February 12, 2002 [Volume 3, Issue 4]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Let 'Em See You Sweat
• Charcoal: Not Just for Barbecues
• Commercials Worth Watching
• Wake Up and Smell the Sesame

Let 'Em See You Sweat

Our skin provides a major line of defense against various environmental threats, including germs. Human skin produces antimicrobial agents for defense, which can limit germ growth after injury as a wound heals and reduce the inflammatory response to skin disorders. Does our sweat have anything to do with the infection-fighting properties of our skin?

A recent study in the journal Nature Immunology focused on the germ-fighting ability of the human skin. Researchers analyzed a new germ-fighting agent found in the human skin - and discovered that it was based in our sweat. The gene identified, deemed Dermcidin, was found to be excreted solely by the sweat glands, whereby it was transported by the sweat to the skin's surface. The gene could not be found in of the other major bodily organs tested.

The antibiotic ability of Dermcidin was maintained over wide pH (acidity) levels and salinity ranges that resembled the conditions found in human sweat. Dermcidin was "highly effective" against E. coli, fungi, and other bacteria that can be found in fecal matter and infected water supplies. These germs can infect your wounds and contaminate the food you eat.

You may not enjoy the sticky, wet feeling of sweat on your skin, but the next time you break a sweat while exercising, perhaps you'll appreciate this bodily response a bit more. Your sweat may be eliminating the harmful, invading microorganisms you come into contact with before they have a chance to get into your body.

Reference: Schittek B, Hipfel R, Sauer B, et al. Dermcidin: A novel human antibiotic peptide secreted by sweat glands. Nature Immunology 2001:2(12), pp. 1133-1137.

Charcoal: Not Just for Barbecues

The best treatment for accidental ingestion of toxic substances is activated charcoal (AC). AC, a different type of charcoal than you use for your barbecue, is especially effective if used within the first hour after poison ingestion. It has been suggested that AC should be administered in the home, but this idea has received a negative response from some people because of concerns that parents may not be able to properly administer AC to their children.

The Kentucky Regional Poison Center recently began advising parents with young children and pharmacies to have AC on hand in case of accidental poisoning. For 18 months, the authors of this study in Pediatrics followed the poison center and over 100 cases of home AC administration. Cases were followed until three days after poison ingestion; patients who were recommended home AC administration but treated in the emergency department instead were used for comparison.

All children treated in the home were successfully given a sufficient amount of AC, and no complications developed in any cases. The average time for home ingestion was 38 minutes - half the average treatment time in emergency-department cases (73 minutes). Mushrooms and medications were the most likely poisons ingested, while yogurt, fruit, milk, and water were likely to be offered with the charcoal to make it palatable.

The authors of this study add that over 200 more children were administered AC in their home by recommendation of the same poison center after the conclusion of this study; again, in all cases the treatment was successful. You should be able to successfully administer AC in your home if your child ever ingests poison, which can reduce the treatment time and make the treatment more effective. Keep AC in your medicine cabinet as a precautionary measure - you should be able to find it at your local pharmacy.

Reference: Spiller HA, Rodgers GC. Evaluation of administration of activated charcoal in the home. Pediatrics 2001 (online):108(6), p. e100.

For more information on pediatric health issues, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/pediatrics.

Commercials Worth Watching

In the 4.3 million inhabitants of Victoria, Australia, back pain is the condition responsible for one-quarter of all workers' compensation claims and half the costs of all compensation claims. Due to convincing evidence that psychological factors may be associated with back pain more than any other factors, the Victorian WorkCover Authority started a broad-based public health campaign in 1997 to alter widespread misconceptions about back pain and reduce disability costs in the state. The campaign encouraged patients with low back pain to stay active, exercise, remain at work, and avoid prolonged rest.

The study, published in the journal Spine, was conducted in Victoria, using the neighboring state of New South Wales as a control. Telephone surveys were carried out in both states before, two years into, and two-and-a-half years into the mass-media campaign, which involved prime-time television commercials and radio and billboard advertisements. Questionnaires on back-pain knowledge, such as how to avoid it, were used to determine the success of the campaign. General practitioners' beliefs and attitudes toward back pain were also recorded in a similar fashion.

The questionnaires were completed by almost 5,000 respondents in the general population and approximately 2,500 general practitioners. In Victoria, where the campaign was conducted, accurate knowledge about back pain increased significantly on the back-pain knowledge questionnaires. The population of New South Wales, which had no media campaign, showed no improvement in the questionnaire scores. In addition, general practitioners showed an increase in treatment knowledge in Victoria only.

This study shows that a broad-based media campaign may successfully improve society's knowledge about back pain. Back pain can be highly debilitating, yet is often avoidable through proper lifting techniques, strength training, good flexibility, etc. Ask your doctor of chiropractic about methods for avoiding low back pain.

Reference: Buchbinder R, Jolley D, Wyatt M. 2001 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies: Effects of a media campaign on back pain beliefs and its potential influence on management of low back pain in general practice. Spine 2001:26(23), pp. 2535-2542.

Wake Up and Smell the Sesame

Irritated, painful, and dehydrated sinuses are fairly common in dry climates. If you suffer from dry sinuses, you know that symptoms are most pronounced in dry environments: on airplanes, in air-conditioned rooms, and during the winter months. Saline solution nasal spray has traditionally been used to treat dry sinuses, yet pure sesame oil spray has been offered as an alternative form of treatment. So which is better?

To compare the effectiveness of saline spray to sesame oil spray in the treatment of dry nasal passages, the authors of a recent study in the Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery examined approximately 80 people who had suffered from the condition for an average of 13 years. The study was conducted in the winter in Sweden, during low outside relative humidity. The subjects were divided into two groups: One group used saline spray for two weeks, followed by sesame oil spray for two weeks, while the other group used the sprays in opposite order. Patients rated their symptoms (dryness, stuffiness, crusting) each evening.

Sesame oil won the contest. Eight of 10 using sesame oil reported improved symptoms after two weeks, while only three of 10 using saline reported improvement. Pure sesame oil spray was significantly more effective than saline for treating nasal dryness, and was somewhat better at relieving stuffiness and crusting. Although negative side effects occurred in both groups, including possible upper respiratory tract infection or nosebleeds, the authors write that these infections were consistent with infections that commonly occur in the population during winter in Sweden.

If you suffer from dry sinuses, consider using sesame oil spray as treatment. It offers a natural, drug-free option for eliminating this irritating condition. Check out https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/herbs.html for information on other herb and botanical remedies.

Reference: Johnsen J, Bratt BM, Michel-Barron O, et al. Pure sesame oil vs. isotonic sodium chloride solution as treatment for dry nasal mucosa. Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 2001:127(11), pp. 1353-1356.

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