Teen media exposure associated with depression symptoms in young adulthood Exposure to more tele-vision and other electronic media during the teenage years appears to be associated with developing depression symptoms in young adulthood, especially among men, according to a new US report. The report followed a study by doctors of the exposure to electronic media [...]
Older people who are cared for in specialist geriatric units have a better chance of returning home after discharge than those cared for in conventional hospital units, a Spanish study has found. The study’s authors also found that such elderly patients are more likely to remain mobile and be able to carry out usual daily [...]
Use of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has the potential to expose patients to high doses of radiation, and methods available to reduce radiation dose are not frequently used, according to a new study. The 64-slice CCTA has emerged as a useful diagnostic imaging method for the assessment of coronary artery disease and has been [...]
A simple measurement of resting pulse predicts coronary events in women independently of physical activity and common risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, a new study has found. Previous studies have shown that resting heart rate predicts coronary events in men. But, for women, the relationship between heart rate and coronary events or [...]
Dr Patrick Manning writes about the prevalence of asthma in Ireland and outlines the best methods of diagnosing the condition and ways to manage more difficult-to-treat cases. About 5 per cent of the adult population has asthma with an increasing prevalence in the over 65s. The overall Irish population of asthma prevalence (adults and children), [...]
Dr Donal Reddan and Dr Austin Stack, Consultants in Nephrology, explain how the results of the AVOID study have increased our understanding of direct renin inhibition. Over the past two decades, a large body of evidence has accumulated on the therapeutic efficacy of agents that block the renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system and, in so doing, improve the [...]
Dr Eoin Galavan and Dr Adam Meisleman write that not only does the psychological approach work in treating depression, it also saves valuable resources. At any given time in Ireland, there are approximately 170,000 people over 15 experiencing clinically significant depressive disorders, with many more likely to be experiencing ‘sub clinical’ levels of depression. The [...]
Using a measure of the hormone N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to guide therapy for older patients with heart failure did not improve overall clinical or quality of life outcomes compared to patients receiving conventional, symptom-guided therapy, according to a new Swiss-led study. BNP is produced predominantly by the heart muscle cells, and levels of [...]
Children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with certain genetic variations can have a different response to anti-cancer treatment than other patients, says a new study. Doctors led by researchers at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the US conducted a study to identify genetic factors that may affect treatment response in ALL. They tested single [...]
Dr Clare Thornley writes that the traditional Chinese practice of acupuncture has a place in modern Western medicine, especially when it comes to providing pain relief for patients. Like it or not, acupuncture is growing ever more popular in Ireland. Many of those in the mainstream medical profession still view this ancient discipline and its [...]
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