Researchers to study effects of high doses of vitamin D.
The New York Times (2/1, Parker-Pope) "Wellness" blog reported that relatively "little is known about what the ideal level of vitamin D really is, whether raising it can improve health, and what potential side effects are caused by high doses." To that end, a "nationwide clinical trial is recruiting 20,000 older adults, including men 60 and older and women 65 and older, to study whether high doses of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids from fish-oil supplements will lower risk for heart disease and cancer." Researchers plan to use "one-gram supplements of omega-3 fish oil, about five to 10 times the average daily intake."
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Obesity and Puberty in Boys
Obesity may delay onset of puberty in boys.
The Los Angeles Times (2/1, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "While obesity has been shown to bring on puberty earlier in girls," a paper appearing in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine reveals something quite different: "Male children whose body-mass index (BMI) is consistently highest through early and mid-childhood are significantly more likely than thinner boys to have delayed puberty."
In fact, after "analyzing the records of 401 boys from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in ten regions of the US," University of Michigan researchers discovered that "at 11.5 years, boys with the highest body mass index (mean BMI z score=1.84) were 165% more likely to be prepubertal than the thinnest boys," MedPage Today (2/1, Emery) reported. Notably, "rates of obesity among American girls and boys have nearly tripled since the 1960s."
Surgeon General's obesity plan said to be "sensible." In "The Checkup" blog of the Washington Post (2/1), Jennifer LaRue Huget writes that the Surgeon General's plan to combat obesity "got surprisingly little press coverage." Huget attributes this to it being a "sensible, seemingly heart-felt document" that doesn't call for governmental intervention. "Instead, it talks about personal responsibility, about communities working together, about grassroots efforts," and "places the onus for weight loss squarely on the shoulders of individuals." Huget asserts that "is not what many people want to hear -- or expect to hear in these paternalistic days."
The Los Angeles Times (2/1, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "While obesity has been shown to bring on puberty earlier in girls," a paper appearing in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine reveals something quite different: "Male children whose body-mass index (BMI) is consistently highest through early and mid-childhood are significantly more likely than thinner boys to have delayed puberty."
In fact, after "analyzing the records of 401 boys from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in ten regions of the US," University of Michigan researchers discovered that "at 11.5 years, boys with the highest body mass index (mean BMI z score=1.84) were 165% more likely to be prepubertal than the thinnest boys," MedPage Today (2/1, Emery) reported. Notably, "rates of obesity among American girls and boys have nearly tripled since the 1960s."
Surgeon General's obesity plan said to be "sensible." In "The Checkup" blog of the Washington Post (2/1), Jennifer LaRue Huget writes that the Surgeon General's plan to combat obesity "got surprisingly little press coverage." Huget attributes this to it being a "sensible, seemingly heart-felt document" that doesn't call for governmental intervention. "Instead, it talks about personal responsibility, about communities working together, about grassroots efforts," and "places the onus for weight loss squarely on the shoulders of individuals." Huget asserts that "is not what many people want to hear -- or expect to hear in these paternalistic days."
Elderly People Can Learn Too
Studies show older people continue to learn.
Op-ed columnist David Brooks writes in the New York Times (2/2, A27) that according to Freud, "About the age of fifty...the elasticity of the mental processes on which treatment depends is, as a rule, lacking. Old people are no longer educable." But, Brooks says "over the past few years, researchers have found that the brain is capable of creating new connections and even new neurons all through life." In fact, "older people" not only "retain their ability to remember emotionally nuanced events," but are also "able to integrate memories from their left and right hemispheres," as "their brains reorganize to help compensate for the effects of aging."
Op-ed columnist David Brooks writes in the New York Times (2/2, A27) that according to Freud, "About the age of fifty...the elasticity of the mental processes on which treatment depends is, as a rule, lacking. Old people are no longer educable." But, Brooks says "over the past few years, researchers have found that the brain is capable of creating new connections and even new neurons all through life." In fact, "older people" not only "retain their ability to remember emotionally nuanced events," but are also "able to integrate memories from their left and right hemispheres," as "their brains reorganize to help compensate for the effects of aging."
Fish Oil and Psychosis
Fish oil may stave off psychotic illness.
The AP (2/2, Johnson) reports that "fish oil pills may be able to save some young people with signs of mental illness from descending into schizophrenia," according to a study published in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. For the study, investigators "identified 81 people, ages 13 to 25, with warning signs of psychosis," then randomized 41 of them "to take four fish oil pills a day for three months" at a "daily dose of 1,200 milligrams."
The Los Angeles Times (2/1, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reported that "for a year after" the study "was completed,12 weeks of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oil reduced progression to full-blown psychosis in a large group of adolescents and young adults," while simultaneously improving "many of the symptoms that identified these young patients as likely schizophrenics and bipolar disorder sufferers." In fact, "roughly 5% of those on fish oil went on to develop full-blown psychosis during the study period, versus 28% of those who got psychotherapy alone."
WebMD (2/1, DeNoon) reported, "No other intervention, including psychiatric" medications, "has achieved as much for so long after treatment stopped." Unlike antipsychotic medications, "fish oil pills have no serious side effects."
Reuters (2/2, Harding) noted that fish oils may be used someday to stave off or even prevent psychotic or bipolar illness as well as substance abuse disorder and depression.
The AP (2/2, Johnson) reports that "fish oil pills may be able to save some young people with signs of mental illness from descending into schizophrenia," according to a study published in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. For the study, investigators "identified 81 people, ages 13 to 25, with warning signs of psychosis," then randomized 41 of them "to take four fish oil pills a day for three months" at a "daily dose of 1,200 milligrams."
The Los Angeles Times (2/1, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reported that "for a year after" the study "was completed,12 weeks of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oil reduced progression to full-blown psychosis in a large group of adolescents and young adults," while simultaneously improving "many of the symptoms that identified these young patients as likely schizophrenics and bipolar disorder sufferers." In fact, "roughly 5% of those on fish oil went on to develop full-blown psychosis during the study period, versus 28% of those who got psychotherapy alone."
WebMD (2/1, DeNoon) reported, "No other intervention, including psychiatric" medications, "has achieved as much for so long after treatment stopped." Unlike antipsychotic medications, "fish oil pills have no serious side effects."
Reuters (2/2, Harding) noted that fish oils may be used someday to stave off or even prevent psychotic or bipolar illness as well as substance abuse disorder and depression.
Pregnancy Complications and Childhood Asthma
Pregnancy complication may predispose some children born prematurely to asthma.
USA Today (2/2, Rubin) reports that chorioamnionitis, "inflammation of the fetal membranes and amniotic fluid from a bacterial infection," appears to be "linked to more than half of all preterm births." Although the infection "wasn't linked to an increased risk of being diagnosed with asthma by age eight" in full term births, among preemies, "the condition was associated with double the risk of childhood asthma in blacks, a 70% increase in Hispanics, and a 66% increase in whites." According to a paper in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, "researchers observed these differences even after accounting for other possible risk factors, such as whether the mother smoked or had asthma herself."
The Los Angeles Times (2/2, Maugh) reports that "many studies have looked at the risk of asthma related to caesarean sections, exposure to antibiotics, and other factors related to delivery." However, lead investigator Dr. Darios "Getahun speculated that the infections -- which can be caused by a broad variety of bacteria -- cause inflammation of the fetal lungs, either injuring the lungs or predisposing them to react more severely to future environmental insults."
USA Today (2/2, Rubin) reports that chorioamnionitis, "inflammation of the fetal membranes and amniotic fluid from a bacterial infection," appears to be "linked to more than half of all preterm births." Although the infection "wasn't linked to an increased risk of being diagnosed with asthma by age eight" in full term births, among preemies, "the condition was associated with double the risk of childhood asthma in blacks, a 70% increase in Hispanics, and a 66% increase in whites." According to a paper in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, "researchers observed these differences even after accounting for other possible risk factors, such as whether the mother smoked or had asthma herself."
The Los Angeles Times (2/2, Maugh) reports that "many studies have looked at the risk of asthma related to caesarean sections, exposure to antibiotics, and other factors related to delivery." However, lead investigator Dr. Darios "Getahun speculated that the infections -- which can be caused by a broad variety of bacteria -- cause inflammation of the fetal lungs, either injuring the lungs or predisposing them to react more severely to future environmental insults."
Risk of Surgical Complications
New risk calculators help determine odds of surgical complications.
In the Wall Street Journal (2/2) Informed Patient column, Laura Landro writes that new risk calculators are now being developed to help physicians determine the odds of surgical complications using patients' medical history and physical condition. Such tools for colon and pancreas surgery were recently unveiled by the American College of Surgeons as part of the group's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. The group is currently working on calculators for 18 additional procedures, such as gastric bypass, hernia repair, and prostate surgery.
In the Wall Street Journal (2/2) Informed Patient column, Laura Landro writes that new risk calculators are now being developed to help physicians determine the odds of surgical complications using patients' medical history and physical condition. Such tools for colon and pancreas surgery were recently unveiled by the American College of Surgeons as part of the group's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. The group is currently working on calculators for 18 additional procedures, such as gastric bypass, hernia repair, and prostate surgery.
Sudafed Limitations
States considering limits on consumer access to pseudoephedrine.
USA Today (2/2, Young) reports, "State and local efforts to thwart methamphetamine production by further limiting consumer access to a popular decongestant are pitting law enforcement against pharmacists and patients." Under "new ordinances in some Missouri communities and legislation pending in several states," consumers would be required "to get a prescription to buy cold and allergy pills containing pseudoephedrine." But, some pharmacists argue that "requiring prescriptions will delay access to the quick-acting medication and drive up costs to consumers through more doctor visits and co-pays." Oregon is currently the only state that requires consumers to get prescriptions, but Missouri, California, Kentucky, and Oklahoma are "considering new measures."
USA Today (2/2, Young) reports, "State and local efforts to thwart methamphetamine production by further limiting consumer access to a popular decongestant are pitting law enforcement against pharmacists and patients." Under "new ordinances in some Missouri communities and legislation pending in several states," consumers would be required "to get a prescription to buy cold and allergy pills containing pseudoephedrine." But, some pharmacists argue that "requiring prescriptions will delay access to the quick-acting medication and drive up costs to consumers through more doctor visits and co-pays." Oregon is currently the only state that requires consumers to get prescriptions, but Missouri, California, Kentucky, and Oklahoma are "considering new measures."
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