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Latest medical news · page 48

The latest headlines across every section, pulled from official and open-access sources.

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Anxiety-depression interaction and somatic symptoms in functional gastrointestinal disorders: a retrospective cross-sectional study from gastroenterology outpatient clinics

Objectives This study aimed to explore the psychosomatic state of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), with the hypothesis that depression and anxiety are closely associated with somatic symptoms in patients with FGIDs. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting The study was conducted in gastroenterology outpatient clinics. Participants The analysis included 655 patients with FGIDs treated between March 2021 and December 2024. Interventions There were no interventions in this observational study. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Mechanisms of open and hidden placebo in stroke recovery: targeting neuroplasticity insights of the placebo effect - study protocol for a controlled, parallel, randomised clinical trial

Introduction Stroke stands as one of the worldwide leading causes of disability, highlighting the need to develop new therapies. Although placebo effects in motor recovery have been reported to produce clinically meaningful improvements, the neural substrates underlying these effects, particularly across different modalities such as open-label and hidden placebo, remain unclear. This study aims to characterise the neurophysiological signatures of hidden and open placebo during motor-cortex stimulation in chronic stroke survivors and its correlation to motor recovery. Methods and analysis This…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Effect of ultrasound-guided superficial versus deep superior costotransverse ligament on haemodynamics during general anaesthesia induction of thoracoscopic lung resection: protocol for a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial

Background Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) is widely used for analgesia in thoracoscopic lung resection, offering effective pain relief and enhanced recovery. However, preoperative TPVB may block both thoracic somatic nerves and cardiac sympathetic nerves, potentially increasing the risk of hypotension during general anaesthesia induction. This study aims to compare the haemodynamic effects of TPVB performed at the superficial vs deep layers of the superior costotransverse ligament (SCTL). Methods and analysis This randomised controlled trial will enrol 128 patients undergoing…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Response to family violence in child health services (FRIDa): study protocol of a mixed-method study in the Stockholm region, Sweden

Introduction Growing up with family violence (FV) is potentially harmful both in a short-term and long-term perspective for the child. Early identification and support are therefore important. The purpose of this project (FRIDa) is to gain a deeper knowledge about the identification of and response to FV in the Swedish Child Health Services (CHS). Further, we would like to better understand how structure and organisation together with nurses’ perceptions may contribute to identification and response within the CHS. Methods and analysis In this part of the FRIDa-project, we will use a…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Understanding the costs and cost-efficiencies of preventing stunting combining standard of care, nutrition supplementation and cash transfer interventions in Southern Angola: an analysis of implementation data from the MuCCUA cluster randomised trial

Introduction To advance stunting reduction efforts, robust cost evidence on multisectoral interventions is essential for optimising resources and achieving outcomes efficiently. This study objective was to estimate the cost and cost-efficiency of three multisector interventions that combined standard of care (SOC), SOC plus cash transfers (SOC+CT) and SOC plus nutritional supplementation (SOC+NS) with small quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) complemented with a family food ration (FFR) to prevent stunting in Southern Angola. Cost-effectiveness will be estimated in a future…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Potential benefits of music-based therapies on rehabilitation outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review

Objectives To assess the evidence for a benefit of music-based therapies (MBTs) on rehabilitation outcomes in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Setting Scholarly literature (published in English) from any country. This systematic review received no specific funding and was registered on PROSPERO as CRD420251083656. Data sources Six bibliographic databases: AMED (Ebsco), APA PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL (Ebsco), Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE (Ovid) and MEDLINE (Ovid), plus supplementary searches and citation chasing (search date July 2025). Primary and secondary outcome measures Eligible studies used…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment of moderate-to-severe itch after burns on limbs (TE-ITCH): protocol for a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Introduction Itching is a common and distressing clinical manifestation following burns, which severely impairs patient quality of life. Current pharmacotherapy for post-burn pruritus is limited by low efficacy and frequent side effects. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, is widely used for analgesia and exhibits a favourable safety and tolerability profile. Although itch and pain are both nociceptive sensations, they constitute distinct sensory modalities. This clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TENS for…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Effect of music therapy dosage on social communication and emotion regulation in children with autism spectrum disorder: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Although the positive effects of music therapy on improving social and emotional issues in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are well-established, the relationship between specific intervention doses and treatment outcomes remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol will quantitatively evaluate the impact of music therapy dosage on social communication skills and emotional regulation functions in children with ASD. Methods and analysis This protocol is registered with PROSPERO and follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Protocol for the Parent Anxiety Transmission and Habits (PATH) study: a randomised controlled trial testing parent interpretation bias as a key mechanism of intergenerational transmission of anxiety

Introduction Anxiety disorders are the most common youth mental health problems in the USA. Most children do not receive treatment and among the few who do, many do not experience significant improvement. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify novel intervention targets to improve treatments for childhood anxiety. Past research demonstrates that parent anxiety plays a role in the development and maintenance of child anxiety, but empirical evidence for the mechanisms that drive this transmission is lacking. Interpretation bias, or the tendency to perceive threat in ambiguous situations, may…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Epidemiology of cancer in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, 2020-2023: a retrospective, province-wide, multicentre observational study

Background The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), located in the northwestern region, is the third most populous province in Pakistan, with a population estimated at 41 million. Objectives To determine the cancer counts and age-standardised incidence rates (ASIRs) per 100 000 population over a 4-year period for KP, 2020–2023, and to compare them with those available for two districts of Pakistan and nearby areas. Design A retrospective, province-wide, multicentre observational study. Setting Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore, as the collaborating centre…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Neuroimaging biomarkers for predicting acupuncture treatment response in chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Introduction Acupuncture is increasingly recognised as an effective treatment for chronic pain conditions, yet inter-individual variability in treatment response remains a major clinical challenge. Recent neuroimaging studies suggest that baseline brain characteristics may serve as objective biomarkers for predicting therapeutic outcomes, with some achieving classification accuracies exceeding 80%. These findings, however, have not been systematically synthesised. This review will be the first to systematically evaluate whether pre-treatment neuroimaging biomarkers can predict acupuncture…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Years gained, health lost? A population-based cohort study of sex differences in healthy life expectancy among people living with HIV

Objectives To assess sex differences in three measures of healthy life expectancy (HLE) among people living with HIV (PLWH) in British Columbia (BC), Canada, between 1996 and 2020. Design Retrospective population-based cohort study. Setting BC, Canada, using the Comparative Outcomes and Service Utilisation Trends (COAST) cohort, derived from linked population-based administrative health datasets within a universal healthcare system. Participants All known PLWH identified in COAST between 1996 and 2020. Of these, 2511 (17.8%) females and 11 624 (82.2%) males met inclusion criteria of age ≥20…

BMJ Open · Jul 22, 2026

Cross-sectional analysis of variation in diagnosis of Lewy body dementia in three English regions: data from the DETERMIND programme

Objectives We aimed to examine regional differences in the relationship between core clinical features assessed using the Improving the DIAgnosis and Management Of Neurodegenerative Dementias of Lewy body type in the NHS (DIAMOND-Lewy) dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) Assessment Toolkit and memory service diagnoses of Lewy body dementia (LBD). Design Secondary analysis of a multicentre observational study. Setting Memory clinics in three sites across England (North East, London and South East) from July 2019 to March 2023. Participants 935 individuals with a new memory service diagnosis of…

ADA (Diabetes) · Jul 22, 2026

The American Diabetes Association Celebrates Senate Committee Approval of Bipartisan INSULIN Act, Urges Senate to Pass the Bill

The American Diabetes Association Celebrates Senate Committee Approval of Bipartisan INSULIN Act, Urges Senate to Pass the Bill mcarmody Wed, 07/22/2026 - 05:28 Press release The American Diabetes Association Celebrates Senate Committee Approval of Bipartisan INSULIN Act, Urges Senate to Pass the bill ARLINGTON, Va. July 22, 2026 Committee action marks a critical milestone toward making insulin more affordable for millions of Americans Today, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) celebrated an important victory for people living with diabetes…

Fierce Biotech · Jul 22, 2026

Celldex ends skin disease program after failing phase 2 test

A phase 2 study of Celldex’s barzolvolimab in a chronic skin disease has missed its primary endpoint, driving the biotech to end development in the indication and raising doubts about an upcoming eczema readout.

JAMA Network Open · Jul 22, 2026

Medicare Part B Discarded Drug Spending

This cohort study examines national trends in Medicare Part B discarded drug utilization and spending between 2017 and 2023, including changes before and after implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

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