Newest study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology states that lavender oil has a potential antifungal effect. It was destructive to strains of fungi responsible for common skin and nail infections. The oil was used to defeat a wide range of different fungi, but it turned out to be efficient against dermatophytes and various species of Candida. Read full text »

Study from Columbia University Medical Center shows that bones are connected with male fertility. Scientist in ahead of print report demonstrated that the skeleton, through a hormone released by bones, acts as a fertility regulator in male mice. This mysterious hormone is well known osteocalcin. Read full text »

Stem cells are self replicable cells that can differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types. Their special abilities have been investigated by many researchers and now are being used against diseases such as leukemia. In the near future they are also expected to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, cardiac ischaemia or bone loss. Naturally, a growing interest has been shown also amongst dental researchers. Their main goal is to replace the infected dental tissues with patient’s own stem cells and induce their growth leading to a full regeneration of the damaged tooth. With a little bit of luck this conceptual approach to the therapy named “regenerative dentistry” will soon have its place in the clinical practice. Read full text »

Cancer is a common problem that affects people irrespective of race, age or gender. Highly developed countries inhabitants and cigarette smokers are more susceptible to this malady. Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. The main factor causing this illness is tobacco – regardless of whether it is smoked, chewed or snuffed. The treatment consists of surgical procedure or in some cases of ionizing radiation. With advanced lesions using both surgical methods and post-operative radiation treatment is strongly recommended. After the cisplatin introduction, chemotherapy seemed to be a remedy for cancer control. Unfortunately, oral squamous cell carcinoma is unique – not responsive to chemotherapeutic treatment. For this reason, searching for new solutions in cancer therapy is crucial. Read full text »

In July 2010 UK drug regulators approved Botox as a treatment for chronic type of migraine(1). The next to go was FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), which made the same move in October last year(2). The use of botulinum toxin in prevention of migraine attacks has been discussed for more than 10 years but due to extensive research only now has it become possible to make full use of a substance associated mostly with cosmetic surgery. Read full text »

The foreign travels to tropical countries are bound up with infectious and parasitic diseases. It’s because of low level of health care in some countries and the occurence of endemic pathogens.
Prophylaxis is the most important task of travel medicine. There are three aspects:
- vaccinations before the trip
- chemoprophylaxis of malaria
- application of preventive measures against insects’ stings.
Current recommendations for travelers are published by the WHO and Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC). Read full text »

Latest study from the Journal of Virology shows that prion disease spreads in sheep via mother’s milk. Sheep were infected with a common retrovirus causing mastitis and with misfolded prions. After collecting milk from animals, it was given to lambs, that had never been exposed to prions. The lambs were diagnosed with prion disease after two years, which suggested that there was a high level of prion infectivity in milk. Read full text »