For the first time, a biological pathway leading to celiac disease has been described, raising potential for preventive measures including a vaccine. A study published online in Science describes how an untimely infection of an otherwise innocuous virus can cause an immune response to gluten, leading to the autoimmune condition that affects 3.2 million Americans, or 1 percent of the U.S. population. The study identified a reovirus strain that triggers an immune response, which, in turn, renders the person intolerant of gluten, a dietary protein in wheat, barley and rye. The only current treatment for celiac disease is avoidance of foods containing gluten. With 30 percent of people being genetically predisposed to celiac disease, the fact that only 1 percent of the population develops the condition pointed to a potential trigger that has now been identified.

Sugar-free gum after meals recommended

Research shows that chewing gum containing sugar increases the risk of cavities. Chewing sugar-free gum after meals, on the other hand, may help to prevent cavities by increasing the flow of saliva, which can help clear sugars and bacteria from the mouth and neutralize plaque acids. But young children should not be chewing gum: The American Academy of Pediatrics considers gum a choking hazard for children younger than 5.

Treatment OK'd for neurological disorder

U.S. regulators have approved the first drug for treating a neurological syndrome that causes uncontrollable body movements that can also interfere with speech, swallowing and breathing. The sometimes-disabling disorder, tardive dyskinesia, is caused by some widely used prescription medicines for psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders. It can surface while patients are on those medicines or years after they stop. It affects about 500,000 U.S. patients.

Beware of infected mouse droppings

As the weather warms and people turn to spring cleaning and outdoor activities like camping and hiking, they should beware of a rare but deadly virus that is spread through mouse droppings and kills up to 40 percent of people who become infected, public health officials said. The severe respiratory illness is known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS. In the United States, most of these cases are spread by deer mice, which are found throughout North America. People get the disease by breathing in hantavirus when dust from dried rodent urine, saliva and droppings is stirred up in the air, which can happen in houses, garages and cabins, especially while cleaning. People can also get it by touching mouse urine, droppings or nesting materials that contain the virus, and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. HPS is not spread from human to human. There is no specific treatment, cure or vaccine for the infection. But if infected individuals are recognized early and get oxygen therapy, they may have a better chance of recovery.

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