MediWeek

The potential of large language model artificial intelligence (AI) systems in medicine has been recognized by the introduction of chatbots, with proficient language manipulation and knowledge processing capabilities. The underlying base model technology of chatbots reflects a disruptive technology likely to change our working and living conditions, although we must be aware of its considerable […]

A study by Huang Y et al., recently published in the “British Medical Journal”, highlighted the adverse health effects of higher intake of dietary sugar, particularly fructose-containing sugars, majorly related to cardiometabolic risks/diseases like weight gain, ectopic fat accumulation, obesity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Intake of free or added sugars should be reduced to <25

Soy is a rich source of plant protein. It is the only plant-derived complete protein source containing all essential amino acids present in animal proteins. Contrary to animal proteins, soy protein is devoid of cholesterol and has low contents of methionine and branched-chain amino acids, which are known to have a causative role in chronic

A new study by Inoue et al., published in the journal “JAMA Network Open”, reported that walking 8000 steps or more for 1 or 2 days a week was associated with significant reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular (CV) mortality compared to those who did not walk 8000 steps or more any

A new study by Mc Carthy et al., recently published in “Neurology” reported that the symptoms of sleep disturbances viz., short (<5 h) and long (>9 h) sleep duration, poor sleep quality, difficulty to fall asleep, unplanned/prolonged naps, snoring, snorting, and breathing cessation during sleep (sleep apnea) are associated with an increased risk of acute

Cardiovascular or cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is the ability of the circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to skeletal muscles during sustained physical activity. It is one of the strongest predictors of mortality, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. High levels of CRF have been documented to reduce all-cause or CVD mortality risk. A new study,

Unhealthy sleeping pattern is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). People with poor sleep may have a decreased life expectancy attributed to CVD; thus, poor sleep constitutes a significant public health burden! A recently published population-based prospective cohort study has reported a loss of approximately 2 years in CVD-free life expectancy (an estimate

Frequent social interactions are linked to longer survival among older individuals while engaging in daily social interactions significantly prolongs long-term survival, according to the results of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey study (CLHLS). The CLHLS was a prospective observational cohort study that analyzed the survival data of 28,563 older adults (median age = 89

Technology integrated with science has led to great innovations in medicine and optimization of healthcare solutions. Sensor-based technologies have been utilized in the development of smart wearable devices, as a potential solution for disease detection and management. Similarly, such devices have a potential to become a point-of-care tool in cardiovascular medicine, for example, clinical settings

A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics has answered one of the most important parental dilemmas today, viz., impact of children playing computer games vis-a-vis outdoor games. The study demonstrated a negative impact of screen time on neurodevelopmental outcomes, i.e., development of brain and its function, in young children. Higher screen time (>1 hour/day) at