Frozen vs. fresh fecal transplantation for C. diff. infection shows similar effectiveness

Among adults with Clostridium difficile infection that is recurrent or not responsive to treatment, the use of frozen compared with fresh fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) did not result in a significantly lower rate of resolution of diarrhea, indicating that frozen FMT may be a reasonable treatment option for these patients, according to a study.

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Mental health conditions common among bariatric surgery patients

Mental health conditions, such as depression and binge eating disorder, are common among patients seeking and undergoing bariatric surgery, according to a study. Bariatric surgery is an accepted method of promoting weight loss in severely obese individuals. Mental health conditions may be common among patients seeking bariatric surgery; however, the prevalence of these conditions and whether they are associated with postoperative outcomes has not been known.

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Treatment for severe emphysema improves exercise capacity

In preliminary research for patients with severe emphysema, a minimally invasive intervention involving the implantation of coils in the lungs with an endoscope resulted in improved exercise capacity at six months, although with high short-term costs, according to a study.

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Breast cancer screening recommendations could endanger women

If followed, new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) breast cancer screening recommendations will result in thousands of unnecessary deaths each year and thousands more women enduring extensive and expensive treatment than if their cancer had been found early by an annual mammogram, argue experts.

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More research needed on evaluation of dense breasts

Determinations of breast density can be unreliable, a systematic review of the scientific literature on dense breasts shows, and as many as 19 percent of women are re-categorized as dense rather than non-dense or vice versa from one mammogram to the next, researchers report. Their study also found that supplemental diagnostic screenings for women with dense breasts find additional breast cancers but also greatly increase false positive results.

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Breast cancer screening: Making a safe procedure even safer

Breast cancer screening with digital mammography poses only a small risk of radiation-induced breast cancer for most women, a comprehensive modeling study has found. However, the research showed increased risk for women with large breasts or breast implants, who must often receive extra screening views, increasing their radiation exposure.

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Whoa, Hookah Smoking Is Worse for Your Body Than We Thought

Thanks to endless PSAs (and those posters in health class), we know cigarettes are addictive and full of cancer-causing toxins. Using hookahs, however, tends to get a pass in these conversations. But those Instagrammable smoke rings are chock-full of bad stuff.

New research from the University of Pittsburgh found that a typical one-hour smoking session involves more than double the nicotine, 10 times the carbon monoxide, and 25 times the tar as smoking a single cigarette. It’s not a perfect comparison—you can definitely smoke more than one cigarette in a hour. But the findings are still alarming, especially with news that for the first time ever, hookah smoking is more popular than cigarettes among teens.

(h/t ScienceDaily)

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