Archive for April 2009

The American Veterinary Medical Association has released a statement saying that human exposure to pigs and consumption of pork products will not increase your risk of infection with swine flu. Thus far, the swine flu has only been identified and transmitted among humans. There have been no reports of outbreaks among swine herds. In fact, the term “swine flu” is a misnomer since this strain is actually composed of a combination of viruses that include swine, poultry and human influenza viruses. And today, the World Health Organization announced that they will no longer be using the term “swine flu” to avoid confusion over the danger posed by pigs. Instead the proper, scientific name H1N1 influenza A will be used. With that being said, the AVMA is also reminding us to follow proper cooking guidelines for all meat products to reduce the incidence of food borne illnesses such as salmonella.

Learn about swine flu symptoms.

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A 23-month old Mexican child who was brought by his parents to the US in search of treatment for swine flu has passed away in Houston. Although the swine flu, like the average flu, tends to affect those with poor immune systems – the very young and the very old – it is not certain why there have been more fatalities in Mexico, the presumed origin of the strain. It may be because there are simply more cases in Mexico, and even more un-diagnosed cases. Another theory is that the virus may have mutated or that a second strain is spreading at the same time. Whatever the reason, medical advise should be sought if you have any symptoms of the flu. As well, make sure to practice good hygiene in order to reduce transmission of communicable diseases.

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Research presented at the annual meeting of the American Urology Association hint that BOTOX may be a beneficial treatment for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BOTOX is the trademark name for Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A, which when injected into the prostate appears to be safe and efficacious in reducing the symptoms of BPH. This is a great discovery because BPH can severely impact a man’s quality of life. In addition, BOTOX injections are fast-acting and do not need to be given on a daily basis like current medications for BPH.

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Hand washing is one of the best and most effective ways of controlling the spread of diseases – if done correctly. As we accumulate germs on our hands, we can infect ourselves with these germs by touching our eyes, mouth or nose which act as entryways into our body. Dirty hands can spread germs to others if you touch them directly, or if you touch a surface that they also touch. The best way to clean your hands is to use soap and clean running water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also great at germ-killing. Antibacterial soaps are NOT recommended because they are no more effective than regular soap. Furthermore, they may induce the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. For proper hand-washing follow these simple rules:

1.  Use warm running water to wet your hands first, then apply a liquid or bar soap.
2.  Rub your hands together vigorously for at least 15 to 20 seconds, making sure that all surfaces are exposed to the soap, including your wrists, between the fingers, back of the hands and under the fingernails.
3.  Rinse well and dry with a clean or disposable towel.
4.  Turn off the faucet with a disposable towel to prevent contaminating your hands.

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According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of April 26 there are 20 documented cases of swine influenza in the US. Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs that can sometimes infect humans, who can then transmit it to other humans. The current strain of virus that is circulating among humans is the H1N1 strain. The latest laboratory testing shows that this strain is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. The CDC has released guidelines on the use of these drugs, as well as how to take care of someone who is sick with the flu, available here. Also, see an interactive map of the locations of the outbreak.

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An FDA press release this week announces the over-the-counter availability of “Plan B”, also known as the “morning after pill”, for women 17 years of age and older. The FDA will accept, and not appeal, a March 23, 2009 a federal court order that lifts the Bush administration’s restrictions limiting over-the-counter sales of Plan B to women 18 and older. Plan B is emergency contraception that will not interfere with an established pregnancy. It works by delaying ovulation, preventing fertilization and implantation of fertilized eggs. In medical terms, pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, it can reduce a woman’s chances of pregnancy by as much as 89 percent.

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Traditionally, people with darker hair and skin color who do not sunburn easily were classified as lower risk for skin cancer. But new research is showing that even people with these traits can be at high risk for melanoma, based on their genetic factors. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that variations in the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), a molecule that controls skin pigmentation, in individuals with dark features can actually increase their melanoma risk by 2.4-fold. Although no test is currently available to detect whether one has a MC1R variant, this genetic contribution to melanoma risk will definitely be considered when stratifying individuals for skin cancer risk in the future.

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New research data suggests that veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, the code name for a herbicide and defoliant used during the Vietnam War, have an increased risk of recurrence of aggressive prostate cancer. The Medical College of Georgia study of nearly 1,500 veterans who underwent radical prostatectomy to remove their cancerous prostates showed that the 206 people who were exposed to Agent Orange had nearly a 50% increased risk of their cancer returning, compared to non-exposed individuals. Once their cancers returned their PSA (prostate specific antigen) doubling time, a measure of cancer aggressiveness, was only 8 months, compared with 18 months in the exposed group.

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University of Calgary researchers say there may be a connection between menstrual cycles and the laxity of a woman’s knee joint. Reporting in The American Journal of Sports Medicine the researchers noted that although knee laxity varied with the different phases of the menstrual cycle, women appear to have some periods of greater knee laxity. The cause of this relationship is unclear, but, this may be a factor in why female athletes are two and eight times more likely to injure their ACL knee ligaments than men.

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Turmeric powder has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for its various medicinal properties, including as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic. Because of these purported effects, scientists have been studying the active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin. Reporting in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, University of Michigan researchers have discovered that molecules of curcumin can actually insert themselves into the membranes of our cells, thus making the membranes more stable. This may have effects on the way our cells respond to inflammation and infections. For now, the mechanism of action of curcumin, in its entirety, remains a mystery but we are one step closer because of this discovery.

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