From eNewsletter 5/22/2019
DID YOU KNOW that the more regularly adults aged 50 and over played word puzzles such as crosswords and Sudoku, the better their brain function was?
New research from last week's International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry also reports the same effect in people who regularly complete number puzzles.
It's a simple way to get a good brain workout. Bonnie is a crossword addict!
UROLOGISTS ARE GETTING THE MEMO
Bonnie & Steve: For the first time, the American Urological Association (AUA) has issued a guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs), which emphasizes the importance of cultures and antibiotic stewardship.
They felt that urine cultures were quite central to the care, abatement, and treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections. The guideline was presented last week at the AUA 2019 Annual Meeting.
UTIs are the most common bacterial infection in women. They affect 50% to 60% of women at some point in their lives.
The mandate for antibiotic stewardship is a strong theme in the guideline. When patients present with infections, the mandate is to provide the shortest course of an antibiotic that has the least systemic effect on the rest of their body. If after the antibiotic, UTI symptoms persist, another urine culture needs to be taken to guide management. Antibiotic over-treatment for UTIs is most pervasive and this is a good first step.
Here's where we get rally excited. The use of cranberry as prophylaxis is now a strong recommendation by the AUA. Cranberry has been the subject of an increasing number of randomized clinical trials. The mechanism of action is thought to be related to the ability of the proanthocyanidins in cranberries to prevent bacteria from adhering to the urothelium. We especially like cranberry with D-mannose as a preventive and therapeutic supplement.
The use of vaginal estrogen treatment to mitigate future UTI risk in peri- and postmenopausal women with recurrent UTIs is also a recommendation. However, for anyone with a personal or family history of female-related cancers should not use this option.
Last week allergists. This week urologists. Onward and upward!
CRUCIFEROUS: CANCER'S CRYPTONITE?
Bonnie: There's a reason why we have been so bullish on the cruciferous vegetable family...this article is reserved for NCI Well Connect Members. You can get this article by signing up here. You can get our free eNewsletter by signing up at the top of our website.
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