@anshu A vegan diet has also been shown to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes better than calorie-restricted, low-carbohydrate diets, the researchers note. Insulin resistance leading to impaired pancreatic beta-cell function is a key factor in type 2 diabetes, even though current treatment isn't usually focused on improving beta-cell function

@aajan The importance of these analyses is that they suggest that the effect of being overweight on cancer risk has been underestimated in the past and that obesity plays an even more important role in cancer than previously suggested

@amritangshu The investigators assessed 101,510 participants in the Kailuan study in China. At baseline between June 2006 and October 2007, enrollees completed a standardized questionnaire and underwent physical exams and laboratory testing, including LDL values. Assessments were repeated in 2008, 2010, and 2012. The researchers excluded individuals without full LDL cholesterol results, as well as those diagnosed with stroke, myocardial infarction, or cancer at baseline. Almost 14% of the 96,043 remaining participants had an LDL cholesterol value below 70 mg/dL. During the 9 years of follow-up, 753 participants developed a hemorrhagic stroke. Within this group, 179 participants (24%) had LDL cholesterol below 70 mg/dL before the onset of disease.

A high-intensity exercise program, already shown effective in improving bone density and performance in women, is also effective in older men with low bone density, according to the LIFTMOR-M study, published in Bone. The protocol incorporates barbell-based weightlifting and impact training involving jumping chin-ups.

Nearly 40% of adults with alopecia areata taking baricitinib, an oral Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and 2 inhibitor, see significant hair regrowth over 52 weeks, according to updated results from two phase 3 trials presented at the American Academy of Dermatology 2022 annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. The results indicate improved response rates and hair growth among trial participants, said Brett King, MD, PhD, an associate professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. He is the lead author of the analyses and presented the research.

@rashi Eye drops have the advantage of not interfering with vision; ointments have the advantage of prolonged contact with the ocular surface and an accompanying soothing effect. Most practitioners prescribe a broad-spectrum agent on an empiric basis without culture for a routine mild to moderate case of bacterial conjunctivitis

@debangshu In peanut or tree nut allergic children, introduction of specific nuts to which the child is not allergic may improve quality and life and should be considered in patients with multiple food allergies, vegan or ethnic-specific diets, in whom nuts are an important source of protein. They also point out that healthcare providers may need to clarify which nuts are potentially allergenic and which nuts are not.

@abhigna The long-term prognosis of individuals with alcoholic hepatitis depends heavily on whether patients have established cirrhosis and whether they continue to drink. With abstinence, patients with this disease exhibit progressive improvement in liver function over months to years, and the histologic features of active alcoholic hepatitis resolve. If alcohol abuse continues, alcoholic hepatitis invariably persists and progresses to cirrhosis over months to years. In one study, the estimated 5-year survival after hospitalization for severe alcoholic hepatitis was 31.8%. Abstinence was the only independent predictor of long-term survival

When your body activates your immune system, it sends out inflammatory cells. These cells attack bacteria or heal damaged tissue. If your body sends out inflammatory cells when you are not sick or injured, you may have chronic inflammation. Inflammation is a symptom of many chronic diseases, such as arthritis or Alzheimer’s disease. How to manage acute inflammation?

Hello, a 6-year-old girl had been brought to the emergency department (ED) for hypothermia, altered mental status (AMS), periods of hypoventilation, hypothermia and vomiting. Computed tomography of her head revealed nothing abnormal in intracranial pathology. Urine drug screening was negative. Alcohol level was 205 mg/dL on admission. Other abnormal values included potassium of 2.8 mEq/L, osmolality of 340 mOsm/kg and no hypoglycemia. Further investigation revealed that the patient had gone frequently to the class restroom for ingestion of unknown quantities of ABHSs during the day. The patient was admitted for one day for intravenous fluid hydration and close observation of her mental status. How to cure this?