A new survey by the College of Optometrists in Britain reveals the 92 percent of women are putting their health and looks at risk by using old makeup.

Most women probably pay no attention to the sell-by date on the products they buy, but they are there. For example :

* Mascara has an expiry date of 3–6 months.
* Liquid and cream foundations, concealer, cleanser, moisturiser, 6–8 months.
* Pressed, loose and compressed powders, eye shadow, blusher, lip gloss, lipstick, toner, 1 year.
* Eye and lip liner, 18 months.

The problem is that these products can be a “hot house” for bacteria which can cause infections when the makeup is applied. The bacteria builds up over time until it becomes dangerous to use. Mascara is a particular problem because the stick used to apply it can scratch the soft tissue surrounding the eye.

The worst offenders, says the study, are middle-aged women who are likely to hang on to their favorite products much longer than younger women.

Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric adviser to the college, said, “Mascara can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so it’s not surprising we’ve found nearly half of women suffer from itchy, watery and red eyes when they are holding onto their eye makeup for so long and sharing it among their friends.”

Remember the sage musical advice from Mary Poppins? A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down. Now, a new breakthrough in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may mean that patients need only to eat their sugar to make the medicine work.

Professor Simon Carding of Leeds’ Faculty of Biological Sciences has adapted bacteria in our own bodies to produce human growth factors which help repair the layer of cells lining the colon. This reduces the inflammatory effect of IBD. The human gut has trillions of bacteria that aid in digestion and keep it healthy. But Carding has altered this bacteria so that it only turns on its production of human growth factors in the presence of a specific sugar, Xylan, which is derived from tree bark. A patient could turn their medicine on as and when they need it by increasing their intake of this sugar.

IBD includes Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. UC usually only involves the colon but CD can strike at any part of the intestine. The incidence of symptoms generally peak in the second and third decades of life, with a smaller peak between the ages of 55 and 65.

Researchers will be testing the treatment over the next twelve months in preparation for clinical trials.

Source:
Medical News Today

Support and information for IBD sufferers:
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America

and because I couldn’t resist:
A Spoonful of Sugar - Mary Poppins

You probably have one of the most effective weapons agains e. coli, salmonella and other food borne pathogens right in your kitchen.

In addition to making popcorn and heating up leftovers, University of Florida engineering researchers say that your microwave can be an important tool in killing bacteria that lingers and grows on sponges and plastic scrubbers.

Kitchen surfaces are often hotbeds of contamination from uncooked meat and eggs, which are picked up by sponges and dishcloths. Because the sponges remain damp, they are the perfect breeding ground for these pathogens.

But zapping sponges for two minutes in the microwave was found to kill 99% of all pathogens. This method was far superior to just washing the sponges.

Microwave ovens work by exciting water molecules. Since researchers say it is most likely the heat that kills the pathogens, microwave sponges while they are wet.

Warning: The University of Florida is now posting a caution on its website after a number of fires were reported in the UK. It appears that many people are putting their cloths and sponges in the microwave dry rather than wet. In the UK, the advice is not to use this method at all as it can easily go wrong.

New research could ease the conscience of many a failed dieter. Studies suggest that obesity may be linked to the mix of bacteria in the digestive system of overweight people.

It has to do with the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes. Apparently the Firmicutes are more adept at extracting calories from food that is being digested. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes goes up as people gain weight. Scientists are not sure if it is cause or effect but when the gut flora of obese mice were injected into lean mice, the lean mice started to gain weight.

Obviously, there are some who doubt the relationship of gut flora to obesity and studies are not complete but, for the first time, scientists are exploring the possibility that obesity may be more than just a matter of diet.

The Washington Post - Research Links Obesity to Mix of Bacteria in Digestive Tract