Health News Aug. 28th
Childhood Allergies Have Increased Globally Since 1991
Childhood allergies have become more widespread around the globe since 1991, according to a large study. The most common allergies are hayfever, asthma and eczema. In the UK, a study of 1,700 children found asthma prevalence went up from 18.4% in 1991 to 20.9% in 2003 - for the same period hayfever prevalence went up from 9.8% to 10.1% and eczema rose from 13% to 16%.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=50592
Study links chemical used in plastics to breast cancer
A CHEMICAL used in plastic bottles and other household products may be linked to the development of breast cancer, researchers said yesterday.
US scientists showed that high concentrations of Bisphenol A (BPA), an oestrogen-like chemical which mimics female hormones, can stimulate cancer cells.
Experts had previously suggested that natural changes to the chemical when it enters the human body rendered the oestrogen-like chemical harmless.
But a US study found that the common chemical keeps its cancer-causing properties even after being modified by processes in the body.
http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1258322006
Multi Drug Resistant Bacteria Most Common Cause of Skin Infections
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that skin infections resistant to drugs are more common than ever before. Lead author Gregory Moran with Olive View-UCLA Medical Center says
MSRA-Back Abscess- or MRSA - has become the leading cause of such
infections seen in hospital emergency rooms. "It now accounts for 59% overall of skin infections," he says, pointing out that the statistic represents a fairly remarkable change. "Five or six years ago, it would have been almost [unheard of] to find MRSA among these types of patients."
Moran says this so-called community-associated MRSA strain is not related to the hospital infections. "They are different strains genetically. The community strains fortunately are more susceptible to antibiotics. So we do have a few more options in terms of treating the community MRSA strains compared to the hospital ones." However, the community strain appears to be more aggressive and more likely to cause infection.
Moran says MRSA spreads rapidly from person to person and recommends good hygiene as a preventive measure. "Frequent hand washing, cleaning all shared equipment, trying to avoid sharing towels, razors, sports equipment those things whenever possible. Anybody who does have a skin infection should keep it covered so that they are not exposing other people."
Moran says further studies are necessary to determine which antibiotics are most effective against community-associated MRSA and to track over time whether resistance to antibiotics changes within the strain.
http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2006-08-25-voa51.cfm
What is Benzene?
Benzene is an organic compound frequently used in the manufacturing of rubber, paint, plastics, resins, drugs, pesticides, synthetics, and other products. Benzene is a colorless and highly flammable liquid with a sweet odor. Benzene can also be present in organic solvents, gasoline, and tobacco smoke.
Exposure to benzene is most likely to occur among workers in facilities that use the chemical in their products. Benzene exposure can cause acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), as well as other forms of leukemia and cancer. In addition, benzene can enter the environment through spills, accidental releases, volcanic eruptions, and forest fires.Benzene Health EffectsContact with low to moderate levels of benzene for a short time can cause headaches, vomiting, disorientation, shakiness, elevated heart rate, and loss of consciousness. Very high levels of exposure can be fatal. People who work with high levels of benzene or who are exposed to it over a long period of time are at the highest risk for developing benzene-related illnesses, such as acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lyphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, hairy cell leukemia, aplastic anemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome. Under the law, victims of benzene-related health effects may be eligible for compensation. If you have been harmed by benzene exposure, you may want to consider seeking consultation to learn more about your options.
http://www.benzene411.org/?src=googlead
People identification - ALERT -- CDC Plans NPIS - In recent email dispatch it was announced that the Center for Disease Control has discovered 13 cases of human plague in four states leading to the proposal for a new National People Identification System (NPIS) to use implantable, satellite GPS based, active RFID for tracking the movements and interactions of all humans to control the spread of disease.
Childhood allergies have become more widespread around the globe since 1991, according to a large study. The most common allergies are hayfever, asthma and eczema. In the UK, a study of 1,700 children found asthma prevalence went up from 18.4% in 1991 to 20.9% in 2003 - for the same period hayfever prevalence went up from 9.8% to 10.1% and eczema rose from 13% to 16%.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=50592
Study links chemical used in plastics to breast cancer
A CHEMICAL used in plastic bottles and other household products may be linked to the development of breast cancer, researchers said yesterday.
US scientists showed that high concentrations of Bisphenol A (BPA), an oestrogen-like chemical which mimics female hormones, can stimulate cancer cells.
Experts had previously suggested that natural changes to the chemical when it enters the human body rendered the oestrogen-like chemical harmless.
But a US study found that the common chemical keeps its cancer-causing properties even after being modified by processes in the body.
http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1258322006
Multi Drug Resistant Bacteria Most Common Cause of Skin Infections
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that skin infections resistant to drugs are more common than ever before. Lead author Gregory Moran with Olive View-UCLA Medical Center says
MSRA-Back Abscess- or MRSA - has become the leading cause of such
infections seen in hospital emergency rooms. "It now accounts for 59% overall of skin infections," he says, pointing out that the statistic represents a fairly remarkable change. "Five or six years ago, it would have been almost [unheard of] to find MRSA among these types of patients."
Moran says this so-called community-associated MRSA strain is not related to the hospital infections. "They are different strains genetically. The community strains fortunately are more susceptible to antibiotics. So we do have a few more options in terms of treating the community MRSA strains compared to the hospital ones." However, the community strain appears to be more aggressive and more likely to cause infection.
Moran says MRSA spreads rapidly from person to person and recommends good hygiene as a preventive measure. "Frequent hand washing, cleaning all shared equipment, trying to avoid sharing towels, razors, sports equipment those things whenever possible. Anybody who does have a skin infection should keep it covered so that they are not exposing other people."
Moran says further studies are necessary to determine which antibiotics are most effective against community-associated MRSA and to track over time whether resistance to antibiotics changes within the strain.
http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2006-08-25-voa51.cfm
What is Benzene?
Benzene is an organic compound frequently used in the manufacturing of rubber, paint, plastics, resins, drugs, pesticides, synthetics, and other products. Benzene is a colorless and highly flammable liquid with a sweet odor. Benzene can also be present in organic solvents, gasoline, and tobacco smoke.
Exposure to benzene is most likely to occur among workers in facilities that use the chemical in their products. Benzene exposure can cause acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), as well as other forms of leukemia and cancer. In addition, benzene can enter the environment through spills, accidental releases, volcanic eruptions, and forest fires.Benzene Health EffectsContact with low to moderate levels of benzene for a short time can cause headaches, vomiting, disorientation, shakiness, elevated heart rate, and loss of consciousness. Very high levels of exposure can be fatal. People who work with high levels of benzene or who are exposed to it over a long period of time are at the highest risk for developing benzene-related illnesses, such as acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lyphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, hairy cell leukemia, aplastic anemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome. Under the law, victims of benzene-related health effects may be eligible for compensation. If you have been harmed by benzene exposure, you may want to consider seeking consultation to learn more about your options.
http://www.benzene411.org/?src=googlead
People identification - ALERT -- CDC Plans NPIS - In recent email dispatch it was announced that the Center for Disease Control has discovered 13 cases of human plague in four states leading to the proposal for a new National People Identification System (NPIS) to use implantable, satellite GPS based, active RFID for tracking the movements and interactions of all humans to control the spread of disease.
posted by Dani @ 7:25 AM
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