Contributions
Lower Use of Epidurals Seen Among Pregnant Women Facing Social Inequities
Findings greater for Black pregnant women, but exist for White women facing greater social inequity Pregnant women facing less socioeconomic opportunity experience lower use of epidurals, particularly Black women, according to a study published online Feb. 1 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Jean Guglielminotti, M.D., Ph.D., from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New...
Black Women Six Times More Likely to Die by Homicide Than White Women
Racial inequities in homicides among women aged 25 to 44 years have persisted since 1999 Between 1999 and 2020, Black women were on average six times more likely to die by homicide than White women in the United States, according to a study published online Feb. 8 in The Lancet. Bernadine Y. Waller, Ph.D., from the...
New Stool Test May Spot More Colon Cancers Sooner
Key Takeaways A new stool test that looks for signs of colon cancer was found to be more accurate than the existing test Nearly 2 million people a year are diagnosed with colon cancer, which is curable if detected early Developers say the new test is as easy to use as the current one Dutch...
Silencing Mast Cells for Urticaria Management
A recent review explores mast cell silencing as a novel therapeutic approach for urticaria. New experimental mast cell silencers like Siglec-targeted monoclonal antibodies (e.g., lirentelimab, AK006) might revolutionize the management of mast cell-dependent diseases, including urticaria. Urticaria is a complex, chronic skin health issue. Its underlying mechanism is not fully understood, posing treatment challenges. Urticaria...
CT Appears to Be the Best First Strategy for Evaluating Stable Chest Pain
Authors say benefits include lower risk and cost, plus information on extent of coronary atherosclerosis A “computed tomography (CT)-first” strategy may be the best way to determine if stable chest pain patients need revascularization, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Summit 2024, which took place Feb. 1 to 3...
FDA Panel Addresses Accuracy Issues With Pulse Oximeters and Skin Tone
Panel concentrated on how to ensure the accuracy of pulse oximeters for all skin tones before they reach drugstore shelves On Friday, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel addressed the ongoing issue of less accurate readings from pulse oximeters when used by individuals with darker skin. During its daylong meeting, the FDA Anesthesiology and...
Sudarshan Kriya Yoga Shows Benefits for Physician Well-Being
Significant improvements seen on stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY) may aid physician well-being and mental health, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in JAMA Network Open. Asli Korkmaz, from Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir, Turkey, and colleagues examined whether SKY can reduce psychological distress and improve wellness in physicians. Analysis...
Recent Drop Seen in Outpatient Care for Serious Psychological Distress
Significant increases in outpatient mental health care limited to younger adults, employed adults From 2018 to 2021, there was an increase in the rate of serious psychological distress among adults, but the rate of outpatient mental health care decreased among those with serious psychological distress, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the Annals...
Barzolvolimab Efficacy in Inducible Chronic Urticaria
An ongoing phase 1b study investigates the efficacy of barzolvolimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the KIT receptor, for chronic inducible urticaria. Barzolvolimab was found to provide rapid relief, suppress mast cell activity, and significantly improve urticaria control and patients’ quality of life. Chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) is a subset of chronic urticaria that includes conditions...