Rehovot, Israel: Artificial Sweeteners Linked To Obesity, Diabetes: RESEARCH

By John von Radowitz

Sugar-free sweeteners could increase glucose intolerance and diabetes risk by affecting bacteria in the gut, a study has suggested.

From improving metabolism and helping people to slim, widespread use of artificial sweeteners may be fuelling the obesity and diabetes epidemic, it is claimed.

www.theguardian.com/science/2014/sep/17/artificial-sweeteners-diabetes-saccharin-blood-sugar 

Scientists found giving mice water laced with three commonly used artificial sweeteners in doses equivalent to those recommended for humans caused them to develop glucose intolerance.
The condition occurs when sugar levels in the blood rise and can lead to type-2 diabetes.

Tests showed that in mice, sweeteners altered the balance of gut microbes that have been linked to susceptibility to metabolic diseases. They also affected the composition and function of gut bacteria in a small number of human volunteers, resulting in glucose intolerance after one week.

Lead researcher Dr Eran Elinav, from the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel, said: “Our relationship with our own individual mix of gut bacteria is a huge factor in determining how the food we eat affects us.

“Especially intriguing is the link between use of artificial sweeteners — through the bacteria in our guts — to a tendency to develop the very disorders they were designed to prevent.

 “This calls for reassessment of today’s massive, unsupervised consumption of these substances.”
The study, reported in the journal Nature, found that people’s reaction to artificial sweeteners varied depending on the kind of bacteria they harboured.

Two different populations of human gut microbes were identified, one that induced glucose intolerance when exposed to the sweeteners and another that did not.

Dublin: 42,000 Girls Immunised Against Cervical Cancers: HSE : *UPDATED

The HSE says 42,000 girls have been immunised against HPV, which helps protect against seven out of 10 cervical cancers. Up to 84% of first-year girls got all three doses of the vaccine last year.

Dr Brenda Corcoran, from the HSE national immunisation office, said: "The HSE are delighted to announce that 42,000 girls have now completed the three-dose course of HPV vaccine - and that means that they're protected against the types of HPV that cause seven out of 10 cervical cancers.

"So that's very good news."

Uptake rates have exceeded the targets set by the HSE year on year, according to Dr Kevin Kelleher, HSE Assistant National Director, Public Health and Child Health.

"Staff involved in the programme are to be commended for this achievement and particularly for the impressive retention of girls in the programme, given that 97% of first year girls and 93% of sixth years who received a first dose of HPV vaccine completed the 3 dose schedule These figures are better, or as good as many other countries and are a great credit to the staff of the vaccination teams."

Most of the vaccinations were administered in schools by HSE immunisation teams, with some girls being invited to HSE clinics for their vaccine.

This year the vaccine schedule will change from three to two doses at 0 and 6 months as new data has shown that two doses are effective in young girls.

In addition a Meningococcal C (Men C) booster is being introduced this year for first-year girls and boys.

This vaccine is routinely given to babies but the immunity reduces over time so a booster is recommended for teenagers to provide additional protection. This vaccine will be given at the same time as the second dose of HPV for girls and in the second or third term for boys.

www.yoursexualhealth.ie  FREEFONE: HELPLINE: 1800 459 459 & helpline@hse.ie

  *New campaign aims to get Gonorrhoea prevention messages trending on Twitter #OMGsti

 Union of Students Ireland (USI), Dublin AIDS Alliance,  SpunOut.ie, the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme and Think Contraception, are aiming to tackle the rise in Gonorrhoea cases with a new social media campaign.  Between 2011 and 2012 there was a 33% increase in Gonorrhoea cases, and young men and women aged 17 to 29 years have been identified as a particular at risk group.  The tongue-in-cheek style of key messages for the campaign will help with getting the information across to young adults in both a humorous and factual way.

Key messages will be promoted primarily using online resources – Facebook, Twitter and websites -from Monday 9th December and will continue into 2014. Social media messages will promote safer sex, prevention of sexually transmitted Infections (STIs) including the consistent use of condoms, and STI testing and treatment services.  The use of social media will enable the campaign messages to reach a large national audience.

The campaign has been funded by the HSE and was prompted by a steady rise in cases of Gonorrhoea over recent years.  Dr Fionnuala Cooney, Public Health Specialist with the HSE, saidtoday that “our ability to test for gonorrhoea has improved in recent years, and more sensitive tests, and more numbers attending for screening may account for some of the increase – however, we know that unsafe sexual behaviour is a significant driver of the increase in cases of Gonorrhoea and other STIs.”

Susan Donlon, Dublin AIDS Alliance, said “It is vital that young people can make informed decisions about their sexual health, and how to prevent the transmission of Gonorrhoea and other STIs. The campaign’s website, www.yoursexualhealth.ie, provides information on the facts about Gonorrhoea, safer sex, where to access free STI testing, and where to access free condoms.”

Denise McCarthy, Union of Students in Ireland, said “We urge everyone to follow simple steps for prevention – get accurate and reliable information on STIs, always use a condom when having sex, and talk to your partner(s) about STI testing and using condoms. People can have Gonorrhoea and not have any signs or symptoms, so regular STI testing is encouraged, particularly if you have many sexual partners or if you have ever had unprotected sex.  Testing is free in public STI clinics.”

An information booklet is also available and will be widely distributed, particularly for organisations working with young people who don’t have easy online access. Outreach activities and providing access to, and distributing, free condoms will also form part of the campaign to ensure those most at risk are aware of how to prevent STI transmission.

1. Gonorrhoea - Symptoms - NHS Choices - Your health, your choices

   www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gonorrhoea/Pages/Symptomsnew.aspx   Cached
   

   Symptoms of gonorrhoea usually develop within about 10 days of being infected, although they sometimes may not appear until many months later.

2. STD Facts - Gonorrhea - Centers for Disease Control and ...

   www.cdc.gov  › Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

   Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, men who do havesymptoms, may have: A burning sensation when urinating;

3. Gonorrhoea - NHS Choices - Your health, your choices

   www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gonorrhoea/Pages/Introduction.aspx   Cached
   

   Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) ... If you have any of the symptomsof gonorrhoea or you are worried you may have an STI, ...
4. 
   

London: Cancer Link To Obesity Confirmed By New Research

There are around 12,000 cases of cancer related to obesity each year, a new study has found.

( The study ) is the biggest of its kind and looked at over five million cases.  Carried out by The Lancet in the United Kingdom, a stronger causal link than had previously been suspected was found between different types of cancer and excess body fat.

It was discovered that Body Mass Index (BMI) was related to 17 of the 22 cancers that were looked at, however the affects varied. Overall, ten cancers were identified as having a strong causal relationship with an increase in BMI.

The strongest link association was found to be in cancer of the uterus, where excess weight was found to be the cause of 41% of cancers. Obesity was found to be the cause in more than 10% of cancer cases in the gallbladder, the liver, the kidney and the colon.

The survey was conducted by looking at 5.24 million GP records from across the UK and examining patients height and weight. A measurment of Kg/m is used to determine whether a person is overweight.

Speaking on the result,  study leader Dr Krishnan Bhaskaran said:

If we could magically remove excess weight from the population, we would have 12,000 fewer cancers.

“The number of people who are overweight or obese is rapidly increasing both in the UK and worldwide. It is well recognised that this is likely to cause more diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”

Increases in the risk for the different types of cancer were linked to 5kg/m increases in BMI. In the study, the incremental rises were found to lead to a 62% increase in the risk for cancer of the uterus, 31% for the gallbladder, 25% for the kidney and 10% for the cervix.

Also speaking in The Lancet, Dr. Peter T. Campbell from the American Cancer Society said:

We have sufficient evidence that obesity is an important cause of unnecessary suffering and death from many forms of cancer, in addition to the well recognised increased risks of mortality and morbidity from many other causes. More research is not needed to justify, or even demand, policy changes aimed at curbing overweight and obesity.

The research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Wellcome Trust, and Medical Research Council.