Alexandra Kharazi, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon in California, transitioned from being an employed physician to private practice. She values the autonomy it offers, even if it means working longer hours without strict schedules or specific policies. On the other hand, Cassandra Boduch, MD, an employed psychiatrist in Houston, prefers the stability and simplicity of employment, noting the complexities of private practice. The American Medical Association (AMA) states that from 2012 to 2022, physicians in private practice decreased from 60% to 47%, while those working in hospitals increased from about 6% to 10%. Economic stress, Medicare payment cuts, rising practice costs,…
Author: Harshal Chaudhari
Two multitarget stool tests currently in development show promise for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in average-risk individuals, as indicated by two new studies: Both studies were presented at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting. David Lieberman, MD, highlighted the significance of the RNA test, noting its consistent performance across all age groups and potential advantages over DNA biomarker tests.
A study presented at UEG Week revealed that a computer-aided polyp detection system did not significantly improve adenoma or polyp detection rates among colorectal cancer screening candidates in an outpatient setting in Germany. The key findings from the study are: The study, led by Alexander Hann, Dr. med., deputy head of gastroenterology at the University Hospital Würzburg, used the EndoMind CADe system developed from over 500,000 manually labeled images. The system was compared with traditional colonoscopy among 928 adults at five outpatient facilities over a year. The results showed no significant differences in outcomes between the two methods.
The landscape for chronic weight management has been significantly transformed due to the influx of blockbuster anti-obesity drugs. These drugs have not only changed weight management practices but have also paved the way for new research in gastrointestinal (GI) and liver diseases. However, there are growing concerns about potential GI side effects associated with these medications. Key points from the article:
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), in collaboration with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP), has released a set of 13 best practice recommendations for the validation and reporting of clinical circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) or liquid biopsy assays. This manuscript, titled “Recommendations for Cell-free DNA Assay Validations,” was published ahead of its appearance in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. The advancements in molecular diagnostics over the past decade have enabled the precise detection and measurement of low abundance ctDNA in blood and body fluids. However, the development, validation, and reporting of…
Dxcover, a Glasgow-based oncology diagnostics company, plans to release its brain cancer blood test in Europe by 2025 to aid in the triage of symptomatic patients. The test uses infrared light on blood samples, with a machine-learning algorithm predicting cancer presence. In 2021, the test demonstrated 91% sensitivity for detecting glioblastoma, a common aggressive brain tumor. While Dxcover’s initial focus is on single-tumor detection, it may compete with firms like GRAIL in the U.S. for early cancer detection in healthy individuals.
The ColoAlert test, developed by Mainz Biomed, is an at-home diagnostic tool designed to detect colorectal cancer early. While colonoscopies remain the primary method for detecting colorectal cancer, approximately 20% of U.S. adults aged 45 and older avoid this procedure. The ColoAlert test offers a convenient alternative, allowing patients to collect stool samples at home and mail them to a lab for analysis. The test identifies tumor DNA in the stool samples using real-time PCR multiplex detection of molecular-genetic biomarkers, making it more sensitive than traditional stool tests. Preliminary studies in Europe have shown a sensitivity of 94% and specificity…
Medical-device company Invenio Imaging is at the forefront of a technological breakthrough. They are developing a system that allows surgeons to instantly evaluate tissue biopsies in the operating room. With the help of AI, surgeons can gain insights in just three minutes, a process that traditionally could take weeks in a pathology lab. This rapid evaluation aids in immediate clinical decision-making, especially during surgeries or biopsies. Chris Freudiger, the CTO of Invenio, highlighted that this technology would enable surgeons to quickly determine if a tissue sample contains cancerous cells and make decisions on the spot. Invenio’s innovation doesn’t stop there.…
The federal agency claims the company’s practices amount to antitrust activity, a new salvo in the government’s scrutiny of health care consolidation that has led to higher prices. After vowing to tackle consolidation in the health care industry, the Federal Trade Commission filed an antitrust lawsuit on Thursday that challenged the growing practice of private-equity firms backing companies that amass medical practices and dominate local markets. The suit targeted a large doctors’ group that operates anesthesia practices in several states, claiming the group and the private equity firm advising and financing it were consolidating doctors’ groups in Texas so they…
NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Lucid Diagnostics Inc. (Nasdaq: LUCD) (“Lucid” or the “Company”) a commercial-stage, cancer prevention medical diagnostics company, and majority-owned subsidiary of PAVmed Inc. (Nasdaq: PAVM, PAVMZ) ( “PAVmed”), today announced it has released positive interim data from the multicenter, CLinical Utility of EsoGuard (CLUE) study. This is the Company’s first report of prospective data from multiple physicians demonstrating real-world clinical utility of EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA testing for the detection of esophageal precancer; and supplements its recently released positive data from a retrospective analysis of EsoGuard’s clinical utility in firefighters.