31 Ocak 2013 Perşembe
BMI - Is The Body Mass Index Formula Flawed?
BMI - Is The Body Mass Index Formula Flawed?31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
BMI (Body Mass Index) has been used for over 100 years in population studies, by doctors, personal trainers, and other health care professionals, when deciding whether their patients are overweight. However, BMI has one important flaw - it does not measure your overall fat or lean tissue (muscle) content.
Body Mass Index, derived from a simple math formula, was devised in the 1830s by Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet (1796-1874), a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, statistician and sociologist. BMI is said to estimate how fat you are by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. However, as mentioned earlier, the measurement is flawed, especially if the person carries a lot of muscle.
Nick Trefethen, Professor of Numerical Analysis at Oxford University's Mathematical Institute, wrote in a letter to The Economist that the BMI formula is flawed and is only a rough guide to helping people judge whether they have a healthy weight.
Trefethen said:
"If all three dimensions of a human being scaled equally as they grew, then a formula of the form weight/height3 would be appropriate. They don't! However, weight/height2 is not realistic either.
A better approximation to a complex reality, which is the reform I wish could be adopted, would be weight/height2.5. Certainly if you plot typical weights of people against their heights, the result comes out closer to height2.5 than height2."
As the fight against obesity becomes an ever more urgent issue, health professionals disagree about the best way to measure it.
The current BMI formula leads to confusion and misinformation, Trefethen believes. The height2 term divides the weight by too much when people are short, and by too little when they are tall. The result is short people being told they are thinner than they really are, while tall people are made to think that they are fatter than they are.
When Quetelet devised the BMI formula, there were no computers, calculators or electronic devices, so he opted for a very simple system. Trefethen does wonder, though, why institutions today on both sides of the Atlantic continue using the same flawed formula.
Perhaps "nobody wants to rock the boat", Trefethen suggested. Various agencies and institutions have agreed on something, which is comforting.
There are probably other flawed formulae out there. There seems to be an exaggerated respect for measures which depend on mathematics. However, the BMI one probably beats them all, especially as the world population of obese people exceeds one billion.
Trefethen Offers an Alternative Formula to the Current BMI one
Trefethen said "Suppose we changed that exponent from 2.0 to 2.5 and adjusted the constant so that an average-height person did not change in BMI. Suddenly millions of people of height around 5' (five feet tall) would gain a point in their readings, and millions of people of height around 6' (six feet tall) would lose a point."
He proposes a new formula where:
BMI = 1.3*weight(kg)/height(m)2.5 = 5734*weight(lb)/height(in)2.5.
"In our overweight world, such changes would distress some short people and please some tall people, but the number they'd be using would be closer to the truth and good information must surely be good for health in the long run," Trefethen said.
Even Adolphe Quételet, who invented the BMI formula, warned of its limitations
Quetelet would probably have viewed using the 2.5 exponent favorably, said Alain Goriely, a professor of Mathematical Modelling at Oxford University's Mathematical Institute. Apparently, Quetelet wrote in a Treatise on man and the Development of his Faculties in 1842:
"If man increased equally in all dimensions, his weight at different ages would be as the cube of his height. Now, this is not what we really observe. The increase of weight is slower, except during the first year after birth; then the proportion we have just pointed out is pretty regularly observed.
But after this period, and until near the age of puberty, weight increases nearly as the square of the height. The development of weight again becomes very rapid at puberty, and almost stops after the twenty-fifth year. In general, we do not err much when we assume that during development the squares of the weight at different ages are as the fifth powers of the height; which naturally leads to this conclusion, in supporting the specific gravity constant, that the transverse growth of man is less than the vertical.
Goriely commented: "So according to Quetelet the scaling is 3 for babies (babies are spheres), 2 for kids (kids grow more like celery sticks, as we know), then 5/2=2.5 for grownups (beefing up so to speak). It seems Quetelet never cared about obesity (not a big issue in the 1840's)."
Many say that waist-to-height ratio is a better measurement than BMI. They say you should keep your waist circumference to less than half your height.
An Example of Where Body Mass Index (BMI) is Flawed
Imagine you were asked to advise two men on their bodyweight:
The couch potato
He is 1.83 meters tall (6 feet tall), never does any exercise, and weighs 92 kilograms (203 lbs).
His BMI is 27
The athlete
He is an Olympic champion 100-meter sprinter, 1.83 meters tall (6 feet tall), does an incredible amount of exercise, and weighs 96 kilograms (211 lbs)
His BMI is 28
Usain Bolt, the fastest sprinter ever. His BMI would class him as overweight, which he is clearly not.
If you used just the BMI formula, you would tell the athlete that he is fatter than the couch potato - which is obviously completely wrong. This is because BMI does not calculate how much fat or lean tissue (muscle) your body carries.
Clearly, the athlete is not overweight, and the couch potato is. This is because the athlete is much more muscle-bound than the couch potato - muscle weighs more than fat.
According to most criteria accepted around the world:
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.99 means you are of normal weight
A BMI of 25 to 29.99 means you are overweight
A BMI of 30+ means you are obese
If you want to find out what your BMI is, use our BMI Calculator.
So, What is My Ideal Healthy Weight?
We would all love to be told clearly how much we should weigh and how to calculate this ourselves. Unfortunately, your ideal weight is not a black and white formula.
You cannot simply calculate your healthy weight from a general source - it depends on several factors, including your overall general health, height, muscle-fat-ratio, bone density, body type, sex, and age.
Working out your BMI may give people a rough idea of how much they should weigh, but as we have seen in this article, it really is a flawed formula. BMI is useful when studying large populations, but not for individuals.
BMI + Waist Measurements to Determine Body Weight Status
Researchers from the University of Toronto, and the Hospital for Sick Children in Ontario, reported in Archives of Pediatrics - Adolescent Medicine that BMI together with waist measurements are linked to lipid and blood pressure evaluations among teenagers who are overweight/obese.
"Waist measurements" means 1. Waist-to-height ratio, and 2. Waist circumference.
The researchers said what many health care professionals are saying today - that BMI alone cannot differentiate between fat and fat-free body mass. So, they have added waist measurements to the mix. However, unlike what the mathematicians from Oxford University have put forward, this is not a single mathematical formula.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Binge Drinking Raises Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Via Insulin Resistance
Binge Drinking Raises Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Via Insulin Resistance31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Binge drinking directly causes insulin resistance, which in turn leads to type 2 diabetes. This was the finding of a new study on rats, that
the researchers say is the first to show binge drinking alone, separate from other factors like overeating, increases risk for type 2
diabetes.
People with a history of binge drinking have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. But until this study it was not
clear how the link worked, and whether binge drinking alone raised the risk.
Researchers at the Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York, write about their
findings in the 30 January issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine.
They also found that alcohol appears to disrupt insulin-receptor signaling by causing inflammation in the hypothalamus, an area of the brain
that among other things, is important for metabolic processes.
Insulin Resistance
The main role of the insulin receptor is to control the uptake of glucose. Decrease in signaling of this receptor means the cells can't take up
glucose, and the result is hyperglycemia (too much glucose in the blood), and other consequences of type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance is where insulin does not bind properly to the receptor, thus hampering its ability to send the right signals to cells so they can use
glucose for energy. This can happen even when the pancreas is producing enough insulin to keep glucose levels under control.
A symptom of insulin resistance is high levels of insulin in the bloodstream. This is a major component of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk
factors that together increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
Senior author Christoph Buettner, an Associate Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, at the Icahn School of Medicine,
says in a statement:
"Insulin resistance has emerged as a key metabolic defect leading to type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD)."
"Someone who regularly binge drinks even once a week, over many years, may remain in an insulin resistant state for an extended period of time,
potentially years," he adds.
Insulin Resistance Induced By Alcohol
For their study, the researchers simulated human binge drinking by giving rats alcohol for three days. Another group of rats acted as controls:
they had the same calorie intake as the binge drinking rats, but without consuming alcohol.
The researchers then ran a series of tests to check glucose metabolism.
They found even when there was no trace of alcohol left in their bloodstream, the binge drinking rats had higher levels of circulating insulin than
the control rats, suggesting insulin resistance, induced by the alcohol, was the cause.
First author Claudia Lindtner, an Associate Researcher of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine,
says:
"Previously it was unclear whether binge drinking was associated with an increased risk for diabetes, since a person who binge drinks may also
tend to binge eat, or at least eat too much."
"Our data show for the first time that binge drinking induces insulin resistance directly and can occur independent of differences in caloric intake,"
she adds.
A study released in November 2012 from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows there has been a dramatic rise in rates of diagnosed diabetes in the US in the last decade and a
half. It suggests while one reason is that people with diabetes are living longer, the other reason is an increase in cases of the disease.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
The Protein Klotho Paves The Way For Future Multiple Sclerosis Drugs
The Protein Klotho Paves The Way For Future Multiple Sclerosis Drugs31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
A team of researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified a new drug target for Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. They discovered the importance of a protein called Klotho which helps maintain healthy myelin - an insulating material allowing communication between nerve cells.
As people begin to age the levels of Klotho in the brain also begin to decrease. They published their findings online in Journal of Neuroscience.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the myelin inside the brain and spinal cord becomes damaged, causing demyelination. This can cause the nerve cells in the brain to communicate inefficiently; this can lead to serious physical and cognitive disability.
Signs and symptoms of MS usually begin to appear in young adults; it is more prevalent among women.
The earliest signs of MS begin when the immune system attacks the protective myelin. The researchers found that the Klotho protein is able to produce the necessary proteins vital for the production and maintenance of a healthy myelin, which could reverse the damage caused by MS.
In an abstract in the journal authors said:
"Predominantly generated in brain and kidney, Klotho overexpression extends life span, whereas loss of Klotho accelerates the development of aging-like phenotypes. Although the function of Klotho in brain is unknown, loss of Klotho expression leads to cognitive deficits.
We found significant effects of Klotho on oligodendrocyte functions, including induced maturation of rat primary oligodendrocytic progenitor cells (OPCs) in vitro and myelination."
Lead author, Carmela Abraham, PhD, added: "These results taken together indicate that Klotho could become a drug target for multiple sclerosis and other white matter diseases, including AD."
The team discovered and are currently working on a series of small molecules that could be the basis for the future development of drugs that would work by increasing the amount of the Klotho protein in the brain.
Previous research has indicated that Klotho may indeed be able to treat some other very hard-to-treat human diseases. The protein has been found to not only have anti-aging properties, but also the characteristics of a tumor suppressor. A recent study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry revealed that the Klotho protein can protect kidneys against the development of renal fibrosis and cancer growth.
Written by Joseph Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
BMI - Is The Body Mass Index Formula Flawed?
BMI - Is The Body Mass Index Formula Flawed?31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
BMI (Body Mass Index) has been used for over 100 years in population studies, by doctors, personal trainers, and other health care professionals, when deciding whether their patients are overweight. However, BMI has one important flaw - it does not measure your overall fat or lean tissue (muscle) content.
Body Mass Index, derived from a simple math formula, was devised in the 1830s by Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet (1796-1874), a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, statistician and sociologist. BMI is said to estimate how fat you are by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. However, as mentioned earlier, the measurement is flawed, especially if the person carries a lot of muscle.
Nick Trefethen, Professor of Numerical Analysis at Oxford University's Mathematical Institute, wrote in a letter to The Economist that the BMI formula is flawed and is only a rough guide to helping people judge whether they have a healthy weight.
Trefethen said:
"If all three dimensions of a human being scaled equally as they grew, then a formula of the form weight/height3 would be appropriate. They don't! However, weight/height2 is not realistic either.
A better approximation to a complex reality, which is the reform I wish could be adopted, would be weight/height2.5. Certainly if you plot typical weights of people against their heights, the result comes out closer to height2.5 than height2."
As the fight against obesity becomes an ever more urgent issue, health professionals disagree about the best way to measure it.
The current BMI formula leads to confusion and misinformation, Trefethen believes. The height2 term divides the weight by too much when people are short, and by too little when they are tall. The result is short people being told they are thinner than they really are, while tall people are made to think that they are fatter than they are.
When Quetelet devised the BMI formula, there were no computers, calculators or electronic devices, so he opted for a very simple system. Trefethen does wonder, though, why institutions today on both sides of the Atlantic continue using the same flawed formula.
Perhaps "nobody wants to rock the boat", Trefethen suggested. Various agencies and institutions have agreed on something, which is comforting.
There are probably other flawed formulae out there. There seems to be an exaggerated respect for measures which depend on mathematics. However, the BMI one probably beats them all, especially as the world population of obese people exceeds one billion.
Trefethen Offers an Alternative Formula to the Current BMI one
Trefethen said "Suppose we changed that exponent from 2.0 to 2.5 and adjusted the constant so that an average-height person did not change in BMI. Suddenly millions of people of height around 5' (five feet tall) would gain a point in their readings, and millions of people of height around 6' (six feet tall) would lose a point."
He proposes a new formula where:
BMI = 1.3*weight(kg)/height(m)2.5 = 5734*weight(lb)/height(in)2.5.
"In our overweight world, such changes would distress some short people and please some tall people, but the number they'd be using would be closer to the truth and good information must surely be good for health in the long run," Trefethen said.
Even Adolphe Quételet, who invented the BMI formula, warned of its limitations
Quetelet would probably have viewed using the 2.5 exponent favorably, said Alain Goriely, a professor of Mathematical Modelling at Oxford University's Mathematical Institute. Apparently, Quetelet wrote in a Treatise on man and the Development of his Faculties in 1842:
"If man increased equally in all dimensions, his weight at different ages would be as the cube of his height. Now, this is not what we really observe. The increase of weight is slower, except during the first year after birth; then the proportion we have just pointed out is pretty regularly observed.
But after this period, and until near the age of puberty, weight increases nearly as the square of the height. The development of weight again becomes very rapid at puberty, and almost stops after the twenty-fifth year. In general, we do not err much when we assume that during development the squares of the weight at different ages are as the fifth powers of the height; which naturally leads to this conclusion, in supporting the specific gravity constant, that the transverse growth of man is less than the vertical.
Goriely commented: "So according to Quetelet the scaling is 3 for babies (babies are spheres), 2 for kids (kids grow more like celery sticks, as we know), then 5/2=2.5 for grownups (beefing up so to speak). It seems Quetelet never cared about obesity (not a big issue in the 1840's)."
Many say that waist-to-height ratio is a better measurement than BMI. They say you should keep your waist circumference to less than half your height.
An Example of Where Body Mass Index (BMI) is Flawed
Imagine you were asked to advise two men on their bodyweight:
The couch potato
He is 1.83 meters tall (6 feet tall), never does any exercise, and weighs 92 kilograms (203 lbs).
His BMI is 27
The athlete
He is an Olympic champion 100-meter sprinter, 1.83 meters tall (6 feet tall), does an incredible amount of exercise, and weighs 96 kilograms (211 lbs)
His BMI is 28
Usain Bolt, the fastest sprinter ever. His BMI would class him as overweight, which he is clearly not.
If you used just the BMI formula, you would tell the athlete that he is fatter than the couch potato - which is obviously completely wrong. This is because BMI does not calculate how much fat or lean tissue (muscle) your body carries.
Clearly, the athlete is not overweight, and the couch potato is. This is because the athlete is much more muscle-bound than the couch potato - muscle weighs more than fat.
According to most criteria accepted around the world:
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.99 means you are of normal weight
A BMI of 25 to 29.99 means you are overweight
A BMI of 30+ means you are obese
If you want to find out what your BMI is, use our BMI Calculator.
So, What is My Ideal Healthy Weight?
We would all love to be told clearly how much we should weigh and how to calculate this ourselves. Unfortunately, your ideal weight is not a black and white formula.
You cannot simply calculate your healthy weight from a general source - it depends on several factors, including your overall general health, height, muscle-fat-ratio, bone density, body type, sex, and age.
Working out your BMI may give people a rough idea of how much they should weigh, but as we have seen in this article, it really is a flawed formula. BMI is useful when studying large populations, but not for individuals.
BMI + Waist Measurements to Determine Body Weight Status
Researchers from the University of Toronto, and the Hospital for Sick Children in Ontario, reported in Archives of Pediatrics - Adolescent Medicine that BMI together with waist measurements are linked to lipid and blood pressure evaluations among teenagers who are overweight/obese.
"Waist measurements" means 1. Waist-to-height ratio, and 2. Waist circumference.
The researchers said what many health care professionals are saying today - that BMI alone cannot differentiate between fat and fat-free body mass. So, they have added waist measurements to the mix. However, unlike what the mathematicians from Oxford University have put forward, this is not a single mathematical formula.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Binge Drinking Raises Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Via Insulin Resistance
Binge Drinking Raises Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Via Insulin Resistance31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Binge drinking directly causes insulin resistance, which in turn leads to type 2 diabetes. This was the finding of a new study on rats, that
the researchers say is the first to show binge drinking alone, separate from other factors like overeating, increases risk for type 2
diabetes.
People with a history of binge drinking have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. But until this study it was not
clear how the link worked, and whether binge drinking alone raised the risk.
Researchers at the Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York, write about their
findings in the 30 January issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine.
They also found that alcohol appears to disrupt insulin-receptor signaling by causing inflammation in the hypothalamus, an area of the brain
that among other things, is important for metabolic processes.
Insulin Resistance
The main role of the insulin receptor is to control the uptake of glucose. Decrease in signaling of this receptor means the cells can't take up
glucose, and the result is hyperglycemia (too much glucose in the blood), and other consequences of type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance is where insulin does not bind properly to the receptor, thus hampering its ability to send the right signals to cells so they can use
glucose for energy. This can happen even when the pancreas is producing enough insulin to keep glucose levels under control.
A symptom of insulin resistance is high levels of insulin in the bloodstream. This is a major component of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk
factors that together increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
Senior author Christoph Buettner, an Associate Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, at the Icahn School of Medicine,
says in a statement:
"Insulin resistance has emerged as a key metabolic defect leading to type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD)."
"Someone who regularly binge drinks even once a week, over many years, may remain in an insulin resistant state for an extended period of time,
potentially years," he adds.
Insulin Resistance Induced By Alcohol
For their study, the researchers simulated human binge drinking by giving rats alcohol for three days. Another group of rats acted as controls:
they had the same calorie intake as the binge drinking rats, but without consuming alcohol.
The researchers then ran a series of tests to check glucose metabolism.
They found even when there was no trace of alcohol left in their bloodstream, the binge drinking rats had higher levels of circulating insulin than
the control rats, suggesting insulin resistance, induced by the alcohol, was the cause.
First author Claudia Lindtner, an Associate Researcher of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine,
says:
"Previously it was unclear whether binge drinking was associated with an increased risk for diabetes, since a person who binge drinks may also
tend to binge eat, or at least eat too much."
"Our data show for the first time that binge drinking induces insulin resistance directly and can occur independent of differences in caloric intake,"
she adds.
A study released in November 2012 from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows there has been a dramatic rise in rates of diagnosed diabetes in the US in the last decade and a
half. It suggests while one reason is that people with diabetes are living longer, the other reason is an increase in cases of the disease.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
The Protein Klotho Paves The Way For Future Multiple Sclerosis Drugs
The Protein Klotho Paves The Way For Future Multiple Sclerosis Drugs31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
A team of researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified a new drug target for Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. They discovered the importance of a protein called Klotho which helps maintain healthy myelin - an insulating material allowing communication between nerve cells.
As people begin to age the levels of Klotho in the brain also begin to decrease. They published their findings online in Journal of Neuroscience.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the myelin inside the brain and spinal cord becomes damaged, causing demyelination. This can cause the nerve cells in the brain to communicate inefficiently; this can lead to serious physical and cognitive disability.
Signs and symptoms of MS usually begin to appear in young adults; it is more prevalent among women.
The earliest signs of MS begin when the immune system attacks the protective myelin. The researchers found that the Klotho protein is able to produce the necessary proteins vital for the production and maintenance of a healthy myelin, which could reverse the damage caused by MS.
In an abstract in the journal authors said:
"Predominantly generated in brain and kidney, Klotho overexpression extends life span, whereas loss of Klotho accelerates the development of aging-like phenotypes. Although the function of Klotho in brain is unknown, loss of Klotho expression leads to cognitive deficits.
We found significant effects of Klotho on oligodendrocyte functions, including induced maturation of rat primary oligodendrocytic progenitor cells (OPCs) in vitro and myelination."
Lead author, Carmela Abraham, PhD, added: "These results taken together indicate that Klotho could become a drug target for multiple sclerosis and other white matter diseases, including AD."
The team discovered and are currently working on a series of small molecules that could be the basis for the future development of drugs that would work by increasing the amount of the Klotho protein in the brain.
Previous research has indicated that Klotho may indeed be able to treat some other very hard-to-treat human diseases. The protein has been found to not only have anti-aging properties, but also the characteristics of a tumor suppressor. A recent study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry revealed that the Klotho protein can protect kidneys against the development of renal fibrosis and cancer growth.
Written by Joseph Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Binge Drinking Raises Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Via Insulin Resistance
Binge Drinking Raises Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Via Insulin Resistance31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Binge drinking directly causes insulin resistance, which in turn leads to type 2 diabetes. This was the finding of a new study on rats, that
the researchers say is the first to show binge drinking alone, separate from other factors like overeating, increases risk for type 2
diabetes.
People with a history of binge drinking have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. But until this study it was not
clear how the link worked, and whether binge drinking alone raised the risk.
Researchers at the Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York, write about their
findings in the 30 January issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine.
They also found that alcohol appears to disrupt insulin-receptor signaling by causing inflammation in the hypothalamus, an area of the brain
that among other things, is important for metabolic processes.
Insulin Resistance
The main role of the insulin receptor is to control the uptake of glucose. Decrease in signaling of this receptor means the cells can't take up
glucose, and the result is hyperglycemia (too much glucose in the blood), and other consequences of type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance is where insulin does not bind properly to the receptor, thus hampering its ability to send the right signals to cells so they can use
glucose for energy. This can happen even when the pancreas is producing enough insulin to keep glucose levels under control.
A symptom of insulin resistance is high levels of insulin in the bloodstream. This is a major component of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk
factors that together increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
Senior author Christoph Buettner, an Associate Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, at the Icahn School of Medicine,
says in a statement:
"Insulin resistance has emerged as a key metabolic defect leading to type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD)."
"Someone who regularly binge drinks even once a week, over many years, may remain in an insulin resistant state for an extended period of time,
potentially years," he adds.
Insulin Resistance Induced By Alcohol
For their study, the researchers simulated human binge drinking by giving rats alcohol for three days. Another group of rats acted as controls:
they had the same calorie intake as the binge drinking rats, but without consuming alcohol.
The researchers then ran a series of tests to check glucose metabolism.
They found even when there was no trace of alcohol left in their bloodstream, the binge drinking rats had higher levels of circulating insulin than
the control rats, suggesting insulin resistance, induced by the alcohol, was the cause.
First author Claudia Lindtner, an Associate Researcher of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine,
says:
"Previously it was unclear whether binge drinking was associated with an increased risk for diabetes, since a person who binge drinks may also
tend to binge eat, or at least eat too much."
"Our data show for the first time that binge drinking induces insulin resistance directly and can occur independent of differences in caloric intake,"
she adds.
A study released in November 2012 from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows there has been a dramatic rise in rates of diagnosed diabetes in the US in the last decade and a
half. It suggests while one reason is that people with diabetes are living longer, the other reason is an increase in cases of the disease.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
The Protein Klotho Paves The Way For Future Multiple Sclerosis Drugs
The Protein Klotho Paves The Way For Future Multiple Sclerosis Drugs31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
A team of researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified a new drug target for Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. They discovered the importance of a protein called Klotho which helps maintain healthy myelin - an insulating material allowing communication between nerve cells.
As people begin to age the levels of Klotho in the brain also begin to decrease. They published their findings online in Journal of Neuroscience.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the myelin inside the brain and spinal cord becomes damaged, causing demyelination. This can cause the nerve cells in the brain to communicate inefficiently; this can lead to serious physical and cognitive disability.
Signs and symptoms of MS usually begin to appear in young adults; it is more prevalent among women.
The earliest signs of MS begin when the immune system attacks the protective myelin. The researchers found that the Klotho protein is able to produce the necessary proteins vital for the production and maintenance of a healthy myelin, which could reverse the damage caused by MS.
In an abstract in the journal authors said:
"Predominantly generated in brain and kidney, Klotho overexpression extends life span, whereas loss of Klotho accelerates the development of aging-like phenotypes. Although the function of Klotho in brain is unknown, loss of Klotho expression leads to cognitive deficits.
We found significant effects of Klotho on oligodendrocyte functions, including induced maturation of rat primary oligodendrocytic progenitor cells (OPCs) in vitro and myelination."
Lead author, Carmela Abraham, PhD, added: "These results taken together indicate that Klotho could become a drug target for multiple sclerosis and other white matter diseases, including AD."
The team discovered and are currently working on a series of small molecules that could be the basis for the future development of drugs that would work by increasing the amount of the Klotho protein in the brain.
Previous research has indicated that Klotho may indeed be able to treat some other very hard-to-treat human diseases. The protein has been found to not only have anti-aging properties, but also the characteristics of a tumor suppressor. A recent study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry revealed that the Klotho protein can protect kidneys against the development of renal fibrosis and cancer growth.
Written by Joseph Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Certain Markers For Down's Syndrome More Significant
Certain Markers For Down's Syndrome More Significant31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Certain second trimester markers for Down's syndrome that are identified in an ultrasound are more significant than others.
The finding came from new research published in the journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics - Gynecology. The results of this investigation will help modify pregnant women's risks for having a baby with the chromosomal disorder.
Every pregnant woman is asked whether she would like screening for Down's syndrome, who begin with a background risk based on how old they are.
There are specific characteristics identified during an ultrasound exam in the second trimester of a woman's pregnancy that are possible indicators for Down's syndrome.
The potential markers include:
absent or small nose bone
dilated brain ventricles
mild kidney swelling
bright spots in the heart
'bright' bowels
shortening of an arm bone or thigh bone
an abnormal artery to the upper extremities
increased thickness of the back of the neck
Kypros Nicolaides, MD, of the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine at King's College London in England, and team set out to examine how these markers influence risk.
They looked at all research published between 1995 and 2012 that demonstrated results on markers for Down's syndrome detected during the second trimester of pregnancies.
After finding 48 reports, they determined that the most single markers have only a little impact on altering the likelihood for Down's syndrome.
The authors explained:
"This finding could have important clinical implications because currently in the United States, when a marker such as a short arm or thigh bone is detected, women are told that they are at high risk of having a child with Down's syndrome."
The researchers, however, did find some markers that indicate increased risks.
The risk increases three to four times when the following are detected:
increased thickness of the back of the neck
dilated brain ventricles
an abnormal artery to the upper extremities
The risk increases six or seven times when there is an absent or small nose bone identified.
"The detection of any one of the findings during the scan should prompt the sonographer to look for all other markers or abnormalities," said Prof. Nicolaides
The research also demonstrated that the risk of having a child with Down's syndrome is reduced seven times if a comprehensive ultrasound exam during the second trimester shows that all major markers are nonexistent.
The results demonstrate that the relative significance of ultrasound markers is very different to what scientists have believed in the past.
The findings from this report will be included in obstetric ultrasound scan software that alters women's risks for giving birth to a baby affected by Down's syndrome, Professor Nicolaides concluded.
Written by Sarah Glynn
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Excessive Alcohol Use Has Lasting Effects On The Brain
Excessive Alcohol Use Has Lasting Effects On The Brain31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
The evidence is piling up, suggesting alcohol has a lasting and negative impact on the brain, according to new research published in the journal Cortex.
Excessive alcohol use makes up four percent of the international burden of disease and specifically, binge drinking is becoming a more prominent health issue.
Generally, disorders linked to "alcohol-related brain damage" occur as a result of chronic alcohol misuse and cause notable physical and psychological disabilities in the individual as well as the community.
These signs are hard to detect at early stages, and therefore early treatment and intervention are currently limited.
The current study emphasizes the significant changes in brain function and structure that can be a result of excessive alcohol consumption in young adults.
Functional signs of brain damage from excessive alcohol in young adults include memory and learning loss, as well as deficits in executive functions. These functions are directed by the hippocampus and front structures of the brain, which are not formed completely until the age of 25.
Structural signs of excessive alcohol misuse in young adults are shrinking of the brain, and notable changes to white matter tracts.
The age in which an adolescent first uses alcohol may be the trigger which causes alcohol misuse. The researchers point out, however, that the legal drinking age should not be changed.
In Australia, the age for legal drinking is 18, three years prior to the U.S. Even though there is a difference in age between the two countries for legal drinking, alcohol related problems and age of first use are almost identical.
The authors emphasized the need for early intervention, by recognizing the signs and beginnings of risk drinking behaviors at an early age, while young adults are in early stages of brain development and susceptible to damage.
They concluded:
"In young alcohol misusers, these preventable and potentially reversible deficits may be progressive but if left unresolved such deficits eventually become major contributors to poor outcome (long term) and hamper adherence to treatment. "
Earlier this month, a study released by the CDC revealed that binge drinking among young people, especially women, is dangerous and often unrecognized. The researchers pointed out that this toxic form of drinking can lead to health problems.
Written by Kelly Fitzgerald
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Obese Girls Have Higher Risk Of MS
Obese Girls Have Higher Risk Of MS31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Although a rare condition, multiple sclerosis (MS) appears to be more common among overweight and obese girls, to the point where
extremely obese girls have nearly four times the risk of developing the neurological disease, or its precursor clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
This was the finding of a new study whose authors urge parents to consult a doctor should their obese children develop symptoms like numbness
and tingling.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disease that damages the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, making it difficult for various
signals, such as for muscle control, touch and vision, to travel. MS has varying, unpredictable symptoms, and they affect each person differently.
Common symptoms include blurring of vision, numbness and tingling, muscle weakness and tightness, and problems with balance and
mobility.
Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is a term that describes a first clinical episode (lasting at least 24 hours) with features suggestive of MS. Although patients usually recover, it is often the first sign of MS.
While there is currently no cure for MS, many researchers believe it is just a matter of time before one is found, especially as we find out more and
more about the disease and the underlying biological mechanisms.
For instance, a study published in November 2012, describes how scientists
working on lab mice found an early trigger for MS. It appears that a clotting protein that leaks across the blood-brain barrier, triggers an
immune response and causes a toxic environment that damages nerve cells.
Childhood Obesity In US
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity in the US has more than doubled in children and tripled in
adolescents in the past 30 years, to the point where more than one in three American children and adolescents is overweight or obese.
Annette Langer-Gould who is with the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research - Evaluation in Pasadena and first author of
the study, says in a statement from the American Academy of Neurology, of which she is a member:
"In our study, the risk of pediatric MS was highest among moderately and extremely obese teenage girls, suggesting that the rate of pediatric MS
cases is likely to increase as the childhood obesity epidemic continues."
The Study
For their analysis, Langer-Gould and colleagues used data from a large children's health study in Southern California that included nearly a million
children. They identified 75 children and adolescents diagnosed with pediatric MS/CSI between the ages of 2 and 18. The children's Body Mass Index
(BMI) had been measured before the disease symptoms appeared.
The researchers compared the children with MS/CSI with over 913,000 children who did not have the disease.
They grouped the data according to four weight categories: normal weight, overweight, moderate obesity and extreme obesity.
Nearly 51% of the children with MS/CSI were overweight or obese, compared to under 37% who did not have MS/CSI.
When they analyzed the results, the researchers found that compared to girls of normal weight, the risk of developing MS/CSI was more than 1.5 times
higher for overweight girls and nearly 1.8 times higher for moderately obese girls.
For extremely obese girls the risk of developing MS/CSI was nearly 4 times higher.
No such associations were found for boys, note the researchers.
MS In Children Likely to Increase with Obesity Epidemic
The authors suggest their findings show the childhood obesity epidemic is likely to lead to more cases of MS and CIS in children, and
adolescent girls in particular.
Langer-Gould says:
"Even though pediatric MS remains rare, our study suggests that parents or caregivers of obese teenagers should pay attention to symptoms such
as tingling and numbness or limb weakness, and bring them to a doctor's attention."
Funds from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders, and Kaiser Permanente Direct Community Benefit Funds helped
pay for the study.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Obese Girls Have Higher Risk Of MS
Obese Girls Have Higher Risk Of MS31 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Although a rare condition, multiple sclerosis (MS) appears to be more common among overweight and obese girls, to the point where
extremely obese girls have nearly four times the risk of developing the neurological disease, or its precursor clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
This was the finding of a new study whose authors urge parents to consult a doctor should their obese children develop symptoms like numbness
and tingling.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disease that damages the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, making it difficult for various
signals, such as for muscle control, touch and vision, to travel. MS has varying, unpredictable symptoms, and they affect each person differently.
Common symptoms include blurring of vision, numbness and tingling, muscle weakness and tightness, and problems with balance and
mobility.
Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is a term that describes a first clinical episode (lasting at least 24 hours) with features suggestive of MS. Although patients usually recover, it is often the first sign of MS.
While there is currently no cure for MS, many researchers believe it is just a matter of time before one is found, especially as we find out more and
more about the disease and the underlying biological mechanisms.
For instance, a study published in November 2012, describes how scientists
working on lab mice found an early trigger for MS. It appears that a clotting protein that leaks across the blood-brain barrier, triggers an
immune response and causes a toxic environment that damages nerve cells.
Childhood Obesity In US
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity in the US has more than doubled in children and tripled in
adolescents in the past 30 years, to the point where more than one in three American children and adolescents is overweight or obese.
Annette Langer-Gould who is with the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research - Evaluation in Pasadena and first author of
the study, says in a statement from the American Academy of Neurology, of which she is a member:
"In our study, the risk of pediatric MS was highest among moderately and extremely obese teenage girls, suggesting that the rate of pediatric MS
cases is likely to increase as the childhood obesity epidemic continues."
The Study
For their analysis, Langer-Gould and colleagues used data from a large children's health study in Southern California that included nearly a million
children. They identified 75 children and adolescents diagnosed with pediatric MS/CSI between the ages of 2 and 18. The children's Body Mass Index
(BMI) had been measured before the disease symptoms appeared.
The researchers compared the children with MS/CSI with over 913,000 children who did not have the disease.
They grouped the data according to four weight categories: normal weight, overweight, moderate obesity and extreme obesity.
Nearly 51% of the children with MS/CSI were overweight or obese, compared to under 37% who did not have MS/CSI.
When they analyzed the results, the researchers found that compared to girls of normal weight, the risk of developing MS/CSI was more than 1.5 times
higher for overweight girls and nearly 1.8 times higher for moderately obese girls.
For extremely obese girls the risk of developing MS/CSI was nearly 4 times higher.
No such associations were found for boys, note the researchers.
MS In Children Likely to Increase with Obesity Epidemic
The authors suggest their findings show the childhood obesity epidemic is likely to lead to more cases of MS and CIS in children, and
adolescent girls in particular.
Langer-Gould says:
"Even though pediatric MS remains rare, our study suggests that parents or caregivers of obese teenagers should pay attention to symptoms such
as tingling and numbness or limb weakness, and bring them to a doctor's attention."
Funds from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders, and Kaiser Permanente Direct Community Benefit Funds helped
pay for the study.
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
30 Ocak 2013 Çarşamba
Cancer Deaths Third Higher In Men Than Women In UK
Cancer Deaths Third Higher In Men Than Women In UK30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
A new report shows that men are more than one third (35%) more likely to die of cancer in the UK than women, and they are two-thirds
(67%) more likely to die from the disease when sex-specific cancers such as prostate, testicular and ovarian cancers are excluded.
The report, produced by Cancer Research UK, the Men's Health Forum and the National Cancer Intelligence Network, shows that in 2010, the rate
per 100,000 deaths from cancer for men in the UK was 202; for women it was 147.
In the UK, where the disease kills around 82,500 every year, more men die from cancer than any other disease.
Released online and presented at the Men's Health Forum conference in London on Tuesday, the report "Excess Cancer Burden in
Men" says:
"In general, men are at significantly greater risk
of both developing and dying from nearly all
of the common cancers that occur in both
sexes (with the exception of breast cancer)."
The report also points out that men under 65, that is of working age, are 58% more likely to die of cancers that affect both sexes than
women.
Report co-author Alan White, the world's first Professor of Men's Health, and chair of the Men's Health Forum, says in a statement:
"The impact cancer has on younger men is often overlooked, but these are men whose life is cut too short by the disease."
White, who campaigns for men's health and is based at Leeds Metropolitan University, says the report highlights "just how big a problem cancer
is", and why it is important to find out why men are more likely to die of cancer than women.
He says "the Men's Health Forum is campaigning for a better explanation for these differences and more male-focused cancer prevention work so
that fewer men are struck down by cancer."
"It's crucial that the NHS leads the way in taking a more proactive approach to prevent men both getting and dying from cancer prematurely,"
urges White.
The new report also shows that nearly twice as many men die of liver cancer as women, and nearly three times as many die from cancer of the
gullet or oesophageal cancer.
Possible Reasons for Differences In Men and Women's Cancer Rates and Deaths
The authors suggest one reason for the large difference in cancer rates and deaths between men and women could be that men are more often
diagnosed with cancers that are harder to treat, such as cancers of the gullet, bladder and liver.
They also note that:
"The social determinants of cancer risk such as socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and living and
working conditions, are strongly implicated in increased
cancer risk in men."
There are also a number of other factors that "contribute to the
inequality between the sexes", note the authors. These include "links to infection, lack of physical exercise, differential exposure to the sun,
potential differences in symptom awareness, and differences
in uptake of screening opportunities", they add.
One cancer where increased screening appears to be making a difference for UK men is prostate cancer. According to the latest estimates from
Cancer Research UK, while rates of prostate cancer diagnoses in the UK are
rising, deaths to the disease are falling, a pattern that the charity attributes partly to the fact men are living longer, but also to increased use
of the PSA test.
Modifiable Lifestyle Factors
The authors also mention the possibility that men are more likely to get cancers linked to smoking, being overweight, having a poor diet, and
excessive alcohol consumption because they are more likely to have lifestyles higher in these risk factors.
Evidence from research suggests more than 40% of the cancers that strike men are preventable through lifestyle changes.
Cancer Research UK has also published a document titled "Men's Cancer Briefing" that describes the various lifestyle factors that
influence a man's risk of developing cancer.
This shows smoking is the biggest preventable lifestyle factor, responsible for nearly a quarter (23%) of all cancers in men, that is around 36,500
cancers in men in the UK every year.
The next biggest preventable lifestyle factors that cause cancer in men are being overweight, consuming too much alcohol and unhealthy
diets.
Catherine Thomson is Cancer Research UK's head of statistics and co-author of both reports. She urges men to reduce their risk of developing
cancer by "quitting smoking, cutting down on alcohol and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables".
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Erectile Dysfunction Linked To Heart Disease
Erectile Dysfunction Linked To Heart Disease30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is linked to heart disease and early death in men both with and without a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The finding came from a new study conducted by researchers from the Australian National University, led by Emily Banks, and was published in PLOS Medicine.
Prior research has demonstrated that erectile dysfunction is associated with heart disease risk. In fact, a study from August of last year demonstrated that erectile dysfunction is a risk factor in men aged 55 or younger for eventual heart disease.
However, this is the first study to indicate that the severity of ED correlates with the elevated chance of CVD hospitalization and all-cause mortality.
''The risks of future heart disease and premature death increased steadily with severity of erectile dysfunction,'' Emily Banks explained.
The team of investigators gathered and examined date from the Australian prospective cohort 45 and Up Study. The research consisted of 95,038 males aged 45 or older.
After controlling for variables that could have an impact on the results, the experts analyzed the link between severity of self-reported ED and CVD hospitalization and mortality.
Over 65,000 men without known heart disease at the start of the study and over 29,000 men with CVD were involved in the investigation.
During a follow-up that lasted about 2.2 years and ended in June 2010, there were 7,855 incident hospital admissions for heart disease, and during a follow-up that lasted 2.8 years and ended in December 2010, 2304 subjects died.
Results showed that the men with severe ED and without known CVD had a relative 35% greater risk of hospitalization for all CVDs and a relative 93% elevated chance of all-cause mortality, compared to those with no erectile problems.
Men with CVD and severe ED had a relative 64% increased risk for all CVDs combined and a 137% greater chance of all-cause mortality.
Rob Grenfell, cardiovascular health director at Australia's Heart Foundation, said:
''These results tell us that every man who is suffering from any degree of erectile dysfunction should be seeking medical assistance as early as possible and also insisting on a heart health check by their GP at the same time."
The authors explained: "The findings of this study highlight the need to consider ED in relation to the risk of a wide range of CVDs."
Additionally, they emphasized that it is unlikely that erectile dysfunction causes heart disease. Instead, they explained, both result from comparable underlying causes, such as atherosclerosis.
"As a result, ED could serve as a useful marker to identify men who should undergo further testing to assess their risk for CVD," the researchers concluded.
Written by Sarah Glynn
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Potential Blood Test Found To Detect Autism
Potential Blood Test Found To Detect Autism30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
A special blood marker has been found enabling further understanding of potential gut linked environmental factors to autism. The results could create blood tests for early screening of the condition.
The findings came from a clinical study by researchers from Western University and the University of Arkansas, and were published in the journal Translational Psychiatry.
Led by Drs. Richard Frye and Stepan Melynk of Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, the investigators found evidence of unusual energy metabolism among a subgroup of autistic kids.
The evidence verified earlier biological breakthroughs made by MacFabe and his team over the last several years. The current results prove that these metabolic irregularities may come about, not just from genetic contributors, but from compounds made by specific bacteria, generally found to be elevated in the abdomen of autistic people.
Biological Abnormalities Found in Autistic People
Other recent research points out that biological abnormalities in autistic people are not limited to the brain. They can impact other body systems such as:
the immune system
detoxification
digestive system
energy generation
The irregularities are thought to be caused by dysfunctional mitochondria, the cells that create energy in the body.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a family of developmental disorders that are characterized by impaired language, social development, limited interests, and repetitive behaviors.
MacFabe said "Autism spectrum disorders affect up to one in 88 individuals. And the number appears to be increasing. Many have digestive and metabolic issues, but how they may relate to ASD behaviours and the increase of occurrence were unclear."
In the current study, there were 213 children analyzed, 17 percent of those with ASD showed an unusual pattern of blood markers of fat metabolism known as acyl-carnitines. Researchers also found other evidence of irregular cellular energy function, such as decreased glutathione.
MacFabe concludes:
"This study suggests that autism in some patients can arise from alterations in mitochondrial function and fat metabolism following environmental exposure to propionic acid produced from ASD associated gut bacteria."
In a study done earlier this month, researchers found evidence that an autism diagnosis and symptoms could be overlooked as an autistic child gets older. The authors noted that the methods in which autism is diagnosed need to be reviewed and updated.
Written by Kelly Fitzgerald
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Why The Antidepressant Link To Heart Rhythm Abnormalities Is No Cause For Alarm
Why The Antidepressant Link To Heart Rhythm Abnormalities Is No Cause For Alarm30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Some antidepressants have been linked to a long QT, which may increase the likelihood of having a serious heart rhythm abnormality. However, as they are extremely rare, the benefits offered by antidepressant far outweigh the risks and patients should not be alarmed, says the British Heart Foundation.
American scientists demonstrated an association between the antidepressants citalopram and escitalopram and a long QT interval in some patients' ECGs (electrocardiograms). They reported their findings in the BMJ (British Medical Journal). A long QT is linked to a greater risk of serious arrhythmias (heart rhythm abnormalities).
In August 2011, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) announced that Celexa (Citalopram hydrobromide) should never be administered at doses higher than 40 mg per day, because of the risk of abnormal electrical activity in the heart, which may lead to potential fatal heart rhythm abnormalities, including Torsade de Pointes. The FDA added that doses higher than 40 mg per day do not improve depressive symptoms any better than lower doses.
Patients with existing heart conditions, as well as those who are prone to low levels of blood magnesium and potassium are especially susceptible to alterations in the heart's electrical activity (prolongation of the QT interval).
US scientists gathered and analyzed the health records of over 38,000 adults and found that nearly one fifth of all patients who had been prescribed these antidepressant and underwent an ECG had an abnormal QT interval.
Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, June Davison, said:
"Having a long QT interval can potentially increase the risk of a serious abnormal heart rhythm. However, as these abnormal rhythms are very rare, the potential benefits in treating depression would exceed the risk for most patients.
The effect of these drugs on the QT interval has been known for a while and the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency issued safety advice about this issue in 2011. This included recommendations about new maximum daily doses and information about when it's not advisable to prescribe the drug.
People taking these drugs shouldn't be alarmed and shouldn't stop taking their medication without speaking to their doctor. If you've got any concerns, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
The British Heart Foundation says that it is sponsoring a study at the University of Nottingham, England, that will provide a better understanding of long QT syndrome so that more effective treatments can eventually be developed.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Some Antidepressants May Increase Heart Arrhythmia Risk
Some Antidepressants May Increase Heart Arrhythmia Risk30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), types of antidepressants, are associated with a long QT interval, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, reported in the BMJ (British Medical Journal).
The QT interval is the duration of electrical activity of the heart muscle. A long QT interval is a marker for heart rhythm abnormalities.
The researchers say that their findings support warnings by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) about citalopram (Celexa). They add that other antidepressants may have similar effects.
Doctors measure a patient's QT interval with an ECG (electrocardiogram) - it varies according to the heart rate - the slower the heart beat the longer it gets, and the faster the heart the shorter it becomes.
The correct QT interval is typically less than 420 milliseconds for both men and women. A QT value that is higher than 420 milliseconds is linked to a greater risk of serious heart rhythm abnormalities.
The US scientists set out to determine whether the FDA warnings could be backed up with a study of a large and diverse clinical population.
The QT interval of the heart is measured with an ECG (electrocardiogram).
They tracked the electronic health records of 38,397 adults from a large New England healthcare system. All the patients had undergone an ECG after taking an antidepressant or methadone between February 1990 and August 2011.
They took into account several risk factors which could affect their findings, including patient's sex, race, age, history of depression, heart attack, hypertension, heart rhythm problems and pre-existing conditions.
Methadone was included in their study because it has often been associated with a longer QT interval.
The scientists found a small but significantly longer QT interval for the following medications:
Citalopram (an SSRI)
Escitalopram (an SSRI)
Amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant)
Methadone
They also found that the QT interval became longer in higher doses.
The authors wrote:
"Nearly one in five patients treated with these antidepressants who underwent electrocardiography had QT intervals which would be considered abnormal."
They emphasized that nobody knows what the clinical significance of this is.
They also found that the drug bupropion was linked to a shorter QT interval, even at high doses. Other widely prescribed antidepressants were not linked to longer QT interval.
The authors say that their study confirmed a "modest prolongation of QT interval with citalopram, and identified additional antidepressants with similar observed risk." However, they point out that even though a longer QT interval raises the risk of serious heart rhythm abnormalities, the risk of developing them is still extremely rare, while at the same time the QT interval increase was "modest".
The benefits of treating depression with these medications still far exceed the risk, they added.
In summing up, the authors mentioned that a useful method of identifying potential risk associated with treatments is by using electronic health record data.
In a statement released since this report, the British Heart Foundation has said that the benefits of these antidepressants are vastly greater than their risks and that patients should not be alarmed.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Policy Changes For A Healthier America
Policy Changes For A Healthier America30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Some key policy changes that need to be made in the United States in order to prevent illness and improve the health of millions of Americans have just been outlined in the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) latest Healthier America report.
The report includes a range of suggestions that focus on the prevention of chronic diseases, which currently affect more than half of the U.S. population. This would also help address the health problems facing today's youth who are set to be the first generation that are less healthy than their parents.
Gail Christopher, DN, President of the Board of TFAH, said:
"America's health faces two possible futures. We can continue on the current path, resigning millions of Americans to health problems that could have been avoided or we invest in giving all Americans the opportunity to be healthier while saving billions in health care costs. We owe it to our children to take the smarter way."
The U.S. is currently tackling a huge problem with obesity, in fact, researchers from the University of Oxford and Columbia University predict that if the current trend persists, by 2030 half of all Americans will be obese - a major cause of chronic disease. Drastic policy changes are going to be necessary to put a stop to trends such a this.
Paving the way for good health
The recommendations involve some new and innovative approaches:
Implementing a series of foundational capabilities to improve the country's health system as well as restructuring public health programs with sustained funding.
Establishing partnerships with nonprofit hospitals to develop new community benefit programs and expand support for prevention.
Encourage that insurance providers compensate for all types of prevention strategies
Ensuring that the Prevention and Public Health Fund continues and improve awareness of the Community Transformation Grant program.
Maintain workplace wellness programs with employers as well as local and state governments.
Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH, said:
"Prevention delivers real value as a cost-effective way to keep Americans healthy and improve their quality of life. Everyone wins when we prevent disease rather than treating people after they get sick. Health care costs go down, our local neighborhoods are healthier and provide more economic opportunity, and people live longer, healthier, happier lives."
The report also includes information about recommendations that are already in action:
The Accountable Care Community (ACC) brought more than 70 different partners to help patients with type 2 diabetes in and out of the doctor's office. The ACC managed to reduce the cost of care by more than 10 percent per month for patients with type 2 diabetes - meaning savings of around $3,185 per person yearly.
The Boston Children's Hospital implemented The Community Asthma Initiative (CAI) with the purpose of supporting children with asthma in the Boston area. The initiative helped reduce hospital admissions due to asthma-related causes by around 80 percent as well as reducing emergency visits due to asthma by 60 percent.
The report concludes that there are 10 main public health issues that need addressing:
obesity
tobacco use
healthy aging
improving the health of minorities
healthy babies
environment health threats
injury prevention
controlling infectious diseases
food safety
bioterrorism
Written by Joseph Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Cancer Deaths Third Higher In Men Than Women In UK
Cancer Deaths Third Higher In Men Than Women In UK30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
A new report shows that men are more than one third (35%) more likely to die of cancer in the UK than women, and they are two-thirds
(67%) more likely to die from the disease when sex-specific cancers such as prostate, testicular and ovarian cancers are excluded.
The report, produced by Cancer Research UK, the Men's Health Forum and the National Cancer Intelligence Network, shows that in 2010, the rate
per 100,000 deaths from cancer for men in the UK was 202; for women it was 147.
In the UK, where the disease kills around 82,500 every year, more men die from cancer than any other disease.
Released online and presented at the Men's Health Forum conference in London on Tuesday, the report "Excess Cancer Burden in
Men" says:
"In general, men are at significantly greater risk
of both developing and dying from nearly all
of the common cancers that occur in both
sexes (with the exception of breast cancer)."
The report also points out that men under 65, that is of working age, are 58% more likely to die of cancers that affect both sexes than
women.
Report co-author Alan White, the world's first Professor of Men's Health, and chair of the Men's Health Forum, says in a statement:
"The impact cancer has on younger men is often overlooked, but these are men whose life is cut too short by the disease."
White, who campaigns for men's health and is based at Leeds Metropolitan University, says the report highlights "just how big a problem cancer
is", and why it is important to find out why men are more likely to die of cancer than women.
He says "the Men's Health Forum is campaigning for a better explanation for these differences and more male-focused cancer prevention work so
that fewer men are struck down by cancer."
"It's crucial that the NHS leads the way in taking a more proactive approach to prevent men both getting and dying from cancer prematurely,"
urges White.
The new report also shows that nearly twice as many men die of liver cancer as women, and nearly three times as many die from cancer of the
gullet or oesophageal cancer.
Possible Reasons for Differences In Men and Women's Cancer Rates and Deaths
The authors suggest one reason for the large difference in cancer rates and deaths between men and women could be that men are more often
diagnosed with cancers that are harder to treat, such as cancers of the gullet, bladder and liver.
They also note that:
"The social determinants of cancer risk such as socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and living and
working conditions, are strongly implicated in increased
cancer risk in men."
There are also a number of other factors that "contribute to the
inequality between the sexes", note the authors. These include "links to infection, lack of physical exercise, differential exposure to the sun,
potential differences in symptom awareness, and differences
in uptake of screening opportunities", they add.
One cancer where increased screening appears to be making a difference for UK men is prostate cancer. According to the latest estimates from
Cancer Research UK, while rates of prostate cancer diagnoses in the UK are
rising, deaths to the disease are falling, a pattern that the charity attributes partly to the fact men are living longer, but also to increased use
of the PSA test.
Modifiable Lifestyle Factors
The authors also mention the possibility that men are more likely to get cancers linked to smoking, being overweight, having a poor diet, and
excessive alcohol consumption because they are more likely to have lifestyles higher in these risk factors.
Evidence from research suggests more than 40% of the cancers that strike men are preventable through lifestyle changes.
Cancer Research UK has also published a document titled "Men's Cancer Briefing" that describes the various lifestyle factors that
influence a man's risk of developing cancer.
This shows smoking is the biggest preventable lifestyle factor, responsible for nearly a quarter (23%) of all cancers in men, that is around 36,500
cancers in men in the UK every year.
The next biggest preventable lifestyle factors that cause cancer in men are being overweight, consuming too much alcohol and unhealthy
diets.
Catherine Thomson is Cancer Research UK's head of statistics and co-author of both reports. She urges men to reduce their risk of developing
cancer by "quitting smoking, cutting down on alcohol and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables".
Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Erectile Dysfunction Linked To Heart Disease
Erectile Dysfunction Linked To Heart Disease30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is linked to heart disease and early death in men both with and without a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The finding came from a new study conducted by researchers from the Australian National University, led by Emily Banks, and was published in PLOS Medicine.
Prior research has demonstrated that erectile dysfunction is associated with heart disease risk. In fact, a study from August of last year demonstrated that erectile dysfunction is a risk factor in men aged 55 or younger for eventual heart disease.
However, this is the first study to indicate that the severity of ED correlates with the elevated chance of CVD hospitalization and all-cause mortality.
''The risks of future heart disease and premature death increased steadily with severity of erectile dysfunction,'' Emily Banks explained.
The team of investigators gathered and examined date from the Australian prospective cohort 45 and Up Study. The research consisted of 95,038 males aged 45 or older.
After controlling for variables that could have an impact on the results, the experts analyzed the link between severity of self-reported ED and CVD hospitalization and mortality.
Over 65,000 men without known heart disease at the start of the study and over 29,000 men with CVD were involved in the investigation.
During a follow-up that lasted about 2.2 years and ended in June 2010, there were 7,855 incident hospital admissions for heart disease, and during a follow-up that lasted 2.8 years and ended in December 2010, 2304 subjects died.
Results showed that the men with severe ED and without known CVD had a relative 35% greater risk of hospitalization for all CVDs and a relative 93% elevated chance of all-cause mortality, compared to those with no erectile problems.
Men with CVD and severe ED had a relative 64% increased risk for all CVDs combined and a 137% greater chance of all-cause mortality.
Rob Grenfell, cardiovascular health director at Australia's Heart Foundation, said:
''These results tell us that every man who is suffering from any degree of erectile dysfunction should be seeking medical assistance as early as possible and also insisting on a heart health check by their GP at the same time."
The authors explained: "The findings of this study highlight the need to consider ED in relation to the risk of a wide range of CVDs."
Additionally, they emphasized that it is unlikely that erectile dysfunction causes heart disease. Instead, they explained, both result from comparable underlying causes, such as atherosclerosis.
"As a result, ED could serve as a useful marker to identify men who should undergo further testing to assess their risk for CVD," the researchers concluded.
Written by Sarah Glynn
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Potential Blood Test Found To Detect Autism
Potential Blood Test Found To Detect Autism30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
A special blood marker has been found enabling further understanding of potential gut linked environmental factors to autism. The results could create blood tests for early screening of the condition.
The findings came from a clinical study by researchers from Western University and the University of Arkansas, and were published in the journal Translational Psychiatry.
Led by Drs. Richard Frye and Stepan Melynk of Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, the investigators found evidence of unusual energy metabolism among a subgroup of autistic kids.
The evidence verified earlier biological breakthroughs made by MacFabe and his team over the last several years. The current results prove that these metabolic irregularities may come about, not just from genetic contributors, but from compounds made by specific bacteria, generally found to be elevated in the abdomen of autistic people.
Biological Abnormalities Found in Autistic People
Other recent research points out that biological abnormalities in autistic people are not limited to the brain. They can impact other body systems such as:
the immune system
detoxification
digestive system
energy generation
The irregularities are thought to be caused by dysfunctional mitochondria, the cells that create energy in the body.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a family of developmental disorders that are characterized by impaired language, social development, limited interests, and repetitive behaviors.
MacFabe said "Autism spectrum disorders affect up to one in 88 individuals. And the number appears to be increasing. Many have digestive and metabolic issues, but how they may relate to ASD behaviours and the increase of occurrence were unclear."
In the current study, there were 213 children analyzed, 17 percent of those with ASD showed an unusual pattern of blood markers of fat metabolism known as acyl-carnitines. Researchers also found other evidence of irregular cellular energy function, such as decreased glutathione.
MacFabe concludes:
"This study suggests that autism in some patients can arise from alterations in mitochondrial function and fat metabolism following environmental exposure to propionic acid produced from ASD associated gut bacteria."
In a study done earlier this month, researchers found evidence that an autism diagnosis and symptoms could be overlooked as an autistic child gets older. The authors noted that the methods in which autism is diagnosed need to be reviewed and updated.
Written by Kelly Fitzgerald
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Why The Antidepressant Link To Heart Rhythm Abnormalities Is No Cause For Alarm
Why The Antidepressant Link To Heart Rhythm Abnormalities Is No Cause For Alarm30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
Some antidepressants have been linked to a long QT, which may increase the likelihood of having a serious heart rhythm abnormality. However, as they are extremely rare, the benefits offered by antidepressant far outweigh the risks and patients should not be alarmed, says the British Heart Foundation.
American scientists demonstrated an association between the antidepressants citalopram and escitalopram and a long QT interval in some patients' ECGs (electrocardiograms). They reported their findings in the BMJ (British Medical Journal). A long QT is linked to a greater risk of serious arrhythmias (heart rhythm abnormalities).
In August 2011, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) announced that Celexa (Citalopram hydrobromide) should never be administered at doses higher than 40 mg per day, because of the risk of abnormal electrical activity in the heart, which may lead to potential fatal heart rhythm abnormalities, including Torsade de Pointes. The FDA added that doses higher than 40 mg per day do not improve depressive symptoms any better than lower doses.
Patients with existing heart conditions, as well as those who are prone to low levels of blood magnesium and potassium are especially susceptible to alterations in the heart's electrical activity (prolongation of the QT interval).
US scientists gathered and analyzed the health records of over 38,000 adults and found that nearly one fifth of all patients who had been prescribed these antidepressant and underwent an ECG had an abnormal QT interval.
Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, June Davison, said:
"Having a long QT interval can potentially increase the risk of a serious abnormal heart rhythm. However, as these abnormal rhythms are very rare, the potential benefits in treating depression would exceed the risk for most patients.
The effect of these drugs on the QT interval has been known for a while and the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency issued safety advice about this issue in 2011. This included recommendations about new maximum daily doses and information about when it's not advisable to prescribe the drug.
People taking these drugs shouldn't be alarmed and shouldn't stop taking their medication without speaking to their doctor. If you've got any concerns, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
The British Heart Foundation says that it is sponsoring a study at the University of Nottingham, England, that will provide a better understanding of long QT syndrome so that more effective treatments can eventually be developed.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Some Antidepressants May Increase Heart Arrhythmia Risk
Some Antidepressants May Increase Heart Arrhythmia Risk30 Jan 2013-nbsp;-nbsp;-nbsp;
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), types of antidepressants, are associated with a long QT interval, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, reported in the BMJ (British Medical Journal).
The QT interval is the duration of electrical activity of the heart muscle. A long QT interval is a marker for heart rhythm abnormalities.
The researchers say that their findings support warnings by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) about citalopram (Celexa). They add that other antidepressants may have similar effects.
Doctors measure a patient's QT interval with an ECG (electrocardiogram) - it varies according to the heart rate - the slower the heart beat the longer it gets, and the faster the heart the shorter it becomes.
The correct QT interval is typically less than 420 milliseconds for both men and women. A QT value that is higher than 420 milliseconds is linked to a greater risk of serious heart rhythm abnormalities.
The US scientists set out to determine whether the FDA warnings could be backed up with a study of a large and diverse clinical population.
The QT interval of the heart is measured with an ECG (electrocardiogram).
They tracked the electronic health records of 38,397 adults from a large New England healthcare system. All the patients had undergone an ECG after taking an antidepressant or methadone between February 1990 and August 2011.
They took into account several risk factors which could affect their findings, including patient's sex, race, age, history of depression, heart attack, hypertension, heart rhythm problems and pre-existing conditions.
Methadone was included in their study because it has often been associated with a longer QT interval.
The scientists found a small but significantly longer QT interval for the following medications:
Citalopram (an SSRI)
Escitalopram (an SSRI)
Amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant)
Methadone
They also found that the QT interval became longer in higher doses.
The authors wrote:
"Nearly one in five patients treated with these antidepressants who underwent electrocardiography had QT intervals which would be considered abnormal."
They emphasized that nobody knows what the clinical significance of this is.
They also found that the drug bupropion was linked to a shorter QT interval, even at high doses. Other widely prescribed antidepressants were not linked to longer QT interval.
The authors say that their study confirmed a "modest prolongation of QT interval with citalopram, and identified additional antidepressants with similar observed risk." However, they point out that even though a longer QT interval raises the risk of serious heart rhythm abnormalities, the risk of developing them is still extremely rare, while at the same time the QT interval increase was "modest".
The benefits of treating depression with these medications still far exceed the risk, they added.
In summing up, the authors mentioned that a useful method of identifying potential risk associated with treatments is by using electronic health record data.
In a statement released since this report, the British Heart Foundation has said that the benefits of these antidepressants are vastly greater than their risks and that patients should not be alarmed.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
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