Weekly Gravy « Weekly Gravy

All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Astronauts who have never had headaches may develop migraines and other tension-type headaches for the first time when they go into space. A side effect of zero gravity, these headaches start with motion sickness as astronauts adapt to long-haul space flight, according to new research published March 13 in the journal Neurology. “Changes in gravity caused by space flight affect the function of many parts of the body, including the brain,” said researcher Willebrordus P.J. van Oosterhout, of Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands. “The vestibular system, which affects balance and posture, has to adapt to the conflict between the signals it is expecting to receive and the actual signals it receives in the absence of normal gravity.” His team studied 24 astronauts from the United States, Japan and Europe who were deployed to the International Space Station between 2011 and 2018. The astronauts spent a combined total of of 3,596 days in space. Before the study, none reported a history of recurrent headaches or had ever had a migraine, though three said they had had a headache in the previous year that interfered with their daily activities. Nine astronauts said they had never had an headache. Each completed a headache history questionnaire before their space deployment, a daily questionnaire for the first week of their mission and weekly questionnaires after that. In all,… read on > read on >

Specialized brain scans may accurately predict whether a psychotic patient will go on to develop treatment-resistant schizophrenia, Dutch researchers report. The scan — called a neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, or NM-MRI for short — zeroes in on a brain pigment called neuromelanin. This pigment can provide visual evidence of healthy dopamine function. Dopamine is a hormone that is part of the brain’s reward system. Too much dopamine may lead to the aggression and poor impulse control associated with psychosis. Led by Marieke van der Plijm, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands, the study authors suggest NM-MRI could be a game-changer. “[T]here is an urgent need for markers to identify treatment non-responders in schizophrenia at an early stage and facilitate timely initiation of clozapine, the only antipsychotic with proven efficacy in non-responders,” they wrote in the March 13 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry. Unlike patients who respond to treatment, those with treatment-resistant schizophrenia show no increase in dopamine function. Researchers said that suggests that neuromelanin levels — a benchmark of dopamine function — may be an early marker for treatment resistance. The study included 62 patients between the ages of 18 and 35 who had their first psychotic episode. All were diagnosed on the schizophrenia spectrum. These patients were compared with a control group of 20 healthy volunteers. All patients had… read on > read on >

Playing fetch or grooming Fido isn’t just good for your precious pooch — it also benefits your brain. Such interactions appear to strengthen brain waves associated with rest and relaxation, South Korean researchers report in the March 13 issue of the journal PLOS One. Their small study compared people’s mood or hormone levels before and after spending quality time with a willing canine. For the study, Onyoo Yoo, a doctoral student at Konkuk University in Seoul, asked 30 volunteers to take part in a series of activities with his well-trained 4-year-old female poodle. After getting to know her, the volunteers fed, massaged, groomed, photographed, hugged, walked and played with the pup. During each activity, EEG tests measured their brain waves for three minutes. Participants also answered questions about their emotional states after each activity. The study revealed that different activities had varying effects on participants’ brain waves. Playing with and walking the dog increased the strength of alpha waves, a general indication of stability and relaxation, CNN reported. The study noted that alpha wave activity is linked to lower mental stress and better memory. Meanwhile, grooming, playing and gently massaging the dog strengthened beta waves — evidence of heightened attention and concentration. Volunteers also reported feeling less stressed, fatigued and depressed after the poodle play. Many studies in this field have been anecdotal or subjective,… read on > read on >

There’s a toxic stew of chemicals in polluted air that can all trigger asthma attacks in kids, new research shows. Also, where a child lives — for example, near factories or highways — greatly influences how much they’re exposed to these toxins, reports a team from Washington State University in Spokane. “It’s not just one pollutant that can be linked to asthma outcomes. This study examined the variety and combinations of air toxics that may be associated with asthma symptoms,” said study lead author Solmaz Amiri, a researcher at the university’s college of medicine. Prior studies on the issue have tended to focus on just a few toxic elements of polluted air, but Amiri said her team harnessed the power of AI to look at a broad spectrum of toxins breathed in by kids in various Spokane neighborhoods. In total, the effects of 109 air pollutants on asthmatic children were analyzed. Samples were taken by the Environmental Protection Agency at neighborhoods surrounding 10 elementary schools in the Spokane area. Data from those samples was compared to health data from each of the schools on asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and the need to use an inhaler. The data was taken in 2019 and 2020, before pandemic-era lockdowns began. Three pollutants appeared especially key to triggering asthma symptoms in children: 1,1,1 trichloroethane, 2-nitropropane… read on > read on >

Combat veterans who suffered traumatic brain injuries due to explosive blasts may have markers in their spinal fluid similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease, new research finds. “Previous research has shown that moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries may increase a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” said senior study author Dr. Elaine Peskind, of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington School of Medicine. “What is lesser known is whether mild traumatic brain injuries from military training and combat may also increase a person’s risk. Our study found that these concussions may indeed increase a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease.” Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head, an injury as in a motor vehicle crash, or in service personnel, blast and impact injuries. In a mild TBI, also known as a concussion, person may lose consciousness for up to 30 minutes. The new study — published online March 13 in the journal Neurology — included 51 military veterans who suffered concussions from at least one war zone blast or a combination of blast and impact injuries. They were compared to 85 vets and civilians who had not experienced a TBI. On average, those in the concussion group had experienced 20 blast concussions and two impact concussions. Participants took thinking and memory tests… read on > read on >

The blockbuster weight-loss medication Zepbound (tirzepatide) appears to help folks quickly shed pounds regardless of how overweight they are, or how long they’ve lived being overweight or obese. Those are the findings of two separate analyses of a major trial of the injected drug that was funded by maker Eli Lilly. “Regardless of baseline BMI, tirzepatide consistently reduced body weight versus placebo in people with obesity,” said study co-lead author Dr. Louis Aronne. He directs the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Aronne spoke in a news release from the European Congress on Obesity, which will be held in Venice, Italy, in May. The Congress is releasing the research ahead of the meeting. The findings stem from a large study of hundreds of overweight or obese people, with or without a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. “Overweight” was defined as a BMI between 27 and 30, and “obesity” as a BMI of 30 or above. After undergoing a three-month “intensive lifestyle intervention” focused on diet and exercise, patients were randomized to receive either Zepbound or a placebo injection for 18 months. According to Aronne and colleagues, Zepbound far surpassed placebo in terms of weight loss, regardless of how overweight patients were at the start of the trial. For example, while nearly all patients taking the drug lost at least… read on > read on >

Do you struggle to sleep during the week and play catch up on the weekend? Do you toss and turn all night long and start the day in a fog? Are you a napper? Or are you among the lucky folks who have no problem getting enough shuteye? Researchers at Penn State University report that most Americans fit one of these four descriptions — and how people sleep is a good predictor of their long-term health. “Sleep is an everyday behavior. Sleep is also modifiable,” said lead researcher Soomi Lee, director of the Sleep, Stress, and Health (STEALTH) laboratory at Penn State. “Better sleeping habits can make many significant differences, from improving social relationships and work performance to promoting long-term healthy behaviors and healthy aging.” Her team looked at data from more than 3,600 participants in the Midlife in the United States study. Researchers looked at participants’ self-reported sleep habits. That included how long they sleep, whether they’re satisfied with their sleep, their daytime alertness and chronic health conditions. More than half of participants were identified as insomnia sleepers — struggling to doze off then sleeping only a little. Over a 10-year period, this sleep style was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of heart disease, diabetes, depression and other chronic health conditions. Researchers said the study primarily included healthy adults, so it may not… read on > read on >

College students who use drugs like Adderall to help them focus on their studies may be setting themselves up for trouble. Researchers asked 700 undergraduates across the United States about drugs commonly used by students — including ADHD medications like Adderall, cannabis, nicotine, alcohol, MDMA and ecstasy. They also asked about students’ academic performance and physical and mental distress. They found that using one substance appears to prime the brain for using others. Lead author Lina Begdache, an associate professor of health and wellness studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York, said the finding is important because many students use these so-called “study drugs” without understanding how they affect the brain. Adderall is a medication prescribed to help people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) focus. “Since these are prescribed medications to promote focus in individuals who actually have ADHD, students may think that they are safe to use and that the drug may give them an academic edge,” she said in a university news release. Instead of an edge, students may find one substance leads to another, Begdache warned. Researchers linked use of one substance to generally poorer mental health and lower ability to fight off stress. And less frequent use led to mental distress — potentially promoting continued use. The findings were published recently in the International Journal of Psychological and Behavioral… read on > read on >

Following a cyberattack on the largest health insurer in the United States last month, health care providers continue to scramble as insurance payments and prescription orders continue to be disrupted and physicians lose an estimated $100 million a day. That estimate was generated by First Health Advisory, a cybersecurity firm that specializes in the health industry, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). “This massive breach and its wide-ranging repercussions have hit physician practices across the country, risking patients’ access to their doctors and straining viability of medical practices themselves,” AMA President Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld said in a news release. “Against the backdrop of persistent Medicare cuts, rising practice costs and spiraling regulatory burdens, this unparalleled cyberattack and disruption threatens the viability of many practices, particularly small practices and those in rural and underserved areas,” he added. “This is an immense crisis demanding immediate attention.” How did the crisis begin? The security breach was first detected on Feb. 21 at Change Healthcare, part of Optum Inc., which is in turn owned by UnitedHealth Group. In a report filed that day with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, UnitedHealth Group told government officials that it had been forced to sever some of Change Healthcare’s vast digital network from its clients. It hasn’t yet been able to restore all of those services. In its latest update on… read on > read on >

Nurses who specialize in anesthesia have issued new guidelines to reduce the risk that patients taking weight-loss drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy throw up during surgery. “These medications have exploded in popularity,” said Micah Walden, of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Practice Committee. “This means additional preparation for patients, anesthesia providers and the surgical team to help minimize risks of complications during a procedure.” Because general anesthesia can cause nausea, patients are usually asked to fast before surgery. But a study published last week in the journal JAMA Surgery found these weight-loss drugs — called GLP-1 receptor agonists — slow digestion, so it takes longer for food to leave the stomach. That increases a patient’s risk of vomiting or aspiration while under anesthesia. GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic, Wegovy (semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide) or Zepbound (tirzepatide) were originally designed to manage type 2 diabetes, but they have become a popular way to lose weight. They make patients feel full sooner, so they eat less. As a precaution, the AANA committee said providers may need to do extra screenings such as an ultrasound of the patient’s stomach before surgery. If the examination indicates that the stomach is not empty or the imaging is inconclusive, the surgical team may consider delaying an elective surgery or proceeding as “full stomach” to reduce the risk of vomiting and aspiration while… read on > read on >

Weekly Gravy

Look Good – Feel Good – Feed Good

A little about: Weekly Gravy

All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

‘Space Headaches’ Can Hit Astronauts, Study Finds

MRI May Predict Who’ll Respond Best to Schizophrenia Treatment

Pooch Power: ‘Relax’ Brainwaves Begin When Folks Play With Dogs

There Are Multiple Child Asthma Triggers in Dirty Air

Could War Zone Blasts Raise Veterans’ Odds for Alzheimer’s?

Zepbound Helps Obese People Shed Pounds, Regardless of Starting Weight

What’s Your ‘Sleep Type’? Research Reveals 4 Key Patterns

Taking ‘Study Drugs’ Like Adderall Could Be Gateway to More Drug Abuse

Cyberattack Leaves Health Care Providers Reeling Weeks Later

Precautions Needed When Folks Taking Ozempic, Wegovy Undergo Anesthesia