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Study: The chill of menthol might make smoking more addictive

Monday, September 12, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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A research team from Yale and the University of Connecticut has found that the cooling effect of menthol may actually cause people to smoke more and become addicted to cigarettes because it reduces the protective respiratory response to irritants in cigarette smoke.

The study appears online in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB).

Menthol, the cooling agent in peppermint, is added to almost all commercially sold cigarettes these days, in varying degrees. Sven-Eric Jordt, associate professor pharmacology at the Yale University School of Medicine, said he long believed the soothing ingredient played a role in smokers’ addictions — particularly new or young smokers. The main ingredients in cigarettes are naturally irritating, he said, often prompting such reactions as coughing or sneezing.

“There was always a suspicion that tobacco companies added menthol as a kind anesthetic to make it easier for beginning to inhale this irritating smoke,” Jordt said. “We hypothesized that this might be why menthol cigarettes are popular with new smokers.”

The study, which lasted about a year, examined the effect of menthol on mice. About 80 to 100 mice total were used in the study, Jordt said.

Researchers found that in mice, inhaled menthol immediately abolished the response in airway receptors that promote sensations of irritation to protect the respiratory system. The mouse equivalent of a “smoker’s cough” was almost completely blocked when mice inhaled menthol and tobacco irritants together.

In 2009, Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which outlawed flavored tobacco additives such as cloves, cinnamon, candy, chocolate or fruit flavors. But menthol was specifically exempted from the ban. The Food and Drug Administration is currently evaluating scientific data on menthol, however, and could decide to ban it as well if it is deemed harmful.

Other authors are John B. Morris, Michael A. Ha and Daniel N. Willis of the University of Connecticut, and Boyi Liu of Yale. This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the American Asthma Foundation.

Categories: General, health, lung cancer

Elizabeth Pfriem Circus takes place Tuesday

Monday, September 12, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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Children applaud last year's Elizabeth Pfriem circus. This year's circus takes place Tuesday.

St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation will present the annual Elizabeth Pfriem Circus for Children with Special Needs and Chronic Diseases on Tuesday, September 13 and Wednesday, September 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. under a large tent in Bridgeport’s Beardsley Park.

The old-fashioned circus, put on by the Zerbini Family, is a free event for the children and their caretakers from area schools thanks to a generous gift from Elizabeth Pfriem of Southport, CT.  The circus performance is expected to last one hour and 30 minutes. Children will receive a boxed lunch, cotton candy and a t-shirt.

For more information, contact St. Vincent’s Foundation Office at (203) 576-5451.

Categories: General, health

Another gift from Lee and Irene: Mold growth

Friday, September 9, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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The tropical storms that have hit this area just keep on giving! As if power outages and flooding weren’t enough, today the state Department of Public Health issued release warning those who have experience water damage or moisture from the storms of the potential for mold growth.

Yay.

Molds are microscopic organisms that found virtually everywhere, both indoors and outdoors.

Exposure to mold can cause adverse health effects in some people. Breathing airborne mold might make hay fever or asthma symptoms worse for those who have the allergies. It can also cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat or lungs.

Serious infections from molds are relatively rare and unlikely to occur in people who are generally in good health; however, mold infections are a concern for people with severely suppressed immune systems.

Mold needs water to grow, so it’s  important to dry out wet buildings as soon as possible. This includes removing standing water and porous materials that have remained wet for 48 hours or more.

DPH recommends the following steps to reduce the potential risk:
• Promptly remove standing water and all porous wet materials such as carpeting, saturated
wallboard (sheetrock) and upholstered furniture from the home.
• Aggressively ventilate the home to dissipate moisture by opening windows and using
fans, if available. Dehumidifiers are useful in enclosed areas or when windows need to be
closed because of rain or high humidity.
• Clean mold from small areas on hard surfaces, such as wood or concrete, by scrubbing
the area with a cleaning rag wetted with diluted detergent. After cleaning with detergent,
the area may be sanitized with a weak bleach solution (one part bleach + 9 parts water).
Rubber gloves and a N-95 mask can be used to minimize direct exposure to mold,
contaminants and cleaning products. N-95 masks can be purchased in most hardware
stores. (A regular dust mask will not stop mold spores.)
• Check routinely for new mold growth or signs of moisture that may indicate the need for
cleanup, home repair, or removal of affected materials. A mold problem can usually be
seen or smelled.
• Keep children away from both cleaning products and areas where mold is present.
Individuals with known mold allergies or asthma should not clean or remove mold, as
their condition may be aggravated.

• Hire an experienced professional for a large mold problem, or if you are highly sensitive
to mold. Insist that they perform all mold remediation in accordance with Connecticut
Guidelines for Mold Abatement Contractors. This and other resources may be found on
the DPH website at http://www.ct.gov/dph/mold .

For more information about mold and cleaning up after a flood, visit the DPH website
http://www.ct.gov/dph and click on “Hurricane Irene: Important Health Information,” or call
DPH at 860-509-7742.

Categories: General, health

Doctor first in New England to use device to treat bowel incontinence

Friday, September 9, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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Treating patients with bowel incontinence was, for a long time, a disheartening experience, said Dr. John Aversa, a colorectal surgeon with the Ciardiello, Bonadies and Aversa Surgery Group. About 18 million Americans suffer from bowel incontinence, a sometimes debilitating — and often embarrassing — condition that prevents the body from controlling bowel movements.

Aversa said, for a long time, there was little he could do for patients with this condition, other than offer medication and physical therapy. “People can get some relief, but not enough,” said Aversa, whose practice has offices in Derby, Hamden and Guilford. “I’ve been taking care of these patients so long, it almost seems hopeless.”

However, he’s hopeful about a new treatment, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April 2011 about a 12-month, 120-patient study. InterStim Therapy for Bowel Control, produced by the company Medtronic, is a stimulator device the size of a stopwatch that emits a continuous, mild electrical pulse. The pulse helps regulate the muscles that control continence. The device was originally approved in 1997 for urinary incontinence. The United States now joins Europe, Canada and Australia in approving it for bowel control as well.

More than 85,000 people have received the therapy worldwide, but Aversa is the first doctor in New England to use it to treat bowel incontinence. He’s used it on two patients — a 67-year-old man and an 86-year-old woman — who have had good early results. One experienced complete resolution of their incontinence and the other having almost perfect continence. The procedures were performed at Griffin Hospital in Derby.

The new treatment isn’t for everyone. For instance, safety and effectiveness hasn’t been established for patients under the age of 18; or for patients with progressive, systemic neurological diseases. Also, there can be complications, such as pain at the implant site, infection, lead (thin wire) movement, technical or device problems, undesirable changes in urinary or bowel function, and uncomfortable stimulation

However, Aversa said, the procedure could be hugely beneficial for fit, active people who haven’t found relief from any other treatments. For these patients, he said, “it’s a major breakthrough.”

For more information, call Aversa’s office at 203-516-5493.

Categories: General, health

Study shows decline in tobacco use, but some spikes in drug abuse

Thursday, September 8, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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The percentage of Americans using tobacco products has declined in recent years, but there have been some spikes in illicit drug use, particularly among those aged 18 to 25.

Those are some of the findings of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The annual survey interviews approximately 67,500 people each year about their use of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

According to the 2010 survey, released this week, an estimated 22.6 million Americans aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users, meaning they had used an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey interview. This number represents about 8.9 percent of the population aged 12 or older. That’s about the same as 2009, when roughly 8.7 percent of those aged 12 and older were illicit drug users, but an increase from 2008, when the about 8 percent of the population used illicit drugs.

However, the rate of current drug use among those aged 18 to 25 spiked from 19.6 percent in 2008 to 21.5 in 2010 (it was 21.2 percent in 2009). The increase was driven largely by a jump in marijuana use.

Illicit drug use also has been on rise among those aged 50 to 59, from 2.7 percent in 2002 to 5.8 in 2010. According to the survey, the increase partially reflects the aging of the baby boomer generation, whose lifetime rate of illicit drug use has been higher than that of previous generations.

In the plus column, the survey shows tobacco use has fallen over the past several years. Between 2002 and 2010, the percent of those who had used any tobacco product in the past month decreased from 30.4 percent to 27.4 percent and the percent of those who had smoked cigarettes in the past month fell from 26 percent in 2002 to 23 percent in 2010.

The percent of those aged 12 to 17 using tobacco also fell, from 15.2 percent in 2002 to 10.7 percent in 2010.

For more details, view the whole survey online at http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k10NSDUH/2k10Results.htm.

Categories: alcohol, health, smoking

Bridgeport, New Haven residents test positive for West Nile

Thursday, September 8, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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The State Mosquito Management Program today announced that a Bridgeport
resident and a New Haven resident have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) infection.

The residents, between 80-89 years of age, had onset of illness during the fourth week of August
before the arrival of the tropical storm. Both residents were hospitalized with encephalitis. Illness
in both cases was characterized by high fever, confusion, weakness, and vomiting. WNVpositive
mosquitoes have been trapped repeatedly at numerous sites in Fairfield and New Haven
counties this season.
The cases represent the second and third incidents of human West Nile in the state this year. Last week, it was announced that a resident of Stamford had tested positive for WNV infection.
Health officials said that August and September are when they usually see human cases of West
Nile virus. While most people do not become severely ill from West Nile virus, people over the
age of 50 are more likely to become ill and develop serious symptoms when infected.

The latest human surveillance statistics can be accessed at www.ct.gov/mosquito.

So far this season, WNV-positive mosquitoes have been trapped in 30 municipalities: Branford,
Bridgeport, Cromwell, Danbury, Darien, East Haven, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Groton,
Hamden, Hartford, Litchfield, Meriden, Milford, New Britain, New Canaan, New Haven, North
Haven, Norwalk, Orange, South Windsor, Stamford, Stratford, Tolland, Trumbull, West Haven,
Westbrook, Westport, and Woodbridge.

In 2010, WNV-positive mosquitoes were trapped in 24 municipalities with 11
reported human cases.

Precautions to avoid mosquito bites include:
• Minimize time outdoors at dusk and dawn
• Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair
• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be
tightly woven.
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors
• Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors and always use
them according to label instructions
• The most effective repellents contain DEET or Picaridin
• When using DEET use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for
example, 6% lasts approximately 2 hours and 20% for 4 hours) and wash treated skin
when returning indoors. Do not apply under clothing, to wounds or irritated skin, the
hands of children, or to infants less than 2 months.
Measures to reduce mosquitoes around the home include:
• Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, tire swings
• Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling
• Clean clogged roof gutters
• Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use such as wading pools and
wheelbarrows
• Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools
• Use landscaping techniques to eliminate areas where water can collect on your property
For information on West Nile virus and what you can do to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes,
visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito.

Categories: General, health

Denise Brown to speak at Center fundraiser

Thursday, September 8, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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Denise Brown, sister of the late Nicole Brown Simpson, will be keynote speaker at the annual luncheon of The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County. The event takes place Tuesday, Sept. 27, beginning at 11:30 a.m., at the Trumbull Marriott, 180 Hawley Lane, Trumbull.

One in four women and thousands of children in the United States will be victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence in their lifetimes.  Since the murder of her sister, Brown has committed herself to raising awareness about domestic violence, a crime that occurs every 15 seconds and kills three women every day in the United States.

She has traveled extensively, speaking on the epidemic of domestic violence to university students, men in prison and those enrolled in batterer treatment programs, women at risk and church groups. Brown has worked on various educational and legislative forums; has helped raise funds for local shelters across the country; and has assisted in the success of a major project called the Vine System, an automated victim notification service when batterers are released from prison. In addition, she has worked to help pass a variety of legislative solutions for domestic violence, including lobbying on behalf of the Violence Against Women Act.

There are a limited number of tickets available to the fundraiser. Tickets cost $150, a portion of which is tax deductible. For further information about the event, contact Sarah Lubarsky at 203-334-6154 extension 43, or slubarsky@cwfefc.org.

Categories: General, health

Drug take back in the Valley

Wednesday, September 7, 2011 by:Amanda Cuda
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The Greater Valley Substance Abuse Action Council in collaboration with the Seymour and Shelton Police Departments is launching a new initiative to help area residents safely dispose of unused, unneeded medications at any time.

Beginning today, Sept. 7, secure drop boxes will be on-site at the Seymour and Shelton police department headquarters. Residents may walk in and discard their unneeded medications in the secure drop box at any time. Syringes will not be accepted.  Residents will not be asked questions or need to complete any type of forms to dispose.

Unlike the Drug Take Back events that happen once or twice a year, the Valley project will make safe disposal of medicines a simple, ongoing option for residents of the Valley towns. Discarded medications will be processed as abandoned property and safely incinerated. The project enables authorities to destroy medication that can be easily misused or diverted, Seymour Community Officer Sergio Desiderato said in a press release. The regional take back also is more cost effective and less labor intensive then the drug take backs Seymour has done over the past four years,  he said.

Beginning today, Sept. 7, secure drop boxes will be on-site at the Seymour and Shelton police department headquarters. Residents may walk in and discard their unneeded medications in the secure drop box at any time. Syringes will not be accepted.  Residents will not be asked questions or need to complete any type of forms to dispose.

For more information about project, contact VSAAC at 203-736-8566.

Categories: General, health, safety
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