May 27, 2020

High Rates of False Negatives in Diagnostic Testing of COVID-19, Says Study Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that when testing for the coronavirus, the chance of a false negative result is greater than 1 in 5 and, at times, far higher. They caution that the predictive value of these tests may not always yield accurate results, and timing of the test seems to matter greatly in the accuracy.

Smartphone Eye Exam for Diabetic Retinopathy Scientists at the University of Bonn and Sankara Eye Hospital Bangalore (India) have jointly developed an inexpensive method of screening for vascular changes in the eyes of diabetics— using a smartphone.

Scientists Discover Proteins That Determine How Cells Respond to Fasting Intermittent fasting, alternate-day fasting, and other forms of periodic caloric restriction are beneficial to maintain a healthy body weight and have gained popularity during the last few years. In response to fasting, cells use autophagy, a cellular self-recycling process, but little is known about how caloric restriction affects this process. New research published in the journal Cell Reports, describes the proteins cells use to activate the expression of autophagy genes.

Simple Blood Test Could Predict Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Scientists have discovered metabolites in the blood that accurately predict whether a woman who has experienced gestational diabetes during pregnancy will go on to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) later. The researchers believe that this simple test could lead to early diagnosis of woman at risk, and interventional treatment.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT….

Survey Finds Bone Density Scanning Centers Fall Short According to a global study the quality of bone density scanning centers is highly inconsistent and needs to be improved.

Infants Exposed to Antibiotics More Likely to Be Obese in Childhood Babies under 12 months of age exposed to antibiotics are at higher risk for developing childhood obesity according to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity.

Glycemic Outcomes Well Managed Under Virtual Diabetes Care A recent study shows that diabetes can be well managed with telehealth visits.

We want to hear from you! Did you love an article you read in Practical Cardiology? Disagree with an author’s conclusions? Want to share how you solved an issue in your practice? Then Practical Cardiology editors want to hear from you! Please send your comments to GCudaKroen@mjhlifesciences.com.