December 18, 2025

Living longer with tailored chemotherapy—despite incurable cancer

December 18, 2025 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / chemotherapy

by Anne Sliper Midling, Norwegian University of Science and Technology edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes All rapidly growing cells in the body are affected by chemotherapy. Cancer cells are targeted, but so are, for example, hair cells and the immune system. Ragnhild Langli feels that her immune system is weaker and mostly stays […]

Living longer with tailored chemotherapy—despite incurable cancer Read More »

Fee-based primary care is rapidly rising in US, hastening doctor shortages for the public

December 18, 2025 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / shortages

by Maggie Ward, Johns Hopkins University edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The number of concierge and direct primary care practices are rapidly rising across the United States, highlighting a fundamental shift in how Americans are receiving primary medical care, a new study finds. These emerging models, which charge patients

Fee-based primary care is rapidly rising in US, hastening doctor shortages for the public Read More »

AI can help detect kidney cancer faster

December 18, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / kidney cancer

by Estonian Research Council edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes Variability between individual radiologists’ measurements. Credit: Communications Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43856-025-01264-0 Researchers have developed an AI-based tool that accelerates the detection of kidney cancer. Its effectiveness was validated in a study published in Communications Medicine. Diagnosing kidney cancer relies on computed tomography (CT) scans and the use of contrast agents. These

AI can help detect kidney cancer faster Read More »

What are the stages of ankylosing spondylitis, and when should people contact a doctor?

December 18, 2025 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / ankylosingspondylitis

Early stage Progressive stage Advanced stage When to call a doctor Factors to consider Summary Key takeaways Ankylosing spondylitis progresses through three stages: early, progressive, and advanced. Each stage involves increasing pain and stiffness, with the advanced stage potentially leading to bone fusion in the spine. Early symptoms primarily involve lower back and buttock pain,

What are the stages of ankylosing spondylitis, and when should people contact a doctor? Read More »

Engineered dendritic cells boost cancer immunotherapy

December 18, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / cancer immunotherapy

by Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne edited by Robert Egan Editors’ notes Engineered dendritic cells (right) acquire tumor-derived extracellular vesicles that contain cancer antigens (left), stimulating anti-tumor immunity. Credit: EPFL/M. De Palma/Ella Maru Studio CC-BY-SA 4.0 EPFL researchers have successfully engineered cells of the immune system to more effectively recognize cancer cells. The work, covered in two

Engineered dendritic cells boost cancer immunotherapy Read More »

Could cheese protect your brain health? Study links high-fat cheese and cream to lower dementia risk

December 18, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / dementia risk

by American Academy of Neurology Editors’ notes Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Eating more high-fat cheese and high-fat cream may be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published in Neurology. This study does not prove that eating high-fat cheese and high-fat cream lowers the risk of dementia, it only shows an association. High-fat

Could cheese protect your brain health? Study links high-fat cheese and cream to lower dementia risk Read More »

High-dose antibiotic does not reduce mortality in tuberculous meningitis, clinical trial finds

December 18, 2025 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / antibiotic

by Radboud University edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes Scanning electron micrograph of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause TB. Credit: NIAID A higher dose of the antibiotic rifampicin does not improve survival rates for patients with tuberculous meningitis. This severe form of tuberculosis causes inflammation of the brain membranes, and half of the patients

High-dose antibiotic does not reduce mortality in tuberculous meningitis, clinical trial finds Read More »

Blood flow restriction cuffs a fall risk for older adults

December 18, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / blood flow restriction

by Murdoch University edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes A blood flow restriction cuff. Credit: Murdoch University New research from Murdoch University’s School of Allied Health and Health Futures Institute has found that wearing blood flow restriction cuffs can change the way older people walk, potentially making them more unsteady during exercise. Blood flow

Blood flow restriction cuffs a fall risk for older adults Read More »

Deep-brain recording reveals how a crucial relay station shapes human visual signals

December 18, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / brain recording

by Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes Tuning properties of LGN neurons in Patient #2. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65383-x Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience have become the first to fully characterize cell activity from a little relay station in the center of the human brain. This aids our

Deep-brain recording reveals how a crucial relay station shapes human visual signals Read More »

Vapes, pouches, shisha, cigarettes: Nicotine in all forms is toxic to the heart and blood vessels, say experts

December 18, 2025 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / nicotine

by European Society of Cardiology edited by Robert Egan Editors’ notes Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Nicotine is toxic to the heart and blood vessels, regardless of whether it is consumed via a vape, a pouch, a shisha or a cigarette, according to an expert consensus report published in the European Heart Journal. The report brings together the results

Vapes, pouches, shisha, cigarettes: Nicotine in all forms is toxic to the heart and blood vessels, say experts Read More »