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Tests are scheduled to commence April 23rd for a malaria vaccine; the FDA has approved the first generic nasal spray for opioid overdose reversal; scientists have discovered a new broad-spectrum, arsenic-based antibiotic.

It's estimated that by 2021, 100 million people will have used a direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic test. As these tests continue to gain popularity, there is a need for educating consumers on their DTC testing results and validating these results with confirmatory testing in a medical-grade laboratory.

In a proof-of-concept study recently published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers from Penn Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia were able to edit out a lethal lung disease using CRISPR in utero mice models.

Splenectomy before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) might be a promising option in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) who failed to achieve significant spleen response after ruxolitinib therapy, according to results from a recently published study.

A recent retrospective study found that nearly 18% of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) before being referred to a medical center for treatment were actually misdiagnosed.

Further complications in patients with PD are seen when they enter an akinetic (medication OFF) and mobile phases (medication ON), demonstrated in 50% of patients diagnosed within 3-5 years, and 80% of patients diagnosed within 10 years. These fluctuations in motor function present a critical point in terms of managing the disease because it requires continued adjustments in treatment, such as changing the frequency and dosage amount or parameters for deep brain stimulation.

Biomarkers of Parkinson Disease, detected by smell and analysis of sebum, could lead to a noninvasive diagnostic test for the disease.

This week, the top managed care news included a study demonstrating that diabetes drug canagliflozin cuts the risk of renal failure and death; the FDA approving the first targeted therapy for metastatic bladder cancer; approximately half of all cancer deaths are attributable to modifiable risk factors.

The percentage of US adults who used strategies to reduce prescription drug costs, such as skipping medication doses, asking the doctor for a lower-cost medication, and using alternative therapies, was stable from 2015 to 2017 and was down from 2013 to 2015.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be analyzed in patients with cancer to detect minimal residual disease (MRD). Two abstracts, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019, evaluated ctDNA analysis and ways of tracking MRD.

The April issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) featured research on deaths in opioid users, colorectal cancer screening, and health system competition. Here are 5 findings from research published in the issue.

Washington is set to become the first state to offer long-term care benefits for those who pay into the program; a genome-wide polygenic score can predict the odds of obesity; and Montana is moving to reauthorize Medicaid expansion with the addition of community engagement requirements.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the healthcare and mainstream press.

In rare cases, despite being on antiretroviral therapy and being virally suppressed, patients experience extreme immune decline.

Locations in Ohio, Kentucky, New York, and Massachusetts were selected for an opioid abuse prevention and treatment initiatives as part of a multimillion dollar interagency federal research effort, led by the National Institutes of Health.

Shoshana Lipson, a patient advocate and founder of the “ CGRP & Migraine Community ” on Facebook explains how the group works to support patients with migraine.

Heart disease was the number one reason for “excess deaths” after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017.

A new immunotherapy approach was found to both expose HIV concealed within CD4+ T cells and kill it, which could potentially lead to an eventual vaccine for the virus.

https://www.pharmacytimes.org/on-demand/the-era-of-parp-inhibition-in-cancer-management-patient-selection-and-deciding-when-to-use-in-treatment-enduring

Dozens of doctors and other medical professionals have been charged with exchanging opioids and other drugs for sex and cash; the first 2 patients in the United States have been treated with CRISPR; doctors have cured infants of immunodeficiency syndrome using gene therapy made from HIV.

When breast cancer spreads, it often goes to the bones, and new research has found that exposure to dim light at night may contribute to this spread. Results from the animal study were presented at ENDO 2019, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society.

Patients with cystic fibrosis who had cytomegalovirus had earlier times to lung transplant referral and reaching final stages of disease.

In preparation for Every Kid Healthy Week, which kicks off on April 22, WalletHub has released findings from a recent report on 2019’s Best and Worst States for Children's Health Care.

In a review of revefenacin, researchers found that the drug may have the potential to serve as long-acting bronchodilator for once-daily treatment of respiratory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Humana has launched their Oncology Model of Care to improve patient experiences and outcomes for its Medicare Advantage and commercial members being treated for cancer.

Sanjay M. Patel is founder and chief executive officer of Practice Pro, a leading developer of therapy practice management software that helps clients develop more efficient practices, engage effectively with patients and therapists, maximize billing and collections, and access unparalleled insight into their physical therapy practices.