Research Roundup: Heart Health; Teen Substance Abuse; Fertility Drugs; More
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
American Heart Association and ScienceDaily:
Starchy Snacks May Increase CVD Risk; Fruits And Veggies At Certain Meals Decreases Risk
Eating fruits with lunch, vegetables at dinner and a dairy snack in the evening was associated with a reduced risk of early death by cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality, according to a study of U.S. adults. Eating a Western lunch (typically containing a high quantity of refined grains, cheese and cured meat) was associated with an elevated risk of CVD and all-cause mortalities in the same study. (6/23)
New England Journal of Medicine:
A Novel Circulating MicroRNA For The Detection Of Acute Myocarditis
After identifying a novel microRNA in mice and humans with myocarditis, we found that the human homologue (hsa-miR-Chr8:96) could be used to distinguish patients with myocarditis from those with myocardial infarction. (Funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and others.) (Blanco-Dominguez et al, 5/27)
King's College London and ScienceDaily:
Fertility Drugs Do Not Increase Breast Cancer Risk, Study Finds
Drugs routinely used during fertility treatments to release eggs do not increase the risk of developing breast cancer, new research has shown. (6/21)
American Academy Of Pediatrics:
Self-Reported And Documented Substance Use Among Adolescents In The Pediatric Hospital
In this study of hospitalized adolescents, the most commonly reported substances used were alcohol, marijuana, and electronic cigarettes. Positive substance use documentation was rare and often discordant with self-reported substance use. Efforts to improve systematic screening for substance use and interventions for prevention and cessation in hospitalized adolescents are critically needed. (Masonbrink et al, 6/1)
Nationwide Children's Hospital and ScienceDaily:
Virtual Reality As Pain Relief: Reducing Dressing Change Pain In Pediatric Burn Patients
Prior studies have investigated alternative approaches to pain reduction in burn injury patients that focus on distraction, such as music, hypnosis, toys, and virtual reality (VR). A research team has now reported the use of smartphone-based VR games during dressing changes in pediatric patients with burn injuries. (6/21)
American Academy Of Pediatrics:
Trends In Bronchiolitis ICU Admissions And Ventilation Practices: 2010–2019
The proportions of children with bronchiolitis admitted to an ICU and receiving NIV have substantially increased, whereas the proportion receiving IMV is unchanged over the past decade. Further study is needed to better understand the factors underlying these temporal patterns. (Pelletier at al, 6/1)
