News
In cooperation with Reuters News and Reuters Health, we are proud to provide you with our continuously updated news feed. We select news that applies to physicians in all the major clinical specialties, as well as on finance, science, technology, and other areas.
Virtual reality helps kids getting X-rays
By Carolyn Crist (Reuters Health) - A virtual reality program with cartoon characters may reduce children's fear before imaging procedures, a South Korean study suggests. Compared to verbal
EXPLAINER-One possible culprit in vaping lung illnesses: 'Dank Vapes'
By Chris Kirkham and Jeffrey Dastin (Reuters) - As U.S health officials scramble to identify the root cause of hundreds of severe lung illnesses tied to vaping, one possible culprit identified so far
First peanut allergy therapy gets backing from U.S. regulators' expert advisers
By Tamara Mathias and Saumya Joseph (Reuters) - A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Friday recommended approving the first therapy for peanut allergies, which affect over 1.6 million
UPDATE 3-U.S and European regulators reviewing safety of heartburn drugs like Zantac
(Adds details from interview with Valisure CEO) By Michael Erman Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. and European drug regulators said on Friday they are reviewing the safety of the widely taken heartburn drug
U.S and European regulators reviewing safety of heartburn drugs like Zantac
By Michael Erman (Reuters) - U.S. and European drug regulators said on Friday they are reviewing the safety of the widely taken heartburn drug ranitidine, commonly known by the brand name Zantac,
PTSD linked to increased risk of ovarian cancer
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Women who exhibit many classic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be much more likely to develop ovarian cancer than their counterparts who don't
Long-term pentosan polysulfate sodium use associated with vision-threatening maculopathy
By Marilynn Larkin NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Long-term use of the interstitial cystitis drug pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) is associated with a vision-threatening pigmentary maculopathy, a case
Novel replacement device brings relief in severe mitral annular calcification
By Marilynn Larkin NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A novel transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) system improved mitral regurgitation (MR) and symptoms in patients with severe mitral annular
UPDATE 2-U.S and European regulators reviewing safety of heartburn drugs like Zantac
(Adds Sanofi statement, paragraph 5) By Michael Erman Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. and European drug regulators said on Friday they are reviewing the safety of the widely taken heartburn drug ranitidine,
More evidence links dog ownership to better heart health
By Saumya Joseph (Reuters Health) - No one can say if it's the walks or the unconditional love, but there's something about owning a dog that goes hand in hand with better heart health, suggests a
Blonanserin patch improves symptoms in acute schizophrenia
By Scott Baltic NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Use of a transdermal patch to administer the second-generation anti-psychotic blonanserin improves both positive and negative symptoms of acute
UPDATE 1-U.S and European regulators reviewing safety of heartburn drugs like Zantac
(Adds details throughout; changes story title) By Michael Erman Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. and European drug regulators said on Friday they are reviewing the safety of the widely taken heartburn drug
CORRECTED-U.S. FDA flags probable cancer-causing impurity in common heartburn drugs
(Corrects first paragraph to remove mention of Sanofi as FDA did not disclose which versions of drug contain the impurity) Sept 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that
Adrenal vein sampling underused in primary aldosteronism
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is associated with significant clinical benefits in patients with primary aldosteronism, but its use is suboptimal, according
Sepsis-alert system in the ED may cut racial disparity in pediatric sepsis recognition
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A pediatric emergency department (ED) electronic sepsis alert system may reduce racial disparities in sepsis recognition, new findings hint. In adult
E-scooter injuries rising, often involve drugs or alcohol
By Carolyn Crist (Reuters Health) - As the popularity of electric scooters increases, so do injuries sending users to the hospital, a U.S. study suggests. Those injured riders are most often young men
Gaps in cancer patients' understanding of genomic testing
By Megan Brooks NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Most cancer patients who participate in biomarker-driven clinical trials don't understand the genomic test results they get, according to a pilot study
Opioid prescribing after surgery much more common in U.S., Canada
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Opioid prescribing after surgery is much more common in the United States and Canada than in Sweden, researchers report. "The most surprising result of
U.S. FDA flags probable cancer-causing impurity in common heartburn drugs
By Reuters Staff (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that some medicines containing ranitidine, including Sanofi SA's Zantac, had traces of a probable cancer-causing
U.S. FDA flags probable cancer-causing impurity in common heartburn drugs
Sept 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that some medicines containing ranitidine, including Sanofi SA's Zantac, had traces of a probable cancer-causing impurity
EXCLUSIVE-While battling opioid crisis, U.S. government weighed using fentanyl for executions
By Jonathan Allen NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice examined using fentanyl in lethal injections as it prepared last year to resume executing condemned prisoners, a then untested use
Biogen scraps two late-stage Alzheimer's trials
By Reuters Staff (Reuters) - Biogen Inc and partner Eisai Co Ltd said on Friday they would abandon two late-stage trials testing experimental Alzheimer's treatment elenbecestat, months after scrapping
Mirikizumab appears effective in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis
By Reuters Staff NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Mirikizumab may be effective for inducing clinical remission and response and endoscopic improvement in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), according to
Indonesia to raise cigarette prices by more than a third at start of 2020
By Reuters Staff JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia will raise the minimum price of cigarettes by more than a third from January next year, a finance ministry spokesman said on Friday, as part of the
Kenya becomes 3rd African nation to introduce world's first malaria vaccine
By Reuters Staff NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya on Friday added the world's first malaria vaccine to the routine immunization schedule for children under two, becoming the third country in Africa to roll
U.S. cuts vaping-related illness total under refined case definition
By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. health officials on Thursday cut the number of lung illnesses linked to e-cigarettes and vaping products under investigation to 380 as states began
Suicide rates highest and rising fastest in U.S. rural communities
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Suicide rates are rising across the U.S., especially in rural communities and places with high poverty and a proliferation of gun shops, a new analysis suggests.
Alcohol taxes not close to covering cost of drinking harms in the U.S.
By Linda Carroll (Reuters Health) - The sum total of taxes on alcohol doesn't come close to paying the bills associated with excessive alcohol consumption in the U.S., researchers say. The total
Reuters asks judge to release secret Propecia documents
By Dan Levine SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Reuters asked a U.S. judge on Thursday to unseal documents filed in court regarding potential risks associated with Propecia (finasteride), Merck & Co's popular
US FDA has resources available for gastroenterologists
By Marilynn Larkin NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Resources from the FDA are available online and gastroenterologists should take advantage of them, according to correspondence in the American Journal of
New initiative improves ED management of diabetic ketoacidosis in kids
By Megan Brooks NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A quality-improvement initiative has led to faster determination of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children and fewer unnecessary intravenous placements in
Injured soccer players risk re-injury with too few practices before matches
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Injured soccer players with few practices before they return to competition are more likely to get hurt than those who get in additional training sessions, a recent
Behavior modification program can improve incontinence
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) – Women with urinary or bowel incontinence who participate in behavior modification programs may experience less severe symptoms and a better quality of life than
New drug reduces attacks of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The anti-CD19 antibody inebilizumab, an investigation drug, significantly reduces the frequency of attacks of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD
Cancer patients use crowdfunding for medical bills, expenses
By Carolyn Crist (Reuters Health) - Even cancer patients who seemingly have health insurance are seeking donations online to help with medical bills, travel, drug costs and sometimes living expenses
Smart-device ECGs show promise for ambulatory monitoring
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Smart-device ECGs are likely to play an increasing role in the ambulatory monitoring of atrial fibrillation, QT interval, and other conditions, according
Long-term sublingual immunotherapy ups peanut-allergy reaction threshold
By Anne Harding NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Long-term peanut sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) produces "clinically meaningful" desensitization in most children with peanut allergy, according to new
Referrals for autism spectrum disorder lag behind screening
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Rates of screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are high in primary pediatric care, but only about a third of children who screen positive are
INTERVIEW-Follow the money to fight human trafficking, top Interpol director says
By Fabio Teixeira RIO DE JANEIRO (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Countries and companies need to share financial data if they hope to stop human trafficking, connecting governments and companies that
TNF inhibitors do not up risk of serious infection in kids with IBD
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The use of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors is not associated with an increased risk of serious infection in children with inflammatory bowel
Australian state provides free tampons to students to tackle taboos
By Beh Lih Yi KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Victoria has become the first Australian state to provide free sanitary products in schools, prompting calls from women's rights advocates on
Doctors seldom discuss sleep with their patients
By Scott Baltic NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Only about a third of individuals appear to ever have discussed sleep with a physician or other healthcare provider, a proportion that has changed little if
Tocagen's brain cancer treatment fails late-stage study, shares slump
By Reuters Staff (Reuters) - Tocagen Inc said on Thursday its experimental treatment did not prove effective in extending life of brain cancer patients in a late-stage study, sending shares down 68%.
Israel's Healthy.io raises $60 mln, gets FDA ok for urine test
By Reuters Staff TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel's Healthy.io said on Thursday it raised $60 million in funding and received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its smartphone-based
Gay "chemsex" is fueling urban HIV epidemics, AIDS experts warn
By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - A surge in "chemsex" parties, where people spend days getting high on drugs and having sex with scores of partners, is re-fueling epidemics of HIV among gay men in
More evidence screening mammograms not needed for many older women
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Screening mammograms don't benefit women aged 75 and older with chronic health problems who are likely to die of causes other than breast cancer, a new study
Sleeping on back may not lead to worse pregnancy outcomes
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Although doctors often tell pregnant women it's safest to sleep on their left side, a new study suggests sleeping in other positions may not be a problem.
High blood pressure in U.S. pregnant women rose sharply over four decades
By Linda Carroll (Reuters Health) - The number of women diagnosed with high blood pressure when they become pregnant or during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy has risen sharply in the U.S. over the
Fish oil study fails to show reduction in premature babies
By Gene Emery (Reuters Health) - A large Australian study is debunking the idea that fish oil capsules can lower the odds of premature delivery or raise the chances of late-pregnancy complications.
Adding metformin to advanced lung cancer therapy may boost survival
By Marilynn Larkin NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Adding metformin to standard epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) therapy in patients with advanced lung cancer
UK's worst-case no-deal Brexit plan warns of food shortages, public disorder
By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) - The British government's plans for a no-deal Brexit warn of severe disruption to cross-Channel routes, affecting the supply of medicines and certain types of fresh
UPDATE 4-Purdue Pharma reaches tentative opioid settlement -sources
(Adds comments from plaintiffs' lawyers, Tennessee attorney general) By Mike Spector and Jessica DiNapoli NEW YORK (Reuters) - OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP reached a tentative agreement with some
UPDATE 3-Purdue Pharma reaches tentative opioid settlement -sources
(Adds Purdue statement in paragraphs 15-16) By Mike Spector and Jessica DiNapoli NEW YORK (Reuters) - OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP reached a tentative agreement with some plaintiffs to resolve
UPDATE 2-Purdue Pharma reaches tentative opioid settlement -sources
(Adds comment from North Carolina attorney general in final two paragraphs) By Mike Spector and Jessica DiNapoli NEW YORK (Reuters) - OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP reached a tentative agreement
Canadian court ruling challenges parts of laws for physician-assisted suicide
By Reuters Staff MONTREAL (Reuters) - Two severely ill and handicapped Canadians can ask for immediate help in ending their lives, a court in the province of Quebec ruled on Wednesday, in a judgment
UPDATE 1-Trump administration announces plans to ban flavored e-cigarettes
(Adds details, quotes from White House meeting, PIX available) By Reuters Staff WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration announced plans on Wednesday to remove all flavored e-cigarettes from
FACTBOX-Purdue OxyContin settlement would rank among largest in pharma history
By Reuters Staff (Reuters) - OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP is nearing a multibillion-dollar partial agreement aimed at settling thousands of lawsuits over its alleged role in the U.S. opioid crisis
UPDATE 1-Purdue Pharma reaches tentative opioid settlement -sources
(Updates with status of settlement negotiations, headline) By Mike Spector and Jessica DiNapoli NEW YORK (Reuters) - OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP reached a tentative agreement with some plaintiffs
Some disparities in U.S. hospital care may start in the ambulance
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Even when patients live in the same communities, and close to the same hospitals, there are small racial and ethnic differences in where they're taken by ambulance
High-tech mattresses not much better than foam at preventing pressure ulcers
By Reuters Staff NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - At best, high-tech alternating-pressure mattresses (APM) may offer "small but significant early benefit" in preventing pressure ulcers (PUs) compared with
Oral fluoroquinolones may raise risk of mitral and aortic regurgitation
By Megan Brooks NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research suggests that fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics may raise the risk of aortic or mitral regurgitation. This underscores the importance of using
Trump administration announces plans to ban flavored e-cigarettes from market
By Reuters Staff WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that the country has a problem with vaping, and his top health official said the Food and Drug
Ozanimod reduces multiple sclerosis relapses
By Anne Harding NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), the oral drug ozanimod lowers the risk of relapse compared with interferon beta-1a, according to two new
Budesonide-formoterol inhaler p.r.o. reduces adult asthma exacerbations
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - As-needed use of a budesonide-formoterol inhaler is more effective than maintenance budesonide plus terbutaline reliever therapy for reducing severe
SGLT2 inhibitors reduce kidney-failure risk in type 2 diabetes
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Using SGLT2 inhibitors significantly cuts the risk of kidney failure and acute kidney injury in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a systematic
EXCLUSIVE-Purdue Pharma nears partial opioid settlement, bankruptcy filing -sources
By Mike Spector and Jessica DiNapoli NEW YORK (Reuters) - OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP is nearing a partial agreement to resolve widespread litigation over its alleged role in fueling the U.S.
Film director warns of backlash against U.S. gay conversion bans
By Michael Taylor KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An American filmmaker, whose latest LGBT+ documentary looks at so-called gay "conversion therapy," has welcomed moves by U.S. states to
Multidisciplinary ED decision tool curbs strep testing in infants
By Marilynn Larkin NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Multidisciplinary interventions reduced streptococcal testing by more than half in children under age three in an urban tertiary pediatric emergency
Singaporean robot-designing couple welcomes own human creation
By Travis Teo and Joseph Campbell SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singaporean robot creator Wong Choon Yue raises his left hand and swipes it past a sensor in a high-five gesture. Halfway across the room, a
Staged strategy can avoid midurethral-sling procedure for many women with pelvic-organ prolapse
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A staged strategy for women with pelvic-organ prolapse and stress-urinary incontinence can substantially reduce the need for midurethral sling (MUS)
CORRECTED-Hepatitis B core-related antigen levels linked to liver cancer risk
(Modifies para 13 to remove reference to Korea) By Marilynn Larkin NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels are an independent risk factor for liver cancer in
SPECIAL REPORT-Court let Merck hide secrets about baldness drug's risks
By Dan Levine PARK CITY, Utah (Reuters) - By the time Kelly Pfaff got home from driving her son to school that morning, it was too late. Her husband, John, was supposed to be taking their 4-year-old
Humanitarian aid reduces shortages in Venezuela emergency rooms -NGO
By Reuters Staff CARACAS (Reuters) - Humanitarian aid has led to a small improvement in the availability of medical supplies in Venezuelan emergency rooms, although shortages continue to plague public
Dutch doctor acquitted in case of euthanasia of patient with dementia
By Stephanie van den Berg THE HAGUE (Reuters) - A Dutch doctor was acquitted on Wednesday of all charges for the euthanasia of an elderly patient who suffered from dementia. Judges at the Hague
From removing doors to checking sleeves, U.S. schools seek to snuff out vaping
By Gabriella Borter and Matthew Lavietes (Reuters) - Students caught vaping in school can expect a lot more than a warning or detention in one North Texas district starting this fall. They will be
U.S. EPA chief to reduce agency-funded animal testing
By Reuters Staff WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler said Tuesday he was signing a memo to reduce agency-funded animal testing, vowing to
Xeris Pharma's low blood sugar treatment wins FDA approval
By Aakash B (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Xeris Pharmaceuticals Inc's glucagon therapy that aims to treat hypoglycemia in diabetes patients, the drugmaker said on
Female pediatricians paid 76 cents for every $1 paid to men
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Women in pediatrics still earn less than men even with similar levels of experience and even after accounting for the disproportionate amount of time they devote to
Patients at for-profit dialysis centers less likely to get kidney transplants
By Linda Carroll (Reuters Health) - The likelihood that U.S. patients with renal failure will get a kidney transplant is lower for those who get dialysis at for-profit dialysis centers, a new study
Facebook bans self-harm images in fight against suicide
By Reuters Staff (Reuters) - Facebook Inc will no longer allow graphic images of self-harm on its platform as it tightens its policies on suicide content amid growing criticism of how social media
Air conditioning for all? Hotter world faces risk of 'cooling poverty'
By Laurie Goering OXFORD, England (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As climate change brings more frequent and extreme heatwaves around the world, demand for air conditioners is soaring, with 10 new
Not so fast: U.S. CDC isn't ready to blame illicit 'street vapes' for illnesses
By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. health investigators are casting a wide net to understand what is sickening hundreds of vapers across the country and still have not ruled out any product
Teens with illnesses want role in decision-making
By Manas Mishra (Reuters Health) - Teens with chronic illnesses would like to have a say in decisions such as switching to a new medicine, but they often feel left out of the conversation, a small
Most kids can manage pain after surgery without opioids
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - About one in five kids are prescribed opioids after common pediatric surgeries, but a new study suggests they may do just as well with alternative pain relievers
Language-network connectivity disrupted in primary progressive aphasia
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Primary progressive aphasia is associated with perturbations of connectivity within components of the brain's language network, researchers report. "We
'It is time to stop vaping' -Kansas reports 6th U.S. death linked to mystery illness
By Matthew Lavietes (Reuters) - A Kansas resident was the sixth person to die in the United States of a mysterious respiratory illness related to vaping, state officials said on Tuesday, as public
Diagnostic low-dose ionizing radiation tied to higher cancer risk in kids
By Reuters Staff NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Exposure to diagnostic low-dose ionizing radiation and CT scans is associated with increased cancer incidence in children, according to a new study in more
Biomarker tool shows promise for diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder
By Marilynn Larkin NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A diagnostic panel of 28 biomarkers confirmed a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis in male combat veterans with 77% accuracy, a phase 2
Better outcomes seen with early restart of anticoagulants after GI bleeding
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Early resumption of anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy after a gastrointestinal bleeding event is associated with better outcomes overall, researchers
Planned early delivery reduces maternal morbidity in preeclampsia
By Anne Harding NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Planned early delivery in women with late preterm preeclampsia reduces maternal morbidity, according to new research. There were more neonatal-unit
Brain changes linked to worse cognitive performance in professional fighters
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Two structural brain changes on MRI, cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) and cavum vergae (CV), are associated with smaller brain volumes and worse cognitive
E-cigarette use disrupts lung surfactant, impairs innate immunity in mice
By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - E-cigarette use alters the lung's protective surfactant layer by disrupting lipid homeostasis and impairs innate immunity independent of nicotine content,
Evidence of herd immunity against oral HPV infections in unvaccinated adults
By Reuters Staff NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - U.S. researchers see evidence of herd protection against oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in men and women who did not receive the HPV vaccine.
US women with high-risk pregnancies often deliver at ill-equipped hospitals
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Many American women with high-risk pregnancies are delivering their babies at hospitals without specialized maternity and neonatal care, a U.S. study suggests.
Positive childhood experiences tied to better adult mental health
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Kids who have more supportive experiences with family, friends, and people in their school and community may be less likely to have psychological or relationship
After oophorectomy, some HRT effects vary by age
By Marilynn Larkin NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The effects of estrogen therapy are largely similar in women who have or have not undergone oophorectomy, but certain effects vary by age, researchers
Global hemophilia burden higher than previously thought
By Megan Brooks NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Hemophilia is more common around the world than previously thought, according to a new analysis. "This is the first paper to provide a robust estimate of
New York governor proposes ban on flavored e-cigarettes
By Reuters Staff NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed legislation on Monday to ban flavored e-cigarettes statewide in an effort to protect young people from the unknown
AMA warns against use of e-cigs in light of lung illness reports
By Reuters Staff (Reuters) - The American Medical Association (AMA) on Monday urged people to avoid the use of e-cigarette products until health officials could further investigate and understand the
Colorectal cancer becoming more common at younger ages
By Linda Carroll (Reuters Health) - Rates of early-onset colon cancer are rising in many high-income countries even as rates among older adults hold steady or decline, a new study shows. The trend
