FDA Panel Gives Thumbs Up to Earlier Use of CAR T-Cell Therapy in Multiple Myeloma
Two CAR T-cell therapies for multiple myeloma won favorable recommendations for earlier use in the disease during a day-long meeting of the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC). By an 11-0 vote, ODAC recommended that FDA approve ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel, Carvykti) for use as second-line therapy in certain patients with myeloma. Later in the day, […]
Ketamine Clinics Diverge From APA Recommendations
The proliferation of ketamine clinics in the U.S. has veered far off course from the recommendations of the nation’s premier psychiatric association when it comes to using the anesthetic to treat mood disorders, experts say. In 2017, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued a consensus statement on the use of ketamine in treating mood disorders, […]
Study results show 25% of pregnant people are not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids from their diet or dietary supplements
Results from a new nationwide cohort study show that, despite strong recommendations in favor of consuming omega-3 fatty acids for optimal pregnancy outcomes and offspring health, 25% of participants reported rarely, or never eating fish during pregnancy, with fewer taking omega-3 supplements. The study, “Demographic and health characteristics associated with fish and n-3 fatty acid […]
Amid Surge, CDC Unveils New Syphilis Testing Guidance
The CDC has published its first comprehensive laboratory recommendations for syphilis testing. Published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the new recommendations include approaches for laboratory-based tests, point-of-care tests, sample processing, and how laboratories should report test results to clinicians and health departments. The recommendations are primarily for clinical laboratory or disease control personnel, […]
Some ‘Choosing Wisely’ Recs Protect Older Folks From Low-Value Care
Getting clinicians to commit to the Choosing Wisely recommendations somewhat reduced low-value care for older adults in common scenarios, a cluster randomized trial found. After primary care clinicians committed in writing to the Choosing Wisely recommendations, the odds of their older patients undergoing a low-value service dropped by 21% (adjusted OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65-0.97), […]
CDC Backs Hepatitis C Screening for Kids Exposed in the Womb
The CDC released new recommendations for hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening among perinatally exposed infants and children. The four new recommendations detailed in the MMWR Recommendations and Reports are as follows: All perinatally exposed infants should be screened for HCV with a nucleic acid test (NAT) for detection of HCV RNA at ages 2 to […]
Plan for More Oversight of Pathogen-Related Research Passes Hurdle
On Friday, federal advisors endorsed new recommendations for improving the biosecurity oversight of scientific research involving potential pandemic-causing pathogens. The board of directors of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) voted to approve a proposed framework requiring federal departments to review any research that could potentially enhance the transmissibility or virulence of a […]
AAP Guidelines: ‘Watchful Waiting’ No Longer the Right Call for Child Obesity
In contrast to previous recommendations, pediatricians and other pediatric healthcare providers are advised to provide “immediate, intensive obesity treatment to each patient” as soon as they receive a diagnosis, according to new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The guidance, published in Pediatrics, marks the AAP’s first clinical practice guideline outlining evidence-based evaluation […]
Urgent action required to protect world’s coral reefs from disappearing within three decades, warn experts
An international team of environmental scientists have published a series of significant recommendations to protect, conserve and study the world’s coral reefs — the ‘canaries in the coal mine’ of climate change. The Vibrant Oceans Initiative presented their white paper on the future of the delicate and crucial habitats at the Our Oceans Conference held […]
Vaccine Recommendations Updated as Omicron Variant Spreads – Wyoming Department of Health
Vaccine Recommendations Updated as Omicron Variant Spreads January 6, 2022 Recommendations involving vaccine booster doses have been updated as the COVID-19 Omicron variant quickly spreads in Wyoming and across the nation, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH, said recent variant sequencing results […]