Michigan Medicine News Break

The body’s resident bacteria play a major role in divvying out iron—a fact that could be used to treat iron-related disorders.Iron plays a critical role in providing oxygen to the body’s cells. Too little iron can lead to iron deficiency anemia and symptoms such as fatigue, heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Too much can lead to iron overload and a disease called hemochromatosis, which can cause heart failure.Michigan Medicine researchers have unlocked a mechanism behind how the body decides whether or not to absorb iron from the food--one that involves the trillions of bacteria in our guts known as the gut microbiome.For more information about this story visit: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/lab-report/gut-microbiome-puts-brakes-on-iron-absorption See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nearly one in three low-income people who enrolled in Michigan’s expanded Medicaid program discovered they had a chronic illness that had never been diagnosed before, according to a new study.And whether it was a newly found condition or one they’d known about before, half of Medicaid expansion enrollees with chronic conditions said their overall health improved after one year of coverage or more. Nearly as many said their mental health had improved.For more information about this story visit: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/industry-dx/expanding-medicaid-means-health-problems-get-found-and-health-improves-study-finds See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One of the most common forms of IBD, called Crohn’s disease, is characterized by inflammation within the digestive tract and can lead to severe diarrhea, pain and weight loss. What causes IBD is still a mystery, but scientists now know that the gut microbiome, composed of the trillions of bacteria that make their home inside the intestines, are key players.For more information about this story visit: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/lab-report/e-coli-gain-edge-by-changing-their-diets-inflammatory-bowel-disease See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What you need to know about new breast implant recommendations from the FDA. For more information about this story visit https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/cancer-care/understanding-breast-implant-safety. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New cost-effectiveness analysis comparing antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy over five years suggests new patients should have more access to talk option. For more information about this story visit https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/rounds/long-run-drugs-talk-therapy-hold-same-value-for-depression-patients. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

People looking for a safer pain reliever are turning to cannabis-derived CBD. Michigan Medicine experts weigh in on what’s currently known about the trendy supplement. For more information about this story visit https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/should-you-take-cbd-for-pain See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Digital play versus free play: As more kids grow up with a seemingly endless menu of virtual activities offered through digital media, child development experts worry about the wane of traditional playtime.For more information about this story visit: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/health-tech/gamified-childhood-are-digital-devices-replacing-traditional-playtime See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Organ donation must increase to meet the current need of patients awaiting transplants. A “presumed consent” organ donor model could help.For more information about this story visit https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/industry-dx/how-opt-out-donation-could-affect-us-waiting-lists See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A Mott pediatrician advises parents to follow this checklist before sending their child to another family’s home to help everyone feel safe and comfortable.For more information about this story visit: https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/childrens-health/7-questions-all-parents-should-ask-before-a-playdate See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin problem with no cure, but here’s what experts, and especially sufferers, want you to understand about the condition.For more information about this story visit: https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/5-things-a-dermatologist-wants-you-to-know-about-psoriasis See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Involving patients in pain management decisions significantly decreased opioid prescriptions without compromising pain control. For more information about this story visit https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/rounds/simple-conversations-can-reduce-opioid-prescriptions-after-hysterectomy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Speaking directly with a pathologist could help patients better understand their diagnosis and feel empowered, a survey of patient sentiment finds. For more information about this story visit https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/industry-dx/cancer-patients-want-to-pull-back-curtain-on-pathology. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Researchers identified two novel genes that affect bone-formation cells relevant to fractures and osteoporosis; understanding these genes could lead to more effective treatments.For more information about this story visit: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/body-work/new-study-identifies-causative-genes-osteoporosis See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Long hospital stays and invasive medical tests help identify serious bacterial infections in infants, but a U-M expert says there may be a more efficient, less painful way to make a diagnosis. For more information about this story visit: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/industry-dx/study-helping-some-infants-fevers-avoid-painful-tests-er See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s often difficult to manage patients with this skin inflammation, but new research identifies a target that existing medications are able to address.For more information about this story visit: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/body-work/arthritis-treatment-could-provide-relief-for-lichen-planus-skin-rash See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Those with a rare genetic condition called nanophthalmos have abnormally small eyes whose internal structures – including the size of the lens – are otherwise normal.The condition can cause a host of vision-related problems including amblyopia (“lazy eye”) or strabismus (“cross eyes”) in children, retinal detachments and glaucoma.By advancing ideas first cultivated at University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, a team of eye and genetics experts is the first to identify a gene mutation behind nanophthalmos and to describe a new pathway for eye growth and development.For more on this story, visit: https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/lab-report/genetic-origin-of-severe-developmental-eye-condition-identified See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There’s a perception that surgery to treat prostate cancer will spell the end of a man’s sex life. And while that often used to be the case, survivorship programs, like the one at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, offer counseling and interventions to promote sexual recovery after cancer treatment. For more information about this story visit https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/cancer-care/prostate-cancer-patients-can-pursue-healthy-sex-lives-after-surgery See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Decongestants can pose a dangerous risk to people with hypertension. Try these other steps to safely treat a cold or allergies. For more on this story, visit: https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/heart-health/why-high-blood-pressure-and-cold-meds-dont-mix See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New research shows parental reactions to picky eating can have long-term effects, for better or worse. For more on this story visit: https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/got-a-picky-eater-try-these-11-tips-at-table See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two-thirds of all pet owners say that having an animal helps them stay physically active. But for some older adults, time commitment, cost and allergies stand in the way. For more on this story, visit: https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/poll-pets-help-older-adults-cope-health-issues See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.