No benefit found in using broad-spectrum antibiotics as initial pneumonia treatment

Doctors who use drugs that target antibiotic-resistant bacteria as a first-line defense against pneumonia should probably reconsider this approach, according to a new study of more than 88,000 veterans hospitalized with the disease. The study, conducted by University of Utah Health and VA Salt Lake City Health Care System researchers, found that pneumonia patients given these medications in the first few days after hospitalization fared no better than those receiving standard medical care for the condition.
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Vaping changes oral microbiome, increasing risk for infection

Using e-cigarettes alters the mouth’s microbiome—the community of bacteria and other microorganisms—and makes users more prone to inflammation and infection, finds a new study led by researchers at NYU College of Dentistry.
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The best preoperative definition of cancer-related malnutrition depends on cancer type

The best approach for surgeons to identify malnourished cancer patients before they have a cancer operation may be specifically related to the type of cancer the patient has, according to researchers who found that common definitions of malnutrition do not apply equally to all cancers in assessment of preoperative risk. The study is published as an “article in press” on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website ahead of print.
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King’s researchers launch largest ever study into eating disorders

Researchers at King’s College London have launched the largest ever study into eating disorders. Partnering with the National Institute for Health Research BioResource and the eating disorder charity Beat, they aim to recruit at least 10,000 people in England who have experienced an eating disorder at some point in their life to a pioneering new study that aims to unlock the secrets of eating disorders.
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Using motion capture system to prevent falls in older people

Volunteers in their seventies have donned motion capture suits for a study using Hollywood technology to assess the benefits of an exercise program designed to reduce the risk of falls in older people.
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Study analyzes the effect of maternal smoking on newborns’ body size and proportion

Although quitting smoking during the 1st trimester of pregnancy reduces the risk of low birth weight, it isn’t enough to protect the unborn child from being born shorter and with smaller brain size, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows.
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Study identifies novel anti-aging targets

A recent study published in Nature has reported two conserved epigenetic regulators as novel anti-aging targets.
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Study says herbal supplements may not be effective for weight loss

If you’ve relied on taking herbal supplements to aid in weight loss, a recently published study has news for you.
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Understanding the link between nicotine use and misuse of ‘benzos’

Studies have correlated a relationship between smoking or vaping nicotine with misuse of other substances, such as alcohol and prescription drugs. Lately, misuse of prescription benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam or Xanax, and diazepam or Valium) has also been linked to nicotine use. These connections have all been statistically derived—researchers did not directly study human interaction with these drugs.
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One year into ‘soda tax,’ researchers find law did not affect sugary-beverage consumption

One year into Philadelphia’s 1.5-cents-per-ounce “soda tax,” new findings show that the law had minimal to no influence on what Philadelphians are drinking. The results were published this month in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health from researchers at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health.
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