Reviewed by Danielle Ellis, B.Sc. Aug 16 2023 Prolonged exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation is associated with a higher risk of death from cancer than previously thought, suggests research tracking the deaths of workers in the nuclear industry, published in The BMJ today. The findings should inform current rules on workplace protection from low-dose radiation, say the...
Month: <span>August 2023</span>
Post
Study explores the challenges of the clinical diagnoses of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D. Aug 16 2023 Reviewed by Sophia Coveney A recent BMC Pulmonary Medicine study evaluated the clinical, laboratory, and radiographic characteristics of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). It aimed to distinguish them from other diseases in patients with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Study: Complexity in clinical diagnoses of acute exacerbation of chronic...
Post
Diagnosing Chronic Back Pain: When to Suspect Axial Spondyloarthritis
Sara Freeman August 11, 2023 Primary care practitioners have an important role to play in helping to diagnose people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) much sooner than is currently being achieved, according to several experts who are championing the need for the earlier diagnosis of the condition. AxSpA is an inflammatory condition of the spine and joints that...
Post
The nose knows: 8 diseases that dogs are good at sniffing out
By Paul McClure August 15, 2023 Dogs are particularly good at detecting disease with their keen sense of smell Depositphotos It’s been estimated that dogs smell up to 10,000 times better than us. That’s in part because they have about 220 million scent receptors, whereas humans have a mere 5 million. But dogs also inhale...
Post
Medications for chronic diseases affect the body’s ability to regulate body temperature, keep cool
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE, YONG LOO LIN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Medications to treat various chronic diseases may hinder the body’s ability to lose heat and regulate its core temperature to optimal levels. The loss of effective thermoregulation has implications for elderly people receiving treatment for illnesses like cancer, cardiovascular, Parkinson’s disease/dementia and diabetes, particularly during...
Post
Popular new weight-loss drugs may pose serious surgery risks
By Bronwyn Thompson August 14, 2023 Some medical professionals are calling for abstaining from weight-loss drugs longer before planned surgery Depositphotos A group of US and Canadian anesthesiologists has sounded the alarm on the new class of weight-loss drugs, this time warning that they can increase the risk of serious complications for patients under sedation...
Post
Unraveling the Mystery of Long COVID
Debby Waldman August 09, 2023 After catching COVID-19 for the second time in July 2022, Daniel Lewis suffered persistent headaches, chest pain, and a dangerously high heart rate. He recalls that he was also so exhausted packing for a family wedding that he had to take a break to rest each time he put something into his...
Post
Four Factors Complicate Treating OUD in Primary Care
Marcia Frellick August 14, 2023 Four themes in responses to a survey describe the multilevel barriers that make it difficult for primary care teams to incorporate medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in their practices, according to research published in JAMA Network Open. Elizabeth J. Austin, PhD, MPH, with the department of health systems and population health at...
Post
The interplay between immunity, the nervous system, and microbiota
By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D. Aug 15 2023 Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. A recent Immunity review analyzes the influence of the gut microbiota on neural and immune networks. Understanding the association between these seemingly isolated entities could contribute to the development of novel therapies and interventions. Study: Boundaries and integration between microbiota, the nervous system, and immunity....
Post
First-of-its-kind study reveals predictive factors for outcomes of advanced stage AL amyloidosis
by American Society of Hematology Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Early improvements in cardiac and hematologic parameters may predict better survival outcomes for patients being treated for stage IIIb AL amyloidosis, a deadly disease with a median survival of four to six months caused by abnormal protein buildup, according to research published in Blood Advances. Amyloidosis occurs when...