Contamination News and Research

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Contamination with potential disease-causing bacteria is commonly found on hands of anesthesia providers

Contaminating bacteria are very commonly found on the hands of anesthesia providers, with high rates of transmission to the surgical field during operations, reports a study in the January issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society.

22 Dec 2010

Military health: Philanthropy, not the Pentagon, leads to quality care for brain-injured soldiers

To see what cognitive therapy looked like, ProPublica and NPR spent several days with McKinney and fellow soldiers and veterans at Project Share, a charity to help brain-damaged soldiers. (This article is part of an ongoing investigation.) The program is based out of the Shepherd Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Injury in Atlanta, a nationally recognized hospital for head injuries (Miller and Zwerdling, 12/21).

22 Dec 2010

Chronic fatigue syndrome not linked to virus

The latest research from the University College London, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, and University of Oxford, England suggests that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not caused by the virus XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus). The team says that earlier research that linked the virus to CFS was faulty because of contamination of mouse cell DNA samples in the laboratory.

21 Dec 2010

Tap water cancer chemical detected

A new analysis has revealed a potential carcinogen in the tap water of 31 U.S. cities and experts are looking for ways to reduce exposure of the communities. The chemical called hexavalent chromium, got public attention in the 2000 film “Erin Brockovich” and has been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals by the National Toxicology Program, part of the National Institutes of Health.

21 Dec 2010

Researchers develop new malaria vaccine strategy based on ingestion of genetically modified starch

Researchers from two laboratories in northern France have successfully vaccinated and protected mice by feeding them starch derived from green algae and genetically modified to carry vaccine proteins.

21 Dec 2010

New communication toolkit could improve information and advice on emerging food risks

Improvements in the delivery of information and advice on emerging food risks could lead to fewer food-related illnesses, a reduction in economic losses related to food scares, and improved consumer confidence in foods.

20 Dec 2010

FDA warns against consumption of Sally Jackson cheese due to risk of E. coli O157:H7

The FDA, in cooperation with other state and local public health agencies, is warning consumers not to eat any Sally Jackson cheeses. The products were processed under conditions that create a significant risk of contamination of the unpasteurized raw milk and finished cheese, and Sally Jackson cheeses have been identified as one possible source of eight cases of E. coli O157 infections in an ongoing investigation.

20 Dec 2010

40% of global burden of disease is attributable to exposures to biological and chemical pathogens

This book provides geographic perspectives and approaches for use in assessing the distribution of environmental health hazards and disease outcomes among disadvantaged population groups. Estimates suggest that about 40 per cent of the global burden of disease is attributable to exposures to biological and chemical pathogens in the physical environment.

17 Dec 2010

Sustainable Phosphorus Summit, Feb. 3-5, 2011

What element is commonly found in every living creature on Earth yet may become scarce in our lifetimes? If you answer phosphorus, you-d be one of only a few individuals in tune with scientists and governments aware of limitations in this mined resource.

17 Dec 2010

Plasma technology safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections

Cold plasma jets could be a safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections, says a study published this week in the January issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

15 Dec 2010

Unique device eliminates cold and flu germs in eco-friendly way

Bresslergroup, an award-winning new product development firm, has designed a unique device that allows a person to easily disinfect an entire room without labor or hazardous chemicals.

15 Dec 2010

EMEA calls for Europe-wide ban on blood donation from ME/CFS patients

The European ME Alliance (EMEA) is calling on Europe's health ministers to initiate an immediate Europe-wide prohibition of blood donation from people who have been diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS).

13 Dec 2010

Hamilton Thorne launches new Stiletto laser for regenerative medicine and stem cell research markets

Hamilton Thorne Ltd., a leading provider of advanced laser systems for the regenerative medicine and stem cell research markets, today announced the launch of its new Stiletto™ laser system. The Stiletto™ laser system has broad applications for research with a variety of cells, allowing the Company to enter new and exciting research markets, including developmental and advanced cell biology.

9 Dec 2010

Pelosi issues statement following House passage of food safety legislation

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this evening following House passage of H.R. 3082, Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 and the Food Safety Enhancement Act. The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 212 to 206, funds the government for fiscal year 2011 and includes a sweeping overhaul of the nation's food safety system. It now goes to the Senate.

9 Dec 2010

Agilent, UC Davis to develop MassCode PCR technology for identifying food-borne pathogens

Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced it is collaborating with the University of California, Davis in the area of food safety. The research collaboration will focus on the development of a new process that can reduce the time required to identify food-borne pathogens from several days to only a few hours.

9 Dec 2010

Interference with biofilm detachment mechanisms may prevent biofilm-associated infections

Patients in hospitals and healthcare facilities can develop infections as a result of contamination of indwelling medical devices such as catheters with bacteria that are normal inhabitants of the skin of the patient or health care personnel. The bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis is a major cause of such infections.

7 Dec 2010

Expansion of newborn screening throws some families on a journey of great uncertainty

Mandatory genetic screening of newborns for rare diseases is creating unexpected upheaval for families whose infants test positive for risk factors but show no immediate signs of the diseases, a new UCLA study warns.

7 Dec 2010

Electronic cigarettes are potentially harmful, researchers say

Electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes), also called "electronic nicotine delivery systems," are increasingly used worldwide even though only sparse information is available on their health effects. In the United States, e-cigarettes are readily available in shopping malls in most states and on the Internet.

4 Dec 2010

China collaborates with Norway to address prevalence and spread of mercury

Highly skilled basic science researchers from China are pooling their talents with analytical environmental researchers from Norway - and their findings are making their mark on Chinese environmental policy.

3 Dec 2010

Fourteen cases identified on E. coli infection related to raw milk consumption in Connecticut

Raw milk is consumed by an estimated 1-3 percent of the United States population. Raw milk and raw cheeses are responsible for almost 70 percent of reported dairy outbreaks. On July 16, 2008, the Connecticut Department of Public Health identified two unrelated children who had experienced hemolytic uremic syndrome after consuming raw milk from the same farm. The authors investigated the situation further and found more cases of people affected by raw milk from the same farm.

3 Dec 2010

Contamination News and Research

Contamination with potential disease-causing bacteria is commonly found on hands of anesthesia providers

Military health: Philanthropy, not the Pentagon, leads to quality care for brain-injured soldiers

Chronic fatigue syndrome not linked to virus

Tap water cancer chemical detected

Researchers develop new malaria vaccine strategy based on ingestion of genetically modified starch

New communication toolkit could improve information and advice on emerging food risks

FDA warns against consumption of Sally Jackson cheese due to risk of E. coli O157:H7

40% of global burden of disease is attributable to exposures to biological and chemical pathogens

Sustainable Phosphorus Summit, Feb. 3-5, 2011

Plasma technology safe, effective alternative to antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant infections

Unique device eliminates cold and flu germs in eco-friendly way

EMEA calls for Europe-wide ban on blood donation from ME/CFS patients

Hamilton Thorne launches new Stiletto laser for regenerative medicine and stem cell research markets

Pelosi issues statement following House passage of food safety legislation

Agilent, UC Davis to develop MassCode PCR technology for identifying food-borne pathogens

Interference with biofilm detachment mechanisms may prevent biofilm-associated infections

Expansion of newborn screening throws some families on a journey of great uncertainty

Electronic cigarettes are potentially harmful, researchers say

China collaborates with Norway to address prevalence and spread of mercury

Fourteen cases identified on E. coli infection related to raw milk consumption in Connecticut

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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