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Study: New blood sugar-lowering drug lowers risk of kidney and respiratory diseases – Xinhua English.news.cn
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Study: New blood sugar-lowering drug lowers risk of kidney and respiratory disease1/3/2023 13:14
A research team from the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, HKU found that a new second-line hypoglycemic drug (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, SGLT2i) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes can reduce the risk of kidney and respiratory diseases, Includes end-stage renal disease, obstructive airway disease, and pneumonia.
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Investigating allegations of rape against Ashraf Hakimi.. This is what the Public Prosecutor’s Office told CNN
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Paris, France (CNN) — The French judicial authorities have opened an investigation into a rape case involving suspected Moroccan soccer player Achraf Hakimi, a source close to the investigation confirmed to CNN on Tuesday.
The source added that the prosecutor’s office in Nanterre, just outside Paris, is leading the investigation.
Hakimi was born in Spain, plays as a defender for Paris Saint-Germain and the Moroccan national team, and scored the penalty kick that brought Morocco to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup Qatar, once morest Spain.
“The Nanterre Prosecutor’s Office does not wish to comment on this ongoing investigation, because the information already published endangers the necessary investigations,” the prosecutor’s office told CNN.
CNN tried to contact Hakimi and Paris Saint-Germain for comment
Hakimi, considered one of the best defenders in the world, joined PSG from Inter Milan in 2021, and now plays alongside stars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
And due to his impressive performances at club and international level last year, the 24-year-old was named among the 11 best players at FIFA’s annual awards ceremony in Paris on Monday.
The organization of work in hospitals influences the survival of very premature babies
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
The bed occupancy rate and the availability of care staff in neonatal intensive care units influence the chances of survival of very preterm infants, according to a Quebec study carried out with 1870 infants born between the 23e and the 32e week of pregnancy.
“When the bed occupancy rate is at 50% of the unit’s capacity, the percentage of serious complications is 30%,” explains Dr.r Bruno Piedboeuf, clinical physician and full professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Laval University. This percentage increases to 40% when 80% of the beds are occupied and to 50% when the unit is at 110% capacity. »
Research is often interested in the effectiveness of drugs and care procedures, but relatively little in the impact of the organization of work and the management of personnel in the medical environment. “Yet, says the Dr Piedboeuf, the biggest expense of a health system is the staff, and its use remains very little studied. »
The conclusions of the research conducted by a team of researchers affiliated with McGill, Laval and Montreal universities surprised the doctor and researcher from Quebec. “The scale is larger than we expected. We thought there was an effect, but not of that order. It is clear that this will fuel the reflections at the Ministry of Health. »
Almost full units at the CHU de Québec
In his practice at the CHU de Québec, Dr.r Bruno Piedboeuf notes that the occupancy rate in neonatal intensive care units rarely drops below 80%, or even 85%. “We often work in a full unit and we end up wondering where we are going to put the babies who arrive, he explains. It’s exceptional when it drops below 80%. »
Busy periods require more resources, observes the Dr Piedboeuf, which can disrupt the continual care that very premature babies need. “Very premature babies are hospitalized for several weeks or even months, and the first few days are crucial to prevent the development of severe complications. It’s the attention to detail that counts and you have to continually watch over them. The reaction time of the staff is crucial, underlines the titular teacher of Laval University. Ideally, there should be a ratio of one nurse per child to ensure optimal care. »
The use of overtime also has an impact on the health of young patients, also notes the doctor. In a study published in 2016 and carried out jointly by researchers Marc Beltempo and Régis Blais, he had already determined that “a higher overtime rate among nurses increased the risk of developing a nosocomial infection”, that is- that is, infections contracted in healthcare settings.
Lessons for other units
The Dr Bruno Piedboeuf believes that the conclusions of the study on neonatal intensive care units are likely to apply to emergencies and other care units where the occupancy rate is high.
“It demonstrates the importance of taking an interest, and a lot, adds the researcher, in the organization of work and schedules in the Quebec health network. »
Among the 1,870 children born prematurely studied by the research team, 823 experienced serious complications, of which 153 lost their lives. The main ailments affected the lungs, the eyes and the digestive or nervous systems.
The Dr Piedboeuf recalls, however, that advances in modern medicine have greatly improved the survival prognoses of very premature babies, to such an extent that 95% of those born following 28e week of pregnancy survive.
“There have been a lot of technical improvements,” he concludes. But there is still work to be done on the work organization side. »