Editor's Choice
Opinion | Medicinal cannabis for chronic pain: the Bermuda triangle of low-quality studies, countless meta-analyses and conflicting recommendations.
5 Apr, 2022 | 08:52h | UTCRelated:
M-A: Birth outcomes of neonates exposed to marijuana in utero.
Cannabis-related allergies: an international overview and consensus recommendations.
Review: Cannabis-based medicines and medical cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain.
Living Systematic Review on Cannabis and Other Plant-Based Treatments for Chronic Pain.
Cannabis products are being sold as sleep remedies – here’s the evidence about their effectiveness.
Guideline: Medical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain.
NICE Guideline: Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products
Short Review: Drug Interactions with Cannabinoids
Meta-Analysis: Cannabinoids Not Effective for Cancer-Related Pain
Review: Considerations for cannabinoids in perioperative care by anesthesiologists.
Review: Cannabis-based Medicines and the Perioperative Physician
Perspective: If You Smoke Pot, Your Anesthesiologist Needs To Know
Cohort study: Increased middle age serum sodium levels (may correlate with low water ingestion) are linked to increased risk of left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure after 25 years of follow up.
5 Apr, 2022 | 09:44h | UTCMiddle age serum sodium levels in the upper part of normal range and risk of heart failure – European Heart journal (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Cohort Study: Change in heart disease and stroke mortality before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.
5 Apr, 2022 | 08:47h | UTCCommentaries:
Several-Fold Increase in Stroke and Heart Disease Deaths During COVID-19 Pandemic – NeurologyToday
2019 to 2020 Saw Risk-Linked Deaths From Heart Disease, Stroke Up – HealthDay
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more). Article and images under CC-BY License
Our paper @JAMANetworkOpen Sidney et al. https://t.co/bfCX9akd6p 2019 – 2020, several-fold ⬆️ in risk-associated deaths from Heart Disease & Stroke, with greater ⬆️ minorities & highest ⬆️among Black adults. More evidence of underlying systemic inequities & structural racism 🧵 pic.twitter.com/goQgPmRU9c
— Jamal Rana, MD (@JamalRanaMD) March 23, 2022
RCT: Efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the DNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (ZyCoV-D).
5 Apr, 2022 | 08:50h | UTCInvited Commentary: DNA vaccines join the fight against COVID-19 – The Lancet
Commentary on Twitter
DNA-based #COVID19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D, demonstrates efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity, according to interim analysis of phase 3 trial conducted in India.
More: https://t.co/bI2eXdbOvB pic.twitter.com/tMuHrA1kz6
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) April 2, 2022
#ACC22 – 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:42h | UTCACC Guideline Hub: Heart Failure
Executive Summary: 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure
News Release: ACC, AHA, HFSA Issue Heart Failure Guideline – American Heart Association
Key Perspectives: 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Heart Failure Guideline
Slide Set Download: 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure
Commentary on Twitter
New ACC/AHA/HFSA clinical guideline provides patient-centric recommendations for clinicians to prevent, diagnose, and manage patients with #HeartFailure.
Get the details in #JACC: https://t.co/zfbKMXxDNf#ClinicalGuidelines #HFrEF #CardioTwitter pic.twitter.com/hrvTj4TQUm
— JACC Journals (@JACCJournals) April 1, 2022
#ACC22 – RCT: Treatment for mild chronic hypertension during pregnancy is associated with better pregnancy outcomes than a strategy of reserving treatment only for severe hypertension.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:34h | UTCTreatment for Mild Chronic Hypertension during Pregnancy – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries:
Treating chronic hypertension in early pregnancy benefits parents, babies – NIH News Releases
CHAP: Better Blood Pressure Control, Better Pregnancy Outcomes – TCTMD
Commentary on Twitter
In pregnant women with mild chronic hypertension, targeting a blood pressure of < 140/90 mm Hg was associated with better pregnancy outcomes than a strategy of reserving treatment only for severe hypertension. #ACC22 https://t.co/fDrqa8uQiO pic.twitter.com/9KvogjnKcc
— NEJM (@NEJM) April 2, 2022
#ACC22 – RCT: Tranexamic acid reduces the risk of bleeding in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:37h | UTCTranexamic Acid in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries:
POISE-3: Tranexamic Acid Stems Bleeding During Noncardiac Surgery – TCTMD
Commentaries on Twitter
HOT OFF THE PRESS:POISE-3 Tranexamic Acid
Incidence of composite bleeding outcome significantly lower with tranexamic acid vs placebo; between-group difference in composite CV outcome was small, but noninferiority of tranexamic acid was not established.https://t.co/FyuBliD0Mr— Steven Cohn, MD (@preopconsult) April 2, 2022
Among patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, the incidence of the composite bleeding outcome was significantly lower with tranexamic acid than with placebo. #ACC22 https://t.co/cYIQhE7YCD pic.twitter.com/l0QKgpEqnG
— NEJM (@NEJM) April 2, 2022
POISE-3 trial results showed a single dose of tranexamic acid before & after surgery significantly ⬇️ severe bleeding risk in pts undergoing noncardiac surgery compared w/ placebo. Findings could have global 🌏 impact, researchers said. https://t.co/LratgyadtE #ACC22 #cvSurg pic.twitter.com/HXlcp6bb0M
— American College of Cardiology (@ACCinTouch) April 2, 2022
WHO Strategic preparedness, readiness and response plan to end the global Covid-19 emergency in 2022.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:44h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
"WHO is releasing updated Strategic Preparedness, Readiness & Response Plan for #COVID19. This is our 3rd strategic plan for COVID-19, & it could & should be our last. It lays out 3️⃣ possible scenarios for how the pandemic could evolve this year"-@DrTedros https://t.co/ryb0QdlTqG
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 30, 2022
Safety, tolerability and viral kinetics during SARS-CoV-2 human challenge (deliberately infecting individuals in a controlled environment) in young adults.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:27h | UTCCommentaries:
Understanding COVID-19 through human challenge models – Nature Medicine
First human challenge study of Covid-19 yields valuable insights about how we get sick – CNN
First Human Challenge Trial Shows How COVID-19 Strikes – HealthDay
Related:
Scientists deliberately gave people COVID — here’s what they learnt.
World’s first coronavirus “Human Challenge” study receives ethics approval in the UK (several texts on the subject)
Commentary on Twitter
In the first #SARSCoV2 challenge study in humans, healthy adults were intranasally inoculated with virus and monitored for productive infection, symptoms, virus kinetics, antibody response and safety in a controlled setting @ChrisChiuLab #COVID19 https://t.co/b3H2ftaSFf
— Nature Medicine (@NatureMedicine) March 31, 2022
Researchers generate the first complete, gapless sequence of a human genome.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:30h | UTCNews Release: Researchers generate the first complete, gapless sequence of a human genome – NIH News Releases
Original Study: The complete sequence of a human genome – Science
Commentaries:
Scientists sequence the complete human genome for the first time – CNN
First complete gap-free human genome sequence published – The Guardian
Scientists finally finish decoding entire human genome – Associated Press
#ACC22 – RCT: Among ambulatory patients with heart failure, a dietary intervention to reduce sodium intake did not reduce clinical events.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:32h | UTCReduction of dietary sodium to less than 100 mmol in heart failure (SODIUM-HF): an international, open-label, randomised, controlled trial – The Lancet (free registration required)
Commentaries:
SODIUM-HF: No Impact of Dietary Salt Restriction on Death or Hospitalization – TCTMD
Commentary on Twitter
Nutritional counseling/strictly limiting sodium intake didn’t significantly reduce MACE in #HeartFailure patients in 6️⃣ countries, but did modestly improve QOL according to results of SODIUM-HF trial presented at #ACC22. https://t.co/ESjiy6g8a7 #ACCIntl #cvPrev #CardioNutrition pic.twitter.com/CjK6CfWNXg
— American College of Cardiology (@ACCinTouch) April 2, 2022
Randomized, comparative effectiveness study: 3 at-home visual acuity tests validated through comparison with in-office visual acuity measurements, supporting their potential use in teleophthalmology care.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:17h | UTCValidation of Home Visual Acuity Tests for Telehealth in the COVID-19 Era – JAMA Ophthalmology (free for a limited period)
Commentaries:
Valid but Undervalued – JAMA Ophthalmology (free for a limited period)
At-Home Visual Acuity Tests Valid Versus In-Office Testing – HealthDay
RCT: Higher dose primaquine more effective for preventing relapse of Plasmodium vivax Malaria compared to standard dose.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:25h | UTC
Commentaries on Twitter
To prevent relapse of Plasmodium vivax malaria, primaquine at a total dose of 7.0 mg per kilogram had higher efficacy than a total dose of 3.5 mg per kilogram. https://t.co/qIu27ruhKP pic.twitter.com/HdTNhqB0J1
— NEJM (@NEJM) April 1, 2022
In most of the Americas, recommended primaquine-based therapy for P. vivax malaria has moderate efficacy for preventing relapse. Whether higher-dose primaquine might reduce recurrence is unknown. New research findings are summarized in a short video. https://t.co/aFt9gNGg0m pic.twitter.com/oiAkLMgPIJ
— NEJM (@NEJM) April 2, 2022
Two new studies show vaccination provides additional protection after Covid-19 infection.
4 Apr, 2022 | 01:16h | UTCCommentaries:
Vaccines offer substantial extra protection after COVID-19 infection – CIDRAP
Had COVID? Getting Vaccine Boosts Resilience Even More, Studies Show – HealthDay
Related:
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
THREAD | New studies in @TheLancetInfDis confirm #COVID19 vaccines provide extra protection for those with immunity from previous infection, especially against severe disease ⤵️
(Cases of reinfection from omicron variants not included)
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) April 1, 2022
Systematic Review: Does giving money to people, in low- and middle-income countries, without conditions attached lead to better health and other life improvements?
1 Apr, 2022 | 10:05h | UTC
RCT: Effect of medical marijuana card ownership on pain, insomnia, and affective disorder symptoms in adults.
1 Apr, 2022 | 10:07h | UTCCommentaries:
Study raises questions about risks of using medical marijuana for mood and anxiety disorders – CNN
Medical Marijuana Rx Ups Odds for Overuse, With No Benefit to Health: Study – HealthDay
Commentary on Twitter
RCT finds medical marijuana cards (MMC) are linked to an increase in cannabis use disorder, with no improvements in pain, depression, and anxiety for adults using medical marijuana but improvements in sleep. https://t.co/0gtGFi1RQ9
— JAMA Network Open (@JAMANetworkOpen) March 18, 2022
State of the Art Review: The heart brain team and patient-centered management of ischemic stroke.
1 Apr, 2022 | 09:53h | UTCThe Heart Brain Team and Patient-Centered Management of Ischemic Stroke – JACC: Advances
RCT: Shockwave lithotripsy compared with ureteroscopic stone treatment for adults with ureteric stones.
1 Apr, 2022 | 10:02h | UTCDownload: Full Report
Study finds no increased risk of brain tumors for mobile phone users.
1 Apr, 2022 | 10:04h | UTCNews Release: No increased risk of brain tumours for mobile phone users, new study finds – University of Oxford
Original Study: Cellular Telephone Use and the Risk of Brain Tumors: Update of the UK Million Women Study – JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Cluster RCT: Co-ordinated multidisciplinary intervention to reduce time to successful extubation for children on mechanical ventilation.
1 Apr, 2022 | 10:01h | UTCDownload: Full Report
Still coughing after COVID? Here’s why it happens and what to do about it.
1 Apr, 2022 | 09:50h | UTCStill coughing after COVID? Here’s why it happens and what to do about it – The Conversation
Study finds mother-to-child transmission of COVID-19 infection is possible but rare.
1 Apr, 2022 | 09:52h | UTCNews Release: Mother to child transmission of COVID-19 infection, possible but rare, study finds – University of Birmingham
Original Study: SARS-CoV-2 positivity in offspring and timing of mother-to-child transmission: living systematic review and meta-analysis – The BMJ
Editorial: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to baby is rare
Commentary on Twitter
Mother-to-child transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been controversial. Our living systematic review & meta-analysis has just been published in BMJ. Transmission has been confirmed, although it is rare, & is more likely when the maternal COVID-19 is severe.https://t.co/Z15kFIk6Zp
— Asma Khalil (@ProfAsmaKhalil) March 19, 2022
Viewpoint: Evaluating the effectiveness of diagnostic tests.
1 Apr, 2022 | 09:47h | UTCEvaluating the Effectiveness of Diagnostic Tests – JAMA (free for a limited period)
RCT: Amisulpride and olanzapine combination treatment versus each monotherapy in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia.
1 Apr, 2022 | 09:47h | UTCAmisulpride and olanzapine combination treatment versus each monotherapy in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia in Germany (COMBINE): a double-blind randomised controlled trial – The Lancet Psychiatry (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary on Twitter
RCT: At 8 weeks, PANSS total score improved more with amisulpride + olanzapine (−29·6) than with olanzapine + placebo (−24·1, p=0·049, d=0·396), but not vs. amisulpride + placebo (−25·2, p=0·095, d=0·29) in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia https://t.co/Se75PJ3a0N
— P𝘧OL (@psychopharmacol) March 18, 2022
WHO Global genomic surveillance strategy for pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential 2022–2032.
31 Mar, 2022 | 08:45h | UTCNews Release: WHO releases 10-year strategy for genomic surveillance of pathogens – World Health Organization
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
🆕 Today @WHO published the Global Genomic Surveillance Strategy for Pathogens with Pandemic and Epidemic Potential (2022–2032)
Ambitious, comprehensive, strategic and necessary.
Short thread ⬇️https://t.co/98NMgMhbL6
— Maria Van Kerkhove (@mvankerkhove) March 30, 2022