A high-fat, high-sugar processed food diet in early childhood may lower IQ, while a healthy diet rich in vitamins and nutrients may boost intelligence. Research based on over 14,000 children found a strong association between dietary patterns in childhood and IQ at age 8.
A systematic review of international evidence found that up to three-quarters of hospital tests are not followed up after discharge, posing serious safety implications for patients.
A recent study published in BMJ Quality and Safety found that care home residents are more than four times as likely to get the wrong dose of medicine when it is in liquid form as they are when given pills/capsules. The study highlights the need for better training and systems to address this issue.
Research reveals dogs can detect specific odors in breath and stool samples with 95% accuracy for breath test and 98% accuracy for stool test. This method could lead to developing non-invasive tests for early stage bowel cancer detection.
Ethicists call for UK legislation change to hold healthcare professionals accountable for patient neglect. Current law allows prosecution only when death results from serious error.
Research suggests that Frédéric Chopin's hallucinations were probably caused by temporal lobe epilepsy, a condition that can produce brief, fragmentary, and stereotyped visual hallucinations. The authors draw on the composer's own descriptions of his experiences and accounts from friends and pupils to support their claim.
A national audit of heart failure treatment in England and Wales found that patients admitted to general wards were twice as likely to die as those in cardiology wards. Women and older adults fared worse in terms of appropriate investigations and treatment.
Research reveals that smoking is behind 40-60% of the gender gap in mortality across Europe. The study found that deaths related to smoking and respiratory diseases were significantly higher for men than women.
A six-year follow-up study found that shouldering family demands and worries increases the risk of angina in middle-aged Danish women and men. The study tracked over 4,500 participants and found that worrisome/demanding relationships with a partner or child posed the greatest risks, with a nearly four-fold increase in angina symptoms.
Research reveals that teen girls living in the most deprived areas are five times as likely to be assaulted compared to their affluent peers. The disparity is particularly pronounced for girls living in city areas, who are almost three times more likely to experience assault.
A study of CAM treatment in children found that adverse events were common and often related to CAM use; 64% of cases were rated as severe or life-threatening. The authors suggest empowering families with discussions about medication changes, but note that many parents continue to use CAM despite medical advice
A survey of 405 postgraduate trainee doctors found that nearly three-quarters had a Facebook profile, with many sharing personal information and photos. The authors warn that this could lead to an ethically problematic situation if patients access their profiles, as it may be misinterpreted outside its original context.
Adhering to UK dietary guidelines on fruit and vegetable consumption, fibre, fats, and salt could prevent or delay up to 33,000 deaths annually. Reducing these components' intake significantly impacts mortality rates.
A rapidly ageing population in the UK is leading to a surge in degenerative valvular heart disease cases, with over 13% of those aged 75 and above affected. Specialist VHD centres are needed to address the issue, with current treatment provision showing wide variation and inadequate follow-up care.
Research published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that smoking is a major preventable risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, accounting for over 35% of ACPA positive cases and one in five cases overall. Heavy smokers are more than 2.5 times as likely to test positive for ACPA.
A population-based survey of neonaticides found the true incidence to be 2.1 per 100,000 births, five times higher than official estimates. Low maternal self-esteem and emotional immaturity were identified as key drivers.
A survey of UK medical schools found that most do not fully comply with the International Council of Ophthalmologists' recommended curriculum for ophthalmology. Only four schools taught all 13 formal teaching topics, and no school taught all 10 recommended clinical skills.
Research concludes that regulatory authorities should consider removing electronic nicotine delivery systems from the market due to design feature, labelling, disposal, and safety issues. Cartridge labelling is found to be poor, with incorrect nicotine levels and inadequate instructions.
Research on over 28,000 children found that prenatal exposure to mobile phones was associated with an increased risk of behavioral problems. Children exposed to mobile phones before and after birth were 50% more likely to exhibit abnormal behavior.
Research found that women who experienced recurrent miscarriage were five times more likely to have a heart attack in later life. Those who had stillbirths were also at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
A recent French survey reveals that one in two emergency care doctors are prone to burn-out, with tension between home and working life being a significant factor. Poor teamwork also significantly increases the risk of burn-out among these physicians.
Research published in Frontline Gastroenterology finds that Crohn's disease patients are more likely to experience worsening symptoms if they have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with nearly one in five patients scoring high on the PTSD scale
A study of 614 vineyard workers in South West France found a link between long-term pesticide exposure and declining cognitive abilities, including lower scores on memory and recall tests. The researchers suggest that higher risks of dementia may be associated with pesticide exposure.
Research published in Thorax estimates that UK workplace asthma costs the country at least £100 million a year, with potentially as high as £135 million. The study reveals that the condition is underdiagnosed and that the employer should bear more responsibility for reducing exposure to agents causing workplace asthma.
A study of UK trauma units found that every 5°C rise in temperature boosts kids' hospital admissions for serious injury by 10%, while snow prompts an 8% rise. The analysis of over 60,000 patients showed strong seasonal trends and correlations between weather conditions and admission rates.
Non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke are at risk of hearing loss, with men and older individuals more likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss. Even low levels of passive smoking can continue the progression of hearing loss in former smokers.
A study of retracted papers found US scientists were responsible for a third of all retractions, with one in three cases linked to data fabrication or falsification. Researchers from Asian nations also contributed significantly to the problem.
Research found that mothers who smoked heavily during pregnancy had kids who were more likely to become repeat criminal offenders as adults. The study, which tracked over 4,000 adults from 1959-1966, showed a 30% increased chance of arrest among children whose mothers smoked heavily.
A new study shows that using a more expensive but accurate tool to test for glaucoma can reduce unnecessary referrals by nearly two thirds. This could alleviate pressure on hospitals and lower costs for patients.
Research finds that mandatory limits on processed food salt content could reduce cardiovascular disease by 18% compared to voluntary curbs. Voluntary industry restrictions are cost-effective but would only cut ill health from cardiovascular disease by 1%.
Research on 1,000 adults aged 18-85 found that physically fit individuals experience fewer and milder colds. Exercise was shown to boost immune system cells, reducing infection frequency by 43% and symptom severity by 41%.
Research published in Heart found that men with low testosterone levels were more likely to die prematurely from heart disease and all causes. The study of 930 men with coronary artery heart disease showed that those with low testosterone had nearly twice the risk of death compared to those with normal levels.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that anorexia nervosa can cause significant damage to the retina and optic nerve, leading to impaired vision. The condition was associated with thinner maculae and reduced dopamine activity, which may be related to the initial stages of progressive blindness.
A Finnish study found that children born in spring are more likely to develop food allergies due to sensitization during fetal development. Research suggests a peak in birch and alder pollen levels in April-May may contribute to this association.
The use of bespoke drugs in primary care is associated with high costs, lack of transparency, and legal pitfalls. The review calls for a major overhaul to reduce unnecessary prescribing and improve patient safety.
Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found no increased risk of socioemotional difficulties or cognitive deficits at 5 years of age for children born to mothers who light drank during pregnancy. Children born to light drinkers were 30% less likely to have behavioral problems than those whose mums had a...
Research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that workers exposed to loud noise at work are twice as likely to have serious heart problems as those in quiet workplaces. Workers under 50, particularly men and smokers, were at greater risk.
Research published in Heart found that the combination of depression and coronary heart disease triples the risk of death from all causes and quadruples the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke. Depression alone increases mortality by twice as much as having neither condition.
Research published online in journal Gut found that taking even a very low dose of regular aspirin (75 mg) can reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer. After one year, daily low-dose aspirin was associated with a 22% reduced risk of developing bowel cancer, which increased to 30% after five years.
The study found that 82 doctors treated 2567 athletes, reporting 287 injuries and 185 illnesses. The highest risk sports were bobsleigh and short track, with injury rates of 15% and 35%, respectively.
Research finds that linking financial incentives to quality improvement has improved primary care in the UK, leading to reduced heart disease deaths and hospital admissions. Practices with higher quality scores had lower death rates and fewer hospital admissions, especially in deprived areas.
Preliminary research published in Gut suggests that plantain and broccoli fibers may prevent the translocation of E. coli across M-cells, a key stage in Crohn's disease development. The study found that plantain and broccoli fibers reduced E. coli translocation by 45-82%, while leek and apple fibers had no effect.
Researchers analyzed 163 YouTube videos featuring top tobacco brands and found that nearly three-quarters of the content was pro-tobacco. The most popular brand, Marlboro, had over 104,000 views on its most viewed video.
A study of over 8500 UK doctors found that those with strong faith are less likely to discuss end-of-life care decisions with patients. Non-religious doctors, on the other hand, are almost twice as willing to take actions expected to shorten a patient's life.
Research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that children aged 6 and older are significantly less likely to invite peers with a visible squint to their birthday party. This discrimination may have lasting psychological impacts on individuals concerned.
Research reveals that only around half of acute hospital trusts in England have a formal chaperone policy, which could have severe medico-legal repercussions. The lack of policies may be due to the current financial climate and the NHS's budget constraints.
The new criteria redefine RA by classifying it based on the confirmed presence of synovitis in at least one joint, absence of alternative diagnoses, and a combined score from four domains. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent destructive joint damage with the help of synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Leading respiratory specialists call for a new approach to TB screening for newly arrived immigrants from high-risk countries. They argue that the current system is fundamentally flawed and fails to address the growing number of TB cases in the UK. The authors propose screening new arrivals in community services, rather than relying on...
Novo Nordisk's decision to withdraw Mixtard 30 insulin could add £9 million to the NHS drugs bill in England, affecting 90,000 patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. Alternative biphasic insulins are more expensive and may cause disruption to patient care.
A child nutrition expert argues that a global code for formula milk marketing has been mired in disputes since its adoption in 1981. The lack of effective national and international governance has hindered efforts to improve maternal, infant, and child nutrition. Effective governance is now needed to replace bitter hostilities.