MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2023 (Healthday News) — Two new gene-editing treatments that target dangerously high levels of cholesterol in people with a genetic predisposition to the condition were found safe and effective in new, groundbreaking research. While powerful drugs like statins can help manage cholesterol in most people, they can’t treat those who have genes that predispose them to heart troubles. But the duo of studies, presented Sunday at the American Heart Association (AHA) annual meeting in Philadelphia, may one day change that. Both treatments will need years of additional research before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would even consider approving them, but that didn’t dampen the excitement among heart experts. “There is no way to categorize this other than revolutionary,” Dr. Hugh Cassiere, director for critical care services at South Shore University Hospital, Northwell Cardiovascular Institute, in New York, told NBC News. He was not involved with either study. One of the treatments, from Boston-based Verve Therapeutics, uses a gene-editing approach that targets the PCSK9 gene, making a tiny change to the gene. The effect is akin to a permanent eraser, deleting the gene’s ability to fuel a rise in cholesterol levels, Verve co-founder and CEO Dr. Sekar Kathiresan told NBC News. In theory, the one-time treatment should last a lifetime. “Instead of daily pills or intermittent injections over decades to lower bad cholesterol, this…  read on >  read on >

Cutting out just one teaspoon of salt every day lowers blood pressure almost as much as medication does, new research shows. Investigators said theirs is one of the largest studies ever to include people taking high blood pressure meds in a look at the effect of reducing dietary intake of sodium. “We found that 70-75% of all people, regardless of whether they are already on blood pressure medications or not, are likely to see a reduction in their blood pressure if they lower the sodium in their diet,” said study co-author Norrina Allen, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.   She said researchers previously didn’t know if people already on blood pressure meds could lower their blood pressure even more by reducing their sodium intake. In the study, middle-aged to elderly participants reduced their salt intake by about 1 teaspoon a day.  “The result was a decline in systolic blood pressure by about 6 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), which is comparable to the effect produced by a commonly utilized first-line medication for high blood pressure,” said co-principal investigator Dr. Deepak Gupta, an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, Tenn.  Systolic blood pressure is the pressure in your arteries as your heart beats. It’s the first number in a blood pressure reading.…  read on >  read on >

The Thanksgiving table is typically loaded down with turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes and all kinds of pie, but nutritionists say kids should also be encouraged to eat fresh fruit and vegetables during the holiday meal. Precious few children eat enough fruits and vegetables the rest of the year, so the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages families to prepare Thanksgiving meals that incorporate cranberries, apples, pumpkins and green beans. “Simplicity is key when it comes to feeding children, especially during holidays when meals are more formal and the dishes are more dramatic,” said registered dietitian and nutritionist Amy Reed, an academy spokesperson from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “Instead of serving children a vegetable casserole, set out a tray of raw vegetables and fruits because many kids like things to be plain,” she suggested in an academy news release. “Offering different dips on the side allows them to customize their food and may encourage them to try something new.” But don’t be surprised if they still balk a bit. “My family loves our Thanksgiving staples of turkey and gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce and sweet potato, but we can be flexible for our young guests who might not feel the same way about our traditional feast,” said registered dietitian nutritionist Jessica Sylvester, an academy spokesperson from Boca Raton, Fla. Sylvester offered these tips for children who…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY, Nov. 10, 2023 (Healthday News) — Two federal health agencies are investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to dog food that has sickened seven people in seven states, nearly all of them infants. On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of Victor Hi-Pro Plus dry dog food, a brand tied to the outbreak, while the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention also issued a health alert advising people what to do to avoid infection. Included in the recall are several other brands of dry dog and cat food sold by the maker of Hi-Pro Plus, Mid America Pet Food. The company has voluntarily recalled all the pet food brands it manufactured with a best by date before 10/31/2024, which include Victor, Eagle Mountain, Wayne Feeds and two varieties of Member’s Mark pet foods. These products include both dog and cat foods and were sold in retail stores and online, the FDA said. Six of the seven salmonella cases involved children aged 1 or younger, the FDA noted. Five of the cases reported exposure to dogs and three reported feeding Victor pet food to their pets. One person was hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. According to the CDC alert, those who have fallen ill were infected by touching contaminated dog food and dog bowls, or by touching the poop or saliva…  read on >  read on >