Nearly 7 in 10 patients view test results before a clinician weighs in: Study
Paige Twenter / beckershospitalreview - Nearly 7 in 10 patients view their test results online before a clinician contacts them to explain, according to a study published Aug. 18 in JAMA Network Open. The study drew on 4,982 respondents to the 2024 “Health Information National Trends Survey,” a…
AI Summary: A study finds nearly seven in ten patients access their lab and test results via portals before a clinician has had a chance to interpret them, increasing risk of misunderstanding and anxiety. Authors urge clearer timing policies and improved communication to balance transparency with the need for clinical context.
AI may know how you’ll respond to a vaccine before you get it
sciencedaily - AI may be able to predict how strongly someone will respond to a vaccine before they receive it. By analyzing antibody patterns in more than 4,000 people, researchers found signs of “immune readiness” that helped distinguish strong responders from weak on…
AI Summary: Researchers report AI models that can forecast individual immune responses to vaccines by identifying predictive biological signatures. These tools could enable personalized vaccination strategies and smarter trial design, although real‑world validation and ethical deployment remain necessary before clinics trade one‑size‑fits‑all jabs for algorithmic matchmaking.
FDA Lists More Than 1,500 AI-Enabled Medical Devices as Oncology Applications Expand
oncodaily - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has listed more than 1,500 artificial intelligence-enabled medical devices authorized for marketing in the United States, reflecting the growing integration of AI across […]
AI Summary: The FDA catalogued more than 1,500 AI‑enabled medical devices, spurring criticism that most were cleared without direct evidence they improve patient outcomes. Regulators and clinicians face mounting calls for post‑market studies and transparency, balancing enthusiasm for AI innovation against the sober question: do these devices actually help patients?
A simple blood test could detect multiple cancers and reveal where they started
sciencedaily - UCLA researchers have created a blood test that can scan DNA signals for multiple cancers, liver diseases, and signs of organ damage—and even indicate where trouble may be developing. Early results suggest the inexpensive approach could bring medicine clo…
AI Summary: Researchers report a blood test capable of detecting multiple cancer types and indicating their tissue of origin, offering a potential multi‑cancer early‑detection tool. While sensitivity, specificity and real‑world performance remain under evaluation, the approach could shift screening paradigms if validated across diverse populations and clinical settings.
How Cyclospora Evaded the U.S. Food Safety System to Sicken Thousands
Christina Jewett and Julie Creswell / nytimes - The Trump administration delayed a rule last year that could have sped up the effort to pinpoint the source of the contamination. Critics charge that food safety oversight has eroded overall.
AI Summary: An extensive Cyclospora outbreak has sickened thousands, revealing how fecal contamination slipped into the food chain and into public health blind spots. Investigations point to the parasite’s movement through human waste and lapses in detection and prevention, prompting renewed scrutiny of inspection systems and calls for tighter controls to stop another avoidable wave.
Essentia Health names EVP from SSM Health
Kelly Gooch / beckershospitalreview - Jason Craig, most recently a regional vice president at St. Louis-based SSM Health, was named executive vice president of administration and operations at Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health, according to an Aug. 12 news release shared with Becker’s. Mr. …
AI Summary: Recent analyses and expert commentary propose that genomic newborn screening can identify children with cancer predisposition syndromes before tumors develop. Early detection would enable targeted surveillance and preventive measures, though ethical, logistical, and equity considerations remain central to implementing such programs at scale. Expect lively debate before universal adoption.
Air pollution-linked blood changes detected years before lung cancer diagnosis
medicalxpress - A new study, published Tuesday in Nature Communications, found measurable changes in people's blood associated with exposure to air pollution and the subsequent development of lung cancer. The findings provide promising clues that could help shape future …
AI Summary: New analyses link long‑term air pollution exposure to distinct blood metabolic and biomarker changes that appear years before lung cancer diagnosis, suggesting a window for earlier detection. The work identifies candidate pathways tying inhaled pollutants to carcinogenic processes and proposes blood‑based signals for future screening or risk stratification.
Lucy Davis Reveals Incurable Stage 4 Breast Cancer: Diagnosis, Bone Metastases, and What We Know
oncodaily - British actress Lucy Davis, best known for playing Dawn Tinsley in the original UK version of The Office, has revealed that she has been living with stage 4 breast cancer […]
AI Summary: Actor Lucy Davis disclosed a diagnosis of incurable stage‑4 breast cancer with bone metastases, using her platform to raise awareness about prognosis, screening and self‑examination. Her candid account underscores the reality of metastatic disease and encourages people to pay attention to subtle changes, not just lumps.
FDA advisers to weigh cancer blood test
Ella Jeffries / beckershospitalreview - The FDA’s Molecular and Clinical Genetics Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee will meet Sept. 23 to discuss and vote on Grail’s premarket approval application for its Galleri blood test, according to a notice published Aug. 10 in the Federal R…
AI Summary: FDA advisors are set to review a multi-cancer early-detection blood test, weighing evidence on accuracy, clinical utility, and how to handle follow-up diagnostics. Regulators must decide whether the test meets approval standards for broad screening, balancing potential earlier cancer detection against risks of false positives, overdiagnosis, and costly downstream workups.
How a Deadly Superbug Tricks the Immune System to Survive in Hair Follicles
discovermagazine - Learn how Candida auris takes advantage of the skin’s immune response to stay put inside hair follicles.
AI Summary: Researchers show that Candida auris can persist in hair follicles by rewiring local skin immune responses, creating a hidden reservoir that helps the fungus survive disinfection and spread in healthcare settings. The finding explains persistent colonization and suggests new diagnostic and decolonization strategies focused on follicular niches — because apparently this pathogen likes a good hairdo.
FDA Approved Pluvicto Plus ARPI for PSMA-Positive mAPMN/S Prostate Cancer
oncodaily - On July 31, 2026, the US Food and Drug Administration approved lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan, marketed as Pluvicto, in combination with androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) therapy for adults […]
AI Summary: The FDA has approved an expanded use for a lutetium‑177 radiopharmaceutical (Pluvicto), broadening access for PSMA‑positive metastatic prostate cancer patients and potentially speeding the adoption of targeted radionuclide therapy. Clinicians note the approval could shift treatment sequencing and patient pathways, with implementation details and eligibility criteria guiding real‑world impact.
- Access, dose optimization and real-world data for Lu-177 (4)
- FDA expands Pluvicto approval; industry reaction (3)
- PSMAddition trial: earlier Lu-177 delays metastatic progression (5)
Access, dose optimization and real-world data for Lu-177
FDA expands Pluvicto approval; industry reaction
PSMAddition trial: earlier Lu-177 delays metastatic progression
NCCS Develops AI Tool to Predict Liver Cancer Recurrence After Surgery
oncodaily - National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) shared on LinkedIn: “Can we now predict who’s at greatest risk for liver cancer recurrence? Congratulations to NCCS’ Professor Pierce Chow, Associate Professor Wai Leong Tam, Mr. Karthik Sekar, […]
AI Summary: A newly developed AI model predicts risk of liver cancer recurrence following surgical resection, integrating imaging and clinical variables to stratify patients more accurately. Early validation suggests the tool could personalize surveillance intensity and adjuvant therapy decisions, reducing unnecessary exams for low‑risk patients while focusing resources where recurrence risk is highest.
Some COVID-19 Patients Suffered Heart Damage, an Overlooked Coronavirus Protein May Explain Why
discovermagazine - Discover how the inconspicuous nucleocapsid protein from coronaviruses can trigger hyperinflammation, an effect not typically seen in other viruses.
AI Summary: Scientists identified a previously underappreciated SARS‑CoV‑2 protein that appears to damage heart tissue and may help explain persistent post‑COVID symptoms. The study ties the viral molecule to mechanisms of cardiac injury, opening diagnostic and therapeutic research paths for long COVID cardiac effects — proof that sometimes the troublemaker was hiding in plain sight.
There are new blood tests for Alzheimer's. Should I have one?
medicalxpress - Australians have seen a flurry of headlines announcing the arrival of blood tests for Alzheimer's disease.
AI Summary: New blood tests detecting Alzheimer’s biomarkers are reaching clinical availability, promising earlier and less invasive diagnosis. Clinicians and consumers now face decisions about who should be tested, how to interpret results, and what interventions — if any — follow a positive biomarker. The tests shift diagnostic practice while raising ethical and counseling challenges.
NICE referral criteria miss up to 95% of women under 50 who go on to develop breast cancer within 10 years
medicalxpress - The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria used to decide who should be referred by GPs for further breast cancer risk assessment and specialist care miss up to 95% of women under 50 who will go on to develop the disease in the …
AI Summary: A recent analysis finds current NICE referral and screening criteria fail to flag the vast majority of women under 50 who later develop breast cancer, prompting criticism of one‑size‑fits‑all approaches. Researchers propose a new risk‑stratified method that could identify many more younger at‑risk women, pushing for policy updates to catch cancers earlier.
Ancient Smallpox DNA Hidden in Two Chilean Mummies Traces the Disease’s Colonial Arrival
discovermagazine - Learn how centuries-old DNA linked an extinct virus to European colonization and its spread through an Indigenous community in northern Chile.
AI Summary: Researchers detected ancient smallpox DNA in two Chilean mummies, providing genomic evidence that European colonists introduced the virus to the Americas. The findings link historical outbreaks to colonial contact, illuminate pathogen spread centuries ago, and offer a tangible genetic record of the devastating diseases that reshaped indigenous populations.
Breathalyzer can 'sniff out' when your body starts burning fat
medicalxpress - Researchers have developed a breath detector with a chemical sensor that sniffs out when your body is burning fat through a single exhale. Reporting in Device, the handheld, smartphone-assisted device measures acetone—a molecule that is released into the …
AI Summary: Engineers developed a breath-based detector that pinpoints when the body shifts to fat oxidation, and shrank it down to a phone-compatible breathalyser. The device measures volatile markers in exhaled breath to indicate metabolic state, enabling noninvasive, real‑time monitoring of fat burning for weight-loss or metabolic research — because your phone now judges your dinner choices.
Walid Kamoun: Breakthroughs Begin With the Right Questions and the Courage to Pursue Them
oncodaily - Walid Kamoun, Vice President, Global Head of R/D Oncology at Servier, shared The Nobel Prize’s post on LinkedIn, adding: “In this inspiring video, Tasuku Honjo reminds us that breakthrough innovation […]
AI Summary: Health officials confirmed a second fatality tied to a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City, prompting intensified environmental testing and public‑health interventions. Authorities are tracing sources, inspecting water systems and issuing guidance to vulnerable populations while hospitals manage a surge of severe respiratory infections.
Tempus buys out cancer genomics partner Personalis in $1.5 billion deal
fiercehealthcare - Tempus is boosting its cancer offerings with a deal to buy out Personalis three years after the pair first teamed up in oncology.
AI Summary: Tempus is acquiring cancer-genomics company Personalis for roughly $1.5 billion to expand its testing and genomic-service footprint, betting bigger on integrated sequencing and AI-driven oncology diagnostics. The move accelerates Tempus’s push to scale tumor profiling and clinical assays nationwide — and yes, expect louder claims about “transforming cancer care.”
New study sheds light on how Epstein-Barr virus may contribute to multiple sclerosis
medicalxpress - Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that attacks the central nervous system. For years, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been strongly linked to MS, as nearly every person diagnosed with the condition shows evidence of past EBV infection.…
AI Summary: Researchers report that immune responses to Epstein‑Barr virus are implicated in multiple sclerosis, with EBV‑reactive CD4+ T cells enriched in people with MS. The work provides mechanistic evidence connecting prior infection to neuroinflammation and suggests antiviral or immune‑directed strategies might be viable prevention or treatment avenues — assuming we like attacking tiny viral culprits.