A little about: Weekly Gravy

All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Fathers’ Depression Affects Kids’ Future Behavior

By | | Add a Comment

Dads are supposed to be strong, steady and stoic, given how they’re portrayed in sitcoms and family entertainment. But in real life, fathers sometimes falter — and brushing it off can have a devastating impact on their kids’ development, a new study says. Undiagnosed or unaddressed depression in fathers can have negative social and behavioral effects on their children that can persist for years, researchers reported recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Five-year-olds whose fathers had symptoms of depression were significantly more likely by age 9 to exhibit restlessness, defiance and anger, researchers explained. They also had lower levels of cooperation and self-esteem, results showed. “We need to consider depression in both parents, not just mothers,” said lead researcher Dr. Kristine Schmitz, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J. “Depression is treatable, and to support the whole family, pediatricians must start talking with dads about it and developing father-focused interventions that meet their needs,” Schmitz added in a news release. Between 8% and 13% of U.S. fathers are affected by depression during their child’s early years, and that increases to 50% if a child’s mother experiences postpartum depression, researchers said in background notes. To explore the link between fathers’ mental health and children’s behaviors, researchers analyzed data on more than 1,400 kids enrolled in…  read on >  read on >

Landmark Women’s Health Study Saved From Funding Cuts

By | | Add a Comment

In a sudden about-face, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it won’t slash funding for the Women’s Health Initiative, a major research project focused on preventing disease in older women. The decision follows concerns about a move to end contracts supporting the whole study, which has tracked the health of tens of thousands of women since 1992. “These studies represent critical contributions to our better understanding of women’s health,” HHS said in a statement to CNN. “While NIH initially exceeded its internal targets for contract reductions, we are now working to fully restore funding to these essential research efforts,” the statement continued. “NIH remains deeply committed to advancing public health through rigorous gold standard research.” The Women’s Health Initiative, led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has made major discoveries over the years. For example, it uncovered the risks of certain types of hormone therapy after menopause, helping prevent an estimated 126,000 breast cancer cases. It also found that vitamin D supplements do not help prevent bone loss. Overall, the study has produced more than 2,400 scientific publications that have shaped clinical practices and public health policies. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted on social media that “we all recognize that this project is mission critical for women’s health.” “We are not terminating this study,” the post said. Experts…  read on >  read on >

Exposure Therapy For Peanut Allergy Effective In Adults

By | | Add a Comment

Adults with peanut allergies can be safely treated using exposure therapy to increase their resistance, new clinical trial results show. More than two-thirds of participants (67%) gained the ability to tolerate at least five peanuts without an immune reaction, researchers report in the journal Allergy. This is the first trial to test exposure therapy in adults, researchers said. Such therapy is typically performed in children, whose immune systems are still evolving. Under exposure therapy, patients are given daily doses of their food allergen to build up their tolerance. “Constant fear of life-threatening reactions place(s) a huge burden on people with peanut allergy,” said senior researcher Stephen Till, a professor of allergy at King’s College London in the U.K. “The only way to manage a peanut allergy is strict avoidance and treatment of allergic reactions, including with adrenaline.” While peanut immunotherapy is known to be effective in kids, Till said in a news release that this trial provides preliminary evidence that adults can also be desensitized, which improves their quality of life. “The average tolerated dose of peanuts increased 100-fold over the course of the trial,” he said. For the clinical trial, 21 people age 18 to 40 with peanut allergy were treated with daily doses of peanut flour mixed in their food. The goal was for patients to achieve a daily dose of one gram…  read on >  read on >

Exposure Therapy For Peanut Allergy Effective In Adults

By | | Add a Comment

Adults with peanut allergies can be safely treated using exposure therapy to increase their resistance, new clinical trial results show. More than two-thirds of participants (67%) gained the ability to tolerate at least five peanuts without an immune reaction, researchers report in the journal Allergy. This is the first trial to test exposure therapy in adults, researchers said. Such therapy is typically performed in children, whose immune systems are still evolving. Under exposure therapy, patients are given daily doses of their food allergen to build up their tolerance. “Constant fear of life-threatening reactions place(s) a huge burden on people with peanut allergy,” said senior researcher Stephen Till, a professor of allergy at King’s College London in the U.K. “The only way to manage a peanut allergy is strict avoidance and treatment of allergic reactions, including with adrenaline.” While peanut immunotherapy is known to be effective in kids, Till said in a news release that this trial provides preliminary evidence that adults can also be desensitized, which improves their quality of life. “The average tolerated dose of peanuts increased 100-fold over the course of the trial,” he said. For the clinical trial, 21 people age 18 to 40 with peanut allergy were treated with daily doses of peanut flour mixed in their food. The goal was for patients to achieve a daily dose of one gram…  read on >  read on >

Program Matches Breast Cancer Patients To Exercise, Rehab

By | | Add a Comment

Breast cancer patients fare better if they continue to exercise during their treatment, and a new program can help women get the activity they need to boost their odds, researchers say. The Comprehensive Oncology Rehabilitation and Exercise (CORE) program assesses women’s physical activity needs based on the stage to which their cancer has progressed, researchers reported today in the journal Cancer. More than 3 in 5 patients (62%) completed their referral to an exercise program designed to meet their specific needs, researchers said. “CORE may serve as a model workflow algorithm aimed to integrate both exercise and rehabilitation services from time of diagnosis and beyond,” senior researcher Adriana Coletta, an investigator at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute, said in a news release. Exercise following a breast cancer diagnosis can reduce a woman’s risk of dying from cancer by 31%, and her overall risk of death by 41%, researchers said in background notes. Patients also can benefit from rehab services that can help them manage side effects like impaired shoulder range of motion or peripheral nerve injury. For this study, researchers tested the ability of the CORE program to steer breast cancer patients to either self-driven exercise, a hospital-based exercise program, or a rehab service. The team recruited 72 patients and randomly assigned them to either be assessed by CORE or to receive usual…  read on >  read on >

Program Matches Breast Cancer Patients To Exercise, Rehab

By | | Add a Comment

Breast cancer patients fare better if they continue to exercise during their treatment, and a new program can help women get the activity they need to boost their odds, researchers say. The Comprehensive Oncology Rehabilitation and Exercise (CORE) program assesses women’s physical activity needs based on the stage to which their cancer has progressed, researchers reported today in the journal Cancer. More than 3 in 5 patients (62%) completed their referral to an exercise program designed to meet their specific needs, researchers said. “CORE may serve as a model workflow algorithm aimed to integrate both exercise and rehabilitation services from time of diagnosis and beyond,” senior researcher Adriana Coletta, an investigator at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute, said in a news release. Exercise following a breast cancer diagnosis can reduce a woman’s risk of dying from cancer by 31%, and her overall risk of death by 41%, researchers said in background notes. Patients also can benefit from rehab services that can help them manage side effects like impaired shoulder range of motion or peripheral nerve injury. For this study, researchers tested the ability of the CORE program to steer breast cancer patients to either self-driven exercise, a hospital-based exercise program, or a rehab service. The team recruited 72 patients and randomly assigned them to either be assessed by CORE or to receive usual…  read on >  read on >

Ultra-Processed Foods Increase Risk Of Early Death

By | | Add a Comment

The more ultra-processed food a person regularly eats, the higher their risk of an early death, a new evidence review has concluded. Each 10% increase in ultra-processed foods in a person’s diet increases their risk of early death from any cause by 3%, researchers reported today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. It’s estimated that these industrially produced foods are accountable for tens of thousands of premature deaths worldwide. The U.S. has the highest levels of ultra-processed food intake, making up more than 54% of the average American diet, researchers said. More than 124,000 early deaths due to ultra-processed food consumption occurred in the U.S. in 2017-2018, researchers estimate. “This shows that policies that disincentivize the consumption of ultra-processed are urgently needed globally, promoting traditional dietary patterns based on local fresh and minimally processed foods,” lead researcher Eduardo Nilson of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil said in a news release. Ultra-processed foods are made mostly from substances extracted from whole foods, like saturated fats, starches and added sugars. They also contain a wide variety of additives to make them more tasty, attractive and shelf-stable, including colors, emulsifiers, flavors and stabilizers. Examples include packaged baked goods, sugary cereals, ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat products and deli cold cuts. Consumption of ultra-processed foods has been associated with 32 health problems, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, some types…  read on >  read on >

Ultra-Processed Foods Increase Risk Of Early Death

By | | Add a Comment

The more ultra-processed food a person regularly eats, the higher their risk of an early death, a new evidence review has concluded. Each 10% increase in ultra-processed foods in a person’s diet increases their risk of early death from any cause by 3%, researchers reported today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. It’s estimated that these industrially produced foods are accountable for tens of thousands of premature deaths worldwide. The U.S. has the highest levels of ultra-processed food intake, making up more than 54% of the average American diet, researchers said. More than 124,000 early deaths due to ultra-processed food consumption occurred in the U.S. in 2017-2018, researchers estimate. “This shows that policies that disincentivize the consumption of ultra-processed are urgently needed globally, promoting traditional dietary patterns based on local fresh and minimally processed foods,” lead researcher Eduardo Nilson of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil said in a news release. Ultra-processed foods are made mostly from substances extracted from whole foods, like saturated fats, starches and added sugars. They also contain a wide variety of additives to make them more tasty, attractive and shelf-stable, including colors, emulsifiers, flavors and stabilizers. Examples include packaged baked goods, sugary cereals, ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat products and deli cold cuts. Consumption of ultra-processed foods has been associated with 32 health problems, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, some types…  read on >  read on >

FDA Warns of Unapproved Hair-Loss Product Linked to Side Effects

By | | Add a Comment

A quick spray of medication might seem like an easy way to get thicker hair, but some people say one sold online has left them battling sexual side effects, depression and even thoughts of suicide. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public about the risks. The FDA warning is about a topical spray version of finasteride, a drug often sold online by telehealth companies like Hims, Keeps and Ro, The Wall Street Journal reported. While the pill form of finasteride, known by the brand name Propecia, is FDA-approved to treat hair loss, the spray version is not. “FDA has become aware of reports of adverse events involving compounded topical finasteride products potentially putting consumers at risk,” the April 22 statement said. “Currently, there is no FDA-approved topical formulation of finasteride,” it continued. “Compounded topical finasteride products do not have FDA-approved labeling. There are potential serious risks associated with the use of compounded topical finasteride products.” The FDA warning follows a recent Wall Street Journal report describing men who said they experienced side effects after using finasteride prescriptions purchased from the telehealth companies Hims and Keeps. Reported side effects include “erectile dysfunction, anxiety, suicidal ideation, brain fog, depression, fatigue, insomnia, decreased libido and testicular pain,” the FDA said. The FDA also warned that the spray could pose a risk to others,…  read on >  read on >