Three-in-one inhaler therapy can improve lung function and reduce asthma attacks

Patients with severe asthma which is not controlled with standard treatment — leaving them at risk of severe asthma attacks — could benefit from using a single inhaler combining three, instead of 2 therapies, according to two phase 3 randomized controlled trials with over 2,500 patients across 17 countries.

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Monthly phone check-in may mean less depression for families of patients with dementia

A monthly, 40-minute phone call from a non-clinical professional may suppress or reverse the trajectory of depression so frequently experienced by family members caring for patients with dementia at home, according to a new study.

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AI system accurately detects key findings in chest X-rays of pneumonia patients within 10 seconds

From 20 minutes or more to 10 seconds. Researchers from Intermountain Healthcare and Stanford University say 10 seconds is about how quickly a new system they studied that utilizes artificial intelligence took to accurately identify key findings in chest X-rays of patients in the emergency department suspected of having pneumonia.

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First targeted therapy for cholangiocarcinoma shows clinical benefit in phase III trial

New data have shown for the first time that targeted therapy can improve the outcome of patients diagnosed with advanced cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma is a subtype of bile duct cancer with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Despite the low incidence, most patients die from the disease and therefore new effective therapies are urgently needed.

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Mesothelioma trial suggests immunotherapy as an alternative to chemotherapy

Patients with mesothelioma may gain similar benefit from immunotherapy as chemotherapy, and good responders may provide important clues to novel treatment for the thousands of new cases each year. New data highlight the need to understand the biological mechanisms whereby mesothelioma, which is incurable, adapts to immunotherapy in some patients but not in others, resulting in variations in treatment response.

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Wrist-worn step trackers accurate in predicting patient health outcomes

Researchers have found that steps measured through a step tracker worn on the wrist can be used to estimate exercise capacity and determine the health status of patients, rather than the standardized 6-minute walk distance test, which is usually conducted in a clinical setting.

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