Those hands-free electronic water faucets that seem to be in every public bathroom may not be that great at keeping us germ free after all.

A study of newly installed fixtures at Johns Hopkins Hospital showed the faucets were more likely to be contaminated with a common and hazardous bacteria than the old fashioned faucets with separate handles for hot and cold water.

“Newer is not necessarily better when it comes to infection control in hospitals, especially when it comes to warding off potential hazards from water-borne bacteria, such as Legionella species,” Dr. Lisa Maragakis, senior study investigator, said in a statement. “New devices, even faucets, however well intentioned in their make-up and purpose, have the potential for unintended consequences, which is why constant surveillance is needed.”

The new faucets did cut daily water use by more than half, said Maragakis, director of hospital epidemiology and infection control at Hopkins Hospital and an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. But, for example, they also had Legionella growing in half of the water samples from 20 faucets near patient rooms. That compares with 15 percent of the cultures from 20 of the old faucets in the same patient care areas.

Legionella isn’t harmful to most people, but can sicken those with compromised immune systems in hospitals. The Hopkins researchers had aimed to determine how often the new faucets had to be treated to protect vulnerable patients when they discovered the higher rates of bacteria. They’ve notified other hospitals and plan to work with manufacturers to remedy the problem.

Researchers aren't completely sure why there is higher bacterial growth in the new faucets, but it may be because standard water disinfection methods at the hospital didn’t work well on the complex components. They may have more surface area for bacteria to grow.

The finding will be presented April 2 at the Society for Health Care Epidemiology’s annual meeting.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer health
        

Howard County has the healthiest residents in the state, according to a new ranking.

And Baltimore City has the least healthy residents, who were three times more likely to die prematurely than in Howard, said the ranking by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

It’s the second year the two have prepared a ranking of counties in Maryland and other states.

The researchers looked at the rate of people dying before age 75, the percent of people who report being in fair or poor health, the numbers of days people report being in poor physical and poor mental health, and the rate of low-birthweight infants.

They also looked at health behavior, clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environment. These include such things are rates of smoking, obesity, drinking, teen births, poverty, the uninsured and primary care providers, as well as levels of education and access to healthy food and clean air.

Similar findings last year weren’t surprising to public health officials, and probably aren’t so shocking to locals either given the wealth or lack of it in the most and least healthy places.

The healthiest counties after Howard were Montgomery, Frederick, Queen Anne’s and Carroll. The least healthy after the city were Allegany, Dorchester, Somerset and Wicomico.

“The County Health Rankings help everyone see that much of what influences our health happens outside of the doctor’s office and where we live matters to our health,” says Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “The good news is that there are things counties can do right away to help their residents lead healthier lives. We hope this second annual release of County Health Rankings data will spur all sectors – government, business, community and faith-based groups, education and public health – to work together to find solutions and take action and implement programs and policy changes to improve health.”
See the full report at www.countyhealthrankings.org.

Keep reading to see some highlights between Baltimore City and Howard County.

+The rate of premature death in the city is three times as high as in Howard.

+The rate of sexually transmitted infection in the city is more than seven times as high.

+The teen birth rate is more than five times as high.

+A quarter of city children live in poverty, compared to five percent in Howard.

+Violent crime in Baltimore is nearly seven times as a high.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

Researchers at Johns Hopkins say they have found a genetic reason some people may attempt suicide.

The link was found in a small region on chromosome 2 that contains four genes, including the ACP1 gene. Those people with more than normal levels of ACP1 protein in the brain were more likely to attempt suicide, the researchers said.

The findings, reported in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, may lead to a new kind of treatment.
“We have long believed that genes play a role in what makes the difference between thinking about suicide and actually doing it,” Virginia L. Willour, study leaders and an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a statement.

She and other researchers studied the DNA of thousands of people with bipolar disorder. More extra protein meant a higher likelihood the people would attempt suicide. The protein is thought to influence the same biological pathway as lithium, which is used to reduce suicidal behavior but has side effects that mean not everyone can take it.

An estimated 1.4 percent of Americans die from suicide and about 4.6 percent of people have tried to kill themselves at least once, the researchers said. For those with bipolar disorder, the percentage who think about suicide is 47 percent, with a quarter actually trying.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Mental health
        

Some 900 recently incarcerated people returning to Baltimore County will get behavior health services under a $350,000, three-year grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission.

The money awarded to the Baltimore County Department of Health, will support its “re-entry” program – much like previous grants (totaling $1 million) to Baltimore City, Harford and Prince George’s counties.

“Thanks to the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission for giving us the means to provide a needed service,” said County Executive Kamenetz, in a statement. “Thanks also to the Departments of Health and Corrections for their ongoing, collaborative efforts to serve one of our most vulnerable populations. This grant will support a new approach to release modeled after previous successful re-entry programs.”

Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said that the program for the recently incarcerated can help reduce recidivism rates by helping those re-entering the community to adjust.

The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission has awarded 78 grants, totaling $21.6 million, in the past five years around the state. They provide health services to more than 81,000 residents of the state in the areas of primary care, dental care, infant mortality and behavior health.

Baltimore County has gotten tow other grants from the commission, to help improve birth outcomes and expand a school-based health center program.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Mental health
        

A University of Maryland doctor is one of five people appointed recently by President Obama to the National Cancer Advisory Board, an advisory committee to the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Kevin J. Cullen is director of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center and professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He’s a head and neck cancer specialist.

The appointment lasts six years. The 18 members review and recommend grants, among other activities.

“These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience and talent to their new roles and I am proud to have them serve in this administration. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come,” Obama said in a statement.

Cullen also serves on the national board of the American Cancer Society and on the external advisory boards of several Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers (such as the Greenebaum Center).

He came to Maryland from the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University in Washington, where he worked for 15 years.

Photo of Dr. Cullen courtesy of the University of Maryland

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

The House passed a bill to ban BPA from infant formula containers by 2014, putting Maryland closer to becoming the third state to ban the chemical in the containers. The Senate is still considering the measure.

The state last year banned BPA in sippy cups and baby bottles.

The measure was strongly pushed by some environmental and health advocates and a pair of lawmakers, Del. James Hubbard, D-Prince Georges, and Sen. Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery.

“Babies and children are especially sensitive to toxic chemicals, and this legislation will protect them from a toxin known to have serious health risks. I'm glad the Assembly has supported this important children's health initiative,” Hubbard said in a statement.

Maryland PIRG Public Health Associate Jenny Levin said the advocacy group was pleased with the vote, and urged the General Assembly to consider some of the other 1,400 chemicals with “probable links to cancer, birth defects, reproductive impacts and other health problems are still in use today.”

The federal government expressed “concern” more than a year ago about the effects of bisphenol A, or BPA, on infants and recommended limiting exposure. But it has not banned the chemical, prompting action in states including Maryland.

The lawmakers and PIRG point to other scientific studies that link BPA to a host of health maladies including cancer and endocrine and reproductive troubles. It leaches into food and liquid from some plastics and the lining of cans and even some coated paper receipts.

Think the state should keep going with bans?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer health
        

Traditional Chinese medicinal plants are used for a lot of maladies, but researchers at Johns Hopkins say one could serve as a starting point for development of new anticancer drugs.

The researchers found that a natural product isolated from a plant known as thunder god vine, or lei gong teng, and used to treat maladies including rheumatoid arthritis, works by blocking gene control machinery in the cell.

Their report was published in the March issue of Nature Chemical Biology.

“Extracts of this medicinal plant have been used to treat a whole host of conditions and have been highly lauded for anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, contraceptive and antitumor activities,” says Jun O. Liu, a professor of pharmacology and molecular sciences at Johns Hopkins. “We've known about the active compound, triptolide, and that it stops cell growth, since 1972, but only now have we figured out what it does.”

In animal models, triptolide was effective against cancer, arthritis and skin graft rejection. It also has shown to block growth of all 60 U.S. National Cancer Institute cell lines, even killing some. Other experiments suggest it interferes with proteins known to activate genes, and that’s what Lui and colleagues say could aid the cancer research.

They tested triptolide’s effect on different proteins involved in gene control. They found it blocks the enzymatic activity of one, the XPB protein. That could explain the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects and the researcher plan to study the relationship further.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer
        

Our next live chat will be today at noon about nerve pain. Dr. Steven Cohen of Johns Hopkins will be taking question about nerve pain, including neuralgia, nerve damage, sciatica, diabetic neuropathy and other neuropathic pain.

Cohen is an associate professor and researcher with Hopkins School of Medicine and professor of anesthesiology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and director of Pain Research at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Ask question about treatments and managing nerve pain.

Click here for the chat. If you can't make the chat, send questions to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and read the transcript later.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

Johns Hopkins joined five other universities in sharing $1.3 million in McKesson Foundation money to study how mobile technology can help patients manage diabetes.

Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, an associate professor in the Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, will use the money to study “Tailored Rapid Interactive Mobile Messaging” for weight control among the underserved.

The foundation, affiliated with the McKesson health care services company, funds research into chronic disease management in the United States, with a current focus on diabetes. These grants, of up to $250,000, will be used specifically for programs that use mobile devices to improve patient care as part of a foundation project called “Mobilizing for Healthsm.”

They will be completed in a year and will target patients serviced by community health centers.

“These studies are part of an ongoing foundation effort to tie innovative technologies to low-cost, scalable health solutions in order to better help patients manage their chronic conditions,” said Carrie Varoquiers, president of the McKesson Foundation, in a statement. “Through initiatives like Mobilizing for Healthsm, the McKesson Foundation is committed to increasing access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for all.”

The foundation notes that diabetes is a growing health problem around the country. The American Diabetes Association reports that 25.8 million American children and adults have diabetes, more than 8 percent of the population. Rates are higher among minorities. And the associated health care and indirect costs reached $174 billion in 2007. 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diabetes
        

The anniversary of the health care reform law is this week. And to mark the occasion, there will be a free workshop on the particulars sponsored by Baltimore City Community College and Baltimore HealthCare Access Inc., the quasi-public city agency that helps hook low-income residents up with programs.

The event will be held from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday at the college’s Liberty Campus Physical Education Center, 2901 Liberty Heights Ave. There will be information on consumer protections and coverage options, as well as free screenings for blood pressure and diabetes, among others.

There will be information specifically for the uninsured, seniors, young adults and those in need of behavioral services.

On hand will be Rep. Elijah Cummings and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Maryland Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene.

“As the new provisions of the Affordable Care Act roll out, many of Baltimore's 96,000 uninsured will have the opportunity to obtain health care coverage and everyone benefits from the new consumer protections,” said Baltimore HealthCare Access President Kathleen Westcoat, in a statement. “But we also know that, particularly in this economy, people need help now so we are pleased to be able to offer some relief.”

She said many of Baltimore’s uninsured may be eligible for health coverage through a Maryland Medical Care program and that onsite enrollment will be provided

There will be free parking on the campus with shuttle bus service to and from the Bon Secours overflow parking lot at 2600 Liberty Heights Ave. A free shuttle will also be available to all seniors through senior services centers in the city. Call Action in Maturity (AIM) at 410-889-7915 for more information on that.

For more information, contact Baltimore HealthCare Access at 410-649-0500.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care reform
        

The nuclear plant crisis in Japan has so far posed no risk to the food supply in the U.S., according to the Food and Drug Administration.

But the agency which regulates and monitors food safety standards said last week it is closely monitoring food coming from the country as a precaution.

The stepped up concern comes as radiation has been found in spinach and milk at farms near a Japanese plant that is fighting a meltdown after this month's earthquake.

As part of its investigation, the FDA is tracking data on food from Japan, including where it is grown, harvested and manufactured to monitor potential risk in the future.

Food from Japan make up less than 4 percent of all imported foods, the FDA said.

The agency said it does not track where fields and farms are located in other countries, so it is unclear if any are near the Fukushima nuclear reactor. But FDA officials said production was stopped at fisheries and farms because of damage from the tsunami and earthquake.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and her mother, Dr. Nina Rawlings, will be the keynote speakers March 26 at an educational symposium hosted by the Maryland affiliate of Susan G. Koman for the Cure, the breast cancer organization.

The forum will be held from 8 a.m.-noon at the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore City and will offer lessons on the impact of breast cancer within the community, commentary from experts and survivors and information on local resources.

It’s free and open to the public, though advanced registration is required by March 21. Go to www.komenmd.org for more information or to register.

Rawlings-Blake and her mother, a breast cancer survivor and a pediatrician, will share experiences, according to the group.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer
        

African American typically have lower potassium levels, and that may explain why they are twice as likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as whites, Johns Hopkins researcher say.

Their findings, if confirmed, could lead to an easy diabetes prevention method -- taking potassium supplements.

“This research doesn’t mean people should run out and start taking potassium supplements,” says Hsin-Chieh “Jessica” Yeh, an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an author of the study, which appears in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

She said low potassium is a risk factor for diabetes, but it’s not clear if adding it through diet or supplement would help prevent the most common form of diabetes.

The researcher looked at data from more than 12,000 people, including 2,000 African Americans, collected from 1987 to 1996.

More than 8 percent of Americans, or 23.6 million people, have type 2 diabetes, with higher rates in black people. There are other common risk factors for African Americans, such as socioeconomic status, diet, obesity and genetics, but they don’t account for the entire disparity. 

Potassium is found in bananas, melons, lentils and yogurt, among other food sources, and the government recommends people consume 4,700 milligrams a day. Yeh would like to see a clinical trial to test whether increasing potassium amounts in African Americans would reduce diabetes risk.

AFP/Getty photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

An estimated 1.2 million Americans have aortic aneurysms, a bulge in the body’s main artery. They kill approximately 15,000 every year when they burst and people bleed internally.

Many don’t even make it to the hospital, and those that do, still often die -- this is what recently killed U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrook.

That’s why it’s important to get screened if you have risk factors – being over 60 and a white male with a family history of heart trouble are the most common sufferers. And that’s why it’s important to have them repaired if necessary.

Major surgery has long been the fix for such problems, but less invasive stents have been growing in use over the last decade. And doctors at Anne Arundel Medical Center have just started using a next-generation device that can conform to more patients’ anatomies.

The hospital says it could make stents the standard of care of abdominal aortic aneurysms, when the bulge is in the belly verses the chest.

The stent was developed by Medtronic and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December. A stent is a flexible wire fame sewn into a specially woven fabric tube. It’s treaded through blood vessels from the groin. The graft is expanded at the site of the aneurysm.

The center says that stents cut hospital stays (of at least five days) and recovery time (of months).

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health
        

Johns Hopkins patient safety guru Dr. Peter Pronovost says hospitals and industry need to collaborate so electronic equipment in emergency rooms and intensive care units are giving medical staff the right signals.

In a commentary published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Pronovost, a professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine, and medical student Simon C. Matthews, say clinicians are overloaded with raw data but no single smart system to integrate the information.

The results could be diagnostic mistakes, miscommunication and missed problems with patients.
Improvements could improve safety and save money, they concluded. They pointed to the aviation industry as an example.

“When a major airline wants an aircraft for its fleet, it does not painstakingly assemble it by deciding which seats, control systems, engines, communications systems, oxygen masks and other components to use,” they wrote.

“The airline does not try to determine the best way for these and hundreds of other components to fit together; rather, it relies on an industry integrator (such as Boeing) to build a low-cost, high-quality aircraft that is safe and meets the needs of its end users. The result is a lower-cost, higher-quality airplane with components that work together. Health care needs a similar systems-integration approach.”

Read the full commentary, “The Need for Systems Integration in Health Care,” at JAMA.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

Vegetables are important for a good diet – they can reduce risk of stroke, heart disease and some cancers and can contribute to healthy weight.

The people at TOPS (Take Pounds Off Sensibly), a nonprofit weight-loss support group, came up with a Top 10 list of ways to get more veggies in your diet. Some you may already do and some may be new ideas:

1. Make a “pasta” dish with spaghetti squash instead of noodles.

2. Puree cooked vegetables and add them to stews, gravies, and soups.

3. Add raw spinach leaves and an extra-ripe banana to a fruit smoothie. It may sound strange, but the sweetness of the banana masks the taste of the spinach.

4. Baking? Add shredded carrots to muffins or bread.

5. Instead of cheese and meat, pile your morning omelet with onions, mushrooms, and red and green peppers. Chop vegetables the night before to save time in the morning.

6. Add chopped spinach to meat when preparing meatballs or hamburgers.

7. Try mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. Experiment with different flavorings such as garlic, a dab of butter, and Parmesan cheese.

8. Add salsa to a breakfast burrito, pile it on a veggie burger, or use it in place of high-fat, creamy vegetable dips.

9. Puree pasta sauce with vegetables such as winter squash or chopped broccoli.

10. Add chopped carrots to casseroles or meat loaf.

Anything seem appealing?

Baltimore Sun file photo/Chiaki Kawajiri

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

A much needed children's hospice began providing services to the state's youngest victim's today.

Dr. Bob's Place: A Hospice for Children became only the second program in the state serving children under age 18. Gilchrist Kids, a division of Gilchrist Hospice in Towson, began serving kids last year.

Dr. Bob's Place in Baltimore began with home-based services today and will also eventually offer in-patient services.

Children are often underserved in the hospice community. Most die in intensive-care units at hospitals or in emergency rooms, where the focus is on treatment rather than comfort and quality of life. Only about 10 to 20 percent of dying children recieve hospice care, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

Research has shown it can be more costly and complicated to care for dying children. Insurance rules have also made it difficult for children to qualify for hospice coverage.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Pediatrics
        

Baltimore trial lawyer Francis B. Burch Jr. has been elected chairman of the board of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Burch, who holds several executive roles at DLA Piper law firm in Baltimore, will take on his new position July 1.

Burch will  succeed C. Michael Armstrong at Hopkins, who has been chairman since 2005.

Burch has a long relationship with Hopkins Medicine, having served as a member of its board of trustees since its inception in 1996. He also has ties to The Johns Hopkins University, where he was a trustee and also served on the board of overseers of its Carey Business School. He recently served on the search committee that selected the current university president, Ronald J. Daniels.

At Piper, Burch has helped expand the company from a regional law firm with 250 employees to one with more than 3,500 lawyesr working in 71 offices in 29 countries. He is chairman of Piper's global board and co-chairman of its U.S. board.

“We are extremely honored during these times of tremendous growth and change in our health care system, both locally and abroad, to have the wisdom and guidance of such an experienced global leader,” Edward D. Miller, dean of the medical faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, said in a statement.

Miller said Burch "highly respects and understands our commitment to patient care, education and research, and holds a deep understanding of our history in Baltimore and the United States."

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

"American Idol" contestant Casey Abrams missed the show last night because he was in the hospital. Several media outlets are reporting he is suffering from ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

Last September, we did an article on how the disease is striking more children. Read about it here.

The story said "the number of children afflicted by colitis and another inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, has increased 50 percent in the past decade, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. About 1.5 million Americans suffer from colitis and Crohn's, about 10 percent of them under the age of 18."

Abrams, age 20, is by no means a child, but if you're curious about what people go through with the disease, the article will give you a good idea.

(Photo by Reuters)

Posted by Kim Walker at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Want to learn about eating better and the latest exercise trends? There will be a free health expo on tomorrow at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Sponsored by Fox 45/The CW, the B’More Healthy Expo will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and offer: Free health screenings, healthy cooking demonstrations, interactive sports and fitness activities, celebrity speakers and activites for kids.

The University of Maryland Gymkana gymnastics troupe will perform at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthy Living
        

I can't seem to escape the HCG diet today. "Good Morning America" did a segment on it this morning, and I stumbled upon The New York Times article on its resurgent popularity.

For those who don't know, the HCG diet involves injections of a pregnancy hormone and limiting yourself to 500 calories a day. The hormone supposedly helps metabolize stored fat. However, both stories note the FDA warnings that it doesn't cause weight loss, and the diet has many other skeptics. Harvard medical professor Pieter Cohen told The Times that the plan was “manipulating people to give them the sense that they’re receiving something that’s powerful and potent and effective, and in fact they’re receiving something that’s nothing better than a placebo.”

So are there any readers who are believers or skeptics? Talk about it in the comments.

Posted by Kim Walker at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Our next live chat on pain issues will be at noon EST today on the common pains that senior citizens experience, including (but not limited to) arthritis, spinal fractures, low back pain and pain after surgery. Dr. Paul Christo, director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, returns to answer reader questions on problems and treatments. The link for the chat is here.

Can't make the live chat? Send a question in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to this page later to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

University of Maryland researchers say they have identified two genes associated with binge drinking that may lead to better treatments for excessive alcohol consumers.

Rodents bred and trained to drink excessively  had a profound reductions in binge drinking after scientists manipulated two receptors in the brain – GABA receptors and toll-like receptor 4(TLR4). The results were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Close to a third of Americans who drink are excessive drinkers, and about 75,000 die from the effects a year. In treatment, the drugs that aim to ease withdrawal symptoms may lead to addiction themselves.

But those receptors may mean there’s a way to reduce anxiety and control cravings without addiction, according to the lead investigator Harry June, professor of psychiatry and pharmacology and experimental therapeutics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

AFP/Getty photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Medical studies
        

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is March 10, and state health officials plan to observe it this Saturday at a free conference among other health groups and community organizations. They aim to raise awareness and spread information about preventing, testing for and living with the disease.

Preliminary state data shows that by the end of 2009, nearly 30,000 people in Maryland were living with HIV/AIDS and 36 percent were women. The majority of women were ages 30 and 49 and the most common methods of contracting were through heterosexual sex and drug use.

The rates among women also are rising, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration, which is partnering with local and state public schools, community health groups and the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

"The proportion of new HIV diagnoses among women in Maryland has more than doubled from 15 percent in 1985 to 35.3percent in 2008," said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, secretary of the state health department, in a statement. “It is critical to advance strategies that help all women -- young and old -- to protect themselves."

The conference runs from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel, 101 W. Fayette St. It targets public schools students and their parents.

For the latest Maryland HIV/AIDS data report, click here.

For information about HIV education, testing, treatment, support services and local National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day activities, 410-767-5132 or click here. National activities are here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: HIV/AIDS
        

For the tail end of Dental Health Month, we at Picture of Health decided to put common oral health questions to 5 experts from the University of Maryland Dental School. Today is Day 5 and the subject is gingivitis.

Question: What are the causes of gingivitis and what are the best ways to take care of it?

Answer: Dr. Mark A. Reynolds, professor and director of postdoctoral periodontics in the department of periodontics, says:

Gingivitis is a mild form of periodontal (gum) disease commonly resulting from the formation dental plaque on the teeth.

Inadequate oral hygiene contributes to the formation of plaque deposits containing large numbers of bacteria, which causes inflammation (redness and swelling) of the gums. Bacteria release toxins that intensify the local infection and further irritate the gums.

Gingivitis may cause the gums to become tender or bleed easily when brushing or flossing, which is sometimes seen as redness or pinkness on the toothbrush or floss. Plaque forms continuously on the teeth and should be removed daily to minimize the risk gingivitis developing into more serious, destructive forms of periodontal disease, leading to tooth loss.

Plaque deposits over time can become calcified and hard, forming calculus or tartar, which is resistant to removal by normal home care. Calculus is rough, making it easier for plaque deposits to form and more difficult to remove and control the infection.

Other factors can also increase the risk of periodontal diseases, such as smoking, diabetes, dry mouth and poor nutrition. Similar to other infections, chronic gum disease can affect overall health. Regular professional checkups and daily oral hygiene are essential for the complete removal of bacterial plaque and calculus, especially deposits forming below the gum line, and to minimize the risk of developing periodontal disease.

See more Dental Week questions here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Oral Health
        

Bloodstream infections in intensive care patients with central line dropped by 58 percent in 2009 from 2001, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Over time, that means 27,000 lives and $1.8 billion in health care costs saved.

Bloodstream infections kill up to one in four patients who get them, the CDC says. So keeping the central line, a treatment delivery tube usually placed in a large vein in the neck or chest, free of germs is crucial.

The infections are often the result of improper procedures while the line is placed or maintained, and studies in recent years show that health care providers can prevent most infections by following CDC infection control guidelines, officials at the CDC say. That means, for example, removing lines as soon as possible. 

“Preventing bloodstream infections is not only possible, it should be expected,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, CDC director, in a statement. “Meticulous insertion and care of the central line by all members of the clinical care team including doctors, nurses and others at the bedside is essential. The next step is to apply what we've learned from this to other health care settings and other health care-associated conditions, so that all patients are protected.”

Chicago Tribune photo of a medical student preparing to perform a central line procedure

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

Testing heart failure patients at discharge for a protein that's a marker of heart stress could keep patients from being readmitted to the hospital for a relapse, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins researchers.

The blood test measures a protein called N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, or NT-proBNP, which has been linked to heart failure symptoms and associated with bad health outcomes.

In their study, appearing in the American Journal of Cardiology, researchers tested 241 Johns Hopkins patients for the protein upon admission and at discharge. They found patients whose protein levels dropped by less than 50 percent over the course of their time at the hospital were 57 percent more likely to be readmitted or die from their illness within a year compared to those who had levels that dropped by a larger percentage.

Testing heart failure patients and comparing these levels could help doctors make better decisions about patients' treatment and hopefully prevent relapse and readmission, the researchers say.

About 5.7 million Americans have heart failure and 300,000 die from it each year. The condition occurs when the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. While some patients may appear better after a hospital stay, this study hints that they may not be completely well, researchers said.

"Our research suggests that maybe clinical judgment isn't enough to decide whether a heart failure patient is ready to be discharged," said Dr.  Henry J. Michtalik, the study's lead author, in a release. "These patients may benefit from being treated until the heart failure marker, NT-proBNP, decreases by a certain percentage, something that is not considered now."

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

For the tail end of Dental Health Month, we at Picture of Health decided to put common oral health questions to 5 experts from the University of Maryland Dental School. Today is Day 4 and the subject is orthodontics.

Question: How do you know if you need to see an orthodontist and are braces always necessary?

Answer: Dr. Robert E. Williams, a clinical associate professor who also practices in Baltimore and Bel Air, says:

People usually see an orthodontist as a result of concerns they have about the fit or appearance of their teeth, or on the recommendation of their family dentist.

Common problems that would motivate someone to seek orthodontic care are front teeth that protrude, are rotated, crowded, or don’t touch when they bite their back teeth together. Family dentists are also concerned about the way the back teeth fit, and the effect this has on the overall health of the teeth and gums.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children be seen by an orthodontist for an initial screening by age seven, to insure that the child’s teeth and jaws are developing normally. Common problems that benefit from treatment at this age include open bites due to thumb or finger sucking, cross bites (when one or more upper teeth are inside the lower teeth) or excessive crowding.

For other problems, it’s often better to delay treatment until most of the permanent teeth have erupted. Once all the permanent teeth are in, there is usually little change in tooth alignment, with the exception of a gradual increase in crowding of the lower front teeth that begins in the late teens and continues into middle age. New materials and techniques make orthodontic treatment easier, more comfortable, and relatively more affordable than in the past.

While having crooked teeth is not life threatening condition, correction of a malocclusion is beneficial to both a person’s health and their self image. You are never too old to benefit from orthodontic treatment as long as your teeth and gums are healthy. If you think you may benefit from orthodontic treatment, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with an orthodontic specialist.

See other Dental Week questions here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Oral Health
        

An L.A.-based company that makes a “stress relieving” drink filled with gingko biloba and lemongrass says it's offering Charlie Sheen a $3 million deal to endorse its product – in exchange for getting off TV and going to 30 days of "in-patient treatment" at his own Sober Valley Lodge in Beverly Hills.

The company, The Chill Group, says the sitcom star could use the money because he’s losing some $8 million with the cancelation of “Two and a Half Men” for the season. He also appears to need some rehab after his public troubles that include admitted drug use. And the company believes he could also benefit from drinking Just Chill.

“If there's one thing that's clear, it's that this guy needs to relax,” said Russell Fager, general manager of the Chill Group, in a statement. “We've watched him spiral out of control and accompanied by treatment, we think Just Chill will help him focus on whatever his next steps turn out to be. If this is successful we think he'd be a great spokesperson for the brand.”

Sober Valley is Sheen's own Beverly Hills home, where he claims to have healed himself of addiction "with the power of my mind." Anyone think 30 days locked in his house with beverages will help this guy? 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Mental health
        

For the tail end of Dental Health Month, we at Picture of Health decided to put common oral health questions to 5 experts from the University of Maryland Dental School. Today is Day 3 and the subject is dry mouth.

Question: What are the causes of dry mouth and what effect does it have on oral health? Are there ways to combat it?

Answer: Dr. Gary Hack, associate professor and director of clinical simulation in the department of endodontics, prosthodontics and operative dentistry, says:

Remember the terrible feeling after you have slept with your mouth open all night long, due to a stuffy nose, and you wake up with your mouth so dry that you can’t speak, move your tongue, or swallow.

Now imagine living with that feeling all the time.

There are various causes for dry mouth, also called xerostomia. These can include: the side effects of certain drugs, the side effects of certain diseases and infections, and the side effects of certain medical treatments.

A dry mouth can have various negative effects on your health. A dry mouth can increase your chances of developing tooth decay, gum disease, and mouth infections, such as thrush.

There are many ways to deal with a dry mouth. Your doctor may prescribe an oral rinse to restore mouth moisture. Also, there are medications that can be prescribed that stimulate saliva production.

Other steps that one can take to improve saliva flow include: breathing through your nose and not your mouth, drinking plenty of water throughout the day and using sugar-free candy and chewing gum.

See other Dental Week questions here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Oral Health
        

For the tail end of Dental Health Month, we at Picture of Health decided to put common oral health questions to 5 experts from the University of Maryland Dental School. Today is Day 2 and the subject is acid erosion.

Question: What is acid erosion, how is it bad for the teeth and what can I do to treat it?

Answer: Dr. Howard E. Strassler, professor in the department of endodontics, prosthodontics and operative dentistry, says:

Acid erosion of teeth refers to the acid attack on the enamel and root surfaces of the teeth from the food we eat and the beverages we drink that are acidic (pH less than 7). The acid attack that causes tooth decay is different because it is caused by acid producing bacteria.

Acid erosion can cause the teeth to look yellow because the teeth are more susceptible to staining by foods and beverages. Acid erosion combined with normal tooth brushing with toothpaste can lead to enamel and tooth root surface loss.

This can contribute to chipping and wear of teeth and notching on the tooth root. Also, the acid attack can cause tooth sensitivity. Any food that is acidic can cause can acid attack.

To prevent acid erosion, avoid highly acidic food and beverages. Some energy drinks and soda are the worst. Fruit juices can also be offenders. Use a toothpaste with fluoride and if you already have acid erosion, use a toothpaste that has fluoride with added calcium for tooth remineralization.

Most important, visit your dentist and ask for more information on acid erosion. They can diagnose if you have acid erosion and make recommendations for treatment.

See other Dental Week questions here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Oral Health