Health Archives

Corneal transplant success depends on donor’s health

Corneal grafts with eye tissue obtained from donors dying in the hospital or with cancer may have an increased risk of postsurgical endophthalmitis, possibly due to donor-to-host microbial transmission. Together with donor screening and processing, improvements in microbiological control may reduce infection associated with corneal transplant. – Corneal grafts obtained from donors dying in the hospital or with cancer may be associated with an increased risk of infection for the recipient, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Healthy lifestyle for long life

70-year-olds who take regular exercise, eat well, and do not smoke greatly increase their chance of living until 90. – A healthy lifestyle during the early elderly years-including weight management, exercising regularly and not smoking-may be associated with a greater probability of living to age 90 in men, as well as good health and physical function, according to a report in the February 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

45% fall in Australian teens seeking a tan

New campaign warns ‘No tan is worth dying for’, Big fall in teens seeking a tan, says Cancer Council: Yet a quarter still get sunburnt on summer weekends. – New research from The Cancer Council, Australia has shown a big fall in the number of teens deliberately tanning, down 45 per cent over the past three years. Yet despite the promising trend, almost a quarter of teens are still getting sunburnt over a typical summer weekend.

21% errors in pathology reports in Miramichi Hospital, New Brunswick

21% errors in pathology reports by previous unidentified pathologist in Miramichi Hospital, New Brunswick, Canada, reported by Dr. Rosemary Henderson, pathologist. – An additional review of pathology reports in Miramichi Hospital, New Brunswick is completed by Dr. Rosemary Henderson, pathologist. This review included 227 cases of prostate and breast cancer biopsies from 2004-2005. The results indicated that 18 percent of the cases had incomplete results and three percent of the cases were misdiagnosed.

New Zealand Cancer Society’s sunscreen fails

Consumer NZ announced last week that tests of the Cancer Society sunscreen SPF 30+ Trigger Spray showed it significantly failed to meet the SPF claim. – The New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has asked the Cancer Society, New Zealand for information about the alleged failure of one its sunscreen products, and what the society is doing about the problem.

Environmental toxins cause early onset puberty in girls

Certain environmental toxins may disrupt the normal growth and hormonal development of girls, and lead to early onset puberty in girls. – Although scientists have speculated over the negative effects of environmental toxins for years, new data suggest that certain environmental toxins may disrupt the normal growth and hormonal development of girls.

Tattooing improves DNA vaccine response

DNA-vaccination via tattooing induces stronger humoral and cellular immune responses than intramuscular delivery supported by molecular adjuvants. – Tattooing is a more effective way of delivering DNA vaccines; a tattoo can be more than just a fashion statement ? it has potential medical value, according to an article published in the online open access journal, Genetic Vaccines and Therapy.

DNA sequencing found virus killing transplant recipients in Australia

DNA sequencing establishes high throughput genetic sequencing as powerful tool for pathogen discovery; technology enables improvements in screening for transplant safety. – In the first application of high throughput DNA sequencing technology to investigate an infectious disease outbreak, link the discovery of a new arenavirus to the deaths of three transplant recipients who received organs from a single donor in Victoria, Australia in April 2007.

New hope for hepatitis C sufferers

Adelaide scientists will lead a $2 million five-year project to develop new vaccines and explore better treatment options for hepatitis C sufferers. – University of Adelaide virologists Dr Michael Beard and Dr Karla Helbig will work with colleagues from the University of NSW to develop new strategies to treat and prevent hepatitis C, which infects more than 170 million people around the world.

Adverse reactions linked to Botox use, warns FDA

Ongoing safety review of Botox, Botox Cosmetic and Myobloc taking place in US. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today notified the public that Botox and Botox Cosmetic (Botulinum toxin Type A) and Myobloc (Botulinum toxin Type B) have been linked in some cases to adverse reactions, including respiratory failure and death, following treatment of a variety of conditions using a wide range of doses.

In Vitro Fertilization Research Centre in AIIMS, India

Indian Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss inaugurated a test tube baby (IVF) centre at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India. – The Indian Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, dedicated to the Nation the first state of the art In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Research Centre established at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Ban use of bisphenol A in baby bottles

Environmental health groups call for immediate moratorium on bisphenol A in baby bottles, food and beverage containers. Baby bottles leach toxic chemical, according to new U.S. and Canadian Study. – Dozens of state and national environmental health organizations in the U.S. and Canada are calling for an immediate moratorium on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and other food and beverage containers, based on the results of a new study that demonstrates the toxic chemical BPA leaches from popular plastic baby bottles when heated.