Possible Link Discovered Between The Hormone Ghrelin And Hedonic Eating
When eating is motivated by pleasure, rather than hunger, endogenous rewarding chemical signals are activated which can lead to overeating, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). The phenomenon ultimately affects body mass and may be a factor in the continuing rise of obesity. "'Hedonic hunger' refers to the desire to eat for pleasure, and to enjoy the taste, rather than to restore the body's energy needs, "says Palmiero Monteleone, MD, of the University of Naples SUN in Italy and lead author of this study.
Lyrica pregabalin No Good For Diabetes Or HIV Associated Neuropathic Pain
Lyrica (pregabalin) failed in two separate human trials to reduce neuropathic pain linked to diabetes or HIV, said makers Pfizer today. One of the trials - Phase III HIV neuropathy - was stopped early because no benefits were found in an interim analysis on 246 patients out of a planned 416. The other study, also a placebo-controlled Phase III trial, involving 665 individuals, looked at Lyrica for peripheral diabetic neuropathy (second-line therapy). Other treatments had been ineffective. The participants were switched to pregabalin (single-blind) for a period of six, and then randomly selected to be administered either more pregabalin or placebo for a further 13 weeks (double blind).
Controlling Obesity Will Save Over Half A Trillion Dollars
With the tobacco problem on the back burner, diet and obesity are coming into the cross hairs as a focus for public health. Controlling the rise in obesity, promoting quality of life, whilst saving on public healthcare costs is clearly an admirable goal. It is unfortunate that the body's genetic makeup from our prehistoric existence urges it to store large amounts of fat, but the ramifications for health and subsequent health care costs are clear. Research from Duke University, RTI International and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that an additional 32 million more obese people are likely to become a burden not only to themselves but to the heathcare system.