Patients with active inflammatory bowel disease are at a significantly increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism, especially when ambulatory. The study found that non-hospitalized patients with active IBD have a relative risk of 16 times higher than the general population, highlighting the need for prophylaxis strategies.
A study published in The Lancet Oncology found that hypofractionated radiotherapy schedules do not increase adverse symptoms or worsen body image compared to the international standard treatment. Patients reported moderate or striking concerns about body image, but these did not differ between radiotherapy schedules.
A closed-loop 'artificial pancreas' system can improve blood sugar control in young patients with type 1 diabetes, reducing the risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia and achieving good glucose levels. The study found that children with the artificial pancreas maintained normal blood glucose levels for 60% of the time.
Researchers found that two antimicrobial regimens were effective in treating early, limited buruli ulcer disease, with 96% of patients healing after 8 weeks and 91% after 4 weeks. No significant surgical complications occurred.
A systematic review highlights clinical features that confirm or exclude the possibility of serious infection in children presenting to general practice. Clinical features like cyanosis, poor peripheral perfusion, and petechial rash are deemed red flags, while parental concern and doctor's instinct are strong indicators.
Patients who underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSC) had similar overall survival rates as those given bone marrow transplants, with no significant differences in mortality or late effects. However, subgroup analyses revealed improved leukaemia-free survival and overall survival for patients with acute leukaemias
Research on patient access schemes found that refunds were not always passed on to primary care trusts, leading to financial losses. The study also identified the need for flexibility in processing claims and standardized templates to streamline administration.
A recent study found that ulipristal acetate is more effective than levonorgestrel in preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex. The new findings provide women and healthcare providers with an alternative option for emergency contraception, available up to five days post- intercourse.
A study found that not sedating critically ill patients in intensive care significantly reduced the number of days on mechanical ventilation (55 days vs 9.6 days) and length of stay in the ICU (13.1 days vs 22.8 days). However, no sedation was also associated with increased risk of delirium.
Researchers found that Herceptin significantly improved event-free survival in patients with HER2-positive locally advanced or inflammatory breast cancer, with a 3-year event-free survival rate of 71% compared to 56%. The treatment was well-tolerated, with only two patients experiencing symptomatic cardiac failure.
Research finds that intensive glucose control can lower blood glucose too far, increasing mortality risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that blood glucose level targets should have both upper and lower limits to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia.
A combined chemotherapy regimen of capecitabine and oxaliplatin given before chemoradiotherapy and surgery is well tolerated and shows promising anti-tumour activity in patients with poor-risk rectal cancer. The treatment improves overall survival rates, with 68% of patients progression-free after 3 years.
A new study found that using procalcitonin levels to prescribe antibiotics in intensive care units can reduce antibiotic exposure while maintaining patient safety. The study showed a significant reduction in antibiotic-free days among patients treated with procalcitonin.
Recent research on the Darfur conflict identifies diseases as the main cause of death, particularly diarrhoea, affecting displaced populations. Adequate humanitarian assistance is essential to prevent and treat these potentially fatal diseases.
The Lancet Editorial highlights how aid agencies often prioritize their own interests over helping individuals, with a focus on raising funds and media coverage. This critique emphasizes the need to examine the industry's operations, beyond financial scrutiny.
Women in occupied Palestinian territory are more likely to experience intimate-partner violence if their husbands have been directly or indirectly exposed to political violence. The study found that economic effects of the occupation also contribute to this relationship.
A study published in The Lancet found that non-battle-related disorders, such as musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders, are the leading cause of medical evacuation from the front line. The study also identified factors associated with return to duty, including senior officer status and non-battle related injuries.
A study found the proportion of children in high-risk areas infected with H1N1 during the first pandemic wave was 10 times higher than estimated from clinical surveillance. This suggests that children play a key role in transmission and are a target group for vaccination.
Research shows that later birth years are associated with higher survival rates for children with congenital anomalies. Advances in treatments, surgical techniques, and prenatal diagnosis have contributed to this trend. The study analyzed data from the UK Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey and found varying survival rates for diffe...
A new study published in The Lancet Oncology suggests that HPV DNA testing is more effective than conventional cytology screening in preventing invasive cervical cancer. The study found that HPV-based screening is more effective in detecting precancerous lesions and reducing the incidence of invasive cervical cancer, particularly in de...
The Lancet article advocates for tailoring antibiotic dosing to individual patients' physical characteristics, particularly for those with large body sizes. This approach could improve treatment effectiveness and safety, especially considering the increasing prevalence of obesity-related infections.
Current policies for NTD mapping, monitoring, and surveillance need improvement; efficient methods are necessary to plan implementation and track progress. Successful strategies include rapid epidemiological mapping and combined surveys.
The PLATO trial shows that ticagrelor, a stronger anticlotting medication, reduces the risk of cardiovascular death and heart attacks without increasing bleeding in heart attack patients. This new analysis finds significant and clinically relevant reductions in cardiovascular and total deaths, myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis.
A recent study found that HIV patients who switch from lopinavir-ritonavir to raltegravir experience a reduction in blood fat levels, but the rate of viral suppression is lower in the raltegravir group. The results suggest that clinicians need to consider individual patient factors when making treatment decisions.
The program aimed to reduce child mortality by at least 25% in 11 west African countries but found no significant acceleration in child survival. Coverage for effective treatment interventions and nutritional status showed mixed results, with decreases in some areas but not others.
A global survey by WHO found that unnecessary caesarean sections increase risk of maternal mortality and morbidity, while medically indicated procedures are associated with improved perinatal outcomes. Caesarean section for breech presentation is linked to reduced perinatal mortality but increased risk of neonatal ICU stay.
A study using positron emission tomography (PET) brain scans identified different forms of Parkinsonism with high accuracy. The research found that image-based classification had excellent specificity and positive predictive value for idiopathic Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and progressive supranuclear palsy.
The COMPARE study found that everolimus-eluting stents significantly reduced serious adverse cardiac events compared to paclitaxel-eluting stents. The study concluded that the use of second-generation everolimus-eluting stents was associated with a significant reduction in major adverse cardiac events at 1 year.
Researchers propose integrating NTD interventions into the regular health system, leveraging resources from malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis programs. Careful planning and community engagement are crucial for successful integration and co-implementation of these efforts.
Two large trials found misoprostol tablets non-inferior to intravenous oxytocin for controlling postpartum bleeding, with similar efficacy but increased side effects. The findings support the potential role of misoprostol as a first-line treatment alternative in low-resource settings.
A 29-year-old man experienced symptoms after a tarantula released 'a mist of hairs' into the air, which got stuck in his eyes. He was treated with topical steroids and made a full recovery. The case highlights the importance of proper eye protection when handling tarantulas.
Lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) cause significant morbidity and mortality globally. NTDs have been hindered by limited funding and coordination, but successful control initiatives like onchocerciasis elimination demonstrate the potential for progress.
A randomized controlled trial shows that catheter ablation before ICD implantation reduces VT recurrence at two years, with a 40% lower risk of repeat VT or VF. Prophylactic catheter ablation may be considered for patients with stable VT and reduced left-ventricular function.
Educating communities on snake bite prevention is crucial, but antivenom treatment needs improvement. Improper training and use of antivenom can lead to fatal complications.
Researchers have found that figitumumab has antitumor activity in Ewing's sarcoma, a cancer commonly affecting male teenagers. The drug targets the insulin-like growth factor signalling pathway, and initial studies have shown safety and efficacy in patients with refractory Ewing's sarcoma.
The BALANCE study shows that combination therapy with lithium plus valproate is more effective in preventing relapse in people with bipolar I disorder than valproate monotherapy. The benefit is significant and maintained for up to 2 years, regardless of baseline severity of illness.
Researchers found that CRP concentration is associated with future risk of a wide range of common diseases, including heart attack, stroke, and various cancers. Most of these associations were explained by known risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure, and obesity.
Patients with NSCLC and EGFR mutations showed significantly improved progression-free survival with gefitinib treatment. Gefitinib was also better tolerated than chemotherapy, with fewer severe adverse events.
A 30-year-old man died of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) with a unique genetic profile, highlighting potential cases with long incubation periods. His heterozygous PRNP gene may indicate silently infected individuals, posing concerns for public health.
A new law in Israel prioritizes organ donation for those who have signed donor cards, with increased priority given to first-degree relatives and live donors. The policy aims to increase organ availability despite a low consent rate for donation.
Preliminary studies indicate that a single dose of H1N1 influenza vaccine provides sufficient protection for adults, while children under 9 years may require a two-dose vaccination schedule. The vaccine was found to be safe and acceptable in all age groups, with no serious adverse events reported.
A study of over 40,000 Danish patients found that those taking more than one anti-bleeding medication after a heart attack were at higher risk of non-fatal and fatal bleeding. Non-fatal bleeding was also associated with an increased risk of repeat heart attacks or death.
A study of 124,260 prescriptions in 19 UK hospitals found an error rate of 8.9% with potentially lethal mistakes in 1.7% of cases. Improving clinical working environments, undergraduate education, and introducing standard drug charts are recommended to reduce errors.
A phase 3 trial found that adding chemotherapy to tamoxifen treatment significantly improves disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with node-positive breast cancer. The benefit is maximized when tamoxifen follows chemotherapy.
A new DNA-based microarray platform has been developed to identify bacterial species rapidly and accurately, with a clinical sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 99%. The assay is 18 hours faster than the current gold-standard system, which could lead to improved clinical outcomes by allowing species-specific therapy to be started early.
Researchers found that first-line ART can be delivered safely without routine biochemistry and haematology monitoring, but CD4-cell count monitoring has a small benefit in disease progression and mortality. The trial suggests that monitoring should start from the second year of ART to guide the switch to second-line treatment.
A randomised trial found that medroxyprogesterone acetate is significantly more effective than venlafaxine at reducing hot flushes in men treated with androgen suppression therapy. Cyproterone acetate was also effective, but medroxyprogesterone is recommended as the standard treatment due to its fewer side effects.
The UK Government's new strategy focuses on preventing intimate partner violence through education and community programs. The plan includes a national communications program and adding gender equality to the school curriculum.
A global drive is necessary to develop new antibiotics, with only a single new antibacterial approved in the USA since 2006. The EU report also shows limited progress, with just five new drugs reaching phase 3 clinical trials within the next 10 years.
COPE has issued new guidelines to tackle the issue of paper retractions, which showed that at least 42% were due to misconduct. The guidelines state that all retractions should be clearly labelled and openly accessible, and authors should not disassociate themselves from a retracted publication even if they were not directly culpable.