Monthly News Archives



		Fructose Sweetener Spurs Obesity Another study finds that high consumption of soft drinks and other sweetened beverages contributes to obesity. But this study, conducted in mice, suggests that one form of natural sweetener -- fructose -- may be especially likely to encourage weight gain. Acupuncture Shown To Relieve Tension Headaches Acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients suffering from tension headaches, German researchers reported. Knee Pain Is Often Accompanied By Other Aches Older adults' knee pain is usually not an isolated problem, but is more often part of a constellation of chronic aches, a new study suggests. Not All Cancer Patients Improve Lifestyle Many cancer survivors celebrate their recovery by eating better, exercising more and making other lifestyle improvements, but some do not, according to new study findings. Do Free Drug Samples Influence Physicians' Prescribing Decisions? When a pharmaceutical company puts drug samples into the hands of physicians as a form of marketing, how does it influence their prescribing behavior? To what extent are treatment decisions based on which samples are available and further, what are the implications for patient care as well as physician education? Echinacea Does Little Against Colds-Study Echinacea, the herbal remedy widely believed to prevent or ease the misery of the common cold, turns out to be no more effective than a placebo, according to a new study by the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Whey Supplement Helpful For Diabetics For people with type 2 diabetes, adding whey to high-carbohydrate meals stimulates insulin release and reduces spikes in blood glucose levels after meals, according to new findings. Acupuncture May Improve Sperm Quality Acupuncture may have a role as a treatment for certain types of male infertility, researchers suggest. Regular Yoga Practice May Help Prevent Middle-age Spread A new study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that regular yoga practice may help prevent middle-age spread in normal-weight people and may promote weight loss in those who are overweight. Pineapple Stem May Combat Cancer Two molecules isolated from an extract of crushed pineapple stems have shown promise in fighting cancer growth. 'Good' Bacteria Helps Ease Pain Of Colitis A mixture of bacteria developed in part by University of Alberta researchers has been proven highly effective in treating people suffering from ulcerative colitis. Looking Forward: Supplements or Diet? In a special communication piece that appears in the July 20th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), two senior scientists report that the most promising data on nutrition and optimal health outcomes relate to dietary patterns, not nutrient supplements. People Who Lose Weight May Gain Wealth Overweight people who trim down substantially may improve both their health and their wealth, if new research is correct. Blink, And The Brain Misses It We would immediately notice if the outside world suddenly went dark every few seconds. But we rarely become aware of our blinks, even though they cause a similar reduction in the amount of light entering the eye. So why are we not aware of the frequent mini-blackouts caused by blinks? Obesity Rising Rapidly In Developing Nations Obesity is increasing rapidly in developing countries greatly increasing the risk of heart disease and diabetes, an international population conference was told. High-Protein Diets Curb Appetite The ever-popular low-carbohydrate diets appear to work because they force people to eat more protein, which consequently suppresses the appetite, not because of a lower carbohydrate intake, according to new study findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Tai Chi May Alleviate Arthritis Tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, may alleviate some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and help sufferers better cope with daily life. Junk Food Ads Spur Kids' Obesity Heavy promotion of calorie-laden junk foods in advertisements near high schools may be contributing to New Zealand's growing obesity epidemic, a new study shows. Chronically Tired? Help May Be At Hand Help may finally be at hand for sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) thanks to a group of British researchers who have found abnormalities in the white blood cells of the afflicted. Grapefruit Heals Stomach Ulcers Grapefruit extract can help to heal stomach ulcers, research suggests. Using Antibiotics Double Your Chances Of Being Resistant New study shows that a prescription of antibiotics taken within the previous two months doubles the chances of patients carrying antibiotic resistant bacteria. Teen Girls Have Healthier Stress Response Than Boys Adolescent girls may be better protected against the effects of stress than teenage boys, according to a team of Georgia researchers. In a study of teenagers' responses to mental stress, they found that girls did not exhibit the same increase in blood pressure as did their male peers. Antidepressant Efficacy Overblown Antidepressants, for the most part, do not provide meaningful benefit, two investigators in the UK argue in a report in the British Medical Journal this week, having reviewed published medical evidence on antidepressant efficacy. Girls Weight Gain Blamed On Drop In Exercise Adolescent girls in the United States are putting on weight because they are doing less physical activity than they did as children, according to a study released. Sweetener 'Linked' To Leukaemias Fresh doubts about the safety of an artificial sweetener have been raised by Italian scientists who have linked its use to leukaemias in rodents. Poor Sleep Not A Normal Part Of Aging Researchers outline five basic steps to help doctors identify and treat insomnia in elderly patients. This article is published in a special insomnia themed supplement of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Experts Report Dental X-rays Effectively Identify Stroke Risk Factors General dentists from across the United States and Canada exchanged vital information showing that dental X-rays, known as panoramic radiographs, used for oral health examinations, are effective in detecting some cases of clinically significant carotid artery stenosis, or blockages in the carotid artery, which can potentially lead to stroke. Video Games Have Therapeutic Potential Parents take note -- video games are not all bad. A leading expert said that the games ease pain, distract patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and help to develop dexterity. Washing Hands With Soap Cuts Diseases In Children Washing hands with soap can halve the number of young children suffering from pneumonia, the leading killer of youngsters under 5 years old worldwide. Social Cruelty Is Largely Learned, Not inherited Children who ostracize or gossip about other kids have likely picked up that behavior from their peers, families or teachers, according to new study findings. Fluoride-Cancer Link May Have Been Hidden Federal investigators and Harvard University officials are probing whether a Harvard professor buried research suggesting a link between fluoridated tap water and bone cancer in adolescent boys. One-Third of Major Medical Studies Inaccurate or Exaggerated People who've grown sceptical of the hyping of the latest medical breakthrough got some validation this week: A new review found one out of every three highly cited studies published in influential medical journals is either refuted or seriously weakened by subsequent research. Unborn Babies Carry Pollutants Unborn U.S. babies are soaking in a stew of chemicals, including mercury, gasoline byproducts and pesticides, according to a report released. Teen IQ, Activity Tied To Later Dementia Risk A high IQ in adolescence and greater participation in various extracurricular activities may decrease a person's chances of developing dementia later in life, according to a study in the current Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Genes Take Some Blame for Poor Cholesterol Blood levels of "bad" low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol vary widely between individuals, and the blame for at least part of that variance may lie in genetics, researchers report. Depression Raises Your Risk of Death After a Heart Attack Scientists have known for years that depression increases the risk of dying in the months after a heart attack, and now behavioral medicine specialists reiterate that abnormal heart rate variability is partially responsible for depression's effects in heart patients. Obese Women Fitter Than Obese Men Obese men may be less physically fit than obese women, perhaps because they are more likely to have diabetes or pre-diabetes and tend to have more abdominal fat, Dutch researchers reported. Curry Ingredient Fights Skin Cancer The compound that makes curry yellow could help fight skin cancer, U.S. researchers reported. Take Steps To Minimize Cancer Risks While Grilling Many people still do not know that grilling can be unhealthy. The cancer risk from grilling, however, is real, but it changes dramatically with what you grill and how you do it. Lifestyle Contributes Most To Distribution Of Cancer More than 17 400 deaths a year in the United Kingdom from cancer could be prevented if all areas of the country matched those with the lowest mortality, says a new cancer atlas published this week. Chronic Anger, Hostility May Make You Sick People who are hostile or angry for longer periods of time are more at risk of health problems, according to a review of recent literature on anger and health. Shedding A Pound May Ease Stress On Arthritic Knees For overweight people hobbled by knee arthritis, losing even one pound can diminish the stress the knees take with every step, a new study shows. Targeted Exercise May Prevent Hip Fractures Exercise that targets a weak region of the hipbone may help prevent fractures, but simple walking will not, new research indicates. Children In Chronic Pain Need Better Support One in fifty children and adolescents live with severely debilitating and recurrent pain but there is an embarrassing lack of data on the best ways to treat them, according to researchers. Summer's Great For Potty Training For youngsters who are physically and psychologically ready for toilet training, summer may be an ideal time to begin, according to a statement on the topic from the University of Michigan Health System. Cleft Lip More Likely In Babies Of Overweight Moms Mothers-to-be who are obese during the first trimester of pregnancy are more likely than normal-weight women to have an infant with a cleft lip or cleft palate, according to a study in Sweden. Aspirin, Vitamin E Don't Prevent Cancer - Study A 12-year of study involving nearly 40,000 U.S. women has found that regular, low doses of aspirin do not generally prevent cancer, and vitamin E is ineffective in warding off heart disease and cancer. Parents Not Always Ready To Help Overweight Kids Not all parents are open to making lifestyle changes that could help their overweight children shed pounds -- particularly if they don't view the child's weight as a health problem, a new study shows. Problem Gamblers Share Addicts' Personality Traits Problem gamblers tend to have personality profiles similar to those of people with alcohol, marijuana and nicotine dependence, according to a new study. Exercise Program Improves Balance In Elderly By wearing a unique weighted back support device and participating in a special exercise program, women over 60 with osteoporosis-caused curvature of the spine improved their balance and experienced diminished back pain, giving researchers at Mayo Clinic a promising therapy to reduce falls among this population. Pomegranate Juice Helps Babies Resist Brain Injury Expectant mothers at risk of premature birth may want to consider drinking pomegranate juice to help their babies resist brain injuries from low oxygen and reduced blood flow, a new mouse study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests. Take Cover from Ticks If you like to be outside during the summer, you need to protect yourself against ticks, which carry diseases that can be transmitted to people and animals. Tests Detect 'Masked' Hypertension Home blood pressure monitoring and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring -- two different ways to measure blood pressure outside a doctor's office -- are both effective methods to detect "masked hypertension," according to a study. Video Gamers May Have Quicker Eyes Video game players may spend a lot of time on the couch, but when they're ready to go out they can find their keys quicker than the rest of us, a study suggests. British Men In Denial About Weight Woes About a quarter of British men are in denial about their weight problem, according to a recent survey released. It's Okay to Be Overweight After All . . . or Is It? Is it okay to be overweight? A widely publicized study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in April seemed to answer yes. Health Web Site Launches Online Diagnosis A Web site launched will allow people to read their bodies for clues as to their health and to consider possible help for any ailments. TV Is Bad For Children's Education The more time children spend watching television the poorer they perform academically, according to three recently published studies. Spam Can Help Prod People To Better Health - Study E-mail spam can be good for you if it comes as a steady stream of e-mails nagging about healthy habits, Canadian researchers said. Testicular Cancer On The Rise In Much Of The World Though testicular cancer remains relatively uncommon, rates of the disease have risen in many countries since the 1970s, a new study shows.