New CDC guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control issued the latest report in a series addressing environmental and policy factors to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and reduce obesity. This current report, the Children’s Food Environment State Indicator Report, 2011, proposes guidelines that states can implement to help improve child health. These recommendations include:


reducing amount of television viewing time

reducing the intake of sugary beverages

removing televisions from children’s bedrooms

reducing the availability of sugary, low nutrition snacks from schools and institutions

provide water as the primary beverage at day care facilities

increase access to supermarkets and health food stores

For access to the full report, visit http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p0426_foodforchildren.html



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Potential new markers detecting heart attacks

Scientists have found that changes in expression of small RNA molecules, termed microRNAs, may be a novel way to detect acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attack. Two microRNAs, miR208 and miR499, in particular were shown to be significantly increased in the blood plasma from AMI or viral myocarditis patients.

Currently, AMI can be detected by increased expression of cardiac troponin, a marker of heart damage. Scientists reported in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular genetics (3:499-506, 2010 MF Corsten, et.al.) that miR208 and miR499 levels were correlated with those of troponin. Interestingly, expression was elevated in patients with AMI, regardless of race, sex, weight, kidney function or blood pressure levels.

Taken together this suggests that miRNA detection may be a useful new detection method for AMI. Since the process used to detect miRNAs, called realtime PCR, is very sensitive and fast, detection of miRNA208 and miR499 to diagnose AMI may be feasible in a clinic.


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Trial of HIV drug stopped

The clinical trial testing the efficacy of the oral HIV antiretroviral drug, Truvada, was terminated in South Africa yesterday. External analysis by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee determined there was no detectable decrease in HIV transmission rate between those receiving Truvada and those who did not.

This study, conducted by the Family Health International, a Durham, NC based group, tested the efficacy of daily administration of an oral formulation of Truvada in women. Testing included 2,000 women. Expectations were that a daily pill form of Truvada would be effective. Previous clinical trials of Truvada as a vaginal gel formulation resulted in a dramatic 40% decrease in transmission rates. Scientists are investigating whether this disappointing result was a consequence of the mode of drug administration or due to non-adherence/non-compliance with the daily dosing of the pills.

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Philadelphia Science Festival

Saturday kicked off the two week Philadelphia Science Festival. It is two weeks filled with activities for everyone, including seminars, debates, and a carnival.

Interested in science? Have kids who like science? Check it out!

The festival runs for 2 weeks starting April 16. More information is available at
www.philasciencefestival.org

Gut bacteria may increase risk of cardiovascular disease

It is increasingly evident that the gut microflora is critically important for digestion, immunity, and proper weight maintenance. Changes to the bacterial content of the GI tract can lead to onset of obesity and various diseases due to changed immune function. In their latest paper in Nature, Wang et. al. show that gut microflora is an important regulator of cardiovascular disease as well. They identified small molecules in the plasma that are predictive of increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Of all the potential compounds found in the plasma, one in particular was associated with CVD. This was TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide), a metabolite of choline. A diet rich in fat contains high levels of phosphatidyl choline (PC). In the small intestine, this PC is converted to choline. The bacterial microflora that resides in the intestine digests this choline turning it into trimethylamine (TMA). TMA is a gas that is absorbed through the intestinal tract and converted in the liver to TMAO. Interestingly, their data show that increased TMAO is correlated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD), coronary artery disease (CAD), history of myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis. Further, when the bacterial content was altered with antibiotic treatment, TMAO levels decreased, as did the risk for CVD and other diseases. Taken together, these data suggest that development of a healthy bacterial microflora could dramatically impact the risk for many cardiovascular diseases.


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