Medical Bulletin 18/August/2022

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Are low blood urate levels linked to a higher risk of premature death?

New research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology suggests that adults with low blood levels of urate, a breakdown product of metabolism, may be at higher risk of having low skeletal muscle mass and strength and may face a higher risk of early death.

The study used 1999–2006 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among 13,979 participants aged 20 years and older, low blood urate concentrations were associated with low lean mass, underweight body mass index, and higher rates of weight loss. Low blood urate was associated with a 61% higher risk of death (through 2015) before adjusting for body composition, but risk was non-significant after adjusting for body composition and weight loss.

Ref: Joshua F. Baker et. al,Associations between low serum urate, body composition, and mortality,Arthritis & Rheumatology,10.1002/art.42301

How should Pollen Food Syndrome be diagnosed and managed?

The British Society of Allergy & Clinical Immunology Standards of Care Committee has developed a guideline for diagnosing and managing PFS.

The guideline, which is published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy, notes that it's essential to distinguish PFS from a primary allergy to peanuts, tree nuts, or fruit. Management focuses on avoiding known trigger foods, which may appear to be simple, but can be difficult if coupled with a pre-existing food allergy, or for individuals following a vegetarian/vegan diet.

Ref: BSACI guideline for the diagnosis and management of Pollen Food Syndrome in the UK, Clinical & Experimental Allergy,10.1111/cea.14208 ,17-Aug-2022

Research method predicts a region's likelihood of having fish with toxic levels of methylmercury

New research published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry may help environmental resource management officials predict which regions are likely to have fish with high concentrations of this toxin, without the need for extensive testing.

Investigators found that 72% of the variance in average concentrations of methylmercury in largemouth bass between regions of the Southeastern U.S. could be explained by the percent coverage of land by evergreen forests, emergent herbaceous wetlands, and pasture/hay.

Ref: Ray Drenner et. al,Effect of Land Cover on Ecoregion-Scale Spatial Patterns of Mercury Contamination of Largemouth Bass in the Southeastern US,Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry,10.1002/etc.5426,17-Aug-2022

Could blood marker predict the risk of osteoporotic hip fracture in men?

In new research published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, elevated blood levels of a certain chemokine, or small signaling protein, that promotes osteoclast formation were linked with a higher risk of hip fracture in men.

The study included 55 men and 119 women who had experienced a hip fracture an average of 6.3 years after their blood was collected. The participants were matched individually to controls who did not develop hip fractures.

Ref: Woon-Puay Koh et. al,CXCL9 predicts the risk of osteoporotic hip fracture in a prospective cohort of Chinese men,Journal ofosteoclast formation,10.1002/jbmr.4646