regional medical center: Mei 2012

Kamis, 31 Mei 2012

Serious Exercise May Benefit Middle-Aged Arteries

Serious Exercise May Benefit Middle-Aged Arteries

man running on a treadmill

THURSDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- High levels of exercise help prevent stiffening of the arteries in middle-aged people, a small new study says.

Arterial stiffening, which has been shown to occur with age and inactivity, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

This Indiana University study included 21 men and 28 women. Of those 49 participants, 33 were highly active U.S. Masters Swimmers who did more than 200 minutes of vigorous exercise a week. The other participants were either moderately or completely inactive.

The highly active people had far less arterial stiffness than the others. The researchers also found little difference between men and women in the highly active group, but considerable difference between men and women in the inactive and moderately active group. In that group, men had less arterial stiffness than women, according to a university news release.

[Read: Dissolvable Heart Artery Stents Appear Safe in Study.]

"Oddly, women, particularly the inactive women, show the greatest risk for cardiovascular disease as compared with other groups," study author Maleah Holland, a graduate student in the university's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, wrote. "Thus, conversely, habitually high levels of physical activity may pose a greater benefit for women than for men."

This finding may be due to the fact that inactive women are more sedentary than inactive men, the researchers suggested.

The study was scheduled for presentation Thursday at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting in San Francisco.

This research "reinforces the idea that activity could be more influential than aging on some health factors," Joel Stager, professor and director of the university's Counsilman Center, in the department of kinesiology, said in the news release.

Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases offers tips to help you get active.

1 in 5 Americans Has Untreated Cavities

1 in 5 Americans Has Untreated Cavities

Woman at the dentist.

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- More than one in every five Americans has untreated cavities, a new government report shows.

"Untreated tooth decay is prevalent in the U.S." said report co-author Dr. Bruce Dye, an epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. "It appears that we haven't been able to make any significant strides during the last decade to reduce untreated cavities."

One expert was not surprised by the findings.

"This is information that has been known for a while," said Dr. Lindsay Robinson, a spokeswoman for the American Dental Association. "More people are on Medicaid and more and more states, in an attempt to balance their budgets, have eliminated dental benefits."

[Read:Â From One Generation to the Next, Dental Care Changes.]

There needs to be more investment in dental care to cover those who rely on Medicaid, Robinson said. "Only about 2 percent of Medicaid dollars go to dental care. In the private system it's triple that," she explained.

"Even people with dental benefits are afraid of any extra out-of-pocket costs," Robinson added.

The report authors found that the rate of cavities was pretty steady among all age groups, with teenagers having the lowest prevalence, Dye said. Among kids aged 5 to 11, 20 percent had untreated cavities, while 13 percent of those aged 12 to 19 had untreated cavities. People aged 20 to 44 had the highest rate of untreated cavities, at 25 percent.

Usually there is a difference in income when it comes to health care, but in this case children were getting about the same dental care regardless of family income, Dye noted.

For poorer children, this is most likely due to government programs such as Medicaid and CHIPS (Children's Health Insurance Program), Dye said. Among adults, the poor have a rate of untreated dental problems twice that of others, he noted.

[Read:Â Tiny Tots in Dentist's Chair Among Changes in Pediatric Dentistry.]

In addition to having cavities that were not treated, 75 percent of Americans have had some sort of dental work.

Other findings in the report include:

Among children and adolescents, 27 percent had at least one dental sealant. In that age group, 30 percent of whites had sealants, compared to 23 percent of Mexican-Americans and 17 percent of blacks.
Among blacks, 38 percent had all of their teeth, compared with 51 percent of whites and 52 percent of Mexican-Americans.
Among those aged 65 and older, 23 percent had no teeth, but most likely had dentures.

To reduce the odds of developing cavities, Dye recommended brushing and flossing daily and going to the dentist at least once a year. In addition, cutting down on sweets and surgery drinks and eating a healthy diet can also help, he said.

Going to the dentist is important, Robinson agreed. When problems are caught and treated early, it saves money, and for people with chronic diseases such as diabetes it can help avoid hospitalizations, she added.

"It is possible to not get cavities," Robinson said. "It's amazing how many people think it's just going to happen."

More information

For more on dental health, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Will Dark Chocolate a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

Will Dark Chocolate a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

Will Dark Chocolate a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

May 31, 2012 -- Should people at high risk of heart attack and stroke eat dark chocolate every day?

Maybe, according to a new study from Australia.

"Dark chocolate may be a pleasant and effective way of delivering important dietary components that can provide health benefits to the ever increasing numbers of people at increased risk of cardiovascular disease," says researcher Christopher M. Reid, PhD, professor of cardiovascular epidemiology and preventive medicine at Monash University in Australia.

Reid and his team constructed a mathematical model to predict the long-term health effects of eating dark chocolate daily in high-risk people. They did not study actual people eating actual chocolate.

The researchers also computed whether it would be cost-effective to spend money on a public education campaign about dark chocolate's benefits. They found it would be.

Several studies have found that dark chocolate, with its heart-healthy flavonols, can lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol.

However, Reid believes theirs is the first study to model the long-term effects of eating dark chocolate in reducing cardiovascular risk.

The study is published in the journal BMJ.

The History of Chocolate Slideshow

Chocolate to Prevent Heart Attacks

Reid's team first looked at the treatment effects linked with dark chocolate by evaluating studies already published.

They computed the number of heart attacks and strokes that would occur with and without the dark chocolate.

They also looked at 2,013 people from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle study. All had metabolic syndrome but none had diagnosed heart disease or diabetes at the start.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. It is diagnosed when three or more of the following factors are present: high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol, high blood sugar, or a large waist size.

Reid's team looked at costs associated with the heart and stroke problems.

They used these cost figures to determine how much money could be spent each year to educate high-risk people about dark chocolate and still be cost-effective.

Their study looked longer-term than most, 10 years, Reid says.

Dark Chocolate to Prevent Heart Disease, Stroke

First, the researchers plugged in the best-case scenario: 100% of the people eating the recommended 100 grams of dark chocolate (3.5 ounces, or about two bars) a day for 10 years.

This would prevent 70 nonfatal and 15 fatal heart attacks and strokes per 10,000 people over 10 years, according to the study model.

With an 80% adherence rate, there would be 55 fewer nonfatal and 10 fewer fatal heart attacks and strokes per 10,000 people over 10 years.

The estimates may be low, Reid says.

They found that it would be cost-effective to spend $42 per person per year on education.

The education might include advertising, educational campaigns, or subsidies to pay for the chocolate, Reid says.

Chagas Disease FAQ

Chagas Disease FAQ

Chagas Disease FAQ

May 31, 2012 -- Chagas disease is being called the new "AIDS of the Americas."

The shocking comparison has put this neglected tropical disease in headlines around the world.

Who's at risk? Is Chagas really as bad as AIDS? Here's WebMD's Chagas disease FAQ.

What Is Chagas Disease? What Causes Chagas Disease?

Chagas disease is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasites multiply within cells of the body. Infected cells burst, releasing parasites into the bloodstream.

Chagas disease was first recognized in the modern era by Brazilian doctor Carlos Chagas in 1909. But the disease has been around for 9,000 years. Chagas parasites have been found in the remains of mummies from the ancient Chinchorro culture of South America.

There are two phases of Chagas disease: the acute phase and the chronic phase.

The acute phase of Chagas disease lasts for several weeks or months after infection. It often goes unnoticed, as symptoms may be mild. Acute Chagas disease is only very rarely fatal. Most at risk are young children or people with weakened immune systems.

The chronic phase of Chagas disease is more serious. When the parasite is not eliminated, the infection may remain silent -- without symptoms -- for decades. Chronic-phase symptoms appear in about a third of patients. They can be devastating.

The most common complication of chronic Chagas disease is a heart condition called chronic Chagas cardiopathy. These complications include enlarged heart, heart failure, severely altered heart rhythm, and heart attack.

Some patients with chronic Chagas disease get intestinal complications. These may include enlarged esophagus (causing difficulty swallowing) or enlarged colon (causing difficulty passing stool).

How Is Chagas Disease Spread?

There are several ways Chagas disease is spread.

The most common way is through the bite of a family of blood-sucking insects called triatomes. They're better known as kissing bugs, assassin bugs, cone-nosed bugs, and reduviid bugs.

While most cases of Chagas disease are in Central and South America, 11 different species of the bugs live in the Southern U.S. They may be found as far north as Pennsylvania in the East and Northern California in the West.

Inside houses, the most common places to find the bugs are near pet resting areas (a good reason not to sleep with your pets), in areas infested by rodents, and in or around beds (particularly under mattresses or bedside tables).

These bugs usually come out at night. They feed on the blood of humans and other mammals, birds, and reptiles. The bugs are attracted to the lips -- hence the nickname "kissing bug" -- although bites may occur on other parts of the body.

The bug bite itself doesn't spread Chagas parasites. But while feeding, bug droppings are left near the wound. When these droppings get into the wound or mucous membranes (as when a person touches the droppings and then rubs his or her eye), the parasites enter the body.

Global Cancer Rates Set to Soar by 2030

Global Cancer Rates Set to Soar by 2030

Global Cancer Rates Set to Soar by 2030

May 31, 2012 -- Worldwide cancer rates are set to jump more than 75% by 2030.

And these rates may increase even further -- by 90% -- among less developed countries, according to what one leading New York City cancer doctor calls an "eye-opening" new report in the journal Lancet Oncology.

If the new predictions hold, 22.2 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2030, compared with 12.7 million in 2008.

The predictions are based on rates of new cancer cases and cancer deaths in 2008 from 184 countries worldwide. These findings were then used to project how the cancer burden is likely to shift by 2030.

Countries were ranked by their human development index (HDI), a standard measure of a country's developmental status that takes into account life expectancy, education levels, and economic factors. The U.S. is considered to have a very high HDI, while sub-Saharan Africa ranks much, much lower.

Many of these countries do not have accurate cancer registries, which can make it difficult to track what is going on now and what can be expected in the future.

Why Are Cancer Rates on the Rise?

"Populations are growing throughout the world and populations are aging, which is why the number of cancer cases and deaths are going up globally," explains researcher Nathan Grey, MPH. He is the national vice president for global health at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta.

The types of cancer that are -- or will be -- on the rise vary by a country's development status.

In the U.S., for example, rates of obesity-related cancers such as breast cancer and colon cancer are projected to rise. The U.S. is also still facing the lingering-effects of smoking-related cancers. In poorly developed countries such as sub-Saharan Africa, rates of cancers that are related to infection are high. These include cervical cancer, liver cancer, and stomach cancer.

"These countries are increasingly ramped up to deal with HIV, AIDS, and malaria, and are not thinking about cancer," Grey says.

But they need to start thinking about it now.

It is not hopeless. "We can vaccinate people in developing countries against HPV, the virus that is responsible for many types of cervical cancer," he says. Low-cost screening for cervical cancer is also possible. "Swabbing the cervix with vinegar and looking for abnormalities is incredibly cheap. We can train health care providers to do it and save a lot of lives."

Tobacco control and prevention efforts can also help stem a predicted rise in smoking-related cancers in developing nations.

Cancer Profiles Change as Countries Become More Westernized

David M. Nanus, MD, is the chief of the division of hematology and medical oncology at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He reviewed the findings for WebMD.

Diabetes Drug Actos Again Linked to Bladder Cancer

Diabetes Drug Actos Again Linked to Bladder Cancer

Diabetes Drug Actos Again Linked to Bladder Cancer

May 31, 2012 -- The diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone) already carries a warning about its risk for bladder cancer, and now new research suggests that this risk may be greater than previously believed.

According to the new study, use of Actos for more than two years doubles the risk of bladder cancer. Still, the overall risk of any one person developing bladder cancer by taking Actos is very small.

"Patients with type 2 diabetes and their physicians need to be fully aware of the potential association between Actos and bladder cancer," says researcher Laurent Azoulay, PhD. He is an epidemiologist at Lady Davis Institute of Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. "Certainly, this drug should not be used in patients with a history of bladder cancer and those with other bladder conditions."

The findings appear in the journal BMJ.

Essential Tips to Manage Diabetes

Overall Risk of Bladder Cancer Still Low Among Actos Users

Bladder cancer is relatively uncommon. In the U.S., about 73,510 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in 2012, according to the American Cancer Society. "The decision to continue using [Actos] or starting it should be discussed with the physician, who will be able to carefully assess the whether the benefits outweigh the potential risks for a given patient."

The researchers analyzed data on more than 115,000 people who were treated with diabetes drugs from 1988 to 2009. Overall, 470 people were diagnosed with bladder cancer during about 4.6 years of follow-up. These individuals were compared with healthy people.

People who had ever taken Actos had an 83% increased risk of bladder cancer, the researchers found. This risk increased when individuals took the diabetes drug for more than two years and when they took higher doses of it. There was no increased risk was seen for Avandia (rosiglitazone), another diabetes drug in this class.

Actos Manufacturer Responds

The manufacturer of Actos, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, has not reviewed the new study, but Elissa J. Johnsen, a spokesperson for Takeda in Deerfield, Ill., did supply WebMD with the following statement:

"Takeda is confident in the therapeutic benefits of Actos and its importance as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. As a science and evidence-based company, Takeda firmly stands behind the substantial data available confirming the positive risk/benefit profile of Actos, which includes more than 12 years of clinical and patient experience with the product."

"As a company, Takeda is committed to ongoing clinical research to understand and investigate potential safety concerns, and is currently supporting several ongoing studies, including a 10-year epidemiological study, investigating the potential relationship between Actos and bladder cancer."

Making the Decision to Take Actos

Spyros Mezitis, MD, says that it comes down to balancing the risks of bladder cancer with other perceived benefits of this medication. He is an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

"We need to be careful when starting patients on Actos, and we should be checking for bladder cancer in urine samples among the ones who are already taking it," he tells WebMD. "The risk seems to be dose and duration dependent," meaning that higher doses of the drug taken for longer periods of time confer a greater risk for bladder cancer.

The Actos label states that you should not take the drug if you are receiving treatment for bladder cancer. It also warns people to tell their doctor right away if they develop any bladder cancer symptoms including blood or a red color in urine, increased need to urinate, and pain during urination.

There are other diabetes drugs available, Mezitis says.

Actos has been banned in France and Germany.

In an editorial accompanying the study, Dominique Hillaire-Buys and Jean-Luc Faillie from the Department of Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology in Montpellier, France, write: "It can confidently be assumed that [Actos] increases the risk of bladder cancer. It also seems that this association could have been predicted earlier."

Salmonella Outbreak Again Tied to Ohio Hatchery

Salmonella Outbreak Again Tied to Ohio Hatchery

Salmonella Outbreak Again Tied to Ohio Hatchery

May 31, 2012 -- Live chicks and ducklings from an Ohio mail-order hatchery have been linked to salmonella poisoning in 93 people in 23 states, according to the CDC.

The agency has joined state and federal health and agriculture officials in the investigation of the salmonella outbreak. So far, 18 people have been hospitalized, and one person may have died, as a result of the outbreak. More than a third of those reported ill are children ages 10 and under.

Illnesses have occurred from Maine down to South Carolina and as far west as Texas. The first case was reported on March 1.

Not the First Outbreak Tied to Live Poultry

The live chicks and ducklings, which were purchased to be used for meat or eggs or to be kept as pets, all came from the same hatchery. This is not the first time that that hatchery, Mount Healthy Hatcheries in Mount Healthy, Ohio, has sent infected animals to its customers.

Last October, the CDC reported that a multi-state outbreak totaling 96 cases of salmonella poisoning could be traced to the hatchery. In that outbreak, which began in February 2011, health officials identified two distinct strains of salmonella; the current outbreak has been tied to three strains.

A study led by CDC researchers and published today in the New England Journal of Medicine identified over 300 cases of salmonella caused by live poultry. Most of those taken ill over the eight-year study period were young children. More than 80% of those cases were traced back to a single source based in the Western U.S.

Safe Handling Tips

According to the CDC, live chickens and other poultry can look healthy but still be carriers of salmonella. For anyone who keeps them for meat, eggs, or as pets, the agency advises the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after touching them or coming into contact with anything in the area where they're kept.
Keep them out of the house, and keep their cages, water, and feeding equipment clean.
Children under 5, the elderly, and anyone with a weak immune system should not handle or touch live poultry.
Do not snuggle or kiss live poultry. When around them, do not touch your mouth and do not eat or drink.

Flame Retardant Found in Some Common Foods

Flame Retardant Found in Some Common Foods

Flame Retardant Found in Some Common Foods

May 31, 2012 -- A common flame retardant is found in many popular foods, including fish and turkey, according to new research.

Researchers tested foods such as meats, fish, and peanut butter.

Fifteen of the 36 food samples tested had detectable levels of hexabromocyclododecane, or HBCD, says researcher Arnold Schecter, MD, MPH, professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Dallas.

HBCD is used in foams in thermal insulation, in electrical equipment, and consumer products. It is found in the environment and wildlife. People are exposed from products and dust in the home and workplace.

Some scientists are concerned that exposure could be related to developmental effects, hormonal interference, and alterations in the immune and reproductive systems.

"The levels we found are lower than what the government agencies currently think are dangerous," Schecter tells WebMD. "But those levels were determined one chemical at a time."

He and others are discovering in their research that we're exposed to multiple chemicals at the same time.

The industry took exception to the finding.

"Based on these findings, the real story is that HBCD was not detected in the majority of the samples, and in those where it was, it was well below levels where one might see adverse health effects," says Bryan Goodman, a spokesperson for the North American Flame Retardant Alliance of the American Chemistry Council.

The study is published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

HBCD in Foods: Study Details

The researchers bought the foods from Dallas supermarkets in 2009 and 2010. They tested all 36 samples for HBCD.

Fifteen of the 36 samples, or 42%, had detectable levels of HBCDs. Some of these 15 samples were the same foods, but from different stores.

The foods with detectable levels include:

Sardines in water
Smoked turkey sausages (three samples)
Fresh salmon (two different samples)
Sardines in olive oil (two samples)
Fresh catfish (three samples)
Fresh deli-sliced turkey (one of three)
Fresh deli-sliced ham (one of two)
Fresh tilapia (one of three)
Chili with beans (one of three)

Twenty-one other samples tested that did not have detectable HBCD levels included:

Creamy peanut butter (three samples)
Chili with beans (two of three samples)
Bacon (three samples)
Fresh deli-sliced beef (three samples)
Fresh deli-sliced turkey (two of three samples)
Fresh deli-sliced chicken (two samples)
Fresh tilapia (two of three samples)
Fish sticks (three samples)
Fresh deli-sliced ham (one of two)

Flame Retardants in Foods: Discussion

HBCD is viewed as a ''persistent organic pollutant," according to Schecter. That is because it accumulates, travels long distances, and stays in the environment for a long time.

It is often found in fatty foods such as high-fat meats and some fish.

It is on the European Chemicals Agency candidate list of substances of ''very high concern," he says. The U.S. EPA has developed an action plan for the chemical. It is considering adding it to the list of ''chemicals of concern."

Missing Teeth, Cavities Common in U.S.

Missing Teeth, Cavities Common in U.S.

Missing Teeth, Cavities Common in U.S.

May 31, 2012 -- There are fewer cavities in the United States today than there were two decades ago, the CDC reports, but not every population group has shown the same amount of improvement.

According to new estimates released today, at least 1 in 5 Americans has one or more untreated cavities, and the poorer you are, the more likely you are to be one of the untreated 20%, at least among adults.

Non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican-Americans accounted for a large number of those not receiving care for their cavities, also known as dental caries. More than 60% of African-Americans had lost at least one tooth, compared to just under 50% of whites and Mexican-Americans.

"Dental caries both untreated and treated and tooth loss are key indicators of oral health and are used to monitor oral health status in the United States and internationally," the authors write.

The National Center for Health Statistics, a division of the CDC, prepared the report using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the years 2005 to 2008. The annual survey involves a random sampling of about 5,000 Americans. Here are the report's key findings:

Oral Health by Age

20% of children aged 5 to 11 and 13% of teens between the ages of 12 and 19 had at least one untreated cavity.

25% of adults between the ages of 20 and 44 had at least one untreated cavity.

20% of adults over 65 had at least one untreated cavity.

39% of children and 52% of teens had a dental restoration, such as a filling or root canal.

Restoration rates were nearly 90% for adults over 65.

Oral Health by Ethnicity and Poverty Level

34% of non-Hispanic blacks and 31% of Mexican-Americans had untreated cavities compared to 18% of whites.

Adults between 20 and 64 were more than twice as likely to have untreated cavities if they were living in poverty (42% vs. 17%).

25% of children and teens living in poverty had untreated cavities.

Among adults, nearly 90% of whites had had dental restoration, compared to 68% of Mexican-Americans and 73% of non-Hispanic blacks.

Children and teens living in poorer households were much less likely to have sealants than children and teens in higher-income families (20%-22% vs. 32%).

60% of adults in households living in poverty had lost at least one permanent tooth. 32% of non-Hispanic blacks over 65 had lost all their teeth, compared to 22% of whites and 16% of Mexican-Americans.

Slideshow: 19 Habits That Wreck Your Teeth

How to Stay Healthy at Work

How to Stay Healthy at Work

Gossiping at the water cooler? Try catching germs there. The microwave door and refrigerator handle are among the dirtiest places in a typical office, according to a new study from commercial products company Kimberly-Clark Professional. Researchers swabbed nearly 5,000 surfaces in office buildings that house about 3,000 employees, including law firms, insurance companies, call centers, and manufacturing facilities. "It's a very specific examination of what places are most problematic," says Jack Brown, a professor of molecular biosciences at the University of Kansas at Lawrence, who was not involved in the study. "It's common senseâ€"think about where people go and what they touch."

In the study, released last week, researchers analyzed the swabs using an ATP meter, a device that assesses sanitary conditions by measuring levels of adenosine triphosphate, a molecule found in animal, vegetable, bacteria, yeast, and mold cells. High levels of ATP indicate that a surface is loaded with bacteria and viruses. An ATP reading over 100 suggests that a surface could afford to be cleaned, while readings of 300 or higher are considered officially dirty and at high risk for spreading illness.

[See: Don't Get Sick at the Gym: 7 Ways to Prevent Infection]

Here's a glimpse of office surfaces with the highest ATP levelsâ€"readings of 300 or more. Surprisingly, the dirtiest surfaces weren't in the restroom, but in areas where employees prepare and eat food.

â€¢ 75 percent of break room sink-faucet handles

â€¢ 48 percent of microwave door handles

â€¢ 27 percent of keyboards

â€¢ 26 percent of refrigerator door handles

â€¢ 23 percent of water fountain buttons

â€¢ 21 percent of vending machine buttons

Other germ hotspots include computer mice, desk phones, and coffee pots and dispensers. Although it's impossible to dodge these during the workday, being aware of where germs are lurking is the first step to staying healthy. "You can't stop going to work. You can't avoid being where any other human being has been," Brown says. "But we're not walking around as wimps without the ability to fight germs off. We have a great capability to protect ourselves."

Try these tactics to stay healthy amidst office germs:

Wash your hands. Yes, it's common sense. But that's because it works. Wash and dry your hands when arriving at work, after coughing or sneezing, after using the restroom, and before and after eating, says Craig Roberts, a physician assistant with University Health Services at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. And don't wash them for, say, three secondsâ€"aim for at least 30, with soap.

[See: Mistakes That Up Your Risk of Food Poisoning]

Wipe down your space. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your desk at least once a day. (Research suggests that the average desk has 400 times more germs than a toilet seat.) In addition to desk surface, focus on the keyboard, mouse, and phone. Other spots that office management should make sure are wiped daily? Kitchen sink handles, refrigerator and microwave handles, kitchen countertops, conference room tables and phones, and water fountain buttons. Germs can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours.

Sanitize. Keep hand sanitizer at your desk and use it before and after meetings, as well as at the end of the day. But beware: "If you're using alcohol on your hands every five minutes, they're going to be dry, which can lead to skin cracksâ€"which are entry points for germs," Brown says. "It's important to moisturize regularly, especially for the elderly, who have more damaged skin."

Be tidy. Don't leave half-eaten food on your desk or in your drawers. Even if it looks OKâ€"no fungus or moldâ€"it's still attracting viruses and bacteria.

Stay home when necessary. You can't control someone sneezing in your face or coughing on you during a meeting. But do your part and stay home when you're under the weather and potentially contagious.

Keep your hands in check. Don't touch your face or mouth, chew on your pencil, stick a paper clip in your mouth, or lick your thumb to turn a page. "Keep your hands away from your faceâ€"it's a habit we have to develop," Brown says. "And it will greatly reduce your risk of getting sick."

[See: Is Your Keyboard Making You Sick?]

Health Buzz: Genes Affect Smoking Cessation

Health Buzz: Genes Affect Smoking Cessation

Odds of Quitting Smoking Influenced by Genes

Can't quit smoking? It may have something to do with your genes. A person's genetic makeup plays a role in their chances of successfully giving up smoking, according to a study published Wednesday in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The same gene variations that make it difficult to quit smoking increase the likelihood that heavy smokers will respond to treatment like nicotine-replacement therapy and drugs that thwart cravings. Smokers without the risk genes, meanwhile, can easily quit without the help of medications like nicotine replacement. "This study builds on our knowledge of genetic vulnerability to nicotine dependence, and will help us tailor smoking cessation strategies accordingly," Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said in a press statement. "It also highlights the potential value of genetic screening in helping to identify individuals early on and reduce their risk for tobacco addiction and its related negative health consequences."

G-Spot, Schmee-Spot. Will the New Discovery Affect Your Sex Life?

Nothing wrong with a little mystery. But when it comes to women's sexuality, it wouldn't hurt to lift the shroud of confusion about the mechanics of stimulation and orgasm. Yes, those words are a little awkward to write. But squeamishness is part of the problem. So try to get over it. Quickly.

Consider the endless magazine articles, adolescent sleepovers, and sexual exercises devoted to cracking the code of female arousal. And still many women can't achieve an orgasm from intercourse alone or on a regular basis. In light of that bleak picture comes a study published last month in the Journal of Sexual Medicine claiming to find, for the first time, the anatomic existence of the elusive G-spot, a storied area of sensitivity in the front vaginal wall reported by many women as the key to sexual Shangri-la, and named for the German gynecologist Ernst Grafenberg.

The latest discovery sounds like a big deal. But what does it mean? How will or won't it translate to women's sexual health?

"The study opens the door for more research," and ultimately clinical and commercial applications, such as redesign of sex toys and cosmetic procedures to restore feelings of sexual pleasure, says Adam Ostrzenski, who authored the study (and who performs such procedures). In an 83-year-old female cadaver, Ostrzenski, of the Florida-based Institute of Gynecology, identified erectile tissue between the sixth and final layer of a sac in the front vaginal wall, which he pegged as the G-spot. [Read more: G-Spot, Schmee-Spot. Will the New Discovery Affect Your Sex Life?]

Don't Get Sick at the Gym: 7 Ways to Prevent Infection

Dumbbells. Bike seats. Yoga mats. Hot tubs. Sweaty bodies. Shower floors. You go to the gym to get fit, not to get sick. But you could be exposing yourself to infection while you exerciseâ€"if you're not careful.

Upper respiratory tract infections are the likeliest threat, says Amesh Adalja, a board-certified physician specializing in infectious diseases and clinical assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. This risk for a cold or flu at gyms is similar to what you'd face in other public settings, says Adalja, but going to the gym can boost your odds of contracting MRSA (short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)â€"particularly if you participate in contact sports or share equipment. And while "staph" usually doesn't cause health problemsâ€"about 1 in 3 people carries it harmlesslyâ€"MRSA is scary, since it's immune to certain antibiotics, Adalja says.

Now, this isn't an excuse to cancel your gym membership: The benefits of exercise "clearly outweigh" the risks for infections, says Adalja. Just follow these tips to safeguard your health.

1. Wash your handsâ€"often. Common sense and good hygiene are especially important when dealing with bodily fluids like sweat, says Aaron Glatt, spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America and chief administrative officer at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, N.Y. After exercise, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap, particularly before touching your face or eating (yes, even that wrapper-protected energy bar). [Read more: Don't Get Sick at the Gym: 7 Ways to Prevent Infection]

Angela Haupt is a health reporter for U.S. News World Report. You can follow her on Twitter or reach her at ahaupt@usnews.com.Â

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Life Expectancy Lower For The Scots

Life Expectancy Lower For The Scots

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Smoking / Quit Smoking;Â Â Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 31 May 2012 - 1:00 PDT

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Life expectancy in Scotland is markedly lower compared to other European nations and the UK as a whole [1]. But what are the reasons for this higher mortality? An explanatory framework, synthesising the evidence is published this month in Public Health.

Higher mortality in Scotland is often attributed to higher rates of deprivation, smoking, alcohol consumption and poor diet. However such explanations are not sufficient to understand why Scotland is so very different compared to other areas. A group of researchers found that no single cause was likely to explain the higher mortality, but the authors assert, as a result of their research, that it may be attributable to a range of factors influenced by the political direction of past decades.

In synthesising this evidence the group of researchers identified candidate hypotheses based on a literature review and a series of research dissemination events. Each hypothesis was described and critically evaluated by a set of epidemiological criteria.

Hypotheses identified and tested included: artefactual explanations (e.g. migration); 'downstream explanations' (e.g. genetics, individual values), midstream explanations (e.g. substance misuse, family, gender relations) and; upstream explanations (e.g. climate, inequalities, de-industrialisation and 'political attack').

The results showed that between 1950 and 1980 Scotland started to diverge from elsewhere in Europe and this may be linked to higher deprivation associated with particular industrial employment patterns, housing and urban environments, particular community and family dynamics, and negative health behaviour cultures.

The authors suggest that from 1980 onwards the higher mortality can be best explained by considering the political direction taken by the government of the day, and the consequent hopelessness and community disruption that may have been experienced. Other factors, such as alcohol, smoking, unemployment, housing and inequality are all important, but require an explanation as to why Scotland was disproportionately affected.

"It is increasingly recognised that it is insufficient to try to explain health trends by simply looking at the proximal causes such as smoking or alcohol. Income inequality, welfare policy and unemployment do not occur by accident, but as a product of the politics pursued by the government of the day. In this study we looked at the 'causes of the causes' of Scotland's health problems," said Dr Gerry McCartney, lead author of the study and consultant in public health at NHS Health Scotland.

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Personalizing Exercise For People With Cancer

Personalizing Exercise For People With Cancer

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;Â Â Conferences
Article Date: 31 May 2012 - 4:00 PDT

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Exercise generally helps the nation's 12 million cancer survivors, and researchers are working toward being able to prove, with scientific certainty, that prescriptions for daily yoga or 20 minutes of walking will likely extend a patient's survival.

Understanding specifically how exercise benefits subpopulations of cancer patients is among the big topics at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2012 annual meeting in Chicago, June 1-5, 2012. Several scientists from the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center are part of the ASCO discussion, including Lisa K. Sprod, Ph.D., a junior faculty member who is being recognized with an ASCO Merit Award.

"In 15 years we've gone from being afraid to recommend exercise to people with cancer, to having enough data that shows, by and large, it is safe and effective, particularly for relief of treatment side effects," said Karen Mustian, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of Radiation Oncology at URMC and an exercise psychologist specializing in cancer. "But when a patient walks in the door, he or she wants to know how to tailor exercise to their own situation. Should I bike, walk, or lift weights? Is there anything I should avoid? Can certain exercises lower my fatigue? And the scientific community has not settled into a place where we've developed explicit exercise prescriptions, or can effectively narrow the choices for patients."

Several URMC studies suggest that knowing how to develop and apply specific exercise programs (dose and timing to achieve a certain outcome) is a realistic goal.

Mustian andSprod investigated physical activity among older people, a group they describe as often overlooked and underestimated in terms of their ability to live with cancer. On June 2 at ASCO they will present two studies in a session titled, Staying Bold While Old.

Mustian conducted a phase II clinical trial to discover whether six weeks of a home-based exercise plan (walking and resistance bands) improved cancer-related fatigue and strength in 58 men with prostate cancer who were treated with radiation and androgen deprivation therapy. The mean age of the group was 67. The men had a wide range of fitness levels, from frailty to golfers who were fit and active. A control group that did no exercise was also established.

Researchers measured cardiopulmonary function (through a gold-standard test called Vo2-peak) and muscular strength, and found that all exercisers improved while the control group declined in performance. The most significant information, Mustian said, was that everyone who exercised regularly achieved some added benefit - even the fittest participants.

A larger study is planned to explore whether the physiological effects of exercise are responsible for improvements, or if a psychological component is also present, such as the personal attention one often gains from an exercise program, or the camaraderie of being with friends at a gym.

Sprod investigated the appropriate amount, type, and intensity of exercise in cancer survivors older than 65, who are also experiencing the natural functional declines associated with aging. The double hit, she said, is an understudied issue.

After analyzing a national sample of 14,887 people, Sprod established that older cancer survivors engage in less physical activity - even routine activity such as stooping, lifting, and walking - than people without a history of cancer. This may lead to less independence, a higher risk of the cancer coming back, and reduced survival.

The study raises new questions, such as whether the treatment contributes to less activity, or whether patients and physicians are worried about the safety of becoming physically active during and after cancer treatment, or a combination of the two factors, Sprod said.

In another exercise-related study, Luke J. Peppone, Ph.D., a research assistant professor, investigated the effects of a yoga program on women with breast cancer who were taking aromatase inhibitors, medications that deplete estrogen and often cause severe menopause-like symptoms. A frequent complaint is joint pain and muscle aches, sometimes making it difficult for women to get out of bed or grip a fork and knife.

Peppone said a high percentage of breast cancer survivors discontinue aromatase inhibitor therapy because of side effects, putting them at greater risk for cancer recurrence. His study measured the self-reported quality of life and physical discomfort among 95 women taking aromatase inhibitors and 72 women who were not taking the drug.

Each group took part in a four-week gentle yoga program. The women taking aromatase inhibitors reported a significant reduction in pain, muscle aches, and total physical discomfort, Peppone said. The study will serve as a pilot to launch a larger study of exercise to relieve musculoskeletal pain.

His research, as well as Sprod's study, also was selected for presentation at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer meeting in June in New York.

Finally, a controlled study of yoga therapy in middle-aged, mostly female cancer survivors showed that a four-week, customized gentle yoga plan significantly reduced perceived difficulty with memory. Michelle C. Janelsins, Ph.D., research assistant professor at Wilmot, randomized patients to one of two groups: standard follow-up care after receiving adjuvant cancer treatment, and standard care plus a program that consisted of breathing exercises, gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga postures, and meditation. The yoga group had significantly reduced memory difficulty compared to the standard care control group.

Improved memory also partially contributed to improved fatigue and improved quality of life, Janelsins noted.

In some ways, Mustian said, the exercise-and-cancer dilemma harkens to the days when it was not known what types of chemotherapy and how much should be given to cancer patients. Through rigorous scientific inquiry, physicians were able to refine the way they prescribe and administer chemo - and Mustian believes the same refinement is possible with exercise.

"I think we do an incredible disservice to people who have just been diagnosed with cancer when we say, 'Just do it!' Mustian added. "Sometimes we see 72-year-olds who are more fit than 55-year-olds, and so it is best to look at functional capacity, and then to be as specific as possible when it comes to personalizing exercise for people with cancer. Otherwise we are sending mixed messages."

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25 Years On, World No Tobacco Day Is Making An Impact

25 Years On, World No Tobacco Day Is Making An Impact

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 31 May 2012 - 1:00 PDT

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May 31 marks the 25th anniversary of World No Tobacco Day, but does the day really inspire anyone to think about quitting smoking? Yes it does, according to a new study led by investigators from the Informatics Program at Children's Hospital Boston and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. For the study, the research team monitored news promoting cessation and Internet search queries indicative of cessation for six years in seven Latin American nations. Cessation news coverage and Internet search queries for cessation peaked on World No Tobacco Day, increasing as much as 83 percent and 84 percent compared to a typical day, respectively. Their findings appear in the May/June issue of Journal of Medical Internet Research.

"After 25 years we didn't know if World No Tobacco Day was having a significant public health impact," said John W. Ayers, lead author of the study, Children's Hospital faculty member and recent graduate of the Bloomberg School of Public Health. "Frankly, given the proliferation of awareness days, we were surprised to find large spikes pointing to interest in cessation."

Senior analyst and Bloomberg doctoral candidate Benjamin Althouse noted, "We generally think of New Year's Day as the peak time when media encourages quitting and smokers want to quit. World No Tobacco Day spikes, however, often outsized New Year's increases, like a second-chance quitting resolution."

"People who live in low-and middle-income countries comprise a majority of the deaths from the global tobacco epidemic. Our study provides initial evidence that World No Tobacco Day encourages cessation awareness and cessation interest in these countries," said Joanna Cohen, PhD, who leads the Bloomberg School's Institute for Global Tobacco Control. "The majority of smokers do want to quit, and World No Tobacco Day is an effective reminder and inspiration."

"Almost 6 million people die each year from tobacco including 600,000 from second-hand smoke. Anything that helps people quit tobacco is a life-saver," said Douglas Bettcher, director of WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative. "This research encourages all of us to continue the long fight against tobacco. But we should never let down our guard against the tobacco industry's devious tactics to undo the public health gains we have been able to make."

The authors note these increases have potentially large health implications. Jon-Patrick Allem, study coauthor and USC Keck Medicine affiliate said, "To otherwise achieve these kinds of increases, countries would have to raise cigarette taxes 2.8 percent every year; this is likely undoable year in and year out, unlike the way World No Tobacco Day delivers.

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Exercise May Be Bad For Some

Exercise May Be Bad For Some

Featured Article
Academic Journal
Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology;Â Â Diabetes
Article Date: 31 May 2012 - 2:00 PDT

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A new study suggests that not every healthy person benefits from regular exercise: for a small 7% minority it may increase heart and diabetes risk factors. The researchers did not suggest this should stop people exercising but point to the importance of using this type of knowledge to personalize exercise programs.

Claude Bouchard, a professor of genetics and nutrition in the Human Genomics Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the US, was lead author of the study, which was published online in PLoS ONE on 30 May.

Bouchard and colleagues write in their background information that public health guidelines suggest adults should do 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity physical activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous intensity activity.

However, it is now well established that different people respond differently to exercise in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic and diabetes risk factors.

But the question that still remains, is whether there are people for whom the effect of regular exercise on these risk factors could be harmful.

For their study, Bouchard and colleagues analyzed data from six rigorous studies that looked at the effect of exercise in a total of 1,687 adults.

These studies were the HERITAGE Family Study, the DREW Study, the INFLAME Study, and the STRRIDE Study, plus cohorts from two other studies, one from the University of Maryland and another from the University of Jyvaskyla.

They looked to see how many of the participants experienced an adverse response to exercise, which they defined as an "exercise-induced change that worsens a risk factor beyond measurement error and expected day-to-day variation".

Bouchard and colleagues produced their own parameters for this definition by measuring resting systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and insulin (FI) in 60 people over a period of three weeks.

From these measures they defined an adverse response in these risk factors as: an increase of 10 mm Hg or more for SBP, 0.42 mmol/L or more for TG, or 24 pmol/L or more for FI or a decrease of 0.12 mmol/L or more for HDL-C.

Applying this definition to the results of the six studies, they found that 8.4% of participants had an adverse change in FI. This figure was 12.2% for SBP, 10.4% for TG and 13.3% for HDL-C.

They also found that the proportion of participants that experienced adverse effects in two or more risk factors was 7%.

"This subgroup should receive urgent attention," they write.

Bouchard and colleagues found no evidence for differences between blacks and whites, or between men and women.

Also, the adverse responses were not explained by the health status of the participants, or their age, amount of exercise they did, or lack of improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness. And there was no evidence to suggest drugs were the cause of adverse responses.

"Thus, some individuals experience [adverse responses] when exposed to regular exercise, but the causes of the phenomenon are unknown at this time," they write, concluding that:

"Adverse responses to regular exercise in cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors occur. Identifying the predictors of such unwarranted responses and how to prevent them will provide the foundation for personalized exercise prescription."

"The challenge is now to investigate whether baseline predictors of [adverse responses] can be identified to screen individuals at risk so that they can be offered alternative approaches to modifying cardiometabolic risk factors," they write.

Some experts are concerned the study will give ready ammunition to those people who don't need many reasons to excuse themselves from exercise.

For example, William Haskell, emeritus professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center told the New York Times he thinks this could be an excuse for some people to say "Oh, I must be one of those [that doesn't benefit]".

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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Kamis, 31 Mei 2012

Will Dark Chocolate a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

Chocolate to Prevent Heart Attacks

Dark Chocolate to Prevent Heart Disease, Stroke

Chagas Disease FAQ

May 31, 2012 -- Chagas disease is being called the new "AIDS of the Americas." The shocking comparison has put this neglected tropical disease in headlines around the world. Who's at risk? Is Chagas really as bad as AIDS? Here's WebMD's Chagas disease FAQ.

What Is Chagas Disease? What Causes Chagas Disease?

How Is Chagas Disease Spread?

Global Cancer Rates Set to Soar by 2030

Why Are Cancer Rates on the Rise?

Cancer Profiles Change as Countries Become More Westernized

Diabetes Drug Actos Again Linked to Bladder Cancer

Overall Risk of Bladder Cancer Still Low Among Actos Users

Actos Manufacturer Responds

Making the Decision to Take Actos

Salmonella Outbreak Again Tied to Ohio Hatchery

Not the First Outbreak Tied to Live Poultry

Safe Handling Tips

Flame Retardant Found in Some Common Foods

HBCD in Foods: Study Details

Flame Retardants in Foods: Discussion

Missing Teeth, Cavities Common in U.S.

Add Your Opinion On This Article

Add Your Opinion On This Article

Add Your Opinion On This Article

Add Your Opinion On This Article

May 31, 2012 -- Chagas disease is being called the new "AIDS of the Americas."

The shocking comparison has put this neglected tropical disease in headlines around the world.

Who's at risk? Is Chagas really as bad as AIDS? Here's WebMD's Chagas disease FAQ.