Clinical Predictors Could Guide Lithium Dosage in Bipolar Disorder
THURSDAY, May 19, 2022 (HealthDay News) — A model comprising six clinical variables could be used to guide lithium dosage, according to a study published in the June issue of The Lancet Psychiatry.Vincent Millischer, M.D., from the Karolinska Institu…
Learn MoreAge-Specific Dementia Risk Scores Developed for Mid, Late Life
THURSDAY, May 19, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Age-specific dementia risk scores should prioritize different risk factors in mid and late life, according to a study published online May 18 in Neurology.Emer R. McGrath, Ph.D., from the National University …
Learn MoreE-Cigarettes May Be Better Than Nicotine Patches for Pregnant Women
THURSDAY, May 19, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Electronic cigarettes may help women who are pregnant to stop smoking, according to a study published online May 16 in Nature Medicine.
Peter Hajek, Ph.D., from Queen Mary University of London, and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial in which 1,140 pregnant women who smoked were randomly assigned to e-cigarettes (569 women) or nicotine patches (571 women).
The researchers found that validated prolonged quit rates at the end of pregnancy did not significantly differ between the two groups (6.8 percent for e-cigarettes versus 4.4 percent with patches). During the study, some participants in the nicotine patch group also used e-cigarettes. When excluding abstinent participants who used nonallocated products, e-cigarettes were more effective than patches (6.8 versus 3.6 percent). Adverse events and birth outcomes were similar for both arms, although low birthweight (
“Given the questions that remain about the potential risks of nicotine in pregnancy, stopping smoking without nicotine-containing aids is preferable to switching to such products,” the authors write. “Only when the choice is between using nicotine products such as nicotine replacement therapy or e-cigarettes or continuing to smoke, the use of nicotine replacement therapy or e-cigarettes would be the recommended option.”
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Learn MoreRollout of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Saved Lives, Health Care Dollars
THURSDAY, May 19, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine contributed to substantial public health impact and vaccine-preventable cost savings in the first year of its U.S. rollout, according to a study published online May 15 in…
Learn MorePreexisting Cardiovascular Conditions Tied to Severe COVID-19 in Children
THURSDAY, May 19, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Some previous or preexisting cardiovascular conditions are associated with increased severity of COVID-19 among children, according to a study published online May 17 in JAMA Network Open.Louis Ehwerhemuepha,…
Learn MoreOutcomes of Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Compared by Surgeon Rank
THURSDAY, May 19, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Providing surgical fellows with operative autonomy does not appear to compromise long-term outcomes of abdominal wall reconstructions (AWRs), according to a study published online May 17 in JAMA Network Open….
Learn MoreMedicaid Expansion Affected Overall Survival Rates Among Cancer Patients
WEDNESDAY, May 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was associated with an increase in two-year overall survival among patients newly diagnosed with cancer, according to a study published online May 18 in…
Learn MoreSmokers Who Shift to Vaping May Improve Other Health Measures
WEDNESDAY, May 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Replacing combustible cigarettes with vaping in one’s 30s may be associated with key markers of healthy and successful aging, according to a study published in the May issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence.Ri…
Learn MoreMore Cases of Monkeypox Emerge in Portugal as Outbreak Widens
WEDNESDAY, May 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) — After four new cases of typically rare monkeypox infection were spotted in Britain earlier this week, the illness has now been confirmed in five young men in Portugal and 15 other suspected cases are being i…
Learn MoreCosmetic Outcome Comparable With 1-, 2-cm Suture Spacing
WEDNESDAY, May 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) — One-centimeter suture spacing is not associated with improved cosmetic outcomes compared with 2-centimeter suture spacing on wounds, according to a study published online April 27 in the British Journal of D…
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