News & Updates

Sports participation beneficial for long-term mental health in children

Children who regularly participate in sports have better long-term psychosocial well-being, with team sports being more beneficial than individual sports, an 8-year longitudinal study has shown.

Postnatal SSRI treatment helps with postnatal depression–associated problems

Treating postnatal depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be beneficial for both mothers and their children in the long term, with a recent study showing that SSRIs can reduce the risk of several negative outcomes, such as maternal depression and child behavioural problems, according to a study.

Photobiomodulation works for chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy

Photobiomodulation helps to reduce the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and increases mobility in cancer patients as shown in a study presented at EAN 2023.

Meeting individual needs of patients with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease with complex aetiology and presentation. Globally, AD incidence is heterogeneous – it is higher in Africa and Oceania and lower in India and northeastern and eastern Europe, said Prof Martin Steinhoff, director, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar, who chaired a Pfizer-sponsored symposium during WCD 2023.

AD has a variable course, and its heterogeneous presentation adds complexity to how the disease is managed. The burden of AD is the highest among all skin diseases, added Steinhoff. It has mental health manifestations such as anxiety and depression, chronic itch, fatigue, skin pain, and sleep disturbance. AD may also co-exist with other comorbidities that could impact patients’ general health. “We need to assess every patient carefully and manage them optimally,” he pointed out.

Steinhoff is joined by renowned experts Dr Mahreen Ameen, consultant dermatologist, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, and Dr Chih-Ho Hong, dermatologist, Saint Paul Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Together, they shared four global cases of AD, including treatment options for patients.

Weight loss with high-dose oral semaglutide in obese nondiabetics

A higher dose of oral semaglutide than the currently approved 14 mg/day dose may be the next option for overweight or obese patients wanting to lose pounds.

Tuberculosis outcomes worse for smokers

Smoking among people with tuberculosis (TB) raises the risk of infection recurrence or relapse, as well as that of death while receiving treatment, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Novel miRNAs predict heart failure, mortality in severe FTR patients

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been observed in patients with severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR), reveals a study presented at ESC 2023.

New COVID-19 variant puts scientists on alert

COVID-19 testing has picked up a new coronavirus variant called BA.2.86 – nicknamed Pirola, after an asteroid – in several countries.