TuftScope Health, Ethics, and Policy Blog

News Brief: Overweight Doctors Less Likely to Discuss Weight Loss with Patients

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:21:00 +0000

Parsa Shahbodaghi

A recent study has shown that doctors who are overweight or obese are less likely to talk to their patients about weight loss. The study took a sample of 498 primary care physicians. Using the body mass index, the composition of they physicians was 47% normal weight, 38% overweight, and 15% obese.

When talking to obese patients, normal weight doctors brought up weight loss 30% of the time. Similarly, doctors who perceived themselves heavier than their patients discussed weight loss 18% of the time. Not only does this show that obese doctors are unwilling to discuss weight loss, but it also shows that most physicians are unwilling to have this conversation.

Solutions to this problem are to make physicians lead healthy and active lives to set an example. Electronic medical records could automatically calculate one’s BMI, so that responsibility does not fall on the doctor.

Reference: Hobson, Katherine. "Overweight Doctors Less Likely to Discuss Weight Loss with Patients" . The Wall Street Journal. Health. Web. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2012/01/30/overweight-doctors-less-likely-to-discuss-weight-loss-with-patients/

News Brief: US board says censuring research on avian flu was necessary to prevent a potential catastrophe

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:32:00 +0000

Enshu Chawla

After research was completed on human to human transmission of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, there was a lot of controversy due to the censuring of the research methods used in this process. This censuring was justified due to the fact that, if an individual with bad intentions had access to the research methods, an extremely dangerous and deadly epidemic could result. The recommendation to censure the research methods was made by the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, and arguments were made over the right to censor science. The imagined catastrophe drew comparisons to the "Spanish flu" epidemic of 1918. The mortality rate of individuals reported to have been infected with the H5N1avian flu has been greater than 50%, but there have been just a few hundred people known to have it. Also, these people became infected due to close contact with sick birds. The US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has defended their recommendation of censuring the research, due to the great danger posed by human to human transmission of the avian flu. In order to alleviate the problem and to help both the research and field continue to grow, a meeting hosted by the World Health Organization will take place. Despite the concern of the H5N1 avian flu, antibodies to the virus have been found in common quantities in some rural Thai villages. This seems to go against the belief that the H5N1 avian flu is an extremely dangerous and deadly virus. Overall, the censuring of the research methods of discovering human to human transmission of the avian flu is subject to a great deal of controversy and differing beliefs.
Reference:
Roehr, Bob. "US Board Says Censuring Research on Avian Flu Was Necessary to Prevent a Potential Catastrophe." BMJ. British Medical Journal, 2 Feb. 2012. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. .

News Brief: A Spoonful of Health? UCSF Researchers Slam Sugar

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:26:00 +0000

Ariel Lefland

Have you ever imagined needing an identification card to buy food? Researchers are advocating for new regulations for foods processed with added sugars that could include taxes and age limits. They propose taxing processed foods that are sweetened with fructose or sucrose, arguing these added sugar compounds are more important additives to focus on than saturated fat and salt. Researchers also advocate taking fructose of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of ingredients Generally Recognized as Safe.
Although the FDA is not considering that step at this time, there has been much debate over this research since its recent publication in Nature by Robert Lustig, Laura Schmidt and Claire Brindis of University of California, San Francisco. Researchers cite the growing evidence that connects over-consuming fructose with hypertension and diabetes. It is also possible that cancer and cognitive decline can also result. The Sugar Association argues that the consumption of cane and beet sugar has not been rising with obesity rates and that the data supporting the researchers’ claims is not yet conclusive.
The National Confectioners Association also responded to the report. Eating sweet foods such as candy is okay in moderation, especially in an overall healthy lifestyle. What really should be happening is a plan to help consumers make healthy decisions while also being able to enjoy sweets in their diet. Keeping your sweet tooth in check is something that all of us must do when sugary cereals, candy and other sugary foods are around us; however, obesity and heart disease result from more than just the presence of these foods. We need to effect long term change and healthy habits that include both eating well and exercising. A single food, as the Sugar Association argued, is not the cause for obesity. We cannot put all of the blame on our food; it is also a matter of our dietary behaviors.

Reference: Hobson, Katherine. "A Spoonful of Health? UCSF Researchers Slam Sugar." The Wall Street Journal. Health. Web. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2012/02/02/a-spoonful-of-bad-health-ucsf-researchers-slam-sugar/. Feb 2, 2012

News Brief: Fighting Cervical Cancer With Vinegar and Ingenuity

noreply@blogger.com (TuftScope Journal) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:51:00 +0000

Hallie Abelman

Cervical cancer continues to be the number one cancer killer amongst women worldwide. But thanks to a newly approved procedure developed by the Johns Hopkins Medical School, this title might begin to decrease, especially in rural and poor countries. The procedure, known as VIA/cryo for visualization of the cervix with aceditc acid, involves inserting vinegar into a woman’s cervix. The quality of the vinegar causes precancerous spots to turn white, allowing the nurse to detect the spots more readily than if doing a normal pap smear, in which scrapings must be sent to a lab first. The vinegar highlights the tumors because they have more DNA than other tissue. If detected, these spots are then frozen off with a metal probe. This procedure has been adopted most prominently in Thailand, where 500,000 of the 8 million women ages 30 to 44 have already been screened. Although only recently endorsed by the World Health Organization, this relatively simple and inexpensive procedure has the potential to aid poor and developing countries in reducing cervical cancer rates. 85% of the 250,000 women who die from cervical cancer are poor or rural inhabitants. Because cervical cancer takes so long to develop, it is impossible to detect if rates have dropped in Thailand. But 6,000 women involved in the first trial 11 years ago continue to be cancer-free and screening significantly lowers their risk. The freezing process is about 90% effective and is becoming a more popular method worldwide.

Reference: McNeil Jr., Donald G. “Fighting Cervical Cancer With Vinegar and Ingenuity”. The New York Times Health. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/health/27cancer.html?ref=health. October 30, 2011.

News Brief: Few Doctors, Nurses Report Asking Patients About What They Expect in Their Care

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:50:00 +0000

Enshu Chawla

A study conducted by BMJ Quality & Safety has shown that medical professionals-- specifically nurses and physicians-- tend not to ask patients for their expectations regarding their care. This has shown to be a problem because patients benefit more from medical care if they can trust and communicate with their doctors. While nurses are more likely to talk to patients about their expectations, physicians, too, realize the importance of this communication. However, they do not have the proper training in order to discover what the patients may expect from their care. This trend is prevalent throughout the world. Doctors surveyed at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, along with physicians in Denmark, Israel, and the United Kingdom agree that they lack the training to ask patients about their expectations. Only about 20 percent of those surveyed believe otherwise. So while medical professionals understand that patient expectations should be taken into account, the majority of them do not ask the patients for this information. One way of improving this problem has been the rise of the use of patient satisfaction surveys. David W. Bates and Ronen Rozenblum, who are associated with Brigham and Women's Hospital, are working on the PatientSatisfactive Model. This model is supposed to help medical professionals gain insight on the expectations of their patients through asking the right questions. Although the lack of physicians and nurses who ask their patients what their expectations are has been widespread, steps are being taken towards improving on this problem.

Reference: Conaboy, Chelsea. "Few Doctors, Nurses Report Asking Patients about What They Expect in Their Care." Boston.com. The Boston Globe. . Oct 25 2011.

News Brief: Study Shows Why It's Hard to Keep Off Weight

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:48:00 +0000

Alexander Sakers

It is common knowledge that dieters often gain weight back soon after losing it, but up until now, the reason remained elusive. Why is it so hard for people to keep the weight off? A recent australian study showed that after a diet in which a person loses 10% or more of their bodyweight, levels of hormones associated with hunger drastically increase in response to the decrease in body fat. The levels of a key hormone, leptin which increases metabolism and reduces hunger, fell in response to dieting. This explains why immediately after a diet, many feel very hungry and gain their weight back. However, in a recent study, even when dieters kept the weight off for a year, leptin levels were still lower than pre-diet levels, their metabolism was slower than pre-diet, and hunger was elevated. Interestingly, when the dieters gained their weight back, their bodies returned to a more metabolically normal state, with normal levels of leptin and other hormones regulating hunger and metabolism. These results suggest that perhaps supplementing key hormones may help dieters to return to a more metabolically normal state after losing weight. One thing is clear: our bodies want to keep us fat.

Reference: Kolata, Gina. "Study Shows Why It's Hard to Keep Off Weight." The New York Times. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/health/biological-changes-thwart-weight-loss-efforts-study-finds.html?_r=1&ref=health. Oct 26 2011.

News Brief: Nonprofit's Novel Approach to Food Education

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:44:00 +0000

Parsa Shabodaghi

Two former public school teachers founded FoodFight, a program that was designed to change adolescents’ paradigm on food. The goal of the program is to not only teach the political and socioeconomic aspects behind food production, but also teach children on how to live healthy, nutritious lifestyles.

One lesson involved teaching the children when an ad (such as one for a McDonald’s fish sandwich) was being targeted to their demographic. Another involved learning how the food industry lobbyists try to influence federal dietary recommendations.

Another aspect of the program involved teaches students how to read food labels and prepare nutritious and affordable meals.

The program has had a monumental impact on the behavior of some students. One individual switched from a sweetened drink to one without calories. Another person changed his portion sizes and has since lost ten pounds.

Institutionalizing programs like FoodFight may be key in turning the tides of the obesity epidemic.

Reference: Wallace, Hannah. "In High Schools, a Critical Lens on Food." The New York Times. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/nyregion/foodfight-a-nonprofit-group-works-with-new-york-city-schools.html?_r=1&ref=health. Oct 27 2011.

News Brief: Efforts to Cut Risks to Patients at Cancer Clinics

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:28:00 +0000

Ariel Lefland

Due to low white blood cell count, or neutropenia, cancer patients are at heightened risk for infection; nearly 60,000 cancer patients per year must be hospitalized due to infection. Recent concerns regarding outbreaks of infections, including hepatitis B and C, have prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase efforts to improve infection control. Targeted specifically at outpatient oncology clinics, a new infection-control guide released Tuesday follows a broader guide issued last summer to better less than satisfactory standards currently in place at many clinics. The new CDC campaign aims to reduce the rate of infection in over one million patients who receive chemotherapy and radiation treatments at outpatient facilities each year.
In the past ten years, the CDC reports, more than 125,000 patients have potentially been exposed to diseases solely from unsafe injection procedures. Other hazardous practices including improper medication preparation in blood-processing areas, common use of saline bags and re-use of single-dose vials led to closure of a New Jersey clinic. Twenty-nine cases of hepatitis B were identified and 2,700 patients total had to be notified of possible exposure to disease. Officials closed a Mississippi chemotherapy clinic this summer after an outbreak of bacterial infections that resulted from reusing needles.
The campaign is a voluntary program for outpatient clinics. It will promote strict observance of hand-hygiene guidelines, sterile procedures for preparing and administering medications and proper and safe injection practices. The CDC has also launched a new website that allows cancer patients to assay their own risk for infection and gain advice on prevention. Additionally, the CDC has reminded patients to ask for the flu shot, as influenza is an especially dangerous infection for cancer patients. Outpatient providers must understand and recognize the important of infection control in cancer patients; providers must be made aware of the risks of using poor sterile techniques and must learn proper procedures.

Reference: Landro, Laura. "Efforts to Cut Risk to Patients at the Cancer Clinic." The Wall Street Journal. Web. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203911804576651243331232116.html. Oct 25 2011.

News Brief: Drugs to Treat A.D.H.D. Reach the Preschool Set

noreply@blogger.com (TuftScope Journal) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Hallie Abelman

As of last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics revised its guidelines for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, providing doctors with the opportunity to prescribe A.D.H.D. medication to preschool children if behavioral efforts fail. Parents of children as young as three years old are now allowed to medicate their children whereas they used to be advised towards alternative approaches to treatment such as occupational therapy, diet changes, exercise, and behavior modification until their children reached age six. Although some children might respond positively to the drug therapy, it is difficult to ensure the accuracy of such a strong diagnosis at such a young age. Critics believe that Americans should be more skeptical of medication, especially since the number of children taking A.D.H.D. medication has increased steadily in recent years (as of 2008, 5.1% of children take ADHD medication). One long-term study has been done of young children taking the drug, conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, in which 303 preschoolers and their parents participated in ten weeks of behavioral training and therapy before getting the option to take medication. This study led one third of the families to refrain from giving their children medication because the child’s behavior had improved so much already. In addition, the trial revealed that older children benefit more from the medication and that younger children were more susceptible to adverse side effects such as weight loss and anxious habits. The changing of guidelines is a controversial issue that will force parents to assess their child-rearing strategies when dealing with young children who are hyperactive. Difficulties emerge in distinguishing a healthy-active child who has a hard time focusing in kindergarten class from a child that deserves mind-altering medication. While the guidelines do not encourage doctors to prescribe drugs to three year olds, it provides a new option that has the potential to change the way our society treats children, suffering and disease.

Reference: Rabin, Caryn Roni. “Drugs to Treat A.D.H.D Reach the Preschool Set”. The New York Times Health. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/health/25consumer.html?_r=1. October 30, 2011

News Brief: Obesity, Diabetes and Poverty Share a Common Zip Code: Does Your Neighborhood Determine Your Health Outcomes?

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:00:00 +0000

MJ Murphy

In a recent large social experiment conducted, researchers concluded that residents of high-poverty areas are more likely to be effected by chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. The study, conducted by Jens Ludwig, PhD, of the University of Chicago, found that people who dwell in impoverish areas or less racial separated areas have high body mass indexes than those who live in low poverty areas. The data was collected from three trial groups. One group received vouchers to subsidize relocation costs to a low-poverty area, a second group received vouchers that were not location specific, while the control group received no such vouchers. When the Body Mass Indexes were compared for the female head of households, it was found that the families that were given vouchers to move to a low-poverty area experienced the greatest absolute difference to that of the people living in the high-poverty area. It is unknown how reliable this study may be. It is plagued flaws such as its lack of follow up, baseline health information and randomized testing, because the participants volunteered. It also fails to address what factors are the determinants of the poor health in the impoverished regions. The paper offers lack of poverty and racial separation as correlated factors; however it fails to mention the drivers of the obesity and diabetes, such as healthy food access and density of chain food establishments.

Reference: Fiore, Kristina. "Obesity, Diabetes and Poverty Share a Common Zip Code". MedPage Today. http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/29130.Oct 19 2011. New England Journal of Medicine.

News Brief: More Than One in Ten Americans Take an Antidepressent

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:54:00 +0000

Shayna Schor

In the past two decades, the use of antidepressant drugs has increased by a dramatic near 400% in the United States. In a report covering almost 13,000 participants in NHANES surveys, it was estimated that over 11% of Americans age 12 and older take antidepressants. Of this statistic, less than 33% have consulted a mental health professional in the past twelve months; 3 out of 4 prescriptions come from skilled professionals other than psychiatrists, and upwards of 6% of those using antidepressants have no medical illness diagnosis whatsoever. In stark contrast, 2 out of 3 individuals who do exhibit highly depressive symptoms are not currently taking antidepressants. Although income level seems not to be a factor in rates of antidepressant use, women and whites seem more likely to take these drugs than their male and non-white counterparts: only 1 in 5 men with severe depressive symptoms are reportedly taking these drugs, whereas 23% of women aged 40 to 59 use antidepressants. It is advised that individuals seeking antidepressants visit psychiatrists or other mental-health professionals before doing so, and that patients begin with a single prescription rather than a combination of antidepressant drugs to treat their symptoms.

Reference: Hobson, Katherine. "More Than One in Ten Americans Take an Antidepressant" The Wall Street Journal Health Blog. Web. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2011/10/19/more-than-one-in-ten-americans-take-an-antidepressant/. Oct 19 2011.

News Brief: Vaccine Provides Partial Protection Against Malaria, study shows

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:48:00 +0000

Prachi Sharma

Researchers recently announced a breakthrough in preventative medicine with the development of the first malaria vaccine. Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease primarily prevalent in Africa, Southeast Asia and Brazil, infects approximately 225 million people each year and of those, kills 781 thousand people. Once infected, parasites enter the bloodstream and infect red blood cells, causing anemia, among other serious side effects. The vaccine, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and developed from a combined effort by scientists from PATH and GlaxoSmithKline, vastly reduced the risk of severe cases of malaria in 5 to 17-month olds by 47 percent, in a series of trials conducted in countries across northern Africa. The trials also revealed that the vaccine reduced risk of less serious cases by 56 percent. The vaccine, however, is still in its preliminary stages and scientists stress that much more research must be conducted to determine the vaccine's long-term effectiveness. Thus, the vaccine will not be widely distributed and available prior to 2015.

Reference: Lazar, Kay. "Vaccine Provides Partial Protection Against Malaria, Study Shows." Boston.com . Web.

http://www.boston.com/Boston/whitecoatnotes/2011/10/vaccine-provides-partial-protection-against-malaria-study-shows/lZ6oWE86IR90BhrUT3pzXK/index.html. Oct 18 2011.

News Brief: Questions on Tactic to Prevent H.I.V.

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:31:00 +0000

Joseph St. Pierre

Recently, three clinical trials have shown that the antiretroviral Truvada, when taken daily, can protect individuals from being infected with H.I.V. A pilot program known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is in its planning stages by researchers in San Francisco and Miami. During this program, researchers plan to enroll as many as 500 uninfected men have of sexual relations with other men in which each participant will be asked to take Truvada daily. In particular, the program will aim at younger gay men and African-Americans, who are considered to be at greatest risk.

However, questions are already popping up amongst the scientific community regarding the program’s effectiveness and ethical standing. While AIDS advocates hail the method as a way to check the spread of H.I.V, others wonder if the drug will prompt an increased frequency of unprotected sex even when prescription instructions are not followed. AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles president Michael Weinstein remarked that even in first round trials of PrEP, participants extensively counseled that failure to follow protocol could risk infection still sometimes failed to take the drug on the required daily basis. In addition, Truvada costs considerable money to produce, which could prevent those unable to afford it from receiving the 90% protection chance the drug provided in clinical trials. Ultimately, proponents of the drug agree that it would be unethical to discontinue trials and research on the drug, given its potential in slowing the spread of AIDS epidemic.

Reference: Tuller, David. "Questions on Tactic to Prevent H.I.V." The New York Times. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/health/11hiv.html?_r=1&ref=research. Oct 10 2011.

News Brief: "First Ever" Fall in Global TB

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:26:00 +0000

Joshua Dower

In the United States, tuberculosis is not as common as it was a century ago, but this disease is still an issue that affects the lives of millions of people around the world. However, the illness’ impact seems to be lessening. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people around the world infected with tuberculosis has fallen for the first time in history. Additionally, less people have died from TB this year than have in the past ten years. This seems like a step in the right direction to eradicate this disease and save many lives, but it is still necessary to fund continued research and medical support in the face of multi-drug resistant strains of TB.

This great progress is mostly due to improvements in Brazil, Kenya, and Tanzania, as well as China, where the death after infection with TB has fallen 80% since 1990. Though this disease seems to be less deadly than it once was, it still impacts 1/3 of the world’s population. Between rapid screenings for TB and modern medicine, further steps can be made to end TB’s classification as a deadly disease. But the WHO warns that without further funding, millions of people will go without treatment and will die as a result.

Reference: McGrath, Matt. "'First Ever' Fall in Global TB". BBC Health News. Web. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15263365. Oct 11 2011.

News Brief: More Evidence Against Vitamin Use

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:22:00 +0000

Bassel Ghaddar

Recently two new studies confirmed that taking supplemental vitamins at an amount over the normal dietary intake can be harmful. A study of 35, 000 men found that users of vitamin E and selenium had a slightly higher risk of developing prostate cancer, as The Journal of the American Medical Association reported. Another study of 38,000 women in Iowa found a higher risk of death for women who take multivitamins over those who do not.

In the two most recent studies, men were given doses of 200 micrograms of selenium and 400 international units of vitamin E (most multivitamins contain 50 micrograms of selenium and 30 to 200 international units of vitamin E), and were found to have a 17% higher risk of prostate cancer. As for the Iowa study, women taking multivitamins, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc and copper all displayed an increased risk of death of up to 5.9%.

These studies as well as other similar past studies are undermining the justification for the extensive use of supplements. Although vitamins are essential nutrients that the body cannot manufacture, a growing body of research is showing that high levels of vitamins can be more destructive than beneficial.

References: Parker-Pope, Tara. "More Evidence Against Vitamin Use". The New York Times. Web. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/more-evidence-against-vitamin-use/?ref=health Oct. 11 2011

News Brief: China’s Next Revolution Is in Fitness

noreply@blogger.com (TuftScope Journal) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:49:00 +0000

Kristiina Yang

As China’s economy has quickly grown to become worlds second largest, obesity rates amongst the country’s citizens have concurrently risen to unsettlingly high levels. This is no coincidence in an increasingly globalized world, where China’s expanding middle class is choosing to spend their money on accessible, unhealthy food products, particularly from American fast food chains, which can now be widely found throughout the country. In several Chinese cities, the World Health Organization reports that obesity rates have reached levels as high as 20%, posing a significant health concern for the country’s government. Recognizing this rising health issue, however, the municipal governments of many Chinese cities are taking action by developing a foundation for athletic behavior, showing a great desire to finance the construction of new fields, facilities, and spaces for exercise. Further, existing gyms, sports clubs, and gear shops are seeing increasing usage and globalization is bringing a number of foreign gym and gear chains to the country. In schools, students’ physical education grades are being factored into scores alongside conventional subjects as math and language. With such measures being undertaken, China is on its way to slowing down obesity rates and fostering a healthier populace for the future.

Reference:

Sims, Tom. “China’s Next Revolution Is in Fitness”. The New York Times. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/world/asia/chinas-next-revolution-is-in-fitness.html?ref=health. Oct. 12, 2011.

News Brief: Contraceptive Used in Africa May Double Risk of H.I.V.

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:54:00 +0000

Parsa Shahbodaghi

The use of a popular hormonal contraceptive was found to have increased the rate of HIV infection in African populations. According to a recent study by the Lancet, the intravenous use of a hormone over a three month period was found to double the risk of women contracting HIV. Similarly, when HIV positive women used this method their male partners were twice as likely to contract the virus.

Though there is uncertainty with any scientific endeavor, this study looked at 3800 heterosexual couples where one member was already infected with the disease. Researchers were therefore able to monitor viral transmission and provide evidence for a causal link between contraceptive use and infection.

The implications of this work are enormous. Injectable contraceptives are popular in Africa, because a woman is able to control the timing of birth without having to travel or see a doctor. The contraceptives have also helped hundreds of thousands of women avoid the infections, injuries, and death associated with childbirth. On the other hand, increasing HIV incidence is an enormous price to pay. The WHO will be re-evaluating to see whether the costs of using this method of conception outweigh the benefits.

Reference: Belluck, Pam. "Contraceptive Used in Africa May Double Risk of H.I.V." The New York Times. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/health/04hiv.html?_r=1. Oct 3 2011.

News Brief: Beta Blockers "May Stop Breast Cancer Spreading"

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Ariel Lefland

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2011 there have been about 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women, 57,650 cases of carcinoma in situ will be found and about 39,520 women have died from breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Ninety percent of the deaths from breast cancer are specifically due to the malignant character of the disease, which causes it to spread to other parts of the body Although the statistics show that due to better treatments and earlier detection of tumors more women are surviving breast cancer, cancer experts are looking into a new type of therapy that may cut the risk of breast cancer spreading, hopefully cutting the number of deaths it causes.
Early work on beta blockers found that women taking beta blockers had a seventy-one percent reduced risk for cancer-related death. Studies have highlighted the potential of beta blockers to stop noradrenergic receptors, preventing cells from moving to other parts of the body. The chance for cancer to spread in eight hundred female patients who have used these beat blockers commonly used as blood pressure drugs has already decreased fifty percent. The Cancer Research UK backed study to be reported next year will study a sample of thirty thousand patients. This research, investigators remark, has huge potential to save lives.

Reference: "Beta Blockers 'May Stop Breast Cancer Spreading'." BBC Health News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15117324. Sep 30 2011.

News Brief: The Temptations of Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:46:00 +0000

Alex Sakers

Pass me the chocolate!

A short review of recent epidemiological research on the effects of chocolate on health has suggested that chocolate may actually be good for us. Specifically, a handful of observational studies found a correlation between increased chocolate consumption and better cardiometabolic health - ie. greater chocolate consumption correlated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attack, and diabetes. These results are consistent with the historical observation that cultures that consume more chocolate per capita have lower rates of these diseases compared to those that consume less chocolate per capita.
These results though promising and encouraging, especially in light of the fact that nearly many “comfort” foods are detrimental to our health, but they must be taken with a grain of salt. The studies performed used non-randomized groups and were observational. To verify their results, truly randomized and well controlled studies must be performed. Until then, keep eating your chocolate.

Reference: Mackenbach, Joseph P. "Editorial: The Temptations of Chocolate." BMJ 2011; 343:d5883. Sep 20 2011.

News Brief: Remark on HPV Could Ripple for Years

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:20:00 +0000

Marie J Murphy

During last week’s debate for republican presidential candidate, Michelle Bachmann was quoted questioning the safety of the recently produced vaccine that protects against cervical cancer. The vaccine safeguards against the acquisition of HPV, the cancer inducing sexually transmitted infection. Bachmann announced that the vaccine is dangerous, although semi-recanting after being attacked by opposing medical experts. Dr. Wharton, a deputy director at the CDC, exclaimed that the rates of immunization are not meeting goals, especially with the high levels of transmission, and that Bachmann’s statement will do little to help the cause. Opinions of politicians, regardless of their validity, have a large impact on public opinion and can be very damaging to public health efforts, especially when they lack of factual basis involve highly controversial topics. In the case of the HPV vaccine, there is already a low uptake of the regimen because of social stigma and its identification as “the sex” vaccine. Since it is administered around the ages of early puberty, many parents will not approve it for their children for fear that it encourages sexual acts. Misconceptions about the vaccine continue to drive its lack of application in the general population. Despite its effectiveness, misunderstanding of the purpose of the vaccine hinders the widespread application.According to Dr. Deborah Saslow, the director for breast and gynecological cancer at the American Cancer Society, the vaccines are “93 to 100 percent effective at preventing infection with HPV Type 16 and Type 18” (Grady). As of this year, more than 35 million doses of the two cervical cancer vaccines have been disseminated in the United States, with projections likely to drop because of continued political involvement in the debate, which can not be afforded.

Reference: Grady, Denise. "Remark on HPV Could Ripple for Years." The New York Times. Web. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/health/20hpv.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=health&adxnnlx=1317510083-qoeoaOKqm1gV3qGKs4VAxg> Sep 19 2011.

News Brief: Parents Fear Health Care Law Could Derail Autism Coverage

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:16:00 +0000

Lucia Joseph

The annual cost of caring for a child with autism, a medical and educational endeavor including physical and occupational therapy as well as behavioral analysis, can run upwards of $50,000. Many families rely on state mandates (present in 26 states around the country) which force health insurers to pay for autism services as a way to continue treatment for their children. Insurance companies claim that state laws mandating autism coverage boost premiums for all persons insured, but for families saving tens of thousands of dollars a year on otherwise unsustainable costs, the 1 to 3% hikes are worth it.
Unfortunately, these mandates are at risk of disappearing due to the 2010 federal overhaul healthcare law which gave federal government the right to designate what “benefits” will be offered by health insurers to individuals and small businesses. In other words, while in the past “[autism] mandates have been a way for states to be doing something on a major issue without money coming out of the state treasury,” after the overhaul bill comes into effect states will have to pay for anything they mandate which is not present on the list of federal benefits. It’s unclear how the government will determine its list of benefits, or whether the Department of Health and Human Services will play a role, so for now, families caring for autistic children just have to wait and see.

Reference: Galewitz, Phil. "Parents Fear Health Law Could Derail Autism Coverage." Kaiser Health News. Web. http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/September/24/autism-health-insurance-benefits.aspx . Sep 24 2011

News Brief: Glowing Cats Shed Light on AIDS

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Alex Sakers

Fluorescent cats are lending a (glowing) paw in the fight against AIDS. These cats have been genetically engineered to express two genes, one for green fluorescent protein (GFP) - that causes them to glow, and an antiviral gene from a rhesus monkey. Of course, the antiviral gene is the one of interest - the GFP gene was only included to allow researchers to visually determine if cats had successfully received both genes as they were transferred together. The monkey antiviral gene codes for a protein called a restriction factor that is particularly good at fighting the feline aids virus called FIV which is analogous to HIV in humans. Native restriction factors in both felines and humans are useless against FIV and HIV respectively making the monkey version particularly useful in fighting the infection in infected individuals. So far, cultured cells from the glowing cats have been shown to be resistant to FIV. The team now plans to expose cats to the FIV virus to see if they are protected by the monkey restriction factor, hoping that this may someday aid in fighting HIV.

References: "Glowing Cats Shed Light on AIDS" BBC. Web. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14882008. Sep 12 2011.

News Brief: UN Meeting for Non-Communicable Diseases

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:11:00 +0000

Joshua Dower

This past week, the UN held a high level meeting to discuss NCD. This stands for Non-Communicable Diseases, which include heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses that cannot be transferred from one person to another. The entire world is waiting to hear about the outcomes of this meeting because NCD is currently not a focus of medical research and economic support. This group of diseases represents the number one killer in the world and the World Health Organization predicts the number of deaths caused by NCD in developing countries will increase over the next ten years. Although many predict that NCD will remain a problem in society even after the meeting, many organizations are happy to see that the creation of the NCD alliance will increase public awareness of the diseases. Organizations involved include Unicef and UN habitat, and they hope to model programs that fight NCD after similar programs developed to fight HIV/AIDS that came as a result of a similar meeting ten years ago.

To fully eradicate NCD, many different countries must commit to researching and educating about these diseases. There are already eleven global organizations devoted to this cause, but this is not enough to reach every affected group of people. In the current global economic environment and with the population growing, it will be incredibly difficult to change NCD’s wide impact. However, this important meeting will hopefully kick-start many global initiatives that will eventually lead to saving people’s lives.

References: Koehlmoos, Tracey Perez. "UN Meeting for Non-Communicable Diseases". British Medical Journal. Web. http://www.bmj.com.ezproxy.library.tufts.edu/content/343/bmj.d5762.full. Sep 13 2011.

News Brief: More Kids Accidentally Poisoned by Prescription Drugs

noreply@blogger.com (News and Analysis Editor) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:58:00 +0000

Ariel Lefland

Despite the efforts of childproof caps that seal medication bottles, researchers believe that the increased presence of drugs in homes with small children has led to an increase of poisonings in children. A recent study published in the Journal of Pediatrics examining data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that emergency-department use for all pharmaceutical exposures increased 30% between 2001 and 2008. Randall Bond, an author of the study, stated that “there are more medications in households with small children.” As obesity rates increase, adults start taking medications for diabetes and blood pressure at younger age. Furthermore, older kids and teens are also taking more pills for diabetes and ADHD, allowing increased opportunities for small kids to get their hands on prescription drugs. Investigators pointed out three drug categories that most often cause accidental poisonings in children: opioid painkillers, sedative-hypnotics and sleep aids, and cardiovascular medications. Drugs may not only be easier for children to access but may also be more potent, which also contributes to the problem. Families must now take extra care to keep pills in places where young children cannot get to them. Researchers suggest that the best poison prevention would come not just from families taking extra caution but from better packaging methods that would make it more difficult for young children to get into medicine bottles and “pill minders”.

Reference: Hobson, Katherine. "More Kids Accidentally Poisoned by Prescription Drugs" Wall Street Journal. Web. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2011/09/16/more-kids-accidentally-poisoned-by-prescription-drugs/. Sep 21 2001.

News Brief: Portrait of an Ostracized Autism Theorist

noreply@blogger.com (TuftScope Journal) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:20:00 +0000

Emily Clark

A timely piece addresses the life behind that scientist who, with one research project, initiated a cascade of controversy about whether there was a vaccine-autism link. While the medical establishment has repeatedly discredited Andrew Wakefield’s scientific integrity, revoked his medical license and retracted the original 1998 article from the Lancet, he continues to hold a curious position of power. Journalist Susan Dominus visits Wakefield in his adopted state of Texas and witnesses the way he holds sway over families impacted by autism. It is an interesting transformation that she describes from a man who once was a respected physician and researcher to one who is seen in the media as a fraudulent, slippery and unethical appropriator of science for profit, yet who sees himself as a martyr. The image she paints is one of a man devoted to his theories like a preacher is devoted to his beliefs, and who dismisses scientific scrutiny in favor of faith. Wakefield is widely blamed for the current decline in vaccine rates and for scaring parents away from immunizations without adequate evidence. It is easy to see how he’s been able to hold this position in the eyes of someone who has seen autism develop in a child. He presents an absolute certainty and trust in the idea that “parents know best”. This is something they often don’t feel like they get from visits to doctors. As one mother professed, “I think that validation is all that parents want - just that someone is taking the symptoms that we report and looking at them to see what we can do about it.” The incidence of autism in children is creeping up nationwide, and without a definitive treatment or any evidence about what parents can do to protect their children, the fact that Wakefield is able to defend his theories just enough to convince parents that he is onto something has huge implications.

Reference: Dominus, Susan. “The Crash and Burn of an Autism Guru” New York Times. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/magazine/mag-24Autism-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=global-home. Apr 20 2011.