International cosmetic brand Sephora has just been served with a new lawsuit. Documents regarding this case claim that a woman fell victim to an unsealed lipstick tester. The result of this contact was oral herpes.

The New Lawsuit Claim that Sephora Should Display Warnings on Their Makeup Samples

Back in October 2015, the plaintiff entered a Sephora store located in Los Angeles, California. Drawn by their makeup products, the woman tested a lipstick by applying on her lips the makeup from a tester. After this visit, medical experts diagnosed her with oral herpes. The woman claims that she never displayed symptoms of such a viral disease before trying the Sephora lipstick.

The identity of the plaintiff remained undisclosed for her protection. Furthermore, the lawsuit documents reveal that the main allegations stem from the fact that the company failed to inform its clients thoroughly.

For instance, there was no label or sign to indicate that a lipstick tester is considered a health risk. By using the same brush that other clients must have employed, clients are exposing themselves to herpes or other skin diseases. The plaintiff stated that she is always paying attention to cosmetic side effects and would have never used the lipstick tester if she was fully aware of the risks.

The woman referenced to other makeup brands that came up with safe solutions. They are letting their clients sample their products through individual testers. Members of the staff are also trained to offer testimonies and guidance for a more efficient shopping session. This way, stores’ clientele is safe from contacting unwanted viruses.

The Plaintiff Considers the Sephora Lipstick Tester Inflicted Life-Time Emotional Trauma

Oral herpes is targeting mouth, lips or gums. Symptoms are usually small yet painful blisters at the surface of the skin. The virus can be spread through direct contact with the oral region of someone who is infected. However, it can also spread through objects that came in direct contact with the fever blisters.

Even though the blisters disappear after treatment, the virus remains in the system forever. Those infected can develop the sores for numerous times throughout their lives.

Therefore, the lawsuit doesn’t ask for a specific indemnification. Instead, the defendant is considered responsible for emotional trauma due to causing life-time suffering to the plaintiff.

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The most comprehensive study to date linked 9 million deaths each year to the effects of pollution. Be it in the air, soil, water, this invisible threat might end the human society as we know it.

Toxicity seems to have infiltrated everyone. It is there when people breath, when they drink water, when they work. The culprit for this widespread poison is pollution. Each year, one in six persons across Earth die because of it.

The Deadliest Pollution Subcategory Is Outdoor Air Quality

The Lancet Commission was in charge of this paper which is the most thorough research on this topic ever officially recorded. The team analyzed all the existing data there are about the topic of pollution. Most of the reports were found under the World Health Organization ownership, but there were other official sources consulted as well.

The resulted image is made of a compendium of conclusions all solid studies that were conducted to date reached. Scientists took not only the toll pollution took on health care into consideration but also the economic ramifications of this lurking invisible threat.

One of the main conclusions was that the pollution encompassed heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and any other widespread illnesses with the power to affect the global human population. The most lethal subcategory is outdoor air pollution. Vehicle and industrial sectors are the main agents that make this toxic condition even deadlier. Each year 4.5 million individuals develop health complications due to the low quality of the air they breathe and eventually lose their life.

The second biggest killer is water pollution mostly related to sewage. This negative health agent triggers parasitic infections, gastrointestinal diseases, and other diseases that cause 1.8 million deaths per year.

This Invisible Threat Costs Global Economy a Total of $4.5 Trillion a Year

Interestingly enough, the study tries to collapse one of the vile concepts that capitalism perpetuates. It is expensive to change all companies to become ecological.

Numerous people claimed that solving the pollution issue would only drag the economy down. Therefore, nations don’t afford to change their industry. However, the new study showed otherwise.

The research estimates that the global economy has to cover $4.5 trillion a year to cover the damages of pollution. This amount equals 6% of global GDP that is exhausted each year due to lack of proactive measures. Therefore, it would be more moneywise to solve pollution than to let things as they are.

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All doctors recommend people to get annual check-ups. However, a thorough job requires a multitude of tests. The accomplishment of such a routine might get daunting. Therefore, scientists came up with the idea of smart tattoos. The ink incorporated in people’s bodies will be able to detect medical urgencies, and it will change color accordingly. Afterward, these individuals will know exactly what health exams to make an appointment for or what treatment to choose for their condition.

Smart Tattoos Notify People of a Certain Health Condition by Chainging Color

A team of scientists at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a new device to work for people called Dermal Abyss. The design constitutes of a special tattoo ink that can intercept signals from different biomarkers that start changing.

Once they detect something that is not within common grounds, these pigments begin changing their color. Such biological events can be a dehydration process of an athlete or blood sugar increases in a person with diabetes.

One of the authors of the study, Ali Yetisen, claimed that this idea was the result of a brainstorm. The same team of colleagues started wondering how the next generation of technologies might change healthcare industry. Instead of waiting for an answer on the news, they created a set of biosensors that humans can integrate into their skin.

“And so we came up with the idea that we could incorporate biosensors in the skin.”

The Monitoring Pigments Can Improve the Quality of Life of Those Patients with Chronic Conditions

So far, the group worked on inks that are sensitive to sodium and glucose concentration. When the glucose increases, the first type of pigments will turn from green to brown. As for higher levels of sodium that usually indicate dehydration, the smart tattoos will get a stronger shade of green color. However, this change could be tracked only under the influence of blue light.

The composition of the ink reacts to the chemistry of interstitial fluid. This solution can be considered to be similar to blood’s constituents. Scientists first used their biosensors on pig skin to record their transformation. They recorded the color or the intensity of their response to different biomarkers.

In the end, the ink can function as a monitoring tool for chronic conditions. At the same time, it can also help with short-term monitoring necessities. For those who don’t enjoy the idea of getting a permanent or temporary tattoo just for the sake of health care, the designs can be created with invisible ink. These pigments can become noticeable under a particular type of light.

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A new study points out some other potential advantages of drinking three cups of coffee a day.

A new 5-year study conducted by French researchers shows that the consumption of three cups or more of coffee on a daily basis could help halve the mortality risk in patients infected with both HIV and hepatitis C.

Research has shown this habit’s beneficial effects on diseases and health issues such as heart attacks, liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, and strokes. Until now, however, the effects on patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C had not been investigated.

The Consumptions of Three Cups of Coffee, Associated with Benefits for the Health

Published in the Journal of Hepatology, this novel research sought to examine the relationship between elevated coffee consumption and all-cause mortality in patients infected with both HIV and hepatitis C.

Research has illustrated coffee’s anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects as well as a reduction in death risks in the general population. This study explored how these properties affected patients in this group in particular.

The study is part of an ongoing French nationwide effort which is collecting data on patients co-infected with these diseases. Researchers used the five-year follow-up of this project to estimate the effects of a steady and rather increased consumption of this beverage on mortality rates.

As the leading causes of death for these patients were hepatitis C-related, researchers noted that curing hepatitis C was a vital aspect of the treatment and their study.

After accounting for hepatitis C clearance, researchers found that the elevated consumption of three cups of coffee or more every day halved death risks in these patients. Furthermore, not smoking was associated with increased survival rates.

These findings illustrate the importance of lifestyle choices and behaviors on reducing mortality risk. It also underlines the need for promoting healthy behavioral changes in this group. These behavioral changes can, in turn, increase survival rates.

With this research in mind, specialists are considering the benefits of extracts, as well as the supplementation with other anti-inflammatory compounds, and the need for further investigations. For now, tracking patient behaviors could help health care professionals propose lifestyle changes that improve the mortality rates and reduce the risks for these populations.

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San Diego has declared war on a deadly epidemic of Hepatitis A. City officials announced that their streets are going to receive a power wash with bleach each fortnight. On top of that, key places where the majority of homeless people tend to gather will get hand-washing stations. As a consequence, public health workers and private cleaning companies are taking the fight against disease on the streets. Unfortunately, the Hepatitis A outbreak has already claimed 16 lives.

San Diego’s Hepatitis A Outbreak Affected Primarily the Homeless Segment

San Diego city started collaborating with county authorities to put an end to a health crisis that has been lasting since last November. There are 421 cases of Hepatitis A on top of 292 hospitalizations and 16 deaths. By reinforcing their efforts, officials took a better grip on their containment plans.

They put into practice every strategy from vaccination to sharing informative flyers on Hepatitis A. The city has also offered temporary accommodation to homeless people who represent the most affected segment of the population by this outbreak.

City Officials Resorted to Street Washing, Increased Sanitation Efforts, Educational Campaigns and Others to Fight the Outbreak

On Monday, the city stepped up its sanitation program. San Diego chose to resort to a private contractor to spray the streets with bleach in order to eliminate bacteria. The same company placed outdoor hand washing stations in key places that numerous homeless people tend to visit. On top of that, 14 public bathrooms are now available 24 hours a day.

The Hepatitis A outbreak is usually supported by infected feces that enter into contact with food and drinking water. Therefore, health officials insist on people resorting to hand washing after bathroom use of before dinner time. This is perceived as the most effective solution to combating the spread of the virus. Even though the infection is not usually fatal, it can lead to death if virus hosts have their liver compromised due to drug use, illness or congential issues.

As of September 1, San Diego County labeled the epidemic as an official public health emergency. Authorities started a comprehensive campaign through educational materials, vaccinations, and boosted sanitation efforts.
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