Associations may help explain neuropsychiatric side effects after long term use, say researchers The use of prescribed steroids, including in inhalers, is linked to changes in the structure and volume of white and grey matter in the brain, suggests the findings of the largest study of its kind, published in the open access journal BMJ Open. […]
Category: Press release
Men have high probability of outliving women, especially the married and degree educated
Between 25% and 50% of men have done so in all continents over past 200 years Sometimes large differences in life expectancy mask substantial overlap in lifespan Men have a high probability of outliving women—especially those who are married and have a degree—reveals a statistical analysis spanning 200 years across all continents of the globe […]
Minimum unit alcohol pricing may not be curbing drinking in those most at risk
Levels fell more in women who don’t drink as heavily as men after introduction of policy Policy not linked to reduced consumption in younger, deprived, or heaviest drinking men Associated with an increase in consumption among 5% of heaviest drinkers The introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol may not be curbing drinking in […]
Water births provide “clear benefits” for healthy mums and their newborns
Less need for intervention during/after the birth plus greater satisfaction for mums Water births provide “clear benefits” for healthy mums and their newborns, with fewer interventions and complications during and after the birth than standard care, as well as higher levels of satisfaction for the mum, finds a synthesis of the available evidence, published in […]
Wearable activity trackers + AI might be used to pick up presymptomatic COVID-19
Fertility tracker identified indicative physiological changes up to 2 days ahead of symptoms Wearable activity trackers that monitor changes in skin temperature and heart and breathing rates, combined with artificial intelligence (AI), might be used to pick up COVID-19 infection days before symptoms start, suggests preliminary research published in the open access journal BMJ Open. The […]
Men with prostate cancer have higher risk of serious blood clots
Male prostate cancer patients have a 50% higher risk of dangerous blood clots than men without prostate cancer New research published in the online journal BMJ Open suggests that men with prostate cancer have a 50% higher risk of developing serious and potentially fatal blood clots during the five years after their cancer diagnosis compared […]
Opioid overdose death toll has risen more than 5-fold among Indigenous Americans over past decade
Type of opioid involved might have changed, but not underlying social factors driving trends The opioid overdose death toll has risen more than 5-fold among American Indian and Alaska Native communities over the past decade, finds one of the first studies of its kind published in the open access journal BMJ Open. The type of opioid […]
“Promising evidence” that osteopathy may relieve musculoskeletal pain
But little to back its use in children, or for the treatment of migraine or irritable bowel syndrome There’s “promising evidence” that osteopathy, the physical manipulation of the body’s tissues and bones, may relieve the pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions, finds a review of the available clinical evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Open. […]
Warmer nights may lead to more cardiovascular deaths among men
1°C rise in usual summer night-time temperature may be linked to around 4% higher risk of cardiovascular male deaths Warmer than usual summer nights appear to lead to an increase in cardiovascular deaths in men aged in their early 60s but not women, suggests new research published in the online journal BMJ Open. Previous studies […]
Gut infection outbreaks halved during first 6 months of COVID-19 pandemic in UK
Several factors likely involved, but measures adopted to curb coronavirus had key role Could see permanent change if improved hygiene practice kept up, suggest researchers The number of reported gastrointestinal infection outbreaks more than halved during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, compared with the previous 5-year average, while lab […]