NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Being short and especially having short legs appear to increase the risk being overweight and developing type 2 diabetes in middle age, new research shows.
"Our study shows that adult stature.... can be helpful in predicting the risk of diabetes independently from other known risk factors," researchers report in the journal in Diabetes Care.
The length of a person's legs is an indicator of childhood nutrition, which may have long-lasting effects on health, note Dr. Keiko Asao and colleagues from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Short leg length and low leg length-to-height ratio are two indicators of suboptimal childhood development.
Asao's team studied the relationship between stature-related measurements, amount of body fat and two pre-diabetic conditions -- insulin resistance, in which the body is resistant to the blood-sugar regulating hormone insulin, and glucose intolerance, marked by elevated blood sugar levels. The study included 7,424 men and women between 40 and 74 years old.
In women, percent body fat was significantly higher in those with shorter height, shorter leg length, and lower leg length-to-height ratio, even after considering factors know to influence body fat.
A similar pattern was noted in men, although none of the associations reached statistical significance.
Lower leg length-to-height ratio, but not height or leg length, was also associated with greater levels of insulin resistance in subjects without diabetes.
And all three body features (shorter height, shorter leg length, and lower leg length-to-height ratio) were associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes. For example, a 1-standard deviation lower leg length-to-height ratio was associated with a 19 percent greater risk of having type 2 diabetes.
"Insofar as adult stature is an indicator of development and growth during early life," conclude the investigators, the risk of obesity and diabetes in adulthood "might begin to accrue before puberty." Therefore, interventions to improve childhood nutrition "could represent novel means to combat the epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes," they offer.
Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
Friday, July 14, 2006
From the "you can't make it up" file: 911 call for 'cute' deputy gets woman arrested
Friday, July 14, 2006; Posted: 9:30 a.m. EDT (13:30 GMT)
ALOHA, Oregon (AP) -- A woman who called 911 to get "the cutest cop I've seen" sent back to her home got a date all right -- a court date.
The same sheriff's deputy arrested her on charges of misuse of the emergency dispatch system.
Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. David Thompson told KGW-TV of Portland.... it all started with a noise complaint called in last month by neighbors of Lorna Jeanne Dudash. The deputy sent to check on the complaint knocked on her door then left.
Thompson said Dudash then called 911, asking that the "cutie pie" deputy return.
"He's the cutest cop I've seen in a long time. I just want to know his name," Dudash told the dispatcher. "Heck, it doesn't come very often a good man comes to your doorstep."
After listening to some more, followed by a bit of silence, the dispatcher asked again why Dudash needed the deputy to return.
"Honey, I'm just going to be honest with you, OK? I just thought he was cute. I'm 45 years old, and I'd just like to meet him again, but I don't know how to go about doing that without calling 911," she said.
"I know this is absolutely not in any way, shape or form an emergency, but if you would give the officer my phone number and ask him to come back, would you mind?"
The deputy returned, verified that there was no emergency and arrested her for misusing the 911 system, an offense punishable by a fine of up to several thousand dollars and a year in jail.
Thompson said Thursday it was the first case he knew of in which someone called the emergency line for such a personal reason.
"That's taking up valuable time from dispatchers who could be taking true emergency calls," he said.
ALOHA, Oregon (AP) -- A woman who called 911 to get "the cutest cop I've seen" sent back to her home got a date all right -- a court date.
The same sheriff's deputy arrested her on charges of misuse of the emergency dispatch system.
Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. David Thompson told KGW-TV of Portland.... it all started with a noise complaint called in last month by neighbors of Lorna Jeanne Dudash. The deputy sent to check on the complaint knocked on her door then left.
Thompson said Dudash then called 911, asking that the "cutie pie" deputy return.
"He's the cutest cop I've seen in a long time. I just want to know his name," Dudash told the dispatcher. "Heck, it doesn't come very often a good man comes to your doorstep."
After listening to some more, followed by a bit of silence, the dispatcher asked again why Dudash needed the deputy to return.
"Honey, I'm just going to be honest with you, OK? I just thought he was cute. I'm 45 years old, and I'd just like to meet him again, but I don't know how to go about doing that without calling 911," she said.
"I know this is absolutely not in any way, shape or form an emergency, but if you would give the officer my phone number and ask him to come back, would you mind?"
The deputy returned, verified that there was no emergency and arrested her for misusing the 911 system, an offense punishable by a fine of up to several thousand dollars and a year in jail.
Thompson said Thursday it was the first case he knew of in which someone called the emergency line for such a personal reason.
"That's taking up valuable time from dispatchers who could be taking true emergency calls," he said.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Mandan to hold recall election
By ZACHARY FRANZ
Bismarck Tribune
The petitions to recall most of the Mandan City Commission are valid and a special election will be held to fill the positions, Mandan city adminstrator Jim Neubauer announced Wednesday.
"I guess my attitude is, bring it on," said Mayor Ken LaMont, one of three targeted in the recall. The other two are city commissioners Dan Ulmer and Sandy Tibke.
Mandan attorney Ben Pulkrabek filed.... petitions on June 14 for the recall of the officials, based on displeasure with the oil clean-up settlement.
"They should have tried that case," Pulkrabek told the Tribune on Wednesday. "They settled for way too low. If they can get the fuel out for the price they got, I'll admit I was wrong, but I don't think they can do it."
It was the second time he had filed such petitions. The first time, the petitions were deemed invalid because some people had signed other people's names.
Deputy Auditor Phyllis Hager and office staff reviewed the new petitions to make sure that names weren't repeated and that signatories lived within city limits. They also randomly called some people whose names were on the petition to insure they had actually signed, according to a news release from the city.
To be valid, the petitions needed at least 492 signatures - 25 percent of the voters in the election prior to the circulation of the petitions. Pulkrabek submitted 581 signatures for LaMont, 570 for Tibke and 565 for Ulmer, the news release said.
By law, the city must now hold a special election for the three positions. The special election will be held in conjunction with the November general election, according to the news release.
Normally, state law requires special elections to be held within 50 to 60 days after recall petitions are validated, but there is an exception for when a general election is scheduled within 90 days of that time period. The next general election, Nov. 7, meets that criteria.
In the meantime, LaMont said he plans to stay the course.
"I firmly believe we're on the right track," he said. "We've done everything we humanly can for the city of Mandan."
Unless the three elected officials resign within 10 days, their names will automatically appear on the ballots. Anyone else who wants to run must get a petition from City Hall and gather a minimum number of signitures. The required number is 10 percent of the voters in the most recent election. Hager suggests gathering at least 300 signatures to assure sufficiency. Candidates running for the recalled positions must file the signed petitions by 4 p.m. Sept. 8.
Ulmer said he feels confident about the special election, and that it has been a distraction to the commission.
"I think generally we'd like to get this nonsense over with," he said.
Ulmer said the city made the best choice available in regard to the fuel settlement, and that those behind the recall offered no input at the time.
"These are after-the-fact Monday morning quarterbacks," he said. "I don't know any of these people - I never saw any of those people at any public meetings, including - and probably especially - Pulkrabek."
Tibke did not immediately return calls to the Tribune.
Pulkrabek said he does not intend to run for any of the offices.
"I did the recall, now it's up to other people if they want to be candidates," he said.
Bismarck Tribune
The petitions to recall most of the Mandan City Commission are valid and a special election will be held to fill the positions, Mandan city adminstrator Jim Neubauer announced Wednesday.
"I guess my attitude is, bring it on," said Mayor Ken LaMont, one of three targeted in the recall. The other two are city commissioners Dan Ulmer and Sandy Tibke.
Mandan attorney Ben Pulkrabek filed.... petitions on June 14 for the recall of the officials, based on displeasure with the oil clean-up settlement.
"They should have tried that case," Pulkrabek told the Tribune on Wednesday. "They settled for way too low. If they can get the fuel out for the price they got, I'll admit I was wrong, but I don't think they can do it."
It was the second time he had filed such petitions. The first time, the petitions were deemed invalid because some people had signed other people's names.
Deputy Auditor Phyllis Hager and office staff reviewed the new petitions to make sure that names weren't repeated and that signatories lived within city limits. They also randomly called some people whose names were on the petition to insure they had actually signed, according to a news release from the city.
To be valid, the petitions needed at least 492 signatures - 25 percent of the voters in the election prior to the circulation of the petitions. Pulkrabek submitted 581 signatures for LaMont, 570 for Tibke and 565 for Ulmer, the news release said.
By law, the city must now hold a special election for the three positions. The special election will be held in conjunction with the November general election, according to the news release.
Normally, state law requires special elections to be held within 50 to 60 days after recall petitions are validated, but there is an exception for when a general election is scheduled within 90 days of that time period. The next general election, Nov. 7, meets that criteria.
In the meantime, LaMont said he plans to stay the course.
"I firmly believe we're on the right track," he said. "We've done everything we humanly can for the city of Mandan."
Unless the three elected officials resign within 10 days, their names will automatically appear on the ballots. Anyone else who wants to run must get a petition from City Hall and gather a minimum number of signitures. The required number is 10 percent of the voters in the most recent election. Hager suggests gathering at least 300 signatures to assure sufficiency. Candidates running for the recalled positions must file the signed petitions by 4 p.m. Sept. 8.
Ulmer said he feels confident about the special election, and that it has been a distraction to the commission.
"I think generally we'd like to get this nonsense over with," he said.
Ulmer said the city made the best choice available in regard to the fuel settlement, and that those behind the recall offered no input at the time.
"These are after-the-fact Monday morning quarterbacks," he said. "I don't know any of these people - I never saw any of those people at any public meetings, including - and probably especially - Pulkrabek."
Tibke did not immediately return calls to the Tribune.
Pulkrabek said he does not intend to run for any of the offices.
"I did the recall, now it's up to other people if they want to be candidates," he said.
Cheney sued in CIA identity case
BBC breaking news
Last Updated: Thursday, 13 July 2006, 20:18 GMT 21:18 UK
A former CIA officer whose identity was leaked to the media is suing US Vice-President Dick Cheney.
Valerie Plame is suing Mr Cheney, his former aide Karl Rove, another official Lewis Libby, and 10 others, saying they tried to destroy.... her career.
Ms Plame's name appeared in the media in 2003 after her husband criticised the Bush government over Iraq.
Her husband, ex-US ambassador Joseph Wilson, who is also suing, had said the US twisted intelligence to go to war.
It was revealed last month that Mr Rove would not be charged over the leak.
But Mr Libby has been charged with perjury and obstructing justice. He has resigned pending trial.
Last Updated: Thursday, 13 July 2006, 20:18 GMT 21:18 UK
A former CIA officer whose identity was leaked to the media is suing US Vice-President Dick Cheney.
Valerie Plame is suing Mr Cheney, his former aide Karl Rove, another official Lewis Libby, and 10 others, saying they tried to destroy.... her career.
Ms Plame's name appeared in the media in 2003 after her husband criticised the Bush government over Iraq.
Her husband, ex-US ambassador Joseph Wilson, who is also suing, had said the US twisted intelligence to go to war.
It was revealed last month that Mr Rove would not be charged over the leak.
But Mr Libby has been charged with perjury and obstructing justice. He has resigned pending trial.
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