How Dirty Are Your Dog’s Kisses? - testing found evidence of Nyceria, bacteria linked to STD’s, pneumonia and plaque -

How Dirty Are Your Dog’s Kisses? - testing found evidence of Nyceria, bacteria linked to STD’s, pneumonia and plaque - 



We’ve all gotten licks of love from our dogs. However, would you let your dog kiss you on the mouth?
Urban legend has it that dog’s mouths are very clean.
“That’s not true,” said Nova Southeastern University Microbiologist Dr. Julie Torruellas-Garcia.
Saliva samples from dogs in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach were sent to the lab to be tested. Based on the cultures that grew in the lab from the samples, Dr. Torruellas-Garcia said you may want to think twice before you and your dog exchange siliva.
“There was quite a bit of bacteria that grew from the dogs’ mouths,” said Dr. Torruellas-Garcia.
While our testing did not reveal the presence of any e-coli or bacteria that could cause a staph infection, Dr. Torruellas-Garcia and her students found globs of other microboes.
“One plate had so many bacteria mixed together that it was difficult to test,” said Dr. Torruellas-Garcia.
In swabs taken from dogs in the West Palm Beach area, the testing found evidence of Nyceria, bacteria linked to STD’s, pneumonia and plaque.
“Think about where a dog tends to lick, and consider he or she might have just licked before they licked you,” said Dr. Torruellas-Garcia.
After all, it’s not like a dog knows to wash hands or brush teeth. West Palm Beach Veterinarian Ken Simmons said not to worry though, all that bacteria doesn’t stay in a dog’s mouth for long.
“It’s gone so fast, if they lick and groom themselves, whatever organisms they ingest, they’re gone in a matter of minutes,” said Simmons.
If doggie breath bothers you, it may be time to take your dog for a dental cleaning. After all, if you didn’t take care of your teeth, your mouth would have the same problems.
In the end, the testing didn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary. Dr. Simmons said it’s simply a matter of with what you are comfortable.
“I don’t think it’s a great idea to french kiss a dog, but having a normal lick on the face is no more dangerous than a kiss from your spouse,” said Dr. Simmons.

Read more - 

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/05/13/how-dirty-are-your-dogs-kisses/

Intensive mobile phone users at higher risk of brain cancer... -

Intensive mobile phone users at higher risk of brain cancer... - 



People who used their phones more than 15 hours each month found to be at two to three times higher risk of developing glioma and meningioma tumours

People who use mobile phones intensively appear to have a higher risk of developing certain types of brain cancer, French scientists have said, reviving questions about phone safety.

Individuals who used their mobiles for more than 15 hours each month over five years on average had between two and three times greater risk of developing glioma and meningioma tumours compared with people who rarely used their phones, they found.

The study, appearing in the latest issue of British journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, is the latest in a long-running exploration of mobile-phone safety.

Over the past 15 years most investigations have failed to turn up conclusive results either way, although several have suggested a link between gliomas and intensive, long-term use.

"Our study is part of that trend, but the results have to be confirmed," said Isabelle Baldi, of the University of Bordeaux in south-western France, who took part in the study.

In 2011 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said radiofrequency fields used by mobile phones were possibly carcinogenic.

However, researchers have faced several challenges, including getting an accurate picture of phone use in real life, filtering out lifestyle factors such as smoking which amplify cancer risk and taking into account changing phone technology.

The new study looked at 253 cases of glioma and 194 cases of meningioma reported in four French departments between 2004 and 2006.

These patients were matched against 892 "controls" or healthy individuals drawn from the general population, in a bid to spot any differences between the two groups.

The comparison found a higher risk among those who used their phone intensively, especially among those who used it for their work, such as in sales. The duration of use in this category ranged from between two and 10 years, averaging at five years.

But the study also found several inconsistencies with other investigations that have suggested a link between heavy phone use and brain cancer.

For instance, in contrast with previous work, it found that cancer occurred on the opposite side of the brain – rather than on the same side – of where the phone was customarily used.

"It is difficult to define a level of risk, if any, especially as mobile phone technology is constantly evolving," the study acknowledged.

"The rapid evolution of technology has led to a considerable increase in the use of mobile phones and a parallel decrease of [radiowave intensity] emitted by the phones.

"Studies taking account of these recent developments and allowing the observation of potential long-term effects will be needed."

Read more - 

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/13/intensive-mobile-phone-users-higher-risk-brain-cancer-study