A new study suggests that increased levels of serum phosphate, but not calcium or vitamin D, could be a significant risk factor for incident aortic stenosis (AS). The findings were published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology . Calcific AS is the leading cause of mortality from nonrheumatic valvular disease, yet there is an unmet need for therapies that can slow down or arrest disease progression.

@nabamita It has been increasingly recognized that diet is a source of environmental factors that may contribute to bipolar disorder and other neuropsychiatric disorders. To investigate further, the researchers collected demographic, health, and dietary data on 758 adults aged 18 to 65 years who had been diagnosed with mania or other psychiatric disorders and a control group of 343 adults who had not been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Food exposures were assessed using a questionnaire, developed by the research team, that asked participants whether or not they had eaten certain types of food.

In a study published online September 30 in The Lancet, investigators from the University of Cardiff in the United Kingdom say their findings, which show that ADHD has a genetic basis, suggest it should be classified as a neurodevelopmental and not a behavioral disorder.

A few studies of the impact of loneliness on endocrine disorders are starting to appear. A study from two military hospitals in Saudi Arabia identified a cohort of patients with treated hypothyroidism. The researchers administered a validated standard survey to assess the severity of loneliness. They found a correlation between duration of hypothyroidism and loneliness score. The prevalence of loneliness among their group of 231 levothyroxine users was 16%. The sample was small relative to the larger US and Chinese studies so it could not capture some of the widely accepted correlations with age and smoking. This study did not separate causes of hypothyroidism into autoimmune and postsurgical groups, nor did it distinguish between undertreated disease and therapeutic replacement therapy, so much remains to be explored.

Long or irregular menstrual cycles in relatively young women are linked an increased risk of both prevalent and incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to a cross-sectional study that included data on more than 70,000 women. The study evaluated women aged younger than 40 years who were participating in the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study, which involves a comprehensive biennial health examination at health centers in South Korea. Of the 135,090 women enrolled over a 6-year period who had at least one follow-up examination, 72,092 were available for analysis after excluding for a sizable list of confounding factors such as liver disease and infections; exposure to steatogenic medications, such as corticosteroids; hysterectomy; and pregnancy.

@aishee A review of the 29 cases underpinning the FDA's alert revealed that only seven met the Sternbach criteria for diagnosis of SS. To review, these criteria include:
Symptom onset with the addition of a serotonergic agent or an increase in the dose of a serotonergic agent that the patient is already taking
At least three of these physical findings are present: agitation, ataxia, diaphoresis, diarrhea, hyperreflexia, mental status changes, myoclonus, shivering, tremor, or hyperthermia
No recent addition of a neuroleptic agent to the patient's regimen or increase in dose of a previously prescribed neuroleptic agent

@ayan The clear lack of a causal effect of ANM on the outcomes of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke in the MR analyses despite a strong inverse association seen in the observational data of this study (without MR) suggests residual confounding plays a substantial role in driving the observed outcomes.

Hello, What are the common side effects of paracetamol? Does it affect liver? Please leave your comments on this. I would like to understand this because paracetamol is a very common drug. It is being used randomly. Please leave your comments on this.

@ayan Amid the rise of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, health experts on Saturday warned that this variant may lead children to witness more problems as compared to the Delta variant. Children's respiratory tract is smaller than adults. A study from South Africa published in JAMA Network reported that only 41.3% of Covid-positive people visiting hospital emergency required admission during the Omicron wave as compared to 68-69% during the Delta wave. The proportion requiring oxygen therapy was 17.6% in the Omicron wave, significantly lower than the 74% in the Delta wave.

A 33-year-old lady presents with a chief complaint of shortness of breath on exertion. She reports that she was seen for similar symptoms previously six months ago. At that time, she was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and treated with bronchodilators, empiric antibiotics, and a short course of oral steroid taper. This management did not improve her symptoms, and she has gradually worsened over six months. She reports a 9 kg weight loss over the past year. She has been diagnosed with pneumonia. Please recommend some therapy.