Medical Treatments

A sign explaining the local state of emergency because of a measles outbreak at the Rockland County Health Department in Pomona, N.Y.

CDC Reports Largest U.S. Measles Outbreak Since Year 2000

9:14pm April 24, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

There are 695 cases in 22 states. HHS Secretary Alex Azar said the spike was "avoidable" and he called measles vaccines "among the most extensively studied medical products we have."

Scientists have found a way to transform brain signals into intelligible speech.

Decoded Brain Signals Could Give Voiceless People A Way To Talk

6:14pm April 24, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Scientists have found a way to transform electrical signals in the brain into intelligible speech. The advance may help people paralyzed by a stroke or disease, but the technology is experimental.

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In Massachusetts last July, several Franklin County Jail inmates were watched by a nurse and a corrections officer after receiving their daily doses of buprenorphine, a drug that helps control opioid cravings. By some estimates, at least half to two-third

County Jails Struggle With A New Role As America's Prime Centers For Opioid Detox

3:04pm April 24, 2019

by Eric Westervelt

The National Sheriffs' Association has published a detailed guide to jail-based medication-assisted treatment. States hardest hit by opioids are moving fastest to get inmates the help needed to quit.

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The Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center in Plymouth houses men for court-mandated addiction treatment.

Prison For Forced Addiction Treatment? A Parent's 'Last Resort' Has Consequences

7:13am April 20, 2019

by Deborah Becker

Thousands of Massachusetts residents have been committed to treatment for addiction against their will. Some families say locking up addicts in prison isn't treatment. Others say it saves lives.

The habit of ordering unneeded tests and treatments drives up medical costs. It's a pattern doctors often learn in medical school and residency.

Health & Safety

Why Do Doctors Overtreat? For Many, It's What They're Trained To Do

12:30pm April 19, 2019

by Mara Gordon

Ordering more tests or treatments is not always best for patients' health or wallet. A group of medical educators is trying to address the problem where they think it starts: medical training.

The out-of-pocket expense of mammograms, MRIs and other tests and treatments can be several thousand dollars each year when you have a high-deductible health policy.

High-Deductible Health Policies Linked To Delayed Diagnosis And Treatment

5:00am April 18, 2019

by Erika Stallings

Her employer offered only a high-deductible health plan; that meant she'd have to pay up to $6,000 out of pocket each year. Advocates for patients say this sort of underinsurance is snatching lives.

David Vetter, pictured in September 1982 inside part of the bubble environment that was his protective home until he died in 1984. Today most kids born with severe combined immunodeficiency are successfully treated with bone marrow transplants, but resear

Gene Therapy Advances To Better Treat 'Bubble Boy' Disease

9:59pm April 17, 2019

by Richard Harris

The latest advance is not only encouraging news for patients with severe combined immunodeficiency. It's a test case for all those scientists working to develop better gene therapy techniques.

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CRISPR gene-editing technology allows scientists to make highly precise modifications to DNA. The technology is now starting to be used in human trials to treat several diseases in the U.S.

First U.S. Patients Treated With CRISPR As Human Gene-Editing Trials Get Underway

7:27pm April 16, 2019

by Rob Stein

This could be a crucial year for the powerful gene-editing technique CRISPR as researchers start testing it in patients to treat diseases such as cancer, blindness and sickle cell disease.

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The trick, of course, is to find moments of deep relaxation wherever you are, not just on vacation. Laughing with friends can be another way to start breaking the cycle of chronic stress, and help keep your heart healthy, too.

High Stress Drives Up Your Risk Of A Heart Attack. Here's How To Chill Out

9:28pm April 14, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

A study of siblings finds those who have a stress-related disorder have a 60 percent higher risk of heart attack or other cardiovascular event, compared to their less-stressed brothers and sisters.

Nurse practitioner Debra Brown guides patient Merdis Wells through a diabetic retinopathy exam at University Medical Center in New Orleans.

Health & Safety

How Can We Be Sure Artificial Intelligence Is Safe For Medical Use?

8:03am April 14, 2019

by Richard Harris

Software that can replace doctors for certain tasks has a big responsibility. The Food and Drug Administration is now figuring out how to determine when computer algorithms are safe and effective.

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