Broccoli May Curb Crohn’s Progression
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010Fibers from broccoli and plantain may help curb development of Crohn’s disease, researchers in Britain suggest.
Carol Roberts of the University of Liverpool and colleagues tested preparations of plant soluble fibers from leeks, apples, broccoli, plantains and the fat emulsifiers polysorbate 60 and 80 — commonly used in processed food manufacture.
The researchers found fiber foods inhibited invasion of the cells lining the bowel by bacteria — particularly a “sticky” type of Escherichia coli related to progression of Crohn’s disease.
The study, published in the journal Gut, finds 5 milligrams/milliliter of broccoli and plantains reduced invasion of E. coli by between 45 percent and 82 percent. Leek and apple fibers seem to have no impact but the emulsifier polysorbate 80 substantially encouraged the bacterial invasion process, the study says.
The results were confirmed in tissue samples taken from patients as they underwent surgery for other intestinal disorders.
“The findings suggest that supplementing the diet with broccoli/plantain fibers might prevent relapse of Crohn’s disease,” the authors say in a statement. “The results could have further implications for the treatment of Crohn’s disease as many enteral feeds — nutrition mixtures used for tube-feeding of patients — contain emulsifiers and could account for variable responses to this type of treatment.”
Diabetes: Sugar Smothers Body Immunity
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010Higher glucose levels in people with diabetes can form a sugar coating smothering the mechanisms the body used to fight infections, a British researcher says.
Dr. Daniel Mitchell of the University of Warwick’s Medical School in England and colleagues found glucose in the blood is similar in structure to two sugars — mannose and fucose — found on bacteria and fungi that signal the body infection need to be combated.
However, high levels of glucose can interfere with the binding of mannose and fucose by the specialized immune receptors and can inhibit these infection-fighting chemical processes. This interference may lead to chronic inflammatory disease and increased cardiovascular and kidney disease risks.
The study, published in the journal Immunobiology, finds the specialized receptors that recognize bacteria and fungi associated molecules can become “blinded” by unhealthy glucose levels and suggests this may help explain why diabetic complications often include increased risk of viral infections such as influenza.
”Our findings offer a new perspective on how high glucose can potentially affect immunity and thus exert a negative impact on health,” Mitchell says in a statement. “It also helps to emphasize the importance of good diet on preventing or controlling diseases such as diabetes.”
Bacteria Are Gobbling Gulf Oil
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010With the Deepwater Horizon spill finally choked off, researchers are hoping that marine microbes will help gobble up the millions of barrels of oil still lurking in the gulf. The first peer-reviewed study of the oil—published last week—suggested that the bugs weren’t doing much, however, at least in the plume that was analyzed. But a study published today, which takes a look at the microbes themselves, finds that oil-eating bacteria are flocking to the spill in droves, though it’s not clear how quickly they’re digesting it.
Bacteria consume oil more or less the way humans metabolize butter, says oceanographer Richard Camilli of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, the lead author on last week’s report. They take in oxygen and hydrocarbons—the carbon-hydrogen molecules in the plume (which also appear in fatty foods like butter, margarine, and vegetable oil)—and spit them out as CO2 and biological waste. It’s something they’ve been doing for millennia in the Gulf of Mexico. “With all of the seepage, including the 40 to 50 million gallons a year that seep naturally into the gulf, we’d have oceans covered with oil slicks if they weren’t degrading,” says Alan Mearns, a Seattle, Washington–based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marine ecologist, who was not affiliated with either study. Researchers hope that this process, called biodegradation, can help break up the oil contaminating the gulf now.
To see if that is actually happening, a group of microbiologists from the University of California, Berkeley, pulled samples of seawater from a plume 1100 meters beneath the surface of the ocean—in the same location as one of the plumes detected by Camilli’s team—and the uncontaminated area surrounding it. Led by microbiologist Terry Hazen of UC Berkeley, the team looked at water both inside and outside the plume, analyzing its chemistry, physics, and even the DNA of its inhabitants. The results, published online today in Science, offer some reassurance: Ocean bacteria are aware of the oily invasion of their territory, and they’re responding accordingly.
Hazen’s team found that microbes inside the plume samples were packed more than twice as densely as microbes outside it. Even more encouraging, the genes specifically geared to degrade hydrocarbons were more common in the plume as well, implying that it’s not just general bacteria that are taking on the plume. All in all, Hazen’s group predicts that, with the help of hungry microbes, the concentrations of the hydrocarbons his team analyzed in the plume could drop by half within a week.
But that doesn’t mean the oil will be half gone in a week. The good news, according to Ronald Atlas, an oil microbiologist at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, is that the oil is definitely breaking up. “Microbes are clearly degrading the oil. The Hazen paper establishes that,” says Atlas, who was not involved in the study. “The question to resolve between the two studies is, what are the real rates of degradation?”
Oil is made up of dozens of different hydrocarbon molecules. The ones Hazen analyzed—the alkanes—are generally the first to go, says Atlas. As for how long the rest will remain, it’s unclear. It all depends on how stable the oil emulsion—the giant glob formed when oil and water mix—turns out to be. If it disperses easily, the bacteria shouldn’t have much trouble. But if it holds together, Atlas says, they’ll have a harder time breaking it apart.
Another concern has been that the oil-eating microbes could deplete oxygen within the plume. That’s because the bacteria must extract oxygen from the water around them, which could spell disaster for local fisheries trying to get back on their feet. But neither study detected a dangerous drop in oxygen within the plume. “It would be very hard to establish a dead zone in this plume just because of microbial degradation,” Camilli says.
Mearns sees reason for optimism. He says with Hazen’s data and the rest of the data streaming in from elsewhere, scientists are now starting to think the oil will be gone much sooner than people thought before. “We’re talking days to months.”
Bacteria Can Help Build Durable Bone Implants
Sunday, February 28th, 2010BIRMINGHAM – Can bacteria help build bones implants? Well, at least scientists at the University of Birmingham say “Yes”.
Lead researcher
In a study, the researchers showed that the bacterial cells stuck tightly to surfaces like as titanium alloy, polypropylene, porous glass and polyurethane foam by forming a biofilm layer containing biopolymers that acted as a strong adhesive.
The HA coating then builds up over the surface. For practical use, the HA layer must stick tightly, then the material is dried and heated to destroy the bacteria.
With the help of micro-manipulation technique, the researchers measured the force needed to overcome the bioglue adhesion, and showed that dried biofilm stuck 20-times more tightly than fresh biofilm.
When coated with HA the adhesion was several times more again. Slightly roughening the surface made the bioglue much more effective.
Presently, implant materials are made by spraying-on hydroxyapatite. This does not have good mechanical strength and the spraying only reaches visible areas.
The new biocoating method reaches all the hidden surfaces as the bacteria can “swim” into hidden nooks and crannies.
Macaskie insists that bacterial HA has better properties than HA made chemically as the nanocrystals of HA produced by the bacteria are much smaller than HA crystals produced chemically, giving them a high mechanical strength.
“The bacteria are destroyed by heating, leaving just the HA stuck to the surface with their own glue – rather akin to a burnt milk-saucepan,” said Macaskie.
“We need to do more work actually to turn the materials into materials we can use in biomedicine and the environment,” she added.
The study was presented at Society for General Microbiology’s meeting at Heriot-Watt University,
Home Remedies Series – Pyorrhoea
Saturday, February 20th, 2010Pyorrhoea is triggered by bacterial activity. A thin layer of harmful bacteria is continuously building up on our teeth. If it is not removed by tooth-cleansing, especially after meals, it forms an organised mass on the tooth surface in a short time. This is referred to as a ‘bacterial plaque’. When accumulated, bacteria in plaque produce many toxins which irritate the gums, causing them to become inflamed, tender, and prone to bleeding easily. The bacterial activity is, however, facilitated by the lowered vitality of the system
Injury to gums, incorrect brushing and improper use of tooth picks
Other factors contributing to the development of pyorrhoea include injury to the gums and supporting structures by physical and chemical irritants in the mouth, incorrect brushing, stagnation of food particles, and improper use of tooth picks
Pyorrhoea treatment using Guava
Chewing unripe guava is an excellent tonic for the teeth and gums. It stops the bleeding from the gums due to its styptic effect and richness in vitamin C. Chewing the tender leaves of the guava tree also helps in curing bleeding from the gums and keeps the teeth healthy. A decoction of root-bark can also be beneficially used as a mouthwash fur swollen gums
Pyorrhoea treatment using Lemon and Lime
The regular use of lemon and lime is useful in pyorrhoea due to their high vitamin C content. They strengthen the gums and teeth, and are very effective in preventing and curing acute inflammations of the gum margins
Pyorrhoea treatment using Orange
The use of orange has also been found beneficial in the treatment of pyorrhoea. This fruit should be eaten regularly and its skin rubbed over the teeth and gums. This will improve the condition
Pyorrhoea treatment using Pomegranate Rind
Powder of the dry rind of pomegranate, mixed with pepper and common salt, can be applied as a very good dentifrice. Its regular application strengthens the gums, stops bleeding, and prevents pyorrhoea
Pyorrhoea treatment using Spinach Juice
The juice of raw spinach is another valuable remedy for the prevention and treatment of pyorrhoea because of its beneficial effect on the teeth and gums. This effect is greatly enhanced if spinach juice is taken in combination with carrot juice. Both spinach juice and carrot juice should be taken in quantities of 125 ml each daily. A permanent aid for this affliction has been found in the use of natural raw foods, and in drinking an ample quantity of carrot and spinach juice
Pyorrhoea treatment using Lettuce
Lettuce has proved useful in preventing pyorrhoea The leaves of this vegetable should be chewed everyday immediately after meals for this purpose
Pyorrhoea treatment using Wheat
Wheat is especially valuable in the prevention and treatment of pyorrhoea. Wheat wheat tortilla are usually taken with other foods, and hence, the other food also gets chewed properly. This not only provides the needed exercise for the teeth and gum but also aids in digestion
Fruit juice and fruit diet
The patient should begin the treatment with a short juice fast for three to five days. Oranges and carrot should be used for juices. After the juice fast, the patient should spend the next three to five days on an exclusive fresh fruit diet, taking three meals a day of juicy fruits
Balanced diet
Thereafter he may gradually embark upon a balanced diet, with emphasis on fresh fruits, green salads, whole-meal bread, properly cooked vegetables, cheese, nuts, and milk
White bread,refined food, condiments, meat etc should be avoided
White bread, white sugar, and all refined and tinned foods must he completely given up. Condiments, sauces, alcohol, coffee, and strong tea, as well as meat and other fresh foods should also be avoided
Other Pyorrhoea treatment
Warm-water enema and a hip bath
During the juice fast, the bowels should be cleansed daily with a warm-water enema. Daily dry friction and a hip bath should be taken
Breathing exercises and hot Epsom salts bath
Breathing and other exercises, should form a part of the morning routine. A hot Epsom salts bath taken twice weekly will also be beneficial
Scientists Develop Better Technique to Study Bacterial Swimming
Monday, February 1st, 2010The new approach uses optical traps, microfluidic chambers and fluorescence to get an improved picture of how E. coli get around.
Chemla, who jointly led the study with physics professor
The researcher calls the optical traps “bacterial treadmills”.
According to the researchers, movement of the bacterial cell alters the light from the laser, and, thereby, help track its behaviour.
Fluorescent markers enhance visualization of the bacteria and their flagella under a microscope, say the researchers.
While earlier studies have been unable to follow individual bacterial cells moving in three dimensions for more than about 30 seconds, the new approach allows the researchers to track a single bacterium as it swims for up to an hour, and that is why it may offer a new look at questions that so far have been unanswerable.
“For example, some people have asked whether E. coli has a nose. Does it have a front and back?” Nature magazine quoted
He and his colleagues have observed that while the bacterium can travel in either direction, most E.coli have “a pronounced preference” for one over the other.
The researchers found that after most tumbles, a bacterium usually continued swimming in the same general direction, but that about one in six tumbles caused it to change direction completely.
They were also able to quantify other features of bacterial swimming, such as changes in velocity and the time spent running and tumbling.
They hope that their novel method will allow scientists to address many more questions about this model organism.
“That’s the typical way biology moves forward. You develop a new measurement capability and then you can use that to go back and look at fundamental questions that people had been looking at but had no way of answering,” Golding said.
A research article describing the new technique has been published in the journal Nature Methods.
Bacteria Can Help Convert Waste to Power
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010Bacteria Can Help Convert Waste to Power
BOSTON – Bacteria that generate power could be used in microbial fuel cells to convert waste into electricity, according to the latest research.
University of Massachusetts (U-M) researchers isolated bacteria with large numbers of tiny projections called pili which transfer electrons to generate power in fuel cells, more efficiently than counterparts with a smooth surface.
The researchers isolated a strain of Geobacter sulfurreducens which they called KN400 that grew prolifically on the graphite anodes of fuel cells.
The bacteria formed a thick bio-film on the anode surface, which conducted electricity. The researchers found large quantities of pilin, a protein that makes the tiny fibres that conduct electricity through the sticky bio-film.
“The filaments form microscopic projections called pili that act as microbial nanowires,” said
Microbial fuel cells can be used in monitoring devices in environments where it is difficult to replace batteries if they fail but to be successful they need to have an efficient and long-lasting source of power.
Lovley described how KN400 might be used in sensors placed on the ocean floor to monitor migration of turtles.
These findings were reported at the Society for General Microbiology’s meeting at Heriot-Watt University,
Scientists Uncover Vulnerable Enzyme that Can be Targeted to Kill Dangerous Pathogens
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010Scientists Uncover Vulnerable Enzyme that Can be Targeted to Kill Dangerous Pathogens
Experts at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (
Writing about their study in the journal Chemistry and Biology, the researchers say that their findings are essential to develop new broad-spectrum antibacterial agents to overcome multi-drug resistance.
Dr.
The bacterial NadD differs significantly from the human enzyme.
“It’s clear that because of bacterial resistance, we need new, wide-spectrum antibiotics. This enzyme is indispensable in many pathogens, so finding ways to inhibit it could give us new options against infection,” said
The research team used a structure-based approach to search for low-molecular-weight compounds that would selectively inhibit bacterial NadD, but not the human equivalent, by screening, in silico, more than a million compounds.
In their experiments, they tested the best predicted compounds against Escherichia coli and Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), which led them to a handful of versatile inhibitory chemotypes, which they explored in detail.
Using protein crystallography, a 3D structure of the enzyme in complex with one of the inhibitors was solved providing guidelines for further drug improvement.
“This is proof-of-concept that NadD is a good target to create antibacterial agents. This knowledge will be useful for both biodefense and public health. The next step is to find better inhibitors. We do not have a silver bullet yet, but we are certainly hitting a golden target,” said
The research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
How Do Bacteria Subvert Healthy Cells?
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause pregnant women to lose their foetuses and can trigger meningitis fatalities among the elderly or people with compromised immune systems.
The bacterium has been linked to outbreaks traced to food processing plants in the US and Canada. Those cases in eight states were linked to people eating contaminated sliced turkey meat.
Scientists have long known that Listeria spreads from one human cell to another. Bacteria growing in one cell move fast enough to create a finger-like structure that protrudes from the cell and pushes into an adjacent cell. The bacteria then infects the adjacent cell.
Keith Ireton, microbiology professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and his team have discovered a previously unknown second process that gradually overwhelms the second cell’s ability to defend itself from infection.
The plasma membrane, or outer layer, of healthy human cells normally exhibits tension. Such tension might be expected to prevent Listeria from spreading to adjacent uninfected cells.
However,
“Our discovery could have relevance for bacterial pathogens that cause Shigellosis or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, as these bacteria resemble Listeria in their ability to move inside the host cell and spread,”
The report features in Nature Cell Biology.
Scientists Watch Evolution Unfold In a Bottle
Sunday, January 3rd, 2010DETROIT - Scientists now have physical proof of how species evolve and the fittest survive, after a 21-year study in which they documented the evolution of single-celled E. coli bacteria over 40,000 generations.
Lenski’s team periodically froze bacteria for later study, and technology has since developed to allow complete genetic sequencing. By the 20,000-generation midpoint, researchers discovered 45 mutations among surviving cells in the bottled bacteria.
Those mutations, according to
The results “beautifully emphasise the succession of mutational events that allowed these organisms to climb toward higher and higher efficiency in their environment”, noted
Lenski’s long-running experiment itself is uniquely suited to answer some critical questions — such as whether rates of change in a bacteria’s genome move in tandem with its fitness to survive.
A mutation involved in DNA metabolism arose around generation 26,000, causing the mutation rate everywhere else in the genome to increase dramatically.
The number of mutations jumped to 653 by generation 40,000, but researchers surmise that most of the late-evolving mutations were not helpful to the bacteria, said an MSU release.
“So what we learn here can help us better understand the course of these diseases.”
The paper involved collaboration with scientists from South Korea as well as
The findings were published in Nature.
Bacteria Can Transform Minerals Electrically
Sunday, December 27th, 2009LONDON – Got a messy cleanup problem that requires a molecule-by-molecule fix? Instead of nanotech, how about deploying an array of ready-made, versatile bacteria? Scientists studying a genus of the rock-dwelling bacteria called Shewanella have found out how the organisms can transform minerals by zapping them with tiny electrical currents. The discovery could lead to new types of fuel cells to generate electricity, to better environmental-cleanup techniques, and possibly even to a new generation of organically made materials.
Bacteria live in almost every environment on Earth, from the ocean’s deepest trenches to the Himalayas’ highest peaks. Perhaps the main reason is their supreme adaptability. Animals use oxygen as part of metabolism. But some microbes can thrive in the absence of oxygen, something that has puzzled scientists for nearly half a century. Even when scientists finally discovered that the organisms were using rocks instead of oxygen to purge electrons, they still couldn’t figure out the exact molecular mechanism that made such metabolism possible.
Now, after 5 years of studies in laboratories in the United States and the United Kingdom, a team has discovered the elusive process. It turns out that Shewanella use a class of proteins on their surface that functions like an electrical wire between the bacteria’s interior and exterior. The proteins–called deca-heme c-class cytochromes–bond with the rock molecules and convey electrons out through the cell membrane, the composition of which normally functions as an insulator. The process also chemically alters the rock, releasing elements such as iron and manganese, the team reports online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“As a geochemist, I was surprised to see just how much ‘machinery’ the microbe builds to move electrons,” says co-author
The fact that Shewanella live underground naturally makes them ideal candidates for environmental-cleanup tasks, says biochemist and lead author
The findings provide, “finally, the hard-core biochemical information that explains how these kinds of metabolic reactions can take place,” says geochemist
Scientists Identify Bacterium That Helps in Formation of Gold
Sunday, December 13th, 2009According to
“The sites are 3500 km apart, in southern New South Wales and northern Queensland, so when we found the same organism on grains from both sites we thought we were onto something,” he said.
“It made us wonder why these organisms live in this particular environment. The results of this study point to their involvement in the active detoxification of Au complexes leading to formation of gold biominerals,” he added.
The experiments showed that C. metallidurans rapidly accumulates toxic gold complexes from a solution prepared in the lab.
This process promotes gold toxicity, which pushes the bacterium to induce oxidative stress and metal resistance clusters as well as an as yet uncharacterized Au-specific gene cluster in order to defend its cellular integrity.
This leads to active biochemically-mediated reduction of gold complexes to nano-particulate, metallic gold, which may contribute to the growth of gold nuggets.
By determining what elements there are, scientists can see where the gold is located in relation to the cells.
For this study, scientists combined synchrotron techniques at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the Advanced Photon Source (APS) and molecular microbial techniques to understand the biomineralisation in bacteria.
It is the first time that these techniques have been used in the same study, so
This is the first direct evidence that bacteria are actively involved in the cycling of rare and precious metals, such as gold.
These results open the doors to the production of biosensors.
“The discovery of an Au-specific operon means that we can now start to develop gold-specific biosensors, which will help mineral explorers to find new gold deposits,” said Reith.
How Silver is Used in Wellness
Thursday, December 10th, 2009BEVERLY HILLS – Silver has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and, in modern times, several prescription drugs contain the precious metal. For example, silver nitrate is used to prevent the eye condition conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids) in newborn babies and it treats corns and warts, too. Another medication, silver sulfadiazine (sold as Silvadene) contains a micronized form of silver that is applied topically to the body to treat burns. And now researchers have found that when silver is used with copper, the combination may offer protection against the majority of serious hospital-acquired infections.
The germ-killing properties of copper, like those of silver, have been recognized for hundreds of years. Scientists have discovered that copper ions are deadly to bacteria because they penetrate the micro-organisms and disrupt molecular pathways that are important for their survival. In fact, in 2008 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially registered copper alloys and allowed them to be marketed with the label “kills 99.9% of bacteria within two hours”.
Scientist Dana Filoti successfully tested her hypothesis that the combination of silver and copper would work better to kill bacteria than the metals alone. She created zeolite (a porous mineral) ceramic structures to hold the metals. “The hard ceramic structure looks like Swiss cheese and inside the holes there are ions of silver and copper,” Filoti explained in a statement to the press. By experimenting with the ratio of copper to silver and the texture of extremely thin films containing the metals, she was able to almost totally wipe out all microbes on the surface.
Filoti, a University of New Hampshire physicist, presented her findings at the recent national meeting of the American Vacuum Society (AVS), an organization that promotes the science and technology of materials, interfaces and processing, held in San Jose, California. Filoti unveiled her copper/silver films and told the group of scientists and engineers that silver and copper do work synergistically to effectively kill bacteria, including the type of pathogens that too often cause difficult-to-treat infections acquired in hospitals.
A practical application of the silver and copper combo’s amazing ability to kill germs is on the horizon. Filoti is working with a New Hampshire company to design an antimicrobial face mask that will protect wearers against pathogens known to cause many hospital-acquired infections.
Light, Photosynthesis Harmful to Fresh Produce
Thursday, November 19th, 2009TEL-AVIV – A study conducted by Israeli researchers suggests that exposure to light, and possibly photosynthesis, may help disease-causing bacteria to invade fresh produce, making them impervious to washing.
According to background information in a report published in journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, past studies have already shown that salmonella enterica attaches to the surface of fresh produce, and finds its way below the surface of the skin through pores called stomata, where it can hide from and resist washing and food sanitizers.
In the new study, researchers from the Agricultural Research Organization at the Volcani Center in Israel and Tel-Aviv University examined the role that light and photosynthesis might play on the ability of salmonella bacteria to infiltrate lettuce leaves via stomata.
They exposed sterile iceberg lettuce leaves to bacteria either in the light, in the dark, or in the dark after 30 minutes of exposure to light.
Incubation in the light or pre-exposure to light resulted in aggregation of bacteria around open stomata and invasion into the inner leaf tissue.
Incubation in the dark, on the other hand, resulted in a scattered attachment pattern and very little internalization.
According to the researchers, the increased propensity for internalization in the light may be due to several factors.
First, they say, in the absence of light plants enter a period of dormancy, where stomata are closed and no photosynthesis takes place. In the light, the stomata are open.
Additional findings also suggest that the bacteria are attracted to the open stomata by the nutrients produced during photosynthesis, which are not present in the dark.
“The elucidation of the mechanism by which Salmonella invades intact leaves has important implications for both pre- and postharvest handling of lettuce and probably other leafy vegetables. The capacity to inhibit internalization should limit bacterial colonization to the phylloplane and consequently might enhance the effectiveness of surface sanitizers,” say the researchers.
Fashion and Beauty Trends in Fall Takes Toll on Health
Monday, November 16th, 2009Shazia Khan, co-medical director, Loyola Primary Care Center at Oakbrook Terrace, Loyola University Health System (LUHS), has cited many dangerous fashion and beauty trends that include large bags or purses, high-heeled shoes, nickel jewelery and acrylic nails.
“Women can pay a high price for fashion when it comes to their health. Certain beauty and fashion trends can take their toll, if women do not take steps to correct them,” she said.
The harmful fashion trends and their effects on health are as follows:
Bags
Large purses or bags may be to blame for back and neck pain, because they place a strain on the shoulders and neck. Avoid bags that weigh more than 10 pounds.
Khan has recommended that women should look for small purses made with light material or backpacks where weight is distributed evenly across the back and shoulders.
If women cannot bear to part with oversized bags or purses, they should incorporate neck, back and shoulder strength-training exercises into their workout routines. They also should regularly rotate the shoulder on which they carry the bag.
Big bags and purses also are a target for harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
High Heels
Continuously using the stylish stilettos can lead to long-term foot, back and ankle problems.
Women who insist on wearing high heels should take heed and limit the time they wear them to prevent long-term damage.
Other than that women should alternate the height of heels in order to prevent the Achilles tendon from tightening and shortening.They should choose a wider, more stable heel and never wear a heel that causes imbalance.
Choose a shoe that allows ample room for the toes and only wear pointed toes that narrow well past the ball of the foot. And always go shoe shopping at the end of the day to allow for normal daily swelling.
Jewelry
Hypersensitivity to the nickel in jewellery can cause a chronic itchy, red-skin reaction.
People who are highly sensitive to nickel should have their jewellery lacquered, coated or plated with palladium to protect the direct contact of nickel with the bare skin. Another option is to strictly wear stainless steel, platinum, or gold jewellery.
Acrylic Nails
When an acrylic nail is applied to the natural nail surface, minor trauma to the acrylic nail can cause separation of the nail from its nail bed.
“Acrylic nails allow bacteria and fungus to enter the nail area, which can lead to infection. A better option would be to take care of the original nail through moisturizing and strengthening polish,” said Khan.
She concluded that women could find ways to be stylish without compromising their health.
“These trends can have legitimate, long-term health ramifications. Using these tips will allow women to remain fashion forward without jeopardizing their health down the road,” said Khan.
Experts Map the Body’s Bacteria
Friday, November 6th, 2009|
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BOULDER – Scientists have developed an atlas of the bacteria that live in different regions of the human body.
Some of the microbes help keep us healthy by playing a key role in physiological functions.
The University of Colorado at Boulder team found unexpectedly wide variations in bacterial communities from person to person.
The researchers hope their work, published in Science Express, will eventually aid clinical research.
They say that it might one day be possible to identify sites on the human body where transplants of specific microbes could benefit health.
The study was based on an intensive analysis of the bacteria found at 27 separate sites on the bodies of nine healthy volunteers.
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BODY SITES ANALYZED Forehead Armpits Head hair Ear canal Forearm Palm Index finger Navel Back of the knee Soles of the feet Nostrils Mouth Gut |
Not only did the bacterial communities vary from person to person, they also varied considerably from one site on the body to another, and from test to test – but some patterns did emerge.
What is healthy?
Lead researcher
“The goal is to find out what is normal for a healthy person, which will provide a baseline for further studies to look at people with diseased states.”
There are an estimated 100 trillion microbes living on or inside the human body.
They are thought to play a key role in many physiological functions, including the development of the immune system, digestion of key foods and helping to deter potentially disease-causing pathogens.
The researchers took four samples from each volunteer over a three-month period – usually one to two hours after they had showered.
They used the latest gene sequencing and computer techniques to draw up a profile of the microbes found at each specific site.
Most sites showed big variations in the bacteria they harboured from test to test even within the same individual.
However, there was less variation in the bacteria found in the armpits and soles of the feet – possibly because they provide a dark, moist environment.
The least variation of all was found in the mouth cavity.
Skin sites in the head area, including the forehead, nose, ear and hair, were dominated by one specific type of bacteria.
Sites on the trunk and legs were dominated by a different group.
“Why do healthy people have such different microbial communities?
“Do we each have distinct microbial signatures at birth, or do they evolve as we age? And how much do they matter?”
Transplant test
The researchers disinfected the forearms and foreheads of some volunteers, and “inoculated” both sides with bacterial communities from the tongue.
The tongue bacteria lasted longer on the forearms than foreheads.
A previous study by the same examined the bacteria on 102 human hands.
In total, they identified more than 4,200 species of bacteria, but only about five were shared by all 51 participants.
“If we can better understand this variation, we may be able to begin searching for genetic biomarkers for disease,” he said.
“Because our human genomes vary so little but our repertoire of microbial genes vary so much, it makes sense to look for variations that correlate with disease at specific locations.”