Caitlyn Fitzpatrick

The past 12 months have brought new research on fibromyalgia treatment, comorbidities, and quality of life and made for a promising future.

A new imaging technique highlighted an early phase of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) life cycle which can help treatment attack the infection at its core.

While previous studies blamed ‘pill mills’ for the current opioid epidemic, a recent analysis discovered that general prescribers make up a significant part of the problem.

Have you ever heard of a hydrogel condom? The answer is most likely ‘no’ since it’s a new material. But you may want to have it on your radar because it seems that it may better protect against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

An estimated 20% to 35% of children worldwide suffer from chronic pain, according to the American Pain Society, but treating the condition has added challenges for the younger population.

This was a pivotal year in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research, including treatment revelations and a confirmed celebrity diagnosis.

It may seem like the risk of another Ebola outbreak is off the table, but there’s no such thing as being too prepared. Fortunately, a recent study found that the United States is in pretty good shape if another outbreak were to happen.

You’ve heard of the nicotine patches that help people quit smoking, and recently a patch to help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exercise was introduced. Now the world’s first ibuprofen patch to provide pain relief has made its way on the scene.

It’s been suggested that probiotics can help prevent relapses in ulcerative colitis, but a new analysis presented in a poster session at the 2015 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases conference (AIBD 2015) in Orlando, Florida argues that that’s not the case.

Hospitalization and mortality is more likely in elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) when compared to their younger counterparts. With 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) and corticosteroids becoming more popular in this age group, it’s not clear how they affect patients in the long run.

Fatigue is two to three times more likely to appear in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than in healthy controls. Researchers from Østfold University College in Norway found that the common symptom can lead to additional interferences.

A reliable new blood test can test for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) years in advance. With about 1.5 million Americans suffering from the debilitating condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), early detection is key.

It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine, and now there’s a new one to consider. The first seasonal flu vaccine containing an adjuvant, Fluad, received accelerated approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults age 65 and older.

A rare genetic mutation leaves some individuals with the inability to feel pain. Previous attempts to turn that understanding into an analgesic have been unsuccessful, but a new approach has proven effective.

It’s well-known that unprotected sex increases your chances of contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases, but a surprising study involving sex workers found that continued semen exposure may actually help the body build up resistance.

Hip pain doesn’t necessarily mean hip osteoarthritis, but then again, hip osteoarthritis doesn’t necessarily mean hip pain, as examined by researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM).

A new treatment option for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) was recently introduced, but it looks like old habits die hard when it comes to prescriptions.

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are literally life savers for some patients with heart failure, however, the technology can be accompanied by serious risks.

The phase three studies, B-LONG and Kids B-LONG, examined outcomes with a hemophilia B therapy in adults and adolescents. Now an extension study went further to verify the findings and the results were presented at the 57th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting (ASH 2015) in Orlando, Florida.

Although the increased bleeding risk in patients with both acute and chronic liver disease is recognized, strategies to predict the occurrence are lacking. A team from South Korea discussed parameters to do just that during a poster session 57th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting (ASH 2015) in Orlando, Florida.

Two studies have already shown that a hemophilia treatment option is safe and effective, but researchers from the United Kingdom took an in-depth look to confirm these outcomes.

When a medical condition is paired with another, it could make for a trickier situation. New research found that some diseases can significantly impact platelet function while others appear to have no effect.

New research further supports the understanding that patients with hemophilia suffer from pain and mobility issues, and it went on to uncover which joints are most greatly affected by the condition.

Bleeding events are to be expected in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but the average time before the first episode may be sooner than you think.

Romiplostim has been indicated for adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but what about for kids? A phase three study examined the notion during a presentation at the 57th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting (ASH 2015) in Orlando, Florida.

Do patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (pITP) have worse health-related quality of life? Francesco Rodeghiero, from S. Bortolo Hospital in Italy, and colleagues set out to investigate this overlooked part of the disease.

Pain crises are common in those with sickle cell disease, but now new research may have identified biomarkers for patients whose pain becomes chronic.

Detecting iron deficiency or iron-restricted erythropoiesis (the presence of multiple iron deficiency syndromes) can be a challenge when inflammatory disease is thrown into the mix.

Thirty-day emergency room readmissions due to acute pain is not uncommon in children with sickle cell disease, and researchers suspect that opioid prescription practices has something to do with it.

Although peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) can cure sickle cell disease, the treatment runs the risk of permanent infertility.