Customized lotions that contain friendly germs might be produced in the near future. Despite the fact that it doesn’t sound like a safe thing to do, some germs can actually produce natural antibiotics. Scientists believe that they have found a way to produce natural antibiotics by using these friendly germs.

The scientists mentioned that these germs can be used to produce different creams and lotions that can treat skin problems. The leader of this study is Dr. Richard Gallo. He believes that the germs can actually help the skin defeat other bad germs.

Dr. Richard Gallo is the dermatology chairman at the University of California. He mentioned that this can be a revolution for the production of creams and lotions. In order to test the benefits of the natural antibiotics produced by the germs, he created some customized creams. He then tested them on five patients that suffered from eczema.

The results showed that the natural antibiotics that were found in the cream helped these people defeat the bad bacteria that were affecting their skin. This shows that some of the germs that we already have on our skin and in our bodies can help us.

We have trillions of microbes in our noses, in the gut, and on our skin. All of these microbes form the microbiome which is responsible for us staying healthy or becoming vulnerable to diseases. The scientists are now trying to figure out which of these microbes help us and which make us sick.

They believe that the good microbes can form these natural antibiotics that can be used in order to kill the bad, damaging microbes. The research completed by Dr. Richard Gallo shows that, in the future, we will be able to create different beauty products by using germs. These products will treat our skin disorders and problems.

The tests that were made by the doctor on animals showed that these types of natural antibiotics can be a real help in killing germs like Staphylococcus aureus. This can be a revolution for the beauty and health industry. Until then, the scientists mentioned that they need to make more test before they can know for sure that the germs are effective and safe.

What is your opinion about this study? Do you think that good germ can produce natural antibiotics?

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We all know that exercise is a great way to stay healthy. Apparently, exercise can also help people who survived breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer recurrence is lower when people exercise and have a healthy diet.

A new research shows that there is a link between workouts and breast cancer recurrence. This study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The research focuses on the changes people need to do in order to avoid breast cancer recurrence.

The most important change people should do after they have survived cancer is to start exercising. The researchers observed that people who exercised reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence by more than 40%. Despite the fact that people can make other lifestyle changes, exercising is the best choice.

The researchers mentioned that it is not about weight control. They said that exercise also reduces inflammation, improves insulin resistance, and regulates the hormone levels. Working out can also help people fight depression and stress. Both problems are associated with breast cancer.

In this research, the scientists included the amount of time people who survived breast cancer should spend exercising. They mentioned that breast cancer survivors should spend 75 minutes doing vigorous aerobic or 150 minutes doing moderate exercise every week.

The researchers mentioned that in addition to the minutes they spend exercising, they should also have 2 strength-training sessions every week. The specialists mentioned that cancer survivors should ask their doctor before starting to exercise, especially if they had breast cancer surgery.

The team of researchers that completed this study mentioned that people should start taking longer walks before they start other exercises. It is important to start easily in order for the body to get used to the effort gradually.

The authors of the study observed that it is important for breast cancer survivors to keep their weight steady. They should eat less or change their diet because chemotherapy slows the metabolism and this means that they will gain weight. Despite the fact that a healthy diet is important, it did not show any signs of decreasing the risk of recurrence of breast cancer.

What is your opinion about this study? Do you think that exercise can decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence?

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While owners of multiple cats may have some social issues to deal with in their lives, at least they are not at risk of any mental health problems caused by their feline friends. A new study managed to disprove the growing belief that parasites found in cat dropping have anything to do with conditions like OCD, schizophrenia, and other such issues.

The world is still divided between cat or dog lovers, with a few people managing to tolerate both, but at the very least, no cat owner will be at risk of suffering of serious mental issues caused by cats while this friendly debate goes on.

The study was published in the journal Psychological Medicine on February 21th, by a team of British researchers led by Dr. Fracesca Solmi, the lead author of the study as well as a researcher at the University College London Psychiatry.

According to Dr. Solmi, the study did not find any evidence that somehow cat droppings can pose a risk to the mental health of their owners and their children. This increasingly common belief, probably started by dog lovers, consisted in the fact that cats, which are carriers of an infectious parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii, may be able to pass it to humans through their droppings.

Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine if there was any association between kids coming in contact with cats and increased mental health problems during childhood. As such, the researchers analyzed around 5,000 people, who were born in the early 1990s, until they reached the age of 18 years old. The scientists specifically looked at cases where the mother of the participants had a cat during her pregnancy or if they grew up with a cat as a pet.

Previous studies have reported some links between cats and mental health problems, but mostly due to the fact that they failed to account for other possible explanations. The recent study found no evidence of any association between those two factors.

However, the researchers issued a warning to pregnant women, stating that they should avoid exposure to cat litter boxes since there is evidence that contact with the parasite may lead to serious birth defects as well as other health problems in their children.

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The gluten-free food diet has been one of the major lifestyle trends that have captured the attention of many people. While many practitioners of the diet are ready to reveal the many health benefits of the diet, others, more critic of this diet, point out how unnecessary it is when you don’t have the Celiac disease.

However, a new study reveals that the gluten-free food diet may be just more than unnecessary, it can also be dangerous. The researchers have found that food lacking in gluten may also contain higher levels of toxic metals, which pose a high risk to your health.

The researchers revealed their findings in a new study published in the journal Epidemiology. It reveals that people who eat more gluten-free food may have an increased risk of exposure to high levels of mercury and arsenic, two toxic metal which can lead to cancer, various cardiovascular diseases as well as neurological conditions.

If you somehow are not familiar with the gluten-free food lifestyle, then you should know that it became popular after the misconception that gluten has negative health effects and should be avoided by all, not just those suffering from the celiac disease. This particular condition makes gluten, proteins found in various cereals like wheat, grain, rye, and barley to cause damage to the lining of the small intestine and prevent nutrients from being absorbed by your body.

Overall, less than one percent of all Americans suffer from the autoimmune disease. Despite this fact, gluten-free food has seen a 67 percent increase in 2015 from previous years, due to the fact that many people proclaim health benefits which were not proven by any scientific studies.

The new study reveals that rice flour used a substitute for wheat, can accumulate toxic metals from the water, soil, and fertilizer. Researchers from the University of Illinois, Chicago, used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They found 73 from 7,500 participants who had a link between gluten-free food and biomarkers for toxic metals in their blood and urine.

Mercury levels were 70 percent higher in people who practice the gluten-free diet compared to those who had regular diets, while arsenic levels were twice as high as normal.

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Post-partum depression can be a common condition in many mothers, which they rely on the support from their partner to overcome it. However, a new study has found that new dads can also be affected by depression, before or during the pregnancy of their partner.

Previous studies have been mostly focused on studying maternal depression, in order to better recognize it and treat it before it has any major impact on the life of the family. The research has been very valuable as it had various positive health effects for both the mother and the baby.

However, researchers believe that discovering the symptoms of depression in new dads can also have health benefits for their family, overall.  The new study, one of the largest one yet involving both prenatal and postnatal depression in fathers, included over 3,500 men. The study was part of the Growing Up in New Zealand project, and its results were published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

According to the researchers, other previous studies found that around 20 percent of mothers experience either postnatal or prenatal depression. They believe that the condition is caused by different hormonal changes or external factors in cases where the pregnancy was not planned, domestic violence, or when the mother does not have social or relationship support.

The study involving depression in new dads revealed that only 2.3 percent of all participants suffered from prenatal depression, while 4.3 percent became depressed after the birth of their child. This is a significantly lower rate than that of women, but it can still have major public health consequences, according to Lisa Underwood, a research fellow at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Researchers found that depression in new dads could strain the overall family relationship in various ways, either emotional or financial hardships, as well as caused cognitive development issues in the child such as behavior or emotional problems.

In the United States, more than 4 million babies are born each year. Therefore, even the small percentage of new dads who are or will become depressed will lead to a significant number of affected individuals and babies, as a consequence.

What do you think about the study’s findings?

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The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a new report which states that the flu vaccine has only a 48 percent rate of efficiency in combating the flu virus during this season of the disease.

The current flu season, which is still expected to continue for a few more weeks, has been marked by the predominance of the influenza A (H3N2) strain of the virus. Experts initially estimated that the efficiency of the flu vaccine in combating that particular strain of the virus was just 43 percent compared to the 73 percent effectiveness of the vaccine against the influenza B virus strain.  However, the report found that overall protection of the vaccine was rated to be at 48 percent.

The CDC report is based on data collected between November 28 and February 4 from more than 3,100 adults and children who were part of the Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network.  The CDC has routinely used data from this network to estimate the effectiveness of a vaccine during a particular season of the virus.

Previous CDC reports revealed that during the2015-2016 flu season, the flu vaccine was 47 percent effective in combating the virus, while the 2014-2015 season saw a major decline in the effectiveness of the virus, to just 19 percent.

According to the scientists, the low effectiveness rate from two years ago was caused by the predominant state of the H3N2 virus strain, for which that current vaccine was not well suited. Fortunately, researchers were able to correctly anticipate that the same strain will remain predominant during this season, which allowed to develop a vaccine which was better suited to combat the virus.

In a separate but related report, the CDC revealed that the US saw an increase in the activity of the flu virus in the middle of December, and remained high until early February. Researchers expect that that flu season will continue for a few more weeks, but it will begin to drop in activity. The increased activity of the virus led strength to the recommendation of doctors to get vaccinated.

What do you think about the report’s findings? Have you received a flu vaccine this season?

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Everybody is aware of the fact that the development of oil and gas is bad for the environment, but a new study has linked the industry with the increased rates of childhood leukemia in communities nearby the development zones.

The study was conducted by researchers from the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado, Anschutz. The scientists revealed that kids who suffer from acute lymphocytic leukemia are more likely to live near an oil and gas development zone. No link has been found between these industrial areas and kids suffering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

According to Dr. Lisa McKenzie, an assistant research professor at the Colorado School of Public Health, more than 378,000 Colorado residents and several million American currently live at least within a mile of one or more oil and gas development zones.  It’s worth noting that at this point in their research, scientist only found an association between the two factors and not a direct cause of the childhood leukemia.

In this regard, further research is required in order to address the various limitations of the current study as well as better explain its results. The study was funded by the University of Colorado’s Cancer Center, and it was published in PLOS ONE journal.

The study reveals that children as well as young adults, with ages from 5 to 24 years, who suffered from acute lymphocytic leukemia were 4.3 more likely to reside in some of the densest oil and gas development zones in the state, compared to individuals with other forms of cancer. The study mostly focused on the rural areas and towns of Colorado, from 57 different counties in the state. Any urban areas with a population exceeding 50,000 people were excluded from the study.

The latest report reveals that more than 15 million Americans across the country live within a mile of gas and oil well. In Colorado’s most intensive development zones, there are hundreds of wells within just a mile of a home. Furthermore, besides the risk of developing leukemia, residents also risk other health effects from being exposed to industrial development.

The researchers used data from both the Colorado Oil and Gas Information System and the Colorado Central Cancer Registry.

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A new study has found that women suspected of having breast cancer tend to delay future mammograms after their first test was a false positive. Furthermore, some women do not even show up for their next screening, which decreases the chance of an early future diagnosis.

The study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, was conducted on more than 261,000 women from the greater Chicago area. The study reveals that false positives have several unintended consequences which can alter the behavior of women regarding mammogram tests.

Researchers found that in the situations where women were recommended to have a test every year, those who received an initial false positive tended to delay their next test by up to 13 months, while women who had a direct negative result scheduled their next test between three to six months.

This delay could lead to reduced chances of survival if the breast cancer is subsequently diagnosed. Scientists revealed that the women who did not receive a false positive test result had a 0.3 percent of being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer tumor. However, for women with false positive tests, the chances increased to 0.4 percent.

Throughout their study, the researchers also found that some of the women never showed for their next mammogram at all. However, it is unclear whether they gave up on being tested for breast cancer or if they just received the test somewhere else.

The lead author of the study, Firas Dabbous working at the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Illinois, revealed the delicate balance that is required in breast cancer diagnosis. While early detection offers the best chances of successful treatment, they also don’t want to bother women with increased number of false positive results followed by painful and expensive tests like biopsies.

In this regard, a debate has arisen whether or not the benefit of breast cancer screening outweighs the possible emotional and financial costs of the tests. A mammogram has a one in ten chance of producing a false positive result. Furthermore, an estimated 7 to 17 percent of all false positive women will end up having a biopsy.

What do you think about the study’s findings?

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We have known for a long time that our diet has an important in our metabolism. However, not much was known about the impact that various types of food have on our system. A new study has found that eating more whole grains increases our metabolism and promote weight loss.

The more general study on the impact of eating whole grains was published at the same with a more specific study involving the effect of whole grain on gut bacteria. Both research papers have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Previous epidemiology studies have revealed the health benefits of a whole grains diet as well as that of a diet rich in fiber, such as higher glycemic control and insulin sensitivity. However, there has been a certain degree of controversy regarding the effect of whole grains and fiber on weight, mostly due to the fact that there isn’t a lot of data available from metabolic studies.

The new study aims to explain how the consumption of whole grain is beneficial for weight loss by providing this type of food to participants for a period of eight weeks. The researchers wanted to determine exactly how a high whole grain consumption can benefit weight management.

For their study, the scientists conducted a randomized single-blind study on 81 men and women with ages between 40 and 65, for a period of eight weeks. During the first two weeks, all participants ate the same food, as scientists determined their required caloric intake. Afterward, each group was required to either eat only a whole grain diet or a refined grain one. The main difference between the diets being in the grain and its fiber content.

Throughout the study, the searchers measured the metabolic rate, blood glucose, weight, hunger, fullness, and fecal calories of each participant. At the end of the study, they found that the whole grains diet increased the metabolic rate as well an increase in the fecal energy losses compared to the participants who ate the refined grains diet. The caloric loss was due to how fiber changes the digestibility of other types of calories.

What do you think about this study? Do you eat more whole grains or refined grains?

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A new study has found that just a simple blood test could be as efficient and accurate as a spinal fluid test for determining whether a personal actually has Parkinson’s or if its symptoms are caused by a related disorder.

The study, published in the journal Neurology released by the American Academy of Neurology, reveals that difficulties of differentiating between Parkinson’s disease and other similar disorders, at the early stage of the disease, as most symptoms tend to overlap.

Diagnosing the disease early is important as a benefit of treatment can vary dramatically depending on the stage of the disease and between that of actual Parkinson’s or just similar disorders. However, according to the lead author of the study, Dr. Oskar Hansson, from the Lund University, Sweden, diagnosing Parkinson’s disease can become much easier than it is currently being done today.

The researchers found the different concentrations of nerve protein in a patient’s blood can easily discriminate between the different neurological disorders. Furthermore, a simple blood test also provides the same accuracy as a spinal fluid test.  The nerve protein in question is known as neurofilament light chain protein. It acts as a component of nerve cells and can also be found in both the spinal fluid and the blood stream.

For their study, the researchers analyzed more than 500 people from three different study groups.  Two of the three groups involved people from England and Sweden who had lived with Parkinson’s or other atypical parkinsonism disorders (APD) for an average time of four to six years. The last group had people who suffered from either type of disease for just three years or less.

Among the overall number of patients, 244 had Parkinson’s, 88 suffered from multiple system atrophy, 79 were healthy and served as a control group, 70 were affected by progressive supranuclear palsy, and 23 had corticobasal degeneration.

After extensive analysis, the researchers found a simple blood test was just as accurate in detecting the specific disorder as a spinal fluid test. This new method can help doctors provide a more comprehensive diagnostic to their patients.

What do you think about the new study? Do you know anyone suffering from Parkinson’s or any other APD disease?

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