STAT News

STAT News is a trusted source of authoritative journalism about health, medicine, and the life sciences. The site covers topics such as the business of making medicines, health tech, science, and public health. STAT delivers quick and smart stories through daily news, investigative articles, multimedia features, podcasts and opinion pieces. The publication has a team of top-sourced science, health and biotech journalists along with motion graphics artists, videographers and podcast producers. The site publishes content throughout the day and offers premium subscription plan called STAT+ that includes exclusive reporting about the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, the health tech industry, science, as well as access to exclusive events.

81%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermines the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
Analysis.OverallConflictOfInterestScore * 0.3F + Analysis.OverallBiasScore * 0.3F + Analysis.DeceptivenessScore * 0.3F + Analysis.ReadabilityScore * 0.1F

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Daily's Verdict

This news site has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on its reporting.

Bias

85%

Examples:

  • Despite assertions of robust evidence from those most invested in promoting it, the FND construct is based largely on questionable arguments and unconvincing research claims.
  • It is unnecessary and unhelpful to resort to categorical diagnostic assertions largely based on questionable arguments and research claims.
  • The site has a<dummy00006> FND construct assertions largely based on speculation and assumption.

Conflicts of Interest

85%

Examples:

  • There is no mention of conflicts of interest for the authors.

Contradictions

85%

Examples:

  • Alcohol came in third with 5% of cases in men and women over 30 attributable to drinking.
  • Even relatively low amounts of drinking might carry certain risks.
  • Sex seemed to influence different regions of the brain involved in visual processing, sensory processing, motor control, and some regions involved in executive function.
  • The networks associated with gender differences were largely different from those associated with sex differences.

Deceptions

70%

Examples:

  • If a patient is subsequently found to have Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis or another disease, their earlier FND diagnosis is not necessarily rendered obsolete; rather, the patient is often said to have an FND ‘overlay' or comorbidity.
  • It is unnecessary and unhelpful to resort to categorical diagnostic assertions largely based on questionable arguments and research claims.
  • The messaging around mammography often doesn’t go beyond this simple three-word refrain: screening saves lives.

Recent Articles

  • FDA Approves First Blood Test, Shield, as Primary Screening Option for Colon and Rectal Cancers: A New Convenient Tool to Detect CRC Early

    FDA Approves First Blood Test, Shield, as Primary Screening Option for Colon and Rectal Cancers: A New Convenient Tool to Detect CRC Early

    Broke On: Monday, 29 July 2024 The FDA approves Guardant Health's Shield blood test as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer in adults over 45, marking the first approval of its kind. With an 83% sensitivity rate and potential accessibility advantages over colonoscopies, the Shield test could encourage more people to get screened for this second deadliest cancer in the US.
  • New HIV Prevention Drug Lenacapavir: Potential Price Drop to $40 per Year if Generics Allowed

    New HIV Prevention Drug Lenacapavir: Potential Price Drop to $40 per Year if Generics Allowed

    Broke On: Tuesday, 23 July 2024 New research suggests that the cost of producing Lenacapavir, a highly effective HIV prevention drug, could be as low as $40 per person a year if generic versions are allowed for manufacturing. This contrasts with its current price of over $40,000 per person a year in various countries. UNAIDS is urging Gilead Sciences to make the drug more accessible to people in developing countries and allow generic manufacturing through the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool.
  • Seven Cases of Human Bird Flu in Colorado: Virus Spreads from Dairy Farms to Poultry Farms

    Seven Cases of Human Bird Flu in Colorado: Virus Spreads from Dairy Farms to Poultry Farms

    Broke On: Sunday, 14 July 2024 Seven human cases of bird flu have been confirmed in Colorado, linked to two large layer farms where culling operations are underway. The virus, closely related to one affecting dairy cattle and farm workers, has infected over 100 million birds across 13 states since January 2022. Five new dairy farm outbreaks were reported, bringing the national total to 168. The CDC advises poultry workers and those near infected farms to take precautions and avoid contact with sick or dead birds or contaminated surfaces.
  • CDC Reports: KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 Variants Account for Over Half of US COVID-19 Cases in Summer Wave

    CDC Reports: KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 Variants Account for Over Half of US COVID-19 Cases in Summer Wave

    Broke On: Friday, 19 July 2024 Two COVID-19 variants, KP.3 and KP.3.1.1, account for over half of current cases in the US according to the CDC, leading to an increase in hospitalizations across the country. Experts recommend updated vaccines for protection against these and other variants.
  • New Studies Show Vaccines Reduce Risk of Long Covid: Findings from the New England Journal of Medicine

    New Studies Show Vaccines Reduce Risk of Long Covid: Findings from the New England Journal of Medicine

    Broke On: Wednesday, 17 July 2024 Recent studies in the New England Journal of Medicine reveal that vaccination reduces the risk of long Covid by nearly half during Delta and Omicron waves. The research shows that 72% of this improvement is due to vaccines, while 28% is attributed to variant changes and improved medical care. Vaccinated individuals have significantly lower rates of long Covid compared to unvaccinated people, according to the second study. However, it's crucial to note that the risk of long Covid still exists for vaccinated individuals and remains substantial for those who are unvaccinated.
  • New Study: Women in Their 40s Prefer to Delay Breast Cancer Screening After Decision Aid Intervention - What You Should Know

    New Study: Women in Their 40s Prefer to Delay Breast Cancer Screening After Decision Aid Intervention - What You Should Know

    Broke On: Tuesday, 16 July 2024 A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that some women in their 40s prefer to delay breast cancer screening after a decision aid intervention, with lower breast cancer risk. However, not all women should delay without consulting healthcare providers. Another study showed that those who wait until age 50 have lower risk based on family history, while earlier screenings have higher risks and less concern for downsides. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms every other year for women aged 40-74, but many are unaware of the risks. Dr. Laura Esserman advocates for a personalized approach to screening through the WISDOM study.
  • Uncovering the Prevalence and Impacts of Long Covid: Insights from Leading Researchers and Policymakers

    Uncovering the Prevalence and Impacts of Long Covid: Insights from Leading Researchers and Policymakers

    Broke On: Tuesday, 09 July 2024 Long Covid, a condition marked by persistent symptoms for three months or more after initial infection, affects tens of millions worldwide. According to reports, approximately 7% of U.S. adults had suffered from it as of early 2023. Symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, and respiratory issues (CDC). Women and White/Hispanic individuals are more likely to be affected. One study found that one in ten people infected during pregnancy developed long Covid, with symptoms persisting for up to 10 months. Long Covid can lead to new behavioral health conditions or worsen pre-existing ones. Research is crucial for understanding causes and developing effective treatments.
  • New Hope for Autoimmune Disorders: CAR-T Cell Therapies Show Promise in Treating Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus

    New Hope for Autoimmune Disorders: CAR-T Cell Therapies Show Promise in Treating Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus

    Broke On: Wednesday, 10 July 2024 Researchers are exploring new ways to use CAR-T cell therapies for treating autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis and lupus, following successful results in destroying pathogenic B cells in blood cancers. Kyverna Therapeutics' publication of clinical findings on engineered CAR-T cells depleting pathogenic B cells in progressive multiple sclerosis has accelerated research efforts.
  • Neuroscientists Discover Distinct Brain Network Patterns for Sex and Gender in Young People

    Neuroscientists Discover Distinct Brain Network Patterns for Sex and Gender in Young People

    Broke On: Friday, 12 July 2024 Neuroscientists Elvisha Dhamala and her team identified distinct brain network patterns associated with sex and gender in young people based on functional brain imaging data from over 4,700 children in the US. Using predictive modeling, they found that sex was linked to visual processing, motor control, sensory processing regions, and some executive functions. Gender was related more broadly to executive function and possibly impacted networks supporting attention and social cognition. The findings could lead to more nuanced approaches in medical contexts for equal treatment based on sex and gender.
  • Half of US Adult Cancer Cases and Deaths Preventable: Smoking, Obesity, Alcohol, Inactivity, UV Radiation

    Half of US Adult Cancer Cases and Deaths Preventable: Smoking, Obesity, Alcohol, Inactivity, UV Radiation

    Broke On: Thursday, 11 July 2024 Recent American Cancer Society studies reveal that nearly half of US cancer cases and deaths could be prevented through lifestyle changes. Leading causes include smoking (56% men, 39.9% women), excess body weight (7.6%), alcohol consumption (5.4%), physical inactivity (3.1%), and UV radiation exposure (4.6%). Making lifestyle adjustments like quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, staying active, and protecting from UV rays could prevent 40% of adult cancer cases.