1 in 4 Nonantibiotic Drugs Linked to Disrupted Gut Health
'This can be dangerous to frail or elderly people,' senior study author Lisa Maier, said in a press statement.
Scale of Problem 'Utterly Unexpected'
The study, recently published in Nature, found that 28 percent of 53 tested nonantibiotic medications promoted the growth of harmful pathogens like Salmonella in laboratory models, potentially leaving millions of patients vulnerable to serious intestinal infections.
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Engadget
a day ago
- Engadget
NASA's latest mission to the ISS features a bacterial experiment
Scientists are sending several strains of disease-causing bacteria to the International Space Station as part of the Crew-11 mission. This experiment isn't the plot to some cheesy horror film, but a scientific investigation from the Sheba Medical Center in Israel and the US-based company Space Tango with the goal of better understanding how bacteria spread and behave under extreme conditions. The experiment includes E. coli, along with bacteria that cause diseases like typhoid fever and the infection commonly known as Salmonella. After reaching the ISS, the experiment will see the different bacterial species grow before being returned to Earth to be tested against counterparts that were grown simultaneously in an identical lab under normal conditions. The experiment's results will help scientists understand how bacteria respond to zero gravity and could help astronauts, who are more prone to infections during missions due to stress, exposure to radiation and changes in gravity. However, the research could prove useful beyond space missions. With the onset of superbugs that show antibiotic resistance, the experiment could reveal ways to combat more robust bacterial strains. "This experiment will allow us, for the first time, to systematically and molecularly map how the genetic expression profile of several pathogenic bacteria changes in space," Ohad Gal-Mor, head of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at Sheba, said in a press release. The medical center previously conducted a test with bacteria in simulated space conditions, which showed a reduced ability to develop antibiotic resistance, but the latest experiment is the first one to take place at the ISS. It's not the first time scientists have studied bacteria's behavior in microgravity conditions, since researchers from the University of Houston tested how E. coli would grow in a simulated space environment back in 2017. More recently, NASA launched an experiment tasking astronauts to swab the interiors of the ISS and test them for evidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Most People Make This Common Dishwasher Mistake—and It's a Health Hazard
Most People Make This Common Dishwasher Mistake—and It's a Health Hazard originally appeared on Parade. One of your top goals when eating is to fill your tummy in a way that feels (and tastes) good. However, what you do after eating can affect the way food goes down the next time, and certain dishwashing habits can have harmful effects."When dishes are not cleaned properly, leftover food becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, mold and fungi," says, a research associate professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. "Food is a living thing. When it sits on a plate, especially in warm or damp conditions, it can grow harmful microorganisms that can make you sick." 🩺 💊 She adds that these microorganisms include things like Salmonella or mold spores, which can trigger stomach bugs, infections and breathing issues if they build up. However, experts warn that people often make a common dishwasher mistake that can be hazardous to their health. Ironically? They usually take this step to clean their is it? Let's just say that the dirty truth might leave a bad taste in your mouth now, but you'll thank our experts for it This Common Dishwasher Habit Is a Surprising Mistake, Food Safety Experts Reveal Food safety experts are begging people to stop pre-rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. "While pre-rinsing may help remove stubborn food debris, it has several unintended consequences," says Dr. Don Thushara Galbadage, Ph.D., MPH, an associate professor at Texas Christian University, whose specialties include microbiology and epidemiology. "Pre-rinsing dishes spreads bacteria-laden droplets across kitchen sinks, countertops and sponges." Dr. Galbadage adds that pre-rinsing dishes also increases the risk of cross-contamination, particularly if hands or utensils aren't cleaned after handling food residue. Not for nothing, Dr. Galbadage notes that taking this unnecessary step wastes time and water. The excessive water use isn't great for the environment or your energy bills, and the time suck isn't great for your energy levels or mental load. Yet, food safety experts emphasize with people who think pre-rinsing dishes, saying they aren't intentionally causing harm. They're just trying their best to get squeaky-clean, safe dishes. Once upon a time, a pre-rinse was considered the way to do it. "Anyone who remembers the dishwashers of the 1970s and 1980s is very familiar with pre-rinsing dishes because it was the only way to get them clean," recalls Dr. Linda Yancey, MD, the director of infection prevention at the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston. "Modern dishwashers are much better at their job and need much less help to do it." Believe it or not, pre-rinsing dishes can mess with these welcome modern advances in dishwasher efficiency and effectiveness. "Pre-rinsing actually hinders the performance of the dishwasher," explains Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D., a food scientist, food industry consultant, and founder of Mendocino Food Consulting. "Modern dishwashers are usually designed with sensors that detect the turbidity or cloudiness of the water used during pre-cycle." He says this cloudiness is caused by loose dirt and food bits on the dishes, which helps the dishwasher determine the length and intensity of the wash cycle. Thus, when dishes appear clean due to pre-rinsing, this results in less intense or short cycle, leading to ineffective cleaning. Related: What To Do Instead of Pre-Rinsing Dishes Pre-rinsing dishes is a health hazard because it can spread bacteria around and increase the odds of cross-contamination. Instead of pre-rinsing dishes, food safety experts recommend taking the following steps to ensure you earn a spot in the "Clean Plate (and Spoon, Cup and Bowl...) Club": Scrape off food particles into a trash bin or compost using a utensil. "The fastest and most efficient way to prep dishes is to scrape off any food particles larger than a grain of rice," Dr. Yancey says. Load dishes into the dishwasher promptly. Dr. Galbadage says getting a move on will help prevent food from sticking. Load the dishwasher correctly. Dr. Knighton notes that it's essential to be intentional about where you put items. "Always face the dirty sides of dishes toward the center where the spray arms are located," she says. "Do not nest utensils together. Alternate the direction of spoons and forks so water can reach them all." Large items, such as cutting boards, are best placed on the side where they can't block water flow from the spray arms, and keep cups facing down. Finally, don't overcrowd racks. Chill. You've done the work. "The dishwasher will do the rest," Dr. Yancey promises. OK, but is there ever a situation where you should add "pre-rinsing dishes" to this step-by-step? "Not really," Dr. Knighton reports. "The only time a light rinse might help is if you are not planning to run the dishwasher for several hours and do not want the food to harden. Even then, soaking is often a better option than rinsing." Up Next:Sources: Dr. Shanina Knighton, Ph.D., RN, a research associate professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University Dr. Don Thushara Galbadage, Ph.D., MPH, an associate professor at Texas Christian University, whose specialties include microbiology and epidemiology Start Saving. Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Linda Yancey, MD, the director of infection prevention at the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D., a food scientist, food industry consultant and founder of Mendocino Food Consulting Most People Make This Common Dishwasher Mistake—and It's a Health Hazard first appeared on Parade on Aug 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Hill
2 days ago
- The Hill
Flu, COVID can reawaken dormant breast cancer cells: Study
Respiratory infections like COVID-19 and the flu can activate dormant cancer cells in breast cancer patients who are in remission, new research finds. The study, published in Nature, found that common viruses can reawaken small numbers of dormant breast cancer cells in the lungs. Researchers began investigating the link after the team noticed that U.K. patients who were in remission from breast cancer and tested positive for COVID later showed a two-fold increase in cancer-related deaths. They also analyzed a U.S. database that included nearly 37,000 patients and found that COVID infection was associated with a more than 40 percent increased risk of metastatic breast cancer in the lungs. Studies on mice found that influenza and COVID infections triggered dormant breast cancer cells after just days of infection. Within two weeks, researchers observed 'massive expansion' of the cancer cells into metastatic lesions by more than 100 times. Scientists have suspected that common viruses like Epstein-Barr can trigger some cancers. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is already documented to trigger cervical cancer. When it comes to breast cancer, however, research on human cells was limited, and it's not entirely known how the virus triggers the disease to spread. The findings suggest the body's immune response plays a role. After breast cancer goes into remission, a tiny number of cells remain dormant in lung, bone and liver tissue. Sometimes, inflammation can wake up the cells. In the mouse experiments, both influenza A and coronavirus only reawakened dormant cells if they triggered an inflammatory cytokine response. More research is needed to see if vaccination makes a difference when it comes to the possibility of reawakening dormant cells.
