health $wellness blog

Noise exposure is a known occupational hazard in some jobs, particularly for hearing loss, physical and psychological stress, and reduced concentration. A new study presented at the ACC Asia 2024 conference found in adult power loom weavers, chronic noise exposure not only increased their blood pressure overall, but also each year of exposure increased their odds of having high blood pressure by 10%. “While the mechanism is still not well-explored, it is thought that the stress response by the body to chronic sound exposure causes hormonal imbalances that gradually leads to a permanent elevation of blood pressure,” said Golam Dastageer Prince, MBBS, MPH, medical officer at DGHS Bangladesh and the study’s lead author. “High blood pressure impacts more than a billion people worldwide and just 1 in 5 have it under control, yet it is a major cause of premature death. In addition to treating the high blood pressure through appropriate means, we must find ways to mitigate the exposure to t...

Researchers in a recent study have demonstrated that specific plasma proteins can actually forecast the persistence of pelvic pain after laparoscopic surgery in young adults and adolescents with endometriosis. The finding reflects how this is related to personalized treatment approaches and potential biological pathways involved in endometriosis-associated pain. This discovery was from a prospective analysis using a multiplex aptamer-based proteomics biomarker discovery platform that was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology by Naoko Sasamoto and colleagues. The objective of this study was to identify, in plasma proteins, potential markers for the persistence of pelvic pain after laparoscopic surgery in young patients with endometriosis using a state-of-the-art proteomics platform. Prospective cohort study of 142 women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis enrolled in the prospective cohort study Women's Health Study: From Adolescence to Adulth...

Gestational carriers, also known as surrogates, experience an elevated risk of severe maternal morbidity and adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to women who conceive naturally or through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), according to new research presented today at the ESHRE 40th Annual Meeting in Amsterdam . The population-based study analysed 937,938 singleton births in Ontario, Canada between 2012 and 2021, comparing outcomes among unassisted conceptions, IVF conceptions and gestational carriers. The findings uncovered marked variations in outcomes across the different conception methods. Gestational carriers faced a severe maternal morbidity rate of 7.1%, notably higher than the rates observed in unassisted conceptions (2.4%) and IVF conceptions (4.6%). Specifically, gestational carriers experienced elevated rates of postpartum haemorrhages and hypertensive disorders, both serious complications during pregnancy. Among gestational carriers, rates of postpartum haemorrhages were 13....

A recent study published in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology found a significant link between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including its subtypes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The study analyzed data from the U.S. Collaborative Network using the TriNetX Analytics platform and revealed that individuals with IBD are four times more likely to develop CRS when compared to the individuals without IBD. Similarly, patients with CRS were found to be over 4 times more likely to develop IBD, with a slightly higher risk observed for UC than CD. The study involved 6 patient groups, including the individuals with and without IBD, UC, CD, and CRS. The findings indicated that individuals with UC had a 4.26-fold increased risk of developing CRS, while the individuals with CD had a 3.45-fold increased risk. Also, CRS patients had a 4.48-fold increased risk of developing UC and a 3.56-fold increased risk of developing CD....

China: A comprehensive and systematic study published in Apollo Medicine has provided strong evidence supporting the complex relationship between pancreatitis and the microbiota. The human gastrointestinal tract is home to a vast and diverse microbial community, comprising over 10 bacteria and containing more than 5 million genes. The study led by Xu Zhang, Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University et. al. aims to systematically review human research to explore the relationship between gut microbiota and pancreatic disorders. For this study, relevant research from 2011 to 2022 was systematically compiled through an extensive search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. The initial search results, encompassing all identified studies, underwent a detailed examination, including a thorough review of their reference lists to ensure a comprehensive search. The initial search yielded 114 items, but 58 duplicate articles were subsequently removed. A meticu...

A longitudinal cohort study published in the Arthritis & Rheumatology Journal unveiled a significant association between acute calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis and an elevated risk of fractures. This discovery enhances the existing understanding of the broader implications of CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate deposition) disease which was previously observed for its connection to osteopenia in two cross-sectional studies. The study utilized extensive electronic health record data from a large academic health system that covered from 1991 to 2023. The research focused on patients who underwent one or more episodes of acute CPP crystal arthritis which is commonly referred to as pseudogout and is characterized by the presence of synovial fluid CPP crystals. These patients were meticulously matched with comparators based on the index date of their first documented pseudogout episode or a similar health system encounter. The primary outcome of interest was the incidence of fir...

USA: A recent study conducted within an integrated healthcare system has shed light on the long-term risks of reintervention following surgical treatment for leiomyomas, also known as uterine fibroids. The research that analyzed data over several years provides valuable insights into the outcomes and challenges patients may face post-surgery. The researchers reported greater risks for long-term reintervention after endometrial ablation, uterine artery embolization, and hysteroscopic myomectomy versus abdominal, laparoscopic, or vaginal myomectomy in women treated for uterine fibroids. The findings were published online in Obstetrics & Gynecology in its May 2024 issue. Leiomyomas are benign tumors that commonly affect women of reproductive age, often causing symptoms such as pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and reproductive issues. Surgical interventions, including myomectomy and hysterectomy, are frequently recommended for symptomatic relief when conservative treatments ...