In The News This Week … Nov 4–10, 2007: Drugs, Weight Issues, Babies & Kids, Heart Health, & Drinking

Anti-Bleeding Drug Trasylol Off the Market

On November 5, Bayer announced that it has temporarily halted worldwide sales of the anti-bleeding drug Trasylol (aprotinin injection). The decision came after the BART study (Blood Conservation using Antifibrinolytics) found that Trasylol may increase death rates in patients undergoing heart bypass surgery.

NSAIDS Decrease Parkinson's Risk

Research published in the November issue of Neurology found that regular use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, decreased the risk of Parkinson's disease. Overall, non-aspirin NSAIDs offered more protection than aspirin. The effect of aspirin also varied by gender: Women who regularly took aspirin lowered their risk of Parkinson's disease by almost 40%, while the same strong protective effect was not seen in men. Researchers speculated that women who took aspirin may have taken it more regularly and at higher doses than men.

Weight Linked to Causes of Death

The November 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reported the surprising finding that overweight people (BMI 25-30) have a lower death rate than people who are normal weight (BMI 18.5-24), underweight (BMI less than 18.5), or obese (BMI greater than 30).

After analyzing data from 2.3 million adult Americans, the researchers concluded that overweight people were less likely to die from some cancers, respiratory diseases, injury, and other causes. Being underweight was associated with increased mortality from respiratory disease and other causes. Obesity was associated with increased mortality from heart and cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney disease, and obesity-related cancers.

Hunger Switch

Scientists have found a molecular "switch" that can turn appetite on or off. The MIC-1 molecule targets the parts of the brain that control hunger, and is produced by common cancers. It is partly responsible for the severe weight loss experienced by cancer patients. Mice treated with MIC-1 showed a marked decrease in appetite, while those treated with antibodies against MIC-1 returned to normal eating habits. The findings were published online on November 4 in Nature Medicine.

Breastfeeding Benefits

Breastfeeding may decrease the risk of heart disease in adulthood. Research presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2007 showed that adults who were breastfed as babies had higher levels of good HDL cholesterol and a lower average BMI.

Breastfed babies are also smarter babies – provided that they have the right gene. A paper published online on November 5 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that the gene FADS2 determined whether or not a breastfed child would have higher IQ. In children with the "C" version of the FADS2 gene (about 90% of subjects studied), breastfeeding raised IQ scores by six to seven points. In children with the "G" version of the FADS2 gene, breastfeeding had no impact on IQ scores. The "C" version of FADS2 allows the body to break down fatty acids in breast milk more efficiently, providing crucial nutrients for brain development. This finding is an example of nature and nurture working together to produce a final result.

Violent TV Programs & Attention Problems in Kids

Researchers found that in children under the age of three, the risk of future attention problems doubled for every hour a day of violent TV programming. The findings were published in the November issue of Pediatrics.

Blood Pressure, Age, and Advice

A paper published in the November issue of the Journal of Clinical Hypertension found that older patients with high blood pressure were less likely to get lifestyle advice from their doctors. Only 53.7% of patients over 60 received advice on healthier eating, compared to 71.2% of patients aged 40 to 59, and 64.9% of patients aged 18 to 39. However, 90.3% of all patients in the study did receive some form of lifestyle advice, including recommendations to exercise, limit salt and alcohol consumption, and change their eating patterns.

Blood Pressure Harder to Control in Winter

The arrival of winter often brings on junk food cravings and an instinct to hibernate, so it's no surprise that blood pressure might be harder to control. According to a study of 443,632 US military veterans, those treated for high blood pressure in the winter were 8% less likely to return to normal readings than those treated in the summer. The research was presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2007.

Caffeinated Cocktails a Dangerous Mix

Mixing alcohol and energy drinks has become a popular practice, especially among college students. A study presented at the American Public Health Association's 2007 Annual Meeting & Exposition showed that it's also a dangerous practice. The caffeine in energy drinks masks the effects of intoxication, which leads to heavier drinking. Students who consumed energy drink and alcohol mixes were much more likely to be injured, use drugs, ride with a drunk driver, take advantage of someone sexually or be taken advantage of sexually, and to engage in other risky behaviors.

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