News from the World of Medicine
Raw Flour Can Carry E. coli
In unwelcome news for cookiedough fans, flour was recently confirmed as the source of a serious 2016 Escherichia coli outbreak in the United States. Certain strains of this bacterium can be toxic, causing stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and, in extreme cases, kidney failure. Scientists knew E. coli could thrive in undercooked meat, but they were surprised to find the bacteria in dry flour with no visible signs of spoilage. Health authorities now recommend that, to be safe, you wash your hands thoroughly after handling flour and abstain from eating raw or unpasteurized dough.
Mouthwash And Diabetes
In a recent study of 1,206 nondiabetic overweight individuals, participants who used mouthwash twice or more a day were at greater risk for developing prediabetes or diabetes over the course of three years than those who used mouthwash no more than once a day. Mouthwash kills bacteria in the mouth, some of which are needed to form nitric oxide, which helps insulin function properly in your body. Avoid the risk by using mouthwash only a few times a week and by eating nitrate-rich foods such as strawberries, raspberries, spinach, lettuce, and beets.
A Shot to Protect Against Lyme Disease
A team of doctors at the University of Massachusetts Medical School is developing a new treatment to protect against Lyme disease. The injection, while not a vaccine, delivers an antibody that kills off the diseasecausing bacteria transmitted by ticks before they can spread. So far, the test results have been promising; the shot has been 100 percent effective in preventing Lyme
disease in mice. For humans, researchers anticipate that a new shot will be necessary at the beginning of each tick season and will provide six to seven months of protection. Clinical trials for the treatment are expected to start soon. Sitting under a 7,000-lux white light (which is more than two and a half times brighter than footballstadium lighting) helps with the depressive side of bipolar disorder, suggests research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Prior to the study, the 46 subjects were all on stable doses of antimanic medication, which banished their manic symptoms, but they still suffered from moderate depression. After six weeks, 68 percent of the subjects receiving the bright-light therapy saw a remission, compared with just 22 percent of the subjects who were exposed to a 50-lux dim red placebo light. The time of day makes a difference when it comes to light therapy, and the researchers suggested trying it at noon or in the early afternoon.
A Faster Test for the Right Antibiotics
Researchers have developed a new technique that can determine in 30 minutes—instead of days, the current standard—what type of antibiotic will be most effective in treating a urinary tract infection (UTI). According to the study, published in Science Translational Medicine, taking a “genetic blueprint” of urine bacteria quickly determines whether a UTI is resistant or susceptible to two common antibiotics.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Raises Risk of COPD
By comparing more than 24,000 people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with people who don’t, Canadian researchers discovered that having RA increases the likelihood of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 47 percent. That’s because inflammation plays a role in COPD development. The scientists recommended that RA patients use anti-inflammatory medications; address COPD risk factors such as smoking; and watch for lung symptoms, such as wheezing, to catch COPD early.
Get More of This Key Nutrient for Brain Health
In a study of 60 people between the ages of 25 and 45, researchers found that older participants with higher levels of lutein scored just as well as their younger counterparts on exercises designed to test how well they concentrate on a given task. Lutein is abundant in leafy green vegetables, such as cooked kale and spinach, and in egg yolks and avocados.