Archive for May 21st, 2012
More teens are diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
May 21st, 2012 | 
Author: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey involving 10,359 12- to 18-year-olds revealed that the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among teens almost tripled from 1988 to 2008. The elevated alanine transaminase levels of obese teens increased from 16.7% in 1988 to 36.9% in 2008, researchers said.
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Study: Most restaurant meals don’t meet USDA recommendations
Foodservice establishments have been working to offer healthier options, but 96% of restaurant dishes tested as part of an 18-month study exceeded the Agriculture Department's recommended limits on calories, salt, fat and saturated fat, according to researchers at the Rand Corp.
USA Today
USA Today
Study: Health care utilization down, but costs are up
Americans had fewer hospital stays and visited outpatient clinics less frequently from 2009 to 2010, but prices for inpatient and outpatient care rose by about 10% or more, according to a Health Care Cost Institute analysis of more than 3 billion claims for medical care. The average price of generic drugs fell over the same period, but prices for brand-name drugs rose, the analysis found.
Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may harm children’s lungs
Prenatal exposure to airborne particles and nitrogen dioxide during the first and second trimesters were associated with poor lung-function development in children with asthma, a study found. The findings, based on repeated examinations of 162 children with asthma ages 6 to 15 in Fresno, Calif., were presented at the American Thoracic Society conference.
Estrogen a Culprit in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Postmenopausal women who take hormone replacement therapy are at increased risk for developing ulcerative colitis, while younger women using oral contraceptives are more likely to develop Crohn’s disease.
Dinosaur skeleton fetches $1.05 million at disputed U.S. auction
A nearly intact skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus sold for $1.05 million at auction in New York on Sunday, although the sale has been disputed by the Mongolian government, which has questioned whether it was obtained legally.
Juice may be acidic enough to hurt kid’s teeth
Many parents give children smoothies and juice every day, unaware their high-acid levels and sugar content can destroy young teeth, a British doctor says.