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...
Category: <span>Clinical Practice</span>
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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...
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Image of the Day: Immune Cell In Action
An immune cell migrates inside a zebrafish’s inner ear while scooping up particles of sugar (blue) along the way.MARTIN LOPEZ-GARCIA Eric Betzig, a physicist at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and colleagues merged two microscopy techniques to create a 3-D video of immune cells moving through a zebrafish’s inner ear. They reported their findings last week...
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Smartphone app keeps an ‘eye’ on daily tuberculosis therapy
Johns Hopkins researchers report success with a smart phone video-based app that substitutes for a daily in-person visit by a healthcare worker required for tuberculosis treatment known as directly observed therapy, or DOT. The preliminary study showed that the app may be less costly and may improve privacy concerns raised by patients compared to in-person...
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Parkinson, Depression Meds Tied to Dementia Risk
Long-term use of anticholinergic medications for Parkinson’s disease, bladder conditions, and depression was associated with an increased risk for dementia, a case-control study found. For drugs previously associated with delirium, the highest odds were seen with anticholinergic drugs for Parkinson’s (adjusted OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11-1.50, P<0.01) and bladder conditions (adjusted OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13-1.23, P<0.01),...
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Commonly prescribed heartburn drug linked to pneumonia in older adults
Researchers at the University of Exeter have found a statistical link between pneumonia in older people and a group of medicines commonly used to neutralize stomach acid in people with heartburn or stomach ulcers. Although Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are still a valuable group of medicines, research is indicating that PPIs are not as completely safe for older...
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We can change our brain and its ability to cope with disease with simple lifestyle choices
Lifestyle factors such as meditation can change our brain for the better. Our life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past several decades, with advances in medical research, nutrition and health care seeing us live well into our 80s. But this longer life expectancy has also come at a cost, as the longer we live,...