The Lancet Series highlights the devastating impact of undernutrition on maternal and child health, with over a third of all child deaths attributed to this cause. Proven interventions like breastfeeding counselling, vitamin A supplementation, and zinc fortification can help address this issue.
The international nutrition system faces substantial shortcomings in four functional areas: stewardship, resource mobilization, provision of services, and human resource strengthening. The current funding provided by donors is grossly insufficient and poorly targeted, hindering efforts to combat undernutrition.
Childhood undernutrition is associated with reduced adult height, lower levels of schooling, and economic productivity. Children who experience rapid weight gain after infancy are at high risk of chronic diseases related to nutrition.
The Lancet study highlights the urgent need to address undernutrition in 20 countries accounting for 80% of the world's undernourished children. Interventions with proven effectiveness should be implemented at scale, and programme efforts should focus on the critical window of pregnancy to 24 months of age.
Breastfeeding counseling and vitamin A supplementation have the potential to cut child deaths by 25%. Implementing these nutrition strategies alongside other interventions could reduce mortality between birth and 36 months by around 25%.
A group of 275 doctors in the UK have spoken out against the government's decision to remove a dying Ghanaian woman from receiving vital life-prolonging dialysis treatment. The doctors argue that this decision is both unethical and dangerous, as it puts the health of both the undocumented migrant and the general public at risk.
A simple checklist of seven clinical signs and symptoms can identify sick newborns with life-threatening illnesses, reducing neonatal mortality. The algorithm has high sensitivity and specificity in both early and late infancy, improving the adaptation and implementation of IMCI guidelines.
A new protocol combining daily spontaneous awakening trials with spontaneous breathing trials results in better outcomes for mechanically ventilated patients, including shorter ventilation periods and earlier discharge. The study found that this approach improved clinical outcomes without increasing adverse events.
A meta-analysis of 18,686 individuals with diabetes and 71,370 without diabetes found a significant reduction in all-cause mortality and major vascular events with statin therapy. The study suggests that most people with diabetes should now be considered for statin therapy.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is turning 60, but its future is uncertain due to a lack of scientific focus on health-system reform. The Editorial calls for a radical change in the NHS's training system and culture to address its fundamental problems.
A study found that home-based treatment of severe pneumonia in children with oral antibiotics is equivalent to in-hospital treatment, suggesting a revision of WHO guidelines. This finding has significant public health implications for improving access to care and reducing mortality from pneumonia.
The UN voted to abolish the death penalty globally, with 125 countries already having done so. In the US, 126 death-row inmates have been exonerated due to DNA evidence, raising concerns about the fairness of the practice.
Research from the Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) found that chemotherapy safely reduced recurrence, breast cancer mortality, and death from any cause in women with hormone-resistant breast cancer. The study showed a 10-year risk reduction of 25% in younger women and 39% in women aged 50-69 years.
Researchers found that anastomotic leakage rates were similar between patients with and without preoperative mechanical bowel preparation. However, patients who had mechanical bowel prep had fewer abscesses after anastomotic leakage. The authors advise abandoning mechanical bowel preparation due to potential drawbacks.
Bevacizumab plus interferon improves progression-free survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma compared to interferon alone. The new treatment option is expected to provide a better prognosis for patients with renal cancer.
While flavanol-rich dark chocolate offers cardiovascular benefits, manufacturers often remove these compounds to balance calorie content, rendering the product less healthy than claimed. Flavanols have antioxidant properties but are not a guarantee of healthiness.
The ATAC trial confirms anastrozole's superior efficacy over tamoxifen, with increased disease-free survival and reduced cancer recurrence. Long-term benefits of anastrozole treatment persist even after completion.
The QUASAR trial found that chemotherapy with fluorouracil and folinic acid reduces the risk of recurrence by 22% and death by 18% in patients with stage II colorectal cancer. The absolute improvements are small, but still significant.
The number of bariatric surgeries performed worldwide has surged fivefold in five years, with mounting evidence suggesting the procedure reduces mortality in morbidly obese individuals. Research highlights the benefits of surgery on obesity-related comorbidities and psychological well-being.
A study found that sunitinib increases the risk of heart problems, including heart attacks and congestive heart failure, in patients with specific tumor types. Close monitoring is recommended to manage these risks, especially in those with cardiac risk factors.
A wearable haemodialysis device has delivered promising results in a pilot trial, with patients reporting improved quality of life and no adverse cardiovascular changes. The device has the potential to become a practical means of delivering extended and more frequent dialysis to patients with end-stage kidney failure.
A group of UK doctors call on the government to implement folic acid fortification in flour to prevent neural tube defects, which could save around 400 pregnancies annually. They argue that two studies cited as a delay do not support a link between folic acid and colorectal cancer.
Stroke patients with mild to moderate impairments experience substantial improvement in upper limb function after just 2 weeks of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). The effects are retained for up to 24 months, with significant improvements in quality of life, social participation, and activities of daily living.
A study of 7916 patients found that the cumulative risk of triple-class failure was estimated at 9.2% by 10 years, with evidence suggesting a decrease in this rate over time. Despite extensive failure, many patients retained some virological activity post-failure, and the risk of death was lower than expected.
A recent Editorial highlights the growing concern of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. The condition affects an estimated 60% of all combat-injured soldiers, with over half caused by explosive devices.
Researchers found that 71% of patients taking baclofen achieved and maintained alcohol abstinence, compared to 29% of those receiving placebo. Baclofen reduced clinical markers of liver injury associated with significant reductions in self-reported alcohol use.
Research suggests that bereavement increases mortality risk from multiple causes, including suicide and illness. Studies have consistently shown a higher risk of death among bereaved individuals, particularly in the early weeks and months after loss.
Reducing salt intake by 15% and implementing WHO's tobacco control framework could avert 8.5 million deaths between 2006-2015. Tobacco control measures alone would reduce smoking prevalence by 20.8%, thereby averting 5.5 million deaths.
A multidrug regimen targeting high-risk individuals for cardiovascular disease could avert 17.9 million deaths globally, representing one-fifth of chronic disease-related deaths. The strategy would require an average yearly cost of $1.08 across 23 countries, with lower costs in low-income settings.
The proposed global goal aims to reduce chronic disease mortality by 2% yearly, averting millions of deaths and saving billions of dollars. In 23 studied countries, this reduction could extend life expectancy by up to 18 years.
Achieving a 2% annual reduction in mortality rates due to chronic diseases could prevent 36 million deaths by 2015. The authors urge key players, including governments, industries, and NGOs, to prioritize policies and programs to tackle chronic diseases, such as tobacco control, diet modification, and physical activity promotion.
The Lancet report highlights the need for donors to invest in chronic disease prevention and treatment. The authors argue that evidence is not dichotomous, but rather a continuum that should trigger action under certain conditions. Policymakers must evaluate the level of evidence required before intervening.
A new study in The Lancet Chronic Diseases Series concludes that various interventions, including tobacco control, salt reduction, and multidrug regimens, are cost-effective and should be scaled up globally. These measures have been shown to lead to substantial reductions in cardiovascular disease mortality.
A new test vaccine against Japanese encephalitis virus has shown promising results, with a high seroconversion rate and good safety profile. The vaccine is considered at least as effective as the existing licensed vaccine, making it a potential candidate for use in travelers and children in endemic areas.
A Chikungunya virus outbreak in Italy emphasizes the need for preparedness and response to emerging infectious threats as globalisation increases. The disease was fairly mild in nearly all cases, with only one reported death.
Despite substantial progress against AIDS, the generalized HIV epidemic continues to rage on, driven by concurrent partnerships. Interventions such as abstinence and condom use have limited effectiveness in containing the spread of the disease, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to prevention.
Research found a strong association between higher total blood cholesterol and increased ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in middle and old age. However, the relationship between cholesterol and stroke mortality was not independently linked, with complex results depending on age and blood pressure levels.
The Lancet's Editor Dr. Richard Horton emphasizes the significance of non-experimental research in medicine, citing examples of reliable causal inferences and notable errors. He stresses the need for rigorous scientific practice, communication, and replication to ensure credibility and inform policymaking.
A rotavirus vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in preventing gastroenteritis episodes in children, with high protection rates against all severities of the condition. The vaccine also significantly reduces the need for hospital treatment and medical attention related to gastroenteritis.
The Australian health system is facing significant challenges, including inadequate funding and poor access to care for Indigenous populations. The Editorial argues that a substantial reform program is needed to achieve better health outcomes for all, building on Labor's vision for New Directions in Australian Health.
Research funding into deafness in the UK is only a fraction of the estimated £13.5 billion in productivity losses due to hearing impairment. The Lancet Editorial highlights the need for further interventions to prevent or reverse hearing damage and improve quality of life for those affected.
Patients with venous thromboembolism face a substantially higher long-term risk of heart attack and stroke, with relative risks comparable to those for diabetes and smoking. The study found that the combined increased risk for arterial cardiovascular events was between 20% and 40% higher over 20 years.
A meta-analysis of four clinical trials found that patients taking rimonabant experienced a 4.7kg greater weight reduction but were at a 40% higher risk of adverse events. Rimonabant also increased the likelihood of discontinuation due to depressive disorders and anxiety.
Homoeopathy faces growing opposition in the UK, where it is criticized for its lack of scientific evidence and promotion of ineffective treatments. Despite this, the practice remains popular with the public, with an estimated £38 million market value in 2007.
Researchers argue that improved understanding of placental function and dysfunction can lead to novel screening tests. These tests could identify high-risk pregnancies and prevent devastating events like stillbirth. Despite the prevalence of stillbirths, research in this area is underfunded.
The pharmaceutical industry has hijacked WHO's web-based public hearings to promote its own interests in research and development for neglected diseases and access to medicines. Patient advocacy groups have been found to receive funding from pharmaceutical companies, compromising their credibility.
Researchers found that gene signatures can predict which chemotherapy regimens are most effective for breast cancer patients. The study showed a significant improvement in response rates when using gene signatures to select treatments, suggesting a potential breakthrough in personalized medicine.
A systematic review found that the risk of major stroke within a week after a minor stroke is substantial at 5.2%. Studies with emergency treatment in specialist stroke units showed the lowest risks, while population-based studies without urgent treatment had the highest risks.
A city-wide sanitation intervention in Salvador, Brazil, significantly reduced diarrhoea prevalence among children, with a 22% decrease. The study found that diarrhoea was 43% lower in areas with the highest baseline prevalence of diarrhoea.
A study of 240 patients with acute low back pain found that adding diclofenac or spinal manipulative therapy to recommended first-line care did not significantly reduce recovery time. Both treatments showed no clinically useful benefits, highlighting the importance of baseline care for managing acute low back pain.