Medical Bulletin 4/October/2022 - Video
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Overview
Here are the top medical news for the day:
Diagnosis of young onset dementia increases the risk of suicide
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and University of Nottingham undertook a population-based case-control study of medical records from 2001-2019 to determine if there was a link between dementia diagnosis and suicide risk. The researchers found that nearly 2% of patients with a dementia diagnosis died from suicide. The results showed that patients were at a high risk of suicide after a dementia diagnosis if aged under 65, during the first three months after a diagnosis, or if they had known psychiatric illness.
In the UK, around 850,000 people are currently living with dementia and it's the leading cause of death. Around 42,000 of these have young onset dementia Only around two-thirds of those living with dementia have received a diagnosis, and improving access to a timely and accurate dementia diagnosis is a major NHS priority. However, the expansion of memory clinics for diagnosing dementia has not always been accompanied by additional resources for supporting patients in the difficult period after they are given a diagnosis.
Reference:
Danah Alothman, Timothy Card, Sarah Lewis, Edward Tyrrell, Andrew W Fogarty, Charles Marshall. Risk of suicide after dementia diagnosis: a longitudinal population-based study. In press, JAMA Neurology.DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.3094
Myocarditis or pericarditis incidence following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination
In this population-based surveillance, the authors found that myocarditis/pericarditis 0 to 7 days after mRNA vaccination in persons aged 5 to 39 years occurred in approximately 1 in 200,000 doses after the first dose and 1 in 30,000 doses after second dose of the primary series, and 1 in 50,000 doses after the first booster. The incidence varied markedly by age and sex, however, with a disproportionate number of cases occurring in male persons, notably among adolescents after dose 2 and first boosters.
The authors observed incidence after first boosters was generally higher than after dose 1, consistent with reporting from Israel. However, in contrast to this earlier report, they did not consistently observe a lower incidence after the first booster than after the second dose in the primary vaccination series. Incidence rates of myocarditis/pericarditis observed in the VSD population were higher, particularly after first boosters, than those reported to the U.S.
Ref:
Oster et al, Annals of Internal Medicine, DOI: 10.7326/M22-2274
Which grains can affect your risk of premature heart disease
In one of the first studies to examine the relationship between different types of grain intake and premature coronary artery disease in the Middle East, researchers found a higher intake of refined grain was associated with an increased risk of premature coronary artery disease in an Iranian population, while eating whole grains was associated with reduced risk.
According to the researchers, previous epidemiological studies have reported an association between different types of grain intake with the risk of coronary artery disease. The current study evaluated the association between refined and whole grains consumption and risk of PCAD in an Iranian population.
Reference:
Mohammad Amin Khajavi et al,AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
Link between prenatal phthalate exposure to reduced childhood lung function
A recent study has found that exposure to phthalates in the womb is associated with reduced lung function during childhood. The findings of the study, published in Environmental Pollution ,support the European Union's current restrictions on the use of these substances.
Phthalates are chemical compounds that are widely used as plasticisers, as well as in lacquers and varnishes. They are found in a wide variety of consumer products, ranging from toys to food packaging, clothing, detergents, cosmetics, solvents, etc. Over time, phthalates in these products leach into the surrounding environment-for example, into the air, dust and food-making them virtually ubiquitous. Moreover, human exposure to phthalates starts as early as in utero, given that these compounds are able to cross the placental barrier. Phthalates act as endocrine disruptors and have been associated with numerous developmental and reproductive health problems.
Reference:
Magda Bosch de Basea et al,Environmental Pollution, DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119833
Speakers
Isra Zaman
B.Sc Life Sciences, M.Sc Biotechnology, B.Ed
Isra Zaman is a Life Science graduate from Daulat Ram College, Delhi University, and a postgraduate in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a flair for writing, and her roles at Medicaldialogues include that of a Sr. content writer and a medical correspondent. Her news pieces cover recent discoveries and updates from the health and medicine sector. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.
