On meds for RA? Volunteer for this study

Enbrel, Humira and Remicade can successfully treat painful, swollen joints due to rheumatoid arthritis, but the medications carry risky — and potentially fatal — side effects. “The biggest side effect we worry about is infection because these drugs are immunosuppressants,” said Dr. Michael Ward of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.... READ MORE

New drugs are improving cancer survival

Obtaining prescriptions online a concern

How do you get men excited about decades-old pills for hair loss and other potentially embarrassing health conditions? Online prescription startups including Hims and Roman are banking on a mix of convenience, viral marketing and glossy packaging to turn generic prescription drugs and other pharmacy staples into a profitable new business model. But some in the medical establishment... READ MORE

Delirium and dementia differ, but overlap

Scientists studying marijuana’s potential

Marijuana has been shown to help ease pain and a few other health problems. Yet two-thirds of U.S. states have decided pot should be legal to treat many other conditions with little scientific backing. At least 1.4 million Americans are using marijuana for their health, according to an Associated Press analysis of states that track medical marijuana patients. The analysis is based on... READ MORE

Medical scribes let doctors focus on you

You have a medical appointment, perhaps with a new doctor. The physician enters the examination room, introduces herself, and then introduces the medical scribe, who moves to the corner of the room in front of the computer. As the doctor starts asking you questions, the scribe begins typing. Scribes are becoming increasingly common in doctor’s offices. But what do they do, what type of ... READ MORE

Progress on blood tests to detect cancer

A California company said its experimental blood test was able to detect many types of cancer at an early stage and gave very few false alarms in a study that included people with and without the disease. Grail Inc. gave results in a news release in May and reported them at a recent American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago. They have not yet been published in a journal or ... READ MORE

Genetic tests can quickly ID infections

Brian Jetter, a previously healthy 40-year-old, was on life support, suddenly battling pneumonia and sepsis, and a slew of tests had failed to find the cause. Mystery illnesses like this kill thousands of people each year when germs can’t be identified fast enough to reveal the right treatment. Now genetic tests are helping to solve these cases. One finally was used to search... READ MORE

FDA to boost experimental drug access

Sally Atwater’s doctor spent two months on calls, messages and paperwork to get her an experimental drug he thinks can fight the lung cancer that has spread to her brain and spine. Nancy Goodman begged eight companies to let her young son try experimental medicines for a brain tumor that ultimately killed him, and “only three of the companies even gave me a reason why they... READ MORE

Study tests new gum to curb gingivitis

We’ve all heard the advertisements: Four out of five dentists recommend sugarless gum. What about gum with a natural antimicrobial ingredient? A company based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, wants to find out if its experimental chewing gum can reduce the symptoms of gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums. “We are looking for individuals who have a certain degree of inflammation... READ MORE