US Health Officials Update Strategic Plan For Fighting AIDS.

The White House unveiled the new National HIV/AIDS Strategy on Thursday, taking into account the affects of the Affordable Care Act and medical tools such as PrEP.” Some of the strategies “outlined to curb the epidemic” include “increasing the number of people living with HIV who know their status to at least 90 percent, reducing the number of new diagnoses by at least 20 percent and increasing the percentage of newly diagnosed people connected to HIV medical care within one month of their diagnosis to 85 percent.” http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/health/2015/07/30/national-hiv-strategy/30911439/

HPV Vaccination Rates Up Only Slightly, CDC Says.

reports that the data indicate “that despite public health efforts, the number of teen boys and girls receiving the...vaccine only increased slightly” last year. In a statement, Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general and director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said, “We are missing crucial opportunities to protect the next generation from cancers caused by HPV.”

Moderate Drinking May Ease Disability from Chronic Pain Greatest benefit reported by those who consumed three to five drinks daily

A smaller U.S. study previously showed that in patients with fibromyalgia, moderate alcohol consumption was associated with reduced symptom severity and increased quality of life. However, the current study also linked alcohol consumption with the likelihood of reporting CWP. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/GeneralRheumatology/52846?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-31&eun=g721819d0r

New York City Health Department Investigating Legionnaire’s Outbreak In Bronx.

reports that the New York City Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease, “a severe form of pneumonia,” in The Bronx, city officials announced Wednesday. Since July 10, 31 cases have been reported and two people have died from the Legionella bacteria. According to the article, cases of the disease “can usually be traced to plumbing systems,” such as those in hot tubs and cooling towers, for example. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/07/29/legionairres-outbreak-nyc/30860109/

Administering Cortisol To Heroin Addicts May Reduce Craving For The Drug.

eports that Congress “is listening to the major healthcare associations that have asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to delay implementation of stage 3 of the meaningful use program.” Last week, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said that he had spoken to HHS Secretary Burwell about possibly postponing stage 3. According to the article, the industry response to the stage 3 rule “has been mainly negative.” The American Medical Association, for example, “criticized the proposal, saying more time is needed to evaluate the impact of the first two stages and that the stage 3 criteria were too ambitious.” http://www.nature.com/tp/journal/v5/n7/full/tp2015101a.html

Lupus: Spike Seen in Hospital Admissions for Infections Rates of hospitalization for serious infections were 12 times higher than in the general population

The reasons for the greater rates of admission among SLE patients versus non-SLE patients with serious infections during the study period are not fully understood, but may relate to the more frequent use of steroids and strong immunosuppressive treatments. This also may reflect the overall increased survival of SLE patients even with comorbidities and organ damage. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/52814?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-29&eun=g721819d0r

Study finds diabetes, smoking and obesity also affect brain areas tied in memory

Prior research has linked heart risk factors and mental decline, but this study focused on specific risk factors and three brain structures -- the hippocampus, precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex -- that play a role in memory. The analysis of data from more than 1,600 adults in the Dallas Heart Study showed that alcohol use and diabetes were associated with smaller total brain volume. Smoking and obesity, meanwhile, were associated with reduced volume in the posterior cingulate cortex, which is involved with memory retrieval, and emotional and social behavior. Alcohol use and smoking were linked with reduced volume in the hippocampus, and obesity and high fasting blood sugar levels were associated with reduced precuneus size, according to the study. The findings also suggest that reduced hippocampal and precuneus size may be early indicators for mental decline in people 50 and older, while reduced posterior cingulate size is a better predictor of mental decline in people younger than 50. http://consumer.healthday.com/cognitive-health-information-26/alzheimer-s-news-20/heart-disease-risks-may-offer-clues-to-dementia-prevention-701548.html

Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Who Skip Breakfast May Experience Spikes In Blood Sugar Throughout The Day.

Skipping breakfast may have made it difficult for the pancreas to produce the right amount of insulin to properly control blood sugar, Jakubowicz said. Normally, beta cells in the pancreas release insulin in response to elevated levels of sugar in the blood. Missing the morning meal may cause the beta cells to “forget their vital role,” she said, delaying the release of insulin and allowing blood sugar levels to remain high for longer periods of time after lunch and dinner. Because the study only included people with diabetes, it’s not clear whether healthy people would experience similar blood sugar spikes after skipping breakfast, the researchers acknowledge. It’s also unclear how long the blood sugar spikes might last. It’s also possible that the last meal the night before might influence blood sugar the following day regardless of whether or not they ate breakfast http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/28/us-health-diabetes-breakfast-idUSKCN0Q22AO20150728

Salmonella-Tainted Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, and More Spices Recalled From Kroger

Recalls were issued by Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Other stores owned by Kroger — including Jay C., Dillons, King Soopers, Fry’s, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Food 4 Less, and Smith’s — also took the spices off their shelves. https://www.yahoo.com/health/salmonella-tainted-garlic-powder-black-pepper-125258192847.html

Montgomery, Alabama Has Highest STD Rate In US.

reports that data indicate that Montgomery, Alabama “is the most sexually diseased city in the” US. The 2013 CDC data revealed that Montgomery had 4,371 reported cases of STDs and a total 1,899.20 diseases per 100,000 people.”Several in the top 10 are in the southern region of the U.S., including New Orleans, Killeen, Texas, and Fayetteville, North Carolina. And, in the top-10 list, data includes three cities which have large military populations: Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia; Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas; and Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C. They took the fifth, ninth and 10th spots, respectively. Montgomery, with a population of 201,332, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, was reported to have the following cases, per 100,000: . chlamydia: 3,039 . gonorrhea: 1,309 . syphilis: 23 . total STDs reported: 4,371 http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/07/montgomery_has_nations_highest.html

Scientists Synthesize Compound That Mimics Exercise.

eports that researchers from Britain’s University of Southampton announced in a study in Chemistry and Biology that they have “synthesized a molecule that acts as an ‘exercise mimic’ by tricking cells into thinking they have run out of energy.” The molecule, known as compound 14, “could lead to a treatment, even something as simple as a pill, for obesity or type 2 diabetes.” Compound 14 inhibits the function of an enzyme called ATIC which plays a central role in insulin signaling in the body. That in turn leads to the build up of something called ZMP -- known as a "master regulator" of metabolism -- in the cells. It's ZMP that makes cells think they have run out of energy and activate the cell's central energy censor which is known as AMPK. The cells compensate by increasing their glucose update and metabolism -- changes that typically occur during exercise and that lead to weight loss. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/07/27/scientists-have-synthesized-new-compound-that-mimics-exercise-could-a-workout-pill-be-far-behind/

Method Of Administration In Trials May Affect How Well Placebo “Works.”

Wonkblog” that a new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that how a placebo drug is administered in a study can affect how well the placebo “works.” The researchers “reviewed more than 100 clinical trials for knee osteoarthritis, focusing not on the drugs, treatments and injections that were the original point of the studies, but on the patients that got a fake treatment for their pain.” They found “that a sham injection with saline solution was not only better than a fake pill; it was also 1.6 times better at relieving pain than an actual drug – Tylenol.” The researchers conclude that this variance needs to be taken into account in future randomized trials. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/07/27/not-all-fake-medicines-are-created-equal/

Investigational Dengue Vax Has Gaps

Analysis suggests it's more effective in older children. The analysis also showed that overall the vaccine was associated with a reduction in the rate of hospital admission for dengue, a marker used as a surrogate for safety, Saville and colleagues reported online in the New England Journal of Medicine. But the safety analysis was complicated, they noted, because the vaccine appeared to be less safe for children under 9 than for those 9 or older, with relative risks of dengue admission of 1.58 and 0.50, respectively. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Vaccines/52797?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-28&eun=g721819d0r

Calories, Obesity Down For Americans.

reported that calorie consumption is beginning to “decline since federal statistics began to track the subject” for average adults and by “at least 9 percent” for the average child. In turn, obesity rates “have stopped rising for adults and school-aged children,” as well, though the trend “does not appear to extend to the very heaviest Americans.” The article pointed out that households with children have witnessed the “most substantial” changes, but that “recent calorie reductions,” while a positive step, “will not be enough to reverse the obesity epidemic” overall. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/upshot/americans-are-finally-eating-less.html?_r=0

Mouse Study Links Overeating To Hormone Deficiency.

A new study published this week in the journal Cell Reports suggests that overeating happens when people don't have enough of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1. The chemical is secreted from cells in both the small intestine and the brain to let our brain know when we've had enough to eat. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/07/24/overeating-may-be-caused-by-a-hormone-deficiency-scientists-say/

FDA Proposal Would List Added Sugars On Nutrition Labels.

reported that the move is “part of a broader effort to overhaul the ubiquitous Nutrition Facts label for the first time in more than a decade,” which has “proven contentious from the start.” The agency said its decision is “now further supported by newly reviewed studies suggesting healthy dietary patterns, including lower amounts of sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, are strongly associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/07/24/should-consumers-have-details-about-added-sugar-in-foods-fda-says-yes/

Mouse Studies May Explain Night Shift, Breast Cancer Link

Circadian rhythm disturbance resulted in earlier tumors in a breast cancer mouse model. http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/BreastCancer/52773?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-27&eun=g721819d0r

Two Types Of Inexpensive Medications May Increase Breast Cancer Survival.

reports that research published in The Lancet suggests that “two types of inexpensive drugs can boost survival from breast cancer.” One study found that “aromatose inhibitors...can reduce the risk of dying from the disease in the first decade after diagnosis by about 40%.” http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/cheap-drugs-breast-cancer-fight-study-article-1.2302476

Experts Call For Global Vaccine Fund.

reports that health experts called Wednesday for the creation of a $2 billion vaccine development fund to help speed up development of potential new drugs to combat deadly diseases such as Ebola and West Nile virus. Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, experts said the fund should be supported by government, the pharmaceutical industry, and foundations. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/22/us-health-vaccines-idUSKCN0PW2DX20150722

Regular Sugary Drink Consumption Tied To Increased Risk For T2D Regardless Of Weight.

reports, “Looking at 17 cohorts and more than 38,000 cases,” investigators discovered that “higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an 18% increase in incidence of type 2 diabetes...per one serving a day.” After adjustment for obesity, “there was still a 13% increase...over those who drank no sugary drinks. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-33608726

CDC Warns Against Close Contact With Chickens Amid Salmonella Outbreak.

reports on its front page that with “181 people sickened” with Salmonella across the country, health experts are warning people with backyard chickens to be wary of close contact with the animals. According to the article, “CDC investigators found that many people who were sickened reported bringing poultry into their homes or kissing or cuddling with live poultry.” The agency warned, “These behaviors increase a person’s risk of a Salmonella infection,” adding that “many chicks and young birds carry Salmonella in their feces.” http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2015/07/21/besotted-chicken-owners-warned-not-get-too-cozy/NfWVoYQPo8ygKgko6c5fhO/story.html

Leprosy Cases On The Rise In Florida.

reports that “there are an unusually high number of leprosy cases cropping up in Florida.” Experts are linking the spike to “people coming into contact with armadillos.” The Florida Department of Health has reported nine cases so far this year, compared to the typical two to 12. http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/21/health/florida-leprosy-cases-armadillos-irpt/index.html

People Taking Glitazone Drugs For Diabetes Appear To Be Less Likely To Develop Parkinson’s.

reports that for the study, investigators “compared the medical records” of some 44,600 diabetes patients taking glitazones “against the records of more than 120,000 diabetes patients who did not take a glitazone.” Next, the researchers “tracked these records from 1999 – when glitazones were introduced to treat diabetes – until 2013.” The study authors found that “during that time, patients who used glitazones were 28 percent less likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease than those who never took one of the meds.http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/21/health-parkinsons-idUSL5N1011WJ20150721

French Teen's HIV Remission Stirs Interest

he case of an 18-year-old French girl -- in remission from HIV for 12 years -- might offer clues to how the virus can be defeated, a researcher said here. The "extraordinary" case is the first time that scientists have seen such a long remission in a child, according to Asier Sáez-Cirión, PhD, of the Institut Pasteur in Paris. Advertisement But the remission came after the girl, infected perinatally, had been on full-scale antiretroviral therapy for several years with little indication of any ability to control HIV naturally, Sáez-Cirión said at the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention. Indeed, during two periods of poor adherence to treatment, the child saw her viral load jump sharply, before the drugs brought HIV replication back under control. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IAS/52700?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-22&eun=g721819d0r

Relatives of lupus patients at increased risk for many other autoimmune conditions.

Relatives of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a higher risk of developing SLE and other autoimmune diseases compared with the general population, a population study found. For first-degree relatives of individuals who had SLE, there was also a risk of developing other autoimmune disorders. These included: Primary Sjögren syndrome (RR 5.87, 95% CI 4.89-7.05) Systemic sclerosis (RR 5.40, 95% CI 3.37-8.65) Myasthenia gravis (RR 2.95, 95% CI 2.04-4.26) Idiopathic inflammatory myositis (RR 2.77, 95% CI 1.45-5.32) Rheumatoid arthritis (RR 2.66, 95% CI 2.28-3.11) Multiple sclerosis (RR 2.58, 95% CI 1.16-5.72) Type 1 diabetes (RR 1.68, 95% CI 1.22-2.32) Inflammatory bowel disease (RR 1.39, 95% CI 0.66-2.91) Vasculitis (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.43-1.71) The authors noted that previous estimates had put heritability of SLE at 66%; http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/GeneralRheumatology/52689?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-22&eun=g721819d0r

NIH Releases Calorie Calculator To Public.

reports that the National Institutes of Health calculator called the “Body Weight Planner” is now available to the public online. The calculator “uses the latest research to spit out an exact calorie count and exercise regimen you’ll need to hit your weight loss goals.” In a press release, Kevin Hall, senior investigator at the NIH and one of the creators of the tool, said, “We originally intended the Body Weight Planner as a research tool, but so many people wanted to use it for their own weight management that we knew we needed to adapt it with more information about how to achieve a healthy lifestyle,” http://time.com/3964686/calories-calorie-tracker-weight-loss/

California Reports First Death From West Nile Virus In 2015.

reports on Monday the California Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that a senior citizen in Nevada County was the first person in the state to die this year from West Nile virus. In a statement, DPH Director Dr. Karen Smith underlined the seriousness of the disease and warned, “Californians need to be vigilant in protecting themselves.” The piece adds that Dr. Smith said West Nile virus activity has been widespread this year, which experts think may be associated with the drought. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-west-nile-2015-20150720-story.html

Excessive Antibiotic Use Common in Poorer Families More likely to want antibiotics for kids' sniffles.

Medicaid parents in 2013 were even more likely to request unnecessary antibiotics. They were more likely to answer at least one question about attitudes toward antibiotics affirmatively compared with 2000 (46% versus 25%, P<0.01). Vaz added that she was surprised that very little progress has been made in correcting key misconceptions about antibiotics. But ignorance about their proper use was not entirely limited to Medicaid parents. She pointed out that 85% of both Medicaid and commercial insurance parents did not know that antibiotics are almost never used to treat bronchitis. Indeed, that was the only question with no statistically significant difference between groups (16% versus 15%, P=0.66). http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Parenting/52665?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-21&eun=g721819d0r

Women Respond Well to Daily HIV Prevention Pill

Young women who used pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for preventing HIV acquisition were willing to take a daily dose, resulting in higher coverage of sex events, higher drug concentrations, and better adherence, researchers reported here. About 80% of women in the trial conducted in South Africa were compliant in taking a daily dose of the combination table of emtricitabine and tenofovir (Truvada) within 7 days of a sexual encounter compared with 70% of participants who were taking the pills twice a week (P=0.002), and compared with 50% of participants who were taking pills in preparation of having sex (P<0.001), said Robert Grant, MD, MPH, of the University of California San Francisco, and colleagues. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IAS/52678?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-21&eun=g721819d0r

SLE Patients Face Persistent Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

"The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of related CHD (coronary heart disease) risk factors associated with an increased cardiovascular risk in the general population and is a useful clinical tool to identify patients who may warrant more focused CHD risk assessment," the authors wrote. "Understanding the interplay between disease activity, therapeutic exposure and MetS in SLE would better inform CHD risk stratification and help guide treatment regimens in higher risk patients." Renal lupus, active inammatory disease drive metabolic syndrome development. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/52668?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-21&eun=g721819d0r

2 million pounds of chicken products recalled after MN salmonella outbreak

http://bringmethenews.com/2015/07/17/2-million-pounds-of-chicken-products-recalled-after-mn-salmonella-outbreak/

Adult Fruit, Vegetable Intake Below Federal Guidelines.

Fruit and vegetable intake has been persistently low for years but we just recently developed a way to look at how each state is doing" in terms of meeting recommendations, said lead author Latetia V. Moore of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the CDC. “It is surprising how low intake is in some southern states but how disappointingly low it is across the U.S.,” Moore told Reuters Health by email. Moore and her coauthors analyzed the most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, using a new scoring procedure to compare state-reported numbers, which are usually expressed as “frequency of intake,” to federal requirements, normally counted in “cups per day.” Overall, in 2013, half of respondents consumed fruit less than once per day and vegetables less than 1.7 times per day. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/17/us-health-nutrition-fruit-vegetables-idUSKCN0PR26N20150717

Childhood Stress May Play A Significant Role In Some Women’s Weight Gain.

Childhood stress appears to play a significant role in some women’s weight gain,” according to a study published online in the journal Social Science & Medicine. However, “stress during adulthood does not affect women’s weight gain.” The study also found that “neither childhood nor adult stress is associated with weight gain in men.” Investigators came to these conclusions after analyzing data on approximately 2,200 women and 1,300 men. http://consumer.healthday.com/mental-health-information-25/depression-news-176/childhood-stress-could-spur-women-s-weight-gain-701141.html

Searching for Postmenopausal Exercise Sweet Spot Randomized trial tested two different amounts of exercise in postmenopausal women.

Daily exercise in otherwise healthy postmenopausal women had a dose-response effect on weight-loss in a year-long trial that tested 30-minute versus 60-minute exercise sessions 5 days a week, researchers reported. Out of 400 postmenopausal women who were evenly split into two groups, either 150 minutes or 300 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, the women who exercised more averaged more total weight loss (least-squares mean difference, -1.0% body fat, 95% CI -1.6% to -0.4%, P=0.002), and lost more subcutaneous abdominal fat (least-squares mean difference -10.8 cm2, 95% CI -19.5 to -2.2 cm2, P=0.01) and waist to hip ratio (-0.01 cm, 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.00 cm, P=0.04), according to Christine M. Friedenreich, PhD, of CancerControl Alberta in Canada, and colleagues. http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Menopause/52633?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-17&eun=g721819d0r

State issues toxic algae warning for western Ohio lake

Officials have issued a toxic algae bloom warning for Kiser Lake in western Ohio. The Springfield News-Sun reports (http://bit.ly/1I2mN70 ) the state Department of Natural Resources issued a public health advisory last week after a bloom was spotted on the water in the state park in Champaign County. http://www.wowktv.com/story/29554601/state-issues-toxic-algae-warning-for-western-ohio-lake

Mosquito test positive for West Nile in areas of Ohio

Ohio is experiencing a rise in mosquitoes this summer due to heavy rains, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Mosquito pools from five health jurisdictions across the state have tested positive thus far for the West Nile virus. One in Columbus, one in Franklin County, three in Summit, one in Richland County and two in Franklin County. So far, no human cases of West Nile virus have been reported for 2014, Ohio had 11 confirmed cases of the West Nile Virus in people. http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/ohio/2015/07/10/west-nile-ohio/29964325/

Number Of US Counties With High Incidence Of Lyme Disease Has More Than Tripled.

reports that a CDC study finds that, “over time, the number of counties identified as having high incidence of Lyme disease in the northeastern states increased more than 320 percent,” and that the disease is popping up in states where it has not previously been seen. The report cites climate change as a major factor, noting that warmer temperatures and deforestation have given the ticks that carry the disease a wider habitat and more chances to prey on humans. The AP (7/16, Stobbe) also covers the story. http://time.com/3959736/lyme-disease/

Antibiotic Resistance Targeted in 21st Century Cures Act

A provision in the 21st Century Cures Act recently passed by the House would require the CDC to make sure some of the bill's financial incentives aren't encouraging antibiotic resistance. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), a microbiologist, requires the CDC to issue a report within 3 years on a provision in the bill that mandates additional payments for so-called DISARM drugs for Medicare beneficiaries. DISARM (Developing an Innovative Strategy for Antimicrobial-Resistant Microorganisms) drugs are defined as those which meet an unmet medical need and that treat an infection associated with high rates of mortality or significant patient morbidity. http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/Washington-Watch/52611?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-16&eun=g721819d0r

Experts Debate Sugary Drink Tax.

dean of Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, and William Shughart II, a professor in public choice at Utah State University’s Jon Huntsman School of Business, take opposing stances on sugary drink taxes. Brownwell likens such taxes to ones implemented successfully to curb smoking, noting that the soda tax in Berkeley is expected to reduce consumption by 15 to 20 percent. In opposition, Shughart argues that numerous studies show that existing taxes are set too low to meaningfully affect consumption behavior. Furthermore, if policymakers decide to set the taxes higher, they will incentivize the creation of a local black market or encourage people to travel to neighboring areas where the tax is not in effect. http://www.wsj.com/articles/should-there-be-a-tax-on-soda-and-other-sugary-drinks-1436757039

Study: Children Engage In Unhealthy Eating After Observing Plump Cartoon Characters.

eports a “first-of-its kind” study published online in the Journal of Consumer Psychology has found “that children consume more low-nutrition, high-calorie foods after observing plump cartoon characters.” The study is being led by Margaret C. Campbell, marketing professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/plump-cartoon-characters-prompt-unhealthy-eating-in-kids/

Sniffing Strength 'Profoundly Altered' in Autism

Study suggests a potentially simple way to screen for ASD in preverbal children. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/Autism/52587?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-15&eun=g721819d0r

Syphilis Has Increased Dramatically Among California Women And Newborns.

reports the California Department of Public Health said Monday that “cases of congenital syphilis – in which a pregnant mother infects her child during pregnancy – shot up in the state, with annual cases in newborns rising from 30 to 100 from 2012 to 2014,” while “the annual number of reported early syphilis cases among women increased from 248 to 594.” Officials say they do not know the reason for the increase, but said “congenital syphilis is typically associated with poverty and lack of access to proper healthcare.” http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-syphilis-cases-2015071-story.html

EMA To Investigate Reports Of Severe Adverse Reactions To HPV Vaccine.

reports that the “European Medicines Agency announced Monday that it has launched a safety review of the three vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV) after receiving reports of serious adverse reactions in some young women.” While EMA officials acknowledged that the reactions were rare, they said they were “concerned” due to the severity of the conditions suffered, including complex regional pain syndrome and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The investigation will “attempt to determine the frequency of such events and to determine whether there is any causal link.” Also covering the story are the AP (7/14), MedPage Today (7/14, Gever), Medscape (7/14, Chustecka), and BBC News (7/14). http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/07/13/worries-about-hpv-vaccine-european-unions-medicines-agency-investigating-reports-of-rare-but-severe-reactions/

Mexican Cavefish Appear To Share Specific Genetic Mutation With Some Obese People Who Are Constantly Hungry.

reports that Mexican cavefish, “a species of fat, binge-eating fish, share” the MC4R “gene mutation with some obese people who are constantly hungry,” according to a study published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study’s “finding could improve understanding about the link between obesity and health, the researchers said.” http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/eating-and-appetite-disorder-news-223/fat-fish-offers-insights-into-human-obesity-701240.html We all know that people have different metabolisms that lead to their gaining weight under different amounts of eating," senior study author Clifford Tabin, chairman of the department of genetics at Harvard Medical School in Boston, said in a university news release. "The work with the cavefish gives us an example in a natural setting of why and how metabolisms evolved to be different. Some of the mechanisms we see in the fish may well have implications for human metabolism and therefore human health," he explained. Cavefish, which are blind, go months without eating by storing huge amounts of fat and burning it more slowly than other fish. While the cavefish are much fatter than other fish, they are healthy.

Listeria Contamination Prompts Big Pet Food Recall

A popular pet food company issues a recall after Listeria was found during routine testing. Stella & Chewy’s is recalling nearly two-dozen types of products after the contaminant was discovered in a package of chewy's chicken freeze-dried dinner patties. >> Read More Trending Stories There have been no reported pet illnesses. If you have pet food that is part of the recall, you can return it for a full refund. >> FULL LIST of Stella & Chewy’s recalled products http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/29484056/listeria-contamination-prompts-big-pet-food-recall

Opinion: Government Should Implement Policies To Curb Overeating.

Dose” blog contributor Deborah Cohen commended the FDA for recently implementing a ban on trans fats, while noting that to improve national health meaningfully, Americans must stop consuming products high in sugar, salt, and fat in excess. Since “banning foods that can be harmful if consumed in less-than-moderate amounts is not a socially acceptable solution,” Cohen suggested considering policies that would limit their accessibility and standardizing reasonable meal portions for restaurants. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/policy-dose/2015/07/10/after-trans-fats-target-americas-overeating

West Nile Virus Detected In California Birds, New York Mosquitoes.

reported that Suffolk County, NY, “reported one more mosquito sample testing positive for West Nile virus, bringing to three the total so far this year, health officials” announced on July 10. Meanwhile, Nassau County reported “one positive sample so far, collected July 3 in Kings Point, a spokeswoman said Friday.” In California, the San Jose (CA) Mercury News (7/13, Mattson) reports that so far this year, state health officials have yet to report a case of West Nile virus in a human being. However, that could change. California’s “historic drought is...bringing mosquitoes and birds into closer contact at fewer watering holes.” So far, “the virus has...been detected in birds in 31 California counties – six more than were reported at this point last year.” http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/suffolk-third-mosquito-sample-tests-positive-for-west-nile-virus-1.10630334

FDA Issues Heart Attack, Stroke Warning Over Pain Relievers.

eported that the FDA issued a “warning about common pain relievers” like Advil, Motrin and Aleve. Officials claimed that the drug, when “taken at least three times a week for more than three months, increased 41 percent” the risk of heart attack and stroke “to 29 million adults.” The over-the-counter drugs can cause serious side effects that can occur as early as the first few weeks of using the temporary pain relievers, the agency said.http://thehill.com/regulation/247492-fda-strengthens-warning-for-motrin-advil-and-aleve Everyone may be at risk -- even people without an underlying risk for cardiovascular disease," Judy Racoosin, deputy director of FDA's Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Addiction Products, said in announcing the change.

Diners May Consume More Salt, Cholesterol In Sit-Down Restaurants Than In Fast-Food Restaurants.

that research suggests “diners consume more salt and cholesterol in sit-down restaurants than they do in fast-food” restaurants. The research was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/food-and-nutrition-news-316/fast-food-no-worse-than-full-service-meals-study-says-701030.html

Friday Feedback: The Impact of Delayed Vaccinations

How do clinicians balance public health with a parent's concerns? http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Vaccines/52535?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-11&eun=g721819d0r

Study: Living On A Tree-Lined Urban Street Can Be Better For Your Health.

eports according to research published in the open access journal Scientific Reports, living on a tree-lined urban street can be “better for your physical health.” The researchers show “the cognitive and psychological benefits of nature scenery” but also say it “enhances health outcomes” such as “heart conditions, prevalence of cancer, diabetes, mental health problems and much more.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/07/09/scientists-have-discovered-that-living-near-trees-is-good-for-your-health/

Is There a Killer Squirrel Virus?

Three squirrel breeders in Germany likely died of a novel virus they caught from the animals, researchers said. Over a 2-year period, the three men developed progressive encephalitis or meningoencephalitis that led to death within 2 to 4 months, according to Martin Beer, DVM, of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut in Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany, and colleagues.http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/52512?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-10&eun=g721819d0r

Brain-Eating Amoeba Attacks Swimming Boy, 14

Brain-Eating Amoeba Attacks Swimming Boy, 14 Hunter Boutain is in a coma on life support after getting the infection when he went swimming in a freshwater lake. He is being treated for suspected primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare and often fatal brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba which is found in warm freshwater. There have been 35 confirmed cases of infection in the last 10 years in the US, CBS News reported. And 96% mortality rate!!!http://news.sky.com/story/1515911/brain-eating-amoeba-attacks-swimming-boy-14

Opinion: Federal Dietary Policy Has Focused Too Much On Total Fat.

the nation’s dietary policy has focused too much on total dietary fat since the publication of the Federal government’s 1980 Dietary Guidelines. Based on “years of low-fat messaging” from the FDA and NIH, most Americans “still actively avoid dietary fat, while eating far too much refined carbohydrates.” They recommend that, instead of focusing on total fat, the emphasis should be on eating “more minimally processed” foods. Mozaffarian and Ludwig add that for the first time since 1980, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee this year made recommendations to the government “without any upper limit on total fat.” http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/09/opinion/why-is-the-federal-government-afraid-of-fat.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0

Small Study Examines How T2D May Diminish Cognitive Performance.

Underscoring that reality, new research suggests that insulin resistance and elevated levels of sugar in the blood — both hallmarks of Type 2 diabetes — unleash a cascade of events that, over time, impair the brain's blood vessels. With remarkable speed — over two years during which researchers tracked a group of older adults with diabetes — those changes can sap the brain's ability to react flexibly to daily menta. The vasculature in the brains of diabetics and a healthy comparison group looked and behaved differently as well. Both at the study's start and more noticeably after two years, blood vessels in the diabetics' brains showed less ability to expand and contract to accommodate changing mental tasks. Not surprisingly, the diabetics had less brain volume too — an indication that the process of atrophy had already begun.http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-diabetes-inflammation-cognition-20150708-story.html

Heating Plastic In Microwave Linked To Insulin Resistance, Hypertension.

eports on a recent study finding that toxic chemicals seep into food when heated in plastic, which could lead to “insulin resistance and elevated blood pressure, two harbingers for diabetes.” Lead author Dr. Leonardo Transande, a professor at NYU Langone, said, “Heating enhances contamination.” Transande’s team found that two compounds in plastics called phthalates (DEHP) designed to replace a similar compound found to be dangerous “weren’t all that better.” Transande warns that even a small exposure to DEHP can have “lifelong effects.” Officials advise against heating plastic containers and plastic wrap in the microwave and “avoid drinking from plastic bottles that have the number 3, 6 or 7 stamped on the bottom.” http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/chemicals-plastic-linked-health-problems-study-article-1.2285790

Measles Death Points to Need for Herd Immunity Vaccinated, but vulnerable due to impaired immune system

The measles virus is thought to be the most transmissible virus we know," William Schaffner, MD, chief of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., told MedPage Today. For every one person who has it, it can spread to an average of up to 18 others. The virus is airborne and can linger in a room for up to 2 hours after an contagious person has left and infect someone new, Schaffner said. "That's an extraordinarily infectious virus, much more infectious than the flu," he said. Schaffner said people with impaired immune systems due to medications, such as steroids or chemotherapy, or disease, such as leukemia, are most likely to benefit from herd immunity. "These patients -- the ones who are immunocompromised -- essentially depend on others around them to receive vaccines to maintain what is referred to as herd immunity," said Robert Glatter, MD, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, adding that herd immunity also protects babies under a year old, who are too young to be vaccinated. "The bottom line is that we have a responsibility for the http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/52473?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-08&eun=g721819d0r

More People Around The World Are Consuming A Western Diet.

more people around the world are consuming a Western diet whose “‘biggest features...are overconsumption of over-refined sugars, highly refined and saturated fats, animal protein and a reduced intake of plant-based fibers,’ says Ian Myles, from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.” Eating a diet of highly processed foods not only provides too many calories, but also “can cause the good bacteria in your gut to be pushed out – leaving you more exposed to the bad ones. ‘The good bacteria don’t survive as well,’ says Myles.” http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/health/western-diet-health/index.html

Report Says WHO Not Fit To Handle Situations Like Ebola Outbreak.

n independent panel said in a “blistering report” published Tuesday that the World Health Organization is ill-equipped to respond to a public health crisis. In the report, the panel said that the group “does not currently possess the capacity or organizational culture to deliver a full emergency public health response,” and that while the WHO has admitted that reforms are needed, “it will need to be held accountable to ensure that this transformation is achieved.” The report, published in the wake of the Ebola epidemic which began last year, blamed the WHO “for being sluggish, financially unprepared and overly reliant on ‘good diplomacy,’” and said the agency should have acted quicker than it did. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/08/world/africa/who-is-not-equipped-to-handle-a-crisis-like-ebola-report-says.html?ref=world&_r=0

Obese People Appear To Conjure Up More Vivid Images Of Aromas.

reports in “Science Now” that “compared with people of normal weight, obese people conjure up more vivid images of aromas.” This particular “ability to experience sensory fantasies so richly, said researchers at Yale School of Medicine, may make some people more vulnerable than others to following food cues, even when they’re not hungry.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-obesity-imagination-smell-20150707-story.html

Tropical Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes Expanding Into New Areas.

reports that a study recently published in the journal eLife suggests that “mosquitoes typically found in tropical regions are expanding into new areas, including the” US. The danger is that these mosquitoes “could transmit disease.” Researchers arrived at these conclusions after creating “global distribution maps of two species of dengue- and chikungunya-carrying mosquitoes.” http://consumer.healthday.com/diseases-and-conditions-information-37/misc-diseases-and-conditions-news-203/virus-carrying-mosquitoes-spreading-to-new-regions-700900.html

Colorado’s Lush Vegetation Fueling Increases In Rodent-Borne Diseases.

reports that an increase in Colorado’s rabbit population due to “unusually lush vegetation” has resulted in 15 people having contracted rabbit fever (tularemia) “so far this year.” That same lush vegetation also seems “to be fueling two other diseases carried by rodents – hantavirus and plague.” In 2015 alone, “Colorado has had five cases of hantavirus, four of them fatal,” as well as “one case of the plague” that killed its victim. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RABBIT_FEVER_COLORADO?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-07-06-15-54-47

Poll: More Parents Express Positive Views About Vaccines Following Resurgence Of Some Common Childhood Diseases.

reports that according to “a new nationwide poll...more parents express positive views about vaccines following the resurgence of some common childhood diseases in the past year.” The poll’s “questions focused on the risks of contracting measles or whooping cough, opinions of vaccines and support for school requirements.” http://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-whooping-cough-cases-raised-support-for-vaccines/

Most Healthcare Workers Say They Have Worked While Feeling Sick.

“a vast majority of healthcare workers acknowledged that they show up to work while feeling sick, even if they know it poses a risk to their patients, according to a... survey” published in JAMA Pediatrics. http://time.com/3946490/sick-doctors-nurses-survey/

Humans Age At Remarkably Different Rates.

reports in “Science Now” that “humans age at remarkably different rates, and that we start aging earlier than one might guess,” according to a study published July 6 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The 954-participant study also revealed that “young adults already showing signs of aging aren’t just prematurely old; they seem to be getting older faster than” other people. study participants were “taking part in a lifelong medical study since they were born at a hospital in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1972 and 1973.” Investigators “came up with a batch of 18 measurements they believe correlate with aging,” including “medical measures of their lungs, their kidneys, their livers, their hearts, their immune system and even the integrity of their DNA.” that at age 38, participants’ “‘biological age’ – the state of their organs, immune system, heart health and chromosomes – ranged from as young as 30 to as old as 60.” People whose biological age was older even looked older. In addition, “the fast-agers showed worse balance and poorer motor coordination, and reported having more trouble with tasks such as climbing stairs or carrying groceries.” Recognizing accelerated aging early may also cast light on some of the earliest influences on aging: genes, prenatal circumstances, childhood experiences and socioeconomic influences. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-old-young-biomarkers-20150706-story.html

Underreporting Of Hepatitis C Infections Affecting Public Health Efforts.

reports a study published June 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that “new cases of hepatitis C are drastically underreported to federal officials.” The study, conducted at the Viral Hepatitis Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, also suggested that the lack of reporting “may be hampering public health efforts to cope with the chronic infection that can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.” http://consumer.healthday.com/public-health-information-30/centers-for-disease-control-news-120/majority-of-u-s-hepatitis-c-cases-may-be-unreported-study-700885.html

Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases Decline In DC.

reports that data released Tuesday showed “the number of newly diagnosed cases of HIV and the deaths related to the illness continued to drop in the District in 2013, although overall prevalence of the virus remained at epidemic levels.” The numbers showed that “deaths decreased by 44 percent, the most significant decline in years,” and that the “number of new diagnoses decreased from 678 to 553, with declines among blacks, whites and Hispanics.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/drop-in-number-of-newly-reported-hiv-cases-in-the-district/2015/06/30/9522d676-1f31-11e5-bf41-c23f5d3face1_story.html

New York City Mosquitoes Detected Carrying West Nile Virus.

reports that “the New York City Health Department has detected the West Nile Virus in the city’s mosquitoes for the first time this summer, though no human cases have been reported yet.” The mosquitoes were detected “in the Glen Oaks, Queens and New Dorp Beach, Staten Island neighborhoods.” http://time.com/3941841/west-nile-virus-new-york-mosquito/

Alzheimer-Like Brain Abnormalities Seen in Kids

These findings add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that brain MRIs, in combination with molecular markers, have the potential to identify early presymptomatic changes in those at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) while they are still cognitively normal, Yakeel T. Quiroz, PhD, department of psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and colleagues reported online in JAMA Neurology. Advertisement But whether or not these changes signal a predisposition to AD remains unclear. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/AlzheimersDisease/52382?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-07-01&eun=g721819d0r