Health News::Why Blue Bell is under criminal investigation ♦ Marijuana derivative reduces seizures ♦ Psychotherapies benefit those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome

Why Blue Bell is under criminal i nvestigation As of April 20, 2015 the CDC reported a total of ten patients infected with several strains of Listeria reported from four states: Illness onset dates ranged from January 2010 through January 2015. All ten patients were hospitalized. Three deaths were reported from Kansas. After those...

Marijuana derivative reduces seizures in people with treatment-resistant epilepsy Cannabidiol (CBD), a medical marijuana derivative, was effective in reducing seizure frequency and well-tolerated and safe for most children and young adults enrolled in a year-long study, researchers report. These latest findings provide the first estimates of safety, tolerability and efficacy of prescription CBD in children and adults with severe, highly treatment-resistant epilepsy.

Psychotherapies have long-term benefit for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome The beneficial effects of using psychological therapy to treat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are not only short term but are also long lasting, a new meta-analysis has found.

Scientists prevent, reverse diabetes-related kidney destruction in animal model Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, and scientists have found that infusing just a small dose of a cytokine, thought to help cause that failure, can instead prevent or reverse it.

Health Research:Fat cells originating from bone marrow found in humans ♦ Vision test gives insight into the effect of prenatal exposure to recreational drugs

City-wide effort boosts NYC's colorectal cancer screening rates Work to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in New York City have resulted in a 40 percent increase in screening rates over four years.

Treatment for sickle cell disease may help protect patients' kidney function After six months of treatment with hydroxyurea, sickle cell disease patients' kidney function, as measured by the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, improved significantly.

Vision test gives insight into the effect of prenatal exposure to recreational drugs

Children exposed to marijuana in the womb show a significant improvement in their ability to track moving objects at age four. But researchers are warning that the results do not mean marijuana has a beneficial effect on fetal development.

Fat cells originating from bone marrow found in humans Fat cells produced by stem cells from the bone marrow may be linked to chronic illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and some cancers.

Food Research: Impact of high-fat diet on red blood cells may cause cardiovascular disease ♦ Moderate coffee drinking may be linked to reduced risk of death

Eating sweets forms memories that may control eating habits Eating sweet foods causes the brain to form a memory of a meal.

Dietary potassium may help prevent kidney, heart problems in diabetics Higher levels of urinary potassium excretion, which closely correlate with intake amounts, were linked with a slower decline of kidney function and a lower incidence of cardiovascular complications among patients with type 2 diabetes and normal kidney function.

Impact of high-fat diet on red blood cells may cause cardiovascular disease Researchers have discovered the negative impact a high fat diet has on red blood cells and how these cells, in turn, promote the development of cardiovascular disease.

Moderate coffee drinking may be linked to reduced risk of death Drinking coffee daily was associated with a lower risk of deaths from Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological diseases in nonsmokers. Regular consumption of coffee can be included as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Health News: Salmonella outbreak linked to Texas community church luncheon ♦ Surgeons restore hand, arm movement to quadriplegic patients ♦ Environmental memories transmitted from a father to his grandchildren

Salmonella outbreak linked to Texas community church luncheon At least 30 people were reportedly sickened following a recent community meal at a church northwest of Weatherford in Parker County, TX. Several of them, including children, were admitted to local hospitals, according to family members. Symptoms being reported included kidney problems and dehydration. ..

Opposites don't attract when learning how to use a prosthesis Upper limb amputees, who typically struggle to learn how to use a new prosthesis, would be more successful if fellow amputees taught them. Most usually learn by watching a non-amputee demonstrate the device during physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions. A study that measured arm movements and analyzed brain patterns found that people do better when they learn from someone who looks like them.

Surgeons restore hand, arm movement to quadriplegic patients A pioneering surgical technique has restored some hand and arm movement to patients immobilized by spinal cord injuries in the neck, reports a new study. The researchers assessed outcomes of nerve-transfer surgery in nine quadriplegic patients with spinal cord injuries in the neck. Every patient in the study reported improved hand and arm function.

Environmental memories transmitted from a father to his grandchildren If you have diabetes, or cancer or even heart problems, maybe you should blame it on your dad's behavior or environment. Or even your grandfather's. That's because, in recent years, scientists have shown that, before his offspring are even conceived, a father's life experiences involving food, drugs, exposure to toxic products and even stress can affect the development and health not only of his children, but even of his grandchildren. Scientists think that they have now found a key part of the molecular puzzle. They have discovered that proteins known as histones, which have attracted relatively little attention until now, may play a crucial role in the process.

Study ties restless legs syndrome to heart, kidney problems Those with restless legs syndrome are at higher risk for stroke, heart and kidney disease, and earlier death, a database study of Veterans found. Studies in the past had suggested such links, but the new research provides the strongest evidence yet.

Brain Research: Common medications could delay brain injury recovery ♦ Could body posture during sleep affect how your brain clears waste

Could body posture during sleep affect how your brain clears waste? Sleeping in the side position, as compared to on one’s back or stomach, may more effectively remove brain waste and prove to be an important practice to help reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.

Brain's ability to dispose of key Alzheimer's protein drops dramatically with age Some of the key changes in the aging brain that lead to increased risk of Alzheimer's Disease have now been identified.

Kidney impairment decreases blood flow to the brain, boosting risk of brain disorders Poor kidney function was strongly related to decreased blood flow to the brain, report researchers following a population-based study. Poor kidney function was linked to stroke and dementia most strongly in participants with decreased blood flow to the brain.

Common medications could delay brain injury recovery Drugs used to treat common complaints could delay the recovery of brain injury patients

Scientists report explanation for protein clumps in brain cells of patients with ALS Autopsies of nearly every patient with the lethal neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and many with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), show pathologists telltale clumps of a protein called TDP-43. Now, working with mouse and human cells, researchers report they have discovered the normal role of TDP-43 in cells and why its abnormal accumulation may cause disease.

Health News: New mussel-inspired surgical protein glue: Close wounds,♦ Bust up big kidney stones with tamsulosin ♦ New treatment for severe depression with far fewer side effects ♦

New treatment for severe depression with far fewer side effects Electroconvulsive therapy remains one of the most effective treatments for severe depression, but new research shows ultra-brief pulse stimulation is almost as effective as standard ECT, with far fewer cognitive side effects.

Acupuncture impacts same biologic pathways in rats that pain drugs target in humans In animal models, acupuncture appears to impact the same biologic pathways ramped up by pain and stress, analogous to what drugs do in humans. The researchers say their animal study provides the strongest evidence to date on the mechanism of this ancient Chinese therapy in chronic stress.

Bust up big kidney stones with tamsulosin Tamsulosin works no better than placebo on small kidney stones, but does improve passage of more large kidney stones than placebo does, a new study concludes. 83.3 percent of patients treated with tamsulosin whose kidney stones measured between 5 and 10 millimeters in length passed their stones, compared to only 61 percent of those who were treated with placebo.

iPSCs show promise for kidney treatment Renal progenitor cells derived from human iPS cells were shown to have therapeutic effects when transplanted into acute kidney injury model mice. The transplants resulted in a significant reduction of fibrosis, suggesting that they may have preventative measures against chronic kidney disease.

New mussel-inspired surgical protein glue: Close wounds, open medical possibilities Inspired by nature's wonders, scientists have developed new light-activated adhesive hydrogel that is mussel protein-based. The innovative surgical protein glue, called LAMBA, not only closes an open wound on a wet bleeding site within less than 60 seconds but also effectively facilitates the healing process without inflammation or a scar.

Health Research: Key mechanism that causes neuropathic pain found ♦ Marijuana users substitute alcohol at 21 ♦ Higher vitamin D doses needed to restore healthy levels in overweight blacks

Marijuana users substitute alcohol at 21 A recent study looked at marijuana and alcohol use in people between the ages of 18 and 24. It's probably not surprising that the results show a drastic increase in alcohol consumption in people just over 21; after all, that's the minimum legal age to drink. What an economist-researcher found remarkable is that, at the same age, there was an equally dramatic drop in marijuana use.

Age-related self-destruction of cells makes kidney prone to injury As advances in medicine allow individuals to live longer, people are facing unique age-related health challenges. As they age, organs such as the kidneys become more susceptible to injury, and their ability to self-repair is decreased. Researchers have found a cellular signal that causes kidney cells to die, making the kidneys prone to injury.

Higher vitamin D doses may be needed to restore healthy levels in overweight blacks The current recommended minimum daily dose of vitamin D is not sufficient to restore healthy vitamin D levels in overweight or obese black.

Life expectancy substantially lower with combination of diabetes, stroke or heart attack In an analysis that included nearly 1.2 million participants and more than 135,000 deaths, mortality associated with a history of diabetes, stroke or heart attack was similar for each condition, and the risk of death increased substantially with each additional condition a patient had.

Key mechanism that causes neuropathic pain found A biological process called endoplasmic reticulum stress appears to play a key role in causing neuropathic pain, according to a new study. The discovery could eventually lead to new therapeutics for controlling chronic pain associated with trauma, diabetes, shingles, multiple sclerosis or other conditions that cause nerve damage

Cardiovascular Research: Measuring kidney health could better predict heart disease risk ♦ Statins reduce mortality in coronary artery bypass graft surgery ♦ Years of good blood sugar control helps diabetic hearts

Measuring kidney health could better predict heart disease risk Simple measures of kidney function and damage may be just as good at predicting who is at risk for heart failure and death from heart attack and stroke as traditional tests of cholesterol levels and blood pressure

Preoperative statins reduce mortality in coronary artery bypass graft surgery The protective effect of various heart medications that patients are taking before undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery and concludes that statins reduce the risk of death by two thirds, or 67 percent, while no consistent effects were seen for other medications.

Years of good blood sugar control helps diabetic hearts Day in and day out, millions of people with diabetes test their blood sugar levels. And many may wonder if all the careful eating, exercise and medication it takes to keep those levels under control is really worth it. A major new study should encourage them to keep going -- and prompt them to work with their doctors on reducing their cardiovascular risk.

Endurance athletes should be tested while exercising for potentially fatal heart condition Some athletes who take part in endurance exercise such as marathon running, endurance triathlons or alpine cycling can develop heartbeat irregularities that can, occasionally, lead to their sudden death. New evidence shows that doctors who try to detect these irregularities by focusing on the left ventricle of the heart, or on the right ventricle while an athlete is resting, will miss important signs of right ventricular dysfunction that can only be detected during exercise and that could be fatal.

Health News: FDA- Inadequate testing, cleanliness at Jeni’s ice cream plant ♦ Washington E.Coli outbreak 25 cases ♦ Infections can affect your IQ

FDA Inspectors found inadequate testing, cleanliness at Jeni’s ice cream plant Eight visits by two Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in late April revealed inadequate pathogen controls and cleanliness practices at the company’s production facility. The FDA inspections occurred between April 20-30

Washington E.Coli Update: 25 cases, 9 secondary ones, 4 areas sampled matched outbreak strain  Four of 10 areas sampled at the Northwest Fairgrounds in Lynden, WA, match the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 that has now sickened 25 people in Whatcom County, WA. The Lynden fairgrounds was the site of the Milk Makers Fest attended by more than 1,300 children.

Infections can affect your IQ New research shows that infections can impair your cognitive ability measured on an IQ scale. The study is the largest of its kind to date, and it shows a clear correlation between infection levels and impaired cognition.

Major breakthrough against rare kidney disease A significant breakthrough has been made in the fight against Membranous Nephropathy a rare kidney disease which can lead to kidney failure.

Best and safest blood pressure treatments in kidney, diabetes patients compiled The first definitive summary of the best and safest blood pressure lowering treatments for kidney disease and diabetes patients has been compiled by clinicians. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of kidney disease around the world, and people often have both. Chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes always affects both kidneys and generally gets worse over time, often leading to kidney failure requiring dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant.

Cardiovascular Research: Hip strengthening might ease pain of clogged leg arteries ♦ New cause discovered for arterial stiffness ♦ Computer for acute stroke detection

Hip strengthening might ease pain of clogged leg arteries Exercise to strengthen hip flexor muscles may increase how far some patients can walk without calf pain. Gait analysis reveals that people with clogged leg arteries use calf muscles to compensate for weakness of certain hip muscles

Dexamethasone May Help Prevent Severe Kidney Injury Following Heart Surgery Acute kidney injury can be a serious complication following heart surgery. Patients who received dexamethasone during heart surgery had about a 2.5-times lower risk of developing kidney failure requiring dialysis compared with those receiving a placebo. The greatest benefits of dexamethasone were seen in patients with pre-existing advanced chronic kidney disease.

New cause discovered for arterial stiffness, a contributor to cardiovascular disease Previous studies of aortic stiffness have focused on changes in structural proteins that alter the properties of vascular walls causing them to become rigid. Now, researchers have determined that smooth muscle cells, which line the interior of vascular walls, are a major contributing factor to vascular stiffness, one of the major causes of hypertension.

Novel computer intelligence system for acute stroke detection Medical researchers have developed a novel computer-aided detection system for acute stroke using computer intelligence technology. The detection accuracy is 90%, which is as high as that conducted by specialists, but at a much reduced time from 10-15 minutes to 3 minutes.

Health Research: Oral drug normalizes blood potassium in 98% ♦ Opioid misuse is around 25% ♦ ,Oxygen therapy in COPD patients associated with burn injury 5

Oral drug normalizes blood potassium in 98 percent of kidney patients

A medication called ZS-9 normalized potassium in the blood of 98 percent of chronic kidney disease patients treated for hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia is high potassium in the blood, and may occur as a side effect of taking kidney disease medications called Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System inhibitors.

Rate of opioid misuse is around 25 percent, addiction rate 10 percent, reports study

New estimates suggest that 20 to 30 percent of opioid analgesic drugs prescribed for chronic pain are misused, while the rate of opioid addiction is approximately 10 percent. "On average, misuse was documented in approximately one out of four or five patients and addiction in approximately one out of ten or eleven patients,"

Oxygen therapy in COPD patients associated with burn injury

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receiving home oxygen have a higher risk of burn injury, a study shows. Physicians prescribing oxygen to patients with COPD struggle to balance the benefits with the risk of fire hazard in patients who continue to smoke.

Component of red grapes, wine could help ease depression

A link between inflammation and depression, which affects approximately 148 million people in the United States, has been identified by researchers. A new study finds that resveratrol -- a natural anti-inflammatory agent found in the skin of red grapes -- can prevent inflammation as well as depression-

Health News: No Ebola virus threat from legally imported African Foods ♦ Association between migraine & carpal tunnel ♦ Genetic attack against schistosomiasis + More

E.F.S.A.: No Ebola virus threat from legally imported African Foods  Raw foods that legally reach Europe, including plants, fruits, and vegetables, pose no risk of Ebola virus transmission, No human has ever been known to become infected with the Ebola virus from consumption of legally important foods into the European Continue Reading

Association between migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome found  Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome are more than twice as likely to have migraine headaches, reports a new study. Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome have symptoms such as hand numbness and weakness, resulting from pressure on the median nerve in the wrist Continue reading

Profound, debilitating fatigue found to be a major issue for autoimmune disease patients in new national survey  Fatigue is a major component of autoimmune disease research found. Fatigue described as "profound," "debilitating," and "preventing them from doing the simplest everyday tasks," is a major issue for autoimmune disease patients, impacting nearly every aspect of their lives Continue Reading

Genetic discovery may offer new avenue of attack against schistosomiasis  Researchers have discovered a group of genes in one species of snail that provide a natural resistance to the flatworm parasite that causes schistosomiasis, and opens the door to possible new drugs or ways to break the transmission cycle of this debilitating disease. It's been called a neglected global pandemic Continue Reading

Rapid testing for gene variants in kidney donors may optimize transplant outcomes

Kidney transplantation outcomes from deceased African-American donors may improve through rapid testing for apolipoprotein L1 gene renal risk variants at the time of organ recovery, according to a new study Continue Reading

11/26/13 Health News: Monsanto Signs Pesticide Deal, Biggest Mistake Doctors Make, Vitamin D Helps Kidney Transplants, Childrens Wound Healing Geans

Maui signs pesticide disclosure deal with Monsanto

WAILUKU, Hawaii -- Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa has signed a pesticide disclosure agreement with agricultural giant Monsanto. The county said Wednesday the deal requires Monsanto to disclose what types of restricted-use pesticides it's using and how much.continue reading

Two Genes May Accelerate Wound Healing in the Young

The mystery of why wounds heal more quickly in the young compared to the elderly may soon be solved following the discovery of two of the genes involved in tissue regeneration. The scientists believe that the genes, called Lin28a and IMP1, are designed to be especially active during the foetal stages of development and are gradually turned off as an animal ages - which could explain why wounds take longer to heal in the elderly and how ageing occurs.continue reading

Vitamin D for Healthy Kidney Transplants

A new study suggests that getting enough of a crucial vitamin may be essential for maintaining kidney health after a transplant. The study showed that vitamin D levels were directly related to how well patients' kidneys filtered waste out of the blood in the years after transplant surgery. Patients with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to have an organ rejection.continue reading

The Biggest Mistake Doctors Make

Misdiagnoses are harmful and costly. But they're often preventable.

A patient with abdominal pain dies from a ruptured appendix after a doctor fails to do a complete physical exam. A biopsy comes back positive for prostate cancer, but no one follows up when the lab result gets misplaced. A child's fever and rash are diagnosed as a viral illness, but they turn out to be a much more serious case of bacterial meningitis. Such devastating errors lead to permanent damage or death for as many as 160,000 patients each year, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Not only are diagnostic problems more common than other medical mistakes—and more likely to harm patients—but they're also the leading cause of malpractice claims, accounting for 35% of nearly $39 billion in payouts in the U.S. from 1986 to 2010, measured in 2011 dollars, according to Johns Hopkins. The good news is that diagnostic errors are more likely to be preventable continue reading

11/12/2013 Health News; Cannabis Potency Regulations, OXYELITE Pro One Death, Soft Drink Kidney Damages, Ban on Trans Fats

COLORADO CONSIDERS CANNABIS POTENCY REGULATIONS

The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) is hosting five working groups to establish additional regulations for retail sales of medicinal and recreational marijuana. The Mandatory Testing and Random Sampling Working Group recently met to discuss potential testing requirements for pesticides, microbials, molds, filth, residual solvents, harmful chemicals, and potency. The term “potency”... Continue Reading

OXYELITE PRO RECALLED AS MORE HEPATITIS A CASES SURFACE

The company that makes OxyElite Pro, the dietary supplement linked to recent severe cases of hepatitis A, has finally recalled certain shipments that appear to be associated with one reported death and at least 56 illnesses among customers using the product. The company, USPLabs, had previously stopped shipments of the weight-loss product, but initiated a... Continue Reading

Regular Consumption of Soft Drinks Damages Kidney, Says Study

Too much soft drinks and soda is not good for kidney, new research warns in an article in the International Business Times. The findings are based on the studies conducted by Japanese and American researchers.  In the first study, researchers from Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, in Japan looked at nearly 8000 university employees. Continue Reading

FDA to ban artery-clogging trans fats

FDA to phase out use of artery-clogging trans fats in effort to prevent heart attacks and deaths. Heart-clogging trans fats were once a staple of the American diet, plentiful in baked goods, microwave popcorn and fried foods. Now, mindful of the health risks, the Food and Drug Administration is getting rid of what's left of them for good.Continue Reading