Poor patient warfarin knowledge may increase risk of deadly side effects
Awareness was lowest on diet and drug interactions and when to call a doctor. Patients have poor knowledge of warfarin which may increase their risk of serious side effects, according to research presented today at EuroHeartCare 2016 by Dr Kjersti Oterhals, a nurse researcher at…
No evidence that genetic tests change people’s behaviour
Genetic tests that provide an estimate of an individual’s risk of developing diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease do not appear to motivate a change in behaviour to reduce the risk, according to a study led by the University of Cambridge and published…
New research further supports association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly
New research, based on data from the 2013-14 Zika outbreak in French Polynesia, further supports the association between Zika virus and microcephaly. The study, published today in The Lancet, estimates that the risk of microcephaly is about 1 for every 100 women infected with Zika…
New app advises and reminds pregnant women about vaccinations
A new app to guide and remind pregnant women about vaccines recommended during pregnancy has been launched by researchers.The Maternal Immunations (MatImms) app is aimed at pregnant women to guide them about infections that could be harmful to them and their baby, such as flu…
Pancreatic Cancer Risk Tied to Specific Mouth Bacteria
The presence of certain bacteria in the mouth may reveal increased risk for pancreatic cancer and enable earlier, more precise treatment. This is the main finding of a study led by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and its Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center…
Metformin, Lowers Risk of Heart Disease Deaths Better Than Sulfonylureas
A new analysis of 204 studies involving more than 1.4 million people suggests that metformin, the most frequently prescribed stand-alone drug for type 2 diabetes, reduces the relative risk of a patient dying from heart disease by about 30 to 40 percent compared to its…
Paracetamol ‘not clinically effective’ in treating osteoarthritis pain or improving physical function
In a large-scale analysis of pain-relief medication for osteoarthritis, researchers found that paracetamol does not meet the minimum standard of clinical effectiveness in reducing pain or improving physical function in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis. Although paracetamol was slightly better than placebo, researchers conclude…
Physical activity found to decrease risk of dying in COPD
Any amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity can effectively reduce the risk of dying after hospitalisation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study.The research, published in ERJ Open Research, significantly adds to the mounting evidence that physical activity should be…
Study shows bariatric surgery better than intensive lifestyle and drug interventions at reversing diabetes in mildly to moderately obese patients
New research shows that bariatric surgery (also known as obesity surgery) is much more effective than an intensive lifestyle/medication intervention at reversing type 2 diabetes in patients with only mild-to-moderate obesity. The study is published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the…
Public transport, walking and cycling to work are all associated with reductions in body fat for adults in mid-life
Adults who commute to work via cycling or walking have lower body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI) measures in mid-life compared to adults who commute via car, according to a new study in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal. Even people who commute…
Exercise helps young people with psychosis symptoms, study shows
An exercise programme devised by researchers at the University of Manchester has dramatically reduced symptoms among young people with first-episode psychosis. The long-term prospects for young people who are diagnosed with psychosis are typically poor, with high rates of relapse, unemployment and premature death. The…
Antibiotics for appendicitis – yes and no
Using antibiotics as the primary treatment for mild appendicitis does not increase the risk for complications at least in the first year. But other considerations must also be taken into account, say researchers.Surgery has been the standard treatment for appendicitis for more than a century….