Tag: laboratory tests

Perioperative care for transgender patients demands specialized, affirming, informed practice, experts say

Editor's Note New clinical guidelines emphasize that safe and equitable perioperative care for transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) patients hinges on affirming communication, tailored medical assessments, and culturally competent practice. According to a peer-reviewed article published in the June issue of Nursing, perioperative teams must adopt evidence-based, inclusive approaches to better…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
June 12, 2025
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Study: Blood test detects colorectal cancer but misses most precancerous polyps

Editor's Note A new blood test shows promise in detecting colorectal cancer—the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the US—but was less effective at identifying precancerous polyps, according to a June 2 announcement from Kaiser Permanente. Not yet approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, the test is…

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By: Matt Danford
June 4, 2025
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Routine preop tests catch hidden risks in outpatient cosmetic surgery, Canadian study finds

Editor's Note As aesthetic procedures continue to migrate into freestanding ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), a new Canadian study argues that routine laboratory tests and electrocardiograms—often labeled “low‑value” in hospitals—remain a critical safety net when emergency back‑up is miles away. The manuscript was published by the Aesthetic Surgery Journal on April…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
April 9, 2025
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Study: Pulse oximeters may misestimate oxygen saturation in darker skin tones

Editor's Note Pulse oximeters may overestimate blood oxygen levels in critically ill patients with darker skin tones, according to a March 30 article in HCP Live. The article focuses on the EquiOx study, conducted at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital between 2022 and 2024. Presented at the American College…

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By: Matt Danford
April 1, 2025
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EHR-integrated clinical decision support reduces unnecessary preoperative tests

Editor's Note An EHR-integrated closed-loop clinical decision support system (CDSS) significantly reduced unnecessary preoperative testing, improved patient safety, and significantly reduced costs across two hospitals in Madrid, Spain. As detailed in a study published January 3 in npj digital medicine, this system demonstrates the potential of automated guidelines to optimize…

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By: Matt Danford
January 23, 2025
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Study: Stool tests show promise in reducing colonoscopies for post-polypectomy colorectal cancer surveillance

Editor's Note Stool-based testing strategies could significantly reduce the number of colonoscopies required for post-polypectomy colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance while maintaining equivalent long-term outcomes in cancer incidence and mortality, according to research published August 30 in Gastroenterology. Conducted in the Netherlands, the cross-sectional observational study compared three stool tests—multitarget stool…

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By: Matt Danford
November 1, 2024
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Study: New fluorescent light technology detects hidden bacteria in wounds

US news and world report

Editor's Note Research led by the University of Southern California and published in the journal Advances in Wound Care showed new technology using fluorescent light has proven effective in detecting bacteria missed during standard wound cleaning, US News & World Report August 30 reports. In a review of 26 medical studies,…

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By: Tarsilla Moura
September 4, 2024
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Injectable “goo” could eliminate joint surgery, treat osteoarthritis, animal study shows

US news and world report

Editor's Note A newly developed biomaterial could treat crippling arthritis by prompting the growth of new cartilage, according to an animal study conducted at Northwestern University and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to an August 6 article by U.S. News and World Report, the…

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By: Matt Danford
August 19, 2024
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Researchers develop fast, accurate blood test for sepsis, septic shock

Editor's Note A new blood test developed by researchers in Australia could help diagnose sepsis and septic shock in just one hour, compared to the current multi-day methods. The Journal of Proteome Research reported the findings on March 21. Researchers collected blood plasma samples from 152 ICU patients. They used…

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By: Brita Belli
April 10, 2024
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New hope for Black kidney disease patients awaiting organ transplants

Editor's Note A standard kidney function test has been underestimating the seriousness of disease in Black patients, delaying their eligibility for transplants, The Associated Press reported March 31. Now, that test is changing – and Black patients awaiting kidneys are moving up the list.  Among other factors, transplant eligibility is…

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By: Brita Belli
April 1, 2024
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