Image Credit: Bon Appetit By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDMar 6 2019A new study looking at the long term effects of losing substantial amounts of weight has found that it could reverse type 2 diabetes in more than a third of the patients. With the rising epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes around the world, this could be an important finding. The participants of the study took a specifically low calorie diet comprising of just soups and shakes and a total of around 800 calories per day. They consequently lost substantial amount of body weight. In a third of the patients, this led to reversal of their type 2 diabetes and at the end of two years the patients remained in remission from their disease, the study called Direct found. The results of the study were published in the latest issue of the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal.According to researchers this study shows that type 2 diabetes need not be a lifelong condition. Co-primary investigator of the study, Prof Roy Taylor from Newcastle University explained that type 2 diabetes now can proven not to be an “inevitably progressive disease”. He said in a statement, “We now understand the biological nature of this reversible condition. However, everyone in remission needs to know that evidence to date tells us that your type 2 diabetes will return if you regain weight.”For the Direct study the team included 49 GP practices across Scotland and Tyneside. Around 300 people with type 2 diabetes and a body mass index between 27 and 45 Kg/ m2 were part of this study. The participants were divided into two groups – half received standard care while the other half received only low-calorie formula meals that was up to 800 calories per day for 12 to 13 weeks of the study. After the study period the group on low calorie diet had a nurse or a diet advisor to guide them back to a normal diet. This helped them maintain the lost weight.Related StoriesDiet and physical exercise do not reduce risk of gestational diabetesUranium toxicity might have caused obesity and diabetes in Kuwait, finds new studyMetformin use linked to lower risk of dementia in African Americans with type 2 diabetesResults showed that at the end of the first year of the study, 46 percent of the participants on the low calorie diet reversed their type 2 diabetes. After two years from the start of the study, 36 percent were in remission from their type 2 diabetes, the study found. Over 64 percent of the individuals who lost over 10kg of their body weight were still free of type 2 diabetes after two years after having shaken it off.It was expected that some participants would gain back some of the weight that they had lost. Some of them gained weight between the first and the second year. Participants who were in remission after one year however stayed in remission and had a more average weight loss (15.5 Kg) compared to those who did not achieve remission (12 kg on an average). Remission was defined as a persistent HbA1c levels of less than 48mmol/mol (6.5%) without the use of any anti-diabetic medication.Study leader, Prof Michael E J Lean, MD from Glasgow University in a statement said, “People with type 2 diabetes and healthcare professionals have told us their top research priority is: ‘Can the condition be reversed or cured?’ We can now say, with respect to reversal, that yes it can. Now we must focus on helping people maintain their weight loss and stay in remission for life.”While the NHS England is planning on following NHS Scotland that has started schemes of calorie restriction for type 2 diabetics, experts have warned that more studies are needed to ensure safety of such interventions. They have warned that calorie restriction is not suitable for all individuals and should be done only under medical supervision and with adequate support. Diabetes UK, the charity that financially supported this study said, “We know type-2 diabetes is a complex condition and this approach will not work for everyone.” Source:https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(19)30068-3/fulltext read more

sugar consumption has virtually no effect on mood, regardless of how much sugar is consumed or whether people engage in demanding activities after taking it. people who consumed sugar felt more tired and less alert than those who had not. the idea of a ‘sugar rush’ is a myth without any truth behind it. Reviewed by James Ives, M.Psych. (Editor)Apr 5 2019Sugar does not improve mood and it can make people less alert and more tired after its consumption – according to a new study by the University of Warwick, Humboldt University of Berlin, and Lancaster University.The research team set out to examine the myth of the ‘sugar rush’: can sugar really put you in a better mood? Using data collected from 31 published studies involving almost 1300 adults, Dr Konstantinos Mantantzis at Humboldt University of Berlin, Dr Sandra Sünram-Lea at Lancaster University, and Dr Friederike Schlaghecken and Professor Elizabeth Maylor in the University of Warwick’s Department of Psychology investigated the effect of sugar on various aspects of mood, including anger, alertness, depression, and fatigue.Related StoriesScientists develop universal FACS-based approach to heterogenous cell sorting, propelling organoid researchSchwann cells capable of generating protective myelin over nerves finds researchOne pint of beer or large glass of wine can compromise person’s sense of agencyThey also considered how factors such as the quantity and type of sugar consumed might affect mood, and whether engaging in demanding mental and physical activities made any difference.The researchers found that : Professor Elizabeth Maylor, from the University of Warwick, commented:”We hope that our findings will go a long way to dispel the myth of the ‘sugar rush’ and inform public health policies to decrease sugar consumption.”Dr Konstantinos Mantantzis, from Humboldt University of Berlin, who led the study, said:”The idea that sugar can improve mood has been widely influential in popular culture, so much so that people all over the world consume sugary drinks to become more alert or combat fatigue.”Our findings very clearly indicate that such claims are not substantiated – if anything, sugar will probably make you feel worse.”Dr Sandra Sünram-Lea added:”The rise in obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in recent years highlights the need for evidence-based dietary strategies to promote healthy lifestyle across the lifespan. Our findings indicate that sugary drinks or snacks do not provide a quick ‘fuel refill’ to make us feel more alert.” Source:https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/no_such_thing read more

Source:https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/News/2019/Haig-NSF-RAPID-Grant/ Reviewed by James Ives, M.Psych. (Editor)Apr 8 2019Two professors at the University of Pittsburgh received an NSF Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant for $175,000 to study the environmental effects of new anti-corrosion treatments currently being used on Pittsburgh’s lead pipes.Like many cities across the country, Pittsburgh’s water system still uses some lead pipes, and over time, those can corrode, leaching lead into the drinking water system. To combat this, the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) is introducing orthophosphate into Pittsburgh’s water system, which will coat the insides of the lead pipes and help prevent the harmful corrosion. PWSA produces approximately 70 million gallons of treated drinking water per day, which meets all EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Orthophosphate is a food-grade additive that has been shown to be more effective than the soda ash and lime previously used for PWSA’s corrosion control.Sarah Haig, PhD, assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Swanson School of Engineering with a secondary appointment in Environmental and Occupational Health at the Graduate School of Public Health, and Emily Elliott, PhD, associate professor of Geology and Environmental Science in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and Director of the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory, will evaluate water samples provided by the PWSA. They will assess and monitor changes in the microbial ecology, water chemistry and nutrient availability in the water collected from pipes and urban streams connected to the system.The grant was awarded April 1, 2019, and the project is expected to last about one year.Orthophosphate has been approved by the EPA and used in drinking water systems across the world, but there is a need to study phosphate levels in the environment.Related StoriesSchwann cells capable of generating protective myelin over nerves finds researchTrump administration cracks down on fetal tissue researchResearch sheds light on sun-induced DNA damage and repair”Pittsburgh’s drinking water pipe system loses more than 25 million gallons per day due to leaks and other water discharges, so it’s important to understand what happens if orthophosphate enters the groundwater and surface water” says Dr. Haig. “This grant will allow us to set a baseline and evaluate any changes that the added orthophosphate causes to streams connected to the system.””NSF RAPID grants help researchers respond when data needs to be collected urgently to address an important scientific issue” said Matt Kane, a program director at the National Science Foundation, which funded this research. “Dr. Haig and her team need to respond immediately to be able to understand the impact of the orthophosphate additions on Pittsburgh’s aquatic ecosystems.”Though PWSA’s larger goal of replacing all of the lead pipes is already underway, it will take years to complete. In the meantime, the addition of orthophosphate is expected to reduce lead levels in drinking water across the system. PWSA began feeding orthophosphate to the drinking water on April 2nd.”This project will help answer fundamental ecological questions about how leaking infrastructure can impact nutrient cycling and aquatic ecosystems in urban streams,” says Dr. Haig. “Not only will this project reveal the treatment’s immediate effects on Pittsburgh’s ecosystems, but it will also provide insights that will benefit other cities implementing this treatment.” read more

Citation: China’s ZTE stops major operations following US export ban (2018, May 9) retrieved 18 July 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2018-05-china-zte-major-export.html © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. China’s ZTE says it’s seeking a solution to US tech ban “Major operating activities of the company have ceased” as a result of the U.S. Commerce Department “denial order” issued last month, ZTE said in a statement.The Commerce Department slapped ZTE with a seven-year sales ban in a case involving exports of telecom gear to Iran and North Korea.ZTE, which also makes smartphones, had said the ban threatened its existence by cutting off access to U.S. suppliers of key technology and components like microchips.The suspension came amid worsening trade tensions between the U.S. and China centered on technology-related intellectual property, though ZTE’s case dates back to before President Donald Trump took office in January 2017.A U.S. delegation traveled to Beijing last week to discuss the brewing trade conflict with their Chinese counterparts. During the meetings, Chinese officials said they also raised their objections to ZTE’s punishment with the U.S. team, who they said agreed to report them to Trump.ZTE “maintains sufficient cash and strictly adheres to its commercial obligations subject to compliance with laws and regulations,” it said in the statement issued to the Hong Kong stock exchange. “The company and related parties are actively communicating with the relevant U.S. government departments in order to facilitate the modification or reversal of the Denial Order by the U.S. government and forge a positive outcome in the development of the matters.”The announcement comes days after ZTE said it had asked the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security to suspend the ban and had submitted extra information to bolster its case.U.S. authorities imposed the penalty after discovering that Shenzhen-based ZTE had misled regulators involving the illegal shipments to North Korea and Iran. The company paid a $1.2 billion fine in the case but failed to discipline employees involved and paid them bonuses instead. Chinese technology company ZTE said late Wednesday it has halted its main operations after U.S. authorities banned it from doing business with American suppliers. This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Explore further In this Oct. 8, 2012, file photo, a salesperson stands at counters selling mobile phones produced by ZTE Corp. at an appliance store in Wuhan in central China’s Hubei province. Chinese tech company ZTE said Sunday, May 6, 2018 that it applied to the U.S. Commerce Department to suspend a seven-year ban on doing business with U.S. technology exporters (Chinatopix Via AP, File) read more

Citation: US teens drawn to social media despite ‘drama’ (2018, November 28) retrieved 17 July 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2018-11-teens-drawn-social-media-drama.html © 2018 AFP Smartphone-connected teens say they see more good than bad in social networks like Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram American teenagers remain generally upbeat about social media, saying it helps them feel included and connected, despite persistent problems of social pressure and bullying, a study showed Wednesday. Poll: Teens say social media makes them feel better This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Explore further The Pew Research Center report found a strong majority of the 13- to 17-year-olds had positive rather than negative feelings about their social media experiences.The nationally representative survey found 81 percent of teens said social media makes them feel more connected to their friends.And 97 percent said they used at least one of the seven major online platforms that were queried in the survey.The survey also highlighted a number of the negative aspects of social media which have drawn attention recently including peer pressure and bullying, but said teens appeared to see more good than bad in their online experiences.More teens —71 percent to 25 percent—said that social media makes them feel included rather than excluded, confident rather than insecure (69 to 26 percent), authentic rather than fake (64 to 33 percent) and outgoing rather than reserved (61 to 34 percent).Many of teens also said social media can help them become more civic-minded and exposes them to greater diversity than in the offline world.Large percentages said social networks help them meet people with similar interests and making them feel more accepted.Still, 45 percent of teens say they feel overwhelmed by the “drama” on social media. Among those who have disconnected, more than three-fourths cited excessive “drama.”Some 43 percent said they feel pressure to only post content that makes them look good to others.Nearly half of the teens said they at least sometimes unfriend or unfollow people on social media.The survey did not ask about experiences with specific social networks but included data confirming that Facebook had been overtaken by rivals as the most popular social media application.It found Facebook-owned Instagram used by 72 percent of the teens, with Snapchat at 69 percent and Facebook 51 percent. Twitter was used by 32 percent.The report was based on a survey of 743 teens from randomly selected households between March 7 to April 10, with an estimated margin of error of five percentage points. read more