Utah's Highest Rates Of Melanoma.

Report: Southeast Sandy Has Utah's Highest Rates Of Melanoma.

The AP (11/30) reports, "Southeast Sandy has the state's highest rate of melanoma, breast and colorectal cancer cases, according to a Utah Department of Health report released Tuesday." The new "report also identified more than two dozen other Utah locations as having higher-than-average cancer rates."

        According to the Deseret Morning News (UT) (11/30, Leonard), "The report identifies breast, colon, lung, prostate and skin cancer, mortality and screening rates in 61 designated small areas of Utah, to give community leaders and policymakers an idea of what can and needs to be done to 'best allocate limited funds to communities with the greatest need,' said State Epidemiologist Dr. Robert Rolfs."

        The Salt Lake (UT) Tribune (11/30, May) reports that "women from Utah are some of the least likely to get mammograms to detect breast cancer, and health officials are stumped as to why." According to the Tribune, however, "Utah has the nation's second-lowest cancer rate and the lowest cancer death rate in the country."

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Study Analyzes Bacteria On Public Restroom Surfaces.

Study Analyzes Bacteria On Public Restroom Surfaces.

The Los Angeles Times (11/24, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reported a paper in PLoS ONE in which researchers used "high-throughput genetic sequencing to detect bacteria on 10 different surfaces in 12 men's and women's bathrooms on a college campus." They found that "bacteria associated with the gut were common on toilet surfaces, signifying fecal contamination (and an argument for seat protectors). ... The floor had the biggest bacteria party, revealing what the authors called 'diverse bacterial communities' of organisms, including several typically found in soil. ... The authors said this emphasizes the importance of hand washing after using the facilities."

        The Washington Post (11/24, Huget) "The Checkup" blog reported, "Most of the bacteria found throughout the bathrooms were those typically found on human skin. That finding's important, the authors note, because those bacteria can include pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, which can easily be spread when hands come into contact with contaminated surfaces."

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Nuts OK to infants?!

Giving Allergenic Foods To Babies May Not Cause Wheezing, Eczema Later.

Reuters (6/8, Joelving) reports that, according to a study published online June 6 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, giving an infant nuts, milk from a cow, or other allergenic foods before the age of six months appears not to precipitate eczema or excessive wheezing as the child grows. After following some 7,000 babies until the age of four, then adjusting for confounding factors, such as maternal smoking, researchers found no indication that eggs, milk, or nuts were associated with eczema and wheezing later in childhood.

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Women Better Melanoma Survivors

Analysis Suggests Women Are More Likely To Survive Malignant Melanoma.

MedPage Today (6/7) reported that women with a malignant melanoma are "less likely to die or to have the cancer progress," according to findings presented at a medical conference. The analysis of "outcomes data from seven European clinical trials," which included more than "6,700 patients," showed that compared with men, women with localized disease had a "hazard ratio of 0.70 for death, compared with 0.81 and 0.83, respectively, for those with stage III and IV disease." Similarly, women with localized disease had a "hazard ratio for progression of 0.69, while those with stage III and IV disease had hazard ratios of 0.86 and 0.79," respectively; and women with localized and stage III disease had "hazard ratios for the time to distant metastasis of 0.69 and 0.87," respectively. The researchers suggest the "observed discrepancy has been behavior. 'Men wait too long to see their doctors, so they come in with thicker tumors and a worse prognosis.'"

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Pore Size

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/fashion/many-seek-to-minimize-enlarged-pores-for-a-flawless-look.html

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High Deductible Plans

High-Deductible Health Insurance Plans' Popularity Has Spiked.

USA Today (5/31, Kennedy) reports, "In 2007, about 4.5 million people had high-deductible plans, but by 2010, 10 million people had signed up for the plans, according to an America's Health Insurance Plans survey of its members. In exchange for a high deductible -- a maximum $3,000 deductible for individuals and a $6,000 deductible for families, for instance -- people can save about $85 to $100 a month on premiums. 'People are choosing higher deductibles for lower premiums,' said Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans." A Rand Corporation study "found that even as health care costs continued to rise, people on high-deductible plans paid substantially less than did those on traditional plans."

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Obesity in Childhood Leads to Psoriasis

Obesity In Childhood May Increase Risk Of Developing Psoriasis.

The Los Angeles Times "Booster Shots" reported, "Obesity in childhood significantly increases the risk of developing psoriasis, and psoriasis may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life by increasing cholesterol levels," according to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics. For that reason, "patients with psoriasis early in life should be monitored for early signs of cardiovascular disease and given therapy to reduce the risk of later heart attacks and stroke, a team from Kaiser Permanente" suggested. Researchers arrived at these conclusions after examining "electronic health records of 710,949 ethnically diverse children."

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Shingles Vaccine

Shingles Vaccine Difficult To Find.

The AP (5/13) reported, "A vaccine exists to reduce the risk of shingles in certain age groups, but there are many obstacles to obtaining the shot." The "Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine Zostavax in 2006 for use in people 60 and older, and earlier this year the agency OK'd the shot for ages 50 and up." However, "some medical facilities are waiting until action by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before agreeing to provide the vaccine to people 50 to 59." The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which makes vaccine recommendations to the agency, will discuss the topic next month. Also, physicians' offices often do not carry the vaccine because "the vaccine is covered under Medicare Part D (with some exceptions) but not Medicare Part B." Other obstacles include the high cost of the vaccine and supply shortages.

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vitamin d and calcium reduces melanoma incidence

Calcium, Vitamin D Supplementation Appears Not To Reduce Overall Incidence Of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer In Women.

MedPage Today (5/9, Bankhead) reported, "Calcium and vitamin D supplementation did not reduce the overall incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in women, although those with a history of NMSC did see a 57% risk reduction for melanoma," according to research presented at an investigative dermatology meeting. Overall, in the study of some "36,282 postmenopausal women, who were randomized to 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D daily and followed for seven years," researchers found that "the supplements afforded no protection against nonmelanoma skin cancer or melanoma."

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Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease May Spur Certain Cognitive, Psychiatric Symptoms In Some Patients.

The AP (5/5) reported that Lyme disease "can affect different organ systems, including those of the heart or brain, but is usually associated with symptoms such as arthritis and the expanding red rash said to resemble a bull's-eye." Some physicians say the disease "might also spur certain cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in some patients, but others say there's no hard scientific evidence a link between Lyme disease and some of these problems." Dr. Brian Fallon, director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University, said the illness has "been linked to certain psychiatric reactions, including depression, obsession compulsive disorder and anxiety." There were "29,959 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in 2009," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

        Lyme Disease Cases Increased 35% In Wisconsin Last Year. The Capital Times (5/5, Doherty) "Vital Signs" blog reported, "The number of people infected with Lyme disease in Wisconsin increased by 35 percent last year, more alarming evidence that this nasty tick-borne illness is on the march here and across the US." According to a statement released by Dr. Henry Anderson, State Health Officer, "Lyme disease cases in the state totaled 3,495 in 2010 compared with 2,587 in 2009." The blog listed tips from Wisconsin officials to avoid tick bites, including: "Use effective tick repellants. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults use repellants with 20-30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing."

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Organic Skin Care

Some Organic Skincare Products May Trigger Allergies.

The New York Times (4/28, E3, Zissu) reports in "Skin Deep" that product labels with "long chemical names can be hard to decipher"; and US labeling laws are "more relaxed than those in Europe and Canada, which mandate clearer warnings of potential allergens." However, most skincare and hair care is "filled with potential allergy triggers," and organic versions "are, to green parents' dismay, among the worst offenders." This could be worrisome for example, "in a lip balm. 'Allergy from ingested tree nuts is a Type I anaphylaxis-type allergy, which can be life threatening,'" said Dr. Maryann Mikhail from Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. More common is a "Type IV, contact allergy -- not 'life-threatening,' Dr. Mikhail said, though it can cause 'horrible eczema.'"

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Tanning Beds

AAD Survey Finds Young Women Disregard Warnings Linking Tanning To Melanoma Risk.

The Los Angeles Times (5/2, Kaplan) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "When it comes to tanning and health, young women still aren't getting the message," according to a new survey from the American Academy of Dermatology. The Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization have "declared UV a known carcinogen"; and according to the AAD, people who engage in indoor tanning "increase their risk of developing melanoma by 75%." Yet the AAD poll found that "32% of the young women" surveyed had "put themselves in a tanning bed within the past year, with 25% of those tanners saying they had done so on a weekly basis."

        According to Fox News (5/2) the survey, which involved "more than 3,800 white non-Hispanic females ages 14 to 22," also found that 81 percent of the women "said they had tanned outdoors either frequently or occasionally in the past year." WebMD (5/2, Hendrick) noted that the tanning appeal increased with age. The survey showed that "18- to 22-year-olds were almost twice as likely to have used indoor tanning than 14- to 17-year-old girls."

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Anti-Wrinkle Products

Efficacy Of OTC Anti-Wrinkle Products Questionable.

The Boston Globe (5/2, Lazar) noted that a primary ingredient in many over-the-counter anti-aging face care products is "retinol, a vitamin A compound that is less potent than another vitamin A derivative, tretinoin, which has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of wrinkles" but is available "only by a prescription." Dermatologists say some OTC creams with "retinol may lessen the appearance of fine lines." But it is hard to determine whether the OTC "products live up to their promises." Although most OTC anti-aging products "are not scrutinized by regulators for effectiveness," approximately "eight dozen companies" are listed on the Food and Drug Administration's "most recent 'Yellow List'" for imported skin care products that "may have 'exaggerated anti aging claims,'" including some "well-known names" such as "Chanel, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, and Revlon."

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Carcinogenic Hair Straightener

US Lawmakers Call On FDA To Issue Voluntary Recall Of "Brazilian Blowout" Hair-Straightening Treatments.

The Wall Street Journal (5/17, D3, Athavaley) reports that members of the US Congress, including Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Ed Markey (D-MA), earlier this month sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg calling for a voluntary recall of two hair-straightening treatments sold in salons under the brand name Brazilian Blowout. The missive cites a 2010 study by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division that found formaldehyde in the Brazilian Blowout Solution and Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution. The lawmakers want the agency to test chemical hair straighteners and recall those with high levels of the carcinogen.

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Botox Under 18 Ban

New Jersey Bill Would Ban Physicians From Giving Botulinum Toxin To Patients Under 18 For Cosmetic Reasons.

The AP (Lederman) reports that the New Jersey Legislature's "Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee approved legislation Thursday to clamp down on doctors injecting people under 18 with botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes." The AP reports, "Federal and state regulations already restrict the use of Botox on patients under 18. The new legislation would require doctors to document in a patient's chart the non-cosmetic medical reason for performing the procedure on a minor."

        The Star-Ledger (Friedman) reports, "Use of Botox on minors for medical reasons would still be allowed, since it is used to treat facial spasms and certain eye conditions. The bill would leave it up to the State Board of Medical Examiners and the commissioner of Health and Senior Services to develop the regulations and set penalties." The Gloucester County Times (Beym) also covers the story.

Seems sad that this legislation is even necessary...BB

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Tan Ban for Minors

New York Legislators Considering First Indoor Tanning Ban For All Minors.

The AP (5/5) reports that New York state is trying to "become the first to ban indoor tanning for all minors." Russell Sciandra, of the American Cancer Society in New York, "said the current effort is bolstered by a February report by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 'Rates of skin cancer -- including melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer -- continue to rise, even in young people,' the academy found." Therefore, "along with the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Dermatology, the AAP supports legislation prohibiting access to tanning salons or use of artificial tanning devices by children under the age of 18."

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Routine Use Of Antibiotics On Animal Farms Leading To Antibiotic Resistance In Humans.

Routine Use Of Antibiotics On Animal Farms Leading To Antibiotic Resistance In Humans.

The Los Angeles Times (4/25, Adams) reports that, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was found "on 47% of 136 samples of beef, chicken, pork and turkey from 26 grocery stores in five US cities" and that "of those bacteria, 96% were resistant to at least one type of antibiotic and more than half were resistant to at least three." Lance Price at the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Arizona, and colleagues, "concluded that the resistant staph on meat was probably coming from the animals - and not, say, a worker's unclean hands. This seems to point the finger at antibiotic use in agriculture." The Los Angeles Times notes, "calls for restrictions, particularly on antibiotics used to combat human infectious disease, have come from a slew of organizations, including the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Medical Assn and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Yet the practice remains."

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8 Year-Old Botox Abomination

San Francisco Agency Investigating Report Of Botox Shots For Eight-Year-Old Girl.

In follow-up coverage of the story of a San Francisco mother who is giving her eight-year-old daughter Botox (onabotulinumtoxin A) shots, the AP (5/14) reported that "an investigation was under way." The AP said "Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency, told KGO-TV on Thursday that officials want to talk with Kerry Campbell and her daughter Britney," after the agency "received numerous calls from people concerned about Britney's well-being." The AP notes that the FDA does not recommend Botox injections for people younger than 18.

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Fear Of Skin Atrophy From Topical Corticosteroids Unfounded.

Fear Of Skin Atrophy From Topical Corticosteroids Unfounded.

WebMD (4/21, Goodman) reported, "Proper use of corticosteroid ointments to treat childhood eczema does not appear to damage or thin skin over time," according to a study in Pediatric Dermatology.

        MedPage Today (4/21, Smith) reported that investigators "studied 70 children with atopic dermatitis or eczema-psoriasis overlap who had used topical corticosteroids for at least three months and whose condition was under 'excellent control.'" In the dermatitis group, investigators rated skin atrophy at three sites treated with topical corticosteroids and an untreated self-control site. The control group was made up of 20 children who had never used corticosteroid ointments but had been referred to the dermatology facility for noninflammatory conditions. The investigators looked at same sites in the control group as in the dermatitis group. "The researchers found: neither investigator observed any atrophy in any of 280 sites from the dermatitis group or 88 sites from the control group; Grade 1 telangiectasia was observed in several patients, all located on the inside of the elbows; but there was no significant difference between the groups;" and "no patient had evidence of striae, atrophic scars, or purpura."

        HealthDay (4/21, Preidt) reported the Pediatric Dermatology study shows "long-term use of topical corticosteroids to treat children with the skin condition known as eczema doesn't cause any major negative side effects." During the study, "all of the children were assessed for signs of corticosteroid-related side effects" and the researchers found that "there were no differences between the children receiving the medication and those in the control group."

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Thyroid Link to Acne

Women With Acne May Be More Likely To Have Thyroid Autoimmunity Than Healthy Controls.

MedWire (5/6, Albert) reported that, according to a study published online in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology, "women with acne may be more likely to have thyroid autoimmunity than healthy controls." In a study of 107 adult women with acne, "following measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) and various thyroid hormones and antibodies, the team found that significantly more of the women with acne had raised (>40 U/ml) antithyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG) than the controls, at 25.2% versus 8.3%." Notably, "this translated to a significant 3.89-fold increase in risk for having high levels of anti-TG in acne patients versus healthy controls independent of age."

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