Ear acupuncture has been found to aid weight loss by a significant amount, according to a study conducted on obese Japanese men. Participants had tiny metal beads attached to six points on their ear, following which they were asked to keep food diaries and halve their total food intake over three months. Average weight and body fat loss over the period was found to be 10.4% and 4%, respectively, while Body Mass Index (BMI) fell by three points. However, the study was criticised by some obesity experts for failing to show that acupuncture was the major reasons for the participants' success.
A New York City health worker has been placed on leave amid allegations of falsely accusing a black man of bike theft. The worker, who has not been named, was captured on camera attempting to hijack a CitiBike that had already been paid for, according to reports. The video was widely shared on social media, resulting in the health worker being placed on leave by Bellevue Hospital.
Military aims for October to begin draining Hawaii fuel tanks that poisoned water
The Toronto Star
23-05-17 04:38
The US military has proposed 16 October as a potential start date for the draining of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility at Pearl Harbor after it poisoned 6,000 people last year. The fuel leaked into a US Navy drinking water well supplying water to 93,000 people. The remaining fuel will be drained via additional plans and the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Health need to approve the new proposal.
The investigation into the spill has yet to announce disciplinary action.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a number of baby clusters in South Wales and Southwest England suffering myocarditis, of whom at least one has died and three are hospitalised. WHO said there had been 15 babies identified with myocarditis in Wales and England between June 2022 and March 2023. Nine tested positive for the enterovirus. Sepsis was identified in each baby. WHO said that of the cases, only one was identified in Wales in the six years before 2022. UK Health Security Agency, which is set to release an update, has said one infant died.
Children in Turkey are still affected by the 6 February earthquakes. Caregivers and school staff have observed that children are demonstrating more aggression and there has been an increase in both physical and emotional bullying, as well as self-harming. Families have also reported that their children are still wetting their beds at night, having not been able to process their emotions regarding the disaster. In some cases, this manageable issue, usually a sign of distress or abuse in children, has turned into a source of distress and shame for families as they still do not have access to facilities where they can wash soiled sheets. Save the Children is providing psychological assistance to parents who resort to negative coping mechanisms and referring those in need to partners who provide free psychological support. Children are also suffering from overcrowding, which can expose them to physical, mental and emotional abuse and robs families of the privacy they need.
Denise Welch has spoken out about her experiences with depression, describing how she can become “almost catatonic” during episodes and advising people to look for signs such as withdrawn or unusual behaviour. Speaking during Mental Health Awareness Week, Welch, who is an ambassador for the charity Mind, called on loved ones to support those with depression even if they are going through a period of silence, which can be a symptom. Welch first suffered from post-natal depression after giving birth to The 1975 frontman Matty Healy and has lived with the condition for more than 30 years.
A former vegan who started to lose chunks of hair and suffered extreme fatigue has claimed that eating meat saved her life. Kai-Lee Worsley became a vegan after moving to California in 2018, learning about factory farming and animal cruelty. She stopped all animal product intake and started to eat protein-rich alternatives, but the diet led to the development of alopecia and was ultimately abandoned. Despite feeling that meat had improved her health, she struggled to abandon the moral high ground of veganism.
Shoreditch, once an undesirable London district, is now prime real estate thanks to the wide range of creative industries that have set up shop there. As a result, hotel options in Shoreditch are diverse, with The Hoxton Shoreditch offering industrial chic design, the One Hundred offering boutique style and rooftop dining with "panoramas of London," and the luxurious Mondrian coming with a steam room-equipped shower and a poolside Californian-style restaurant. For budget travellers, the Z Hotel provides a modern option that is "almost literally within arm's reach" of the area's attractions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reinstated two senior managers who were accused of mishandling the organisation's biggest-ever sexual misconduct scandal. Both were put on paid leave after being named in an independent commission's investigation of rape and exploitation by WHO staff during an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The WHO has insisted that "misconduct was not established" and has recently overhauled its systems and sought to promote accountability in order to tackle sexual misconduct. No senior officials at the organisation have lost their jobs in connection with the DRC scandal.
The driver who caused a Croydon tram to derail, killing seven passengers and injuring 19 others, may have had a "microsleep", the Old Bailey has heard. Alfred Dorris was allegedly driving at three times the speed limit on a sharp left-hand bend when the tram derailed in November 2016. Dorris is accused of failing in his duty of care towards his passengers, and is facing a charge of the Health and Safety at Work Act. TfL and tram operator Tram Operations Limited are also facing charges. Dorris denies the charge.
Researchers at Queen’s University revealed that people perceive those with deep, baritone voices as being more suitable for positions of leadership when compared to higher-pitched counterparts, regardless of gender or the audience present. Jillian O'Connor, an assistant professor of psychology at Queen's University, said this preference also stretches to stereotypically feminine leadership settings, including parent-teacher associations and school boards.
The Croydon tramdriver who attempted a sharp turn at over 70km/h, significantly faster than the 20km/h limit, has gone on trial for his part in the devastating crash in November 2016 that killed seven and injured 19. Prosecutor Jonathan Ashley-Norman told the Old Bailey that 49-year-old Alfred Dorris had failed in his duty of care to both himself and his passengers. Dorris does not dispute responsibility for the crash, but is expected to claim environmental factors played a part. Evidence will be given by sleep experts who suggest Dorris probably had a “micro-sleep.”
The Lake District in the UK offers a range of dog-friendly activities for travellers, from kayaking and swimming in lakes to walking and hiking in the fells. A number of towns and villages in the area provide dog-friendly pubs and restaurants, along with indoor attractions to visit on rainy days. The area has hotels available for every budget, with many offering dog-friendly accommodation, including the Another Place hotel, which features an indoor pool, kayaks for hire and a scenic lakeside view. The Coniston Inn is a cost-effective option, featuring stylish single and family rooms; dogs can join their owners for meals in the pub restaurant. The Inn on the Lake provides dogs with a map of local walks and towel services for those returning from a wet swim or walk. The Ambleside Inn is good for walks and hikes, with the Loughrigg Fell area nearby.
The US Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping Amgen's acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics, in a sign of a renewed focus on anti-competitive behaviour by the US government. The problem the FTC has with the $28bn deal is that it is concerned that Amgen will be over-leveraged when it comes to controlling the prescription drug supply chain. The US pharma giant currently has just over a 2% share of the market, while Horizon already has multiple eye disease treatments on the market. The FTC seems open to criticism that such issues signal a dislike of big companies.
The Croydon tram disaster driver may have had a “micro-sleep” when he drove at more than three times the speed limit and derailed the tram, killing seven passengers, a court has heard. Alfred Dorris, 49, is accused of failing to take “reasonable care” of his 69 passengers on train 2551. The prosecutor said Dorris would claim that “environmental and external factors outside his control” relating to the infrastructure around the Sandilands area combined to cause him to become “disorientated”. The trial at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Fraser is due to go on for up to five weeks.
Early start to wildfire season puts air quality front of mind for coaches and athletes
CBC
23-05-17 17:33
Health Canada has teamed up with the Sports Information Resource Centre (SIRC) to create an instruction kit for coaches on how to deal with poor air quality resulting from wildfires and smog in the summer months. People are advised to treat air quality warnings in the same way as storms, with steadily increasing changes to their routine as the warnings rise. The kit will provide guidance on when to cut down on exercise or change training schedules and whether to move activities inside. Health professionals recognise that over-exertion in poor air quality can have serious health consequences.
According to data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the number of children and teens trying vaping has increased by 50% in a year. The data found that 11% of 11- to 17-year-olds experiment with vaping, up from 7.7% last year. In addition, the data revealed that 69% of all young vapers use a disposable vape most frequently, up from 52% in 2022, and corner shops are now the main point of purchase for young vapers, with 26% buying from a shop such as a newsagent or off-licence.
Enteroviruses are a family of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses, as well as hand, foot and mouth disease. Over 90% of people infected by enterovirus show no symptoms, but people with underlying health conditions and young children are most at risk of severe illness. If enterovirus infects the nervous system or heart, serious illnesses can occur. Enteroviruses are spread through contact with infected people’s saliva, mucus, faeces or secretions. Good hygiene practices, such as regular hand-washing, are important to prevent infection. Most people recover from enterovirus at home, but severe cases require more intensive treatment.
A study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Dublin found that NHS patients who are of healthy weight cost 54% less than those who are overweight or obese. In total, patients who were a healthy weight cost the health service an average of £638 each per year, which is less than the £1,375 a year spent on the most obese patients with a BMI over 40. Across the study, just one-third of participants had a healthy weight. The extra costs of those who are not of a healthy weight is primarily due to treating obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases. A ban on buy one, get one free offers for unhealthy food and drinks is due to come into force this autumn. Restrictions on television and online advertisements for junk foods are scheduled for 2025 after a series of delays. The findings suggest that the NHS could save nearly £14 billion a year if everyone was a healthy weight.
Alberta NDP promises more money, resources for front-line emergency medical care
The Toronto Star
23-05-17 22:01
Alberta's NDP has promised to increase emergency medical services (EMS) funding by $50 million this year and $75 million over the following two years, should it win the May 29 election, according to NDP candidate David Shepherd. The funds would be directed to patient care and increasing paramedics' workloads. The NDP also aims to create 16 community paramedic units, including eight in Calgary and Edmonton and eight in smaller centers.
