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“School spirit” appears to provide long-lasting mental health benefits for Black teens, new research finds. School connectedness – the degree to which students feel like part of to their school community – is a protective factor against depression and aggressive behavior later in life among Black students, researchers report in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence. “Our data provide fairly strong evidence for the idea that the experiences Black adolescents have in their school impacts their long-term mental health,” lead researcher Adrian Gale, an assistant professor in the Rutgers University School of Social Work, said in a news release. Lots of research has been conducted on the benefits of school connectedness for well-being and physical health, but most studies have focused on white teenagers, researchers said. To take a closer look at Black students, researchers analyzed data from an ongoing study following nearly 5,000 children born in large U.S. cities between 1998 and 2000. Of those kids, nearly 1,700 were Black children interviewed at ages 9 and 15, researchers said. The kids’ caregivers also were interviewed at the 15-year follow-up. The children were asked at age 9 to rate how often they felt “part of your school, close to people at your school, happy to be at your school, and safe at school.” Six years later, the kids’ caregivers were asked whether their children often… read on > read on >

There’s information emerging on how the common Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) might be crucial to triggering multiple sclerosis (MS). The virus, which also causes “mono” (mononucleosis) and other illnesses, has gained prominence in recent years as a potential cause of MS. Over 95% of people are thought to carry EBV, although for most people it remains dormant. Now, a team of Texan researchers report that certain immune cells targeted to EBV infection are found in high numbers in people newly diagnosed with MS. The immune system cells are called T-cells, and they appear to be targeting lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) infected with Epstein-Barr virus. “This work demonstrates that T-cells specific for LCL are present in the cerebrospinal fluid at the earliest stages of [MS] disease,” said study senior author Dr. J. William Lindsey. “This strongly suggests that these T-cells are either causing the disease or contributing to it in some way,” said Lindsey, a professor of neurology at McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston. “We have experiments in progress to define what these cells may be doing,” he added in a UTHealth news release. The study was published Jan. 8 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. EBV is a form of herpes virus that can be spread by bodily fluids, especially saliva. It’s been strongly linked in recent years to MS, a chronic, debilitating illness… read on > read on >

Exposing babies and toddlers to TV and other digital media could be linked to a heightened risk for dysfunction in what’s known as “sensory processing,” a new study warns. Kids with “atypical sensory processing” are often hypersensitive to the touch, sound, taste or look of stimuli in their environment. For example, kids might try to avoid the feel of certain clothing, the taste of certain foods or necessary activities like getting their hair washed. Conversely, they might seek out sensations — twirling in place, staring at bright lights or ceiling fans — to the neglect of other activities. Sensory processing issues are highly correlated with other psychiatric conditions, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism. About 60% of kids with ADHD have issues with sensory processing, as do about 70% of kids with autism, said researchers at Drexel University in West Reading, Pa. They looked at data on nearly 1,500 young children tracked from 2011 to 2023. According to the study, those who’d been exposed to TVs and DVDs in the first three years of life were much more likely to have symptoms of atypical sensory processing, compared with those whose parents delayed such exposures. The study could not prove cause-and-effect. However, the Drexel team theorize that kids’ screen time could reduce “meaningful play and social interactions, which may have significant implications for the… read on > read on >

Applesauce fruit puree pouches under recall and investigation for toxic lead levels may also contain another toxin, chromium, according to an update released Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products under recall are WanaBana, Weis and Schnucks brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches. All were made by AustroFoods at a facility in Ecuador that is currently under FDA inspection. High lead levels appear tied to cinnamon used in the applesauce that was supplied by another company, Negasmart, the FDA said. At least 287 confirmed, probable and suspect cases of lead poisoning linked to tainted fruit puree pouches have now been reported in 37 states, according to the latest update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Now chromium has emerged as another possible toxin. “After additional analysis of both recalled cinnamon apple products and the cinnamon collected from the manufacturer in Ecuador, FDA has determined that, in addition to lead, the cinnamon and recalled products also contained a high level of chromium,” the FDA announced in its Friday update. Chromium is a naturally occurring element that comes in various forms. According to the CDC, chromium III is an essential nutrient, while chromium VI is known to cause cancer. At this time, however, FDA “was not able to definitively determine the form of chromium in the cinnamon apple puree sample,” the agency said. … read on > read on >

Using marijuana can help folks better enjoy a good workout, but it’s not going to boost their athletic performance, a new study has found. A small group of runners reported greater enjoyment and a more intense “runner’s high” when they exercised after using marijuana, according to new findings published recently in the journal Sports Medicine. But runners also reported that exercise felt significantly more difficult if they were high on THC, the chemical in weed that produces intoxication. “The bottom-line finding is that cannabis before exercise seems to increase positive mood and enjoyment during exercise, whether you use THC or CBD, but THC products specifically may make exercise feel more effortful,” said lead researcher Laurel Gibson, a research fellow with the University of Colorado Boulder’s Center for Health and Addiction: Neuroscience, Genes and Environment (CU Change). The findings defy the long-held stereotype of the couch-bound stoner, the researchers noted. “We have an epidemic of sedentary lifestyle in this country, and we need new tools to try to get people to move their bodies in ways that are enjoyable,” said senior study author Angela Bryan, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Colorado and co-director of CU Change. “If cannabis is one of those tools, we need to explore it, keeping in mind both the harms and the benefits,” Bryan added in a university news release.… read on > read on >

People often sit on secrets that gnaw away at them because they’re worried others will judge them harshly. But those fears are overblown, a series of psychological experiments demonstrates. Folks tended to be much more charitable than expected when told a secret considered shameful by the person who held it, researchers found. Secret holders consistently overestimate the reactions others will have if dirty laundry is aired, said co-researcher Amit Kumar, an assistant professor of marketing with the University of Texas at Austin. “When we’re thinking about conveying negative information about ourselves, we’re focused on the content of the message,” Kumar said in a university news release. “But the recipients are thinking about the positive traits required to reveal this secret, such as trust, honesty and vulnerability.” Kumar and his colleagues conducted a series of 12 experiments designed to accurately assess the fallout from revealing secrets. For example, they asked several groups to imagine revealing a negative secret, and then predict how their confidante would judge them. Each participant then revealed their secret to that person, and the confidante was asked how they responded to learning the secret. The expected judgment was consistently worse than how the confidante actually responded, Kumar said. This overestimation held for secrets divulged to a wide range of people – strangers, acquaintances, friends, family members and romantic partners. “Their expectations were… read on > read on >

Is that New Year’s resolution to improve your fitness already looking less likely? It can be tough to know where to start, said Benedikte Western, a research fellow at the University of Agder in Norway. “It takes time to develop new habits, but if you’re motivated, it is certainly not impossible,” Western said in a university news release. “As time goes on, your new lifestyle will become more ingrained as a habit and a natural part of your everyday life,” Western added. “You’ll discover strategies that work for you and gain experience in overcoming obstacles.” She offers a set of recommendations to help folks turn intention into action: Assess what you want out of exercise. Some people might want to be in better shape so they can play with their kids or go on a hike with friends. Others might want to reduce stress or improve their sleep. “Start by outlining the pros and cons you perceive in adopting a more active lifestyle. This will empower you with better control over the situation before you commence,” Western said. Find exercise you enjoy. It will be easier to stick to a workout plan that includes activities suited for you, Western said. Take into account your level of motivation, the time you have to spare and the equipment you have on hand. “If bad weather prevents you… read on > read on >

U.S. health care workers were most likely to be infected with COVID-19 at work during the pandemic’s first year, according to a new study that challenges previous research suggesting their risk was highest off the job. Researchers said their findings could help guide efforts to better protect health care workers during future infectious disease outbreaks. “This study provides important insights to guide infection prevention and control practices in health care settings so that we can better protect HCPs [health care professionals] and their patients,” said Linda Dickey, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), which published the findings in its journal. For the study, researchers analyzed data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on nearly 84,000 health care workers who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, and whose source of exposure was known. Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was more likely in the workplace (52%) than in the home (nearly 31%) or community (about 26%). Workplace-associated exposures peaked in April 2020 at 84%, the researchers found. About two-thirds of health care workers who reported a specific type of on-the-job exposure said they’d come into contact with patients or other health care workers who had COVID-19. The largest reductions in workplace exposures occurred in June 2020 after introduction of improved infection prevention and control… read on > read on >

So, the new year has begun and everyone is trying to losing weight, but what is the best way to determine how many pounds you need to shed — BMI or body fat? “Both body fat percentage and BMI are important to monitor. They give you a good starting point, but you don’t want to use BMI alone to make a health diagnosis or define body fat,” said Claire Edgemon, a senior registered dietitian at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “If BMI is used alone, it could be misleading about an individual’s health status.” Why is BMI a less accurate measure of body fat? It only tracks a person’s weight compared to their height, but that doesn’t include muscle, bone or fat mass. And since BMI doesn’t measure what is going on metabolically, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels should also be measured, Edgemon noted. In contrast to BMI, percentage of body fat determines how much of a person’s weight is fat. A quick way to measure body fat comes down to the circumference of the waist. Over 35 inches for women and over 40 inches for men points to more abdominal fat and greater health risks, Edgemon said. “There is a healthy range for body fat percentage, but there are differences to consider, like age or gender. A healthy body fat range… read on > read on >

Folks who take Ozempic or Wegovy for diabetes and weight loss need not worry about a higher risk of suicidal thoughts or feelings while on the medications, a new, large review finds. In the study, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, researchers turned to a database of more than 100 million patient records to measure the risks of suicidal ideation among people using semaglutide, which is sold as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. The results were published Jan. 5 in the journal Nature Medicine. Study author Dr. Rong Xu, a professor of biomedical informatics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, told CNN that she decided to look into the issue after European regulators opened a probe into semaglutide and reports of suicidal thoughts last summer. Just this week, a quarterly report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed that the agency is looking into similar reports among users of multiple weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy. For the new review, Xu and her team, which included National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow, compared cases of suicidal ideation among people taking semaglutide with those taking other medicines for weight loss or diabetes. “We observed a lower incidence of suicidal ideations in patients who had taken semaglutide than in patients who were treated with non-GLP1R-targeting… read on > read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Black Teens Gain Mental Health Boost From ‘Connectedness’ at School

More Insight Into How a Virus Might Cause MS

Too Much Screen Time Might Harm Kids’ ‘Sensory Processing’

Lead-Tainted Applesauce May Contain Another Toxin, Chromium

Will Weed Help Your Workout?

Got a Shameful Secret? Sharing It May Not Be as Tough as You Think

Resolved to Get Fit This Year? An Experts Offers Tips

Health Care Workers Were At Highest COVID Risk in Workplace

BMI or Body Fat Percentage: Measure Both to Gauge Health

Study Shows No Sign Ozempic, Wegovy Raise Odds for Suicidal Thoughts