There is now a heavy emphasis on journal articles pertaining to Covid-19. As a result, a Covid section has been added. Due to how rapidly information is changing, studies provided reflect the most current thinking.
COVID
How Exactly do you catch Covid-19? There
is a growing consensus that surface contamination and fleeting encounters (less
than 15 minutes) are less of a worry than close-up, person to person
interactions for extended periods of time. Crowded events, poorly ventilated
areas, places where people are talking loudly or singing are risky. Activities like
speaking and breathing produce respiratory bits of varying sizes that can
disperse along air currents and potentially infect people nearby Wall St.
Journal
COVID-19 may
trigger new diabetes, experts warn:
Emerging evidence suggests that COVID-19 may actually trigger the onset of
diabetes in healthy people and also cause severe complications of pre-existing
diabetes. Letter to NEJM and signed by 17 leading diabetes experts
FDA Pulls Emergency Approval of Hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19: The FDA has withdrawn its emergency authorization for the use of chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate in the fight against COVID-19. The agency said that the drugs are "unlikely to be effective" as treatments for COVID-19. The drugs should not be used outside of clinical trials. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) halted hydroxychloroquine trials on COVID-19 patients, finding it did not reduce the mortality rate.
Blood Donors
Will Get Results of Coronavirus Antibody Test, Red Cross Says: The American Red Cross will test all
blood, platelet, and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies so donors can
learn whether they have been exposed to the new coronavirus. A positive test
result does not confirm immunity to the virus, and the test is not meant to
diagnose illness
Coronavirus death rate is higher for those with chronic ills: Death rates are 12 times higher for
coronavirus patients with chronic illnesses than for others who become
infected, a new U.S. government report says.
Dexamethasone
proves first life-saving drug:
The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone is a major breakthrough in the
fight against the deadly virus, UK experts say. The drug is part of the world's biggest trial testing
existing treatments to see if they also work for coronavirus. It cut the
risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. For those on oxygen, it
cut deaths by a fifth.
Face-Mask Use by Public Can Mitigate Spread of COVID-19: Face-mask use by the public, in
combination with physical distancing and periods of lockdown, can mitigate the
spread of the new coronavirus. When lockdown periods are implemented in combination
with 100 percent face-mask use, there is less disease spread, secondary and
tertiary waves can be flattened, and the epidemic can be brought under control.
Proceedings of the Royal Society A.
No Covid-19 cases reported from two infected hair stylists with 140 contacts: The Springfield-Greene County Health
Department in Missouri recently reported that the incubation period has passed
from those potentially exposed from Great Clips, a salon where 140 people were
put at risk when two hairstylists tested positive for Covid. No clients of
either stylist nor additional coworkers contracted COVID-19 as a result. “This
is exciting news about the value of masking to prevent COVID-19,” said Director
of Health Clay Goddard. “We are studying more closely the details of these
exposures, including what types of face coverings were worn and what other
precautions were taken to lead to this encouraging result. We never want an
exposure like this to happen, but this situation will greatly expand our
understanding of how this novel coronavirus spreads.” Springfield-Green County
Health Department News Release
Asthma isn’t
a risk factor for worsening Covid 19:
People with asthma can breathe a little easier: New research suggests the
condition does not increase your risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19. Journal
of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
The right way to breathe during the coronavirus pandemic: Inhale through your nose and exhale
through your mouth. It's not just something you do in yoga class—breathing this
way actually provides a powerful medical benefit that can help the body fight
viral infections.
Home Monitoring Can Improve Health, Ease Anxiety for COVID-19 Patient: Geisinger Health System launched a program
whereby patients diagnosed with COVID-19 are given a package that includes a
mask, pulse oximeter (which measures blood oxygen levels), a digital
thermometer, and acetaminophen for pain. Patients report their symptoms,
temperature, and oxygen levels twice a day via Geisinger’s mobile app. If
patient’s condition worsens they are immediately brought to the hospital. As a result,
healthcare workers have been able to intervene early if and when problematic
oxygen levels or severe symptoms occur. Healthline
PAIN
Dextrose Injections Aid Knee Osteoarthritis Pain: Intra-articular dextrose prolotherapy (DPT) injections are
a safe and effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis, according to a study
published in the May/June issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Osteoarthritis: New trial drug has powerful
anti-inflammatory effect: A new drug that researchers are currently trialing to
treat osteoarthritis can dampen the harmful effects of an overactive immune
system while protecting its beneficial functions. The drug could, therefore,
potentially treat rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other conditions resulting
from inflammation. Inflammopharmacology
Minimally-invasive treatment for 'frozen shoulder' improves patients' pain and function: A new nonsurgical treatment decreases
errant blood flow in the shoulder to quickly reduce pain and improve function
in patients with adhesive capsulitis, also known as "frozen shoulder.”
Interventional radiologists inserted a catheter through a pinhole-sized
incision in patients' wrists that was used to feed microsphere particles into
as many as six arteries in the shoulder to reduce inflammation. The treatment
was conducted on an outpatient basis and took approximately one hour.
Society of
Interventional Radiology's 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting on June 13
Which surgery works best for lower back pain? Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York
City compared 117 patients who had minimally invasive lumbar decompression surgery
and 51 who had minimally invasive lumbar spine fusion surgery. All the
procedures were performed by the same orthopedic surgeon. There was no statistical
difference between the two in returning to work. American Academy of Orthopedic
Surgeons
Switching to
regional anesthesia provides more effective pain relief and may cut greenhouse
emissions: The evidence
suggests that regional anesthesia provides more effective pain relief, has
fewer unpleasant side effects than general anesthesia, shortens hospital
stay, and may be preferred by patients. Switching from general to
regional anesthesia may help cut greenhouse emissions and ultimately help
reduce global warming, indicates a real life example at one US hospital over
the course of a year, and reported in the journal Regional Anesthesia &
Pain Medicine.
New therapy reduces chronic low back pain in large international study: A new study has found that tanezumab, a
monoclonal antibody that inhibits nerve activity, provides relief in patients
with chronic low back pain. This is the first study that shows long-term relief
for chronic low
back pain with a single dose of tanezumab delivered under the skin once
every two months. The study was conducted in 191 sites across eight countries
in North America, Europe, and Asia. Pain
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Mindfulness combined with hypnotherapy aids highly stressed people:
"Combining mindfulness and hypnotherapy in a single session is a novel
intervention that may be equal to or better than existing treatments, with the
advantage of being more time-effective, less daunting and easier to use. This
could be a valuable option for treating anxiety and stress reduction." International
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
FDA ACTION
• Approved
Recarbrio (combination of imipenem-cilastatin and relebactam) for treating
hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial
pneumonia (HABP/VABP)
• Approved
Tivicay for HIV Pediatric Patients
• Approved
Oriahnn capsules for management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with
uterine leiomyomas in premenopausal women
• Approved
Tauvid (flortaucipir F18), a radioactive diagnostic agent, to image tau
pathology in patients with cognitive impairment being evaluated for Alzheimer
disease
• Approved IV
artesunate to treat adults and children with severe malaria
• Approved
Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon) injection to treat neuromyelitis optica spectrum
disorder (NMOSD) in patients who are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positive
• Approved
EndeavorRx, a video game for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
in children
PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition
Eating an
Early Dinner Can Help You Burn Fat, Lower Your Blood Sugar: According to a study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology & Metabolism, eating a late dinner is associated with weight
gain and high blood sugar levels, regardless if the meal is the same that you
would have eaten earlier.
Daily coffee may lower risk for developing arrhythmia: Regular coffee consumption is associated with a significantly
lower risk for arrhythmias, according to a study presented recently as part of
the Heart Rhythm Society online meeting: HRS 2020 Science.
PREVENTION: Supplements
There’s
Little Evidence That Probiotics Help Most GI Symptoms: A new guideline by the American Gastroenterological Association
cautions that there’s not enough scientific evidence to recommend using these
so-called good bacteria and yeasts to treat most digestive diseases. The guideline recommends using probiotics
for only a limited number of gastrointestinal
(GI) conditions. Specific probiotics may also reduce the
risk of Clostridium difficile
infection in adults and children taking antibiotics and for the management of
pouchitis, a complication of ulcerative colitis that has been treated
surgically. “Patients taking probiotics for Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis or
[irritable bowel syndrome] should consider stopping. The supplements can be
costly and there isn’t enough evidence to prove a benefit or confirm lack of
harm.”
A good vitamin D status can protect against cancer: A good vitamin D status is beneficial both in cancer
prevention and in the prognosis of several cancers, according to a new research
review. The anti-cancer effects of vitamin D are especially pronounced in the
prevention and treatment of colon cancer and blood cancers. In addition, high
vitamin D responsiveness can be linked to a smaller cancer risk. Vitamin D
responsiveness varies between individuals, affecting their need for vitamin D
supplementation. Seminars in
Cancer Biology
Vitamin B3 revitalizes energy metabolism in muscle disease: An international team of scientists
reported that vitamin B3, niacin, has therapeutic effect in progressive muscle
disease. Niacin delayed disease progression in patients with mitochondrial
myopathy, a progressive disease with no previous curative treatments. Cell Metabolism
Multi-ethnic study suggests vitamin K may offer protective health benefits in older age: A new, multi-ethnic study found adults
aged 54-76 with low circulating vitamin K levels were more likely to die within
13 years compared to those with adequate levels, suggesting vitamin K may offer
protective health benefits as we age. The
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
PREVENTION:
Other
Negative
Thinking Can Harm Your Brain and Increase Your Dementia Risk: In a new study, researchers at University College London have found
repetitive negative thinking is linked to cognitive decline, a higher number of
harmful tau protein and
amyloid deposits in the brain, and increasing a greater risk of
dementia.
Exercise,
Diet, Alcohol: New Guidelines Detail Best Ways to Reduce Cancer Risk: The American Cancer Society released new guidelines for
reducing the risk of cancer. Among the recommendations include: exercise more
per week; reduce red and eat more colorful fruits and vegetables; strictly
limit alcohol
What People
with Type 2 Diabetes Can Do to Lower Their Risk for Cancer, Dementia: Now recent
research from Australia has concluded that people with type 2 diabetes are
up to three times more likely to develop several types of cancer and 60 percent
more likely to develop dementia compared to the general population. Experts advise people to eat a healthy
diet, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep to lower their risk for
disease.
Sedentary?
Feel happier with sleep or light activity instead: Lockdowns have made it more difficult
for many to stay active. A new study suggests better and perhaps surprising
ways to spend our spare time — that might benefit our health, as well. The
research appears now in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Combination of healthy lifestyle traits may substantially reduce Alzheimer's disease risk: Combining more healthy lifestyle
behaviors was associated with substantially lower risk for Alzheimer's disease
in a study that included data from nearly 3,000 research participants. Those
who adhered to four or all of the five specified healthy behaviors were found
to have a 60% lower risk of Alzheimer's. The behaviors were physical activity,
not smoking, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, a high-quality diet, and
cognitive activities. Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of
the National Institutes of Health, this research was published in the June 17,
2020, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American
Academy of Neurology.
Even without concussion, athletes in contact sports may have brain changes: Female college rugby players may have
subtle brain changes even if they haven't had a recent concussion, according to
a new study published in the June 17, 2020, online issue of Neurology,
the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study compared
rugby players to other female college athletes competing in the non-contact sports
of swimming and rowing. "There's no longer a debate that when an athlete is diagnosed with a
concussion caused by a sharp blow or a fall, there is a chance it may
contribute to brain changes that could either be temporary or permanent,"
said study author Ravi S. Menon, Ph.D., FRSC, of Western University in London,
Canada. "But what are the effects of the smaller jolts and impacts that
come with playing a contact sport? Our study found they may lead to subtle
changes in the brains of otherwise healthy, symptom-free athletes."
Study shows sedentary behavior independently predicts cancer mortality: In the first study to look at objective
measures of sedentary behavior and cancer mortality, researchers from The
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that greater inactivity was
independently associated with a higher risk of dying from cancer. The most
sedentary individuals had an 82% higher risk of cancer mortality compared to
the least sedentary individuals. An accelerometer was used to measure physical
activity, rather than relying on participants to self-report their activity
levels. Researchers also found that replacing 30 minutes of sedentary time with
physical activity was associated with a 31% lower risk of cancer death for
moderate-intensity activity, such as cycling, and an 8% lower risk of cancer
death for light-intensity activity, such as walking.
Centenarian study suggests living environment may be key to longevity: Where you live has a significant impact
on the likelihood that you will reach centenarian age, suggests a new study. People
who live in highly walkable, mixed-age communities may be more likely to live
to their 100th birthday. The probability of reaching centenarian age is high
are located in urban areas and smaller towns with higher socioeconomic status
Journal
of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volunteerism:Doing good does you good:
A new study takes a closer look at the benefits of volunteering to the health
and well-being of volunteers, both validating and refuting findings from
previous research. The results verify that adults over 50 who volunteer for at
least 100 hours a year (about two hours per week) have a substantially reduced
risk of mortality and developing physical limitations, higher levels of
subsequent physical activity, and improved sense of well-being later on. American Journal of Preventive Medicine
TREATMENT
Advanced MRI scans may improve treatment of tremor, Parkinson's disease: Recently developed MRI techniques used
to more precisely target a small area in the brain linked to Parkinson's
disease and essential tremor may lead to better outcomes without surgery and
with less risk of negative effects, a new study led by UT Southwestern
researchers suggests. Brain
Cancer patients less likely to be prescribed cardioprotective medications: As cancer survivor rates increase with
modern treatments, cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates are rising in cancer
patients and survivors and CVD has emerged as a leading cause of long-term
preventable death in this population. Even though cardioprotective
medications—including statins, ACE inhibitors and antiplatelet therapies—are
frontline primary and secondary CVD prevention, patients with a prior or
current history of cancer had lower rates of utilization compared to those
without cancer, according to a research letter published in JACC: Cardio
Oncology.
Continuous glucose monitoring reduces hypoglycemia in older adults with type 1 diabetes: Results from a six-month, multi-site
clinical trial called the Wireless Innovation for Seniors with Diabetes
Mellitus (WISDM) Study Group. Older adults who use continuous glucose
monitoring (CGM) devices can significantly reduce the occurrence of
hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemic events while also reducing hemoglobin A1c.
JAMA
Novel antisense drug shows promise in slowing fatty liver disease: Using a first-of-its-class drug in a
clinical trial, an international research effort reports that inhibition of a
key enzyme safely and effectively improved the health of persons with non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a chronic metabolic disorder that affects hundreds
of millions of people worldwide. The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology
OTHER
Past
stressful experiences do not create resilience to future trauma: The adage “What doesn't kill you makes
you stronger,” is not true and in fact, new research finds just the opposite.
Past stressors sensitize people to future traumas, thereby increasing their
chances of developing a mental health disorder. British Journal of
Psychiatry
'Trigger warnings' may do more harm than good, study finds: Trigger warnings are meant to alert
trauma survivors about unsettling text or content that they might find
potentially distressing. But these words of caution at the start of films or
books may provide no help at all—and might even hamper a traumatized person's
ability to grapple with deep psychological scars, a new study reports. Clinical
Psychological Science
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