San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Highlights

Highlights from the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

From: https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20171205/san-antonio-breast-cancer-symposium-highlights?src=RSS_PUBLIC

"I'm a kid just like you": 9-year-old explains autism in viral video

Video was originally made to be shared with his 21 fourth-grade classmates, but it's reaching a lot farther

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/im-a-kid-just-like-you-9-year-old-boy-explains-autism-in-viral-video/

Mother of 2 dies just a day after flu diagnosis

"If you feel sick, go to the doctor," family warns after 20-year-old's unexpected death

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mother-of-2-dies-after-flu-diagnosis/

Later School Start Times Do Help Kids Feel Rested: Study

Later school start times could help teens get the amount of sleep they need, according to a new study.

From: https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20171205/later-school-start-times-do-help-kids-feel-rested-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Gene Discovery May Help Fight Alzheimer's

Scientists say they've pinpointed a rare piece of DNA that may shield against the Alzheimer's disease -- even in people who are otherwise at high risk.

From: https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20171205/gene-discovery-may-help-fight-alzheimers?src=RSS_PUBLIC

ADA continues to advocate for tax reform

As the conference committee reconciles the House and Senate tax reform proposals, the ADA continues to advocate for key tax issues impacting dentists and their patients.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/december/ada-continues-to-advocate-for-tax-reform

Womb transplant took over a year to prove successful

Doctors say there were many questions along the way before woman who received womb transplant​ became first in the U.S. to give birth

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/uterus-transplant-doctors-over-a-year-to-see-if-successful/

Alumni holiday greeting from John Noseworthy, M.D.

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CAwYbvAoPU

Giant mattress built for families who want to sleep together

A company has created a mattress for families who co-sleep: the family-sized mattress

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/giant-mattress-built-for-families-who-want-to-sleep-together/

Decoding Dental Benefits: Navigating contract clauses

This is the third in a series featuring answers and solutions for dentists when it comes to the world of dental benefits and plans. The series is intended to help untangle many of the issues that can potentially befuddle dentists and their teams so that they can focus on patient care.

From: By David Burger
http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/december/decoding-dental-benefits-navigating-contract-clauses

Dentists stand up for fluoridation as voters across the U.S. take up the issue

Dentists around the country are working overtime correcting myths about fluoridation among municipal leaders and voters.

From: By Michelle Manchir
http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/december/dentists-stand-up-for-fluoridation-as-voters-across-the-us-take-up-the-issue

Dentists who already opted out remain so for two years

Thanks in part to significant advocacy efforts from the ADA, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Nov. 16 plans to rescind certain Medicare Part D and C requirements for providers.

From: By Jennifer Garvin
http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/december/dentists-who-already-opted-out-remain-so-for-two-years

Dr. Gerhard Seeberger named president of Academy of Dentistry International

Dr. Gerhard K. Seeberger, a native of Germany now living in Italy and actively involved with the Associazione Italiana Odontoiatri, was installed as president of the Academy of Dentistry International in November during the Greater New York Dental Meeting.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/december/dr-gerhard-seeberger-named-president-of-academy-of-dentistry-international

Minnesota dentist finds his mission to help the underserved

This is the fourth in a series featuring graduates of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership and how these dental leaders continue to affect their communities.

From: By Kimber Solana
http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/december/minnesota-dentist-makes-it-a-mission-to-help-the-underserved

Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoid holiday hazards around home

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4FtULgNrWE

The Buzz on How Flies Spread Disease

Some of the flies carried hundreds of different bacteria species, including ones known to be harmful to humans, the researchers found.

From: https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/news/20171204/the-buzz-on-how-flies-spread-disease?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Smartphone Pics Help Docs ID Kids' Skin Condition

Parents can get a reliable diagnosis for their child's skin condition simply by taking a smartphone photo and sending it to a dermatologist, new research suggests.

From: https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20171204/smartphone-pics-help-docs-id-kids-skin-condition?src=RSS_PUBLIC

This year's flu vaccine may only be 10% effective

Experts still say everyone should get vaccinated as we head into what could be a particularly bad flu season

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/this-years-flu-vaccine-may-only-be-10-effective-experts-warn/

OMS : "Entre nos mains" - Autotest du VIH au Malawi (version courte)

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ocxCdUGU4

Dating Violence Tied to Spankings in Childhood

The study found that spanked kids tended to have higher odds of being violent toward their dating partners, researchers said.

From: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20171205/dating-violence-tied-to-spankings-in-childhood?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What's In Store for Obamacare Individual Mandate?

As U.S. House and Senate leaders huddle to reconcile differences between their respective tax reform bills, the fate of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate remains uncertain.

From: https://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/news/20171205/whats-in-store-for-obamacares-individual-mandate?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Diet May Help Fight Epilepsy When Meds Fail

For children with epilepsy who don't find relief from their seizures with medication, a tightly controlled nutrition plan might help, a pair of new studies suggests.

From: https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/news/20171205/diet-may-help-fight-epilepsy-when-meds-fail?src=RSS_PUBLIC

More than half of today’s children will be obese adults

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

A new study tells us that 57% of today’s children will be obese by the time they are 35. And if a child is obese when they are young, chances are overwhelming that they will stay that way.

Obesity is a real problem in our country, not just for adults but also for children. There are many reasons for this. For lots of families, it has to do with economics: healthier foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are more expensive than processed, unhealthy foods. Getting children to be active can be hard, too, when families don’t have access to safe play areas or don’t have the time to take them there; when sports teams are expensive or logistically challenging; and when schools are cutting back on recess to meet academic demands. The fact that screens and screen time have become so pervasive in our culture has also made children less active.

What can make it harder, too, is that many families I talk to don’t really think it’s a problem if their child is overweight, even obese. They think that it’s “baby fat,” and that their child will slim down later. They don’t see the point in making the changes I want them to make, many of which they see as hard for their family, when they think that their child’s weight will ultimately be fine.

The study just released in the New England Journal of Medicine makes it clear that it probably won’t.

What the data say about the future of overweight kids

Researchers looked at data from tens of thousands of children and adults and developed predictions of adult weight based on childhood weight. What they concluded was startling. Not only are more than half of current children going to be obese by 35, but an obese 2-year-old has only a one in four chance of not being obese at age 35. If that 2-year-old is severely obese, the chance of being at a healthy weight at 35 is only one in five. By the time that severely obese child is 5, they have only a one in 10 chance of not being obese at 35.

This study really shows that early obesity is a problem we can’t ignore. An obese 2-year-old is more likely to be obese at 35 than a 19-year-old who is overweight but not obese. I think most people would not have guessed that.

What parents can do

There are definitely economic factors, and it’s crucial that we as a society make healthy foods and opportunities for exercise affordable and accessible to everyone. But there are things that each and every parent and caregiver can do to help children get to and stay at a healthy weight, such as:

• Practice “responsive feeding” with infants and children. Learn their hunger cues, and only feed them when they are hungry — and only until they are full. Many children are overfed because their parents respond to all fussiness with food, and because they think that eating more is better than eating less.
• Serve a healthy diet. “Healthy” means lots of fruits and vegetables (which should be half of their plate, and the only thing they get for seconds), whole grains, lean protein, and minimal junk food, processed food, and fast foods. You should avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and juices, too. Water and unsweetened milk are all a child needs. Occasional sweets are fine, but they should truly be occasional, and the serving should be small. Speaking of servings…
• Give healthy portion sizes. A child should eat a child-sized portion, not an adult-sized one. Using smaller plates is one way to make this easier.
• Limit snacking. Having a healthy snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon is fine, but children shouldn’t be munching all day. Many children ask for food out of boredom or habit rather than hunger. Try not to let that happen.
• Make sure children are active for at least an hour every day. That doesn’t have to be a sports practice, although sports are great. It could be going for a walk, playing outside, riding a bike, taking a dance or martial arts class, even dancing in the living room… really, anything that gets them moving (preferably vigorously, at least for some part of the hour) is fine. Be mindful of how much time your child is spending using screens, as screens have a way of eating into active time.
• Know if your child’s weight is healthy. There are BMI calculators you can use, but your best bet is to talk to your doctor. Together you can look at your child’s weight and make the best plan.

Three important “don’ts” if your child is overweight

If your doctor says that your child is overweight, please take that seriously. Ask for the help you need (a visit with a nutritionist can be very useful, for example), and follow up with your doctor to monitor your child’s progress. There are three important “don’ts”:

• Don’t be discouraged. With patience and persistence, the vast majority of children who eat healthfully and are active will get to a healthy weight. It may take months or years, but it will happen — as long as you stick with it.
• Don’t go overboard. Children shouldn’t be on restrictive diets. A healthy diet with age-appropriate portions is what they should eat.
• Don’t make a child feel bad, ever. Shaming never helps, and beauty is never about what a scale says. Concentrate on health and building healthy habits, and be positive and loving.

The post More than half of today’s children will be obese adults appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/more-than-half-of-todays-children-will-be-obese-adults-2017120512879

Elmo's Mayo Clinic Story

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXQVgmgqBBw

How effective is the flu vaccine this year?

U.S. health officials say there are signs that this may be a rough flu season. Over 7,000 cases have been confirmed, which is more than double what they were this time last year. Dr. Pardis Sabeti, a Harvard professor and an infectious disease expert, joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss how effective the flu vaccine is this year and what to expect this winter season.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/how-effective-is-the-flu-vaccine-this-year/

Can an online game really improve blood sugar control for people with diabetes?

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling

When it comes to serious health problems, you might think a game would be unlikely to help. But a recent study of people with diabetes could change your mind.

Researchers publishing in the September 2017 issue of Diabetes Care describe a study in which people with diabetes joined a competitive online game aimed at educating participants about ways to improve blood sugar control. The results were encouraging.

How a game led to improved blood sugars

In this new research, 456 patients with poorly controlled diabetes were randomly assigned to one of two groups:

• Group 1 participated in an online or phone-based educational game that asked two questions about managing diabetes each week for six months. Later, answers and explanations were provided. This group also received a booklet about civics, including questions about citizenship in the US.*
• Group 2 received online or phone-based questions about civics each week for six months along with a booklet about diabetes self-management.*

(*The researchers wanted to have a control group that was just like the diabetes management game group, except instead of diabetes information they provided information on civics. Both groups got a civics lesson and diabetes information; the only difference was how that information was delivered. That way investigators could say with more confidence it was the game that improved blood sugars.)

Each participant was assigned to a team. Points were awarded for correct answers, and scores were posted so other participants could compare team and individual performance (with use of aliases to protect patient confidentiality). Members of the winning teams were rewarded with $100 gift certificates. In addition, the individuals whose scores were in the top 30% also received a $100 gift certificate.

At the end of the six-month competition, blood sugar control for those in Group 1 was better than for those in Group 2. The improvement was even greater 12 months after the game began. In fact, the improvement observed in Group 1 patients with the worst blood sugar control was similar to that found in studies of diabetes patients starting a new medication to lower blood sugar.

Why is this important?

Keeping blood sugar close to normal is an essential part of diabetes care because it can prevent serious complications such as nerve damage, vision loss, and kidney failure. While a number of medications (including oral drugs and insulin injections) are available to lower blood sugar, non-medication options, including loss of excess weight and changes in diet, can be highly effective, cause fewer side effects than medications, and may come with health benefits beyond blood sugar control.

Although previous studies had been inconclusive, this new research strongly suggests that participation in an online game can lead to meaningful improvement in blood sugar control among people with diabetes.

Interpret with caution

Despite the encouraging findings of this study, it’s important to recognize some of its limitations, including:

• Nearly all of the participants were male; results could be different if more women were included.
• In order to enroll, all study subjects had to have access to the internet and email, so the results may not apply to those less proficient with these technologies.
• The 456 people with diabetes who completed the study represented less than 3% of those considered potentially eligible to enroll. Therefore, the response of this group to the online game may not reflect the general population of people with diabetes.
• It’s not clear whether the improvement in blood sugar following the six-month competition would continue beyond 12 months.
• It’s uncertain whether the online game would have been as successful without the monetary prizes. In the “real world” such incentives are not generally available.

What’s next?

I think we are at the very beginning of realizing the potential of online and phone-based technologies to improve health. Diabetes is only one of many chronic diseases that could be better treated with patient engagement, motivation, and self-management. It no longer seems far-fetched to believe that innovative application of these technologies will prove beneficial to health, quality of life, and even longevity.

The post Can an online game really improve blood sugar control for people with diabetes? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-an-online-game-really-improve-blood-sugar-control-for-people-with-diabetes-2017120412843