Nothing Fishy About It: Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
In a large randomized trial, adding an inexpensive, widely available supplement to heart failure treatment provided a modest but significant incremental benefit.
Better Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Lowers Risk for Death and Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Better adherence significantly lowered risk for all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality and for cancer, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease during 3 to 18 years of follow-up.
Surprising Origin of Brown Fat Could Have Implications for Treating Obesity
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Brown fat and muscle cells come from one lineage; white fat cells come from another.
Short Sleep Duration and Risk for Childhood Obesity
Each 1-hour reduction in sleep was associated with a 40% increase in the risk for obesity.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
September 24, 2008
Covering:
Ievers-Landis CE et al., J Dev Behav Pediatr 2008 Aug; 29:243
Something Fishy for the Brain: Do Supplements and Fish Help?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
At least in the short term, effects are modest and limited to specific subgroups.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
September 22, 2008
Covering:
van de Rest O et al., Neurology 2008 Aug 5; 71:430
Virtanen JK et al., Neurology 2008 Aug 5; 71:439
Diet’s Effect on Diabetes Risk: Is It the Fat? Or the Carbs?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In older women, lowering fat intake alone did not affect diabetes risk; in black women, sugar-sweetened drinks were associated with excess diabetes risk.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
September 18, 2008
Covering:
Tinker LF et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Jul 28; 168:1500
Palmer JR et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Jul 28; 168:1487
Feinglos MN and Totten SE., Arch Intern Med 2008 Jul 28; 168:1485
Healthy Lifestyle’s Effect on Mortality Risk
Women's Health Summary and Comment
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Five lifestyle factors had individual and combined effects on risk for all-cause, CV, and cancer mortality.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
September 16, 2008
Covering:
van Dam RM et al., BMJ 2008 Sep 17; 337:a1440
To Maintain Weight Loss, Exercise Even More
Women's Health Summary and Comment
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Women who maintained a 10% weight loss during a 2-year study had better eating habits and more leisure-time physical activity than did those who regained weight lost during the first 6 months.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
September 4, 2008
Covering:
Jakicic JM et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Jul 28; 168:1550
How Fat Am I? Or, How Am I Fat?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Two new studies address how obesity relates to cardiovascular risk factors.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
September 3, 2008
Covering:
Wildman RP et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Aug 11; 168:1617
Stefan N et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Aug 11; 168:1609
Eat Differently and Avoid Preeclampsia?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women in the highest quartile of dietary fiber intake during early pregnancy had lower triglyceride levels and preeclampsia risk.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
August 27, 2008
Covering:
Qiu C et al., Am J Hypertens 2008 Aug; 21:903
Is Weight Status Associated with Scholastic Achievement?
Middle-school children who were not overweight had better grades than overweight children.
People Are More Likely to Be Overweight and Less Likely to Be Aware That They Are
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Overweight and obese people are less likely to perceive themselves as such than in years past.
Obesity and Chronic Kidney Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The association between obesity and chronic kidney disease seems to be mediated by hypertension and diabetes in many — but not all — cases.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 7, 2008
Covering:
Chen H-M et al., Am J Kidney Dis 2008 Jul; 52:58
Foster MC et al., Am J Kidney Dis 2008 Jul; 52:39
Elsayed EF et al., Am J Kidney Dis 2008 Jul; 52:29
Exercise plus Amenorrhea Equals Thinner Bones
Adolescent endurance athletes with amenorrhea had significantly lower BMD <$EMPH_O>z<$EMPH_C> scores than did either eumenorrheic athletes or eumenorrheic nonathletes.
Risk Factors for Starting to Binge or Purge in Adolescents
Risk factors for eating disorders differ by age, sex, and type of eating disorder behavior.
By Robin Drucker, MD
August 6, 2008
Covering:
Field AE et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2008 Jun; 162:574
Olanzapine for Anorexia Nervosa?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
This atypical antipsychotic has only modest benefits when added to good overall care.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 4, 2008
Covering:
Bissada H et al., Am J Psychiatry 2008 Jun 16
Lipid Screening in Childhood — New Recommendations from the AAP
Cardiology Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Controversial new recommendations advocate wider screening and use of statins in children.
Two-Year Comparison of Three Popular Diets
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets are effective alternatives to traditional low-fat diets.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
July 29, 2008
Covering:
Shai I et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Jul 17; 359:229
Few U.S. Hospitals and Birth Centers Provide Adequate Support for Breast-Feeding
A recent CDC survey identified maternity practices that interfere with breast-feeding.
By Robin Drucker, MD
July 23, 2008
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2008 Jun 13; 57:621
Physical Activity Dramatically Declines During Adolescence
Greater attention to energy expenditure and to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in adolescents is warranted.
Parental Advice to Diet Is Counterproductive for Overweight Adolescents
Overweight teens whose parents recommended dieting were less likely to lose weight than overweight teens whose parents did not recommend dieting.
New Facts About Fat
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Fat cells die and are replaced, but their number is set in childhood.
Lipid Screening in Childhood — New Recommendations from the AAP
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
Controversial new recommendations advocate wider screening and use of statins in children.
The Diet Debate: Mediterranean, Low-Fat, or Low-Carb?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
In a randomized trial, the Mediterranean and low-carbohydrate diets performed as well as or better than the low-fat diet.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
July 16, 2008
Covering:
Shai I et al. for the Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) Group., N Engl J Med 2008 Jul 17; 359:229
Endoscopic Placement of Feeding Tubes in Patients with Cancer
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
A retrospective report demonstrates a "best-case" scenario of what can be achieved by a dedicated multidisciplinary team of nutritionists and endoscopists.
