@aparajita Although teenagers often have a high level of awareness of the risks of sun exposure, many adolescents feel better and feel they look healthier with a tan. In general, many adolescents tend to focus more on the here and now than on possible hypothetical risks that may or may not arise in the future. These perceptions have been evaluated in a small study of adolescent girls in England. The investigators concluded that the participants believed looking tanned in the short term was worth the risk of cosmetic and health consequences in the long term. For many adolescents, sun exposure is a constant positive reminder of leisure, vacations, and health, and the reactivation of positive experiences can enhance their mood.

A conference consensus statement on ultrasound imaging of superficial soft-tissue masses aims to help radiologists and other clinicians differentiate between benign lumps and bumps, those that need further investigation, and those that need immediate management. This paper will guide clinicians in their diagnosis and management and provide information about next steps after initial imaging with ultrasound, explained Nirvikar Dahiya, MD, associate professor of radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and radiology consultant at Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona. Dahiya is a member of the executive board of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound and one of the study authors.

@sohini Previous studies have shown that Takotsubo syndrome can be related to negative emotional triggers, physical triggers such as heavy physical activity or medical procedures (or, in some cases, neither of these), or even a combination of emotional and physical triggers, the authors say. Research shows that physical triggers are most often linked to poor outcomes. A vast number of clinical scenarios may lead up to Takotsubo syndrome, noted Jason H. Rogers, MD, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center, commenting on these findings.

Obesity leads to a decline in this plasticity, leading to fibrosis and inflammation and other problems. These changes can further impair the function of adipose tissue, leading to metabolic disease. But the central role of adipose tissue, and its dynamic nature, presents an opportunity for treatment

In a large study of community-based stroke survivors in Canada, researchers found those meeting guideline-recommended levels of physical activity had a significantly lower risk for death from any cause, with a greater than 50% reduction in risk. Lead study author Raed A. Joundi, MD, DPhil, of the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, said he expected results to show exercise was beneficial, but was surprised by the magnitude of the association between physical activity and lower mortality risk. The impact of physical activity also differed significantly by age; those younger than 75 had a 79% reduction in mortality risk compared with 32% in those age 75 and older.

@dhitishree The rate of children hospitalized for food-induced anaphylaxis rose by 25% from 2006 to 2012 — from 1.2 to 1.5 per 100,000 — according to a 2019 analysis of data from pediatric hospitals in the United States. And severe symptoms were more often linked to milk than to peanuts or tree nuts, the study showed. Cow's milk is the most common food allergy in children younger than 5 years, and accounts for about half of all food allergies in children younger than 1. Most children grow out of it, but when milk allergy persists into the teenage years and adulthood, it is more likely to cause severe reactions.

A vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables, and soy has been linked to a lower risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, new research suggests. In two large cohorts of more than 13,000 individuals, investigators found a vegetarian diet was associated with a 60% to 74% decreased risk of ischemic stroke and 65% lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) for up to 4 years after the last menstrual period did not improve cognition but did improve some mood symptoms, according to results of a study published online June 2 in PLOS Medicine. Hormone therapy to suppress symptoms of menopause has been associated with increased risk for cognitive decline in women older than 65 years, but not much is known about its effects on recently postmenopausal women. The "critical window" hypothesis states that MHT begun near the start of menopause may reduce future risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders and/or improve cognition. However, the study design addressed changes in markers of cognition and mood, not dementia.

"Cannabis sativa is a weed and it causes reactions just like any other pollen allergy," said William Silvers, MD, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora. Silvers' clinic began to see people with allergic reactions to the plant after the increase in direct exposure that accompanied the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado. For people with allergic tendencies, first- and second-hand exposure to C. sativa will increase "classic responses," such as allergic rhinitis, sneezing, wheezing, itching, and asthma, he told Medscape Medical News.

@soumalya Low plasma concentration of several micronutrients, including vitamin D, selenium, zinc, and iron, have been associated with adverse outcomes in HF. Up to 50% of HF patients may be deficient in one or more of these micronutrients, perhaps because patients with HF may have reduced intestinal absorption and increased urinary excretion. A major player in both the development and the worsening of HF is reduction in bioenergetic capacity. Although macronutrients are the main energy sources for cardiomyocytes, small quantities of micronutrients are necessary to convert macronutrients to adenosine triphosphate (ATP).