The Biden administration on Tuesday named the first 10 medicines that will be subject to price negotiations between Medicare and participating drug companies. The list represents the first step in a landmark program aimed at reducing the government’s drug spending, and potentially U.S. drug prices in general. However, six major drug companies are already challenging…  read on >  read on >

Using ECMO, a highly advanced form of breathing support, does not appear to complicate treatment for obese adults in intensive care. ECMO, which is short for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, may even help these patients when they experience respiratory failure, despite the fact that its use has been questioned for those with obesity. Obese patients who…  read on >  read on >

Children having short-term dental pain from extractions or toothache should not be prescribed opioids but rather manage those aches with over-the-counter ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen, according to new guidelines. The guidelines detailing dental pain management strategies for kids was endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA) after being developed by the ADA Science & Research Institute…  read on >  read on >

Weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) and its diabetes-focused cousin, Ozempic, have already upended the treatment of both obesity and diabetes, with sales of both drugs skyrocketing. Now, injected Wegovy could prove a boon for many patients battling heart failure, a new study suggests. The trial results were presented Friday in Amsterdam at the annual meeting of…  read on >  read on >

It might not seem like constipation or difficulty swallowing could signal a neurological problem, but new research suggests that these gut conditions could be an early indicator of Parkinson’s disease. Gastrointestinal symptoms are also thought to precede the development of cerebrovascular disease, including stroke, brain aneurysm or Alzheimer’s disease. It has previously been suggested that…  read on >  read on >

Stroll past the supplements in any drugstore and you’ll find broad claims about fish oil helping everything from heart and brain health, to joints, eyes and immune systems. But you just might be wasting your money, according to a new study. “We know from recent large, randomized trials that fish oil supplements do not prevent…  read on >  read on >

When it comes to the array of different microorganisms found in the human gut, more is better: A more diverse microbiome is a healthier microbiome. Now, initial results of a small, ongoing study suggests that weight loss through either intermittent fasting or a calorie-restricted diet can improve that diversity. After tracking calorie-control dieters and intermittent…  read on >  read on >