Medical Experts: It Is Time to Embrace Cannabis for Medicinal Use
20 months after cannabis-based products for medicinal use were legalized in the UK, attitudes towards using them are still highly skeptical, say researchers. Attitudes towards…
BMJ
Expert Finds That Death From COVID-19 Equal to Just 2 Days Extra Risk for Schoolchildren
Expert Says COVID-19 Deaths Closely Match “Normal” Age-Related Risk Pattern Death from COVID-19 equal to 5 weeks extra risk for over 55s and just 2…
Experts Warn: Rigid Social Distancing Rules for COVID-19 Based on Outdated Science
Rules should better reflect the multiple factors that combine to affect risk, say experts. Rules which stipulate a single specific physical distance (1 or 2…
Researchers Warn: No Safe Level of Caffeine Consumption for Pregnant Women
Women who are pregnant or trying for a baby should consider avoiding caffeine, researchers say. Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive should be…
Asthma Drug Can Boost Sprint and Strength Performance – “Would Change the Outcome of Most Athletic Competitions”
Unclear if World Anti-Doping Agency ‘approved’ versions have same effect, finds evidence review. A type of asthma drug, known as ß2-agonists, can boost sprint and…
Homemade COVID-19 Face Masks Likely Need at Least 2 Layers to Be Effective – 3 Layers Is Better
Reduces dispersal of airborne viral droplets from nose and mouth, but 3 layers preferable. Home-made cloth face masks likely need a minimum of two layers,…
Research Shows Probiotics May Help Ease Depression
But possible contribution to lessening anxiety not yet clear, evidence review suggests. Probiotics either taken by themselves or when combined with prebiotics, may help to…
237+ Million Medication Errors Made Every Year in England – Costing Over £98 Million and 1700+ Lives
Avoidable consequences cost NHS upwards of £98 million and 1700+ lives every year. More than 237 million medication errors are made every year in England,…
Does Proper PPE and Training Prevent COVID-19 Infection in Healthcare Workers? – Here’s the Data
New study underlines importance of adequate PPE and training for frontline health professionals to prevent COVID-19 infection. Despite being at high risk of exposure to…
Famotidine (Pepcid AC) May Curb COVID-19 Symptoms – Effects Felt Within 1–2 Days
Clinical trial of those who don’t require hospital admission warranted. A widely available and inexpensive drug that is used to ease the symptoms of indigestion…
Wearing Face Masks at Home 79% Effective at Curbing COVID-19 Transmission to Family Members Before Symptoms Emerge
Wearing Face Masks at Home Might Help Ward Off COVID-19 Spread Among Family Members Wearing face masks at home might help ward off the spread…
“Silent” COVID-19 Infection May Be Far More Common Than Thought – High Rate of False Negative Test Results
More than 8 out of 10 cruise ship passengers testing positive for infection had no symptoms. The prevalence of ‘silent’ symptomless COVID-19 infection may be…
Results From Randomized Clinical Trial Do Not Support Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19
Adverse events were more common in those receiving the drug. The anti-inflammatory drug hydroxychloroquine does not significantly reduce admission to intensive care or death in…
Experts Dire Warning: 250,000,000 People in Africa Will Catch Coronavirus and Up to 190,000 Will Likely Die
Health systems will struggle to cope without steps to stop spread of the virus, warn WHO experts. Nearly a quarter of a billion people across…
Is It Wrong to Prioritize Younger People Over Older COVID-19 Patients?
With services overburdened, healthcare professionals are having to decide who should receive treatment. But is it wrong to prioritize younger patients with COVID-19? Two experts…
Many Popular Fertility and Pregnancy Planning Apps May Be Inaccurate
There is a scant evidence base on their use and lack of fertility specialist input in their development. Many popular fertility and pregnancy planning apps…
Antimalarial Drugs, Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine, May Ward Off COVID-19 – Here’s How to Use the Limited Global Supply
Restrict antimalarial usage to healthy people at highest risk and those testing positive but still symptomless, suggest doctors. Limited global supplies may scupper proposals to…
Patient Safety Risk Concerns Over ‘Exaggerated’ Claims of AI Outperforming Doctors
Misleading claims fuel hype and pose a patient safety risk, warn researchers. Many studies claiming that artificial intelligence is as good as (or better than)…