General Interest
M-A | The efficacy of Kangaroo-Mother care to the clinical outcomes of LBW and premature infants
21 Mar, 2023 | 13:35h | UTCSummary: Kangaroo-Mother Care (KMC) is a method that involves skin-to-skin contact between the mother and newborn, frequent exclusive or almost exclusive breastfeeding, and early discharge. KMC is an alternative to traditional care interventions for low birthweight (LBW) infants, and the World Health Organization has recommended its use for LBW infants for over a decade.
The authors conducted a meta-analysis including 17 randomized clinical trials involving 17,668 participants. They found that KMC can significantly reduce neonatal mortality, lower hypothermia and sepsis rates, and reduce the duration of hospital stay. The authors suggest that KMC should be promoted, popularized, and standardized in clinical practice.
Related:
Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants – Cochrane Library
COVID-19 pandemic measures may have caused reduced cognitive abilities among German students, study shows
20 Mar, 2023 | 13:50h | UTCSummary: This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cognitive abilities of secondary school students in Germany. The study compared the intelligence test performance of 424 students in Grades 7 to 9, tested after the first six months of the pandemic, to the results of two highly comparable student samples tested in 2002 and 2012.
The study found that the 2020 sample had substantially lower intelligence test scores than both the 2002 and 2012 samples. The study also retested the 2020 sample after another full school year of COVID-19-affected schooling in 2021 and found no signs of catching up to previous cohorts or further declines in cognitive performance.
It can be inferred from the article that the lower intelligence test scores of the 2020 sample may have been caused by the prolonged disruption of regular schooling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns and school closures.
The study highlights the potential negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cognitive abilities of secondary school students and suggests that these consequences should be taken into account when conducting intelligence assessments in the post-pandemic era. It also recommends that appropriate compensatory measures be implemented to address any learning loss or cognitive deficits that may have resulted from the disruption of regular schooling during the pandemic.
FDA issues new information on cases of squamous cell carcinoma and lymphomas around breast implants
16 Mar, 2023 | 13:28h | UTCSummary: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided an update on reports of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the scar tissue (capsule) that forms around breast implants. The FDA is aware of 19 cases of SCC in the capsule around the breast implant from published literature, including 3 reports of deaths from the disease.
While the FDA continues to believe that occurrences of SCC in the capsule around the breast implant may be rare, the cause, incidence, and risk factors remain unknown. Health care providers and people who have or are considering breast implants should be aware that cases of SCC and various lymphomas in the capsule around the breast implant have been reported to the FDA and in the literature.
The FDA continues to ask health care providers and people with breast implants to report cases of SCC, lymphomas, or any other cancers around breast implants.
FDA Safety Communication: Reports of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) in the Capsule Around Breast Implants – FDA Safety Communication – U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Related:
FDA Report: 660 Cases of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Study: Long-term Outcomes of Silicone Breast Implants
SR | Yoga may improve frailty markers in older adults
15 Mar, 2023 | 15:08h | UTCEffect of Yoga on Frailty in Older Adults: A Systematic Review – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Annals Video Summary: Effect of Yoga on Frailty in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
News Release: Yoga may help to prevent frailty in older adults – American College of Physicians
Cohort Study | Higher ultra-processed food consumption linked to increased cancer incidence and mortality
15 Mar, 2023 | 14:48h | UTCNews Release: Ultra-processed foods may be linked to increased risk of cancer – Imperial College London
Related:
Scanxiety among adults with cancer: a scoping review to guide research and interventions
14 Mar, 2023 | 13:55h | UTCSummary: The article presents a scoping review of existing literature on scanxiety, which refers to the anxiety and distress experienced by cancer patients before and after medical imaging scans. The authors identified and synthesized findings from 36 articles on scanxiety among adults diagnosed with current or prior cancer.
The authors observed that scanxiety is a prevalent issue throughout the cancer continuum and may be linked to various factors related to the procedure itself or the uncertainty surrounding the possible outcomes of the scans.
The waiting period between the scan procedure and receipt of the results was described as particularly stressful, with participants reporting feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts and fears about the potential outcomes of the scan. Some participants even found it difficult to focus on daily activities or responsibilities during this time.
The authors suggest that implementing supportive measures during scan experiences, including examining the waiting period between scans and scan results, could enhance the well-being for individuals with cancer who are going through different stages of treatment.
Article: Scanxiety among Adults with Cancer: A Scoping Review to Guide Research and Interventions – Cancers
Video | Tutorial explores ways of analyzing data from RCTs, including intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and as-treated analyses
14 Mar, 2023 | 13:53h | UTCGood Intentions to Treat – NEJM Evidence
Evidence for harmful cardiovascular effects of ambient ozone: Insights from a multi-city time-series study in China
14 Mar, 2023 | 13:32h | UTCOzone pollution and hospital admissions for cardiovascular events – European Heart Journal
News Release: Ozone pollution is linked with increased hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease – European Society of Cardiology
RCT | Localized prostate cancer treatment options have similar 15-year survival outcomes
13 Mar, 2023 | 15:12h | UTCSummary: The study followed 1643 men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer (diagnosed by screening with PSA) in the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2009 who were randomly assigned to receive active monitoring, prostatectomy, or radiotherapy.
After a median follow-up of 15 years, the study found that while prostatectomy and radiotherapy decreased metastasis, local progression, and the need for long-term androgen deprivation therapy, death from prostate cancer was low regardless of the treatment assigned, with 17 deaths (3.1%) in the active-monitoring group, 12 deaths (2.2%) in the prostatectomy group, and 16 (2.9%) deaths in the radiotherapy group (P=0.53). Additionally, the study found that overall deaths were similar between the groups.
The authors suggest that the choice of therapy for localized prostate cancer involves weighing the benefits and harms associated with each treatment option.
Article: Fifteen-Year Outcomes after Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
News Release: Delaying treatment for localised prostate cancer does not increase mortality risk, trial shows – University of Bristol
Commentary on Twitter
Presented at #EAU23: In men with prostate cancer on PSA screening, radical treatments led to half the incidence of metastasis and local progression as active monitoring without affecting disease-specific or overall survival (ProtecT trial) https://t.co/G2ABkMkyJg #oncology pic.twitter.com/s2Va08Fpxj
— NEJM (@NEJM) March 11, 2023
Cohort Study | Analysis of mortality among transgender and gender diverse adults in England
10 Mar, 2023 | 14:19h | UTCAnalysis of Mortality Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults in England – JAMA Network Open
Commentary on Twitter
Transgender and gender diverse adults in England have higher mortality compared to cisgender people, particularly due to suicide, homicide, accidental poisoning. https://t.co/gNzxBiRGac
— JAMA Network Open (@JAMANetworkOpen) January 30, 2023
M-A | Non-occupational physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality outcomes
8 Mar, 2023 | 14:33h | UTCSummary:
The study aimed to determine the association between non-occupational physical activity and chronic disease and mortality outcomes in the general adult population. The systematic review and meta-analysis included 196 articles covering 94 cohorts and over 30 million participants.
The results showed that higher activity levels were associated with a lower risk of all outcomes. The strongest associations were observed for all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, with weaker associations for cancer incidence.
The study also found that appreciable population health benefits could be gained from increasing physical activity levels of people who are inactive to just half the current health recommendations; doing that could prevent one in 10 premature deaths.
The findings support the current physical activity recommendations and suggest that even small increases in non-occupational physical activity in inactive adults can provide substantial protection against chronic disease outcomes.
It’s worth noting, however, that this study has the usual limitations of observational studies since all the included studies are cohort studies. Therefore, the results are subject to residual confounding, meaning that other factors not measured or accounted for in the studies could influence the observed associations.
News Releases:
1 in 10 early deaths averted if everyone met physical activity targets – BMJ Newsroom
Perspective | Dangerous selfies aren’t just foolish. We need to treat them like the public health hazard they really are
8 Mar, 2023 | 14:30h | UTC
Perspective | How to not be completely wrong about masks
8 Mar, 2023 | 14:25h | UTCHow to not be completely wrong about masks – The Munro Report
Related:
SR | Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses
Hospital masking should be optional – Sensible Medicine
RCT | Medical masks vs. N95 respirators for preventing COVID-19 among health care workers.
Commentary on Twitter
Excellent and sensible interpretation of the data, on both ends of the spectrum, and everything in between.
(Will forgive the split infinitive in the title. ?)
How to not be completely wrong about masks, by @apsmunro https://t.co/85Ot6oUOZF
— Paul Sax (@PaulSaxMD) March 2, 2023
E-Scooter users more likely to suffer serious trauma compared to bicycle users: a nationwide study in England and Wales
8 Mar, 2023 | 14:13h | UTCSummary:
The study aimed to determine the incidence, demographics, and injury patterns involved in E-Scooter-related hospital admissions due to significant trauma compared with bicycle-related trauma within England and Wales. The retrospective cohort study was based on data submitted to the UK Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) registry between 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.
The study found that E-Scooter users were more likely to be admitted to a major trauma center or a critical care unit than bicycle users. Serious head and limb trauma occurred more frequently among E-Scooter users, while serious chest and pelvic trauma were greater among bicycle users. Over one-third of E-Scooter injuries were incurred outside the current legislation by patients who were intoxicated by alcohol and drugs or under the age of 17.
The study suggests a greater relative incidence of serious trauma and an alternative pattern of injury among E-Scooter users compared with bicycle users. The study concludes that further legislation and tighter regulation of E-Scooter rental are required to reduce the already significant burden of injury associated with this mode of transport.
Article: Major trauma among E-Scooter and bicycle users: a nationwide cohort study – Injury Prevention
News Release: Crashing an e-scooter likely to lead to more serious injuries than crashing a bike – British Medical Journal
Commentary: E-scooter riders more likely than cyclists to sustain serious injuries – BBC
Perspective | Artificial intelligence in medicine & ChatGPT: de-tether the physician
7 Mar, 2023 | 13:10h | UTCArtificial Intelligence in Medicine & ChatGPT: De-Tether the Physician – Journal of Medical Systems (if the link is paywalled, try this one)
Related:
Can artificial intelligence help for scientific writing? – Critical Care
Artificial intelligence in academic writing: a paradigm-shifting technological advance
Perspective | ChatGPT-assisted diagnosis: is the future suddenly here?
Perspective | Generating scholarly content with ChatGPT: ethical challenges for medical publishing
ChatGPT: Will It Transform the World of Health Care? – UCSF Department of Medicine
ChatGPT and the future of medical writing (ChatGPT itself wrote this paper)
ChatGPT: five priorities for research – Nature
The path forward for ChatGPT in academia – Lumo’s Newsletter
ChatGPT is fun, but not an author – Science
Tools such as ChatGPT threaten transparent science; here are our ground rules for their use – Nature
ChatGPT listed as author on research papers: many scientists disapprove – Nature
Abstracts written by ChatGPT fool scientists
ChatGPT has many uses. Experts explore what this means for healthcare and medical research
7 Mar, 2023 | 13:11h | UTCRelated:
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & ChatGPT: De-Tether the Physician – Journal of Medical Systems (if the link is paywalled, try this one)
Can artificial intelligence help for scientific writing? – Critical Care
Artificial intelligence in academic writing: a paradigm-shifting technological advance
Perspective | ChatGPT-assisted diagnosis: is the future suddenly here?
Perspective | Generating scholarly content with ChatGPT: ethical challenges for medical publishing
ChatGPT: Will It Transform the World of Health Care? – UCSF Department of Medicine
ChatGPT and the future of medical writing (ChatGPT itself wrote this paper)
ChatGPT: five priorities for research – Nature
The path forward for ChatGPT in academia – Lumo’s Newsletter
ChatGPT is fun, but not an author – Science
Tools such as ChatGPT threaten transparent science; here are our ground rules for their use – Nature
ChatGPT listed as author on research papers: many scientists disapprove – Nature
Abstracts written by ChatGPT fool scientists
Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews
3 Mar, 2023 | 14:11h | UTCSummary: This umbrella review summarized the evidence on the effects of physical activity interventions on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in adult populations. The study included 97 systematic reviews comprising 1039 randomized controlled trials and 128,119 participants. The results showed that physical activity had medium effects on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress compared to usual care across all populations. Higher-intensity physical activity was associated with greater improvements in symptoms, and the effectiveness of physical activity interventions diminished with longer-duration interventions. The authors concluded that physical activity is highly beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress in a wide range of adult populations, including those with mental health disorders and chronic diseases, and should be a mainstay approach in their management.
Article: Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews – British Journal of Sports Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
News Release: Exercise more effective than medicines to manage mental health – University of South Australia
Commentary from the authors: Exercise is even more effective than counselling or medication for depression. But how much do you need? – The Conversation
Commentary on Twitter
? Effectiveness of #PhysicalActivity for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of #SystematicReviews ??#KeyPoints:
?Higher intensity = greater improvements ?️♂️
? Effect diminished with longer duration interventions ?? https://t.co/UJRRFVz7eG pic.twitter.com/5JT9xEVMsa
— British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) (@BJSM_BMJ) February 19, 2023
Perspective | The other long Covid: the pandemic took young people’s present. What will it do to their future?
3 Mar, 2023 | 14:05h | UTC
RCT | Reducing social media use improves appearance and weight esteem in youth with emotional distress
3 Mar, 2023 | 14:04h | UTCSummary: The article discusses a randomized controlled trial conducted on 220 participants aged 17-25 to examine the effects of reducing smartphone social media use (SMU) on appearance and weight esteem in youth with emotional distress. The participants were divided into an intervention group (limited to 1 hr/day SMU) and a control group (unrestricted SMU). The study found that reducing SMU improved appearance and weight esteem in the intervention group, while the control group showed no significant change. The authors concluded that reducing SMU may be a feasible and effective method of improving body image in a vulnerable youth population and should be evaluated as a potential component in treating body image-related disturbances. It is worth noting, however, that the impossibility of blinding participants and the subjective nature of the endpoints make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions on the subject.
News Release: Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults – American Psychological Association
Commentary: How to help young people limit screen time — and feel better about how they look – NPR
Cohort Study | Association between a healthy lifestyle and memory decline in older adults
3 Mar, 2023 | 13:44h | UTCSummary: This study examined the association between a healthy lifestyle and memory decline in older adults over a 10-year period. The study included 29,072 participants aged 60 or older with normal cognition and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping at baseline. Six healthy lifestyle factors were assessed: a healthy diet, regular physical exercise, active social contact, active cognitive activity, never or former smoker, and never drinking alcohol. Participants were categorized into three groups based on their lifestyle factors: favorable, average, and unfavorable. The results showed that participants in the favorable group had slower memory decline than those in the unfavorable group, even in the presence of the APOE ε4 allele. These findings have important implications for public health initiatives to protect older adults against memory decline.
Editorial: Healthy lifestyles for dementia prevention – The BMJ
News Release: Healthy lifestyle linked to slower memory decline in older adults – BMJ Newsroom
Commentary: Healthful Lifestyle May Slow Memory Loss, Even for APOE Gene Carriers – JAMA
Commentary on Twitter
A healthy lifestyle is associated with slower memory decline, even in the presence of the [high risk] APOE ε4 allele.
Most to least impactful: diet, cognitive activity, physical exercise, active social contact, never/former smoking, & never drinking.https://t.co/j21cH2wyo6 pic.twitter.com/6qgd9bJ2Gr
— Joseph C. Watso, PhD (@Joseph_Watso) January 27, 2023
Under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ license
Artificial sweetener erythritol possibly implicated in increased cardiovascular risk
1 Mar, 2023 | 14:08h | UTCSummary: A recent study published in Nature Medicine found that erythritol, a popular artificial sweetener, is possibly implicated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) such as heart attack and stroke. Analyzing data from over 4,000 people in the US and Europe, the researchers found that those with higher blood erythritol levels were at a greater risk of MACE. The researchers also examined the effects of adding erythritol to whole blood or isolated platelets and found that it made platelets easier to activate and form clots. In addition, a pilot intervention study with healthy volunteers showed that erythritol ingestion led to a marked and sustained increase in plasma erythritol levels above those associated with heightened platelet reactivity and thrombosis potential. The authors note that further studies are needed to confirm their findings and assess the long-term safety of erythritol.
Article: The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk – Nature Medicine (free for a limited period)
News Release: Cleveland Clinic study finds common artificial sweetener linked to higher rates of heart attack and stroke
Commentaries:
Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds – CNN
Could a Common Sweetener Raise Heart Risks? – HealthDay
Commentary on Twitter
A study in @NatureMedicine suggests that a commonly used artificial sweetener—erythritol—may be linked to cardiovascular disease events. https://t.co/QrbtvCFDJ4 pic.twitter.com/WpM9cLnXh7
— Nature Portfolio (@NaturePortfolio) February 27, 2023
M-A | Combination of multiple low-risk lifestyle behaviors and incident type 2 diabetes
1 Mar, 2023 | 14:06h | UTCSummary: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the association between multiple low-risk lifestyle behaviors (LRLBs) and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. The study examined 30 cohort comparisons involving 1,693,753 participants and 75,669 cases of type 2 diabetes. The LRLBs evaluated in the study were maintaining a healthy body weight, healthy diet, regular exercise, smoking abstinence or cessation, and light alcohol consumption. Results showed that the highest adherence to these LRLBs was associated with an 80% lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared to the lowest adherence group. Thus, targeting these LRLBs could be an effective strategy for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes. However, the authors recommend promoting only four LRLBs, excluding alcohol intake, due to its association with increased harm. The potential benefits of small alcohol intake remain a controversial issue since most studies on the subject are observational and subject to residual confounding.
Article: Combination of Multiple Low-Risk Lifestyle Behaviors and Incident Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies – Diabetes Care (free for a limited period)
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Our research shows that adherence to multiple low-risk lifestyle behaviours including healthy diet and exercise can significantly reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes https://t.co/mWEEw9xYtQ #healthylifestyle #lowriskhabits #healthresearch
— Tauseef Khan (@tauseefkhan) February 22, 2023
WHO Report | A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth
28 Feb, 2023 | 14:04h | UTCSummary: This new report by United Nations agencies shows that a woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth. The report covers maternal deaths from 2000 to 2020 and reveals that maternal deaths either increased or stagnated in nearly all regions of the world, with some regions experiencing major setbacks. The poorest parts of the world and countries affected by conflict continue to have the highest rates of maternal deaths. Severe bleeding, high blood pressure, pregnancy-related infections, complications from unsafe abortion, and underlying conditions aggravated by pregnancy are the leading causes of maternal deaths, which are largely preventable and treatable with access to high-quality healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic may have further held back progress on maternal health. The report calls for urgent action to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services before, during, and after childbirth, so they can fully exercise their reproductive rights.
News Release: A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth: UN agencies – World Health Organization
Commentaries:
Ambitious goal to slash maternal deaths in jeopardy – Nature
U.N.: Progress on reducing global maternal mortality has stalled since 2015 – STAT
Eight Hundred Women Die Every Day During Pregnancy or Childbirth – Health Policy Watch
Physicians are more burned out than ever — here’s what can be done about it
28 Feb, 2023 | 13:57h | UTCPhysicians Are More Burned Out Than Ever—Here’s What Can Be Done About It – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Related Report: Addressing Health Worker Burnout – The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Thriving Health Workforce
Related:
AAP Clinical Report | Physician health and wellness.
M-A | Physicians suffering burnout are twice as likely to be involved in patient safety incidents.
Systematic Review | Predictors of burnout among healthcare providers.
Physician Well-being 2.0: Where Are We and Where Are We Going? – Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Assessment of Risk Factors for Suicide Among US Health Care Professionals
Beyond Burnout: Docs Decry ‘Moral Injury’ From Financial Pressures of Health Care
Hospital administration response to physician stress and burnout – Journal of Hospital Practice
Opinion: It’s Time to Talk About Physician Burnout and Moral Injury
Systematic Review: Effect of Organization-Directed Workplace Interventions on Physician Burnout
The 3 Causes Of Physician Burnout (And Why There’s No Simple Solution) – Forbes
Physician Burnout: A Global Crisis
The Burnout Crisis in American Medicine – The Atlantic
Physician burnout costs up to $17B a year, task force says – HealthcareDive
Systematic Review: Prevalence of Burnout Among Physicians
Association Between Physician Burnout and Patient Safety, Professionalism, and Patient Satisfaction
Perspective | Gender dysphoria in young people is rising — and so is professional disagreement
28 Feb, 2023 | 13:55h | UTCGender dysphoria in young people is rising—and so is professional disagreement – The BMJ
News Release: Gender dysphoria is rising—and so is professional disagreement – BMJ Newsroom
Commentary on Twitter
More children and adolescents are identifying as transgender and are being offered medical treatment, especially in the US—but some providers and European authorities are urging caution because of a lack of strong evidence. @writingblock reports https://t.co/24aDMo7rb0
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) February 26, 2023