News &amp; Updates

Children with overweight or obesity appear to exhibit alterations in brain structure and function that can be detrimental to cognitive function and school performance, according to data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.

Excess pounds in kids can be a bane to brain health

Lower plasma ACE2 levels may partially mediate COVID-19 risks in overweight/obesity or low socioeconomic position

Lower plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels may partially mediate COVID-19 risks in individuals with overweight/obesity or low socioeconomic position (SEP; referring to low educational attainment), according to a large-scale Mendelian randomization study conducted by researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

Lower plasma ACE2 levels may partially mediate COVID-19 risks in overweight/obesity or low socioeconomic position

10 Jan 2023

Antimicrobial resistance: Next global, public health threat after COVID-19

As the dust settles from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the lurking threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) once again rears its ugly head. Weighing in on this topic is Professor Dr Sasheela Sri La Sri Ponnampalavanar, Infectious Disease Professor, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Below is an excerpt from her bylined piece titled ‘Tackling the Next Global and Public Health Threat After COVID-19 – Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).’

Antimicrobial resistance: Next global, public health threat after COVID-19

Cardiovascular death among seniors with pneumonia down with antibiotic therapy

In the treatment of older patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, the use of guideline-concordant antibiotic therapy significantly lowers the risk of cardiovascular death in the first year of follow-up, as reported in a study.

Cardiovascular death among seniors with pneumonia down with antibiotic therapy

10 Jan 2023

Emerging organ protective therapies in T2DM

The goals of diabetes care are to prevent complications and optimize quality of life. Current developments in diabetes management have shifted focus from just glycemic control to the inclusion of organ protection. In the Boehringer Ingelheim-sponsored webinar entitled “Deep dive in EMPA-KIDNEY” held last December 9, 2022, Dr Nestor Eric Laplano, Consultant, Skyline Hospital and Medical Center and Grace General Hospital, SJDM Bulacan; and Dr David Cherney, Active Consultant, University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto Canada, revisited treatment strategies and discussed the EMPA-KIDNEY trial and its implications in organ protective therapies for type 2 diabetes.

[ Dr David Cherney ]
Dr David Cherney
Speaker

[ Dr Nestor Eric Laplano ]
Dr Nestor Eric Laplano
Moderator

Emerging organ protective therapies in T2DM

Corticosteroid poses no excess mortality risk in drug-induced liver injury

Treatment with corticosteroid in patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI) does not appear to contribute to increased risk of death but rather helps normalize liver enzymes, as shown in a study.

Corticosteroid poses no excess mortality risk in drug-induced liver injury

Caudate, left hepatic lobes involved in liver injury in distal oesophageal carcinoma patients

A recent study has shown the involvement of the caudate and left hepatic lobes in cases of radiation-induced liver injury (RILI) in patients with distal oesophageal carcinoma. Imaging patterns of RILI on fluorodeoxiglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) also include one or two regions of increased FDG uptake with a nodular, diffuse, or combined appearance.

Caudate, left hepatic lobes involved in liver injury in distal oesophageal carcinoma patients

Valacyclovir after allogeneic HCT reduces CMV infection

09 Jan 2023 by

Viral prophylaxis with valacyclovir 1 g three times daily following allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) results in a lower incidence of clinically significant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection as compared with acyclovir, according to a study.

Valacyclovir after allogeneic HCT reduces CMV infection

Veterans with bladder pain syndrome report more food sensitivities

Food sensitivities are significantly more common among veterans with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome than those without, according to a study.

Veterans with bladder pain syndrome report more food sensitivities