@kukum The main take-home message is that children with a history of TBI, even those with less severe injuries, have an increased risk for the development of new-onset attention problems, potentially many years after injury.

@priya-0 To make things more complicated, a patient can have one or two lesions – or dozens. They often cluster in the anogenital area, likely reflecting transmission via sexual intercourse, unlike previous outbreaks in which lesions appeared all over the body.

Scientists seeking to stay ahead of an evolving SARS-Cov-2 virus are looking at new strategies, including developing intranasal vaccines, according to speakers at a conference. The Biden administration held a summit on the future of COVID-19 vaccines, inviting researchers to provide a public update on efforts to try to keep ahead of SARS-CoV-2. Scientists and federal officials are looking to build on the successes seen in developing the original crop of COVID vaccines, which were authorized for use in the United States less than a year after the pandemic took hold.

@pratap The potential advantages of simultaneous or immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) vs delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS) include the following points:
Fewer hospital visits
Faster recovery of bilateral vision
Lower costs for the procedure
In contrast, a possible disadvantage of ISBCS is the risk of both eyes developing postoperative complications simultaneously. In addition, the simultaneous method renders it impossible to use the visual acuity from the first operation for the second operation.

@abhiroop Globally, the largest deficiencies in healthy food consumption were related to nuts, seeds, milk, and whole grains, whereas sugary drinks, processed meats, and sodium were overconsumed. The findings are based on combined analyses of data from epidemiologic studies.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) may play a role in persistent depressive symptoms and poor response to standard pharmacologic treatments in adolescents, new research suggests. Diagnosing and treating SDB may improve clinical outcomes early in the course of mood disorders in adolescents and lead to better long-term prognosis.

@nakul This development was revealed during the 8th International Scientific Symposium New Frontiers in Scientific Research, organized by PronoKal Group and held in Barcelona, Spain. During this conference, international multidisciplinary experts in the study and management of obesity presented the latest data on the benefits of treatment based on a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet.
Nutritional ketosis has gained great interest in recent years because it is shown to have beneficial properties for health and promotes healthy aging, increasing longevity. Furthermore, in the case of obesity, we have more and more evidence that it is an effective treatment, mainly because to achieve this metabolic state (ketosis), routes that require the combustion of fats are activated, and this induces body weight loss.
The specialist stressed that several strategies are currently used to induce nutritional ketosis. They all are characterized by low carbohydrate consumption (low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet; low-carbohydrate, low-fat diet; and intermittent fasting). But it was warned that to use it as a treatment for a disease such as obesity, it must be backed by strong and solid scientific evidence, moving away from the concept of fad diets.

In this sense, since 2010, several studies focused on analyzing the efficacy and safety of treatment with a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet, the results of which have been published in high-impact journals.

Studies has shown that the very-low-calorie ketogenic diet is effective for rapid weight loss and maintenance of lost weight, as well as reducing fat mass, primarily visceral fat mass.

Despite the strong weight loss it induces, it preserves muscle mass and function and improves resting metabolic rate. These two variables are important, because all therapeutic strategies that exist to lose weight lead to a significant reduction in fat-free mass and also a reduction in energy expenditure at rest. This factor is associated with the risk of regaining lost weight, which is currently the great challenge in the treatment of obesity.

@pratap The primary outcome was the eight-item Oxford Agoraphobic Avoidance Scale (O-AS) questionnaire. This scale assesses distress and avoidance related to performing increasingly difficult everyday tasks. The researchers assessed patients at baseline, at the conclusion of the 6-week treatment, and at 26 weeks. Compared with the group that received usual care alone, the VR therapy group demonstrated a significant reduction in both agoraphobic avoidance (O-AS adjusted mean difference, -0.47; 95% CI, -0.88 to -0.06; Cohen's d, -0.18; P = .026) and distress (-4.33; 95% CI, -7.78 to -0.87; Cohen's d, -0.26; P = .014) at 6 weeks. This translates to being able to do about 1.5 more activities on the O-AS, such as going to a shopping center alone, said Freeman. Further analyses showed that VR therapy was especially effective for patients with severe agoraphobia. On average, these patients could complete two more O-AS activities at 26 weeks, said Freeman. The authors believe the intervention worked by reducing defence behaviors, such as avoiding eye contact and fearful thoughts. There was no significant difference in occurrence of adverse events between the study groups. These events, which were mild, transient, and did not affect the outcome, included side effects such as claustrophobia when using headsets.

@aparshakti First and foremost, keeping your hands warm during the winter is the best way to prevent arthritis flare-ups. If you need to go outside, always wear adequate hand protection. Begin wearing gloves when the temperature gets below 50 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your hands warm and prevent joint stiffness. When it comes to picking out an accessory to keep your hands warm, mittens are often better than gloves, which separate the fingers and can lose their effectiveness in temperatures below about 25 degrees. Having liners in the mittens will keep your hands warm in temperatures well below zero. It's also key to keep your hands warm indoors. Movement will keep the blood flowing to your hands, and simple exercises like gripping a ball or rubbing your hands together can get the blood circulating. Total body movement will also help to get your blood pumping — and warm your hands as a result. If activity isn't doing a great job of helping your blood circulate quickly to your hands, head over to the sink. Soaking your hands in hot water, doing the dishes, or just running warm water over your hands and rubbing them together will loosen them up and make them more comfortable. If warm water works for you, consider investing in a home hot-paraffin bath, or treat yourself to a warm-wax hand treatment. The wax has a small amount of oil in it that moisturizes your skin and keeps your hands supple.

Hello, my friend has been diagnosed with hearing loss and his hearing care professional recommends hearing aids. Thanks to today’s technology, there is a variety of styles and manufacturers to choose from, including some which fit so discreetly they are virtually invisible. Which one should he choose? What are the pros and cons of small hearing aids?