Health News

Research Suggests Waist-To-Height Ratio Could Be Better At Predicting Life Expectancy Than BMI

Date: May-14-2013
Research presented as this year's European Congress on Obesity shows that waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is a better predictor of mortality risk than body mass index (BMI). The research is by Dr Margaret Ashwell, Ashwell Associates and Oxford Brookes University, UK, Professor Ben Rickayzen and Professor Les Mayhew both at Cass Business School, City University London, UK, and colleagues...

Study Finds That Drinking Water Has Little Or No Effect On Resting Energy Expenditure

Date: May-14-2013
A study presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Liverpool has found that drinking distilled water has virtually no effect on resting energy expenditure, while mineral water has only a very small effect. The research is by Nathalie Charrière and Professor Abdul Dulloo at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and colleagues...

Leukemia Drug Prevents Build-Up Of Toxic Brain Protein

Date: May-14-2013
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have used tiny doses of a leukemia drug to halt accumulation of toxic proteins linked to Parkinson's disease in the brains of mice. This finding provides the basis to plan a clinical trial in humans to study the effects...

Analysis Reveals That Slimming World Programme Successfully Helps People Of All Sizes To Lose Weight Equally, While Men Do Better Than Women

Date: May-14-2013
A new study of 1.2 million self-funded Slimming World members - presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Liverpool, UK - reveals that people of all sizes, from slightly overweight to severely overweight in the higher body-mass index (BMI) range are equally likely to lose weight through a programme based on healthy lifestyle behaviour change. The research, the largest ever audit of a lifestyle-based weight management programme, was conducted by Slimming World's research team, led by Dr Jacquie Lavin at their headquarters in Alfreton, Derbyshire, UK...

Diagnosic Technology Improved By Chemistry Breakthrough

Date: May-14-2013
From microscopes to MRI scanners, imaging technology is growing ever more vital in the world's hospitals, whether for the diagnosis of illness or for research into new cures. Imaging technology requires dyes or contrast agents of some sort. Current contrast agents and dyes are expensive, difficult to work with and far from ideal. Now, Danish chemists have discovered a new dye and proved its worth against any of the dyes currently available. Thomas Just Sørensen and Bo Wegge Laursen are chemists at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark...

Genome-Sequencing Diagnostics For Rare Diseases: A Cautionary Tale

Date: May-14-2013
Children born with rare, inherited conditions known as Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation, or CDG, have mutations in one of the many enzymes the body uses to decorate its proteins and cells with sugars. Properly diagnosing a child with CDG and pinpointing the exact sugar gene that's mutated can be a huge relief for parents - they better understand what they're dealing with and doctors can sometimes use that information to develop a therapeutic approach. Whole-exome sequencing, an abbreviated form of whole-genome sequencing, is increasingly used as a diagnostic for CDG...

Insomnia Can Lead To Future Hospitalization And Increased Health Service Use

Date: May-14-2013
Having trouble falling or staying asleep? According to a new study led by a team of researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, insomnia may be an important indicator of future hospitalization among middle-aged and older adults. They examined the association between insomnia and use of home healthcare services, nursing homes and hospitalization and found that insomnia symptoms experienced by middle-aged and older adults were associated with greater future use of costly health services. The results are featured online in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences...

Respiratory Symptoms And Exacerbations In COPD Worsened By Allergic Disease

Date: May-14-2013
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who also have allergic disease have higher levels of respiratory symptoms and are at higher risk for COPD exacerbations, according to a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "Although allergic sensitization and allergen exposure are known to be associated with impairments in lung function, the effects of allergic disease on respiratory symptoms in COPD patients has only recently been studied," said researcher Nadia N...

Genetic Test Identifies Two Types Of Leukemia; Discovery Provides Insights Into New Treatment Approach

Date: May-14-2013
Research method used by scientists with the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University shows promise in accelerating advances in personalized cancer medicine Patients with two forms of leukemia, who currently have no viable treatment options, may benefit from existing drugs developed for different types of cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)...

Review Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Studies Supports Suggestion Of A 'Master Plan' Developed By This Industry To Instil Doubt In Their Adverse Effects

Date: May-14-2013
A review of multiple other reviews investigating links between sugar-sweetened beverages and obesity supports the suggestion that there is a 'master plan' by the industry manufacturing these drinks to instil doubt in consumers as regards their adverse effects. The review is being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Liverpool, UK, and is by Dr Philippe De Wals, Laval University, Québec City, Canada, and colleagues. "The role of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on the increasing prevalence of obesity is a matter of great interest," says Professor de Wals...