Los Angeles DA charges utility over massive gas leak

Charges came same day the state AG joined in suing gas company for the blowout that has spewed more than 2 million tons of methane

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-da-charges-gas-company-over-porter-ranch-gas-leak/

Will Zika virus outbreak take hold in the U.S.?

Dr. Thomas Frieden, who runs the Centers for Disease Control, spoke with CBS News on growing number of cases in U.S.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-are-the-chances-of-a-zika-outbreak-in-the-united-states/

Inside the Brazilian town at epicenter of Zika virus

CBS News' Dr. Jon LaPook is in Recife, Brazil, where officials are on a search and destroy mission to kill mosquitoes that may carry the virus

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/brazil-town-epicenter-of-zika-virus-recife/

NFL tackles alarming increase in concussions

Concussions in the NFL have increased from 115 during the 2014 season to 182 in 2015 -- a 58 percent increase

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nfl-studying-how-to-tackle-alarming-increase-in-concussions/

U.S. confirms first sexually transmitted case of Zika virus

Health officials in Dallas say the patient was infected by someone who recently returned from a country where Zika virus is spreading

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-u-s-case-of-zika-virus-contracted-through-sexual-transmission/

Super Bowl parties go viral (not in a good way)

A common illness seems to take greater toll in cities with teams in the Super Bowl, a new study finds

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/super-bowl-parties-spread-the-flu/

Causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Athletes and Others

Why do some people have sudden cardiac arrest? What should you do if it happens? Find out from WebMD.

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/features/sudden-cardiac-arrest-why?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Seafood May Help Those At Risk of Alzheimer's

Study also finds mercury in fish isn't linked to dementia symptoms

From: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20160202/seafood-might-protect-brain-in-people-at-genetic-risk-for-alzheimers?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Pregnant Women Put Babies at Risk With Alcohol

Birth defects caused by drinking are totally preventable, agency officials say

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20160202/millions-of-pregnant-women-put-their-babies-at-risk-with-alcohol-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Martin Shkreli-style drug price hikes are everywhere

Turing Pharmaceuticals' bad boy CEO has plenty of company among drugmakers raising prices outrageously

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/martin-shkreli-style-drug-price-hikes-are-everywhere/

5-year-old boy battling cancer proposes to favorite nurse

California boy overhears that nurse really wants to get married; decides to step up to the plate

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-year-old-boy-battling-cancer-proposes-to-his-favorite-nurse/

The truth behind the "Chick-fil-A diet"

Eating chicken nuggets every few hours? What experts have to say about the fast food chain's "healthy living" advice

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nutritionists-take-on-the-chick-fil-a-diet/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_21FfNg6nI

Chemical in BPA-free plastic may not be any safer

Study finds that a common replacement for BPA could raise the same possible health concerns

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bps-chemical-in-bpa-free-plastic-may-not-be-safer/

Obama to request $1.1 billion to fight opioid and heroin abuse

The funding would be used to help expand access to treatment services

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-to-request-1-1-billion-to-fight-opioid-and-heroin-abuse/

Minimally Disruptive Medicine, Capacity Coaching & the VA Pilot – Kasey Boehmer, MPH – Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZlQ24OyIVk

Tiny but Dangerous: The Mosquitoes Spreading Zika

They’re tiny. They attack with supreme stealth, biting in full daylight with no buzz and no sting. And they carry viruses that can be lethal to their preferred food source: us. WebMD has the details on the mosquitoes spreading the Zika virus.

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160202/mosquitoes-speading-zika-virus?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Antiperspirants Alter Underarm Bacteria: Study

Grooming products seem to disrupt the bacterial 'community', but it's not clear if that's good or bad

From: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20160202/study-pits-antiperspirants-against-underarm-bacteria?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Less Than Half of U.S. Babies Get Flu Vaccine: CDC

Many parents don't realize how deadly flu can be, expert says

From: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20160202/less-than-half-of-us-babies-receive-flu-vaccine-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Stress-Prone Teen Boys May Risk High BP Later

Study suggests young men who had most trouble coping were at greater risk of hypertension in middle age

From: http://teens.webmd.com/boys/news/20160201/stress-prone-teen-males-may-be-at-risk-of-high-blood-pressure-later?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Small Bump in BP During Pregnancy Might Harm Baby

Risks for low birth weight and stillbirth increase, research suggests

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20160201/study-small-bump-in-blood-pressure-during-pregnancy-might-harm-baby?src=RSS_PUBLIC

New Blood Pressure Guidelines Dangerous?

Research says the treatment threshold is too high for those over 60 years of age

From: http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20160201/new-blood-pressure-guidelines-a-danger-to-patients-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What long-term marijuana use may do to your memory

The more pot you smoke, the greater the impact, researchers find

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/marijuana-use-may-hurt-memory-in-middle-age/

Lead poisoning: What everyone needs to know

Follow me at @drClaire

The lead poisoning of thousands of children in Flint, Michigan is tragic — and should never have happened. If we are going to make sure that nothing like it happens again, all of us, especially parents, need to learn about lead poisoning.

Lead is a chemical that used to be commonly found in paint, gasoline, and factory emissions. It also was used to make pipes, as well as the solder that holds them together. But once the toxicity of lead was fully understood, there were laws and regulations put in place to limit its use, and to limit the exposure of children and pregnant women to lead. The problem is, there’s still a whole lot of lead out there, especially in older, poorer communities.

The reason we really don’t want children and pregnant women to be exposed to lead is that it can affect the developing brain. Exposure to lead can lead to a lower IQ, as well as learning and behavior problems that can last a lifetime. Slowly and silently, it can change a child’s life forever.

That’s what’s so hard about lead: it can be invisible, and do its damage without being noticed. If children eat something with a lot of lead — like a bunch of lead paint chips — and therefore have a high level of lead in their blood, they may have noticeable symptoms such as headache, constipation, vomiting, or confusion. But those kinds of exposures are (thankfully) uncommon.

The more common kinds of exposure are from dust in houses with lead paint, from water contaminated with lead (by passing through old pipes, which is what happened in Flint), or from toys, jewelry, tableware, or home remedies that may be contaminated with lead. These kinds of exposures don’t usually cause symptoms before they cause damage.

Here’s what parents and caregivers of children need to know and do:

• If your home was built before 1978, make sure you know if it has any lead paint. If you aren’t sure, get it inspected.
• If you are going to have lead removed, or do renovations in an older house that may have lead paint under layers of other paint or wallpaper, make sure that the work is done by people who are certified in lead removal. For more information about this, check out the EPA’s web page.
• Ask questions about the possibility of lead in your tap water. Lead can leach into the water from old pipes in your house, as well as pipes leading to your house. In Flint, the problem was that the city’s supply was changed to a river that had very corrosive water, and this water made lead leach into the water. (Sadly, even though they’ve changed the water supply, the damage done to the pipes is causing lead to still get into the water.) If you aren’t able to get good answers, or if you just aren’t sure, get your water tested. If you have well water, it should be tested when the well is first built and again if a pregnant woman or child younger than 18 moves in.
• Be mindful of possible exposure from household objects, usually ones made in other countries. The Consumer Products Safety Commission has information about recalls, as well as about products that may contain lead.
• Get your child tested for lead. Every child should be tested at least at ages 1 and 2, and again at 3 and 4 in areas with older housing stock. However, your doctor can do a simple blood test (preferably not a finger stick) to check at any time if there is a concern about a possible exposure. While no level of lead is normal or fine, a level of 5 or higher is considered dangerous.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has lots of great resources about lead and its effects, as does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s so important that all of us learn about this terrible, silent poison — and keep our children safe from it.

Related Post:

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• Use sunglasses for vision protection starting at an early…
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• Full bladder wakes 2 in 3 women at night
• Why some parents don’t follow the “safe sleep”…

The post Lead poisoning: What everyone needs to know appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/lead-poisoning-201602029120

Hyperammonemia results in reduced muscle function independent of muscle mass

The mechanism of the nearly universal decreased muscle strength in cirrhosis is not known. We evaluated whether hyperammonemia in cirrhosis causes contractile dysfunction independent of reduced skeletal muscle mass. Maximum grip strength and muscle fatigue response were determined in cirrhotic patients and controls. Blood and muscle ammonia concentrations and grip strength normalized to lean body mass were measured in the portacaval anastomosis (PCA) and sham-operated pair-fed control rats (n = 5 each). Ex vivo contractile studies in the soleus muscle from a separate group of Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 7) were performed. Skeletal muscle force of contraction, rate of force development, and rate of relaxation were measured. Muscles were also subjected to a series of pulse trains at a range of stimulation frequencies from 20 to 110 Hz. Cirrhotic patients had lower maximum grip strength and greater muscle fatigue than control subjects. PCA rats had a 52.7 ± 13% lower normalized grip strength compared with control rats, and grip strength correlated with the blood and muscle ammonia concentrations (r² = 0.82). In ex vivo muscle preparations following a single pulse, the maximal force, rate of force development, and rate of relaxation were 12.1 ± 3.5 g vs. 6.2 ± 2.1 g; 398.2 ± 100.4 g/s vs. 163.8 ± 97.4 g/s; –101.2 ± 22.2 g/s vs. –33.6 ± 22.3 g/s in ammonia-treated compared with control muscle preparation, respectively (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). Tetanic force, rate of force development, and rate of relaxation were depressed across a range of stimulation from 20 to 110 Hz. These data provide the first direct evidence that hyperammonemia impairs skeletal muscle strength and increased muscle fatigue and identifies a potential therapeutic target in cirrhotic patients.

From: McDaniel, J., Davuluri, G., Hill, E. A., Moyer, M., Runkana, A., Prayson, R., van Lunteren, E., Dasarathy, S. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/310/3/G163?rss=1

Haustral boundary contractions in the proximal 3-taeniated rabbit colon

The rabbit proximal colon is similar in structure to the human colon. Our objective was to study interactions of different rhythmic motor patterns focusing on haustral boundary contractions, which create the haustra, using spatiotemporal mapping of video recordings. Haustral boundary contractions were seen as highly rhythmic circumferential ring contractions that propagated slowly across the proximal colon, preferentially but not exclusively in the anal direction, at ~0.5 cycles per minute; they were abolished by nerve conduction blockers. When multiple haustral boundary contractions propagated in the opposite direction, they annihilated each other upon encounter. Ripples, myogenic propagating ring contractions at ~9 cycles per min, induced folding and unfolding of haustral muscle folds, creating an anarchic appearance of contractile activity, with different patterns in the three intertaenial regions. Two features of ripple activity were prominent: frequent changes in propagation direction and the occurrence of dislocations showing a frequency gradient with the highest intrinsic frequency in the distal colon. The haustral boundary contractions showed an on/off/on/off pattern at the ripple frequency, and the contraction amplitude at any point of the colon showed waxing and waning. The haustral boundary contractions are therefore shaped by interaction of two pacemaker activities hypothesized to occur through phase-amplitude coupling of pacemaker activities from interstitial cells of Cajal of the myenteric plexus and of the submuscular plexus. Video evidence shows the unique role haustral folds play in shaping contractile activity within the haustra. Muscarinic agents not only enhance the force of contraction, they can eliminate one and at the same time induce another neurally dependent motor pattern.

From: Chen, J.-H., Yang, Z., Yu, Y., Huizinga, J. D. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/310/3/G181?rss=1

A novel, protective role of ursodeoxycholate in bile-induced pancreatic ductal injury

JAK inhibition using tofacitinib for inflammatory bowel disease treatment: a hub for multiple inflammatory cytokines

The inflammatory diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease constitute the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They are characterized by chronic, relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, significantly impacting on patient quality of life and often requiring prolonged treatment. Existing therapies for IBD are not effective for all patients, and an unmet need exists for additional therapies to induce and maintain remission. Here we describe the mechanism of action of the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, tofacitinib, for the treatment of IBD and the effect of JAK inhibition on the chronic cycle of inflammation that is characteristic of the disease. The pathogenesis of IBD involves a dysfunctional response from the innate and adaptive immune system, resulting in overexpression of multiple inflammatory cytokines, many of which signal through JAKs. Thus JAK inhibition allows multiple cytokine signaling pathways to be targeted and is expected to modulate the innate and adaptive immune response in IBD, thereby interrupting the cycle of inflammation. Tofacitinib is an oral, small molecule JAK inhibitor that is being investigated as a targeted immunomodulator for IBD. Clinical development of tofacitinib and other JAK inhibitors is ongoing, with the aspiration of providing new treatment options for IBD that have the potential to deliver prolonged efficacy and clinically meaningful patient benefits.

From: Danese, S., Grisham, M., Hodge, J., Telliez, J.-B. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/310/3/G155?rss=1

Defect of mitochondrial respiratory chain is a mechanism of ROS overproduction in a rat model of alcoholic liver disease: role of zinc deficiency

Morphological and functional alterations of hepatic mitochondria have been documented in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Our recent study demonstrated that zinc level was decreased in whole liver and mitochondria by chronic alcohol feeding. The present study was undertaken to determine whether zinc deficiency mediates alcohol-induced mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) defect and whether defective ETC function may lead to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Male Wistar rats were pair fed with the Lieber-DeCarli control or ethanol diet for 5 mo. Chronic alcohol exposure increased hepatic triglyceride, free fatty acid, and 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE) levels; meanwhile hepatic mitochondrial 4HNE level was also increased. Moreover, hepatic mitochondrial respiratory complexes I, III, IV, and V and hepatic ATP production were decreased by chronic alcohol exposure. Chronic alcohol feeding decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1-alpha (PGC1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and mitochondrial DNA. HepG2 cells were treated with N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN) for 6 h. Zinc deficiency significantly decreased mitochondrial respiratory complexes I, III, and IV. In addition, PGC1α, NRF1, and TFAM levels as well as mitochondrial DNA were significantly decreased by TPEN treatment. Knockdown of mitochondrial respiratory complexes I, III, or IV by shRNA caused a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in ROS production. These results suggest that alcohol-induced hepatic zinc deficiency could inactivate mitochondrial biogenesis pathway and decrease mitochondrial DNA replication, which, in turn, decreases mitochondrial complex protein expression. The defect of mitochondrial respiratory complexes may worsen alcohol-induced ROS production.

From: Sun, Q., Zhong, W., Zhang, W., Zhou, Z. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/310/3/G205?rss=1

Mechanisms of the adenosine A2A receptor-induced sensitization of esophageal C fibers

Clinical studies indicate that adenosine contributes to esophageal mechanical hypersensitivity in some patients with pain originating in the esophagus. We have previously reported that the esophageal vagal nodose C fibers express the adenosine A_2A receptor. Here we addressed the hypothesis that stimulation of the adenosine A_2A receptor induces mechanical sensitization of esophageal C fibers by a mechanism involving transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1). Extracellular single fiber recordings of activity originating in C-fiber terminals were made in the ex vivo vagally innervated guinea pig esophagus. The adenosine A_2A receptor-selective agonist CGS21680 induced robust, reversible sensitization of the response to esophageal distention (10–60 mmHg) in a concentration-dependent fashion (1–100 nM). At the half-maximally effective concentration (EC₅₀: 3 nM), CGS21680 induced an approximately twofold increase in the mechanical response without causing an overt activation. This sensitization was abolished by the selective A_2A antagonist SCH58261. The adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin mimicked while the nonselective protein kinase inhibitor H89 inhibited mechanical sensitization by CGS21680. CGS21680 did not enhance the response to the purinergic P2X receptor agonist α,β-methylene-ATP, indicating that CGS21680 does not nonspecifically sensitize to all stimuli. Mechanical sensitization by CGS21680 was abolished by pretreatment with two structurally different TRPA1 antagonists AP18 and HC030031. Single cell RT-PCR and whole cell patch-clamp studies in isolated esophagus-specific nodose neurons revealed the expression of TRPA1 in A_2A-positive C-fiber neurons and demonstrated that CGS21682 potentiated TRPA1 currents evoked by allylisothiocyanate. We conclude that stimulation of the adenosine A_2A receptor induces mechanical sensitization of nodose C fibers by a mechanism sensitive to TRPA1 antagonists indicating the involvement of TRPA1.

From: Brozmanova, M., Mazurova, L., Ru, F., Tatar, M., Hu, Y., Yu, S., Kollarik, M. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/310/3/G215?rss=1

Normal systemic iron homeostasis in mice with macrophage-specific deletion of transferrin receptor 2

Iron is an essential element, since it is a component of many macromolecules involved in diverse physiological and cellular functions, including oxygen transport, cellular growth, and metabolism. Systemic iron homeostasis is predominantly regulated by the liver through the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin. Hepcidin expression is itself regulated by a number of proteins, including transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2). TFR2 has been shown to be expressed in the liver, bone marrow, macrophages, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Studies from our laboratory have shown that mice with a hepatocyte-specific deletion of Tfr2 recapitulate the hemochromatosis phenotype of the global Tfr2 knockout mice, suggesting that the hepatic expression of TFR2 is important in systemic iron homeostasis. It is unclear how TFR2 in macrophages contributes to the regulation of iron metabolism. We examined the role of TFR2 in macrophages by analysis of transgenic mice lacking Tfr2 in macrophages by crossing Tfr2^f/f mice with LysM-Cre mice. Mice were fed an iron-rich diet or injected with lipopolysaccharide to examine the role of macrophage Tfr2 in iron- or inflammation-mediated regulation of hepcidin. Body iron homeostasis was unaffected in the knockout mice, suggesting that macrophage TFR2 is not required for the regulation of systemic iron metabolism. However, peritoneal macrophages of knockout mice had significantly lower levels of ferroportin mRNA and protein, suggesting that TFR2 may be involved in regulating ferroportin levels in macrophages. These studies further elucidate the role of TFR2 in the regulation of iron homeostasis and its role in regulation of ferroportin and thus macrophage iron homeostasis.

From: Rishi, G., Secondes, E. S., Wallace, D. F., Subramaniam, V. N. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/310/3/G171?rss=1

The role of liver progenitor cells during liver regeneration, fibrogenesis, and carcinogenesis

The growing worldwide challenge of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma due to increasing prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome has sparked interest in stem cell-like liver progenitor cells (LPCs) as potential candidates for cell therapy and tissue engineering, as an alternative approach to whole organ transplantation. However, LPCs always proliferate in chronic liver diseases with a predisposition to cancer; they have been suggested to play major roles in driving fibrosis, disease progression, and may even represent tumor-initiating cells. Hence, a greater understanding of the factors that govern their activation, communication with other hepatic cell types, and bipotential differentiation as opposed to their potential transformation is needed before their therapeutic potential can be harnessed.

From: Köhn-Gaone, J., Gogoi-Tiwari, J., Ramm, G. A., Olynyk, J. K., Tirnitz-Parker, J. E. E. http://ajpgi.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/310/3/G143?rss=1

Dietary fats: Know which types to choose

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fat/art-20045550

Teen drug abuse: Help your teen avoid drugs

Teen drug abuse can be prevented. Follow these tips to help protect your teen.

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teen-drug-abuse/art-20045921

How to boost a baby's "good bacteria" after C-section

Researchers are working on ways to give cesarean-born infants beneficial bacteria their microbiomes are missing

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/baby-bacteria-microbiome-after-c-section-birth/

WHO statement on the first meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR 2005) Emergency Committee on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations

The first meeting of the Emergency Committee (EC) convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR 2005) regarding clusters of microcephaly cases and other neurologic disorders in some areas affected by Zika virus was held by teleconference on 1 February 2016, from 13:10 to 16:55 Central European Time.

The WHO Secretariat briefed the Committee on the clusters of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) that have been temporally associated with Zika virus transmission in some settings. The Committee was provided with additional data on the current understanding of the history of Zika virus, its spread, clinical presentation and epidemiology.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/statements/2016/1st-emergency-committee-zika/en/index.html