Study identifies DNA signatures linked to heart disease
A new study identifies DNA signatures associated with risk for cardiovascular disease, a discovery that could lead to opportunities for clinical intervention years before symptoms manifest. Based on analyses of data from five large heart cohort studies of diverse populations, the findings are published in the journal JAMA Cardiology. “The science is rapidly advancing in […]
The Pill Can Spell Trouble for Long QTc
Some oral contraceptives were associated with greater cardiovascular risk among women with inherited long QT syndrome (LQTS), a registry study showed. Progestin-only oral contraceptive users had a 2.54-fold higher risk (95% CI 1.09-1.51) of a cardiac event compared with LQTS women not on oral contraceptives in multivariate analysis. Beta-blocker use appeared to mitigate that risk, […]
Study: Exposure Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Saves Money
Including exposure therapy during internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) was associated with reduced treatment costs in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a Swedish randomized trial found. While use of ICBT with exposure initially increased direct patient costs by 20% ($213.50 per participant) versus ICBT without exposure, the added therapy led to greater reductions in societal costs […]
HIV Independently Tied to More Severe COVID-19
HIV was independently associated with a higher risk for severe or critical COVID-19, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) analysis. In a study of people living with HIV in Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America who also were hospitalized for COVID-19, HIV infection was linked with an increased risk of severe or critical COVID-19 […]
Fuzzy OS Benefits in Drug Labels; Zantac Suit Dismissed; Cancer Deaths Drop For Now
The overall survival benefits associated with use of many newly approved cancer drugs are often not clearly communicated in drug labels. (JAMA Internal Medicine) A reduced-dose CT scan of 0.3 mSv can safely be used to detect lung nodules in children with cancer without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy. (American Journal of Roentgenology) A federal judge has […]
Ultra-processed food linked to higher risk of IBD: Further studies needed to identify contributory factors in processed foods that might account for these associations
A higher intake of ultra-processed food is associated with higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), finds a study published by The BMJ today. Ultra-processed foods include packaged baked goods and snacks, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals, ready meals containing food additives, and reconstituted meat and fish products — often containing high levels of added sugar, […]
Which Came First: Low Testosterone Levels or Severe COVID-19?
Low testosterone levels in men with symptomatic COVID-19 were associated with a greater risk of severe illness or death, according to Italian researchers. Their case-control study found that, among men admitted to the emergency department of a Milan Hospital during the first wave of the pandemic, the lower the level of testosterone the higher the […]
New Insights Into How Eating Disorders Alter the Brain
Latest Mental Health News THURSDAY, July 1, 2021 (HealthDay News) Behaviors associated with eating disorders can make real changes to the brain, new research shows. The findings could help explain why these serious disorders are often chronic — and may also point the way to new treatments. Eating disorders — such as anorexia […]
Two Inflammatory Proteins Linked With Slower Cognitive Decline
In a surprising finding, elevated levels of two inflammatory proteins were associated with slower cognitive decline in older adults. Higher plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-12 p70 (IL-12p70) were associated with less cognitive decline in people with a significant burden of amyloid-beta, reported Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in […]