HealthTree News

Antibody Discovery Could Lead to Universal Flu Vaccine

2011-07-13T02:28:19+00:00

A study conducted by researchers at The Scripps Research Institute and Dutch biopharmaceutical company Crucell may have laid a path for a universal flu vaccine in the near future.

Through testing, researchers detected an antibody that has the potential to prevent or cure infections covering a variety or influenza viruses, which include seasonal and pandemic strains.

The study reveals that influenza subtypes are effectively neutralized by the antibody, including the deadly H3N2 strain that killed an estimated 1 million people in Asia during the 1960s.

"Together this antibody … [has] the potential to protect people against most influenza viruses," said Ian Wilson, a Hansen Professor of Structural Biology and a member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at Scripps Research and senior author of the new paper with Crucell's chief scientific officer Jaap Goudsmit.

Wilson and Crucell scientists have been working together since 2008 to strengthen influenza vaccines, which currently only work against a narrow set of strains. Furthermore, these vaccines are unable to battle unforeseen strains.

The new antibody, however, has the potential to prevent lethal infections, including viruses such as the H1N1 strain that became a pandemic in 2009.

High-Protein Diets May Lead to Appetite Control, Satiety

2011-07-12T23:00:55+00:00

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri discovered that meals high in protein may help those overweight better control their appetites and potentially experience weight loss.

According to the study, higher protein intake improved satiety throughout the day for those involved, and lead to a lower appetite during the late night and morning hours than those on a normal protein diet.

"Research has shown that higher-protein diets, those containing 18 to 35 percent of daily calorie intake from dietary protein, are associated with reductions in hunger and increased fullness throughout the day and into the evening hours," said Heather Leidy, study author and professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at the University of Missouri.

During their study, the researchers divided patients into two groups - one that ate 25 percent or calories from protein and one that ate 14 percent. Both groups had the same amount of total calories and percent of calories from fat.

Leidy and the researchers also conducted a substudy during the process regarding eating frequency. Members from both the normal- and higher-protein diets ate three or six meals a day. The researchers found the frequency among normal-protein participants showed no difference in terms of appetite or satiety. However, high-protein participants eating three meals tended to be more full and appeased than those eating six.

Secondhand Smoke Leads to Increased ADHD, Disability Risks

2011-07-12T23:00:05+00:00

Two recent studies conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that exposure to secondhand smoke can increase several mental and physical risks among children.

One study discovered that secondhand smoke exposure increased the risk of children developing two or more childhood neurobehavioral disorders by 50 percent over children without exposure.

Researchers involved with the study analyzed data recorded in 2007 by the CDC and National Center for Health Statistics. The researchers found that nearly 5 million children under the age of 12 are exposed to secondhand smoke within their homes, and up to 8 percent suffer from learning disabilities, such as ADHD and other behavioral disorders.

"[The findings] underscore the health burden of childhood neurobehavioral disorders that may be attributable to secondhand smoke exposure in homes in the States," the study authors concluded."

The study might help some parents quit smoking, as the annual medical cost for a child with neurobehavioral disorder is more than $14,500 per year.

The second study provided a little more peace of mind for the demographic. The report revealed that a significant number of children between the ages of eight and 13 living in a household with at least one smoker described the smell as "unpleasant" and "gross," and were 78 percent less likely to smoke than those with a more passive reaction to the smell.

Southern States Struggling with Colorectal Cancer Rates

2011-07-12T02:34:41+00:00

A recent report in an American Association for Cancer Research journal discovered that Southern U.S. states are struggling to keep up with the rest of the country in terms of improved colorectal mortality rates.

According to Ahmedin Jemal, vice president of surveillance research for the American Cancer Society, the mortality rate of those affected by the disease in Massachusetts has improved by 37 percent, whereas Mississippi has experienced no difference recently.

"This was very surprising, because when you look at the differences in reductions by state they are huge," said Jemal.

Colorectal cancer is currently the third-most deadly form of cancer, however, national mortality rates have been declining recently. To conduct their report, the study's researchers analyzed cases involving patients affected by the disease nationwide between 1990 and 2007.

The researchers believe the economic disparities play a large part in why some areas experienced better success rates than Southern states. In Mississippi, 18.8 percent of citizens are without health insurance, while just 5.4 percent of Massachusetts residents are not covered. Furthermore, 20 percent of Mississippi's population lives below the poverty line, compared to the national average of 13 percent.

Pregnant Mothers Stop Smoking, Reduce Birth Defects

2011-07-12T02:23:41+00:00

According to a recent study conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Southampton in the U.K. revealed that pregnant women who quit smoking have fewer negative birth outcomes.

Nick Macklon, a professor at the university, and a team of researchers studied more than 50,000 pregnancies to conduct the report. After analyzing them, the team discovered that women who gave up smoking upon hearing they were pregnant gave birth to offspring with similar birthweights to those from mothers who had never smoked.

Mothers who smoked during their pregnancies often give birth to offspring with low birthweights. Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of a premature birth, brain damage and abnormalities.

While pregnant mothers are often advised to quit smoking, prior to this study, little information had been accumulated regarding whether their elimination of tobacco had any effect on birthweight.

"Not only was birthweight much better in this group than it was in the groups where the mothers had continued to smoke, but we also found that the babies reached the same gestational age and head circumference as those born to women who had never smoked," said Macklon.

Autism Risk Slightly Increased by Prenatal Antidepressants

2011-07-06T19:00:52+00:00

A recent study discovered that pregnant mothers using antidepressants slightly increase the risk of their offspring suffering from autism.

The study, conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Northern California, analyzed 298 children that have autism spectrum disorders, their mothers and more than 1,5000 control mothers and their children.

Of those in the case group, 6.7 percent of mothers used antidepressants during their pregnancies, compared to 3.3 percent in the control group. Of those who received antidepressants, 65 percent were also prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, while 10 percent used SSRI in combination with another antidepressant. In the control group, 50 percent of those prescribed antidepressants during pregnancy used only SSRIs, while 18 percent combined the two.

The researchers revealed, after adjusting their analysis for maternal and other birth factors, mothers of children that have ASD were twice as likely to have had at least one antidepressant during the year prior to their delivery. Furthermore, compared to mothers that did not receive antidepressants, those with SSRI prescriptions were more than twice as likely to have a child with ASD.

"Although the number of children exposed prenatally to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in this population was low, results suggest that exposure, especially during the first trimester, may modestly increase the risk of ASD," the study's authors wrote.

Text Message Program Helps Smokers Quit

2011-07-05T23:00:35+00:00

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine recently conducted a text messaging program that has reportedly helped participants quit smoking.

The program discovered that daily words of encouragement, sent via text messages, can help smokers kick the habit.

Overall, nearly 6,000 people participated in the program, known as txt2stop. During the program, those that signed up for the program received five text messages per day for five weeks and then three messages per day for the following 26 weeks. People could also text the system if they had intense cravings or felt a lapse was occurring.

After six months, the txt2stop program experienced a 10.7 percent success rate, while a similar control group had 4.9 percent of participants quit.

"Text messages are a very convenient way for smokers to receive support to quit," said Caroline Free, a clinical lecturer at the London-based school. "People described txt2stop as being like having a 'friend' encouraging them or an 'angel on their shoulder.' It helped people resist the temptation to smoke."

Thus, while smokers continue to try various methods to curb their cravings, relying on friends might be the best way to kick the habit and achieve peace of mind.

Early Hardships Increase Stress Later in Life

2011-06-30T02:27:36+00:00

A recent study conducted by researchers at UCLA discovered that sensitivity to stress can be caused by a number of issues.

While a previous train of thought is that stress is caused by significant issues, such as the death of a loved one or losing a job, the new study reveals that having early adversity or experiencing previous depressive episodes can increase stress sensitivity later in life.

According to George Slavich, one of the lead researchers, individuals who experienced the loss of a parent at an early age or had an increased number of lifetime episodes of depression were more likely to become depressed as life stresses weighed heavier on the peace of mind of those that did not have similar experiences.

"We have known for a long time that some people are more likely to experience mental and physical health problems than others," Slavich said. "For example, while some people get depressed following a relationship breakup, others do not. In this study, we aimed to identify factors that are associated with this phenomenon and to examine whether increased sensitivity to stress might be playing a role."

To conduct their study, the UCLA researchers surveyed 26 men and 74 women and analyzed their results to draw conclusions between their previous life experiences and current stress and health issues.

Record Breast Cancer Study: Mammography is Effective

2011-06-30T02:00:13+00:00

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in the U.S. and doctors advocate screening as one of the best defenses against the disease. The most common screening is mammography, and according to a new study on screening, regular mammograms actually prevent breast cancer deaths over time.

The Swedish study, known as the Two-County Trial, was conducted by an international team of doctors and scientists. It is the largest and longest-running study ever done on breast cancer screening. It centered on mammography.

Researchers studied 133,065 women in two groups. One received an invitation to get a screening and another received typical care on their schedules. Study results showed there were 30 percent fewer breast cancer deaths in the group invited to undergo a screening.

"Mammographic screening confers a substantial relative and absolute reduction in breast cancer mortality risk in the long-term," said Stephen W. Duffy, M.Sc. and professor of cancer screening at Queen Mary, University of London. "For every 1,000 to 1,500 mammograms, one breast cancer death is prevented."

Screenings broke down like this: Women aged 40 to 49 were screened every two years, while women aged 50 to 74 were screened every 33 months. The study lasted almost 30 years. Study authors say the majority of the deaths prevented would have occurred ten years after the initial screening. Researchers say this shows that short-term follow-ups, while effective, are not nearly as effective as long-term follow-ups in breast cancer patients.

Researchers say some follow-up times need to exceed 15 to 20 years, because the observed number of breast cancer deaths prevented increases with the passage of time. Many women stop getting a mammogram after a certain age. This research suggests they should continue to receive mammograms as part of a long-term regular screening process.

Breast cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer thanks to years of research and technology. "Unfortunately, we cannot know for certain who will and who will not develop breast cancer," Duffy said. "But if you undergo a recommended screening regimen, and you are diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage, chances are very good that it will be successfully treated."

Pediatricians Call for Ban on Television Junk Food Ads

2011-06-30T01:06:49+00:00

When is the last time you saw an ad for tobacco products on television? That would be 1971 after Congress passed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act, which banned tobacco advertising on all television and radio stations.

Advertisements have a big impact on consumerism and thus public health. That's why some U.S. pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics are trying to ban TV ads for junk foods. They believe the ads promote a sedentary lifestyle in children and fuel the growing childhood obesity epidemic.

Obesity is one of the leading causes of disease and health complications in Americans, including children. According to the American Heart Association, about one in three American children are overweight, or suffer from obesity. Pediatricians say junk food is the culprit. It is high in unhealthy sugars, fats and chemicals that lead to type 2 diabetes and other ailments.

A study by researchers at the University of Liverpool in the U.K. found that TV ads had a significant impact on the food choices of children ages 6 to 13. Data from the study showed that a DVD featuring fast food and junk food commercials made children antsy for those products and other high-fat and sugar-rich foods. According to study authors, study participants had a greater desire for sweets and fatty foods after viewing the junk food ads compared to days when they watched toy commercials.

Researchers point out that many other factors play a role in what children desire to eat and no experimental study can truly prove food advertising contributes directly to childhood obesity or type 2 diabetes. However, studies do show advertising plays a role. "This study confirms the cumulative, sustained effect of food marketing on TV: the more children watch TV, the more susceptible they are to advertising," said Lori Dorfman who directs the Berkeley Media Studies Group in California. Dorfman went further in saying, "This might not be so bad if food marketers put their best foods forward, but they don't."

Of utmost importance in preventing childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to researchers, is a parent's willingness to purchase junk food or fast food.

Still, with all the technological gadgets and computers today, it is difficult to control what children see in the virtual world and on TV.

"It's simply not fair to expect parents alone to counter the 2 billion dollars food companies spend each year targeting their kids with fun, irresistible ads for sugary, high-fat, salty foods," added Dorfman.