Research demonstrates the potential of natural compounds to treat gastrointestinal disorders

Chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are becoming increasingly common throughout the world, but many of them still lack effective treatment. Researchers have now turned to natural compounds, such as those present in traditional medicines, to search for potential drug candidates for difficult-to-treat diseases. The latest issue of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis (JPA) features three articles that report promising findings and could pave the way to treatments for complex diseases affecting the liver and intestine.

Dapagliflozin suppresses cardiovascular events in patients with chronic heart failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus: Study

The DAPPER study was conducted with the National Cardiovascular Center as the principal investigator, with 294 patients participating from 18 facilities in Japan. In this study, researchers investigated whether dapagliflozin suppresses urinary albumin excretion, a sensitive marker of kidney damage, and whether it also suppresses cardiovascular events in patients with chronic heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Study finds one week of night shifts per month does not increase the risk of coronary heart disease

If you clock in for work in the early hours when most of the population is still asleep, you may have heard that it increases the risk of heart disease. But now there is good news from Aarhus University for those of us who work night shifts. A new study shows no increased risk of coronary heart disease if you work up to seven night shifts per month.

Doctors whose psychological needs are met associated with greater well-being in the new digital era

Canadian researchers examined how the rapid shift to using virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted primary care doctors’ well-being at work. They utilized a self-determination theory (SDT) lens to examine how autonomous (vs. controlled) motivation among family physicians impacted their well-being when shifting to virtual care, and whether satisfaction (vs. frustration) of their basic psychological needs at work mediated that relationship.

Unfiltered traffic-related air associated with immediate, significant blood pressure increase

A randomized crossover trial found that the inhalation of traffic-related air pollution while in a car with unfiltered air was associated with a 4.5 mm Hg increase in blood pressure. This change in blood pressure occurred rapidly, peaked within 60 minutes of exposure, and persisted over 24 hours. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.