National discussions on cannabis legalization, along with increased access to medical marijuana, may have encouraged more high school students to consume the drug years before it became legal in Canada. A recent study using data from more than 230,000 questionnaires by Canadian high school students in grades 9 to 12 found that almost 10% reported…
Medicare-for-all, a solution that would bring United States healthcare policies more in line with other industrial nations, faces strong opposition and is unlikely to be enacted in the foreseeable future. A commentary appearing in the American Journal of Medicine, published by Elsevier, proposes another approach that the authors believe would achieve wider access to care without…
In a comparison of gas versus needle, a new pragmatic trial has shown that using a volatile anesthesia agent during elective coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) did not produce fewer deaths after one year. The MYRIAD trial is stopp for futility after 2.8% of the 2,709 patients in the volatile anesthetics group died and 3.0% of…
More than half of the people in the world host colonies of a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori in their stomachs. Although it’s harmless to many, H. pylori can cause stomach cancer as well as ulcers and other gastric conditions. Doctors tend to prescribe multiple antibiotics to defeat the microbe, but that strategy can lead to…
Tobacco smoking is a preventable cause on health inequality and premature death. Youths studying for blue‐collar trades in vocational schools smoke significantly more than those youths who have selected academically orientated upper secondary school, that is high school. There are very few good quality studies conducted on smoking among vocational students. Smoking in adolescence leads…
The prevalence of using antidepressants and proton pump inhibitors increases after the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a doctoral dissertation from the University of Eastern Finland. The use of antidepressants is associat with an increase risk of hip fracture among persons with and without Alzheimer’s disease. The use of proton pump inhibitors, however, did…
Breakthrough artificial intelligence developed in Queensland could improve insulin dosing; but for diabetics and transform the way aeroplane engine wear-and-tear is monitored. University of Queensland alumnus Dr Nigel Greenwood from Evolving Machine Intelligence (EMI) developed the technology and worked with others from UQ to build real-world applications. Artificial intelligence methods in combination with the latest…
People under age 50 with hearing loss misuse prescription opioids at twice the rate of their hearing peers, and are also more likely to misuse alcohol and other drugs, a new national study finds.This means that health care providers may need to take special care when treating pain and mental health conditions in deaf and…
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and prone to fractures. Fractures typically occur in the wrist, spine or hip, and can often lead to permanently impaired mobility. Women over 50 are at high risk of developing osteoporosis; which may due to the loss of estrogen that occurs after menopause. While studies have…
Rates of breast-cancer detection are similar after screening mammography with or without screening ultrasonography, according to an observational study. Several states have mandated insurance coverage for screening ultrasonography in women with dense breasts, but the effect of supplemental screening on breast cancer outcomes remains unclear. Screening mammography Dr. Janie M. Lee from Seattle Cancer Care…
In time for the World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, Bruker today announced the launch of an important further innovation in the field of tuberculosis diagnostics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), TB is among the most dangerous infectious diseases worldwide, ranking alongside HIV/AIDS as a cause for death. One of the targets of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development…
There is a pressing need to reduce the hospitalization rate of heart failure patients to limit rising health care costs and improve outcomes. Tracking physiologic changes to detect early deterioration in the home has the potential to reduce hospitalization rates through early intervention. However, classical approaches to in home monitoring have had limited success, with…