Health and Fitness for Monday March 21, 2011

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U.S. adults like drinks exceedingly sweet MELROSE PARK, Ill. (UPI) -- An average American consumes 22.5 teaspoons of added sugar daily, half from soda and fruit drinks, but a labeling initiative may cut that, a U.S. doctor says. Dr. Jessica Bartfield, a medical weight-loss specialist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, part of the Loyola University Health System in Illinois, says as of February, the front labels of packaged beverages now include the total number of calories in containers of 20 ounces or less. "Liquid caloric consumption can be quite a significant contribution to weight gain so this is a tremendous effort to educate the public," Bartfield says in a statement. "Beverage containers traditionally 'hid' the nutritional content at the back in a small square with small print and cleverly listed just the calorie content per serving. Unbeknownst to those who are happily guzzling their favorite cola or fruit drink, most packaged beverages contain multiple servings, and most Americans fail to do the math on the total calorie count." Research shows 10 percent of overweight adults consume 450 calories of sugar-sweetened beverages per day, which is three times that of an average U.S. resident. "Cutting 450 calories per day would lead to about a 1 pound per week weight loss, close to 50 pounds in one year," Bartfield adds. Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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Most treated for 'huffing' are adults WASHINGTON (UPI) -- "Huffing," or inhaling chemical vapors to get high is often linked with youth, but U.S. officials say in 2008 the majority treated were adults. A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in collaboration with the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition says 54 percent of U.S. treatment admissions for inhalant abuse in 2008 were those age 18 or older. The report also indicates an estimated 1.1 million adults age 18 and older used inhalants in the past year and 52 percent of the adult admissions involved people ages 18-29, 32 percent involved those ages 30-44 and 16 percent were 45 or older. Chronic use of inhalants can cause irreversible damage to the brain, kidneys and lungs, or even death. "Just because a product is legal doesn't mean it is safe," Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, says in a statement. "Our homes are increasingly becoming the source of dangerous drugs of abuse for young people. Whether these products are inhalants found under our sinks and in our utility rooms, or dangerous prescription drugs stored our medicine cabinets, parents need to act today to protect our young people by securing these products and discussing the harms that they cause." Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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Smoking cessation drug being developed KUOPIO, Finland (UPI) -- A smoking cessation drug being developed slows down the metabolism of nicotine, which would help smokers cut back, researchers in Finland and Canada say. Principal investigator Hannu Raunio, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Eastern Finland, and colleagues in Canada say nicotine is absorbed rapidly through the lining of the mouth and lungs, where it quickly passes through the body and into the brain. Once the nicotine reaches the liver, it is metabolized by the enzyme CYP2A6 and preliminary studies by the Canadian partner have shown inhibitors of the nicotine-metabolising CYP2A6 enzyme can help smokers curb the need to smoke. However, current CYP2A6 inhibitors are not viable options for anti-smoking therapy as they involve too many adverse effects, Raunio says. "We're working on developing a CYP2A6 inhibitor, a targeted drug that would only be effective in specific parts of the body. Thankfully, we have a very clear picture of the structure of CYP2A6, and we'll be able to use computer-aided modelling methods to design molecules that will bind specifically to the target without disturbing other functions in the body," Raunio says in a statement. "We have discovered several molecules of an until-now-unknown structure. Along the way, we've gained new insights into how the molecules bind to the active center of the CYP2A6 enzyme. However, it'll take a good while -- and money -- before these molecules can be developed into a targeted drug." Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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Virtual conversation aids autistic adults WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Autistic adults who converse with a virtual partner may develop better social interaction skills, U.S. researchers suggest. Cheryl Trepagnier and Corinne Bell, both of The Catholic University of America, Dale Olsen and Laura Boteler, both of SIMmersion LLC -- a software development company that creates human interaction simulations -- say more than half of those diagnosed with autism have normal intellectual capabilities yet struggle when interacting and conversing with others. The study authors said autistic study participants who were not otherwise intellectually disabled interacted with virtual partners, were given onscreen dialogue options, and were scored on their ability to initiate, maintain and conclude a pleasant conversation on various topics. "Over the past two decades, simulations have proven effective at helping people with a variety of physical and mental disorders," Brenda K. Wiederhold, editor in chief of Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, said in a statement. "This new application could make it so many with autism spectrum disorder could function more effectively in the larger world." The findings are published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking. Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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