Blog – Medical Research News and Interviews
25 Jan Marked Increase in Number of US Patients With Kidney Stones
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Li Hao Richie Xu MD Division of Mineral Metabolism University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas, United States MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Over the past three decades, the prevalence of the kidney stones has escalated in the United States. Changes in dietary patterns, increasing body weight and obesity likely contributed to this significantly higher prevalence of kidney stone. In this study, we explored temporal changes in stone composition, demographic characteristics, and in serum and urinary kidney stone risk profile in kidney stone forming population for the last 35 years. The proportion of uric acid stones has been almost doubled during this period. Although age and body mass index (BMI) increased over time in both uric acid and calcium stone formers, uric acid stone formers were consistently older, had higher BMI, and lower urinary pH than calcium stone formers. In addition, over time, the proportion of female vs. male increased in calcium stone formers, but not in uric acid stone formers. The most significant urinary parameter differentiating uric acid stone formers from calcium stone formers is 24-hour urinary pH.25 Jan Low Glucose Target in Critically Ill Children May Be Counterproductive
Posted at 13:18h
in Author Interviews
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Michael Agus MD
Pediatric critical care specialist and endocrinologist
Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and
Dr. Vinay Nadkarni, MD
Pediatric critical care specialist
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Controlling the blood sugar of a critically ill child while sick in the ICU has been the matter of much debate since the first trial appeared in 2001 suggesting there was substantial benefit in certain adult populations. Retrospective data in adults and children consistently and convincingly associate hyperglycemia with poor outcomes across a wide range endpoints, however, the question remains whether normalizing glucose levels changes those outcomes. As the data emerged from prospective trials specifically in children, the answer became less clear.
We performed a large study of glucose control in critically ill children who had not had cardiac surgery, as this was group in which questions about best practice lingered.
Our study showed that critically ill infants and children do not gain additional benefit from controlling their elevated blood sugars down to a lower target range of 80-110 mg/dL compared to a higher target range of 150-180 mg/dL. Patients treated in both target ranges had similar outcomes in virtually every parameter studied, including the primary outcome of ICU-free days up to day 28 (mortality-adjusted length of ICU stay), where both groups had the same number at 19.4 days. There were differences in severe hypoglycemia (<40 mg/dL) related to the protocol where those with the lower target range had a rate of 3.7% compared to 0.3% in the higher target range, and an increased rate of catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CABSI’s) was noted in the lower target range with 1.94 infections per 1,000 catheter days compared with none in the higher target range.
On the other hand, empiric antibiotic use was significantly higher in the higher target range, at 96.8%, compared with 93.4% in the lower target range. No other intergroup differences were detected in mortality, severity of illness, seizures, or the need for CPR, ECMO, renal replacement therapy or transfusion.
25 Jan Does Limiting Weight Gain in Pregnancy Reduce Complications?
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31480" align="alignleft" width="128"]
Dr. Alan Peaceman[/caption]
Alan Peaceman, MD
Professor and Chief of Maternal Fetal
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Excess maternal weight gain during pregnancy is very common in the United States, and has been associated with a number of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes, maternal hypertension, excess fetal size, and cesarean delivery.
Children born to mothers who gained excessively during pregnancy are at much higher risk of developing obesity themselves. We performed a randomized trial where half of the women received an intensive intervention of diet and exercise counseling in an effort to limit their weight gain. Compared to the control group, those in the intervention gained on average 4 pounds less and were more likely to gain within recommended guidelines. Despite this improvement, however, we did not see any improvement in any of the pregnancy complications.
24 Jan Hypertension in Pregnancy Linked To Early Mortality
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Lauren Theilen, MD Obstetrics/Gynecology specialist Salt Lake City, Utah. MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Women with a history of hypertensive disease of pregnancy are known to have increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular and other causes. Our study shows that hypertensive disease of pregnancy is strongly associated with deaths due to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The association is strongest for early mortality – deaths occurring before age 50 – and life expectancy decreases with increasing number of affected pregnancies.24 Jan Non-Surgical Stretta Therapy For Recalcitrant GERD
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31334" align="alignleft" width="126"]
Dr. Mark Noar[/caption]
Dr. Mark Noar
Director of The Heartburn and Reflux Study Center
Towson, MD
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: The background for this study was developed out of a need to know whether the Stretta procedure was effective in both the short and long-term in all forms of reflux. This included standard refluxing patients who had never had surgery but also in the subpopulation of patients who had recurring reflux after having had reflux corrective surgery. The question to be answered was whether the Stretta procedure would be less effective, more effective, or just as effective in the patient who had had prior surgery compared to patients who did not have surgery.
The main findings were that independent of whether a patient had had surgery for the correction of reflux or just had standard reflux without prior surgery, the Stretta procedure was equally effective in all patient subgroups both in the short-term and the long-term.
24 Jan Glucose Supplementation Reduced Length of Induced Labor
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr Josianne Paré MD, FRCSC Département d'obstétrique-gynécologie Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé de l'université de Sherbrooke 3001 12e avenue Nord, Sherbrooke (Québec), J1H 5N4 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Prolonged labor is a significant cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and very few interventions are known to shorten labor course. Skeletal muscle physiology suggests that glucose supplementation might improve muscle performance in case of prolonged exercise and this situation is analogous to the gravid uterus during delivery. Therefore, it seemed imperative to evaluate the impact of adding carbohydrate supplements on the course of labor. Accordingly, we conducted a single centre prospective double-blind randomized-controlled trial comparing the use of parental IV of dextrose 5% with normal saline to normal saline in induced-nulliparous women. A total of 193 patients (96 in the dextrose with normal saline [NS+D] group and 97 in the normal saline group [NS] were analysed in the study. The median total duration of labor was 76 minutes shorter in the NS+D group (499 versus 423 minutes, p = 0.024) than in the NS group. There was no difference in the rate of caesarean section, instrumented delivery, APGAR score or arterial cord pH.24 Jan Sunscreen Use Beats Shade For Preventing Sunburn
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31459" align="alignleft" width="169"]
Dr. Hao Ou-Yang[/caption]
Hao Ou-Yang, PhD
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc
Skillman, New Jersey
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: This is the first-ever published study to evaluate UV protection value of shade in a real-world setting.
Eighty-one subjects with Fitzpatrick skin type I to III were divided into two groups: one using only a commercially available beach umbrella (round-shaped, 80” diameter, 75” high) and the other using only Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer® SPF 100+ sunscreen. Sunscreen subjects were monitored applying the product to all exposed areas following the label directions 15 minutes before beach exposure and were instructed to re-apply at least every 2 hours or as needed. Subjects were instructed to stay at the beach for 3.5 hours but could leave or stay under a shade for up to 30 minutes for cooling or rest. Shade subjects were instructed to stay under the umbrella without wearing clothes that could block the evaluated areas during the study duration. They were allowed to leave the umbrella after covering up for up to 30 minutes.
There were significant differences between the two groups in clinically evaluated sunburn protection for all seven body sites measured. The Ultra Sheer SPF 100+ sunscreen provided excellent sunburn protection for all the body sites, as demonstrated by no significant changes in sunburn grading before and after UV exposure in any sites except for face. Of the subjects in the shade group, there were a total of 142 sunburn areas across all parts of the body in 78% of the umbrella group (vs. 17 areas among 10 people in the sunscreen group – 25%). Sunburn incidence within the sunscreen group may be due to uneven application (missed spots), failure to re-apply after sweating, and under-application. Most subjects in the sunscreen group applied roughl yhalf of the amount of sunscreen recommended to achieve the SPF value on the label.
High SPF products provide a margin of safety for consumers who under-apply, as shown here and in other studies.
24 Jan New Guidelines for Prevention, Detection and Management of Surgical Site Infections
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31455" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Kristen Ban[/caption]
Kristen A. Ban, MD
Loyola University
American College Surgery Clinical Scholar
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: The American College of Surgeons previously released surgical site infections (SSI) guidelines, and we wanted to update them with the most recent literature to give surgeons a concise, comprehensive document of recommended practices to reduce SSI. We were very fortunate to partner with our colleagues and content experts at the Surgical Infection Society for this update. There are a few areas where we had additional literature to support new or different guidelines.
Blood glucose control is now recommended for all patients regardless of diabetic status. SSI reduction bundles have become very popular, and we emphasize that compliance must be high with all parts of these bundles to obtain the maximum benefit.
Finally, we recommend cessation of prophylactic antibiotics at incision closure with some exceptions (mainly in regard to implanted material/hardware).
24 Jan New Oncoprotein Offers Potential Therapeutic Target
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31452" align="alignleft" width="150"]
Dr. Hua Lu[/caption]
Dr. Hua Lu MS PhD
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Reynolds and Ryan Families Chair in Translation Cancer
Tulane Cancer Center
Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: It has been well appreciated and acknowledged that p53 is the most important tumor suppressor in human body. However, approximately 50% of human cancers still sustain the wild type form of its gene, and also oddly, some cancers, such as breast cancer, which contain wild type p53, are often less sensitive to chemotherapy than those harbor mutated p53. Although a number of oncoproteins, including MDM2 and MDMX (MDM4), have been shown to be highly expressed and to inactivate p53 in those wild type p53-containing cancers, more molecules need to be discovered to keep p53 in control in order to let cancer cells to proliferate and growth.
Our study as described in our recent publication in Nature Communications unveils a new p53 target gene that encodes pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein (PHLDB3) as another p53 inhibitor in a negative feedback fashion. Interestingly and mechanistically, PHLDB3 can work with MDM2 by boosting its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, consequently leading to degradation of p53. Biologically, PHLDB3 can promote cancer cell proliferation and growth in culture and in xenograft tumor models by in part inactivating p53 activity. More interestingly, PHLDB3 is highly amplified and expressed in a number of human cancers, such as pancreatic, prostate, colon and breast cancers. High expression of PHLDB3 is well correlated with the wild type status of p53 in certain portion of breast cancer. These findings uncover PHLDB3 as another oncoprotein that can promote cancer growth by partially inactivate p53, and thus might serve as a potential target for future development of anti-cancer therapy. Our study also suggests that PHLDB3 has a p53-independent function important for cancer growth.
23 Jan Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Expenses On Par With Cancer and Stroke
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31437" align="alignleft" width="134"]
Dr. Talar Markossian[/caption]
Talar W. Markossian PhD MPH
Assistant Professor of Health Policy
Loyola University Chicago
2160 S. First Ave, CTRE 554
Maywood, IL 60153
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Approximately 10% of U.S. adults currently have non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD), while dialysis dependent CKD accounts for only 0.5% of the U.S. population. The escalation in healthcare expenditures associated with CKD starts prior to requirement for dialysis, and treatment costs escalate as non-dialysis dependent CKD progresses.
We examined the total healthcare expenditures including out-of-pocket costs for non-dialysis dependent and compared these expenditures with those incurred for cancer and stroke in the U.S. adult population. After adjusting for demographics and comorbidities, the adjusted difference in total direct healthcare expenditures was $4746 (95% CI $1775-$7718) for CKD, $8608 (95% CI $6167-$11,049) for cancer and $5992 (95% CI $4208-$7775) for stroke vs. group without CKD, cancer or stroke. Adjusted difference in out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures was highest for adults with CKD ($760; 95% CI 0-$1745) and was larger than difference noted for cancer ($419; 95% CI 158–679) or stroke ($246; 95% CI 87–406) relative to group without CKD, cancer or stroke.
23 Jan ACA Medicare Changes Increased Diagnosis of Early-Stage Colorectal Cancer Among Seniors.
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31434" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Nengliang Yao[/caption]
Nengliang “Aaron” Yao PhD
Assistant professor
Department of Public Health Sciences
University of Virginia
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: The ACA made several changes in Medicare that could increase the use of cancer screening and thus lead to more early cancer diagnoses. This includes waiving patient cost-sharing for screening, waiving patient cost-sharing for one wellness visit per year, and paying bonuses to physicians for doing more work in a primary care setting.
We studied how effective those changes were in facilitating more early diagnoses of breast and colorectal cancers. We found that the changes had no effect on early breast cancer diagnoses (likely because costs and other access barriers for mammograms were already low), but increased the number of early colorectal cancer diagnoses by 8 percent.
23 Jan Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Claims Rise Sharply in Pediatric Population
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31428" align="alignleft" width="136"]
Robin Gelburd, JD[/caption]
Robin Gelburd, JD
President
FAIR Health
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: For more than 20 years, an epidemic of obesity has been contributing to increasing rates of type 2 diabetes in the United States. During at least part of that period, both conditions have been found to be rising in young people as well as adults. Using our FAIR Health database of billions of privately billed healthcare claims, we sought to ascertain recent trends in obesity and obesity-related conditions (including type 2 diabetes) in the national, privately insured, pediatric population, which we defined as spanning the ages from 0 to 22 years. Our study period was the years 2011 to 2015.
We found that claim lines with a diagnosis of obesity increased across the pediatric population during the study period. The largest increase among pediatric patients was 154 percent, in the age group 19 to 22 years. Claim lines with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis more than doubled in the pediatric population, increasing 109 percent.
In most pediatric age groups, claim lines with an obesity diagnosis occurred more often in females than in males; by contrast, claim lines with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis were more common for males than females in most pediatric age groups.
Other conditions associated with obesity also increased in claim lines among young people. The conditions included obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, both of which were more common in claim lines for males than females.
We also compared the percent of claim lines for pediatric type 2 diabetes diagnoses to the percent of claim lines for all pediatric medical claims by state. Using that standard, pediatric type 2 diabetes was most prevalent in Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Utah and South Dakota. It was least prevalent in New Hampshire, Vermont, Delaware, Hawaii and Rhode Island.
23 Jan Continuous Glucose Monitoring System Improves Blood Sugar Control in Type 1 Diabetes
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr Marcus Lind Associate Professor of Diabetology at the University of Gothenburg Gothenburg, Sweden Chief Physician of Diabetology, Uddevalla Hospital Uddevalla, Sweden MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: This was a randomized trial over 16 months (cross-over study with 26 weeks of each treatment and a between wash-out period of 17 weeks) of 161 persons with type 1 diabetes. The main purpose was to evaluate whether a “diabetes tool”, denoted continuous glucose monitoring improves the glycaemic control, known to be essential to lower risks for diabetic complications such as injuries on eyes, kidneys, nerves and the cardiovascular system. The study also evaluated whether the glucose could be stabalised, i.e. having less fluctutations (beside the average level per se) and whether well-being, treatment satisfaction and feeling more confident in the daily living to avoid low glucose values which lead influence the cognitive function and can lead to unconciousness. Earlier trials exist of this therapy in connection to insulin pumps. But it has not been tested in randomized trials with persons only using multiple daily insulin injections to administer insulin which is the most common therapy among adults with type 1 diabetes. Another novelty is that the current CGM-system (DexCom G4) has earlier shown a high accuracy and positive treatment experience among persons with type 1 diabetes, but it has not been tested in long-term randomized trials. Of note this trial was performed among adults with type 1 diabetes. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a system where the patient has a sensor subcutaneously that he/she easily can change every week. It estimates the glucose level every minute and shows values on a hand-held small monitor (size of a small cell-phone) and whether the glucose levels are rising or declining. The hypothesis with the study is that if the patient has continuous information of the glucose level and trends it will improve treatment variables. The comparison group was that patients got information of their glucose control via capillary finger sticks which has been the general treatment for a long time period but can only be made at certain occasions since a procedure where blood must be taken from the finger tips.23 Jan Type of Sugar, Not Just Amount, Influences Metabolic Effects
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Marta Alegret Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry Pharmacology Section School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences University of Barcelona MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: In humans, an excessive intake of sugars has been linked to the development of metabolic disturbances, and therefore to an increase in the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, increased consumption of simple sugars in liquid form, as beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup or sucrose, has been linked to obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, two questions remain unresolved: what is/are the underlying molecular mechanism(s) linking these metabolic alterations to cardiovascular diseases? Are the adverse cardiovascular and metabolic effects of sugar-sweetened beverages merely the consequence of the increase in caloric intake caused by their consumption? To answer to these questions, we performed a study in female rats, which were randomly assigned to three groups: a control group, without any supplementary sugar; a fructose-supplemented group, which received a supplement of 20% weight/volume fructose in drinking water; and a glucose-supplemented group, supplemented with 20% weight/volume glucose in drinking water.21 Jan Statins Linked to Reduced Risk of Venous Thromboembolism
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31414" align="alignleft" width="133"]
Dr. Setor Kunutsor[/caption]
Setor Kunutsor BSc MD MPhil(cantab) PhD(cantab)
Research Fellow/Epidemiologist
Musculoskeletal Research Unit
University of Bristol
School of Clinical Sciences
Southmead Hospital
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Statins are well established for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and this is based on their ability to lower levels of circulating lipids in the blood. However, statins are also known to have pleotropic effects and these include potential protective effects on multiple disease conditions.
Based on their anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties, there have been suggestions that statins may prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) (which comprises of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis). The evidence is however uncertain. Several studies utilizing both observational cohort and randomized controlled designs have been conducted to evaluate whether statin therapy or use is associated with a reduction in the incidence of VTE, but the results have been inconclusive. In a recent review that was published in 2012, Rahimi and colleagues pooled the results of several randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but found no significant reduction in the risk of VTE with statin therapy [REF]. Given the publication of new studies since this study was published and the existing uncertain evidence on the effect of statins on VTE, we decided it was time to bring all the evidence together and evaluate if statin therapy really did have a protective effect on the risk of venous thromboembolism.
21 Jan Reasons for Drug Policy Reform: Millions of People are Left with Untreated Pain
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Katherine Irene Pettus, PhD, OSB Advocacy Officer International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care Vice Chair, Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs Secretary NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The background for this study is analysis of the three international drug control treaties, official attendance and participation at meetings of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs for the past four years, ongoing discussion of national opioid consumption rates with INCB, and years of home hospice visits in developing countries.21 Jan Meta-analysis of Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Coronary Heart Disease Risk
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dominik D Alexander, PhD, MSPH Principal Epidemiologist EpidStat Institute Ann Arbor, MI Seattle, WA MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: In recent years, the body of scientific literature on n-3 LCPUFA (EPA/DHA) intake and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk has exploded with mixed results. It was only logical to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to estimate the effect of EPA+DHA on CHD, and to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to estimate the association between EPA+DHA intake and CHD risk. Among RCTs, there was a nonstatistically significant reduction in CHD risk with EPA+DHA provision (SRRE=0.94; 95% CI, 0.85-1.05). Subgroup analyses of data from RCTs indicated a statistically significant CHD risk reduction with EPA+DHA provision among higher-risk populations, including participants with elevated triglyceride levels (SRRE=0.84; 95% CI, 0.72-0.98) and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (SRRE=0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.98). Meta-analysis of data from prospective cohort studies resulted in a statistically significant SRRE of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.74-0.92) for higher intakes of EPA+DHA and risk of any CHD event.21 Jan Physical Activity Linked to Improved Survival from Metastatic Colon Cancer
Posted at 15:25h
in ASCO, Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Colon Cancer, Exercise - Fitness
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_31331" align="alignleft" width="145"]
Dr. Brendan Guercio[/caption]
Brendan John Guercio, M.D.
Clinical Fellow in Medicine (EXT)
Brigham and Women's Hospital
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Sedentary lifestyle is a known risk factor for the development of colon cancer and has been associated with increased disease recurrence and mortality in patients with early stage colorectal cancer. This is the first study to our knowledge to show an association between increased physical activity (i.e. non-sedentary lifestyle) and improved survival and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
21 Jan AFib Ablation Generally Successful But Not Exempt from Complication Risk
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31403" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Elena Arbelo[/caption]
Dr. Elena Arbelo MD PhD
Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
University of Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Almost 20 years after its first description, catheter ablation is a widely-used treatment strategy for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) (AFib) resistant to antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD).
If we look at the results of the ESC Pilot Atrial Fibrillation General Registry1, which included about 3000 consecutive in- and outpatients with AF presenting to cardiologists in nine participating countries in Europe, catheter ablation had previously attempted 7.6% overall, most often in those with paroxysmal AF (15.6%). A further 7.8% were prescribed an ablation as part of their management, which went up to a 19.3% in the case of paroxysmal AFib.
On the other hand, several randomised clinical trials (RCTs) have shown better results of AFib ablation compared to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs)2-6. However, these studies had a rather small sample size of selected patients, and interventions were undertaken by experienced operators with clearly pre-specified protocols. With rising prevalence of AFib and increasingly available treatment options, it was of utmost importance to have an accurate picture of contemporary AFib ablation and its outcomes which will allow the identification of practice gaps and assist evidence-based guidelines for the management of these patients.
20 Jan Women From Disadvantaged Backgrounds More Likely To Have Heart Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Sanne Peters, PhD Research Fellow in Epidemiology The George Institute for Global Health University of Oxford Oxford United Kingdom MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: People from disadvantaged backgrounds are, on average, at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases than people with more affluent backgrounds. Some studies have suggested that these socioeconomic inequalities in cardiovascular disease are more consistent and stronger in women than in men. However, the literature is inconsistent.20 Jan How Do Tattoo Artists Handle Moles?
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31486" align="alignleft" width="133"]
Westley Mori[/caption]
Westley Mori, fourth-year medical student (MSIV)
University of Pittsburgh Medical School
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Tattooed skin represents an important diagnostic challenge for the dermatologist performing a skin cancer screening. Several case reports have described melanoma being hidden in tattoos.
To our knowledge, our study is the first of its kind investigating the approach of the tattoo artist to skin with melanocytic nevi (moles) or other skin lesions. We found that the approach to tattooing skin spots is highly variable, with some artists tattooing around moles and others simply tattooing over them.
The final cosmetic outcome—not the potential for skin cancer—is often the paramount concern for artists. Those artists with a personal or family history of skin cancer were more likely to refuse inking over a skin spot and recommend the client see a dermatologist.
20 Jan Gut Inflammation & Bacterial Changes Linked to Type 1 Diabetes
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31395" align="alignleft" width="149"]
Prof Lorenzo Piemonti[/caption]
Prof Lorenzo Piemonti, MD
Professor of Endocrinology
Deputy Director, Diabetes Research Institute (SR-DRI)
Head, Beta Cell Biology Unit
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University,
San Raffaele Scientific Institute
Milano Italy
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: The potential role of gut inflammation and microbiome is becoming a hot topic in the field of diabetes. Several very recent publications report the presence of intestinal abnormalities associated with autoimmune diabetes in both experimental rodent models and patients. We have previously published that, compared to healthy subjects, patients with type 1 diabetes or at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes shows increased intestinal permeability.
Among the factors that may modify the intestinal barrier and impact on its immune activation, the gut microbiota is at present the main suspect. Our study is the first in literature that had the opportunity to analyze the inflammatory profile, the microbiome and their correlation on duodenum biopsies of patients with type 1 diabetes, in comparison with patients with celiac disease and healthy controls. Previous papers pointed out a significant difference in the composition of the stool microflora in subjects with autoimmune diabetes.
A major advancement of our work comes from the direct analysis of small intestine, instead of studies on stool samples. In fact, because of their close functional and spatial relationships, as well as a shared blood supply, it is logical to consider the duodenum and the pancreas correlated. We found big differences among the groups: gut mucosa in diabetes shows a peculiar signature of inflammation, a specific microbiome composition and we also discovered a strong association between some analysed inflammatory markers and specific bacteria genera. We think that our data add an important piece to disentangle the complex pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes and more generally of autoimmune diseases.
20 Jan Nanoparticles From Pollution Can Awaken Dormant Herpes Viruses in Lungs
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31387" align="alignleft" width="100"]
Dr. Tobias Stöger[/caption]
Dr. Tobias Stöger
Group Leader, Dynamics of Pulmonary Inflammation
Comprehensive Pneumology Center
Institute of Lung Biology and Disease (iLBD)
Helmholtz Zentrum München
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Particulate air pollution is common in urban areas and the inhalation of nanoparticles is known to trigger inflammatory effects in humans potentially altering the immune system.
Herpes viruses are ubiquitous and well adapted pathogens hiding in host cells and persist thus continuing in a greater part of our population.
Under certain stress conditions and if the immune system becomes weakened, the viruses can become active again, begin to proliferate and destroy the host cell.
Thus we raised the question whether NP-exposure of persistently herpesvirus-infected cells as a second hit might provoke reactivation of latent virus and eventually lead to an inflammatory response and tissue damage.
Our main finding is that NP-exposure of persistently herpesvirus-infected cells – murine or human – restores molecular signatures found in acute virus infection and boosts production of lytic viral proteins.
20 Jan By Interacting with Melatonin, Insecticides Could Disrupt Circadian Rhythm
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31380" align="alignleft" width="133"]
Dr. Rajendram Rajnarayanan[/caption]
Rajendram Rajnarayanan PhD
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Assistant Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
University of Buffalo
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Human exposure to environmental chemicals i.e., insecticides and pesticides increases the risk of various diseases by directly interacting with proteins or signaling pathways in the endocrine or neuroendocrine system. In this study, our teamscience effort integrating big-data computation with receptor pharmacology, report for the first time that carbamate insecticides found in household and agricultural products interact with human melatonin receptors.
At UB we have generated a database, we call it Chem2Risk, which contains about four million chemicals reported to have some level of toxicity. From those, after grouping the chemicals in clusters according to their similarity, we found several with potential to mimic melatonin. Wet-lab experiments confirmed that these chemicals indeed interact with melatonin receptors and have the potential to alter melatonin signaling.
20 Jan Amygdala Region in Brain Not So Different in Men and Women
Posted at 19:02h
in Author Interviews, Gender Differences, Neurological Disorders, Psychological Science
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_31375" align="alignleft" width="114"]
Dr. Lise Eliot[/caption]
Lise Eliot PhD
Associate Professor of Neuroscience
Chicago Medical School
Rosalind Franklin University
North Chicago, IL 60064
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Studies in rats indicate that the amygdala, which is important for many social behaviors including aggression and rough-and-tumble play, is larger in male animals. Early MRI studies also reported that the human amygdala is larger in men, even after correcting for males' larger overall brain size. Because so many MRI studies are now imaging amygdala volume in matched groups of healthy males and females, we realized that there is a lot of published data that could settle whether the human amygdala is indeed proportionally larger in men. Another rationale for the study is that many psychiatric disorders that involve the amygdala (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance abuse) differ in prevalence between men and women.
20 Jan Non-Routine Discharge From Military Linked To Mental Health and Substance Abuse
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Emily Brignone, BS Informatics, Decision Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences Center VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Department of Psychology Utah State University, Logan, Utah MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Nearly 30% of active duty Veterans of post-9/11 conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are discharged from military service for reasons other than expired term of service or retirement. These non-routine discharges can occur for a variety of reasons, including disability, failure to meet or maintain qualifications, early release, or misconduct. Veterans discharged under non-routine conditions are at greater risk for several concerning outcomes during the reintegration period, including unemployment, incarceration, homelessness, and suicide. A better understanding of the context of the transition from military service to civilian life, including discharge type, may provide opportunities for mitigating risk for these negative outcomes. One potential indicator for the conditions surrounding this transition is the administrative code that the Department of Defense assigns to active duty military service members at the time of their separation from service. These codes describe the circumstances related to discharge, and can serve as clinically significant early markers for post-deployment mental illness, substance use disorders, and suicidality, and thereby subsequent adverse reintegration outcomes.20 Jan Link Between Antidepressants During Pregnancy and Birth Defects
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Anick Bérard PhD FISPE Research chair FRQ-S on Medications and Pregnancy and Director, Réseau Québécois de recherche sur le médicament (RQRM) and Professor, Research Chair on Medications, Pregnancy and Lactation Faculty of Pharmacy University of Montreal and Director, Research Unit on Medications and Pregnancy Research Center CHU Ste-Justine MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this...
20 Jan Parents Can Encourage Children To Enter and Succeed in STEM Studies
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31383" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Janet Shibley Hyde[/caption]
Janet Shibley Hyde
Evjue-Bascom Professor
Helen Thompson Woolley Professor of
Psychology and Gender & Women’s Studies
Director, Center for Research on Gender & Women
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The background is that, in the U.S. and many other Western nations, we don’t have enough people going into STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Innovations in STEM fields are enormously important in 21st century economies. So, we need to encourage more people to go into STEM fields. To do that, they have to major in a STEM field in college, and to do that, they need to prepare in high school.
20 Jan Cancer-Related Mortality Low In Men With Benign Prostate Biopsy
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_31606" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Nina Klemann[/caption]
Dr. Nina Klemann
MD, PhD-student
Copenhagen Prostate Cancer Center
Copenhagen
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: For 30 years, ultrasound-guided biopsies of the prostate have been used in the evaluation of men suspected for prostate cancer. The biopsy needles are employed systematically into the prostate at different sites where prostate cancer is typically present. However, it has been recognized for years, that there is a risk of not hitting the cancer areas, simply by chance. Although cancer diagnosis may be missed in the initial biopsy set by sampling error, it has been a continuous debate whether lethal prostate cancer is missed. Today, we know that prostate cancer is a common finding in men age 50-80, but that the life-time risk of prostate cancer death in this age-group is low. Consequently, we know that there is a considerable risk of diagnosing, and ultimately treating, a disease that will never result in symptoms or death.