Insidermedicine in 60 - August 26, 2008

From Toronto - Canadian health officials have confirmed that the death toll in the Maple Leaf Foods listeriosis outbreak has risen to 12, with 26 confirmed cases of the illness. In addition, health officials are investigating another 29 suspected cases. Listeriosis is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, infants and people with weak immune systems.

From New York - According to research in the journal Cancer, burning incense may increase the risk of respiratory cancers. In a 12-year study of over 61,000 people living in Singapore, those who burned incense regularly had a higher risk for cancer of the respiratory tract. Of the people studied, 325 developed cancer of the upper respiratory tract and 821 developed lung cancer. There was also an 80% higher risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma.

And finally, from Belfast - According to a study published in Diabetologia, babies born by caesarean section are more likely to develop diabetes. By examining data from 20 published studies, researchers found that children born by c-section had a 20% increased risk of Type 1 diabetes. Currently, about 24% of English women give birth by c-section, a rate much higher than the 15% recommended by the World Health Organization.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.

Category:

Science & Technology

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• maple
• leaf
• foods
• meats
• processed
• listeriosis
• poison
• outbreak
• illness
• death
• incense
• asia
• smoke
• burn
• caesarean
• birth
• baby