University of Vermont

Young Smokers Face Double the Risk of Unexplained Strokes, Study Reveals

a month ago

• New research shows smoking more than doubles the risk of cryptogenic strokes in adults under 50, with heavy smokers facing over four times the risk compared to non-smokers. • Male smokers have three times higher stroke risk than non-smokers, with those consuming more than a pack daily for 20 years facing nearly seven times the risk. • The findings highlight smoking as a key factor in the increasing incidence of unexplained strokes among younger adults, emphasizing the importance of smoking prevention efforts.

Probiotic Supplementation Reduces Mortality in Preterm Infants, Canadian Study Shows

3 months ago

• A large Canadian retrospective study of 32,667 preterm infants reveals probiotics significantly reduced mortality rates, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.62 in infants born before 34 weeks gestation. • While probiotics showed promising survival benefits, they did not significantly decrease rates of necrotizing enterocolitis or late-onset sepsis, two common complications in preterm infants. • The study found probiotic sepsis was rare, occurring in only 27 infants, though researchers emphasize the need for pharmaceutical-grade products and further research on specific probiotic strains.