Lab Notes - Today's Essential Health News from CalorieLab

More Red-Meat-and-Diabetes Links Found

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:14:31 -0700

Prior studies have shown a link between a diet rich in red meat and type 2 diabetes, but a new analysis of 149,000 subjects' dietary records over 12 to 16 years indicates that the more red meat consumed, especially in processed form such as lunch meats, the higher the diabetes risk. Among the findings: increased red meat consumption is linked to weight gain, but not enough to explain the prevalence of diabetes among red meat eaters; increasing one’s red meat consumption by as little as 1.5 ounces a day over a four-year period raises one's diabetes risk by nearly 50 percent. In contrast, cutting one's red meat intake by one-half serving per day lower one's diabetes risk by 14 percent over the following decade. "Red meat" includes beef, pork, hamburger, hotdogs and processed meats. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Chrysler Agrees to Recall 2.7 Million Jeeps

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:04:00 -0700

Chrysler has decided to adhere to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration request to recall 2.7 million older model Jeeps, it was just announced. Until now, Chrysler said that the Jeeps met all federal safety standards when they were manufactured two decades ago and contended that the SUVs are as safe as other vehicles from the same era. The government says that 51 people have died in car fires in Jeep Grand Cherokees and Libertys due to the position of those cars’ gas tanks, behind the rear axle, that make them more susceptible to fiery crashes. Chrysler says that federal regulators are holding the vehicles to a new safety standard. In the past, the car company successfully used that argument to resist a recall - but the government did not back down and Chrysler acquiesced. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Patients’ First Priority: Prompt Treatment

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:36:13 -0700

A new study has found that 60 percent of those surveyed would prefer to be seen by a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant to get treatment for a worsening cough right away, rather than have to wait 24 hours to see an MD. The study was prompted by concern over the increasing shortage of physicians, estimated to hit a 90,000 shortfall by 2020, as nationwide health care becomes a reality and the U.S. population ages. A 2012 study indicated that 75 percent of patients would prefer waiting longer or paying more to see a physician, but it was conducted by the AMA, which represents MDs, while the newer one, conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges, may be more objective. Eighteen states now allow nurse practitioners to treat patients without a doctor present. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Our Poor Hand Washing Habits Spread Disease

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:41:23 -0700

The CDC states that half of all food borne illnesses result from unclean hands, and a study by Michigan State University of the behavior patterns of 3,749 people in public restrooms may indicate why. Among its findings: 15 percent of men and 7 percent of women don't wash their hands at all, and of those who do, 50 percent of the men and 22 percent of the women don't bother to use soap. Moreover, the hand washers rarely wash properly, meaning with soap, vigorously, and for at least 20 seconds. A scant five percent wash for that long; the average duration is just six seconds. On a promising note, people are more likely to wash if there’s a sign on the premises urging them to do so. On a somewhat counterintuitive note, they're less likely to wash if the sink is dirty. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Pathway Linked to Type 1 Diabetes Found

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:11:00 -0700

Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital appear to have discovered the root cause of type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes. It most commonly affects kids and young adults who cannot produce insulin that tissues need to use glucose. Hundreds of pathways were analyzed from animal models but it was the ATP/P2X7R pathway that was tied to the disease. This pathway tells T-cells to attack the pancreas containing made of islets of alpha and beta cells. Normally functioning beta cells produce insulin. While treatments targeting this pathway are years away, researchers are excited about having a specific target they can develop treatments for. Current treatments involve insulin injections and islet cell transplants which require lifelong immunosuppressant drugs to prevent rejection. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Hot New Weight-Loss Fad: "The Fast Diet”

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:27:56 -0700

Word of mouth and anecdotal claims of dramatic weight loss have raised "The Fast Diet" to near fad status in the U.K. and United States. Based on studies which found that intermittent fasting aids in losing body fat and reducing cholesterol, this approach lets the dieter eat completely freely five days a week, but limits him or her to just 600 calories, roughly one-fourth of a typical adult's daily calorie consumption, on each of the remaining two days. The diet reportedly produces an average pound per week in steady weight loss without the stress of feeling that you must consciously exercise self-control 24/7, an emotional drain that routinely overwhelms and demoralizes dieters. Britain’s National Health Service, at first dubious, now favors further study of the diet. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Cancer Groups Lead "Worst Charities" List

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:28:05 -0700

The Center for Investigative Reporting, America's largest nonprofit news operation devoted to watchdog journalism, has compiled a list of "America's 50 Worst Charities," based on the amount of donations collected and the percentage actually spent on financial aid to those supposedly served. The list is dominated by charities ostensibly aiding cancer victims, with three of the worst six (Cancer Fund of America, American Breast Cancer Foundation, Breast Cancer Relief Foundation), two of the next five (Children's Cancer Fund of America, Children's Cancer Recovery Fund), and ten cancer-themed charities overall. Other poorly-served causes include heart disease, AIDs and diabetes. Potential donors are advised to refer to the list at http://www.tampabay.com/americas-worst-charities/. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Movie Poster Shows Slimmer Melissa McCarthy

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:11:55 -0700

Actress Melissa McCarthy's face appears much slimmer in a promotional movie poster in the UK for the film "The Heat," also starring Sandra Bullock. The 21st Century Fox movie will open in cinemas later this summer, but right now what's opening up is a bunch of questions and anger from fans and bloggers. It's unclear why the movie poster depicts a slimmed-down face for Melissa McCarthy. According to UK's Daily Mail, the U.S. movie posters for "The Heat" also feature a digitally slimmed McCarthy, but have a "more stylized look." What do you think of the altered movie posters? (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Eyeball Licking Spreads Pinkeye in Japan

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:17:05 -0700

Eyeball licking (also known as worming or oculolinctus) is spreading pinkeye among preteens in Japan. The practice of eyeball licking is considered the next base after French kissing. During eyeball licking, the licked person holds his or her eyelid open while the lickee applies tongue! Experts warn that the dangers of eyeball licking go beyond pinkeye. If the licker has a cold sore, it's possible to spread herpes into the eye. Worse, eyeball licking could also lead to corneal abrasions or even blindness! (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Hands-Free Devices and Driving Are Unsafe

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:12:13 -0700

Contrary to what is currently believed, using hands-free devices to talk and text while driving is unsafe according to a new U of Utah study issued by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Hands-free is not risk-free, says lead study author Professor David Strayer. "These new, speech-based technologies in the car can overload the driver's attention and impair their ability to drive safely,” says Strayer who adds, “If you don’t pay attention then you are a potential hazard on the roadway.” Strayer first brought attention to the hazards of hands-free devices in 2006 - but the public didn’t listen. Now, with the backing of the AAA, Strayer hopes the message will sink in and that drivers will abstain from talking, texting and social media - with or without hands-free devices - while driving. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Lego Faces Are Getting More Angry

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:55:23 -0700

Lego has been adding more angry faces to its mini-figures and decreasing the number of happy faces, says robot expert Dr. Christoph Bartneck, the acting director of the University of Canterbury's Human Interface Technology Laboratory in New Zealand. Bartneck is expected to present a paper on his findings at the First International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction in Sapporo, Japan. Bartneck, who has studied all 6,000 Lego mini-figures, says that it's important to consider how children's toys are perceived. He wonders how the move away from positive faces may impact children's play. While the themes for the mini-figures are increasingly based on conflict, the "facial expressions are not directly matched to good and evil," notes the robot expert. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

It's Better to Meet Your Spouse Online

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:34:55 -0700

Science has spoken: Meeting your spouse online can lead to a more successful marriage. Scientific American reports that social neuroscientist John Cacioppo from the University of Chicago and his colleagues found that online meetings frequently result in successful marriages. According to an online survey of more than 19,000 American adults who tied the knot between 2005 and 2012, more than a third of marriages now begin online. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also found that meeting your spouse online was associated with fewer breakups (5.96 percent) compared to offline meetings (7.67 percent). In addition, couples who met online reported more martial satisfaction. In case you're wondering: Yes, all couples met in person before getting married! (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

McDonald’s Cuts Healthy But Lagging Salads

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:00:54 -0700

McDonald's, which began adding entree salads (as distinguished from side salads) to its menu ten years ago to create a healthier public image, has decided to remove two of them, the Chicken Selects and Fruit & Walnut Salads, from its product line. The reason is purely financial: according to Donald Thompson, the company's CEO, salad entrees comprise just two to three percent of its U.S. restaurant sales. For the same reason, it will also eliminate the pricey Angus Third Pounder hamburger at the other end of the calorie spectrum. The company will focus on its Dollar Menu items, which now contribute some fifteen percent of sales, and has added as "healthy" menu items a Subway-competitive chicken McWrap, and Egg McMuffins made with egg whites and whole grains. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Walk After Meals to Lower Diabetes Risk

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:28:25 -0700

A 15-minute walk after each meal regulates blood sugar levels in older people and may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, say researchers at The George Washington University. The study followed ten people, ages 60+, who were healthy but at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers had them complete different exercise protocols that included either a post-meal 15-minute walk after eating standardized meals or a 45-minute walk in the morning or afternoon. Researchers noted that the post-meal walks significantly decreased the spike in blood sugar that accompanies eating and confirm that exercise, even in small doses and when timed just right, has greater overall benefits to blood sugar control among older people than one large sustained dose. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)

Belviq Weight-Loss Drug Finally Available

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:52:05 -0700

Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) weight-loss prescription drug is now available to some patients with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30, or a BMI of 27 with a weight-related medical condition like hypertension. It has been almost one year since the FDA approved Belviq, but its availability to patients has been delayed because the FDA wanted to review the drug. The FDA has noted that Belviq, made by Arena Pharmaceuticals, should be used in "addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise." Another weight-loss drug, Qsymia, will be available in September. Research trials have shown that the weight loss achieved by Belviq or Qsymia is modest. (From the CalorieLab Lab Notes news feed)