A new combination drug treatment has shown to be more effective in treating chronic hepatitis C than the current standard. The treatment, peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin, achieved higher sustained viral response rates compared to interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin, especially in patients with genotype 1 infection.
A randomised controlled trial found that patient-centred self-management training reduced relapse times and hospital visits, while maintaining health-related quality-of-life scores. This alternative approach to traditional outpatient care may improve health-service provision and reduce costs for chronic diseases.
A review article in The Lancet highlights the negative effects of shift work on health and productivity. Desynchronisation of circadian rhythms can lead to poor sleep, gastrointestinal disorders, and cardiovascular disease, emphasizing the need for employers to create effective working environments.
Researchers found that inhaling tobramycin twice daily for 12 months effectively eradicated Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the airways of 14 cystic fibrosis patients, with nine remaining free from infection at two-year follow-up. The treatment regimen cures chronic lung infections in patients started soon after colonisation.
A study found that elderly individuals with low thyrotropin concentrations are at an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The mortality rate doubled in the first five years of follow-up, and cardiovascular disease was up to three times more likely to occur.
A new trial found that warming patients before short duration, clean surgery significantly reduced wound infection rates. The study compared warmed and non-warmed groups and found a substantial reduction in infections in the warmed group, with only 5% of patients developing wound infections.
Recruitment to breast cancer chemotherapy trials for women at high risk of the disease remains a concern in the UK. A recent study found that only 10% of eligible women opted for these trials, highlighting the need for increased recruitment efforts.
A population-based study found that women who experienced childhood abuse are two and a half times more likely to be depressed in adulthood. Women who reported both physical and sexual abuse were over three times more likely to be depressed.
The Lancet highlights concerns about the increasing involvement of sponsors in medical research, exerting control over trial design, data access, and interpretation. The international committee of medical journal editors has strengthened guidelines to restrict publication of research with compromised objectivity.
A systematic review of randomised trials found that women treated with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy had an increased survival rate of 12% and reduced local and distant disease recurrence by around 40%. However, toxic side-effects were more common.
A preliminary study suggests that levodopa combined with physiotherapy can improve motor recovery in stroke patients. After three weeks of treatment, the levodopa group showed a significant improvement in motor function compared to the placebo group, with an RMA score gain of 6.4 points versus 4.1 points.
A large-scale study found no association between folic acid supplement use and increased risk of miscarriage. The researchers assessed 23,806 women who had taken part in a folic-acid campaign before becoming pregnant for the first time.
A study published in The Lancet found that recovering hand control after nerve damage involves a learning process similar to acquiring a second language. Researchers identified an optimal age range below 5-10 years for sensory relearning, followed by rapid decline and leveling out after puberty.
A large population-based study in Nordic countries found no increased cancer risk for siblings of children with common non-inheritable cancers. Siblings younger than 10 years were at higher risk, but this decreased with age. The study suggests that childhood cancer is not a predictor of increased cancer risk in siblings.
A recent international trial has shown that oxytocin is more effective than misoprostol in reducing maternal blood loss immediately after childbirth. The study found that 4% of women taking misoprostol experienced excessive bleeding compared to 3% on oxytocin.
A study found that an oral immune-enhancing nutritional supplement improved preoperative host defence, reduced postoperative infections, and preserved renal function in elderly and high-risk patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass. The supplement contained L-arginine, 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and yeast RNA.
Torture is pervasive in Nepal, with severe physical, social, and psychosocial consequences for survivors. The Centre for Victims of Torture, Nepal, implements treatment programmes for victims, but international interest is needed to encourage change.
Research studies found that low MBL concentrations are associated with prolonged fever and infection in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. MBL infusions may represent a new therapeutic approach to reduce illness and death for these patients.
A Kenyan study found a significant link between exposure to particulate matter (PM10) from biomass fuels and acute respiratory infections. The researchers estimated the public health benefits of reduced PM10 exposure, with the greatest impact seen for average exposures below 1000-2000 mg/m3.
A Kenyan study found that inconsistent refrigeration, data-entry errors, and equipment failure contribute to HIV transmission through blood transfusions. The study led to the implementation of rapid HIV test kits, laboratory training programs, and universal screening of all blood donations to improve blood safety.
A recent outbreak of sleeping sickness in eastern Uganda may be attributed to livestock movement from another part of the country where the disease is endemic. The study found that over 50% of cattle traded at the market originated from areas with the disease, and that distance to the market was a significant risk factor for sleeping s...
A new combination therapy has shown promise in reducing ischemic complications after a heart attack. The study found that combining full-dose tenecteplase with prolonged subcutaneous administration of enoxaparin resulted in significantly fewer endpoints compared to other treatments.
A Belgian study of non-identical twins found that female twins prolong gestation by 0.4 weeks, resulting in a higher birthweight for their male co-twin. Birthweights of unlike-sex twins were also compared, with female twins having similar weights to same-sex twins but male twins weighing an average of 78g more.
A Swedish study published in The Lancet found no association between antihypertensive drug treatments and an increased risk of cancer. The study analyzed 6600 patients with hypertension, randomly assigning them to three treatment strategies, and found no significant difference in cancer incidence between groups.
A hospital-based study in Malawi found that children with HIV were less likely to develop rotavirus infection and shed the virus, but were more likely to die from diarrhea. The study's results encourage further research into the safety of rotavirus vaccines for HIV-infected infants.
Adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) are susceptible to cross-infection, including superinfection, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Chronic colonization occurs in up to 80% of CF patients, leading to increased illness and death. Genotypic changes in strains suggest social contact is a common mode of transmission.
A community-based therapeutic care component is being touted as a more effective and cost-efficient way to treat malnutrition during famine. The strategy aims to improve coverage, provide socioeconomic benefits, and reduce death rates from starvation.
A UK population study found that an estimated 3.1% of adults aged 45 and older had definite or probable heart failure, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis and targeted screening to alleviate symptoms and improve prognosis.
A recent trial found that WHO short-course chemotherapy was as effective as traditional Russian treatments in curing patients with tuberculosis. However, the results highlight the challenges of implementing changes in a healthcare system with entrenched cultural and structural barriers.
A UK study found that childhood maltreatment and revictimisation of children and women are common problems. Abusive experiences co-occurred in both childhood and adulthood, with repetition and severity of childhood abuse independently associated with specific types of adult revictimisation.
Research suggests that telomere shortening is associated with atherosclerosis, potentially linking it to premature ageing. Patients with severe coronary artery disease showed shorter telomeres compared to healthy controls, indicating accelerated cellular ageing.
A prospective study reveals coeliac disease patients experience a substantial excess of deaths, particularly within the first three years after diagnosis and those with malabsorption symptoms. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent mortality, as delay in diagnosis and poor treatment adherence can significantly worsen outcomes.
Researchers propose integrating highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) into existing tuberculosis-control infrastructure in less-developed countries. Directly-observed therapy has shown effectiveness in resource-poor settings with sustained commitment to uninterrupted care that is free to the patient.
A large-scale population study found that low cholesterol concentrations were associated with higher death rates among elderly people. The study, which analyzed data from over 3,500 men aged 71-93, suggested that long-term persistence of low cholesterol concentration increases the risk of death.
A qualitative study of 32 people with HIV-1 or AIDS found that disintegration and loss of community are key factors driving desire for euthanasia and assisted suicide. The study suggests that clinicians must consider the complexity of patients' experiences when evaluating requests for physician-assisted suicide.
A study found that a specific mutation in the human MDR1 gene affects P-glycoprotein expression, leading to decreased effectiveness of HIV-1 protease inhibitors in West Africans and African Americans compared to Caucasians. This could have significant implications for drug treatment in these populations.
Researchers found that the New York City outbreak of West Nile virus in 1999 may have had up to 13,000 infections, including 1,700 febrile cases. Older adults and those without mosquito repellent were at higher risk for severe illness.
A new model for detecting early meningitis epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa has been developed, using weekly incidence thresholds to identify outbreaks. The model uses clinic-based weekly incidence of 5-10 cases per 100,000 inhabitants to detect all meningitis epidemics with high sensitivity.
Researchers found that infliximab treatment reduced ocular inflammation and symptoms in patients with Behcet's disease, including those at risk of permanent blindness. The study suggests TNF blockade as a new therapy for sight-threatening uveitis and severe vasculitic manifestations.
A statistical analysis of 47 randomized trials involving 18,000 women found that chemotherapy improves survival time adjusted for quality of life for both younger and older women. Younger women treated with chemotherapy gained an average of 10.3 months of relapse-free survival within 10 years.
The use of embryonic stem cells is a contentious issue, with proponents arguing that they hold promise for medical breakthroughs. However, opponents claim that destroying an embryo is tantamount to infanticide. Scientists generally favor the use of embryonic stem cells due to their versatility.
Researchers used voxel-compression mapping to identify early structural brain changes in individuals with preclinical Alzheimer's disease. The study found that progressive atrophy began 3 years or more before symptom onset, suggesting a presymptomatic phase of increased tissue loss.
A new case of resistance to the antibiotic linezolid has been reported in a patient with MRSA infection, highlighting the need for clinical laboratories to perform susceptibility tests. The finding is rare and has occurred after limited use of the drug, emphasizing the importance of monitoring its effectiveness.
Researchers developed a highly sensitive immunoblot method to detect PrPSc in vCJD tissues, revealing its presence in lymphoid tissues and high concentrations in tonsil. The findings suggest new models for risk-management and highlight the need for further investigation into peripheral tissue transmission.
A UK government road safety programme could actually increase the number of teenagers who die on roads in the UK. Driver education programmes in schools and colleges may lead to earlier licensing and more drivers on the road, increasing road deaths.
A study of over 44,000 children found a significant link between DDT exposure and preterm birth. Higher maternal DDE concentrations were associated with an increased risk of preterm births and babies born small for gestational age.
A study in Calicut, India found no instances of misuse or diversion of oral morphine over 2 years. The research shows that opioids can be dispensed safely for home use with proper controls in place, overcoming regulatory barriers.
Two fatal cases of haemorrhagic fever associated with yellow fever 17DD substrain vaccine were reported in Brazil, highlighting the need to review the vaccine's safety. The cases led Philippe Marianneau and colleagues from Institut Pasteur to emphasize the importance of investigating mechanisms of attenuation of yellow-fever virus.
A study found significant differences in spinal cord area between patients with diabetic neuropathy and healthy controls. The research suggests potential new therapies for detecting neuropathic process at an earlier stage.
A study found that extended-duration prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of symptomatic VTE in patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement. The reduction in risk is equivalent to about 20 symptomatic events per 1000 patients treated.