News

SQUH Conducts Rare Surgery to Reconstruct Fractured Orbital Floor of Patient’s EyeMuscat, 26 Mar (ONA) --- A specialized medical team from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) succeeded in conducting a surgical operation, the first of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman, to reconstruct the fractured floor of a patient’s eye orbit, using a special plate. The operation was conducted by a team headed by Dr. Abdulaziz Abdullah Bakathir, Senior Consultant of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Head of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, in addition to Dr. Khamis Mohammed Al ...

Eating Almonds Before Meals May Improve Blood Sugar: StudyNew Delhi, 21 Mar (ONA) --- New studies say that snacking on almonds before meals could improve blood sugar control in people with prediabetes.Snacking on almonds before meals improved blood sugar control in overweight and obese people with prediabetes, according to two new studies.The first study conducted over three days was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the second carried over three months appears in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN.The researchers found that three-month almond intervention ...

Trails of Human Bacteria from Sneezing and Coughing Preserved On Mount Everest: Study Washington, 20 Mar (ONA) --- Even at thousands of metres high, germs are inescapable, according to new research at the University of Colorado Boulder. Near the world's tallest peak above sea level at Mount Everest, researchers detected human-associated microbes from coughing and sneezing that could potentially have been leaving trails of human bacteria for centuries. The study, published in the peer-reviewed Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research journal, analyzed samples from the South ...

Caffeine in Your Blood Could Affect Body Fat And Diabetes Risk, Study Finds London, 19 Mar (ONA) --- The levels of caffeine in your blood could affect the amount of body fat you carry, a factor that in turn could determine your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Those are the findings of a new study that used genetic markers to establish a more definitive link between caffeine levels, BMI, and type 2 diabetes risk. The research team, from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, the University of Bristol in the UK, and Imperial College London in the ...

Stress May Lead to Lower Cognitive Function, Study Finds Atlanta, US, 8 Mar (ONA) --- People with elevated stress levels are more likely to experience a decline in cognitive function, a new study found, affecting their capacity to remember, concentrate and learn new things. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, did find that participants with elevated stress levels were more likely to have uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors and poor lifestyle factors. But even after adjusting for many of these physical risk factors, people with elevated stress levels were 37% more ...

Zero-calorie Sweetener Linked to Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds Washington, 28 Feb (ONA) --- A sugar replacement called erythritol, used to add bulk or sweeten stevia, monkfruit and keto reduced-sugar products, has been linked to blood clotting, stroke, heart attack and death, according to a new study. “The degree of risk was not modest,” said lead study author Dr. Stanley Hazen, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. People with existing risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, ...

Extreme Heat is Health Crisis, US Experts Say New York, 28 Feb (ONA) --- The record-breaking heat Earth endured during the summer of 2022 will be repeated without a robust international effort to address climate change, a panel of scientists has warned. Heat-related deaths, wildfires, extreme rainfall, and persistent drought are expected to become increasingly severe as both ocean and atmospheric temperatures continue to rise, the experts have said. Even if all greenhouse gas emissions ceased today, Earth will continue to warm for several decades. The presentation, “Earth ...

Armed Forces Hospital Inducts OLLIF Technique in Spine SurgeriesMuscat, 13 Feb (ONA) --- Represented by the Orthopaedics and Spine Department, the Armed Forces Hospital in Al Khoudh, Muscat launched the Advanced Interventional Surgical Technique of OLLIF in spine surgeries that it conducts.The technique was introduced in cooperation with Inspired Spine Hospital in the United States.The technique was inaugurated by a medical team from the departments of orthopedics, anesthesia, operations and radiology. The inaugural ceremony was held under the auspices of Col. Dr. Ahmed Saif Al ...

Antibiotics Can Increase Older Adults’ Risk of IBD: StudyLondon, 5 Feb (ONA) --- According to research published in the journal Gut, the journal of the British Society of Gastroenterology, a new study suggests that individuals taking antibiotics for gut infections have a higher risk, with the risk being greatest 1-2 years after use.Mounting evidence suggests that environmental factors are likely implicated in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Globally, close to 7 million people have the condition, with this number expected to rise over the next decade, said the ...

Autism is Likely Considerably Undercounted: Study New York, 26 Jan (ONA) --- New research suggested that autism prevalence rose as much as 500% in recent decades, but it still may be underdiagnosed.In an analysis of data on 8-year-olds in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area in the United States (US) researchers found that the number of children with autism and intellectual disability doubled over the time period.Among those without intellectual disability, however, the increase was fivefold. Still, the study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that disparities ...

Head Injuries Associated With 2 To 3 Times Higher Mortality Rates In Adults: Study Pennsylvania, US, 25 Jan (ONA) --- New research indicates that head injuries are associated with two to three times higher mortality rates in adults.The 30-year-study, conducted by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, found that mortality rates among adults who experience moderate or severe head trauma were nearly three times higher than adults who never endured head injuries.The research found that over 23 million adults in the U.S., 40 years old or ...

Regular Fast Food Consumption Linked To Liver Disease: StudyCalifornia, 15 Jan (ONA) --- A new study from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine has linked the regular consumption of fast food with potentially life-threatening liver disease.The study suggests that eating fast food can increase the likelihood of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which causes fat to build up in the liver.While regular fast food consumption has been linked to obesity and diabetes, researchers say this is one of the first studies to demonstrate a negative impact on ...

Child's Weight Has Little Effect on Mood, Behavioral Disorders: StudyLondon, 8 Jan (OAN) --- According to a new study, childhood BMI is unlikely to have a significant impact on children's mood or behavioral disorders.The results suggest that some previous studies, which have shown a strong link between childhood obesity and mental health, may not have fully accounted for family genetics and environmental factors.Children with obesity are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the nature of the relationship between ...

China Reopens its Borders After Covid Closure Beijing, 8 Jan (ONA) --- China has reopened its borders to international visitors for the first time since it imposed travel restrictions in March 2020. Incoming travellers will no longer need to quarantine - marking a significant change in the country's Covid policy as it battles a surge in cases, BBC news reported. They will still require proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of travelling. The move has been welcomed by many eager to reunite with family. In Hong Kong, 400,000 people are expected to travel into ...

British Health Officials Warn of Deaths Caused by Treatment Delays London, 2 Jan (ONA) ---- In Britain, the deaths of an estimated 500 people each week caused by delays in emergency care is “not a short-term thing”, a senior health official has said.Ian Higginson, vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, hit out at any attempt to “discredit” previous warnings from his organisation over serious problems in hospitals by blaming the pandemic.Higginson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “What we’ve been hearing over the last few days is that the ...

Scientists Develop New Device to Treat Type 1 Diabetes Texas, 29 Dec (ONA) --- A small device was developed at the Houston Methodist Hospital that could significantly change the way patients are treated for type 1 diabetes. The study, published in Nature Communications journal, saw the research team delivering islet cells and immunotherapy directly into a small device that is 3D printed and is akin to a bioengineered pancreas, called the NICHE. The treatment conducted in the study restored healthy glucose levels and eliminated type 1 diabetes symptoms in animal models for ...

Walnuts Reduce Stress Levels: Study Canberra, 18 Dec (ONA) --- Walnuts are known for improving brain and heart health and cognitive performance. People often consume walnuts before examinations to improve their memory. Now, a new study has shown walnut consumption to be associated with decreased stress in university students. Also, the study has revealed some lesser known health benefits of walnuts.Researchers from University of South Australia recently conducted a clinical trial of undergraduate students during their university studies. The study describing the findings was recently ...

Risk of Dementia, BMI are Linked: Study Boston, UK, 18 Dec (ONA) --- Dementia instances worldwide are project to reach more than 150 million by 2050, constituting a sharp inrease from the 50 million cases that exist today. A global epidemic of obesity, generally measured by body mass index (BMI), persists, and past research revealed that obesity in middle age may raise the risk of dementia.Now, researchers from Boston University Chobanian, Avedisian School of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, have found that different patterns of BMI ...

Intermittent Fasting Reverses Type 2 Diabetes: StudyAtlanta, USA, 15 Dec (ONA) --- People with diabetes who fast intermittently may no longer need medication, according to a new study.It is known that a healthy diet and regular exercise are essential for diabetes control.Now, a new study reveals that an intermittent fasting diet may reverse type 2 diabetes without the need for medication.Patients achieved complete diabetes remission after an intermittent fasting diet intervention, according to a new research study. Complete diabetes remission is defined as an HbA1c (average blood ...

Revolutionary Gene Therapy Offers Hope for Untreatable Cancers London, 11 Dec (ONA) --- Scientists in the UK have used a revolutionary new type of gene therapy to treat a young patient with relapsed T-cell leukaemia. The administration of the technique – a world first – has raised hopes it could soon help to tackle other childhood cancers and serious diseases, the British Guardian news reportd. Alyssa, from Leicester, had undergone chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant in a bid to alleviate her leukaemia, without success. With no further treatments available, prospects ...

Scientists Finally Know Why People Get more Colds, Flu in WinterLondon, 6 Dec (ONA) --- Scientists behind a new study may have found the biological reason we get more respiratory illnesses in winter.It turns out the cold air itself damages the immune response occurring in the nose.In fact, reducing the temperature inside the nose by as little as 9 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) kills nearly 50% of the billions of virus and bacteria-fighting cells in the nostrils, according to the study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.“Cold air is associated with increased ...

Potatoes Can Be Good For Health If You Prepare Them the Right Way: StudyCanberra, 6 Dec (ONA) --- A group of researchers found that people who consume boiled potatoes have a 21% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who eat very little vegetables on a daily basis.The reason why potatoes gained a notorious reputation for causing lifestyle diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions is mainly that those who eat potatoes regularly tend to slather the vegetable with far too much butter or ate them in a fried form.“When we separated boiled potatoes from mashed ...

Hot Weather Raises Risk of Stroke in Older People: StudyTokyo, 5 Dec (ONA) --- According to research presented at ESC Asia, a scientific congress put on by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC), and the Asean Federation of Cardiology, emergency visits for stroke are increased after a heatwave."Climate change and global warming are worldwide problems and stroke is a leading cause of death," said study author Dr. Ryohei Fujimoto of Tsuyama Central Hospital and Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical ...

Being Lonely or Unhappy May Accelerate Aging, Study ReportsBeijing, 4 Dec (ONA) --- An analysis of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) of people older than 45 reported that psychological factors such as being lonely or feeling unhappy add up to 1.65 years to one’s biological age.To study the pace of aging, scientists have been developing so-called “aging clocks” — mathematical models that allow the measurement of biological age. These clocks combine data on various health parameters and medical conditions to produce predictions of biological ...

Playing Piano May Help Deal with Mental Health Issues like Depression: StudyLondon, 4 Dec (ONA) --- The research by the University of Bath had 31 adults participate in a randomised control study. They were divided into either a music training, music listening, or control group.People who had no prior musical instruction or expertise were told to complete weekly one-hour sessions. The control group either listened to music or used the time to accomplish schoolwork while the intervention groups engaged in musical activity.Dr Karin Petrini of the University of Bath, one of the authors ...

Vitamin D Could Help Extend Life Expectancy: StudyCanberra, 29 Nov (ONA) --- Now, a new study from the University of South Australia highlights evidence that vitamin D deficiency is linked to early mortality, prompting calls for individuals to follow healthy vitamin D level guidelines.The research, which was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, indicated that the risk of death increased with the severity of the vitamin D deficiency.Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that helps maintain good health by keeping bones and muscles strong and healthy.This is the first ...

Study Identifies Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in Brains of Migraine SufferersWashington, 24 Nov (ONA) --- A new study has identified enlarged perivascular spaces in the brains of migraine sufferers.Results of the study will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).Migraine is a common, often debilitating condition, involving a severe recurring headache. Migraines may also cause nausea, weakness and light sensitivity.According to the American Migraine Foundation, over 37 million people in the US are affected by migraine, and up ...

Black Tea May Benefit Your Health Later in LifeCanberra, Australia, 23 Nov (ONA) --- A daily cup of tea could help you to enjoy better health late in life; however if you're not a tea drinker, there are other things you can add to your diet.The key is flavonoids, which are naturally occurring substances found in many common foods and beverages such as black and green tea, apples, nuts, citrus fruit, berries and more. They have long been known to have many health benefits; however new Edith Cowan University (ECU) research shows they may be even better for us than ...

Almonds Can Help Cut Calories: StudyCanberra, 22 Nov (ONA) --- A New research by the University of South Australia suggests that a handful of almonds can help keep additional pounds at bay.Researchers, who studied how almonds can alter human appetite, discovered that a snack of 30-50 grammes of almonds could encourage people to consume fewer kilojoules each day.The study, which was published in the European Journal of Nutrition, found that those who ate almonds instead of an energy-equivalent carbohydrate snack reduced their energy consumption by 300 kilojoules at the next meal, ...

Seniors Prone to Face Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Study Quebec, 20 Nov (ONA) --- Many seniors may unknowingly be suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency, a new study warns."We wanted to see what the association is between what people eat and the risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency. And what we found was really interesting," said University of Sherbrooke nutrition professor Nancy Presse.The study involved a cohort of around 1,750 healthy elderly people who were followed for four years.After analysis, researchers found that between 10 and 13 per cent of their subjects had a vitamin ...