Month: April 2012

New research shows how getting too little sleep, at erratic times, may cause changes in the body that increase the risk of weight gain and diabetes. The study was done with 21 volunteers who spent 6 weeks living in a laboratory. After a period of normal sleep, they spent the next 3 weeks getting an average of 5.6 hours a night. They were allowed to sleep only at varying times of the day or night. This pattern was designed to imitate rotating shifts or jet lag. During this time, people’s blood sugar went up after meals — in some cases, to pre-diabetic levels. This occurred because the pancreas produced less insulin. Metabolism fell by 8%. People were kept on a diet to avoid weight gain. But researchers said without the diet people could have gained 10 to 12 pounds a year under similar conditions. The journal Science Translational Medicine published the study.

A combination of simple comfort methods can help to ease the pain of vaccinations for babies, a new study finds. The research weighed the effect of a method called the 5 S’s. This stands for swaddling (in a blanket), side or stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking (on a pacifier). The study included 230 babies who were at the doctor for their 2-month or 4-month checkups. They were due to receive vaccines. Babies were randomly divided into 4 groups. Before the shots, 2 groups were given a small amount of sugar water. The other 2 received plain water. After the shots, 2 groups received the 5 S’s to comfort them. This was done by research staff. The other groups received normal comforting by their parents. Babies who received the 5 S’s (with or without sugar water) showed the least discomfort using a standard pain scale.

Recent research provides the first evidence that aspirin might help to prevent cancer in people with average risk, the American Cancer Society says. The society issued its statement based on an analysis by society scientists. They took a close look at recent studies related to cancer rates among people in research whose main focus was heart disease. People in these earlier studies were randomly assigned to take aspirin or a placebo (fake pill). Recent analyses have combined the numbers from studies of this type. They found that that people who took aspirin had reduced cancer rates. The average reduction was 20% in the 3 to 5 years after they started taking aspirin. Most people took an aspirin daily or every other day. The doses varied. But cancer rates did not fall further for larger doses.

A cheap, common drug may help prevent a risky condition that can occur after a procedure used to diagnose some digestive problems, a study finds. The procedure is called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ECRP). It uses a long tube attached to a camera. This scope allows a doctor to look at the gall bladder drainage system and pancreas. But some people develop pancreatitis afterward. This is an inflammation of the pancreas. It usually is treated in a hospital and can be deadly. The new study included 602 people who were going to have the scope procedure. All were at above-average risk of developing pancreatitis. They were randomly assigned to receive either indomethacin or a placebo (fake) after the procedure. This was given in the rectum. Indomethacin is a cheap, generic drug. It is used to reduce inflammation, such as in arthritis pain.

Add another to the list of reasons not to like tax-filing days — a higher risk of fatal traffic accidents. That’s the finding of a new study that looked at 30 years of U.S. traffic data. Researchers analyzed deaths that occurred on tax day (usually April 15) and the days 1 week before and after tax day. In all, there were 6,783 traffic-related deaths on those days. The average was 226 on tax days and 213 on the other days. That’s a difference of about 6%. Researchers say they can’t explain it. Maybe it’s the result of stress, or stress-related drinking. Maybe people are rushing to get to a post office. But since the first years studied, electronic filing has become common. About 3 out of 4 personal tax returns are filed that way now. And electronic filing has not reduced traffic deaths on tax days, researchers said.

Taking fish oil pills won’t protect against heart attacks and strokes for people who already have heart disease, a new review of research finds. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids. Many studies have found a lower risk of death from heart disease and stroke for people who eat fatty fish at least twice a week. The new study looked at people who took fish oil in the form of pills. It combined the results of 14 prior studies. They included more than 20,000 people who had heart and artery disease. People took half a gram to 5 grams of fish oil daily. Researchers kept track of people for 1 to 5 years. In that time, taking fish oil pills made no difference in whether people died from heart disease or any other cause. It also did not affect their chances of heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke or so-called mini-strokes.

Children with asthma who use non-traditional treatments don’t skip their regular asthma medicines more often than others, a study finds. The study included 187 children with asthma. Their families were part of a larger health survey. The survey gathered information from parents each year for 3 years. They were asked about what medicines their children took. Parents were asked how often the children missed doses. They also were asked about complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments. These included herbs, supplements, chiropractic care and other non-traditional treatments. On average, parents said their children missed about 7% of the medicine doses their doctors prescribed. There was no difference between children who also used CAM treatments and those who did not. The journal Pediatrics published the study online April 9.