Anesthetists address challenge of obese patients
Very obese people about to undergo surgery need special attention and equipment, which has prompted the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland to develop guidelines for these situations.
“Treating morbidly obese patients poses extra challenges for anaesthetists,” Dr. Alastair Chambers, the chair of the working group that drew up the guidelines, said in a statement.
Family effort needed to rein in childhood obesity
Governments and food manufacturers are introducing new measures in the fight against childhood obesity because of growing public alarm about the issue, but some experts say these efforts will ultimately fail until a widespread, family-driven approach is taken.
About a third of children are now overweight, and 15 percent are obese, the highest the prevalence rates have ever been, according to the American Obesity Association. The AOA defines being overweight or obese as a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 85th or 95th percentile, respectively, for children of the same age and sex.
Miniature Implanted Devices Could Treat Epilepsy, Glaucoma
Purdue University researchers have developed new miniature devices designed to be implanted in the brain to predict and prevent epileptic seizures and a nanotech sensor for implantation in the eye to treat glaucoma.
Findings will be detailed in three research papers being presented at the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society’s Sciences and Technologies for Health conference from Aug. 23-26 in Lyon, France.
Diets high in choline may increase risk for colorectal polyps
Contrary to expectations, diets high in the nutrient choline were associated with an increased risk of some colorectal polyps, which can—but do not always—lead to colorectal cancer, according to a study published online in the August 7 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Major food sources of choline include red meat, eggs, poultry, and dairy products. Choline is involved in a biochemical process known as one-carbon metabolism. Studies have shown that people with increased intake of other nutrients required for one-carbon metabolism, such as folate, are at a decreased risk for colorectal polyps. This is the first study to examine the association between choline and colorectal polyps.
