Healthy Lifestyle

The UN is facing claims from Haitian cholera victims.

2011-11-10T14:15:00.002-05:00

Haiti’s poor Infrastructure already shattered by earthquake in January 2010 is now facing the rapid spread of water borne disease in the country.
The UN is facing claims from Haitian cholera victims, IJDH filed the demand on behalf of some 5,000 victims ( IJDH, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti is a Boston- based human right group). The IJHD is demanding $50,000 in compensation for each sick people and $ 100,000 for each death.
The IJDH argues that infected UN peacekeeper troops from Nepal, caused the cholera outbreak. They claim that UN mission in Haiti failed to screen peacekeeper for cholera and allowed dumping of untreated water from their rural base camp into a tributary of the Artibonite river.
The study published by UN scientific experts in may reported that it was not possible to be conclusive about how cholera was introduced into Haiti. UN reported the outbreak of epidemic cholera in Haiti was the result of a ‘confluence of circumstances’ rather than the fault of a group or individual.
Several studies have concluded that UN peacekeepers from Nepal carried cholera to Haiti. Studies strongly suggest that the disease was introduced by UN peace keepers troops from Nepal living in a rural base where poor santitary conditions allowed human waste to enter the tributary system of most important river. US center for disease control also linked the cholera outbreak to Nepalese troops.
Since the cholera outbreak that begun in October 2010 more that 6,500 have died of cholera and nearly 500,000 have been sick according, to the Haitian Ministry of Health.

Ref:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15648110

India has "never been closer" to wiping out polio

2011-10-28T12:47:00.002-04:00

Marking the World polio day India’s health minister stated“India is close to wiping out Polio”. Ever since the launch of global eradication campaign no new cases of polio has been reported for more than nine months. This makes the longest polio-free period in India.
Polio is still prevalent in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. India is one among these countries in the World where polio is still endemic. Uttar Pradesh has been one of the worst-affected regions in the world's fight against polio. In 2008, of the 549 polio cases reported in India, 297 were in Uttar Pradesh.
This year the only reported case of polio was in the state of West Bengal. There were 39 cases reported over a similar period in 2010. The health ministry reported that no cases were reported from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh for 18 months and no cases have been reported from Bihar over the last 13 months. The results are encouraging, India’s health minister stated, “"We are close to our goal but are not taking any chances.” He declared that the country will intensify its efforts to stop any residual polio virus circulation and also to prevent any polio cases following an international importation.
India has battled the debilitating disease which strikes children aged under five. For decades health officials and non-governmental organizations have administered large-scale immunization programmes. India holds two national immunization days every year. On each of these immunization days, polio drops are given to nearly 170.2 million children. India's efforts to reduce polio cases have been praised by international health organizations. According to officials, any new case of Polio would be dealt with as a public health emergency.

References:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15425852

Vitamin B12

2011-06-22T14:14:00.004-04:00

Vitamin B12 is critical nutrients that help body make healthy red blood cells. Vitamin B₁₂, also known as cobalamin is a micronutrient that is synthesized only by microorganisms. In chronic lack of Vitamin B12 the body can't make needed amount of red blood cells. The major signs of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency are megaloblasticanemia and neuropathy.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in people of all ages who consume a low intake of animal-source foods, including populations in developing countries. Strict vegetarians /vegans havea greater risk of developing vitamin B₁₂ deficiency relativeto nonvegetarians.

Animal products like meat, poultry, seafood and dairy foods like milk, eggs, yogurt, and cheese are the best sources of vitamin B12. The vegans are at risk for B12 deficiency since most vitamin B12 in the diet comes from animal products. Honey, vegetables, and fruits are not really sources of vitamin B12, which is why vegan diet does not contain enough vitamin B12. Therefore, vegan pregnant and nursing mothers or even strict vegetarians are recommended food fortified with B12 or B12 supplement.

Fatigue is the most common symptom for individuals with low levels of vitamin B12. A sign of B12 deficiency includes weight loss, constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal bloating and gas, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, loss of balance, and a sore, red tongue. Most people with vitamin B12 deficiencies have a mild problem. However it can at times be serious when there is an extremely low level of Vitamin B12 in the body. Some of the serious consequences due to vitamin B12 deficiency are mental problems, confused thinking, memory loss, and dementia. Low levels of B12 can also cause nerve damage and weaken bones.

Vitamin B12 deficiencies occur when body does not get the right nutrients from our dietary intake. Sometimes B12 deficiency is caused by conditions other than diet; such as body inability to absorb B12 properly or when there is problem of the digestive system. Elderly individuals have more problems with malabsorption of B12 from food and malnutrition therefore, vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent among the elderly. Crohn's and celiac disease, weight loss surgery, chronic alcoholism all interferes with the body’s ability to absorb enough of the nutrients needed. Drugs like antibiotics, antacids, diabetes and seizure medications can interfere with the body's ability to break down vitamin B12 from food.

The Institute of Medicine recommends that adults over age 14 years need at least 2.4 micrograms of B12 a day while pregnant or breastfeeding women need slightly more. However, daily body loss ofthe vitamin is estimated to be between 2 and 5 µg/day.It has been reported that a daily vitamin B₁₂ intakeof 6 µg appears to be sufficient to maintain a steady-stateconcentration of plasma vitamin B₁₂ and vitamin B₁₂ relatedmetabolic markers.

A blood test at doctor’s office will help confirm vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be corrected by making adjustments in diet by taking B12-fortified foods or by taking a supplement. We can get plenty of Vitamin B12 by eating a well-balanced diet. Some people easily boost their low levels of B12 by simply changing their diet, eating more animal products, as vitamin B12 in our diets comes from animal products such as, seafood, yogurt, cheese, and eggs. However, in more serious cases of Vitamin B12 deficiency doctor’s care is needed. Many people may have a severe deficiency or have an underlying health condition that causes B12 to drop. Vitamin B12 deficiency is treated in several ways. If the symptoms are mild or moderate, an oral B12 supplement is started, which is taken once a day or a weekly vitamin B12 nasal spray is used. Serious B12 deficiencies may require B12 injections, which are administered occasionally.

Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin

2011-06-21T11:58:00.010-04:00

Vitamin D was first discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, as a missing nutrient in children causing severe bone demineralization, a disease called rickets. Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in metabolizing calcium for healthy bones. Insufficient vitamin D makes bones thin and brittle causing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Vitamin D has multiple non-skeletal actions besides its major role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism.

The term "vitamin D" refers to two different forms; (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). Vitamin D2 is synthesized by plants and vitamin D3 is synthesized by humans in the skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays from sunlight. Vitamin D, as either D₃ or D₂, does not have significant biological activity it must be metabolized within the body to the hormonally-active form known as 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.

The major sources of vitamin D are our diet, supplementation and sun exposure. The good food sources of Vitamin D are fish liver oils, fatty fish, fortified milk products, fortified cereals. However, vitamin D is found in very few foods naturally (e.g. fish, eggs and cod liver oil); while foods such as milk, orange juice, yogurts and some breakfast foods are fortified with Vitamin D. Foods may be fortified with vitamin D2 or D3. The fortification level is aimed at about 400 IU per day.

Vitamin D is formed naturally as a result of sunlight exposure; as little as 10 minutes of sun exposure is thought to be enough to prevent vitamin D deficiencies. Lack of proper sun exposure or inadequate Vitamin D3 supplement increases body’s odds to vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.

The Recommended Daily Amount (RDA) or Adequate of Vitamin D for adults’ age 18-50 years, pregnant and breastfeeding women is 5 micrograms/day. The RDA for adults’ age 51-70 years is 10 micrograms/day, while for adults over age 70 years RDA is 15 micrograms/day. Upper limit or the highest amount of Vitamin D taken without risk is said to be 50 micrograms/day. (The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 200 international units (IU) for people up to 50 years old and 400 IU for people 51 - 70 years old and 600 IU for people over 70 years old.)

The Vitamin D blood levels should be around 50-80 ng/mL (125-200 nmol/L) for optimum health, these values are relevant to both children and adults. While, most doctors still consider a result of 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) to be sufficient; when it is not. Total serum 25(OH) D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) is the total amount of vitamin D in the blood, both vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. The only way to determine the body Vitamin D status is by testing Vitamin D blood levels. Vitamin D test tells us how much of the storage form of vitamin D, known as 25(OH) D is present in our blood serum. Vitamin D test can be obtained by asking the doctor for a 25-hydroxyvitamin D [5(OH) D] test. We need to be careful while ordering the right test a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test NOT a 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D test. We can also perform the test oneself by purchasing an in-home test kit.

Vitamin D deficiency is a highly prevalent condition. In spite of foods fortified with vitamin D and wide supplement intake, it is estimated that ~1 billion people have insufficient levels of vitamin D. According to Anthony Norman, an international expert on vitamin D, half the people in North America and Western Europe get insufficient amounts of vitamin D. Anthony Norman recommends a daily intake of 2000 international units for most adults. He says only eating vitamin D-rich foods are not adequate to solve the problem for most adults.

Lately, epidemiological data has shown prominent role of Vitamin D in autoimmune and cardiovascular disease as well as in cancer therefore interest in mechanisms of vitamin D action is growing persistently. Century later we are now aware of Vitamin D non-skeletal actions. Vitamin D has effect in target organ damage; Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is present in many tissues including immune cells and cardiovascular (CV) target organs.

Vitamin D ameliorates the target organ damage by enhancement of immune suppression/ modulation of immune responses; downregulates renin-angiotensin system and inhibits cardiac hypertrophy.

Several experimental data point towards beneficial effects of vitamin D in cardiovascular disease as it is said to have a novel role as a negative modulator of renin synthesis. One of the studies done by Wang et al., (2010) assessed whether vitamin D and calcium supplements reduced the risk for cardiovascular events in adults. They used data sources from clinical studies and trails from 1966 to July 2009. The findings showed consistent reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among adults who received vitamin D supplements in five prospective studies of patients receiving dialysis and one study involving a general population. However, study found no differences in incidence of CVD between calcium supplement recipients and nonrecipients in four prospective studies of initially healthy persons. Similarly, the results of secondary analyses in 8 randomized trials showed a slight but statistically nonsignificant reduction in CVD risk with vitamin D supplementation at moderate to high doses but not with calcium supplementation or a combination of vitamin D and calcium supplementation compared with placebo. The results suggest that vitamin D supplements at moderate to high doses may reduce CVD risk, whereas calcium supplements have minimal cardiovascular effects.

Likewise, several observational studies have suggested anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of vitamin D. Results have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher incidence of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes mellitus. Evidences from a number of studies have reported substantial reductions in incidence of breast cancer, colon cancer and Type 1 diabetes in association with adequate intake of vitamin D. These positive effects were reported to have occurred within five years of initiation of adequate vitamin D intake.

Vitamin D has much potential health benefits, research so far suggest vitamin D provides protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases. However, more research needs to be done in some areas to make it even more comprehensible.

References:

Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med, 357, 266–281.

Munger, K. L., Levin, L. I., Hollis, B.W., Howard, N. S., Ascherio, A. (2006). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of multiple sclerosis. JAMA, 296, 2832–2838.

Wang, L., Manson, J. E., Song, Y., Sesso, H. D. ( 2010). Systematic review: Vitamin D and calcium supplementation in prevention of cardiovascular events. Ann Intern Med, 152, 315– 323.

Time for course correction

2010-11-22T16:01:00.001-05:00

Chickens of “consensus” politics have come home to roost. The manhandling of Finance Minister Surendra Pandey by the Maoist members of parliament is a preview of what the future holds for the politicians of the current coalition, who once endlessly harped on the need for consensus, if the outcomes of the political bargain do not go the Maoists’ way. The footage of the ultra-progressives (read the Maoists) manhandling the less-progressive (the minister from the less-progressive CPN-UML) is just a mouse-click away for the world to see. The timing could not have gotten any better. Pandey got roughed up at a time when the never-ending rounds of elections for the post of prime minister was providing the world a glimpse of how exactly a dysfunctional political system looks like.

As usual, each side is blaming the other for the incident. Anything new in that? Not really. The blame-game has been going on for a while now. Instead of trying to figure out who is at fault, it would be helpful if we spent our time and energy trying to understand why something as serious as this happened inside the parliament. It happened for a simple reason. And the reason is that as a nation, we allow politicians to run the country by cutting deals in the name of consensus. Nobody except the dealmakers actually know the terms and conditions of the deals. So, it is very easy for them to lie about them later. What makes this deal-based process even more complicated is that, for these dealmakers, pleasing their masters (Chinese for the Maoists and Indians for the current coalition members) is much more important and lies at the heart of anything they do or agree to than serving the nation’s interest and fulfilling people’s expectations.

Blaming the Maoists for insincerity at this point in time is completely absurd and unintelligent. The Maoists have been inconsistently consistent throughout about their motive behind joining the hands with the political parties. They wanted to use the opportunity to achieve their goal of establishing the dictatorship of the proletariat. The rationalization of the Maoists’ intent to come overground came from the very politicians that now grouch about the Maoist motives, pundits who change their color faster than chameleons to remain politically-relevant and human right activists that are now nowhere to be seen when a people’s representative is manhandled in broad light inside the parliament. Hence, the wound that politicians of the Nepali Congress (NC) and the UML complain about is self-inflicted. The sooner they learn to live with it, the better off they will be.

The Maoists are now one of the dominant players of Nepali politics and there is logic to what they do. Every move of theirs is well-calculated and is meant to serve their political agenda. With India against their quest for power, the Maoists have no choice but to tilt the domestic political balance by coercing their political opponents. They want the opponents to be perceived as feeble and power-hungry who will eventually succumb to their bullying tactics. And there is precedence to what they believe in. On the other side, there is no political preparation to tackle the Maoists. All they have is the same old slogan of how big a threat the Maoists are for democracy, which gives them an opportunity to cash in on India’s soured relationship with the Maoists, both of which will not take the coalition very far.

Putting the blame on the Maoists will not serve any purpose when it comes to correcting the course that they are in. The NC and the UML should prove to the people, which they have not done so far, that they can effectively govern the nation and meet people’s expectations. The state’s reach has been shrinking with each passing day. Regurgitation of the same old stale slogan of democracy being in danger from the likes of Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who not very long ago used every argument that they could think of to justify how bringing the Maoists overground was good for democracy, makes the case that the coalition is trying to make against the Maoists look malicious and empty.

The ongoing small-scale confrontation between the major partners of the coalition and the Maoists will get bigger and more frequent in the days to come. This is just the beginning. The NC, with its new president, can be a game changer if it dares to get away from the influence of the likes of Sitaula that failed miserably to correctly assess the Maoists’ motives. It is time to play the game with the Maoists the way they do. Backdoor dealings with them should be completely stopped. Things as important as budget should be made public with or without the Maoist support. If they oppose, they are the ones that will be seen as obstructionist, and if they get physical, they should end up behind bars. Appeasing the Maoists so far has not gotten the nation anywhere, has it? It is high time that they be held accountable for their acts.

The moving of the political process forward should be done smartly. Staying put in a futile prime ministerial election process makes the NC look like a club of politically-immature jokers. Its obsession with the prime ministership is pushing Jhala Nath Khanal and his fellow comrades closer to Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Helping the UML retain its political base is as important as maintaining its own political space for the NC. The UML’s loss is the Maoists party´s gain. Hence, letting Khanal become the prime minister is politically more profitable for the NC than alienating him by endlessly bidding for Ram Chandra Poudel. Even if Poudel became the prime minister, there will absolutely nothing in this lame duck environment for him to achieve that will change the NC’s face and fate. So, why remain obsessed? Cut your losses by not appearing insensitive to Khanal’s desperation to become the prime minister.

Banking on India’s support and regurgitation of democracy-in-peril rhetoric may work for a while and help the coalition stay put in power for some time, but with China’s support, the Maoist party is hell-bent on tipping the balance. If and when the balance tips, India will have no choice but to reengage with the Maoists. Aung San Suu Kyi received Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1993 from the Indian government, but when the Indian government later on realized that the Burmese junta was not going to release Suu Kyi anytime soon, it started reengaging with the junta that put her under house arrest. Than Swe’s recent gala reception in India and the endless case made by India’s foreign policy experts, including Shyam Saran, about the necessity of becoming pragmatic when it came to dealing with Myanmar’s junta is an example of how far the Indian pendulum can swing with change in domestic political situation. Endless complaints about the Maoists’ anti-democratic acts have not made them change their ways, so it is time you change your ways and do things differently Mr Sushil Koirala. By opting for that, you would be doing a huge favor both to your party as well as the nation.

American cuisine

2010-11-13T17:55:00.003-05:00

In my view, there is nothing like American cuisine. American cuisine is a fusion cuisine. The fusion in this case means that it takes ingredients from more than one cuisine, mixes them together, and creates something new. American cuisine encompasses ingredients and techniques from around the world. It is basically a product of both regional uniqueness and international diversity. American food reflects the origins of its international diversity and blend of their culture and culinary mix. The fact that America does not have a cuisine is a measure of its democracy and ethnic diversity.

For me, Cuisine is a form of cultural expression in ways of preparing food. It is about bringing the flavors out of the ingredients at hand. Expensive ingredients do not necessarily make great cuisine. It is all about using the right ingredients in right quantity. Individuals and families from various nations and ethnicity have settled in the US, and through their cuisine, they share their heritage.

The United States is a land of delicious eating. It has unique food traditions, festivals, and events. Rather than unifying national style of cooking, the U.S. is a nation of regional cuisines. Regional traditions and diversity are the two important ingredients that make American cuisines attractive and diverse. Food choices vary from one region to another because of variation in culture, tradition, and climate. In the U.S. every region, state, city and town has its own unique food traditions and establishment, which is a combination of local tradition and diverse influence from around the world. The regional foods associated with the North East are cranberries, oyster, apples and cheese-steak. Regional foods from South East are collards, peaches, shrimp, tomatoes and okra. Corn, beef, grains, pasta, pizza are the regional foods in mid west. Salmon, clams, cheese, apples, strawberries are regional food in North West. While, chilies, tortillas, corn, beans, grapes, lettuce, avocados are regional food of south west. There is a rich diversity in American food culture. This can be very much experienced by traveling across the country. For example, regional differences exist even in the word “Barbecue.” It means pork in south and beef in the southwest.

There has been a major influence on American food over time. In 1700, a new country was formed by settlers from all parts of Europe and Africa, which resulted in mixing of cultures and cuisines. Some of the major influences on US cuisine came from African slaves. They carried with them seeds from their native foods, yams, okra, watermelon etc. The enslaved Africans created southern cuisine; sweet potato pie and candied yam as cook in Southern plantation kitchen by combining native foods with those of European colonists. African-Americans played a major role in molding the renowned cuisine of the South.

The American popular food “Barbecue” was discovered after the mingling of Native Americans, Anglo, and African traditions. In 1852, Chinese immigrants arrived in California to work in mines, pick crops, and build the railroads. Even though they were confined to the Chinese community and legally kept away from mingling with the broader population, they brought new traditions and ingredients to American dinner table. Over time, descendants of Chinese workers of gold rush era and the new Chinese immigrants started moving out of the China towns, as a result their cuisines became popular and a part of the American eating experience. It is said that there more Chinese restaurants in the US than the McDonald, which is a popular fast food chain.

Reference: American Cuisine. Available online at, <>

Speak the truth

2010-06-21T00:06:00.000-04:00

The political stalemate continues unabated. While the members of the current coalition continue to stick to the demand of the dissolution of paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League (YCL) and return of the property seized property, the Maoists like in the past are trying their best to get away without fulfilling these demands. Given the level of political dishonesty that the Maoists exhibit, will these demands, that have a far reaching consequences on how we live and pursue our livelihoods, be ever met? Many concerned citizens have these questions crossing their minds.

Let’s get this straight: The paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League (YCL) will not be dissolved and the seized property will never be returned. There are many reasons for this, the prime being: In the Maoists’ collective consciousness, YCL is not a paramilitary force. It is a youth political force like the ones that every other major Nepali political party has. As far as the seized properties are concerned, 90 percent have been already returned. This is what the chief architect of the Maoist Party, Baburam Bhattarai said when grilled by Fauziah Ibrahim of the Al Jazeera television, recently. Is Bhattarai telling the truth? Absolutely not! There is ample evidence to support the fact that YCL is a paramilitary force. As far as the return of the seized properties is concerned, the process is yet to begin. Despite their pledge to return the seized properties, the Maoists continue to seize private properties. Ms. Ibrahim presented the fact that the latest event of confiscation occurred in May of 2010.

Bhattarai’s latest interview raises a serious question on his integrity. Bhattarai, whom many youngsters revere as the most honest politician, may not be what they believe him to be. The time has come for the bewildered youths who see political messiah in Bhattarai to take a close look at things he says and does. There is clear disconnect. It might be dangerous to chase fantasies preached by intellectual guru that believes in radical violent means to social reform and has an audacity to lie with a straight face knowing the fact that he will be watched by millions within and beyond the national boundary.

What should we expect from our politicians? Should we expect moral perfection? Or should we expect them to do the job they were hired to do? Or, the both? Answering these questions might be even considered redundant given the level of dishonesty that Nepali politicians exhibit. Despite consistent outlandish remarks and violent outbursts, Bhattarai is considered as a relatively clean and competent leader. He has been so far successful in not only charming relatively well educated youths but also keeping the Indians that call the shots in Nepal guessing. At the end of the day, he might turn out to be not very different from his current boss Pushpa Kamal Dahal, whom India groomed unsuccessfully to serve its interest.

Indians in their never ending experiment to turn Nepal into a client state are hedging their bet on Bhattarai primarily for two reasons. First, the Maoist party at its current form with Pushpa Kamal Dahal as a supreme leader is impossible to dictate. Hence, it needs to be cut down in size. And the best way to do that is by promoting Bhattarai, which they think will eventually lead to a vertical split in the Maoist party. Indian bureaucrats and intelligence operatives, especially the ones stationed in Kathmandu, seriously believe that making Bhattarai the next prime minister will bring about a split in the Maoist party. Second, Indians at this point have no bankable leader with popular mass support, whom they can rely on, to fulfill Indian interests.

Bhattarai with a straight face lied to Ms. Ibrahim. Why did he do that? He did so for a very simple reason. And, the reason is—he can afford to do so. He very well realizes the fact that he is dealing with a fragmented electorate. People whose property has been seized belong to the upper middle class and beyond, who did not support the Maoist rebellion to begin with. Plus, they are the ones that complain about the YCL’s paramilitary activities. So, why even bother about being correct?

Instead of engaging in a futile exercise of wining the hearts and minds of urban elites and “feudal” in hinterland, he talks about the rights of peasants to till the land. It is important to understand why Bhattarai and others ideologues in UCPN (Maoist) raise the issue of land reform, which they failed to act upon, while heading the government. In a country where approximately half of the population lives below the poverty line and millions are landless, the idea of land reform has tremendous political appeal. Through land reform the Maoists want to hand out “rights” to politically correct groups (read landless and tenants). At the end of the day, by expanding the entitlements of these groups, they want to garner their undivided support and use them against other citizens that oppose Maoists’ agendas. In doing so, Bhattarai and his fellow ideologues conveniently ignore the fact that the cost of the gifts they bestow on these groups have to be borne by other hardworking citizens.

HIV & PREGNANCY

2009-08-14T15:13:00.003-04:00

HIV is an RNA herpes virus that is spread by infected body secretions.

The most common ways of transmission are sharing contaminated needles, having sexual intercourse with an infected partner and perinatal transmission.

The clinical course from HIV to AIDS is a gradual but relentless immunosupression during a period of year, resulting in death caused by overwhelming infection from opportunistic diseases. Progression from HIV to AIDS in infants is more rapid than in adults.

Neonates of HIV infected women have a 13-52% chance of acquiring HIV from the mother.

The major route of vertical transmission is contact with the infected genital secretion at the time of vaginal delivery.

Neonates born from HIV positive mother will have positive HIV tests from passage of trans placental passive IgG.

All HIV- positive pregnant women are recommended anti viral prophylaxis(AZT), which is continued from 14 weeks' gestation throughout pregnancy, including delivery.

The vertical transmission rate is 30%, without maternal azidothymidine (AZT) prophylaxis. AZT prophylaxis has reduced the infection rate to 10%, with vaginal delivery.

Pregnant women with low CD4 count and high RNA viral loads are given multidrug antiviral regimens.

The currently offered mode of delivery is cesarean section to HIV-positive women.

Perinatal transmission is increasing globally as a direct result of the increase in number of HIV infection among women of child bearing age. Global precautions is to pay careful attention in handling all body fluids.

India brides had 'virginity test'

2009-07-15T22:48:00.003-04:00

India's National Commission for Women wants Madhya Pradesh state to explain why hundreds of would-be brides reportedly underwent virginity tests.

All the women who took part in a state-run mass wedding last month were forced to take the test, witnesses say.

Several of the women later complained that they had found the exercise shameful and humiliating.

Officials deny virginity tests took place. They said the tests had been to ensure the women were not pregnant.

In India, a bride's virginity is highly prized and pre-marital sex is frowned upon...click & read more

Polio threat to Pakistan children

2009-07-13T22:10:00.003-04:00

The continuing conflict in Pakistan has left more than a million children at risk of contracting polio.

Vaccination programmes earlier this year were compromised by opposition from militants and by violence, which has made many areas inaccessible.

Pakistan is one of four countries which still see annual outbreaks of polio.

The first few months of the year are crucial for vaccination teams who try to reach children before the polio virus starts to circulate.

This year, their campaigns have been badly disrupted...click to read more...

Proof mounts on restricted diet

2009-07-10T11:50:00.004-04:00

Cutting calories may delay the aging process and reduce the risk of disease, a long-term study of monkeys suggests.

Over 20 years, monkeys whose diets were not restricted were nearly three times more likely to have died than those whose calories were counted.

Writing in Science, the US researchers hailed the "major effect" of the diet.

It involved reducing calorie intake by 30% while maintaining nutrition and appeared to impact upon many forms of age-related disease seen in monkeys, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and brain atrophy.

Whether the same effects would be seen in humans is unclear, although anecdotal evidence so far suggests people on a long-term calorie-restricted diet have better cardiovascular health.

The precise mechanism is yet to be established: theories involve changes in the body's metabolism or a reduction in the production of "free radical" chemicals which can cause damage.

The benefits of calorie restriction are well documented in animals, but now the results have been replicated in a close relative of man over a lengthy period.

Over 20 years, monkeys whose diets were not restricted were nearly three times more likely to have died than those whose calories were counted.

Writing in Science, the US researchers hailed the "major effect" of the diet.

'Lower' Asian obesity threshold

2009-07-10T11:41:00.002-04:00

The threshold for being overweight and obese should be lowered for British Asians, international experts say.

People of South Asian origin are more likely than white people to develop heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

To reflect this, Indian health chiefs have changed their measuring system and said other countries should follow suit for people of South Asian origin.

GPs in the UK agree a better system is needed, but have put forward another option to pick up those at risk.

Standards used around the world to tell when someone is overweight or obese are based on data from Caucasians....click for full news

Is olive oil good for health?

2009-05-20T11:55:00.004-04:00

Olive oil is fruit oil obtained from the olive (Olea europaea; family Oleaceae), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. Although more expensive than other oils, olive oil has many health benefits. It has the highest percentage (about 77%) of monounsaturated fat among commonly used oils. Studies have found that consumption of olive oil can lower the risk of heart disease by reducing blood cholesterol levels and blood clot formation. It also contains many antioxidant phytochemicals that have many health benefits.

This oil is extracted by pressing or crushing olives and comes in different varieties depending on the amount of processing involved. Varieties include:

Extra virgin: Considered the best, this oil comes from the first pressing of the olives.

Virgin: Comes from the second pressing.

Pure: Undergoes some processing, such as filtering and refining.

Extra light: Undergoes considerable processing and only retains a very mild olive flavour.

Olive oil is great oil for cooking. When cooking with olive oil, save your extra-virgin expensive oils for salads, dressings and vinaigrettes. You can also drizzle it over slices of crusty bread or onto open-face sandwiches. Use it on a baked potato or add it to mashed potatoes instead of butter. Extra virgin olive oil tastes great on cooked vegetables or brushed onto fish or meat before serving.

When sautéing or frying, use either a combination olive oil (one that is simply a blend of extra virgin and regular olive oil) or a straight olive oil.....more

Carbohydrates

2009-05-09T15:03:00.004-04:00

The simplest form of carbohydrate is sugar. Both processed (refined) and unprocessed foods are carbohydrate. The good carbohydrates are unprocessed whole foods containing natural sugars like lactose in milk and fructose in fruits. The best source of good carbohydrate is from plant source as it provides vitamins, fiber, minerals and pytochemical along with grams of carbohydrate. Carbohydrate is required for various metabolic function of the body. It is the primary source of energy for vital organs, brain, central nervous system and kidney. Carbohydrate is broken down into glucose in the digestive system. Insulin, hormone secreted by pancreas helps the transport of glucose from blood into the tissues as energy.

The bad Carbohydrates are sugar in refined form, such as sucrose (table sugar), added sugar. White refined grains are not good for the body because it provides calories but no nutrients. Refined foods are low in fibers and cause health risk, and also increase the risk of heart disease. Whole grains, vegetables full of fibers are good carbohydrates and also promotes required nutrients and helps lower risk of chronic disease.

The growing varieties of food in supermarkets have left us with food choices that are either harmful or beneficial. We need to act responsible by looking at the nutritional food level when purchasing.

USDA’ survey shows that in the U.S an average adult takes about 20 teaspoons of added sugar that is 320 calories everyday. People do not realize these 320 calories by consuming added sugar can add extra pounds quickly. Too much sugar in diet can quickly cause weight gain. Consuming high carbohydrate diet may predispose to weight gain because one gram of carbohydrate gives four calories. Food high in carbohydrate are also are high in calories. Obesity is the end result of consuming too many calories each day from all sources of carbohydrate, protein and fat. USDA recommends only about 9 teaspoon of added sugar a day. Commercially added sugars in beverages or baked products are to be avoided.

Food containing fibers are good for health and wellbeing. Dietary fibers are indigestible form of carbohydrate not absorbed in the intestinal tract. The foods that are refined or whiter grains have lower fibers. White grains food such as muffins, bagel, hamburger bun, and white rice is poor source of fiber. Fibers based food slows peak in blood glucose level thus reducing the risk for Diabetes. Fibers rich foods such as oats, beans and fruits help lower cholesterol. It also makes full and reach satiety. In order to add fibers to our diet, foods like whole grains, beans, plenty of fruits and vegetables must be included in our daily food choices. Fibers in diet may also have positive role in weight management.

Carbohydrate containing food is usually rated by its glycaemic index. Food that takes longer time to be absorbed is called as low glycaemic index. Whole grains, fruits, veggies, beans have lower glycaemic index as they get absorbed slowly in the body thus avoiding spikes in blood sugar level.

Carbohydrate food that spikes blood glucose level quickly is called high glycaemic index food like potatoes, white bread and white rice. Sugar added foods; starchy foods, raises blood glucose level quickly because they are rapidly absorbed in the blood stream.

Studies have concluded that everyone especially people with diabetes should eat food with low glycaemic food like soy products, beans, fruits, milk and grain bread. Plant based food high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and low fat diary products moderate in calories can result in weight management. Boosting vegetarian diet is a smart & healthy move in life.

Best way to achieve healthy weight is to watch calorie intake. The secret to remain healthy is to avoid simple Carbohydrate like sugar sweetened food, soda drinks and sweets; as these are high in calories with no nutrients. This type of food makes us sleepy, tried and increases craving for more sweetened foods.

Carbohydrates’ have an important role in balanced diet so we need to act smart and be careful when choosing carbohydrate containing food.

Lithium in water 'curbs suicide'

2009-05-04T12:24:00.003-04:00

Drinking water which contains the element lithium may reduce the risk of suicide, a Japanese study suggests.

Researchers examined levels of lithium in drinking water and suicide rates in the prefecture of Oita, which has a population of more than one million.

The suicide rate was significantly lower in those areas with the highest levels of the element, they wrote in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

High doses of lithium are already used to treat serious mood disorders......click here to read full article.

Swine flu 'in decline' in Mexico

2009-05-03T16:05:00.007-04:00

Swine flu in Mexico, the epicenter of the world outbreak, has peaked, the Mexican health minister has said.

Jose Angel Cordova said the virus, blamed for at least 19 deaths in Mexico, appeared to have peaked between 23-28 April.

"The evolution of the epidemic is now in its declining phase," Mr Cordova told a news conference.

World Health Organization officials said authorities should remain vigilant as the virus could return.

Asked about Mr Cordova's comments, WHO official Gregory Hartl said the current "round of activity".....................click for more news.

GLOBAL PREVALENCE OF HIV

2009-01-28T12:06:00.008-05:00

An estimated 33 million people are HIV positive worldwide. HIV-1, a retro virus is responsible for most cases world wide. HIV-2, a related virus produces a similar illness with a longer latent period. More than 3 million have acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV infection is more prevalent among women and children in sub Saharan Africa. In previously healthy homosexual men cases of rare neoplasm, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were reported in the USA during 1981. This epidemic was eventually termed as the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The association between HIV virus infection and the development of AIDS was established in 1984. The global AIDS pandemic has stimulated unprecedented research on the pathogenesis, management and control of the disease that has expanded.

The world health organization estimates that number of people living with HIV in year 2007 was 33 million. Around 90% are in developing countries unable to afford the expensive medical care required to control the disease progression. WHO reported 2.7 million new HIV infections and 2.0 million deaths due to AIDS in 2007. Sub-Saharan Africa is the most-affected region in the world as measured by HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. An estimated 22 million adults and children are living with HIV in Sub Saharan African, 4.2 million in South and south east Asia, eastern Europe and central Asia 1.5 million, east Asia 740000, Oceania 74000, middle east and north Africa 380000, western and central Europe 730000, Latin America 1.7 million, north America 1.2 million, Caribbean 230000 respectively. The prevalence of disease is more than 96% in low and middle income countries. WHO reports, Over 7400 new HIV infections a day in 2007. The disease has affected about 1000 children under 15 years of age and about 6300 adults aged 15 years and older.

Women comprise 50% of adults estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Young people under the age of 25 years are estimated to account for more than half of all new HIV infections worldwide. The early epidemics of HIV was facilitated by travel and migration and later by female sex workers and their clients, important risk factor for transmission being the intravenous drug use and use of HIV infected blood and blood products. HIV probably originated from rural areas where it had been endemic at low levels but then spread amongst sexually active population in cities, initially in the early 1980’s amongst homosexual men in the developed countries of Europe, North America, and Australia. This series of epidemic was followed by a wave with predominant heterosexual spread in sub Saharan Africa and South America and lately to south East Asia, where the epidemics have been late in developing but are accelerating at an alarming rate.

There is no single AIDS epidemic worldwide. Instead, many regions and countries are experiencing diverse epidemics. The characteristic of HIV disease in each region are determined by many different microbiological, cultural, social and behavioral aspects. As for example, HIV infection in Uganda, where heterosexual transmission is predominant and infection rate is higher in rural areas. HIV infection in many parts of U.S remains rare, being seen amongst homosexual men and intravenous drug users at a highest rate in major cities. The epidemics in Europe, North America, and Australia have been stabilized, although cases contracted heterosexually and through vertical transmission continue to rise. So, far the sub Saharan African has been the hardest hit by HIV epidemic and rapid spread continues in south East Asia. HIV Infection has a profound impact in the economic and demography of a country. The life expectancy of many children’s are affected as a consequences of increasing heterosexual transmission of HIV. The prevalence of HIV is common between age groups 15 to 50 years who are the economically productive age groups in most countries.

HIV - (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

2009-01-16T21:38:00.005-05:00

(HIV) - Human Immunodeficiency Virus belongs to the subfamily of retroviruses which have an RNA genome. HIV has a core consisting of the RNA genome and core protein surrounded by an envelope with high lipid content, rendering it sensitive to organic solvents. HIV gains entry to host cell by binding to the CD4 receptor using the viral surface membrane glycoprotein gp 120. Host target cells of preference, therefore,carry the CD4 molecule which is recognized by the virus, but in addition other cell surface molecules act as receptors and co-receptors for the virus. The RNA viral genome is transcribed to DNA copy by reverse transcriptase enzyme.Then the DNA copy integrates into host cell genome in cell nucleus via integrase enzyme. Following cell activation viral DNA is translated to RNA copies in cytoplasm. Viral peptide chains are translated from cytoplasmic viral RNA. HIV proteinase cleaves functional viral proteins from polypeptides. Virion assembly occurs.Viral release from cell surface by cell lysis.
There is a huge diversity amongst HIVs, which occurs in 2 main types: HIV 1 and HIV 2. Disease caused by HIV 2 is similar to disease caused by HIV 1 but is generally milder, slower to progress and poorly transmitted vertically. HIV 1 is responsible for most of the disease seen world-wide.HIV 1 is divided into several subtypes,and there are atleast five subtypes of HIV 2.
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by the HIV-1 RNA retro virus, is the most common acquired immune deficiency in the United States. AIDS is currently the most common cause of death in black men and women from 25 to 44 years of age.
The acute phase of HIV infection develops within 2- 4 weeks of contracting the virus. It is characterized by fatigue, sore throat and lymphadenopathy, the CD4 counts are normal to low, with an increase in the P24 antigen which is an indicator of disease activity. In approximately 4 -12 weeks (window period) antibodies against gp 120 and other antibodies are not detected. ELISA test which are positive are confirmed by western blot analysis, which detects more than one HIV antibody (eg; p24 and gp41). After the acute phase, patient enters an asymptomatic latent phase, in which the actively proliferating virus is present within the dendritic cells located in the lymph nodes.After an average span of 4- 10 years, patients enter the late phase of the disease, where the CD4 count drops below 400 cells/microlitre, the p24 antigen resurfaces, and opportunistic infection develops. AIDS is a multisystem disorder with the lungs representing the most frequently involved site.
An opportunistic infection or a CD4 count of less than 200 cells/microlitre is sufficient to diagnose AIDS. The average life span from the beginning of infection to death of the patient is 10 years.
HIV infection is confirmed by demonstrating the presence of antibodies to HIV in serum.The enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test used for detecting antibodies to HIV is simple and cheap and has the advantage of a very low false negative rate so that the infected cases are unlikely to be missed. All the positive results are normally confirmed by the more precise western blot test, which also detects the presence of anti- HIV antibodies.Serial testing may be required following a high risk of exposure to HIV to exclude infection. Following HIV infection the production of detectable antibodies to various components of the virus,including antibody to the gag protein, integrase and reverse transcriptase may not occur for 6-12 weeks and sometimes much longer. Antibody detection test are unhelpful and misleading in neonates who may be infected because of the presence of transplacentally acquired maternal antibody. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used in this situation to detect the presence of viral genome in the peripheral blood lymphocytes.However, ELISA remains the routine screening test and is used by centers offering same day or rapid testing services.The advantage of knowing that an individual is HIV-seropositive include appropriate medical care and prophylactic measures which will benefit health, prolong life, and avoid infection to others. When an HIV test is negative the patient should be advised to practice safe sex and to abstain from avoidable risk factors, such as sharing needles for intravenous drug use.
There are three possible modes of transmission of HIV; sexual, perinatal, parenteral. Infection with HIV essentially requires exchange of semen, vaginal or other body secretions, milk or blood or blood products infected by virus. The risk of HIV transmission is greatest with vaginal and anal intercourse. The risk of transmission during intercourse is further increased by presence of sexually transmitted disease, such as any genital ulceration.
Perinatal transmission is increasing globally as a direct result of the increase in number of women with HIV infection who are of child bearing age. HIV during parturition on contact with HIV-containing fluids in the vagina accounts for around 80% of vertical transmission. Neonates of HIV infected women have a 13-52% chance of acquiring HIV from the mother. In utero the virus may infect the fetus by crossing the placenta. Intravenous drug users (IVDUs) are at risk of HIV infection as a result of sharing needles, which allows transmission of HIV infected blood from one individual to another. Transmission of HIV among health-care workers following occupational exposure is a rare event, the major risk factor is a needle stick injury with HIV contaminated blood from an infected patient.
PREVENTION MEASURES FOR HIV TRANSMISSION:
SEXUAL - public awareness campaigns for HIV, safe sex practice like avoidance of penetrative intercourse and use of condoms, targeting safe sex methods at sex industry workers, and control of sexually transmitted diseases.
PARENTERAL- Routine screening of blood or blood products for HIV, needle exchange programmes of Intravenous drug users (IVDUs).
PERINATAL - Routine HIV testing at antenatal clinics, avoidance of pregnancy if HIV- seropositive, Anti-retro viral therapy during pregnancy, delivery or postnatally.

Folic acid

2009-01-11T20:48:00.008-05:00

Every woman who could become pregnant are recommended 400 micrograms (400 mcg) of synthetic folic acid every day.
The causes of folate deficiency are, due to poor diet or less intake of vegetables as in alcoholics, or increased demand during pregnancy, haemolysis, dyserythropoiesis, malignancy, long term hemodialysis, malabsorption especially in coeliac disease, tropical sprue and certain drugs like phenytion and trimethoprim all causes folate deficiency.
Folate is found in green vegetables, fruits, liver, and is synthesized by gut bacteria. Good sources of folate are, brussels sprouts, fortified breakfast cereals, spinach, asparagus, beetroot, orange, avocado,melon, potatoes, cauliflower, peas, wholemeal bread, dried beans. Liver is the richest source of folate but an alternative source is advised in early pregnancy because of its high vitamin A content. The most serious side-effects of repeated moderate or high doses of retinol are liver damage, hyperostosis and teratogenity.Therefore woman's who are pregnant in developed countries are advised not to take vitamin A supplements.
Body stores folate sufficient for three months, folate is absorbed mainly in the jejunum. Maternal folate deficiency is also linked to neural tube defects in fetus.
Folate is directly involved in DNA and RNA synthesis and it seems that a higher than normal level is required during embryonic development. All women planning a pregnancy are advised to include good source of folate in their diet.
Folic acid ( pteroylglutamic acid) and related compounds are known as folates. The body obtains folate by breakdown of food polyglutamates to monoglutamates in the small intestine, much is destroyed by cooking. Folic acid as such is available only as a medicinal compound. The coenzyme form of this vitamin is tetrahydrofolic acid.
Folic acid deficiency is most commonly seen in pregnancy and alcoholism. Folic deficiency states can result in megaloblastic anemia and neural tube defects (NTDs).
Folic supplemetation is recommended before and during pregnancy.
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are major birth defects of a baby’s brain or vertebrae. Neural tube defect is an Imperfect closure of the neural tube which takes place 3-4 weeks after conception, which results in birth defects like, spina bifida, anenecephaly, and encephalocele. These birth defects can cause lifelong disability or death.
Studies have shown that folic acid reduces recurrence or occurrence of these deformities by about 70 %, but it must be taken prior to and following conception.
About 3,000 pregnancies in the United States are affected by spina bifida or anencephaly each year. Many of these defects could be prevented if all women got enough of the B vitamin folic acid every day starting before they get pregnant.
Anencephaly is one type of the fetal anomaly where the vault of the skull and brain tissue are absent, the cause is due to failure of the closure of cephalic part of neural tube (open neural tube defect). Babies with this defect die before birth (miscarriage) or shortly after birth.
Any woman can have a baby with an NTD. If a woman can get pregnant, she is at risk for having an NTD-affected pregnancy. No one can predict which women will have a pregnancy affected by an NTD. All women are at risk.
The neural tube is a narrow sheath that closes to form the brain and spinal cord of the embryo. As development progresses, the top of the tube becomes the brain and the remainder becomes the spinal cord. This process is usually complete by the 28th day of pregnancy. But if problems occur during this process, the result can be brain disorders called neural tube defects, including spina bifida.
Spina bifida, is characterized by the incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord, and meninges (the protective covering around the brain and spinal cord). It is the most common neural tube defect in the United States affecting 1,500 to 2,000 of the more than 4 million babies born in the country each year.
Most children born with spina bifida live full lives, but they often have lifelong disabilities and need many surgeries. The effects of spina bifida are different from each children all don’t have the same needs. Some children’s problems are much more severe than others.
The neural tube is the tissue of an embryo (a developing baby to the eighth week after conception). Normally, a fetus’s central nervous system develops inside the neural tube. When this tube does not close properly, an encephalocele may result. Either skin or a thin membrane covers the defect
An encephalocele is classified as a neural tube defect. An encephalocele is a rare disorder in which the skull do not close completely, creating a gap through which cerebral spinal fluid, brain tissue and the membrane that covers the brain (the meninges) can protrude into a sac-like formation.
The physical and emotional tolls upon the families affected by birth defects are high. That’s why it’s so important to encourage women to take folic acid every day to help prevent these birth defects.
Folic acid is a B vitamin that the body needs to make healthy new cells. Every woman who could possibly get pregnant are recommended to take 400 micrograms (400 mcg or 0.4 mg) of folic acid daily in a vitamin or in foods that have been enriched with folic acid.
Along with taking a vitamin or eating a cereal that has 100% DV of folic acid, women should always eat a healthy diet that has lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods.
However, how folic acid works to prevent birth defects is unknown. But studies show that folic acid is needed to make healthy new cells. Taking folic acid every day, starting before and during pregnancy, can reduce the risk for these serious birth defects by 50% to 70%.
Most women in the developed and developing countries do not get enough folic acid to help prevent birth defects. The average woman gets less than the amount needed from her diet alone. That’s why all women who can get pregnant are encouraged to take a vitamin with folic acid or eat a serving of fully fortified breakfast cereal each day.
Folic acid might help to prevent some other birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate and some heart defects.
Everyone needs folic acid. But for women who can get pregnant, it is much more important. If a woman has adequate folic acid in her body before she is pregnant, this can help prevent major birth defects of her baby's brain and spine.Women need to take folic acid every day, starting before they are pregnant to help prevent NTDs.

Environmental carcinogen: Tobacco

2008-12-23T13:20:00.003-05:00

It contains 4,700 chemical compositions, of which 43 are known carcinogens. Out of these carcinogen, tobacco-specific nitrosamines (such as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN)), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (such as benzo[a]pyrene) and aromatic amines (such as 4-aminobiphenyl) are the ones that play an important role in causing of cancer. Nicotine and carcinogens are two factors, whose combination leads to 30% of cancer-related deaths in developed countries. Heavy smoking habit parallels the rise in cancer. 1.1billions smokers are estimated world wide. Smoking is now an equal opportunity killer among peoples living in both developing and developed countries. Smoking is responsible for fully 30% of all cancer related deaths. Nicotine is not carcinogenic, but it is addictive and toxic. It is the addiction of nicotine that makes people use tobacco products, which contains various kinds of carcinogens.
Impacts of smoking on health are reflective of rate of lung cancer.
Exposure route and impacts
Exposure can result from:
a) Active smoking- tobacco smoke in environment is derived from either main stream smoke (exhale smoke).

b) Passive smoking – smoke arising from burning end of cigarette and exposure to this smoke is side stream smoke. Non-smokers are exposed in work places, public transport and indoor spaces.

Older people with weak immune system and people that are addicted to tobacco products are more exposed to carcinogenic affects of tobacco.

Impacts of smoking manifest in the form of several diseases. The diseases that are directly linked to inhalation of carcinogens in cigarette smoke are:

a) Cancer of lung, mouth, larynx, esophagus, uterine cervix, breast, stomach. Smoking increases the risk of breast cancer in women who used tobacco at an early age.

b) Respiratory disease – emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, bacterial pneumonia, tubercular pneumonia.
c) Cardiovascular diseases- coronary artery disease, hypertension, aortic aneurysm, stroke.

d) Pregnant women’s and infant health are also affected by smoking. An adverse impact of maternal smoking causes pregnancy complications and birth defects. Intra uterine growth retardation, spontaneous abortion, fetal and neonatal death, and abruption of placenta, premature rupture of membrane, preeclampsia, congenital malformation, low-birth weight, and recurrent respiratory infection in children. Passive smoking causes asthma, bronchitis, ear infections and pneumonia, in infants and children. Eye irritation is common when exposed to passive smoking. It aggravates allergies. Increased risk for lung cancer and coronary artery disease develops in people who live in close contact with the smokers.

Risk Reduction:

Risk declines only with complete cessation of smoking. Important factor for cessation of smoking is the desire of an individual to quit. Smokers that quit live longer than those who continue smoking. However, quitters too are at a higher risk for certain type of cancer than people who never use tobacco.

In order to substantially reduce smoking rates, governments can adopt a comprehensive approach to tobacco control, which should include a range of measures such as: (a) a total ban on tobacco advertising and promotion (b) restrictions on smoking in public places and in the workplace (c) sustained increases in tobacco taxation (d) bold health warnings on tobacco products (e) smoking cessation and health education campaigns (f) Protecting nonsmokers through restriction laws in work places, public transport and indoor public spaces. Public awareness campaigns should be made priority. It increases awareness and helps decline many adverse health impacts of tobacco use.

CHOLERA- What, How, and Where?

2008-12-18T22:38:00.001-05:00

Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by a bacteria Vibrio cholerae, which is gram negative comma shaped rod. The Seventh Cholera pandemic began in 1961, started in Indonesia, spreading rapidly elsewhere in eastern Asia, and from there to India and Bangladesh, the USSR, Iran and Iraq. In 1990s it reached Peru and has spread throughout South and Central America. Vibrio cholerae, biotype El Tor, that is responsible for pandemic is more resistant than the classical vibrio. In 1982 the classical vibrio began to reestablish itself in Bangladesh where, in 1992, a new pandemic began, with a new serotype 0139 (Bengal Vibrio cholerae 0139). Many major cholera pandemics have affected countries across the world. An outbreak of Cholera is often linked to contaminated drinking water. Cholera habitats are in the valley of the Ganges and other great rivers of the Far East where the humidity and the increasing population contribute to the disease.

Cholera can spread quickly in areas where there is poor sanitation and where water supplies are tainted. Food contamination by flies or hand, and shellfish also transmit the infection. The bacterium is part of the flora of slightly salty water and when this water somehow mixes into the drinking supply then an outbreak of cholera can start. The bacteria survive for up to 2 weeks in fresh water and 8 weeks in salt water. The development of an infection from the time the pathogen enters the body until signs or symptoms first appear is from a few hours to 5 days.

The main route of transmission is Fecal- oral. It rarely spreads by person-to-person contact. The bacteria are passed in stools or vomit of the patient with cholera which remains in their feces for up to a fortnight and contribute to the illness. The bacteria multiply in the lumen of the small bowel and are non- invasive. They adhere to the mucosal surface and secrete exotoxin, which stimulates the adenylyl cyclase- adenosine monophosphate pathway of the mucosa which results in an outpouring of small bowel fluid. Upto 15 liters of watery diarrhea may be passed each day.

It causes severe diarrhea without pain followed by vomiting suddenly. Once the fecal content of the gut have been evacuated the typical “rice water” material is passed which consists of clear fluid with flecks of mucus. This enormous loss of fluid from the body leads to severe dehydration and muscle cramps. This intense dehydration is the cause of death particularly among children and elderly, as they are vulnerable to the dangerous dehydration. Some symptomatic cases are hard to distinguish from other illnesses that cause diarrhea. Only one in 10 cases shows the severe symptoms such as dehydration.

Diagnosis is made by stool microscopy and culture so that an outbreak can be brought rapidly under control. Stool culture or rectal swab isolates the bacteria and can be viewed under microscope, the bacteria has a characteristic movement. Clinical diagnosis is usually easy during an epidemic.

Treatment of this condition requires strict barrier nursing, replacing the fluid and salt losses. Normally, rehydration salts are the only treatment given, although severely dehydrated patients may need intravenous fluids. Antibiotics like tetracycline is given, which reduces the fluid loss.

A well-organized response to cholera can reduce death from cholera epidemics. However, the clean water and rehydration salts required are often in short supply in areas where they are needed most. There are two types of oral cholera vaccine but is used only for travelers and is not used at a community hit by cholera. Control of an epidemic is difficult in a community unless clean water supplies can be restored.

Alleviating these severe effects requires only simple measures. Drinking boiled or treated water, cooking practices needs to be made safe where possible and practicable, all food needs to be cooked well and eaten while hot, avoid shell fish, peeling all raw fruits and vegetables. Hand washing after going to the toilet is a vital measure to prevent the spread of the disease.

The establishment of proper sanitation system for proper and hygienic disposal of human waste is a must. Control of water sources contamination, and of population movement and public education are most important in an epidemic.

HIV, TB disease, HBV

2008-11-26T21:40:00.003-05:00

Men having sex with men (MSMs) of all races are the group most heavily affected by HIV, accounting for 53% of all new infections. The impact of HIV is greater among blacks than any other racial or ethnic group, with an HIV incidence rate that is 7 times higher than that of whites and almost 3 times higher than that of Latinos.
study conducted in 1545 Kenyan men examined if circumcision had any protective efficacy and they were on regular follow-up for 42 months. Overall, there were 27 HIV seroconversions in the circumcised men and 62 in the uncircumcised men, giving a cumulative seroincidence of 2.6% among circumcised men and 7.4% among controls . The relative risk of HIV infection in circumcised men was 0.36, corresponding to a 64% protective effect. In women with HIV disease, the persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was found in 3% of patients despite the absence of concurrent serologic markers of HBV activity, such as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Occult infection with HBV in HIV-positive women was correlated with higher levels of HBV DNA and lower CD4 counts.
The risk for TB disease following the initiation of antiretroviral therapy in developing countries has found to have a high prevalence of TB coinfection. studies concluded that the potential benefits of antiretroviral therapy generally outweighed the risk for reactivated or newly acquired TB infection.The widespread implementation of isoniazid preventive therapy also known as treatment of latent TB infection is both feasible and effective. There are reports showing higher rates of adverse reactions to Bacille Calmette-Guérin administration in HIV-infected infants.

HEREDITARY RISK FOR BREAST CANCER

2008-11-22T21:27:00.003-05:00

Everyone carries the BRCA 1 and 2 genes, but it is only when you inherit a faulty copy of the gene that you are at higher risk of developing certain cancers, including breast and ovarian cancer.

If you do inherit a faulty copy of the BRCA gene, you have an up to 80% higher risk of developing breast cancer than other women.

Only 5 to 10% of the 46,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year are due to genetic causes.

Lyme disease.

2008-11-13T23:21:00.005-05:00

Causative organism is Borrelia burgdorferi.

It’s also called as Lyme borreloisis. Lyme disease is most common vector borne disease in US.

Mode of transmission: Tick bite (vector)

Causes: Lyme diseases.
Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted by bite of an infected black legged tick.

Reserviour of an organisms consist of small mammals like white mouse, blood of birds upon which the tick feeds, ticks usually feeds during summer when there is higher incidence of disease. Tick feeds 24-48 hrs to transmit an infectious dose. Feeds on human who enters into the tick’s wood canal habitat. Organisms spread from bite site through the surrounding skin followed by dissemination via’ the blood to various organs like heart, joint, CNS. Classic symptom is erythema chronicum migrans, an expanding “bull’s eye” red rash with central clearing

There are 3 stages of Lyme diseases.

Stage 1- erthema chronicum migrans, flu- like symptoms.

Stage 2- neurological and cardiac manifestations.

Stage 3- auto immune migrating polyarthritis affecting the large joints of the knee.

Prevention.

-prevention centers on wearing protective clothing, socks and long trousers, avoiding sitting on the grass ,use of insects repellents to the exposed areas of the skin as precaution.

- Examining the skin carefully for tick bite is very important as it feeds for 24-48 hours to transmit an infectious does.

-protection measures for hikers, campers, or those living in tick infested areas.

posted by, sanjana

Broccoli may undo diabetes damage

2008-08-10T23:50:00.003-04:00

Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests.

A University of Warwick team believe the key is a compound found in the vegetable, called sulforaphane. It encourages production of enzymes which protect the blood vessels, and a reduction in high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage.

Brassica vegetables such as broccoli have previously been linked to a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.....more news at,

Atopic eczema

2008-08-08T01:09:00.004-04:00

Atopic eczema is the most commonest form, affecting as many as 15-20% of school age children, with 1-2% of children with the condition being severely affected. It commonly begins in early childhood, when it can be particularly severe.The pathogenesis of atopic eczema is complex and still incompletely understood. It is best considered as an interplay of genetic susceptibility that causes epidermal barrier dysfunction and abnormal immune responses, which are then stimulated by different environmental factors.
Causes for atopic eczema is multifactoral. It might be genetic or caused by various Potential trigger factors, including irritants (eg, soaps and detergents), skin infections, contact allergens, food allergens, and inhalant allergens. Food allergy can be ruled in, if a children with eczema develop immediate symptoms after ingestion of certain food. In infant and young children if moderate or severe uncontrolled eczema persist despite optimum management food allergy can be considered if particularly associated with vomiting,changes in bowel habits or failure to thrive. Children with eczema and suspected cow's milk allergy should not be given diets based on unmodified proteins such as goat or sheep milk or partially hydrolyzed formulas.
Based on severity of the symptoms, management plans is stepped up or down. Mild eczema is managed with emollients and mild-potency topical corticosteroids. Moderate-severity eczema is managed with emollients, moderate-potency topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and bandages, in a stepwise approach. For severe eczema, treatment steps, in addition to emollients, may include potent topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, bandages, phototherapy, and systemic therapy.stepwise management, with regular emollients and intermittent topical corticosteroids forming the basis of treatment and topical calcineurin inhibitors being used as second line treatment under a dermatologist.
Children may be offered a choice of unperfumed emollients for daily moisturizing, washing, and bathing, that suites to their needs and preferences.When emollients and other topical treatments are applied at the same time of day, it is best. whenever feasible, apply these one at a time with several minutes between applications. Management includes control not cure. Even when the eczema is clear, emollients should always be used at least twice a day. In severe eczema, use of greasy emollients are best & in less severe eczema, less greasy preparations are more acceptable.
Parents can be sure of eczema flares, if increased dryness, itching, redness, swelling, and general irritability persist for a longer period. Children have dry skin, itching, so emollients are essential to treat dryness as it acts as a barrier. Children with eczema needs distraction from scratching because as skin is dry and itchy, that becomes a problem.The central heating is very drying so turning down may be helpful.Reducing exposure to house dust mite may also be helpful.
Although infantile eczema is very common, most grow out of it before 13 years of age. Parental support is crucial. Atopic eczema does not last for forever, so there is definitely a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel!

Health Consequences of Second Hand Smoke

2008-08-07T15:48:00.002-04:00

Second hand smoke is a mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of the cigarette,cigar or pipe (side stream smoke) and from smoke exhale by smokers (mainstream smoke). This consist of more than 4,000 substances, some are poisonous and causes lung cancer.The impact of second hand smoke on general health is debilitating. It causes premature deaths in children and diseases in non-smoker adults.
Children are at greater risk of being exposed to second hand smoke than adults. In children, it is associated with the initiation and severity of coughs, breathlessness, wheezing, and abdominal disorders.Children are expose from parental smoking and others house hold smokers. Second hand smoke is the 3rd leading cause of preventable death in the US. others, 2nd and 3rd causes being tobacco and alcohol respectively.
When a pregnant women smokes or is passive smoker, it affects the unborn child resulting in premature delivery of the baby, low birth weight , respiratory tract infections and asthma attacks. Mothers who smoke during pregnancy give birth to a low birth weight baby compared to non-smokers. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and after delivery results in low birth weight & slower growth in early childhood. Children exposed to second hand smoke are at increased risk for bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infection, increased frequency and severity of asthma, respiratory tract infections,otitis media, sinusitis, and behavioral & cognitive disorder and lower pulmonary function test resulting in adulthood.
The most common symptom arising from exposure to passive smoking is eye irritation. Parents needs counseling about the danger of child tobacco smoke exposure and the risk associated with smoking behavior. Parental awareness is a must to curb the menace of second hand smoking. They need to be educated about the importance of smoking cessation.This can be done by attending a smoking cessation program, a sense of self willingness to set a quit date or use of nicotine replacement therapy. The most important factor in determining the success of a smoking cessation program is a desire of individual to quit.
Banning smoking in public places can be the first step towards building a non-smoking society. The main advantage is, it helps protect non-smokers from the health risk of passive smoking. People at work or social gatherings will no longer expose to toxic second hand smoke. We can create a smoke free environment by placing 'no smoking' stickers in home & cars, designate a smoking area outside and always ask visitors to smoke outside. Healthy population ensures prosperity and progress.

Stomach bug treatment for cancer

2008-08-02T18:46:00.004-04:00

Eradicating a common bug in people with stomach cancer can prevent the disease from recurring, research suggests. Helicobacter pylori, proved to be the cause of most stomach ulcers, has also been linked with stomach cancer.In a study of 550 people who had stomach cancer surgery, antibiotics which killed the bug cut the risk of a second cancer developing by two-thirds....click & read more....

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

2008-07-31T00:24:00.007-04:00

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal abnormalities experienced by women during their reproductive years. It is a common problem affecting about 7% of young adults women. Hormonal cycling is disrupted and the ovaries become enlarged. Women with PCOS have follicles in their ovaries, which fail to rupture. Cysts present in ovaries are not harmful but do cause hormonal imbalances. PCOS, though may occur in women without ovarian cysts and is the most common cause of infertility in women. Hormones like androgen is excessively. Normally ovaries make only a tiny amount of this male hormone androgen. Plus, the ratio of LH to FSH is often abnormally high. Levels of LH ratio increases to FSH mainly because of decreased level of FSH.
PCOS is a hormonal condition in which excess testosterone results in irregular ovulation and benign cyst, jeopardizing fertility. It is directly caused by excessive weight gain & obesity brought on by insulin resistance. when a body has problem regulating insulin, insulin resistance occurs. With enhanced obesity,insulin production increases, which in turn increases testosterone level that may trigger PCOS. when a body does not use insulin well, blood glucose level shoots up causing impaired glucose tolerance. Overtime, the chances of getting diabetes increases.
Obesity increases the chances of developing polycystic ovary syndrome. Obesity, thus, is a major risk factor for PCOS and a realistic achievable weight loss can be sufficient to restore regular ovulation and improve fertility in obese women with this disorder. If you are obese, get to a healthy weight. Body weight can affect one's ability to conceive.
In addition to weight, genetics too might have role to play. Although the causes of PCOS is unknown, some women might be genetically more predisposed than others. Researchers say that a combination of genes plays a part in PCOS.
All cases of PCOS might not have all the symptoms. Symptoms tend to be mild at first. Women start having irregular periods, and in some cases, or miss it altogether. Some may have no periods while others may suffer from very heavy bleeding. Studies have shown that menstrual history is an accurate marker for PCOS in both epidemiological and genetic studies. If you have it, sisters and daughters have 50% chance of developing it during their reproductive age.

Forty percent of the adult women with PCOS have impaired glucose tolerance and elevated LDL or bad cholesterol and markedly increased prevalence of a condition called metabolic syndrome. Associated syndromes increase risk for cardiovascular syndrome tremendously.
In other words, health risks associated with PCOS are diabetes, heart diseases, reproductive problems. Infertility is caused by increased androgen, which blocks ovulation. Repeated miscarriages cause is unknown may be due to high insulin level, delayed ovulation or by the quality of egg or how egg attaches to the uterus. The risk for Gestational diabetes is greater in women with PCOS than a normal ovulating women. For pregnant women, PCOS can cause miscarriages, gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy induced high blood pressure, pre- eclampsia, increased higher risk of delivery by caeserian section. Endometrial hyperplasia occurs because the uterus lining is not cleared each month due to lack of menstrual cycle. However, birth control pills reduces risk. women with PCOS are at risk of abnormal uterine bleeding and endometrial cancer. skin and hair disorder can be substantial in women with pcos and are physically and psychologically very damaging.
PCOS is mostly diagnosed when a women is having difficulty becoming pregnant. Physical examination ,USG, blood test can help diagnosis this condition.There is no single test to diagnose polycystic ovarian syndrome, diagnosis also depends on past history of the disease. Pelvic ultrasound helps find if there is any cyst on the ovaries (polycystic ovaries). Hormones levels tested for increased androgen level, this increased level of testosterone and androgen blocks ovulation. Test for Prolactin level is done. If increased prolactin level it lacks menstrual cycle or results in infertility. GTT and Insulin level which shows insulin resistance. Test for high blood glucose level, high lipid level. Lipid profile increases in pcos. chemical screening like kidney function test and liver function test. TSH level for thyroid activity. DHEAS or 17-oH progesterone(adrenal gland hormones) may give same symptoms so to exclude pcos. other test includes, checking blood for HCG this excludes pregnancy.
PCOS leads to serious health condition. When it comes to diagnosis, sooner the better. If trying to conceive, treatment regimen can begin with fertility drug like clomiphene. Clomiphene usually induces ovulation, 50-60% conceive in first 6 months of treatment. Those who will not ovulate in response to clomiphene are at increased risk of ovarian hyper-stimulation. Birth control pills can be used if not trying to get pregnant. This combined pills will control bleeding and reduced risk of unopposed estrogen on the endometrium. Unwanted hair growth in body may be treated cosmetically or with an anti-androgen drugs. Cosmetically by use of chemical hair removers or by waxing, tweezing or shaving. Laser hair removal, electrolysis, bleaching is also done. Metformin helps control insulin and blood glucose level.
There is no cure for PCOS, but controlling it lowers your risks for infertility, miscarriages, diabetes, heart disease and uterine cancer. Associated conditions can be managed through medications and lifestyle changes. Low carbohydrate diet might be helpful. Limit foods high in saturated fats(meat, cheese, fried foods). Go for lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans,whole grains.Healthy eating habits is the key treatment for PCOS associated ailments. Loosing weight may help get hormones in balance and regulate menstrual cycle.

Surgery for PCOS isn't necessary. It is recommended only if women doesn't respond to any other treatment. Surgical treatment is occasionally done for women with infertility caused by pcos and who do not ovulate after taking medicine. Ovarian function is improved by reducing the number of small cysts. One of the more common ones is laparoscopic ovarian drilling also called as band-aid surgery because of small incision.This surgical treatment can trigger ovulation in women with PCOS who have not responded to weight loss and fertility medicine. This procedure carries a risk of developing scar tissue on the ovary. This surgery can lower male hormone levels and help with ovulation. But these effects may only last a few months. It is important to treat your PCOS even if not trying to get pregnant. Having pcos results in higher risks for many disease , but if it is treated properly,then those risks are lowered.

Cranberries helps prevent UTI's

2008-07-15T18:39:00.004-04:00

Cranberries, blueberries, and the Concord grape are among the few fruits native to North America. A number of related cranberries are found in areas ranging from damp bogs to mountain forests. These plants grow from Alaska to Tennessee as small, trailing evergreen shrubs. Fresh cranberries, which contain the highest levels of beneficial nutrients, are at their peak from October through December, just in time to add their festive hue, tart tangy flavor and numerous health protective effects to your holiday meals. Cranberry is also consumed as food in the form of relish, sauce, jam, or dried berries. The juice in general contains glucose, fructose, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, quinic acid, malic acid, proanthocyanidins, triterpenoids, catechins, lectins, and water. Cranberry has also been reported to have antioxidant and anticancer activity. cranberry is also being taken for its vitamin C and its phytonutrients, including flavonoids such as the proanthocyanidins, which are beneficial antioxidants. Thus, Cranberries can serve as a good source of supplemental antioxidants. studies have shown that cranberries can help prevent urinary tract infections and may reduce the risk of gum disease, stomach ulcers and cancer.
Cranberry is widely used to prevent urinary tract infections. It was originally believed that any benefit from this food was the result of acidification of urine. cranberry does it action by inhibition of adhesion of bacteria (E.coli the most common bacterial cause of UTIs,) to uroepithelial cells by proanthocyanadin, a compound present in cranberry. This anti-adherence action is thought to reduce the ability of the bacteria to cause a UTI.
Other uses of cranberry include treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection and prevention of dental plaque.The anti-adhesion properties of cranberry inhibits the bacteria associated with gum disease and stomach ulcers.
cranberry juice and its products significantly reduced recurrent UTI among women with recurrent infections. commercially available cranberry juice products are likely safe in available dosages and as recommended for capsules and tablets in healthy adults. Drinking excessive amounts of juice or higher doses could cause gastrointestinal upset or diarrhea. Recommended doses range from 90 to 480 mL of cranberry cocktail twice daily or 15 to 30 mL of unsweetened 100% cranberry juice daily. Patients with diabetes or glucose intolerance may want to drink sugar-free cranberry juice to avoid a high sugar intake.The concentrate available in frozen form has almost 30 times the strength of the juice. capsule form, 1cap(300 to 400 mg) has hard gelatin concentrated extract or soft gelatin, which contain less cranberry compound, twice daily.
Cranberry juice has interaction with warfarin, with increased risk for bleeding, with increased risk for calcium oxalate renal stones, and with hypersensitivity. In particular, patients with a history of nephrolithiasis should avoid the use of cranberry juice or products because of possible increases in calcium and oxalate concentration. Drinking more than 1 liter per day of cranberry juice may increase the risk of kidney stones in people with a history of oxalate stones.
However, no evidence exists for the efficacy of cranberry for the treatment of UTI and it should not be used as a substitute for antibiotics. Cranberry products alone should not be used to treat acute infection. people with urinary tract infection should see a health care provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. patient should seek treatment with antibiotics for breakthrough UTIs after establishing sensitivity of the infecting organism. If a person wishes to avoid antibiotics, cranberry juice or concentrate would be a sound recommendation to make, with follow-up of frequency of future UTIs. If efficacious, cranberry juice or concentrate may prevent visits to the physician's office for recurrent UTI as well as use of antibiotics and development of microbial resistance.

PREVENTING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE

2008-07-10T00:17:00.009-04:00

STDs have caught on like a wild fire. The cases of STDS are on rise in virtually ever nook and corner of the world. Unprotected sex is the main factor behind the spread of STD and subsequent infections. Social factors that promote spread include: alcohol, leisure, personal freedom, prostitution and ignorance. Although all social groups are vulnerable to the menace of STDs, people at high risk are mainly: sexually active male and female with multiple sex partners, frequent travelers, and commercial sex workers.
It is important to prevent STDs, because it is a serious issue that can lead to infertility and cervical cancer. One out of two sexually active individual will contract genital infection during their lifetime, therefore, safer sexual conduct is paramount to one's sound sexual health and long term well being. As STDs are consequences of unprotected sexual encounters, abstinence although easier said than done, could do the trick. Unfortunately, it is something that is easier to preach than practice. A monogamous relationship can be a way around. Having sex with only one partner at one time, being honest with your partner about sexual history & expecting same from your partner may help prevent spread of infections. Every time you change a partner, you ought to be careful. In case of any doubt, talk to a doctor. You may want to get your partner tested for STDs if he had multiple flings in the past.
During sexual act, taking care off bodily fluid can help reduce the risk of contracting STDs. Latex condoms can be an effective and protective means against transmitting diseases. Condoms, when used correctly can reduce the spread of HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, trichomonasis. They, however, provide limited protection against HPV, & herpes. As always said, that wearing a condom is like wearing a raincoat in a rainy day, you can still get wet. In order for condoms to be effective, it must be used correctly before any sexual contact. Female condoms are not as effective as male condoms when it comes to preventing STDs. It can, however, be used for those allergic to latex.
Unlike condoms, OCP or the IUD provide no respite to infections. Both the partners should talk about being tested for STDs and effective ways to protect oneself. Education is a key to preventing STDs. Regular screening, vaccination and other prevention strategies for all sexual active women are the highest public health priorities. Accurate diagnosis, effective treatment and close follow up to ensure cure can help control STDS.
posted by, sanjana.

CHLAMYDIA

2008-07-03T00:48:00.007-04:00

chlamydia is the most common STD caused by chlamydia trachomatis. This causes trachoma, non- gonococcal urethritis and cervicitis leading to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). chlamydia psittaci, which causes psittacosis & chlamydia pneumonia,which causes atypical pneumonia.
chlamydia infects lower cervix canal and the urethra. Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men having oral sex with an infected partner.
Symptoms- Often a chlamydia infection causes no symptoms at all. symptoms occur 1-3 weeks after exposure.women having symptoms like an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation during urination, pain during sex, any unusual sore, odour, discharge from genital and bleeding between menstrual cycle could be an STD infection. If a women has any of these symptoms she should stop having sex and consult a health care provider immediately.Men with symptoms might have discharge from the penis or a burning sensation when urinating. men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis.
Transmission-It is transmitted during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Infection can pass from infected mother to her baby during vaginal childbirth. MSM are also at risk of chlamydia infection because they get through oral or anal sex. Infection is transmitted by having sex with a person who has a chlamydia infection.Having sex with a new partner or having multiple sex partners or a person who has had many sex partner are at increase risk of infection. people are at a risk for chlamydia infection if they don't use condom during sexual activity.
Diagnosis-Laboratory test is done. urethritis is confirmed by finding polymorphonuclear leukocytes in a gram stain of urethral secretion. specimen are collected from site such as the urethral meatus,vagina or cervix.
Treatment-chlamydia infection can be easily treated with antibiotics. All sexual partners should be evaluated, tested & treated. patients with chlamydia should abstain from sexual intercourse until they and their sex partners have completed treatment. Otherwise re-infection is possible and women's are frequently re-infected if their sex partners are not treated. most post-treatment infection are as a result of reinfection and not failed therapy. Re-screening can be performed if reinfection is suspected.
Untreated infection can spread into uterus and fallopian tube and causes PID. PID can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tube,uterus and surrounding tissues.The damage can lead to chronic pelvis pain, infertility & fatal ectopic pregnancy.
Prevention-The most reliable way to avoid STD transmission is abstain from sexual contact.For many people cutting down sex is not what they choose so, the best safe way is a long-term monogamous relationship. Screening should be done at least annually for chlamydia among all sexually active women age 25years or younger and other high risk groups. All pregnant women should have antenatal serological testing because a baby born to an infected mother can have chlamydia infection in their eyes called as trachoma. Trachoma is a specific communicable keratoconjunctivitis and is the most common cause of avoidable blindness in the world. It also affects the respiratory tracts causing atypical pneumonia. It is the leading cause of early infant pneumonia and conjunctivitis in new born. Talk with your partner about STD before beginning a sexual relationship.Use condoms with a new partner until you are certain he or she does not have an STD. female condoms are available for women whose partners will not use a male condom.Never involve sexually with more than one sex partner at a time. Risk for an STD increases if the number of sex partners increases.

BALANCED DIET

2008-07-01T23:52:00.002-04:00

Intake of appropriate types and adequate amounts of food and drink to supply nutrition and energy for maintenance of body cells, tissues, and organs, and to support normal growth and development.
Well balanced diet acts to provide sources of energy and nutrition for normal growth and development.
"Balanced" simply means a diet that adequately meets your nutritional needs while not providing any nutrients in excess.
To achieve a balanced diet we need to consume a variety of foods. food sources like, milk and milk products(cheese,yogurt,milk) meat and meat products (chicken,fish,beef,pork,lamb) legumes(beans and peas), nuts & seeds, fruits and vegetables,grains group(breads and cereals).
An unbalanced diet can cause impairment of growth and development, problems with maintenance of body tissues, brain and nervous tissue function as well as problems with bone and muscles.
Balanced diet needs to be planned, we need to eat at least 3 meals each day, Never skip breakfast & we need to make a habit of eating from variety of food groups.
The most important step to eating a balanced diet is to educate yourself about what your body needs, and read the nutrition label and ingredients of all the food you eat. Healthier way of sticking to balanced diet is by choosing fewer calories and smarter food choices.

ACNE VULGARIS

2008-06-19T19:48:00.007-04:00

It's prevalence is 75% among teenagers and young adults(including some in their 20s and 30s). Acne is caused due to malfunction of your sebaceous gland (skin's oil gland) that leads to over production of sebum. Everyone gets it, you are not alone.Adolescent are distressed, breakdown and even cry with fear of 'ugly face'. Acne can be embarrassing it may even be hard to talk about.Acne is a treatable condition. It is the most common skin condition treated by health care providers. Acne is also called as zits or pimples. It occurs on the face, back and chest ranging from mild to severe. Acne is never your fault, it is influenced by many factors including genetics and hormonal changes or fluctuations.
CAUSATIVE ORGANISM: proprionibacterium acnes.
HOW DOES IT HAPPENS?
-The sex hormone(androgen) stimulates sebum production.
-Excessive sebum production causes blockage of sebaceous follicle outlet.
-Accumulation of keratin and sebum leads to formation of open and closed comedones.(k/a whiteheads and blackheads).
-Bacterial colonization occurs in the trapped sebum.
-Resulting in inflammatory reaction from this colonized sebum causes production of inflammatory papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.
TYPES: Two types of acne vulgaris, (a) Obstructive acne- closed comedones(k\a white heads) & open comedones(k/a black heads)
(b) Inflammatory acne-shows formation of lesions orderly,papules,pustules,nodules, cysts and scars.
TREATMENT:
a) without medicine: Prevention by a good skin care program.
1)Gentle face washing.
2)Avoidance of manipulating acne lesions( like temptation to squeeze or prick at pimples)
3)Use water-based cosmetics only.
4)use oil free moisturizers only.
(b) medical treatment:
*Step1- Begin with benzoyl peroxide gel. Apply it twice a day. Benzoyl peroxide should not be used by pregnant women.
*Step2- Topical tretinoin or adapelene is added.This is usually applied at bedtime. In the initial period, redness & irritation of the face might occur.
*Step3-Topical antibiotics like erythromycin or clindamycin is added. This is used in combination with step1 and 2.
*Step4- systemic antibiotics are added.
Allow 6-8 weeks for the treatment to work before deciding to try another regimen.

COMMON MYTH BELIEVED BY US,
a) Acne is caused by failure to wash dirt and oil is not true. Acne can be made worse by washing too vigorously and causing irritation. Gentle washing is sufficient.
b)'Acne is a normal adolescent problem of no consequences that should be allowed to run its course'. Not true, because the physical & psychological consequences of acne can be cataclysmic. Prompt treatment can prevent severe outbreaks thus avoid physical and emotional scarring.
c)'Unhealthy sexual habits,including masturbation, same sex play or even simple indulgence can cause acne'.This is not true, because sex with wrong person can cause rashes but will not be acne.
d)'Acne vulgaris always clears up after adolescence' is not true because more than 10% of the individuals continue to have this form of acne well into adulthood. Bad news is that acne might not go away even you are in your 20's or 30's.
Take a positive approach by not blaming yourself for your acne. Always remember it's a common and treatable condition. Follow a consistent treatment plan.

Tuberculosis terror in eastern Nepal

2008-06-16T14:38:00.004-04:00

Widespread poverty, lack of awareness and dearth of nutritious food seem to have been responsible for the recent outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in Dharan district of eastern Nepal. Credible reports point out that over 200 people of 75 households at Devimarg village are infected with TB. Many of those infected are children. Prior to the latest instance, the disease has claimed at least 50 lives in the past 10 years. While the developed countries are battling fatal disease such as cancer and HIV/AIDS, it is shameful that we are still fighting a losing battle against a completely curable disease caused by bacterial infection.
TB is a highly infectious disease that begins with chest pain, persistent cough, gradual weight loss, and in the later phase, even death if left untreated. Worldwide, over two million people die from it each year. The rise in HIV infection, the neglect of TB control programs and the emergence of drug-resistant strains have raised fears of a full-blown worldwide TB epidemic. In this country, TB has always been a fatal disease. According to the National Tuberculosis Center, about 90,000 people in Nepal have one form of TB or another, although the introduction of DOTS--Directly Observed Therapy Short-course--has helped contain the disease to a large extent. The six-month long DOTS treatment has led to a significant decline in TB mortality. However, many hospitals and health posts in TB-affected pockets in the country are devoid of both manpower and medicines. Such districts where the affliction is endemic either lack adequate health workers to instruct people about the need of DOTS, or the people are completely unaware of the DOTS treatment that is available free of cost. Take Devimarg village, for instance. Many people lost their lives because they were unaware of the DOTS clinic that supplies TB medicines without charge, while a few died as they were too poor to afford a nutritious diet and their immune system was too weak to resist the strain of the disease. The recent outbreak of TB provides evidence to the insensitivity and apathy of the government towards public health. A TB outbreak has been recorded in Devimarg village for the past 10 years. However, the government has paid no heed to identifying the victims of the deadly disease and stocking the health posts and hospitals immediately with adequate medicines and health workers. TB is most often the result of poverty, illiteracy and lack of nutritious food. The inhabitants of Devimarg village are poverty-ridden, illiterate and unaware of health issues. Since they are already weakened by malnutrition, their immune system cannot fight back once affected by the disease. If they are not treated in time, they can actually die of the disease. It is the responsibility of the government to educate the uneducated villagers about the need for proper diet and regular medicine intake to combat TB. Taking medicines regularly under the DOTS system alone could reduce TB by more than half.
courtesy: http://www.ekantipur.com/

NEPAL: AIDS/HIV

2008-04-11T12:14:00.007-04:00

In Nepal HIV/AIDS is emerging as one of the major social and economical challenges. The people most affected by HIV/AIDS are those between the ages of 15 and 49.
AIDS may become the leading cause of death in the many working age of 15 and 49 years if an effective response is not taken now. The increasing prevalence of HIV/Aids is pushing our country towards a disaster. People are ignorant they lack information about the critical health consequences of HIV/AIDS. Cases of HIV/AIDS are among sex workers, injecting drug users, clients of sex workers; a small number of cases in housewives and children from vertical transmission.
Political instability in Nepal is leading to increased population mixing following displacement, which may promote high risk behavior sexual violence, increase in the rate of HIV infection in the time of conflict.
As trafficking of Nepalese women and young girls to India, it is a major risk factor for HIV transmission. Every women's are not trafficked. Some has no any options left behind, to fulfill their requirements and responsibility towards families. Poverty drives large numbers of women to become prostitutes & bar girls consciously. Girls trafficked in India after returning to their families and villages are mostly not accepted in the society with respect. They do feel that this will disgrace the village's reputation and no one will marry and will reject others eligible girls. As a result, these victims of trafficking may be forced to keep selling themselves. They may also become pregnant and spread the virus to their babies during pregnancy or birth or through breast-feeding. These smallest victims need to be protected from HIV. With adequate treatment,mother-to-child-transmission is almost entirely preventable. An expectant mother can pass HIV during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. If a pregnant woman is given antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy and labor, and her baby gets a dose of medication immediately after birth, the chances of her spreading HIV to the infant can be reduced.
People who suffer are reluctant to discuss such issues because they fear of being marked as disgrace or infamy. One of the most serious and widespread problems is discrimination in the society and in the workplace. Business can play an important role in miniaturizing the socioeconomic costs of AIDS epidemic by enforcing non-discriminatory strategy, educating working classes, and providing medical facilities to HIV positive employees. These implications can help people understand and accept that people with HIV/Aids can live a normal productive life.

The poverty and powerlessness of women in most developing countries are making them increasingly susceptible to AIDS/HIV. Poverty, which forces women to stay with promiscuous, HIV- infected husbands and risk infection for themselves in order to maintain their access to the men's economic resources. Most underprivileged societies girls and women do not have the power to reject unwanted or unsafe sex. Poverty
and powerlessness among women's is an obstacle that makes reducing prostitution difficult so, the spread of AIDS continues.
Housewives are now becoming one of the vulnerable groups in the country, with the infection rate increasing. Due to the migrant laborers going to India and Middle East and remain away for years.They do have sexual contacts and spread infections to their wives once they are home.
injecting Drug Users forms the population in which HIV poses threat of explosive HIV epidemic. In Nepal wide spread sharing of contaminated injecting needle is the common and a major risk factor for HIV. So,AIDS happens to be the concentrated epidemic within the groups of sex workers and injecting drug users. All these might ultimately lead be a major health problem in Nepal. Government should take action immediately because ignoring such issues can soon increase the number of death from AIDS. If the AIDS epidemic continues to grow Nepal will have to face a tragic situation.
MSM those married may put their wives at risk of becoming infected with HIV. Gays risk of acquiring HIV. men having sex with men must be urged to get HIV test regularly so that treatment could be started earlier and reduce the rate of transmission to partners. A late diagnosis increases the likelihood of passing HIV as well as greatly reducing the quality of health & lifestyle of people living with HIV.
Condom awareness plays a vital role in improving sexual health.Enforcing to practice safe sex by using condom with partners is the best way to halt the high numbers of emerging new cases.
Young adults who are sexually active must be urged to carry and use condoms. Positive trends in young sexual behaviors like increased use of condoms, delay of sexual debut, and fewer sexual partners. This
helps prevent sexually transmitted diseases rising among young people.Passing on Hopes to youths in dealing with emotions & stress, support them and communicate in issues that they cannot discuss with family members because of lack of social acceptance.
Nationalist concerns needs to be strong commitment of the governments, and from our political leaders with actions that would bring political stability and development. AIDS/HIV is also a developmental issue therefore a multi-sectoral approach is a must. A strong coordination and cooperation is necessary from all sectors. Education and health care must be the key government priority. Use of targeted intervention
program in recognition of high risk groups from the population. Sexual health services needs to be made easier and faster to reach the people.
HIV prevention needs to be focused and persistent reaching to those most at risk of HIV infection. Better prevention could halt its spread by reducing risk of HIV infection among sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users, and homosexuals. Government should march forward to resolve the social and economical cause of this epidemic such as poverty & inequality, stigma & discrimination, sex trafficking of women, illiteracy, and cultural restrictions on discussing sex. Along with all improvements we also need better HIV testing strategies.
collected by,sanjana.

Managing common conditions without medication.

2008-04-01T13:41:00.007-04:00

We’ve gotten used to taking pills for everything that ails us, but medications have side effects and cost money.Here’s a brief look at the conditions and treatments...read more,

when uterus falls...

2008-03-13T16:10:00.004-04:00

Uterine prolapse remains a significant cause of morbidity and impairment of quality of life. Uterine prolapse can be triggered by difficult, prolonged labor, and delivery,frequent pregnancies, inadequate obstetric care, and carrying heavy weight.
Birth of large babies are the main causes of muscle weakness leading to uterine prolapse.Loss of muscle tone associated with aging and reduced amounts of hormones estrogen after menopause also contribute to uterine prolapse. Although numerous risk factors are involved, high-impact occupational or recreational activities and increasing age are most often implicated. A smoker's cough is prone to make a woman more likely to develop a prolapse, as is being overweight.
Uterine prolapse can lead to significant emotional, physical and sexual complications. Countries where fertility is high and women carry heavy loads on their backs,one out of ten women are estimated to suffer from the condition. Uterine prolapse can limit a woman’s mobility, making her physically incapable to perform routine household chores or reluctant to have sex. Many women who suffer from it are deserted by their husbands and becomes pariah in their own communities.
Sometimes called, a ‘fallen womb’, uterine prolapse is an invigorating condition in which the weakening of supporting pelvic connective tissue and the muscles allows the uterus to descend into the vaginal canal. The bladder or rectum may be pulled downward along with the uterus,causing bladder and bowel control problems.This can add to a marked reduction in the quality of life.
The substantial psychosocial consequences of urinary incontinence stress the need for more public health and medical attention. Mild cases of uterine prolapse sometimes don't cause any symptoms.However, most women do have symptoms,the most common being a sensation of'something coming down below. Leakage of urine, which can be worse with heavy lifting, coughing, laughing or sneezing.Moist discharge that soils your undergarments often. A prolapse that is more advanced can cause chronic back pains, painful sexual intercourse and urinary incontinence. In severe cases of uterine prolapse, you may develop sores in your vagina where the fallen uterus rubs against your thin skin lining your vaginal walls.Bulge of moist pink tissue from the vagina is exposed outside of your body and may be irritated and cause itching or small sores that can bleed.Infection is a possibility.

The best option is to prevent the prolapse in the first place. Performing pelvic floor exercises on a daily basis to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor is recommended. These can be done anywhere and at any time by simply tightening the pelvic floor muscles, as if trying to stop the urine flow.
Although Some women find relief by doing special control exercises (Kegels) to strengthen pelvic muscles,or by taking hormones or by using a pessary to hold the uterus in place.
Once the prolapse is established, it is much more difficult to control symptoms with exercises.
Advanced, severe or complete prolapse usually requires pessary support or surgical treatment.As an option, women with uterine prolapse are opting for the placement of mesh or uterine devices to support the uterus. Because these alternative forms of treatment allow for future pregnancies, they are feasible options to women with uterine prolapse of child bearing age. When not of child bearing age, and when symptoms are significant, a hysterectomy may be the only viable option in treating uterine prolapse and remedy the associated complications.
The primary management of severe uterine prolapse is surgical. A hysterectomy is recommended in more serious cases of uterine prolapse. The procedure that is chosen depends on the woman's age, severity of the symptoms, medical history, desire for future fertility and desire to be able to have sex. The goals are to restore normal anatomy, relieve symptoms, restore normal bowel and bladder function, and restore the ability to have sex.Educating women concerning the possible complications involved with hysterectomy may ease patients' preoperative anxiety and ultimately improve outcomes.
Elderly women or those who don't want to or are unfit to undergo surgical repair may be content to have a ring pessary inserted. It will keep the uterus and the bladder in place without them being able to feel it. The ring is usually changed or removed and washed and replaced every four to six months.
The major problem about prolapse is primarily due to the lack of awareness. Vaginal prolapse cannot be prevented in every case.However, you may be able to decrease your risk of uterine prolapse if you perform Kegel exercises regularly, avoid heavy lifting, and maintain a healthy weight.

collected by,sanjana

MPs issue maternal deaths warning

2008-03-02T09:57:00.006-05:00

Up to one million pregnant women worldwide die each year from largely avoidable causes, MPs have warned.
A Commons international development committee report said there was a lack of political will to improve maternal health in developing countries.It warned that for every woman who dies in childbirth in the UK, up to 1,000 die in the poorest countries.....read more

1 Billion Tobacco Deaths This Century?

2008-02-08T22:23:00.001-05:00

Massive Death Toll Possible Unless "Urgent Action" Is Taken, Agency Warns...read more

Daytime nap boosts memory skills

2008-02-06T10:47:00.000-05:00

A day time nap does not hamper sleep at night; instead it boosts a person's declarative memory performance. ...read more

The new G-spot

2008-02-03T23:33:00.000-05:00

Urban Indian women have new playmates-gigolos
I saw him from a distance. Beefcake in a tight T-shirt, he lounged outside a cafe in Juhu, Mumbai, waiting for me. As I moved closer to greet him, the strong fragrance of his perfume made me dizzy.....for more News visit:
http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?contentType=EDITORIAL&sectionName=COVER%20STORY&programId=1073755753&BV_ID=@@@&contentId=3522188

Sedentary life 'speeds up ageing'

2008-01-30T23:43:00.001-05:00

Leading a sedentary lifestyle may make us genetically old before our time,study suggests.A study of twins found those who were physically active during their leisure time appeared biologically younger than their sedentary peer....read more,

Mobiles linked to disturbed sleep.

2008-01-21T23:31:00.000-05:00

Using a mobile phone before going to bed could stop you getting a decent night's sleep, research suggests.
Radiation from the handset can cause insomnia, headaches and confusion.It may also cut our amount of deep sleep - interfering with the body's ability to refresh itself.

Calcium pills 'raise heart risk'

2008-01-17T13:36:00.000-05:00

calcium supplements may increase the risk of a heart attack in older women, New Zealand research suggests.

visit BBC news/Health for more news,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7187265.stm

Women in Nepal mail condoms to husbands

2008-01-11T00:09:00.000-05:00

KATMANDU, Nepal - Women in a Nepal mountain village have been mailing condoms to their husbands working overseas to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, a news report said Tuesday.

The women of Pang village have been writing their husbands letters urging them not to have sex with others — but they have been enclosing condoms just in case, the Kantipur newspaper reported.

Social workers have been counseling the women about sexually transmitted diseases.

"As I learned that unsafe relations make a person vulnerable to HIV, I sent a condom along with the letters to my husband," one of the village wives, Laxmi Sunar, told the newspaper.

An estimated 3 million people from impoverished Nepal work overseas, most as manual laborers, and send money home to support their families.

courtesy:http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/nepal_condoms_for_husbands.html

Dementia drug instant hit claim

2008-01-10T10:27:00.000-05:00

US scientists claim a drug can reverse some of the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease - with the first effects seen within 10 minutes.
The Journal of Neuroinflammation reports how the memory of an 81-year-old man improved sharply after etanercept was injected into his spine.

His wife described it as her husband being "put back to where he was".

But UK experts warned that a single success did not prove that the drug would work for every dementia patient.

An ageing population means a substantial increase in the numbers of people suffering Alzheimer's disease.

Some studies have suggested that too much of a body chemical called tumour necrosis factor-alpha may be at least partly to blame for the advance of the condition.

Etanercept, which is licensed for use as a rheumatoid arthritis drug, works to block this body chemical.
click the link for more news,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7179060.stm

Unsafe sex 'triggers' more disease

2008-01-08T20:54:00.000-05:00

Complacency over safe sex is being blamed for a dramatic rise in cases of sexually transmitted diseases.

According to government figures diagnoses have hit a 10 year high with rates of chlamydia and gonorrhoea in particular rising dramatically since 1995.
click the link for more news,http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1070235.stm

Circumcision 'does not curb sex'

2008-01-08T00:03:00.000-05:00

Circumcision does not reduce sexual satisfaction and so there should be no reservations about using this method as a way to combat HIV, a study says.

Nearly 5,000 Ugandan men were recruited for the study. Half were circumcised, half had yet to undergo surgery.

There was little difference between the two groups when they were asked to rate performance and satisfaction, the journal BJU International reports.

Some studies suggest circumcision can cut male HIV infection by up to 50%.

There are several reasons why circumcision may protect against the virus.

Specific cells in the foreskin may be potential targets for HIV infection, while the skin under the foreskin may become less sensitive and less likely to bleed - reducing risk of infection - following circumcision.

Mixed picture

But despite this, it is thought there is some reluctance to be circumcised over fears that it may impact upon sexual experience.

Previous studies into circumcision and satisfaction have given a mixed picture.

But researchers from the Johns Hopkins University in the US say the size of their study and demographic profile of their participants made it one of the most reliable to date.

"Our study clearly shows that being circumcised did not have an adverse effect on the men who underwent the procedure when we compared them with the men who had not yet received surgery," said Professor Ronald Gray, who led the study.

"Other studies already show that being able to reassure men that the procedure won't affect sexual satisfaction or performance makes them much more likely to be circumcised."

Mixed armoury

While there were very slight differences in rates of sexual satisfaction between the two groups, these were not felt to be clinically significant.

Some 98.4% of the circumcised men reported satisfaction, compared to 99.9% in the control group.

In terms of ability to penetrate, 98.6% of the circumcised group reported no problem, compared with 99.4 of the non-circumcised group.

However marginally more circumcised men - 99.4% - reported that they had no pain during intercourse, compared with 98.8% of the other group.

But campaigning charities warned against using circumcision as the main weapon against HIV, noting that it was far from 100% effective.

Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National Aids Trust, said: "There is a fear that people that have been circumcised will feel they are protected from HIV when they are not.

"Condoms remain the best way of preventing HIV through sexual intercourse.

"It should be noted that research into HIV and circumcision has been very limited in its scope.

"We still need further research into new prevention methods from circumcision to microbicides and vaccines."

courtesy:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7174929.stm

Humour 'comes from testosterone'

2008-01-06T22:38:00.000-05:00

Men are naturally more comedic than women because of the male hormone testosterone, an expert claims.

Men make more gags than women and their jokes tend to be more aggressive, Professor Sam Shuster, of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, says.

The unicycling doctor observed how the genders reacted to his "amusing" hobby.

Women tended to make encouraging, praising comments, while men jeered. The most aggressive were young men, he told the British Medical Journal.

Previous findings have suggested women and men differ in how they use and appreciate humour.

Women tend to tell fewer jokes than men and male comedians outnumber female ones.

Aggressively funny

Research suggests men are more likely to use humour aggressively by making others the butt of the joke.

And aggression - generally considered to be a more masculine trait - has been linked by some to testosterone exposure in the womb.

Professor Shuster believes humour develops from aggression caused by male hormones.

He documented the reaction of over 400 individuals to his unicycling antics through the streets of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Almost half of people responded verbally - more being men.Very few of the women made comic or snide remarks, while 75% of the men attempted comedy - mostly shouting out "Lost your wheel?", for example.

Mocking and sneering

Often the men's comments were mocking and intended as a put-down. Young men in cars were particularly aggressive - they lowered their windows and shouted abusively.

This type of behaviour decreased among older men however, who tended to offer more admiring comments, much like the women.

"The idea that unicycling is intrinsically funny does not explain the findings," said Professor Shuster.

The simplest explanation, he says, is the effect of male hormones such as testosterone.

"The difference between the men and women was absolutely remarkable and consistent," said Professor Shuster.

"At 11-13 years, the boys began to get really aggressive.Into puberty, the aggression became more marked, then it changed into a form of joke. The men were snide."

The initial aggressive intent seems to become channelled into a more subtle and sophisticated joke, so the aggression is hidden by wit, explained Professor Shuster.

Dr Nick Neave is a psychologist at the University of Northumbria who has been studying the physical, behavioural, and psychological effects of testosterone.

He suggested men might respond aggressively because they see the other unicycling man as a threat, attracting female attention away from themselves.

"This would be particularly challenging for young males entering the breeding market and thus it does not surprise me that their responses were the more threatening."

courtesy:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7153584.stm

Does milk really do a body good?

2008-01-05T14:16:00.000-05:00

A nutritionist investigates the claims about the beverage

By Alan Aragon, M.S.
updated 8:22 a.m. ET, Fri., Jan. 4, 2008

“Milk is a deadly poison," according to the Dairy Education Board. In fact, if you peruse this special interest group's Web site, notmilk.com, you'll find dozens of articles about the purported evils of this popular beverage. One claim, for example, is that milk from cows contains cancer-causing hormones and dairy industry dollars have kept that fact bottled up. All of which may leave you second-guessing your next sip.
However, as a nutritionist, I've found that most people thrive on milk, whether their goal is to lose fat or build muscle. So to be sure it's safe, I've investigated all the anti-milk claims, sifting through the research while also turning a critical eye to pro-milk propaganda. After all, the only agenda I have is my clients' health. The result: all your milk questions, answered.
Is milk really a fat-burning food?Maybe. In a 6-month study, University of Tennessee researchers found that overweight people who downed three servings a day of calcium-rich dairy lost more belly fat than those who followed a similar diet minus two or more of the dairy servings. In addition, the researchers discovered that calcium supplements didn't work as well as milk. Why? They believe that while calcium may increase the rate at which your body burns fat, other active compounds in dairy (such as milk proteins) provide an additional fat-burning effect. Of course, the key to success is following a weight-loss diet to begin with. After all, downing your dairy with a box of doughnuts is no way to torch your gut.

Does it build muscle?Absolutely. In fact, milk is one of the best muscle foods on the planet. You see, the protein in milk is about 80 percent whey and 20 percent casein. Both are high-quality proteins, but whey is known as a "fast protein" because it's quickly broken down into amino acids and absorbed into the bloodstream. That makes it a very good protein to consume after your workout. Casein, on the other hand, is digested more slowly. So it's ideal for providing your body with a steady supply of smaller amounts of protein for a longer period of time — like between meals or while you sleep. Since milk provides both, one big glass gives your body an ideal combination of muscle-building proteins.
Cows are given hormones. Doesn't that make their milk unhealthy?Not unless you're injecting the milk. Here's the full story: In 1993 the FDA approved the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) in cattle. This practice resulted in greater milk production at less cost to the dairy farmer, a savings that has been passed on to you at your local supermarket. But it has also sparked much controversy, because rBGH boosts milk's concentration of insulin-like growth factor (IGF), a hormone that's been linked to cancer.
Unlike steroid hormones, which can be taken orally, rBGH and IGF must be injected to have any effect. That's because the process of digestion destroys these "protein" hormones. So drinking milk from hormone-treated cows doesn't transfer the active form of these chemicals to your body. However, there is one ethical downside to consider: It's not good for the cows. Canadian researchers discovered that cows given hormones are more likely to contract an udder infection called mastitis.
What about antibiotics?No one really knows. Some scientists argue that milk from cows given antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance in humans, making these types of drugs less effective when you take them for an infection. But this finding has never been proved.
If you're uneasy, you can purchase antibiotic-free (and typically hormone-free, as well) milk from specialty grocers, such as Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, or select USDA-certified organic milk, which is available at most supermarkets.

Skim or whole?It depends on your taste. While you've probably always been told to drink reduced-fat milk, the majority of scientific studies show that drinking whole milk actually improves cholesterol levels, just not as much as drinking skim does. One recent exception: Danish researchers found that men who consumed a diet rich in whole milk experienced a slight increase in LDL cholesterol (six points). However, it's worth noting that these men drank six 8-ounce glasses a day, an unusually high amount. Even so, their triglycerides — another marker of heart-disease risk — decreased by 22 percent.
The bottom line: Drinking two to three glasses of milk a day, whether it's skim, 2 percent, or whole, lowers the likelihood of both heart attack and stroke — a finding confirmed by British scientists.
If you're dieting, the lower-fat option is an easy way to save a few calories. When it comes to building muscle, though, whole milk may be your best choice: Scientists at the University of Texas medical branch in Galveston found that drinking whole milk after lifting weights boosted muscle protein synthesis — an indicator of muscle growth — 2.8 times more than drinking skim did.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22349307/

Osteoarthritis Risk: Handy Finding

2008-01-04T11:47:00.000-05:00

Finger Length Could Be a Clue About Your Osteoarthritis Odds

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Jan. 3, 2008 -- Is your ring finger longer than your index finger? That may show a risk for knee osteoarthritis, especially in women, a British study shows.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. In osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones within joints gradually wears away. It can affect almost any joint in the body but commonly involves the weight-bearing joints: the knees, hips, and spine.

Osteoarthritis becomes more common with age and extra weight. Finger length may also be a risk factor, according to the new British study.

It's not about whether your fingers are long or short. Instead, it's about the ratio between the length of your index finger (the second finger, counting from the thumb) and your ring finger (the fourth finger).

Handful of Osteoarthritis Risk

The British study included more than 2,000 people with severe knee and/or hip osteoarthritis and more than 1,100 people without knee or hip osteoarthritis.

The researchers, based at England's University of Nottingham, eyeballed the length of participants' ring and index fingers, following up with hand X-rays for precise measurements.

The key finding: People whose index finger was shorter than their ring finger were about twice as likely to have knee osteoarthritis, compared with other participants.

That pattern was stronger for women than for men. Among women, those with an index finger shorter than their ring finger were three times more likely to have knee osteoarthritis.

The finding may also be true for hip osteoarthritis, but because most participants with hip arthritis also had knee osteoarthritis, it was hard for the researchers to confirm that.

Other osteoarthritis risk factors -- including age, sex, BMI (body mass index, which relates height to weight), previous joint injuries, and physical activity -- didn't explain the results.

Rheumatology professor Michael Doherty, MD, and colleagues aren't sure how to explain their findings. They note that men are more likely than women to have index fingers that are shorter than ring fingers, so hormonal factors may be involved, but that's not certain.

courtesy:http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/news/20080103/osteoarthritis-risk-handy-finding

Stomach bug sweeping the country

2008-01-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

People struck down by a stomach bug sweeping the UK have been urged not to go back to work.

Doctors estimate more than 100,000 people a week are catching norovirus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting.

Workers need to remain at home for 48 hours after the symptoms have gone and stay away from surgeries and hospitals, the Royal College of GPs warned.

The Health Protection Agency confirmed the number of cases this year is the highest since 2002.

Norovirus - also known as winter vomiting disease - is the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis in the UK.

Illness can occur at any age because immunity to it is not long-lasting.

It is not normally dangerous but the very young and very old are most at risk of complications from dehydration.

The bug can be spread by contact with an infected person, through contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.

Outbreaks are common in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships.

'Stay home'

Professor Steve Field, chair of the Royal College of GPs said its surveillance unit in Birmingham had confirmed the number of cases was the highest in five years.

He said the number of new cases each week may even top 200,000 across the UK.

"Surgeries and hospitals have been swamped with people wanting advice."

He advised those affected to stay at home, drink lots of fluids and take paracetamol.

"Wash your hands regularly so you don't infect anyone else and stay at home two days after the symptoms have gone."

Dr Darren Simpson, a GP in Bradford said they had seen a large number of people with norovirus in recent weeks.

"Very few people follow the advice of staying away from work however due to unsympathetic and often nagging bosses.

"It's the worst time of year to catch it as a lot of places are understaffed due to leave and bank holidays so there is increased pressure to attend work if you can."

In December, the Health Protection Agency warned the norovirus season had started particularly early.

They estimate that in epidemic seasons, noroviruses may cost the NHS in excess of £100m per year.

In 2007, the number of cases reported to the HPA in England and Wales from early September to early December were double those seen in 2006 - 1,325 compared with 685.

The actual number of cases is much higher as most are not reported - perhaps as much as 1,500-fold.

NHS Direct said calls about vomiting and abdominal pain had been the number two reason for people calling over the Christmas period - in keeping with reports of increased rates of norovirus.

A total of 1,122,874 people contacted the NHS helpline over the 11-day Christmas and New Year period - a 61% increase on last year.

Dr Mike Sadler, NHS Direct chief operating officer, said: "Call patterns have been markedly different from our previous experience."

courtesy:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7169347.stm

Teen birth rates increase locally and across nation: East County shows largest spikes as more youngsters are deciding to carry babies to term

2008-01-02T11:47:00.000-05:00

Paula King
Jan 02, 2008 (Contra Costa Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --

Eighteen-year-old Chelsea Thompson sleeps in the dining room of her cousin's home.
Some days it is a struggle to get out of bed, but she says her 6-month-old son has changed her life for the better.
"He saved me. I grew up as soon as I became a parent," she said. "I get my strength from him."

The national teen birth rate risen for the first time in 14 years, and Thompson is among a growing number of adolescents who carry their babies to term and raise them on their own.

Six Contra Costa County communities have teen birth rates that are significantly higher than the county average, according to a recent study by Contra Costa Health Services.

More than half of those are in East County, including Pittsburg, Bay Point, Antioch and Oakley.

Oakley saw a teen birth rate of 32.8 of 1,000 from 2002-04, and Antioch's rate was 31.9 births per 1,000 teens during the same period, according to the county study.

The incidence of teen births in Pittsburg and Bay Point was 56.8 per 1,000.

In December, national studies found that teen births rose 3 percent from 2005 to 2006. The last time the United States saw such a sharp increase was 1991.

Thompson says she doesn't think this is happening because girls lack sexual education or access to birth control.

The teen said she went to a clinic to get birth control and found out she was seven weeks pregnant -- by a boyfriend who had told her he was unable to father children.

The couple broke up seven months

into the pregnancy. He lives in Texas and has never met his child.

"There is plenty of information out there about birth control, but we just didn't listen to it," Thompson said.

While trying to finish high school through the Liberty Union High School District's independent study program, Thompson also attends a special class for teens who are pregnant or raising children.

Some of her classmates say their boyfriends told them they were sterile. Others insist that birth control pills make them sick, and they dislike needles or injections.

Angela Poirier, 17, says she would advise other teens to abstainor use birth control. Sexually active teens also should be sure they are ready to become parents, she adds.

Although Poirier considered abortion, she chose to keep her newborn. Like many teens, she says adoption was never an option.

"I didn't really want to kill a living thing, and I didn't want to put another child out there without a parent," Poirier said. "I think that more teens are having their babies because it is them getting pregnant and it is not the baby's fault."

Planned Parenthood Regional Director Robin Poppino-Kuntz says there is insufficient access to birth control and sexual health information for teens these days.

Within the Liberty district's high schools, freshmen are taught sexual education in a semesterlong health class that also covers nutrition and other health issues.

Attitudes toward adoption haven't changed in recent years, Poppino-Kuntz adds.

"Almost nobody wants to look at adoption as an option," she said. "Usually we see about half and half -- half of pregnant teens choosing parenting and the other half opting for abortion."

Birthright, a crisis pregnancy clinic in downtown Brentwood, has a dozen teens, on average, stop by each month for counseling and free pregnancy tests.

Many are 17- and 18-year-olds from Antioch, Oakley and Discovery Bay, co-director Deena Foley said.

Most have parents who oppose abortion and premarital sex, so they feel they don't have anyone with whom they can discuss their options, she added.

"I've been where they have been. I know what it is like to struggle," said Foley, once a teenage mother herself.

In Contra Costa County, girls in the 15- to 19-year-old age bracket accounted for 2,510 births from 2002 to 2004.

The county's teen birth rate is 23.8 per 1,000 teens, which is lower than the statewide average of 39.6.

More than half of these births were to Latinas, who hold the highest teen birth rate and largest percentage of teen births, according to the county study.

"Many of the Latino girls we see are devout Catholics. They have many concerns about abortion," Foley said.

Oakley's St. Anthony Catholic Church said it has seen only a few pregnant teens in its congregation. Joann Mass, the business manager, said teen pregnancy doesn't seem to have as much of a stigma as in the past and that teens' parents are more supportive of their daughters now.

Latinos are the largest ethnic group in which the birth rate continues to rise, according to Susan Philliber, a senior partner at New York's Philliber Research Associates.

Latino families that recently immigrated to the United States don't typically talk to their children about sex or contraception, so young people usually get wrong information from their peers, Philliber says.

"Once she gets pregnant, the family embraces her. The Latino family structure is strong and the father is more likely to be involved," she said. "It is unthinkable in newly immigrant homes that a female teen would use contraception."

Latinos comprise one-fourth of Oakley's growing population. Some community groups have identified teen pregnancy as an ongoing problem in the small city.

Overall, Latinas have a higher rate of unplanned pregnancies because they come from lower-income families, Poppino-Kuntz says.

"You have to consider social class and economic background. Abortion is still prevalent on American college campuses," Philliber said. "What happens is that the poorest girls are carrying babies to term while other girls often have abortions."

Girls growing up in affluent homes are more career-oriented and less willing to raise children out of wedlock, she said.

At first, relatives and other adults tried to persuade 16-year-old Jacqui Zelaya to have an abortion or give her baby up for adoption.

She later moved from Los Angeles to live with her sister in Brentwood. Zelaya says people's attitudes changed when she learned through an ultrasound that she was carrying a boy.

Today, her family adores 7-month-old Jayden, and Zelaya is determined to care for him.

"I couldn't give him up," she said. "You don't know what that child will become. (He) could be the next president."

Zelaya and Jayden's father broke up during the pregnancy. He still lives in Los Angeles but remains involved in his son's life.

On the other hand, Vanessa Morales waited until she was five months pregnant to tell her parents, who have supported her financially and emotionally since.

The 16-year-old gave birth Dec. 2. A few weeks prior, Morales was eagerly anticipating motherhood.

"I'm not scared. I'm just really excited," Morales said. "Some people think if you have a baby at this age, your life is over. If you have enough support, it will be OK."

The East County resident plans to get a restaurant job shortly after giving birth and start beauty school next summer. Morales' ultimate goal is to open her own salon.

The county study showed a direct relationship between teen births and poverty, lack of parenting education and family planning, and previous pregnancies.

Teen parents often find it tougher to continue their education, find productive work and become self-sufficient, according to the study.

Meanwhile, there are the daily challenges of motherhood: Now it takes Poirier longer to get ready for the day, and she must squeeze homework into an already hectic schedule.

She lives with her parents and wants to continue her education after high school once Sophie is in day care. The baby's 15-year-old father is no longer involved in their lives, but the county may pursue some type of support from him for Sophie's medical expenses.

"She is a reminder of him. I wish he was in my life and her life," Poirier said.

After enduring a traumatic childhood, Thompson says her top priority is to raise her son with love. She doesn't have a job, but she is working toward her high school diploma. She has hopes of becoming a secretary or kindergarten teacher.

Although she tries to stay focused, depression sometimes overwhelms her.

"Babies are very dependent," Thompson said. "I keep telling myself it is going to get easier.

courtesy:http://www.individual.com/story.php?story=75564341

Breast Cancer Cells Have To Learn To Walk Before They Can Run

2008-01-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

Early-stage breast cancer that has not yet invaded the surrounding tissues may already contain highly motile cells, bringing the tumor one step closer to metastasis, report researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Their study, published in the Dec. 30 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, suggests that these cells, although not yet invasive, could wander off along milk ducts and seed new tumors within the same breast. "A lack of invasion suggested a lack of motility," says lead author Gray Pearson, Ph.D, a postdoctoral researcher in the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory at the Salk, "but that's not so."

"This is an exciting finding because it suggests that cells might acquire migratory properties much earlier than expected," says senior author Tony Hunter, Ph.D., a professor in the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory.

Due to improved screening programs, most breast tumors are discovered at an early stage when they are still small and confined. In such cases, cancer cells have not grown into the surrounding tissues and remain within the borders of a duct, the most common site where invasive breast cancer arises. These tumors are known as DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ).

The standard treatment for DCIS is lumpectomy, the surgical removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue. Approximately 16% of DCIS patients treated with lumpectomy alone develop recurrent breast cancer growth within 5 years of treatment. One of the questions faced by oncologists and patients is whether they should add gamma radiation after undergoing surgery to catch straying tumor cells and reduce the risk of recurrent breast cancer. Currently, the decision is based solely on the size of the tumor.

"Our findings suggest that, if a DCIS contains these highly motile cells, the patient may have an increased risk for recurrent growth," says Pearson. "Under these circumstances you would consider adding radiation treatment regardless of tumor size."

While the presence of highly motile cells may guide treatment decisions in the future, the researchers have yet to show that wandering cells do indeed influence a patient's outcome, cautions Pearson.

In their study, the Salk researchers used a tissue culture model that recreates the duct of the mammary gland. They embedded human cells, isolated from breast tissue, in a three-dimensional matrix that mimics their natural surroundings. These cells spontaneously develop into so called acini, hollow structures resembling tiny milk ducts.

Then they turned on the ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway, a signaling cascade frequently activated during the development of tumors, and watched in real time as breast cancer cells learned how to walk. "We quickly realized that there was a significant cell movement, which was quite surprising," recounts Pearson. "Within 24 hours, a large number of these spheres had lost their organization, and the cells started to dance around."

While dangerously invasive cells can squeeze through the basement membrane and make a run for the surrounding tissue, motile cells still could not escape the confines of the ERK-activated acini. "But the acquisition of motility prior to invasion presumably lowers the barrier for future invasive growth," explains Pearson.

"The advent of live-cell imaging allows us to watch labeled cells move around in tissues and learn a lot about their behavior, which wouldn't be revealed in cultured cells," says Hunter.

With the next step, Pearson hopes to identify molecular markers for breast cancer cell motility that will help oncologists to diagnose patients who are at higher risk of metastasis.
coutesy:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/92813.php

Cooking Veggies May Not Cut Nutrients

2007-12-28T14:01:00.000-05:00

Study: Some Cooking Methods Maintain or Boost Certain Nutrients in Vegetables

Dec. 21, 2007 -- Cooking vegetables may not reduce all of the nutrients in those veggies, according to a new Italian study.

The University of Parma's Nicoletta Pellegrini, PhD, and colleagues bought freshly harvested carrots, zucchini, and broccoli at a local market.

In their lab, the scientists measured levels of various antioxidants in the raw vegetables. Then they boiled, steamed, or fried the vegetables. Lastly, they measured antioxidant levels in the cooked vegetables.

Raw vegetables were loaded with antioxidants. After cooking, their antioxidant levels were a mixed bag.

In some cases, the veggies lost antioxidants to cooking. But not all antioxidants decreased when cooked -- and in some cases, certain antioxidant levels rose when cooked.

For instance, steamed broccoli contained higher levels than raw broccoli of glucosinolate compounds, which may reduce cancer risk. And boiled carrots contained higher levels than raw carrots of carotenoids, which give carrots their bright orange color.

No single method of cooking stood out as being best for all antioxidants.

"Our results suggest that for each vegetable a preferential cooking method could be selected to preserve or improve its nutritional qualities," write the researchers.

courtesy:http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20071221/cooking-veggies-may-not-cut-nutrients

Diabetes Group Backs Low-Carb Diets

2007-12-28T12:18:00.000-05:00

FRIDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) -- For the first time, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has come out in support of low-carbohydrate diets for people with diabetes who want to manage their weight.

The ADA voiced its support of low-calorie or low-carbohydrate diets in its newly published 2008 clinical practice recommendations.

The recommendations are intended to help physicians guide their patients in diabetes prevention and management.

The ADA estimates that more than 20 million children and adults are living with diabetes in the United States. However, about one-third of those people have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed, according to the association.

Prior to the release of the 2008 recommendations, the ADA did not support low-carbohydrate diets for diabetes management due to a lack of evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness.

Whether a person can stick with a diet is more important than the diet's theme, according to the association. Low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diets are equally effective in helping people lose weight over a year. However, the recommendations do also include guidelines for monitoring the lipid profiles and kidney health of people who choose a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet.

The recommendations continue to support sustained, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity for people who are overweight, obese, living with diabetes or at risk for becoming diabetic.

"The risks of overweight and obesity are well-known. We recognize that people are looking for realistic ways to lose weight," Ann Albright, president of health care and education for the ADA, said in a prepared statement. "The evidence is clear that both low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie restricted diets result in similar weight loss at one year. We're not endorsing either of these weight-loss plans over any other method of losing weight. What we want health-care providers to know is that it's important for patients to choose a plan that works for them, and that the health-care team support their patients' weight-loss efforts and provide appropriate monitoring of patients' health."

Being overweight and physically inactive both increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the ADA. Being overweight or obese also make the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes more difficult. The 2008 recommendations state that all adults who are overweight and have an additional risk factor for diabetes should be tested for diabetes or pre-diabetes.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who have pre-diabetes can avoid diabetes if they lose 7 percent of their body weight and get more than 150 minutes of activity a week.

Developing and maintaining a disaster kit for diabetes self-management is also included in the new recommendations, along with revised guidelines for care of diabetes in older adults.

courtesy:http://health.msn.com/health-topics/diabetes/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100186121

How Jamie Lynn's News Can Help Sex-Educate Your Kids

2007-12-26T14:36:00.000-05:00

All the media hype surrounding the pregnancy of 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears (yes, she's Britney's sister) has presented parents with the perfect conversation-starter for that oh-so-awkward topic: sex. It's an opportunity not to be missed, because parents have a lot more influence than they may realize when it comes to delaying kids' sexual activity, improving their contraceptive use, and preventing teen pregnancy and parenthood. "Recent surveys indicate that parents still matter more than peers and popular culture," says Bill Alpert, deputy director at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. "How they behave and how they interact with their kids can make a huge difference." He recommends these tips for what to say after getting past the I-can't-believe-she's-pregnant opener:
1. Be certain of your own values and attitudes. Being clear in your mind about how you feel about casual hookups, contraception, and abstinence until marriage can help you communicate moral guidelines to your child. Think about your own sexual experiences and how they influence your current beliefs.
2. Watch movies and TV shows alongside your kids. Teenage pregnancy and sex occur frequently on TV and in movies, like the current hit Juno. "Parents can use this as a great way to discuss whatever's being portrayed," says Alpert. And with the Web, it's a good idea to surf where they surf.
3. Be a good listener. What does your child think about Jamie Lynn? Would she have made the same choice as the pregnant teen in the Juno movie? Showing that you respect your child's opinion will help foster her respect for yours.
4. Discourage early, frequent, and steady dating. This is not a one-time conversation you should have when your son turns 16 and wants to have sleepovers with his girlfriend. "A lot of parents think this can wait until high school, but it really shouldn't," says Alpert. Parents should lay the groundwork for dating rules when their child is, say, 10 or 11—that is, before it even becomes an issue. Make it clear, if it's the case, that you don't approve of dating before age __ (fill in the blank).
5. Help your kids plan for a bright future. Your child's chances of delaying sex, pregnancy, and parenthood increase if the future holds promise. Setting meaningful goals beyond high school, showing how much you value education, and encouraging involvement in community service can help your child avoid Jamie Lynn's predicament.

courtesy:http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/12/20/how-jamie-lynns-news-can-help-sex-educate-your-kids.html

Topical treatment for age spots

2007-12-24T13:25:00.000-05:00

Sun-induced skin damage can cause brown age spots, especially on oft-exposed areas like the hands and face. At one time, the only remedy was to cover them up with cosmetics. Now, there are therapies that help reverse the signs of photoaging at the physiological level. One approach is physical removal by surgery, microdermabrasion, or chemical peel. But many women prefer something gentler, and topical medications can help, reports the December 2007 issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch.

The topical drugs used for treating age spots work mainly by interrupting the formation of melanin, the pigment responsible for tanning. To get the best results, you should also use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Harvard Women’s Health Watch describes the following commonly used agents.

Hydroquinone. Many dermatologists consider this cream the best choice for treating age spots. You can expect to see results in four to six weeks, with the greatest improvement after four to six months. The most common side effect is irritation or reddening. The FDA recently proposed a ban on over-the-counter preparations containing hydroquinone because studies found that the drug may cause cancer when fed to rats and mice. So far, there are no studies showing any increased risk to humans using the drug topically. The FDA is still responding to challenges from critics who oppose the ban.

Tretinoin. Topical tretinoin was first approved for treating acne, but trials have demonstrated that it also improves photoaged skin. It can take several months to lighten age spots, and side effects include redness, scaling, and itchiness, although these generally subside after a few weeks. Brand names include Retin-A, Renova, and Avita.

Adapalene gel. This prescription drug is approved only for treating acne, but sometimes it is used off-label to improve photoaged skin.

courtesy:http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/topical-treatment-for-age-spots.htm

Dyslexia

2007-12-23T10:29:00.000-05:00

What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a brain-based type of learning disability that specifically impairs a person's ability to read. These individuals typically read at levels significantly lower than expected despite having normal intelligence. Although the disorder varies from person to person, common characteristics among people with dyslexia are difficulty with phonological processing (the manipulation of sounds) and/or rapid visual-verbal responding.

Is there any treatment?

The main focus of treatment should be on the specific learning problems of affected individuals. The usual course is to modify teaching methods and the educational environment to meet the specific needs of the individual with dyslexia.

What is the prognosis?

For those with dyslexia, the prognosis is mixed. The disability affects such a wide range of people, producing different symptoms and varying degrees of severity, that predictions are hard to make. The prognosis is generally good, however, for individuals whose dyslexia is identified early, who have supportive family and friends and a strong self-image, and who are involved in a proper remediation program.

What research is being done?

The NINDS and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Mental Health, conduct research on dyslexia. Current research avenues focus on developing techniques to diagnose and treat dyslexia and other learning disabilities, increasing the understanding of the biological basis of learning disabilities, and exploring the relationship between neurophysiological processes and cognitive functions with regard to reading ability.

courtesy:http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dyslexia/dyslexia.htm

All-Nighters All Wrong for Top Grades

2007-12-19T13:46:00.000-05:00

Students Who Study All Night Tend to Have Lower Grade Point Averages
Just in time for final exams, a new study shows that pulling an all-nighter to study isn't the wisest idea.
Students who study all night tend to have lower grade point averages than those who don't, according to Pamela Thacher, PhD.
Thacher, an assistant professor of psychology at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., studied 120 college students at a four-year liberal arts college.
Most of the students -- 60% -- reported pulling at least one all-nighter while at college. Those students also had lower GPAs than their well-rested peers.
"You can't do your best work when you're sleep deprived," Thacher says in a university news release.
There were some exceptions. Thacher notes that a minority of students who had pulled more than one all-nighter "maintain excellent GPAs."
But for most students, studying all night "is not an effective practice for learning and achieving academic goals," writes Thacher.
She dug a little deeper to see if procrastination was to blame. But data from 111 students show that the students weren't staying up all night to study because they had blown off earlier study sessions.
Thacher's findings are scheduled to appear in the January 2008 edition of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, according to a St. Lawrence University news release.
coutesy:http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20071207/all-nighters-all-wrong-for-top-grades

Obesity hurts a woman's chances of conception

2007-12-16T22:48:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Obesity decreases the chances that a woman will get pregnant, and the more obese she is, the worse her prospects of conception, Dutch researchers said on Tuesday.

Researchers at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam looked at how obesity affects women who are still ovulating but having trouble with conception.

The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, included more than 3,000 couples between 2002 and 2004 in 24 hospitals in the Netherlands.

Dr. Jan Willem van der Steeg and colleagues looked at the relationship between fertility in these women and their body mass index, a ratio of weight to height. Women with a BMI of 30 or higher are considered obese.

The women had to be ovulating and have at least one working Fallopian tube, and the men had to have a normal semen analysis.

The researchers found that women with a BMI of 30 or higher had significantly lower probability of becoming pregnant naturally, compared with normal weight women who had BMIs of between 21 and 29.

"In the case of a woman with a BMI of 35, the probability of spontaneous pregnancy was 26 percent lower, and in the case of a woman with a BMI of 40, it was 43 percent lower," van der Steeg said in a statement.

One reason for this may be the hormone leptin, which regulates appetite and energy expenditure and is secreted in fatty tissues.

"It is possible that obese women may have disturbed hormone levels, which decrease the chances of successful fertilization and implantation," he said.

Obesity is already known to disrupt ovulation, and the Dutch study now suggests it can lower pregnancy rates compared with women of normal weight.

However, the researchers did not track the timing and frequency of sexual intercourse, which may have affected the results. Some studies have shown that obesity is linked with less frequent sex and reduced sexual desire.

The researchers said the finding should be tested in further studies, especially given the rising rates of obesity.

"Owing to the fact that more women of child bearing age are becoming overweight and obese, this is a worrying finding," they wrote.

courtesy: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071212/hl_nm/obesity_pregnancy_dc;_ylt=AiVPD3gf76SI0UpLOhnue4HVJRIF

A Tip for People With Sleep Problems

2007-12-13T18:14:00.000-05:00

Indiplon, a short-acting sleeping medication intended for those middle-of-the-night wake-ups, failed to get the Food and Drug Administration nod yesterday, because the agency wants more research done in the elderly, in pregnant women, and in comparison with other sleeping medications. Meantime, popular sleep medications Ambien, Sonata, and Rozerem, all intended for use right before bedtime, have long been a source of help for people whose sleep apnea, hot flashes, or restless leg syndrome awakes them in the middle of the night, experts say.
None of the three have been studied or approved to be used this way, and people shouldn't try this method without consulting their doctors first, says Jerrold Kram, medical director of the California Center for Sleep Disorders. All three are included in a class called sedative-hypnotic drugs; the concern is that taking a dose with not enough hours left in the night "can leave you with some residual effects," says Kram, who has performed clinical trials of sleeping medications other than Indiplon. A general rule of thumb, experts advise, is to make sure you have at least four hours of sleeping time remaining before you take a sleeping pill. And because individual responses vary, leave yourself some leeway in the morning to see how you feel before becoming active. Anyone who takes a sleeping pill before turning in probably shouldn't take a second pill during the night. One exception may be Sonata, Kram says, but it's important to consult your doctor for individualized advice. Sedative-hypnotic drugs carry risks, including severe allergic reactions and a tendency to act while asleep—driving, making phone calls, and eating while asleep, for example, according to the FDA. Like Ambien and Sonata, Indiplon, if eventually approved, will be used to treat difficulty falling sleep, says Thomas Roth, director of the sleep disorders and research center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. (Roth has worked as a consultant for all of the makers of the various prescription sleep medications, including Indiplon.) The fundamental difference, he says, is that Indiplon has a "very short-acting half-life," meaning that it leaves the body rapidly, and so it can be taken late at night. In a clinical trial sponsored by Indiplon's maker, Neurocrine Biosciences, Indiplon reduced the time it took to return to sleep when compared with placebo, and it also increased the amount of sleep gained following the return to bed. Patients also cited a better quality of sleep.

Recognizing a Sleep Disorder

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, you should consult your doctor about a possible sleep disorder if you experience the following symptoms. This list is for adults; children may experience different symptoms.

* It takes longer than 30 minutes for you to fall asleep at night.

* You wake up several times at night and have difficulty falling back to sleep.

* You're sleepy during the day, take frequent naps, or fall asleep at inappropriate times.

* You've been told that when you're asleep, you snore loudly, gasp, snort, make choking noises, or even stop breathing for short periods.

* You experience tingling, crawling, or creeping feelings in your arms or legs that are relieved by movement or massage, particularly at night when you're trying to fall asleep.

* You're told that your legs or arms jerk frequently when you're asleep.

* You've had vivid, dreamlike experiences when going to sleep.

* You experience sudden muscle weakness when you're afraid, angry, or laughing.

* You feel like you can't move when you first wake up.

courtesy:http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/12/13/a-tip-for-people-with-sleep-problems.html

Eight Ways to Cut Salt Out of Your Diet

2007-12-12T13:11:00.001-05:00

While the Food and Drug Administration mulls over whether to set limits on salt content in processed foods—after being strongly urged to do so yesterday by such groups as the American Medical Association and the Center for Science in the Public Interest—you may be wondering how to reduce your own sodium intake to the recommended daily limit of 2,300 milligrams for most healthy people. Here are some suggestions for cutting back on salt, provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Stephen Havas, vice president for science, quality, and public health at the American Medical Association.
Cook from scratch so you know exactly what's in your food. You might be surprised at the sodium content included in that prepackaged meal you love: The CSPI has analyzed a whole range of processed foods and has found ready-made roasted carved turkey containing as much as 5,410 milligrams of sodium per serving; half of a ready-made pepperoni pizza might contain as much as 1,350 milligrams.

• When you do opt for ready-made pizza or other packaged foods, choose products that say they're sodium free, very low in sodium, light in sodium, or unsalted or have low or reduced sodium. If you can't find many, Havas advises asking your local grocery store to start stocking them. Even bread and cereal may surprise you: The CSPI found whole-wheat bread containing anywhere from 150 to 190 milligrams of sodium per slice, depending on the brand; white bread had 115 to 230 milligrams per slice.

• Substitute spices, herbs, and salt-free blends for salt in cooking and at the dinner table.

• Watch for sodium and salt content. Table salt is a form of sodium chloride, but other forms of sodium are also included in foods.

• Avoid instant foods such as pasta, rice, and cereals, which usually include salt. Spaghetti sauce, according to the CSPI, contains 270 to 770 milligrams of sodium per serving, depending on the brand.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables because they have "essentially no sodium," Havas says.

• At restaurants, ask your server which foods the restaurant prepares without adding salt—and order those items. "The more restaurants hear this, the more they're going to change the way they're cooking," Havas says.

• Rinse canned foods to wash off some of the salt.

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/11/30/eight-ways-to-cut-salt-out-of-your-diet.html

Treating Mild Acne

2007-12-06T21:44:00.000-05:00

Mild acne consists of small lesions, such as blackheads, whiteheads or pustules, which appear at or near the surface of the skin. As such, mild cases of acne can sometimes be controlled at home by:

Gently washing the affected area(s) with warm water and a mild soap twice a day to remove dead skin cells and excess oil
Using a topical (applied to the skin) over-the-counter acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid
Following the Acne Skin Care Guidelines
At-home treatment requires 4-8 weeks to see improvement. Once acne clears, treatment must be continued to prevent new lesions from forming.
Even mild cases of acne may require the help of a dermatologist. If the acne does not respond to at-home treatment, a dermatologist can assess the situation and determine an appropriate therapy. In these cases, combination therapy (two or more treatments) may be used. Combination therapy may include use of a prescription topical antimicrobial or topical retinoid. These prescription topicals can be
very effective in clearing mild acne.
courtesy: http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/treatingmildacne.html

How to Prevent Pre-Diabetes

2007-12-05T20:30:00.000-05:00

Pre-diabetes is a serious medical condition that can be treated. The good news is that the recently completed Diabetes Prevention Program study conclusively showed that people with pre-diabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity. They may even be able to return their blood glucose levels to the normal range.
While the DPP also showed that some medications may delay the development of diabetes, diet and exercise worked better. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a 5-10% reduction in body weight, produced a 58% reduction in diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association is developing materials that will help people understand their risks for pre-diabetes and what they can do to halt the progression to diabetes and even to, "turn back the clock" In the meantime, ADA has a wealth of resources for people with diabetes or at risk for diabetes that can be of use to people interested in pre-diabetes.
Nutrition
Making Healthy Food Choices
ADA's statement for health professionals on nutrition
The American Diabetes Association bookstore has award-winning books on nutrition, recipes, weight loss, meal planning and more.
Exercise
Tips on how to include a healthy amount of physical activity into your daily routine:
Exercise and Diabetes
ADA's statement for health professionals on exercise
You can get fit, reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes, and support the American Diabetes Association by participating in America's Walk for Diabetes.
Tools
Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 diabetes.The National Diabetes Education Program has designed a national awareness campaign to target people at risk for type 2 diabetes. The campaign will create awareness that type 2 diabetes can be prevented through modest lifestyle changes and losing about 5 to 7 percent of body weight.

courtesy:http://www.diabetes.org/pre-diabetes/what-you-can-do.jsp

Personalised approach to body image problems

2007-12-04T22:04:00.000-05:00

Face to face counseling sessions and Internet based therapy can help women dissatisfied with their body image.

It’s not teenagers and adolescents who are obsessed with their looks any more. More and more adults, especially middle-aged women are also getting conscious about their body image. Women with high levels of body dissatisfaction are seen as developing eating and related mental problems as well. As a result of this, many such women seek counseling and other therapies to get rid of these symptoms.

To assess the efficacy of one on one counseling sessions and Internet based therapy for body image problems, researchers at La Trobe University in Bundoora, Melbourne, Australia compared the effectiveness of eight weekly small-group therapy sessions led by a therapist when delivered in person or by the internet to 116 women, 18 to 35 years old, all of whom had disordered eating and were highly dissatisfied with their bodies. Forty-two of the women participated in the face-to-face group, 37 received counseling via the Internet, and 37 were assigned to a delayed treatment group that served as a "control" comparison.

The results showed that the traditional in-person therapy is better than the cyber approach for improving both image concerns and disordered eating. Though Internet-based interventions offer the advantage of privacy and anonymity and greater accessibility in comparison to personal care, they can have certain disadvantages as well. These could range from the likelihood of miscommunication due to the absence of nonverbal and auditory cues. Both therapy groups showed large improvements in their scores on tests of body image, shape concerns and eating attitudes and behaviors compared to the control group, although improvements in the face-to-face group were greater. Thus, face-to-face body image interventions and Internet based therapy can benefit women with body image issues. International Journal of Eating Disorders,
November 2007

courtesy:http://www.doctorndtv.com/news/detailnews.asp?id=2925