Mental Attitude: Why Do We Feel Jealousy? A new animal study suggests that a basic form of jealousy has evolved in order
to protect social relationships from outside threats. In the study, jealousy in dogs appeared to be driven by a desire to protect its
relationship with its owner. Understanding the mechanisms underlying jealousy in humans is important, as it is the third-leading cause of non-accidental homicide. Researcher Dr. Christine Harris adds, "Many people have assumed that jealousy is a social
construction of human beings - or that it's an emotion specifically tied to sexual and romantic relationships. Our results
challenge these ideas, showing that animals besides ourselves display strong distress whenever a rival usurps a loved one's
affection." University of California, San Diego, July 2014
Health Alert: Blood Thinning Drug Safety Concerns. An investigation by the British Medical Journal has noted concerns
about a leading blood thinning drug and the regulatory decisions that led to its approval. Pradaxa is one of the new generations
of drugs for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Unlike medications like Warfarin, it is not
considered necessary to monitor plasma levels and anticoagulant activity to adjust the dosage. Investigators found that the
drug's creator, Boehringer Ingelheim, failed to share information with regulators on the benefits of monitoring anticoagulant
activity and adjusting the dosage to ensure efficacy and safety, in addition to how many major bleeds could be prevented by
doing so. The drug maker claims that the information was withheld because the analyses were not reliable.
British Medical Journal, July 2014
Diet: Diet Changes Alter Gut Bacteria. By analyzing stool samples and lifestyle factors of two individuals over a one-year
period, researchers discovered that the balance of bacteria in the gut is altered dramatically on a daily basis by dietary changes.
Developing ways to monitor such fluctuations might help detect and ease flare-ups for individuals with chronic illnesses like
ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Genome Biology, July 2014
Exercise: Workday Fitness Tips. The American Council on Exercise provides these tips to help you fit exercise into your
workday: bike or walk to work, arrive early and walk for 30 minutes near your work, take a lunchtime walk, join a fitness center near work, use the stairs, and keep elastic tubing at your desk for quick workout. American Council on Exercise, July 2014
Chiropractic: Acetaminophen No More Effective than Placebo for Acute Back Pain. A large randomized-trial investigating
the efficacy of acetaminophen for acute low back pain found that it performs no better than a placebo in regards to recovery
time. The median time to recovery was 17 days for the regular acetaminophen group, 17 days for the as-needed acetaminophen
group, and 16 days for the placebo group. The researchers also found that acetaminophen provides no benefit for short-term
pain levels, disability, function, sleep quality, or quality of life. The Lancet, July 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Coffee May Aggravate Hot Flashes. Data from a new survey finds that drinking caffeine may worsen
the hot flashes and night sweats that affect roughly two thirds of women during menopause. Researcher Dr. Stephanie Faubion
adds, "While these findings are preliminary, our study suggests that limiting caffeine intake may be useful for those
postmenopausal women who have bothersome hot flashes and night sweats." To help limit the discomfort of menopausal
symptoms, Dr. Faubion and his team recommend avoiding caffeine, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, adopting
meditative techniques, dressing in removable layers, and sleeping with moisture-control bedding. Menopause, July 2014
Quote: “Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.” ~ Isaac Newton
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