Dr. House
Dr. House
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Research Outlines How Drug in Clinical Trial for Coronavirus Works
Studies in cell culture and animal models have demonstrated that the drug has a wide range of antiviral effects against a number of viruses, including coronaviruses. In this study, scientists used polymerase enzymes from the coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) to further explore remdesivir's mechanism of action. https://www.technologynetworks.com/biopharma/news/research-outlines-how-drug-in-clinical-trial-for-coronavirus-works-331477?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84035251&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8RwSsEPWWB74liUTXGdSyoibYrqwsj9i9DnnGQS_7Y_xwU_fmVy17_zCM1NkTNbFCRd_c7ljtRAxtw1AEBMpCuONc_rQ&_hsmi=84035251
Link Between Gene and Exercise Capacity
he team identified a patient who had a reduced rate of growth, persistent low blood sugar, a limited exercise capacity and a very high number of red blood cells.
The team carried out genetic and protein analysis of the patient, examined their respiratory physiology in simulated high altitude, measured their exercise capacity, and performed a series of metabolic tests.
The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene is fundamental for cells to survive when oxygen availability is reduced. Following genetic analysis, an alteration on the VHL gene was identified and associated with impaired functionality in the patient’s mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell that uses oxygen to fuel cellular life. This reduced mitochondrial function efficiency limits the patient’s aerobic exercise capacity compared to people without the mutation.
The discovery of this mutation and the associated phenotype is exciting beca https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/link-between-gene-and-exercise-capacity-331489?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=84035251&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8RwSsEPWWB74liUTXGdSyoibYrqwsj9i9DnnGQS_7Y_xwU_fmVy17_zCM1NkTNbFCRd_c7ljtRAxtw1AEBMpCuONc_rQ&_hsmi=84035251
US Sees Its First Drug Shortage Related To Novel Coronavirus
reports that the US “has its first novel coronavirus-related drug shortage, according to the” FDA. According to CNN, “The maker of an unnamed drug that has recently been added to the FDA Drug Shortages list told the agency that the shortage is due to the novel coronavirus.” CNN adds, “The unnamed company that notified the FDA about a shortage said the problem is the result of an issue with the manufacturing of an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in the drug.” https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/28/health/coronavirus-us-drug-shortage/index.html
Friday, February 28, 2020
Important Coronavirus resources
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak - https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Coronavirus Infections - https://medlineplus.gov/coronavirusinfections.html
Coronaviruses - https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/coronaviruses
Wolters Kluwer continues to update its Covid-19 resources to support rapid response healthcare teams and researchers working to address the global coronavirus crisis.” They suggest bookmarking this site https://coronavirus.ovidds.com/ to access the latest updates, open articles, and an article feed.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Monday, February 24, 2020
Some Antibiotics Linked With Birth Defects
Children of mothers prescribed macrolide antibiotics during early pregnancy are at an increased risk of major birth defects, particularly heart defects, compared with children of mothers prescribed penicillin, finds a study published by The BMJ.
The researchers say these findings show that macrolides should be used with caution during pregnancy and if feasible alternative antibiotics should be prescribed until further research is available.
Macrolide antibiotics (including erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin) are - widely used to treat common bacterial infections. They are often used as alternatives for patients with penicillin allergy.
Previous studies suggest evidence of rare but serious adverse outcomes of macrolide use, especially for unborn babies. The adverse outcomes might be associated with the pro-arrhythmic (heart rhythm problems) potential of macrolides. Policy advice about macrolide use in pregnancy varies. https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/some-antibiotics-linked-with-birth-defects-331167?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=83770537&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_B_Q1YdaNxleCgSD8nPatD8iy9foQAgcGInqZ74KmTV8oIWrkV4vyRfT8iGoseV3AG4AY8WJKOJu7yxb_J17yLJvxflA&_hsmi=83770537
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Body Appears To Be Better At Processing Food In The Morning Regardless Of Calories Consumed,
reports in research published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, investigators “found that the body appears to be better at processing food in the morning, regardless of how many calories are consumed.” For the study, researchers “set out to investigate whether eating at different times of day affects what is known as diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT), or the way the body uses up energy when processing food.” In the 16-man study, the research team “found DIT was 2.5 times higher when they ate in the morning – regardless of how many calories” were consumed. https://www.newsweek.com/eating-big-breakfast-small-dinner-could-stop-you-becoming-obese-scientists-say-1488005
Patients With Diabetes Who Use Mobile Phone Apps, Online Tools May More Effectively Manage Their Disease Than Those Who Do Not
reports research indicates that patients with diabetes “who used mobile phone apps and online tools more effectively managed their disease than those who did not.” The findings of the 33-month, 111,463-patient study revealed that patients with diabetes who used “the online tools and app” ended up with “greater HbA1c control and medication adherence.” The findings were published online in JAMA Network Open https://www.mdmag.com/medical-news/apps-online-portal-improved-diabetes-management
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Grandparents May Be Bad Influence On Children’s Weight, Systematic Review Indicates
“Grandparents can be a bad influence on kids’ weight,” investigators concluded after analyzing data from “23 studies conducted in the United States and eight other countries.” That analysis revealed that children “who were cared for by grandparents had nearly 30% higher odds for being overweight or obese.” The findings of the systematic review and meta-analysis were published online in the journal Childhood Obesity. https://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/overweight-kids-health-news-517/kids-raised-by-grandparents-more-likely-to-pile-on-pounds-study-754764.html
FDA Approves Weekly Contraceptive Patch
“The FDA recently approved Twirla, a weekly contraceptive patch containing 30 mcg levonorgestrel and 120 mcg ethinyl estradiol, for women of reproductive age with a BMI less than 30 kg/m2 and for whom a combined hormonal contraceptive is appropriate.” The patch “contains a boxed warning regarding the risk for CV events in women aged 35 years and older who smoke and have a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2,” and should be available to wholesalers at the end of the year, according to the manufacturer. https://www.healio.com/primary-care/womens-health/news/online/%7Bbca67a23-3944-4e51-b3b1-cafb1fed88f0%7D/fda-approves-twirla-contraceptive-patch
Friday, February 14, 2020
Men With And Without Obesity May Have Differences In Sperm Protein, Study Indicates
reports “an analysis of sperm from men who were part of a couple whose partner was undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) identified differences in samples between” men with and without obesity. In the study published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, “there were differences in the amounts of 27 proteins contained in the sperm.” However, “the men all had normal sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation, which indicates that ‘these changes in obese men with no overt andrological diagnosis…suggests that traditional clinical semen assessments fail to detect important biochemical changes in spermatozoa which may compromise fertility,’ the authors write.” https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/925200
Diabetes Continuing To Climb Among US Youths, Researchers Say
“Diabetes among U.S. youths continued to rise from 2002 to 2015, especially for Asian children and teens,” researchers concluded after analyzing rates of “type 1 and type 2 diabetes among 5- to 19-year-olds.” The study revealed that “rates were generally higher in blacks and Hispanics than in whites,” and that “the rate in Asian/Pacific Islanders rose faster than in all other racial ethnic groups.” The findings were published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/misc-diabetes-news-181/diabetes-among-u-s-young-especially-asians-continues-to-climb-754804.html
Struggling To Sleep? Just Smell Your Partner's Clothes
The scent of a romantic partner can improve sleep, suggests new psychology research from the University of British Columbia.
The researchers found that study participants who were exposed to their partner's scent overnight experienced better sleep quality, even though their partner was not physically present.
"Our findings provide new evidence that merely sleeping with a partner's scent improves sleep efficiency. Our participants had an average sleep efficiency improvement of more than two per cent," said Marlise Hofer, the study's lead author and a graduate student in the UBC department of psychology. "We saw an effect similar in size to what has been reported from taking oral melatonin supplements - often used as a sleep aid."
For the study, the researchers analyzed sleep data from 155 participants who were given two identical-looking t-shirts to use as pillowcases - one had been previously worn by their romantic partner, and the other had either been previously worn by a stranger or was clean. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/struggling-to-sleep-just-smell-your-partners-clothes-330801?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=83368325&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_8_L2ARg2XdrblBfQm-k1lEVVKFlEo3WGFtNa6MnUf5IlpYi__GYv3e4gCTmS3-qbpuaIZwBtPPORGLicP9Iah_FH2Fw&_hsmi=83368325
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Children Of Mothers With Diabetes Who Have Severe Obesity May Have Elevated Risk For Psychiatric Disorders, Research Suggests
reports children born to mothers with severe obesity and diabetes may face elevated risk for psychiatric disorders, researchers concluded after collecting “data from nationwide registries in Finland that encompassed all 649,043 live births between 2004 and 2014.” The study found that “compared with normal-weight mothers without diabetes, noninsulin treated type 2 diabetes in severely obese mothers was associated with psychiatric disorders in the children,” but “this association had a lower effect size than that for severely obese mothers with insulin-treated pregestational diabetes.” Overall, the study team “reported the largest effect sizes were for mood disorders, autism,” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, “and conduct disorders.” The findings were published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Network Open. https://www.healio.com/psychiatry/pediatrics/news/online/%7B538a6ea2-f527-4fb0-beaf-c61c308879d4%7D/maternal-diabetes-in-severely-obese-mothers-influences-psychiatric-disorder-risk-in-offspring
Researchers Say Around Half Of Premature Deaths Linked To Air Pollution Are Due To Polluted Air That Originated In Another State
reports a study published in Nature suggests that “on average, around half of the early deaths in the US linked to pollution actually occur outside the borders of the state where the toxic air originated.” Steven Barnett, director of MIT’s Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment and a co-author of the study, said, “This situation is a bit like secondhand smoke, but on a national scale.” https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/12/health/premature-mortality-cross-state-air-pollution-study/index.html
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Research Suggests Association Between Overweight In Children And Mother’s Use Of Certain Cosmetics During Pregnancy
reports that in the study, “researchers found detectable parabens in the urine of pregnant women who used paraben-containing ‘leave-on’ products every day – makeup, body lotion or facial moisturizers.” Moreover, “the higher those urinary paraben levels, the more likely it was that a woman’s child would be overweight by age” eight. These findings “are based on data from a larger study of 629 mother-child pairs,” during which women in “the 34th week of pregnancy...reported on their use of paraben-containing cosmetics and gave urine samples.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-pregnancy-parabens/mothers-beauty-products-might-impact-girls-weight-gain-idUSKBN2052RX
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Common Drug Could Reduce Risk of “Broken Heart” During Bereavement
Forty-two participants received low daily doses of a beta blocker and aspirin for six weeks, while 43 were given placebos. Heart rate and blood pressure were carefully monitored, and blood tests assessed blood clotting changes.
"The main finding was that the active medication, used in a low dose once a day, successfully reduced spikes in blood pressure and heart rate, as well as demonstrating some positive change in blood clotting tendency," said Professor Tofler.
The investigators also carefully monitored the grief reaction of participants.
"We were reassured that the medication had no adverse effect on the psychological responses, and indeed lessened symptoms of anxiety and depression," said Professor Tofler. https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/common-drug-could-reduce-risk-of-broken-heart-during-bereavement-330551?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=83185151&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8K5034l6W748xw9_MJdr9Gh3NMi5NIMZar84kCjpykkjeG1GiTZhPUAnml_1Nc__5smAu-lo2gO2Mmwc5m1SuGCcriOA&_hsmi=83185151
Nearly Half Of US Adults Could Have Obesity By 2030, Researchers Project
reports that medical scientists estimate by 2030, nearly half of US adults will have obesity and a quarter will have severe obesity. The Times said the projections of obesity are “just as terrifying from both a health and an economic perspective” as climate change. Projections have obesity most common among women, non-Hispanic black adults, and low-income adults. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/well/live/half-of-us-face-obesity-dire-projections-show.html
Some Older Drivers With Chronic Health Problems May Cut Back On Driving But Still Be At Increased Risk Of Crashes, Study Suggests
“Some older drivers with chronic health problems may cut back on driving but still be at increased risk of crashes, a recent study suggests.” In addition, “other drivers with medical issues may also be at higher risk yet not cut back on how often they drive or how far.” The specific chronic conditions “include hearing problems, joint and muscle disorders, and depression, anxiety and stress, the study authors found.” The study was published online in Injury Prevention. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-driving-illness/some-elderly-with-illnesses-cut-back-on-driving-but-others-dont-idUSKBN2042JU
Monday, February 10, 2020
No Association Found Between Prenatal, Early Childhood Exposure To Antibiotics And Obesity At Age 4, Study Shows
reported that in a large nationwide study published in JAMA Network Open, “no association was found between prenatal or early childhood exposure to antibiotics and obesity at 4 years of age in fixed-effects analyses of sibling and twin data.” The piece explained, “Cross-sectional national data from 150,699 children in New Zealand were used to analyze the association of exposure to antibiotics during pregnancy or early childhood with childhood obesity.” https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/home/topics/pediatric-endocrinology/antibiotic-exposure-in-prenatal-period-and-childhood-not-linked-to-obesity/
Researchers Identify 21 “Rare” Genetic Variations Tied To Estrogen-Associated Brain Pathways In Transgender People Diagnosed With Gender Dysphoria
reported researchers examined the DNA of 30 transgender people “who had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria” and identified 21 “rare” genetic variations “in 19 genes, in pathways in the brain associated with the sex hormone estrogen.” The findings were published in Scientific Reports. https://www.newsweek.com/transgender-people-gender-dysphoria-gene-variants-study-1486270
Friday, February 7, 2020
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Waist Circumference Underused “Vital Sign” For Determining Obesity, Experts Say
reports that experts say “waist circumference is an underused but useful ‘vital sign’ of an individual’s health” and “losing weight in this area is an important way for people to reduce the risk of encountering health problems related to obesity.” According to a “consensus statement based on existing evidence published in the journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology, Robert Ross of Canada’s Queen’s University Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Research Unit and 16 fellow experts called on healthcare professionals to routinely measure the waists of their patients, as this could help with protecting and managing their health.” As of now, “body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to calculate whether a person has a healthy weight, by dividing their weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters.” https://www.newsweek.com/waist-circumference-just-important-bmi-when-it-comes-understanding-obesity-risks-1485415
Study: Combination Of Orlistat And Acarbose May Facilitate Weight Loss With Fewer GI Effects Vs. Orlistat Alone
“modified-release fixed-dose formulation of orlistat and acarbose is well tolerated and may be an effective approach for weight loss, according to results of a phase 2a pilot study published in Obesity Science and Practice.” Researchers “conducted a single-center, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, study to compare the effects on appetite and tolerability of orlistat (Xenical, Roche) vs. three doses of a modified-release fixed-dose formulation of orlistat plus acarbose.” According to the researchers, the combination “is designed to provide the weight-loss effects of orlistat and to reduce orlistat’s tendency to stimulate appetite with acarbose,” and they “cautioned that prescribing orlistat together with conventional acarbose is not recommended.” https://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7Bc788df4a-14a2-4799-b088-ea5cc2b9b661%7D/orlistat-acarbose-combination-may-facilitate-weight-loss-with-fewer-gi-effects-vs-orlistat-alone
Brain Scan Study Aims To Understand Origin of Stuttering
There is no known cure for stuttering and other speech disorders such as dysarthria and apraxia of speech, but new research by a University of Canterbury (UC) academic involves scanning the brain to find out what causes speech production problems.
Dr Catherine Theys, a senior lecturer in UC’s School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, has collaborated with researchers at KU Leuven (Belgium), the University of Toronto (Canada) and the University of Otago on the paper, Brain activation during non-habitual speech production: Revisiting the effects of simulated disfluencies in fluent speakers, which has been published today [1 Feb] in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.
She believes that understanding the neural basis of speech production problems will lead to effective and personalised treatment approaches. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/brain-scan-study-aims-to-understand-origin-of-stuttering-330269?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=82847647&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9dYJfoOEq7xCa8OsJflmIdaM49xNlY6gycp1YB2uQe4VhWWymZaVRsnoMPTz7RTTSqeL-tH3gd683yX0CoVYasD4EPeg&_hsmi=82847647
Monday, February 3, 2020
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