Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/aOaBxMvc6dE

Gobbling sugar may trigger diabetes but also cancer.  A study from California’s City of Hope Medical Center, investigating the link between type 2 diabetes and cancer, discovered that the high blood sugar levels seen in diabetics can trigger DNA damage and prevent repair.

The studies of both diabetic mice and human type 2 diabetics showed not only markers of DNA damage but also lower than normal levels of reparative proteins that can eliminate the cancer-triggering DNA damage.   

Diabetics, as a matter of course, try to maintain normal blood sugar levels.   The drug metformin, used by type 2 diabetics to lower blood sugar, has the added benefit of restoring those DNA reparative proteins.

This study suggests yet another reason why all of us should put a damper on our own sugar intakes by soft-peddling those desserts and candy bars.

American Chemical Society. "How diabetes can increase cancer risk: DNA damaged by high blood sugar." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 August 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/19

#Sugar #cancer #diabetes

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/aOaBxMvc6dE

Gobbling sugar may trigger diabetes but also cancer.  A study from California’s City of Hope Medical Center, investigating the link between type 2 diabetes and cancer, discovered that the high blood sugar levels seen in diabetics can trigger DNA damage and prevent repair.

The studies of both diabetic mice and human type 2 diabetics showed not only markers of DNA damage but also lower than normal levels of reparative proteins that can eliminate the cancer-triggering DNA damage.   

Diabetics, as a matter of course, try to maintain normal blood sugar levels.   The drug metformin, used by type 2 diabetics to lower blood sugar, has the added benefit of restoring those DNA reparative proteins.

This study suggests yet another reason why all of us should put a damper on our own sugar intakes by soft-peddling those desserts and candy bars.

American Chemical Society. "How diabetes can increase cancer risk: DNA damaged by high blood sugar." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 August 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/19

#Sugar #cancer #diabetes

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Wuw8pTzG7KA

Men and women infected with HIV should avoid drinking to excess.  This recommendation comes from immunologic studies completed at the Boston University School of Medicine.

The researchers there tested a group of HIV-positive subjects and determined their immune competence by assessing 3 individual processes: systemic inflammation, monocyte activation, and atypical coagulation..  Their levels of alcohol consumption were quantitated by a phosphatidyl-ethanol determination that quantitates alcohol consumption episodes for 21 days afterwards.

Those men and women with more alcohol in their blood showed more significantly altered immune function.  The drinking upper limit for women was 3/drinks a day and for men was 3-4 drinks a day.  Keep in mind also that a 2015 Yale study did show that HIV-infected men are more sensitive to the negative effects of alcohol than the uninflected.

These and other studies indicate the need for those with HIV to be ultra-careful about their drinking in order not to upset the delicate balance in their bodies that is keeping their HIV load low or undetectable.

Boston University School of Medicine. "Heavy drinking and HIV don't mix, study finds." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 August 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190822141905.htm.

https://news.yale.edu/2015/04/20/bad-buzz-men-hiv-need-fewer-drinks-feel-effects

#Immunity #HIV #alcohol

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Wuw8pTzG7KA

Men and women infected with HIV should avoid drinking to excess.  This recommendation comes from immunologic studies completed at the Boston University School of Medicine.

The researchers there tested a group of HIV-positive subjects and determined their immune competence by assessing 3 individual processes: systemic inflammation, monocyte activation, and atypical coagulation..  Their levels of alcohol consumption were quantitated by a phosphatidyl-ethanol determination that quantitates alcohol consumption episodes for 21 days afterwards.

Those men and women with more alcohol in their blood showed more significantly altered immune function.  The drinking upper limit for women was 3/drinks a day and for men was 3-4 drinks a day.  Keep in mind also that a 2015 Yale study did show that HIV-infected men are more sensitive to the negative effects of alcohol than the uninflected.

These and other studies indicate the need for those with HIV to be ultra-careful about their drinking in order not to upset the delicate balance in their bodies that is keeping their HIV load low or undetectable.

Boston University School of Medicine. "Heavy drinking and HIV don't mix, study finds." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 August 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190822141905.htm.

https://news.yale.edu/2015/04/20/bad-buzz-men-hiv-need-fewer-drinks-feel-effects

#Immunity #HIV #alcohol

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/fRevpx6l9UQ

In the search for pain control in light of the current opioid epidemic, you need look no further than your significant other.  A small study just published in the Scandinavian Journal of Pain shows that even the passive presence of your partner will help you better cope with pain.

The researchers studied 48 heterosexual couples and assessed the response of each partner to a painful pressure stimulus when alone or in the presence of the other.  The data reveals that both men and women demonstrated higher pain thresholds, better pain tolerance, and lower pain perception when in the presence of their partners than when alone.  This was true even in the absence of physical contact or verbal communication.

The next time you’re about to reach for that Tylenol, Advil, or aspirin, instead try reaching for your lover’s hand.

Stefan Duschek, Lena Nassauer, Casandra I. Montoro, Angela Bair, Pedro Montoya. Dispositional empathy is associated with experimental pain reduction during provision of social support by romantic partners. Scandinavian Journal of Pain, 2019; 0 (0) DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2019-0025

#Pain #analgesic #lover #significantother

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/fRevpx6l9UQ

In the search for pain control in light of the current opioid epidemic, you need look no further than your significant other.  A small study just published in the Scandinavian Journal of Pain shows that even the passive presence of your partner will help you better cope with pain.

The researchers studied 48 heterosexual couples and assessed the response of each partner to a painful pressure stimulus when alone or in the presence of the other.  The data reveals that both men and women demonstrated higher pain thresholds, better pain tolerance, and lower pain perception when in the presence of their partners than when alone.  This was true even in the absence of physical contact or verbal communication.

The next time you’re about to reach for that Tylenol, Advil, or aspirin, instead try reaching for your lover’s hand.

Stefan Duschek, Lena Nassauer, Casandra I. Montoro, Angela Bair, Pedro Montoya. Dispositional empathy is associated with experimental pain reduction during provision of social support by romantic partners. Scandinavian Journal of Pain, 2019; 0 (0) DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2019-0025

#Pain #analgesic #lover #significantother

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Fo8xdLfLWwE

Moving your body regularly, even slowly and casually, will double your chances of avoiding early death.  This good news comes from a Norwegian meta-analysis of 8 studies covering more than 36,000 subjects.

Compared with those who reported negligible extra physical activity, those with some, say routine walking enjoyed a mortality reduction of 52%,  those with more activity, say regular brisk walking, a reduction of 66%, and those following a more vigorous exercise routine a reduction of 73%.  In contrast, the confirmed sedentary couch potatoes more than doubled their risk of premature death.

Once again, we see proof that exercise is THE best medicine for your body.  It keeps your weight in line without starving yourself, it tones your muscles, it strengthens your bones, and it increases blood flow to your vital organs in turn improving your brain, heart, and digestive functions.

Ulf Ekelund, Jakob Tarp, Jostein Steene-Johannessen, Bjørge H Hansen, etal. Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis. BMJ, 2019; l4570 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l4570

#Moving #exercise #prematuredeath

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Fo8xdLfLWwE

Moving your body regularly, even slowly and casually, will double your chances of avoiding early death.  This good news comes from a Norwegian meta-analysis of 8 studies covering more than 36,000 subjects.

Compared with those who reported negligible extra physical activity, those with some, say routine walking enjoyed a mortality reduction of 52%,  those with more activity, say regular brisk walking, a reduction of 66%, and those following a more vigorous exercise routine a reduction of 73%.  In contrast, the confirmed sedentary couch potatoes more than doubled their risk of premature death.

Once again, we see proof that exercise is THE best medicine for your body.  It keeps your weight in line without starving yourself, it tones your muscles, it strengthens your bones, and it increases blood flow to your vital organs in turn improving your brain, heart, and digestive functions.

Ulf Ekelund, Jakob Tarp, Jostein Steene-Johannessen, Bjørge H Hansen, etal. Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis. BMJ, 2019; l4570 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l4570

#Moving #exercise #prematuredeath

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/bGmAxYkLFr4

In the largest study of its kind just published in The New England Journal of Medicine, multinational public health researchers prove that even short term exposures to inhaled pollutants is associated with higher mortality rates.

The study looked some 652 urban areas in 24 countries and regions evaluating their air quality data and 30 year death rates due to cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, and all-causes.  The results conclusively prove that higher concentrations of air pollutants is associated with elevated death rates in all categories.  

How can you use this information?  When you look at the weather info on your phone, watch, or computer, focus on the air quality as well as the temperatures and rain probability.  On days where air quality is poor,  do avoid spending time outdoors.

Spending more time in clean country air won’t kill you either.

Cong Liu, Renjie Chen, Francesco Sera, Ana M. Vicedo-Cabrera, etal. Ambient Particulate Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in 652 Cities. New England Journal of Medicine, 2019; 381 (8): 705 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1817364

#Airpollution #mortalityrates 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/bGmAxYkLFr4

In the largest study of its kind just published in The New England Journal of Medicine, multinational public health researchers prove that even short term exposures to inhaled pollutants is associated with higher mortality rates.

The study looked some 652 urban areas in 24 countries and regions evaluating their air quality data and 30 year death rates due to cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, and all-causes.  The results conclusively prove that higher concentrations of air pollutants is associated with elevated death rates in all categories.  

How can you use this information?  When you look at the weather info on your phone, watch, or computer, focus on the air quality as well as the temperatures and rain probability.  On days where air quality is poor,  do avoid spending time outdoors.

Spending more time in clean country air won’t kill you either.

Cong Liu, Renjie Chen, Francesco Sera, Ana M. Vicedo-Cabrera, etal. Ambient Particulate Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in 652 Cities. New England Journal of Medicine, 2019; 381 (8): 705 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1817364

#Airpollution #mortalityrates