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(09/08/10 5:46am)
Drug-resistant bacterial infections, such as the superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus commonly known as MRSA, can pose serious - and at times seemingly insurmountable - threats to public health. A recent discovery, however, shows that the chemicals found on frog skin - which is rife with toxins thanks to the hostile environment frogs have inhabited during the last 300 million years - may be able to act as antibiotics to treat resistant strains. A team at the United Arab Emirates University in Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi Emirate, presented more than 100 antibiotic substances identified from more than 6,000 species of frogs at the American Chemical Society's 240th National Meeting. These antibiotics can prevent microbes from developing resistance, but their toxicity makes them harmful to human cells as well. Lead researcher Michael Conlon and his team have developed mechanisms to alter the molecular structure of the compounds, making them less noxious to human cells. These alterations also help prevent attacks against the antibiotics by enzymes in the bloodstream.
(09/08/10 5:45am)
Where and What: The world's largest five-segment solid rocket motor, Development Motor-2 was tested for the first time in Promontory, Utah. This rocket produced 3.6 million pounds of thrust and 22 million horsepower, but a major part of the test confirmed the ability of its redesigned joints, modified after the 1986 Challenger accident, to withstand cold space conditions. It was successfully cooled to negative 40 degrees Farenheit to simulate these colder temperatures.
(09/08/10 5:44am)
Last Monday, undergraduate students at the University of Colorado, Boulder, participated in the decommissioning of a NASA satellite, causing it to crash into the atmosphere. Remnants of the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite, known as ICESat, plunged into the Barants Sea north of Norway and Russia, but most of the 2,000-pound orbiter burned up in the atmosphere.
(08/25/10 4:54am)
Asparagus and garlic help fight diabetes and obesity, watercress helps stave off cancer, spinach and cabbage reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, and berries keep the brain young. These headlines ran within the same week and reveal how much new research is focusing on the health benefits of whole food.
(04/28/10 5:01am)
The ground whizzes by, 5,000 feet below the rumbling plane. Buildings look like specks of dirt and the air is dizzyingly thin. It is a situation that would seem terrifying to most people, but retired Army Capt. Daniel Glanz simply takes a deep breath and leaps from the safety of the plane. And he does it all despite having a prosthetic arm, according to a U.Va. Magazine feature.
(01/27/10 5:54am)
"If you're reading this then you - or the male you have bought it for - are the worst man in history. No ifs, no buts - the worst man, period."
(12/02/09 5:43am)
It is believed that mankind first made shoes 50,000 years ago when running after mammoths in the snow literally became a pain in the foot, according to an article in National Geographic. Ethiopia's Olympic gold medalist Abebe Bikila won his first marathon barefoot in a world record time of 2:15:17 in 1960, when barefoot running first became popular, as noted in a TIME Magazine article. Today, people are shedding their synthetic soles in favor of running barefoot again, but is this devolution truly beneficial? According to some experts, it has its risks and challenges as well as its advantages.
(11/04/09 7:10am)
Calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, wheat gluten, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, dough conditioners (sodium stearoyl lactylate, datem, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated monoglycerides, monocalcium phosphate, enzymes, guar gum, calcium peroxide, soy flour), calcium propionate and sodium propionate (preservatives), soy lecithin, sesame seed. Translation: some ingredients found in bread.
(09/09/09 5:42am)
Vitamin D does not rain from the sky, nor does it travel on the beams of sunlight to quench a thirsty body of its vitamin needs. It is, however, one of the few positive products of tanning.\nIn the 1920s, Coco Chanel overturned the fashionable preference for pale skin overnight when she appeared bronzed from a boating trip at several prestigious Parisian fashion shows. Before that time, the elite had remained indoors, fashionably lightening complexions with arsenic or lead powder, while farmers and laborers had worked outdoors acquiring a healthy tan. The social revolutions of the 1920s, however, lured the wealthy, upper classes to the great outdoors while the working classes spent many hours in dark factories, reversing the previous pattern and making tan skin the new desirable beauty must-have.\nToday, tanning remains a part of fashion culture, though the link with increased skin cancer has given tanning a poor reputation.\n"The risks primarily are due to increased chance of either skin cancer - squamous and basal cell - or malignant melanoma," Student Health Director Dr. James Turner said. "Melanoma is much more serious and can be deadly,"\nIn addition to cancer, large amounts of sun exposure can lead to collagen depletion in the skin, uneven skin tone leading to "premature aging and skin cancer," University Dermatologist Mark Russell said. Using a sunscreen of SPF 25 or more before prolonged sun exposure is key to avoid burning, Turner said.\nOther research, however, has come forward supporting unprotected sun exposure at least twice a week to combat the surprisingly widespread vitamin D deficiency from which many people all over the world suffer.\nDr. Michael Holick published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine surmising the condition of this all too common deficiency. According to his and others' research, vitamin D deficiency, in various forms, is linked to cancer, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, osteopenia, cardiovascular disease, schizophrenia, depression, wheezing and decreased lung function, muscle weakness, osteoarthritis and diabetes.\nAn estimated one billion people in the world have a vitamin D deficiency. In Boston, where the research was conducted, 32 percent of study participants had low levels of vitamin D even though they regularly took a multivitamin, drank milk and ate salmon, which contains a significant amount of vitamin D, about 400 IU or international units, a unit of measurement for vitamins.\nThe study concluded that a lack of sun exposure contributed heavily to the deficiency, and that sun exposure of the arms and legs for five to 30 minutes - depending on factors such as the time of day, skin pigmentation, latitude and season - twice a week is optimal for maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels. Adequate sun exposure can provide synthesis of around 3000 IU of vitamin D, on average.\n"To tell you the truth, I think a little bit of UV is good for vitamin D formation, but, of course, only in moderation," Russell said.\nThe crucial vitamin D component, vitamin D3, however, is synthesized in the skin with the aid of UVB rays. Areas above 35 degrees north latitude (Atlanta, Ga.) do not receive an adequate amount of these ultraviolet rays to enable D3 synthesis between November and February.\nEven during summer months in the northern hemisphere, it has been found that melanin in the skin can inhibit vitamin D3 synthesis up to 99 percent for dark skin. Additionaly, an SPF as low as 8 prohibits synthesis from UVB rays up to 92.5 percent, while SPF 15 and above limits synthesis by 99 percent. The article interestingly recommended tanning beds, which can emit two to six percent UVB radiation, as a source of vitamin D synthesis. Holick, however, cautioned that tanning beds be used only in moderation, noting that tanning beds and outside tanning are equally dangerous.\n"The United States Department of Health and Human Services has designated UV as a carcinogen," Russel said. "People say 'Oh, its natural,' but there are a lot of natural things that can harm you, like mercury, lead or asbestos. You can get vitamin D from some UV exposure, but it's when it's taken to the extreme that you get premature aging and cancer."\nKristin Daniels, a fourth-year College student and former assistant manager of a tanning salon, tans about three times a week in the spring and summer.\n"I prefer [tanning] salons because it's a controlled amount of UVA/UVB," she said.\nDespite possible health benefits, tanning beds nonetheless pose the risk of skin cancer.\n"[I am worried] to an extent," Daniels said. "The public magnifies the issues, but many also don't know the correct way to tan, so I'm not worried about me as much as I am for people who don't know what they're doing."\nThe desire for bronzed skin began as a status symbol and persisted as a fashion for various reasons. Turner suggested that tanning is inspired by "vanity, fashion [and] peer pressure." Or perhaps it provides a self-esteem boost.\n"Being tan makes you look five pounds thinner," Daniels said. "It makes me feel good about myself. Also, tanning releases serotonin and dopamine in the brain and stimulates oxygen in the blood combating my stress ... Tanning is a complex ritual."\nWhatever the psychological motivation, controlled amounts of tanning may now be acceptable for its potential to combat vitamin D deficiency, and along with it, a variety of other health concerns. As with most things, though, excessive indulgence can lead to several potentially dangerous conditions, such as skin damage and, even worse, an increased chance of developing skin cancer.
(08/26/09 11:56pm)
Aveeno. Coppertone. Banana Boat. Hippopotamus sweat? A new form of SPF inspired by hippo sweat may one day hit the shelves.\nThe mucus secreted from hippopotamus' skin, often mistaken for leaching blood, contains red pigments that act as sunscreen by absorbing ultraviolet light. The substance also contains two liquid crystalline structures - one of which scatters light, and which strengthens the secretion's sun blocking properties.\nResearchers additionally discovered antimicrobial and antifungal properties in the sweat, adding to the potential future product's benefits and increasing its desirability. The secretion even acts as an insect repellent.\nSeveral factors, however, are keeping hippo sweat sunscreen off the shelves until additional research has been completed. One problem: When isolated from the hippopotamus, the mucus morphs into a brown, viscous substance that is not effective in comparison to the original ooze.\n-compiled by Lani Hossain
(08/26/09 11:53pm)
Past studies have shown that bees and pigeons fly in circles during overcast days when they do not have the sun to guide them. A recent study suggests that humans are not much different. A study conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in T
(03/18/09 5:48am)
The true meaning of a recession may potentially be as confusing in the health world as it is in the world of economics. Studies have found that the worst recession of a generation actually could produce health benefits. Though a recession may provide indirect health benefits in the short run, other studies have found that a worsening economic climate actually can lead to lasting health problems after the downturn has ended.The National Bureau of Economic Research defines a recession as the period between an economic high and an economic low. Recessions last for more than a few months and result in a decline in employment, gross domestic product, wholesale-retail sales and real income — income after it has been adjusted for inflation.On a national level, mortality, obesity and heavy smoking decrease during recessions and increase during economic upturns, according to studies led by Christopher J. Ruhm, an economics professor at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics and the Journal of Health Economics. A decline in smoking and obesity, in turn, leads to a fall in the mortality rate. The studies also theorized that shorter work days, sometimes culminating in unemployment, provide people with the time for lifestyle investments, such as improving health through diet and exercise.In an e-mail, Ruhm suggested that these lifestyle investments occur less frequently during economic upturns because “people tend to get busy and pre-occupied and so they put their health on the ‘back burner.’”The studies also found that during economic downturns, leisure-time physical activity increases, because people have more time to exercise. Ruhm said the current recession is slated to have the same health impacts seen previously — unless the economy worsens. “The big question is how long this downturn lasts and how deep it is,” he said. “If we enter a very serious ‘depression-like’ downturn, then all bets are off.”Other studies have shown that a struggling economy can lead to long-term health problems. Certain aspects of economic decline, depending on the duration and severity, accentuate some health concerns.A study conducted by W. David McCausland, D. Cooper and Ioannis Theodossiou of the Centre for European Labour Market Research at the University of Aberdeen Business School in Aberdeen, Scotland, quantified the correlation between unemployment and good health duration. The study found that job losses, and, to a degree, reduced income negatively impact health during recessions and perpetuate decreased health quality in the future as well, even after the slumping economy picks up.“Apart from the clear adverse effect of unemployment on physical and psychological health and wellbeing, there are also wider and longer lasting social costs that adversely impact [our] health,” McCausland stated in an e-mail. “For example, during spells of deep unemployment, things like crime and addiction increase. Even after the unemployment falls, criminal behavior and abuse of alcohol and drugs have become ingrained and so the adverse effects of these behaviors on health persist long after their cause has disappeared.” The duration of a recession has been identified as one of the most important factors in determining how a downturn will affect health trends. While longer lasting recessions have been found to have long-term negative health impacts, some suggest that true depressions — an economic downturn where real GDP decreases by more than 10 percent — relinquish all health benefits.“With low interest rates, those whose incomes are supplemented by saving — particularly pensioners — become worse off,” McCausland said. “Cutting down on health, food, and on fuel to heat the home may adversely affect this very vulnerable group ... This would tend to widen [economic] inequality. Additionally, those with middle incomes may reduce their provision for pensions, and hence their future wellbeing may be adversely impacted — their income and health status may be worse than it could have been if they had saved more, and this is on top of the increased taxation they will have to pay in the future to pay off the debt burden incurred by the recent VAT cuts, bank bailouts, etc.” In preparing for a long and severe recession, one of the most effective strategies is to tackle the individual influences of the recession head on, McCausland noted.“During downturns, consumption falls — people have less to spend and credit is harder to find and so [people] can borrow less,” McCausland said. “This reduces people’s perceived well-being, but also may affect health in other ways — choosing “basic” products rather than “healthy” products in the supermarket for example.”Still, others believe that short-term income reductions and unemployment from a brief recession may jumpstart health improvement and enable its continuation in place of the possible negative impacts of a longer recession.“One issue is that short-term reductions in income may lead to some healthier behaviors, such as reductions in drinking and eating out,” Ruhm said. McCausland, however, remained uncertain about a recession’s positive influence on one’s health. “I think the jury’s out as to whether there could be a positive effect on health — perhaps by smoking or drinking less — as opposed to drinking the same and cutting back on fruit and vegetables,” McCausland said. In addition to the physical and nutritional impacts associated with long-term recessions, stress and fear have been found to appear as psychological detriments. Increased levels of personal debt, McCausland said, often increase levels of stress and anxiety, which in turn can lead to increased levels of physical ailments.“A good example could be mortgages — when people come off favorable fixed rate deals, they often struggle to get a new mortgage on as good a deal as they had previously. Or, if people have shorter working weeks, or lower income levels, they may struggle to repay loans — both mortgages and e.g. credit cards. The consequence of this may be increased anxiety from fear of not being able to repay, or at the worst case, fear of repossession of a home, and this has obvious negative psychological effects on health and well-being.” To counter these negative impacts, Student Health Nutrition Educator Melanie Brede recommends creating a plan to save while staying healthy. Maintaining psychological health can be accomplished, by “recognizing your limits,” Brede said. “Take on only as many responsibilities as you truly have time for. Also, take care of yourself. Maintain regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits. Connect with others. Seek out supportive friends and family members.”
(02/04/09 6:24am)
Pomegranates, grapefruit, garlic, bananas and spinach can be deadly, but yogurt can save you.Lurking amidst the plethora of vitamins and antioxidants, each of these fruits and vegetables contains a chemical compound that can cause adverse interactions with common types of prescription and over-the-counter medications.“Chemical interactions from combining certain types of food and drugs are a whole new field,” Pharmacist Byron Dalton said. “Food and drug interactions are not addressed in prescribing information. When the prescription is written, physicians might talk about possible interactions, but even then drug-drug interactions are usually the focus.”The Food and Drug Administration recognizes alcohol, grapefruits, licorice, ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, St. John’s Wort and even chocolate as the common foods that negatively interact with certain drugs. For example, over-the-counter aspirin should not be taken with large amounts of garlic, ginger or Ginkgo, said both Jennifer Anderson and Heather Hart, food science and nutrition specialists at Colorado State University Extension. Most surprisingly, the “wonder fruit” pomegranate can cause rhabdomyolysis, the breakdown of muscle fibers and possible kidney failure, if ingested during rosuvastatin treatment for high cholesterol, according to a study in the American Journal of Cardiology.It has been suggested, however, that some foods, such as yogurt and milk, can help mitigate the negative effects of strong medications. Among such evidence is a study at the Imperial College in London that proved the benefits of the probiotics found in yogurt for people taking antibiotics.Mary Hickson, the British study’s leading researcher, concluded that probiotics, such as L. casei, L. bulgaricus, and S. thermophilus, can decrease cases of antibiotic associated diarrhea.Furthermore, a study published in PubMed found that when consumed with grapefruit juice, some drugs’ absorption can be increased fivefold or more, likely triggering side effects.“Generally, food interacting with drugs either pushes the drug further or works opposite it,” said Susan Dunlap, certified health counselor and nutrition information specialist at Rebecca’s Natural Food.Foods that compound the dosage of medication include Ginseng and vitamin E, both of which increase the bleeding effects of blood thinning heparin, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — such as Ibuprofin and Advil — and warfarin. Grapefruit also increases absorption of malaria drugs containing quinine, some blood pressure medications and others.Grapefruit is not the only food, however, that can lead to such effects, as licorice and licorice root increase the toxicity of Lanoxin, which is taken for arrhythmia and congestive heart failure.“Licorice can be used to thin mucus, alleviate congestion, soothe the digestive tract by rebuilding the mucosal lining, help balance hormones — especially in women — and support the adrenal gland, a good idea for those looking for stress management,” Dunlap said. “Its main drawback, however, is that is can raise blood pressure in high dosages. There are supplement forms, deglycerized licorice, where the component that raises blood pressure is taken out.”On the other hand, foods also can impede the effectiveness of drugs. Licorice reduces the efficacy of diuretics and blood pressure drugs, just as the caffeine in large amounts of chocolate counteracts antidepressant drugs, Ritalin and sedative hypnotics such as Ambien. Some others include St. John’s Wort, which lowers blood concentrations of not only some cholesterol management drugs, but also Viagra. Ginseng, which interferes with antidepressant drugs, acts much like Ginkgo biloba, decreasing the effectiveness of some seizure medications.Take note, however, that some alternative remedies also have negative interactions with foods.“Alternative medicine is an alternative because it works, and overdoses and interactions are equally possible,” Dunlap said.Drug and supplement information, specifically regarding possible negative interactions, is made readily available to the public at establishments such as at Walgreens pharmacy and Rebecca’s.“There are so many drugs, and they come up so fast,” Dalton said. “The best way for a patient to educate themselves is to look on the Internet, dig for information.”Dunlap added that many people have begun to realize that contraindications exist with alternative remedies.To help relieve some of the risk, Anderson suggested increasing consumption of foods high in vitamin C and folic acid with long-term use of aspirin, but not mixing tetracycline antibiotics or antifungal medications with dairy products, antacids and iron-rich vitamin supplements, which can deter the medications’ usefulness. Meanwhile, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids should be taken with milk and a meal to mitigate the medicine’s effect on the digestive system. Their cousins, however, acetaminophen and antihistamines, should be taken on an empty stomach to speed up their effects.Such variability among medications and food is why it is crucial to read all prescribing information and directions accompanying any drug.“Most people are probably not very informed of drug-drug or food-drug interactions,” Dalton admitted.
(10/29/08 5:34am)
It’s another bright, fresh morning in Charlottesville, and breakfast is the first item on the agenda. One option to start the day would be to stop by Krispy Kreme to pick up a gooey Original Glazed doughnut, then pay a visit to Starbucks to grab a Grande Cinnamon Dolce Latte. Another would be to have a healthy breakfast of a half cup of Kellogg’s Low Fat Granola without raisins, an Original Strawberry Yoplait yogurt and an 8-ounce glass of Simply Orange Original juice. Who would ever guess that the “healthy breakfast” contains more sugar (63 grams) than the sugar glazed doughnut and dolce latte (49 grams)? To picture 63 grams, imagine putting 13 teaspoons of sugar — that’s 13 Domino Sugar packets — in a cup of coffee. Sugar is hidden everywhere, obscured by nutrition labels and masked by ad campaigns. When choosing food items, it is important to consider caloric content, often from sugar, as well as nutrition density. The health-conscious individual’s breakfast may have more sugar and consequently more calories, but it also provides essential nutrients.The consideration of nutrition labels can play a huge role in an effort to maintain a balanced diet. The label will portray a reasonable amount of sugar, but this amount is only for one serving, and there are often several servings in one container. Thus, the total amount of sugar you consume can be two or more times the listed amount per serving.An example is Endurance Peach Mango Vitamin Water, which has 13 grams of sugar per serving. One would not be alarmed at 2.7 teaspoons of sugar in a 20-fluid ounce bottle, but the truth is that one serving is only 8 fluid ounces. In one of these bottles there are 32.5 grams of sugar, or 6.8 teaspoons, more than the Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut.“First, it is important to understand how to evaluate the amount of sugar in a food,” Student Health Nutrition Educator Melanie Brede stated in an e-mail. “Food labeling laws require that packaged foods identify sugar content on the nutrition facts label. The amount listed includes both natural sugar — such as fructose in fruit or lactose in dairy products — and added sugar — such as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, etc.”Brede noted that the list of ingredients can help a consumer evaluate a product’s relative amount of added sugar because those ingredients are listed in order by weight. “If you are concerned about your intake of sugars, make sure that added sugars are not listed as one of the first few ingredients,” she stated.Artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose in Splenda and aspartame in Sweet’N Low, often replace sugar as a sweetener to cut back on calories; however, consumers’ intentions of reducing caloric intake may not always occur. “Artificial sweeteners tend to create sugar cravings; they only provide the sweet taste but don’t provide the associated blood sugar boost your body expects,” said Certified Health Counselor Susan Dunlap, who offers health guidance, advice and private consultations through Rebecca’s Natural Food. “Because of this, I find that people consume more calories instead to make up for it.”Brede noted that calories, while problematic in excess, are “essential,” and “sugar is a source of calories ... It is also a part of many enjoyable foods, and enjoyment of food is a good thing. ‘All things in moderation’ applies well to sugar.” For those seeking to reduce sugar intake, Dunlap recommended several substitutes to refined sugar.“Sweeteners with a low glycemic index are a better alternative than artificial sweeteners,” she said. “Agave syrup is one that does not have a very strong flavor and is a good sweetener for baking and cooking.” Stevia, an herb native to South America and Central America, is another sweetener that is undergoing the Food and Drug Administration’s approval process, she noted.Sugar, though, has some benefits; it is the most accessible form of energy that the human body can use. Just one gram of sugar contains four calories, and if the average person requires about 2,000 calories every day, 500 grams of sugar would take care of basic energy needs. The dissuading factor for this very sweet diet, however, is its nutrition density.“Too much sugar at the expense of foods rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients leads to a poorly-balanced diet,” Brede explained.The human body needs a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, dairy, healthy oils, vegetables and fruits — The Food Guide Pyramid — to fuel all the bodily functions. “It is important to consider the whole food being evaluated,” Brede stated. “For example, both an orange and a cupcake contain some sugar. The orange also contains vitamin C, potassium and fiber, whereas the cupcake is not a significant source of vitamins and minerals.”Also, frequently consuming more calories than used in a typical day, especially in the form of sugar, can lead to obesity. In recent years, this has become increasingly common in the United States and can result in several health problems, such as Type II Diabetes. Another possible consequence of an excessive sugar intake is mood swings.“If you consume too much sugar and it increases your blood sugar very quickly, your body produces too much insulin to compensate,” Dunlap explained. “This will quickly turn into a sugar low which can leave you spacey, shaky, grouchy or nauseated. If a person does this all day ... it will make their systems unbalanced and can lead to problems where the body will not function properly. Eventually, the blood sugar spike will also cause adrenaline to be released with the insulin and can make you feel worn out or give you mild depression.”Although many sources cite sugar as the cause of conditions such as diabetes and hyperglycemia, the act of consuming sugar itself does not lead to these diseases. But an individual with any such blood-sugar related diseases, including hypoglycemia — having too little blood sugar — should be aware of their sugar intake.Sugary foods can also cause a dentist’s worst nightmare: cavities. A lesser known tooth-related concern brought on by sugar as well is decalcification. The calcium that composes teeth is leached out, leaving teeth sensitive and more susceptible to cavities. A study published in the Journal of Dental Research found that refined white sugars caused significant decalcification, while crude sugar cane juice caused very few to decalcify.In a world of processed foods it can be difficult to avoid all this sugar and its potential effects, even in seemingly healthy food options.“Flavored yogurt often contains a significant amount of sugar,” Brede stated. “For those wishing to reduce their sugar intake, one strategy is to buy plain yogurt and add fresh, frozen, or canned fruit to sweeten it. This also provides much more real fruit than flavored or ‘fruit on the bottom’ yogurt.”Brede also recommended snacking on nuts, whole-grain crackers with cheese or peanut butter, or vegetable sticks with hummus or bean dip. Similarly soda can be substituted fro 100-percent fruit juice, which “provides vitamins and minerals for about the same number of calories,” she stated.Students can also seek personal advising to establish healthier eating patterns; Brede encouraged students to meet with a Peer Health Educator or with a registered dietitian.