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Self-Administered Acupressure Beneficial in Treating Persistent Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors

Two different types of self-administered acupressure techniques were significant in reducing persistent cancer-related fatigue compared with standard of care, but only relaxing acupressure affected quality of sleep and life.

Changing Gut Microbiota to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

The long-term consumption of a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet or low-fat/high complex carbohydrate diets, may exert a protective effect on the development of type 2 diabetes by changing the gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of Roseburia genera and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, respectively.

An RCT Looking at the Effects of Panax ginseng and Ginkgo biloba

Cognitive improvement in women after treatment with Ginkgo biloba may be mediated by changes in cardiovascular reactivity.

Outcomes in Patients Treated with Therapeutic Hypothermia After In-hospital Cardiac Arrest

Current guidelines recommend the use of therapeutic hypothermia in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest, even though its efficacy has been demonstrated only in randomized trials after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This non-randomized, observational cohort study based on a large national registry found that the use of therapeutic hypothermia was associated with lower likelihood of survival and less favorable neurological outcome in patients successfully resuscitated after an in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Statins Associated with Lower Parkinson’s Risk in Diabetics

In approximately 50,000 individuals with Parkinson’s disease and diabetes, identified from a National Health Insurance database in Taiwan, statin use was dose-dependently associated with lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. This strengthens the argument for a possible protective role of statins.

Intravenous Glyburide to Reduce Brain Swelling in Large Hemispheric Infarction

In a Phase II, randomized, multicenter prospective trial, intravenous glyburide failed to improve outcomes in patients with large hemispheric infarction, although there was a reduction in neuroimaging and biomarkers of cerebral edema.

RESCUEicp: A Trial of Decompressive Craniectomy for Traumatic Intracranial Hypertension

Decompressive craniectomy for the treatment of refractory intracranial hypertension in patients with severe traumatic brain injury reduced mortality but increased rates of vegetative states, lower severe disability, and upper severe disability compared to continued medical management.

Infectious Disease Alert Updates

Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Increased in Families; Atypical Mycobacterial Infection in Cardiac Surgery Patients

FDA Is Approving New Antibiotics — But Is the Result Just Higher Prices for More of the Same?

Eight new antibiotics received FDA approval from 2010-2015.

Warning: Reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus Coinfection During Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Prior to initiation of hepatitis C virus treatment with direct-acting antivirals, patients should be screened for hepatitis B virus coinfection. Those who are hepatitis B virus-infected should receive ongoing monitoring for flares and reactivation of hepatitis B.