Black people are five times as likely as others to develop glaucoma and up to 15 times more likely to be blinded by the degenerative eye disease. Now, a new study reports that genetics appears to be at least one factor contributing to this increased risk. Researchers have identified three gene variants that could be fueling Black people’s higher glaucoma risk, according to findings published Jan. 18 in the journal Cell. “Our work is an important step toward defining subgroups of glaucoma, providing the capability for early screening and discovering targetable pathways for personalized therapeutic interventions,” said study co-author Rebecca Salowe, a research project manager with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Genetics of Complex Disease in Philadelphia. Glaucoma occurs when fluid pressure starts to increase inside a person’s eye, gradually damaging the optic nerve. For the study, researchers analyzed the genetics of more than 11,200 people of African ancestry. They discovered two gene variants linked to primary open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common form of the disease. Open-angle glaucoma affects as many as nine out of 10 Americans who have glaucoma, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It occurs when resistance builds up in the canals that typically drain excess fluid from the eye. They also found a third variant associated with cup-to-disc ratio, which is a measure of glaucoma severity based on the…  read on >  read on >

Back pain is a double-edged sword. In most cases, it disappears within about six weeks. But when it doesn’t, low back pain is likely to bother you for the long haul, researchers warn. “The good news is that most episodes of back pain recover, and this is the case even if you have already had back pain for a couple of months,” said researcher Lorimer Moseley, a professor of physiotherapy and pain management at the University of South Australia in Adelaide. “The bad news is that once you have had back pain for more than a few months, the chance of recovery is much lower.” More than 570 million people worldwide are affected by low back pain. In the U.S. alone, the bill for treating it added up to $134.5 billion between 1996 and 2016. And costs are increasing. In a review of 95 studies, an international team compared acute low back pain (less than 6 weeks), subacute back pain (6-12 weeks) and persistent low back pain (more than 12 weeks).  They report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal that for folks with new back pain, pain and mobility issues eased significantly in the first six weeks, then slowed. This study closed a gap in a 2012 study from the same team, with new findings showing that many people whose pain lasts more than 12…  read on >  read on >

Winter isn’t kind to your skin. Dry, cold weather causes dryness, and you might even develop “winter rash” — dry, irritated skin that’s red, bumpy, flaky and burns. That’s why it’s prime time to step up your skin care routine. Dr. Oyetewa Oyerinde, assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, shared some tips to keep your skin glowing. “During the winter, our skin typically dries out because the air tends to be less humid, and we also use the heater indoors, which leads to even more dryness,” she said in a Baylor news release. “Dry skin is more likely to develop many types of rashes.” That’s why she recommends changing up your usual routine of daily cleansing, moisturing and sun protection. If you usually use lotion, consider using a thicker cream-like moisturizer. If you usually use cream-like moisturizers, consider switching to an ointment-type moisturizer, Oyerinde suggested.  If you enjoy outdoor activities or snow sports, don’t forget your sunscreen.  Following a good skin care regimen will help prevent a winter rash, she said. Your lips and skin around the eyes is especially vulnerable not only to the cold but also to rubbing caused by allergies, colds or flu, she pointed out. Soothing irritated skin is easy. Just grab a jar of petroleum jelly and slather it on affected areas. Petroleum jelly creates…  read on >  read on >

Electric scooters might seem a fun way to zip about, but they’re also a pricey hazard to riders’ health, a new study argues. Orthopedic treatment for 82 patients injured in e-scooter wrecks averaged more than $28,400 per person, as doctors labored to mend broken bones and dislocated joints. “E-scooters go up to 20 miles per hour, but people are allowed to ride them on sidewalks with no safety equipment. It’s no surprise that many riders have had high-energy traumas, and their communities often absorb the cost,” said researcher Dr. Drew Sanders, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery and residency program director at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. E-scooter injuries have increased dramatically in recent years, rising 22% between 2021 and 2022, according to a recent report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Dallas offers an e-scooter sharing program that was suspended in 2020 due to safety concerns but brought back in spring 2023, researchers said in background notes. For their study, researchers analyzed medical records at Parkland Memorial Hospital, a public hospital that serves Dallas County. The hospital is funded by county residents through property taxes to provide safety-net care for those without insurance. The team identified 82 patients treated between January 2017 and August 2020 for injuries linked to e-scooters. About 7 in 10 patients were male, with an average age of 34.…  read on >  read on >