Health News: Candy poisons over 1000 Philippine kids ♦ In India, 3 of 4 companies adulterating, misbranding food go unpunished ♦ Rare genetic mutations occur more often in schizophrenia patients

In India, 3 of 4 companies adulterating, misbranding food go unpunished Adulterated food can cause cancer, insomnia and other neurological problems, and adulteration is a growing concern across India Three of every four companies found guilty of misbranding or selling adulterated food products get away without any punishment

Candy poisons over 1000 Philippine kids Hundreds of school kids have fallen sick after eating candy in several towns in the southern Philippines, officials say. About 1,350 elementary and high school students were treated in hospitals in nine towns overnight in the province of Surigao del Sur on Friday. They complained of stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and headaches.

Rare genetic mutations occur more often in  schizophrenia patients A new study adds to the understanding of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia. Past research has shown the impact of commonly occurring genetic variants on a person's risk of developing schizophrenia. This new study focused instead on rare coding mutations that affect protein function. It found that patients with schizophrenia have a higher-than-normal share of these mutations.

Out-of-pocket health costs tied to antimicrobial resistance Many government-run public health systems in developing countries have instituted copayments for visits to clinics and prescription drugs. However, the study's authors found evidence to suggest that such policies are associated with increased antimicrobial resistance, likely because high out-of-pocket costs have prompted low-income patients to turn to the black market or informal clinics for antibiotic and antiparasitic drugs.

Factors affecting prescription pain reliever misuse identified People who misuse prescription pain relievers all have one thing in common, researchers have discovered: a history of recent illicit drug use. Researchers also determined that adults aged 50 and above were more likely to acquire pain relievers through more than one doctor, whereas younger individuals were more likely to acquire them from friends, relatives or drug dealers

Health Research: New combination vaccine to fight Streptococcus A ♦ Toothbrush contamination in communal bathrooms ♦ Micro-endoscope could eliminate unneeded biopsies

Researchers create new combination vaccine to fight Streptococcus A A groundbreaking, combination vaccine has been developed that may finally beat Streptococcus A infections. Human trials are set to begin, early as next year, for the vaccine which combines the protein, SpyCEP, with a previously developed vaccine J8-DT.

Online hookup sites increase HIV rates in sometimes surprising ways The introduction of Craigslist led to an increase in HIV infection cases of 13.5 percent in Florida over a four-year period, according to a new study. The estimated medical costs for those patients will amount to $710 million over the course of their lives.

Micro-endoscope could eliminate unneeded biopsies In a clinical study of patients in the United States and China, researchers found that a portable, low-cost, battery-powered microendoscope could eventually eliminate the need for costly biopsies for many patients undergoing standard endoscopic screening for esophageal cancer.

Does Agion silver technology work as an antimicrobial? The antibacterial effectiveness of Agion silver zeolite technology was tested on door handles across the Penn State Erie campus and after four years of sampling, a significant difference was observed between the bacterial populations isolated from silver versus control-coated door handles.

Toothbrush contamination in communal bathrooms Data confirms that there is transmission of fecal coli forms in communal bathrooms at a university, and that toothbrushes can serve as a vector for transmission of potentially pathogenic organisms.

Antimicrobial Soaps Can Cause the Accumulation of Bacteria in the Human Nose

An antimicrobial agent found in common household soaps, shampoos and toothpastes can go inside the human nose where it promotes colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and may predispose individual to infection.Researchers at the University of Michigan report their findings this week in a study published in mBio ® , the online magazine and free access to the American Society for Microbiology.

Triclosan, a synthetic compound used in a range of personal care products such as antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, kitchen surfaces, clothing and medical equipment was found in the nasal passages of 41% of adults sampled A greater proportion of subjects with triclosan also had colonization by S. aureus . S. aureus may promote infection in some populations such as people undergoing surgery.

Triclosan has been around for 40 years, said the lead author of the study, Blaise Boles, assistant professor of molecular and cell biology and development at the university, and it has been incorporated into many antibacterial household products the last decade.

Other studies have found traces of triclosan in human fluids, such as serum, urine and milk, and studies in mammals showed that high concentrations of triclosan can disrupt the endocrine system and reduce cardiac function and skeletal muscle.

"  It's really common in hand soaps, toothpastes and mouthwashes, but there is no evidence, it is probably a better job than regular soap  , "says Boles. "  This agent may have unintended consequences in our bodies. It could promote the nasal colonization of S. aureus and do some people have an increased risk of infection.  "

Experiments have found that S. aureus cultured in the presence of triclosan were more capable of binding to human proteins, and that rats exposed to triclosan were more sensitive to nasal colonization by S. aureus .

"  Given the widespread use of triclosan in consumer products and widespread contamination in the environment, our data combined with previous studies showing the effects of triclosan on the endocrine system and muscle function suggest a reassessment triclosan in consumer products is urgently needed  , "the authors write.

Boles said he would conduct a more extensive investigation to determine whether triclosan affects microbial colonization in other sites in the body.

1/27/14 Health News: Is Killing Microorganism With UV Light Safe - New Blood Test Pinpoints Cause of Stroke - Antimicrobial Glass - Therapy Repairs Damage from Heart Attack

Does Ultraviolet Mean Ultrasafe?

American consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the safety-enhancing methods used on food and beverage products before their arrival at retail outlets: pasteurization by heat and high-pressure treatment, and irradiation by gamma rays, X-ray or electron beams. But they may not know much about ultraviolet radiation (UV), which is gradually becoming more common as a... Continue Reading

A New Blood Test Could Help Doctors Pinpoint the Cause of a Stroke

Clinical trials are underway for what could be a first-of-its-kind blood test that would help doctors determine what caused a patient to have a stroke. Developed by Cincinnati-based Ischemia Care, the test isolates RNA from whole blood and examines immune responses, with the goal of differentiating where an ischemic stroke originated in a patient’s body. Being able to determine whether the stroke originated in the heart or in the blood vessels could have a huge impact on how patients are treated and on preventing recurrent strokes Continue Reading

Corning Unveils World's First Antimicrobial Cover Glass

Corning Incorporated unveils Antimicrobial Corning® Gorilla® Glass at the International Consumer Electronics Show.  It is the first EPA-registered antimicrobial cover glass. The glass is formulated with an antibacterial agent, ionic silver, which is incorporated into the glass surface for sustained activity. "Corning's Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass inhibits the growth of algae, mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria because of its built-in antimicrobial property, which is intrinsic to the glass and effective for the lifetime of a device," Continue Reading

New Therapy Tries to Repair Damage in Heart Attacks

In a heart attack, the initial harm is often compounded by a person's immune system, which rushes "soldiers" to the heart to fight what it thinks are invaders. An immune system overreaction also causes much of the trouble in irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis and West Nile Virus. "The immune system does a significant amount of damage while it's trying to protect us," said immunologist Daniel Getts, a visiting researcher at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Now, Getts and several colleagues have figured out a way to trick the immune system into attacking tiny synthetic particles, instead of the body. Their research, published in Science Translational Medicine, is still in its early days and the technique has been tested only in mice. But if it is shown to work in people, it could transform treatment for a wide variety of ailments.Continue Reading