4x4 Drivers More Likely to Flout Mobile Phone and Seat Belt Laws
Drivers of four wheel drive vehicles are more likely to flout laws regarding mobile phones and seat belts than drivers of other cars, finds a study published on bmj.com today.
This is a major public health concern and greater efforts are needed to educate the public and enforce these laws, argue the authors.
The study took place at three different sites in Hammersmith, West London. Private passenger vehicles were observed Monday to Friday for one hour in the morning (9-10 am), afternoon (1-2 pm), and early evening (4-5 pm).
Soy component linked to heart health benefits
A specific estrogen-like compound, daidzein, appears to be responsible for the healthy effects of soy on cholesterol levels in women, a new study shows.
Women with high levels of daidzein in their blood had lower levels of triglycerides, higher levels of HDL-C or “good” cholesterol, and healthier ratios of total to good cholesterol levels, Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and colleagues found.
The researchers note in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism that female monkeys fed a soy-rich diet show healthy changes in blood fat levels, the researchers note, but evidence of the effects of soy on cholesterol in humans has been mixed.
Parents’ attitude impacts kids’ diabetes control
Diabetic school-age children whose parents perceive them as quite capable of keeping on top of their disease actually have poorer control of blood sugar than kids whose parents are less confident in their children’s ability, a survey suggests.
“Some parents may perceive their children to be competent enough to manage their diabetes, and give them more responsibility for monitoring and treatment, when they are not yet fully prepared,” warn doctors from the UK.
Dr. H. M. Pattison, from Aston University in Birmingham, and associates asked 51 parents, mostly mothers, of children 6 to 12 years of age with insulin-dependent diabetes to rate their child’s competence and their own competence in managing the disease. The investigators compared these ratings with the children’s average annual hemoglobin A1c level—a measure of glucose control.
