Researchers find that bacterial vaginosis is really an STI
A groundbreaking new study suggests BV isn't just an imbalance—it's sexually transmitted. And the key to stopping it may not lie in treating women alone but in treating their male partners as well.
'One dominant risk factor… in our clinical studies was a regular partner,' says Catriona Bradshaw, an author of the study and a clinician at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre at Monash University. '[It] kept popping out and just smacking us between the eyes, and we got to a point where we thought 'we just have to do a partner treatment trial.''
Is bacterial vaginosis sexually transmitted?
BV occurs when the perfect storm of bacteria combines in the vagina. Unlike typical sexually transmitted infections (STIs), no single pathogen is responsible. But, it has long been suspected that these bacteria can be sexually transmitted.
'We've had evidence for many years that bacterial vaginosis might be a sexually transmitted infection, based on data that includes increased risk of bacterial vaginosis with increasing number of sexual partners, increased risk with sex without a condom, and other evidence,' says David Fredricks, a clinician and microbiologist at the University of Washington. 'Although this hypothesis has been out there for many decades, some limited studies of male partner treatment to eradicate BV associated bacteria have not met with success.'
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Scientific American
3 hours ago
- Scientific American
Why Hurricanes like Erin Trigger Rip Currents Hundreds of Miles Away
On August 19 Hurricane Erin is crawling past the Bahamas as a strong Category 2 storm and is due to head toward the Carolinas and then veer northeast over the open Atlantic Ocean. Although the storm's eye may never come within 300 miles of the mainland U.S., most of the East Coast—from Miami to Maine—is under a moderate or high risk of rip currents. In the U.S. rip currents cause about 100 fatal drownings each year and are responsible for four out of five beach rescues, according to a 2019 study. Here's the science behind how rip currents work, why hurricanes can cause them at such great distances from land and what beachgoers need to know about the threat. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Rip Currents Explained Rip currents are a common phenomenon even without a hurricane roiling the distant ocean, says Melissa Moulton, a coastal physical oceanographer at the University of Washington. 'Rip currents are strong seaward currents that are caused by breaking waves,' she says. 'They can be as narrow as an alleyway or as wide as a multilane highway; they can last for just a few minutes or sometimes a number of hours.' At their fastest, they can beat an Olympic swimmer. These currents are an inevitable by-product of ocean physics on a complex shoreline, says Chris Houser, a coastal geomorphologist at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. Waves 'are constantly moving water toward that shoreline,' Houser says. That might sound obvious, but there's a corollary people may not think about too carefully, he adds: all that water has 'got to go somewhere.' That 'where' is back out to sea, and rip currents are one of the key routes by which water gets there. A rip current develops from variations in how waves break along a coastline, causing water from crashing waves to stay at the surface and flow sideways, then out to sea. (If the water instead travels down and straight back out, it forms an undertow, although the two terms are sometimes conflated.) Rip currents are more likely to develop when a coastline is more complex, in terms of either the visible shore—a feature such as a jetty or a rocky point can trigger rip currents—or the underwater topography of sandbars that raise the ocean floor. 'Over a shallow sandbar, you're getting larger breaking waves compared to, say, over a channel or a deeper spot,' says Greg Dusek, a coastal physical oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That creates variation in breaking waves and funnels outgoing water toward deeper areas that can form rip currents. The result is a misleading picture at the beach. 'You're looking along the shoreline, and you see areas of waves that are breaking and areas that are not breaking,' Houser says. 'You might actually think that the calm water is safest. It's probably a rip current.' (Although that doesn't mean the breaking waves are safe either.) Why Distant Hurricanes Trigger Rip Currents The picture becomes even more confusing when a hurricane passes far from shore, as Hurricane Erin is doing this week. With the stormy winds hundreds of miles away, conditions onshore might be gorgeous—but a hurricane can still make its presence known. Just as an earthquake can trigger a tsunami that crosses an entire ocean, even a distant hurricane can whip up beach surf. 'You might be standing on the beach, and it's a sunny day, no strong winds,' Moulton says. 'Because waves transport energy over very long distances very efficiently, we're not seeing the winds or anything from the hurricane, but we will see the wave energy.' The sizes of waves produced by a hurricane are determined by the sustained windspeeds inside the storm, the amount of ocean that the storm covers and the speed at which it travels. In general, faster winds, a larger area and slower movement tend to lead to taller waves that travel farther. When those waves hit a shoreline, they're more likely to trigger rip currents. 'The bigger the waves, the stronger the rip—if you have the physical conditions present for rips to be there,' Houser says. And the risk of rip currents can linger long after a storm has passed, Dusek warns. That's in part because the storm may have reshaped the visible or underwater topography of a beach. And when a distant storm is creating waves that are six or 10 feet tall, people typically know to stay out of the ocean. But when waves become a little less dramatic and local conditions are beautiful, it's more difficult to see the dangers of rip currents. Dusek expects that rip current risks along the East Coast could remain high through the rest of the week and perhaps into the weekend. That's particularly dangerous toward the end of summer, when people flock to the beach. 'In the wintertime, we have lots of winter storms up and down the East Coast, but rip currents aren't typically a concern because no one's swimming,' he says. How to Stay Safe from Rip Currents Moulton, Houser and Dusek all agree that staying safe from rip currents means following two guidelines: only swim at beaches where a lifeguard is present and obey any warnings from lifeguards or local officials about staying out of the water. 'If they have a red flag flying, it's not because they're being overly cautious,' Houser says. 'They are seeing something that you can't.' If you do happen to get caught in a rip current, Houser says, advice on what to do has changed in recent years. Officials used to recommend people try to swim parallel to shore to 'break the grip of the rip.' But in the heat of the moment, it's difficult to know which way is which, he says. So officials have pivoted to 'flip, float, follow.' 'Flip means don't put your feet down; flip so that your head is up and you are floating on your back,' Houser says. 'Then you start to follow the rip current. Allow it to take you slightly.' He's done this and says that, even with a floatation device, it's terrifying. But instead of wasting your strength against a fierce current, the strategy allows you to get your bearings and signal to a lifeguard while reducing the risk of drowning.
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
Why a Kiwi May Be the Perfect Snack
Apples and bananas may be some of America's favorite fruits. But nutrition experts say that kiwis deserve a spot in your shopping cart. These brown, fuzzy fruits with green, yellow or even red flesh are packed with beneficial nutrients like fiber and vitamin C. And on TikTok, wellness influencers rave about their digestive and sleep-inducing benefits. 'Kiwis are having a moment right now, and for good reason,' said Judy Simon, a clinical dietitian at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Here's why their spotlight is so well-deserved, and how incorporating kiwis into your diet may influence your health. They're loaded with nutrients. Kiwis contain an impressive array of nutrients. A medium-sized fruit offers a little over two grams of fiber at just 48 calories. The skin is especially fiber-rich. Fiber slows digestion, helping to prevent blood sugar spikes, said Amy Ellis, a dietitian and associate professor of nutrition at the University of Alabama. Over time, such spikes can increase the risk for Type 2 diabetes. Fiber also binds to 'bad' cholesterol, or LDL, in the intestine, helping to remove it from your body, Ms. Simon said. Excess LDL can lead to a buildup of plaque in your arteries, increasing your risk for heart attacks and strokes. When it comes to vitamin C, citrus fruit 'gets all the attention,' said Danielle Davis, a dietitian who specializes in gut health at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. But one kiwi contains 56 milligrams of the nutrient. This is more than you'd get from one clementine or half a grapefruit — and 62 percent of the daily vitamin C recommendation for men and 75 percent of the daily recommendation for women. Vitamin C, which your body can't make on its own, supports your immune system and plays an important role in wound healing. It also helps your body absorb iron from foods like leafy green vegetables, Ms. Davis said. One kiwi contains about 150 milligrams of potassium — a 'nice amount' Ms. Simon said. (A banana has about 400 milligrams.) Potassium helps prevent high blood pressure by offsetting the effects of too much sodium, Ms. Davis said. Kiwis also have beneficial unsaturated fats, which can help you absorb some fat-soluble vitamins they contain, like vitamins A and E, Ms. Simon said. They're 'nutrient dense, satiating and delicious,' Ms. Simon added, making them the perfect snack. They can help you stay regular. When Dr. Shanti Eswaran's patients ask her for strategies for constipation relief that don't involve taking supplements or medication, she often recommends eating kiwis. Prunes are also helpful, said Dr. Eswaran, who is a gastroenterologist at Michigan Medicine. But you would need to eat four prunes to get as much fiber as you would from one kiwi. And in her experience, people tend to enjoy kiwis more, she said. In one industry-funded randomized controlled trial of about 200 people from 2023, participants who ate two green kiwis each day had more bowel movements per week than they did before the study. Kiwis contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, which help address constipation, Dr. Ellis said. Soluble fiber forms a viscous gel in your intestines, and pulls water into your stool, making it softer and easier to pass. 'For healthy stool, you want it to be kind of fluffy,' Ms. Davis said. The soluble fiber can help you achieve that consistency. Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, doesn't break down in your intestines, but bulks up your stool, helping to keep it moving, Ms. Davis said. Although other high-fiber fruits and vegetables offer similar constipation-relieving benefits, kiwis (particularly the green ones) are one of a select few fruits that contain an enzyme called actinidin. Some animal studies suggest that this enzyme can make it easier to digest protein, but it's not clear if these findings apply to humans. Kiwis might help you sleep, but the evidence is limited. Some on social media say that eating kiwis can help you sleep better, pointing to a small, limited study from 2023 to support this claim. In the study, elite athletes who consumed two kiwis one hour before bed for four weeks reported that their sleep quality improved. Kiwis contain trace amounts of melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel drowsy at night. They also contain a bit of serotonin, a chemical the brain uses to make melatonin. But there's no evidence that kiwis contain enough of either melatonin or serotonin to affect sleep, Ms. Simon said. 'It's an interesting connection,' she said. 'But the studies just aren't strong.' Those who say that kiwis help them sleep may be feeling the effect of a healthy food swap, Ms. Simon said. If someone who usually eats cookies at night substitutes them with two kiwis, their sleep may improve. Eating foods with added sugars and refined carbohydrates right before bed can impair your sleep. How to enjoy kiwis. Ms. Simon recommended blending kiwis into a breakfast smoothie or adding them to a fruit salad or a bowl of Greek yogurt. You can also eat kiwis straight, skin included, as Ms. Davis does. If you want to try the skin but are turned off by its texture, she recommended starting with the yellow varieties. These tend to have less fuzz.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Deadly trend on the rise in major state
Victoria has been rocked by the highest number of fatal overdoses in a decade, with nearly 600 residents dying from drug overdoses last year alone. Ten years ago, illicit drugs contributed to less than half of all overdose deaths. In 2024, the Coroners Court found this figure increased to 65.6 per cent. It's a figure increasing yearly, with 584 Victorian residents dying from drug overdoses in 2024, up from 547 the year before and 552 in 2022. Heroin contributed to 248 deaths in the state, and 215 deaths were related to methamphetamine – a stat that has tripled since 2015. The majority of all overdose deaths occurred in metropolitan Melbourne, with about 75 per cent being unintentional. Monash University Associate Professor Shalini Arunogiri told NewsWire the bleak new figures were a reminder of the lack of treatment available for opioid addictions. 'Each of these 584 deaths represents a life lost unnecessarily,' she said. 'Behind every statistic is someone's loved one, a friend, a sibling, a parent.' Worryingly, the majority of the fatal overdoses were men, who made up two-thirds of total deaths over the past decade. Ms Arunogiri said there was a 'strong connection' between drug abuse and mental health, especially if people lacked access to mental health support and effective treatment and instead turned to substances as their 'only available relief'. 'People often turn to substances as a way of coping with untreated trauma, anxiety, depression or other psychological distress,' she said. 'This is why integrated care that treats both mental health and substance use is so important.' The increase in fatal heroin and methamphetamine overdoses was 'particularly concerning', Ms Arunogiri said, as harm reduction methods were available to prevent further deaths. 'The positive here is that solutions do exist, we just need to implement what works,' she said. 'Expanding medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction must be a priority, given heroin's role as the top contributor.' Ms Arunogiri said lifesaving medications needed to be provided at a faster rate to prevent overdoses. 'Medications like methadone and buprenorphine can reduce the risk of overdose, but people often face long waits for care,' she said. 'Effective measures like drug checking and expanding access to opioid overdose reversal medications, such as naloxone, is also critical.' Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said 'too many Australians are dying from preventable drug overdoses' and argued governments were '(refusing) to fully embrace measures to drive down this horrific toll'. 'We're still not spending enough money on proven harm reduction initiatives like drug testing, supervised injecting, community education and the wide provision of the anti-overdose drug naloxone,' he said. In May, the Victorian government introduced its take-home naloxone program, which was expanded across 50 needle and syringe program providers, including over the counter at pharmacies, at the Medically Supervised Injecting Room and via prescription to expand access to the medication. Make an appointment with a GP or a mental health professional or get in touch with a drug support service. ReachOut: to learn more about drug and alcohol addiction, for peer support and for pathways to other support services. Alcohol and Drug Foundation: or phone 1300 85 85 84 DirectLine: confidential drug and alcohol telephone counselling, information and referral, 1800 888 236 Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC): 1300 660 068 For support for people concerned about a relative or friend using drugs Kids Helpline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week): confidential and private counselling service for children and young people (5-25 years). 1800 55 1800 Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS): for people aged between 12-21 who are experiencing problems related to alcohol and other drugs. 1800 458 685 Headspace: Ms Arunogiri said these were 'important steps' to preventing further harm. 'These evidence-based interventions are crucial, but we need further investment to make sure everyone can access the health care they need,' she said. 'The most devastating thing is that we know these deaths were preventable. 'We understand what works – effective medications, harm reduction services, early intervention, but we need to remove the barriers that keep people from accessing the healthcare we all deserve.'
