2011 Archives
2011 Archives:
Featured InfoMedLinks
Recent archived links on top:
Eat Like A Caveman To Lose Weight
Estrogen from Birth-Control Pill in Water Linked to Rising Prostate Cancer Cases
Evidence Suggests HPV Testing Not Superior to Conventional Pap Tests
Heavy Metals Pollute a Tenth of China's Farmland
Is BPA Lurking In Your Favorite Thanksgiving Foods?
Long-Term Survival Significantly Reduced After TIA
Lose the Fat and Improve the Gums, Dental Researchers Find
Low Blood Pressure Linked to Recurrent Stroke “A new study points again to evidence of the fabled J-curve of cardiovascular event risk associated with blood pressure (BP). Among patients with recent noncardioembolic stroke, systolic BP (SBP) not only over 140 mm Hg but also under 120 mg Hg were associated with increased risk for recurrent stroke.”
Methamphetamine Use Linked to Schizophrenia
Moderate Alcohol Consumption During Adult Life, Drinking Patterns, and Breast Cancer Risk (JAMA 2011) “Low levels of alcohol consumption were associated with a small increase in breast cancer risk, with the most consistent measure being cumulative alcohol intake throughout adult life. Alcohol intake both earlier and later in adult life was independently associated with risk.”
More Evidence Links Tanning Beds to Higher Skin Cancer Risk
Older Women Still Suffer from Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Years After Menopause, Study Finds
Parkinson's Disease Linked To Industrial Solvent Exposure
Air pollution tied to lung cancer in non-smokers “People who have never smoked, but who live in areas with higher air pollution levels, are roughly 20 percent more likely to die from lung cancer than people who live with cleaner air, researchers conclude in a new study. "It's another argument for why the regulatory levels (for air pollutants) be as low as possible," said Francine Laden, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, who was not involved in the research. Though smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer, about one in 10 people who develop lung cancer have never smoked.”
Alzheimer's - Is Being Thin An Early Sign?
Too Much Sitting Raises Odds for Cancer: Study
Study: Cell Phones Exceed Exposure Limits For Children
Suboptimal vitamin D levels in pregnant women despite supplement use. (Can J Public Health. 2011)
The association between low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and increased aortic stiffness. (J Hum Hypertens. 2011)
The management of tennis elbow (BMJ 2011) “Tennis elbow is a tendinopathy of the common extensor origin of the lateral elbow Cortisone injections are harmful in the longer term and are no longer recommended in most cases Rehabilitation (exercise) based treatment is helpful, but to be effective patients must usually remove tendon overload Further research is needed on newer (minimally invasive) treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma injections, hyaluronan gel injections, and nitrate patches Reserve surgery and botulinum toxin injections for the worst cases because patients can take six months to return to full function Many cases of tennis elbow cases will naturally resolve in 6-12 months”
Trojan Horse Tactics Enable Chlamydia To Infect Cells
Vital Clues Not to Miss in Food Poisoning: Slideshow
Not All Memory Complaints Signal Trouble
One in Six Mobile Phones in the UK Is Contaminated With Fecal Bacteria, Researchers Found
One Quarter of Seniors Over 70 Have Had Silent Strokes
Oral Steroids Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency “People taking oral steroids double their risk for severe vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to bone disease or muscle weakness, a new study indicates. Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, in New York City, said steroids might increase levels of an enzyme that inactivates the vitamin, resulting in osteomalacia (softening of the bones), rickets (softening of bones in children) or clinical myopathy (muscle weakness). They recommended that physicians monitor vitamin D levels of patients being treated with oral steroids.”
Parents turn to the Internet before going to the ER
Pesticides in food linked to ADHD in kids “"It's mainly exposure through food. Diet is the driver," says pediatrician and public health expert Phil Landrigan, MD, professor and chair of the department of community and preventive medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "For most people, diet is the predominant source. It's been shown that people who switch to an organic diet knock down the levels of pesticide by-products in their urine by 85 to 90 percent. … The harmful chemicals are widespread: A 2008 U.S. Pesticide Residue Program Report found detectable concentrations of one organophosphate alone, malathion, in 28 percent of frozen blueberries, 25 percent of strawberries, and 19 percent of celery sampled. (Malathion is also commonly sprayed out of airplanes and onto communities as part of mosquito-control programs. Organophosphate pesticides, also found in some flea and tick products, have been tied to childhood leukemia, and are believed to be partially responsible for colony collapse disorder, which is killing off honeybees (who pollinate our food crops) at unprecedented rates.”
Pollutants Linked to 450 Percent Increase in Risk of Birth Defects in Rural China
Pregnant Mothers at Risk from Air Pollution, California Study Suggests
Pregnant women in Vancouver may not be getting enough vitamin D
Processed Meats Linked to Increased Stroke Risk
Quitting Smoking Could Give Memory a Boost
Salmonella linked to pine nuts sickens 42
Schoolyard Bullies Often Turn Into Violent Adults“Children who bully their peers are at risk of perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV) as adults, new research suggests. In a survey of almost 1500 adult men, those who frequently bullied others at school were almost 4 times more likely to have perpetrated past-year IPV than those who did not bully. Although at a much smaller risk, those who sometimes bullied when they were young were still 1.53 times more likely to participate in past-year IPV than those who did not bully. "I don't think these results are very surprising, because there's a lot of qualitative evidence suggesting that both bullying and [IPV] are phenomenons thought to stem from desire for power and control over others," lead author Kathryn L. Falb, MHS, research assistant at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, told Medscape Medical News.”
Shunning water linked to high blood sugar“People who drink less than a couple of glasses of water each day may be more likely to develop abnormally high blood sugar, a new study suggests. When someone's blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to fit the definition of diabetes, doctors often consider that person to have "pre-diabetes" -- which puts them at risk of developing the disease itself. In the new study, adults who drank only half a liter of water -- about two glasses -- or less each day were more likely to develop blood sugar levels in the pre-diabetes range, versus people who drank more water. But whether simply drinking water will cut your risk of blood sugar problems is still up in the air. The findings show a correlation between water intake and blood sugar, but do not prove cause-and-effect, said senior researcher Lise Bankir, of the French national research institute INSERM.”
Cell Phones and Brain Tumors: No Link, But Is Study Flawed? “The latest study on cancer and cell phones — the largest to date — has found no evidence of an overall increase in brain tumors or any cancers over an 18-year period. However, a group of experts says that the study is seriously flawed, and declares that it should be "condemned as misleading spin." … "This seriously flawed study misleads the public and decision makers about the safety of [cell] phone use. I consider that their claims are worthless," Denis L. Henshaw, PhD, emeritus professor of human radiation effects, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, states in the document. "From the way it was set up originally, this deeply flawed study was designed to fail to find an increased risk of brain tumors tied [to] cell phone use. In order for any study of a relatively rare disease like brain tumors to find a change in risk, millions must be followed for decades. By extending an earlier analysis on the same group of cell phone users, this new report provides unsurprising, biased, and misleading conclusions," explains Devra Davis, PhD, MPH, cancer epidemiologist and president of Environmental Health Trust, in the document. A serious concern about this study is the choice of individuals in the control group, the group of experts asserts. The Danish researchers compared the rates of brain tumors that occurred from 1990 to 2007 in those who began using cell phones after 1987 with the rates in those who were nonsubscribers when the study started. "This understates risk, because most of those who began as 'nonsubscribers' to cell phone service (i.e., the 'controls' at the time the cohort was collected) became cell phone users later on, and accumulated almost as many years (on average per person) as the 'exposed' subscribers. Hence, the comparison to the population not contained in the subscriber sample is a comparison between 2 exposed groups. When Michael Kundi and colleagues from the Medical University of Vienna mathematically corrected for this concern in an earlier report from this Danish study, they found a significantly increased risk for brain tumors," the group writes. This concern about the control group is raised in the editorial, which describes it as a "weakness" of the study. The misclassification of subscribers and nonsubscribers "would dilute any association between [cell-]phone use and cancer risk, and this is important for a negative study like the current one," they note. "However, for long-term users, this misclassification would have only a small effect: long-term users who did not hold personal subscriptions would make up a small proportion of the reference population," they assert.”
Chest X-Ray Screening Does Not Reduce Lung Cancer Mortality
Daily aspirin tied to risk of vision loss
Diabetes again linked to colon cancer risk “Combining the results of 14 international studies, researchers found that overall, people with diabetes were 38 percent more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer than those who were diabetes-free. There was also a 20 percent increase in the risk of rectal cancer, though that appeared to be confined to men. The findings, reported in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, do not prove that diabetes directly contributes to colon cancer in some people.”
Do Not Screen for Prostate Cancer in Men 75 or Older, USPSTF Advises
Effects of moderate aerobic exercise training on chronic primary insomnia. (Sleep Med. 2011) “Long-term moderate aerobic exercise elicited significant improvements in sleep, quality of life and mood in individuals with chronic primary insomnia.”
Environmental Toxins Linked to Hardening of Arteries “In Sweden, and in many countries in the world, many of these substances are forbidden today, but since they are so long-lived they're still out there in our environment. We ingest these environmental toxicants with the food we eat, and since they are stored in our bodies, the levels grow higher the older we get," said Monica Lind, an associate professor in environmental medicine, in the release.”
FDA: Dirty Conditions Likely to Blame for Listeria Outbreak at Cantaloupe Farm
Likelihood That a Woman With Screen-Detected Breast Cancer Has Had Her "Life Saved" by That Screening (Arch Intern Med 2011) “Most women with screen-detected breast cancer have not had their life saved by screening. They are instead either diagnosed early (with no effect on their mortality) or overdiagnosed. … Earlier diagnosis (either via enhanced awareness or screening) and better treatment are clearly part of the explanation for this large survivor population. But so too is the enthusiasm for screening and the resulting overdiagnosis. And, ironically, this enthusiasm may, in turn, be the product of a large number of survivors. This self-reinforcing cycle (the more detection, the more enthusiasm—the so-called popularity paradox of screening)21 is driven, in part, by the presumption that every screen-detected breast cancer survivor has had her "life saved" because of screening. Our analyses suggest this is an exaggeration. In fact, a woman with screen-detected cancer is considerably more likely not to have benefited from screening. We believe that this information is important to put cancer survivor stories in their proper context.”
A Visual Guide to Understanding Stroke (slides)
[Acute abducens nerve palsy following prostatitis due to prostate biopsy]. (Nihon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi. 2011)
Aging Brain's Decline May Hinge on a Gene
Sleeping Soon After Dinner May Raise Stroke Risk “Once again, mom was right: Don't eat too close to bedtime. A new study suggests that waiting at least an hour after dinner before going to sleep reduces your risk of stroke by about two-thirds. And for every 20 minutes more that you wait, stroke risk drops another 10%, says researcher Cristina-Maria Kastorini, MSc, a nutritionist at the University of Ioannina Medical School in Greece. The study does not prove cause and effect -- only that there seems to be an association between waiting an hour or more between dinner and bedtime and reduced stroke risk. “
Study Suggests Link Between Sleep Deprivation, Alzheimer's Risk
Study, Statement Focus on Alcohol Damage “Long-term alcohol abuse can severely damage the brain's outer layer, a new study finds. The damaged layer is the cerebral cortex. It is involved in all higher-level thinking and processing of emotions.”
Suspicious Mammogram Result: Now What?
Tainted seafood reaching American tables, experts say “Filthy seafood infected with bacteria or tainted with drugs and antibiotics banned in the U.S. is finding its way onto the plates of Americans, according to state and federal officials, consumer advocates, academics and food safety experts.”
Vitamin D Intoxication with Severe Hypercalcemia due to Manufacturing and Labeling Errors of Two Dietary Supplements Made in the United States. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011)
WHO Reveals Cities With Most And Least Polluted Air
A Visual Guide to Sciatica (slideshow)
'Belly Fat' Linked to Development of Asthma, Study Finds
Brain Shrinkage Linked to Smoking, Obesity, Diabetes
CDC confirms 13 dead in listeria cantaloupe outbreak
Cell Phone Study Was Flawed, Say Some Experts “The use of cell phones, and their possible detrimental effect on human health, is an issue that remains unresolved. A recent study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2011;103:1264-1276), concluded that children and adolescents who use cell phones are not at an increased risk for brain tumors, but several experts are disputing these findings. A report issued by L. Lloyd Morgan, BSc, senior research fellow at the Environmental Health Trust, and colleagues found that rather than showing no risk for brain tumors, the study's results indicate that an increased risk for brain cancer is a "major concern." Mr. Morgan and coauthors Ronald Herberman, MD, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and the UPMC Cancer Center, in Pennsylvania, and Devra Davis, PhD, MPH, president of Environmental Health Trust, note that the study's results are flawed and mislead the public. They explain that these errors should have been picked up during the peer-review process and by the journal, because the results and conclusion sections of the paper contradict the actual reported results. Several cell phone companies provided funding for this study, and some of the study's authors are known to be linked to industry and to other research that supports the interests of the industry, the report points out. …However, Dr. Davis pointed out that they weren't likely to find an association between cell phone use and brain cancer in young children because brain tumors can take 10 or more years to form. "Young children have not been heavy users of cell phones for that long," she said. "It is ridiculous to look at cell phone use in a 7 year old. What were they, 2 years old when they started using their cell phones?" … Dr. Davis also emphasized that aside from brain tumors, other studies have linked cell phones to serious health risks in children, including learning problems, autism, behavioral impacts, insomnia, attention disorders, and a broad array of disturbances to the developing nervous system. … Another expert, Joel Moskowitz, PhD, director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley, agrees that the findings of the study have been downplayed. "This report and the editorial are another example of biased reporting," he said in an interview. "The results actually verify higher tumor risks for children but the findings are downplayed. They dismiss any evidence or prior evidence of increased risk and harm, and then the media plays it out as either being not conclusive evidence or no evidence." Dr. Moskowitz noted several glaring problems with the study, which are in line with the findings of Mr. Morgan and colleagues. "In a subset of patients who had cell phone records available, there was more than a doubling of risk," he said. “
Chicago bans crib bumpers: Will you bump them out of your nursery?
Cognitive function of 6-year old children exposed to mold-contaminated homes in early postnatal period. Prospective birth cohort study in Poland. (Physiol Behav. 2011)
Could Too Little Vitamin B-12 Shrink the Aging Brain?
C-Sections Linked to Doubled Risk for Blood Clots
Common Irregular Heartbeat Raises Risk of Dementia, Study Finds “Atrial fibrillation affects 3 million Americans. Dr. Dublin says that some ways it might increase dementia risk are: weakening the heart's pumping ability, leading to less oxygen going to the brain; increasing the chance of tiny blood clots going to the brain, causing small, clinically undetected strokes; a combination of these plus other factors that contribute to dementia such as inflammation.”
Do Pools Expose Swimmers to Potentially Harmful Chemicals? “Swimmers have detectable levels of a potentially dangerous chlorine by-product called haloacetic acids (HAAs) in their urine within 30 minutes of a swim, a study shows. The Environmental Protection Agency limits HAA levels in drinking water because high amounts may be linked to birth defects and cancer. Chlorine is used in drinking water and swimming pool water to kill harmful bacteria. By-products such as HAA occur when disinfectants such as chlorine react with impurities in the water.”
Effects of the Exposure to Mobile Phones on Male Reproduction: A Review of the Literature. (J Androl. 2011)
Even Mild Cognitive Impairment Predicts Early Death
Exercise Can Substitute Effectively as Second 'Medication' for People With Depression, Study Suggests“Exercise can be as effective as a second medication for as many as half of depressed patients whose condition have not been cured by a single antidepressant medication.”
Exercise May Help Prevent Brain Damage Caused By Alzheimer's Disease
Five Genes May Be Tied to Lethal Prostate Cancer
Half Of All Americans Obese By 2030 With UK Close Behind
High Salt, Low Activity Also Bad for Brain Health
Many Doctors Ignore Guidelines, Order Annual Pap Test
Older Adults With Too Much Salt in Diet and Too Little Exercise at Greater Risk of Cognitive Decline, Study Finds “"The results of our study showed that a diet high in sodium, combined with little exercise, was especially detrimental to the cognitive performance of older adults," said Dr. Fiocco. "But the good news is that sedentary older adults showed no cognitive decline over the three years that we followed them if they had low sodium intake." “
1 in 10 US kids have ADHD, study finds
All school, no play? Kids' learning suffers without recess, experts say
Are Kids Brown-Bagging Bacteria?“Despite parents' best intentions, many school lunches packed at home may reach unsafe temperatures by the time a child eats, and that's true even when lunches are packed in an insulated container with ice packs. A new study of preschoolers' lunches found that more than 90% of the food sent from home was at an unsafe temperature long before children started eating. "The main finding of our study is that more than 90% of perishable items were at an unacceptable temperature -- according to USDA guidelines -- an hour and a half before lunch," said study author Fawaz Almansour, a doctoral candidate in the department of nutritional sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. "This was an eye opener. As a parent, when my child comes home with a stomachache or vomiting, I usually think it's a virus. I don't think the food I serve is the problem," he said.”
B-Vitamin Supplements May Slow Brain Atrophy in MCI “Results of a new randomized trial of high-dose B vitamins, including B12, B6, and folic acid, suggest the rate of brain atrophy may be slowed by treatment in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The effect of supplementation related to baseline homocysteine levels, said A. David Smith, professor emeritus of pharmacology and founding director of the Oxford Project to Investigation Memory and Aging (OPTIMA) at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, lead author of the study. Overall, B vitamins given at a dose high enough to reduce homocysteine by 31.7% in this trial had a "pretty dramatic effect" on the rate of brain atrophy also of about 30% compared with placebo, Dr. Smith told Medscape Medical News. The effect was greater among those in the highest quartile for homocysteine levels. "The treatment actually reduced the rate of shrinkage by 53%, which is a huge effect," he said. "We were absolutely delighted with this strong result."
Chance of having more than one autistic child higher than thought
Claims About Cocoa “So should you eat chocolate? Chocolate can have a lot of calories, and the importance of a healthy weight is well known. “If you’re eating chocolate, make sure to watch the calorie content, the fat content and the sugar content,” Su says. “For those who are already consuming chocolate, I would advise them to look for the darker ones,” Djoussé adds, “not the white chocolate or the milk chocolate. You won’t get any of the benefit. It’s just going to be unneeded calories.” But there’s no need to start eating chocolate if you don’t already. “The science doesn’t allow us to make recommendations because the evidence is just not there,” Muniyappa says.”
Long-Term Urban Particulate Air Pollution, Traffic Noise and Arterial Blood Pressure (EHP 2011) “We found an association of long-term exposure to PM with increased arterial BP in a population-based sample. This finding supports our hypothesis that long-term PM exposure may promote atherosclerosis with air pollution-induced increases in BP being one possible biologic pathway.”
Midlife vascular risk factor exposure accelerates structural brain aging and cognitive decline (Neurology 2011;77 461-468) “Midlife hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and obesity were associated with an increased rate of progression of vascular brain injury, global and hippocampal atrophy, and decline in executive function a decade later.”
Mom Has Alzheimer's? Your Risk May Be High
New baby delivery strategies help cut health costs “About four years ago, Intermountain started comparing data on births induced after a full 39-week pregnancy to births induced one to two weeks early. The results showed the need for intensive care in babies with respiratory problems were twice as high at 38 weeks and five times as high at 37 weeks. "Suddenly, the data was just very clear that we were putting people at risk by doing an induction prior to 39 weeks," Poulsen said. "And once the docs saw that data, they said: Whoa! We had no idea!" The findings prompted Intermountain to limit induced births for healthy women before 39 weeks in the 18 hospitals with maternity wards within its system. Intermountain has 23 hospitals overall. As a result, about 500 newborns avoided breathing problems and the ICU over the following year, sparing parents the grueling sight of their infant on a ventilator and saving at least $1 million a year in unnecessary medical costs for families and insurers.”
NGC - Melanoma (2011)
Obesity Killing Non-Smoking Women
Prevalence and risk factors of muscle complications secondary to statins (Muscle & Nerve 2011) “Adverse reactions were reported by 21% of patients and 5.9% of controls (p = 0.0013). Objective weakness was found in 15% of the patients who reported muscle symptoms (3.2% of the total cohort) but not in controls. Older age, longer duration of statin use, diabetes, stroke and lower body mass index were associated with increased risk of developing these symptoms. Conclusion: Adverse reactions to statins may be more common than previously reported, and they may be affected by specific patient and disease characteristics.”
Prolonged sitting: is it a distinct coronary heart disease risk factor? (Curr Opin Cardiol. 2011)
Red Meat Linked to Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes “Based on these results, the researchers advise that consumption of processed red meat -- like hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and deli meats, which generally have high levels of sodium and nitrites -- should be minimized and unprocessed red meat should be reduced. If possible, they add, red meat should be replaced with healthier choices, such as nuts, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, fish, or beans.”
Smoking, Diabetes, Obesity May Shrink Your Brain
Teacher Influence Persists in Early Grades “The study highlights the importance of identifying and hiring effective teachers in the early grades and implementing interventions such as professional development to improve teacher effectiveness, Konstantopoulos said. "Of course we should have the best teachers we can in all grades," he said. "But if you have to prioritize resources, perhaps the earlier school years make the most sense because this is where students receive most of the basic skills for reading and math."“
The Impact of Fructose on Renal Function and Blood Pressure (Int J Nephrol. 2011) “These studies suggest that excessive intake of fructose might have an etiologic role in the epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and cardiorenal disease.”
The Role of Phytochemicals in the Treatment and Prevention of Dementia (Drugs & Aging 2011)
Which Is Better: Vitamin D2 or D3? “In conclusion, ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) are not bioequivalent and should not be considered interchangeable. Although few head-to-head trials exist, based on pharmacokinetic studies and limited clinical evidence, cholecalciferol is preferred over ergocalciferol. Because of its shorter half-life and decreased potency, this is especially relevant in the setting of severe deficiency, where high-dose ergocalciferol is often only given once weekly. Health professionals should encourage use of cholecalciferol over ergocalciferol in all patients without severe renal failure, either as a general supplement or as a treatment for vitamin D deficiency.”
Does Your Personality Dictate Whether You'll Be Overweight?
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Dehydration Pictures Slideshow: Causes, Symptoms and Tips to Stay Hydrated
Elderly at Greater Risk for Heat Stroke, Experts Warn
Extreme Heat Calls for Smarter Workouts
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Exposure to Common Chemicals May Affect Thyroid Function “Chemicals called phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA) that are found in solvents, plastics and numerous household products may alter levels of thyroid hormones in the body, according to a new study. Thyroid hormones play a role in many critical bodily functions, including reproduction and metabolism. Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health used data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to compare thyroid levels and traces of phthalates and BPA in urine samples of 1,346 adults and 329 teenagers. Their findings confirmed previous research linking BPA -- used in certain plastic water bottles and the linings of canned foods -- with disruptions in thyroid hormone levels, they said. Overall, higher concentrations of the chemicals had an inverse impact on thyroid levels, said study lead author John Meeker, an assistant professor, in a university news release. The greater the exposure to phthalates and BPA, the lower the thyroid hormone levels. The strongest link occurred with exposure to DEHP, a phthalate commonly used as a plasticizer, which people come into contact with through diet.”
Fat Threatens Young Adults As Study Predicts Shorter Lives
Heart Disease and Dementia: Same Cause? “The researchers say treating risk factors for heart disease and stroke with lifestyle changes and medical therapies may prevent or slow dementia in some individuals. They suggest partaking in physical activity, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy body weight and avoiding tobacco. They also say managing one's cholesterol and blood pressure may help ward off dementia. "Generally speaking, what is good for the heart is good for the brain," Gorelick said. "Although it is not definitely proven yet, treatment or prevention of major risk factors for stroke and heart disease may prove to also preserve cognitive function with age."”
Indoor Air Pollution Linked to Cardiovascular Risk
Methamphetamine Abuse May Raise Parkinson's Risk “The patients with methamphetamine- or amphetamine-use disorders were 76 percent more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those not using the drugs. This means that over 10 years, 21 out of 10,000 people with methamphetamine or amphetamine dependence would develop Parkinson's, compared with 12 out of 10,000 people in the general population. "This study provides evidence of this association for the first time, even though it has been suspected for 30 years," lead researcher Dr. Russell Callaghan, a scientist at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said in a news release from the center. Parkinson's disease results from low levels of the chemical dopamine in the brain. Animal studies have shown that methamphetamine damages dopamine-producing areas in the brain. "It is important for the public to know that our findings do not apply to patients who take amphetamines for medical purposes, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), since these patients use much lower doses of amphetamines than those taken by patients in our study," co-author Dr. Stephen Kish, a scientist at the center, said in the news release.”
7 Out Of 10 Children Do Not Wear Sunglasses Outdoors
A Deadly New Reason to Avoid Deer Ticks “Known as babesiosis, the disease is caused by a microscopic parasite that attacks blood cells, causing flu-like symptoms that can make it difficult to accurately diagnose. Like Lyme disease, which is caused by bacteria, babesia microti parasites are carried by deer ticks.”
A Safe Tan? No Way, Experts Say
Annual Mammograms Now Recommended for Women Beginning at Age 40
Antibiotics are modestly more effective than no treatment for middle ear infections in children
Breastfeeding May Prevent Asthma, Research Suggests
Caffeine Consumption Linked to Female Infertility, Study Suggests “Caffeine reduces muscle activity in the Fallopian tubes that carry eggs from a woman's ovaries to her womb. "Our experiments were conducted in mice, but this finding goes a long way towards explaining why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant," says Sean Ward, professor of physiology and cell biology, at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, who conducted the study.”
CDC Issues Guidance for Coping With Lingering Heat
Cochrane Salt/Blood-Pressure Message Blasted in the Lancet
Pollutants linked to diabetes in new study “The pollutants, including pesticides and poly-chlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are largely found in meat and fatty fish. Some of them, including PCBs -- once used in paint, plastics, and for electrical equipment manufacturing -- are heavily regulated and no longer used in many countries.”
Roundup: Birth Defects Caused By World's Top-Selling Weedkiller, Scientists Say
Scientists find first superbug strain of gonorrhea “Scientists have found a "superbug" strain of gonorrhea in Japan that is resistant to all recommended antibiotics and say it could transform a once easily treatable infection into a global public health threat. The new strain of the sexually transmitted disease -- called H041 -- cannot be killed by any currently recommended treatments for gonorrhea, leaving doctors with no other option than to try medicines so far untested against the disease.”
Shingles May Be Related to Elevated Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
Some Aluminum Water Bottles Leach BPA
Study: Children of Smoking Mothers at Higher Risk of Heart Attack
Study: Inherited Alzheimer's Detectable 20 Years Before Symptom Onset
Tainted Soil May Put Kids at Risk for Vision Loss
The Poster Plant of Health Food Can Pack Disease Risks
US Adds 8 Chemicals to Carcinogen List “The six agents now "reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens" are: • Styrene, a compound used to make polystyrene. Although disposable cups made from polystyrene leach small amounts of styrene, Bucher says the amounts are very small. • Captafol, a fungicide once commonly used in agriculture but no longer produced after 1987 or used after 2006 in the U.S. • Cobalt-tungsten carbide (in powder or hard metal form) is used to make hard-metal tools. The major source of exposure is from plants manufacturing such products. • Certain inhalable glass wool fibers used in air filters or as insulation. The type of glass wool used for insulation and filtration may be less dangerous than the special kind used for manufacturing. • O-nitrotoluene is used in the manufacture of dyes. Most exposures come from air or ground pollution. • Riddelliine is a plant compound found in a type of daisy found in the Western U.S. and in other parts of the world. It has been used accidentally in medicinal herbs and may contaminate the milk of cows that graze on the plants.“
Waterlogged? “The recommendation to drink six to eight glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration "is not only nonsense, but is thoroughly debunked nonsense," argues GP, Margaret McCartney in this week's BMJ. There is currently no clear evidence of benefit from drinking increased amounts of water, she says, yet the "we-don't-drink-enough-water" myth has endless advocates, including the NHS. The NHS Choices website states: "Try to drink about six to eight glasses of water (or other fluids) a day to prevent dehydration," while many schools also feel it appropriate to insist that pupils are accompanied to school by a water bottle. Other organisations, often with vested interests, reinforce this message, she says. For example, Hydration for Health (created by French food giant Danone - makers of bottled waters including Volvic and Evian) recommends 1.5 to 2 litres of water daily as "the simplest and healthiest hydration advice you can give." It also claims that "even mild dehydration plays a role in the development of various diseases." But McCartney argues that there is no high quality published evidence to support these claims. She points to several studies showing no clear evidence of benefit from drinking increased amounts of water and suggesting there may be unintended harms attached to an enforcement to drink more water. "It would seem, therefore, that water is not a simple solution to multiple health problems," she writes. For instance, reports that increased water intake in children can improve concentration and mental performance have not been confirmed by research studies, while data relating water drinking to a reduction in children being overweight are prone to bias. While there are some conditions that do benefit from drinking increased water, such as in people with recurrent kidney stones, other evidence for preventing disease is conflicting, adds McCartney. In other words, this is a complex situation not easily remedied by telling everyone to drink more. Untangling the evidence presented by Danone "results in weak and biased selection of evidence", she argues. Danone says we need "informed choices", but their own evidence does not support their call to action. She concludes: "There are many organisations with vested interests who would like to tell doctors and patients what to do. We should just say no."“
Re:Waterlogged - misguided and misleading “The recent "Feature" article by Margaret McCartney in the journal is a form of provocation and I agree entirely with the reply by Thomas Sanders. Perhaps, however, a different approach is needed. Both authors are well aware of the medical literature and I presume both have a background education based on physiological principals. It is with the basic concepts of physiological regulation that I would like to explore the concept of hydration, thirst and overall bodily function and thus dysfunction leading to possible illness. I came into the benefits of increased hydration from looking at medications used in cardiovascular disease and was surprised to find that one class of these same medications has been used to treat other so called modern medical concerns such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease and even erectile dysfunction. These medical concerns have one hormone in common, increased plasma levels of angiotensin II1. Blockade of the production of angiotensin II (inhibiting the specific converting enzyme), antagonists against the angiotensin type 1 receptor, and more recently use of blockers of renin all improve the pathology and decrease organ damage in hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. The mechanisms of this interaction are unknown and could occur in the initiation, development, or maintenance of the pathology in each of these conditions. Nevertheless, the physiological production of angiotensin is well understood. One of the principal physiological events that increase the levels of angiotensin II in the blood is a decrease in blood volume2,3. Hypovolaemia follows dehydration of the extracellular fluid and the kidney releases the enzyme renin into the blood.”
Apnea Screening Recommended for Men With ED
Be on Alert for 'Super Toxic' Bug in Travelers, CDC Says
Breast-Feeding Lowers Risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Central Obesity in the Elderly is Related to Late-onset Alzheimer Disease. (Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2011)
Cochrane review stirs controversy over statins in primary prevention
Common Drugs Linked to Cognitive Impairment and Possibly to Increased Risk of Death, Study Suggests
--Could lo-cal be a cure for Type 2 diabetes? (video)
Low-calorie diet offers hope of cure for type 2 diabetes
--Do all patients with type 2 diabetes need breakfast? (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2011)) “Not all patients with type 2 diabetes may need breakfast. Moreover, a non-breakfast diet reduces glycemic variability.”
Drifting Pesticides May Endanger People in Nearby Workplaces “People who work near fields sprayed with pesticides face an increased risk for Parkinson's disease, a new study has found. Not just agricultural workers but teachers, firefighters, clerks and others whose workplaces are near fields in California's Central Valley are at greater risk for the degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, according to researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles. "This stuff drifts," the study's senior author, Dr. Beate Ritz, an epidemiology professor at the UCLA School of Public Health, said in a university news release. "It's borne by the wind and can wind up on plants and animals, float into open doorways or kitchen windows -- up to several hundred meters from the fields." The study focused on three pesticides used on the fields: the fungicides maneb and ziram and the herbicide paraquat. The researchers estimated the exposure of 703 people who lived or worked in the area over a 25-year span, taking into account how far they were from the fields sprayed with the chemicals. About half of the people in the study had Parkinson's. The risk for Parkinson's rose threefold for those who worked near fields sprayed with the three pesticides, the study found. Exposure to just ziram and paraquat raised risk by 80 percent. Earlier analysis by the researchers had found a 75 percent jump in risk for people who lived near fields where maneb and paraquat were sprayed.”
Drugs Show Promise Slowing Advanced Melanoma
Early Exposure to Pets Won't Up Kids' Allergy Risk: Study
Eating Meat May Raise Colon Cancer Risk
Experts Say Cellphones Are Possibly Carcinogenic
FDA: Prostate Cancer Risk From BPH, Hair Loss Drugs “The prostate drugs Proscar, Avodart, and Jalyn and the hair-loss drug Propecia add to the risk of high-grade prostate cancer, the FDA warns. All of the drugs must change their labels to warn of the risk, which unexpectedly appeared in two different large-scale clinical trials. Ironically, Proscar and Avodart appear to reduce the risk of low-grade prostate cancer, which is less aggressive than high-grade prostate cancer. But the increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer means the drugs can't claim to lower overall prostate cancer risk.”
Group Concludes That Cell Phones Are Possibly Carcinogenic
Kids With Stubborn Asthma May Have Food Allergy
Longitudinal analysis of sleep in relation to BMI and body fat in children: the FLAME study (BMJ 2011) “Young children who do not get enough sleep are at increased risk of becoming overweight, even after adjustment for initial weight status and multiple confounding factors. This weight gain is a result of increased fat deposition in both sexes rather than additional accumulation of fat free mass.”
Moderate Exercise May Cut Risk of 'Silent' Stroke
Long-Term Ecstasy Users at Risk for Brain Damage, Study Warns “Brain scans showed an approximate 10 percent shrinkage in the volume of the hippocampus and a lower proportion of overall gray matter among long-term ecstasy users, the researchers found. Previous research has suggested that people who use ecstasy can develop serious memory problems, so a team of Dutch researchers decided to investigate whether the drug caused structural changes in the brain. They used MRI scans to measure the volume of the hippocampus in 10 men in their mid-20s who were long-term ecstasy users and seven men in the same age group who had never used the drug. The hippocampus is the area of the brain responsible for long-term memory.”
More Than Half of Kids in Car Seats Have Unbuckled Themselves, Survey Finds
Pregnant and Stressed May Mean Offspring Who Misbehave “Women who experience repeated stressful events while pregnant are more likely to have children with behavioral problems, a new study suggests.”
Obese Teens Lack Vitamin D, Study Finds
Researchers Show Reduced Ability Of The Aging Brain To Respond To Experience
Study Suggests That 'Bad' Cholesterol Is Not As Bad As People Think
Alzheimer's genes: Are you at risk? “While some rare forms of Alzheimer's occur before the age of 65, the most common variety of Alzheimer's usually begins after the age of 65. The most common gene associated with this late-onset Alzheimer's is called apolipoprotein E (APOE). APOE has three common forms: • APOE e2 — the least common — appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. • APOE e4 — a little more common — appears to increase the risk of Alzheimer's. • APOE e3 — the most common — doesn't seem to affect the risk of Alzheimer's in either direction. Genes aren't only factor Because you inherit one APOE gene from your mother and another from your father, you have two copies of APOE gene — for example, one APOE e3 gene and one APOE e4 gene. Having at least one APOE e4 gene increases your risk of developing Alzheimer's. And if you have two APOE e4 genes, your risk is even higher.“
As Time Goes By, It Gets Tougher to Remember New Information “According to a Johns Hopkins neuroscientist, however, the real trouble is that our aging brains are unable to process this information as "new" because the brain pathways leading to the hippocampus -- the area of the brain that stores memories -- become degraded over time. As a result, our brains cannot accurately "file" new information (like where we left the car that particular morning), and confusion results.”
Blood Pressure High for 1 in 5 Young Adults
Brain Shrinkage May Help Predict Alzheimer’s
Combination of ADHD and Poor Emotional Control Runs in Families, Study Suggests “"Our research offers strong evidence that heritable factors influence how we control our emotions," says Craig Surman, MD, of the MGH Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD Program, the study's lead author. "Emotion -- like capacities such as the ability to pay attention or control physical movement -- is probably under forms of brain control that we are just beginning to understand. Our findings also indicate that ADHD doesn't just impact things like reading, listening and getting the bills paid on time; it also can impact how people regulate themselves more broadly, including their emotional expression. Along with the classic ADHD symptoms of trouble paying attention, excessive physical activity and poor impulse control, many individuals with ADHD display high levels of anger, frustration and impatience. In contrast to mood disorders, which are characterized by the persistence of specific emotions and behaviors, DESR involves emotional expressions that are brief and occur in reaction to situations that would be expected to produce similar but much less extreme responses in most individuals. For example, an individual who consistently reacts to minor disappointments by snapping at family members or co-workers or who displays great distress in response to small inconveniences may have DESR.”
Dairy Consumption Does Not Elevate Heart-Attack Risk, Study Suggests “Baylin likened the nutritional complexity of dairy products to that of eggs, which were once a source of intense consumer concern because of their cholesterol content, but are now viewed in a more complex way because they, too, have seemingly protective nutrients.”
Extra Pounds at Midlife May Boost Dementia Risk Later “"Being overweight at midlife increased the risk of dementia in late life by more than 70 percent," said lead study author Dr. Weili Xu, a postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Being obese raised the risk even more, to nearly fourfold.”
GPs Lack Accuracy in Spotting Skin Cancers: Study
Heart Attacks Are More Serious If They Occur at Certain Times of the Day
How to Raise a Child Who Doesn't Bully
HPV Test Beats Pap for Cervical Cancer Screening
Indoor particulate matter increases asthma morbidity in children with non-atopic and atopic asthma.
Lack Of Exercise Linked To Higher Heart Disease Risk In Healthy Children As Young As Nine
Less-Than-Optimal Sleep May 'Age' the Brain
25-hydroxyvitamin d levels and hypertension rates. (J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011) “This study demonstrates increased rates of hypertension in individuals who tested for lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D starting at levels <40 ng/mL. This retrospective analysis raises the question of whether supplementing to optimal vitamin D levels can prevent or improve hypertension.”
Avoiding Health Risks Could Prevent More Than Half of All Cases of Atrial Fibrillation
Benefits of Outdoor Exercise Confirmed “On balance this review has identified some promising effects on self-reported mental well-being immediately following exercise in the natural environment, as opposed to those reported following exercise indoors. This is a first step towards vindicating the positive effects of programmes such as the Green Gym and Blue Gym, and innovative interventions by medical practitioners that include exercise outdoors as part of holistic treatments for those suffering from depression and similar psychological ailments.”
Bilingualism Seems to Boost Brain Power
Breastfed Children Do Better at School, Study Suggests
Chronic exercise ameliorates the neuroinflammation in mice carrying NSE/htau23. (Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2011) “These findings suggest that chronic endurance exercise may alleviate neuroinflammation in the Tau pathology of Alzheimer's disease.”
Major Depression and Menopause
People at Risk of Alzheimer's May Now Be Able to Delay the Onset of Their First Symptoms
Persons With Sleep Apnea Have Twice The Risk Of Suffering A Stroke
Pesticides May Wipe Out More Than Bugs“Prenatal exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides that are widely used on fruit and vegetable crops throughout the United States has been linked to IQ deficits in school-age children, according to 3 new studies published online April 21 in Environmental Health Perspectives. The studies add to the growing body of literature linking exposure to pesticides and insecticides to adverse neurologic and cognitive outcomes in children.”
Avoiding or controlling diabetes may reduce cancer risk and mortality
Caffeine and Diabetes: Helpful or Harmful?“A growing body of research suggests that caffeine disrupts glucose metabolism and may contribute to the development and poor control of type 2 diabetes, a major public health problem.”
Diet Plus Exercise Is More Effective for Weight Loss Than Either Method Alone “"This study shows that you get the biggest bang for your buck by combining a healthy weight-loss diet -- which in this case meant reducing calories by cutting fat intake and boosting the consumption of low-calorie foods -- with regular, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise," McTiernan said. "You don't need to be an athlete; walking, biking or gym cardio machines all work well. Start slowly and gradually increase to 45 minutes of activity a day, more if you are able." In addition to promoting weight loss and preventing weight gain over time, regular exercise helps with balance, strength and fitness. "This helps older people keep active overall, which has been shown to prolong a healthy life," McTiernan said. The study also found that the women who lost the most weight and body fat kept a food journal, writing down everything they ate and drank with the exception of water and no-calorie drinks. Other strategies associated with the most successful weight loss included preparing meals at home and eating out less often at restaurants. "Doing your own cooking gives you the most control over calories," McTiernan said.”
FDA Warns About Hand Sanitizer Anti-MRSA Claims
Recommended Immunization Schedules for Persons Aged 0 through 18 Years — United States, 2011
Regular Exercise Can Help Preserve/Build Heart Mass “To heartwire , Bhella commented: "You have to use it or lose it. It is never too late to start exercising. Exercising twice a week can prevent age-related loss of cardiac mass, while exercising four to five times a week can rebuild cardiac mass. This is the first time anybody has shown this." He explained that while higher cardiac mass has not directly been shown to cause better outcomes, it is associated with increased levels of fitness, which has been shown to be associated with better outcomes. He stressed that all the increases were in the healthy range and that cardiac mass did not start to become pathologic until levels of around 130 g/m2, which happens in left ventricular dysfunction. "The increase we are seeing is a healthy remodeling of the heart, associated with delivering more blood effectively to the body. So oxygen uptake increases, and in turn fitness increases," he explained.”
Relationship between dietary intake and the development of type 2 diabetes in a Chinese population: the Hong Kong Dietary Survey. (Public Health Nutr. 2011)
Sexual Side Effects From Propecia, Avodart May Be Irreversible “The drugs -- prescribed to treat a common urological condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and baldness -- work by blocking androgen. In the case of BPH, this helps reduce the enlarged prostate, making urination easier. But there's a downside. "We need androgen for erectile function, libido and ejaculation, and for just feeling good," Traish said. Noting that increasing numbers of patients report ongoing sexual problems after they stop taking the drugs, Traish said, "That's where the light should be shined."“
Some Ingredients in 'Green' Products Come from Petroleum Rather Than Natural Sources
Study Probes Potential Link Between Welding, Parkinson's Disease
Study Shows Inability To Detect Sarcasm, Lies, May Be Early Sign Of Dementia
The Clinical Course of Advanced Dementia (NEJM 2011)
Night Waking In Men May Be Caused By Sleep Apnea, Not Enlarged Prostate
Passive Smoking Increases Risk of Stillbirth and Birth Defects, Study Suggests “The study, published in the April edition of the journal Pediatrics, found passive smoking increased the risk of still birth by almost one-quarter (23 per cent) and was linked to a 13 per cent increased risk of congenital birth defects. The findings underline the importance of discouraging expectant fathers from smoking around their pregnant partners and warning women of the potential dangers of second-hand smoke both pre-conception and during pregnancy.”
Pollen Counts From Popular Commercial Web Sites Unreliable“A new study provides scientific support for what allergists have long suspected — pollen count information available from popular commercial television channels and online sites is often unreliable — according to researchers here at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) 2011 Annual Meeting. "The moral of the story is 'reader beware,' " said Dan Dalan, MD, associate clinical professor at the University of North Dakota Medical School in Fargo.”
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Linked to Behavior Problems in Teens
Prenatal Exposure to Perfluorinated Chemicals and Behavioral or Coordination Problems at Age 7 Years (EHP 2011)
Progressive regional atrophy in normal adults with a maternal history of Alzheimer disease (Neurology 2011)
Prostate Cancer Screening Doesn't Cut Death Rates: Study“A 20-year study from Sweden suggests that screening for prostate cancer does not substantially reduce the risk of death from the disease. On the other hand, a good many men might receive false-positive results and overtreatment, adding an element of risk to widescale screening, the researchers report in the March 31 online issue of the BMJ. "In the light of our findings, I would say that the benefit from screening is not sufficient to support mass screening," said study author Dr. Gabriel Sandblom, an associate professor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. "However," added Sandblom, "the study was initiated more than 20 years ago, when PSA [prostate specific antigen testing] was not available and the treatment of localized prostate cancer was not as effective as it is today. I would thus not categorically advise against PSA testing based on an individual decision from a man who feels concern about prostate cancer." This advice is not out of line with recently updated guidelines on prostate cancer screening from the U.S. government. The recommendations, issued in 2008, take a dim view of prostate cancer screenings at any age for healthy men and flatly recommend against them entirely for men over 75.”
40% of Gastric Banding Patients Have Complications “While the majority of morbidly obese patients who undergo gastric banding say they are generally satisfied years later, almost 40 percent are saddled with major complications, while about half have to have their bands removed, a small, new Belgian study reveals.”
Blood Pressure: 100 Million Americans May Be Unnecessarily Labeled Abnormal “They found that in people aged over 50, those with SBPs above 140, independent of DBP, were significantly more likely to die prematurely. In those aged 50 or less, DBPs above 100 were linked to significant increases in premature death. The authors' analysis offers alternative cut-off points for the definition of 'normal'.“
Brain scan overdose offers glimpse of radiation threat
Cigarette Smoking Linked to Lou Gehrig's Disease “The risk of developing ALS might be caused by damage to neurons from nitric oxide or other components of cigarette smoke (such as pesticide residue), the authors wrote. Chemicals in cigarette smoke also generate free radicals and by-products such as formaldehyde that are associated with the disease.”
Coffee and its consumption: benefits and risks. (Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011) “Many research investigations, epidemiological studies, and meta-analyses regarding coffee consumption revealed its inverse correlation with that of diabetes mellitus, various cancer lines, Parkinsonism, and Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, it ameliorates oxidative stress because of its ability to induce mRNA and protein expression, and mediates Nrf2-ARE pathway stimulation. Furthermore, caffeine and its metabolites help in proper cognitive functionality. Coffee lipid fraction containing cafestol and kahweol act as a safeguard against some malignant cells by modulating the detoxifying enzymes. On the other hand, their higher levels raise serum cholesterol, posing a possible threat to coronary health, for example, myocardial and cerebral infarction, insomnia, and cardiovascular complications. Caffeine also affects adenosine receptors and its withdrawal is accompanied with muscle fatigue and allied problems in those addicted to coffee. An array of evidence showed that pregnant women or those with postmenopausal problems should avoid excessive consumption of coffee because of its interference with oral contraceptives or postmenopausal hormones.”
Combating Myths About Seasonal Allergies
Congestive heart failure can be as serious as a heart attack
Consequences of Sexual Abuse in Children and Adolescents. (Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2011)
Do sugary drinks boost blood pressure?
Invisible and Odorless, Radon Poses Risks to Lungs
Smoking increases your breast cancer risk by 16%
Those That Love Soda Have Worse Eating Habits Overall
Thyroid cancer a hazard from radioactive iodine emitted by Japan’s failing nuclear power plants
Does Cell Phone Exposure Weaken Bone Density? “If you wear your cell phone on your hip, or carry it in your pocket, you may be weakening the bones in your body that are in closest proximity to the device. At least, that’s what a new study suggests. The study found men who routinely wear their cell phone on their belt on the right side have reduced bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the right hip, according to the study by Dr. Fernando D. Sravi of National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina. "The different patterns of right-left asymmetry in femoral bone mineral found in mobile cell phone users and nonusers are consistent with a nonthermal effect of electromagnetic radiofrequency waves not previously described," Sravi writes.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Potassium Iodide “Potassium iodide is a salt, similar to table salt. Its chemical symbol is KI. It is routinely added to table salt to make it "iodized." Potassium iodide, if taken in time and at the appropriate dosage, blocks the thyroid gland's uptake of radioactive iodine and thus could reduce the risk of thyroid cancers and other diseases that might otherwise be caused by exposure to radioactive iodine that could be dispersed in a severe nuclear accident.”
Germs lurking in old makeup: It isn't pretty
Half of Men May Have HPV Infection
Heavy Drinking Associated With Increased Risk of Death from Pancreatic Cancer
Heavy Smoking in Midlife and Long-term Risk of Alzheimer Disease and Vascular Dementia (Arch Intern Med. 2011) “In this large cohort, heavy smoking in midlife was associated with a greater than 100% increase in risk of dementia, AD, and VaD more than 2 decades later. These results suggest that the brain is not immune to long-term consequences of heavy smoking.”
Knee Pain From Common Arthritic Condition Eased By Weight Loss “Knee pain related to osteoarthritis (OA) is a common complaint among obese individuals and retired professional athletes, especially former NFL players, but researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day program said they have a simple solution: lose weight.”
Late-life dementia predicts mortality beyond established midlife risk factors. (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011)
Loud Road Noise Linked to Stroke in Older Adults
Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Allergies in Kids
Menopausal Hot Flashes May Be a Good Sign for Heart “The results are significant since there has been concern that menopausal symptoms, which result from instability in the blood vessels in the skin, may put women at risk for other types of vascular problems as well. "It is reassuring that these symptoms, which are experienced by so many women, do not seem to correlate with increased risk of cardiovascular disease," said Szmuilowicz.”
Menopausal Night Sweats Linked to Coronary Heart Disease
Pollutants in air can cause diabetes too
AAP Issues Recommended Childhood and Teen Immunization Schedules “Highlights of the new schedules include guidance on hepatitis B vaccine administration to children who did not receive the recommended birth dose, and new recommendations on the use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), which replaced the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). Because of recent outbreaks of pertussis nationwide, the new recommendations offer guidance for a dose of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) in 7- to 10-year-old children who have not been adequately immunized against pertussis. The updated schedules now recommend a booster dose of the conjugated meningococcal vaccine to improve protection of adolescents throughout the greatest period of risk for meningococcal disease. Instructions on dosing of influenza vaccine are now based on a history of receiving monovalent 2009 H1N1 vaccine. The policy statement also offers guidance on administering human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to boys 9 to 18 years old to lower their risk of acquiring genital warts.”
Amphetamines Could Cause Parkinson’s
Are Antipsychotics Overprescribed? “These agents are most legitimately used, obviously, for schizophrenia in both the short term and long term.[2] They are also legitimately used in the short term (meaning a few months) for acute mania.[3] That's about it, in my view. Now, some antipsychotics are US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. But for various scientific reasons, I believe the studies on which these approvals are based are deeply flawed.[4,5] So despite the president's stamp of approval, I don't think we can give a scientific stamp of approval. I think [antipsychotics] are scientifically proven for only a few months of mania, and then they should be stopped in general, both due to lack of proven efficacy (despite what the FDA says) and for safety concerns associated with some of the drugs.[4,5] Antipsychotics are also used for bipolar depression, and some have FDA indications for the condition. Here too I am skeptical about the related studies. But even if accepted, the evidence only supports short-term use (8 weeks), not long-term use for prevention; hardly any data exist with any antipsychotics by themselves in the prevention of bipolar depression, and what little data does exist are subject to many scientific problems.[4,5] Then there is so-called major depressive disorder, or plain old depression. Certain antipsychotics have an FDA indication here, but again only for short-term use. Hence, short-term use might be justifiable, but scientifically long-term use is not.[6]“
Brain cancer and pesticide relationship in orchard farmers of Kashmir (Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011)
Breast-cancer study questions lymph node removal
Cellphone Use Tied to Changes in Brain Activity
Childhood Obesity Linked to Health Habits, Not Heredity, Study Finds
Cochrane Review Stirs Controversy Over Statins in Primary Prevention “A new Cochrane review has provoked controversy by concluding that there is not enough evidence to recommend the widespread use of statins in the primary prevention of heart disease [1].”
Crib Injuries Land Thousands of Toddlers in ER Each Year
Diagnostic Imaging for Low Back Pain: Advice for High-Value Health Care From the American College of Physicians (Annals 2011) “Diagnostic imaging is indicated for patients with low back pain only if they have severe progressive neurologic deficits or signs or symptoms that suggest a serious or specific underlying condition. In other patients, evidence indicates that routine imaging is not associated with clinically meaningful benefits but can lead to harms. Addressing inefficiencies in diagnostic testing could minimize potential harms to patients and have a large effect on use of resources by reducing both direct and downstream costs. In this area, more testing does not equate to better care.”
Does a Mediterranean diet reduce the mortality risk associated with diabetes: Evidence from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases 2011)
Eating processed foods dumbs down kids “The researchers found that a diet heavy in processed food at the age of three was associated with lower IQ five years later. A healthy diet at three was associated with a higher IQ later on. However, the researchers found that changes to children's eating habits after the age of three made no difference to their IQ.”
Effects of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Signal Exposure on Brain Glucose Metabolism (JAMA 2011)
Full bladder wakes one in five men at night
Health information remains high on the list of popular uses for the Internet “Seeking health information is the third-most-prevalent activity among American Internet users, according to a report being issued Feb. 1 by the Pew Internet Project. The only things more universal were exchanging e-mail and using search engines. (Of course, if someone uses Google to look up "shingles," there's obviously some overlap.) Eight out of 10 Internet users report going online for health information, even if it's only occasionally. "Health-care information is there when they need it," said Susannah Fox, associate director. People most commonly look up diseases, treatments and doctors, often on behalf of a child or other dependent.”
Heavy Drinking Doubles Risk for Essential Tremor Later in Life “The researchers report that patients who developed tremor were significantly more likely to have been drinking often and for a long period. After taking factors into account likely to influence the results, such as lifetime cigarette smoking and depression, they found that those who drank regularly more than doubled their risk for essential tremor.”
HEPA Filter May Improve Air Near Wood-Burning Stoves
High Levels of 'Good' Cholesterol May Be Associated With Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
Hot Flushes Are Linked With a Significant Reduction in Breast Cancer Risk, Study Finds
Hypokalemia and sudden cardiac death. (Exp Clin Cardiol. 2010) “In cardiovascular patients, hypokalemia is often caused by nonpotassium-sparing diuretics, insufficient potassium intake and a shift of potassium into stores by increased potassium uptake stimulated by catecholamines, beta-adrenoceptor agonists and insulin. Interestingly, drugs with a proven significant positive effect on mortality and morbidity rates in heart failure patients all increase plasma potassium concentration. Thus, it may prove beneficial to pay more attention to hypokalemia and to maintain plasma potassium levels in the upper normal range. The more at risk of fatal arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death a patient is, the more attention should be given to the potassium homeostasis.”
Incontinence improves in older women after intensive pelvic floor muscle training: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. (Neurourol Urodyn. 2011)
Multiple Concussions Raise Teen Athletes' Health Risks
NIH study finds two pesticides associated with Parkinson’s disease “New research shows a link between use of two pesticides, rotenone and paraquat, and Parkinson's disease. People who used either pesticide developed Parkinson’s disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users."
Obesity May Interfere With Vitamin D Absorption “The more obese a person is, the poorer his or her vitamin D status, a new study by a team of Norwegian researchers suggests. The study found an inverse relationship between excess pounds and an insufficient amount of vitamin D, which is critical to cell health, calcium absorption and proper immune function. Vitamin D deficiency can raise the risk for bone deterioration and certain types of cancer. The researchers also suggest that overweight and obese people may have problems processing the vitamin properly.”
Pediatrics Report Details Risks From Energy Drinks
Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedules_United States, 2011 (Pediatrics 2011)
Rise in Some Head and Neck Cancers Tied to Oral Sex: Study
Running-Related Injuries on the Rise in U.S. Kids: Study
Smoking tied to miscarriage risk
Sun Exposure, Vitamin D May Lower Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
Zinc Within 24 Hours of Symptom Onset May Be Helpful for Common Cold
Antioxidants May Help Some Couples Conceive
Asthma and Cities: Which Cities Rank Best?
Does Long-Term Cell Phone Use Lead to Brain Tumors? “Although debate continues, independent studies with long-term follow-up strongly suggest an increased risk of brain tumors related to the use of cellular or cordless phones. "We conclude that the current standard of exposure to microwave during mobile phone use is not safe for long-term exposure and needs to be revised," conclude the study authors, led by R.B. Dubey of Apeejay College of Engineering, Sohna, Gurgaon, India. Brain Tumor Risk May Double after 10 Years of Cell Phone Use…”
Flat feet are associated with knee pain and cartilage damage in older adults. (Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011)
Kids With ADHD Need High Incentives To Focus
Lights in the Bedroom May Increase Breast Cancer Risk
Management of Food Allergy in the School Setting (PEDIATRICS 2010) “Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction that occurs suddenly after contact with an allergy-causing substance.1 Food allergy is a common cause of anaphylaxis.2 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported an 18% increase in food allergy among school-aged children from 1997 to 2007; 1 in 25 children are now affected.3 Results of studies of children with food allergy indicate that 16% to 18% have experienced a reaction in school.4,5 Allergic reactions or treatment for anaphylaxis also occur in children whose allergy was previously undiagnosed ( 25% of cases of anaphylaxis).5,6 Fatalities were noted to be overrepresented by children with peanut, tree nut, or milk allergy and among teenagers and those with underlying asthma. Preschool-aged children may experience food-induced anaphylaxis more often than older children, but the majority of food-allergic reactions in preschool- and school-aged children are not anaphylaxis,7,8 and deaths are rare.9 … The family must notify the school about the child's potentially life-threatening food allergy. The family may notify the school by providing a written "emergency action plan" or "food-allergy action plan" (see Appendix for a list of resources). It is recognized that multiple forms of plans are in use and that development of a more universal plan would streamline care. The physician/family may also need to provide the school with a list of foods to be avoided and possible substitutions.”
More Evidence Organophosphate Pesticides Raise ADHD Risk in Children
Newborns With Low Vitamin D Levels at Increased Risk for Respiratory Infections
Patients with Heart Devices Don't Meet Criteria “A new study that included more than 100,000 patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) reveals that about 20 percent of them did not meet the guidelines to receive the devices in the first place. Furthermore, those who did not meet the criteria and received an ICD had a higher risk of in-hospital death than those who did meet the criteria. Current practice guidelines do not recommend use of an ICD for primary prevention in patients recovering from a heart attack or coronary artery bypass graft surgery and those with severe heart failure symptoms or a recent diagnosis of heart failure. “
Room Light Before Bedtime May Impact Sleep Quality, Blood Pressure and Diabetes Risk "Given that chronic light suppression of melatonin has been hypothesized to increase relative risk for some types of cancer and that melatonin receptor genes have been linked to type 2 diabetes, our findings could have important health implications for shift workers who are exposed to indoor light at night over the course of many years," said Gooley. "Further research is still needed to both substantiate melatonin suppression as a significant risk factor for breast cancer and determine the mechanisms by which melatonin regulates glucose metabolism."”
Slideshow: Causes of Fatigue and Sleepiness and How to Fight Them
Smoking around your kindergartner could raise their blood pressure “The study is the first to show that breathing tobacco smoke increases the blood pressure of children as young as 4 or 5 years old.”
Straight Talk on Caffeine and BPH “There is no question that caffeine (the active ingredient in coffee) stimulates an already overactive bladder of the sort that is common in men with prostatic obstruction and irritation, increasing urinary urgency and frequency and sometimes leading to urge incontinence. Caffeine does this in two ways. Caffeine produces a diuresis (increase in speed of urine production). The faster you make urine and fill the bladder, the more you reduce its threshold for wanting to empty. Caffeine also enhances the sensation and contractility of the bladder itself, probably by the blood level of the caffeine rather than the amount that is in the bladder itself. The problem is not limited to coffee. Caffeine belongs to a family of drugs, the theoxanthines, including theophylline (found in tea), also a notorious bladder irritant, and theobromine (found in chocolate). Tea contains about half as much caffeine per volume as coffee, but the theophylline is also a stimulant and bladder irritant. All of these drugs stimulate the nervous system (they wake you up!) and they improve critical thinking and precision performance.”
Study finds high rate of ER trips for food allergies
Sun Exposure, Vitamin D and Age at Disease Onset in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (Neuroepidemiology 2010)
Study tying vaccine to autism was fraud, report says “The first study to link a childhood vaccine to autism was based on doctored information about the children involved, according to a new report on the widely discredited research. The conclusions of the 1998 paper by Andrew Wakefield and colleagues were renounced by 10 of its 13 authors and later retracted by the medical journal Lancet, where it was published. Still, the suggestion the MMR shot was connected to autism spooked parents worldwide and immunization rates for measles, mumps and rubella have never fully recovered. A new examination found, by comparing the reported diagnoses in the paper to hospital records, that Wakefield and colleagues altered facts about patients in their study.”
The 32-year relationship between cholesterol and dementia from midlife to late life (Neurology 2010)
The association of body mass index with mortality in the california Teachers Study. (Int J Cancer. 2011) “Death from any cancer, and breast cancer specifically, and cardiovascular disease was observed only for obese participants. The obesity and mortality association remained after stratification on HT and smoking. Obese participants remained at greater risk for mortality after stratification on menopausal hormone therapy and smoking. Obesity was associated with increased all-cause mortality, as well as death from any cancer (including breast), and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. These findings help to identify groups at risk for BMI-related poor health outcomes.”
'Thirdhand Smoke' May Be Bigger Health Hazard Than Previously Believed “In an effort to learn more about thirdhand smoke, the scientists studied interactions between nicotine and indoor air on a variety of different materials, including cellulose (a component of wood furniture), cotton, and paper to simulate typical indoor surfaces. They found that nicotine interacts with ozone, in indoor air, to form potentially toxic pollutants on these surfaces. "Given the toxicity of some of the identified products and that small particles may contribute to adverse health effects, the present study indicates that exposure to [thirdhand smoke] may pose additional health risks," the article notes.”
What Are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?
Anti-Bullying Program Reduces Malicious Gossip on School Playgrounds “The study, led by the University of Washington, is the first to show that the widely-used Steps to Respect bullying prevention program can curb children's gossip, an element of playground culture often seen as harmless but capable of causing real harm. "Gossip is an element of bullying, and it can lead to physical bullying," said Karin Frey, a UW research associate professor of educational psychology. "Kids will tell you that gossip is just as painful as physical bullying." But teachers tend to not view gossip as a significant form of bullying, Frey said. Since gossip can lead to physical bullying, she and her collaborators investigated whether the program would help suppress teasing, name-calling, rumor-spreading and other ostracizing chitchat.”
Clinical Practice Guideline: Tonsillectomy in Children (Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 2011)
Eating lots of red meat ups women's stroke risk “The study team found that those in the top tenth for red meat consumption, who ate at least 102 grams or 3.6 ounces daily, were 42 percent more likely to suffer a stroke due to blocked blood flow in the brain compared to women who ate less than 25 grams (just under an ounce) of red meat daily.”
Epidemiological evidence that UVA radiation is involved in the genesis of cutaneous melanoma. (Curr Opin Oncol. 2010)
Grey matter deficit in long-term recovered anorexia nervosa patients. (Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2011)
Hypertension is a potential risk factor for vascular dementia: systematic review. (Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010)
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