May 31, 2008

• THE MONTH’S EXTENDED TOP NEWS PICKS •

Monkeys Think, Moving Artificial Arm as Own
“Two monkeys with tiny sensors in their brains have learned to control a mechanical arm with just their thoughts, using it to reach for and grab food and even to adjust for the size and stickiness of morsels when necessary, scientists reported on Wednesday. The report, released online by the journal Nature, is the most striking demonstration to date of brain-machine interface technology. Scientists expect that technology will eventually allow people with spinal cord injuries and other paralyzing conditions to gain more control over their lives…..” By BENEDICT CAREY. Published NY Times: May 29, 2008.

Lotus Therapy
“This exercise in focused awareness and mental catch-and-release of emotions has become perhaps the most popular new psychotherapy technique of the past decade. Mindfulness meditation, as it is called, is rooted in the teachings of a fifth-century B.C. Indian prince, Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha. It is catching the attention of talk therapists of all stripes, including academic researchers, Freudian analysts in private practice and skeptics who see all the hallmarks of another fad….” By BENEDICT CAREY. Published NY Times: May 27, 2008.

Google Offers Personal Health Records on the Web
“The Internet search giant’s service, Google Health, at www.google.com/health, is the latest entrant in the growing field of companies offering personal health records on the Web. Their ranks range from longtime online health services like WebMD to the software powerhouse Microsoft to start-ups like Revolution Health. The companies all hope to capitalize eventually on the trend of increasingly seeking health information online, and the potential of Internet tools to help consumers manage their own health care and medical spending….” By STEVE LOHR. Published NY Times: May 20, 2008.

Redefining Disease, Genes and All
“Duchenne muscular dystrophy may not seem to have much in common with heart attacks. One is a rare inherited disease that primarily strikes boys. The other is a common cause of death in both men and women. To Atul J. Butte, they are surprisingly similar. Dr. Butte, an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford, is among a growing band of researchers trying to redefine how diseases are classified — by looking not at their symptoms or physiological measurements, but at their genetic underpinnings. It turns out that a similar set of genes is active in boys with Duchenne and adults who have heart attacks….” By ANDREW POLLACK. Published NY Times: May 6, 2008.

Deadly Gut Bug on the Rise: Should You Worry?
“A potentially life-threatening germ called Clostridium difficile (or C. diff) is on the rise in the United States, and the bug’s mortality rate seems to be rising, too, according to a report in the June issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases….” By Staff at Health.com.

Experts Question Placebo Pill for Children
“Ms. Buettner, 40, who lives in Severna Park, Md., with her husband, 7-month-old son and 22-month-old twins, envisioned a children’s placebo tablet that would empower parents to do something tangible for minor ills and reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics and other medicines…..” By CHRISTIE ASCHWANDEN. Published NY Times: May 27, 2008.

For an All-Organic Formula, Baby, That’s Sweet
“Like Ms. Chase, many American parents have rushed to embrace Similac Organic formula, even though it sells for as much as 30 percent more than regular Similac. In 2007, its first full year on sale, it captured 36 percent of the organic formula market, with sales of more than $10 million, according to Kalorama Information, a pharmaceutical-industry research firm….Parents may be buying it because they believe that organic is healthier, but babies may have a reason of their own for preferring Similac Organic: it is significantly sweeter than other formulas. It is the only major brand of organic formula that is sweetened with cane sugar, or sucrose, which is much sweeter than sugars used in other formulas….” By JULIA MOSKIN. Published NY Times: May 19, 2008.

BACK; Back Pain Eludes Perfect Solutions
“BACK pain is one of the most common physical complaints, so it’s no surprise that treatments for it have multiplied over the years. That ought to be good; instead, many patients find that sudden back pain opens the door to a world of medical confusion.…” By LESLIE BERGER. Published NY Times: May 13, 2008.

• THE MONTH’S HEALTHY RECIPES •

A recipe for the localvore and urban forager interested in Mushrooms:

PAN-SEARED MUSHROOMS
Makes 4 servings

2 cups chopped mushrooms
2 tablespoons red wine or water
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

To clean: Do not wash –simply brush off the dirt with your finger or soft cloth.To de-stem mushrooms, you can simply twist off the stem or cut them off using a knife. Mix wine or water, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and oregano in a large skillet. Heat until mixture begins to bubble, and then add mushrooms, top side down. Reduce to medium heat, cover and cook 3 minutes. If the pan becomes dry, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water. Turn mushrooms and cook second side until tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 5 minutes. Serve hot.

Recipe by Jennifer Raymond, M.S., R.D.

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BREAKFAST SCRAMBLE
Makes 4 1-cup servings

2 teaspoons olive oil or toasted sesame oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 pound firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet, then sauté onion and mushrooms over high heat, stirring often, until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add tofu, curry powder, and soy sauce. Continue cooking another 5 minutes.

Variation: For a more elaborate scramble, add additional chopped vegetables such as carrots, celery, bell peppers, or green onions. Enjoy the benefits of soy with this tofu breakfast. It’s delicious with toast and Apple Chutney.

Source: Healthy Eating for Life for Women by Kristine Kieswer; recipe by Jennifer Raymond, M.S., R.D.

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