health $wellness blog

A nationwide study found a marked increase in new GLP-1RA prescriptions over the last decade, particularly since 2020. Semaglutide was the most prescribed GLP-1RA, by far, in 2023. Notably, the proportion of new users with type 2 diabetes decreased whereas prescriptions among those with obesity or relevant comorbid conditions but without T2D spiked. According to the study authors, the high prevalence of obesity and the increasing demand for GLP-1RA prescriptions for obesity could contribute to drug shortages and may worsen existing racial and ethnic disparities in drug access. The brief research report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Cedars-Sinai studied data from TriNetX, a federated health research network with records for 45 million individuals in the United States, to delineate the annual trend in new prescriptions of GLP-1RAs between 2011 and 2023, categorized by the presence of d...

Eating a vegan diet for eight weeks is associated with reductions in biological age estimations based on levels of DNA methylation-a type of chemical modification of DNA (known as an epigenetic modification) that alters gene expression but not DNA itself. Previous research has reported that increased DNA methylation levels are associated with ageing. The findings, which are based on a small randomised controlled trial of 21 pairs of adult identical twins, are published in BMC Medicine. Varun Dwaraka, Christopher Gardner and colleagues investigated the molecular effects of a short-term vegan diet by instructing one half of each twin pair to eat an omnivorous diet for eight weeks-including between 170 and 225 grams of meat, one egg, and one and a half servings of dairy each day-and the other half to eat a vegan diet for the same length of time. The sample was 77 percent women (32), and participants were 40 years old on average and had an average body mass index of 26 kilograms per metr...

A new study published in the Frontiers in Endocrinology found that erectile dysfunction (ED) is more common in patients with arthritis. In America, 46.1% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 have ED, but in Europe, the percentage ranges from 42.1% to 52.5%. Despite not being fatal, the inflammation has a significant negative influence on the quality of life of a person. Many medical conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, as well as environmental, psychological and lifestyle variables have been linked to the development of this disorder. Thus, this study by Changjin Liu and colleagues evaluated the relationship between arthritis and erectile dysfunction. The study utilized participant data from the 2001 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database and weighted logistic regression with subgroup analyses to assess any potential associations between ED and arthritis. Since these datasets were the only cycles with comprehensive ED and arthritis dat...

A new study by the team of Deesha Desai unveiled that the concurrent use of drugs that are mechanistically antagonistic may not have an impact on the effectiveness of low-dose oral minoxidil for the management of alopecia. The findings of this study were published in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology. Low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) has been used off-label to treat alopecia for which there were previously few effective treatments. When used in greater dosages, minoxidil acts as an antihypertensive drug by affecting potassium channels and causing smooth muscle vasculature to relax and vasodilate. It is presently believed that when used in small doses to treat alopecia, it will increase the blood flow around the hair follicle and promote hair growth while having no effect on blood pressure (BP). Numerous OTC and prescription drugs have the potential to interfere with vasodilation and reduce blood pressure decreases. These drugs may lessen the effectiveness of LDOM as they h...

Researchers found that vitamin D deficiency is an independent risk factor for abnormal carotid intima-media thickness in children and adolescents with obesity. A recent study on this was published in the journal Nutrition Hospital by Liu C. and colleagues. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many health issues, including bone disorders and metabolic disturbances. This is not well documented with regard to cardiovascular health, particularly in obese children and adolescents. This study, therefore, sought to determine whether low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness, indicating predisposition to the development of diseases later in life. This was a study of 440 children with obesity, all between the ages of 6-16 years. All anthropometric measures, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose levels, and serum vitamin D concentrations were assessed. Carotid ultrasound was performed bilaterally to record carotid intima-media thickness. V...

Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. released positive topline PK data from the self-administration study of Anaphylm™ (epinephrine) Sublingual Film. According to topline pharmacokinetic data released by Aquestive Therapeuticsregarding an epinephrine sublingual film if approved could become the first non-invasive and orally-administered epinephrine treatment for individuals with severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.  Anaphylm has the potential to be the first and only non-invasive, orally delivered epinephrine for the treatment of severe life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, if approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “The self-administration data again demonstrates the versatility of Anaphylm, as a product that is easy to remember, easy to carry, and easy to use,” said Daniel Barber, President & Chief Executive Officer of Aquestive. “Our groundbreaking Anaphylm formulation indicates that rapid and substantial epinephrine abso...

In female patients living with sickle cell disease (SCD), hydroxyurea had no effect on ovarian reserve, suggesting that fertility preservation measures prior to treatment may be unnecessary, according to a study published in Blood Advances. SCD is the most common inherited red blood cell disorder in the United States, affecting an estimated 100,000 people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), SCD affects one out of every 365 Black or African American births and one out of every 16,300 Hispanic American births. SCD’s rigid, sickle-shaped cells can become lodged in blood vessels, causing a multitude of serious health issues, including vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), a leading cause of death among those with SCD whereby the cells create blockages large enough to reduce or cut off blood flow to organs. Hydroxyurea, a drug introduced in the mid-1990s, is commonly used to reduce the frequency of VOC and other SCD-related effects, including acute chest syndrome a...

A new study by Simrat Gill and team unveiled that Digoxin and beta-blockers had similar effects on heart rate in atrial fibrillation at rest and during exercise which implies that dynamic monitoring of persons with arrhythmia using wearable technology might be a viable alternative to in-person examination. The findings of this study were published in the journal of  Nature Medicine . The patients with cardiovascular illness may require several clinical visits to acquire tests such as electrocardiograms (ECG) for heart rate measurement or 6-minute walk (6MW) assessments to determine physical capability. One prominent illustration of the potential clinical utility of wearable sensor data is medication selection and dose modification for heart rate control in people who have atrial fibrillation (AF). And so, this study was set to determine if digoxin is weaker than beta-blockers for long-term heart rate regulation among individuals with AF at rest and during exercise, as well as to ...

Researchers have found that breast cancer cryoablation can be safely applied to a broader patient population, including those ineligible for clinical trials due to unfavorable patient or tumor characteristics. A recent study was published in the the American Journal of Roentgenology by Karim O. and colleagues. This study highlights the safety and effectiveness of cryoablation in treating breast cancer without surgical excision, offering a viable alternative for patients who are poor surgical candidates. Cryoablation is a minimally invasive treatment to kill cancer cells through extreme cold. While clinical trials have shown this to be effective, highly stringent inclusion criteria exclude those patients whose diseases are potentially treatable. This study evaluated the safety and outcomes of cryoablation in a real-world setting on patients excluded from clinical trials. This was a retrospective study of women with cryoablation of biopsy-proven unifocal primary breast cancer treate...

Psoriasis in hypertension patients significantly increases mortality risk, claims study published in PLoS One. The linkage between psoriasis and hypertension has been established through observational studies. Despite this, a comprehensive assessment of the combined effects of psoriasis and hypertension on all-cause mortality is lacking. The principal aim of the present study is to elucidate the synergistic impact of psoriasis and hypertension on mortality within a representative cohort of adults residing in the United States. The analysis was conducted on comprehensive datasets derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study spanning two distinct periods: 2003–2006 and 2009–2014. The determination of psoriasis status relied on self-reported questionnaire data, whereas hypertension was characterized by parameters including systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg, self-reported physician diagnosis, or the use of antihypertensive medicat...

A medication used to treat diabetic neuropathy may make chemotherapy treatments more effective for patients with lung cancer, according to new findings from the University of Missouri School of Medicine published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Despite surgical and chemotherapy treatment, more than 50% of non-metastatic, non-small lung cancer patients see recurrences, in large part because of drug-resistant cancer cells. Researchers identified a way to make these cells more susceptible to chemotherapy, said study author Dr. Jussuf Kaifi. "Traditional treatments for lung cancer, including chemotherapy, often have little to no effect on the cancer because of drug resistance,” Kaifi said. “It is a major cause of mortality in patients, so finding ways to circumvent drug and chemotherapy resistance is vital to improving patient outcomes.” The study examined 10 non-small cell lung cancer tumors, half of which were identified a...

Basel : Sandoz has announced the launch of Pyzchiva (ustekinumab) across Europe. Pyzchiva, developed and registered by Samsung Bioepis, a ustekinumab biosimilar to launch in Europe with all reference medicine strengths, including the 130mg vial initiation dose for Crohn’s disease. "The launch strengthens our well-established immunology portfolio in Europe and leverages our existing footprint, with five biosimilars now marketed in this therapeutic area," the Company stated. Rebecca Guntern, President Europe, Sandoz, said, “Timely and expanded access to safe, effective and affordable medicines can improve quality of life for millions of people living with chronic inflammatory diseases. Our goal is to make potentially life-changing medicines accessible to patients across Europe. Pyzchiva is one of the first ustekinumab biosimilars in Europe, which marks a significant milestone on that road.” Pyzchiva is approved for treatment of adults with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthr...

Patiala: Following the suicide of final year PG anaesthesia medico due to alleged duty stress and academic workload, the resident doctors of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, have urged the college authorities to conduct a fair investigation and demanded the inclusion of their members in the internal fact-finding committee to ensure transparency. In a memorandum handed over to the acting director principal of the medical college hospital Dr. Ashwani Kumar by the delegation led by Dr Akshay Seth and Dr Nrip Jindal, the Residents Doctors Association (RDA) called for immediate action and a fair and transparent investigation into the doctor's death case. Also read- Duty Stress, Academic Workload: GMC Patiala MD Anaesthesia Medico Commits Suicide "Given the seriousness of these concerns, we urge you to reconsider our request and include members from the resident doctors’ association in the inquiry committee. Failing to do so will compel us to escalate ...

Haryana: A doctor from Haryana’s Sirsa was recently robbed at a private hospital by four armed men who allegedly stole Rs 15 lakh in cash and gold jewellery at gunpoint. According to the complaint filed by the doctor, the four-armed men came to the Jindal hospital at 9 am on Monday. They asked the hospital attendant about the doctor’s whereabouts. After being informed by the attendant that the doctor would come at around 10 am, they asked for some cold water. But as it wasn’t available, they asked for some ice, reports Hindustan Times .  Also Read:Indore Doctor robbed of cash, phone on pretext of treatment The doctor’s family was staying upstairs and when the attendant went upstairs for some ice, the robbers followed him. The robbers held them, hostage, by pointing guns toward them. They robbed 15 lakh cash and gold jewellery. “They took us hostage and robbed ₹15 lakh in cash and jewellery and fled the spot,” the doctor added. The robbers locked the doctor and the attendant in...

USA: The approach to thromboprophylaxis—preventing blood clot formation—has long been a critical consideration in obstetric care due to the increased risk expectant mothers face. A recent study has demonstrated two strategies: the traditional standard risk-stratified heparin-based protocol versus a newer, more selective approach. Both techniques mitigate the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a potentially life-threatening complication during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The retrospective observational study, published in JAMA, found that a more selective protocol for postpartum enoxaparin was associated with reduced rates of wound hematomas without evidence of increased rates of postpartum thromboembolic events. A more selective protocol for chemoprophylaxis led to a decrease in heparin (enoxaparin) administration (16% versus 8%), the researchers reported. The selective protocol for postpartum enoxaparin was associated with a reduction in wound hematoma (0.7% versus 0....

Populations are rapidly ageing worldwide, and there is an increased prevalence of late-life depressive symptoms among older adults, which include depressed feelings, lack of pleasure, delayed cognitive processing and reduced volitional activity, often accompanied by loss of appetite, insomnia, poor concentration, and increased fatigue. This has been related to underlying neurodegenerative changes in the brain associated with ageing. The growing imperative to keep older adults in good health has spurred extensive research into approaches that could prevent late-life depression, and accumulating evidence has revealed the plausible role of dietary factors in protecting against depression in ageing. Could specific diet or food items consumed earlier in life have an impact on mental well-being in later years? In a longitudinal study conducted by the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), involving 13,738 participants from the large population-bas...

New Delhi: The drug major GSK Pharma India has got approval from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to conduct the phase 3 clinical trial of the anti-cancer drug GSK4428859A (Belrestotug) and GSK4057190 (Dostarlimab). This came after GSK Pharma India presented phase 3 clinical study protocol no. 213823 dated 09 January 2024. Belrestotug is an Fc active human immunoglobulin G1, or IgG1, monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domains (TIGIT), an important inhibitory receptor which contributes to the suppression of innate immune system. As an optimized, high-affinity, potent anti-TIGIT mAb, belrestotug is designed to enhance the antitumor response through a multifaceted immune modulatory mechanism by engaging with TIGIT and FcγR, a key regulator of immune responses that induces cytokine release and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity-(ADC...

Chicago: In a new study, older adults who reported consuming higher amounts of ultra-processed foods, as defined by the NOVA classification system, were about 10% more likely to die over a median follow-up of 23 years compared with those who consumed less processed food. The findings are based on a large study that has tracked over half a million U.S. adults for nearly three decades. According to the results, higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with modest increases in death from any cause and from deaths related specifically to heart disease or diabetes, but no association was found for cancer-related deaths. “Our study results support a larger body of literature, including both observational and experimental studies, which indicate that ultra-processed food intake adversely impacts health and longevity,” said Erikka Loftfield, PhD, Stadtman Investigator at the National Cancer Institute. “However, there is still a lot that we don’t know, including what aspects of...

A new study published in the International Journal of Women's Dermatology shows a significantly higher link between anogenital pruritus (AP) and psychiatric disorders. Recent researches demonstrated a correlation between chronic pruritus and reduced life quality, psychological stress, anxiety, and depression. Despite being widespread, anogenital pruritus is frequently an unreported symptom of a number of neurological, dermatological, and systemic diseases. Fewer studies have looked into AP, but several have assessed the impact of other types of localized or generalized pruritus on quality of life. In this study, Balfour and colleagues conducted a population-level retrospective case-control analysis in order to assess the relationship between AP and mental diseases. This study utilized International Classification of Diseases, 10th version (ICD-10) codes L29.0 to L29.3 indexed during the previous 20 years using TriNetX. The participants with mental health conditions like respons...

Batuhan Çokyas et al conducted a study to evaluate quality of life changes and functional outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients older than 50 years of age with anterior cruciate ligament injury. The article has been published in “ Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation ” journal. Patients who were older than 50 years of age and had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with single-bundle hamstring tendon auto graft surgery were identified. Preoperative Tegner activity scores, Lysholm knee scores, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) 2000 scores, and Short-Form 36 scores were compared with results that were documented 1 year after surgery. Key findings of the study were: • A total of 35 patients were included (20 male/15 female; mean age 52 years [range 50-59 years]). • Patients’ preoperative mean Tegner score was 1.48. • Mean Tegner score at 1-year follow-up was 3.82. • Preoperative mean Lysholm score was 45.8. P...

Canada: A recent study has revealed a higher incidence of myriad maternal complications, including postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and death in women diagnosed with a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) before or during pregnancy versus women with a transient ischemic attack (TIA) diagnosis. The neonatal outcomes were comparable between both groups, stressing the different prognoses of these conditions and the importance of diligent follow-up and care in these patients. The findings were published online in the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics on July 15, 2024. Cerebrovascular accidents, often resulting in significant disability, occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, leading to potentially severe complications. In contrast, transient ischemic attacks are characterized by temporary disruptions in blood flow, typically resolving within 24 hours. Understanding how these conditions impact pregnancy is crucial, given that cerebrovascular acciden...

China: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index effectively identifies the onset of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the second trimester, consistent with previous studies, a recent study has shown. TyG index incorporation into routine maternal health assessments has important practical implications. "The TyG index is an important early screening tool that can be integrated into routine obstetric assessments. It enables clinicians to effectively evaluate the risk of diabetes in pregnant women during examinations, supporting early and proactive interventions for high-risk pregnancies," the researchers wrote in Lipids in Health and Disease. Hong Ding, Department of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, and colleagues aimed to investigate the association between the TyG index in early pregnancy and GDM development in the second trimester. The primary objectives were to assess the predictive potential of the TyG index ...

Egypt: Root canal treatment, a common dental procedure to relieve pain and save teeth from extraction, often involves various techniques to ensure effective cleaning and shaping of the root canal system. A recent triple-blinded split-mouth clinical trial has examined how different apical finishing sizes affect postoperative pain levels following root canal preparation. The study, published in BMC Oral Health, revealed that larger apical preparation sizes during root canal treatments significantly raise postoperative pain. Highlighting the impact of various apical preparation sizes on postoperative pain is crucial, especially when considering patients with identical pulpal histological statuses. Considering this, Mohammed Abou el Seoud, Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The British University of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt, and colleagues aimed to compare and evaluate the severity of postoperative pain following apical enlargement with two different sizes after the initial b...

UK: Z1 P-REBOA is feasible and may enable early survival, but with a significant incidence of late death in the prehospital resuscitation of adult trauma patients at risk of cardiac arrest and death due to exsanguination, a recent study has revealed. The findings were published online in JAMA Surgery.  "In the cohort study involving 16 patients with severe injuries and shock, prehospital zone 1 (supraceliac) partial resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (Z1 P-REBOA) was successfully administered in 8 out of 11 patients who underwent Z1 REBOA. This approach correlated with enhanced proximal blood pressure (BP) levels and reduced early mortality rates," the researchers reported. Hemorrhage is the leading preventable cause of death following injury, with the majority occurring during the early prehospital phase of treatment. The P-REBOA procedure involves temporarily inflating a balloon in the aorta to halt blood flow beyond the injury site, thereby stabi...