FDA Urges Parents To Read Infant Acetaminophen Labels Carefully

On January 19, 2012, in Healthcare, Medication, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used pain and fever relievers for infants and children and is safe and effective when used as directed. However, with recent dosing changes to liquid acetaminophen products for infants, the FDA last week issued a press release urging parents to know the concentration and read the label as the new, less concentrated form of the popular pain reliever arrives on store shelves. Included in this report is a video discussion of these recommendations by Dr. Jim Sears.

Girls Report More Mental Distress And Are Prescribed More Psychiatric Drugs Than Boys

On January 10, 2012, in Medication, Mental Health, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
anti-depressant medication

More than 15 percent of Norwegian teenagers ages 15 to 16 reported “mental distress,” or symptoms of depression and anxiety, with significantly more girls reporting distress than boys, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Girls with mental distress were also more likely than their male counterparts to be prescribed psychotropic drugs — those that alter chemical levels in the brain, affecting behavior and mood.

Bariatric Surgery Associated With Reduction In Cardiovascular Events And Death

On January 3, 2012, in Health | Fitness, Medical Science, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Gastric Bypass Surgery

Among obese individuals, having bariatric surgery was associated with a reduced long-term incidence of cardiovascular deaths and events such as heart attack and stroke, according to a study in the January 4 issue of JAMA. The study was conducted by Lars Sjostrom, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and colleagues.

Physical Activity And School Performance May Be Linked

On January 2, 2012, in Health | Fitness, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
children in class

A systematic review of previous studies suggests that there may be a positive relationship between physical activity and the academic performance of children, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The study was undertook by Amika Singh, Ph.D., of the Vrije Universiteit University Medical Center, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues.

Gestational Diabetes And Low Socioeconomic Status Raise Risk Of ADHD

On January 2, 2012, in ADHD, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
pregnant mother

In the first study of its kind, researchers at Queens College and Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that low socioeconomic status (SES) and maternal gestational diabetes together may cause a 14-fold increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in six year olds. The data are published in the January issue of theArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Schizophrenia Diagnosis (But Not Bipolar Diagnosis) Associated With Progressive Brain Changes Among Adolescents

On January 2, 2012, in Brain Imaging, Schizophrenia, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
MRI brain scan with a senior citizen women

Adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychoses appear to show greater decreases in gray matter volume and increases in cerebrospinal fluid in the frontal lobe compared to healthy adolescents without a diagnosis of psychosis, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The research was carried out by Celso Arango, M.D., Ph.D., of the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain, and colleagues.

Researchers Identify Potential New Female Risk Factor For Developing Dementia And Alzheimer Disease

On January 2, 2012, in Health | Fitness, Neurological, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Obese women sitting down

A hormone derived from visceral fat called adiponectin may play a role as a risk factor for development of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD) in women, according to a study published Online First by the Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The study was completed by Thomas M. van Himbergen, Ph.D., from the Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, and colleagues.

Brain Imaging Study Evaluates Effects Of Marijuana Ingredients On Brain Functioning

On January 2, 2012, in Brain Imaging, Substance Abuse, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
a marijuana cigarette

Different ingredients in marijuana appear to affect regions of the brain differently during brain processing functions involving responses to certain visual stimuli and tasks, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Sagnik Bhattacharyya, M.B.B.S., M.D., Ph.D, at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College in London, and colleagues studied 15 healthy men, who were occasional marijuana users, to examine the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on regional brain function during salience processing, which is how people perceive things around them.

Optical Illusion Reveals Reflexes In The Brain

On January 2, 2012, in Cognition, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Muller-Lyer-Illusion

New research by psychologists at Queen Mary, University of London has revealed that the way we see the world might depend on reflexes in the brain. Writing in the Journal of Vision, Dr Michael Proulx from Queen Mary’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, and former student Monique Green, explain how an optical illusion known as the Müller-Lyer Illusion captures our attention more strongly than other visual tests, suggesting that the brain calculates size as a reflex fast enough to guide where the eyes look. Check the end of this report for a link to download the full text, original research paper.

Breast Cancer Survivors Benefit From Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

On January 1, 2012, in Cancer, Meditation, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Jame Armer

Women recently diagnosed with breast cancer have higher survival rates than those diagnosed in previous decades, according to the American Cancer Society. However, survivors continue to face health challenges after their treatments end. Previous research reports as many as 50 percent of breast cancer survivors are depressed. Now, University of Missouri researchers in the Sinclair School of Nursing say a meditation technique can help breast cancer survivors improve their emotional and physical well-being.

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