Health Lab

Michigan Medicine's daily online publication featuring news and stories about the future of health care. 

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Health Lab
12 stories from 2024 worth a second look
Writer-selected articles you’ll want to read for the new year
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Trending Articles See all Health Lab articles pink little pig bank listening to money with a stethoscope on a black table
Health Lab
National Diabetes Prevention Program saves costs for enrollees
The National Diabetes Prevention Program was created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010 to offer an effective way to help prevent type 2 diabetes. U-M researchers evaluated the uptake and outcomes of the National DPP and found that enrollees saved in medical costs and had a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
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Health Lab
First-of-its-kind blood test for head and neck cancer
A Michigan Medicine lab has begun providing a first-of-its-kind new cancer test. Developed at the University of Michigan, MyHPVscore is a highly accurate blood test that can detect HPV-related head and neck cancer by measuring fragments of tumor DNA in a patient’s bloodstream.
drawing of doctor with question mark about head with patient questioning and stressed over paperwork in exam room
Health Lab
People find medical test results hard to understand, increasing overall worry
In a published research letter in JAMA, researchers tested whether people could understand standard pathology reports and whether a patient-centered report might improve understanding.
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Health Lab
Preserving an artist’s vision after diabetic retinal disease
Kim Hartman is an artist with Type 1 diabetes. She started developing vision problems and doctors at Michigan Medicine helped her slow the vision loss and manage it.
Health Lab
Preventing suicide during pregnancy and after birth
Many deaths by suicide during pregnancy and after birth are preventable. Along with a personal patient experience, three Michigan Medicine experts discuss the current landscape of suicide prevention in pregnant and postpartum people, including the latest research and resources for help.
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Health Lab
What experts wish more people knew about hospice and other end-of-life care
Hospice, palliative care, end-of-life decisions, long-term care insurance and durable power of attorney are all things people with serious health issues should think about.
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Trending Research Articles drawing of doctor with question mark about head with patient questioning and stressed over paperwork in exam room
Health Lab
People find medical test results hard to understand, increasing overall worry
In a published research letter in JAMA, researchers tested whether people could understand standard pathology reports and whether a patient-centered report might improve understanding.
vial going into area full of vials with purple yellow and blue tops
Health Lab
First-of-its-kind blood test for head and neck cancer
A Michigan Medicine lab has begun providing a first-of-its-kind new cancer test. Developed at the University of Michigan, MyHPVscore is a highly accurate blood test that can detect HPV-related head and neck cancer by measuring fragments of tumor DNA in a patient’s bloodstream.
syringes three in a row with one with a shot going into it on a light teal background
Health Lab
TNF inhibitors prevent complications in kids with Crohn’s disease, recommended as first-line therapies
Early treatment of pediatric Crohn’s disease with anti-tumor necrosis factor medications can substantially reduce the risk of perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease. Michigan Medicine researchers confirmed this finding using prospective data. 
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Health Lab
Potential culprit identified in lingering Crohn’s disease symptoms
A study from University of Michigan researchers may explain why some patients with Crohn’s disease continue to experience symptoms, even in the absence of inflammation.
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Health Lab
New tools that leverage NIH’s ‘All of Us’ dataset could improve anesthesia and surgical care
In a report in JAMA Surgery, researchers propose two novel tools that leverage the All of Us dataset to look at acute health events such as surgery.
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Health Lab
Reducing dose of popular blood thinners may limit risk of future bleeding
For people taking the popular blood thinners rivaroxaban (brand name Xarelto) and apixaban (brand name Eliquis), after having a blood clot, a reduced dose may limit the future risk of bleeding as well as hospital visits, a Michigan Medicine-led study suggests.