Medical Bulletin 19/January/2024

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Enlarged breast tissue in men (gynaecomastia) linked to heightened risk of death

Men with enlarged breast tissue, not caused by excess weight—a condition formally known as gynaecomastia—may be at heightened risk of an early death before the age of 75, suggests the first study of its kind, published online in the open access journal BMJ Open.

Those with a pre-existing risk factor, such as cancer or circulatory, lung, and gut diseases before diagnosis seem to be most vulnerable, the findings indicate.

Enlarged breast tissue in men is usually caused by a hormone imbalance and affects around a third to around two thirds of men, depending on age. It is distinct from what is often dubbed ‘man boobs’ (pseudogynecomastia), usually associated with overweight/obesity.

The development of gynaecomastia can occur at any age, but has three distinct peaks across the life course, prompted by pronounced changes in sex hormone levels in the neonatal period, during puberty, and at older ages, note the researchers.

Reference: Enlarged breast tissue in men (gynaecomastia) linked to heightened risk of death; BMJ Open; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076608

Video gamers worldwide may be risking irreversible hearing loss and/or tinnitus

Video gamers worldwide may be risking irreversible hearing loss and/or tinnitus—persistent ringing/buzzing in the ears—finds a systematic review of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Public Health.

And given the popularity of these games, greater public health efforts are needed to raise awareness of the potential risks, they urge.

While headphones, earbuds, and music venues have been recognised as sources of potentially unsafe sound levels, relatively little attention has been paid to the effects of video games, including e-sports, on hearing loss, say the researchers.

 Reference: Video gamers worldwide may be risking irreversible hearing loss and/or tinnitus; BMJ Public Health; DOI:10.1136/bmjph-2023-000253

Diets rich in plant protein may help women stay healthy as they age

Protein, especially protein from plant-based sources, develop fewer chronic diseases and are more likely to be healthier overall as they age, according to a study led by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University and published Jan. 17 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Analyzing self-reported data from more than 48,000 women, the researchers saw notably less heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and cognitive and mental health decline, in those who included more protein in their diets from sources such as fruits, vegetables, bread, beans, legumes, and pasta, compared to those who ate less.

Reference: Diets rich in plant protein may help women stay healthy as they age; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.11.010