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May 02
More vitamin D may not confer any benefit
A new research from Johns Hopkins has found that blood levels of vitamin D or so-called "sunshine vitamin" higher than the top of the range suggested by the Institute of Medicine confer no additional benefit.

This finding, combined with results of a previous study by the same group noting potential harm from higher vitamin D levels in healthy people, has urged investigators to prescribe caution.

"Healthy people have been popping these pills, but they should not continue taking vitamin D supplements unchecked," said study leader Muhammad Amer, M.D., M.H.S., an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"At a certain point, more vitamin D no longer confers any survival benefit, so taking these expensive supplements is at best a waste of money," he added.

Amer stresses that there are some groups of people - elderly, postmenopausal women, and people with kidney disease - who do benefit from higher blood levels of a vitamin vital to bone health. Such groups may need to take supplements.

Amer and Rehan Qayyum, M.D., M.H.S., also of Johns Hopkins, conducted a review of data from more than 10,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 to 2004. They matched those data with mortality data from the National Death Index through Dec. 2006.

When they looked at deaths from all causes and cardiovascular disease specifically, those with blood levels of 21 nanograms per milliliter of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D - at the top of the range that the IOM considers "adequate" and at the low end of "normal" - cut their risk of death in half. Above 21 nanograms per milliliters, the data suggest that the protective effect appears to wear off.

The primary source of vitamin D is the sun, and although it is found naturally in very few foods, commercially sold milk is usually fortified with it.

Amer said as people spend more and more time indoors and slather their bodies with sunscreen when outdoors, concern is rising that many are vitamin D-deficient. But he stated that there is no set amount of supplementation that can bring someone up to 21 nanograms per milliliter because the way people process vitamins varies.

In research published in January 2012 in the American Journal of Cardiology, Amer and Qayyum found that increasing levels of vitamin D in the blood are linked with lower levels of a popular marker for cardiovascular inflammation - c-reactive protein (also known as CRP).

Beyond blood levels of 21 nanograms per milliliter, any additional increase in vitamin D was associated with an increase in CRP, a factor linked to stiffening of the blood vessels and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.

The team`s unpublished research also suggests a link between excess vitamin D and elevated homocysteine levels, another danger sign for cardiovascular disease.

People should consult with their doctors, Amer said, before starting vitamin D supplements and should have their blood levels checked.

The researchers described their work in an article published online in the American Journal of Medicine .

May 02
People with unsupportive spouses likelier to develop depression
People are better off not having a spouse than having poor relationship with one, a new study by U-M researchers has found.

After analyzing data from nearly 5,000 American adults, the researchers found that the quality of a person`s relationships with a spouse, family and friends predicted the likelihood of major depression disorder in the future, regardless of how frequently their social interactions took place.

Individuals with strained and unsupportive spouses were significantly more likely to develop depression, whereas those without a spouse were at no increased risk. And those with the lowest quality relationships had more than double the risk of depression than those with the best relationships.

The study assessed the quality of social relationships on depression over a 10-year period, and is one of the first to examine the issue in a large, broad population over such a long time period.

Nearly 16 percent of Americans experience major depression disorder at some point in their lives, and the condition can increase the risk for and worsen conditions like coronary artery disease, stroke and cancer.

"Our study shows that the quality of social relationships is a significant risk factor for major depression," said psychiatrist Alan Teo, M.D., M.S., a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at U-M and the study`s lead author.

Digging deeper into the results, the researchers found that certain positive and negative aspects of relationships also predicted depression. Social strain and a lack of support - especially in spousal relationships and to some extent with family members - were both risk factors for developing depression later.

"These results tell us that health care providers need to remember that patients` relationships with their loved ones likely play a central role in their medical care," Teo said.

"They also suggest that the broader use of couples therapy might be considered, both as a treatment for depression and as a preventative measure," he added.

While the results confirmed the researchers` assumptions about relationship quality, they did not find a correlation between the frequency of social interactions and the prevalence of depression as predicted. Even if participants were socially isolated, having few interactions with family and friends, it did not predict depression risk. Teo said that this finding should also translate to mental health treatment considerations.

"Asking a patient how she rates her relationship with her husband, rather than simply asking whether she has one, should be a priority," Teo stated.

The study was published online in PLOS ONE.

May 01
Secondhand smoke lowers 'good' cholesterol level: Study
When exposed to secondhand smoke at home, teenage girls tend to have lower levels of the "good" form of cholesterol that reduces heart disease risk, according to a recent study.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) pick up excess cholesterol in the blood stream and take it to the liver where it can be broken down. Unlike low-density lipoproteins that can create a waxy build-up that blocks blood vessels, HDL cholesterol can play a key role in combatting heart disease risk.

"In our study, we found 17-year-old girls raised in households where passive smoking occurred were more likely to experience declines in HDL cholesterol levels," said the study`s lead author, Chi Le-Ha, MD, of the University of Western Australia.

"Secondhand smoke did not have the same impact on teenage boys of the same age, which suggests passive smoking exposure may be more harmful to girls. Considering cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in the western world, this is a serious concern," the researcher added.

Researchers studied a longitudinal birth cohort of 1,057 adolescents who were born between 1989 and 1992 in Perth, Australia. The study gathered information about smoking in the household beginning at 18 weeks gestation and leading up to when the children turned 17. During that time, 48 percent of the participants were exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Blood tests were performed to measure the teenagers` cholesterol levels.

"The findings indicate childhood passive smoke exposure may be a more significant cardiovascular risk factor for women than men," Le-Ha said.

The study has been accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society`s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM).

May 01
New blood test could predict Alzheimer's risk
Scientists in Australia are working on a blood test that could lead to routine screening for Alzheimer`s disease.

They have identified blood-based signs of plaque in the brain that could alert doctors to the disease long before symptoms appear and irreversible brain damage has occurred.

"Early detection is critical. It gives people a much better chance of receiving treatment before it`s too late," researcher Dr Samantha Burnham from CSIRO`s Preventative Health Flagship said.

Dr Burnham hopes the breakthrough will lead to routine age-based testing in five to 10 years.

Early diagnosis would also allow people to develop a care plan to reduce the burden on the patient and their family, she said.

She said that a blood test would be the ideal first stage to help identify people at risk before a diagnosis is confirmed with cognitive tests and brain scans.

The research has been published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Apr 30
Simple ways to tackle seasonal allergies
One sinus expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) said despite a late spring, the summer allergy season will be strong.

To take on the days ahead, Richard Waguespack, M.D., clinical professor and newest addition to the UAB Division of Otolaryngology, said avoidance is the best line of defense.

"When it is reasonable and consistent with your lifestyle, if you have outdoor allergies, you should stay indoors when everything is in bloom," Waguespack advised, adding that checking the pollen counts online before heading out can help with decision-making.

Other ways to battle allergies: Keep windows shut at night, use Non-sedating, over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines like loratadine, cetirizine, or fexofenadine, a visit to the doctor.

"Visiting your family doctor or an ear, nose and throat specialist when allergies are not readily treated with OTC medications is vital for reduction of symptoms," Waguespack said.

An effective way to deal with a commonly occurring allergy issue - nasal congestion - is an inhaled nasal steroid, something a physician may prescribe when appropriate for the patient. But some symptoms may point to a bigger problem.

"Sometimes a patient can confuse allergies with a sinus infection or upper respiratory infection, which is why it`s so crucial that patients come in for a check-up - so the proper diagnosis and best treatment can be rendered," Waguespack said.
For allergies that will not respond to treatment or occur year round, Waguespack suggested that a patient discuss allergy testing with their physician to determine exact causes.

Apr 30
Drug-resistant malaria parasites found in Cambodia
Scientists have identified new drug-resistant strains of the parasite that causes malaria.

They found malaria-causing parasites in western Cambodia that are genetically different from other strains around the world.

These parasites could also withstand treatment by artemisinin - a frontline drug in the fight against malaria, the researchers found.

Reports of drug resistance in the area first emerged in 2008. The problem has since spread to other parts of South East Asia.

"All the most effective drugs that we have had in the last few decades have been one by one rendered useless by the remarkable ability of this parasite to mutate and develop resistance," the BBC quoted Dr Olivo Miotto, of the University of Oxford and Mahidol University in Thailand as saying.

As part of the study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, scientists sequenced the genomes of 800 malaria-causing parasites (Plasmodium falciparum) collected from around the world.

"When we compared the DNA of the parasites in Cambodia, they seem to have formed some new populations that we have not really seen elsewhere," Dr Miotto said.

The international team found three distinct groups of drug-resistant parasites present in the area.

The researchers said they did not yet understand what genetic mutations had occurred that enabled the parasites to withstand artemisinin treatment.

But they said that understanding their genetic fingerprint would help them to quickly spot and track these strains if they spread further.

Apr 29
Lack of sleep may reduce a man`s sperm count
Sleep problems can drastically lower the fertility among young men, a study has warned.

Scientists at the University of Southern Denmark examined nearly 1,000 men in their late teens or early 20s about to do military service gave sperm samples and answered questions about how well they slept.
Questions included how often the men slept badly and how often they found it difficult to nod off.

They were also asked if they woke up regularly during the night and if they found it difficult to go back to sleep.

The study found that those who frequently retired late, woke many times in the night or struggled to nod off in the first place; had a sperm count 25 per cent lower than those who had no trouble, News.com.au reported.

The report said that the frequency of sleep disturbances increased in the industrialised world during the past few decades, a period in which a decline in semen quality has also been reported.

The researchers explained that the men who sleep less tend to have unhealthier lifestyles and weigh more, drink more alcohol and were more often smokers.

The study has been published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Apr 29
One-third of patients suffer depression after stroke
A study by Loyola University Medical Center physicians have found that about one-third of patients suffer depression following a stroke, and depression in turn increases the risk of stroke.

Antidepressant medications known as SSRIs, such as fluoxetine ( Prozac), sertraline ( Zoloft ), and escitalopram (Lexapro), are effective when given to stroke patients as a preventive measure, the physicians said.

Murray Flaster, MD, PhD, who specializes in stroke care, and psychiatrists Aparna Sharma, MD, and Murali Rao, MD, who specialize in depression are authors of the study.

Mental disorders are common after stroke. They include anxiety, irritability and agitation, uncontrollable crying, apathy, delusions and hallucinations. But the most common disorder is depression, either major or minor.

Some patients recover over time, while others move in and out of depression. For some patients, depression doesn`t develop until up to two years after the stroke.

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is linked to worse functional outcomes and increased risks of suicide and mortality.

Women are more likely to suffer PSD. Other risk factors include living alone and away from family members, higher levels of education, changes in lifestyle or marital status and degree of functional impairment. Depression, in turn, is a risk factor for stroke and stroke recurrence, even after controlling for other risk factors.

Given the severe effects of PSD, doctors should take an aggressive approach. Timing of medication may be crucial, with early treatment perhaps advantageous.

In addition to helping relieve depression, antidepressants also have been shown to improve cognitive and functional recovery. Recent evidence also shows that SSRIs are helpful in motor recovery (improved movement and coordination).

"Taken together, the available data make a strong case for the prophylactic use and effectiveness of antidepressants post stoke," the researchers said.

The finding was reported in the journal Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation.

Apr 27
Fast twice a week to live a longer life
Fasting twice a week could be the key to a longer life by slashing the risk of a host of killer diseases, a new study has revealed.

Research shows dramatically cutting the amount of calories you eat for two days can keep obesity, heart disease and diabetes at bay, the Daily Express reported.
The revolutionary weight-loss plan restricts calorie intake for 48 hours, like the 48 Hour Diet by top nutritionist Amanda Hamilton, published last week.

She shared her easy to follow plan which promises to not just shift the pounds but improve general health and mental wellbeing.

Researchers have backed her methods of intermittent fasting and say it is as effective as weight loss surgery, without the cost or risk.

The scientific review suggests fasting diets may help those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

A review published in the British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease by a team led by James Brown from Aston University in the West Midlands highlights evidence from clinical trials which shows fasting can limit inflammation, improve levels of sugars and fats in your circulation and cut blood pressure.

By fasting, the body is more efficient in selecting which fuel to burn, improving metabolism.

The plan is to restrict calories on alternative days or on two specific days each week which are classed as "fasting days".

On these, women usually aim to consume less than 500 calories and men less than 600.

This type of intermittent fasting has been shown in trials to be at least as effective as counting calories every day to lose weight.

Scientists have known since the 1940s that intermittent fasting can cut the incidence of diabetes after trials on animals.

But recent studies have also confirmed that cutting calorie intake could reverse Type 2 diabetes in some people.

It could also help fight conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer`s disease.

Researchers measured improved pancreatic function and found fewer fatty deposits associated with insulin resistance present in those fasting.

Scientists say it has some cardiovascular benefits that appear similar to exercising, such as improving blood pressure and heart rate and lowering cholesterol.

Apr 27
Regular exercise may help reduce risk of liver cancer
Regular exercise may help reduce the chance of developing liver cancer, a study has said.

The research involved two groups of mice that were fed a control diet and a high fat diet, which were then divided into separate exercise and sedentary groups.

The exercise groups were made to run on a motorised treadmill for 60 minutes per day, five days a week.

After 32 weeks of regular exercise, 71 percent of mice on the controlled diet developed tumours larger than 10mm versus 100 percent in the sedentary group.

The mean number and volume of HCC tumours per liver was also reduced in the exercise group compared to the sedentary group.

EASL`s Educational Councillor Prof. Jean-Francois Dufour said that the data showed significant benefit of regular exercise on the development of HCC and exercise reduced the level of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice receiving a high-fat diet.

Dufour said "The results could eventually lead to some very tangible benefits for people staring down the barrel of liver cancer and I look forward to seeing human studies in this important area in the future.

"The prognosis for liver cancer patients is often bleak as only a proportion of patients are suitable for potentially curative treatments so any kind of positive news in this arena is warmly welcomed," he added.

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