A diet high in soybean oil causes more obesity and diabetes than a diet high in fructose, a sugar commonly found in soda and processed foods, according to a new study. Research from scientists at the University of California, Riverside, fed male mice a series of four diets that contained 40 percent fat, similar to… Continue reading Soybean Oil: The Newest Nutritional Villain?
Tag: Staying Current
Why West Nile Virus Is More Dangerous in the Elderly
West Nile virus (WNV) is particularly dangerous in older people, who account for a large number of severe cases and deaths caused by the virus. WNV infection turns serious when the virus crosses the blood-brain-barrier and wreaks havoc among nerve cells in the brain. A study published on July 23rd 2015 in PLOS Pathogens suggests… Continue reading Why West Nile Virus Is More Dangerous in the Elderly
Smartphone Health Apps and Blind Readers
University of Washington researchers who conducted a review of nine mobile health applications found that they were not fully accessible to blind customers. In a paper published in the Journal on Technology & Persons with Disabilities, the researchers investigated nine common iPhone mobile health (mHealth) applications that upload data from blood pressure and blood sugar… Continue reading Smartphone Health Apps and Blind Readers
Blood Vessels Can Get Better with Age
Oxidative stress is believed to be the cause of many age-related illnesses, including diabetes, higher blood pressure and age-related cancer. But researchers from the University of Missouri recently found that aging itself offers protection against oxidative stress. These findings, published in the Journal of Physiology, suggest that aging itself may trigger an adaptive response… Continue reading Blood Vessels Can Get Better with Age
Over-Hydration Can Be Dangerous for Some
Although it’s important for athletes to stay hydrated, it’s just as crucial not to drink too much water, according to new guidelines. Overhydrating with water or sports drinks can lead to a condition called exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH), said Mitchell Rosner, MD, a kidney specialist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Rosner, the… Continue reading Over-Hydration Can Be Dangerous for Some
Misuse of Painkillers Tied to Illegal Drug Use
People who use recreational drugs like cocaine, heroin and marijuana have a higher likelihood of misusing prescription pain relievers as well, according to new research from the University of Georgia School of Social Work. The investigators’ conclusions were buttressed by a study just released by the federal Centers for Disease Control, which found that heroin… Continue reading Misuse of Painkillers Tied to Illegal Drug Use
Coffee, Your Genes, and Serious Illnesses
Pour yourself another cup: new research from the University of Copenhagen and Herlev and Gentofte Hospital shows that coffee has nothing to do with developing “lifestyle diseases” such as obesity and diabetes. The researchers also said that genes play a role in how much coffee we drink. The study was published in the Journal of… Continue reading Coffee, Your Genes, and Serious Illnesses
Study: Too Few Hep C Cases Reported
According to researchers, there appears to be massive underreporting of acute hepatitis C cases. The study, conducted by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, analyzed the system set up by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The research was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Specifically,… Continue reading Study: Too Few Hep C Cases Reported
Trauma Nation
We don’t have to look far to notice the amount of negativity that surrounds us on a daily and consistent basis. Any one of us over the age of ten can recount the events of September 11, 2001, or any host of traumatic events that have taken place since that time. It seems our country… Continue reading Trauma Nation
Vitamin B12 May Not Help Everybody
Although taking Vitamin B12 helps older people who have a serious deficiency of the substance, it doesn’t improve neurological or cognitive function in older people with only moderate B12 deficiency, according to a new study. The research, from investigators at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, was published in the American Journal of… Continue reading Vitamin B12 May Not Help Everybody
What’s Being Done about Inequality in Health Care?
Although there has been substantial progress in cancer treatment, screening, diagnosis, and prevention over the past several decades, addressing cancer health disparities—such as higher cancer death rates, less frequent use of proven screening tests, and higher rates of advanced cancer diagnoses—in certain populations is an area in which progress has not kept pace. These… Continue reading What’s Being Done about Inequality in Health Care?
Medical Marijuana “Edibles” Mostly Mislabeled
In a proof-of-concept study, a team led by a Johns Hopkins researcher reports that the vast majority of edible cannabis products sold in a small sample of medical marijuana dispensaries carried labels that overstated or understated the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The study was published June 23rd 2015 in the Journal of the American Medical… Continue reading Medical Marijuana “Edibles” Mostly Mislabeled
Patients Email and “Friend” Doctors in Spite of Resistance
A large number of patients use online communication tools such as email and Facebook to engage with their physicians, despite recommendations from some hospitals and professional organizations that clinicians limit email contact with patients and avoid “friending” patients on social media, new research suggests. The findings from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers… Continue reading Patients Email and “Friend” Doctors in Spite of Resistance
New Cancer Research Approaches Specifically Target 60+ Population
By Samuel Waxman, M.D. Distinguished Service Professor Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology and Distinguished Service Professor, Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Founder & CEO, Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. One of America’s precious resources, its senior population, is not getting its fair share of attention in the war against cancer… Continue reading New Cancer Research Approaches Specifically Target 60+ Population
An Expert’s Tips on Savvy and Healthy Grocery Shopping
By Andrea Woroch Summer is a great time to kick back with family and friends while enjoying delicious food straight from the barbecue. However, the USDA’s Food Price Outlook puts a little damper on those summer soirees. According to a recent report, beef prices are at an all-time high and the worst bird flu in… Continue reading An Expert’s Tips on Savvy and Healthy Grocery Shopping
How Capsaicin Works: A Better Understanding
Researchers are drawing closer to understanding how capsaicin helps the body’s response to pain, and that may help in designing more effective pain treatments. Investigators from the University of California, Davis, reported their identification of molecular interactions with capsaicin in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. Capsaicin is the ingredient that makes chili peppers spicy and… Continue reading How Capsaicin Works: A Better Understanding
Multitasking Can Be a Good Thing
Who says you can’t do two things at once and do them both well? Multitasking isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, older adults who rode on a stationary bike while completing cognitive tasks found that their cycling speed increased without damaging their cognitive performance. Results of the study, which was supported by a grant… Continue reading Multitasking Can Be a Good Thing
Why The FDA is Banning Trans Fats
Editor’s Note: Earlier this month, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a significant step by ordering food manufacturers to eliminate trans fats from their products by the year 2018. Here, from the FDA, is what you need to know about this crucial change: Trans fat intake has been linked to an increased risk… Continue reading Why The FDA is Banning Trans Fats