Cameron Santoro is an associate editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), AJMC.com, and The Center for Biosimilars®.
Risks, Benefits of Bilateral Mastectomy for Unilateral Breast Cancer
July 25th 2024Despite a significant increase in women with unilateral breast cancer who received a bilateral mastectomy, this study found no survival benefit compared with other treatment options. Although removing the unaffected breast reduces the risk of developing cancer in the other breast, results did not show decreased risk of death from breast cancer.
Exploring Comorbidities, Dupilumab Treatment in Pediatric Alopecia Areata
July 24th 2024Two posters presented at the Society for Pediatric Dermatology Annual Meeting explored common health conditions linked to childhood alopecia areata and the effectiveness of dupilumab treatment in children with both alopecia areata and atopic dermatitis.
Diagnosing and Managing Scarring Alopecia in Adolescents
July 22nd 2024Marissa Joseph, MD, MSc, FRCPC, medical director at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, highlighted cases from her practice to illustrate the recommended approach to scarring inflammatory scalp dermatosis in adolescents at the Society for Pediatric Dermatology Annual Meeting.
New Study Suggests Alopecia After COVID-19 Vaccine Rare but Possible
July 18th 2024A literature review found a link between COVID-19 vaccination and alopecia, with most cases experiencing hair loss within 1 month after the first dose. However, the small sample size and limited data call for further investigation.
Expert Consensus Offers Guidance for Treating Androgenetic Alopecia
July 16th 2024An expert consensus by Spanish dermatologists offers treatment recommendations for androgenetic alopecia, the most common cause of hair loss, using a combination of medications and hair transplantation depending on the patient's sex, age, and other factors.
Lower Utilization Seen for Patients With Breast Cancer Using Remote Monitoring With Texts
July 16th 2024A remote monitoring app with alerts for doctors did not improve medication adherence in patients with breast cancer, but those receiving tailored text messages on top of monitoring saw reduced high-cost health care use.
BRCA Genes in Breast Cancer: Balancing Risk, Treatment With Breast-Conservation Therapy
July 12th 2024Breast-conserving therapy for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers has higher risks of future breast cancers than the general population, but most patients avoid another cancer event, and many remain bilateral mastectomy–free after 20 years.
Nail Changes in Alopecia Areata: Review of Manifestations, Diagnosis, Management Strategies
July 9th 2024Results found nail changes in patients with alopecia areata (AA) can occur before, after, or independent of hair loss with the most common nail problems including pitting, ridging, and white spots.
BLU-222 Shows Safety, Tolerability in Combination Therapy for Patients With Breast Cancer
July 9th 2024Early data suggest that BLU-222 combined with ribociclib and fulvestrant is safe and tolerable for patients with HR-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer, potentially overcoming resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors.
A Breathtaking Crisis, Part 2: Climate Change Worsens Asthma for Underserved Communities
July 3rd 2024Underserved communities, already facing higher asthma prevalence due to social determinants of health, are disproportionately affected by the impact climate change is having on asthma exacerbations. Potential solutions include education for patients and health care providers, climate litigation to establish environmental rights, and policy changes to curb climate change.
Lasers Offer New Options for Hair Loss Treatment in Alopecia Management
June 29th 2024Various laser technologies are emerging as a promising treatment for alopecia, showing effectiveness in hair regrowth with minimal adverse events. These treatments target inflammation and stimulate hair follicles to promote hair growth, but more research is necessary to confirm long-term safety and efficacy for some lasers.
T-DM1 Shows Promise With Low Recurrence Rates in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
June 27th 2024Patients with stage I HER2-positive breast cancer treated with rastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) had beneficial long-term outcomes with a 5-year disease-free survival rate of 97%, with the HER2DX score potentially identifying those at higher risk of recurrence.
Alopecia Areata Hair Breakage Linked to Cysteine Deficiency
June 26th 2024The review explores the potential link between alopecia areata (AA) and cysteine metabolism. Research suggests insufficient cysteine levels or disruptions in its processing could contribute to AA development. Further studies are needed to confirm these connections and explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting cysteine metabolism for AA treatment.
Exploring the Potential of Thyroid Receptor β for Treating Androgenetic Alopecia
June 25th 2024This scientific review examines the potential of targeting the thyroid receptor β (TRβ) for developing new drugs to treat androgenetic alopecia, with the authors discussing various mechanisms by which TRβ might work and analyze promising drug candidates.
Dr Paul Frohna Details Plans for Further Research on ENV-101 for IPF
June 24th 2024The ENV-101 phase 2a trial for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) focused on assessing safety, lung function, and fibrosis, with plans for further trials, combination therapies, and strategies to manage adverse effects.
Breast Cancer Risk Management in Transgender Men After Chest Contouring Surgery
June 20th 2024This study highlights the lack of clear guidelines for breast cancer management in transgender men after chest contouring surgery. While data is limited, the authors suggest adapting existing recommendations for cisgender women and implementing risk management strategies like pre-surgery evaluation and education.
Unveiling Treatment Options for Alopecia Areata
June 19th 2024In a European expert consensus statement, researchers discover the exciting breakthroughs for patients with alopecia areata (AA). This article explores the unlocked potential of combination therapies and targeted biologics to regrow hair and transform lives.
Benefits of JAK Inhibitors Compared With Existing Therapies for AA Treatment
June 13th 2024Different Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors underwent an evaluation for severe alopecia areata (AA) and found deuruxolitinib higher doses (12 mg) and baricitinib (4 mg) showed promise in hair regrowth improvement, but further research must be done to confirm these results while more long-term effects are explored.
NCCN Guidelines Recommend Capivasertib, Fulvestrant for Certain Patients With Breast Cancer
June 13th 2024In a recent update, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommended capivasertib combined with fulvestrant for hormone receptor–positive and HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, targeting patients with specific genetic mutations.
Scalp Cooling Therapy Effective in Reducing Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia
June 10th 2024Scalp-cooling therapy (SCT) is a treatment that may help reduce hair loss in women with breast cancer who are experiencing chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). A study found that many women who used SCT were satisfied with the results, but the treatment is expensive, making it necessary for more advocacy by health care professionals to make SCT accessible.
Dr Surya Bhatt on Dupilumab's Promise in Reducing COPD Exacerbations, Enhancing Quality of Life
June 8th 2024Surya Bhatt, MD, MSPH, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, explained the phase 3 BOREAS and NOTUS trials demonstrated comparable safety profiles for dupilumab in treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).