CRE

 Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, are a new type of bacteria that can cause infections in several areas of the body including the skin, urinary tract, and lungs. So what's the big deal? There is no known antibiotic that can treat the infection. CRE is resistant to the strongest antibiotics doctors have out there. With a 40% mortality rate, CRE is becoming a huge concern. CRE not only can show up in several places in the body, but its also hard to detect, meaning people could have it without even knowing. This type of bacteria has been around for a decade causing problems in nursing homes and hospitals but it has now gone endemic in several cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. This bacteria could be catastrophic to patients in hospitals suffering from immune compromising diseases, such as AIDS, and as of right now there is nothing we can do about it. Doctors say there isn't a new antibiotic being developed because the bacteria can adapt so quickly that it would be pointless. I guess we will just have to see what happens next.

Buruli Ulcer

 The disease I wanted to learn more about was the Buruli Ulcer. The Buruli Ulcer is one of the 'Neglected Tropical Diseases'.  Neglected Tropical Diseases are a group of parasitic and bacterial diseases that effect more than 1 billion people globally. So why have more people never heard of them? Because these diseases typically effect the world's poorest people. NTD's are serious and can impair physical development and limit productivity, which are extremely detrimental among the poor.

Buruli Ulcer is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium ulcerans. Mycobacterium ulcerans is a slow-growing mycobacterium that infects the skin created lesions. After Tuberculosis and Leprosy, Buruli ulcer is the third most common mycobacteria in humans.

There are two stages of the Buruli Ulcer: inactive and active. The active form is characterized by :

• papules or nodules on the skin. These nodules are mostly found on the limbs and have a wool-like appearance. 

The inactive form is characterized left behind scars from previous nodules.

Buruli Ulcer can be found in over 30 countries but the incidence is unknown because of inadequate reporting. This is also due to the fact that most people infected are poor and unable to receive treatment or visit a doctor. For those who do see a doctor, the treatment includes oral rifampicin and daily intramuscular streptomycin. The only treatment for the nodules is surgery to remove necrotic tissue and correct deformities. Although mortality is low, morbidity is high. 

Higher risks for contracting the parasite are associated with slow-moving or stagnant water and environmental changes, such as deforestation. Most cases are found in poor, rural communities in Africa with children having a higher incidence. 

Cadmium: A toxic metal

Uses of Cadmium

Toxic metals are "metals that form poisonous soluble compounds and have no biological role" (wikipedia). Cadmium is one of these metals. It was discovered in 1817 by two scientists as an impurity of zinc carbonate. They eventually isolated the metal by roasting and reduction of the sulfide.
 Cadmium is considered rare and only makes up .1 parts per notation of the earth's crust. Cadmium is used in the production of batteries and is commonly used in electroplating. Cadmium is used mostly in rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries and is used in electroplating for aircrafts because it resists corrosion. 

Cadmium Battery

Cadmium has no use for most organisms, other than marine diatoms. Cadmium is only used by organisms in environments with low zinc concentrations because Cadmium can perform it's functions.  Cadmium is toxic to humans and most exposure comes from inhalation of fumes during production of materials containing cadmium. Humans are exposed to Cadmium in the environment during iron and steel production and fossil fuel combustion. 

Ingredients in a cigarette

Tobacco smoking is the most important source of Cadmium exposure in humans. Smokers have 4-5 times higher Cadmium concentrations in their blood than non-smokers. Side effects of high Cadmium levels in the body include loss of sense of smell, renal failure, irreversible kidney damage, softening of bones, and breathing problems. 

As far as toxicity goes, inhalation levels should not be higher than .0002 milligrams of cadmium per cubic meter of air. Levels above 0.0035 mg/m3 increase the chance of lung and kidney injury.

Moral of the story? Stay away from Cadmium!