|
|
Health
|
|
|
|
|
Photo: Jorge Colombo
|
|
|
|
Resolved: We shall try to be healthier in the new year. The latest take on this is a new campaign called "Veganuary," which encourages people to do without meat in January. As Sumathi Reddy reports in her Your Health column, it's sort of a resolutionary cousin to the no-alcohol "Dry January" pledge, both of which started in the U.K.
Nutritionists say a growing number of people are resolving to go vegan - meaning no animal products at all, including eggs - or vegetarian in an effort to improve health. Studies have conflicting messages on meat. The majority show that following a plant-based diet or reducing meat improves health. But many such studies are based on self-reports. And some experts note that poorly implemented vegan diets can be too high in sugars and other refined carbohydrates. Tips for a successful diet include getting enough calcium and iron from sources like dark green leafy vegetables and nuts.
Have you made a health-related New Year's resolution? What are your tips for sticking with new health routines? Email me your comments, which may be edited before publication in the newsletter. Please be sure to include your name and location.
– Stefanie Ilgenfritz, Health & Science Bureau Chief, WSJ
Reach me at stefanie.ilgenfritz@wsj.com or Twitter: @stefaniei
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FDA Issues Limited Ban on E-Cigarettes: The FDA said it will ban fruit and mint flavors in cartridge e-cigarettes, like Juul's, in an effort to curb youth vaping. But the agency will still allow the flavors to be sold via tank vaping systems commonly found in vape shops.
|
|
|
|
Fixing the Indian Health Service: A series of articles by The Wall Street Journal has identified numerous deficiencies at the federal agency. Here's a look at some suggestions for solutions, including using outside doctors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Google Artificial Intelligence vs. Radiologists
|
|
|
|
|
A cancer case identified by the radiologists but missed by the AI system. Photo: McKinney et al. Nature
|
|
|
|
In the latest step in Google's push into health care, the company said it has developed an artificial-intelligence system that can match or outperform radiologists at detecting breast cancer. The model caught cancers that were originally missed and reduced false-positives, according to a paper published in Nature. The results were promising, but the system isn't ready for clinical use, and doctors still beat the machines in some cases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“To me, the big question is not will this ever be done again. I think the answer is yes. The question is when, and the question is how.” (Read more)
|
|
— Jennifer Doudna, one of the inventors of Crispr-Cas9 gene editing, after Chinese scientist He Jiankui was sentenced to prison for creating the world's first known genetically modified babies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Year, New Drug Prices: Pharmaceutical companies started 2020 by raising prices of hundreds of drugs, according to a new analysis, though the increases are relatively modest this year. Pfizer Inc. led the way, increasing prices by over 9% on more than 40 drugs. The industry traditionally sets prices at the start of the year and again in the middle of the year.
|
|
|
Amgen Races to Find New Blockbusters: The drugmaker is increasing its spending on research to develop new breakthroughs, including one aimed at a cancer target known as KRAS that has thwarted companies for decades. It's a reset for Amgen, a biotech pioneer that became better known for its skills selling existing drugs than for inventing new ones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The quality of care at hospitals acquired during a surge in consolidation got worse or stayed the same, new research found, a blow to a frequently cited rationale that deals would boost investment in quality and yield other benefits.
|
|
|
|
|
From Our Audience: WSJ member Steven Burger, a medical professional, believes that it is not possible for hospitals to raise the quality of care for patients while keeping costs down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regarding last week's question on giving weight to DNA test results:
|
|
|
|
A:
|
As we are learning from ongoing research, epigenetic markers and their correlating environmental influences have a profound effect on the expression of genes. Undoubtedly, we will learn much more about this in coming years, and it is advisable to maintain a measure of skepticism and humility when either expounding or accepting published scientific results. — Michael Chandler, Fox Island, Wash.
|
|
|
|
A:
|
I’m a certified nurse midwife and women’s health NP. I would not recommend drastic surgery such as mastectomy and removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes based on a DNA test, especially for pre-menopausal women. What I would recommend is closer surveillance. Clinical breast exams twice yearly and a breast sonogram along with the mammogram. I pick up many cancers in women just by doing a thorough exam and screening. — Nina Sabghir, Brooklyn, NY
|
|
|
|
|
