2007 Archives
2007 Archives:
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Number of children is associated with neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease in women. (Neurobiol Aging. 2007) “CONCLUSIONS: Since the associations between number of children and neuropathology of AD were found for women only, they might reflect sex-specific mechanisms (such as variations in estrogen or luteinizing hormone levels) rather than social, economic, biological or other mechanisms common to both men and women.”
Polycarbonate bottles raise questions
Early Exposure to General Anesthesia Causes Significant Neuronal Deletion in the Developing Rat Brain. (Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007) “Frequent exposure of children to general anesthesia is common practice in modern medicine. Although previously unrecognized, recent in vitro and in vivo animal studies suggest that exposure to clinically relevant general anesthetics at the peak of brain development could be detrimental to immature mammalian neurons, as demonstrated by massive and widespread apoptotic neurodegeneration.”
Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Infancy Linked to Allergic Reactions “Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in early infancy have a higher incidence of allergic reactions to food and indoor inhalants…”
Fish Oil Prevents Alzheimer's Plaques “Why does fish oil help prevent Alzheimer's disease? Your brain needs a fish oil fatty acid to make a plaque-fighting protein, UCLA researchers find. It's known that people who get plenty of DHA, a fish oil fatty acid, have a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, note Greg M. Cole, PhD, associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and colleagues. … It may be too late for people with late-stage Alzheimer's disease to get much benefit from fish oil. But Cole suggests that it may be a great help if taken at the first signs of Alzheimer's.”
Car safety seats for children: rear facing for best protection. (Inj Prev. 2007)
Walk, Don't Run, to Prevent or Reverse Metabolic Syndrome “For overweight or obese individuals who are physically inactive, brisk walking might be the best exercise prescription for shedding excess pounds and reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome. Data from a new analysis showed that in a middle-aged at-risk physically inactive population, moderate-intensity exercise in the absence of dietary changes significantly reduced the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. "These results give a lot of credence to the fact that individuals don't necessarily have to go out and do a lot of intensive exercise to receive health benefits," senior investigator Dr William Kraus (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC) told heartwire.“
If You Don't Want To Fall Ill This Christmas, Then Share A Festive Kiss But Don't Shake Hands
Incidence and Prognosis of Transient Neurological Attacks (JAMA. 2007) “Context Transient neurological attacks (TNAs) are attacks with temporary (<24 hours) neurological symptoms. These symptoms can be focal, nonfocal, or a mixture of both. The prognostic significance of TNAs with focal symptoms (better known as transient ischemic attacks [TIAs]) is well understood. Conversely, hardly anything is known about the prognostic significance of TNAs with nonfocal or mixed symptoms. … Conclusion Patients who experience nonfocal TNAs, and especially those with mixed TNAs, have a higher risk of major vascular diseases and dementia than persons without TNA.”
Lipitor Linked to Bleeding After Stroke see article below
Statins and Hemorrhagic Stroke: Shedding Light on SPARCL "Comment: This post-hoc analysis confirms results of a large study of patients with recent stroke, which suggested that although atorvastatin is associated with a significant reduction in risk for subsequent stroke from any cause, it is also associated with an increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke. It seems reasonable to assume that these benefits and risks are a class effect of statins. Therefore, clinicians caring for stroke patients, particularly those with the predictors identified in this study — prior hemorrhagic stroke, male sex, advanced age, and stage 2 hypertension — should weigh the known benefits of statins in preventing ischemic stroke and cardiovascular events against the possibility that they may increase the risk for hemorrhagic stroke."
Fragrances as a cause of food allergy. (Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2007) “The avoidance of packed food labelled as containing flavours among the ingredients caused the disappearance of the above reported symptoms.”
Household Exposure to Pesticides and Risk of Childhood Hematopoietic Malignancies: The ESCALE Study (SFCE). (Environ Health Perspect. 2007) “CONCLUSION: The study findings strengthen the hypothesis that domestic use of pesticides may play a role in the etiology of childhood hematopoietic malignancies. The consistency of the findings with those of previous studies on AL raises the question of the advisability of preventing pesticide use by pregnant women.”
5 Tantrum Red Flags: Warning Signs Your Child's Tantrum Might Signal a Mental Health Disorder
A meta-analysis of the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament tears as a function of gender, sport, and a knee injury-reduction regimen. (Arthroscopy. 2007) “CONCLUSIONS: Female subjects had a roughly 3 times greater incidence of ACL tears in soccer and basketball versus male subjects. Injury-reduction programs were effective for soccer but not basketball. Recreational Alpine skiers had the highest incidences of ACL tear, whereas expert Alpine skiers had the lowest incidences. Volleyball may in fact be a low-risk sport rather than a high-risk sport. Alpine skiers and lacrosse players had no gender difference for ACL tear rate. Year-round female athletes who play soccer and basketball have an ACL tear rate of approximately 5%.”
Active surveillance for favorable risk prostate cancer: what are the results, and how safe is it? (Semin Radiat Oncol. 2008) “Active surveillance for favorable risk prostate cancer has become increasingly popular in populations in which prostate cancer screening is widespread because of evidence that prostate cancer screening results in the detection of disease that is not clinically significant in many patients (ie, untreated, would not pose a threat to health). The approach is supported by data showing that patients who fall into the category of clinically insignificant disease can be identified with reasonable accuracy and that patients who are initially classified as low risk who reclassify over time as higher risk and are treated radically are still cured in most cases.”
Association of olfactory dysfunction with risk for future Parkinson's disease. (Ann Neurol. 2007) “INTERPRETATION: Impaired olfaction can predate clinical PD in men by at least 4 years and may be a useful screening tool to detect those at high risk for development of PD in later life.”
Recent evidence for adverse effects of residential proximity to traffic sources on asthma. (Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2008) “SUMMARY: There is consistent evidence that living near traffic sources is associated with asthma occurrence and exacerbations.”
Sciatica from disk herniation: Medical treatment or surgeryť (Joint Bone Spine 2007) “Disk-related sciatica is a common disorder that resolves without surgery in 95% of patients within 1 to 12 months. Several treatment strategies designed to hasten recovery, enable a return to previous social and occupational activities, and prevent chronicization have been evaluated. … Bed rest, systemic glucocorticoid therapy, spinal manipulation, bracing, spinal traction, and physical therapy have no proven effects on the outcome of sciatica.”
Scientists Want to Find Alzheimer’s Before a Mind Fails “Studies with the dye have already found significant deposits in 20 percent to 25 percent of seemingly normal people over 65, suggesting that they may be on the way to Alzheimer’s, though only time will tell. … The disease is by no means inevitable, but among people 85 and older, about 40 percent develop Alzheimer’s and spend their so-called golden years in a thicket of confusion, ultimately becoming incontinent, mute, bedridden or forced to use a wheelchair and completely dependent on others. “It makes people wonder whether they really want to live that long,” Dr. Klunk said.“
Semen Ingredient 'Drastically' Enhances HIV Infection
Survey of Pest Infestation, Asthma, and Allergy in Low-income Housing. (J Community Health. 2008) “Eighty one percent of the apartments were found infested by cockroaches, mice, ants, spiders, or flies. … Existence of diagnosed asthmatic was positively correlated with mouse infestations.”
Traffic-Related Air Pollution in Relation to Incidence and Prognosis of Coronary Heart Disease. (Epidemiology. 2008) “CONCLUSIONS:: Long-term air pollution exposure increases the risk of coronary heart disease, particularly fatal events. Hospital readmission or subsequent mortality among survivors was not associated with traffic air pollution.”
Transient Neurological Attacks
Effects of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on hip bone mineral density and calcium-related analytes in elderly ambulatory Australian women: a 5-year randomized controlled trial. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007) “Conclusions: Addition of vitamin D to calcium has long term beneficial effects on bone density in elderly women living in a sunny climate, probably mediated by a long term reduction in bone turnover rate.”
Facial emotion space in schizophrenia. (Cognit Neuropsychiatry. 2008) “Conclusion. We conclude that patients with schizophrenia process facial expressions in a less categorical way which involves impaired recognition of facial expressions. Such a specific impairment may favour false perceptions and lead to the settlement of delusional ideas.”
Gallstones are associated with carotid atherosclerosis. (Liver Int. 2007) “Conclusions: Subjects with GD exhibit greater carotid atherosclerosis, and therefore have a higher risk for stroke and myocardial infarction.”
Hemorrhagic stroke in the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels study (Neurology 2007) "Conclusions: Hemorrhagic stroke was more frequent in those treated with atorvastatin, in those with a hemorrhagic stroke as an entry event, in men, and increased with age. Those with Stage 2 hypertension at the last visit prior to the hemorrhagic stroke were also at increased risk. Treatment did not disproportionately affect the hemorrhagic stroke risk associated with these other factors. There were no relationships between hemorrhage risk and baseline low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level or recent LDL cholesterol level in treated patients." see comment below regarding this article:
Carotid atherosclerosis and cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease. (Neurobiol Aging. 2007) “Results show a link between progression of carotid wall changes and of cognitive decline, and suggest a possible protective role of antihypertensive therapy. Given the potential clinical implications, our preliminary findings could stimulate further investigations into the role of vascular impairment in patients with AD.”
Cellular Phone Use and Risk of Benign and Malignant Parotid Gland Tumors A Nationwide Case-Control Study. (Am J Epidemiol. 2007) “A positive dose-response trend was found for these measurements. Based on the largest number of benign PGT patients reported to date, our results suggest an association between cellular phone use and PGTs.”
Cognitive impairment in rats after long-term exposure to GSM-900 mobile phone radiation. (Bioelectromagnetics. 2007) “Our results suggest significantly reduced memory functions in rats after GSM microwave exposure…”
Could ultraviolet B irradiance and vitamin D be associated with lower incidence rates of lung cancer? (J Epidemiol Community Health. 2008) “CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of UVB irradiance were independently associated with higher incidence rates of lung cancer in 111 countries.”
Long-Term Effect of Magnesium Consumption on the Risk of Symptomatic Gallstone Disease Among Men. (Am J Gastroenterol. 2007) “CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a protective role of magnesium consumption in the prevention of symptomatic gallstone disease among men.”
Nasal saline for chronic sinonasal symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007) “CONCLUSION: Nasal irrigations performed with large volume and delivered with low positive pressure are more effective than saline sprays for treatment of chronic nasal and sinus symptoms in a community-based population.”
Constipation common in pregnancy, study confirms
An aspirin a day for Alzheimer's disease
ťAspirin in Alzheimer's disease (AD2000): a randomised open-label trial (The Lancet Neurology 2008) “Although aspirin is commonly used in dementia, in patients with typical AD 2 years of treatment with low-dose aspirin has no worthwhile benefit and increases the risk of serious bleeds.”Maternal obesity is associated with younger age at obesity onset in u.s. Adolescent offspring followed into adulthood. (Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007) "Conclusions: Having an obese mother was associated with earlier age at obesity onset across all race/ethnic groups, particularly non-Hispanic blacks. Early obesity onset has important health consequences because of its association with more severe adult obesity."
Maternal smoking, alcohol drinking, and febrile convulsion. (Seizure. 2007) "CONCLUSION: These results suggest that children of mothers who both smoke and drink alcohol during pregnancy may have a higher risk for febrile convulsions."
Meat can raise your lung cancer risk, too "People who eat a lot of red meat and processed meats have a higher risk of several types of cancer, including lung cancer and colorectal cancer, U.S. researchers reported."
MRSA Kills 1 in 20 Hospital Patients Who Have the Infection "One of every 20 (or 5%) of the roughly 368,600 patients treated in US hospitals in 2005 for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) died, according to the latest News and Numbers from AHRQ. Most of the patients who died of this highly dangerous antibiotic-resistant infection were elderly or low-income."
Impact of Obesity on female reproductive health: British Fertility Society, Policy and Practice Guidelines. (Hum Fertil (Camb). 2007) "Even a moderate weight loss of 5 - 10% of body weight can be sufficient to restore fertility and improve metabolic markers."
Is food portion size a risk factor of childhood overweight? (Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007) "Conclusions:At very young ages, the increase in overweight may be driven in part by a shift in eating patterns towards larger portion size of energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods."
Lawsuits Allege Milk Wasn't Organic "The lawsuits allege that Costco Wholesale Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp., Safeway Inc. and Wild Oats Markets Inc. sold Aurora's milk under their own in-house brand names. The brands include Costco's Kirkland and Target's Archer Farms, and the milk was sold in cartons marked "USDA organic," typically with pictures of pastures or other bucolic scenes, the lawsuits allege."
Persistent Allergic Rhinitis Includes Different Pathophysiologic Types. (Laryngoscope. 2007) “CONCLUSION:: This study provides evidence that patients with PER may show different pathophysiologic patterns depending on the type of causal allergen.”
Even Tiny Breast Tumors May Need Aggressive Treatment
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women — Are they Different? "Chest pain is still the most common sign of a heart attack for most women, although studies have shown that women are more likely than men to have symptoms other than chest pain or discomfort when experiencing a heart attack or other form of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) … The authors also report that women are more likely than men to experience other forms of cardiac chest pain syndromes, such as unstable angina, and they appear to report a wider range of symptoms associated with ACS. For example, women are more likely to report pain in the middle or upper back, neck, or jaw; shortness of breath; nausea or vomiting; indigestion; loss of appetite; weakness or fatigue; cough; dizziness; and palpitations."
Congestive Heart Failure Patients Often Have Cognitive Impairment "Subjects with CHF exhibited a pattern of general cognitive impairment. The deficits were primarily seen in the domains of executive function, memory, language, mental speed, and attention. Overall, 25% of CHF patients were classified as cognitively impaired, compared to 15% of those in the cardiac control group and 4% in the healthy control group."
Disruptive Behavior as a Predictor in Alzheimer Disease (Arch Neurol. 2007) "Conclusion Disruptive behavior is very common in AD and predicts cognitive decline, functional decline, and institutionalization but not mortality."
Amount of exercise, not intensity, important for BP lowering in kids
Common Household Chemical Could Raise Breast Cancer Risk "Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) is commonly used to soften polymers and plastics. It's found in everything from plastic pipes, vinyl floor tiles and carpet backing to lipstick. BBP has also been found to be an endocrine disruptor, which mimics the effect of hormones. Endocrine disruptors are known to damage wildlife and have also been implicated in reduced sperm counts and neurological problems in humans, the researchers said."
Obesity Weakens Immune Response "Obese people find it harder to fight infections, and a weakened immune response may be to blame, suggests a new study from Boston University researchers."
Resistant Staph Struck Rapidly: Teacher Died Within Days of First Pains
Soda and Osteoporosis: Is There a Connection?
Study: Chemicals in Lipstick Can Trigger Breast Cancer "CHEMICALS found in lipstick and nail varnish could trigger breast cancer, scientists warned yesterday. A study has shown that butyl benzyl phthalate, or BBP, can interfere with the healthy development of breast tissue. Environmental campaigners yesterday called for it to be banned in the cosmetic industry, where it is used to make products glossy. The man-made substance is part of the phthalate family of chemicals, which mimic the female sex hormone oestrogen. Phthalates are widely used to soften plastics and are found in food packaging, toys, carpets and solvents."
Used cot mattresses as potential reservoirs of bacterial infection: nutrient availability within polyurethane foam. (J Appl Microbiol. 2007)
Weight Gain Hinders Breast Cancer Survival "New research suggests that for every 11 pounds a woman gains after being diagnosed with breast cancer, the chances of it proving fatal go up 14 percent."
Body Fat Distribution and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Men and Women in the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition in Norfolk Cohort. A Population-Based Prospective Study (Circulation 2007) "Conclusions—Indices of abdominal obesity were more consistently and strongly predictive of coronary heart disease than body mass index."
Brominated flame retardants in US food. (Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007)
Caesareans 'may harm lung growth' "Researchers found they were up to four times more likely to have respiratory problems than those born naturally, or by emergency Caesarean section."
Childhood Body-Mass Index and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Adulthood (NEJM 2007)
Clinical prediction of Alzheimer disease dementia across the spectrum of mild cognitive impairment. (Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Even in very mildly impaired individuals who do not meet strict MCI criteria as implemented in clinical trials, the degree of cognitive impairment in daily life and performance on neuropsychological testing predict likelihood of an AD diagnosis within 5 years."
Effect of Regular Exercise on Senile Dementia Patients. (Int J Sports Med. 2007) "Our findings showed that regular exercise can enhance cognitive and functional activity scores in dementia patients, suggesting that senile dementia may improve by participating in a regular exercise program."
Effects of long-term exercise class on prevention of falls in community-dwelling elderly: Kahoku longitudinal aging study (Geriatrics & Gerontology International 2007) "Conclusion: Unlike a short program, long-continuing exercise is effective in preventing falls of community-dwelling elderly for a long time after the adjustment of age, activities of daily living, depression and other confounding variables."
Encephalitis Strain Kills 484 India Kids "Outbreaks of mosquito-borne encephalitis are common in Uttar Pradesh, a state of 180 million people where most public health facilities are out of reach for the overwhelmingly poor population."
Even Low Lead Exposure Linked To ADHD
Even Mild TBI Significantly Increases Epilepsy Risk in Children and Young Adults "A large population-based study shows even mild head injury in children and young adults significantly increases epilepsy risk up to 10 years following the initial accident and possibly beyond."
Exercise may boost brain's natural antidepressant "They focused on a brain region known as the hippocampus, which has been implicated in mood regulation and in the brain's response to antidepressant medication. The researchers found that mice that had a week's worth of workouts on a running wheel showed altered activity in a total of 33 genes, the majority of which had never been identified before. In particular, exercise enhanced activity in the gene for a nerve growth factor known as VGF. Nerve growth factors are small proteins important in the development and maintenance of nerve cells."
High-Fiber, Low-Saturated-Fat Diet May Protect Against Parkinson's Disease "A dietary pattern of high intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, fish, and poultry; low intake of saturated fat; and moderate intake of alcohol may protect against Parkinson's disease (PD), according to the results of a prospective study reported in the December issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."
Overweight Kids At Risk as Adults "The study, of more than 276,000 Danish children, found that those who were overweight when they were 7 to 13 years old were much more likely to develop heart disease between the ages of 25 and 71 -- even those who were just a little chubby as kids, and possibly regardless of whether they lost the weight when they grew up."
Recent respiratory infection and risk of cardiovascular disease: case-control study through a general practice database (European Heart Journal 2007) "Conclusions: There are strong associations between recent respiratory infection and major cardiovascular events, for MI at all levels of underlying risk. The benefits of reducing respiratory infection either through immunization or treating or preventing infection may be substantial."
Traffic-related Exposures, Airway Function, Inflammation, and Respiratory Symptoms in Children (American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2007) "Conclusions: Vehicular traffic exposures are associated with increased levels of exhaled NO and reduced lung volumes in children with asthma."
Trichomoniasis Highly Prevalent in US Black Women "Compared with women of other races, the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection is more than 10 times higher in non-Hispanic black women of reproductive age, researchers report in the November 15th issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. Dr. Madeline Sutton of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and colleagues note that this common sexually transmitted protozoal infection can facilitate HIV transmission and is associated with adverse events including preterm birth."
Christmas lights found with potentially unsafe levels of lead "Manufacturers do not hide the fact that lead is part of the PVC insulation that insulates Christmas light wiring. Lead is used legally to stabilize polyvinyl chloride so it does not crack or crumble with age. The lead also acts as a fire retardant. But the levels of surface lead surprised Dr. Leo Trasande, a specialist in children's environmental health at New York's Mount Sinai School of Medicine."
Antibiotics and Topical Nasal Steroid for Treatment of Acute Maxillary Sinusitis (JAMA. 2007) "Context Acute sinusitis is a common clinical problem that usually results in a prescription for antibiotics but the role of antibiotics is debated. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as topical steroids may be beneficial but are underresearched. … Conclusion Neither an antibiotic nor a topical steroid alone or in combination was effective as a treatment for acute sinusitis in the primary care setting."
Childhood Obesity — The Shape of Things to Come "Without effective intervention, phase 4 of the epidemic will entail an acceleration of the obesity rate through transgenerational mechanisms. Obese children tend to be heavy in adulthood, in part because obesity-promoting habits persist. In addition, carrying excessive weight early in life may elicit irreversible biologic changes in hormonal pathways, fat cells, and the brain that increase hunger and adversely affect metabolism. Furthermore, adult obesity and its complications appear to increase the risk of obesity and its complications in offspring through nongenetic influences, a phenomenon termed perinatal programming."
Will Kids Outgrow ADHD? "Does this mean that my child will outgrow his ADHD symptoms by the time he's a teen? .Perhaps. "[The study] doesn't show that the brains of kids with ADHD completely 'normalize' by age 12 or so," the study's lead author, Philip Shaw, wrote in an e-mail last week. "We only looked at one aspect of brain development. Many other structural and functional brain differences persist in the brains of teens with ADHD." "While a lot of people with ADHD do improve with age, as many as two-thirds still have symptoms of the disorder which persist into adulthood," Shaw said. Among possible explanations: There may be more than one genetic variant of the disorder, or perhaps some kids with ADHD have other conditions that are responsible for their symptoms."
Study Calls HIV in D.C. A 'Modern Epidemic' " … shows how a condition once considered a gay disease has moved into the general population. HIV was spread through heterosexual contact in more than 37 percent of the District's cases detected in that time period, in contrast to the 25 percent of cases attributable to men having sex with men."
The significance of family history in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorder. (J Nerv Ment Dis. 2007) "The findings provide evidence that presence of a positive family history in first-episode patients is associated with a more pernicious form of illness."
Study: Try Honey for Children's Coughs "A teaspoon of honey before bed seems to calm children's coughs and help them sleep better, according to a new study that relied on parents' reports of their children's symptoms. The folk remedy did better than cough medicine or no treatment in a three-way comparison. Honey may work by coating and soothing an irritated throat, the study authors said."
Blood pressure and risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Women's Health Study (European Heart Journal 2007) "Conclusion: Baseline BP and BP progression are strong and independent predictors of incident type 2 diabetes among initially healthy women."
Household Exposure to Pesticides and Risk of Childhood Hematopoietic Malignancies: The ESCALE Study (SFCE) (Environmental Health Perspectives 2007) "Conclusion: The study findings strengthen the hypothesis that domestic use of pesticides may play a role in the etiology of childhood hematopoietic malignancies. The consistency of the findings with those of previous studies on AL raises the question of the advisability of preventing pesticide use by pregnant women."
Mediterranean Diet and Essential Tremor (Neuroepidemiology 2007) "Conclusions: Compared to controls, ET cases adhered less to MeDi. The gradual reduction in ET odds with higher MeDi adherence tertiles suggests a possible dose-response effect."
Daytime and Nighttime Blood Pressure as Predictors of Death and Cause-Specific Cardiovascular Events in Hypertension (Hypertension 2007) "In conclusion, nighttime blood pressure is in general a better predictor of outcome than daytime pressure in hypertensive patients, and the night–day blood pressure ratio predicts mortality, even after adjustment for 24-hour blood pressure."
Estimate of AIDS Cases In U.S. Rises "What is uncertain is whether the American HIV epidemic is growing or is simply larger than anyone thought. It will take two more years of using the more accurate method of estimation to spot a trend and answer that question."
Even Very Low Levels Of Lead Cause Brain Damage In Children "U.S. children are exposed to lead primarily from household dust contaminated by deteriorating interior lead-based paint. In addition to toys, other potential sources include contaminated soil, imported food stored in lead-glazed pottery and certain plastic, metallic and painted products."
Facial expressions have greater impact on kids with bipolar disorder " “This study suggests a neural basis for mania in children, which typically involves unusually irritable or excessively happy moods, and raises questions about whether treatments, therapy or medication could address these brain changes,” Dickstein said."
Food Allergy Overview in Children. (Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2007) "Milk, soy, egg, wheat, and peanut allergies are common in children, whereas peanut, tree nut, fish, shell fish allergies, and allergies to fruits and vegetables are common in adults."
Alzheimer's, high blood pressure linked in study "Having high blood pressure reduces blood flow in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, making them more vulnerable to the effects of the disease, researchers reported on Wednesday."
Breastfeeding and childhood asthma: a six-year population-based cohort study (BMC Pediatrics 2007) "There was a U-shaped relation between breastfeeding and the outcomes with the lowest risk with breastfeeding from four to nine months for asthma and seven to nine months for persistent wheezing, cough and phlegm."
Cholesterol and Stroke: A Paradox
Higher Death Risk in Men With Lower Testosterone Levels
Neonatal Vitamin D Status at Birth at Latitude 32 Degrees 72': Evidence of Deficiency "Season and latitude are also related to the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D levels vary according to season and latitude due to variation in cutaneous photosynthesis of previtamin D.[16,17] Humans receive vitamin D in two ways—through the diet with vitamin D supplements and vitamin D-fortified foods such as milk, or through sun exposure. Ultraviolet B (UVB) light exposure leads to creation of previtamin D from 7-dehydrocholesterol which begins the path to active vitamin D formation.[16,17,18] In 1988, Webb and colleagues[17] demonstrated that the range of UVB light that allows vitamin D formation is not achieved in the northern latitudes of the United States or in Canada during the winter months."
Optimal vitamin d status for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. (Drugs Aging. 2007) "Vitamin D(3) (cholecalciferol) sufficiency is essential for maximising bone health. Vitamin D enhances intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus. The major source of vitamin D for both children and adults is exposure of the skin to sunlight. Season, latitude, skin pigmentation, sunscreen use, clothing and aging can dramatically influence the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin. Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D or are fortified with vitamin D. … Vitamin D sufficiency can be sustained by sensible sun exposure or ingesting at least 800-1000IU of vitamin D(3) daily. Patients being treated for osteoporosis should be adequately supplemented with calcium and vitamin D to maximise the benefit of treatment."
Rogue Bacteria Involved In Both Heart Disease And Infertility "Chlamydia pneumoniae is a microbe that normally causes pneumonia and bronchitis, but it has long been associated with atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease also called "hardening of the arteries.… How is Chlamydia trachomatis, the species that causes a sexually transmitted disease, involved in the occurrence of spontaneous abortions or miscarriages?"
Saginaw River Dioxin Worst Ever "A find of toxic dioxin in one spot of the Saginaw River could be the most concentrated ever found, according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientist involved in cleanup efforts downstream from Dow Chemical Co. facilities in Midland."
F.D.A. Staff Recommends a Warning on Flu Drugs "Makers of the two most common drugs used to treat and prevent flu should add warnings that they may cause psychiatric side effects, federal regulators have recommended."
Glaxo's Asthma Drugs May Harm Children, U.S. FDA Staff Says "GlaxoSmithKline Plc's asthma drugs Serevent and Advair, the company's biggest-selling medications, may have rare and deadly side effects for children, safety officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said."
A Prospective Study of Cigarette Smoking and Risk of Incident Hypertension in Women (Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2007) "In this large cohort of women, cigarette smoking was modestly associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension, with an effect that was strongest among women smoking at least 15 cigarettes per day."
Acid reflux may be doing more damage than you think. " … because people who have more persistent and severe cases of heartburn may carry a higher risk of developing cancer of the esophagus and larynx (voicebox). Having persistent or regularly recurring heartburn symptoms is associated with a condition called Barrett's esophagus, in which ongoing exposure to acid is thought to change the type of cells lining the esophagus."
Do PET Scans Help Cancer Patients Live Longer? "PET scans are usually more accurate than other imaging technologies such as computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. They can detect changes in the body’s biochemistry that distinguish cancerous cells from normal tissue."
Effect of 'No added salt diet' on blood pressure control and 24 hour urinary sodium excretion in mild to moderate hypertension. (BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 2007) "After 6 week of 'no added salt diet' systolic and diastolic BP significantly decreased during the day (mean decrease: 12.1 /6.8 mmhg) and at night (mean decrease: 11.1/5.9 mmhg ) ...."
Elevated Blood Lead Concentrations in Essential Tremor: A Case-Control Study in Mersin, Turkey. (Environ Health Perspect. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: These data replicate those of a previous study in New York and demonstrate an association between the environmental toxicant lead and a common neurologic disorder."
Sun Exposure, Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms, and Breast Cancer Risk in a Multiethnic Population (American Journal of Epidemiology 2007) "This study supports the hypothesis that sunlight exposure reduces risk of advanced breast cancer among women with light skin pigmentation."
Impact of exercise (walking) on blood pressure levels in African American adults with newly diagnosed hypertension. (Ethn Dis. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate that walking an extra 30 minutes a day is associated with lower mean blood pressure among adult African Americans with newly diagnosed hypertension."
Kmart Removes 'Lead-Free' Jewelry: Tests find high levels of lead in many samples "Why? Well, because many of the supposedly lead-free pieces tested turned out to have high concentrations of lead. One charm reportedly was 52 percent lead."
Blood and popcorn "Gory films and TV programs are pulling in audiences. But violence on the screen can have lasting effects, especially on kids and adolescents."
Cigarette smoking linked with rectal cancer risk "Women who smoke appear to have nearly twice the risk of developing rectal cancer compared with women who never smoked cigarettes, which supports the accumulating evidence of this relationship, researchers report. The risk of rectal cancer among women increased along with the number of cigarettes they smoked per day, longer smoking duration, and older age at smoking cessation."
Citizen Vigilance Leads to Toy Recalls "This week, the center released a list of 10 children’s products, like ceramic tea sets and bat and ball sets, that the center says have hazardous levels of lead. Two of the products had lead paint, and eight contained lead in vinyl material, the center said. The product commission says it is investigating these products and others found in the last week by several consumer advocacy groups."
Maybe Your Kid Doesn’t Need His Tonsils Out "The investigators note most kids will outgrow the tendency to develop these problems, which means the long-term cost effectiveness of an adenotonsillectomy is negligible."
Migraine Tied to Thickening in Brain Area "And changes in the brain induced by repetitive migraine attacks may make sufferers more prone to suffering from other pain disorders, the researchers theorized. This would explain the high number of people with migraine who also suffer from such conditions as fibromyalgia and back pain."
Outcomes Often Poor for Heatstroke Patients in Temperate Zones "They report that 28-day and 2-year mortality rates were 58% and 71%, respectively."
The media and prostate cancer screening. "A particular characteristic of this debate has been the polarisation of views for and against screening to the point where, at times, constructive debate has been constrained. However, it is important to differentiate between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, with indiscriminate testing of all men (between prescribed ages), and testing after informed consent, as recommended by peak Australian cancer control and health agencies.3-6 Apart from the fact that PSA is not a test for prostate cancer and has no threshold level providing a high sensitivity and specificity, but rather has a continuum of prostate cancer risk at all values,7 a raised PSA level often commits men to the invasive procedure of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsies. Most men presenting for TRUS biopsies have serum PSA levels of 4–10 ng/mL and do not have prostate cancer detected with extended numbers of biopsy cores."
“The news is [not] all good”: misrepresentations and inaccuracies in Australian news media reports on prostate cancer screening (The Medical Journal of Australia 2007) "Conclusions: Despite near universal lack of support for prostate cancer screening of asymptomatic men by leading international and Australian cancer control agencies, Australians are exposed to an unbalanced stream of encouragement to seek testing. This coverage includes inaccurate information which ignores scientific evidence and the general lack of expert agency support."
Dietary Flavonoid Intake and Breast Cancer Survival among Women on Long Island (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 2007) "Conclusion: Mortality may be reduced in association with high levels of dietary flavones and isoflavones among postmenopausal U.S. breast cancer patients. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings."
MRI of hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in mild cognitive impairment: A follow-up study (Neurobiology of Aging 2007) "… the baseline volumes of the right hippocampus, the right entorhinal cortex and CDR sum of boxes predicted the progression of MCI to dementia during the follow-up."
Pesticide use and chronic bronchitis among farmers in the agricultural health study. (Am J Ind Med. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: These results provide preliminary evidence that pesticide use may increase chronic bronchitis prevalence."
TIA Linked to Substantial Risk for Major Stroke Within a Week "New research suggests that patients who experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA) are at a substantially increased risk of having a major stroke within 1 week — a finding that, researchers say, warrants treating TIA as a medical emergency."
Vigorous exercise may ward off diabetes with age "Men who stay highly active with age may have a lower risk of developing diabetes than those who taper off their exercise levels, a study suggests. The study, of nearly 26,000 male runners, found that those who kept running at a level of roughly 5 or more miles per week were less likely to develop diabetes over the next decade. … The current findings, he writes, suggest that "vigorous exercise significantly reduces diabetes incidence, due in part to the prevention of age-related weight gain." … Despite the findings, though, he also points out that exercise need not be grueling to be health-promoting. Other studies have shown that adults with "pre-diabetes" can cut their risk of full-blown diabetes by accumulating 2.5 hours of moderate activity each week -- primarily walking."
Vitamin D may curb type 2 diabetes risk "During a 17-year follow-up of roughly 4,000 men and women, researchers found that individuals with higher blood levels of vitamin D had a 40 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with lower levels of this vitamin."
Breast-Feeding Cuts Food Allergy Risk "Breast-feeding in the first three months of life appears to help shield children from developing food allergies."
Caloric Restriction, the Traditional Okinawan Diet, and Healthy Aging: The Diet of the World's Longest-Lived People and Its Potential Impact on Morbidity and Life Span. (Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007) "Findings include low caloric intake and negative energy balance at younger ages, little weight gain with age, life-long low BMI, relatively high plasma DHEA levels at older ages, low risk for mortality from age-related diseases, and survival patterns consistent with extended mean and maximum life span. This study lends epidemiologic support for phenotypic benefits of CR in humans and is consistent with the well-known literature on animals with regard to CR phenotypes and healthy aging."
Brain Matures a Few Years Late in ADHD, But Follows Normal Pattern
Bratty or behavior disorder? Help for parents"If the bad behavior can be caught in the preschool years before it becomes ingrained, researchers say, the parents can be given tools that may help their children get back on track before it escalates into juvenile delinquency or criminal acts."
Eating your greens could prove life-saving if a heart attack strikes "A diet rich in leafy vegetables may minimize the tissue damage caused by heart attacks, according to researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. Their findings, published in the November 12 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that the chemical nitrite, found in many vegetables, could be the secret ingredient in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. … Researchers now have good evidence that hearts undergoing heart attacks have a “backup” pathway for making nitric oxide. Triggered by falling oxygen levels, enzymes in heart muscle convert nitrite stored there into nitric acid that can then help minimize tissue damage. Nitrite in the diet comes mainly from vegetables—celery, beets, and spinach, lettuce and other leafy types. Once consumed, nitrite exits the bloodstream and then accumulates and become stored in organs such as the heart, kidney and brain. … Dr. Lefer says that the nitrite levels found cardioprotective in his study can easily be achieved by consuming more vegetables containing the chemical. That dietary change, he says, might be especially helpful for people at increased heart-attack risk—those who’ve already suffered a heart attack, have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or have a family history of it."
Hand Washing Is Best MRSA Weapon: Health Officials Stress Common Sense in the Fight Against MRSA "In addition to hand washing, that means avoiding the sharing of towels or clothes. Skin wounds should remain clean and well covered, and any wounds that change rapidly or look "angry" should get immediate medical attention. Students involved in sports or other activities should avoid sharing equipment that comes in close skin contact if the school has experienced MRSA cases, officials said."
Low vitamin B-12 status and risk of cognitive decline in older adults. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Low vitamin B-12 status was associated with more rapid cognitive decline. Randomized trials are required to determine the relevance of vitamin B-12 supplementation for prevention of dementia."
Maternal Alcohol Drinking During Pregnancy Linked to Conduct Problems in Children "Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with increased conduct problems in offspring, independent of genetic factors."
Neurotoxicity of pesticides: a brief review. (Front Biosci. 2008) "Insecticides, which kill insects by targeting their nervous system, have neurotoxic effect in mammals as well. This family of chemicals comprises the organophosphates, the carbamates, the pyrethroids, the organochlorines, and other compounds. Insecticides interfere with chemical neurotransmission or ion channels, and usually cause reversible neurotoxic effects, that could nevertheless be lethal. Some herbicides and fungicides have also been shown to possess neurotoxic properties. The effects of pesticides on the nervous system may be involved in their acute toxicity, as in case of most insecticides, or may contribute to chronic neurodegenerative disorders, most notably Parkinson's disease."
Relation of cognitive activity to risk of developing Alzheimer disease (NEUROLOGY 2007) "Frequent cognitive activity was also associated with reduced incidence of mild cognitive impairment and less rapid decline in cognitive function."
Sex Diseases Still Rising; Chlamydia Is Leader "Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two most common diseases among those doctors must report in the United States. And the 1,030,911 cases of chlamydia in 2006 are the highest ever recorded for any nationally reported disease in any year, the officials said in releasing their annual report on sexually transmitted diseases. They said that because of underreporting, a more accurate estimate is 2.8 million new chlamydia cases annually. … The chlamydia microbe can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and resulting abdominal pain, ectopic pregnancy and infertility in women."
Uncontrolled Asthma Common Among US Adults "Among asthmatics classified as intermittent, 65% had uncontrolled asthma at least once during the study, whereas 83%, 87%, and 89% of patients with mild, moderate, or severe persistent asthma, respectively, experienced uncontrolled asthma at least once."
Study: ADHD kids' brain areas develop slower "Developing more slowly in ADHD youngsters -- the lag can be as much as three years -- are brain regions that suppress inappropriate actions and thoughts, focus attention, remember things from moment to moment, work for reward and control movement. … "Finding a normal pattern of cortex maturation, albeit delayed, in children with ADHD should be reassuring to families and could help to explain why many youth eventually seem to grow out of the disorder," Shaw said in a statement. … Delayed in the ADHD children was development of the higher-order functions and areas which coordinate those with the motor areas."
Are Antimicrobial Soaps Breeding Tougher Bugs? " … despite several "potential negative consequences" of these products, including weakening the immune system, which could lead to a greater chance of allergies in children, and their possible link to the emergence of antibiotic resistance -- the very problem that is making some diseases, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, so difficult to treat."
Bad Behavior Does Not Doom Pupils, Studies Say
Strokes after cardiac surgery: mostly right hemispheric ischemic with mild residual damage. (J Neurol. 2007) "CONCLUSION : Strokes after cardiac surgery are mostly right hemispheric and exclusively ischemic. Outcome is relatively fair. We suggest an embolic injury to the right hemisphere, procedure related, as a possible mechanism."
From conduct disorder to severe mental illness: associations with aggressive behaviour, crime and victimization. (Psychol Med. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Men and women with severe mental illness who have a history of CD by mid-adolescence are at increased risk for aggressive behaviour and violent crime. These patients are easily identifiable and may benefit from learning-based treatments aimed at reducing antisocial behaviour. Longitudinal, prospective investigations are needed to understand why CD is more common among people with than without schizophrenia."
Cigarette Smoke Carcinogen Benzo[a]pyrene Enhances Human Papillomavirus Synthesis. (J Virol. 2007)
Date-Rape Drug Spurs Aqua Dots Recall "More than 4 million Aqua Dots craft kits are being recalled after two children slipped into a coma and were hospitalized after swallowing beads in the Aqua Dots craft kits. The craft kits allow kids to create various multidimensional designs using small colored beads. The beads fuse together when sprayed with water. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises consumers to take the recalled Aqua Dots away from children immediately. In the body, the chemical coating on the beads converts into the so-called "date-rape drug" GHB, CPSC spokeswoman Patty Davis tells WebMD."
Doctors warned to look out for lead poisoning "The CDC has never set a threshold for what defines lead poisoning. But it created a standard of sorts in 1991 when it said a lead level of 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood should prompt a doctor to assess the child's environment and take other protective steps. "You can have toxicity at levels all the way down to zero," said Dr. Morri Markowitz, director of the pediatric environmental sciences clinic at New York City's Montefiore Medical Center."
Lack of shut-eye leads to fatter kids, study says: Sleeping less than magic threshold of 9 hours, 45 minutes packed on pounds "Researchers have found that every additional hour per night a third-grader spends sleeping reduces the child’s chances of being obese in sixth grade by 40 percent. The less sleep they got, the more likely the children were to be obese in sixth grade, no matter what the child’s weight was in third grade, said Dr. Julie Lumeng of the University of Michigan, who led the research."
Preventing childhood obesity: two year follow-up results from the Christchurch obesity prevention programme in schools (CHOPPS). (BMJ. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: These longitudinal results show that after a simple year long intervention the difference in prevalence of overweight in children seen at 12 months was not sustained at three years."
Recall: Curious George contaminated with lead "About 175,000 Curious George Plush Dolls were recalled Thursday, becoming the latest popular toy made in China found to be contaminated with dangerous levels of lead. Manufactured by Marvel Toys, of New York, N.Y., the Curious George dolls contain excessive levels of lead in their surface paint, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission."
Atkins Diet May Damage Blood Vessels "A study presented at the meeting of the American Heart Association finds that the Atkins diet raises LDL cholesterol levels by an average of 7% to 10%. Markers of inflammation, such as dilation and flexibility of blood vessels, and protein in the blood, increased by as much as 30% to 40% during an 18-month Atkins diet."
Report: Abstinence Not Curbing Teen Sex
Gesturing helps grade-schoolers solve math problems: Using the hands to explain things may tap into knowledge kids can’t otherwise articulate "Are math problems bugging your kids" Tell them to talk back – using their hands. Psychologists at the University of Chicago report that gesturing can help kids add new and correct problem-solving strategies to their mathematical repertoires. What’s more, when given later instruction, kids who are told to gesture are more likely to succeed on math problems. … The findings extend previous research that body movement not only helps people to express things they may not be able to verbally articulate, but actually to think better. At the same time, gesturing offers a potentially powerful new way to augment the teaching of math. Strategies for math problems have focused on externalizing working memory, such as writing things down in certain ways. However, children often find it hard to recall and use those strategies. Gesturing may be more accessible, and help break through the roadblock." (journal reference below)
Making Children Gesture Brings Out Implicit Knowledge and Leads to Learning (JEP: General 2007)
Mighty Vitamin D Gets More Attention for Cancer Prevention "Vitamin D looks so valuable for preventing cancer that the Canadian Cancer Society told the National Institutes of Health and its Canadian counterpart last week to get on it already. It called for large studies to learn how much of it is needed, how much is too much and how to adjust doses for greater needs at high latitudes and with darker skin…. Garland estimates that half of North American breast and colon cancers would be prevented if everyone got 2,000 international units a day of vitamin D3. His team compared winter blood levels and disease rates throughout the northern hemisphere. Scientists noticed in 1941 that as distance from the equator increased, so did cancer death rates."
Periodontitis May Increase the Risk of Peripheral Arterial Disease. (Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that periodontitis may be associated with an increased risk of PAD. This association could result from the increased concentration of serum inflammatory cytokines in those with periodontitis."
Peripheral Artery Disease Up Sharply Among U.S. Women: The condition, which is symptomless, can lead to heart attack and stroke " 'Treatment, especially for asymptomatic patients, is exactly what we would want people to do for coronary disease,' added Erwin, who's also a cardiologist with Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas. 'If we take tight control of diabetes, we help them lose weight, quit smoking, get cholesterol levels down. This has been very, very efficacious in preventing further stenosis [narrowing of the blood vessels] and, in some small trials, there's even been a question about regression of the disease.'"
Smokers More Likely to Develop Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease "Smoking may increase the risk for dementia through cerebrovascular disease or augmented cholinergic mechanisms by up-regulation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors in the brain through oxidative stress created by smoking, according to the authors."
Frozen Pepperoni Pizzas Recalled
Ankle-to-Brachial Index and Dementia. The Honolulu-Asia Aging Study. (Circulation. 2007) "Conclusions-These results suggest that ABI, a measure of atherosclerosis, is associated with the incidence of total dementia, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's disease in carriers of the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele."
Association Between Apolipoprotein E4 and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Adults (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2007) "CONCLUSION: Findings in PROSPER indicate that E4 is associated with more-rapid cognitive decline and may, therefore, predispose to dementia."
Cervical cancer survivors prone to other cancers "Women who survive cervical cancer are at increased risk for developing other cancers decades later, according to a report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The increased cancer risk is primarily seen in women who were treated with radiation therapy and involves organs that lie near the cervix."
C-section raises risk to mother and infant "Compared with vaginal deliveries, cesarean deliveries have twice the risk of complications and deaths of both infants and mothers when the fetus is in the normal, head-down position, according to findings from a study conducted in Latin America. However, if the fetus is turned around - in the breech position - the benefits of cesarean delivery outweigh the risks, Dr. Jose Villar, at the University of Oxford in the UK, and associates report in BMJ Online First."
Diet, lifestyle impact a woman's odds of conceiving "The fertility diet pattern is characterized by higher consumption of monounsaturated fat rather than trans fats, vegetable protein rather than animal protein, low-glycemic carbohydrates like whole grains, moderate consumption of high-fat dairy, multivitamins, and iron from plants and supplements, Chavarro's team reports. Lifestyle factors that promote fertility include moderate levels of coffee and alcohol, increased physically activity, and staying away from cigarettes."
One in Seven Americans Age 71 and Older Has Some Type of Dementia, NIH-Funded Study Estimates "A new analysis suggests that about 3.4 million Americans age 71 and older — one in seven people in that age group — have dementia, and 2.4 million of them have Alzheimer's disease (AD). … Five percent of people ages 71 to 79, 24.2 percent of people 80 to 89, and 37.4 percent of those 90 years or older were estimated to have some type of dementia. The estimated rate of Alzheimer's also rose greatly with older age — from 2.3 percent of people ages 71 to 79 to 18.1 percent of people 80 to 89 to 29.7 percent of those age 90 and older. The ADAMS investigators found fewer years of education and the presence of at least one APOE e4 allele, a genetic risk factor for AD, to be strong predictors of AD and other dementias."
Poor air from wildfires a health threat
Report: Excess body fat linked to cancer: Staying slim, avoiding processed meats and alcohol lowers risk, study finds "A further finding was the strongest evidence yet that alcohol is a cause of cancer. If people must drink, the report said, they should limit their intake to two units a day for a man or one for a woman. A unit is a half pint of beer or a small glass of wine. The report recommended mothers breast-feed exclusively for the first six months after birth followed by complementary breast-feeding, after evidence showed breast-feeding protects the mother against breast cancer."
***Risking kids to sell fish: An ad campaign encouraging pregnant women to eat seafood is a case study in industry-driven 'research.' "… timely and accurate information is crucial for those who want to make healthy and affordable choices. … For years, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have advised women who are pregnant, might become pregnant or are breast-feeding to eat no more than 12 ounces weekly of any type of fish or shellfish that could be high in mercury, a potent neurotoxin. … But it's hard to stop a powerful, if troubling, marketing strategy once commercial interests take over. The National Fisheries Institute… paid the travel expenses of the researchers who generated the report for the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition and gave each of them … The misleading report is a classic example of industry-driven marketing under the cloak of scientific research. Fortunately for consumers, however, the FDA and EPA have just repeated their strong stance on the dangers posed by overconsumption of certain fish, which should help derail the effort to promote sales over children's health. … And the selective repackaging of science, combined with slick marketing to sell more fish to pregnant women and women of childbearing age, show the height of corporate irresponsibility. This is one fishy marketing scheme that consumers should throw back."
'Safe' Lead Level Too High, Expert Says: Advocate Recommends Cutting Government Standard for Safe Lead Level in Half "The CDC considers lead levels in the blood above 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood to be a concern in children. But some studies have shown harmful effects in children with lead levels measured at or near the current standard."
Self-injectable Epinephrine for First-Aid Management of Anaphylaxis (PEDIATRICS 2007)
Severely Restricted Diet Linked To Physical Fitness Into Old Age "The study, using a rat model of life-time caloric restriction, showed that the diet reduces the amount of visceral fat, which expresses inflammatory factors that in humans cause chronic disease and a decline in physical performance and vitality across the lifespan."
Women's knee risk higher, but only in some sports "ACL injuries are often the result of a sudden, forceful twist, so the injury is fairly common in sports that involve quick stops and starts, pivoting and jumping -- such as basketball, soccer and volleyball. … certain activities seemed to put female cadets at particular risk. In gymnastics class -- a required course at West Point -- females suffered ACL tears at nearly six times the rate of their male counterparts. Similarly, female basketball players had an injury rate between two and three times that of male players."
Artificial Food Additives May Increase Hyperactivity in Children " "Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population," the authors write. "We recorded substantial individual differences in the response of children to the additives. … According to the authors of the current study, artificial food colors and additives have been shown to affect behavior in children, with an increase in overactive, impulsive, and inattentive behavior, (ie, hyperactivity, similar to that seen in children with ADHD). A recent meta-analysis showed a significant effect of artificial food color and additives on the behavior of children with ADHD."
Obesity in women: a life cycle of medical risk (International Journal of Obesity (2007))
Potential role of sugar (fructose) in the epidemic of hypertension, obesity and the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "We revisit an old hypothesis that sugar, particularly excessive fructose intake, has a critical role in the epidemic of cardiorenal disease. We also present evidence that the unique ability of fructose to induce an increase in uric acid may be a major mechanism by which fructose can cause cardiorenal disease."
AAP Releases Guidelines on Treatment of Anaphylaxis "Epinephrine is an effective treatment option for anaphylaxis if it is injected into the lateral leg immediately. Delayed injection is associated with poor outcomes and may cause death. Persons who require additional care after the administration of epinephrine should seek immediate medical attention. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a lateral thigh epinephrine injection of 0.01 mg per kg, but no more than 0.30 mg per kg, for children with anaphylaxis. Administering the epinephrine intravenously increases the risk of dosing and dilution errors, and it also can increase the patient's risk of cardiac dysrhythmia."
Chronic cough? You may need more iron "Tests on women with chronic coughs and iron deficiency show that a simple iron supplement often clears up the cough, says Dr Caterina Bucca of the University of Turin and colleagues."
Exercise Helps Overweight Youngsters Learn "Three months of daily, vigorous exercise can improve overweight kids' thinking, U.S. researchers report. Physical activity can also lower their diabetes risk, reduce their body fat, and strengthen their bones, says a team that looked at about 200 overweight, inactive children, ages 7 to 11."
Higher Education Delays Dementia Onset But Is Linked to More Rapid Progression "The investigators found that each additional year of formal education delayed the time of accelerated decline on the SRT by 0.21 years. Postacceleration, the rate of memory decline was increased by 0.10 points per year for each additional year of formal education."
Hydration and disease. (J Am Coll Nutr. 2007) "Many diseases have multifactorial origins. There is increasing evidence that mild dehydration plays a role in the development of various morbidities. In this review, effects of hydration status on acute and chronic diseases are depicted…"
Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (AAP 2007)
More U.S. Deaths From MRSA Than AIDS "It appears that more people in the U.S. now die from the mostly hospital-acquired staph infection MRSA than from AIDS, according to a new report from the CDC. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was responsible for an estimated 94,000 life-threatening infections and 18,650 deaths in 2005, CDC researchers report in the Oct. 17 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. That same year, roughly 16,000 people in the U.S. died from AIDS, according to CDC figures."
NEW AAP REPORTS HELP PEDIATRICIANS IDENTIFY AND MANAGE AUTISM EARLIER "Language delays usually prompt parents to raise concerns to their child’s pediatrician – usually around 18 months of age. However, there are earlier subtle signs that if detected could lead to earlier diagnosis. These include: • not turning when the parent says the baby’s name; • not turning to look when the parent points says, “Look at…” and not pointing themselves to show parents an interesting object or event; • lack of back and forth babbling; • smiling late; and • failure to make eye contact with people. Most children, at some time during early development, form attachments with a stuffed animal, special pillow or blanket. Children with ASDs may prefer hard items (ballpoint pens, flashlight, keys, action figures, etc.). They may insist on holding the object at all times. … Early intervention is crucial for effective treatment. The report strongly advises intervention as soon as an ASD diagnosis is seriously considered rather than deferring until a definitive diagnosis is made. The child should be actively engaged in intensive intervention at least 25 hours per week, 12 months per year with a low student-to-teacher ratio allowing for sufficient one-on-one time. … Tantrums, aggressive behaviors, and self-injury are common among children with ASDs, and medical factors may cause or exacerbate these behaviors … the medical issues that some children with ASDs encounter such as seizures, gastrointestinal problems, and sleep disturbance, and provides guidance for medication management."
Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. (AAP 2007)
New Studies Are Raising Questions for Breast Cancer Patients "What's the controversy? Patients with breast cancer are routinely advised to take chemotherapy in addition to radiation and hormonal therapy following surgery, but some of the most effective chemotherapy drugs cause severe anemia, nerve damage and heart failure. The debate centers on who should use anthracyclines and when using the drugs Taxol and Herceptin provides enough additional benefits to offset the heart damage from Herceptin and nerve damage caused by Taxol.."
Magazine Finds Lead in Maxi Toy Blocks
Mortality and morbidity from coronary heart disease attributable to passive smoking (European Heart Journal 2007)
Oral corticosteroid-dependent asthma: a 30-year review. (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: With no clear consensus on corticosteroid-sparing treatment in corticosteroid-dependent asthmatic patients, systemic glucocorticoids remain the foremost therapy, with adverse effects that require monitoring and prophylaxis."
Spending More For Lung Cancer Treatment Did Not Substantially Increase Patients' Lives "The study by Harvard University, National Cancer Institute, and National Bureau of Economic Research researchers, published in the December 1, 2007 issue of Cancer, finds that average life-expectancy rose by less than one month between 1983 and 1997, while costs rose by over $20,000 per patient. Lung cancer remains the top cause of cancer death in the United States, with an estimated 160,390 deaths expected to occur in 2007."
HPV Beats Pap as Cervical Cancer Test: HPV Test 40% Better at Detecting Precancerous Cells "In a head-to-head comparison study from Canada, DNA testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) was found to be far more accurate than traditional Pap smear testing for detecting precancerous lesions. The HPV test was nearly 40% better at detecting these lesions than the Pap test."
Initial Colonoscopy Key to Cancer Detection "A first-time colonoscopy to remove precancerous polyps plays a bigger role in reducing the risk of dying from colon cancer than do follow-up screenings done years later, a new study suggests."
Is vitamin D deficiency to blame for the asthma epidemic? (J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007) "Providing adequate vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy may lead to significant decreases in asthma incidence in young children."
Calcium deficiency may cause breast cancer spread "Dunstan pointed out that "calcium and vitamin D deficiency are easily assessed and corrected." Therefore, research in women with a high risk of breast cancer metastasis is "urgently required" to see of calcium deficiency or vitamin D deficiency are risk factors for disease progression."
CDC seeks to calm schools over ‘superbug’: Best way to fight the bacteria is simply to wash your hands, officials say "The headlines are disturbing — schools closing for disinfection, a 17-year-old dead from a drug-resistant "superbug." But health officials said on Friday it is no new emergency and the best way to deal with the bacteria is simply to wash your hands."
Chest Compressions Key to Revised CPR Guidelines "Maintaining blood flow to the brain and other vital organs is the key to simplified cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines that emphasize chest compressions over rescue breathing, particularly for heart attack victims. In fact, the revised recommended ratio is just two breaths per every 30 chest compressions. That's twice as many compressions as was recommended in the past. "Just doing chest compressions can make a difference," explained Dr. Shukri David, chief of cardiology at Providence Hospital of St. John's Health System, in Southfield, Mich. "When you compress the chest deep enough, you create a vacuum that pulls in air as you release." However, David and other experts caution that in the case of drowning victims or people who were deprived of oxygen, rescue breaths are still necessary. Because health experts wanted to make the revised CPR guidelines as simple as possible, and they felt it might be difficult for lay people to differentiate who needed rescue breaths and who didn't, the guidelines include rescue breaths, as well as the rescue breaths-to-chest-compression ratio."
Early Treatment with Prednisolone or Acyclovir in Bell's Palsy (NEJM 2007) "Conclusions In patients with Bell's palsy, early treatment with prednisolone significantly improves the chances of complete recovery at 3 and 9 months. There is no evidence of a benefit of acyclovir given alone or an additional benefit of acyclovir in combination with prednisolone."
Familial MS May Be More Destructive: Brain scans reveal more damage compared to sporadic cases
FDA warns Viagra tied to hearing loss " … in poring over FDA’s database of possible drug reactions, what struck him was these 29 reports said the hearing loss occurred within hours to two days of taking one of the drugs."
Grip Strength and the Risk of Incident Alzheimer's Disease (Neuroepidemiology 2007) "Declining strength in old age is associated with an increased risk of AD."
Bone loss: an emerging problem following obesity surgery. (Orthop Nurs. 2007) " … these procedures may be associated with the development of bone loss and skeletal fragility because of altered nutrient metabolism. Despite the threat of skeletal fragility and fracture, there is limited data addressing the effects of bariatric surgery on bone metabolism and bone loss."
Male Infertility Often Caused By Varicose Veins In The Scrotum, Simple Surgery Can Correct "A first report shows that a common cause of male infertility — varicoceles, or varicose veins in the scrotum — also results in a depletion of testosterone. In a second related finding, researchers demonstrate that once a common, simple surgery is used to treat varicoceles and thereby restore fertility, testosterone levels are also improved."
Obesity Strongest Risk Factor For Colorectal Cancer Among Women; Greater Than Smoking
Product Review: Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA and DHA) from Fish/Marine Oils — " … However, none of the products were contaminated with mercury or PCBs— unlike some popular types of fish."
Stretch or not, You’ll be Sore " 'The data were remarkably consistent,' lead researcher Robert Herbert from the School of Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney was quoted as saying. 'The available evidence suggests that stretching before or after exercise does not prevent muscle soreness in young healthy adults.' "
The multitude and diversity of environmental carcinogens (Environmental Research 2007) "Of major concerns are: outdoor air pollution by carbon particles associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; indoor air pollution by environmental tobacco smoke, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds such as benzene and 1,3 butadiene, which may particularly affect children, and food pollution by food additives and by carcinogenic contaminants such as nitrates, pesticides, dioxins and other organochlorines. In addition, carcinogenic metals and metalloids, pharmaceutical medicines and cosmetics may be involved."
Three Minutes a Day to Keep Back Pain Away
Reproductive toxicity of low-level lead exposure in men (Environmental Research 2007) " … indicated a lead-related increase in immature sperm concentration, in percentages of pathologic sperm, wide sperm, round sperm, and short sperm, in serum levels of testosterone and estradiol, and a decrease in seminal plasma zinc and in serum prolactin. These reproductive effects were observed at low-level lead exposure…"
Schools report spike in staph infections "Many of the infections are being spread in gyms and locker rooms, where athletes — perhaps suffering from cuts or abrasions — share sports equipment. … In Virginia, a Newport News high school closed its weight room Thursday to be disinfected after at least four students were infected — one with the drug-resistant strain. The drug-resistant patient, a football player, was hospitalized for three days. … MRSA is spread mostly through personal contact, although sharing towels, razors or athletic equipment also can spread the bacteria. Frequent and thorough hand-washing is one of the most important preventive measures, said Coffin, of the CDC."
Pollution Killing Up To 25,000 Canadians Annually, Report States "Published online in the journal Environmental Research, the study estimates that environmental pollutants cause as many as 25,000 deaths, 24,000 new cases of cancer and 2,500 low birth-weight babies in Canada every year. The findings highlight Canada’s weak environmental health regulations, says Boyd, a PhD Candidate in UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), who co-authored the paper with the University of Alberta’s Dr. Stephen Genuis."
High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and risk of stroke and carotid atherosclerosis: A systematic review. (Atherosclerosis. 2007) "BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epidemiological studies have found no relationship between total cholesterol and stroke risk, but little attention has been paid to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). … CONCLUSIONS: The weight of evidence in the literature supports an inverse association between HDL-C level and stroke or carotid atherosclerosis, but more data are needed to firmly establish this protective effect."
Fructose intake is a predictor of LDL particle size in overweight schoolchildren. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: In school-age children, greater total and central adiposity are associated with smaller LDL particle size and lower HDL cholesterol. Overweight children consume more fructose from sweets and sweetened drinks than do normal-weight children, and higher fructose intake predicts smaller LDL particle size."
Caffeine may boost acetaminophen risk to liver "Large amounts of caffeine may increase the risk of liver dysfunction caused by ingesting higher-than-recommended doses of acetaminophen, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 Chemical Research in Toxicology. The authors are urging patients to be more judicious with these substances, especially if they also imbibe alcohol."
A new episode of low back pain: Who relies on bed rest? (Eur J Pain. 2007) "Patients with prolonged bed rest in an early phase of pain were still more disabled after one year (p<0.01). Based on these results we conclude that prolonged bed rest in the early phase of pain is associated with a higher long term disability level. In preventing low back disability, GP screening for catastrophizing and fear of injury in LBP patients who had prolonged bed rest merits consideration."
Association between obesity and kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Kidney International 2007) "Obesity increases the risk for KD in the general population, and the association appears to be stronger in women than in men. Obesity adversely affects the progress of KD among patients with kidney-related diseases."
How much is a life worth? "Fighting cancer has always been one of the most expensive prospects in medicine — in part because the drugs that treat it are among the most costly on the market. But as Diekmeyer discovered, biotechnology treatments such as Herceptin are pushing prices into a whole other realm — one that may be out of reach for many people."
Folic Acid Lowers Blood Arsenic Levels in Bangladesh "A new study conducted in Bangladesh finds that folic acid supplements can dramatically lower blood arsenic levels in individuals chronically exposed to arsenic-contaminated drinking water. Arsenic is a toxic element that is naturally present in some soils and water. Arsenic-contaminated drinking water is currently a significant public health problem in at least 70 countries, including several developing countries and also parts of the United States. Chronic arsenic exposure is associated with increased risk for skin, liver and bladder cancers, skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, and other adverse health outcomes."
Lipsticks contain lead, consumer group says "Lipsticks tested by a U.S. consumer rights group found that more than half contained lead and some popular brands including Cover Girl, L'Oreal and Christian Dior had more lead than others, the group said on Thursday. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said tests on 33 brand-name red lipsticks by the Bodycote Testing Group in Santa Fe Spring, California, found that 61 percent had detectable lead levels of 0.03 to 0.65 parts per million (ppm). Lipstick, like candy, is ingested."
Low Lead Exposures Can Hurt Kidneys "Even low levels of lead exposure accelerated chronic kidney disease in rats by raising their blood pressure and hastening certain kinds of cellular damage, U.S. researchers report. Previous studies in workers have found an association between lead exposure and high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), kidney disease and gout."
Three-Dimensional Gray Matter Atrophy Mapping in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Alzheimer Disease (Arch Neurol. 2007) "Background Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the recent terminology for patients with cognitive deficiencies in the absence of functional decline. Most patients with MCI harbor the pathologic changes of AD and demonstrate transition to dementia at a rate of 10% to 15% per year. Patients with AD and MCI experience progressive brain atrophy. … Results We observed significantly greater cortical atrophy in patients with mild AD. The entorhinal cortex, right more than left lateral temporal cortex, right parietal cortex, and bilateral precuneus showed 15% more atrophy and the remainder of the cortex primarily exhibited 10% to 15% more atrophy in patients with mild AD than in patients with amnestic MCI."
Work stress linked to heart risk "People who go back to a stressful job after a heart attack are more prone to a second attack than those whose work is not stressful - a study says."
Hypertension Triples Women's Diabetes Risk " "We found that obesity was also a strong and independent risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. However, statistical analyses showed that the relationship between blood pressure and the onset of type 2 diabetes was similar among women who were normal weight, overweight or obese. There was a threefold increased risk from the lowest to the highest BP category within all three weight categories. This analysis showed that the association between blood pressure and diabetes was not explained by weight alone," lead author Dr. David Conen, a cardiologist and research fellow, said in a prepared statement."
Is Functional Decline Necessary for a Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease? (Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 2007) "Conclusions: Our study suggests that functional decline should not be required for the diagnosis of mild AD."
30mins exercise may not be enough to prevent diabetes
Health Group Takes Action to Get the Lead Out of Toys
How bad is fructose? "(1). Why is fructose of concern? First, it is sweeter than either glucose or sucrose. In fruit, it serves as a marker for foods that are nutritionally rich. However, in soft drinks and other "sweets," fructose serves to reward sweet taste that provides "calories," often without much else in the way of nutrition. Second, the intake of soft drinks containing high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or sucrose has risen in parallel with the epidemic of obesity, which suggests a relation (2). Third, the article in this issue of the Journal (1) and another article published elsewhere last year (3) implicate dietary fructose as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease. … Most fructose in the American diet comes not from fresh fruit, but from HFCS or sucrose (sugar) that is found in soft drinks and sweets, which typically have few other nutrients (2) … Fructose differs in several ways from glucose, the other half of the sucrose (sugar) molecule (4). Fructose is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract by a different mechanism than that for glucose. Glucose stimulates insulin release from the isolated pancreas, but fructose does not."
Hidden Hazards of Air Fresheners "Could the floral scent of your air freshener contain toxic chemicals known to cause birth defects? NRDC recently tested 14 different air fresheners and found that 12 contained chemicals called phthalates (pronounced thal-ates), chemicals that can cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects and reproductive problems. Even air fresheners marketed as "all-natural" or "unscented" contained the hazardous chemicals. In addition to phthalates, air fresheners may contain allergens, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde. The air fresheners NRDC tested included aerosol sprays, liquids that emit a continuous scent, and a solid. Of the 14 products tested by NRDC, there was wide variation in the level of phthalates contained."
Gout: an update. (Am Fam Physician. 2007) "Arthritis caused by gout (i.e., gouty arthritis) accounts for millions of outpatient visits annually, and the prevalence is increasing. Gout is caused by monosodium urate crystal deposition in tissues leading to arthritis, soft tissue masses (i.e., tophi), nephrolithiasis, and urate nephropathy. The biologic precursor to gout is elevated serum uric acid levels (i.e., hyperuricemia). Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is common and usually does not progress to clinical gout. Acute gout most often presents as attacks of pain, erythema, and swelling of one or a few joints in the lower extremities. The diagnosis is confirmed if monosodium urate crystals are present in synovial fluid."
Underactive Thyroid Increases Risk of Heart Failure
Maternal Residence Near Agricultural Pesticide Applications and Autism Spectrum Disorders among Children in the California Central Valley (Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) 2007) "ASD risk increased with the poundage of organochlorine applied and decreased with distance from field sites."
Mothers again urged to eat fish "Pregnant and breast-feeding women should eat at least 12 ounces of fish and seafood per week to ensure their babies' optimal brain development, a coalition of top scientists from private groups and federal agencies plans to declare today in a public advisory that marks a major break with current U.S. health advice. The scientists' conclusion is at odds with the standard government advice issued in 2001 that new mothers and mothers-to-be should eat no more than 12 ounces of seafood per week because of concerns about mercury contamination."
Prevalence and severity of sleep apnea in a group of morbidly obese patients. (Obes Surg. 2007) "BACKGROUND: Obesity is the most important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. It is estimated that 70% of sleep apnea patients are obese. In the morbidly obese, the prevalence may reach 80% in men and 50% in women. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of sleep apnea in a group of morbidly obese patients, leading to bariatric surgery."
Sam's Club beef recalled after illnesses (USA) "MINNEAPOLIS - The Sam’s Club warehouse chain has pulled a brand of ground beef patties from its shelves nationwide after four children who ate the food, produced by Cargill Inc., developed E. coli illness. Cargill asked customers to return any remaining patties purchased after Aug. 26 to the store or destroy them. The children became ill between Sept. 10 and Sept. 20 after eating ground beef patties that were bought frozen under the name American Chef’s Selection Angus Beef Patties from three Sam’s Club stores in the Twin Cities area."
Treating mini-strokes rapidly cuts later risk "Treating patients quickly for mini-strokes could dramatically cut the risk of a major stroke later, report two studies that could change standard treatment and potentially save millions of people from stroke’s damaging effects. In research published Tuesday, British and French doctors found that patients treated within 24 hours of having a mini-stroke cut their chances by 80 percent of having a more serious stroke in the next three months. … In the U.K., most patients who have small strokes are referred by their doctors to specialist clinics. Many wait several weeks before being treated. In the United States too, many people are sent home within a day if their symptoms seem to resolve. … Doctors increasingly say that small strokes should be seen as warning signals for a more dangerous stroke later on, in the same way that chest pain can be a red flag for an imminent heart attack."
Autism symptoms can improve into adulthood "For all major symptoms of autism, 'the percentage of people who improved was always greater than the percentage who worsened,' Shattuck said in a statement 'if there was significant symptom change over time, it was always in the direction of improvement, though there was always a group in the middle that showed no change.' "
Diet experts compare salt to a global plague "It's about balance. A typical American diet, high in salt and low in potassium-rich foods, can be deadly. The Institute of Medicine recommends that healthy adults younger than 50 increase the potassium-rich foods they eat and keep their daily salt intake to 3.8 to 5.8 grams, or less than a teaspoon. (Foods with a lot of potassium include dried fruits, tomato puree and sauces, baked potato with skin, sardines and bananas.)"
Fructose intake is a predictor of LDL particle size in overweight schoolchildren (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007) "Conclusions: In school-age children, greater total and central adiposity are associated with smaller LDL particle size and lower HDL cholesterol. Overweight children consume more fructose from sweets and sweetened drinks than do normal-weight children, and higher fructose intake predicts smaller LDL particle size."
Stroke victims pay neavily for delays "STROKE victims are robbing themselves of critical minutes by calling a relative or friend instead of an ambulance, new research shows."
The prevalence and determinants of subclinical brain infarction. The Northern Manhattan Study. (Neurology. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: SBI were detected in nearly 18% of subjects in a multiethnic community-based cohort. Age, male sex, and hypertension were independently associated with SBI. Subclinical cerebral infarcts are more prevalent than symptomatic infarcts and may increase the true public health burden of stroke."
Flame Retardants in Placenta and Breast Milk and Cryptorchidism in Newborn Boys (Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) 2007) "Conclusions: Two different proxies were used for prenatal PBDE exposure, and levels in breast milk, but not in placenta, showed an association with congenital cryptorchidism. Other environmental factors may contribute to cryptorchidism. Our observations are of concern because human exposure to PBDEs is high in some geographic areas."
Guide helps parents weigh risks of ADHD meds " "I think this guide provides some very balanced information about risks, benefits and how to judge what is best for your child ... whether that includes drug treatment or not," Gregg said."
Medication Guide for treating ADHD
Almost a Third of U.S. Kids Use Supplements "Among American adults, 57 percent of women and 47 percent of men take dietary supplements."
Atrial Fibrillation Predisposes to Dementia, Early Death "The incidence of dementia, relatively high in the years following a first diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, further increases the mortality rate associated with atrial fibrillation alone, according to the results of a longitudinal, community-based cohort study. Cross-sectional studies have shown that patients with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of cognitive dysfunction."
Eczema baths 'a waste of money' "Bath products to help ease the skin inflammation caused by allergic eczema may not be worth the amount of money the NHS spends on them, a study says. There is no clinical evidence these emollients work, nor any consensus of medical opinion, researchers writing in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin contend."
Europe healthier than U.S. " … heart disease was diagnosed in nearly twice as many Americans as Europeans 50 and older. More than 16% of American seniors had diagnosed diabetes, compared with about 11% of their European peers. And arthritis and cancer were more than twice as common among Americans as Europeans."
Exercise creates heart vessels "Research presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting this week showed that exercise prompts the creation of new heart vessels."
Is air pollution a cause of cardiovascular disease? Updated review and controversies. (Rev Environ Health. 2007)
Long-term and cumulative effects of sports concussion on motor cortex inhibition. (Neurosurgery. 2007) "CONCLUSION: Findings from this study indicate that sports-related concussions result in long-term motor system dysfunctions that seem to be attributable to subclinical intracortical inhibitory system abnormalities. This study also shows that sustaining subsequent concussions exacerbates this deficit, and thus provides additional support for the contention that the adverse effects of sports-related concussions on intracortical inhibitory systems are cumulative."
National solarium laws considered (Australia) "VICTORIA'S solarium industry will be regulated by the end of the year after melanoma victim Clare Oliver went public about the dangers of tanning."
Pregnancy: One-in-Seven Women Depressed "It’s not just postpartum depression women need to worry about -- they should also watch for depression before and during pregnancy. A new Kaiser Permanente study reveals more than one-in-seven women are depressed at some time during the nine months before they become pregnant, during pregnancy, or during the nine months after they give birth. Nearly three-fourths of women who have postpartum depression were also depressed before they were pregnant."
Ban Sought on Cold Medicine for Very Young "Safety experts for the Food and Drug Administration urged the agency on Friday to consider an outright ban on over-the-counter, multisymptom cough and cold medicines for children under 6. The recommendation, in a 356-page safety review, is the strongest signal yet that the agency may take strong action against the roughly 800 popular medicines marketed in the United States under names like Toddler’s Dimetapp, Triaminic Infant and Little Colds."
Diabetes Treatment a Burden to Many "Diabetes is now largely manageable, thanks to today's treatments. But while these treatments keep patients healthy, some perceive them to be almost as bad as the disease itself, new research shows. The typical diabetes treatment regimen involves daily pills to control blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. And patients who require insulin may need multiple shots a day."
Differential rate of recovery in athletes after first and second concussion episodes. (Neurosurgery. 2007) "CONCLUSION: The findings of this study confirm our previous research indicating the presence of long-term residual visual-motor disintegration in concussed individuals with normal neuropsychological measures. Most importantly, athletes with a history of previous concussion demonstrate significantly slower rates of recovery of neurological functions after the second episode of MTBI."
HDL Cholesterol, Very Low Levels of LDL Cholesterol, and Cardiovascular Events (NEJM 2007) "Conclusions In this post hoc analysis, HDL cholesterol levels were predictive of major cardiovascular events in patients treated with statins. This relationship was also observed among patients with LDL cholesterol levels below 70 mg per deciliter." see article review below:
Low HDL cholesterol, even when LDL levels are low, is cardiovascular dynamite, new TNT analysis shows "Commenting on the results of the study for heartwire, Dr Monty Krieger (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA) said that this is yet another study showing that HDL cholesterol is protective, this time at various LDL levels, and will reinforce the concept that doing something to treat low levels of HDL cholesterol may be beneficial, regardless of the LDL-cholesterol numbers."
Breast cancer symptoms confusion "Only 10% look for inversion of the nipple Only 14% look for changes in the skin on the breasts Only 16% check for discharge from the nipple Only 22% look for changes in the appearance of the nipple Only 23% looked for changes in the size or shape of the breast Just over half looked for lumps in the armpit "
Cell Phones May Cause Hearing Loss: But Some Experts Still Not Convinced "Long-time mobile phone users who talk more than an hour a day on the devices may be may be more likely to have high-frequency hearing loss, researchers say."
21.7 million pounds of meat recalled (USA) "The Topps Meat Co. on Saturday expanded its recall of frozen hamburger patties that may be contaminated with the E. coli bacteria and may have sickened more than a dozen people in eight states. Topps said it was recalling 21.7 million pounds of ground beef products distributed to retail grocery stores and food service institutions throughout the United States, up from the 332,000 pounds it recalled on Tuesday. "
3 drinks a day raises breast cancer risk "All types of alcohol — wine, beer or liquor — add equally to the risk of developing breast cancer in women, American researchers said Thursday. … "Any alcohol consumption will raise your breast cancer risk," Key said. "Women don't have to abstain from alcohol entirely, but they need to be aware of the risks they're taking when they have a few too many drinks."
B Vitamin Plasma Levels and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack in a German Cohort (Stroke 2007) "Conclusions—Our data suggest that low vitamin B12 plasma levels, particularly in combination with low folate levels, increase the risk of cerebral ischemia. This effect may be mediated at least partly through elevations of homocysteine levels."
New National Study Links Asthma to Allergies "Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found that more than 50 percent of the current asthma cases in the country can be attributed to allergies, with approximately 30 percent of those cases attributed to cat allergy."
Indoor Air Quality "Thomas P. Lotz, RRT, MEd: There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. Pollutants come from building materials, furnishings, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products. Products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, hobbies, central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices also negatively affect indoor air quality. Combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products are another category of pollutants. Outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution usually result in high indoor levels as well.[1]"
Exercise Training on Disease Control and Quality of Life in Asthmatic Children. (Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2007) "Results: Physical training was associated with significant improvements in physiological variables at peak and submaximal exercise (P < 0.05); in contrast, no significant changes were found in controls. Severity of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and postexercise breathlessness were significantly lessened in trained patients; improvement in fitness and EIB, however, were not linearly related (P > 0.05). In addition, PAQLQ scores improved only in trained children (P < 0.01). Daily doses of inhaled steroids were reduced in trained patients (52%), but they remained unchanged or increased in controls (70.6%) (P = 0.07)."
[Olfactory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.] (Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2007) "CONCLUSION:Among PD patients 80% had olfactory deficit and, therefore, smell evaluation may be a tool to make PD differential diagnosis."
Periodontal disease and risk of myocardial infarction: the role of gender and smoking. (Eur J Epidemiol. 2007) "Conclusions: This study provides evidence of an association between PD and incident MI in both genders. This association appears to be independent from the possible confounding effect of smoking."
Annual Flu Shots May Be of Little Benefit to the Elderly "In most high-income countries, one of the strategies of vaccination policy against influenza is to target people 65 years of age and older in hopes of decreasing the mortality burden of influenza. However, the apparent benefits of this strategy may have been exaggerated by frailty selection bias, in which healthier elderly are vaccinated more often than frail elderly, as well as by the use of all-cause mortality and other nonspecific trial endpoints. When these factors are considered, the authors suggest that the remaining evidence base is at present insufficient to determine the magnitude of the mortality benefit, if any, that influenza vaccination offers the elderly. Few trials demonstrating the efficacy of influenza vaccination have included elderly people, but those that have done so have indicated that clinical benefits and antibody responses decrease as age increases for individuals older than 70 years."
CDC - Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports
Deadly amoeba lurks in Florida lakes "At first people exposed to the amoeba, naegleria fowleri, suffer from flu-like symptoms. Very quickly, in from one to 14 days, the symptoms worsen, Sherin said. "There's a downhill course. Folks lapse into a coma; there are abnormal movements of the eyes and a terrible cascade of events leading to the actual death of parts of the brain." Sherin said exposure to the amoeba can be detected by an MRI and it can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough, but Sherin said he believes medical personnel are not in the habit of looking for the disease."
Exercise on par with drugs for aiding depression "Regular exercise may work as well as medication in improving symptoms of major depression, researchers have found. In a study of 202 depressed adults, investigators found that those who went through group-based exercise therapy did as well as those treated with an antidepressant drug. A third group that performed home-based exercise also improved, though to a lesser degree. Importantly, the researchers found, all three groups did better than a fourth group given a placebo -- an inactive pill identical to the antidepressant."
Associations of low-grade inflammation with physical activity, fitness and fatness in prepubertal children; the European Youth Heart Study (International Journal of Obesity (2007))
Peripheral artery disease and hypertension: the relation between ankle–brachial index and mortality "Individuals with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), characterized by atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries, particularly those involving the lower extremities are at an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events and consequent morbidity and mortality.1 Indeed, the presence of PAD is in itself evidence of widespread atherosclerosis in other vascular territories, with further evidence that it is also a predictor of future cardiovascular outcomes such as stroke, myocardial infarction and death. It would be logical to infer that the risk factors associated with the development of PAD would also have a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its complications."
Prolonged Neuropsychological Impairments Following a First Concussion in Female University Soccer Athletes. (Clin J Sport Med. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS:: The results of this study suggest that cognitive functions related to cognitive processing speed are most vulnerable to a sports-related concussion and are still impaired for a half year after injury in university-level female soccer players."
Many under-16s carry cancer virus "At least one in 10 girls in England is infected by the age of 16 with a virus which can cause cervical cancer, research suggests. A study by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) found many teenagers are infected with at least one strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The researchers found the risk of infection is "substantial" by the age of just 14."
Nutritionists: Soda making Americans drink themselves fat "If you're searching for a villain in America's obesity epidemic, most nutritionists tell you to put one picture on the wanted poster: a cold, bubbly glass of soda pop. … "Liquid candy" to detractors, sweetened soft drinks are so ubiquitous that they contribute about 10 percent of the calories in the American diet, according to government data. In fact, said Dr. David Ludwig, a Harvard endocrinologist whose 2001 paper in the Lancet is widely cited by obesity researchers, sweetened drinks are the only specific food that clinical research has directly linked to weight gain."
Sports-Arena Noise Can Damage Hearing "Six minutes of sports-arena noise gives fans 81 times their daily allowable dose of noise."
Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Fish Protect Against Childhood Wheeze and Atopy "A diet rich in fish and fruity vegetables, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, has a protective effect against childhood wheeze and atopy, according to the results of a cross-sectional analysis published in the September issue of Pediatric Allergy Immunology."
Tooth loss in elderly linked to mental impairment "It's possible that people with cognitive impairment simply take worse care of their teeth, he added, but there are also mechanisms by which poor dental health itself could harm the brain. 'One message still stands regardless of what caused what,' he said. 'Particular attention may need to be paid to the health and nutrition of people with cognitive impairment because they may also have dental problems.'"
Reduced olfactory bulb and tract volume in early Alzheimer's disease—A MRI study (Neurobiology of Aging 2007) "Manual tracing on MRI images revealed OBT atrophy to be present early in the course of AD. Since the respective findings were associated with cognitive impairment, they may contribute to early recognition and diagnosis of the disease."
Silence on Concussions Raises Risks of Injury
Smokers More Likely to Develop Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease
Brits 'dying not to do exercise' "Most UK adults are so unwilling to exercise that not even the threat of an early death is enough to get them off the sofa, a survey suggests. Only 38% of people questioned by YouGov said they would do more exercise if their life depended on it. … Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the National Obesity Forum, said it made for depressing reading but confirmed what had been shown in clinical trials, where even those who had a heart attack did not change their lifestyles. "Children instinctively exercise when left to their own devices, but they don't because they're stopped from doing that by the school curriculum and parents scared of child abductors and murderers lurking on every corner. "So, if it doesn't become a habit, you're not going to work hard to go against the tide and introduce it as an adult." He added that exercise could be incorporated into everyday life."
Lab Tests Find Lead, Other Toxins in Pet Toys Sold at Wal-Mart "Two Chinese-made toys for pets sold at Wal-Mart stores contain elevated levels of lead, chromium, and cadmium, according to a forensic toxicologist whose lab tested the products for ConsumerAffairs.com. Two veterinarians, however, said the levels of toxic metals found in the toys do not pose a health risk to dogs or cats. Whether the toys are a hazard to children and adults who handle them isn't clear."
Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (The Lancet 2007) "Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population."
Health risks of early swimming pool attendance. (Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2007)
Indoor Air Pollution Widespread in Asia "Up to 3 billion people around the world rely on solid fuels such as wood, coal, crop waste or animal dung for indoor cooking and heating. The resulting smoke ranks as the fourth-biggest health risk in the poorest countries, yet it is typically overlooked."
Vitamin D Supplementation and Total Mortality (Arch Intern Med. 2007) "Conclusions Intake of ordinary doses of vitamin D supplements seems to be associated with decreases in total mortality rates. The relationship between baseline vitamin D status, dose of vitamin D supplements, and total mortality rates remains to be investigated. Population-based, placebo-controlled randomized trials with total mortality as the main end point should be organized for confirming these findings."
Water: a neglected nutrient in the young child? A South African perspective. (Matern Child Nutr. 2007)
What Is Anaphylaxis? (Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007) "The epidemiology of anaphylaxis has been described in very few published reports.[4-11] There are about 100 000 episodes each year in the USA, of which two-thirds are new cases, and almost 1% are fatal. Some have estimated that 10-20% of the US population is at risk for anaphylaxis by virtue of past history or existing sensitization.[7] Although most cases can be traced to specific trigger factors, some 20% or more are designated as idiopathic.[8-12] Even the treatment of anaphylaxis is controversial. Although epinephrine has long been held to be the treatment of choice, it is clearly underutilized and not always effective, whereas steroids are widely used despite the total lack of evidence to support this practice.[1,13-14]"
Italian Virus Outbreak May Portend Global Spread "Another pathogen has jumped its traditional boundaries to begin what some fear is a march around the globe. This time the invader is a virus that causes chikungunya, a crippling and painful disease until now found only in the tropics."
Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries. (Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2007) "We found that a history of breastfeeding was associated with a reduction in the risk of acute otitis media, non-specific gastroenteritis, severe lower respiratory tract infections, atopic dermatitis, asthma (young children), obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and necrotizing enterocolitis. There was no relationship between breastfeeding in term infants and cognitive performance. The relationship between breastfeeding and cardiovascular diseases was unclear. Similarly, it was also unclear concerning the relationship between breastfeeding and infant mortality in developed countries. For maternal outcomes, a history of lactation was associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, breast, and ovarian cancer. Early cessation of breastfeeding or not breastfeeding was associated with an increased risk of maternal postpartum depression."
Essential hypertension. (Lancet. 2007) "Essential hypertension can be defined as a rise in blood pressure of unknown cause that increases risk for cerebral, cardiac, and renal events. In industrialised countries, the risk of becoming hypertensive (blood pressure >140/90 mm Hg) during a lifetime exceeds 90%. Essential hypertension usually clusters with other cardiovascular risk factors such as ageing, being overweight, insulin resistance, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia. Subtle target-organ damage such as left-ventricular hypertrophy, microalbuminuria, and cognitive dysfunction takes place early in the course of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, although catastrophic events such as stroke, heart attack, renal failure, and dementia usually happen after long periods of uncontrolled hypertension only."
Overweight, obesity and risk of liver cancer: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. (Br J Cancer. 2007) "This meta-analysis finds that excess body weight is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer."
Parental Occurrence of Premature Cardiovascular Disease Predicts Increased Coronary Artery and Abdominal Aortic Calcification in the Framingham Offspring and Third Generation Cohorts (Circulation 2007) "Conclusions—Parental premature CVD is associated with CAC, and premature CHD is associated with AAC, after adjustment for risk factors, particularly in younger middle-aged adults. Risk conferred by parental premature CVD on vascular calcification may be mediated through novel mechanisms not accounted for by classic CVD risk factors known to cause atherosclerosis."
Spinal Fractures Affect One-Quarter of All Post-Menopausal Women "About one-quarter of all post-menopausal women suffer these breaks, typically caused by osteoporosis and simple movements such as bending or sneezing."
The Long-term Consequence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Meniscus Injuries: Osteoarthritis. (Am J Sports Med. 2007) "At 10 to 20 years after the diagnosis, on average, 50% of those with a diagnosed anterior cruciate ligament or meniscus tear have osteoarthritis with associated pain and functional impairment: the young patient with an old knee. These individuals make up a substantial proportion of the overall osteoarthritis population."
[A review about cannabis use like as risk factor of schizophrenia] (Adicciones. 2007) "In conclusion, we consider that the use of cannabis is clearly associated with the inducement of psychotic symptoms and is, possibly, a risk factor of schizophrenia in people with a genetic or psychosocial vulnerability, preventive methods being necessary in high-risk groups. These are fundamentally those of users of large quantities of cannabis and those who initiate use in adolescence."
Higher Total Serum Cholesterol Levels Are Associated With Less Severe Strokes and Lower All-Cause Mortality. Ten-Year Follow-Up of Ischemic Strokes in the Copenhagen Stroke Study. (Stroke. 2007) "BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Evidence of a causal relation between serum cholesterol and stroke is inconsistent. We investigated the relation between total serum cholesterol and both stroke severity and poststroke mortality to test the hypothesis that hypercholesterolemia is primarily associated with minor stroke. … CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study support the hypothesis that a higher cholesterol level favors development of minor strokes. Because of selection, therefore, major strokes are more often seen in patients with lower cholesterol levels. Poststroke mortality, therefore, is inversely related to cholesterol."
Microwave-popcorn fumes a home hazard? " … the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association issued a statement Tuesday recommending that its members reduce "to the extent possible" the amount of diacetyl in butter flavorings they make. It noted that diacetyl is approved for use in flavors by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)."
Obesity and colorectal cancer risk: A meta-analysis of cohort studies. (World J Gastroenterol. 2007) "CONCLUSION: Obesity is a statistically significant risk factor for colorectal cancer and the relationship is more significant in men than in women among different cancer subsites. Indexes of abdominal obesity are more sensitive than those of overall obesity."
Prevalence, Recognition, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a National Sample of US Children (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007) "Of the children, 8.7% met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD."
Relation between smoking and risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease (NEUROLOGY 2007) "Conclusion: Current smoking increases the risk of dementia. This effect is more pronounced in persons without the APOE 4 allele than APOE 4 carriers."
Resting heart rate in cardiovascular disease. (J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007) "Pathophysiological studies indicate that a relatively high HR has direct detrimental effects on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis, on the occurrence of myocardial ischemia and ventricular arrhythmias, and on left ventricular function. Studies have found a continuous increase in risk with HR above 60 beats/min. Although it may be difficult to define an optimal HR for a given individual, it seems desirable to maintain resting HR substantially below the traditionally defined tachycardia threshold of 90 or 100 beats/min."
Survival for eight major cancers and all cancers combined for European adults diagnosed in 1995-99: results of the EUROCARE-4 study. (Lancet Oncol. 2007) "FINDINGS: Mean age-adjusted 5-year relative survival for colorectal (53.8% [95% CI 53.3-54.1]), lung (12.3% [12.1-12.5]), breast (78.9% [78.6-79.2]), prostate (75.7% [75.2-76.2]), and ovarian (36.3% [35.7-37.0]) cancer was highest in Nordic countries (except Denmark) and central Europe, intermediate in southern Europe, lower in the UK and Ireland, and worst in eastern Europe. Survival for melanoma (81.6% [81.0-82.3]), cancer of the testis (94.2% [93.4-95.0]), and Hodgkin's disease (80.0% [79.0-81.0]) varied little with geography. All-cancer survival correlated with TNEH for most countries. Denmark and UK had lower all-cancer survival than countries with similar TNEH; Finland had high all-cancer survival, but moderate TNEH."
To Raise Baby Einsteins, TLC Will Suffice
Industry pressure waters down breast-feed ads: Under pressure from infant formula lobby, appointees dilute campaign "Plans to run these blunt ads infuriated the politically powerful infant formula industry, which hired a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and a former top regulatory official to lobby the Health and Human Services Department. Not long afterward, department political appointees toned down the campaign."
More Kids Are Suffering Sports Injuries 'No single sport is specifically to blame for the increase in kids' sports injuries. Instead, experts suspect that choosing to play one sport all the time, or playing several sports all at once, are factors leading to what are called overuse injuries. … "Kids are now subject to adult schedules and organizational formats for adult-driven sports. In the past, kids directed the activities in the backyard. Where adults provide schedule and structure, kids may be pushed beyond what they would do on their own. When they play on their own, they take breaks and moderate themselves,' she said."
Toys 'R' Us recalls art sets that contain lead "Toys "R" Us has recalled 27,000 crayon and paint sets made in China because the packaging of the wooden box contains lead, as does some of the watercolor paint within, company and government officials said Thursday."
New Zealand Investigates Chinese Pajamas For Hazards "Safety experts in the U.S., concerned about the growing number of Chinese imports recalled for safety reasons, are closely watching the situation in New Zealand, where suspicion has now been cast upon Chinese-made pajamas. The government of New Zealand has launched an investigation after a TV program aired charges that pajamas made in China contained formaldehyde at a rate of 900 times the levels considered safe."
SpongeBob SquarePants Address Books, Journals Recalled "About 250,000 SpongeBob SquarePants address books and journals are being recalled because of a lead poisoning hazard. The paint on the metal spiral bindings of the address books and journals can contain excessive levels of lead, which violates the federal lead paint ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects."
Sugary Sodas High in Diabetes-Linked Compound "Sodas sweetened with high fructose corn syrup contain high levels of a potentially dangerous compound often found in the blood of diabetics, a new study concludes. It could be cause for concern, experts say, because the "reactive carbonyls" in these sugary drinks could bump up diabetes risk, particularly in children. … Ho suggests that parents check the labels of all the beverages their children consume and discourage them from drinking those containing HCFS. Instead, substitute diet carbonated beverages, water or fruit juices. Ho also noted that other types of beverages may contain high levels of HFCS, as well. So-called "hydrating" sports drinks often contain HFCS. Ho is particularly concerned about high-caffeine energy drinks."
Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms During and After Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study. (Am J Gastroenterol. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of GERS is similar across the three trimesters of pregnancy. Accumulated weight gain during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of GERS in the third trimester. Pregnancy might constitute a risk factor for developing GERS 1 yr postpartum."
Older adults with low selenium have weaker muscles "Older adults with low levels of the mineral selenium may be lacking in muscle strength, a new study suggests. Researchers found that in a group of men and women age 65 and up, those with the lowest blood levels of selenium were at greatest risk of poor muscle strength around the hips, knees and hands."
Plain Soap as Good as Antibacterial "Antibacterial soaps are no more effective than plain soap and water for killing disease-causing germs, but the jury is still out on whether they promote antibiotic resistance in users, a newly published research analysis shows."
Present-day uses of niacin: effects on lipid and non-lipid parameters. (Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2007) "Raising HDL-C levels with lifestyle changes and pharmacologic interventions appear to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease beyond that of lowering LDL-C alone. Niacin has a substantial HDL-C raising effect, and also may beneficially alter total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglyceride levels. Niacin also exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other beneficial effects on atherosclerosis. Niacin is safe and effective to use in women, in patients with diabetes mellitus and/or metabolic syndrome, and when used in combination with statins."
As China Roars, Pollution Reaches Deadly Extremes "Public health is reeling. Pollution has made cancer China’s leading cause of death, the Ministry of Health says. Ambient air pollution alone is blamed for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water. Chinese cities often seem wrapped in a toxic gray shroud. Only 1 percent of the country’s 560 million city dwellers breathe air considered safe by the European Union. … Environmental woes that might be considered catastrophic in some countries can seem commonplace in China: industrial cities where people rarely see the sun; children killed or sickened by lead poisoning or other types of local pollution; a coastline so swamped by algal red tides that large sections of the ocean no longer sustain marine life."
Baby Carrots Recalled "Bags of baby carrots sold by King Sooper, Ralphs, Publix, and Trader Joe's have been recalled because of possible Shigella contamination."
Childhood Obesity and Metabolic Imprinting: The Ongoing Effects of Maternal Hyperglycemia (Diabetes Care 2007) "CONCLUSIONS---: Our results in a multi-ethnic US population suggest that increasing hyperglycemia in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity. More research is needed to determine if treatment of GDM may be a modifiable risk factor for childhood obesity."
Docs often write off patient side effect concerns "In a survey of 650 patients, taking cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins, who reported having adverse drug reactions, many said their physicians denied that the drug could be connected to their symptoms, Dr. Beatrice A. Golomb of the University of California at San Diego and her colleagues found. "Physicians seem to commonly dismiss the possibility of a connection," Golomb told Reuters Health. "This seems to occur even for the best-supported adverse effects of the most widely prescribed class of drugs...Clearly there is a need for better physician education about adverse effects, and there is a strong need for patient involvement in adverse event reporting." The best-known side effects of statins, which include widely prescribed drugs such as Lipitor and Zocor, are liver damage and muscle problems, although statins have also been tied to changes in memory, concentration and mood, among other problems. Physician reaction to a potential side effect is crucial because the muscle problems can progress to a rare but potentially fatal condition called rhabdomyolysis if the drug isn't discontinued."
Pathogens prevalent in unpasteurized milk "A survey of unpasteurized milk samples drawn from dairy farms across Wisconsin found a significant presence of Coxiella burnetii and Listeria monocytogenes, two different types of bacteria that can cause serious infection and even death in some people. These findings have particular relevance for consumers seeking raw milk products."
Heavy drinking raises risk of stroke: study
Incident dementia in women is preceded by weight loss by at least a decade (NEUROLOGY 2007) "Conclusions: Even accounting for delays in diagnosis, weight loss precedes the diagnosis of dementia in women but not in men by several years. This loss may relate to predementia apathy, loss of initiative, and reduced olfactory function."
Infants who drink cows milk: A cohort study. (J Paediatr Child Health. 2007) "Conclusions: Despite recommendations that cows milk should not be given before 12 months of age, the majority of infants were given cows milk before this age. This suggests the need for further education programs."
Indoor molds, bacteria, microbial volatile organic compounds and plasticizers in schools--associations with asthma and respiratory symptoms in pupils. (Indoor Air. 2007) "We investigated asthma and atopy in relation to microbial and plasticizer exposure. …PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Despite generally good ventilation and lack of visible signs of mold growth, we found an association between respiratory symptoms and indoor MVOC concentration. In addition, we found associations between asthmatic symptoms and two common plasticizers. The highest levels of MVOC, TMPD-MIB, and TMPD-DIB were found in two new buildings, suggesting that material emissions should be better controlled. As MVOC and plasticizers concentrations were positively correlated, while indoor viable molds and bacteria were negatively correlated, it is unclear if indoor MVOC is an indicator of microbial exposure. Further studies focusing on health effects of chemical emissions from indoor plastic materials, including PVC-floor coatings, are needed."
Ranking cancer risks of organic hazardous air pollutants in the United States. (Environ Health Perspect. 2007) "Conclusions. Most of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, benzene, acetaldehyde, and 1,3-butadiene risk came from outdoor sources, whereas indoor sources were primarily responsible for chloroform, formaldehyde, and naphthalene risks. The infiltration of outdoor pollution into buildings, emissions from indoor sources, and uptake through food are all important to consider in reducing overall personal risk to HAPs."
Study Finds Many Recalled Products Are Resold Online "With the recent recall of more than 10 million toys made in China, parents may feel the threat posed by those toys is over. What parents don't know is that recalled children's products are often resold in the world's largest yard sale -- eBay -- and winding up back in kids' hands."
Sugary drinks may raise uric acid levels in men "High serum uric acid, they explain, has been suggested as a possible risk factor for high blood pressure, heart and vascular disease, as well as metabolic syndrome -- a cluster of risk factors, such as high blood pressure, obesity and high blood sugar levels, that together increase the likelihood of developing heart problems or diabetes."
Toys 'R' Us Pulls Bibs as a Precaution "Toys "R" Us Inc. on Friday said it was removing all vinyl baby bibs from its Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores as a precaution after two bibs made in China for one supplier showed lead levels that exceeded Toys "R" Us standards."
Ambient Air Pollution and Low Birth Weight in Connecticut and Massachusetts "Conclusions: Results indicate that exposure to air pollution, even at low levels, may increase risk of low birth weight, particularly for some segments of the population."
As Autism Diagnoses Grow, So Do Number Of Fad Treatments, Researchers Say "Ineffective or even dangerous fad treatments for autism, always a problem, seem to be growing more pervasive, according to researchers who studied the problem."
For Parents, Bottle Safety Still Unclear "Although no conclusive scientific evidence exists that bisphenol A, a chemical widely used in plastics, is harmful to children, last month a panel of the National Institutes of Health said exposure to the chemical raises "some concerns" for children. At the same time, authors of "Baby Bargains" parenting books have recommended switching to bisphenol-free bottles, identified by their opaqueness."
Common Flame Retardant May Be Killing House Cats "A mysterious epidemic of thyroid disease among pet cats in the United States may be linked to exposure to dust shed from flame retardants in household carpeting, furniture, fabrics and pet food. Humans may also be at risk, although more research is needed to determine if there is a link. That’s the conclusion of scientists who are reporting their study in Environmental Science & Technology, a semi-monthly journal from the American Chemical Society."
Excess dampness and mold growth in homes: an evidence-based review of the aeroirritant effect and its potential causes. (Allergy Asthma Proc. 2007) "The preponderance of epidemiological data supports a link between exposure to dampness and excess mold growth and the development of aeroirritant symptoms. In addition, biological and clinical studies evaluating potential causal substances for the aeroirritant effect, notably volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are examined in detail. These studies support the role of VOCs in contributing to the aeroirritant symptoms of occupants of damp and mold-contaminated homes."
Looking Past Blood Sugar to Survive With Diabetes "But in focusing entirely on blood sugar, Mr. Smith ended up neglecting the most important treatment for saving lives — lowering the cholesterol level. That protects against heart disease, which eventually kills nearly everyone with diabetes. He also was missing a second treatment that protects diabetes patients from heart attacks — controlling blood pressure. Mr. Smith assumed everything would be taken care of if he could just lower his blood sugar level. Blood sugar control is important in diabetes, specialists say. It can help prevent dreaded complications like blindness, amputations and kidney failure. But controlling blood sugar is not enough."
Differential diagnosis of atypical focal peripheral neuropathy: Case report. (Physiother Theory Pract. 2007) "Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most frequent form of focal peripheral neuropathy but is commonly misdiagnosed. The aim of this case report was to describe the differential diagnosis of CTS and atypical focal peripheral neuropathy in a 34-year-old female."
Toy Recall: What Parents Should Know
Misdiagnosis of stroke. (Expert Rev Neurother. 2007) "Common presenting symptoms are limb weakness, and speech and visual disturbances. Common stroke mimics are seizures, space occupying lesions, syncope, somatization and delirium secondary to sepsis."
People Don't Heed Warnings and Cancer Rates Soar Worldwide, UK Study Shows "RECORD numbers of people are developing "avoidable cancers" because of their lifestyle, despite warnings. Figures released Thursday show soaring levels of cancers caused by excessive sunbathing, obesity, alcohol and smoking. Cancer Research UK said rates of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, had risen by more than 40 per cent in the past decade, making it the fastest rising cancer in the UK. The charity warned that some of the cancers could be avoided with simple lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, eating a balanced diet and taking regular exercise."
Pot Bellies Point to Heart Risk "Banish the belly, not just the pounds: That's the heart-healthy advice from a new study that finds that "pot" bellies may be a big indicator of future heart disease. "What we're seeing is a quite strong association between the pot-belly, apple shape among a relatively young group of people and the build-up of plaque in the arteries," said study co-author Dr. James A. de Lemos, an associate professor of medicine and director of the Coronary Care Unit at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. "Ten to 15 years down the road, this can lead to major cardiac problems, such as a heart attack," he said."
Docs want pregnancy weight guidelines lowered "An influential U.S. medical panel is considering changes to the medical guidelines for how much weight a woman should gain during pregnancy. It's acting on the insistence of doctors who say heavy moms are gaining too much weight and the current recommendations do not factor in the country's obesity epidemic. Carrying too much weight while pregnant increases the risk of complications for mother and baby, including birth defects, labor and delivery problems, fetal death and delivery of large babies, according to the March of Dimes."
Extreme Heat Hits Elderly Harder "Due to age-related physical changes, older adults can't cool down as well as younger adults, says the American Geriatric Society's Foundation for Health in Aging. Older people may not feel as hot when temperatures are dangerously high, and they are also less likely to feel thirsty, even when they're almost dehydrated, the experts say. These and other factors mean that extreme heat can lead to serious health problems and increased risk of death for older adults."
Helping Find Lost Alzheimer's Patients
Hospitalizations for Elderly Rise With 4 or More Days of Dangerous Heat, Study Shows "Heat waves that struck later in the summer didn't appear to lead to fewer hospitalizations than heat waves that hit earlier in the season. That finding suggests that people don't get used to the heat as the summer progresses, the researchers note online in the journal BMC Public Health."
Mattel Recalls 19 Million Toys Sent From China "Industry analysts said Mattel’s woes are part of a much larger problem. “If I went down the shelves of Wal-Mart and tested everything, I’m going to find serious problems,” said Sean McGowan, managing director and the toy analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities. “The idea that Mattel — with its high standards — has a bigger problem than everybody else is laughable. If we don’t see an increase of recalls in this industry, then it’s a case of denial.” Even Mattel executives said repeatedly yesterday that the company may have more recalls."
Modern life pushes up cancer rate "Cases of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, have risen by 40% in the past decade, figures from Cancer Research UK show. And mouth cancer, which is associated with smoking and drinking, has risen by almost a quarter. Research has suggested that around half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle. Rates of kidney cancer and womb cancer - both linked to obesity - have also shown rapid increases over the past 10 years. Overweight and obese women are twice as likely to develop womb cancer as women of a healthy weight due to higher than normal exposure to the hormone oestrogen."
n-6 and n-3 PUFA intakes of pre-school children in Flanders, Belgium. (Br J Nutr. 2007) "In conclusion, Flemish pre-school children should consume more n-3-rich products in order to increase their LNA intake and decrease their LA/LNA ratio. Furthermore, the replacement of meat products rich in SFA by poultry would increase the arachidonic acid intake. As well, fatty fish consumption needs to be increased, as it is a rich source of long-chain n-3 PUFA."
Residents wheeze in nation's most polluted city ARVIN, Calif. - Lying in a rich agricultural region dotted with vineyards and orange groves, this central California community seems an unlikely place for a dubious distinction: the most polluted air in America. … Specific asthma data for Arvin is not available, but surrounding Kern County has a childhood asthma rate that far exceeds state and nation averages, with 17.5 percent of children under the age of 18 suffering from the condition. The state average is 14.8 percent, the national average 12.2 percent, according to the California Department of Health Services."
Schizophrenic patients who hear voices demonstrate abnormalities in voice-processing brain regions "MRI has helped researchers identify structural and functional abnormalities in the brains of people experiencing schizophrenic auditory hallucinations. The defects clustered in areas of the brain responsible for processing voices. … The authors suggest that overactivation and corresponding gray matter deficits in the limbic and frontal brain of schizophrenics reflects a dysfunctional emotional response to spoken words. The study was published in the August issue of Radiology…"
U.S. ranks just 42nd in life expectancy "Countries that surpass the U.S. include Japan and most of Europe, as well as Jordan, Guam and the Cayman Islands. … Andorra, a tiny country in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, had the longest life expectancy, at 83.5 years, according to the Census Bureau. It was followed by Japan, Maucau, San Marino and Singapore. … Researchers said several factors have contributed to the United States falling behind other industrialized nations. A major one is that 45 million Americans lack health insurance, while Canada and many European countries have universal health care, they say. … Among the other factors: • Adults in the United States have one of the highest obesity rates in the world. …"
A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Management of Breast Cancer, Part 1: Prevention and Diagnosis (Mayo Clin Proc. 2007) "It has become more evident that a multidisciplinary team approach that involves a spectrum of breast experts is necessary to provide optimal care to patients. This team includes medical oncologists, breast radiologists, breast pathologists, surgical breast specialists, radiation oncologists, geneticists, and primary care physicians. Furthermore, patient knowledge has increased use of the Internet, and more patients are seeking a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. This review considers information for health care professionals who will facilitate optimal patient care for women at increased risk for or presenting with a new diagnosis of breast cancer."
Chinese-made hotel toothpaste recalled "Gilchrist & Soames is recalling its 18-milliliter or 0.65-ounce tubes with the name Gilchrist & Soames on it. The company said Monday that some samples showed the tubes contained diethylene glycol, a chemical found in antifreeze and can be toxic to the kidneys and liver."
Nurses at Increased Risk for Asthma "Nurses are roughly twice as likely as people with other jobs to develop asthma, according to a report in the July 28th issue of The Lancet. A heightened, albeit slightly lower, risk is also seen in cleaners. Furthermore, the results indicate that inhalation accidents in the workplace markedly increase the risk of asthma. …Of major occupation groups, nurses and cleaners had the highest relative risks of asthma, (2.22 and 1.71). Workers exposed to an acute symptomatic inhalation event, such as a chemical spill or fire, were 3.3-times more likely to develop asthma than non-exposed workers."
Plastics Chemical of 'Some Concern' for Fetal, Child Health "Bisphenol A, a chemical found in many plastics and resins, may present some risk to a developing fetus and children, a U.S. government panel concluded Wednesday. Experts convened by the U.S. Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), part of the National Toxicology Program, unanimously concluded that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) presents some risk to human development and reproduction. BPA is chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and several types of resins. It is found in products used everyday such as compact discs, DVDs, baby bottles and other food and drink packaging. It is also commonly found in cars, sports safety equipment and water pipes … The committee's report is not without its critics. 'If I were a committee member, I wouldn't sign off on this broken report,' said Jennifer Sass, senior scientist for the Health and Environment Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an advocacy group. "Harmful effects in laboratory animals exposed to even the low levels of BPA that are commonly found in the blood and urine of Americans include an increase in prostate and breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, reproductive abnormalities, reduced semen quality, recurrent miscarriage, obesity, and neurobehavioral problems similar to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," she said in a prepared statement.'"
Prepregnancy Obesity as a Risk Factor for Structural Birth Defects (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007) "Results Mothers of offspring with spina bifida, heart defects, anorectal atresia, hypospadias, limb reduction defects, diaphragmatic hernia, and omphalocele were significantly more likely to be obese than mothers of controls, with odds ratios ranging between 1.33 and 2.10. Mothers of offspring with gastroschisis were significantly less likely to be obese than mothers of controls."
Prevention of Recurrent Ischemic Stroke (Am Fam Physician 2007) "Risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia should be evaluated during each office visit. Attention should be given to lifestyle modification including management of obesity, smoking cessation, reduction in alcohol consumption, and promotion of physical activity. The choice of an antiplatelet agent (e.g., aspirin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, dipyridamole) or the anticoagulant warfarin is based on the safety, tolerability, effectiveness, and price of each agent."
Mexico Warns Diabetes May Bankrupt Health System "Rocketing levels of diabetes threaten to cripple Mexico's already strained health services, as Mexicans spurn exercise and healthy eating in favor of heavy foods and sugary soft drinks, the government said on Thursday. Health Secretary Jose Cordova warned expensive treatment for diabetes, Mexico's No. 1 cause of death in recent years, would bankrupt the country's health system within the next decade if illness levels were not controlled. … 'The concept of healthy eating is almost nonexistent,' "
Snoring as an Independent Risk Factor for Hypertension in the Nonobese Population: The Korean Health and Genome Study (American Journal of Hypertension 2007) "Although further evidence is needed, our results support the contention that habitual snoring is an important predisposing factor in future hypertension, even for nonobese adults."
1 million lbs. of suspect Chinese seafood in U.S. "At least 1 million pounds of suspect Chinese seafood landed on American store shelves and dinner plates despite a Food and Drug Administration order that the shipments first be screened for banned drugs or chemicals, an Associated Press investigation found. The frozen shrimp, catfish and eel arrived at U.S. ports under an “import alert,” which meant the FDA was supposed to hold every shipment until it had passed a laboratory test. But that was not what happened, according to an AP check of shipments since last fall."
Excess pounds worsen women's bladder control "The more weight a woman puts on after her teen years, the more likely she is to develop urinary incontinence in her late 30s to early 50s, a new study shows."
Benefits of Kegel exercises "Kegel exercises strengthen some of the muscles that control the flow of urine. Doctors often prescribe Kegel exercises for people who have bladder control problems (urinary incontinence). Kegel exercises are also called pelvic floor exercises because they treat and prevent pelvic floor weakness "
Binges boost brain damage "Each year about 200,000 Australians show the first signs of brain damage from excessive alcohol consumption, but most are never diagnosed. … Half of those treated for alcohol-related brain damage have been injured through falls and other accidents while bingeing. Just as many have drunk themselves to disability by destroying the frontal lobes in their brains, ruining their memory, problem-solving abilities and co-ordination. Men who drink six standard drinks a day -- and women who drink three alcoholic drinks a day -- for eight to 10 years, are risking brain damage. People who have 12 drinks a day over a prolonged period destroy up to 30 per cent of their brain. Clinical neuropsychologist Martin Jackson said every year more than 200,000 Australians began showing signs of alcohol-related brain injury."
[Magnesium deficit in climacteric women] (Klin Med (Mosk). 2007) "Normal magnesium levels were found in less than 50% of women with clinical manifestations of DM. MD was associated with a higher frequency of abdominal obesity and bone fractures of extremities."
Many Heart Attack Patients Don't Get Needed Treatment "Eligible patients most likely to miss out on emergency reperfusion included: Those whose heart attack symptoms didn't include typical symptoms such as chest pain; those who didn't reach the hospital until six or more hours after the start of their heart attack; women; people over age 75; and non-white people."
Maternal Smoking Contributes to Placental Abruption Risk "Smoking during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of placental abruption, according to a report in the August 1st issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology."
Me and My Kegels; Doing pelvic exercises the right way can pay off in the bathroom—and the bedroom. "Two years after giving birth, I still can’t control my bladder. I’m one of 25 million Americans, the majority of them women, with incontinence. More than half of healthy women ages 42 to 50—I’m 45—have some form of chronic-peeing problem, usually linked to pregnancy and childbirth, coughing, constipation, heavy lifting, or hormonal changes. Yet, incredibly, 90 percent of us never seek treatment."
[Overweight, obesity and associated factors in first grade schoolchildren in a city of the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo, Brazil.] (Cad Saude Publica. 2007) "Factors associated with overweight were: mother's obesity (PR = 3.54; CI: 2.16-5.80), high consumption of junk food (PR = 2.12; CI: 1.30-3.45), more than 4 hours a day watching TV (PR = 2.08; CI: 1.03-4.20), and daily household per capita availability of vegetal oil (around 3 tablespoons) (PR = 1.52; CI: 1.01-2.31). The family environment has a strong influence on overweight in children entering first grade in public schools. Prevention of childhood overweight should preferably target the parents and other caregivers."
The matrix of autism "The idea was that the autistic kids’ true intelligence might shine through if they could bypass the language deficit. And that’s exactly what happened. The difference between their scores on the WISC and the Raven’s test was striking: For example, not a single autistic child scored in the “high intelligence” range of the WISC, yet fully a third did on the Raven’s. Similarly, a third of the autistics had WISC scores in the mentally retarded range, whereas only one in 20 scored that low on the Raven’s test. The normal kids had basically the same results on both tests. The scientists ran the same experiment with autistic and normal adults, with the same result. As they report in the August issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, these findings speak not only to the level of autistic intelligence but to the nature of autistic intelligence. While it is probably true that autistics possess extraordinary perceptual skills, and that they use unique cognitive pathways for problem solving, their intelligence clearly goes far beyond rote memory and perception to include complex reasoning ability."
Poll: More U.S. Adults Seek Health Information Online "Rick Kellerman, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said that more people searching the Internet for health information means that consumers are getting more involved in their care because of online resources."
Printer emissions can risk health "Workers face a potential health threat from office laser printers that emit large amounts of tiny particles into the air, an Australian research team has found."
Anorexia May Be More Common Than Thought "Anorexia nervosa is more common than previously thought, according to a study of more than 3,000 Finnish women born between 1975 and 1979. The study, by Finnish and American researchers, also found that, in many cases, anorexia symptoms come and go. The researchers found that about 2.2 percent of young women suffered from severe anorexia nervosa, while up to 5 percent of the women suffered at least some degree of anorexic symptoms (self starvation and obsessive anxiety about weight) sometime during their lifetime. Symptoms of anorexia nervosa usually appeared between ages 10 and 25, while the peak of illness onset was between ages 15 and 19."
Lead Paint Prompts Mattel to Recall 967,000 Toys "Mattel is hardly the first manufacturer to encounter a breakdown in the Chinese production chain. In recent months, factories in China have been sources of poisonous pet food sold in stores in the United States, dangerous car tires, and lead paint on the popular Thomas & Friends wooden toys."
A series of melanomas smaller than 4 mm and implications for the ABCDE rule. (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2007) "Conclusions The findings of this study support those authors who have suggested elimination of the 6-mm diameter criterion in the ABCDE rule. In addition, this study provides further evidence that dark colour as a diagnostic criterion for melanoma should be given more emphasis. The substitution of 'D' to represent dark instead of diameter is worthy of consideration to enhance the value of the ABCDE mnemonic."
Characteristics of brain tumour-associated headache (Cephalalgia 2007) "Eighty-five brain tumour patients were examined for further characteristics of brain tumour-associated headache. The overall prevalence of headache in this population was 60%, but headache was the sole symptom in only 2%. Pain was generally dull, of moderate intensity, and not specifically localized. Nearly 40% met the criteria of tension-type headache. An alteration of the pain with the occurrence of the tumour was experienced by 82.5%, implying that the pre-existing and the brain tumour headaches were different. The classic characteristics mentioned in the International Classification of Headache Disorders (worsening in the morning or during coughing) were not found; this might be explained by the patients not having elevated intracranial pressure."
Circadian variation of blood pressure: The basis for the chronotherapy of hypertension. (Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2007) "In most individuals, BP presents a morning increase, a small post-prandial valley, and a deeper descent during nocturnal rest. However, under certain pathophysiological conditions, the nocturnal BP decline may be reduced or even reversed. This cannot be determined by traditional clinical or home BP assessments. Subjects with a diminished nocturnal BP decline (non-dipper pattern) have a significantly worse prognosis than the ones with a normal dipper pattern. In particular, the non-dipper circadian BP pattern represents a risk factor for left ventricular hyperthropy, microalbuminuria, cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, vascular dementia and myocardial infarction."
Diabetics may do well on Mediterranean diet "Eating a traditional Mediterranean diet -- more vegetables, fruits, and fish, and fewer animal products -- does seem to ward off heart disease, an Australian study shows, and it may be especially beneficial for people with diabetes."
Diesel Fumes Help Clog Arteries "An interaction between the fine particles found in diesel exhaust and the fatty acids in LDL ("bad") cholesterol activates genes that then cause inflammation in blood vessels, a team from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) report. This process accelerates atherosclerosis -- a buildup of fatty deposits that can eventually lead to complete vessel blockage, according to the study in the July 26 online issue of Genome Biology."
Enteric coating may not protect stomach "Enteric-coated aspirin has virtually the same effect on the stomach as plain, uncoated aspirin, according to a U.S. newsletter. The Harvard Heart Letter explains that aspirin doesn't have to be in contact with stomach cells to harm them."
Heavily calcified carotid plaque reduces stroke risk "In current clinical practice, physicians look at the percent blockage in the carotid artery to identify candidates for plaque clearing surgery to prevent stroke. The new findings suggest that calcification percentages should also be considered, Kramer said. The study has potential implications for the management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Given the serious risks of surgical and endovascular intervention, a noninvasive method of determining which patients are at decreased risk and potentially amenable to medical therapy is critical. The degree of calcification within the plaque causing stenosis may be an important marker for patients who could potentially be treated less aggressively."
Organic Foods Make Mom's Breast Milk Better "A new study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, showed that organic dairy and meat products in a mother's diet positively affect the nutritional quality of her breast milk-markedly increasing beneficial fatty acids. Specifically, a diet in which 90% or more of dairy and meat products are organic is correlated with measurably higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA is a type of fat that is believed to have anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic and immune-enhancing effects, as well as a favorable influence on body fat composition. For newborns specifically, CLA is believed to especially aid immune system development."
Predictive value of clinical characteristics for `benign' multiple sclerosis (European Journal of Neurology 2007) "Our results suggest that within the first 5 years from onset it is not possible to predict a benign course. Disease course, EDSS score and relapse rate at 5 years are predictors for benign MS at 10 years."
Study links radio towers to child leukemia risk "Children who live close to an AM radio transmission tower may have an elevated risk of leukemia, a study suggests. South Korean researchers found that children who lived within 2 kilometers (about 1-1/4 miles) of an AM radio transmitter were twice as likely to develop lymphocytic leukemia as children who lived more than 20 kilometers (approximately 12-1/2 miles) away."
The importance of prognostic factors in premenopausal women with breast cancer. (Anticancer Res. 2007) "BACKGROUND: Basic conventional prognostic factors for breast cancer include the age of the patient, tumor grade, regional lymph nodes status, and estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor status. Positivity of the HER2 receptor (c-erbB-2) seems to be a new prognostic and predictive factor. Prognostic factors seem to be more important in the high-risk group of the premenopausal females. We evaluated individual prognostic factors (age, histology, TNM classification, ER, PR, CA 15-3, CEA, HER2) and their impact on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) during the 5-year follow-up period."
Surgical Treatment of Obesity (Nat Clin Pract Endocrinol Metab. 2007) "Results of bariatric surgery in large case-series followed for at least 10 years consistently demonstrate amelioration of components of the insulin-resistance metabolic syndrome and other comorbidities, significantly improving quality of life. Furthermore, bariatric surgery has convincingly been demonstrated to reduce mortality compared with nonoperative methods. This surgery requires substantial preoperative and postoperative evaluation, teaching, and monitoring to optimize outcomes. In the absence of effective societal changes to restore a healthy energy balance, bariatric surgery is an important tool for treating a very serious disease."
Overactive bladder and glaucoma: A survey at outpatient clinics in Japan. (Int J Urol. 2007) "Conclusions: As both OAB and glaucoma increase with age, it is not surprising that approximately 10% of OAB patients have glaucoma. Although the majority have had either open-angle glaucoma or angle-closure glaucoma already treated, some of them may be true contraindications for anticholinergics due to uncontrolled angle-closure glaucoma. It seems necessary to treat OAB patients based on accurate information on the relationship between glaucoma and anticholinergics."
Pesticides And Schools: A 'Tragic' Health Hazard " 'Over 80 percent of schools in America are applying pesticides on a regular basis, whether they have a pest problem or not," he said. "This is tragic not only because of the well-documented link between pesticides and health problems in children, such as asthma and neurological disorders, but also because pesticides generally do not work in a preventive manner in the school environment. Applying pesticides does not prevent pests from coming in, so using them when pests are not present does nothing other than expose children and staff to toxic chemicals.'"
Should You Sip Your Vitamins Through a Straw? "The explosion of nutrient-laced drinks reflects consumers' desire for more healthful choices than soda … But some nutritionists say these enhanced drinks may lead consumers to pack in more calories than they need. Popular drinks such as SoBe Life Water and Vitaminwater often contain about 125 calories per bottle. That's less than sugared sodas, but certainly more than plain water. Many health experts say there is little evidence to suggest that fortified beverages make a significant difference in health. And they question whether the drinks are worth their hefty retail prices, which can run twice as high as those of plain bottled water or unenhanced sodas. … Meanwhile, other nutrients often lacking in people's diets typically aren't in enhanced drinks or are present in such small quantities that they don't make much difference."
Heavy Drinkers Lack Omega-3 Nutrient "Men who binge drink have lower levels of disease-fighting omega-3 fatty acids than their peers, a new study finds. This lack of a key essential fatty acid suggests that men who drink alcohol heavily also make poor dietary choices and could benefit from more fish in their diet, the researchers reported in the August issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research."
*ALERT July 27, 2007 (USA)* Recalled cans still for sale in grocery stores "Stores nationwide are continuing to sell recalled canned chili, stew, hash and other foods potentially contaminated with poisonous bacteria even after repeated warnings the products could kill. Thousands of cans are being removed from store shelves as quickly as investigators find them, more than a week after Castleberry's Food Co. began recalling more than 90 potentially contaminated products over fears of botulism contamination. The recall now covers two years' production at the company's Augusta, Ga., plant — a tally that spirals into the tens of millions of cans."Preventing food allergy in children
Risk of Wheezing Associated with House-dust Mite Allergens and Indoor Air Quality Among Three-year-old Children. Krakow Inner City Study. (Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2007) " … the presence of moulds had the strongest impact on the risk of wheezing … The data support the view that exposure to a higher level of HDM allergens increases the burden of respiratory diseases in the early childhood and the effect is independent of maternal atopy, ETS, and moulds in homes."
Severe Vitamin D-deficiency and the Health of North China Children. (Matern Child Health J. 2007) "Conclusions: Northern climate and cloistering of children creates a host of health risks for north China children. Vitamin D-deficiency, lead poisoning and respiratory disease are significantly worse during the winter months. These children need vitamin D supplementation during the winter and improved overall nutritional status during the summer to maintain ideal growth and development."
Magnesium intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis (Journal of Internal Medicine 2007) "Conclusions. Magnesium intake was inversely associated with incidence of type 2 diabetes. This finding suggests that increased consumption of magnesium-rich foods such as whole grains, beans, nuts, and green leafy vegetables may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes."
Childhood sun exposure influences risk of multiple sclerosis in monozygotic twins (NEUROLOGY 2007) "Conclusion: Early sun avoidance seems to precede the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This protective effect is independent of genetic susceptibility to MS."
Chronic kidney disease: effects on the cardiovascular system. (Circulation. 2007) "Accelerated cardiovascular disease is a frequent complication of renal disease."
Do the same houses poison many children? An investigation of lead poisoning in Rochester, New York, 1993-2004. (Public Health Rep. 2007)
Drinking While Pregnant May Alter Child's Brain " 'Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause damage to the brain that results in significant problems with regulating behavior and optimal thinking and learning,' Fryer said."
Drug Therapy as Effective as Stents for Stable Heart Disease "The follow-up, which lasted from 2 to 7 years, showed that 19% of patients in the angioplasty group either died or had a heart attack, compared with 18.5% of the drug treatment group. Researchers also found little statistical difference between the 2 groups when comparing rates of death, heart attack, stroke, or hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome or heart attack alone. The primary benefit of angioplasty over drug therapy, according to the researchers, is that it reduced chest pains over the long term."
FDA Renews Castleberry's Chili Warning "A list of recalled products, which includes brands such as Castleberry's, Bunker Hill, Austex, Big Y, Lowes Foods, Kroger and Piggly Wiggly, can be found at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/castleberry.html#recall. "This is a very big recall," said David K. Elder of the FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs. The four people known to be affected so far ate chili sauce produced during two days in May. The responsible production plant, in Augusta, Ga., produced as many as 10,000 24-can cases per day, and the cans are labeled as having a shelf life of two years."
Fibromyalgia (Am Fam Physician 2007)
Food safety a big problem worldwide: WHO officials "China should not be singled out for particular concern over food safety, a big problem that rich and poor countries alike must tackle through better regulation, top World Health Organization (WHO) officials said on Tuesday."
Visceral Adipose Tissue Accumulation, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Features of the Metabolic Syndrome (Arch Intern Med. 2007) "Conclusion This study underlines the importance of visceral AT accumulation in the previously reported association between CRF and metabolic complications predictive of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus."
Botulism Recall Widened "Botulism risk has spurred the FDA and Castleberry's Food Co. to widen Castleberry's canned goods recall. The recall now includes more than 80 canned goods for people and four products for pets. All of those products are made by Castleberry's Food Co., but they bear various brand names. … Earlier, the recall only included products with certain "Best By" dates printed on the cans. But now, the recall includes all of the products listed by Castleberry's, regardless of "Best By" date. … Castleberry's Food Company is located in Augusta, Ga. Its products were in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, including details about product refunds, contact Castleberry's consumer information hotline at (888) 203-8446 or (800) 203-4412."
Nasal saline irrigations for the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis. (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Saline irrigations are well tolerated. Although minor side effects are common, the beneficial effect of saline appears to outweigh these drawbacks for the majority of patients. The use of topical saline could be included as a treatment adjunct for the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis."
Nerve Regeneration After Radiofrequency Application. (Am J Sports Med. 2007) "BACKGROUND: Many patients with chronic tendinosis have experienced early pain relief after application of bipolar radiofrequency treatment. It is hypothesized that the mechanism of action may be the acute degeneration and/or ablation of sensory nerve fibers. … CONCLUSION: Bipolar radiofrequency treatment induced degeneration of sensory nerve fibers immediately after treatment, but by 90 days posttreatment, there was evidence of complete regeneration. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early degeneration followed by later regeneration of nerve fibers after bipolar radiofrequency treatment may explain long-term postoperative pain relief after microtenotomy for tendinosis."
[Overweight and associated pathologies in adult women] (Nutr Hosp. 2007) "Associated pathologies were present in 80,8% of the studied women: 46,9% (n = 61) with dyslipidemia; 42,3% (n = 55) with HBP; 33,1% (n = 43) with arthropaties; and 16,2% (n = 21) with DM. Overweight and obese I women showed a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (56%) and (52%), respectively; while in Obese II and Obese III, 38,7% and 47,1% presented HBP respectively. There was a positive correlation (Spearman) among DM, HBP and dyslipidemia (p < 0,05) with age; and significant correlation (Pearson, p < 0,05) between W/H ratio and DM. CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of associated pathologies in the valued women, being the most frequent dyslipidemia, HBP and arthropathy, which are directly proportional with the age and the IC/C."
Plasma vitamin D and risk of colorectal cancer: the Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study. (Br J Cancer. 2007) "Our results suggest that a low level of plasma 25(OH)D may increase the risk of rectal cancer."
Prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy in European postmenopausal women. (Curr Med Res Opin. 2007) "CONCLUSION: This study indicates a high prevalence of vitamin D [25(OH)D] inadequacy in European postmenopausal women. The prevalence could be even higher in some particular countries. A greater awareness of the importance of vitamin D inadequacy is needed to address this public health problem."
Recovery of Erectile Function in Aging Hypertensive and Normotensive Rats Using Exercise and Caloric Restriction. (J Sex Med. 2007) "Conclusions. Similar to previous studies, erectile function progressively decreased with age in both hypertensive and normotensive rats. Erectile responses were found to be substantially improved by an intervention involving exercise and CR, but not necessarily involving weight loss."
Hostility linked to artery-clogging plaque "People who seem to always be looking for a fight may find themselves at greater risk of heart disease, a new study suggests. Researchers found that adults whose spouses rated them high on the "antagonism" scale were more likely to have calcium build-up in their heart arteries, an indicator of artery-clogging plaque. The relationship was mainly apparent in older, rather than middle-aged, adults."
Is High Consumption of Fatty Fish during Pregnancy a Risk Factor for Fetal Growth Retardation? A Study of 44,824 Danish Pregnant Women. (Am J Epidemiol. 2007) "These increases in risk were followed by small decreases in average values for these growth measures. Furthermore, the inverse association for total fish consumption could be explained by consumption of fatty fish, while no association was found for lean fish. These results indicate that consumption of fatty fish, a known route of exposure to persistent organic pollutants, could be associated with reduced fetal growth."
Low cholesterol diet improves blood flow in fetus "Consuming a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet during pregnancy seems to have a beneficial effect on blood flow in the fetus, Norwegian researchers report."
Migraine with aura is a risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease: a critically appraised topic. (Neurologist. 2007) "CONCLUSION:: In women, active migraine with aura increases the risk of major CVD and ischemic stroke by approximately 2-fold compared with women without migraine. Active migraine without aura was not a risk factor for major CVD and stroke outcomes in this study."
China’s not the sole source of tainted imports "Mexican cantaloupe irrigated with water from sewage-tainted rivers. Candy laced with lead. Chinese toothpaste is not the only concern for U.S. consumers wary of the health risks posed by imported goods. Producers in other developing nations are big violators of basic food safety standards, even as they woo consumers with a growing appetite for foods like pickled mangoes from India and winter-season fruits and vegetables from Mexico. … Candy makers are still major violators, making up at least 15 percent of the FDA’s June rejections for Mexico after inspectors determined that shipments were filthy, unsafe or contained pesticides. In the same month, FDA inspectors determined that four shipments of oral electrolyte solution — used to treat dehydration in children with acute diarrhea or vomiting — contained unsafe coloring and false labeling. While the products carried the name of Abbott Laboratories of Mexico, a spokeswoman for the Chicago-based company, Tracey Noe, said it had not been notified of any product rejection and noted that products are sometimes counterfeited or diverted for sale to the wrong country."
Acute emotional stress and cardiac arrhythmias. (JAMA. 2007)
Body mass index and weight change since 20 years of age and risk of coronary heart disease among Japanese: the Japan Public Health Center-Based Study. (Int J Obes (Lond). 2007) "Conclusions:High BMI was associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease among men. Also, weight gain was associated with increased risk among lean men."
Calorie restriction or exercise: effects on coronary heart disease risk factors. A randomized, controlled trial (Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2007) "Coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and the risk of CHD increase with increased adiposity. Fat loss induced by negative energy balance improves all metabolic CHD risk factors. To determine whether fat loss induced by long-term calorie restriction (CR) or increased energy expenditure induced by exercise (EX) has different effects on CHD risk factors in nonobese subjects … Data from the present study provide evidence that CR- and EX-induced negative energy balance result in substantial and similar improvements in the major risk factors for CHD in normal-weight and overweight middle-aged adults."
Residential Exposure to Traffic Is Associated With Coronary Atherosclerosis (Circulation 2007) "Conclusions--Long-term residential exposure to high traffic is associated with the degree of coronary atherosclerosis."
Smoking and colorectal cancer: different effects by type of cigarettes? (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007) "The data from this large study corroborate previous reports of a positive association between smoking and colorectal cancer and suggest that the association may vary by type of cigarette."
Telomere length is paternally inherited and is associated with parental lifespan. (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007)
Chlorination products: emerging links with allergic diseases. (Curr Med Chem. 2007) "Experimental evidence suggests that chlorination products promote allergic sensitization by compromising the permeability or the immunoregulatory function of epithelial barriers. These findings led to the chlorine hypothesis proposing that the rise of allergic diseases could result less from the declining exposure to microbial agents (the hygiene hypothesis) than from the increasing and largely uncontrolled exposure to products of chlorination, the most widely used method to achieve hygiene in the developed world. Giving the increasing popularity of water recreational areas, there is an obvious need to assess the effects of chlorine-based oxidants on human health and their possible implication in the epidemic of allergic diseases."
Embalming agent formaldehyde found in Chinese cookies in Philippines "… Philippine authorities said they were testing more Chinese products after ordering several candy and cookie brands withdrawn from store shelves because they tested positive for a harmful embalming chemical."
Exercise may help with hard-to-treat depression"Regular exercise may improve depression symptoms in people who've failed to get better with antidepressant medication, the results of a small study suggest. The study found that depressed women who started a supervised exercise regimen had significant improvements in their symptoms over the next 8 months. Those who didn't exercise showed only marginal improvements. Before the study, all of the women had tried taking antidepressant medication for at least two months but had failed to improve."
75 percent of Americans overweight by 2015 "If people keep gaining weight at the current rate, fat will be the norm by 2015, with 75 percent of U.S. adults overweight and 41 percent obese, U.S. researchers predicted on Wednesday."
A Nested Case-Control Study of Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Risk of Colorectal Cancer. (J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007) "Conclusion Our data provide additional support for the inverse association between vitamin D and colorectal and, in particular, colon cancer risk."
Exaggerated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Variability Is Associated with Cognitive Dysfunction in the Very Elderly and Quality of Life in the Younger Elderly (American Journal of Hypertension 2007) "Very elderly had larger BP variability than younger elderly. Exaggerated ambulatory BP variability was related to cognitive dysfunction in the elderly, especially in the very elderly, and was related to lower QOL in the younger elderly."
CDC - Health Information for International Travel, 2007-2008
Effect of heart rate on long-term mortality among men and women. (Acta Cardiol. 2007) "RESULTS: Among men, high heart rate (above 75 beats/minute) was associated with excess mortality … CONCLUSIONS: High heart rate is an independent mortality risk marker for men but not for women."
Effect sizes of non-surgical treatments of non-specific low-back pain. (Eur Spine J. 2007) "As a conclusion, the effect of treatments for LBP is only small to moderate. Therefore, there is a dire need for developing more effective interventions."
Gerber baby cereal recalled over choking hazard "Gerber Products Co. recalled all packages of its organic rice and organic oatmeal cereals Friday because of potential clumping of the baby food, which can pose a choking hazard."
Omega-3 Fatty acids and athletics. (Curr Sports Med Rep. 2007) "Excessive radical formation and trauma during high-intensity exercise leads to an inflammatory state that is made worse by the increased amount of y-6 fatty acids in Western diets, although this can be counteracted by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). For the majority of athletes, especially those at the leisure level, general guidelines should include EPA and DHA of about 1 to 2 g/d at a ratio of EPA:DHA of 2:1."
One-Fifth of Hospitals Give Bad Emergency Advice on Stroke: Too often, personnel do not tell callers to phone 911, study finds "Americans who think they're having a stroke face better than a one-in-five chance of getting the wrong -- and potentially fatal -- advice when they call local hospital personnel, a new study shows. Although experts say the best thing to do when suspected stroke symptoms appear is to immediately call emergency 911, in 22 percent of cases, hospital personnel who answered the phone advised that patients call their family doctor. … There are two messages in the new study, Schwamm said. "The first is that if you or someone you see is having a stroke, call 911, and say, 'I think I'm having a stroke,' " he said. 'The second is to find out [beforehand], by calling hospitals in your area, if a hospital has an acute stroke team, if it is equipped to care for a stroke. The education message needs to go to everyone involved.' "
Traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease: a review. (Prog Brain Res. 2007) "… there still appears to be an increasing trend to support the hypothesis that TBI is a potential risk factor for AD. Furthermore, although it is known that APOE genotype plays an important role in AD, its link to a deleterious outcome following TBI remains inconclusive and ambiguous."
Rising BMI Linked to Higher Mortality, Even in Overweight Subjects " 'The main results of our study are that people who are overweight have a moderately increased risk of premature death, and people who are obese have a greatly increased risk of death, and those results are based particularly on the analysis we conducted when we looked at people's weight at mid-life,' senior author on the study, Michael F. Leitzmann, MD, from the Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, National Institutes of Health, told heartwire."
Survival in Untreated Early-Stage Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Is Poor "Untreated stage I lung cancer is an inevitably fatal disease for a majority of patients, and treatment should not be delayed or deferred. Results of a study published in the July 2007 issue of Chest found that among untreated patients with stage I disease, the median survival was 9 months overall, 13 months for patients with T1 disease, and 14 months for those who had refused surgical intervention. "We know that at least half of patients with stage I lung cancers, and probably all patients with cancers smaller than 2 centimeters, are asymptomatic, meaning that their cancer was discovered incidentally," lead author Dan J. Raz, MD, from the department of surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, told Medscape. "Our study suggests that all patients with lung cancer should be offered prompt treatment, preferably surgical resection with lobectomy or wedge resection or otherwise with ablative therapies in patients too sick to undergo surgical resection." Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death both in the United States and worldwide. Overall, prognosis is poor, and even when detected at an early stage and surgically resected, the 5-year survival rate is only about 70%."
The Toxic Republic " … tells of monstrous abuses: soy sauce bulked up with arsenic-tainted human hair; hormone-infused snack foods that grow facial hair on 6-year-old boys and breasts on 7-year-old girls; dangerous drugs fed to pigs to make their meat look better. … the first head of China's State Food and Drug Administration, was sentenced to death in May for approving fake medicines in exchange for bribes. And at the factories whose chemical melamine was implicated in at least 16 U.S. pet deaths, two managers have been jailed."
Niacin in cardiovascular prevention: mechanisms, efficacy, and safety. Hyperlipidaemia and cardiovascular disease (Current Opinion in Lipidology. 2007) "Although niacin induces insulin resistance, deterioration of glycemic control in diabetes is usually minor, and there is no evidence of increased incidence of new onset diabetes. Hepatic toxicity is common with higher doses of sustained-release niacin but rare with immediate-release and extended-release niacin at doses up to 2000 mg/day. … Summary: Recently developed understanding of the mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of niacin, along with progress in reducing the chief side effect of flushing, should enhance the use of this valuable agent for cardiovascular prevention."
No Evidence Tomatoes, Lycopene Cut Cancer: FDA "There's little hard evidence that a diet rich in tomatoes and the tomato antioxidant lycopene can ward off cancer, according to research from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Reporting in the July 10 issue of the Journal of the American Cancer Institute, FDA experts lay out in great detail the evidence -- or mostly lack of it -- behind their November 2005 statement that tomato consumption is not linked to any reduction risk of tumors of the prostate, ovary, stomach and pancreas. The agency had previously found no evidence that tomatoes could cut risks for lung, colorectal, breast, cervical or endometrial tumors, either."
Obesity and kidney disease. (Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2007) "Chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence increases from 2.9% among adults with an ideal BMI to 4.5% among obese adults. The development of CKD is usually the culminating result of the interaction of multiple risk factors. Obesity represents one example of a multitoxicity state and given the background of genetic susceptibility and/or reduced nephron number, overweight may initiate renal remodeling and/or accelerate kidney failure. Obesity may be the number one preventable risk factor for CKD. Weight loss has indeed been shown to improve glomerular hemodynamics and reduce urine albumin excretion. Thus, obese patients with CKD should be counseled on the benefits of weight loss."
A Hole in the Food Safety Net? "Consumer advocates are raising concerns about whether federal restrictions meant to stop the import of tainted Chinese seafood are strong enough. … 'We had a problem with the fact that FDA is going to allow China to be one of the certifiers, since they have done such a poor job of certifying' the safety of seafood in the past, … 'We're not sure they can handle this.' "
Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, and Waist-Hip Ratio on the Risk of Total and Type-Specific Stroke (Arch Intern Med. 2007) "Conclusions Body mass index was a risk factor for total and ischemic stroke in men and women. Abdominal adiposity was a risk factor for total and ischemic stroke only in men."
Chinese food 'made from cardboard' "Chopped cardboard, softened with an industrial chemical and flavored with fatty pork and powdered seasoning, is a main ingredient in batches of steamed buns sold in one Beijing neighborhood, state television said. … Squares of cardboard picked from the ground are first soaked to a pulp in a plastic basin of caustic soda -- a chemical base commonly used in manufacturing paper and soap -- then chopped into tiny morsels with a cleaver. Fatty pork and powdered seasoning are stirred in. Soon, steaming servings of the buns appear on the screen. The reporter takes a bite."
Unsafe at Any Speed "Now the true picture is emerging, and it isn't pretty. Far from the disciplined and tightly controlled economy China was thought to have, the ongoing scandals have revealed an often chaotic system with lax standards, where the government's economic authority has been weakened by rapid reforms. This sorry state is not unprecedented—other economies, such as South Korea's and Japan's, experienced similar growing pains decades ago. The difference, and the danger, is one of scale, since Chinese goods now dominate the world in so many sectors. … Virtually every product category is affected, from candy that has choked children to killer fireworks to toxic face cream. At least 300 million Chinese citizens—roughly the same number as the entire U.S. population—suffer from food-borne diseases annually, according to a recent report by the Asian Development Bank and World Health Organization."
Heat-Related Illness in Athletes. (Am J Sports Med. 2007) "The continuum of heat illness includes mild disease (heat edema, heat rash, heat cramps, heat syncope), heat exhaustion, and the most severe form, potentially life-threatening heat stroke. Heat exhaustion typically presents with dizziness, malaise, nausea, and vomiting, or excessive fatigue with accompanying mild temperature elevations. The condition can progress to heat stroke without treatment. Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is characterized by core temperature >104 degrees F with mental status changes. Recognition of an athlete with heat illness in its early stages and initiation of treatment will prevent morbidity and mortality from heat stroke. Risk factors for heat illness include dehydration, obesity, concurrent febrile illness, alcohol consumption, extremes of age, sickle cell trait, and supplement use."
Hot Weather Exercise "The most general dangers from heat are dehydration and overheating. Water lost through perspiring comes directly out of your bloodstream. If the water isn't replaced, you can develop heat exhaustion, — a condition marked by fatigue, dizziness, pale skin and shortness of breath. Heat exhaustion can occur in as little as 30 minutes if you're sweating heavily. … Heat stroke is a less common but even more serious danger. Heat stroke occurs when you generate so much heat that your body can no longer release it. Your body's overloaded cooling mechanism shuts down, causing body temperature to skyrocket. Heat stroke can develop in just a few minutes if you're exercising intensely, even when you're well hydrated. The usual treatment for heat stroke is putting the person in a tub of cool water. If not treated immediately, heat stroke can be fatal. Anyone who becomes disoriented or faints while exercising should be taken to a hospital. The solution: Be extremely careful when doing any intense exercise in weather over 80° Fahrenheit or 90-percent humidity. In a hot, humid climate, even a three-mile running race can boost body temperatures to dangerous levels. Keep your efforts comfortable and steady. … Helpful Tips [see article] "
How Hot Is It? Check the Heat Index "The danger zone begins at a heat index of 104 degrees, when, with prolonged exposure, sunstroke, heat cramps or heat exhaustion are likely, and when heat stroke, which can be deadly, is possible. A heat index of 126 or higher is extremely dangerous. And it is not as hard to reach as it might sound. A temperature of 92 degrees with a relative humidity of 85 percent puts you there."
Multifocal strokes as the presentation of occult lung cancer. (J Neurooncol. 2007) "Cancer patients are hypercoagulable through a variety of mechanisms and are at significant risk for ischemic stroke. Though usually occurring in the later stages of neoplastic disease, stroke can rarely be the first manifestation of an occult malignancy."
Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids predict accelerated decline of peripheral nerve function in older persons. (Eur J Neurol. 2007) "Lower plasma PUFA, omega-6 fatty acids, linoleic acid, ratio omega-6/omega-3, arachidonic acid and docosahexanoic acid levels were significantly predicted a steeper decline in nerve function parameters over the 3-year follow-up. Low plasma omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids levels were associated with accelerated decline of peripheral nerve function with aging."
Pneumonia Most Common Reason for Readmission After Stroke "A retrospective study shows that fewer than 15% of stroke patients survive without hospital readmission during the next 5 years; pneumonia and respiratory illness were the top reasons for readmission, followed by myocardial infarction and recurrent stroke."
Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in elderly ambulatory outpatients in Denver, Colorado. (Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D insufficiency is prevalent in ambulatory, and especially obese, elderly living in Denver, Colorado, despite vitamin D intake consistent with national recommendations. Dietary intake of vitamin D appeared to be unreliable to prevent insufficiency. Based on our results, along with other published data, we feel that national recommendations for vitamin D intake in the elderly should be increased to at least 800 to 1000 IU/d of over-the-counter supplemental cholecalciferol."
Sleep Problems in Primary Care: A North Carolina Family Practice Research Network (NC-FP-RN) Study (The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 2007) "Conclusion: Sleep complaints are highly prevalent in primary care populations. Patients with the highest risk for sleep disturbance are those with pain, mental illness, limited activity, and overall "poor physical and mental health." Because sleep disorders are associated with a significant health impact, positive responses to questions regarding sleep symptoms should prompt further diagnostic inquiry."
Time to diagnosis of melanoma: same trend in different continents. (J Cutan Med Surg. 2007) "More females detected their lesions by themselves. The change to a darker color (21%) and enlargement of the area of the lesion (19%) were the major signs. The highest knowledge among patients that early detection may improve the outcome was found in Sweden and Australia. At each center, the media (newspaper, magazine, radio, and television) provided the best sources of information about melanoma. Twenty to 33% of all physicians initially consulted missed the melanoma diagnosis, independent of their specialty."
Turning back the clock: adopting a healthy lifestyle in middle age. (Am J Med. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: People who newly adopt a healthy lifestyle in middle-age experience a prompt benefit of lower rates of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Strategies to encourage adopting healthy lifestyles should be implemented, especially among people with hypertension, diabetes, or low socioeconomic status."
Cancer 75% of all critical illness claims "Cancer is the biggest cause of critical illness in Ireland, accounting for three quarters of insurance claims by women. The equivalent figure for men is just under half, at 45%. Cancer and heart disease combined make up 75% of all claims, regardless of gender."
Cardiac atrophy in women following bed rest (J Appl Physiol 2007) "Cardiac atrophy occurs in women similar to men following sedentary 60 days HDT bed rest. However, exercise training and, to a lesser extent, protein supplementation may be potential countermeasures to the cardiac atrophy associated with chronic unloading conditions such as in spaceflight and prolonged bed rest."
Diagnostic pitfalls in Parkinson's disease: case report. (Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2007) "Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by resting tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia. In 80% of cases, the disorder begins with upper limb resting tremor. However, there are some presenting atypical features that make the diagnosis even more difficult and intriguing. The disorder can have its onset below 40 years old, characterizing early-onset parkinsonism, which differential diagnosis possibilities are varied. Atypical presentations include a pure akinetic-rigid syndrome, the initial manifestations occurring in the lower limbs, and pain as the most important or sole manifestation. These atypical features are unusual, but can be seen in clinical practice."
Early prodromal symptoms and diagnoses before first psychotic episode in 219 inpatients with schizophrenia. (Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2007) "The authors examined the diagnosis before the onset of schizophrenia and retrospectively evaluated the presence/absence of early prodromal symptoms (EPS) … A diagnosis was made before the onset of schizophrenia in 53 patients (24.2%). The diagnoses were mood disorder in 39 patients, anxiety disorder in seven, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in three, adjustment disorder in two, and eating disorder in two. EPS were present in 65 (29.7%) of all patients, slightly more frequent in female patients (male : female = 1:1.41). In the group with EPS, depressive symptoms (61.5%) were most frequently observed, followed by anxiety symptoms (23.1%) and OC symptoms (9.2%). The age at onset for each type of symptom was significantly lower for OC symptoms (14.5 +/- 2.4 years) than for the other symptoms (approx. 20 years). The mean period from the onset of each symptom to that of schizophrenia was the shortest for depressive symptoms (2.7 +/- 3.1 years) and the longest (>4 years) for OC symptoms."
Chronic illness and health-seeking information on the Internet. (Health (London). 2007) "The findings suggest that it is not merely the presence of a particular chronic illness, but rather the total number of chronic conditions that determine Internet use. Also, the more frequently a person uses the Internet as a source of health information, the more likely they are to change their health behavior."
[Danes and their use of the Internet for health-related purposes] (Ugeskr Laeger. 2007) "RESULTS: 60% of the Danish population use the Internet to seek health-related information. The Internet is especially used for health purposes by people with a high education, by women, by people with poor health and by people with children. Every fourth Dane experiences feelings of reassurance or relief after having read about illness on the Internet and this number is 3 times higher than the number of people that experience concern and anxiety. 3% state that they have changed their medication after having read information on the Internet and this is done without prior contact to their doctor. 8% of Danes have at some point consulted their doctor over the Internet, and if given the opportunity, 58% would read their own patient record online."
Evidence-based guidelines for the management of lower urinary tract symptoms related to uncomplicated benign prostatic hyperplasia in Italy: updated summary. (Curr Med Res Opin. 2007) "Main findings/recommendations: Given the prevalence of BPH, all men aged >/= 50 years of age should be asked about LUTS and informed about disease characteristics and therapeutic options, while sexual function should always be assessed in patients with severe and long-standing LUTS. Initial assessment should include medical history (including drug and co-morbidity history), digital rectal examination, urinalysis, International Prostate Symptom Score-Quality of Life (IPSS-QoL) and a voiding diary, while prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and measurement of prostate volume by suprapubic ultrasonography are indicated in fully informed patients with a life expectancy of >/= 10 years in whom BPH progression could influence treatment choices. QoL considerations should dictate whether to start active treatment. When QoL is not affected by LUTS, watchful waiting is indicated if symptoms are mild, acceptable if they are moderate. When QoL is affected, medical therapy with alpha(1)-blockers or 5alpha-reductase inhibitors (the latter indicated in patients with increased prostate volume) is appropriate. Combined therapy with alpha(1)-blockers + 5alpha-reductase inhibitors should only be considered in patients at high risk for progression (prostate volume > 40 mL or PSA > 4 ng/mL), since the incremental cost of combination therapy vs. monotherapy with alpha(1)-blockers or finasteride is prohibitive."
Exercise key in control of type 2 diabetes: study "People with type 2 diabetes may go a long way in managing their condition if they take up regular exercise, a new research review shows. Researchers found that when they combined the results from 103 studies, there was clear evidence that lifestyle changes helped people with type 2 diabetes gain better control over their blood sugar. But while diet, exercise and medication are all vital to diabetes management, exercise alone was effective in these studies. In fact, the review found, studies that focused only on boosting exercise levels yielded greater benefits than those that tried to change patients' diets, exercise habits and medication adherence all at once."
Frontotemporal dementia with tau pathology. (Neurodegener Dis. 2007) "Tau is a microtubule-associated protein involved in microtubule assembly and stabilization. Filamentous deposits made of tau constitute a major defining characteristic of several neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease. The involvement of tau in neurodegeneration has been clarified by the identification of genetic mutations in the tau gene in cases with familial frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17)."
94 deaths in Panama from tainted medicine "A top Panamanian prosecutor said tests show at least 94 people have died from taking medicine contaminated with diethylene glycol since July 2006 and that 293 more deaths are under investigation. Prosecutor Dimas Guevara told The Associated Press on Wednesday that people have continued to die this year even though the tainted medicine was pulled from shelves in October, with some struggling for months before dying. … A chemical commonly found in antifreeze and brake fluid, diethylene glycol was used in cough syrup, antihistamine tablets, calamine lotion and rash ointment made in a Panama government laboratory. Investigations revealed the chemical was made by a Chinese company that fraudulently passed it off as 99.5 percent pure glycerin, a sweetener commonly used in drugs, to a Spanish company. That company sold it to Panama’s Medicom SA, which sold it to a government laboratory."
Silent brain infarcts: a systematic review. (Lancet Neurol. 2007) "In this systematic review, we give an overview of the frequency, causes, and consequences of MRI-defined silent brain infarcts, which are detected in 20% of healthy elderly people and up to 50% of patients in selected series. Most infarcts are lacunes, of which hypertensive small-vessel disease is thought to be the main cause. Although silent infarcts, by definition, lack clinically overt stroke-like symptoms, they are associated with subtle deficits in physical and cognitive function that commonly go unnoticed. Moreover, the presence of silent infarcts more than doubles the risk of subsequent stroke and dementia."
Top Spots for Bacteria at Home "Out of 32 places in the home, the top spots for bacteria are the toilet bowl, kitchen drain, kitchen sponge or counter-wiping cloth, bathtub, and kitchen sink., according to a new study. … Researchers visited 35 U.S. homes, swabbing for bacteria in 32 locations in each home. Here's how those spots ranked, in terms of the average number of bacteria per square inch. Spots with the same average number of bacteria have the same rank. 1. Toilet bowl: 3.2 million bacteria/square inch 2. Kitchen drain: 567,845 bacteria/square inch 3. Sponge or counter-wiping cloth: 134,630 bacteria/square inch 4. Bathtub, near drain: 119,468 bacteria/square inch 5. Kitchen sink, near drain: 17,964 bacteria/square inch … "
What Proportion of Patients Referred to Secondary Care with Iron Deficiency Anemia Have Colon Cancer? (Dis Colon Rectum. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Males referred with iron deficiency anemia have a significant risk of having colon cancer. The risk seems lower in females; this gender difference has been observed in other studies and further evidence should be sought before advising any change in referral practice."
Wound instability and management after cataract surgery in a patient with prior laser in situ keratomileusis. (J Cataract Refract Surg. 2007) "Understanding wound stability and its management in cataract surgery in patients with prior LASIK refractive surgery will become increasingly important as more of these patients present."
Low Intake of Vitamin B-6 Is Associated with Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Japanese Men. (J Nutr. 2007) "Our results support previous evidence that low vitamin B-6 intake is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. In particular, a higher intake of vitamin B-6 appears beneficial in men with higher alcohol intake."
Neuropathies in the older patient (Reviews in Clinical Gerontology (2006/2007) ) "The elderly population is at higher risk of peripheral neuropathy, as there is a correlation between age and impairment of the peripheral nervous system. The natural aging process affects adversely the function of peripheral nerves and of their target organs, resulting in the development of motor, sensory and autonomic symptoms in the absence of additional damage of other causes. In addition, the increased prevalence of chronic systemic disorders causing neuropathy, as well as the use of neurotoxic drugs in older patients, contribute to the onset of neuropathy."
HPV Virus in Men "It can increase a man's risk of getting genital cancers, although these cancers are not common. HPV can also cause genital warts in men, just as in women. More than half of men who are sexually active in the United States will have HPV at some time in their life. Often, a man will clear the virus on his own, with no health problems. … Some of the 30 or so types of HPV associated with genital cancers can lead to cancer of the anus or penis in men. Both of these cancer types are rare. In those with a healthy immune system, they are even rarer. … Early treatment of warts is discouraged by some doctors because genital warts can go away on their own. It can also take time for all warts to appear. So a person who treats warts as soon as they appear may need another treatment later on."
Human papillomavirus: often harmless but in some cases carcinogenic. (Prescrire Int. 2007)
Increased dietary intake of omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces pathological retinal angiogenesis. (Nat Med. 2007) "Many sight-threatening diseases have two critical phases, vessel loss followed by hypoxia-driven destructive neovascularization. These diseases include retinopathy of prematurity and diabetic retinopathy, leading causes of blindness in childhood and middle age affecting over 4 million people in the United States. … These findings indicate that increasing the sources of omega-3-PUFA or their bioactive products reduces pathological angiogenesis. Western diets are often deficient in omega-3-PUFA, and premature infants lack the important transfer from the mother to the infant of omega-3-PUFA that normally occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy. Supplementing omega-3-PUFA intake may be of benefit in preventing retinopathy."
It's Never Too Late to Get Healthy "In fact, people who eat right and exercise more can substantially reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease and death even if they're in their 50s or 60s, researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina report. Consuming at least five fruits and vegetables daily, exercising at least 2.5 hours per week, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking can lessen your chances of heart trouble by 35 percent, and your risk of dying by 40 percent, compared to people with less healthy lifestyles, according to the report in the July issue of the American Journal of Medicine."
Ambient Air Pollution and Low Birth Weight in Connecticut and Massachusetts (EHP 2007) "Conclusions: Results indicate that exposure to air pollution, even at low levels, may increase risk of low birth weight, particularly for some segments of the population."
An active brain may help keep Alzheimer's at bay "The results of a new study support a number of previous studies that have shown that staying mentally active reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and the mild impairments that precede the condition."
Bad sense of smell may be first Alzheimer's sign "Other studies have linked loss of smell to Alzheimer’s, Franks said, but this is the first to measure healthy people’s olfactory powers and follow them for five years, testing along the way for signs of mental decline. In the study, 600 people between the ages of 54 and 100 were asked to identify a dozen familiar smells: onion, lemon, cinnamon, black pepper, chocolate, rose, banana, pineapple, soap, paint thinner, gasoline and smoke. … The people who made at least four errors on the odor test were 50 percent more likely to develop problems than people who made no more than one error. Difficulty identifying odors also was associated with a higher risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s."
Children and Diabetes "The initial symptoms of childhood diabetes may look like the flu. Typically, a child becomes ill, urinates frequently and complains of constant thirst. This happens as the body tries to get rid of the extra glucose through the urine and then to replace the lost fluids. A child may begin wetting his bed long after he has stopped wearing diapers. He may feel constantly hungry because the body is not processing food into energy. He may be tired and begin to lose weight as he starts to burn fat for energy."
Debate rages over what level of mercury in tuna is considered harmful "Women may also have to worry for their own health: A 2003 study by San Francisco internist Jane Hightower, M.D., published in the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives," found that 89 percent of her female patients had mercury levels above what most scientists consider safe, and that high mercury levels in adults correlated with memory loss, fatigue and muscle aches. Another preliminary study this year found that mothers who delivered prematurely were more likely to have high mercury levels."
Study Links Blood Sugar to Newborn Risks "The higher a pregnant woman's level of blood sugar, the greater the risk to her newborn -- whether the mother has diabetes or not, the largest study on the problem suggests. The findings released Friday may lead to more women being diagnosed with diabetes during pregnancy and given stricter diet advice or medication to lower blood sugar."
Tainted Chinese toothpaste had wider reach "Thousands of tubes of contaminated Chinese-made toothpaste were shipped to state prisons and mental hospitals in Georgia, officials said Thursday, a sign that U.S. distribution of the tainted products was wider than initially thought."
The Toxic Origins of Disease "Researchers say endocrine-disrupting chemicals can permanently harm the developing organism and may even promote obesity. But the chemical industry doesn't want you to believe them."
The Use of Household Cleaning Sprays and Adult Asthma: An International Longitudinal Study. (Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Frequent use of common household cleaning sprays may be an important risk factor for adult asthma."
Whole grains fight hardening of the arteries "Eating plenty of whole grains can help keep your arteries healthy, potentially warding off heart disease and stroke, a new study shows. In a diverse group of men and women participating in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study, those with diets containing the largest amounts of whole grains had the thinnest carotid artery walls and showed the slowest progression in artery wall thickness over a five-year period…"
More vitamin D can put more pep in seniors' steps "Declining physical performance among some Dutch seniors may not be a simple consequence of aging, it may actually be due to a vitamin D deficiency, results of a new study suggest. … Over the 3-year study, these vitamin D-deficient adults were also twice as likely as their peers to exhibit a decline in physical performance, such as taking longer to rise from a sitting position. … To address this problem, Wellman, a professor and director of the National Resource Center on Nutrition, Physical Activity & Aging, at Florida International University, advises seniors to drink milk or orange juice that is fortified with vitamin D and calcium, since 'both are needed for bone health.'"
New findings back smoking-stillbirth link "A large study that followed women through their first and second consecutive pregnancy provides additional evidence of a direct link between smoking and increased risk of stillbirth. Compared with women who didn't smoking during either pregnancy, the investigators found that those who smoked during their first but not their second pregnancy did not have an increased risk of stillbirth. However, women who smoked during both consecutive pregnancies had a 35 percent higher risk of stillbirth than nonsmokers."
Researchers Raise Eyebrows With Autism Findings "Earlier this month, outside the gates of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, parents angrily confronted government scientists. They were passionate about one specific point of view -- that their kids had been poisoned by the mercury contained in the childhood vaccines they'd received, and now had autism."
Schizophrenia: A Review (Am Fam Physician 2007) "Schizophrenia has a prevalence of 1 percent in all cultures and is equally common in men and women.1 Men typically present with the disease in their late teenage years or early 20s, whereas women generally present in their late 20s or early 30s."
Secondhand smoke may affect brain of fetus "Those troubles include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), aggressive behavior, defiance and a behavior pattern called conduct disorder, which can include truancy, fighting, failing in school, substance abuse, theft and property destruction."
Is the anti-inflammatory effect of regular exercise responsible for reduced cardiovascular disease? (Clinical Science (2007)) "Exercise training also induces the expression of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mediators in the vascular wall that may directly inhibit the development of atherosclerosis. Limited studies in humans and more comprehensive assessments in animal models have confirmed that exercise is atheroprotective and helped identify a number of the mechanisms to explain these effects."
Daytime Sleepiness and Functional Impairment in Alzheimer Disease (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2007) "Conclusion: Even apart from its association with impaired cognition, daytime sleepiness was associated with functional impairment in AD patients. Although daytime sleep may represent a welcome relief for caregivers, its presence may be associated with greater impairment in instrumental activities and may warrant intervention."
Dietary Fatty Acids and Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study (Am. J. Epidemiol. 2007) "Significant dose-dependent reductions in risk were associated with increased consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids…"
Factors associated with back pain after physical injury: a survey of consecutive major trauma patients. (Spine. 2007) "Back pain after major trauma was not associated with measures of injury severity, such as the Injury Severity Score or the presence of a spinal fracture. Back pain was also not associated with patient-specific factors, such as age, gender, or occupation. Back pain was significantly associated with the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder, the use of a lawyer, the presence of chronic illnesses, and lower education levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of psychosocial factors as predictors of symptomatic back pain after major physical trauma. The findings do not support physical factors as important."
FDA detains Chinese seafood due to drug fears "Farmed seafood joined tires, toothpaste and toy trains on the list of tainted and defective products from China that could be hazardous to a person’s health. Federal health officials said Thursday that they were detaining three types of Chinese fish — catfish, basa and dace — as well as shrimp and eel after repeated testing has turned up contamination with drugs unapproved in the United States for use in farmed seafood. "
Calcium from diet best for building bone density "Women who want to keep their bones strong after menopause may be better off eating plenty of calcium-rich food than relying on supplements for their intake of the mineral, a new study shows. Postmenopausal women who got their calcium mainly from diet or from diet and supplements had a greater average bone mineral density (BMD) than women who got most of their calcium from supplements …"
Smoking during teenage pregnancies: Effects on behavioral problems in offspring. (Nicotine Tob Res. 2007) "Smoking during pregnancy among adolescents is a significant predictor of increased activity and attention problems in their offspring after controlling for covariates in the prenatal and current environments."
Elderly may benefit from balance training "With a special training program, elderly people can learn better balance control, which may lessen their risk of falling, according to a new report. Doctors might be hesitant to recommend balance-training exercises 'that can be very challenging for their older clients,' Dr. Brian E. Maki told Reuters Health. However, 'provided proper safety measures are taken (such as wearing a safety harness), older adults are often willing and able to complete exercises that challenge their balance, such as the perturbation-based program described in our paper.' The perturbation-based balance training program developed by Maki at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and colleagues helps the elderly learn how to restore balance or respond by grasping a support when their center of gravity or their stance is displaced."
Impact of self monitoring of blood glucose in the management of patients with non-insulin treated diabetes: open parallel group randomised trial (BMJ 2007) "No significant improvement in glycaemic control was found after 12 months in patients with non-insulin treated type 2 diabetes using self monitoring of blood glucose levels when compared to those not self monitoring. No evidence was found of a significantly different impact of self monitoring on glycaemic control when comparing subgroups of patients defined by duration of diabetes, therapy, diabetes related complications, and EQ-5D score. Also no evidence was found that more intensive compared with less intensive monitoring led to differences in glycaemic control."
Leisure Physical Activity and the Risk of Fracture in Men (PLOS Medicine 2007) "Our data indicate that regular sports activities can reduce the risk of fractures in older men."
Life on the farm may not be so healthy "Farm workers seem to have an elevated risk of developing a serious lung condition more typically seen in smokers, a study has shown. Austrian researchers found that among more than 1000 adults who underwent tests of lung function, farmers were more likely than those with other occupations to show signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is the collective term for emphysema and chronic bronchitis, progressive diseases of the airways most commonly associated with smoking. While smoking is the major risk factor for COPD, non-smokers can also develop it."
Frontotemporal dementias: A review. (Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2007) "Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the term now preferred over Picks disease to describe the spectrum of non-Alzheimers dementias characterized by focal atrophy of the frontal and anterior temporal regions of the brain. The prevalence of FTD is considerable, though specific figures vary among different studies. It occurs usually in an age range of 35-75 and it is more common in individuals with a positive family history of dementia. The risk factors associated with this disorder include head injury and family history of FTD."
FDA Moves To Ensure Safety of Supplements "For the first time, manufacturers of vitamins, herbal pills and other dietary supplements will have to test all of their products' ingredients, the Food and Drug Administration ordered yesterday. The FDA said the new mandate is needed to ensure that products are free of contamination and impurities. … The new rule goes into effect Aug. 24 and will have a three-year phase-in that gives smaller manufacturers more time to comply. Even the largest of the manufacturers will not have to comply until next June. "
Fever in travelers often a sign of serious problem "Fever in travelers returning home is a marker of potentially grave illness, according to researchers who report the findings from global surveillance of travel-related illnesses. … Travelers who visited friends and relatives in sub-Saharan Africa, south-central Asia, or Latin America were more likely to develop fever than other groups. Malaria, diagnosed in 21 percent of those with fever, was the most common culprit. Other causes of fever, among them dengue, rickettsia and hepatitis, varied by region visited. More than 17 percent of travelers with fever had a vaccine-preventable infection or falciparum malaria, which can be prevented by taking anti-malarial pills. Four of the 12 deaths in febrile travelers were due to malaria."
A midlife stroke surge among women in the United States. (Neurology. 2007)
BMI, Obesity, and Sickness Absence in the Whitehall II Study. (Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007) "Obesity at age 25 predicted long absences, and obesity at Phase 1 predicted short and long absences in both sexes. Chronic obesity was a particularly strong predictor of long absences in men, with a rate ratio of 2.61 (1.88 to 3.63). DISCUSSION: Findings from this well-characterized cohort suggest that the obesity epidemic in industrialized countries may result in significant increases in sickness absence."
Effects of light ethanol consumption during pregnancy: increased frequency of minor anomalies in the newborn and altered contractility of umbilical cord artery. (Pediatr Res. 2007) "In conclusion, even light drinking should be considered a risk during pregnancy."
More body fat means better recovery for anorexics "For women recovering from anorexia nervosa, achieving a normal percentage of body fat seems to indicate that they have a good chance of beating the disease long-term. In a study of anorexic women who had regained their normal weight, those with the most body fat relative to their total weight were the least likely to relapse, Dr. Laurel E. S. Mayer and colleagues found. 'These data suggest that restoring body fat to normal levels may be integral to recovery,' Mayer, of Columbia University in New York City, and her team write in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry."
More walking could benefit people with arthritis "People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis tend to walk less than other people, but their heart health would improve if they'd spent more time walking, according to a new report. Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease, the authors explain in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, but little is known about energy expenditure from lifestyle physical activity in arthritis patients."
Organochlorine pesticides in seafood products from southern China and health risk assessment. (Environ Toxicol Chem. 2007) "Risk assessment against various standards clearly showed that seafood products were highly contaminated by DDTs and may pose health threat to local residents and the consumers all over the world. Furthermore, other OCP components, such as dieldrin and heptachlor, also impose lifetime cancer risk, especially to residents of coastal regions who often consume more seafood than those living inland. Therefore, continual monitoring of OCPs in various environment compartments, including biota and abiota, urgently is needed to mitigate effectively the impact of OCPs, particularly DDTs, on human health and the ecological environment."
Peripheral Artery Disease "PAD is a form of atherosclerosis, the same disease that causes most strokes and nearly all heart attacks. It most commonly affects the legs, but it can affect arteries anywhere in the body, including the heart and brain. That's why people with PAD have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke and are two to four-times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than people without PAD. … The earliest and most common symptom is called intermittent claudication, which causes cramp-like muscle pain. Claudication occurs when muscles are not getting enough oxygen. The discomfort can occur in the foot, calf, thigh, or buttock, depending on the site of the blockage. Men can also develop erectile dysfunction if PAD strikes in the aorta or iliac arteries because they supply blood to the penis. PAD can also produce numbness, tingling, weakness or fatigue. Because muscles need more oxygen when they're working, claudication begins during exercise and resolves with a few minutes of rest."
Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin d in the United States: data from the third national health and nutrition examination survey. (Arch Intern Med. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Serum 25(OH)D levels are associated with important cardiovascular disease risk factors in US adults."
Pros and Cons: Elective C-Section
Smoking as a Risk Factor for Dementia and Cognitive Decline: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. (Am J Epidemiol. 2007) "The authors concluded that elderly smokers have increased risks of dementia and cognitive decline."
Spread of AIDS in Africa Is Outpacing Treatment "But in sub-Saharan Africa, prevention programs have mostly failed to curb the behavior -- especially the habit of maintaining several sexual partners at a time -- that drives the epidemic, research indicates. So while antiretroviral drugs have prolonged and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Africans, millions more are being newly infected with a disease that is still incurable and, for most, terminal. In South Africa, AIDS deaths are projected to increase at least through 2025 despite steadily improving access to antiretrovirals, according to the Actuarial Society of South Africa. The prognosis on the rest of the continent is at least as bleak."
Evidence-Based Medicine and the Cochrane Collaboration on Trial "While evidence-based medicine is absolutely essential to comprehensive healthcare reform, it has been profoundly corrupted by money. … From this single well-designed study of anticoagulants came a startling result: The anticoagulants did not prevent deaths. … Based on the complication rate of anticoagulation for DVT or PE in much larger observational studies, anticoagulants kill 1000-4000 Americans with VTE each year due to internal bleeding, mostly in the brain. … The Cochrane peer reviewers (at least 4 out of 7 of which had undisclosed financial ties to the drug companies that make anticoagulants) delayed four years over releasing this review for publication. … Since anticoagulation researchers and FDA scientists chose not to rebut any of the data or conclusions of either review, the media was not interested, few physicians read the reviews, and no debate ensued. Researchers continue receiving lucrative contracts from drug companies for more anticoagulant trials. The medical establishment (drug companies, doctors, hospitals) keeps making money from the diagnosis and treatment of DVT and PE with anticoagulants (estimated total cost in 2007 will be $13 billion-$48 billion in the United States[15]), and medical journals keep publishing more anticoagulation trials without proper controls, which are dutifully covered by a compliant media, while thousands of DVT and PE patients keep bleeding to death."
Cancer Treatments From the Kitchen: New research shows that flaxseed and ginseng have something to offer patients. Shark cartilage, however, comes up short. "Nutritionists and alternative-medicine practitioners alike are enamored of flaxseed. High in omega-3 fatty acids, it also has "800 times more lignan than anything else you could stick in your mouth," says Duke University cancer researcher Wendy Demark-Wahnefried. Lignan, a chemical found in the cell walls of plants, binds to testosterone in the body—and in many prostate-cancer patients, testosterone is what fuels tumor growth. Researchers have often suspected that lignan might stop prostate tumor cells from multiplying out of control. Before starting her most recent research, Demark-Wahnefried says, her team "put a man with rising [prostate-specific antigen or PSA] levels on flaxseed, and in three months his PSA had halved and his cancer cells were shrinking."
CDC: Antiques Can Pose Mercury Hazard
Dad can pass down hidden breast cancer gene
Drowning in germs "VICTORIAN homes and food outlets are swarming with harmful bacteria, an investigation has found. Germs are lurking on dinner tables in homes, restaurants and takeaway outlets, tests have shown. The Sunday Herald Sun conducted microbiological tests and found the dangerous E coli bacteria on tables and floors of homes, restaurants, city food outlets and suburban takeaways. This comes as the number of cases of enteric or gastrointestinal illnesses has risen in Victoria. … It is estimated that there are five million cases of food poisoning in Australia each year."
As More Toys Are Recalled, Trail Ends in China "The latest recall, announced last week, involves 1.5 million Thomas & Friends trains and rail components — about 4 percent of all those sold in the United States over the last two years by RC2 Corporation of Oak Brook, Ill. The toys were coated at a factory in China with lead paint, which can damage brain cells, especially in children. Just in the last month, a ghoulish fake eyeball toy made in China was recalled after it was found to be filled with kerosene. Sets of toy drums and a toy bear were also recalled because of lead paint, and an infant wrist rattle was recalled because of a choking hazard. … Among the toy recalls, the problem is most acute with low-price, no-brand-name toys that are often sold at dollar stores and other deep discounters, which are manufactured and sent to the United States often without the involvement of major American toy importers. Last year, China also was the source of 81 percent of the counterfeit goods seized by Customs officials at ports of entry in the United States — products that typically are not made according to the standards on the labels they are copying."
Baby Boom Women Confronting Pelvic Health Conditions "The report said an estimated 33 percent of Baby Boom women have stress urinary incontinence, but only about 47 percent of all women have ever asked their doctor about it. Many women don't realize that treatment may be as simple as floor exercises or biofeedback, or that surgical interventions are also available, the report said. Some statistics show that as many as 40 percent of women between the ages of 50 and 79 have some form of pelvic prolapse, the report added. But only about 10 percent to 20 percent of women seek medical care, which includes surgical and non-surgical treatments, the report added."
Bogus ingredients put consumers’ health at risk "American consumers are being ripped off and their health possibly put at risk because of bogus ingredients slipped into imports ranging from toothpaste to dietary supplements. Suppliers who substitute cheaper ingredients for the real thing seldom get busted because the government and private labs review few of the products flooding in. Recent bouts of bad ingredients in pet food and toothpaste showed how suppliers can fool the limited safety checks. … Multiple private labs that test supply quality have in recent years found a hodgepodge of pills lacking advertised ingredients, including chondroitin, saw palmetto, bilberry and coenzyme Q-10. Each is relatively expensive and many are supplied by China, a country with a long tradition of herbal remedies and a history of poor food safety. … Firms with a reputation for quality say they invest in finding reliable sources and even then test all the supplies because some batches will inevitably be bad. “We do this to prevent injury to our customers or surprises,” said Lon Heiner, who oversees quality control at Utah-based Nature’s Way Products, Inc. “When companies don’t do that, sooner or later they’re going to have problems. And the consequences of that have a tremendous cost.” "
Mediterranean Diet Rich in Olive Oil and Walnuts Protects Against Oxidative Damage "Olive oil, a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids, is a main component of the Mediterranean diet, and virgin olive oil retains all the lipophilic components of the fruit and phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, said Covas. Tree nuts, which are common to the Mediterranean diet, also have a favorable fatty acid profile and are a rich source of nutrients and other bioactive compounds, such as fiber, phytosterols, folic acid, and antioxidants, which may beneficially influence the risk for CHD, she told heartwire.…"
Children May Need 90 Minutes of Physical Activity Per Day "International guidelines for physical activity for children should be increased to 90 minutes per day, according to the results of a cross-sectional study reported in the July 22 issue of The Lancet."
Clinical course of isolated stable angina due to coronary heart disease. (Eur Heart J. 2007)
Symptoms Found for Early Check on Ovary Cancer "The symptoms to watch out for are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and feeling a frequent or urgent need to urinate. A woman who has any of those problems nearly every day for more than two or three weeks is advised to see a gynecologist, especially if the symptoms are new and quite different from her usual state of health. Doctors say they hope that the recommendations will make patients and doctors aware of early symptoms, lead to earlier diagnosis and, perhaps, save lives, or at least prolong survival. But it is too soon to tell whether the new measures will work or whether they will lead to a flood of diagnostic tests or even unnecessary operations. Cancer experts say it is worth trying a more aggressive approach to finding ovarian cancer early. The disease is among the deadlier types of cancer, because most cases are diagnosed late, after the cancer has begun to spread. … She emphasized that relatively new and persistent problems were the most important ones. So, the transient bloating that often accompanies menstrual periods would not qualify, nor would a lifelong history of indigestion. Dr. Goff also acknowledged that the urinary problems on the list were classic symptoms of bladder infections, which is common in women. But it still makes sense to consult a doctor, she said, because bladder infections should be treated. Urinary trouble that persists despite treatment is a particular cause for concern, she said. With ovarian cancer, even a few months’ delay in making the diagnosis may make a difference in survival, because the tumors can grow and spread quickly through the abdomen to the intestines, liver, diaphragm and other organs, Dr. Goff said."
The Relationship Between Child Abuse and Adult Obesity Among California Women (American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2007) "Exposure to child abuse is associated with adult obesity among California women, even accounting for other relevant variables. This supports the notion that child abuse and its sequelae may be important targets for public health intervention, particularly in subpopulations where the prevalence of child abuse is known to be high."
All About Alli, the Weight Loss Pill
Approach to the infertile man. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007) "Introduction: Infertility is one of commonest disorders to afflict young men and women. The evaluation of infertility is initiated typically after 1 yr of failure to conceive. Diagnostic Evaluation: The couple should be evaluated together to determine whether the problem resides in the male partner, the female partner, or both. The objectives of evaluation are to exclude treatable conditions-gonadotropin deficiency, obstruction, and coital disorders-and identify those who are candidates for assisted reproductive technologies, those who are sterile and should consider adoption or artificial insemination using donor sperm, and those who should undergo genetic screening. All infertile men should undergo several semen analyses according to the World Health Organization manual, as well as measurements of testosterone, LH, and FSH levels."
Association of serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants with the prevalence of learning disability and attention deficit disorder. (J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Associations were observed between serum concentrations of POPs belonging to the categories of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans and the prevalence of two clinically significant development problems, LD and ADD."
Counterfeit Colgate toothpaste recalled "The Colgate-Palmolive Company said Thursday that 5-ounce tubes of counterfeit toothpaste sold in discount stores in four states under a Colgate label are being recalled because they may contain a poisonous chemical. A Food and Drug Administration official, Doug Arbesfeld, said Wednesday that testing had found the chemical in a product with the Colgate label, but said in the initial announcement that the FDA was unsure whether it really was Colgate or a counterfeit."
Dark Winters Linked to Heart Disease "SCOTLAND's gloomy winters could be one of the causes of the country's high rate of heart disease, according to scientists. A team from Dundee University gave a group of volunteers a dose of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, over the winter and found it improved their blood-vessel function. They believe this could be the key to cutting some of the 10,000 deaths a year from heart attacks in Scotland."
Heavy pesticide exposure linked to brain cancer "Agricultural workers with extensive exposure to pesticides may have an elevated risk of brain cancer, new research suggests. In a study of nearly 700 adults with or without brain tumors, French researchers found that agricultural workers with the highest level of exposure to pesticides were twice as likely to be diagnosed with brain cancer as those with no occupational pesticide exposure. There was also evidence that people who treated their house plants with pesticides had an elevated brain cancer risk. However, the researchers caution that this has not been seen in previous studies, and more research is needed to confirm whether the connection is real. Past studies have linked pesticide exposure among farmers to adverse effects on the brain, such as a higher risk of Parkinson's disease."
Exercise training helps control blood pressure "The results showed that exercise training seemed to improve the nerve reflexes that help control blood pressure and heart rate. This was associated with a drop in blood pressure for the hypertensive patients."
Evaluation of a first seizure. (Am Fam Physician. 2007) "Seizures are categorized based on presentation and etiology. A generalized seizure involves all areas of the brain (both hemispheres), whereas a partial (focal) seizure involves only one area of the brain. A first seizure is twice as likely to be a generalized seizure as a partial seizure. Most generalized seizures occur when the patient is awake, but one in four occurs during sleep.3 Partial seizures can be further classified as simple (i.e., no loss of consciousness) or complex (i.e., loss of consciousness). Symptomatic seizures are those that have a recognizable cause (e.g., head injury, brain tumor), and idiopathic seizures are those for which no abnormality is found. Acute symptomatic seizures are caused by a recent or current event, whereas remote symptomatic seizures are caused by a chronic abnormality such as an old stroke."
Faster Heart Attack Care Saving Lives "After an Indiana hospital introduced a new protocol to get heart attack patients into the cardiac catheterization lab more quickly for artery-opening procedures, patients received lifesaving care up to an hour sooner than before and suffered less heart damage, researchers report. They also had shorter hospital stays, according to a study published in the June 11 issue of Circulation. The study included patients with a type of heart attack called ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which is caused by a completely blocked artery. The sooner the artery can be opened, the lower the risk of death or permanent heart damage. Emergency angioplasty -- also called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) -- is the preferred treatment for this kind of heart attack, according to background information in the study. "The benefit of emergency PCI depends on how quickly a patient receives treatment. However, only about a third of patients in the United States receive treatment within the recommended 90 minutes," study lead author Dr. Umesh N. Khot, a cardiologist at Indiana Heart Physicians/St. Francis Heart Center in Indianapolis, said in a prepared statement."
Frailty is Associated With Incident Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline in the Elderly. (Psychosom Med. 2007) "Conclusion: Increasing frailty is associated with incident AD and the rate of cognitive decline in older persons. These findings suggest that frailty and AD may share similar etiologies."
[Frontotemporal dementia.] (Presse Med. 2007) "Frontotemporal dementia usually begins before the age of 65 years. It is manifested by behavioral and language disorders. The lesions observed in frontotemporal dementia affect the frontal and temporal lobes bilaterally. One third of patients have a psychiatric diagnosis at the onset of disease. The genetic component is important: 30-50% of patients have a family history of this disease."
Healthy Diet, Exercise Might Lower Chances of Cancer's Return "People who consumed the highest levels of the Western diet had almost quadruple the risk of recurrence or death compared with those who consumed the least in this category."
Enduring harm shown from arsenic in drinking water "People in a part of northern Chile suffered elevated lung and bladder cancer death rates decades after being exposed to high levels of arsenic in their drinking water, researchers said on Tuesday. Their study detailed the enduring harm from arsenic even as millions of people in developing and developed countries continue to drink water contaminated with the naturally occurring element found in soil and minerals."
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: when to 'watch and wait,' when and how to treat. (Cleve Clin J Med. 2007) "Many men with BPH are asymptomatic, and many others are not bothered by their symptoms; watchful waiting is appropriate management for these patients. When symptoms affect quality of life, pharmacologic therapy should be an option; choices include an alphablocker, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, or, for men with larger prostates, a combination of the two. Surgical intervention is indicated when BPH leads to other medical complications, including urinary retention and renal insufficiency."
Antibiotic Use in Infants May Up Asthma Risk "Giving antibiotics for a non-respiratory tract infection to an infant younger than 1 greatly increases the odds that the child will develop asthma, according to new research. The study found that the risk was highest for those infants who received multiple courses of antibiotics and those who received prescriptions for broad-spectrum antibiotics. Broad-spectrum antibiotics tend to kill a wide range of bacteria -- both good and bad. … Dr. Sai Nimmagadda, an attending physician in the division of allergy at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said this study points to the need for "more judicious use of antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum antibiotics in kids under a year." "Once wheezing has developed, it's difficult to alter the course of asthma, so now we're looking back to see if there are any risk factors we can change," he said. Kozyrskyj recommended that physicians start by prescribing narrow-spectrum antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, for their youngest patients, and then if necessary, try a broad-spectrum medication."
High calcium levels may raise prostate cancer risk "A positive association was also observed between total dairy intake and prostate cancer risk, but this disappeared after eliminating the influence of calcium. In other words, the positive association between dairy fat and prostate cancer disappeared after calcium was eliminated, the authors note."
Increased Vigorous Physical Activity Associated With Lower Mortality "Increased vigorous physical activity is associated with decreased mortality, regardless of sex, age, or body mass index (BMI), according to a study presented at the 54th annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine."
Is the Whole Larger Than the Sum of the Parts? The Promise of Combining Physical Activity and Diet to Improve Cancer Outcomes "In summary, the data from the WHEL control cohort add to a growing body of literature that lifestyle does matter in breast cancer prognosis. Increasing physical activity to 30 to 60 minutes per day is a recommendation for the general population (US Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services), and these data suggest that this recommendation should be extended to breast cancer patients and survivors. Similarly, increasing intake of vegetables and fruit is recommended for reducing risk for several diseases, and now seems to aid in improving breast cancer prognosis."
[Niacin in therapy] (Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2007) "Niacin (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide) is a vitamin used as a source of the NAD+ and NADP+ coenzymes required for many metabolic processes. Its low dietary levels induce the development of pellagra. Niacin has been used for decades in the treatment of patients with disturbed lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, this being the main cause of atherosclerotic changes in cardiovascular diseases. It is still the most efficacious drug in terms of its ability to increase HDL cholesterol content accompanied by a decrease in all atherogenic lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL, and L(a)) as well as fatty acids and triglycerides. Niacin also increases adiponectin level, which might result in additional atheroprotection. There are studies confirming the beneficial action of niacin against migraine and hyperphosphatemia associated with renal failure, ethanol-induced neurodegeneration, and loss of beta-cell function in type 1 diabetes. … In view of these observations, niacin therapy must be accompanied by control of the choice of niacin preparation and its dose in order to eliminate or at least limit its side effects."
Which lifestyle interventions effectively lower LDL cholesterol? (J Fam Pract. 2007)
Whole-grain consumption is associated with a reduced risk of noncardiovascular, noncancer death attributed to inflammatory diseases in the Iowa Women's Health Study (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007) "Conclusions: The reduction in inflammatory mortality associated with habitual whole-grain intake was larger than that previously reported for coronary heart disease and diabetes. Because a variety of phytochemicals are found in whole grains that may directly or indirectly inhibit oxidative stress, and because oxidative stress is an inevitable consequence of inflammation, we suggest that oxidative stress reduction by constituents of whole grain is a likely mechanism for the protective effect."
Cocaine use and stroke. (Postgrad Med J. 2007)
Diabetic neuropathy--a review. (Nat Clin Pract Neurol. 2007) "The vast majority of patients with clinical diabetic neuropathy have a distal symmetrical form of the disorder that progresses following a fiber-length-dependent pattern, with sensory and autonomic manifestations predominating. This pattern of neuropathy is associated with a progressive distal axonopathy. Patients experience pain, trophic changes in the feet, and autonomic disturbances. Occasionally, patients with diabetes can develop focal and multifocal neuropathies that include cranial nerve involvement and limb and truncal neuropathies. This neuropathic pattern tends to occur after 50 years of age, and mostly in patients with long-standing diabetes mellitus."
Does solar exposure, as indicated by the non-melanoma skin cancers, protect from solid cancers: Vitamin D as a possible explanation. (Eur J Cancer. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D production in the skin seems to decrease the risk of several solid cancers (especially stomach, colorectal, liver and gallbladder, pancreas, lung, female breast, prostate, bladder and kidney cancers). The apparently protective effect of sun exposure against second primary cancer is more pronounced after non-melanoma skin cancers than melanoma, which is consistent with earlier reports that non-melanoma skin cancers reflect cumulative sun exposure, whereas melanoma is more related to sunburn."
Effects of exercise in overweight Japanese with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. (Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS:: Exercising an average of 2.6 times per week for 6 months produced a significant improvement in cardiovascular risk profile in subjects with multiple cardiovascular risk factors through cumulative results of modest yet pervasive changes in all conventional risk factors, without increased adverse effects."
Efficacy of folic acid supplementation in stroke prevention: a meta-analysis. (Lancet. 2007) "INTERPRETATION: Our findings indicate that folic acid supplementation can effectively reduce the risk of stroke in primary prevention."
A Step in the Maturation of the Field of Lifestyle Change Interventions "The report by Vallance et al1 in this issue represents another important step in the maturation of the field of lifestyle change interventions applied to cancer survivors. If oncologist attitudes are an indication, there is already a consensus that exercise is beneficial (62.0%), important (55.8%), and safe (63.1%) for patients with cancer during treatment.2 Despite these positive attitudes, only 28% of oncologists had recommended exercise to their patients in the last month."
Tips to Keeping the Barbecue Cancer-Free " … grilling can create cancer-causing compounds in meat, experts say. Among the compounds are heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which are created when heat acts on amino acids, and creatinine in animal muscle. The longer the cooking time and the higher the heat, the more HCAs, say experts at the University of California, Davis, Cancer Center. That means that barbecuing produces the most HCAs, followed by pan-frying and broiling. Baking, poaching, stir-frying and stewing produce the least HCAs. The UC Davis experts offer the following advice for limiting HCAs: • Before you barbecue meat, partially cook it in the microwave and then throw out the juices that collect in the cooking dish. Finish cooking the meat on the grill. Precooking a hamburger for a few minutes in the microwave reduces HCAs by up to 95 percent. • Flip hamburgers often. Doing so every minute reduces HCAs by up to 100 percent. This is likely because constant flipping keeps internal meat temperatures lower. • Marinate meat before grilling. This can greatly reduce HCAs. For example, one study found that chicken marinated for 40 minutes in a mixture of brown sugar, olive oil, cider vinegar, garlic, mustard, lemon juice and salt cut HCAs by 92 percent to 99 percent. … [more tips available] "
When Fakery Turns Fatal " … a small business cheated the system by substituting a cheap toxic chemical for pharmaceutical-grade syrup, leading to a mass poisoning in Panama. And in the eastern province of Anhui, a group of entrepreneurs concocted a fake baby-milk formula that eventually killed dozens of rural children. The incidents are the latest indications that cutting corners or producing fake goods is not just a legacy of China’s initial rush toward the free market three decades ago but still woven into the fabric of the nation’s thriving industrial economy. It is driven by entrepreneurs who are taking advantage of a weak legal system, lax regulations and a business culture where bribery and corruption are rampant. … They say the practice of doctoring animal and fish feed with melamine and other ingredients is widespread in China. … Small-time entrepreneurs have played the same game over and over with other products, experts say, adding cheap substitute chemicals to toothpaste; using lower-grade materials to produce car parts, batteries and cellphones; and creating factories that specialize in counterfeit goods."
Less radiation safe for breast cancer "Women received either the standard 50 Grays, the unit used in measuring radiation, in 25 treatments spread over five weeks, or roughly 40 Grays given in 13 treatments every other day for five weeks or in 15 treatments over three weeks. Five years later, cancer recurrence rates were low for all groups, ranging from 2 percent to 5 percent. So few recurrences occurred — 158 — that doctors believe the treatments are equivalent but cannot say so with certainty. Many will want to see what happens to these women with longer follow up, said Dr. Gary Freedman of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia."
Low Testosterone Levels Linked to Increased Mortality "Men 50 and older with low levels of testosterone may be at higher risk of dying within 20 years than men with higher levels of the male hormone, a new study suggests. But, the researchers stressed, more studies are need to examine the potential link, and there's nothing to indicate that testosterone supplements would reduce the risk of death."
Psychiatric events in epilepsy. (Seizure. 2007) "Our results suggest that people with epilepsy if unselected are not at higher risk for psychiatric disorders than the general population."
Omega-3 fats from food may lower blood pressure "The study of middle-aged adults in China, Japan, Great Britain and the U.S. found that people who ate more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids tended to have lower blood pressure. This relationship was seen with fish, as well as with vegetable sources, such as canola oil, soybean oil, flaxseeds and walnuts, according to lead author Dr. Hirotsugu Ueshima of Shiga University, Japan, and associates. The findings, published online in the journal Hypertension, add to evidence of the heart benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. … The benefit was most clear among people without high blood pressure and those who were not taking medication or following a special diet to control their elevated blood pressure."
FDA Advises Consumers to Avoid Toothpaste From China Containing Harmful Chemical "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned consumers to avoid using tubes of toothpaste labeled as made in China, and issued an import alert to prevent toothpaste containing the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG) from entering the United States. DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent."
Fish oil urged for heart patients "Doctors are being advised to prescribe oily fish or omega-3 fatty acid supplements to heart attack patients. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) believes this is an effective way to cut the risk of further heart attacks. It is the first time NICE has recommended lifestyle change - alongside drugs - in guidance on preventing repeat attacks."
Folic acid 'reduces stroke risks' "Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in food. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate that is found in supplements and added to fortified foods Both folic acid and vitamin B12 are essential for good health and good levels can be achieved by eating a healthy, balanced diet. … Dr Peter Coleman of The Stroke Association cautioned: 'Supplementing the diet with folic acid may reduce the risk of stroke in certain individuals, but is not suitable for everybody, and could actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in some people.' 'We urge people to consult with their doctors before taking any supplements or medication with a view to reducing their risk of stroke.'"
Fruit and vegetable intakes, dietary antioxidant nutrients, and total mortality in Spanish adults: findings from the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain) (Am J Clin Nutr 2007) "Conclusions: A high intake of fresh fruit, root vegetables, and fruiting vegetables is associated with reduced mortality, probably as a result of their high content of vitamin C, provitamin A carotenoids, and lycopene. Antioxidant capacity could partly explain the effect of ascorbic acid and provitamin A but not the association with lycopene."
Toothpaste From China Could Be Poisonous "The government warned consumers yesterday to avoid using toothpaste made in China because it may contain a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze. Out of caution, the Food and Drug Administration said, people should throw away toothpaste labeled as made in China. The FDA is concerned that these products may contain diethylene glycol."
Traffic and outdoor air pollution levels near residences and poorly controlled asthma in adults. (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Heavy traffic and high air pollution levels near residences are associated with poorly controlled asthma."
Soda Ingredients Linked to Cirrhosis and Cancer "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reported that it found a high level of cancer-causing benzene in five of the 100 soft drinks and beverages that it tested. The levels of benzene were more than the recommended 5 parts per billion limit for drinking water. The FDA said that it had alerted the companies that make the soft drinks in which benzene was over the prescribed limit. All companies had agreed to reformulate their drinks or have already done so, the FDA revealed on Friday. It maintained that there was no cause for concern although some environmental groups have expressed dismay at these findings. … Benzene in soft drinks has become a very sensitive matter these days. The chemical id formed as a result of a reaction between Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate, which are contained in soft drinks and beverages. However the reaction does not occur as a rule, but takes place as an exception when the conditions are ideal for the reaction to take place. Benzene is a chemical, which is linked to cancer in humans."
The importance of early treatment of schizophrenia. (Behav Healthc. 2007) "It is extremely important to treat schizophrenia as soon as possible after the onset. With delay in effective treatment, patients may be at increased risk for brain volume loss with adverse implications for long-term treatment outcomes. Providers should not try to "instruct" patients with schizophrenia, who often have impaired verbal learning abilities, about the necessity of adhering to their medication regimen, but instead should try to demonstrate that the treatment can effectively improve their lives."
Getting Swifter Treatment for Deadliest Heart Attacks "In technical terms, the attack is called an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), referring to a feature seen on an electrocardiogram. In real life, it is total blockage of a heart artery, which can be fatal unless treated quickly in one of two ways. Those options: Drug therapy to clear away a clot blocking the artery, or angioplasty, the insertion of a balloon to push the artery open. And those treatments must be done quickly -- ideally, within 30 minutes for clot-dissolving drug treatment, and within 90 minutes for angioplasty. But, fewer than half of all STEMI patients get the right treatment at the right time …"
Hidden Epidemic of Chlamydia Infections in Young Women? (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007) "The authors conclude that Chlamydia trachomatis infections occur often in young women and suggest that aggressive follow-up and treatment are needed."
Canada Approves Labeling of Health Claims on Tea "Health Canada's Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) has deemed tea to be a natural health product and has officially recognized tea for its role in maintaining good health. After a period of extensive review, the NHPD has approved three health claims for tea. All types of tea infusions (black, green and oolong) are recognized as a source of antioxidants for the maintenance of good health. Tea is approved for increasing alertness. And tea is further accredited as helping to maintain and/or support cardiovascular health. Green Tea extract is approved as a source of antioxidants for the maintenance of good health."
Hot Water Wash Rids Laundry of Allergens: Study "Doing your laundry in hot water -- 60 degrees C (140 degrees F) -- kills 100 percent of allergy-causing dust mites, compared to 6.5 percent of dust mites when using warm water -- 40 degrees C (104 degrees F), South Korean researchers find. Hot water is also more effective at ridding laundry of other allergens such as dog dander and pollen, according to lead researcher Jung-Won Park of Yonsei University in Seoul. He also offered an effective alternative to using hot water -- wash laundry at a lower temperature (between 30-40 degrees C -- 86-104 degrees F), and then rinse the laundry in cold water twice, for three minutes each time."
New alarm over toxic risks to fetuses "Leading environmental scientists warned Thursday that exposure to common chemicals makes babies more likely to develop health problems later in life, including diabetes, attention deficit disorders, prostate cancer, fertility problems, thyroid disorders and even obesity."
Parkinson's Linked to Pesticides, Head Trauma "Pesticides and head injury can both bump up risks for Parkinson's disease, European researchers report. Moreover, odds for the illness increase as exposure to these brain insults rises, the report found."
Regular Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption between Meals Increases Risk of Overweight among Preschool-Aged Children. (J Am Diet Assoc. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Regular sugar-sweetened beverage consumption between meals may put some young children at a greater risk for overweight. Parents should limit the quantity of sweetened beverages consumed during preschool years because it may increase propensity to gain weight."
Strength training may reverse muscle aging "Strength training may not only make older adults' muscles stronger, but younger as well, a small study suggests. It's well known that resistance exercises improve muscle strength and function in young and old alike, but the new research suggests that strength training also affects older muscles on the level of gene expression -- essentially turning back the clock on muscle aging."
Tissue n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and risk for coronary heart disease events. (Atherosclerosis. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: The long-chain n-3 FA, especially DHA, were consistently and significantly reduced in patients experiencing CHD events. These findings add further support to the view that long-chain n-3 FA are cardioprotective."
Concussion Tied to Depression in Ex-N.F.L. Players "The study, which will appear in the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, found that of the 595 players who recalled sustaining three or more concussions on the football field, 20.2 percent said they had been found to have depression. That is three times the rate of players who have not sustained concussions."
Diastolic Blood Pressure and Mortality in the Elderly With Cardiovascular Disease. (Hypertension. 2007) "An "optimal" diastolic pressure of 70 mm Hg in subjects with isolated systolic hypertension was found. We showed that, in the frail elderly, a value of diastolic blood pressure [less than or equal to] 60 mm Hg is associated with reduced survival, independent from large artery stiffness and left ventricular function, suggesting that more rational antihypertensive therapy, not only based on systolic pressure level, is needed."
Dietary fiber doesn't lower colorectal cancer risk "After analyzing fiber from different food sources, the team found that only fiber from grains was associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. The risk of colorectal cancer was lowered by 14 percent among the subjects with the highest amounts of grain in their diet compared with those with the lowest amounts. The association with whole grains was stronger for rectal than for colon cancer. Nevertheless, concluded Schatzkin, the study findings support the recommendation of eating more unprocessed cereals or pulses and avoiding refined starchy foods to lower the risk of colorectal cancer."
Differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. (Int Rev Neurobiol. 2007) "Typically, MS presents itself in individuals in their teens up to their late 30s. On occasion, however, one can see MS present in patients in their 60s. However, in retrospect, many of these patients might have had subtle manifestations of MS in their younger years. Visual obscuration or visual loss can be a manifestation of retinal ischemia, retinal migraine, or optic neuritis which might or might not evolve into a clinical picture compatible with MS. Cranial neuropathy, long tract signs, sensory disturbance, and/or gait ataxia can be related to a number of different processes such as illicit drug use, neurosarcoidosis, neuro-Behcet's disease, neuroborreliosis, HIV-related disease, neurosyphilis, vascular occlusive disease including vasculitis, connective tissue disorders, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), idiopathic transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica (NMO), or tropical spastic paraparesis."
Tainted food exposes Chinese import woes "Dried apples preserved with a cancer-causing chemical. Frozen catfish laden with banned antibiotics. Scallops and sardines coated with putrefying bacteria. … For years, U.S. inspection records show, China has flooded the United States with foods unfit for human consumption. And for years, FDA inspectors have simply returned to Chinese importers the small portion of those products they caught -- many of which turned up at U.S. borders again, making a second or third attempt at entry."
The influence of maternal smoking habits on the risk of subsequent stillbirth: is there a causal relation? (BJOG. 2007) "CONCLUSION: The result supports that maternal smoking during pregnancy is causally associated with stillbirth risk. Smoking is a preventable cause of stillbirth, and smoking interventions is an important issue in antenatal care."
Landmark Study Sheds Light on Brain Development in Healthy Children "Proficiency for most tasks improved dramatically between age 6 and 10 years and then leveled off during early adolescence (age 10 to 12 years), suggesting that children approach adult levels of ability to perform many neurocognitive tests."
Lost Chances for Survival, Before and After Stroke "Many patients with stroke symptoms are examined by emergency room doctors who are uncomfortable deciding whether the patient is really having a stroke — a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain that injures or kills brain cells — or is suffering from another condition. Doctors are therefore reluctant to give the only drug shown to make a real difference, tPA, or tissue plasminogen activator. Many hospitals say they cannot afford to have neurologists on call to diagnose strokes, and cannot afford to have M.R.I. scanners, the most accurate way to diagnose strokes, for the emergency room. Although tPA was shown in 1996 to save lives and prevent brain damage, and although the drug could help half of all stroke patients, only 3 percent to 4 percent receive it. Most patients, denying or failing to appreciate their symptoms, wait too long to seek help — tPA must be given within three hours. And even when patients call 911 promptly, most hospitals, often uncertain about stroke diagnoses, do not provide the drug."
General Practitioners and Women Still Not Getting Valproate Message "In utero exposure to the anticonvulsant drug valproate increases the risk for poor cognitive outcomes and anatomical malformations compared with the 3 other most commonly used anticonvulsant medications. However, with a 28% rise in US sales last year, it appears general practitioners (GPs) and women of childbearing potential still are not getting the message, a leading neurologist says."
Dangerous Exercise --Lessons Learned from Dysregulated Inflammatory Responses to Physical Activity. (J Appl Physiol. 2007) "Exercise elicits an immunologic "danger" type of stress and inflammatory response that, on occasion becomes dysregulated and detrimental to health. Examples include anaphylaxis, exercise induced asthma, overuse syndromes, and exacerbation of intercurrent illnesses. In dangerous exercise, the normal balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses is upset."
Time to Ban Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug Marketing "It is time to ban direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs. The current US system of pharmaceutical company self-monitoring and Food and Drug Administration oversight is not working. Moreover, it cannot realistically be expected to work. A ban is needed to protect the public's health and the quality of health care. It is time to ban direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs. The current US system of pharmaceutical company self-monitoring and Food and Drug Administration oversight is not working. Moreover, it cannot realistically be expected to work. A ban is needed to protect the public's health and the quality of health care."
Study Warns of Dangerous Chemicals in Child Car Seats
Narrative Review: The Pathophysiology of Fibromyalgia (Annals of Internal Medicine 2007) "Accruing evidence shows that patients with fibromyalgia experience pain differently from the general population because of dysfunctional pain processing in the central nervous system. Aberrant pain processing, which can result in chronic pain and associated symptoms, may be the result of several interplaying mechanisms, including central sensitization, blunting of inhibitory pain pathways, alterations in neurotransmitters, and psychiatric comorbid conditions. This review provides an overview of the mechanisms currently thought to be partly responsible for the chronic diffuse pain typical of fibromyalgia."
Pesticides may be making kids sick at school
Safety Of China’s Seafood Questioned
Association between thyroid autoimmunity and fibromyalgic disease severity. (Clin Rheumatol. 2007) "In conclusion, autoimmune thyroiditis is present in an elevated percentage of FM patients, and it has been associated with the presence of typical symptoms of the disease."
Poisoned Toothpaste in Panama Is Believed to Be From China "Diethylene glycol, a poisonous ingredient in some antifreeze, has been found in 6,000 tubes of toothpaste in Panama, and customs officials there said yesterday that the product appeared to have originated in China. … Some of the toothpaste, which arrived several months ago in the free trade zone next to the Panama Canal, was re-exported to the Dominican Republic in seven shipments, customs officials said. A newspaper in Australia reported yesterday that one brand of the toothpaste had been found on supermarket shelves there and had been recalled. Diethylene glycol is the same poison that the Panamanian government inadvertently mixed into cold medicine last year, killing at least 100 people. Records show that in that episode the poison, falsely labeled as glycerin, a harmless syrup, also originated in China."
Risk factors for early age at breast cancer onset--the "COSA program" population-based study. (Anticancer Res. 2007) "RESULTS: The use of oral contraceptives (OC) increased the risk of early cancer development (odds ratio = 1.84, 95% confidence interval = 1.38-2.44). The age at first OC use appeared to be a major factor since the risk decreased when OC use was after the age of 23 years (odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval = 0.34-0.79). A duration of breast-feeding greater than 26 weeks decreased the risk of early cancer development (odds ratio = 0.62, 95% confidence interval = 0.39-0.97). No overall association was found with anthropometric or lifestyle factors and early age at breast cancer onset. CONCLUSION: OC use, age at first OC use and lactation were significantly associated with an early age at breast cancer onset. Thus, a number of "risk factors" could be considered as "early onset risk factors"."
Risks and Benefits of Exercise Reviewed in AHA Statement "A key point, said Dr. Thompson, is that doctors and allied healthcare professionals, while advocating regular physical activity, must keep in mind that some patients may not benefit from exercise. 'We always talk about the fact that exercise and physical activity has benefits, and that in adults, even if they have mild underlying heart disease or coronary atherosclerosis, the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks, and that's where most of the evidence lies,' he explained. 'But as we mention in this statement, some situations aren't improved by vigorous exercise, things like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and anomalous coronary arteries. That's pretty obvious when you think about it, but it's an addition that hasn't been made before. The simple point that some doctors and cardiologists should take from this is that there are some groups who simply don't benefit from being engaged in vigorous exercise.' "
AHA Dietary and Lifestyle Recommendations Revised "The previous recommendations stressed a healthy dietary pattern; the new ones broaden that concept to include the importance of a healthy lifestyle pattern, lead author and chair of the AHA's Nutrition Committee Alice Lichtenstein, DSc, from Tufts University in Boston, Mass, said in a news release. "The two go together — they should be inseparable." The revised guidelines update those issued in 2000, and they are directed at healthy Americans age 2 years and older. New recommendations are further reducing dietary saturated and trans fatty acids; minimizing consumption of food and beverages with added sugars; emphasizing physical activity and weight control; eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain foods; avoiding use of and exposure to tobacco products; and achieving and maintaining healthy cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. "The key message of the recommendations is to focus on long-term, permanent changes in how we eat and live," Dr. Lichtenstein says. "The best way to lower cardiovascular risk is to combine physical activity with heart-healthy eating habits, coupled with weight control and avoiding tobacco products." Although the AHA panel continues to emphasize achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, there is now more emphasis on balancing the number of calories consumed with the number of calories burned. In addition, the revised guidelines emphasize food preparation methods that avoid adding saturated fat, sugar, or salt and portion size control."
Immune System Dysfunction Pinpointed in Melanoma Cases "U.S. researchers say they've spotted a key immune system dysfunction in patients with melanoma skin cancer. A team at Stanford University School of Medicine, in California, found that the immune cells in most melanoma patients fail to respond properly to a molecule called interferon, which normally activates the immune system. This failure to respond to interferon means that the immune cells don't fight off melanoma."
Influence of Exercise, Walking, Cycling, and Overall Nonexercise Physical Activity on Mortality in Chinese Women. (Am J Epidemiol. 2007) "These findings add new evidence that overall physical activity levels are an important determinant of longevity, and that health benefit can be obtained through an active lifestyle, exercise, or combinations of both."
Mid-life headaches may be sign of retinal disease "Migraine and other headaches are associated with abnormalities in the small blood vessels around the retina (retinopathy) in middle-age men and women, according to data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study."
Chemical Compounds Boost Breast Cancer Risk "The remaining studies involved animal or laboratory research. The researchers pointed out that animal studies are valid references, because all human carcinogens that have so far been tested in animals have also triggered tumors in animal subjects. In the animal studies alone, evidence surfaced that linked 216 chemicals to the onset of breast tumors. These included 36 industrial chemicals, 6 chlorinated solvents, 18 products of combustion, 10 pesticides, 18 dyes, four type of radiation, 47 pharmaceuticals, and 17 hormones. Of these compounds, the researchers isolated 73 that can be found in either human food or consumer products. They noted, for example, the lingering hazards associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs), which were typically used in the production of electrical equipment until federally banned in 1979. PCBs continue to pose a risk via contaminated rivers, fish, and pre-existing building construction, the researchers warned."
Exposure to cats in infancy may boost allergy risk "Children exposed to higher levels of cat allergen in their first 2 years of life may be at greater risk of becoming allergic to the animals, a new study from Germany shows. However, the risk of sensitization at 6 years old seems to disappear. The findings show that avoiding exposure to cats at home might not be enough to protect some children from becoming allergic, Dr. Joachim Heinrich of the GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health in Nuremberg and colleagues conclude. Some studies have shown that having pet cats in early life increases the risk of developing a cat allergy, while others have found owning cats actually protects against cat allergy, the researchers note. Because most studies have looked at only one point in time, Heinrich and his team followed a group of 2,166 children from birth to age 6. When the children were 3 months old, the researchers collected samples of dust from their homes. At 2 and 6 years of age, children had blood tests and house dust was sampled again. The higher the levels of cat allergen in house dust when the children were 3 months old, the more likely they were to have developed sensitization to the allergen by 2 years of age, the researchers found. Sensitization to an allergen does not mean a child will go on to become allergic to it, they note, although it does indicate a child is at increased risk. But by age 6, the researchers found no correlation between cat allergen exposure in infancy and sensitization to the allergen or the presence of any type of allergic symptoms or disease."
Doctors Warn on Wide Use of Cervical Cancer Vaccine " 'At this stage, vaccination can still be considered experimental,' said Dr. Karen McCune, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCSF, who co-authored the editorial. 'To be discussing mandatory vaccination when the main clinical trials are still ongoing seems extremely premature. We're feeling like the enthusiasm is driving policy rather than data.' "
A randomized trial on the efficacy of a 2-month tube feeding regimen in anorexia nervosa: A 1-year follow-up study. (Clin Nutr. 2007) "CONCLUSION: CEN is helpful in malnourished AN patients for weight restoration, without hindrance on the eating behavior therapy nor inducing a more rapid relapse."
The triggers or precipitants of the acute migraine attack (Cephalalgia 2007) "The trigger frequencies were stress (79.7%), hormones in women (65.1%), not eating (57.3%), weather (53.2%), sleep disturbance (49.8%), perfume or odour (43.7%), neck pain (38.4%), light(s) (38.1%), alcohol (37.8%), smoke (35.7%), sleeping late (32.0%), heat (30.3%), food (26.9%), exercise (22.1%) and sexual activity (5.2%). Triggers were more likely to be associated with a more florid acute migraine attack. Differences were seen between women and men, aura and no aura, episodic and chronic migraine, and between migraine and probable migraine."
Effect of cell phone usage on semen analysis in men attending infertility clinic: an observational study. (Fertil Steril. 2007) "CONCLUSION(S): Use of cell phones decrease the semen quality in men by decreasing the sperm count, motility, viability, and normal morphology. The decrease in sperm parameters was dependent on the duration of daily exposure to cell phones and independent of the initial semen quality."
Exercise can prevent and even reverse adverse effects of androgen suppression treatment in men with prostate cancer. (Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2007)
FDA Announces Results of Investigation Into Illegal Promotion of OxyContin by The Purdue Frederick Company, Inc.: Company Misrepresented Prescription Pain Reliever to Health Care Professionals "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) announced today that The Purdue Frederick Company, Inc. has agreed to pay more than $700 million to resolve criminal charges and civil liabilities in connection with several illegal schemes to promote, market and sell OxyContin, a powerful prescription pain reliever that the company produces. An investigation by OCI uncovered an extensive, long-term conspiracy by The Purdue Frederick Company, Inc. to generate the maximum amount of revenues possible from the sale of OxyContin through various illegal schemes. To further this goal, Purdue trained its sales representatives to make false representations to health care providers about the difficulty of extracting oxycodone, the active ingredient, from the OxyContin tablet; trained its sales force to represent to health care providers that OxyContin did not cause euphoria and was less addictive than immediate-release opiates; and allowed health care providers to entertain the erroneous belief that OxyContin was less addictive than morphine."
Autism: highly heritable but not inherited "Until recently, only 5–10% of autism cases were traceable to an underlying genetic cause. Two studies now change this. … suggest that this number is actually 10–20%, and it may grow to 30–40% with further research."
Can an Omega-3 Fatty Acid Slow the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease? "Nutritionists have long endorsed fish as part of a heart-healthy diet, and now some studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids found in the oil of certain fish may also benefit the brain by lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In order to test whether an omega-3 fatty acid can impact the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, will evaluate one in a clinical trial, the gold standard for medical research. The study will be conducted nationwide by the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), a consortium of leading researchers supported by NIA and coordinated by the University of California, San Diego. The trial will take place at 51 sites across the United States and seeks 400 participants age 50 and older who have mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease."
Virus Spread by Oral Sex Is Linked to Throat Cancer "The sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer also sharply increases the risk of certain types of throat cancer among people infected through oral sex, according to a study being published today. The study, involving 100 people with throat cancer and 200 without it, found that those infected with the human papillomavirus were 32 times as likely to develop one form of oral cancer than those free of the virus. Although previous research had indicated HPV caused oral cancer, the new study is the first to definitively establish the link, researchers said."
Quadrivalent Vaccine against Human Papillomavirus to Prevent High-Grade Cervical Lesions (NEJM 2007) "Background Human papillomavirus types 16 (HPV-16) and 18 (HPV-18) cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers worldwide. A phase 3 trial was conducted to evaluate a quadrivalent vaccine against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 (HPV-6/11/16/18) for the prevention of high-grade cervical lesions associated with HPV-16 and HPV-18. … Conclusions In young women who had not been previously infected with HPV-16 or HPV-18, those in the vaccine group had a significantly lower occurrence of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia related to HPV-16 or HPV-18 than did those in the placebo group. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00092534 [ClinicalTrials.gov])"
Younger Women Fail to Heed Heart Attack's Warning Signs "Women under the age of 55 often fail to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack until it's too late, a new study warns. Ignoring those signs -- which can include anything from chest pain to nausea -- can delay medical care and increase risks for disability and even death. … Less typical symptoms included pain in the jaw/shoulder area (experienced by 58 percent of the women); sweating (38 percent); nausea (29 percent); shortness of breath (29 percent); indigestion (21 percent) and weakness/fatigue (8 percent). … Focusing only on chest pain could cost lives, Goldberg warned. Other studies have shown that women often have symptoms other than chest pain."
Migraine With Aura Increases Suicide Risk in Adolescents "Young adolescents with chronic daily headache (CDH), particularly those who have migraines with aura, are at 6 times greater risk for suicide than their headache-free peers, new research suggests."
Moderate alcohol consumption and cancer. (Ann Epidemiol. 2007) "Alcohol consumption may increase the risk for at least six types of cancer, although the evidence is not uniformly strong. Alcohol is not a carcinogen in standard tests but is likely a cocarcinogen, at least in the digestive tract. The strongest association is with cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx (seven-fold increase for heavy consumption). For moderate consumption (2-3 drinks/day for men and 1-2 drinks/day for women), the risks never increase above twofold and are mostly less than 25% above baseline. The evidence from the epidemiological literature suggests that 25g/d of alcohol is associated with a relative risk of 1.9 for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, 1.4 for cancers of the esophagus and larynx, about 10% for colorectal cancer (mechanisms unclear), and 20% for liver cancer (mechanisms well described)."
[Nutritional deficiencies associated with bariatric surgery.] (Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2007) "Morbidly obese patients often have nutritional deficiencies, particularly in fat-soluble vitamins, folic acid and zinc. After bariatric surgery, these deficiencies may increase and others can appear, especially because of the limitation of food intake in gastric reduction surgery and of malabsorption in by-pass procedures. The latter result inmore important weight loss but also increase the risk of more severe deficiencies. The protein deficiency associated with a decrease in the fat-free mass has been described in both procedures. It can sometimes require an enteral or parenteral support."
* We recommend reading below both the NEJM editorials and the research article on HPV vaccine in their entirety:
HPV Vaccination — More Answers, More Questions "The availability of a "cancer vaccine" has elicited enormous enthusiasm from the medical community and the public, culminating in advocacy for mandatory vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) and a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that 30 million girls and women between the ages of 11 and 26 years in the United States be vaccinated.1 … Investigators in these trials have hit their mark soundly: the vaccine showed significant efficacy against anogenital and cervical lesions related to vaccine type in women with no evidence of previous exposure to vaccine-specific types; the vaccine also appeared to be safe. … In analyses by lesion type, the efficacy appears to be significant only for grade 2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; no efficacy was demonstrable for grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or adenocarcinoma in situ. … If grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or adenocarcinoma in situ were the most relevant outcome, evidence was insufficient to infer the effectiveness of vaccination. … Why is vaccine efficacy modest in the entire cohort? One factor is the apparent lack of efficacy among subjects with evidence of previous exposure to HPV types included in the vaccine. The FUTURE II trial showed no effect of vaccination up to month 12, perhaps owing either to preinvasive lesions or to vaccine-type HPV infections that were present at enrollment. Therefore, vaccination before the onset of sexual activity seems to be preferable. In contrast to the CDC's guidelines, the American Cancer Society does not recommend universal vaccination among women between 18 and 26 years of age, citing probable diminished vaccine efficacy as the number of lifetime sexual partners increases.10 … Another factor explaining the modest efficacy of the vaccine is the role of oncogenic HPV types not included in the vaccine. … What do these results mean for cervical-cancer screening? Screening should continue in all vaccinated women, given the cumulative lifetime risk of exposure to other oncogenic HPV types and the unknown duration of anti-HPV immunity. … HPV vaccination has the potential for profound public health benefit if the most optimistic scenario of effectiveness is realized."
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine — Opportunity and Challenge "In this issue of the Journal, we publish three Original Articles,1,2,3 two Perspective articles,4,5 two editorials,6,7 a letter to the editor,8 and an audio interview9 on the subject of human papillomavirus (HPV). We bring together this unique body of information in response to the enormity of the health problems that stem from HPV and the broad interest that has been kindled by the possibility of preventing HPV-related cervical cancer and other anogenital conditions through vaccination. The HPV vaccine is the first vaccine explicitly designed to prevent cancer induced by a virus. … It is difficult to show that an intervention prevents cancer, given the relatively long induction phase between exposure to an inducing agent and development of disease. Thus, key surrogate markers, in this case cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and 3, were used so that data could be gathered in a timely fashion. However, correlation with the ultimate outcome — cancer prevention — will require the long-term observation of a large number of treated women. We must also carefully monitor for unintended adverse consequences of vaccination. For example, when selective immunologic pressure is applied with vaccination, the potential exists for nonvaccine-related strains to emerge as important oncogenic serotypes."
100 Percent Juice Not Linked to Overweight Kids "Child nutrition researcher Theresa Nicklas, DrPH, LN, of the USDA Children's Research Center at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, found 100 percent fruit juice does not put kids at risk for weight gain."
ADHD in Children With Comorbid Conditions: Diagnosis, Misdiagnosis, and Keeping Tabs on Both "There is a complex interplay between ADHD and its commonly occurring comorbid psychiatric disorders, such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder (BPD), and substance abuse. Comorbidity greatly influences presentation, diagnosis, and prognosis; complicates treatment; and significantly increases the morbidity and disease burden of ADHD.[6] When ADHD is comorbid with another psychiatric disorder, it is often the first disorder to develop, and children with severe ADHD symptoms have a higher likelihood of developing other psychiatric disorders.[1] When evaluating for comorbid conditions, the clinician should attempt to determine whether one "primary" condition can fully account for the most disabling and distressing symptoms. If a primary condition can fully explain such symptoms, then the other condition should not be diagnosed. For example, if a patient has ADHD symptoms only during episodes of bipolarity, ADHD would not be diagnosed."
Alcohol intake and breast cancer risk among young women. (Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that recent alcohol consumption may be associated with increased breast cancer risk in young women."
[Guidelines for the prevention of low back pain] (Harefuah. 2007) "Only the recommendation for physical exercise was found to be a level A conclusion (highest quality level) for the prevention of low back pain. The use of lumbar supports, shoe insoles and "back schools" were not found to be effective for the prevention of low back pain. These recommendations should be given with much caution, since most of them only have slight statistical significance and are directed at patients with non-specific low back pain, and non-specific pain is not a single disease. Genetic, psychological, environmental and morphometric conditions as well as physical effort have been found to be associated with an increased risk for recurrent attacks of back pain."
Long-term fish consumption is associated with protection against arrhythmia in healthy persons in a Mediterranean region—the ATTICA study (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007) "Conclusions:Long-term consumption of fish is associated with lower QTc interval in free-eating people without any evidence of cardiovascular disease. Thus, fish intake seems to provide antiarrhythmic protection at a population level."
Maintaining Vigorous Activity Attenuates 7-yr Weight Gain in 8340 Runners. (Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007) "CONCLUSION:: As they aged, men and women gained less weight in proportion to their levels of sustained vigorous activity. This long-term beneficial effect is in addition to the acute weight loss that occurs with increased activity."
Drinking Alcohol Shrinks the Brain "Brain shrinkage was slightly greater in female drinkers than in male drinkers and had the biggest impact on women who were in their 70s and were still heavy drinkers, the researchers found."
Blood pressure climbs along with weight "A man's risk of developing high blood pressure rises along with his weight, even when it's within normal range, according to a new study."
Chemical in pet food also fed to state hatchery fish "Farmed fish have been fed meal spiked with the same chemical that has been linked to the pet food recall, but the contamination was probably too low to harm anyone who ate the fish, federal officials said Tuesday. Some of the contaminated feed was tracked to six Washington state hatcheries, and was immediately pulled from use."
Consumer Reports weighs in on popular diets "Top-scoring diets and plans offered weight-loss strategies that included nutritionally balanced menus and avoided demonizing or glorifying any specific types of food. That’s important, experts say, because most people fail with very restrictive diets because they can’t stick with them."
Direct-to-consumer advertising debated in the United States and European Union "Five international associations have joined forces to oppose an anticipated move by the European Commission that would give pharmaceutical companies more freedom to communicate directly with the public. In its declaration, Relevant Health Information for Empowered Citizens, the alliance claims that pharmaceutical companies have an inherent conflict of interest that renders them unable to provide the information patients need in an unbiased manner "
Maternal antibodies in breast milk protect the child from enterovirus infections. (Pediatrics. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS. These results suggest that breastfeeding has a protective effect against enterovirus infections in infancy. This effect seems to be mediated primarily by maternal antibodies in breast milk."
Role of prescription omega-3 Fatty acids in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. (Pharmacotherapy. 2007) "In patients with triglyceride levels above 500 mg/dl, approximately 4 g/day of EPA and DHA reduces triglyceride levels 45% and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by more than 50%. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels may increase depending on the baseline triglyceride level, but the net effect of EPA and DHA therapy is a reduction in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. Alternatively, patients may receive one of the fibrates (gemfibrozil or fenofibrate) or niacin for triglyceride lowering if their triglyceride levels are higher than 500 mg/dl. In controlled trials, prescription omega-3 fatty acids were well tolerated, with a low rate of both adverse events and treatment-associated discontinuations. The availability of prescription omega-3 fatty acids, which ensures consistent quality and purity, should prove to be valuable for the medical management of hypertriglyceridemia."
Second-Hand Smoke Linked to Dementia "When researchers at UC Berkeley studied 3,602 people ages 65 and older for the Cardiovascular Health Study, they found participants with high lifetime exposures to second-hand tobacco smoke were 30 percent more likely to develop dementia than those with low exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke."
Stroke risk high for siblings of stroke patients "Brothers and sisters of people who have had a stroke are nearly twice as likely as the average American to experience a stroke themselves, according to observational data reported at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in Boston on Wednesday. … Among Mexican Americans as a group, the stroke risk ratio was 2-fold higher than expected. This was due to a 2.6-fold higher risk in siblings of Mexican-American men."
Tainted poultry has entered food supply "Although the chickens, which came from 38 poultry farms in Indiana, have already made their way into the food supply, there appears to be minimal or no health risk to humans, the government said. The Agriculture Department and the FDA said in a joint statement Monday that officials learned of the link between the chicken feed and tainted pet food as part of the investigation into imported rice protein concentrate and wheat gluten that have been found to contain the industrial chemical melamine and related compounds."
Could Calcium and Vitamin D Cause Brain Lesions? "Calcium is well-known for its positive effects on bone health, but it also helps in the functioning of nerve and muscle cells. When too much calcium becomes incorporated into bone-like deposits in the blood vessel walls, a loss of elasticity and narrowing of blood vessels can result. Vitamin D may further increase the arterial calcification by regulating calcium retention and activity. If this process affects blood vessels in the brain, lesions may form from that damage."
Guidelines for the Early Management of Adults With Ischemic Stroke (Stroke. 2007)
Guidelines for the Management of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Adults. (Stroke 2007)
Barbecue lovers may have higher breast cancer risk "Postmenopausal women who like barbecued and smoked meat would be wise to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables too, a new study suggests. Dr. Susan E. Steck of the University of South Carolina in Columbia and her colleagues found that postmenopausal women who consumed the most grilled, barbecued or smoked red meat over their lifetime have a 47 percent increased risk of breast cancer. Big meat-eaters who also skimped on fruit and vegetables had a 74 percent increased risk of the disease. No relationship was detected between recent patterns of meat consumption and breast cancer in postmenopausal women."
20 million chickens may have eaten tainted feed "Federal officials on Friday placed a hold on 20 million chickens raised for market in several states because their feed was mixed with pet food containing an industrial chemical."
Exercising harder keeps weight off longer "People who consistently engage in high levels of exercise over the long haul are the most successful at losing weight and keeping it off, a new study shows."
Food anaphylaxis. (Clin Exp Allergy. 2007) "Symptoms affect multiple organ systems and include pruritus, urticaria, angioedema, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, respiratory difficulty, wheezing, hypotension, and shock. Prompt recognition of anaphylaxis is essential as delayed treatment has been associated with fatalities. Although epinephrine is accepted as the treatment of choice, timely administration does not always occur, partly due to a lack of awareness of the diagnostic criteria."
Heart attack deaths plummet in just 6 years "The promising trend parallels the growing use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, powerful blood thinners, and angioplasty, the procedure that opens clogged arteries, the researchers said. … And the heart attack patients treated most recently were far less likely to have another attack within six months of being hospitalized when compared to the patients treated six years earlier — a sign that the more aggressive efforts of doctors in the last few years are working."
Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Neurodevelopment in Young Mexican-American Children (Environmental Health Perspectives 2007) "Conclusions: We report adverse associations of prenatal DAPs with mental development and pervasive developmental problems at 24 months of age. Results should be interpreted with caution given the observed positive relationship with postnatal DAPs."
Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Risk Among Women in the Southwestern United States. (Ann Epidemiol. 2007) "These data suggest that physical activity is important in reducing risk of breast cancer in both NHW and HAI women."
Breastfeeding and risk of ovarian cancer in two prospective cohorts. (Cancer Causes Control. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: These data support a linear inverse association between breastfeeding and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer."
Traction for low-back pain with or without sciatica. (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007) "AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Implications for practice The results of the available studies involving mixed groups of acute, sub-acute and chronic patients with LBP with and without sciatica were quite consistent, indicating that continuous or intermittent traction as a single treatment for LBP is not likely effective for this group. Traction for patients with sciatica cannot be judged effective at present either, due to inconsistent results and methodological problems in most studies. We conclude that traction as a single treatment for LBP is probably not effective. Implications for research Any future research on traction for patients with LBP should distinguish between symptom pattern and duration, and should be carried out according to the highest methodological standards."
Steinberg Labels Concussions "Time Bomb" "Other studies showed that in cases where athletes had three or more concussions over their lifetimes, they were five times more at risk for early onset Alzheimer's disease, three times more at risk of significant memory loss and four times more likely to have severely elevated depression."
Salad vegetables dietary pattern protects against HER-2-positive breast cancer: A prospective Italian study. (Int J Cancer. 2007) "This important finding that a salad vegetables dietary pattern protects mainly against a specific breast cancer subtype indicates that future studies on environmental/dietary risk factors should explicitly take account of the heterogeneity of breast cancer phenotypes."
Fish oil may preserve thinking ability in elderly "High blood levels of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, may help preserve thinking ability in the elderly, according to the findings of two studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The results were particularly striking among subjects with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. Accumulating evidence suggests that diets that include omega-3 fatty acids, specifically, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), protect against the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to a Dutch research team."
Drugmakers, Doctors Get Cozier: Gifts Continue, Contacts Increase Despite Guidelines "Despite efforts to curb drug companies' avid courting of doctors, the industry is working harder than ever to influence what medicines they prescribe, sending out sales representatives with greater frequency and plying physicians with gifts, meals and consulting fees, according to several new papers. … In the survey period, drug representatives met with family practitioners an average of 16 times a month, with cardiologists and internists nine or 10 times a month, with pediatricians eight times a month and with surgeons four times a month."
Dry eye and corneal sensitivity after high myopic LASIK. (J Refract Surg. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients who received LASIK for high myopia reported ongoing dry eye symptoms, although objective clinical signs of tear insufficiency and hypoesthesia were not demonstrable. We assume that symptoms represent a form of corneal neuropathy rather than dry eye syndrome."
Exercise May Help Ward Off Parkinson's Disease "People who exercised more than 75 percent of their fellow study participants were 20 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's, compared to those who didn't exercise. The risk of the disease was 40 percent lower in those who took part in the highest levels of moderate to vigorous activity, defined as exercise such as jogging, lap swimming, tennis and bicycling, the study found. However, there's one caveat -- the researchers found no indication that physical activity at age 40 affected the risk of developing Parkinson's."
Chemotherapy Fog Is No Longer Ignored as Illusion "Virtually all cancer survivors who have had toxic treatments like chemotherapy experience short-term memory loss and difficulty concentrating during and shortly afterward, experts say. But a vast majority improve. About 15 percent, or roughly 360,000 of the nation’s 2.4 million female breast cancer survivors, the group that has dominated research on cognitive side effects, remain distracted years later, according to some experts. And nobody knows what distinguishes this 15 percent. Most oncologists agree that the culprits include very high doses of chemotherapy, like those in anticipation of a bone marrow transplant; the combination of chemotherapy and supplementary hormonal treatments, like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors that lower the amount of estrogen in women who have cancers fueled by female hormones; and early-onset cancer that catapults women in their 30s and 40s into menopause."
Exercise may lower diabetes risk in older adults "Resistance training may not only help to build muscle in older people, it may also be warding off type 2 diabetes, a new study demonstrates."
FDA aware of dangers to food "The Food and Drug Administration has known for years about contamination problems at a Georgia peanut butter plant and on California spinach farms that led to disease outbreaks that killed three people, sickened hundreds, and forced one of the biggest product recalls in U.S. history, documents and interviews show. Overwhelmed by huge growth in the number of food processors and imports, however, the agency took only limited steps to address the problems and relied on producers to police themselves, according to agency documents. … Congressional critics and consumer advocates said both episodes show that the agency is incapable of adequately protecting the safety of the food supply."
Food Prep May Be as Important as Ingredients Themselves "The methods used to produce or cook food may have as much impact on your health as the actual food, U.S. researchers report. Grilled, fried or broiled animal products such as meats and cheeses contain a class of toxins called "advanced glycation end products" (AGEs), which have been linked to inflammation, insulin resistance, diabetes, vascular and kidney disease, and Alzheimer's disease, say a team from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. AGEs are also produced when food products are sterilized and pasteurized."
Hormone Replacement Therapy Linked to Ovarian Cancer "The Million Women Study, a trial in the United Kingdom of postmenopausal women, has found that those receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were, on average, 20% more likely to develop and die from ovarian cancer than women who never received therapy."
Studies back Parkinson’s and pesticides link "Evidence that pesticides can cause Parkinson’s disease is stronger than it has ever been after a meeting of experts who have put together links in animals and people, scientists say. One study shows that farm workers who used the common weedkiller paraquat had two to three times the normal risk of Parkinson’s, a degenerative brain disease that eventually paralyzes patients."
(Almost) Everybody Does It "Almost every doctor in the country has some type of relationship with pharmaceutical manufacturers, whose clear goal is to influence physicians to prescribe the company's newest, most expensive drugs. The companies offer physicians everything from scratch pads to trips worth thousands of dollars to attend medical conferences. But which doctors receive the biggest perks? A new study appearing this week in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that it varies with the type of practice, the medical specialty, the patient mix and the doctor's professional activities. … Were you surprised at the findings? I was surprised at the sheer percentage of physicians who have financial relationships with the drug industry. Ninety-four percent of all physicians have these relationships. Most commonly, it's things like receiving free samples of drugs or receiving food and beverages which may be consumed by their staffs. But a third of physicians are reimbursed for costs associated with professional meetings or CME [compulsory classes in "continuing medical education"]. About a quarter are paid to serve on advisory boards, work as consultants or enroll patients in clinical trials."
Clinical Evidence Concise: Parkinson's disease.
Long term effects of dietary sodium reduction on cardiovascular disease outcomes: observational follow-up of the trials of hypertension prevention (TOHP) (BMJ, 2007) "Conclusion Sodium reduction, previously shown to lower blood pressure, may also reduce long term risk of cardiovascular events."
Low blood pressure in elderly linked to mortality "Aggressive treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) in patients who are 80 years or older is associated with lower five-year survival rates than their counterparts with blood pressure levels at or higher than treatment target levels, researchers report. Physicians should therefore "use caution in their approach to blood pressure-lowering in this age group," they advise in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society."
Survival in relation to angina symptoms and diagnosis among men aged 70-90 years: the Whitehall Study. (Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Both angina symptoms and diagnosis have a significant adverse effect on survival among men aged 70-90 years highlighting the importance of diagnosis and appropriate treatment of angina in old age."
Vitamin D levels in people with multiple sclerosis and community controls in Tasmania, Australia. (J Neurol. 2007) "CONCLUSION: The strong associations between disability, sun exposure and vitamin D status indicate that reduced exposure to the sun, related to higher disability, may contribute to the high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency found in this population-based MS case sample. Active detection of vitamin D insufficiency among people with MS and intervention to restore vitamin D status to adequate levels should be considered as part of the clinical management of MS."
Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) "The Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) is a screening instrument which identifies children aged 18 months who are at risk for social-communication disorders."
National Comprehensive Cancer Network Breast Cancer Guideline, Version 2.2007 (2007)
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Guideline, Version 1.2007 (2007)
FDA Urgently Warns Consumers about Health Risks of Potentially Contaminated Olives
Health Hazards in Middle-Aged Women with Cardiovascular Disease: A Case-Control Study of Swedish Women. The Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHILA) Study. (J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2007) "Among psychological and somatic symptoms, nervousness ... difficulty relaxing, crying easily, visual disturbance ... dizziness, difficulties in voiding urine, shortness of breath, breast tenderness, and constipation ... were more common among women with CVD. Women with CVD expressed less satisfaction with feeling healthy, body image, memory loss, irritability, and sexuality ... The case group had more problems with daily activities, more days spent in hospital during the previous 5 years, and more regular medical appointments with healthcare centers, more often had diabetes mellitus (DM) ... and had experienced more falls in the previous year ... Urinary incontinence and decreased body weight were more common among cases ..."
[Heart disease and stroke] (Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2007) "Most cases of heart disease and stroke are caused by atherosclerosis, and the two diseases have much in common with regards to risk factors, treatment and prognosis. Heart disease may also be a direct cause of stroke. About one in four cerebral infarctions are due to embolism from the heart to the brain, mainly because of atrial fibrillation, but also because of diseases such as acute myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy and prosthetic heart valves (cardioembolic stroke). Stroke can also be caused by a cardiogenic fall in blood pressure in patients with stenoses in pre- or intracerebral arteries (haemodynamic stroke). Patients with symptoms of atherosclerosis in one artery system should be treated as if they have a high risk of developing symptoms from other artery systems. The possibility of a cardiac embolic source should always be considered in patients with acute brain infarctions."
Fatty acid tied to depression and inflammation "The imbalance of fatty acids in the typical American diet could be associated with the sharp increase in heart disease and depression seen over the past century, a new study suggests. Specifically, the more omega-6 fatty acids people had in their blood compared with omega-3 fatty acid levels, the more likely they were to suffer from symptoms of depression and have higher blood levels of inflammation-promoting compounds, report Dr. Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser and her colleagues from Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus."
Cooked meat and risk of breast cancer-lifetime versus recent dietary intake. (Epidemiology. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS:: These results support the accumulating evidence that consumption of meats cooked by methods that promote carcinogen formation may increase risk of postmenopausal breast cancer."
Body mass index in midlife and risk of Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. (Curr Alzheimer Res. 2007) "These data suggest that midlife BMI is strongly predictive of both AD and VaD, independent of stroke, cardiovascular and diabetes co morbidities."
Breast Cancer Drop Tied To Less Hormone Use "New federal statistics provide powerful evidence that the sharp drop in hormone use by menopausal women that began in 2002 caused a dramatic decline in breast cancer cases, according to an analysis being published today. The statistics show that the number of breast cancer cases being diagnosed began falling abruptly after concerns emerged about the safety of hormone treatment and that the decrease persisted into the following year, strengthening the case that the trends are related, researchers said. … Some researchers, however, questioned the findings, saying the drop in breast cancer occurred too soon to have been caused by the decline in hormone use."
Breastfeeding offers broad breast cancer protection "Breastfeeding may offer broad protection against breast cancer that extends to women who delay having children, according to a study released on Monday. Previous studies have shown that giving birth before age 25 and having many children protects against certain types of breast cancers, while delayed childbirth is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. The most important finding of the new study is that breastfeeding seems to lower the risk of developing breast cancer that comes from having children later in life, said Dr. Giske Ursin, associate professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California medical school and the study's lead author."
Mobile phone emission modulates interhemispheric functional coupling of EEG alpha rhythms. (Eur J Neurosci. 2007) "The present results suggest that prolonged mobile phone emission affects not only the cortical activity but also the spread of neural synchronization conveyed by interhemispherical functional coupling of EEG rhythms."
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Slows Alzheimer's "A recent study reveals an omega-3 fatty acid present in fish, eggs, organ meats, micro-algae, fortified foods and certain nutritional supplements could delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease when consumed as part of a normal diet. After conducting research on genetically-altered rodents, researchers at The University of California, Irvine, found a specific type of omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) effectively slows the progression of the brain tangles associated with Alzheimer's disease, while reducing levels of a protein responsible for producing brain plaque buildup"
Maternal fish intake during pregnancy and atopy and asthma in infancy. (Clin Exp Allergy. 2007) "Conclusion Our data suggest a protective effect of fish intake during pregnancy on the risk of atopy-related outcomes."
Mediterranean Diet May Protect Against Childhood Asthma-Like Symptoms and Rhinitis "Greek children who had a high intake of fruits, vegetables, and nuts and adhered to a traditional Mediterranean diet were protected against asthma-like symptoms and rhinitis, according to the results of a cross-sectional survey reported in the April 5 Online First issue of Thorax."
One in 3 US Children Lives With at Least 1 Adult Smoker (Medscape Business of Medicine. 2007) "About 1 in 3 US children age 18 years or younger may face increased risk for respiratory and other conditions because they live with at least 1 smoker, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Secondhand smoke is particularly harmful to children, health experts say. In addition to increasing the risk for serious lung disease during a child's first 2 years of life, secondhand smoke can aggravate asthma symptoms and make children more likely to cough, wheeze, or have a middle-ear problem."
Plasma n-3 fatty acids and the risk of cognitive decline in older adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Promoting higher intakes of n-3 HUFAs in the diet of hypertensive and dyslipidemic persons may have substantial benefits in reducing their risk of cognitive decline in the area of verbal fluency. However, clinical trials are needed to confirm this finding."
Types and stages of lung cancer
China's Food Safety Woes Expand Overseas "The list of Chinese food exports rejected at American ports reads like a chef's nightmare: pesticide-laden pea pods, drug-laced catfish, filthy plums and crawfish contaminated with salmonella. Yet, it took a much more obscure item, contaminated wheat gluten, to focus U.S. public attention on a very real and frightening fact: China's chronic food safety woes are now an international concern. In recent weeks, scores of cats and dogs in America have died of kidney failure blamed on eating pet food containing gluten from China that was tainted with melamine, a chemical used in plastics, fertilizers and flame retardants. While humans aren't believed at risk, the incident has sharpened concerns over China's food exports and the limited ability of U.S. inspectors to catch problem shipments."
Decrease in risk of lung cancer death in Japanese men after smoking cessation by age at quitting: Pooled analysis of three large-scale cohort studies. (Cancer Sci. 2007) "Although earlier cessation of smoking generally resulted in a lower rate of lung cancer mortality in each group of attained age, the absolute mortality rate decreased appreciably after stopping smoking even in men who quit at ages 60-69 years."
Diabetes mellitus and risk of breast cancer: A meta-analysis. (Int J Cancer. 2007) "Findings from this meta-analysis indicate that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer."
Diets Don't Work Long-Term: Most Who Go on Diets Gain Weight Back; Lifestyle Change Needed "Most people who go on diets soon gain back any lost weight, a UCLA study suggests."
Does drinking your fruit and veggies count? "However, studies show that most fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants in the skins and peels, which do not make it into juice. For example, one study reports that a whole orange contains up to five times more of one major antioxidant than a glass of orange juice. The antioxidant is found in the white pulp and membranes that separate the orange segments from each other."
Pooled analysis of two Swedish case-control studies on the use of mobile and cordless telephones and the risk of brain tumours diagnosed during 1997-2003. (Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2007) "For all studied phone types OR for brain tumours, mainly acoustic neuroma and malignant brain tumours, increased with latency period, especially for astrocytoma grade III-IV."
Fatal anaphylaxis: postmortem findings and associated comorbid diseases. (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007) "BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis is an infrequent cause of sudden death. Death often results from circulatory collapse, respiratory arrest, or both. … CONCLUSIONS: (1) Elderly patients with substantial comorbid conditions constituted a significant number of the anaphylactic fatalities; (2) the onset of severe anaphylaxis occurred in less than 30 minutes in nearly every case; (3) 18 of 23 cases were associated with specific anatomical findings of anaphylaxis; (4) self-administered epinephrine was used in just 1 of 5 cases; and (5) serum total tryptase concentrations were elevated markedly in 4 of 7 cases tested."
False-positive mammograms have negative effects "Women who are told their mammogram shows a possible cancer that turns out to be a false alarm are likely to suffer anxiety for a long time, according to a new study."
Long-term use of cellular phones and brain tumours - increased risk associated with use for > 10 years. (Occup Environ Med. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Results from present studies on use of mobile phones for > 10 years give a consistent pattern of an increased risk for acoustic neuroma and glioma, most pronounced for high-grade glioma. The risk is highest for ipsilateral exposure."
Meat consumption and risk of breast cancer in the UK Women's Cohort Study. (Br J Cancer. 2007) "Processed meat showed the strongest HR=1.64 (95% CI: 1.14-2.37) for high consumption compared with none. Women, both pre- and postmenopausal, who consumed the most meat had the highest risk of breast cancer."
NIDA: Supported Study Shows Significant Association between Smoking, Mental Disorders in Pregnant Women "Encouraging women to quit smoking before they become pregnant is important to the health of the fetus, in addition to improving the health of the mother. Pregnant women who smoke cigarettes run an increased risk of having infants with low birth weight and their children face an increased risk for learning and behavioral problems."
Physical Activity and Endometrial Cancer Risk, a Systematic Review of Current Evidence (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 2007) "Conclusions: Physical activity seems to be associated with a reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer, which is independent of body weight."
Physical Activity and the Risk of Dementia in Oldest Old. (J Aging Health. 2007) "DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates the beneficial effects of exercise on healthy brain aging even in the oldest old and emphasizes the importance of increasing PA in older women."
Unrecognized GERD Symptoms Are Associated with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Patients Undergoing Sleep Studies. (Dig Dis Sci. 2007) "We conclude that unrecognized and untreated GERD are present in many patients presenting with sleep disorders. Patients with GERD had significantly greater sleepiness."
Working near chlorine pools tied to lung problems "Swimming teachers and other people who spend a lot of time near chlorinated pools face an increased risk of breathing problems, Dutch researchers report. Chlorine reacts with substances such as urine and sweat to create byproducts that can irritate the respiratory tract, most importantly chloramines, explain Dr. Jose Jacobs of the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands and colleagues in a report in the European Respiratory Journal. "
Stress predicts brain changes in children: a pilot longitudinal study on youth stress, posttraumatic stress disorder, and the hippocampus. (Pediatrics. 2007) "OBJECTIVE: Does stress damage the brain? Studies of adults with posttraumatic stress disorder have demonstrated smaller hippocampal volumes when compared with the volumes of adults with no posttraumatic stress disorder. … CONCLUSIONS: Results from this pilot study suggest that stress is associated with hippocampal reduction in children with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and provide preliminary human evidence that stress may indeed damage the hippocampus."
The importance of fish and docosahexaenoic acid in Alzheimer disease "In each of these studies, the n–3 fatty acids retarded the decline in cognition over time. One mechanism for the positive effect could be the antithrombotic and antiinflammatory properties of EPA (9). Moreover, the entrance of DHA into the brain could correct DHA deficiency in membrane phospholipids in the cerebral cortex in patients with Alzheimer disease (5), and EPA would counter the proinflammatory action of arachidonic acid, which is a precursor of cytokine and proinflammatory eicosanoids that may be associated with greater cognitive decline."
The reduction of physical activity reflects on the bone mass among young females: a follow-up study of 142 adolescent girls. (Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study show that regular physical activity is valuable in preserving the peak bone mass acquired at puberty in particular. Many of the girls who markedly reduced their activity levels lost bone in their femoral neck before their 25th birthday."
Not responding to name may be sign of autism "A child's failure to respond to his or her name at one year of age may be an early warning sign of autism or other developmental problems, researchers reported on Monday. The finding is significant because "earlier identification of autism offers the possibility of early intervention, which holds promise for improving outcomes," said the report from the University of California Davis in Sacramento."
Mediterranean Diet Protects Kids From Allergies: Study "Eight out of 10 children in the study ate fresh fruit and more than two-thirds of them ate fresh vegetables, at least twice a day. Diet appeared to have the strongest protective effect against allergic rhinitis but also helped protect children against asthma and skin allergies, the study found. Children who ate nuts at least three times a week were also less likely to wheeze. The researchers noted that nuts are rich in vitamin E, which protects against cellular damage caused by free radicals. Nuts also contain high levels of magnesium, which may protect against asthma and improve lung power. The study also found that a daily diet of oranges, apples, and tomatoes protected children against wheezing and allergic rhinitis. Grapes appeared to be especially effective in preventing wheezing and allergic rhinitis. … They also found that eating lots of margarine doubled the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis."
Alcohol and acute myocardial infarction. (J Int Med Res. 2007) "In contrast, various studies have also reported that heavy alcohol consumption promotes the progression of atherosclerosis and that binge drinking might trigger embolic stroke and acute myocardial infarction."
Your Pillows Are Full of Fungus: 'Small Zoo' Buzzes Beneath Our Sleeping Heads, Researchers Say "Though feather pillows do carry a lot of fungi, they don't carry as much or as many different types as synthetic pillows, Woodcock's team reports in the current online issue of the journal Allergy."
Ventilating Bedrooms Keeps Allergies at Bay "Replacing old mattresses and ventilating bedrooms can cut levels of allergy -causing dust mites, a major new study finds … Der 1 and Der 2 dust mite allergens were found in 68 percent and 53 percent, respectively, of all samples. Risk factors for high levels of these allergens included an older mattress; a bedroom on a lower floor level; and limited ventilation of the bedroom. For one type of dust mite, the level of dampness in the bedroom was also a factor. The researchers concluded that regular mattress replacement and increased ventilation in the bedroom, particularly in winter, could help reduce dust mite allergen exposure."
Why raiding the fridge at night is a bad idea "Sure, it's better to get most of your calories earlier in the day when you are most active. In general, you will lose weight easier if you finish dinner earlier because you’ll have more time to burn off the calories. Also, sleeping with a full stomach can promote weight gain because the food energy you just consumed will not be used (you burn fewer calories during sleep), so the fat will be stored. On top of that, going to sleep with a full stomach can promote indigestion, labored breathing and extra work for the heart. You are also likely to not sleep as well and may feel physically uncomfortable."
Comorbidity of low back pain: Representative outcomes of a national health study in the Federal Republic of Germany (European Journal of Pain 2007) "One in three Germans (34%) experienced back pain during the seven days prior to being interviewed. The one-year prevalence rate is 59%. All the morbidities investigated by us are more common in subjects with back pain than in individuals without back pain. The most common comorbidities associated with back pain are musculoskeletal disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, followed by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. … In view of the large percentage of unspecific back pain, we believe it is important for physicians treating back pain to extend their history and diagnostic analysis skills to embrace comorbidities related to the back pain."
Depressive Symptoms, omega-6:omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Inflammation in Older Adults. (Psychosom Med. 2007) "Conclusions: Diets with high n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios may enhance the risk for both depression and inflammatory diseases."
Fish consumption, n–3 fatty acids, and subsequent 5-y cognitive decline in elderly men: the Zutphen Elderly Study (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007) "Conclusions: A moderate intake of EPA+DHA may postpone cognitive decline in elderly men."
Aspirin for Women: Yes or No? "Women who regularly took high-dose aspirin … more than 14 adult-strength tablets a week -- did not get a health benefit. Instead, they were 43% more likely to die from hemorrhagic stroke compared with those who never took aspirin. Hemorrhagic stroke is stroke due to bleeding in the brain … Older women and women with pre-existing risk factors for heart disease got the largest benefit from regular low- or moderate-dose aspirin. … "There are suggestions here that there is a subgroup of women for whom regular aspirin makes sense," Chan tells WebMD. "But no one should take aspirin therapy on her own. This still requires a thorough discussion of individual risks and benefits with a doctor." … "These new findings by Chan et al. cannot overcome the accumulated evidence that aspirin is not particularly effective for the primary prevention of death from cardiovascular disease in women," Baron and colleagues note."
Benefits of Mammograms For Women in 40s Challenged "The nation's largest medical specialty group is challenging the widely accepted recommendation that women routinely undergo mammograms in their 40s, saying the risks of the breast exams may outweigh the benefits for many women. Reopening a long-running debate, the American College of Physicians, which represents 120,000 internists, issued new guidelines today that instead urge women in their 40s to consult with their doctors about whether to have the breast X-rays. The group based its recommendations on a comprehensive review of mammography research that concluded that the benefits are less clear for women in their 40s than for those 50 and older, and that screening carries significant risks, including exposure to radiation and unnecessary biopsies, surgery and chemotherapy."
Frequent long-haul flights hard on the body "Airplane crew and passengers who frequently fly between several time zones face a number of health problems including disruptions in a woman's menstrual cycle and even short-term psychiatric disturbances, researchers from the UK warn in a report published Thursday in The Lancet. There seems to be no getting use to long-haul flights, according to researchers who report that flight crews who regularly take long journeys are not protected from the effects of jet lag such as poor and interrupted sleep, mood changes, irritability, stomach problems, and decreased brain power."
Hot Flashes and Your Heart: What's the Connection? " … women who have lots of bothersome hot flashes or night sweats after menopause may be at increased risk for heart disease. The study also found that older women who still have severe hot flashes turned out to be the hormone-therapy users who were at greatest risk for heart attacks. … We think persisting menopausal symptoms (hot flashes or night sweats) in older women may signal the presence of increased risk factors for heart disease or diseased arteries. But it's just an association at this point [i.e. not proof of cause and effect]. As a result of those findings, our advice to older women who have persisting hot flashes and night sweats, is that they try to get off of hormone therapy, and have themselves checked and treated for cardiovascular risk factors."
Millions of toys recalled for lead dangers "About 4 million Groovy Grabber children’s bracelets, manufactured by A&A Global Industries, have been recalled because the paint on the metallic part of the bands contains high levels of lead, which is toxic for children and can cause adverse health effects if ingested. The flexible bracelets are made from metal bands wrapped in plastic covers that are decorated with a variety of colors and designs."
The relationship between daily calcium intake and bone mineral density in men with prostate cancer. (BJU Int. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS DCI seems to be related to BMD; a low DCI was an independent risk factor for osteoporosis in men with prostate cancer. In the study population overall the DCI was inadequate. Urologists should recommend a DCI of >1000 mg in patients with prostate cancer, especially in those under ADT."
To Break the Disease, Break the Mold "Another aspect of the problem is our peer review system for financing research. It works well at eliminating poor investments, but it squelches innovation and fosters the old boy network."
Doctors’ Ties to Drug Makers Are Put on Close View "There is nothing illegal about doctors’ accepting money for marketing talks, and professional organizations have largely ignored the issue. But research shows that doctors who have close relationships with drug makers tend to prescribe more, newer and pricier drugs — whether or not they are in the best interests of patients."
A Prospective Study of Response to Name in Infants at Risk for Autism (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007)"Conclusions Failure to respond to name by age 12 months is highly suggestive of developmental abnormality but does not identify all children at risk for developmental problems. Lack of responding to name is not universal among infants later diagnosed with ASD and/or other developmental delays. Poor response to name may be a trait of the broader autism phenotype in infancy."
Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: Pooled analysis. (J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Intake of 2000IU/day of Vitamin D(3), and, when possible, very moderate exposure to sunlight, could raise serum 25(OH)D to 52ng/ml, a level associated with reduction by 50% in incidence of breast cancer, according to observational studies."
Vitamin d and reduced risk of breast cancer: a population-based case-control study. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007) "CONCLUSION: We found strong evidence to support the hypothesis that vitamin D could help prevent breast cancer. However, our results suggest that exposure earlier in life, particularly during breast development, maybe most relevant. These results should be confirmed."
Why Parents Should Think Twice Before Giving Baby Birds for Easter "Harmful bacteria carried in the chick’s and duckling’s intestine contaminates their environment and the entire surface of the animal. Children can be exposed to the bacteria by simply holding, cuddling, or kissing the birds. Children are most susceptible to infection because they are more likely than others to put their fingers into their mouths and because their immune systems are still developing. Others at increased risk include persons with HIV/AIDS, pregnant women, the elderly and other immunocompromised persons. The following questions and answers contain important information for parents about baby chicks, ducklings and Salmonella. For further information please visit our website or talk to your veterinarian or health care provider."
Physiological improvement with moderate exercise in type II diabetic neuropathy. (Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 2007) " CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the hypothesis that exercise can be performed safely in patients with type II diabetic neuropathies and can produce improvement in their nerve function. This study also supports the hypothesis that ischemia may have a meaningful role in the pathogenesis of neuropathies in patients with type II diabetes mellitus."
[Risk factors for cerebral stroke.] (Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2007) "High blood pressure and cigarette smoking are the most important modifiable risk factors for stroke. Serum cholesterol is positively associated with cerebral infarction, but not with intracerebral hemorrhage. Diabetes, atrial fibrillation and carotid stenosis are important predictors of cerebral infarcts, especially in the elderly. Cohort studies and randomized trials have shown that hormone replacement therapy in women increases the risk of stroke, while modern oral contraceptives do not represent a risk factor for stroke in young women. There is a clear social gradient in stroke occurrence, with a higher incidence in lower social classes."
Safety considerations with niacin therapy. (Am J Cardiol. 2007) "Niacin has beneficial effects on plasma lipoproteins and has demonstrated clinical benefits in reducing cardiovascular events and atherosclerosis progression. The side effects of niacin, however, have limited its use in general clinical practice. An understanding of cutaneous flushing based on the best available evidence should enhance patient education efforts and improve adherence. Although serious hepatic toxicity from niacin administration has been reported, it is largely confined to the use of slow-release formulations given as unregulated nutritional supplements. … Overall, the perception of niacin side effects is often greater than the reality. As a result, a valuable medication for cardiovascular risk is underused."
New Pediatric Guidelines for Self-Injecting Epinephrine for Anaphylaxis Treatment "Anaphylaxis is usually mediated by an immunologic mechanism involving immunoglobulin E and resulting in sudden systemic release of mast-cell and basophil mediators including histamine and tryptase. Although there are many clinical presentations of anaphylaxis, respiratory compromise and cardiovascular collapse are of the greatest concern because they may be fatal. Many different triggers for anaphylaxis episodes have been identified, but food and insect stings are the most frequently reported triggers in the community setting, often necessitating emergency care plans for anaphylaxis occurring outside the hospital/medical setting. Epinephrine is the mainstay of anaphylaxis therapy. Adjunctive therapy with antihistamines and, for those with asthma, inhaled selective ß2-adrenergic agonists, such as albuterol, may be helpful but cannot replace epinephrine. … Based primarily on anecdotal evidence, the recommended epinephrine dose for anaphylaxis in children is 0.01 mg/kg, not to exceed 0.30 mg. The preferred route of administration for first-aid treatment is intramuscular injection of epinephrine into the vastus lateralis of the lateral thigh, which allows early peak epinephrine concentration needed for effective management. … Symptoms of anaphylaxis may include hives, pruritis, flushing, dyspnea, wheeze, stridor, syncope, crampy abdominal pain, and vomiting."
Hot Flashes Are Associated With Ambulatory Systolic Hypertension"Compared with women who did not report hot flashes, those who reported having had hot flashes had significantly higher mean awake systolic BP (about 9 mm Hg higher; P < .004) and sleep systolic BP (about 10 mm Hg higher; P = .007). After controlling for age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and menopausal status, hot flashes continued to independently predict average awake and sleep systolic BP."
Hot flashes are associated with increased ambulatory systolic blood pressure. (Menopause 2007) "Conclusions: Hot flashes are associated with increased awake and sleep systolic BP independent of menopausal status. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms by which hot flashes are associated with BP."
Living With Alzheimer’s Before a Window Closes
Aged, Frail and Denied Care by Their Insurers "Yet thousands of policyholders say they have received only excuses about why insurers will not pay. Interviews by The New York Times and confidential depositions indicate that some long-term-care insurers have developed procedures that make it difficult — if not impossible — for policyholders to get paid. A review of more than 400 of the thousands of grievances and lawsuits filed in recent years shows elderly policyholders confronting unnecessary delays and overwhelming bureaucracies. … 'The bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims,' said Mary Beth Senkewicz, who resigned last year as a senior executive at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 'They’ll do anything to avoid paying, because if they wait long enough, they know the policyholders will die.' … But policyholders have lodged thousands of complaints against the major long-term-care insurers. A disproportionate number have focused on Conseco, its affiliate, Bankers Life, and Penn Treaty.. … By comparison, Genworth Financial, the largest long-term-care insurer, received only one complaint for every 12,434 policies."
Antibacterial Soap Ingredient Triclosan May be Harmful to Humans "Triclosan, widely used as an antibacterial ingredient in household hand sterilization products, breaks down rapidly when exposed to chlorinated water and produces toxic chemicals including chloroform…"
Development of a risk score for colorectal cancer in men. (Am J Med. 2007) "Age, alcohol use, smoking status, and body mass index were independent significant predictors of colorectal cancer."
Dietary Fat and Postmenopausal Invasive Breast Cancer in the National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study Cohort (JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2007) "Conclusion: In this large prospective cohort with a wide range of fat intake, dietary fat intake was directly associated with the risk of postmenopausal invasive breast cancer."
Dietary patterns linked to type 2 diabetes risk "Avoiding meats and fatty foods and eating lots of salads and cooked vegetables appears to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to study findings published in the American Journal of Epidemiology."
Direct-to-consumer advertising under the radar: the need for realistic drugs policy in Australia "Direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines (DTCA-PM) is currently banned in Australia. DTCA-PM is thought to increase health-care costs by increasing demand for drugs that are both expensive and potentially harmful. However, DTCA-PM is occurring in Australia despite the current prohibition. We argue that successful regulation of the practice has been undermined as a result of changes brought about by the ongoing communications revolution, the increasing centrality of patient choice in medical decision-making and the impossibility of drawing and maintaining a sharp distinction between information and advertising. The prohibition is further threatened by recent international trade agreements."
Eat a lot of beef? It may affect your son’s sperm "U.S. women who eat a lot of beef while pregnant give birth to sons who grow up to have low sperm counts, researchers reported Tuesday. They believe pesticides, hormones or contaminants in cattle feed may be to blame. Chemicals can build up in the fat of animals that eat contaminated feed or grass, and cattle are routinely given hormones to boost their growth."
FDA Repeats Mineral Water Warning "The Food and Drug Administration has reissued its earlier warning to consumers not to drink "Jermuk" brand mineral water due to the risk of exposure to arsenic, a toxic substance and a known cause of cancer in humans."
Most angioplasties are unnecessary, study finds "More than half a million people a year with chest pain are getting an unnecessary or premature procedure to unclog their arteries because drugs are just as effective, suggests a landmark study that challenges one of the most common practices in heart care. The stunning results found that angioplasty did not save lives or prevent heart attacks in non-emergency heart patients. An even bigger surprise: Angioplasty gave only slight and temporary relief from chest pain, the main reason it is done. "
Outdoor activities and diet in childhood and adolescence relate to MS risk above the Arctic Circle. (J Neurol. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Summer outdoor activities in childhood and adolescence are associated with a reduced risk of MS even north of the Arctic Circle. Supplemental cod-liver oil may be protective when sun exposure is less, suggesting that both climate and diet may interact to influence MS risk at a population level."
Patent foramen ovale in patients with migraine headache. Should it be closed? (Minerva Med. 2007) "In the meantime, the question whether we should close PFOs in patients with migraine headaches cannot be answered."
Become an Optimist -- Live Longer
Plant foods may cut breast cancer risk "Postmenopausal women who eat healthy amounts of plant foods rich in estrogen-like compounds called lignans may reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new study."
Quitting smoking heals arteries, eventually "A new study confirms that cigarette smokers have stiffer arteries than nonsmokers but suggests these adverse blood vessel changes are reversible with smoking cessation, although it may take more than a decade off cigarettes for the arteries to recover."
Short-term Prospective Memory Deficits in Chronic Back Pain Patients (Psychosomatic Medicine 2007) "Results: In comparison to those not in pain, participants with chronic pain had significantly impaired short-term prospective memory, an effect which was evident even after co-varying use of analgesics and other drugs."
Stroke care demands radical approach "Around 10% to 15% of patients in the developed world die following acute stroke, 30% to 60% survive with long-term disabilities, and 20% to 25% require a hospital stay. … The current standard of practice is to send patients for thrombolytic therapy within three hours of symptom onset. Once this time window has passed, treatments such as intravenous tissue plasminogen activator are not generally considered. … Results from recent clinical trials show that the time window for treating stroke could be extended, possibly up to nine hours. These same trials have also validated the concept of an ischemic penumbra, that is, an area of potentially salvageable tissue surrounding infarcted, dead brain. … An increasing number of stroke patients are being treated with endovascular methods rather than thrombolytic therapy, said Dr. Michael Forsting, chair of radiology and neuroradiology at the University of Essen in Germany. He recommends that mechanical recanalization be included in any endovascular repertoire, owing to its ability to dramatically reduce the risk of hemorrhagic transformation and true intracerebral hemorrhage."
Terminal Cognitive Decline: Accelerated Loss of Cognition in the Last Years of Life (Psychosomatic Medicine 2007) " Conclusions: In old age, cognitive decline markedly accelerates during the last 3 to 4 years of life, consistent with the terminal decline hypothesis."
Treating Sleep Apnea Could Lower Stroke Risk "Some people with a moderate to severe form of the nighttime breathing disorder sleep apnea may be at an increased risk of stroke, a Japanese study finds. Treating their sleep apnea might help lower that risk, however."
Infertility (Am Fam Physician 2007) "Infertility is defined as failure to achieve pregnancy during one year of frequent, unprotected intercourse. Evaluation generally begins after 12 months, but it can be initiated earlier if infertility is suspected based on history or if the female partner is older than 35 years. Major causes of infertility include male factors, ovarian dysfunction, tubal disease, endometriosis, and uterine or cervical factors. A careful history and physical examination of each partner can suggest a single or multifactorial etiology and can direct further investigation. Ovulation can be documented with a home urinary luteinizing hormone kit."
JAMA Patient Page: Human Papillomavirus Infection
Low-impact exercise may ward off incontinence "The most active women were 15 to 20 percent less likely to report leaking urine than the least active women. Women who reported the most walking -- the most common type of physical activity among the women -- had a 26 percent lower risk of urinary incontinence than those who walked the least."
Maternal Fish Consumption, Mercury Levels, and Risk of Preterm Delivery (Environ Health Perspect. 2007)
Obese Men With Prostate Cancer Face Higher Death Risk "Men who are obese when they're diagnosed with prostate cancer are 2.6 times more likely to die of the disease than normal-weight men, new findings suggest."
Pesticide Exposure Increases Gestational Diabetes Risk "First-trimester exposure to agricultural pesticides increases the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, according to a report in the March issue of Diabetes Care."
Almost Two-Thirds of Pacemaker Users Have Sleep Apnea "Two out of three people given pacemakers for heart problems were found to have sleep apnea, which could worsen their cardiac disease, French researchers report."
Obesity, metabolic syndrome and sleep apnoea: all pro-inflammatory states. (Obes Rev. 2007) "Central obesity also increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), where the sleep disordered breathing may also independently lead to/or exacerbate IR, diabetes and cardiovascular risk. The contribution of OSAS to the metabolic syndrome has been under-recognized."
Half Europe allergic by 2015 "The allergic conditions which are most common are asthma, eczema, rhinitis (hay fever), urticaria (hives) and food allergies. … The meeting heard that most allergies are caused by a short list of triggers, and house dust is the most common cause across Europe. But new sources such as kiwi-fruit, ragweed, and some spices are causing unpleasant reactions."
Incidence of Dementia in Mild Cognitive Impairment in the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study (Arch Neurol. 2007) "Conclusions Subjects with MCI are at high risk for dementia. The probable MCI diagnosis identified individuals in the earliest stages of dementia, usually AD, whereas the possible MCI diagnosis identified a more heterogeneous group. However, this latter group had only a slightly lower rate of conversion to dementia than the group with probable MCI, suggesting that even with comorbid conditions, there is a high likelihood of the presence of a progressive dementing disorder."
Chemical Linked to Birth Defects - Bisphenol A - Found at Unsafe Levels in Canned Food "In the most comprehensive U.S. tests for an industrial chemical used to line cans of foods, an independent laboratory found a compound linked to birth defects in more than half of the samples of canned fruit, vegetables, soda, and baby formula from supermarket shelves, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) report released today."
Consumers prefer the 'personal touch' for online health "He said drugs companies had been known to sponsor self-help sites which appeared at first glance to be independent."
Vitamin D status predicts physical performance and its decline in older persons. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007) "Conclusions: Serum 25-OHD concentrations <20ng/ml are associated with poorer physical performance and a greater decline in physical performance in older men and women. Because almost 50% of the population had serum 25-OHD<20ng/ml, public health strategies should be aimed at this group."
[Education provides cognitive reserve in cognitive deterioration and dementia.] (Neurologia. 2007) "Introduction. The cognitive reserve hypothesis states that education provides a better tolerance to brain pathological processes. Consequently, the development of dementia would require more cognitive loss in more educated people. We examine in a cohort of patients with different levels of cognitive impairment, the relationship between the amount of cognitive loss and educational attainment. … Conclusions. Our data confirm that education, or some other related factor, determines the amount of cognitive loss needed for clinical expression of the pathological illness and gives the individuals more tolerance to these processes."
Assessment: Use of epidural steroid injections to treat radicular lumbosacral pain (NEUROLOGY 2007) " … in general, epidural steroid injection for radicular lumbosacral pain does not impact average impairment of function, need for surgery, or provide long-term pain relief beyond 3 months. Their routine use for these indications is not recommended (Level B, Class I-III evidence); 3) there is insufficient evidence to make any recommendation for the use of epidural steroid injections to treat radicular cervical pain (Level U)."
Brain Volumes in Relatives of Patients With Schizophrenia (Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007) "Conclusion Brain abnormalities are present in nonpsychotic first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia and are most pronounced in the hippocampus."
Maternal Smoking and Fetal Growth Characteristics in Different Periods of Pregnancy: The Generation R Study. (Am J Epidemiol. 2007) "The authors concluded that maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with reduced growth in fetal head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length. The larger effect on femur length suggests that smoking during pregnancy affects primarily peripheral tissues."
Most American Seniors Live With Chronic Disease: More needs to be done to encourage exercise, healthy eating, CDC report says "Eight of 10 Americans age 65 or older are living with heart disease, diabetes or some other form of chronic illness, according to a new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."
Cognitive function, body weight and body composition in geriatric patients. (Z Gerontol Geriatr. 2007) "Findings of this study indicate that patients with cognitive dysfunction lose substantial amounts of body weight, related to the degree of cognitive dysfunction. In this connection, female subjects seem to lose more weight than male subjects. At the same time female subjects predominantly lose FM, whereas male subjects seem to lose mainly FFM. Therefore patients with cognitive dysfunction should be regularly screened for weight loss and malnutrition to enable early nutritional intervention to prevent relevant weight loss. Future studies on weight loss in dementia should consider gender-related differences in body composition and weight loss."
JAMA Diet Study (3 Articles):
Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN Diets for Change in Weight and Related Risk Factors Among Overweight Premenopausal Women (JAMA 2007) "Conclusions In this study, premenopausal overweight and obese women assigned to follow the Atkins diet, which had the lowest carbohydrate intake, lost more weight and experienced more favorable overall metabolic effects at 12 months than women assigned to follow the Zone, Ornish, or LEARN diets. While questions remain about long-term effects and mechanisms, a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diet may be considered a feasible alternative recommendation for weight loss."
Atkins Fares Best in Study Of Four Weight-Loss Regimens "The study by Stanford University researchers compared the Atkins approach with three others: the standard low-fat, reduced-calorie regimen long recommended by many physicians and weight-loss experts; the Zone, a reduced-carbohydrate approach developed by author Barry Sears; and the very low-fat, high-carbohydrate regimen created by Dean Ornish"
Why I Disagree With this Study: A new comparison of four diets—including mine—is misleading and riddled with problems. "As a result, many people may go on a diet that harms them based on inaccurate information. Other studies also found that people who lost weight on an Atkins diet after six months gained it back after one year."
Overuse sports injuries widespread in kids "With child athletes becoming increasingly competitive and training more rigorous at younger ages, orthopedic physicians are seeing an alarming rise in sports injuries simply from kids overdoing it. Physicians at a major orthopedic meeting in San Diego said children as young as 4 years old are sustaining overuse injuries such as stress fractures and tendinitis. "
Over-Wrapping Babies in Winter Boosts SIDS Risk "Over-wrapping infants, especially during the cold winter months when the flu and other infections are at their peak, can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), say experts from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center."
Physical Activity of Moderate Intensity and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes (Diabetes Care 2007) "CONCLUSIONS—These findings indicate that adherence to recommendations to participate in physical activities of moderate intensity such as brisk walking can substantially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes."
Prevalence of HPV Infection Among Females in the United States (JAMA. 2007) "HPV is common among females in the United States. Our data indicate that the burden of prevalent HPV infection among females was greater than previous estimates and was highest among those aged 20 to 24 years. However, the prevalence of HPV vaccine types was relatively low."
Direct to Consumer Advertising in Healthcare. (Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2007)
Creating demand for prescription drugs: a content analysis of television direct-to-consumer advertising. (Ann Fam Med. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Despite claims that ads serve an educational purpose, they provide limited information about the causes of a disease or who may be at risk; they show characters that have lost control over their social, emotional, or physical lives without the medication; and they minimize the value of health promotion through lifestyle changes. The ads have limited educational value and may oversell the benefits of drugs in ways that might conflict with promoting population health."
Allergy self-diagnosis putting people at risk "What's the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance, and why do some many people seem to be cutting out certain foods from their diets on health grounds? Hilary Wickett, a registered dietician and lecturer at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff explains FOOD intolerance seems to be an issue that people believe is much more of a common problem that it actually is. A study, published by the medical journal The Lancet, found that one in five adults in the UK consider that they have a food allergy or intolerance. Yet the same research also revealed true food allergies occur in fewer than one in 100 adults."
Waistlines keep expanding around the globe "Experts say it is not surprising that people across the globe are increasingly becoming overweight. They blame urbanization and the influx of Western ways of life including myriad fast-food choices, little exercise and stressful jobs."
Weight loss maintenance in severely obese adults after an intensive lifestyle intervention: 2- to 4-year follow-up. (Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007) "DISCUSSION: Weight loss camps are a relatively new commercial approach in treating severely obese subjects. However, the results demonstrate that even with a multidisciplinary intensive setting with focus on diet, exercise, and psychological counseling, only 28% had maintained a weight loss above 10% after 4 years. This emphasizes that obesity is a chronic condition that needs additional strategies after a weight loss intervention in the efforts to maintain a sufficient weight loss."
What is a "TIA" and how would I know if I was having this type of attack? "With a TIA all symptoms return to normal with no residual deficit in less than 24 hours; it may be as brief as a few minutes. If these symptoms occur call your doctor immediately or call 911 and go to the nearest emergency room."
Relationship of Depression to Death or Hospitalization in Patients With Heart Failure (Arch Intern Med. 2007) "Conclusions Symptoms of depression were associated with an adverse prognosis in patients with HF after controlling for HF severity. The unexpected association of antidepressant medications with worse clinical outcome suggests that patients with HF requiring an antidepressant medication may need to be monitored more closely."
Study Suggests Vasectomy-Dementia Link "Having a vasectomy may increase a man's risk of developing a rare form of dementia , early research suggests, although more study is needed to confirm the finding. Researchers at Chicago's Northwestern University found that men with a neurological condition known as primary progressive aphasia, or PPA, were more likely to have had the sterilization surgery than men without the disorder. PPA is a rare condition characterized by a steady loss of language skills."
The joint associations of occupational, commuting, and leisure-time physical activity, and the Framingham risk score on the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease (European Heart Journal 2007) "Conclusion Moderate or high levels of occupational or leisure-time physical activity among both men and women, and daily walking or cycling to and from work among women are associated with a reduced 10-year risk of CHD events. These favourable effects of physical activity on CHD risk are observed at all levels of CHD risk based on FRS assessment."
1 in 4 women have STD linked to cervical cancer "One in four U.S. women ages 14 to 59 is infected with the sexually transmitted virus that in some forms can cause cervical cancer, according to the first broad national estimate. The figure is mostly in line with previous assessments. The highest prevalence — nearly 45 percent — was found in young women within the age range recommended for a new virus-fighting vaccine, according to a report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
Gene plus mom's smoking boosts child's asthma risk "Smoking during pregnancy is known to raise a child's future asthma risk, but children with a particular gene variation may be especially vulnerable, a study published Tuesday suggests. Researchers found that among children followed from birth to age 10, those with a particular variant of a gene called IL1RN seemed particularly susceptible to the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy. Compared with other children whose mothers smoked, they were four times more likely to develop asthma by the age of 10."
Some cocoa improves blood flow in the brain "Among the women given drinks of cocoa high in flavanols, there was a significant increase in blood flow to the brain compared with subjects who did not drink the cocoa, he said. This raises the prospect of using flavanols in the treatment of dementia, marked by decreased blood flow in the brain, and in maintaining overall cardiovascular health, he said. … But the cocoa typically sold in markets is low in flavanols, which usually are removed because they impart a bitter taste, Hollenberg said. He also said the findings do not mean people should indulge in chocolate. … flavanols occur in other foods such as fruits, tea and wine that have been associated with dilation of the arteries."
Strenuous exercise lowers lifetime breast cancer risk "A new study confirms that for most women, 6 or more hours of strenuous recreational exercise each week can reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer, according to the findings of a new study. While women with a family history of breast cancer didn't have a reduced risk with exercise, all of the other women did, regardless of how old they were when they started exercising, Dr. Brian L. Sprague of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and colleagues found."
Effect of cigarette smoking on semen quality of infertile men. (Singapore Med J. 2007) " CONCLUSION: Asthenozoospermia, the most common semen variable in our study, can be an early indicator of reduction in quality of semen, as seen in light smokers. In addition, heavy smoking produces teratozoospermia, which further reduces semen quality. Oligozoospermia may be due to factors other than smoking."
Lung cancers attributable to environmental tobacco smoke and air pollution in non-smokers in different European countries: a prospective study. (Environ Health. 2007) "Overall, our prospective study draws attention to the need for strict legislation concerning the quality of air in Europe."
Maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood (ALSPAC study): an observational cohort study. (Lancet. 2007) " INTERPRETATION: Maternal seafood consumption of less than 340 g per week in pregnancy did not protect children from adverse outcomes; rather, we recorded beneficial effects on child development with maternal seafood intakes of more than 340 g per week, suggesting that advice to limit seafood consumption could actually be detrimental. These results show that risks from the loss of nutrients were greater than the risks of harm from exposure to trace contaminants in 340 g seafood eaten weekly."
Obstructive sleep apnea: An update on mechanisms and cardiovascular consequences. (Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2007) "CONCLUSION: Patients with OSA are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. OSA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypertensive patients who are obese. In particular, OSA should be excluded in patients with hypertension resistant to conventional drug therapy."
Dry eye after LASIK for myopia: Incidence and risk factors. (Eur J Ophthalmol. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS. Patients undergoing LASIK for myopia develop dry eye with compromised tear function at least 6 months after surgery. Women and patients requiring higher refractive correction have an increased risk for developing dry eye."
Effects of maternal smoking in pregnancy on prenatal brain development. The Generation R Study (European Journal of Neuroscience 2007) "In conclusion, continuing to smoke during pregnancy leads to reduced growth of the foetal head."
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: understanding the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and supporting students. (J Sch Health. 2007) "Results: Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in a broad range of negative developmental consequences, including deficits in cognitive and academic functioning, psychological disorders, behavioral problems, and difficulties with independent living. Children with prenatal alcohol exposure are at risk for a spectrum of difficulties at school."
Fish During Pregnancy Helps Child's Development "Children whose mothers ate at least three servings of fish a week during pregnancy had higher scores in tests of mental function in their early years."
Lifetime physical activity and the risk of breast cancer: A case-control study. (Cancer Detect Prev. 2007) "Conclusions: These data are in concordance with the hypothesis that lifetime total physical activity is associated with decreased breast cancer risk. They also suggest that recreational physical activity at ages 14-20 years is the most beneficial. In addition, these findings confirm the majority of previous reports which implicated physical inactivity as important risk factor for breast cancer."
Siestas May Cut Heart Disease Risk "A large study of Greek men and women suggests that taking a daily midday nap may reduce your risk of dying from heart disease by more than 30 percent."
Vitamin D Appears to Cut Breast and Colorectal Cancer Risk "Researchers say that raising vitamin D levels may prevent up to half of all breast and two thirds of colorectal cancer cases in the United States. Based on the results of 2 separate studies, the investigators recommend a daily intake of 2000 IU of vitamin D3 and, when possible, moderate sun exposure."
Lung Cancer Incidence in Never Smokers (Journal of Clinical Oncology 2007) "RESULTS: Truncated age-adjusted incidence rates of lung cancer among never smokers age 40 to 79 years in these six cohorts ranged from 14.4 to 20.8 per 100,000 person-years in women and 4.8 to 13.7 per 100,000 person-years in men, supporting earlier observations that women are more likely than men to have non–smoking-associated lung cancer."
Childhood Immunization Update - 2007
Clinical predictors of progression to Alzheimer disease in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. (Neurology. 2007) "RESULTS: The model that best predicted progression from aMCI to AD over 36 months included APOE4 status, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Delayed 10-Word List Recall, New York University Paragraph Recall Test (Delayed), and the ADAS-cog total score. When APOE4 was removed from the analysis the resulting model had a similar estimated predictive accuracy as the full model. As determined by cross-validation, the estimated predictive accuracy of the final model was 80%. CONCLUSION: Progression from amnestic mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer disease in this cohort was best determined by combining four common, easily administered, cognitive measures."
Correlation of endoscopic severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd) with body mass index (bmi). (J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2007) "Conclusion: Higher BMI seems to be associated with higher degree of endoscopic GERD severity."
Back To The Stone Age "Our brain craves the diet that helped form it in the first place. In the Stone Age humans foraged for wild plants, fruits, berries, roots, legumes, nuts and hunted for wild game and seafood. Humans didn't eat the refined grains that define today's colorless typical American diet. And, certainly, they didn't have cars to zip them to McDonald's drive-through windows so they could "supersize." The American diet is foreign to the brain. The mechanics of our brain are fine-tuned to a long-lost diet that existed in prehistoric days."
Cancer Strikes 1 in 2 Men and 1 in 3 Women "Cancer will affect 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women in the United States, and the number of new cases of cancer is set to nearly double by the year 2050."
Parkinson's disease and pesticide exposures. (Br Med Bull. 2007) " Many studies have found an association between pesticides and PD, but no one agent has been consistently identified. Those implicated include organochlorine insecticides, maneb and paraquat. One meta-analysis of pesticide exposure and PD found an almost doubling of risk in those exposed. Associations with specific agents may be confounded by exposure to other pesticides, making it difficult to identify the causative agent."
Passive or active smoking, which is more relevant to breast cancer. (Saudi Med J. 2007) "CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the pooled analysis, it can be concluded both passive and active smoking equally increase the risk of female breast cancer."
Obesity-hypertension: an ongoing pandemic. (Int J Clin Pract. 2007) "Considerable evidence has suggested that excessive weight gain is the most common cause of arterial hypertension. This association has been observed in several populations, in different regions of the world. Obesity-hypertension, a term that underscores the link between these two deleterious conditions, is an important public health challenge, because of its high frequency and concomitant risk of cardiovascular and kidney diseases. The obesity-hypertension pandemic imposes a considerable economic burden on societies, directly reflecting on healthcare system costs."
Optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding: what is the evidence to support current recommendations? (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "That review concluded that infants exclusively breastfed for 6 mo experienced less morbidity from gastrointestinal infection and showed no deficits in growth but that large randomized trials are required to rule out small adverse effects on growth and the development of iron deficiency in susceptible infants. Others have raised concerns that the evidence is insufficient to confidently recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 mo for infants in developed countries, that breast milk may not meet the full energy requirements of the average infant at 6 mo of age, and that estimates of the proportion of exclusively breastfed infants at risk of specific nutritional deficiencies are not available. Additionally, virtually no data are available to form evidence-based recommendations for the introduction of solids in formula-fed infants. Given increasing evidence that early nutrition and growth have effects on both short- and longer-term health, it is vital that this issue be investigated in high-quality randomized studies."
Preventing weight gain: a population cohort study of the nature and effectiveness of mid-age women's weight control practices. (Int J Obes (Lond). 2007) "Conclusions:The majority of mid-age women attempting weight control used practices consistent with public health messages. Despite their efforts, the group was mostly unsuccessful in preventing weight gain. Public health authorities and health practitioners may need to make more quantitative recommendations and emphasize the importance of balancing physical activity with dietary intake to achieve successful weight control for women at this life stage"
Prostate Volume Is Strongest Predictor of Cancer Diagnosis at Transrectal Ultrasound-Guided Prostate Biopsy with Prostate-Specific Antigen Values Between 2.0 and 9.0 ng/mL. (Urology. 2007) "OBJECTIVES: Data have suggested benign prostatic hyperplasia, and not cancer, as the major reason for elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values between 2.0 and 9.0 ng/mL. If this hypothesis were correct, within these ranges, a smaller prostate volume would be a stronger predictor of cancer than the PSA level itself (the relative contribution from cancer is greater in smaller glands. … CONCLUSIONS: When the PSA level is in the 2.0 to 9.0 ng/mL range, a smaller prostate volume is the strongest predictor of cancer detection. These data support previous studies suggesting the amount of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and not cancer, as the major factor responsible for elevated PSA."
Fruit and vegetable consumption, intake of micronutrients, and benign prostatic hyperplasia in US men (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007) "Conclusion:Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a diet rich in vegetables may reduce the occurrence of BPH."
Heart disease, ocular health share important common ground in women "These fragile vessels, especially those in the highly vascularized retina, can easily become damaged from hypertension, or fall prey to vein occlusions or age-related macular degeneration – all overlapping with cardiovascular complications. Studies have shown that women are more likely than men to show arteriolar narrowing with an increased risk for secondary ocular vascular complication and possible vision loss."
Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution and Incidence of Cardiovascular Events in Women (NEJM 2007) " Conclusions Long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution is associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and death among postmenopausal women. Exposure differences within cities are associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease."
[Nutrition and colorectal cancer] (Med Monatsschr Pharm. 2007)
A Higher Dose of Vitamin D Reduces the Risk of Falls in Nursing Home Residents: A Randomized, Multiple-Dose Study (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2007) "Nursing home residents in the highest vitamin D group (800 IU) had a lower number of fallers and a lower incidence rate of falls over 5 months than those taking lower doses. Adequate vitamin D supplementation in elderly nursing home residents could reduce the number of falls experienced by this high falls risk group."
Subarachnoid haemorrhage. (Lancet. 2007) "Subarachnoid haemorrhage accounts for only 5% of strokes, but occurs at a fairly young age. Sudden headache is the cardinal feature, but patients might not report the mode of onset. CT brain scanning is normal in most patients with sudden headache, but to exclude subarachnoid haemorrhage or other serious disorders, a carefully planned lumbar puncture is also needed. Aneurysms are the cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage in 85% of cases. The case fatality after aneurysmal haemorrhage is 50%; one in eight patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage dies outside hospital. Rebleeding is the most imminent danger; a first aim is therefore occlusion of the aneurysm."
Radon in the Home Can Cause Lung Cancer "Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. But while most Americans know tobacco smoke is the primary trigger for lung cancer , very few are aware of the risks posed by radon -- or that dangerous levels of the gas can be found in many homes."
Time out better than spanking for naughty kids: experts " Time out, extra chores and taking away privileges are more useful forms of disciplining naughty children than spanking or hitting, according to a study on Wednesday. An estimated 94 percent of parents use some form of corporal punishment to teach their toddlers right from wrong, according to research studies. But psychologists say it could lead to later emotional and behavioral problems. Even children who were only smacked occasionally are more likely to show signs of depression or lower self-esteem. … He added that children on the receiving end of a slap can learn that when they are upset and angry they hit, rather than understanding their behavior was wrong and that they need to do better."
How reliable is isolated clinical hypertension defined by a single 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring? (Journal of Hypertension 2007) "Conclusions: These findings clearly indicate that: (i) the classification of ICH on the basis of a single ABPM, using the cut-offs suggested by major hypertension guidelines, has a limited short-term reproducibility and (ii) repeated ABPM recordings should be recommended to correctly diagnose patients with ICH and improve cardiovascular risk stratification."
Late in Life, Prostate Cancer Screening May Do More Harm than Good "The potential benefits of PSA testing are unclear, but experts agree that a man would probably have to live more than a decade to experience them. This is because the forms of prostate cancer that are detected by PSA testing late in life often progress slowly, as opposed to the more aggressive and often fatal forms of the disease that may occur earlier. The potential harms of PSA testing, on the other hand, can occur immediately and are often substantial. These include additional testing, psychological distress, and side effects from treating a disease that might never have caused any harm."
Active Minds May Keep Alzheimer's at Bay "For the first time, scientists have shown that learning slows the build-up in the brain of protein plaques and tangles that are the signature of Alzheimer's disease. Although the study was conducted in mice, it does reinforce the idea that, in humans, maintaining an active mind may help delay or even prevent Alzheimer's disease."
Advances in our understanding of the biology of human milk and its effects on the offspring. (J Nutr. 2007) "The most important short-term immunological benefit of breast-feeding is the protection against infectious diseases. There is also some evidence of lower prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases, childhood cancers, and type I diabetes in breast-fed infants, suggesting that breast-feeding influences the development of the infant's own immune system. One of the most consistent findings of breast-feeding is a positive effect on later intelligence tests with a few test points advantage for breast-fed infants."
CT scans in ERs catch only 25 percent of strokes: MRIs detect 80 percent and should be new standard of care, doctors advise "The most common method of diagnosing a stroke in the emergency rooms catches only about one out of every four cases — far fewer than an MRI scan, which also was better at spotting the type of stroke, a U.S. government funded study showed. The study led some experts, writing in the medical journal The Lancet, to declare that MRI scans should replace CT X-rays as the standard of care."
Emotional distress as a predictor for low back disability: a prospective 12-year population-based study. (Spine. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Emotional distress is a predictor for low back disability in persons with earlier LBP, but not in persons without. To prevent low back disability, emotional distress should be considered and treated in persons with LBP."
Farmed fish swim to the fore "Call it fish farming or call it aquaculture, it's where our fish is coming from. Forty-two percent of the seafood Americans eat is farmed, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Worldwide it's 43%. Already 60% of the salmon we eat in this country is farmed, almost all of the catfish and 100% of the tilapia."
Heavy Metal Toxins a Danger in Homes "Exposure to heavy metals -- arsenic, lead and mercury -- can occur in the home through common items such as glazed pottery, herbal supplements, food, and garden pesticides/herbicides, notes an article in the January issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter."
[History and definition(s) of metabolic syndrome.] (Internist (Berl). 2007) "The current definition of metabolic syndrome of the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the International Diabetes Federation incorporates the quartet central obesity, hypertension, increased blood sugar and dyslipidemia (hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol)."
On Nutritious Drink Studies, Consider the Funding Source "Before you take to heart any research about the health effects of beverages such as milk, fruit juice or soft drinks, find out who paid for the study. If a beverage manufacturer or industry group funded the research, the finding may be biased, researchers report. … The same association has been found in studies of medications funded by drug companies, Ludwig said. But, he added, bias in studies of beverages could have a greater impact because nearly everyone drinks milk, juices or soft drinks."
Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Risk: The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 2007) "Overall, increasing total physical activity was associated with a reduction in breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women (Ptrend = 0.06). Specifically, household activity was associated with a significantly reduced risk in postmenopausal … and premenopausal … women. … This study provides additional evidence for a protective effect of physical activity on breast cancer risk."
Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and insulin resistance: a short update. (Curr Opin Lipidol. 2007) "SUMMARY: Increasing physical activity reduces insulin resistance. As both intensity of exercise and genetic factors may modulate the magnitude of this effect, current physical activity for health guidelines that emphasize engagement in moderate-intensity physical activity in a 'one-size-fits-all' approach may need revision in the future to optimize the potential benefits accrued from individuals becoming more active."
The reduction of physical activity reflects on the bone mass among young females: a follow-up study of 142 adolescent girls. (Osteoporos Int. 2007) " CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study show that regular physical activity is valuable in preserving the peak bone mass acquired at puberty in particular. Many of the girls who markedly reduced their activity levels lost bone in their femoral neck prior to their 25th birthday."
Treatment of acute sciatica. (Am Fam Physician. 2007) "Acute sciatica is lower back pain with radiculopathy below the knee and symptoms lasting up to six weeks. … caused by a variety of conditions: disk herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, facet joint osteoarthritis or other arthropathies, spinal cord infection or tumor, or spondylolisthesis. … Clinical Commentary: An efficient clinical history and thorough physical examination of a patient with suspected sciatica is needed to rule out urgent conditions like cauda equina syndrome, infection, or cancer, and to determine the need for diagnostic tests. After the acute episode, emphasis is placed on activity, back exercises, behavioral techniques, ergonomics education, and close clinical monitoring. Educating patients on self-care and establishing reasonable expectations usually increase patient compliance with therapy and improve satisfaction."
[Unhealthy lifestyles during the life course: association with physical decline in late life] (Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr. 2006) "These data suggest that overweight in old age, and chronic exposure to physical inactivity or overweight throughout life increases the risk of physical decline in old age. Therefore, physical activity and prevention of overweight at all ages should be stimulated to prevent physical decline in old age."
Update on epinephrine for the treatment of anaphylaxis. (Curr Opin Pediatr. 2007) "Epinephrine injected intramuscularly is the treatment of choice, but there remain gaps in physician knowledge despite increases in hospitalization rates for anaphylaxis. Epinephrine is also underused by parents, day-care centers and schools."
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Vitamin D and vascular calcification. (Curr Opin Lipidol. 2007) "SUMMARY: Available data indicate that vitamin D exerts a biphasic 'dose response' curve on vascular calcification with deleterious consequences not only of vitamin D excess but also of vitamin D deficiency."
What is known about the safety of multivitamin-multimineral supplements for the generally healthy population? Theoretical basis for harm. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "The risk of harm occurring from taking dietary supplements will depend on the safe intake range of the nutrient concerned, the susceptibility of the individual, and the likely intake of the same nutrient from other supplements or the rest of the diet. In many cases, the available database for the safety of nutrients is very limited because the studies, where available, were not designed to assess adverse effects but may have detected problems when they occurred."
Breast Cancer Risk: Seven Things You Should Know
[Does cigarette smoking influence the survival of patients with prostate cancer?] (Urologe A. 2007) "In our analysis, we demonstrate a worse course for the disease in patients with prostate cancer who smoked cigarettes at the time of first diagnosis. In spite of comparable staging, grading and PSA values at the time of primary diagnosis, individuals who smoked had a threefold higher risk of dying from prostate cancer. This effect is probably caused by metabolic changes which are activated by cigarette smoking and promote tumor growth and the development of metastases."
Lead exposure and periodontitis in US adults. (J Periodontal Res. 2007) "Conclusion: The lead blood level was positively and statistically associated with periodontitis for both men and women. Considering the public health importance of periodontitis and lead exposure, further studies are necessary to confirm this association."
Screening for prostate cancer: A Cochrane systematic review. (Cancer Causes Control. 2007) " CONCLUSIONS: Given that only two randomised controlled trials were included, and the high risk of bias of both trials, there is insufficient evidence to either support or refute the routine use of screening compared to no screening for reducing prostate cancer mortality. Currently, no robust evidence from randomised controlled trials is available regarding the impact of screening on quality of life, harms of screening, or its economic value. Results from two ongoing large scale multi-center randomised controlled trials, which will be available in the upcoming few years, will assist patients and health professionals in making an evidence-based decision regarding the effectiveness of screening for prostate cancer."
Subdural hematoma after a fall in an elderly patient taking high-dose omega-3 Fatty acids with warfarin and aspirin: case report and review of the literature. (Pharmacotherapy. 2007) " Omega-3 fatty acids, also known as fish oil, have been used for hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and other conditions. Some studies have demonstrated that consumption of fish oil concentrate, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA), results in cardiovascular benefits that include reductions in mortality, sudden death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and thrombotic stoke, as well as improvement in graft patency. The mechanism of action of n-3 PUFA is not completely understood, but a dual antiplatelet and anticoagulant effect has been proposed. Few data exist on whether or not fish oil can be used safely with other antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs. We report the case of a patient who after a minor fall developed a subdural hematoma requiring craniotomy that likely was precipitated by concomitant use of high-dose omega-3 fatty acids 6 g/day with both aspirin and warfarin."
Tea is good for you, but skip the milk " … proteins called caseins in milk decrease the amount of compounds in tea known as catechins which increase its protection against heart disease."
The increasing incidence of anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (NEUROLOGY 2007) "Conclusions: The incidence of anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage quintupled in our population during the 1990s. The majority of this change can be explained by increasing warfarin use. Anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage now occurs at a frequency comparable to subarachnoid hemorrhage."
Modest Exercise Prevents the Progressive Disease Associated with Physical Inactivity. (Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2007) " There seems to be a critical minimal level of physical activity required to maintain metabolic health. A modest amount of exercise seems to prevent metabolic deterioration."
Most cancers in Europe avoidable "The study, which looked at 11 cancers that can be prevented by changes to lifestyle, estimates that of 1.4 million cases, more than half—363 000 (59%) in men and 326 000 (45%) in women—could be avoidable."
Multiple Sclerosis After Infectious Mononucleosis (Arch Neurol. 2007) "Conclusions The risk of multiple sclerosis is increased in persons with prior infectious mononucleosis, regardless of sex, age, and time since infectious mononucleosis or severity of infection. The risk of multiple sclerosis may be increased soon after infectious mononucleosis and persists for at least 30 years after the infection."
Education and Alzheimer disease without dementia (NEUROLOGY 2007) "Conclusions: Regardless of the neuropathologic criteria used, education is predictive of dementia status among individuals with neuropathologic Alzheimer disease. These results support the theory that individuals with greater cognitive reserve, as reflected in years of education, are better able to cope with AD brain pathology without observable deficits in cognition."
Abused Children Face Depression Risk as Adults "Children who were abused and neglected were 51 percent more likely to be depressed in young adulthood. Those who were physically abused and those who experienced multiple types of abuse had a 59 percent and 75 percent increased risk of being depressed during their lifetime, respectively, compared with children who were not abused or neglected. Childhood sexual abuse was not associated with an elevated risk of depression. But, as the authors pointed out, the study participants who had been sexually abused reported significantly more symptoms of depression than the children who had not been abused or neglected."
Effects of the Second National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study of High-Dose Methylprednisolone Therapy on Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury-Results in Spinal Injuries Center. (Spine 2006) "Objective. To evaluate the recovery of motor function and the early complications in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury after receiving a high dose of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) within 8 hours of injury. … Conclusions. MPSS should be administered to patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury according to the Second National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study protocol."
Association of Physical Activity with Development of Uterine Leiomyoma (American Journal of Epidemiology 2007) "The authors concluded that regular exercise might help women prevent fibroids."
Doctors Back New Approach on 2nd Opinion "Reluctant to get a second opinion? Consider this: Over half of breast cancer patients had their initial treatment changed when they sought a review at a specialty center. But the question remains whether everybody with cancer really needs to go shopping for a second opinion. And if the first two doctors disagree, do you need a tiebreaker? … Sometimes it was because the original doctor didn't follow national treatment guidelines. Five patients, for example, had been told to get a mastectomy when they were good candidates for breast-conserving lumpectomy instead."
Alzheimer's: An Apple Juice a Day " They found drinking fruit or vegetable juice more than three times a week cuts the risk of developing Alzheimer's by 76 percent compared to drinking it less than once a week. And having juice once or twice a week reduced the risk by 16 percent."
A Bitter Pill to Swallow "FTC officials said part of the reason consumers fall for phony weight-loss claims is because they see advertisements in major publications like TV Guide, Men's Fitness and People magazine."
A Surprising Secret to a Long Life: Stay in School "The one social factor that researchers agree is consistently linked to longer lives in every country where it has been studied is education. It is more important than race; it obliterates any effects of income. … And, health economists say, those factors that are popularly believed to be crucial — money and health insurance, for example, pale in comparison. … Instead, Dr. Smith and others say, what may make the biggest difference is keeping young people in school. A few extra years of school is associated with extra years of life and vastly improved health decades later, in old age."
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