Clare Lomas
Heavy alcohol use in adolescence alters brain development
Young people who drink heavily throughout their teenage years risk altering the development of the brain, say Finnish researchers.
Children in low income countries have higher risk of death from emergency surgery
The likelihood of dying after emergency abdominal surgery is up to seven times higher for a child in a poor country than for a child in a rich nation, new research suggests.
Antipsychotic drug use increases mortality risk in people with Alzheimer’s disease
Antipsychotic drug use is associated with a 60% increased risk of mortality among people with Alzheimer’s disease, new study results suggest.
Narcolepsy drug could help food addicts lose weight
A drug used to treat sleep disorder narcolepsy could help people who are addicted to food to lose weight, say UK researchers.
Starting testosterone treatment increases risk of blood clots
Starting testosterone treatment is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), that peaks within six months then gradually declines, new study results suggest.
Lack of supporting evidence for claims about fertility treatments
UK fertility clinics are making unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of treatment beyond standard IVF procedures, say researchers from the University of Oxford’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine.
Reduce intake of saturated fats to stave off coronary heart disease
Replacing major saturated fatty acids with unsaturated fats, whole grain carbohydrates or plant proteins is an effective approach for preventing coronary heart disease, say researchers.
No evidence that taking vitamin D supplements prevents disease
Current evidence does not support the use of vitamin D supplements to prevent disease, say researchers from the University of Aberdeen and the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
Impact of medication errors ‘surprisingly low’ in nursing home residents
The serious impact of medication errors on nursing home residents is ‘surprisingly low’, despite these errors being common, say Australian researchers.
Single episode of sleep apnoea compromises blood pressure
A single bout of sleep apnoea is enough to impact the body's ability to regulate blood pressure, suggest researchers in Canada.
Enhanced diabetes service effective in preventing hospital admissions
Enhanced services provided by GP surgeries are just as effective as specialist services at keeping people with type 2 diabetes out of hospital, say researchers in Leicester.
Smokers under 50 have eightfold increased risk of heart attack
Smokers under the age of 50 are more than eight times as likely as non-smokers to have a heart attack, say researchers in Sheffield.
Blood test could predict best lung cancer treatment
A blood test could predict how well patients with small-cell lung cancer will respond to treatment, say researchers from the University of Manchester.
Cytosponge test could replace endoscopies for people with Barrett’s oesophagus
A ‘sponge on a string’ pill test can identify people with Barrett’s oesophagus who are at low risk of developing oesophageal cancer, say University of Cambridge researchers.
Combining fish oil supplements with exercise improves muscle function in older women
Combining omega-3 supplements with a resistance exercise training programme can improve muscle function in older women, say researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Significant decrease in parents’ income following childhood cancer diagnosis
Childhood cancer adversely affects parents’ income and employment years after the child’s diagnosis, say researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet.
Health anxiety linked to increased risk of heart disease
People who needlessly worry that they have, or will develop, serious illness could be...
Physiotherapy of no benefit to patients with ankle sprains
Physiotherapy is no more effective than basic self-management for patients with simple ankle sprains, new study results suggest.