Chronic fatigue syndrome may be caused by a virus

The connection viral gained notoriety when researchers from Nevada said they discovered a specific strain in the blood of two thirds of the 101 chronic fatigue patients studied.
A U.S. government study found a family of viruses that affects mice with chronic fatigue syndrome, which raises questions about whether the complicated disease may be related to an infection.
The study does not prove to have any of these viruses cause damage, said co-author Dr. Harve Alter of the National Institute of Health. But it reinforces that suspicion, and the government is conducting further investigations to determine if the link is real or not.
Meanwhile, a group of French and Canadian scientists said it was time to investigate whether new antiviral drugs such as those used for HIV can be treated at least some chronic fatigue patients and viruses.
The viral connection gained notoriety when researchers from Nevada said they discovered a specific variety, called XMRV, in the blood of two thirds of the 101 chronic fatigue patients studied. But several other studies, including one of the Center for Disease Contro and Prevention, did not detect the virus in patients XMRV, prompting researchers to ask whether it was a false alarm.

Chronic fatigue is caused by a virus

The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, thickens the mystery. This time, scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) examined the blood of 37 patients with chronic fatigue and also found no XMRV, but instead found a group of a family of viruses MLV in 86% of cases.
Tests to 44 healthy blood donors, by contrast, found evidence of such viruses by almost 7%.
Several viruses have been linked to chronic fatigue over the years only to be ruled out as possible culprits of mysterious disease affecting a million people in the U.S.. It is characterized by at least six months of severe fatigue, memory impairment and other symptoms, but does not have a screening test or specific treatment.

These MLV, an acronym in English of "virus of mouse leukemia related to" cause some varieties of cancer in mice and has found the relative of XMRV in some prostate tumors in humans.
But there is no simple way to detect it, which means that studies of a possible link at this point to be made in research laboratories and in doctors' offices, researchers at the FDA and the NIH on Monday.
No one knows how to infect humans, but Alter said it is conducting a large study to see if there is evidence of transmission through blood.
Meanwhile, federal regulators require that blood donors are healthy, said Dr. Hira Nakhasi, the FDA.

Blueberries for cystitis

After decades of debate over whether cranberry juice is really effective in preventing and treating urinary tract infections, U.S. scientists have recently submitted an essay that reveals the mechanisms by which this fruit can prevent cystitis. And they have done in the last meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS, its acronym in English) which is being held in Boston (USA).
Apparently, most cases of urinary tract infection and cystitis is caused by 'Escherichia coli', a bacterium found in the intestines. Urine helps remove bacteria from the bladder, but sometimes they grow so fast that some remains in that organ.
The new test, conducted by Terri Anne Camesano, Worcerster Polytechnic Institute (USA) and his team showed that cranberry juice works at the molecular level. 'E. coli 'is capable of adhering to the urinary tract and form thin' biofilms' that make the bacteria thrive in the body. The juice, however, has the "virtue" to prevent bacteria from sticking to urinary tract cells and 'make' the aforementioned 'biofilm'.

Blueberries cure the  cystitis

Thus, it is easier for the bacteria are expelled with the urine and reduce the risk of infection. In fact, the authors found that the protective substances of cranberry juice were able to coat the urinary tract and prevent bacterial adhesion only eight hours after consumption in a group of volunteer women with recurrent cystitis in which the urine was analyzed before and after ingestion of cranberry juice cure the cystitis.

Javier Angulo, head of the department of Urology, Hospital Universitario de Getafe (Madrid), recognizes that "the test data are interesting because they provide a possible mechanism by which cranberry may be beneficial: to reduce and prevent bacterial adherence biofilm formation. It is the first demonstrated in vivo, since it compares the characteristics of bacteria isolated from people who have taken juice with those isolated in people who have not swallowed, thus giving an idea of the effects getting the cranberry. However, these results can not yet be extrapolated to the clinic. "
Camesano scientist admits that "there is a large number of studies have been controlled well designed and carried out with exquisite care, concluding that cranberry juice is really effective in preventing systitis and the urinary tract infections. This has important implications Since the disease has a high incidence and generates high costs. "
According to the Spanish Urological Association, the "urinary tract infections, and more specifically of uncomplicated lower tract (cystitis) are, after breathing, the second largest group of community-acquired infections and are a frequent cause of consultation in primary care .
Despite the new evidence, the principal investigator shows its "reservations to those affected by this type of infection is 'self-treat' and invites them to see a doctor at the slightest suspicion. Urinary tract infections can progress rapidly and if not treated with antibiotics, can cause serious illness, especially in children, the elderly or individuals with chronic health problems. "
The same view shows the doctor Angulo, who insists that "urinary tract infections are a serious problem, but has been treated with great disdain. It is important that women know that the three existing mechanisms that have proven their effectiveness in reducing cystitis are to support the urinary stream (with increased fluid intake), maintaining a pH of acid urine (which is achieved with an orange juice a day or eating a tin of sardines, the preservative that is) and keep oily skin mantle. In other words, excessive use of soap is bad for these women because it eliminates bacteria from the vagina normal genitals and causes the colonization of those who do are bad. "

Americans confused about health reform

Julia Wood, a 51-year-old mother of 12 children of Chicago, has some health coverage through a state program, but is so worried about the possibility of losing it did not offer his real name when asked.
Wood's husband, a plumbing contractor, saw its business to a halt in 2008 with the mortgage crisis.
"The economy hit us," Wood said in an interview with the Chicago Family Health Center, a nonprofit organization.
Like millions of Americans, she hopes the health reform initiative that President Barack Obama became law with his signature in March between the effect. But like millions of Americans, not sure what it will do for her.
A Thomson Reuters survey on consumer confidence released on Monday showed that Americans' confidence in their ability to pay and access to health services has fallen by 5 percent since December 2009.
The Thomson Reuters index of consumer opinion on health services was based on a monthly survey of 3,000 consumers, who were asked whether they had problems paying or had to postpone health care in the previous three months.

Health reform in United State

They were also asked if they thought they would have to make that decision in the next three months.
In each survey question, responses were more pessimistic than they were in July-December.
"This is a reason of concern for health providers and policy makers," he said in a statement Gary Pickens, principal research manager at Thomson Reuters, parent company of Reuters.Pickens has seen a gradual erosion of confidence since December, despite a few notable peaks such as in April, the month after Congress passed the Health Act accessible.
"I doubt the average person really knows who has been implemented (...) They just know there is much discussion and a lot of negative publicity," he added.

David Kendall, an expert on health and tax policy ThirdWay, an expert group of centrist, said that dissatisfaction with the current health system probably reflects a disappointment after the health reform debate is over."The health reform debate raised expectations of people and there is a disappointing result because it did not solve the problem," said Kendall.
He said the growing dissatisfaction with the health system could help the Democrats who supported the health reform, but could also be divisive.
The Thomson Reuters poll, Republicans tend to have slightly greater confidence about their access to health, which could be related to employment, Pickens said.
"Clearly, at the top of the pyramid, the most important factor is related to coverage, Pickens said in a telephone interview." It's related to your employment situation and obviously, many people in the country without work " added.