Adam Hochron

Even the most seasoned medical research teams can find themselves not reaching the goals they set out for themselves in a study. Learning from those lessons can sometimes be more motivation to find answers down the road.

With statins being a common treatment option for high cholesterol and PCSK9 inhibitors gaining traction since their approval in the past year research has looked at just how low a person's LDL, or bad cholesterol can go.

At the 2015 meeting of the American College of Cardiology PCSK9 inhibitors like Praluent were moving closer to approval but were not there yet. Since then they have been approved and begun to be introduced to the public.

How a doctor presents themselves on social media can determine how effective it is in getting their message across while also maintaining a safe barrier between them and their patients.

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter may be regularly used by patients but some doctors have been slower to incorporate these tools into their practice.

As Xarelto is used in practice by more doctors researchers at Janssen Pharmaceuticals are getting a better sense of its efficacy beyond the extensive clinical trials it underwent.

As one of the components of the CHADS2 score diabetes is a known risk for stroke. A recent study looked at how rivaroxaban, also known as Xarelto can help patients reduce this potentially deadly health issue.

For those how enter the field of genetic testing there are many challenges along the way, starting with finding the right training program through using that training in very difficult situations.

As more is learned about genetic conditions in cardiology more is being done to help not only to help the patients themselves but those around them as well.

Anticoagulants have been used for many years in the medical community, and now with the development of new agents patients can see better results without the risk of as many adverse events.

For patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation the prospects of treatment can be scary and intimidating. With a team based approach that care can help them live normal lives while safely managing their condition.

The diabetes epidemic has been developing for decades and it will likely take that long if not longer to reverse this trend but there is work being done on several fronts to help future generations not have to deal with this as such a common condition.

There may not be as many treatment options available for patients with type 1 diabetes but there are still good choices to give them a high quality of life. As the development of the artificial pancreas moves along another even better option is just out of reach.

There is no shortage of patients with type 2 diabetes and an equally large number of treatment options available. However, matching the patients to the correct treatment option remains a challenge for endocrinologists and those in the health care community.

Chronic vaginitis is a fairly common condition but for the past decade few if any new treatments have been developed. While current treatments are effective there are new methods being developed for the future.

Diagnosing a patient with chronic vaginitis is a delicate process as it can include several individualized conditions. Proper testing and symptom recognition can be a key part of finding

The field of gastroenterology is as wide as the the amount of the body that it covers. Because of this there are certain challenges doctors face whether they treat the entire gastrointestinal system or just specific parts.

For patients dealing with a variety of conditions fecal microbiota transplantation may be the best option for treatment. Explaining the procedure to patients can sometimes be a delicate conversation for doctors with good results so far.

Whether it is medication or fecal microbiota transplantation work in the field of treating clostridium difficile is making great strides every day.

As the treatment for Crohn's disease moves away from steroids and surgery and towards less severe and more effective medications patients with the condition can look forward to a higher quality of life than they had in the past.

In a constantly evolving field like oncology it can be difficult for doctors not in specialized centers to keep up on the latest developments and direct their patients to people who can best help them. Because of this elite centers are working to improve education not only for patients but health care professionals as well.

For certain late stage abdominal cancer patients a specialized procedure called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can provide a "new lease on life," as a specialized treatment method.

Working in the field of diabetes there has been a considerable amount of progress made, but there is still a long way to go in patient care.

One of the best ways to treat diabetes is to prevent it from developing in the first place. With the number of patients far outweighing the number of doctors that daunting task can be easier said than done.

Diabetes may be a common condition but there are still some parts of the condition that are misunderstood even by doctors and health care professionals treating these patients.

Thanks to the smartphone not only can patients better monitor their diabetes but the same information can be sent to parents of children to help ensure they are safe and healthy throughout the day.

While the number of treatments for type 1 diabetes lags behind those for type 2 there is still a lot of work being done to help these patients thanks in large part to technological advances.

When many people think of palliative care they assume it is meant to be done in the later stages of a person's illness. However, there is a push to show that it can be of benefit to patients much earlier and for longer periods of time.

As patients seek help for chronic and acute pain problems doctors and health care professionals continue to seek new treatment options beyond surgery and medication.

With a continually growing opioid addiction new guidelines have been adopted looking to help fight this problem across the population. Some concerns have been raised about whether this will cause doctors to shy away from prescribing the medications for patients who can benefit most from them.