News Letter
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News Letter STORIES AROUND US January 24, 2009
Issue No.: 00001
________________________________________________________
STORIES AROUND US
Life expectancy and clear air
Using life expectancy, economic, demographic and pollution data from 51
metropolitan areas, Arden Pope and his colleagues at Brigham Young University
in Utah found when fine-particle air pollution dropped by 10 micrograms per cubic
meter, life expectancy rose by 31 weeks. [1-1]
Americans were living 2.72 years longer, on average, at the end of a two-decade
study period. Up to five months of that was because of reduced air pollution.
Two new treatments for GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach contents back up
into the esophagus, often causing a feeling of heartburn.
GERD is generally treated first with medication, such as proton pump inhibitors.
However, compliance is a problem over the long-term. And, GERD returns in over
80% of cases when medication is discontinued.[2-3]
Lapaproscopic fundoplication, a surgical procedure, is used to treat GERD. In this
procedure, doctors take the top of the stomach and wrap it around the lower
part of the esophagus to create a barrier for acid reflux.
Now, two nonsurgical procedures are available to relieve many symptoms of acid
reflux disease. [2-1] Both are done using an endoscope. Endoscope is a long
flexible instrument inserted through the mouth and down the esophagus. One
procedure called full-thickness plication uses the endoscope to tighten the
junction between the esophagus and the stomach with sutures. The other,
called radiofrequency therapy, uses heat to improve the function of the valve
between the esophagus and stomach. Both treatments improved voice
symptoms and dysphagia. [2-2]
However, these benefits are no match for the consistent, durable symptom relief
achieved by laparoscopic fundoplication from an experienced surgeon, said Jon
Gould, M.D., of the University of Wisconsin in Madison. [2-2]
Researcher says, "Men's brain fight food urges better ...
Gene-Jack Wang, who chairs the medical department at Brookhaven National
Laboratory were surprised at the difference between the sexes in brain
response to controlling food intake. [3-1]
"Even though the women said they were less hungry when trying to inhibit their
response to the food, their brains were still firing away in the regions that
control the drive to eat." [3-1] [More 1..]
FDA Approves Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia
Forest Laboratories and Cypress Bioscience announced January 14 that the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved milnacipran (Savella; (NDA)
022256), a dual serotonin- and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), for the
management of fibromyalgia. This drug has tones of side effects. [More 2..]
VitaminWater
Coke came under fire in December by the FDA, which said claims Diet Coke Plus
includes a variety of vitamins and minerals violate U.S. policy against marketing
soda and other snack foods as more nutritious.
Now, Center for Science in the Public Interest said on Thursday it filed a class
action lawsuit against Coca-Cola Co, accusing the company of making deceptive
health claims about its Vitaminwater beverages. [1] The group accuses Coke of
selling what is says is basically sugar water by claiming it has vitamins that
boost immunity and reduce the risk of disease. [4-2]
This Vitaminwater beverage contains 33 grams of sugar in each bottle, which can
promote obesity, diabetes and other health problems. [4-1]
five ways to keep BPA out of your food
Deborah Kotz from USnews.com suggested five ways to keep bisphenol A (BPA)
out of your food [5-2]:
1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars.
2. Consume frozen or fresh fruits.
3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles
4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid.
5. Think in terms of moderation.
Ingestion of beta-glucan may improve sugar control
Beta-glucan is a polysaccharide in the form of fiber and the main element of fiber
in grains such as barley, oats, yeast and mushrooms. Studies have examined
the efficacy of beta-glucan in terms of the lipid lowering effects, blood sugar
reduction, weight reduction, immune modulator, and anticarcinogenic effect.
Poppitt SD and co-workers from University of Auckland NZ (email
s.poppitt@auckland.ac.nz) wrote "There is growing support for the protective
role of soluble fibre in type II diabetes. Soluble fibre beta-glucan found in cereal
products including oats and barley may be the active component. A high dose
barley beta-glucan supplement can improve glucose control when added to a
high-CHO starchy food, probably due to increased gastro-intestinal viscosity, but
not when added to a high-CHO beverage where rapid absorption combined with
decreased beta-glucan concentration and viscosity may obviate this mechanism."
[6-1] [more 3]
High Blood Sugar Linked to Memory Loss
A new study reported in the December issue of Annals of Neurology shows that
maintaining normal blood sugar levels as we age may protect against diabetes
as well as age-related memory loss. Imaging studies confirmed that rising blood
sugar was directly associated with decreased activity in the dentate gyrus part
of the hippocampus.
Because blood sugar levels tend to rise with age, it is a good idea to monitor
and take steps to lower blood sugar as we grow older as to prevent age-related
cognitive decline. Exercise can improve the ability of the muscles to process
glucose, thus, it helps protect cognitive function as we age.
This study also helps explain why diabetic people are at increased risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease. [7-1]
News Letter 0002
Reference:
[1-1] Cleaner air equals 21 more weeks of life uk.reuters.com January 22, 2009.
[2-1] Nonsurgical acid reflux therapies work -US study Reuters Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:00pm
GMT [2-2] Endoscopic Procedures Effective Against GERD Symptoms medpagetoday.com
January 19, 2009 [2-3] Comparing Two Non- Pharmacological GERD (Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease) Treatments medicalnewstoday.com 21 Jan 2009 - 3:00 PST
[3-1] Study: Favorite foods are hard for women to resist Associated Press January 19 2009
[4-1] U.S. group sues Coke over VitaminWater health claims Reuters Thu Jan 15, 2009
[4-2] Advocacy group sues Coca-Cola over VitaminWater Associated Press Jan 15, 2009
[5-2] 5 Ways to Keep Bisphenol A, or BPA, Out of Your Food USnews.com September 17,
2008
[6-1] Supplementation of a high-carbohydrate breakfast with barley beta-glucan improves
postprandial glycaemic response for meals but not beverages. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr.
2007;16(1):16-24.
[7] High Blood Sugar Linked to Memory Loss WebMD Health News Dec. 30, 2008
More
1. www.zhion.info/2009/01/researcher-says-mens-brain-fight-food.html
2. http://www.zhion.info/2009/01/fda-approves-milnacipran-for.html
3. http://www.zhion.info/2009/01/ingestion-of-beta-glucan-may-improve.html
Issue No.: 00001
________________________________________________________
STORIES AROUND US
Life expectancy and clear air
Using life expectancy, economic, demographic and pollution data from 51
metropolitan areas, Arden Pope and his colleagues at Brigham Young University
in Utah found when fine-particle air pollution dropped by 10 micrograms per cubic
meter, life expectancy rose by 31 weeks. [1-1]
Americans were living 2.72 years longer, on average, at the end of a two-decade
study period. Up to five months of that was because of reduced air pollution.
Two new treatments for GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach contents back up
into the esophagus, often causing a feeling of heartburn.
GERD is generally treated first with medication, such as proton pump inhibitors.
However, compliance is a problem over the long-term. And, GERD returns in over
80% of cases when medication is discontinued.[2-3]
Lapaproscopic fundoplication, a surgical procedure, is used to treat GERD. In this
procedure, doctors take the top of the stomach and wrap it around the lower
part of the esophagus to create a barrier for acid reflux.
Now, two nonsurgical procedures are available to relieve many symptoms of acid
reflux disease. [2-1] Both are done using an endoscope. Endoscope is a long
flexible instrument inserted through the mouth and down the esophagus. One
procedure called full-thickness plication uses the endoscope to tighten the
junction between the esophagus and the stomach with sutures. The other,
called radiofrequency therapy, uses heat to improve the function of the valve
between the esophagus and stomach. Both treatments improved voice
symptoms and dysphagia. [2-2]
However, these benefits are no match for the consistent, durable symptom relief
achieved by laparoscopic fundoplication from an experienced surgeon, said Jon
Gould, M.D., of the University of Wisconsin in Madison. [2-2]
Researcher says, "Men's brain fight food urges better ...
Gene-Jack Wang, who chairs the medical department at Brookhaven National
Laboratory were surprised at the difference between the sexes in brain
response to controlling food intake. [3-1]
"Even though the women said they were less hungry when trying to inhibit their
response to the food, their brains were still firing away in the regions that
control the drive to eat." [3-1] [More 1..]
FDA Approves Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia
Forest Laboratories and Cypress Bioscience announced January 14 that the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved milnacipran (Savella; (NDA)
022256), a dual serotonin- and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), for the
management of fibromyalgia. This drug has tones of side effects. [More 2..]
VitaminWater
Coke came under fire in December by the FDA, which said claims Diet Coke Plus
includes a variety of vitamins and minerals violate U.S. policy against marketing
soda and other snack foods as more nutritious.
Now, Center for Science in the Public Interest said on Thursday it filed a class
action lawsuit against Coca-Cola Co, accusing the company of making deceptive
health claims about its Vitaminwater beverages. [1] The group accuses Coke of
selling what is says is basically sugar water by claiming it has vitamins that
boost immunity and reduce the risk of disease. [4-2]
This Vitaminwater beverage contains 33 grams of sugar in each bottle, which can
promote obesity, diabetes and other health problems. [4-1]
five ways to keep BPA out of your food
Deborah Kotz from USnews.com suggested five ways to keep bisphenol A (BPA)
out of your food [5-2]:
1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars.
2. Consume frozen or fresh fruits.
3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles
4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid.
5. Think in terms of moderation.
Ingestion of beta-glucan may improve sugar control
Beta-glucan is a polysaccharide in the form of fiber and the main element of fiber
in grains such as barley, oats, yeast and mushrooms. Studies have examined
the efficacy of beta-glucan in terms of the lipid lowering effects, blood sugar
reduction, weight reduction, immune modulator, and anticarcinogenic effect.
Poppitt SD and co-workers from University of Auckland NZ (email
s.poppitt@auckland.ac.nz) wrote "There is growing support for the protective
role of soluble fibre in type II diabetes. Soluble fibre beta-glucan found in cereal
products including oats and barley may be the active component. A high dose
barley beta-glucan supplement can improve glucose control when added to a
high-CHO starchy food, probably due to increased gastro-intestinal viscosity, but
not when added to a high-CHO beverage where rapid absorption combined with
decreased beta-glucan concentration and viscosity may obviate this mechanism."
[6-1] [more 3]
High Blood Sugar Linked to Memory Loss
A new study reported in the December issue of Annals of Neurology shows that
maintaining normal blood sugar levels as we age may protect against diabetes
as well as age-related memory loss. Imaging studies confirmed that rising blood
sugar was directly associated with decreased activity in the dentate gyrus part
of the hippocampus.
Because blood sugar levels tend to rise with age, it is a good idea to monitor
and take steps to lower blood sugar as we grow older as to prevent age-related
cognitive decline. Exercise can improve the ability of the muscles to process
glucose, thus, it helps protect cognitive function as we age.
This study also helps explain why diabetic people are at increased risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease. [7-1]
News Letter 0002
Reference:
[1-1] Cleaner air equals 21 more weeks of life uk.reuters.com January 22, 2009.
[2-1] Nonsurgical acid reflux therapies work -US study Reuters Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:00pm
GMT [2-2] Endoscopic Procedures Effective Against GERD Symptoms medpagetoday.com
January 19, 2009 [2-3] Comparing Two Non- Pharmacological GERD (Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease) Treatments medicalnewstoday.com 21 Jan 2009 - 3:00 PST
[3-1] Study: Favorite foods are hard for women to resist Associated Press January 19 2009
[4-1] U.S. group sues Coke over VitaminWater health claims Reuters Thu Jan 15, 2009
[4-2] Advocacy group sues Coca-Cola over VitaminWater Associated Press Jan 15, 2009
[5-2] 5 Ways to Keep Bisphenol A, or BPA, Out of Your Food USnews.com September 17,
2008
[6-1] Supplementation of a high-carbohydrate breakfast with barley beta-glucan improves
postprandial glycaemic response for meals but not beverages. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr.
2007;16(1):16-24.
[7] High Blood Sugar Linked to Memory Loss WebMD Health News Dec. 30, 2008
More
1. www.zhion.info/2009/01/researcher-says-mens-brain-fight-food.html
2. http://www.zhion.info/2009/01/fda-approves-milnacipran-for.html
3. http://www.zhion.info/2009/01/ingestion-of-beta-glucan-may-improve.html
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.