An epidemiological study conducted by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Seoul National University suggests that persons deficient in vitamin D may be at much greater risk of developing diabetes. The findings are reported in the April 19, 2018 online issue of PLOS One. The scientists studied a cohort of 903...
Category: <span>Clinical Practice</span>
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Erectile dysfunction drugs may help treat many other conditions
A new British Journal of Pharmacology review examines how phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which were originally approved to treat erectile dysfunction, are finding clinical uses for a wide variety of conditions. PDE5 inhibitors cause blood vessel dilation by targeting a particular cellular pathway that is involved in many normal physiological functions and in the pathophysiology of a wide range of...
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Pharmacist follow-ups cut diabetes costs and reduce health risks
Two studies led by Associate Professor Joyce Lee from the Department of Pharmacy at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Faculty of Science revealed that pharmacist-managed care, in addition to routine check-ups with physicians, help improve the management of diabetes and the associated chronic diseases. NUS researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who regularly saw...
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MRI technique detects spinal cord changes in MS patients
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center-led research team has shown that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect changes in resting-state spinal cord function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This first application of these measures in patients living with MS, reported last week in the journal Brain, could lead to new ways to monitor the effectiveness of...
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Just one concussion could increase Parkinson’s risk
If you’ve ever had a mild concussion, your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease goes up by 56 percent, a new study of more than 300,000 U.S. veterans suggests. “Upwards of 40 percent of adults have had a traumatic brain injury [concussion], so these findings are definitely concerning,” said study author Dr. Raquel Gardner. She is an assistant...
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Research finds new mechanism that can cause the spread of deadly infection
Scientists at the University of Birmingham have discovered a unique mechanism that drives the spread of a deadly infection. The Pacific Northwest strain of Cryptococcus gattii has gained the ability to infect otherwise healthy individuals. Cptococcosirys is a rare and deadly fungal infection that affects the lung and brain and usually only occurs in people...
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Chronic kidney disease patients at increased risk for hepatitis C
There is strong evidence of a link between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hepatitis C. What does this mean for the health of patients who suffer from both conditions? Based on published research, hepatitis C is nine times more common in people with CKD who are on hemodialysis than in the general population. Chronic hepatitis...
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Six-day antibiotic cellulitis treatment resulted in higher rates of relapse than 12-day treatment
Cellulitis treated with a six-day course of intravenous antibiotic flucloxacillin resulted in greater rates of relapse at 90 days post-treatment despite having similar short-term results to the 12-day course, according to research presented at the 28th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). Cellulitis, a skin infection that can become life-threatening, usually takes hold through...
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A common anti-inflammatory therapy may help reduce risk of developing Parkinson’s disease
A recent study from researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai provides new insights into a link between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Parkinson’s disease and may have significant implications for the treatment and prevention of Parkinson’s disease. The recent study, published in JAMA Neurology, shows that individuals with IBD are at a...
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New guideline: Start taking MS drugs early on
For most people, it’s better to start taking drugs for multiple sclerosis (MS) early on rather than letting the disease run its course, according to a new guideline for treating MS from the American Academy of Neurology. The guideline is published in April 23, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy...