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Fox News
21-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Brain cancer patients who received this pain medication lived longer, study shows
Print Close By Melissa Rudy Published May 21, 2025 Glioblastoma, the most aggressive and deadly type of brain cancer, is known to have a very poor prognosis — but a new study suggests that a pain-relieving drug could extend survival. Researchers at Mass General Brigham have found that an already-approved medication — a pain reliever and anti-seizure medication called gabapentin — has been linked to improved survival in patients with glioblastoma. The findings were published in Nature Communications last week. MICHAEL BOLTON HAD STRANGE SYMPTOMS BEFORE BRAIN CANCER DIAGNOSIS: 'SOMETHING'S WRONG' Inspired by previous mouse studies that showed gadapentin's potential in targeting tumors, the researchers studied the medical outcomes of nearly 700 patients with glioblastoma. Many of them had already been taking gabapentin to alleviate nerve pain, according to a press release from MGB. The patients who were taking the drug survived four months longer than those who were not — 16 months compared to 12 months — which was described as "statistically significant." "Ultimately, our goal was to highlight the emerging role of cancer neuroscience in GBM progression and emphasize the importance of exploring creative strategies to therapeutically target this evolving neural-tumor axis," lead author Joshua Bernstock, MD, PhD, a clinical fellow in the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital, told Fox News Digital. BREAST CANCER DRUG COULD HELP PROLONG SURVIVAL FOR CHILDREN WITH BRAIN TUMORS, STUDY FINDS The team was surprised by the survival benefit, Bernstock noted. "It's always incredible to see a hypothesis come to life," he said. "I was also really pleased to see the decrease in serum TSP-1 levels in the UCSF cohort, potentially positioning it as a biomarker of response." Based on the initial findings, Bernstock reached out to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to study more glioblastoma patients. Among the 379 patients at USCF, the same outcome was observed — the ones who were taking gabapentin lived 20.8 months on average, compared to 14.7 months for those not taking the drug. "There have been very few advances in survival for GBM patients since the early 2000s." "Across both cohorts (1,072 patients total), gabapentin use was consistently associated with a statistically significant improvement in survival," Bernstock told Fox News Digital. The researchers also noticed that the gadapentin group had lower levels of a protein called TSP-1, which is found in the blood serum, a finding that "needs further investigation." "There have been very few advances in survival for GBM patients since the early 2000s," Bernstock said in the release. "We need to think more creatively about the emerging biology in these tumors and how to target them." What to know about gadapentin The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved gadapentin in December 1993 to treat seizure activity in adults; the approval was extended to include children in 2000. Two years later, the agency approved gadapentin for nerve pain following shingles, according to the agency. The drug is often prescribed for off-label use to treat a range of pain conditions, studies show. Some of the more common side effects of gadapentin include fatigue, headache, dizziness, fever, nausea and vomiting, memory loss, trouble speaking, weight gain, vision problems, movement problems and recurring infections, according to Cleveland Clinic. Certain medications may interact with gadapentin. Patients should speak with a doctor if they experience severe or persistent side effects, experts recommend. Potential limitations and next steps The study did have some limitations, chiefly that it is retrospective and was not controlled. "While the findings are promising, the study is retrospective — patients were not given gabapentin in a controlled, randomized manner to directly assess its effects," Bernstock told Fox News Digital. "As such, larger prospective clinical trials are needed to validate these results and to further investigate the role of gabapentin and TSP-1 in GBM progression." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Bernstock said he is "cautiously optimistic" by the findings. "While gabapentin is FDA-approved and generally well-tolerated, it's not appropriate to change clinical practice based on these findings alone without a controlled study, something our collaborators at UCSF are working on," he said. "It's not appropriate to change clinical practice based on these findings alone without a controlled study." "That said, in GBM patients who develop neuropathic pain or seizures post-craniotomy, there may be a rationale to consider gabapentin more readily than other agents." For more Health articles, visit Glioblastoma — described by Bernstock as "a relentlessly progressive and nearly universally fatal disease" — is the most common type of primary brain cancer, according to Mayo Clinic. The disease claims the lives of around 14,500 Americans each year. The five-year survival rate is just 6.9%. Print Close URL
Fox News
17-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Walking certain number of steps daily reduces cancer risk, Oxford study finds
Print Close By Melissa Rudy Published May 17, 2025 Exercise is known to reduce cancer risk — but that doesn't have to mean hard-core gym sessions or long runs. A new study led by Oxford researchers reveals that casual walking and other light-intensity activities are enough to lower cancer incidence. The number of steps was found to be more important than the pace of the walk, they found. JUST 4 MINUTES OF INTENSE DAILY ACTIVITY COULD SLASH CANCER RISK AMONG 'NON-EXERCISERS,' STUDY FINDS Those who walked 7,000 steps per day had an 11% lower cancer risk compared to those taking 5,000 steps per day, and the risk was 16% lower for those taking 9,000 steps per day, according to a press release from the Oxford Centre for Early Cancer Detection at the University of Oxford. Even shopping and performing household chores have been shown to reduce cancer risk. Overall, those who had the highest total amount of daily physical activity were 26% less likely to develop cancer compared to those with the lowest amount, after adjusting for lifestyle factors, body mass index (BMI) and other health conditions. The study, which was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed activity tracker data for 85,394 people in the UK Biobank averaging 63 years of age. CANCER DEATHS AND TAX RATES LINKED IN SURPRISING NEW STUDY: HERE'S HOW They then compared that data with future cancer diagnoses in 2,633 participants over a nearly six-year period. While previous studies have used self-reported exercise to determine reduced cancer risk, this one used "more precise data" based on wearable activity trackers. "Our research highlights the importance of all forms of movement," senior study author Aiden Doherty, professor of biomedical informatics at Oxford Population Health, said in the release. "Whether it's increasing daily steps, engaging in light activity or incorporating moderate-to-vigorous exercise, any level of physical activity appears to contribute to lower cancer risk." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Our findings support and enhance current national and international physical activity guidelines, showing that people who often engage in simple low-intensity activities, such as walking, have a lower risk of developing cancer." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, pointed out that cancer is linked to inflammation, which is linked to sedentary behavior. "All kinds of activity, including walking, increases metabolic function and decreases inflammation," Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "The results of this study are not surprising and are in keeping with previous and ongoing research." For more Health articles, visit In addition to Oxford Health researchers, experts from the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute participated in the study. Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health's Intramural Research Program and the National Institutes of Health's Oxford Cambridge Scholars Program. Print Close URL
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
FDA warns seniors to avoid this vaccine after deadly complications
Older adults are being warned against receiving the chikungunya vaccine before traveling. The Ixchiq vaccination, developed by Valneva to prevent the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2023 as the first of its kind. The approval applies to anyone aged 18 and older who has a risk of being exposed to the virus. First Vaccine For Chikungunya Virus, An 'Emerging Global Health Threat,' Gets Fda Approval But the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a safety notice on May 9 recommending that adults over 60 years old pause use of the vaccine due to fatal complications. "FDA and CDC will continue the evaluation of post-marketing safety reports for Ixchiq," the release reads. Read On The Fox News App "While the safety of Ixchiq for use in individuals 60 years of age and older is being further assessed, FDA and CDC are recommending a pause in use of the vaccine in this age group. FDA and CDC will update the public when the agencies complete their evaluation of this safety issue." The advisory follows reports of "serious adverse events," including neurologic and cardiac events in people who received the vaccine. Two of 17 events resulted in death from severe complications. One death was caused by encephalitis, or inflammation in the brain, the alert stated. Those who experienced adverse effects of the vaccine were reported to be between the ages of 62 and 89. The FDA warned that Ixchiq, which contains a live, weakened version of chikungunya, may cause symptoms similar to the virus. Typical symptoms of chikungunya include fever, severe joint pain, headache, muscle pain and a rash, according to the CDC. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Most people recover within a week, but some may experience "severe and disabling" joint pain for weeks or months. "This virus is in a similar category as dengue or Zika and is carried by the same mosquitoes," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel previously told Fox News Digital. At the time of the vaccine's approval, the FDA described chikungunya as an "emerging global health threat," with at least five million cases reported over the past 15 years. For more Health articles, visit The FDA plans to conduct an "updated benefit-risk assessment" for Ixchiq use in those over 60 years of age, according to the notice. Fox News Digital's Melissa Rudy contributed to this article source: FDA warns seniors to avoid this vaccine after deadly complications
Fox News
24-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Dengue fever cases rising in popular spring break locations, CDC alerts
As spring breakers this season continue to head south into warmer territory, mosquitoes are posing a health risk that calls for extra attention. Global cases of dengue fever are on the rise, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and it's warning of an uptick in U.S. travelers. The agency released a Health Alert Network advisory on March 18 noting that dengue activity and transmission "remain high" in some parts of the U.S. and globally, including the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "Spring and summer travel coincide with the peak season for dengue in many countries, increasing the risk of both travel-associated and locally acquired cases in the United States," the CDC wrote. The CDC has marked dengue fever as a level 1 health alert, urging the public to "practice usual precautions." This includes avoiding mosquito bites by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and sleeping in a room that has air conditioning or screened windows. Many countries have reported a "higher-than-usual" number of dengue cases in 2024 and 2025, the CDC noted. The following countries have also reported higher-than-expected numbers of dengue cases among American travelers returning to U.S. soil: Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Saint Lucia and Sudan. Dengue fever is a virus spread through bites from an infected mosquito. It is common in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Islands, among other countries, according to the CDC. In 2024, more than 13 million cases were reported in North, Central and South America, as well as in the Caribbean. Local transmission of these outbreaks was reported in California, Texas and Florida last year. Typical symptoms include aches and pains (in the eyes, muscles, joints, or bones), nausea, vomiting and rash — usually experienced within two weeks of being bitten. Most people experience symptoms for two to seven days before recovering. "It's typically a more mild illness, but can be severe, causing headaches, joint pain, fever, abdominal pain and even death," Dr. Mark Fischer, regional medical director of International SOS, a leading medical and security services company, previously told Fox News Digital. There is not currently any medication to treat dengue, according to the CDC. For more Health articles, visit Infected people are advised to rest, take acetaminophen for pain and fever, stay hydrated and see a doctor. There is a vaccine available for U.S. children between 9 and 16 years of age who have previously tested positive for dengue and are living in areas where the infection is common. Fox News Digital's Melissa Rudy contributed reporting.
