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Gene variant linked with Mediterranean diet pattern prevents stroke

A gene variant strongly associated with development of type 2 diabetes appears to interact with a Mediterranean diet pattern to prevent stroke, report researchers from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University and from the CIBER Fisiopatolog-a de la Obesidad y Nutriciόn in Spain.

14 Aug 2013

Researchers say type 2 diabetes status should be taken into account in future BMI-mortality studies

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) appears to be stronger in adults without diabetes than those with existing diabetes. These findings- are published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine- in a study by Chandra Jackson of the Harvard School of Public Health and colleagues.

13 Aug 2013

Weight and mortality relationship appears to be stronger in adults without diabetes

Researchers ask diabetes status be taken into account in population studies that link weight and mortality. The relationship between body mass index (BMI) appears to be stronger in adults without diabetes than those with existing diabetes. These findings¹ are published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine² in a study by Chandra Jackson of the Harvard School of Public Health and colleagues.

12 Aug 2013

Johns Hopkins University receives $5.8M grant to research on causes of frailty in older adults

The federal government has awarded investigators at The Johns Hopkins University's schools of medicine and public health a multimillion-dollar, five-year grant to continue research designed to identify the causes of frailty in older adults, and speed the development of interventions to slow or stop it.

7 Aug 2013

New survey commissioned by PhRMA identifies America's top health priorities

A new survey commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America shows 86 percent of Americans believe developing cures for more forms of cancer should be one of the top national health priorities, followed by developing effective treatments for heart disease (78 percent) and more intensive medical care for seniors (76 percent).

2 Aug 2013

Study reveals epigenetic mechanisms contribute to chronic disease susceptibility prior to birth

If you think stress is killing you, you may be right, but what you don't know is that stress might have harmed your health even before you were born. In a new report appearing in the August 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal, Harvard researchers find that epigenetic disruptions, which are associated with chronic disease later in life, are already common at birth.

2 Aug 2013

Taxing on sugary beverages may not reduce obesity rates, say researchers

Taxing sugary beverages may help reduce calories, but the health benefits may be offset as consumers substitute other unhealthy foods, according to a joint study by researchers at RTI International, Duke University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

31 Jul 2013

Report shows almost 4 million Canadians struggle to afford food

A new report by researchers at the University of Toronto shows that almost four million Canadians are struggling to put the food they need on the table because of food insecurity.

26 Jul 2013

For many states, Medicaid expansion plans remain unsettled

Federal officials remind Florida lawmakers that it is not too late to opt into the program, while in Virginia, Politico reports the issue could be decided by this fall's gubernatorial election. Also, an Arizona push to get the issue on the ballot in November may fail because of paperwork errors and the Michigan Senate considers a tweaked expansion bill that requires co-pays for new Medicaid enrollees.

26 Jul 2013

Most U.S. physicians prioritize obligations to patients' best interests over health care cost concerns

A new study of attitudes about health care costs reveals that an overwhelming majority of U.S. physicians feel a responsibility to address costs, but prioritize their obligations to patients' best interests over cost concerns. Results of the random survey of 2,500 U.S. physicians are published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association.

25 Jul 2013

Almost 70% of New Yorkers with disability are obese

The New York State Department of Health's new information on the high rates of obesity among the disabled community is deeply concerning, says a statewide coalition of disease prevention experts and advocates.

20 Jul 2013

Common elderberry could be remedy for travellers susceptible to cold and flu, say researchers

The common elderberry could be just the remedy for international travellers susceptible to colds and bugs, according to researchers from the Griffith Health Institute.

17 Jul 2013

Majority of Australians do not know the risk factors associated with diabetes

New research conducted by Medibank 24/7 Health Advice Line reveals the majority (97%) of Australians do not know all the major symptoms of diabetes or how many types there are, despite it affecting 3.6 million people nationwide and costing the economy $6 billion per year.

16 Jul 2013

Scientists successfully transplant insulin-producing cells from one species to another

In the first step toward animal-to-human transplants of insulin-producing cells for people with type 1 diabetes, Northwestern Medicine- scientists have successfully transplanted islets, the cells that produce insulin, from one species to another. And the islets survived without immunosuppressive drugs.

15 Jul 2013

Researchers discover potential markers for severity of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Children who suffer from arthritis could one day receive more targeted treatment thanks to potential markers for the severity of the disorder discovered by researchers at the University of Adelaide and Women's and Children's Hospital.

15 Jul 2013

Healthful eating habits, physically active lifestyle prevent obesity and chronic diseases

Preventing obesity and chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers is possible through healthful eating habits and a physically active lifestyle, according to a newly updated position paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Because diseases can take many years - sometimes decades - to develop, the best prevention is early prevention.

11 Jul 2013

Lifestyle modification programs may reduce risk of heart attack in people with coronary heart disease

Lifestyle modification programs that addressed at least two health behaviors lowered the risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke in people with coronary heart disease, finds a new systematic review in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

10 Jul 2013

Saltwater-treatment for cystic fibrosis: an interview with Matthew Allen, Program Director at Cambridge Consultants

A group of Australian researchers, back in 2006, noted that there was a link between the severity of cystic fibrosis between sufferers who surfed, and sufferers who did not surf – and obviously Australia is a good place to spot that.

4 Jul 2013

New research paper explains how pregnancy provides a window to future health

Physicians with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released a paper today that provides significant insight into future health conditions that women are likely to experience, and that can be detected early based on information relating to the course of pregnancy.

2 Jul 2013

Acute Palliative Care Unit: A new frontier in managing patients with end-stage chronic disease

A new study shows that hospitals with specialized units combining the compassionate care of hospice and the level of care offered in medical-surgical units may provide efficient, cost effective assistance to patients with advanced chronic illness or terminal disease.

28 Jun 2013