Males, Females Conceived In Equal Numbers.

research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that “when sperm meets egg, the two sexes are conceived in equal numbers.” Investigators came to this conclusion after looking at “data on nearly 140,000 embryos that had been routinely screened at fertility clinics in the United States and elsewhere for genetic problems.” http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/03/30/396384911/why-are-more-baby-boys-born-than-girls

Fast Food Consumption In Children Is Declining.

using data collected from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,” investigators “found that back in 2003-2004, nearly 39% of American kids were eating fast food regularly.” However, “in 2009-2010, about 33% of kids were eating it.” Meanwhile, “children consumed fewer calories from burger, pizza and chicken fast-food restaurants. http://time.com/3762123/kids-fast-food/

Pesticides On Vegetables, Fruits May Be Linked To Lower Sperm Count.

reports that the investigators “found that men who ate the highest levels of pesticide residue had a 49 percent lower sperm count and a 32 percent lower percentage of normally-formed sperm than men who consumed minimal amounts of pesticide residues.” But, the researchers “also found the overall quantity of fruits and vegetables consumed did not impact sperm quality.” http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pesticides-in-fruits-and-vegetables-linked-to-poor-sperm-quality/

Enterovirus 68 May Be Linked to Paralysis in Children, Study Says

A new strain of a common respiratory virus may be responsible for partly paralyzing scores of children nationwide, researchers reported on Monday. Since August, 115 children in 34 states have developed polio-like paralysis in an arm or a leg. The virus, enterovirus 68, has emerged as a leading suspect. A study published Monday in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases strengthens that possibility, although many questions remain. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/health/research/enterovirus-68-may-be-linked-to-paralysis-in-children-study-says.html

White House Unveils New Plan To Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

the plan comes as “scientists, doctors and other public health officials have increasingly” asserted that “if antibiotic resistance were to continue at the current rate, routine infections could become life-threatening.” The Post also provided some of the specifics of the initiative. Under the plan, the CDC will endeavor “to cut Clostridium difficile infections by 50 percent, reduce carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections acquired during hospitalization by 60 percent and lower Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections by at least 50 percent.” Additionally, hospitals will be “required to put in place programs to improve infection control,” including “hand-washing and the judicious use of prescribing antibiotics for patients.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/03/27/white-house-announces-plan-to-fight-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria/

GNC To Announce Additional Quality Control Measures For Supplements.

dietary supplement maker GNC is expected to announce Monday that the company has “agreed to institute sweeping new testing procedures that far exceed quality controls mandated under federal law.” The initiative comes just after the office Attorney General of New York accused the company and “three other major retailers of selling herbal supplements that were fraudulent or contaminated with unlisted ingredients that could pose health risks to consumers.” The company will use “advanced DNA testing to authenticate all of the plants that are used in its store-brand herbal supplements,” and will “extensively test the products for common allergens like tree nuts, soy and wheat.” http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/30/gnc-to-strengthen-supplement-quality-controls/?ref=health&_r=0

Women With Diabetes May Have Increased Risk Of Being Diagnosed With Advanced Breast Cancer.

research published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment suggests that “women with diabetes may have an increased risk of being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.” Investigators “analyzed data from more than 38,000 women ages 20 to 105 who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2007 and 2012.” Approximately 16 percent of these individuals had diabetes. The researchers found that “women with diabetes were 14 percent more likely to have stage II breast cancer, 21 percent more likely to have stage III breast cancer, and 16 percent more likely to be have stage IV breast cancer.” http://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/breast-cancer-news-94/connection-between-diabetes-advanced-breast-cancer-seen-in-study-697770.html

Nephrologists Iffy About Dialysis in Expectant Moms

A third of nephrologists reported being somewhat to very uncomfortable caring for a pregnant patient on hemodialysis despite a growing number having to do so, said researchers here. A small mailed survey found that 43% of nephrologist respondents have cared for a pregnant patient on dialysis, and in 32% of those pregnancies, dialysis was started during the pregnancy. Half of all the pregnancies were complicated by preeclampsia, and 23% of the reported pregnancies did not result in a live birth, said researchers, led by Mala Sachdeva, MD, at the North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System in Great Neck, N.Y. She reported her results with her colleagues at a poster session during the spring clinical meeting of the National Kidney Foundation. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/NKF/50713?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-30&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&mu_id=5883165

Using Polio to kill brain cancer

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/using-polio-to-kill-cancer-60-minutes/

Indiana governor declares public health emergency due to HIV epidemic

Gov. Mike Pence issued the order Thursday for Scott County, which has 79 confirmed cases of HIV since mid-December. The county averages about five new cases a year. http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/27/health/indiana-hiv-outbreak/index.html

Colon cancer on the rise in younger adults

“The increasing incidence of CRC among young adults is concerning and highlights the need to investigate potential causes and external influences such as lack of screening and behavioral factors,” the authors conclude. Dr. Olowokure said suggested risk factors for colon cancer include obesity and diabetes. “As the population tends to get somewhat larger, we need to continue education,” Olowokure said, emphasizing the need for regular exercise and visits to a primary care physician.http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/colon-cancer-on-the-rise-in-younger-adults/nkfNw/

Researchers reveal the average house has 8,000 different types of bacteria and bugs

A study of 40 houses in North Carolina used genomic technologies to document the inhabitants. It found more than 8,000 bacterial and archaeal taxa. Another study of 50 houses in the same state described more than 750 types of arthropods, including insects and spiders An examination of 11 houses in California found a great variety of fungus among us. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3013693/The-intruders-home-Researchers-reveal-average-house-8-000-different-types-bacteria-bugs.html

Frog Enzyme Clears Genital Warts

Three-fourths of men with anogenital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) had clinical remission and the rest had partial responses to a frog-derived enzyme, investigators reported here. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAD/50675?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-27&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&mu_id=5883165

Hip Replacements Need Close Monitoring Years Later

The total wear and the annual wear at 11 years were significantly lower in the highly cross-linked polyethylene group, which translated in the prevalence of osteolysis," Beksac said in his presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons.In this follow-up, 26 patients, with a total of 30 total hip arthroplasties, who had highly cross-linked polyethylene were matched to patients who had polyethylene liners with respect to age (plus or minus 5 years), body mass index (plus or minus 5), and follow-up (plus or minus 2 years). eriprosthetic osteolysis appeared in three patients (10%) in the highly cross-linked polyethylene group, and 29 patients (97%) in the polyethylene liner group (P<0.001). There were no liner fractures in the polyethylene liner group, but two of the 29 patients with osteolysis in the polyethylene liner group presented with pathologic periprosthetic fractures after experiencing a low-energy trauma. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAOS/50664?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-26eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Mothers reported digestive symptoms more often for young children with autism spectrum disorder.

The authors offered potential hypotheses for the association between ASD and GI symptoms, including food selectivity, shared genetic factors, metabolism and serotonergic signaling. Bresnahan suggested that in terms of the epidemiology, the next steps in research should include evaluating dietary and phenotype data. "Although the nature of the association remains unclear, findings from our study suggest that future research should focus on early life, with specific attention paid to the development of the enteric nervous system, innate and adaptive immunity, microbial colonization of the GI tract, and evolving feeding or dietary patterns," the researchers concluded in their paper.http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Autism/50661?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-26eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Fetal Exposure To Common Air Pollutant In Utero May Impair Brain Function, Development In Kids.

a study published online March 25 in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that “a common pollutant in vehicle exhaust, power plant emissions and cigarette smoke can shrink white matter in fetal brains and cause developmental damage during the toddler years.” A study involving 40 children revealed that “prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] was correlated with reduced white matter on the left side of children’s brains during their early childhood,” and that these “physical changes in the brain’s internal wiring also were correlated with slower cognitive processing and with symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-air-pollution-baby-brains-20150324-story.html

In Iceland’s DNA, New Clues to Disease-Causing Genes

Genetic Variation Program at the National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda, Md., said the Icelandic genome project is particularly valuable for its ability to detect uncommon genetic variations that contribute – sometimes in conjunction with better known mutations – to diseases or help protect against them.” These findings “will further the goals of the Obama administration’s precision medicine initiative, said Brooks, who was not involved in the deCODE initiative.” investigators at deCODE found mutations tied to “Alzheimer’s disease, liver disease, thyroid disorders and atrial fibrillation.” In addition, they “identified almost 8% of the population who have lost function of at least one of their genes and calculated the rate of mutations in the Y-chromosome among men.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-icelandic-genome-disease-20150325-story.html#page=1

Google Testing Smart Contact Lenses That Measure Glucose Levels In Users’ Tears.

Google has been awarded “a patent for a contact lens with an embedded chip” that may help measure glucose levels in people with diabetes. The company “has been testing various prototypes of smart contact lens and is currently in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a lens that measures glucose levels in users’ tears.” Google “says the chip and sensor are embedded between two layers of contact lens material and a tiny pinhole lets tear fluid from the eye reach the glucose sensor, and the sensor can measure levels every second.” http://time.com/3758763/google-smart-contact-lens/

Study Urges Ban On Sale Of Energy Drinks To Children.

a new report urges banning the sale of energy drinks to children and adolescents as they can be harmful, citing a study in the April issue of the journal Nutrition Reviews. Children who drink “high-caffeinated energy drinks can suffer negative health, social, emotional and behavioral problems,” the study warns. “The number of hospital emergency-room visits by 12- to 17-year-olds linked to energy drinks increased from 1,145 in 2007 to 1,499 in 2011,” notes the study, which was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/03/24/energy-drinks-beverages-red-bull-monster-rudd-center-for-food-policy-and-obesity/70388384/

FDA To Hold A Public Hearing On Homeopathic Products.

the FDA has announced that it will hold a public hearing to facilitate discussion and comments about the use of homeopathic products, including prescription medicines, biological products, and over-the-counter treatments. The agency is also interested in considering its regulatory framework for these products, which has not been updated in 25 years. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/24/us-congodemocratic-rape-children-idUSKBN0MK2CQ20150324

Fat-Lysing Agent Makes Double Chin Disappear

Double chins melted away from patients with a wide range of clinical, social, and demographic characteristics following injection with a synthetic deoxycholic acid compound, investigators reported here. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAD/50633?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-25eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Acne Improves Without Use of Antibiotics

One-third of patients with moderate or severe acne in a large randomized trial had significant improvement in acne severity and lesion count with an antibiotic-free topical gel versus placebo, results showed. After 12 weeks of treatment, 33.7% of patients treated with 0.3% adapalene/benzoyl peroxide (A/BPO) had at least a two-grade improvement in acne severity grade as compared with 11% of patients treated with a placebo gel. A subgroup analysis limited to patients with severe acne showed success rates of 31.9% with 0.3% A/BPO and 11.8% with the placebo.http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAD/50621?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-24eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Diet High In Whole Grains, Cereal Fiber May Help Lower Risk Of Premature Death.

a study published in BMC Medicine and conducted at the “Harvard Public School of Health has revealed that a diet high in whole grains and cereal fiber can help lower your risk for premature death and death caused by various chronic diseases.” The study, which involved analysis of data on some 566,339 members of the AARP, found that “participants who consumed an average of 34 grams (g) of whole grains per 1,000 kcal per day were able to lower their risk for premature death by 17 percent, compared to those who consumed an average of 3.98g of whole grains.” Investigators “found that consuming cereal high in whole grains can lower risk for death from respiratory disease by 11 percent and diabetes by 49 percent, while consuming more cereal fiber reduced the risk for dying from cancer by 15 percent and diabetes by 34 percent.” The Telegraph (UK) (3/24, Knapton) also covers the study. http://www.medicaldaily.com/cereals-rich-whole-grains-and-fiber-can-lower-risk-early-death-326696

Regular Exercise, Not Vitamin D, May Lower Overall Serious Injury Risk From Accidental Falls Among Older Women.

a study published online March 23 in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that “neither routine exercise nor vitamin D supplementation does anything to lower the overall risk for accidental falls among older women.” The study of “just over 400 women” did find, however, that “the risk of serious injury as a result of falling was cut by more than half when elderly women engaged in regular exercise.” http://consumer.healthday.com/bone-and-joint-information-4/bone-joint-and-tendon-news-72/exercise-but-not-vitamin-d-cuts-serious-falls-in-older-women-study-697651.html

Adopting U.S. Culture Ups Diabetes Risk in Mexican-American Kids

reports that a study conducted by the University of North Texas Health Science Center suggests that “the more that Mexican-American children adopt mainstream US culture, the greater their risk for type 2 diabetes [T2D].” The study of nearly “150 Mexican-American children from North Texas” revealed that as the youngsters “adapted to a more American way of life, their risk of diabetes increased by about 43 percent for each level of what the researchers called ‘acculturation.’” http://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/misc-diabetes-news-181/mexican-american-children-increase-their-697577.html

From heart disease to sleep problems, medical researchers increasingly are finding just how toxic anger can be

Medical researchers increasingly are finding just how toxic outbursts of anger can be. New evidence suggests people increase their risk for a heart attack more than eightfold shortly after an intensely angry episode. Anger can also help bring on strokes and irregular heartbeat, other research shows. And it may lead to sleep problems, excess eating and insulin resistance, which can help cause diabetes. http://www.wsj.com/articles/angry-outbursts-really-do-hurt-your-health-doctors-find-1427150596

Pesticides Used in Pet Collars and Home Sprays Connected to Cancer & Monsanto Weedkiller Is ‘ Probably Carcinogenic,’ WHO Says

best-selling weedkiller Roundup” is the market name for glyphosate. A report unveiled by the WHO in the journal Lancet Oncology noted Friday there is “‘limited evidence’ that the weedkiller can cause non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and lung cancer and ‘convincing evidence’ it can cause cancer in lab animals.” Monsanto rejected the claims. “We don’t know how IARC could reach a conclusion that is such a dramatic departure from the conclusion reached by all regulatory agencies around the globe,” Philip Miller, Monsanto vice president for global regulatory affairs, noted in a statement. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-20/who-classifies-monsanto-s-glyphosate-as-probably-carcinogenic- Pesticides Used in Pet Collars and Home Sprays Connected to Cancer http://time.com/3753285/pesticides-cancer-pet-collars-sprays/

FDA, Physicians Warn Against Widespread Use Of Testosterone Therapies.

in continuing coverage, that the FDA and physicians have warned that testosterone therapies “could cause a host of problems, from heart issues to strokes to infertility to prostate cancer.” The warning from the FDA also specifically cautioned that “prescription testosterone products may cause unintended side effects and should be used with caution, particularly among elderly persons and those with cardiovascular issues.” http://www.miamiherald.com/living/health-fitness/article15414323.html

Study Examines Brain Response to Pain Relief

Researchers found that the elimination of dental pain corresponded to reduced activity in a small region of the left posterior insular cortex. These results closely mimicked those found in previous studies, which concluded that direct electrical stimulation of this brain region evokes bodily pain sensations. This led the Swiss team to conclude that the posterior insula plays a unique role in nociceptive processing. Further examination of the brain's response to dental pain relief is warranted, with the goal of advancing or developing more effective dental pain management techniques. http://www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/2015/03_March/Hygiene_Connection/Study_Examines_Brain_Response_to_Pain_Relief.aspx

Folate Supplements Cut Strokes in Hypertension

Hypertensive patients with low blood folate levels gain big benefit. Folic acid supplements significantly decreased risk of first stroke in those with hypertension, results of a Chinese trial showed. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ACC/50566?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-20&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

TB Cases Fall Again

But 2014 data show the decline in the number of new cases is slowing. The case numbers also reveal racial and ethnic disparities, http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Tuberculosis/50568?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-20&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Ban On New Fast Food Eateries In South Los Angeles Didn’t Cut Obesity.

that the attempt to reduce obesity in South LA by banning new fast-food restaurants has failed. A study by the Rand Corp. showed that “from 2007 to 2012, the percentage of people who were overweight or obese increased everywhere in LA, but the increase was significantly greater in areas covered by the fast-food ordinance, including Baldwin Hills and Leimert Park.” Furthermore, “the study also found fast-food consumption went up in South LA as well as across the county during that time.” http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-food-study-20150319-story.html

Children Conceived Through Assisted Reproductive Technology May Have Higher Likelihood Of Autism.

Children conceived through assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization, are twice as likely to have autism as those conceived without assistance, a new study finds. But researchers only found an association, which may be explained by multiple births and other risks, not the infertility treatment itself, experts said. The study included nearly 6 million children born from 1997 to 2007. After taking into account factors such as mother's education and multiple births, the increased risk was seen only for mothers under 35, the researchers said. "The risk of autism appears to be largely modifiable by restricting IVF to single-embryo transfer," said lead researcher Peter Bearman, a professor of social sciences at Columbia University in New York City. http://consumer.healthday.com/cognitive-health-information-26/autism-news-51/ivf-kids-have-higher-odds-of-autism-study-finds-697622.html

Lag In Growth May Indicate Undiagnosed IBD In Kids.

reports that in a Penn State University news release, pediatric gastroenterologist Marc Schaefer, MD posits that “a lag in growth could be a sign that a child might suffer from undiagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially Crohn’s disease.” Additional IBD symptoms in kids “include not wanting to eat, persistent stomach pains, and diarrhea or bloody stools, said Schaefer, who works at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.” Dr. Schaefer suggested that youngsters with such symptoms “should be evaluated.” http://consumer.healthday.com/gastrointestinal-information-15/gastrointestinal-problems-news-330/slowed-growth-could-signal-crohn-s-colitis-in-kids-697472.html

Antibiotics Equal in Skin Infections

Two widely prescribed antibiotics had similar cure rates in uncomplicated ambulatory skin and skin structure infections, researchers reported. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/50552?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-19&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Preemies Benefit From Timely Pneumococcal Vax

Preterm infants see lower immune response to PCV13 at a month, but protection still adequate. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Vaccines/50516?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-18&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Heart Damage May Start Early If Children Have Poor Diet.

the overall heart health” of children in the US “falls short,” citing a study by Northwestern University researchers. The findings, published March 17 in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, found that while “most of the nearly 9,000 children they studied had healthy blood pressure levels, 40 percent did not have good cholesterol levels, almost none ate a healthy diet regularly and 30 percent were overweight or obese.” Dr. Sarah Samaan, a cardiologist at Legacy Heart Center in Plano, TX, said, “Obese kids and adults are far more likely to develop high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease, so we should not accept this as the ‘new normal.’” http://consumer.healthday.com/circulatory-system-information-7/blood-pressure-news-70/bad-diets-jeopardizing-kids-future-heart-health-study-finds-697499.html

NIH: Ebola Patient Now Critical

The patient, who was medevaced from Sierra Leone and arrived in the U.S. March 13, was initially said to be in serious condition. The agency's Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md., gave no details on why the patient's condition changed. The CDC said that 10 Americans exposed to the initial patient, or with similar exposures, have been transported to the U.S. to be near specialized treatment centers. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/50507?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-17&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Can Prozac Treat enterovirus EV-D68 Paralysis in Kids?

Researcher proposes that fluoxetine may have antiviral activity against EV-D68. It's not clear why the drug has this antiviral activity; no other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) has antiviral effects. But some work has shown that the drug may somehow interact with the enteroviral 2C protein. Although this protein's role in enteroviral function isn't established, it's likely involved in viral RNA synthesis, Tyler wrote. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/GeneralNeurology/50504?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-17&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Women Urged To Take Birth Control Pills At Same Time Every Day.

the “birth control pill is the most popular form of contraception for American women.” Physicians “urge that women make it a habit to take the pill at the same time every day,” because skipped or greatly delayed pills could result in an unintended pregnancy. Still, even when oral contraceptives are “used perfectly,” the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists “explained that...around one in every 100 women will become pregnant over the course of a year.” http://www.medicaldaily.com/birth-control-women-why-you-should-take-pill-same-time-every-day-325660

Since 1990, Rate Of Pregnancy-Related Deaths For All US Women Has Essentially Doubled.

in the January issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, CDC researchers reported that “since 1990, the rate of pregnancy-related deaths for all women in the United States has essentially doubled.” The CDC “data indicate that pregnancy-related mortality increased for all American women and within all age groups,” with “greatest threat...in women 40 years of age and older, regardless of race.” http://www.physiciansweekly.com/pregnancy-related-deaths-rising-in-the-u-s/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pregnancy-related-deaths-rising-in-the-u-s

Diet Soda Consumption Tied To Increased Abdominal Fat.

a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reveals that “people who drank diet soda gained almost triple the abdominal fat over nine years as those who didn’t drink diet soda.” After analyzing “data from 749 people ages 65 and older who were asked, every couple of years, how many cans of soda they drank a day, and how many of those sodas were diet or regular,” then adjusting for confounding factors, researchers found that “people who drank diet soda daily gained 3.2” inches around their waist during the study period, while those who did not drink diet soda gained approximately 0.8 inches. The Daily Mail (UK) (3/17, Spencer) also covers the story. http://time.com/3746047/diet-soda-bad-belly-fat/

Herpes Vaccine Shows Promise in Mice

When unvaccinated mice were challenged with wildtype HSV-2, all showed evidence of the virus in the 3 tissue sites, and all succumbed to the disease. The vaccinated mice, however, showed low levels of neutralizing antibodies but high levels of antibodies associated with a different immune response called antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Initial tests suggest that the vaccine is also effective against HSV-1, or oral herpes, although this needs to be further evaluated. In addition, the authors say, the vaccine’s novel design may help in creating vaccines against other disease-causing microbes that invade the body through mucosal tissues, including HIV and the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. “Genital herpes infections can not only be serious in and of themselves, but they also play a major role in fueling the HIV epidemic,” said Dr. Herold. http://www.idse.net/ViewArticle.aspx?d=HIV-AIDS%2B%2F%2BSTIs&d_id=214&i=March+2015&i_id=1161&a_id=30769&tab=MostEmailed

Public Health Officials Push To Get Adults Vaccinated For Non-Influenza Diseases.

A new push is on to get more adults vaccinated against devastating diseases like pneumonia, shingles and whooping cough. Behind the effort is rising concern about the immunization status of the aging baby-boom population. While there has been more progress with geriatric patients, just over 45% of adults 50-64 were vaccinated against influenza in the 2012-13 seasons. And for six important nonflu vaccines, adult rates “are dismally low,” says David Kim, deputy associate director for adult immunization at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.wsj.com/articles/it-s-time-for-grown-ups-to-get-their-shots-1426475058

Nurses Burdened By Lack Of Medical Technology Device Interoperability.

Shots” blog reported that the lack of interoperability between medical technology devices increases the burden on nurses and poses a risk to patient safety. According to the blog, “half of more than 500 nurses surveyed by the Harris Poll said they had seen a medical error caused by a lack of coordination among devices.” What’s more, “a majority of the nurses said they spend quite a bit of time troubleshooting problems, recording data that isn’t shared electronically and dealing with alarms, according to the online survey conducted in January.” http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/03/13/392585060/nurses-have-to-translate-when-medical-devices-fail-to-communicate

Oxytocin Spray May Be Potential Treatment For Obesity.

a study funded by the Boston Nutrition and Obesity Research Center undertaken by Massachusetts General Hospital and presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, “taking a sniff of a nasal spray containing the ‘love’ hormone oxytocin could be an effective appetite suppressant and a potential new weight-loss therapy.” The results found that a single dose of the spray used by 25 healthy men, almost half of whom were overweight, administered an hour before breakfast led to 122 fewer calories consumed and nine less grams of fat “compared to when they received a placebo spray.” The study’s lead author, Dr. Elizabeth Lawson, said, “We found the men ate less, seemed to burn more fat, and seemed to handle their insulin better” after receiving the oxytocin spray. http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2015/03/13/can-hormonal-nasal-spray-help-with-weight-loss/BS4pd6UULsAMCDL7GiklJK/story.html

Ten Americans being flown home from Sierra Leone for Ebola concerns

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/14/health/cdc-americans-ebola/index.html

High-Dose Steroids May Trigger Organ Damage in Lupus Organ damage risk doubled with daily doses of 20 mg prednisone.

The risk of developing any new organ damage over a mean period of 6.2 years more than doubled (HR 2.514, 95% CI 1.977-3.196, P<0.001) among patients whose mean prednisone dose was 20 mg/day compared with those whose mean dose was below 7.5 mg/day, according to Michelle Petri, MD, director of the Hopkins Lupus Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/50445

Daily Checking Of Scales May Help People Shed More Weight.

eports that checking weight every day may help people to lose more weight, as it probably keeps them focused on exercise and a healthy diet, according to a study published online in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The study found people who were obese and overweight and checked their weight on a daily basis shed more weight, compared with those who didn’t check their weight as often. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/12/us-weight-loss-scale-checks-idUSKBN0M82NC20150312

Survival rates for risky surgeries in U.S. vary widely: study

eports that Leapfrog Group found in a study based on data requested from 1,500 hospitals that survival rates for high-risk surgeries vary significantly among hospitals. Leapfrog reported variations in both the number of responding hospitals and the range of survival rates as follows: pancreatectomy results based on data from 487 hospitals showed survival rates of 81 to 100 percent; esophagectomy (535 hospitals) showed survival rates of 88 to 98 percent; abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs (792 hospitals) survival rates of 86 to 99 percent; aortic valve replacement (544 hospitals) showed survival rates of 92 to 97 percent. The study didn't analyze which kinds of hospitals - nonprofit or for-profit, in one region or another - excelled, but in general those that performed more procedures did best. National stalwarts such as Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, aced all four surgeries, but so did Hoag Memorial in Newport Beach, California, and Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/12/us-healthcare-hospitals-survival-idUSKBN0M809D20150312

Homeopathy Is Not an Effective Treatment, Experts Say

The idea behind homeopathy is that substances that can make a healthy person sick can also, in some cases, treat a person who is ill. For example, if a healthy person gets burning or watery eyes from cutting an onion, the idea is that a person with a cold who has those same symptoms could benefit from a very tiny dose of an onion remedy. But in a review of 225 studies on homeopathy, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in Australia concluded that there’s no high-quality scientific evidence to support the use of the practice. “Although some studies did report that homeopathy was effective, the quality of those studies was assessed as being small and/or of poor quality,” the NHMRC said in a statement. “These studies had either too few participants, poor design, poor conduct and or reporting to allow reliable conclusions to be drawn on the effectiveness of homeopathy.”http://time.com/3741212/homeopathy-not-effective/

Hormone Therapy May Not Reduce Risk Of Heart Disease.

reports on a review of “19 randomized trials that included 40,410 women” finding that “women who enter menopause at a normal age won’t get much of a heart benefit from taking hormones.” Some women encountered “modest benefits,” but also saw “increased risk of blood clots.” The review was undertaken in response to some evidence for “benefit from hormones for the heart health of women when they first enter menopause.” The review found “no evidence that taking hormones prevented heart disease,” while it “appeared to increase the risk of stroke.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/11/us-hormones-women-heart-idUSKBN0M72HU20150311

Ebola Crisis: Not Over Yet?

Experts say factors that led to the epidemic in the first place still exist. Fauci noted that in the previous week Liberia had recorded no new cases, but neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone had recorded 51 and 81, respectively. The 132 cases represented an increase from the previous week and, importantly, many arose from unknown chains of transmission, according to the World Health Organization. The existence of unknown transmission chains implies that the virus is still spreading out of sight of those attempting to stop it. In particular, the organization says the three afflicted countries aren't sharing information about tracing Ebola contacts, regarded as a central part of epidemic control. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/50414?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-11&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Genetic Disorder May Reveal How Statins Boost Diabetes Risk

Millions of people take statins to lower their cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. But taking statins does slightly up the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Figuring out whether that means "No statins for you" isn't always easy, despite a proliferation of guidelines intended to help. Here's in interesting wrinkle: If you've got a hereditary form of high cholesterol you're much less likely to get Type 2 diabetes, according to a study published Tuesday in JAMA, the journal of the That's good news for those people, who often have high levels of LDL cholesterol starting in childhood and face a high risk of heart disease and stroke. And it offers intriguing hints as to a possible link between cholesterol receptors in the body and Type 2 diabetes. One theory on how statins work is that they encourage cells to hoover up the bad LDL cholesterol by turning on LDL receptors. That's good for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood, but the study authors said it may also end up damaging the pancreas, which has lots of LDL receptors and controls blood sugar. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/03/10/392068971/genetic-disorder-may-reveal-how-statins-boost-diabetes-risk

This New Drug Turns ‘Bad’ White Fat Into ‘Good’ Brown Fat

Scientists claim they have found an experimental drug that turns “bad” white fat cells into “good” brown ones. Known as GC-1, the drug speeds up metabolism, or the burning off of fat cells, reports Science Daily. Researchers found it caused weight loss in fat mice. “GC-1 dramatically increases the metabolic rate, essentially converting white fat, which stores excess calories and is associated with obesity and metabolic disease, into a fat like calorie-burning brown fat,” said study author Kevin Phillips of the Houston Methodist Research Institute. Until recently, scientists thought only animals and human infants had these energy-burning “good” brown-fat cells. “It is now clear that human adults do have brown fat, but appear to lose its calorie-burning activity over time,” Phillips added. http://time.com/3736916/white-brown-fat-weight-loss-study-gc-1/

Scientists Investigate Treatments To Eliminate Disease Without Use Of Vaccines.

reports that, “last month, a team of scientists announced what could prove to be an enormous step forward in the fight against H.I.V.” Scripps Research Institute “said they had developed an artificial antibody that, once in the blood, grabbed hold of the virus and inactivated it. The molecule can eliminate H.I.V. from infected monkeys and protect them from future infections.” This type of treatment, which is not a vaccine, is also being tested with other diseases such as Ebola, malaria, influenza and hepatitis. The National Institutes of Health is partnering with researchers to start a trial of an I.G.T.-engineered virus against HIV while others will be working on influenza. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/health/protection-without-a-vaccine.html?ref=health&_r=0

Restricting Fructose Cuts Liver Fat in Kids: Substituting complex carbs for simple sugars

S In just 10 days, restricting the amount of fructose children consumed through sugary drinks and juices resulted in "dramatic" reductions in liver fat, researchers reported here. "When we ingest fructose in large quantities, such as in fruit juices or in sodas, it caused almost a tsunami in the liver, forcing it to produce more fat," We did some studies first in adults and showed that high fructose consumption is associated with liver fat accumulation, hypertriglyceridemia, and increased conversion of sugar to fat in the liver known as hepatic de novo lipogenesis," he told MedPage Today. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ENDO/50396?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-10&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

New Antifungal Drug OK'd for Aspergillosis

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/50370?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-09&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Changes In Gut Microbiota Occur In Early Stage Of Diabetes Development.

Prediabetes Patients Have Fewer Gut Bugs We speculate that lower abundance of Prevotella may be associated with worsening glycemia, and conversely higher abundance of Akkermansia might be associated with improving glycemia, thus corroborating suggestions from previous studies," the researchers said. Previous research has shown a relationship between diabetes and gut bacteria. And, said Barengolts, there are two studies underway, one in Italy and one in China, looking at bacteria transplant as a treatment for diabetes. "While changes in microbiota have been described in obesity and diabetes, little is known about microbiota composition in various dysglycemic states," said the researchers. "[But] there is emerging evidence that intestinal microbiota is a contributor to the metabolic/glycemic phenotype." Diet, especially the consumption of probiotics and prebiotics, may lead to healthier bacteria profiles, Barengolts said. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ENDO/50373

Low-Fat Diet Better At Burning Off Fat Than Low-Carb Diet.

The low-fat, high-carb, diet does increase the amount of fat being burned by the body, but preventing the fat entering the body in the first place seemed to have greater impact. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-31763205

Women Exposed To Tobacco Smoke In The Womb May Face Higher Risk For Diabetes.

Smoking by mothers was associated with a stronger risk of diabetes than smoking by fathers, the researchers said. The link between parents' smoking and higher diabetes risk remained even after the researchers compensated for factors such as race or a woman's birth weight or current body-mass index. http://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/misc-diabetes-news-181/women-tobacco-exposure-diabetes-endo-society-meeting-release-batch-1631-697124.html

Breast Cancer Survivors May Have Higher Thyroid Cancer Risk

“looking at government data on over 700,000 U.S. women treated for breast cancer,” investigators “found that the women had a higher-than-normal risk of developing thyroid cancer – particularly within five years of the breast cancer diagnosis.” The findings “suggest that breast cancer survivors should have ‘vigilant screening’ for thyroid cancer in the first five years after their diagnosis, said the study’s lead author, Dr. Jennifer Hong Kuo.” http://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/breast-cancer-news-94/breast-cancer-survivors-may-ha ve-higher-thyroid-cancer-risk-697217.html

losing that hour of sleep can have surprisingly serious health consequences

losing that hour of sleep can have surprisingly serious health consequences. Some experts raise concerns that changing the clocks can disrupt sleep patterns, and it's even been shown to put people at an increased short-term risk for heart attacks. A study released last year found that the number of heart attacks jumped 25 percent the day after the spring time change, perhaps because sleep loss puts increased strain on people already at risk. The number of cases returned to average later in the week. "This comes down to two things: number one, stress, and number two, sleep deprivation," said CBS News medical contributor Dr. Holly Phillips. "When we are sleep deprived or stressed, there are more inflammatory markers in our bloodstream, and that inflammation raises our risk of heart attacks." Even though a one-hour time change doesn't sound like much, she says it can be a big adjustment for the body's circadian rhythm. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/simple-tips-to-help-you-spring-forward-smoothly-daylight-saving-time/

Rare Alga Growth From Human Tissue Sample

The culture was negative, so what's all this green stuff? Open flesh wounds that have been exposed to lake water are at risk for bacterial infection, especially when soft-tissue samples show fishy white blood cell counts. But when the cultures reveal nada, how is it possible that the inflamed tissue, with no organism invaders present, could grow a nice, big, green algae colony? bright green colonies, which were later identified as Desmodesmus armatus -- a chlorophyll-containing alga. "When an organism grows abundantly, in the absence of other organisms that cause infection, it suggests that that organism observed is the cause of the patient's infection, yet we had no idea what we had grown," he said. "Algae in the genus Prototheca are known to cause human disease and those organisms have been relatively well characterized. However, Prototheca do not have chlorophyll and [to the] eye look something like ordinary colorless yeast when grown in culture." http://www.medpagetoday.com/Dermatology/GeneralDermatology/50348?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-07&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Hepatitis E Vaccine Has Lasting Effect

Protection against leading cause of acute hepatitis lasted more than 4 years, Chinese researchers report. The waterborne infection, caused by HEV http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/Hepatitis/50331?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-06&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Minorities May Be More Prone Than Whites To Gaining Weight During Childhood.

research presented at an American Heart Association meeting suggests that “minorities may be more prone than whites to gaining weight during childhood, which puts them at greater risk for becoming overweight or obese adults.” Investigators found that “Hispanics and American Indians were more likely to surpass a normal weight at age 18 than whites were.” When you move into the lower socioeconomic groups that are struggling to pay their mortgage, surrounded by fast food establishments, you realize hunger is an acute need and you want to fill that with the most satiating food that costs the cheapest," Roslin said. "It's very expensive to eat healthy, and much cheaper to eat junk foods." There are also likely genetic and cultural reasons for greater weight gain among these minority groups as well, he said, but many experts agree that genetics is a lesser factor. http://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/misc-kid-s-health-news-435/minorities-more-prone-to-childhood-weight-gain-report-shows-697143.html

Gastrointestinal Colonization With Methanogens May Make It Harder To Lose Weight After Bariatric Surgery.

that research presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting suggests that the amount of weight loss after bariatric surgery appears to be linked to gut microbes. The study of 112 women and 44 men who underwent bariatric surgery revealed that “gastrointestinal colonization with methanogens makes it harder to lose weight after bariatric surgery.” The researchers reached their conclusions by studying the breath of more than 150 patients -- 112 women and 44 men -- who'd undergone weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, four to 12 months earlier. A person's breath offers insight into the germs in his or her digestive system. http://consumer.healthday.com/gastrointestinal-information-15/misc-bowel-problems-news-79/gut-germs-may-influence-success-of-weight-loss-surgery-697090.html

Missing Just Half An Hour Of Sleep On A Weekday May Change Metabolism.

website reports that a study presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting “suggests that people who lose as little as half an hour of sleep on a weekday have change in their metabolism that might help them gain weight and that might even put them on the road to diabetes.” The study of “522 patients who had just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes” revealed that people “who got a half hour less than the recommended eight hours a night were more likely to be obese and also had what’s known as insulin resistance – a malfunctioning of metabolism that can lead to diabetes.” after just one “year, for every 30 minutes of weekday sleep debt at baseline, the risk of obesity and insulin resistance – an indicator of diabetes – was increased by 17 percent and 39 percent, respectively, the study found.” Another recent “Mayo Clinic study...found that women who slept less than six hours or more than nine hours per night were more likely to gain 11 pounds than women who slept seven hours per night, while researchers at the Harvard-affiliated General Hospital for Children determined that, of the 1,000 children they tracked from the age of six months to seven years old, those who were the most sleep-deprived were about 2 1/2 times as likely to be obese as the children who consistently got enough sleep.” http://www.today.com/health/can-snooze-button-keep-weight-2D80532932

Lupus: Hospitalizations for Infections Continue to Rise Skin infections and pneumonia top list

The rate of hospitalization for serious infections among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been on the rise in recent decades, and has increased to a greater extent than for individuals without SLE, a national study found. A possible reason for this increase is the aging of the population, with its attendant comorbidities and more frequent use of medical interventions. But in-hospital deaths from serious infections have decreased, which may reflect the broader use of treatment guidelines. It has not been determined if similar patterns exist among SLE patients, however, who are vulnerable to infections because of their underlying disease and their immunosuppressive therapies. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/50317?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-05&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Effectiveness of the vaccines depends on choices made months before it's needed.

Influenza comes in two main types, A and B. Flu vaccines always have two A strains -- an H1N1 and an H3N2 -- as well as a B strain (and an extra B in the quadrivalent vaccines.) And because the strains evolve and change from year to year, the vaccine has to change as well -- a new vaccine every year. it takes 6 months to produce the millions of doses of vaccine that will be needed. And in that time, the virus can shift (mutate its' genes to a different strain). http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/URItheFlu/50305?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-05&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

WHO Recommends Reduction In Daily Intake Of “Free” Sugars.

World Health Organization “recommended (3/5) that adults and children reduce their daily intake of ‘free’ sugars – such as fructose or table sugar added to foods and drinks by manufacturers, as well as those naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices – to less than 10 percent of their total energy take.” Reducing “that figure to five percent, or roughly six teaspoons or less a day, would provide additional health benefits, the WHO said.” The WHO’s guidelines do “not apply to naturally occurring sugars in fruit, vegetables and milk, since those come with essential nutrients.” Currently, “Americans get about 13 percent of their calories from added sugar, or 268 calories a day, the equivalent of about 18 teaspoons.” To meet the WHO’s recommendations, people in the US “would have to slash their average sugar intake by about two-thirds.” he Salt” blog points out that “public health advocates say the new WHO sugar guidelines are an important tool to help push back against the food and beverage industry — which has been resistant to limits on sugar.” http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/03/04/390726878/dump-the-lumps-the-world-health-organization-says-eat-less-sugar

New Hormone Mimicking Health Effects Of Exercise Found In Mice.

researchers working with mice “have discovered a new hormone that mimics the health benefits of exercise by normalizing the metabolism and slowing the weight gain caused by fatty diets.” The study, which appeared March 3 in the journal Cell Metabolism, revealed that “the newly discovered MOTS-c hormone increases insulin sensitivity, allowing the body to more effectively process glucose sugars.” The new MOTS-c hormone targets muscle tissue and reverses age-dependent and diet-related insulin resistance. Researchers injected the new hormone into lab mice eating high-fat foods that usually lead them to become obese. The injection suppressed the weight gain and also reversed the insulin resistance caused by their diet.http://time.com/3731313/science-health-diabetes-obesity-insulin/

Statin Therapy Appears To Increase Men’s Risk For Type 2 Diabetes.

that a study published online March 4 in the journal Diabetologia suggests that “men prescribed statins to lower their cholesterol had a 46% greater chance of developing diabetes after six years compared to those who weren’t taking the drug.” In addition, “the statins seemed to make people more resistant to the effects of insulin – which breaks down sugar – and to secrete less insulin.” Time adds, “For patients who may not yet be diabetic, but are vulnerable to developing the disease and also may need a statin, Dr. Neil Stone, lead author of the 2013 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association cholesterol guidelines, says he stresses the importance of lifestyle changes in diet and exercise.” http://time.com/3732605/statins-may-seriously-increase-diabetes-risk/

McDonald's to ban chicken treated with human antibiotics

In a move that could influence the way chicken is produced and consumed in the U.S., McDonald's says that over the next two years it will stop using chicken treated with antibiotics commonly used for humans. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/03/04/mcdonalds-fast-food-restaurants-nutrition-menu-sourcing-antibiotics/24368175/

Chikungunya: From Zero to 1.24 MIllion Once-rare virus now causing thousands of cases a week in the Americas.

In slightly more than a year, the Americas have seen more than 1.24 million cases of chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne disease that causes high fever and debilitating joint pain. The tropical virus was rare in North, Central, and South America until December 2013, when investigation of suspected dengue virus in the Caribbean island of St. Martin turned up 26 cases of chikungunya, without any sign they had been imported from elsewhere. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Vaccines/50288?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-04&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Tougher Vaccination Laws Being Proposed Following Disneyland Measles Outbreak.

as a result of the Disneyland measles outbreak, both Democrats and Republicans have proposed laws that will enforce immunization rates and eliminate religious and philosophical exemptions. It is not clear whether or not stronger vaccination rules will persuade parents to vaccinate their children. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/03/us-usa-measles-vaccines-insight-idUSKBN0LZ15Q20150303

Certain Islet Autoantibodies May Predict Onset Of Diabetes In Young Children.

t a study published online in the journal Diabetes Care suggests that “levels of insulin autoantibodies (IAAs) and insulinoma-associated protein 2 autoantibodies (IA-2As) predict the onset of diabetes in young children with islet autoimmunity.” The study of 577 children revealed that the majority of youngsters “who progressed to diabetes within five years of first islet autoantibody detection had at least two islet autoantibodies, were very young and had first-degree relatives with diabetes.” Specifically, “each one-unit increase in log mean IAA level was associated with an 8.1-fold increased risk of developing diabetes during follow-up, and each one-unit increase in log mean IA-2A level increased it 7.4-fold.” http://www.medwirenews.com/57/106174/Diabetes/Islet_autoantibody_levels_predict_progression_to_diabetes.html

High-Intensity Cardio Workout May Lower Blood Sugar Levels Better Than Lower Intensity Exercise.

reports that for the study, researchers “assigned 217 obese men and women, average age 51, to one of four groups: high amount, high-intensity exercise; high amount, low-intensity exercise; low amount, low-intensity exercise, or no exercise program at all.” Study participants “in exercise programs worked out five days a week for 24 weeks. None were put on a diet.” The study found that even though everyone who exercised “lost weight and dropped belly fat, only the group doing higher intensity workouts had improvements in glucose measurements at the end of the study.” http://time.com/3728836/workout-intensity/

Docs Struggle With Vaccine Spacing

Parental requests to spread out vaccination schedule prompt physicians' ethical dilemma. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Vaccines/50254?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-03-03&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2@gmail.com&mu_id=5883165

Inhaling Oxytocin May Help With Sociability In Autism.

a study published online Feb. 10 in the journal Translational Psychiatry suggests that men with autism made more eye contact after inhaling the hormone oxytocin, according to a new study by the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge in Britain. The study included 32 men with an autism spectrum disorder and 34 matched male controls without autism. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/27/us-psychology-autism-oxytocin-idUSKBN0LV20020150227

Availability Of OTC Oral Contraceptives Would Reduce Number Of Unplanned Pregnancies.

a study published Feb. 27 in the journal Conception suggests that “the number of unplanned pregnancies among low-income women could fall by as much as 25 percent if birth control pills were available without prescriptions.” Currently, oral contraceptives are “not available without permission from a doctor, per the Food and Drug Administration’s rules.” Were women able to buy oral contraceptives over the counter, “however, the rate of unintended pregnancies would fall between 7 and 25 percent, depending on the cost of the medications,” according to the study. http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/234127-study-over-the-counter-birth-control-could-reduce-unplanned-pregnancies-by