Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Vitamin D supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of suicide attempts in a large cohort of U.S. veterans, especially in Black veterans and those with pre-existing low vitamin D

A large cohort study found that vitamin D supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of suicide attempts among US veterans. The study highlights the importance of vitamin D levels and supplementation in preventing suicidal behaviors, particularly among Black veterans and those with pre-existing low vitamin D.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 1, 2023

Medical cannabis for chronic pain may help patients on long-term opioid treatment reduce dosages

A study found that receiving medical cannabis for thirty days or more can lead to a significant reduction in prescription opioid dosages among patients on long-term opioid therapy. Patients who were on higher baseline dosages of prescription opioids experienced larger reductions in opioid dosages.

An action plan to prevent Alzheimer’s disease

An international task force led by UNIGE and HUG has developed a preventive protocol to address the growing number of people affected by Alzheimer's disease. The guidelines focus on four pillars: risk assessment, risk communication, risk reduction, and cognitive enhancement.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Europe·TypeNews article·DateJan 31, 2023

90% reduction in COVID-19 deaths after booster dose: Hong Kong study

A Hong Kong study published in Canadian Medical Association Journal found a 90% reduction in COVID-19 deaths among adults with multimorbidity who received a booster dose of vaccine. The study, which included over 120,000 participants, suggests that booster vaccination can significantly lower mortality rates in vulnerable populations.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJan 30, 2023

Poor coparenting linked to depression in dads

A new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that poor coparenting relationships among fathers are linked to depression. The study suggests that screening fathers for their coparenting status during infancy and toddlerhood could help prevent mental illness in both parents and children.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·DateJan 24, 2023

Dartmouth-led study finds that team-based coaching reduces risks of acute kidney injury after heart procedures

A Dartmouth-led study found that team-based coaching significantly improves the risk of acquiring post-procedural acute kidney injury (AKI) when compared to other interventions. The Collaborative with Surveillance intervention reduced the odds of AKI by 46 percent, making it a promising approach to address this prevalent adverse event.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 19, 2023

Study suggests vitamin D benefits and metabolism may depend on body weight

Researchers analyzed data from the VITAL trial and found that vitamin D supplementation increased biomarkers associated with vitamin D metabolism in people, regardless of their weight. However, these increases were significantly smaller in people with elevated BMIs, suggesting a blunted response to supplementation.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·TypeObservational study·DateJan 17, 2023

New studies suggest social isolation is a risk factor for dementia in older adults, point to ways to reduce risk

Researchers found that socially isolated older adults are at higher risk of developing dementia, with technology use shown to lower this risk. The studies suggest that relatively simple efforts to increase social support, such as texting and email use, may reduce the risk of dementia in older adults.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateJan 12, 2023

Study proves that antivenom reduces risk of skin necrosis in patients bitten by brown recluse spider

A six-year study involving 146 patients found that antivenom reduced the risk of skin necrosis in those bitten by brown recluse spiders. Administration of the substance was safe with minimal adverse effects, particularly when given within 48 hours of the incident.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·TypeObservational study·DateJan 11, 2023

Clinical trial shows boiled peanuts could help overcome child peanut allergy

A clinical trial found that boiling peanuts for up to 12 hours can desensitize children with peanut allergies. The therapy involved sequential doses of boiled and roasted peanuts, achieving high success rates in participants. While promising, the study's findings require confirmation in larger trials.

SourceFlinders University·JournalClinical & Experimental Allergy·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 11, 2023

Researchers propose a more effective method to predict floods

A team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and other institutions has identified a flexible and user-friendly model for predicting flood frequency in a changing environment. The fractional polynomial-based regression method is more effective than existing models, which often fail to account for factors like climate ...

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalJournal of Hydrology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 9, 2023

Variety of healthy eating patterns linked with lower risk of premature death

A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study found that participants following at least one of four healthy eating patterns had a lower risk of premature death and reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory disease. The study's findings are consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for America.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 9, 2023

American College of Physicians recommends bisphosphonates for initial treatment for osteoporosis in males and postmenopausal females diagnosed with primary osteoporosis

The American College of Physicians recommends bisphosphonates as initial pharmacologic treatment to reduce fracture risk in osteoporosis patients. Long-term use may increase risks, so treatment duration should be limited to 5 years or less.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateJan 2, 2023

A type of simple, DIY air filter can be an effective way to filter out indoor air pollutants

A study by Brown University and Silent Spring Institute found that inexpensive DIY air filters called Corsi-Rosenthal boxes can significantly decrease indoor air concentrations of PFAS and phthalates. The boxes, made from MERV-13 filters, duct tape, a fan, and cardboard, reduced PFAS levels by 40% to 60% and phthalates by 30% to 60%.

SourceBrown University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 23, 2022

In some US zip codes, young men face more risk of firearm death than those deployed in recent wars

A study by Brown University researchers found that young men in US zip codes with high firearm violence faced significantly higher risks of firearm-related deaths and injuries compared to military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. The risk was particularly borne by minority racial and ethnic groups.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateDec 22, 2022

Physical fitness a demographic watershed

A study of 5,308 participants aged 50-64 found significant correlations between sedentary behavior and low fitness levels. Highly uneven fitness distribution was observed among groups at higher risk, including older adults, foreign-born individuals, and those with poor health and lifestyle habits.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalBMJ Open·DateDec 22, 2022

Drinking 2 or more cups of coffee daily may double risk of heart death in people with severe hypertension

A new study found that drinking two or more cups of coffee daily may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality among people with severe hypertension. In contrast, moderate green tea consumption did not show a significant association with increased risk, suggesting potential benefits of polyphenols in reducing mortality.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateDec 21, 2022

Warm days are contributing to gun violence surge across the US

A new study by Boston University School of Public Health and the University of Washington School of Social Work found a consistent relationship between higher temperatures and higher risk of shootings in 100 of the country's most populated cities. Nearly seven percent of shootings can be attributed to above-average daily temperatures.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateDec 16, 2022

The AVID college prep program leads to lower substance use, better health behaviors among high school students, UCLA-led research suggests

The AVID college preparatory program has been shown to have a positive effect on students' social networks, psycho-social outcomes, and health behaviors. Students who participated in the program had lower odds of using substances and associating with substance-using peers compared to those in usual school programs.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalPEDIATRICS·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 16, 2022

Strong connection to neighbors may improve health outcomes

Researchers found that participants who lived alone and reported strong cohesion with their neighbors had a similar risk of death compared to those living with others. Living alone is associated with various poor health outcomes, including depression, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and premature death.

SourceRutgers University·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 13, 2022

Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of losing muscle strength by 78%

Researchers found that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of dynapenia, an age-associated loss of muscle strength, by 70-78%. Vitamin D supplementation was shown to reduce this risk. The study analyzed data from over 3,000 individuals aged 50 and over, highlighting the importance of vitamin D for maintaining muscle strength.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalCalcified Tissue International·DateDec 13, 2022

Low-carb diet may help patients with diabetes achieve better weight loss and glucose control in short term compared to a low-fat diet

A randomized controlled trial found that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet helped patients with type 2 diabetes achieve better weight loss and glucose control over a 6-month intervention compared to a high-carb, low-fat diet. However, changes were not sustained 3 months after the intervention.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 12, 2022

Drinking coffee regularly after pregnancy may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes for women who had diabetes during pregnancy

A study found that drinking caffeinated coffee daily can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 10-53% in women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Replacing sugary drinks with coffee also shows a 10-17% reduced risk.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 12, 2022

An ounce of prevention: Differences in HIV prevention activities among rural and urban physicians

A recent study by Texas A&M University reveals that rural family medicine physicians are less comfortable providing sexual risk reduction counseling to adolescents compared to their urban counterparts. This disparity highlights the need for increased awareness and training of PrEP-related clinical activities among rural providers, whic...

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalThe Journal of Rural Health·DateDec 12, 2022

Effective Prevention

A new study published in BMJ Open found that COVID vaccines are more effective in areas with higher infection rates, highlighting the need for targeted vaccine distribution. The researchers calculated absolute risk reduction and number needed to be vaccinated, revealing significant differences in effectiveness across geographical regions.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences Center·JournalBMJ Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 12, 2022

Patients with depression less likely to follow critical medication plan following heart procedure

A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that patients with depression are less likely to adhere to essential medical therapies following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The study examined over 124,000 patients who underwent PCI and were diagnosed with depression, revealing a significant proportion of individuals with...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJAMA·DateDec 12, 2022

Aging | The potential benefit of metformin to reduce delirium risk and mortality: a retrospective cohort study

A retrospective cohort study of 1,404 subjects with type 2 diabetes found that metformin use reduced the risk of delirium by 50% and decreased 3-year mortality rates. The study suggests that metformin may be a potential benefit for patients with diabetes, particularly in reducing age-related disorders such as dementia.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeObservational study·DateDec 7, 2022

COVID-19: vaccines halve the risk of reinfection

A recent study published in Frontiers in Medicine found that COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce the likelihood of reinfection and severe symptoms. Vaccinated individuals who have recovered from the virus have a 50% to 60% lower risk of reinfection compared to those who are not vaccinated.

SourceUniversità di Bologna·JournalFrontiers in Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 7, 2022