News

Physicians have long been concerned that patients with multiple sclerosis who get frequent brain scans accumulate deposits of the rare earth used as a contrast agent, gadolinium. German researchers found an alternative agent.

A JAMA Pediatrics study concluded that there is no need for changes in vaccine practices in pregnant women.

Researchers from MGH, MIT, and Harvard identified five key genes that could be altered to prevent HIV from dodging treatment.

Patients with multiple sclerosis may have excess iron in their brains, a possible explanation for brain atrophy, the debilitating condition some develop. If so, the culprit is likely leaky red blood cells, a UK team reported.

Being overweight worsens osteoarthritis and diabetics often have extra weight. But a new study found that it is not weight alone that puts these patients at risk of the joint ailment.

There are five different tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors available for the treatment of RA. Researchers say that despite showing similar efficacy, they differ in molecular structures and signaling disruption.

Baseline glycemic control can help individuals with type 2 diabetes achieve more significant body-composition results from their exercise regimens.

When invited guests at holiday gatherings include those struggling with substance abuse, what's a host or hostess to do?

Tonix pharmaceutical has received a breakthrough therapy designation for a drug candidate meant to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

Elbasvir/grazoprevir (Zepatier) and sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) are used to treat hepatitis C around the world, but is one better than the other?

The first study to associate genetic variances linked to skin barrier deficiencies and immune response in atopic eczema/dermatitis with the responses to treatment over several years has moved the field closer to individualizing precision therapies for the condition.

Female physicians are generally paid less for doing the same work as their male counterparts. A new Harvard study suggest that women are actually better doctors—at least in caring for hospitalized elderly patients.

Skin conditions can cause physical, emotional, and financial duress. And, since atopic dermatitis in infants is often linked with asthma, allergies, hay fever, sleep problems, and weight issues, the total cost of eczema treatment could scale $3.8 billion annually.

An over-the-counter (OTC) treatment was considered superior to both the corticosteroid and an emollient cream in improving skin hydration.

A Spanish research team found an association between testing positive for antibodies to adalimumab (Humira) and a worse outcome of uveitis, but only in those who tested positive permanently. They also found that this association correlated with undetectable trough levels of Humira.

Smoking teens, rogue genes, and mashed-up hookworms are among the many diverse, fascinating, and important asthma topics that came out of 2016.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved dropping black box warning on two smoking cessation aids.

The nonprofit, Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, is preparing a set of recommendations on best drugs for multiple sclerosis and is seeking public comment.

The FDA this week announced approval of Maci, “matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation.” The treatment is intended for cartilage defects of the knee, which can eventually lead to osteoarthritis.

Incidence rates of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have dramatically dropped since 2003 in three African countries.

Maryland researchers found that even mild hypoglycemia can pose a cardiovascular risk in obese people with diabetes.

“Assuming causality, this would mean that approximately 16.2% of hearing loss occurring in these women could be due to ibuprofen or acetaminophen use,” said Gary Curhan, MD, SCD.

Citing health hazards to patients and workers, the US Food and Drug Administration has issued a final rule banning the use of powdered exam gloves and surgical gloves. It will take effect January 19, 2017.

According to new research, fecal transplantations were just as effective as the standard Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) treatment, oral vancomycin taper, in patients with recurrent C. difficile infections.

Johns Hopkins researchers have linked a specific bacteria involved in gum disease to the processes at hand in rheumatoid arthritis. It may be premature, however, to consider flossing an aspect of joint health.

“Patients cured of hepatitis C through treatment had a higher mortality rate overall than the general population,” Scottish researchers found.

Using data from the Inner-City Asthma Consortium, researchers were able to identify the factors that contribute to more than half the variance in asthma severity, including allergic sensitization and, significantly, environmental tobacco smoke.

Beginning antiretroviral therapy before conception in HIV-positive women was linked to preterm delivery, but the benefits outweighed the risks.

Only 5-10% of asthma sufferers have "severe" asthma, but account for about 50% of the social cost of the disease. The current focus in research is on finding therapies to treat specific components of the inflammation.

Researchers highlight a new set of tests that could streamline the process involved in identifying autoimmune chronic urticaria.