Adam Hochron

At the recent ASCO conference in Chicago it was announced that Watson Health would be used to help with cancer treatment. A similar announcement was made at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting in New Orleans.

As the treatment of diabetes becomes more complicated with a multitude of options on the market a long time member of the medical technology community is taking a big step to help fight this epidemic.

The obesity epidemic continues to grow in this country leaving the medical community to find new ways to help this patient population.

It was not that long ago when doctors would sometimes not discuss the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis with their patients. Now not only is it a condition they can diagnose but treatment is also progressing by leaps and bounds.

Newly approved and longstanding treatment options are definitely an important part of the overall care picture but there is more work for a doctor to do beyond filling out a prescription pad.

As the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis continues to add new treatment methods patients with progressive forms of the condition are still waiting for their first approved medication to manage their symptoms.

Acknowledging that uncertainty is a key factor in the care and treatment of multiple sclerosis is part of a solution to a problem, finding the best way to deal with that uncertainty is another issue that must be confronted by patients and doctors alike.

From the time a patient is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis there are often more questions than answers for extended periods of time. What that means for their care and management of symptoms is the subject of a recent study.

With a lot of the attention in multiple sclerosis care turning to finding treatments for progressive forms of the disease those who suffer relapses are in some ways being left in the shadows of treatment discoveries and care.

A recently concluded survey looked at issues most affecting patients with multiple sclerosis that they may not have been willing or able to discuss with health care providers but could help others with the condition in the future.

New medications are constantly being developed and approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. How those treatments are used and what the future holds for the disease remains to be seen.

There are known differences between men and women when it comes to multiple sclerosis and the likelihood of developing the disease. There are also differences in how best to treat patients given their gender.

In a chronic condition where depression is a known symptom treating the mental condition of a patient can be just as important as the physical aspects especially when suicide prevention is part of the overall care.

Defining what advanced disease means in multiple sclerosis is a topic open for discussion. Deciding a course of treatment after that determination is another challenge in overall patient care.

Even as the number of medications approved to treat relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis continues to grow patients with progressive forms of the condition still await the first approved treatment option to help manage their symptoms.

While it may not be possible to compare the efficacy of treatments for multiple sclerosis in clinical trials work is being done to look at the various options through results in actual practice.

Research into the inner workings of multiple sclerosis comes in all shapes and sizes including looking at specific parts of the brain. A recent study has looked at the role of the blood brain barrier and how it affects patients with this condition.

There are conferences held all over the world working to improve treatment of multiple sclerosis. The consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers is one that takes a different approach to this condition.

While newly approved treatments for multiple sclerosis move away from interferon based medications Rebif continues to be a popular choice after more than a decade in the field.

The treatment of multiple sclerosis requires the work of more than just neurologists and that figures to be the case well into the future as well.

Throughout medicine personalized care is becoming an increasing focus of the field. This is no exception for the treatment of multiple sclerosis where patients may find a medication which works for a short time before needing to find a new option.

When treating patients with a variety of conditions it can be easy for the lines of care to be blurred, this is particularly true when treating patients with conditions like diabetes and heart failure among others.

Treating patients with diabetes can be enough of a challenge for doctors, add in the comorbidity of cardiac conditions as well and the work gets that much harder to navigate for even the most veteran clinicians.

Studying the use of targeted medicines in psychiatry is still new but early studies have shown that this could be a viable treatment option in the future for some patients in need.

In the field of oncology the use of targeted medications is becoming more commonplace to address various conditions. Research is being done in other areas of medicine, including psychiatry to see if there is more that can be done to address this patient population as well.

Patients with diabetes face several challenges when it comes to coronary surgery success for numerous conditions. A recent study looked at the impact diabetes has on the success of coronary bypass grafts.

As with many psychiatric conditions suicide is a concern for patients with borderline personality disorder. What doctors can do to prevent their patients from this can make the difference between life and death.

For people who may not know what borderline personality disorder is or have questions about what can be done to help these patients a new effort is being made to raise awareness about this difficult condition.

Talking about mental health conditions may be easier than it was a few years ago but the stigma still exists in many parts of the population. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is working to overcome that issue on a variety of fronts.

With a wide range of mental health issues needing advancements in treatment there is constant work being done to find new medications that can help the various patient populations.