Who polices hospitals merging across markets? States give different answers

St. Louis' largest health system, BJC HealthCare, plans to merge with Kansas City's second-largest, Saint Luke's Health System, uniting more than 28 hospitals on both sides of Missouri by the end of this year. The merger, which would span markets 250 miles apart and include facilities in neighboring Kansas and Illinois, is just one of […]

Yeast in the gut linked to Crohn's disease inflammation, opening new doors for treatment

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), is associated with mucosal inflammation that arises due to abnormal immune cell activation. A new study in Nature Medicine traces the sources of this type of inflammation to yeast cells. Study: Selection of cross-reactive T cells by commensal and food-derived yeasts drives cytotoxic […]

Protein that drives liver damage could be a target for treatment

A severe form of fatty liver disease called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the leading cause of liver transplantation, but there are few treatment options and currently no medications. In a new study, Yale researchers have identified a driver of liver damage that occurs in NASH and which may open new treatment options in the future. […]

When you think about your health, dont forget your eyes

I vividly remember that late Friday afternoon when my eye pressure spiked and I staggered on foot to my ophthalmologist’s office as the rapidly thickening fog in my field of vision shrouded passing cars and traffic lights. The office was already closed, but the whole eye care team was there waiting for me. One of […]

In Just Days, Three Million Kids Are Set To Fall off a 'Child Care Cliff'

The world of child care is about to experience a major shake-up — and its ripple effect will take a devastating toll on providers, parents, even the general economy. On Sept. 30, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is set to expire, leaving many parents who rely on child care in the lurch … and […]

Direct dispensing of prenatal supplements with iron reduces anemia

Directly providing prenatal iron supplements significantly improves average hematocrit levels throughout pregnancy and reduces anemia in underserved patients, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in JAMA Network Open. Lisa R. Thiele, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and colleagues evaluated if providing rather than recommending supplements […]

What happens to health programs if the federal government shuts down?

For the first time since 2019, congressional gridlock is poised to at least temporarily shut down big parts of the federal government — including many health programs. If it happens, some government functions would stop completely and some in part, while others wouldn't be immediately affected — including Medicare, Medicaid, and health plans sold under […]

Medication and mutations: molnupiravir's impact on SARS-CoV-2 genomes

In a recent study published in Nature, researchers discovered molnupiravir-associated mutational signature in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes. Study: A molnupiravir-associated mutational signature in global SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Image Credit: chayanuphol/Shutterstock.com Background Molnupiravir has been authorized in several countries to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The drug is converted into molnupiravir triphosphate (a […]