Fitness Clubs Prohibited Against Discriminating Against People With Eating Disorders.

reports that “a fitness club’s legal authority when it comes to dealing with people with an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia,” falls in a “gray area.” Because “people with eating disorders are protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act...fitness clubs are prohibited from discriminating against them.” Furthermore, many fitness instructors and coaches are simply not trained how to “spot the signs of overexercising” among those with eating disorders. Those who are trained, however, to recognize a problem may be able to approach a person privately and offer their help. A website called Destructively Fit helps coaches and instructors detect possible overexercising and offers advice on what to do. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/gyms-are-in-a-position-to-spot-eating-disorders--but-actually-helping-is-tricky/2017/05/26/df57725a-3b50-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html?utm_term=.ff55f0476218

Preschoolers Who Recognize Snack-Food Brands May Be More Likely To Be Obese, Study Suggests.

reports that research suggests “preschoolers who recognize food brands such as Coca-Cola, M&M’s, KFC and Pringles may be more likely to be obese.” Investigators “found that overweight children recognized 10 food items more often than the kids who were a healthy weight.” The findings were published in the journal Appetite. https://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/food-and-nutrition-news-316/preschoolers-who-know-snack-food-brands-on-road-to-obesity-722396.html

Whole-Body Vibration As Effective As Exercise For Benefiting Metabolic Health In Mouse Study.

Whole-body vibration [WBV] – sitting or lying on a vibrating machine to contract and relax muscles – may be as effective at benefiting metabolic health as exercise,” researchers found after working with two groups of mice. Investigators found that “exercise and WBV caused the mice in those groups to lose weight and gain enhanced glycemic control.” http://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/whole-body-vibration-may-effective-exercise/

Sham Knee Surgery as Good as the Real Thing? No difference in outcomes for patients with degenerative meniscal tears and no OA

After 2 years of follow-up, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) was no better than sham surgery for patients with degenerative medial meniscal tears and no evidence of knee osteoarthritis, reported Finnish researchers in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Comparing partial meniscectomy and sham-surgery patients, Teppo LN Jarvinen, MD, PhD, of the University of Helsinki, and colleagues found no significant between-group differences 24 months after surgery: https://www.medpagetoday.com/Surgery/Orthopedics/65626?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-30&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass May Trigger Changes In Microbial Population Of Digestive Tract,

reported that research indicated “Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery produced marked changes in gut microbes that may facilitate weight loss.” Investigators found that “more than 9 months after surgery, the gut microbiota of patients who underwent RYGB were significantly more diverse than in patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) or in obese patients who had not had bariatric surgery.” The findings were published online in The ISME Journal – Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology. http://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/obesity/65603

Oral Contraceptive Use Significantly Associated With A Lower Fracture Risk In Women, Study Indicates.

reports, “Oral contraception use was significantly associated with a lower fracture risk in women, particularly in younger women taking oral contraceptives (OC) for more than one year,” researchers found after analyzing data on some “6,485 women in 135 physicians’ offices in the United Kingdom who sustained fractures between January 2010 and December 2015,” then matching those women “to a control group (n=6,485) based on age, index year, and follow-up.” The findings were published online in Osteoporosis International. http://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/bone-metabolism/fracture-risk-reduced-with-otc/article/664085/

Teens Who Are Taunted About Weight May Have Higher Likelihood Of Becoming Obese Adults, Having Unhealthy Eating Behaviors, Study Suggests.

reports that research suggests “teens who are taunted about their weight may be more likely to become obese adults who struggle with poor body image.” Investigators “also found that teens who are bullied about their weight are more likely to become emotional eaters.” Investigators came to these conclusions after following approximately 1,800 adults “from their teens into their early 30s.” The findings were published in Preventive Medicine. https://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/obesity-health-news-505/teasing-teens-about-weight-may-do-lasting-harm-722395.html

Fecal Transplant Promising in Colitis Not a home run, but success rates of about 25%

https://www.medpagetoday.com/reading-room/aga/lower-gi/65569?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-26&eun=g721819d0r&pos=4

Most Wrist-Worn Fitness Trackers Not Good At Estimating Energy Expenditure, Study Suggests.

reports that in a study, researchers “tested seven popular wearable fitness trackers and found most failed to accurately track how much energy people were burning during workouts.” Investigators found that the “wearables weren’t even close compared to medical-grade measurements.” The findings were published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2017/05/24/your-fitness-tracker-could-way-way-off/342327001/

Academic Medical Centers Appear To Have Lower Death Rates For Older Adults Than Other Facilities, Study Finds.

reports that although academic medical centers tend to be more expensive than community hospitals, they “appear to have lower death rates for older adults than other facilities,” according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers “found 8.3 percent of patients died within 30 days of hospitalization at major teaching hospitals, compared with 9.2 percent at minor teaching hospitals and 9.5 percent at community hospitals.” http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-hospitals-usa-mortality-idUSKBN18J2UG

Understanding Glaucoma: Epidemiology and Pathophysiology

http://www.medpagetoday.com/resource-center/Ocular-Health/Understanding-Glaucoma/a/60891?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-24&eun=g721819d0r&pos=6

Adults With Pneumonia Often Fail First Antibiotic Older age, female sex associated with higher risk of failure

Nearly one in four adults prescribed a first-line antibiotic for community-acquired pneumonia failed treatment and required additional antibiotics, researchers reported here. Predictors of antibiotic failure included older age, being female, and having pneumococcal pneumonia, according to James A McKinnell, MD, of LA BioMed in Los Angeles and the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, and colleagues. Patients who were ages 65 and older were nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized than younger patients in the adjusted analysis, they reported at the American Thoracic Society meeting. "Pneumonia is the leading cause of death from infectious disease in the United States, so it is concerning that we found nearly one in four patients with community-acquired pneumonia required additional antibiotic therapy, subsequent hospitalization or emergency room evaluation," McKinnell noted in a press statement. https://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ATS/65526?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-24&eun=g721819d0r&pos=1

Lyme Disease: A Public Health Risk? Lyme may be an overlooked public health problem

https://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/InfectionControl/65532?xid=NL_breakingnews_2017-05-24&eun=g721819d0r

Banning Trans Fats May Reduce Premature Deaths, Research Suggests.

reports banning trans fats may reduce premature deaths, according to several studies conducted after such prohibitions went into effect. Denmark’s ban of trans fats is estimated to have “saved an average of 14.2 lives per 100,000 people a year, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.” Researchers also found that New York City’s ban may have “resulted in 13 fewer cardiovascular disease deaths and a saving of about $3.9 million per 100,000 persons annually.” The article points out that next year trans fats will no longer be allowed in industry-prepared foods in the US, because of a ban imposed by the Food and Drug Administration. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/well/the-worst-fat-in-the-food-supply.html?_r=0

Apple Develops Blood Sugar Monitor.

reports that Apple is developing a monitor for type 2 diabetes that would go into a user’s ear. The device would alert the user of an abnormal rise in blood sugar. reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook “has been seen personally testing a device that tracks blood sugar.” Sources indicate Apple is “working on optical sensors that are able to shine lights through the skin to measure glucose.” It “remains to be seen if the glucose monitor will show up as a Watch feature,” as the company has so far avoided putting the Apple Watch under the FDA’s review. http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2017/05/22/apple-watch-glucose-monitor-health.html

Kidney Stone Tx May Work for Breaking Up Calcified Plaque Substantial acute gains with lithoplasty balloon system

The vibrating technology used in kidney stone treatment translated into a viable method of dislodging calcified plaque from coronary arteries, according to results from a small study. With a 5.0% rate of adverse events at 30 days (all of them non-Q-wave MIs), use of the lithoplasty balloon system from Shockwave Medical was safe, reported Todd J. Brinton, MD, of Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., and colleagues. Brinton is the founder of Shockwave Medical. https://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/EuroPCR/65460?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-22&eun=g721819d0r&pos=4

Time At Which One Eats Can Negate Weight Loss Efforts, Nutrition Experts Say.

online reported that the time at which one eats can impact weight loss as significantly as how frequently one eats based on a number of recent studies and advice from nutrition experts. Eating later at night can impact circadian rhythms, which the National Institute of General Medical Sciences describes as being relative to mental, physical, and behavioral changes that occur during 24-hour cycles and can be impacted by hormone levels altered by eating. To stabilize biological factors, one nutrition expert recommended eating breakfast, consuming the most nutrient-rich food at lunch, eating snacks, and opting for low-carbohydrate dinners. http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/19/health/weight-loss-circadian-rhythms-drayer/index.html

Diet Soda Drinkers Appear Not To Overcompensate By Eating More Calories, Researchers Say.

reported that “people who drink diet soda do not overcompensate by eating more calories, and in addition, such beverages may in fact help to control cravings,” researchers concluded in a randomized study involving 166 participants. The findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity 2017. https://login.medscape.com/login/sso/getlogin?urlCache=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tZWRzY2FwZS5jb20vdmlld2FydGljbGUvODgwMzQw&ac=401

Insulin May Be A Way For Some People To Commit Suicide, Review Warns.

https://consumer.healthday.com/general-health-information-16/suicide-health-news-646/suicide-by-insulin-721669.html

Oral Contraceptive Use May Be Associated With Rise In Triglyceride, Total Cholesterol Levels Over Time,

“In women with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS], the use of any oral contraceptive was associated with a rise in triglyceride and total cholesterol levels over time, and oral contraceptives containing third-generation progestins did not offer substantial advantages,” researchers found after analyzing “data from 831 women with PCOS and without diabetes or other chronic diseases participating in 26 studies (34 treatment groups) investigating the effects of oral contraceptives on the metabolic profiles of women with PCOS (mean age, 23 years).” The findings were published online in Metabolism Clinical and Experimental. http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/cardiometabolic-disorders/news/in-the-journals/%7Be6d2c806-c47a-4549-8338-62db20af3c7f%7D/oral-contraceptives-associated-with-worsening-lipid-profile-in-pcos

Kids Exposed To Radiation After Chernobyl Nuclear Accident May Have Increased Risk For Thyroid Nodules.

reports that youngsters “exposed to radiation following the Chernobyl nuclear accident in April 1986 may have an increased risk of developing thyroid nodules,” researchers from the National Cancer Institute found after screening “11,970 residents of Belarus who were children (18 or younger) at the time of the Chernobyl accident for thyroid disease.” The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. http://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/childhood-exposure-chernobyl-radiation-linked-increased-risk-thyroid-nodules/

Vitamin D Deficiency, Insufficiency May Be Associated With Chronic Tension-Type Headaches, Study Suggests.

reports there appears to be a “relationship between serum vitamin D levels and chronic tension-type headaches (CTTH).” The findings of the 200-participant study revealed that “serum 25(OH) D levels were significantly lower in patients with CTTH compared with control patients (14.7 vs 27.4 ng/mL).” Likewise, “vitamin D deficiency [serum 25 (OH) D <20 ng/mL] was...greater in patients with CTTH (71%) compared with in control patients (25%).” The findings were published online in the journal Headache. http://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/general-endocrinology/headache-may-be-associated-with-low-vitamin-d/article/662234/

FDA, CDC Warn Blood Tests May Underestimate Lead Levels.

reports that the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that blood tests by Magellan Diagnostics may “significantly” underestimate lead levels present in blood. The agencies are now “urging the retesting of some children, as well as pregnant and breast-feeding women.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/05/17/blood-tests-significantly-underestimated-lead-levels-fda-and-cdc-warn/?utm_term=.e57609b932dd

Just Two Weeks Of Sedentary Behavior May Cause Healthy, Young People To Start Losing Muscle, Develop Fat Around Their Organs, Researchers Say.

) reports, “Just two weeks of sedentary behavior can cause healthy, young people to start losing muscle and develop fat around their organs,” researchers found. The findings of the 28-participant study were presented at the European Congress on Obesity. https://consumer.healthday.com/fitness-information-14/misc-health-news-265/just-2-weeks-on-the-couch-can-trigger-body-s-decline-722778.html

Research Challenges Notion That Individuals Can Be “Fat But Fit.”

reports that the study, “which tracked obese but ‘metabolically healthy’ people, found that they continued to be at higher risk of developing diabetes and heart-related diseases later in life.” The findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity. Also covering the story are BBC News (UK) (5/17), The Guardian (UK) (5/17, Boseley), HealthDay (5/17, Preidt), and the Telegraph (UK) (5/17, Donnelly).

Aerobic-Resistance Exercise Combo Paired With Weight-Management Program May Benefit Seniors With Obesity.

Among older adults with obesity, a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise paired with a weight-management program was most effective at improving overall physical performance and reduction in frailty,” researchers found. The findings of the 26-week. 160-senior trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Reuters (5/17, Emery) and HealthDay (5/17, Doheny) also cover the story. http://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/exercisefitness/65369

Using Hormone Therapy To Prevent Chronic Health Issues In Postmenopausal Women May Do More Harm Than Good

reports that “harms far outweighed the benefits,” the panel found. The draft recommendation’s authors “found ‘convincing evidence’ that combined therapy was linked with’ moderate benefit’ in reducing the risk of fractures and ‘adequate evidence’ that it was associated with a ‘small benefit’ in reducing the risk of diabetes.” The USPSTF panelists, however, “found ‘convincing evidence’ that combined use of estrogen and progestin was linked with ‘moderate harms,’ such as increased risk of invasive breast cancer and venous thromboembolism, and small to moderate harms of heightened risk for coronary heart disease.” http://www.medpagetoday.com/obgyn/menopause/65341

US Women In Their 30s Having More Babies Than Younger Moms, CDC Finds.

reports preliminary data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that as of last year, women in their early 30s are having more babies than younger women in the United States for the first time in more than three decades. According to the article, “the birth rate for women ages 30 to 34 was about 103 per 100,000,” while “the rate for women ages 25 to 29 was 102 per 100,000,” but the article notes “the CDC did not release the actual numbers of deliveries for each age group.” The CDC’s report is “based on a first look at birth and death certificates filed across the country last year.” http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MED_US_BIRTHS__DEATHS?SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-05-17-00-07-23

Previously Infertile Mice Able To Reproduce With 3-D Printed Ovaries, Study Suggests.

“Researchers created the synthetic ovaries by printing porous scaffolds from a gelatin ink and filling them with follicles, the tiny, fluid-holding sacs that contain immature egg cells.” The researchers also “found that the implants hooked up to the blood supply within a week and went on to release eggs naturally through the pores built into the gelatin structures.” https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/may/16/3d-printed-ovaries-allow-infertile-mice-to-give-birth

Studies Explain What 'Good' Microbiota Do to Clear C. Diff Fecal transplant success may depend on bile acid metabolism

Researchers are now closing in on an explanation of what it is, on a molecular level, that fecal transplants do to cure persistent infection with Clostridium difficile, according to several studies presented here. The key appears to be that the transplants change patterns of bile acid metabolism in the gut, making the environment inhospitable to C. diff colonization. In three studies reported at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2017, it was demonstrated that individuals with C. diff who respond to fecal transplant showed a different pattern of microbiota species composition compared with baseline and/or with those who fail to respond. But that's not all: the responders also showed distinct, altered profiles of those elements involved in bile acid metabolism. These and other studies point to bile acid metabolism as the basic mechanism by which fecal transplants help abolish C. diff, and perhaps exert their effects in other conditions for which they are clinically effective.

Early Menopause May Be Linked To Higher Heart Failure Risk, Study Suggests.

reports that the investigators, who analyzed data on approximately 28,000 postmenopausal women, found that “earlier menopause was associated with increased risk of heart failure, and this link was stronger in women who had natural rather than surgical menopause.” The study also indicated that “women who never gave birth seemed at increased risk for a type of heart failure in which the left side of the heart fails to relax as it should.” The Guardian (UK) (5/15, Davis) also covers the story. https://consumer.healthday.com/women-s-health-information-34/menopause-and-postmenopause-news-472/timing-of-menopause-may-affect-heart-failure-risk-722656.html

New Measure May Be More Accurate Than BMI Z Scores For Assessing Teens’ Body Fat Percentage, Researchers Say.

reports, “A different measurement tool than body mass index (BMI) z scores was more accurate in assessing adolescents’ body fat percentage than BMI z scores,” researchers found. In fact, “more than twice as many adolescents aged 8-17 years were misclassified as overweight using BMI z scores than using triponderal mass index (TMI), which uses a formula for calculating a weight-to-height ratio, researchers reported” in findings published online in JAMA Pediatrics. http://www.mdedge.com/clinicalendocrinologynews/article/138177/obesity/bmi-z-scores-less-accurate-teen-obesity-new-measure

Seasonal Higher Temperatures May Be Tied To Increased Risk For Gestational Diabetes, Research Suggests.

reports research reveals “seasonal higher temperatures” may be “tied to an increased risk for...gestational diabetes.” After analyzing “data from 396,828 women and their 555,911 deliveries in the Greater Toronto Area from 2002 to 2014,” investigators “found Canadian women were more likely to be diagnosed with gestational diabetes if they were exposed to higher average outdoor temperatures during pregnancy, compared to women who were pregnant in cooler periods.” The findings were published online in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Also covering the story are the ABC News (5/15, Mohney) website, MedPage Today, HealthDay (5/15, Reinberg) and CBC (CAN) (5/15, Zafar). http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-pregnancy-diabetes-temperature-idUSKCN18B2JW

Four new Minnesota measles cases reported, including two in Le Sueur County

http://www.startribune.com/four-new-minnesota-measles-cases-reported-including-two-in-le-sueur-county/422360273/

Healthier School Lunches Help Prevent Obesity.

In an editorial, the Washington Post (5/13) criticizes the Trump Administration’s decision to roll back the implementation of stricter nutrition standards for school meals. The Post notes that obesity is a “critical problem for millions of American children,” and suggests that healthier school lunches are “successful at encouraging better eating habits” and could help fight the problem.

Hearing Loss May Be Linked To Several Factors Associated With Menopause, Research Suggests.

“Hearing loss has been linked to several factors associated with menopause,” researchers concluded after review data from some 81,000 US women. The study revealed “an association between hearing loss and hormone therapy or older age at menopause.” The findings were published in Menopause. https://consumer.healthday.com/hearing-information-19/hearing-disorder-news-351/hormone-replacement-therapy-tied-to-hearing-loss-722572.html

Understanding Glaucoma: Epidemiology and Pathophysiology

http://www.medpagetoday.com/resource-center/Ocular-Health/Understanding-Glaucoma/a/60891?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-15&eun=g721819d0r&pos=6

WHO Confirms New Ebola Case in Democratic Republic of Congo First outbreak in country since 2014

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/65263?isalert=1&uun=g721819d5536R5883165u&xid=NL_breakingnews_2017-05-12

Letting the Data Speak for Itself: The Impact of Business Sector Partnerships on Children’s Health

https://medium.com/@HealthierGen/letting-the-data-speak-for-itself-the-impact-of-business-sector-partnerships-on-childrens-health-44af80236b1d?_cldee=YW15ZHVnYW4yQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ%3D%3D&recipientid=contact-e93ebf3c3d6ce411bec16c3be5a8f744-ef89af5a621b46a7bc1db8c51f8af66c&esid=b8ea827f-2f34-e711-8127-e0071b6af281

Luke's Story: How Doctors Are Supporting Childhood Health

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MeMCXllZ9s&_cldee=YW15ZHVnYW4yQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ%3d%3d&recipientid=contact-e93ebf3c3d6ce411bec16c3be5a8f744-ef89af5a621b46a7bc1db8c51f8af66c&utm_source=ClickDimensions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PHA%20Summit%202017&esid=b8ea827f-2f34-e711-8127-e0071b6af281

Teen Drinking Down, CDC Report Indicates.

website, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that “teen drinking appears to have reached a new low.” The report indicates that “the percent of teens who reported drinking at least one drink per month dropped from 50.8 percent in 1991 to just 32.8 percent in 2015.” But, “those who reported drinking tended to also report what is considered binge drinking: 57.8 percent of teens who reported drinking said they have had five drinks in a row.” CNN (5/11, Jimison) reports that study author Dr. Robert Brewer, “director of the excessive alcohol use prevention team at the CDC,” said, “We have made some progress from a public health standpoint in reducing current and binge drinking among high school students, but we still have a lot of work to do.” http://abcnews.go.com/Health/teen-student-drinking-25-year-low-binge-drinking/story?id=47346391

U.S. Rate of Maternal HCV Infection Nearly Doubles Opioid epidemic may play a role in rural counties

Maternal hepatitis C infections nearly doubled among women in reporting states -- with hepatitis B infection, smoking during pregnancy, and living in a rural county increasing the risk of infection, CDC researchers reported. From 2009-2014, HCV infection at time of delivery among pregnant women from states that reported HCV infection on their birth certificates increased 89% -- from 1.8 per 1,000 live births to 3.4 per 1,000 (P<0.001), reported Stephen W. Patrick, MD, of Vanderbilt University, and colleagues. https://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Hepatitis/65227?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-12&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Drug-Resistant TB on the Rise in These Four Countries One-third of Russian cases in 2040 expected to resist multiple drugs

https://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Tuberculosis/65170?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-11&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Gluten-Free Foods Increase Obesity Risk, Study Suggests.

reports that experts are warning that gluten-free foods could increase the risk of obesity, “after finding that such products often contain higher levels of fats than the food they aim to replace.” After an analysis comparing 655 conventional food products to 654 gluten-free alternatives across 14 food groups, gluten-free products were found to be more energy-dense than their conventional counterparts. The results of the analysis were presented at the annual meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/11/gluten-free-diet-carries-increased-obesity-risk-warn-experts

Vitamin D, Calcium From Food May Be Associated With A Decreased Risk For Early Menopause, Study Indicates.

“Vitamin D and calcium from food, but not supplements, were associated with a decreased risk for early menopause,” researchers found. The study authors theorized that “hormones in dairy food may partly explain why.” The findings were published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The Telegraph (UK) (5/10, Knapton) also covers the story. http://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/menopause/65189

Another Study Links Red Meat to Early Death Heme iron and nitrate additives implicated in population-based study

https://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/65209?xid=NL_breakingnews_2017-05-11&eun=g721819d0r

Testosterone Appears To Block Production Of A Type Of Immune Cell That Triggers Allergic Asthma, Research Suggests.

reports that “testosterone suppresses an immune system cell involved in allergic asthma,” researchers found. Specifically, the male hormone “blocks the production of a type of immune cell that triggers allergic asthma, called innate lymphoid cells – or ILC2s.” The study was published online in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. Medscape (5/9, Russell) also covers the study. https://consumer.healthday.com/respiratory-and-allergy-information-2/misc-allergy-news-17/testosterone-may-protect-men-from-allergic-asthma-722434.html

Almost One-Third Of Medications Cleared By FDA Pose Safety Risks Identified Only After Approval, Study Finds.

reports a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that “almost a third of drugs cleared by the Food and Drug Administration pose safety risks that are identified only after their approval.” Researchers “reviewed 222 products approved between 2001 and 2010 and followed them through February of this year.” They found that for 32% of the medications evaluated, “the FDA took some kind of action to deal with safety issues that emerged after approval.” The median time for the FDA to either withdraw the drug or issue a boxed warning or safety communication was 4.2 years after the drug was approved. http://khn.org/news/1-in-3-recent-fda-drug-approvals-followed-by-major-safety-actions/

Studies Explain What 'Good' Microbiota Do to Clear C. Diff Fecal transplant success may depend on bile acid metabolism

https://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/DDW/65141?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-10&eun=g721819d0r&pos=3

Early Puberty In Girls May Be Linked To Higher Likelihood Of Abuse From A Boyfriend, Study Suggests.

https://consumer.healthday.com/public-health-information-30/domestic-violence-news-207/is-early-puberty-in-girls-a-risk-factor-for-dating-abuse-722409.html reports that research suggests “girls who go through puberty earlier than their peers may be more vulnerable to abuse from a boyfriend.” Investigators found that “these girls were more likely to say a boyfriend had verbally or physically abused them: 32 percent did, versus 28 percent of their peers who went through puberty ‘on time.’” The findings were published in Pediatrics.

Express Scripts Offers Cheaper Medications To People Without Health Insurance.

reports that Express Scripts will “begin offering a lower rate for a select group of frequently used drugs to people without health insurance, or to those who are stuck in plans with such high deductibles they couldn’t otherwise afford their medications.” This “program, InsideRx, is a subsidiary of Express Scripts and will work when consumers sign up for the service, which is free, and present a discount card or a mobile app to pharmacies around the” US “to get discounts that average around one-third off the list price.” According to the Times, “Commonly prescribed drugs, including...some brands of insulin, are included on the list about 40 products.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/08/health/express-scripts-drug-prescriptions-prices.html?_r=0

Deadly Powassan Virus: Tick-borne virus can be transmitted in just minutes

http://www.fox29.com/health/252843043-story http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/03/health/powassan-tick-virus/

Health officials confirm Zika case in Clark County Ohio

Health officials in Clark County have confirmed that a case of Zika has been diagnosed in a person who had recently traveled abroad. The Clark County Combined Health District (CCCHD) said the person had recently returned from a known “Zika hot spot” in the Caribbean. According to the health district, there is no evidence that Zika is being transmitted locally. Health commissioner Charles Patterson said they will begin placing mosquito traps in the Willow Chase neighborhood, where the Zika patient is recovering at home, sometime early next week. “We’re looking for the Aedes albopictus mosquito which is the only one we’d see in Ohio that could potentially transmit Zika,” he said. “If we have a known case of Zika and we have the mosquito that’s known to be able to transmit it, then to us that equals we have to do additional control measures to reduce those specific mosquitoes.” Patterson said that species of mosquito has been found in Clark County before, but not in that specific neighborhood. http://nbc4i.com/2017/05/04/health-officials-zika-case-confirmed-in-clark-county/

Cushing’s Disease May Begin To Exert Harmful CV Effects Early In Childhood, Researchers Say.

“Cushing’s disease may begin to exert its harmful cardiovascular [CV] effects quite early,” researchers found. The 10-patient study revealed that kids as young as six “with the disorder already may show signs of cardiovascular remodeling, with stiffer aortas and higher aortic pulse-wave velocity than do age-matched controls,” investigators found. The findings were presented at ENDO 2017. http://www.mdedge.com/clinicalendocrinologynews/article/137400/pediatrics/cushings-appears-begin-its-cardiovascular

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Have Become More Affordable Worldwide, Researchers Find.

“Sugar-sweetened beverages have become more affordable worldwide, making the fight against obesity even more difficult,” researchers found after examining “data from 40 high-income and 42 low-income countries.” The study revealed that “between 1990 and 2016, sugar-sweetened beverages such as cola became more affordable in 79 of those 82 countries.” The findings were published online in Preventing Chronic Disease. https://consumer.healthday.com/diabetes-information-10/sugar-health-news-644/sugary-drinks-more-affordable-across-the-globe-722295.html

Researchers Find An Enzyme In Mice Associated With Obesity, Loss Of Exercise Capacity In Mid-Life.

reports researchers from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute “say they’ve found an enzyme in mice associated with obesity and a loss of exercise capacity in midlife.” In findings published in the journal Cell Metabolism, investigators described how one group of mice received “a drug that inhibits the activity of the enzyme called DNA-PK,” while “another group of mice wasn’t given the drug.” Both groups of mice were fed a diet high in fat. The mice that “received the inhibitor had 40 percent less weight gain than the other group,” the study revealed. https://consumer.healthday.com/general-health-information-16/animal-research-956/is-this-enzyme-making-you-fat-722280.html

Rates Of T2D Among Children In The UK Rising And Tracking Along With Increased Obesity, Study Finds.

reports, “Rates of type 2 diabetes [T2D] among children in the UK have been rising, and tracking along with increased obesity and severe obesity,” researchers found after examining “data from 369,362 patients between ages 2 and 15, tracking new cases of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and comparing them to children’s body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight relative to height, over time.” The findings were published online in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-children-obesity-diabetes-idUSKBN17Z2E3

Hospital Policies Limiting Pharmaceutical Sales Reps Linked With Fewer Brand-Name Drugs And More Generics Prescribed, Study Finds.

reports that the researchers “analyzed prescribing patterns for eight types of medications, including drugs to lower cholesterol, treat acid reflux, control diabetes, manage high blood pressure, treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, treat depression, manage psychosis and help with sleep.” Each of the drugs analyzed “had at least 2,000 assigned pharmaceutical company salespeople during the study period” and “had a market share of more than 25 percent, but less than 75 percent.” http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-prescribing-policies-idUSKBN17Y2ED

First “Artificial Pancreas” Systems Are Coming To Market.

reports that the first artificial pancreas systems “are now beginning to come to market.” The systems are “wearable devices that take charge of the crucial process of measuring glucose levels and delivering precise doses of insulin.” Medtronic “became the first supplier out of the gate when it began outfitting a pre-selected pool of type 1 diabetes patients with its new MiniMed 670G.” Other companies, “including startup Bigfoot Biomedical, Insulet and a partnership between Dexcom, Tandem and TypeZero – are hot on Medtronic’s heels, with active studies now underway and plans to go to market late this year or in 2018.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2017/05/02/first-artificial-pancreas-systems-coming-market/100704988/

Variants Of FGF21 Hormone Associated With Increased Sugar Intake, Study Suggests.

fibroblast growth factor 21 hormone, or FGF21,” which is “found in the liver, are associated with an increased intake of and preference for” sweet foods, according to a study published in Cell Metabolism. However, researchers found that the variants are not correlated “with obesity, type 2 diabetes or glucose intolerance.” http://www.healio.com/hepatology/steatohepatitis-metabolic-liver-disease/news/online/%7B597db834-f5c1-499b-865b-364e42d56315%7D/fgf21-hormone-associated-with-sugar-intake-in-humans

Racial Mortality Gap Closing: CDC But blacks still more likely to die of most causes than whites

https://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/64965?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-03&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Normalizing Vitamin D Levels May Correlate With Lower Insulin Resistance, Decreased Adipose Fibrosis In Obese Patients, Study Suggests.

“Normalizing vitamin D levels correlated with lower insulin resistance and decreased adipose fibrosis in obese patients,” researchers found. Included in the study were “11 obese patients, with an average body mass index of 34 kg/m2, insulin resistance, and vitamin D deficiency” and eight controls. The findings were presented at the Eastern regional meeting of the American Federation for Medical Research. http://www.mdedge.com/clinicalendocrinologynews/article/136804/diabetes/small-study-vitamin-d-repletion-may-decrease

Combination Of Exercise, Sufficient Vitamin D Levels May Reduce Likelihood Of Heart Attack, Stroke More Than Either One Alone, Research Suggests.

reports that research suggests “a combination of exercise and sufficient vitamin D levels may reduce the risk of serious heart problems more than either one alone.” The “analysis of data spanning 20 years from more than 10,000 US adults found that those who got the recommended amounts of exercise and had adequate vitamin D levels had a 23 percent lower risk of heart attack or stroke.” The study found that individuals “who met physical activity targets but were deficient in” vitamin D “did not have a lower risk.” The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. https://consumer.healthday.com/cardiovascular-health-information-20/misc-stroke-related-heart-news-360/exercise-and-vitamin-d-a-heart-healthy-combo-722128.html

Alternate-Day Fasting Doesn't Lead to Speedier Weight Loss Approach not superior to calorie-restrictive diet

Alternate-day fasting was not superior to a calorie-restrictive diet for weight loss, weight maintenance, or cardioprotection, according to trial results. There were no significant differences in mean weight loss between the alternate-day fasting group versus the calorie restriction group after 6 months of intervention, relative to the control group: -6.8% (95% CI -9.1% to -4.5%) versus -6.8 (95% CI -9.1% to -4.6%), reported Krista A. Varady, PhD, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, and colleagues. Findings were consistent when the groups were followed through a year, after a 6-month maintenance phase: -6.0% (95% CI -8.5% to -3.6%) versus -5.3% (95% CI -7.6% to -3.0%), they wrote in JAMA Internal Medicine. During the year-long, randomized clinical trial, the two intervention groups experienced no significant differences among secondary endpoints, which included blood pressure, heart rates, triglycerides, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein, and homocysteine concentrations. https://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Obesity/64928?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-05-02&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

Global Economic Burden Of Diabetes Estimated To Be $1.31 Trillion In 2015, Data Find.

“The global economic burden of diabetes was estimated to be $1.31 trillion in 2015, with nearly 35% the result of indirect costs, such as labor force dropout due to morbidity and mortality,” researchers found after analyzing “epidemiologic and economic data for 184 countries to estimate the global economic burden of diabetes, regardless of diabetes type.” The findings were published online in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/diabetes/news/in-the-journals/%7B4c06a046-87d6-4d9e-b0ea-199db3a73f2f%7D/worldwide-diabetes-burden-tops-13-trillion