Imagine not being able to pick up a pencil without your fingers hurting. Sending a letter, doing a crossword puzzle, these are just a few of the simple tasks that trigger pain in your joints on a regular basis. This can be a reality people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome face every day. Except that this pain often is felt from head to … Read More
Medicare coverage in the era of precision medicine
By John C. Nelson, MD, MPH I was pleased to read an insightful editorial discussing precision medicine in the June edition of the Journal of the American Medicine Association. There is great promise for patients in improving their quality of care as well as the potential to decrease the healthcare costs associated with preventable morbidity and mortality. It is, therefore, … Read More
72 percent of heart drugs are impacted by genetics, study finds
The evidence for expanded use of pharmacogenetic data to help inform heart medication prescribing just got stronger. A comprehensive review of the scientific literature on pharmacogenomics and heart medications found that 71.8 percent of the 71 drugs studied had positive evidence for varied response or adverse effects based on genetics. The review encompassed 597 publications and identified 884 unique pairings … Read More
NIH panel: Patient-centered approach needed for pain management
Those suffering from chronic pain need individualized care strategies to be best served by their physicians, according to the recent findings of an expert panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Persons living with chronic pain have often been grouped into a single category, and treatment approaches have been generalized with little evidence to support this practice,” said … Read More
June is Men’s Health Month!
With Father’s Day approaching, what better way to celebrate the men you call family and friends than by helping to make sure they take their health seriously? June is National Men’s Health month, a time for men everywhere to focus on the health concerns that most often impact them. For many men this means cardiovascular health, which includes controlling blood … Read More
Genelex-sponsored research awarded at managed care pharmacy conference
Recent research sponsored by Genelex and undertaken by University of Utah researchers has been recognized at the national Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) conference. The research shows that as many as 50 percent of patients 65 and older are taking at least one medication metabolized by a genetically variable drug metabolizing enzyme. The poster for this work, co-presented by Genelex … Read More
Precision Medicine: The Future is Now
By John C. Nelson, MD, MPH The Affordable Care Act provides a blueprint for health system reform in America. While increasing access to care, the quality of that care must be maintained or improved; and, costs must decrease. Innovation will be a key factor to bring about change. Personalized Medicine based on genetic information (or Precision Medicine as President Obama … Read More
March: Time to get in the know about colorectal cancer
By Karina Mazhukhina March is national colorectal cancer awareness month. This means if you or someone you love is 50 or older, now’s a perfect time to discuss screening with your physician. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the U.S., of cancers that affect both men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention … Read More
Falls among elderly increase over 12-year period
One of the most serious health concerns for the elderly seems to be becoming more common. A recent study out of the University of Michigan has found that self-reported falls among Americans 65 years and older increased by about 8 percent between 1998 and 2000. The researchers report that a greater increase in falls was seen than what would have … Read More
Genelex announces new genetic testing options
Genelex is excited to announce the next chapter in the company’s ongoing mission to improve patient care and reduce adverse drug events. Genelex is unveiling five new panels and 17 new genetic testing options to augment our existing panel of six tests that form the core of the YouScript Personalized Prescribing System. In conjunction with the YouScript Personalized Prescribing software, … Read More