Brain Structure, Cognitive Performance Linked With Tobacco Use in Kids
Children who started using tobacco by age 10 had significantly inferior cognitive performance and smaller brain structures after a 2-year follow-up period, a cohort study reported. Those reporting ever using tobacco products had significantly lower scores in the Picture Vocabulary Test of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery both at baseline and at 2-year follow-up compared […]
HPV Vaccination Close to Surgery May Reduce Recurrent Cervical Lesions
Vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV) near the time of surgery for precancerous cervical lesions significantly reduced the rate of lesion recurrence, a meta-analysis showed. Overall, vaccination reduced the risk of recurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2+ (CIN2+) by 57% as compared with surgery alone. An even larger risk reduction (74%) occurred when the analysis was […]
Vaping May Open the Door to Cannabis Use in Teens
Adolescents who used e-cigarettes were significantly more likely to become new smokers of cannabis shortly thereafter, a cohort study found. Cannabis-naive adolescents reporting ever vaping at baseline were more than twice as likely to report also using cannabis when surveyed a year later (adjusted RR 2.57 vs nonusers of e-cigarettes, 95% CI 2.04-3.09), reported Ruoyan […]
Heart-healthy, lower sodium version of traditional Chinese cuisine lowered blood pressure
Blood pressure levels dropped significantly among Chinese adults with high blood pressure who ate a modified heart-healthy, lower sodium traditional Chinese cuisine for four weeks, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation. A key feature of the Chinese heart-healthy diet, modeled along the lines of the Dietary Approaches […]
Whopping Mortality Benefit in Severe COVID Trial
Treatment with a novel, oral microtubule disruptor significantly reduced the risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with severe disease, an interim analysis of a phase III study indicated. Mortality at 60 days, the international trial’s primary endpoint, was more than halved in the group assigned to investigational sabizabulin versus those randomized to placebo (20.2% […]
Binge drinking raises risk of developing alcohol problems, even for moderate drinkers
Moderate drinkers who binge alcohol are at a significantly higher risk of developing alcohol problems than those who drink the same amount overall but don’t binge, according to a new study from researchers at The University of Texas at Austin appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier. After analyzing a national […]
Increased Public Assistance Tied to Better Cancer Survival in Black Patients
CHICAGO — Overall survival (OS) in Black patients with cancer improved significantly, and racial disparities in cancer survival decreased, with increased state-level spending on public welfare programs, a large retrospective review showed. Every 10% increase in public welfare spending was associated with an 8.6% improvement in cancer survival among Black patients, almost four times greater […]
Coaching program reduces burnout among resident physicians
A coaching program aimed at decreasing burnout among female resident physicians significantly reduced emotional exhaustion and imposter syndrome while increasing self-compassion over a six month period, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. “Physician burnout is linked to increased errors, higher patient mortality rates, depression, suicidal ideation and high job turnover,” […]
Young Cancer Survivors Face Higher Risk of Death From Second Malignancies
Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors have a significantly increased risk for developing a new cancer and dying from that cancer, according to a population-based study. These younger cancer survivors had a 25% higher risk for cancer incidence, and an 84% higher risk for cancer death, compared with the general population, reported Hyuna Sung, […]
Guns Have Become the Top Killer of U.S. Kids
Gun-related deaths increased significantly among children and adolescents in 2020, becoming the leading cause of mortality among youth, researchers said. The crude rate of firearm-related deaths among individuals ages 1 to 19 years increased by 13.5% from 2019 to 2020, surpassing motor vehicle-related deaths for the first time since 1999, reported Jason Goldstick, PhD, of […]