Lactate IV infusion found to trick the body into releasing a hormone behind that post-workout brain boost

Science has confirmed what sports lovers have always known from experience: exercise is good for the brain. It increases blood flow, inhibits stress hormones, and stimulates the release of ‘feel good’ endorphins. One way by which exercise is thought to yield these benefits on the brain is through a chain of processes that ultimately results in the release of the hormone BDNF. Produced by the liver, brain, skeletal muscle, and fat tissue, BDNF is known to promote the growth, survival, and maintenance of nerve cells.

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Global study shows drug shortages can become a systemic issue for millions

In the largest study of its kind, new global research has revealed that drug shortages can become a systemic issue affecting the health of millions of patients and impacting health care systems in Europe and North America.

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Experts outline health care, policy and social changes needed to make the most of Alzheimer’s treatment breakthroughs

The approval of new antibody medications for Alzheimer’s disease—lecanemab and donanemab—and diagnostic tests in the blood mark the beginning of a new era in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and treatment. However, without rapid reform in health care systems, public policy, and societal attitudes, their potential will not be fully realized, argue 40 leading Alzheimer’s disease experts in The Lancet Series on Alzheimer’s disease.

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Patient outcomes worsen in hospitals acquired by private equity firms

A difference-in-differences analysis examined hospital staffing and patient outcomes after private equity acquisition, focusing on emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs).

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New PET tracer enables same-day imaging of triple-negative breast and urothelial cancers

A promising new PET tracer can visualize a protein that is commonly overexpressed in triple-negative breast and urothelial bladder cancers within four hours, according to research published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. This same-day imaging approach has the potential to save valuable time in guiding treatment decisions and reduce unnecessary exposure to ineffective therapies.

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Simple Airway Device Slashes Hypoxemia Risk During Endoscopy: Study Shows

China: Using a simple nasopharyngeal airway before painless gastrointestinal endoscopy can dramatically cut the risk of dangerous oxygen drops in obese outpatients, new research in Respiratory Medicine has reported. 

The prospective randomized trial found that inserting the soft airway tube ahead of the procedure nearly eliminated hypoxemia—episodes of low blood oxygen—without causing extra discomfort or complications.
The study compared standard practice with the use of a prophylactic nasopharyngeal airway in adults with obesity scheduled for outpatient endoscopy under intravenous sedation. Hypoxemia is a common concern during these procedures because sedative medications can relax upper airway muscles and narrow breathing passages, a problem made worse by excess weight. Researchers set out to see whether inserting a small, flexible airway through the nose before starting the endoscopy could prevent those episodes.
The trial enrolled 174 participants who were randomly assigned to either receive a nasopharyngeal airway before painless gastrointestinal endoscopy or undergo the procedure without it.
The study revealed the following notable findings:
  • Only 2.3% of the 88 patients fitted with the device experienced hypoxemia, compared with 37.2% of the 86 patients in the control group, a difference described as striking by the authors.
  • Oxygen saturation after the procedure remained higher in the airway group, with no differences noted in vital signs during insertion or removal.
  • Airway placement was quick and straightforward: of 87 successful insertions, 69 were completed in under five seconds and 18 within ten seconds, with only one patient needing a second attempt.
  • Discomfort was minimal, as every participant reported a visual analog pain score of 3 or less.
  • Both endoscopists and anesthesiologists reported higher satisfaction when the airway was used, citing fewer interruptions and smoother procedures.
  • The additional step did not increase the risk of gastrointestinal complications or other adverse events, and no serious side effects were reported, confirming the device’s safety profile.
  • Although arterial blood gas analysis was not performed and standard non-invasive monitoring was used instead, the randomized design and consistent results strengthen confidence in the findings.
Given its low cost, speed of placement, and strong protective effect, the nasopharyngeal airway may represent an easy upgrade to current sedation protocols for obese patients. Keeping the upper airway open and maintaining oxygen flow reduces the likelihood of sudden desaturation and the need to pause or abort procedures.
The investigators conclude that routine use of a prophylactic nasopharyngeal airway offers a practical, well-tolerated method to enhance safety in outpatient gastrointestinal endoscopy for individuals with obesity. Broader adoption, they suggest, could lower complication rates and improve overall patient and clinician satisfaction without adding significant time or expense to the procedure.
Reference:
Peng, Y., Deng, L., Dai, S., Xiang, D., Zhou, R., Zhang, X., Tian, L., Zhou, Y., Chen, W., & Zhou, J. (2025). Nasopharyngeal airway relieves upper airway obstruction to alleviate hypoxemia during painless gastrointestinal endoscopy for obese outpatients: A prospective randomized controlled trial. Respiratory Medicine, 108359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2025.108359

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Psoriasis Linked to Higher Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Study

A study presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2025 found that individuals with psoriasis face a significantly increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease with multiple comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This study is among the largest to date investigating whether psoriasis also predisposes individuals to AMD, an eye disease affecting millions worldwide.

Dr. Alison Treichel and her team conducted a 15-year retrospective cohort study using data from the US TriNetX collaborative network. The study included 22,901 patients over the age of 55 with psoriasis and compared their outcomes with three propensity-matched control groups: individuals with melanocytic nevi (MN) to represent other dermatology patients; patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) to account for chronic disease and healthcare use; and patients who had undergone an ophthalmologic exam to ensure comparable opportunities for AMD diagnosis. Individuals with a prior diagnosis of AMD were excluded.

In a separate analysis, psoriasis patients treated with biologics were compared to those treated with topical corticosteroids who had not received biologics before or during the follow-up period.

Over the 10-year follow up period, people with psoriasis had a higher likelihood of developing AMD compared with patients in the MDD and MN cohorts, with a 56% and 21% increased risk, respectively. Looking at the two main forms of AMD – exudative (wet) and non-exudative (dry) – psoriasis was associated with a 40% and 13% higher risk, respectively, compared with the MDD cohort.

“Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease in which lipid dysregulation contributes to cardiovascular disease,” explained Dr. Treichel. ““Because abnormal lipid deposition in the retina is a hallmark of age-related macular degeneration, particularly the dry form that causes progressive vision loss, it is biologically plausible that psoriasis could increase AMD risk. Our study is the first to demonstrate a novel association between psoriasis and non-exudative (dry) AMD and serves as a hypothesis generating observation for future studies”

Notably, psoriasis patients treated with biologic therapies had a 27% lower risk of developing AMD compared with biologic-naïve patients treated with topical corticosteroids only.

“Our findings support a connection between psoriasis and AMD, both exudative and non-exudative, which could be mediated by shared lipid dysregulation,” Dr. Treichel explained. “They also suggest that biologic therapies could offer protective benefits beyond skin symptoms. Further research is needed to determine whether these treatments have a true disease-modifying effect and to better understand the role of shared risk factors, including smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and access to specialist care.”

Dr. Treichel emphasised that individuals with psoriasis should remain vigilant. “Patients with psoriasis should continue to follow standard eye exam guidelines and promptly report any changes in their vision to their healthcare providers. More research is needed before specific screening recommendations can be made.”

Looking ahead, the research team plans to build on these findings by analysing retinal imaging data from psoriasis patients to better characterise ocular abnormalities, define the prevalence of AMD, and evaluate the long-term effects of biologic therapy on disease progression.

Reference:

Psoriasis linked to increased risk of vision-threatening eye disease, study finds, Beyond, Meeting: EADV Congress 2025

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People on Ozempic who eat to regulate emotions less likely to lose weight, finds study

GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic can be a lifeline for people with diabetes — helping stabilize blood glucose and lose weight which contributes to diabetes complications. But not everyone benefits equally. Scientists monitoring 92 individuals with diabetes in Japan over their first year of taking GLP-1 drugs found that people’s reasons for overeating may affect the success of these therapies. Individuals who overeat in response to the sight or smell of tasty food were most likely to respond well to the drugs in the long term, whereas individuals who overeat for emotional reasons were less likely to.

“Pre-treatment assessment of eating behavior patterns may help predict who will benefit most from GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy,” said Prof Daisuke Yabe of Kyoto University, senior author of the article in Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare. “GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective for individuals who experience weight gain or elevated blood glucose levels due to overeating triggered by external stimuli. However, their effectiveness is less expected in cases where emotional eating is the primary cause.”

How people eat

GLP-1 receptor agonists help lower blood glucose through several mechanisms, including boosting insulin secretion, and cause weight loss by modifying appetite. But not everyone loses weight while taking them. To investigate this problem, the researchers focused on people’s relationship to food, and what that might mean for their treatment.

They enrolled 92 people with type 2 diabetes beginning treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and tracked their progress during their first year of treatment. At three different points — the beginning of treatment, three months later, and 12 months later — they collected data on participants’ body weight and composition, diet, and a range of relevant blood markers like blood glucose and cholesterol levels. They also asked about their relationship with food.

The scientists were particularly interested in three different types of eating behaviors associated with weight gain: emotional eating, where people eat in response to negative emotions rather than hunger, external eating, where people eat because the food looks great rather than because of hunger, and restrained eating, where people control their diet to lower their weight. In moderation, restrained eating can help with weight loss, but in excess, it can lead to disordered eating.

Different bodies, different results

In general, individuals saw a statistically significant reduction in body weight, cholesterol levels, and body fat percentage over the course of the year, while skeletal muscle mass stayed the same. Blood glucose levels also improved, but the improvements weren’t statistically significant.

However, there were some differences in results based on eating behaviors. At the three-month mark, participants reported more behaviors associated with restrained eating, and fewer behaviors associated with external or emotional eating. However, by the 12-month point, restrained and emotional eating behaviors returned to their baseline levels.

“One possible explanation is that emotional eating is more strongly influenced by psychological factors which may not be directly addressed by GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy,” said Dr Takehiro Kato of Gifu University, second author of the article. “Individuals with prominent emotional eating tendencies may require additional behavioral or psychological support.”

The scientists also didn’t find links between emotional or restrained eating scores at the beginning of treatment and the benefits that participants saw from the drugs by the end of the year. By contrast, the decrease in external eating was sustained over the full year, and people who reported high levels of external eating at the start saw the best results in terms of weight loss and blood glucose levels.

Although this study has the advantage of following individuals with diabetes under real-life conditions, as an observational study using self-reported measures, it can’t determine causation. The researchers also pointed out that this group of people may have been especially highly motivated to try to improve their control over their diabetes, which might have resulted in greater weight loss.

“While our study suggests a potential association between external eating behavior and treatment response to GLP-1 receptor agonists, these findings remain preliminary,” said Yabe. “Further evidence is necessary before they can be implemented in clinical practice. Should future large-scale or randomized controlled trials validate this relationship, incorporating simple behavioral assessments could become a valuable component in optimizing treatment strategies.”

Reference:Yuya Koide1,2,3Takehiro Kato,*Takehiro Kato1,2*Makoto HayashiMakoto Hayashi3Hisashi DaidoHisashi Daido4Takako MaruyamaTakako Maruyama5Takuma IshiharaTakuma Ishihara6Kayoko NishimuraKayoko Nishimura7Shin TsunekawaShin Tsunekawa8Daisuke Yabe,,,*Daisuke Yabe1,2,8,9* on behalf of G-DIET Investigators DOI: 10.3389/fcdhc.2025.1638681 Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare.

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1 Percent Phytic Acid useful Alternative to 17 Percent EDTA for Root Canal Irrigation: Study Suggests

India: 1% phytic acid is a suitable irrigating solution compared to 17% EDTA, as it causes less demineralization of radicular dentin. This conclusion comes from a recent in vitro study published in the Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, which assessed the effect of these irrigants on calcium ion loss and the microhardness of root canal dentin.

The research, led by Dr. Priyanka R. Zinge and colleagues from the School of Dental Sciences, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Maharashtra, provides insights into safer alternatives for endodontic irrigation that minimize structural compromise to dentin.
Irrigation plays a crucial role in endodontic therapy, helping to remove debris, disinfect the canal system, and facilitate shaping and cleaning procedures. While ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been widely used for its chelating properties, concerns about excessive demineralization and dentin softening have prompted investigations into alternative irrigants. Phytic acid, a naturally occurring compound, has emerged as a potential substitute, offering the advantage of reduced calcium ion extraction while maintaining effective canal preparation.
The study evaluated 45 freshly extracted single-rooted mandibular premolars, which were decoronated and sectioned. One half of each tooth was used to measure calcium ion loss, while the other half assessed changes in microhardness. Statistical analysis, including analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc tests, was applied with significance set at p < 0.001.
The study revealed the following notable findings:
  • Teeth treated with 1% phytic acid showed a smaller reduction in calcium levels compared to those treated with 17% EDTA.
  • Both irrigants caused some demineralization, but the effect of phytic acid was significantly less.
  • The reduced demineralization with phytic acid suggests a more conservative approach to dentin preservation.
  • No significant differences in microhardness were observed between the phytic acid and EDTA groups.
  • Phytic acid effectively maintained the structural integrity of root canal dentin.
The authors highlighted that the decoronation process used in the study eliminated the coronal reservoir of the irrigants, which may not fully replicate clinical conditions. Despite this limitation, the findings suggest that phytic acid’s mild demineralizing effect could facilitate easier negotiation and preparation of complex root canals without compromising dentin strength. This characteristic may offer practical advantages during routine endodontic procedures.
Dr. Zinge and colleagues recommend further in vitro and in vivo studies to confirm the clinical applicability of phytic acid as a routine endodontic irrigant. Longer-term assessments and trials under actual clinical conditions are needed to establish standardized protocols and validate the observed benefits.
Within the study’s scope, 1% phytic acid emerges as a promising alternative to 17% EDTA, balancing effective canal irrigation with minimal structural impact on radicular dentin. Its use could potentially improve procedural efficiency and preserve tooth integrity, marking a step forward in safer and more effective endodontic treatments.
Reference:
Zinge, Priyanka R.; Saraf, Prahlad A.1; Ratnakar, P.2; Hugar, Santosh I.3; Saraf, Suma P.4; Karan, Smita5. Assessment of calcium ion loss and its effect on microhardness of root canal dentin using 1% phytic acid and 17% EDTA: An in vitro study. Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics 28(9):p 911-915, September 2025. | DOI: 10.4103/JCDE.JCDE_413_25

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Late Night Eating and Skipping Breakfast Linked to Higher Osteoporotic Fracture Risk: Study

Researchers have found in a large study of 927,130 adults that skipping breakfast raised fracture risk by 18% and late-night dinners by 8%. Smoking also increased risk, while daily alcohol intake, faster walking speed, and adequate sleep were protective, underscoring the role of meal timing in bone health.

People who skip breakfast and eat late dinners may have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, according to a new study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

Lifestyle habits, such as exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking, are known to increase people’s risk of osteoporosis, however little is known about the association between osteoporotic fracture and diet.

“This study aimed to examine the association between lifestyle habits such as diet, and the risk of osteoporotic fracture,” said study author Hiroki Nakajima, M.D., Ph.D., of Nara Medical University in Nara, Japan. “We found skipping breakfast and having late dinners was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis. Furthermore, these unhealthy eating habits were found to be linked with the accumulation of other lifestyle risk factors such as physical inactivity, smoking and insufficient sleep.”

The researchers used a large health checkup cohort of 927,130 adults (45.3% male and 54.7% female) from a Japanese claims database to find the association between lifestyle factors and the diagnosis of osteoporotic fracture (hip, forearm, vertebral and humeral fractures).

They found people who had unhealthy habits such as smoking, daily alcohol consumption, not enough exercise or sleep, skipping breakfast, and having late dinners, were more likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis.

“These results suggest that preventing osteoporosis and fractures requires not only healthy eating habits but also a broader effort to improve overall lifestyle behaviors,” Nakajima said.

Reference:

Hiroki Nakajima, Dietary Habits and Osteoporotic Fracture Risk: Retrospective Cohort Study Using Large-Scale Claims Data, Journal of the Endocrine Society, https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaf127.

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