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Written by Darcy LewisSponsored by Abarca HealthPrior authorization (PA), where access, cost, and patient experience are met, has long been considered by many to be a necessary evil in efforts to contain U.S. pharmacy costs while improving clinical outcomes. But what if we could imagine a less frictional PA process that brought payers, pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), specialty pharmacies, and clinicians together in the same room to solve problems rather than create them?The invitation-only Abarca Forward Conference, hosted by PBM Abarca Health at its headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico, did just that. This problem consists of two important concepts.…

Physicians who treat sickle cell disease face some of the most complex and resource-intensive treatments in medicine, and national surveys show significantly higher levels of physician burnout, raising concerns about workforce sustainability and patient care. study: Burnout among physicians trained in hematology-oncology with a focus on sickle cell disease: A national cross-sectional study. Image credit: Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock.com Approximately half of U.S. physicians experience burnout, threatening the quality of care and personal fulfillment. Among U.S. hematology-oncology physicians, those who specialize in sickle cell disease (SCD) are more likely to experience burnout, according to a study published today. Blood Advances. The authors…

A new clinical trial led by the Oncology Clinical Trials Alliance will investigate whether combination drug therapy after radiation therapy improves outcomes for patients newly diagnosed with grade 3 IDH-mutant astrocytoma, a type of brain tumor. The study (Alliance A072301), supported in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute, will examine whether adding the oral drug vorasidenib to standard oral chemotherapy can prevent cancer recurrence after radiation therapy. People diagnosed with IDH-mutated grade 3 astrocytoma usually undergo surgery, followed by radiation therapy and the oral chemotherapy drug temozolomide. Temozolomide works by damaging the DNA of tumor cells, making…

A new randomized clinical trial suggests that just 24 minutes of listening to specially designed music can significantly reduce anxiety. This music was combined with auditory beat stimulation (ABS), a technique that uses rhythmic sound patterns to influence brain activity. Researchers say this approach could provide an accessible, drug-free option for people looking for additional ways to manage stress and regulate their emotions. The clinical trial was conducted by psychology researchers Daniel K. Mullen and Frank A. Russo at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) in partnership with LUCID, a digital therapeutics company born out of TMU’s Zone Learning ecosystem. Music-based therapy…

Wiley, the world leader in trusted content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning, today announced its 2026 release. Mass spectrum of designer drugsis an important GC-MS spectral database used by forensic laboratories around the world to quickly identify illegal substances. As the novel psychoactive substances (NPS) landscape continues to evolve, with an increasing number of synthetic cannabinoids, metabolites, fentanyl analogs, pharmaceuticals and metabolites, derivatives, and other emerging compounds, laboratories rely on continuously updated reference data to keep pace. The latest release includes updates to ensure comprehensive and up-to-date support for forensic, toxicology, and drug…

New research published in scientific report This suggests that the therapeutic effects of psychedelic mushrooms likely depend on complex interactions of multiple compounds, rather than just a single active ingredient. Scientists have found evidence that several trace compounds in these mushrooms work together to interact with receptors in the brain, potentially explaining why natural extracts often produce different effects than synthetic extracts. Psychedelic mushrooms, often called magic mushrooms, belong to a group of fungi that naturally produce mind-altering chemicals. These fungi have been used in spiritual rituals for centuries and are now receiving mainstream medical attention. In clinical trials, these…

Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).A new analysis links heavy use of the herbicide glyphosate to increased rates of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), particularly in the Midwest, confirming years of research linking cancer to the herbicide popularized by Monsanto. An analysis by Food & Water Watch (FWW), a nonprofit public health advocacy group, looked at the counties that spray the most glyphosate herbicides in the country, focusing on the top 20% of counties using glyphosate on commercial crops. The research group then overlaid that data with NHL incidence rates. In its findings, the group said 60%…

In the fairy tale of The Princess and the Pea, there is a story about a young royal who was so sensitive that he was able to find a small pea hidden under many mattresses. Something similar happens in biology when cells sense conditions far beyond what they are directly in contact with. Until recently, this remarkable ability was primarily associated with abnormal cells, such as cancer cells. New research shows that ordinary cells can accomplish similar feats by working together. Engineers from Washington University in St. Louis report their findings in a magazine PNAS. Their research reveals how cells…

Photocatalysis offers a promising way to convert vast amounts of sunlight into useful chemical energy. In particular, polyheptazine imide, which has structural and functional characteristics that are effective for photocatalytic reactions, is attracting attention. Until recently, scientists had limited insight into how changes in its structure affect its electronic and optical behavior across the many possible materials in this family. Researchers led by a team from the Center for Advanced System Understanding (CASUS) at Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) have introduced a reliable and reproducible theoretical approach to tackle this problem. Their predictions were verified through measurements on actual material samples.…

Elizabeth Cooney is STAT’s cardiovascular disease reporter, covering heart, stroke and metabolic diseases. You can reach Liz on Signal at LizC.22.The grieving family was gently reminded by medical professionals that their loved one wanted to donate his organs, and they left the hospital room. To do so, death must be declared. After a mandated pause, surgeons retrieve life-giving organs from people ranked in order of need on the transplant waiting list. What happens next depends on a series of branching events. First, how death is determined, then how organs are evaluated and cared for during transit between donor and recipient.…