Thyroid nodules are a common pathology having a prevalence of 19-76% when screened with ultrasound, with higher frequencies in women. Current medical methods used to assess the malignancy of a nodule consist in performing an ultrasound, followed by a Doppler ultrasound, and then a biopsy. However, these methods present both…
Experimental antiviral proves effective in halting spread and damage of COVID-19
An experimental antiviral drug can significantly decrease levels of the virus causing COVID-19 and the damage it causes in the lungs, according to new research. Scientists from the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Plymouth found that MK-4482—initially developed to treat influenza—was effective when provided…
In Ivory Coast, telemedicine revolution proves blessing for heart patients
Every time Catherine Coulibaly’s 19-year-old son had to make a routine appointment with the cardiologist for his heart condition, she gritted her teeth as she silently counted the financial cost. It wasn’t just the hospital fee—there was the transport, food and accommodation, too, all of it amounting to a hefty…
A ventilation system proves effective at reducing hospital infections
Being admitted to the hospital for a specific illness or infection and coming down with another during one’s hospital stay is not common, due to the effectiveness of prevention systems, but it is also not an isolated incident. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 6…
New hybrid closed loop insulin pump proves hard to use for some patients with diabetes
Among first-time users of a new insulin pump that automatically delivers insulin to people with type 1 diabetes, nearly one-fifth stopped using the device, primarily because of difficulties meeting the technical demands system, researchers say. Results of a real-world study of the hybrid closed loop insulin pump (Medtronic MiniMed 670G)…