Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Yogurt Consumption Linked with Reduced Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes
Eating a 28 g serving of yogurt every day was associated with an 18% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in a meta-analysis of 14 prospective cohorts with 459,790 participants and 35,863 incident type 2 diabetes cases. Other dairy foods and consumption of total dairy were not appreciably associated with diabetes incidence. The BMC Medicinefindings suggest that randomized clinical trials are warranted to examine the causal effects of yogurt consumption on diabetes as well as the potential of probiotics to affect body weight and insulin resistance.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Administration To Unveil Calorie Labeling Rules On Tuesday.
The Wall Street Journal (11/25, Tracy, Subscription Publication) reports that the Administration and the FDA are planning on unveiling final rules expanding calorie labeling on Tuesday. The rules will require restaurants with at least 20 locations to display calorie counts on their menus. In addition, the rules will apply to amusement parks, convenience stores, movie theaters, and others. The rules have been repeatedly delayed, and have faced significant opposition from the food industry.
The Washington Post (11/24, Dennis) reports that, according to FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, “Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home,” and as a result “people today expect clear information about the products they consume.” Hamburg expressed hope that the new rules will aid people in making “more informed choices” about the food they eat. The Post adds that “activists who for years have pushed for more transparent and consistent menu labeling,” as a means of managing the nation’s epidemic of obesity, “praised the FDA’s action.”
Bloomberg News (11/25, Edney) reports that, among the critics of the rules were grocery stores, who cited concern that “calculating and posting calories would curtail offerings in their fresh prepared foods sections, because the offerings are constantly changing.” According to Rob Rosado, director of government relations with the Food Marketing Institute, “testing and labeling them all could have cost the industry as much as $1 billion.”
The New York Times (11/25, Tavernise, Strom, Subscription Publication) adds, “Perhaps the most surprising element of the new rules was the inclusion of alcoholic beverages, which had not been part of an earlier proposal.” FDA officials said “Beverages served in food establishments that are on menus and menu boards will be included, but a mixed drink at a bar will not.”
Also reporting on the story are USA Today (11/25, Horovitz), Reuters (11/25, Clarke, Athavaley)The Hill (11/25, Devaney), Politico (11/25, Evich)Yahoo! News (11/25, Jalonick), the Minneapolis Star Tribune (11/25), and in the NPR (11/24) “The Salt” Blog.
Exercise May Improve Physical Function, Lessen Pain in Patients with CKD
A12-week course of exercise done in a supervised setting similar to a cardiac rehab center was effective in improving physical function and quality of life among patients with CKD. Also, the exercise program decreased pain as assessed by patient questionnaires. The CJASNstudyincluded 107 patients with CKD stages 3 or 4, with 59 undergoing the exercise program and 48 receiving usual care. The exercise program consisted of treadmill walking and/or stationary cycling, plus weight training with free weights, done twice weekly at local facilities. Additionally, exercise participants were given pedometers and encouraged to walk 5,000 to 10,000 steps daily.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Majority of LN Patients In Complete Remission and with Preserved Renal Function Have Persistent Hypertension
MedPage Today reported that research published online in Clinical Rheumatology suggests that “more than half of lupus nephritis (LN) patients in complete remission and with preserved renal function still have persistent hypertension.” Investigators found that “independent factors associated with hypertension (P<0.05) were: disease duration (odds ratio 1.06, 95% CI 0.91-1.24); longer duration interval to complete remission (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.19); number or relapses (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.01-6.3); and CyA use (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.14-23.9).”
Plasma Lithium Levels Above Advised Range Tied to Transient Kidney Function Reduction
Medwire News reported that according to a study published Nov. 7 in the BMJ Open, “plasma levels of lithium above the advised range are associated with a transient reduction in kidney function.” The study of 699 patients “found a dose-response effect, with plasma lithium levels of 1.01–1.20mmol/L associated with a 3.88 percentage point reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measured within three months of the lithium value, while levels of 1.21–2.00 mmol/L were associated with a 5.40 percentage point reduction.” Such reductions remained “significant after accounting for age and gender.”
More Dialysis May Not Be Better When it Comes to QoL
MedPage Today reported that according to research presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week, “more dialysis may not be better when it comes to quality of life [QoL].” Researchers reported that in the 200-patient “ACTIVE trial, patients aiming for 24 hours per week of dialysis saw no improvements in quality of life compared with those who did a standard number of hours per week.”
Amniotic Membrane Allografts May Be Effective against Difficult-to-Treat Ulcers
Dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (dHACM) allograft is a viable option for treating patients with ulcerations refractory to standard of care therapy, according to a study presented at Desert Foot 2014. Among the 22 diabetic patients in the study, the average wound size at the time of the initial dHACM application was 2.79 cm²; among the 18 non-diabetic study participants, the average wound size was 4.96 cm². The average number of dHACM applications was 3.36 in diabetics and 3.11 in non-diabetics, and the average number of weeks to wound closure was 5.89 in diabetics and 5.94 in non-diabetics.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Drug Helps Lower Potassium Levels in Patients with Hyperkalemia
Zirconium cyclosilicate (a nonabsorbed cation exchanger that selectively binds potassium in the intestine) maintained normal potassium levels in patients with hyperkalemia throughout a 28-day clinical trial published in JAMA. Normal potassium levels were achieved in 84% of patients within 24 hours and 98% within 48 hours of treatment initiation. Compared to placebo, all treatment doses resulted in significantly higher proportions of patients with normal potassium levels. After 258 patients received zirconium cyclosilicate in an initial 48-hour open-label phase, patients achieving normal potassium levels were then randomized to receive 5 g, 10 g, or 15 g of zirconium cyclosilicate or a placebo daily.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Using a statin for five years in middle age may reduce heart, death risks for decades.
The AP (11/20, Marchione) reports that research presented at the American Heart Association meeting suggests that using a statin “for five years in middle age can lower heart and death risks for decades afterward, and the benefits seem to grow over time.” The research, which began in 1989, included approximately 6,600 middle-aged men who had high LDL. Half of the participants were given a placebo and the other half were given pravastatin. Researchers found that “five years later, there were 35 percent fewer heart-related deaths and also fewer heart attacks” among those who had been given pravastatin. The investigators also found that “twenty year after the study began, the risk of heart-related deaths was 27 percent lower among the men who took” pravastatin “for those first five years.”
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Pollution May Contribute to Kidney Disease
Direct link: http://www.dailyrx.com/chronic-kidney-disease-rates-were-higher-counties-higher-levels-particulate-matter
Pollution May Contribute to Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease rates were higher in counties with higher levels of particulate matter
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(dailyRx News) Factors like aging, diabetes and high blood pressure may raise patients' risk of chronic kidney disease. Now, new research suggests that air pollution may also raise that risk.
The authors of a recent study found that areas with higher pollution had higher rates of chronic kidney disease.
The researchers noted that their findings did not confirm that pollution causes kidney disease. They called for further research on the topic.
Matthew T. Smith, MD, of the Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton in Texas, said past research on kidney disease causes has mostly focused on respiratory and cardiovascular factors.
"Research in how air pollution would cause chronic kidney disease is very early," he told dailyRx News. "At this point there is no direct proven link between air pollution and chronic kidney disease. Ambient air pollution has been implicated in increasing mortality from lung cancer and cardiopulmonary disease. Chronic kidney disease can occur as a result of worsened cardiovascular issues such as hypertension."
Jennifer L. Bragg-Gresham, PhD, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, led the current study. The researchers presented their findings at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week in Philadelphia Nov. 15.
Chronic kidney disease is the slow loss of kidney function over time. If the kidneys do not work well, waste can build up in the body. Chronic kidney disease can lead to other health problems, such as high blood pressure, nerve damage and heart disease.
Past research found that rates of chronic kidney disease varied widely across the US. The authors of the current study wanted to study why that variation may occur.
Dr. Bragg-Gresham and colleagues looked at 2010 Medicare data on 1.1 million people across the US. They compared data on how many people with chronic kidney disease lived in each county. They then looked at data on levels of pollution in each of those counties from the Environmental Protection Agency.
They found that areas with about 14 micrograms per cubic meter of particulate matter had high numbers of people with chronic kidney disease. This level of pollution is much lower than what is thought unhealthy for sensitive groups like the elderly. Particulate matter up to 40 micrograms per cubic meter is considered healthy for elderly patients.
According to the World Health Organization, the air quality guideline for cities is to have 20 micrograms per cubic meter of particulate matter or less, but many developing areas far exceed this amount, Many major cities around the globe have around 70 micrograms per cubic meter.
Many particles in the air can cause health concerns, such as respiratory health problems. These particles — known as particulate matter — include nitrates, sulfates, organic chemicals and metals. Future work on this topic should focus on individual types of particles — particularly lead and cadmium, as high blood levels of these two heavy metals have previously been tied to chronic kidney disease, Dr. Bragg-Gresham told dailyRx News.
The study authors adjusted for other factors, such as age, sex, race, diabetes and high blood pressure — all thought to have an effect chronic kidney disease risk — and still found that those living in highly polluted areas were more likely to develop kidney disease.
Dr. Smith said patients should take measures to protect themselves from harmful toxins.
"For patients that smoke, stop smoking," he said. "The concentration of harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke is far higher than what is encountered on the worst air pollution days. For everyone, enjoy the outdoors, but use common sense. For people who are sensitive to air quality, limiting outdoor exposure would be reasonable on days where air quality is not good."
Dr. Bragg Gresham and team could not say for sure that air pollution caused chronic kidney disease. They called for more research to look at individual exposure to air pollution, levels of chronic kidney disease and different factors in pollution that may be responsible for the increased risk for chronic kidney disease, such as metals or acids.
“If this association is borne out by future studies, it would have implications for reducing air pollution exposure for those with chronic kidney disease and also for those at risk for the condition," Dr. Bragg-Gresham concluded. "The potential public health significance of this finding is even greater for regions and countries with much higher levels of air pollution than the United States."
The US government funded this study. The authors disclosed no conflicts of interest.
Research presented at conferences may not have been peer-reviewed.
Conditions:
Diabetes Kidney Disease
Reviewed by:
Review Date:
November 13, 2014Citation:
American Society of Nephrology, “Air Pollution Associated With Higher Rates Of Chronic Kidney Disease”American Society of Nephrology, “County-Level Air Quality and the Prevalence of Diagnosed Chronic Kidney Disease in the U.S. Medicare Population”World Health Organization, "Ambient (outdoor) air quality and health"Last Updated:
November 18, 2014Source:
dailyrx.com
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