Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . ” data-action=subscribe> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Erica Schwartz, MD, JD, MPH, received bipartisan support from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee on Wednesday on her nomination for CDC director. Senators voted 13-10 in favor of advancing Schwartz’s nomination to the full senate, with all Republican members voting yes, along with Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine. Senators voted 13-10 in favor of advancing Schwartz’s nomination for CDC director to the full senate. The committee voted 12-11 along party lines to advance the nomination of Sean G. Kaufman, MPH, to serve as assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS. Both candidates will now be considered by the full senate for confirmation. Republicans control the Senate, and nominees only need a simple majority to be confirmed. [Editor’s note: This is a developing news story. Please check back soon for more details.] Sources/Disclosures Source: Nominations, S. 5038, S. 5046, S. 2511, S. 3010, S. 3589, S. 4097, S. 4689, S. 3333, S. 4965, and S. 3097. Senate HELP Committee. July 30, 2026. Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI’s knowledge base. PubMed, enrolling/recruiting trials, guidelines Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news Healio’s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data Learn more Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . ” data-action=subscribe> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Source link
DOJ’s $6.5B Medicaid sweep raises stakes on ‘honest mistakes’
Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . “ data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: The U.S. Department of Justice charged 455 defendants for $6.5 billion in alleged false CMS claims. However, experts urged for distinction between fraud and mistakes driven by regulatory complexity. On June 23, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it had charged 455 defendants, including 90 physicians and other licensed health care professionals, with more than $6.5 billion in health care fraud and prescription opioid diversion. The 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown included all 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, international law enforcement partners and seizures totaling more than $182 million in assets, according to the DOJ. Attorney Mark J. Silberman, JD, vice chair of the health care practice group at Benesch law firm, compared the fraud enforcement action to photos of seized contraband taken by law enforcement after drug busts. Mark J. Silberman, JD “This is the health care fraud equivalent, with the exception that it’s like they took a year and a half’s worth of cases and piled them up on one table,” Silberman told Healio. “As someone who represents lots of providers, institutions, businesses and systems in these types of cases, the government has every right to audit and make sure that they’re getting the benefit of their bargain,” he added. “But missing in these efforts is an independent assessment distinguishing between an effort to defraud the government and an honest mistake that results from an unnecessary, complex regulatory structure.” Federal investigations into potential CMS fraud continue. In July, CMS and HHS deferred over $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota pending receipt of further documentation. Compared with last year’s Medicare and Medicaid fraud investigation — which involved 324 defendants and $14.6 billion in losses — the 2026 operation was larger in scale but smaller in dollar value. Although only 90 defendants were doctors or other medical professionals, CMS took action to suspend or revoke billing privileges for nearly 2,500 clinicians. “They’re not going to be allowed to see patients with government insurance, and in many respects, they’re basically put out of business,” Allan Gibofsky, MD, JD, MACR, FACP, FCLM, professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, told Healio. Fraud or ‘honest mistake’? Silberman noted that while large-scale Medicare and Medicaid fraud enforcement actions are not unique to the Trump administration, this year’s results are “not unexpected, if you consider the pressure the current administration has been giving on increasing health care fraud enforcement.” Among the fraudulent actions alleged: $38 million in adult day-care overbilling for services that were never provided in New York, a $49 million crisis stabilization services scam targeting the homeless in Virginia and $44 million in fraudulent behavioral-health claims in Arizona. These cases make up a fraction of the alleged $6.5 billion in fraud identified in the investigation. “While the $6.5 billion figure certainly includes allegations of actual fraud — people making up services or services that weren’t provided — a portion of this is framed as fraud that are actually cases that involve some hyper-technical regulatory violation or documentation errors,” Silberman said. Investigative methodology is evolving, too, as AI and data analytic tools are increasingly being used to identify suspicious billing activity. “The government is not concerned about an honest mistake, but a pattern of honest mistakes will be looked at as the possibility of a non-honest mistake,” Gibofsky said. “That’s where the average practitioner begins to get into murky and deeper waters.” Small errors can snowball into larger problems over time. “You don’t make 1,000 mistakes in health care,” Silberman said. “You make one mistake, which gets repeated 1,000 times, because if you set up your documentation wrong or misunderstand one of the complex rules and regulations, then it gets repeated every single time you see a patient.” Protecting practices, patients Clinicians can take steps to safeguard their legal use of Medicare and Medicaid programs. An honest mistake is more likely to be viewed as honest if clinicians maintain solid documentation verification and data integrity, according to Peter Justen, founder and CEO of AmeriTrust Solutions, a company that helps streamline Medicaid intake processes and catch improper payments. Peter Justen “The strongest fraud prevention strategy is to reduce opportunities for bad information to enter the system, and if I were a clinician, that’s where I would start,” Justen said. “Prevention is always less expensive than recovery.” Clinicians should ensure patients are receiving appropriate care at their practices, as well as outside vendors and institutions to which they are referred. “When referring a patient for durable goods, services or specialized care, [ensure] the suppliers are bonafide and not a storefront, which may entrap the patient in a kickback or rebate scheme, denying the patient the services that the practitioners seek to provide,” Gibofsky said. He identified several areas of concern for the average practitioner. “Know who you’re referring to, don’t provide more services than you say you are, don’t allow your billing company — many people use third-party companies — to up-code, particularly if you are reimbursing them on a portion of recovery,” Gibofsky said. While AI scribes have been helpful in reducing burnout among clinicians, they do carry risks when unmonitored. “[Clinicians] have to be certain — particularly if they’re using electronic scribes — that the information they’re entering into the medical record is accurate and complete,” Gibofsky said. “Artificial intelligence has been known to hallucinate and make things up, and once you put something into the record, it’s very difficult to get out.” Gibofsky emphasized that physicians become responsible for everything in the medical record after they have signed off on it. Silberman also advised clinicians
SensOn S1 AI Sex Toy Review: An Honest, Hands-On Test
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission. Testing sex toys for a living is easily one of the coolest perks of my job, and whenever a new piece of tech lands in my hands, I’m here to give you the honest, unfiltered tea. My latest test drive? The SensOn S1 AI Sex Toy — and I definitely have some thoughts. Before we get into it, here’s why you can trust my review: I’ve been testing sex toys for years across various outlets, and I have hundreds of toys in my apartment that have either gone under extensive testing or are waiting to (stay tuned!). I hold a certificate from Sextech School, and as someone living with endometriosis and interstitial cystitis (IC), I’m pretty particular about what I recommend for people with pelvic pain. Related story 13 Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Deals on Men’s Fall Wardrobe Staples, Gifts & More — All Under $100 That said, it’s important to keep in mind that pleasure is subjective. Not everything that works for me will work for you and vice versa. However, my notes can help you decide whether or not the SensOn S1 AI Sex Toy is worth your hard-earned cash. What is the SensOn S1 AI Sex Toy (and how does it work)? According to the product description, the SensOn S1 is a three-in-one, hands-free pleasure device that uses AI to sync in real-time with your voice, your breath, and interactive erotic stories. The SensOn S1 clicks together with its magnetic attachments, connects to a dedicated app, and gets you off via an interactive storyline with a sexy AI persona. (You can also remove the vaginal stimulator if you prefer, which is a great option for people who experience pain with penetration.) The toy itself features three separate parts: a clitoral stimulator, a vaginal stimulator, and two nipple clamps. It arrives in a box that looks like a spaceship or “The Bean” sculpture in Chicago. To use the toy, you have to download the SensOn App and turn on your Bluetooth. The setup After downloading the app, the instruction booklet tells you to hold the Core power button to turn it on and enter standby mode. The fit After getting the app up and running, I positioned the toy so the vaginal stimulator was comfortably inside of me. Finding the ideal positioning required some adjustment during my first session. The clitoral intensity did get stronger if I squeezed my thighs together. Pros: Futuristic packaging and high-quality body-safe silicone Voice actors sound surprisingly realistic and genuinely sexy The modular design lets you remove the internal piece if you suffer from pelvic pain or dislike penetration Zero censorship on NSFW language if you enjoy explicit erotica Has a 7-day complimentary software trial After trial ends, it functions as a standalone toy, which includes its adaptive stimulation features. Cons: Complicated set-up Some content may be too explicit or detailed for some users. It can get quite graphic. Clitoral and nipple attachments may have a learning curve. Requires a monthly subscription on top of buying the physical toy. What this includes: Continued access to the app-based software experience and content OK, what about the AI component? Where it gets interesting (and a bit unhinged). The app asks you to select your preferences, including exactly what you like and what you want to avoid. You can curate your mood by power dynamic (“MSub,” “FSub,” “MDom,” “FDom”), story setting, sexual genre, and emotional feel. You can even choose character traits like “non-human” or “forbidden.” One bizarre feature I did notice: the app restricts screenshots. When I tried to snap a few pictures of the category options for this review, a pop-up scolded me. I’m not sure whose privacy this is protecting, considering these are AI bots and not real people, but it’s worth mentioning. (Editor’s note: We did reach out to the brand, and SensOn responded, “As our community continues to grow and with the upcoming launch of new user-created characters, we have received similar feedback from users. We plan to remove this restriction as soon as possible and provide users with greater flexibility in sharing their experiences.”) Image courtesy of author Are the AI stories any good? The voices themselves are genuinely sexy, and contrary to my initial expectations, they are very NSFW. Usually, AI is heavily censored, but there’s no holding back on the F-word here, which was kind of fun. The idea of AI erotica that’s personalized is really interesting, and we’ll likely be seeing more of that. But the tech itself just doesn’t hold up, yet. I tried “chatting” with multiple AI personas. One female AI kept whispering “good girl” in my ear (I was wearing headphones), and I admit, it got me hot. Some of the scenarios are a bit ridiculous, while others can be triggering, so just an FYI. Like, wow! Okay! Tldr; the AI erotica component can get really filthy, really fast. It skews more graphic, and sometimes, even violent (yes), and that isn’t for everyone. The AI tech itself needs some work, but I imagine that as the toy learns from more usage and more time being on the market, it’ll adapt and evolve. It’s also very possible that after using it for a prolonged period of time, it will learn my preferences—that’s the goal, at least. A quick feature recap If you’re lost, that’s OK! I know there’s a lot of info in here. Here’s a quick breakdown of what the SensOn S1 is supposed to do: Interactive experience: The SensOn S1 lets you choose which story you want to be a part of and lets you text and talk with your AI persona. Multi-dimensional stimulation: The SensOn S1 is built so that you can enjoy hands-free vaginal, clitoral, and nipple stimulation. Real-time audio decoding: The SensOn S1 transforms sound frequencies into synchronized physical responses. It also remembers your preferences from your previous
Preguntas frecuentes sobre la EPOC
English La EPOC afecta a millones de adultos, pero muchas personas no saben mucho sobre esta enfermedad hasta que ellos o un ser querido recibe ese diagnóstico. Aquí encontrarás respuestas de preguntas frecuentes sobre la EPOC, quién tiene riesgo y qué es útil realmente. ¿Qué es la EPOC y qué síntomas se manifiestan primero? La EPOC, o enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, es un trastorno pulmonar frecuente que hace más estrechas las vías respiratorias y dificulta la respiración con el tiempo. Incluye a la bronquitis crónica y al enfisema, trastornos que cambian la estructura de los pulmones. Los síntomas comunes incluyen una tos que produce mucosidad (frecuentemente peor en las mañanas), dificultad para respirar cuando se sube usando las escaleras o cuando se camina cuesta arriba y sibilancia, dijo Suman Paul, M.D., especialista de EPOC y consultor de medicina respiratoria. Los síntomas tienden a empeorar con el tiempo y las personas podrían tener crisis, denominadas agravamientos, cuando los síntomas empeoran drástica y repentinamente. Las primeras señales pueden pasar desapercibidas fácilmente. “Muchos síntomas tempranos de la EPOC pueden ser muy sutiles; por lo que los pacientes podrían no notarlos”, dijo Blen Tesfu, M.D., médica y activista de la salud de la mujer. Las personas podrían notar una tos leve, más mucosidad en las mañanas o falta de aliento durante actividades cotidianas. ¿Cuáles son las cuatro etapas de la EPOC? Los profesionales clínicos clasifican la EPOC en función de una prueba respiratoria que mide cuánto aire puedes exhalar en un segundo (volumen espiratorio forzado en un segundo o VEF1). Según las pautas de COPD Global Initiative for Lung Disease (GOLD): Etapa 1 (leve): El VEF1 es 80% o más de lo que se espera para tu edad y tamaño Etapa 2 (moderada): El VEF1 es entre el 50 y 79% Etapa 3 (grave): El VEF1 es entre el 30 y 49% Etapa 4 (muy grave): El FEV1 está por debajo del 30% o del 50% con insuficiencia respiratoria crónica ¿Cuáles son los factores de riesgo de la EPOC? Fumar es el principal factor de riesgo de la EPOC, presente en aproximadamente 8 de cada 10 casos. Estar expuesto a tabaquismo pasivo a largo plazo también eleva el riesgo, según Tesfu. A pesar de eso, factores biológicos y hormonales hacen que mujeres no fumadoras reciban diagnósticos de EPOC. De hecho, más de 8 de cada 10 no fumadores que tienen EPOC son mujeres. Otros factores de riesgo conocidos de la EPOC son, entre otros: Exposición en el lugar de trabajo a polvo, humo y químicos, incluyendo polvo de sílice y concreto Contaminación del aire en exteriores y mala calidad del aire en interiores Quema de madera o biocombustible para cocinar Antecedentes de asma no controlada o de tuberculosis con lesiones pulmonares Algunos riesgos empiezan durante la niñez. Según Paul, los pulmones empiezan a desarrollarse en el vientre y siguen desarrollándose hasta aproximadamente los 25 años. Cualquier lesión de los pulmones debido a infecciones virales recurrentes, asma infantil, tabaquismo materno durante el embarazo, peso bajo al nacimiento o nacimientos prematuros puede hacer que tus pulmones no funcionen normalmente y podrían hacerte más propensa a que desarrolles EPOC en la adultez. Una evaluación sistemática determinó que estas exposiciones en las primeras etapas de la vida incrementan de manera importante las posibilidades de desarrollar EPOC en etapas posteriores, con infecciones graves, tales como la bronquitis y la neumonía que duplican el riesgo y el asma que incrementa el riesgo de 3 a 10 veces más. ¿Qué papel juega la genética en el riesgo de EPOC? Los genes pueden afectar el riesgo de EPOC de varias formas. El ejemplo más conocido es un trastorno hereditario infrecuente denominado deficiencia de alfa-1 antitripsina. “Personas con deficiencia de alfa-1 antitripsina tienen un mayor riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades pulmonares obstructivas crónicas a edades tempranas independientemente de si fumaron o no”, dijo Tesfu. Aparte de ese gen específico, investigaciones han identificado más de 80 tipos de genes comunes asociados a EPOC. Muchos de ellos afectan el desarrollo pulmonar durante la niñez, lo cual explica por qué algunos fumadores desarrollan EPOC mientras que otros no. ¿Cuáles son los peligros de la pérdida de la función pulmonar? A medida que la EPOC empeora, respirar se vuelve más difícil y el cuerpo debe esforzarse más para mantener el paso. “Cuando la función pulmonar, específicamente el VEF1 disminuye, se vuelve difícil para el paciente inhalar y exhalar aire a través de las estrechas vías respiratorias”, dijo Paul. “Esto incrementa el esfuerzo respiratorio”. Una menor función pulmonar se asocia a más hospitalizaciones, problemas cardíacos y muertes prematuras, incluso cuando la pérdida de su función es leve, según un estudio internacional importante. La neumonía se vuelve una amenaza más importante porque las vías respiratorias lesionadas atrapan la mucosidad, se inflaman y pierden algunas de sus defensas naturales. Y ciertas bacterias pueden empezar a asentarse en los pulmones y causar infecciones que son difíciles de tratar, dijo Paul. ¿Como puedes aliviar los síntomas de la EPOC? La rehabilitación pulmonar, que comúnmente dura de 8 a 12 semanas, es uno de los tratamientos más efectivos para la EPOC. “La rehabilitación pulmonar es un programa médico supervisado e individualizado que combina asistencia personalizada educativa, de comportamiento y de entrenamiento de ejercicios para personas con enfermedades pulmonares crónicas tales como la EPOC o fibrosis pulmonar”, dijo Noah Greenspan, DPT, fundador de Pulmonary Wellness Foundation. “Su meta es reducir los síntomas, incrementar la resistencia física, mejorar la calidad de vida y reducir las hospitalizaciones”. Estudios demuestran que la rehabilitación pulmonar incrementa la distancia que puede caminarse, alivia la dificultad para respirar y mejora el bienestar general en comparación con la atención normal. También reduce las probabilidades de tener que regresar al hospital después de una crisis. Greenspan dijo que muchas personas que viven con EPOC quedan atrapadas en lo que denominó el “ciclo de disnea” en el cual las personas evitan las actividades físicas debido a la dificultad para respirar, lo cual, a su vez, debilita los músculos más y dificulta la respiración
Información comprobada de la leucemia
English Tener más edad es un privilegio, pero envejecer no es fácil necesariamente. A mayor edad, más elevado es el riesgo de ciertas enfermedades. Este es el caso para muchos tipos de cáncer, incluyendo para algunos tipos de leucemia. La “leucemia” es un término que incluye los cánceres de sangre y de los tejidos que producen la sangre. Más específicamente, las leucemias afectan a las células sanguíneas y a la médula ósea (el tejido suave y graso dentro de tus huesos). Algunos tipos de leucemia son más frecuentes en los niños, pero cualquier persona puede desarrollar ese trastorno. Si bien la leucemia es el 10º cáncer más frecuente en Estados Unidos, todavía se considera algo infrecuente en comparación con otros cánceres, contribuyendo con el 3% de todos los casos de cáncer. Al igual que la mayoría de cánceres, detectar la leucemia en etapas tempranas puede implicar mejores desenlaces clínicos. Aquí encontrarás lo que debes saber sobre los factores de riesgo, síntomas, tipos, tratamientos de la leucemia y más. ¿Qué es la leucemia? La leucemia es un trastorno que hace que el cuerpo produzca demasiados leucocitos perjudiciales para la salud. Los leucocitos son parte del sistema inmunitario del cuerpo y son críticos para la protección contra infecciones y enfermedades. Usualmente se propagan y se dividen en forma ordenada, pero con los cambios producidos por la leucemia, los leucocitos anormales, que ahora son células leucémicas, tienen un comportamiento anormal y no mueren cuando deberían hacerlo. Las células leucémicas son usualmente leucocitos inmaduros, lo cual significa que todavía están en desarrollo. A medida que se multiplican, empiezan a superar el número de las células saludables y a desplazarlas. Los leucocitos se forman en la médula ósea, por lo cual la leucemia también afecta a tejidos suaves que producen sangre. Si bien la leucemia empieza en la médula ósea, puede propagarse a otros lugares, incluyendo al sistema linfático, al bazo y a otros tejidos. ¿Qué causa la leucemia? El cáncer usualmente es producto de mutaciones (modificaciones) genéticas que hacen que las células se multipliquen sin control. En el caso de la leucemia, el ADN de los leucocitos cambia, causando un desarrollo anormal. Sin embargo, la causa exacta de la leucemia se desconoce. Desencadenantes ambientales o la genética podrían hacer que algunas personas sean más propensas a desarrollar leucemia. Tipos de leucemia Hay varios tipos de leucemia que se clasifican en función del tipo de células sanguíneas que afectan y de la velocidad con la que se desarrollan. La leucemia linfocítica o mielógena se refiere al cáncer de los leucocitos linfocíticos o mielógenos, respectivamente. El otro método para clasificar a la leucemia toma en cuenta si progresa rápida (aguda) o lentamente (crónica). La combinación de estos factores definen a los cuatro tipos más frecuentes de leucemia: La leucemia linfocítica aguda (LLA), cáncer de desarrollo rápido de los leucocitos linfocíticos La leucemia mielógena aguda (LMA), cáncer de desarrollo rápido de los leucocitos mielógenos La leucemia linfocítica crónica (LLC), cáncer de desarrollo lento de los leucocitos linfocíticos La leucemia mielógena crónica (LMC), cáncer de desarrollo lento de los leucocitos mielógenos De estos, la LLC es la más frecuente en adultos y la LLA es la más frecuente en niños. Factores de riesgo de la leucemia Cualquier persona puede desarrollar leucemia, pero los factores de riesgo de ese trastorno son, entre otros: Fumar Exposición a ciertos químicos Antecedentes de quimioterapia Exposición a radiación Trastornos congénitos, tales como el síndrome de Down Ciertos trastornos sanguíneos Antecedentes de leucemia Etnicidad o raza Edad Síntomas de la leucemia Los síntomas de la leucemia tienden a manifestarse más rápido en casos agudos o de desarrollo rápido. Las leucemias crónicas o de desarrollo lento podrían no manifestar síntomas durante años. Los síntomas podrían variar dependiendo del tipo, pero los síntomas frecuentes de la leucemia son, entre otros: Anemia Sangrar fácilmente Moretones Infecciones Fatiga Sudores nocturnos Disminución de peso sin causa aparente Tener estos síntomas no significa necesariamente que tengas leucemia, pero si sientes que algo está mal, es importante que te examinen. ¿Cómo se diagnostica la leucemia? iStock.com/Md Saiful Islam Khan Los síntomas generales de la leucemia pueden dificultar su detección. Para algunas personas, toma algún tiempo para que les diagnostiquen. Para otras, ese trastorno se identifica accidentalmente. Por ejemplo, los síntomas de leucemias agudas se manifiestan repentinamente, lo cual podría provocar una consulta con un profesional clínico pronto. Por otro lado, los síntomas de leucemias crónicas se manifiestan más lentamente, por lo cual podrían no detectarse por meses o incluso años. Las pruebas de la leucemia incluyen análisis de sangre y de la médula ósea. Si tienes leucemia, los análisis de sangre mostrarán niveles anormales de células sanguíneas o plaquetas. Las pruebas de la médula ósea implican tomar una muestra de tu médula ósea de tu hueso ilíaco para ver si hay células leucémicas, y si es así, qué tipo de células son. ¿Cómo se trata la leucemia? Los planes terapéuticos de la leucemia varían de persona a persona dependiendo de algunos factores, tales como la edad, el tipo de leucemia y si causa síntomas. Tratamientos comunes para la leucemia incluyen: Para algunas personas que tienen remisión, podría requerirse un tratamiento continuo para evitar que el cáncer reaparezca. Tasa de supervivencia de la leucemia No hay una cura universal para la leucemia, pero muchas personas tienen remisiones completas, lo cual también se denomina que no hay evidencia de ese trastorno, es decir, decir que no hay señales de leucemia en tu cuerpo. La mayoría de leucemias pediátricas pueden curarse, con una tasa de supervivencia a 5 años de aproximadamente el 90% para las LLA infantiles. Para los adultos que tienen LLC, la tasa de supervivencia depende de lo que los profesionales clínicos denominan el puntaje pronóstico de una persona. De manera general, cuanto menor sea ese puntaje, mayor será la probabilidad de supervivencia de una persona. La LLC tiene una tasa de supervivencia a 5 años de aproximadamente el 90% y esas tasas han aumentado en años recientes. Este recurso educativo
Crypto: The other diarrheal illness that causes summer outbreaks
Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . “ data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: Cyclosporiasis and cryptosporidiosis share many similarities. An ID expert called one of them the “lesser of two evils.” As the cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S. continues to grow, we were reminded of another, similar sounding intestinal pathogen that frequently causes outbreaks of diarrhea in the summer. It is called cryptosporidiosis — often shortened to crypto. Just like cyclosporiasis, crypto is caused by a microscopic parasite that leaves its sufferer with brutal bouts of diarrhea. Data derived from CDC. “It can be very confusing for sure,” Thomas A. Moore, MD, FACP, FIDSA, said of the two illnesses with similar names, culprits and symptoms. But as comparable as the two may be, Moore also noted that there are distinct differences, starting with the respective parasites: Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium. “The parasites look almost identical,” Moore, a clinical professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, told Healio. However, “Cyclospora is larger than Cryptosporidium. Cyclospora typically just inhabits the intestines while Cryptosporidium invades the intestinal lining.” How are they transmitted? Another difference is the time it takes for each to be infectious. According to a study of Peruvian children published in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal in 2002, Cryptosporidium is much more easily transmitted from person to person because it is infectious as soon as it is excreted, whereas Cyclospora requires a period of time to become infectious, which means people are far more likely to get it from food or water than another person. Indeed, cyclosporiasis is usually transmitted when a person eats food or drinks water contaminated with human feces containing Cyclospora, according to the CDC. In the current outbreak, federal health officials traced cases to iceberg lettuce sourced from a central Mexico facility where the lettuce was sprayed with tainted water. People usually get crypto through swallowing fecal-contaminated water, often from recreational venues such as swimming pools, water parks and splash pads where another swimmer with infectious diarrhea has been in the water. “You are not supposed to put your kids who have diarrhea in swimming pools. They have some anal leakage. There’s probably no way to politely say that. It does happen, and it happens every summer,” Moore said. Which is more common? The current cyclosporiasis outbreak includes 1,947 lab-confirmed cases in nine states with 98 hospitalizations and zero deaths, according to the CDC, but thousands more cases are suspected. (The CDC said it has confirmed more than 6,700 cases of cyclosporiasis overall in the U.S. since May 1.) There were approximately 2,800 cyclosporiasis cases reported annually in the U.S. between 2016 and 2023, per CDC surveillance data. Cryptosporidiosis is much more common, with an estimated 823,000 cases occurring in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC. However, only a small percentage are confirmed — around 12,600 in 2022, for example — because most people are not tested or diagnosed. Moore noted that there was an outbreak of crypto that infected 400,000 people in the Milwaukee metro area in 1993, ultimately leading to improved water treatment and monitoring. “I’ll say this about outbreaks,” Moore said, “they are never good, but we do learn from them.” How are they treated? The CDC recommends trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, a combination antibiotic used to treat and prevent bacterial infections, as the preferred medication for cyclosporiasis. The agency notes that most healthy people will recover without medical intervention. According to the CDC, crypto treatment largely focuses on hydration and symptom management. Although the antiprotozoal medication nitazoxanide is routinely prescribed for healthy individuals with crypto, its effectiveness in treating immunocompromised patients remains unclear, the CDC says. Moore said there are “significantly less” treatment options for crypto and that cyclosporiasis is “curable with oral antibiotics that are readily available and cheap.” Which one is worse? Both cyclosporiasis and cryptosporidiosis cause prolonged bouts of watery diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress, but cyclosporiasis is uniquely known for relapse, whereas crypto often features more prominent vomiting and dehydration, the CDC reports. Moore called cyclosporiasis “the lesser of two evils” due to available treatments. For more information: Thomas A. Moore, MD, FACP, FIDSA, can be reached at infectiousdisease@healio.com. Published by: Sources/Disclosures Source: Healio Interviews References: Bern C, et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2001;doi:10.3201/eid0806.010331. Clinical care of crypto. https://www.cdc.gov/cryptosporidium/hcp/clinical-care/index.html. Published June 25, 2025. Accessed July 29, 2026. Cryptosporidiosis NNDSS summary report for 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-water-data/documentation/cryptosporidiosis-nndss-summary-report-for-2022.html. Published Sept. 11, 2025. Accessed July 26, 2026. CDC. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1994;43(31):561-3. CDC. NNDSS Annual Summary Data 2016-2023 Results. https://wonder.cdc.gov/controller/saved/D130/D513F661. Accessed July 29, 2026. Surveillance of cyclosporiasis. https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/php/surveillance/index.html. Updated July 28, 2026. Accessed July 29, 2026. Treating crypto. https://www.cdc.gov/cryptosporidium/treatment/index.html. Published June 4, 2025. Accessed July 29, 2026. Widodo WT, et al. Open Vet J. 2025;doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.3. Wikipedia. 1993 Milwaukee cryptosporidiosis outbreak. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Milwaukee_cryptosporidiosis_outbreak. Accessed July 29, 2026. Disclosures: Moore reports no relevant financial disclosures. Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI’s knowledge base. PubMed, enrolling/recruiting trials, guidelines Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news Healio’s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data Learn more Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . “ data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Source link
Preguntas si tienes una vejiga hiperactiva
English Todos hemos experimentado la sensación incómoda de ir urgentemente al baño. ¡Y todos hemos reído tanto que hemos tenido filtraciones pequeñas de orina, y con algo de suerte, esas carcajadas valieron la pena! Pero, ¿qué pasaría si descubres que tienes ganas repentinas y urgentes de orinar incluso cuando tu vejiga no está llena? ¿O si las ganas de orinar no paran? Esa es la realidad para 2 de cada 5 mujeres que viven con vejiga hiperactiva (VHA). La VHA ocurre a menudo a personas de más de 65 años, pero muchas mujeres la experimentan antes, entre los 40 y 60 años. Tener VHA puede afectar tu sueño, tu horario cotidiano, tus planes sociales y de viajes, y tu vida sexual. Las buenas noticias son que hay cambios de estilo de vida y tratamientos que pueden ser útiles. El primer paso es hablar con tu profesional clínico. El proceso de diagnóstico implica usualmente que tu profesional clínico evalúe tus síntomas y antecedentes médicos, y a veces un análisis de orina. Sugerimos que te prepares para la consulta manteniendo un diario de la vejiga que será útil para que tu profesional clínico conozca bien los síntomas que estás experimentando. Puedes usar el diario para monitorear lo que bebes, cuándo lo haces y con qué frecuencia tienes ganas de orinar. Cuando te estés preparando para una consulta con tu profesional clínico, revisa la siguiente lista de preguntas para que puedas recibir todas las respuestas que necesitas para tener alivio durante tu consulta. Incluso puedes descargar la guía, imprimirla y llevarla contigo o ingresar la información usando tu teléfono. Recurso descargable: Preguntas que puedes hacer sobre vejigas hiperactivas >> Antes de tu consulta Considera como VHA te afecta, para que puedas hablar de estos factores con tu profesional clínico: ¿Cuántas veces al día orinas normalmente? ☐ 7 o menos veces al día ☐ 8 o más veces al día ¿Cuántas veces te levantas en la noche para orinar? ☐ 0 a 1 vez en la noche ☐ 2 o más veces en la noche ¿Sientes ganas de orinar que son difíciles de controlar frecuentemente? ☐ siempre ☐ frecuentemente ☐ ocasionalmente ☐ infrecuentemente ☐ nunca ¿Tiene filtraciones de orina frecuentemente porque no puedes controlar la urgencia? ☐ siempre ☐ frecuentemente ☐ ocasionalmente ☐ infrecuentemente ☐ nunca ¿Afecta la VHA tu vida cotidiana, es decir, afecta tu trabajo, tus pasatiempos, tu tiempo con familiares y amigos, o tus tareas cotidianas? ☐siempre ☐ frecuentemente ☐ ocasionalmente ☐ infrecuentemente ☐ nunca ¿Cambias planes de viaje por tu VHA? ☐ siempre ☐ frecuentemente ☐ ocasionalmente ☐ infrecuentemente ☐ nunca ¿Afecta la VHA tu vida sexual? ☐ siempre ☐ frecuentemente ☐ ocasionalmente ☐ infrecuentemente ☐ nunca ¿Ha afectado la VHA tu salud mental? ☐ siempre ☐ frecuentemente ☐ ocasionalmente ☐ infrecuentemente ☐ nunca En tu consulta Preguntas para tu profesional clínico sobre VHA ¿Qué factores, tales como la menopausia, la dieta o medicamentos, pueden contribuir con mi VHA? ¿Necesito pruebas de diagnóstico específicas, tales como un análisis de orina, ecografías o una prueba de volumen residual posmiccional (VRP)? ¿Qué opciones terapéuticas hay para controlar mis síntomas de VHA? ¿Debo tener consultas con un especialista? Si es así, ¿con qué tipo de especialista debo tener consultas? ¿Hay cambios de mi estilo de vida que sean útiles para prevenir o aliviar los síntomas? Preguntas que deberías considerar cuando escojas un tratamiento ¿Cuánto tiempo pasará hasta que el tratamiento alivie mis síntomas? ¿Son los tratamientos diarios, semanales o tienen otra frecuencia? ¿Son los tratamientos orales, tópicos o mediante inyecciones? ¿Son útiles los dispositivos de neuroestimulación y, si es así, debería considerar uno? ¿Qué efectos colaterales puedo esperar del tratamiento? ¿Recomienda un tratamiento específico más que otro? ¿Necesito tratamiento por el resto de mi vida? ¿Hay riesgos o complicaciones con ciertos tratamientos? ¿Qué pasa si el tratamiento no funciona? ¿Cuáles son los siguientes pasos que debería tomar? Este recurso educativo se preparó con el apoyo de Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. From Your Site Articles Related Articles Around the Web Source link
The Cirino Regenerative Technique | Hair Loss Cure 2020
In 2024, I wrote a post on the subdermal scalp infusion of drugs by tattooing to induce hair growth. Also known as skin microinfusion of medications (MMP®). One of the main practitioners and developers of this technique is Dr. Pablo Cirino of Brazil. At the time, he called his process “combined regenerative technique” and published a paper on it in September 2025. Cirino Regenerative Technique (CRT): Before and after hair growth. Cirino Regenerative Technique (aka Combined Regenerative Technique) As of 2026, Dr. Cirino now calls his process the Cirino Regenerative Technique (CRTTM). He has made a number of modifications to the original version insofar as what drugs, peptides, growth factors and micronutrients to use. The delivery mechanism via precision microinfusion technology using a tattooing machine type device remains the same. It creates thousands of microscopic channels across the scalp at a controlled depth. This allows the various hair growth customized medications to be delivered directly to the hair follicle at the dermal papilla level. This is superior in comparison to your typical topical gels, serums, liquids, creams and lotions. In addition, this method stimulates natural growth factors and regenerative processes. I think there is a microneedling type effect, but I am not sure. CRT is now becoming especially popular in the hair loss world so I decided to write this post. Moreover, a number of renowned hair transplant surgeons are being trained to use CRT at their clinics (see the end of this post). Also check out Spex’s new interview with Dr. Cirino further below. Cirino Regenerative Technique (CRT): Before and after hair regrowth. In a response to me in 2025, Dr. Cirino told me that he delivers the below combination of topical drugs with a tattoo machine for transcutaneous delivery: Arginine 200 µg. This is an amino acid. Biotin (Vitamin B7) 50 µg. Copper Sulfate 2 µg. Chromium 0.2 µg. Dexpanthenol 20 µg. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 10 µg. Vitamin B6 6 µg. In addition, for males with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), he adds the following: Minoxidil 0.5%. Finasteride 0.05%. Dutasteride 0.1% For females with AGA (i.e., female pattern hair loss), he adds the following: CRT scalp microinfusion of drugs via tattooing for thinning hair. This week, Dr. Cirino told me that he now also uses some growth factors from PRP. Moreover, after studying the main hair growth pathways, he has also added some “home treatments” to patients to boost the results. He never prescribes oral finasteride or oral dutasteride, preferring to apply both topically via his scalp microinfusion of drugs via tattooing technique. He does prescribe oral minoxidil. In a January 2026 article, Dr. Cirinho mentions that the combined regenerative technique: “Integrates tattoo machine-assisted infusion of minoxidil sulfate, dutasteride, copper peptides, and platelet-rich plasma with concurrent oral minoxidil and topical finasteride.” Combined regenerative technique for hair growth. Before and after. All of this reminds me of the kitchen skin approach to tackling hair loss that we have discussed numerous times on this blog. Except that in this case, it is via a superior delivery mechanism of topical medications directly to the scalp. And from a doctor who has been experimenting with various regimens for a number of years. On a related note, make sure to read my 2019 post on creating the ultimate hair loss drug cocktail. Most online vendors of topical finasteride these days also offer a mix of molecules in one serum. Dr. Pablo Cirino Interview: Non-Surgical Hair Growth via CRT Earlier this month, Dr. Pablo Cirino gave a lengthy interesting interview to Spencer (“Spex”) Stevenson that I have embedded below. Among the highlights: His CRT method has led to 40% of his patients ultimately not need a hair transplant. The cost is just $500 at his Brazil clinic. He is training many surgeons from around the world via his Tricho Surgery Academy. Most people need one 30-minute treatment session for 6 months. Cirino Regenerative Technique Training Sessions In 2026, Dr. Cirino has started training many other doctors and hair transplant surgeons in regards to his CRT technique. Check out his Tricho Surgery Academy for more information as well as numerous photos and training session videos. A number of globally renowned hair transplant surgeons are now proponents of this unique method of delivering multiple hair loss drugs to the scalp subcutaneously. Source link
Thyroid Eye Disease: Patient Stories of Diagnosis and Treatment
Every year, there are approximately 25,000 people in the U.S. receiving care to manage their Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the muscle and fat tissue behind the eyes, leading to symptoms like proptosis (bulging eyes) and diplopia (double vision). TED can look different from person to person, making it easy for people suffering from TED to dismiss or deprioritize symptoms, even while the disease may be leading to new symptoms and impacting daily life. SheKnows spoke with Jessie and Will, two people living with TED whose experiences underscore how differently TED can present and affect patients, and highlight the importance of early attention, reaching the right specialist, and most critically, advocacy. Related story From Solar Glasses to Pinhole Projectors, Here’s How To Watch the Eclipse Safely With Your Kids Jessie’s Story Note: Jessie is an actual patient who was compensated for her time. Jessie’s TED journey started back in 2021, a year after she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune thyroid condition frequently associated with TED. Jessie’s initial eye symptoms began with minor changes in vision and mild eye bulging that she noticed in the mirror. She initially wrote them off, attributing them to factors like mold in the school building where she worked, eye fatigue from screen time, or even her Graves’ disease. “It wasn’t major symptoms, just minor things,” Jessie recalls. “I was just having issues getting my eyes to focus due to double vision.” At the time, Jessie was working closely with her endocrinologist, but she didn’t know that up to 40% of patients with Graves’ disease may also develop TED. It wasn’t long until Jessie’s symptoms began to interfere with her career as a teacher, her family life, and taking care of her children. At the time, she was teaching English and experienced pain from staring at a screen all day, and, despite wearing prism lenses prescribed by her eye doctor to help manage eye misalignment and double vision, as well as blue light glasses, it “became so challenging just to do my job.” Jessie would often need to pause her teaching to close her eyes for a few seconds. But Jessie felt like the worst impact was the effect her TED symptoms began having on her family life. “We’re very active as a family,” she says. “Always on the go. But at that point, I had to lay down and tell the kids ‘no,’ or tell them ‘mom needs a break.’ I wasn’t feeling like myself…I couldn’t cook dinner because I had to lay down after dealing with eye pain all day. There was a lot of mom guilt.” Jessie’s turning point came after a night that should have been fun—she drove herself and two friends to a concert three hours away. But even after pulling over and resting her eyes, Jessie realized her double vision was still interfering with her ability to see clearly enough to continue driving safely. This impact on her daily activities became the reason she decided to share her eye symptoms with her thyroid specialist, and Jessie started the conversation at her next appointment. The doctor’s response was immediate. She informed Jessie about the link between Graves’ disease and TED, which requires its own treatment plan. Jessie’s doctor referred her to a TED Specialist—who instantly took notice of Jessie’s bulging eye and put her on a path toward a formal TED diagnosis. Jessie originally resisted the diagnosis, noting that she’d come across TED in her research but believed her symptoms were “too mild” to be that. However, she soon realized that the impact on her daily life was significant enough to take action. Will’s Story Note: Will is an actual patient who was compensated for his time. Will’s initial symptoms began around 2022, and included swelling around one eye that was so minimal he “almost disregarded it.” But disregarding the symptoms wasn’t easy to continue when the swelling became more noticeable, particularly to Will’s wife and others. Will’s wake-up moment came when someone he’d met for the first time at a party pointed out the swelling. Will shared, “I was also running a restaurant so I was on social media all the time promoting, and a lot of people would make comments that affected my confidence.” At first, an eye specialist wasn’t able to identify what was causing his symptoms. Will’s eye bulging was subtle and primarily presented by swelling of the tissues around his eyes, so his symptoms were not initially recognized as TED. Because Will was a younger patient, and lab testing indicated that he didn’t have any thyroid dysfunction, like Graves’ disease, his symptoms were dismissed as temporary—which delayed his diagnosis and treatment. His experience reiterates the importance of connecting with a specialist who has experience diagnosing a rare condition like TED. Will accepted the outcome of that visit with the eye specialist, feeling almost relieved that he’d done the right thing by getting his symptoms checked and being told it was okay. “It’s something I wanted to hear,” Will told SheKnows. “And I just went on with my life.” After a period when his symptoms seemed to come and go, Will’s eye symptoms worsened. The swelling of the tissue around his eyes increased and his confidence continued to be affected. He also started to experience double vision, which made driving difficult and started to impact his daily routines. He began wearing non-prescription glasses in an effort to create a visual distraction so the swelling in his eyes was less noticeable. As Will’s symptoms worsened, Will’s wife pushed for more answers. She took the initiative to seek advice from friends in healthcare, identifying ophthalmologists with expertise and pushing firmly for specialist care. Her persistence directly led to a TED diagnosis and, ultimately, a recommended treatment. “My wife is my champion and willing to go the extra mile,” Will shared. The TED Specialist Will met with immediately recognized Will’s symptoms as TED. He informed him that, despite its name,
Increase in patient-portal messaging not reducing office visits
Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . “ data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: Patient-authored portal messages have increased substantially since 2020. Office visits also have risen during that time. Patient portal messaging is not replacing in-person care. It is adding to it. An evaluation of 2,000 hospitals and 40,000 clinics showed patient-authored messages have increased more than 150% since the start of 2020. Office visits increased 17% during the same time. Data derived from Long JJ, et al. JAMA. 2026;doi:10.1001/jama.2026.8690. Michal A. Mankowski, PhD “Physicians and health care systems have to be ready for the increasing volume of patient messaging,” Michal A. Mankowski, PhD, assistant professor of surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told Healio. “It’s not something we can ignore. It has to be incorporated in workflows. It’s a burden.” ‘Quite a bit of work’ Healio has previously reported how increases in patient messaging have added to clinician workloads. “Messages can feel deceptively simple,” Jane J. Long, MD, general surgery resident at Mayo Clinic, told Healio. “From a patient perspective, it’s very convenient to be able to message instead of calling or scheduling a visit. It might seem like this is an easy way to get a quick response, but from our perspective, a simple question can be more work than people realize. “We have to review their chart. What medications are they on? Oftentimes, we have to coordinate with the rest of the team or talk to the attending. It might seem like a minute or two to write that message, but there’s quite a bit of work that goes into it.” Patient-initiated messages to oncologists increased 34% between 2019 and 2022, according to data published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Mankowski and colleagues wanted to determine how increases in messaging across health care impacted other communication modalities. They conducted a cross-sectional analysis of electronic health record data from 2,067 hospitals and 47,100 clinics to investigate. National trends in patient portal messaging, office visits, and telehealth and telephone encounters served as the primary endpoint. No plateau The number of active patients increased approximately 50% from the first quarter of 2020 (94.3 million) to the final quarter of 2025 (140.5 million). During that time, researchers identified 1.34 billion patient-authored messages, 3.25 billion clinician/staff-authored messages, 1.77 billion office visits, 1.59 billion telephone interactions and 146 million telehealth encounters. Annual patient-authored messages increased 153% between 2020 (0.99 per patient) and 2025 (2.5 per patient), and clinician/staff-authored messages rose 24% (4.59 to 5.7 per patient), with a peak of 6.86 per patient in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among patients who sent at least one message, intensity increased 146% during the study period — from 2.2 to 5.4 messages per sender per year. “We didn’t see any plateau yet,” Mankowski said. The increase in messaging coincided with a slight decline in telephone encounters (2.33 to 2.2), but an increase in office visits (2.37 to 2.77). “Patient portal messages are an extra modality, not a replacement of other modalities,” Mankowski said. “What we’re finding is it’s just another means to ask more questions and continue to receive care in addition to office visits,” Long added. “There is a concern that there is just going to be more and more.” Of 139.4 million active patients in the first quarter of 2025, researchers identified 41.8 million message senders. Messaging varied significantly based on age and rurality (P < .001). Women had a significantly higher likelihood of being senders (33% vs. 26.1%; P < .001), as did those living in the lowest quartile of social vulnerability index quartile vs. those in the highest (36.7% vs. 25.2%; P < .001). As of 2025, telehealth visits made up just 0.19 visits per patient annually. “We were surprised with the telehealth,” Mankowski said. “We were expecting it to keep growing and it’s stayed at the same level for years.” Researchers acknowledged study limitations, including patient network changes potentially impacting trends. ‘I expect them to grow’ Mankowski expects messaging trends to continue upward in the future. “Most of messages are uncompensated and free to send by patients,” he said. “Unless there is a push to charge patients for those messages, I expect them to grow.” Long noted health care systems should investigate which communication modalities their patients use most often to optimize their workflows. This research also could include how communication changes based on specialty. “My hope is that we’re going to be able to better understand who is best served by each modality,” Long said. “Who is getting the best care from messaging? Who might need a phone call more? Who may need more frequent office visits? I can only hope that in the future, communication modality is tailored to patient preference and needs, because I don’t see anything going away. Having options is convenient. It’s nice to be able to reach your teams in so many different ways. “Health care systems are going to need to adapt and figure out what workflow is best for how their teams are set up and how they work. How can they better support clinicians and staff?” For more information: Jane J. Long, MD, can be reached at jane.long@nyulangone.org. Michal A. Mankowski, PhD, can be reached at michal.mankowski@nyulangone.org. Published by: Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI’s knowledge base. PubMed, enrolling/recruiting trials, guidelines Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news Healio’s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data Learn more Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on
