Health Topics – Johns Hopkins Medicine Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Outdoor foggers with insecticides of the permethrin class help a lot in keeping mosquitoes from invading your outdoor celebrations in the summer, but if you don’t like inhaling these products Christopher Potter, a mosquito expert at Johns Hopkins, says there … Several strategies seem to help in keeping mosquitoes out of your yard, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance, they transmit disease. So when you bring everyone over for a backyard barbeque keeping them away is a priority. Johns Hopkins mosquito expert Christopher Potter says if you’d rather not pass out the bug spray … Keeping your backyard barbecue free of mosquitoes is possible, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
More and more blood tests to screen for cancer are coming on the market, with a new one looking at proteins in the blood helping identify who is at risk to develop lung cancer. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson … How often can a blood test predict cancer risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When someone has a years-long, multiple pack history of smoking, they are recommended to undergo screening for lung cancer utilizing a technology known as low dose computed tomography or low dose CT. Yet only about 18% of those eligible for … Will a blood test compel more people to be screened for lung cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People with a history of tobacco smoking are recommended to have screening CT for lung cancer, but many of them choose not to be screened. A new study looks at the ability of a blood test to discern who is … Can a blood test improve lung cancer screening? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A blood test used for population based cancer screening fell short of allowing cancers to be detected earlier, was cost prohibitive and delayed diagnoses for others, a new study shows. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says both … What do false positives and negatives have to do with screening tests for cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A blood test capable of detecting multiple cancers seems like a dream come true, yet a new study looking at such a test used in populations of people failed to find cancers earlier, and also delayed diagnosis for others. William … Just how expensive could it be to screen populations of people for cancer using blood tests? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When large populations of people were screened for multiple cancers using a blood test, not only didn’t cancers get found earlier, others who were not screened had delays in their diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center … Should blood tests to screen for cancer be used on a population basis? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
For some types of cancer obesity is clearly a risk factor. Now a new study shows that when people with obesity take a GLP-1 agonist to lose weight, they also reduce their risk for these cancers. Kimmel Cancer Center director … How do GLP-1 agonists compare against other strategies for weight reduction and cancer risk reduction? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
GLP-1 agonists are a class of drugs originally developed to treat diabetes but have been shown to be helpful for weight loss. Now a new study looks at whether their use reduces the risk of obesity related cancers. William Nelson, … How are one class of diabetes drugs related to cancer risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Keeping mosquitoes away may be more important than ever as malaria returns to the continental US and other viral illnesses are also transmitted by them. Johns Hopkins mosquito expert Christopher Potter says most means to drive them off depend on … Can anything be done to ward off mosquitoes? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Mosquitoes seem to practice discernment when they choose which human they’ll bite. Christopher Potter, a mosquito expert at Johns Hopkins, says smell brings them in, with women who smell enticing being high on the list. Potter: The sense of smell … Do mosquitoes have preferences when it comes to who they bite? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Mosquitoes looking to feed utilize many qualities of humans to find their prey. Exhaled carbon dioxide, unique human scents and infrared radiation all play a part. But it’s not until the mosquito actually lands on us that a final decision … It’s the touch that finally does it when a mosquito is looking to feed, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You may not think of yourself as especially odorous but your very breath combines with scents from your body to make a human bouquet that’s especially attractive to mosquitoes. That’s according to Christopher Potter, a mosquito expert at Johns Hopkins. … Body odors work in concert with carbon dioxide to tip mosquitoes off to our presence, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Mosquitoes, relative in size to people, are tiny. How is it that they can locate us so efficiently when they’re looking for a blood meal? Mosquito expert Christopher Potter at Johns Hopkins explains. Potter: The first thing they use is … What’s the first clue to a mosquito that there’s a human around? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Mosquito borne illnesses may include those caused by viruses or parasites. With factors such as frequent international travel and climate change, conditions are improving for malaria to be seen more often in the United States, which is transmitted from the … Should you be concerned about a malaria comeback in the US? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Along with longer days and warmer temperatures, summer heralds much more robust mosquito populations in the northern hemisphere. Johns Hopkins mosquito expert Christopher Potter describes the three species of mosquitoes found worldwide and the illnesses they’re associated with. Potter: There … Now that summer is here mosquitoes are all around us, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Making CAR-T cells from donor bone marrow already used to treat someone’s cancer helped rein in cancer recurrence, a new study shows. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says this is one more place where an expansion … Can a new method for developing CAR-T cells to treat cancer be expanded? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
CAR-T cells developed from bone marrow donors whose bone marrow had already been used to treat someone’s cancer may be able to rein in cancer recurrence, a new study finds. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says this … Can donor CAR-T cells have an impact on cancer treatment? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Specially engineered T cells, one component of immune cells in your body, are called CAR-T cells, and for several years now have been used to treat blood cancers and some other conditions, with some success. William Nelson, director of the … Are CAR-T cells coming into their own as therapeutic agents? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Pancreas cancer is associated with a very poor prognosis, with many people diagnosed with the disease given only months or a couple of years of predicted life remaining. Now an AI model may discern who is at risk to develop … An AI model may help predict who is more likely to develop pancreas cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
In trying to discern factors that may account for colorectal cancer incidence in younger people many diet and lifestyle factors fell short, a new study finds. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, points toward insulin … Will GLP1 drugs tease out the relationship between insulin and cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A new, comprehensive study takes a look at lifestyle factors and colorectal cancer in younger people and fails to find a relationship. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says he thinks it may be more subtle and … Is there a relationship between diet, obesity and colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A comprehensive look at lifestyle factors and cancer rates among both older and younger people has left many people scratching their heads. The UK study examined a range of exposures and lifestyle factors trying to elucidate relationships, especially those that … What accounts for increases in colorectal cancer among younger people? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Daraxonrasib is the name of a drug for pancreas cancer that almost doubled survival for people with the disease in a clinical trial. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says while the drug is going … A new drug for pancreas cancer may be a game changer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Daraxonrasib is the name of a drug to treat pancreas cancer that has extended survival in many with the disease, a just reported clinical trial finds. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says it’s gotten many people who treat … A new drug for pancreas cancer may be a game changer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
New guidelines for managing cholesterol levels have recently been released by the American College of Cardiology. Cardiologist Roger Blumenthal at Johns Hopkins chaired the committee that wrote the guidelines, and says that in reviewing the data it became clear that … Certain groups of people seem to be missing out when it comes to optimizing cardiovascular disease prevention, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cholesterol found in your blood is just the beginning of the story when it comes to markers found there that are indicative of cardiovascular risk. A relative newcomer is apolipoprotein a, which is genetically determined, says Roger Blumenthal, a cardiologist … What markers are found in blood that indicate cardiovascular risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When it comes to assessing your cardiovascular risk, your blood tells an eloquent story. It’s not just cholesterol but several other factors that can be detected and measured that point toward or away from risk. Roger Blumenthal, a cardiologist at … What does a blood marker called lipoprotein A have to do with your risk for cardiovascular disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cholesterol management, per new guidelines from the American College of Cardiology, is just one aspect of measures you can take to lower your risk for cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death. Roger Blumenthal, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins … What’s involved in lowering your risk for cardiovascular disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The most important person in reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease is you, and managing your blood cholesterol levels is just one part of an overall, lifelong strategy, beginning with becoming educated about your own unique set of risk factors. … Becoming educated about your own cardiovascular risk is pivotal to prevention, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Management of blood cholesterol is a major factor in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, as reflected in new guidelines released by the American College of Cardiology, and it should start early in life and be monitored throughout the lifespan. Johns … Monitoring cholesterol and other factors should be done regularly to prevent cardiovascular disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When it comes to ideal LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, ideal is a bit of a moving target. Johns Hopkins cardiologist Roger Blumenthal, chair of an American College of Cardiology committee that has just updated cholesterol guidelines, says it … What LDL cholesterol level should you be aiming for? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’ve been told you have high LDL cholesterol in your blood, the first place to begin to try to improve it is with diet and exercise. That’s according to new guidelines from the American College of Cardiology, and such … The first strategy to improve blood cholesterol levels in lifestyle management, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A quarter of US adults have elevated levels of LDL, the type of cholesterol in the blood most often associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Now the American College of Cardiology has issued new guidelines for managing cholesterol, last updated … New guidelines from the American College of Cardiology for cholesterol guidelines are here, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Depending on your media exposure you have likely seen commercials or advertisements for cancer detection tests that look for markers of the disease in your blood. Now a new study examines these tests and determines that they’re really not ready … Should you have a commercially advertised cancer detection test? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Changes to DNA that are added on top of the baseline order of its building blocks are known as epigenetics, and these changes are implicated in a number of diseases and conditions, including pancreas cancer. Now a Johns Hopkins study … Can epigenetics point the way to treatment for pancreas cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Certain bacteria commonly found in the gut produce toxins that promote breast cancer, a Johns Hopkins study shows. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says there is a pathway where such an association makes sense. Nelson: When … What do gut bacteria have to do with breast cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
There are too many copies of one arm of chromosome one in pancreas cancer, a Johns Hopkins study finds. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Hopkins, says the stage of tumor development where this finding was seen … What does too many copies of a part of a chromosome in pancreas cancer tell us? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Perhaps you recall from high school biology that you have 23 pairs of chromosomes. A Johns Hopkins study has shown that one arm of chromosome one, the biggest chromosome, is often copied many times in pancreas cancer, and that part … Can too many copies of a gene drive pancreas cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
About one in five adolescents have cholesterol levels that are too high, and that’s why new guidelines from the American College of Cardiology specify testing children 9 to 11 years of age. Johns Hopkins cardiologist Seth Martin, one of the … Why do kids 9-11 years of age need a cholesterol test? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Did you know that one in five adolescents have cholesterol levels that are too high, some of them very high indeed? Those at the highest levels may have a genetic disorder called familial hypercholesterolemia, and when it’s caught early it … There’s a very good reason to test preadolescents’ cholesterol levels, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Your preadolescent child should have their blood drawn to test their cholesterol levels, new guidelines from the American College of Cardiology specify. That’s because of a condition that happens in one in 250 people where such levels are abnormally high … There’s a test your adolescent should have to help avoid cardiovascular disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Familial hypercholesterolemia is just what it sounds like: abnormally high cholesterol levels that run in families due to their genetics. Turns out these very high cholesterol levels begin in infancy, and unless someone is suspicious, are rarely tested for. That’s … Even kids who appear very healthy can have very high cholesterol levels, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A new clinical guideline to manage cholesterol levels in the blood has been released by the American College of Cardiology. Johns Hopkins cardiologist Seth Martin participated in writing the guidelines and says that shifting risk assessment and management strategies for … New cholesterol screening guidelines capture childhood risk, too, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When it comes to slowing down cognitive decline in those with early Alzheimer’s disease a total package of lifestyle interventions is superior to currently available medications, a study by Johns Hopkins neurologist Majid Fotuhi has shown. Fotuhi and colleagues had … Does a program exist to implement comprehensive lifestyle changes to preserve cognitive function? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you have mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease, changes in lifestyle are more likely to provide benefit to your cognitive capacity than available medicines, a study by Johns Hopkins neurologist Majid Fotuhi shows. Fotuhi says this is largely … How exactly do lifestyle interventions benefit brain health? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Lifestyle interventions are more effective than medications in early Alzheimer’s disease, a study led by Majid Fotuhi, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, has found. When a number of trials were analyzed together, implementation of several lifestyle changes emerged as superior … Comprehensive lifestyle changes impact wellbeing in those with early Alzheimer’s disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Declines of several fold in rates of progression- sounds pretty good, doesn’t it, if you have the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease and are considering available medications. Yet a recent study by Johns Hopkins neurologist Majid Fotuhi finds that those … How is it that medications to treat Alzheimer’s disease appear to show such a benefit? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Comprehensive lifestyle changes are better than medications to slow, stop or even improve mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease, a study by Johns Hopkins neurologist Majid Fotuhi finds. This meta analysis of existing randomized trials sought to compare the … If you’ve been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment what’s the best strategy to slow decline? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Many substances marketed as ‘supplements’ enjoy a lack of oversight and regulation, among them kratom, a plant based extract from Asia. While some users report pain relief and mood improvement there are no studies to support this, and as Eric … How did the current situation with kratom develop? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Over a thousand fold in the last year. That’s the increase in the number of emergency department visits nationally due to use of kratom, a drug sold unregulated in convenience stores and gas stations as well as online. Substance use … What is the likelihood that you’ll experience a problem with a product labeled as kratom? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When someone presents to an emergency department after having taken an unknown drug, screening is typically undertaken. Yet for kratom, which last year accounted for over a thousand fold increase in ED visits, no screen is available. Substance use disorder … If you have a bad experience after taking kratom, can medical professionals help? Read More »
Kratom is a drug that has been unregulated and sold for decades in smoke shops and elsewhere, now associated with over a thousand fold increase in emergency department visits. Why? Substance use disorder expert Eric Strain at Johns Hopkins explains. … Consuming kratom products may result in an ED visit, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You may have noticed among the offerings at gas stations and convenience stores something called kratom. This is a plant based drug with the potential for undesired side effects that is unregulated in the United States. Now over a thousand … Kratom is accounting for a dramatic rise in ED visits, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The good news is heart failure in people with severe obesity may be reversible with common weight loss drugs. The bad news is both obesity, with BMIs of around 30, and severe obesity, with a BMI of 42 or greater, … Increasing rates of obesity and severe obesity may presage increased rates of heart failure, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective in helping most people lose weight, and now a new study suggests that in those with severe obesity, a BMI of 42 or greater and who have a type of heart failure, this condition may … Is there another benefit besides weight loss of GLP-1s in people with severe obesity? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
There’s a relationship between severe obesity and one type of heart failure, and it looks like it’s mediated by adding more phosphate groups, a process known as phosphorylation, to proteins in heart muscle cells, specifically to units within the muscle … Can GLP-1 agonists help in heart failure and severe obesity? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Severe obesity may impede the ability of units inside heart muscle cells called sarcomeres to contract, and losing weight may reverse that condition. That’s according to research by cardiologist David Kass and colleagues at Johns Hopkins, who looked closely at … What is severe obesity doing to the heart muscle’s ability to contract? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, so-called HFpEF, is happening more frequently, especially in those with severe obesity. David Kass, a cardiologist and researcher at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues, have looked closely at heart muscle cells from this group of … How is obesity related to a common form of heart failure? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Brain organoids, collections of cells found in the brain, have been grown from blood samples of people with Alzheimer’s disease and used to assess the impact of a drug called escitalopram in a new study. Vasiliki Machairaki, study leader and … A model of your brain may one day be grown in a lab, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Extracellular vesicles are membrane bound packages cells use to jettison materials from inside the cell, a sort of trash can. Johns Hopkins genetic medicine expert Vasiliki Machairaki has shown in a new study that these vesicles may be a means … What can be learned from what cells dispose of? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
What might a model of the hindbrain, which helps control functions like sleep, breathing and heart rate, tell us about using a common depression drug in people with Alzheimer’s disease? Genetic medicine expert Vasiliki Machairaki at Johns Hopkins says her … Brain organoids can resemble specific parts of the brain, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Drugs to manage symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may work in some people but not in others. Now a new method using brain organoids, which are derived from a person’s own blood sample, may help determine whether a specific medication is … Can drugs to manage Alzheimer’s disease be tested in organoids? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Brain organoids are lab grown clusters of cells that have several of the cell types found in someone’s brain. Cells taken from a person’s blood are coaxed to become stem cells, then differentiate into brain cells. Vasiliki Machairaki, a genetic … Can brain organoids help in treating people with Alzheimer’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Medicaid reductions being rolled out this year are poised to dramatically reduce cancer screening for millions, a new study estimates. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, takes a look at the numbers. Nelson: This is … Medicaid reductions may impact screening for cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Breast cancer screening is associated with false positives, where women are referred for further assessments and procedures that may be unnecessary. Does it help to stratify women based on risk factors like genetics before they have screening? Johns Hopkins Kimmel … Should breast cancer screening be targeted to those at greatest risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People who were older and had advanced cancers benefited from a telephone-based intervention designed to regularly assess their symptoms and refer them to expert clinicians, by reducing their visits to emergency departments and need for hospitalization. Kimmel Cancer Center director … Can older people with cancer benefit from telephone based contact? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Seventy percent of people diagnosed with cancer in the United States will still be alive five years later, the American Cancer Society reports. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says yes, and. Nelson: There's still … Good news on cancer survival! Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
American Cancer Society data find that the majority of people who are diagnosed with cancers of all types will still be alive five years later. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says this is good news indeed. Nelson: … There’s good news regarding survival when cancer if found, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
PICS stands for post intensive care syndrome, and it is characterized by a number of physical and mental health conditions that may follow someone’s stay in an ICU. Rohan Mathur, a critical care expert at Johns Hopkins, says fatigue, memory … Who is at risk to develop PICS? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Physical and mental health issues can follow a stay in an intensive care unit, a condition known as PICS, for post intensive care syndrome. Rohan Mathur, a critical care expert at Johns Hopkins, says now that more attention is being … What can be done about PICS? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When someone has survived an intensive care unit stay, they may experience a host of challenges to their wellbeing known collectively as post intensive care syndrome, or PICS. Critical care expert Rohan Mathur at Johns Hopkins says sometimes the worst … How can you tell if PICS is present? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
PICS stands for post intensive care syndrome, and recent data indicate that perhaps the majority of people who’ve been hospitalized in an ICU will have what are called sequelae, or lingering issues once they’re stepped down or discharged. Johns Hopkins … What kinds of issues may remain after someone has been in an intensive care unit? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Once you’ve made it through a stay in an intensive care unit, you can simply move forward in your life, right? Not exactly, as recent research indicates. So-called post intensive care syndrome, or PICS, can continue to impact the life … What is post-intensive care syndrome? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Maybe you’ve heard of CAR-T cells, a type of cell you have in your body that is supercharged in a lab and put back in to fight things like cancer. Biomedical engineering expert Jordan Green at Johns Hopkins and colleagues … There’s a new technique that may revolutionize one type of T cell therapy, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
CAR-T cells are a type of immune cell that have proven very effective for treating some types of cancer, yet limitations to their use exist. Biomedical engineering expert Jordan Green at Johns Hopkins says limitations including lengthy time and expense … Can an injectable particle help supercharge your T cells? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Using polyester to wrap mRNA to create an injectable particle may soon enable targeting of your T cells to fight some cancers and autoimmune diseases. That’s according to research by Jordan Green, a biomedical engineering expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues. … Can an mRNA containing particle help direct your T cells to specific targets? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Let’s say I take one type of immune cell from your blood, grow it in a lab and use a virus to cause changes in that cell so it recognizes cancer. Then I put it back in your body to … Temporary changes to T cells may empower new treatments for cancer and autoimmune disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Put together a shelf-stable particle with a polyester shell, a homing mechanism, and mRNA instructions, and what do you have? A new technology that may be able to train your own T cells inside your body to combat some types … Messenger RNA can be used to stimulate T cells to fight cancer and autoimmune disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
With several studies saying oxygen measurements are too low and one saying they’re too high, how much can pulse oximeters be trusted in those with darker skin? Rohan Mathur, a critical care medicine expert at Johns Hopkins, says that oft … Trust but verify may be needed for pulse oximeters, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Critical care medicine relies on pulse oximeters, which estimate oxygen levels in someone’s blood, for many decisions regarding their care. Studies during the pandemic suggested the devices said there was more oxygen in the blood of someone with darker skin … How do we account for opposite results from studies on pulse oximeters? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Do devices that measure oxygen levels in blood, known as pulse oximeters, measure too high or too low in those with darker skin? That’s the question now that results of an FDA funded study seem to contradict those of previous … What does a recent FDA funded study on pulse oximeters show? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you are a person with darker skin should you be worried about the levels of oxygen in your blood a pulse oximeter is giving? Critical care expert Rohan Mathur at Johns Hopkins says past studies looking at this issue … Data from pulse oximeters can really impact patient care, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Do the devices known as pulse oximeters, which measure the amount of oxygen in someone’s blood, underestimate or overestimate this value in people with darker skin? Controversy swirls with release of data from an FDA funded study that runs counter … What is up with pulse oximeters? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cognitive speed training using a computer to generate images and accelerate task completion was able to reduce the likelihood that an older person would receive an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis by 25%, a study by Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s expert Marilyn Albert … Will brain training data change policy when it comes to Alzheimer’s prevention? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A novel study has shown that training the brain with cognitive speed training seems to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s disease expert and study author Marilyn Albert says that previous research simply compared what people who … One type of brain training seems to be important in reducing Alzheimer’s disease risk, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you were asked to learn a computer based task that would require an hour twice a week for six weeks, and it was something you would largely have to learn to master on your own, would you sign up? … Can cognitive speed training make your brain more connected? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Working with images on a computer screen on a task that gets faster and more complex may reduce one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 25% compared with a memory task or no training. Study author and Alzheimer’s disease expert … How can we account for why cognitive speed training seems to reduce Alzheimer’s risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When you have to teach yourself a task and adapt to having that task speed up, that’s one type of learning used in a study assessing different types of brain training and development of Alzheimer’s disease. Marilyn Albert, study author … How does learning by yourself compare with instruction when it comes to preserving brain function? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People who received memory and reasoning training or those who didn’t receive any brain training were more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease twenty years down the road than those who did cognitive speed training, which required them to … Does having to figure things out on your own protect your brain better than other kinds of activities? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Among a cohort of 2800 people, those who received cognitive speed training compared to usual care or memory and reasoning training we less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 20 years later. That’s according to a study by Johns … What exactly is cognitive speed training? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re like many people you’d rather not develop dementia, so a new study demonstrating the benefits of a computer based intervention called cognitive speed training may interest you. Marilyn Albert, study author and Alzheimer’s disease expert at Johns Hopkins, … If you’re looking to preserve brain health doing cognitive speed training may be best, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cognitive speed training, where a computer is used to present an image and require tasks based on images that speeds up, resulted in fewer dementia diagnoses than other types of cognitive training, a study of more than 2800 adults over … What does 20 years of follow up tell us about activities to protect the brain? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Showing someone a visual task on a computer and then speeding things up so they must complete it faster and faster preserves brain function better than other forms of training over twenty years of follow up. That’s according to a … Is it possible to make personal changes to stave off dementia and preserve independence? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Brain organoids, cell collections grown in a lab to study diseases like Alzheimer’s, have created excitement because they are a bit more representative of a real brain. Johns Hopkins cell engineering expert Vasiliki Machairaki says there is another technique underway … What is an assembloid? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Using induced stem cells helps create models for diseases like Alzheimer’s disease that can be studied in a lab, but now three dimensional cell collections called organoids can also be developed from stem cells. Vasiliki Machairaki, a cell engineering expert … What is an organoid? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Stem cells used to be derived from human embryos, but not anymore. Now a simple blood test can allow stem cells to be induced from cells found there, says Johns Hopkins cell engineering expert Vasiliki Machairaki. Machairaki: Induced pluripotent stem … How do stem cells derived from blood differ from those from embryos? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cells from your blood can be induced to return to what they looked like when you were an embryo, then can be made to develop into different cell types in the brain. That happens in the lab of Vasiliki Machairaki, … Stem cells are just the beginning when it comes to modeling your risk for Alzheimer’s disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A simple blood test may soon help precisely identify your risk for Alzheimer’s disease by inducing some of your cells to go back in time, looking like they did when you were an embryo. Johns Hopkins cell engineering expert Vasiliki … What might reprogramming cells have to do with understanding Alzheimer’s? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Using one of two drug combinations versus ibrutinib alone to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia, one of the most common types of leukemia in adults, may allow people to avoid continuous treatment, a new study finds. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel … A couple new approaches to treating a type of leukemia may help shorten treatment, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
For people who’ve had colorectal cancer, celecoxib, a commonly prescribed medicine for pain, may help avoid disease recurrence, a recent analysis of a larger study found. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins explains that the presence of … Can the drug celecoxib help some people avoid colorectal cancer recurrence? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Women may now choose to collect their own samples to test for human papilloma virus, or HPV as part of their screening regimen for cervical cancer, the American Cancer Society now says. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns … Since most cervical cancer is caused by infection with a virus, when should screening start? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The American Cancer Society has updated guidelines for cervical cancer screening to include self-collected specimens to assess for human papilloma virus, or HPV. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, explains why. Nelson: There's 200,000 women … Will women soon be testing themselves for human papilloma virus, or HPV ? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cancers of several types are being diagnosed more often in those younger than fifty years of age, and no one really understands why. Because there are consequences to cancer treatment one question is do all these cancers need to be … As cancer cases in younger people rise, do they all need treatment? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Rates of eight different types of cancer are increasing in those aged 50 and younger, new data reveal, and while researchers are struggling to identify why, another question those diagnosed must answer is are they okay not treating it? That’s … If you learn you have cancer would you be comfortable not treating it? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Eight different cancers are increasing among those younger than fifty in the US, data since 1992 indicate. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says thyroid, colorectal and endometrial or uterine are included in that number, … Cancers increasing among those younger than fifty warrant investigation to discern causes, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Following 125,000 children as they began to eat a wider variety of foods from infancy seems to show that early introduction of peanut helped many avoid development of peanut allergy, a recent study concluded. Robert Wood, a childhood allergy expert … What factors do we know are related to the development of childhood allergies? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Early exposure to peanut is credited with reducing the development of peanut allergy in young children, a recent study concludes, but Robert Wood, a childhood allergy expert at Johns Hopkins, says the rate of food allergies among children is increasing … What’s the best strategy to avoid food allergies in young children? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Early introduction of peanut into a child’s diet may help them avoid development of peanut allergy, a recent study concludes. Robert Wood, a childhood allergy expert at Johns Hopkins, says it’s just not that simple when it comes to understanding … Should you feed your young child peanut to prevent allergy? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A new test may identify ALS up to a decade before symptoms appear, research by Alex Pantelyat, a movement disorders expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Pantelyat says there are certain groups of people who may benefit from … Can a new test help those at risk to develop ALS? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Testing hundreds of blood samples collected years ago allowed researchers at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere to create a panel of proteins that point to the develop of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, up to 10 years later. Alex Pantelyat, a … Looking retrospectively at blood samples allows researchers to spot ALS, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
ALS is a diagnosis no one wants to hear. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, the condition robs a person of the ability to control their muscles, and eventually their breathing. Now a new blood test developed and tested by … A new blood test may spot ALS years before symptoms emerge, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A smartphone app helped people with prediabetes improve their lifestyles as much as a human led diabetes prevention program, research from Nas Mathioudakis, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Mathioudakis says future plans to let the … How do we ensure safety with medical apps? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Prediabetes can be controlled with multiple lifestyle interventions to avoid development of diabetes, and an app helps. That’s according to research by Nas Mathioudakis, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues. Mathioudakis says the results are consistent with that … An app to help people manage prediabetes helps, and there’s room for improvement, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Using a number of AI driven prompts, a new app helped people with prediabetes make several lifestyle changes to improve their blood sugar. The app was developed by diabetes expert Nas Mathioudakis and colleagues at Johns Hopkins, and compares favorably with … Are apps the answer when it comes to diabetes prevention? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Prediabetes can be controlled and diabetes avoided with use of an AI driven app, a new study by Nas Mathioudakis, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. The app performed just as well as human led coaching … Would you respond to an app to make changes in your lifestyle? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
An AI driven app helped people with prediabetes avoid development of diabetes as well as human-led coaching, a study by Johns Hopkins diabetes expert Nas Mathiodakis and colleagues has shown. Mathioudakis :The app was using built in inputs of the … A new smartphone app can help avoid development of diabetes, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Diabetes is known to cause increased risk for cardiovascular disease and many other health issues, so if you’ve been told you have prediabetes it’s important to stave off frank diabetes. Nas Mathioudakis, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins and one … Monitoring blood sugar is important when you’ve been told you have prediabetes, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Prediabetes is a condition where your blood sugar is higher than it should be, but not high enough to be called diabetes, and if you’ve been told you have it you can take steps to avoid transitioning to diabetes. That’s … Can you avoid developing diabetes if you have prediabetes? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People who have prediabetes frequently go on to develop diabetes, but diabetes prevention programs or DPPs can help. Nas Mathioudakis, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins and one developer of an AI based DPP, explains what’s at stake. Nestoras Mathioudakis: … Diabetes prevention programs may be utilized more with an AI approach, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Diabetes prevention programs or DPPs were developed by the CDC over a decade ago to help people with prediabetes avoid frank development of diabetes, but very few people access them. Nas Mathioudakis, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins and one … People with prediabetes can benefit from an AI based diabetes prevention program, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
For people with the condition called prediabetes, prevention to full blown diabetes is key. Over a decade ago the CDC developed diabetes prevention programs or DPPs to help but very few people access them. Now a new AI based DPP … How does AI stack up against human provided diabetes prevention programs? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Have you heard of ultrasensitive genetic testing for cancer? This method produces a very detailed characterization of someone’s tumor, and William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says it then may be used for subsequent decision … How might very detailed cancer maps inform cancer management and treatment? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The genetic makeup of a cancer is quite different than that of the person who has it, and now new efforts to very specifically characterize the cancer are poised to have surveillance and treatment implications. That’s according to Kimmel Cancer … What is an ultrasensitive DNA test in cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
This month's topics include medical imaging and childhood cancers, low dose aspirin in colorectal cancer, AI and colonoscopy skills, and good news for women with early breast cancer.
Federal officials have suggested that use of acetaminophen during pregnancy may increase the risk for autism in offspring. Heather Volk, an autism expert at Johns Hopkins, says use of acetaminophen may be a surrogate for something else. Volk: Could be … If you’re pregnant or considering pregnancy, should you take acetaminophen? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Do women who take acetaminophen during pregnancy risk autism in their offspring? Autism expert Heather Volk at Johns Hopkins says one likely explanation is that taking the pain reliever during pregnancy is a stand in for another exposure that may … Is acetaminophen use during pregnancy associated with autism in offspring? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
PM 2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or less, and this category of air pollutant may well be involved in autism risk as well as cognitive issues in older adults. That’s according to Heather Volk, autism expert at Johns … A certain type of air pollutant seems to be linked to brain abnormalities, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A new study points to chemicals called PFAS in possibly underpinning autism development. Autism expert Heather Volk at Johns Hopkins says another environmental pollutant with a much more established record is the very minute particles found in the air called … Can air pollution impact on autism? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Chemicals abbreviated PFAS have been used for some time in things like nonstick cookware, and almost all of us have measurable levels of them in our blood. Now a new study links maternal blood levels during pregnancy to changes in … PFAS exposure during pregnancy may cause changes in the developing brain, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
PFAS are chemicals that were used in things like nonstick cookware or stain resistant fabrics, and they’ve been implicated in a number of deleterious health outcomes, including autism. A new study looks at PFAS exposures in mothers and changes in … Do the environmental pollutants PFAS have any impact on development of autism? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Covid vaccines boosted the immune response in people being treated for cancer and improved their survival, a recent study concludes. mRNA expert Jeff Coller at Johns Hopkins says as more evidence mounts establishing the benefits of mRNA vaccines, we need … Many vaccines are intended to reduce disease severity, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
mRNA vaccines can help the body fight cancer, a new study found, yet when we look at what has been called ‘vaccine hesitancy’ we see many people are suspicious of vaccines in general, let alone mRNA vaccines. Johns Hopkins mRNA … Why were so many people hesitant to take mRNA vaccines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People with lung cancer and melanoma who were receiving immunotherapies and got a Covid vaccine saw dramatically improved survival compared with folks who did not get the vaccine, a recent study shows. mRNA expert Jeff Coller at Johns Hopkins muses … What is it about mRNA vaccines that helps us fight cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People undergoing immunotherapy treatment for cancer and who got a Covid vaccine survived longer than those who did not get the vaccine, a new study finds. Jeff Coller, an mRNA expert at Johns Hopkins, examines why this hasn’t been seen … Why haven’t we seen cancer fighting effects with vaccines other than the Covid vaccines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you were being treated for lung cancer or melanoma with immunotherapy and you received a Covid vaccine, you got a surprising benefit: you were twice as likely to survive your cancer as those who did not get a vaccine, … mRNA could comprise a generic vaccine to be used for cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People with lung cancer or melanoma who were receiving immunotherapy and got a Covid vaccine within 100 days of initiating treatment saw dramatically improved survival compared to those folks who did not receive a vaccine, a new study shows. mRNA … The benefit of mRNA vaccines in cancer treatment is ongoing, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Combating cancer may soon include immunization with an mRNA vaccine, as studies accumulate demonstrating their benefit in revving up the immune system against the disease. mRNA expert Jeff Coller at Johns Hopkins says this is one way to engage your … mRNA vaccines take advantage of the body’s own systems, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Receipt of an mRNA vaccine for Covid within 100 days of beginning immunotherapy for lung cancer or melanoma increased a person’s survival likelihood by a factor of two or greater, a new study shows. Johns Hopkins mRNA expert Jeff Coller … Might mRNA vaccines replace chemotherapy for cancer treatment? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now a new study points to their effectiveness in helping people survive cancer. The study looked at people who received a Covid vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy for … Can mRNA vaccines treat cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Testing a fluid known as cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, found surrounding the brain and spinal cord, reveals a lot about brain tumors and the immune response to them. Johns Hopkins neurosurgery department director Chetan Bettegowda and test developer says this … Can a new test of cerebrospinal fluid be used for many diseases of the brain and spinal cord? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Tumor components and immune response indicators can be found in cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, when someone has a brain tumor, in a new test developed by Chetan Bettagowda, director of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins and one of the test’s developers. … Cerebrospinal fluid may hold the keys to brain cancer identification and treatment, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Your immune system has everything to do with how your body responds to cancer, and brain tumors are no exception. A new test aims to assess that along with characterizing the tumor itself. Chetan Bettegowda, director of neurosurgery at Johns … What does your immune response have to do with brain tumors? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Your brain and spinal cord are floating in something called cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, and when brain tumors develop they shed cells and cellular components into this fluid. A new test developed by director of neurosurgery Chetan Bettegowda at Johns … Cerebrospinal fluid can tell lots about brain tumors, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When someone is thought to have a brain tumor procedures to make the diagnosis may be risky or invasive, so a new test developed by Chetan Bettegowda, director of the department of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins and colleagues is a … Can assessments of brain cancers be done with cerebrospinal fluid? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
AI assisted colonoscopy, where a computer helped interpret images seen during the procedure, resulted in endoscopists being less adept at recognizing precancerous lesions known as polyps, a recent study finds. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins comments. … When you have screening colonoscopy should you worry about the endoscopist’s skills? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’ve been treated for early breast cancer your overall risk for recurrence is small, a new large, long term study finds. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says these risks can be pinned to … Small risks of recurrent breast cancer may exist after treatment, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Women who’ve had early breast cancer and been treated can likely lay their worries about recurrence to rest, a new study concludes. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says that’s the conclusion of this very large, long term … Most women who’ve had early breast cancer are not at high risk for recurrence, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People who’ve had colorectal cancer and have a known mutation should likely take aspirin to help prevent disease recurrence, according to a new study. The benefit of aspirin in preventing cancers has been shown before in the skin cancer melanoma, … Aspirin may be of benefit in a number of cancers, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People who’ve had colorectal cancer and who have a mutation known as PI3 kinase benefit from taking asprin to prevent recurrence, a new study shows. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, describes the findings. Nelson: There were … What is the benefit of asprin in reducing colorectal cancer recurrence? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Transcript Using CT scanning in children should be limited, a recent study concludes, finding that about one in ten cancers in kids were likely related to imaging studies using ionizing radiation. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins … Care should be taken when using CT in kids, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
CT scans in children, especially those that image bones where bone marrow is found, increase the risk for certain cancers, a new study finds. And the more scans the kids have the greater the risk. William Nelson, director of the … What is the cancer risk posed by CT scans in kids? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
RNA is easier to detect and points toward cancer activity better than DNA testing, a recent study concludes. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says there’s an even more accurate method on the horizon. Nelson: Will RNA sequencing … Will RNA based tests form the basis for cancer screening and monitoring? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Using blood tests to look for cancer and cancer recurrence has been an area of active research for some time now, with a new study pointing to RNA rather than DNA for detection. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer … Can RNA provide a way to look for cancer recurrence? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Most people should start screening for colorectal cancer at age 45, due to increasing rates of the disease in younger people. Now a new study examines the most effective way to get people to be screened. Kimmel Cancer Center director … Mail in screening tests for colorectal cancer seem effective, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Colorectal cancer is occurring more frequently in those in the forty to forty nine year old age group, leading to recommendations for screening earlier. Now there’s a rise in cases seen in the last several years, but William Nelson, director … How should we interpret rising cases of colorectal cancer in younger people? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Nicotinamide is one of a group of vitamins known as B vitamins, and it’s available over the counter. A new study shows that in people who’ve had either a basal cell or squamous cell cancer, common types of skin cancer, … Can taking a supplement help you avoid recurrence of some skin cancers? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Your microbiome, the host of organisms that live on and in you, are unique to you, with a new study showing that some types of bacteria and fungi may increase your risk for pancreas cancer. Kimmel Cancer Center director William … Why do certain microorganisms colonize your body? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Certain bacteria resident on people’s bodies do confer an increased risk for pancreas cancer, a new study finds. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says assessing this type of risk requires analysis of bacteria resident … Will you soon be asked to give a specimen to assess your microbiome? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Your microbiome is the collection of microorganisms that live on you and in you, with a new study pointing to certain bacteria as increasing one’s risk of pancreas cancer. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says many new … What might your microbiome have to do with your cancer risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
As people age, many will develop problems with walking, cognition, and urination. Yet while some may point to dementia as the cause, a build up of fluid in the brain known as normal pressure hydrocephalus, which can be treated by … A new study shows shunting works for normal pressure hydrocephalus, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Problems walking, urinary issues, cognitive impairment…these are all symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus, where fluid builds up in the brain, and is fairly common with aging. Now a study by neurosurgeon Mark Luciano at Johns Hopkins and colleagues has shown … Fluid buildup in the brain treated with a shunt improves symptoms, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Normal pressure hydrocephalus, where fluid called CSF builds up in the brain, is fairly common with aging, and has been treated with something called a shunt that diverts the excess fluid to the abdomen. Now a study by Mark Luciano, … Shunts do work for a condition where fluid builds up in the brain, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The singer Billy Joel recently announced he has normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH, a condition where fluid builds up in the brain and may cause a host of problems. Mark Luciano, a neurosurgeon and head of the CSF disorders group … Fluid in the brain known as hydrocephalus is fairly common with aging, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Use of electronic devices seems to reduce one’s risk for dementia, a recent study showed. Constantine Lyketsos, an Alzheimer’s disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says he has lots of patients who are concerned about their risk or would like to … What’s the alternative to computer games to stave off dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
An analysis of 57 studies published recently shows that use of digital technologies, including computers and smart phones, helps reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment in older adults. Dementia expert Constantine Lyketsos at Johns Hopkins says while there … Does using digital technology help people avoid dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Lithium may reduce dementia risk. That’s the take home from a recent study in mice that garnered a lot of attention. Constantine Lyketsos, a dementia expert at Johns Hopkins, says caveat emptor. Lyketsos: I don't believe they had any human … Should you consider available formulations of lithium to reduce dementia risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If mouse models prove to be true in humans, the element lithium may help avoid the development of dementia. Dementia expert Constantine Lyketsos at Johns Hopkins says he’s disturbed by the tenor of the coverage of this basic science discovery. … Is lithium the key to avoiding the development of dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When given appropriate information about mammogram screenings, including benefits, harms, and who should consider screening cessation, a cohort of older women largely made rational choices for themselves, a study by Nancy Schoenborn, a geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins, has shown. … Information can help people decide to forgo cancer screening, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Even when people know they can discontinue health screenings for things like cancer they often continue the practice. Nancy Schoenborn, a geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins who studies such behaviors, says recent research on older women and breast cancer screenings … What are the factors that keep people who won’t benefit from health screenings going? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Just as there’s a point in life when cancer screenings should begin, so too is there a point at which they can stop. That’s usually because the likelihood that a cancer will kill you in the time you are likely … How might you feel about being told you can stop cancer screening? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Research on when preventive healthcare like cancer screenings should start is abundant, with some guidelines, such as for breast or colorectal cancer, pushing the time to begin screening earlier. But when should such screenings stop? That’s the focus of research … How should preventive healthcare change as people age? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
About half of people who have dementia don’t know it, and those people are at risk for worse outcomes when they’re hospitalized. That’s according to research by Halima Amjad, a geriatrics and dementia expert at Johns Hopkins. Amjad says this … How would you feel about being screened for dementia on a regular basis? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Older people with undiagnosed dementia who get hospitalized experience worse outcomes than other groups of older adults who require hospitalization, a study by Halima Amjad, a dementia and geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Amjad: Focusing on … People with dementia but no diagnosis can have more problematic hospitalizations, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People who have dementia frequently aren’t diagnosed, and when such a person is hospitalized they are at much higher risk for poorer outcomes. That’s the focus of research by Halima Amjad, a geriatrics and dementia expert at Johns Hopkins. Amjad: … Undiagnosed dementia can be risky, especially when someone is hospitalized, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cancers continue to change, or mutate, as time goes on, often acquiring the ability to outmaneuver treatments. Valsamo Anagnostou, a cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins, has used repeated blood sampling for cancer cells with treatment strategies like radiation to stay … Can peripheral blood sampling be combined with radiation therapy for cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Genetics are foundational to much of cancer treatment, and now both the environment surrounding the tumor as well as analysis of cancer cells shed into the blood may also be used to inform treatment as well. That’s according to studies … A combination of strategies help determine best cancer treatment strategies, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Radiation of a primary tumor can activate immune cells around distant metastases, a study by Valsamo Anagnostou, a cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Anagnostou says the mechanism is clear. Anangostou: Radiation induces cell death. The cells … How does radiation benefit the body’s response to cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When cancer develops resistance to immunotherapy, radiation may help. That’s according to a study by cancer researcher Valsamo Anagnostou at Johns Hopkins. Anagnostou: We’re administering radiation as a sensitizer for immunotherapy and as the way to circumvent primary resistance to … Radiation is emerging as an important tool in helping improve immune response in cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If someone with cancer has initially responded to immunotherapy but then develops metastasis, radiation of the primary tumor may help treat those distant sites, research by Valsamo Anagnostou, a cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins, has shown. Anagnostou: Radiation can activate … Can radiation affect distant metastasis? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Immunotherapies have proven very successful in the treatment of different types of cancer, but over time it is common for resistance to develop. Valsamo Anagnostou, a cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins, has found that radiation may help activate someone’s own … Can radiation improve the success of immunotherapies to treat cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
How tumors respond to treatment has to do with both their internal and external environments, research by Valsamo Anagnostou, a cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Anagnostou: The way we do this is by looking very deeply … What does the area around a tumor tell us about response to treatment? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Immunotherapies hold enormous promise for treating cancers of various types, but the bad news is that while many patients may initially respond many will also become resistant. Valsamo Anagnostou, a cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins, is looking at tumor specific … Assessing individual cancer characteristics is needed to determine resistance to new types of therapies, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Studies looking at lung cancer in people who smoked showed that those who did experienced a lot more lung cancer than those who didn’t. That’s a correlation study, says Otis Brawley, a cancer epidemiology expert at Johns Hopkins. Then came … Laboratory studies demonstrate causation when it comes to cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Respiratory syncytial virus or RSV can result in serious illness or death for infants, people with compromised immunity or older adults. The vaccine is safe and effective, and Panagis Galiatsatos, a critical care medicine expert and community health advocate at … What should you do about getting the RSV vaccine? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
It’s vaccination season, with many considering getting a Covid vaccine in light of ongoing infections nationwide. Critical care medicine expert Panagis Galiatsatos at Johns Hopkins, who’s also a community medicine advocate, says if you’re already under the weather now is … With cold and flu season about to begin and Covid continuing, should you get a vaccine if you’re already under the weather? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People often express concerns about routine immunizations causing adverse reactions. Panagis Galiatsatos, a critical care expert at Johns Hopkins and community medicine advocate, says it’s always a good idea to manage your own expectations by becoming educated on what common … Monitoring your own symptoms after vaccination helps identify adverse reactions, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Do you know about the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, or VAERS? This organization tracks and investigates bad reactions people have after receiving a vaccine. Pharmacist Victoria DeJaco at Johns Hopkins says both you and the provider who administered the … Reporting adverse events after receiving a vaccine helps you and others, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re an older adult or someone with chronic disease, now is a good time to consider getting vaccinated for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. That’s according to Johns Hopkins pharmacist Victoria DeJaco. Dejaco: It used to be that people … Respiratory infection season is almost upon us, and older people in particular should pay attention to their vaccine status, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Being up to date on vaccines should be on the college prep list, says pharmacist Victoria DeJaco at Johns Hopkins. Dejaco: Definitely gonna want COVID or flu because those generally are going to be more prevalent. The season is going … If you’re sending a child off to college what vaccines should they get? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Do you take vitamins? While the evidence is conflicting on whether they are beneficial for health the majority of US adults do take them, and frequently are confused over which ones are best. Pharmacist Victoria DeJaco at Johns Hopkins says … Which type of vitamin is best? Your pharmacist knows, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A large number of people who could benefit from medicines to reduce cholesterol and consequent cardiovascular risk aren’t taking them, a study by Caleb Alexander, a drug efficacy expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Alexander says this has … Many people who could benefit from medicines to reduce their cardiovascular risk aren’t getting them, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Hepatitis C is a worldwide problem, with millions of people infected who don’t even know it. We do have effective treatment and untreated infection can result in liver failure and death, so a new study attempted to implement free testing … What are the barriers to testing for hepatitis C in emergency departments? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A new blood test used to screen people for colorectal cancer just isn’t ready to replace colonoscopy or fecal immunochemical tests, since these are capable of detecting early lesions that respond best to treatment. That’s according to Kimmel Cancer Center … Could more targeted screening be helpful in colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A new blood test for colorectal cancer finds advanced cancers well, but William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says when compared to the gold standard colonoscopy, or even stool tests used for screening, it falls … Are there aspects to blood testing for colorectal cancer that undermine screening? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A blood test can identify the majority of colorectal cancers, a new study finds, when compared with the gold standard, colonoscopy, for screening. Yet whether this test can be trusted when it says cancer is NOT present is another matter, … Is there a role for a new blood test for colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Blood tests for cancer are much in the news lately, including one to test for colorectal cancer. Such a test, if it works as well as methods like colonoscopy or fecal immunochemical testing, would allow people to give tedious aspects … How helpful is a new blood test for colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Regular, supervised exercise helped people who’d been treated for colorectal cancer avoid recurrence of the disease, a new study shows, adding to the burgeoning body of evidence demonstrating the clear health benefits of exercise in many settings, including avoiding cancer … Supervised exercise helped reduce recurrence of colorectal cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People who had been treated for colorectal cancer and who undertook a structured exercise program had fewer recurrences than people who didn’t exercise, a new study shows. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says the … Exercise helped people with colorectal cancer avoid recurrence, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Some drugs used to treat breast cancer might also be used to prevent it, but the hot flashes and other troublesome side effects make that an unlikely choice for many women. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says … Can a new drug that helps hot flashes herald a way to prevent many breast cancers? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Among people who’ve had a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event and need a cholesterol lowering medicine, about 2/3 will take one. Among those who have not had such an event but do have high cholesterol only about a … Engaging both patients and physicians in the use of cholesterol lowering medicines is needed, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Only about 25 percent of people who need cholesterol lowering medicines based on blood tests take them, with about 2/3 of those who’ve had a cardiovascular event doing so, a study by Caleb Alexander, a drug safety and efficacy expert at … Why don’t people who are eligible for cholesterol lowering medicines take them? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Not taking medicines to lower cholesterol when you clearly need them increases your risk for heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events. Yet a study by Caleb Alexander, a drug safety and efficacy expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues, shows … Just how much does it cost our healthcare system when people don’t take needed medicines to reduce cardiovascular risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet many people who should be taking medicines to lower their risk by lowering cholesterol aren’t. That’s according to a study by … The gap between recommendations and who is actually taking medicines to lower cardiovascular disease risk is huge, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Most people have heard of statins, drugs that lower cholesterol and consequent cardiovascular disease risk. Caleb Alexander, a drug safety and efficacy expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues, have looked at just how many people who should be taking such … How many people aren’t taking needed medicines to reduce cardiovascular risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Hot flashes and night sweats are called vasomotor symptoms, and they’re experienced by many women approaching menopause and those being treated for certain breast cancers. Now a new class of drugs has been developed to help. William Nelson, director of … Can hot flashes and night sweats be controlled in women having treatment for breast cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Women whose breast cancer has estrogen receptors are usually treated with estrogen depleting medicines, with the consequence that they have hot flashes and night sweats, so called ‘vasomotor symptoms,’ that many describe as worse than menopause. Now a new medicine … There’s hope for women with breast cancer who are experiencing menopausal symptoms, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
CAR-T cells, a highly activated immune cell, have been used to treat a solid tumor, stomach cancer, for the first time. Yet the fact remains that CAR-Ts are expensive and time consuming to produce. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director … CAR-T cells are an expensive form of cancer treatment, but other techniques may soon supplant them, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
For the first time CAR-T cells, a highly activated type of immune cell, have been used with some success to treat stomach cancer, a so-called solid tumor. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says solid … Why has it been so hard to use CAR-T cells to treat solid tumors? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You’ve probably heard of CAR-T cells, a type of immune cells taken from someone’s body, grown up in a lab and trained to attack their cancer. CAR-Ts are known to be good for treating blood cancers like leukemia, and for … Will solid tumors now be treated with CAR-T cells? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When it comes to managing with the dog days of summer, air conditioning is very helpful, especially for people with chronic lung problems. Johns Hopkins lung health expert William Checkley says clean systems with filters that are regularly changed are … Humidity may be as important as temperature when it comes to air conditioning, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People with lung conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, abbreviated COPD, rely on air conditioning in the summer to help keep their symptoms from getting much worse. William Checkley, a lung health expert at Johns Hopkins, says it’s … If you don’t use AC properly you may make lung problems worse, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you have any respiratory issues you likely benefit from air conditioning when the weather is hot. Lung health expert William Checkley at Johns Hopkins says you must be aware of the system’s maintenance requirements to reap its benefits. Checkley: … Proper AC maintenance is key to healthful use, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
For many people air conditioning is important for alleviating symptoms of chronic respiratory disease, but Johns Hopkins lung health expert William Checkley says it’s still necessary to be aware of how AC can impact on the function of your respiratory … Sometimes air conditioning can compromise your respiratory health, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
As the northern hemisphere enters full summer, many people shut their windows and turn on the air conditioning, or AC. William Checkley, a lung health expert at Johns Hopkins, says as with many things in life, it’s important to have … While AC is great at making us feel comfortable it’s also important for health, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Mismatch repair is just what it sounds like: when a cell divides and makes new DNA strands when a mistake is made it repairs them. Some types of cancers with a mismatch repair mutation may now be treated with an … Different types of tumors with a specific mutation may not need surgery, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Genetic analysis of most cancers is becoming more commonplace, and now identification of one specific mutation called a mismatch repair may allow people to avoid surgery entirely. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson explains. Nelson: What they started … Are there cancers where surgery may be entirely avoided? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
More types of gut bacteria, or greater diversity, the healthier your microbiome. That’s one message of a recent review looking at the impact of microbiome health on cancer. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins explains how gut … Which types of cancer treatment are impacted by the gut microbiome? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A recent review in the Journal of the American Medical Association asserts that the diversity of bacteria in your colon impact on the likelihood that you’ll develop cancer as well as how you may respond to treatment. William Nelson, director … If your gut microbiome isn’t healthy, is there anything that can be done about it? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The wealth of bacteria resident on and in your body may have much to do with your overall health, including how you respond to different therapies for cancer. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson explains views from a … Your gut microbiome may have much to do with how you respond to cancer therapy, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Colorectal cancer screening, and rise in younger people, microplastics and cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors and longterm toxicity, AI contributions to precision oncology and flattening of breast cancer survival rates.
Breathlessness clinic is a new approach at Johns Hopkins to assist people with chronic lung diseases to live their best lives with these often debilitating conditions. Anna Gersten, a lung expert and director of the clinic, explains who would benefit. … Who is suitable for a breathlessness clinic visit? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Being short of breath is a terrible feeling, most people agree, and it’s a feature of many lung diseases, especially as they progress. Lung expert Anna Gersten at Johns Hopkins describes how a breathlessness clinic came to be at Hopkins … What is a breathlessness clinic? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
High blood biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease found by the newly FDA approved blood test indicate the presence of two proteins in the brain called amyloid and tau. Abhay Moghakar, a neurologist and blood biomarkers expert at Johns Hopkins, says some … What are current studies doing when high levels of blood biomarkers for Alzheimer’s are found? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Let’s say you’ve taken the newly approved blood test for Alzheimer’s disease and the results indicate the presence of tau and amyloid in your brain, so you’re at risk. Abhay Moghakar, a neurologist and blood biomarkers expert at Johns Hopkins, says … What are your options if a new blood test says you are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You may have heard of a new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease just approved by the FDA. Abhay Moghakar, a neurologist and blood biomarkers expert at Johns Hopkins, says even if you are older and have symptoms of the disease, … People who develop dementia as they age most often have a mixed type, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease isn’t a stand alone diagnostic tool. That’s according to Abhay Moghekar, a blood biomarkers expert and a neurologist at Johns Hopkins. Moghekar: You would still need the clinical input in the context of … A truly comprehensive test for Alzheimer’s disease may be on the horizon, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Will an FDA cleared blood test for Alzheimer’s disease ease or complicate diagnosis? Clearly in approving the test the FDA hopes for the former, yet the complete picture is more complex than that, says Abhay Moghekar, a blood biomarkers expert … Biomarkers alone don’t mean Alzheimer’s disease is present, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Positive results on the newly FDA cleared blood test for Alzheimer’s disease don’t necessarily mean you have the disease. That’s according to blood biomarkers expert Abhay Moghekar, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins. Moghekar: Whether that's the cause of your cognitive … If you get a positive result on the new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, what does that mean? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The FDA has just cleared a blood test to help make the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, which otherwise may require some fairly invasive methods. Blood biomarkers expert Abhay Moghekar, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, says the test looks for the … Who is a candidate for the new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A blood test to screen for proteins related to Alzheimer’s disease has been cleared by the FDA, and it’s designed for people who are older than 55 years of age and have cognitive symptoms. Johns Hopkins neurologist Abhay Moghekar, a … What’s the basis of the new blood test to screen for Alzheimer’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
NPTX2 is a protein that’s pivotal for helping your brain decide to remember certain things and forget others, and when levels of it decline it suggests that neurodegenerative processes like dementia may be beginning. That’s according to research by Paul … A protein that’s made in your brain at night helps you remember things, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Many theories on how brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease begin point to proteins called amyloid beta and tau as accumulating and disrupting the function of neurons. Research by neuroscientist Paul Worley and colleagues at Johns Hopkins points to declining levels … How do neurodegenerative diseases begin? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You probably know how complex your brain function is, relying on a delicately balanced system full of proteins that act as signals and specialized nerve and structural cells. Turns out there is an interplay of some neurons being shut down … A change in a protein in the brain signals possible neurocognitive disorders, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
NPTX2 is the abbreviation for a protein found in the brain that may allow much more accurate prognosis of who’s at risk for developing neurocognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. That’s according to Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Paul Worley, … Accurately predicting who’s at risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease may now be easier, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Proteins known as tau and beta amyloid have been part of the dialogue on Alzheimer’s disease development for many years, with methods to measure them and drugs to remove them active areas of research. Another protein involved in the process … What can proteins in the blood and elsewhere teach us about developing dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Sickle cell disease was thought to be cured using gene therapy, but longer term follow up reveals that while the condition improves many are not cured. Now a new approach developed at Johns Hopkins and around the world uses ‘half-matched’ … Sickle cell disease should be treated with a half-matched donor approach, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Gene therapy for sickle cell disease has a breathtaking price tag of 2-3 million dollars per person, and for some people who receive it, is doesn’t actually cure the condition. That’s according to Richard Brodsky, a sickle cell expert at … Gene therapy for sickle cell disease often isn’t a cure, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Headlines have announced that sickle cell disease can be cured with gene therapy. Now there’s a better way developed at Johns Hopkins and other centers around the world, using what are called ‘half-matched donors,’ to give new bone marrow to … A new technique is better than gene therapy for curing sickle cell disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Bone marrow transplants used to be limited to just those people with sickle cell disease who could receive bone marrow from a matched donor. Rick Jones, an expert in blood disorders and cancers at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues have just … A new technique cures most people with sickle cell disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Sickle cell disease is a genetic abnormality that causes red blood cells to sickle instead of being round, and a host of problems result, including excruciatingly painful sickle cell crises. Rick Jones, an expert in blood disorders and cancer at … What’s the best way to cure sickle cell disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Improvements in breast cancer detection and treatment have resulted in improved survival, but now those improvements seem to have stalled, a new analysis shows. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says two groups of women … Breast cancer survival rates have stalled, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are cancer drugs that for many have been a lifeline. Yet they are associated with a range of reactions that really need to be cataloged so they’re easier to recognize, some experts argue. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer … Possible impacts of new cancer drugs need to be cataloged, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Microplastics you’ve inhaled and eaten are found all over your body, a recent study shows, and while no one knows exactly how they’re impacting your health, odds are they aren’t good for you. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at … How might microplastics be related to cancer risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Microplastics are formed from the breakdown of plastics in the environment, and they’ve now been found in many places in the human body, a new study reveals. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says it’s … Your body has microplastics in many places, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Breathing through your mouth makes health issues from dryer air even worse, says David Edwards, a respiratory health expert at Johns Hopkins. His recent study shows the deleterious impact of dry air on our respiratory system but says there are … There are things you can do to help protect your respiratory health even with dryer air and poor air quality, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Very tiny particles known as PM2.5 are a part of pollutants in the air, and have been shown to negatively affect health. Ditto for warming temperatures, which dry out our respiratory system, research by David Edwards, a respiratory health expert … How is poor air quality related to dry air and respiratory health? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Dry air just isn’t good for your respiratory health, new research by David Edwards, a respiratory health expert at Johns Hopkins, has shown. Dry air makes mucus thicker and harder to expel, and traps both toxins and pathogens in our … Does dry air contribute to more respiratory infections? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When you’re in an environment where the air is dry, a whole cascade of responses renders you more susceptible to respiratory conditions and diseases. That’s according to research by respiratory health expert David Edwards at Johns Hopkins. Edwards: It's understood … How are dry air and respiratory disease connected? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
As our planet warms, relative humidity hasn’t changed much but evaporation rate has increased, so things are dryer. This is a prescription for increased respiratory problems, says David Edwards, a respiratory health expert at Johns Hopkins. Edwards: We took airway … Dry airways and inflammation are linked, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Climate change and increasing temperatures are already taking a toll on your health, research by David Edwards, a respiratory health expert at Johns Hopkins, has shown. Edwards: Airway mucosa is drying out, like the earth's top soil with warming temperatures, … What are increasing global temperatures doing to your airways? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Findings on a routine EEG called sleep spindles may be helpful in determining if a nonresponsive person who’s had a brain injury will recover, a new study reveals. Susanne Muehlschlegel, a critical care neurologist at Johns Hopkins, says this may … How is the decision on how long to continue life sustaining treatment made? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If someone has suffered a brain injury and is on life support, determining when to cease that treatment is challenging if they haven’t recovered consciousness, with a new study identifying something called sleep spindles, seen on EEG, as helpful. Johns … Is two weeks long enough to determine if someone will recover consciousness? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Deciding when to stop life sustaining treatment for someone who’s unconscious after brain injury may be easier now that a new study identifies sleep spindles, which can be seen on electroencephalograms, or EEGs, along with other testing, to predict who … How long should someone remain on life support? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Something called sleep spindles are spikes that show up in an electroencephalogram, or EEG, and may help predict whether someone who’s had a brain injury will regain consciousness, new research shows. Johns Hopkins critical care neurologist Susanne Muehlschlegel says this adds … Sleep spindles may help discern who may regain consciousness, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When a patient is not responsive following a traumatic brain injury it is very difficult to tell when or if they’ll recover. A recent study may help by identifying characteristic tracings on an electroencephalogram, or EEG, that may be associated … It’s always a challenge when someone is unresponsive to determine how active their brain is, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Shingles is a skin infection that results from reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox. It can occur in areas like the eye where it may compromise vision, and is also associated with persistent and unremitting pain at the … The shingles vaccine is on the do not miss list, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Vaccines against human papilloma virus or HPV have been shown to dramatically reduce the rates of cervical cancer among recipients, data over decades now shows. Vaccine expert Anna Durbin at Johns Hopkins says males who receive the vaccine also reap … Vaccines against human papilloma virus reduce cancers, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Among the many advances seen while Covid was rampant, mRNA vaccines stand out. That’s according to Anna Durbin, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins. Durbin: These mRNA vaccines are very safe. mRNA itself the way it's presented to you it's … After billions of doses, mRNA vaccines have demonstrated their safety, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The technology that produced the vaccines against Covid relies on a type of RNA known as messenger RNA. Johns Hopkins vaccine expert Anna Durbin explains why utilizing this approach stimulates an effective immune response. Durbin: What we like about mRNA … Why are mRNA vaccines effective? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
RNA stands for ribonucleic acid, and since the development of Covid vaccines a class of it known as ‘messenger RNA’ or mRNA for short has been much in the news. Anna Durbin, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins, explains a … What is RNA and how is it used in vaccines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
It’s probably not high on your fun list to go and get vaccinated, so can more than one vaccine be given at a time so you can minimize the number of visits you need? Yes, says Anna Durbin, a vaccine … Should you get more than one vaccine at a time? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The majority of flu vaccines are grown in eggs, so people with egg allergies would avoid them. Johns Hopkins vaccine expert Anna Durbin says that landscape has changed. Durbin: The original flu vaccines the way they're made is we pick … If you are allergic to eggs should you avoid flu vaccines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You probably know people who got the Covid vaccines but still got the illness, sometimes multiple times. Ditto for flu vaccines. Before you simply choose not to be vaccinated, consider some facts about vaccines offered by Anna Durbin, a vaccine … Why might you get an illness even when you’ve been vaccinated? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You may recall hearing that this year’s flu vaccine was 40-60% effective against the flu. Why isn’t it more effective? Anna Durbin, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins, explains that’s a function of the process that’s used to make the … Why is the flu vaccine sometimes more effective than other times? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Vaccines are public health success stories, with the most effective ones often what’s called ‘live attenuated,’ meaning they do replicate in our bodies but don’t cause infection. Vaccine expert Anna Durbin at Johns Hopkins says there are people who shouldn’t … Who shouldn’t take a live vaccine? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
One way to avoid the reported epidemic of insomnia is to create a routine you follow before you go to bed, resetting your brain to prepare for sleep. That’s according to sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo at Johns Hopkins. Gamaldo: There's … How should you create a sleep routine? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Insomnia appears to be epidemic in the US in some studies, with additional data suggesting the problem is growing. Johns Hopkins sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo says there are things you can do to prevent insomnia. Gramaldo: Blue light wavelength suppresses … What can you do to protect yourself from developing insomnia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Apple watches and other electronic self-monitoring tools may up the risk that you might think you have insomnia when you don’t. That’s according to Charlene Gamaldo, a sleep expert at Johns Hopkins. Gramaldo: All of our devices are great from … Could your electronic devices mislead you into thinking you have insomnia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Everyone has trouble at times falling asleep or staying asleep, but when does that become the diagnosis of insomnia, and when should you seek help? Sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo at Johns Hopkins offers a few metrics. Gamaldo: How much time … What questions should you ask yourself if you suspect you may have insomnia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When you experience interrupted sleep it can quickly progress to feeling exhausted, but when should you consult a physician about it? Sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo at Johns Hopkins says it never hurts to ask the question. At baseline everybody's going … When should you be concerned that you may have a sleep problem? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Good quality, regular sleep is vital to your health, with many studies finding that when it’s not you are at higher risk for a range of health consequences. Johns Hopkins sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo says you should be asked about … Should sleep be assessed just like blood pressure or vision? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Many millions of people worldwide complain of insomnia, putting them at risk for poor health outcomes. Charlene Gamaldo, a sleep expert at Johns Hopkins, says while it is tempting to just turn to a medicine to help you sleep, that’s … Solving sleep problems starts with an assessment, Elizabeth Tracey reports. Read More »
While it’s been observed that disease and poor sleep seem to sort together, ongoing research is looking into the why of it. Johns Hopkins sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo says a couple of possible causes have emerged. Gamaldo: A couple of … How might compromised sleep put one at risk for poorer health outcomes? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If your sleep is chronically interrupted or too long or short in duration, you may be at increased risk for some types of cancer, research suggests. Sleep expert Charlene Gamaldo at Johns Hopkins says it’s unclear whether sleep quality puts … Is compromised sleep related to the development of cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Sleep is increasingly being recognized as important in human maladies. Charlene Gamaldo, a sleep expert at Johns Hopkins, says sleep quality is important in both management and prevention strategies. Gamaldo: How is sleep potentially impacting the management and the progression … Increasingly sleep is recognized as a modifiable risk factor for disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Blood in your urine, so-called hematuria, is fairly common, with a new genetic test being studied to rule out bladder cancer as a cause. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says such a test would … Does blood in your urine mean you have cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Blood in your urine is definitely a reason to seek medical attention, and for many people cancer is a top concern. Now a new genetic test that can spot changes in the DNA known as mutations can help rule out … Can a genetic test spot bladder cancer in people who have blood in their urine? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy translates to chemotherapy for cancer before surgery, with a recent study demonstrating its benefit for people with esophagus cancer. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says this strategy is time tested. Nelson: Neoadjuvant therapy is … Are there advantages to receiving chemotherapy for cancer before surgery? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cancer of the esophagus is a tough cancer to treat, and more people worldwide are developing it. A recent study compares one regimen giving chemotherapy and radiation before surgery versus another strategy using four chemotherapy drugs plus surgery. William Nelson, … What is the best way to treat esophageal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Pain in nerves, called neuropathy, is more common when a couple types of cancer drugs are used or when someone has lung cancer versus other types of cancer, a new study concludes. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson … Is it possible to catch nerve pain early in cancer treatment and minimize it? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Neuropathy, or painful nerves, are seen in more than 40% of people who’ve been treated for cancer, a recent study reports. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says the magnitude of the problem is huge, although there … Can painful nerve pain following cancer therapy be avoided? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Nerve pain, or neuropathy, can be a big problem for some people who’ve been treated for cancer, with a new study showing just how big a problem it is. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, … How often does someone who’s been treated for cancer experience nerve pain? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A greater sense of control, feeling in partnership with their care team, and not finding reporting symptoms burdensome are just a few of the outcomes reported by people with advanced cancer in a study of an electronic intervention where they … How does reporting symptoms impact cancer care for patients? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Imagine you have advanced cancer and your doctor asks you to report your symptoms electronically, so that intervention is possible before things like pain or breathing difficulties become especially troublesome. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins describes … Is it helpful for people with advanced cancer to report their symptoms regularly? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Helping people with advanced cancer is facilitated by having them fill out symptom questionnaires for their medical team, who can then intervene promptly, a new study demonstrates. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, applauds the … Patients with advanced cancer can help in their own care, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’ve just learned that you have Parkinson’s disease and you’re not already a physically active person, you might want to take up a few forms of exercise to slow down disease progression. Johns Hopkins neurologist Liana Rosenthal says the … Physical activity is beneficial for people with Parkinson’s disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Once someone receives a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, there are things they can do themselves that are likely to be beneficial. Johns Hopkins neurologist Liana Rosenthal explains. Rosenthal: The other things you can do that help now if you already … Diet can help in those who already have Parkinson’s disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The majority of cases of Parkinson’s disease aren’t related to genetics, research shows, while some environmental exposures increase your risk to develop the condition. Liana Rosenthal, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, names a few factors that are under your control … You can lower your risk for developing Parkinson’s disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Specific pesticides as well as other chemicals increase one’s risk for developing Parkinson’s disease, research shows. Liana Rosenthal, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, describes which ones are known to be problematic. Rosenthal: Paraquat increased the risk of PD by 150%. … Environmental exposures are linked to Parkinson’s disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
More and more people around the world are being affected by Parkinson’s disease, a common condition often showing up first as a movement disorder. Liana Rosenthal, a Johns Hopkins neurologist, says North Americans are especially hard hit. Rosenthal: The overall … Where in the world are Parkinson’s disease cases most common? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The aberrant protein alpha synuclein is known to be involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease, but how and why this abnormal form develops remains an area of active investigation. Liana Rosenthal, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, examines the role … How big a role does genetics play in the development of Parkinson’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Abundant evidence points to a protein called alpha synuclein in causing the range of symptoms seen in Parkinson’s disease, with the condition progressing as it travels up to the brain. Johns Hopkins neurologist Liana Rosenthal describes the process. Rosenthal: Alpha … How do abnormal proteins get into the brain in Parkinson’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
By the time someone with Parkinson’s disease, or PD, has hand tremors, the process of developing the condition is well underway in parts of their brain, with deposition of an abnormal protein called alpha synuclein, Johns Hopkins neurologist Liana Rosenthal … What exactly is happening in the brain of someone with Parkinson’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Just a few decades ago data from the Global Burden of Disease study reported about half a million people with Parkinson’s disease, with its characteristic tremor at rest and other movement abnormalities. Johns Hopkins neurologist Liana Rosenthal says now more … More and more people worldwide are developing Parkinson’s disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Parkinson’s disease is common, and becoming even more so, recent data indicate. Liana Rosenthal, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, says most people recognize it as a movement disorder. Rosenthal: You probably know someone with Parkinson's disease. It is chronic, it … Parkinson’s disease is a very common movement disorder, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A precancerous condition of the bone marrow called myelofibrosis is usually treated with bone marrow transplantation. Now a new study shows that looking at the mutations that people with the condition have in their own bone marrow and then assessing … What can a precancerous condition teach us about clearing mutations? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Prostate specific membrane antigen or PSMA PET scanning is very accurate at detecting and visualizing prostate cancer throughout the body. Now a study using this type of scan on men whose disease recurred shows its efficacy in this case also. … When prostate cancer returns a nuclear medicine scan can help, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
For many people with cancer drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors have proven to be lifesavers. Yet as with all drugs they come with side effects, and if you aren’t a person who will benefit from them, it would be good … Can a new tool help determine which cancer treatments might help you? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
In spite of the outgoing Surgeon General’s assertions, some people aren’t buying a relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says there are lines of research that would definitely help. Nelson: It's … Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Outgoing Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says alcohol packaged for consumption should bear a warning label about increased risk for cancer. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says that recommendation is based on an assumption. Nelson: There is not a … What does the science tell us about alcohol consumption and cancer risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Alcohol for consumption should come with a warning label about cancer risk, outgoing Surgeon General Vivek Murthy asserts. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says this is an issue that’s surrounded by complexity. Nelson: The … Should you give up alcohol to reduce your cancer risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Free DNA in the blood portends increasing frailty and possibly an increased risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease, two long term studies of older adults by Peter Abadir, a geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues have shown. Abadir says as we … How might AI improve interpretation of free DNA levels in the blood? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
DNA fragments found circulating in an older person’s blood are associated with frailty and Alzheimer’s disease, studies by Peter Abadir, a geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues have shown. These long term studies of several hundred older adults also … Higher levels of your own DNA circulating in your blood may be a problem, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Increased cell death, increased levels of DNA in the blood, increased inflammation, and increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. That appears to be one scenario to explain findings by Johns Hopkins geriatrics expert Peter Abadir on the relationship between circulating cell … How much does increased levels of DNA in the blood increase dementia risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cell death in your body happens all the time, every day, and when it does DNA is released into your blood. It may be your genetic DNA or it may be from your mitochondria, and it is giving clues to … Why does increased cell death in the body increase inflammation? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Walking speed is a commonly used measure for health, as it’s easy to do and doesn’t cost much. Now a study by Peter Abadir, a Johns Hopkins geriatrics expert, links walking speed to cell death, as measured by release of … Is walking speed linked to cell death? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
DNA fragments found in your blood, so called circulating cell free DNA, come from your cells as they die. Both genetic material and DNA from your energy plants, known as mitochondria, can be found, and both are implicated in increased … How does circulating DNA contribute to accelerated aging? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Circulating cell free DNA fragments are found in your bloodstream when cells die and release what’s inside. Some of that DNA is your genetic material and some comes from mitochondria, the power plants of your cells. Johns Hopkins geriatrics expert … Are circulating DNA and inflammation related? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You may have heard the term ‘liquid biopsy.’ Most often referring to cancer detection, such technology aims to find materials circulating in the blood that give clues to a tumor’s presence. Now such a strategy is being used to look … Can a blood test for DNA predict Alzheimer’s disease and frailty? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Some cancer tests and prenatal assessments already use DNA found circulating in someone’s blood to look for certain cancers or assure the health of a fetus. Now Peter Abadir, a geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues are using such … A blood test looking for your DNA is proving increasingly useful, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You have quite a lot of the genetic material DNA circulating in your bloodstream. Peter Abadir, a geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins, is looking at DNA from two different sources to provide information on aging. Abadir: The genomic DNA is … Your own genetic material from two cellular locations can be found in your blood, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Immunotherapies for cancer can be lifesavers, but they can also provoke an overwhelming immune response that can be life threatening. Now a Johns Hopkins study may help pinpoint who is at risk for this type of reaction. Kimmel Cancer Center … It may now be possible to tell who is going to react badly to some forms of cancer therapy, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People with a type of advanced colorectal cancer who were treated with two different immunotherapy drugs did much better than a group treated with a standard type of chemotherapy, a new study reports. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at … Using two immunotherapies in colon cancer helps, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
As cancer cells grow, a study looking at their three dimensional architecture reveals that they become more like cells normally seen in fetal life. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says that may be the key to enabling … Studying cancers in three dimensions has revealed a kind of regression, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
An effort is underway to characterize cancerous tumors in three dimensions, with an eye toward a more complete understanding of their behavior. A series of papers have recently come out describing what’s been seen so far. William Nelson, director of … What are we learning from studying cancers in three dimensions? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When cancer exists in the body it has a three dimensional structure, an architecture, that only now is being looked at in detail to understand better how cancers behave. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins explains. Nelson: … What can a 3D atlas of cancer teach us? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Childhood obesity is a worldwide problem with long term health implications, especially cardiovascular disease. Now a study co-led by Johns Hopkins pediatrics expert Eliana Perrin has shown a personalized program of text messages to parents of very young infants staved … Text messages meeting people where they are allow children to avoid becoming obese, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
While childhood obesity is a widespread problem, the children who are most at risk to develop this disabling condition are already those with fewer educational opportunities and lower income. Now an intervention using text messages helps to close this gap … Childhood obesity rates keep rising, but a text based intervention can help. Read More »
Childhood obesity is a worldwide problem that keeps accelerating, with the kids most at risk from already disadvantaged groups. Now a study co-led by Johns Hopkins pediatrics expert Eliana Perrin shows that a comprehensive texting intervention helps, with kids whose … Helping kids most at risk for obesity is possible, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
New parents are motivated people. That’s one observation from a new study co-led by Johns Hopkins pediatrics expert Eliana Perrin using a text-based intervention to prevent early childhood obesity. Perrin says parents both helped design the intervention and were participants. … Parents were pivotal in the success of a study to prevent childhood obesity, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Can a texting intervention to parents of very young children prevent the development of obesity in their offspring? A study co-led by Johns Hopkins pediatrics expert Eliana Perrin shows the answer is yes. Perrin: We enrolled 900 kids. We did … Getting to kids and parents very early in life may be key to preventing obesity, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Engaging parents in developing a host of text messages around healthy behaviors for infants and young children was pivotal to the success of a study showing it is possible to avoid childhood obesity. The study, co-led by Johns Hopkins pediatrics … Parents are invaluable when it comes to avoiding childhood obesity, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
How can we stem the rising tide of childhood obesity? Start in infancy and engage parents personally. That’s the conclusion of a study co-led by Eliana Perrin, a pediatrics expert and study author, using a variety of text messages crafted … Specific text messages to parents help slow down childhood obesity, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Obesity is a complex condition that all too often begins in childhood. Now a comprehensive program using educational materials and personalized text messages has been shown to enable parents to stave off the early development of obesity in their young … What sorts of messages help parents prevent obesity in their young children? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
With about one in five children in the US falling into the obese range, trying to find a way to intervene effectively is top of mind for many pediatricians and public health experts. That’s because childhood obesity paves the way … Can texting prevent obesity in young children? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Preventing obesity in young children is possible using a program of texting new parents, a study co-led by Johns Hopkins pediatrics expert Eliana Perrin has shown. All parents enrolled in the study received written information on sleep, diet, activity and … A comprehensive text program can help prevent childhood obesity, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
H5N1 is shorthand for the strain of influenza that’s been worrying some public health experts this summer since being found in multiple herds of cows. Now at least two people have turned up positive with a slight variation on the … What’s the best strategy for staying ahead of emerging flu strains? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Even if you have high blood pressure when it’s measured in your doctor’s office, you may not really have it at all. That’s according to Tammy Brady, author of a Johns Hopkins study looking at the impact of arm position … What’s the best practice for measuring your blood pressure at home? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Taking a look at blood pressure should begin in childhood so good habits can be instilled, Elizabeth Tracey reports Arm position is just one factor when it comes to obtaining an accurate blood pressure reading. That’s according to Tammy Brady, … Read More »
Both arm position and resting for a moment before measurement are things to consider if you have a high blood pressure reading. Those are the conclusions of two studies by Tammy Brady, a cardiovascular health promotion expert at Johns Hopkins, … If your blood pressure measures high it’s wise to consider a couple of things, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Besides arm position, must rest also be a part of blood pressure measurement? Elizabeth Tracey reports Arm position matters when it comes to accurate blood pressure measurement, a Johns Hopkins study by Tammy Brady, a cardiovascular health promotion expert, shows. … Read More »
Incorrect arm position when your blood pressure is being measured may result in a mistakenly high reading, a study by Tammy Brady, a cardiovascular health promotion expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Brady says since home blood pressure … If you measure your own blood pressure, pay attention to your arm position, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Vital signs like blood pressure may be measured by a number of clinicians during a medical visit, and all of them need to be trained and recertified periodically. That’s according to Tammy Brady, a cardiovascular health promotion expert at Johns … Taking a blood pressure right is more complicated than it might seem, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
High blood pressure is associated with cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes, so keeping it under control is important. Yet many times blood pressures are measured without consideration for arm position, resulting in higher readings than would be seen … How high might your blood pressure be if your arm isn’t properly positioned? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Turns out when you get your blood pressure measured, arm position is critical. That’s according to a study led by Tammy Brady, a cardiovascular health promotion expert at Johns Hopkins, who showed that suboptimal arm positions increase the top number … What should your arm position be if you’re having your blood pressure measured? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
One of the most important things you can do to prevent the number one cause of death – cardiovascular disease – is to keep your blood pressure under control, and that starts with measuring it. Tammy Brady, a cardiovascular health … Accurate blood pressure measurement is harder than it seems, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Can you trust a video game to help your child with ADHD, depression or anxiety? A new study by Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Barry Bryant surveyed the field of such games to find out more about them. Bryant: There were some … Just how are video games to help manage mental health conditions in children developed? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Just how does a video game designed to help kids with ADHD, depression and anxiety differ from other video games? Barry Bryant, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins, recently completed a study looking at such games and has some observations. Bryant: … What characterizes a video game designed to help kids with mental health issues? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
if you’re using a gaming program to help a child with ADHD, depression or anxiety, these technologies work best if they are done on a computer. That’s one finding of a study surveying video games to help with these mental … Having kids using mental health care gaming works best at a computer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Can video games help children and adolescents with mental health issues like anxiety, ADHD or depression? A Johns Hopkins study led by psychiatrist Barry Bryant aimed to find out. Bryant: What we found were about 30 randomized controlled trials looking … What does a survey of video games to help kid’s mental health show? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Mental health issues are skyrocketing among US youth, data shows. Barry Bryant, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins, wondered whether technology might be able to step into this gap with a recent study looking at video games for three common mental … Can video games help fill in the gap between kids who need mental health care and the dearth of providers? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Skin biopsies can diagnose both Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions called prion diseases, recent studies show. Ted Dawson, Johns Hopkins Parkinson’s expert, predicts that soon, blood will supplant skin for detection of these incorrectly folded proteins. Dawson: We also … Skin isn’t the only place to sample to make a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
More than 200,000 people in the US alone are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease yearly, but it can be caused by multiple forms of a misfolded protein called alpha synuclein. Ted Dawson, a Parkinson’s expert at Johns Hopkins, says managing the … Personalized treatment may soon come for Parkinson’s disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A type of test known as a seeding assay has been shown to be very good at diagnosing conditions like Parkinson’s disease, caused by a protein that folds incorrectly. Parkinson’s disease expert Ted Dawson at Johns Hopkins predicts these types … Some people with Parkinson’s disease will test negative with the best test yet, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A protein called alpha synuclein is normally found in our bodies, but it’s also found in a misfolded form that’s known to cause Parkinson’s disease. A recent study shows a skin biopsy can help make the diagnosis. Johns Hopkins Parkinson’s … What is it that causes a normal protein to fold differently and cause Parkinson’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Used to be Parkinson’s disease was thought of as a movement disorder, but now it’s known that as the condition progresses two different types of dementia can also emerge. Ted Dawson, a Parkinson’s expert at Johns Hopkins, says recent studies … Parkinson’s disease is actually a few different clinical entities, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Prions are misfolded proteins that can infect us and cause our normal proteins to fold incorrectly also, and they can be found in the skin, a new study reports. Ted Dawson, a Parkinson disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says this … A new way of diagnosing prion disease may also help in other diseases, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Prion diseases are caused in people when an aberrant form of a protein that is already in our bodies infects us, and causes the normal protein to fold like it, resulting in neurological disease. A new study found that one … What is a prion and how does it cause disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The rare brain disorder abbreviated CJD, for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, can be diagnosed with two or more skin biopsies, a recent study shows. Johns Hopkins neurologist Ted Dawson says the fact that what causes the disease, a particle smaller than a virus … Why is it that a disorder that affects the brain can be diagnosed with a skin biopsy? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Skin biopsies have proven better at diagnosing the rare brain disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob, abbreviated CJD, than doing a spinal tap to obtain cerebrospinal fluid, a new study reports. Ted Dawson, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, says this new test has multiple advantages. … Making the diagnosis for a rare brain disease may now be easier, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or CJD is a rare neurological condition that may initially look like dementia and that is ultimately fatal. It’s caused by something called a prion, which is smaller than a virus. Now a new study demonstrates that a skin … Diagnosing some neurologic diseases may now use a skin biopsy, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The skin cancer melanoma has historically been associated with difficulties in treatment and survival, but that picture is changing rapidly. Now the results of a ten year trial support use of two agents to manage this disease, according to Kimmel … Treatment of the skin cancer melanoma continues to improve, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
So called triple negative breast cancer is associated with increased rates of spread, recurrence and death than other forms, but now long term results of a clinical trial offer better odds against this disease, William Nelson, director of the Kimmel … There’s good news for a difficult to treat breast cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Women who’ve had a false positive mammogram may be at increased risk for developing breast cancer later, a recent study shows, so regular mammography is a good idea. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson concurs. Nelson: If you … Even if you’ve had a false positive mammogram you should still have regular screening, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
No woman likes to undergo mammography, and when results seem to show a problem when there isn’t one, many will choose to give subsequent studies a miss. That’s according to a recent study Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at … Just how often do mammograms turn up false positive results? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you are a woman who’s had a mammogram to screen for breast cancer, you may be reluctant to come back again for regular screening if you’ve gotten a positive result that turned out to be false. That’s the conclusion … What happens when a woman gets a false positive mammogram? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
While not perfect, colorectal cancer screening tests known as FIT tests are not just likely to be used more often, they’re poised to become the go to method for most. That’s one way of looking at efforts by Cologuard and … What is the role for fecal screening tests for colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Fecal immunochemical tests, so called FIT tests, vary quite a bit at how accurate they are in pinpointing the presence of colorectal cancer, a recent study shows. Why aren’t such tests rated by the FDA for this capability? Johns Hopkins … How much can you trust the fecal test to screen for colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Fecal immunochemical or FIT tests are increasingly being used to screen for colorectal cancer, with a recent study examining just how good – or not – they are at doing so. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins … Fecal screening tests for colorectal cancer may not have the last word, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Is there a difference between various stool tests used to screen for colorectal cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports If you’re using a fecal test to screen for colorectal cancer, one test or another should perform about the same, right? Not according … Read More »
Is alcohol a risk factor for cancer development? Elizabeth Tracey reports Several cancer societies have come out fingering alcohol consumption as a risk factor for several types of cancer, the most recent the American Association for Cancer Research. Kimmel Cancer … Read More »
Trust is a major barrier for many when it comes to interactions with healthcare providers and our current system, and community based nurses may help. Sarah Szanton, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, has created a program called … Benefits of nurses in communities are multiple, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Neighborhood Nursing, a community outreach that places both a nurse and a community health worker in communities, meets people where they are and helps overcome their fears and inherent barriers in our current fragmented system. That’s according to Sarah Szanton, … A nursing shortage may be helped by having nurses in the community, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Imagine a nurse whose job it is to hang out in your neighborhood, answering questions, helping manage healthcare issues, and doing basic assessments. That’s the goal of Neighborhood Nursing, an initiative created by Sarah Szanton, dean of the Johns Hopkins … Just how might a community-based nurse impact healthcare? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Primary healthcare delivered right where you are. Sounds like a fantasy, doesn’t it? Not if health insurers can see the benefits and choose to work together to fund this program, called Neighborhood Nursing, the brainchild of Sarah Szanton, dean of … What is required to put a nurse and community health worker in place in communities throughout the US? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Neighborhood Nursing is a new initiative begun by Sarah Szanton, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and colleagues, to place a nurse and a community health worker in neighborhoods to deliver primary care and other health services. Szanton … How might a nurse in the neighborhood change the way healthcare is delivered in the US? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Nitazines are the new kid on the block when it comes to synthetic opioids being found in street drugs, and they can be about 40 times as powerful as fentanyl. Eric Strain, a substance use disorders expert at Johns Hopkins, … Synthetic opioids continue to complicate rates of opioid dependance and death, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Opioid overdoses continue to be a huge public health problem, with new synthetic opioids continuing to be developed. Eric Strain, a substance use disorder expert at Johns Hopkins, says one bright spot is access to treatment is improving. Strain: I … Readily available treatment is important for opioid addiction, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
How can we explain the disparity between cancer deaths among men and women, including the prognostication in a recent WHO report on cancer worldwide that many more men will succumb? Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says … World Health Organization data paints an increased risk of cancer and cancer death for men, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The World Health Organization has recently released a snapshot of world cancer data, with a look forward to what we might expect regarding cancers of all types in the coming decades. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at … Who is at risk for cancer development and death over the next decades? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
CAR-T therapy, where someone’s own immune cells are trained to go after their cancer, has now been shown to confer a heightened infection risk, and risk of death from infection, for some recipients. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William … How does infection risk relative to CAR-T treatment factor into therapy? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Just keeping up with the names is difficult: fentanyl, carfentanyl, xylazine, now nitazines…and each has a host of harms and is more potent than its predecessor. Substance use disorder expert Eric Strain at Johns Hopkins says keeping up is a … How is it that more and more powerful opioids are appearing among street drugs? Elizabeth Tracey reports. Read More »
Adding the potent opioid nitazine to heroin or fentanyl is hard to understand, since it ups the likelihood you’ll kill your clientele. Eric Strain, a substance use disorder expert at Johns Hopkins, is nonplussed. Strain: Why? That's a great question … Why add even more potent synthetic opioids to existing ones? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When someone is brought to the ED having overdosed, the clock is ticking to identify what substance they’ve used and then attempt to reverse it. Johns Hopkins substance use disorder expert Eric Strain says that’s why the new street opioid … What are the dangers of nitazines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
No sooner does awareness of new types of street opioids develop than the next generation appears. Such is the case with nitazines, a class of opioids being found increasingly adulterating heroin and fentanyl, with deadly consequences. Johns Hopkins substance use … Newer and more potent street opioids are always being developed, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
First was heroin, then came fentanyl and its variations, then came xylazine. Now nitazines, a class of drugs that augment the action of opioids, are being found in drugs trafficked illegally, and they’re deadly. Eric Stain, a substance use disorder … There’s a new drug being added to opioids bought on the street, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Respiratory infections like seasonal influenza and Covid can be devastating. Johns Hopkins critical care physician and pandemic preparedness expert Amesh Adalja says the good news is there are vaccines for both, and protection starts but doesn’t end there. Adalja: You … What can we do to protect ourselves from respiratory infections? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Do you know the difference between seasonal and pandemic flu? Amesh Adalja, a critical care medicine physician and pandemic preparedness expert at Johns Hopkins, says seasonal flu is the garden variety type we see each year that still causes a … Benefits of the flu vaccine are multiple, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
At this point you’ve probably gotten really tired of Covid, but it’s not time to stop thinking about viral illnesses yet. That’s because we’re on the cusp of flu season, and that’s a potent threat most people don’t even consider. … How much do you know about flu-related mortality? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
New Covid vaccines are here, yet the number of people choosing to get them is underwhelming. Amesh Adalja, a critical care medicine physician and pandemic preparedness expert at Johns Hopkins, says many people are trying to understand why. Amesh Adalja: … Why aren’t people accessing the new Covid vaccines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Are you up to date on your vaccines? How about your children? Amesh Adalja, a critical care medicine physician and pandemic preparedness expert at Johns Hopkins, says a look at the data on vaccine uptake is cause for alarm. Amesh … Vaccine uptake is lackluster, and that’s a problem, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The medical establishment took on fats as problematic in the 1960s, with the result that food manufacturers switched to sugars and refined carbs instead, and the obesity epidemic ensued. Johns Hopkins surgeon Marty Makary says obesity is just one result, … How have diet trends over the last couple of decades impacted health? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The food pyramid was supposed to visually demonstrate how best to nourish our bodies, but instead it vilified many fats and precipitated a wholesale shift to carbohydrates, many of them refined. And then the obesity epidemic began. That’s the reconstruction … Our obesity epidemic is rooted in medicine’s inability to take a broader view, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Diabetes is out of control, along with obesity, mental health disorders, and rising rates of many cancers. Marty Makary, a surgeon at Johns Hopkins and author of a book called ‘Blind Spots,” argues that it is the impaired vision of … What does a wholistic approach have to do with health? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Where are the blind spots when it comes to the practice of medicine? Johns Hopkins surgeon Marty Makary, author of a new book entitled ‘Blind Spots,” says they are too numerous to identify individually. Makary: We have massive blind spots … It’s time for medicine at large to look at whole people instead of diseases and conditions, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Burgeoning research demonstrates that smartphone use in schools is detrimental to individual students and corrosive for the learning environment. Marty Makary, a surgeon at Johns Hopkins and public health researcher, says attempts to simply limit their use are not enough. … Does the argument that limiting smartphone use works hold water? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Should we allow a technology that’s at best disruptive and at worst addictive into our schools? No, states Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and public health researcher, citing smartphones as a scourge that has no place in educational facilities, … Some schools have already banned smartphones in students’ interest, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Smartphones are ubiquitous, with over half of US children owning one by the time they are 11 years of age. Much research is emerging demonstrating just how harmful this can be, especially when phones remain in the hands of kids … Should smartphones even be allowed in schools? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
An engineered type of T cell known as a CAR-T can be very beneficial for people with some types of cancer, yet a major cause of death among those who receive them is infection, a recent study finds. Kimmel Cancer … CAR-T therapy for cancer is associated with risk for infectious disease death, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Skin cancers run the gamut from relatively benign basal cell carcinoma to invasive melanoma. In between are squamous cell carcinomas, which are increasing in frequency and likely result in death more often than melanomas do, a new paper asserts, calling … Squamous cell skin cancer needs more rigorous study, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Many women who had both breasts removed when cancer was found in one really didn’t experience any benefit from doing so, with similar rates of recurrence and death to women who chose more conservative treatment, a recent study finds. Johns … Who should have both breasts removed when cancer is found in one? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Three groups of women, all with breast cancer in one breast, participated in a recent study looking at whether removing both breasts when cancer is found in one, so-called prophylactic bilateral mastectomy, was effective in reducing a woman’s risk. Kimmel … What does a study on removing both breasts when cancer is found in one tell us? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Bilateral mastectomy as a means of preventing cancer in the other breast when it is found in one breast may not be of benefit when it comes to reccurence or survival, a new study shows. William Nelson, director of the … Does removing both breasts when cancer is found in one help? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Individualized cancer vaccines based on the specific set of mutations someone has are now in clinical trials, with William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, predicting they will soon be commonplace. Yet because a cancer changes … How often might an individualized vaccine need to be developed to treat cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you have the misfortune to develop cancer, chances are good you may have a vaccine developed just for you to treat it, if further research bears out results of a recent study looking at such a vaccine to treat … Individualized cancer vaccines are on the horizon, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A type of cancer treatment known as an immune checkpoint inhibitor may be stymied by the type of bacteria someone has in their intestine, a new study shows. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins explains. Nelson: The … How might gut bacteria impact cancer treatment? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Certain types of chemotherapy are associated with development of a condition called peripheral neuropathy, which at its most mild may cause tingling in hands or feet, or at worst causes pain and difficulty walking. Now a new study looks at … Should exercise be prescribed for some people having chemotherapy? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Tingling and the feeling of pins and needles, especially in hands and feet, may occur with use of some types of chemotherapy. Known in medical parlance as peripheral neuropathy, a recent study finds that exercise is able to reduce the … Can exercise help avoid a common side effect of some types of chemotherapy? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Tracey reports Depression and social media use are linked, a recent study by Johns Hopkins child and adolescent psychiatrist Carol Vidal found. This adds to burgeoning research finding dangers of addictive social media use, and may result in formal classification … It’s just becoming clear that social media can be addictive and harmful, Elizabeth Read More »
Rewards that activate pleasure centers in our brains are baked into social media platforms, and that can be a recipe for addiction. That’s according to Carol Vidal, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins and author of a recent … What can help break social media addiction? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Social media platforms should carry a warning label about dangers posed to young people by using them, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says. Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Carol Vidal, who has just published a study linking social media and depression, says … How might regulations be changed to avoid social media dangers? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently warned that social media platforms should carry a warning label that they may harm the health of teenagers, a posture supported by research by child and adolescent psychiatrist Carol Vidal at Johns Hopkins. Vidal … Caveat emptor regarding social media use, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Social media has significant potential to create harm and should be regulated as such. That’s according to Carol Vidal, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins and one author of a recent study looking at the relationship between social … Does social media need to be regulated just like the tobacco industry? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Hundreds of people in the 18 to 25 year old range who were studied by Johns Hopkins child and adolescent psychiatrist Carol Vidal for depressive symptoms and social media use seem to reveal at least one unexpected finding. Vidal: I … Depressed people who use social media don’t get worse over time, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Looking at social media use and depression among a group of 18 to 25 year olds, most of whom were women, led Johns Hopkins child and adolescent psychiatrist Carol Vidal to conclude that the two are linked, although cause and … Are depression and social media use linked? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Mental health problems among US young adults are at an all time high, with many pointing to social media as a prominent factor. Carol Vidal, a Johns Hopkins adolescent and child psychiatrist, did a study looking at depression and social … Should social media be considered a risk factor for depression? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Which comes first, depression or social media use? Johns Hopkins child and adolescent psychiatrist Carol Vidal set out to find out. Vidal: We basically looked at depression as an outcome variable, so looking at whether the use of social media … Looking at young adults over time helps tease out the relationship between depression and social media use, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
How are use of social media and depression related? A study led by Johns Hopkins child and adolescent psychiatrist Carol Vidal enrolled several hundred young adults to find out whether depressed people used more social media or if social media … What can we learn about social media use and depression in young adults? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Fungal infections of people are on the rise, Arturo Casadevall, Johns Hopkins professor and author of “Will the Fungi Win?” states. That’s true because climate change is stimulating the organisms to become more capable of thriving at body temperatures, which … What is the best strategy to mitigate the impact of fungal infections in people? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
What is the human thermal barrier? As Arturo Casadevall, Johns Hopkins professor, describes in his new book, “Will the Fungi Win?” it is our normal body temperature, and it has been holding the majority of fungal infections in humans at … Worrisome fungal infections are on the rise, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The summer of 2024 is shaping up to be among the hottest on record, and for fungi, that may be just the stimulus needed to enable them to effectively infect humans. That’s according to Johns Hopkins professor Arturo Casadevall in … Fungi are becoming more adapted to hot temperatures, and that may lead to more human infections, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Most of the world’s population is dependent on grains for survival, and if fungal attacks on these food sources continue to increase, starvation of many of us is possible. That’s according to Arturo Casadevall, author of “Will the Fungi Win,” … Devastation of food crops is one of fungi’s biggest threats to people, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
What’s your favorite fungus? You might say mushrooms and stop there, since for most of us a broad knowledge of fungi is lacking. Arturo Casadevall, Johns Hopkins professor and author of a new book, “What if the Fungi Win?” is … Fungi are worth your attention, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The vast majority of kids in the US go to school, and CDC director Mandy Cohen, at a recent Johns Hopkins talk, says these are very important places to start to set up people for a healthy lifestyle throughout their … Where do we need to start to improve health across the lifespan? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Women in the US experience a rate of maternal mortality twice as high and sometimes three times as high as that of other high income countries. How do we account for this dismal statistic and what can we do about … Maternal mortality in the United States is a national tragedy, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
In 2023, more than 50,000 Americans died by suicide, continuing a grim trend upward that has been underway for years. Mandy Cohen, CDC director, said at a recent Johns Hopkins talk that the agency is analyzing all the data and … Can we figure out how to reduce deaths due to suicide? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Schools, communities, medical systems, all are working to intervene when it comes to the epidemic rate of drug overdose death we are experiencing nationally. At a recent talk at Johns Hopkins, CDC director Mandy Cohen says including the many resources … When strategizing on how to prevent drug overdoses, look to the CDC first, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Drug overdose deaths are at an all time high, with social ills, availability of lethal substances and barriers to care all involved. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC, said in a recent talk at Johns Hopkins that the federal agency … How is the CDC helping to stem the tide of drug overdose death? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Neighborhood Nursing is the name of a new program aiming to improve the health of individuals and communities in Baltimore by embedding a nurse and a community health worker near at hand for residents. Sarah Szanton, dean of the Johns … What impact can a nurse and a community health worker have on the health of neighborhoods? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When it comes to health, prevention of infection and disease is by far the best strategy. CDC director Mandy Cohen says the agency is taking prevention on by strongly supporting young families at a recent talk at Johns Hopkins. Cohen: … Can helping families throughout the lifespan prevent chronic disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Since Covid, rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide have risen, along with substance use disorders. Helping Americans deal with these issues is a top priority for the CDC, according to Mandy Cohen, CDC director, in a recent talk at Johns … A big emphasis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the moment is mental health, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Sharing and integrating data is one of the top priorities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, says director Mandy Cohen at a recent Johns Hopkins talk. Cohen: Infectious disease or non infectious disease we need the … Increasing coordination should allow the CDC to protect the nation’s health better, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You probably heard a lot about the CDC, short for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during the pandemic, likely more than you wanted to know. Mandy Cohen, the center’s director, came to Johns Hopkins recently to talk about the … Your view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should expand, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Almost all adults will experience pain in their shoulders at some point. Johns Hopkins head of shoulder surgery Edward McFarland says it’s very simple to start with stretching. McFarland: When you do have shoulder pain one of the things that … Where do you start in treating shoulder pain? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Shoulder pain is one of the big three orthopedic problems when it comes to people seeking medical attention, and it gets more common with age. Johns Hopkins head of shoulder surgery Edward McFarland says there are a few things to … Is there anything you can do to protect your shoulders as you age? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re in your eighties, you may be among the one in two of your peers who have shoulder injuries you just aren’t aware of. Edward McFarland, head of shoulder surgery at Johns Hopkins, explains. McFarland: Over 50% of people … If you’ve aged successfully into your 80’s, you may have shoulder injury you don’t even know about, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You may not be a gym warrior but as you age, even everyday activities can result in shoulder injury. Edward McFarland, head of shoulder surgery at Johns Hopkins, says the anatomy of the joint changes a lot as we get … Even benign activities can result in shoulder injury as we age, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Shoulder pain ranks right up there with back and neck pain, accounting for many visits to physicians. Edward McFarland, head of shoulder surgery at Johns Hopkins, says it’s almost always the tendons around the shoulder known as the rotator cuff … Falls are a major source of shoulder injury, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The shoulder joint is known as a ball and socket, where the ball is part of the arm bone called the humerus, while the socket is part of a bone known as the scapula. Edward McFarland, head of shoulder surgery … The shoulder joint’s unique structure allows for a full range of motion, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Tendons connect muscles to bones. When an injury to the Achilles tendon in the lower leg occurs, it’s most often a tear between muscle and tendon, but in the shoulder it’s the separation between tendon and bone. That’s according to … Much of shoulder pain is the result of tendon injuries, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Pain in the shoulder will be experienced by almost every adult at some point, especially as they age. Shoulder pain factors right up there with back and neck pain in terms of how common it is. Edward McFarland, head of … If you’re experiencing pain in your shoulder your tendons may be the culprit, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Let’s say you begin a new sport, and the next day you wake up a bit sore. Edward McFarland, director of shoulder surgery at Johns Hopkins, says that’s most likely good pain. McFarland: Good pain is the burn you get … How should you interpret pain after exercise? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
There’s no question that exercise is a beneficial habit we should all practice, yet for the majority of us it’s hard to fit in to a busy life. Edward McFarland, head of shoulder surgery at Johns Hopkins, says whether you’re … If you’re just taking up exercise there are a few things you should watch out for, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Women who used talc-containing products genitally may be at increased risk for ovarian cancer, but not for breast cancer, a new study finds. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says this study attempted to eliminate certain biases … Does use of talc containing products increase a woman’s change of cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Women should undergo screening for breast cancer using mammography every two years from age 40 until 74, the most recent United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations state. Yet now that life expectancies are increasing, should all women observe the … Should all women stop breast cancer screening at 74 years of age? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re a woman between the ages of 40 and 70, you should undergo screening mammography for breast cancer every two years, the United States Preventive Services Task Force has just recommended. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson … Screening mammography guidelines have been updated, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
There may be no benefit to taking a drug that’s approved already for treating cancer in a clinical trial versus just receiving treatment, a new study finds. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says benefits … Novel treatments for cancer may not be available outside clinical trials, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People with cancer who enroll in clinical trials do better. That wisdom appears to have been dashed with results of a new study showing no survival benefit or any other positive outcome related to clinical trial participation. Johns Hopkins Kimmel … Should you participate in a clinical trial if you have cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you wear contact lenses you may be at particular risk to develop the condition known as dry eye, where your eyes may feel dry and scratchy. Lauren Gormley, an optometrist at Johns Hopkins, describes why wearing contacts may precipitate … Contact lens wearers may be at risk to develop dry eye, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Dry eye can develop for a number of reasons, whether it’s because oil glands at the base of your eyelashes aren’t making enough oil or you aren’t producing sufficient tears to keep your eyes lubricated. Lauren Gormley, an optometrist at … Once you’ve developed dry eye the problem will likely continue, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People with dry eye tend to try to self-manage for some time, with a range of over the counter products available to them. Lauren Gormley, an optometrist at Johns Hopkins, says many become frustrated and seek help. Gormley: By the time … An evaluation can help you pinpoint best treatments for dry eye, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you have dry eye it’s important to know what type it is, since that will determine best possible management strategies. That’s according to Lauren Gormley, an optometrist at Johns Hopkins. Gormley: The more type of dry eye is evaporative … What is the most common type of dry eye? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Dry eye is just what it sounds like, a syndrome that produces the sensation of dry eyes. Lauren Gormley, an optometrist at Johns Hopkins, says conditions may have been right for you to develop the condition but a lifestyle change … If your eyes are suddenly feeling dry and scratchy, a lifestyle change may have precipitated dry eye. Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Millions of Americans have dry eye, a troubling and sometimes serious condition affecting the parts of the eye that are in contact with our external environment. Lauren Gormley, a optometrist at Johns Hopkins, describes some of the known risk factors. … What are some of the risk factors for dry eye? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’ve been trying to manage your dry eyes yourself with the multitude of products available over the counter, you may be causing yourself more harm than good. That’s because dry eye may be a symptom of a number of … Assessing dry eye requires an expert, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You’ve probably experienced the sensation that your eyes are dry. They may also be scratchy or sore. Lauren Gormley, an optometrist at Johns Hopkins, says for millions of Americans these sensations and more serious ones are a daily ordeal and … Dry eye syndrome affects millions of Americans, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cutting short the number of hours during the day when you consume food seems like it should result in weight loss, but that didn’t pan out in a recent study by Nisa Maruthur and colleagues at Johns Hopkins, where so … What’s the difference between time restricted eating and intermittent fasting? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Simply restricting eating to fewer hours during the day won’t result in weight loss for many, a Johns Hopkins study by Nisa Maruthur, an internal medicine expert, and colleagues has shown. Maruthur says when she’s counseling people on weight loss … Key to weight loss is a global look at someone’s health, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Fiber comprising a lot of an overall healthy diet may have resulted in weight loss for two groups of people in a recent study- those who ate only during a shortened period while they were awake, so-called time restricted eating … Increasing fiber may be key to weight loss in a study of time restricted eating, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Is there any benefit at all to time restricted eating, or TRE, for losing weight when compared to a usual eating pattern? That’s the question addressed in a recent Johns Hopkins study headed by Nisa Maruthur, a primary care expert, … How does time restricted eating compare to a healthy diet? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re thinking of using time restricted eating, where you only consume food for a shortened part of your waking hours, for weight loss, results of a new study from Johns Hopkins may inform. Nisa Maruthur, a primary care physician, … How can time restricted eating be fairly studied for weight loss? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Time restricted eating, or TRE, seems like it might help people lose weight, many studies in animal models suggested. So Nisa Maruthur, an internal medicine expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues designed a study to assess this strategy in people. … Would eating most of your daily intake before 1pm help you lose weight? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Metformin is a older medication used for type 2 diabetes that’s now being evaluated for improving longevity. Another diabetes medicine called a GLP-1 agonist is being used to treat obesity. Diabetes expert Rita Kalyani at Johns Hopkins says possible expanded … Several diabetes medicines are being eyed for use outside of this condition, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Yet another study has come out recommending the class of medicines called GLP-1 agonists for type 2 diabetes. These medicines are already in the news to treat obesity, both in those with diabetes and those without, and more conditions that … Will everyone soon be taking a medicine first developed to manage type 2 diabetes? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Diabetes medicine known as GLP-1 agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors are recommended for people with type 2 diabetes in a recent large study that aggregated data from other studies. Rita Kalyani, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins, says while there’s no … Are certain diabetes medicines best for specific people? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Let’s say you’ve just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but outside of that condition you have no other health issues. Should you take a newer class of diabetes medicine or will one of the older ones serve you just … When are newer diabetes medicines best? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you have type 2 diabetes, what are the best medicines to manage it? A new meta-analysis looks at aggregated data from a number of studies and comes out in favor of the newer classes of drugs. Rita Kalyani, a … What are the best medicines to manage diabetes? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cancer of the esophagus can be challenging to treat, and when it’s diagnosed a number of studies are appropriate to fully evaluate the disease. That’s according to Richard Battafarano, director of thoracic surgery at Johns Hopkins. Battafarano: Undergoing endoscopic ultrasound … A range of tests should accompany evaluation for esophagus cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Esophagus cancer awareness month has just ended, and Richard Battafarano, director of thoracic surgery at Johns Hopkins, says while some people may have this type of cancer and not know it, the majority will have a range of symptoms. Battafarano: … What are the symptoms of cancer of the esophagus? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Bladder cancer treatment is about to change dramatically based on a trial showing that adding an antibody to a toxic substance is much more effective than current treatments. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer director William Nelson describes this class of pharmaceuticals. … A new type of pharmaceutical to treat bladder cancer may become the method of choice, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Stool based tests to screen for colorectal cancer have been around for some time and work pretty well. Now one of the most utilized ones has been improved, a clinical trial shows. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center … A stool based test for colorectal cancer just got an update, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A blood test to screen for cancer is something of a Holy Grail, and now a new study describes one for colorectal cancer. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says while there is still quite a bit … Is a better way to screen for colorectal cancer on the horizon? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Pulse oximeters, vital for measuring how much oxygen is in someone’s blood, don’t work well in people with darker skin, multiple studies have shown. Ashraf Fawzy, a critical care medicine expert at Johns Hopkins, says even the degree to which … Many aspects of pulse oximeter function may be dysfunctional in people with darker skin, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Just how inaccurate are the devices used to measure oxygen in the blood, called pulse oximeters, in people with darker skin? That’s the question that Ashraf Fawzy, a critical care medicine expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues addressed in a … Measurement of skin tone confirms inaccuracy of pulse oximeters in some people, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Pulse oximeters are essential to measure someone’s level of oxygen in their blood, yet they haven’t been updated since the 1970s and they’re not well regulated by the FDA. That’s according to Ashraf Fawzy, a critical care medicine expert at … Testing of pulse oximeters should take place clinically, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re a person with darker skin, a device to measure oxygen in your blood called a pulse oximeter may be inaccurate, sometimes extremely so, accumulating research shows. Ashraf Fawzy, a critical care medicine expert at Johns Hopkins and one … Devices that measure oxygen in the bloodstream need federal regulation, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Pulse oximeters are devices used to measure how much oxygen is in someone’s blood, and they are critical in settings like ICUs. Yet research shows that in people of darker skin tones they can be wildly inaccurate. Ashraf Fawry, a … It’s high time to update pulse oximeters, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
An injectable drug called omalizumab now may be used to manage severe food allergies, the FDA has decided. Robert Wood, an allergy expert at Johns Hopkins, says the drug will only work if people are taking it. Wood: This is … Is lifelong treatment necessary with a drug to manage severe food allergies? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Omalizumab is an injectable drug just approved by the FDA to treat severe food allergies. Robert Wood, one author of a study used to inform the agency’s decision and an allergy expert at Johns Hopkins, says risks discerned in the … Are there downsides to using omalizumab for treating food allergy? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Consequences of food allergies can be life-threatening, which is why FDA approval of omalizumab to treat them is welcome. Robert Wood, one author of a study used to inform the agency’s decision and an allergy expert at Johns Hopkins, says … Are food allergies becoming more common? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Feeding very young children peanut products can assure that they don’t develop an allergy to peanut. Can this strategy be expanded to allergies to foods like milk, meat, or egg? Johns Hopkins allergy expert Robert Wood comments. Wood: There’s an enormous … Can early feeding of allergenic foods overcome them? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Can food allergies be outgrown? Elizabeth Tracey reports Most people know about peanut allergy, since it impacts a lot of people, especially children. Can these allergies be outgrown? Robert Wood, an allergy expert at Johns Hopkins, says for most, that’s … Hnf040124 Read More »
If you have a severe allergy to one food, you probably have the same issues with other foods, as well as allergies to things like pollen that you inhale. That’s according to Robert Wood, principal investigator on a study that … Severe food allergies do not usually occur alone, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Food allergies are very often multiple and begin in childhood. Does this mean the newly approved omalizumab, given by injection, must be taken for the rest of someone’s life? Robert Wood, principal investigator on the study used by the FDA … Are injections to keep food allergies under control a lifelong prospect? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The FDA has just approved a drug called omalizumab used to treat asthma to treat multiple, severe food allergy. Robert Wood, an allergy expert at Johns Hopkins and principal investigator on the study that demonstrated the drug’s efficacy, says the … Having allergies to many foods may make using a newly approved drug practical, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A drug called omalizumab has just been approved to treat severe food allergies. Robert Wood, Johns Hopkins allergy expert and principal investigator on a study proving the efficacy of this drug, says it’s needed because the strategy of feeding increasing … Can food allergies be overcome by feeding foods people are allergic to? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Omalizumab is the chemical name for Xolair, an asthma medication that’s been around for decades that has just gotten FDA approval to treat food allergy. Robert Wood, an allergy expert at Johns Hopkins and one author of a recent study … A newly approved drug to treat food allergy may be a game changer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Patient centered care emerged several years ago as an attempt to recognize patients as humans and care for them as such. Roy Ziegelstein, vice dean of education at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, says this initiative is different than … How is personomics different than patient centered care? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Clinical practice guidelines use study data to define how a disease or condition should be treated, while precision medicine assesses individual variation and integrates that into a treatment plan. Now what’s needed is personomics. That’s according to Roy Ziegelstein, vice … What is needed to provide healthcare to the whole person? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Precision medicine aims to integrate personal factors into what is known from studies into the care of an individual. Roy Ziegelstein, vice dean for education at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, says personomics, which includes all the personal factors … Personomics should be part of the precision medicine approach to healthcare, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Clinical practice guidelines attempt to standardize care for many diseases and conditions, yet in the process they remove humanity from the mix. Personomics, a term coined by Roy Ziegelstein, vice dean for education at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, … Even the healthcare system is structured to deemphasize humans, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Interacting with our healthcare system can be dehumanizing, and we need to reemphasize humans as individuals. That’s according to Roy Ziegelstein, vice dean of education at John Hopkins School of Medicine, coining a term known as ‘personomics.’ Zeigelstein notes that … How did we get to a medical system that seems to devalue people? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Diabetes is known to be linked to cardiovascular disease, and now a new study adds to the condition’s association with cancer. Plasma prostasin levels were shown to predict whether a participant would develop diabetes and cancer, and may be useful … There’s more evidence that diabetes and cancer are linked, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Thyroid cancers are most often found because someone is being evaluated for another issue and imaging finds a cancer, a very large international study concludes. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says it’s unclear what … How often are thyroid cancers found because of assessment for something else? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Men get cancer more often than women, a recent study concludes, along with speculation that genetic or hormonal factors may be the culprit. Not so fast, says Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson. Nelson: They found thyroid cancer … Are men more at risk to develop cancer than women? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’ve been diagnosed with the skin cancer melanoma, treatment may involve taking a look at your lymph nodes near the cancer to assess spread, called a sentinel node biopsy. Used to be that if cancer was found there all … It may be possible to simply keep an eye on some people with melanoma rather than remove all their lymph nodes, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Treatment for some types of cancer involves taking a look at lymph nodes nearby and removing them if cancer is found. That’s often the case with the skin cancer melanoma, but a new study looks at outcomes among people with … What treatment is needed when melanoma is found? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Helping someone whose hearing is compromised requires not just hearing aids but an assessment of the hearing loss and instruction on how to use the devices. That’s according to Frank Lin, an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins, who’s just published a … What is needed to have comprehensive hearing assessments covered by insurers? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Hearing aids can slow cognitive decline, improve communication and maintain social connections, a study by Frank Lin, an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues has shown. Lin says that while sales of hearing aids over the counter will improve uptake, … How can people learn how to use hearing aids best? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
What is it about hearing aid use that helps slow cognitive decline in those at risk, as shown in a recent study led by Frank Lin, an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins? Lin says hearing aids may boost sound so the … Why does hearing aid use slow cognitive decline? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Imagine a drug that could slow the rate of cognitive decline among those at risk by fifty percent. That’s the benefit of hearing aid use shown in a recent study by Frank Lin, an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues. … Even without a cognition benefit hearing aids are still worth using, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
For people who have hearing loss and other risk factors for cognitive decline, hearing aid use slowed down that cognitive decline dramatically, a study by Frank Lin, an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins and colleagues shows. Yet for those without risk … Do healthy people with hearing loss benefit from hearing aids? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You’re probably familiar with the scenario: an older person falls, breaks a hip, requires surgery and rehab, then dies a short while later. Avoiding this trajectory is helped by engaging in certain types of exercise, according to Kerry Stewart, an … Avoiding falls and fractures as you age can be bolstered with exercise, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Osteoporosis, where minerals leach out of bone and bones become liable to fracture more easily, is common as people age, and is seen in both men and women. Frequently it is preceded by a condition called osteopenia, and exercise and … Are you at risk for osteoporosis? Specific types of exercise can help, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Even if you’re very physically active, utilizing weights as part of your fitness routine will provide additional health benefits, the latest research shows. Exercise and cardiovascular health expert Kerry Stewart at Johns Hopkins says steps to utilize weight are straightforward. … What’s the best way to integrate weights into your exercise routine? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
HIIT, or high intensity interval training, purports to pack an intense and beneficial exercise regimen into a much shorter time, perfect for those of us who can’t carve out 30 minutes to exercise daily. Kerry Stewart, an exercise and cardiovascular … Should you try high intensity interval training? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Hearing loss is very common, especially as we get older, and a link between hearing loss and dementia has been observed. Now a new study by Frank Lin, an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues, has shown that for those … If you’re experiencing hearing loss should you use hearing aids to reduce your risk of dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Everyone needs to exercise, and that includes kids, especially as we’re experiencing a global problem with obesity. Exercise and cardiovascular disease expert Kerry Stewart at Johns Hopkins says any strategy to get kids moving needs to start with the parents. … Getting kids to exercise is going to require their parents, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Common wisdom says if you’ve never been much of an exercise person you should talk with your doctor before embarking on a program to get more active. Kerry Stewart, an exercise and cardiovascular health expert at Johns Hopkins, says for … Do you need a doctor’s okay before beginning to exercise? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Mood improvement, better sleep, weight control…exercise and cardiovascular health expert Kerry Stewart at Johns Hopkins says even if your goal isn’t competition or personal bests, many benefits of exercise are within reach with much more modest effort. Stewart: The other … Exercise’s benefits for health are multiple and don’t require a lot of exertion, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Are you someone who really doesn’t like to breath hard or sweat much? if so it may seem that you will never be able to incorporate exercise into your routine, as is recommended for your health. Kerry Stewart, an exercise … How hard to you have to exercise to reap benefits? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You already know that exercise is an important part of a healthy life, but how can you fit in the recommended number of minutes each week? Kerry Stewart, a cardiovascular health expert at Johns Hopkins, says current thinking on how … Is there a way to fit the recommended amount of exercise into your life? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If your mitral valve is leaky your blood isn’t flowing as it should, and shortness of breath, fatigue and other symptoms may develop. Since treatment may allow surgical repair of the valve, cardiovascular surgeon James Gammie at Johns Hopkins says … You may want to consider treatment for mitral valve leakage sooner rather than later, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
reports One of the valves in your heart known as the mitral valve is most likely to leak, and James Gammie, a cardiovascular surgeon at Johns Hopkins, says as people age the condition develops more often. Gammie: The cardinal symptom … When should you suspect you might have mitral valve disease? Elizabeth Tracey Read More »
Blood flows through your heart in one direction, with valves at the places where different chambers meet to keep things flowing right. The valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle is called the mitral valve, and cardiovascular surgeon … Is mitral valve disease hereditary? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When blood flows backward from your left ventricle to your left atrium, that’s due to leakage of the mitral valve, found between these two chambers. Cardiovascular surgeon James Gammie at Johns Hopkins says there are different ways to develop this … Mitral valve leakage can be caused by several different heart problems, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Between the chambers on the left side of your heart is a valve called the mitral valve, designed to prevent blood from flowing backward when the heart squeezes. Cardiovascular surgeon James Gammie at Johns Hopkins says this valve is most … Among the valves in your heart the most likely to leak is the mitral valve, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Food deserts are places where it’s hard to find nutritious food. Now a new metric called ‘food swamps’ include the presence of fast food and convenience stores in these same places, and they’re associated with an increased risk for cancer. … What is a food swamp and how does it impact your risk for cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
High breast density has added complexity to the value of screening mammography, and now a new wrinkle has emerged, with a recent study showing that different densities in each breast can be a risk factor for breast cancer. William Nelson, … Different densities in either breast has complicated interpretation of screening mammography, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Pancreas cancer is deadly, but now a vaccine using mRNA technology may improve the odds. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson describes a new study. Nelson: What they've done here is they use the information that you can … Can an mRNA vaccine help fight pancreas cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Breast cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer – these are just a few of the cancers known to be associated with obesity. Now a new study adds metabolic risk factors to the profile. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns … What does a combination of metabolic risk factors and obesity reveal about cancer risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Obesity is a risk factor for several types of cancer, with a new study looking at additional metabolic risk factors to further define it, and giving rise to the idea of metabolically healthy versus unhealthy obesity. William Nelson, director of … Just how big a contributor to cancer risk is obesity? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Heart attacks and dementia are linked, a new Johns Hopkins study shows. Michelle Johannsen, a stroke and cardiovascular expert and study author, says reducing your risk factors even before the first problem starts is the best strategy. Johannsen: If you're … Starting to control cardiovascular risk factors early is your best course, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A Johns Hopkins study of over 30,000 people has shown that people who have heart attacks are at increased risk to develop dementia. Michelle Johannsen, a stroke and cardiovascular expert at Hopkins and study author, says the primary driver is … How is it that heart attacks and dementia are linked? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Dementia is a scary prospect for many, with most people saying they’d rather have a host of other health conditions. Now that a Johns Hopkins study led by Michelle Johannsen, a stroke and cardiovascular expert, has shown that heart attacks … Will the threat of impaired cognition motivate people to address risk factors? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Looking at heart attacks among more than 30,000 people and following them for years has shown that having a heart attack increases someone’s risk for dementia. That’s according to Michelle Johannsen, a stroke and cardiovascular expert at Johns Hopkins and … Why would having a heart attack increase risk for dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Having had a heart attack can put you at risk for dementia years later, a Johns Hopkins study led by Michelle Johannsen, a stroke and cardiovascular expert, shows. Johannsen: We had expected for a little while that acute myocardial infarction … Can having a heart attack impact your brain health? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Probiotics are all the rage these days, with food products touting their active cultures and ability to improve gut health. Ashli Greenwald, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says while most of us will benefit from consuming probiotics, for some it … Are there people who shouldn’t be taking probiotics? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Just when you thought you knew about probiotics and how to incorporate them into your diet, along comes prebiotics. Ashli Greenwald, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, explains. A prebiotic is a non digestible food component that helps stimulate the growth … What is a prebiotic? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Keeping your gut healthy is a good strategy for improving and maintaining your overall health, many studies demonstrate. Ashli Greenwald, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says consuming probiotics may be the best way to help your gut microbiome. There are … What are good dietary sources of probiotics? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Should you be incorporating probiotics into your diet? Ashli Greenwald, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says in terms of taking steps to improve your overall health, the answer is a resounding yes. What probiotics are, they are live micro organisms … You may be able to improve your gut microbiome with what you eat, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Underpinning that old adage ‘you are what you eat’ is the bacteria in our gut, or what is known as the gut microbiome. Ashli Greenwald, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says our diets have much to do with which bugs … What’s going on in your gut has a lot to do with your overall health, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
LASIK and PRK are both eye surgeries used to correct vision, but are their benefits permanent? Meghan Berkenstock, an ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins, explains. Berkenstock: The earlier you get LASIK or PRK the longer the effect will last because when we … If you choose to have your vision corrected with LASIK or another technique, will you need retreatment as you age? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, and it can sometimes be found in the eye. Meghan Berkenstock, an ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins, says having your eyes examined regularly can help in early detection of this type of … A serious form of skin cancer can sometimes present in the eye, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
It is possible to spot diabetes by looking into the eyes, in particular by looking at their arteries. Meghan Berkenstock, an ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins, says there are many diseases that can be identified here. Berkenstock: Another thing that we can … More than one disease can be seen by examining the eyes, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Getting your eyes examined regularly may help you detect a range of diseases very early in their development. Meghan Berkenstock, an ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins, says it all has to do with blood supply to the eye. Berkenstock: We’re the only … Many health conditions can be seen by looking in the eye, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The eyes should be assessed very early in life to detect problems, since the sooner solutions are implemented the better the outcome. That’s according to Meghan Berkenstock, an ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins. Berkenstock: A lot of it starts at home. Sometimes … Assessments of eye health should begin in childhood, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Prostate artery embolization is a noninvasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, where the prostate enlarges and can cause urinary symptoms. The condition occurs in most men as they age. Brian Holly, an interventional radiologist at Johns Hopkins, says about 80% … What can a man expect from prostate artery embolization? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Interrupting blood flow to the prostate gland is one treatment for BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition that most men will develop as they age. Brian Holly, an interventional radiologist at Johns Hopkins, describes what is done in prostate … What is the procedure for interrupting blood flow to the prostate gland? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The majority of men will experience an enlarged prostate gland as they age, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Besides surgical treatment another option is cutting off some of the blood supply to the gland, known as … There are options for treating prostate enlargement in men, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When your child’s pediatrician wants to know the latest on kids’ diseases and conditions, chances are good they’ll consult the Harriett Lane Handbook, published by the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and updated by pediatrics residents. Nichole Shilkofski, the book’s editor, … Want to know what your pediatrician is thinking? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The Harriett Lane Handbook has just published its 23rd edition, and chances are good that your child’s pediatrician uses it, since it is updated every three years by pediatrics residents at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Nicole Shilkofski, the book’s editor, … Where does your pediatrician turn for to stay current? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Among US adults with insurance, 3% of those in the 19-64 year old age group are prescribed amphetamines, often in combination with other drugs for depression or sleep, a Johns Hopkins study shows. Thomas Moore, one of the study’s authors, … Why are amphetamines being prescribed more often? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Amphetamines, which are stimulant medications, were commonly used decades ago for things like appetite regulation. Then as their potential for addiction became known they were prescribed much less frequently. Now use of amphetamines is once again on the upswing, a … Amphetamine use is growing, often in combination with other drugs, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Amphetamines and methylphenidate are increasingly being prescribed in concert with other drugs, most often antidepressants or sleep aids, a Johns Hopkins study shows. And while beginning amphetamines may be fairly easy, stopping them can be quite challenging. That’s according to … Use of amphetamines along with other medicines may cause problems in stopping their use, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Polypharmacy is the term used to describe use of multiple medications, and it’s usually seen as people age and develop more health problems. Now a Johns Hopkins study shows that amphetamines are increasingly being used along with a range of … Why are amphetamines increasingly prescribed with other medications? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Among US adults between the ages of 19 and 64 years, about 3% are using amphetamines or methylphenidate, a new study finds. Thomas Moore, in the Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness at Johns Hopkins and one of the study’s … Amphetamine drugs are experiencing a comeback, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
What accounts for the variety of cancer drugs the FDA has recently announced are in short supply? William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says there are at least two issues. Nelson: There are a number … The FDA has warned that a number of cancer drugs are in short supply, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cancer and infectious disease are increasingly related, with one of the latest studies establishing a link between a common bacterial infection, Helicobacter pylori, specific genes, and stomach cancer. And it’s not just bacteria, says Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer center director … The link between infections and cancer is becoming ever more robust, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A combination of certain genes and infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori increases the risk for gastric or stomach cancer, a new study finds. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says that risk … What is the risk for gastric cancer with genes and infections? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A common bacterium called Helicobacter pylori or H.pylori infects the stomach, and is known to cause stomach ulcers. Now new research links this infection and genetics to the development of stomach or gastric cancer. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel … What is the relationship between genes and infection in stomach cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You have more bacteria in your gut than you have cells in your body, and they provide you a range of benefits. Now new research demonstrates that for some people with pancreas cancer, their bacteria produce a chemical that seems … Certain bacteria in the gut can be helpful when someone has cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
People with cancer of the pancreas who had used antibiotics in the year prior to their treatment fared worse when their cancer was treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors than those who had not, a recent study finds. Kimmel Cancer Center … What is the relationship between antibiotic use and cancer treatment? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Your gut flora, or microbiota, normally helps keep you healthy. When you take an antibiotic it disrupts the flora. Now a new study shows that some types of antibiotics are associated with a poorer response to cancer therapies called immune … Can antibiotics compromise cancer treatment? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A type of cell involved in your immune response known as a natural killer cell may soon be used widely to combat some cancers. That’s according to William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, who says … White blood cells called natural killer cells are being harnessed to fight cancer, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Did you know you have a whole family of white blood cells? Most are involved in your immune response, and they all have various jobs. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says one of these cells, called a … Can a type of white blood cell help in the fight against cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re at risk to develop ovarian cancer, does it make sense to remove your fallopian tubes, which bridge the ovaries and the uterus? Perhaps, according to William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Nelson: I … How can we reduce the toll of ovarian cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Ovarian cancer has a very poor prognosis, often because it’s so advanced when it’s found. A growing trend is underway to remove the fallopian tubes, which bridge the uterus and the ovaries, to stave off the development of ovarian cancer. … Should you remove fallopian tubes to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Heart arrhythmias, where the heart doesn’t beat in its normal pattern, are common, especially one called atrial fibrillation, where the top part of the heart flutters, increasing someone’s risk for stroke and other issues. Could this condition, abbreviated afib, develop … If you’ve have Covid could that have triggered a heart arrhythmia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you have the very common heart arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation, or afib for short, one of the first strategies you might consider to bring it under control is weight loss if you’re overweight. That’s according to Hugh Calkins, a … You can reduce your risk for a common heart arrhythmia, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the top part of the heart called the atria don’t beat regularly. Johns Hopkins cardiologist and electrophysiologist Hugh Calkins says while afib, as it is abbreviated, is very common it can also raise the … If you have atrial fibrillation you should be evaluated, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
An arrhythmia is when your heart doesn’t beat normally. This can be a one time thing or happen more consistently, with either the top part of the heart, the atria, fluttering in what is called fibrillation, or it may also … Atrial fibrillation can be a problem, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Everyone’s heart beats abnormally at some point, and you may even notice this if you’re paying attention. Hugh Calkins, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Johns Hopkins, says the most common type is called an atrial premature beat. Calkins: Atrial premature … Do you ever feel your heart give an extra beat? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When your heart doesn’t beat in its normal regular manner, that’s called an arrhythmia. Johns Hopkins cardiologist and electrophysiologist Hugh Calkins says these abnormalities are classified in various ways. Calkins: An arrhythmia is when something goes wrong with the normal … What are some types of heart arrhythmia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Changes from a normal heartbeat are called arrhythmias, and almost all of us have them. That’s according to Hugh Calkins, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Johns Hopkins. Calkins: Someone can be asymptomatic, it’s very common to have a cardiac arrhythmia … Aberrations in your heartbeat are common, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cardiac arrest that often takes place when an athlete sustains a sudden and sharp blow to the chest goes by a fancy Latin name. Hugh Calkins, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Johns Hopkins, explains. Calkins: Commotio cordis is a condition … What is commotio cordis? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cardiac arrest, where the heart suddenly beats so fast that blood cannot be pumped, grabs headlines when it is experienced by a young and presumably healthy athlete. Yet cardiologist and electrophysiologist Hugh Calkins at Johns Hopkins says most cardiac arrest … Who is most likely to experience cardiac arrest? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You may have heard the terms ‘cardiac arrest’ and ‘heart attack’ used interchangeably, but they are actually quite different. Hugh Calkins, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Johns Hopkins, explains. Calkins: Cardiac arrest results from ventricular fibrillation, it’s not a heart … What exactly is cardiac arrest? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When you look at the rates of missed diagnoses in various emergency departments, they’re lowest in academic medical centers. That’s according to the latest Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality study led by David Newman-Toker at Johns Hopkins. Newman-Toker: If … When you have a choice, which ED should you choose? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Missed diagnoses in the emergency department may happen to about one in 18 people, an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality study led by David Newman-Toker at Johns Hopkins has found. Can that risk be minimized by bringing someone with … Can having someone accompany you to an emergency department be helpful? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Writing a summary of what’s going on for you and asking good questions may help you avoid a missed diagnosis when you come to an emergency department. That’s according to David Newman-Toker at Johns Hopkins and lead author of a … Three strategies can help when you need emergency care, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Missed diagnosis in the emergency department aren’t common, but they do happen more often than we’d like, a recent federal study led by David Newman-Toker at Johns Hopkins has found. Newman-Toker says there are things you can do to help … How can you help yourself get the best care when you go to an emergency department? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Almost one in 18 people who visit an emergency department will not get a correct diagnosis, an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality study led by David Newman-Toker at Johns Hopkins has found. Newman-Toker says there are things you can … How can you help yourself avoid a missed diagnosis when you go to the emergency department? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Artificial intelligence or machine learning looks like an attractive way to help physicians make diagnoses, especially when the person has unusual symptoms or doesn’t fit the usual demographic. Such situations account for many missed diagnoses among those who visited emergency departments … Can diagnosis be improved using machine learning? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Just shy of about 6% of people who visit an emergency department will not be correctly diagnosed, a federal agency study led by David Newman-Toker at Johns Hopkins has shown. Can computer-based decision support tools help bring that number down? … Can computer-assisted decision tools help reduce diagnostic errors? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
About one in 18 people who visit an emergency department will receive an incorrect diagnosis, a study led by David Newman-Toker at Johns Hopkins for the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reveals. Newman-Toker says of that number, very … Even though missed diagnoses are rare in the ED, we must still work to prevent them, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Your chance of having a diagnosis missed when you visit an emergency department is 5.7%, an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality study led by David Newman-Toker at Johns Hopkins has found. Newman-Toker says further analysis revealed the kinds of … What accounts for diagnostic errors in the emergency department? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When you go to an emergency department are you concerned that your health issue won’t be properly diagnosed? A study by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality led by David Newman-Toker at Johns Hopkins has found the actual … How often is a diagnosis missed in the emergency department? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Identifying loss of smell in an older adult may result in strategies to prevent frailty or even preoperative regimens to reduce risk. That’s according to Nicholas Rowan, an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins and one author of a study correlating smell … What can be done if smell loss is detected? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Testing your sense of smell as you age may soon be part of a routine health assessment if research from a Johns Hopkins study associating loss of smell with the development of frailty is confirmed. Nicholas Rowan, a Hopkins otolaryngologist … Will assessing smell be part of a general health assessment for older people? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Frailty is a condition that develops among older adults characterized by weight loss, inactivity, weakness, slow walking speed and exhaustion. Now a Johns Hopkins study shows that declining ability to smell may predict the development of frailty. Otolaryngologist Nicholas Rowan, … Is sense of smell unique in predicting frailty among older adults? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
As you age, losses in your ability to smell may predict the development of frailty and increased risk for death, a Johns Hopkins study has shown. Nicholas Rowan, an otolaryngologist at Hopkins and one of the study’s authors, says a … Your sense of smell is more complicated than you might think, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
One day soon, your doctor may be assessing your ability to smell as well as vision and hearing, if data from a Johns Hopkins study led by Nicholas Rowan, an otolaryngologist, and colleagues, is confirmed. The study examined data from … Loss of smell may be an important predictor of frailty, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Keeping engaged with others is an important part of a healthy living plan, with a recent Johns Hopkins study finding that social isolation increased older adults’ risk for developing dementia by 27%. Thomas Cudjoe, a geriatrics expert at Hopkins and … Has your physician asked about your social connections? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Older adults who are socially isolated experience a 27% higher risk of developing dementia compared with those who maintain their social connections, a study of 6000 older adults reveals. Geriatrics expert Thomas Cudjoe at Johns Hopkins, one of the study’s … How can we help people maintain social connections to improve health? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
As you age it’s important to tend your relationships, since becoming socially isolated impacts health, including your risk to develop dementia. That’s according to research by Thomas Cudjoe, a geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues. Cudjoe: Social connections really … How important are social connections when it comes to developing dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When the DNA in a cell is broken up, rearranged or there is too much of it that condition is called aneuploidy. Now a new study demonstrates that people with a high degree of aneuploidy don’t respond well to newer … new treatments? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Plant based eating is gaining momentum as more people turn to it for better health, to control weight, and for a more sustainable planet. Jaclyn Rose, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says if you’re considering this, it’s wise to consult … Should you consult a dietician if you’re trying to transition to a more plant based diet? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Gut bacteria, known collectively as the gut microbiome, are inextricably linked with your overall health. Can a plant based diet help improve and maintain your gut microbiome? Jaclyn Rose, a Johns Hopkins dietician, says yes indeed. Rose: Diets rich in … Can a plant based diet improve your gut microbiome? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Impossible burgers, made largely of soybeans, and other meat substitutes have been on the market for some time now, but are they any healthier than their animal product predecessors? Johns Hopkins dietician Jaclyn Rose says yes, these products do undergo … Are plant based meat substitutes a healthy diet choice? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Foods that are derived from soybeans, like tofu, can be an important source of protein in a largely plant based diet. But some women worry about consuming them if they’ve had breast cancer, since these foods contain a form of … Soy foods are fine additions to a plant based diet, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Fresh vegetables are always a better choice than frozen, right? Not so, says Jaclyn Rose, a dietician at Johns Hopkins. Rose: In terms of nutritional value there’s really no significant difference in fresh versus frozen foods. I actually am constantly … Should you always opt for fresh vegetables and fruits rather than frozen? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Fruits and vegetables should comprise the core of your diet, experts from fields as diverse as nutrition to cancer to climate change agree. And if you’re on board but haven’t yet been a big consumer of these foods, Johns Hopkins … Take your time when incorporating more plants into your diet, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re overweight or obese, or if you’re simply trying to change your diet to be more health promoting, you may have been told that fat is a no-no. Johns Hopkins dietician Jaclyn Rose says that’s true for some fats, … Some plant foods are high in fat, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
When people ask health professionals about changing their diet to be more healthful, many recommend a low-fat approach. Jaclyn Rose, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says a more holistic approach including mostly plant-based foods may be better. Rose: There’s nothing … reports Read More »
If you’re an older adult, is it worth the time and effort to modify your diet to a more plant based approach? Very much yes, says Johns Hopkins dietician Jaclyn Rose. Rose: I think it is beneficial to incorporate more … Is it ever too late to begin adding more plant foods to your diet? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Foods labeled organic are generally more expensive than conventional foods, with meats topping the list. Jaqueline Rose, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says when buying fruits and vegetables, there are some considerations. Rose: Organic, if its accessible, may reduce some … Do you need to go fully organic in the foods you consume? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re trying to maximize the benefits of a plant based diet, should you also choose organic foods? Dietician Jaqueline Rose at Johns Hopkins says that ‘organic’ means something very specific. Rose: Organic is a pretty regulated term. We can’t … Do you need to go organic to improve your diet? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Do you need to eliminate all meats and animal products from your diet in order to improve your health? Johns Hopkins dietician Jaqueline Rose says while many people may choose to simplify matters by switching to a vegetarian or vegan … What is it in many meat products that make them less healthy food choices? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Can consuming the majority of your calories from plant-based sources make you healthier? Jaqueline Rose, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says the benefits of a diet based largely in plant material are multiple. Rose: There is a significant amount of … What are the health benefits of a plant based diet? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Are you considering a transition to a more plant based diet as part of your strategies for 2023? Jaqueline Rose, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says it’s a worthy goal, and one that’s founded in history. Rose: The term ‘plant … What does a plant-based diet include? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Moderna, the maker of Covid vaccines, is now reporting success with a vaccine for the skin cancer melanoma. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says these are made for individual patients using markers that are specific for their … Makers of Covid vaccines are achieving success with cancer vaccines, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Women receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer can now have fewer treatments and may also be able to change the interval, a study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium shows. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns … Can radiation therapy be made less onerous? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Young women with breast cancer often state they’d like to have children at some point, yet after they’re treated their maintenance therapy may pose barriers. Now a study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium shows that pausing therapy … Young women with breast cancer may be able to safely pause treatment to have a child, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, known as TILS, allowed people with advanced melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer, to live longer than those who received an antibody alone, a recent study showed. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins … A type of individualized T cell helps people with advanced melanoma, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
So-called ‘bispecific antibodies,’ are racking up some impressive results when it comes to treating certain cancers, recent studies show. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins says making individualized antibodies for cancer treatment as well as … Are individualized antibodies on the horizon for cancer treatment? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The blood cancer multiple myeloma largely responds to a specially constructed antibody known as a BITE, for bispecific T cell engager, a recent study shows. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins describes the data. Nelson: In this … Just how good is a specialized antibody for multiple myeloma? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Antibodies, usually made by our bodies to fight infection, have a unique structure that looks like a Y. Now special antibodies constructed in a laboratory have the two arms of the Y made to bind different things, and are used … A type of blood cancer can now be treated with a special type of antibody, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Antibodies are usually part of our immune response to infections, but now are being constructed in the laboratory to fight cancer, with a recent study demonstrating just how effective they can be against a type of blood cancer. William Nelson, … Can a unique antibody curb cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Fentanyl laced prescription drug lookalikes are implicated in recent increases in drug overdose deaths among those 65+, federal data reveal. Eric Strain, a substance use disorders expert at Johns Hopkins, says a multitude of paths must be followed to curb … Trying to interrupt the flow of illegal fentanyl and its close cousins is complicated, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Fentanyl and its close cousins are at the root of spikes in drug overdose deaths in the US, with recent federal data reporting an exponential rise among those over age 65. Eric Strain, a substance use disorders expert at Johns … It’s going to be hard to stem the tide of fentanyl in the US, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Opioid related overdose deaths are at record highs, with the rate of such deaths in those aged 65 or older going up rapidly, the most recent federal data find. Eric Strain, a substance use disorders expert at Johns Hopkins, says … The rate of opioid-related death is shooting up among those older than 65, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re taking methadone to help you overcome an opioid use disorder, it may involve a daily trip to a clinic to get your dose. Now temporary federal guidelines to ease that burden during Covid may become permanent as states … What’s the downside of easing treatment barriers for opioid use disorder? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Opioid addiction rules people’s lives, yet so does undergoing a lot of treatment for it, including things like having to show up at a clinic daily to get your medicine. Now federal guidelines developed to ease treatment barriers during Covid … People can take home doses of their medication for opioid use disorder under federal rules about to become permanent, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Making federal guidelines for treatment of people with opioid use disorder that were crafted in response to the pandemic permanent will have both upsides and downsides, though mostly up. That’s according to Eric Strain, a substance use disorders expert at … How will making federal regulations permanent change managing people with opioid use disorder? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Reducing barriers to treatment of opioid use disorder was just one initiative undertaken by the federal government as the Covid-19 pandemic began that aimed to protect the health and lives of many. Eric Strain, a substance use disorders expert at … Some changes to helping people with opioid use disorder during Covid will become permanent, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you have recently been diagnosed with cancer, your best bet for treatment may include enrolling in a clinical trial, where new treatments are being assessed, usually by comparing them with standard treatment. Yet a new study finds that under … How can we improve clinical trial participation for people with cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
A very low percentage of people who receive Medicare benefits in the US and have cancer enroll in clinical trials, a new study finds. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson reviews the data. Nelson: If you look at … Why don’t more people with cancer enroll in clinical trials? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Research and development have very much improved treatments for many cancers, and that’s reflected in the nation’s latest report on cancer. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says these improvements are especially seen in lung cancer and the … Newer therapies are seeing benefits when it comes to cancer survival, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cancer of the pancreas is usually associated with poor survival, yet the nation’s latest report on cancer seems to suggest that even for this type of cancer, things may be improving. That’s according to William Nelson, director of the Kimmel … The outlook for some types of cancer previously considered dire may be improving, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Your risk of dying from cancer is largely on the downswing, the nation’s annual report on cancers finds. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says he is encouraged by some of the statistics. Nelson: There was some … The nation’s cancer report is largely good news, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Identifying depression in young people is important, and now that a federal task force has recommended screening all youth 12 to 18 years of age, it should also be identified more readily. Yet Karen Swartz, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins, … Follow up will be key when it comes to managing anxiety and depression in young people, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Young people should be screened for anxiety and depression, a federal task force has recommended, and that means primary care physicians will have yet one more task to add to their list when it comes to providing the best care. … Who will be screening young people for anxiety and depression? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If a young person is thought to have depression following a positive screening test, as is now recommended by a federal task force, one danger may be that they begin treatment without more carefully and thoroughly confirming the condition. That’s … A positive screening test for anxiety and depression in a young person needs confirmation, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended screening US youth for anxiety and depression. Karen Swartz, an expert in these illnesses in young people, says screening isn’t just a matter of asking a few questions. Swartz: What I … Will young people be adequately screened for depression and anxiety? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
If you’re eight to eighteen years of age, a federal government task force now recommends you be screened for anxiety, and if you’re twelve to 18, for depression. Psychiatrist Karen Swartz at Johns Hopkins says this is likely a good … New guidelines recommend screening young people for depression and anxiety, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Higher levels of DNA found circulating in the blood of older people were associated with a higher risk for dementia and frailty, a Johns Hopkins study shows. Peter Abadir, a geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins and one author of the … If cell free DNA is associated with dementia risk, would removing it help? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Pinpointing someone’s risk to develop dementia or frailty may rely on a blood test looking for cell free DNA, a Johns Hopkins study finds. Lolita Nidadavolu, a geriatrics expert and researcher, says this type of DNA provokes a reaction in … Cell free DNA in someone’s blood could have many consequences, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Levels of DNA found in the blood known as cell free DNA may be able to predict an older person’s risk for developing dementia and frailty, a Johns Hopkins study shows. Lolita Nidadavolu, a geriatrics expert and researcher, says this … Can a single blood test for cell free DNA reliably predict dementia risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Higher levels of DNA found circulating in the blood of older people put them at increased risk of developing both frailty, with loss of muscle mass and risk for falls, and dementia, a Johns Hopkins study has found. Peter Abadir, … What does freely circulating DNA in the blood have to do with dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
DNA found circulating freely in the blood may point to an increased risk for frailty and dementia in older people, a Johns Hopkins study led by Peter Abadir, a geriatrics expert, has found. The study enrolled participants without any signs … Can small amounts of DNA in the blood predict an older person’s risk of frailty and dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Cancer mutations are often named, with one common group in a gene called KRAS. Although common, KRAS mutations have been extremely difficult to target, but now a new agent may have broken the code. That’s according to William Nelson, director … Can a common cancer mutation now be controlled? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Some types of cancer seem to be increasing in incidence among adults younger than age fifty, with a new large analysis seeming to associate this risk with a host of factors. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins … What accounts for increased cancer risk among adults younger than fifty? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Foods that can’t be found in nature and have undergone extensive processing are known as ‘ultraprocessed,’ with a new study fingering them as associated with adverse health outcomes. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says the message … Avoiding ultraprocessed foods is good for your health, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Ultraprocessed foods are getting a lot of attention these days as dietary don’ts. Now a new study looks at their role in cardiovascular disease and cancer. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says this study … What is an ultraprocessed food and does it increase your risk for cancer? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
DNA found freely circulating in the blood is increasingly important clinically. Now a Johns Hopkins study has found that so-called ‘cell free DNA’ may be helpful in identifying risk for frailty and dementia in older folks. Clinician and researcher Lolita … Can DNA in the blood indicate someone’s risk for frailty and dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Did you know the cells in your body have a housekeeping function called autophagy? Research by Sarven Sabunciyan and colleagues at Johns Hopkins has shown that aberrant messenger RNAs, or mRNAs, in pregnancy may alter this pathway and lead to … How are messenger RNAs involved with disorders like depression? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Examining the contents of small membrane bound sacs known as vesicles in maternal blood may help predict the development of postpartum depression after pregnancy, a Johns Hopkins study led by Sarven Sabunciyan has found. And since the condition develops in … Can postpartum depression be predicted? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
Extracellular vesicles, or small balloon like structures, are released from both maternal and fetal cells during pregnancy, where they serve a communication function between mom and baby. Sarven Sabunciyan and colleagues at Johns Hopkins have also found they’re associated with … Variations in levels of messenger RNA may help predict postpartum depression, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
During pregnancy cells from the mom’s side of the placenta communicate with those of the baby, and from baby to mom, using tiny structures known as vesicles. Now a Johns Hopkins team, including researcher Sarven Sabunciyan, has found that measurable … Disruptions in cellular mother-baby communication during pregnancy may result in a host of ills, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
There’s a lot of communication going on between mom and baby during pregnancy, and some of that is cellular. Sarven Sabunciyan and colleagues at Johns Hopkins have been looking at one specific form of communication that’s disrupted in postpartum depression. … Can a process of cellular communication between mom and baby during pregnancy underlie postpartum depression? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »
You can reduce your blood pressure and therefore your chances of a heart attack or stroke by substituting some of the table salt, or sodium chloride in your diet with potassium chloride, two recent studies demonstrate. Johns Hopkins cardiologist Seth Martin says this is much easier for the cook in the family to undertake. Martin: […]
Using potassium chloride rather than sodium chloride, or table salt, just 5 to 25 % of the time in cooking and eating, achieved blood pressure reduction and fewer cardiovascular events, two recent studies find. Seth Martin, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, says the blood pressure reductions were not dramatic. Martin: Although it’s on the smaller […]
Do you do most of the shopping and cooking in your household? Do you eat many of your meals at home and do food preparation yourself, or do you bring in prepared foods? Johns Hopkins cardiologist Seth Martin says these are questions you need to ask yourself if you’re planning on substituting potassium chloride for […]
Potassium chloride is one commonly used alternative to table salt, sodium chloride, with a pair of recent studies demonstrating the benefit of using it in reducing blood pressure and cardiovascular events. Seth Martin, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, points to what’s needed to realize a such a benefit. Martin: In the large China trial it […]
Antiviral medicines for monkeypox infection do exist, but Noreen Hynes, an infectious diseases expert at Johns Hopkins, says unless you are immunocompromised or live in circumstances where you might put others at risk of infection if you have monkeypox, you may not really need them. Noreen Hynes: Even if someone is sick or actually has […]
With limited amounts of monkeypox vaccine available globally, what is the best strategy to use it? Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, says targeted vaccination is most likely to help. Adalja: When we think about how smallpox was eradicated off the planet it was ring vaccination. They vaccinated close […]
Monkeypox, much like its close cousin smallpox, does not seem to be contagious in those who don’t have symptoms. That’s according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security senior scholar Amesh Adalja. Adalja: When you think about what makes a pathogen be prolific, what makes a pathogen uncontrollable, contagiousness during the incubation period is a […]
Monkeypox doesn’t spread as easily as many other infectious diseases, says Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Adalja compares monkeypox spread within households with other viruses. Adalja: When you look at the household attack rate it doesn’t seem to be spreading very easily so for example if you take […]
Even as Covid continues apace, monkeypox has emerged and is spreading around the world. Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security senior scholar Amesh Adalja says transmission to you is only likely under specific circumstances, for a virus that usually spreads from animals to people. Amesh Adalja: That close person to person contact is a mechanism […]
Perhaps you’ve reported your own blood pressure measurements or blood sugar to your physician. So called patient reported data that is monitored by a nurse helped make cancer treatment just a little bit smoother and easier, a new study finds. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins explains. Nelson: It was more than […]
Community health workers were able to improve many aspects of cancer treatment for patients, a new study has shown. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says benefits were multiple. Nelson: It was 128 folks with cancer followed. They were randomized for usual care versus a six month intervention that was […]
People being treated for cancer with immune checkpoint inhibitors who also took acetaminophen, or Tylenol, had worse outcomes for their cancer treatment than those who did not, a recent study found. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says there has been a hint of this relationship before, and it may have to do […]
Acetaminophen, or Tylenol, is taken by many to relieve fever and for aches and pains. Now a new study seems to associate use of the drug with less beneficial outcomes in people being treated for cancer. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, examines the findings. Nelson: These were people who’d […]
A type of cancer drug known as an immune checkpoint inhibitor has produced dramatic improvements for some people with cancer. Now a new study shows they may also be linked to deaths from heart complications. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson describes the study. Nelson: A total group of about 672 folks with […]
Rates of mental health problems have reached epidemic levels during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now a new study shows that for some, use of an app rather than in person therapy provided nearly the same improvement. Eric Strain, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins, says this is a very practical approach. Strain: At that outpatient care level […]
Deaths due to substance use disorder are skyrocketing. Eric Strain, a substance use disorder expert at Johns Hopkins, says although it is tempting to think everyone with substance use disorder should be hospitalized, other forms of care may be more appropriate. Strain: Hospitalization should be the peak of the triangle, so very small, and then […]
Managing the full breadth of health issues in someone with substance use disorder could help reduce the likelihood of a bad outcome, especially in the 40% of people who have both mental health issues and substance abuse. Eric Strain, a substance use disorders expert at Johns Hopkins, says beginning with full primary care integration would […]
Substance use, mental health problems, and physical ailments are currently treated separately, but need to be integrated. That’s according to Eric Strain, a substance use disorder expert at Johns Hopkins. Strain: You’ve got these complicated patients and we’ve got patients with substance abuse disorders and significant medical problems and we’ve got people with mental health […]
If you’re receiving treatment for a substance use disorder, it’s likely that your other medical issues are being addressed elsewhere, including mental health issues. With a recent study showing that 40% of the time mental health issues and substance abuse occur together, that’s a problem. Eric Strain, a substance use disorder expert at Johns Hopkins, […]
Convalescent plasma, which is donated by someone who’s had Covid-19 and survived, is a much more reliable treatment for infection today than it was early in the pandemic. Arturo Casadevall, a convalescent plasma expert at Johns Hopkins, explains why. Casadevall: We lucked out in that now we can get extremely high titer plasma, something that […]
Early on in the pandemic plasma collected from people who’d had Covid-19 and survived, so called convalescent plasma, was used to treat others, with mixed success. Now that new variants have emerged that can escape antibodies stimulated by vaccines and most monoclonals aren’t useful, Arturo Casadevall, a convalescent plasma expert at Johns Hopkins, says the […]
Apps to help people manage health conditions are getting more and more sophisticated, with some studies showing they reduce hospitalizations and slow down disease progression. Cardiologist Seth Martin at Johns Hopkins and developer of one such app says use of these apps compares favorably with clinically focused approaches. Martin: Even if it’s as good but […]
We know that reducing LDL cholesterol, often by using a statin, helps reduce someone’s heart disease risk. Now that so-called ‘remnant cholesterol’ is being added to the calculations, what can be done about it? Johns Hopkins cardiologist Seth Martin says, not much at this point. Martin: When we think about what we can do in […]
You’ve probably already heard about total cholesterol and its cousins HDL and LDL, especially if you see a cardiologist. Now a new term called remnant cholesterol is entering the conversation, with a recent study concluding that it can increase accuracy in predicting heart disease risk. Seth Martin, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, explains. Martin: This […]
People who were obese who had bariatric surgery developed about half the number of cancers ten years later than did obese people who didn’t have the surgery, a recent study found. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says questions remain. Nelson: It hints that perhaps weight control might affect the propensity to […]
Obesity is known to increase cancer risk, so if someone who is very overweight has bariatric surgery, does their risk for cancer decline? Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins describes a new study that examines this question. Nelson: They looked at folks who had undergone bariatric surgery and they matched them up […]
Surgery is sometimes the only treatment needed for colorectal cancer, while at other times additional chemotherapy is also required. Now a new study shows that a blood test looking for cancer DNA can help identify the one in five people who may need chemo. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, […]
A genetic form of colorectal cancer responds to treatment with a type of cancer drug known as an immune checkpoint inhibitor extremely well, a new study reveals. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, reviews the study. Nelson: Since the inherited defect they had often presents an opportunity to use one […]
Chemical groups called methyl groups can be removed from DNA by certain drugs used to treat cancer, but now a new study raises the possibility that in some people, such treatments unleash genes known to worsen cancer. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, explains. Nelson: Some of the overmethylation is […]
Covid vaccines have been authorized by the FDA for young children, and Novavax is poised for review and authorization by the agency. Do we really need these new measures in our quest to control Covid-19? Stuart Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says yes. Ray: Having all these vaccines is exciting because we […]
Covid-19 has revolutionized many things, including how antibodies to fight the infection are developed. Stuart Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, explains. Ray: There’s some really exciting technologies here. An antibody has two major features, it’s shaped like a Y. The tips of the Y bind the virus and then the tail of […]
With new Covid variants turning up frequently, do monoclonal antibodies, which are very specific, still have a role in treatment? Infectious disease expert Stuart Ray at Johns Hopkins says new ones are continuously being developed. Ray: Monoclonal antibody treatments are really innovative in the way we’re used them and we’ve had so many of them, […]
Can you trust Covid-19 tests you take at home, whether they are positive or negative? Infectious disease expert Stuart Ray at Johns Hopkins says it’s important to remember that all tests have limitations. Ray: The humbling thing about our diagnostics is that we only see the surface, so it’s more like an iceberg. So when […]
Paxlovid is an oral medication given to people at high risk for complications from Covid-19 infection, but now that it’s in more widespread use some are reporting a return of symptoms after they’ve finished their course of the medication. Stuart Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, comments. Ray: Many of us were not […]
As Covid has ground on, many people avoided routine medical care, including cancer screenings. Needa Zaidi, an oncologist at Johns Hopkins, says that’s understandable, but if you notice anything unusual going on, it may be time to seek care. Zaidi: The first thing as doctors that we worry about is unintentional weight loss. That means […]
Heart disease remains the number one cause of death worldwide, but cancer is coming up quickly. Needa Zaidi, an oncologist at Johns Hopkins, says the data point to much better outcomes even though more people are developing cancer. Zaidi: The chances of surviving breast cancer were about 75% in 1975 and today, they’re about 90%. […]
Almost everyone has taken an antibiotic for an infection during their lifetime. Now two new studies examine the role of antibiotics in disrupting gut microbes, and an increased risk for colon cancer. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, examines the data. Nelson: One question is what do the antibiotics do […]
Aspirin’s benefits and harms in heart disease and colorectal cancer prevention have once again been examined by a federal workgroup, and Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins says for younger people, who have been experiencing an uptick in colorectal cancer rates, using low dose aspirin is a maybe. Nelson: If you’re likely […]
Inherited genes for cancer may also predispose to a number of other health conditions, a new study shows. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says additional mutations acquired as a cancer develops also have a big influence. Nelson: Usually in those cancers what’s happened is the inherited defect and then […]
Reaping the benefits of any new practice takes time and persistence, and the same is true for mindfulness. Neda Gould, a mindfulness expert at Johns Hopkins, offers a few methods you can use. Gould: At any point during the day you can pause, and take a few deep breaths. You can bring attention to your […]
Stress arises in the brain, and mindfulness can rewire that pathway. That’s according to Neda Gould, a mindfulness expert at Johns Hopkins. Gould: It translates to us being able to turn off the stress response more readily when we’re confronted with a real or perceived stressor. It also means that sometimes we don’t even turn […]
Mindfulness practice has been shown to help with anxiety and depression, with rigorous imaging studies of the brain using techniques such as PET scans showing actual changes in how the brain works. Neda Gould, a mindfulness expert at Johns Hopkins, describes what’s been shown. Gould: What we see from imaging studies is that there is […]
Two plus years of pandemic and all the other global worries have brought many to increased anxiety and depression. Neda Gould, a mindfulness expert at Johns Hopkins, says bringing a practice of mindfulness meditation to your life may prove very helpful. Gould: The regular practice of meditating and bringing mindfulness to daily life actually results […]
Everyone seems to be talking about mindfulness, especially as global issues become more pressing and Covid-19 just won’t go away, but what exactly is mindfulness, and might it be helpful for you? Neda Gould, a mindfulness expert at Johns Hopkins, defines the practice. Gould: Mindfulness is bringing our attention to the present moment, but with […]
Cancer is an area where artificial intelligence or machine learning is making great strides. Elliot Fishman, a medical imaging expert at Johns Hopkins, says the computer’s role goes from interpreting the image obtained in scanning to applying information from many previous similar scans. Elliot Fishman: We’re trying to use the computer to accentuate normal from […]
Low vision is common, especially as we age. Judith Goldstein, a low vision expert at Johns Hopkins, says that in addition to seeking comprehensive care for the condition, loved ones really need to be involved also. Goldstein: This is where we bring the family and the caregivers back into the fold. It’s very important that […]
Some one in six people over the age of 45 have a condition called low vision, where they have trouble reading, driving, or telling colors apart. And that number rises to one in four in those over the age of 75. Judith Goldstein, a low vision expert at Johns Hopkins, says fear often accompanies the […]
Low vision, which affects one in four adults over 75, is often associated with damage to the macula, the part of the eye where our vision usually works best. Judith Goldstein, a low vision expert at Johns Hopkins, says there are well defined ways to help. Judith Goldstein: What happens if that macula isn’t working […]
HPV causes cancer, and we have an effective vaccine against it. Now the World Health Organization is advocating for a single dose of the vaccine in places where completing the two dose regimen is challenging. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson applauds the strategy. Nelson: A single HPV dose might be effective for […]
Do you use e-cigarettes? If you’re a younger person you may have started out using them occasionally but are now a more regular user, or you may have attempted to quit be haven’t been able to do so. That’s what’s been shown in recent studies, and Michael Blaha, an anti-smoking advocate and cardiologist at Johns […]
If you’ve been using electronic cigarettes and attempt to quit but can’t, are you addicted? That’s one interpretation of a recent study among US youth, showing that since the introduction of e-cigarettes more unsuccessful quit attempts have been seen. Michael Blaha, an anti-smoking advocate and cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, says he’s persuaded. Blaha: I do […]
Youth who take up vaping may have difficulty quitting, a recent analysis from the Monitoring the Future study looking at nicotine use among US 8th, 10th and 12th graders finds. Michael Blaha, an anti-smoking advocate and cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, says he’s seen another disturbing trend. Blaha: During the pandemic we’re seeing a decrease in occasional use […]
While fewer young people seem to be taking up vaping, those who have are having a hard time quitting, recent research shows. Michael Blaha, an anti-smoking advocate and cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, says the very nature of the devices lend themselves to nicotine addiction. Blaha: With the recent products on the market as far as […]
Vaping and use of e-cigarettes has largely been a trend of youth since their introduction several years ago. Now new research shows that when young people attempt to stop using these products they are largely failing to do so. Michael Blaha, an anti-smoking advocate and cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, comments. Blaha: It’s very interesting that […]
When the diabetes medicine metformin is taken by men in the three months prior to conception of sons, it may increase the risk for genital and urinary tract malformations three and a half times, a Danish study finds. Rita Kalyani, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins, says while attention has been focused on the health […]
Men who used the diabetes medicine metformin during the three months prior to conception of their son saw malformations of the genital and urinary tracts three and a half times more often in these children, a very large study from Denmark finds. Johns Hopkins diabetes expert Rita Kalyani explains. Kalyani: What they found was that […]
In the year following a Covid-19 infection, some 40% of adults in one study developed new onset type 2 diabetes. Rita Kalyani, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins, says certain populations were much more at risk for this outcome. Kalyani: Older adults, over the age of 65, Black versus white, those with prediabetes, and those […]
People who’ve had Covid-19 have a 40% higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes in the year after their infection, a new study finds. Johns Hopkins diabetes expert Rita Kalyani says there may be a couple of reasons for this. Kalyani: This had been reported. There’s been different mechanisms suggested for how Covid-19 can increase […]
So-called long Covid may now include a new diagnosis of diabetes, a recent study shows. Diabetes expert Rita Kalyani at Johns Hopkins says this study follows participants over 12 months after their Covid infection. Kalyani: It was really in a national database. Almost 200,000 participants who had a positive Covid-19 test between March 2020 when […]
Autoimmune diseases, where the body’s immune system attacks parts of the body, are common. Now the UK Biobank study finds that such conditions also increase someone’s risk to develop cancer. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, reviews the data. Nelson: Overall, that is about a six to eight percent increased […]
Two very common types of blood pressure medicines, so called ACE inhibitors and ARBs, may improve survival for people with cancer of the pancreas, a new study finds. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, notes that this is an idea that’s been around for a while. Nelson: What they found […]
Screening mammography for breast cancer gets better all the time, finding very small cancers that may be most amenable to cure. Also detected more often are cancers that would never have caused a problem but are treated anyway, so-called overdiagnosis. Now a new study suggests that doesn’t happen as often as we feared. William Nelson, […]
Testing for Covid-19 has been a challenge throughout the pandemic, and unfortunately remains so for many. That’s according to infectious disease expert Lisa Maragakis at Johns Hopkins. Maragakis: We still need testing. It wasn’t available at the beginning, we’ve struggled with it throughout the pandemic, and we still just don’t have widespread availability of rapid […]
If you’re resisting getting vaccinated against Covid because you think the vaccines were developed too quickly, here’s the real story, according to Sherita Golden, a physician at Johns Hopkins. Golden: The technology that we are using in the mRNA vaccines in particular was developed over the course of ten or fifteen years specifically in case […]
Colonoscopy is considered by many to be the gold standard for screening for colorectal cancer. Kathy Bull Henry, a colorectal cancer expert at Johns Hopkins, says there are other considerations. Bull Henry: Screening tests have to be acceptable. I think there has been a lot of emphasis on colonoscopy. But there are other screening tests […]
Black Americans have higher rates of colorectal cancer than white Americans, the nation’s cancer report card finds. While researchers are trying to discern why this is so, Kathy Bull Henry, a colorectal cancer expert at Johns Hopkins, says we can focus on the two modifiable risk factors we can impact. Bull Henry: What we need […]
Finding cancers very early is the goal of screening, but for colorectal cancer, or CRC, rates of screening are disappointingly low in some places. That’s according to Kathy Bull Henry, a colorectal cancer expert at Johns Hopkins. Bull Henry: In federally qualified health centers, that use screening, CRC screening is very low, only 40%. This […]
Colorectal cancer cases are declining overall in the US, the most recent cancer report card found, but unfortunately are rising in younger people. The report also finds that disparities in cancer rates among different racial groups have been persisting. Kathy Bull Henry, a colorectal cancer expert at Johns Hopkins, reviews the data. Bull Henry: In […]
The nation’s cancer report card shows that while overall rates of colorectal cancer are declining, among younger people they are increasing. Kathy Bull Henry, a colorectal cancer expert at Johns Hopkins, says especially in those who are younger, symptoms can be difficult to pin down. Bull Henry: Clinical presentation of colorectal cancer can be varied. […]
Chronic inflammation is at the root of many diseases and conditions, and you may be able to modify it with your diet. Ashley Greenwald, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says one helpful component of a healthier diet are antioxidants. Greenwald: Antioxidants are part of that anti-inflammatory diet. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow […]
Foods you eat have a profound influence on your gut microbiome and may also impact on chronic inflammation, and its relationship to a host of diseases and conditions. Johns Hopkins dietician Ashley Greenwald says you can influence your own microbiome by reducing or eliminating some foods from your diet. Greenwald: Sugar and refined carbohydrates, that’s […]
Did you know you have more cells living in your gut than you have cells that make up your body? This population is called your gut microbiome, and Johns Hopkins dietician Ashley Greenwald says its health underlies your health. Greenwald: Bacteria and yeast in the stomach are really involved in immune competence and regulation of […]
Maybe you’ve noticed that each time you eat a certain food, your gut seems unhappy. If you’re intolerant to certain foods or substances added to it, this could be a source of chronic inflammation and pain. That’s according to Ashley Greenwald, a dietician at Johns Hopkins. Greenwald: Food intolerance is a trigger that can influence […]
Chronic pain is often the result of inflammation, and Ashley Greenwald, a dietician at Johns Hopkins, says the inflammation itself may be the result of conditions like obesity. Greenwald: There has been a plethora of research that found that people with obesity, especially in the middle section, abdominal fat, definitely have higher inflammatory potential and […]
Biosimilars are a class of drugs that are essentially generic versions of others used to treat cancer, and if you’re undergoing cancer treatment you may have concerns about whether they’re really as effective. Rest easy, says William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Nelson: They conducted an analysis of the clinical […]
If you’re Hispanic, you’re more likely to respond to health promotion programs that are tailored to you, using language that resonates and is meaningful to you. While that may seem obvious, a new study demonstrates clearly just how effective it can be when it comes to colorectal cancer screening. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel […]
Your DNA is constantly being modified throughout your lifetime, and one way involves adding or taking away chemical groups called methyl groups. These modifications are known as epigenetics, and two new studies point to using them to find cancers of the breast and ovary in pap smears. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center […]
When a woman has a Pap smear cells are collected from the uterine cervix to check for the presence of cancer. Now two new studies demonstrate that using this sample, cancers of the breast and ovary may also be identified. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, explains. Nelson: The DNA […]
Triple-negative breast cancer is among the most serious types of the disease, because it lacks cell receptors that many treatments are based on. Now a new study shows that use of an antibody called pembrolizumab improves outcomes. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, explains. Nelson: They did a very large […]
When it comes to whether you’re protected against Covid-19, either by immunization or natural infection, controversy has swirled around antibody levels and how good a predictor they are. Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins who has looked at these levels in transplant recipients, says a clearer picture is emerging. Segev: We have learned […]
Keeping someone’s immune response damped down is necessary when someone gets an organ transplant, but Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins, says it may also allow the virus to remain active for prolonged periods of time. Segev: In somebody with a healthy immune system, if they should happen to get Covid their immune […]
Organ transplant recipients are on medicines to keep their immune response in check, and so are many others: people with so called autoimmune disease like lupus, or some people with asthma. Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins, says these people are not able to respond well to Covid-19 vaccinations. Segev: We have found […]
People who receive organ transplants must go on a regimen of drugs to suppress their immune response and allow the organ to survive and function. Yet when that strategy is working it also leaves people without the ability to respond to vaccines. Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins, says a very fine line […]
People who’ve gotten transplants such as kidneys take drugs to keep their immune system from attacking the organ, called immunosuppression, but also damp down their response to vaccinations, a big issue during the pandemic. Now a new study is examining whether these drugs can be paused safely to allow for effective immunization. Dorry Segev, a […]
People who are newly diagnosed with melanoma that has already spread throughout their bodies or can’t be removed surgically have a new treatment option, a recent study finds. The treatment uses two so-called ‘immune checkpoint inhibitors’ explains William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Nelson: The combination of relatlimab and nivolumab […]
Are Covid-19 vaccines still effective in people who’ve undergone treatment for so-called solid organ cancers, such as breast or prostate? The answer seems to be yes, based on a recent study looking at antibody levels to the virus’s spike protein after vaccination in those so treated. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at […]
The combination of a drug called abiraterone with others routinely used in prostate cancer helps men with one stage of the disease remain disease free longer, two new studies find. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, explains. Nelson: What they found was that both the abiraterone containing arms in each […]
Simply analyzing a blood test to screen for cancer is becoming closer to reality as many more assays come online, with a new one improving lung cancer detection by about 9% when used with CT scanning. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says their underlying strategy is simple. Nelson: Many […]
CT scanning is used to screen for many lung cancers, with a new study finding that adding a simple blood test to the scan helps both find lung cancers and reduce the number of tests needing follow up. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, describes the findings. Nelson: What they […]
Variants of Covid are springing up all the time, perhaps in people who have compromised immune systems and experience prolonged infection or in animal hosts. Stuart Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says right now with Delta and Omicron variants circulating, vaccination is more crucial than ever. Ray: The people who are really […]
Both vaccine developers and the FDA have agreed that as new Covid variants emerge and updated vaccines are required, the pathway for providing them should involve testing in far fewer people and over a shorter period of time. Jonathan Zenilman, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, applauds the effort. Zenilman: With different variants the […]
Why aren’t Covid vaccines, especially mRNA vaccines, being produced against variants such as Omicron as they emerge? Anna Durbin, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says this is what the technology promises. Durbin: I do think we have to be more forward thinking and also working with regulators because if we could get very […]
If you’ve had three doses of an mRNA vaccine against Covid you are much less likely to require hospitalization, require ICU level care, or die from Covid-19, even with the now dominant Omicron variant, than if you aren’t vaccinated at all. Anna Durbin, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, explains. Durbin: With Omicron the […]
Children younger than five comprise the last group in whom a vaccine against Covid is currently being tested. Jonathan Zenilman, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says late spring may be when enough data will be in for an emergency use authorization. Zenilman: It turns out probably because of Omicron cause this is now […]