New record: Laser for surgery cuts bone deeper than before

Lasers cut precisely and without contact—ideal for surgery. The problem is that in hard tissues such as bone, they are too slow and do not cut deep enough. Researchers at the University of Basel have now demonstrated a way to cut much deeper and faster with a surgical laser than with previous laser systems.

New method could improve US forecasting of West Nile virus

West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the continental United States and can in rare cases lead to a much more serious disease with an approximately 10% fatality rate. West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease (WNND) has resulted in about 3,000 deaths since its introduction to the country in 1999, but to date no national forecast for the disease exists.

High-risk patients account for 80% of post-surgery deaths

A major new study, led by Queen Mary University of London has been published in The Lancet Public Health. It found that out of the five million surgical procedures performed each year by the NHS, around 300,000 are carried out on individuals considered high-risk, and within 90 days of surgery, these high-risk patients account for four out of five deaths, over half of all hospital bed days and nearly one-third of emergency readmissions.

Living near nuclear power plants is associated with higher cancer mortality, national US study reports

A nationwide ecological study of US counties from 2000 to 2018 found that greater proximity to operational nuclear power plants was associated with higher cancer mortality rates, particularly among adults aged 65–74 years. The analysis used inverse-distance weighting within 200 km and adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, and healthcare factors, but did not measure individual radiation exposure.

Drug allergy delabeling rare for children with primary immunodeficiency

PHILADELPHIA — Children with primary immunodeficiencies often had drug allergy labels, almost all of which were not confirmed when evaluated, according to data reported at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting.
These children frequently receive antibiotics for prophylactic use and for active infections, Christine Rukasin, MD, FAAAAI, allergist and clinical immunologist, Phoenix Children’s, and colleagues wrote.
But due to these allergy labels, the researchers continued, children with drug allergy labels often use second-line antibiotics with broader spectrums,

Benefits of a virtual asthma self-management education program

PHILADELPHIA — More than 75% of adults in a virtual asthma self-management education program had improved asthma control afterward, according to data presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting.
“I hope the findings will encourage clinicians who experience time constraints, to provide asthma self-management education to patients with uncontrolled asthma as a collaborative bridge for asthma self-management education,” Leandra Tonweber, PA-C, AE-C, lead disease management coach at Allergy & Asthma Network (AAN), told Healio. “The Virtual Asthma