Health Report Now

Raw milk linked to dairy illness outbreaks

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:12:50 +0000

Raw milk supporter Leah Mack milks a dairy cow during a rally protesting the Food and Drug Administration’s actions against traditional dairy farmers in Washington on May 16, 2011. Farmers and supporters rallied to show support for raw milk farmers. UPI/Kevin Dietsch

Published: Feb. 22, 2012 at 1:58 AM

ATLANTA, Feb. 22 (UPI) – States where the sale of raw milk was legal had more than twice the rate of outbreaks of illness than states where it was illegal, U.S. health officials said.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the rate of outbreaks caused by unpasteurized milk, also called raw milk, and products made from it was 150 times greater than outbreaks linked to pasteurized milk.

Study co-author Dr. Barbara Mahon of the CDC, and colleagues reviewed dairy product outbreaks from 1993 to 2006 in all 50 states. The study authors compared the amount of milk produced in the United States during the 13-year study period — about 2.7 trillion pounds — to the amount that CDC estimated was likely consumed raw –1 percent, or 27 billion pounds. Raw milk products include cheese and yogurt.

The study, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, found 121 dairy-related disease outbreaks, which caused 4,413 illnesses, 239 hospitalizations and three deaths. In 60 percent of the outbreaks state health officials determined raw milk products were the cause, the study said. Nearly all of the hospitalizations, 200 of 239, involved raw milk, the study said.

“While some people think that raw milk has more health benefits than pasteurized milk, this study shows that raw milk has great risks, especially for children, who experience more severe illnesses if they get sick,” Mahon said in a statement. “Parents who have lived through the experience of watching their child fight for their life after drinking raw milk now say that it’s just not worth the risk.”

Health News – UPI.com

Nine women sue over breast removals

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:12:47 +0000

Published: Feb. 22, 2012 at 10:05 AM

ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland, Feb. 22 (UPI) – Nine Canadian women are suing a regional health authority in Newfoundland because their breasts were removed based on flawed cancer tests.

Lawyer Ches Crosbie is representing the women against Eastern Health, which oversaw the inaccurate testing and ensuing mastectomies as far back as 1999, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Wednesday.

Myrtle Lewis of Roddickton, who underwent a double mastectomy, told the broadcaster her doctor tried to break the news to her gently.

“The good news, he said, is you’re not going to die of breast cancer because you didn’t have it,” Lewis said.

Crosbie didn’t release the amount of damages he’s seeking from the authority. Two years ago, he led a class-action suit for women who were given inaccurate hormone-testing results, which resulted in a .5 million settlement.

Eastern Health said it will not share its breast tissue samples in the current suit, but will allow an independent pathologist to examine them.

Eastern Health Chief Executive Officer Vickie Kaminski told the CBC she wants to see the nine women accommodated.

“Something happened to them that should not have happened,” she said.

Health News – UPI.com

Nine women sue over breast removals

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:12:47 +0000

Published: Feb. 22, 2012 at 10:05 AM

ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland, Feb. 22 (UPI) – Nine Canadian women are suing a regional health authority in Newfoundland because their breasts were removed based on flawed cancer tests.

Myrtle Lewis of Roddickton, who underwent a double mastectomy, told the broadcaster her doctor tried to break the news to her gently.

“The good news, he said, is you’re not going to die of breast cancer because you didn’t have it,” Lewis said.

Eastern Health said it will not share its breast tissue samples in the current suit, but will allow an independent pathologist to examine them.

Eastern Health Chief Executive Officer Vickie Kaminski told the CBC she wants to see the nine women accommodated.

“Something happened to them that should not have happened,” she said.

Health News – UPI.com

FDA Weighs Fate of Qnexa for Weight Loss, Again

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:32:20 +0000

TUESDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to take a second look at the weight loss pill Qnexa on Wednesday, after initially rejecting it because of concerns about heart problems and possible birth defects.

While effective at reducing weight, the drug, manufactured by Vivus Inc., was denied approval in 2010 because of its potential side effects. An FDA advisory panel will now review two years of data; when advisers last voted on Qnexa, only one year’s worth of follow-up data was available.

The drug combines the appetite suppressant phentermine and the anti-seizure/migraine drug topiramate. Phentermine was once widely prescribed as the “phen” part of the fen-phen weight loss drug. This combo was withdrawn from the market after its use was linked to high blood pressure in the lungs and heart valve disease. The problems were related to the “fen” or fenfluramine part of the combination, not the phentermine.

No new weight-loss drug has been approved in the United States in the past 13 years, according to published reports. As it stands, Xenical is the only FDA-approved drug specifically for long-term use — up to a year — for weight loss. Xenical is sold over-the-counter as Alli. However, other drugs may be used off label to promote weight loss.

Last April, a study funded by Vivus found that obese patients taking Qnexa lost an average 22 pounds over a year, while also lowering their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Dr. Louis Aronne, founder and director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, is cautiously optimistic that Vivus did a good job responding to FDA safety concerns, and that the FDA will give the drug its nod of approval, with some caveats. Aronne was not involved in the trials but has been an adviser to Vivus and other companies developing weight loss medications.

“I am not as pessimistic as most people,” he said.

Vivus has reported that Qnexa may increase the risk of cleft lip in babies of women who use the drug while pregnant. Aronne said the birth defect concern could be addressed through education on who should and should not use the new drug.

“We have learned our lessons with weight loss drugs,” he said. “They need to be used in the right people under the right circumstances.” The heart risks need to be weighed against reductions in heart disease risk factors that come with weight loss, he said.

Qnexa is not any riskier than bariatric surgery, according to Aronne. “The problem is that it can be distributed more widely,” he said. He hopes for a compromise that allows the new compound to be prescribed, but not misused. “Once new medications are approved, local medical boards will need to enforce rules and make sure these medications are prescribed appropriately to the right candidates,” he said. “We don’t want to open up pill mills.”

One thing is clear, he said: More options to treat obesity are needed. “For hypertension, there are 120 medications in nine categories,” Aronne said. “We need new options and we need to get physicians thinking about obesity and obesity treatments.”

Dr. Scott Kahan, an obesity expert at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington, D.C., agreed. He is optimistic about the FDA’s upcoming decision on Qnexa. “The weight loss effects are striking and approaching the amount of weight loss over two years that we get with bariatric surgery,” he said. “This is really impressive.”

More information

Learn more about weight loss medications at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Weight Loss News Headlines – Yahoo! News

Malaria drug may help boost cancer therapy

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:18:42 +0000

Published: Feb. 21, 2012 at 8:56 PM

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 21 (UPI) – Blocking autophagy — the process of “self-eating” within cells — might be a viable way to enhance cancer treatment effectiveness, U.S. researchers said.

Dr. Ravi K. Amaravadi, an assistant professor at the Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and his laboratory demonstrated adding hydroxychloroquine — a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug used commonly for malaria and rheumatoid arthritis — to many cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation and immunotherapy.

It can enhance the anti-tumor activity of these drugs in laboratory models of treatment-resistant cancers and ongoing clinical trials, Amaravadi said.

Autophagy is increased in cancer cells — normally, it is a survival pathway allowing a cell to recycle damaged proteins when it’s under stress and reuse the damaged parts to fuel further growth.

However, cancer cells might be addicted to autophagy, since this innate response may be a critical means by which the cells survive nutrient limitation and lack of oxygen commonly found within tumors. It might explain how some cancer cells evade chemotherapies, the study said.

Nearly 30 Phase I and Phase II clinical trials involving hydroxychloroquine have begun or are in the planning stages in many different malignancies, including melanoma, multiple myeloma, renal cell carcinoma, colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer, Amaravadi said.

The findings were presented at the annual American Association for Advancement of Science meeting in Vancouver.

Health News – UPI.com

A Fierce Look at Fall- Lauren Bagliore A/W 2012 Collection

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:22:36 +0000

Watch out, New York! An infusion of fashion has invaded our fair city. By way of Canada, the Lauren Bagliore DESIGN HOUSE debuted its latest collection of avant-garde apparel at Midtown’s Rokk City on Thursday evening. Designer Lauren Bagliore, a native New Yorker residing in New York City and Western Canada, was inspired by the unique sense of street styles she observed on her travels to major cities throughout Europe and Asia. With her return, Bagliore brought to the runway her own reconstruction of modern aesthetic and used hair and makeup to reinforce a bold, yet polished look.

Consuela Helms, key makeup artist for Vera Moore Cosmetics, teamed up with Ashley Maybruck of Chic Studios to create a glamorous Goth girl look, keeping in line with the sophisticated and progressive feel of the collection. Vera Moore’s Concealer Plus and Sheer Beginnings Liquid Foundation along with RCMA’s KO and Shinto Foundation Palettes were used to obtain a smooth, neutral tone and natural eye. The face was then powdered with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, and a dramatic black lip was created with the Smolder Eye Liner and filled in with black Color Crème from the Make Up For Ever Flash Palette. The look was accentuated with a brush of Vera Moore’s Riviera Red-Blush to the cheekbone.

Based on the designer’s own signature look, stylist Gregory Purcell recreated a soft, textured side braid on the models using his own line of Gregory Purcell Hair Care Products. Starting out with a generous helping of Zen Mist for texture, Purcell blow-dried the hair and used his fingers to add more volume. He then braided the hair, tied it at the end and applied his Sheer Shea to keep it calm and give it a natural feel.

Whether it is years of experience or her innate talent for design, Bagliore has mastered the art of accentuating the female form. Her collection exudes exquisite refinement, as well as an edge so sharp you could cut yourself on her seams. She is known for using lux fabrics and applying an impeccable attention to detail. Every fold, cut, knot, and gather is intentionally placed to create a silhouette that drapes and moves gracefully against the contours of the body. Bagliore filled her fall collection with jersey knit dresses and wrap coats in solid shades of grey and black—the urbanite’s essential primary colors. With key pieces that are both timeless and versatile, they will be an integral addition to any fashionista’s wardrobe come fall.

Incoming search terms:

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Ways to help prevent type 2 diabetes

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:14:12 +0000

Published: Feb. 21, 2012 at 12:09 AM

ATLANTA, Feb. 21 (UPI) – Diabetes affects about 26 million in the United States, but the older people get, the higher their risk of being diagnosed with diabetes, officials say.

Nilka Rios Burrows, a researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said there are things people can do to lower their risk of type 2 diabetes.

“Number one, exercise regularly. Two, lose weight. And three, eat a healthy diet,” Burrows said in a statement.

Those age 45 and older and those with risk factors for type 2 diabetes should be tested every three years for type 2 diabetes.

Burrows said those with type 2 diabetes should also be “seeing a doctor regularly.”

“Controlling your blood sugar, your blood pressure and your cholesterol. And getting dilated eye exams, foot exams and flu shots annually,” she said. “So talk to your doctor about how you can manage and take control of your diabetes.”

Health News – UPI.com

Total rethink needed on dieting: scientists

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:45:16 +0000

Everything you know about dieting is wrong, say US scientists who have devised a new formula for calculating calories and weight loss that they hope will revolutionize the way people tackle obesity.

Obesity rates have doubled worldwide in the past 30 years, coinciding with a growing food surplus, and the ensuing epidemic has sparked a multibillion dollar weight loss industry that has largely failed to curb the problem.

Current standards in the United States, where two thirds of people are overweight or obese, advise people that cutting calories by a certain amount will result in a slow and steady weight loss over time.

But that advice fails to account for how the body changes as it slims down, burning less energy and acquiring a slower metabolism, researchers told the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Vancouver.

The result is a plateau effect that ends up discouraging dieters and sending them back into harmful patterns of overeating.

As an example, researcher Kevin Hall offered up his large vanilla latte, purchased at a popular coffee shop. When he asked, the barista told him it contained about 240 calories.

“The notion was if I drank one of these every day and then I replaced it with just black coffee no sugar, then over the course of a year I should lose about 25 pounds, and that should just keep going,” Hall told reporters.

“People have used this sort of rule of thumb to predict how much people should lose for decades now, and it turns out to be completely wrong.”

Hall, a scientist with the US National Institutes of Health, said his work aims to “come up with better rules and better predictions of what is going to happen when an individual changes their diet.”

He and colleagues said their scientific model is aimed to help doctors and policymakers, while a “back-of-the-envelope calculation” for consumers means cutting small amounts of daily calories, but expecting to cut more over time.

“If I want to lose 10 pounds of weight eventually, I have to cut 100 calories per day out of my diet,” Hall explained.

“You’ll get halfway there in about a year, and then you will eventually plateau, (reaching the goal) after about three years,” he added.

“For folks abroad that works out to about 100 kilojoules per day per kilogram. The contrast is the old rule of thumb predicts twice as much weight loss after a year, and it gets worse after that.”

The new model gives dieters one calorie goal for short term weight loss and another for permanent weight loss. Exercise is also calculated in to help set realistic goals.

Study co-author Carson Chow, also with NIH, said the daily calorie cut needed for weight loss was actually smaller than researchers anticipated.

“It is essentially one cookie different a day, so a 150 calorie cookie leads to a seven kilogram (15 pound) difference in weight. That is huge in my opinion,” Chow said.

“I think the surprise it is such a little change can affect such a great difference in weight, and yet we still can’t seem do it.”

Their model was first published in The Lancet in August 2011, and a link is available at http://bwsimulator.niddk.nih.gov.

“People can plug in some information about their initial age, their height, their weight, some estimate of their physical activity level,” Hall said.

Add in a goal weight and the “model will simulate what changes of diet or exercise that person would have to do to achieve that goal weight, and then even more importantly what they need to do permanently maintain that weight loss.”

Since The Lancet article appeared, the notion has not exactly taken the world by storm, in part because it’s not primed for public use, but is mainly aimed at doctors and researchers with adult American patients for now.

Also, if a dieter enters an extreme weight goal, the number of calories the model returns may be much too low to be realistic or healthy, so it needs an expert’s interpretation.

“It’s not particularly user friendly… but it is still relatively informative,” said Hall, who maintains hope that some day his message will be heard.

“There is a lot of inertia behind these old rules of thumb,” he said, adding that he was heartened by an editorial in December in the journal of the American Dietetic Association that commented on the idea of a weight loss plateau and mentioned the new simulator.

“It’s going to take some time to get the public and the professional community aware that there is a new way of doing things, and we actually have some tools that weren’t available before.”

Weight Loss News Headlines – Yahoo! News

Payroll tax cut hits mental health funds

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:16:57 +0000

Published: Feb. 19, 2012 at 7:14 PM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (UPI) – U.S. Medicare recipients receiving mental health outpatient services appear negatively affected by the payroll tax cut passed by Congress, psychologists said.

Katherine C. Nordal, executive director for professional practice of the American Psychological Association, said the cuts will reduce funding not only for psychotherapy outpatient services, but for behavioral health centers, state hospitals and private hospitals with mental and behavioral health units, resulting in fewer doctors providing therapy.

Medicare Part B covers outpatient services for mental health diagnosis and treatment as well as therapy services for in-patients at state and private hospitals. Medicare covers services provided by psychologists and other Medicare-approved providers.

The American Psychological Association estimated 3,080 psychologists who once participated in Medicare have left the program, and the new cuts might result in more psychologists leaving Medicare because of the low reimbursement rates.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cut Medicare psychotherapy payment rates as part of its Five-Year Review in 2006. Since that time, four laws restoring 5 percent of the payment for psychotherapy services passed. At the end of 2011, Congress extended the payroll tax cut through February 2012 and included payment for psychotherapy services, Nordal said.

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity often coexist with mental illness, and treatment of the mental illness can reduce the effects of these disorders, said Pamela S. Hyde, head of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Health News – UPI.com

Nuts About Butters

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:17:24 +0000

Peanut butters are not just for kids’ sandwiches. There are also other nut spreads on the market today that adults will want to have in their own personal stash. Forget those boring brands readily available on store shelves, these spreads will have you reaching for that slice of bread or spoon, or even use in a stir-fry.

Saratoga Peanut Butter Company boasts an eclectic variety of butters combined with other quality ingredients like raisins, banana, flax seed, cranberries, dark chocolate, and more. The result: popular aromatic lumpy chunky nut spreads enjoyed by celeb chefs and families nationwide. http://www.yopeanut.com

Barney Butter is all-natural almond butter minus the gritty texture and bitter bite. This is a surprisingly good alternative to peanut butter with a satisfying slightly salty sweet combo taste. Made from premium California almonds, it is available in smooth and crunchy versions and in convenient squeezable snack packs. http://www.barneybutter.com

Tierra Farm offers an extensive line of nut butters that includes peanuts, almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts combined with other tasty sweet ingredients like maple and chocolate that don’t overpower. The spreads are thick and so delectable to eat. Nuts are dry roasted, baked in ovens, crushed, and that’s all. http://www.tierrafarm.com

Editor Fav: Chocolate Hazelnut