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Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

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Flavonoids in dark chocolate are a naturally occurring antioxidant similar to those found in teas, red wine, and some fruits and vegetables. These flavonoids are thought to have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, and one recent study showed that 6 grams of dark chocolate a day (about one square) lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 2 points each.

The study also claims that dark chocolate may lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by about 5 points. Not a major effect to be sure, but pushing the “bad” cholesterol downwards. Flavonoids also benefit how the lining of the blood vessels function.

“We think a lot of bad things that happen to the cardiovascular system are because the lining of the vessels cracks and becomes inflamed, setting the stage for plaques to form and rupture,” says Robert Sheeler, M.D., a family physician at Mayo Clinic.

Don’t forget, chocolate contains calories and fat, so these findings are not an invitation to go on chocolate binge. Dr. Sheeler says just one square a day (about 30 calories) will provide the health benefits described. He recommends chocolate that contains at least 60% cocoa; milk chocolate by contrast has only 15-25% cocoa, while dark chocolate can contain as much as 80%+ cocoa.

Source: Women’s HealthSource, Mayo Clinic , August, 2008

The Dangers of Using Performance Enhancing Drugs

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More than 10,000 athletes from 205 countries will strive to win medals at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, just started. “The heavy preparation for the Olympics puts severe strain on an athlete’s musculoskeletal frame,” said Edward McDevitt, MD, spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine.

The dream of every athlete is to win a medal for his or her country,” stated Dr. McDevitt. “This is a great attitude to have, but it can become problematic if the athlete develops the ‘stop-at- nothing mentality’ to win.”

Athletes prepared to go to any lengths to win are known to use PEDs, performance enhancing drugs, which include Human Growth Hormones (hGH or IGF-1), erythropoietin (EPO), and anabolic steroids. The danger of using PEDs is that athletes are only interested in the potential short-term benefits of these drugs and do not consider the important long-term consequences of using them.

The AAOS stresses that severe long-term musculoskeletal, psychological and physiological risks attach to using them, including stunted growth, diabetes, impaired reproductive functioning, the spread of cancerous tumors, early osteoarthritis and accelerated vascular heart disease, heart attack, and strokes. Increased aggressiveness and the possibility of anti-social behavior can also ensue from using these drugs.

Anabolic steroids, growth hormone and other PEDs are readily available through the Internet and local gyms, and Dr. McDevitt recommends that physicians, coaches, trainers and parents maintain constant contact with their athletes to advise on the effects of PEDs.

“All of us who care about the health of our athletes should be aware of the warning signs of PED use for all athletes, not just Olympians,” stated Dr. McDevitt. The following warning signs should be looked for: a sudden increase in am athlete’s height or weight, a shrinking of the male testicles, male-pattern hair loss in men and women, significant acne on the athlete’s back, problems with anger management and increased aggressiveness.

“With the easy availability of these drugs, some athletes are looking to get bigger and stronger as quickly as possible,” stated Dr. enhancing drugs today can lead to life-long medical and musculoskeletal problems down the road.”McDevitt. “It is our responsibility to educate and inform our athletes of all ages that use of performance.

Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

First Ever U.S. DuraHeart Patient Doing Well

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The DuraHeart, a new experimental, hi-tech heart-assist device, was implanted in Anthony Shannon July 30—a procedure which made history. A week later, the 62-year old Shannon was reported doing well after the operation performed by a team led by surgeon Francis Pagani, M.D., Ph.D. at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center. Shannon is the former director of homeland security and emergency management for Wayne County, Mich., and holds a Ph.D, in public administration.

The “maglev” or magnetic levitation technology used means that that a crucial, constantly revolving part within the hockey puck-sized implanted device never touches the walls of the pumping chamber. Instead, it levitates in the middle, suspended in a magnetic field and pushing blood along. The battery-powered device pushes blood from the heart to the body, taking over most of the function of the left side of a severely weakened heart. The advantage of this technology is that the risk of allowing blood clots to form is reduced, as is damage to blood cells, compared with devices using mechanical pumps. DuraHeart has been used for 70 European patients, and received commercial use approval after a 20-07 clinical trial.

A clinical trial for DuraHeart is being conducted by Drs. Pagani and Yoshifumi Naka, M.D.,Ph.D., from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and heart failure patients at U-M and other U.S. centers will be invited to volunteer for it.

“The DuraHeart gives us a new, third-generation option for patients with advanced heart failure who need help to allow them to survive until they can receive a heart transplant,” says Pagani, who leads the U-M Center for Circulatory Support. He has led other national clinical trials of heart-assist devices, including the HeartMate II, which in April received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after a clinical trial. U-M now offers heart failure patients nearly a dozen different options to support their heart function, including heart transplants. U-M is the national training center for the trial, which is funded by Terumo Heart, and teams from Columbia and the University of Louisville have already traveled to Ann Arbor to learn how to implant the device.

“This trial will test the DuraHeart’s potential to overcome some of the issues that have been seen with other devices, including hemolysis caused by shear stress on red blood cells, and clotting risk caused by blood that does not circulate rapidly enough from all areas of the chamber,” Pagani explains. “It also remains to be seen if this device offers superior durability, which might make it useful as a destination therapy that could remove the need for a heart transplant.”

Some 5.3 Americans currently experience heart failure, and at any given time some 4,000 are on a waiting list for heart transplants. Because there is a shortage of suitable organ donors however, only 2,100 people in the U.S. receive new hearts, and hundreds of people die each year while waiting for a new heart. Most of the devices developed to help the heart pump over the past 20 years have been left-ventricular assist systems, known as LVADs or LVASs; others have assisted the right side or both, and all are known as VADs. Hospitals can apply for accreditation as a certified VAD center, and U-M recently became one ofmthe few such centers in the U.S.

The DuraHeart was invented and developed by a team led by Chisato Nojiri, M.D., Ph.D., the chief executive officer of Terumo Heart. More than a decade of research and development has led to this clinical trial and the trial in Europe, as well as a trial in Japan that may begin later this year. Pagani serves as an unpaid consultant to Terumo Heart.

To implant a DuraHeart device, the surgeon diverts blood flow from the ailing left ventricle of the heart into a titanium tube that leads into the pumping chamber. The magnetically levitating impeller, a flat magnetic disc, acts as a paddlewheel, turning constantly as it is magnetically attracted to the turning motor within the pump housing. This pushes blood into a flexible artificial blood vessel, which is connected to the large blood vessel called the ascending aorta.

By assisting the weak left ventricle, which is the heart chamber most commonly affected by heart failure, the DuraHeart allows the heart muscle to rest. It also provides better blood flow to the body, brain and organs than a weak heart ever could – which helps patients prepare for the arduous surgery of a heart transplant.

The DuraHeart is made by Terumo Heart, Inc. based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Source: University of Michigan, August, 2008

Eating Fish May Avert Memory Loss

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The risk of cognitive decline and stroke in older adults may be reduced by eating tuna and other kinds of fish, according to study by researchers in Finland.

The study used a sample of 3,660 men and women aged 65 or older and subjected them to brain scans to look for silent brain infarcts, stroke or dementia. 5 years later, 2,313 members of the sample were tested again with scans, and all participants were given questionnaires on fish in their diets.

Findings of the study showed that participants who ate broiled or baked tuna or other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) three or more times a week were at a 26% lower risk of experiencing the silent brain lesions that cause dementia and stroke than people who were not regular fish eaters. Even one fish meal weekly reduced the risk by 13%, and the study found that regular consumption of these types of fish reduced the changes of white matter in the brains of fish eaters.

“While eating tuna and other types of fish seems to help protect against memory loss and stroke, these results were not found in people who regularly ate fried fish,” said Jyrki Virtanen, PhD, RD, with the University of Kuopio in Finland. “More research is needed as to why these types of fish may have protective effects, but the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA would seem to have a major role.” Types of fish that contain high levels of DHA and EPA nutrients include salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, and anchovies.

“Previous findings have shown that fish and fish oil can help prevent stroke, but this is one of the only studies that looks at fish’s effect on silent brain infarcts in healthy, older people,” said Virtanen. Research shows that silent brain infarcts, which are only detected by brain scans, are found in about 20 percent of otherwise healthy elderly people.

Source: Neurology, August 5, 2008

Stay Healthy in Hot Weather

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Some 200 people in the US die each summer from health problems caused by hot weather, and this number is doubled when the summer is exceptionally hot. Here are three major hot weather threats that can be moderated, or avoided completely.

Heat cramps warn of dehydration and muscular deprivation of needed oxygen. The problem can be solved by drinking cool water, stretching, and light massage of the affected areas.

Heat Exhaustion is apparent when the body temperature is seriously elevated, often above 103 degrees F, and weakness, lethargy, loss of concentration, headache and nausea follow. Judgement can be affected, and the solution is to choose a cool spot, take of excess clothing, drink cool fluids, and apply any available ice packs.

Heat stroke can affect older people who stay at home without air-conditioning. Other victims include men who exercise during hot weather. Weakness and confusion can create delirium, stupor, coma and seizures, so heat stroke should be recognized as a real medical emergency, where survival depends on immediate treatment in a hospital.

Try the following to avoid hot weather health problems:

  • Hydrate: drink 10-12 cups of water daily, more if exercise is involved
  • Stay cool: move into a room with a fan or air-conditioning
  • Stay out of the sun, particularly midday sun, and wear light, loose-fitting clothes
  • Avoid exercising in hot or humid conditions

Source: Harvard Men’s Health Watch, August, 2008

Controversial Recommendation to Consider Statins for Kids with High Cholesterol

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The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new cholesterol screening and treatment recommendations for children that suggest cholesterol screening, and possible use of statins for certain children.

The policy statement, “Lipid Screening and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood,” recommends cholesterol screening of children and adolescents with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease. It also recommends screening patients whose family history is unknown or those who have other factors for heart disease including obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes.

The AAP suggests that screening should take place after age two, but no later than age 10. The best method for testing, according to the organization’s policy statement, is a fasting lipid profile. If a child has values within the normal range, testing should be repeated in three to five years.

The American Academy of Pedatrics suggests that for children who are more than eight years old and who have high LDL concentrations, cholesterol-reducing medications should be considered. Younger patients with elevated cholesterol readings should focus on weight reduction and increased activity while receiving nutritional counseling.

The policy statement also recommends the use of reduced-fat dairy products, such as two percent milk, for children as young as one year of age for whom overweight or obesity is a concern.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, July 7, 2008

Traveler’s Diarrhea Vaccine Shows Promise

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Each year between 20%-50% of international travelers—about 10 million people— develop diarrhea. The onset of “Traveler’s Diarrhea” (TD) usually occurs within the first week of travel but may occur at any time while traveling, and even after returning home. In a recent study by researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health, a new patch-based travelers’ diarrhea vaccine has been found to provide significant relief from diarrhea. The study results were published in a recent edition of the Lancet.

In the study, 170 travelers to Mexico and Guatemala were monitored. Of 59 individuals receiving the vaccine, only 3 suffered from severe or moderate diarrhea, while close to 24 people who took the placebo suffered from moderate or severe diarrhea.

“These results suggest that the Iomai patch has the potential to fundamentally change the way we approach prevention of this disease, an ailment against which we now have very few weapons,” said Herbert L. DuPont, M.D., professor and director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at The University of Texas School of Public Health and the principal investigator of the trial. “If these results are replicated, the Iomai vaccine will have the potential to not only mitigate a disease that sickens millions each year but also keep some patients from going on to develop the chronic symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.”

The Trek Study was done in collaboration with UT Houston, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other institutions. Two doses of the vaccine patch or a placebo were given to each volunteer, 2 to 3 weeks apart. The last dose was given a week before travel.

Detailed diaries were kept by travelers, with in-country checkups. The study was designed to evaluate the safety of the vaccine and the incidence of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) bacteria—the most common cause of travelers’ diarrhea. No vaccine-related serious side effects were reported. Of the few vaccinated patients who became sick, the diarrhea lasted only half a day on average, while those in the placebo group endured two days of illness and more than twice as many loose stools. Although not statistically significant, the frequency of new-onset irritable bowel syndrome, a long-term consequence of travelers’ diarrhea, was three times greater in placebo than vaccine recipients.

Approximately 55 million travelers are expected to visit countries where bacteria causing diarrhea are endemic, notably Africa, Asia and Latin America, and of these it is anticipated that 20 million will contract diarrhea. Apart from abdominal cramps and dehydration, travelers are also at higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome. Children are at special risk in the developing world, where diarrhea linked to enterotoxigenic E sickens 210 million children, killing an estimated 380,000 of them each year.

“Bacterial diarrheal disease is a significant medical problem both for children and travelers, and our technology represents both an advance in vaccine delivery and a breakthrough in the field of infectious disease,” said Gregory Glenn, M.D., Iomai’s chief scientific officer. “We look forward to targeting both the significant travelers’ market and developing the vaccine for the children in the developing world who still suffer serious morbidity and mortality from this disease.”

Researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health studied the patch-based vacine as part of the Phase 2 study in conjunctoin with the Iomai Corporation. Iomai plans to initiate a Phase 3 program for the needle-free vaccine patch vaccine in 2009. If approved, the Iomai vaccine would be the first vaccine for travelers’ diarrhea available in the United States.

Source: Lancet, June 2008

Overtime Work Can Lead to Anxiety and Depression

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Overtime work habits can lead to anxiety and depression, according to a study conducted by Norweigan researchers.

Using a standard screening questionnaire to measure symptoms of anxiety and depression, Elisabeth Kleppa and colleagues at the University of Bergen, Norway, analyzed data on hours worked by a large sample of Norwegian men and women. Scores for anxiety and depression were compared for 1,350 workers putting in 41 to 100 hours of overtime a week, and some 9,000 workers working regular hours (40 or less) without overtime.

Overtime work was linked to higher anxiety and depression scores among both men and women, while “possible” depression rose from about 9% for men working regular hours to 12.5% for those working overtime. “Possible” depression rates in women rose from 7% to 11% and for men and women the “possible” anxiety and depression rates were higher among workers with lower incomes and for less—skilled workers.

The relationship between overtime and anxiety/depression was strongest among men who worked the most overtime—49 to 100 hours per week. Men working such very long hours also had higher rates of heavy manual labor and shift work and lower levels of work skills and education.

Health and safety concerns have been raised in previous studies, but these concentrated on shift work rather than overtime. European Union work rules allow employees to refuse to work more than 48 hours per week. These latest results show increased rates of anxiety and depression among overtime workers, supporting the European Union directive.

Even moderate overtime hours appear to increase the risk of ‘mental distress’, although the study offers no conclusions as to how working long hours results in increased anxiety and depression. It is surmised that working overtime leads to increased “wear and tear,” or that individuals with characteristics predisposing to anxiety and depression (such as low education and job skills) are more likely to take jobs requiring long work hours.

Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), June, 2008.

Pigs Raised with Antibiotics Exhibit Lower Levels than “Organic” Pigs

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A new study finds that although the demand for antibiotic-free pigs is increasing, pigs raised without antibiotics are more likely to have bacteria and parasites.

Pigs raised outdoors without antibiotics had higher rates of three food-borne pathogens than pigs on conventional farms, according to a comparison made between antibiotic-free and conventional methods.

“Animal-friendly, outdoor farms tend to have a higher occurrence of Salmonella, as well as higher rates of parasitic disease,” said lead study author Wondwossen Gebreyes, associate professor of veterinary preventive medicine at Ohio State University.

More than 50% of pigs reared on antibiotic-free farms tested positive for Salmonella, compared to 39 percent of conventionally raised pigs infected with the bacterial pathogen. The Toxoplasma gondii parasite was detected in 6.8 percent of antibiotic-free pigs compared to 1.1 percent of conventionally raised pigs. compared to 1.1 percent of conventionally raised pigs. And two naturally raised pigs of the total 616 sampled tested positive for Trichinella spiralis, a parasite considered virtually eradicated from conventional U.S. pork operations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that consumers cook fresh pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, since thorough cooking ensures that these infectious agents in food animals should pose no risk to human health. Gebreyes won’t recommend one type of pork production practice over another.

“We are just doing the science and showing the results,” he said. “Does having an antibiotic-free and animal-friendly environment cause the re-emergence of historically significant pathogens? I think that is an extremely important question for consumers, policymakers and researchers to consider.”

In an earlier published paper, Ian Philips, et al., wrote “The use of antibiotics in food animals selects for bacteria resistant to antibiotics used in humans, and these might spread via the food to humans and cause human infection, hence the banning of growth-promoters. The actual danger seems small, and there might be disadvantages to human and to animal health. The low dosages used for growth promotion are an unquantified hazard. Although some antibiotics are used both in animals and humans, most of the resistance problem in humans has arisen from human use. Resistance can be selected in food animals, and resistant bacteria can contaminate animal-derived food, but adequate cooking destroys them. How often they colonize the human gut, and transfer resistance genes is not known.”

It’s important to note that the study was funded by a grant from the National Pork Board. The results were published in a recent issue of the journal Foodborne Pathogens and Disease.

Sources:

  • J. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Vol. 53, No. 1. (1 January 2004), pp. 28-52
  • Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, April 1, 2008, 5(2): 199-203.

Nicotine Content In Womens’ Toenails Can Predict Heart Disease

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The level of nicotine in womens’ toenails can predict the risk of coronary heart disease, say researchers from the University of California, San Diego.

By analyzing the nicotine levels in the toenails of more than 60,000 women, the researchers found that those who had suffered heart disease had on average twice the levels of nicotine in their toenails than women without heart disease.

“Using toenail nicotine is a novel way to objectively measure exposure to tobacco smoke, and ultimately, to increase our understanding of tobacco-related illnesses,” explained Wael Al-Delaimy, Ph.D., Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine. “It has advantages over using other biomarkers and could become a useful test to identify high-risk individuals in the future. This would be especially helpful in situations where smoking history is not available or is biased.”

Researchers found no difference in age, body mass index, aspirin use, or history of high cholesterol corresponding to the toenail nicotine levels. Women with the highest toenail nicotine levels were physically less active, had a lower body mass index, drank a higher amount of alcohol, and were more likely to have histories of high blood pressure, diabetes, and family history of heart attack than women with lower levels.

Why toenails? The toenails have an advantage over other existing biomarkers of smoking because they grow more slowly. The levels detected in the nails represent nicotine taken up from blood by nails during growth. The slow growth rates of toenails provide a more stable estimate of average exposure, which is most relevant for illnesses related to tobacco smoke, such as heart disease. Using toenail samples in epidemiological studies is also an attractive concept because they’re easy to collect and store for relatively low cost.

The study was conducted by researchers at University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, in collaboration with colleagues from Harvard University, and published in the April, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.