Wednesday, 31 August 2016
More rough sleepers 'in need of psychiatric support'
Rough sleepers in England are more likely to be suffering from mental health issues, analysis shows. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Zika vaccine trials begin – but fears remain over virus’s impact
The trial comes amid warnings that even infected babies born with normal-sized heads could be at risk of developmental disorders via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Zika vaccine trials begin – but fears remain over virus’s impact
The trial comes amid warnings that even infected babies born with normal-sized heads could be at risk of developmental disorders via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Junior doctor strikes 'to cause misery' - Jeremy Hunt
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt condemns the latest planned strike by junior doctors in England. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Alzheimer's drug study gives 'tantalising' results
A drug that destroys the characteristic protein plaques that build up in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's is showing "tantalising" promise, scientists say. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Instagram posts can reveal depression before doctors diagnose it
Software that analyses your Instagram photos could one day act as an early warning that you might want to see your physician via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Tips for sun protection
Tips for sun protection: ASC uS:Avoidance
Sunscreen
Clothing
Self-check
Avoidance
The best sun protection is sun avoidance. Seek shade if you can, especially between 10 AM to 4 PM, which are the peak sun hours.
Sunscreen
Use sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor, this is the number on most sunscreen bottles) of 30 to 50, or more, that protects from both Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) wavelength light. Even though the protection is called "broad", it is not complete. Remember: sun avoidance is the best sun protection. Sunscreens with added UVA protection should contain Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide, or Parsol 1789, also known as Avobenzone.
Use sun protection if spending time outside for 15 minutes or more. Apply 20-30 minutes before going out and remember to reapply every 2 hours. No sunscreen is truly water proof and it will wash away with sweat, swimming and rubbing.
Clothing
Wear tightly woven, loose fitting (cooler) long sleeved clothing, UV-blocking sun glasses (eyes need sun protection as well) and wide-brimmed hat. Straw hats with holes are not suitable because light still gets through. Wear UV protective "Rash Guard" shirts.
Self-check
Consider monthly self-skin checks/examinations, where you check for any color/size change in skin spots/moles.
Related reading:
The Skin Cancer Foundation's Guide to Sunscreens http://buff.ly/2c84ujA
Sunscreen Fact Sheet - British Association of Dermatologists http://buff.ly/2c8450u
Image source: OpenClipArt.org, public domain.
via CasesBlog - Medical and Health Blog More READ
Asthma costs UK health service at least £1bn every year
 |
Figures likely to be substantial underestimate, say researchers Related items from OnMedica New asthma pill offers hope for people with severe symptoms Unsafe asthma prescribing threatens 22,000 people’s lives Childhood asthma overdiagnosed, warn respiratory doctors |
Antibiotic resistance prompts STI treatment overhaul
 |
WHO issues new guidelines for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis Related items from OnMedica Tackling antimicrobial resistance GPs prescribing outdated antibiotics for gonorrhoea Rate of syphilis in London is three times higher than rest of England Doctors told to halve inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions by 2020 Point-of-care diagnostics needed to curb antimicrobial resistance |
Nurse leaders in Scotland have warned of the growing vacancy rate in the profession in the wake of health board workforce projections indicating a further 750 full time staff are set to be recruited in 2016-17
 |
Health board workforce projections indicate 750 more full time staff for 2016-17 Related items from OnMedica One in three nurses to reach retirement age within 10 years Government urged to save jobs of over 33,000 EU nurses Will removing bursaries for student nurses actually lead to more nursing staff? Plans to scrap nurse bursaries will lead to staff shortages Public believe many more nurses needed for safe care |
Age, weight, general wellbeing all affect survival after chemotherapy
 |
First national analysis of breast and lung cancer treatment outside clinical trials Related items from OnMedica Radiotherapy during breast cancer surgery cuts cost and time Breakthrough for long-term survival in lung cancer Lung cancer surgery survival increases Low dose chemo and radiotherapy halves bladder cancer relapse rate Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivors at heightened risk of CVD |
Website maintenance
 |
www.onmedica.com will be offline between 2pm and 3pm on Thursday 1st September |
Evidence-based policy is good medicine for society’s ills
If medical science cannot live up to its own gold standards of evidence, what hope for rational policymaking in general? via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Healthy Eating Just Got Easier: Introducing EatingWell Frozen Dinners
After work most nights you'll find me in the kitchen. I pour a glass of wine, get organized and start cooking. I listen to the radio. Or chat on the phone. I'm not in a hurry. I buzz along at my own pace, winding down from the day.
via EatingWell Blogs - All Blog Posts More READ
Best BBQ Sauces to Buy
Nothing beats that summer taste of sweet, smoky ribs or barbecued chicken. But many barbecue sauces are loaded to the max with added sugars. Here's how to find the best BBQ sauce at the store that's tasty without going overboard on the sweet stuff.
via EatingWell Blogs - All Blog Posts More READ
Growing antibiotic resistance forces updates to recommended treatment for sexually transmitted infections
New guidelines for the treatment of 3 common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were today issued by WHO in response to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. via WHO news Read More Here..
Drug-induced abortion less safe in Ohio after 2011 law
A law intended to improve the safety of abortion by medication tripled the rate of complications because it stopped physicians from following latest research via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Failure of fake babies: Why it doesn’t pay to go with your gut
Many schools give dolls that cry and need changing to teen girls to reduce pregnancy rates. It’s no surprise they seem to have the opposite effect, says Sally Adee via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Genetics Behind Response to Parkinson’s Drugs
Since achieving the goals of the “mission impossible” Human Genome Project in 2003, biomedical sciences entered the new era of genetically informed use of pharmaceuticals. The Project helped in our understanding of how genes affect an individual’s response to drugs.
Although it was known for decades that the response to drugs depends on genetic background of each individual, the knowledge of key mechanisms involved in these processes was mostly missing. Genetics finally provided a definite understanding of pharmacokinetics, the branch of science studying what the body does to the drugs. This article will look at how drug response may vary between individuals, and how genetics play an important role in the drug response in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Why drug responses vary
In general, there are three main reasons why response to a particular drug may vary from one individual to another. These factors are:
- The responsiveness of the site of drug action
- The drug concentration (reflected by its plasma level)
- The type or sub-type of the disease itself.
Nonetheless, in most cases, the drug plasma concentration plays the central role. Most of the drugs taken orally undergo metabolism once they enter the body. In this process, the drug will be changed into its active or metabolite form. The rate of metabolism differs between individuals, resulting in different drug plasma concentrations. The drug metabolism process is carried out by various enzymes depending on the nature of the drug. The levels and activity of these enzymes are also different between individuals. This is a critical factor in determining or predicting the response to a drug.
The activity and expression level of enzymes involved in drug metabolism is determined by genes. Even single mutations, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes’ DNA sequence can cause a huge difference to the individual metabolism of a particular drug. Mutations in genes’ regulatory sequences can also seriously influence the levels of key enzymes.
Parkinson’s disease & drug responses
Parkinson’s disease is an age-related, debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that mainly affects the motor system. People with this disease experience shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulties with walking. Parkinson’s disease is marked by a loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
Today, one of the treatments to improve the condition of patients involves the use of drugs that mimic or increase levels of dopamine. However, using drugs to regain the normal level of dopamine can be complex, as the level of this neuromediator should not go too high (when it produces undesirable side effects), nor remain too low (when no effect is observed).
It is well established that drugs against Parkinson’s disease have different efficiency between patients. Recent research has revealed genetic determinant of this difference. The findings might inform better drug prescription and allow physicians to tailor targeted therapy for individuals suffering from this neurodegenerative condition.
The pharmacogenetics of the drug levodopa
Levodopa is a common medication for Parkinson’s disease and has been considered a gold standard since the 1960s. The drug is a direct metabolic precursor of dopamine in the body and thus can increase dopamine levels. However, 35-40% of patients develop side effects such as dyskinesia and motor fluctuation after 4-6 years of using it.
A number of studies have revealed various mutations and SNPs in genes related to levodopa metabolism, responsible for these side effects. A recent research study published earlier this year demonstrated that SV2C gene variants may modulate the amount of levodopa and suggests that the dose of levodopa should be reduced in people with this gene variant to prevent possible side effects.
Another study published three years ago showed that the effect of levodopa treatment on motor skills varies between individuals. The treatment in patient with low dopamine transmission gives better motor learning outcomes compared to the same treatment in patients with high dopamine transmission. The authors of the study stated that DRD2 gene polymorphism contributes to these varying outcomes.
Fortunately, the mutations or SNPs in the genes are not always a bad news. Recent research published this year demonstrates that two SNPs in the DRD2 gene brings good outcomes in patients treated with rasagiline monotherapy. Rasagiline is a selective, irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B and has been approved by the FDA as a symptomatic treatment for Parkinson’s disease. This research is the first study to be conducted in patients with early-onset Parkinson’s disease.
Methods for identification of patients who might experience side effects from using the dopamine agonists are also being explored. Recent findings from a group of Australian researchers provide preliminary evidence that dopamine gene profiling may be useful for identifying people at risk of developing side effects from dopamine agonists, the drug called ropinirole in particular. This study also explored the usefulness of an individualized treatment approach.
Unfortunately, the therapeutic options for patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease are very limited at the present time. Personalised genetic profiling may advise the optimal strategy for using this limited arsenal of therapeutic tools in each individual case. This approach will minimize the potential side effects and optimize drug efficiency.
New drugs for Parkinson’s are being developed, and there are several very interesting candidates in the pipeline. But it may still take many years to find something more efficient than we have now. In the meantime, it will be useful to dedicate more research to the issue of genetically determined drug response in relation to Parkinson’s disease. This will likely enable physicians to adjust treatments for individual patients and thus provide them with significant health benefits in the short term.
References
Altmann, V., Schumacher-Schuh, A., Rieck, M., Callegari-Jacques, S., Rieder, C., & Hutz, M. (2016). Influence of genetic, biological and pharmacological factors on levodopa dose in Parkinson’s disease Pharmacogenomics, 17 (5), 481-488 DOI: 10.2217/pgs.15.183
Connolly, B., & Lang, A. (2014). Pharmacological Treatment of Parkinson Disease JAMA, 311 (16) DOI: 10.1001/jama.2014.3654
MacDonald, H., Stinear, C., Ren, A., Coxon, J., Kao, J., Macdonald, L., Snow, B., Cramer, S., & Byblow, W. (2016). Dopamine Gene Profiling to Predict Impulse Control and Effects of Dopamine Agonist Ropinirole Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 28 (7), 909-919 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_00946
Masellis, M., Collinson, S., Freeman, N., Tampakeras, M., Levy, J., Tchelet, A., Eyal, E., Berkovich, E., Eliaz, R., Abler, V., Grossman, I., Fitzer-Attas, C., Tiwari, A., Hayden, M., Kennedy, J., Lang, A., Knight, J., & , . (2016). Dopamine D2 receptor gene variants and response to rasagiline in early Parkinson’s disease: a pharmacogenetic study Brain, 139 (7), 2050-2062 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww109
Pearson-Fuhrhop, K., Minton, B., Acevedo, D., Shahbaba, B., & Cramer, S. (2013). Genetic Variation in the Human Brain Dopamine System Influences Motor Learning and Its Modulation by L-Dopa PLoS ONE, 8 (4) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061197
Image via PublicDomainPictures / Pixabay.
via Brain Blogger Read More Here..Night-time operations could double risk of death
 |
2.17 times higher mortality risk from night surgery Related items from OnMedica Set up protocols to iron out differences in emergency surgery, hospitals told Doctors’ lack of sleep is risking patient safety Hospital waits for planned surgery getting longer Competition among hospitals boosts performance Review two-week fast track cancer referrals process, urge facial surgeons |
Brexit and cancer research
 |
What does Brexit mean for Cancer Research UK? |
Breast cancer and HRT
 |
No need to panic about recent study results, says Louise Newson Related items from OnMedica HRT may benefit mood but not cognition NICE publishes first guideline on menopause Tackling obesity ‘must be made a national priority’ Vulvovaginal atrophy Combined HRT risk for cancer underestimated |
'I was given paracetamol after heart attack'
Lisa Price shares her account of when she was misdiagnosed after her heart attack. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Record high numbers of diabetes amputations
 |
20 diabetes amputations every day, says Diabetes UK Related items from OnMedica Preventing a foot attack Care of the diabetic foot Diabetics suffer 200,000 complications per year Most CCGs sign up to prevent diabetes NHS must hold CCGs accountable for poor diabetes care |
The scary reality of medical U-turns, and how to stop them
From peanut allergy to cancer, total reversals in medical advice are strikingly common. Why did it go so wrong, and how can we make sure we get it right next time? via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Third of heart attack cases misdiagnosed at first
 |
Women 50% more likely to get wrong diagnosis after heart attack Related items from OnMedica Follow clinical guidance to measure BP in both arms Test could tackle underdiagnosis of MI in women Diabetics suffer 200,000 complications per year Hereditary heart and diabetes problems raise risk for children Radiotherapy during breast cancer surgery cuts cost and time |
Pharmacists call for more integrated future with GPs
Read More Here..
GPs must have longer patient consultations, says BMA
 |
BMA calls for 25 consultations per day maximum restriction Related items from OnMedica Doctor, can I have a 20 minute consultation? Most GPs want longer than 10-min consultations GP services reach point of ‘emergency’ warning GP patient care quality sliding into ‘state of emergency’ BMA calls for maximum number of patients per GP |
'I didn't know drinking would harm my child'
South Africa has the highest reported rate of babies born with foetal alcohol syndrome - Nomsa Maseko reports from the Western Cape. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Autism in girls and women 'undiagnosed'
Millie is 14, and was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome two years ago - a condition that often goes undiagnosed in women and girls. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Monday, 29 August 2016
Deadly bagpipe infection is health warning to all wind musicians
Without regular cleaning, the moist interiors of wind instruments make an ideal home for moulds and fungi that can cause life-threatening lung conditions via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
EpiPen maker to sell cheaper generic version
The maker of the EpiPen allergy drug will start selling a generic version in the wake of criticism about steep price increases. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
How a pig transformed my autistic son's life
A mother has told BBC 5 live Daily's Adrian Chiles how a pet pig transformed their autistic son's life. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Do women sync up? No, but we can’t resist menstruation myths
There seems to be no end to the studies asking how menstruation and ovulation changes a woman's behaviour, but most of the evidence for this is poor via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
14 Ways Our Editors Get Their OWN Kids to Eat Healthy
Do you remember the Easy-Bake Oven? This pink countertop masterpiece was a gift from my mom on my 6th birthday. As I ripped open the chocolate cake mix and stirred it together with a matching small pink spatula, my eyes lit up at the wonder of this gooey batter turning into a dessert. When the timer went off and we used the small pizza paddle-looking tool to pull out the cake I thought, "This is it. This is what I want to do forever." My mom's gift not only provided a sweet treat but it spurred my love of cooking.
via EatingWell Blogs - All Blog Posts More READ
The Science of Doping: Gaming Hormones, Asthma Drugs, and More
From WSJ: Doctors often prescribe tamoxifen to breast cancer patients to keep their tumors from growing. But the drug is also used by doping athletes looking to get ahead of the competition. How does it give them an edge, biologically? Watch the video below:
Earlier this year, British cyclist Simon Yates was caught up in a doping controversy related to terbutaline, a common asthma medication. Athletes can take the inhaled version if they get a doctor's note. But current testing methods can't differentiate between this and other banned versions. Watch the video below:
Related:
The Science of Doping: How Testosterone-Boosting Drugs Work http://buff.ly/2bYWulU
via CasesBlog - Medical and Health Blog More READ
Earlier this year, British cyclist Simon Yates was caught up in a doping controversy related to terbutaline, a common asthma medication. Athletes can take the inhaled version if they get a doctor's note. But current testing methods can't differentiate between this and other banned versions. Watch the video below:
Related:
The Science of Doping: How Testosterone-Boosting Drugs Work http://buff.ly/2bYWulU
via CasesBlog - Medical and Health Blog More READ
Zika virus: Singapore confirms 41 locally transmitted cases
Singapore has confirmed 41 cases of the Zika virus in people who had not travelled to Zika-affected areas, meaning the virus has spread locally. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Sunday, 28 August 2016
US pregnancy-related deaths are rising and have doubled in Texas
The US is one of only eight countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality has gone up instead of down in the last few decades via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Saturday, 27 August 2016
Does Moderate Alcohol Consumption Improve Brain Function?
It is well documented that excessive consumption of alcohol is linked to various serious health problems. Heavy drinking is a known risk factor for diseases such as cardiovascular problems, some types of cancer, cirrhosis, dementia, depression, pancreatitis and high blood pressure, among others.But what about low-to-moderate alcohol consumption?
A number of studies published in recent years present a view rather different from the traditional negative assumptions. Contrary to popular beliefs, they claim that moderate alcohol intake can be beneficial.
Let’s first define what is heavy and what is moderate drinking. If you are a male and drink at least 15 drinks every week, then you are considered a heavy drinker. If you are female, 8 drinks per week are enough to put you in this category. On the other hand, if you are a male and do not exceed 2 drinks per day you are a moderate alcohol consumer. For a female, the limit is 1 drink per day.
It is important, however, to remember that the above numbers are based on average statistics: some people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than others. This sensitivity depends on the level of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver, which metabolizes ethanol and removes it from the body. When the level of this enzyme in an individual is low (as often is the case in many people with Asian background, for example), the effects of low alcohol doses are much more pronounced.
Studies show that moderate alcohol intake can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, dementia, depression, stroke, breast and colon cancer. However, there is always a risk that moderate alcohol consumption can lead to much heavy drinking.
One recently published prospective study examined the influence of moderate alcohol consumption on the development of depression. This study was extensive and included over 5,500 men and women, all of whom had no previous depression or any alcohol-related problems. All participants were moderate drinkers and were followed for a period of seven years. The results clearly show that low and even moderate alcohol consumption reduced the risk of depression development compared to non-drinkers. However, heavy drinkers are known to be in greater danger of developing depression. Another interesting fact demonstrated by this study is that moderate wine consumption has a better protective role in the prevention of depression than any other kind of alcohol beverage.
Another prospective study included over 13,600 people that were followed for a period of ten years. The results show that moderate alcohol intake in females can reduce the risk of depression.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the serious diseases for which there is no real cure at present time. Because of that, it is important to find risk factors promoting its development, as well as factors which can reduce that risk. Some researchers are focusing on the role of alcohol consumption in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the main features of Alzheimer’s disease is an aggregation of beta-amyloid in the human brain.
A recent Finnish study was examining the connection of aggregation of beta-amyloid in the human brain and alcohol consumption. The results of this study show that the aggregation of beta-amyloid in the human brain is lower among beer drinkers. There was no connection between lower amounts of beta-amyloid in the human brain and consumption of any other types of alcohol.
In another study, over 3,000 people were examined for a period of six years. Some of the participants suffered from milder forms of memory loss. The alcohol intake also varied among the subjects. The results clearly show that moderate alcohol intake had a protective effect on memory for individuals which had no previous memory problems.
The problems with memory can be caused by vascular problems. Since the benefit of moderate alcohol intake on the cardiovascular system is well known, scientists thought that it may work the same way in the prevention of memory problems. They followed a group of nearly 8,000 people and recorded their alcohol consumption and symptoms of memory problems. Their main conclusion was that moderate alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of dementia in people above 55 years of age. There is a large number of studies which were done on this topic and the conclusions were the same: moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment.
Recent reports also brought to light the findings that moderate alcohol consumption can influence the size of the hippocampus in elderly population. Compared to abstainers, moderate drinkers have a larger hippocampus and better episodic memory.
So, the scientific data point to the benefits of moderate drinking: it may help to keep a higher level of cognition and prevent age-related deterioration of brain functions. The key is not to go over your limit. Keep your alcohol intake on a moderate level and stay healthy.
References
Downer, B., Jiang, Y., Zanjani, F., & Fardo, D. (2014). Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cognition and Regional Brain Volumes Among Older Adults American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, 30 (4), 364-374 DOI: 10.1177/1533317514549411
Gea, A., Beunza, J., Estruch, R., Sánchez-Villegas, A., Salas-Salvadó, J., Buil-Cosiales, P., Gómez-Gracia, E., Covas, M., Corella, D., Fiol, M., Arós, F., Lapetra, J., Lamuela-Raventós, R., Wärnberg, J., Pintó, X., Serra-Majem, L., & MartÃnez-González, M. (2013). Alcohol intake, wine consumption and the development of depression: the PREDIMED study BMC Medicine, 11 (1) DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-11-192
Kok, E., Karppinen, T., Luoto, T., Alafuzoff, I., & Karhunen, P. (2016). Beer Drinking Associates with Lower Burden of Amyloid Beta Aggregation in the Brain: Helsinki Sudden Death Series Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 40 (7), 1473-1478 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13102
Lang, I., Wallace, R., Huppert, F., & Melzer, D. (2007). Moderate alcohol consumption in older adults is associated with better cognition and well-being than abstinence Age and Ageing, 36 (3), 256-261 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afm001
Neafsey, E., & Collins, M. (2011). Moderate alcohol consumption and cognitive risk Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S23159
via Brain Blogger Read More Here..Mind-controlled nanobots could release drugs inside your brain
DNA origami bots have been triggered to release drugs inside cockroaches, prompted by changes in a person’s brain activity via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Friday, 26 August 2016
Failure of fake babies: Why it doesn’t pay to go with your gut
Many schools give dolls that cry and need changing to teen girls to reduce pregnancy rates. It’s no surprise they seem to have the opposite effect, says Sally Adee via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Semen reshapes immune system to boost chances of pregnancy
As well as fertilising the egg, semen seems to dampen a female's immune system, making it more likely that an embryo will survive via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Mind-controlled nanobots could release drugs inside your brain
DNA origami bots have been triggered to release drugs inside cockroaches, prompted by changes in a person’s brain activity via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
US pregnancy-related deaths are rising and have doubled in Texas
The US is one of only eight countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality has gone up instead of down in the last few decades via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Doubts over teen pregnancy prevention scheme
 |
Baby simulator doll may actually cause more pregnancies Related items from OnMedica Sex and relationship education ‘should be compulsory’ Scheme to boost teen mums’ parenting skills not worth the money The health needs of the teenager Fragmented sexual health system is failing users Teen pregnancy rate has halved in England |
NHS trusts make progress in tackling deficits
 |
But concerns remain that tackling the £22bn funding gap will damage care Related items from OnMedica 7 out of 10 NHS providers ended the year in deficit NHS overspend in England hit £2.45bn last year Government ‘in denial’ about state of NHS funding crisis, say doctors’ leaders NHS funding system ‘not fit for purpose’ Fewer staff in NHS needed to get finances balanced |
Debunking Zambia's prostate cancer myths
The lone Zambian voice trying to trying to raise awareness about the dangers of prostate cancer. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Campaign group attacks NHS shake-up plans
 |
38 Degrees says integration plans will see bed cuts, A&E closures and sell-offs Related items from OnMedica STPs can help CCGs deliver eye care at scale Lords to investigate NHS sustainability NHS England announces first 29 vanguard sites Innovative use of technology key to improving patient outcomes Government ‘in denial’ about state of NHS funding crisis, say doctors’ leaders |
'Unsafe' child A&E unit closed
 |
Shortage of trained and experienced staff forced temporary closure of Stafford unit Related items from OnMedica Understaffing and bullying remain problems for NHS Fewer staff in NHS needed to get finances balanced Trend to dissuade patients from attending A&E is flawed A&E at Grantham and District Hospital may close at night Better funding and capacity vital for A&E to survive |
Government urged to stress dangers of even moderate drinking
| Campaigners say public needs to know that alcohol causes some forms of cancer Related items from OnMedica Alcohol and the nervous system Alcohol directly causes seven types of cancer Alcohol abstinence campaigns may do more harm than good Most Brits suffer harm from others’ drinking Alcohol-related hospitals admissions double in a decade |
On The Pulse - August 2016
 |
Active surveillance might be better in advanced kidney cancer |
Thursday, 25 August 2016
US plan to fend off Zika with sterile mosquitoes faces catch-22
A project to unleash genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida to stop Zika could backfire if it ignores public protest and goes ahead, says Jamais Cascio via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
What value do GPs offer?
 |
Truly understanding the complexities and demands of working in an out-of-hospital environment key to value what GPs offer Related items from OnMedica BMA calls for maximum number of patients per GP Make GP a more attractive career, agree MPs Public wants NHS to prioritise 7-day GP access GPs set to be balloted on willingness to take industrial action To improve GP access, we all need to step out of the trenches |
Ultrasound brain zap wakes man from minimally conscious state
After a jolt to his thalamus, a man who showed almost no awareness or movement began to communicate, fist-bump, and trying to walk again via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Mind-controlled nanobots could release drugs inside your brain
DNA origami bots have been triggered to release drugs inside cockroaches, prompted by changes in a person’s brain activity via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Offer European NHS workers ‘automatic’ British citizenship
 |
Think-tank warns that drastic action is needed to protect NHS from exodus of workers Related items from OnMedica Government urged to save jobs of over 33,000 EU nurses GMC reassures EU doctors working in UK Disability groups fear funding cuts post-Brexit What implications could Brexit have for NHS patients? Three times as more EU doctors face disciplinary action for poor English than non-EU |
Rotavirus shows big decline since vaccine campaign
 |
Recorded cases have dropped 84% in the three years since vaccinations started Related items from OnMedica Improve uptake of MMR jab to meet WHO target Men B jab won’t be extended to children under two in the UK Flu jab linked to fewer hospitalisations Rotavirus jab linked to sharp drop in admissions |
Eastern Mediterranean conflict jeopardising decades of health gains
 |
Life expectancy decreasing, child mortality rising and infrastructure in many nations 'shattered' Related items from OnMedica ‘Grave concern’ over growing violence against doctors Healthcare ‘a tactic of war’ in Iraq and Syria Doctors warn Syria’s health structure is at breaking point Refugees have much higher risk of psychosis Migrants should not be denied fundamental right to healthcare |
Childhood head injuries have long-term effects
 |
Study shows increased risk of physical or mental health problems Related items from OnMedica GPs link to new emergency ‘vanguard’ sites Commission more teen mental health and alcohol services Missed A&E targets reflect cuts in social care and NHS funding Stroke rates rocket in younger men and women UK drug treatment of ADHD in children may have peaked |
Study reveals mental cost of epilepsy in pregnancy
 |
Women with epilepsy have lower self-esteem and suffer greater social strain Related items from OnMedica Epilepsy Prenatal exposure to valproate raises risk of autism Adverse pregnancy outcomes far more likely in epilepsy Diabetes linked to epilepsy New guidelines on epilepsy in pregnancy |
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Face transplant patient: 'Now I have hope'
Patrick Hardison, the volunteer fireman who underwent the world's most extensive face transplant, on his new-found hope. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Is Being Clever Dangerous For Your Health?
The idea that how smart you are might be connected with how healthy you are is not new. Those who studied social sciences have probably seen the published works on the subject dating back to 1980s.
The problem is not so easy to study academically, though. It is hard to separate the influence of various social factors on both intelligence level and health from a pure connection between health and brightness. As a result, many of the existing studies have been inconclusive. Factors such as age, sex, social and economic level, and education of the study cohort may seriously affect the conclusions. However, when these factors are taken into account, or the study groups are designed in a way minimizing their influence, rather interesting findings emerge.
To measure the cleverness, most studies use IQ. With all its disadvantages, IQ testing still remains the most reliable measure of intelligence. This article will briefly outline the results of studies investigating possible effects that different IQ levels might have on the health.
First, it is important to ask how IQ and health could be connected. Social components are relatively obvious: lower IQ might mean lower level of knowledge about healthy living, for instance. Also, the gradual progression of some chronic diseases may affect cognitive functions leading to lower IQ in unhealthy people. A published analysis showed that long-term sick leave and disability pension are often related to low cognitive abilities. Obviously, this effect is secondary and does not confirm the link between the initial IQ before the disease and the risk of developing this particular disease.
Apart from these obvious connections, there are genetic and physiological components. Recent research data suggest (twin studies in particular) that 60% of factors influencing our intelligence level are dictated by our genes.
There are many genes that directly or indirectly can influence our IQ: these are the genes involved in functioning of the brain, efficiency of neurotransmission, production of neuromediators and so on. The proteins produced by these genes work on multiple levels, and not only in neurons. They may, for instance, regulate the blood supply to the brain or other organs, or availability of various nutrients to neurons or other cells. These proteins may work in different cells of our body performing similar functions. If a gene works not particularly well in the brain cells, it is also likely to underperform elsewhere. At least, this is a general scientific assumption. However, the same gene may have different effects in different cell types, and therefore the link is not so obvious and not so easy to investigate.
It is interesting to mention what the published studies do not confirm. The data show no gender differences in correlations between mortality/morbidity and the IQ level. One study published in the British Medical Journal also demonstrated quite clearly that there is no correlations between high IQ in childhood and morbidity/mortality rates later in life. In both cases the social factors such as social class and culture were taken into account.
Links between IQ and specific diseases
One study demonstrated that high IQ in men was correlated with the incidence of coronary heart disease, although when socio-economic variables were taken into account the relation was not very strong.
Another study showed that atherosclerosis and hypertension could be linked to lower IQ. This relationship might, to a certain degree, reflect social phenomena, as those with higher IQ levels tend to be better informed and live healthier life styles.
Studies have also shown that a lower IQ in children can lead to obesity in adulthood.
Many of the diseases mentioned above can be causes of, or lead to, stroke. Therefore, it is not surprising that a low IQ is linked to a higher risk of stroke. The latter conclusion in regards to the stroke risk stands even when socioeconomic variables are rigorously taken into consideration.
Psychiatric disorders have also long been considered to have a very close link with high IQ. Many geniuses were known to have rather strange or unpredictable characters, suffered from mood disorders and depression. Indeed, statistics shows that creative people with higher IQ are more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder and mood swings. Most studies done on this subject were small but all show similar results nonetheless.
One study among the students in Swedish schools found that those with higher grades were more likely to show signs of bipolar disorder. However, the study also demonstrated that students with the lowest grades were twice more likely to show signs of bipolar disorder compared to the average students. Interestingly, a New Zealand study showed similar associations between low IQ and psychiatric disorders.
Another study published in The Archive of General Psychiatry showed that people with higher IQ were less likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. This study has considered socioeconomic variables, as discussed earlier.
Interestingly, a recent study published this year found a higher risk of developing glioma, a type of brain tumor, among university-educated people. The risk is 19% higher in educated men and 23% higher in women with a university degree. The reasons for such correlation remain speculative.
The findings discussed above highlight that both low and high IQ levels can be associated with certain risks. Lower IQ might be linked with poorer general health, while high IQ level is associated with higher chances of psychiatric disorders. It is important to emphasize, however, that these correlations are not very strong – having a specific IQ level, whether it is low or high, does not automatically load your body with associated health problems of any kind. Further research are needed to see how the health and intelligence are connected on genetic and physiological levels: I’m sure there are lots of surprising discoveries there!
References:
Batty, G. (2006). Does IQ explain socioeconomic inequalities in health? Evidence from a population based cohort study in the west of Scotland BMJ, 332 (7541), 580-584 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.38723.660637.AE
Dennis, M., Francis, D., Cirino, P., Schachar, R., Barnes, M., & Fletcher, J. (2009). Why IQ is not a covariate in cognitive studies of neurodevelopmental disorders Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 15 (03) DOI: 10.1017/S1355617709090481
Hauser, R., & Palloni, A. (2011). Adolescent IQ and Survival in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66B (Supplement 1) DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbr037
Khanolkar, A., Ljung, R., Talbäck, M., Brooke, H., Carlsson, S., Mathiesen, T., & Feychting, M. (2016). Socioeconomic position and the risk of brain tumour: a Swedish national population-based cohort study Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health DOI: 10.1136/jech-2015-207002
Lager, A., Bremberg, S., & Vagero, D. (2009). The association of early IQ and education with mortality: 65 year longitudinal study in Malmo, Sweden BMJ, 339 (dec11 1) DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b5282
Wraw, C., Deary, I., Gale, C., & Der, G. (2015). Intelligence in youth and health at age 50 Intelligence, 53, 23-32 DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2015.08.001
Image via venturaartist / Pixabay.
via Brain Blogger Read More Here..A bad night’s sleep messes with your brain’s memory connections
Tests on people’s brains after a night of disruption suggest that sleep is important for clearing space for forming new memories via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
CCGs rated best and worst for tackling health inequalities
 |
264,000 excess hospitalisations linked to socioeconomic inequality Related items from OnMedica Tackling obesity ‘must be made a national priority’ Pressure threatens integration and transformation plans NHS-designed ‘healthy new towns’ launched Child type 2 diabetes is a ‘wake-up call’ to the nation Scottish Conservatives back bigger share of NHS budget for GPs |
Defence body calls for early help to cut GP legal costs
 |
Clinical negligence claims against GPs rose 16.4% last year Related items from OnMedica New guidance spells out doctors’ duty of candour to admit mistakes Clinical negligence claims against hospitals almost double in a year Most GPs fear rising threat of legal action New system hopes to cut legal costs in negligence cases Only one in five medical claims win compensation |
Majority of GP practices receive good CQC ratings
 |
Around 80% of practices rated good or outstanding Related items from OnMedica CQC regime is ‘damaging’ patient care, says survey GP services reach point of ‘emergency’ warning Doctors sceptical of new ‘Ofsted-style’ NHS ratings system Poor CQC ratings linked to poor practice funding Regulators plan to cut GP regulation burden |
NICE green lights new cancer drugs for NHS
 |
Two more treatments to be available for routine NHS use Related items from OnMedica MPs slam government for its poor management of Cancer Drugs Fund Study shows huge global variation in cancer drug costs Cancer drug access in England is a ‘debacle’ NHS cancer patients still denied treatments available in other countries Put case for adding leukaemia drug to Cancer Drugs Fund, NICE tells company |
Laboratory shortages could hamper HIV testing
 |
WHO says HIV targets could be missed Related items from OnMedica Preventing HIV High Court rules NHS England must fund HIV drug HIV therapy helps protect men from Hep B infection First UK DIY test for HIV goes on sale UN achieves HIV treatment target 9 months early |
We must understand electroshock therapy’s unwanted side effects
Electroconvulsive shock treatment is in line for a renaissance. But before that happens, we need to know more about the cognitive impairments it causes via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Babies’ health could be affected by variation in IVF nutrients
The recipes of different IVF culture fluids are kept secret, but there’s evidence that some affect the success of the treatment and the health of babies via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
HIV effort let down by test shortages, says WHO
A shortage of HIV testing could undermine global efforts to diagnose and treat people with the infection, warn experts from the World Health Organization. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Potent pills
With ecstasy, or MDMA, being bought more freely on the dark net, the drug is growing in popularity - and in strength. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Tuesday, 23 August 2016
Statement on the 10th IHR Emergency Committee regarding the international spread of poliovirus
Reviewing data on wild poliovirus, the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2005) expressed grave concern over 2 new cases of polio in Nigeria, and commended progress made in Afghanistan and Pakistan. via WHO news Read More Here..
Why do women keep taking HRT despite breast cancer risks?
A new analysis suggests hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of developing breast cancer even more than we thought. Will women keep taking it? via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
'Bagpipe lung' warning for wind musicians
Doctors are warning musicians to clean the inside of their wind or brass instruments regularly, to protect them from a fatal condition that's being called "bagpipe lung." via BBC News - Health Read More Here..
Three questions to ask your doctor before any treatment
Too often medical advice turns out to be ineffective, or even harmful. Here’s how to make sure you’re getting the right treatment via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Drug-free IVF could be cheaper and faster way to get pregnant
The need for expensive, unpleasant hormone injections in IVF could be removed by a compound that boosts egg maturation in the lab by 50 per cent via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
The scary reality of medical U-turns, and how to stop them
From peanut allergy to cancer, total reversals in medical advice are strikingly common. Why did it go so wrong, and how can we make sure we get it right next time? via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
US pregnancy-related deaths are rising and have doubled in Texas
The US is one of only eight countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality has gone up instead of down in the last few decades via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..
Combined HRT risk for cancer underestimated
 |
Almost three times higher risk of cancer from combined HRT Related items from OnMedica Menopause and HRT – Overview of NICE guidelines Don’t deny menopausal women HRT and explain pros and cons, doctors told HRT short-term use raises risk of ovarian cancer, warns study NICE publishes first guideline on menopause HRT may benefit mood but not cognition |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)