Press review
The essentials of recent medical publications, unpacked by our newsroom into a clear, sourced digest, specialty by specialty.
Pharmacology and ToxicologyAntimicrobial dose adaptation in obese subjects
Obesity is associated with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic alterations, which can modify antimicrobial exposure when prescribed at usual doses. Prescribing the wrong dose in an obese subject can result in either toxicity or therapeutic failure. This review describes and details the latest data on the dosage, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials (antibiotics, antifungals, ant
OncologyPembrolizumab and chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical trial, 1,060 adult women with newly diagnosed, high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer were followed at 176 medical centers in 30 countries. They were assigned to receive either pembrolizumab/chemoradiotherapy or placebo/chemoradiotherapy. Median follow-up was 17.9 months in both treatment groups. Progression-free survival r
OncologyRibociclib in early breast cancer
If ribociclib has a positive effect on overall survival in patients with HR+ HER2- advanced breast cancer, what about early breast cancer? In this international, randomized, open-label Phase 3 trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive ribociclib (400 mg daily for 3 weeks, followed by one week off, for 3 years) plus a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (letrozole 2.5 mg daily or anastrozole
Public Health and Social MedicineWorldwide fertility indicators between 1950 and 2021
Fertility indicators are key to defining tomorrow's social, health and geopolitical strategies. Here we present global fertility indicators for the period 1950-2021. Over this period, the global total fertility rate has more than halved. The number of live births worldwide peaked in 2016, at 142 million, and has been declining ever since. Fertility rates are falling in every country and territory
Gastroenterology and HepatologyFluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis
Fluid resuscitation has demonstrated positive effects in acute pancreatitis. However, there is no consensus on the ideal type of intravenous fluid and infusion rate to achieve optimal patient outcomes. In this systematic literature review and meta-analysis, researchers compiled data from 12 studies, conducted between 2005 and 2023. Analyses revealed improved clinical outcomes with low versus moder
NeurologyOpioid use and depression after SCI
In this cohort study, researchers examined the relationships between pain intensity, opioid use and opioid abuse with depressive symptom severity and major depression in patients, with spinal cord injury. A total of 918 participants were included in the study, all with spinal cord injury with incomplete recovery. Patients were 57.5 years old on average, and were included on average 24.4 years afte
HematologyIL-41 in resistance to Kawasaki disease treatments
In this study, researchers examined the importance of IL-41 in clinical parameters and treatment resistance in Kawasaki disease. A total of 93 children with the disease were included. Serum IL-41 levels were significantly increased in children resistant to Kawasaki disease treatments. Serum IL-41 levels were positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and C-reacti
OncologyPredicting lesion volume in primary hyperparathyroidism
Primary hyperparathyroidism is a surgically treated endocrine disorder. Researchers assume a correlation between lesion size and preoperative clinical data. In this study, researchers attempted to predict lesion volume from preoperative clinical data. Removed parathyroid gland volume was used as the primary endpoint, and associations with preoperative clinical data were assessed by multivariate an
PediatricsDiagnosis and treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents
The first systematic review provides an overview of available diagnostic tools for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. A total of 231 studies were included, having evaluated: parent ratings, teacher ratings, youth self-reports, clinician tools, neuropsychological tests, biological samples, EEG and neuroimaging. Several tools showed promising diagnostic perf
Gastroenterology and HepatologyUltra-processed foods and irritable bowel syndrome
In this large-scale prospective study, British researchers examined the long-term risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome in association with the consumption of ultra-processed foods. A total of 178,711 participants were included in the study and followed for a median of 11.3 years. Ultra-processed foods accounted for 21.0% of the total diet. Of the participants, 2,690 developed irritable bowe
Urology-nephrologyNDNF in syphilis nephropathy
In this case study, researchers report the case of a 61-year-old man who developed nephrotic syndrome following secondary membranous nephropathy associated with syphilis. With antibiotic treatment of syphilis, the patient showed remission of the nephrotic syndrome. Pathologically, the target antigen of immune complexes accumulated on glomerular basement membranes in syphilis-induced secondary neph
InfectiologyPhage resistance, a brake on the development of phage therapy
Phage therapy is a promising anti-infective option for combating antimicrobial resistance. However, its clinical use is compromised by the potential emergence of phage resistance. A better understanding of phage resistance mechanisms and their influence on the efficacy of phage-antibiotic combinations is crucial. In this study, researchers investigated phage resistance mechanisms in the bacterium