Women's Health: Biomarker predicts preeclampsia at six weeks of pregnancy ♦ Solution for lowering cholesterol in pregnant wome ♦ Angelina Jolie effect

New biomarker predicts development of preeclampsia at six weeks of pregnancy Preeclampsia is generally diagnosed later in pregnancy, but new research reports that the protein copeptin can predict the development of preeclampsia as early as six weeks of gestation. The findings could lead to diagnosis of the disorder in the first trimester, improving care and potentially leading to the development of preventative measures.

Tattoos may be a coping mechanism for some college-age women Women with multiple tattoos report higher self-esteem than anyone else in a recent study, and escalating acquisition of body art does not correlate with increased depression or suicide ideation. However, the same multi-tattooed women also report a much higher frequency of past suicide attempts.

Mother nature may have solution for lowering cholesterol in pregnant women Researchers are studying whether plant sterols can be used as a natural alternative to drug therapy for pregnant women who have high cholesterol. While it’s normal for a woman’s cholesterol to spike during pregnancy, excessive lipid levels — whether from genetic or dietary reasons — can have negative health effects on the offspring, both early in life and later on as adults.

Breast cancer clinic attributes increased uptake of double mastectomies to Angelina Jolie effect An increased uptake of preventative double mastectomies has been seen since May 2013, when Angelina Jolie announced that she had undergone the procedure.

Health News: New treatment options, better hope of preventing vision loss ♦ Microbiome technology may help combat certain infections

New treatment options, better hope of preventing from diabetes This National Diabetes Month, there is some good news for people with eye complications from diabetes. A network of researchers has found that the drug Lucentis (ranibizumab) can be highly effective for treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that can occur as a complication of diabetes.

Children born to women after bariatric surgery at higher risk of obesity, diabetes Weight-loss surgery can boost fertility in women and reduce the risk of pregnancy complications that commonly occur in obese women. However, a new study in rats suggests that weight-loss surgery alters mothers’ hormone and chemical balance, which harms offspring during gestation and later in life.

Microbiome technology may help combat certain infections Two patent applications were filed for nutrient based compositions utilizing an innovative microbiome technology that may help combat certain infections

In dying cells, research team finds potential way to control cholesterol levels A discovery about how the body deals with the cholesterol contained within its dying cells has suggested an exciting new approach to control people’s cholesterol levels – and thus their risk of developing heart disease.

Health Research: New vaccine could prevent high cholesterol ♦ Novel stem cell line avoids risk of introducing transplanted tumors ♦ Hospital patients given anti-heartburn drugs have higher risk of dying

First, do no harm: Hospital patients given anti-heartburn drugs have higher risk of dying Right now, in any US hospital, about half of the patients have a prescription for an acid-reducing drug to reduce heartburn or prevent bleeding in their stomach and gut. But that well-intentioned drug may actually boost their risk of dying during their hospital stay, by opening them up to infections that pose more risk than bleeding would.

Novel stem cell line avoids risk of introducing transplanted tumors A new “progenitor cell” capable of unlimited expansion and differentiation into mature kidney cells, but without the risk of forming tumors.

New vaccine could prevent high cholesterol A new cholesterol-lowering vaccine leads to reductions in 'bad' LDL cholesterol in mice and macaques, according to new research.The authors of the study say the vaccine has the potential to be a more powerful treatment than statins alone

Global health team pioneers development of a new antimalarial drug screening model A new screening model to classify antimalarial drugs and to identify drug targets for the most lethal strain of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, has been developed by a group of scientists

Cardiovascular Research: Cellular stress process identified in cardiovascular disease ♦ Thiazide may pose some risk for congestive heart failure patients

Cellular stress process identified in cardiovascular disease Combining the investigative tools of genetics, transcriptomics, epigenetics and metabolomics, a research team has identified a new molecular pathway involved in heart attacks and death from heart disease.The researchers found that stress on a component of cells called the endoplasmic reticulum is associated with risk of future heart events, and it can be detected in bits of molecular detritus circulating in the blood.

Mechanical and manual cpr produce equivalent survival rates for cardiac arrest patients Mechanical CPR, in which a device is used by Emergency Medical Service providers to deliver automated chest compressions during cardiac arrest resuscitation care, is associated with an equivalent survival rate for patients experiencing cardiac arrest outside of the hospital as manual CPR, according to new findings..

Cholesterol-lowering 'portfolio diet' also reduces blood pressure A diet developed for reducing cholesterol also lowers blood pressure, a new study has found. The portfolio diet lowered blood pressure by an average two per cent, when compared with another diet recommended to reduce hypertension

Thiazide may pose some risk for congestive heart failure patients Thiazide, a popular diuretic for lowering high blood pressure, may not excrete salt as expected in patients with congestive heart failure and or dehydration and should be taken with caution

Women's Health: Preventive care drops when government cuts close women's health clinics ♦ Menopause diminishes impact of good cholesterol ♦ Should women consume alcohol during pregnancy?

Preventive care drops when government cuts close women's health clinics When women's health clinics close because of government funding cuts aimed at abortion providers, fewer women seek lifesaving preventive care that can identify health threats such as cancer, research shows. The findings also suggest that a clinic's closure affected less-educated women the most.

DNA-based vaccine clears nearly half of precancerous cervical lesions in clinical trial Using a novel synthetic platform for creating vaccines a team of researchers has successfully eradicated precancerous cervical lesions in nearly half of the women who received an investigational vaccine in a clinical trial.

Should women consume alcohol during pregnancy? Experts discuss the evidence and current guidelines on the controversial topic of alcohol consumption during pregnancy

Vaginal microbes influence whether mucus can trap HIV HIV particles are effectively trapped by the cervicovaginal mucus from women who harbor a particular vaginal bacteria species, Lactobacillus crispatus. The findings could lead to new ways to reduce or block vaginal transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Menopause diminishes impact of good cholesterol What has previously been known as good cholesterol -- high density lipoprotein -- has now been shown to be not so good in protecting women against atherosclerosis while they are transitioning through menopause.

Health Research: Bacteria that prevents type 1 diabetes, Diabetes drug modulates cholesterol levels, 'Caveman instincts' may favor deep-voiced politicians

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Bacteria that prevents type 1 diabetes To combat pathogens, the immune system has developed various mechanisms to detect, defend against and even destroy micro-organisms that are harmful to the body. This includes antimicrobial peptides and natural proteins that destroy pathogenic bacteria by disrupting their cellular membrane. Not only are they produced by immune cells, they are also produced by cells whose functions are not immune-related. Researchers have recently shown how microbiota protects against the development of type 1 diabetes.

When dinner table defiance could lead to health problems When most people think of eating disorders, they think of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. But there’s another condition that has nothing to do with concerns over weight, shape or body image, and it has been recognized in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Diabetes drug modulates cholesterol levels Besides affecting the blood sugar levels, the substance Metformin, also has an impact on blood fat levels, a research team reports, adding that it is especially the harmful LDL cholesterol can be reduced.

'Caveman instincts' may favor deep-voiced politicians When politicians debate an opponent, it's not just what they say that matters -- it's also how they say it. A new study shows that voters naturally prefer candidates with deeper voices, which they associate with strength and competence more than age. The researchers say our love lower-pitched voices may harken back to 'caveman instincts' associating leadership with physical prowess more than wisdom and experience.

Silently suffering from hearing loss negatively affects quality of life Hearing loss in adults is under treated despite evidence that hearing aid technology can significantly lessen depression and anxiety and improve cognitive functioning, according to research.

Health News: Sugary drinks linked to 180000 deaths a year ♦ Human milk-sharing networks reflect a growing movement ♦ How small genetic changes changed human histor

Human milk-sharing networks reflect a growing movement There’s nothing new about the sharing of human breast milk. In earlier days, moms in tribal groups nursed babies other than their own when the baby’s mother died or wasn’t close by.

Sugary drinks linked to 180000 deaths a year Scientists are asking people across the globe to lay off sugary drinks, linking the consumption to an estimated 184,000 adult deaths each year, including more than 25,000 Americans. Overall, that means one in every 100 deaths from obesity-related diseases is caused by sugary beverages, according to a study published Monday in the journal Circulation.

Hantaviruses are highly dependent on cell membrane cholesterol to infect humans Hantaviruses use cholesterol in cell walls to gain access into cells and infect humans, according to laboratory research. Multiple genes involved in cholesterol sensing, regulation and production, including key components to a chemical pathway called SREBP (sterol response element binding protein), are critical to hantaviruses gaining entry.

Human urine helps prevent bacteria from sticking to bladder cells Human urine contains factors that prevent a common culprit in urinary tract infections (UTIs), uropathogenic Escherichia coli bacteria, from properly attaching to bladder cells, a necessary step for infection. The research reveals a weakness that could be exploited to develop more effective, non-antibiotic treatments for UTIs

How small genetic change in Yersinia pestis changed human history While studying Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for epidemics of plague such as the Black Death, scientists found a single small genetic change that fundamentally influenced the evolution of the deadly pathogen, and thus the course of human history. They demonstrated how the acquisition of a single gene caused the shift of Y. pestis from causing a primarily gastrointestinal infection to a more serious and often fatal respiratory disease and how later modifications lead to infections associated with the bubonic plague.

Health Research: Medication may stop drug, alcohol addiction ♦ Got acne? Lay off the B 12 ♦ Diabetic blindness: Best source of stem cells to block vision loss

Medication may stop drug, alcohol addiction Researchers have successfully stopped cocaine and alcohol addiction in experiments using a drug already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat high blood pressure.

Nearly half of Hispanics unaware they have high cholesterol; less than a third treated About half of Hispanics were not aware that they had high cholesterol, a study has shown. Of those who were aware, less than a third were treated. Younger adults, women, the uninsured, those with lower income, and more recent immigrants were less likely to have their high cholesterol controlled.

Got acne? Lay off the B12 Vitamin B12 tweaks how genes behave in the facial bacteria of some people who normally enjoy clear skin, leading to pimples.

Diabetic blindness: Best source of stem cells to block vision loss Stem cells taken from donors are more likely to be more effective at battling diabetic retinopathy than cells taken from patients' own bodies. The work is a critical step toward the goal of injecting stem cells into patients' eyes to stop or even reverse the vision loss.

Future physicians more inclined to embrace genomic medicine than practicing physicians Medical students showed a greater acceptance of using approaches in genomic medicine, a key element in the practice of precision medicine, to treat patients as compared to physicians currently in practice.

Health News: 8 sickened in Blue Bell outbreak ♦ When Food Becomes a Poison ♦ Medicaid ’Shenanigans’ in Florida

8 sickened in Blue Bell; listeria outbreak According to an update from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been eight people sickened by strains of Listeria monocytogenes linked to Blue Bell Creameries products in Kansas and Texas. The outbreak now consists of two clusters of illnesses that are likely linked to Blue Bell brand ice cream. Cluster 1 consists of five.

When Food Becomes a Poison A typical Nigerian family spends over 70 percent of its total income on food. For most people, this is a worthy investment as they believe it is a way of maintaining a healthy household and by implication increase savings. This belief system has, however, been puncture by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which said during the week that there are estimated 582 million cases of  

Medicaid ’Shenanigans’ in Florida, The Need For Better Food Safety The Washington Post: GOP Governor’s Resistance To Obamacare Is So Strong That It’s Jeopardizing His Quest For Tax Cuts A battle over the Medicaid expansion has erupted among Republicans in Florida, and it has created a strange situation: Republican legislators are urging GOP Governor Rick Scott to accept the expansion

Acetaldehyde safety concerns  The European Parliament’s committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety has called on the European Commission to propose a new EU strategy to tackle health harm from alcohol. The Resolution also emphasizes the importance of better

Enriched broccoli reduces cholesterol Including a new broccoli variety in the diet reduces blood LDL-cholesterol levels by around 6 percent, according to the results of human trials. The broccoli variety was bred to contain two to three times more of a naturally occurring compound glucoraphanin. It is now available in supermarkets in England, under the name Beneforte.

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Health News: Hidden hazards found in 'green' products ♦ Dairies illegally using antibiotics ♦ Onion extract improves high blood sugar ♦ Graphene fights cavities + more

Hidden hazards found in 'green' products  Common consumer products, including those marketed as 'green,' 'all-natural,' 'non-toxic' and 'organic' emit a range of compounds that could harm human health and air quality, researchers have found. But most of these ingredients are not disclosed to the public.Continue Reading

Dairies found illegally using antibiotics  A small number of dairy farms have been found using animal antibiotics in ways not approved by law, according to a new study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. Continue Reading

Onion extract may improve high blood sugar and cholesterol  The extract of onion bulb, Allium cepa, strongly lowered high blood glucose (sugar) and total cholesterol levels in diabetic rats when given with the antidiabetic drug metformin, according to a new study.Continue Reading

Study contaminated food causes 14%: of norovirus outbreaks  According to new work by researchers from the Netherlands, New Zealand and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about 14 % of all norovirus outbreaks are attributed to contaminated food. Noroviruses are one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis worldwide. Continue Reading

Graphene: A new tool for fighting cavities  Dental diseases, which are caused by the overgrowth of certain bacteria in the mouth, are among the most common health problems in the world. Now scientists have discovered that a material called graphene oxide is effective at eliminating these bacteria, some of which have developed antibiotic resistance Continue Reading

1/9/15 Health News: Baby food with cricket contamination ♦ Avocados Reduce Bad Cholesterol ♦ 43 states hit with ‘widespread’ flu ♦ Food poisoning scare at farmers' markets

An avocado a day may help keep bad cholesterol at bay

Individuals on a moderate-fat diet who ate an avocado every day had lower bad cholesterol than those on a similar diet without an avocado a day or on a lower-fat diet, researchers report  Continue Reading

43 states hit with ‘widespread’ flu

activity, CDC reports. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 43 States experienced “widespread” flu activity and 6 others reported “regional” flu activity due to influenza viruses that caused 8,893 deaths in 2014. Continue Reading

Food poisoning scare from farmers' markets

Farmers’ markets are becoming increasingly popular, providing opportunities for people to purchase fresh produce as opposed to pre-packaged supermarket fare. A study in the U.S. warns about the presence of pathogens. The new research has looked for the presence of bacterial pathogens like Salmonella and Escherichia coli on herbs sold at farmers' markets. The study sampled 133 …Continue Reading

Japan recalls baby food over cricket contamination in latest food scare

A Japanese firm said Thursday it was recalling tens of thousands of pouches of baby food after an insect was discovered in one package, the latest food scare to rock consumers. Asahi Holdings said its subsidiary would be calling back an estimated 120,000 bags of the meat-and-potatoes mix after one was found to contain a cricket, a small grasshopper-like insect. Baby brand Wakodo … Continue Reading

2/5/14 Health News: Mexico City: Water Torture - Oldest Known Living Cancer - Good Cholesterol can Turn Nasty

Mexico City: Water Torture

In Mexico City, Holy Water is basically just tap water, and it is debatable whether the priest's blessing is enough to rid the water of all the parasites or toxic substances that swarm in it. Continue Trading

Dogs Carry the Oldest Known Living Cancer

Canines are in a rare category when it comes to cancer: They and Tasmanian devils are the only two animals that can transmit it from one individual to another. A new genetic study reveals that the dog form of the cancer, which causes genital tumors, is 11,000 years old—making it the oldest continuously living cancer. Canines can also develop cancers that are akin to human cancers, but their transmissible cancer spreads when cells from one dog's tumor rub off during sexual contact and grow into a new tumor on the other animal. The study notes that the cancer originated in an ancient dog closest to the modern-day breeds of Alaskan malamutes and huskies. Continue Reading

Good Cholesterol can Turn Nasty and Clog Arteries

Good cholesterol also has a nasty side that can increase the risk of heart attacks, according to US doctors. "Good", or HDL, cholesterol normally helps to keep arteries clear and is good for heart health. But the team at the Cleveland Clinic showed it can become abnormal and lead to blocked blood vessels. They say people should still eat healthily, but that the good cholesterol story is a more complex tale than previously thought. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is "bad" because it is deposited in the walls of arteries and causes hard plaques to build up that can cause blockages, resulting in heart attacks and stroke.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is "good" because the cholesterol is instead shipped to the liver. The evidence shows that having a high ratio of good to bad cholesterol is good for health. However, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic say trials aimed at boosting levels of HDL have "not been successful" and the role of good cholesterol is clearly more complicated. In their study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, they showed how HDL cholesterol could become abnormal. One of the researchers, Dr Stanley Hazen, said HDL cholesterol was being modified in the walls of the artery. He told the BBC: "In the artery walls it is acting very differently to in the circulation. It can become dysfunctional, and contributes to the development of heart disease." Continue Reading

1/17/2014 Health News: Death Dust in California - Chinese Allowed to Sue Over Unsafe Foods - Vit. E Helps Alzheimers - Cholesterol Under Control Helps Brain

DEATH DUST:The Valley-Fever Menace.

In 1977, the San Joaquin Valley—the swath of agricultural land that runs through central California—was designated a disaster area. Record-low runoff and scant rainfall had created drought conditions. At the beginning of Christmas week, the weather was normal in Bakersfield, the city at the Valley’s southern end, but in the early hours of December 20th a strong wind began to blow from the Great Basin through the Tehachapi Mountains. Hitting the ground on the downslope, it lofted a cloud of loose topsoil and mustard-colored dust into the sky. Continue Reading

CHINESE COURT EMPOWERS CONSUMERS TO SUE OVER UNSAFE FOOD

Beginning March 15, Chinese consumers will have support from the courts in their efforts to sue manufacturers and retailers of unsafe food and pharmaceuticals, according to the South China Morning Post. The ruling, announced last week, encourages members of the public to take legal action against those who make or market harmful food, drugs, cosmetics... Continue Reading

Vitamin E may Aid Those With Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's

Vitamin E is far from an Alzheimer's cure, but a new study finds it allowed trial participants to get less help from caregivers and therefore retain more independence longer. Taking high doses of vitamin E appears to help people in all stages of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. Research a decade ago showed that vitamin E was helpful in late-stage Alzheimer's disease. Unhealthy Cholesterol Levels Might Raise Alzheimer's Risk Continue reading

Keeping cholesterol under control may help brain as well as heart, study suggests

Keeping "bad" cholesterol in check and increasing "good" cholesterol is not only good for your heart, but also your brain, new research suggests. A study from the University of California, Davis, found that low levels of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and high levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol are linked to lower levels of so-called amyloid plaque in the brain. A build-up of this plaque is an indication of Alzheimer's disease, the researchers said in a university news release. The researchers suggested that maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is just as important for brain health as controlling blood pressure. "Our study shows that both higher levels of HDL and lower levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream are associated with lower levels of amyloid plaque deposits in the brain,".Continue Reading

10/30/2013 Daily Health News Crypto Outbreak from Apple Cider, Genital Herpes, Breast Milk Fights HIV , Cholesterol in Womb Effects Adult

Johnson County Iowa- crypto outbreak from apple cider

A cluster of parasitic illnesses have hit Johnson County in the past week, leaving several ill; they were apparently caused by unpasteurized apple cider. Beginning in the week of Oct. 21, 11 outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis — also known as crypto — have been reported in Johnson County by people who have consumed the tainted cider.continue Reading

U.S. Teens More Vulnerable to Genital Herpes, Study Suggests

They may have lower levels of protective antibodies to the virus than in years past This increase in risk may be the result of fewer teens being exposed in childhood to the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a common cause of cold sores, researchers reported Oct. 17 in the online edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Continue Reading

Scientists Uncover Breast Milk's Potential Secret Weapon Against HIV

A compound not previously thought to be a germ-killer may help shield babies from the virus. Experts have long suspected that breast milk may have the power to prevent babies from getting infected with HIV, and new research gives insight into why that might be so. Researchers say they've discovered a component of breast milk that appears to kill the virus that causes AIDS, potentially preventing some babies from becoming infected by their mothers.Continue Reading

Iron Supplements for Children Found Beneficial

A recent study found that iron supplements for children may be helpful in safely reducing their risk of anemia.Continue Reading

High Cholesterol in the Womb May Affect Adult Levels

The risk for high cholesterol in adults may be partly explained by intrauterine exposure to high cholesterol, researchers presenting a new study at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress Using multi generational data from the Framingham Heart Study, they found that if mothers had high prepregnancy LDL levels  their offspring had a fivefold higher risk of having dyslipidemia themselves, as young adults Continue Reading