mi

Can You Have a Migraine Without Aura?

Title: Can You Have a Migraine Without Aura?
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 6/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/16/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

What Is a Brainstem Migraine?

Title: What Is a Brainstem Migraine?
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 6/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/16/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

How Can I Stop Menstrual Migraines?

Title: How Can I Stop Menstrual Migraines?
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 6/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/16/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

What Are Symptoms of a Silent Migraine?

Title: What Are Symptoms of a Silent Migraine?
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 6/17/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/17/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

What Does a Neurologist Do for a Vestibular Migraine?

Title: What Does a Neurologist Do for a Vestibular Migraine?
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 6/22/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/22/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Acupuncture Might Ease Tension Headaches

Title: Acupuncture Might Ease Tension Headaches
Category: Health News
Created: 6/23/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/23/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Pandemic Brought More Woes for Kids Prone to Headaches

Title: Pandemic Brought More Woes for Kids Prone to Headaches
Category: Health News
Created: 8/9/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/10/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Breakfast Might Be Good for a Child's Emotional Health, Too

Title: Breakfast Might Be Good for a Child's Emotional Health, Too
Category: Health News
Created: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

What Are the Benefits of Drinking Tea With Milk?

Title: What Are the Benefits of Drinking Tea With Milk?
Category: Health and Living
Created: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

U.S. Government Extends Baby Formula Waivers, Rebates for WIC Families

Title: U.S. Government Extends Baby Formula Waivers, Rebates for WIC Families
Category: Health News
Created: 8/25/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Gene Tests Could Spot 1 Million Americans at Risk of High Cholesterol

Title: Gene Tests Could Spot 1 Million Americans at Risk of High Cholesterol
Category: Health News
Created: 5/18/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/18/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Mental Health Issues Can Plague Families of Kids With Type 1 Diabetes

Title: Mental Health Issues Can Plague Families of Kids With Type 1 Diabetes
Category: Health News
Created: 8/5/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/5/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Blood Protein Might Predict Future Diabetes, Cancer Risk

Title: Blood Protein Might Predict Future Diabetes, Cancer Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 8/5/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/5/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Even Chores, Socializing Might Lower Your Odds for Dementia

Title: Even Chores, Socializing Might Lower Your Odds for Dementia
Category: Health News
Created: 7/28/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/29/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

3 Big Pharmacy Chains Must Pay $650 Million to Ohio Counties for Role in Opioid Crisis

Title: 3 Big Pharmacy Chains Must Pay $650 Million to Ohio Counties for Role in Opioid Crisis
Category: Health News
Created: 8/18/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/18/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

FDA Issues Warning to Maker of Illegal Nicotine Gummies

Title: FDA Issues Warning to Maker of Illegal Nicotine Gummies
Category: Health News
Created: 8/19/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/19/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

CDC Investigating E. coli Outbreak in Ohio, Michigan

Title: CDC Investigating E. coli Outbreak in Ohio, Michigan
Category: Health News
Created: 8/18/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/19/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Fecal Transplant Treatments Could Transmit Monkeypox, FDA Warns

Title: Fecal Transplant Treatments Could Transmit Monkeypox, FDA Warns
Category: Health News
Created: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Here's How New Federal Legislation Might Cut Your Drug Costs

Title: Here's How New Federal Legislation Might Cut Your Drug Costs
Category: Health News
Created: 8/12/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/15/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Lamisil (terbinafine) vs. Lotrimin (clotrimazole)

Title: Lamisil (terbinafine) vs. Lotrimin (clotrimazole)
Category: Medications
Created: 6/10/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/10/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

7 Surprising Goat Milk Soap Benefits

Title: 7 Surprising Goat Milk Soap Benefits
Category: Health and Living
Created: 8/12/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/12/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

As Pandemic Eases, It's Boom Times for Cosmetic Surgeons

Title: As Pandemic Eases, It's Boom Times for Cosmetic Surgeons
Category: Health News
Created: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Men?

Title: What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Men?
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 7/15/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/15/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Here Is Why Men Should Take Vitamin B12: 10 Health Benefits

Title: Here Is Why Men Should Take Vitamin B12: 10 Health Benefits
Category: Health and Living
Created: 7/27/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/27/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Pets Have Helped People With HIV Through Two Pandemics

Title: Pets Have Helped People With HIV Through Two Pandemics
Category: Health News
Created: 6/23/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/23/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

HIV Testing Plummeted During Pandemic

Title: HIV Testing Plummeted During Pandemic
Category: Health News
Created: 6/27/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/27/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Menopause Might Worsen Jaw Pain in Women

Title: Menopause Might Worsen Jaw Pain in Women
Category: Health News
Created: 5/17/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/17/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Shorter Menstrual Cycles May Affect Timing of Menopause

Title: Shorter Menstrual Cycles May Affect Timing of Menopause
Category: Health News
Created: 8/25/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

furosemide

Title: furosemide
Category: Medications
Created: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/10/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Health Conditions a Dentist Might Find That Have Nothing to Do With Your Teeth

Title: Health Conditions a Dentist Might Find That Have Nothing to Do With Your Teeth
Category: Health News
Created: 8/11/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/12/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

9 Vitamins That May Help With Vaginal Dryness

Title: 9 Vitamins That May Help With Vaginal Dryness
Category: Health and Living
Created: 8/3/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/3/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

New Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Shows Promise in Trial

Title: New Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Shows Promise in Trial
Category: Health News
Created: 8/25/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Ondansetron (Zofran) vs. Dramamine

Title: Ondansetron (Zofran) vs. Dramamine
Category: Medications
Created: 7/24/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/2/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

peppermint oil

Title: peppermint oil
Category: Medications
Created: 8/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/16/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

You Could Live 9 Years Longer in Hawaii Than in Mississippi, New Data Shows

Title: You Could Live 9 Years Longer in Hawaii Than in Mississippi, New Data Shows
Category: Health News
Created: 8/23/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/23/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Prehistoric People Drank Animal Milk, Despite Lactose Intolerance

Title: Prehistoric People Drank Animal Milk, Despite Lactose Intolerance
Category: Health News
Created: 7/27/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/28/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Study Casts Doubt on 'Chemical Imbalance' Theory of Depression

Title: Study Casts Doubt on 'Chemical Imbalance' Theory of Depression
Category: Health News
Created: 8/9/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/9/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

damiana

Title: damiana
Category: Medications
Created: 8/15/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/15/2022 12:00:00 AM




mi

Epidemiology of severe asthma in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Severe asthma significantly impacts a minority of children with asthma, leading to frequent symptoms, hospitalisations and potential long-term health consequences. However, accurate global data on severe asthma epidemiology is lacking. This study aims to address this gap, providing data on severe asthma epidemiology, regional differences and associated comorbidities.

Methods

We conducted a rigorous systematic review and meta-analysis following a registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD42023472845). We searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for cohort or cross-sectional studies published since 2003, evaluating severe asthma incidence and prevalence in children. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using STROBE guidelines.

Results

Nine studies investigating European children with asthma (aged 5–18 years) were included in the meta-analysis. No significant publication bias was found. The overall severe asthma prevalence in children with asthma was 3% (95% CI 1–6; I2=99.9%; p<0.001), with no significant difference between males and females. Prevalence estimates varied significantly depending on the diagnostic criteria used (Global Initiative for Asthma: 6%; European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society: 1%; other: 3%). Because none of the examined studies were prospectively designed, incidence rates could not be determined.

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta-analysis provide the first robust assessment of severe asthma prevalence among European children. Our findings underscore the need for comprehensive research to address knowledge gaps in severe asthma, including determining incidence rates, standardising definitions, investigating regional differences and evaluating comorbidities and treatment strategies.




mi

Epidemiology of bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease characterised by permanent enlargement of the airways associated with cough, sputum production and a history of pulmonary exacerbations. In the past few years, incidence and prevalence of bronchiectasis have increased worldwide, possibly due to advances in imaging techniques and disease awareness, leading to increased socioeconomic burden and healthcare costs. Consistently, a mortality increase in bronchiectasis patient cohorts has been demonstrated in certain areas of the globe, with mortality rates of 16–24.8% over 4–5 years of follow-up. However, heterogeneity in epidemiological data is consistent, as reported prevalence in the general population ranges from 52.3 to more than 1000 per 100 000. Methodological flaws in the designs of available studies are likely to underestimate the proportion of people suffering from this condition worldwide and comparisons between different areas of the globe might be unreliable due to different assessment methods or local implementation of the same method in different contexts. Differences in disease severity associated with diverse geographical distribution of aetiologies, comorbidities and microbiology might explain an additional quota of heterogeneity. Finally, limited access to care in certain geographical areas is associated with both underestimation of the disease and increased severity and mortality. The aim of this review is to provide a snapshot of available real-world epidemiological data describing incidence and prevalence of bronchiectasis in the general population. Furthermore, data on mortality, healthcare burden and high-risk populations are provided. Finally, an analysis of the geographical distribution of determinants contributing to differences in bronchiectasis epidemiology is offered.




mi

Dynamic dysregulation of retrotransposons in neurodegenerative diseases at the single-cell level [RESOURCES]

Retrotransposable elements (RTEs) are common mobile genetic elements comprising ~42% of the human genome. RTEs play critical roles in gene regulation and function, but how they are specifically involved in complex diseases is largely unknown. Here, we investigate the cellular heterogeneity of RTEs using 12 single-cell transcriptome profiles covering three neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. We identify cell type marker RTEs in neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells that are related to these diseases. The differential expression analysis reveals the landscape of dysregulated RTE expression, especially L1s, in excitatory neurons of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Machine learning algorithms for predicting cell disease stage using a combination of RTE and gene expression features suggests dynamic regulation of RTEs in AD. Furthermore, we construct a single-cell atlas of retrotransposable elements in neurodegenerative disease (scARE) using these data sets and features. scARE has six feature analysis modules to explore RTE dynamics in a user-defined condition. To our knowledge, scARE represents the first systematic investigation of RTE dynamics at the single-cell level within the context of neurodegenerative diseases.




mi

Seamless, rapid, and accurate analyses of outbreak genomic data using split k-mer analysis [METHODS]

Sequence variation observed in populations of pathogens can be used for important public health and evolutionary genomic analyses, especially outbreak analysis and transmission reconstruction. Identifying this variation is typically achieved by aligning sequence reads to a reference genome, but this approach is susceptible to reference biases and requires careful filtering of called genotypes. There is a need for tools that can process this growing volume of bacterial genome data, providing rapid results, but that remain simple so they can be used without highly trained bioinformaticians, expensive data analysis, and long-term storage and processing of large files. Here we describe split k-mer analysis (SKA2), a method that supports both reference-free and reference-based mapping to quickly and accurately genotype populations of bacteria using sequencing reads or genome assemblies. SKA2 is highly accurate for closely related samples, and in outbreak simulations, we show superior variant recall compared with reference-based methods, with no false positives. SKA2 can also accurately map variants to a reference and be used with recombination detection methods to rapidly reconstruct vertical evolutionary history. SKA2 is many times faster than comparable methods and can be used to add new genomes to an existing call set, allowing sequential use without the need to reanalyze entire collections. With an inherent absence of reference bias, high accuracy, and a robust implementation, SKA2 has the potential to become the tool of choice for genotyping bacteria. SKA2 is implemented in Rust and is freely available as open-source software.




mi

Theoretical framework for the difference of two negative binomial distributions and its application in comparative analysis of sequencing data [METHODS]

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies have been instrumental in investigating biological questions at the bulk and single-cell levels. Comparative analysis of two HTS data sets often relies on testing the statistical significance for the difference of two negative binomial distributions (DOTNB). Although negative binomial distributions are well studied, the theoretical results for DOTNB remain largely unexplored. Here, we derive basic analytical results for DOTNB and examine its asymptotic properties. As a state-of-the-art application of DOTNB, we introduce DEGage, a computational method for detecting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in scRNA-seq data. DEGage calculates the mean of the sample-wise differences of gene expression levels as the test statistic and determines significant differential expression by computing the P-value with DOTNB. Extensive validation using simulated and real scRNA-seq data sets demonstrates that DEGage outperforms five popular DEG analysis tools: DEGseq2, DEsingle, edgeR, Monocle3, and scDD. DEGage is robust against high dropout levels and exhibits superior sensitivity when applied to balanced and imbalanced data sets, even with small sample sizes. We utilize DEGage to analyze prostate cancer scRNA-seq data sets and identify marker genes for 17 cell types. Furthermore, we apply DEGage to scRNA-seq data sets of mouse neurons with and without fear memory and reveal eight potential memory-related genes overlooked in previous analyses. The theoretical results and supporting software for DOTNB can be widely applied to comparative analyses of dispersed count data in HTS and broad research questions.




mi

Evolutionary dynamics of polyadenylation signals and their recognition strategies in protists [RESEARCH]

The poly(A) signal, together with auxiliary elements, directs cleavage of a pre-mRNA and thus determines the 3' end of the mature transcript. In many species, including humans, the poly(A) signal is an AAUAAA hexamer, but we recently found that the deeply branching eukaryote Giardia lamblia uses a distinct hexamer (AGURAA) and lacks any known auxiliary elements. Our discovery prompted us to explore the evolutionary dynamics of poly(A) signals and auxiliary elements in the eukaryotic kingdom. We use direct RNA sequencing to determine poly(A) signals for four protists within the Metamonada clade (which also contains G. lamblia) and two outgroup protists. These experiments reveal that the AAUAAA hexamer serves as the poly(A) signal in at least four different eukaryotic clades, indicating that it is likely the ancestral signal, whereas the unusual Giardia version is derived. We find that the use and relative strengths of auxiliary elements are also plastic; in fact, within Metamonada, species like G. lamblia make use of a previously unrecognized auxiliary element where nucleotides flanking the poly(A) signal itself specify genuine cleavage sites. Thus, despite the fundamental nature of pre-mRNA cleavage for the expression of all protein-coding genes, the motifs controlling this process are dynamic on evolutionary timescales, providing motivation for future biochemical and structural studies as well as new therapeutic angles to target eukaryotic pathogens.




mi

Mutational scanning of CRX classifies clinical variants and reveals biochemical properties of the transcriptional effector domain [RESEARCH]

The transcription factor (TF) cone-rod homeobox (CRX) is essential for the differentiation and maintenance of photoreceptor cell identity. Several human CRX variants cause degenerative retinopathies, but most are variants of uncertain significance. We performed a deep mutational scan (DMS) of nearly all possible single amino acid substitutions in CRX using a cell-based transcriptional reporter assay, curating a high-confidence list of nearly 2000 variants with altered transcriptional activity. In the structured homeodomain, activity scores closely aligned to a predicted structure and demonstrated position-specific constraints on amino acid substitution. In contrast, the intrinsically disordered transcriptional effector domain displayed a qualitatively different pattern of substitution effects, following compositional constraints without specific residue position requirements in the peptide chain. These compositional constraints were consistent with the acidic exposure model of transcriptional activation. We evaluated the performance of the DMS assay as a clinical variant classification tool using gold-standard classified human variants from ClinVar, identifying pathogenic variants with high specificity and moderate sensitivity. That this performance could be achieved using a synthetic reporter assay in a foreign cell type, even for a highly cell type-specific TF like CRX, suggests that this approach shows promise for DMS of other TFs that function in cell types that are not easily accessible. Together, the results of the CRX DMS identify molecular features of the CRX effector domain and demonstrate utility for integration into the clinical variant classification pipeline.




mi

Targeted and complete genomic sequencing of the major histocompatibility complex in haplotypic form of individual heterozygous samples [RESEARCH]

The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a ~4 Mb genomic segment on Chromosome 6 that plays a pivotal role in the immune response. Despite its importance in various traits and diseases, its complex nature makes it challenging to accurately characterize on a routine basis. We present a novel approach allowing targeted sequencing and de novo haplotypic assembly of the MHC region in heterozygous samples, using long-read sequencing technologies. Our approach is validated using two reference samples, two family trios, and an African-American sample. We achieved excellent coverage (96.6%–99.9% with at least 30x depth) and high accuracy (99.89%–99.99%) for the different haplotypes. This methodology offers a reliable and cost-effective method for sequencing and fully characterizing the MHC without the need for whole-genome sequencing, facilitating broader studies on this important genomic segment and having significant implications in immunology, genetics, and medicine.




mi

The chromatin tapestry as a framework for neurodevelopment [MINI-REVIEW]

The neuronal nucleus houses a meticulously organized genome. Within this structure, genetic material is not simply compacted but arranged into a precise and functional 3D chromatin landscape essential for cellular regulation. This mini-review highlights the importance of this chromatin landscape in healthy neurodevelopment, as well as the diseases that occur with aberrant chromatin architecture. We discuss insights into the fundamental mechanistic relationship between histone modifications, DNA methylation, and genome organization. We then discuss findings that reveal how these epigenetic features change throughout normal neurodevelopment. Finally, we highlight single-gene neurodevelopmental disorders that illustrate the interdependence of epigenetic features, showing how disruptions in DNA methylation or genome architecture can ripple across the entire epigenome. As such, we emphasize the importance of measuring multiple chromatin architectural aspects, as the disruption of one mechanism can likely impact others in the intricate epigenetic network. This mini-review underscores the vast gaps in our understanding of chromatin structure in neurodevelopmental diseases and the substantial research needed to understand the interplay between chromatin features and neurodevelopment.




mi

Wonca Europe 2023 Definition of General Practice/Family Medicine: New Needs New Content




mi

Only One Quarter of Family Physicians Are Very Satisfied with Their Electronic Health Records Platform

Two decades into the era of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), the promise of streamlining clinical care, reducing burden, and improving patient outcomes has yet to be realized. A cross-sectional family physician census conducted by the American Board of Family Medicine in 2022 and 2023 included self-reported physician EHR satisfaction. Of the nearly 10,000 responding family physicians, only one-in-four (26.2%) report being very satisfied and one-in-three (33.8%) were not satisfied. These low levels of satisfaction point to the need for greater transparency in the marketplace and pressure to increase user-centric EHR design.




mi

Sexual Misconduct by Board Certified Family Physicians

Purpose:

Sexual misconduct by physicians is a consequential violation of patient trust. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and patterns of sexual misconduct by physicians certified by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM).

Methods:

We described a cohort of current or formerly ABFM certified physicians ("Diplomates") disciplined for sexual misconduct in 2016 to 2022.

Results:

Ninety-four physicians, representing only 0.1% of ABFM Diplomates, were identified as having received disciplinary action(s) for reported sexual misconduct. These constituted 8.9% of the 1122 cases that resulted in a physician losing board certification or eligibility for any cause in 2016 to 2022. Ninety-three of the 94 physicians identified as male, with an average age of 56 (range 22 to 88 years). Eighty-nine percent of victims were female, and 90% were patients of the physician. Unwanted sexual behavior/assault occurred in more than half of the cases, whereas one third described an ongoing sexual relationship between patient and physician. Nearly 1 in 5 cases also included controlled substance prescribing. Seven cases involved minors. Noncontact ("grooming") behaviors were described in 34 cases, 28 of which included subsequent physical sexual behavior. A clinical setting was the site of misconduct in 84% of cases.

Conclusions:

Reports of sexual misconduct among board-certified family physicians are infrequent. However, any sexual misconduct by physicians is harmful to patients and the profession. The specialty should work to enhance education and change professional culture to mitigate this important problem.