Cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids, and cannabis may independently increase risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), based on data from almost 24 million people. While more work is needed to uncover causal links, physicians should be aware that these commonly abused substances could be driving new cases of AFib, reported investigators from the University of California, San Francisco.

A cluster of 15 cases of severe lung problems requiring hospitalization has emerged in the Midwest. All patients were teens or young adults, and all reported recent vaping. As of today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS), in Madison, said it was studying 12 confirmed respiratory cases, and 13 more are under investigation. So far, the affected counties are Dodge, Door, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha, and Winnebago. Patients experienced a plethora of symptoms, the agency reports, including shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, cough, anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, and weight loss, with symptoms worsening over days or weeks before requiring admission to hospital.

@titiksha FINGER has 1,200 participants, aged between 60 and 77 years, drawn from 2 previous population-based noninterventional studies (the Finland Cardiovascular Risk Study [FINRISK] and the National Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Programme in Finland [Fin-D2D]). The participants were divided equally between the intervention and control arms of the study, which is being conducted in 6 centers across Finland. Selection was carried out according to patients' risk of developing dementia, determined on the basis of a dementia risk score and a vascular risk factor profile at midlife. At baseline, mean BMI was 30, and 40% of participants had impaired glucose tolerance. These criteria provided an at-risk population most likely to benefit from the interventions used in the study. Patients were excluded if they already had a clear diagnosis of dementia.

@parabat During the often long prodromal phase, many patients with schizophrenia withdraw from normal activities, and this might result in a reduction in sunlight exposure. Having low levels of vitamin D over a long period may be a risk factor for developing psychosis. Because vitamin D is a negative acute-phase reactant, levels can decrease during an inflammatory response.

The diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been transformed over the past 15 years from a disease defined, classed, and staged based on histologic characteristics alone to a disease classified largely based on genetic, genomic, and molecular characteristics. Cytogenetic analysis of AML has become essential for disease diagnosis, classification, prognostic stratification, and treatment guidance. Molecular genetic analysis of CEBPA, NPM1, and FLT3 is already standard of care in patients with AML, and mutations in several additional genes are assuming increasing importance

@papan Your family doctor or pediatrician can diagnose meningitis based on a medical history, a physical exam and certain diagnostic tests. During the exam, your doctor may check for signs of infection around the head, ears, throat and skin along the spine.
You or your child may undergo the following diagnostic tests:
Blood cultures. A blood sample is placed in a special dish to see if it grows microorganisms, particularly bacteria. A sample may also be placed on a slide and stained (Gram's stain), then studied under a microscope to see whether bacteria are present.
Imaging. Computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the head may show swelling or inflammation. X-rays or CT scans of the chest or sinuses also may show infection that may be associated with meningitis.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture). For a definitive diagnosis of meningitis, you'll need a spinal tap to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In people with meningitis, the CSF often shows a low sugar (glucose) level along with an increased white blood cell count and increased protein.

Hello, Why do people gain weight those are on antidepressant treatment? Do the medicines cause weight gain? How to avoid this? Please leave your comments on this.

Abdominal pain is common and often minor. Severe abdominal pain that comes on quickly, however, almost always indicates a significant problem. The pain may be the only sign of the need for surgery and must be attended to swiftly. Older adults and those who have HIV infection or who are taking immunosuppressants (including corticosteroids) may have less abdominal pain than younger/healthy adults with a similar disorder, and, even if the condition is serious, the pain may develop more gradually. Young children, especially newborns and infants, may develop abdominal pain but are unable to communicate the reason for their distress. What could be the possible causes of acute abdomen pain?

@parabat The Glasgow coma scale (GCS) is the most common scoring system used to describe the level of consciousness in a person following a traumatic brain injury. It is a reliable and objective way of recording the initial and subsequent level of consciousness. It is used by trained staff at the site of injury like car crash or sports injury and in emergency and ICUs. Every brain injury is different but generally brain injury is classified as severe if gcs is 8 or less, moderate if GCS is 9-12 and mild if 13-15. Factors like drug use or alcohol intoxication can also alter the level of consciousness and lead to inaccurate scores.

Hello, as omicron cases are surging very high, I would like to understand what are the signs of omicron infection. If I am aware of this, I would be able to further isolate myself if I contract the disease. Please leave your comments.