Santo Domingo.- Health authorities in the Dominican Republic have issued a warning about potential adverse reactions linked to the use of Colgate Total 50g Active Prevention Clean Mint toothpaste, which contains stannous fluoride. The alert follows a safety notice from Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency after Colgate-Palmolive received six consumer complaints, primarily reported in Brazil.

According to the General Directorate of Medicines, Food, and Health Products (Digemaps), the Dominican Republic has also reported non-serious cases, despite the sale of more than 2.5 million units of the toothpaste locally. Reported symptoms include mouth ulcers, blisters, pain, burning, inflammation of the tonsils and lips, gum irritation, and numbness of the tongue and mouth.

While Digemaps acknowledged the complaints, it clarified that the events reported in the Dominican Republic differ in severity from those in Brazil. The agency also highlighted that stannous fluoride is an effective antimicrobial agent widely used in dental care for its ability to prevent cavities, reduce plaque, alleviate hypersensitivity, and improve gum health.

Health officials continue to monitor the situation and encourage consumers to report any unusual symptoms after using the product.

Puerto Plata.- The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort docked in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on Wednesday, July 16, to begin a three-day humanitarian medical mission. The initiative, part of the Continuing Promise 2025 regional effort, will provide free healthcare services to around 1,200 local residents from July 17 to 19.

According to the U.S. Embassy, Dominican and American medical personnel will offer consultations from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily at the Javier Martínez Arias Polytechnic, treating up to 400 patients per day. Services include general medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, dermatology, nutrition, optometry, physical therapy, dentistry, and more. Surgeries will be conducted aboard the USNS Comfort on patients pre-selected by the Ministry of Public Health and the National Health Service.

The ship, staffed by over 300 medical professionals, nurses, and support staff, is fully equipped with operating rooms, intensive care units, and 1,000 hospital beds.

The Dominican Republic is one of several countries included in the USNS Comfort’s regional mission, which also covers Grenada, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Colombia.

Guardian Life of The Caribbean Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to improving cancer care and financial access for women across the region, with a focus on prevention, early detection, and inclusive insurance solutions. 

The announcement was made by President at Guardian Life of The Caribbean Limited, Samanta Saugh, last Friday at the Caribbean Association for Oncology and Hematology (CAOH) Conference at Hyatt Regency Trinidad, where Guardian Life participated as a sponsor and strategic partner.

“As a subsidiary as part of the largest indigenous financial services group in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, Guardian Life understands the vital role we play in supporting the wellbeing of our communities,” said Saugh. “We are working to ensure that equity in care includes not only medical treatment but also financial protection and peace of mind.”

Over the past five years, Guardian Life has seen a steady increase in cancer-related claims, particularly among women. 

According to the data:

• Cancer accounts for 47 per cent of all critical illness claims across the company’s portfolio.
• Women file 53 per cent of all claims.
• 68 per cent of female critical illness claims are cancer-related, with breast and ovarian cancers most common.

In response, Guardian Life is taking several meaningful steps to better serve its clients:

• Tailored Insurance Products: Developing inclusive policies with coverage specific to gynaecological cancers and more accessible options for lower-income women.
• Support Beyond the Payout: Bundling financial protection with wellness, care navigation, and mental health support throughout the treatment journey.
• Digital Claims Innovation: Streamlining the claims process through user-friendly technology for faster, more transparent service.
• Healthcare Partnerships: For example, launching a breast cancer screening drive in collaboration with Bayview Urgent Care Facility in Barbados, making preventative care more accessible for policyholders.

Guardian Life continues to work closely with healthcare professionals, NGOs, and policymakers to strengthen the regional ecosystem of care. 

“At Guardian Life, we see the people behind the policies,” said Saugh. 

“We’re here to protect futures—and that means listening, innovating, and acting with compassion.”

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Reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s could be as simple as eating the right food.

A new study by researchers in Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C., found that eating foods high in choline could lower the risk of developing the common dementia.

Choline is an essential micronutrient found in various foods, including poultry, dairy products (such as milk, yogurt and eggs), cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts, beans and some fish, according to the USDA.

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Dietary choline intake has been associated with a lower risk of cognitive function and reduced risk of dementia, the researchers concluded.

In the study, participants averaging 81 years of age who did not have Alzheimer's completed dietary questionnaires and underwent annual neurological exams.

After an eight-year follow-up, researchers determined that consuming about 350 milligrams of choline per day was associated with the lowest risk of clinical Alzheimer’s diagnoses in older adults.

Los Angeles-based registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein has also backed the impact of choline on brain health, citing a 2024 China-based study that found intake improves cognitive function, especially among women.

"This is the study that inspired me to start supplementing choline," she said. "My memory has gotten worse over the years. I first wrote it off as ‘pregnancy brain,’ then ‘mommy brain,’ but eventually realized I should do my best to help it." 

"I already sleep well, exercise regularly, play mahjong and limit my alcohol, so choline was the next obvious tool worth trying." 

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Muhlstein shared that more than 90% of the choline in eggs comes from the yolk. For those who choose to eat egg whites for dietary reasons, taking a choline supplement may be a better option.

Choline intake should be tailored to each person's individual needs, the nutritionist noted, referencing guidance from the Harvard School of Public Health.

"Premenopausal women may have lower requirements for dietary choline, because higher estrogen levels stimulate the creation of choline in the body," the university wrote.

In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist, brain imaging doctor and founder of Amen Clinics in California, emphasized the importance of eating the right foods for brain health.

"Your brain uses 20% to 30% of the calories you consume," he said. "So, nutrition is critical to help your brain or hurt your brain." 

Walnuts are one of Amen’s favorite brain-healthy food options, as they contain choline as well as omega-3 fatty acids.

He also recommends including wild salmon as a dietary staple, as it's high in omega-3s and healthy protein, as well as organic blueberries and green, leafy vegetables.

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"If you had a salad every day, and you put blueberries and salmon and walnuts on it with a little lemon and olive oil, that would be a perfect brain-boosting lunch," he said.

The doctor also suggested considering certain supplements to foster better brain health, including vitamin D, omega-3 or fish oil, or a daily multi-vitamin.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

"Nearly two-thirds of the American population is low in vitamin D," he said. "And if it's low, it's a universal risk factor for every bad thing related to your brain, but also to your body, including obesity and cancer … Know and optimize your vitamin D level."

Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment.

La Altagracia.- The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has initiated a broad environmental operation in the eastern Dominican Republic to address the growing presence of sargassum on its beaches. The effort, guided by Resolution No. 0046-2025 issued on July 10, aims to reduce the environmental, social, and economic impacts of this recurring natural phenomenon.

As part of the operation, technical brigades are inspecting current cleanup protocols, assessing environmental impacts, and identifying sustainable solutions. On July 11, the Ministry met with hotel representatives to outline new guidelines for the safe collection, containment, and disposal of sargassum. Hotels received formal permits valid for 10 days and were reminded that any resulting environmental damage is their responsibility.

Inspections have already been carried out at over 15 hotel properties between Uvero Alto and Cabeza de Toro. These evaluations help determine which hotels can manage temporary sargassum collection points and which must rely on government-approved disposal sites.

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Santo Domingo.- First Lady Raquel Arbaje announced that comprehensive, values‑centered sex education has been introduced in the early grades of public schools, with plans to expand the curriculum to seventh and eighth grades later this year to further reduce adolescent pregnancies, Diario Libre reported.

“We have begun teaching comprehensive sex education, rooted in values, in our primary grades, and next we will introduce it in seventh and eighth grades,” Arbaje said during the launch of the “Child‑Friendly Justice Guide” for judges and court staff, as reported by the news outlet.

Diario Libre noted that pregnancies among girls and minors declined by 4.15 percent in the first four months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.

Alexandra Santelises, Executive Director of the National Council for Children and Adolescents (Conani), explained that every under‑age pregnancy is logged and routed through a “critical response pathway” to ensure access to legal, psychological and family support services. A specialized working group will track cases involving adult‑minor relationships to guarantee accountability and follow‑through, she added.

The announcement coincided with the formal unveiling of the “Child‑Friendly Justice Guide,” a training manual designed to help judges identify and remove barriers that prevent children and adolescents from accessing justice. By pairing preventive education with strengthened legal protections, the government aims to create an integrated framework that promotes both youth well‑being and institutional accountability.

Bringing testing, treatment and counselling services closer to people is one reason for integrating HIV services into primary healthcare

View the full post Grenada to integrate HIV care into primary healthcare services on NOW Grenada.

A resident of northern Arizona has died from pneumonic plague, health officials said Friday.

Plague is rare to humans, with on average about seven cases reported annually in the U.S., most of them in the western states, according to federal health officials.

The death in Coconino County, which includes Flagstaff, was the first recorded death from pneumonic plague since 2007, local officials said. Further details including the identify of the victim were not released.

Plague is a bacterial infection known for killing tens of millions in 14th century Europe. Today, it’s easily treated with antibiotics.

The bubonic plague is the most common form of the bacterial infection, which spreads naturally among rodents like prairie dogs and rats.

There are two other forms: septicemic plague that spreads through the whole body, and pneumonic plague that infects the lungs.

Pneumonic plague is the most deadly and easiest to spread.

The bacteria is transmitted through the bites of infected fleas that can spread it between rodents, pets and humans.

People can also get plague through touching infected bodily fluids. Health experts recommend taking extra care when handling dead or sick animals.

Most cases happen in rural areas of northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon and far western Nevada, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCE: AP

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