Latest News — Page 83

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals faced immense pressure. Singapore was also grappling with a dengue outbreak, adding to the strain on hospital capacity. This situation led to the rapid implementation of novel care models to treat patients with acute, low-severity medical conditions. Two of these models, the hospital-at-home (HaH) and ambulatory care team (ACT) models, were used to treat patients with dengue and chest pain respectively. The HaH model allowed patients to receive care at home, while the ACT model […]

The Electronic Clinical Dementia Rating (eCDR) is a digital tool showing potential in dementia screening and staging, according to a recent cross-sectional study. The eCDR, which can be self-administered remotely and scored automatically, was compared to the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), a widely used instrument for detecting and staging dementia due to Alzheimer disease. Recent study from the USA The study involved 288 participants, aged 55 years and above, from three Alzheimer Disease Research Centers and the Brain Health Registry. […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare continues to show its vast capabilities. Many examples have shown how they deploy it as a predictive tool for early disease identification. This has enabled the provision of early and effective treatment where necessary. But could we do this earlier? And how early could healthcare implement a tool like this?  Machine learning algorithms have helped predict harmful genetic changes. Thus, healthcare benefits from this through improved rare disease diagnosis and targeted treatments. In a recent […]

We’ve shown how AI and ML help diagnose and manage heart problems. New research has recently shown that a new ML model can improve ECG data interpretation, reducing misdiagnosis and optimizing patient monitoring data. A further step is to look at monitoring and early disease detection while patients are being monitored within the home space. This is something our recent insight article has touched on. By using traditional signal processing and ML, this model can overcome challenges caused by noisy […]

The Rising Costs and Patent Exclusivities of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists GLP-1 receptor agonists are a crucial class of medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Despite their importance, these drugs have seen a significant price increase, with mean monthly net prices rising from approximately $200 in 2007 to over $600 in 2017. Manufacturers have earned more than $10 billion on GLP-1 agonists in the US alone in 2021. The lack of generic competition for these drugs […]

A New Era for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released new guidance that could spare tens of thousands of people the need for a colonoscopy each year. The updated guidelines recommend offering people with signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer a home test using quantitative faecal immunochemical tests (FIT). These tests, which measure the amount of blood in the faeces, could lead to faster diagnoses and fewer referrals to secondary care for […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has a far reaching grasp. It continues to extend its reach into the healthcare space. One of the areas that its having a profound impact is in the space of early disease detection. Its now changing the way we predict and manage cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Traditional risk factors such as age, sex, and family history are combined with clinical parameters like glucose and cholesterol levels to calculate risk, but […]

A New Era of Medical Innovation The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Health Technology Wales (HTW), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and several other health organizations have launched the Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP) pilot. This new pathway, backed by £10 million of government funding, aims to fast-track patient access to innovative technologies by providing comprehensive support and advice to innovators and manufacturers. A Pathway Paved with Potential The IDAP is more than just a […]

Evidence-Informed Decision-Making The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an innovative online repository of Evidence-Informed Decision-Making (EIDM) tools. This pioneering platform, the first of its kind, showcases WHO tools and external tools used by WHO to facilitate knowledge translation. It also highlights partner organisations involved in planning, managing, monitoring, and evaluating the process of evidence use and implementation. Developed by the Evidence to Policy and Impact Unit of the Research for Health Department in the Science Division, in collaboration with […]

Health systems are complex due to the numerous elements involved and their interconnected relationships. They evolve over time and in response to external environments. This complexity often leads to unintended consequences when health policies overlook the feedback and relationships between system elements. To effectively manage and analyse this complexity, researchers need to adopt a ‘systems thinking’ approach. This approach emphasises the connections and relationships between system elements as part of a larger, evolving system. One method to achieve this is […]

People with Parkinson’s disease rarely receive proper care because of a lack of access to neurological care. In the US, about 40% of those aged 65 or older with PD do not receive care from a neurologist. Access is even more limited in developing regions. Experts suggest an AI-based method to measure Parkinson’s disease severity using a remote finger-tapping test. Researchers developed a model that uses AI techniques to evaluate motor performance severity of patients. Through performing finger-tapping tasks at […]

The pharmaceutical landscape is ever-evolving, with innovative technologies continually reshaping the development, manufacture, and testing of biological medicinal products. However, these advancements also present regulatory challenges that need to be navigated for the benefit of patients. Rapid Sterility Testing Rapid sterility testing is a promising approach for cell and gene therapy products. However, it requires compliance with the Ph. Eur. 2.6.1 test for sterility, which is time-consuming due to the need for microbiological culture. Clearer regulatory guidance is needed to […]

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Early identification can ease this to ensure early access to treatment. Developed nations have vast mammography screening programs, but interpreting the images is still hard. The accuracy of cancer detection varies widely among experts, and the potential for improvement is significant. False positives can lead to patient anxiety, unnecessary follow-up, and invasive diagnostic procedures. Sometimes screening cannot identify cancers until they are more advanced and less amenable to […]

Significant progress is being made in healthcare by Pieces Technologies Inc. Healthcare professionals use its Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform to manage cases, plan discharges, and reduce hospital stays. Recently, the AI wrote its one-millionth clinical summary – in just seven months. This displays the role and impact that AI can have in healthcare. The Pieces system uses advanced technology and human help to ensure high accuracy while maintaining a hallucination rate of less than 0.1%. “Hallucinations” refer to instances where […]

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) recently welcomed an executive delegation from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to its Rockville headquarters. This visit marked the culmination of a two-part series, during which both organisations exchanged ideas and explored areas of expanded technical collaboration. Strengthening the Bond In 2022, USP and SAHPRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aiming to expand the availability of health products that are safe, effective, and of assured quality. The partnership also seeks to […]

The escalating prevalence of chronic diseases coupled with an ageing population is leading to a significant surge in demand for continuous home and institutional care. With professional resources in Québec becoming increasingly limited, virtual care tools have emerged as a crucial solution to ensure access to care and services. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of virtual care tools, promoting continuity of care when in-person visits became risky or impossible. These tools, ranging from telemonitoring to teleconsultation, are becoming […]