UF Health Podcasts

Vehicular trauma is common in dogs who are allowed to roam outdoors while unattended and, even when a dog is kept inside, accidents can happen: an animal can escape through an open door or dash off during a walk or outing. Injuries caused by vehicles can range from minor afflictions, like skin wounds, to life-threatening internal injuries. Immediate veterinary attention is critical for animals wounded by a vehicle, even if no injuries are visible. On this archived episode of Animal Airwaves Live, Dr. Carl Southern, a small animal veterinary emergency and critical care specialist, will discuss types of injuries commonly caused by vehicular trauma, typical treatments for those injuries, and what to know when transporting a vehicle-hit animal to the ER to ensure its stability during transfer.

For those who have trouble going gently into that good night, sleep aids like ear plugs, white noise machines and weighted blankets are well-known tools in any veteran insomniac’s arsenal. Melatonin supplements are also popular — and might have a cardiac cost associated with them.

New research from the American Heart Association suggests long-term use for more than a year is associated with a “dramatic” increase of heart failure and death when compared with not using it.

The preliminary study also noted they were more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure, and to die from any cause.

Typically, the synthetic hormone is intended to mimic the body’s “version” of melatonin, which is responsible for curating your organic desire to wake up and/or go to sleep. In most cases, it’s intended for those who are experiencing difficulty falling asleep or combatting jet lag.

Notably, melatonin tablets are not regulated across the country, which can result in differences in quality and dosage.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 130,000 adults. Among participants with insomnia, those whose data indicated long-term melatonin use of a year or more had about a 90% higher chance of a new heart failure diagnosis over five years compared with matched non-users.

While the study can only point to the possibility of a link between heart failure and extended melatonin usage, it should not be taken as cause — but study researchers say they plan on continuining to examine the safety of the sleep supplement on the heart, and how it can be used safely.

After all, most people are interested in counting sheep — not hospital visits.

What if the end to your chronic knee pain was a treatment as easy as an X-ray?

You might jump for joy — though perhaps you wouldn’t jump, exactly.

Korean researchers recently announced early results from a study that shows low-dose radiation therapy eased knee pain and helped relieve stiffness in people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis.

The radiation treatment, a tiny fraction of that used for cancer patients, could serve as a middle ground between painkillers and joint surgery.

Osteoarthritis is the most common arthritis. It targets the knees and hips, developing as the cartilage that cushions bone ends wears away. Standard treatment includes lifestyle changes and over-the-counter pain medicines, with surgery entering the picture as symptoms grow severe.

Low-dose radiation therapy has been used in Europe to treat joint pain for years and was used in the U.S. until the 1980s, when other treatments emerged. But it is not well-known nor well-studied.

The Korean study involved 114 people with osteoarthritis. They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: The first got six teensy doses of radiation, the second received six low doses and a control group had six placebo treatments.

None of the participants knew which group they were in. Once treatment ended, about 57% of those who had the low dose of radiation reported less pain and more mobility, as did about 31% of the placebo group.

However, four months later, 70% of those who received the low doses of radiation reported lasting results. So did 42% of those in the placebo treatment group.

Next steps include a follow-up after 12 months to better understand how well the effects last.

You’ve seen it in sports, and likely experienced it yourself. Lingering tightness in your hamstrings is a nuisance. The cause of it, however, might surprise you.

Tight hamstrings are not actually due to a lack of flexibility. Instead, the muscles are tensed up due to instability in other muscles or joints.

Think about your pelvis. Your hamstrings run down the back of your thighs, connecting your pelvis to your knees. Chronic hamstring tension can originate from tightness in another muscle group: your hip flexors. Your hip flexors connect your thighs to your pelvis, so tight hip flexors will thrust your pelvis forward, putting stress on your hamstrings to keep you upright.

Your hamstrings’ connection to your glutes can have the same impact. Glutes are crucial for pelvic stability. Without sufficient strength in them, your tight hamstrings become a symptom of their weakness.

Thankfully, you can turn to several at-home exercises for some relief.

Try a supine bridge with a hip lift. All you need to do is lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Then, you hip thrust into the air, moving your glutes off the ground by 3 to 9 inches. These gentle hip lifts build muscular strength and even restore alignment.

If you’re at the gym, grab a dumbbell or kettlebell and try a single-leg deadlift. Keeping your core engaged with a small bend in your knee, hinge forward from your hips while lifting your left leg straight behind you. Your torso and lifted leg should be together as you push your hips back and maintain a neutral spine.

Stop when you feel a stretch in your hamstrings — but keep doing the exercise a few times a week to see results.

Some say gray hair is a crown of wisdom. Now, science suggests it might be a shield against cancer.

The color of your hair comes from specialized pigment cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, the pigment that gives hair its natural color. Over time — or when we’re under stress — the number of melanocytes in our hair gradually declines, causing it to lose its color.

Along with melanocytes, your body has melanocyte stem cells. They act as a backup system, ready to create new melanocytes when the older ones die off.

Recently, researchers at the University of Tokyo studied melanocyte stem cells in mice to see how they responded to different forms of stress.

When these cells were put under stress, they reacted in two very different ways. Some stopped turning into mature pigment cells and died, leaving the hair without color. Others, however, started dividing rapidly, causing genetic damage to build until they began behaving like cancer cells.

The study revealed a surprising biological trade-off between aging and cancer: The loss of color might be the body’s way of prioritizing safety.

By allowing damaged cells to die and turn gray, the body prevents those same cells from potentially developing into melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer.

Scientists say more research is needed to understand how this process works in humans, but these findings mark a major step in learning how our cells balance aging with protecting our bodies.

This does not mean that gray hair prevents cancer, but it does suggest that those steel streaks could be a sign that your body has chosen the safer route.

Perhaps there’s a silver lining to those silver strands …

If you brush and floss regularly, you might be smarter than you realize. Not only are these actions the building blocks of basic oral hygiene, but a recent study shows that a healthy mouth might also be linked to a healthier mind.

The study revealed that older adults with gum disease demonstrated higher rates of injury to the brain’s white matter than those without gum disease.

White matter plays an important role in allowing different parts of the brain to communicate with one another. Damage to this white matter can result in issues with memory, balance, coordination and reasoning, as well as an increased risk of stroke. The brain scans in the study focused on white matter hyperintensities — tiny areas of damage in the brain’s wiring that tend to increase with age and are connected to a higher risk of cognitive decline.

Researchers believe poor oral hygiene, which can result in chronic inflammation in the mouth that then leads to gum disease, might impact the health of blood vessels in the brain, leading to more white matter hyperintensities.

After accounting for factors like blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, age, race and sex, the researchers found that participants with gum disease had about a 56% greater chance of being in the group with the most brain damage.

While the study doesn’t prove that gum disease causes brain changes, researchers say, it adds to growing evidence that oral health is closely linked to overall health.

Lastly, here’s some food for thought: The next time you brush and floss, you’re not just keeping your mouth healthy. You might also be giving your brain a little extra protection along the way.

Central Florida is home to horses of all breeds and disciplines and boasts one of the most robust equine industries in the country. With a plethora of horses for sale, how do potential buyers know if a particular horse is healthy and well-suited for the desired job? On this archived episode of Animal Airwaves Live Dr. Sally DeNotta, a clinical associate professor and equine extension veterinarian, will discuss the importance of the data and information-gathering process prior to purchase. Most equine sale contracts do not contain buy-back clauses, making it critically important for buyers to acquire as much knowledge as possible before purchasing. A veterinary pre-purchase exam, or PPE, is a great way for buyers to protect their upcoming investment by screening for common health conditions and evaluating for musculoskeletal soundness prior to sale. Be sure to tune in for more information about this important topic for horse owners.

The list of things that make food irresistible to kids is just as short as it is troubling: color and sugar.

According to new research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, nearly one in five packaged foods and beverages in the United States contain synthetic food dyes — often paired with staggering amounts of sugar.

Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health, the University of North Carolina and the Center for Science in the Public Interest analyzed ingredient lists for nearly 40,000 products made by the country’s 25 largest food manufacturers.

Their findings point to a clear trend: Products marketed to children are significantly more likely to include artificial coloring. Among categories like candy, sugary drinks, cereals, baked goods and ready meals, 28% contained synthetic dyes … more than double the rate found in other foods.

Those bright colors come at a cost. The study found that dyed foods contain, on average, 141% more sugar than products without them.

Confectionery companies topped the list, with 60% and 52% of their products using synthetic dyes, respectively. Popular energy drinks contained them, too.

Authors point out these visually appealing additives are linked to behavioral issues such as hyperactivity and inattention, making it concerning that the FDA continues to rely on voluntary reform. Europe, by contrast, has required warning labels for dyed foods since 2010.

As several U.S. states begin to take action, meaningful change may finally be on the horizon … though whether the industry will comply remains to be seen.

The battle against cognitive decline is increasingly aided by an array of helpful tips. Articles encourage us to do crossword puzzles, maintain social connections and be thoughtful about what we eat. Sometimes, the number of things we should be doing to keep our wits about us can feel overwhelming.

Now, a new study from researchers at Mass General Brigham suggests a walk outside might be one of the best — and easiest — ways of ensuring we age gracefully, at least cognitively.

According to their findings, even a few thousand steps a day can be enough to help delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in those most vulnerable to it.

Those who walked between 3,000 and 5,000 steps a day demonstrated around three years of delay in cognitive decline, while folks who hit step counts of 5,000 to 7,500 per day delayed their cognitive decline by seven-ish years.

In contrast, participants who moved less — and were more sedentary — showed a faster buildup of tau proteins in the brain. Accumulation of that pesky protein is associated with the progression of Alzheimer’s, as well as more rapid deterioration in thinking skills and daily functioning.

Next steps will include research to better understand the mechanics behind just how movement slows, or even prevents, cognitive decline — while also drilling into what kind of movement might be best. Then, scientists may be able to begin crafting exercise-based interventions for older adults.

It doesn’t make getting outside any easier, of course, but it’s certainly a good source of motivation … and a reason to get up and stretch your legs after that heavy holiday dinner.

If you love those naughty high-carb foods that are high in sugar and bad for your heart, now you’ve got someone to blame.

Ancient pre-humans.

A recent study in the journal Science offers a reminder that so-called good carbs were a dietary staple that helped our ancestors survive in a harsh world. It also serves as a reminder of the kinds of carbs that won’t clog your arteries.

Scientists found that present-day humans have a rich variety of a gene called AMY1. They say the more AMY1 genes you have, the more carbohydrates your body can digest.

An analysis of ancient DNA also showed that these carbohydrate-friendly genes emerged long before the advent of modern society’s so-called “bad carbs.” Think chocolate, ice cream and pasta.

In fact, the study traced the gene back at least 800,000 years in our evolutionary lineage, long before homo sapiens emerged from the African savannah. The duplication of these genes so long ago supports the idea that they helped humans digest wild grains.

Humans transitioned from being exclusively hunters and gatherers to farmers starting roughly 10,000 years ago. That transition was eased by this ancestral genetic foundation.

Not all carbs are unhealthy. Good carbohydrates are unprocessed foods that keep body sugar and weight low. They’re rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber and include legumes, starchy vegetables, millet and oats.

Processed foods high in carbs, however, can lead to diabetes or heart disease.

The study provides insight into the role of genetics in shaping the modern diet and a lesson that the past is prologue — except that our ancestors would have been hard-pressed to find a donut shop.