Clinical

National MS Education and Awareness Month is celebrated each year in the US in March, after having been launched in 2003 by MS Focus: the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and affiliated groups.

The role of artificial intelligence, DataDerm, and telehealth in advancing dermatology care was discussed throughout the meeting, with experts highlighting their potential regarding patient access and health equity.

Experts discuss which patient populations stand to benefit the most from recently approved bispecific therapies, identifying gaps or opportunities for further patient benefit, as well as the data gaps that exist in understanding the optimal use of bispecific antibodies across various cancer types.

A panelist discusses how guidelines are important for knowing when patient care starts, the progress of the patients care, and if the patient is satisfied with the response. Treatment guidelines are available for the 3 stages of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS): Hurley 1, Hurley 2, and Hurley 3. High scar scoring is also used to examine improvement in scarring over time. In real-world cases, guidelines have little to no impact on physicians treating HS, and most people often go to urgent care centers or primary care physicians when they are experiencing symptoms of HS. Health providers do not utilize guidelines except in clinical trials.

Experts discuss how the availability of bispecific therapies has influenced treatment paradigms in oncology and how bispecifics fit into current treatment algorithms for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

The 2025 Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical & Scientific Conference, convening in Dallas, Texas, from March 16-18, will feature clinical updates, expert insights, and breaking trial findings that sum up to a new frontier of care for neuromuscular diseases.

These abstracts highlight the compounded challenges people with HIV face.

Flood exposure was more strongly associated with increased health care use and cost during the summer months and among Medicare beneficiaries aged 85 or older.

The authors argue that the stimulant shortage is being perpetuated by the overdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults because executive functioning deficits are not included in diagnostic criteria.

This case study demonstrates how system-based tobacco cessation was enhanced in a community clinic.

This research on a T-cell–targeting vaccine in HIV has implications for future study design to incorporate consideration of age and years on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to evaluate the level of immune reconstitution.

Implementing a policy change to require preappointment surveys before scheduling initial clinic evaluations can improve wait-list times and show rates.

Older, generic medications, including ones for cyclosporine, nicotinamide, and dapsone, can effectively treat patients with various dermatological conditions while helping to reduce insurance and cost barriers.

A dietary fiber intake between 14.4 and 26.7 g reduced the risk of osteoarthritis, but an intake above this dose was not significantly protective.

Two posters presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting reaffirmed the impact of ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura; Incyte) in atopic dermatitis (AD), while late-breaking research highlighted its potential efficacy in prurigo nodularis (PN).

Amid limited access to pediatric dermatologists nationwide, pediatric patients of color with atopic dermatitis (AD) are particularly affected by social determinants of health, further impacting their outcomes.

Panelist discusses how health systems can improve communication and coordination among specialists through integrated care models and digital platforms. Centers of Excellence promote health equity by providing specialized care in underserved areas, reducing disparities. A unified approach ensures efficient, patient-centered care, enhancing outcomes for all.

This systematic literature review and pooled rates analysis investigated the standard of care for patients with heart failure in the US post hospital discharge.

Optimizing telehealth during public health emergencies to minimize in-person appointments puts less burden on patients and may lead to better outcomes, according to Chun Chao, PhD, MS, of Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

A study investigated the incidence of postoperative urinary tract infections (UTIs) in patients undergoing spinal fusion for deformities, finding that patients with more than 12 levels fused had the highest UTI rates.

Panelists discuss how recent FDA approvals for bispecific antibodies in oncology, particularly for hematologic malignancies like multiple myeloma and lymphomas, represent significant treatment advances, while highlighting expanding applications in solid tumors, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases as promising growth areas for this therapeutic modality.

The Center on Health Equity & Access delves into the latest research, policy shifts, and expert viewpoints on advancing equity and improving access to care.

Panelists discuss how stakeholders can enhance biosimilar uptake through coordinated efforts in financial alignment, patient-centric pricing, professional education, simplified administrative processes, and collaborative data exchange.

These findings may not be generalizable to uninsured patients with ovarian cancer, who face unique barriers to care compared with insured patients.

The 2025 guideline introduces notable updates including refined recommendations for dual antiplatelet therapy, cardiogenic shock management, and secondary prevention.

Activities of daily life, education, and employment were areas of difficulty in the transition to adulthood for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) or Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), but those who had more siblings reported being more ready to transition to adult life.

Adverse physical functions were indicative of reduced survival and increased risk of immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) previously treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy.

Panelist discusses how organizations can justify the cost of Centers of Excellence for HS by improving patient outcomes, reducing complications, and enhancing care efficiency. Metrics for evaluating multidisciplinary care include patient satisfaction, quality of life, clinical improvements, and reduction in hospitalizations.

With the potential for future pandemics, Chun Chao, PhD, MS, emphasizes the importance of learning from the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on cancer care, particularly for patients with ovarian cancer.

Panelists discuss how the successful management of iron deficiency anemia requires a comprehensive approach combining early detection, appropriate choice of iron formulation, careful monitoring of treatment response, and addressing barriers to care while emphasizing the importance of patient education and health care system support in achieving optimal outcomes.