New Hep C Treatment Can Cure Most Patients

hepatitis C without interferon, with cure rates often exceeding 95%, according to a recently published review. "Oral DAA regimens that are highly efficacious, well-tolerated, and relatively short in duration are now available for all [hepatitis C virus] genotypes and for patient populations historically considered difficult to cure," wrote Oluwaseun Falade-Nwulia, MBBS, MPH, from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore and co-authors. The systematic review, which looked at 42 studies of DAAs used in interferon-free regimens, is published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine. "There are now several highly effective and well-tolerated regimens that can be used to produce cure of hepatitis C in a wide range of chronically infected persons," Raymond Chung, MD, chief of hepatology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/reading-room/aga/lower-gi/64857?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-28&eun=g721819d0r&pos=2

Rate Of Serious Complications Following Bariatric Surgery Varies Widely Among Accredited Centers Of Excellence, Study Suggests.

reports that the rate of serious complications following bariatric surgery varied from .6% to 10.3% among facilities that had been “accredited as centers of excellence,” according to a study published in JAMA Surgery. The study’s lead author pointed out that becoming accredited doesn’t require a “measure of outcomes, it’s just a process list.” http://khn.org/news/center-of-excellence-designation-doesnt-mean-a-lack-of-bariatric-complications/

Food Industry Seeks Delay Or Repeal Of Labeling Requirements.

citing, “petitions filed with the Food and Drug Administration,” reports that industry groups are “seeking to delay or do away with Obama-era rules governing the disclosure of calories, sugar, fiber and serving size.” Petitions have been filed by the National Association of Convenience Stores, National Grocers Association, and American Bakers Association, seeking “suspension of far-reaching Obama-era nutritional regulations.” The groups have targeted “a requirement to include calorie counts on menus,” and sought a delay on “new food labels” requiring “serving size and calorie information in a large, bold-faced font.” So far, the Post adds, “the Trump administration appears receptive.” The Chicago Tribune (4/27, Bomkamp) reports the rule to require calorie counts on menus “is in limbo, just days before it was set to take effect” on May 5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/04/27/industry-is-counting-on-trump-to-back-off-rules-that-tell-you-whats-in-your-food/?utm_term=.49a3bbec300b

Regular Exercise May Help Reduce Effects Of FTO Gene Variant That Raises Obesity Risk, Study Indicates.

reports research suggests that “when people carried” the FTO “gene variant that raises obesity risk, regular exercise seemed to reduce the effects of their DNA – by about one-third.” Investigators arrived at this conclusion after analyzing data on some “200,000 adults, mostly of European descent, who’d taken part in previous health studies,” then examining how weight and “exercise habits” went on to interact “with 2.5 million gene variants.” The findings were published online in PLOS Genetics. https://consumer.healthday.com/fitness-information-14/misc-health-news-265/no-excuses-exercise-can-overcome-the-obesity-gene-722104.html

Some Human Stem Cells Used In Research Laboratories May Have Cancer-Causing Mutations, Study Suggests.

reports some human stem cells that have been grown in laboratories for research on experimental treatments “contain serious cancer-causing mutations,” according to a study published online in Nature. Researchers analyzed “samples of most of the human embryonic stem cell lines registered with the National Institutes of Health for use in both basic research and in developing therapies for patients,” and “found that five of the 140 lines had cells with a cancer-causing mutation.” The article mentions that the “Food and Drug Administration does not require researchers to sequence the DNA of cells before putting them into people.” https://www.statnews.com/2017/04/26/stem-cells-cancer-mutations/

FDA Warns Against Bogus Cancer Treatments Sold On Internet.

reported the FDA has issued warnings to 14 companies that sell “more than 65 allegedly illegal cancer cures” without FDA approval. Consumers should not use these or similar unproven products because they may be unsafe and could prevent a person from seeking an appropriate and potentially lifesaving cancer diagnosis or treatment.” http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/25/health/cancer-treatments-illegal-fraudulent-misleading-fda/index.html

Expectant Moms Who Receive Probiotic Supplementation May Have Reduced Prevalence Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Study Indicates.

Pregnant women who received Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 supplementation between 14 weeks and 16 weeks of gestation had a significantly reduced prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with patients receiving placebo,” researchers found in a randomized study involving 423 expectant mothers. The findings were published online in the British Journal of Nutrition. https://mail.google.com/_/scs/mail-static/_/js/k=gmail.main.en.wpAEs6zGIvI.O/m=m_i,pdt,t,it/am=toBziPz_94c5zMAsNcEw5__zl5PjYc_3_v_9A-So4Gfgv9n_A_wfAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGCL4hA/rt=h/d=1/rs=AHGWq9BZ4KtW6ThXZnMWhNo-Pa_Y6q4dTg

Fecal Transplant Good For the Brain? Small trial tests microbiome transfer in hepatic encephalopathy

https://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/EASL/64713?xid=nl_mpt_Weekly_Education_2017-04-26&eun=g5883165d1r

Early Puberty May Be Linked To Higher Chance Of Developing Cancer In Later Life, Study Suggests.

reports that research published in Nature Genetics suggests “starting puberty early increases the chances of developing cancer in later life.” Investigators “found that for every one year earlier a person goes through puberty, their chances of going on to develop breast cancer increase by 6 per cent.” The study indicated that “the risk rises 28 per cent for endometrial cancer, 8 per cent of for ovarian cancer and 9 per cent for prostate cancer.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/04/24/early-puberty-increases-cancer-risk-research-proves/

Obesity Is Leading Preventable Cause Of US Lost Life-Years, Research Suggests.

reports “obesity is the leading cause of preventable life-years lost in the nation,” according to research scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine. Researchers found that the “other top preventable health problems” in the US are “diabetes, tobacco, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.” https://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/obesity-health-news-505/the-top-5-conditions-that-shorten-americans-lives-and-are-preventable-721890.html

Opioid Use Among Older Patients Increasing, Studies Suggest.

reports that, according to the CDC, Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 comprised 44 percent of deaths due to opioid overdoses in 2013 and 2014. The rising figures have spurred health officials to issue new guidelines for dosage requirements, while organizations such as the Doctors Co. are working to assist physicians in applying new CDC guidelines and patients in safely managing pain. https://www.wsj.com/articles/opiod-use-soars-among-middle-aged-and-elderly-1492999801

Climate Tied to Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Is alcoholic cirrhosis a product of cold, gray weather?

Shah noted that heavy alcohol intake can give the perception of warmth -- a fact that leads to the assumption that people in countries with colder weather drink more and might therefore have increased prevalence of alcoholic liver diseases. And it's known that hours of sunlight are related to both temperature and depression and therefore also could influence alcohol use, he added. Bu the assumptions have not been tested using global epidemiological data, he said. the analysis showed significant links between the AAF and average temperature, mean annual sunshine hours, and latitude, so Shah's group conducted a further multivariate analysis, adjusting for the percentage of binge drinkers among active drinkers and average alcohol consumption. That analysis showed average temperature and sunshine hours remained independently associated with AAF. Shah said. For instance, for every degree Celsius increase in temperature there is an observed 0.3% decrease in AAF. Although there are likely many other factors that come into play, Shah said, one possible implication of the study is that public policy measures to prevent alcohol cirrhosis should be especially active in colder climates. https://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/EASL/64734?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-24&eun=g721819d0r&pos=2

Lupus Patients at Risk for Stroke Risks high for women, the young, and during the year after diagnosis

several factors could have contributed to increased stroke incidence in SLE patients, notably that inflammation, possibly stemming from immunological challenges like infections or lupus flares, might have led to atherosclerosis or thrombosis. "Risk factors that predict stroke in the general population do not appear to accurately predict stroke in SLE," they wrote. "This suggests that an SLE-specific risk score, with evidence-based guidelines for stroke prevention, is necessary to decrease the excess risk we observe in these patients." https://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/64729?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-24&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Genetic Testing Creates New Challenge For Parents To Decide When To Share Information About Genetic Risks With Children.

reports the growth of genetic testing has “created a new challenge for parents and medical experts: when to share information with children who may inherit a genetic risk.” The article reports that some experts recommend waiting to tell minors because they may not be able to cope with the information, while others recommend sharing the information with adolescents because that may help them prepare for the possibility that they also carry the same genetic risk. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/well/family/when-to-tell-daughters-about-a-genetic-breast-cancer-risk.html?_r=0

Consumption Of Artificially-Sweetened Beverages May Be Linked To Higher Risk Of Stroke, Dementia, Study Suggests.

reports that the study, published in Stroke, found that individuals “who drank at least one artificially-sweetened beverage a day had almost three times the risk of developing stroke or dementia.” The researchers “did not find the same link between stroke and dementia in people who drank sugar-sweetened beverages, but the authors say that doesn’t mean it’s time for people to start” consuming “those either.” The researchers controlled for several other risk factors, including age, sex, caloric intake, education, diabetes, and the presence of genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s. The results showed that people who consumed at least one artificially-sweetened drink a day were three times as likely to develop ischemic stroke and 2.9 times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease dementia. MAYBE they impact cravings, gut microbes, and hormones leading to more systemic inflammation that impacts the brain??? In addition to being an observational study which cannot prove cause and effect, the authors note the study several other limitations, including that the overwhelming majority of participants were white. People did not drink sugary drinks as often as diet ones, which the authors said could be one reason they did not see the same link with regular soda. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/diet-soda-dementia-stroke-heart-risks-new-study/

New Hep C Combo Cures Most Patients with Cirrhosis Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir highly effective against most hepatitis C genotypes

https://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Hepatitis/64677?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-21&eun=g721819d0r&pos=4

CDC Names Top Culprits in Foodborne Illness 2016 data now include culture-independent diagnostic testing results

Campylobacter and Salmonella were responsible for the highest number of reported bacterial foodborne-illnesses in 2016, CDC researchers said. Overall, both pathogens each caused over 8,000 infections, confirmed either via traditional method or only by culture-independent diagnostic tests. Shigella was a distant third, involved in 2,913 bacterial foodborne-illnesses in 2016, according to Ellyn Marder, MPH, and colleagues. But compared with 2013-2015, incidence of Campylobacter was significantly lower (11% decrease) when including only confirmed infections, but not significantly different when including both confirmed and those confirmed using only culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs), the authors reported in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Campylobacter (8,547) Salmonella (8,172) Shigella (2,913) STEC (1,845) Cryptosporidium (1,816) Yersinia (302) Vibrio (252) Listeria (127) Cyclospora (55) https://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/PublicHealth/64674?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-21&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Seven Key Factors Identified That May Help Explain Relationship Between Educational Attainment, T2D Risk.

reports investigators have “identified seven key risk factors that help explain the relationship between educational attainment and type 2 diabetes [T2D] risk” after studying data on some 7,462 German adults ages 50 to 75. The seven risk factors are body-mass index, “alcohol consumption, hypertension, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, physical activity, and smoking.” Taken together, “these seven factors explained 32% of the relationship between education and type 2 diabetes risk,” the study revealed. The findings were published online in BMJ Open. http://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/diabetes/64651

No Science Proving Existence Of Adrenal Fatigue, Endocrinologists Say.

Adrenal fatigue is one of the latest in a long line of maladies that traditional doctors say is a bunch of hooey.” According to Today, “endocrinologists say there is no science proving the existence of adrenal fatigue.” What’s more, “supplements and herbs used to treat adrenal fatigue can actually screw up your adrenal glands, according to The Hormone Health Network, the public education affiliate of the Endocrine Society.” http://www.today.com/health/what-adrenal-fatigue-some-doctors-doubt-vague-symptoms-t110398

Even Short-Term Corticosteroid Use May Have Serious Side Effects, Research Suggests.

“Well” blog reports that “even short-term use” of corticosteroids may “have serious side effects,” researchers concluded after analyzing “records of 1,548,945 Americans aged 18 to 64 who were enrolled in a nationwide health care insurance program from 2012 to 2014.” The study revealed that “even at a relatively low dose of 20 milligrams a day or less,” patients on corticosteroids “had four times the risk of sepsis...more than triple the risk of blood clots and almost twice the risk of a fractured bone.” The findings were published online in the BMJ. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/well/live/steroids-may-be-risky-even-in-the-short-term.html

Studies Underscore Dangers Caused By Exposure To Environmental Toxins, Common Household Chemicals.

a “range of studies presented at ENDO 2017” which underscored “the dangers caused by exposure to environmental toxins and chemicals commonly found in and around the household.” Research presented at the meeting “identified links to increased risks of thyroid, testicular and breast cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and even the early onset of puberty for boys, which can lead to diseases in adulthood.” http://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/endo-2017/environmental-toxins-linked-to-thyroid-breast-cancer/article/650846/

Nonadherence To Prescribed Medications Is An “Epidemic” In The US.

Nonadherence to prescribed medications” is “an out-of-control epidemic in the” US “that costs more and affects more people than any disease Americans currently worry about.” The article suggests that nonadherence “explains why so many patients don’t get better, suffer surprising relapses or even die when they are given drug prescriptions that should keep their disorders under control,” cites research on how widespread the problem is, and also outlines why the problem may be so common. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/17/well/the-cost-of-not-taking-your-medicine.html?_r=0

Consumption Of Low-Calories Sweeteners Associated With Upregulation Of Gene Expression For Glucose Transporters,

http://www.mdedge.com/clinicalendocrinologynews/article/135906/obesity/low-calorie-sweeteners-may-allow-more-glucose-enter Individuals in both groups had kept a 7-day food diary before the biopsies were taken, so Dr. Sen and his coinvestigators knew whether or not they had consumed low-calorie sweeteners and in what quantity. Reported sweeteners were sucralose, acesulfame-potassium, and aspartame. The adipose tissue biopsies were examined for mRNA expression of adipogenic genes, as well as for glucose transporters and inflammatory markers. In individuals with low-calorie sweetener exposure, the glucose transporter GLUT1 was overexpressed by 2- to 2.2-fold, while the glucose transporter GLUT4 was overexpressed by a factor of 2.7-4.3. In addition, low-calorie sweetener consumption was associated with up to 2.5-fold overexpression of the sweet taste receptor TAS1R3. Sweet taste receptors are G protein–coupled receptors that are present in taste buds and in other tissues, serving as carbohydrate sensors. Adipogenic genes were also overexpressed; a 1.5- to 2.4-fold increase was seen in PPARG, for example.

Medicinal Cannabis Treatments Coming, Experts Say

Medicinal cannabis industry officials and scholars here touted potential breakthroughs to treat health problems and questioned why cannabidiol (CBD) is not mandatory for athletes to address traumatic brain injury (TBI). Others, meanwhile, cautioned the field needs much more research and regulation. "The whole concept of cannabis as medicine is very new," Stuart Titus, PhD, told MedPage Today during an interview at the Americans for Safe Access (ASA) annual meeting on medical cannabis last week. "Everything is at such a ground-floor state." Medical professionals including Titus, a former physiotherapist working with athletes, cited cannabis medicines being developed (including these by Axim Biotech) for heath problems including: Chronic pain Cancer-induced pain and nausea Irritable bowel syndrome and irritable bowel disease Psoriasis and dermatitis Multiple sclerosis https://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/64606?xid=NL_breakingnews_2017-04-18&eun=g721819d0r

Overcoming Opioids: The quest for less addictive drugs

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MED_OVERCOMING_OPIOIDS_BETTER_DRUGS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-04-17-01-30-39

Is Fitness a Pocketbook Issue? If cost is an issue, maybe a tax incentive is the answer

Should Congress allow the use of pre-tax dollars to pay gym fees? https://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/ExerciseFitness/64587?xid=NL_breakingnews_2017-04-17&eun=g721819d0r

Kids Face Slightly Higher Allergy Risk When Mom Has Lupus

Genetics, shared environmental exposures, as well as in utero exposure to maternal autoantibodies and cytokines may mediate this increased risk," wrote a Canadian team led by Julie Couture, MD, then of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, now of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. They noted that only a few small, observational studies have assessed the risk of allergic conditions in the children of women with SLE. https://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/64572?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-17&eun=g721819d0r&pos=1

Crohn's Admissions Persist Despite New Treatments No change from 2003 to 2013, according to CDC

https://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/InflammatoryBowelDisease/64555?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-14&eun=g721819d0r&pos=3

Understanding Sex Differences May Improve Outcomes in IBS Variations in gut physiology, motility, and hormone-related pain perception help drive the differential

https://www.medpagetoday.com/reading-room/aga/lower-gi/64546?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-14&eun=g721819d0r&pos=2

Prescription Drug Shortages Cause Sharp Price Increases For Alternatives, Study Suggests.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/prescription-drug-shortages-help-push-up-prices-of-similar-drugs-1492030801

Use Of Combination Corticosteroid Asthma Inhaler May Be Associated With Growth Delay, Adrenocorticotropic Suppression In Kids, Researchers Say.

http://www.mdedge.com/clinicalendocrinologynews/article/135630/pediatrics/dulera-inhaler-linked-adrenocorticotropic

Two Studies Shed Light On Various Factors Affecting Vitamin D Levels In The Body.

http://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/let-sunshine-new-studies-illuminate-vitamin-d/

Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes Rates Continue To Rise Among US Youngsters, Research Suggests.

reports, “Diabetes increased in teens and children over the past decade,” research suggests. The Examiner quotes Barbara Linder, senior adviser for childhood diabetes research at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, who said, “We need to understand why the increase in rates of diabetes development varies so greatly and is so concentrated in specific racial and ethnic groups.” http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/diabetes-rising-sharply-in-kids/article/2620155

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals May Be Responsible For Decline In Sperm Counts, Experts Say.

reports growing concern about a potential “reproductive crisis” that could arise if sperm counts continue to decline as they have been in many countries for decades. The article highlights experts who say that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are responsible for the decline in sperm counts as well as other negative health outcomes based on studies conducted with animals. The article reports that the National Institutes of Health says that EDCs “may...produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife,” and that further study is needed. The article adds the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences says EDCs “may pose the greatest risk during prenatal and early postnatal development when organ and neural systems are forming.” Endocrine Society member Andrea Gore, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Texas at Austin and editor of the journal Endocrinology, said, “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.” http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677497/The-surprising-reproductive-crisis-affecting-all-American-men.html

Fresh Fruit Protects Against Diabetes, Complications Benefits confirmed in large Chinese study

https://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Diabetes/64493?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-12&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Video Chats Helping People Fight Diabetes.

reports on Virta Health, “one of a new crop of high-tech companies that have designed programs aimed at helping people prevent or even reverse their diabetes” through diet and drug recommendations. Daily, “patients use an app to upload their blood sugar levels, blood pressure, body weight and other measurements” that are monitored by a registered dietitian who checks in by phone or email. Initial results that examined the program’s impact on 241 Type 2 diabetics, published in the journal JMIR Diabetes in March, “found that 56 percent had lowered their blood sugar to nondiabetic levels after 10 weeks,” while about 90 percent had reduced or stopped their use of insulin altogether. Omada Health, another San Francisco start-up, targets the 86 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, training people to follow a diet and exercise program that “was shown in a large clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health to lower the risk of progression to diabetes by 58 percent.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/well/live/tackling-weight-loss-and-diabetes-with-video-chats.html

Two Studies Address Rising Rates Of Thyroid Cancer.

In continuing coverage, the Wall Street Journal (4/10, Reddy, Subscription Publication) reports on two studies on rising thyroid cancer rates. A National Cancer Institute-led study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that rates have tripled in the past 40 years. The finding suggests that over-diagnosis is not the “sole explanation for the epidemic of the disease,” explained co-author Julie Sosa. A second Duke University study presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting found that three kinds of flame retardants were associated with higher rates of thyroid cancer. https://www.wsj.com/articles/thyroid-cancer-rates-raise-new-concerns-1491855921

Experimental Oral Natural Hormone Capsule Found To Be Safe, Effective For Menopausal Symptoms, Researchers Say.

reports that TX-001HR, “an oral soft-gel capsule containing standardized doses of natural estrogen (17-β estradiol) and natural progesterone, has been shown in new research to be safe and effective for menopausal symptoms,” research indicated. The findings were presented as a poster at ENDO 2017. https://login.medscape.com/login/sso/getlogin?urlCache=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tZWRzY2FwZS5jb20vdmlld2FydGljbGUvODc4Mzg2&ac=401

Number Of People Being Tested For Vitamin D “Deficiency” Increasing.

reports that an increasing number of people “are being tested for vitamin D ‘deficiency.’” In fact, “the number of blood tests for vitamin D levels among Medicare beneficiaries, mostly people 65 and older, increased 83-fold from 2000 to 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Many who take the vitamin believe it “can help turn back depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, even heart disease or cancer,” even though there is no “widely accepted evidence” that it can. According to the Times, six years ago, an Endocrine Society committee issued” a recommendation that vitamin D levels be at least 30 nanograms per milliliter.” At that time, “the group recommended the taking of supplements but not widespread testing, on the grounds that this would not be cost-effective.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/health/vitamin-d-deficiency-supplements.html?_r=0

Many Factors Contribute to Nurses' Alarm Response Time Response times longer, the longer nurses worked that day

https://www.medpagetoday.com/HospitalBasedMedicine/Nursing/64479?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-11&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Simple Pedometer-Guided Walking Eases RA Fatigue Increased patients' physical activity, lowered pain ratings

https://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/64456?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-10&eun=g721819d0r&pos=4

Banned Flame Retardant Chemicals Present In Bloodstream Of Some Women, Study Indicates.

reported a study conducted by researchers at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California found banned flame retardant chemicals Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, or PBDEs, in the bloodstream of “at least three-quarters” of the 1,253 women sampled, according to lead author Susan Hurley. The exposed women also showed “a small, but statistically meaningful increase in the blood levels of both chemicals over the four-year study period,” from 2011 to 20reported a study conducted by researchers at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California found banned flame retardant chemicals Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, or PBDEs, in the bloodstream of “at least three-quarters” of the 1,253 women sampled, according to lead author Susan Hurley. The exposed women also showed “a small, but statistically meaningful increase in the blood levels of both chemicals over the four-year study period,” from 2011 to 2015. PBDEs were outlawed in the US in 2005. 15. PBDEs were outlawed in the US in 2005. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-environment-flame-retardants-idUSKBN1792BS

Apr 6 2017, 7:51 pm ET This Night Owl Gene Mutation Turns People Into Sleep Martians

Genetic Mutation May Keep People On 24.5-Hour Schedule, Study Suggests.

research indicated people with a particular genetic mutation “tend to be night owls because it keeps them on a perpetual 24 ½ hour schedule.” investigators “looked at 70 people from six families and found that a mutation in a gene called CRY1 was common among those who have a condition known as delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD).” The study indicated that “in people with this condition, the circadian clock runs behind, so they wake up later than normal, and go to bed later than normal.” The researchers found that “the mutation was absent in the members of these same families who did not have DSPD.” http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/gene-mutation-affects-sleep-turning-people-martians-n743526

deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) may help some obese people eat less and lose weight.

reported research suggests deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) may help some obese people eat less and lose weight. In a 14-patient study, researchers found that “the fecal matter of the treated group showed that their gut microbiota contained more of the healthy bacteria associated with anti-inflammatory properties and a reduction of appetite.” In other words, the dTMS sessions “may have directly altered the subjects’ gut microbiome.” The findings were presented at ENDO 2017. https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/will-doctors-one-day-cure-obesity-zapping-patients-brains-224026637.html

Chronic Insufficient Sleep May Be A Factor In Development Of Osteoporosis, Study Indicates.

Investigators found that healthy men had reduced levels of a marker of bone formation in their blood after three weeks of cumulative sleep restriction and circadian disruption — similar to that seen in jet lag or shift work — while a biological marker of bone resorption, or breakdown, was unchanged. https://psychcentral.com/news/2017/04/03/insufficient-sleep-tied-to-bone-loss/118575.html

Fluctuation In Body Weight May Be Linked To Higher Risk Of Heart Attack, Stroke In Overweight Heart Patients, Study Suggests.

reports that investigators found that “patients whose weight fluctuates the most die twice as quickly or have twice the risk of heart attack or stroke compared to people who maintain a stable body weight.” Additionally, “their risk of developing diabetes grows by 78 percent.” http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-heartdisease-weight-fluctuatio-idUSKBN1772TD If you are an overweight person with heart disease who lost 20 pounds "you are worse off if you drop your weight and gain it back" than if you didn't lose it in the first place, chief author Dr. Sripal Bangalore, an interventional cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at New York University's Langone Medical Center told Reuters Health by phone. WHY???

Artificial Sweetener Sucralose May Activate Genes Associated With Fat Production, Inflammation, Research Suggests.

The researchers saw evidence of increased transport of glucose into cells—meaning accumulation of more sugar in the blood— and overexpression of fat-producing genes, compared to samples from subjects who didn’t use the sweeteners. Part of the reason may be that low-calorie sweeteners appear to increase “sweet taste receptors” in abdominal fat, and that allows glucose to enter the cells more readily, the researchers believe. Basically, these receptors are looking for a sweet fix, and low-cal sweeteners—which are often several-fold sweeter than sugar—satisfy that need. Researchers noted that those who regularly consume artificial sweeteners had 2.5-fold higher sweet taste receptor overexpression than those who don’t eat the stuff. As more glucose enters the cells as a result of these receptors, the body absorbs it into the bloodstream, raising blood sugar levels in the body. This process often leads to abdominal fat storage, too. Over time, that can mess with your metabolism, leading to greater fat production. http://www.menshealth.com/weight-loss/artificial-sweetener-and-weight-gain

Multiple Metabolic Abnormalities Seen in Lupus Targeting insulin resistance alone won't be enough

When compared with a control group, patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had higher insulin resistance and hyperglucagonemia, even when their fasting glucose, glucose response, and skeletal muscle GLUT4 translocation appeared normal, reported Fabiana Benatti, PhD, of the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, and colleagues. Specifically, SLE patients who underwent meal tolerance tests (MTT) showed higher: Fasting insulin levels: effect size 1.2 (P=0.01) Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA IR): effect size 1.1 (P=0.03) Insulin-to-glucose ratio response to MTT: effect size 1.2 (P=0.02) Fasting glucagon levels: effect size 2.7 (P=0.002) Glucagon response to MTT: effect size 2.6 (P=0.0001) The authors noted that one of the most striking findings of the study was that the higher insulin levels in SLE patients were not able to control glucagon production. Although glucose and insulin effectively suppressed glucagon secretion during MTT, the SLE group's glucagon levels remained higher than the control group's levels at all times. The investigators also noted that insulin sensitivity was correlated with inflammation markers C-reactive protein and leptin, which could point to inflammation having a role in insulin resistance in SLE. They added that drugs -- notably, prednisone and hydroxychloroquine -- could have influenced their results. "Corticosteroids have been shown to decrease glucose tolerance by increasing hepatic glucose production and decreasing peripheral glucose uptake via a decrease in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity," they stated. "Because 30% of our SLE patients were using prednisone, this could have contributed to the higher insulin resistance observed in this group." In contrast, hydroxychloroquine in SLE patients has been linked to lower levels of fasting glucose and HOMA IR, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers did not observe any association between hydroxychloroquine use and insulin sensitivity. "However, because 70% of our patients were using this medication, it is possible that hydroxychloroquine may have attenuated potential deleterious effects of prednisone on insulin sensitivity," they wrote. https://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/64321?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-05&eun=g721819d0r&pos=1

Flu Shot Cut Risk of Flu-Related Death Among Most Kids Vax effectiveness lower for kids with underlying medical conditions

https://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Vaccines/64315?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-04&eun=g721819d0r&pos=1

Vitamin D Deficiency May Be Associated With Cardiovascular Problems In Overweight Or Obese Children And Teens, Research Suggests.

“Vitamin D deficiency was associated with early markers of cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese children and adolescents,” researchers found after reviewing “medical records, including vitamin D levels, of 332 children and adolescents, ages 6-17 years.” The findings were presented at ENDO 2017. http://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/endo/64298

Pre-Pregnancy Alcohol Abuse May Hurt Health Of Offspring, Rat Study Suggests.

reports research in rats suggests that “alcohol abuse before pregnancy can also hurt” the health of offspring. Investigators “revealed that mice who were subjected to binge drinking habits similar to those practiced by humans gave birth to offspring with high blood sugar and other changes in glucose function.” The findings were presented at ENDO 2017. http://www.medicaldaily.com/history-drinking-alcohol-pregnancy-past-binging-may-harm-future-children-study-414812

Study Refutes Notion That Being Moderately Overweight Decreases Risk Of Dying.

the Annals of Internal Medicine is skeptical of the “popular idea, supported by some studies, that people who are overweight but not obese live longer than thinner peers.” The new study found that “the fatter we get, the more likely we are to die young from any cause and particularly from heart disease, cancer or respiratory disease.” reports lead researcher Andrew Stokes at Boston University School of Public Health and his group “found a 6 percent increased risk of dying from any cause among individuals with a history of being overweight.” Stokes said that 6 percent “is only a modest increase,” but it’s still “extremely worrisome” because so many American are overweight. The study “focused on each person’s maximum BMI over a 16-year period,” which Stokes “says makes the findings more reliable than earlier studies that have used a single BMI without regard to whether someone is gaining or losing weight at the time of the measurement.” We found that after considering weight history, the apparent paradoxical association between overweight/obesity and the risk of dying completely disappeared.” However, Stokes added the study is not able to prove that gaining additional weight increases the risk of death, nor can it conclude losing the weight would reduce the extra risk http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/04/03/522475728/carrying-some-extra-pounds-may-not-be-good-after-all

UN Doc: Climate Change is New Challenge in Fighting Disease Outbreaks

British trained doctor David Nabarro, who is in the race to be the next head of the World Health Organization (WHO), said infectious diseases, like cholera and Ebola, wreak havoc if they are not identified and managed quickly. "You can't do this stuff with white coats and kind of control from outside," Nabarro told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview in Bogota. "The first thing with all this business of dealing with outbreaks is to make sure there is capacity in countries to deal with problems early," he said, adding simulation exercises are crucial in ensuring local communities are better prepared. https://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/64279?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-04-03&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

In School Nurse’s Room: Tylenol, Bandages and an Antidote to Heroin

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/nyregion/in-naloxone-heroin-schools-room-overdose-antidote.html?_r=1