and apples was associated significantly with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes according to a new study led by Harvard School of Public health (HSPH) researchers.
Greater consumption of fruit juices was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The study is the first to look at the effects of individual fruits on diabetes risk.
While fruits are recommended as a measure for diabetes prevention previous studies have mixed found results for total fruit consumption.
Our findings provide novel evidence suggesting that certain fruits may be especially beneficial for lowering diabetes risk said senior author Qi Sun assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH and assistant professor at the Channing Division of Network
Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital. The study appears online August 29 2013 in BMJ (British Medical Journal.
Participants who reported a diagnosis of diabetes cardiovascular disease or cancer at enrollment were excluded. Results showed that 12198 participants (6. 5%)developed diabetes during the study period.
The researchers looked at overall fruit consumption as well as consumption of individual fruits: grapes or raisins;
peaches plums or apricots; prunes; bananas; cantaloupe; apples or pears; oranges; grapefruit; strawberries; and blueberries.
and apples--reduced their risk for type 2 diabetes by as much as 23%in comparison to those who ate less than one serving per month.
or more servings of fruit juice each day increased their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 21%.
%The researchers found that swapping three servings of juice per week for whole fruits would result in a 7%reduction in diabetes risk.
The fruits'glycemic index (a measure of how rapidly carbohydrates in a food boost blood sugar) did not prove to be a significant factor in determining a fruit's association with type 2 diabetes risk.
However the high glycemic index of fruit juice--which passes through the digestive system more rapidly than fiber-rich fruit--may explain the positive link between juice consumption and increased diabetes risk.
Previous studies have linked anthocyanins found in berries and grapes to lowered heart attack risk for example.
But more research is necessary to determine which components in the more beneficial fruits influence diabetes risk.
but not fruit juice as a measure for diabetes prevention said lead author Isao Muraki research fellow in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH.
And our novel findings may help refine this recommendation to facilitate diabetes prevention. Story Source:
and infectious disease resistance--will likely have caused many genetic adaptations of this kind. We need lactase
According to new research published in the September 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal not only is dieting before getting pregnant not enough to prevent diabetes risks
#Targeting mosquito breeding sites could boost malaria control efforts in Africa and Asiaa malaria control method that targets mosquito larvae and pupae as they mature in standing water could be an important supplementary measure in the fight against the disease according to a new report.
The Cochrane review--led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in collaboration with Durham University and other researchers in the UK and US--is the first systematic review looking at using larval source management (LSM) to control malaria
which causes an estimated 660000 deaths worldwide every year. It found evidence that the method may significantly reduce both the number of cases of malaria by up to 75%and the proportion of people infected with the malaria parasite by up to 90%when used in appropriate settings.
LSM is a method that targets immature mosquitoes found in standing water before the females develop into flying adults that are capable of transmitting malaria.
This is done by permanently removing standing water for example by draining or filling land; making temporary changes to mosquito habitats to disrupt breeding for example by clearing drains to make the water flow;
Currently the use of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying of homes are used widely for malaria transmission control
and some malaria-endemic countries in Sub-saharan africa are already implementing LSM programmes but there is a lack of consensus on how effective the method can be and in
and a sufficient proportion of these habitats can be targeted LSM may reduce the number of cases of malaria and the proportion of people infected with the malaria parasite at any one time.
The findings also suggest LSM could contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of splenomegaly in children (an enlargement of the spleen caused by repeated malaria infections.
This is the first time the evidence on larval source management for malaria control has been reviewed systematically and our research shows that the method can be an effective supplementary measure against malaria in both urban
and rural areas of Africa and Asia--wherever it is possible to target a sufficient proportion of mosquito breeding sites.
These findings have important implications for malaria control policy. The tremendous progress made in malaria control in the last decade is threatened now by mosquito resistance to the insecticides available for long-lasting insecticide treated nets and indoor residual spraying.
Thus additional methods are needed to target malaria-transmitting mosquitoes. Our research shows that larval source management could be an effective supplementary intervention in some places.
The authors note that further research is needed to assess how effective LSM is in rural Africa where breeding sites are harder to target such as large flood plains or rice paddies.
But the review authors say LSM could be an important strategy in the control of malaria
This paper is a landmark publication demonstrating that in many places larval source management should be used as a supplementary weapon against malaria.
or indoor residual spraying to hammer down malaria across the tropics. The authors note that there are limitations in the available data for analysis with a small number of eligible studies and a lack of data in many settings.
Two of these proteins are already being studied as potential drug targets against other pathogens. The team sequenced the genome of Haemonchus contortus
and other worms of this type acquire resistance to a wide range of anthelmintics#the drugs used to treat worm infections#says Dr James Cotton senior author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.#
These estimates rest on the recognition that all plants rely on microbial partners to secure nutrients deter pathogens
or slowing the progress of the most common form of arthritis according to new research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA).
and often debilitating osteoarthritis. The researchers found that mice fed a diet rich in the compound had significantly less cartilage damage
and osteoarthritis than those that were not. The study which also examined human cartilage cells
and cow cartilage tissue was funded by medical research charity Arthritis Research UK the Biotechnology and Biological sciences Research Council's (BBSRC) Diet and Health Research Industry Club (DRINC
and their findings are published today in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism. More than 8. 5 million people in the UK have osteoarthritis a degenerative disease affecting the hands feet spine hips and knees in particular.
According to Arthritis Research UK the annual cost of the condition to the NHS is £5. 2 billion.
In 2011 more than 77000 knee and 66000 hip replacements were carried out due to osteoarthritis--approximately one every four minutes.
Aging and obesity are the most common contributors to the condition and due to their effects the number of people in the UK consulting a GP about knee osteoarthritis alone could rise from 4. 7 million in 2010 to 8. 3 million by 2035.
Currently one in five people over the age of 45 has osteoarthritis in their knee.
There is no cure or effective treatment for the disease other than pain relief which is often inadequate or joint replacement.
Researchers from the School of Biological sciences and Norwich Medical school are now embarking on a small scale trial in osteoarthritis patients due to have knee replacement surgery to see
If successful they hope it will lead to funding for a large scale clinical trial to show the effect of broccoli on osteoarthritis joint function and pain itself.
Once you have osteoarthritis being able to slow its progress and the progression to surgery is really important.
Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability. It is a huge health burden but a huge financial burden too which will get worse in an increasingly aging and obese population such as ours.
because it is about how diet might work in osteoarthritis. Once you know that you can look at other dietary compounds which could protect the joint
Developing new strategies for combating age-related diseases such as osteoarthritis is vital both to improve the quality of life for sufferers
Arthritis Research UK's medical director Prof Alan Silman said: This is an interesting study with promising results as it suggests that a common vegetable broccoli might have health benefits for people with osteoarthritis
and even possibly protect people from developing the disease in the first place. Until now research has failed to show that food
or diet can play any part in reducing the progression of osteoarthritis so if these findings can be replicated in humans it would be quite a breakthrough.
#Calcium supplements may not prevent bone loss in women with breast cancerwomen undergoing treatment for breast cancer are prescribed widely calcium
and manage osteoporosis an unwanted side effect of breast cancer therapies. However new research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical center finds that the recommended daily doses of these supplements may not prevent loss of bone mineral density (BMD) in these women.
Study author Gary G. Schwartz Ph d. a cancer epidemiologist at Wake Forest Baptist said the purpose of the study was to examine
and Vitamin d supplementation in maintaining skeletal health of women with breast cancer he said. At the doses recommended the data show that these supplements are inadequate to prevent loss of BMD.
and 200-1000 IU Vitamin d the doses commonly recommended do not prevent loss of BMD in women with breast cancer.
Women with breast cancer lose BMD at a higher rate than their healthier counterparts increasing their risk of fractures
because cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality in women with breast cancer. There is growing evidence that calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The take-home message is that this very common practice of supplementation doesn't really seem to be said working Schwartz.
and efficacy of calcium and Vitamin d supplementation in women undergoing breast cancer therapy. The research is supported by the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University Cancer Control Traineeship--NCI/NIH grant R25ca122061.
Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by Wake Forest Baptist Medical center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
#Oxygen-generating compound shows promise for saving tissue after severe injurythe same compound in a common household clothes detergent shows promise as a treatment to preserve muscle tissue after severe injury.
Potential applications include treating amputations crush injuries from car accidents or even blast injuries suffered by those in combat zones.
SPO is a combination of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide molecules. In the presence of water it decomposes into oxygen and other salts.
Normally when blood flow to muscle tissue is reduced due to severe injury the muscle begins to die said Harrison.
Providing extra oxygen to oxygen-deprived muscle following injury is currently a major medical challenge. The few treatments that are available are aimed primarily at increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood
The major implication of these findings is that oxygen-generating compounds can potentially reduce the magnitude of the permanent functional deficits resulting from traumatic injury to muscle said George Christ Ph d. co-author and professor of regenerative medicine at Wake Forest Baptist.
because it delivers oxygen independent of blood flow may also have diverse applications to the salvage repair and regeneration of soft tissue following trauma.
and water as runoff from agricultural fields causes a host of problems including respiratory illness cancer and cardiac disease.
#Higher intake of fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of bladder cancer in womenuniversity of Hawaii Cancer Center Researcher Song-Yi Park Phd
and vegetables may lower the risk of invasive bladder cancer in women. The investigation was conducted as part of the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study established in 1993 to assess the relationships among dietary lifestyle genetic factors and cancer risk.
Park and her fellow researcher's analyzed data collected from 185885 older adults over a period of 12.5 years
of which 581 invasive bladder cancer cases were diagnosed (152 women and 429 men). After adjusting for variables related to cancer risk (age etc.
the researchers found that women who consumed the most fruits and vegetables had the lowest bladder cancer risk.
For instance women consuming the most yellow-orange vegetables were 52%less likely to have bladder cancer than women consuming the least yellow-orange vegetables.
The data also suggested that women with the highest intake of vitamins A c and E had the lowest risk of bladder cancer.
No associations between fruit and vegetable intake and invasive bladder cancer were found in men.
Our study supports the fruit and vegetable recommendation for cancer prevention said Park. However further investigation is needed to understand
and explain why the reduced cancer risk with higher consumption of fruits and vegetables was confined to only women.
Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Note:
Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference e
#Toxic nanoparticles might be entering human food supplyover the last few years the use of nanomaterials for water treatment food packaging pesticides cosmetics
This study provides a promising approach for detecting the contamination of silver nanoparticles in food crops
The researchers including Case Western Reserve University School of medicine professor James Kazura MD found that insecticide-treated bed nets reduce transmission of lymphatic filariasis to undetectable levels--even
The World health organization reports that more than 120 million people suffer from lymphatic filariasis commonly known as elephantiasis.
or disabled by the disease a parasitic-worm infection spread by mosquitoes. Our study quantifies the effect of the most widely implemented vector control measure--insecticide-treated bed nets
--and highlights the importance of integrating this type of intervention as a part of the global strategy to eliminate lymphatic filariasis said Kazura the paper's senior author and director of the medical school's Center for Global Health and Diseases.
Ten years after villagers took their last medication round they received free bed nets as part of Papua new guinea's national malaria control effort.
Insecticide-treated bed nets already are used widely in areas where lymphatic filariasis and malaria are present.
They block female mosquitoes from securing blood a process that is essential for them to lay eggs and produce offspring.
and thus further compromise transmission of the infection to another human. We should not rely solely on mass drug administration to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.
By combining the existing strategy with vector control we are more likely to reach elimination thresholds said Lisa J. Reimer Phd first author on the paper and a lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
while having a high payoff for both filariasis and malaria control. Kazura and his colleagues in Papua new guinea plan to study progress in eliminating the disease over the next several years.
#Genesis and evolution of H7n9 influenza virusan international team of influenza researchers in China the United kingdom and the United states has used genetic sequencing to trace the source
and evolution of the avian H7n9 influenza virus that emerged in humans in China earlier this year.
The study published today in Nature was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases (NIAID) a component of the National institutes of health and other organizations.
From these samples the researchers isolated several influenza viruses and genetically sequenced those of the H7n9 subtype as well as related H7n7 and H9n2 viruses.
Within ducks and later within chickens various strains of avian H7n9 H7n7 and H9n2 influenza exchanged genes with one another in different combinations.
Given these results the authors write continued surveillance of influenza viruses in birds remains essential.
The above story is provided based on materials by NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases. Note:
They proposed a new twist on the functional significance of the megafaunal dispersal syndrome and published their findings recently in the American Journal of Botany.
The researchers forecast changes to natural selection the spread of infections and the sexual development and fertility of wild animals.
#Celery, artichokes contain flavonoids that kill human pancreatic cancer cellscelery artichokes and herbs especially Mexican oregano all contain apigenin
and luteolin flavonoids that kill human pancreatic cancer cells in the lab by inhibiting an important enzyme according to two new University of Illinois studies.
Apigenin alone induced cell death in two aggressive human pancreatic cancer cell lines. But we received the best results
Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive cancer and there are few early symptoms meaning that the disease is often not found before it has spread.
It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths with a five-year survival rate of only 6 percent she said.
which led to a decrease in the production of anti-apoptotic genes in the pancreatic cancer cells.
According to Johnson the scientists'in vitro study in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research is the first to show that apigenin treatment can lead to an increase in interleukin 17s in pancreatic cells showing its potential relevance in anti-pancreatic cancer activity.
Pancreatic cancer patients would probably not be able to eat enough flavonoid-rich foods to raise blood plasma levels of the flavonoid to an effective level.
which would certainly help to reduce the risk of cancer she noted. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by University of Illinois College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental sciences.
and their leading cause of death is chronic illness mostly tobacco-related. Prochaska said it has long been thought that
Assumptions we have made in the field--that these patients don't want to quit are too ill to quit
It's also a potential gateway to new smokers particularly among teens and in emerging/foreign markets according to behavioral scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
and thereby reducing their lung cancer risk. However MD Anderson cancer prevention experts Paul Cinciripini Ph d. director of the Tobacco Treatment Program and Alexander Prokhorov M d. Ph d. head of the Tobacco Outreach Education
Program caution that more research is needed to understand the potential role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation.
The above story is provided based on materials by University of Texas M d. Anderson Cancer Center. Note:
#Containing infectious disease outbreaksresearchers at the University of East Anglia have identified a rapid response which could help halt infectious diseases such as bird flu swine flu
and SARS before they take hold. Focusing on the avian flu virus strain H5n1 research published today in the journal PLOS ONE identifies key stages in the poultry trade chain which lead to its transmission to other birds animals and humans.
High risk times for the disease to spread include during transportation slaughter preparation and consumption.
It is hoped that the findings and recommendations will help stop the spread of other infectious diseases.
The H5n1 avian flu strain has been responsible for the deaths of millions of poultry as well as 375 confirmed human deaths.
Areas of Southeast Asia have been hardest hit with more than 2500 reported outbreaks among domestic poultry in Vietnam alone.
Since 1980 an average of one new infectious disease emerges in humans every eight months--representing a substantial global threat to human health.
and mammals such as SARS and bird flu represent 60 per cent of outbreaks. As well as representing a significant global health threat they also create a burden to public health systems and the global economy.
The research could aid in the development of new drugs that use a similar mechanism as melittin's to attack cancer and bacteria.
People are interested in using these peptides to fight cancer and other diseases in part because organisms cannot change the makeup of their membrane so it would be very difficult for them to develop resistance to such drugs.
The same is true for infection he added. An infection from a pathogen or parasite--even injuries burns or surgery--all cause an immediate decrease in testosterone.
The body uses food energy for a number of critical processes. Among them are building muscle mass
In addition the Tsimane's regular exposure to pathogens and parasites requires additional calories for maintaining necessary immune function.
since the 1970s accompanied by a dramatic increase in metabolic diseases such as diabetes obesity fatty liver and cardiovascular disease.
and soft tissue infections in humans originally came from cattle according to a study to be published in mbio the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Today methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain CC97 is an emerging human pathogen in Europe North and South america Africa and Asia.
The findings highlight the potential for cows to serve as a reservoir for bacteria with the capacity for pandemic spread in humans.
Perhaps the most problematic new capability the human strains acquired is the ability to resist methicillin an important antibiotic for fighting staphylococcal infections.
which indicates that the bacteria acquired resistance after they crossed over into humans presumably through exposure to antibiotics prescribed for treating human infections.
and hopefully prevent the birth of the next pandemic S. aureus strain. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by American Society for Microbiology.
#Healthy diet, moderate alcohol linked with decreased risk of kidney disease in patient with diabeteseating a healthy diet
or progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus according to a report published by JAMA Internal medicine a JAMA Network publication.
Type 2 diabetes and associated CKD have become major public health problems. However little is known about the long-term effect of diet on the incidence and progression of early-stage diabetic CKD according to the study background.
Daniela Dunkler Ph d. of Mcmaster University Ontario Canada and colleagues examined the association of a healthy diet alcohol protein and sodium intake with incident or progression of CKD among patients with type
2 diabetes. All 6213 patients with type 2 diabetes in the ONTARGET trial were included in the observational study.
The study results indicate that 31.7 percent of patients developed CKD and 8. 3 percent of patients died after 5. 5 years of follow-up.
A healthy diet and moderate intake of alcohol may decrease the incidence or progression of CKD among individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Moving Dietary Management of Diabetes Forwardin a related commentary Holly Kramer M d. M p h. of Loyola University Chicago Maywood Ill. and Alex Chang M d. M
Patients with both type 2 diabetes and kidney disease may be frustrated by the numerous dietary restrictions that are recommended by their health care team.
'Perhaps the best dietary advice we can give to patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease is the same as the advice for those who want to avoid chronic kidney disease
and the same advice for preventing and treating hypertension and the same dietary advice for everyone:
eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables low-fat dairy products and whole grains while minimizing saturated
#Irrigation in arid regions can increase malaria risk for a decadenew irrigation systems in arid regions benefit farmers
but can increase the local malaria risk for more than a decade --which is longer than previously believed
In these dry fragile ecosystems where increase in water availability from rainfall is the limiting factor for malaria transmission irrigation infrastructure can drastically alter mosquito population abundance to levels above the threshold needed to maintain malaria transmission said lead
The researchers studied changes in land use and malaria risk around a large irrigation project under construction in a semiarid area in the northeast part of the Indian state of Gujarat.
Malaria risk in arid regions often rises when irrigation is introduced due to increased amounts of standing water that serve as mosquito breeding sites.
Globally the number of people at risk of contracting malaria due to proximity to irrigation canals and related infrastructure has been estimated at 800 million which represents about 12 percent of the global malaria burden.
Historical evidence shows that after irrigation is introduced into arid locations the increased malaria risk eventually subsides
The study is the first to combine satellite imagery of vegetation cover with public health records of malaria cases over a large region to track changes that occur as a mega-irrigation project progresses.
By following the changes in malaria incidence vegetation and socioeconomic data at the level of sub-districts we identified a transition phase toward sustainable low malaria risk lasting for more than a decade
and characterized by an enhanced environmental malaria risk despite intensive mosquito control efforts said Pascual the Rosemary Grant Collegiate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at U-M and a Howard
Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. Pascual said the findings show that environmental methods for sustainable disease control are needed urgently.
Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite which is transmitted via the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.
In the PNAS study the researchers examined epidemiological data on microscopically confirmed malaria cases from rural areas some dating back to 1997.
They were then able to determine how levels of malaria changed as the massive irrigation project progressed.
and mature irrigation areas could provide the means to reduce the malaria burden and shorten the transition phase the authors concluded.
In addition to Baeza and Pascual the authors of the PNAS paper are Menno Jan Bouma of the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Ramesh Dhiman of India's National Institute of Malaria Research
U-M's Edward B. Baskerville Pietro Ceccato of Columbia University and Rajpal Yadav of India's National Institute of Malaria Research and the World health organization.
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