News for Healthier Living

Autistic Patients Need Better Care, Accommodations in the Medical Office

Lauren Schiff, MD, a gynecologic surgeon at the UNC School of Medicine, and Ashley Hester, PhD, a psychologist at the UNC TEACCH Autism Program, outline simple ways physicians can improve quality of care for autistic patients - and how these methods can help everyone who comes into the office.

April 11, 2025

April 18 2025

• Shouldering the Burden of How to Treat Shoulder Pain
• People With Medical Debt Five Times More Likely to Not Receive Mental Health Care Treatment
• Research Identifies Key Enzyme Target to Fight Deadly Brain Cancers
• Game-Changing AI-Powered Model Predicts Post-Concussion Injury Risk in College Athletes
• Protein That Stops Cell Division Could Serve as a Biomarker or Therapeutic Target for Liver Disease
• Helping Juvenile Offenders Find a Path to Success
• Trump Administration Plans Deep Cuts to Federal Health Budget
• Top NIH Nutrition Researcher Quits, Citing Censorship Under Kennedy
• HHS Fires Team That Sets Federal Poverty Guidelines
• First Weight-Loss Pill From Lilly Shows Promising Results
• Cedars-Sinai Marks 15 Years of Regenerative Medicine
• Study Highlights Gaps in Firearm Suicide Prevention Among Women
• Allergy Expert Gives Tips On Seasonal Allergies
• Pregnancy Complications Affect Future Heart Health
• Stroke Among Younger Adults Linked To Non-Traditional Risks
• Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnoses Are Lagging, Patients Undertreated
• Magnetic Stimulation Aids Speech Recovery Following Stroke
• Air, Light Pollution Increase Risk Of Thyroid Cancer In Children
• The Medical Minute: Your Organ Donation Questions Answered
• New Research Aims to Improve Availability of Kidneys for Transplantation
• Science-Backed Exercise Therapy Improves Low Back Pain

April 17 2025

• Roswell Park Researchers to Discuss Recent Discoveries and Critical Issues in Oncology at AACR 2025
• Questions About Measles? Here Are 12 Answers
• Comfortable in (bio)printed skin
• Monell Center Study Identifies GLP-1 Therapies as a Possible Treatment for Rare Genetic Disorder Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
• New CDC Report Shows Increase in Autism in 2022 with Notable Shifts in Race, Ethnicity, and Sex
• Key Enzyme in Lipid Metabolism Linked to Immune System Aging
• Vaccine Panel Urges More Protection Against RSV, Meningitis and Chikungunya
• Groundbreaking Study Uncovers How Our Brain Learns
• Fewer Americans Traveled for Abortions in 2024, Report Finds
• New Endangered Species Rule Would No Longer Count Habitat Loss as 'Harm'
• MD Anderson Research Highlights for April 17, 2025
• Seeing Double at Cedars-Sinai During National Volunteer Week
• Artificial Right Atrium for Fontan Patients Wins Key Funding
• CHOP, Penn Medicine Researchers Use Deep Learning Algorithm to Pinpoint Potential Disease-Causing Variants in Non-Coding Regions of the Human Genome
• Global Telemedicine Therapy for Dementia Shows Benefit
• Eleven Tips for Coping with an Anxiety Disorder
• Medical Mistrust Could Be Harming Hep A Vaccination Rates Among Gay, Bisexual Men
• Smoking/Vaping Combo Poses Health Risks
• Alternative To Hip Replacement Helps Patients Remain Physically Active
• Outdoor Play, Sports Can Promote Motor Skills In Youngsters
• Common Meds Appear To Delay Onset Of Parkinson's Disease
• Improved Canine Eyedrops Deliver Antibiotics More Effectively
• Study Reveals Link Between Abdominal CT Use and Sarcopenia Diagnosis Among Older Adults
• Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulant and Antiseizure Medication Interactions: A Gray Zone in Epilepsy Treatment

April 16 2025

• Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for April 2025
• A New Approach to Asthma Treatment: Harnessing the Liver to Reprogram the Immune System
• FDA Approves Self-Injection of Vyvgart Hytrulo
• Lifelong Physical Activity May Slow Cognitive Decline
• Microbes in Brooklyn Superfund Site Teach Lessons on Fighting Industrial Pollution
• CHLA to Train First Responders in Helping Individuals With Disabilities During Natural Disasters
• How Do Age, Sex, Hormones and Genetics Affect Dementia Biomarkers in the Blood?
• New Trial Will Test Gene-Edited Pig Liver for Sudden Liver Failure Patients
• Autism Rates Rise Again, Now Affecting 1 in 31 U.S. Children
• Arkansas, Indiana Push to Ban Candy, Soda From SNAP Program
• Blood Test Can Predict Melanoma Recurrence
• Brisk Walking Lowers Risk Of Heart Rhythm Disorders
• Timing Might Be Everything With Asthma Inhalers
• Gene Test Predicts Urinary Problems From Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy
• Frequent Use of Antibiotics in Infants and Young Children May Increase Risk for Asthma, Allergies and Other Conditions
• AI Identifies Heart Valve Disease From Common Imaging Test
• Heavy Weed Use Increases Risk Of Dementia
• CT Scans Can Increase Your Cancer Risk
• New Drug Targets Bone Disease by Blocking the Wnt Signaling Pathway
• Climate-Related Trauma Can Have Lasting Effects on Decision-Making, Study Finds
• Our DNA Is at Risk of Hacking - Warn Scientists
• First Study Reveals Neurotoxic Potential of Rose-Scented Citronellol at High Exposure Levels

April 15 2025

• To Keep High-Risk Patients Out of the Hospital, at-Home Monitoring Shows Promise in New Study
• FDA Approves Combo of Opdivo Plus Yervoy for Advanced Liver Cancer
• Medicaid Telehealth Study Shows Positive Impacts
• Research Reveals Patient Attitudes Toward Devices Like Smartwatches
• Studying How Seals Adapt to Extreme Environments Could Lead to Benefits in Human Reproductive Health
• While AI Could Be the Game Changer in Predicting Health Outcomes It Should Not Be the Only Method
• Studying Interventions to Help Type 2 Diabetes Patients Avoid Hospitalizations
• Aiming for High-Precision Immunotherapy
• Guinea Pigs: A Promising Animal Model to Study the Human Embryo
• Autism Rates Hit Record High, With One in 31 Children Affected, CDC Reports
• Yes, Men Get Varicose Veins Too
• Double Lung Transplant Gives Arizona Dad Time to See Kids Grow Up
• Largest Genome-Wide Association Study Uncovers New Drug Targets and Potential Therapies for Osteoarthritis
• AAPM Addresses Concerns from Published Study on CT Risk
• Combination Therapy Shows Promise for Hard-to-Treat Pancreatic Cancer
• You Can Heal More Wounds with Honey
• Experts Stress Importance of Vaccination Amidst Measles Outbreaks
• Pfizer Ends Testing of Obesity Pill After Possible Liver Injury
• Pig Kidney Removed After Historic Transplant in Alabama Woman
• New Antibiotic May Be Effective in Treating Gonorrhea
• Active Families Boost Teens' Physical and Mental Health
• Dual-Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes Exposes Adults to Same Cancer and Health Risks as Cigarette Use Only, New ACS Study Finds
• Poor Agreement Between Diagnostic Tests for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema
• Smart Shirt Might Predict Heart Problems
• Gun Violence Leads To Skipped Dental Visits, Lost Teeth
• ERs Treat A Gunshot Wound Every Half-Hour
• Miscommunication Between Health Workers Puts Patients At Risk Regularly
• Blood on Board
• In-Hospital Addiction Consultations Put Opioid Users On Path To Recovery
• Everyday Digital Tech Is Protecting Seniors' Brain Health, Study Says
• Cell Therapy for Brain Tumors: Foundation Hosts Focused Ultrasound Roundtable
• Young Children, as Early as Age 5, Are Guided by an Inner Moral Code
• Differential Impact of Intergenerational Support on Urban and Rural Older Adults' Life Satisfaction in China
• Asthma Symptoms Are Complicated, Especially When Triggered by Allergies
• Researchers Uncover Molecular Connection Between Body Fat and Anxiety
• Artificial Skin From Hydrogels
• Hold-Up - Are High Support Bras Bad for the Back?

April 14 2025

• Enabling Stroke Victims to 'Speak': $19M Toward Brain Implants to Be Built at U-M
• MSU Expert: Why the US Is Experiencing a Boomerang Effect in Formerly Rare Childhood Illnesses
• New Guidance on Diagnosing Malnutrition in Critically Ill Adults
• Understanding Vicarious Trauma in Research Assistant Roles
• Immune Protein STING Key for Repairing, Generating Lysosomes
• Culturally Sensitive and Targeted Interventions Needed to Enhance Hepatitis A Vaccination Among LGBTQ+ Adults
• A 67-Year-Old Donor's 'Sliver of Liver' Saves a Baby's Life
• Study Looks at Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Rates of Congenital Heart Disease Procedures Among Children
• New Study Shows Medicaid Expansion Improves Timely Lung Cancer Treatment and Access to High-Volume Hospitals
• ACR Statement on JAMA CT Scan Radiation Study (Smith-Bindman, et al)
• THC Exposure before Birth May Impair Infant Lung Development and Function
• UF Professor Develops AI Tool to Better Assess Parkinson's Disease, Other Movement Disorders
• One Firearm Injury Was Treated Every 30 Minutes in Emergency Departments in a Study of 10 Jurisdictions
• More Adults Now Use Tirzepatide and Semaglutide Over Conventional Glucose and Weight Lowering Medications
• Poor Communication Causes One in 10 Patient Safety Incidents in Hospitals
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Researchers Chart Natural History of Patients with SCN8A-Related Disorders
• Artificial Intelligence Recreates the Motion of a Beating Heart Using Surface Electrical Recordings
• CDC Denies Milwaukee's Request for Help on Lead in Schools
• Fisher-Price Recalls 253,000 Baby Toys Over Choking Risk
• Two Deaths in Oregon County Linked to Fatal Brain Disorder
• Study Reveals How Inherited Genes Help Shape the Course of Cancer
• Study Sheds Light on How Inherited Cancer Mutations Drive Tumor Growth
• A Dynamic Peripheral Immune Landscape During Human Pregnancy
• Immune Cell 'Messengers' Could Save Crumbling Bones - New Hope for Joint Pain Sufferers
• Catch Me if You Can? Check
• Home-Delivered Medical Meals Could Prevent Millions Of Hospitalizations A Year
• Cystic Fibrosis Screening Favors White Children, Report Says
• Natural Disasters Increase Cancer Risk
• ADHD Drugs Generally Safe For Heart Health, Review Says
• Cancer Screening Rates Down Among American Adults
• Menstrual Cycle Could Be Contributing To Sickle Cell Pain Events
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Researchers Develop Cell Atlas to Uncover Significant Shifts in the Neuroblastoma Tumor Microenvironment
• Extreme Heat Poses Threat to Mental Health
• New AASM Position Statement Highlights the Clinical Significance of Sleepiness and Its Impact on Health and Safety
• Brain Research: Study Shows How Brain Stimulation Can Influence Decisions

April 12 2025

• How Savvy Habits May Help Head Off Dementia

April 11 2025

• 3 Ways to Nip Seasonal Allergies in Texas in the Bud - and 4 Treatment Myths, Debunked
• How Accurate Is BMI as a Health Indicator?
• Rutgers Physician Assistant Studies is Third in U.S. News and World Report's Graduate School Rankings
• Autistic Patients Need Better Care, Accommodations in the Medical Office
• What Does Whooping Cough Sound Like?
• FASEB BioAdvances April 2025 Issue: Exploring the Intersection of Environmental Factors, Innovative Treatments, and Precision Medicine
• Research Tip Sheet: New Data on Parkinson's, Measles Expert
• HHS Launches New Autism Study Despite Experts’ Concerns
• CDC Urges Extra Measles Shot for Some U.S. Travelers Amid Outbreak
• Showerhead Water Limits Rescinded as Trump Targets Household Appliances
• Alternative to Hip Replacement Keeps Aging Athletes in the Game
• Moffitt Study Shows New Immune Boost Could Expand Access to Cancer Immunotherapy
• Most Women Aren't Clear When Menopause Might Start
• New Visual Test For Autism Could Aid Earlier Diagnosis
• Adopting Best Practices in Gut Microbiome Research to Yield Rewards
• Half-Million Children Could Die If U.S. AIDS Relief Is Dropped
• Seasonal Allergies Likely To Grow Worse Under Climate Change
• Fighting for Others: How Guilt and Obligation Drives the Desire for More Intensive Treatments in End-of-Life Cancer Care
• First Baby Born From Robot-Controlled IVF
• Eviction Bans Linked To Drop In Child Abuse Reports
• Catching Cavities Before They Start
• Superhero Team Delivers a Second Chance at Life with Double Lung Transplant

April 10 2025

• Moffitt-Led International Study Finds New Drug Delivery System Effective Against Rare Eye Cancer
• Puberty Triggers Brain Rewiring in Genetic Condition Tied to Autism
• MSU Research: School-Based Asthma Therapy Improves Student Health, Lowers Medical Costs
• How a Professor Is Bridging the Gap for Better Patient Dental Care
• Focused Ultrasound Exceeds One Million Patients Treated Worldwide
• Landmark Study Identifies New Genetic Cause of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Bringing Long-Awaited Answers to Families
• Study Finds Immune Protein Modification Blocks Viral Replication, Heart Inflammation
• UC Irvine, California OTS Bolster Traffic Safety Program for Alcohol Awareness Month
• Researchers Create 'Wiring Diagram' for Key Songbird Brain Region
• Roswell Park-Led Research Reveals a Hidden Vulnerability of Lung Cancer
• New Surgical Research in April: Preoperative Weight Loss, Opioid Stewardship, Motion Tracking for Surgical Education, and More
• Brain Imaging Plus Virtual Reality Shows Promise for Effectively Managing Cancer Pain
• Society of Surgical Oncology Highlights Roswell Park Experts at 2025 Annual Meeting
• Brain Pathway Links Inflammation to Loss of Motivation, Energy in Advanced Cancer
• Pets May Boost Happiness As Much As Family or Friends
• A New UV Light May Help Stop Future Pandemics
• FDA Reverses Office Order, Lets Staff Work From Home
• Running on Empty: Poor Nutrition Increases Injury Risk for Female Athletes
• Researchers Identify Factors in Early-Life Linked to Body Fat in South Asian Children
• Eating By Day Might Cut Heart Health Risk To Night Shift Workers
• Co-ops Offer Welcome Alternative For Home Care Workers
• Air Pollution Tied To Cognitive Decline Among Seniors
• Recognizing and Overcoming Postpartum Depression
• Hearing Loss Could Predict Heart Failure
• Ohio State First in the World to Test Devices to Improve and Treat Smell Loss
• Heavy Drinking Linked To Brain Damage, Increased Risk Of Dementia
• Certain Nasal Bacteria May Boost the Risk for COVID-19 Infection, Study Finds
• Fathers With Alzheimer's Might Pass Down The Disease, Study Says
• Landmark Study Identifies New Genetic Cause of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Bringing Long-Awaited Answers to Families

April 9 2025

• New Breakthrough Combats Lenalidomide Resistance in Multiple Myeloma
• Clinical Trial Opens for Patients with High-Grade Neuroendocrine Cancer
• Advanced Imaging Reveals Mechanisms That Cause Autoimmune Disease
• Microscopic Magnificence
• Nearly Half of Americans Are Stressed at Least Once a Week, and 1 in 6 Are Stressed Every Day
• New Method Identifies Protein That May Govern Cancer Cell Movement and Metastasis
• Tracking Firearm Violence and Impact on Dental Health
• The Medical Minute: Sexual Violence Against Older Adults: How to Find Help and Healing
• MSU Research: Eating Brown Rice Increases Exposure to Arsenic Compared to White Rice
• Preclinical Study Links Gut Bacteria to Inflamed Blood Vessels
• Researchers Investigate How to Integrate Behavioral Health Into Primary Care
• How Does Heavy Drinking Affect the Brain?
• Father with Alzheimer's? You May Be More at Risk of Brain Changes
• UCLA Researchers Identify Precision Medicine Approach for Preventing Kidney Failure
• Trump Administration Withdraws Key ADA Documents
• Key HIV Care Teams Let Go, Putting Mothers and Children at Risk
• 'Zero Suicide' Model Leads To Fewer Suicides in Health Systems
• A Comprehensive Map of the Human Cell
• Investing in COVID-19 Vaccination More Than Paid Off for U.S., Study Finds
• Stroke, Dementia, Depression Share Many Risk Factors
• Diet Drinks, Processed Foods Might Increase Type 2 Diabetes Risk
• Experimental Drug Can Slow MS Disability
• America's ERs In Peril, Report Says
• Tasers Can Interfere With Heart Implants, Study Says
• Chronic Low Back Pain? Mindfulness Can Help
• New Research Deepens Understanding of How Vitamin K Affects Brain Health
• ADHA Supports Community Water Fluoridation Amid Recent Challenges
• Starch-Based Microplastics Could Cause Health Risks in Mice, Study Finds
• Finding Cancer's 'Fingerprints'
• Two Paths to Healing: Organoids Reveal Sex-Specific Bone Regeneration Mechanisms
• CAR-M Technology: A Novel Approach to Overcome CAR-T Limitations in Solid Tumor Treatment

April 8 2025

• Researchers' Study Show Advancements in GP38 Contributions to CCHFV and Monoclonal Antibody Therapies
• Curbing Harmful Medicines: The Promise of a Unified African Health Products Regulatory System
• Immune Cell Research Identifies Potential New Target for Treating Cancer and Autoimmune Disease
• Chicago Adults Name Gun Violence, Poverty, Lack of Supervision and Social Media as Top Child Health Concerns
• ACSM Announces Paper of the Year Awards for Scientific Journals
• Closing the Gap: Addressing Black Maternal Health Disparities
• Neonatal Diabetes Model Provides Insights on How Condition Develops
• Breakthrough Research Revolutionizing Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment
• How Risky Is the Bird Flu in Cats?
• HSS Studies Identify Potential Profile and Treatment Options for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
• How Does Your Gut Microbiome Affect Your Health?
• Federal Funding Cuts Would 'Decimate' Medical Research, Expert Warns
• Study Finds Sharp Rise in Dangerous Strep Infections
• Liquid Egg Products Recalled Over Possible Bleach Contamination
• RFK Jr. Wants CDC to Stop Recommending Fluoride in Drinking Water
• Powerful New Tool Promises Major Advances in Cancer Treatment
• Conserved Chromatin Regulators Control the Transcriptional Immune Response to Intracellular Pathogens in Caenorhabditis Elegans
• Two Angels, a Robot and 23: A Johns Hopkins Medicine Organ Transplant Story
• BGSU Research Finds Clear Link Between Children's Education Level and Parents' Risk of Dementia
• Pregnancy Might Offer Protection Against Long COVID
• CBD Could Calm Kids With Autism
• Medicare Advantage Plans Squeezing Billions More From U.S. Government
• Genome Sequencing Finds Answers to Mystery Conditions in the NICCU
• AI Outperforms Urgent Care Docs, Study Says
• TB Cases Go Undetected In Prisons, Threatening Nearby Communities
• Gluten-Free Diet and Arsenic Exposure, Virtual CBT for IBS, and More in the April Issue of AJG
• UT Southwestern Q&A: What You Need to Know About the Measles
• Redefining Value in Care for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
• Setback in Gene Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy as Immune System Emerges as Key Barrier

April 7 2025

• Gastrointestinal Disease Costs U.S. More Than $100 Billion, UNC Researchers Estimate
• Clinical Study Shows Modulation of Ki-67 Markers by those taking Avmacol(r) in Former Smokers at High-risk for Lung Cancer
• Inflammation and the Brain: How Immune Activity Can Alter Mood and Fuel Anxiety
• Coding Differences in Medicare Advantage Plans Led to $33 Billion in Excess Revenue to Insurers
• ER Visits Attributable to Semaglutide Can Be Very Serious but Are Uncommon
• Experts Debate Management of Patient with Decreased Bone Density
• Medically Tailored Meal Programs Could Yield Significant Health Care Savings Across 49 U.S. States
• New Study in Brain Communications Finds Personalized Deep Brain Stimulation Shows Promise for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
• Health Secretary Says Some Cuts to CDC Will Be Reversed
• CDC Cuts Key Smoking Programs Despite Success in Curbing Smoking Rates
• RFK Jr. Touts Vaccine While at Funeral of Texas Girl Who Died of Measles
• Biden Plan to Expand Obesity Drug Coverage Is Rejected
• Toxicology: Brett Gardner's Son Died Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Hackensack Meridian Health Experts Available To Discuss The Dangers
• Test Predicts Which Patients with Prostate Cancer Are Most Likely to Develop Long-Term Side Effects From Radiation Therapy
• Proteins Shown to Act As 'Guardians' to Keep Cells' Energy Making Mitochondria Safe
• Hospitalization Offers Chance to Begin Treatment for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder
• Two-Thirds of U.S. Adolescent Minors Are Impacted by State Abortion Restrictions
• Home Care Cooperatives May Be Key to Addressing the Critical Shortage of Caregivers for the Elderly
• Most Eligible Smokers Not Getting Lung Cancer Screening
• Heart-Related Deaths More Likely During Day/Night Heatwaves
• Wildfire Smoke Increases Risk Of Mental Health Problems
• Some Folks Hit With Fees for Using Health Care Message Portals
• Diarrhea-Causing Bacteria Spreading Undetected Through Hospitals
• Ozone Pollution Increases Risk Of Childhood Asthma
• Short Activity Breaks and HIIT Combo Boosts Heart Health in Sedentary Adults
• Perceiving One's Own Body - Already Babies Sense Their Heartbeat and Breathing
• Alternative Approach to Lyme Disease Vaccine Development Shows Promise in Pre-Clinical Models
• Is AI in Medicine Playing Fair?

April 5 2025

• Experts Warn Bird Flu Could Pose Growing Risk to Human Health

April 4 2025

• Chromatin Remodeling Captured in Comprehensive Structural Study
• Artificial Intelligence Has Potential to Aid Physician Decisions During Virtual Urgent Care
• 5 Things Parents Need to Know About Multiple Sclerosis
• Judge Blocks Cuts to $11 Billion in Public Health Funding
• Common Chemicals in Plastics May Harm Baby Brain Development
• Trump Administration Orders More Cuts to CDC Budget
• FDA Delays Final Approval of Novavax COVID Vaccine
• Pancreatic Cells 'Remember' Epigenetic Precancerous Marks Without Genetic Sequence Mutations
• Research Uncovers Hidden Spread of One of the Most Common Hospital-Associated Infections
• Many Older Adults Send Their Doctors Portal Messages, but Who Pays?
• How A Small Number of Mutations Can Fuel Outbreaks of Western Equine Encephalitis Virus
• Study Reveals Worse Patient Outcomes in Black-Serving Hospitals
• ACP's Best Practice Advice addresses use of cannabis, cannabinoids for chronic noncancer pain
• AI-Driven Clinical Recommendations May Aid Physician Decision Making to Improve Quality of Care
• Switching to Tirzepatide Rather Than Increasing Dulaglutide Dose Leads to Better Glucose Control and More Weight Loss in Patients with Inadequately Controlled Diabetes
• ACP's Best Practice Advice Addresses Use of Cannabis, Cannabinoids for Chronic Noncancer Pain
• ACP and Annals of Internal Medicine Present Breaking Scientific News at ACP's Internal Medicine Meeting 2025
• Medicaid Expansion Protected Americans During COVID-19 Pandemic
• Antidepressants Linked To Sudden Cardiac Death
• Discrimination Dramatically Increases Risk for Depression, Anxiety
• New Blood Test Can Diagnose, Track Alzheimer’s Disease
• Bedsores More Likely In Short-Staffed Hospitals Leaning On Nurse OT, Travel Nurses
• Lifestyle Changes Boost Longevity For Cancer Survivors
• Catching the Eye of Brain Tumours
• KRISS Has Developed International Standards for Sunscreen Toxicity Assay with NIST
• Stiffness Measurement Without Organoid Damage Aids Drug Development for Fatty Liver Disease
• Overcoming Nicotine Withdrawal: Clues Found in Neural Mechanisms of the Brain
• NK Cells Complexed with Bispecific Antibody Yield High Response Rates in Patients with Lymphoma