Author: healthadmin

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is commonly associated with animals. But a new study by researchers at the University of Calgary and international collaborators investigated the possibility that CWD can spread from deer, elk and other cervids (ungulates that eat plants) to other species. There have never been any confirmed cases of CWD in humans. But researchers say the findings support the need for continued surveillance and research as the disease spreads geographically. CWD, a deadly neurological disease caused by infectious proteins known as prions, continues to spread across North America, including growing regions of Alberta. In a newly published study,…

In an unusual move, the nonprofit organization Blood Cancer United announced Thursday that it will purchase the remaining supply of the discontinued investigational cancer drug Luberta. As part of the deal, Blood Cancer United, formerly known as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, will also receive Investigational New Drug designation, manage a compassionate use program for children with rare forms of blood cancer, and distribute the drug free to patients while supplies last. Luberta (rubertamab tazevibulin) is an antibody-drug conjugate that targets the folate receptor (FOLR1) and was originally developed to target lung and ovarian tumors in adults, but it serves…

According to a new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), use cases for artificial intelligence across federal health agencies will skyrocket from 2024 to 2025, led by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which saw a 148% year-over-year increase. Within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), AI use cases increased by 87% at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and by 78% at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) saw a 51% increase. BPC researchers analyzed the HHS Artificial Intelligence Use Case Inventory and compiled the report.…

During the first five years of life, more than half of the calories consumed by a growing child are used to fuel massive construction projects inside the skull. Building the brain (all the neural connections that form memories, store language, perceive the world, and control bodily movements) is a unique, energy-intensive creative act. The unique structure of a child’s mind, which defines how he or she thinks and feels, is constantly being shaped by the interaction of the environment and the genetic blueprint enmeshed within the developing organization. Scientists have long wondered which aspects of childhood most influence neurodevelopment. However,…

For thousands of years, bison roamed the Great Plains of North America and were an essential resource for indigenous hunters. These hunting traditions continued until the late 1800s, when overhunting brought the bison population to the brink of extinction. But long before its collapse, hunters relied on a variety of strategies and locations to capture bison, sometimes moving from one location to another. A new study investigated why hunters stopped using a particular site in central Montana known as the Bergstrom Site. Bison were abundant in the area, but the site was used intermittently for about 700 years before it…

People with traits such as narcissism and psychopathy exhibit both common and distinct physical differences in brain regions associated with empathy and social cognition. These anatomical variations suggest that while unpleasant personality traits share biological roots, they also have unique features within the human brain. This research Neurotransmission Journal. Psychologists often group certain unpleasant personality traits under one banner known as the Dark Triad. This conceptual group includes Machiavellianism, subclinical narcissism, and subclinical psychopathy. Researchers have debated how best to categorize these traits because they frequently overlap in real-world behavior and interpersonal conflict. Each Dark Triad trait includes a recognized…

As cybersecurity threats have proliferated across industries in recent years, biopharmaceutical companies have emerged as prominent targets, with intellectual property, patient data, and other sensitive information at risk. Now, Novo Nordisk is the latest pharmaceutical giant to report a data breach. In an incident notification Thursday, Novo said it had recently identified a security breach affecting certain internal IT systems, adding that a “limited amount of information related to patients participating in some of our clinical trials” had been compromised. As part of its investigation, the company discovered that certain data had been “copied externally without authorization,” according to the…

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a new artificial photosynthesis system that can more consistently produce solar fuel while eliminating the need for battery-based controllers. This advancement is achieved by integrating self-regulating chemical components directly into the electrolyzer, reducing both system complexity and cost. Similar to natural photosynthesis in plants, artificial photosynthesis uses sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into energy-rich compounds. One such product is formic acid. This is a chemical that acts as a fuel and energy storage device. How artificial photosynthesis produces solar fuel At the heart of these systems is an electrolyzer that converts…

Since launching its ambient medical transcription tool eight years ago, Abridge has set its sights on building a full-fledged AI clinical assistant more broadly. The company is steadily developing technology and capabilities to support billing, pre-authorization and clinical decision-making. Today, the company announced significant platform enhancements to integrate payer and life sciences workflows. Described as an “AI-native clinician intelligence platform,” Abridge says it now connects care delivery, payment, and evidence-based treatment. Abridge CEO and co-founder Dr. Shiv Rao announced Thursday at an event in New York City that pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Company has made a strategic investment in…

Last year, Johnson & Johnson was a late entrant, announcing Imavi as the third FcRn blocker approved after 2021 to treat patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). But J&J is also pinning its hopes on monoclonal antibodies in several other indications, including warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA), one rare disease where monoclonal antibodies appear to be setting the pace. The company announced Thursday data from a pivotal Phase 2/3 trial that could pave the way for Imaavy’s label expansion. In the Energy study, Imaavy worked quickly to elicit statistically significant and sustained red blood cell count responses in patients with…