Victoria Johnson joined the MJH Life Sciences in 2020 and has written for NeurologyLive, CGTLive, and now HCPLive. You can reach her at vjohnson@mjhlifesciences.com

The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance to LEADOPTIK’s Last Inch Assessment™ (LIA) system, a first-of-its-kind system designed to improve the accuracy of 

"The LIA system represents the missing link in the bronchoscopy workflow," George Cheng, MD, UC San Diego School of Medicine, a member of LEADOPTIK’s Clinical Advisory Board, said in a statement.

 "For the first time, high-resolution depth imaging is integrated directly into the biopsy tool, allowing physicians to see and characterize tissue from within. Today's workflows rely on external imaging or post-procedure validation, both of which add complexity and delay. LEADOPTIK addresses these limitations in a single, streamlined solution. I've worked with the team from the early days of development and am very excited to use the LIA system as part of the limited launch."

The LIA system uses proprietary silicon metamaterials for depth imaging directly into standard biopsy tools. According to LEADOPTIK, the system offers 50x better imaging resolution than current technologies.

"The 'last inch' is where the path to timely intervention is ultimately determined," said Ali Sadoughi, MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and another member of LEADOPTIK’s Clinical Advisory Board.

 "Being close to a lung nodule is not enough, confirming that the needle has sampled the correct tissue is the critical missing step. LEADOPTIK's technology has the potential to fundamentally improve confidence at the point of biopsy and close a long-standing gap in the procedure. I'm excited to be involved in the limited launch and to serve as a pilot site."

"Our preclinical data supporting this FDA clearance are exceptionally encouraging, demonstrating biopsy accuracy exceeding 95%," Reza Khorasaninejad, CEO and Co-Founder of LEADOPTIK. "We are in a uniquely strong position to address one of the most critical unmet needs in lung cancer diagnostics. As we prepare the system for hospital deployment, our focus is on empowering physicians with real-time insight, especially in borderline cases where imaging interpretation becomes the deciding factor. These improvements could meaningfully change patient care, accelerate diagnosis, and improve treatment outcomes."

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death globally, responsible for nearly 1.8 million deaths annually, more than the next leading 2 combined (colorectal and liver cancer).

Lung cancer outcomes hinge on timely diagnosis, a hurdle that scientists, clinicians, and health systems are becoming increasingly equipped to overcome.

“Despite all the evidence we have, too many patients fall through the cracks,” she said. “We know we can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20 to 25% with screening. We just have to get them screened,” Mary Pasquinelli, DNP, who directs the lung screening program at UI Health in Chicago, previously told 

Pasquinelli and her team focus on low-dose CT (LDCT) screening for high-risk patients, which has long been shown to reduce mortality.

 At her institution, a hybrid screening model that combines centralized coordination with primary care integration has substantially helped improve screening rates. Pasquinelli’s team proactively monitors LDCT orders, reaches out directly to patients, and ensures adherence with follow-up scans and consultations.

Her program includes comprehensive shared decision-making visits, often the first point of education for patients facing lung cancer risk, as well as smoking cessation support.

“Many of my patients are anxious. They feel shame about smoking, or they fear what we’ll find,” she said. “But I sit down and explain what pulmonary nodules are, what the scan does and doesn’t show, and that most findings are benign. When they understand that, they almost always go forward.”

LEADOPTIK Announces FDA Clearance of the LIA™ for Lung Biopsy Procedures. News release. LEADOPTIK. January 15, 2026. Accessed January 16, 2026. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leadoptik-announces-fda-clearance-of-the-lia-for-lung-biopsy-procedures-302662402.html

World Health Organization. Cancer Fact Sheet. World Health Organization. Updated February 2022. Accessed January 16, 2026. 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer

National Lung Screening Trial Research Team. Reduced lung-cancer mortality with low-dose computed tomographic screening. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(5):395–409. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1102873

Articles

The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance to LEADOPTIK's Last Inch Assessment™ (LIA) system, enhancing lung biopsy accuracy by integrating high-resolution depth imaging into biopsy tools. This innovation addresses limitations of current workflows that rely on external imaging, offering 50x better resolution. The LIA system aims to improve biopsy accuracy, with preclinical data showing over 95% accuracy. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, emphasizing the need for timely diagnosis. Programs like low-dose CT screening and patient education are crucial in reducing lung cancer mortality.

Higher accuracy lung biopsy could make a strong impact on lung cancer diagnoses and outcomes.

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FDA News

FDA Clears LEADOPTIK's LIA System for Higher-Accuracy Lung Biopsy 

 surgery past 4 weeks following a diagnosis is linked with significantly worse overall and recurrence-free survival, new findings suggest.

In this analysis, optimal outcomes were observed when surgery took place within a 1 - 4 week timeframe. The study resulting in these findings was authored by several investigators, including Robyn Saw, MBBS, of the Melanoma Institute Australia.

Saw et al’s research was conducted with 2 principal aims: One, determining whether surgical treatment timing for Stage I & II melanoma shows a link with survival outcome, and two, finding out if there is an optimal time interval between melanoma diagnosis and surgery that exists related to survival. They described a variety of reasons attributable to surgical delays among patients diagnosed with skin cancer.

“The primary aim of this study was therefore to assess whether survival was associated with the time between melanoma diagnosis and definitive surgical treatment and to evaluate the optimal time interval between melanoma diagnosis and definitive surgical treatment with respect to survival,” Saw and colleagues expressed.

Study Design and Findings on Surgery Timing

The investigative team drew the necessary data for their study from the prospectively maintained Melanoma Institute Australia database for individuals given a diagnosis. These were specifically patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th Edition pathological Stage I or II cutaneous melanoma who also presented in the timeframe between 1990 - 2015. They were not included if they had Stage 0 disease (melanoma in situ), if their pathological stage was not reported, or if they were classified as pathological Stage III or IV.

The definition of Saw et al of time to surgery was the interval between one’s initial diagnostic biopsy confirming melanoma and one’s definitive surgical procedure. Such a procedure involved a wide excision with guideline-concordant margins. This interval between skin cancer diagnosis and surgery was categorized into 5 cohorts: those diagnosed within 1 week or less, 1 - 4 weeks, 4 - 8 weeks, 8 - 12 weeks, and more than 12 weeks. The team calculated subjects’ overall survival from the date of their diagnostic biopsy to the date of mortality or last recorded follow-up for those who had not passed away.

The definition of a recurrence-free survival was the time from patients’ biopsy to the initial documented recurrence or last follow-up in the absence of skin cancer recurrence. Outcomes according to surgical timing were assessed by Saw and colleagues via Kaplan–Meier survival estimates. They aimed to add to their analysis through multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models, applied to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for patients’ overall survival and recurrence-free survival across the aforementioned time-to-surgery categories.

After evaluating them for inclusion criteria, 18,242 individuals were analyzed. The investigative team noted the mean age of the cohort had been 57.5 years, with men accounting for 57%. The most common location of primary tumors was the trunk, with 32.5% cases in total. This was followed by the upper limbs at 24.7% as the second most frequent area on the body. The average Breslow thickness was determined to be 1.8 mm, with values ranging from 0.1 mm - 50 mm. Superficial spreading melanoma was shown to be the predominant histologic subtype, accounting for 64% of the observed tumors.

Saw and coauthors stratified by time to surgery, noting the following patient decisions on definitive excision:

A link was additionally observed between longer delays between one’s diagnosis/definitive surgical management and worse clinical outcomes.

Compared to individuals treated in the 1 - 4 week range, those whose surgery took place between 8 - 12 weeks had poorer overall rates of survival (HR 1.23). A similar pattern was observed for recurrence-free survival (HR 1.36) for the 8- to 12-week cohort relative to the 1 - 4-week cohort, suggesting an increased recurrence risk with prolonged time to surgery.

“Improved data collection, including reasons for treatment delays and patient comorbidities, would assist in determining factors that may be able to be modified to achieve the 4 week timeframe,” Farley and coauthors concluded.

Farley EN, Hindmarch J, Saw RPM, et al. Timing of Definitive Surgical Management of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma: Association With Survival. ANZ J Surg. 2026 Jan 14. 

Baranowski MLH, Yeung H, Goodman M, et al. Factors associated with time to surgery in melanoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Database. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Oct;81(4):908-916. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.05.079. Epub 2019 Jun 1. PMID: 31163238; PMCID: PMC6752196.

Delaying melanoma surgery beyond four weeks post-diagnosis is linked to worse survival outcomes. Optimal results occur when surgery is performed within one to four weeks. The study analyzed data from the Melanoma Institute Australia, focusing on Stage I and II melanoma patients. The research highlighted a significant association between surgical timing and survival, with longer delays correlating with poorer outcomes. The study suggests that improved data collection on treatment delays and patient comorbidities could help achieve timely surgical interventions, potentially improving survival rates.

In this analysis, the rates of survival of primary cutaneous melanoma were evaluated based on the delay of definitive surgery.

Dermatology

The HCPLive dermatology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on skin disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for dermatologic conditions, and more.

Melanoma Surgery Delay After 4 Weeks Post-Diagnosis Decreases Survival Rates

Nancy Reau, MD, is Professor of Internal Medicine, Richard B. Capps Chair of Hepatology, Associate Director of Solid Organ Transplantation, and Section Chief of Hepatology at Rush University Medical Center.

Liver Lineup: Bridging Innovation and Practice in Liver Transplant and HCC Care

In this episode of Liver Lineup: Updates and Unfiltered Insights, hosts Kimberly Brown, MD, and Nancy Reau, MD, break down new research on liver transplantation, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the ongoing evolution of surveillance strategies in chronic liver disease. Drawing on their extensive experience as transplant hepatologists, Brown and Reau place new data into practical context, highlighting where evidence may meaningfully inform practice and where unanswered questions remain.

The conversation opens with a discussion of frailty assessment in transplant evaluation, an area of growing importance given its association with post-transplant outcomes. Brown highlights data comparing the 6-minute walk test with the Liver Frailty Index, noting that simpler, more scalable tools may perform comparably in predicting both waitlist and post-transplant outcomes. While formal frailty metrics are increasingly embedded into transplant workflows, both experts emphasize that implementation burden, staffing, and clinical actionability remain key considerations for transplant programs.

Turning to allocation policy, the duo examines real-world data on MELD 3.0, particularly its impact on transplant access for women. While early implementation suggested improved equity in organ offers, longer-term analyses indicate that these gains may not be sustained. Emerging data suggest height and body size, rather than sex alone, may continue to disadvantage certain patients, underscoring the complexity of refining allocation models that were originally designed to predict mortality, not transplant access.

A major focus of the episode is emerging global data on immune checkpoint inhibitors used for downstaging or bridging patients with HCC to liver transplantation. Reviewing outcomes from a large, international cohort, Brown outlines encouraging tumor response rates and acceptable post-transplant survival, while acknowledging a greater, but manageable, risk of rejection. Both experts stress the importance of washout timing and careful patient selection as immunotherapy becomes increasingly integrated into pre-transplant oncology care.

The discussion then shifts to the intersection of metabolic liver disease and HCC, highlighting data linking hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction with more advanced tumor stage and poorer treatment response. Reau emphasizes that delayed diagnosis and suboptimal surveillance in MASLD populations may play a significant role, particularly given ongoing challenges in defining who should be screened and how best to do so.

The episode concludes with a candid discussion of HCC surveillance adherence, with data showing strikingly low rates of full guideline-concordant screening. Notably, lack of physician recommendation emerged as the most common barrier. Brown and Reau go on to explore how blood-based biomarkers and composite scores, such as GALAD, may offer more accessible and consistent screening approaches, potentially reducing patient burden and improving early detection.

Editors’ note: Relevant Disclosures for Reau include AbbVie, Gilead, Salix, Arbutus, and VIR. Relevant disclosures for Brown include Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Gilead, Salix, Intercept, Ipsen, and Madrigal.

Elshaer A, Mead-Harvey C, Carey E. Comparison of the 6-Minute Walk Test and the Liver Frailty Index in Predicting Liver Transplant Mortality. Presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2025. Washington, DC. November 7-11, 2025.

Tanaka T, Shane D, Lai J. MELD 3.0 Failed to Sustainably Address Sex Disparities in US Liver Transplant Allocation. Presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2025. Washington, DC. November 7-11, 2025.

Yang JD, Rezaee-Zavareh MS, Wang T, et al. Leveraging Immunotherapy For Transplantation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIFT HCC): Analysis of 375 Patients Receiving Pre-Transplant Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2025. Washington, DC. November 7-11, 2025.

Duseja A, Ashraf MU, Singh P, et al. Impact of hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction on disease severity and treatment outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2025. Washington, DC. November 7-11, 2025.

Shukla A, Padole V, Vaidya A. NON-ADHERENCE TO SURVEILLANCE PROTOCOL OF HEPATOCELLULAR CANCER IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS: PREVALENCE AND REASONS. Presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2025. Washington, DC. November 7-11, 2025.

Demirtas C, Akin S, Karadag DY, et al. Enhancing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance: Comparative Evaluation of AFP, AFP-L3, DCP, and Composite Scoring Models in a Biobank-Based Case-Control Study. Presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2025. Washington, DC. November 7-11, 2025.

Podcasts

Reau and Brown discuss emerging research in liver transplantation and hepatocellular carcinoma from AASLD The Liver Meeting 2025.

podcasts page features a feed of medical news and interview podcast series, including DocTalk, Lungcast, Derm Discussions, and Heart Trials.

Liver Lineup: Updates & Unfiltered Insights

Introducing Liver Lineup: Updates & Unfiltered Insights — an exciting new podcast delivering timely, candid perspectives on the most pressing topics in the fast-moving world of hepatology. Created by Nancy Reau, MD, and Kimberly Brown, MD, and hosted by HCPLive, this series dives into the cutting edge of liver disease research, clinical care, and real-world practice.

Hepatology

Alex Hillenbrand is an assistant editor for 

. She earned her BA in English from Lafayette College in 2023 and went on to write for pop culture, entertainment, and sports media outlets before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2025. In her free time, Alex enjoys cooking, going on walks, and meeting new people. Contact her at mjhlifesciences.com.

Credit: Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center

New research suggests iron polymaltose complex (IPC) demonstrated a superior hematologic response compared with liposomal iron in pediatric patients with

Although both oral iron formulations effectively improved iron status, investigators observed discernible differences in efficacy and tolerability, with liposomal iron demonstrating a more favorable tolerability profile.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a leading complication in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including early disease stages.

Liposomal iron has been shown to increase hemoglobin and iron indices with improved tolerability in pediatric and adult CKD populations. IPC is widely used in children with IDA and is generally well tolerated. However, data evaluating its use in pediatric CKD, particularly in direct comparison with liposomal iron, are limited.

“This is the first crossover study comparing novel oral iron preparations for the treatment of IDA in children with CKD,” wrote study investigator Happy Sawires, MD, professor of medicine at Cairo University, and colleagues.

Sawires and colleagues conducted a 2-period crossover study to compare iron polymaltose complex (IPC) and liposomal iron in pediatric patients with CKD and IDA. 

They randomized patients into 2 groups, A and B, to receive either 240 mg liposomal iron at a dose of 1.4 mg/kg/day administered once daily or IPC at a dose of 6 mg/kg for 3 months. After an 8-week washout period, they were switched to the other therapy.

At baseline and after each 3-month treatment period, investigators assessed red cell indices, iron parameters, bone minerals, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. A follow-up visit at 4 weeks during each treatment period was conducted to assess adverse events.

Anemia was defined as hemoglobin below the lower limit of normal for age and IDA was diagnosed when transferrin saturation <20% and serum ferritin < 100 ng/ml]. The CKD diagnostic criteria were based on the guidelines proposed by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO).

The primary outcome was efficacy after 3 months, assessed by percentage change in Hb (ΔHb), serum iron (ΔFe), TSAT (ΔTSAT), and sTR (ΔsTR). Secondary outcomes focused on safety, including treatment-related adverse events.

The study included 33 pediatric patients aged 1 to 15 years with CKD stages 2 to 5 who were not receiving kidney replacement therapy and were treated at the Pediatric Nephrology Outpatient Clinic at Cairo University Children’s Hospital.

Investigators observed an increase in hemoglobin levels by < 1 g/dL in 16 patients (48%) after liposomal iron treatment and in 17 patients (51.5%) following IPC therapy. Serum ferritin levels increased significantly after IPC and liposomal iron administration in group B (

 = .003, respectively), whereas in group A, a significant increase was observed only with liposomal iron (

In group A, investigators did not discover any statistically significant differences between liposomal iron and IPC in ΔHb, ΔFe, ΔsTR, or ΔTSAT (

= .534, .401, .80, and .955, respectively). Similarly, in group B, no significant differences were observed for these parameters (

 = .298, .20, .102, and .786, respectively).

In mixed-model analysis, investigators observed IPC was associated with significantly increased Hb and TSAT and lower sTR levels compared with liposomal iron (

 ≈ .039, .023, and .044, respectively), while changes in serum iron were not significantly different. No significant period or carryover effects were observed.

Investigators noted IPC exhibited a substantial reduction in serum phosphorus levels in both groups A and B (

 = .043 and .044, respectively), while there was a non-significant decrease in both serum calcium and 25(OH)D3 levels (

> .05). Notably, liposomal iron did not induce any significant changes in these parameters.

In general, adverse effects were mild and more prevalent with IPC compared to liposomal iron. Specifically, 12 (36%) of IPC recipients experienced adverse effects, whereas only 3 (9%) of liposomal iron recipients experienced adverse effects. This difference was statistically significant (

“In conclusion, both IPC and liposomal iron effectively improved iron status in children with CKD and IDA,” investigators concluded. However, IPC indicated a superior response as evidenced by higher Hb and TSAT and lower sTR compared with liposomal iron, whereas liposomal iron was associated with a more favorable tolerability profile.”

They noted future studies comparing both formulations with ferrous sulfate may further clarify their relative efficacy.

Sawires H, Abd Alazem EA, Atia F, Salem A, Samy A, Gamal M. Oral liposomal iron vs. oral iron polymaltose in children with chronic kidney disease iron deficiency anemia: a cross-over study. 

. Published online January 15, 2026. doi:

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-025-07138-w

Rangaraj S, Suresh P, Sundar S, Raju P. Liposomal Iron vs. Conventional Iron in the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. 

. Published online November 18, 2025. doi:

Mohd Rosli RR, Norhayati MN, Ismail SB. Effectiveness of iron polymaltose complex in treatment and prevention of iron deficiency anemia in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 

Research indicates that iron polymaltose complex (IPC) shows a superior hematologic response compared to liposomal iron in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Both oral iron formulations improved iron status, but liposomal iron had a more favorable tolerability profile. The study, a crossover trial, involved 33 pediatric patients and assessed various hematologic parameters. IPC was associated with higher hemoglobin and transferrin saturation levels, while liposomal iron was better tolerated. Future studies may compare these formulations with ferrous sulfate for further insights.

In children with CKD and iron deficiency anemia, iron polymaltose complex improved hemoglobin and TSAT, while liposomal iron was better tolerated.


Nephrology

The HCPLive nephrology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on kidney disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in nephrology, and more.

Hematology

Anemia

Chronic Kidney Disease

Iron Polymaltose Complex Outperforms Liposomal Iron in Pediatric CKD Anemia

Chelsie Derman is an associate editor for 

who covers psychiatry, sleep medicine, geriatrics, migraine, and allergy. She joined MJH Life Sciences in September 2023 after graduating from The College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and professional writing. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing and reading.

A study showed that adding cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to quetiapine could reduce suicide risk and improve depressive symptoms in adults with 

“Psychosocially, adding CBT to quetiapine treatment reduces suicide risk for patients with mood disorders due to maladaptive cognitions including hopelessness, helplessness, and intolerance of distress addressed in CBT, such as increased social support, greater hope for the future, or decreased depression severity,” wrote study investigator Ke Wang, from the department of psychiatry at the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, and colleagues.

Research has shown that integrating CBT with pharmacological treatment helps reduce suicide risk in patients with mood disorders. A study published in 2024 revealed that adding CBT to the usual treatment of an inpatient admitted for suicidal ideation or behavior reduced 6-month discharge suicide reattempts and the rate of readmissions.

In this study, investigators sought to assess the impact of CBT integration with quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic with anti-anxiety and mood-stabilizing properties, on suicide risk, depressive symptoms, and coping style in adults with mood disorders.

 The primary outcome was suicide risk assessed by the Nurses’ Global Assessment of Suicide Risk (NGASR) scale. Secondary outcomes included depressive symptoms assessed by the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-24) and coping style assessed by the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire.

The retrospective study included 137 patients who were admitted to the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University for a mood disorder, either depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, from March 2024 to February 2025. The study excluded those with a lifetime diagnosis of any psychotic disorder, suicide risk due to binge substance use or withdrawal, any major medical or neurological illness, > 3 months of lifetime psychotropic medication exposure, active psychotropic medication of ≥ 2 weeks before enrollment, and pregnancy or lactation.

Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either quetiapine plus CBT (n = 69) or quetiapine alone (n = 70). At baseline, the groups did not show a significant difference in the high suicide risk.

All participants received an oral administration of quetiapine for 12 weeks, starting with 100 mg/d on day 1 and increased by 100 mg/d on the following 4 days. At the psychiatrist’s discretion, the dose could be augmented to 800 mg/d on day 6; the augmented dose could not exceed 200 mg/d.

Participants in the quetiapine arm still received treatment as usual consisting of psychoeducation and self-management (i.e., encouragement of a healthy lifestyle with a regular diet and sleep time, and appropriate exercise). The quetiapine plus CBT arm also received treatment as usual; these patients received 50-minute sessions of CBT weekly over 12 weeks, which included 7 core modules: psychoeducation, emotional recognition, behavioral activation, the ABC model and chain analysis, identifying automatic thoughts, thought challenging and substituting, improving social skills, and relapse prevention.

High suicide risk decreased by 32.9% after the 12-week intervention in the quetiapine plus CBT arm, versus 15.7% in the quetiapine only arm. The quetiapine plus CBT arm had a significantly lower suicide risk at 12 weeks than the quetiapine arm (30% vs 13.40%;

The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) demonstrated a significant main effect of treatment in scores of NGASR (P <.01), HDRS-24 (P <.01), positive coping (P <.01), and negative coping (P <.01) of the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Compared with the quetiapine only, the quetiapine plus CBT group had lower NGASR (mean difference, -1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.3 to -1.0) and HDRS-24 scores (mean difference, -6.5; 95% CI, -9.0 to -4.0), greater positive coping (mean difference, 2.4; 95% CI, 0.9 to 3.9), and lower negative coping (-2.3; 95% CI, -3.2 to -1.4) after 12 weeks.

“In conclusion, our findings suggest adding CBT to quetiapine to decrease suicide risk for adult patients with mood disorders, reduce depressive symptoms, promote their positive coping style, and decrease negative coping style,” investigators wrote. “Therefore, clinical benefits from CBT combined with quetiapine suggests patients with mood disorder and suicide risk receiving pharmacotherapy should also be offered skills-based psychosocial interventions that emphasize illness management strategies and enhance coping skills. Health care systems should recruit more trained psychologists and offer combinations of evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy to patients with mood disorder, especially with suicide risk in resource-limited settings.”

Wang K, Cai S, Duanmu XR, et al. Effect of adding cognitive behavioral therapy to quetiapine on suicide risk, depressive symptoms, and coping style in adult patients with mood disorders. 

. Published online January 3, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.01.005

Derman C. Adding Brief CBT to Inpatient’s Usual Treatment Reduces Suicide Reattempts. HCPLive. Published on September 18, 2024. Accessed on January 16, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/adding-brief-cbt-to-inpatient-s-usual-treatment-reduces-suicide-reattempts

A study evaluated the impact of combining cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) with quetiapine on suicide risk and depressive symptoms in adults with mood disorders. The research involved 137 patients, comparing quetiapine alone to quetiapine plus CBT over 12 weeks. Results showed a significant reduction in suicide risk and depressive symptoms in the CBT group. The study highlighted the importance of integrating psychosocial interventions with pharmacotherapy to enhance coping skills and manage mood disorders effectively, especially in resource-limited settings.

A 12-week study found that combining CBT with quetiapine lowered suicide risk more than quetiapine alone in adults with depressive or bipolar disorders.

Psychiatry

Psychiatry condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on mental illnesses. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and more.

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Major Depressive Disorder condition center page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into depression can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on MDD research, treatment, and drug development.

Adding CBT to Quetiapine Significantly Reduces Suicide Risk in Mood Disorders

Diana Isaacs, PharmD, is an endocrine clinical pharmacist, director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology, and codirector of Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy at the Cleveland Clinic.

Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, review tech updates from Sequel Med Tech, Diabeloop, and Medtronic.

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Diabetes Dialogue

Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives is a monthly podcast hosted by Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, aimed at providing a regular roundup of the latest clinically applicable insights across diabetes and metabolic diseases, with a focus on leveraging technology to improve care.

Strategic Alliance Partnership

Diabetes Dialogue: Tech Updates on Twiist, MiniMed Go, and More

Sidhartha Sinha, MD, is an assistant professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at Stanford University.

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Sinha explains current unmet needs in mild Crohn’s, the shortcomings of steroids for these patients, and what benefits a fasting-mimicking diet may offer.

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, IBS and IBD, Crohn's disease, and more.

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When Medications Fall Short: Exploring Diet in Mild Crohn’s Disease, With Sidhartha Sinha, MD

A population-based analysis suggests age and sex specific eGFR percentiles and a web-based calculator can identify CKD risk before diagnostic thresholds. 


Age, Sex Specific eGFR Percentiles May Enable Earlier CKD Detection

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team in 2022 and is currently an associate editor for HCPLive. He is also the executive producer of two podcasts: Skin of Color Savvy and The Medical Sisterhood. Previously, he was the producer of the Lungcast podcast. He graduated from UC Berkeley and worked in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. You can contact him at tsmith@mjhlifesciences.com.

This study analyzed the Chronic Urticaria Registry (CURE), evaluating CSU treatment patterns and looking into unmet needs in real-world practice.

Urticaria

The HCPLive urticaria page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on chronic idiopathic urticaria and chronic spontaneous urticaria. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for urticaria, and more.

Unmet Needs Highlighted Regarding CSU Treatment Escalation

Linda Stein Gold, MD, is a dermatologist at Henry Ford Health. 

Final reflections from physicians Stein Gold, Soung, and Cotter, emphasizing multidisciplinary, patient-focused advances in psoriasis and PsA care.

Video Series

Closing Thoughts on the Impact of IL-23s in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Reduced IgE binding and blunted basophil activation in response to Gal d 1 and Gal d 2 suggest that heat-treated egg proteins could improve the safety of OIT for egg-allergic patients.

Allergy

Allergy condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on allergic and inflammatory diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for food and seasonal allergies, as well as allergic asthma and related conditions.

Food Allergy

Heat-Denatured Egg Allergens May Offer Safer Oral Immunotherapy

Ryan Livingston joined the MJH Life Sciences team in March of 2025, shortly after graduating from TCNJ with a bachelor’s degree in English. He enjoys creative writing, reading, and scuba diving. He can be reached at rlivingston@mjhlifesciences.com.

A cohort study of patients from the Women’s Health Study has highlighted the direct correlation between lipoprotein(a) levels and cardiovascular risk in healthy patients.

Cardiology

Cardiology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for heart disease and cardiovascular events, as well as associated diabetes, renal failure, and more...

Dyslipidemia

Very High Lipoprotein(a) Levels Linked to Cardiovascular Disease Among Healthy Women

A smartphone-based patient-caregiver educational program was evaluated in its impact on relapse rates in children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis condition center page, audiences can find a variety of coverage mediums for medical news and updates, including articles, video interviews, podcasts, and breaking news on dermatitis research, treatment, and drug development.

Digital Eczema Education Decreases Relapse Rates in Children in the Short-Term

Berotralstat becomes the first once-daily oral prophylactic option for long-term prevention of hereditary angioedema in children aged 2–11 years.

FDA Approves Oral Berotralstat for Pediatric HAE, With Jolanta Bernatoniene, PhD

Frances Lee, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the division of liver diseases at Mount Sinai.

Lee describes misconceptions about ALD, the importance of multidisciplinary care, and what the future of pharmacotherapy for this disease may hold.

Latest News

FDA Clears LEADOPTIK's LIA System for Higher-Accuracy Lung Biopsy

Melanoma Surgery Delay After 4 Weeks Post-Diagnosis Decreases Survival Rates

Liver Lineup: Bridging Innovation and Practice in Liver Transplant and HCC Care

Iron Polymaltose Complex Outperforms Liposomal Iron in Pediatric CKD Anemia

Adding CBT to Quetiapine Significantly Reduces Suicide Risk in Mood Disorders