Megan Brooks It’s been estimated that up to one third of people who survive acute SARS-CoV-2 infection will suffer a post-viral syndrome with lingering neurologic and other symptoms — now known as long COVID or neurological postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Neuro-PASC). However, new research suggests that may be an underestimate and that far more...
Month: <span>October 2023</span>
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Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose linked to lower risk of heart failure hospitalizations in iron-deficient patients
Reviewed by Megan Craig, M.Sc. In iron-deficient patients with heart failure and reduced or mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) is associated with a reduced risk of the composite outcome of total cardiovascular hospitalization and cardiovascular death through 52 weeks compared with placebo, according to late-breaking research presented in a Hot...
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Head and neck cancer diagnostic delays linked to antibiotics despite clinical practice guidelines
by Bridjes O’Neil, Saint Louis University Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public DomainResearchers at Saint Louis University School of Medicine say diagnostic delays frequently occur in patients with undiagnosed head and neck cancer (HNC) and are calling for improved dissemination of current clinical practice guidelines in a new paper published Aug. 24 in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery....
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When sleep disorders presage something more serious
by Mayo Clinic Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public DomainEarly one morning, while checking on a slumbering patient at the Center for Sleep Medicine, Erik St. Louis, M.D., noticed something peculiar. The patient, a woman in her early 60’s, had started running beneath her bedsheets. As her eyelids fluttered, her legs kicked into gear, slowly at first but...
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Study finds no link between social media activity and changes in depression and anxiety in youths
by Eric W. Dolan A recent study indicates that there is no statistically significant correlation between how often young individuals engage in activities such as posting updates, liking content, and commenting on social media platforms, and their subsequent experience of symptoms related to depression and anxiety over time. The research has been published in Computers...
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Leading the way in Myasthenia Gravis (MG) detection
Reviewed by Olivia Frost MG, an autoimmune disease, occurs when the body’s immune system produces antibodies that attack vital proteins at the neuromuscular junctions, impacting the skeletal muscles responsible for breathing and various movements. It is estimated that this chronic neuromuscular disorder impacts over 700,000 individuals worldwide. Image Credit: ShutterStock/Kateryna Kon Early and accurate diagnosis...
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The long-term course of severe long COVID
CHARITÉ – UNIVERSITÄTSMEDIZIN BERLIN Patients who still have health problems three months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, with symptoms ongoing for at least two months and no other explanation for these issues, are said to have post-COVID syndrome (PCS), also known as “long COVID.” Symptoms vary widely. Many people have problems with breathing, trouble concentrating, or...
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Gene therapy study identifies potential new treatment for liver cancer
by UC Davis Graphical Abstract. Credit: Molecular Therapy (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.04.019 Gene therapy that induces the body to create microRNA-22 (miR-22), a naturally occurring molecule, successfully treated mice with hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. The miR-22 treatment also reduced liver inflammation and produced better survival outcomes with no observable toxicity compared...
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Timing and cost of new vaccines vary by virus and health insurance status
Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLMAs summer edges toward fall, thoughts turn to, well, vaccines. Yes, inevitably, it’s time to think about the usual suspects — influenza and covid-19 shots — but also the new kid in town: recently approved vaccines for RSV, short for respiratory syncytial virus. But who should get the various vaccines, and...
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COVID hospitalizations climb 22% this week — and the CDC predicts further increases as new variants spread
BY ALEXANDER TIN The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now forecasting an acceleration in new COVID-19 hospitalizations over the coming month, the agency said this week, replacing a previous projection that admissions would “remain stable or have an uncertain trend.” It comes as health officials are racing to study a new highly mutated...