Single-Dose Dexamethasone Lowers Surgical Stress in Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery: Study

Researchers have found in new research that a single dose of dexamethasone may reduce surgical stress, as reflected by lower C-reactive protein (CRP) levels among patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

The randomized controlled trial, published in BMC Surgery, investigated whether perioperative dexamethasone could attenuate the systemic inflammatory response triggered by minimally invasive abdominal procedures. Surgical trauma is known to induce inflammatory changes, with CRP serving as a key biomarker of stress and recovery. Researchers evaluated adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic abdominal surgery, who were randomized to receive either a single intravenous dose of dexamethasone or placebo before surgery. The findings showed that CRP levels were significantly lower in the dexamethasone group compared with controls, suggesting a protective effect against excessive surgical stress. Patients who received dexamethasone also demonstrated more stable postoperative recovery profiles, though the study was not powered to assess broader clinical outcomes such as complication rates or length of hospital stay. Importantly, no major adverse effects were associated with the intervention, reinforcing its potential safety for perioperative use. Authors noted that the results align with existing evidence highlighting the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of corticosteroids. By blunting excessive inflammatory activation, dexamethasone could help reduce tissue injury, promote faster recovery, and potentially improve patient comfort. However, the researchers cautioned that further large-scale studies are needed to evaluate long-term benefits, optimal dosing, and impact on hard clinical endpoints such as infection rates or overall morbidity. The study contributes to the growing interest in enhanced recovery strategies in surgery. With laparoscopic techniques already associated with reduced trauma compared to open procedures, the addition of low-dose corticosteroid therapy could further optimize postoperative recovery. Researchers suggested that integrating dexamethasone into perioperative protocols may be a simple, cost-effective approach, though caution remains warranted until more definitive evidence is available.

Reference:
Nerimanov, O., Agayev, T., Hashimova, N., & Bayramov, A. (2025). Efficacy of single-dose dexamethasone on postoperative C-reactive protein in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Surgery, 25(1), 313. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-025-03042-0

Keywords: dexamethasone; laparoscopic abdominal surgery; surgical stress; C-reactive protein; randomized controlled trial; perioperative care; corticosteroids; inflammation; recovery; BMC Surgery.

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Seeing the Difference: Study evaluates Low-Dose Esketamine and Propofol in Pediatric Eye Surgery

Low-dose esketamine combined with propofol is being investigated for its effects on pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery, a procedure that requires careful anesthetic management due to the challenges of insufficient patient cooperation in a young demographic. Recently published randomized controlled trial aimed to mitigate propofol-induced injection pain (PIP) and enhance recovery quality by integrating esketamine, which is noted for its rapid onset and favorable pharmacokinetics compared to racemic ketamine. Eighty-four children aged 3-15 years were enrolled and randomized into two groups: one receiving low-dose esketamine (0.2 mg/kg) alongside propofol (2.5 mg/kg), and the other receiving saline and propofol. Key outcomes measured included the incidence of PIP, early postoperative recovery (using the Children’s Pain Behavioral Scale), hemodynamic stability (heart rate and mean arterial pressure), and perioperative adverse events such as emergence agitation and oculocardiac reflex.

Results Summary

Results indicated a significant reduction in PIP in the esketamine group (56.1% incidence) compared to the control group (87.5%), with a consequent decrease in moderate-to-severe pain occurrences. Children in the esketamine group also exhibited lower pain scores in the immediate postoperative phase compared to the control group, although both groups reported similar pain levels by postoperative day 3 and 7, reflecting the short duration and low trauma of the surgical procedure. Hemodynamic parameters showed comparable stability between groups, although both demonstrated reductions post-induction. Importantly, the incidence of emergence agitation, oculocardiac reflex, and extubation cough were significantly lower in the esketamine group, suggesting improved overall anesthetic quality and patient comfort during the emergence phase.

Study Limitations

Despite these encouraging findings, the study acknowledges limitations, such as its small sample size and single-center nature, which may affect the generalizability of the results. Further, the lack of follow-up on long-term outcomes and quality of life highlights the need for additional research in diverse settings using rigorous randomization methods.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the analyzed regimen of low-dose esketamine combined with propofol effectively decreases propofol-related injection pain and enhances early postoperative recovery in pediatric strabismus surgery. These outcomes underscore the potential for this combination to improve perioperative experiences while ensuring stability and safety during the surgical process.

Key Points

– The study investigates the efficacy of low-dose esketamine (0.2 mg/kg) in conjunction with propofol (2.5 mg/kg) to alleviate propofol-induced injection pain (PIP) in pediatric patients (ages 3-15) undergoing strabismus surgery, addressing the challenges of insufficient cooperation in young children during anesthesia.

– A total of 84 children were randomly assigned to receive either the esketamine-propofol combination or a control treatment of saline and propofol. Key outcomes assessed included PIP incidence, early postoperative recovery measures, hemodynamic stability (heart rate and mean arterial pressure), and the occurrence of perioperative adverse events like emergence agitation and oculocardiac reflex.

– Results reveal a significant reduction in PIP incidence in the esketamine group (56.1%) compared to the control group (87.5%), alongside a decrease in moderate-to-severe pain reports immediately postoperatively; however, pain levels between both groups normalized by postoperative days 3 and 7.

– Hemodynamic stability post-induction was maintained across both groups, with no significant differences noted, although reductions were observed. Enhanced anesthetic quality and patient comfort were indicated by lower instances of emergence agitation, oculocardiac reflex, and extubation coughing in the esketamine group.

– The study acknowledges limitations, including a small sample size and being conducted at a single center, which may limit the broader applicability of the findings. Additionally, the absence of follow-up data pertaining to long-term outcomes and quality of life presents a gap for further investigation.

– Conclusively, the combination of low-dose esketamine with propofol demonstrates efficacy in reducing PIP and improving early postoperative recovery in pediatric strabismus surgery, indicating potential benefits for enhancing the perioperative experience while ensuring stability and safety during the procedure.

Reference –

Yaping Shen et al. (2025). Low-Dose Esketamine Combined With Propofol In Microscopic Pediatric Strabismus Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study. *BMC Anesthesiology*, 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03095-x.

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Aflibercept 8 mg Shows Long-Term Efficacy in Diabetic Macular Edema with Fewer Injections, shows trial

An extension of the PHOTON trial shows that aflibercept 8 mg maintains long-term visual and anatomical improvements in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), allowing for extended dosing intervals and reduced injection frequency.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has announced top-line, two-year (96 weeks) data for aflibercept 8 mg from the pivotal PHOTON trial in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). During the trial, aflibercept 8 mg patients were initially randomized to either 12- or 16-week dosing intervals (after three initial monthly doses) and were able to shorten or extend dosing intervals if pre-specified criteria were met. The longer-term data among aflibercept 8 mg patients who completed the trial demonstrated that the vast majority of patients were able to maintain or further extend these dosing intervals through two years with:

  • 89% maintaining ≥12-week dosing intervals through two years, compared to 93% through one year (48 weeks)
  • 83% maintaining ≥16-week dosing intervals through two years, compared to 89% maintaining a 16-week dosing interval through one year
  • 43% meeting the criteria for ≥20-week dosing intervals by week 96, including 16% and 27% who were eligible for 20- and 24-week dosing intervals, respectively

“The two-year PHOTON results for aflibercept 8 mg in patients with diabetic macular edema are extremely compelling,” said Jeffrey Heier, M.D., Director of the Retina Service and Retina Research at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston and a trial investigator. “To be able to rapidly achieve extended dosing intervals without any sacrifice of vision gains over two years is a tremendous benefit in the treatment of diabetic macular edema.”

“The two-year PHOTON results certainly exceeded my expectations and indicate that the majority of patients may eventually be able to control their diabetic macular edema with as few as two or three aflibercept 8 mg injections per year, if approved by regulatory authorities, with similar excellent visual gains and a safety profile consistent with EYLEA given every 8 weeks,” said David M. Brown, M.D., FACS, Director of Research at Retina Consultants of Texas and a trial investigator. “Reducing the treatment burden in patients with diabetic macular edema is a critical unmet need, and the two-year PHOTON results reinforce the potential of aflibercept 8 mg to become the standard of care for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.”

PHOTON (N=658) is a double-masked, active-controlled pivotal trial evaluating non-inferiority of aflibercept 8 mg 12-week (n=328) and 16-week (n=163) dosing regimens after three initial monthly doses compared to an 8-week dosing regimen for EYLEA (aflibercept) Injection (n=167) after five initial monthly doses. In addition to the vast majority of trial patients maintaining extended dosing intervals through two years, visual gains for aflibercept 8 mg remained consistent with the first year of the trial.

In PHOTON, the safety of aflibercept 8 mg also continued to be similar to EYLEA through two years and remained consistent with the known safety profile of EYLEA from previous clinical trials for DME. Ocular treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE) occurring in ≥5% of patients in any treatment group, in decreasing frequency, were cataract, vitreous floaters, and conjunctival hemorrhage. There were no cases of retinal vasculitis, occlusive retinitis or endophthalmitis. The rate of intraocular inflammation was 1.2% for both the EYLEA and aflibercept 8 mg groups. Anti-platelet trialists’ collaboration-defined arterial thromboembolic TEAEs occurred in 7.2% of patients treated with EYLEA and 6.5% of patients treated with aflibercept 8 mg.

“The aflibercept 8 mg clinical trial program is the first to demonstrate that patients with diabetic macular edema can immediately be treated with every 12- or 16-week dosing after their initial monthly doses and experience lasting vision control,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Board Co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer at Regeneron, and a principal inventor of EYLEA. “With these two-year results, Regeneron continues to raise the bar in clinical advancements for retinal treatments and remains committed to pursuing groundbreaking innovations in ophthalmology.”

The two-year data from the pivotal PULSAR trial for aflibercept 8 mg in wet age-related macular degeneration are expected in the third quarter of 2023, and the two-year data from both PHOTON and PULSAR are planned for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting.

Aflibercept 8 mg is investigational, and its safety and efficacy have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority. Aflibercept 8 mg is being jointly developed by Regeneron and Bayer AG, with Regeneron sponsoring the PHOTON trial. In the U.S., Regeneron maintains exclusive rights to EYLEA and aflibercept 8 mg. Bayer has licensed the exclusive marketing rights outside of the U.S., where the companies share equally the profits from sales of EYLEA and aflibercept 8 mg following any regulatory approvals.

About the Aflibercept 8 mg Clinical Trial Program

PULSAR in wAMD and PHOTON in DME are double-masked, active-controlled pivotal trials that are being conducted in multiple centers globally. In both trials, patients were randomized into 3 treatment groups to receive either: aflibercept 8 mg every 12 weeks, aflibercept 8 mg every 16 weeks, or EYLEA every 8 weeks. The lead sponsors of the trials were Bayer for PULSAR and Regeneron for PHOTON.

Patients treated with aflibercept 8 mg in both trials had 3 initial monthly doses, and patients treated with EYLEA received 3 initial doses in PULSAR and 5 in PHOTON. In the first year, patients in the aflibercept 8 mg groups could have their dosing intervals shortened down to an every 8-week interval if protocol-defined criteria for disease progression were observed. Intervals could not be extended until the second year of the study. Patients in all EYLEA groups maintained a fixed 8-week dosing regimen throughout their participation in the trials.

About DME

DME is a common complication in eyes of people living with diabetes. DME occurs when high levels of blood sugar lead to damaged blood vessels in the eye that leak fluid into the macula. This can lead to vision loss and, in some cases, blindness. Of the nearly 28 million American adults living with diabetes, an estimated 1.2 million have DME.

 

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AI Model Accurately Detects Low Bone Density from Chest X-Rays: Study

A new study published in Academic Radiology has demonstrated that an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model can accurately detect low bone mineral density (BMD) from routine chest radiographs, potentially offering a noninvasive tool for early screening and intervention. The AI model was trained on thousands of chest X-rays and corresponding dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans, the current gold standard for measuring BMD. Researchers found that the AI system achieved high sensitivity and specificity in identifying patients at risk for osteoporosis, particularly in detecting bone loss in the lumbar vertebrae. In addition to classification, the model was capable of highlighting regions of low density directly on the radiographs, improving interpretability for clinicians. These findings suggest that integrating AI algorithms into routine imaging workflows could help identify at-risk individuals during unrelated chest imaging, thus enabling earlier diagnosis and targeted preventive strategies before significant bone loss or fractures occur. The study emphasizes that because chest X-rays are one of the most commonly performed imaging tests globally, embedding such AI-driven tools could have a far-reaching impact on osteoporosis detection, especially in resource-limited settings where DXA scans may be inaccessible. However, the authors noted that further validation in diverse populations and clinical settings is necessary before widespread adoption. If proven effective on a broader scale, this approach could bridge critical gaps in osteoporosis screening and significantly reduce morbidity and healthcare costs associated with fragility fractures.

Reference:
Huang, Y., Patel, R., & Kim, J. (2025). Automated detection of low bone mineral density using artificial intelligence applied to chest radiographs: A diagnostic performance study. Academic Radiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acra.2025.01.044

Keywords: AI in radiology, bone mineral density, chest X-rays, osteoporosis screening, lumbar vertebrae, artificial intelligence, Academic Radiology, bone loss detection, DXA comparison, Huang et al.

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Cancer care from oncology subspecialists has doubled since 2008

A retrospective cohort study aimed to quantify trends in oncologist subspecialization and assess differences in subspecialized cancer care utilization in the U.S. The researchers found that between 2008 and 2020, oncology subspecialization increased significantly, however, gaps in utilization between high- and low- income areas have grown despite higher cancer mortality in low-income areas. These differences in utilization could reflect systematic barriers to care. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and colleagues studied Medicare claims data from over 3.2 million fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries initiating chemotherapy between 2008 and 2020. The five most common cancer categories among beneficiaries were breast, gastrointestinal, hematologic, prostate/genitourinary, and thoracic. The researchers assessed trends in subspecialization of oncologists by classifying them based on the proportion of chemotherapy episodes they managed for specific cancer types annually.

To assess changes over time in the proportion of chemotherapy episodes, by cancer type and across hospital referral regions (HRRs), that were treated by subspecialists, the researchers examined the proportion of chemotherapy episodes each year that were managed by a subspecialist of the relevant cancer type. The researchers found that between 2008 and 2020, the proportion of chemotherapy episodes managed by subspecialists increased from 9% to 18%.

The proportion of chemotherapy episodes treated by subspecialists varied across the five most common cancer types in 2008; however, by 2020, the proportion of cancer types managed by subspecialists increased significantly. The gap between the number of chemotherapy episodes managed by subspecialists in the largest HRRs versus smaller HRRs grew significantly between 2008 and 2020, with the largest HRRs having 33.4% of episodes managed by subspecialists, whereas the smallest HRRs had only 9.6%. Most HRRs experienced increases in subspecialist involvement over time; however, HRRs in the rural Mountain West and Northern Great Plains reported fewer than 5% of chemotherapy episodes managed by subspecialists in 2020.

They also found that subspecialist utilization did not align with local cancer burden as measured by county-level mortality, suggesting that areas with higher cancer burden had lower utilization of subspecialist care. While subspecialization within oncology has increased significantly, differences in the utilization of subspecialists mirror broader patterns of delayed adoption of medical innovations among physicians serving rural, low-income, and minority populations.

Reference:

:René Karadakic,  Christopher Manz, Geographic Variation in the Utilization of Cancer Care From Subspecialized Medical Oncologists in the United States, 2008 to 2020, Annals of Internal Medicine, https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-25-00102.

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Genetic testing of IVF embryos helps women over 35 conceive faster, reveals study

Genetic testing of IVF-created embryos could help more women over 35 have a baby in less time, a clinical trial by researchers from King’s College London, King’s College Hospital, and King’s Fertility has found.

Published today in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, this is the first randomised controlled trial worldwide to focus exclusively on women aged 35-42, a group at higher risk of producing embryos with chromosomal abnormalities. The trial looked at the use of Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) to check embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer.

Older women are more likely to produce embryos with the wrong number of chromosomes, which can lead to difficulties conceiving, and increases the risk of miscarriage. Current NICE guidance does not currently recommend routine use of PGT-A, driving women to pursue this test privately or skip it altogether. This guidance is based on previous evidence from studies which had a young average age of participants where the rate of aneuploidy, abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell, is lower. The study also broke new ground by including mosaic embryos, those containing both normal and abnormal cells, which are frequently encountered in IVF but rarely included in research.

The pilot study of 100 women undergoing fertility treatment at King’s Fertility was aimed to fill the evidence gap by focusing on older patients, and assessing the feasibility of conducting a multi-centre randomised controlled trial that explores the test’s impact on pregnancy and live birth rates in women aged 35-42. Both the clinical treatment and embryology procedures for the study were carried out at King’s Fertility.

The unblinded trial was conducted from June 2021 to June 2023. There were 50 patients in the PGT-A group and 50 patients in the control group.

The study showed that the PGT-A test showed a higher cumulative live birth rate after up to three embryo transfers with 72% in the PGT-A group versus 52% in the control group.

Women in the PGT-A group achieved pregnancy in fewer transfers, reducing the time to conception, an important factor for women of advanced reproductive age.

Whilst this is a pilot study and the difference did not reach statistical significance due to the small sample size, the trend suggests a potential benefit that warrants investigation in a larger, multi-centre trial.

Dr Yusuf Beebeejaun, first author of the paper at King’s College London and King’s Fertility, said: “The number of women starting their family above the age of 35 is increasing and women in this age group are more likely to create embryos with the wrong number of chromosomes. This increases the risk of unsuccessful implantation and miscarriages. Our findings suggest that targeted use of PGT-A in this age group could help more women have a baby sooner, while also reducing the emotional toll of repeated unsuccessful cycles.”

Lead author Dr Sesh Sunkara from King’s College London and King’s Fertility added: “By focusing exclusively on women aged 35-42 and including mosaic embryos, we have addressed questions that previous studies have not adequately explored. While larger multi-centre trials are needed to confirm these findings, improving treatment efficiency with a shorter time to achieving pregnancy and live birth could reduce the physical and emotional burden of IVF for women of advanced reproductive age.”

Dr Ippokratis Sarris, Director of King’s Fertility and co-author of the study, said: “This research is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the team at King’s Fertility. Not only were all patients recruited and treated here, but the embryology work was also carried out by our laboratory staff. We are proud to have led this pioneering trial, which addresses one of the most important questions in IVF treatment for women over 35, and we look forward to building on these findings in larger, multi-centre studies.”

Reference:

Beebeejaun Y, Bakalova D, Mania A, Copeland T, Sarris I, Nicolaides K, Capalbo A, Sunkara SK. Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy Versus Morphological Selection in Women Aged 35-42: Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Med. 2025 Jul 21;14(14):5166. doi: 10.3390/jcm14145166.

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Infants Under 6 Months Face Triple Risk of Hospitalization with RSV Compared to HMPV: Study Finds

USA: Researchers have found in a new study that children with RSV are over 1.5 times more likely to be hospitalized than those with HMPV, with infants under 6 months facing more than three times the risk.

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics by the American Academy of Pediatrics, was conducted by Leah A. Goldstein and colleagues from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It provides one of the most comprehensive comparisons to date between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in children, two viruses that are genetically related and major causes of medically attended acute respiratory illness.
Researchers analyzed data from children under 18 years old who were enrolled between 2016 and 2020 through active, prospective surveillance at seven pediatric hospitals and emergency departments across the United States. Clinical information was collected through parent interviews and medical records, and nasal swabs were tested using molecular diagnostic assays for RSV and HMPV. The study compared demographic and clinical characteristics as well as the severity of illness associated with these infections.
In total, 5,329 hospitalized children—4,398 with RSV and 931 with HMPV—and 3,276 children seen in emergency departments—2,371 with RSV and 905 with HMPV—were included in the analysis.
The following were the key findings of the study:
  • The median age of children hospitalized with RSV was significantly lower than that of those with HMPV (7 months versus 16 months), indicating RSV disproportionately affects younger infants, particularly those under six months of age.
  • Children who visited the emergency department with RSV-related illness were 68% more likely to require hospitalization compared to those with HMPV (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.68).
  • Among infants younger than six months, the risk was markedly higher, with these infants being more than three times as likely to be hospitalized if they had RSV (aOR 3.27).
  • Underlying medical conditions were more than twice as common among infants hospitalized with HMPV (26%) compared with those hospitalized with RSV (11%), suggesting HMPV may pose a greater risk to children with preexisting health issues, while RSV tends to cause severe illness even in otherwise healthy infants.
The authors concluded that although RSV and HMPV both cause significant respiratory illness in children, they affect different age groups and populations. RSV tends to strike younger infants more severely, while HMPV hospitalizations are more frequent among children with underlying conditions.
The study highlights the importance of understanding these patterns as new preventive measures for both viruses, such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, become available. Ongoing surveillance will be essential to track these infections and guide future prevention strategies.
Reference:
Leah A. Goldstein, Marian G. Michaels, Abigail Salthouse, Ariana P. Toepfer, Samar Musa, Robert W. Hickey, Monika Johnson, Anna F. Wang-Erickson, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, Mary A. Staat, Leila C. Sahni, Julie A. Boom, Eileen J. Klein, Janet A. Englund, Jennifer E. Schuster, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Christopher J. Harrison, Natasha B. Halasa, Laura S. Stewart, Fatimah S. Dawood, Heidi L. Moline, John V. Williams; Human Metapneumovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: A Comparative Analysis. Pediatrics 2025; e2024070218. 10.1542/peds.2024-070218

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Mediterranean diet combined with calorie reduction and exercise may reduce diabetes risk by nearly one-third: Study

A Mediterranean-style diet, in combination with reduced caloric intake, moderate physical activity, and professional support for weight loss, may cut the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by 31%, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The study will be published August 25, 2025, in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

“We’re facing a global epidemic of diabetes,” said co-author Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition. “With the highest-level evidence, our study shows that modest, sustained changes in diet and lifestyle could prevent millions of cases of this disease worldwide.”

Prior research has linked the Mediterranean diet-which emphasizes high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, moderate intake of dairy and lean proteins, and little to no intake of red meat-to better health outcomes, including lowered risk of T2D through improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation.

A team of collaborators from the PREDIMED-Plus clinical trial, the largest nutrition and lifestyle randomized trial in Europe, sought to understand how the diet’s benefits may be enhanced with additional healthy lifestyle changes.

The researchers, from 23 universities in Spain and Harvard Chan School, split 4,746 PREDIMED-Plus participants into an intervention group and a control group and followed their health outcomes for six years. The intervention group adhered to a Mediterranean diet; reduced their caloric intake by about 600 calories per day; engaged in moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking and strength and balance exercises; and received professional support for weight loss control. The control group adhered to a Mediterranean diet without calorie restriction, exercise guidance, or professional support. Participants ranged from age 55 to 75, were overweight or obese, and had metabolic syndrome, but were free of T2D at baseline.

The study found that those in the intervention group had a 31% lower risk of developing T2D compared to those in the control group. Additionally, the intervention group lost an average of 3.3 kilograms and reduced their waist circumference by 3.6 centimeters, compared to 0.6 kilograms and 0.3 centimeters in the control group.

“In practical terms, adding calorie control and physical activity to the Mediterranean diet prevented around three out of every 100 people from developing diabetes-a clear, measurable benefit for public health,” said co-author Miguel Martínez-González, professor at the University of Navarra and adjunct professor of nutrition at Harvard Chan School.

Reference:

Miguel Ruiz-Canela, Dolores Corella, Miguel Ángel Martínez-González, Comparison of an Energy-Reduced Mediterranean Diet and Physical Activity Versus an Ad Libitum Mediterranean Diet in the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial, Annals of Internal Medicine, https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-25-00388

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Two thirds of reproductive-aged women have at least one modifiable risk factor for birth defects, study reveals

An analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) among 5,374 women of reproductive age indicates that two thirds of women within this demographic have at least one modifiable risk factor, such as low folate status or unmanaged diabetes, that can increase the chance of serious birth defects.

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Two thirds of reproductive-aged women have at least one modifiable risk factor for birth defects, study reveals

An analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) among 5,374 women of reproductive age indicates that two thirds of women within this demographic have at least one modifiable risk factor, such as low folate status or unmanaged diabetes, that can increase the chance of serious birth defects.

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