18, December 2014

Do not consume unnecessary antibiotics

Contrary to popular perception, researchers have found that consuming an unnecessary amount of antibiotics could lead to antibiotic resistance, a major public health concern.

There are other risks associated with taking unnecessary antibiotics, such as secondary infections and allergic reactions, the researchers said.

"Patients figure that taking antibiotics cannot hurt, and just might make them improve," said David Broniatowski, assistant professor at the George Washington University in the US.

"More than half of the patients we surveyed already knew that antibiotics do not work against viruses, but they still agreed with taking antibiotics just in case," Broniatowski added.

For the study, the researchers surveyed 113 patients in an urban hospital to test their understanding of antibiotics.

They discovered a widespread misconception: Patients may want antibiotics, even if they are aware that drugs will not improve their viral infection.

These patients believe that taking the medication will not worsen their condition - and that the risk of taking unnecessary antibiotics does not outweigh the possibility that they may help.

"We need to fight fire with fire. We need to let them know that antibiotics can have some pretty bad side effects, and that they will definitely not help cure a viral infection," Broniatowski said.

The study appeared in the journal Medical Decision Making.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

18.12.2014

Extra vitamin E can protect against pneumonia

A little extra intake of vitamin E can help regulate an ageing immune system, protecting the body from a bacterial infection that commonly causes pneumonia, a research has found. 

Sunflower seeds, tomatoes, mangoes, and kiwis are rich sources of vitamin E, among other foods.

"A growing body of research suggests vitamin E could make up for the loss of immune response caused by aging," said co-senior author Simin Nikbin Meydani from Tufts University, US. 

People, aged over 65, are at a high risk for developing pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs typically caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. 

The research team studied older male mice before and after they were infected with the pneumonia-causing bacteria. 

The experimental group of mice was fed extra amount of vitamin E, equivalent to about 200 IU (international unit)/day consumed by humans -- about 10 times the recommended daily allowance but below the upper limit. 

Compared to the mice that had normal amount of vitamin E in their diet, the mice fed extra vitamin E had 1,000 times fewer bacteria in their lungs. They also had two times fewer the number of white blood cells (neutrophils) 

The reduced number of bacteria and white blood cells resulted in less lung damage in the older mice who received extra vitamin E. These mice were able to control the infection as efficiently as young mice. 

"Whether vitamin E can help protect people against this type of pneumonia affecting older adults requires more research," Meydani added. 

The study appeared in The Journal of Immunology.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

18.12.2014

Attitude is the little thing that makes a big difference

Winston Churchill