General Interest
Study: diet soda can really mess with your metabolism
16 Aug, 2017 | 14:15h | UTCStudy: diet soda can really mess with your metabolism – VOX (free)
Original article: Integration of Sweet Taste and Metabolism Determines Carbohydrate Reward – Current Biology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
See also a related meta-analysis showing little evidence of artificial sweeteners for weight loss in our July 18th issue (see #2)
“New research helps explain why artificial sweeteners are linked to obesity and metabolic disease”.
The Effects of Cannabis Among Adults With Chronic Pain
15 Aug, 2017 | 22:25h | UTCRelated article: Benefits and Harms of Plant-Based Cannabis for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review – Annals of Internal Medicine (free)
Commentaries: Evidence on cannabis for chronic pain and PTSD – American College of Physician’s, via EurekAlert (free) AND Evidence Lacking on Benefits of Cannabis for Treating Chronic Pain, PTSD – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Limited evidence available to determine effectiveness and safety of cannabis to treat chronic pain – 2 Minute Medicine (free) AND Little evidence that marijuana helps chronic pain, PTSD, studies find – CNN (free text and video)
Gene Editing Using CRISPR: Why the Excitement?
15 Aug, 2017 | 21:08h | UTCViewpoint: Gene Editing Using CRISPR: Why the Excitement? – JAMA (free)
Relationship of Alcohol Consumption to All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer-Related Mortality
15 Aug, 2017 | 22:44h | UTCRelationship of Alcohol Consumption to All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer-Related Mortality in U.S. Adults – Journal of The American College of Cardiology (link to abstract and infographic – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Consuming Alcohol in Moderation Can Lower Mortality Risks – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free) AND Alcohol Consumption and All-Cause, CV, and Cancer-Related Mortality – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free) AND Can drinking a little bit help you live longer? – Reuters (free)
Cholera count reaches 500 000 in Yemen
15 Aug, 2017 | 22:15h | UTCCholera count reaches 500 000 in Yemen – World Health Organization (free)
Commentaries: Yemen’s cholera outbreak passes 500,000 cases – CIDRAP (free) AND More Than 500,000 Infected With Cholera in Yemen – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
EBV DNA Screening for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
15 Aug, 2017 | 20:13h | UTCAnalysis of Plasma Epstein–Barr Virus DNA to Screen for Nasopharyngeal Cancer – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Quick Take Video Summary: EBV DNA Screening for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (free)
Commentaries: Can a ‘liquid biopsy’ detect cancer and save lives? – STAT (free) AND Liquid Biopsy Passes Test for Nasopharyngeal Cancer – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Early Detection of Nasopharyngeal Cancer With EBV DNA – Medscape (free registration required) AND Plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA useful for nasopharyngeal carcinoma screening – 2 Minute Medicine (free)
Longer sleep is associated with lower BMI and favorable metabolic profiles
15 Aug, 2017 | 19:45h | UTCCommentaries: Short sleep linked to body mass, waist size – Reuters (free) AND Insufficient sleep may be adding to your waistline – University of Leeds, via Science Daily (free)
Gene-edited embryos are exciting, but the truly urgent conversations concern genomic medicine
15 Aug, 2017 | 19:34h | UTCCommit to talks on patient data and public health – Nature News (free)
“unlike gene-edited infants, which are still years away, genomic medicine is with us now” (RT @NatureNews see Tweet)
Surgery must be a core part of health care – even in the poorest countries
15 Aug, 2017 | 16:57h | UTCSurgery must be a core part of health care – even in the poorest countries – The Guardian (free)
Related book: Essential Surgery – Disease Control Priorities 3 (DCP3) (free)
Related report: Global Surgery 2030 (free PDF)
Related commentary on the subject: In countries with a shortage of surgeons, other health care workers can fill in the gaps – STAT (free)
Skin-to-skin care: can it reduce procedural pain in neonates?
15 Aug, 2017 | 15:54h | UTCSkin-to-skin care: can it reduce procedural pain in neonates? – Evidently Cochrane Blog (free)
Original systematic review: Skin-to-skin care for procedural pain in neonates – Cochrane Library (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
“Skin-to-skin care probably is an effective intervention for pain during procedures for neonates”.
Ibuprofen versus placebo effect on acute kidney injury in ultramarathons
15 Aug, 2017 | 16:09h | UTCIbuprofen versus placebo effect on acute kidney injury in ultramarathons: a randomised controlled trial – Emergency Medicine Journal (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Ibuprofen linked to slight risk of kidney damage in ultramarathoners – Reuters (free) AND Study reveals harmful effects on kidney of Ibuprofen – Stanford Daily (free)
Midlife Vascular Risk Factors and Incident Dementia
14 Aug, 2017 | 18:08h | UTCAssociations Between Midlife Vascular Risk Factors and 25-Year Incident Dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Cohort – JAMA Neurology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Midlife cardiovascular risk factors may increase chances of dementia – NIH News Releases (free) AND Midlife smoking, diabetes, and hypertension associated with late life dementia – 2 Minute Medicine (free) AND Heart-healthy middle age tied to lower risk of dementia – Medical News Today (free) AND Heart disease risk in middle age tied to dementia later – Reuters (free)
The effects of physical activity and fatigue on cognitive performance in breast cancer survivors
14 Aug, 2017 | 16:00h | UTCThe effects of physical activity and fatigue on cognitive performance in breast cancer survivors – Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Exercise Improves Cognitive Function in Breast CA Survivors – Medscape (free registration required)
Use of Alternative Medicine for Cancer and Its Impact on Survival
13 Aug, 2017 | 21:58h | UTCUse of Alternative Medicine for Cancer and Its Impact on Survival – Journal of the National Cancer Institute (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Use of alternative medicine hastens death of cancer patients – Edzard Ernst (free) AND Cancer Survival Takes a Hit with Alternative Medicine – MedPage Today (free) AND Using Alternative Medicine Only for Cancer Linked to Lower Survival Rate – Yale Cancer Center, via NewsWise (free) AND ‘Alternative Medicine’ for Cancer Ups Death Risk – Medscape (free registration required)
Lifestyle Risk Factors Increase the Risk of Hospitalization for Sciatica
11 Aug, 2017 | 16:04h | UTCLifestyle Risk Factors Increase the Risk of Hospitalization for Sciatica: Findings of Four Prospective Cohort Studies – The American Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Walking and biking tied to lower risk of hospitalization with sciatica – Reuters (free)
Related guideline: Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management – NICE (free)
11 Organizations Urge Cautious but Proactive Approach to Gene Editing
11 Aug, 2017 | 15:50h | UTCPosition Statement: Human Germline Genome Editing – American Society of Human Genetics (free)
News Release: 11 Organizations Urge Cautious but Proactive Approach to Gene Editing
Commentaries: International Genetics Groups Call for Cautious Approach to Gene Editing – Physician’s First Watch (free)
Artificial intelligence: augmenting or replacing doctors?
11 Aug, 2017 | 15:06h | UTCArtificial intelligence: augmenting or replacing doctors? – MJA Insight (free)
These People Are Trying To Fix A Huge Problem In Science
11 Aug, 2017 | 15:04h | UTCThese People Are Trying To Fix A Huge Problem In Science – BuzzFeed News (free)
“Big, important findings of previous studies – things we thought we knew – have failed to stand up to scrutiny”… (RT @Students4BE see Tweet)
The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
11 Aug, 2017 | 13:30h | UTCUpdated Fact Sheet: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic – Kaiser Family Foundation (free) (RT @greg_folkers see Tweet)
Preventing Asthma Exacerbations With Mite-Impermeable Bedcovers
11 Aug, 2017 | 14:13h | UTCPreventing Severe Asthma Exacerbations in Children. A Randomized Trial of Mite-Impermeable Bedcovers – American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Mite-proof covers may reduce severity of asthma exacerbations in allergic children – News Medical (free)
Source: EvidenceAlerts
Breast-feeding for economic growth and prosperity
11 Aug, 2017 | 13:47h | UTCOpinion: Breast-feeding for economic growth and prosperity – Devex (free)
Source: Global Health Now Newsletter
Neuroprotective Diets Are Associated with Better Cognitive Function
10 Aug, 2017 | 22:22h | UTCCommentaries: Cognitive decline could be reduced with a Mediterranean-style diet – Medical News Today (free) AND Mediterranean-style diets linked to better brain function in older adults – Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Research Summary (free)
Dog owners more likely to exercise
10 Aug, 2017 | 21:06h | UTCCommentary: Dog owners more likely to exercise regularly – Reuters (free) AND Quantifying the Benefits of Owning a Dog – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
Is blogging or tweeting about research papers worth it?
10 Aug, 2017 | 17:15h | UTCThe verdict: is blogging or tweeting about research papers worth it? – The London School of Economics and Political Science (free) (RT @CLAHRC_West and @CebmOxford)
Researchers can no longer ignore social media.
Effect of marijuana use on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality
10 Aug, 2017 | 17:13h | UTCCommentaries: Marijuana associated with three-fold risk of death from hypertension – European Society of Cardiology, via Science Daily (free) AND Marijuana use holds three-fold blood pressure death risk: study – Reuters (free) AND Marijuana Use Tied to Death from Hypertension, Study Suggests – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Marijuana ‘may be worse than cigarettes for cardiovascular health’ – Medical News Today (free)