Archive for July 2008

Interesting research results were presented at the 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease this week. A European study revealed that people who lived alone their entire adult life had twice the risk of developing dementia (loss of brain function) later in life. Those who divorced in midlife and subsequently remained single had 3 times the risk, while widows and widowers had a 6-fold increase in risk of dementia. Those who lived with a spouse or partner had a 50% lower risk. The researchers attribute the decrease in risk to both social and intellectual stimulation afforded by a shared relationship. Full story.

The latest issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine reports that fatal medicine errors (FMEs) occuring from mismanagement of medication by patients at home has been increasing, presumably because more and more medications are now consumed outside of hospital and clinics. An examination of FMEs from 1983 to 2004 (nearly 225 thousand) showed that the greatest number of accidental deaths involved alcohol and/or street drugs. The researchers suggest that the number of these deaths can be reduced by focussing on interventions that occur outside of clinical settings. Full story.

The FDA issued a warning on Monday to the dangers of eating the soft green substance (also called tomalley or lobster paste) found inside the lobster’s body cavity, citing concerns of toxin contamination. The toxins are due to an increase in algea levels in ocean waters ranging from New England to Canada. Ingestion of this poison can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. Symptoms include tingling and numbness of the mouth, face or neck, muscle weakness, headache and nausea. In severe cases respiratory failure and death can occur. Cooking doesn’t eliminate or neutralize the toxin. The only safe way to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning is to not ingest the toxin. The good news is that most restaurants don’t serve the parts of the lobsters that are likely to be contaminated. According to the FDA it is still okay to eat lobster claws and tails. Full story.

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have discovered a protein that senses energy usage in our cells. This protein, called SRT1, works in concert with a circadian rhythm protein called CLOCK to regulate our cells’ activities. When the balance between these proteins is disrupted, say by poor sleep or diet patterns, normal cell functions can become upset in the process. This discovery of a link between a protein involved in cell metabolism and one involved in circadian rhythms demonstrates how sleep disturbance can lead to metabolic problems such as obesity, diabetes, and even accelerated aging. Full Story.

Is there such a thing as a healthy fat? Of course there is, if you consider that fat is something we need in order to survive. Fats constitute the membranes of the cells in our bodies and insulate nerves so that they can transmit signals throughout our bodies at lightening speeds. As well, fats help in absorption of key nutrients during digestion, including beta carotene, vitamin D and vitamin E. Plant-based fats are especially beneficial because they not only help our bodies absorb key vitamins, they can also reduce cancer risk and improve cardiovascular health. Examples of these fats include those which come from seeds, nuts, avocados, and coconuts. The key is to pick the right fats and to eat them in moderation during your meals. One study showed that eating salads with full-fat salad dressing allowed for absorption of substantial amounts of antioxidants, while eating a salad with fat-free dressing virtually prevented any absorption of these nutrients. Full story.

Did you know that manufacturers are not required to list the ingredients used in laundry products and air fresheners sold in the US? A new study from the University of Washington analyzed the chemical contents of top-selling detergents and air fresheners and found staggering amounts of toxic and volatile compounds which were not listed on any of the product labels. For example, one popular plug-in air freshener contained more than 20 unlisted volatile organic compounds, seven of which are regulated as toxic or hazardous under US laws. “Fragrance chemicals are of particular interest because of the potential for involuntary exposure,” said study leader Anne Steinemann, a UW professor of civil and environmental engineering. Her previous studies have showed that 20% of the population reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10% complained of adverse effects from laundry product scents vented to the outdoors. These complaints doubled among people with asthma. Professor Steinemann hopes her research will raise public awareness and reduce exposures to potentially hazardous chemicals. In the meantime she recommends the use of scent-free consumer products. Full story.

Stanford University researchers have successfully produced antibodies against a specific type of cancer called follicular B cell lymphoma. Antibodies are traditionally produced from animals, however, this was the first human study of an injectable vaccine produced by plants. Ironically, the antibodies were produced by tobacco plants. When injected into humans, these antibodies can trigger the immune system to target cancer cells that are specific to that patient’s tumor, thus allowing the body to better fight the cancer. The advantages of plant-produced antibodies include lower cost, faster production times, and individually tailored vaccines capable to targeting each patient’s specific cancer. More trials to evaluate this method is currently under way. Full story.

Selling or buying organs is illegal in Singapore and carries a penalty of up to 12 months’ jail time, or a fine of up to $7,405, or both. However, the Asian country is considering something radically new in an attempt to meet the needs of its citizens. The country is set to review the possibility of allowing its Health Ministry to legally compensate kidney donors in order to increase the number of available kidneys that are needed each year for those on transplant waiting lists. “There are desperate patients out there wishing to live and desperately poor people willing to exchange a kidney for a hopefully improved life,” said Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore’s Minister for Health. “We should not reject any idea just because it is radical or controversial. We may be able to find an acceptable way to allow a meaningful compensation for some living, unrelated kidney donors, without breaching ethical principles or hurting the sensitivities of others.” Each year hundreds of thousands die on organ transplant lists while waiting for organs that never arrive in time. Could Singapore pave the way to a possible solution? What do you think? Full story.

One of the largest studies about the health affects of coffee was published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study found that regular coffee consumption is not associated with increased mortality. Rather, consumption of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee was found to be associated with lower rates of death from heart disease. So should everyone be drinking coffee? Well, that is a complicated question. Although the recent study demonstrated a benefit from drinking coffee on a population level, it is difficult to make individual recommendations for safe coffee consumption. According to Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy of the University of Toronto, safe daily caffeine intake is different from one person to the next due to our bodies’ varying abilities to process caffeine. “That’s why numerous studies have associated coffee consumption with both an increased and a decreased risk for many chronic diseases,” he said. So, again, it appears now that the jury is still out…for coffee. Full story.