Monthly Archives: May 2019


Low Cholesterol Good for Vessels but Bad for Nerves?

A cross-sectional, prospective cohort study in Germany suggests that low serum cholesterol levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). The study included 100 T2D patients (mean age 64.6 years; 68 male) from June 1, 2015, to March 31, 2018. Quantification of the nerve’s […]


Step Counts Matter

A US prospective cohort study in older women showed that more steps taken per day are associated with lower mortality rates until approximately 7500 steps/day. The study included 18 289 women by wearing an accelerometer during waking hours for 7 days between 2011 and 2015. 16 741 (mean age 72.0) were compliant […]


Recommendation against Thyroid Hormones in Adults with SCH

An international panel issues a strong recommendation against thyroid hormones in adults with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH, elevated TSH levels and normal free T4 levels). It does not apply to women who are trying to become pregnant or patients with TSH >20 mIU/L. It may not apply to patients with severe […]


As-Needed Budesonide–Formoterol on Par with Maintenance Therapy for Mild Asthma

A 52-week, randomized, open-label, controlled trial revealed that budesonide–formoterol used as needed was superior to albuterol used as needed and on par with budesonide maintenance for the prevention of asthma exacerbations. A total of 675 patients were randomly assigned to the albuterol (100 μg as needed for asthma symptoms) group; […]


Glucosamine Supplement Linked to Lower CVD Risk

A UK prospective cohort study suggested that habitual use of glucosamine supplement to relieve osteoarthritis pain might also be related to lower risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) events. The study enrolled 466 039 participants from 2006 to 2010. During a median follow-up of 7 years, there were 10 204 incident CVD events, […]


Dietary Change Reduced Breast Cancer Mortality

A US randomized, controlled clinical trial revealed that a dietary change with increased vegetable, fruit, and grain intake reduced the risk of death from breast cancer in postmenopausal women. A total of 48,835 postmenopausal women, aged 50-79 years, with no previous breast cancer and dietary fat intake ≥32% of total […]


BD’s Polygenic Genetic Architecture

A genome-wide study of bipolar disorder (BD) revealed an extensive polygenic genetic architecture of the disease, implicate brain calcium channels and neurotransmitter function in BD etiology, and confirmed that BD is part of a spectrum of highly correlated psychiatric and mood disorders. The study included 20,352 cases and 31,358 controls […]


ATTR Cardiomyopathy Drug Approved

The US FDA approved tafamidis meglumine (Vyndaqel) and tafamidis (Vyndamax) for the treatment of wild-type or hereditary transthyretin amyloid (ATTR) cardiomyopathy based on a trial that showed a significant reduction in mortality, cardiovascular hospitalizations, and in decline in functional capacity and quality of life. The multicenter, international, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase […]


Warnings Added to Common Sleep Pills

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring a Boxed Warning, the most prominent warning, to be added to certain common prescription insomnia medicines because of sleep behaviors, including sleepwalking, sleep driving, and engaging in other activities while not fully awake. These complex sleep behaviors have also resulted in deaths. […]