Device May Help Surgeons Detect Cancerous Tissue

reports that investigators “tested 253 human tissue samples from lung, ovary, thyroid and breast cancer tumors and compared them to samples of healthy tissues.” The study indicated that “the device was 96% accurate at identifying cancerous tissues.” The investigators also tested the device, called the “MasSpec Pen, in live mice with tumors and found that the device was able to identify the presence of cancer without harming healthy surrounding tissues.” http://time.com/4928010/diagnose-cancer-pen/

Study: 94% Of US Tap Water Contains Microscopic Plastic Fibers.

eports researchers who tested tap water from around the world found that over 80 percent of the samples contained microplastics. The contamination is “particularly high” in the US, where 94 percent of faucet water is affected. Samples taken from the US Capitol, EPA headquarters, and Trump Tower all contained the microscopic-sized plastic fibers. The study, commissioned by the data journalism website Orb and conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota, revealed that “the highest rates of contamination was found in Lebanon and India, while the lowest occurred in Europe, where 72% of samples contained fibers.” According to Orb, scientists said most of the fibers come from clothes, upholstery, and carpets, “including particles released by the actions of washing machines and dryers.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2017/09/06/94-u-s-tap-water-contaminated-plastic-fibers-including-faucets-trump-tower/636662001/

AAP: Still a 'No' to FluMist for Upcoming Flu Season This year's influenza A (H1N1) strain differs from 2016-2017 vaccine

Recommendations for the 2017-2018 influenza season remain largely unchanged, with FluMist left off the recommended influenza vaccinations for the second year in a row, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). An AAP policy statement advises that everyone age 6 months and older should receive the influenza vaccine by the end of October. Those who require two doses, such as children ages 6 months to 8 years who have never been vaccinated, should receive their first dose earlier in the season, reported the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases in Pediatrics. https://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Vaccines/67714?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-09-06&eun=g721819d0r&pos=1

Genetic Variants Linked To Health Problems Appear Less Frequently In People Who Live Longer,

PLOS Biology used data from over 200,000 people to show humans “appear to be evolving to hit puberty later and those who start at an older age live longer.” Researchers also discovered that “genetic variants linked to heart disease, obesity and high cholesterol appear less frequently in people who live longer.” reports one of the genetic variants was lined to Alzheimer’s, and “appears to be fading in older women, possibly because women who have it tend to die earlier.” The second genetic variation was linked to heavy smoking in men and also appears to be becoming less common. http://www.newsweek.com/human-evolution-genetics-puberty-heart-disease-alzheimers-659721

Shingles: A Link to Vasculitis? History of complicated shingles doubled risk of giant cell arteritis

https://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/GeneralRheumatology/67675?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-09-05&eun=g721819d0r&pos=0

First four human cases of West Nile confirmed in Michigan for 2017, one each in Oakland and Macomb counties

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20170831/first-four-human-cases-of-west-nile-confirmed-in-michigan-for-2017-one-each-in-oakland-and-macomb-counties

The water flooding Texas right now is probably filled with infectious bacteria

Some of the billions of dollars worth of damage Harvey has inflicted upon Texas has been on sewer systems, which means that the torrential rain is mixed with untreated water that probably contains human waste. “Certainly, there can be contamination with high levels of water—fecal contamination, things like that,” Phil Huang, medical director for Austin Public Health, told NPR. In particular, officials are worried about the spread of tetanus, and infection caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. This type of bacteria winds up in the bloodstream when puncture wounds get dirty from soil, spit, or fecal matter. It takes anywhere from three days to three weeks for problems to surface. And when they do, it’s bad. Colloquially, the worst iteration is known as lockjaw because patients lose the ability to move their mouths from muscle spasms the infection https://qz.com/1064767/hurricane-harvey-flood-waters-likely-carry-diseases/