Body

Germs Mingle Most on Palms, Feet, Forearms

Body-wide survey also finds unique mix of bacteria for each person

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_91514.html (*this news item will not be available after 02/03/2010)

HealthDayThursday, November 5, 2009

THURSDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- A new "atlas" of bacterial life on and within the human body has uncovered the fact that your palms, feet and forearms are a veritable United Nations of germs.

The scientists, using sophisticated gene-sequencing technologies, pinpointed specific bacterial types and where they like to thrive on and within the body. They found a wide variability of bacteria, depending on the spot on the body. They also found that bacterial colonies differed person to person, with each individual carrying his or her own "personalized" assortment of microorganisms.

"We've always known that there are microbes on us and in us," said study author Noah Fierer, an assistant professor of microbial ecology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. "But we weren't always able to isolate them and differentiate them from each other. With these new techniques, we can."

"Each of us is really an archipelago of distinct habitats, at least as far as bacteria are concerned," added senior study author Robert Knight, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry and computer science at the University of Colorado. "It's truly amazing how different the sites within the same body are, and how different the corresponding sites on different people are."

The team's work is being published Nov. 5 in the online version of Science. The study builds on earlier research, including a 2008 study that found that women had a greater diversity of bacteria on their palms than men.

The mapping project focused on seven to nine men and women, who were examined four times each over a three-month period. Researchers swabbed 27 different sites, searching for bacteria in virtually every nook and cranny, from hair to ear wax, mouth to nostril and trunk and legs.

So, where are the most popular places for bacteria to hang out? They seem to like the gut (no surprise there), forearms, palms, index fingers, the backs of the knees and soles of the feet, according to the study. At least that is where some of the most diverse and thriving colonies take root.

Some bacterial communities appeared to strongly prefer one body spot over another. For example, when the scientists transplanted microbial groupings from the forearm to the forehead, the germs failed to thrive. But doing the reverse -- transplanting communities from forehead to forearm -- didn't seem to impede bacterial growth.

Researchers focused on bacterial diversity rather than bacterial quantity. There are thousands of bacterial types, but certain ones seemed prominent in the study, said Fierer. Four bacterial groups stood out -- Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes -- and they were relatively stable over time. Individual bacterial types included the Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria.

In some ways, the mapping efforts spurs more questions than it answers. Researchers are not sure why the forearms and other body parts attract so much microbial diversity. Also, it is not clear whether the different strains compete with each other or live in a kind of bacterial harmony.

Researchers also want to know whether people are born with these bacterial colonies or develop them after birth, through external contact with their mothers and during the delivery process. Even more fascinating is why each person has his or her own blend of bacteria -- much like a fingerprint. Perhaps diet, climate, locale or a combination of variables are responsible for each person's unique bacterial make-up, said Fierer.

Most important, researchers want to know how the colonies impact health and whether they can be harnessed in some way to treat disease. In the future, for example, microbial mapping could lead to routine screening of patients as a way to record a baseline of their normal microbial communities. Any later deviation could be a sign of disease.

"Our ultimate goal is to devise strategies for personalized medicine, based not on the human genome, where we are all 99.9 percent identical, but on the human microbiome, where we are 80 to 90 percent different from one another," added Knight.

SOURCES: Noah Fierer, Ph.D., assistant professor, microbial ecology, University of Colorado at Boulder; Robert Knight, Ph.D., assistant professor, chemistry and biochemistry, and computer science, University of Colorado at Boulder; Nov. 5, 2009, Science, online

HealthDay Copyright (c) 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Body

Good Posture May Inspire Confidence

Straight-back, chest-out position promotes self-assurance, research finds.

SUNDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Your mother may have been right when she told you to sit up straight: New research suggests that good posture could make you feel more confident about your thoughts.

"Most of us were taught that sitting up straight gives a good impression to other people," Richard Petty, co-author of the study and a psychology professor at Ohio State University, said in a university news release. "But it turns out that our posture can also affect how we think about ourselves. If you sit up straight, you end up convincing yourself by the posture you're in."

The researchers, whose findings appear in the October issue of the European Journal of Social Psychology, enlisted 71 Ohio State students for their study. They were told to sit up straight and push out their chest, or to slouch. The students were then asked about the positive or negative traits they'd show as a hypothetical future employee.

"Their confident, upright posture gave them more confidence in their own thoughts, whether they were positive or negative," Petty stated. "People assume their confidence is coming from their own thoughts. They don't realize their posture is affecting how much they believe in what they're thinking. If they did realize that, posture wouldn't have such an effect."

The findings are similar to those in a previous study that found that people who nodded their heads had more confidence in their thoughts than those who shook their heads back and forth.

In a similar experiment involving different students, "participants didn't report feeling more confident in the upright position than they did in the slouched position, even though those in the upright position did report more confidence in the thoughts they generated," Petty said.

More information

The Cleveland Clinic has more about posture.

(SOURCE: Ohio State University, news release, October 2009 )

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Body

How to get the diet pills that work by Matt

in Health (submitted 2009-11-06)

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Obesity unlocks many health Problems like diabetes, heart hit, high cholesterol and lots more. To hurt obesity hard headed conduct and careful concentration is required. There is a lifestyle change, workouts, cut back and it wishes an absolute anticipation for the result.

But without all of these you can be out of your obese problem by consuming diet pills that work. We are living in a microwave time, where everything has to move fast and so does our food pattern. It is very hard for us to come out of the junk food and junk food culture.

- How significant the obesity in your body?
- Are you prepared to take the danger involved in reducing obesity?

When you calculate your BMI and when it is above twenty-seven, you are in the stage to reduce your weight. In the market, you can see the diet tablets both made from chemical and herbal. You should decide on the diet pills that work for you.

Further, there are numerous brands boasting that they offer diet pills that work. It could be overwhelming and make you lose your money, if you take up simple decisions. As the chemical makeup and body types vary from each person, not every diet tablet will be effective for you.

You have to enroll in the internet site to avail your trial pack and make use of them in the specific trial period. Check whether diet pills that work for you is this precise one. If it does, the company may automatically shipment the product, so that it isn't run out. However [*COMMA] if you find the usage isn't up to your expectation, you can surely let them aware that you may not need any future cargos.

Although, they are claimed to be free diet pills that work, when they're handled in your hands, you may be charged for handling and shipping costs. But they are cheap to test any diet pills that work. You need not spend huge amount and worry for the results that are really limited. There are tablets that will cause you side-effects, after consumption.

The side effects may ground to headaches, agitation, mood swings, muscle discomfort and sleeplessness. Many of them are appetite suppressor and those tablets would possibly not be effective and the result produced by those pills might not be enduring. Thus, you must be terribly shrewd, when you test with any diet pills and be aware of the changes that happen in your body.

About the Author

Click here to discover some diet pills that work.

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Body

Immune System And How To Boost It To Protect The Body by Carroll Willis

in Health (submitted 2009-11-05)

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The main function of the immune system is to protect the body against various infections. It is the most important body component that helps in determining one's state of health. The effectiveness of immune system varies from person to person. In case of weak immune system the person is more susceptible to infections and other health problems. Immune system forms various antibodies that fight against germs. The main components of the immune system are bone marrow, antibodies, cells, lymph nodes, spleen, chemicals, thymus glands and tonsils. There are many foods that interfere with the working of immune system and various nutrients and herbs that enhance the immune system. The two main herbs that are highly beneficial for immunity enhancement are:

Amla

It is the richest natural source of vitamin C. It is considered as a versatile and powerful antioxidant that protects the body against all types of cancer, fights against virus that is responsible for causing AIDS and HIV. Amla also helps in lowering the blood pressure. Other than a rich source of vitamin C it is a good dietary source of various minerals and amino acids. It is helpful in raising the total protein level and the body weight. Due to its antibacterial and astringent properties it helps to fight against various infections, thus, making the immune system strong. In Ayurveda it is considered as an acrid, cooling, refrigerant, diuretic, laxative and with anabolic effect. Various other benefits of amla are:

Helps in good iron absorption from the dietary sources.

It increases the protein synthesis that strengthens the body muscles.

Helps in better food absorption making the digestive system strong and balances the stomach acid.

It strengthens the liver and helps in the easy removal of toxins and morbid matter from the body.

It is also responsible for strengthening the hair, nails, bones and teeth. It prevents the premature graying of hair and dandruff.

It provides nourishment to the brain and heart making the nervous system strong and lowering the blood cholesterol.

It is considered best tonic for eyes .

All these benefits make amla a strong immune enhancer

Morpheme Pure Herbs Amla Supplements

Ashwagandha

In Ayurveda the herb ashwagandha is believed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-stress, anti-oxidant, rejuvenating, aphrodisiac and immune enhancing properties. It is considered as an adaptogen that stimulates the immune system and improves the memory. It also helps to fight against stress due to its anti-stress properties. It increases the count of white blood cells and prepares the body to produce antigens against various infections and allergies. It is also considered as a tonic for the heart and lungs as its regular intake controls the blood pressure and regulates the heartbeat. It has a strong nourishing and protective effect on the nervous system. Various other benefits of ashwagandha are:

It reduces the inflammation of the joints, eases arthritis and increases the energy level of body.

It is also considered as a sex stimulant for both men and women.

It helps in preventing miscarriages in pregnant women by balancing the hormones that stabilizes the pregnancy.

Its regular use helps in the maintaining the sugar and cholesterol levels.

It is the only herb that supports the immune system of HIV patients.

It has been used in prolonging life, improving overall health, enhancing mental function, increasing fertility and libido, augmenting physical energy, and preventing infections. Thus, acting as an immune booster.

Morpheme Pure Herbs Ashwagandha Supplements

About the Author

Information on runny nose symptoms, runny nose remedy , what causes runny nose can be found at the Health And Nutrition Tips site.

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Body

Eco Friendly Water - What is It?
By Carolyn Peterson

When I think of eco friendly water I think of water that comes in such a way that it is not harmful to the environment. We are hearing everyday about the environment and how we need to take care of it.

When I first thought of water I guessed that it was free of any contaminants. It did not take me long to learn that I was wrong. In fact, I had been wrong for awhile. It has been known for awhile now that there have been over 2,100 different toxic chemicals found across the country. People have gone on record stating that the treatment plants simply cannot remove all the things that are being found in water today.

I kind of knew that the plastic bottles were not good for the environment. I did not know that over 60 million bottles are produced, transported and disposed of each day. It has become such a problem now that cities are banning city workers from using bottled water. Some are even introducing a tax on bottled water to discourage people from drinking it.

One way to be more environmentally smart is to use glass bottles with no plastic lids or even steel containers. Plastic containers leach byproducts into the water affecting the taste and purity. The longer it is in the plastic container the more contaminated the water will become.

To summarize, there are many kinds of contaminants that are found in water and eco friendly water is water that has none of these contaminants and comes in a container that is not harmful to the environment.

I recommend to anyone to do research before you buy anything when trying to get quality water.
Start today doing research for yourself. It does not take that long and I know that you will be satisfied once you make your decision.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Peterson
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Body

For People on Dialysis, Too Thin Can Be Risky

More body fat means greater survival odds, researcher says.

SUNDAY, Nov. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Dialysis patients with very low body fat are much more likely to die than other people on dialysis, even those with the highest levels of body fat, a new study has found.

Researchers measured body fat percentage in 671 dialysis patients in California. In the next five years, the death rate for people with less than 10 percent body fat was 2½ to three times higher than it was for those with body fat of 20 percent to 30 percent.

Further analysis confirmed a direct link between body fat and risk of death, the researchers reported.

"The higher the body fat, the greater the survival," Dr. Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, said in a news release from the American Society of Nephrology.

"Our study indicates that body fat may be protective in dialysis patients," he said. "The results add to the increasing number of reports about the 'obesity paradox' or 'reverse epidemiology' in patients with chronic kidney disease and other chronic diseases."

The obesity paradox refers to the fact that a higher body-mass index is associated with greater survival in dialysis patients.

The study was to be presented at the American Society of Nephrology's annual meeting in San Diego.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more about hemodialysis.

(SOURCE: American Society of Nephrology, news release, Oct. 31, 2009 )

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body

Body Transplants

As we go through life many of us experience problems that involve our legs, hips, knees, hearts, just about any part of our bodies. We should all be thankful that there are parts available to us, to replace them, because it certainly makes our lives easier to live, especially as we grow older. And when it comes to the heart, kidney, and other internal organs, transplants have made it possible for people to live who would otherwise have had their lives cut short. These are available for individuals of all ages, from infancy to the elderly. What a blessing!

We should also be thankful for those men and women who did the research to make all of this possible, and the doctors who determined that they would learn about the procedures, and were trained to perform transplants. These procedures need special equipment for doctors to use so they can be successful and we are thankful for those who where able to determine what should be done and designed what was needed for these procedures, then worked to perfect such equipment for others to use. I am sure we all know someone who has benefitted from the expertise of some of the people I mentioned, in making it possible for them to enjoy life to the fullest.

I believe we all know someone whose surgery did not progress as well as they had hoped for so they make sure everyone knows that whatever doctor did the surgery was ill equipped to do it. This may not be the reason for some so called failures. The body of each individual is different and it may not be the success that even the doctor performing the procedure hoped for. Of course, then it depends on the individual who had the surgery whether he or she will admit that there are differences, or whether they take it on themselves to let everyone know that it was the fault of the doctor -which is most often not the case.

Having had two different hip replacements by the same doctor, in a 5 year time span, I can attest to the fact that even the same body acts differently. The first one was done and, after three days, I was moved to a different part of the hospital and went home on the sixth day. Even, while in the hospital, the nurses seemed amazed at how much I did for myself and the surgeon said the nurses were commenting on it. This being the first replacement, I asked if not everyone did what I was doing and found out that this was definitely not the case. I heard it mentioned that some feel they should be waited on, some think their pain is too severe, even using pain killers, and other reasons for people not trying to do as much as possible on their own.

After the second day in the hospital, when I could get up to walk with a walker, I took a sponge bath by myself and continued doing that. Any exercising they told me to do with my feet, legs, or whatever could be done in bed, I did. The second week at home I walked with the cane, leaving the walker behind and, by the third week I felt I could go back to work, however, my husband suggested I stay at home another week. Receiving written permission from my doctor that it was okay, I returned to work the fourth week. Being a secretary, I did not have to do physical work and that worked fine. Going to rehab twice a week, and doing the same exercises in my home, apparently was beneficial because they canceled the last two sessions.

Now, being four to five years older, which can have an affect on a surgery, when it came to being released, it was just 3 days after the surgery and I chose to come to my own home. I will admit that was probably a mistake but it did not dawn on me that I had been in the hospital 3 days longer the first time. Once I thought about that difference between the two times, I decided I would tell everyone to be sure and ask to be taken someplace for those extra days. I was given the choice and I chose to return home, however, will admit that I felt, later, that I made the wrong choice. At this point I tell everyone to get the extra days of care where trained personnel is there to help.

Another factor, which I had not considered, was that I either did not know, or had forgotten, that I had bursitis. Again, into the fourth week after surgery, I was doing so well and even ventured out to help plant a small garden. The following day I began to suffer with pains and returned to my doctor who informed me that it was the bursitis that was causing the discomfort. I received a shot for the bursitis and, with only one rehab session left, my doctor wrote up a prescription so they would continue. This time they geared it toward the bursitis and it helped tremendously. Also doing the exercises at home, they recommended that I slow my pace at home because that apparently was part of the problem. I was just doing too much. It did go away and, after four to five months, I can do everything I did before, without pain, although I do make sure that I do not do more than I should.

Knowing someone who had knee surgery a week after I had my hip replacement, the gentleman was not healing as well as he should. He refused to take his pain pills and probably did not do the exercises as he should, because of the pain; this told to me by his wife. That is not the way to deal with a surgery. When we have something major done, we should follow the instructions given by our doctor. He certainly knows what can help us. The rehabilitation of this gentleman is slower and longer, however, one wonders if that could be because he would not take the prescribed pain killer and would not do the exercises because of the pain. He made the choice so he was in control of his recovery.

Also knowing someone who, since that time, had replacements done on both of her knees at the same time and is doing real well, I feel the comparison is there because she did as she was told to do. Knowing that some medication is addictive, and not wanting to become addicted it, she took a milder pain killer, which is what I also did and it worked for both of us. But we both took pain pills so we could do the exercises recommended that we do.

There are many factors that can affect healing after a major surgery. Some factors are weight, bad eating habits, smoking, among other things, but if one follows the instructions given to us by our doctor and there are no other complications, healing should follow. When we do not do what we are told, we suffer the consequences and really have no one else to blame but ourselves. We certainly cannot blame the surgeon if we do not continue with what he recommends. Some, however, like to place the blame elsewhere, which is unfair.

Just remember that what others complain about at times may not be the norm because we are all different. Being optimistic about having surgery to correct a problem, and believing all will be successful after time has passed, has much to do with how we recuperate. Be thankful that there are these procedures to correct what we suffer from, and that there are those who are trained to do them. Many years ago people had to live with what they were afflicted with because transplants were not known about, or were rare and, probably, only the rich could afford them. I thank God for the recovery I have made after both replacements.
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