Entries by aaron

Unsupervised home-use of transcranial direct current fails to improve major depression: JAMA

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is moderately effective in treating depression when administered by trained professionals. However, it remains unclear whether self-administered tDCS, either alone or in combination with a digital psychological intervention, is also effective in treating depression.  According to an Original Investigation published in JAMA Psychiatry, Unsupervised home-use transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) […]

Choroidal Microvasculature Changes Linked to Smoking in Glaucoma Patients

A recent study published by BMJ Open Ophthalmology clarified the effect of smoking on choroidal microvasculature dropout (MvD) in glaucoma patients. Based on a cross-sectional investigation, the results indicate that higher smoking intensity is linked to larger MvD regions, specially in individuals with more severe forms of the disease. Undertaken at a tertiary glaucoma center, […]

Novel antibiotic class promising against invasive infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter: Study

Switzerland: A team of researchers from Swiss drugmaker Roche have identified a novel class of antibiotics that target a highly drug-resistant and deadly bacterial pathogen. In the research published in Nature, Claudia Zampaloni, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues described the identification and optimization of tethered macrocyclic peptide (MCP) antibiotics. […]

18F-FDG-PET/CT helps in prediction of brain metastasis in melanoma patients

Malignant melanoma is known for its aggressive nature and disproportionately high mortality rate among skin-related malignancies and is the third most common cancer to metastasize to the brain. A recent retrospective study published in the Journal of Cancers unveiled the potential breakthrough in prediction of brain metastases in melanoma patients. 18F-FDG PET/CT is a powerful imaging […]

Obeticholic Acid may Improve outcomes in NASH-Related Liver Fibrosis

A new study published in Journal of Hepatology confirms the efficacy of Obeticholic Acid (OCA), a novel farnesoid X receptor agonist and antifibrotic agent against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The Phase III REGENERATE trial originally reported results from an 18-month liver biopsy analysis involving OCA. The treatment demonstrated its efficacy, prompting further investigation. In this study, […]

Higher ambient temperature tied to increased hypoglycemia risk in older insulin users

USA: A recent study published in Diabetes Care has revealed an increased hypoglycemia risk in extreme heat among older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) with diabetes who received insulin. “Higher ambient temperature was associated with increased risk of serious hypoglycemic events in two national samples of older insulin users,” the researchers reported. The thermoregulatory response […]

Frequent Self-monitoring of Blood sugar improves glycemic control in Non-insulin-Treated diabetes Patients

Frequent Self-monitoring of Blood sugar improves glycemic control in Non-insulin-Treated diabetes Patients suggests a new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is a useful tool in diabetes management, but its efficacy and optimal application in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients treated without insulin have been controversial. We […]

Preconception stress in women undergoing fertility treatment tied to higher blood sugar during pregnancy

USA: A new study in the Journal of the Endocrine Society showed that maternal stress during preconception was associated with higher blood glucose levels, especially among women using intrauterine insemination to conceive and women of higher socioeconomic status. Stress during pregnancy is known to influence health outcomes, but the study from Mass General Brigham researchers suggests […]

Topical emollient improves xerosis and QoL in atopic dermatitis

Use of topical emollient alone can improve xerosis and quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis suggests a new study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. Repairing the epidermal barrier is critically important in atopic dermatitis (AD), but the effect of moisturizer on quality of life (QOL) is not well characterized. A […]