HomeA Practitioner's Must Read
A Practitioner's Must Read
Oral rimegepant an effective preventive for migraine — clinical trial
Rimegepant was effective for preventive treatment of migraine, found a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2/3 trial, published in The Lancet.
Migraine affects 15% of...
Support for induction at 41 weeks' pregnancy, especially for first-time mothers — meta-analysis
There is growing evidence that pregnant women who go beyond term, especially first time mothers and their infants, will benefit from induction of labour...
Cancer survivors at higher flu hospitalisation and mortality risk. Also severe COVID?
Survivors from a wide range of cancers are more likely than people in the general population to be hospitalised or die from seasonal influenza...
Even low-dose steroid treatments substantially increase CVD risk
While high doses of steroids are known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the impact of lower doses is unknown, a Leeds...
Guidelines on oxygen saturations as an admission criterion may be set too high — Large UK study
A UK study found that current NHS guidelines on blood oxygen levels, that between 94 and 98 per cent are 'normal', may be too...
Large trial produces 'best evidence' of aspirin benefits in reducing CVD risk
Aspirin added significantly to the benefits of a low-cost ‘polypill’ approach for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in an intermediate-risk population, the TIPS-3 study...
Trial stopped: Long-acting injectable highly effective in preventing HIV in women
One of the most eagerly awaited HIV study findings, that of an injection every two months that can prevents HIV infection in women, became...
New estimates of breast cancer risks associated with HRT
A study published by The BMJ provides new estimates of the increased risks of breast cancer associated with use of different hormone replacement therapy...
Corticosteroids and bone risk; guidelines change needed — large UK analysis
A large UK analysis of health records found that exposure to inhaled and oral corticosteroids is an independent risk factors for bone health in...
WHO: Meta-analysis as to optimal first-line HIV medication
A study published by The Lancet is set to change international treatment recommendations for people who are newly diagnosed with HIV – an update...
Antibiotics compared to surgery in treating appendicitis — Randomised trial
The largest randomised US study of appendicitis found that 70% of patients can avoid surgery and be treated with antibiotics only.
Every year more than...
Self-sampling for STIs in rectum and throat just as accurate
Self-sampling for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the rectum and throat is just as accurate as testing performed by a healthcare worker, investigators from...
Comparative testing of antibody kits shows wide performance variations — UK study
There is wide variation in the performance of commercial kits for detecting antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a...
SA leg of MMR trial to protect healthcare workers against Sars-CoV-2
Researchers are preparing to launch the South Africa leg of an international trial investigating whether the well-established measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot used...
Eating out riskier than public transportation or haircuts — CDC analysis
Eating out may come with a higher risk of catching COVID-19 than riding public transportation or getting a haircut at a salon, a study...
Cannabis use has a debatable impact on cognitive functioning
Cannabis is the most commonly used psychotropic drug in the world. Because so many young people use cannabis, it is important to understand its...
Airborne spread of COVID-19 and ventilations factors — 2 studies
Two recent studies highlight the role of airborne spread of COVID-19 and the importance of efficient ventilation systems. One study found that patients can...
American Thoracic Society: New clinical practice guidelines on COPD and hypercapnia
A subcommittee of the American Thoracic Society Assembly in Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology has released new clinical practice guidelines to help advise clinicians on...
Breast screening women in their 40s to save lives – long-term UK study
A 23-year follow-up of a large UK trial found that screening women aged 40-49 led to a substantial and significant 25% reduction in breast...
Doubt cast on targeting 'bad' cholesterol to curb heart disease risk
Setting targets for ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol levels to ward off heart disease and death in those at risk might seem intuitive, but a systematic...
Plant protein diets linked to lower risk of death – International evidence review
Diets high in protein, particularly plant protein, are associated with a lower risk of death from any cause, finds an analysis of the latest...
Blood test may identify which COVID-19 patients are best candidates for steroid treatment
A study led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System confirms the findings of the large-scale British trial of steroid use...
Follow-up finds dolutegravir use at conception not tied to neural tube defects in infants
Contradicting 2018 interim findings that dolutegravir use in pregnancy increased the risk of the rare birth defects, a Botswana follow-up study found no significant difference...
Wits scientist says firms are 'exploiting ignorance and fear' with deep cleans
Scientists say “deep cleans” of offices, schools and other spaces every time a positive case is reported, is unnecessary. A Bizcommunity report says many...
Smell tests should be part of routine COVID-19 screenings — STAT News
Temperature checks could well join the long list of fumbled responses to the pandemic, from the testing debacle to federal officials’ about-face on masks,...
Countries with early adoption of face masks showed modest coronavirus infection rates
Regions with an early interest in face masks had milder COVID-19 epidemics, according to a new letter. Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong...
Survey shows that SA doctors are taking psychological strain
A third of South African doctors surveyed by MPS, the international medical defence organisation, have experienced a decline in mental wellbeing as the COVID-19...
Up to 45% of covid infections may be asymptomatic — Scripps analysis
An extraordinary percentage of people infected by the virus behind the ongoing deadly COVID-19 pandemic never show symptoms of the disease, according to the...
Evidence supports physical distancing, masks, and eye protection — WHO commissioned meta-analysis
A comprehensive review of existing evidence supports physical distancing of two metres or more to prevent person-to-person transmission of COVID-19, says an international team...
UK Scientific Advisory Group: High proportion of recovering patients 'cannot get back to a normal life'
Coronavirus patients could suffer "extreme tiredness and shortness of breath for several months", government scientists have warned. The Daily Telegraph reports that newly-released papers...
People with HIV not at higher risk of death or severe illness from COVID-19
Two studies of COVID-19 cases published in recent days lead investigators to the cautious conclusion that people living with HIV are not at higher...
Long-acting ARV given as two monthly injectable PrEP protects against HIV
It’s not an Aids vaccine but it may be the closest thing to one so far. A long-acting antiretroviral drug given as an injection...
HIV-1 salvage therapy can omit NRTIs and remain efficacious and safe
People with HIV-1 infection (PWHIV) who have virologic failure can safely omit nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in new regimens that include more than...
Act amendment allows extension of expiring prescriptions from 6 to 12 months
People with expiring prescriptions, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, are set for some relief, says a Health24 report. In what appears to...
Delaying treatment changes costs lives — SA study
Promptly switching antiretroviral therapy (ART) when individuals have viral rebound saves lives, Aidsmap reports an important study has found. Delayed switching more than doubled...
The case for healthcare worker screening to prevent hospital transmission
There is a strong case to be made for the mass testing of health care workers to mitigate workforce depletion by unnecessary quarantine; reduce...
New treatment relieves depression in 90% of participants in small study
A new form of magnetic brain stimulation rapidly relieved symptoms of severe depressioZn in 90% of participants in a small study conducted by researchers...
Public use of surgical masks 'could help slow' COVID-19 pandemic's advance
In laboratory experiments, the masks significantly reduced the amounts of various airborne viruses coming from infected patients, measured using the breath-capturing "Gesundheit II machine"...
Higher daily step counts strongly associated with lower mortality risk
A study has found that higher daily step counts were associated with lower mortality risk from all causes. The research team, which included investigators...
NICD's guidelines for SA's GPs in treating COVID-19
For many people suspecting they've been infected with the new coronavirus, general practitioners (GPs) will be the first people they turn to. News24 reports...