Study: Single Can of Sugary Soda Can Increase Diabetes Risk 22 Percent
Drinking even a single 12-ounce can of sugary soda once a day can up the risk of diabetes by 22 percent, according to a new study out of Imperial College London. Researchers looked at the data of approximately 350,000 European residents. "Given the increase in sweet beverage consumption in Europe, clear messages on the unhealthy effect of these drinks should be given to the population," said study leader Dora Romaguera, according to Reuters. Previous studies have also shown a link between sugary drinks and increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, which affects approximately 310 million people, according to the World Health Organization. Read more on diabetes.

Teen Years in the ‘Stroke Belt’ Ups Risk of Stroke Later in Life
Growing up as a teenager in the U.S. “stroke belt”—an area in the country’s southeast—can increase the risk of stroke later in life by as much as 17 percent, according to a new study in the journal Neurology. Risk factors including high blood pressure and diabetes are only partially responsible for the increase risk. "Many social and behavioral risk factors, such as smoking, are set in place during the teenage years, and teens are more exposed to external influences and gain the knowledge to challenge or reaffirm their childhood habits and lifestyle," said study author Virginia Howard, with the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in a release. Across all age groups the risk was double for black Americans when compared to white Americans. Researchers were careful to note that the findings do not demonstration causation. Read more on strokes.

Poultry Probably Source of China’s New Bird Flu Strain
Researchers believe that poultry-to-human transmission from “wet” markets is likely responsible for the new H7N9 bird flu strain that has killed 22 people in China and infected more than 100. Wet markets sell and immediately slaughter poultry. So far the strain does not seem to pass easily between people, so the researchers feel relatively confident that closing the markets and slaughtering the birds will control the outbreak. “Overall, the evidence, in terms of epidemiology and virology, suggests that it is a pure poultry to human transmission, and that controlling [the epidemic in humans] will therefore depend on controlling the epidemic in poultry,” said Kwok-Yung Yuen of the University of Hong Kong, according to MSNBC. The findings were published in the journal Lancet. Read more on infectious disease.

Excess Weight More Harmful to Minority Children with Asthma
Excess weight has a greater negative impact on Hispanic and African-American children with asthma than it does on Caucasian children with asthma, according to a new report in the Journal of Asthma. The added weight impedes lung function. Hispanic and African-American children also experience higher rates of asthma than do Caucasian children. Deepa Rastogi, MD, MS, senior author and attending physician in the Division of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, said this information can help physicians identify and treat asthma early. “Physicians might want to measure the degree of airway obstruction in Hispanic and African-American children who are both overweight or obese and asthmatic. Early identification of a drop in lung function can assist in better patient management.” Read more on obesity.

Study: 30 Percent of Chemo Drugs Used Off-label
Approximately one-third of chemotherapy drugs are used to combat cancers for which they were not approved, according to a new study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. "The main criticism of off-label prescribing has been the concern that it jeopardizes patient safety because the full risk-benefit ratio is often not completely understood," said Monika Krzyzanowska, MD, MPH, of the University of Toronto. Still, lead researcher Rena Conti, an assistant professor of health policy and economics at the University of Chicago, said they cannot determine the effectiveness of the off-label treatments, according to Reuters. "We don't know what the outcomes are. We can't make a judgment of whether the off-label use we document… is appropriate or inappropriate." Read more on cancer.

Poll: One in Eight American Adults has Type 2 Diabetes
One in eight American adults—or 29 million people—suffer from type 2 diabetes, according to a Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll. The poll also found that one in three have a parent, sibling, spouse or child with diabetes. Despite those high numbers, only 21 percent of the people polled think of themselves as “well-versed” on the chronic condition, according to HealthDay. "Diabetes is very insidious,” said Ronald Tamler, MD, clinical director of the Mount Sinai Diabetes Center in New York City. “You don't know you're in trouble until the complications hit or until it's so out of control you have uncontrolled urination and thirst." Read more on diabetes.

Study: IVF Does Not Affect Risk of Breast, Gynecological Cancers
In vitro fertilization (IVF) does not increase a woman’s risk of breast and gynecological cancers, according to a new study in the journal Fertility & Sterility. Researchers looked at the medical records of 67,608 women who underwent IVF between 1994 and 2011 and 19,795 women who sought treatment, did not receive it. They found no increase in the chance of being diagnosed with breast or endometrial cancer and only a slight increase in ovarian cancer depending on the times treated, which might have been the result of chance. Previous studies had linked IVF to increased risk of breast cancer and borderline ovarian tumors. Read more on cancer.

Studies Link Excessive Television as Kids, Violence as Adults
Reducing the amount of violent television programming a child watches may also reduce their aggression levels, according to two new studies in the journal Pediatrics. A New Zealand study found higher rates of criminal convictions in people who had watched more television as children, while a U.S. study found kids who watched “pro-social” programming were better behaved than their peers who watched regular programming. "It's not just the bad behaviors that they get from TV. They can get good behaviors, too," said the U.S. study's lead author, Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Research Institute. The link between television and violence has been difficult for researchers to study because of the presence of so many other factors, but the findings do support previous research showing a link between watching too much television early in life and antisocial problems, according to study co-author Bob Hancox, MD, an associate professor in the department of preventive and social medicine at the University of Otago in Dunedin. Read more on violence.

NIH: Diabetes Control Much Improved in Past Two Decades
People are increasingly meeting the recommended goals for the top markers of diabetes control, according to a new study in the journal Diabetes Care. The "ABC's" of diabetes control include A1C (which assesses blood sugar levels), blood pressure and cholesterol. About 19 percent of people with diabetes met all three of the goals in 2010, up from only 2 percent in 1988. The National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted and funded the study. Still, the researchers say continued improvement is needed, especially for younger people and certain minority groups. Read more on diabetes.

FDA Approves Three New Type 2 Diabetes Treatments
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three new drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Nesina tablets, Kazano tablets and Oseni tablets are all used to control blood sugar. Alogliptin is a new active ingredient that “helps stimulate the release of insulin after a meal, which leads to better blood sugar control,” said Mary Parks, MD, director of the Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a release. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also released its first ever guidelines for treating type 2 diabetes in kids ages 10 to 18.  Read more on diabetes.

Study: Car Commuters Gain More Weight than People Who Use Other Transportation
People who commute to work by car gain more weight than their cohorts who use other forms of transportation, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Researchers compared car commuters to those who took trains, buses and bikes, finding the car drivers put on an average of four pounds over four years, as compared to three pounds for the other commuters. The only people in the study who did not gain weight were those who exercised enough weekly and never drove to work. Lawrence Frank of the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, said a possible explanation for the results for car drivers is “[p]eople who have longer commutes tend to purchase a lot of their food and run a lot of errands on their way to and from work,” according to Reuters. Read more on obesity.

TV Alcohol Ads May Increase Risk of Alcohol-related Problems for Kids
Watching alcohol ads on television may increase the chance of young kids having alcohol-related problems, but teaching kids about the realities of alcohol and the effects of persuasive messages in the media can help reduce the effects, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics. "This study provides evidence that exposure to alcohol advertising in seventh grade and liking those alcohol advertisements on television is associated with higher levels of drinking in the eighth and ninth grades," said lead researcher Jerry Grenard, an associate professor in the School of Community and Global Health at Claremont Graduate University in California, in a release. "Examples of problems include failing to do homework, attending school drunk, passing out and getting into fights.” Researchers said the policymakers and the alcohol industry should work together to limit youth exposure. Read more on substance abuse.

Study Links Diabetes, Rise in Severe Vision Problems
Diabetes may be responsible for a significant increase in serious vision problems in U.S. adults, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. From 1999 to 2008, the rate of severe problems climbed 21 percent for adults ages 20 and older. "There has been a change on two fronts during the last seven to 10 years. One is that visual impairment is increasing, and this is visual impairment that can't be fixed with glasses. The other is that 20- to 39-year-olds are now losing vision as well," said Fang Ko, MD, an study author, ophthalmologist and resident at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. There were other contributing factors, but researchers identified diabetes as a consistent contributor. While diabetes has become more manageable, the study’s findings demonstrate the need for people to be more away about the risk factors that can lead to the disease. Read more on diabetes.

Americans Living Longer, But Not Always Healthier
While Americans are living longer on average, chronic diseases mean that those extended lives are not always healthier, according to the United Health Foundation's 2012 America's Health Rankings. In 2009, the American life expectancy was 78.5 years. "As a nation, we've made extraordinary gains in longevity over the past decades, but as individuals we are regressing in our health," said Reed Tuckson, MD, a medical adviser at the United Health Foundation and chief of medical affairs at the UnitedHealth Group. Preventable chronic conditions include diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. Read more on aging.

Study: Junk Food Taxes Can Improve Nutrition, Health
Junk food taxes that help subsidize fruits and vegetables can help improve eating habits and overall public health, according to a new study in the journal PLoS Medicine. A price increase of as little as 1 percent would cut the consumption of fatty foods by 0.02 percent, while a 10 percent jump in the price of soda would cut consumption by as much as 24 percent. While the rates might seem relatively low, researchers believe the positive health benefits would be greater for low-income families, who are at higher risk for poor health due to inadequate nutrition. Read more on nutrition.

Study: Many Insurers Not Covering Tobacco Treatments Mandated by Affordable Care Act
Many health insurers are not providing coverage for tobacco cessation treatments mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a new study by the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute and commissioned by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) with funding from Pfizer, Inc. Researchers found that many of the policies contained “confusing or conflicting language” that made it difficult for consumers to determine whether cessation treatments are covered by their insurance, according to a CTFK release. They recommend that federal and state regulators clarify for insurers the requirements under the ACA. "Tobacco use is a leading risk factor for cancer, heart and lung disease and other serious chronic conditions,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Covering effective tobacco cessation treatments is a smart way for insurers to avoid the cost of future illness, and it is the law." Read more on tobacco.

AAP: Pediatricians Should Prescribe Emergency Contraception in Advance
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is recommending that pediatricians provide advance prescriptions for emergency contraception for girls under 17, who are banned by federal law from getting the drug over the counter. This will enable them to get treatment more quickly. "It's just common sense that requiring a prescription is a barrier," said Bill Alpert, chief program officer of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. "If an august and respected medical group like AAP is suggesting providing emergency contraception to minors is OK, that is a big deal." See more on teen pregnancy.

CDC: Number of Kids with Diabetes to Jump Dramatically by 2050
The number of American kids with type 2 diabetes could climb nearly 50 percent by 2050, according to a new research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Diabetes Care. Type 1 could increase by about 23 percent. Assuming the rates stay even, in 2050 there could be 203,000 U.S. children with type 1 and 30,000 with type 2. The numbers jump dramatically if the rate current rate increases, demonstrating the need for addressing the causes of diabetes today. "We need to think as a society that diabetes is a public health issue that must be addressed," said Robert Ratner, MD, chief scientific and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association. "In the last century, we've dealt with things like sanitation and clean water as public health issues. Well, the current epidemic of diabetes and the potential growth is a public health risk that we need to address. Even staying where we are is unsustainable." Read more on diabetes.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Heart Association Announce Joint Effort to Combat Childhood Obesity
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have announced a new collaboration aimed at reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. The joint advocacy initiative will focus on changing federal, state and local policies in ways that research shows are likely to have the greatest impact on the epidemic. RWJF will provide AHA with $8 million in initial funding to begin the effort. Read more on obesity.

NAS to Establish $350M, 30-year Program to Improve Health in the Gulf Coast Region
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) will establish a $350 million, 30-year program to study and improve human health and environmental protection policy in the Gulf Coast region. The funds come from the $4 billion fine BP has agreed to pay over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The work will include oil spill prevention, education, research and training. NAS, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council will all work on the long-term program. Read more on disasters.

Study: Diabetes Cases Up Dramatically Since 1995
The number of people with diabetes in the United States jumped dramatically between 1995 and 2010, according to a new study in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Total cases climbed by at least 50 percent in 42 states, with 18.8 diagnosed cases in 2010 and an estimated 7 million undiagnosed cases. The numbers were especially high in the South and Appalachian areas. Researchers noted that the increase in cases could be because improved treatments are allowing people to live longer. "These rates will continue to increase until effective interventions and policies are implemented to prevent both diabetes and obesity," said Ann Albright, director of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, in a statement. Read more on diabetes.

RWJF Pledges $5 Million to Support Hurricane Sandy Recovery Efforts in New Jersey
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, based in Princeton, N.J., will provide $5 million to selected non-profit agencies to help New Jersey residents recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. That includes two grants, already distributed, of $250,000 each to the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The additional funding will be given to help with recovery, rebuilding and social service support, including mental health services for individuals and families in the state. Foundation executives will be meeting with state and local government agencies, relief and social service organizations and civic leaders to determine allocation of the funds. Read more on disasters.

House, Senate Holding Hearings on Meningitis Outbreak
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is set to hold a hearing titled "The Fungal Meningitis Outbreak: Could It Have Been Prevented?" to investigate the outbreak that has caused 32 deaths and infected 438 other people. It is believed the source of the outbreak is tainted steroids from the New England Compounding Center, in Framingham, Mass. Many members of Congress have suggested the outbreak demonstrates the need for increased regulation of compounding pharmacies. The Senate is also holding hearings, with U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg scheduled to testify about the outbreak before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Read more on infectious disease.

Worldwide Diabetes Cases at Record High
The number of diabetes cases worldwide is at a record high, according to a new report released today on World Diabetes Day. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that approximately 371 million people have diabetes, with as many as 187 million of those still undiagnosed. Diabetes can lead to serious medical problems such as nerve damage, kidney damage and blindness; about 4.8 million people die due to complications from diabetes each year. The most common type of diabetes is Type 2, which can be managed through changes in diet, weight loss, regular exercise and medication. Read more on diabetes. While traditionally found most often in western countries, it is spreading in poorer areas such as sub-Saharan Africa. Read more on diabetes.

Half of HIV Patients on Meds Skip Treatment When Drinking
A new study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine finds that about half of HIV patients taking antiretroviral medications stop taking the drugs when they drink alcohol, in part due to a mistaken fear that mixing the two is toxic. "I think it's pretty well demonstrated that alcohol use is tied to poor adherence, and I think most people think it's because they're impaired in some way or they forget... whereas here it shows they're (often) intentionally missing their medications," said Catherine Grodensky, a researcher at the Center for AIDS Research at the University of North Carolina, according to Reuters. In addition to not actually treating the disease, failure to take HIV drugs continuously can also lead to drug resistance. Read more on HIV/AIDS.

Youth Deaths from Diabetes Down Significantly Over Past Several Decades
Child and teen deaths related to diabetes have dropped by 61 percent in the last 40 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Potential contributing factors to the impressive decline include improved care and treatment, as well as increased awareness of symptoms that helps doctors treat the disease sooner. However, the rate increased for youth ages 10-19 between 1984 and 2009, which researchers say will require further study to explain. "Physicians need to emphasize diabetes awareness, lifestyle modification, psychological issues, and use of insulin pumps in young diabetic patients," said Spyros Mezitis, MD, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, who was not involved with the study. Read more on diabetes.

Study: Regular Exercise Cuts the Risk of Dementia
The risk of dementia in old age is lower for people who exercise regularly, according to a new study in the journal Stroke. Researchers looked at approximately 600 people in their 60s and 70s, finding exercise cut the risk by about 40 percent and demonstrating the importance of at least 30 minutes of exercise three times a week. "The health of the body and brain are indelibly linked, and caring well for the one benefits the other,” said David Katz, MD, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center. “One may think that exercise is mostly about conditioning muscles, but this study suggests it is just as important for preserving a well-functioning mind." Read more on older adults.

Lack of Sleep May Increase Risk of Diabetes
Lack of sleep can increase the likelihood of developing conditions that lead to diabetes, according to a new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers found the ability to respond to insulin was down approximately 30 percent in people who did not receive a proper amount of sleep. "It's always been thought that the primary function of sleep was for the brain, but in addition to the brain, your fat cells also need sleep,” said Matthew Brady, the study’s senior author and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Center. “Too little sleep makes you groggy, and the same thing happens on a metabolic level. Cells don't behave as they normally would, and this can lead to insulin resistance." Read more on diabetes.

Adult Smoking in Cars Puts Kids at Serious Health Risk
Even with ventilation from open windows or a running air conditioner, smoking by adults in cars produces dangerously high levels of pollutants that endanger child passengers, according to a new study in the journal Tobacco Control. Secondhand smoke has been identified as a factor in asthma, wheezing, middle ear disease and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. "Children are likely to be at greater risk from [secondhand smoke] exposure due to their faster breathing rates, less developed immune system and their inability to move away from the source in many home and car settings," said Sean Semple,MD, of the Scottish Centre for Indoor Air at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Read more on tobacco.

Kids with ADHD Less Likely than Peers to Do Well as Adults
Kids with ADHD symptoms are more likely than their non-ADHD peers to have a harder time as adults, including less education, lower income and higher rates of substance abuse, according to a new study in the Archives of General Psychiatry. "A lot of them do fine, but there is a small proportion that is in a great deal of difficulty," said Rachel Klein, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York. "They go to jail, they get hospitalized." The study looked at 135 white men who showed signs of hyperactivity in school during the 1970s, though researchers were careful to note that none of them would be diagnosed with ADHD today. Those marked as hyperactive clearly did not fare as well overall—for example, only 4 percent had higher degrees, compared to 29 for the non-hyperactive students. Read more on pediatrics.