A low-fat vegan diet induces changes in gut microbiota that are related to altered body composition and insulin sensitivity, and result in weight loss, according to results of a randomized controlled trial in overweight/obese adults. Over the 16-week intervention, body weight was significantly reduced in individuals on the vegan diet compared with those who stayed on their everyday (nonvegan) diet, with a loss of –5.8 kg (P < .001), which was largely because of a drop in fat mass, with a treatment effect of –3.9 kg (P < .001). Visceral fat was also significantly reduced with the vegan eating plan.

@sampriti The take-home message for clinicians is to be aware that if you have patients who had COVID-19, it's quite likely that they may also experience a psychiatric issue, and that they may have reduced resilience and lower quality-of-life

@atharva Many chromosomal regions have shown linkage to bipolar disorder, but meta-analyses of microsatellite marker–based linkage studies have not provided consistent findings of susceptibility regions. Nevertheless, mechanisms behind therapeutic agents used in patients with the disorder have lent support to the possible role of a few different genetic pathways and mutations. Association studies of individual candidate genes have yielded largely mixed findings, but some consistent findings have been reported in a number of genes. For example, the low-functioning variant of a promoter polymorphism (HTTLPR) in the gene coding for the serotonin transporter, the target for serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs, was associated with bipolar disorder in a meta-analysis.

Hair transplants are done to add more hair to an area on your head that may be thinning or balding. It’s done by taking hair from thicker parts of the scalp, or other parts of the body, and grafting it to the thinning or balding section of the scalp. But the question is, Is hair transplantation a safe process? Please respond.

Hello, What causes bad breath, how to manage ? Is there any home remedy to treat this condition? Please leave your comments on this.

@anupam Viral illnesses that cause a sore throat include:
Common cold
Flu (influenza)
Mono (mononucleosis)
Measles
Chickenpox
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Croup — a common childhood illness characterized by a harsh, barking cough
Many bacterial infections can cause a sore throat. The most common is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) which causes strep throat.

Other causes
Other causes of a sore throat include:

Allergies. Allergies to pet dander, molds, dust and pollen can cause a sore throat. The problem may be complicated by postnasal drip, which can irritate and inflame the throat.
Dryness. Dry indoor air can make your throat feel rough and scratchy. Breathing through your mouth — often because of chronic nasal congestion — also can cause a dry, sore throat.
Irritants. Outdoor air pollution and indoor pollution such as tobacco smoke or chemicals can cause a chronic sore throat. Chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol and eating spicy foods also can irritate your throat.

@chandi Dry skin is very common, especially in the dry climates. It is important to educate RN about daily moisturizing. RN should not use hot water when showering, and should instead shower with water no more than 3°F above body temperature. In addition, she should stay in the water for only 3 to 5 minutes. Within 3 minutes of getting out, RN should pat her body dry and apply a body lotion. It is recommended that she apply body lotion at least 3 or more times during the day to the whole body or at least the affected areas. For more severe cases of dry skin, products containing urea and lactic acid can enhance hydration. Also, increasing her water intake to at least 8 glasses per day can be beneficial.

Hello, My jaw pains while I chew food. How to treat this? I understand that sudden pain on my jaw can be alarming, but is it usually serious? I am worrying about dental issues such as a cavity or abscessed tooth or wonder if I have been grinding my teeth at night. Please suggest what to do?

@manju Lentils are one of the world's oldest health foods. Growers first raised these beans in the Middle East in 8,000 B.C, and they've worked their way west since then. Along the way, Greeks considered the bean a poor man's food while Egyptians often regarded it as royal fare. The lentil came to the Americas in the early 16th century. During World War II, people began to see it as a low-cost, high-protein meat substitute. The potassium, folate, and iron in lentils also provide lots of benefits. Potassium counters the bad effects of salt and lowers blood pressure. Folate protects your heart and supports your body in forming red blood cells. If you're pregnant, folate is important for your baby's development. Iron helps ward off fatigue.

@santanu Goals for the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy differ from those for the general hypertensive population. The benefit of treatment of mild diastolic hypertension, blood pressure of 90 to 99 mm Hg, has been clearly established and documented for the general population, while in pregnancy it remains an area of controversy in the absence of well-designed clinical trials. The choice of antihypertensive medication in pregnancy is limited by concerns for fetal safety. In addition to proven safety, an ideal antihypertensive agent should gradually reduce blood pressure without compromising uteroplacental blood flow to the fetus. If administered intravenously, a short-acting formulation that permits rapid reversal of hypotension is preferred. According to the Working Group report of the NHBPEP, first-line oral and intravenous treatment is methyldopa and hydralazine, respectively. Methyldopa is the only antihypertensive agent with a proven record of safety in pregnancy, established by follow-up studies of children exposed to the drug in utero. Because of its long history of efficacy and acceptable side-effect profile, intravenous hydralazine is recommended for the treatment of severe hypertension in women who are near term. Other antihypertensive medications are now being used more often, particularly if blood pressure control cannot be achieved with first-line agents or in the presence of intolerable adverse effects. Some of the newer agents have demonstrated efficacy and safety comparable to those of methyldopa and hydralazine.