Insurance affects rate of procedure

LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE - Surveys show that nearly half of dog owners share food with them, and more than half allow their canines to sleep in the bed with them and lick them on the face. New research finds that these dog owners are no more likely to share the same strains of E. coli bacteria with their pets than are other dog owners. However, research did show an association between antibiotic-resistant E. coli and owners who didn't wash their hands after petting dogs or before cooking meals. The work, from Kansas State University, will be published in an upcoming issue of the American Journal of Veterinary Research. (KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY)

Circumcising newborn boys for nonreligious reasons has been controversial. In 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics said the procedure offered no benefit, which prompted some states to stop paying for circumcisions through Medicaid. But more recent research from Africa has found circumcised men are less likely to become infected by a female sexual partner with a sexually transmitted disease.

Researchers led by Arleen A. Leibowitz of the University of California, Los Angeles examined circumcision rates in 37 states. They found that hospitals in states where Medicaid covered the procedure had circumcision rates 24 percent higher than in noncoverage states. Circumcision rates were also low among Hispanic baby boys, whether Medicaid paid or not.

"Because uncircumcised males face greater risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, lack of Medicaid coverage for circumcision may translate into future health disparities for children born to poor families covered by Medicaid," the authors conclude.
BOTTOM LINE: Newborn boys in states that do not cover circumcision costs may be at greater risk for later health problems.
CAUTIONS: Major differences between the HIV epidemic in Africa and the United States may make it difficult to translate HIV results found in Africa to the US.
WHAT'S NEXT: The American Academy of Pediatrics is reviewing its guidelines on circumcision, which may affect state Medicaid coverage.
WHERE TO FIND IT: American Journal of Public Health, January.

ELIZABETH COONEY

Nearly 13 percent of US adults age 20 and older have diabetes, but more than a third of them do not know it, according to a new report from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researchers, led by Dr. Catherine Cowie of the National Institute of Health, used data gathered from the National Health and Nutrition Survey. They looked at age, sex, and ethnicity, and tested for abnormally elevated blood sugar levels.

Surveyors used two methods to calculate blood sugars in 2005 and 2006; one required the patient to fast prior to testing, and the other involved giving a sugar solution. Using both tests, Cowie says, gave a more complete picture of diabetes prevalence.

After interviewing and testing more than 7,000 people, the study group found that nearly 13 percent had diabetes and another 30 percent had prediabetes, an early form of the illness that is associated with risk factors for heart disease.

"The burden of diabetes continues to be mind-boggling," Cowie says. Particularly affected were non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican-Americans, who were twice as likely to be affected than non-Hispanic whites.

BOTTOM LINE: Nearly 43 percent of people over age 20 have diabetes or prediabetes, with minorities particularly affected. It is often undiagnosed.

CAUTIONS: Blood glucose levels were determined by a single blood draw. Repeated testing would have proven more accurate.

WHAT'S NEXT: Researchers are continuing to monitor the prevalence of diabetes over time.

WHERE TO FIND IT: Diabetes Care, February 2009.

SUSHRUT JANGI