Could Bacteria in Skin Mites Help Cause Rosacea?

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By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Bacteria carried by tiny mites on the skin might be responsible for the common dermatological condition known as rosacea, researchers say.

If this theory does prove to be true, then new and better treatments for rosacea may be on the way, according to a review published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

One expert unconnected to the study said the findings are encouraging.

"[If] these mites exacerbate or harbor bacteria, that could change the therapies that are used to treat rosacea," reasoned Dr. Michele Green, a dermatologist with Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City. "This could revolutionize treatment."

Green noted that some pharmaceutical companies are already exploring treatments that could combat rosacea from this vantage point.

Rosacea affects some 3 percent of the population, mostly adults between the ages of 30 and 50 and more women than men.

No one is sure exactly what causes the condition but it manifests as reddening and inflammation of the skin around the cheeks, nose and chin.

Although rosacea is often successfully treated with antibiotics, no one has yet proven that the condition is caused by bacteria.

Experts believe that immune dysfunction, vascular problems and/or environmental factors, including nutrition, could contribute to the condition.

This review article, led by Dr. Kevin Kavanagh of the National University of Ireland, outlined evidence supporting the idea that bacteria living in the Demodex folliculorum mite, which is present on the skin of between 20 percent to 80 percent of healthy humans, may be responsible for rosacea. The mite is typically harmless and lives around the facial hair follicles.

However, the authors say research has shown that there are more Demodex mites residing on the skin of rosacea patients than in people without the condition.

The bacterium known as Bacillus oleronius has also been found in the digestive tract of a Demodex mite taken from a person with rosacea. This bacterium is susceptible to some of the antibiotics used to treat rosacea, and it also produces molecules that trigger an immune reaction in people with rosacea.

Another type of bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, has been found in pustules of rosacea patients but not in areas of the skin that are rosacea-free. This bacterium, as well, is sensitive to many of the antibiotics used to treat rosacea.

"This research is provocative in that it is proposing a cause for rosacea which up to this point has been unknown," said Dr. Chris Adigun, an instructor in the department of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center, in New York City.

But Adigun adds, it will be difficult to prove that bacteria within Demodex mites are responsible for rosacea.

"We find it on healthy people as well as on people with rosacea," she pointed out. "Furthermore, treatment options that improve rosacea symptoms do not alter the concentration or life cycle of mites," she added.

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: Michele Green, M.D., dermatologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Chris G. Adigun, M.D., instructor, department of dermatology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City; Aug. 30, 2012, Journal of Medical Microbiology online

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Epidemiologists call them "absolute risk"; you and I could call them real numbers

In a recent Huffington Post blog post, Gil Welch Dartmouth approached a old topic, our pet, "the problem is relative."  Snippet:

Numerous studies have shown that the general public has exaggerated perceptions of health risks they face — as well as exaggerated expectations of the provision of medical care.

It is because they are stupid? No instead, the problem concerns how various sources of health information — researchers, doctors, reporters, web designers, advertisers, etc. — often frame their messages: using the relative change.

"Forty percent more high" and "low" are 50% more variation on declarations. While they are easy to understand, they are also incomplete. Relative change drastically can overstate the underlying effect. It's a great way to scare people.

For example, survey earlier this year found that women with migraine had a 40 percent greater chance of developing multiple sclerosis. That looks scary.

But the researchers were careful to add some important context: multiple sclerosis is a rare disease. In fact, for women with migraine, the chance of developing multiple sclerosis over 15 years was considerably less than 100 — 1:0 pm each only 0.47%. To be sure, which is about 40% higher than the analogous to women without migraines — 0.32% — but it's much less scary. More importantly, it is a much more complete piece of information.

What makes it more complete is the context of the two additional numbers: the risk of developing multiple sclerosis in women with and without migraine. Epidemiologists call these risks "absolutes". You and I could call them real numbers.

Relative change also exaggerate the effects in the other direction. It's a great way to make people believe that there was a real breakthrough.

When we HealthNewsReview.org, generally grade stories in give them a poor score for the criteria of "quantification of benefits" or "quantification of damages" if they use only values of relative risk.

 

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Sleep aids: Could antihistamines help me sleep?

IP is over the quota

Gli antistaminici possono causare sonnolenza, che potrebbe aiutare a cadere addormentato per un paio di notti — ma non è consigliabile utilizzare sistematiche antistaminici per l'insonnia.

Gli antistaminici inducono sonnolenza lavorando contro l'istamina, una sostanza chimica prodotta dal sistema nervoso centrale. Infatti, più quotato in borsa dormire aiuti contengono antistaminici. Questi prodotti sono destinati ad essere utilizzati per solo due o tre notti in un momento, tuttavia, come quando lo stress, viaggio o da altri disturbi tenervi svegli. Tolleranza agli effetti sedativi di antistaminici in grado di sviluppare rapidamente — così il più a lungo si prendono loro, essi sono meno probabile che ti fanno sonnolenta. Effetti collaterali potrebbero includere sonnolenza durante il giorno, secchezza delle fauci, problemi di memoria e vertigini.

Inoltre, tenete a mente che la difenidramina e doxylamine — sedativo antistaminici trovato in vari-the-Counter dormire aiuti — non sono raccomandati per pazienti affetti da glaucoma ad angolo chiuso, asma, broncopneumopatia cronica ostruttiva, grave malattia epatica o ritenzione urinaria, che può essere preceduta da un flusso di urina debole o problemi di partenza minzione. Inoltre, la maggior parte dei dormire aiuti non sono raccomandati per donne in gravidanza o in allattamento al seno.

Se si sta lottando con l'insonnia cronica, non si basano su antistaminici o altri aiuti sonno da banco per sonno una buona notte di. Iniziare con i cambiamenti di lifestyle invece:

Seguire un programma regolare di sonno. Evitare di caffeina e sonnellini durante il giorno. Includere attività fisica nella vostra routine quotidiana. Gestire lo stress.

Se continui ad avere problemi di caduta o rimanere addormentati, consultare il medico. Oltre a cambiamenti di stile di vita, il medico può raccomandare modi per rendere il tuo sonno ambiente più favorevole al sonno o la terapia comportamentale per apprendere nuove abitudini di sonno. In alcuni casi, uso a breve termine di prescrizione dormire aiuti possa essere raccomandato pure.

Prossima domanda riferimenti Bonnet MH, et al trattamento dell'insonnia. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Principi e la pratica della medicina del sonno, accessibili 30 Gen, 2012.Kryger MH, et al. 5th ed. St. Louis, mo.: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:916.Foral P, et al, insonnia: una revisione terapeutica per i farmacisti. Il consulente farmacista. 2011; 26:332.Chokroverty S, et al manuale di neurologia clinica. 3a ed., Philadelphia, PA.: Elsevier; 2011:723.

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Sleep aids: Could antihistamines help me sleep?

IP is over the quota

Gli antistaminici possono causare sonnolenza, che potrebbe aiutare a cadere addormentato per un paio di notti — ma non è consigliabile utilizzare sistematiche antistaminici per l'insonnia.

Gli antistaminici inducono sonnolenza lavorando contro l'istamina, una sostanza chimica prodotta dal sistema nervoso centrale. Infatti, più quotato in borsa dormire aiuti contengono antistaminici. Questi prodotti sono destinati ad essere utilizzati per solo due o tre notti in un momento, tuttavia, come quando lo stress, viaggio o da altri disturbi tenervi svegli. Tolleranza agli effetti sedativi di antistaminici in grado di sviluppare rapidamente — così il più a lungo si prendono loro, essi sono meno probabile che ti fanno sonnolenta. Effetti collaterali potrebbero includere sonnolenza durante il giorno, secchezza delle fauci, problemi di memoria e vertigini.

Inoltre, tenete a mente che la difenidramina e doxylamine — sedativo antistaminici trovato in vari-the-Counter dormire aiuti — non sono raccomandati per pazienti affetti da glaucoma ad angolo chiuso, asma, broncopneumopatia cronica ostruttiva, grave malattia epatica o ritenzione urinaria, che può essere preceduta da un flusso di urina debole o problemi di partenza minzione. Inoltre, la maggior parte dei dormire aiuti non sono raccomandati per donne in gravidanza o in allattamento al seno.

Se si sta lottando con l'insonnia cronica, non si basano su antistaminici o altri aiuti sonno da banco per sonno una buona notte di. Iniziare con i cambiamenti di lifestyle invece:

Seguire un programma regolare di sonno. Evitare di caffeina e sonnellini durante il giorno. Includere attività fisica nella vostra routine quotidiana. Gestire lo stress.

Se continui ad avere problemi di caduta o rimanere addormentati, consultare il medico. Oltre a cambiamenti di stile di vita, il medico può raccomandare modi per rendere il tuo sonno ambiente più favorevole al sonno o la terapia comportamentale per apprendere nuove abitudini di sonno. In alcuni casi, uso a breve termine di prescrizione dormire aiuti possa essere raccomandato pure.

Prossima domanda riferimenti Bonnet MH, et al trattamento dell'insonnia. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Principi e la pratica della medicina del sonno, accessibili 30 Gen, 2012.Kryger MH, et al. 5th ed. St. Louis, mo.: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:916.Foral P, et al, insonnia: una revisione terapeutica per i farmacisti. Il consulente farmacista. 2011; 26:332.Chokroverty S, et al manuale di neurologia clinica. 3a ed., Philadelphia, PA.: Elsevier; 2011:723.

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Sleep aids: Could antihistamines help me sleep?

IP is over the quota

Gli antistaminici possono causare sonnolenza, che potrebbe aiutare a cadere addormentato per un paio di notti — ma non è consigliabile utilizzare sistematiche antistaminici per l'insonnia.

Gli antistaminici inducono sonnolenza lavorando contro l'istamina, una sostanza chimica prodotta dal sistema nervoso centrale. Infatti, più quotato in borsa dormire aiuti contengono antistaminici. Questi prodotti sono destinati ad essere utilizzati per solo due o tre notti in un momento, tuttavia, come quando lo stress, viaggio o da altri disturbi tenervi svegli. Tolleranza agli effetti sedativi di antistaminici in grado di sviluppare rapidamente — così il più a lungo si prendono loro, essi sono meno probabile che ti fanno sonnolenta. Effetti collaterali potrebbero includere sonnolenza durante il giorno, secchezza delle fauci, problemi di memoria e vertigini.

Inoltre, tenete a mente che la difenidramina e doxylamine — sedativo antistaminici trovato in vari-the-Counter dormire aiuti — non sono raccomandati per pazienti affetti da glaucoma ad angolo chiuso, asma, broncopneumopatia cronica ostruttiva, grave malattia epatica o ritenzione urinaria, che può essere preceduta da un flusso di urina debole o problemi di partenza minzione. Inoltre, la maggior parte dei dormire aiuti non sono raccomandati per donne in gravidanza o in allattamento al seno.

Se si sta lottando con l'insonnia cronica, non si basano su antistaminici o altri aiuti sonno da banco per sonno una buona notte di. Iniziare con i cambiamenti di lifestyle invece:

Seguire un programma regolare di sonno. Evitare di caffeina e sonnellini durante il giorno. Includere attività fisica nella vostra routine quotidiana. Gestire lo stress.

Se continui ad avere problemi di caduta o rimanere addormentati, consultare il medico. Oltre a cambiamenti di stile di vita, il medico può raccomandare modi per rendere il tuo sonno ambiente più favorevole al sonno o la terapia comportamentale per apprendere nuove abitudini di sonno. In alcuni casi, uso a breve termine di prescrizione dormire aiuti possa essere raccomandato pure.

Prossima domanda riferimenti Bonnet MH, et al trattamento dell'insonnia. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Principi e la pratica della medicina del sonno, accessibili 30 Gen, 2012.Kryger MH, et al. 5th ed. St. Louis, mo.: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:916.Foral P, et al, insonnia: una revisione terapeutica per i farmacisti. Il consulente farmacista. 2011; 26:332.Chokroverty S, et al manuale di neurologia clinica. 3a ed., Philadelphia, PA.: Elsevier; 2011:723.

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Best in Blogs: Are the Dodgers Worth More than The Scream? Plus How Halo 4 Could Sway the Presidential Election

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At GamePolitics.com, "Where Politics and Video Games Collide," they must be popping the champagne bottles after a blockbuster story landed in their narrow wheelhouse this week. "How Halo 4 Could Impact the Presidential Election," shouted a midweek headline: "When Microsoft decided to pick November 6, 2012 as the release date for Halo 4, did they take into account that the date is actually pretty damned important to the future direction of the country for the next four years? By choosing that date have they given gamers in the 18 - 34 age group an excuse to be more apathetic about voting than usual?" Wait, so Halo 4 is being released on election day to drive down the youth vote and hurt Obama's re-election bid? MovieBob at The Escapist has assembled a video exploring the origin of the theory and how much there is to it. "Since this is the Internet, the second biggest breeding ground for conspiracy theories outside of isolated well-armed cabins in the Montana wilderness, imaginings of a nefarious conspiracy being at work quickly took shape," the video says. Microsoft already dismissed the conflict as "purely coincidental." It's really possible to buy Halo 4 and vote on the same day. Though as David Their at Forbes blogged: "it doesn't do much to dispel the myth of gamers as clueless and detached when it comes to the real world."

The Blackberry 10 may not sway a national election, but the soon-to-be-released smartphone "comes during really interesting times," says Beta News. Its maker, Research in Motion, "gets one more shot, one last call to battle. It's do or die." The early verdict? "Overall, I am not seeing anything that will save this company, but there are a few nice features in the new OS," says 9 to 5 Mac. With a virtual keyboard, "RIM is putting the last nail in the physical keyboard coffin." There's also a kooky camera feature (video here) that allows you to step back in time when you miss a shot." Huh? "The camera is just taking shots from the time the camera app is open and caching them for later browsing." Mashable explains how that feature could be useful: "The hypothetical situation was when someone...closes their eyes during a shot." That could come I nhandy but also illustrates RIM's ongoing effort to woo consumers when it really should be focusing on corporate users. Mashable says "RIM is fighting the wrong war," by which it does not mean Halo 4. Early feedback from popular app makers is mixed. "Some were completely opposed to making apps for the BlackBerry because of RIM's uncertain future, while others kept an open mind," says Bits.

Two items sold this week at record-smashing prices, the Los Angeles Dodgers ($2.15 billion) and a version of Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" ($119.9 million). "The Scream is officially the world's most absurdly overpriced painting," says Gizmodo. "This version of The Scream is unique in a few ways," notes Geekosystem. "This one is said to be the most colorful and vibrant of the four versions of the painting, and is the only version where one of the two people in the background look out toward the cityscape." Baseball teams still cost more. By way of comparison, MTR Media notes that The Scream now "costs about the same as the remainder of Carl Crawford's Red Sox contract."

It's been said that there are two kinds of people: those who think that the different ways in which Rihanna and Beyonce use social media can tell us all about our future, and those who don't. At the Bits blog, Jenna Wortham appears to fall into the first category. Apparently the two divas "sit on opposite sides of the spectrum... I've noticted something intriguing about the way they each use the social Web and what it means about a future where everyone has some sort of presence online," she blogs. So "will you be a Beyonce, and present a carefully groomed version of yourself to the Web? Or will you take Rihanna's road and throw caution to the wind, baring your life, your friends and occasionally, your unmentionables?" Gosh, umm, is there another option? "Of course, there's also a third possibility," The Verge suggests, "that both methods are just as carefully or unconsciously deployed, the one no more "real" than the other."

Or you could have the social media style of "Sarah Phillips," who was hired as a columnist for ESPN.com based on some message board posts, tweets, and fake profile photos that look pretty but aren't really her. A new Deadspin investigation asks: "Is Sarah Phillips for real? Thirteen months ago, she was an unknown message-board participant at Covers.com, a gambling website. Then Covers plucked her from the boards and gave her a weekly column, sight unseen. Five months after that, she was tapped by Lynn Hoppes, an editor for ESPN.com, to write a weekly column for ESPN's Page 2--once the home of writers like David Halberstam, Ralph Wiley, and Hunter S. Thompson...The swiftness of her ascent gave her that weird sort of internet half-celebrity whereby she became moderately famous before anyone really knew who she was." It turns out that Phillips may be behind several Internet scams. Awful Announcing does its own lengthy investigation and determines that "the Sarah Phillips mystery goes way beyond ESPN and into the farthest reaches of the Twitterverse." It also reaches into the lunacy of what qualifies soemoen to become a columnist these days. Asks Buzzfeed: "Will there be legal fallout from all of this, and if so to what extent? Will Aaron Nilsen get his money or his Twitter account back? Was this all secretly a sequel to Catfish?"

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