What We're Reading, August 30, 2016: the Justice Department is investigating police treatment of the mentally ill; researchers identify overtreatment based on imaging procedures; and 2 drug compounds may prevent the Zika virus from replicating in the body.
A new report out of Baltimore has highlighted a growing problem: police mistreatment of the mentally ill. According to the Associated Press, although police forces are trying to improve training to respond to people with mental illness who are in the throes of a crisis, there are concerns that officers aren’t adequately prepared for these situations. The Justice Department has included the treatment of mentally ill people in its civil rights investigations—which includes racial discrimination and excessive force—of police departments.
There is a need for guidelines to help physicians determine when incidental findings discovered during imaging procedures present a risk and when they do not need to be pursued. Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center found that providers have gone overboard in flagging minor abnormalities, leading to more testing and treatment, according to The Wall Street Journal. The researchers assert that there should be some instances for not disclosing incidental findings—for example, when telling the patient might result in financial, psychological, or clinical consequences. However, the recommendation is controversial because some incidental findings can significantly affect patients if providers fail to follow up.
An FDA-approved drug may help fight Zika infection by stopping the virus from replicating in the body. Researchers have been studying 2 different groups of drug compounds, one of which is approved to treat tapeworm, reported the Miami Herald. The researchers have focused their work on drug compounds with the shortest path to clinical use. The drugs still need to be tested on animals infected with the Zika virus.
Real-World Study Reveals Key Insights into DLBCL Treatment Patterns, Outcomes
April 18th 2024A recent study offers valuable insights into the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients across different lines of therapy, providing a look into the landscape of DLBCL management.
Read More
Pegcetacoplan for PNH More Cost-Effective Than Anti-C5 Monoclonal Antibodies
April 18th 2024A cost-utility analysis conducted from the perspective of the Italian health system found that pegcetacoplan was more effective and less costly than 2 complement 5 (C5) inhibitors for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).
Read More
Many Patients With Psoriasis in Clinical Trials Experience Nocebo Effects, Study Finds
April 18th 2024Half of patients exposed to placebo in clinical trials experienced adverse events (AEs), which may be partially explainable by nocebo effects, according to a recent review and meta-analysis.
Read More
Low-Volume Hospitals Had Higher Reoperation Rate, Postoperative Complications in CRC
April 18th 2024Patients opting for elective colorectal surgery to address colorectal cancer (CRC) could have different rates of reoperation and postoperative complications based on the size of the hospital.
Read More