“Event: National Asthma Week - Better Health Channel” plus 4 more

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• Event: National Asthma Week - Better Health Channel
• Motorcyclists hit the road for asthma research - Calgary Sun
• Wisconsin prepares for effects of health reform - Herald Times Reporter
• As school starts, students to get flu lesson - Gloucester Daily Times
• Scientists Identify Novel Genetic Region for Childhood Asthma in ... - Med India

Event: National Asthma Week - Better Health Channel Posted: 31 Aug 2009 12:16 AM PDT This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Motorcyclists hit the road for asthma research - Calgary Sun Posted: 30 Aug 2009 10:55 AM PDT Fifty motorcyclists hit the road today, revved up to raise awareness about asthma and its potentially life-threatening effects. As part of Richard's Ride for Asthma Research, now in its 14th year, motorcyclists are riding from the city to Longview to raise money for the Calgary Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma Program, a program for adults with the disease at hospitals in the city. The ride supported by the United Motorcycle Club International was launched in memory of 19-year-old Richard Dawson, a motorbike enthusiast who lost his life to a fatal asthma attack on Sept. 24, 1994, said event organizer Amin Thawer. "He loved to ride," he said, adding Dawson had asthma since childhood. His family established Richard's Ride for Asthma Research in 1995 to raise awareness about identifying asthma early and to educate other young people about the potentially life-threatening disease. "You can't cure it but you can control it," he said. "Richard never got referred to a specialist ... and didn't realize it got that bad." Asthma becomes fatal when the airways become so inflamed and makes it difficult for oxygen to get in and out that the person can no longer breathe. Money raised will help purchase breathing equipment for different clinics in the city and directed to asthma education programs, Thawer said. Health Canada data shows an estimated 2.7 million Canadian adults and children have asthma. katie.schneider@sunmedia.ca This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Wisconsin prepares for effects of health reform - Herald Times Reporter Posted: 31 Aug 2009 12:09 AM PDT WASHINGTON Some members of Congress feel relieved they will be getting back to work in little more than a week, given the anger and frustration they encountered at local town hall meetings on health-care reform during the August recess. But the respite may be brief. Partisan tension is not likely to lessen over Democrats' proposals to provide health insurance for the roughly 46 million people who don't have it and to corral costs that have more than tripled since 1990 and are expected to amount to one-fourth of the economy by 2025. Before recessing for the summer, three committees had forged a reform package in the House with an estimated price tag of more than $1 trillion over 10 years. In the Senate, one committee has passed a bill, while a separate committee is working on the financial aspects of it. Both the House and Senate bills would require most people to obtain insurance and most employers to help pay for it. Both proposals would expand Medicaid coverage and other government programs. Most proposals call for an exchange, or marketplace, that would allow individuals and small companies to choose from a variety of options, including a government-run plan. The goal would be to create competition between insurance options to lower costs. Small-business owners would get tax credits to help pay for health-care coverage for their workers. But most small businesses would be exempt from the employer mandate because of a $500,000 payroll threshold. Individuals also could receive subsidies based on income. If passed, health-care reform will affect Wisconsin consumers, employers, health-care providers and taxpayers. Wisconsin's health care The uninsured More than 465,000 Wisconsinites have no health insurance. As a percentage of the total population, that's roughly half the national average, and one of the lowest rates in the nation. As is the case nationwide, Wisconsin's uninsured rate is particularly high among poor, non-elderly adults. About 35 percent of Wisconsin adults 19 to 64 who are in poverty lack insurance. Wisconsin ranks 42nd in that category. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

As school starts, students to get flu lesson - Gloucester Daily Times Posted: 31 Aug 2009 03:15 AM PDT NEWBURYPORT — As kids return to school this week, their first lesson will be among the year's most important — how to help control the spread of H1N1 flu. A vaccine for the flu strain will not be available until October or November, according to the state Department of Public Health. Vaccinations this year will come as a series of three shots — a seasonal flu shot as early as this month, and two H1N1 flu shots administered three weeks apart. Because the median age for people diagnosed with the pandemic flu is 14 years old, prevention measures are being focused on young people between 6 months and 24 years old. "It never stopped spreading over the summer," said Jennifer Manley, a spokeswoman from the state Department of Public Health. "We think once school comes, we're going to see numbers way back up again. ... People will be in schools two months before the vaccination comes out, so there's a significant time for it to spread." To prepare, schools will be educating staff and students alike on simple ways to prevent the spread of cases, focusing on three main tenets that will be repeated time and again: Wash hands regularly Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, not your hands If you're sick, stay home Dr. Joe Gross, the infectious disease doctor for Anna Jaques Hospital, said implementing those simple steps will go a long way to limiting the spread of the pandemic. Pandemic refers to the spread, not the severity, of the flu strain. More than 1,400 cases of H1N1 have been confirmed in Massachusetts, and the virus claimed 11 lives, including a 26-year-old last month who was otherwise perfectly healthy. "We will see (H1N1) in Newburyport," Gross said. "It's being seen everywhere." The seasonal vaccine is expected to be distributed in September, and the H1N1 vaccine may be available sometime in October, though some reports have said November may be more likely. Newburyport Superintendent Dierdre Farrell said last week that she and the district's lead health officials — public health nurse Melinda Gibbons and nurse leader Beverly Hines Lacey — have worked through the summer to coordinate H1N1 efforts. Farrell said that mixed in with all of the other tasks that go into getting ready for the new school year, she's checking daily for updates on the public response to the pandemic. "Things are changing on a day-to-day basis," she said. "We're trying to stay on top of not only what changes are happening, but also what mandates the feds or state might come out with. We're specifically looking to understand from both the federal and state government what they want schools to do regarding potential inoculation clinics." The DPH's Manley said the state is working with more than 100 school districts about potential mass inoculation clinics inside schools. Other efforts are focused on people with other health issues, like those with asthma and diabetes as well as pregnant women, and the over-65 population. She said some health officials are comparing the widespread vaccinations to people lining up for polio shots in the 1950s. Manley said while everyone will be encouraged to be inoculated, DPH has set a realistic goal of inoculating half of the population for seasonal and H1N1 influenza. A recent report revealed a worst-case scenario of 90,000 deaths nationwide from the pandemic, but other reports refute that number, saying it's overly pessimistic, according to the DPH H1N1 blog. The great majority of those who get sick will feel like they have a bad flu but won't need to be hospitalized. Gross noted that some people who catch the H1N1 go undiagnosed because their symptoms aren't severe. But because H1N1 has proven to be unpredictable, the severity of individual flu cases is nearly impossible to predict. Influenza season typically kicks into high gear in January, but H1N1 isn't a typical flu, evidenced by the fact that cases continued to be discovered over the summer. "Nobody can predict how it will change, both in its scope and its severity over the next several months," Gross said. "One of the key turning points will be the onset of flu season." For more information, visit http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/h1n1-swine-flu/ This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Scientists Identify Novel Genetic Region for Childhood Asthma in ... - Med India Posted: 29 Aug 2009 04:54 PM PDT [fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve full-text content] Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute of Public Health (Mexico) and their collaborators at universities in the US and the UK* conducted a genome-wide association (GWA) study, in which they ... This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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“Novel Genetic Region Identified For Childhood Asthma In Mexicans - Science Daily” plus 4 more

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• Novel Genetic Region Identified For Childhood Asthma In Mexicans - Science Daily
• Asthma greater risk for COPD than smoking: report - Food Consumer
• Beliefs: Why some don't use asthma meds as directed - Reuters
• Insurers trying to bully us out of health-care reform - MaineToday.com
• Swimming Aids Asthma Symptoms In Children, Study Finds - Science Daily

Novel Genetic Region Identified For Childhood Asthma In Mexicans - Science Daily Posted: 30 Aug 2009 01:58 AM PDT ScienceDaily (Aug. 30, 2009) — Genetic variants in a region on chromosome 9q may influence asthma development in Mexican children, according to research published in the August 28 issue of the open-access journal PLoS Genetics. Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute of Public Health (Mexico) and their collaborators at universities in the US and the UK conducted a genome-wide association (GWA) study, in which they looked at over 500,000 variants across the genome in 492 Mexican children with asthma and their parents to identify novel genes that may influence asthma development. The work points to the chromosome 9q21.31 region as a novel candidate region for childhood asthma. Asthma is a leading chronic childhood disease that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. However, few genes have been consistently associated with the disease. GWA studies have successfully identified novel genes for many common diseases, but to date there have been only a handful of GWA studies focused on asthma and even fewer focused on asthma in Hispanic populations. The researchers also examined ancestry in this Mexican population and found that the chromosome 9q21.31 region may underlie some of the differences in childhood asthma prevalence that have been observed across ethnic groups. It remains unclear why Mexicans have lower rates of asthma than some other groups. The chromosome 9q21.31 variants associated with childhood asthma in this study are located near the TLE4 gene, but the researchers state that "further work is needed to decipher whether TLE4 or a nearby gene explains the signals from the chromosome 9q21.31 region." In addition, it is likely that multiple genetic and environmental risk factors underlie the development of childhood asthma, and the researchers conclude that studies with very large sample sizes will be needed to identify the important interacting risk factors. Journal reference: Hancock DB, Romieu I, Shi M, Sienra-Monge J-J, Wu H, et al. Genome-Wide Association Study Implicates Chromosome 9q21.31 as a Susceptibility Locus for Asthma in Mexican Children. PLoS Genetics, 2009; 5 (8): e1000623 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000623 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Asthma greater risk for COPD than smoking: report - Food Consumer Posted: 30 Aug 2009 04:21 AM PDT By Sheilah Downey (sheilahd (at) foodconsumer.org) More than 210 million people worldwide suffer the discomfort of strained breathing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), according to the World Health Organization. An umbrella term to cover emphysema and chronic bronchitis, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the world today, but is expected to be the third cause of death by 2030, according to an editorial in The Lancet. And while COPD has been almost always attributed to smoking, Dr. Sundeep Salvi and Dr. Peter Barnes argue that smoking is not the biggest risk factor for the disease, according to reports dating back to 1963. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) listed causes of the disease as tobacco smoke, occupational dusts and chemicals, indoor air pollution and outdoor air pollution. Other exposures include indoor pollution from biomass fuel, pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic asthma. "Chronic asthma is also of interest because it carries a greater risk of developing COPD than that caused by smoking," states the Lancet. "If asthma development is on the increase around the world, COPD incidence is likely to increase as well, perhaps even more so than the current predictions." Previous studies have linked occupational exposure to compounds that can lead to long-term severe respiratory problems, such as the link between asbestos and mesothelioma. "Therefore, it is not a great leap to think that occupational exposures are also important risk factors for COPD," states the editorial.         This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Beliefs: Why some don't use asthma meds as directed - Reuters Posted: 28 Aug 2009 10:35 AM PDT NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People's beliefs about the benefits and risks of their asthma medication may be key to their willingness to take it as directed, a new study finds. The study, published in the Annals of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, looked at adherence to inhaled corticosteroid medication among 261 low- income, minority asthma patients. Inhaled corticosteroids reduce inflammation in the airways and are the cornerstone of managing chronic asthma. To be most effective, the drugs must be taken regularly, even when people are symptom-free. But studies suggest that many adults do not take their inhaled corticosteroids regularly, and that the problem is more common among minority patients than their white counterparts. In the current study, researchers found that 70 percent of patients said they used their inhaled corticosteroids all or most of the time. Perhaps not surprisingly, those who believed it was "important" to take the drugs even when they were symptom-free were four times more likely to be compliant compared with patients who did not share that belief. On the other hand, patients who worried about medication side effects were only half as likely to adhere to their treatment as those without those concerns. Finally, patients who were confident in their ability to take their inhaled medication correctly were more than twice as likely to be compliant as those who lacked such self-confidence. The findings point to several areas where healthcare providers could improve low-income, minority patients' medication compliance, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Diego Ponieman of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Doctors and nurses could, for example, help boost patients' confidence by actively "coaching" them in how to take their medication properly, the researchers write. In addition, they say, doctors should recognize that many patients worry about drug side effects and explicitly address those concerns. The most common side effects of inhaled corticosteroids are considered relatively mild and include throat irritation and thrush, a yeast infection of the mouth. The drugs are also much safer than the oral corticosteroids that may have to be given when a person has a serious asthma attack. So preventing attacks via inhaled corticosteroids is seen as a way of protecting patients from the risks of repeatedly using the oral versions -- which include weight gain, elevated blood pressure and blood sugar, and decreased bone density. By "bolstering positive beliefs and mitigating the negative ones," Ponieman and his colleagues write, doctors may be able to convince more patients to stick with their inhaled-corticosteroid regimen. SOURCE: Annals of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, July 2009. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Insurers trying to bully us out of health-care reform - MaineToday.com Posted: 30 Aug 2009 04:14 AM PDT Do you remember when you were in school and how the bullies dominated a class? Even though they made life miserable for many of their classmates, the teacher didn't take any notice, especially if the bullies were members of a team. When the teacher eventually tried to control their behavior, the bullies complained that the teacher was being unfair. For the past few years ,the insurance companies have been bullying people who need health insurance, delaying payments and sometimes finding reasons to deny claims by a longtime customer. They pretend to care about their customers, but the purpose of an insurance company is profit. Insurers contribute nothing to the provision of health care. They give huge donations to politicians of both parties, to convince the politicians that they are on the same team. Now the president and some members of Congress want to change the rules, and the insurance companies are crying "unfair." At the same time, they are spending vast sums of money on advertisements to warn us about what will happen if the government plan passes Congress. They warn us that we will lose our choice of doctor and that "government bureaucrats" will dictate our health care. Seniors will lose care. I have almost never found a government bureaucrat as mean and unfeeling as insurance company bureaucrats. Remember, the insurance company bureaucrats are paid to save their company money. Their rules and policies, if you can understand them, are written to protect the company -- not to protect you. If you have complaints about a government bureaucrat, you can call your representatives in Congress and there is a fair chance that you will get some resolution of your problem. Your only resource against insurance company bureaucrats is a lawsuit. Insurance company lawyers are paid much more money that any lawyer the average person can afford. Even if you have a good case, the insurance company can and will delay trial and eventual payment. If you are severely ill, you may not survive long enough to receive any money. The insurance companies would have us believe two contradictory ideas at the same time -- that they can provide better and cheaper care than the government can, but if the government plan becomes operational then the insurance companies will lose all their business. If they can provide better and cheaper care than the government plan, then why would anyone participate in the government plan? I am a retired physician, born in Britain. In the first years of my life, I suffered from asthma, and the resulting medical expenses were a heavy burden for my parents.. My medical care improved once the National Health Service started. I did my medical training in Britain and then started in practice there -- in hospitals. The bureaucracy seemed oppressive but did not prevent medical care. One set of forms was used for everyone. I moved to the United States in 1968, and I have worked in hospitals and clinics and in private practice. The forms required became more and more difficult to cope with -- each insurance company has its own rules and its own forms. Patients would ask me whether their insurance company would pay for their treatment, and I could not tell them. I could only send in the forms and await the insurance company decision -- which would often come only weeks later. Appealing their decision took many hours on the phone -- hours taken from my care of patients. Not surprisingly, any error -- whether theirs or mine -- could be used as an excuse to deny payment. Hospitals have now developed their own bureaucracy in order to deal with the insurance companies. None of these bureaucrats contributes to the provision of health care. So we have two armies of bureaucrats fighting over funds that should be available for treating patients. My mother remained in Britain until she died at the age of 94, and she received the best of care from the National Health Service. While she was living at home, she was visited by the District Nurse once a week, and the doctor visited her at home once a month. No treatment was denied to her -- ever. No one in Britain has suggested privatizing the National Health Service and going to an insurance system. The British people know when they are well-off. Health-care reform must make it possible for everyone to receive treatment. Health care in any modern society is a right, not a privilege. James M. Todd,, a retired physician, lives in Randolph. Born in Britain, Todd practiced psychiatry in the United States from 1968 until his retirement in 1996. Reader comments Click here to view or add reader comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Swimming Aids Asthma Symptoms In Children, Study Finds - Science Daily Posted: 26 Aug 2009 04:57 PM PDT ScienceDaily (Aug. 27, 2009) — Research has shown that swimming aids asthma symptoms in children. The activity has been proven to be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for children and adolescents, according to a study in Respirology, published by Wiley-Blackwell. Researchers divided children between the ages of seven to twelve into two groups. One group underwent a six-week swimming program in addition to their regular asthma treatments. All of the children in the experimental program showed significant improvement in all clinical variables including symptoms, hospitalizations, emergency room visits and school absenteeism. Other improvements included asthma severity, mouth-breathing, snoring, chest deformity, self-confidence and general feelings of disadvantage. "Unlike other sports, swimming is unlikely to provoke asthma attacks. In addition to improving asthma, swimming promotes normal physical and psychological development, such as increasing lung volume, developing good breathing techniques and improving general fitness," said lead author, Wang Jeng-Shing from the Taipei Medical University. He added, "Not only is swimming an excellent form of exercise for children with asthma, the health benefits reaped continued to be observed for at least a year after the completion of the swimming program." This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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“Novel genetic region may cause childhood asthma - HULIQ.com” plus 4 more

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• Novel genetic region may cause childhood asthma - HULIQ.com
• Health Reform Debate: Advocates Urge Congress to Learn from Examples ... - Earthtimes
• Health Tip: Stifle back-to-school allergy and asthma problems - WAFF
• New Book by Dr. J. Brant Darby Stresses Importance of Childrens ... - Earthtimes
• Beliefs: Why some don't use asthma meds as directed - Reuters

Novel genetic region may cause childhood asthma - HULIQ.com Posted: 29 Aug 2009 05:34 AM PDT Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute of Public Health (Mexico) and their collaborators at universities in the US and the UK* conducted a genome-wide association (GWA) study, in which they looked at over 500,000 variants across the genome in 492 Mexican children with asthma and their parents to identify novel genes that may influence asthma development. The work points to the chromosome 9q21.31 region as a novel candidate region for childhood asthma. Asthma is a leading chronic childhood disease that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. However, few genes have been consistently associated with the disease. GWA studies have successfully identified novel genes for many common diseases, but to date there have been only a handful of GWA studies focused on asthma and even fewer focused on asthma in Hispanic populations. The researchers also examined ancestry in this Mexican population and found that the chromosome 9q21.31 region may underlie some of the differences in childhood asthma prevalence that have been observed across ethnic groups. It remains unclear why Mexicans have lower rates of asthma than some other groups. The chromosome 9q21.31 variants associated with childhood asthma in this study are located near the TLE4 gene, but the researchers state that "further work is needed to decipher whether TLE4 or a nearby gene explains the signals from the chromosome 9q21.31 region." In addition, it is likely that multiple genetic and environmental risk factors underlie the development of childhood asthma, and the researchers conclude that studies with very large sample sizes will be needed to identify the important interacting risk factors. By Public Library of Science This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Health Reform Debate: Advocates Urge Congress to Learn from Examples ... - Earthtimes Posted: 29 Aug 2009 04:58 AM PDT COLUMBUS, Ohio - (Business Wire) As Congress debates the future of health care in the United States, several Ohio health advocates are pointing to the success of health management programs underway at workplaces throughout the state. A number of employers are achieving reduced costs and improved health outcomes for employees, through programs that emphasize wellness and disease management. "The example of what's working at workplaces throughout Ohio and the nation needs to be taken into account by members of Congress as they debate health reform legislation," said Joe San Filippo, chief health care strategist for Nationwide Better Health. "Because of programs that emphasize wellness and prevention, large and small employers are seeing decreases in health care costs and absenteeism, and increases in overall employee health." The Ohio chapter of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is urging members of Ohio's Congressional delegation to learn from the experience of local employers. In the health reform debate, the PFCD advocates for provisions that address the impact of chronic disease. Chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, cancer, hypertension and depression account for 75 percent of all health care spending nationally. In Ohio, it is estimated that more than half the population has a chronic illness. An example of a large Ohio-based employer with a robust, successful health and wellness program in place is Nationwide. "From the inception of our program, we have seen associates actively engaged in managing their health and significant improvement in workplace productivity. Our associates who participated in the first three years of the program are seeing results including a 38 percent increase in physical activity and a 17 percent reduction in tobacco use. Associates have also logged more than 6.5 billion steps in the last two years in the company's walking program," said Kathleen Herath, associate vice president of Health and Productivity at Nationwide. Another Ohio employer, Alvis House, is a non-profit organization with more than 225 employees and operates community corrections programs in Columbus, Chillicothe, Dayton, Lima and Toledo. Last year, 100 percent of employees and participating spouses took part in health risk assessments. Alvis House also sponsored a number of wellness activities, including a weight reduction program. As a result, insurance premiums increased only a remarkable one percent for this year, compared to the double-digit increases the agency experienced in the years before the wellness program began. Recent research on the cost of treatment for chronic illnesses, many of which are preventable or manageable, give insight into why wellness programs are part of the culture in both large and small workplaces (from Fitness at Work web site): U.S. healthcare costs doubled from 1990 to 2001 and are projected to double by 2012 Source: Partnerships for Prevention (an organization of CEO's dedicated to health promotion advocacy, www.prevent.org) Four of the ten most costly health conditions affecting employers are related to heart disease and stroke. Employees with heart disease and heart disease risk factors cost employers thousands of dollars more than healthy employees each year through higher insurance. Source: Goetzel, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1998 Between 1990 and 2004, the number of obese adults in Massachusetts rose 80 percent. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts found that with every 1 percent increase in body mass index, an individual's annual health care costs goes up $120. Source: Boston Globe, March 22, 2006 "Of the $5000 per employee the average employer spent on health care in 2001, more than 95 percent was spent on diagnosis and treatment, with maybe 2-3 percent being invested in early detection (screenings) and no more than 1-2 percent in prevention. This reactive approach persists despite evidence that up to 50 percent of health care expenditures are life-style related and therefore potentially preventable." Source: David Anderson, PhD reporting in Wellness Councils of America's Absolute Advantage 2003 Each smoker costs an employer an additional $3,856 a year in health-care costs and lost productivity. Source: Billings Gazette December 10, 2005 "Prevention and disease management are a critical part of the federal health reform legislation," said Kenneth Thorpe, Ph.D., national executive director for the PFCD and chair of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. "By better managing chronic diseases, we avoid the need for costly procedures, such as amputations or surgeries that arise from untreated or mismanaged conditions. By preventing diseases, our system can avoid some costs altogether. This is what policymakers are hoping to do by investing in an infrastructure that includes prevention and disease management—to eliminate costs, not just shift them to another part of the system." Editor's Note: For more information on the programs mentioned, please contact: Joe San Filippo, Chief Health Care Strategist, Nationwide Better Health, 614-249-2236 Kathleen Herath, Associate Vice President, Health and Productivity, Nationwide, 614-249-4058 Denise Robinson, CEO, Alvis House, 614-252-8402 For the Ohio chapter of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Jenny Camper, 614-224-0658 or 614-579-7948 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Health Tip: Stifle back-to-school allergy and asthma problems - WAFF Posted: 27 Aug 2009 06:33 AM PDT (HealthDay News) -- Going back to school with asthma and allergies means dealing with pollens, molds and other allergens that contaminate the air during autumn. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology offers these suggestions to help prevent allergy and asthma flares in your child: Have your child visit the doctor before school starts to make sure symptoms are well-controlled. Give a copy of your child's treatment plan to the school staff, which should be familiar with your child's triggers and medications. With the pediatrician's approval, make sure your child is vaccinated for seasonal flu and swine flu. Make sure your child carries an inhaler at all times, and an epinephrine kit if the child has life-threatening allergies. Talk to your child about what triggers symptoms (such as exercise or chalkboard dust), and make sure he or she knows to avoid them. Check out the school and look for any potential problems, such as cafeteria foods that could be dangerous to your child. -- Diana Kohnle Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

New Book by Dr. J. Brant Darby Stresses Importance of Childrens ... - Earthtimes Posted: 29 Aug 2009 01:30 AM PDT MEDFORD, Ore. - (Business Wire) Dr. J. Brant Darby has written and released a new book titled, "How to Successfully Prepare for Your Child's First Dental Visit." The book, which contains beautiful photography and artwork created by children, is full of important information regarding one of the world's most important aspects of healthcare – childrens' dental health. Dental disease is the most prevalent chronic disease affecting children in the United States today, even more so than asthma. Due to poor dental health, it is estimated that America's children miss 51 million hours of school each year. Combine that amount of time, money and effort, and it equates to billions of dollars of healthcare costs each year. The primary objective of childrens' dentistry is prevention. That is what Dr. Darby's book is all about – prevention. "Many people do not realize the importance of their child's first dental appointment," said Dr. J. Brant Darby. "The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have their first dental appointment within six months of their first tooth and no later than their first birthday." Dr. Darby wrote his book to help educate and inform parents of the importance of their child's first dental visit, and to prepare them for it. Other issues covered in the book include valuable preparation checklists, how to find the right dentist for your child, what questions to ask, how to best prepare for the first visit, when to arrive, what to bring, and many more topics critical to ensuring your child's comfort and long-term dental health. The book addresses creating a "Dental Home," which is a concept created and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. It emphasizes the importance of building rapport with the child and making them feel comfortable in a dental office environment. Children may be traumatized by their first dental experience if the doctor is not specially trained and the parents are unprepared. Pediatric dentistry is a dental specialty that requires two to three years additional training beyond that of a regular dentist. Pediatric dentists address specific needs of infants, children and adolescents. They educate and prepare parents regarding the proper diet and hygiene needed for good dental health, as well as assessing your child's growth and development. This educational and informational book offers valuable insights to parents to help launch their child's present and future dental health. It concludes with a dental journal to document your child's appointments, doctor's suggestions, any prescriptions given, dates and times. It also shares a valuable Web Resource Page featuring several websites regarding children's dental health issues that could be helpful in addressing other questions or concerns you may have. Dr. J. Brant Darby is an American Board Certified Pediatric Dental Specialist who practices in Southern Oregon. After graduating from The Master's College with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology, he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center School of Dentistry in Lincoln, Nebraska, and completed his Pediatric Dental Residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. His wife, Jennifer, shares his passion for childrens' dental health and assists him in his practice. The cost of the 62-page book is $11.95 plus shipping and handling and can be purchased by visiting www.firstdentalvisit.com or www.amazon.com. First Dental Visit Jennifer Darby, 541-761-6351 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Beliefs: Why some don't use asthma meds as directed - Reuters Posted: 28 Aug 2009 10:35 AM PDT NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People's beliefs about the benefits and risks of their asthma medication may be key to their willingness to take it as directed, a new study finds. The study, published in the Annals of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, looked at adherence to inhaled corticosteroid medication among 261 low- income, minority asthma patients. Inhaled corticosteroids reduce inflammation in the airways and are the cornerstone of managing chronic asthma. To be most effective, the drugs must be taken regularly, even when people are symptom-free. But studies suggest that many adults do not take their inhaled corticosteroids regularly, and that the problem is more common among minority patients than their white counterparts. In the current study, researchers found that 70 percent of patients said they used their inhaled corticosteroids all or most of the time. Perhaps not surprisingly, those who believed it was "important" to take the drugs even when they were symptom-free were four times more likely to be compliant compared with patients who did not share that belief. On the other hand, patients who worried about medication side effects were only half as likely to adhere to their treatment as those without those concerns. Finally, patients who were confident in their ability to take their inhaled medication correctly were more than twice as likely to be compliant as those who lacked such self-confidence. The findings point to several areas where healthcare providers could improve low-income, minority patients' medication compliance, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Diego Ponieman of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Doctors and nurses could, for example, help boost patients' confidence by actively "coaching" them in how to take their medication properly, the researchers write. In addition, they say, doctors should recognize that many patients worry about drug side effects and explicitly address those concerns. The most common side effects of inhaled corticosteroids are considered relatively mild and include throat irritation and thrush, a yeast infection of the mouth. The drugs are also much safer than the oral corticosteroids that may have to be given when a person has a serious asthma attack. So preventing attacks via inhaled corticosteroids is seen as a way of protecting patients from the risks of repeatedly using the oral versions -- which include weight gain, elevated blood pressure and blood sugar, and decreased bone density. By "bolstering positive beliefs and mitigating the negative ones," Ponieman and his colleagues write, doctors may be able to convince more patients to stick with their inhaled-corticosteroid regimen. SOURCE: Annals of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, July 2009. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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“Health Tip: Stifle back-to-school allergy and asthma problems - WAFF” plus 4 more

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• Health Tip: Stifle back-to-school allergy and asthma problems - WAFF
• Resort's new health centre is proving the perfect tonic (From ... - This is Dorset
• Thailand prescribes bug-free diet for asthma patients - Thaindian.com
• Heidi Low: Smoke-free laws protect workers' health - Idaho Statesman
• Exhaled nitric oxide needs to be measured in asthma patients - News-Medical.Net

Health Tip: Stifle back-to-school allergy and asthma problems - WAFF Posted: 27 Aug 2009 06:33 AM PDT (HealthDay News) -- Going back to school with asthma and allergies means dealing with pollens, molds and other allergens that contaminate the air during autumn. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology offers these suggestions to help prevent allergy and asthma flares in your child: Have your child visit the doctor before school starts to make sure symptoms are well-controlled. Give a copy of your child's treatment plan to the school staff, which should be familiar with your child's triggers and medications. With the pediatrician's approval, make sure your child is vaccinated for seasonal flu and swine flu. Make sure your child carries an inhaler at all times, and an epinephrine kit if the child has life-threatening allergies. Talk to your child about what triggers symptoms (such as exercise or chalkboard dust), and make sure he or she knows to avoid them. Check out the school and look for any potential problems, such as cafeteria foods that could be dangerous to your child. -- Diana Kohnle Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Resort's new health centre is proving the perfect tonic (From ... - This is Dorset Posted: 28 Aug 2009 03:47 AM PDT Resort's new health centre is proving the perfect tonic 12:10pm Friday 28th August 2009 Comments (0) Have your say » HEALTH bosses claim that the new Weymouth Community Health Centre has proved 'highly popular' with patients. Staff at the privately-run unit have treated 1,000 people in the first three weeks of operation in Melcombe Avenue. Some GPs were concerned that the centre would threaten local doctors' surgeries when plans were first announced, but the concerns died down after it opened. Centre operations manager Tania Shorten said: "We are seeing a real mix of treatment requests ranging from specialist bandaging, lost or forgotten medication, eye complaints, chest infections, babies with high temperatures and urine infections. "We have recently received a thank-you card from a patient who said: 'I just wanted to say how impressed I was with my treatment when I had cause to visit – everything seemed to go smoothly and efficiently and the staff were most helpful. I am sure the new centre will be a great success.'" The centre is operated on behalf of the NHS by The Practice plc, a private company, for NHS patients. The centre is based in Weymouth Community Hospital and staffed by GPs. Patients can walk in without appointments 365 days a year from 8am to 8pm. It is open to local residents and visitors. It offers a range of services, including health information, advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses. These can include minor skin infections, rashes, minor eye conditions, infections, stomach upsets, coughs and cold and other common illness. Other conditions GPs and nurses at the centre handle include asthma, wound dressing, mental health problems, alcohol and drug problems and immunisation programmes. People can also receive emergency contraception and advice. The NHS walk-in centres have been introduced to help people with busy lifestyles needing access to flexible and convenient health services, and those who are temporary residents or visitors to the area. NHS Dorset chairman Jacqueline Swift said: "I am delighted that the Weymouth Community Health Centre has got off to such a flying start. "It is providing an invaluable and convenient service to the many thousands of people who visit Weymouth during the summer as well as seasonal workers and others who may not have a permanent address. "It will certainly help to ease the pressure on local NHS services during the Olympics in 2012." This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Thailand prescribes bug-free diet for asthma patients - Thaindian.com Posted: 26 Aug 2009 11:02 PM PDT March 23, 2009 by DPA (From Bangkok)   Thailand's health ministry has warned people suffering from asthma and allergies to avoid eating fried insects, a popular street-stall snack in Bangkok and other cities, media reports said Sunday. A recent study conducted by the ministry found that the fried silk worms, grasshoppers and other six-legged delicacies often contain excessively high levels of histamine that can trigger allergic reactions or asthma attacks, The Nation newspaper reported. According to ministry data, some 118 people were hospitalized between Dec 24 and Jan 7 with allergic reactions and food-poisoning symptoms after eating fried bugs from street vendors in seven provincial cities. Insects have been on the menu in rural Thailand for centuries, but only in the past two decades have improved logistics and bulk bug wholesaling networks made the creatures widely available in urban centres. Health officials warn that the bugs can pick up high levels of bacterial contamination during storage and transportation, while excessive reuse of cooking oil to fry the critters can also lead to toxic build up. Content navigation Previous: Help the Environment : Earth Hour 2009 Bangkok This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Heidi Low: Smoke-free laws protect workers' health - Idaho Statesman Posted: 27 Aug 2009 11:08 PM PDT Idaho needs to catch up with our neighboring states - Utah, Montana, Washington and Oregon. As of July, more than 350 communities and 24 states have implemented smoke-free workplace policies. While Idaho law protects many employees from the dangers of secondhand smoke, we do not protect bar workers and those who work in small businesses with fewer than five employees. The goal of Smokefree Idaho is to assure all employees protection from the dangers of secondhand smoke, because the health hazards are real and measurable. Did you know that secondhand smoke contains 69 cancer-causing chemicals, including formaldehyde, arsenic, cyanide and carbon monoxide? Besides cancer, secondhand smoke can cause or aggravate a wide range of health issues, including respiratory infections, asthma and heart disease. No one should have to choose between a job and good health. Passing local clean indoor air ordinances protects all workers from these dangers. We firmly believe in each individual's responsibility to make their own choices as long as those choices don't adversely affect others. When someone smokes inside a workplace or other public place, those around them are forced to breathe in toxic chemicals. The evidence is clear: 220 Idahoans die each year as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke. Studies also show that nonsmokers working in smoky environments double their risk of getting lung cancer. It should come as no surprise that smoke-free laws prove beneficial to the community. Such policies decrease absenteeism among nonsmoking employees and increase productivity. At least 10 studies demonstrate a substantial decrease in heart attacks in conjunction with comprehensive laws. More than 23 studies also demonstrate there is no significant adverse economic impact. Tobacco use costs Idaho lives and money. Beyond all the statistics that prove the public health hazards, tobacco use costs Idaho $319 million a year, which translates into a $542 burden for every taxpaying household. Maybe it's the combination of the science demonstrating the health hazards and the cost to Idahoans that gives Smokefree Idaho the support of the majority of Treasure Valley residents, as demonstrated through the overwhelming response from volunteers, petition signers and a poll. In fact, 73 percent of Treasure Valley voters support a law that would prohibit smoking in most places, including bars, and 85 percent of those polled believed all workers should be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke. The time to protect all Idaho workers from a proven health hazard is now. Heidi Low is the Idaho director of government relations for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network and outreach coordinator for Smokefree Idaho. More details are at www.smokefreeidaho.org. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Exhaled nitric oxide needs to be measured in asthma patients - News-Medical.Net Posted: 21 Aug 2009 01:04 AM PDT CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the largest health care insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA, has adopted a policy stating that measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is considered medically necessary in the management of asthma patients. Uncontrolled asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic medical conditions in the United States, responsible for millions of emergency room visits, days lost at work and school, and billions of dollars in direct and indirect costs. Airway inflammation can lead to life-threatening asthma attacks, and long-term inflammation can drastically compromise lung capacity over a lifetime. The founders of Aerocrine made the original discovery that nitric oxide in exhaled breath is elevated in patients with asthma and the company has since pioneered the development of the method to monitor airway inflammation by measuring eNO. In its July 2009 policy update, CareFirst refers to studies stating that eNO can be used effectively to predict and avoid relapse and to monitor compliance with medication, as well as improving diagnosis and indicate possible environmental influences affecting the patient. Concluding that eNO measurement is the only routine clinical test for airway inflammation that can be performed conveniently in the office setting, CareFirst makes specific reference to Aerocrine's portable eNO measurement device NIOX MINO®. "CareFirst's policy is an important stepping stone towards improved asthma treatment in the United States", says Chip Neff, President of Aerocrine Inc. Aerocrine's first device, NIOX, received CE clearance in Europe in 2000 and US FDA clearance in 2003, and NIOX MINO, the first handheld device was cleared for clinical practice in Europe in 2004 and by the FDA in early 2008. To date, more than 2.5 million patient tests have been performed using Aerocrine's systems. "Aerocrine's method to improve asthma control is rapidly gaining acceptance across the world through inclusions in clinical guidelines and health insurance systems", says Paul de Potocki, CEO of Aerocrine AB. "We are very happy that CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield has decided to change their policy to now cover exhaled Nitric Oxide for its members". http://www.aerocrine.com/ This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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“Study reveals that asthma patients fare better by taking oral ... - News-Medical.Net” plus 4 more

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• Study reveals that asthma patients fare better by taking oral ... - News-Medical.Net
• Smoke is expected to blanket L.A. Basin through the weekend - Baltimore Sun
• Health Tip: Avoid Your Child's Asthma Attacks - WAFF
• State reports second H1NI flu death - Sioux City Journal
• Changes In DNA Patterns Are Linked To Prenatal Smoke Exposure - Science Daily

Study reveals that asthma patients fare better by taking oral ... - News-Medical.Net Posted: 27 Aug 2009 02:44 AM PDT Mayo Clinic Proceedings published a peer-reviewed comparative effectiveness study performed by HealthCore, Inc. in its August edition. The study demonstrated that asthma patients in general had better clinical outcomes with oral controllers than inhaled corticosteroids. "WellPoint's National Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee requested the comparative effectiveness study to help ensure that its drug formulary for asthma therapies was aligned with their real-world use and outcomes," said Dr. Joseph Singer, vice president of clinical affairs for HealthCore, the outcomes research subsidiary for WellPoint, Inc. "We believe the study to be the first comprehensive comparative effectiveness research study on all asthma controller medications." "Clinical superiority of the inhaled products has been well documented in clinical trials and the HealthCore study confirmed this for those who take their medication properly," Singer said. "However, we were surprised to discover that in looking at all patients in real-world settings, oral controllers appeared to be a better choice of treatment because of better compliance. Patients with the best outcomes were those who were compliant with inhaled corticosteroids." The study, "Impact of Asthma Controller Medications on Clinical, Economic and Patient-Reported Outcomes," revealed that users of oral controllers were significantly better at adhering to their medication than users of inhaled corticosteroids and probably obtained greater treatment benefit. After the study was complete in 2008, WellPoint's National Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee chose to keep the oral controller used by the vast majority of its members on the same preferred formulary tier and lift its prior authorization requirement. Asthma is a common and chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that affects more than 22 million Americans. In 2004, it resulted in 14.7 million outpatient visits, 1.8 million emergency department visits and nearly 500,000 hospitalizations. "It's important for physicians and health plans alike to know that 'one size fits all' does not apply when treating asthma patients," said Singer. "These results speak to the power of comparative effectiveness research and its ability to give physicians the information they need to customize treatment for patients in the real world." Lead authors of the HealthCore study in the August edition of Mayo Clinical Proceedings were HealthCore researchers Hiangkiat Tan, Chaitanya Sarawate and Dr. Joseph Singer. Other authors included Dr. Kurt Elward, Dr. Rubin Cohen, Dr. Brian Smart, Dr. Michael Busk, Dr. James Lustig, Dr. Jeana O'Brien and Dr. Michael Schatz. Both Elward and Schatz sit on the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, which develops guidelines for diagnosis and management of asthma. The comparative effectiveness research study assessed the following outcomes: use of short-acting beta-agonists, use of oral corticosteroids, inpatient/emergency room visits, and total cost of care attributable to asthma during the 12-month period after the index date. HealthCore retrospectively pulled the medical and pharmacy claims data of more than 55,000 patients from eight health plans who had used at least one of six types of asthma controller medications between 2003 and 2005. The study was conducted in collaboration with a scientific steering committee consisting of physicians recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Association of Allergy and Immunology. These data were integrated with quality-of-life surveys of more than 800 asthma patients from the same plans to evaluate potential differences in quality of life between the types of controller medications. Both oral and inhaled treatments offered comparable impacts on patient-reported quality of life and productivity. Among patients taking more than one drug to control their asthma, HealthCore found that a combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists were the best course of treatment in terms of better clinical outcomes and better quality of life. In the group of patients who adhered to their medication, those taking leukotriene modifiers--oral asthma controllers--were more likely to have an emergency room or inpatient physician visit, less likely to use six or more short-acting beta agonist canisters and incurred higher annual costs. Those who were compliant with their inhaled corticosteroids had better outcomes than those who adhered to their oral controllers, but so few of those taking inhaled corticosteroids adhered properly to their medication that it had little impact on the overall population studied. About the study The observational study used administrative claims data obtained from eight geographically dispersed commercial health plans that represent approximately 17.5 million members. The study also included the following criteria: The administrative data set consisted of integrated medical claims, pharmacy claims and eligibility files. The study database was developed in compliance with the regulations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. Eligible patients were 18-64 years old with at least one medical claim with an ICD-9-CM code for asthma from Sept. 1, 2002 through Aug. 31, 2006 and at least one prescription claim for an asthma controller medication from Sept. 1, 2003 through Aug. 31, 2005. Patients who had medication in their possession for 80 percent of the year or longer were considered to be adherent to therapy. Source: http://www.healthcore.com This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Smoke is expected to blanket L.A. Basin through the weekend - Baltimore Sun Posted: 27 Aug 2009 03:34 AM PDT The thick blanket of smoke pouring into the Los Angeles Basin from two brush fires in the Angeles National Forest is expected to linger through the weekend, prompting health warnings and halting some school athletic programs. The smoke from a fire north of Azusa that began Tuesday and a blaze above La Cañada Flintridge that broke out Wednesday resulted in unhealthy air pollution levels in the San Gabriel Valley as well as parts of Los Angeles. Weather experts blame weak winds -- which actually prevented the fires from burning more intensely -- for keeping the smoke from dissipating. "The L.A. Basin is a big cul-de-sac. To the north and the east we're bounded by some pretty high mountains," said Bill Patzert, a climatologist with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. "The basin is just filling up with this smoke." He said the smoke would probably remain until Sunday, along with a high-pressure system that has brought sizzling temperatures and red-flag fire conditions. "We're sitting in the smoke until Sunday. It's going to get hotter and smokier," Patzert said. With temperatures expected to reach into the triple digits this weekend, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard said he's worried about the days ahead. "This is going to be a difficult and a long weekend," he said. Residents around the basin were trying to cope. In Monrovia, maintenance worker Fernando Zanelli left strict instructions with his children when he left his home Wednesday: No one was to open the windows. "I was feeling the smoke, and when I woke up I saw black ashes flying in the area," Zanelli said. "I worry about my children breathing in that stuff." In the gated community of Mountain Cove in Azusa, where a mass of gray smoke tinged with burnt sienna rose high above the 210 Freeway, residents awoke Wednesday morning to the smell of tar. When they walked outside, many found cars were covered in ash. Real-estate agent Paul Cassatt, 60, who had a heart attack last year and recently had a defibrillator placed in his chest, said he's not taking any chances with his smog-filled environment. "I'm staying inside," he said. On Lake Avenue in Pasadena, lunch crowds stayed mostly indoors, and others tried to make their ventures outside as short as possible. In Chinatown, Winnie Zhou, a cashier at Queen's Bakery, said it smelled like fire when she got ready for work Wednesday morning. "It was hard to breathe, and I felt like my nose was dry," Zhou said. Her co-worker, Maggie Alcaraz, said the smoke was worsening the flu-like symptoms she contracted earlier in the week. "I'm already congested, and it's even worse now," she said. "But I don't even want to breathe in since it's smoky." Even though most school districts are not yet in session, officials canceled football and band practice and all other outdoor activities. "The air is dirty. It smells really bad, and the sky is kind of a hazy orange," said Ann Rector, coordinator of health programs for the Pasadena Unified School District. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Health Tip: Avoid Your Child's Asthma Attacks - WAFF Posted: 20 Aug 2009 06:20 AM PDT (HealthDay News) -- One of the first steps toward managing your child's asthma is to recognize the allergens or irritants that can trigger an attack. Frequently, these may include dust, pet dander, smoke, exercise or polluted air. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions: During allergy seasons, run the air conditioner and keep the windows in your home and car closed. Regularly replace filters from your home's cooling system. Keep bathrooms, kitchens and basements clean and allow them to air out. Run a dehumidifier, if needed, in these areas. Reduce dust and dust mites by frequently washing bed linens in hot water. Remove any carpets and rugs, if possible. Keep pets out of your child's bedroom. Keep your child away from tobacco smoke. -- Diana Kohnle Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

State reports second H1NI flu death - Sioux City Journal Posted: 27 Aug 2009 12:28 AM PDT OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- An Adams County woman in her 50s has become the state's second resident to die from the swine flu, Nebraska health officials said Wednesday. The woman, whose identity was not released, died late last week, said Marla Augustine, a spokeswoman with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The woman also had chronic medical issues, including asthma, heart disease and diabetes. Health officials aren't releasing other details about the woman. Last month ,the state reported the death of a Custer County woman in her 50s. That woman also had underlying medical problems. "My condolences to her family and friends," said Dr. Joann Schaefer, the state's chief medical officer. "H1N1 can be a very serious illness for those who have chronic health conditions such as heart disease and asthma, or who have compromised immune systems." Federal Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday -- one day after a special presidential advisory panel presented a grim report to the Obama White House -- that a "plausible scenario" for the United States later this year is wide-scale infections, possibly 30,000 to 90,000 deaths, mostly among young children and young adults, and perhaps as many as 300,000 sick enough to require intensive care unit treatment at hospitals. The virus can cause a fever of more than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, a sore throat, respiratory congestion and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea. Seasonal flu typically causes 30,000-40,000 annual deaths, mainly among people over 65. The level of flu in the state is described as "sporadic," state health officials said Wednesday. They are no longer reporting the total number of cases in the state, keeping with the guidance of the federal Centers for Disease Control. In the last report in early August, 413 residents had confirmed cases of the virus since the outbreak began in late April. Health officials advise only those who are moderately or severely ill or someone with underlying medical conditions see a doctor. Most people who get the virus can recover on their own, they said. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Changes In DNA Patterns Are Linked To Prenatal Smoke Exposure - Science Daily Posted: 27 Aug 2009 02:08 AM PDT ScienceDaily (Aug. 27, 2009) — A new study by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) has found that the life-long effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy may occur through specific changes in DNA patterns. The study found that children exposed in the womb to maternal smoking had differences in DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism in which small chemical compounds are added to DNA. The findings provide researchers with valuable insight into a biological process that is not well understood. The study appears in the September issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and is now available online. Epigenetics is the study of how chemicals that attach to DNA can switch genes on and off leading to differences in gene expression without changing the fundamental genetic information. While epigenetics has become a robust field in cancer research, little is currently known about how epigenetic changes may be tied to environmental exposures. "This study provides some of the first evidence that in utero environmental exposures such as tobacco smoke may be associated with epigenetic changes," says one of the lead authors Carrie Breton, Sc.D., assistant professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "This could open up a new way for researchers to investigate biological mechanisms that might explain known health effects associated with maternal smoking." Prenatal exposure to smoke is associated with a number of health problems, including childhood asthma, cardiovascular disease and lower pulmonary function later in life. "Moms should not be smoking during pregnancy," says Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a component of the National Institutes of Health that helped fund the USC study. "Maternal smoking during pregnancy is not only detrimental to the health of the mom and the newborn child, but research such as this suggests that it may impact the child into adulthood and possibly even future generations as well." The study drew upon data from the USC Children's Health Study, a longitudinal study of respiratory health among children in 13 Southern California communities. Researchers looked at a subset of about 300 children from the 5,341 kindergarten and first graders who were enrolled in 2002. Information on maternal smoking exposure was collected using a questionnaire. The findings showed that prenatal tobacco smoke exposure was associated with detectable changes in DNA methylation patterns for two types of DNA methylation: global methylation and methylation in the promoter region of cancer or developmental related genes. Children exposed to prenatal smoke had a significantly lower level of global methylation, measured using the DNA repetitive element AluYb8. In contrast, children exposed to prenatal smoke had significantly higher methylation levels in the promoters of two genes, AXL and PTPRO. Gene expression of both of these genes has previously been demonstrated to be correlated with DNA methylation levels. "During pregnancy, there is a natural process of methylation reprogramming where small chemical compounds are removed from the DNA bases and then reattached a short while later, so it's reasonable to think that an environmental exposure could alter DNA methylation during this period," says co-author Hyang-Min Byun. "This research could be an important first step into understanding how what happens in utero is tied to health outcomes later in life, and how we may be able to intervene in these developments on an epigenetic level," says Breton. "For instance, it's possible that exposure to maternal smoking may cause epigenetic changes that make children more susceptible to developing asthma." The study was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Hastings Foundation and by an American Society of Clinical Oncology Career Development Award in Geriatric Oncology. Journal reference: Breton et al. Prenatal Tobacco Smoke Exposure Affects Global and Gene-specific DNA Methylation. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2009; 180 (5): 462 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200901-0135OC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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