Health Archives

Travelers’ diarrhea vaccine skin patch for travelers

A new skin patch may help protect travelers from a common vacation spoiler: traveler’s diarrhea. UT School of Public Health researchers discover significant efficacy of travelers’ diarrhea vaccine. – Researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health have found that patients given a travelers’ diarrhea vaccine were significantly less likely to suffer from clinically significant diarrhea than those who received placebo, according to a study published in this week’s edition of The Lancet.

PVC vinyl shower curtains toxic to health

As many as 100 toxic chemicals associated with adverse health effects are released into the air from polyvinyl chloride (PVC ) shower curtains. – Shower curtains made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic contain many harmful chemicals including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates and organotins; these PVC shower curtains are potentially toxic to the health of consumers, revealed by a recent study.

Non earlobe body piercing raises complications

One in 10 adults in England has a body piercing but many do not see an expert when adorning sensitive areas such as their tongues and genitals. – One in ten adults in England have had a piercing somewhere other than their ear lobe, with a quarter experiencing complications, and one in 100 piercings resulting in a hospital admission.

Avoid raw red tomatoes in New Mexico, Texas

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers in New Mexico and Texas not to eat certain types of raw red tomatoes like raw red plum, red Roma, or round red tomatoes. – The Food and Drug Administration is alerting consumers in New Mexico and Texas that a salmonellosis outbreak appears to be linked to consumption of certain types of raw red tomatoes and products containing raw red tomatoes.

Antibacterial wipes may spread bacteria

A new study by a team of researchers at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Wales, UK, has found that antimicrobial-containing wipes currently used to decontaminate surfaces in hospitals can spread pathogens after first use. – Antimicrobial-containing wipes currently used to decontaminate surfaces in hospitals can spread pathogens after first use, revealed by researchers at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.

New drug labels better for pregnant & nursing mothers

FDA proposes new rule to provide updated information on the use of prescription drugs and biological products during pregnancy and breast-feeding. – New drug labeling system would provide better information about any prescription drug to pregnant women and nursing mothers as FDA proposes new rule to provide updated information on the use of prescription drugs and biological products during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Oral HRT doubles risk of blood clots

Women with prothrombotic mutations or a high body mass index should avoid oral oestrogens, but transdermal preparations seem to be safer. – Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) given in skin patches may cause fewer blood clots than HRT given orally, revealed by researchers in British Medical Journal, UK. Women who take the oral form of HRT more than double their risk of developing a blood clot.

Parents use cough medicines on under 2s despite the warnings

Parents are dosing up their babies on over-the-counter medicines, despite concerns some are dangerous, an Australian-first study found. – More than 40% of parents have used cough medicine for children younger than two ? even though it is not recommended, nor proven effective for children in this age group, an Australia-first study has found.

DNA fingerprinting to identify viable embryos after IVF

DNA fingerprinting is a very useful technique for discriminating between viable and non-viable blastocysts. Research could lead to improved pregnancy rates and fewer multiple pregnancies. – Fertility researchers have used DNA fingerprinting for the first time to identify which embryos have implanted after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and developed successfully to result in the births of healthy babies.

Role of Omega-3 unclear for bipolar disorder

Omega-3s are not useful treatments for people with bipolar disorder. – Despite intriguing findings that omega-3 fatty acid supplements could alleviate depression symptoms, there is still not enough evidence to say whether omega-3s are useful treatments for people with bipolar disorder, according to a review of recent studies.

21% children not fully protected against vaccine-preventable diseases

National Infant Immunization Week Reminds Parents of the Importance of Immunizations and Encourages them to Look to their Child?s Doctor for Information. – The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) last week.

Preterm babies could benefit from skin-to-skin cuddling

Research published in the open access journal BMC Pediatrics suggests that very preterm babies, born between 28 and 31 weeks, could benefit from skin-to-skin cuddling with their mother before and during painful procedures such as a heel lance. – Preterm babies, born between 28 and 31 weeks, could benefit from skin-to-skin cuddling with their mother before and during painful procedures such as a heel lance, reported in a recent study.