In two retrospective studies that drew from the international MSBase registry, autologous hematopoietic stem cell therapy (AHSCT) did not outperform a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in patients with multiple sclerosis. One study looked at progressive MS and found no evidence of superiority. Another study in relapsing-remitting MS showed a reduction in relapses compared with treatment with the immune reconstitution therapies alemtuzumab and cladribine, though the results were not definitive.

@atharva The mean age of children at the time of their patch testing was 10 years, 62% were girls, and 66% had a history of atopic dermatitis (AD). Most (75%) were White, 14% were Black, 6% were Asian, the rest were from other racial backgrounds. The distribution of dermatitis varied; the top five most commonly affected sites were the face (62%), arms (35%), legs (29%), hands (27%), and neck (20%).

@bithika The company noted that an important first step in the detoxification process is to reduce withdrawal symptoms while opioids are cleared from a patient's systems. "Stabilization is a necessary first step before treating the patient with medication-assisted therapies like naltrexone," they report.

Remote gait assessment in people with knee osteoarthritis using wearable sensors appears reliable but yields results slightly different from those achieved in the laboratory, researchers from Boston University have found. As reported at the OARSI 2022 World Congress, there was "good to excellent reliability" in repeated measures collected by patients at home while being instructed via video teleconferencing. Agreement was "moderate to excellent" when the findings were compared with those recorded in the lab, Michael J. Rose of Boston University reported at the congress, sponsored by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International.

@jack Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease largely characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons with abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein in the substantia nigra and striatum. The main motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease are tremor, stiffness, bradykinesia and postural instability. In addition, non-motor symptoms ranging from sensory abnormalities, behavioural changes, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal and autonomic nervous dysfunction may precede the classical motor symptoms. Non-motor symptoms play a dominant role in the clinical manifestations of Parkinson's disease and seriously influence a patient's quality of life. More than 80% of patients with Parkinson's disease experience a variety of severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, nausea and vomiting. The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease is complex and known to be related to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Exercises and education prescribed as prehabilitation before total knee replacements (TKR) may not significantly improve the outcomes of the surgery, researchers say. This randomized clinical trial found no evidence that multidisciplinary prehabilitation before TKR for osteoarthritis improves short-term functional independence or reduces midterm activity limitations after surgery,

@atharva According to a study conducted by America's Health Insurance Plans, 71% of providers who implemented electronic prior authorization experienced "faster time to patient care." The organization, which represents many of the nation's health insurers, also reported that electronic prior authorization reduced the time it took to receive a decision by a health plan by 69%.

@jack bruxism is defined as a sleep-related movement disorder. The Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms (GPT-8) defines bruxism as parafunctional tooth grinding habit consisting of involuntary rhythmic or spasmodic nonfunctional gnashing, grinding, or clenching of teeth. Chronic bruxism, based on published reports, can cause mild-to-severe tooth wear, tooth cusp fracture, attached gingival recession, tooth mobility, fractured restorations, masticatory muscle pain, and temporomandibular disorders. Additionally, the literature includes other possible effects such as jaw opening limitation, temporal headache, ear symptoms (eg, plugging, tinnitus, subjective hearing loss), migraines, neck pain, insomnia, and depression. In a retrospective analysis of parent report surveys, Insana and colleagues found a high prevalence of sleep-bruxism among preschool children (36.8%). In addition, in a subset of preschoolers who received additional behavioral and neurocognitive assessments, bruxism was also associated with increased internalizing behaviors and increased health problems, which in turn were associated with decreased neurocognition. The researchers concluded that pediatric sleep-bruxism may serve as a warning sign for possible adverse health conditions, and the need for early intervention. Effective management of bruxism relies on the recognition of potential causative factors associated with the condition. For example, since daytime or diurnal bruxism may be confounded by factors such as stress, distress, and other psychosocial parameters, considering interventions such as habit modification, relaxation therapy, biofeedback, or counseling may be appropriate. In the patient with sleep bruxism (which does not appear to be impacted by psychological or psychosocial factors), appropriate intervention might include appliance therapy and medication. In patients with medication or drug-induced bruxism, medication withdrawal or a change of medication type to one less likely to cause bruxism should be considered. If street drugs are involved, intervention should include drug and perhaps psychological counseling. The health care provider attempting to manage bruxism should understand that nocturnal or sleep bruxism is not going to be cured by intervention. And the behavior is likely to decrease with age. Daytime bruxism can sometimes be effectively eliminated via intervention, suggesting a cure, but recrudescence of the condition is common.

@patatri The newest generation of innovations include healthcare technology that improves the consumer experience for receiving and paying for care and artificial intelligence-based technology platforms to revolutionize drug discovery and development. Companies are trying to build a better consumer experience and also evolve interactions between payers and providers. As AI-based companies and their platforms continue to mature and advance, they have the potential to truly transform the overall drug discovery and development process. Earlier generation therapies are getting leapfrogged with next-gen or new technologies before even reaching late-stage trials or commercialization.

ML is a 38-year-old woman who is complaining of her eyes feeling tired. She states that it feels like there is sand in her eyes. Eyes are mildly red. She claims that they are often red and feel like they are dry. ML states she has no medical conditions and takes a multivitamin daily. She has no allergies and would like a recommendation for her dry eyes.