All atopic diseases, as well as environmental and parental factors, appear to be linked with hand eczema (HE), a longitudinal study from Finland reports. Hand eczema is one of the most common skin disorders and is the most common occupational skin disease, the authors write. Many risk factors, including atopic dermatitis, are known to be linked with HE, but whether various other factors might also be linked has not been well studied.

@pratibha It was important to identify the allergens in these devices. Hopefully, this information will be used by manufacturers to create safer products for patients. Hogeling acknowledged that the small sample size is a weakness of the study, although she added that the findings may help providers select devices that do not contain their patients' contact allergens.

A number of different etiologic factors have been reported as proposed causes of chronic urticaria. Autoimmunity is thought to be one of the most frequent causes of chronic urticaria. Various autoimmune or endocrine diseases have been associated with urticaria, including systemic lupus erythematosus, cryoglobulinemia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune thyroid disease.

A group of U.S. scientists have developed a lab test that can quickly identify which variant of the coronavirus has infected someone who tests positive for COVID-19, according to a recent report published in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. The test, which can identify all current variants of concern and potentially future ones, could help health officials track the pandemic more easily and help doctors treat patients more effectively.

Treatment with deep brain stimulation improved motor function and quality of life, but depression scores increased after 1 year, based on data from 20 adults. Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) has emerged as an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease symptoms, with evidence supporting improved motor symptoms and quality of life, wrote Francesca Mameli, PsyD, of Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, and colleagues.

Six key bacterial species of the gut microbiome have been identified as predictors of the development of type 2 diabetes, according to results from a 15-year follow-up study of more than 5000 people in Finland. The findings are from a prospective study of data on fecal samples from 5572 people in Finland in 2002 in the FINRISK 2002 population cohort. In 2017, the samples were sent for sequencing as follow-up. Of note, the study excluded people with prevalent diabetes at baseline, including those being treated with antidiabetic drugs such as metformin.

@pratibha Increases in air pollutant levels prior to flares were observed among the 35.8% of patients who had a flare of at least a 50% increase in the PASI score, as well among the 47.2% of patients who had at least a 100% increase in PASI, compared with control visits not involving flares. In addition, mean and area-under-the-curve concentrations of air pollutants were higher in the 60 days before the visits among those with PASI 5 or greater, compared with those with PASI scores below 5

@ashma Many people seem to believe this myth, yet there is no scientific proof that sour foods are harmful to women’s health when they are on their cycle. There is no specific meal that a menstruating lady should avoid. Indeed, these are the times when you must eat nutritious meals, sour or not. This is due to the blood loss that occurs during menstruation, which might make you feel weak.

When you were a child, did you ever pretend to be sick to get out of going to school? There’s actually a medical name for this behavior; it’s called malingering. It refers to producing false medical symptoms or exaggerating existing symptoms in hopes of being rewarded in some way. For example, someone might pretend to be injured so they can collect an insurance settlement or obtain prescription medication. Others may exaggerate mental health symptoms to avoid criminal convictions.

About 14% of people experience chronic constipation at some point. Symptoms include passing stools less than three times per week, straining, lumpy or hard stools, a sensation of incomplete evacuation, feeling blocked, or being unable to pass a stool. The type and severity of symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people experience constipation only rarely, while it’s a chronic condition for others. Constipation has a variety of causes, but it’s often the result of the slow movement of food through the digestive system. This may be due to dehydration, a poor diet, medications, illness, diseases affecting the nervous system, or mental disorders. Fortunately, certain foods can help relieve constipation by adding bulk, softening stool, decreasing gut transit time, and increasing stool frequency. What are the vegetables good for managing constipation?