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In a much-publicized study on the physical maturation of young girls in three distinct areas of the United States, researchers found a persistence of early attainment of puberty in African American girls and an increased proportion of Caucasian girls who had reached puberty at ages 7 and 8 years. The study leaders delineate physical and psychological risks associated with early maturation and posit that an explanation for such findings might be some combination of increasing toxic environmental and food exposures.
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Results of this impressive observational trial suggest that waist circumference may be a more telling sign of mortality risk than BMI, especially among those whose BMI measures do not place them in the category of obesity.
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WHO recommendations for antiviral use for H1N1 flu; antibiotic use trends for acute respiratory tract infection; denosumab clears FDA Expert Panel; FDA Actions.
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Regularly offered advice by professionals and the lay media that 5-30 minutes of unprotected daily sun exposure a few days a week is sufficient to maintain adequate vitamin D stores may be misguided and, worse, false, woefully underestimating the amount of sun exposure that may be necessary. Supplementing with appropriate amounts of vitamin D seems the appropriate general course.
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A new analysis of data from the ginkgo evaluation of Memory (GEM) study suggests that the herbal dietary supplement Ginkgo biloba does not reduce the risk of most cancer types in older adults.
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Lorcaserin submitted for FDA review, FDA advisory panel votes against phentermine/topiramate, mixed vote on rosiglitazone, advisory panel votes to remove breast cancer indication from bevacizumab labeling, no increase in seizures found with DTaP vaccine, new REMS for quinine.
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Women with fibromyalgia participated in a treatment protocol consisting of an educational consultation with a physician, followed by group activities focusing on structured written emotional disclosure and emotional awareness exercises. The treatment group was compared to a wait-list control group of fibromyalgia patients. The affective self-awareness (ASA) intervention significantly improved pain, tenderness, and physical function for at least 6 months in the treatment group compared to the wait-list control group.
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A number of studies suggest that glucosamine sulfate may help relieve pain and possibly repair cartilage damage in large joints affected by osteoarthritis. By extension, many patients use glucosamine to treat their chronic nonspecific lower back pain. The results of this study, which includes long-term follow-up, suggest there is little if any therapeutic value of glucosamine for chronic low back pain.
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A newly identified probiotic strain, Lactobacillus sakei KCTC 10755BP, was found to improve symptoms of moderate-to-severe eczema in children 2-10 years old.
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A meta-analysis of calcium supplementation studies where vitamin D was not also administered suggests that isolated supplemental calcium may significantly increase the risk of myocardial infarction as well as, to a lesser degree, stroke.
