Influenza may precipitate cardiovascular disease, but influenza typically peaks in winter, coinciding with other triggers of myocardial infarction (MI) such as low air temperature, high wind velocity, low atmospheric pressure, and short sunshine duration.. Weekly laboratory-confirmed influenza case reports were obtained from the Public Health Agency of Sweden from 2009 to 2016 and merged with… Continue reading Association of acute myocardial #infarction with #influenza: A nationwide observational study
Reducing #Antibiotic Prescribing in Primary Care for #Respiratory Illness
One-third of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions for pediatric acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are inappropriate. We evaluated a distance learning program’s effectiveness for reducing outpatient antibiotic prescribing for ARTI visits.. In this stepped-wedge clinical trial run from November 2015 to June 2018, we randomly assigned 19 pediatric practices belonging to the Pediatric Research in Office Settings… Continue reading Reducing #Antibiotic Prescribing in Primary Care for #Respiratory Illness
The rich have one more thing you don’t: Better #sleep
..Of the adults surveyed, only 55% of people living below the poverty threshold received seven to eight hours of sleep per night. For adults making 400% above the poverty threshold, that number rose to 66.6%. In 2014, the poverty threshold was $11,670 for a single-person household and $23,850 for a four-person household. ..Sleep affects many… Continue reading The rich have one more thing you don’t: Better #sleep
Elevated serum #procalcitonin levels and their association with the prognosis of patients with liver #cirrhosis
Bacterial infection is a major complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. Procalcitonin is an early diagnostic marker of bacterial infection. This study aimed to investigate the association between the serum procalcitonin levels and the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis.. The serum procalcitonin level was higher (≥0.05 ng/mL) in 151 (64%) patients, and it was significantly… Continue reading Elevated serum #procalcitonin levels and their association with the prognosis of patients with liver #cirrhosis
Mandated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (#BCG) vaccination predicts flattened curves for the spread of #COVID-19
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination may reduce the risk of a range of infectious diseases, and if so, it could protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we compared countries that mandated BCG vaccination until at least 2000 with countries that did not. To minimize any systematic effects of reporting biases, we analyzed the rate of… Continue reading Mandated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (#BCG) vaccination predicts flattened curves for the spread of #COVID-19
Selective and cross-reactive #SARS-CoV-2 #T cell epitopes in unexposed humans
Many unknowns exist about human immune responses to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. SARS-CoV-2 reactive CD4+ T cells have been reported in unexposed individuals, suggesting pre-existing cross-reactive T cell memory in 20-50% of people. However, the source of those T cells has been speculative. Using human blood samples derived before the SARS-CoV-2 virus was discovered in 2019,… Continue reading Selective and cross-reactive #SARS-CoV-2 #T cell epitopes in unexposed humans
Effect of Long-term Vitamin #D3 Supplementation vs Placebo on Risk of Depression or Clinically Relevant #Depressive Symptoms and on Change in Mood Scores A Randomized Clinical Trial
Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D have been associated with higher risk for depression later in life, but there have been few long-term, high-dose large-scale trials.. Randomized assignment in a 2 × 2 factorial design to vitamin D3 (2000 IU/d of cholecalciferol) and fish oil or placebo; 9181 were randomized to vitamin D3 and 9172 were randomized to… Continue reading Effect of Long-term Vitamin #D3 Supplementation vs Placebo on Risk of Depression or Clinically Relevant #Depressive Symptoms and on Change in Mood Scores A Randomized Clinical Trial
Associations between abdominal #obesity indices and #diabetic complications: Chinese visceral #adiposity index and neck circumference
Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, has been considered a risk factor for diabetic complications. Many abdominal obesity indices have been established, including neck circumference (NC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI) and the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI). However, studies investigating the associations between these indices and diabetic complications are limited.… Continue reading Associations between abdominal #obesity indices and #diabetic complications: Chinese visceral #adiposity index and neck circumference
Mild to moderate partial #sleep deprivation is associated with increased #impulsivity and decreased positive affect in young adults
The effects of mild–moderate partial sleep deprivation on affective and cognitive functioning were evaluated in a naturalistic home environment, mimicking short sleep typically caused by demands from work or society. A total of 52 healthy individuals aged 18–35 was included in an 11-day study protocol. Participants slept at home, and sleep patterns were observed using… Continue reading Mild to moderate partial #sleep deprivation is associated with increased #impulsivity and decreased positive affect in young adults
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