Autism genome project identifies genetic variants that may make people susceptible to disorder – Autism is caused in part by rare genetic changes called copy number variants (CNVs), revealed by an international consortium of researchers from more than 70 universities, including the University of Utah.
Link found between passive smoking and poorer mental health – Second hand smoke exposure is associated with psychological distress and risk of future psychiatric illness, according to new UCL research that suggests the harmful affects of passive smoking go beyond physical health.
FDA Approves New Injectable Osteoporosis Treatment for Postmenopausal Women – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Prolia, an injectable treatment for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at high risk for fractures.
U of M study definitively links indoor tanning to melanoma — Nearly 2,300-person study shows no tanning is safe, regardless of age, gender or device – New research from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and Masonic Cancer Center definitively links the use of indoor tanning devices to increased risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.
Rheumatoid arthritis incidence on the rise in women — Study suggests environmental factors may be cause of increase – The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in women has risen during the period of 1995 to 2007, according to a newly published study by researchers from the Mayo Clinic.
Physicians should help patients with depression name their problem – Because people with depression often do not recognize they have a problem or are unable to describe their distress, many do not seek treatment. About a quarter of those with major depression are undiagnosed, according to several studies, and fewer than half receive treatment.
Obesity remains an economic issue, Seattle obesity study finds — UW researchers look at who buys what foods, why, where and at what cost – Ensuring access to healthy, affordable foods is a top priority in tackling the obesity epidemic in the United States. Over the course of the last six months, the Institute of Medicine, United States Department of Agriculture, The White House and First Lady Michelle Obama have taken an interest in improving access to affordable and nutritious foods.
Alcohol consumption may protect against risk of AD, particularly in female nonsmokers — According to new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease – A new study published this month in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease suggests a protective effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in women who do not smoke.
LSUHSC researcher finds surprising link between sugar in drinks and blood pressure – Researchers have found that there is an association between sugary drinks and blood pressure and that by cutting daily consumption of sugary drinks by just one serving a day, people can lower their blood pressure.
Studies document risks associated with common acid-suppressing medications – Proton pump inhibitors, medications that suppress acid in the stomach, appear to be associated with fractures in postmenopausal women and bacterial infections in many patients, and higher doses do not appear any more beneficial for treating bleeding ulcers.
Tobacco company’s new, dissolvable nicotine products could lead to accidental poisoning — Candy-like appearance and flavorings may increase appeal to infants and youth – A tobacco company’s new, dissolvable nicotine pellet–which is being sold as a tobacco product, but which in some cases resembles popular candies–could lead to accidental nicotine poisoning in children, according to a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), the Northern Ohio Poison Control Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Health, life insurers hold $1.88 billion in fast-food stocks: AJPH article — Harvard researchers say insurers put profits over health – Just weeks after the passage of a health bill that will dramatically increase the number of Americans covered by private health insurers, Harvard researchers have detailed the extent to which life and health insurance companies are major investors in the fast-food industry ? to the tune of nearly $2 billion.
