Researchers from North Carolina State University have found a gene that gives Salmonella resistance to antibiotics of last resort in a sample taken from a human patient in the U.S. The find is the first evidence that the gene mcr-3.1 has made its way into the U.S. from Asia.

It’s not just Moms: Just ahead of Father’s Day, a new survey finds that about half of American dads say they’ve been criticised about their parenting styles.

The way they enforced discipline topped the list of things naysayers called them to task on, with two-thirds of critiques focused on that subject.

Mixed messages

Forty-four percent of the time, the criticism came from a family member, often the other child-rearing partner, the findings showed.

“Addressing a child’s misbehaviour is one of the greatest challenges of parenting, and parents aren’t always on the same page when it comes to expectations and consequences,” said survey co-director Sarah Clark, of the University of Michigan.

That could prove problematic for families, Clark said.

“Inconsistency between parents in responding to a child’s behaviour can send mixed messages to the child, and result in conflict and criticism between parents,” she explained in a university news release.

The next big topic for dad shaming involved the kinds of food men gave their kids (40% of critiques).

Not paying enough attention to the children was also an issue of contention, as was the accusation that dad-child playtime could get too rough – about one-third of fathers said they’d felt judged for these two things.

Dads may feel demoralised

Other issues raised had to do with how a dad’s parenting style impacted a child’s sleep habits, safety or overall appearance.

The new data comes from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. This analysis was drawn from data gleaned from 713 fathers of kids up to the age of 13.

There’s a fine line between well-meant parenting advice and destructive shaming, Clark said. In about half of cases, fathers said they had responded to criticism by making a change to their parenting style. But in other cases, criticisms backfired.

“While some fathers say criticism prompts them to seek more information about good parenting practices, too much disparagement may cause dads to feel demoralised about their parental role,” Clark explained.

In fact, more than one-quarter of dads surveyed said these negative judgments undermined their parental confidence, while 20% said that it discouraged them from getting more engaged with parenting. Roughly four in 10 said they thought many criticisms from partners or outsiders were largely unfair.

Clark’s advice: “Family members – especially the other parent – should be willing to acknowledge that different parenting styles are not necessarily incorrect or harmful.”

Definitely counterproductive

Fathers tended to rate themselves rather highly, with nine in every 10 saying that they thought dads typically did a good job at parenting. But about one in every 10 also felt that outsiders – teachers, doctors, nurses – automatically assumed dads weren’t knowledgeable about their child’s needs or behaviours.

“Some fathers say they feel that professionals who interact with their child are dismissive of their parental role,” Clark said.

That’s definitely counterproductive, she noted.

“Even subtle forms of disparagement can undercut fathers’ confidence or send the message that they are less important to their child’s well-being,” Clark said. “Professionals who work with children should avoid negative assumptions about fathers’ level of involvement or interest in parenting.”

Reflection of historical gender roles

Besides partners, grandparents were the next greatest dad critics (24%), followed by fathers’ own friends (9%).

Why do some people believe fathers need their “helpful” advice?

“In some instances, this may be a reflection of historical gender roles, where mothers are viewed as more natural caregivers, and fathers as having limited parenting capabilities that need supervision or correction. When this occurs, minor differences in parenting style can cause conflict over the ‘best’ way to parent,” Clark said.

“Cultural norms, family dynamics and prior experience with his own father can also shape a dad’s parenting style and influence the expectations of others,” she added.

^{Image credit: iStock}

Apart from the sheer fun of owning a pet, having a dog enhances well-being and even personal growth in many ways.

Caring for a dog teaches kids responsibility and offers everyone in the family unconditional love. Many studies have found that the social support that dogs – and pets in general – provide boosts their owner’s emotional health.

Minimum exercise guidelines

There are also many physical benefits to dog ownership.

Walking Rover on a regular basis – once or twice every day – can help you reach your own daily exercise goals and, in turn, lower your heart disease risk.

In fact, according to one study, owners who walk their dogs on a regular basis are over 50% more likely to meet minimum exercise guidelines.

Surprisingly, though, many people simply don’t walk their dogs enough for them or their pets to get in a good workout.

The advantages of having a dog extend beyond the home.

A new colleague?

Bringing your pooch to work can reduce your stress. And studies by researchers at Central Michigan University suggest the presence of a four-legged “co-worker” can boost cooperation, bonding and trust among employees.

That’s important because getting people to work effectively as a group is often a challenge, even when companies try to engage staffers with activities like team-bonding exercises.

For the study, researchers divided participants into groups with and without a dog, and gave each group creative tasks to complete.

People in the groups with a dog showed more enthusiasm and energy, and felt more closeness and trust than those without a dog. It seems that having a dog in the room encourages kind and helpful behaviour, which in turn can help boost how well you do.

If your workplace morale needs a jolt, consider a canine addition to the staff.

^{Image credit: iStock}

The much-anticipated results of the first-of-its-kind study investigating the risk of HIV in women using three different birth control methods are finally out.

The world has been waiting to find out whether South Africa’s most popular birth control – Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (commonly known as Depo Provera) – increases women’s risk of HIV. 

For three decades, observational research has suggested there may be a risk of HIV infection. The lack of certainty of whether using Depo-Provera is linked to a higher risk of HIV infection in women has been dubbed as a “public health conundrum”, said Tim Mastro, chief science officer at FHI360 and a member of the ECHO management committee that led the study.

The research was conducted to determine whether this three-month injection, as well as two other contraception methods (a 10-year copper IUD and a two-month progestin-only injection) increase women’s risk of HIV.

It was conducted in eSwatini, South Africa, Zambia and Kenya and enrolled more than 7 800 women. Nine of the 12 sites were in South Africa. Previous data from observational studies have suggested some correlation, but there hasn’t been a clear outcome. Until now.  

So, what does this study reveal? 

1. Depo Provera ≠ HIV 

There is no risk of HIV infection among women using any of the selected three contraceptives, the study found.But more importantly, the confusion regarding South Africa’s most used birth control Depo Provera can finally be brought to an end. 

“After decades of uncertainty, we finally have high-quality scientific evidence about the potential relationship between three different types of contraceptives and the risk of HIV from a rigorous randomised clinical trial,” said Helen Rees, Wits RHI executive director and a member of the ECHO management committee that led the study.

2. HIV infection rate is ‘sobering’

Although all’s well when it comes to the contraceptives’ risks of HIV, there were still infections during the study.

Researchers found an alarmingly high HIV rate among the participants. Close to 400 of the 7 829 women who took part in the study were infected with HIV during the trial.

This means about four in every 100 women were infected with the virus each year. “[There were] 143 HIV infections in women who used Depo Provera, 138 from those on the copper-bearing IUD and 116 in women who used a levonorgestrel implant,” said Dr Jared Baeten, a member of the ECHO management team. 

Half of the study participants reported not using a condom the last time they had sex, he added. Additionally, sexually transmitted infections were common at the start of the trial; with 18% having chlamydia, 5% gonorrhoea and 38% with the herpes simplex virus. 

“The study highlights the need to step up HIV prevention efforts in these high-burden countries — particularly for young women,” said Dr Rachel Baggaley from the World Health Organisation’s HIV and Hepatitis Department. 

“Women deserve better access to HIV testing and prevention in family planning settings. Women already have contact with healthcare workers, it’s an ideal opportunity not only to receive contraception choices but also to be offered HIV testing and a range of prevention,” she said.

3. All’s clear, but Depo must still go 

Activists have welcomed the clarity regarding the link between HIV and birth control methods, especially Depo Provera. However, some feel that the research doesn’t address the concerns and questions about the usage of the three-month injection. 

“The HIV risk is not the only thing we are worried about,” said Yvette Raphael, the global community advisory group member of the study. 

“Our concerns are that this is the only long-acting method available for too many black and brown women who want choices, dislike side effects and deserve equity with high-quality contraceptive programmes in high-income countries.” Raphael said that girls and young women are forced into using Depo Provera by health workers in public clinics and hospitals. 

Mpumalanga-based Nomcebo Khoza told Health-e that she had never been given a choice between the injection and pills. “The nurse told me to use Depo Provera injection because they felt I will fail to take my pills every day,” she said.

– Health-e News

^{Image credit: iStock}

Health-e News

Nearly three-quarters of services are failing the 62-day target. But which service has the worst record?

Most new moms have loads of questions about breastfeeding after having their first child. How can I tell if my newborn is getting enough milk? Should breastfeeding be this painful? Etc, etc. However, here’s one that we haven’t seen before (until now): What happens if you start lactating from your vulva?

A case report published yesterday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology has brought this nearly unbelievable question to our attention.

The case report features the story of a 29-year-old woman who, four days after giving birth, suffered painful vulvar swelling. Her vulva was not only swollen and painful but also leaking “milky white fluid.”

When doctors took a closer look at the patient’s vulva, they found breast tissue in it. Yes, you read that right. “Ultrasound examination was consistent with lactational breast tissue,” the case report says.

So…how does that happen? It turns out the woman had what’s called ectopic breast tissue. Ectopic breast tissue, also known as accessory breast tissue, is breast tissue that’s present outside the breasts. It can be found anywhere from the armpit to the groin, and it’s present from birth. “Ectopic breast tissue, defined as mammary glands located outside of the breast, arises from remnants of the embryonic ‘milk line’ or mammary ridge,” the new case report explains. Women with accessory breast tissue can have extra nipples or areolas; this condition is called polythelia.

RELATED: What Is Vinpocetine? FDA Says This Ingredient in Dietary Supplements Might Increase Your Risk of Having a Miscarriage

Below are photos of a woman featured in a different case report. You can see her accessory breast tissue in her armpit.

Ectopic breast tissue can potentially be malignant just like regular breast tissue. The new case report explains that it’s important that doctors recognize the possibility of ectopic breast tissue in the vulva so as not to mistake it for a vulvar mass, such as a vulvar carcinoma.

The patient featured in the new case report had received sutures after giving birth, and they were covering the excretory duct in her vulva. She was given oral antibiotics to treat a “slight inflammatory reaction” that occurred around her incision. After the sutures were removed, the patient’s pain, swelling, and the milk secretion coming from her vulva decreased. The case report states that the woman was able to continue breastfeeding.

It also notes that doctors warned the patient that her ectopic breast tissue of the vulva could become malignant. However, as of one year after giving birth, the patient hadn’t opted to have her vulvar breast tissue excised.

RELATED: A New Breast Cancer Treatment Can Extend the Lives of Younger Patients, Study Finds

Eshowe uThungulu District Municipality has reached the United Nations HIV programme’s 90-90-90 targets a year ahead of the deadline, new research from international medical humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has found.

The study showed that 90% of participants in the KwaZulu-Natal town of Eshowe living with HIV know their status, 94% are taking antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and 95% of those on treatment have a suppressed viral load – meaning, the  HIV in their blood is so low it’s undetectable which proves that ARVs are working.

Virally suppressed

UNAIDS goals are that by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their status; 90% of those diagnosed with HIV will be on treatment and 90% of those will also be virally suppressed.

The results were released at the ninth annual South African AIDS Conference hosted in Durban.

As a follow-up to MSF’s 2013 survey, the study conducted interviews and tested about 3,200 people between the ages of 15 to 59 in the area. The viral loads of all participants who tested HIV-positive were measured, regardless of whether or not they were on treatment. The results showed an overall increase in people’s awareness of their HIV status and those on treatment.

One of the biggest highlights from the study was the results of men in the uptake of HIV testing and treatment.

Men make a mark

Male participants who started treatment doubled since 2013, and additionally, there was a staggering increase – by almost a third – in male participants who tested for HIV.

There was also an overall increase of 14% of people who knew their HIV status, which also grew the number of people starting ARV treatment in the area by a quarter.

MSF worked with the KwaZulu-Natal Health Department and used, among other methods, door-to-door testing by community health workers and adherence clubs to make sure people stayed on treatment.

“We’ve shown that it’s possible to reach 90-90-90 in an area with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the country, where one in four people is living with HIV. These results are a testament to the full engagement of the entire community,” said Dr. Liesbet Ohler, MSF’s project medical referent in Eshowe.

But, there’s still a long way to go to.

The latest HIV household study shows that 85% of South Africans know their HIV status, only 71% of those infected with the virus are on ARVs and 86% have an undetectable viral load.

Notably, KwaZulu-Natal has the highest HIV prevalence across the country.

While girls and young women remain at risk, MSF said HIV-positive young men continue to be left behind.

– Health-e News

Piet Motaung

Hayley had a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of hereditary breast cancer.

The government is consulting on the plan, aimed at preventing birth defects such as spina bifida.

Cannabis has been cultivated as an oil-seed and fibre crop for millennia in East Asia. Little is known, however, about the early use and eventual cultivation of the plant for its psychoactive and medicinal properties. Despite being one of the most widely used psychoactive drugs in the world today, there is little archaeological or historical evidence for the use of marijuana in the ancient world. The current study, published in the journal Science Advances, identified psychoactive compounds preserved in 2,500-year-old funerary incense burners from the Jirzankal Cemetery in the eastern Pamirs. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences have shown that people were selecting plants with higher levels of THC, and burning them as part of mortuary rituals. This is the earliest clear evidence to date of cannabis being used for its psychoactive properties.