If you've been spending extra to buy antibacterial soap .. faggedabout it ..
Once again, the plain old stuff is not only just as good, in this case it appears to be better.
Research done at the University of Pennsylvania school of medicine finds the plain old stuff not only cleans as well it may be better BECAUSE ( this is the TAH DAH moment) .. the antibiotic used may be ineffective at inhibiting the growth of certain bacteria - and in the end, makes those bacteria stronger. They 'learn' to beat the antibiotic and that's what makes them more resistant.
So, get out the old bar of IVORY and just scrub .. the rule of thumb is.. wash for as long as it takes to sing 'happy birthday' twice ..
If you want to read the entire study, check out the Sept. 1 issue of CLNICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Friday, August 17
Thursday, August 16
Mom's diet and baby's weight
An interesting little study with the potential for big impact.
Researchers in London looked at pregnant rats who were allowed to eat regular food and junk food during pregnancy and then during lactation.
Seems the momma rats who ate junk food both during pregnancy AND while feeding their babies produced offspring who 1- where bigger and fatter and 2- had a bigger taste for junk food.
The take-away .. junk food during pregnancy may not be great, but combined post pregnancy when a mom is breastfeeding ( they extrapolated ) could be a contributor to obese kids.
Now, I know, these were rats .. but previous research has found that what mom eats impacts offspring's appetite in humans as well.
So moms, if you tame your sweet tooth, you might be helping your kids stay healthy and trim. .. Just a little food for thought.
Researchers in London looked at pregnant rats who were allowed to eat regular food and junk food during pregnancy and then during lactation.
Seems the momma rats who ate junk food both during pregnancy AND while feeding their babies produced offspring who 1- where bigger and fatter and 2- had a bigger taste for junk food.
The take-away .. junk food during pregnancy may not be great, but combined post pregnancy when a mom is breastfeeding ( they extrapolated ) could be a contributor to obese kids.
Now, I know, these were rats .. but previous research has found that what mom eats impacts offspring's appetite in humans as well.
So moms, if you tame your sweet tooth, you might be helping your kids stay healthy and trim. .. Just a little food for thought.
Wednesday, August 15
Sex and the Single Girl
That was the title of a best seller a few decades back - when the pill was just emerging on the market and women were shedding their girdles.
Now it's got a new meaning .. particularly when it comes to infection prevention.
As kids are heading off to or back to college, many parents will be discussing the HPV vaccine with their daughters. It's the vaccine that can prevent infection with the human papilloma virus - linked to cervical cancer.
It's recommended for girls ages 11 and 12 - presumably before they become sexually active and exposed to HPV.
But there are many older girls / teens - who haven't been sexually active for whom the protection is appropriate.
But the vaccine WILL NOT work against current infection .. this is not a treatment .. it's a preventative.
So moms - and other women in responsible roles - it's time to discuss this with your daughter's physician.
Now it's got a new meaning .. particularly when it comes to infection prevention.
As kids are heading off to or back to college, many parents will be discussing the HPV vaccine with their daughters. It's the vaccine that can prevent infection with the human papilloma virus - linked to cervical cancer.
It's recommended for girls ages 11 and 12 - presumably before they become sexually active and exposed to HPV.
But there are many older girls / teens - who haven't been sexually active for whom the protection is appropriate.
But the vaccine WILL NOT work against current infection .. this is not a treatment .. it's a preventative.
So moms - and other women in responsible roles - it's time to discuss this with your daughter's physician.
Tuesday, August 14
Breast Cancer and African American Women
As we begin to close in on October - sorry, I don't mean to rush through the seasons - we'll be hearing stories about breast cancer treatment as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. But already a story caught my eye and it's troubling.
Once again a study finds "After adjusting for tumor size and lymph node status as well age and other factors, the mortality rate for African-American women with breast cancer was as much as 56% higher than that for whites, Alfred I. Neugut, M.D., Ph.D., of Columbia University, and colleagues reported in the Sept. 15 issue of Cancer.
Not only do black women have higher breast cancer mortality rates they are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease and have worse stage-for-stage survival than white women, the researchers said.
But once again, researchers are stumped .. "Whether these disparities are caused by a difference between races in tumor biology or to nonclinical socioeconomic factors that affect access to care has been unclear," Dr. Neugut said.
The take away .. we need to reduce barriers to screening and treatment - and we need to remind our sisters and the women we love - to be screened and to follow their doctor's advice when it comes to treatment.
Once again a study finds "After adjusting for tumor size and lymph node status as well age and other factors, the mortality rate for African-American women with breast cancer was as much as 56% higher than that for whites, Alfred I. Neugut, M.D., Ph.D., of Columbia University, and colleagues reported in the Sept. 15 issue of Cancer.
Not only do black women have higher breast cancer mortality rates they are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease and have worse stage-for-stage survival than white women, the researchers said.
But once again, researchers are stumped .. "Whether these disparities are caused by a difference between races in tumor biology or to nonclinical socioeconomic factors that affect access to care has been unclear," Dr. Neugut said.
The take away .. we need to reduce barriers to screening and treatment - and we need to remind our sisters and the women we love - to be screened and to follow their doctor's advice when it comes to treatment.
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