Health & Medicine
Unlocking iodine’s true potential
Despite it being a cornerstone antibacterial application in hospitals, ‘iodine’ is often used with reservations about staining and toxicity. Such reservations have historical roots founded on unfortunate misconceptions that also mask the remarkable properties of an iodine solution’s active agent – molecular iodine. Dr Jack Kessler, Douglas C Spitz, and colleagues at I2Pure, USA, have demonstrated that molecular iodine is […]
Should pre-anaesthesia consultations be done telephonically?
Anaesthesiologists play a crucial role in preparing a patient ahead of surgery, and not just physically. Pre-anaesthesia consultations are an opportunity to engage with patients, involve them in important choices, and consider these when making diagnostic, therapeutic, or palliative care decisions. Dr Sibylle Kietaibl at the Evangelical Hospital Vienna in Austria suggests such consultations should also consider patient preferences around […]
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Co-existence of hepatosteatosis and skeletal muscle fat infiltration
Accumulation of fat in the liver (hepatosteatosis) and muscle (myosteatosis) affects normal physiological functioning, leading to poorer health outcomes. But what is the concurrence of these two conditions in the general population, and are there common underlying mechanisms? Professor Julie Pasco and colleagues at Deakin University and Barwon Health in Australia investigate these metabolic alterations in a population-based study providing […]
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Botulinum neurotoxin type A resistance: An emerging problem
Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A), often referred to as ‘Botox’, is commonly used to treat medical conditions and increasingly in cosmetic procedures. However, long-term use and high doses of BoNT-A may lead to immunoresistance, limiting its future therapeutic benefit. A panel of experts including Dr Mary Dingley, Cosmetic Medicine Centre, Australia, is addressing this emerging issue. Its published recommendations offer a […]
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The impact of body lotions on the skin microbiome and ceramides
Moisturising products can help improve the look and feel of dry skin, but little is known about how these products may impact the bacterial ecosystem of the skin, the skin microbiome. Researchers Dr Barry Murphy and Dr Andrew Mayes from Unilever R&D explored the changes in skin health and the associated microbiome after using a body lotion for five weeks. […]
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How Spiritual Fitness prevents Alzheimer’s disease
Spiritual Fitness (SF) is a new concept in medicine that combines multiple aspects of religious involvement, psychological wellbeing, and spiritual evolution. Research now reveals that development of SF helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As shown by Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD, President and Medical Director of the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, Kirtan Kriya, a safe, 12-minute-a-day meditation practice, facilitates that […]
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Personalised strategies for cochlear implant surgery and hearing rehabilitation
Hearing loss is a common problem that usually develops with older age, affecting communication and making everyday life extremely difficult. If left untreated, it can lead to memory loss, social isolation, and mental health problems. Cochlear implants (CI) are an effective solution where hearing aids can’t help, but they are not fitted as often as they could be, as clinicians […]
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Multiple sclerosis: Caregiver involvement may improve patient care and treatment
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease with unpredictable progression, causing huge distress to the entire family of people living with the disease. Professor Jürg Kesselring at the Department of Neurology & Neurorehabilitation, Kliniken Valens in Switzerland, reviews the discussions he and other internationally acclaimed neurologists participated in regarding caregiver involvement in doctor consultations for people with MS. Although such an […]
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Genetic evidence implicates respiratory muscle dysfunction in SIDS
The SIDS-Critical Diaphragm Failure (SIDS-CDF) hypothesis posits that all SIDS risk factors either increase the workload of the diaphragm or reduce its force-generating capacity, and that while SIDS has many contributing factors, it has one cause, namely the failure of the vital respiratory pump. Several SIDS risk factors can impair diaphragm function, but especially noteworthy are the prone sleeping position […]
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Electrical eye activity reveals early sight damage in alcohol addicts
People addicted to alcohol often suffer loss of vision through damage to the light receptors and nerves in the eyes. Scientists have previously shown interest in measuring the electric currents in the brain related to vision, but the information gathered has not yet made an impact on preventing further sight loss. Professor Haolin Zhang at the Beijing University of Technology, […]
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