Using genetically altered mice, scientists in the US have shown that lack of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in certain parts of the brain, leads to overreating and may be a contributing factor to the rising obesity epidemic. The researchers said the study is relevant to humans because, for instance, a quarter of Americans are estimated to carry the mutated form of the BDNF gene. [click link for full article]

On December 13th a woman who was sick with TB (tuberculosis) flew on American Airlines Flight 293 from New Delhi, India, to Chicago, USA. She then took another plane from Chicago to San Francisco. The infected woman is from Nepal and now lives in Sunnyvale, California. Those sitting next or near to her did not know she was infected and posed a danger to their health. The woman had been diagnosed with drug-resistant tuberculosis in India. [click link for full article]

Baywood International, Inc. (OTCBB:BYWD) announced that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, may counter type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, according to a new study. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar. Insulin resistance occurs when the body becomes less sensitive to insulin. This condition can lead to type 2 diabetes. Chinese scientists report that resveratrol curbs insulin resistance in mice. [click link for full article]

The newly formed Advisory Council on Fibromyalgia Education (ACFE) comprised of internationally recognized clinicians and researchers and developed to identify and provide solutions to educational gaps and barriers in the area of fibromyalgia syndrome issued a statement stating that several significant gaps exist in the identification, diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia patients. [click link for full article]

Medicare beneficiaries who have chosen to change their health and drug coverage for 2008 should experience very few difficulties when getting their covered prescription drugs through Medicare Part D, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today. “A top priority throughout the fall open enrollment season has been to help beneficiaries prepare and compare their plan choices so that they could make informed decisions about switching plans. [click link for full article]

As Congress approaches the end of the legislative year, AARP Director of Government Relations David Sloane issued the following statement on efforts to pass a package of Medicare improvements. “Given the inability to find consensus on a broader Medicare improvement package, the short term package coming before the Senate this week is the path of least resistance and is woefully inadequate. [click link for full article]

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) supports confidential treatment programs for physicians with mental illness, including substance abuse, despite recent scrutiny. Mental illness is a chronic disease and all patients deserve the same privacy rights. To treat physicians differently is discriminatory. Such discriminatory treatment is perpetuated by stigma in society regarding persons with mental illness. [click link for full article]

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) today issued its annual Clinical Practice Recommendations to help health care providers treat people with diabetes using the most current evidence available. This year, one notable change occurs in the Medical Nutrition Therapy section dealing with weight loss. Until now, the ADA did not recommend low carbohydrate diets because of lack of sufficient scientific evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness. [click link for full article]

People who want to lose weight in 2008 but can’t decide which weight-loss plan to follow may want to ask their health care provider about the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) new Clinical Practice Recommendations, issued today. [click link for full article]

Treatment guidelines recommend tiotropium as a first line maintenance treatment for patients with all severities of COPD. Inhaled corticosteroids are recommended for patients with severe or very severe COPD and a history of repeated exacerbations. [click link for full article]