Mayo Clinic Says Thank You to Eagles Cancer Telethon

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoyO1gBd1R4

A second look at old-school exercise technique

Research shows high intensity training, bursts of exertion followed by short recovery periods, stimulates the muscles to burn fat and sugar more effectively

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/high-intensity-interval-training-hiit-the-road-to-get-fit-in-2016/

Should birth control pills be available without a prescription?

Oregon becomes first state to drop prescription requirement, and some experts say access needs to loosen up even more

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/birth-control-pills-no-prescription-needed-in-oregon/

What's new in Medicare for 2016

Coverage for end-of-life counseling, more coordinated care, and other changes you'll see in Medicare this year

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-new-in-medicare-for-2016/

FDA labels pelvic mesh as "high-risk" medical device

Higher level of warning follows thousands of injuries and lawsuits regarding the devices

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-labels-pelvic-mesh-as-high-risk-medical-device/

Mayo Historical Suite - via Periscope.tv

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtAVjsC7_cc

Could High Vitamin D Harm Seniors Prone to Falls?

Stick to recommended guidelines, experts say

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20160104/could-higher-vitamin-d-doses-harm-seniors-prone-to-falls?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Study

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement in response to a new study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation regarding the effects of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The study found that after the new standards were implemented, the nutritional value of foods chosen by students increased by 29 percent.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/01/0001.xml&contentidonly=true

Raising awareness of pill that can stop spread of HIV

People at high risk for HIV - especially young gay men - could get protection from a pill, but many still don't take it

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/raising-awareness-of-pill-that-can-stop-spread-of-hiv/

Pill could stop HIV "in my generation"

Efforts to spread the word about PrEP treatment, which could "dramatically" reduce new cases of HIV

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pill-could-stop-hiv-in-my-generation/

Report: U.S. disaster preparedness neglects kids

Pandemics, natural disasters or terrorist attacks could leave children especially vulnerable, and pediatricians say more needs to be done

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-u-s-not-equipped-to-meet-kids-medical-needs-during-disasters/

Newer Blood Pressure Drugs as Good as Older Ones

Analysis indicates ACE inhibitors and ARBs are equally effective, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20160104/newer-blood-pressure-drugs-as-good-as-older-ones-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

IVF Kids: No Higher Developmental Delay Risk

Other infertility treatments also don't seem to interfere with child development

From: http://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/news/20160104/kids-born-through-ivf-show-no-higher-risk-for-developmental-delays-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Obesity expert shows changing biology can help weight loss

Dr. Louis Aronne debunks popular myths about weight loss and advises that you rethink your strategies

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obesity-expert-dr-louis-aronne-weill-cornell-medical-center-weight-loss-strategies/

Dr. Avni Joshi on Childhood Asthma Study

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uc1kSYqDWU

Walnuts Consumed by Healthy Adults Provide Less Available Energy than Predicted by the Atwater Factors [Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions]

Background: Previous studies have shown that the metabolizable energy (ME) content (energy available to the body) of certain nuts is less than predicted by the Atwater factors. However, very few nuts have been investigated to date, and no information is available regarding the ME of walnuts.

Objective: A study was conducted to determine the ME of walnuts when consumed as part of a typical American diet.

Methods: Healthy adults (n = 18; mean age = 53.1 y; body mass index = 28.8 kg/m²) participated in a randomized crossover study with 2 treatment periods (3 wk each). The study was a fully controlled dietary feeding intervention in which the same base diet was consumed during each treatment period; the base diet was unsupplemented during one feeding period and supplemented with 42 g walnuts/d during the other feeding period. Base diet foods were reduced in equal proportions during the walnut period to achieve isocaloric food intake during the 2 periods. After a 9 d diet acclimation period, subjects collected all urine and feces for ~1 wk (as marked by a Brilliant Blue fecal collection marker) for analysis of energy content. Administered diets, walnuts, and fecal and urine samples were subjected to bomb calorimetry, and the resulting data were used to calculate the ME of the walnuts.

Results: One 28-g serving of walnuts contained 146 kcal (5.22 kcal/g), 39 kcal/serving less than the calculated value of 185 kcal/serving (6.61 kcal/g). The ME of the walnuts was 21% less than that predicted by the Atwater factors (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Consistent with other tree nuts, Atwater factors overestimate the metabolizable energy value of walnuts. These results could help explain the observations that consumers of nuts do not gain excessive weight and could improve the accuracy of food labeling. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01832909.

From: Baer, D. J., Gebauer, S. K., Novotny, J. A. http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/short/146/1/9?rss=1

A Vitamin B-6 Antagonist from Flaxseed Perturbs Amino Acid Metabolism in Moderately Vitamin B-6-Deficient Male Rats [Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions]

Iron Status Is Associated with Performance on Executive Functioning Tasks in Nonanemic Young Women [Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions]

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is prevalent, particularly among women of reproductive age (WRA). How mild ID without anemia relates to cognition is poorly understood. Executive functioning (EF) has emerged as potentially being affected by mild ID in WRA.

Objective: We sought to examine how iron markers relate to performance on EF tasks in nonanemic WRA.

Methods: Participants included 127 females aged 18–35 y. Hematological indicators included hemoglobin, RBC distribution width, transferrin saturation (TSAT), ferritin, transferrin receptor (TfR), and total body iron (TBI). EF was assessed using 5 tasks. Associations between EF outcomes and iron status were examined using continuous iron predictors and group comparisons.

Results: Better iron status was associated with better attention [faster reaction time (RT) with lower TfR (P = 0.028) and higher TSAT (P = 0.013)], inhibitory control [lower RT variability with higher TSAT (P = 0.042) and planning ability (faster planning time and a smaller planning time increase with increasing difficulty with higher ferritin; P = 0.010)]. No associations with iron status were found for several EF outcomes, possibly due to performance ceilings. Paradoxically, worse performance on a working memory task was related to better iron status, which may reflect hippocampal-frontal interference [lower capacity with lower TfR (P = 0.034) and higher TBI (P = 0.043) and a larger accuracy change with increasing difficulty with higher TBI (P = 0.016)]. Longer RTs on a working memory task were observed among those with positive TBI (iron surplus; P = 0.021) and <2 abnormal iron markers (P = 0.013) compared with those with negative TBI (iron deficit) and ≥2 abnormal markers, respectively.

Conclusions: These findings suggest cognitive ramifications of mild ID in otherwise healthy WRA and have implications for daily well-being. Future investigators should explore how brain system interactions change according to iron availability.

From: Scott, S. P., Murray-Kolb, L. E. http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/short/146/1/30?rss=1

High-Protein Exposure during Gestation or Lactation or after Weaning Has a Period-Specific Signature on Rat Pup Weight, Adiposity, Food Intake, and Glucose Homeostasis up to 6 Weeks of Age [Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions]

Background: Early-life nutrition has a programming effect on later metabolic health; however, the impact of exposure to a high-protein (HP) diet is still being investigated.

Objective: This study evaluated the consequences on pup phenotype of an HP diet during gestation and lactation and after weaning.

Methods: Wistar rat dams were separated into 2 groups fed an HP (55% protein) or normal protein (NP) (control; 20% protein) isocaloric diet during gestation, and each group subsequently was separated into 2 subgroups that were fed an HP or NP diet during lactation. After weaning, male and female pups from each mother subgroup were separated into 2 groups that were fed either an NP or HP diet until they were 6 wk old. Measurements included weight, food intake, body composition, blood glucose, insulin, glucagon, leptin, insulin-like growth factor I, and lipids.

Results: Feeding mothers the HP diet during gestation or lactation induced lower postweaning pup weight (gestation diet x time, P < 0.0001; lactation diet x time, P < 0.0001). Regardless of dams’ diets, pups receiving HP compared with NP diet after weaning had 7% lower weight (NP, 135.0 ± 2.6 g; HP, 124.4 ± 2.5 g; P < 0.0001), 16% lower total energy intake (NP, 777 ± 14 kcal; HP, 649 ± 13 kcal; P < 0.0001) and 31% lower adiposity (P < 0.0001). Pups receiving HP compared with NP diet after weaning had increased blood glucose, insulin, and glucagon when food deprived (P < 0.0001 for all). The HP compared with the NP diet during gestation induced higher blood glucose in food-deprived rats (NP, 83.2 ± 2.1 mg/dL; HP, 91.2 ± 2.1 mg/dL; P = 0.046) and increased plasma insulin in fed pups receiving the postweaning NP diet (gestation diet x postweaning diet, P = 0.02).

Conclusion: Increasing the protein concentration of the rat dams’ diet during gestation, and to a lesser extent during lactation, and of the pups’ diet after weaning influenced pup phenotype, including body weight, fat accumulation, food intake, and glucose tolerance at 6 wk of age.

From: Desclee de Maredsous, C., Oozeer, R., Barbillon, P., Mary-Huard, T., Delteil, C., Blachier, F., Tome, D., van der Beek, E. M., Davila, A.-M. http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/short/146/1/21?rss=1

Common Polymorphisms That Affect Folate Transport or Metabolism Modify the Effect of the MTHFR 677C > T Polymorphism on Folate Status [Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions]

Background: Although combinations of biologically relevant polymorphic variants affect folate status, most studies have focused on the effects of individual polymorphisms; however, these effects may be altered by interactions between polymorphisms.

Objective: We investigated the individual and combined effects of polymorphisms that affect folate transport or metabolism on folate status.

Methods: The associations between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C > T, methionine transferase reductase (MTRR) 66A > G, MTRR 524C > T, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase-5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase-10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (MTHFD1) 1958G > A, MTHFD1 -105C > T, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) 19-bp insertion/deletion, and solute carrier family 19A, member 1 (SLC19A1) 80G > A polymorphisms and fasting plasma folate (PF), red cell folate (RCF), and plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) were tested by ANCOVA and Cox regression analysis in 781 Spanish adults.

Results: Folate deficiency (PF <7 nmol/L) was observed in 18.8% of the participants. Geometric mean PF (nmol/L) was lower in MTHFR 677TT (10.0; 95% CI: 9.2, 11.9) compared with 677CC (12.4; 95% CI: 11.6, 13.2; P < 0.001). RCF (nmol/L) was lower in MTHFR 677TT (652; 95% CI: 611, 695) compared with 677CC (889; 95% CI: 851, 929; P < 0.001) and in SLC19A1 80AA (776; 95% CI: 733, 822) compared with 80GG (861; 95% CI: 815, 910; P < 0.01). RCF and tHcy (μmol/L) did not differ in MTHFR + MTRR 677TT/524TT compared with 677CC/524CC: 780 (95% CI: 647, 941) compared with 853 (95% CI: 795, 915; P = 0.99) and 10.2 (95% CI: 8.4, 12.3) compared with 8.9 (95% CI: 8.5, 9.4; P = 0.99), respectively. The RR of lowest-tertile RCF (≤680 nmol/L) was 2.1 (95% CI: 1.0, 4.5) for MTHFR + MTRR 677TT/66GG compared with 677CC/66AA, 2.2 (95% CI: 1.2, 4.1) for MTHFR + MTHFD1 677TT/1958AA compared with 677CC/1958GG, 2.9 (95% CI: 1.4, 6.0) for MTHFR + MTHFD1 677TT/-105TT compared with 677CC/-105CC, and 3.5 (95% CI: 1.5, 8.1) for MTHFR + SLC19A1 677TT/80AA compared with 677CC/80GG. Confining the analysis to the MTHFR 677TT genotype, the risk of lowest-tertile RCF was reduced for MTHFR + MTRR 677TT/66GG compared with 677TT/66AA (RR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.9).

Conclusions: Folate status was lower in the MTHFR 677TT and SLC19A1 80AA genotypes compared with corresponding reference genotypes. Low folate status risk associated with the MTHFR 677TT genotype varied depending on its combination with other polymorphisms.

From: Bueno, O., Molloy, A. M., Fernandez-Ballart, J. D., Garcia-Minguillan, C. J., Ceruelo, S., Rios, L., Ueland, P. M., Meyer, K., Murphy, M. M. http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/short/146/1/1?rss=1

Cut Down Stress to Help Your Heart

WebMD describes how to use exercise, meditation, and other stress busters to reduce your risk of heart problems.

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/reduce-stress-heart-health?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial: What to Expect

WebMD explains how a clinical trial for prostate cancer works, including what kind of care you get during the study and how you can find one.

From: http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/decision-point-clinical-trials-15/what-to-expect?src=RSS_PUBLIC

ACA Insurers Sweeten Plans With Free Doctor Visits

Some insurers are betting that lowering the barrier to seeing a doctor will encourage people to get needed care sooner. If it works, the health plans could save more than they spend on the benefit.

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20160104/obamacare-insurers-sweeten-plans-with-free-doctor-visits?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Do You Speak Health Insurance? It’s Not Easy

Even savvy consumers stumble over terms like “coinsurance.”

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20160104/do-you-speak-health-insurance-its-not-easy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Areas of Western U.S. With Plague Risk Identified

Regions in California, Colorado and New Mexico most affected, study reports

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20151231/researchers-id-areas-of-western-us-with-risk-of-plague?src=RSS_PUBLIC

First-of-a-kind drug approvals the highest in years

FDA picks up the pace, getting more innovative treatments to market in 2015

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-of-a-kind-drug-approvals-set-record/

Rethinking the science of losing weight

More than two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, but Dr. Louis Aronne says it’s not their fault

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/rethinking-the-science-of-losing-weight/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Calculating Calories

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hFUbqRkOaQ

Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial: What to Expect

WebMD explains how a clinical trial for prostate cancer works, including what kind of care you get during the study and how you can find one.

From: http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/features/what-to-expect?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Four new recommendations for adolescent health

The yearly “check-up” is the perfect (perhaps only) time to not only see how kids are growing and give any needed shots, but to see how they are doing more generally — and help be sure that they grow into healthy, happy adults. After all, prevention is really what pediatrics is all about.

That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a checklist for pediatricians called “Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care.” These recommendations, which are updated every few years, are based on the most up-to-date research about the health of children now — and in the future.

While the latest version does include new recommendations for younger children, such as putting fluoride varnish on the teeth of children under 5 and doing a simple test for heart defects on newborns, most of the changes this time around pertain to adolescents. Here’s what the AAP thinks pediatricians should be doing with their pre-teen and teen patients:

• Lipid screening. Sometimes high cholesterol runs in families — but parents and other relatives may not have had theirs checked, or may not be aware of the test results of other family members. Because high cholesterol can cause real damage to blood vessels over time and lead to heart disease and stroke, it’s recommended that all youth have their cholesterol checked between the ages of 9 and 11. Doctors may do it before or again based on risk, but the AAP wants to be sure that everyone gets checked at least once.
• Screening for drug and alcohol abuse. As we all know, adolescents commonly experiment with drugs and alcohol. For some youth, this can lead to difficult or even deadly consequences. The AAP recommends asking six simple questions (called the CRAFFT screen) that can bring out really important information — and allow for really important conversations.
• Depression screening (for example, with a questionnaire). Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents — and depression is a treatable condition. But to treat it, we need to know that it’s there.
• HIV testing between the ages of 16 and 18. This is important because one in four new HIV infections occurs in youth ages 13 to 24, and 60% of all youth with HIV don’t know they are infected. If they don’t know, not only can they not get help, but they can spread the infection to others.

I can imagine some parents saying, “My child doesn’t need these — our family is healthy and my child is a good, happy kid who knows to stay out of trouble.” But the simple truth is that we can never know everything about either our family history or our child — and when it comes to the health and well-being of our children, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

If you have questions about these recommendations or anything else that does — or doesn’t — happen at your child’s check-up, talk to your doctor.

Related Posts:

• Overweight children are at risk for heart disease as adults
• Is it ADHD—or Autism?
• Why Public Schools Should Require the HPV Vaccine
• Looking for Autism
• Beyond the 2-hour screen rule: 10 tips for parenting in the…

The post Four new recommendations for adolescent health appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/changing-the-check-up-for-adolescents-4-new-recommendations-201601048872