Adding oral antihistamines to existing eczema treatments is unlikely to lead to clinically important reductions in eczema and itch severity and may not reduce sleep disturbance or flare-ups, finds a review of the latest trial evidence published by The BMJ today.

Some antihistamines may also increase side effects such as drowsiness and the risk of patients stopping treatment.

The researchers say this review addresses longstanding uncertainty surrounding the role of antihistamines in treating eczema, and the results do not support their use in routine eczema management.

Despite the continued absence of a definitive biomarker for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), research over the last three decades has identified a wide range of underlying pathophysiological abnormalities. Peripheral mechanisms include gastrointestinal infection, changes in the gut microbiome, visceral hypersensitivity, increased intestinal permeability, low-grade mucosal inflammation and altered immune function, abnormal gastrointestinal motility, and the role of serotonin, bile acid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism.

² Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Oxford, United Kingdom.

³State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Prevention and Treatment, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

A liquid brushed onto cavities in seconds may spare many young children from pain, infection, and surgery. A major U.S. trial found that silver diamine fluoride stopped decay in more than half of treated baby teeth. The treatment requires no drilling, shots, or sedation, although it does permanently darken the decayed area.

In many animal tissues, stem cells continually divide to create new cells that replace old or damaged ones. However, this capacity requires strict regulation, as uncontrolled stem cell proliferation can disrupt tissue homeostasis and contribute to tumorigenesis.

Researchers at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences have identified a previously unknown mechanism that controls stem cell proliferation in the Drosophila intestine. The study reveals that smooth septate junction (sSJ) proteins, known for their role in cell-cell adhesion, also regulate signaling in differentiating intestinal progenitor cells to prevent excessive stem cell growth.