USA Today reports that at least one in five U.S. children go without annual dental care and most states lack key policies to ensure access to cost-saving preventive treatments, according to a study released by the Pew Center on the States.
Pew rated states on a scale of A to F. Only six states received A. They include: Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island and South Carolina. But even children in those states have problems accessing care, the report said. New Jersey ranked the lowest.
The ratings were based on the following:
•School-based dental sealant programs. Just 17 states have programs to apply cavity-preventing sealants to children's molars in at least 25% of schools with low-income children.
•Fluoridated water. Only 26 states have at least 75% of their citizens on community water supplies with adequate fluoride to prevent tooth decay.
•Medicaid payments. Many dentists aren't willing to accept Medicaid reimbursement rates set below the actual cost of treatment. Only 25 states pay dentists at least 60.5% of retail fees. Medicaid is a joint state-federal program serving low-income patients, and state policies vary.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Study: Flightless mosquitoes may prevent disease
Scientists are breeding a genetically altered strain of mosquito in an effort to curb the spread of dengue fever.
Genetically altered mosquitoes that cannot fly may help slow the spread of dengue fever and could be a harmless alternative to chemical insecticides, U.S. and British scientists said on Monday.
The concept is to distribute tens of thousands of eggs in disease-troubled regions that would hatch genetically modified males. The bugs would act as Trojan horses, breeding with wild females and diluting the gene pool until only wingless females are born. Scientists estimate the new breed could sustainably suppress the native mosquito population in six to nine months. If successful, the approach will offer a harmless and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical insecticides.
There is no vaccine or treatment for dengue fever, which is endemic in the tropics and is particularly prevalent in Asia and the western Pacific. The disease, which causes severe flu-like symptoms and can kill, is spread through the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
This could be the first in a new wave of products that might supplant insecticides.
There are an estimated 50 million cases of dengue fever each year and about 2.5 billion people -- two-fifths of the world's population -- are at risk, mostly in Africa and southeast Asia, according to the World Health Organization.
The genetic modification grounded only the virus-carrying females and did not affect the males' ability to fly, they wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Genetically altered mosquitoes that cannot fly may help slow the spread of dengue fever and could be a harmless alternative to chemical insecticides, U.S. and British scientists said on Monday.
The concept is to distribute tens of thousands of eggs in disease-troubled regions that would hatch genetically modified males. The bugs would act as Trojan horses, breeding with wild females and diluting the gene pool until only wingless females are born. Scientists estimate the new breed could sustainably suppress the native mosquito population in six to nine months. If successful, the approach will offer a harmless and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical insecticides.
There is no vaccine or treatment for dengue fever, which is endemic in the tropics and is particularly prevalent in Asia and the western Pacific. The disease, which causes severe flu-like symptoms and can kill, is spread through the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
This could be the first in a new wave of products that might supplant insecticides.
There are an estimated 50 million cases of dengue fever each year and about 2.5 billion people -- two-fifths of the world's population -- are at risk, mostly in Africa and southeast Asia, according to the World Health Organization.
The genetic modification grounded only the virus-carrying females and did not affect the males' ability to fly, they wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Taking Good Care of Your Contact Lenses
According to an article by the New Straits Times, a lack of proper care of contact lens can lead to eye infection or worse, a loss of eyesight.
While speaking at the Lifebuoy Media Roundtable to raise awareness on the importance of personal hygiene to prevent eye infections, ophthalmologist Dr Yeoh Phee Liang said that due to improper hygiene or carelessness, eye infections can lead to unnecessary problems.
"Contact lens wearers are more prone to infections because they touch their eyes more often. Also, unless it's properly cleaned, contact lenses are a good place for bacteria to breed." For every 20,000 contact lenses wearers, 20 will suffer from corneal ulcer, an erosion or open sore in the outer layer of the cornea commonly caused by a bacterial, viral, fungal or parasite infection.
It is important for contact lens wearers to observe proper hygiene when handling lenses. He recommends the following:
- One should not wear them for too long or go for a sauna or a swim in them. Do not use saliva to wet the contact lens or put on hand lotion before you put the lenses onto your eyes.
- Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before you touch the contact lenses
- Ensure the contact lens casing is always kept sterile and changed every three months. The casing and cleaning solution should not be kept in a wet or damp environment to prevent fungal growth.
- Rub the surface to remove any protein build up that can cause lensrelated allergies when cleaning your contact lenses. Germs are also commonly found in the fingernails.
- Long fingernails can also scratch the eye cornea when you put on the lenses.
- Consult their optometrist or pharmacists for eye drops that are suitable for dry eyes
Dr Yeoh said the duration in which a person can wear the contacts lense comfortably would reduce once they age. Therefore, a 16-year-old may be able to wear contact lenses for a longer period in a day compared to an older person.
While speaking at the Lifebuoy Media Roundtable to raise awareness on the importance of personal hygiene to prevent eye infections, ophthalmologist Dr Yeoh Phee Liang said that due to improper hygiene or carelessness, eye infections can lead to unnecessary problems.
"Contact lens wearers are more prone to infections because they touch their eyes more often. Also, unless it's properly cleaned, contact lenses are a good place for bacteria to breed." For every 20,000 contact lenses wearers, 20 will suffer from corneal ulcer, an erosion or open sore in the outer layer of the cornea commonly caused by a bacterial, viral, fungal or parasite infection.
It is important for contact lens wearers to observe proper hygiene when handling lenses. He recommends the following:
- One should not wear them for too long or go for a sauna or a swim in them. Do not use saliva to wet the contact lens or put on hand lotion before you put the lenses onto your eyes.
- Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before you touch the contact lenses
- Ensure the contact lens casing is always kept sterile and changed every three months. The casing and cleaning solution should not be kept in a wet or damp environment to prevent fungal growth.
- Rub the surface to remove any protein build up that can cause lensrelated allergies when cleaning your contact lenses. Germs are also commonly found in the fingernails.
- Long fingernails can also scratch the eye cornea when you put on the lenses.
- Consult their optometrist or pharmacists for eye drops that are suitable for dry eyes
Dr Yeoh said the duration in which a person can wear the contacts lense comfortably would reduce once they age. Therefore, a 16-year-old may be able to wear contact lenses for a longer period in a day compared to an older person.
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