A group of international medical bodies urge doctors to take a lead in addressing alcohol misuse, citing 76 million people affected and a lack of global remediable action. The statement calls for governments to recognize and adopt health policies to reduce harm from alcohol.
The report emphasizes the importance of self-sustaining supply-demand systems in improving health and wellbeing for marginalized women and children globally. The authors highlight democratising technologies like mobile phones as a key opportunity for local demand to be understood, appreciated, and locally solved.
A minimally-invasive procedure aimed at reducing lung inflation and shortness of breath in patients with severe emphysema has failed to demonstrate sustained long-term effects. Despite initial improvements, the procedure's durability was lacking, with no significant differences noted between treatment and sham groups after six months.
Two new genetic variants, rs4129267 and rs7130588, linked to increased asthma risk have been discovered. These variants may lead to the development of a new treatment for asthma using drugs currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
A new study estimates that 27.6% of people will develop COPD by age 35, making it a significant public health concern. The risk is higher in men and those with lower socioeconomic status, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and funding to combat this chronic disease.
Researchers developed an improved algorithm to tailor asthma treatment during pregnancy based on actual airway inflammation measures. The study found a significant reduction in asthma exacerbation rates among pregnant women using this approach.
A commercial weight loss programme, Weight Watchers, has been shown to be effective in reducing weight and improving health outcomes for overweight adults. Participants who received the programme lost around twice as much weight as those receiving standard care over 12 months.
Flushing out antibodies in people with E. coli infection improves symptoms significantly, according to The Lancet article. Immunoadsorption technique removes circulating immunoglobulins, improving neurological and renal function recovery in patients with severe complications.
A study found that a US Army battlefield ethics training program decreased reports of unethical conduct among soldiers and increased their willingness to report misconduct. The program, which included video clips and leader-led discussions, was associated with lower rates of self-reported unethical behavior.
A study published in The Lancet found that suicide bombs caused 19% of civilian casualties, with a high injury-to-killed ratio for women and children. Coalition soldiers accounted for fewer casualties than civilians, highlighting the devastating impact on Iraqi civilians.
A study published in The Lancet found that World Trade Center-exposed New York City male firefighters are 19% more likely to have cancer compared to their non-exposed colleagues, as well as a comparable sample of the general population. The study analyzed data from 9853 male firefighters and found increased cancer incidence rates in WT...
The Lancet Editorial emphasizes that the 9/11 anniversary should prioritize the victims and their families, beyond the global implications. The Editorial also highlights how poverty, injustice, and terrorist-related incidents have created conditions for instability and insecurity worldwide.
Rescue and recovery workers suffered high rates of asthma, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to inhalation of toxic dust. The study also found a significant burden of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and panic disorder among these workers.
A study found that rescue workers and civilians exposed to World Trade Center dust had lower mortality rates compared to the NYC general population. Higher exposure levels were associated with increased mortality, particularly among those with high levels of WTC-related exposure.
Japan has seen a recent decline in mortality rates for adult men and women, falling behind countries like Sweden, Italy, and Australia. The main explanations for this trend include high tobacco consumption, rising body mass index, and increasing suicide rates.
The Lancet Series proposes human-security based reforms to maintain Japan's universal health coverage. Local governments must take more responsibility for healthcare resources and funding, while consolidated institutions will improve physician quality and provide opportunities for domestic and global health experts to interact.
Despite a private sector dominated fee-for-service system, Japan successfully contains healthcare costs at 8% of GDP, largely due to uniform fee schedules. Key challenges include mismatched patient expectations with service supply, need for quality primary care improvement and restructuring the current fee payment schedule.
Despite having one of the best health systems in the world, Japan's development assistance for health budget is only 2% of its foreign aid budget. The country must take center stage in global health to help other countries. Japan has the potential to make substantial contributions to global health by sharing its expertise and increasin...
Japan experiences over 30,000 annual suicides, largely attributed to negative socioeconomic conditions. Implementing comprehensive suicide prevention measures and increasing public knowledge about depression can help reduce the rate of suicides in Japan.
Rapid declines in infectious disease and stroke mortality enabled by salt reduction campaigns, improved healthcare technologies, and universal health insurance coverage have contributed to Japan's exceptional longevity. The country faces new challenges due to an aging population and rising healthcare costs.
Japan's mandatory long-term care insurance has proven effective in managing care needs, with over half of elderly residents reporting no financial hardship. The system provides a range of services, including adult day care, home help, and nurse visits, and has increased formal care use while reducing financial burdens.
Japan's universal health coverage has been a success story, maintaining equity and containing costs over the past 50 years. However, the ageing society of Japan threatens its sustainability, with rising premiums and emerging uninsured populations.
A lack of well-conducted research on widely used acne treatments could be limiting their effectiveness and putting patients at risk of ineffective treatment. The authors call for new studies to test the comparative effectiveness of common therapies and improve understanding of the natural history of acne.
A global study found that 60% of individuals with heart disease and up to half of stroke patients are not taking four effective drug types, with underuse highest in low-income countries. The study suggests improvements in drug use could substantially reduce global cardiovascular disease within years.
The Lancet editorial emphasizes the need for a Framework Convention on Obesity Control to address the growing epidemic. It highlights the importance of accurate monitoring and evaluation, system-wide approaches, and government leadership in combating obesity.
The global obesity epidemic has grown over four decades, with high-income countries experiencing a rise in the 1970s and 80s. Low-income and middle-income countries are now also affected, particularly women from wealthy urban environments. The authors argue that policy-led solutions, such as government regulations and healthy public se...
The Lancet Obesity Series identifies effective policies to reduce obesity, including taxes on unhealthy food and restrictions on TV advertising. Governments are urged to prioritize prevention programs and monitoring to tackle this complex and intractable problem.
The study predicts a significant increase in obesity rates in the US and UK, with an estimated 65 million additional obese adults in the US and 11 million more in the UK by 2030. This would lead to increased healthcare costs and a higher risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer.
A new web-based bodyweight simulation model simulates physiological differences between people based on sex, age, height, and weight. It provides a rough dieting rule for typical overweight adults: every 10 calories per day reduction in energy intake results in about 1 pound of weight loss over 3 years.
A UK study published in The Lancet concludes that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is the most cost-effective way to diagnose hypertension. This method, which involves repeated measurements throughout a 24-hour period, is more accurate and correlates better with cardiovascular outcomes than traditional clinic-based methods.
A new study suggests that HPV testing for two high-risk strains (HPV16 and HPV18) detects more high-grade pre-cancerous lesions than current cervical cancer screening. The findings support the use of HPV testing as a primary screening tool to rule out disease, with cytology reserved for triage of women who test positive.
The bivalent HPV vaccine has been shown to protect against anal HPV 16 and 18 infections, preventing nearly 84% of cases in women without prior exposure. The vaccine also offers cross-protective efficacy against other cancer-causing HPV types, suggesting a broader potential for prevention of HPV-associated cancers.
A phase 2 trial found that olaparib reduced tumor size in 41% of patients with ovarian cancer and no BRCA gene mutations. The treatment was generally well-tolerated and offered new hope for ovarian cancer treatment targeting DNA repair mechanisms.
A new study suggests that coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a more accurate predictor of heart attacks and strokes than C-reactive protein (CRP) in healthy adults. High CAC scores are associated with a fourfold increased risk of cardiovascular disease, while low scores indicate an extremely low risk of events. Statin treatment may be mo...
The first clinical studies of omecamtiv mecarbil suggest it could be a promising treatment for systolic heart failure, improving heart muscle contraction and pumping function. The drug has dose-dependent and concentration-dependent effects on cardiac function, increasing stroke volume, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening.
Research in Senegal found growing resistance to a common insecticide class among mosquitoes, coupled with increased susceptibility of older children and adults, resulting in malaria resurgence. The study suggests that new strategies are urgently needed to mitigate the devastating effects of insecticide resistance on malaria control.
Research shows antipsychotics are more effective than mood stabilisers in tackling acute mania. Haloperidol, olanzapine, and risperidone were ranked most effective antimanic drugs, with haloperidol outperforming other options.
A study published in The Lancet found that just 15 minutes of daily physical activity can reduce the risk of death by 14% and increase life expectancy by 3 years. This benefit applies to all age groups and both sexes, with a significant reduction in mortality rates from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
A meta-analysis of 4 million individuals found that women have a 25% higher risk of developing coronary heart disease compared to men who smoke. The longer a woman smokes, the higher her risk becomes.
A recent Review highlights the urgent need for high-income countries to fund interventions addressing unmet mental health needs of displaced children. Exposure to violence is a major risk factor, while support from family and peers can be protective.
A new study published in The Lancet found that platinum-based doublet chemotherapy is associated with improved survival rates for elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. The treatment showed better results compared to monotherapy in patients over 70 years old, suggesting a potential shift in the current treatment strategy for...
A UK study found that pulse oximetry screening detected 75% of critical cases and 49% of all major congenital heart defects in newborns. Combining pulse oximetry with routine ultrasound and physical examination improved detection to 92%, avoiding undiagnosed deaths.
A six-month study in Kenya found that daily text-message reminders improved correct malaria treatment management by 23.7%, with significant effects on patient adherence to medication. The intervention is cheap and can be scaled up nationally, making it a promising low-cost strategy for improving health worker performance.
A growing number of countries are supporting Australia's trailblazing stance on plain packaging, while others align themselves with the tobacco industry. The legislation aims to break the affiliation smokers have with a particular brand, helping them quit and prevent teenagers from becoming smokers.
Tamoxifen therapy for 5 years improves survival by about a third in women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, according to an analysis of over 20,000 patients. The treatment reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death in ER-positive disease, regardless of chemotherapy use.
The study estimates that around 10 million injecting drug users globally are infected with HCV, while 1.3 million have HBV infection. The authors emphasize the need for increased attention to viral hepatitis in IDUs and enhanced access to treatments.
A group of public health experts emphasizes the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the London Olympics' impact on public health. The event's legacy promises include urban regeneration, increased physical activity, and improved wellbeing. If achieved, these initiatives could have substantial health benefits.
A study published in The Lancet reveals that targeted antisense therapy AVI-4658 can restore expression of a key protein lacking in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The treatment showed significant dose response, allowing boys to produce functional dystrophin protein up to 18% of normal levels.
The OPTIMAL trial found erlotinib significantly prolonged median progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy (13.1 months vs 4.6 months). Serious treatment-related side effects were also more common in patients receiving chemotherapy.
Research found that taller individuals are at higher risk of various cancers, including breast, ovary, and bowel cancers. The study suggests that increases in population height may explain changes in cancer incidence over time.