recent Golden Globes was dubbed “Ozempic’s biggest night.” That show exemplified the fervent celebrity chatter that has helped send prescriptions for these drugs skyrocketing. Comedian Tracy Morgan, … Read more
Flu Vaccines: Battling H3N2 and Protecting Public Health The annual race against the ever-changing influenza virus is a critical one for public health. A recent meta-analysis published in the European Respiratory Review sheds light on the effectiveness of flu vaccines against different influenza subtypes, particularly the notoriously evasive H3N2 strain. This strain poses a unique … Read more
Influenza vaccination significantly reduces flu-related morbidity and mortality across all age groups, according to a large-scale Spanish study analyzing data from more than 38 countries and 6.5 million patients. Published in the European Respiratory Review, the meta-analysis was conducted by the Virology and Innate Immunity Research Group at CEU San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain, and … Read more
TOPLINE: Outpatient low-dose initiation (LDI) of buprenorphine has a low rate of success in people with opioid use disorder (OUD) using fentanyl, with a completion rate of just 34% and retention rates of 18%-21%, a new cohort study suggests. METHODOLOGY: The cohort study analyzed data from 126 adults (median age, 35 years; 71% men; 52% … Read more
Bipolar disorder (BD) is common, affecting some 6 million Americans and 3% of individuals worldwide. Despite its high prevalence, experts say the disorder is poorly understood, underdiagnosed, and underfunded. It’s been more than 50 years since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lithium, the best treatment and gold standard for BD. But lithium … Read more