Super Bowl 2015: Officials on Alert for Measles During Big Game

Arizona health officials are attempting to contain a measles outbreak that has already spread through multiple states as thousands of fans arrive in Phoenix ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl. Officials are already monitoring 1,000 people in Arizona who were exposed to the contagious virus after seven people were found to be infected in the state. “This is a critical point in this outbreak,” said Arizona Department of Health Services’ Director Will Humble. “If the public health system and medical community are able to identify every single susceptible case and get them into isolation, we have a chance of stopping this outbreak here. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/super-bowl-2015-officials-alert-measles-big-game/story?id=28605315

Combat Antibiotic Resistance. A MUST read for everybody!

Here are four strategies implemented to battle antibiotic resistance: Prevent infections from developing Gather data on antibiotic-resistant infections Promote antibiotic stewardship Develop new antibiotics If infections can be prevented, the need for antibiotics decreases, which slows the pace of antibiotic resistance. The CDC is tracking the prescribing methods of health care professionals and is working to improve these protocols to reduce the use of antibiotics.6 To accomplish the second strategy, the CDC is gathering data on antibiotic-resistant infections, including the causes of these infections and the predominant risk factors. Armed with this information, experts can develop specific strategies to prevent antibiotic-resistant infections and resistant bacteria from spreading. http://www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/2015/01_january/Features/Combat_Antibiotic_Resistance.aspx

Sugar Is the No. 1 Driver of Diabetes and Obesity

The studies that we looked at clearly show that once you hit 18 percent compared to just 5 percent of your total calories from sugar, there’s significant metabolic harms promoting prediabetes and diabetes.” He added, “In fact, there’s a two-fold increase.” What they found was that the added sugars were significantly more harmful. Fructose was linked to worsening insulin levels and worsening glucose tolerance, which is a driver for pre-diabetes. It caused harmful fat storage—visceral fat on the abdomen—and promoted several markers for poor health like inflammation and high blood pressure. http://time.com/3687808/this-is-the-number-1-driver-of-diabetes-and-obesity/

Transfusions Tied to Pneumonia After Coronary Bypass

Patients who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery and require red blood cell transfusion either during the procedure or after it -- or both, have a significantly greater risk of developing pneumonia infections, researchers reported here. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/STS/49751?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-29&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Measles Cases Grow To 95 In Eight States And Mexico.

reports that yesterday healthcare officials said that the number of measles cases grew to 95 in eight states and Mexico. In California, there are now 79 cases, “of which 52 can be linked directly to Disneyland.” Additionally, “officials reported one case in Michigan that was connected to the California outbreak.” However, the outbreak has expanded beyond visitors of Disneyland and is now “infecting people in the broader community.” Officials across California are “scrambling to get ahead of the outbreak, identifying farmers markets, grocery stores, malls and other public locations where contagious people have been.” CNN (1/29) reports that “there are 16 cases linked to Disneyland outside California.” http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-measles-outbreak-20150128-story.html

CDC: Half Of US Prescriptions For Antibiotics Unnecessary.

reports that according to the CDC, 80% of American are issued prescription antibiotics every year, and “up to half of the estimated 258 million prescriptions are unnecessary.” Jesse Goodman, director of Georgetown University’s Center on Medical Product Access, Safety and Stewardship and a former FDA chief scientist, says this is a “culture” problem and advises that “patient and doctor must understand these drugs are precious resources. The more we use them, and the more unwisely, the more resistance” will be built up against them. President Obama announced a plan this week “to nearly double the amount of federal funding dedicated to fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” which the CDC says is responsible for an estimated two million illnesses and 23,000 deaths each year. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/01/28/our-love-of-antibiotics-is-destroying-their-power-that-might-be-a-branding-problem/

Skin Cells Used To Produce Insulin In Mice For Diabetes Research.

reports that in a paper published online by the Public Library of Science, researchers from the University of Iowa “say they’ve retrained human skin cells to produce insulin in mice, a discovery that they hope could someday help reverse the effects of diabetes in people.” One of the study’s investigators “said stem cells from human embryos can be used to” grow a new pancreas but “that method is controversial...because it involves the question of whether it’s ethical to use embryonic tissue to treat diseases.” http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2015/01/28/university-iowa-diabetes-stem-cells/22491289/

15 Chemicals Linked to Early Menopause

investigators “studied 31,575 women enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the government. Every two years, the women were surveyed about various health and nutrition issues, including whether they had begun menopause.” All participants, “at some point between 1999 and 2008...provided at least one blood and urine sample which the scientists analyzed for the presence of various chemicals, including dioxins contained in pesticides, phthalates found in fragrance, plastics, cosmetics and hair spray, plant-derived estrogens, and polychlorinated biphenyls, among others.” http://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/chemicals-linked-early-menopause-n295456

Temporary Tattoo May Help Monitor Serum Glucose.

“a feasible, noninvasive method for monitoring serum glucose: a temporary tattoo.” The device “uses electrical current to draw sodium ions to its electrodes in order to measure piggy-backing blood glucose.” Wang and Bandodkar “report results of an early study of seven patients and talk about device development and future research.” http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/GeneralEndocrinology/49731

Sugary Drinks May Be Linked To Earlier Menstruation.

blog reports that research published online in Human Reproduction suggests that consuming sugary drinks may be linked to earlier menstruation. an associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard, said that the contribution of sugary drinks to early menarche was independent of the well-known contribution of obesity. Investigators looked at “data on 5,583 girls ages 9 to 14 who had not yet attained menarche at the start.” Participants “filled out diet questionnaires yearly from 1996 to 1998.” http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/27/sugary-drinks-tied-to-earlier-menstruation/?ref=health&_r=0

CDC Releases Updated Pediatric Immunization Schedule.

yesterday, the CDC released “an updated childhood and adolescent immunization schedule” that follows the “recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.” In a policy statement published in the journal Pediatrics, the AAP “explained that the revised schedule now indicates that children ages 2 to 8 should receive influenza vaccinations starting at age 2, with some children needing a double dose.” http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Vaccines/49717

Study: Parents May Order Less For Kids If Menu Includes Exercise Needed To Burn It Off.

reports that a new study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests that parents “might order fewer calories for their children if menus included calorie counts or information on how much walking would be required to burn off the calories in foods.” For the study, researchers “surveyed 1,000 parents of children aged 2 to 17 years.” The parents “were asked to look at mock menus and make choices about food they would order for their kids.” Investigators found that with no calorie numbers, “parents mock-ordered...an average of 1,294 calories worth of food for their kids,” but when the “calorie or exercise information was included, parents ordered 1,060 to 1,099 calories per meal for their kids, according to the study.” http://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/adolescents-and-teen-health-news-719/calorie-counts-on-menus-may-mean-fewer-calories-for-kids-695751.html

Only About Half Of American Girls Begin Receiving HPV Vaccine At Recommended Age.

research published in Vaccine suggests that “only about half of American girls begin receiving the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine at the recommended age.” Researchers “found that the number of girls in the United States who started the vaccine series at the recommended age was 14 percent in 2008.” Data indicated that “by 2012, that number was 56 percent.” http://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/adolescents-and-teen-health-news-719/many-u-s-girls-aren-t-getting-the-hpv-vaccine-695701.html

Early-Morning Exercise May Help Prevent Weight Gain more than other times of day.

There is some evidence that working out on a completely empty stomach — or, as scientists call this woozy, wee-hours condition, “in a fasted state” — prompts the body to burn more fat and potentially stave off weight gain, compared to exercising at other times. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/23/ask-well-the-best-time-of-day-to-exercise/?ref=health&_r=0

One Out Of Four Kids Has Dieted Before Turning Seven.

a review released by Common Sense Media “determined that one out of four children had dieted prior to turning seven, and that a staggering 80% of American girls aged 10 have been on diets.” The review also found that “one-third of boys and the majority of girls ages 6 to 8 wish their bodies were thinner.” Concerned with image leads to the epidemic of disordered eating and poor body image.

Infant Exposure to Hunger Hormone May Spell Trouble

Ghrelin influences hypothalamic development, may increase obesity risk. A better understanding of the relationship between ghrelin levels early in life and the development of disorders such as Prader-Willi syndrome or childhood obesity will be crucial as we seek to develop interventional studies to treat and, hopefully, reverse symptoms of metabolic diseases,"

FDA OKs Novartis' Bexsero Group B Meningitis Vaccine

It's the second group B meningococcal vaccine to receive FDA approval.Previous meningococcal vaccines only provided coverage for the A, C, Y, and W serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Vaccines/49701?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-24&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Consider Caribbean Virus Before Treating RA

Chikungunya virus only recently began to be reported in the U.S., having previously been unknown in the Americas. It's an arthritogenic virus spread in the Caribbean by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which typically is found only along the Gulf coast, but a viral mutation has allowed it also to be carried by Aedes albopictus, which can be found in many areas of the country. Chikungunya virus only recently began to be reported in the U.S., having previously been unknown in the Americas. It's an arthritogenic virus spread in the Caribbean by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which typically is found only along the Gulf coast, but a viral mutation has allowed it also to be carried by Aedes albopictus, which can be found in many areas of the country. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/49693?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-24&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Major Ebola Vaccine Trial Set to Begin

The next phase of testing for two promising vaccine candidates is slated to begin "in a couple of weeks," He said vaccination would continue to be valuable for healthcare workers and residents of areas where Ebola virus is likely to remain in its still uncertain reservoirs (bats are the leading candidates).

Antiseptic Baths Yield Mixed Results in ICU

A daily wipe-down with chlorhexidine didn't cut healthcare-associated infections in critically-ill patients in one single-center pragmatic trial, but every-other-day chlorhexidine did in a second such trial. Daily use had minimal impact on the composite rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), ventilator-associated pneumonia, and Clostridium difficile infections compared with non-antimicrobial wipes (2.86 versus 2.90 per 1,000 patient-days, P=0.95). They wrote, "both cross-resistance and coresistance between antibiotics and antiseptics exist. Indeed, widespread use of biocidal antiseptics into the environment might constitute a biological hazard via increased but selective pressure on microbial populations, potentially allowing more pathogenic organisms to flourish or facilitating resistance gene transfer." They suggested that "the same benefits potentially could be gained through other approaches, such as improved hand hygiene, which may be safer and less likely to affect the ecology of bacterial resistance in the ICU." http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/SCCM/49669?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-23&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

FDA panel backs Astellas drug for invasive fungal infections

Astellas Pharma Inc's isavuconazonium for the treatment of rare, often fatal invasive fungal infections that can hit patients with blood cancers. the drug will likely see most of its use in immunocompromised patients as well as “patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus with or without ketoacidosis, patients undergoing dialysis with iron overload, and patients with trauma or burns.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/astellas-pharma-fda-idUSWEN00EL420150122

Measles Outbreak Grows To 75 Cases and 5 cases were vaccinated

California health officials are warning people to stay away from Disneyland unless they’re vaccinated,” which “means all babies under the age of 1, who are too young to get the vaccine, and people who for various other reasons have not been immunized or who haven’t already had measles.” Meanwhile, “infectious disease experts say to expect many more cases. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/disney-measles-outbreak-could-get-worse-experts-warn-n291426

Vegetarian, Vegan Diets May Result In Weight Loss.

that a review published Jan. 22 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics revealed that “people put on vegetarian or vegan diets found that they lost more than seven pounds regardless of calorie counting or exercise plans.” After reviewing “15 studies focused on plant-based diets, from vegan (no animal products) to vegetarian diets in which followers eat eggs and dairy products but no meat,” researchers found that “among those who did keep to a vegetarian or vegan diet, the weight loss was just over 10 pounds.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-plantbased-diets-weight-20150122-story.html

Lack Of Access To Exercise Opportunities Tied To Obesity, Other Inactivity Measures.

Preventing Chronic Disease journal suggests that “fewer than half the adults in the United States meet government recommendations for physical activity, and while there are a number of explanations for that, experts say that access to a safe, convenient place to work out is one of them.” The study examined “opportunities for physical activity in parks, gyms, forests, schools and clubs, and on trails, golf courses or any of the dozens of other places you might conceivably exercise in 3,114 of the country’s 3,141 counties,” finding that “access correlates well with higher amounts of exercise, and lack of access is associated with obesity and other measures of inactivity.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/01/22/d-c-residents-have-the-nations-best-access-to-exercise-opportunities-mississippi-is-last/

Measles Outbreak Raises Questions About Ease Of Vaccination Waivers.

The Disneyland measles outbreak, which has grown to at least 50 people in five states and Mexico, is raising questions about state laws that allow unvaccinated children to attend school and stoking heated arguments about vaccination.” Although “all states require that children receive recommended vaccines before attending school, some make it easier than others to get exemptions.” As a result, “infectious disease outbreaks are more common in areas with large numbers of unvaccinated students.” Medical experts believe states and schools should make it more difficult for students to get waivers from being vaccinated. The latest outbreak has renewed a heated debate about an anti-vaccination movement championed largely by parents who believe discredited research linking vaccines to autism, or who believe that the risks of some vaccines, including the measles inoculations, outweigh any potential benefit.” According to infectious disease expert Dr. James Cherry, the outbreak at Disney is, the Times reports, “‘100 percent connected’ to the anti-immunization campaign.” In California, “the vaccination exemption rate among kindergarten students...was 3.1 percent in the 2013-14 school year,” though “health officials said there were pockets across the state, including wealthy neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and enclaves in Northern California, where the exemption rate jumped into the double digits.” http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/22/us/measles-cases-linked-to-disneyland-rise-and-debate-over-vaccinations-intensifies.html?_r=0

Hormonal Contraceptives May Be Linked To Higher Rates Of Brain Tumors Glioma.

that research published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology indicated that “women taking hormonal contraceptives” had “higher rates of...glioma.” Investigators looked at data from “Denmark’s national registries of health records,” focusing on women between the ages of 15 and 49 who had been diagnosed with glioma. The data indicated that “women who had used hormonal contraceptives at any point in their lives showed a 50% higher risk of developing the brain tumors compared to those who had not used them.” The researchers also found that “women who used the birth control for more than five years nearly doubled their risk of the cancer.” http://time.com/3677129/birth-control-risks-may-include-brain-cancer/

More Nurses May Mean Fewer Deaths in ICU

A high nurse to patient ratio in intensive care units was independently associated with a lower risk of in-hospital death, according to results from a study involving more than a thousand ICUs in 75 countries. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/SCCM/49647?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-22&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

FDA Advisory Panel to Review Novel Antifungal Drug

Invasive aspergillosis is caused by molds that grow indoors and outside. Healthy people can breathe in aspergillus spores daily without any serious consequences, but individuals whose immune systems are already compromised are at risk for infection. These include patients who have undergone stem-cell or organ transplants, or who are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Mucormycosis, also known as zygomycosis, is triggered by fungi found on dead leaves and decaying wood. Risk factors of infection include uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, organ transplant, a low white blood cell count, and skin trauma. According to the CDC, infections among healthy individuals are rare, although they do occur. Isavuconazonium proposed for treating invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/49659?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-22&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Sleep Position May Boost Epilepsy Death Risk

People with epilepsy who sleep on their stomachs may be at increased risk for sudden death, a review of more than 250 cases suggested. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/Seizures/49653?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-22&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Most Restaurant Customers Appear Not To Look At Menu-Item Calorie Counts.

that “two years after the calorie content of menu items first started appearing on the menus of Seattle chain restaurants, just one in four customers who frequented those establishments said they used that nutritional information to guide their consumption choices.” What’s more, approximately “four in 10 customers acknowledged they didn’t even notice the new information.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-posted-calorie-20150120-story.html

Obama Calls For More Research Into Antibiotic Resistance, “Precision” Medicine.

President Obama called for an expansion of medical research, which the Administration says will include combating antibiotic resistance and studies into “precision medicine” based on a person’s genetic makeup. According to briefing documents provided by the White House, the Administration also plans to boost the Brain Initiative, a series of studies funded by the National Institutes of Health intended to map areas of the brain.

Pneumonia and CVD: Small Study Suggests Link

Hospitalization for pneumonia was associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in a community-based cohort study, and it should be considered an independent risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and related events, researchers said. "The thinking has been that this increase in cardiovascular risk is probably due to acute inflammation during pneumonia and maybe some issues with medication (disruption)," Yende told MedPage Today in a telephone interview. "Beyond 90 days, and certainly when you get to a year or longer, these issues should have resolved. But we still saw an increase in risk that is comparable to established risk factors like smoking, hypertension, and diabetes." http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/49628?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-21&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Too much sitting raises risk of death, even if you exercise

investigators looked at data from “47 separate studies to conclude that longer sitting time was associated with higher risk for death, heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.” Bloomberg News adds, “Sitting for hours every day was correlated with bad health even for people who exercised frequently...said” the study’s lead author. Even if you do a half an hour or an hour or of exercise every day doesn't give us the reassurance that sitting for the other 23 hours is ok. In fact, it's not," http://www.cbsnews.com/news/too-much-sitting-raises-risk-of-death-even-if-you-exercise/

Pizza The Second Highest Source Of Calories For Children.

the study, published online in Pediatrics, found that “the only foods more popular with kids are ‘grain desserts,’ a category that includes cakes, cookies and doughnuts.” Researchers found that “on days when children eat pizza, they consume an average of 408 additional calories, three additional grams of fat and 134 additional milligrams of salt compared with their regular diet.” Meanwhile, “for teens, putting pizza on the day’s menu adds 624 calories, five grams of fat and 484 milligrams of salt.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-pizza-calories-children-20150116-story.html

Plaquenil Cuts Diabetes Risk in Lupus

In addition, an earlier study found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had taken hydroxychloroquine for more than 4 years had a decrease in the incidence of diabetes. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/49605?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-20&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

CDC: This Season’s Flu Vaccine Is Only 23 Percent Effective.

Three major television news programs, major newspapers, wire sources and Internet media outlets report on the CDC’s finding that this season’s influenza vaccine is just 23 percent effective due to a mismatch with the predominant H3N2 virus strain. Despite that finding, nearly all of the coverage emphasizes that despite this year’s decreased effectiveness, it is still worthwhile to get a flu shot. that even with flu vaccine effectiveness (VE) “at 10%, a vaccine could prevent about 13,000 flu-related hospitalizations among senior citizens in the US, the CDC researchers” wrote in findings published in the Jan. 16 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report also revealed that children ages six months to 17 years appear to benefit most from the current flu shot, having a VE of 26%. In “adults, the VE was 12% for people ages 18 to 49 and 14% for people 50 and older,” figures “too small to be statistically significant.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-flu-vaccine-effectiveness-20150115-story.html

Mouse Study: Time-Restricted Eating May Prevent Obesity.

mice prevented from eating at all hours avoided obesity and metabolic problems — even if their diet was sometimes unhealthful.” The 38-week study revealed that “mice eating at all hours were generally obese and metabolically ill.” In contrast, those animals that “ate within a nine- or 12-hour window remained sleek and healthy, even if they cheated occasionally on weekends.” Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego and elsewhere began experimenting with the eating patterns of laboratory mice in a previous study. On that occasion, some mice consumed high-fat food whenever they wanted; others had the same diet but could eat only during an eight-hour window. None exercised. The mice that ate at all hours soon grew chubby and unwell, with symptoms of diabetes. But the mice on the eight-hour schedule gained little weight and developed no metabolic problems. Time-restricted eating didn’t just prevent but also reversed obesity, Precisely how a time-based eating pattern staved off weight gain and illness is not fully understood, but Dr. Panda and his colleagues believe that the time at which food is eaten influences a body’s internal clock. “Meal times have more effect on circadian rhythm than dark and light cycles,” Dr. Panda says. And circadian rhythm in turn affects the function of many genes in the body that are known to involve metabolism. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/15/a-12-hour-window-for-a-healthy-weight/?ref=health&_r=0

ADHD drug cut food binges markedly in randomized trial

Adults with binge eating disorder treated with lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) saw improvements in binge eating behavior and its associated obsessive and compulsive features, according to researchers. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/EatingDisorders/49524?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-15&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

40 patients mistakenly given unsterile intravenous fluid FDA says one dead, many ill after receiving non-sterile solution

At least 40 patients mistakenly received unsterilized, "simulated" intravanous fluids -- meant for training only -- instead of the sterile saline solution normally given to people in the hospital, health officials said Wednesday. Many of the patients became ill and one died, although doctors aren't sure that the unsterilized solution caused the death, according to the Food and Drug Administration. An unspecified number of patients were hospitalized. Many developed fevers, chills, tremors and headaches almost immediately. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/14/unsterile-fluid-recall/21782015/

CDC: Progress Made In Reducing Hospital-Acquired Infections.

on Jan. 14, the CDC released its National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections Progress Report, concluding that progress has been made in the reduction of US hospital-acquired infections from C. difficile and MRSA. Despite the progress, the CDC calls for more efforts to cut down on infections. hospitals have cut down on infections caused by medical mistakes and bacteria. Between 2008 and 2013, there’s been a 46% decrease in bloodstream infections caused by germs getting into the blood when tubes are inserted into veins incorrectly. During the same period, hospitals cut surgical site infections by 19%, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections by 6%. http://time.com/3667737/hospital-infections/

FDA Approves Implantable Weight Loss Device.

Called the Maestro system, the implant is the first to generate an intermittent electrical pulse that blocks nerve signals from the brain to the stomach, reducing hunger pangs. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/15/us/fda-approves-surgical-implant-to-treat-obesity-.html?_r=1

More cases of measles linked to Disney theme parks

More than two dozen cases of measles have now been linked to Disney theme parks in Southern California. The California Department of Public Health reported seven more cases on Monday, bringing the total number to 26 people in four states. Health officials say at least 8 of those infected had not been vaccinated. Most of the patients visited Disneyland or Disney California Adventure between Dec. 15 and Dec. 20, but some may have contracted the illness from others who were at the parks. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-cases-of-measles-linked-to-disney-theme-parks/

Debate Over Best Way To Get More Nurses On Duty Continues.

a growing body of research has tied more nurse attention to better patient outcomes, from lower rates of infection to shorter hospital stays — which ultimately save money and can help hospitals avoid costly lawsuits.” However, the debate over the “best way to get more nurses on duty” has been going on “for decades and is likely to only get more intense as health-care reform extends coverage to more people, and creates new standards that hospitals have to meet.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2015/01/13/more-nurses-are-better-for-patients-why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-hospitals-to-hire-them/

US Share Of Funding For World’s Biomedical Research Dropping.

Though the United States is still leading the world in research related to diseases, it is rapidly losing its edge, according to an analysis in the American Medical Association's flagship journal JAMA. If you look at biomedical research around the globe, the United States funded 57 percent of that work a decade ago. The U.S. share has since dropped to 44 percent, according to the study published online Tuesday. the effects of declining federal funding for biomedical research. That's just one piece of the story. The National Institutes of Health provides about $30 billion toward annual expenditures of $117 billion. That total includes funding from industry, foundations and other private sources. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/01/13/376801357/u-s-funding-of-health-research-stalls-as-other-nations-rev-up

Episiotomy Rate Continues Steady Decline

The National Quality Forum in 2008 noted that episiotomy was associated with increased risks of pain, laceration, and anal incontinence, and said that limiting its use was an important measure of quality healthcare. http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Pregnancy/49507?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-14&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Strength Not Mass Flags Lupus Disability

Women with SLE have worse lower extremity muscle strength compared with healthy women http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Lupus/49500?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-13&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

The Emergency Department Flu Quiz

Test your knowledge of flu diagnosis and treatment. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/HIVAIDS/49476

Study links increased risk of diabetes in black women to working night shifts

Shift work," the authors of the study wrote, "is associated with disrupted circadian rhythms and reduced total duration of sleep. Similar to the effects of jet lag, which are short term, shift workers experience fatigue, sleepiness during scheduled awake periods, and poor sleep during scheduled sleep periods. These alterations in the normal sleep-wake cycle have profound effects on metabolism... http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/288274071.html

Older diabetics may be pushing blood sugar too low

Older diabetics may sometimes do too good a job at keeping their blood sugar down, according to a new study. Regardless of age, people with diabetes are taught to keep their blood sugar below certain target levels. But many diabetics over 65 who have other health concerns may be at risk for pushing it too low, according to a new study. Particularly for older adults with multiple serious illnesses and functional limitations, the risks of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, may outweigh the benefits of tight blood sugar control, the authors write. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/12/us-elderly-diabetes-overtreatment-idUSKBN0KL21M20150112

Protein May Hold Key to Thermogenesis and Obesity Tx

Overall, we conclude that although Zfp516 level is higher in BAT than WAT, the degree of induction by beta-agonist or cold exposure was much higher in inguinal WAT compared to BAT while there was no change in pWAT," the researchers wrote. "These data suggest that Zfp516 may be involved in the browning of inguinal WAT." http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Obesity/49478?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-12&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Almonds May Help Reduce Central Abdominal Fat Mass.

writes that research published online in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that “choosing almonds as opposed to carbs like white bread or muffins, may reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing belly fat.” Researchers found that “participants who ate a diet containing almonds–as opposed to a muffin as a snack—had lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and VLDL- C (remnant lipoproteins).” Meanwhile, “compared to those on the diet containing the muffin snack, those participants on the diet with the almond snack also had a significantly reduced central abdominal fat mass, leg fat mass and waist circumference.” http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2015/01/11/almonds-can-reduce-belly-fat-study-finds/

CDC: Start Antivirals on Admission for Suspected Flu

Don't wait for confirmatory testing, agency urges. Treatment should include one of the three currently approved anti-flu medications: oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), or the intravenous drug peramivir (Rapivab), the alert indicated.

Expert Groups Clarify HPV Testing Recommendations

Primary HPV testing should begin at age 25 and continue at 3-year intervals so long as a patient remains HPV negative. Any patient who tests positive for HPV 16 or 18, the strains associated with most cervical cancers, should undergo colposcopy. A positive test for other HPV strains should be followed by reflex cytology. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/STDs/49468?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-10&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Study Confirms Underweight Babies Face Increased Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Later In Life.

Factors associated with increased risk of diabetes among those with a low birth weight included insulin resistance; problems with blood vessel linings; and high systolic blood pressure, which is the top number in a blood pressure reading, according to the report. http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/misc-weight-news-704/study-reinforces-link-between-low-birth-weight-diabetes-risk-695202.html

Depo Provera May Be Linked To Higher HIV Risk.

Previous studies suggested that Depo, which is made up of a hormone that mimics the reproductive hormone progesterone, was linked to higher risk of infection, but other studies showed conflicting results. Ralph found that only Depo was associated with a higher risk of HIV infection; there was no similar increase among women using the pill, which is composed of two hormones, estrogen and a form of progesterone. The correlation remained even after they considered potentially confounding factors, such as the women’s condom use. While the study didn’t address the reason for the difference between oral contraception and Depo, some research suggests that their differing hormone combinations may have varying effects on the structure of the genital tract, a woman’s immune response or her vaginal flora, all of which could influence her vulnerability to acquiring HIV. http://time.com/3660564/contraceptives-hiv-risk/

Whole Grains Reduce CVD, Total Death Risk

Each 28-gram serving of whole grains per day was associated with a 5% reduction in overall death risk and a 9% reduction in death from cardiovascular causes, Sun and colleagues reported online in JAMA Internal Medicine. Whole grain consumption has been consistently found to reduce the risk of chronic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/49414?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-01-08&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Experimental Medicine Performs Well Among Patients With Brain Damage-Related Obesity.

reported on a small mid-stage study that showed beloranib, an experimental obesity drug, helped reduce weight in patients with obesity resulting from damage to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for hormone production, following surgery to remove a brain tumor. A damaged hypothalamus results in some patients’ bodies being unable to regulate metabolism and food intake, causing rapid weight gain. When tested against a placebo, patients on beloranib experienced a mean weight loss of 3.4 kg (7.5 lb), versus 0.3 kg in patients who got the placebo. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/07/zafgen-study-idUSL3N0UM3CP20150107

Eating Avocados Daily May Be Good for the Heart, Study Shows

that the researchers found that participants on a “moderate-fat diet who ate an avocado daily benefited the most in lowering their low-density lipoprotein (LDL)...cholesterol.” Participants on a “moderate-fat diet that didn’t eat an avocado daily reduced their LDL cholesterol by 5.8 percent, while those on” a “low-fat diet lowered it by 5.3 percent...said” senior study author Penny Kris-Etherton. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-07/eating-avocados-daily-may-be-good-for-the-heart-study-shows.html

Nordic Diet May Reduce Dangers Of Being Overweight.

a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “a Nordic diet could reduce the dangers of being overweight.” Finnish researchers “found that eating fish, berries, whole grains and vegetables reduces genes associated with inflammation linked to chronic diseases.” Taking part in the study were “middle-aged men and women with signs of metabolic syndrome.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/healthyeating/11329634/High-blood-pressure-Eat-like-a-Viking.html

Women With PTSD Symptoms May Have Higher Risk For Type 2 Diabetes.

women with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have a two-fold increased risk for type 2 diabetes.” An additional and “surprising” study finding was that “using antidepressants and having a higher body mass index (BMI) accounted for about half of the increased risk for type 2 diabetes in women with PTSD.” Past research has linked PTSD to having a higher BMI, with some research suggesting that elevated stress response could result in cravings for highly caloric food and lead to weight gain. The researchers say it’s possible that extreme stress can cause changes in the regulation of the body’s immune system, inflammation markers and hormones, which could contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Common as Dirt: New Antibiotic May Conquer Superbugs

A handful of dirt from a field has yielded what may be the first of a new family of antibiotics. Early tests suggest this one has the potential to be especially powerful, providing a new weapon against the growing threat of drug-resistant superbugs. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/common-dirt-new-antibiotic-may-conquer-superbugs-n281011

US News & World Report Releases Diet Rankings.

http://www.today.com/health/dash-tlc-among-healthiest-diets-report-what-about-paleo-1D80406788

Study: Overactive Bladder Medicine May Promote Weight Loss.

according to a small study published Jan. 6 in the journal Cell Metabolism, Myrbetriq (mirabegron), a drug “already used to treat overactive bladder, may also someday help control weight by boosting the metabolic powers of brown fat.” Study researcher Dr. Aaron Cypress, who is also section head of translational physiology at the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, explained that the drug “activates the brown fat cells to burn calories and generate heat.” Although the “metabolic rate went up by 13 percent on average,” or 203 calories, when “the activity of the drug peaked,” Cypress “said that doesn’t necessarily mean the men would burn an extra 203 calories a day over the long-term.” http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/obesity-health-news-505/drug-for-bladder-problems-may-help-control-weight-too-695214.html

More People Are Using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Conditions It Is Not Approved To Treat.

more people are seeking to use hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for autism and other conditions for which the therapy is not approved to treat. Regulators and many physicians say the therapy has not been proven to be effective as a treatment for such conditions. The Journal points out that in 2013, the FDA issued a consumer alert warning that HBOT “has not been clinically proven to cure or be effective in the treatment of cancer, autism, or diabetes.” http://www.wsj.com/articles/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-gets-more-popular-as-unapproved-autism-treatment-1420496506

Compound Found To Trick Metabolism, Promote Weight Loss In Mice.

he Salk Institute for Biological Studies, published in the journal Nature Medicine, say they “have developed a compound that tricks the metabolism into responding as if a meal has been eaten,” thereby “causing it to burn fat to make room for new calories.” The compound, fexaramine, “works only in the intestine, never entering the bloodstream,” which, according to the research, “makes it much safer than...systemic stimulants that also rev up the heart and other parts of the body and cause strong side effects.” The paper “suggests that the drug may one day offer a nonsurgical alternative to ‘vertical sleeve gastrectomies’ that have become popular in the battle against morbid obesity.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/01/05/new-drug-tricks-metabolism-into-burning-fat-as-if-youve-just-finished-a-meal/

American medical worker exposed to Ebola arrives in Omaha

An American health care worker who experienced high-risk exposure to the Ebola virus while working in Sierra Leone arrived at a Nebraska hospital Sunday for observation. The patient landed in Omaha on Sunday afternoon. Paramedics wearing full-body protective gear drove the patient to the Nebraska Medical Center, which has a specialized biocontainment unit. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/01/04/american-medical-worker-exposed-to-ebola-coming-to-nebraska-hospital/?intcmp=latestnews

Researchers Developing “Organs-On-A-Chip.”

researchers are developing “organs-on-a-chip” that “are designed to test drugs and help understand the basics of how organs function when they are healthy and when they are diseased.” The blog added, “‘There’s going to be a brain-on-a-chip, liver, heart and so on,’ says Danilo Tagle, who coordinates this overall effort at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences,” part of the NIH. Altogether, “it is funding development of 10 organ systems.” http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/01/02/371945110/researchers-create-artificial-organs-on-microchips

Research Suggests Vitamin D Regulates Enzyme That Converts Tryptophan Into Serotonin.

A growing body of evidence suggests that vitamin D — present in some foods and produced naturally when skin is exposed to sunlight — regulates the enzyme that converts the amino acid tryptophan into serotonin, a neurotransmitter believed to help regulate moods and direct brain development while in the womb. http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2015/01/05/research-suggests-vitamin-could-affect-brain-function/kdJThHsLlEpVRrdaesCS0K/story.html

Kids Who Sleep Near Smartphones May Get Less Sleep.

Children who slept in the same room as small screens such as smartphones got almost 21 fewer minutes of shuteye a night than those who didn’t, according to research published today by the journal Pediatrics. The two age groups studied -- about 9 years old and 12 years old -- also reported significantly less regular sleep with a phone nearby, possibly due to the buzz of text messages and Snapchats http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-05/kids-who-sleep-near-smartphones-get-less-shuteye-study.html

Warning Up for Possible Measles Exposure in Philadelphia

A person believed to have measles may have exposed others to the illness at two locations in the... http://www.smnweekly.com/warning-up-for-possible-measles-exposure-in-philadelphia/7807/

Study concludes that many cancers caused by bad luck in cell division

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University studied 31 different cancers. Of those, just nine were found to be linked to bad genetics or unhealthy lifestyle choices. The researchers did not consider breast cancer or prostate cancer in their study. The study concludes that the most common cause of the production of most cancerous cells occurs when one chemical letter in DNA is incorrectly swapped for another during stem cell division. Scientists found that cancer rates were higher in parts of the body where cells are quickest to regenerate, thereby creating more random mutations. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/01/02/study-concludes-that-many-cancers-caused-by-bad-luck-in-cell-division/

Fast food portions haven't changed since 1996, study finds

The US Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston” conducted the study, which also found that fast food portions appeared not to expand in size during the time frame studied. Still, lead study researcher Alice H. Lichtenstein, of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, “said fast food companies should not focus on small, medium and large sizes as much as calorie counts and nutrients.” For example, a large cheeseburger meal inclusive of regular soda and French fries, depending on the restaurant chain, could provide anywhere from “57% to 88% of a person’s daily calorie recommendations.” “at some fast-food chains, calorie counts have gone down over 18 years; at others, they’ve gone up,” according to research published Dec. 31 in the CDC’s journal Preventing Chronic Disease. After scrutinizing “nutritional information for all of the cheeseburgers, French fries, grilled chicken sandwiches and nondiet sodas sold between 1996 and 2013 at three leading fast-food chains,” researchers also found that “fat and sodium in...menu items vary greatly from chain to chain.” http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/fast-food-portions-haven-changed-1996-study-article-1.2062318

Experts Project Half The World’s Population Could Be Overweight By 2030.

so far, no one “has found a consistent way for most obesity sufferers to lose their extra weight and keep it off long-term without surgery, leaving the world with an obesity bill that costs $2 trillion a year.” Some “1.4 billion adults are overweight, and more than half of the global population could fall into that category by 2030, according to a projection by the McKinsey Global Institute.” The burgeoning obesity epidemic “wasn’t caused by a decline in global willpower, but rather the rise of sedentary lifestyles due to work and the sugar-laden western diet.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/01/resolving-to-lose-weight-this-year-willpower-isnt-your-biggest-obstacle/?hpid=z5

NIH Researchers Testing New Treatments To Help Heavy Drinkers Cut Back.

eports that investigators with the National Institutes of Health “are testing a possible new treatment to help heavy drinkers cut back – using a replica of a fully stocked bar.” The theory being tested is whether an experimental treatment will counter the urge experienced by volunteers who want to drink. Researchers are “testing how a hormone named ghrelin that sparks people’s appetite for food also affects their desire for alcohol, and if blocking it helps,” as part of their efforts to develop new options to treat alcohol abuse. The piece points out that the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has also produced an online guide to show who is at risk for alcohol abuse and what treatments exist to help. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MED_HEALTHBEAT_ALCOHOL_TREATMENT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-01-01-15-58-24

Some People May Be Extremely Obese Because Of Malfunctioning Form Of Leptin.

reported that research published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that “a small number of extremely obese people may be fat because their bodies produce a malfunctioning form of...leptin.” Investigators “base this new theory on a 2-year-old boy of Turkish descent with an insatiable appetite” who “was chronically obese for much of his short life.” A genetic sequencing test revealed that the boy produces a mutated form of leptin that can't effectively signal to the central nervous system that no more food is needed, http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/obesity-health-news-505/jeff-editing-emb-12-31-5pmet-nejm-gene-and-fat-baby-695107.html