FOCUS: THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
'Compelling' evidence for a 'good-fibre' diet over a low-carb diet
January 16th, 2019 A systematic review of studies over almost 40 years, commissioned to inform new World Health Organisation guidelines, found that higher levels of fibre and whole grain intake cut all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality by 15-30% and reduced...
Obesity, especially around the waist, linked to brain shrinkage
January 16th, 2019 Obesity, especially around the middle, was associated with lower grey matter brain volumes, a large British analysis found. Existing research has linked brain shrinkage to memory decline and a higher risk of dementia. For the study, researchers...
Breakthrough AI tools to detect cancers in women
January 16th, 2019 A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool from the UK Institute of Cancer Research scans tumour cells to pick out women with especially aggressive ovarian cancer. Separately, in the US, the National Institutes of Health and Global Good have developed...WEEKLY ROUNDUP
UCTPAH offers first bronchial thermoplasty in Africa
A newly established lung and heart centre offering a range of specialised medical interventions and treatments has been established at UCT Private... January 16th, 2019UK to fund sending maggots to war zones for wound treatment
The UK government is to provide funding for medicinal maggots to be sent to war zones such as Syria and Yemen, where they will be used in a... January 16th, 2019Influenza pandemic one of 10 global threats in WHO's 5-year plan
The world will face another influenza pandemic, although no one knows when and how severe it will be, says the World Health Organisation. The Times... January 16th, 2019Political and security issues could still disrupt DRC's fight against Ebola
As political tensions over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) stalled presidential election results continue, and rebel groups in the east of... January 16th, 2019EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Experts recommend haemorrhage control kits for public venues
As mass-casualty events and violent attacks in the US continue to increase, military and emergency medicine experts are recommending that public...
January 16th, 2019
GERONTOLOGY
Human mortality 'plateau' more likely statistical error than hint of immortality
Human error, not human biology, largely accounts for the apparent decline of mortality among the very old, according to a report by Saul Newman of... January 16th, 2019HIV/AIDS
With HIV, Undetectable = Untransmittable, says NHI review
In recent years, an overwhelming body of clinical evidence has firmly established the HIV Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) concept as... January 16th, 2019Aggressively targeting partner violence lowers HIV rates in women
US states that aggressively target intimate partner violence (IPV) in their health care systems have lower rates of HIV infection among women,... January 16th, 2019Integrase inhibitors and the risk of obesity
People who take an integrase inhibitor as part of their HIV treatment appear to gain more weight than others after starting treatment and the trend... January 16th, 2019Review looks at what influences people to taking and continue with ARVs
An international team of researchers have carried out a review of the evidence examining what influences people who are HIV positive to go to health... January 16th, 2019HIV/AIDS
Potential drug interactions among people with HIV taking statins
Drug interactions remain a potential problem for HIV-positive people who are treated with statins, according to research. Potential interactions were detected between statins and modern antiretroviral drugs – especially cobicistat – and also... January 16th, 2019High but variable STI rates in PrEP studies – Is PrEP the cause or a potential solution?
A new meta-analysis of 20 studies and roll-out projects of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in gay and bisexual men confirms very high rates of diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in study participants and PrEP takers. Dr... January 16th, 2019MEDICAL PRACTICE
Missed GP appointments 'substantially' increase all-cause mortality
Missing GP appointments is associated with early death, and those with long-term mental health conditions are at particular risk, according to a large Scotland study over three-years.
Dr Ross McQueenie led the study from the University of Glasgow...
January 16th, 2019
ONCOLOGY
False positive mammogram result may be a clue to later disease
Women who experience a “false positive” result after a mammogram are twice as likely to end up developing cancer as those who get a negative result, The Daily Telegraph reports research suggests. Every year, thousands of women are given the... January 16th, 2019OPTHALMOLOGY
Sight-saving treatment for eye infection or trauma
Scientists at the University of Birmingham have developed a novel eye drop that rapidly reduces sight-threatening scarring to the surface of the eye.
The surface of the eye (the cornea) is usually transparent, but scars resulting from eye...
January 16th, 2019
PHARMACOLOGY
Little benefit from vitamin D supplements for over 70s
There is little benefit for those over 70 taking higher dose vitamin D supplements to improve their bone strength and reduce the risk of falls, research has revealed. Older people are often encouraged to take supplements of vitamin D to keep... January 16th, 2019SPORT & EXERCISE MEDICINE
Any physical activity cuts mortality risk
A study of around 8,000 middle-aged and older adults found that swapping a half-hour of sitting around with physical activity of any intensity or duration cut the risk of early death by as much as 35%. The findings highlight the importance of...
January 16th, 2019
