BioMedWire Stocks Archives - Page 23 of 74

FridayJun 14, 2024 10:00 am

New Study Stings Medicare Advantage, Calls for Abolition

A recently conducted analysis that examined plans under Medicare Advantage has called for the program, which costs taxpayers in America huge sums, to be abolished. The analysis highlights how, since 2007, the program has fleeced more than $600 billion from the federal government, which offers insurers a lump sum for every patient. In the last 12 months alone, Medicare Advantage plans has surcharged the federal government $82 billion. Currently, these plans are used by over one-half of the eligible population under Medicare. The plans use different strategies to charge higher payments. The paper states that despite these surcharges, Medicare Advantage…

WednesdayJun 12, 2024 10:00 am

Researchers Say Brain ‘Overgrowth’ Could Contribute to Autism Development

Researchers have always been stumped by why some kids with autism experience symptoms such as an inability to speak, social struggles, and developmental delay, while the milder symptoms of other individuals diagnosed with autism actually improve over time. Now, new research has determined that severe autism may be associated with overgrowth in the brain’s outer layer during the gestation period. For their research, investigators obtained blood stem cells from 10 children aged between one year of age and four years of age. Their objective was to develop 3D models of each child’s cortexes using lab cell cultures. Once this was…

MondayJun 10, 2024 10:00 am

Delays in Diagnosing MS Highlight Need for More Awareness, Research

A new report has called attention to the need to increase investment in multiple sclerosis (MS) research and boost awareness of the illness. The report, which was released on World Multiple Sclerosis Day, was produced by MS Australia. Currently, more than 30,000 Australians live with multiple sclerosis. This is a chronic illness that affects the spinal cord and brain. Researchers have observed that the number of individuals being diagnosed with this condition has been growing at an alarming rate. The study found that the average time from when a patient began presenting with the disease’s symptoms to diagnosis was almost…

FridayJun 07, 2024 10:00 am

NIH Researchers Unveil AI Tool to Predict Oncology Patients’ Response to Immunotherapy

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have designed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can predict if a patient’s cancer will respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors using clinical data. This artificial intelligence model may assist physicians in determining whether immunotherapy medications are effective in the treatment of different cancers. To determine the effectiveness of their machine-learning model, the researchers carried out a proof-of-concept study led by scientists from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research. Their model was built and assessed using data from independent data sets, including more than 2,800 patients…

WednesdayJun 05, 2024 10:00 am

How to Minimize E-Commerce Chargeback Losses

Merchants in e-commerce may benefit from learning how to minimize chargeback losses, especially as fraud is becoming more rampant. Chargeback refers to when money is returned to a customer after contesting a charge. Sometimes, customers may dispute the charge if they didn’t receive the product they wanted, but other times, they may do so to keep the product without having to part with their funds. Juniper Research 2023 projections show that losses incurred as a result of e-commerce fraud globally surpassed $48 billion. Additionally, a study by Kount, which surveyed its customers, determined that in 2021, companies incurred 2.3% revenue…

MondayJun 03, 2024 10:00 am

Virginia Tech Clinical Trial Seeks End to Brain Cancer Surgery

Patients with brain cancer often undergo surgery to treat the disease because this is the recommended treatment for this particular cancer. This doesn’t mean that surgery is always an option, as treatments for patients are often prescribed by their primary care providers. A trial conducted at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (Virginia Tech) looked into whether noninvasive treatments would do away with surgery in the management of brain cancer. For their study, the researchers used dogs to test out the effectiveness of focused ultrasound therapy, in particular histotripsy, in getting rid of brain tumors. Lauren Ruger, a postdoctoral research…

FridayMay 31, 2024 10:00 am

Breakthrough Research Uncovers Benefits of Hidden Respiratory Disease Diagnosis

A recently conducted clinical trial has determined that treating individuals with undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma improved their health and decreased healthcare visits for respiratory symptoms in the time they were diagnosed. To find individuals with the undiagnosed illnesses, the scientists dialed random numbers at different sites across Canada between 2017 and 2023. During the calls, respondents were asked whether there were any persons in the house who experienced unexplained prolonged coughs, wheezing or shortness of breath, or who were coughing up mucus. As a result of the calls, more than 26,000 individuals with these symptoms completed questionnaires.…

WednesdayMay 29, 2024 10:00 am

Understanding Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare is a health insurance program that caters to aging persons at a fee. While the program provides a range of benefits and different types of coverage, it has its issues. To help with this, individuals should consider enrolling in a Medigap or Advantage plan. What is Medicare Advantage? Medicare Advantage, which is sometimes referred to as Part C, is offered by private insurers and is basically an individual’s primary insurance. It provides all benefits under Medicare as well as additional ones, including vision, dental, hearing and fitness coverage. Individuals eligible for the Advantage plan include younger individuals with disabilities,…

FridayMay 24, 2024 10:00 am

Study Discovers Elevated Risk of Toxicity Among Autistic Kids

In the last couple of decades, the number of individuals being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has greatly increased. Researchers hypothesize that disorders such as ADHD and ASD are caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. One study found that there’s a difference in how kids with ADHD or autism eliminate bisphenol A from their bodies, in comparison to neurotypical kids. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common plastic additive used in plastic production processes. It can also be found inside drink and food cans. Prior studies have also linked the plastic…

WednesdayMay 22, 2024 10:00 am

Study Identifies Genetic Link Between Parkinson’s, Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term for two illnesses: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These illnesses are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative illness that affects an individual’s nervous system, causing issues with their movement by affecting body parts controlled by nerves. One analysis that involved 12 million participants determined that patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a heightened risk of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, especially after age 65. Furthermore, the use of anti-inflammatory medications such as TNF-alpha inhibitors is linked to a decline in Parkinson’s risk. These…