Nutrition Health Review back issues from Monday, December 22:
More Liquor better ticker?
Dec 22, 2003; ... Studies conducted around the world over the past three decades or so might seem to indicate that moderate drinking may lower the risk of coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke, which are characterized by blocked blood vessels that supply oxygen to the brain. (1) Those same studies, ...
Alcohol inhibits key brain proteins.
Dec 22, 2003 ... Although scientists have known for years that cocaine, marijuana, and heroin interact with specific proteins in the brain, they have traditionally thought that alcohol had no such pointed effects. Now University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have found evidence ...
Alcohol consumption linked to breast cancer.
Dec 22, 2003 ... According to the October 2003 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention, an increase in hormonally sensitive breast cancer in older women is linked to alcohol consumption. The study, consisting mainly of interviews with nearly 2,000 women between 65 to 79 years of ...
Alcohol's effects on the brain: an interview with William Shoemaker.(Interview)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Q. Is the addiction to alcohol physical or mental? A. Both. There are physical symptoms when people who chronically consume alcohol withdraw from it, and there is also a psychological dependence on alcohol. So it is both. Q. Can people who experience the physical ...
'Alcopops' saturate youth market.
Dec 22, 2003 ... In a relatively short amount of time, sweet-flavored alcoholic brews, or "alcopops," have swept across the country and have captured the attention of consumers under the legal drinking age of 21. The American Medical Association (AMA) estimates that about 10 percent of all ...
Problem drinkers more likely to be disabled.(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Men and women over the age of 50 are more likely to be disabled if they have a persistent history of problem drinking, according to study published in the Millbank Quarterly. "A history of problem drinking, especially when combined with recent heavy drinking, is associated with ...
Alcohol plays a role in lung cancer development.(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Light to moderate alcohol consumption might not increase the risk of lung cancer, according to a study of more than 9,000 people since 1948. People who consumed one to two alcoholic drinks a day had the same chance of developing lung cancer as non-drinkers. The effects of smoking were ...
Social status, not alcohol, may be deciding factor in health risks.
Dec 22, 2003 ... The link between drinking habits and social and psychological characteristics may explain the supposed health benefits of wine that have been reported in some studies. Erik L. Mortensen, Ph.D., of the Danish Epidemiology Science Center, Copenhagen, Denmark, and June M. Reinisch, ...
Fast facts about alcohol.
Dec 22, 2003 ... Researchers at the University of Utah have noted an association between a genetic defect linked to colon cancer, called microsatellite instability, and long-time alcohol use. Persons in the study who drank an average of 7.5 ounces of wine, 35 ounces of beer, or 3.75 ounces of hard liquor ...
ATF rejects label change.
Dec 22, 2003 ... The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) has rejected the request for more colorful and visible warning labels on all alcoholic products. The request was made by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The proposal called for new labels on the front of ...
Highway fatalities hit twelve-year high.(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... In 2002, highway fatalities reached the highest level since 1990, whereas crash-related injuries hit an all-time low, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As highway crashes continue to claim lives of ...
Water better than beer on hot days.(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... An ice-cold beer may seem like the perfect answer to hot summer weather, but Dr. Christopher Keyes, associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Texas-Southwestern, warns that water may be a more healthful option. "When the weather is hot, your body needs more ...
Bad news from France.(Alcohol, Effects on Health- report)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... A French research institute, INSERM, in a 2001 report analyzed a large selection of scientific research concerning alcohol and its benefits and risks. The report, titled "Alcohol, Effects on Health," took one year to complete. The researchers weighed the benefits against the ...
Carrie Nation: Prohibitionist and Pioneer.(Brief Article)(Biography)
Dec 22, 2003 ... The Prohibition movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries grew out of a fear that society was harming itself beyond repair by consuming alcohol. Early groups, such as the Anti-Saloon League and the Women's Christian Temperance Union, rallied citizens toward a ...
Dr. Masquelier's Mark on Health: How and Why Masquelier's Original OPCs Work.(oligomeric procyanidins )(Brief Article)(Book Review)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Dr. Masquelier's Mark on Health: How and Why Masquelier's Original OPCs Work Author: Bert Schwitters Publisher: Alfa Omega Editrice Price: $24.90 Chances are, most people have never heard of Dr. Jack Masquelier or oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs). But as the largest ...
Peaceful Mind: Using Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Psychology to Overcome depression.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Peaceful Mind: Using Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Psychology to Overcome depression Authors: John R. McQuaid, Ph.D., Paula E. Carmona, R.N., M.S.N. Publisher: New Harbinger Publications Price: $14.95 Mindfulness is a heightened awareness of the present moment ...
Do you toss and turn throughout the night, or are you a healthy, sound sleeper?(New Products of Interest)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Do you toss and turn throughout the night, or are you a healthy, sound sleeper? The BedMate[R] sleep meter by IM Systems (Baltimore) may offer an answer. This is the first consumer product of its kind for monitoring the quality of sleep in the comfort of one's own bed. ...
Many Americans enjoy convenient snacks that are full of fat and sugar.(New Products of Interest)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Many Americans enjoy convenient snacks that are full of fat and sugar. At work or on the road, it seems that a healthy person's choices are limited. A much more healthful choice-and equally convenient--is soy chips, which are more filling and are lower in ...
Silver Lake Research Corporation.(New Products of Interest)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Silver Lake Research Corporation, a California-based environmental biotechnology firm, has introduced the Watersafe[R] drinking water test product line. The do-it-yourself tests include kits for assessing levels of lead, pesticides, chlorine, and hardness in drinking water. The All-in-One ...
With the renewed popularity of mind-body-spirit forms of exercise, Naturaljourney's[TM] and "Kung Fu".(New Products of Interest)
Dec 22, 2003 ... With the renewed popularity of mind-body-spirit forms of exercise, Naturaljourney's[TM] and "Kung Fu" star David Carradine have joined forces to create fitness videos based on the martial arts. The ...
Back to Nature[R], a leading brand of nutritious granolas and other breakfast cereals.(New Products of Interest)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Back to Nature[R], a leading brand of nutritious granolas and other breakfast cereals, announces the nationwide distribution of Hi-Lo[TM] cereal. This innovative high-protein, low-carbohydrate cereal is formulated specifically for weight loss, weight ...
The Yeast Connection: women at risk: an interview with Elizabeth Crook and Carolyn Dean, M.D., and N.D.(Interview)
Dec 22, 2003 ... In 1984, Dr. William Crook published The Yeast Connection, a book that explained the subtle and frustrating effects that Candida yeasts can have on a woman's body. Dr. Crook's goal was to teach women how to better care for themselves and control yeast overgrowths. Twenty years ...
Nutrition: bulwark against alcohol dependency.
Dec 22, 2003 ... Let's ignore, for the moment, all of the theories that attempt to explain what 'drives strong men to drink ..." and concentrate upon a reality. Until recently, no one has been able to identify accurately the reason's for mankind's peculiar susceptibility to alcohol or how to reduce the ...
Carbon monoxide problems with coffee extraction process.(MEDICAL NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... JAPAN--According to findings at the Mie University School of Medicine in Mie, Japan, the process of commercial coffee roasting releases large amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) into the air. These amounts can sometimes approach life-threatening levels. A 23-year-old worker ...
Melatonin for children with chronic insomnia.(MEDICAL NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD)
Dec 22, 2003 ... THE NETHERLANDS--Melatonin has been shown to be an effective treatment for children with chronic insomnia, according to a study published in late 2003. Chronic insomnia affects nearly 10 percent of healthy school-aged children and can affect overall function and behavior ...
Age found to be significant factor in maculopathy.(MEDICAL NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... THE NETHERLANDS--Dutch Researchers found that age and early age-related maculopathy (ARM) are both prominent independent risk factors for the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). More than 6,000 participants in a study underwent identical examinations. Their ...
Treatment for diabetes dependent on the cause.(MEDICAL NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD)
Dec 22, 2003 ... UNITED KINGDOM--According to British researchers, successful treatment of type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes can vary from patient to patient, depending on the cause of the disease in each person. Researchers conducted a randomized, crossover trial of glicazide and ...
Smoking during pregnancy linked to ADHD.(MEDICAL NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD)
Dec 22, 2003 ... UNITED KINGDOM--A recent survey was mailed to families and teachers of twins aged 5-16 years who were enrolled in a British twin registry. The survey included information on Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and smoking during pregnancy in an attempt to analyze a ...
Popular herb may interfere with cancer drug.
Dec 22, 2003 ... St. John's wort, an herb thought to be a safe, natural remedy for mild depression, may interfere with a powerful cancer-fighting drug's ability to prevent relapse in leukemia patients, according to a University of Florida pharmacy researcher. His findings were reported at the annual ...
Can exercise help with depression treatment?(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Exercise is known to help relieve stress, boost spirits, and fight symptoms of depression, but can a regular exercise routine combined with targeted medications actually cure major depressive disorder? University of Texas-Southwestern researchers, along with The Cooper Institute ...
Antidepressants a concern in young patients.(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Health authorities have warned patients taking antidepressants, including children and teenagers, that signs of worsening depression and suicidal thoughts should be monitored. The warning comes after a panel of experts in February 2004 called on the FDA to issue stronger ...
Aggressive drivers may be angrier overall.
Dec 22, 2003 ... Their muscles tighten; their blood pressure rises; they are ready to hit the road. According to a new study, self-described aggressive drivers have a more pronounced physiological response to certain driving scenarios than their calm-headed peers. "Aggressive drivers appear to ...
Obesity can cause higher kidney stone risk.
Dec 22, 2003 ... Researchers at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas have found that the more overweight people are, the higher the risk of uric acid kidney stones. For the first time, these findings directly link excess body weight with uric acid kidney stones. These ...
Surgery not a factor in esophageal cancer.
Dec 22, 2003 ... A study in the December 2001 issue of Gastroenterology reported that patients who have undergone stomach surgery are not at a higher risk for esophageal cancer. These results dispute the idea that when a patient undergoes surgery to remove part of the stomach, usually a result of gastric ...
Are aspartame-induced arrhythmias associated with sudden death?
Dec 22, 2003; ... A review of sudden death in young athletes, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (2003:1064) made no mention of aspartame as a primary cause or suspected contributory factor, especially when demonstrable disease was absent. This problem has assumed great public health ...
Drug companies listed as top advertisers.
Dec 22, 2003 ... The pharmaceutical industry continues to grow as a marketing juggernaut, according to a supplement in the March 2004 issue of Advertising Age, a leading industry magazine. According to the supplement, four of the top 25 American advertisers, in terms of spending, were drug companies. ...
Are government research methods flawed?
Dec 22, 2003 ... The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) has sent a strongly worded letter to Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The institute charges that the criteria used by U.S. health policymakers to craft advice for disease prevention is not ...
Hormel Foods Corporation recalled about 104,000 pounds of canned chili with meat in January 2004.(POSTSCRIPTS)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Hormel Foods Corporation recalled about 104,000 pounds of canned chili with meat in January 2004 after customers reported the presence of plastic and other materials ...
The safety measures announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in late 2003 do not protect the American public from mad cow disease.(POSTSCRIPTS)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... The safety measures announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in late 2003 do not protect the American public from mad cow disease, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). "It is still possible--even likely--that further cases of mad ...
Lipodystrophy is an illness that is garnering increasing concern among individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.(POSTSCRIPTS)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Lipodystrophy is an illness that is garnering increasing concern among individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This condition, also known as fat redistribution syndrome (FRS), consists of fat depositions, fat atrophy, or both. To study this illness, ...
People who constantly roll, straighten, or pull their hair when styling may be at risk for permanent hair loss, according to Dr. Amit Pandya.(POSTSCRIPTS)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... People who constantly roll, straighten, or pull their hair when styling may be at risk for permanent hair loss, according to Dr. Amit Pandya, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. When traction is applied to the ...
Overindulgence in certain soft drinks may result in bromoderma.(POSTSCRIPTS)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Overindulgence in certain soft drinks may result in bromoderma, a skin condition caused by the consumption of bromides. In an article published in the May 8, 2003, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a 63-year-old man complained of ulcerated, erythematous nodules on ...
Childhood infections of the central nervous system (CNS), such as encephalitis and meningitis.(POSTSCRIPTS)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Childhood infections of the central nervous system (CNS), such as encephalitis and meningitis, do not appear to increase the risk for the development of schizophrenia, according to a study reported by the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland. This claim runs contrary to ...
After a 12-year ban on chewing gum, residents of Singapore can finally chew in public without worry of punishment.(POSTSCRIPTS)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... After a 12-year ban on chewing gum, residents of Singapore can finally chew in public without worry of punishment. Although the ban on gum was lifted in May 2004 by Singapore authorities, people who wish to buy a pack for personal consumption must first submit their names and ...
Acts of violence in the workplace or schools are often not as random as they appear, according to findings from the Health Research Institute and Pfeifer Treatment Center.(POSTSCRIPTS)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2003 ... Acts of violence in the workplace or schools are often not as random as they appear, according to findings from the Health Research Institute and Pfeifer Treatment Center, one of the leading U.S. researchers in violent behavior. A study of 24 pairs of brothers, one of average ...