Weight-Loss Surgery Often Brings Less Painful Joints

Patients tend to get around better as the pounds drop away, but not everyone will benefit, researchers say

Source: HealthDay
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Better Sex Life May Be a Weight-Loss Surgery Bonus

Effects were long-lasting, and both men and women benefited, researchers say

Source: HealthDay
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Sleep Patterns May Affect a Woman's Diabetes Risk

Study says adding 2 or more hours of shuteye each night might be a warning sign

Source: HealthDay
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Include management of nutrition in QOF, says Patients Association

Three million people either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition in UK, finds report Related items from OnMedica Dehydration common among care home residents admitted to hospital Malnutrition risk for third of patients GPs urged to tackle malnutrition Almost half of all child deaths caused by malnutrition Call for national food policy and living wage

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Quality of UK healthcare uneven and lags behind that of many other countries

Slow pace of improvement is costing lives, says OECD report Related items from OnMedica UK ‘can and should do better’ in many areas of healthcare

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High insulin levels linked to worse prognosis in advanced breast cancer

Metformin may help to extend survival, say researchers Related items from OnMedica Breast cancer screening Breast cancer Men with high oestrogen levels at greater risk of breast cancer Blood test could predict likelihood of cancer returning New evidence on impact of hormones on breast cancer

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No strong evidence that omega 3 supplements alleviate depression

Cochrane systematic review indicates that these fatty acid supplements make only slight difference Related items from OnMedica Eating fish may help curb depression risk Two weekly portions of oily fish could help ward off stroke Can fish oil reduce seizures in epilepsy? High-quality carbs and unsaturated fats lower heart risks Link between serotonin and depression ‘a myth’

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Key developmental premature baby checks may have been missed

No documented evidence for almost half of 2 year olds born early, audit shows Related items from OnMedica Child health services require major shake-up, census reveals Neonatal staff shortage warning Overhaul children’s unscheduled care to protect their health, NHS told Large child health variations across country Regulator plans review of newborns’ care

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New IVF calculator is best way yet to predict fertility success

Working out your chances of conceiving using IVF just got more accurate thanks to a model that takes into account modern techniques and the latest research









via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Google cars used to sniff city air and make pollution maps

Google has fitted its Street View cars with sensors to make pollution maps that could be a lifesaver for people who suffer from asthma or other conditions









via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

VIDEO: The survivors facing Ebola complications

Survivor groups in Sierra Leone say many patients who overcame Ebola following the 2014 outbreak are now facing physical and mental health problems. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Sweetened Drinks and Heart Failure

Source: HealthDay -
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Brain Stimulation Limits Calories Consumed in Adults with Obesity

Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases -
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Stop the violence. Protect health care

In the last few months, a number of attacks against health-care workers, medical transports and facilities have taken place in several countries, like Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen to mention a few. These incidents are taking place in countries with fragile health-care systems that are already struggling to treat the numbers of people affected by the ongoing conflicts there. In some cases, the situation is made yet worse by the restrictions placed on aid workers, preventing them from getting to the people who need them.

Both the attacks themselves and their consequences are of serious concern. These were attacks on medical personnel and facilities protected under international humanitarian law, leaving death and destruction in their wake and disrupting vital health-care services. All those involved with the Health Care in Danger initiative are alarmed by the long-term impact these attacks may have on people’s health. via WHO news Read More Here..

Phobias Part II, New Social Anxiety Treatments — MDMA, Testosterone & Less Serotonin

Radical new research is not only giving cause to stop prescribing currently popular medications for social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia), it’s pointing to new treatments, from sex hormones to popular street drugs, with the potential to rapidly speed up and ensure successful recovery.

Some of you may have a specific social phobia, such as the all too common fear of public speaking, which may involve gelotophobia, the fear of laughter discussed in Phobias Part I. Yet for millions around the globe this fear is a generalized social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, where even a simple wedding invitation, never mind the big day itself, could spark severe anxiety and panic attacks.

Research suggests that in America at least, social anxiety is on the rise, with current estimates of prevalence in the US range from a staggering 20 to 40 million. It certainly seems like living in the age of social networking isn’t helping. Yet, with a mixed-bag of research results, we aren’t exactly sure if social sites like Facebook are actually more of a help or a hindrance to those with social phobia.

It is very early explorative days for the new social anxiety treatments described below. However, with current evidence-based treatments failing to provide any benefit for 40-50% of those diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, exploring these new treatments avenues further is not only imperative, they may lead to revolutionizing the treatment of social phobias.

Serotonin overload: SSRIs a problem, not a solution

Science seems to have got it all backwards.

Research in the past promoted the idea that social phobia is related to low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This view has been turned on its head by a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry that shows the exact opposite; individuals with social phobia make too much serotonin. The more serotonin they produce, the more anxious they are in social situations.

Seeing as the most popular social anxiety treatment protocols involve a combination of psychological counseling and antidepressants, the most popular being serotonin reuptake inhibitors, this is cause for concern and psychiatrists should take heed.

Further research is undoubtedly underway and drugs that lower levels of serotonin are likely to be of interest.

Testosterone injection: A study in women

Common submissive behavior in social phobia, such as avoidance of eye contact (gaze avoidance) is thought to play a crucial role in the persistence of social anxiety disorder by hindering the extinction of fear in social situations.

In a double-blind, within-subject design, medication-free women diagnosed with social anxiety disorder where administered with a single dose of testosterone and their eye-movement was monitored as they viewed angry, happy or neutral faces.

They found that testosterone specifically enhances the number of first fixations toward the eyes, and decreases the amount of eye-area avoiding, even for the most avoided type, angry eyes. This is in line with research suggesting that testosterone influences early automatic social mechanisms whereby it biases the brain toward social dominance.

These results are promising and researchers suggest investigating whether testosterone can act as an adjunct in exposure therapies by boosting prosocial behavior in the first few sessions.

MDMA (ecstasy): A study in adults with autism

As discussed in a recent BrainBlogger article, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy – The Mental Health Trip of the Future?, the use of psychedelic drugs as a tool for mental health therapy has the potential to revolutionize the future of psychiatry and pharmacotherapy.

The first ever study of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/Ecstasy)-assisted therapy for the treatment of social anxiety in autistic adults began in the spring of 2014 using a placebo-controlled, double-blind methodology, and is still underway.

Regarding social anxiety treatment in general, researchers and therapists alike hope to cash in on MDMA catalyzing a profound shift toward openness and introspection that will not require ongoing administration to achieve lasting therapeutic benefits. Hopes are that by administrating MDMA on only one to several occasions within the context of a supportive and integrative psychotherapy protocol will side-line the higher frequency of adverse events and side-effects that come with daily dosing, as in most psychiatric drugs.

Along with ongoing Phase II pilot studies of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic PTSD (following pilot studies whose benefits were maintained an average of 3.8 years later), the potentially game-changing results of the pilot study for social anxiety in autistic adults are eagerly anticipated.

References

Danforth, A., Struble, C., Yazar-Klosinski, B., & Grob, C. (2016). MDMA-assisted therapy: A new treatment model for social anxiety in autistic adults Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 64, 237-249 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2015.03.011

Enter, D., Terburg, D., Harrewijn, A., Spinhoven, P., & Roelofs, K. (2016). Single dose testosterone administration alleviates gaze avoidance in women with Social Anxiety Disorder Psychoneuroendocrinology, 63, 26-33 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.09.008

Frick, A., Åhs, F., Engman, J., Jonasson, M., Alaie, I., Björkstrand, J., Frans, ?., Faria, V., Linnman, C., Appel, L., Wahlstedt, K., Lubberink, M., Fredrikson, M., & Furmark, T. (2015). Serotonin Synthesis and Reuptake in Social Anxiety Disorder JAMA Psychiatry, 72 (8) DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0125

Mithoefer, M., Wagner, M., Mithoefer, A., Jerome, L., & Doblin, R. (2010). The safety and efficacy of  3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in subjects with chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder: the first randomized controlled pilot study Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25 (4), 439-452 DOI: 10.1177/0269881110378371

Mithoefer, M., Wagner, M., Mithoefer, A., Jerome, L., Martin, S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Michel, Y., Brewerton, T., & Doblin, R. (2012). Durability of improvement in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and absence of harmful effects or drug dependency after 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy: a prospective long-term follow-up study Journal of Psychopharmacology, 27 (1), 28-39 DOI: 10.1177/0269881112456611

Terburg, D., Aarts, H., & van Honk, J. (2012). Testosterone Affects Gaze Aversion From Angry Faces Outside of Conscious Awareness Psychological Science, 23 (5), 459-463 DOI: 10.1177/0956797611433336

Image via PathDoc / Shutterstock.

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Friendships, weekly sport, and reading books linked to teen mental health

But Scottish government report shows that emotional wellbeing of teen girls has worsened Related items from OnMedica Sharp rise in girls reporting emotional problems Survey reveals 'fragile' state of girls’ wellbeing Bullying in teen years linked to depression in adulthood Fifth of all children referred to specialist mental health services rejected for treatment Mental health main concern of school heads

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Childhood Whooping Cough Tied to Small Rise in Epilepsy Risk

But chances of any one child getting the seizure illness remain low, one expert says

Source: HealthDay
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Multistate Foodborne Illness Outbreaks the Most Deadly: CDC

Food industry must do more to curb widespread health threats, experts say

Source: HealthDay
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New Guidelines Focus on Pulmonary Hypertension in Kids

The sometimes fatal heart and lung disease requires different strategies for children and adults

Source: HealthDay
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Anti-Smoking Programs May Sometimes Backfire

Study found smokers can get angry, defensive when public health programs stigmatize tobacco use

Source: HealthDay
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Extracting Clot Beats Clot-Busting Drug Alone in Study of Stroke Patients

People who had removal procedure were more likely to have functional independence after 90 days

Source: HealthDay
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Gonorrhea Becoming More Resistant to One Antibiotic: CDC

Other effective treatments remain available, but experts say finding is cause for concern

Source: HealthDay
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Prescription Drug Use on The Rise in U.S.

Many adults take 5 or more medications, often for preventable ills, study finds

Source: HealthDay
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Study Links Having Children to Lower Ovarian Cancer Risk

Women who've had their tubes tied also seemed to be protected
Source: HealthDay
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Acupuncture May Ease Neck Pain Over Long Term

'Alexander technique' also helped more than drugs and physical therapy, study found

Source: HealthDay
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Calorie Counts on Menus May Prompt Healthier Offerings

Study found chain restaurants that used them tended to offer more lower-calorie choices

Source: HealthDay
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More Belly Fat in First Trimester Linked to Diabetes Risk Later in Pregnancy

Might be a better way to spot women in danger of developing blood sugar disease, researcher says

Source: HealthDay
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Weight Gain a Challenge for Children with Autism

Preschoolers, teens on the spectrum are more likely than peers to be overweight, obese

Source: HealthDay
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Make chemsex public health priority, urge experts

Royal College of GPs backs moves to raise public awareness of the issue Related items from OnMedica Marijuana users are more likely to have stroke caused by stenosis Possible link between marijuana and poor blood sugar control 'Skunk’ causes a quarter of new cases of psychosis Drug-related deaths in Scotland reach record high Emergency staff ‘playing catch-up’ in battle against legal highs

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Invest in pathology services to boost diagnosis and cut costs, urges report

Royal College of Pathologists sets out priorities in response to Five Year Forward View Related items from OnMedica Ovarian cancer study paves way for personalised medicine Testing and treating MRSA is cost-effective Blood test could help predict breast cancer survival Pathologist calls for post mortem rate to be halved NHS Medical Director launches pathology review

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Juniors offered 11% pay rise on eve of strike ballot

New incentives to lure trainees to general practice, psychiatry and emergency medicine Related items from OnMedica Anger at cancelled junior doctors’ meetings Junior contract changes would scupper GP recruitment plans Hunt pledge: ‘no junior doctors will lose out’ Hunt urges BMA to return to negotiations on new contract BMA to ballot juniors over industrial action over new contract

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Elderly and those on repeat prescriptions at greatest risk of prescribing errors

GPs urged to include clinical pharmacist in practice teams Related items from OnMedica Plan to have pharmacists work closer with GPs Medicine advice service helps prescribing effectiveness Proactive pharmacist feedback cuts prescribing errors Less than half of antipsychotic drug prescriptions issued for main licensed conditions GP dispensed prescriptions rise 3% to 1.1 billion

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Losing sense of smell could be linked to poor health

Lacking an immune system means it's a struggle to recognise certain smells – if you're a mouse. And it could be to stop you sniffing out dangers









via New Scientist - Health Read More Here..

Hunt pay offer in junior doctor row

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says the government's proposed new contract for junior doctors in England will include an 11% increase in their basic pay. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Test to diagnose 'face blindness'

Scientists have come up with a questionnaire they say should help diagnose a condition called face blindness. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..