A recent investigation found at least 37 canine fertility clinics operating in the UK, with many lacking veterinary staff. The clinics often advertise services that require veterinarian expertise, raising concerns about animal welfare.
A new study finds that rosiglitazone increases the risk of heart failure and cardiovascular events by 33% compared to controls. The research highlights the importance of access to raw clinical trial data for accurate drug safety assessments.
A study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine found that people with conflicts of interest were more likely to provide positive testaments about psychiatric drug treatments. The authors recommend stricter management or prohibition of COIs to promote transparency and validity in the approval process.
Daily e-cigarette users are more likely to be recent quitters than non-users, while vaping is rare among those who quit more than a decade ago. E-cigarettes appear to be helping smokers quit successfully, particularly among those who quit within the last two years.
A pooled analysis of 14 studies found that text messaging was associated with significantly lower rates of looking left and right before crossing, as well as moderately increased rates of collisions and close calls. Listening to music was not linked to any heightened risk of pedestrian behaviours.
A higher intake of fermented soy products, such as natto and miso, is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. The study found that men who ate natto had a lower risk of cardiovascular mortality than those who did not.
The study reveals that a small subset of providers account for disproportionately high amounts of opioids, with the top 1% prescribing nearly 1,000 times more than the middle 1%. Most providers generally prescribe safely below recommended thresholds.
A Swedish study found that infants born to mothers who smoked during early pregnancy have a small increased risk of fractures before age 1. However, the association disappears after age 5, suggesting smoking has only short-term effects on bone health. The study followed over 1.6 million offspring from birth to young adulthood.
The survey found that UK doctors working in emergency medicine and general practice are most at risk of exhaustion, stress, and compassion fatigue. Doctors scored lower than average for resilience, with 31.5% experiencing high levels of burnout.
The law banning smoking in cars carrying children has been shown to reduce teenage exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke by 72% in England. This significant drop in exposure is attributed to the legislation, which aims to protect children from the harms of secondhand tobacco smoke.
A systematic review of observational studies found that industry funding of patient groups is common, with estimates ranging from 20% to 83%. Few patient groups have formal policies governing corporate sponsorship, and financial transparency is inadequate. The researchers call for greater transparency in reporting industry funding and ...
A study found that adult exposure to chickenpox is associated with a lower risk of developing shingles, but the protective effect does not last forever. The researchers suggest that previous assumptions about childhood varicella vaccination policy in the UK may need to be revisited.
Research suggests that medicinal cannabis users may experience increased difficulty falling asleep and more frequent waking during the night due to tolerance development. Additionally, cannabinoids have been found not to be effective in reducing cancer-related pain.
Ethicists argue that sperm donation after death is morally permissible to plug the UK's shortage of donor sperm and increasing demand. The process would involve collecting and freezing sperm after death through electrical stimulation or surgery, with health checks addressing potential genetic concerns.
A large study of over 200,000 working-age people found that the self-reported health of poor Brits is worse than that of people born a century ago. The gap in health has widened between the richest and poorest, with those from lower-income households more likely to have long-term conditions and poor general health.
A study of over 23,000 adult childhood cancer survivors found a significant decline in serious heart conditions and coronary artery disease risk since the 1970s. The decline is largely attributed to efforts to reduce toxic effects of treatment, including radiotherapy.
School packed lunches in the UK still have low nutritional quality, with only 1.6% meeting food standards, according to a study. The analysis found that sugar levels decreased, while vitamin C content dropped significantly.
An expert review concludes that melatonin for jet lag may not be effective in relieving symptoms due to scant evidence. The review suggests that non-drug treatments like timing exposure to bright light and altering bed and mealtimes may be more complicated.
A survey of 3,080 UK rescue dog owners found that most believed their dogs were imported under the EU Pet Travel Scheme, despite only 1% actually using this method. The study highlights concerns about the risks of exotic diseases and calls for stricter checks on imported rescue dogs.
A study of US health professionals found that adopting five healthy lifestyle factors can add up to 10 extra years of disease-free life, with women gaining the most benefit. Participants who adopted four or five low-risk lifestyle factors had significantly longer life expectancy free from major chronic diseases.
Research published in Injury Prevention found that US states with comprehensive regulations for open water swim sites have significantly lower drowning death rates. States with stricter regulations tend to have lower drowning rates, particularly among high-risk groups such as people of non-white ethnicity and children/teens.
A US$1 dollar increase in the minimum wage is linked to a significant fall in suicide rates, with an estimated reduction of 3.5-6%. The effect is strongest during periods of high unemployment, suggesting that economic interventions can have a positive impact on mental health outcomes.
A 1999 MRI study published in The BMJ found that the penis is shaped like a boomerang during sex, challenging previous assumptions. Additionally, it revealed that the size of the uterus does not increase during female sexual arousal, contrary to previous reports.
A large US study found that women born in the spring and summer had a slight but significant increase in cardiovascular death compared to those born in autumn. The researchers suggest that seasonal fluctuations in diet, air pollution levels, and sunlight may contribute to these differences.
A study by BMJ Group found that healthcare workers are less likely to receive honors compared to professionals in other industries. Healthcare workers received only 7.6% of New Year Honours from 2009 to 2018.
A US study of physician driving behaviors reveals that psychiatrists are most likely to be fined for extreme speeding, while cardiologists are more likely to drive luxury cars. The findings contradict the theory that certain specialties receive preferential treatment from law enforcement.
A study of over 6,000 UK adults aged 50+ found that regular engagement with the arts was associated with a lower risk of death. The more frequently people participated in arts activities, the greater the protective effect, with those attending arts events once or twice a year having a 14% lower risk of dying.
Research published in BMJ Open suggests that active grandparenting is associated with lower scores on loneliness and social isolation. Grandparents who care for their grandchildren have larger social networks and are in regular contact with more important people.
A study analyzing official safety incidents in England and Wales found that nearly half of reported cases resulted in child harm. The most common problems were faulty equipment, inadequate staff training, and communication issues.
Research finds that male scientists frame their research findings more positively, leading to higher citations and potential career advantages. Women are underrepresented in academic medicine and face biases in peer review.
A musical mnemonic based on a popular nursery rhyme can help young children learn and remember the proper hand hygiene technique, potentially reducing the spread of stomach bugs, coughs, and colds. The study found that the song lyric instructions led to a reduction in bacterial residue on children's hands after handwashing.
Researchers estimate that up to 43% of antibiotic prescriptions in the US are potentially inappropriate, highlighting the importance of proper documentation. The study found that patients with chronic conditions and those who spent more time with a physician were more likely to receive antibiotics without an indication.
Researchers found that labelling food with the amount and type of exercise needed to burn off its calories can lead to a reduction in daily calorie intake. PACE (Physical Activity Calorie Equivalent) labelling was associated with an average reduction of 65 fewer calories per meal, and up to 200 calories less per day.
A study found that advance care planning is associated with improved survival among terminally ill patients, particularly those with diseases other than cancer. This approach enables adults to discuss their wishes and priorities for end-of-life care.
A study finds that major political events, especially those aligning with conservative ideologies, are associated with declines in mood among young US physicians. Women were particularly affected by the election results, suggesting a disproportionate impact of sexist discourse.
A recent survey suggests that nearly one in four Californian adults lives in a household with a gun, with an estimated 7.3 million residents state-wide owning or living with someone who owns a firearm. This equates to a collective tally of 19.9 million firearms in the state.
Children of mothers with diabetes have increased rates of early onset cardiovascular disease from childhood to age 40. The study suggests that preventing and treating diabetes in women of childbearing age could help reduce the risk of CVD in their offspring.
A group of international experts proposes pathways towards financial independence from industry in healthcare to build a more trustworthy evidence base. They aim to tackle the problem of overdiagnosis and unnecessary care by disentangling decision-makers from those profiting from excess medicine.
A survey of over 700 young Irish doctors found widespread prescribing for personal use, with nearly two-thirds self-medicating. The study highlights the risks of this practice, including addiction and suicide, and calls for further education and inclusion in medical training.
A 25-fold increase in UK children's vitamin D supplement prescriptions has been recorded, with high doses and no prior testing common. Most GPs fail to follow nationally set recommendations for vitamin D supplementation.
Researchers found that MedDevs often lack critical information on product composition, ingredients, and clinical effectiveness, raising concerns for children's safety. The authors call for revised regulations to ensure these products meet medicine standards before being marketed.
The UK National Health Service faces challenges in meeting growing demand while reducing costs. Key findings show that the NHS spent less on healthcare per person compared to other high-income countries and had lower numbers of healthcare professionals. However, it achieved better rates for certain health outcomes.
A US study found short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with several newly identified causes of hospital admissions, including sepsis and kidney failure. The researchers suggest the World Health Organization air quality guidelines need revising.
A trial suggests that inducing labor at 41 weeks in low-risk pregnancies is associated with a lower risk of newborn death compared to expectant management. The researchers found no difference in adverse perinatal outcomes between the groups, but estimated that inducing labor could prevent one stillbirth for every 230 women induced.
Exercise referral schemes have been shown to improve physical activity levels among individuals with long-term conditions. However, the analysis of data from 23,731 participants found that while significant improvements were observed in most measures, they did not reach clinical thresholds for meaningful impact.
Researchers found that certain vegetable and/or meat broths can curb the growth of sexually immature malaria parasites by more than 50% in lab tests. Five broths were effective at stopping disease-causing parasites, with two showing comparable activity to a leading antimalarial drug.
A middle-aged man developed severe lung inflammation after introducing feather-filled bedding into his home, prompting doctors to sound the alarm about the potential risk. Repeated exposure to bird feathers can lead to irreversible scarring of lung tissue, highlighting the importance of identifying this condition promptly.
A study published in The BMJ found substantial variation in bowel cancer rates after colonoscopies in England, with lower rates seen at NHS providers. Reducing this variation could prevent or diagnose more cancers earlier, the researchers suggest.
A 10-year study found that middle-aged men with higher muscle mass had a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. The researchers suggest that preserving skeletal muscle mass through regular physical activity and a protein-rich diet may help reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
A 16-year-old boy developed severe lung inflammation after vaping, leading to respiratory failure and prolonged hospitalization. The trigger was likely an exaggerated immune response to a chemical in the e-cigarette fluid, highlighting the potential risks of e-cigarettes.