Dr. House
Dr. House
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Roughly 2,000 Kids Are Diagnosed With Unsafe Blood Levels Of Lead In Los Angeles County Each Year, Data Indicate
reports that even though “lead poisoning has become less common in recent years, roughly 2,000 children are diagnosed with unsafe levels of lead in their blood each year in Los Angeles County, according to” data gathered by California, with “south L.A...one of the most affected areas.” Until youngsters “are tested, families are often unaware their homes could be a source of lead.” Many “old homes have not been renovated, and are likely coated in lead paint.” According to the Times, “over the next seven years, L.A. County will receive $134 million to eliminate lead hazards in homes as part of a settlement with three paint companies that were once major suppliers of lead paint.” Unfortunately, “the payout will cover only a fraction of the work that is needed, officials say.” https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-30/la-me-lead-poisoning-la-county
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Exposure To Air Pollution May Be Associated With Increased Risk Of Suicide, Depression
reports research indicated that “exposure to air pollution” may be associated with “an increased risk of suicide and depression.” Investigators arrived at that finding after reviewing “nine existing studies on 16 countries, which examined the potential link between air pollution and depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis and suicide.” The findings were published online Dec. 18 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. https://www.newsweek.com/air-pollution-linked-depression-suicide-risk-study-1477679
Nearly Half Of US Adults Will Be Obese Within A Decade, Researchers Project
“Nearly half of American adults will be obese within a decade and one-quarter will be severely so,” researchers predict in findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Reuters (12/18, Emery) reports that “in addition, severe obesity – and the serious health problems and extra healthcare costs associated with it – will disproportionately affect women, low-income adults, non-Hispanic black adults and states bordering the lower half of the Mississippi River.” Investigators arrived at these conclusions after using “more than 20 years of data from 6.3 million adults to project into 2030.” https://apnews.com/c36ead95eea05714347c0552b1cd1d73
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Results From Nearly 70 Percent Of Routine Lab Tests In Children Appeared To Vary With Body Weight, Research Suggests
reports, “Results from nearly 70% of routine lab tests in children varied with body weight,” research indicated. Specifically, “in an analysis of 35 routinely assessed biochemical markers in blood tests, averages for about one-third differed significantly by the presence of overweight or obesity in the child,” researchers concluded in a study that examine data on some 1,300 children and teens. The findings were published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/obesity/83961
Risk of Death Reduced by up to 23% for Chili Lovers
The hot pepper, typical of the Mediterranean diet, is already known for its therapeutic virtues of various kinds. Now a research conducted by the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention of the IRCCS Neuromed of Pozzilli , in collaboration with the Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità , of the University of Insubria of Varese and of the Mediterranean Cardiocentro of Naples, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) , shows how people used to consume it regularly have a mortality risk for every cause reduced by 23% compared to those who do not.
The study examined 22,811 citizens of Molise participating in the Moli-sani study . By following their state of health for an average period of about eight years, and comparing it with their eating habits, the researchers were able to show that in people who regularly consume chilli (four times a week or more), the risk of dying of a heart attack it is reduced by 40% and cerebrovascular mortality is more than halved. This regardless of the type of power supply followed.
The Moli-sani study is the first to explore the properties of this spicy spice in relation to the risk of death in a European and Mediterranean population like that of Molise. https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/risk-of-death-reduced-by-up-to-23-for-chili-lovers-328603?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=80953993&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Z-H4w0o3uQ8Oqs5nGAGR6zmH6Ph3Tnxf2e3Ovw-8m748gRt92f0AMM7eTXbqCX7rdbJoVRkgqDRAjDaFJle007O6udQ&_hsmi=80953993
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Better sleep WITH cell phones and tablets???
Current technologies designed to limit our evening exposure to blue light, for example by changing the screen colour on mobile devices, may therefore send us mixed messages, they argue.
This is because the small changes in brightness they produce are accompanied by colours that more resemble day.
The research, which was carried out on mice, used specially designed lighting that allowed the team to adjust colour without changing brightness.
That showed blue colours produced weaker effects on the mouse body clock than equally bright yellow colours.
The findings, say the team, have important implications for the design of lighting and visual displays intended to ensure healthy patterns of sleep and alertness.
The study is published in Current Biology and funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
The body clock uses a specialised light sensitive protein in the eye to measure brightness, called melanopsin, which is better at detecting shorter wavelength photons.
This is why, say the team, researchers originally suggested blue light might have a stronger effect.
However, our perception of colour comes from the retinal cone cells and the new research shows that the blue colour signals they supply reduce the impact on light on the clock.
Dr Tim Brown, from The University of Manchester, said: "We show the common view that blue light has the strongest effect on the clock is misguided; in fact, the blue colours that are associated with twilight have a weaker effect than white or yellow light of equivalent brightness.
"There is lots of interest in altering the impact of light on the clock by adjusting the brightness signals detected by melanopsin but current approaches usually do this by changing the ratio of short and long wavelength light; this provides a small difference in brightness at the expense of perceptible changes in colour."
He added: "We argue that this is not the best approach, since the changes in colour may oppose any benefits obtained from reducing the brightness signals detected by melanopsin.
"Our findings suggest that using dim, cooler, lights in the evening and bright warmer lights in the day may be more beneficial.
"Research has already provided evidence that aligning our body clocks with our social and work schedules can be good for our health. Using colour appropriately could be a way to help us better achieve that."
Reference: Mouland, J. W., Martial, F., Watson, A., Lucas, R. J., & Brown, T. M. (2019). Cones Support Alignment to an Inconsistent World by Suppressing Mouse Circadian Responses to the Blue Colors Associated with Twilight. Current Biology, 29(24), 4260-4267.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.10.028 https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/when-feeling-blue-light-isnt-so-bad-328541?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=80885465&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--KC77RNMB6moz_YHNLkDDYTQ_cPdpsB0c4baWcJ8RMefLvdLEw05Z_bgIX7U2BzkcdHP0iSUEy8l7oUthk-5hKmeBBCw&_hsmi=80885465
Friday, December 13, 2019
Skipping the Sweet Treats Might Bust the Holiday Blues
Read Time: 4 min
If you’re prone to depression, this holiday season you might want to say “bah humbug” to offers of sugar plum pudding, caramel corn and chocolate babka.
A new study from a team of clinical psychologists at the University of Kansas suggests eating added sugars – common in so many holiday foods – can trigger metabolic, inflammatory and neurobiological processes tied to depressive illness. The work is published in the journal Medical Hypotheses. https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/skipping-the-sweet-treats-might-bust-the-holiday-blues-328429?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=80739286&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_R7AIwQIz8Mj-kaXHHAevP00h7nls7YuO76zn3jaZVbE8BdaJ425gmp0RHTsuuf671bnaAnKA6vsOpT8DzC91eX4nUxQ&_hsmi=80739286
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Physical Activity Calorie Equivalent Labels May Help Combat Obesity, Review
“Food labels detailing how much exercise is needed to burn off a product’s calorie content could help to combat obesity,” researchers concluded in a “new scientific review.” The review concluded that “physical activity calorie equivalent (PACE) labels could improve on labels that identify only calories and nutrient content.” The review indicated that “large-scale application of PACE labels could, on average, cut calorie consumption by up to 200 calories per person per day.” The findings of the 14-study review were published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/11/health/physical-activity-food-labels-wellness-scli-intl-gbr/index.html
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Large Study Finds No Link Between Cesarean Sections, Obesity In Children
reports that a large new study published in PLOS Medicine found no link between cesarean sections and obesity in children. For the study, “Swedish researchers tracked medical records of 97,291 men born between 1982 and 1987, following them to age 18,” and found based on an initial assessment of the data that there was “no link between mode of birth and obesity” after factors such as age and body mass index were taken into account. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/well/live/cesarean-c-section-obesity-weight-fat-children.html
Children Born From Frozen Embryo Transfer May Have Higher Risk Of Childhood Cancer,
reports on its website researchers found that “children born after the use of frozen embryo transfer were at higher risk of childhood cancer.” The researchers examined cancer risk in children born through several different methods, but found no increased risk “for children born to parents who used fertility drugs, IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.” The findings were published in JAMA. https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/10/health/cancer-frozen-embryos-ivf-study/index.html
Study Suggests Older Adults Exposed To Air Pollution For Short Periods May Be More Likely To Be Hospitalized For Variety Of Health Problems
reports a study published in The BMJ suggests that “older adults who are exposed to tiny particles in air pollution for just a day or two are more likely to be hospitalized for a wide variety of common health problems.” Investigators “focused on so-called PM 2.5” and “confirmed previously-known links between short-term exposure to PM 2.5 and an increased risk of hospitalization and death from heart and lung diseases, diabetes, and clots in the large veins of the legs.” The researchers found for such diseases rarely studied in the context of PM 2.5, “each 1 ug/m3 increase in short-term average fine particulate matter levels was associated with an average annual increase of 2,050 hospital admissions, 12,216 total days in the hospital and $31 million in hospital and post-acute care costs.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-airpollution-hospitalizations/air-pollution-tied-to-hospitalizations-for-wide-range-of-illnesses-idUSKBN1YD2ES
Monday, December 9, 2019
Levels Of BPA In People’s Bodies Much Higher Than Previously Thought
“Levels of the widely used chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in people’s bodies are much higher than once thought,” researchers concluded. Now, these scientists also “say they’ve created a more accurate way to measure them.” The new method “outlined in their study suggests that the measurements used by the FDA and other regulatory agencies underestimate BPA exposure by as much as 44 times.” The findings were published online in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. https://consumer.healthday.com/environmental-health-information-12/chemical-health-news-730/bpa-levels-in-humans-are-underestimated-study-752754.html
Brief Visit To A Severely Polluted City May Increase Blood Markers Of Inflammation And Artery Plaque Buildup,
“In 26 healthy young adults from Los Angeles,” investigators “measured blood levels of pollution breakdown products and proteins linked to heart risk before, during and after a trip to Beijing for a summer study program.” The study revealed that “over six to eight weeks in the Chinese capital, pollution metabolites in participants’ urine spiked along with blood markers of inflammation and artery plaque buildup,” the study revealed. The findings were published online in the journal Circulation. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-pollution-biomarkers/brief-visit-to-severely-polluted-city-can-up-biomarkers-of-heart-disease-idUSKBN1YA1Z7
Friday, December 6, 2019
US FDA Investigating Metformin For Presence Of Carcinogen NDMA
“the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating whether the diabetes drug metformin had unsafe levels of a cancer-causing chemical and will recommend recalls as appropriate, the agency said on Thursday.” This comes as “part of the agency’s broader push to investigate a range of drugs for the presence of the carcinogen, known as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), with popular heartburn medication Zantac being recalled this year for fear it contained NDMA.” In a separate statement, “Health Canada said...that it was not aware of any metformin products in Canada containing NDMA above acceptable limits, but was working closely with international regulatory partners on its assessment of the issue.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-diabetes-fda/fda-probes-diabetes-drug-metformin-for-carcinogen-ndma-idUSKBN1Y92UN
Bariatric Surgery May Reverse Subtle Damage To The Heart,
reports research suggests bariatric surgery “might also reverse subtle damage to” the heart. The study, which “included 38 obese patients who had weight-loss surgery and 19 obese patients who were on the waiting list for” bariatric surgery, revealed that at study start, “58% of patients in the surgery group had subclinical heart disease,” but “in 82% of those patients, subclinical heart dysfunction normalized six months after surgery.” Meanwhile, “subclinical heart disease worsened in 53% of patients on the waiting list during the same period.” The findings were presented at a medical conference. https://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/weight-loss-surgery-bariatric-1005/weight-loss-surgery-a-boon-for-the-heart-752707.html
People At High Risk For Diabetes May Improve Health When They Eat All Their Meals Over A Span Of Just Over 10 Hours,
, “In an early effort to explore the benefits of daily fasting in humans,” investigators “found that people who are at high risk of developing diabetes improved their health in myriad ways when they ate all of their meals over a span of just over 10 hours, then fasted for the remainder of their 24-hour day.” That practice, “called ‘time-restricted eating,’ is a variant of ‘intermittent fasting’ – a practice growing in popularity.”
Newsweek (12/5, Gander) reports that “eating during a specific window of time could help with weight loss, sleep, and high blood pressure.” Included in the study were “19 participants who had metabolic syndrome, characterized by a person having a number of conditions such as high blood pressure, high fasting glucose levels and obesity.” After eating “all of their food in a 10-hour window of their choosing for 12 weeks,” participants at study’s end “on average saw a 3 to 4 percent drop across body weight, their body mass index, abdominal fat, and waist circumference.” In addition, they “had lower blood pressure, lower levels of fats linked to cardiovascular disease, and
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Premature Menopause May Be Associated With Increased Risk For Cardiovascular Disease,
“Premature menopause, defined as either surgical or natural menopause before 40 years of age, is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease,” research concluded. The article adds, “In 2018/2019 guidelines from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association on cholesterol and primary prevention, a history of premature menopause was used to refine atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk.” The findings of the 144,260-postmenopausal woman study were published online in JAMA. https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/home/topics/androgen-and-reproductive-disorders/surgical-and-natural-early-menopause-linked-to-cardiovascular-disease-risk/
Obesity In Adolescence May Harm Brain Regions Controlling Appetite, Emotion, Cognitive Function,
reported, “Obesity in adolescence may harm regions of the brain that control appetite, emotion and cognitive function,” researchers concluded after “studying MRI scans of 59 overweight teenagers and comparing them with 60 more from healthy individuals.” Using “‘diffusion tensor imaging,’ or DTI, to track the diffusion of water along the brain’s signal-carrying white matter tracts,” researchers “noticed damage to key parts of the brain.” The findings were presented at a medical conference. https://www.radiologybusiness.com/topics/care-delivery/teen-obesity-damage-brains-regulate-appetite-mri
Bones May Age Faster In Older Women Who Get Too Little Sleep,
“Bones may age faster in older women who get too little sleep,” researchers concluded in a “long-term” study “based on data from nearly 11,000 participants.” The study revealed that “postmenopausal women who slept less than five hours a night were more likely to have low bone mass than those who averaged seven hours sleep,” and “short sleepers were also up to twice as likely to have osteoporosis of the hip and spine.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-bones-sleep/short-sleep-after-menopause-linked-to-weaker-bones-idUSKBN1Y326A
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Life Expectancy Continues To Decline In US In Contrast With Other Industrialized Countries, Study Indicates
reports the researchers examined “the past six decades of mortality data” and found that in recent years, the US has experienced “increasing mortality and falling life expectancy for people ages 25 to 64...while other wealthy nations have generally experienced continued progress in extending longevity.” The study found that “by age group, the highest relative jump in death rates from 2010 to 2017 – 29 percent – has been among people ages 25 to 34.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/theres-something-terribly-wrong-americans-are-dying-young-at-alarming-rates/2019/11/25/d88b28ec-0d6a-11ea-8397-a955cd542d00_story.html
Fertility Rate Continued Four-Year Decline, Reaching Record Low In 2018, CDC Data Show
reports that the rate of births dropped again in 2018 for the fourth consecutive year, according to new data from the National Center for Health Statistics, “extending a lengthy decline as women wait until they are older to have children.” In addition, “there were 59.1 births for every 1,000 women of childbearing age in the country last year, a record low.” The rate was down 2% from 2017, and “has fallen by about 15 percent since 2007.”
NBC News (11/27, Edwards) reports that the data also indicated a downward trend for babies being born to smoking mothers, with 6.5% of the women who gave birth in 2018 reporting having used “a tobacco product, a 6 percent decline from 2017.” https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/u-s-birth-rate-falls-4th-year-row-n1091446
Monday, November 25, 2019
Amazon Pulls Many Skin-Lightening Products Containing Mercury
reported Amazon “pulled more than a dozen skin-lightening products with dangerous levels of mercury off its website after Minnesota public-health and environmental activists raised concerns.” The company made the change “after two groups, the BeautyWell Project and the state branch of the Sierra Club, delivered a petition on Wednesday with over 23,000 signatures to Amazon’s fulfillment center in Shakopee, Minnesota.” https://apnews.com/6da0dc3389334ef38177567e12b3170a
High Antibiotic Use Linked to Parkinson's Disease
Higher exposure to commonly used oral antibiotics is linked to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease according to a recently published study by researchers from the Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
The strongest associations were found for broad-spectrum antibiotics and those that act against anaerobic bacteria and fungi. The timing of antibiotic exposure also seemed to matter.
The study suggests that excessive use of certain antibiotics can predispose to Parkinson's disease with a delay of up to 10 to 15 years. This connection may be explained by their disruptive effects on the gut microbial ecosystem.
“The link between antibiotic exposure and Parkinson's disease fits the current view that in a significant proportion of patients the pathology of Parkinson's may originate in the gut, possibly related to microbial changes, years before the onset of typical Parkinson motor symptoms such as slowness, muscle stiffness and shaking of the extremities. It was known that the bacterial composition of the intestine in Parkinson's patients is abnormal, but the cause is unclear. Our results suggest that some commonly used antibiotics, which are known to strongly influence the gut microbiota, could be a predisposing factor," says research team leader, neurologist Filip https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/high-antibiotic-use-linked-to-parkinsons-disease-327574?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=79860634&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-84qYOmecJBfn3kcVk9PTIdQyhB4WYm4_BXq2aI3D_ZFp-U_rre7DPNureWas59CtxZ7ziSyrzhfN9EoeBH2jBbc1DI7Q&_hsmi=79860634
Thursday, November 21, 2019
E-Cigarette Usage May Impair Fertility, Pregnancy Outcomes, Research In Mice Indicates
eported research in mice indicates that “e-cigarette usage may impair fertility and pregnancy outcomes.” The findings were published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/e-cigarette-use-during-pregnancy-impairs-metabolic-health-in-daughters-mouse-study-finds/
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Research Suggests Remaining Brain May Be Able To Reorganize Itself Following Hemispherectomy
reports a study published in Cell Reports indicates that some people may be able to recover well after hemispherectomy, the removal of one of the brain’s hemispheres, because the remaining hemisphere reorganizes itself. The article says that hemispherectomy has been performed “in children who have brain malformations, intractable seizures or diseases where damage is confined to half the brain,” and many scientists have been surprised by how well many patients recover. For instance, “many of the children are able to walk, talk, read and do everyday tasks” and around 20% “of patients who have the procedure go on to find gainful employment as adults.” https://www.newsweek.com/removing-half-brain-appears-boost-brain-connectivity-1472716
Study Finds Relationship Between Sleep, Bone Density In Postmenopausal Women
reports on a study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research finding that “short sleep duration is associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) and a higher risk for osteoporosis among postmenopausal women.” The study included “data from 11,084 postmenopausal women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative (mean age, 63.3 years) to assess the relationship between sleep and bone health.” HealthDay adds, “The researchers found that in adjusted models, women who reported sleeping no more than five hours per night had on average 0.012 to 0.018 g/cm² significantly lower BMD at all four sites (whole body, total hip, femoral neck, and spine) versus women who reported sleeping seven hours per night.” https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/home/topics/osteoporosis/less-sleep-tied-to-lower-bone-mineral-density-in-women/
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Monday, November 18, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019
Op-Ed: Today’s Insulin Is Safer, More Effective Than It Once Was
PureTech Health Director John LaMattina writes in an op-ed for STAT (11/14, LaMattina) that “the sentiment that Americans are now paying dearly for the insulin pioneered nearly a century ago have helped fuel attacks against the biopharmaceutical industry, enabling politicians like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to depict companies as being ‘very, very greedy and corrupt’ as he led people with diabetes and their family members on a high-profile bus trip to Canada to buy this medication.” LaMattina adds, “Insulin was first administered to someone with diabetes in 1922,” but has “come a long way” since then. People with diabetes “are no longer using preparations derived from animals. We have new insulins that can closely mimic natural physiological conditions, and which are safer than the older agen https://www.statnews.com/2019/11/14/insulin-safer-better-easier-to-use/
Which Surgery Is Better For Long-Term Weight Loss Remains Unknown,
People with obesity may initially shed more excess pounds with...Roux-en-Y gastric bypass than with a newer sleeve gastrectomy procedure, but” in the long term, “which one is better for weight loss remains unknown,” researchers concluded after examining “data from previous studies on a total of 2,475 obese patients in 13 countries who had weight-loss surgery between 2006 and 2018.” Investigators found that “five years after surgery, there was not enough evidence to determine whether one procedure might be better than the other.” The findings of the medical literature review were published online in the Annals of Surgery. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-surgery-obesity/best-surgery-for-long-term-weight-loss-not-yet-clear-idUSKBN1XO2SN
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Average Weight And BMI Have Increased Over Past Two Decades Despite Rise In Those Trying To Lose Weight, Study Indicates
reports the average weight and BMI of Americans has increased, “despite a rise in people trying to lose weight,” researchers concluded in a study that “involved 48,026 people aged between 40 and 64 who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2016.” The study revealed that “between 1999 and 2016, the average BMI and weight of participants rose,” while at the same time, “the proportion of people who said they had tried to lose weight also increased, from 34.3 percent to 42.2 percent.” https://www.newsweek.com/americans-fatter-decades-lose-weight-study-1471432
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Researchers Says Houseplants Don’t Clean The Air Or Give People More Oxygen
reports researchers reviewed 12 studies and “debunked” several myths related to houseplants in a study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. For example, the researchers say that houseplants do not “clean the air.”
HealthDay (11/12, Preidt) reports the researchers “found that natural ventilation does a far better job than houseplants in maintaining air quality in homes and offices,” and that “it would take between 10 and 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space to match the air cleaning capacity of a building’s air-handling system or even just a couple of open windows in a house.” https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/12/health/plants-do-not-clean-indoor-air-trnd-wellness/index.html
Study Suggests Testosterone Therapy Tied To Elevated Risk For Deep Vein Blood Clots
reports a study based on health insurance claims for almost 40,000 men showed “men had twice the risk for a deep vein blood clot if they’d been receiving testosterone during the previous six months.” Moreover, “the increased risk occurred whether or not a man had the low-testosterone condition known as hypogonadism, but appeared to be more pronounced in middle-aged men than in seniors.” The findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine. https://consumer.healthday.com/circulatory-system-information-7/clots-health-news-731/testosterone-supplements-double-men-s-odds-for-blood-clots-study-752088.html
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Research Suggests Vaping Is Potentially More Harmful To The Heart Than Smoking
reports that two studies scheduled to be presented at the American Heart Association’s upcoming meeting indicate that vaping is just as harmful, or possibly more harmful, for the heart than smoking. In one study, researchers found that people who vaped “had higher levels of unhealthy LDL cholesterol, on average, compared with nonsmokers,” and that “levels of healthy HDL cholesterol were lower among people who used both traditional and e-cigarettes.” In the other study, researchers found that the heart’s “ability to pump blood was diminished both during exercise and rest” in vapers rather than just during exercise as was the case in smokers. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/vaping/e-cigarettes-hurt-heart-health-possibly-more-regular-cigarettes-n1079076
Anti-inflammatory Drug May Raise Diabetes Risk
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are one of the most commonly prescribed anti-inflammatories for conditions such as arthritis, asthma, allergies and adrenal insufficiency. GC treatment at high doses for a long duration is known to be associated with metabolic side-effects that may increase risk of diabetes and obesity but there are currently no studies examining the short-term effects of GCs at the more regularly prescribed, lower doses. As 2-3% of the UK population take GCs for conditions of varying severity, it is important to investigate whether these metabolic side-effects occur in lower dose, short-term therapy. https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/anti-inflammatory-drug-may-raise-diabetes-risk-327101?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=79277245&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_EHnBrfjKIc9quMqzjKDmErSCWF7Jh1s_HrRqdwTWz5Qk0DYTEC19bl9x4RJx2EF14hiBu5xRPVLNDi_RtNZIph1oN_g&_hsmi=79277245
Friday, November 8, 2019
Time-Restricted Feeding Promising Strategy For Weight Loss, Researchers Say
“Among the numerous intermittent fasting strategies being pursued for weight loss, time-restricted feeding has shown particular promise,” research indicates. That strategy involves having people “eat during only certain hours each day, for example, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.” The findings were presented at ObesityWeek. https://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B825a0ee5-7d55-46b9-b36c-46a60ef9aef2%7D/intermittent-fasting-research-still-developing-time-restricted-feeding-shows-potential
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Researchers Highlight Heart Risks Linked to Vaping
Science hasn’t yet caught up with electronic cigarettes, leaving health care providers and users with many unknowns. But a new review of the research so far finds growing evidence that vaping can harm the heart and blood vessels.
“Many people think these products are safe, but there is more and more reason to worry about their effects on heart health,” said Loren Wold, senior author of the study, published today (Nov. 7, 2019) in the journal Cardiovascular Research.
In addition to nicotine, e-cigarettes contain particulate matter, metals and flavorings – all of which could contribute to cardiovascular problems, said Wold, director of biomedical research at The Ohio State University College of Nursing and a professor in the College of Medicine.
Fine particles found in air pollution enter the bloodstream and directly affect the heart, and the current data, while far from conclusive, shows that the same may be true for e-cigarettes, he said.
Some studies in animals and humans have documented immediate negative effects including increases in blood pressure, heart rate, stiffness in the arteries, inflammation and oxidative stress. All are linked to heart disease over time.
https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/researchers-highlight-heart-risks-linked-to-vaping-326923?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=79095019&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9wTEEDqSp0Qj7otpXRKrN3QO97Dik7PqzMpkKYB6FcZekg9bgA4ACVC2Og77r4jXe_eb79utVh6gdc1DWpegAnVkRqpw&_hsmi=79095019
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Cervical Pre-cancer Can Be Detected in Self-collected Urine or Vaginal Samples
Researchers have developed a non-invasive test to detect cervical pre-cancer by analyzing self-collected urine and vaginal samples.
In a presentation at the 2019 NCRI Cancer Conference Dr Belinda Nedjai said that the self-sampling test had proved popular with women taking part in the study and this meant that it was likely to improve participation in cervical cancer screening programs.
“The initial use of self-sampling is likely to be for women who do not attend clinic after a screening invitation and in countries without a cervical cancer screening program. In the longer term, self-sampling could become the standard method for all screening tests. The study indicated that women much preferred doing a test at home than attending a doctor’s surgery,” said Nedjai, who is Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Molecular Epidemiology Lab at Queen Mary University of London, UK.
“To the best of our knowledge, this study is the largest to test a methylation classifier, called S5, in urine and self-collected cervical samples to detect pre-cancer lesions in women who have been referred for further investigation. We expect the self-sampling test to improve acceptance rates for cervical cancer screening, as well as reducing costs to health services and improving the performance of screening programs.”
The current gold-standard pap smear test is taken in the clinic and often follows a positive test for the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Nedjai said: “HPV testing is rapidly becoming the primary screening method for cervical cancer worldwide. It is a very sensitive method, very good at detecting true positives, but lacks specificity – in other words, a second test is needed to exclude HPV positive women that are not at increased risk of developing cancer. The choice of an appropriate strategy for high-risk HPV positive women is a key issue.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/news/cervical-pre-cancer-can-be-detected-in-self-collected-urine-or-vaginal-samples-326877?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=79033497&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-81UkAGRhEZzVH2O7aeUhiyElighjjjBLB3RcRUYO9y-4tmZhu4837Nbr5b8hBaO_Lx5E5md3kqvt184W5D4Qx_iG3D-g&_hsmi=79033497
Friday, November 1, 2019
Acetaminophen (paracetamol) use during pregnancy may be linked to an increased risk of childhood (ADHD)
Acetaminophen, or paracetamol, is the most commonly used drug to prevent or reduce fever and to relieve pain amongst mothers during pregnancy and infants in early life. Despite its use in this context, previous studies in both animal models and humans suggest a link between prenatal paracetamol exposure and increased risk of conditions such as; asthma, cryptorchidism, and ADHD and ASD. Human studies have shown that paracetamol can cross the placental barrier and can remain in an infant’s circulation for a long duration.
https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/paracetamol-during-pregnancy-could-be-linked-to-increased-risk-of-adhd-and-autism-326647?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=78843713&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_q3oLJUXTSsGZzND2m_huI2omR5xS41TFjt_br7mFAfFrffGymmbjlISoiH6oygXRNwU5JNpF-kfQmXvEUrWS03cxx6g&_hsmi=78843713
Milk From Teeth: Dental Stem Cells Can Generate Milk-Producing Cells
Dental stem cells capable of regenerating mammary gland
https://www.technologynetworks.com/cell-science/news/milk-from-teeth-dental-stem-cells-can-generate-milk-producing-cells-326706?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=78843713&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_q3oLJUXTSsGZzND2m_huI2omR5xS41TFjt_br7mFAfFrffGymmbjlISoiH6oygXRNwU5JNpF-kfQmXvEUrWS03cxx6g&_hsmi=78843713
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Immune Response Against Skin-dwelling Viruses Stops Cancer
Viruses get a bad rap as potential cancer-causers, but at least one class of viruses that commonly live on human skin - so-called "low-risk" human papillomaviruses - appear to play an unwitting role in protecting us against skin cancer according to a new study published in Nature.
Patients who have immune systems that are suppressed from diseases or medical therapy are at greatly increased risk for cancers linked to viral infections, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. Although multiple studies have tried to show a link between human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and SCC, none have been able to show that HPVs actually drive the development of these common skin cancers, say Shawn Demehri, MD, PhD investigator in the Center for Cancer Immunology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) department of Dermatology and the MGH Cancer Center, and colleagues.
Instead, working with experimental models and tissue samples from human skin cancer, they found that the presence of "commensal" papillomaviruses - low-risk forms of HPV that dwell on the skin of a large majority of people - appears to have an indirect protective rather than harmful effects against SCC.
"This is the first evidence that commensal viruses could have beneficial health effects both in experimental models and also in humans, and it turns out that this beneficial effect has to do with cancer protection. The role of these commensal viruses, in this case papillomaviruses, is to induce immunity that then is protecting patients from skin cancers," he says. https://www.technologynetworks.com/cancer-research/news/immune-response-against-skin-dwelling-viruses-stops-cancer-326626?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=78793302&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9FyKGcjw68GgKrX9Kkb1qNHTItm60pPw9PPOkjLw2hsqYMp-LqWQlrQlx6TBvlk03jhArzOBT3bQZaboOrpq1FOfJtKA&_hsmi=78793302
Bariatric Surgery May Reduce Skin Cancer Risk In People With Obesity
reports researchers found “bariatric surgery cut skin cancer risk in people with obesity.” The findings were published in JAMA Dermatology.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/dermatology/skincancer/83042
Reresearch Indicates Teens Who Take Oral Contraceptives More Likely To Experience Depressive Symptoms
reports a study of 1,010 girls and women over nine years showed “teenage girls who use birth control pills are more likely to cry, sleep too much and experience eating issues than their peers who don’t use oral contraceptives.” While “research has shown that adolescents who use birth control pills are more prone to be at risk for depression in adulthood,” the investigators “sought to examine something more subtle – depressive symptoms, which include increased crying, sleeping too much, feelings of worthlessness and suicidal thoughts.” The study was published in JAMA Psychiatry. https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/health/teens-birth-control-pills-depressive-symptoms-trnd/index.html
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Patients With T2D May Be More Likely To Carry Candida Albicans In Their Root Canals, Study Indicates
reports researchers found that “patients with a long-term history of [T2D] carried Candida albicans in their dental root canals more frequently when they have a primary endodontic infection.” The findings were published in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/home/topics/mycoses/people-with-diabetes-more-commonly-have-candida-fungus-present-in-teeth-root-canals/
FDA Releases Report On Drug Shortages
An analysis in the report found that two-thirds of 163 drugs in short supply in recent years were available as generics, generally at low cost.” The drugs “were older, too, on the market for a median of almost 35 years.” However, “quality-control problems at manufacturing facilities were responsible for more than half of recent drug shortages, the task force also found.” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/health/drug-shortages-generics.html
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Healthcare Workers Among The “Hardest Hit” By Sleep Deprivation, Study Suggests
“The number of working Americans who get less than seven hours of sleep a night is on the rise. And the people hardest hit when it comes to sleep deprivation are those we depend on the most for our health and safety: police and health care workers.” A recent study published in the Journal of Community Health “found the prevalence of inadequate sleep, defined as seven hours or less, increased from 30.9% in 2010 to 35.6% in 2018.” Meanwhile, 45 percent of healthcare workers “reported not getting seven hours a night. For many, the norm was six or even just five hours.” https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/10/28/773622789/working-americans-are-getting-less-sleep-especially-those-who-save-our-lives
Friday, October 25, 2019
Sunlight Exposure Is Reflected in Your Poop
the Sun can indeed shine out of your backside, suggests research. Not because you’re self-absorbed, but because you’ve absorbed gut-altering UV radiation.
This is the first study to show that skin exposure to UVB light alters the gut microbiome in humans. Published in Frontiers in Microbiology, the analysis suggests that vitamin D mediates the change – which could help explain the protective effect of UVB light in inflammatory diseases like MS and IBD.
Ratifying rodent studies
Sun exposure, vitamin D levels and the mix of bacteria in our gut are each associated with risk of inflammatory conditions like MS and IBD. Scientists hypothesize that a causal chain links the three.
Exposure to UVB in sunlight is well-known to drive vitamin D production in the skin, and recent studies suggest that vitamin D alters the human gut microbiome. However, that UVB therefore causes gut microbiome changes, via vitamin D production, has so far been shown only in rodents. https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/sunlight-exposure-is-reflected-in-your-poop-326420?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=78538930&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9xKZWZkOcvC61rINGuGspIVR4Q_pCP-hyBf_KZezZx66RDOOA-_a14ZOZyj3YgBeLaAXPyNwbAUfdpQdTAm8tBW8Q2vQ&_hsmi=78538930
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Blood Pressure Drugs Work Best at Bedtime
People with high blood pressure who take all their anti-hypertensive medication in one go at bedtime have better controlled blood pressure and a significantly lower risk of death or illness caused by heart or blood vessel problems, compared to those who take their medication in the morning, according to new research. https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/blood-pressure-drugs-work-best-at-bedtime-326322?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=78422920&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_FGVHgZ11ieJlQs5fIcuPzrO6TcQKG7MOBlsDH2SjFMrxOtrnPaj09XiZHY0GrJOTn-JlU7T919EjwG_mgEhASDQ-0qQ&_hsmi=78422920
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Review Study Indicates Women Who Breastfeed Less Likely To Develop Diabetes And High Blood Pressure
eports researchers found in a review study that “mothers who breastfed for more than 12 months were 30% less likely to develop diabetes and 13% less likely to develop high blood pressure than women who didn’t nurse babies that long.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open and included “data from four previous studies looking at the connection between lactation and diabetes in a total of about 206,000 women.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-breastfeeding-benefits/breastfeeding-tied-to-lower-risk-of-diabetes-high-blood-pressure-idUSKBN1X027I
Monday, October 21, 2019
Review Study Suggests Intermittent Fasting Diet May Be Beneficial For Reducing BMI And Improving Glycemic Control
An intermittent fasting diet may be beneficial for reducing body mass index (BMI) and improving glycemic control,” researchers concluded in a 12-study “systematic review and meta-analysis.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/home/topics/general-endocrinology/review-investigates-effects-of-intermittent-fasting/
Creatine Fuels T Cells’ Fight Against Cancer
Creatine, the organic acid that is popularly taken as a supplement by athletes and bodybuilders, serves as a molecular battery for immune cells by storing and distributing energy to power their fight against cancer, according to new UCLA research.
The study, conducted in mice and published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, is the first to show that creatine uptake is critical to the anti-tumor activities of CD8 T cells, also known as killer T cells, the foot soldiers of the immune system. The researchers also found that creatine supplementation can improve the efficacy of existing immunotherapies.
“Because oral creatine supplements have been broadly utilized by bodybuilders and athletes for the past three decades, existing data suggest they are likely safe when taken at appropriate doses,” said Lili Yang, a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA and the study’s senior author. “This could provide a clear and expedient path forward for the use of creatine supplementation to enhance existing cancer immunotherapies.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/cancer-research/news/creatine-fuels-t-cells-fight-against-cancer-326197?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=78310030&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9ROP3PYOUFRqcnAAr0Ao8sz7LvNNVmshJSiPmtNzYtqgeqnQnzqJ6P-YzgpyFniC5l4EbKHCPv5u_3Y_PDL98VUkEZuQ&_hsmi=78310030
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Time To Say Goodbye… to the “Household Measure” BMI?
https://www.technologynetworks.com/proteomics/news/time-to-say-goodbye-to-the-house-hold-measure-bmi-325276?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=78194095&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9FqcLND-o7pOJywQkKWmH5kx4lgk50OhOoyJ-6Z5JeDQbt9tSl9AWjCC6OMagxa_Gul-8jh6vn3lZ1uNuPIUKh8kZt4w&_hsmi=78194095
Research Suggests Association Between Irregular Menstrual Cycle And Mortality Risk
reports a “study found that women who had irregular periods or extra-long menstrual cycles had as much as a one-third higher risk of death during the two-decade study compared to women who usually had a normal menstrual cycle.” In the study of almost 94,000 women “women who had longer-than-average menstrual cycles (more than 32 days) were around 25% more likely to die from any cause during the study than women with a usual cycle length of 26 to 31 days.” The results only show an association, which “may have something to do with other risk factors that boost the odds of dying early.” The findings were scheduled to be presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting. https://consumer.healthday.com/pregnancy-information-29/menstruation-news-473/irregular-periods-shorter-life-span-751275.html
Friday, October 11, 2019
Harmful Bacteria Combated by Breast Milk Compound
Researchers at National Jewish Health and the University of Iowa have identified a compound in human breast milk that fights infections by harmful bacteria while allowing beneficial bacteria to thrive. Human breast milk has more than 200 times the amount of glycerol monolaurate (GML) than is found in cows’ milk. Infant formula has none. GML is inexpensive to manufacture. Future research will determine if GML could be a beneficial additive to cow’s milk and infant formula.
“Our findings demonstrate that high levels of GML are unique to human breast milk and strongly inhibit growth of pathogenic bacteria,” said Donald Leung, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Health and senior author on a paper in Scientific Reports.
‘While antibiotics can fight bacterial infections in infants, they kill the beneficial bacteria along with the pathogenic ones,” said Patrick Schlievert, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and first author on the Scientific Reports paper. “GML is much more selective, fighting only the pathogenic bacteria while allowing beneficial species to thrive. We think GML holds great promise as a potential additive to cows’ milk and infant formula that could promote the health of babies around the world.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/harmful-bacteria-combated-by-breast-milk-compound-325053?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77954506&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9pZ5xEXFwja4QNXh3jlbckIn3DKNHJsg9ypPnFUFZafawroqXDsw9IFejg9xP4giWco_YHR2mspLTm-qZ0B1BP6rVlVw&_hsmi=77954506
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Review Suggests Medical Schools Don’t Spend Much Time On Nutrition
reports a new research review suggests that “although diet plays an outsize role in health and wellness and can be crucial to managing many common chronic conditions, medical schools tend not to devote much time to teaching future doctors about nutrition.” Researchers “analyzed data from 24 previously published studies that focused on medical students’ nutrition knowledge and confidence in their ability to counsel patients on diet.” Their findings and an accompanying editorial were published in The Lancet Planetary Health. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-nutrition-medical-education/medical-education-not-covering-basics-of-nutrition-idUSKBN1WO2S3
Drug Abstinence Changes Gene Expression, Making Relapse More Likely
prolonged abstinence
“The novelty of our current paper is that it begins to reveal what happens on a cellular basis, what genes are turned on and off during a prolonged period of abstinence,” said David M. Dietz, PhD, senior author and chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
The research focused on the nucleus accumbens, a center of reward and motivation in the brain. The researchers looked specifically at molecules known as chromatin remodelers that can facilitate or prevent access to DNA, ultimately affecting gene expression.
They found that chromatin remodeler INO80 causes changes in gene expression that enhances cocaine-craving behavior. While after one day of abstinence from cocaine there was no change in expression of INO80, there was a significant increase after 30 days of abstinence.
The findings also reveal how a class of proteins called E3 ubiquitin ligases facilitates relapse. Currently the subject of well-funded research in the pharmaceutical industry for psychiatric and neurologic diseases, E3 ubiquitin ligase proteins have yet to be well-explored in terms of their relevance to addiction and relapse. Last year, Werner and his colleagues at UB published the first paper regarding another one of these proteins and its role in addiction and relapse.
The current UB study reveals that an E3 ubiquitin ligase called TRIM3 tags INO80 with a ubiquitin chain indicating to the cell to degrade INO80. The researchers found that a decrease in TRIM3 likely underlies the observed increase in INO80 (less TRIM3 means less INO80 being degraded).
Increased drug craving
“When there’s less TRIM3 and more INO80, that leads to an increase in drug craving,” said Werner, “but when there’s more TRIM3 and less INO80, drug-craving behavior is reduced.”
They found this effect whether they manipulated INO80 directly, or through the alterations of TRIM3 levels, he said.
“INO80 affects some combination of target genes,” said Werner. “In the future, we want to find out which of those downstream genes are contributing to drug-craving behaviors. This would be a big first step into this really new territory of how gene expression maintains relapse https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/drug-abstinence-changes-gene-expression-making-relapse-more-likely-325007?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77906125&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_45dRrGuKf0380b4bbq5aK1MhmjqD0QXrjFYGaN2sAX32wtw4I2YLiX29AuE8kyRpECmoz8HWvFGdxR9WEt0PzMrJm-A&_hsmi=77906125
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Probiotic Supplements May Improve BMI, Inflammatory Markers, Glycolipid Metabolism In Obese Children Following Diet And Exercise Plan, Research Suggests
Probiotic supplements can improve body mass index (BMI), inflammatory markers, and glycolipid metabolism in obese children who are following a diet and exercise plan,” research indicated. The findings of the 54-patient study were presented in a poster at the 58th Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting. https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/home/topics/pediatric-endocrinology/probiotics-may-improve-body-mass-index-in-obese-children/
Parental Pressure On Teens To Diet Or Lose Weight May Boost Teens’ Odds For Obesity Later In Life, Study Indicates
reports that parental pressure on teens “to diet or lose weight may end up harming them,” researchers concluded after examining “data from surveys completed by more than 1,100 adolescents from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area from 1998 to 1999,” then having respondents “fill out follow-up surveys at five-year intervals beginning in 2003, until they entered their 30s.” The study revealed that “parents who urge their kids to diet might actually be boosting their odds for obesity later in life.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health. https://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/adolescents-and-teen-health-news-719/pressuring-kids-to-diet-can-backfire-damaging-long-term-health-751019.html
CDC Says Reported Cases Of STDs Have Reached Record Highs
The number of combined cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia in the United States rose to a record high last year...according to figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
Reuters (10/8, Borter) reports that the agency said that last year, there were nearly 2.46 million reported cases of STDs in the US. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/health/cdc-std-study.html
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
US Measles Cases Rise To 1,250 This Year
reports seven new measles cases were recorded in the United States last week, “taking the total cases for the year to 1,250” in “the worst outbreak since 1992.” The CDC said that, as of Oct. 3, measles has been reported in 31 states. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-measles/u-s-recorded-seven-new-cases-of-measles-last-week-idUSKBN1WM1HO
Harmful Air Pollutants Generated by Some Bleach Products
https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/harmful-air-pollutants-generated-by-some-bleach-products-324871?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77790934&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8xOpWCPUXxQY9dMGt61CqAl1dbBJZECHenWbjQriLWPhbclSaYNFyZABJp7KxutisjXcgJZYQE1PxYv-j8PUuK2Fa6fA&_hsmi=77790934
Bleach cleaning products emit chlorine-containing compounds, such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and chlorine gas (Cl2), that can accumulate to relatively high levels in poorly ventilated indoor environments. These gases can react with other chemicals commonly found in homes, such as limonene –– an orange- or lemon-scented compound added to many personal care products, cleaners and air fresheners. In addition, indoor lighting or sunshine through windows might split HOCl and Cl2 into a hydroxyl radical and a chlorine atom, which can react with other compounds to form air particles called secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). These pollutants have been linked to respiratory problems and other adverse health effects. Chen Wang and colleagues wanted to see whether limonene and bleach fumes, at concentrations likely to occur in indoor environments, could react to produce SOAs under light and dark conditions.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Serum Interferon Predicts Lupus Flares High levels of interferon-alpha linked with fourfold greater risk of flare within a year
The persistent presence of interferon-α may not merely be a marker of disease activity during apparent remission, but also may play a pathologic role in the disease. "Interferon-α overexpression could be an explanation of chronic fatigue, depression, and reduction of sleep secondary to the stimulation of the dopamine metabolism by interferon-α in the central neurological system," the authors suggested.
Interferon-α also may participate in some of the processes linked with the accelerated atherosclerosis seen in SLE, such as endothelial cell damage. "These data suggest that for patients in clinical remission, return of serum interferon-α to normal values could become one of the objectives of https://www.medpagetoday.com/rheumatology/lupus/82577?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2019-10-05&eun=g721819d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%202019-10-05&utm_term=NL_Daily_DHE_Active
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Research Suggests Maintaining Weight Loss Requires More Than Willpower
reports a brain imaging study published in Cognitive Neuroscience indicates “some people have an imbalance between the executive control and reward systems of the brain,” which suggests they “not have enough natural control over the impulse to reach for food.” A separate study published in Obesity “found that the body’s internal protection against starvation encourages eating specifically so that you’ll regain any lost weight – and at a rate of 100 calories a day for every kilogram or 2.2 pounds dropped.” A third study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests techniques that work for weight loss are ineffective for weight loss maintenance, such as meal planning and participating in many different types of exercise. https://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/dieting-to-gain-or-maintain-weight-192/why-maintaining-weight-loss-demands-more-than-willpower-750112.html
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Exposure To Air Pollution Tied To Increased Risk For Death Among Babies And Reduced Lung Function In Childhood,
“Exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk for death among babies and reduced lung function in childhood,” researchers concluded in “two studies presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.” https://www.healio.com/pulmonology/practice-management/news/online/%7Bb8f3500b-49c2-45e9-ac4e-4121e977fb73%7D/air-pollution-may-pose-significant-risks-to-newborns-children
Bones Of Healthy Adults May Not Benefit From High-Dose, Daily Vitamin D, Study Indicates
“Supplementation with high-dose, daily vitamin D does not prevent bone loss or benefit bone structure over two years, or reduce the risk of falls over five years versus placebo...two subanalyses of a large nationwide study of healthy men and women without vitamin D insufficiency at baseline” indicated. The findings of the “largest randomized controlled trial in healthy women and men of supplemental vitamin D3 alone versus placebo on spine and hip areal bone mineral density...and measures of bone structure” were presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2019 Annual Meeting. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/919179
Culprit for Age-related Decline in Muscle Healing Uncovered
An age-related decline in recovery from muscle injury can be traced to a protein that suppresses the special ability of muscle stem cells to build new muscles, according to work from a team of current and former Carnegie biologists led by Chen-Ming Fan and published in Nature Metabolism.
Skeletal muscles have a tremendous capacity to make new muscles from special muscle stem cells. These "blank" cells are not only good at making muscles but also at generating more of themselves, a process called self-renewal. But their amazing abilities diminish with age, resulting in poorer muscle regeneration from muscle trauma.
The research team--including Carnegie's Liangji Li, Michelle Rozo, Sibiao Yue, Xiaobin Zheng, and Frederick Tan, as well as Christoph Lepper formerly of Carnegie now at the Ohio State University--figured out that a protein called GAS1 is the culprit for this age-related decline.
"Encoded by the growth-arrest specific gene, the GAS1 protein lives up to its name, accelerating the functional decline of muscle stem cells," explained lead author Li.
The protein is found in only a small number of young muscle stem cells, but is present in all aged muscle stem cells, they discovered. Tinkering with muscle stem cells to express GAS1 in the https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/culprit-for-age-related-decline-in-muscle-healing-uncovered-324512?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77506203&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--rjolzNTyeSIZQO2DzyIpYOqAzldhTtZVEgxSj93ElClROuOL0LoQwrtfOi0bgPDFG12U088ztoP6mPDo04WdjeQDJrQ&_hsmi=77506203
Monday, September 30, 2019
Experts Discuss Trends In Cannabis Use In Menopause
reports at a meeting of the North American Menopause Society, experts discussed cannabis use in menopause, despite a lack of research on the subject. Experts “discussed how rapidly knowledge in the cannabis space is moving, and how patients might weigh scientific knowledge versus lived experience.” Moreover, a presenter reviewed “Google search data that found that ‘CBD for menopause’ was the breakout search, or most rising term, of the last 5 years in searches for menopause.” https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/nams/82461
250,000 Nights of Sleep Measured in Global Study
The findings indicate that there are differences in the duration and timing of sleep by age, geographical region and gender. The timing of sleep was delayed among 16-24-year-old subjects, but in older subjects sleep was again timed earlier.
"It was interesting to find that the circadian rhythm shifts later even in people over 20 years of age. It was already previously known that sleep timing is delayed in adolescence. What was clearly highlighted in this study is how long into adulthood this actually carries on," says Liisa Kuula, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki.
People in Europe and North America slept the longest, while the shortest sleep was observed in Asian countries. Sleep was timed the latest in the Middle East, while the earliest sleep rhythm was found in Oceania.
Young women slept more than young men, and the former also went to sleep earlier.
"Geographical differences were relatively small but similar to those seen in prior, smaller-scale studies. The need for sleep does not vary greatly between cultures, but differences arise in terms of the time reserved for sleeping," Kuula notes. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/250000-nights-of-sleep-measured-in-global-study-324488?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77446213&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9IByAjG8aCK18oZNaaXqL4pyzEEMRHSrXCUYSfqnVEpJBUds78GQvs45fXVnT1KLJ6KGLPseIfl81cL3SWTKYcE8ypGQ&_hsmi=77446213
Friday, September 27, 2019
Elevated Serum Levels Of Circulating Sex Hormones Were Found To Be Associated With Lower Odds Of Asthma In Women, Research Suggests
, “Elevated serum levels of circulating sex hormones were found to be associated with lower odds of asthma in women, possibly explaining in part the different prevalence of asthma in men and women,” researchers concluded after analyzing “data from 7,615 adults (3,953 men and 3,662 women) who participated in the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.” The findings were published online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. https://www.mdedge.com/endocrinology/article/208889/asthma/serum-testosterone-and-estradiol-levels-associated-current
Middle-Aged And Older Adults Who Live In Greener Neighborhoods May Have Decreased Risk Of Developing Metabolic Syndrome, Research Indicates
reports research indicates that “middle-aged and older adults who live in greener neighborhoods have a decreased risk of developing metabolic syndrome.” Included in the study were some 6,000 “British adults.” The findings were published online in the journal Environmental Pollution. https://www.newsweek.com/study-finds-people-living-near-green-spaces-less-prone-factors-associated-obesity-heart-disease-1461623
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Largest Study to Date Shows Promise for Vitamin D and Fish Oil in Cancer Prevention
The VITamin D and OmegA-3 Trial (VITAL) is the largest and most recent to test whether vitamin D or fish oil can effectively prevent cancer or cardiovascular disease. Results to date have been mixed but show promise for some outcomes, now confirmed by updated pooled (meta) analyses. The latest results from VITAL will be presented during The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Annual Meeting in Chicago, September 25-28, 2019.
Nearly 26,000 U.S. men and women participated in the nationwide VITAL clinical trial. After more than five years of study and treatment, the results show promising signals for certain outcomes. For example, while Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) showed only a small, but nonsignificant, reduction in the primary cardiovascular endpoint of major CVD events, they were associated with significant reductions in heart attacks. https://www.technologynetworks.com/proteomics/news/largest-study-to-date-shows-promise-for-vitamin-d-and-fish-oil-in-cancer-prevention-324243?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77210394&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Hi65Xuh7TU5ZqGTirK23DgbxR3zIGhGRwFTqw0b6tS5cagXCcYPCDzmrxzKC7Lz1q5lqcR56_oeV7rt01Tq45t4gHfQ&_hsmi=77210394
"Breakthrough" Brain Implant Restores Visual Perception
Seven years ago, Jason Esterhuizen was in a horrific car crash that destroyed his eyes, plunging him into total darkness. Today, he’s regained visual perception and more independence, thanks to an experimental device implanted in his brain by researchers at UCLA Health.
“Now I can do things that I couldn’t do before,” said Esterhuizen, 30, who moved from his native South Africa to participate in the clinical trial at UCLA. “I can sort the laundry, find my way in lighted hallways without using a cane and cross the street more safely. It’s making my life much easier.”
The device is geared to people who used to be able to see but lost their vision to injury or disease. While it doesn’t provide normal sight, it enhances users’ ability to navigate the world by restoring their capacity to detect movement and distinguish light and dark.
“This is the first time we've had a completely implantable device that people can use in their own homes without having to be plugged into an external device,” said Dr.Nader Pouratian, a neurosurgeon at UCLA Health and principal investigator of the five-year study. “It helps them recognize, for example, where a doorway is, where the sidewalk begins or ends or where the crosswalk is. These are all extremely meaningful events that can help improve people’s quality of life.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/breakthrough-brain-implant-restores-visual-perception-324251?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77210394&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Hi65Xuh7TU5ZqGTirK23DgbxR3zIGhGRwFTqw0b6tS5cagXCcYPCDzmrxzKC7Lz1q5lqcR56_oeV7rt01Tq45t4gHfQ&_hsmi=77210394
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Don’t Make Important Decisions on an Empty Stomach
Participants in an experiment designed by Dr Vincent were asked questions relating to food, money and other rewards when satiated and again when they had skipped a meal. While it was perhaps unsurprising that hungry people were more likely to settle for smaller food incentives that arrived sooner, the researchers found that being hungry actually changes preferences for rewards entirely unrelated to food.
This indicates that a reluctance to defer gratification may carry over into other kinds of decisions, such as financial and interpersonal ones. Dr Vincent believes it is important that people know that hunger might affect their preferences in ways they don’t necessarily predict. There is also a danger that people experiencing hunger due to poverty may make decisions that entrench their situation.
“We found there was a large effect, people’s preferences shifted dramatically from the long to short term when hungry,” he said. “This is an aspect of hu https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/dont-make-important-decisions-on-an-empty-stomach-324068?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=76980822&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_dIX3l9oYtCUpR8FiOkifmFNX5YuZ7Q3-mXACgNMhqR2jH9R0PWVcnDAJu2cTRilv1eRLNPE2G8pSkOgDwF6FOJHA7-g&_hsmi=76980822
Research Suggests Air Pollution Can Travel To The Placenta During Pregnancy
reports using a novel scanning technique, researchers “spotted a type of particle pollution — sootlike black carbon — on placentas donated by 28 new mothers.” The study “suggests when a pregnant woman breathes in air pollution, it can travel beyond her lungs to the placenta.” The findings (9/17, Bové) were published in Nature Communications.
Reuters (9/17, Emery) reports the study “found that the more https://www.apnews.com/41bb3181463e4841b1464d5a459f756f
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Benefits Of Aspirin May Outweigh Harms Of Bleeding In Select Group Of Patients, Researchers Say
reports the authors of a 245,000-adult study have “concluded that the benefits of aspirin outweigh the harms of bleeding, if you compared the risk of death from one bleeding event compared to the risk of hospitalization or death from a cardiac event.” CNN adds that the study authors “don’t make an argument to change the current guidelines, which were created for the United States by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association.” https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/16/health/aspirin-heart-health-study/index.html
Teenage Girl “Night Owls” May Have Higher Waist Circumference And Greater Adiposity Than “Morning Lark” Peers, Study Suggests
reports researchers found that teenage girls who are “night owls” have “higher waist circumference and greater abdominal fat deposition (adiposity) than” their peers who are “morning larks.” The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics. https://consumer.healthday.com/sleep-disorder-information-33/misc-sleep-problems-news-626/later-bedtimes-could-mean-wider-waistlines-for-teen-girls-750255.html
Monday, September 16, 2019
Abnormal Breast Growth In Young Girls Tied To Lavender Oil Exposure, Study Indicates
reported researchers found that “abnormal breast growth in young girls is linked to lavender oil exposure.” The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/lavender-oil-may-lead-to-abnormal-breast-growth-in-young-girls/
Friday, September 13, 2019
Diabetes Drug Promotes Brain Repair – But It Only Works in Females
the researchers’ delight, metformin was able to activate neural stem cells in the brain and promote cognitive recovery, as shown by mice who were able to learn new tasks and form short and long-term memories. But the data also revealed something unexpected. Metformin did not affect all the animals in equal manner. It only worked in adult females.
“When we first looked at the data, we did not see the benefit of the metformin treatment,” says Morshead. “Then we noticed that adult females tended to do better than the males.”
A closer look revealed that metformin selectively activated the adult female neural stem cells while having no effect on the males. This turned out to be due to the female sex hormone estradiol, which somehow enhances the stem cells’ ability to respond to metformin. Conversely, the male hormone testosterone appears to inhibit this process. When female mice had their ovaries removed and lacked the female sex hormone, the stem cells did not respond to metformin treatment.
“To know that there are both age and sex dependent effects —it has such implications for treatment and therapeutics,” says Morshead.
The findings come at a time when scientists are reckoning with the data bias that is skewed against women due to the predominant use of male animals in research.
“The thinking was that we’re going to study males because everything you need to know is found in the male brain, and then the female brain just complicates things with hormones,” says Morshead. “It’s very misguided and troublesome for advancing neurological health.” https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/diabetes-drug-promotes-brain-repair-but-it-only-works-in-females-323928?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=76805145&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--u49pdeVBD98UX2uFGcRS_PWLYL2WFBshw067mympDy494dr0LdkDmmQxaT0ngb-khfnrUgB7s8qNMSaC3vXt-ZxUgHg&_hsmi=76805145
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Eating Unhealthy, High-Carb, High-Fat Diet May Change Part Of Brain Controlling Metabolism, Research In Mice Suggests
reports research in mice indicates that “eating an unhealthy, high-carb and high-fat diet does not only impact physical health,” but “it also changes the part of the brain that controls the metabolism.” Investigators “showed the high fat diet seemed to trigger changes in cell powerhouses – or mitochondria – of microglial cells, causing them to spring into action.” The findings were published in the journal Cell Metabolism. https://www.newsweek.com/eating-unhealthy-high-fat-high-carb-diet-also-very-bad-brain-scientists-say-1458429
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Shorter People May Be At Greater Risk For Developing T2D, Researchers Say
reports, “Shorter people are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes [T2D],” researchers concluded after looking at some “2,500 middle-aged men and women in Germany from a pool of about 26,000 people.” After adjusting for confounding factors, investigators found that “greater height was associated with a lower risk for diabetes.” The findings were published online in the journal Diabetologia. https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/09/health/shorter-people-diabetes-trnd/index.html
Flu Vaccine Effectiveness May Be Impacted by Microbiome Disruption
The normal human gut microbiome is a flourishing community of microorganisms, some of which can affect the human immune system. In a new paper published this week in Cell, researchers found that oral antibiotics, which can kill gut microorganisms, can alter the human immune response to seasonal influenza vaccination. The work was led by scientists at Stanford University and funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
The research team examined 33 healthy adult participants in their study. One group of 22 volunteers was studied during the 2014-2015 flu season, and the second group with 11 volunteers was studied during the 2015-2016 flu season. The group of 22 volunteers had high pre-existing immunity to the influenza virus strains contained in the 2014-2015 seasonal influenza vaccine. The group of 11 volunteers had low immunity to the 2015-2016 seasonal influenza vaccine’s virus strains. https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/flu-vaccine-effectiveness-may-be-impacted-by-microbiome-disruption-323686?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=76589541&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--CVxIJ4gZuuqXE2T28bbOjBEr3vlRqpRQEmXOhUbdqhqdxVMC1WBlsACqi-xQiKBX8EaptZBigwrpiJ7K9sAEI3i2ixg&_hsmi=76589541
Compound Created to Help Reconstruct Myelin in Multiple Sclerosis
Researchers have created a compound, that when tested in mice, was able to promote the reconstruction of the myelin sheath surrounding neuronal axons. These findings could pave the way to a new treatment for combating demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings were published in Glia.
"I think we'll know in about a year if this is the exact right drug to try in human clinical trials," explained senior study author Larry Sherman, Ph.D., in a recent press release.
"If it's not, we know from the mouse studies that this approach can work. The question is, can this drug be adapted to bigger human brains?" https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/compound-created-to-help-reconstruct-myelin-in-multiple-sclerosis-323575?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=76589541&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--CVxIJ4gZuuqXE2T28bbOjBEr3vlRqpRQEmXOhUbdqhqdxVMC1WBlsACqi-xQiKBX8EaptZBigwrpiJ7K9sAEI3i2ixg&_hsmi=76589541
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