Credit: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilize the knee joint. Injuries to the ACL, often called a “tear” or a “rupture,” are common in sport. While a ruptured ACL has…
Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of chronic health conditions and premature death. Severe obesity in early years can reduce life expectancy by half, with a child at age 4 having a life expectancy of 39 if not losing weight. Early weight loss can add years to their lives, with studies showing that…
In Arkansas, sixth-grade students are measured for height, weight, and BMI in schools as part of an anti-obesity initiative. These measurements are sent home to parents in a letter, categorizing students as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. However, studies have shown that these letters have no effect on weight loss and can lead to weight…
In a recent Nature Medicine study, researchers compare the effectiveness of personalized dietary programs (PDP) and general advice on cardiometabolic health. Study: Effects of a personalized nutrition program on cardiometabolic health: A randomized controlled trial. Image Credit: Inside Creative House / Shutterstock.com The role of diet in disease risk Diet and lifestyle-related interventions are effective non-pharmaceutical approaches…
ARCA biopharma and Oruka Therapeutics have merged and will now operate under Oruka Therapeutics. The merger agreement includes the combining of all stocks which will now be traded on the Nasdaq under ORKA. The companies anticipate that the merger will fund Oruka’s leading programs, ORKA-001 and ORKA-002, through proof-of-concept. Oruka plans to enter clinical trials…
The American Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease in 2013, sparking a rise in the popularity of injectable weight loss medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide. However, concerns about fatphobia and weight stigma have also increased with the use of these medications. Experts argue that it is important to consider various factors, such as body…
A study found that dialysis clinics treating patients with high social risk faced higher financial penalties in the ESRD Treatment Choices model. CMS levied fines for poor performance in the first year of its ESRD Treatment Choices model against dialysis clinics with higher proportions of patients at social risk. The model includes dialysis facilities and…
John Holman Bentley Williams was born in Eastbourne, the son of a GP, and went on to study medicine at Oxford after completing national service in the Royal Air Force. He was part of the Oxford athletics team as a hurdler and witnessed Roger Bannister’s historic four-minute mile in 1954. After qualifying as a doctor,…
Irish researchers have made a breakthrough in treating cystic fibrosis in babies as young as one month old with a drug called Ivacaftor. This drug targets the underlying cause of the condition and has been shown to be safe and effective in newborns. The earlier the treatment is started, the better chance there is of…
The field of immunization has made significant progress in recent years, with advancements in vaccine development, particularly through viral vector manufacturing. This technique has accelerated the production of vaccines for diseases like measles and HPV. The development of vaccines has drastically reduced the incidence of infectious diseases and led to eradication in some cases. The…
