General Interest
Cybercrime and healthcare
15 May, 2017 | 19:44h | UTCCybercrime and healthcare
The hackers holding hospitals to ransom – The BMJ (free) AND NHS cyber-attack: GPs and hospitals hit by ransomware – BBC News (free) AND Disruption from cyber-attack to last for days, says NHS Digital – as it happened – The Guardian (free) AND Worldwide ransomware attack hits NHS hospitals – video – The Guardian (free) AND British Patients Reel as Hospitals Race to Revive Computer Systems – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free) AND Hackers Hit Dozens of Countries Exploiting Stolen N.S.A. Tool – New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
Many hospitals were affected around the world.
Using AI to Detect Cancer
12 May, 2017 | 19:33h | UTCUsing AI to Detect Cancer, Not Just Cats – Wired (free) (RT @EricTopol see Tweet)
Related: Is AI a threat or benefit to health workers? – CMAJ News (free)
More on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare in our April 28Th issue (see #1) and in our April 10th issue (see #8)
Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee arthritis and meniscal tears: a clinical practice guideline
12 May, 2017 | 19:38h | UTCCommentaries: This orthopedic surgery is the world’s most common. But patients rarely benefit, a panel says – STAT News (free) AND Guideline Recommends Against Arthroscopy for Most Cases of Degenerative Knee Disease – Journal Watch (free) AND Arthroscopic Surgery Doesn’t Help With Arthritis Knee Pain – NPR Health News (free)
Socioeconomic status as an effect modifier of alcohol consumption and harm
12 May, 2017 | 19:29h | UTCInvited commentary: Socioeconomic status and susceptibility to alcohol-related harm (free)
Commentary: Poorest at greater risk from heavy drinking, says study – BBC (free)
Can Endgame Tobacco radically reduce cigarette smoking?
12 May, 2017 | 19:35h | UTCCan Endgame Tobacco radically reduce cigarette smoking? – Healthy Debate (free) (RT @IrfanDhalla see Tweet)
Related: The tobacco endgame: a qualitative review and synthesis – Tobacco Control (free) AND It’s time to focus on an endgame for tobacco regulation – The Conversation (free)
“The “Tobacco Endgame” concept moves thinking away from the mere control of tobacco towards plans for ending the tobacco pandemic, and foresees a tobacco-free future” (from The Conversation)
Improved life expectancy of people living with HIV
11 May, 2017 | 18:39h | UTCInvited commentary: Improved life expectancy of people living with HIV: who is left behind? (free)
Source: Treatment now gives some HIV patients a normal life expectancy, study finds – STAT News (free)
Risk of acute myocardial infarction with NSAIDs
11 May, 2017 | 18:38h | UTCCommentaries: Meta-Analysis: Just a Week of NSAID Use Tied to Increased Heart Attack Risk – Journal Watch (free) AND Common painkillers linked to increased risk of heart attack, study says – CNN (free) All NSAIDs Linked to Increased MI Risk – Medscape (free registration required)
Another study suggesting NSAIDs may be associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
Milk and dairy consumption and risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality
10 May, 2017 | 18:27h | UTCMeta-analysis: Milk and dairy consumption and risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality: dose–response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies – European Journal of Epidemiology (free)
Source: Eating cheese does not raise risk of heart attack or stroke, study finds – The Guardian (free)
Dairy seems to be neutral regarding risks of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality.
How To Do A Really Good Job Washing Your Hands
11 May, 2017 | 18:36h | UTCHow To Do A Really Good Job Washing Your Hands – NPR Health News (free)
See also World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Clean Hands” campaigns in our May 5th issue, see #2.
Mortality from different causes associated with meat, heme iron, nitrates, and nitrites
10 May, 2017 | 18:28h | UTCMeta-analysis: Mortality from different causes associated with meat, heme iron, nitrates, and nitrites in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study: population based cohort study – The BMJ (free)
High intakes of red and processed meat are associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality and death due to nine different causes.
Screening for Thyroid Cancer: USPSTF Recommendation Statement
10 May, 2017 | 18:29h | UTCScreening for Thyroid Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement – JAMA (free)
Editorial 1: The USPSTF Recommendation on Thyroid Cancer Screening: Don’t “Check Your Neck” (free)
Editorial 2: Cancer Screening, Overdiagnosis, and Regulatory Capture (free)
Editorial 3: How to Look for Thyroid Cancer (free)
Commentaries: No Symptoms, No Thyroid Screening, Says USPSTF – Medscape (free registration required) AND Don’t Screen For Thyroid Cancer, Task Force Says – NPR Health News (free) AND USPSTF Says No to Thyroid Cancer Screening – MedPage Today (free registration required)
The USPSTF recommended against screening for thyroid cancer in asymptomatic adults with “grade D” recommendation (Grade D = “The USPSTF recommends against the service. There is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit or that the harms outweigh the benefits”).
One-Third Of New Drugs Had Safety Problems After FDA Approval
10 May, 2017 | 18:22h | UTCPostmarket Safety Events Among Novel Therapeutics Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration Between 2001 and 2010 – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Nearly 1 In 3 Recent FDA Drug Approvals Followed By Major Safety Actions – Scientific American (free) AND One in Three Newly Approved Drugs Has Safety Issues – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Safety Events Common in Newly Approved Drugs – Medscape(free registration required) AND New safety risks detected in one-third of FDA-approved drugs – The Washington Post (free) (RT @EricTopol see Tweet) AND One-Third Of New Drugs Had Safety Problems After FDA Approval – NPR Health News (free)
*Newer is not always better.
Noncommunicable diseases: the slow-motion disaster
9 May, 2017 | 18:21h | UTCNoncommunicable diseases: the slow-motion disaster – World Health Organization (free)
Related WHO resources: Other dimensions of the NCD crisis: from mental health, ageing, dementia and malnutrition to deaths on the roads, violence and disability (free) AND Tools for implementing WHO PEN (Package of essential noncommunicable disease interventions) (free) AND WHO’s work on NCDs (free)
Source: Noncommunicable Diseases: A Global ‘Slow-Motion Disaster’ – Medscape (free registration required)
UN Global Road Safety Week, 8-14 May 2017
9 May, 2017 | 18:20h | UTCUN Global Road Safety Week, 8-14 May 2017 – World Health Organization
Press release 1: Fourth UN Global Road Safety Week 2017, 8-14 May 2017 (free)
Press release 2: Speed management key to saving lives, making cities more livable (free)
New WHO Report: Save LIVES: a road safety technical package (free)
WHO campaign: “Road Safety: Around 1.25 million people die every year on the world’s roads. Save lives, Slow Down!” (see Tweet) AND “Global Road Safety week: Excessive or inappropriate speed contributes to 1 in 3 road traffic fatalities, Slow Down!” (see Tweet).
The Paternal Epigenome Makes Its Mark
6 May, 2017 | 20:38h | UTCMedical News & Perspectives: The Paternal Epigenome Makes Its Mark – JAMA (free)
Related: Influence of paternal preconception exposures on their offspring: through epigenetics to phenotype – American Journal of Stem Cells (free)
“Epigenetic changes may be the underlying mechanism by which paternal factors such as age, diet, weight, stress, and alcohol consumption contribute to a range of health outcomes in offspring including birth defects, behavioral problems, developmental disorders, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer”.
World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5th, 2017)
5 May, 2017 | 20:28h | UTCWorld Hand Hygiene Day (May 5th, 2017)
World Health Organization: SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands 5 May 2017 AND Campaign Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Clean Hands Count Campaign (free) AND Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings (free)
Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy
5 May, 2017 | 20:26h | UTCMultiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy – Cochrane Library (free summary – $ for full-text)
See also a recent landmark study on the subject in our March 27th issue, see #9.
Source: EvidenceAlerts
The findings of this systematic review support the effect of Multiple-micronutrient supplements with iron and folic acid in improving some birth outcomes.
Give patients access to their medical records
5 May, 2017 | 20:20h | UTCEditor’s Choice: Give patients access to their medical records – The BMJ, by Fiona Godlee, editor in chief (free)
Patients are being empowered in decisions regarding their health care, and this is probably a tendency for the future.
Alternate-day fasting does not seem to lead to greater weight loss
3 May, 2017 | 17:26h | UTCCommentaries: Fasting Studies Clash With Our Desire To Eat What We Want, When We Want It – NPR Health News (free) AND Fasting Every Other Day Does Not Lead to Greater Weight Loss – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Same Weight Loss With Alternate-Day Fasting vs Cutting Calories – Medscape (free registration required) AND Alternate-Day Fasting Doesn’t Lead to Speedier Weight Loss – MedPage Today (free registration required)
Randomized trial with 100 patients showed no difference in weight loss between alternate-day fasting versus calorie restriction.
Preventing drowning: an implementation guide – World Health Organization
3 May, 2017 | 17:32h | UTCReport: Preventing drowning: an implementation guide – World Health Organization (free) (See @WHO Tweet 1 and Tweet 2)
Related publication: Global report on drowning: preventing a leading killer – World Health Organization (free)
Embrace the facts about vaccines, not the myths – World Health Organization
3 May, 2017 | 17:30h | UTCEmbrace the facts about vaccines, not the myths – World Health Organization (free) (RT @gmacscotland see Tweet)
Related: The amazing power of vaccines, explained in 6 seconds – World Economic Forum (free) AND World Immunisation Week: The Rise of Anti-Vaccine Movement and What it Means for Public Health – Independent (free) (RT @LSHTMpress see Tweet)
See also our coverage on World Immunization Week in our April 25 issue, see #1.
Here’s What Your Future Doctor Visits Could Look Like
3 May, 2017 | 17:22h | UTCInteresting read: Here’s What Your Future Doctor Visits Could Look Like – Fortune (free) (RT @EricTopol see Tweet)
According to this point of view “tomorrow’s office visit will increasingly take place everywhere but the office”, with a sharp increase in virtual visits and home visits, with doctors coming to patients.
For Pregnant Women, Getting Serious About Whooping Cough
2 May, 2017 | 17:13h | UTCFor Pregnant Women, Getting Serious About Whooping Cough – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
Related: Effectiveness of Vaccination During Pregnancy to Prevent Infant Pertussis – Pediatrics (free) AND Study: Pertussis shot in pregnant moms protects newborns – CIDRAP (free) AND Get the Whooping Cough Vaccine While You Are Pregnant – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (free)
Tobacco packaging design for reducing tobacco use
28 Apr, 2017 | 16:41h | UTCSystematic review: Tobacco packaging design for reducing tobacco use – Cochrane Library (link to summary – $ for full-text)
News release: Standardised tobacco packaging: will banning branding cut down smoking? (free)
See also: Standardised cigarette packaging is on its way, but will it reduce smoking? – The Guardian (free)
New evidence finds standardized cigarette packaging may reduce the number of people who smoke.
Normal-Weight Central Obesity and Risk for Mortality
28 Apr, 2017 | 16:38h | UTCNormal-Weight Central Obesity and Risk for Mortality – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Waist circumference stronger predictor of death risk than BMI – Haelio (free) AND Forget Your BMI and Focus on This Measurement Instead – TIME (free) AND Central Obesity Ups Mortality Across BMI Range – Physician’s Briefing (free) AND Central obesity may increase mortality risk from cardiovascular disease – Cardiovascular Business (free) AND People with a normal BMI who carry weight around the middle at greatest risk of death – HealthCanal (free)