Infliximab, immunomodulator therapy lowers surgery risk in Crohn’s

CHICAGO — Early treatment with infliximab and an immunomodulator was associated with more than five times reduced risk for abdominal surgery at 5 years among patients with newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease, according to a presenter.
Follow-up PROFILE trial data presented at Digestive Disease Week showed that early control of inflammation during a 48-week treatment period also lowered long-term risk for disease progression and hospitalization.
“Historically, there has been a reluctance among some clinicians to use a ‘top-down’ approach due to potential concerns about overtreatment,” Nurulamin

Lupus prevention remains elusive despite new treatments

DESTIN, Fla. — New treatments have improved outcomes in lupus, but preventing disease in the early stages remains elusive, according to a speaker at the Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East.
“We have seen amazing progress in lupus,” Judith A. James, MD, PhD, executive vice president and chief medical officer of the arthritis and clinical immunology research program at Oklahoma University’s Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, told attendees.
Rheumatologists who have treated systemic lupus erythematosus for decades used to hope for just one FDA-approved medication to

Rapid health tests boost patient confidence and understanding

For people living in regional and remote communities, where access to a GP or pathology services can involve long travel distances and large out-of-pocket expenses, point-of-care testing (POCT) offers a convenient way to receive timely health information closer to home. New research from Flinders University suggests these rapid, on-the-spot health tests may do more than deliver faster results—they could also help people better understand their health and feel more confident managing long-term conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Personalized mRNA vaccine targets osteosarcoma relapse in first human use

In a breakthrough poised to reshape cancer treatment, Houston Methodist has developed the first personalized mRNA cancer vaccine designed to prevent recurrence of osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of bone cancer. This first-of-its-kind treatment was made possible through a compassionate use allowance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and represents a major step in personalized medicine and cancer care.

Refugees reveal hidden trauma of life in the UK

From relentless cycles of intrusive memories to loneliness and physical pain, a new study from the University of East Anglia reveals the struggles of refugees who entered the U.K. as unaccompanied minors. Researchers interviewed refugees who fled Afghanistan as children and endured family separation, human rights abuses, and violence. Their stories show years of silent suffering, human resilience, and the need for social connection.

New UK drug approval pathway benefits industry over patients, argues expert

A new UK drug approval pathway, designed to speed up the availability of new medicines, benefits industry over patients and the NHS, argues an expert in The BMJ. The pathway aligns regulatory review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) health technology appraisal process, so that decisions are reached simultaneously.