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David Chen was doing his emergency medicine rotation in February when he heard the news: The notorious US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 test will move from a three-digit score to pass/fail as early as 2022. Chen, now an internal medicine resident in California who was then a student at the University of Washington

It’s often our skin that gives away our age. As we get older, not only do we get wrinkles, but our skin actually thins and can look paler, even appear see-through in some spots. It becomes less elastic and more fragile, subject to tears and bruising. Some of the chronic diseases that can affect us

Here are the coronavirus stories Medscape’s editors around the globe think you need to know about today. #3 Cause of Death More than 170,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States since the pandemic began, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, making it the third-leading cause of death in the country, former

The combined use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and hormonal birth control was associated with a higher risk of unintended pregnancy, researchers found. Individuals who used antibiotics while taking hormonal contraceptives — such as the pill, patch, or ring — were nearly seven times as likely to get pregnant (odds ratio 6.7, 95% CI 2.9-16.0), according to

Buyer beware: That’s what we’re always told no matter what we purchase, but it’s even more important when our health is at stake. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many companies began producing hand sanitizers for use when soap and water isn’t available or convenient. However, some companies are taking advantage of the increasing demand and

Some 2 percent of men in the U.S. identify as bisexual. But, for decades, some sexuality researchers have questioned whether true bisexual orientation exists in men. In 2005, J. Michael Bailey, a sexuality researcher at Northwestern University, and two colleagues showed men who identify as bisexual brief pornographic clips featuring men or women, while measuring

With the annual flu season comes advice for people to get vaccinated. But not everyone does, and some end up regretting that decision. While the race is on to find a COVID-19 vaccine, researchers confirm that the seasonal flu shot, already available, could prevent some flu-related complications.  Most people recover from the flu within 2 weeks without medical intervention. But those

Starting sacubitril-valsartan (Entresto) in patients hospitalized with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is not only cost-effective, but actually cost-saving, as compared with outpatient initiation, a new analysis shows. From a healthcare system perspective, initiation of sacubitril-valsartan during hospitalization saved $452 per year compared with continuing enalapril (Vasotec), and $811 per year compared with

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with baricitinib (Olumiant) were at increased risk for infection in a dose-dependent manner, a review of data from eight double-blind randomized trials and one long-term extension study found. The incidence rates of treatment-emergent infections in all patients enrolled in the included trials were 75.9 per 100 patient-years for placebo, 84

From the day in mid-March when he was forced to close his dental practice because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cary J. Limberakis, DMD, started planning for its reopening. During the shutdown, Dr. Limberakis went to his Abington, Pennsylvania, office every day to field patient calls and meet with his son and partner, Jonathan Limberakis, DMD.

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Shortages of personal protective equipment and medical supplies could persist for years without strategic government intervention, officials from health care and manufacturing industries have predicted. Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP Officials said logistical challenges continue seven months after the coronavirus reached the United States,

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. The risk of secondary transmission is less than 4% overall among close contacts of people diagnosed with COVID-19 and varies by settings and disease severity, new research shows. Lei Luo, PhD, with the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China,

Welcome to this week’s edition of Healthcare Career Insights. This weekly roundup highlights healthcare career-related articles culled from across the Web to help you learn what’s next. With several COVID vaccine candidates in human trials, Anthony Fauci, MD, says he’s “cautiously optimistic” that one will be available by the end of the 2020. But challenges

Pregnancy and childbirth are natural, right? But so are related complications. Things don’t always go smoothly with the pregnancy or the delivery, and women can die during a time that is supposed to be a wonderful experience.  Some countries are improving maternal care and reducing complications, but, every day, hundreds of women around the world still die. Most

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Jorge A. Vallejo, MD, 89, was admitted to Palmetto General Hospital on Father’s Day and died 6 days later, on June 27, the Miami Herald reported. His middle son, Carlos Francisco Vallejo, MD, 57, was admitted to Cleveland Clinic Florida in

Since the late 1970s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with other U.S. federal health agencies, have warned women that drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause serious problems, from miscarriage and stillbirth to developmental issues. Yet, a 2019 CDC survey estimated that 1 in 9 American women still drink during pregnancy and 3.9%

The brain’s reaction to stress may be an important contributor to chest pain in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), according to results of a cohort study. “Although more research is needed, these results may potentially shift the paradigm by which angina is evaluated by refocusing clinical evaluation and management of psychological stress as adjunct

The 24-hour news cycle is just as important to medicine as it is to politics, finance, or sports. At MedPage Today, new information is posted daily, but keeping up can be a challenge. As an aid for our readers and for a little amusement, here is a 10-question quiz based on the news of the

Get your flu shot Health officials aren’t expecting the 2020-21 flu season to retreat just because its huge cousin is ravaging the planet. The Washington Post reported Thursday on the varied plans  to increase flu vaccine production and encourage its use. The U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention will be rolling out a public education

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Here are the coronavirus stories Medscape’s editors around the globe think you need to know about today:  Comparison With 1918 Flu A comparison of excess deaths in New York City during the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak with excess deaths from

Pregnancy and childbirth are natural, right? But, unfortunately, so are complications. Things don’t always go smoothly with a pregnancy and women can die during a time that is supposed to be one of the most wonderful days of their life. Some countries are improving maternal care and reducing complications, but, every day, hundreds of women

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. President Donald J. Trump this week added a new medical adviser to the White House’s coronavirus response and the move has met with criticism, praise, and wide speculation. Scott Atlas, MD, a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, a conservative

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been a leader in the development of telestroke protocols. Launched in 2017, the VA telestroke program involves over 30 medical centers and more than 20 neurologists. This enables rapid point-of-care (POC) decision-making from the primary care team in consultation with the VA specialists via a video telehealth system.

For sure, COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease. And for people with asthma and a history of lung disease, this virus, which has killed more than 5 million people in this country alone, is a horror. But like any true horror with destructive intent, COVID-19 doesn’t just enter a person’s body through one or two

A federal jury has convicted a West Virginia physician of 17 counts of illegal distribution of controlled substances. Ricky L. Houdersheldt, DO, 68, of Hurricane, West Virginia, faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to his initial indictment filed in September 2019. Houdersheldt was found guilty after a 6-day

COVID-19: A Prognosis Robert Redfield, MD, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says COVID-19 could be a leading cause of death by year’s end, warning that if the American people do not pay attention to good public health hygiene practices, that it could be the “worst fall from a public health perspective [that] we’ve ever had.” In an

The dispute over a plan to merge Rutgers University’s two medical schools in New Jersey has intensified with two new developments. One is a letter to New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy and other elected officials from a union that represents 1500 faculty at the medical schools decrying the merger. The other is a heated commentary

One of the more controversial issues surrounding this year’s Democratic Party platform has been whether to include a plank supporting the idea of Medicare for All — an intraparty debate that seems unlikely to be resolved any time soon. For decades, a program like Medicare for All was included in Democratic platforms up until 1980,