Health Tip: Taking Care of Braces

(HealthDay News) - Braces can harbor food particles and bacteria that can damage and decay teeth. So, it's especially important to take good care of your teeth while wearing braces.

Here are some suggestions, courtesy of the Nemours Foundation:

• Brush after every meal.
• Limit candy, sodas and juices in your diet. When you do have them, be sure to brush your teeth right after you finish eating.
• Floss teeth regularly with a special floss for braces, which your orthodontist can recommend.
• Rinse your teeth regularly with fluoride.
• Avoid foods that are very hard, chewy or sticky, as they can damage your braces.

Fact Sheet Explains Cleaners, Disinfectants

(HealthDay News) -- American consumers can get free tips on the safety and best use of household cleaners and disinfectants from the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA).

The Hard Surface Hygiene Fact Sheet outlines the safe, proper use of surface cleaning products and disinfectants. It describes surfaces where germs can linger and the types of products available for consumer and institutional use. It also provides brief summaries of common ingredients that make cleaning products effective and tips on safe and proper use, storage and disposal of products.

The fact sheet also includes a question-and-answer section and a list of Web sites where consumers can get more information.

"Our Hard Surface Hygiene Fact Sheet gives consumers, educators and public health professionals another information tool on products that help prevent the spread of germs that can make us sick," Nancy Bock, SDA's vice president of education, said in a prepared statement.

More information
Here's where you can find the Hard Surface Hygiene Fact Sheet.

Chocolate Lovers May Be Hard-Wired That Way

(HealthDay News) -- Even if you don't watch what you eat, your body will. That's the message from a small new study that suggests that diets "imprint" themselves on the metabolic system, attuning people to the food they prefer to chow down.

Researchers found that the bodies of chocolate fans reacted differently when they ate the candy, compared to other people.

"The body appears to become attuned to a particular diet, which can have both positive and negative health consequences, but which could also ultimately open the door to novel dietary regimes," said study co-author Sunil Kochhar, a researcher with the Nestlé Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Nestlé company, best known in the United States for its chocolate products, paid for the study, which is expected to be published in the Nov. 2 issue of the American Chemical Society's Journal of Proteome Research.

At issue is the body's metabolism system, which converts food into energy. According to Kochhar, scientists are exploring whether it may be possible to detect metabolic problems and help people improve their metabolisms -- and weight control -- through diet.

In the study, the researchers recruited 11 men who love chocolate and 11 men who described themselves as "indifferent" to the sweet treat. Over a five-day period, the participants ate either daily doses of 50 grams of different kinds of Nestlé Cailler chocolate (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, etc.) or a placebo.

The use of chocolate was "not really the point of this study," Kochhar said, but it did allow researchers to look at links between diet and metabolism.

Analysis of blood and urine samples found that the chocolate lovers had a specific metabolic profile -- low levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol and marginally higher levels of a beneficial protein called albumin. It didn't matter if they ate chocolate during the five days or not.

The activity of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system was different in the chocolate fans, too.
"We now know that people's metabolic state is, in part, determined by their tastes and selection of food," Kochhar said. "In itself, this is not surprising. But what we have now is a way of measuring the [imprints] and as such may be able to help people make better food choices in the future."

So, will the research help people avoid being fat? It's not clear yet, Kochhar said, but the research is a "first step" toward manipulating metabolisms to improve health.

The next step, he said, is to look at possible gender differences by studying women and doing more research into how diet can affect the germs in digestive systems.

Kochhar said women weren't included in the first study, because previous research had shown metabolic variations linked to the menstrual cycle. But the researchers plan to include women in future clinical trials on metabolic responses to chocolate to see if there's a gender-based reaction to the candy.

More information
Check an exhibit on the science of chocolate at exploratorium.edu.

Opening windows can reduce the spread of infections

Some infections, such as tuberculosis, and other bacteria diseases, are disseminated via the air. Airborne bacteria can be spread from person to person. Health care establishments, such as hospitals and nursing homes, are at risk. In one reported case a mother and child with undiagnosed tuberculosis in a hospital ward resulted in a positive skin test for TB from a previously negative one in 6.7% of patients and 1.9% of pediatric health workers.

A new study done in Lima, Peru compared 70 rooms with natural ventilation from open windows with 12 mechanically ventilated rooms. The researchers, led by Roderick Escombe and reported in the February, 2007 edition of PloS Medicine, found the risk of infection spread to be lower in rooms ventilated with open windows. Natural ventilation dilutes the bacteria in the air more effectively than mechanical ventilation, by changing the air in the room more frequently per hour. The researchers showed that “Rooms with open windows showed a 6 – fold greater absolute ventilation than that calculated for mechanically ventilated rooms.”

Dr.'s Conclusion:
It appears as though “grandma"s remedy” of opening the windows in a sick person"s room might not only make the person feel better, but may reduce the risk of the infection spreading to others as well.
Tags: Fresh Air

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Tooth Troubles Could Raise Dementia Risk

(HealthDay News) -- Tooth loss and mouth illnesses may boost the risk of dementia later in life, U.S. research shows.

A team at the University of Kentucky analyzed the dental records and annual cognitive test results of 144 participants, ages 75 to 98, in the Nun Study, an examination of aging and Alzheimer's disease among sisters of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Of participants "who did not have dementia at the first examination (of annual exams over a 12-year period), those with few teeth -- zero to nine -- had an increased risk of developing dementia during the study, compared with those who had 10 or more teeth," the study authors wrote in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

The team offered several possible reasons for this association, including periodontal disease, early-life nutritional deficiencies, and infections or chronic diseases that may result simultaneously in tooth loss and brain damage.

Further research is needed to confirm whether there is a direct link between tooth loss and increased risk of dementia, the researchers said.

"It is not clear from our findings whether the association is causal or casual," they wrote.

More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about dementia.

Ear Infections Linked to Drug-Resistant 'Superbug'

(HealthDay News) -- An emerging "superbug" that causes ear infections in children and is resistant to multiple antibiotics can only be treated with an adult medication, researchers report.

Two Rochester, N.Y., pediatricians report finding a multiple antibiotic-resistant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae that caused ear infections in nine children in their practice over three years. The only antibiotic that was effective in treating these infections was levofloxacin, which isn't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in children.

"We found a superbug causing ear infections in Rochester -- the Legacy strain -- that's resistant to all antibiotics approved by the FDA for use in children," said the study's lead author, Dr. Michael Pichichero, a professor of microbiology, immunology and pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and a private practice pediatrician with the Legacy Pediatric Group.
The resistant infections accounted for only 1.5 percent of the ear infections in their practice, Pichichero noted.

The findings are published in the Oct. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Pneumococcal infections are caused by S. pneumoniae, and can include ear infections, sinus infections, pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infections. Some of these infections can be life-threatening. Young children are most susceptible to pneumococcal infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fortunately, the serious forms of the disease are rare, causing about 4,500 illnesses each year. However, pneumococcal infections cause more than 3 million ear infections each year, according to the CDC.

While a vaccine (brand name Prevnar) is available that covers seven strains of pneumococcal disease, a strain dubbed serotype 19A isn't currently one of them. However, the vaccine's manufacturer, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, reports that it's currently in phase III trials of the next generation vaccine, which does include serotype 19A.

"Prevnar is a fantastic vaccine that is taking care of the top seven strains of pneumococcal disease, but after you've knocked down the other strains, of course others will become more prominent," Pichichero explained.

Dr. Peter Paradiso is vice president of scientific affairs for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. He said, "When we developed Prevnar, we had hoped that the response to serotype 19F would provide some cross-protection against 19A." When it became clear that there was no cross-protection, and other strains needed to be addressed, Wyeth added six more strains to the next generation vaccine. The company plans to begin the regulatory filings needed for FDA approval sometime in 2009, after the phase III trials are completed, he said.

In the meantime, Pichichero said physicians need to do more ear tap procedures to identify which bacteria are causing antibiotic-resistant ear infections. Doing so, he said, would help avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics and allow for a more targeted approach to treating ear infections.

From 2003 until 2006, Pichichero and his colleagues saw just over 1,800 youngsters with ear infections, according to the study. Of those children, 212 had ear taps, known as tympanocentesis, a procedure that draws fluid out from behind the ear drum. Much like when a tooth cavity is filled, children are given local anesthetic to make the procedure pain-free.

Using this procedure, the doctors found that 59 of the ear infections were caused by S. pneumoniae. One particular strain of the bacterium -- serotype 19A -- had developed a new genotype that was resistant to all of the antibiotics approved for use in children. Pichichero and his colleague, Dr. Janet Casey, dubbed this the Legacy strain. Nine children were found to be infected with this strain.

The only antibiotic effective against this superbug is levofloxacin (brand name, Levaquin). But, levofloxacin has never been approved for use in children. Pichichero said that because previous studies on young animals have suggested that the drug might cause irreversible damage to growing cartilage, the "FDA has put significant barriers for the use of the antibiotics in children." No such effects have been found in adults, and it's a commonly used antibiotic in adults.

However, in these nine pediatric cases, no other treatments were effective, and the children were at risk of losing their hearing. Since Pichichero had been involved in previous research on levofloxacin's use in children, he knew the correct dose to administer, and it was effective.

But, he cautioned, because the drug hasn't been well studied in children, "I would not allow a child to receive levofloxacin unless I knew for sure [that it was the Legacy strain]."

Dr. Katherine Poehling, a pediatrician at Brenner Children's Hospital at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, said the new findings are worrisome, but "nine cases out of 1,800 doesn't make me panic. We've always had some ear infections that are very hard to treat, but they usually aren't serotyped to figure out what they are."

Poehling, who's been involved in research on the current pneumococcal vaccine, added that the "pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has been extraordinarily successful, and children continue to benefit from this vaccine."

Paradiso agreed, adding that the current vaccine has caused a dramatic -- 99 percent -- reduction in infections in the serotypes that are covered by the vaccine.

The CDC recommends that the current vaccine be given to all infants younger than 24 months of age at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, followed by a booster dose at 12-15 months of age.

More information
To learn more about pneumococcal disease in children and the available vaccine, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health Tip: Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth

(HealthDay News) -- If your child has a permanent tooth knocked out, it should be considered a dental emergency, the Nemours Foundation advises.

The tooth is most likely to survive if it is properly placed back in the socket within 30 minutes of the injury.

Here are the foundation's suggestions for what to do if a child's permanent tooth is knocked out:

• Find the tooth, and only handle it by the crown (the part that you'd see in a person's mouth), never by the root.
• Immediately rinse the tooth (don't scrub it) with saline solution or milk. Don't use tap water, which typically contains chlorine, unless that's all that's available.
• If your child is old enough to hold it there, place the tooth gently back in its socket.
• If your child is young, store the tooth in a cup of milk, or hold it in your mouth between your cheek and lower gum.

Go immediately to your dentist or local emergency room.

Health Tip: The Benefits of Omega-3s

(HealthDay News) - Omega-3 fatty acids -- found in fish and certain plant oils -- are crucial for healthy brain growth and development. They can also help protect the body against certain diseases and conditions.

Here are some of the health benefits they may offer, courtesy of the University of Maryland Medical Center:

• Reduce bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol levels.
• Lower high blood pressure.
• Prevent heart disease, and reduce the risk of heart attack.
• Reduce the risk of stroke.
• Help control diabetes.
• Reduce arthritis pain.
• Aid in weight loss.
• Protect against osteoporosis.
• Reduce the risk of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression and Bipolar disorder.

Lamisil Approved to Treat Ringworm of the Scalp

(HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new oral form of the Novartis drug Lamisil (terbinafine hydrochloride) to treat people age 4 years and older with tinea capitis, a contagious infection commonly called ringworm of the scalp.

Most of the 3 million to 4 million people in the United States with the condition are children under age 10, Novartis said in announcing the approval. The newly approved Lamisil Oral Granules are meant to be taken once daily for six weeks.

People with liver or kidney problems, and pregnant and nursing women, shouldn't take the drug unless directed by a physician, Novartis said. In addition, the company said Lamisil could interact with other medications, including some popular antidepressants, beta-blockers, and antiarrhythmics.

Lamisil Oral Granules are expected on U.S. pharmacy shelves starting in January 2008, Novartis said.

More information
Here's more about this approval from the FDA.

Health Tip: Helping Halitosis

(HealthDay News) - Halitosis is the term for persistent bad breath.

The condition can be caused by a a variety of factors and conditions, some of which are behaviors that can be avoided to reduce bad breath.

Here are some common causes of halitosis and ways to help reduce it, courtesy of the American Dental Association:

• What you eat can cause halitosis, so avoid potent foods like garlic and onions. Not eating can also cause bad breath, so don't avoid meals.
• Poor dental hygiene can lead to bad breath, so brush, floss and use mouthwash frequently to keep breath fresh.
• Dry mouth can exacerbate bad breath, so stay well hydrated, and try sucking on sugar-free candies to stimulate saliva production.
• Don't smoke.
• Since bad breath can be caused by a medical condition, such as a respiratory infection, bronchitis, sinusitis, liver or kidney illness, and many others, talk to your doctor about a diagnosis.

Take Care of Heart Before Any Surgery: Experts

(HealthDay News) -- People with heart disease should not stop taking cholesterol-lowering drugs before any kind of noncardiac surgery, say new joint guidelines released this week by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.

The new guidelines, which update those published in 2002, provide a framework for considering and reducing a heart disease patient's risk of a cardiac event during or immediately after non-heart-related surgery.

Many heart disease patients can safely undergo noncardiac surgery without first "fixing" their heart disease with coronary bypass grafting or an artery-opening procedure, state the guidelines. They also outline how to treat patients who do need a heart procedure before noncardiac surgery, have coronary stents, or require anti-clotting medication.

"In the past, we had to go on indefinite evidence, but now there are a number of studies published to help us direct best practices," guideline writing committee chair Dr. Lee A. Fleisher said in a prepared statement.

"Previously, to have someone ready for surgery, many people needed diagnostic tests to look at the extent of heart disease," added Fleisher, chair of the department of anesthesiology and critical care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

"We would do a lot of screening, and we might fix their heart disease to get them ready for the noncardiac surgery. We know now that surgical outcomes are the same in many people whether we fix the heart disease first."

The new guidelines appear online and are expected to be published in upcoming print issues of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about heart disease.