Trending News Today: CAR T Therapy Shows Early Promise for Use in Some Solid Tumors

A new study suggested that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy may potentially be able to fight against some solid tumors, The Associated Press reported. According to the article, study researcher Prasad Adusumilli, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, designed a new CAR T therapy and tested it on 19 patients with mesothelioma and 2 others with lung and breast cancer, respectively, that had spread to the chest lining. After therapy, 1 patient was able to have surgery and radiation and 15 other were well enough to begin taking a drug that boosts the immune system in a different way, the article reported. Of the 11 patients who were studied long enough to report results, 2 had signs of cancer disappear for approximately 1 year, 6 saw their tumors shrink, and 3 saw their cancer worsen, according to the findings.

Alcohol and caffeine consumption are the most common behaviors that can trigger episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF), Reuters reported. According to the article, a study published in Heart Rhythm surveyed 1295 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF and asked about 11 possible triggers: alcohol, caffeine, lack of sleep, exercise, not exercising, consuming cold beverages, consuming cold foods, high sodium diet, consuming large meals, dehydration, and lying on one’s left side. Alcohol consumption was cited by 35%, followed by coffee drinking (28%), exercise (23%), and lack of sleep (21%), the article reported.

A recent study found that aerobic exercise may be associated with a reduced number of migraine days in patients who experience migraine, The American Journal of Managed Care. According to the article, the authors were able to identify 6 studies that had evaluated the number of migraine days, attack frequency, and pain intensity or duration of migraine attacks. Based on reports from 4 included studies, aerobic exercise was associated with a reduction in the number of migraine days at 10 to 12 weeks, the article reported.