* "Open your aperture and say...

* "Open your aperture and say aaahhh--now let me check your heart." Cytokines produc in oral infections have been postulated to contribute to the unfolding of coronary heart disease (CHD) In a application of mind conducted in a Finnish hospital and published in Circulation, dental factors anticipateed to generate inflammatory mediators were com-pared in 256 patients who had angiographically confirmed CHD and 250 age-, gender- and residence-matched patients who did not have CHD An asymptotic dental score (ADS) was unfolded from all inflammatory mediators, including pericoronitis, dental caries, dentate status, number of origin remnants, and gingivitis. When the ADS was included in the final standard (along with C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fibrinogen levels) the area in subordination to the receiver operating characteristics crook (equated as the C-statistic) was higher than when ADS was excluded

* Downsizing may be taking a toll onward the health of employees, according to a prospective cohort inquiry published in BMJ. In the studious mood of 5,909 male and 16521 female employee from 19 to 62 years of age who worked in four towns in Finland, permanent employee who still had their piece of works after major down-sizing were more likely to be absent from work because of sickness than employee who worked at companies that did not downsize during the research period. The study also set up that the risk of death from cardio-vascular causes was twice as high in the employee who remain in a work place after a major downsizing.

* As reported in The Lancet, a form into groups of Danish scientists have be derived up with an interesting means of locating landmines: genetically modified watercress. The plant has been altered to change color, from verdant to red, within three to six weeks of being in the neighborhood of nitrogen dioxide, which typically leaks from landmines. The watercress plants would swell from seeds sprayed from the air. adverse partys worry that the new bourgeoning could attract livestock into active mined areas.

* Danger up ahead. Road traffic crashes, in such a manner far unrecognized as a global health threat, are forward the rise, according to a report from the World Health Organization and the World Bank. As reported in the Washington employment 1.2 million drivers, passengers, and pedestrians are killed worldwide each year. While the rate is look forward toed to decrease 30 percent by dint of 2020 in industrialized countries, traffic deaths are count uponed to rise 80 percent in the quiet of the world. The report specifically addresses road safety issues in rapidly developing countries, where increasing numbers of cars are entering the roads, and traffic deaths have not been recognized as a major health problem

* According to the Center for Disease repress and Prevention, reported cases of Lyme disease increased according to 40 percent in the United States during 2002 to a record 23763 cases. As reported upon MSNBC.com, contributing factors included the growing population of deer more residences being built in wooded areas, and better recognition and reporting of the disease. To lower the risk of contracting Lyme disease, patients should be advised to use insect repulsive before going out-doors and to promptly transport ticks from the body.

* From the "maybe it's not in the same state [i]or[/i] condition a bright idea" file: A genetically engineered species of aquarium fish, whose DNA has been altered to include a gene set in a variety of coral, will become available to the general public in January, 2005 according to The American Journal of Bioethics and reported in succession Bioethics.net. The result of this genetic engineering? A fish that be hots in the dark. The problem? Fish generally don't stay in tanks forever. When folks get bored with them, fish frequently are sent to their great reward via a household drain pipe or toilet. That means that any of the glowing fish eventually will be released into the environment, with unknown ecological conclusions On a positive note, the fish should be easy to find.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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