Health News: E. COLI can transfer antibiotic resistance to other bacteria ♦ An easy pill to swallow ♦ Erectile dysfunction drug may benefit patients at risk for diabetes

E. COLI can transfer antibiotic resistance to other bacteria Scientists have discovered a gene in E. coli that makes it resistant to a class of “last-resort” antibiotics known as polymyxins. The gene can also transfer resistance to other epidemic pathogens such as K. pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. According to research published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the mcr-1 gene is widespread in Enterobacteriaceae samples from pigs

New study on patterns of electronic cigarette use among adults in the US Adding to a growing body of research on patterns of e-cigarette use, researchers have found evidence that among US adults, some recent cigarette quitters may have done so with the assistance of electronic cigarettes

Erectile dysfunction drug may benefit patients at risk for diabetes The drug sildenafil, sold as Viagra and other brand names, improves insulin sensitivity in people at risk for diabetes, researchers report.

An easy pill to swallow An insulin pill being developed by researchers may in the near future give another blood sugar management option to those who suffer from diabetes. The novel drug delivery technology may also apply to a wide spectrum of other therapies.