FDA Warns Certain Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Can Cause Severe Joint Pain.

reported that the Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert Friday warning that DPP-IV inhibitors, a commonly used treatment for type 2 diabetes, can cause severe and disabling joint pain. The agency said that while patients should not stop taking the medications, they should contact their physicians if they experience such symptoms, and physicians were instructed to stop prescribing the medications to patients experiencing joint pain. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/28/diabetes-drugs-warning-idUSL1N1131GD20150828

Antibiotic Use May Be Associated With Risk For T2D.

reports that a “similar study of United Kingdom citizens published in” March in the European Journal of Endocrinology “found that repeated exposure to one of five popular antibiotic types (including penicillin) predicted an increase of ‘diabetic risk,’ after adjustment for known risk factors,” such as smoking, cardiovascular artery disease history, and body mass index. In both studies, researchers “theorized that antibiotics may exacerbate the development of diabetes by disturbing the microbial communities inside our bodies (specifically the gut microbiota) which influence our metabolism and weight.” Obesity is a “risk factor” for T2D. http://time.com/4013398/antibiotics-diabetes/

Man Sheds Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus for 28 Years

Chronic virus excreters may complicate polio eradication efforts Chronic excreters are extremely rare. Only 73 have been identified since 1962. The man described in the study is the only one known to be excreting virus at present, and the only one to have produced vaccine-derived virus for such a long period of time, Martin and colleagues said. However, vaccine-derived virus strains likely originating from immunodeficient individuals have been discovered in sewage samples in Slovakia, Finland, Estonia, and Israel, "indicating that an unknown number of these chronic excreters exist elsewhere," Martin and colleagues said. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/53272?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-28&eun=g721819d0r

Bed Bug Resurgence a Multifactorial Issue

Hygiene, insecticide bans, globalization all contribute http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAD/53277?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-28&eun=g721819d0r

Four FDA-Approved Weight-Loss Medicines Target Parts Of The Brain Involved With Appetite, Satiety.

The drugs all target parts of the brain involved with appetite and satiety, and interfere with hunger signals, explains Eric Ravussin, a physiologist at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. So they can reduce the chances that you'll overeat. Belviq is a new drug, while Qsymia is a combination of two older drugs, phentermine and the anti-seizure medication topiramate. Contrave is a combination of naltrexone, used to combat drug and alcohol addiction, and bupropion, prescribed as Wellbutrin for depression and as Zyban for smoking cessation. Saxenda is a higher dose of the diabetes drug Victoza http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/08/26/the-new-obesity-drugs-an-rx-for-weight-loss

Firstborn Girls More Likely To Be Overweight Or Obese In Adulthood Than Their Younger Sisters.

Firstborn girls are more likely to be overweight or obese in adulthood than their younger sisters,” according to the results of a study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. After examining “complete data...for more than 13,000 sister pairs,” researchers found that “firstborns had 29 percent greater odds of being overweight and 40 percent greater odds of being obese than sisters born second.” The Telegraph (UK) (8/27, Knapton) also covers the study. http://consumer.healthday.com/women-s-health-information-34/birth-health-news-61/oldest-sister-has-greater-odds-of-obesity-study-702705.html

Study Shows Life Expectancy Increased From 1990 Through 2013.

reports that according to a global study by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, humans overall are living longer, though many are living longer while sick. According to the study, life expectancy for both sexes rose 6.3 years between 1990 and 2013. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/26/health-longevity-idUSL5N1112LF20150826

Typhus Makes A Comeback In Galveston, Texas.

reports that “having nearly disappeared from the United States in the 1950s, murine typhus, a flu-like infectious disease transmitted through fleas, seems to be making a comeback in Galveston County.” Dr. Lucas Blanton, an internist at the University of Texas Medical Branch, said five cases have been confirmed this year. “Those are all people from Galveston County, and most of those are from Galveston Island. We initially thought this was just a phenomenon on the island, but we’ve found it’s throughout the county,” Blanton said. Typhus is any of several similar diseases caused by Rickettsia bacteria.[1] The name comes from the Greek typhos (τῦφος) meaning smoky or hazy, describing the state of mind of those affected with typhus. The causative organism Rickettsia is an obligate intracellular parasitic bacterium that cannot survive for long outside living cells. It is transmitted to humans via external parasites such as fleas and ticks. While "typhoid" means "typhus-like", typhus and typhoid fever are distinct diseases caused by different genera of bacteria. Not to be confused with Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella food poisoning. http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/Physician-traces-typhus-cases-in-Galveston-area-6464503.php

Roughly 250 Tested For TB Due To Infected University Of Alabama Student.

Alabama “health officials plan to test about 250 people for tuberculosis because of a former University of Alabama student who is being treated for the infectious disease.” According to the Tuscaloosa News, “the testing in a precaution for people believed to have had contact with the infected student, who isn’t enrolled in classes and is undergoing treatment in another state.” http://www.chron.com/news/article/About-250-tested-for-TB-because-of-infected-6463940.php

CDC Urges Physicians To Watch Out For Plague.

reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging physicians to “think about the possibility of plague when they see patients with flu-like symptoms this summer, and should ask if they’ve been camping, hiking or around dead rodents.” The prompting comes as “eleven cases of plague have been recorded in the U.S. this year,” with three reported deaths. CNN (8/25, Goldschmidt) and MSN (8/26, Wofford) also have coverage. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-doctors-keep-eye-out-plague-n415781

Genetic Vitamin D Deficiency Linked To Multiple Sclerosis.

reports on a new study published Aug. 25 in PLoS that found people with a genetic predisposition for lower levels of vitamin D “were twice as likely to develop MS than those whose levels were normal.” However, the study does not provide any information about whether vitamin D affects the course of MS after its onset. BBC News (8/26) reports that based on the results of the same study, scientists have begun testing to determine whether giving vitamin D to patients with MS will prevent the onset and/or the progression the disease. https://mail.google.com/_/scs/mail-static/_/js/k=gmail.main.en.BuI8aoKL9jQ.O/m=m_i,t,it/am=PiMeApj79_4g1hkA7dIHKuy9_353SfGzz-N_9yaAZK8A_m_2_wD-D96LvpA/rt=h/d=1/t=zcms/rs=AHGWq9DnvcXPm_xwT-YfxAlDF9p3BvmBJw

Obesity Rates Among US Kids, Teens Have Increased Substantially More Than In Canada Since Late 1970s, CDC Finds.

reports that obesity rates among US kids and teens “have increased substantially more than in Canada since the late 1970s,” according to an August data brief released by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. Epidemiologist Cynthia L. Ogden, PhD, of the NCHS, and colleagues “found that, whereas the obesity rate among children between three and 19 was about 5% in both the US and Canada in the late 1970s, it rose to 17.5% in the U.S. by 2012 and only 13% in Canada by 2013.” Interestingly, obesity rates in both Canada and the US “have leveled off” over the past decade. http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/25/health/us-canada-obesity-rates/index.html

Exercise More Likely To Help Prevent Diabetes In College Graduates Than In Those With Less Schooling.

“Exercise is more likely to help prevent diabetes in college graduates than in those with less schooling,” according to a study presented yesterday at the American Sociological Association’s annual meeting. After examining “data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012,” researchers “found adults with a college degree who were physically active were six percent less likely to have pre-diabetic symptoms or elevated blood sugar levels than those who weren’t active.” http://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/diabetes-management-news-180/exercise-diabetes-asa-meeting-u-kansas-release-batch-1902-702442.html

Regular Mealtimes May Promote Healthier Diets.

reports that, according to a new study published in Public Health Nutrition, people who “eat at regular times and pack lunches” generally have healthier diets overall. Researchers “found that college students who made their meals at home and regularly consumed breakfast and an evening meal, had overall better diets.” These individuals typically “avoided fast food and sugary drinks and ate more vegetables and fruit compared to people who did not keep an eating routine.” http://time.com/4008273/regular-mealtimes-eat-healthy-eating/

'Universal' Flu Vaccines Work in Animals

Much more work needed before use in humans http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/URItheFlu/53213?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-25&eun=g721819d0r

Vaccine Requirements For Schoolchildren Vary By State.

reported that as the school year begins, parents are checking to make sure their children’s vaccines are up-to-date. However, this determination varies state by state. In California, for example, a kindergartner must have all doses of the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, or whooping cough), varicella (chicken pox), polio and measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine series in addition to hepatitis B. On the other hand, in Oregon, children require the three-vaccination series in addition to two vaccinations against hepatitis A. Meanwhile, many pediatricians also recommend the HPV vaccine. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2015/08/21/start-of-school-year-calls-for-vaccine-check

CDC Report Lists Estimates On Death Rates For Seven Common Causes.

reported that the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the CDC, has issued a report listing estimates on “death rates for seven common causes.” After examining data from “the first quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2015,” CDC researchers concluded that “death rates for influenza/pneumonia, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes are” increasing. http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2015/08/21/cdc-releases-death-rate-estimates-for-seven-common.html

CDC’s Frieden Calls On World To Help Eradicate Polio.

pointed out the importance of the fact that on July 24, “Nigeria passed an important milestone marking an entire year without a single new wild poliovirus case,” marking a “remarkable achievement in the global effort to eradicate polio.” But, to eradicate the disease everywhere, “all countries must strengthen immunization service delivery, address gaps in disease surveillance and do more to reach children missed by vaccination programs,” Dr. Frieden wrote. http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/21/opinions/frieden-nigeria-polio/index.html

CDC Debuts New Tool To Track Antibiotic Resistance.

reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday “rolled out a new interactive tool,” called the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), that “allows users to follow the spread of antibiotic resistant bugs nationwide.” CDC data reveals that of the two million illnesses reported every year, “23,000 deaths” are “associated with antibiotic resistant bacteria.” The tool has been useful in tracking “down trends in resistance.” For example, “the FDA withdrew approval for Enrofloxacin (a fluoroquinolone) in chickens after NARMS data revealed growing fluoroquinolone-resistant bacterial infections among Americans.” TIME notes that the tool is now available to the public for free. http://time.com/4003332/technology-antibiotic-resistance/

New York City Says Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Over.

reports “the source of the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City has been identified and the outbreak is over, health officials said Thursday.” In a news release, officials said “the source of the outbreak was the Opera House Hotel cooling tower.” In a news release, Dr. Mary Bassett, commissioner of the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said, “We eliminated the danger posed by the Opera House Hotel’s cooling tower as soon as it tested positive for disease-causing Legionella. Today, all cooling towers in the affected area have been disinfected, and all cooling towers across the city are being evaluated and disinfected if necessary.” http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2015/08/20/nyc-declares-legionnaires-disease-outbreak-over

“Distracted” Snacking May Cause Women On A Diet To Eat More Later.

reports that “‘distracted’ snacking,” that is, “eating while walking, watching TV or having a conversation,” may cause women who are on a diet to eat “substantially more than other dieters a short time later.” The results of the 60-participant study were published Aug. 20 in the Journal of Health Psychology. http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/dieting-to-lose-weight-health-news-195/eating-on-the-run-might-mean-eating-more-later-702515.html

Physicians Disagree Over New CMS Sepsis Requirements.

eports the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will implement new reporting requirements in October for treating hospitalized sepsis patients. Physicians disagree on the new measures; some argue that the new measures will be helpful and will bring needed recognition to the issue, but others say the new definitions are arbitrary and may lead to unnecessary testing and treatment. http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/Medicare/53146

Scientists Say They Have Figured Out How Key Gene Tied To Obesity Makes People Fat.

eports that “by manipulating the genes in question in mice,” investigators discovered that “they could adjust the amount of obesity or leanness by reformulating the proportions of white and beige fat cells.” They found they could even “reduce the amount of white fat by a factor of seven, give or take.” The study authors’ “next step will be to manipulate these genes and this pathway in human patients...to see if the intervention has an effect on their weight and fat composition.” The Telegraph (UK) (8/20, Knapton) also covers the story. http://time.com/4003974/gene-burns-fat/

Today's Teen E-Cig Users May Be Tomorrow's Smokers

Study suggests that vaping is a gateway to full-on tobacco smoking http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Smoking/53117?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-19&eun=g721819d0r

WHO Warns On “Vaccine Hesitancy.”

reports that yesterday, the World Health Organization issued warnings on “what it called the growing problem of ‘vaccine hesitancy,’ when people delay or refuse vaccines for themselves or their children.” On its website, the WHO issued a statement in which it “called the problem ‘a growing challenge for countries seeking to close the immunization gap.’” http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/world/who-calls-vaccine-hesitancy-an-increasing-concern-globally.html?_r=0

Molecular Biologist Seeks To “Revolutionize The Way People Age.”

reports in “Health & Science” on efforts by Harvard Medical School genetics professor David Sinclair, a “molecular biologist” who “wants to revolutionize the way people age.” Sinclair, who co-directs Harvard’s Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Molecular Biology of Aging, seeks “to create a pill that could simultaneously combat Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes and heart disease to ensure that people live longer, healthier lives.” He is currently investigating the compound resveratrol and is also exploring how the protein SIRT1 may be “involved in cardiovascular disease. “ In an interview with the Post, Sinclair stated, “I would love for the US Food and Drug Administration to regard aging as a condition that’s worth treating.” Sinclair admits to “testing molecules” on himself not only with the goal of extending life, but also stretching out “the healthy period” in life. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/this-serious-scientist-is-working-on-an-anti-aging-pill--and-taking-it-himself/2015/08/17/07628214-3179-11e5-8f36-18d1d501920d_story.html

Potentially deadly amoeba found in Terrebonne Parish water

eports that the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals “said it found Naegleria fowleri amoeba, known as brain-eating amoeba, in the Schriever Water System in Terrebonne Parish, according to WVUE Fox 8 News.” The department “asked the water system to conduct a 60-day chlorine burn to ensure any remaining organisms are eliminated from the system, according to WVUE.” http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/17/dhh-brain-eating-amoeba-found-in-terrebonne-parish/

Plague-infected Squirrels Found at Yosemite National Park Campground

About a week ago, officials said a child fell ill with the plague at Yosemite National Park. Now a popular campground there will be closed after several squirrels were killed by the disease. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/plague-infected-squirrels-close-yosemite-6261020

Autoantibodies Predict Future RA in Healthy Relatives of Patients

Finding could form basis for primary prevention trials, researchers suggest http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/53079?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-15&eun=g721819d0r

Most Nosocomial Infections Fall Progress seen at national level, though more mixed in state-by-state analysis.

Rates of most major types of healthcare-associated infections have declined markedly in recent years, the CDC said Wednesday, although the trend did not extend to catheter-associated urinary tract infections. In 2013, significant decreases in standardized infection rates were seen for central line-associated bloodstream infections (down 46% from 2008), surgical site infections (down 19% from 2008), hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections (down 8% from 2011), and hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infections (down 10% from 2011), according to the National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections Progress Report. But catheter-associated urinary tract infections had a 6% uptick from 2009 to 2013, the report said. On the other hand, "initial data seem to indicate that these infections have started to decrease." http://www.medpagetoday.com/HospitalBasedMedicine/InfectionControl/49528?xid=nl_mpt_special_reports_2015-08-13&eun=g5883165d11r

Washington State Resident Dies From West Nile.

reports that “a man in his 80s has died and 10 other people have fallen ill after being infected with West Nile virus in Washington.” The death of the Benton County man was “the first in Washington state and the fourth in the nation this year, health officials reported Thursday.” Officials Detect West Nile In Oswego County, New York. The Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard (8/14, House) reports that “for the first time this summer, officials have detected West Nile virus in Oswego County.” Officials also “found mosquitoes infected with Eastern equine encephalitis in Palermo and samples taken from Toad Harbor Swamp.” http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/west-nile-virus-claims-life-of-benton-county-man/

Oklahoma Resident Dies After Contracting primary amebic meningoencephalitis.

reports that “an Oklahoma resident infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba while swimming in a lake died this week, according to Oklahoma health officials.” According to officials, “the unidentified person was infected with primary amebic meningoencephalitis, known as PAM, a severe brain infection caused by an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri.” http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/08/13/brain-eating-amoeba-naegleria-fowleri-oklahoma-swimmer-dead/31615135/

Insulin Resistance May Contribute To Language Problems In Women.

, “Insulin resistance, a key component of type 2 diabetes, may contribute to language problems in women that can potentially signal early dementia,” according to a study published Aug. 12 in Diabetologia. Included in the study were about 6,000 adults in Finland. Interestingly, “the association was not seen in men, although the researchers could not determine exactly why that was so.” Endocrine Today (8/14, Schaffer) also covers the story. http://consumer.healthday.com/senior-citizen-information-31/dementia-news-738/insulin-resistance-might-play-a-part-in-mental-decline-in-women-702281.html

Low-Fat Diet May Reduce More Body Fat Than Diet Low In Carbohydrates.

Science Now” blog reports that National Institutes of Health researchers have found that “obese subjects on a low-fat diet lost more body fat than did those on a diet low in” carbohydrates, according to research published online in the journal Cell Metabolism. Investigators projected that over the course of “six months, subjects who stuck with a low-fat weight-loss diet would lose 6.5 pounds of body fat more than those who adhered to a diet that restricted carbs.” The 19-patient study also found that “compared with carb-restricted dieters, those on reduced-fat diets tended to burn more calories while they slept.” http://time.com/3994328/diet-low-carb-low-fat/

Device Resembling Bicycle Pedals Helps Office Workers Lose Weight, Study Finds.

reports that researchers have “found a way for workers to increase physical activity without ever leaving their desks,” according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. In the study, investigators “gave devices that resembled bicycle pedals to 27 overweight or obese office workers to put under their desks, and found that those who used the devices most often reported weight loss and increased productivity at work.” http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2015/0812/To-work-or-to-work-out-That-may-no-longer-be-the-question

Lyme Disease Greatly Underreported, CDC Says.

reports the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “Lyme disease may be grossly under-reported in the United States,” noting “the tick-borne infection affects about 10 times as many Americans as previously indicated by confirmed case reports.” In a study of the years 2005 through 2010, researchers found “about 329,000 cases of Lyme disease occur every year,” and number “much higher than the 30,000 confirmed and probable Lyme cases reported to the CDC in 2010.” http://consumer.healthday.com/public-health-information-30/centers-for-disease-control-news-120/lyme-disease-in-u-s-is-under-reported-cdc-says-702231.html

Scientists Say Kids May Be Biologically Hardwired For Sugar.

that children appear to be “biologically hardwired for” sugar, “according to scientist Julie Mennella.” Mennella was shown saying, “During periods of growth they’re attracted to foods that give us calories. In the past it was fruit, honey. Children have "a very exquisite biology that attracts them to the predominant taste quality of mother's milk,Now children are living in environments where sugar’s everywhere.” t last month, the FDA “proposed a rule that would require food labels to say not just how much sugar is in a product, but what percentage of the daily recommended intake it comprises.” The agency’s action comes as “sugar consumption has been linked to health issues by numerous studies.” Currently, “nearly 30 percent” of US adolescents and youngsters are overweight or obese. although the idea of explicitly labeling added sugars as a percentage of daily recommended intake to direct consumers toward more nutritious foods with naturally occurring sugars, the move “could lead consumers to think that natural sugars aren’t something to watch carefully, which could encourage them to consume more, not less, sugar.” The Times cautions against “unintended consequences” of the label, hoping that the FDA emphasizes that the “words ‘natural’ and ‘added’ don’t necessarily mean ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy.’” http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/wired-kids-crave-sugar-biological-reasons-n407931

Glaxo shuts down North Carolina plant after finding Legionnaires' bacteria

Glaxo shuts down North Carolina plant after finding Legionnaires' bacteria http://www.biopharmadive.com/news/glaxo-shuts-down-north-carolina-plant-after-finding-legionnaires-bacteria/403873/

Frozen Oocytes May Work Slightly Less Well Than Fresh Donor Oocytes For IVF.

reports in “Science Now” that frozen oocytes “work well for in vitro fertilization [IVF] – though slightly less well than fresh donor” oocytes, according to a research letter published Aug. 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. After examining “data from 380 fertility clinics that reported their successes and failures in 2013 to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology,” investigators found that “the live birth rate per IVF cycle was 43.2% for women who used embryos derived from once-frozen eggs, slightly less than the 49.6% live birth rate for women whose embryos were created from fresh eggs.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-ivf-frozen-vs-fresh-donor-eggs-20150811-story.html

Many High-Risk Medical Devices Get FDA Approval With Only A Single Trial: Study.

Five devices had no postmarket studies, and 13 others had three or fewer postmarket studies. Half of the studies did not compare the new device to an existing one. “I don’t want to scare the public,” but these results should inform ongoing regulation and legislation for policymakers, Ross said. “We certainly have evidence of where devices have had safety problems and it’s taken us too long as a country to identify those problems,” said Dr. Josh Rising, director of health care programs at the Pew Charitable Trusts, who was not part of the new study. He cited metal-on-metal hip implants, which are not high-risk medical devices. They may damage the bone or tissue of the hip over time. The U.K., Canada and Australia all noticed this problem and issued medical alerts between 2010 and 2012. The FDA issued a similar safety communication in January of 2013. “Medical devices vary so much, in what they are and what they do, there’s not a one size fits all policy,” Rising said. “The FDA needs to look at each device that comes through and assess what’s going to be needed.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/11/us-health-regulation-device-safety-idUSKCN0QG1PQ20150811

Evidence Spotty for Hospital Cleaning Practices Randomized trials must fill gaps in evidence for cleaning, disinfection, and monitoring

Han's group performed a systematic overview of all scientific literature on cleaning, disinfecting, and monitoring of frequently touched surfaces in inpatient facilities, focusing on studies examining surface contamination, colonization and infections with Clostridium difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. They evaluated three broad categories of evidence, specifically which agents and methods were being used for cleaning surfaces, how the "effectiveness and appropriateness" of cleaning was monitored, and what systems-level factors were needed to best facilitate cleaning practices. Studies on chemical disinfectants like bleach, chlorine, and peroxide solutions reported mixed findings. Six studies on disinfecting wipes and 17 studies on no-touch methods (UV light, hydrogen peroxide vapor) had positive outcomes, some of which included decreased infection rates. Seven out of eight studies on antimicrobial coatings, such as copper, also reported positive findings. "The newer technologies such as UV light and hydrogen peroxide vapor seem to have promising results, but we can't know how well they work compared with or in addition to other cleaning methods until we have randomized control trials," Han explained. http://www.medpagetoday.com/HospitalBasedMedicine/InfectionControl/53023?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-12&eun=g721819d0r

Steroids Helpful in Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Using steroids reduced the time to recovery and the length of hospital stay and might also have cut the risk of some serious outcomes, such as all-cause mortality and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Pneumonia/53017?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-11&eun=g721819d0r

Eighteen Towers Test Positive For Legionella As Outbreak Claims Two More Lives.

Together, the city and state said 18 sites tested positive for Legionella, both within and outside of the impact zone in the Bronx, the Wall Street Journal (8/11, Ramey, Dawsey, Subscription Publication) reports. Additionally, officials confirmed that two additional people died from Legionnaires’ disease Monday, bringing the death toll to 12 and the total number of cases to 113. http://www.wsj.com/articles/12-dead-in-nyc-legionnaires-disease-outbreak-1439233064

Skipping Breakfast May Not Lead To Weight Gain.

that the common notion that “not eating breakfast has been associated with excess body weight,” may just be speculation or “may be completely unfounded,” as new studies emerge to suggest the contrary. For instance, research from Columbia University last year showed that “in overweight individuals, skipping breakfast daily for 4 weeks leads to a reduction in body weight.” t 8:30 in the morning for four weeks, one group of subjects got oatmeal, another got frosted corn flakes and a third got nothing. And the only group to lose weight was ... the group that skipped breakfast. Other trials, too, have similarly contradicted the federal advice, showing that skipping breakfast led to lower weight or no change at all. “In overweight individuals, skipping breakfast daily for 4 weeks leads to a reduction in body weight,” the researchers from Columbia University concluded in a paper published last year. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/08/10/the-science-of-skipping-breakfast-how-government-nutritionists-may-have-gotten-it-wrong/

Sixty-Seven Percent Of British Women Suffer From Iodine Deficiency, Study Finds.

reports that a study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology suggests that iodine deficiency in pregnancy “remains the leading cause of preventable retardation worldwide.” The Telegraph adds that the deficiency “is also implicated in stillbirth, miscarriage, physical impairment and thyroid dysfunction and thus is crucially important in pregnant women and young children especially.” The study examined data from the “Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children” and “found 67 per cent of British women suffered from a mild to moderate deficiency.” Iodine is not made naturally in the body and must be taken in through eating foods such as oily sea fish, shellfish, cow’s milk, cereals and grains. It plays a fundamental role in the healthy development of the baby’s brain and nervous system while in the womb, and severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy is one of the leading causes of brain damage in the developing world. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/11793788/Iodine-supplements-for-pregnant-women-could-boost-IQ-and-save-NHS-thousands.html

13,000 Ebola Survivors Pose Challenges

More than 13,000 Ebola survivors are an "emergency within the emergency" for the three countries most affected by the epidemic, a clinician working in West Africa said. Preliminary data suggest that as many as half of the survivors have severe arthralgia, which can be "very debilitating, a very serious problem that can prevent people from going back to work and providing for their families," said Daniel Bausch, MD, of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, who is part of the World Health Organization clinical care team in West Africa. Advertisement Some 25% of survivors have also reported changes in vision and a smaller proportion have uveitis that in some cases can lead to blindness, he said. Other conditions are more difficult to tally, he said, including the mental health consequences, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. "Some mental health impact is probably almost universal," Bausch said. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/52995?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-10&eun=g721819d0r

Diet High In Refined Carbohydrates May Put Post-Menopausal Women At Higher Risk For Depression.

Researchers found that high dietary GI scores and consumption of added sugars and refined grains were associated with an increased risk of new-onset depression in post-menopausal women. Women who consumed more dairy, dietary fiber, whole grains, vegetables and fruits (not fruit juices) had a decreased risk of depression. Carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels. The more highly refined the carbohydrate, the higher its score on the glycemic index scale. The researchers said that refined foods such as white bread, white rice and soda trigger a hormonal response in the body to reduce blood sugar levels. They suggest this response may also cause or worsen mood changes, fatigue and other symptoms of depression. High consumption of refined starches and sugars is also a risk factor for inflammation and cardiovascular disease, conditions that have been implicated in depression. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/eating-refined-carbs-linked-to-depression-in-women/

Overuse of Bodybuilding Supplements May Portend An Eating Disorder In Men, Study Suggests.

The survey responses also gave some clues about who was most likely to abuse the legal supplements. Men who had body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem were more likely to report using the pills, powders and protein bars, the researchers found. So were men who most internalized the cultural ideal of male bodies as lean and muscular and those who held traditional views about masculinity that were so rigid they caused distress. “Excessive legal APED [appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs] use may represent a variant of disordered eating that threatens the health of gym-active men,” the researchers concluded in their report. More than 40% of men surveyed by researchers from the California School of Professional Psychology in Alhambra said they had increased their use of supplements such as protein bars, creatine powder and glutamine capsules over time. The researchers said they were alarmed to discover that 29% of the men acknowledged that their use of the supplements might be damaging their health. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/08/06/experts-mens-overuse-supplements-classifies-as-eating-disorder/

Tenofovir Vaginal Gel Cuts Herpes Risk Protection with pericoital gel increased with adherence

A gel containing an anti-HIV drug protected women against infection with herpes simplex-2 virus (HSV-2), a pathogen regarded as increasing the risk of HIV, researchers reported. In a substudy from a randomized trial, a tenofovir-containing gel used pericoitally cut the risk of HSV-2 by about half, according to Salim Abdool Karim, MBChB, PhD, of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, and colleagues. Advertisement The risk reduction was higher among women who used the gel frequently compared with those who used it less often, Abdool-Karim and colleagues reported in the Aug. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/STDs/52952?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-06&eun=g721819d0r

Eight Dead, 97 Infected In South Bronx Legionnaires’ Outbreak.

“The New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is continuing to watch out for new cases in close collaboration with area hospitals and has deployed ‘disease detectives’ to conduct epidemiological investigations.” Additionally, health officials are “conducting an outreach program in senior centers and homeless shelters in order to educate those most at risk from the disease.” http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/08/06/legionnaires-death-toll-eight/31200561/

Report: Infant Mortality Rate In US Remains One Of Highest In Developed World.

says a new report by the National Center for Health Statistics finds the United States still has “one of the worst rates” of infant mortality in the developed world. The report notes that “just under six out of every 1,000 babies died at birth or in the first year of life in the U.S. in 2013,” a rate that is triple that of Japan or Norway and double the rate of Ireland, Israel or Italy. The rate did not change much from 2012 but had decreased 13 percent from 2005. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/us-infant-mortality-rate-still-one-highest-developed-world-n404871

Stress, malnutrition may cause epigenetic “reprogramming” that can echo through multiple generations Expressed.

reported that “parents’ exposure to chemicals can affect a child’s development even when the exposure happens before the child is a glimmer in the parents’ eyes,” according to a paper published online Aug. 4 in the journal Endocrinology, a publication of the Endocrine Society. Some of these chemicals include “bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, dioxin, and some persistent organic pollutants.” A lot of these chemicals “are known to be endocrine disruptors, or chemicals that interfere with the body’s own hormone systems.” pointed out that “exposure to environmental stressors such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, psychological stress and malnutrition may result in disadvantageous epigenetic ‘reprogramming’ that can echo through multiple generations,” disrupting “early developmental processes” and causing “changes in cellular gene expression, cell numbers or locations of cells that persist and lead to increased risk of cognitive disorders, obesity, diabetes and metabolic diseases later in life.” http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/stress-malnutrition-may-cause-epigenetic-reprogramming-that-can-echo-through-multiple-generations/stress-human-behavior/#sthash.piihhDyU.B5Xnb5gH.dpbs

Consumption Of Spicy Foods May Be Linked To A Longer Life.

“Well” blog reports that investigators analyzed “dietary data on more than 485,000 people” before arriving at the study’s findings. The study also found lower “rates of ischemic heart disease, respiratory diseases and cancers...in hot-food eaters.” other “studies have found that spicy food and their active components – like capsaicin, the compound found in chili peppers – might lower inflammation, improve metabolic status and have a positive effect on gut bacteria and weight.” http://time.com/3984274/spicy-food-chili-peppers/

Antibiotic Resistance: The Next Step

CDC says cooperative efforts could prevent hundreds of thousands of infections. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/PublicHealth/52933?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-05&eun=g721819d0r

Researchers Revise Conclusions Of New York City Subway Bacteria Study.

reports that referring “to the bubonic plague and anthrax findings, the researchers write, ‘There is minimal coverage to the backbone genome of these organisms, and there is no strong evidence to suggest these organisms are in fact present, and no evidence of pathogenicity.’” http://time.com/3982289/bubonic-plague-nyc-subway/

Legionnaires’ Outbreak Has Sickened 81, Killed 7.

reports that officials from the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also announced that the number of people infected with the bacteria climbed to 81. Of those, 64 have required hospitalization. reports that 28 people have been treated and released from hospitalization for Legionnaires’ disease. According to the article, “city health officials have said New York’s drinking water supply is unaffected by the disease outbreak and that fountains, shower heads and pools are safe as well.” Officials also said air conditioning units were not affected. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/08/03/legionnaires-death-toll-seven/31083327/

Side Effects Of Fluoroquinolones Far More Disabling Than Other Antibiotics, Experts Say.

reports in “Health in Science” on the side effects of fluoroquinolones, noting that levofloxacin ranked third “in the number of serious adverse event reports submitted directly to the Food and Drug Administration in 2013,” while ciprofloxacin, another fluoroquinolone, ranked fifth, according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Experts say that fluoroquinolones “can be far more disabling than other antibiotics” because of the life-altering nature of their side effects, which include tendon rupture, disabling peripheral neuropathy or permanent nerve damage to the arms and legs, eye disorders, psychiatric and nervous system disorders, seizures, ringing in the ears, and burning and tingling sensations. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/it-pays-to-read-the-warnings-when-you-open-up-a-prescription/2015/08/03/a29e11b4-d70e-11e4-b3f2-607bd612aeac_story.html

Ebola Vaccine Candidate Promising Interim results suggest 100% protection

Preliminary clinical trial results suggest an Ebola vaccine developed in Canada effectively prevents infection, researchers reported. The early results, reported online in The Lancet, show that none of the more than 2,000 people vaccinated in Guinea got the disease, according to Marie Paule Kieny, PhD, the World Health Organization's assistant director general for health systems and innovation, and colleagues. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/52900?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-04&eun=g721819d0r

Picky Eaters Have Extra Helpings of Anxiety, Depression Kids' selective eating may point to greater problems

"This finding highlights the importance of clinicians looking at selective eating as perhaps not an acute problem that will go away on its own as the child gets older but a condition that should be intervened on and monitored for progress over time," she told MedPage Today via e-mail. "As a clinician, I will be more apt to screen for selective eating behaviors in those patients with a diagnosis of anxiety and depression." http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/EatingDisorders/52894?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-08-04&eun=g721819d0r

WHO To Create Plan For Improved Epidemic Response Time.

reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday indicated that it will be creating a new and improved plan to respond to epidemics following criticism of the slow pace of intervention in the Ebola crisis. As part of this plan, WHO will be seeking to reduce recognition and response times, according to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. The plan will likely extend to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and H5N1. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/31/health-ebola-who-idUSL5N10B3XQ20150731

Drug-Administering Pump Can Be Hacked, FDA Warns.

the agency “strongly encourage[d] health-care facilities to begin transitioning to alternative infusion systems as soon as possible,” because independent research found the pumps “could be accessed through a hospital’s wireless networks,” allowing “an unauthorized user to control the device and change the dosage the pump delivers.” http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-31/hospital-drug-pump-can-be-hacked-on-wireless-network-fda-warns

Sitting May Be Linked To Increased Blood Sugar, Cholesterol Levels.

reported that investigators “found that an extra two hours per day spent standing rather than sitting was associated with approximately 2 percent lower blood sugar levels and 11 percent lower average triglycerides.” The study also indicated that “more standing time was also associated with an increase in HDL...cholesterol and a drop in LDL” cholesterol. reported that “the associations of sitting with fasting glucose and lipids were independent of moderate to vigorous physical activity, according to the” investigators. The fight against sedentary behavior cannot be won based only on the promotion of regular exercise," he wrote. "A person walking while at work for 2 hours, standing for another 4 hours, and performing some daily chores at home for another hour will burn more calories than jogging or running for 60 minutes." http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/52885