Statin use associated with a 17% increased risk of urinary tract symptoms

This study was published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2014 Jul 2

 

Study title and authors:

Association of statin use with storage lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS): data mining of prescription database.

Fujimoto M, Higuchi T, Hosomi K, Takada M.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24986095

The objective of the study was to examine the association between statin use and the risk of lower urinary tract symptoms. The study analysed a large database of prescriptions of statin use in combination with drugs administered for storage lower urinary tract symptoms. (Storage lower urinary tract symptoms include increased frequency and urgency of passing urine, urge incontinence and needing to get up to pass urine at night).

The study found statin users had a 17% higher risk of storage lower urinary tract symptoms.

Fujimoto concluded: "Analysis of the prescription database showed significant association for storage LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) in statin users". 

How to volunteer with Healthy World Cafe

As a nonprofit, our operations rely heavily on volunteers. We'd love for you to join us!

We'll have two shifts — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. — on each cafe day (Monday through Friday), plus additional times on weeknights and weekends for special events.

We've introduced a new online system for coordinating volunteers, called YourVolunteers.com. We love this system because it is non-profit focused and meets our needs — we hope you like it too!

Here's how it works. First, create your username...

1. Follow the link to http://bit.ly/HWCvolunteer and click Register. Enter a username and password. (We recommend writing that down so you remember!) 
2. You will see “Success!” Then, click on Login Now and go back to sign in using your just-created username and password. (Remember to check the box about being human!) Then, click sign in.
3. Scroll to bottom of terms of service page and click I Accept for YourVolunteers.com's Terms of Service. Ta Da! You’re in! 

Once you're logged in, share your contact information...

1. We'd love to get your contact information. Click the tab at the top called You, and complete Your Contact Information. (Don't forget to hit submit!)
2. If you wish to sign up for The Week Ahead emails (the last option on the same dropdown menu under “You”), please do! YourVolunteers.com will then send a reminder email for the shifts you sign up for — just click Change on the Week Ahead emails page.

And sign up for shifts!

1. Go to the Shifts tab in the top menu bar. Choose Scheduled Shifts by Calendar from the dropdown menu. The “forward” and “back” arrows at the top of the calendar will navigate months. You are able to go up to 3 months ahead to select the day(s) you wish to volunteer.
2. Select the day you wish to volunteer to view the shifts — for a typical cafe day, that will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1 to 3 p.m. (Come in at 12:30 to grab lunch before working the second shift!) Select the one(s) you want, then click Add. If there is availability, you will see assigned appear on the right. You will receive an email a week ahead as a reminder, if you sign up for that form of contact. (See step No. 4 above!)

That's it!

We appreciate in advance your patience with us and the system. We know there’s a learning curve, so please contact us if you need help. We have a new dedicated email account just for volunteers and scheduling of shifts: HWCvolmgr@gmail.com.

Please check out our volunteer guidelines in advance, available at www.healthyworldcafe.org.

See you at the cafe!

New Study Strengthens the Case that LDL Causes Heart Disease

There is little remaining doubt in the scientific/medical community that high levels of LDL, so-called "bad cholesterol", cause heart disease.  Yet in some alternative health circles, the debate continues.  A new study adds substantially to the evidence that LDL plays a causal role in heart disease.

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Pasta Pea-mavera

Now this isn't what you would call a traditional Pasta Primavera. Not even close actually. To be honest I just stole the name to fit a little pun in there. Puns make for infinitely catchier titles than mere descriptions do. Yes. This doesn't mean, however, that this Pasta Pea-mavera doesn't live up to the springtime feeling of the original. The wonderful greens combined with freshly squeezed lemon juice make for a great springtime dinner or lunch, so the cheeky little name appropriation wasn't entirely uncalled for. (My sincere apologies to any offended pasta connoisseurs out there!)

This dish is also a great way to get your greens in... Because they're literally everywhere in this recipe! Wohoo! The broccoli will provide you with an abundance of vitamins (namely, vitamins A, C, K and folate) plus a great deal of your daily fibre needs, while the peas contribute with protein and a wonderful sweetness to the sauce. Go super greens!

Here's the recipe!

Serves 2

Ingredients:

- 1 heaped cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup vegan sour cream substitute
- 2 big handfuls fresh basil leaves + more for garnish
- 2 small heads of broccoli (approximately 250 g)
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Garlic powder (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste

- Brown rice pasta or pasta of your choice, enough for two servings (approximately 150 g)

How to:

1. Bring a small pot of water to the boil and cook the pasta according to instructions on package.
2. Divide the broccoli into small, individual florets and steam until it is almost cooked through but not mushy.
3. Meanwhile the broccoli steams and the pasta cooks, place the peas in a saucepan over low heat until they have thawed completely.
4. Add in the remaining ingredients (except for the broccoli) and blend with a hand blender until fairly smooth. You can go on for longer if you want an even smoother texture but I prefer it a little chunkier. (You may also have to re-heat the sauce before putting it on the pasta.)
5. Toss the cooked pasta in the sauce and add the broccoli. Top with a few fresh basil leaves and serve immediately!

Do Slower-digesting Carbohydrates Make Us Feel More Full?

One of the most common pieces of advice in the health-nutrition world is that we should focus our carbohydrate intake on slowly-digesting carbohydrates, because they make us feel more full than rapidly-digesting carbohydrates.  Rapidly-digesting carbohydrates, such as potatoes, stand accused of causing us to overeat, resulting in obesity, diabetes, and many other chronic ailments.  Is this true?
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Statins associated with an 88% increased risk of recurrence of bladder cancer

This study was published in BMC Cancer 2015 Mar 13;15:120

 

Study title and authors:

Can daily intake of aspirin and/or statins influence the behavior of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer? A retrospective study on a cohort of patients undergoing transurethral bladder resection.

Pastore A, Palleschi G, Fuschi A, Silvestri L, Al Salhi Y, Costantini E, Zucchi A, Petrozza V, de Nunzio C, Carbone A.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25877676

Transurethral  bladder resection is a surgical procedure that is used both to diagnose bladder cancer and to remove cancerous tissue from the bladder.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between  non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and statins or aspirin in patients submitted to transurethral bladder resection. The study, (which included 574 patients diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer), was divided into two main groups: treated (aspirin and/or statins) and untreated.

Regarding statins, the study found that patients who took statins had a 88% increased risk of recurrence of bladder cancer compared to patients who did not take statins. 

Plant sterols might be an additional risk factor for coronary heart disease

This study was published in Metabolism 2002 Dec;51(12):1519-21

Study title and authors:
Serum plant sterols as a potential risk factor for coronary heart disease.

Sudhop T, Gottwald BM, von Bergmann K.
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12489060

The lead author of the study, Dr Thomas Sudhop, notes that in patients with the inherited disease of phytosterolemia, elevated concentrations of plant sterols (eg, campesterol and sitosterol) (think Benecol and Flora proactive) have been implicated as a risk factor for premature atherosclerosis.

This study examined the role of plant sterols in patients (with plant sterol levels in the normal range) admitted for elective artery coronary bypass graft surgery. The study included 53 patients of which 26 reported a family history in their first-degree relatives for coronary heart disease.

The study found:
(a) Patients with a positive family history for coronary heart disease had a significant 31% higher plasma levels of campesterol compared to patients without a family history of coronary heart disease.
(b) Patients with a positive family history for coronary heart disease had a significant 29% higher plasma levels of sitosterol compared to patients without a family history of coronary heart disease.
(c) Patients with a positive family history for coronary heart disease had a significantly higher ratios of sitosterol to cholesterol and campesterol to cholesterol compared to patients without a family history of coronary heart disease.

Dr Sudhop concluded: "These findings support the hypothesis that plant sterols might be an additional risk factor for coronary heart disease".

Food Reward Friday

This week's "lucky" winner... bacon fried Oreos!!

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Statin users of ten years have a 30% increased risk of colorectal cancer

This study was published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety 2008 Sep;17(9):869-76

Study title and authors:
Chronic statin therapy and the risk of colorectal cancer.

Yang YX, Hennessy S, Propert K, Hwang WT, Sarkar M, Lewis JD.
Division of Gastroenterology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA. yangy@mail.med.upenn.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18412290

The study sought to clarify the association between long-term statin therapy and the risk of colorectal cancer. This study was conducted among patients aged 50 years or more and with five or more years of colorectal cancer-free initial follow-up. The study included 4,432 colorectal cancer patients and 44,292 control subjects.

The study found:
(a) Those who had been taking statins for five or more years had a 10% increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to non-users of statins.
(b) Those who had been taking statins for ten years had a 30% increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to non-users of statins.

Check out Healthy World Cafe's menu for April

What's more enticing than the first harvests of spring? At Healthy World Cafe, we'd say not much. We've worked with several local farms and farmers to develop a taste of the changing seasons in York County.

Our menus will rotate every 4 to 6 weeks, so hurry in and check it out!

$5.50

-- Banh-Mi Hummus Plate or Focaccia Sandwich (Tender Greens Hummus, Seasonal Pickles, Sriracha Aioli)
-- Asparagus and Spring Vegetable Strata
-- Dal with Brown Rice, Sauteed Greens, Curried Pickled Vegetables and Yogurt
-- Chicken Salad Plate or Focaccia Sandwich (Greens, HWC Signature Chicken Salad)

$3.50
-- Spring Harvest Lemon Chicken Soup
-- Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Curry Soup
-- Roasted Radish Salad on greens with a Sweet Vinaigrette
-- Citrus Lentil and Chickpea Salad with Feta and Wheatberries

EXTRAS
-- Dried Fruit and Oatmeal Cookie, $1
-- Seasonal Vegetable Pickles, $1

Water and iced tea are free with your purchase, and all our menu items are sourced from our farmer friends in south-central Pennsylvania and made from scratch.

Lunch will be served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Take-out orders are available during lunch hours by phone only; please call 717-814-8204.

Review: Communal atmosphere, 'scrumptious' food at Healthy World Cafe

Since our community sneak peek April 3 and our grand opening April 6, we have been inundated with kind words from diners, volunteers, members of the media and our community at large.

Thank you!

If you're curious about what you can expect from a visit to the cafe, check out this beautifully written review from The York Dispatch: Communal atmosphere, 'scrumptious' food at Healthy World Cafe.

You can also preview some of the other recent coverage below.

FlipSidePA.com

-- Healthy World Cafe features local food, art and entertainment

-- Photo gallery from First Friday

FOX43

-- Healthy World Cafe in York allows customers to work in exchange for their meal

From Randy Pflaum

-- Healthy World Cafe: A community cafe in York

The York Dispatch

-- Healthy World Cafe reopens in downtown York City

-- Photos from the cafe's grand opening

ABC27

-- Pay-how-you-can cafe to open in York

Sitosterol, a constituent of Benecol and Flora proactive, is associated with an increased occurrence of major coronary events

This study was published in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases 2006 Jan;16(1):13-21

Study title and authors:
Plasma sitosterol elevations are associated with an increased incidence of coronary events in men: results of a nested case-control analysis of the Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (PROCAM) study.

Assmann G, Cullen P, Erbey J, Ramey DR, Kannenberg F, Schulte H.
Leibniz-Institut für Arterioskleroseforschung an der Universität Münster, Domagkstrasse 3, 48149 Münster, Germany. assmann@uni-muenster.de

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16399487

Phytosterols such as sitosterol are inserted in high quantities (at 841 times than the average vegetable) in plant sterol based margarines such as Benecol and Flora proactive.

This study was conducted to evaluate if sitosterol levels seen in the general population are associated with the occurrence of coronary events. The ten year study included 159 men who suffered a heart attack or sudden coronary death (major coronary event), who were compared with 318 control subjects.

The study found:
(a) Men with the highest sitosterol levels had a 1.8-fold increase in the risk of a major coronary event compared to men with lower levels.
(b) Among men with a high risk of a major coronary event, high sitosterol concentrations were associated with an additional 3-fold increase in the incidence of coronary events.
(c) Men with a high sitosterol/cholesterol ratio had a 3-fold increase in the incidence of coronary events.

Assmann concluded: "Elevations in sitosterol concentrations and the sitosterol/cholesterol ratio appear to be associated with an increased occurrence of major coronary events in men at high global risk of coronary heart disease".

My Buddy and Me

Warning -- Satire -- April Fools Post

I have a sheepish confession to make: until recently, I had a tapeworm, and that's why I'm lean.

In 2006, I took a trip to Mexico with a few friends.  We often traveled through rural areas, and of course sampled the local cuisine wherever we went.  In many parts of Mexico, pork is an important food.  Some of it may have been a bit undercooked.

At the time, my interest in food and health was growing, and I was making many changes to my diet.  I was glad to see the chubbiness around my neck and waist begin to disappear.  The diet was working!  Or so I thought...

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