Obesity Week: A Matter of Taste

A study that shows how patients who reported diminished taste intensity after bariatric surgery lost more weight than those whose sense of taste remained intense. So the better it tastes and smells, the more you crave it and eat it even if you are full. Genes determine the types and number of smell and taste receptors one has. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ObesityWeek/48322?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-31&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Speed At Which One Loses Weight May Not Be Linked To Likelihood That They Will Keep That Weight Off.

Using diet and exercise, unfortunately only about 15 percent may be able to successfully lose weight and keep it off, he said. “Pharmacotherapy could be a consideration for those regaining weight,” he said. “But, we do not have solid evidence at this time that pharmacotherapy confers long-term success.” The rate of weight loss also did not influence the changes in hunger controlling hormones that occur with weight loss," said Proietto, who also heads the weight control clinic at Austin Health in Melbourne. while appetite suppression after weight loss should be considered, the problem is that there are not many effective agents and none of them have been tested for long-term safety. “Our study shows again that drugs are not essential for achieving weight loss but they are probably important for assisting with weight maintenance,” he said. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/30/us-health-weightloss-idUSKBN0IJ28O20141030

Most People Diagnosed With Cancer In England In Recent Years Are Surviving For Longer.

more people were surviving cancer then ever before "thanks to better treatments, earlier diagnosis and greater awareness". "But the story's not so positive for all types of cancer," he said. "Lung, pancreatic, oesophageal cancer and brain tumours still have relatively low survival rates, partly because they tend to be diagnosed at a later stage when they're much harder to treat." He added: "We're working to beat all cancers sooner, increasing our research into cancers with lower survival rates and boosting our investment to help diagnose cancer earlier - accelerating progress to save more lives." http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29832237

Blood Test For Ebola Doesn't Catch Infection Early

The test uses a technology called PCR, for polymerase chain reaction. It can detect extraordinarily small traces of genetic material from the Ebola virus. But the catch is, the test is usually used on blood samples. And in the beginning, that's not where the Ebola virus hides. "The initial sites of replication actually are not in the blood itself — they're mostly in tissues like spleen or liver," says Thomas Geisbert, a microbiologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Dr. Bhadelia spent 12 days caring for the sick in an Ebola ward. Her experience has convinced her that she must return. Goats and Soda A Doctor's Diary: Encountering Chaos And Kindness In An Ebola Ward It's not practical to sample these organs to look for Ebola http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/10/28/359567808/blood-test-for-ebola-doesnt-catch-infection-early

Exposure To Plastics’ Chemical During Pregnancy May Impact Genital Development In Baby Boys

Researchers found that baby boys born to moms with greater exposure to a chemical called DiNP tended to have a shorter anogenital distance -- the space between the genitals and anus. Anogenital distance is set in the womb, and it's considered a marker of exposure to androgens ("male" hormones) during pregnancy. Chemical is added to plastics to make them more flexible and difficult to break. They are used in a huge range of products, from electrical cables, auto parts and construction materials to cosmetics, shoes and toys (though U.S. manufacturers stopped using them in pacifiers, teething rings and rattles in 1999). People can also be exposed to low levels of phthalates in food, since much of the food supply comes in contact with plastics. http://consumer.healthday.com/women-s-health-information-34/birth-health-news-61/plasticizer-may-affect-baby-boys-genital-development-693162.html

Report: World May See More Cases Of Tuberculosis If Action Is Not Taken To Reduce Diabetes Rates.

Cases of tuberculosis are set accelerate worldwide unless action is taken to curb diabetes, a chronic condition that weakens the immune system and triples the risk a person will develop the lung disease, health experts warned on Wednesday. Tuberculosis (TB), which killed an estimated 1.5 million people last year according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is caused by bacteria that lie dormant in many people. However, diabetics TB become sick from latent TB infection far more often than other people because their immune systems are compromised -- a fact that could unleash an epidemic of co-infection as diabetes rates soar along with growing obesity. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/29/us-health-diabetes-tuberculosis-idUSKBN0II0U620141029

FDA OKs First Vaccine for Group B Meningitis

The agency gave the nod to Trumenba, a vaccine based on a recombinant protein from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B and aimed at people ages 10 through 25. A second vaccine, already on the market in 34 countries as Bexsero, is still in the approval process. Some 30,000 doses of Bexsero were given last year, under an investigational new drug application, to students at Princeton University and the University of California Santa Barbara, in response to meningitis B outbreaks on those campuses. "Recent outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease on a few college campuses have heightened concerns for this potentially deadly disease," commented Karen Midthun, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Vaccines/48304?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-30&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

VIDEO Ebola: 'We Were Warned'

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/48290

Google Working on Nanoparticle Tech for Health Detection

research lab said it’s working on nanoparticle technology that could be used in the near future to better detect diseases such as cancer. The nanoparticles would be swallowed, then controlled to monitor health issues and observed through an external device, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-28/google-working-on-nanoparticle-technology-for-health-detection.html

High milk diet 'may not cut risk of bone fractures'

Milk has been recommended as a good source of calcium for many years but studies considering whether it leads to stronger bones and fewer fractures have had conflicting results. In the 20-year follow-up period in which the women were monitored, those who drank more than three glasses, or 680ml, of milk a day were more likely to develop fractures than those who had consumed less. The high-intake group had a higher risk of death too. "And those who had a high milk intake also had a 50% higher risk of hip fracture." Men were monitored for an average of 11 years after the initial survey and the results showed a similar but less pronounced trend. When fermented milk products such as yoghurt were considered, the opposite pattern was observed - people who consumed more had a lower risk of fractures. Prof Michaelsson says the findings could be due to sugars in milk, which have been shown to accelerate ageing in some early animal studies. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29805374

High-Dose Vitamin D May Not Prevent Recurrence Of Vaginosis.

A new study suggests that high doses of vitamin D may not help prevent the return of vaginosis, a vaginal infection that's especially common in younger women. The findings counter other research that suggests higher vitamin D levels could boost the immune system as it tries to fight off the infection, according to background information in the study. http://consumer.healthday.com/infectious-disease-information-21/misc-infections-news-411/-693085.html

Genetic Factors Tied to Violent Behaviors

Variants in two genes were significantly more common in Finnish criminals convicted of multiple violent crimes compared with the general population, researchers said. Statistical analysis indicated that 5% to 10% of all severe violent crime in Finland could be attributed to these variants, affecting the genes for monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and CDH13, a neuronal membrane adhesion molecule,. However many individuals carrying the risk alleles identified in the study have no history of violence, and many violent individuals don't carry them. They noted that the link between violent behavior and loss of function in MAOA activity made biobehavioral sense -- the enzyme is involved in dopamine metabolism, and diminished activity has been linked to aggressive behavior in rodents and in humans. The involvement of CDH13, a mediator of neuronal migration and proliferation, is more of a mystery, the researchers acknowledged. Earlier studies have suggested a role in neural connectivity such that sequence alterations could create a basis for impaired impulse control, Tiihonen and colleagues suggested. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/GeneralPsychiatry/48276?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-29&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Red Meat Bad for Heart Failure?

A compound released by gut microbes as they digest red meat appears linked to heart failure (HF) and its prognosis, a study showed. The gut has been implicated in HF for years, although the original hypothesis was that intestinal edema and ischemia allowed things to leak into the system that cause inflammation. TMAO, while generated by gut microbes, ultimately comes from foods containing L-carnitine (such as red meat) or phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) -- the main dietary source of choline (found in eggs), Cannon and McMurray noted. A diet that cuts down on such foods "would essentially be the Mediterranean diet," Hazen told MedPage Today, although "following a heart-healthy diet that's low in cholesterol, low in saturated fat, will achieve the same end in terms of lowering the phosphatidylcholine and the carnitine intake as well." http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/CHF/48277?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-29&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

CDC Releases New Ebola Quarantine Guidelines Amid State-Implemented Quarantines.

returning healthcare workers will have to conduct “an in-person checkup” as well as a telephone conversation with local health officials. Frieden said of the measures, “We believed these are based on science. These add a strong level of protection.” Frieden also discussed state utilization of the guidelines, saying, “We found that health departments generally do follow C.D.C. guidelines,” but “If they wish them to be more stringent, that is within their authority.” The Times also notes that Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia announced on Monday that his state would monitor passengers arriving from Ebola-stricken countries, and some could be subject to mandatory isolation. Also reporting on the CDC guidelines, the AP (10/28, Stobbe) notes that Maryland also announced quarantines for highest-risk healthcare workers. The CDC guidelines categorize people with potential exposure to Ebola in four ways, with highest-risk including anyone who handled infected fluids without proper protection. Frieden said that stricter state policies “have the effect of creating stigma or false impressions.” http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/us/new-rules-coming-for-health-care-workers-returning-from-west-africa.html?ref=health&_r=0

Rate Of T1D Has Increased Among Elementary School-Age White Children In US.

More research is needed to better understand why the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among American children is on the rise, and what racial and ethnic differences exist, the researchers said. The findings were culled from one of the largest U.S. studies of diabetes in children -- the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth registry -- involving data on more than 2 million children and teens living in diverse parts of the United States. http://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/adolescents-and-teen-health-news-719/type-1-diabetes-increasing-among-white-kids-in-u-s-study-says-693060.html

Tape Worm Tx Eases Diabetes in Mice

The salt form of the FDA approved anthelmintic drug niclosamide -- used to treat intestinal tapeworms -- improved diabetic symptoms in mice by inducing mild mitochondrial uncoupling. Note that the company studying the drug holds patents to develop several chemical mitochondrial uncouplers, including niclosamide, and would like to begin trials in humans once federal regulators approve them. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Diabetes/47941?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-28&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Baby wipes recalled over bacterial contamination

The company says it tested for contamination after receiving a number of complaints from customers who noticed an unusual odor and discoloration. Some of the wipes tested positive for a bacteria called Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia). symptoms including rash, irritation, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, but it has not been confirmed whether these health issues are related to the bacteria in the baby wipes. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/baby-wipes-recalled-over-bacterial-contamination/

Why Can't an HIV Vaccine Be Rushed Like Ebola's?

Because HIV is a retrovirus which mutates its' genes very often. Plus the anti-HIV antibodies are USELESS. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/why-cant-hiv-vaccine-be-rushed-ebolas-n234786

Ebola can survive on surfaces for almost TWO MONTHS: Tests reveal certain strains survive for weeks when stored at low temperatures Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2809803/Ebola-surfaces-TWO-months-Tests-reveal-certain-strains-survive-weeks-stored-low-temperatures.

Research claims certain strains of Ebola can remain on surfaces for 50 days It survived the longest on glass surfaces stored at 4° (39°F) Centres for Disease Control and Prevention claims Ebola typically lives on a ‘dry’ surface for hours - including doorknobs and tables But when stored in moist conditions such in mucus, this is extended Survival time depends on the surface, and the room temperature Virus can be killed using household bleach and people must come into direct contact with the sample to risk infection http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2809803/Ebola-surfaces-TWO-months-Tests-reveal-certain-strains-survive-weeks-stored-low-temperatures.html Perfect timing for our disinfection lecture on Fri.

Trans Fat, Saturated Fat Consumption Down, But Not Far Enough.

In a study comparing dietary fatty acid intake from 1980-1982 through 2007-2009, downward trends were observed for total, saturated, and trans fat as a percent of total energy in both men and women. However, mean intakes were still above recommended levels for both trans and saturated fatty acids. Note that mean intakes of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were also below levels recommended in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and by the American Heart Association. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/48228

Drugmakers bet on Ebola vaccines, treatments

There are no proven drugs or vaccines for Ebola, in large part because the disease is so rare that up until now it's been hard to attract research funding. And the West African nations hardest hit by the outbreak are unlikely to be able to afford new Ebola vaccines and drugs. But governments and corporations now are shifting millions of dollars to fight Ebola in the wake of the outbreak that has infected nearly 10,000 people and killed over 4,800. Experts say drug makers are wagering that international groups and wealthier governments like the U.S. will buy Ebola vaccines and drugs in mass quantities to stockpile them for future use once they're deemed safe. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/10/26/ap-drugmakers-bet-on-ebola-vaccines-treatments/17960771/

Palomar College Student Hospitalized With Meningococcal Bacteria

Another college student was hospitalized with meningococcal bacteria Thursday, less than a week after an SDSU student died from the same disease. http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Meningococcal-Bacteria-Student-Palomar-College-280221512.html

Bacteria, gut organisms linked to health, autism, schizophrenia, depression, diabetes, allergies and obesity

The number of bacteria and other organisms in the human gut, known collectively as microbiota, are thought to be approximately 10 times more numerous than the entire number of cells in the body and scientists are only just starting to unlock the secrets of how they affect us. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-25/gut-microbiota-linked-to-health-autism-schizophrenia/5841264

Kidney Stones Up Fracture Risk

A large portion of patients with recurrent kidney stones have hypercalciuria, which can lead to negative calcium balance and compromised bone remodeling. However, it remains unclear whether kidney stones and fracture are linked. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/GeneralEndocrinology/48224?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-25&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Toxins Found In Many Halloween Costumes For Children.

a study from “the left-leaning Ecology Center” has found toxic chemicals in high amounts in dozen of popular children’s Halloween costumes as well as hanging skeletons and orange pumpkin lights. The chemicals, which included lead, flame retardants, tin compounds and phthalates, “have been linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems and cancer.” http://thehill.com/regulation/221655-trick-or-treat-halloween-costumes-made-with-toxic-chemicals-study-finds

Special Blue Wavelength Light-Blocking Glasses May Help Promote Sleep Readiness.

reports that according to a study published online Oct. 3 in the Journal of Adolescent Health, special eyeglasses that block blue wavelength light from digital devices, TV and computer screens may help promote sleep readiness by bedtime. Blue wavelength light has been found to alter circadian rhythms, delaying sleep onset by preventing a rise in the hormone melatonin. In the study, 13 adolescent boys wore the glasses in the evening for a week while using digital devices, then underwent saliva tests for melatonin levels. The following week, they wore clear eyeglasses instead and repeated the melatonin tests. When the boys wore the special glasses, melatonin levels were higher and they felt sleepier at bedtime. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/23/us-health-sleep-blue-light-idUSKCN0IC21W20141023

Certain Genes Driving Circadian Sleep Cycle May Be Tied To Diabetes Risk.

Below presented research on a large community of Mexican Americans -- who have a high prevalence of obesity and diabetes -- at the American Society of Human Genetics meeting in San Diego this week. She and her colleagues found that genes driving the circadian sleep cycle that affect sleep quality may also be associated with diabetes risk. Similarly, genes involved in the immune response may be tied to cardiovascular health, she said. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Diabetes/48203

Frozen or Powdered: Fecal Transplant Works in C. Diff

Frozen or lyophilized specimens may offer an effective and convenient alternative to fresh stool samples for fecal transplant in patients with recurrent episodes of Clostridium difficile infection, a researcher said here. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ACG/48215?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-24&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Short TB Regimens Fall Flat

Two short treatment regimens for tuberculosis (TB) failed to match the standard 6 months of therapy in efficacy. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Tuberculosis/48209?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-24&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Recently Returned From Africa, Doctor Tests Positive For Ebola At NYC Hospital

A patient at a New York City hospital has tested positive for Ebola, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference on Thursday. According to a statement from Doctors Without Borders, a doctor returned to the United States Oct. 12 after working with Ebola patients in Guinea. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/23/358425526/recently-returned-from-africa-doctor-tests-positive-for-ebola-at-nyc-hospital Ok he was within the 21 incubation period and was on a subway and bowling after just being around an EBOLA patient 10 days earlier. Something is not right. He should have waited 21 days to be out in public like that.

Researchers retract bogus, Dr. Oz-touted study on green coffee bean weight-loss pills

a study conducted in India and written by researchers from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania initially claimed a 16 percent loss of body fat among people taking “green coffee bean pills.” However, that study has been retracted and green coffee bean is “one of several questionable supplements being scrutinized by federal regulators.” Additionally, the supplement had been touted by Dr. Mehmet Oz, a “syndicated television personality,” who stated in the Green Coffee Extract episode of his show, “This miracle pill can burn fat fast for anyone who wants to lose weight. This is very exciting and it’s breaking news.” Dr. Oz’s website has since been “scrubbed” of all mention of green coffee. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/10/22/researchers-retract-bogus-dr-oz-touted-study-on-green-coffee-bean-weight-loss-pills/

Ebola: CDC Ups Watch on Travelers

All travelers arriving in the U.S. from Ebola-ravaged West Africa will be actively monitored for 21 days, regardless of whether they have symptoms or report exposure to an Ebola patient, the CDC says. Such a program -- had it been in place weeks ago -- might have sped up the country's first Ebola diagnosis, according to CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/48201?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-23&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Antibiotic treats IBS

Treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) with rifaximin was associated with significant symptomatic improvements, and treatment could be successfully repeated if patients relapsed, researchers reported here. It's now believed that a substantial number of patients with IBS have increased microbes in the small intestine, which suggested that antimicrobial treatment might have a role. Rifaximin was chosen because of its lack of absorption, suggesting that it wouldn't influence the colon microflora or encourage the development of antibiotic resistance. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ACG/48190?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-23&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Tainted supplements sold after recalls, study says

Tainted dietary supplements often continue to be spiked with hidden and potentially dangerous drugs months and even years after being the subjects of product recalls, according to research published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers identified 27 supplements available for purchase online in the summer of 2013 that were among 274 recalled during 2009-2012. Tests conducted by the team found one or more pharmaceuticals in nearly 67% of the supplements available for purchase, including chemicals similar to the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra or the diet drug Meridia, which was pulled from the market because of heart attack and stroke risks. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/21/tainted-supplements-sold-after-recalls/17666499/

Fitness-Tracking Devices May Help People Increase Physical Activity.

The most important thing that fitness trackers do is make people aware of how much (or how little) they’re moving, Tudor-Locke says, and that usually motivates them to find opportunities for physical activity. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/high-tech-or-low-fitness-trackers-make-you-more-aware-of-your-steps-daily-activity/2014/10/20/db27eb10-4ef9-11e4-aa5e-7153e466a02d_story.html

Small Study Ties Insulin Resistance To Treatment-Refractory Bipolar disease.

eports that according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the British Journal of Psychiatry, “patients with bipolar disorder [BD] who are insulin resistant are likely to also be refractory to mood-stabilising treatment.” The 121-patient study revealed that “insulin resistance and diabetes were associated with a threefold increased likelihood of rapid cycling.” In addition, “patients with impaired glucose metabolism had an increased likelihood of being resistant to lithium treatment.” http://www.medwirenews.com/47/105954/Psychiatry/Insulin_resistance_linked_to_treatment-refractory_bipolar_disorder.html

Milk substitutes might not give kids enough vitamin D

Young children who drank nondairy replacement milks instead of cow’s milk were more like to have low levels of vitamin D in their blood, a new study found. Parents often choose non-dairy beverages, such as almond, soy, or rice milk, for kids who have milk allergies or lactose intolerance. Some parents believe these beverages have health benefits even for kids who can drink regular milk. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/21/us-milk-substitutes-vitamin-d-idUSKCN0IA23B20141021

Hard Lesson in Sleep for Teenagers

that teenagers are more likely to be sleep-deprived than any other age group, with studies showing that few get the recommended “eight and a half to nine and a half hours of sleep each night.” Dr. Judith A. Owens, a pediatric sleep specialist and lead author of “a policy statement issued in August by the American Academy of Pediatrics,” said the lack of sleep is associated with health problems, “risk-taking behavior, depression and suicidal ideation, and car accidents.” The piece notes that early school start times, electronic devices, overscheduling, and parental pressure contribute to the problem. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/20/sleep-for-teenagers/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=health&_r=0

For Infertility Treatment, Should He Drink Less Coffee, More Booze?

according to research scheduled for presentation at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s annual meeting, “a man’s love of coffee could hamper the success of a couple’s infertility treatment.” Specifically, “couples in which the man consumed the most caffeine (equivalent to three or more 8-ounce cups of coffee a day) were half as likely to have a pregnancy as couples where the male consumed the least caffeine (less than a cup of coffee daily), the researchers said.” The study of 105 men, all of whom were involved in IVF treatments, also found that “mild alcohol use by would-be fathers might help boost the odds of pregnancy through in vitro fertilization.” http://consumer.healthday.com/general-health-information-16/misc-alcohol-news-13/for-ivf-success-should-he-limit-coffee-692870.html

Oral Combo Tx Soars in HCV

In one large international study, 99.3% of patients infected with genotype 1b receiving ABT-450/r plus ombitasvir and dasabuvir -- the direct-acting 3D regimen -- without ribavirin showed sustained virologic responses at 12 weeks (SVR12), as did 98.7% of those who were given that regimen plus ribavirin, Andreas Maieron, MD, of Elisabeth Hospital in Linz, Austria, reported during the presidential plenary session at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ACG/48161?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-21&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Study suggests altering gut bacteria might mitigate lupus

Lactobacillus species, commonly seen in yogurt cultures, correlate, in the guts of mouse models, with mitigation of lupus symptoms, while Lachnospiraceae, a type of Clostridia, correlate with worsening, according to research published ahead of print in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. The research suggests, but does not prove that altering the gut microbiota could mitigate lupus. Nonetheless, Luo suggests that people with lupus should eat Lactobacillus-containing probiotics, such as live culture yogurts, to reduce lupus flares. More generally, "The use of probiotics, prebiotics, and antibiotics has the potential to alter microbiota dysbiosis, which in turn could improve lupus symptoms," says co-principal investigator Husen Zhang. Ultimately, says Luo, fecal transplant might prove valuable as a treatment for lupus. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-10-gut-bacteria-mitigate-lupus.html

Staph bacteria gang up to outsmart antibiotics

Current studies support the notion that antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria, including methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains, can exchange nutrients with each other and even with other bacterial species, including the “normal” microbes of the microbiome, to increase their virulence during an infection. http://www.futurity.org/infectious-diseases-antibiotics-786212/

CDC Announces New Guidelines For Health Care Workers Treating Ebola Patients

First, they will make sure that health care workers dealing with Ebola patients are "repeatedly trained," especially when it comes to learning how to put on and take off their personal protective equipment. — Second, the equipment used should leave no skin exposed. — Third, these regulations should be monitored by a "trained observer" or site manager, who watches each employee take on and off their personal protective equipment. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/20/357654619/cdc-announces-new-guidelines-for-handling-of-ebola-patients

Study Notes Importance Of Easy Access To Healthy Foods For Dieters.

those who had a shorter trip to the nearest grocery store with a good selection of healthy foods did better in boosting their consumption of fiber and fruits and vegetables than those who had to travel farther for healthy foods, the researchers found. Nearly 40 percent of the stores in the study area (Worcester County, Mass.) did not offer a good selection of healthy foods, according to the study authors. http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/dieting-to-increase-fiber-health-news-194/dieters-thwarted-by-lack-of-healthy-food-nearby-692532.html

Pentagon building rapid-response Ebola team

The Pentagon will build a 30-person, rapid-response Ebola medical support team to aid civilian health care workers should additional cases of the virus be diagnosed in the U.S., officials said Sunday. The effort was requested by the Department of Health and Human Services "as an added prudent measure to ensure our nation is ready to respond quickly, effectively and safely in the event of additional Ebola cases," a Pentagon statement said. Team members will remain in a "prepare to deploy" status for 30 days after training. They will not be sent to West Africa or elsewhere overseas and "will be called upon domestically only if deemed prudent by our public health professionals," the statement said. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/19/ebola-pentagon-rapid-response-team/17550767/

Soda May Age You as Much as Smoking, Study Says

studied telomeres, the caps at the end of chromosomes in every cell in our body, from white blood cells. Shorter telomeres have been linked to health detriments like shorter lifespans and more stress, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, the study notes. They found that people who drank more sugary soda tended to have shorter telomeres. Drinking an 8-ounce daily serving of soda corresponded to 1.9 years of additional aging, and drinking a daily 20-ounce serving was linked to 4.6 more years of aging. The latter, the authors point out, is exactly the same association found between telomere length and smoking. Only the sugary, bubbly stuff showed this effect. Epel didn’t see any association between telomere length and diet soda intake. “The extremely high dose of sugar that we can put into our body within seconds by drinking sugared beverages is uniquely toxic to metabolism,” she says. http://time.com/3513875/soda-may-age-you-as-much-as-smoking/

Enterovirus Infection May Increase Risk Of Type 1 Diabetes In Children

Enterovirus Infection May Increase Risk Of Type 1 Diabetes In Children Read more: http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/18181/20141019/enterovirus-infection-may-increase-risk-of-type-diabetes-in-children.htm#ixzz3Gfn9vYwX

Confusion Clouds U.S. Ebola Response

The CDC says a fever of 101.5° F is the tipping point for Ebola, but some hospitals aren’t comfortable with that cutoff for fever among healthcare workers potentially exposed to Ebola and are taking screening measures into their own hands. During a press briefing Wednesday, CDC director Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, said Texas nurse and Ebola patient Amber Vinson was advised that she could board a plane to Dallas because her fever was 99.5° F. Everybody has their own normal body temperature. Mine is 97.6. The CDC said if a baseline body temperature measurement could be established reliably, “then a sustained increase of 1° to 1.5° degrees or more might be a reasonable approach.” http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/48113?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-17&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Depression, Obesity May Go Hand In Hand.

"Both depression and obesity impact many aspects of life, and their relationship is naturally complex. Some of the connections are obvious: Obesity can cause low self-esteem, social isolation and stressful health problems. All of them can cause depression. Depression can lead some patients to binge eat and get obese," he said. The relationship goes both ways, Tang said. "Many aspects of a modern lifestyle can cause both depression and obesity," he said. http://consumer.healthday.com/mental-health-information-25/depression-news-176/obesity-and-depression-often-twin-ills-u-s-data-shows-692772.html

Hazardous chemicals in your pizza box? Petition asks FDA to ban them.

U.S. manufacturers stopped using a hazardous chemical in pizza boxes and other food wrappers three years ago — but it may still be seeping into your takeout food. That’s because foreign companies can still use perchlorate and perfluorocarboxylates (PFCs) – which can cause permanent brain damage in infants – in paper products that are imported into the United States. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/10/16/hazardous-chemicals-in-your-pizza-box-petition-asks-fda-to-ban-them/

Gut Microbiome May Be Altered By Shift Work, Jet Lag and lead to Obesity

We saw that in the presence of jet lag, their microbes were completely messed up,” he says. The bugs changed in composition and function, losing their circadian rhythm and becoming far less efficient at tasks like cell growth, DNA repair and detoxification. Like humans, mice microbes perform housekeeping and repair functions while they sleep, and growth and energy-promoting functions when they’re awake. These mice were also more susceptible to obesity and diabetes, and when Elinav transferred their gut bacteria into sterile, germ-free mice, they also transferred the heightened risk for disease, “proving that it’s actually their microbes driving this susceptibility,” he says. http://time.com/3513135/how-jet-lag-can-contribute-to-obesity/

Consuming Polyunsaturated Fats May Help Offset Weight Gain Risks.

according to a study published online Oct. 15 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, polyunsaturated fats appear to improve cholesterol levels in people who consume too many calories and gain weight. Researchers arrived at this conclusion after having two groups of lean adults consume three or four muffins a day for seven weeks, some made with sunflower oil and others made with the saturated fat palm oil. People who ate the muffins made with palm oil had increased cholesterol levels. Participants in both groups experienced an increase in insulin resistance, however. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/15/us-health-nutrition-cardiovascular-idUSKCN0I42JZ20141015

Gradual Weight Loss No Better Than Rapid Weight Loss.

according to a study of 204 obese adults published in the journal Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, there is “no support” to the belief that weight is “likely to stay lost if it is the product of a rapid weight loss.” Rather, the study found that, “although long-term weight loss remains elusive regardless of the diet, short-term weight loss is actually more likely with rapid weight loss.” whether you opt for a “crash” diet or something a bit slower, the rate at which you shed excess pounds has no bearing on whether or not those pounds will come back.” The article points out that currently guidelines suggest that “slow and steady weight loss” is believed to be “more likely than rapid weight loss to help people keep their weight under control.” http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/dieting-to-lose-weight-health-news-195/is-slow-and-steady-weight-loss-really-the-best-approach-692724.html

Ebola and Hospitals: How Great Is the Threat?

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/48105?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-16&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

U.S. health official allowed new Ebola patient on plane with slight fever

The nurse did call the health department before flying. They said your fever is too low to be Ebola so you can fly. Vinson told the CDC her temperature was 99.5 Fahrenheit (37.5 Celsius). Since that was below the CDC's temperature threshold of 100.4F (38C) "she was not told not to fly," the source said. The news was first reported by CNN.http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/16/us-health-ebola-usa-idUSKCN0I40UE20141016

Study discovers households marked by 'signature' bacteria

The study followed seven families for six weeks, requiring them to constantly swab their household surfaces and themselves. Researchers at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory, with help from a team at the University of Maryland, College Park, said they were surprised at how quickly the bacterial fingerprint spread. Three of the families moved over the course of the study. "We leave a unique fingerprint in our homes in less than 24 hours after we move into it," said Jack Gilbert, a microbiologist at Argonne who led the study. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-08-28/health/bs-hs-home-bacteria-20140828_1_bacteria-types-new-environments-jack-gilbert

Could Vitamin D Make Childbirth Less Painful?

Women with lower vitamin D levels required more pain medication than those with higher vitamin D levels, according to the study scheduled for presentation Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in New Orleans. http://consumer.healthday.com/bone-and-joint-information-4/pain-health-news-520/could-vitamin-d-make-labor-less-painful-692443.html

The Mediterranean Diet Could Help Reverse Metabolic Syndrome

The Mediterranean diet along with supplemental extra-virgin olive oil and nuts could help reverse metabolic syndrome, Spanish researchers say in a study that was published Tuesday. Some 25% of adults suffer from metabolic syndrome, which increases their risk of stroke, heart disease and diabetes. The disease itself is the result of a combination of at least three of the following symptoms: high blood pressure, blood sugar, triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol and obesity. http://time.com/3506481/mediterranean-diet-metabolic-syndrome/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20time%2Ftopstories%20%28TIME%3A%20Top%20Stories%29

Second Dallas Nurse Positive for Ebola

A second nurse who treated Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan at Texas Presbyterian Hospital has tested positive for Ebola. The first Ebola-infected nurse in Dallas doing better after blood transfusion from an Ebola-surviving donor, Reuters reported. UN worker infected with Ebola died in a German hospital, SFGate reported. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/48090?isalert=1&uun=g721819d2348R5883165u&utm_source=breaking-news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-news&xid=NL_breakingnews_2014-10-15

Sam’s Club reportedly sent emails alerting customers that their Simply Right baby wipes were being pulled from shelves for conver-bacterial-contamination-concerns

Sam’s Club reportedly sent emails alerting customers that their Simply Right baby wipes were being pulled from shelves for contamination with the gram-negative bacteria B. cepacia. the company is said to have stated that, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the B. cepacia bacterium poses little risk to healthy babies. People with weakened immune systems, especially children with cystic fibrosis, may be susceptible to infection though. This gram-negative bacteria is naturally resistant to many antibiotic and antibacterial substances. According to the article, the email suggested customers call 888-746-7726 during business hours for more information. Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1535640/sams-club-recall-emails-claim-simply-right-baby-wipes-pulled-over-bacterial-contamination-concerns/#rfjYi4ZLXdmkIHF8.99 Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1535640/sams-club-recall-emails-claim-simply-right-baby-wipes-pulled-over-bacterial-contamination-concerns/#rfjYi4ZLXdmkIHF8.99

Simple Molecules Block Bacterial Biofilms

During an infection, pathogenic bacteria can gang up to form biofilms—complex layers of bacterial cells and secreted metabolites—that are tough to eradicate with antibiotics. Researchers have proposed a new strategy to prevent these troublesome biofilms from forming: Use compounds that interfere with bacteria’s ability to regulate osmosis. http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/web/2014/10/Simple-Molecules-Block-Bacterial-Biofilms.html

Ebola deaths rise to nearly 4,500 as WHO warns cases will increase to 10,000 per week

The number of cases in the Ebola outbreak has risen to nearly 9,000, with the number of dead climbing to nearly 4,500, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Tuesday that there could be up to 10,000 new cases a week in two months. For the last four weeks, there's been about 1,000 new cases per week - including suspected, confirmed and probable cases, WHO assistant director-general Dr. Bruce Aylward said, adding that the U.N. health agency is aiming to get 70 percent of cases isolated within two months to reverse the outbreak. WHO increased its Ebola death toll tally to 4,447 people on Tuesday, nearly all of them in West Africa, from 8,914 cases. The death rate has risen to 70 percent— previously the WHO estimated the death rate at around 50 percent. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/10/14/west-africa-ebola-outbreak-will-reach-over-000-cases-says-who/

Origin of Ebola virus primarily from Liberia

The patient was diagnosed with Ebola on Oct. 6 and arrived in Leipzig for treatment on Oct. 9. Germany has treated at least three people who have contracted the virus. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/10/14/un-worker-ebola-germany-dies/17237281/

Eating Disorders May Start in Elementary School

Psychiatric problems were present in 36 percent of the children's families, and many of the children had mental health issues such as anxiety and mood and attention disorders, the study found. Nearly 23 percent of the children said they had been mocked or insulted about their appearance, according to the study. The results were presented Oct. 7 at a meeting of the Eating Disorders Association of Canada in Vancouver. http://consumer.healthday.com/mental-health-information-25/child-psychology-news-125/eating-disorders-may-start-in-elementary-school-692543.html

Study: Different People Show Differences In Fructose Metabolism.

fructose, which is widely consumed through high-fructose corn syrup, “may promote obesity and diabetes by overstimulating a hormone that helps to regulate fat accumulation,” citing a study unveiled on Monday in the journal Molecular Metabolism. Highlighting the importance of the study, the blog post notes that the Harvard Medical School study “marks the first time that scientists have identified a hormone that rises sharply and consistently in response to eating fructose.” According to the paper, the results suggest that people “may vary in their sensitivity to the sugar, and that eventually it may be possible to test an individual for susceptibility to illnesses linked to weight gain.” Some mornings the subjects were given the test with 75 grams of fructose instead of glucose. At other times, they were given a 75-gram mixture of fructose and glucose, similar to the sugar content of a 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi. Glucose had only a minimal impact on the hormone, called fibroblast growth factor 21, or FGF21. But fructose increased its levels; the largest dose increased hormone levels fourfold within two hours on average. The obese subjects had higher levels of FGF21 to begin with. A buildup of these triglycerides in the liver itself leads to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, an increasingly common metabolic disorder that affects about 10 percent of children and as many as a third of all adults. Fatty liver often coincides with insulin resistance, a precursor to Type 2 diabetes, and it is a strong risk factor for heart disease. FGF21 appears to be largely produced in the liver, and some researchers suspect that it helps to burn fat stores there and elsewhere in the body. But as fat accumulates and more of the hormone is released, the body may become desensitized to its effects. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/13/vulnerability-to-fructose-varies-health-study-finds/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=health&_r=0

EMA Panel Says No Heart Risk With Testosterone

A European Medicines Agency (EMA) review committee has concluded that there's no consistent evidence that testosterone increases the risk of heart problems in men with hypogonadism. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/GeneralEndocrinology/48062?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-14&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Case Study: Fecal Transplant Clears K. Pneumoniae

Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) cleared a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) infection in a teenage girl, researchers said here. he was readmitted in November 2010 with persistent fever. She was finally diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Antibiotics were discontinued and she was treated with high-dose corticosteroids and etoposide, with initial clinical improvement. In January 2011 she developed a fever. Her blood culture grew K. pneumoniae which was carbapenemase-positive by the modified Hodge test. The test showed resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefazolin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, meropenem, and piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem, tigecycline. She had intermediate resistance to gentamicin and doripenem. Despite administration of antibiotics with in vitro activity, her blood cultures remained persistently positive for the next 33 days. During that time she also developed septic arthritis of one shoulder and both hips. Searching for answers, "I cast myself upon the waters of the Internet -- and, lo, a wondrous group of consultants came forth to help," http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDWeek/48060?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-14&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Prevnar-13 Halts Pneumonia in Seniors

A pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was highly effective in preventing community-acquired pneumonia in people 65 and older, researchers said here. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDWeek/48066?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-14&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Ebola drug scams target worried consumers

There is no cure for the Ebola virus -- but that isn't stopping some unscrupulous online marketers from trying to sell you one. "Any time there's a new health scare, we often see companies pop up online that try to take advantage of consumers," Serena Viswanathan of the Federal Trade Commission tells CBS News. The FTC is cracking down several websites that claim their products can combat the deadly Ebola virus. One of those companies, the FTC alleges, is called the Natural Solutions Foundation, which promotes a supplement called nano silver for the cure and prevention of viruses including Ebola.

Ebola: Infection Control Needs Rethink

During a press call with reporters on Monday, Frieden insisted that the case did not undermine the prevailing theories of how Ebola is transmitted. But it does suggest that existing infection control measures may not be adequate. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/48064?isalert=1&uun=g721819d2339R5883165u&utm_source=breaking-news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-news&xid=NL_breakingnews_2014-10-13

Antiviral Fails in Ebola, but Encouraging in Adenovirus

An investigational antiviral drug that was used to treat the Dallas Ebola patient showed potent virologic activity against a more common target, adenovirus, researchers said here. In a small pilot study, brincidofovir also appeared to be associated with better survival, compared with historical controls, among patients with adenovirus infection, according to Jo-Anne Young, MD, of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDWeek/48055?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-13&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Novel HSV-2 Vax Shows Promise

An investigational therapeutic vaccine against type 2 herpes simplex virus, used with an adjuvant, reduced viral shedding in a placebo-controlled trial, a researcher said. The GEN-003 is the first vaccine to reduce the rate of viral shedding from genital herpes, according to Anna Wald, MD, MPH, of the University of Washington in Seattle. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDWeek/48051?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-13&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Fecal capsules resolve Clostridium difficile infection in 90% of patients

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that affects the digestive system and can lead to severe swelling of the bowel and inflammation of the colon. Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is considered a major cause of illness and death globally, with a recent significant increase in the number of both adult and child patients affected. inflamed colon Clostridium difficile accounts for 15-25% of all episodes of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Symptoms of C. difficile are unpleasant and can include: Watery diarrhea (three or more bowel movements per day for 2 or more days), sometimes blood-stained Fever Loss of appetite Nausea Abdominal pain or tenderness. C. difficile produces spores that are passed out the body in feces and can survive for many weeks, sometimes months, on surfaces, devices or materials. The bacteria can then be spread by anyone who comes into contact with the contaminated surface. C. difficile accounts for 15-25% of all episodes of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283766.php

2nd kid dies Michigan toddler dies of enterovirus D68, a pernicious strain of a spreading virus

A Michigan toddler has died of enterovirus D68, another reminder of the deadly potential of a disease that has infected hundreds nationwide in two months. The CDC confirmed EV-D68 after her arrival here, and she subsequently succumbed to her illness," Valentini said. http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/11/health/michigan-enterovirus-68-death/index.html

Why the EBOLA press conference today concerns me

I heard the EBOLA press conference while doing my stairclimber. One point that troubles me is when the CDC states that only patients with symptoms can give you EBOLA. If anybody has had microbiology, epidemiology, or pathophysiology courses knows the difference between a sign and a symptom . While signs are objective, symptoms on the other hand are subjective. Signs are called objective in the sense that they can be felt, heard or seen. Bleeding, bruising, swelling and fever are signs. Symptoms are subjective in the sense that they are not outwardly visible to others. It is only the patient who perceives and experiences the symptoms. It is only when the patient experiences certain symptoms that he or she approaches a physician. So what if an infected patient has a fever or nausea or muscle aches BUT he does not really notice these enough to have him register them as symptoms. In OTHER WORDS, an infected patient's symptoms can vary even if the signs and severity of disease are the same in 2 patients. SO AN INFECTED PATIENT MAY HAVE NO SYMPTOMS BASED ON THE SPECIFIC PATIENT!!!! Read more: Difference Between Signs and Symptoms | Difference Between | Signs vs Symptoms http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/difference-between-signs-and-symptoms/#ixzz3Fw16dgdJ

Second Patient in US Tests Positive for Ebola: Reports

A health worker who helped to care for Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the US, and who died on Wednesday, has been tested positive for the Ebola virus, the CNN reported Sunday. http://en.ria.ru/world/20141012/193983096/Second-Patient-in-US-Tests-Positive-for-Ebola-Reports.html

Ebola: Body Fluids Carry the Risk

The mantra of Ebola experts is that the disease is transmitted through direct contact with patient body fluids that contain the virus. But which fluids? And are they all equally risky? http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDWeek/48035?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-11&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Clinicians Explore EV-D68, Paralysis Link

The mysterious cases of acute flaccid paralysis in children might be an unusual manifestation of the enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections that are also circulating, a researcher said here. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDWeek/48045?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-11&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Athletes at Higher Risk for MRSA

Contact sports participants -- particularly football players -- are more than twice as likely as other athletes to be colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), researchers reported here.http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDWeek/48027?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-11&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Native Bacteria Used To Clean-Up Uranium Mines

But what is new is using the native bacteria that naturally thrive near uranium deposits. In fact, some scientists think these local bacteria might have been part of the process of depositing the uranium in the ground in the first place. “And the beauty of the approach we’re taking is that the bacteria do this naturally as part of their lifecycle,” Chamberlain says. The way it works is that the bacteria take uranium in its wet form-- where it could contaminate groundwater-- and convert it to a nice, safe crystalline form. Normally, though, this natural process is geologically slow. http://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/native-bacteria-used-clean-uranium-mines-0

Hidden STD Epidemic: 110 Million Infections in the US

Sexually transmitted diseases are one major group of diseases that make for ongoing hidden epidemics: In the United States alone, there are nearly 20 million cases of new sexually transmitted infections yearly, from just eight viruses and bacteria, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Perhaps 20 million new cases sounds like a high number. But because infections can persist for a long time, especially in people who aren't aware they are infected, the number of existing infections at any given time is even higher, at 110 million, according to CDC researchers. [See maps of the US with STD rates by state] The eight most common STDs in the U.S. are chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B virus (HBV), genital herpes, HIV, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis and trichomoniasis. http://news.yahoo.com/hidden-std-epidemic-110-million-infections-us-152926129.html

Childhood Vaccine Cuts 'Superbug' Infection

The childhood pneumococcal vaccine helps children avoid the suffering and danger of ear infections, meningitis and pneumonia. And a new study suggests it may provide an added bonus: cutting down on infections from antibiotic-resistant "superbugs." http://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/news/20141010/common-childhood-vaccine-cuts-superbug-infection-study

Texas deputy, found free of Ebola, is released from hospital

Dallas County sheriff’s deputy, who had entered an apartment where an Ebola victim had stayed, left the hospital after tests showed he did not have the deadly virus, officials announced Thursday. http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-texas-deputy-ebola-20141009-story.html

New diabetes breakthrough 'bigger than the discovery of insulin'

Now researchers have "the ability to make hundreds of millions of cells," Melton says. "It's a huge landmark paper," an outside researcher tells NPR. "I would say it's bigger than the discovery of insulin." For Melton, the issue is deeply personal: Both his children, now in their 20s, were diagnosed with the disease as kids. Among the next steps is to move to clinical trials in humans, possibly in as few as three years. (Another announcement related to blood sugar made waves last month.) http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/10/10/new-diabetes-breakthrough-bigger-than-discovery-insulin/

Exposure to Acid Suppression Therapy Linked to C. difficile Infection in Children

Children treated with gastric acid suppression therapy—particularly, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)—had significantly higher healthcare- and community-associated Clostridium difficile infection, investigators reported at IDWeek 2014. These findings are “likely due to the fact that gastric acidity is a major defense mechanism against ingested pathogens,” noted Stephen Eppes, MD, of Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE, and colleagues. http://www.empr.com/exposure-to-acid-suppression-therapy-linked-to-c-difficile-infection-in-children/article/376536/

Large study links maternal infection to autism risk

Having an infection during pregnancy raises the risk of having a child with autism by 37 percent, finds a study of more than 2 million people in Sweden1. The study is the largest to date to examine the link between maternal infection and autism. The findings, published 13 September in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, also indicate that the risk is higher for autism with intellectual disability than for autism alone. http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/2014/large-study-links-maternal-infection-to-autism-risk

More Than 120 Elementary School Kids Sick From Suspected Norovirus

School resumed Thursday morning at a northwest Indiana elementary school after at least 129 students were out sick Wednesday with a viral infection that local health officials suspected could be the highly contagious norovirus. Roughly a quarter of the student body at Peifer Elementary School in Schererville, Indiana, reportedly had symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever Tuesday to Wednesday, which initially led school officials to suspect a foodborne illness, according to The Times of Northwest Indiana. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/09/indiana-school-norovirus_n_5959158.html

Here’s Why Women Should Avoid Fried Food Before Pregnancy

A new study published in Diabetologia found that women who eat more fried food before conceiving are at greater risk for developing gestational diabetes—the kind that starts or is first noticed during pregnancy. Researchers looked at diet questionnaires from about 15,000 women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II. http://time.com/3482653/fried-food-gestational-diabetes/

Antibiotics Control Cuts Kids' Hospital Readmission

Following the recommendations of an antibiotics stewardship team reduced the readmission rate among pediatrics patients without increasing their time in the hospital. Point out that most of the recommendations of the stewardship team were to stop antibiotics, and the second most frequent recommendation was for consultation with an infectious diseases specialist. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDWeek/48024?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-10&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Ebola: Providers' Risk Small in U.S. Hospitals

"This is a virus which is well controlled with standard infection control measures that every hospital in the U.S. is capable of providing," he said. But Ribner also outlined some of the unexpected barriers to care -- difficulties shipping samples to the CDC, for instance, or disposing of waste generated by the patients. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/IDWeek/48014?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-10&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Bone Infections increased.

Nonviral opportunistic infections occurred more frequently among patients with autoimmune diseases treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors than in patients receiving conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/47999?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-09&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Grapefruit Juice May Be Effective At Lowering Blood Glucose In Mice.

one of the biggest findings was that mice drinking grapefruit juice had glucose-lowering effects that were just as potent as the mice who sipped on metformin. When someone says a particular food has this magic quality of improving your health all by itself, we mostly take that kind of claim with a grain of salt,” Napoli says. But Napoli, an avid grapefruit juice drinker himself, who says he’s convinced a few colleagues of its health merit, thinks his results show that grapefruits might actually do something special when it comes to diabetes. http://time.com/3481902/grapefruit-juice-benefits/

Scientists Eye Gene Studies Of Patients With Dramatic Response To Cancer Treatments.

scientists are looking for clues in genes of people called “exceptional responders,” those who have defied “all expectations by responding dramatically to a cancer drug.” The paper cites the example Grace Silva who had a “horrible” form of thyroid cancer but still remains alive after four years of diagnosis, citing a story in the New England Journal of Medicine. The NCI has launched a nationwide search for people like Silva in an attempt to decipher the genetic changes that allowed them to respond so dramatically to treatment. The paper notes that the journal “concludes with a lesson that may help doctors treat thousands of other patients with more common cancers, like breast and bladder cancer, and even help them find an alternative when a common drug stops working.” http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/health/in-genes-of-exceptional-responders-clues-to-fighting-disease.html?ref=health&_r=0

Will Airport Ebola Screenings Be Effective?

But some U.S. airports will begin screening people flying in from West Africa. These travelers will receive questionnaires and have their temperatures taken upon entering the country, according to a federal official. Measuring temperatures can help detect Ebola’s early fever-like symptoms. The advanced screenings will begin as early as this weekend in airports in New York, around the Washington area, Chicago, Atlanta and Newark, New Jersey. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2014/10/08/will-airport-temperature-screenings-for-ebola-be-effective

Tobacco tied to higher risk of oral HPV infection, Study finds

Tobacco use in any form appears to be linked to an increased risk of infection with oral human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16), a virus that can cause cancers of the mouth and throat, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers. The odds of being infected with HPV16, a sexually transmitted disease, rise as tobacco use increases, the researchers said. As few as three cigarettes a day can increase the risk of infection with HPV by almost one-third, according to the study. How tobacco use might influence HPV16 infection isn't clear http://www.philly.com/philly/health/cancer/HealthDay692487_20141007_Tobacco_Tied_to_Higher_Risk_of_Oral_HPV_Infection__Study_Finds.html Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/health/cancer/HealthDay692487_20141007_Tobacco_Tied_to_Higher_Risk_of_Oral_HPV_Infection__Study_Finds.html#00m8L8lvoMvhD6jb.99

Infection Rates in Nursing Homes on the Rise

"Infections are a leading cause of deaths and complications for nursing home residents and, with the exception of tuberculosis, we found a significant increase in infection rates across the board," study author Carolyn Herzig, of the Columbia University School of Nursing, said in a school news release. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2014/10/08/infection-rates-in-nursing-homes-on-the-rise-study

Ebola outbreak: Texas sheriff's deputy rushed to hospital amid fears of infection

A sheriff’s deputy who came into contact with the family of a man who died from Ebola in the US was taken to hospital by paramedics in protective clothing after he showed some potential symptoms on the disease. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ebola-outbreak-texas-sheriffs-deputy-rushed-to-hospital-amid-infection-fears-9783505.html

Could eating disorders one day be treated with antibiotics? Scientists find bacteria in the gut that affect appetite Read

Anorexia and bulimia might be effectively treated with antibiotics, scientists have suggested. Experts have discovered a bacteria in the gut which stops the body from effectively regulating appetite. Although psychological and genetic factors are a major cause of eating disorders, doctors think that by tackling the physical factors, they may be able to help bring down rates of the problem. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2783866/Could-eating-disorders-one-day-treated-antibiotics-Scientists-bacteria-gut-affect-appetite.html#ixzz3Fa6pd6hH http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2783866/Could-eating-disorders-one-day-treated-antibiotics-Scientists-bacteria-gut-affect-appetite.html

Gluten in Infants, Ulcerative Colitis Poetry

The oft-discussed "window of opportunity" to develop gluten tolerance in children predisposed to developing celiac disease may not exist, according to two studies and an accompanying editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine. What types of diets do patients with inflammatory bowel disease follow, and do they work? A review in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology evaluated the evidence behind popular food recommendations http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/GeneralGastroenterology/47988?isalert=1&uun=g721819d2297R5883165u&utm_source=breaking-news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-news&xid=NL_breakingnews_2014-10-08

Dallas Ebola Patient Dies

Thomas Eric Duncan, the 42-year-old Liberian man who became the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S., has died. Duncan was pronounced dead of the disease at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital at 7:51 a.m. local time Wednesday, the hospital said in a brief statement posted on its website. "Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola," the statement said. "He fought courageously in this battle." http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Ebola/47993?isalert=1&uun=g721819d2299R5883165u&utm_source=breaking-news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-news&xid=NL_breakingnews_2014-10-08

Consumer Reports throws its support behind GMO labeling

In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission on Monday, Consumer Reports asked the agencey to investigate the non-GMO claims on packages of Xochitl Totopos de Maiz corn chips after finding several instances of genetically engineered corn in the product. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/10/07/consumer-reports-throws-its-support-behind-gmo-labeling/

Life expectancy in the USA hits a record high

Good news, America: We're living longer! Life expectancy in the USA rose in 2012 to 78.8 years – a record high. That was an increase of 0.1 year from 2011 when it was 78.7 years, according to a new report on mortality in the USA from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/08/us-life-expectancy-hits-record-high/16874039/

Calorie Counts Come Down at Restaurants Menu Items Introduced Last Year at 66 Chains Had Average of 12% Fewer Calories, Cheering Experts

Amid growing pressure for healthier food choices, big restaurant chains have been introducing new lower-calorie menu items that could make a dent in the country’s http://online.wsj.com/articles/calorie-counts-come-down-at-restaurants-1412741042

Social Media, The New Weapon In The Battle To Lose Weight

several studies, though small in scale, suggest that “social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can help bolster weight loss.” Christopher Wharton, assistant professor in the nutrition program at Arizona State University, explained the phenomenon as a “social push that helps make people accountable.” Accountability, according to experts, “can be a powerful motivation to stay on track with a weight-loss plan. ... Social media is ubiquitous.” http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/10/06/353505527/social-media-the-new-weapon-in-the-battle-to-lose-weight

Drugs Cause Most Fatal Allergic Reactions, Study Finds

Using data from the National Center for Health Statistics, researchers found 2,458 cases of fatal anaphylaxis from 1999 through 2010. Almost 60 percent of the deaths, or 1,446, were caused by reactions to drugs, and in cases where the specific drug was known, half were caused by antibiotics. The rate of drug-induced fatal reactions almost doubled over the period. Insect stings caused 15.2 percent of the fatalities and food 6.7 percent. The cause was not recorded in a fifth of the cases. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/drugs-cause-most-fatal-allergic-reactions-study-finds/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=health&_r=0

Coffee Habits Shaped by DNA Variations, Researchers Find

A study reported today in the journal Molecular Psychiatry found six genetic variants associated with coffee drinking. The variants help explain why the same amount of coffee can have different effects in different people, said Marilyn Cornelis, the report’s lead author. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-07/coffee-habits-shaped-by-dna-variations-researchers-find

Tobacco plant may be key to Ebola drugs

Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol received an experimental serum called ZMapp, engineered from antibodies harvested in mice. Questions remain about the extent to which ZMapp was responsible for the patients' recovery, but demand for the drug has skyrocketed. Unfortunately, the process used to make the doses given to Brantly, Writebol and a few other patients is costly and time-consuming. Public health officials are now looking for ways to develop more of this experimental drug quickly. Tobacco plants may hold the key.The process begins by cloning a gene and inserting it into a virus. That infected gene is then injected into the tobacco plant, where it multiplies within the leaves before it is extracted and purified. Unlike with egg-based and mammalian cell-based products, each tobacco plant can produce enough antibodies for dozens of doses of a pharmaceutical, experts say. This is different than the flu shot. . Flu vaccines, for example, are most commonly produced by injecting fertilized hen eggs with the virus. The virus is incubated for days so it can replicate, be harvested, inactivated or weakened, and then made into either a flu shot or nasal spray.http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/03/health/ebola-tobacco-plant/index.html

Ebola Infects Spanish Nurse, a First in West

A nurse in Spain has become the first health worker to be infected with the Ebola virus outside of West Africa, raising serious concerns about how prepared Western nations are to safely treat people with the deadly illness.http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/world/europe/spain-reports-first-case-of-ebola-contracted-outside-west-africa.html?_r=0

Dallas Ebola patient in critical condition being treated with experimental drug

The Texas Health Presbyterian hospital in Dallas said on Monday that Thomas Eric Duncan began receiving the experimental antiviral drug brincidofovir, made by North Carolina-based biopharmaceutical company Chimerix, on Saturday. Duncan’s condition worsened over the weekend, and on Monday the hospital said he remains in critical but stable condition. “Based on in-vitro data from work conducted by the CDC and the National Institutes of Health, we are hopeful that brincidofovir may offer a potential treatment for Ebola during this outbreak,” Dr Michelle Berrey, the president and CEO of Chimerix, said in a statement.http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/06/nbc-photojournalist-diagnosed-ebola-nebraska Another experimental drug called ZMapp, made by Mapp Biopharmaceutical in San Diego, successfully treated earlier Ebola patients, including two U.S. aid workers. But ZMapp supplies have run out. Brincidofovir is an oral medication that’s meant to stop viruses from replicating. After the first reports of Ebola months ago, the company tested the drug, which can also be used against other viruses such as smallpox, and found positive results in early-stage trials.

Tall tale: scientists unravel the genetics of human height

Researchers on Sunday unveiled what they called the biggest such study to date, analyzing genome data from more than a quarter million people to identify nearly 700 genetic variants and more than 400 genome regions relating to height. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/05/science-height-idUSL2N0RY1YG20141005

Diabetes: Tape Worm Tx Eases Diabetes in Mice

The salt form of the FDA approved anthelmintic drug niclosamide -- used to treat intestinal tapeworms -- improved diabetic symptoms in mice by inducing mild mitochondrial uncoupling. Note that the company studying the drug holds patents to develop several chemical mitochondrial uncouplers, including niclosamide, and would like to begin trials in humans once federal regulators approve them. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Diabetes/47941?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-06&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Dallas Ebola patient fighting for life, another headed to Nebraska

Thomas Eric Duncan became ill after arriving in Texas from Liberia two weeks ago, heightening concerns that the worst Ebola epidemic on record could spread from West Africa, where it began in March. The hemorrhagic fever has killed at least 3,400 people out of the nearly 7,500 probable, suspected and confirmed cases. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/06/us-health-ebola-usa-idUSKCN0HT0MZ20141006

Found: Homeless Man Sought in Ebola Case Being Monitored

Authorities in Texas have found a missing homeless man who may have been exposed to the deadly Ebola virus, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said Sunday. At a news conference earlier Sunday, Jenkins said authorities were searching for a “low-risk individual” who was a contact of the first U.S. Ebola patient, Thomas Eric Duncan.http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/found-homeless-man-sought-ebola-case-being-monitored-n218691

Pinkeye Was Only Symptom in Child Killed by Enterovirus

A New Jersey preschooler killed last month by a respiratory virus that is spreading across the U.S. showed symptoms only of pinkeye before he died in his sleep, health officials said. The virus has been documented in the deaths of four people so far in the U.S., based on testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s not entirely clear what role the virus played in those deaths. A 10-year-old girl from Rhode Island who died in late September was the first reported fatality linked to the disease. There are no special methods to treat or prevent EV-D68. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-05/pinkeye-was-only-symptom-in-child-killed-by-enterovirus.html

Hospital Infections With C. Difficile Level Off

The incidence of the potentially deadly bacterial infection known as Clostridium difficile doubled in hospitals between 2001 and 2010, researchers report, and leveled off between 2008 and 2010. C. difficile is a hospital-acquired infection linked to 14,000 deaths a year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the main cause is the overuse of antibiotics. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/hospital-infections-with-c-difficile-level-off/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

Yogurt bacteria could replace colonoscopies for cancer detection

working on engineered bacteria that detects colorectal cancer. After the nanoparticles pass through the digestive system, a urine sample shows results on a reactive paper -- similar to that of a pregnancy test. In addition to being much less invasive, the high-powered yogurt method doesn't require a lab full of equipment, making it an attractive alternative for poor locales. Here's to hoping scientists figure out a better way to get through a root canal next. http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/03/cancer-finding-yogurt/

Ebola As ISIS Bio-Weapon?

ISIS may already be thinking of using Ebola as a low-tech weapon of bio-terror, says a national security expert, who notes that the “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria” and terror groups like it wouldn’t even have to weaponize the virus to attempt to wreak strategic global infection. Such groups could simply use human carriers to intentionally infect themselves in West Africa, then disseminate the deadly virus via the world’s air transportation system. Or so says Capt. Al Shimkus, Ret., a Professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. The average fatality rate from Ebola, classified as a hemorrhagic fever, is 50 percent; but without medical treatment, that figure can range as high as 90 . http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2014/10/05/ebola-as-isis-bio-weapon/

Ebola: Records Glitch Sent Patient Home

He told the triage nurse he had been in West Africa, where the epidemic is centered, but denied being around anyone who was ill. The nurse entered that information, but the hospital said it would not have automatically appeared when doctors accessed the system. "In our electronic health records, there are separate physician and nursing workflows," the hospital statement said. The travel history was in the nursing section, but "as designed, the travel history would not automatically appear in the physician's standard workflow," the statement said. The hospital said that's been fixed, and the system will now also have specific data about travel to the Ebola region in Africa. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/47930?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-04&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Calif. Paralysis Cases Still a Mystery

With clinical specimens available from 19 of the cases, CDC and California health experts looked at numerous potential infection causes but found no common link. The report, published online in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, listed the following agents for which tests were run: "enteroviruses (including poliovirus), arboviruses, herpes viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, and EBV), parechoviruses, adenoviruses, rabies, influenza A and B, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza 1-4, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, rickettsial pathogens, and free-living amoebas." Results were mostly negative. No evidence of poliovirus was found. Samples from two patients were serologically reactive for mycoplasma (but negative on PCR testing) and one patient showed molecular evidence of a rhinovirus. And enterovirus D68 DNA was found in respiratory specimens from two patients. The latter finding has gained significance in the wake of recent D68 outbreaks in Colorado and elsewhere, in which some pediatric patients also showed neurological symptoms including paralysis. This virus usually causes only respiratory symptoms, although these can be severe. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/GeneralNeurology/47926?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-04&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily%20B

Patient Being Evaluated for Possible Ebola at D.C.'s Howard University Hospital

A patient is being evaluated for Ebola at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., a hospital spokesperson confirmed late Friday morning. That person has been admitted to the hospital in stable condition and is isolated. The medical team is working with the CDC and other authorities to monitor the patient's condition. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Patient-With-Ebola-Like-Symptoms-Being-Treated-at-Howard-University-Hospital-278025181.html

Enterovirus Link Found in 4 Deaths

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has been found in samples from four patients who died, but the CDC said it's not clear what role the pathogen played in the deaths. State and local health departments are still investigating, the agency said, but did not give further details of the four cases. As well, Rhode Island health officials are reporting that a child who died last week in the state had Staphylococcus aureus sepsis associated with EV-D68. The combination is "very rare (and) can cause very severe illness in children and adults," the health department said in a statement. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/47913?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-03&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily

Three Infections You Should Worry About More Than Ebola

So what should we be worried about? It’s tough to predict since it is the unpredictability of certain bacteria and viruses that often makes them so alarming, Schooley said. But there are some existing viruses and bacteria that pose an ongoing threat— and that you’re much more likely to catch than Ebola. https://www.yahoo.com/health/three-infections-you-should-worry-about-more-than-ebola-98972940552.html

Ebola Strikes NBC News Cameraman in Liberia

A freelance cameraman working for NBC News in Liberia has contracted the Ebola virus, the fourth American known to have contracted the disease in Liberia. As a precaution, NBC News ordered the production team working with the cameraman, which includes Dr. Nancy Snyderman, the network’s top medical correspondent, to return to the United States and enter quarantine for 21 days. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/03/us/ebola-strikes-american-cameraman-in-liberia.html?_r=0

Rhode Island Child Dies From Complications Of Enterovirus That Has Been Affecting Kids Nationwide

Health officials said Wednesday that the 10-year-old girl died last week of a staph infection associated with the enterovirus 68 infection, which it called “a very rare combination.” This is an example of the primary infection (virus) weakening the immune system so they get a second infection that kills them, often a bacteria. http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2014/10/01/rhode-island-child-dies-from-enterovirus-that-has-been-affecting-kids-nationwide/

Ebola Patient Thomas Eric Duncan Vomited Outdoors, Witness Tells Reuters

Two days after he was sent home from a Dallas hospital, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. was seen vomiting on the ground outside an apartment complex as he was bundled into an ambulance. "His whole family was screaming. He got outside and he was throwing up all over the place," resident Mesud Osmanovic, 21, said on Wednesday, describing the chaotic scene before Thomas Eric Duncan was admitted to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on Sunday. Duncan, 42, is in serious condition. http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/ebola-patient-thomas-eric-duncan-vomited-outdoors-witness-tells-reuters-n216426

Psoriatic Arthritis and Shingles

Patients with psoriatic arthritis who were treated with conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) plus tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors were at increased risk of developing shingles. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/47886?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2014-10-01&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=ST&eun=g721819d0r&userid=721819&email=amydugan2%40gmail.com&mu_id=5883165&utm_term=Daily