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B. oleronius from Demodex mites linked to rosacea development

The bacterium Bacillus oleronius from Demodex mites may play a role in the development of rosacea, suggest study findings.

22 Jun 2012

Skin infections in AD patients linked to PMN impairment

Impairment of polymorphonuclear granulocytes among patients with atopic dermatitis may represent an additional cause of skin infections, suggest study findings.

22 Jun 2012

Emory scientists identify new type of anti-inflammatory compound

Scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a new type of anti-inflammatory compound that may be useful in treating a wide range of conditions, including neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. These compounds inhibit the enzyme Nox2, part of a family of enzymes responsible for producing reactive oxygen species (ROS).

22 Jun 2012

Selenium reduces Staph populations in medical implants

Selenium is an inexpensive element that naturally belongs in the body. It is also known to combat bacteria. Still, it had not been tried as an antibiotic coating on a medical device material. In a new study, Brown University engineers report that when they used selenium nanoparticles to coat polycarbonate, the material of catheters and endotracheal tubes, the results were significant reductions in cultured populations of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, sometimes by as much as 90 percent.

22 Jun 2012

Proper exsanguinator and tourniquet use poorly understood

Operating theater personnel have a poor understanding of appropriate exsanguinator and tourniquet use, show research results from a hospital in Ireland.

21 Jun 2012

FimH antagonists can effectively treat UTIs

A potential new approach for treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) - which affect millions of people annually - without traditional antibiotics is being reported in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. It involves so-called FimH antagonists, which are non-antibiotic compounds and would not contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance bacteria.

21 Jun 2012

MountainView Hospital first in Nevada to use Xenex’s room disinfection device

In an ongoing effort to improve patient safety, MountainView Hospital today announced it is the first hospital in Nevada to use Xenex Healthcare Services' innovative germ-zapping room disinfection technology to keep patients even safer from infections.

21 Jun 2012

Study links two specific strains of bacteria with indoor mold from water damage

Bacterial contamination in water-damaged buildings has been identified as a potential cause of health problems, including infection and respiratory conditions like asthma. Which specific bacteria contribute to these problems, however, has been unknown-making it difficult for public health officials to develop tools to effectively address the underlying source of the problem.

21 Jun 2012

Structure of human P-glycoprotein in a moving 3D computer model

A picture is worth 1,000 words when it comes to understanding how things work, but 3D moving pictures are even better. That's especially true for scientists trying to stop cancer by better understanding the proteins that make some chemotherapies unsuccessful.

21 Jun 2012

Unwelcome hotel ‘guests’ uncovered

An investigation into the cleanliness of various surfaces and objects in hotel rooms in three US states has revealed that 81% of surfaces are contaminated with coliform bacteria.

20 Jun 2012

Antimicrobial exposure may increase risk of allergies in children

Exposure to common antibacterial chemicals and preservatives found in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and other personal-care products may make children more prone to a wide range of food and environmental allergies, according to new research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

20 Jun 2012

Researchers unlock structure of STING protein

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have unlocked the structure of a key protein that, when sensing certain viruses and bacteria, triggers the body's immediate immune response.

20 Jun 2012

Allergy risk in children linked to antibacterials in personal-care products

Exposure to common antibacterial chemicals found in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and other personal-care products may make children more prone to a wide range of food and environmental allergies, according to new research from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

19 Jun 2012

Commensal bacteria essential to fight off viral infections

Healthy humans harbor an enormous and diverse group of bacteria and other bugs that live within their intestines. These microbial partners provide beneficial aid in multiple ways - from helping digest food to the development of a healthy immune system.

19 Jun 2012

New clues to why some urinary tract infections recur persistently

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found new clues to why some urinary tract infections recur persistently after multiple rounds of treatment.

19 Jun 2012

AOAC certifies InstantLabs Salmonella Species Food Safety Kit

InstantLabs Medical Diagnostics Corporation, developer of the portable Hunter Accelerated Real-Time PCR system, today announced that its Salmonella Species Food Safety Kit has been certified as AOAC Performance-Tested (AOAC PTM Cert. No. 031202) by the AOAC Research Institute (AOAC-RI) across four key food matrices.

19 Jun 2012

T2Endotoxin assay extends reach of T2MR detection

T2 Biosystems, a company developing direct detection products enabling superior diagnostics, today announced the presentation of data on endotoxin detection at the American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, June 16-19, 2012, in San Francisco, CA.

18 Jun 2012

New solution to detect DNA base modifications associated with epigenetic regulation and DNA damage

Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc., today launched a new and unique solution to detect DNA base modifications associated with epigenetic regulation and DNA damage using the PacBio RS High Resolution Genetic Analyzer.

18 Jun 2012

First study to look at hotel room cleanliness

An experiment of surfaces in hotel rooms finds television remotes to be among the most heavily contaminated with bacteria and items on housekeeping carts carry the potential to cross-contaminate rooms. Researchers from the University of Houston report the findings today at the 2012 General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

18 Jun 2012

Researchers identify commensal bacteria in the human intestine

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital have identified commensal bacteria in the human intestine that produce a neurotransmitter that may play a role in preventing or treating inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.

18 Jun 2012