Keeping up with all the latest developments in health news can be a gamble. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Check out the most attention-grabbing stories from our partners at Yahoo News this week.
“Crapsules” Could Offer New Hope for Liver Disease Patients:
A clinical trial funded by the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Research is currently underway to determine whether pills made from freeze-dried stool samples could benefit individuals with advanced liver disease. Sky News reports that patients with cirrhosis, a condition characterized by severe scarring and damage to the liver, often have increased levels of harmful gut bacteria that make them more prone to infections. The hope is that by ingesting pills containing “good” bacteria from healthy individuals, the gut health of cirrhosis patients can be improved and the need for antibiotics reduced. Professor Debbie Shawcross, the chief investigator for the trial from King’s College London, states that the “crapsules” are devoid of the unpleasant smell and taste their name suggests, and offers new hope for cirrhosis patients who have exhausted other treatment options. Around 300 patients are set to participate in the trial, with participants randomly assigned to receive either a freeze-dried stool capsule or a placebo tablet every three months for two years.
Even “Safe” Pollution Levels Can Affect Child Brain Development:
According to an article in The Hill, a recent study found that exposure to pollutants at levels considered safe from a regulatory standpoint could lead to long-term changes in a child’s brain function. The research reveals that higher concentrations of ozone are associated with increased connections in the brain’s cortex, which deals with essential processes such as thought, memory, emotion, and consciousness. Conversely, there were fewer connections between the cortex and other regions of the brain, including the amygdala (related to emotional processing) and the hippocampus (involved in long-term memory). The researchers hope that regulators take these findings into consideration when setting air quality standards in the future. Devyn Cotter, a study author from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, emphasizes that although air pollution levels in the United States are relatively low on average, significant effects on the brain are still observed: “That’s something policymakers should take into account when they’re thinking about whether to tighten the current standards.”
Daily Low-Dose Aspirin May Increase Anemia Risk in Healthy Older Adults:
A collaborative effort between researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States has revealed that older adults (aged 65 and above) who take a daily low dose of aspirin may face an increased risk of anemia. Fox News reports that anemia occurs when the body produces an insufficient number of healthy red blood cells, leading to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat. The study, published this week, followed 19,114 healthy older adults who were randomly assigned either 100mg of aspirin or a placebo. The researchers concluded that those in the aspirin group exhibited a higher incidence of anemia and reduced levels of ferritin (an iron-storage protein) and hemoglobin. Fox News notes that nearly half of older people in the U.S. take aspirin as a preventive measure, particularly to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes. The study’s authors recommend regular monitoring for anemia in older patients who are regularly taking low-dose aspirin.
All Adults Under 65 Should Be Screened for Anxiety, Health Panel Recommends:
For the first time, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that all adults under the age of 65 should undergo anxiety screenings, even if they do not exhibit symptoms. NBC News reports that this independent panel of volunteer health experts can influence insurance company reimbursements but does not enforce its recommendations. This recent guideline specifically highlights pregnant and postpartum adults as individuals who should be screened, though it acknowledges that there is insufficient evidence to support screening for adults aged 65 and older. Anxiety screenings typically involve questionnaires administered during medical appointments, with doctors evaluating the frequency of symptoms such as irritability, uncontrollable worries, and restlessness. It’s important to note, however, that while screening tools can facilitate conversations about anxiety, they should not be the sole basis for diagnosis.
