Finger Joint #Cartilage Evaluated by Semiquantitative #Ultrasound Score in Patients With #Rheumatoid Arthritis
https://2medical.news/2021/02/09/finger-joint-cartilage-evaluated-by-semiquantitative-ultrasound-score-in-patients-with-rheumatoid-arthritis/
Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes both bone and cartilage lesions. Since joint space narrowing (JSN) is not a direct evaluation of cartilage using radiography, we aimed to examine the validity of ultrasound (US) cartilage evaluation using a semiquantitative method in patients with RA. Methods We enrolled 103 patients with RA who were in remission or showing low disease activity and 42 healthy subjects. …
Drug-specific and dosage effects of #statins and the risk of #cancer: a population-based cohort study in South Korea
https://2medical.news/2021/02/08/drug-specific-and-dosage-effects-of-statins-and-the-risk-of-cancer-a-population-based-cohort-study-in-south-korea/
This study aimed to investigate whether the drug-specific and dosage effects of statin use were associated with a lower risk of cancer in adults in South Korea. We evaluated the adult population registered in the 2010 sample cohort database of South Korea. Subjects were divided into the statin group (those who had been prescribed continuous oral statin over 1 year) and the control group (those …
#Plasma tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in hospitalized #COVID-19 patients
https://2medical.news/2021/02/07/plasma-tissue-plasminogen-activator-and-plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1-in-hospitalized-covid-19-patients/
Patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) are at high risk for thrombotic arterial and venous occlusions. However, bleeding complications have also been observed in some patients. Understanding the balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis will help inform optimal approaches to thrombosis prophylaxis and potential utility of fibrinolytic-targeted therapies. 118 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. We measured plasma antigen levels of …
Relationship between afternoon #napping and #cognitive function in the ageing Chinese population
https://2medical.news/2021/02/06/relationship-between-afternoon-napping-and-cognitive-function-in-the-ageing-chinese-population-2/
Background Several studies have shown that afternoon napping promotes cognitive function in the elderly; on the other hand, some studies have shown opposite results. This current study further examined the relationship between afternoon napping and cognitive function in the ageing Chinese population. Methods A total of 2214 elderly were included (napping group: n=1534; non-napping group: n=680). They all received cognitive evaluations by the Beijing version …
#Adipose saturation reduces #lipotoxic systemic inflammation and explains the #obesity paradox
https://2medical.news/2021/02/05/adipose-saturation-reduces-lipotoxic-systemic-inflammation-and-explains-the-obesity-paradox/
Obesity sometimes seems protective in disease. This obesity paradox is predominantly described in reports from the Western Hemisphere during acute illnesses. Since adipose triglyceride composition corresponds to long-term dietary patterns, we performed a meta-analysis modeling the effect of obesity on severity of acute pancreatitis, in the context of dietary patterns of the countries from which the studies originated. Increased severity was noted in leaner populations …
Time-restricted #feeding normalizes hyperinsulinemia to inhibit #breast cancer in obese postmenopausal mouse models
https://2medical.news/2021/02/04/time-restricted-feeding-normalizes-hyperinsulinemia-to-inhibit-breast-cancer-in-obese-postmenopausal-mouse-models/
Accumulating evidence indicates that obesity with its associated metabolic dysregulation, including hyperinsulinemia and aberrant circadian rhythms, increases the risk for a variety of cancers including postmenopausal breast cancer. Caloric restriction can ameliorate the harmful metabolic effects of obesity and inhibit cancer progression but is difficult to implement and maintain outside of the clinic. In this study, we aim to test a time-restricted feeding (TRF) approach …
Increased #alcohol use during the #COVID-19 pandemic: The effect of mental health and age in a cross-sectional sample of social media users in the U.S.
https://2medical.news/2021/02/03/increased-alcohol-use-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-the-effect-of-mental-health-and-age-in-a-cross-sectional-sample-of-social-media-users-in-the-u-s/
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a public health crisis of unprecedented scale. Increased alcohol use has been extensively documented during other crises, particularly among persons with anxiety and depression. Despite COVID-19’s differential impact by age, the association of age, mental health and alcohol use during the pandemic has not been explored. This study aimed to examine whether age modified the association of anxiety and depressive …
Association between current medication use and progression of radiographic #knee #osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative
https://2medical.news/2021/02/02/association-between-current-medication-use-and-progression-of-radiographic-knee-osteoarthritis-data-from-the-osteoarthritis-initiative/
Use of specific medications may accelerate the progression of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (RKOA). Our aim was to examine the effect of medication use on the progression of RKOA. Methods We used longitudinal data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI); an observational study of risk factors for knee OA. At baseline, we selected participants with RKOA (KL grade ≥2) and excluded those with a history of knee-related …
Incidence, Prevalence and Healthcare Outcomes in Idiopathic #Intracranial #Hypertension: A Population Study
https://2medical.news/2021/02/01/incidence-prevalence-and-healthcare-outcomes-in-idiopathic-intracranial-hypertension-a-population-study/
To characterise trends in incidence, prevalence, and healthcare outcomes in the idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) population in Wales using routinely collected healthcare data. Methods: We used and validated primary and secondary care IIH diagnosis codes within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage databank, to ascertain IIH cases and controls, in a retrospective cohort study between 2003 and 2017. We recorded body mass index (BMI), deprivation quintile, …
#Stroke Incidence by Sex Across the Lifespan
https://2medical.news/2021/01/31/stroke-incidence-by-sex-across-the-lifespan/
We evaluated the influence of age on the association between sex and the incidence of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) using a population-based cohort from Ontario, Canada. Methods: We followed a cohort of adults (≥18 years) without prior stroke from January 1, 2003 (cohort start date) to March 31, 2018, to identify incident events. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs), in women compared to men, …
Are Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease at an Increased Risk of Developing #SARS-CoV-2 than Patients Without Inflammatory #Bowel Disease? Results From a Nationwide Veterans’ Affairs Cohort Study
https://2medical.news/2021/01/30/are-patients-with-inflammatory-bowel-disease-at-an-increased-risk-of-developing-sars-cov-2-than-patients-without-inflammatory-bowel-disease-results-from-a-nationwide-veterans-affairs-cohort-study/
The clinic course of SARS-CoV-2 among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been extensively studied. However, there is a paucity of data on whether patients with IBD have an increased risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 with compared with patients without IBD. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study in the US Veterans’ Affairs healthcare system from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020. We …
Relationship between afternoon #napping and #cognitive function in the ageing Chinese population
https://2medical.news/2021/01/29/relationship-between-afternoon-napping-and-cognitive-function-in-the-ageing-chinese-population/
Several studies have shown that afternoon napping promotes cognitive function in the elderly; on the other hand, some studies have shown opposite results. This current study further examined the relationship between afternoon napping and cognitive function in the ageing Chinese population. Methods A total of 2214 elderly were included (napping group: n=1534; non-napping group: n=680). They all received cognitive evaluations by the Beijing version of …
The effects of #alcohol and #cannabis use on the cortical thickness of #cognitive control and salience brain networks in emerging adulthood: a cotwin control study
https://2medical.news/2021/01/28/the-effects-of-alcohol-and-cannabis-use-on-the-cortical-thickness-of-cognitive-control-and-salience-brain-networks-in-emerging-adulthood-a-cotwin-control-study/
Background Impairments in inhibitory control and its underlying brain networks (control/salience areas) are associated with substance misuse. Research often assumes a causal substance exposure effect on brain structure. This assumption remains largely untested and other factors (e.g., familial risk) may confound exposure effects. We leveraged a genetically-informative sample of 24-year-old twins and a quasi-experimental cotwin control design to separate alcohol or cannabis exposure effects during …
#Metformin Use Is Associated With Reduced Mortality in a Diverse Population With #COVID-19 and Diabetes
https://2medical.news/2021/01/27/metformin-use-is-associated-with-reduced-mortality-in-a-diverse-population-with-covid-19-and-diabetes/
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a growing pandemic with an increasing death toll that has been linked to various comorbidities as well as racial disparity. However, the specific characteristics of these at-risk populations are still not known and approaches to lower mortality are lacking.. ..The odds ratio of contracting COVID-19 was disproportionately high in Blacks/African-Americans (OR 2.6; 95% CI 2.19–3.10; p<0.0001) and in subjects with obesity …
Longitudinal Associations of Midlife Accelerometer Determined #Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity With #Cognitive Function: The CARDIA Study
https://2medical.news/2021/01/26/longitudinal-associations-of-midlife-accelerometer-determined-sedentary-behavior-and-physical-activity-with-cognitive-function-the-cardia-study/
To determine if accelerometer measured sedentary behavior (SED), light‐intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate‐to‐vigorous–intensity physical activity (MVPA) in midlife is prospectively associated with cognitive function. Participants were 1970 adults enrolled in the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study who wore an accelerometer in 2005 to 2006 (ages 38–50 years) and had cognitive function assessments completed 5 and/or 10 years later. SED, LPA, …
Incidence of adverse #cardiovascular events in type 2 #diabetes mellitus patients after initiation of glucose‐lowering agents: A population‐based community study from the Shizuoka Kokuho database
https://2medical.news/2021/02/09/incidence-of-adverse-cardiovascular-events-in-type-2-diabetes-mellitus-patients-after-initiation-of-glucose%E2%80%90lowering-agents-a-population%E2%80%90based-community-study-from-the-shizuoka-koku/
Increased incidence of hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) among patients with diabetes is increasingly being reported. We investigated the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events including HHF among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and the potential clinical improvement with sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) using a contemporary administrative claims database from a large governmental district of Japan. We included initiators of any oral glucose‐lowering drugs …
Association of Glycolysis-Enhancing α-1 Blockers With Risk of Developing #Parkinson Disease
https://2medical.news/2021/02/08/association-of-glycolysis-enhancing-%CE%B1-1-blockers-with-risk-of-developing-parkinson-disease/
Parkinson disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. A treatment that prevents or delays development of PD is a critical unmet need. Terazosin and closely related drugs were recently discovered to enhance glycolysis and reduce PD progression in animal models and human clinical databases.. ..A cohort of 52 365 propensity score–matched pairs of terazosin/doxazosin/alfuzosin and tamsulosin users were identified in the Danish registries, of which all …
Fecal #microbiota transplant overcomes resistance to anti–PD-1 therapy in #melanoma patients
https://2medical.news/2021/02/07/fecal-microbiota-transplant-overcomes-resistance-to-anti-pd-1-therapy-in-melanoma-patients/
Anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy provides long-term clinical benefits to patients with advanced melanoma. The composition of the gut microbiota correlates with anti–PD-1 efficacy in preclinical models and cancer patients. To investigate whether resistance to anti–PD-1 can be overcome by changing the gut microbiota, this clinical trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of responder-derived fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) together with anti–PD-1 in patients …
#COVID-19 Outcomes Among Persons Living With or Without Diagnosed #HIV Infection in New York State
https://2medical.news/2021/02/06/covid-19-outcomes-among-persons-living-with-or-without-diagnosed-hiv-infection-in-new-york-state/
New York State has been an epicenter for both the US coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and HIV/AIDS epidemics. Persons living with diagnosed HIV may be more prone to COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes, yet few studies have assessed this possibility at a population level.. ..A total of 2988 persons living with diagnosed HIV (2109 men [70.6%]; 2409 living in New York City [80.6%]; mean [SD] …
Screening for Asymptomatic #Carotid #Artery Stenosis Lack of Clinical Benefit, Potential for Harm
https://2medical.news/2021/02/05/screening-for-asymptomatic-carotid-artery-stenosis-lack-of-clinical-benefit-potential-for-harm/
In the Recommendation Statement published in this issue of JAMA,1 the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF) has reaffirmed its 2014 recommendation, stating that “The USPTF recommends against screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in the general adult population (D recommendation),” based on evidence that the harms of screening for carotid artery stenosis in asymptomatic adults outweigh the benefits, with no new evidence that would …
Association of Medical #Stimulants With #Mortality in the US From 2010 to 2017
https://2medical.news/2021/02/04/association-of-medical-stimulants-with-mortality-in-the-us-from-2010-to-2017/
The role of nonopioids in the drug overdose epidemic in the US is frequently overshadowed. From 2015 to 2016, mortality rates involving cocaine and psychostimulants were smaller than opioids, but were rising faster than opioids.1 We examined individual substances listed on death certificates to better understand stimulant-associated mortality and assess rates over time. https://bit.ly/3oEgFbP
The Tailgate Study: Differing #metabolic effects of a bout of excessive #eating and #drinking
https://2medical.news/2021/02/03/the-tailgate-study-differing-metabolic-effects-of-a-bout-of-excessive-eating-and-drinking/
Excess energy intake by spectators at a sporting event (i.e., a tailgate) might cause acute negative health effects. However, limited data exist regarding the effects of overeating and alcohol consumption on lipid metabolism and the potential to gain intrahepatic triacylglycerols (IHTG). We tested the hypothesis that overconsumption of food and alcohol would significantly increase both hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and IHTG. Methods Eighteen males …
A Little #Autonomy Support Goes a Long Way: Daily Autonomy‐Supportive Parenting, Child Well‐Being, Parental Need Fulfillment, and Change in Child, Family, and Parent Adjustment Across the Adaptation to the #COVID‐19 Pandemic
https://2medical.news/2021/02/02/a-little-autonomy-support-goes-a-long-way-daily-autonomy%E2%80%90supportive-parenting-child-well%E2%80%90being-parental-need-fulfillment-and-change-in-child-family-and-parent-adjustment-across/
This study examined the effects of daily parental autonomy support on changes in child behavior, family environment, and parental well‐being across 3 weeks during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Germany. Day‐to‐day associations among autonomy‐supportive parenting, parental need fulfillment, and child well‐being were also assessed. Parents (longitudinal N = 469; Mage = 42.93, SDage = 6.40) of school children (6–19 years) reported on adjustment measures at two …
Individualizing Surveillance #Mammography for Older Patients After Treatment for Early-Stage #Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Expert Panel and International Society of Geriatric Oncology Consensus Statement
https://2medical.news/2021/02/01/individualizing-surveillance-mammography-for-older-patients-after-treatment-for-early-stage-breast-cancer-multidisciplinary-expert-panel-and-international-society-of-geriatric-oncology-consensus-sta/
..After a literature review of the risk of ipsilateral and contralateral breast cancer events among breast cancer survivors and the harms and benefits associated with mammography, a multidisciplinary expert panel was convened to develop consensus guidelines on surveillance mammography for breast cancer survivors 75 years or older. Using an iterative consensus-based approach, input from clinician focus groups, and critical review by the International Society for …
Increased Risk of #Parkinson’s Disease in Patients With #Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
https://2medical.news/2021/01/31/increased-risk-of-parkinsons-disease-in-patients-with-schizophrenia-spectrum-disorders/
PD comorbid with schizophrenia has been considered rare because these diseases associate with opposite alterations in the brain dopamine system. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk of PD after a diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Methods Regionally, this was a retrospective record‐based case–control study. The cohort included 3045 PD patients treated 2004–2019 in southwestern Finland. Nationally this was a nested …
A neurotransmitter produced by #gut bacteria modulates host sensory #behaviour
https://2medical.news/2021/01/30/a-neurotransmitter-produced-by-gut-bacteria-modulates-host-sensory-behaviour/
Animals coexist in commensal, pathogenic or mutualistic relationships with complex communities of diverse organisms, including microorganisms. Some bacteria produce bioactive neurotransmitters that have previously been proposed to modulate nervous system activity and behaviours of their hosts. However, the mechanistic basis of this microbiota–brain signalling and its physiological relevance are largely unknown. Here we show that in Caenorhabditis elegans, the neuromodulator tyramine produced by commensal Providencia …
2021 The Effect of Preconception-Initiated Low-Dose #Aspirin on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin–Detected Pregnancy, #Pregnancy Loss, and Live Birth
https://2medical.news/2021/01/29/2021-the-effect-of-preconception-initiated-low-dose-aspirin-on-human-chorionic-gonadotropin-detected-pregnancy-pregnancy-loss-and-live-birth/
A previous large randomized trial indicated that preconception-initiated low-dose aspirin (LDA) therapy did not have a positive effect on pregnancy outcomes. However, this trial was subject to nonadherence, which was not taken into account by the intention-to-treat approach.. ..Relative to placebo, adhering to LDA for 5 of 7 days per week led to 8 more hCG-detected pregnancies (95% CI, 4.64 to 10.96 pregnancies), 15 more …
Serum hepatitis B #core‐related antigen level stratifies risk of disease progression in chronic #hepatitis B patients with intermediate viral load
https://2medical.news/2021/01/28/serum-hepatitis-b-core%E2%80%90related-antigen-level-stratifies-risk-of-disease-progression-in-chronic-hepatitis-b-patients-with-intermediate-viral-load/
Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are at risk of developing liver disease. Serum hepatitis B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg) is a new biomarker for intrahepatic templates for HBV replication.. ..A total of 1673 treatment‐naïve, non‐cirrhotic patients with negative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level <40 U/L at baseline were enrolled. We explored the relationship between baseline levels of HBcrAg …
#Fried-food consumption and risk of #cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of observational studies
https://2medical.news/2021/01/27/fried-food-consumption-and-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease-and-all-cause-mortality-a-meta-analysis-of-observational-studies/
We performed a meta-analysis, including dose–response analysis, to quantitatively determine the association of fried-food consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in the general adult population.. ..In comparing the highest with lowest fried-food intake, summary RRs (95% CIs) were 1.28 (1.15 to 1.43; n=17, I2=82.0%) for major cardiovascular events (prospective: 1.24 (1.12 to 1.38), n=13, I2=75.7%; case–control: 1.91 (1.15 to 3.17), n=4, I2=92.1%); …
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Repeated #Ketamine Administration for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
https://2medical.news/2021/01/26/a-randomized-controlled-trial-of-repeated-ketamine-administration-for-chronic-posttraumatic-stress-disorder/
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic and disabling disorder, for which available pharmacotherapies have limited efficacy. The authors’ previous proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial of single-dose intravenous ketamine infusion in individuals with PTSD showed significant and rapid PTSD symptom reduction 24 hours postinfusion. The present study is the first randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy and safety of repeated intravenous ketamine infusions for the …