— Updates, insights, and discussions on cancer-related topics The FDA has broadened the approval for dostarlimab (Jemperli), now allowing its use alongside chemotherapy for treating patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, including those with mismatch repair proficient or microsatellite stable tumors. A recent survey in the journal Menopause highlighted that 37% of women are unaware that postmenopausal bleeding is a critical indicator of endometrial cancer. In another

— Pilot Study Paves the Way for Larger Trials on Brain Health Assessment PHILADELPHIA -- In a preliminary investigation, intermittent calorie restriction improved executive function and memory in older adults without cognitive impairments. This 8-week randomized study involved 40 overweight, cognitively healthy seniors with insulin resistance. Researchers compared two dietary strategies: a 5:2 intermittent fasting approach versus a “healthy living” diet, which followed USDA guidelines on

— Research offers insight into the possibility of predicting Alzheimer's risk decades ahead PHILADELPHIA — Specific blood biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease — particularly amyloid-beta 42/40 ratios and measures of phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181) — were found to be linked to later-life dementia, a retrospective study has revealed. These midlife biomarkers demonstrated a long-lasting association with amyloid positivity and eventual dementia, according to findings shared by

UC Berkeley Engineers Develop Earbuds that Track Brain Signals Linked to Relaxation and Drowsiness Feeling sleepy during work is a common experience, especially after lunch. However, for individuals in high-risk jobs, like driving or operating heavy machinery, drowsiness can be perilous or even fatal. Drowsy driving alone contributes to hundreds of fatal traffic accidents every year across the U.S., and the National Safety Council has highlighted drowsiness as a critical risk in industries like

The United Nations has announced that it will end the employment of nine employees affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This decision comes after an inquiry revealed possible connections between these individuals and Hamas-led attacks on Israel that took place on October 7. The investigation, led by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), was initiated after accusations surfaced from Israel last year, alleging

— The impact of aspirin on colorectal cancer risk lessens with healthier living A prospective cohort study has revealed that the regular use of aspirin is linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), but this benefit appears more pronounced in those leading less healthy lifestyles. For healthcare professionals with the most unfavorable lifestyle scores, the 10-year cumulative rate of CRC was found to be 2.12% for consistent aspirin users, compared to 3.40% for those who did not

— Update from Lancet Commission incorporates vision loss, high LDL to risk factors PHILADELPHIA -- The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care has expanded the list of modifiable risk factors linked to cognitive decline to 14, after new research conducted since its previous report in 2020. Vision loss and elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol have been added to the commission's risk factor list, which previously included 12. This revised 57-page

— Health Updates Curated by MedPage Today Staff Note: Some of the provided links may require a subscription or registration. The highest court in South Carolina has ruled to allow death sentences to be carried out via firing squad and the electric chair, alongside lethal injection. (AP via ABC News) A former organ transplant coordinator has been found guilty of unlawfully accessing medical records of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2019. Prosecutors say the confidential information

— Disease Burden Could Worsen, Impacting Quality of Life, Experts Warn According to a recent retrospective cohort study, patients diagnosed with alopecia areata (AA) exhibited a greater prevalence of both autoimmune and psychiatric comorbidities at diagnosis. They were also found to be at an increased risk of developing new comorbidities after diagnosis. At diagnosis, 30.9% of patients with alopecia areata had psychiatric comorbidities compared to 26.8% of control subjects without alopecia

— Replacing weekly servings of bacon or hot dogs with nuts and legumes linked to reduced dementia risk PHILADELPHIA – A long-term observational study involving 130,000 healthcare professionals found that eating processed red meat twice a week over several decades was associated with a higher likelihood of developing dementia. Participants from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who consumed at least one-quarter of a daily serving of processed red meat —

The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) has revised its guidelines on involving Patient Research Partners (PRPs) in rheumatology research projects. A document, recently featured in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, aims to assist both researchers and PRPs in forming productive, symbiotic partnerships. Who Are PRPs? EULAR defines a PRP as "an individual with a relevant medical condition who actively collaborates as a member of a research group, working alongside

— Poor Air Quality Amplifies Risks from Genetic Predispositions Are there any inflammatory diseases that aren’t aggravated by air pollution? As more research emerges, it's becoming increasingly difficult to identify any. A recent study has unveiled a new association between exposure to key air pollutants and the onset of psoriasis in Great Britain. Leveraging data from the U.K. Biobank, with a median follow-up period of nearly 12 years, scientists identified that annual exposure to

In recent years, the field of genetic engineering has made tremendous strides, bringing us closer to a future where we can alter genes within living organisms. This could pave the way for gene therapies that may revolutionize the medical landscape. Currently, one of the most promising avenues for such therapies involves using the molecular systems found in viruses as delivery mechanisms. Among these, adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have recently stood out due to their potential for

— Research Identifies Biomarkers Linked to Rate of Amyloid Plaque Growth PHILADELPHIA — Blood tests for Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers are emerging as not only tools for diagnosis, but also as potential aids in testing preventive interventions for individuals who may not yet show symptoms, according to recent findings from researchers. In a study focusing on older adults with healthy cognitive function and minimal amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque buildup in their brains, initial plasma levels of specific

Researchers at Toho University in Japan have introduced an AI-based model that can evaluate male infertility risk solely through blood tests, eliminating the necessity for semen analysis. It is anticipated that this could become a standard infertility screener in the near future, replacing semen-based assessments. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 reported that men contribute to roughly 50% of global infertility cases. Although semen analysis is crucial for identifying male

— British Data Highlights the Interplay Between Environmental and Genetic Factors The risk of new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) substantially increases with exposure to common air pollutants, especially among those with a known genetic predisposition, according to data from the U.K. Biobank study. An analysis involving approximately 460,000 individuals from this British healthcare database revealed that higher estimated exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen oxides increased the

In a significant development for older adults with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL), the use of CD19-focused chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy demonstrates comparable survival outcomes to those seen in younger patients. This finding highlights the therapy's benefits in older populations, commonly diagnosed with this form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. "Our real-world study confirms the feasibility of CD19 CAR-T cell therapy for patients aged 75 and

— Athletes Now Have More Mental Health Resources and Are Embracing Them More Than Ever Lydia Jacoby made waves for Team USA during the last Summer Olympics, securing a stunning gold in the 100-meter breaststroke and a silver in a relay. One thing she recalls from that electrifying time in Tokyo? "People discussing post-Olympic depression," she shared. At just 17, when fellow athletes mentioned it, Jacoby thought to herself: "That's not something I'll need to worry

Seize any chance you get to eat quickly. That was the philosophy most medicine students, including Catherine Harmon Toomer, MD, adhered to when it came to meals. "If you lack a solid plan to counteract it," she says, "unhealthy eating habits can spiral, and that's exactly what happened to me." After med school, things took a turn for the worse for Toomer. By her second year of practicing family medicine, she'd experienced significant weight gain and received

— Recombinant Shingles Vaccine Linked to 164 Days Free from Dementia Diagnosis Key Points Those who received the recombinant shingles vaccine (Shingrix) saw a 17% longer duration without a dementia diagnosis compared to patients who got the live vaccine version. This extension translates to 164 more days on average without receiving a dementia diagnosis. The findings add to the growing understanding of a potential link between shingles vaccination and the prevention of dementia. A recent