Breast milk analyses show new opportunities for reducing risk of childhood obesity

New research suggests the composition of breast milk in normal weight mothers differs from that of overweight mothers, and that variations in small molecule metabolites found in breast milk are possible risk factors for childhood obesity. The new research is published online in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It’s known that maternal obesity is one of the strongest predictors of childhood obesity. “Childhood obesity increases risk for type 2 diabetes, and a host of other health complications. Our aim is to identify the earliest risk factors that predict obesity in…

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Biosensor ‘bandage’ collects and analyzes sweat

Like other biofluids, sweat contains a wealth of information about what’s going on inside the body. However, collecting the fluid for analysis, usually by dripping or absorbing it from the skin’s surface, can be time-consuming and messy. Now, researchers have developed a bandage-like biosensor that both collects and — in conjunction with a smart phone — analyzes sweat. The device, which could someday help diagnose diseases, is reported in ACS’ journal Analytical Chemistry. Compared with other biofluids such as blood, sweat has the potential to be obtained less invasively for diagnostic…

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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Got Extra Flirty on Instagram and We Don’t Hate It

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are no strangers to trolling each other on social media. However, their most recent flirtation involved an unexpected (and animated) guest: Pikachu. Reynolds plays the voice of the namesake character in the forthcoming live-action movie Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, and he shared a cute video from the flick to his Instagram. “Footage from my ACTUAL audition for #DetectivePikachu,” Reynolds captioned the teaser. The one-minute clip features many of the film’s characters and Pokémon, including a very animated Pikachu. Reynolds’s comedic power is evident from the start, while…

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April 15 Is Almost Here! Here Are the 6 Tax-Filing Questions Entrepreneurs Should Ask Tax Preparers Now.

With the tax-filing deadline just days away, entrepreneurs would be wise to ask their tax preparers six key questions. Because the 2018 tax year is the first year the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has applied to returns, there are new forms, new rules, new elections and new software that can significantly impact your income. In short: This tax-filing season is a very different animal than previous ones because there are so many more decisions to make. So, be sure to ask your tax preparer’s advice on both the 2018 returns you’re…

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