Using an advanced machine-learning algorithm and fundus eye images, which depict the small blood vessels and more at the back of the eye, investigators are able to classify patients with Parkinson's disease compared against a control group.

Two patients with type 1 diabetes have now experienced improved blood glucose control with Vertex Pharmaceutical's investigational allogeneic stem-cell derived islets (VX-880), with the first person now completely insulin-independent at 9 months post-transplant. Prior to the procedure, both patients had hypoglycemic unawareness and had experienced multiple episodes of severe hypoglycemia, conditions considered severe enough to justify the risk of immune suppression (which is required for such stem-cell derived islet transplants as they are 'foreign' to the recipient). The first patient, a 64-year-old man with type 1 diabetes for more than 40 years, now has a hemoglobin A1c in the normal range without taking any insulin more than 9 months after the procedure. The second, a 35-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes for 10.7 years, experienced a 30% reduction in insulin use and significant increased time spent in target glucose range, by 5 months post-transplant. Both patients were given just half the targeted VX-880 dose.

@koushin Shigella infection is a major public health problem in developing countries where sanitation is poor. Humans are the natural reservoir, although other primates may be infected. No natural food products harbor endogenous Shigella species, but a wide variety of foods may be contaminated. Shigellosis is spread by means of fecal-oral transmission. Other modes of transmission include ingestion of contaminated food or water (untreated wading pools, interactive water fountain), contact with a contaminated inanimate object, and certain mode of sexual contact. Vectors like the housefly can spread the disease by physically transporting infected feces.

@shutanu Because of advances in technology, scientists can now piece together longer regions of the genome that contain many repeated, similar sections for the first time. One of the researchers, Michael Schatz, PhD, shared an analogy. Almost 2 decades ago, it was like putting together a 1,000-piece puzzle where many of the pieces looked the same, such as only blue sky. Now that longer DNA sequences can be mapped, it's more like assembling a toddler's puzzle with giant pieces, and ones that show the blue sky, clouds, and mountains.

Regular recreational use of cannabis is associated with potentially adverse features of left ventricular size and subclinical impairment of left ventricular function, compared with rare or no cannabis use, an observational study concludes. Previous use of recreational cannabis was not associated with such features, suggesting that any deleterious effects may not be permanent. There were only 47 regular users, and no amount of adjustment can correct for imbalances in the study groups. To conclude that healthcare professionals and policy makers may need to advise caution on regular recreational cannabis use is not warranted based upon these limited data

No epidemiologic studies of frequency or prevalence of attachment disorders in children exist; however, statistical data regarding adoptions and foster care placement are available. On the basis of such data, it may be possible to estimate approximately how many children have attachment disorders. According to DSM-5, the prevalence of RAD in high-risk populations (ie, children severely neglected and placed in foster care or institutions) is less than 10%, and the prevalence of DSED in these populations is about 20%.

Hello, Does COVID infection impact on vision? How does it affect the eyes? Can cleaning the eyes with water or over the counter eyedrops decrease the chance of infection? Please leave your comments on this.

Hello, I would like to know Is COVID-19 variant Omicron worse than Delta variant? Already we have seen lot of deaths due to delta variant. That time we were not prepared to handle the delta wave. That is the reason I am really anxious. Please leave your comments.

@sumon It’s no surprise that winter weather might cause chapped lips. The combination of cold air and chilling wind outside — and dry, heated air inside — all conspire to make your lips dry and tight. When you go outside, you also might not think about lip protection right away. Keep in mind that when you go out into the cold you may take steps to cover the rest of your body. But too often, your mouth is one of the last things you cover. Sometimes you might not even do it at all, leaving your lips exposed to those harsher winter conditions.