Medical Xpress
Blood test predicts kidney failure risk to Black Americans years before onset
Black Americans carry APOL1 gene variants at disproportionately high rates, making them significantly more vulnerable to kidney failure — but not all carriers develop the disease. A new blood test developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania can now identify which individuals are on track for kidney failure years before symptoms emerge, offering a critical window for early intervention. The findings, published in Nature Medicine, could reshape how high-risk patients are monitored and treated.
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Pregnancy-related deaths rose during pandemic, remain elevated for Black women, study finds
Pregnancy-related deaths surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels for Black women, according to new Michigan Medicine research published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. While mortality rates have largely normalized for other groups, the persistent disparity underscores a systemic failure to protect Black mothers. The findings renew urgency around targeted interventions to address one of maternal healthcare's most glaring inequities.
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Poll reveals millions of Americans consult AI before, after—and sometimes instead of—seeing a doctor
Tens of millions of Americans are quietly integrating AI into their healthcare routines, with a new West Health-Gallup survey finding that one in four U.S. adults—more than 66 million people—have used AI tools for physical or mental health information. The majority use it as a supplement, consulting chatbots before or after physician visits rather than as an outright replacement. As AI becomes embedded in everyday health decisions, the findings raise pressing questions about accuracy, liability, and the future role of human medical providers.
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AI spots melanoma risk patterns in 6 million adults up to five years early
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have used AI to analyze health care registry data from six million adults, successfully identifying high-risk groups for melanoma up to five years before diagnosis. The findings, published in Acta Dermato-Venereologica, suggest that predictive modeling could transform early intervention strategies for one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. Earlier identification of at-risk patients gives clinicians a critical window to act before the disease progresses.
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Popular AI chatbots are confidently dispensing medical misinformation, analysis shows
A new study in BMJ Open found that half of medical responses from five popular AI chatbots were problematic, with 20% rated highly inaccurate and another 30% somewhat inaccurate. The findings raise serious concerns about patients turning to AI tools for health guidance, particularly as chatbot adoption continues to surge. Confident-sounding but flawed medical advice carries real-world consequences that bad Google results never did.
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