Guide to healthy eating for diabetics exposes myths
A new report from Harvard Health Publications dispels common myths concerning diet and diabetes and explains what people with diabetes should eat to keep their blood sugar levels in check.
One of the most common myths is that there is a “diabetes diet” that prohibits sugar and lists other items to avoid. “In fact, the advice for people with diabetes is similar to that for the general population, but with extra emphasis on weight control and control of blood sugar and risk factors for heart disease,” the report states.
Testosterone patch sparks sex drive for some women
Testosterone patches can significantly boost the libido for some women with sub par sex drives after surgery to remove their ovaries, who report an average of one additional sexual encounter a week after starting to use the hormone, a new study shows.
“It doesn’t work for everybody, but when it works it works nicely,” Dr. Sheryl Kingsberg of University Hospitals of Cleveland in Ohio, the study’s lead author, told Reuters Health.
Meth abuse may speed age-related brain degeneration
Young people who abuse methamphetamines may put themselves at risk of parkinson-like movement disorders later in life, a new animal study suggests.
In experiments with mice, scientists found that animals deficient in a protein called glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were especially vulnerable to long-term movement problems after being exposed to the neurotoxic effects of a methamphetamine “binge.”
Chewing tobacco not “safe” alternative to smoking
People who use chewing tobacco expose themselves to even higher levels of a particular cancer-causing compound than tobacco smokers do, according to a new study.
Researchers found that compared with cigarette smokers, adults who used chewing tobacco appeared to have greater exposure to a substance called NNK, one of the prime carcinogens in tobacco. In laboratory animals, NNK has been found to cause cancer of the lung, pancreas, liver and nasal mucosa.
Exercise cuts heart risks for type 1 diabetes kids
Children and teens with type 1 diabetes may be able to reduce their risk of future heart and blood vessel disease by taking part in regular exercise, German researchers report.
In their study of 23,251 type 1 diabetes patients ranging in age from 3 to 18 years old, those who were the most active had the best long-term blood sugar control, Dr. Antje Herbst of the Hospital of Leverkusen and her colleagues found. Study participants who exercised more often were also less likely to have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
One gene may be key to coveted perfect pitch
Musicians and singers work for years to develop their sense of pitch but few can name a musical note without a reference tone. U.S. researchers on Monday said one gene may be the key to that coveted ability.
Only 1 in 10,000 people have perfect or absolute pitch, the uncanny ability to name the note of just about any sound without the help of a reference tone.
Women top men as seekers of online health info
Women are much more likely than men to search the Internet for information on health, according to research conducted by two professors from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
The finding is consistent with gender differences in healthcare utilization; for instance, women are more apt than men to go to the doctor when sick, the researchers say.
Prostate Cancer Survival is Dependent on Season of Diagnosis
A report in the September 2007 issue of The Prostate by Dr. Lagunova and associates from Norway and Oregon suggests that men diagnosed with prostate cancer (CaP) in the summer and autumn seasons have better survival.
The work was based upon the knowledge that racial and environmental factors affect CaP rates and prognosis. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to higher CaP mortality. The authors hypothesized that calcidiol levels are higher during summer and autumn and thus may impact CaP incidence and outcome.
