Health

National Institutes of Health.

Objective: To examine whether allopurinol is associated with any alteration in mortality and hospitalisations in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). This hypothesis is based on previous data that a high urate concentration is independently associated ...

Scientists have discovered that ‘turning off’ a protein called IL-11 can significantly increase the healthy lifespan of mice by almost 25%.

Scientific Reports - The anti-inflammatory effects of Akkermansia muciniphila and its derivates in HFD/CCL4-induced murine model of liver injury

Background Although the pathology of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is unknown, the central nervous system is reportedly involved. The gut microbiota is important in modifying central nervous system diseases. However, the relationship　between the gut microbiota and MCS remains unclear. This study aimed to identify gut microbiota variations associated with MCS using shotgun metagenomic sequencing of fecal samples. Methods We prospectively recruited 30 consecutive Japanese female patients with MCS and analyzed their gut microbiomes using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The data were compared with metagenomic data obtained from 24 age- and sex-matched Japanese healthy controls (HC). Results We observed no significant difference in alpha and beta diversity of the gut microbiota between the MCS patients and HC. Focusing on the important changes in the literatures, at the genus level, Streptococcus, Veillonella, and Akkermansia were significantly more abundant in MCS patients than in HC (p

The environment influences mental health, both detrimentally and beneficially. Current research has emphasized the individual psychosocial ‘microenvironment’. Less attention has been paid to ‘macro-environmental’ challenges including climate change, pollution, urbanicity and socioeconomic disparity. With the advent of large-scale big-data cohorts and an increasingly dense mapping of macroenvironmental parameters, we are now in a position to characterise the relation between macroenvironment, brain, and behaviour across different geographic and cultural locations globally. This review synthesises findings from recent epidemiological and neuroimaging studies, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing evidence between the macroenvironment and the structure and functions of the brain, with a particular emphasis on its implications for mental illness. We discuss putative underlying mechanisms and address the most common exposures of the macroenvironment. Finally, we identify critical areas for future research to enhance our understanding of the aetiology of mental illness and to inform effective interventions for healthier environments and mental health promotion. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This work was supported by the European Union-funded Horizon Europe project 'environMENTAL' (101057429); and the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government's Horizon Europe (10041392 and 10038599) to EP, SH, KS and GS; the European Union-funded FP6 Integrated Project 'IMAGEN' (Reinforcement-related behaviour in normal brain function and psychopathology) (LSHM-CT- 2007-037286); European Research Council Horizon 2020-funded advanced grant 'STRATIFY' (695313); the Medical Research Council Grant 'c-VEDA' (MR/N000390/1); the the Human Brain Project (HBP SGA 2, 785907, and HBP SGA 3, 945539); the National Institutes of Health (529 R01DA049238); the German Research Foundation (675346); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82202093); and the Chinese National High-end Foreign Expert Recruitment Plan and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to GS; the Shanghai International Science and Technology Partnership Project (21230780200); and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42175066) to JY. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes Details of the search process and included studies can be found in the manuscript. * ACC : anterior Cingulate Cortex ALAN : Artificial Light At Night CO : Carbon Monoxide dlPFC : dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex DMN : Default Mode Network FC : Functional Connectivity GM : Gray Matter HPA : Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal IFG : Inferior Frontal Gyrus ipRGCs : intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells mPFC : medial Prefrontal Cortex MRI : Magnetic Resonance Imaging NAc : Nucleus Accumbens NO2 : Nitrogen Dioxide NOx : Nitrogen Oxides PAH : Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PFC : Prefrontal Cortex PM : Particulate Matter PM10 : Particulate Matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm PM2.5 : Particulate Matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm SO2 : Sulphur Dioxide TRAP : Traffic-Related Air Pollution WH : White Matter

The potential to classify low back pain as being characterised by dominant nociceptive, neuropathic, or nociplastic mechanisms is a clinically relevan…

Different tools for nailfold capillaroscopic analysis. Interest in viewing the nail capillaries dates to the late 17th century. Later research by Maurice Raynaud and others in the late 19th and early 20th century first established a direct link between the nailfold capillaries and certain medical conditions. Although underutilized in the past, with the advent of...

Der Zusammenhang zwischen Demenz und Bluthochdruck ist seit Jahren bekannt. Aber kann eine medikamentöse Behandlung der arteriellen Hypertonie wirklich das Demenz-Risiko senken? Hier gibt’s die aktuellen Infos.

Lysin ist eine Aminosäure und Bestandteil von künstlichen Nährstofflösungen. Wofür sie der menschliche Körper braucht, erfahren Sie hier!

In a 2020 JAMA Viewpoint, Lawrence Summers and I guessed at the possible economic costs of long COVID.1 At the time, we thought the cost might be $2.6 trillion. With more data, that estimate can be updated. I do so here.

Der beliebte zuckerfreie Süßstoff Xylitol erhöht Risiko für Herzinfarkte und Schlaganfälle deutlich.

In the primary analysis of the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, now published in the Journal, we report that the daily use of aspirin did not provide a benefit with regard ...

This cohort study compares overall survival, treatment adherence, and patient characteristics among patients with cancer receiving conventional cancer treatment with vs without complementary medicine.

Background Accessible, accurate screening tests are necessary to advance tuberculosis (TB) case finding and early detection in high-burden countries. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of available TB triage tests. Methods We prospectively screened consecutive adults with ≥2 weeks of cough presenting to primary health centers in the Philippines, Vietnam, South Africa, Uganda, and India. All participants received the index tests: chest-X-ray (CXR), venous or capillary Cepheid Xpert TB Host Response (HR) testing, and point-of-care C-reactive protein (CRP) testing (Boditech iChroma II). CXR images were processed using computer-aided detection (CAD) algorithms. We assessed diagnostic accuracy against a microbiologic reference standard (sputum Xpert Ultra, culture). Optimal cut-points were chosen to achieve sensitivity ≥90% and maximize specificity. Two-test screening algorithms were considered, using two approaches: 1) sequential negative serial screening in which the second screening test is conducted only if the first is negative and positive is defined as positive on either test and 2) sequential positive serial screening, in which the second screening test is conducted only if the first is positive and positive is defined as positive on both tests. Results Between July 2021 and August 2022, 1,392 participants with presumptive TB had valid results on index tests and the reference standard, and 303 (22%) had confirmed TB. In head-to-head comparisons, CAD4TB v7 showed the highest specificity when using a cut-point that achieves 90% sensitivity (70.3% vs. 65.1% for Xpert HR, difference 95% CI 1.6 to 8.9; 49.7% for CRP, difference 95% CI 17.0 to 24.3). Among the possible two-test screening algorithms, three met WHO target product profile (TPP) minimum accuracy thresholds and had higher accuracy than any test alone. At 90% sensitivity, the specificity was 79.6% for Xpert HR-CAD4TB [sequential negative], 75.9% for CRP-CAD4TB [sequential negative], and 73.7% for Xpert HR-CAD4TB [sequential positive]. Conclusions CAD4TB achieves TPP targets and outperforms Xpert HR and CRP. Combining screening tests further increased accuracy. Cost and feasibility of two-test screening algorithms should be explored. Registration NCT04923958 ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This work was supported by the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [U01AI152087]. POC CRP test kits and ichroma II machines were donated by Boditech Med Inc, and Xpert HR test kits were donated by Cepheid. CAD was performed by FIND at no cost to the study. The installation and use of the CAD4TB software evaluated in this manuscript was provided free of charge by Delft Imaging to FIND. Study funders and product developers had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This study was registered with [ClinicalTrials.gov][1] ([NCT04923958][2]). Study procedures were approved by the institutional review board (IRB) of the University of California San Francisco, the University of Heidelberg, and by local IRBs at each enrollment site. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, CD, upon reasonable request. [1]: http://ClinicalTrials.gov [2]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT04923958&atom=%2Fmedrxiv%2Fearly%2F2024%2F06%2F21%2F2024.06.20.24308402.atom

Chicago – Erhalten Personen mit einem Body-Mass-Index (BMI) von ≥ 35 kg/m² einen Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Rezeptoragonisten (GLP-1-RA), reduziert das im...

Ja, auch Männer kommen in die Wechseljahre. Diese sind aber meist deutlich weniger beschwerlich als der weibliche Gegenpol. Ein kurzer Überblick.

This cohort study examines the association between melatonin supplementation and the risk of development or progression of age-related macular degeneration in older US adults.

Nature Immunology - Immunosuppression is regulated by the circadian clock and can be leveraged to promote the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Effective antiviral drugs prevent hospitalisation and death from COVID-19. Antiviral efficacy can be efficiently assessed in vivo by measuring rates of SARS-CoV-2 clearance estimated from serial viral genome densities quantitated in nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab eluates. We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis of unblinded arms in the PLATCOV platform trial to characterise changes in viral clearance kinetics and infer optimal design and interpretation of antiviral pharmacometric evaluations. Methods Serial viral density data were analysed from symptomatic, previously healthy, adult patients (within 4 days of symptom onset) enrolled in a large multicentre, randomised, adaptive, pharmacodynamic, platform trial (PLATCOV) comparing antiviral interventions for SARS-CoV-2. Viral clearance rates over 1 week were estimated under a hierarchical Bayesian linear model with B-splines used to characterise temporal changes in enrolment viral densities and clearance rates. Bootstrap re-sampling was used to assess the optimal duration of follow-up for pharmacometric assessment, where optimal was defined as maximising the expected Z score when comparing effective antivirals with no treatment. PLATCOV is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05041907. Findings Between Sept 29, 2021, and Oct 20, 2023, 1262 patients were randomly assigned in the PLATCOV trial. Unblinded data were available from 800 patients (who provided 16 818 oropharyngeal viral quantitative PCR [qPCR] measurements), of whom 504 (63%) were female. 783 (98%) patients had received at least one vaccine dose and 703 (88%) were fully vaccinated. SARS-CoV-2 viral clearance was biphasic (bi-exponential). The first phase (α) was accelerated by effective interventions. For all the effective interventions studied, maximum discriminative power (maximum expected Z score) was obtained when evaluating serial data from the first 5 days after enrolment. Over the 2-year period studied, median viral clearance half-lives estimated over 7 days shortened from 16·6 h (IQR 15·3 to 18·2) in September, 2021, to 9·2 h (8·0 to 10·6) in October, 2023, in patients receiving no antiviral drugs, equivalent to a relative reduction of 44% (95% credible interval [CrI] 19 to 64). A parallel reduction in viral clearance half-lives over time was observed in patients receiving antiviral drugs. For example, in the 158 patients assigned to ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (3380 qPCR measurements), the median viral clearance half-life reduced from 6·4 h (IQR 5·7 to 7·3) in June, 2022, to 4·8 h (4·2 to 5·5) in October, 2023, a relative reduction of 26% (95% CrI –4 to 42). Interpretation SARS-CoV-2 viral clearance kinetics in symptomatic, vaccinated individuals accelerated substantially over 2 years of the pandemic, necessitating a change to how new SARS-CoV-2 antivirals are compared (ie, shortening the period of pharmacodynamic assessment). As of writing (October, 2023), antiviral efficacy in COVID-19 can be efficiently assessed in vivo using serial qPCRs from duplicate oropharyngeal swab eluates taken daily for 5 days after drug administration.

Nature - Lolamicin, a novel antibiotic developed from a pyridinepyrazole precursor, exhibits potent activity against a broad range of Gram-negative multidrug-resistant clinical isolates, and good...

A small study with big implications.

DMZ – WIRTSCHAFT / MM ¦ AA ¦ Der Anteil der Personen, die sich bei der Arbeit gestresst fühlen, ist in den letzten zehn Jahren von 18% auf 23% gestiegen. Stress am Arbeitsplatz hat in den letzten Jahren stark zugenommen. Laut einer neuen Publikation des Bundesamtes für Statistik (BFS) zu Arbeit und Gesundheit hat sich der Anteil der Personen, die sich bei der Arbeit gestresst fühlen, von 18% im Jahr 2012 auf 23% im Jahr 2022 erhöht. Stress stellt inzwischen das am stärksten wachsende physische und psychosoziale Risiko für die Gesundheit am Arbeitsplatz dar. Mehr als die Hälfte (53%) der gestressten Personen geben zudem an, sich emotional erschöpft zu fühlen, was ihr Risiko für ein Burnout erheblich erhöht. Stress im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen besonders verbreitet Die Ergebnisse der Schweizerischen Gesundheitsbefragung (SGB) zeigen, dass insbesondere im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen ein hoher Stresspegel herrscht. Im Jahr 2022 gaben 25% der erwerbstätigen Frauen und 21% der erwerbstätigen Männer an, dass sie regelmäßig oder ständig Stress bei der Arbeit erleben. Diese Anteile sind seit 2012, insbesondere bei Frauen, deutlich gestiegen. Vor zehn Jahren berichteten 17% der Frauen und 18% der Männer von hohem Arbeitsstress. Besonders betroffen ist das Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen, wo 29% der Beschäftigten unter Stress leiden. Hier ist jede vierte Erwerbstätige eine Frau. Anstieg des Burnout-Risikos bei Frauen Der Anteil der Frauen, die sich bei der Arbeit emotional erschöpft fühlen und somit einem höheren Burnout-Risiko ausgesetzt sind, ist von 20% im Jahr 2012 auf 25% im Jahr 2022 gestiegen. Bei den Männern blieb der Anteil stabil bei 19%. Am höchsten ist das Risiko der emotionalen Erschöpfung bei Personen, die Stress am Arbeitsplatz erleben: Über die Hälfte von ihnen (53%) fühlen sich emotional verbraucht. Diese Personen zeigen auch häufiger Anzeichen einer Depression (27% gegenüber 5% bei weniger gestressten Personen). Zunahme von sexueller Belästigung und Diskriminierung Frauen berichten 2022 häufiger von Diskriminierung oder Gewalt am Arbeitsplatz als Männer (21% gegenüber 16%). Besonders auffällig ist der höhere Anteil von Frauen, die in den letzten zwölf Monaten wegen ihres Geschlechts diskriminiert wurden (8,4% gegenüber 1,5% bei Männern). Auch sexuelle Belästigung ist häufiger ein Thema: 1,7% der Frauen und 0,4% der Männer gaben an, davon betroffen zu sein. Bei den 15- bis 29-jährigen Frauen lag der Anteil sogar bei 4,1%. Der Anteil der Frauen, die sexuelle Belästigung erlebt haben, ist von 0,6% im Jahr 2012 auf 1,7% im Jahr 2022 gestiegen. Leichter Rückgang physischer Risiken Während psychosoziale Risiken zugenommen haben, ist der Anteil der Erwerbstätigen, die physischen Risiken ausgesetzt sind, leicht gesunken. 2022 waren 47% der Männer und 43% der Frauen bei ihrer Arbeit mindestens drei von zehn möglichen physischen Risiken ausgesetzt. Bei den Männern ging dieser Anteil von 50% im Jahr 2012 auf 47% zurück. Insbesondere die Exposition gegenüber giftigen oder schädlichen Stoffen verringerte sich bei den Männern deutlich von 28% auf 23%. Frauen gaben häufiger als Männer an, unter schmerzhaften und ermüdenden Körperhaltungen zu leiden (50% gegenüber 45%) sowie Personen tragen oder bewegen zu müssen (15% gegenüber 8%). Hohe Risiken in Gast- und Baugewerbe sowie Gesundheitswesen In der Landwirtschaft und im Baugewerbe überwiegen physische Risiken deutlich gegenüber psychosozialen Risiken. Über 80% der Beschäftigten in diesen Branchen sind mindestens drei physischen Risiken ausgesetzt. Im Gesundheitswesen, Gastgewerbe, Handel und Verkehr treten psychosoziale Risiken ebenso häufig auf wie physische Risiken. In diesen Sektoren sind mehr als die Hälfte der Erwerbstätigen mindestens drei physischen oder psychosozialen Risiken ausgesetzt. Junge Erwerbstätige besonders betroffen Erwerbstätige unter 30 Jahren sind häufiger physischen Risiken ausgesetzt als ältere Altersklassen. Insbesondere junge Männer sind betroffen: 61% der unter 30-Jährigen berichten von mindestens drei physischen Risiken, im Vergleich zu 46% bei den 30- bis 49-Jährigen und 41% bei den 50- bis 64-Jährigen. Junge Frauen sind zudem häufiger psychosozialen Risiken ausgesetzt, wie Stress (32% gegenüber 26% bei den 30- bis 49-Jährigen bzw. 19% bei den 50- bis 64-Jährigen) und Gewalt oder Diskriminierung (32% gegenüber 20% bzw. 16%). Diese Entwicklungen unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit, Maßnahmen zum Schutz der Gesundheit am Arbeitsplatz zu verstärken und insbesondere psychosoziale Risiken stärker in den Fokus zu rücken. Herausgeber Bundesamt für Statistik http://www.statistik.admin.ch

Vor allem Senior-Level-Arbeitskräfte mit viel Berufserfahrung wechseln laut einer Studie zur Konkurrenz. Und nehmen dabei wertvolles Fachwissen mit

Eine Studie der Universität hat untersucht wie unterschiedlich sich Homeoffice und Präsenzarbeit auf die Gesundheit auswirken. Das Ergebnis: Homeoffice ist gesünder.