RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Do not smoke and do not allow yourself to be exposed to smoke because second-hand smoke and third-hand smoke are just as deadly as first-hand smoke, says a scientist at the University of California, Riverside who, along with colleagues, conducted the first animal study of the effects of third-hand smoke.

While first-hand smoke refers to the smoke inhaled by a smoker and second-hand smoke to the exhaled smoke and other substances emanating from the burning cigarette that can get inhaled by others, third-hand smoke is the second-hand smoke that gets left on the surfaces of objects, ages over time and becomes progressively more toxic.

"We studied, on mice, the effects of third-hand smoke on several organ systems under conditions that simulated third-hand smoke exposure of humans," said Manuela Martins-Green, a professor of cell biology who led the study. "We found significant damage occurs in the liver and lung. Wounds in these mice took longer to heal. Further, these mice displayed hyperactivity."

Study results appear in PLOS ONE.

The results of the study provide a basis for studies on the toxic effects of third-hand smoke in humans and serve to inform potential regulatory policies aimed at preventing involuntary exposure to third-hand smoke.

Third-hand smoke is a potential health threat to children, spouses of smokers and workers in environments where smoking is, or has been, allowed. Contamination of the homes of smokers by third-hand smoke is high, both on surfaces and in dust, including children's bedrooms. Re-emission of nicotine from contaminated indoor surfaces in these households can lead to nicotine exposure levels similar to that of smoking. Third-hand smoke, which contains strong carcinogens, has been found to persist in houses, apartments and hotel rooms after smokers move out.

The team led by Martins-Green found that the mice exposed to third-hand smoke in the lab showed alterations in multiple organ systems and excreted levels of a tobacco-specific carcinogen similar to those found in children exposed to second-hand smoke (and consequently to third-hand smoke):

• In the liver, third-hand smoke was found to increase lipid levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a precursor to cirrhosis and cancer and a potential contributor to cardiovascular disease.

• In the lungs, third-hand smoke was found to simulate excess collagen production and high levels of inflammatory cytokines (small proteins involved in cell signaling), suggesting propensity for fibrosis with implications for inflammation-induced diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

• In wounded skin, healing in mice exposed to third-hand smoke showed many characteristics of the kind of poor healing observed in human smokers who have gone through surgery.

• Finally, in behavioral tests the mice exposed to third-hand smoke showed hyperactivity.

"The latter data, combined with emerging associated behavioral problems in children exposed to second- and third-hand smoke suggests that with prolonged exposure, they may be at significant risk for developing more severe neurological disorders," Martins-Green said.

Although the potential risks attributed to third-hand smoke exposure are increasing, virtually nothing was known about the specific health implications of acute or cumulative exposure — until now.

"There is a critical need for animal experiments to evaluate biological effects of exposure to third-hand smoke that will inform subsequent human epidemiological and clinical trials," Martins-Green said. "Such studies can determine potential human health risks, design of clinical trials and potentially can contribute to policies that lead to reduction in both exposure and disease."

Her research team was surprised to find that the damage caused by third-hand smoke extends to several organs in the body.

"More recently we have found that exposure to third-hand smoke results in changes that can lead to type II diabetes even when the person is not obese," Martins-Green said. "There is still much to learn about the specific mechanisms by which cigarette smoke residues harm nonsmokers, but that there is such an effect is now clear. Children in environments where smoking is, or has been allowed, are at significant risk for suffering from multiple short-term and longer health problems, many of which may not manifest fully until later in life."

Research has shown that children living with one or two adults who smoke in the home, where second- and third-hand smoke are abundant, are absent 40 percent more days from school due to illness than children who did not live with smokers.

The first complete ban in the world on indoor smoking in all public spaces — including bars and restaurants — occurred in 1990 in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Earlier this month, UC Riverside joined the rest of the University of California campuses and facilities by going smoke- and tobacco-free. No tobacco use of any kind is allowed on campus property, a policy that extends to electronic cigarettes also.

Martins-Green was joined in the research by Neema Adhami, Michael Frankos, Mathew Valdez, Benjamin Goodwin, Julia Lyubovitsy, Sandeep Dhall, Monika Garcia, Ivie Egiebor, Bethanne Martinez, Harry W. Green and Margarita Curras-Collazo at UCR; Christopher Havel, Lisa Yu, Neal Benowitz, and Peyton Jacob III at UC San Francisco; Sandy Liles, Melbourne Hovell and Georg Matt at San Diego State University; Hugo Destaillats, Mohammed Sleiman and Laura A. Gundel at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Calif.; and Jonathan P. Winickoff at Harvard Medical School, Mass.

Martins-Green's lab collaborated with Curras-Collazo's lab to evaluate the effects on mice of third-hand smoke.

SAN DIEGO/PRNewswire/ -- Pet parents love showing off their fur child, filling Facebook and Instagram feeds with pet photos. However, nothing ruins a pet photo shoot more than getting in close for a snapshot and being confronted by bad breath or unsightly teeth and gums. To help pet parents take notice of their pet's dental health needs, Unleashed by Petco is hosting the #UNLStyle Beauty Close-ups Contest February 1-22, 2014 during National Pet Dental Health Month. Pet parents are encouraged to care for their pet's smile by clicking on the contest application to submit their photo for a chance to win $2,500.

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have periodontal disease by the age of three, making it the number one disease in cats and dogs. Periodontal disease can not only lead to bad breath but can also irritate the gums and cause inflammation known as gingivitis, possibly leading to bone deterioration and tooth loss. To help prepare pet parents for the Beauty Close-ups Contest, here are three ways to keep pets grinning:

1. Home dental care is important to a pet's overall health. Some pets resist brushing, but most eventually accept it. Here are some tips on brushing away bad cat and dog breath:

• Start by getting pets used to having their mouth handled. Gently massage their lips with a finger in a circular motion for 30 to 60 seconds once or twice a day.

• Once they are comfortable with this routine, introduce a toothbrush. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste developed specifically for dogs and cats.

2. Pets don't enjoy visits to the dentist either. Here's how to keep pets out of the dentist's chair:

• Daily or at least twice-weekly brushings, depending on the pet's condition.

• Keep a regular regimen of inspecting teeth and gums. Observe problems and attend to them early.

3. Some pets refuse to "open wide" when the toothbrush is near. Consider using specially formulated dental diets or treats, enzyme-enhanced chews or dental toys to help avoid tartar build up and gingivitis:

• Try dental chews such as Greenies, which contain nutritious proteins that break down into small teeth-cleaning bites that are easy to swallow and digest. 

About the Contest:

To enter the contest, visit https://bit.ly/UNLstyle and click on the contest application. For every contest entry, Unleashed by Petco will donate $10 to the Petco Foundation up to $10,000, helping animal-welfare organizations find lifelong, loving homes for millions of orphaned pets, as well as fund spay and neuter efforts, animal assisted therapy programs and humane education. On March 7, 2014, the 10 winners of the Unleashed by Petco's #UNLStyle Beauty Close-ups Contest will be announced, with the top five dog photos and top five cat photos winning up to $2,500. More information can be found at www.unleashedbypetco.com.

CHICAGO / PRNewswire / — The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s (AAPD) first-ever “State of Little Teeth Report” underscores the significant threat that tooth decay has to the health, welfare and future of children in the U.S. And while studies show that delaying the first dental exam until the age of 2 or 3 can have an adverse impact on a child’s oral health, the “State of Little Teeth Report” reveals that 40 percent of parents and caregivers surveyed wait to take their child to the dentist until after age 2. To address this nation-wide threat to children’s health, the AAPD is launching the Monster-Free Mouths Movement, an educational campaign to arm parents and caregivers with important tools and information to help fight tooth decay, also known as the Mouth Monsters.

To read more, click here.

Washington, DC – U.S. hospital intensive care units (ICUs) show uneven compliance with infection prevention policies, according to a study in the February issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

In the largest study of its kind, researchers from Columbia University collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to undertake a nationwide survey of 1,534 ICUs at 975 hospitals as part of the larger Prevention of Nosocomial Infections and Cost Effectiveness Refined (P-NICER) study. The survey inquired about the implementation of 16 prescribed infection prevention measures at point-of-care, and clinician adherence to these policies for the prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). These infections are among the most common infections acquired by patients in ICUs.

According to the survey, hospitals have more policies in place to prevent CLABSI and VAP, than CAUTI. The presence of infection control policies to prevent CLABSI ranged from 87 to 97 percent depending on the measure being counted; the presence of policies for VAP ranged from 69 to 91 percent; and policies for CAUTI lagged behind with only 27 to 68 percent of ICUs reporting prevention policies. The use of a checklist for CLABSI insertion practices was reported by the vast majority of hospitals (92 percent), while the use of a ventilator bundle checklist was reported by fewer hospitals (74 percent).  

“Evidence-based practices related to CAUTI prevention measures have not been well implemented,” state the authors. “These findings are surprising, given that CAUTI is the most frequent healthcare-associated infection. Clearly, more focus on CAUTI is needed, and dissemination and implementation studies to inform how best to improve evidence-based practices should be helpful.”

In adhering to policies, many hospital ICUs fell short, according to the survey. Adherence to prevention policies ranged from 37 to 71 percent for CLABSI, 45 to 55 percent for VAP, and 6 to 27 percent for CAUTI.

“Establishing policies does not ensure clinician adherence at the bedside,” state the authors. “Previous studies have found that an extremely high rate of clinician adherence to infection prevention policies is needed to lead to a decrease in healthcare-associated infections. Unfortunately, the hospitals that monitored clinician adherence reported relatively low rates of adherence.”

The survey also assessed structure and resources of infection prevention and control programs, evaluating characteristics such as staffing, use of electronic surveillance systems, and proportion of infection preventionists with certification.

Healthcare-associated infections, or HAIs, are infections that people acquire while they are receiving treatment for another condition in a healthcare setting. Many of these infections occur in the ICU setting and are associated with an invasive device such as central line, ventilator, or indwelling urinary catheter. At any given time, about 1 in every 20 inpatients has an infection related to hospital care. The estimated annual costs associated with HAIs in the U.S. are up to $33 billion.

Advancements in medical science are astounding. You may no longer need corrective lenses due to an outpatient laser procedure, 15 pounds can be shed with a body wrap, and there is even surgical “super glue.” Unfortunately, there are still some things that require longer treatment processes, and cleft lip and palate (CLP) is one of them. With approximately 1 of 700 babies born each year with CLP, the need for an improved course of action is a necessity.

The treatment process begins from when these newborns are just a few weeks old when they undergo their first of multiple surgeries that continue through adulthood. This is a long, painstaking routine, and how each individual perceives him/herself throughout will help determine the level of difficulty they will suffer along the way. The article “Living With Cleft Lip and Palate: The Treatment Journey,” in the The Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal, provides an in-depth look at how the treatment process can affect a person during different stages of their life, and the impact it has on the person they become.

A study was conducted in which 11 participants with CLP shared their experiences from childhood to adulthood through a series of interviews. These interviews revealed what a strong impact CLP had on their self-perceptions. Some interviewees expressed great difficulty from an early age due to the pain and fatigue of the multiple surgeries as a child combined with feelings of discouragement when segregated in special clinics or waiting rooms. These struggles along with bullying from their peers made them feel “decrepit.” This led to an extremely negative self-perception in adulthood and the feeling of need for additional cosmetic surgeries, hoping for a “magic” fix.

On the other hand, some participants had a very positive treatment process during their childhood. They had wonderful relationships with their healthcare providers, a closeness with their caretakers during the long trips/stays at the hospital, and a feeling of building strength and maturity during such a painful time. These individuals did not feel the need as adults to continue with further cosmetic surgery because they felt a stronger confidence and sense of self.

After analyzing the interviews and looking at other research on CLP, it is easy to see that the treatment process is a delicate one. It seems paramount that healthcare providers, parents, and peers recognize the hardship of living with CLP and work toward helping the individual cope with the process rather than just moving them through it. This will have greater psychological benefits, leading to a strong self-perception as adults.

Full text of the article, “Living With Cleft Lip and Palate: The Treatment Journey,” The Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal, Vol. 51, No. 2, 2014, is available at https://www.cpcjournal.org/doi/full/10.1597/12-255.

Source: The Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal 

Dr. Shaoping Zhang, a third-year periodontology resident at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, received one of two American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Educator Scholarships at the recent AAP annual meeting. The scholarship, which carries a $25,000 cash award, recognizes outstanding residents who plan to become dental educators following their graduation.

"It is a great honor for me to receive this prestigious scholarship from the AAP foundation," said Zhang. "The scholarship has encouraged me to pursue an academic career in periodontology and enables me to focus my efforts on contributing to our dynamic field of specialty."

Prior to his acceptance in the UNC School of Dentistry periodontology program, Zhang earned his PhD in oral biology at UNC under the mentorship by Dr. Steven Offenbacher.

"Dr. Zhang should be very proud of this recognition," said Dr. Antonio Moretti, graduate periodontology program director. "We're very pleased he's been honored with this very competitive award and are grateful that he wants to serve the profession of dentistry through teaching."

A new study has suggested that tooth decay may contribute to delayed growth in children.

The research, which has been published in the online version of Paediatrics journal, was carried out by researchers at University College London and the King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Researchers decided to study the relationship between oral health and growth after finding that previous studies presented conflicting evidence. In this study, the research teams analysed the relationship between dental decay and height and weight in a group of Saudi Arabian children aged between 6 and 8 years old who had significant signs of decay.

The children’s oral health status was evaluated according to the DMFT index, which represents decayed, missing and filled teeth and their height and weight were recorded according to scales used by the World Health Organisation.

Researchers then performed statistical evaluation and analysis of the figures and found that there was a correlation between low weight and height and high incidence of cavities. Those who had severe decay were more likely to be underweight and shorter than average.

The authors of the study also confirmed that there was a significant link between decay and growth, even when additional factors, such as demographic and social values, were taken into account.

The research teams concluded that this study suggests that there is an inverse relationship between growth and decay, with those showing signs of cavities more likely to experience stunted or delayed growth.

Source: Cosmetic Dentistry Guide

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University have discovered how byproducts in the form of small fatty acids from two bacteria prevalent in gum disease incite the growth of deadly Kaposi’s sarcoma-related (KS) lesions and tumors in the mouth.

The discovery could lead to early saliva testing for the bacteria, which, if found, could be treated and monitored for signs of cancer and before it develops into a malignancy, researchers say.

“These new findings provide one of the first looks at how the periodontal bacteria create a unique microenvironment in the oral cavity that contributes to the replication the Kaposi’s sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV) and development of KS,” said Fengchun Ye, the study’s lead investigator from Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Biological Sciences.

The discovery is described in The Journal of Virology article, “Short Chain Fatty Acids from Periodontal Pathogens Suppress HDACs, EZH2, and SUV39H1 to Promote Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Replication.” 

The research focuses on how the bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), which are associated with gum disease, contribute to cancer formation.

Ye said high levels of these bacteria are found in the saliva of people with periodontal disease, and at lower levels in those with good oral health—further evidence of the link between oral and overall physical health.

KS impacts a significant number of people with HIV, whose immune systems lack the ability to fight off the herpesvirus and other infections, he said.

“These individual are susceptible to the cancer,” Ye said.

KS first appears as lesions on the surface of the mouth that, if not removed, can grow into malignant tumors. Survival rates are higher when detected and treated early in the lesion state than when a malignancy develops.

Also at risk are people with compromised immune systems: people on medications to suppress rejection of transplants, cancer patients on chemotherapies and the elderly population whose immune systems naturally weaken with age.

The researchers wanted to learn why most people never develop this form of cancer and what it is that protects them.

The researchers recruited 21 patients, dividing them into two groups. All participants were given standard gum-disease tests.

The first group of 11 participants had an average age of 50 and had severe chronic gum disease. The second group of 10 participants, whose average age was about 26, had healthy gums, practiced good oral health and showed no signs of bleeding or tooth loss from periodontal disease.

The researchers also studied a saliva sample from each. Part of the saliva sample was separated into its components using a spinning centrifuge. The remaining saliva was used for DNA testing to track and identify bacteria present, and at what levels.

The researchers were interested in Pg’s and Fn’s byproducts of lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae, proteinases and at least five different short-chain fatty acids (SCFA): butyric acid, isobutryic acid, isovaleric acid, propionic acid and acetic acid.

After initially testing the byproducts, the researchers suspected that the fatty acids were involved in replicating KSHV. The researchers cleansed the fatty acids and then introduced them to cells with quiescent KSHV virus in a petri dish for monitoring the virus’ reaction.

After introducing SCFA, the virus began to replicate. But the researchers saw that, while the fatty acids allowed the virus to multiple, the process also set in motion a cascade of actions that also inhibited molecules in the body’s immune system from stopping the growth of KSHV.

“The most important thing to come out of this study is that we believe periodontal disease is a risk factor for Kaposi sarcoma tumor in HIV patients,” Ye said.

With that knowledge, Ye said those with HIV must be informed about the importance of good oral health and the possible consequences of overlooking that area.

The research was supported by a career development grant at Center for AIDS Research at Case Western Reserve University, and a National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research grant.

Contributing to the study were Case Western Reserve University researchers: Abdel-Malek Shahir and Nabil Bissada, from the Department of Periodontics; Xiaolan Yu, Jingfeng Sha, Zhimin Feng, Betty Eapen, Stanley Nithianantham, and Aaron Weinberg, from the dental school’s Department of Biological Sciences; and Biswajit Das and Jonathan Karn, from the Department of Molecular Biology & Microbiology at the School of Medicine.

Dental calculus, or tartar, present in a 1,000-year-old skeleton has helped researchers find "microbial Pompeii."

The study showed that the germs that affected our ancestors continue to cause cavities in modern humans. Interestingly, the study also shows that microbes had the same genetic signature centuries before the arrival of antibiotics. The research shows that dental calculus contains valuable information about microbial life affecting early humans.

About 32 scientists at 12 institutions in seven countries participated in the current study. They analyzed the DNA of the ancient oral cavity to learn more about ancient humans' lifestyle, health, and eating habits.

According to researchers, oral cavities preserve biomolecules better than bones. Dental calculus is preserved in the mouth and takes longer to reach the soil, meaning that the tartar can be used to study ancient microbial life.

"Dental calculus is a window into the past and may well turn out to be one of the best-preserved records of human-associated microbes," said Professor Christian von Mering, an author of the study and Group Director at the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformaticsk. "We knew that calculus preserved microscopic particles of food and other debris but the level of preservation of biomolecules is remarkable. A microbiome entombed and preserved in a mineral matrix, a microbial Pompeii."

For the study, researchers analyzed fossilized dental plaque present on the teeth of a middle-aged man from the medieval site of Dalheim, Germany, ca. AD 1,100, according to a news release by the University of York. 

The team used shotgun DNA sequencing to reconstruct the genome of a pathogen present in the ancient tartar. They also studied the dietary biomolecules from the dental calculus.

A related study had earlier documented the rise of dental cavities and had found that they were linked with the rise of agriculture. A recent study by researchers at Oxford and their colleagues, found that dental problems existed even when humans were hunter-gatherers and followed a paleo diet.

"The study of ancient microbiomes helps us understand the evolutionary history of human health and disease," said Prof. Frank Rühli, a senior author of the study and Head of the Centre for Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zürich, according to a news release. "It informs modern medicine."

The study included researchers from University of York and is published in the journal Nature Genetics.

Source: Nature World News