Medical news around the world

Medical News in Brief

1^st Jun 2009

Washy Washy Clean

 The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has developed a new song entitled Washy Washy Clean for pre-schoolers, to help them cultivate the correct hand washing habit. Washy Washy Clean will be launched on Thursday, 21 May 2009 by Minister for Health Mr Khaw Boon Wan at My First Skool at Whampoa Drive.

HPB launches National Smoking Control Campaign

The National Health Surveillance Survey 2007 shows that 13.6% of Singapore residents aged 18 to 69 years smoked daily, slightly higher than in 2004 (12.6%). More males (23.7%) than females (3.7%) were smokers. Daily smoking was most prevalent in those aged 18 to 29 years (17.2%) and least among older adults aged 60 to 69 years (11%).

Multitude of bacteria on human skin found

There are apparently 44 species thriving right out in the open on your forearm.

This information comes from scientists at the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute, who have used the same techniques that enabled them to map the human genetic makeup to identify all the bacteria living on human skin.

There are lots of them, of all sorts. In scientific terms, 19 separate phyla and 205 different genera to be found on the 20 sites sampled by the researchers. The diversity of microbial life on human skin was much greater than expected, according to a report in the May 29 issue of Science.

Cola causative of muscle problems

Drinking too much cola can increase the risk of a muscle problem called hypokalemia, experts warn. In people with hypokalemia, a drop in blood potassium levels results in problems with vital muscle functions. Symptoms can range from mild weakness to serious paralysis, say Greek researchers who conducted a review of people who drank between two to nine liters of cola a day.

Two of the patients were pregnant women who were admitted to hospital with low potassium levels. One was a 21-year-old woman who drank up to three liters of cola a day and complained of fatigue, appetite loss and persistent vomiting. An electrocardiogram revealed she had a heart blockage, and blood tests showed she had low potassium levels, the researchers explained in a news release.

The second pregnant patient, who'd consumed up to seven liters of cola a day for 10 months, had low potassium levels and was suffering from increasing muscular weakness, the researchers noted. Both patients made a rapid and full recovery after they stopped drinking cola and took oral or intravenous potassium. The case studies are described in the June issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice.