MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'epidemiology'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:47:33 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5170345&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F08%2F28%2Fcysticercosis-in-mexico%2F Mexico is one of only eight countries which mandate reporting of cysticercosis on a national level. The following background data are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] Cysticercosis in Mexico: Incidence and rates per 100,000, see graph: Prevalence surveys: Neurocysticercosis is found in 0.4 to 3.5% of autopsies (1980′s) and accounts for 25% of cerebral mass lesions. Cerebral cysts are identified in 50% of late-onset epileptics (1990) Six percent of cerebral CT scans are positive for this disease (Yucatan, 1989 to 1994). 0.49% of the Indian rural population of Chiapas are seropositive (1976 publication) 1.5% of persons in the Yucatan are infested by Taenia solium, and 3.7% are seropositive toward the parasite (1996 to 1997). 1.2% of persons in rural G... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5170345 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:11:33 +0100 5170345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169561&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fthe-challenge-of-obesity.html For those interested in epidemiology, chronic disease, and obesity. This week's edition of the Lancet has a series of four articles and several commentaries that review the economics, epidemiology, social, and policymaking issues affecting obesity that are well worth reading in full. The take away message is that this is an extremely complicated area. There is an emphasis by the authors and commentators that correction of obesity will take government action. Government action in this area tends to resolve around police actions, and taxation. Taxation policies have worked to a significant extent in reducing tobacco consumption in Europe. However, smoking is not a survival necessity whereas eating is. We have to be very careful about the use of police power for public health policy with the ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169561 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:05:04 +0100 5169561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5161737&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fhepatitis-a-in-bulgaria%2F The incidence of viral hepatitis in Bulgaria has actually decreased in recent years [1-3] See graph: Nevertheless, disease rates in Bulgaria remain slightly higher than those in neighboring countries. Graphs are generated using an interactive online system – see GIDEON Graphs References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Bulgaria, 2011. 68 pp, 101 graphs, 967 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-bulgaria/ 2. Berger SA. Hepatitis A: Global Status, 2011. 163 pp, 180 graphs, 1073 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/hepatitis-a-global-status/ 3. Berger SA. Hepatitis B: Global Status, 2011. 327 pp, 405 graphs, 1517 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/hepa... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5161737 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:03:23 +0100 5161737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159078&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fpreserving-the-bodys-bugs.html An interview today in TheScientist magazine, with Martin Blaser of New York University school of medicine, discusses the hypothesis that the overuse of antibiotics is affecting the normal flora of the gut, which in turn may be may be affecting the likelihood of development chronic diseases. While the theory is not new, the research discussed is and should be watched with interest by everyone in the public health field. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159078 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:39:59 +0100 5159078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5161740&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Frelapsing-fever-in-the-united-states-2%2F The following background data are abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and from references 1-2. Time and Place: Tick-borne relapsing fever was first described in the United States in 1915 (Colorado). – Peak incidence is reported during the summer, with 47% of cases from July to August. – The disease is most common in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon. – Sporadic cases are reported from Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. – Most cases occur in the Cascade, Rocky Mountain, San Bernadino and Sierra Nevada ranges. – 40% of cases involve tourists to endemic areas (1977 to 2000). – Tick-borne relapsing fever is reportable in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, T... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5161740 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:31:28 +0100 5161740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5161741&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fmumps-in-the-czech-republic%2F Notwithstanding an ongoing outbreak in northern Bohemia, the Czech Republic has managed to reduce mumps to levels comparable to those of the United States. In the following graph, I have contrasted rates per 100,000 population for these two countries: Graph generation system outlined in [1]) Note that a precipitous decline in mumps in the Czech Republic followed the introuction of widespread MMR vaccination in 1987. [2,3] 1. Gideon Graphs module tutorial Gideon Graphs 2. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the Czech Republic, 2011. 424 pp, 139 graphs, 1192 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-czech-republic/ 3. Berger SA. Mumps: Global Status, 2011. 157 pp, 187 graphs, 390 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/e... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5161741 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:46:53 +0100 5161741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159082&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fhealthy-behaviors-will-help-you-live-longer.html Researchers looked at long-term data from Americans aged 17 and older and found that those who embraced four healthy behaviors -- not smoking, eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity and avoiding excessive alcohol use -- were 63 percent less likely to die early from any cause than those with none of those healthy habits. Comment: one more piece of confirmatory data that are health relies more behaviors. The problem is that despite many repeated similar studies of population behaviors do not change. Instead of wasting money repeat the same old research. Why not develop methods to change population? If this is much not possible, which I suspect, perhaps we should stop funding ineffectual research. [http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p0818_living_longer.htm ] (Source: Dr.... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159082 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:26:38 +0100 5159082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159084&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fdogs-can-detect-lung-cancer.html The study, carried out by researchers from Schillerhoehe Hospital in Germany, is the first to find that sniffer dogs can reliably detect lung cancer. This method relies on identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are linked to the presence of cancer. The dogs successfully identified 71 samples with lung cancer out of a possible 100. They also correctly detected 372 samples that did not have lung cancer out of a possible 400. [European Respiratory Journal, 2011; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00051711] Comment: Dogs really man’s best friend. Compared to other screening methods the sensitivity and specificity are better.           (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159084 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:22:51 +0100 5159084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140182&cid=t_92145_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F18%2Fmesothelin-antibodies-occur-in-some-women-with-an-epidemiologic-risk-for-ovarian-cancer%2F Researchers at Rush University Medical Center discover mesothelin antibodies in the bloodstream of infertile women, who possess a higher risk of ovarian cancer. Using a new approach to developing biomarkers for the very early detection of ovarian cancer, researchers at Rush University Medical Center have identified a molecule in the bloodstream of infertile women, who [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140182 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:32:48 +0100 5140182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5119916&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2Fhepatitis-c-in-scotland%2F A recent post in ProMED highlights the fact that rates of Hepatitis C in Scotland are more than seven-fold higher than those of neighboring countries, and twenty-fold those reported in the United States. [1,2] See graph References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Scotland, 2011. 403 pp, 140 graphs, 1233 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-scotland/ 2. Berger SA. Hepatitis C: Global Status, 2011. 164 pp, 160 graphs, 1500 references. Gideonn e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/hepatitis-c-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5119916 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:56:40 +0100 5119916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5119917&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F08%2F10%2Fe-coli-outbreaks-and-recreational-water%2F A search of the Gideon database reveals 973 country-specific notes (244,226 cases) which detail one or more outbreaks of E. coli gastroenteritis. [1,2] Recreational water was specified as the vehicle in only 16 (1.6% of total) outbreaks, involving 244 patients (0.10% of total) – in chronological order, as follows: 1991 – U.S.A. 59 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection (21 cases) and Shigella sonnei infection (38 cases) associated with a lakeside park in Oregon. 1993 – U.K. 6 cases (3 HUS, 1 fatal) associated with paddling pools. 1993 – Netherlands. 4 cases of HU.S.A.due to E. coli O157:H7 associated with a swimming pool. 1995 – U.S.A. E. coli O157:H7 infection associated with a lake in Illinois. {p 8618543} 1996 – U.S.A. 18 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in Georgia associate... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5119917 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:11:26 +0100 5119917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118648&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpainful-bladder-condition-often-goes-undiagnosed-in-women%2F2011.08.10 Millions of Americans—most of them women—suffer from a bladder condition known as interstitial cystitis. According to a new study of this disorder, fewer than 10% of women with symptoms of interstitial cystitis are actually diagnosed with the disorder, even though it severely affects their lives. Without a proper diagnosis, women with interstitial cystitis are missing out on treatments that might bring them some relief. As I describe in an article in the August 2011 issue of the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, interstitial cystitis is a chronic bladder condition that causes recurring bouts of pain and pressure in the bladder and pelvic area. Individuals with the condition usually have an urgent and frequent need to urinate—sometimes as often as 60 times a day. The pain and discomfort... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118648 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:00:59 +0100 5118648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097852&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2Fhepatitis-b-in-tajikistan%2F Rates of hepatitis B in Tajikistan and surrounding countries have declined considerably since the 1990′s, and are similar to those reported in the United States. Interestingly, this trend began a decade before the introduction of universal Hepatitis B vaccination in the region. [1,2] References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Tajikistan, 2011. 340 pp, 80 graphs, 87 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-tajikistan/ 2. Berger SA. Hepatitis B: Global Status, 2011. 327 pp, 405 graphs, 1517 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/hepatitis-b-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097852 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:48:46 +0100 5097852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077719&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fhow-should-we-define-health.html The British Medical Journal today contains an interesting analysis of the term "Health". Some 14 commentators are concerned that the WHO definition is restrictive and absolute. The authors are also concerned that the current definition leads to medicalization of society and particularly in the US to an inappropriate increase in treatments that produce little benefit a t great cost. This interesting discussion suggests that “health” be a social contract that accepts the current aging society and increases in chronic diseases in functional rather than biologically. This discussion is well worth reading. (BMJ 2011; 343:d4163). (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077719 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:04:12 +0100 5077719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077720&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fcell-phones-childrens-brain-cancer.html The negative studies keep piling up as seen in the latest publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on July 27. While this again shows no change in risk comparing those who use cell phones to those who don't, the data is not convincing either way as we are not told about the amount of time the cell phones were used by children, either from individual calls or minutes per day for those with brain cancer compared to those without it. The risk from cell phones is much greater from accidents caused by inattention while using the phone than it probably is for any cancer that might occur. This is a genie that will not go back into the bottle. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077720 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:12:36 +0100 5077720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069500&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fdont-believe-everything-you-read.html A blog at Forbes Media noted that a study published online in the journal Toxicological Sciences stated that careful analysis of volunteers who ate a diet rich in BPA for 24-hour's failed to to detect BPA in the volunteers blood (it was below the level of detection.) Consider this when you read stories from activists who want BPA removed from canned foods without considering its benefits,  when there is no evidence that it poses any danger. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069500 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:19:29 +0100 5069500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062363&cid=t_92145_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2F1Mn8zmxQWT0%2F Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation 2008 Lecture Ian Hickie presents research on mental health issues in the Australian legal profession. He discusses help-seeking behaviours, productivity, disability, economic burden of illness, suicide and prevention efforts, substance use, neurobiology, treatments, gender and age differences, stigma and discrimination, and more. Extremely well-researched presentation with many statistics and perspectives. The 40 minute lecture is followed by a panel discussion, a Q&A session with the audience, and a brief talk by organization co-founder George Jepson. The Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation works to “raise awareness, improve education and build effective models of support which focus on mental health wellbeing” in the legal profession, and... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062363 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:30:04 +0100 5062363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062267&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fscreening-for-breast-cancer.html This week a number of media outlets have been explaining the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's push for increased screening below the age of 50 and at the same time noting in a critical manner the recommendations of the US Task Force on Preventive Services. This reminds me of the push by urologists for more screening for prostate cancer without concern for potential side effects. Earlier screening for breast cancer has more to do with politics and economics than science. The Task Force's recommendations are based on good epidemiology but unfortunately the way in which the data was presented to of the public did more harm than good and caused a lot of misunderstanding. We should be very careful when any special interest group, but the medical or political make recommendations ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062267 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:46:12 +0100 5062267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5052748&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F07%2F22%2Fimported-rabies-1970-to-2011%2F An ongoing chronology of cross-border rabies cases reported during 1970 to July 2011 includes 59 cases of human infection, from 20 countries; and 29 importations of rabid animals (27 dogs, 1 horse and 1 cat) from 14 countries. Gideon www.GideonOnline.com The most common countries for human exposure were India and the Philippines (8 cases each), followed by Mexico (6) and Morocco (4). Seven rabid animals originated in Morocco. The case detailed in ProMED is the third to originate in Haiti (the two previous patients also died in the United States), and the thirteenth case of imported rabies in the U.S. since 1983. [1,2] References: 1. Berger SA. Rabies: Global Status, 2011. 366 pp, 546 graphs, 1056 references. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/rabies-global-st... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5052748 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 06:58:12 +0100 5052748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050908&cid=t_92145_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FJLbNA_qy-k0%2F Creating a Healthier Future through Prevention of Child Maltreatment Excellent panel presentation on effects of and strategies to prevent child maltreatment. Experts describe harms including a long list of psychological, cognitive and physical health issues, brain development and epigenetic consequences, fatalities, legal, government and social costs of abuse and neglect. The lifetime economic burden in the US is estimated between a conservative figure of $121 billion (2008) and an estimated half a trillion dollars, per year. They discuss what can be done for prevention with public health and policy approaches, including eliminating risk factors, and resource allocation from cost-benefit analyses. Evidence-based prevention programs include home visitations by nurses, maternity ward educati... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050908 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:12:36 +0100 5050908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039572&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2Fdiphtheria-in-india%2F Diphtheria rates in India have decreased considerably since 1980, in parallel with increasing vaccination coverage. [1,2] During the past decade rates in India have been similar to those of surrounding countries. References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of India, 2011. 480 pp, 65 graphs, 3503 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-india/ 2. Berger SA. Diphtheria: Global Status, 2011. 303 pp, 441 graphs, 259 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/diphtheria-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039572 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:16:45 +0100 5039572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5020732&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F07%2F11%2Ftick-borne-encephalitis-correction%2F In a previous post, I noted that “highest rates [of Tick-borne encephalitis] are reported in Germany and the Czech Republic.” The statement should read, “highest rates …. in Slovenia and the Czech Republic.” Not surprisingly, Slovenia and the Czech Republic also report the highest rates of Lyme borreliosis, another tick-borne illness. In the following graph, rates for the United States are added for comparison. [1,2] References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Slovenia, 2011. 377 pp., 114 graphs, 931 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-slovenia/ 2. Berger SA. Lyme disease: Global Status, 2011. 68 pp., 61 graphs, 496 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/lyme-disea... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5020732 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 06:15:14 +0100 5020732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5020733&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F07%2F10%2Ftick-borne-encephalitis-in-austria-2%2F Prior to the institution of mass vaccination in 1981, Austria reported the highest rates of Tick-borne encephalitis in Western Europe. Currently, highest rates are reported in Germany and the Czech Republic. [1,2] see graph - References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Austria, 2011. 399 pp, 108 graphs, 1187 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-austria/ 2. Berger SA. Tick-borne Encephalitis: Global Status, 2011. 54 pp, 44 graphs, 314 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/tick-borne-encephalitis-global-status/ Update: Reported on ProMED (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5020733 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 03:50:42 +0100 5020733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5009935&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F07%2F07%2Fleptospirosis-in-france%2F France reports the highest rate of leptospirosis in Europe. In the following graph, I have compared reported rates per 100,000 in France with those of contiguous countries. [1,2] Most cases occur in the river basins of the southwest coast, notably Franche-Comte, Champagne-Ardennes and Poitou-Charentes. During 1996 to 2005, disease rates in Ardennes varied from 1.7 to 7.9 per 100,000 – approximately 10-fold the national rate. 48% of cases are reported during July through September. The principal reservoirs in this country are rats, pigs, cattle, mice, buffalo, horses and coypu (Myocastor coypus). Prevalence surveys: 29.7% of cattle, 51% of pigs, 78.6% of horses, 10% to 20% of wild rodents (1997) 44% of rodents (2008 publication) Leptospira accounts for 1.3% of bacterial spec... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5009935 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:32:33 +0100 5009935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992724&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Ftext-messaging-in-smoking-cessation-the-txt2stop-trial.html From today's Lancet: As with many such trials, the continuous abstinence rate at 6 months in the intervention group, although statistically significant as compared with the control group, was low (10•7%). Data were also missing due to withdrawals and non-completion of self-reported smoking status. However, robust sensitivity analyses were done to account for these losses to follow-up with multiple imputation techniques based on important predictors of missingness, and also by assuming that individuals with missing self-reported smoking status were smokers. Finally, as the investigators acknowledge, to ascertain the mechanism by which the txt2stop intervention actually increased continuous abstinence is difficult. Nonetheless, the abstinence rates in the txt2stop intervention group are br... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992724 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:55:18 +0100 4992724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992725&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Flet-science-inform-policy.html An editorial in Science today, written by Dr, Anthony Fauci, discusses the value of preventive antiretroviral therapy for non-infected homosexual couples, the value of condoms for males and females and the value of circumcision to prevent the spread of H IV infection. Despite such evidence the City of San Francisco seeks to outlaw circumcision. As State Health Commissioner in the late 1980s I had to help out state legislature avoid testing premarital couples for HIV infection, Luckily the testimony of the scientists on the HIV Advisory committee was accepted by the legislators (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992725 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:53:45 +0100 4992725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992726&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fbetter-evidence-about-screening-for-lung-cancer.html The results of an NCI cohort study comparing CT scans and chest x-rays show differences in long-term outcome [death] but is concerned positives showed only 2 to 7% to be cancer. In other words, 93 to 98% were false positives. We are not told how much damage interventions in the false positives made. Lung cancer treatment has a way to go before screening of any type should be considered with such a high rate of false positives. We are not told what the death rates during the six years of follow-up were from diseases other than lung cancer, but in smokers we could well expect deaths from heart disease, stroke, COPD, and other cancers which could materially affect the outcome. This is another study that should probably have remained in the NCI archives rather than being published in the NEJM ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992726 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:17:51 +0100 4992726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992727&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Ffda-advisers-vote-against-retaining-breast-cancer-indication-for-bevacizumab.html This is another example of the problem of public deliberation distorted by activists trying to make careful analysis into and “us versus them”. The data is clear that the drug under consideration does not work for breast cancer, although it may well work for others. This is no different to many of the scams of supposed anticancer drugs we’ve seen in the past where activists clamor for approval when no evidence of value exists. It is even more important in these days when the cost of healthcare is spiraling out of control that only drugs with clear evidence of effectiveness be paid for. This does not preclude the activists paying for their own useless drugs and acceptable consequence of their own actions, which of course they don’t want to do. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BL... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992727 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:16:44 +0100 4992727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992729&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fdrug-side-effect-linked-with-increased-health-risks-for-over-65s.html More than 13,000 men and women aged 65 and over from across the UK were included in the two-year study from the University of East Anglia. Around half were found to use a medication with potential anticholinergic properties.In the study, each drug taken by the participants was given a ranking based on the strength of its anticholinergic activity, or AntiCholinergic Burden (ACB) - 0 for no effect, 1 for mild effect, 2 for moderate effect and 3 for severe effect.The key findings were:• Twenty per cent of participants taking drugs with a total ACB of four or more had died by the end of the two-year study, compared with only seven per cent of those taking no anticholinergic drugs - the first time a link between anticholinergics and mortality has been shown.• For every additional ACB point ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992729 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:13:07 +0100 4992729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4970321&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F06%2F25%2Fscarlet-fever-and-varicella-in-hong-kong%2F There is a striking similarity between reported incidence of varicella and scarlet fever in Hong Kong. [1,2] In order to present data to scale on the following graphs, I have compared numerical incidence and death statistics for scarlet fever against comparable rates per 100,000 for varicella. References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Hong Kong, 2011. 375 pp, 107 graphs, 1229 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-hong-kong/ 2. Berger SA. Varicella-Zoster: Global Status, 2011. 106 pp, 122 graphs, 328 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/varicella-zoster-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4970321 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 17:38:00 +0100 4970321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975912&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FCEzJpWUr494%2Fhemolytic_uremic_syndrome_hus_4.php Part One It appears that the E. coli O104 sproutbreak is starting to wind down, with more than 3,500 cases diagnosed to date and 39 deaths. Though sprouts remain the key source of the bacterium, a recent report also documents that human carriers helped to spread the organism (via H5N1 blog). In this case, it was a food service employee working at a catering company, who spread infection to at least 20 people before she even realized she was infected. As with many infectious diseases, there are potential lingering sequelae of infection, which can occur weeks to years after the acute infection has cleared up. Like almost 800 others involved in this outbreak, the woman who unwittingly infected others via food developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. We now know that the most common cau... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975912 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 03:20:50 +0100 4975912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968530&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F06%2Fnowhere-left-to-hide-the-banishment-of-smoking-from-public-spaces.html In the absence of direct health risks to others, bans on smoking in parks and beaches raise questions about the acceptable limits for government to impose on conduct. In 2008, legal scholar Robert Rabin, the former program director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Tobacco Policy Research and Evaluation Program, commented, “We should not lose perspective on the question of how restrictive a society we want to create — that is, how far we want to go in reducing individual autonomy, including what can be perceived as self-destructive behavior.” Comment: while smoking and nutrition are important public health issues this comment in the New England Journal raises the issue of public health rapidly becoming a police system rather than an educational system. We ne... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968530 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:37:36 +0100 4968530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968533&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F06%2Fgroup-expands-on-possible-cell-phone-cancer-link.html The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) affirmed its classification of RF-EMF as "possibly carcinogenic to humans," following the recommendations of a panel convened in May to assess available information on RF-EMF and cancer (The Lancet Oncology, Early Online Publication, 22 June 2011 doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70147-4}. Comment: The studies are case control studies which show a weak association.  The overall exposure to RE-EMF has been increasing world-wide but neither the IARC nor other cancer groups have performed any cohort studies.  This seems to be more a case of political interest than good science. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968533 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:30:57 +0100 4968533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960093&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FI1IYgvGHspg%2Fhemolytic_uremic_syndrome_hus_2.php I left off yesterday with the initial discovery of "Vero toxin," a toxin produced by E. coli (also called "Shiga toxin" or "Shiga-like toxin"). Though this may initially seem unconnected to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the discovery of this cytotoxin paved the way for a clearer understanding of the etiology of this syndrome, as well as the mechanisms by which disease progressed. By the early 1980s, several lines of research pointed toward E. coli, and particularly O157:H7, as the main cause of HUS. A 1982 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR report found a rare E. coli serotype, O157:H7, associated with hemorrhagic colitis following consumption of hamburgers. Similar results were reported in a 1983 Lancet paper, which found serotype O157 among their collection of verotoxin... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960093 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4960093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4954452&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fscarlet-fever-in-hong-kong%2F Rates of scarlet fever in Hong Kong declined considerably since the 1970′s, but have been increasing during the past decade. Only six fatal cases were recorded during 1946 to 2006 – the last in 1970. As seen in the following graph, scarlet fever rates in Macau have paralleled those of Hong Kong. [1-3] References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Hong Kong, 2011. 375 pp, 107 graphs, 1229 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-hong-kong/ 2. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Macao, 2011. 311 pp, 60 graphs, 833 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-macao/ 3. Berger. SA. Rheumatic Fever and Scarlet Fever: Global Status, 2011. 96 pp, 130 graphs, 90 references. Gideon ... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4954452 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:52:56 +0100 4954452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952898&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FwQC-iTe0LcA%2Fhemolytic_uremic_syndrome_hus_1.php As I mentioned yesterday, the epidemiology of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) was murky for several decades after it was first defined in the literature in 1955. In the ensuing decades, HUS was associated with a number of infectious agents, leading to the general belief that it was a "multifactorial disease"--one that had components of genetics and environment, much like we think of multiple sclerosis today, for example. Several HUS outbreaks made people think twice about that assumption, and look deeper into a potential infectious cause. A 1966 paper documented the first identified outbreak of HUS, which occurred in Wales. The researchers examined a number of possible environmental factors the patients may have had in common--including food, water, and various toxins--but came up empty.... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952898 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4952898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4954454&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2Fchlamydia-infection-in-denmark%2F Urogenital chlamydia infection was integrated into the Danish national reporting scheme in 1994. Increasing disease rates have also been encountered in Sweden and Norway, and have been characterized by a growing percentage of male patients. [1,2] Prevalence surveys: 5.0% of men seen in general practice (2005 publication) 1.3% of women above age 30 in Arhus county (2003 publication) 15.7% of women seeking abortion in Aarhus (2008 publication) Seroprevalence surveys: 23% of women with tubal factor infertility, and 36% with a self-reported history of PID attending fertility clinics (Arhus, 2007 publication) 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Denmark, 2011. Gideon e-book series, 445 pp, 176 graphs, 1251 references, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-disease... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4954454 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:01:20 +0100 4954454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952899&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FM1YE5miQ9Jo%2Fhemolytic_uremic_syndrome_hus.php It appears that the E. coli O104 sproutbreak is starting to wind down, with more than 3,500 cases diagnosed to date and 39 deaths. Though sprouts remain the key source of the bacterium, a recent report also documents that human carriers helped to spread the organism (via H5N1 blog). In this case, it was a food service employee working at a catering company, who spread infection to at least 20 people before she even realized she was infected. As with many infectious diseases, there are potential lingering sequelae of infection, which can occur weeks to years after the acute infection has cleared up. Like almost 800 others involved in this outbreak, the woman who unwittingly infected others via food developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. We now know that the most common cause of HUS ... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952899 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4952899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4946563&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F06%2F18%2Fanthrax-in-the-yugoslav-republics%2F Recent reports from Serbia remind us that Anthrax continues to occur in the republics of former Yugoslavia. Highest rates of human disease are reported in Macedonia (see graph). 1,2 References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Serbia and Montenegro, 2011. 437 pp, 212 graphs, 1035 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-serbia-and-montenegro/ 2. Berger SA. Anthrax: Global Status, 2011. 287 pp, 452 graphs, 1265 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/anthrax-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4946563 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 07:43:38 +0100 4946563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4936903&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F06%2F14%2Fdiphtheria-in-paraguay%2F Notwithstanding an outbreak in 2002, diptheria in Paraguay and neighboring countries has been largely controlled since the 1980′s. 1,2 (see graph) Allthough decreasing rates have paralleled efficient implementation of DPT vaccination in the area, immunization rates in Paraguay have been relatively low. (see graph) References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Paraguay, 2011. 345 pp, 82 graphs, 906 references. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-paraguay/ 2. Berger SA. Diptheria: Global Status, 2011. 303 pp, 441 graphs, 259 references http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/diphtheria-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4936903 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:53:17 +0100 4936903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4923286&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F06%2F10%2Fschistosomiasis-in-the-philippines%2F The following background data on schistosomiasis in the Philippines are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] (Primary references available on request). Time and Place: Schistosomiasis was first reported in the Philippines in 1906. During the 1970′s schistosomiasis was endemic to: - Mindoro Oriental and Sorsogon in Southern Luzon - The provinces of North, East and Western Samar - Leyte - Bohol in Eastern Visayas - All the provinces of Mindanao with the exception of Misamis Oriental, Davao Oriental and Maguindanao. The disease is currently most common in Bohol, Lake Naujan, coastal Mindanao, Samar and southeastern Luzon. In 1921, an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people were infested – this number had increased to 300,000 by 1948. - Ten million live in endemic areas, as ... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4923286 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 04:45:18 +0100 4923286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921460&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FJG5VZhhBYGk%2Fgerman_officials_declare_e_col.php Via H5N1, German officials are calling it for sprouts: Germany on Friday blamed sprouts for a bacteria outbreak that has left at least 30 dead and some 3,000 ill, and cost farmers across Europe hundreds of millions in lost sales. "It's the sprouts," Reinhard Burger, the president of the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's national disease centre, told a news conference on the outbreak of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) in northern Germany. "People who ate sprouts were found to be nine times more likely to have bloody diarrhoea or other signs of EHEC infection than those who did not," he said, citing a study of more than 100 people who fell ill after dining in restaurants. As a result, the government lifted a warning against eating raw tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. There still haven'... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921460 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:30:15 +0100 4921460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921461&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F7hgR6YuP32c%2Fthe_case_of_the_missing_smokin.php Maryn McKenna has a great update today on the E. coli situation, looking at where we are as far as unanswered questions about the outbreak and the strain. It's been a messy day; more evidence seems to point to the sprout farm, but CIDRAP also notes that another contaminated cucumber was found in the compost bin of a family sickened by the bacterium (this one had the correct serotype--O104), but it's impossible to tell at this point whether the cucumber was the source of that bacterium or it ended up there from one of the sickened family members. Twists and turns abound in this investigation. I've not seen any confirmation that the remaining sprout isolates tested negative yet, either. One thing I want to emphasize and expand upon, from the CIDRAP article: Most of the investigation findi... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921461 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4921461 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911528&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F06%2Flaw-on-end-of-life-care-rankles-doctors.html Jane e. Brody-NYT-6-8-2011. Doctors object to laws telling them how to practice medicine, as does New York State’s new Palliative Care Information Act. Vehemently opposed by the Medical Society of the State of New York, the law passed last summer by a two-thirds majority of the Legislature and took effect in February. The legislation was written in collaboration with Compassion and Choices of New York, an organization that advocates for informed choices and greater physical and emotional comfort at the end of life. Comment: Laws on applied practice of medicine are inappropriate, but expect more of the same in states like NY & California which are becoming public health police states. Nannyism is rampant. While the concept of laudable is should be part of the standards of practice... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911528 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:22:34 +0100 4911528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911524&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FxT1wVwSLqAE%2Fe_coli_update_no_positive_spro.php Well, Sunday the said we'd have some results on the sprout tests for E. coli O104:H4. Well, so far the results are negative. The 1st tests from a north German farm suspected of being the source of an _E. coli_ [O104:H4] outbreak are negative, officials say. Of 40 samples from the farm being examined, they said 23 tested negative. Officials had said earlier that bean sprouts produced at the farm in Uelzen, south of Hamburg, were the most likely cause of the outbreak. The outbreak, which began 3 weeks ago and is concentrated in Hamburg, has left 22 people dead. Initially, German officials had pointed to Spanish cucumbers as the probable cause of the illness. The moderator notes that just because the ones being tested are negative, it doesn't rule out the farm as the source of the outbre... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911524 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 05:30:00 +0100 4911524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902449&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F06%2Fis-our-obsession-with-cleanliness-wiping-out-our-immune-system.html Prof Fazekas de St Groth from the Centenary Institute claims that the discovery of a small but absolutely essential subset of T cells within the immune system has been vital. Regulatory T cells or Tregs control unwanted immune responses, such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. Tregs are distributed throughout the body, particularly at points where we are likely to encounter disease-causing microbes. The most important site is the gastrointestinal tract (the GIT) where up to 90% of our immune cells are located. This ties in neatly with the hygiene hypothesis because it explains how an infectious event early in life colonization of the gut with bowel flora) can produce a life-long effect on the immune system. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902449 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:08:15 +0100 4902449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902419&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-brief-history-of-vaccines-the-anti-vaccination-movement-and-modern-quackery%2F2011.06.06 A good case of smallpox may rid the system of more scrofulous, tubercular, syphilitic and other poisons than could otherwise be eliminated in a lifetime. Therefore, smallpox is certainly to be preferred to vaccination. The one means elimination of chronic disease, the other the making of it. Naturopaths do not believe in artificial immunization . . . —Harry Riley Spitler, Basic Naturopathy: a textbook (American Naturopathic Association, Inc., 1948). Quoted here. Here’s what a good case of smallpox will do for you: If you’re lucky enough to beat the reaper (20-60%; 80% or higher in infants) or blindness (up to 30%), those blisters will leave you scarred for life. Oh, and the next time a good smallpox epidemic comes around, your children born since the last one will catch it and cont... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902419 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:00:16 +0100 4902419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902448&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FmRD3UZKh2iI%2Fe_coli_update.php The E. coli story is moving quickly. A news report out today suggests that sprouts might be the culprit (though it should be emphasized that the outbreak strain hasn't been isolated from these vegetables yet): Mr Lindemann said epidemiological studies all seemed to point to the plant nursery in Uelzen in the state of Lower Saxony, about 100km (62m) south of Hamburg - though official tests had not yet shown the presence of the bacteria there. "Further evidence has emerged which points to a plant nursery in Uelzen as the source of the EHEC cases, or at least one of the sources," he said. "The nursery grows a wide variety of beansprouts from seeds imported from different countries." As far as the molecular analyses, Kat Holt and David Holme have been doing some additional analyses of the ... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902448 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 21:15:00 +0100 4902448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4895311&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F06%2F03%2Flyme-disease-in-pennsylvania%2F Although the incidence of Lyme disease the United States has been steadily increasing since 1993, case numbers for Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut (the three states with highest disease rates) have not changed substatially. [1,2] See graph References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the United States, 2011. 1030 pp, 464 graphs, 8237 references. Gideon E-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-united-states/ 2. Berger SA. Lyme Disease: Global Status, 2011. 68 pages, 61 graphs, 496 references. Gideon E-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/lyme-disease-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4895311 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 05:09:59 +0100 4895311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893497&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FwQ7uH04TzpQ%2Fe_coli_o104h4_in_europe--is_it.php Mike has has a great new post up looking at some molecular analyses of the current European outbreak strain. For anyone who hasn't been paying close attention to what's happening across the pond, there's an ongoing outbreak of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)--the type of E. coli that includes O157:H7, which has been associated with outbreaks of disease associated with food. The most infamous outbreak was the 1993 Jack-in-the-Box disaster, associated with undercooked hamburgers contaminated with the organism, but there have also been outbreaks associated with contaminated vegetables (such as the 2006 outbreak due to spinach). Infections with this bug can cause serious illness, including bloody diarrhea (due to production of a protein called the Shiga toxin) and eventually can shut down the... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893497 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4893497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4895312&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F06%2F02%2Fe-coli-travel-related-and-cross-border-outbreaks%2F The following chronology of Travel-related and Cross-border outbreaks of E. coli gastroenteritis is abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] (Primary references are available on request) Travel-related outbreaks: 1976 – An outbreak (386 cases) of diarrhea due to Salmonella, Vibrio, Shigella, ETEC and EIEC was reported among passengers of a cruise ship following a visit to Haiti. 1981 – An outbreak (98 cases) of diarrhea due to Salmonella, Vibrio and ETEC was reported among passengers of a cruise ship following a visit to Mexico. 1997 – An outbreak was reported among tourists from Finland, Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom, who acquired E. coli O157 infection (3 with HUS) at a resort hotel in the Canary Islands. No cases were registered in the local po... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4895312 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:35:30 +0100 4895312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893500&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F06%2Fcalif-senate-bans-under-18-use-of-tanning-beds.html California lawmakers voted Wednesday to limit the use of tanning booths by teens, warning that the bronzed glow they create comes from radiation and raises the risk of skin cancer. The state Senate voted 24-9 to ban indoor tanning by anyone under age 18, even if they have permission from an adult. The bill next goes to the Assembly. California already bans the use of tanning booths by those under 14, but older teens could use them with permission from a parent or guardian. Comment: This law needs to be extended nationwide as teens have little self-control when it comes to their skin. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893500 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:32:07 +0100 4893500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893499&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FgV_kaS6GM7o%2Fbubonic_plague_in_america.php At the new blog Puff the Mutant Dragon, there's a great pair of posts looking at the history of plague, with a focus on outbreaks that have occurred here in the US. Bubonic Plague in America, Part I: LA Outbreak Bubonic Plague in America, Part II: Undercover Science I'll also link them in my Black Plague series. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893499 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4893499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4885702&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F06%2F01%2Fplague-in-lybia%2F A recent outbreak in Tobruk belies the fact that only sporadic cases and small outbreaks of plague have occurred in North Africa since 1950. Successive waves of plague were reported in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco during the first half of the 20th century (See Graph). [1,2] Plague was relatively rare in Libya, with the exception of an outbreak of 82 cases in 1913 (red arrow). References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Libya, 2011. 321 pp, 39 graphs, 930 refs. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-libya/ 2. Berger SA. Plague: Global Status, 2011. 95 pp, 101 graphs, 485 refs. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/plague-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4885702 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:37:11 +0100 4885702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872124&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fwomen-who-start-prenatal-vitamins-early-are-less-likely-to-have-children-with-autism.html ScienceDaily: Women who reported not taking a daily prenatal vitamin immediately before and during the first month of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder as women who did take the supplements -- and the associated risk rose to seven times as great when combined with a high-risk genetic make-up, a study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute has found. “The good news is that if this finding is replicated, it will provide an inexpensive, relatively simple evidence-based action that women can take to reduce risks for their child, which is to take prenatal vitamins as early as possible in a pregnancy and even when planning for pregnancy,” (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872124 Thu, 26 May 2011 14:16:25 +0100 4872124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862584&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fstudy-finds-widening-gap-between-distracted-driving-and-legislation.html The new study, published this month in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, is the first comprehensive collection and coding of state laws attempting to address the public health risk posed by distracted driving. Cell phone distractions account for more than 300,000 car crashes each year. As a result, most states have put laws in place to limit or prohibit the use of things like cell phones and PDAs while driving. Comment: Seeing drivers with cell phones stick to their ears is a common site as they zoom past police cars. The article fails to note that most of the laws are “secondary” laws that only allow a ticket when the driver is stopped for another reason.  It is the usual practice of legislators to pass feel good-laws without teeth! (Source: Dr. Buttery's Publi... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862584 Wed, 25 May 2011 13:27:41 +0100 4862584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847979&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fburden-of-acute-otitis-externa.html Also, from today's MMWR we are reminded that summer and the swimming season are upon us and that the annual problem of "swimmers ear" can be avoided by careful attention to ear hygiene and keep the ears dry after swimming. Ambulatory-care visits for swimmers ear during 2003--2007 were highest among children aged 5--9 years. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847979 Fri, 20 May 2011 15:55:08 +0100 4847979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847980&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fcdc-identifies-10-public-health-achievements-of-first-decade.html The 10 domestic public health achievements are published in today's issue of CDC's MMWR. “Americans are living longer, healthier, and more productive lives than ever before thanks in part to extraordinary achievements in public health over the past decade," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. The United States has saved billions of dollars in healthcare costs as a result of these achievements. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847980 Fri, 20 May 2011 15:52:41 +0100 4847980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4842854&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fjapanese-encephalitis-germany-ex-indonesia%2F The following background data on Japanese encephalitis in Indonesia are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] (Primary references available on request) Indonesia was the source for eight of 47 travel-associated cases reported during 1973 to 2011. Travelers from Germany were involved in four episodes during this period. [3.] Reports of infection following exposure periods of only 10 to 14 days are disturbing, since pre-travel vaccination is often not employed for short-term trips. Time and Place: Japanese encephalitis was first reported in Indonesia in 1960, and the virus was first recovered from mosquitoes in this country in 1974. – 116,114,000 persons (52% of the population) live in areas of risk. – The area of risk consists of Bali, Irian Barat, Java, Kalimantan... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4842854 Fri, 20 May 2011 05:46:50 +0100 4842854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841889&cid=t_92145_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2F2011-asco-annual-meeting-abstracts-including-ovarian-cancer-made-publicly-available-today%2F More than 30,000 cancer specialists from around the world will gather at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting to discuss the latest innovations in research, quality, practice and technology in cancer. More than 30,000 cancer specialists from around the world will gather at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841889 Wed, 18 May 2011 22:43:10 +0100 4841889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841522&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fseniors-std-rates-up.html The Los Angeles Times reports, "Aging baby boomers are once again busting stereotypes, setting records and breaking rules," with the number of cases of syphilis and chlamydia among those 55 and older reported to the CDC increasing 43 percent between 2005 to 2009, and, "in the Sunbelt where retirees have formed large communities, the rise was even more dramatic." In response, "Medicare is considering providing coverage for STD screenings for seniors." The trend is attributed to longer, healthier lives as well as medications such as Viagra that make more sex possible. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841522 Tue, 17 May 2011 15:06:59 +0100 4841522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841523&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fweekly-doses-of-antibiotic-cocktail-may-cure-latent-tb-in-three-months.html Treating "latent tuberculosis normally requires nine months of daily pill-taking," a much shorter "course of medication...works just as well," according to findings presented at the American Thoracic Society meeting. The study compared the typical "daily dose of the drug isoniazid for nine months" with a once-weekly regimen that included taking a higher dose of isoniazid combined with rifapentineor for three months. Over three years, among approximately 8,000 volunteers, there were "seven cases of active TB among those taking the short course and 15 among those taking the traditional one. ... 'This is the biggest breakthrough in the treatment of latent TB since the 1960s,'" said Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention in a... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841523 Tue, 17 May 2011 15:00:47 +0100 4841523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828933&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FrmFvESVQ1wY%2Febola_in_uganda.php Via H5N1 and other sources, there's at least one new Ebola case in Uganda: The rare and deadly Ebola virus has killed a 12-year-old Ugandan girl and health officials said on Saturday they expected more cases. The girl from Luwero district, 75 km (45 miles) north of the capital Kampala, died on May 6, said Anthony Mbonye, the government's commissioner for community health, in the first outbreak of the virus in Uganda in four years. "Laboratory investigations have confirmed Ebola to be the primary cause of the illness and death. So there is one case reported but we expect other cases," he said. Though we've known about Ebola in Africa since 1976, Ebola wasn't recognized in Uganda until a bit over 10 years ago. Now, this is the third outbreak in this amount of time. The first occ... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828933 Mon, 16 May 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4828933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828934&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fearly-treatment-with-antiretroviral-therapy-prevents-hiv-transmission.html A UNC-led research study showed the study, which spans nine countries, involved more than 1,700 couples, in which one partner was HIV-positive and the other was not. Each couple was randomly assigned to one of two study groups. In the first group, the partner with HIV began receiving antiretroviral drugs as soon as they enrolled in the study; in the second group, the infected partner started antiretroviral treatment once their CD4+ count — a key measure of immune system health — fell to between 200 and 250 cells/mm3.  However, data gathered so far clearly revealed the benefits of early treatment, prompting health officials to release the results now. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828934 Sat, 14 May 2011 14:44:07 +0100 4828934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828935&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fas-time-goes-by-it-gets-tougher-to-remember-new-information.html ScienceDaily:  The older we get, the more difficulty we seem to have remembering things. We reassure ourselves that our brains' "hard drives" are too full to handle the new information that comes in daily. But a neuroscientist now suggests that our aging brains are unable to process this information as "new" because the brain pathways leading to the hippocampus become degraded over time. As a result, our brains cannot accurately "file" new information. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828935 Sat, 14 May 2011 14:18:32 +0100 4828935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820894&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FP0u_Bl9bT5k%2Fmrsa_meat_and_motown.php It's been not even a month since the last paper looking at MRSA in meat, and up pops another one. So far here in the US, we've seen studies in Rhode Island (no MRSA found); Louisiana (MRSA found in beef and pork, but "human" types: USA100 and USA300); the recent Waters et al study sampling in California, Florida, Illinois, Washington DC, and Arizona, finding similar strains (ST8 and ST5, associated with USA300 and USA100, respectively). Now a new study has collected MRSA samples in Detroit, collecting 289 samples from 30 retail stores in the city. For this study, they collected only beef, turkey, and chicken--a bit odd, since pork has been the meat product typically linked to MRSA to date. The paper is short on methods so it doesn't say how the sampling was done, which is a bit frustrati... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820894 Fri, 13 May 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4820894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4814189&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F05%2F11%2Ftularemia-in-germany%2F 688 cases of tularemia were reported in Germany during 1949 to 2006 (including 220 cases in East Germany during 1949 to 1989) – see graph. The following background data are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series (primary references available on request). [1,2] Although tularemia in Germany is associated with wild animal contact, individual cases have been ascribed to ingestion of hare meat in a Berlin restaurant, and acquisition from a mosquito bite. Prevalence surveys: 1.2% of bird-feeding and 1.5% of rodent-feeding ticks in central Germany (2007) Seroprevalence surveys: 2.32% of persons in Leutkirch, Baden-Wuerttemberg (2008 publication) 3% of hunters in Styria and Burgenland (2003 publication) 1.7% of hunters in an endemic area (2008 publication) 3.1% of wild b... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4814189 Wed, 11 May 2011 18:05:37 +0100 4814189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803171&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fevidence-contravenes-nuke-plant-leukemia-link.html Children living within 5 kilometers of a nuclear power plant are not at an increased risk for developing leukemia, according to an analysis released last week by an independent government advisory committee in the United Kingdom. The report covered a period of 35 years and studied the incidence of the cancer in children under the age of 5 living in close proximity to the UK’s 13 nuclear power stations. Comment: With all the current anxiety about radiation exposure, this  very long study is well worth waiting for. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803171 Mon, 09 May 2011 22:15:38 +0100 4803171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803172&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Ffda-issues-first-new-rules-under-food-safety-modernization-act.html The FDA has just issued the first two new rules under the modernization act. The first rule strengthens FDA’s ability to prevent potentially unsafe food from entering commerce by allowing the FDA to detain food the agency believes has been produced under insanitary or unsafe conditions. The second rule requires anyone importing food into the United States to inform the FDA if any country has refused entry to the same product, including food for animals. Comment: hopefully this wll reeduce teh nujumeroud recalls of food etermined hazardous aftre use inteh US (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803172 Mon, 09 May 2011 15:44:29 +0100 4803172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4805965&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F05%2F08%2Frabies-in-mexico-2%2F Mexico offers a useful paradigm for the impact of canine rabies control on human disease. The attached graph contrasts reports of dog rabies vs. rates per 100,000 humans in this country. [1,2] References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Mexico, 2011. 446 pp, 128 graphs, 1655 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-mexico/ 2. Berger SA. Rabies: Global Status, 2011. 366 pages, 546 graphs, 1056 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/rabies-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4805965 Mon, 09 May 2011 06:37:44 +0100 4805965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794871&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fonly-a-fifth-of-us-medical-students-choose-primary-care.html Far fewer US medical students plan to go into primary care than two decades ago, a recent analysis shows. Surveys of graduating students in 1990 and 2007 show that although roughly a quarter of graduating medical students in both years planned to go into internal medicine, the proportion planning to go into general internal medicine fell from 9% to 2%. Medical students are increasingly likely to an average educational debt of $158 000 and an overall average debt of $132 000. The Association of American Medical Colleges says that the overall shortage of doctors was already acute before the recent health reforms(ACA), but increased demand from newly insured patients will mean even greater stress on the system. The association projects a shortage of 63 000 doctors by 2015 and 130 600 ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794871 Fri, 06 May 2011 15:58:47 +0100 4794871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789286&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fage-alone-should-be-used-to-screen-for-heart-attacks-and-strokes.html ScienceDaily - Using age alone to identify those at risk of heart disease or stroke could replace current screening methods without diminishing effectiveness, according to a groundbreaking study published in the open access journal PLoS ONE. Age screening alone using a cut off of 55 years had an 84 per cent detection rate and a 24 per cent false-positive rate. This is equivalent to correctly identifying 84 per cent of all the people in a population who will have a stroke or heart attack, while incorrectly identifying 24 per cent who will not. Current screening methods can achieve the same 84 per cent detection rate with a false-positive rate that is only slightly less -- 21 per cent. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789286 Thu, 05 May 2011 14:58:57 +0100 4789286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789287&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fhiv-drug-could-prevent-cervical-cancer.html A widely used HIV drug lopinavir selectively kills HPV-infected, non-cancerous cells, while leaving healthy cells relatively unaffected,” said Dr Ian Hampson, from Manchester’s School of Cancer and Enabling Sciences. “This is a very significant finding as these cells are not cancer cells but are the closest thing to being like the cells found in a pre-cancerous HPV infection of the cervix. In addition we were also able to show that lopinavir kills these HPV-infected cells by re-activating a well-known antiviral system that is suppressed by HPV.” (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789287 Thu, 05 May 2011 14:55:40 +0100 4789287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762778&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F04%2Fdiet-exercise-sufficient-to-reduce-triglycerides.html While cholesterol control is often balanced between statins and lifestyle changes, reducing triglycerides can usually be accomplished with diet and lifestyle changes alone, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. For those outside the normal range of triglycerides, Miller and colleagues recommend limiting: ·         Added sugar to less than 5% to 10% of calories consumed -- about 100 calories per day for women and 150 calories per day for men ·         Fructose from both processed foods and naturally occurring foods -- less than 50 to 100 grams per day ·         Saturated fat to less than 7 percent of total calories ·  &... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762778 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:51:35 +0100 4762778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762779&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F04%2Few-diagnostic-criteria-for-alzheimers.html The guidelines published today were "extensively revised" from those presented last summer, Creighton H. Phelps, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Centers Program at NIA, told reporters during a press teleconference Monday. "The revised guidelines that we're presenting today address particularly the difference between information that can be used in clinical practice and that which is intended for use only in research settings," Dr. Phelps said. "They also present a distinction between the underlying disease process and clinically observable disease states." (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762779 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:49:48 +0100 4762779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762780&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F04%2Fhpv-surpasses-smoking-as-leading-cause-for-oral-cancer.html The New York Daily News (4/19, Goldwert) reports that human papillomavirus (HPV), with "strains that causes genital warts and cervical cancer in women," is now the leading cause of "oral cancer in men, beating out smoking and drinking," according to reports from the "New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Oncology," as well as other research. Notably, while the number of smokers in the US has steadily declined in the past 50 years, the oral cancer rate has "remained relatively steady, and recently been on the increase." Researchers say the reason is an "increase in HPV-16 in the US population." Presently, about "20-million Americans" are infected with HPV; and another "6-million people become newly infected each year," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762780 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:48:00 +0100 4762780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762781&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F04%2Fvegetarians-may-be-at-lower-risk-of-heart-disease-diabetes-and-stroke.html Vegetarians experience a 36 percent lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome than non-vegetarians, suggests new research. Because metabolic syndrome can be a precursor to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, the findings indicate vegetarians may be at lower risk of developing these conditions (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762781 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:45:09 +0100 4762781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4759481&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Favian-influenza-h5n1-graphic-summary%2F The attached graph summarizes successive waves in the occurrence of Influenza H5N1 among individual countries. Incidence peaked in Thailand in 2004, Vietnam in 2005 and Indonesia in 2006; while most reports during 2009 to 2010 originated from Egypt. [1] References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the World, 2011. 987 pp, 383 graphs, 12,492 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-world/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4759481 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 05:02:03 +0100 4759481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753717&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F1jwfhpuZ3AQ%2Fmrsa_st398_review_article--fre.php Just received an email from Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases saying that my recent article, The Emergence of Staphylococcus aureus ST398, will be available for free online for the next two weeks. It was submitted roughly a year ago so it's already a bit dated in this quick-moving field, but provides an overview of "livestock-associated" MRSA up to mid-2010 or so--including food-associated MRSA. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753717 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:42:00 +0100 4753717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747614&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrug-resistant-bacteria-found-in-half-of-us-meat-and-chicken%2F2011.04.25 Drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus were found in nearly half of meat and poultry samples, and were likely from the animal themselves, a study reported. Researchers collected and analyzed 136 samples of 80 brands of beef, chicken, pork and turkey from 26 retail grocery stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Flagstaff, Ariz. Among the samples, 47% were contaminated with S. aureus, and 52% of the strains were resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics–and some to nine antibiotics. Translational Genomics Research Institute, a non-profit research organization, conducted the study and published results in Clinical Infectious Diseases. DNA testing suggested that the food animals themselves were the major source of contamination. (mo... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747614 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0100 4747614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723873&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F04%2Fchildhood-obesity-peaks-between-ages-7-and.html The key finding of a new study by researchers from shows that British children are most susceptible to becoming overweight and obese during mid-late childhood (age seven to 11 years). The researchers tracked the body weight and height of nearly 5,000 children taking part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children from birth until the age of 15. They found that the number of children who changed from a healthy weight to being overweight and obese was much higher between the ages seven to 11. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723873 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:57:25 +0100 4723873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704690&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F04%2Fworld-health-day-2011-combat-drug-resistance.html When the first antibiotics were introduced in the 1940s, they were considered the miracles of modern medicine. Widespread infections that killed many millions of people every year could now be cured. The human condition took a turn for the better and life expectancy increased significantly. But resistance to these drugs is growing and is jeopardizing the gains made so far, as Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO explains: The world is on the brink of losing these miracle cures. The emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens has accelerated. More and more essential medicines are failing. The arsenal is shrinking. The speed with which these drugs are being lost far outpaces the development of replacement drugs (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704690 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:29:01 +0100 4704690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704691&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F04%2Fnearly-20-of-lung-cancer-patients-continue-smoking.html HealthDay (4/8, Leighty) reported, "Many patients diagnosed with lung cancer -- as well as their family caregivers -- continue to smoke," according to a study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. The researchers reviewed data on "742 cancer patients and caregivers at multiple sites and found that 18 percent of smokers with lung cancer failed to quit after their diagnosis." Notably, among a subset of "smokers with colorectal cancer...12 percent of the patients continued smoking." Patients' family caregivers also kept "smoking -- 25 percent of those caring for lung cancer patients and 20 percent of those caring for colorectal cancer patients." Continued smoking "increases the likelihood of developing a secondary cancer,... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704691 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:27:21 +0100 4704691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704692&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F04%2Fhookah-use-widespread-among-college-students-study-reveals-mistaken-perception-of-safety-in-potentia.html ScienceDaily Despite a growing number of cities instituting smoking bans across the country, hookah bars are cropping up everywhere -- from chic downtown cafes to locations near college campuses, where they've found a loyal customer base in young adults. Hookah Use Widespread Among College Students; Study Reveals Mistaken Perception of Safety in Potential Gateway Drug  The researchers found that 40.3 percent -- more than one-third of the students surveyed -- reported having ever smoked tobacco from a hookah, while only a slightly higher percentage (46.6) reported having ever smoked a cigarette. Nearly 25 percent of students reported being current smokers of cigarettes, and 17.4 percent said they actively use hookahs. Also.freshmen and males were more likely to use hookahs, and that th... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704692 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:23:50 +0100 4704692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4698310&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F04%2F09%2Fyersiniosis-in-norway%2F A recent outbreak related to contaminated lettuce belies the fact that yersiniosis rates in Scandinavia have been decreasing since 1992, and are lowest in Norway. [1,2] see graph Even within Norway, the incidence of yersiniosis is lower than that reported for other foodborne bacterial zoonoses. see graph References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Norway, 2011. 411 pp, 133 graphs. Gideon Ebooks, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-norway/ 2. Berger SA. Yersiniosis: Global Status, 2011. 55 pp, 57 graphs. Gideon E-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/yersiniosis-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4698310 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 07:04:27 +0100 4698310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4671636&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F04%2F03%2Fspotted-fever-in-brazil-2%2F The following background data on spotted fever in Brazil are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] (Primary references are available on request) Time and Place: Rickettsial spotted fever is known locally as Brazilian spotted fever, Sao Paulo fever and Febre maculosa brasileira. - Rickettsial spotted fever was first reported in Brazil in 1920. - Cases are reported in Minas Gerais, Bahia, Goias, Rio Grande do Sul and Espirito Santo. - The disease has re-emerged in Rio de Janeiro in recent years. Disease incidence and rates per 100,000 are depicted in the following graph. Between 6 and 27 fatal cases per year were registered during 2007 to 2010. Geographical notes: Outbreaks were reported in Minas Gerais during 1929 to 1944, but not during 1945 to 1980. - Subsequent outbreaks w... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4671636 Sun, 03 Apr 2011 08:04:34 +0100 4671636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4671637&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F04%2F02%2Fq-fever-in-australia%2F A recent cluster of cases on Coff’s Coast reminds us that Q-fever continues to be a common disease in Australia. The following backgroud data are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] Primary references are available on request. Time and Place: - Q-fever was first characterized in Australia, in 1939. - Queensland and New South Wales account for over 90% of cases. - Over 50% of cases are directly, or indirectly related to meat processing. - The male/female ratio for reported cases is approximately 5-to-1. Disease rates have gradually increased over the past six decades – see graph: Travel and Q-fever: 2002 (publication year) – Three Japanese workers acquired Q-fever while in Australia and New Zealand. 7 2005 – An American tourist acquired Q-fever in Aus... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4671637 Sat, 02 Apr 2011 10:43:19 +0100 4671637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4644460&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F03%2F27%2Flegionellosis-in-scotland%2F Notwithstanding a recent outbreak in Dundee, rates of legionellosis in Scotland have changed little during the past three decades, and continue to be similar to those reported in the United States [see graph] The following background data regarding Legionnaire’s disease in Scotland are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] (primary references available on request) Notable outbreaks: 1984 – An outbreak (33 cases, 1 fatal) in Glasgow was ascribed to a contaminated cooling tower. 1985 – An outbreak (16 cases) at a hospital in Glasgow was ascribed to a contaminated cooling tower. 1989 (publication year) – An outbreak (187 cases) of Pontiac fever due to Legionella micdadei was associated with use of a whirlpool in Lochgoilhead. 1994 (publication ye... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4644460 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:05:59 +0100 4644460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636463&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F03%2Fassociation-of-episodic-physical-and-sexual-activity-with-triggering-of-acute-cardiac-events.html In JAMA today a meta-analysis is reported that seems appropriate considering all the ads about the dangers of sexual activity and death. Comment: like most meta-analyses the various studies have significant differences, definitions and methodologies. The results from these limited studies suggest that the absolute risk increase associated with 1 hour of additional physical or sexual activity per week was estimated as 2 to 3 per 10 000 person-years for MI and 1 per 10 000 person-years for sudden cardiac death. These outcomes for any individual are rare. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636463 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:37:13 +0100 4636463 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636464&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F03%2Fobesity-problems-fuel-rapid-surge-of-type-2-diabetes-among-children.html The KFF reports, "As recently as the mid-1990s, type 2 diabetes was almost exclusively a disease of adults." Now, "apparently fueled by the childhood obesity epidemic, cases in people younger than 20 have ramped up from virtually zero to tens of thousands in the United States in little more than a decade." In fact, "today, about 3,700 Americans [under] 20 receive a diagnosis annually of what used to be called 'adult-onset' diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." This is a disturbing trend, because diabetes "costs the US health-care system $174 billion a year, according to the National Institutes of Health." (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636464 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:32:33 +0100 4636464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631501&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FE1xQcX5BE4Q%2Fmrsa_and_pets_should_they_get.php Over at the Worms and Germs blog, Scott Weese has a great post on MRSA testing. He notes the he's frequently asked by human MRSA patients whether their pet should be tested as well, since several studies have documented transmission of MRSA between humans and their companion animals. His first response is always, "why?" One big question I ask is 'why do you want to know and what would you do with the results?' Sometimes people want to know their pet's status to see if the pet was the source of their infection. However, MRSA in pets is typically human-associated, and if a pet is carrying MRSA, it probably got it from the owner. Finding MRSA in a pet after someone was diagnosed with an MRSA infection doesn't mean the pet was the source. More likely, the person got MRSA somewhere else and p... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631501 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:03:00 +0100 4631501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615142&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F03%2Fbenefits-of-bariatric-surgery-may-outweigh-risks-for-severely-obese-study-suggests.html Bariatric surgery is a viable option for patients who are severely obese and are safe surgical candidates who have failed medical therapy for losing weight. When indicated, bariatric surgery often leads to long-term weight loss and significantly improved health. While there are risks, bariatric surgery is considered a relatively safe procedure, especially in centers that perform many of the procedures (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615142 Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:21:48 +0100 4615142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615143&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F03%2Fmany-with-borderline-hypertension-may-never-develop-life-threatening-problems-1.html The New York Times (3/9, Parker-Pope) "Well" blog reported, "Millions of people who have been told they are on the path to hypertension may never develop life-threatening problems," according to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. After reviewing 20 years' worth of blood pressure data on some 20,000 adults, researchers found that people with borderline hypertension, that is, blood pressure slightly above 120/80, "are not any more likely to die prematurely than those with lower blood pressures." The study's lead author stated, "If we intervene with these people who don't have a lot of risk, maybe we're going to cause more harm than benefit." Comment: it is important to keep re-examining our current beliefs about medical care as more and more evidence appears about... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615143 Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:19:26 +0100 4615143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615146&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F03%2Fdoctors-urge-indoor-tanning-ban-for-minors-1.html U.S. tanning salons should close their doors to minors to protect them from skin cancer, a group of 60,000 pediatricians said Monday in a new policy statement. With the move, the American Academy of Pediatrics joins the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Dermatology and other groups that are already pushing for a ban. Since 2009, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a part of the WHO, has classified tanning beds as cancer-causing. Research shows people who start going to tanning salons before age 35 have a 75-percent increase in their chances of developing melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615146 Sun, 20 Mar 2011 15:54:42 +0100 4615146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4606777&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F03%2F17%2Fbotulism-in-canada%2F A recent episode involving contaminated jelly belies the fact that current botulism rates in Canada are only half those reported in the United States [see graph] The following background data on botulism in Canada are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] Primary references are available on request. Historical background: The first outbreak of botulism in Canada was recorded in 1919. - A total of 100 outbreaks involving over 230 cases had been reported to 2005. - Botulism is primarily encountered among the First Nations and Inuit people. - Rates of 30 per 100,000 per year are reported among the Inuit. - Most cases in recent years have been caused by fermented salmon roe (‘stink eggs’ or ‘gink’) in British Columbia; and fermented sea mammal meat among the ... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4606777 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:11:35 +0100 4606777 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592401&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnearly-12-million-cancer-survivors-in-the-u-s%2F2011.03.14 The number of cancer survivors in the United States increased to 11.7 million in 2007, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Women survive more often, and survive longer, according to the report. There were 3 million cancer survivors in 1971 and 9.8 million in 2001. Researchers attributed longer survival to a growing aging population, early detection, improved diagnostic methods, more effective treatment and improved clinical follow-up after treatment. The study, “Cancer Survivors in the United States, 2007,” is published today in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. To determine the number of survivors, the authors analyze... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592401 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4592401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4567027&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F03%2F09%2Flassa-fever-among-travelers-and-expatriates%2F The following background data on Lassa fever among travelers and expatriates are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1] Twelve cases of Lassa fever were imported into Europe and North America during 1970 to 2000, with no secondary cases among medical staff or patients. – Four cases were imported into Europe in 2000. – Six cases were imported in the United Kingdom during 1976 to 2003 – none resulting in secondary cases. Chronology: 1969 – The first reported case of Lassa fever was that of an American nurse working in Lassa, Nigeria. 1971 – A nurse and physician from United Kingdom developed nonfatal Lassa fever in Sierra Leone. 1972 – A nurse from United Kingdom developed nonfatal Lassa fever in Sierra Leone. 1974 – A German physician contr... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4567027 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 06:24:13 +0100 4567027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560273&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fibuprofen-parkinsons-study-few-news-organizations-report-on-it-accurately%2F2011.03.08 We’re delighted to see that USA Today, Reuters, and WebMD were among the news organizations that included what an editorial writer said about an observational study linking ibuprofen use with fewer cases of Parkinson’s disease. All three news organizations used some version of what editorial writer Dr. James Bower of the Mayo Clinic wrote or said: “Whenever in epidemiology you find an association, that does not mean causation.” “An association does not prove causation.” “There could be other explanations for the ibuprofen-Parkinson’s connection.” Kudos to those news organizations. And some praise goes to the journal Neurology for publishing Dr. Bower’s editorial to accompany the study. His piece is entitled, “Is the answer... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560273 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:00:43 +0100 4560273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4555154&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F03%2F06%2Ftrichinellosis-in-spain%2F Trichinellosis outbreaks are common in Spain, with disease rates comparable to those reported in the United States during the mid-twentieth century. [1,2] See graph: Prevalence surveys: 0.3% of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Catalonia (Trichinella britovi, 1998 to 2007) 8.9% of red foxes in Guadelajara (2000 publication) 3% of red foxes and 0.48% of wild boar (Sus scrofa ferus) in Extremadura (2000 publication) 12.8% of wolves (Canis lupus) in the northwestern region (Trichinella britovi, 1993 to 1999) Outbreaks: 1. 51 outbreaks were reported during 1981 to 1987 – 24 (294 cases) due to wild boar, 18 (659 cases) due to domestic pork, and 12 unknown source. 2. 18 outbreaks were reported during 1988 to 1992. 3. 49 outbreaks were reported during 1990 to 2001 (75.5% due to wil... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4555154 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 05:09:24 +0100 4555154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532208&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoctors-garments-and-bacterial-contamination%2F2011.03.01 Bacterial contamination of physicians’ newly laundered uniforms occurs within three hours of putting them on, making them no more or less dirty than the traditional white coats, researchers reported. Researchers sought to compare bacterial and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus contamination of physicians’ white coats to freshly laundered short-sleeved uniforms, and to determine the rate at which bacterial contamination happens. They reported results in the Journal of Hospital Medicine. ACP Internist‘s blog recently took up the debate as well. The issue has cropped up over the years, assessing not only the cleanliness but the professionalism inherent in the white lab coat. Researchers conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial among 100 residents and h... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532208 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4532208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522825&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F02%2F25%2Ftularemia-in-norway%2F is most common in the northern region. [1,2] – 54% of patients are in the age group 30 to 54, and most infections are acquired by handling hares and other game. Reports of tularemia in Norway have increased somewhat since 2000, and are currently similar to rates reported in the United States during the 1930′s and 1940′s. See graph: Seroprevalence surveys: As many as 4.7% of school children are seropositive (1996 publication) Notable outbreaks: 1983 – An outbreak of tularemia was reported among hares (Lepus timidus) on the island of Stora Karlso. 1984 to 1985 – An outbreak (57 cases) was reported in Sor and Nord-Trondelag counties. Smaller outbreaks were reported in Norland and Troms counties in 1979; and in Troms county in 1998. 2006 to 2007 &#8... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522825 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 06:29:56 +0100 4522825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522125&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F02%2Fhigh-blood-pressure-in-young-people-and-premature-death.html From today’s BMJ High blood pressure in younger people most commonly manifests as a raised diastolic pressure, and the relation between baseline diastolic pressures and subsequent total mortality and cardiovascular mortality was strikingly positive. The risk of death rose sharply above a diastolic pressure of around 90 mm Hg. It is remarkable that a single supine blood pressure measured in adolescence shows such a monotonic and positive association with risk of premature death.( BMJ 2011; 342:d1104) (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522125 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:54:55 +0100 4522125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522126&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F02%2Fstatins-for-primary-prevention-of-cardiovascular-disease-as.html From today’s BMJ an editorial suggests that statins are not needed for people at very low risk and should be tailored to individual risk in everyone else. Comment: this editorial is worth reading because once again it reminds us that there are dangers in medicalizing an entire population. (BMJ 2011; 342:d1048) (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522126 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:52:15 +0100 4522126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522127&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F02%2Fover-diagnosed-making-people-sick-in-the-pursuit-of-health.html This new book written by three researchers from the Dartmouth medical school in New Hampshire A powerful new book claims that overdiagnosis is one of medicine’s biggest problems, causing millions of people to become patients unnecessarily, producing untold harm, and wasting vast amounts of resources. Comments This should be required reading for researchers as well as members the medical press corps who often go out on a limb touting new treatments and new drugs. We see this issue in the editorial this week in the BMJ concerning overuse of statins, and other recent publications about improper use of screening. Ivan Illych and others have been making this point for 40 years but no one at the policy level bothers to consider the issue. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522127 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:45:33 +0100 4522127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4518260&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F02%2F25%2Fmeasles-outbreak-in-turkey%2F An ongoing outbreak in Istanbul reminds us that measles rates in Turkey have decreased significantly only during the past five years, in parallel with achievement of >90 vaccination coverage in the country (WHO estimates) [1,2] In the attached graph, measles rates (green line) are contrasted with vaccination coverage estimates. References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Turkey, 2011. 420 pp. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-turkey/ 2. Berger SA. Measles: Global Status, 2011. 386 pp. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/measles-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4518260 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:37:44 +0100 4518260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517180&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FxBDk1sCB9wM%2Fmethicillin-resistant_staph_in.php It's been a busy few months. I'll have some additional announcements (and long-overdue book reviews) coming up soon, but in the meantime, one of my projects is humming along and is to the point where I can provide some detailed information about it. Those of you who follow American Society for Microbiology conference announcements (and who doesn't, right?) may have seen the announcement for this mouthful of a conference: the 2nd ASM-ESCMID Conference on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococci in Animals. The previous incarnation was in London, but this year it's coming stateside, so mark your calendars and make your reservations. The conference will run from September 8th through the 11th, and it's headed up by yours truly. (Scott Weese, lead organizer of the first conference, is also helpin... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517180 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4517180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513404&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F02%2F24%2Fq-fever-in-germany%2F The following review of Q-fever in Germany is abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] (Primary references available on request). Time and Place: Q-fever was first recognized in Germany in 1947. - Reporting was instituted in West Germany in 1962, and in East Germany in 1979. The two systems were combined in 1991. - Most cases are reported in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Northrhine-Westphalia, and Thuringia. - Hesse has experienced the greatest increase in incidence since 1990. Outbreaks peak during spring to summer, and may be related to urbanization. - 40 outbreaks were reported during 1947 to 1999. Sheep were implicated in 24 of the outbreaks, and cattle in six. - Two laboratory outbreaks (in 1947 and 1948) were reported during 1947 to 1999. Reported... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513404 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:22:29 +0100 4513404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512413&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fcall-me-on-your-cell-sugar.html In this study, the regional cerebral glucose consumption rate was about 37 μmol/100 g per minute. So 2.4 μmol/100 g per minute is less than a tenth of the normal value (if I understand correctly). Whether a change of less than 10% is significant - again, I'm trying to find the relevant literature.Historical Update: A friend comments:The first author [of the glucose and cell-phones paper] is Trotsky's great granddaughter. Maybe she should have tested whether ice picks near the head change glucose metabolism.Ouch. (Source: Zackary Sholem Berger) Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512413 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:17:00 +0100 4512413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4490669&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F02%2F17%2Fscarlet-fever-in-the-united-kingdom%2F Of historic interest, rates of scarlet fever in the United Kingdom decreased by a factor of 3 to 20 following the advent of antibiotics [1,2] See graph References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the United Kingdom, 2011, 992 pp. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-united-kingdom/ 2. Berger SA. Rheumatic Fever and Scarlet Fever: Global Status, 2011, 96 pp. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/rheumatic-fever-and-scarlet-fever-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4490669 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:50:22 +0100 4490669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4459958&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmind-over-matter-in-medicine%2F2011.02.10 [Recently] I came upon a Jan 24 op-ed, “A Fighting Spirit Won’t Change Your Life” by Richard Sloan, Ph.D., of Columbia University’s psychiatry department. Somehow I’d missed this worthwhile piece on the sometimes-trendy notion of mind-over-matter in healing and medicine. Sloan opens with aftermath of the Tucson shootings: …Representative Giffords’s husband describes her as a “fighter,” and no doubt she is one. Whether her recovery has anything to do with a fighting spirit, however, is another matter entirely. He jumps quickly through a history of the mind cure movement in America: From Phineas Quimby’s concept of illness as a product of mistaken beliefs — to William James and “New Thought” ideas — to Norman Vincent Peale’s 1952 “... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4459958 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:00:02 +0100 4459958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455283&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F02%2Fchildhood-chronic-illness-affects-future-income.html As a group, children with long-term illness are "are at very high risk of educational and vocational problems," said Maslow, a primary care research fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a pediatrician at the Duke University Medical Center. The study found significant differences as participants reached adulthood -- ages 24 to 32. Children with chronic illness were less likely to graduate from high school, attend college or graduate from college. Only 52.5 percent were employed, compared with 67.5 percent of those with no illness or adult-onset illness. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455283 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:13:57 +0100 4455283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4451382&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F02%2F09%2Fsalmonellosis-in-australia%2F A recent outbreak in Adelaide reminds us that the salmonellosis rates in Australia have been increasing for more than five decades. In contrast, the incidence of this disease in other English-speaking countries has leveled off, or even decreased, since the 1990′s. 1,2 [see graph] References: 1. Berger S. Infectious Diseases of Australia, 2011, 503 pp. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-australia/ 2. Berger S. Salmonellosis: Global Status, 2011, 245 pp. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/salmonellosis-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4451382 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:50:30 +0100 4451382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4441974&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fputting-your-heart-into-the-super-bowl%2F2011.02.06 Sports fans may literally live and die on their team’s victories, according to researchers who examined cardiac mortality rates after the home team won and lost the Super Bowl. Total and cardiac mortality rates in Los Angeles County increased after the football team’s 1980 Super Bowl loss but overall mortality fell after the 1984 the team’s Super Bowl win, researchers concluded from a review of death certificates reported in Clinical Cardiology. First, authors gave a clinical review. Stress causes a cardiac cascade. The sympathetic nervous system increases and releases catecholamines. This triggers a rise in heart rate and blood pressure, and ventricular contractility increases oxygen demand, causing blood the sheer against and fracture atherosclerotic plaque, the authors... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4441974 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4441974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436764&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F02%2Fthree-lifestyle-changes-may-significantly-reduce-cancer-rates.html Approximately "340,000 cancer cases" in the US could be prevented "each year if more Americans ate a healthy diet, got regular exercise and limited their alcohol intake," according to the World Cancer Research Fund. The WCRF said such lifestyle changes could lead to "significant reductions in particularly common cancers such as breast (38% fewer cases per year), stomach (47% fewer) and colon (45% fewer). ... 'Physical activity is recommended for people of all ages as a means to reduce risks for certain types of cancers and other non-communicable diseases,'" said Dr. Tim Armstrong of World Health Organization. The research "was released Feb. 3 to mark World Cancer Day." Comment: This might give second thought to activists who want to blame the environment for disease rather than their own b... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436764 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:14:35 +0100 4436764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411484&cid=t_92145_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F28%2Fevidence-based-mental-health-2006-vol-9-no-21%2F This article provides a brief summary of the exisiting literature on the mental health outcomes in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood of those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, while also highlighting the difficulties with interpreting observational epidemiological data. Filed under: Alcohol, Epidemiology, Long Term Conditions, Maternity and Children, Mental Health, Pregnancy Tagged: Alcohol Consumption, Epidemiological Studies, Interpreting, Mental Health, Prenatal (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411484 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:04:47 +0100 4411484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399546&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F01%2Fthe-high-risk-of-energy-drinks.html a commentary in JAMA, today, suggests that regular (nonalcoholic) energy drinks might pose just as great a threat to individual and public health and safety at alcohol and other addictive drugs. Energy drinks are beverages that contain modest to relatively high levels and concentrations of caffeine. Energy drink use is highly prevalent, constituting a $5.4 billion market in 2006 in the United States alone. Most concerning is the possibility that caffeine's neuropharmacologic effects might play a role in the propensity for addiction. Comment: almost any TV program today will contain ads for using energy drinks. There's no data to show in fact that these energy drinks produce energy, the data given with them shows only three or 4 Cal per drink. All these drinks can do is make you feel like y... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399546 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:44:35 +0100 4399546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4355741&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F01%2Fwhy-coffee-protects-against-diabetes.html Researchers discover molecular mechanism behind the drink's prophylactic effect. Coffee, that morning elixir, may give us an early jump-start to the day, but numerous studies have shown that it also may be protective against type 2 diabetes. Yet no one has really understood why. Now, researchers at UCLA have discovered a possible molecular mechanism behind coffee's protective effect. A protein called sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) regulates the biological activity of the body's sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen, which have long been thought to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. And coffee consumption, it turns out, increases plasma levels of SHBG. Comment: there have been numerous studies about the dangers and value of coffee over the years, most which were based... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4355741 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:13:28 +0100 4355741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343127&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finfluenza-its-not-just-the-flu%2F2011.01.13 One of our readers suggested that I review the book The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History, by John M. Barry. It’s not a new book (it was published in 2004) but it is very pertinent to several of the issues that we have been discussing on this blog, especially in regards to the current anti-vaccine movement. It’s well worth reading for its historical insights, for its illumination of the scientific method, and for its accurate reporting of what science has learned about influenza. In the great flu epidemic of 1918, influenza killed as many people in 24 weeks as AIDS has killed in 24 years. It’s hard to even imagine what that must have been like, but this book helps us imagine it. It tells horror stories: Children found alone and starving beside the cor... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343127 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:51 +0100 4343127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337981&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F01%2Flifetime-risk-of-adult-rheumatoid-arthritis-determined.html Mayo Clinic researchers have determined the lifetime risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and six other autoimmune rheumatic diseases for both men and women. The findings appear online in “Arthritis and Rheumatism.” "Prevalence and incidence rates existed, but prevalence figures underestimate individual risk and incidence rates express only a yearly estimate." The adult lifetime risk in the United States of having some kind of inflammatory autoimmune disease is 8.4 percent for women and 5.1 percent for men. Based on year 2000 population figures, that means one woman in 12 and one man in 20 will develop one of the conditions in their lifetime. The authors consider that a substantial risk and say their findings should encourage more research on the value of early diagnosis and... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337981 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:49:33 +0100 4337981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331035&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F01%2Fevidence-lacking-for-widespread-use-of-costly-antipsychotic-drugs-study-suggests.html (ScienceDaily January 7, 2011) Many prescriptions for the top-selling class of drugs, known as atypical antipsychotic medications, lack strong evidence that the drugs will actually help, a new study has found. Yet, drugs in this class may cause such serious effects as weight gain, diabetes and heart disease, and cost Americans billions of dollars. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331035 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:29:29 +0100 4331035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331036&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F01%2Frevisiting-old-research-may-be-worthwhile.html (ScienceDaily today).The "Often we think only of designing new studies with the latest technologies, but there are treasures buried in our past," says study author Paul Williams of the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In the 1950s, when Berkeley Lab's John Gofman used an analytic ultracentrifuge at Berkeley Lab to separate and measure the different lipoproteins. He was the first to propose that high-density and low-density lipoprotein particles play a role in heart disease. His Livermore cohort study collected dust until 1988, when Williams discovered the study's punch cards at the University of California, Berkeley's Donner Hall. Realizing he had found an epidemiological goldmine, Williams verified the cards' A 29-year follow-up uncovered 363 cases of cor... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331036 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:24:28 +0100 4331036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322958&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F01%2F07%2Frickettsia-felis-infection-in-australia%2F The report of a cluster of cases in Melbourne have added Australia to a growing list of countries endemic for Rickettsia felis infection. As of 2011, zoonotic and / or human disease has been reported in 32 countries. See map: (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322958 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 06:31:45 +0100 4322958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318335&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdenying-the-obesity-epidemic%2F2011.01.06 It seems that for every established science there is an ideological group who is motivated to deny it. Denialism is a thriving pseudoscience and affects any issue with the slightest political or social implications. Sometimes, even easily verifiable facts can be denied, as people seem willing to make up their own facts as needed. Denialists have an easy job — to spread doubt and confusion. It is far easier to muddy the waters with subtle distortions and logical fallacies than it is to set the record straight. Even when every bit of misinformation is countered, the general public is often left with the sense that the topic is controversial or uncertain. If denial is in line with a group’s ideology, then even the suggestion of doubt may be enough to reject solid science. We see this ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318335 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:00:53 +0100 4318335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4303215&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F01%2F02%2Fcrimean-congo-hemorrhagic-fever-in-south-africa%2F A report of recent cases in Northern Cape reminds us that the rate of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever in South Africa has changed little during the past 25 years. See graph: The following background information is abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. 1,2 Primary references are available on request. Time and Place: The first indigenous case of CCHF in South Africa was reported in 1981 – fatal infection acquired in Transvaal. At the time of the report, 7% of persons in the area were found to be seropositive. - Most cases are reported in the Karoo, the Western Free State, the Northern Cape and North West Province; and most are farmers, farm laborers, hunters or abattoir workers. – Twenty-seven fatal cases were reported during 1983 to 2009. – 16 outbreaks were repo... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4303215 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 11:17:25 +0100 4303215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302142&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F12%2Fshould-everyone-take-aspirin.html I thought that the issue had been beaten to death but today's editorial in the BMJ should remind all of us about the need to examine the data and epidemiology of the issue carefully. Aspirin can cause fatal bleeding even when used in small doses. The course should be to select those who can really benefit from its use rather than urging its use across the entire population. Activists can do more harm than good. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302142 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:32:59 +0100 4302142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294670&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fmaybe-cell-phones-do-maraud-little-bit.html Now, instead of thinking that the concern for cancer risk from cell phones is BS, I think the concerns are exaggerated and misplaced. Let me explain.When I wrote my previous post, I was not aware of the meta-analysis from 2009 by Myung et al. in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. (A meta-analysis uses statistical techniques to classify and then pool results from a number of studies.) The work by Myung et al. needs some detailed discussion, but it presents some findings which bear consideration: first, that in the subgroup of studies they considered which were of higher quality, there is a positive association between any cell-phone use (compared to rare or never use) and brain tumors both benign and malignant. Second, there is a significant association, in all studies which consider cell-ph... Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294670 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 03:49:00 +0100 4294670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265791&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F12%2Fe-cigs-less-dangerous.html ScienceDaily (Dec. 16) — In a new report that bucks the concerns raised by the Food and Drug Administration, a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher concludes that electronic cigarettes are much safer than real cigarettes and show promise in the fight against tobacco-related diseases and death. The review, which will be published online ahead of print this month in the Journal of Public Health Policy, is the first to comprehensively examine scientific evidence about the safety and effectiveness of electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, said Michael Siegel, professor of community health sciences at BUSPH. “Taking these products off the market would force thousands of users to return to cigarette smoking," Siegel said. "Why would the FDA and the... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265791 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:21:20 +0100 4265791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265792&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F12%2F1-in-6-get-sick-from-foodborne-illnesses-each-year.html About 48 million people (1 in 6 Americans) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year from foodborne diseases, according new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The figures are the most accurate to date due to better data and methods used. The data are published Wednesday in two articles in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. CDC's FoodNet surveillance system data, which tracks trends among common foodborne pathogens, has documented a decrease of 20 percent in illnesses from key pathogens during the past 10 years. However, these FoodNet pathogens make up only a small proportion of the illnesses included in the new estimates. Comment: few people realize this, to illnesses caused teach your by foodborne disease. The new estimates are based on... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265792 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:45:24 +0100 4265792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258893&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F12%2Fhdl-cholesterol-associated-with-reduced-risk-of-alzheimers.html According to a study published Dec. 14 in the Archives of Neurology, HDL cholesterol may reduce the "risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life." In a study of 1,130 senior citizens, researchers found that, "compared to those with the lowest levels of high-density lipoprotein...volunteers with the highest levels were 60% less likely to be told they had a probable or possible case of Alzheimer's." Comment: it appears serendipitously, that enhancing HDL to prevent heart disease may also reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. This is a good ”two for one” if other research supports this. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258893 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:20:55 +0100 4258893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4237913&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F12%2Fhead-lice-shrivel-with-chemical-free-warm-air-device.html ScienceDaily (Dec. 6, 2010) — Four years after the ‘LouseBuster’ prototype made headlines when research showed the chemical-free, warm-air device wiped out head lice on children, a new study reveals that a revamped, government-cleared model is highly effective. Comment: the new machine approved by the FDA is expensive at $2000+ but might be useful in schools, primary-care practices and local health departments. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4237913 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:58:59 +0100 4237913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4237914&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F12%2Fheart-attack-risk-increases-rapidly-after-rheumatoid-arthritis-is-diagnosed.html The risk of having a heart attack is 60 per cent higher just a year after a patient has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, according to research published in the December issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine. Swedish researchers followed 7,469 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) between 1995 and 2006, together with 37,024 matched controls without RA to determine the risk of ischemic heart disease, with particular reference to myocardial infarction (heart attack). Comment: results coming out of Sweden apply only to the Swedish population which is relatively small and homogeneous and in no way compares to the US population all that of most other countries. This research needs to be replicated in the US before we start prescribing aspirin which itself can cause strok... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4237914 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:55:50 +0100 4237914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4226307&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2010%2F12%2F02%2Fcryptosporidiosis-in-sweden%2F Prior to a recent outbreak in Jamtland, Cryptosporidium had been the least common reported cause of diarrhea in Sweden – see graph The following background data are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. 1,2 Prevalence surveys: 2% of adult patients with diarrhea (2000 publication) 24% of untreated surface water supplies in 1996; 40% in 1997 52% of calves, 29% of young stock and 5.6% of cows in dairy herds (2005 to 2007) One waterborne outbreak was reported during 1986 to 1996. Notable outbreaks: 2002 – An outbreak (800 to 1,000 cases) was reported among visitors to a public swimming pool. 2007 – An outbreak was reported at a daycare center in the Stockholm area. 2007 – An outbreak (25 cases) was reported among Swedish guests at a hotel in Norway. 2008 – An... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4226307 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 07:16:42 +0100 4226307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4200582&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Flet-us-discuss-murderous-cell-phones.html Cancer and cell phones - I meant to blog about this for some time, since it has long trended among the most read articles at the Times website. To be charitable, the article did make me go and look up the literature, so that's not a bad thing. In short, however, the Times treatment is irresponsible and fear-mongering.First, let me remark that the Times article mentions by name a refereed study of cellphones in humans only in the 14th paragraph. And it neglects to mention the multiple studies which have shown no connection.Now, let's consider the INTERPHONE study referred to in the Times piece (it's one of these with the fake acronyms). It showed no connection between cell phone use and cancers, when all brain cancers are taken together. Now, it's reasonable for them to analyze different ca... Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4200582 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:03:00 +0100 4200582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197096&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F11%2Fstudy-finds-daily-pill-lowers-risk-of-hiv-infection.html         On its front page, the New York Times (11/24, A1, McNeil) reports, "In the study, published Tuesday by the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that the men taking Truvada, a common combination of two antiretroviral drugs, were 44 percent less likely to get infected with the virus that causes AIDS than an equal number taking a placebo." The "results are the best news in the AIDS field in years, even better than this summer's revelation that a vaginal microbicide protected 39 percent of all the women testing it and 54 percent of those who used it faithfully." Comment: the biggest problem with access to this drug is a several thousand dollar cost per your which will put it outside the means of many of those infected with HIV. It is unf... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197096 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:44:36 +0100 4197096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197067&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finner-ear-infections-still-no-need-for-antibiotics%2F2010.11.23 Kids get inner ear infections and then they get antibiotics, despite a long-standing knowledge that it’s not always best. Any physician knows this, but who hasn’t faced an irate or anxious parent in the exam room insisting on a prescription, whether the evidence warrants it or not? Reuters reports that the tally for all those antibiotics is $2.8 billion dollars, or $350 per child annually. And there’s only a slight benefit to them. While hardly comforting to the parents, physicians can add more heft to their argument that antibiotics are only modestly more effective than nothing, and they can avoid the rashes and diarrhea that antibiotics incur. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197067 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:00:00 +0100 4197067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197098&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F11%2Fgonorrhea-rate-in-2009-hits-lowest-level-since-1941.html USA Today reports, "One of the nation's most common forms of sexually transmitted diseases has fallen to its lowest level ever recorded, but there's still improvement needed," according to data released on Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, the "annual report card on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) found that the gonorrhea rate in 2009 -- the most recent year for which figures are available -- was at its lowest level since 1941." the rates for chlamydia and syphilis continue to rise, syphilis infection rates among women, however, declined. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197098 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:43:21 +0100 4197098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190097&cid=t_92145_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F22%2Finternational-journal-of-epidemiology-2010-vol-39-no-5%2F This article looks at statistical approaches adopted in the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, in which primary data has been collated to enable analyses of various risk markers in relation to incident cardiovascular disease outcomes Print subscription held at Fade Library Filed under: Journals Tagged: Analysis, Epidemiological Studies, Epidemiology, Meta-Analysis, Statistical Data (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190097 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:35:37 +0100 4190097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4187390&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2010%2F11%2F19%2Frabies-in-the-philippines%2F Although the incidence of rabies has declined somewhat in recent years, disease rates per 100,000 continue to be higher in the Philippines than those of neighboring countries. [1,2] See graph References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the Philippines, 2010, 1,131 pp. Gideon e-book series. http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-philippines/ 2. Berger SA. Rabies: Global Status, 2010, 353 pp. Gideon e-book series. http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/rabies-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4187390 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 06:13:33 +0100 4187390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4180044&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2010%2F11%2F18%2Fcholera-not-just-haiti%2F Although the world is currently focused on a serious outbreak of cholera in Haiti, the disease continues to be active in several other areas of the world. The following outbreaks were posted during November, concurrent to the events in Haiti: Benin – An outbreak (846 cases, 7 fatal) was reported. Cameroon – An outbreak (10,000 cases, 597 fatal) Chad – An outbreak (4,000 cases, 135 fatal) was reported. China – Outbreaks were reported in Jiangsu and Anhui Ghana – An outbreak was reported in the Eastern region Haiti – 16,799 cases, 1,034 fatal India – Outbreaks were reported in Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Assam, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Nigeria – Outbreaks (38,173 cases, 1,555 fatal) involved 11 states. Pakistan – Large outbreaks have ... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4180044 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:13:40 +0100 4180044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168866&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2010%2F11%2F15%2Flegionellosis-in-spain-2%2F A recent outbreak in Madrid reminds us that Spain may well have the highest rate of legionellosis in the World. In the following graph, I’ve compared reported cases per 100,000 population for Spain and other regional countries with those of the United States. 67 specific outbreaks have been described in the World’s literature for the United States, as compared to 37 for Spain; however, the number of outbreaks per million population in Spain (0.80) is over 3.6-fold that for the United States (0.22). The following chronology of legionellosis outbreaks in Spain is abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] (primary references available on request) 1973 – An outbreak (89 cases, 3 fatal) was associated with a hotel in Benidorm. 1978 (publication year) – An ou... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168866 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:56:41 +0100 4168866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4162937&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F11%2Fthe-promise-and-pitfalls-of-a-cancer-breakthrough.html A number of news media in the last 24 hours have reported about a "breakthrough" in early identification of lung cancer which leads to fewer deaths. In the Journal of Science today is a summary of the issues by Eliot Marshall that should be required reading for all of us. The NCI sponsored this $250 million study and noted a significant decrease of about 20% among those screened and treated. What most of the media excerpts don't tell us is that the positive results contained from 96 to 98 % false positives. This means that were this procedure provided to 20 to 22% of the general population who are currently smoking, let alone those who have smoked in the past but quit, hundreds of thousands of people would be told they have a deadly disease which they did not have. Then you have problems o... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4162937 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:28:03 +0100 4162937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4162938&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F11%2Fyoung-unsupervised-children-most-at-risk-for-dog-bites-study-shows-dogs-often-target-a-childs-face-a.html ScienceDaily (Nov. 9, 2010) — As dog bites become an increasingly major public health concern, a new study shows that unsupervised children are most at risk for bites, that the culprits are usually family pets and if they bite once, they will bite again with the second attack often more brutal than the first. The study, the largest of its kind, was done by Vikram Durairaj, MD, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who found that dogs usually target a child's face and eyes and most often it's a breed considered 'good' with children, like a Labrador retriever. Durairaj said. "The onus is on parents to recognize aggressive breeds as well as behaviors and never allow their young children to be left unsupervised around any dog." Comment: it is also worth reading today's editor... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4162938 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:24:28 +0100 4162938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4151821&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F11%2Fmyth-of-a-germ-free-world.html ScienceDaily (Nov. 9, 2010) — Killing microorganisms has become a national obsession. A pair of antimicrobial compounds known as triclosan and triclocarban are lately the weapons of choice in our war of attrition against the microbial world. Both chemicals are found in an array of personal care products like antimicrobial soaps, and triclosan also is formulated into everyday items ranging from plastics and toys to articles of clothing. Antimicrobials have become a billion dollar a year industry and these chemicals now pervade the environment and our bodies. Levels of triclosan in humans have increased by an average of 50 percent since 2004, according to newly updated data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Triclosan and triclocarban are present in 60 percent of... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4151821 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:29:38 +0100 4151821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133711&cid=t_92145_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-does-anti-vaccine-really-mean%2F2010.11.04 We write a lot about vaccines here at Science-Based Medicine. Indeed, as I write this, I note that there are 155 posts under the Vaccines category, with this post to make it 156. This is third only to Science and Medicine (which is such a vague, generic category that I’ve been seriously tempted to get rid of it, anyway) and Science and the Media. There is no doubt that vaccines represent one of the most common topics that we cover here on SBM, and with good reason. That good reason is that, compared to virtually any other modality used in the world of SBM, vaccines are under the most persistent attack from a vocal group of people, who, either because they mistakenly believe that vaccines caused their children’s autism, because they don’t like being told what to do by The Man, because... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133711 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:00:04 +0100 4133711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118991&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F10%2Fimmunizations.html While looking at my daily science progress  lists today I cannot help but be struck by the recommendations for whooping cough boosters for seniors, and meningitis boosters for adolescents. As we learn more about immunity and the value of immunizations the issue has become so complex that is as it is essential that all health facilities become fully computerized with databases that trigger notices to the doctors and nurses when an immunization is due, as well as for preventive and appropriate screening services, and the ability to ensure that when multiple drugs are given one does not interfere with another. It is unfortunate that our profession that collects and uses so much data has almost totally failed to keep up with technology that enhances data management. (Source: Dr. Buttery's... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118991 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:21:09 +0100 4118991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118992&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F10%2Fheavy-smoking-in-midlife-and-long-term-risk-of-alzheimer-disease-and-vascular-dementia.html As if we didn't need one more reason to quit smoking or never start, a new article from the archives of internal medicine published online yesterday concludes that in a cohort of 5367 people during a mean follow-up of 23 years heavy smoking in midlife was associated with a greater than 100% increase in risk of dementia, AD, and VaD more than 2 decades later. These results suggest that the brain is not immune to long-term consequences of heavy smoking. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118992 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:09:27 +0100 4118992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4101191&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2010%2F10%2F24%2Fhepatitis-e-in-england%2F Recent reports from Cornwall remind us that autothonous cases of Hepatitis E are increasingly reported in Europe. In fact, reported rates in England and Wales are somewhat higher than those of other regional countries. The following background data on Hepatitis E in the United Kingdom are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] Primary references are availale on request. Only one autochthonous case (in 1999) of Hepatitis E was reported during 1994 to 2000 – all others were either imported or source unknown. – 10 autochthonous cases had been reported as of 2006. – 186 cases were reported during 1996 to 2003 – including 17 autochthonous cases. – 100 confirmed and presumed indigenous infections were reported in 2005 (30.4% of total cases, 70% above ag... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4101191 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:05:42 +0100 4101191 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4097991&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F10%2Fpertussis-claims-10th-victim-in-california.html  CNN (reports that pertussis "has claimed the 10th victim in California, in what health officials are calling the worst outbreak in 60 years." Notably, "all of the deaths occurred in infants under the age of three months, says Michael Sicilia, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health." Sicilia also noted that "California Health Department epidemiologists estimate 50 percent of the children who have gotten sick were infected by their parents or caregivers." For that reason, it is important for all people who have close contact with infants to get vaccinated against pertussis. Ollison Patti, a spokeswoman for the CDC, emphasized that the pertussis vaccine "does not protect you for life," so people must remember to get booster shots. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4097991 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:25:17 +0100 4097991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4054012&cid=t_92145_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2010%2F10%2F09%2Fmalaria-in-spain%2F A recent case of autochthonous infection in Huesca Province highlights the fact that malaria rates in Spain have increased dramatically since the 1960′s. See graph Graph notes: 1. 461 cases were reported during 1973 to 1982; 1,707 during 1985 to 1994. 2. Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 59.6% of cases reported during 1989 to 1995, with a case/fatality rate of 1.91% among patients infected with this species. 3. P. falciparum accounted for 62.6% of cases reported during 1996 to 1999. 4. No cases of ‘airport malaria’ were reported during 1994 to 1995. Individual years: 1994 – 69.02% imported from Africa. 115 of these reported from Madrid and 74 from Cataluna. 1995 – 228 from Africa. 89 were from Equatorial Guinea). 1996 – 117 from Madrid and Cat... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4054012 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 05:25:05 +0100 4054012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022928&cid=t_92145_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F10%2Fprimary-prevention-dogs-win-over-cats.html From ScienceDaily, a new study soon to be published in The Journal of Pediatrics examines the relationship between pet ownership and eczema. Researchers found that dog ownership among children with dog allergies may reduce the risk of developing eczema by age 4 years; cat ownership, however, may increase the risk among children with cat allergies. Unlike dog ownership, cat ownership seemed to have a negative effect on children with cat allergies. "Children who owned a cat before age 1 year and were allergic to cats based on a skin allergy test were 13 times more likely to develop eczema by age 4 years," said Dr. Tolly Epstein and colleagues from the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022928 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:17:38 +0100 4022928