The New York Times (7/1, A11, Lafraniere, Subscription Publication) reports that yesterday Pentagon senior health official Dr. Jonathan Woodson announced the armed forces’ hospital network had to work hard before it could restore public trust. In particular, “He called for greater attention to patient safety and more openness about problems in treatment,” stating that, “In moments like these, it can be easy to close down. We need to do the opposite. We need to become even more transparent.”

Related Links:

— “Official Seeks Restored Trust in Military Care,” Sharon LacFroniere, New York Times, June 30, 2014.

NPR (7/1, Shute) “Shots” blog reports that according to a study published online June 30 in JAMA Pediatrics, lead at low levels may cause depression in children. The study of 1,341 youngsters in Jintan, China revealed that “when the children’s behavior and cognitive abilities were tested in the last year of preschool, at age six, the children who had more lead in their blood were more likely to have emotional problems, anxiety, and pervasive developmental problems.”

Related Links:

— “Lead Exposure May Cause Depression And Anxiety In Children,” Nancy Shute, National Public Radio, June 30, 2014.

The Washington Post (6/30, Mascarelli) reports that a “disturbing ultra-thin-body trend pressures women and girls to achieve a gap between the thighs when they stand with their feet touching.” Now, experts are afraid that “the focus on thigh gap is driving a small number of women, especially teens, into behavior that could lead to eating disorders and other destructive habits.” The majority of “women – even those who are very thin – do not have a thigh gap, says Angela Guarda, an associate professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and director of the Johns Hopkins Eating Disorders Program.”

Related Links:

— “Fueled by social media, ‘thigh gap’ focus can lure young women to eating disorders,” Amanda Mascarelli, Washington Post, June 30, 2014.

TIME (7/2, Abrams) reports that according to a study published online June 23 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, St. John’s wort, often used as an “alternative medicine for depression,” appears to react “dangerously with many common medicines.” After examining data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, researchers “found that 28 percent of patients who said they were taking St. John’s wort were also taking drugs that have potentially dangerous interactions with the supplement.”

St. John’s wort can react dangerously with benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, chemotherapy treatments for cancer, digoxin, oral contraceptives, statin medications, and immunosuppressants.

Related Links:

— “Natural Depression Supplements’ Dangerous Drug Interactions,” Abby Abrams, Time, July 1, 2014.

HealthDay (7/2, Doheny) reports that according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, “adding access to a computer tablet to traditional therapy may help children with autism talk and interact more.” The study, which involved 61 youngsters with an autism spectrum disorder who ranged in age from five to eight, “compared language and social communication treatment – with or without access to an iPad computer tablet…and found that the device helped boost the effect of the treatment.”

Related Links:

— “iPads May Help Boost Speaking Skills in Kids With Autism: Study,” Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay, July 1, 2014.