Vaccines for “The Common Cold”

Vaccines are common protective agents against many diseases, some of which could be fatal such as smallpox, Hepatitis A and B, Lyme disease, and tuberculosis, just to name a few. While it’s rare that epidemics of these diseases occur today in industrialized nations, we still struggle with one particularly stubborn illness: Nasopharyngitis, better known as “The Common Cold.”

Researchers have discovered that annual costs associated with the common cold are near $40 billion, which includes doctor visits, emergency room appearances, and over-the-counter remedies and supplies for treatment. As a nation, we purchase piles of cold pills, aspirins, and alternatives such as Echinacea and Vitamin C tablets just to help beat the common cold. In many cases, the immunization system of the recipient oftentimes renders these remedies ineffective.

So, why not create a vaccine? We have one for influenza, which is a virus as well; so it stands to reason that a common cold vaccine is possible. It actually is, but it hasn’t yet been perfected.

According to a July 2 journal review of vaccines for the common cold, Ecuadorian researchers found that any common cold vaccine currently in development has been largely ineffective for humans. With such a ubiquitous illness, why can’t we eradicate it?

Unfortunately, the common cold virus is ever mutating, making it almost impossible to fight against it through vaccinations. In fact, scientists have been working for more than 40 years to perfect a vaccine for the common cold and have failed. We came close in a 1966 when a particular strain of the common cold was actually halted by a manmade vaccine. Yet, when the virus mutated, the immunization was no longer reliable. 

We are close again, according to a study released in 2011. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Scientist Todd Rider has developed an antiviral drug known as Draco (Double-stranded RNA Activated Caspase Oligomerizer), which has so far proven effective against several common cold strains in laboratory trials with human tissue. It has not been given to an actual human being yet. Designed to rapidly kill virus-infected cells while not harming uninfected ones, DRACO is still in test phases with animals.

Until we actually have a safe and effective vaccine, we’re basically stuck with our old methods of dealing with the common cold. The “Dummies” Series of books published by Wiley & Sons provides seven tried and true methods that can shorten the duration of your summer cold (or at least make you feel better while you have the cold):

1.      Wash your hands often. Germs readily spread by your hands touching infected objects or other people (as in a handshake). Keep them clean!

2.      Use hand sanitizers. If you do not have ready access to soap and water, make sure you use antibacterial hand sanitizers that kill germs. But, don’t use this as a substitute for hand washing. Use the sanitizer as a temporary solution until you can get to soap and water.

3.      Drink plenty of fluids. Water is the best liquid for you to not only hydrate your body but flush out the cold. Orange juice is another option as it can also provide Vitamin C, which has some efficacy in shortening your cold symptoms.

4.      Rest and sleep. While it’s hard to stay indoors when the weather is so nice, but making sure you rest your body can help it fight the virus faster. That could mean heading to bed an hour or so early…or perhaps sleeping in!

5.      Spend time in the sun (limiting your activities). Studies have shown that colds are more often caught while trapped indoors with recycled air or limited air circulation. Even air conditioned spaces can still harbor the virus. Perhaps combine your rest by napping outside (wear sunscreen!).

6.      Treat the symptoms. While there is no cure for the common cold, there are treatments to ease your symptoms. While Naturopaths and some medical practitioners recommend letting the cold run its course, there are over-the-counter remedies to alleviate the runny nose and coughing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration highly encourages those who opt to use over-the-counter medicines to follow the recommended doses. The FDA notes that more health problems and complications occur with the common cold when these drugs are used in excess.

7.      Eat fruits and vegetables. With summer in full swing, we now have access to local produce. Eating fruits and vegetables that are rich in nutrients will boost your immune system and help rid your body of that nasty cold virus.

One common mistake that people often make in regards to the common cold is reach for an antibiotic. This is never a good idea. Public health professionals have noted that an antibiotic may appear to eliminate the cold faster; it really does nothing to stop the virus. All it does is reduce the effectiveness of the antibiotic when you really need it. This is how our bodies have become resistant to some new diseases (such as MRSA) because of the overuse of antibiotics.

If your cold symptoms persist after the traditional 7-10 day cycle, you may have more than a cold. This is when a check-up with your primary care physician is warranted.

References:

Hegarty, S. (2011). Is a cure for the common cold on the way? Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16165605.

Jawad, M., Schoop, R., Suter, A., Klein, P., and Eccles, R. (2012). Safety and efficacy profile of Echinacea purpurea to prevent common cold episodes: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1-7.

Olszewska, W., Zambon, M., and Openshaw, P. J. M. (2002). Development of vaccines against common colds. British Medical Bulletin, 62(1), 99-111.

Rider, T. H., Zook, C. E., Boettcher, T. L., Wick, S. T., Pancoast, J. S., and Zusman, B. D. (2011). Broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics. PLoS One, 6(7), 1-15.

Simancas-Racines, D., Guerra, C. V., and Hidalgo, R. (2013). Vaccines for the common cold. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews, 6.

Stewart, D. (2013). Draco, the new virus killer, coming to a store near you soon. Retrieved from http://deekstewart10.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/draco-the-new-virus-killer-coming-to-a-store-near-you-soon/.

Wiley, J. & Sons. (2013). How to treat summer colds. Retrieved from http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-treat-summer-colds.html.

Professional Athletes after 100?

Who says you can’t play professional sports after that “magical” old age number? Most people understand that a professional athlete's career may last into his or her 30s, but rarely beyond. Well, several people across the world have challenged the fact that even after 100, you can still be a professional competitor.

Let’s look a few amazing senior citizens:

Herman Smith-Johannsen (1875-1987) – At 104, Johannsen, more commonly known as “The Fabulous Jack Rabbit, competed in his final professional cross-country ski event. He was known as a pioneer of the skiing world and earned his nickname for his uncanny ability to hop around in the deepest snow in the thickest of forests. He settled in Cleveland and helped to popularize the sport of cross-country skiing in both Canada and the United States. After competing in hundreds of ski events, including several Olympic competitions, he was finally inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame at age 107. He was 111 when he died.

John Whittemore (1899-2005) – At age 104, only six weeks prior to his 105^th birthday, he competed in the Master’s Track meet in Santa Barbara, California. He was a javelin and discus thrower and set a new world record for the oldest professional Track and Field athlete.

Buddy Helms (1915-2003) – At age 87, he was a professional race car driver, his first racing being the first-ever NASCAR sanctioned race in 1949. Helms was actually still working at the time of his death as he was working on his vintage Chevrolet marine engine when gasoline ignited severely burning him.

Fred Davis (1913-1998) – At age 78, he was one of England’s more famous professional snooker and billiards player. He won both snooker and billiards. His professional career spanned from 1929 to 1993.

Jerry Barber (1916-1994) – At age 77, he was still a professional golfer playing on the PGA Tour. His biggest claim to fame was unseating Arnold Palmer in 1961 as Player of the Year on the PGA tour. That would have been at age 45 at the time. He played his last professional golf game at the Buick Invitational the same year he died.

Raja Maharaj Singh (1878-1959) – At age 72, he was still part of the professional Cricket team in Bombay. In fact, he was the captain of the team.

Albert Beckles (1930 – ) – At age 61, he won the Niagara Falls Pro Invitational bodybuilding competition in 1991. He was 5’7” and 218 pounds of pure muscle. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Becklees holds multiple international titles over his lifetime of bodybuilding.

Jeannie Longo (1958 – ) – At age 54, Jeannie Longo is still active in the professional cycling circles and is considered one of the greatest female cyclists of all time. She is a 59-time French champion and 13-time world champion cyclist. She may be most remembered for her Olympic competition in 1984. She also competed in the women’s road race in the 2008 summer Olympics, her 7^th Olympic appearance.

 Gordon Howe (1928 – ) – At age 52, he goes down as the oldest ice hockey player having been a professional with the Detroit Red Wings. He is a four-time Stanley Cup holder, and is currently retired living in Canada.

How do these people do it? Activity. In reviewing these individual’s biographies, it is adamantly clear that staying active in whatever interests you can keep both your mind and body alive and well.  Studies have long shown that staying fit and active will not only keep you living longer but will keep you living healthier.

I’m in awe over Johannsen’s cross-country skiing activities. From what I have read, the man has skied enough mileage in his lifetime that he has probably covered the distance around the earth several times! His energy comes from remaining active…active for life!

Regardless of your age or existing health, anything that you can do to improve your fitness will improve your health. Remember, you should talk with your primary care physician or health care provider before trying anything crazy. Who knows, you could be the next centurion competing in the Sochi Olympics!

References

The Auto Channel. (2013). Buddy Helms oldest NASCAR drive died from burns at age 87. Retrieved from http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2003/12/02/173688.html.

Farfan, M. (2013). Herman “Jackrabbit” Smith-Johannsen (1875-1987). Retrieved from http://laurentian.quebecheritageweb.com/article/herman-jackrabbit-smith-johannsen-1875-1987.

Wikipedia. (2013). List of oldest professional athletes by sport. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_professional_athletes_by_sport.

Caution: Manis and Pedis may be harmful to your health

Your next manicure or pedicure could actually do you more harm than good. Fingernail polish and its obvious cousin, nail polish remover, contain a plethora of toxic chemicals that are known to cause or associated with cancer, reproductive disabilities, asthma, and other harmful health consequences.

The focus today is on nail polish. Most commercial nail polishes contain what has been coined the “toxic trio” more commonly known by chemists as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, and toluene.

DBP is an agent that adds the shine to your nail polish and basically makes your fingernails (or toes) sparkle. But, DBP is a toxin that has been linked reproductive disorders in males. A 2005 study found that males exposed to DBP while in their mother’s womb can adversely affect the male reproductive organs. Basically, the study found that DBP exposure impairs testicular function.

A more recent study conducted in 2010 connected DBP exposure to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and low intelligence of school-age children. Furthermore, a study published in January’s issue of PLoS One, a biology-focused academic journal, discovered a strong connection between DBP and the inheritance of obesity.

We’re only one-third done defining the dangers of the toxic trio. Moving onto formaldehyde, this carcinogen has been linked to cancer, particularly when inhaled. In fact, recent studies have found that formaldehyde exposure may be a causal factor for nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. Because of this most recent research, the EPA has posed new rules for formaldehyde emissions, reducing the amount of the toxic chemical permitted into the atmosphere. Nail polish contains the chemical because of its hardening effect. Your polish would be rather pliable without the hardener. The agent is found in more products than just nail polish; however, no matter what the form, the danger still exists.

Toluene is used to produce a smooth finish over the finger/toe nails. It also is harmful to the human nervous and reproductive systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that exposures can cause extreme fatigue, mental confusion, nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Furthermore, extreme exposures have been linked to depression of the central nervous system as well as the bone marrow – both of which could be fatal.

While most people who receive manicures and pedicures do so with limited exposure to the toxic trio, the biggest risk is aimed at salon workers. These are the people who are exposed to the chemicals for at least 8 hours or more.

However, any exposure can be harmful and perhaps fatal, so it might be good to check on your salon’s product brands before your next visit. There are some manufacturers that have eliminated the use of the toxic trio from their products. So far, OPI, a leading nail polish brand, no longer uses the toxic trio in any of its products. It appears that Orly and Sally Hansen has followed suit. More information on safe cosmetics can be found through the Safe Cosmetics Action Network at www.safecosmetics.org.

References

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. (2011). Nail products and salons. Retrieved from http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=224.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Documentations for immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations: Toluene. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/108883.html.

Cho, S.-C., Bhang, S.-Y., Hong, Y.-C., Shin, M.-S., Kim, B.-N., Kim, J.-W., Yoo, H.-J., Cho, I. H., & Kim, H.-W. (2010). Relationship between environmental phthalate exposure and the intelligence of school-age children. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(7), 1027-1032.

Frost, L. (2013). EPA proposes new rules for formaldehyde emissions. Chemical Week, 175(16), 13.

Manikkam, M., Tracey, R., Guerrero-Bosagna, C., and Skinner, M. K. (2013). Plastics derived endocrine disruptors (BPA, DEHP and DBP) induce epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of obesity, reproductive disease and sperm epimutations. PLoS ONE, 8(1), special section 1-18.

National Cancer Institute. (2013). Formaldehyde and cancer risk. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde.

Swan, S. H., Main, K. M., Liu, F., Stewart, S. L., Kruse, R. L., Calafat, A. M., Mao, C. S. …Teague, J. L. (2005). Decrease in anogenital distance among male infants with prenatal phthalate exposure. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(8), 1056-1061.

Laundry Pods are NOT Candy

Those colorful pods of laundry detergent can actually do more harm than good. Recent reports from poison control centers across the country found that children are mistaking these colorful bite-sized casings for candy.

Last year, poison control centers reported 1,008 laundry detergent exposures in just one month. Of those cases, almost half were from ingesting the pods or having them burst into the eyes or cause skin irritations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that almost 90% of those with detergent pods exposures were children age 5 or younger.

The National Poison Data System found that 180,493 exposures to household cleaning products were reported in 2010 with 8,685 resulting from laundry detergents (all types).  The laundry pod was just introduced to the United States in 2010, whereas they have been available in Europe for more than 10 years. Based on European data, laundry pod poisonings and exposures accounted for 96% of the reported annual cases involving children age 5 and under. Ingestions accounted for 80% of those cases. Since the pods have been introduced in the United States, there have been more than 9,000 accidental poisonings from the pods. That number continues to grow as more people use the convenient product.

Unfortunately, you can’t blame a child’s curiosity for his or her interest in the cute, quishy, fun-sized pods. They look like a new toy or a delicious piece of candy. Because of their packaging in clear plastic containers, they truly do give the impression that they are edible pieces of candy with a juicy center. Of course they appear tasty in the eyes of a child.

Despite that glorious appearance, they are considerably dangerous with some toddlers being hospitalized after ingesting the high-concentrate liquid inside.

What can be done about keeping the product from your child? While it may be convenient to leave the laundry detergent pods sit in plain view by the washing machine, they really should be placed out of a child’s reach. (Of course, this would be true of all household chemical products.) Several manufacturers, including Proctor and Gamble (makers of Tide), have indicated they plan to repackage the pods in opaque containers rather than clear ones to deter little eyes from spying them out. Proctor and Gamble has also noted they were putting a double-locking system on the pod’s storage bins. However, locking them in a cabinet and out of a child’s reach is the best way to avoid accidental poisoning.

If you child does ingest the product, the CDC urges the parents or guardians to rinse out the child’s mouth well to extract as much of the product as possible. The next step is to call your local poison control center. To go one step beyond the recommendations, parents should consider contacting the child’s pediatrician.

Health researchers as well as consumer products research have discovered that the pods are safe for use as long as they are used in accordance to package directions. Eating them is not a safe option.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Health hazards associated with laundry detergent pods – United States, May-June 2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 61(41), 825-829.

Weiler, E. (2013). Contact 2: Laundry pods poisoning children. Retrieved from http://fox2now.com/2013/05/01/contact-2-laundry-pods-poisoning-children/

Proctor and Gamble. (2013). Thanks for helping us spread the word, for the safety of our little ones. Our response to recent reports of incidents involving single pack detergents. Retrieved from http://news.pg.com/blog/tide-pods/thanks-helping-us-spread-word-safety-our-little-ones.