Training Program for Those With Autism Often Results in Low-Paying Jobs: Study

TUESDAY, May 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — While a U.S. government-funded job training program for people with autism has a high success rate, many who get jobs earn well below the federal poverty line, a new study finds.

“We found that over half of the people with autism who used Vocational Rehabilitation services got jobs,” said study author Anne Roux, a researcher at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute in Philadelphia.

The Vocational Rehabilitation system is one of the nation’s largest sources of public assistance for people with disabilities seeking work.

“While it was the same rate as people with other types of disabilities who used the program, the wages, hours worked and range of job types for people with autism were low — placing them at risk for poverty,” Roux explained in a Drexel University news release.

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is the general term for a group of complex disorders of brain development. People with autism generally face difficulties with social interaction and communication.

The researchers found that the number of people with autism who applied to the Vocational Rehabilitation program more than doubled between 2009 and 2014 — from over 7,400 to more than 17,700. Of those who were eligible, 68 percent received job training.

Three out of five people with autism had a job when they left the program. Most were in office and administrative support, food preparation/serving and building/grounds cleaning and maintenance.

More than 80 percent had part-time jobs. Those with part-time jobs had a weekly median income of $160, well below the federal poverty line of $224 a week, the researchers noted.

The 20 percent with full-time jobs had a weekly median income of $380, according to the institute’s National Autism Indicators Report.

“Unemployment is a critical issue facing people [with autism] who have valuable contributions to make but not enough opportunities to have work,” said Paul Shattuck, leader of the institute’s Life Course Outcomes Research Program.

“Anything we can do to understand the support systems that are in place to secure employment for adults with autism will enable us to better assist this population in the future,” he said in the news release.

More information

The Autism Society has more about autism and employment.

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Preemies’ Brains Get Boost From Breast Milk

TUESDAY, May 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Breast milk may help promote brain growth in premature infants, a new study found.

“The brains of babies born before their due dates usually are not fully developed,” explained senior investigator Dr. Cynthia Rogers, an assistant professor of child psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis.

“But breast milk has been shown to be helpful in other areas of development, so we looked to see what effect it might have on the brain,” Rogers said in a university news release.

“With MRI scans, we found that babies fed more breast milk had larger brain volumes. This is important because several other studies have shown a correlation between brain volume and cognitive development,” she said.

The study included 77 infants born at least 10 weeks early, with the average being 14 weeks premature. Brain scans were conducted on the infants at about the time when they would have been born if delivered at full term.

The scans revealed that infants whose daily diets included at least 50 percent breast milk had more brain tissue and cortical-surface area than those who received much less breast milk.

The findings were to be presented Tuesday at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, in Baltimore. Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

The March of Dimes has more about premature babies.

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Managing Allergies, Asthma 101

TUESDAY, May 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Teens with allergies or asthma who are heading for college later this year should begin preparing for the transition now, an expert says.

“For most teens, going away to college marks their first time living independently,” said Dr. David Stukus, a member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Public Relations Committee.

“In addition to moving to a new place, many must learn to manage their own schedule, diet, exercise and health. Young people may find their allergies and asthma neglected due to other, seemingly more important demands on their attention,” he said in a college news release.

Stukus offers tips on how teens with allergies or asthma can prepare for college in an article published May 3 in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

The first step, he said, is to meet with your allergist and:

• Review your asthma and/or anaphylaxis action plan and confirm it’s updated.
• Ask for a referral to an allergist close to your school.
• Get a copy of your most recent medical records, including lab results and allergy test results, and have them sent to your new allergist.
• Compile a list of current medications, find a new pharmacy and have new prescriptions sent there.
• Confirm your vaccinations are up-to-date and appropriate for your new environment, including meningitis and HPV. Also, pinpoint hospitals and emergency facilities near your new location that will accept your insurance.

It’s also important to ask the college about special accommodation policies, any required paperwork, and the opportunity to prescreen roommates. Provide the college, resident assistant and roommates with a list of your allergy triggers, and consider getting medical identification jewelry to help others understand your triggers, Stukus said.

Inspect the food preparation facilities and meet with the chef to discuss safe food preparation, and check out apps and other technology that can help you manage allergies and asthma.

Ask about filter replacement if your dorm room has forced heat and/or air conditioning. Having to open windows increases exposure to pollen.

Check the expiration date on your EpiPen and rescue inhaler and keep them with you at all times. You should have more than one auto injector pen available in case of a severe allergic reaction, Stukus said.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has more on allergens and irritants.

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Expectant Mom’s Flu Shot Protects 2

By Don Rauf
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, May 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — When a pregnant woman gets vaccinated for the flu, the protection extends to her baby too, new research confirms.

Babies 6 months and younger whose mothers had a flu vaccine during pregnancy were 70 percent less likely to have lab-confirmed flu than babies born to mothers who didn’t have the immunization while pregnant. In addition, the babies born to mothers immunized during pregnancy had an 80 percent reduction in flu-related hospitalizations, the study found.

“Children younger than 6 months are too young to be vaccinated,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Julie Shakib.

“The best way to protect infants younger than 6 months is to make sure everyone around them is vaccinated. Immunizing pregnant women provides immunity to the baby through the placenta. Immunizing others who live with or care for the baby prevents them from getting the flu and passing it to the baby,” said Shakib, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

The study authors called the need to get more pregnant women immunized “a public health priority.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all pregnant women receive the flu vaccine to protect both the mother and the baby. Pregnancy causes changes that make women more susceptible to the flu and its complications, the CDC says.

And babies can’t receive a flu vaccine of their own until they’re at least 6 months old, according to the CDC.

The flu vaccine isn’t recommended for infants under 6 months of age because their immune systems can’t yet respond to the vaccine in a way that would allow them to develop enough protective antibodies, Dr. Tina Tan said. She’s a professor of pediatrics at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, and was not involved with the study.

For the study, the researchers reviewed more than 245,000 health records of pregnant women and more than 249,000 infant records. Information was available for nine flu seasons from December 2005 through March 2014. Only about 10 percent of these women reported being vaccinated while pregnant, the study revealed.

According to Tan, mothers-to-be cite a variety of reasons for not getting a flu vaccine. They include: misconceptions about harming the infant, harming the mother, belief that they will get influenza from the vaccine, belief that the vaccine is not effective, or they are not at risk for getting influenza so why get the vaccine.”

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also strongly recommends that pregnant women get a flu shot during any trimester of pregnancy during flu season, Tan said.

The new study found that 97 percent of confirmed flu cases were among babies whose mothers hadn’t been immunized during pregnancy.

“The flu vaccine has a two-for-one benefit if administered during pregnancy because it also provides passive immunity for the newborn,” said Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

“This can be critical during flu season. Newborns cannot get the flu vaccine, and if they do contract the flu, this will likely require a hospital admission,” added Wu, who was not involved with the study.

Ultimately, Shakib hopes the results of her team’s study will encourage more pregnant women to get the vaccine.

The report was published online May 3 in the journal Pediatrics.

More information

For more on pregnant women and the flu, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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U.S. Reports First Death From Zika Virus in Puerto Rico

Photo: Getty Images

Federal officials reported the first death linked to Zika virus disease in the United States occurred in Puerto Rico sometime in the last five months.

In a new report released on Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one person with Zika died between at some point between November 1, 2015 and April 14, 2016 in Puerto Rico after developing severe internal bleeding due to lack of platelets in the blood. “Although Zika virus–associated deaths are rare, the first identified death in Puerto Rico highlights the possibility of severe cases, as well as the need for continued outreach to raise health care providers’ awareness of complications that might lead to severe disease or death,” the report authors write.

Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, is facing a widespread outbreak of Zika. The territory has the mosquito that spreads the virus, and has been hit with massive outbreaks of other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever and chikungunya. On Friday the Puerto Rico Health Department reported that it now has 707 confirmed cases of the virus, including close to 90 pregnant women with the virus. Health authorities have recently confirmed that the virus definitely causes microcephaly, though many questions remain, like when during pregnancy is an infection most risky.

“Residents of and travelers to Puerto Rico should continue to employ mosquito bite avoidance behaviors, take precautions to reduce the risk for sexual transmission, and seek medical care for any acute illness with rash or fever,” the report authors write. “Clinicians who suspect Zika virus disease in patients who reside in or have recently returned from areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission should report cases to public health officials.”

This article originally appeared on Time.com.

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Ashley Graham’s Nail Polish Collab Has Finally Arrived

Photo: Getty Images

Supermodel, body positive icon, and generally awesome human being Ashley Graham shared some amazing news on her Instagram to jump start your weekend, and it involves nail polish. Ashley collaborated with Formula X to create three amazing nail polish shades, all of which debut today on Sephora’s website and will be available in stores next week.

There are three shades—a pastel peach, a pinkish red, and a magenta.

RELATED: Ashley Graham Celebrated National Lingerie Day with STUNNING #BodyPos Snaps

Ashley has created some truly beautiful shades made all the better by their fun and empowering names —36DDD, Sexy As Hell, and #beautybeyondsize. The nail polish line is part of Sephora’s #ColorCurators, a series of 10 nail polish collaborations, which will be available in limited quantities for one month only. Retailing at $12.50, they are the perfect (and affordable) weekend pick me up. Make sure you check them out before they’re gone!

This article originally appeared on InStyle.com/MIMI.

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Study Ties Implanted Defibrillators to Long-Term Complications

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, May 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Implantable defibrillators — devices that detect and correct an abnormal heart rhythm — are associated with a high risk of long-term complications, a new study suggests.

“An [implantable cardioverter-defibrillator] is a highly effective treatment option to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death,” said lead researcher Dr. Isuru Ranasinghe, a senior cardiologist at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. “However, there is a substantial and persistent risk of device-related complications and re-operations in the years after implantation.”

These complications include device malfunction, infection and inflammation, the study authors said.

Ranasinghe said the rate of complications is higher than previously reported. “The continued occurrence of complications long after the initial implantation indicates the need for vigilance and ongoing surveillance of ICD-related complications,” he said.

But one cardiologist not involved with the study called the risk of complications “modest” and added that the benefits offered by the devices outweigh the risks.

ICDs are battery-powered devices placed in a “pocket” under the skin to keep track of a patient’s heart rate, according to the American Heart Association. When an abnormal or chaotic heart beat occurs, the device is meant to shock the heart and restore a normal heart rhythm.

For the study, researchers analyzed the performance of three types of implantable defibrillators — single-chamber, dual-chamber and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices (CRT-D). The investigators found the chances for trouble were greater with more complex devices, especially CRT-D devices.

Compared with simpler devices, CRT-D devices have a 38 percent higher rate of complications, and quadruple the risk for procedures such as battery replacement and upgrades, the researchers determined.

“This is important because choosing a simpler device at the start may help patients by reducing complications and delaying the need to replace the device,” Ranasinghe said.

The ICD lifespan is typically up to seven years, depending on when the battery needs replacing, Ranasinghe said.

“More complex devices are more active, and their battery needs replacing earlier, compared with simpler devices,” he explained.

According to background notes with the study, most ICDs used in the United States are dual-chamber or CRT-D. And two-thirds of patients never receive defibrillation but are exposed to device-related harms.

“There is considerable debate as to the added benefit of more complex devices compared with simpler, single-chamber ICDs,” Ranasinghe said. “Where possible, using a simpler device may reduce the risk of ICD-related harm.”

One expert believes the risk of complications is “modest,” not significant enough to change current practice.

“Clinical trials have shown that implantable defibrillators prolong life, with benefits that outweigh potential risks,” said Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“Guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association recommend use of these devices along with medical therapies,” Fonarow said.

These new findings “further reinforce current guideline recommendations for the use of these implanted devices in patients at risk for sudden death who are eligible and without contraindications,” Fonarow said.

The report was published online May 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

For the study, Ranasinghe and colleagues collected data on more than 114,000 men and women aged 65 and older who received an ICD between 2006 and 2010. The patients were followed for three years.

The researchers found that women and blacks had a somewhat higher risk of complications compared to men and whites. In addition, younger seniors — those 65 to 69 at implantation — had more complications than people 85 and older, Ranasinghe said.

Why women and blacks are more susceptible to complications isn’t clear and requires further investigation, he said.

Still, “our findings can be used by physicians and patients to make an informed choice when weighing up the risks and benefits of an ICD,” Ranasinghe added.

More information

For more on implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, visit the American Heart Association.

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Desperate for Shut-Eye?

By Maureen Salamon
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, May 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — People with long-term sleep troubles should turn to a form of psychotherapy to reboot normal sleeping patterns before trying sleeping pills, the American College of Physicians recommends.

Specifically, people with chronic insomnia should try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the experts said. This treatment combines talk therapy, behavioral interventions and education. If CBT doesn’t work, patients and their doctors should then decide together whether to add drug therapy, the new guidelines said.

“We know chronic insomnia is a real problem that patients present within our [doctors’] offices,” said Dr. Wayne Riley, president of the American College of Physicians (ACP). “We want to get away from the overtendency to prescribe sleep medications, and clearly CBT can be a very nice tool in the toolkit.”

Up to 10 percent of adults are affected by insomnia, defined as having trouble falling or staying asleep, the guideline authors said. More common in women and older adults, the condition can produce fatigue, poor thinking and mood disturbance, and takes a toll on workplace productivity, according to the college.

In issuing its first practice guideline on chronic insomnia treatment, the ACP didn’t find enough evidence to directly compare behavioral therapy and drug treatment. But the group incorporated a review of published research indicating behavioral therapy is effective and can be initiated in a primary care setting.

Before recommending behavioral therapy to patients, doctors should rule out medical conditions that can cause insomnia — including obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome and prostate gland enlargement — and counsel patients on behavioral factors that can contribute to poor sleep, such as heavy alcohol use, Riley said.

Dr. Nathaniel Watson, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, said that “the major advantage of CBT is it has long-lasting effects and teaches patients how to manage their insomnia symptoms and difficulties.” Watson wasn’t involved in crafting the new guidelines.

“It empowers patients to tackle their insomnia,” Watson added. “And since there is no medication involved, you can avoid the cost and potential side effects of medications long-term.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved drugs such as Valium (diazepam), Ambien (zolpidem), Lunesta (eszopiclone) and Belsomra (suvorexant) for short-term use, around four to five weeks. FDA labeling also indicates that patients whose insomnia doesn’t get better within seven to 10 days after taking medications should be re-evaluated by their doctors.

Riley said, “We looked at [the issue] very broadly; we don’t say don’t use a medication, we say, give your patient a trial… and if they come back still having problems sleeping, maybe add short-term use of a medication. We try to counsel against using [medication] longer than 10 to 14 days because we know dependence can be an issue.”

Other prescription sleeping pill side effects include next-day drowsiness; “complex sleep behaviors,” such as driving or eating while asleep; and allergic reactions, according to the FDA.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is typically administered by physicians or psychologists trained in this type of psychotherapy, Riley said. Between four and six sessions of behavioral therapy are typically needed to improve insomnia, he said. Most health insurers cover the treatment, with an out-of-pocket cost of $45 to $100 per session if there’s no coverage, he added.

Comparatively, prescription sleep medications typically cost $50 to $100 for one month’s supply, Riley noted.

Watson said that inexpensive apps are also available online to help with sleep, including Sleepio and ShutEye.

Watson explained that behavioral therapy for insomnia typically addresses sleep hygiene issues, such as changing light levels, temperature and other parts of the person’s sleep environment, as well as personal habits including reducing screen time before bed.

Patients are also taught realistic sleep expectations, he added. “Everyone has a bad night of sleep now and again. It’s part of life,” Watson said.

“I think right now in this country we have a low sleep IQ and it’s a problem,” he said. “I would encourage people to prioritize sleep in their lives, including creating a better sleep environment. The bedroom should be reserved for the three S’s — sleep, sex and sickness. And parents should model a good sleep environment, including [promoting] consistent bedtimes and wake times on weekdays and weekends.”

The new guidelines were released online May 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

More information

The National Sleep Foundation offers tips for optimizing sleep environments.

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Well Water a Suspected Cause of Bladder Cancer in New England

MONDAY, May 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Arsenic in drinking water from private wells may explain the elevated bladder cancer risk among people in three New England states, a new study suggests.

Bladder cancer rates in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have been about 20 percent higher than the national rate for more than 50 years, the researchers noted. They said this difference was not explained by factors such as smoking or job exposures.

“Arsenic is an established cause of bladder cancer, largely based on observations from earlier studies in highly exposed populations,” said senior study author Debra Silverman. She is chief of the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch of the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

“However, emerging evidence suggests that low to moderate levels of exposure may also increase risk,” she added in an institute news release.

Many people in these states have private wells, which are not maintained by municipalities and are not subject to federal regulations, the researchers said.

These wells may contain arsenic, typically at low to moderate levels. Previous research has shown that drinking water with high levels of arsenic increases the risk of bladder cancer, the study team said. Possible sources of arsenic in the wells include natural release from rock deep in the ground and pesticides widely used on crops between the 1920s and 1950s, according to the study.

For the study, the researchers compared more than 1,200 newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients with more than 1,400 people without bladder cancer who lived in the same areas. Participants provided information about known and suspected bladder cancer risk factors, such as smoking, occupation, ancestry, use of wood-burning stoves, and diet.

“Although smoking and employment in high-risk occupations both showed their expected associations with bladder cancer risk in this population, they were similar to those found in other populations,” Silverman said. “This suggests that neither risk factor explains the excess occurrence of bladder cancer in northern New England.”

The researchers can’t establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, but they found that people who drank the most water from private wells had twice the risk of bladder cancer as those who drank the least. This association was stronger among those who drank from dug wells, which are less than 50-feet deep and at greater risk for contamination, they said.

However, “there are effective interventions to lower arsenic concentrations in water,” Silverman said.

“New England has active public health education campaigns instructing residents to test their water supply and to install and maintain filters if levels are above the EPA threshold,” she said. “But we should emphasize that smoking remains the most common and strongest risk factor for bladder cancer, and therefore smoking cessation is the best method for reducing bladder cancer risk.”

The study findings were published May 2 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about bladder cancer.

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Well Water a Suspected Cause of Bladder Cancer in New England

MONDAY, May 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Arsenic in drinking water from private wells may explain the elevated bladder cancer risk among people in three New England states, a new study suggests.

Bladder cancer rates in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have been about 20 percent higher than the national rate for more than 50 years, the researchers noted. They said this difference was not explained by factors such as smoking or job exposures.

“Arsenic is an established cause of bladder cancer, largely based on observations from earlier studies in highly exposed populations,” said senior study author Debra Silverman. She is chief of the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch of the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

“However, emerging evidence suggests that low to moderate levels of exposure may also increase risk,” she added in an institute news release.

Many people in these states have private wells, which are not maintained by municipalities and are not subject to federal regulations, the researchers said.

These wells may contain arsenic, typically at low to moderate levels. Previous research has shown that drinking water with high levels of arsenic increases the risk of bladder cancer, the study team said. Possible sources of arsenic in the wells include natural release from rock deep in the ground and pesticides widely used on crops between the 1920s and 1950s, according to the study.

For the study, the researchers compared more than 1,200 newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients with more than 1,400 people without bladder cancer who lived in the same areas. Participants provided information about known and suspected bladder cancer risk factors, such as smoking, occupation, ancestry, use of wood-burning stoves, and diet.

“Although smoking and employment in high-risk occupations both showed their expected associations with bladder cancer risk in this population, they were similar to those found in other populations,” Silverman said. “This suggests that neither risk factor explains the excess occurrence of bladder cancer in northern New England.”

The researchers can’t establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, but they found that people who drank the most water from private wells had twice the risk of bladder cancer as those who drank the least. This association was stronger among those who drank from dug wells, which are less than 50-feet deep and at greater risk for contamination, they said.

However, “there are effective interventions to lower arsenic concentrations in water,” Silverman said.

“New England has active public health education campaigns instructing residents to test their water supply and to install and maintain filters if levels are above the EPA threshold,” she said. “But we should emphasize that smoking remains the most common and strongest risk factor for bladder cancer, and therefore smoking cessation is the best method for reducing bladder cancer risk.”

The study findings were published May 2 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about bladder cancer.

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