IBD: When C. Diff Strikes Gut dysbiosis predisposes patients to infection

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been on the rise in recent decades, with increases in both the incidence and severity. It is now classified as an urgent antibiotic resistance threat. When C. diff develops in a patient with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) -- ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease -- the potential consequences include the need for hospital admission, colectomy, and even death. Patients with IBD face an increased susceptibility to CDI because of their underlying gut dysbiosis, explained Sahil Khanna, MBBS, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "In these patients, the variety of gut bacteria decreases, and the titers of some useful bacteria like Bacteroidetes decrease." Those helpful bacteria typically keep C. diff in check, but when the microbiota is altered, the environment becomes favorable for C. diff infection, he explained. https://www.medpagetoday.com/reading-room/aga/lower-gi/64226?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-03-31&eun=g721819d0r&pos=3

Long-Term Metformin Use May Increase Risk For Neurodegenerative Disease In Patients With T2DM, Study Indicates.

“Long-term use of the diabetes medication metformin may increase the risk for neurodegenerative disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),” researchers found after following about “9,300 patients with T2DM in Taiwan for up to 12 years.” Specifically, “the risk for Parkinson’s disease (PD) or Alzheimer’s dementia was more than double during a 12-year period for those who took metformin vs those who did not – even after adjusting for multiple confounders,” the study revealed. The findings were presented at AD/PD 2017: International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases. https://mail.google.com/_/scs/mail-static/_/js/k=gmail.main.en.8bwObi_w5v0.O/m=m_i,pdt,t,it/am=tjiHkP_3_WGOGShLTTDM8P_55aTigz3f-__aP0COCn4G_pv9P-D_AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABb1HAB/rt=h/d=1/rs=AHGWq9ATEu2AVgTob1NM6q8kU6nEV0s8uA

Study To Explore Whether Pre-Conception Exercise, Nutrition Program Will Result In Less Childhood Obesity.

reports on a new “Cleveland-based” study that “will explore whether an exercise and nutrition program designed for mothers before they conceive will result in less childhood obesity.” The study is funded under “a five-year, $5.5M grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health.” http://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/can-childhood-obesity-prevented-conception/

Two Nurses Contracted HepA via Organ Transplant Patient Neither nurses nor organ donor had been vaccinated against the virus

https://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Hepatitis/63853?xid=nl_mpt_Weekly_Education_2017-03-29&eun=g5883165d1r

The U.S. could eliminate hepatitis B and C as an important public health threat by 2030,

https://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Hepatitis/64190?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-03-29&eun=g721819d0r&pos=1

Mini reproductive system on a chip mimics human menstrual cycle

reports on a study published in Nature Communications describing “an artificial female reproductive system” built to provide a model for research. The idea is that such models could help study disease and “test new contraceptives and fertility treatments.” One reason for building the model is that “there is no good animal model for the 28-day human reproductive cycle.” The system, named Evatar, “contains five ‘organs’ linked together by a blood-like liquid carrying hormones, cell signalling molecules and drugs.” Some of the system is human tissue – Fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and liver – while the ovaries are mouse tissue. Teresa Woodruff, one of the study’s co-authors, said that the model fulfills an “urgent unmet need for us,” and “says that her lab is planning to study various diseases” with the system. “Shots” blog reports the device may help “lead to new treatments” for problems as diverse as “fibroids and endometriosis...infertility, miscarriages and gynecologic cancers.” The organs made of tissue are in “separate plastic chambers...connected through passageways that allows fluid to circulate among them.” Altogether it is “about the size of a paperback book.” The researchers said they “were able to recapitulate the full menstrual cycle” with the device. http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/28/521428903/device-mimicking-female-reproductive-cycle-could-aid-research

Long-Term Cessation Of Menopausal Hormone Therapy May Not Preserve Level Of Fat Mass Reduction Experienced By Current MHT Users.

reports that research indicates “long-term cessation of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) does not preserve the level of fat mass reduction experienced by current MHT users.” The findings were presented at the 2017 World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and Musculoskeletal Diseases. http://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/wco-2017/reducing-fat-mass-with-mht/article/646709/

Testosterone Replacement Therapy May Not Increase Risk For CV Disease In Middle-Aged Men, But May Increase OSA Risk, Study Suggests.

reports that research suggests “testosterone replacement therapy does not appear to increase the risk for cardiovascular disease or thromboembolic events in middle-aged men.” However, “it does increase the risk for obstructive sleep apnea.” The findings were presented at the European Association of Urology 2017 Congress. https://login.medscape.com/login/sso/getlogin?urlCache=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tZWRzY2FwZS5jb20vdmlld2FydGljbGUvODc3Nzg2&ac=401

Testosterone Treatment Trials Deliver “Mixed Results.”

reports the latest clinical trials of testosterone treatment have “reported mixed results.” Studies found the treatment helped improve anemia and low bone density, but had no effect on cognitive function. However, they did find it cause a “greater buildup of noncalcified plaque in the coronary arteries,” a “red flag” for heart problems. The times notes that the “Food and Drug Administration already requires testosterone products to carry warnings of an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.” However, Dr. Evan Hadley, director of the division of geriatrics and clinical gerontology at the National Institute on Aging, noted that the trials “didn’t answer the question of risk,” adding, “It’s very important to get definitive data on risk so we have the whole picture of risk and benefit.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/28/well/testosterone-therapy-is-popular-but-studies-are-mixed.html

Researchers Identify 79 Rare Genetic Syndromes In Which Obesity Is A Symptom.

“43 have never been assigned a name, the review found.” Meanwhile, “for others, scientists have reported a partial understanding of the underlying genetics, according to the review.” But, the investigators “identified 22 syndromes for which scientists knew nothing about the gene or the chromosome associated with them.” http://www.livescience.com/58421-obesity-syndromes.html

Interrupting Sitting With Walks, Simple Resistance Activities May Reduce Lipids Linked To Inflammation

reports that research indicated “interrupting sitting with light walks or simple resistance activities reduced lipids associated with inflammation among adults with type 2 diabetes.” The researchers wrote, “We have shown that regular active interruptions in sitting may be of benefit in reducing postprandial pro-inflammatory lipids and increasing concentrations of lipids with antioxidant capacity in adults with well-controlled non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes.” The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/diabetes/news/in-the-journals/%7B4a545bc3-a86e-43a7-bdf0-abea196da05d%7D/intermittent-sitting-reduces-inflammatory-lipids-in-diabetes

NYTimes Examines Growing Trend Of Patients Staying Awake During Surgery.

In a front-page story, the New York Times (3/25, A1, Hoffman, Subscription Publication) reported that “more surgery is being performed with the patient awake and looking on, for both financial and medical reasons.” According to the Times, “Choosing to watch your own surgery is one more manifestation of the patient autonomy movement, in which patients...are eager to involve themselves more deeply in their own medical treatment.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/25/health/surgery-awake-anesthesia.html?_r=0

Confirmed: Aggressive Septic Shock Protocol Does Not Reduce Deaths Meta-analysis finds no benefit even among sickest patients

https://www.medpagetoday.com/CriticalCare/Sepsis/64079?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-03-27&eun=g721819d0r&pos=2

Majority Of Cancer-Causing Mutations The Result Of Random Mistakes In DNA Replication, Study Suggests.

reports that investigators “found that 5% of cancer-causing mutations can be linked to inherited genetic risk.” Meanwhile, “an additional 29% of malignancy-promoting mutations can be attributed to ‘modifiable’ factors...such as wearing sunscreen and vaccinating ourselves against cancer-causing viruses.” The other “66% of genetic mutations known to give cancer a foothold are random transcription errors in DNA.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-cancer-bad-luck-20170323-story.html

Fruit Juice Consumption May Be Linked To Slight Weight Gain In Younger Children, Study Suggests.

reports that research published in Pediatrics suggests “drinking 100% fruit juice is associated with a slight amount of weight gain in children 6 and younger who have one serving a day.” Investigators “found that in children ages 1 to 6, consumption of one daily serving was associated with a weight gain of 0.3 pounds or less over one year.” However, “in children 7 and older, 100% fruit juice was not independently” linked to “any weight gain.” http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/23/health/fruit-juice-weight-gain-kids-study/index.html

YIKES Septic Shock Deaths Increased with Hospital Drug Shortage Study finds strong association between norepinephrine shortage and deaths

Deaths from septic shock in U.S. hospitals increased during a 2011 shortage of norepinephrine, the front-line vasopressor drug used to treat the condition, researchers report. Septic shock deaths during that norepinephrine shortage period increased from 35.9% to 39.6% in a retrospective analysis of a nationally representative sample of hospitals. Further analysis showed a strong and consistent association between periods when the drug was in short supply and increased mortality, Hannah Wunsch, MD, of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues, wrote online in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In an accompanying editorial, Julie Donohue, PhD, and Derek Angus, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, noted that shortages of FDA-regulated generic drugs became a regular occurrence in U.S. hospitals starting around 2000: "The most challenging year so far was 2011, with 251 drug shortages, of which 73% were generic sterile injectable drugs, including many medications required to treat sepsis, cancer, and other life-threatening conditions." https://www.medpagetoday.com/CriticalCare/Sepsis/64053?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-03-23&eun=g721819d0r&pos=1

Smartphone-Based App May Be Used To Analyze Semen.

“Well” blog reports that “researchers have developed a device costing less than $5...that attaches to your cellphone and provides a quick and easy semen analysis.” While this “device is still in development,” research on “the machine’s capabilities...concludes that it is just as accurate as the elaborate computer-assisted semen analysis machines costing tens of thousands of dollars in measuring sperm concentration, sperm motility, total sperm count and total motile cells.” The findings were published in Science Translational Medicine. points out that the “test involves several distinct parts: one, a disposable device on which to place the sample, including a disposable microchip that handles the sample; two, an optical attachment that connects to a smartphone; three, an app that guides the user through each step of testing.” Additionally, “the testing kit also includes a tiny weight scale that connects wirelessly to the testing app and measures the total number of sperm swimming in the sample.” http://www.cbsnews.com/news/smartphone-app-male-infertility-sperm-problems/

Study: Mortality Rates Among White People Worse Than Originally Thought.

says the economists found that “sickness and early death in the white working class could be rooted in poor job prospects for less-educated young people as they first enter the labor market, a situation that compounds over time through family dysfunction, social isolation, addiction, obesity and other pathologies.” The trend “affects whites of both sexes and is happening nearly everywhere in the country” and “education level is significant” as “people with a college degree report better health and happiness than those with only some college, who in turn are doing much better than those who never went.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/new-research-identifies-a-sea-of-despair-among-white-working-class-americans/2017/03/22/c777ab6e-0da6-11e7-9b0d-d27c98455440_story.html

Adults Treated With Statin Therapy May Be At Higher Risk For Developing T2D, Meta-Analysis Finds.

“Adults treated with statin therapy are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes [T2D] vs. those not prescribed statin therapy,” researchers found after analyzing data from 20 studies. The findings of the meta-analysis were published online in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases. HOW??? http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/diabetes/news/in-the-journals/%7B0b15f5cc-c159-4b8f-a50e-1c10b8e1a7a7%7D/statin-use-increases-type-2-diabetes-risk

Novel Substance May Reduce Chronic Nerve Pain in Teeth

According to a new study, a novel substance shows promise in inhibiting chronic nerve pain in the teeth or facial area. The initial results of a phase II clinical trial conducted at the Center of Dental Medicine at the University of Zurich found that the substance BIIB074 reduced pain to more tolerable levels in patients affected by trigeminal neuralgia—a chronic condition in which sharp pain shoots to the face or dentition. Affecting 13 out of 100,000 people, trigeminal neuralgia causes nerve damage at the base of the skull, making it difficult to inject local anesthetics for pain relief. The study, “Safety and Efficacy of a Nav1.7 Selective Sodium Channel Blocker in Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomised Withdrawal Phase 2a Trial,” published in The Lancet Neurology, demonstrates that BIIB074 inhibits such pain—and without side effects. At present, drug treatments for trigeminal neuralgia cause fatigue and make concentration difficult. The results of this study will lead to testing BIIB074 in a larger pool of subjects to confirm its effectiveness compared to other therapies. http://www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/2017/03_March/Hygiene_Connection/Novel_Substance_May_Reduce_Chronic_Nerve_Pain_in_Teeth.aspx Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter March 2017

Class Action Lawsuit Accuses Drugmakers, Pharmacy Benefit Managers Of Collusion On Price Of Insulin.

reports that a 69-count class action lawsuit has been filed against “leading drugmakers,” such as Sanofi-Aventis, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, and “the country’s three largest pharmacy benefit managers – CVS Health, Express Scripts and OptumRx.” The lawsuit claims that the drugmakers and pharmacy benefit managers “colluded to fix prices for insulin, leading to skyrocketing costs and windfall profits for the companies.” https://www.bna.com/sanofi-cvs-others-n57982085476/

Global Warming May Result In 100,000 More Diabetes Cases In The US Yearly, Analysis Suggests.

reports that global warming causing a 1°C rise in environmental temperature could result in 100,000 additional cases of diabetes in American adults. Relying on recent studies linking insulin sensitivity to temperature, Dutch scientists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gathered “data on the prevalence of diabetes in all 50 states” and their average temperatures “for each year between 1996 and 2013” and “found that the higher the average temperature in a particular time and place, the higher the age-adjusted incidence of diabetes.” CNN (3/20, Howard) notes that the “study simply reveals an association between climate and diabetes, not a causation.” However, MedPage Today (3/20, Monaco) reports the researchers said “the results were unlikely to be merely due to interstate demographic, socioeconomic, or other differences,” but added that “part of the association can be causally explained by brown fat activity.” The findings were published in the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-global-warming-diabetes-20170320-story.html

Score Based On Common Blood Tests May One Day Help Predict Risk Of Developing A Chronic Disease, Study Suggests.

“Shots” blog reports that research suggests “a score based on common blood tests may” one day “help people gauge their risk of developing a chronic disease like diabetes or dementia within three years of taking the test.” Investigators found that “the Intermountain Chronic Disease Risk Score was 77 to 78 percent accurate in predicting whether someone would be diagnosed with diabetes, kidney failure, coronary artery disease and dementia, among other illnesses.” The score is “based on the results of a comprehensive metabolic panel.” The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting. http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/17/520437040/common-blood-tests-can-help-predict-chronic-disease-risk

Whole-Body Vibration May Help Control Diabetes, Mouse Study Suggests.

investigators “found that mice with diabetes and obesity had similar improvements in muscle mass and insulin sensitivity over 12 weeks when they were assigned to either 45 minutes of daily treadmill walking or 20 minutes of daily whole-body vibration.” Voice of America (3/15, Berman) reports that for the study, “a cage containing both normal and specially bred obese, diabetic mice was placed on a gently vibrating platform for 20 minutes per day for 12 weeks.” A separate “group of rodents – both diabetic and healthy mice – was trained to run on a treadmill for 45 minutes a day for the same period of time.” Meanwhile, “a third group of diabetic and healthy mice remained sedentary.” Science Magazine (3/15, Leslie) reports the investigators “found that exercise and whole-body vibration provided comparable health benefits.” While “all three groups of mice gained weight during the study...those in the exercising and shaken groups put on slightly less than the indolent rodents.” Additionally, “they...had less fat and thicker leg muscles.” https://mail.google.com/_/scs/mail-static/_/js/k=gmail.main.en.LoKcM2ZLOQc.O/m=m_i,pdt,t,it/am=tjiHkf_3_WEcM1CWmmCY_T8_Oan4YM_3_r_uHyCOCn4G_pv9P-D_AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABb1HAB/rt=h/d=1/rs=AHGWq9ADsgRcNrxCLsI-b_S_Cww5Ej72mw

Monsanto Being Sued Over Health Injuries That May Be Related To Roundup.

reports the European Chemicals Agency “gave a Monsanto a boost on Wednesday after determining that the main ingredient in the company’s flagship weed killer should not be classified as causing cancer.” The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer previously “classified the substance as a probable carcinogen two years ago.” The European Glyphosate Task Force’s chairman, Richard Garnett, said Wednesday, “The scientific evidence to support the renewal of glyphosate is overwhelming.” Discussion of the chemical substance is “unlikely to end the debate” as unsealed court records released in San Francisco on Tuesday suggest “that Monsanto had ghostwritten research attributed to academics and indicated that a senior E.P.A. official had worked to halt a review of glyphosate by the Department of Health and Human Services.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/business/key-element-of-monsanto-weed-killer-not-a-carcinogen-european-agency-says.html

Men May Be More Likely Than Women To Die After Osteoporosis-Related Fracture, Study Suggests.

reports that research suggests “men are more likely than women to die after suffering an osteoporosis-related fracture.” The study indicated that “the death rate one year after a fracture was almost 19 percent for men and 13 percent for women.” The study indicated “ankle fractures were the only exception, with similar death rates for men and women of just over 8 percent.” The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://consumer.healthday.com/bone-and-joint-information-4/osteoporosis-news-514/osteoporosis-fractures-may-be-deadlier-for-men-720665.html

Heads Up Football May Reduce Concussions in High School Players Training coaches before the season correlated with lower rate

https://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAOS/63862?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-03-16&eun=g721819d0r&pos=1

Flu Drugs OK for Fetus: Pharmacy Practice News Report Also, bisphosphonates may raise chance of bone microcracks

https://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PracticeManagement/63844?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-03-16&eun=g721819d0r&pos=2

Unsealed Court Documents Raise Questions On Safety Of Monsanto Weed Killer.

reports a federal court unsealed documents that raise questions about the safety of Roundup, as well as “the research practices of its manufacturer, the chemical giant Monsanto.” The documents, which “included Monsanto’s internal emails and email traffic between the company and federal regulators,” suggest the company “had ghostwritten research” into glyphosate’s carcinogenic properties “that was later attributed to academics.” The documents also suggest that a senior EPA official “had worked to quash a review of Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate, that was to have been conducted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/business/monsanto-roundup-safety-lawsuit.html

Hypnosis, Antidepressant Therapies May Lead To Similar Reductions In Hot Flash Symptoms In Postmenopausal Women, Study Suggests.

reports researchers found that “postmenopausal women who reported bothersome hot flashes experienced a similar reduction in symptoms when assigned to antidepressant therapy or hypnosis.” However, “a combination of the two therapies yielded no greater benefit than the individual treatments.” The findings of the 71-patient study were published in Menopause. http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/hormone-therapy/news/in-the-journals/%7B4e17a423-3dc6-4e70-9e9e-986659d433bb%7D/hypnosis-antidepressant-therapies-confer-similar-reductions-in-hot-flash-symptoms

New Less Invasive Options To Treat Obesity Highlighted.

summarizes new “treatment options” to help treat people with obesity. In fact, “over the past two years, physical interventions that are less invasive than bariatric surgery and new formulations of established drugs have received Food and Drug Administration approval.” The article describes a new device to “empty part of their stomach contents before the calories can be digested,” gastric balloons, and various medications. http://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/eschewing-fat-new-obesity-treatments-offer-new-choices/

Prevalence Of Vertebral Fractures May Be Predicted By Visceral Adipose Tissue In Women, Study Suggests.

reported, “The prevalence of vertebral fractures may be predicted by high fat mass, particularly visceral adipose tissue, in women, but adiposity was not associated with prevalence of vertebral fracture in men,” researchers found. The findings of the 342-adult study were published online in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/bone-mineral-metabolism/news/in-the-journals/%7B38e0046a-069c-4478-a09b-4b2594acb115%7D/visceral-adipose-tissue-associated-with-vertebral-fracture-in-women

Column: Sperm Count And Sperm Quality Are Both In Decline.

Nicholas Kristof wrote in his column in the New York Times (3/12, SR9, Subscription Publication) that sperm count and sperm quality have both significantly declined over the past 75 years, according to scientific research. Dr. Andrea Gore, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Texas and the editor of the journal Endocrinology, said, “Semen quality and fertility in men have decreased. Not everyone who wants to reproduce will be able to. And the costs of male disorders to quality of life, and the economic burden to society, are inestimable.” Endocrine Society member Dr. Niels Erik Skakkebaek, a Danish fertility scholar, said, “I think we are at a turning point. It is a matter of whether we can sustain ourselves.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/11/opinion/sunday/are-your-sperm-in-trouble.html?_r=0

Just One Episode Of Hypoglycemia May Increase Risk Of Death, Heart Disease, And Stroke In People With T2D, Study Indicates.

, “Just one episode of dangerously low blood sugar [hypoglycemia] might increase the risk of death, heart disease and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes [T2D],” researchers found after studying some “1,200” middle-aged “adults with type 2 diabetes who were followed for an average of 15 years.” The findings were scheduled for presentation at the American Heart Association’s meeting. https://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/type-ii-diabetes-news-183/severe-low-blood-sugar-episode-may-up-death-risk-in-those-with-type-2-diabetes-720488.html

Some Experts Concerned Reports About Pesticides In Produce Could Send Consumers Mixed Messages.

reports the Environmental Working Group’s annual “Clean Fifteen” and “Dirty Dozen” produce lists, which ranks produce according to their pesticide contents, may be oversimplifying a complex nutritional topic and could be sending mixed signals when other experts are simply trying to encourage people to eat more produce in general. One critic of the EWG’s reports, Boise State University assistant professor Cynthia Curl, concedes that the reports may have some value for those looking to consume fewer pesticides for whatever reason, but she went on to say, “We know so much about the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and there’s so much uncertainty about levels of residues. ... I never want my work to be interpreted as we shouldn’t eat fruits and vegetables because we can’t afford organic.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-09/how-organic-produce-can-make-america-less-healthy

People With The Least Gluten In Their Diets May Have Slightly Higher Risk Of Developing T2D Over A Few Decades, Study Suggests.

“In a large study of US health professionals,” researchers found that “those with the least gluten in their diets actually had a slightly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes [T2D] over a few decades.” Some 200,000 healthcare professionals were involved in the study. The findings were scheduled for presentation at a meeting of the American Heart Association. https://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/gluten-975/downside-to-gluten-free-diets-diabetes-risk-720525.html One concern with going low-gluten is that it could cut out major sources of dietary fiber -- which, research suggests, helps ward off type 2 diabetes and other chronic ills. In this study, people with low gluten intakes did eat less grain-based fiber. And that seemed to partly account for their higher diabetes risk, Zong said.

a hormone secreted by bone, called lipocalin 2 (LCN2), suppresses appetite in mice

reports new research published in Nature indicates “that a hormone secreted by bone, called lipocalin 2 (LCN2), suppresses appetite in mice.” The results indicate that LCN2 “crosses the rodents’ blood-brain barrier and binds a receptor in the hypothalamus.” Michael Krashes of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, who did not participate in the study, commented, “The big question that still remains unexplored at this point [is]: Why would something that’s secreted by the bone suppress food intake? The next step is to try and figure out why that is.” http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/48757/title/Hormone-Released-by-Bone-Suppresses-Appetite/

Acute Exercise May Affect Expression Of Insulin Resistance Genes In Skeletal Muscles Of Women With PCOS, Research Suggests.

“Acute exercise appeared to affect the expression of insulin resistance genes in the skeletal muscles of women with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS],” researchers found after assigning “four women with PCOS and obesity and four control participants with obesity but not PCOS to a single 40-minute bout of aerobic exercise after an overnight fast,” then taking muscle samples. The findings were published online in Clinical Endocrinology. Exercise has been considered the first-choice treatment to offset insulin resistance by enhancing the insulin-mediated molecular pathway and stimulating GLUT4 translocation via insulin-dependent pathways. In PCOS, however, exercise training was unable to resolve insulin resistance.” Researchers identified a “significant upregulation” of six different genes in the PCOS group, including NFKBIA, MAPK3, PPARGC1A and PPARA. In the control group, the researchers reported, 12 genes were upregulated after exercise: LEPR, CXCR4, CCR5, IL18R1, CRLF2, ACACA, CEBPA, PPARGC1A, UCP1, TNFSRF1B, TLR4 and IKBKB. The PCOS group showed upregulation of three genes after exercise: SOCS3, NAMPT and IL8. The IL-6 gene was upregulated in both groups after the exercise session, http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/reproduction-androgen-disorders/news/in-the-journals/%7Bd7753e5f-69da-4671-8948-a4a8e62188e8%7D/exercise-alters-expression-of-insulin-related-genes-in-women-with-pcos

American Adults Having Less Sex, Research Indicates.

reports that research published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior indicates that “overall, American adults are having less sex than they did a quarter century ago, with married people showing the most dramatic decline.” Investigators, “using 1989-2014 data from the General Social Survey...found that American adults have sex seven to nine fewer times per year than in the 1990s.” During that time, “the average person had sex 60 to 62 times a year, but in the early 2000s the frequency began to slip, and by 2014 it had declined to less than 53 times a year.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/americans-having-less-sex-than-they-once-did/2017/03/06/e367ce58-0298-11e7-b9fa-ed727b644a0b_story.html?utm_term=.428a7b022df7

Advertisement Poor Diet May Be A Factor In Nearly Half Of US Deaths From Heart Disease, Stroke, And Diabetes, Study Suggests.

reported in a two-minute segment on “startling news...about what’s associated with half of all fatal heart attacks and strokes.” NBC News correspondent Ann Thompson explained, “Heart disease, stroke, type two diabetes” are “all major killers. Now a new study finds almost half those deaths are associated with a poor diet.” The AP (3/7, Tanner) reports that the research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests “overeating or not eating enough of...10 foods and nutrients contributes to nearly half of U.S. deaths from” heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The researchers found that “foods that were under-eaten include: nuts and seeds, seafood rich in omega-3 fats...fruits and vegetables; and whole grains.” Meanwhile, “foods or nutrients that were over-eaten include salt and salty foods; processed meats including bacon, bologna and hot dogs; red meat including steaks and hamburgers; and sugary drinks.” reports that the investigators found that “blacks and Hispanics were more strongly affected by the dietary factors than whites.” The researchers wrote, “Overall, suboptimal diet was associated with 53.1 percent of total estimated cardiometabolic deaths among blacks, 50 percent among Hispanics, and 42.8 percent among whites.” http://www.nbcnews.com/health/heart-health/these-10-foods-affect-your-risk-heart-disease-most-n730141

Fewer Overweight Americans Trying To Lose Weight, Study Suggests.

reports that the researchers found that the largest “decline in weight loss striving was among black women, the group with the highest rates of obesity in the study.” Study author Dr. Jian Zhang “says he believes the number-one reason for the drop is that so many people struggle to lose weight and keep it off, a process that discourages them.” Meanwhile, “being overweight or obese is also becoming the norm, so people may feel less pressure to lose weight, he says.” http://time.com/4692274/americans-lose-weight-obesity/

Antivirals for Expectant Moms Did Not Harm Babies Neuraminidase inhibitors not tied to increased risks of adverse outcomes

Pregnant women who took the antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) during pregnancy did not have an increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes, according to a study of European registries. Instead, exposure to neuraminidase inhibitors was linked with a slightly reduced risk of low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.65-0.91) and giving birth to a small for gestational age infant (adjusted OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.87), reported Sophie Graner, MD, of Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, and colleagues. This study included the period of the 2009-2010 influenza A/H1N1 pandemic, the authors noted, when the number of women who took neuraminidase inhibitors during pregnancy "increased markedly" compared with previous years, they wrote in BMJ. The authors said that they wanted to evaluate risk of adverse outcomes associated with taking antivirals during pregnancy, due to "the uncertainty about the aggressiveness of the next pandemic virus outbreak and the possibility of spreading in vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, means that preparedness is critical." http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Pregnancy/63481?xid=nl_mpt_Weekly_Education_2017-03-08&eun=g5883165d1r

Obese Girls May Face Higher Risk For Developing Allergies, Study Suggests.

reports that research suggests “obese girls may face a significantly higher risk for developing allergies,” but “obese boys...may actually face a slightly diminished risk for asthma, food allergies and eczema when compared to normal-weight boys.” The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. https://consumer.healthday.com/respiratory-and-allergy-information-2/misc-allergy-news-17/obesity-may-raise-girls-risk-of-asthma-allergies-720387.html

Happy National Nutrition Month!

At the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, we're empowering kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits. How? By creating healthier schools and afterschool programs for more than 20 million kids and counting. This month, we're sharing our favorite recipes and wellness stories from parents, students and school staff. Follow @HealthierGen on Twitter for all the latest and greatest meals, tips and tricks to keep you and your family healthy all year long.

A Skin-Based Test for Alzheimer's Disease? Small study show high Tau protein levels in buccal swabs

Patients with Alzheimer's disease had significantly higher levels of the disease-associated protein phosphorylated Tau (P-tau) in buccal mucosal swabs as compared with a normal control group, a small preliminary study showed. Swabs from 11 patients with Alzheimer's disease had median immunostaining for P-tau of 45% as compared with 18% for the healthy control patients. However, a comparative analysis of 10 cadaveric brains from patients with various neurodegenerative disorders failed to identify Tau protein in the brainstem of any specimens despite the presence of neurofibrillary tangles in the hippocampal area, reported Sami Saikaly, a medical student at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, and colleagues. The findings added to previous evidence of p-Tau accumulation in epidermal cells, and investigators vowed to continue looking for a possible Tau pathology pathway between the brain and periphery, which might have diagnostic potential in Alzheimer's disease. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAD/63599?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-03-06&eun=g721819d0r&pos=3

Significantly Increased Risks Of Falls, Fractures May Be Associated With Vitamin D Megadoses, Researchers Say.

reported that there appear to be “significantly increased risks of falls and fractures associated with vitamin D megadoses,” researchers found. In research presented at the American Academy of Dermatology’s annual meeting, investigators reported that “a single, annual intramuscular injection of 500,000 IU increased the risk of fracture by 50% over three years,” while “oral doses of 60,000 IU per month, given once a month, increased the chance of both falls and fractures.” http://www.mdedge.com/clinicalendocrinologynews/article/132688/geriatrics/large-intermittent-vitamin-d-doses-may-increase HOW???

Morning People May Eat Better, Earlier In The Day Than Those Who Go To Bed Late, Leading To Higher Risk For Obesity Among Those Late To Bed, Study Suggests.

reported that research suggests “morning people tend to eat better and earlier in the day than late-to-bed types,” which results in “a higher risk of obesity for the night owls, said study lead author Mirkka Maukonen.” The findings were published in Obesity. https://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/food-and-nutrition-news-316/do-early-birds-get-the-healthier-worm-720163.html

Curbing Marketing to Students: What the Final Wellness Policy Rule Means for Schools

Resources and Helpful Updates Webinar: Curbing Unhealthy Food & Beverage Marketing to Students On March 9 at 11am PT, join ChangeLab Solutions and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for a free, one-hour webinar about how the USDA’s final rule affects food and beverage marketing in schools. Presenters will provide practical tips to help districts remove unhealthy marketing and handle challenges that arise. Register today! Go Green with a Green Monster Smoothie This smoothie will help you start your child’s day with a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables. With just two steps (combine ingredients and blend!), you can prepare this recipe on even the busiest mornings. https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/#/?meeting=mgkv53415fn3&campaign=2bumbuvgr03a&_cldee=YW15ZHVnYW4yQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ%3D%3D&recipientid=contact-e93ebf3c3d6ce411bec16c3be5a8f744-aabcf2659c5848b2ae7eaa497f274cf8&utm_source=ClickDimensions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HSP%20Newsletters&esid=7e25da36-79ff-e611-80fe-5065f38a0a41

3 Ways to Serve a Healthy Morning Meal

3 Ways to Serve a Healthy Morning Meal in Honor of National School Breakfast Week Everyone agrees that kids benefit physically and academically when they start the day with a healthy breakfast. Today’s schools are finding many creative ways to feed students in the morning by thinking outside of the traditional cafeteria model. In honor of National School Breakfast Week, catch up on the latest breakfast trends and learn how they’re working in schools across the country. https://mail.google.com/_/scs/mail-static/_/js/k=gmail.main.en.It2gDzpx_rU.O/m=m_i,pdt,t,it/am=tjiHkf_3_SGOGShLTTTM_p_fXCo-2PO9___7B4ijgp-B_2b_D_g_AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMAWNRQ/rt=h/d=1/rs=AHGWq9CtIRftMLi17hvODfI1Uveg1hWAZw

Adults Who Eat At Home With TV Off May Have Lower Likelihood Of Obesity, Study Suggests.

reports that research suggests “adults who never watch TV during family meals and eat mostly home-cooked food are much less likely than others to be obese.” While previous “research has suggested that more frequent family meals are linked to lower obesity,” the new study indicated that “eating at home, rather than out, and without the television on, was tied to lower obesity risk regardless of how often family was present.” The findings were published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-obesity-meals-tv-idUSKBN16928E

Chair Of Task Force Discusses Guideline On Pediatric Obesity.

Dennis M. Styne, MD, chair of the task force that created the latest Clinical Practice Guideline on pediatric obesity.” Dr. Styne discusses “the latest recommendations in treating these patients and how not all treatments are dependent on the physician.” The guideline is available online in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. http://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/qa-dennis-m-styne-md/

Metabolic Diseases May Lead To Changes In Oral Bacteria That May Increase Risk Of Oral Health Problems, Study Suggests.

reports that research suggests “metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes lead to changes in oral bacteria that in turn can increase risk of oral health problems.” The findings were published in PLOS ONE. http://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/diabetes/63496

H7N9 Flu Outbreak Largest Yet But risk of sustained transmission among people remains low: WHO

The current wave of H7N9 avian flu in China is the largest yet and accounts for more than a third of the human cases recorded since the strain was identified in 2013, according to an official of the World Health Organization. But most other characteristics of the current outbreak, now standing at 460 cases, are similar to earlier waves, including the median age of patients, their history of exposure to poultry, and the risk of dying from the disease, said Wenqing Zhang, MD, head of the agency's global influenza program. Risk of sustained transmission between people remains low, she told reporters in a telephone briefing, but "constant change is the nature of all influenza viruses (making) influenza a persistent and significant threat to public health." http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/URItheFlu/63494?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-03-02&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Eleven Types Of Cancers May Have Strong Associations With Excess Body Fat, Research Suggests.

reports that a “systematic literature review” found that “eleven types of cancers showed strong associations with excess body fat.” In the “study to ‘evaluate the strength and validity of the evidence for the association between adiposity and risk of developing or dying from cancer,’ the strongest evidence was seen for cancers of the gastric cardia, colon, rectum, biliary tract system, pancreas, breast, endometrium, ovary, kidney, esophageal adenocarcinoma, and multiple myeloma.” The findings were published in The BMJ. Also covering the story are Medscape (2/28, Mulcahy), The Guardian (UK) (2/28, Davis), the Telegraph (UK) (2/28, Bodkin), and CBC (CAN) (2/28). http://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/obesity/63478

Topical Testosterone Replacement Gel Therapy Found To Be Safe, Effective In Men With Hypogonadism.

reports that researchers found that “men with hypogonadism using a topical testosterone replacement gel therapy administered with a hands-free cap applicator reported high satisfaction with the treatment and had improved testosterone levels.” The findings were published in Endocrine Practice. http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/hormone-therapy/news/in-the-journals/%7B4d8945d2-4f15-45bf-9917-d95945237a6a%7D/topical-testosterone-replacement-gel-therapy-safe-effective-in-hypogonadism

Treatment of HIV-Infected Neonates Suppresses Virus Some babies appear free of infection

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/CROI/63158?xid=nl_mpt_Weekly_Education_2017-03-01&eun=g5883165d1r

Wide Use of New HCV Drugs Prevents New Cases 'Treatment as prevention' possible

Unrestricted use of new direct-acting agents against hepatitis C (HCV) can markedly reduce the rate of new infections, a researcher said here. That's based on analysis of what happened in the Netherlands among gay men with both HIV and HCV when unlimited access to the new, highly effective agents was rolled out in 2015, according to Bart Rijnders, MD, PhD, of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Uptake of the drugs was substantial and the rate of new HCV infections was cut in half, Rijnders told reporters at the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). The study looked at a well-characterized cohort of men in HIV care, Rijnders said, but there's not reason to think the same effect would not apply to wider population. "It's an example of what is possible if you search for hepatitis C and treat it as soon as possible and you have the money and the drugs," Rijnders told MedPage Today. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/CROI/63242?xid=nl_mpt_Weekly_Education_2017-03-01&eun=g5883165d1r