According to a new study the use of serotonin-raising drugs like
antidepressants and slimming pills in combination may trigger a stroke. In
common the mecahnism of durgs is by increasing the levels of serotonin, a
natural chemical with many different roles in the body. Examples include diet
pills, anti-migraine drugs and some of the newer antidepressants.
Researchers at the Health welfare hospital, warn of the potential dangers of
using such drugs in combination. They may narrow the blood vessels in the
brain to such an extent that a stroke is precipitated. The experts warn that
doctors should consider the possibility of these drugs being the culprit
whenever a patient reports a sudden, severe headache.
On no account should such patients be prescribed other serotonin drugs - like
a migraine treatment - if they suddenly get a bad headache or even develop
seizures.
--- Depression increases heart attacks
Medindia Health News January 11, 2002
A new study suggests that people who are affected with depression are more
likely to die of a heart attack than those who are not depressed.Led by Dr.
Robert M. Carney at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis,
Missouri, the researchers concluded that depressed people tend to have poor
heart rate variability (HRV).
Heart rate variability is the rythm of the heart and ability to contract,
which can affect its ability to handle stress or exertion. These findings
suggest that if depression can be diagnosed and treated, people who have a
heart attack may improve their chances of survival.
The researchers monitored heart rhythm changes in 712 people after they were
discharged from the hospital following a recent heart attack. Heart rate
variability was significantly worse (as measured by a lower HRV index) in
those who were depressed than in those who were not depressed.
People with poor HRV are more likely to die after a heart attack, and
according to the researchers, experiencing a major depression can quadruple a
person's likelihood of dying within 6 months after a heart attack. Although
treatment of depression with medication or psychotherapy after a heart attack
has not been shown to improve survival, the authors conclude that it can
improve depressed patients' quality of life and should be included in routine
care.
------ Body can reshape heart damage
Medindia Health News January 11, 2002
Using the male chromosome as a marker, researchers studying eight cross-gender
heart transplants from New York Medical College have discovered that the body
can actively reshape the heart after injury. The research explodes the
long-standing belief that the heart cannot repair itself and the finding has
implications for heart disease treatment.
The realization that the body works to repair a damaged heart much as it does
other organs came after Dr. Federico Quaini and his colleagues examined tissue
from eight men who had received heart transplants from women. Because female
cells lack the Y chromosome that carries the genetic code for male
characteristics, the researchers were able to determine which cells came from
the female donor and which belonged to the male recipient.
But the researchers found cells throughout the female heart that contained a Y
chromosome. In some samples from the heart, more than 45 percent of the cells
carried the Y chromosome. It is unclear whether those cells came from remnants
of the old male heart and migrated to the new one, or whether they were
originally highly versatile stem cells from the men's bone marrow and moved to
the heart in an attempt to repair the damage from the heart surgery.
Many of the male cells that had found a home in the transplanted heart had
characteristics of stem cells. Even in the one patient who died four days
after his transplant, the researchers found plenty of evidence in his heart
that Y-containing cells had moved in and started work.
----
Evidence supporting H.pylori eradication
Medindia Health News January 10, 2002
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A study of patients on long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
treatment has shown that eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection can
substantially reduce the risk of ulcer formation. Treatment with omeprazole
triple therapy eradicated 90 per cent of H.pylori infections and reduced the
six-month ulcer probability of 34 per cent found in the control group to 12
per cent in the NSAID-treated arthritis patients.
Dr Francis Chan and colleagues recruited 100 arthritis patients who were
receiving long-term NSAID treatment to participate in the investigation. The
patients were randomly allocated to H.pylori eradication with omeprazole
triple therapy or to placebo treatment with omeprazole for one week. The
patients continued on NSAID treatment for six months. Dr Chan's team said that
treatment of H.pylori infection could substantially reduce the risk of ulcers
in patients commencing long-term NSAID treatment.
Research confirmed H.pylori and NSAID use as independent risk factors for
peptic ulcer disease (PUD). The pooled data from 16 studies of 1,625 NSAID
users showed that uncomplicated PUD was more than twice as likely in patients
positive for H.pylori infection than in those negative for this bacterium.
Furthermore, ulcer bleeding risk was increased 1.79-fold by H.pylori infection
and 4.85-fold by NSAID use. The combination of H.pylori infection and NSAID
use increased this risk further to 6.13-fold.
--- Cooked vegetables give more iron
Medindia Health News January 10, 2002
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Results from a recent study at the national meeting of the American Chemical
Society indicated that cooking vegetables for about 10-20 minutes increases
the amount of iron that our body can absorb from them. Tung-Ching Lee, a food
scientist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, tested 37 vegetables and found
that 25 of them benefited from cooking of some sort, including boiling,
steaming, or stir-frying.
The iron content in the vegetable is the same before and after cooking;
heating simply causes the iron stored in the food to be released, making more
of it available to the body for absorption. For instance, Lee found that the
available iron in cabbage increased from 5% to 15% through cooking and the
available iron in broccoli increased from 6% to more than 30%. However, some
vegetables, such as lettuce, were found to be equally nutritious whether
consumed raw or cooked.
They also found that storing cooked vegetables overnight, even in the
refrigerator, causes a significant drop in the available iron content. To get
the most iron, people should consume the vegetables soon after they have been
cooked. Lee found that cooking tomatoes with other vegetables enhances the
nutritional value of those other vegetables however, that vegetables that are
blended before cooking have available iron levels almost as low as those in
raw vegetables, while vegetables that are blended after cooking retain the
higher iron levels.
---- Step Aerobics Increases good cholesterol
Medindia Health News January 10, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to researchers in France, doing regular exercise can improve a
person's cholesterol levels, step aerobics may give a particular boost to the
"good" HDL cholesterol that protects against heart diseases,their
small study showed that although both step aerobics and traditional, step-less
aerobics classes improved women's overall cholesterol, only the steppers saw
their HDL rise.
A. Kins and colleagues at Basket University in France, followed 40 sedentary
college women over 6 weeks. Fifteen took step aerobics and 12 took traditional
aerobic dance, 3 days a week for 40 minutes each day. The rest of the women
remained sedentary.Aerobic dance involves continuous movement designed to get
the heart rate up. Step aerobics follows the same principle but the movements
are performed using a stepping bench. After 6 weeks, both aerobics groups
showed significantly greater dips in their total cholesterol levels than the
sedentary women did. But only the steppers saw an appreciable rise in their
HDL. None of the groups showed body weight changes.
According to Kins the results indicate that step aerobics training is an
effective training mode for modifying (cholesterol) profiles in female
college-aged students. They offer no explanation for why step aerobics proved
more beneficial for HDL levels. However, they point out, these findings are
limited since the study group was small and, although the women were told not
to change their diets, they might have done so. In addition to this, many
more--such as age, smoking and body composition--contribute to a person's
cholesterol levels.
---- Antenatal kerosene exposure endangers child's sight
Medindia Health News January 9, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A research has found that if pregnant women whose jobs require too much
exposure to solvents like kerosene, gasoline,glues etc may be more likely to
have chilren with defective eyesight. Head researcher Dr. Gideon Koren and
colleagues, from Toronto published this in Jornal of Occupational health.
They found that poor vision acuity (sharpness) were more common among children
whose mothers were frequently exposed to organic solvents at work during their
pregnancies than among children whose mothers were not exposed. This is the
first study to look at the effects of prenatal exposure on offspring.
The researchers compared the vision of 43 children between 3 and 6 years old
whose mothers were frequently exposed on the job to organic solvents with 29
children whose mothers were not exposed. . The researchers found a
significantly higher number of children with color blindness and poorer visual
acuity among the group whose mothers were exposed to organic solvents at work.
The mothers of the affected children had jobs in the auto or paint industries
or in laboratories. However, according to Dr. Koren, the findings suggest that
exposure to levels of toxins such as lead and mercury considered safe for an
adult woman might not be safe for her unborn child.
--- Defence against free radicals
Medindia Health News January 9, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UK scientists say they have discovered molecules in the body that can protect
against the harmful action of free radicals.With further research, the
research could potentially lead to the prevention of certain degenerative
diseases. Oxidative damage has been linked with ailments such as
cardiovascular disease, strokes, autoimmune diseases like arthritis and
diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers from the Medical Research Council's Dunn Human Nutrition Unit
in Cambridge found that molecules known as - uncoupling proteins can move a
powerful free radical - called superoxide - from where it is synthesised to
other parts of the body where it can be disposed of safely. The research team
suspect that uncoupling proteins could be an important part of the natural
antioxidant system in cells, guarding against damage caused by free radicals
and other oxidants.
Researcher Dr Martin Brand says that, by understanding the exact role of
uncoupling proteins in cells, new therapies could be developed. "For
example, we might be able to decrease cellular ageing by using chemicals that
switch these proteins on," he said. "However, we need to do more
research to find practical or medical applications of these exciting new
findings."
---- Eat more vegetables and fruits
Medindia Health News January 9, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More people are eating the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables, but
they are still only a minority of the population. Eating more fruits and
vegetables acts as a booster to our human system.On an average the percentage
of men eating fruit and veg at least five times a day increased from 15 per
cent to18 per cent between 1993 and 1998 (the latest period for which the
stats are available).
Among women, the percentage increase was from 20 per cent to 25 per cent
during this time. Older people, white people, college graduates, those taking
regular exercise, and non-smokers were more likely to be eating lots of
produce. The percentage of obese people eating their five portions declined
from 15 per cent to 12 per cent during the five year period - underlining the
link between overweight and unhealthy eating. According to association the
majority of the population is not getting the benefit of a healthy diet.
----- Depression linked to mortality
Medindia Health News January 8, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, after heart
disease and cancer. About 600,000 Americans have a stroke every year, and
167,000 die from it. Men who suffer from depression and anxiety are more than
three times as likely to die from a stroke as other men. But depressed and
anxious men are not much more likely to have non-fatal strokes.
Researchers studied 2000 men aged 49 to 64 who were followed for 14 years.They
found the men with depression or similar mental illness were much more likely
to have fatal strokes, while the men who did not die from their strokes were
very slightly more likely to have depression. Out of the 2,000 men, 137 had
strokes and 17 men died from them. Men who had strokes were also more likely
to be older, heavier, to smoke and to have higher blood pressure. The worse
the depression and anxiety as reported by standardized tests, the higher the
risk of a fatal stroke.
Depressed people often don't take medicines as prescribed, so some of the men
may not be taking medicines for high blood pressure, thereby increasing their
risk for stroke. There could also be physical changes in the autonomic nervous
system, which controls heart rate and the contraction of blood vessels. Such
changes have been seen in depression and could contribute to the severity of
stroke or heart attack. Doctors need to take more care to screen their
patients for mental illness.
--- The superior steroids
Medindia Health News January 8, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Researchers say, that a steroid nasal spray may relieve seasonal allergy
symptoms better than an oral antihistamine. Dr. Robert Naclerio and colleagues
from University of Chicago,compared the effectiveness of
fluticasone(Flonase),a corticosteroid nasal spray, with loratadine(Claritin),a
nonsedating antihistamine, for treating ragweed allergy on an as-needed
basis..
Participants who used the inhaled steroid experienced significantly fewer
allergy symptoms and reported less impact on their quality of life than those
who took the antihistamine. During the four-week study, 88 participants took
either the steroid nasal spray or antihistamine on an as-needed basis. They
kept a daily diary of their allergy symptoms and completed a quality-of-life
questionnaire.
Researchers looked for chemical evidence of allergic reaction, such as
eosinophils, in participants' blood. Eosinophils are white blood cells
involved in defending the body from allergens. For best results, experts
generally recommend that you use either an inhaled steroid or an antihistamine
on a continuous, long-term basis.
But the researchers point out that most people tend to wait until symptoms
appear before taking allergy medications. This may be one reason for the
superiority of the steroid nasal spray in the study. Unlike inhaled
corticosteroids, antihistamines like Claritin are not very effective in
blocking the allergic response once it has begun.
---- A new hearing device improves hearing
Medindia Health News January 8, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A new ray of hope for hearing impairment. A new hearing device that is
implanted in the middle ear gives better sound quality than a more
conventional aid. Doctors say that there's now a better option for those with
hearing loss.The usual kind of hearing aid transmits sound through the
eardrum, and may produce feedback - distracting sounds and whistles - as well
as giving the wearer the feeling of talking within a barrel.
The new aids have two parts - internal and external. The external processor is
attached magnetically just behind the ear and picks up sounds which it
transmits to the internal part, a receiver implanted into the middle ear. It
provides clearer sound and less feedback than the usual hearing aid. But,
since it's surgically implanted, it does cost quite a bit more. Please refer
to the specific consultant and discuss it whether this is applicable in your
case.
----- Asthmatics at increased risk of lung cancer
Medindia Health News January 7, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People who suffer from asthma, particularly women, may have an increased risk
of developing lung cancer. Over a period of 30 years, researchers studied
almost 100,000 patients who had been hospitalised and diagnosed with asthma.
None of the patients showed any signs of cancer at their initial assessment.
Their health was monitored from the second year after asthma diagnosis until
the last day of the three-decade study.
At the study's conclusion, the researchers found that lung cancer affected
asthmatics more frequently than the general population. They also found that
the risk of developing lung cancer was higher for asthmatic women than for
men. The reasons for the link between asthma and lung cancer, however, remain
unclear.
Dr Paolo Boffetta, from the Unit of Environmental Cancer Epidemiology at the
IARC in Lyon, France, said, "We do not really know if asthma as such
causes the increased risk. "There could be one mechanism causing both
asthma and cancer, for example chronic inflammation leading to an excess of
free radicals."
Dr Paola also said there could be external environmental factors that play a
role in the activation and progression of both asthma and lung cancer,
particularly tobacco smoking. In conclusion, the researchers say their study
confirms a link between asthma and lung cancer, and contradicts previous
research by demonstrating that asthmatic women may have a higher, rather than
lower, risk of developing lung cancer.
---
Artists prone to cubital tunnel syndrome
Medindia Health News January 7, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rigors encountered by performing artists are similar to those endured by
professional athletes. They each undertake a vigorous regimen of training and
conditioning, often eight to ten hours of practice daily.
"Musicians and other performing artists are exposed to tremendous amounts
of stress in the upper extremities during practices and recitals," said
Barry P. Simmons, professor of orthopaedic surgery at Harvard Medical School
in Boston, at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' Orthopaedic
Update.In this arena of professional artists, demands of excellence, precision
and endurance can be costly to the body of the artist, often leading to
seriously debilitating conditions such as carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel
syndrome.
Carpal tunnel is caused by pressure exerted on the median nerve at the wrist
and cubital tunnel is caused by repeated injury/pressure on the ulnar nerve at
the elbow. The conditions and treatments discussed by Dr. Simmons are not
limited to performing artists such as musicians, but may also occur in other
artists, such as sculptors, painters who extensively use their hands and upper
extremities.
Treatments available to performing artists result in a high degree of success
and recovery. Some helpful steps to avoid injury include stretching before
practices and recitals. Adequate rest periods are needed. The difference
between normal discomfort and detrimental pain should be understood. And last
but not the least is an evaluation from a physician is a must.
---
A way to calm the heart rhythm
Medindia Health News January 7, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is a very easy and simple way to slow down the respiration rate. Just by
practising yoga, any breathing exercise and reciting the Rosary respiration
rate can be slowed down and thereby calm the heart rhythm. According to a
study The Rosary is an important prayer ritual in the Catholic Church - and
the benefits may be more than spiritual.
Researchers at the University of Cleavland, recorded breathing rates during
normal talking and recitation of the Rosary in 15 healthy adults. They also
carried out the exercise with yoga mantras and a controlled breathing
exercise.
All three practices slowed breathing and made it more regular than with normal
conversation. At six breaths per minute, the respiration rate was linked to a
healthier heart rhythm. The findings lead the researchers to speculate whether
the practice of the Rosary and yoga mantras may have evolved, in part, as a
calming practice, which both opens the mind and benefits the heart and lungs
in the long run.
--- Unsatisfactory Grade On Women's Health Issues
Medindia Health News January 6, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The United States gets a grade of "unsatisfactory" when it comes to
dealing with women's health issues. The report concludes that just a handful
of states have made moves to tackle diseases affecting women, including heart
disease and cervical cancer. It also concludes that states and the federal
government have done either too little or nothing at all to expand women's
access to health insurance and medical services.
Neither the nation nor the states have met the challenge of helping women
secure better access to key healthcare services and increasing the
availability of needed healthcare providers.
After the release of the report, four states made improvements in women's
access to health coverage, while five states improved benefits for pregnant
women. Many states improved health screenings for women's cancers. Still, few
states have made progress in women's diabetes rates or in promoting programs
to cut obesity, smoking or high blood pressure in women.
--- Unnatural death common in mentally ill
Medindia Health News January 6, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mental illness has an increased risk of death by homicide, suicide or
accident. On an average mental health problems like depression or
schizophrenia are related to higher rates of suicide. What's not been clear is
whether mental illness also increases the risk of other causes of unnatural
death.
Researchers at the University of Texas along with other colleagues in Italy
did a comparative study They found that one quarter of deaths among the
mentally ill were from unnatural causes: one per cent from homicide, 60 per
cent suicide and 15 per cent accidental death. This means that people with a
mental illness are six times more likely to be a victim of homicide than the
general population. Alcohol and drug abuse were important factors is many of
these deaths.
Strategies for reducing suicide risk among the mentally ill continue to be
important. But this study suggests that we also need to look at how to reduce
other types of unnatural death in the community.
---- Vaginosis increases risk of miscarriage
Medindia Health News January 6, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pregnant women who contract a common bacterial infection of the vagina are
more likely to miscarry in the early stages of pregnancy, researchers have
found. Bacterial vaginosis, a form of inflammation of the vagina, is the most
common cause of abnormal discharge among women of childbearing age. It affects
24% of pregnant women.
The researchers studied 850 women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in
Leeds. These women conceived at the same rate as women with normal vaginal
bacteria. However, 29% of those with the infection subsequently miscarried,
compared to only 18% of women who were free of infection.
Dr Janet Wilson, a consultant physician specialising in genito-urinary
medicine, said it was possible that the infection caused endometritis, an
inflammation of the uterus. She said: "This could spread up into the
womb, causing inflammation of the lining of the womb and releasing various
chemicals which causes the blood vessels to constrict, effectively starving
the fertilised egg of vital nutrients.
---- Protein and fat improve memory
Medindia Health News January 5, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All types of food energy, not just carbohydrates, appear to enhance memory
performance in healthy older adults, says a study published in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition."The positive effects of carbohydrates on
cognition have been well-established by researchers, but this is the first
study to show that pure dietary protein and fat also improve memory,"
says lead author Randall Kaplan.
Until now, it was believed by scientists that increases in blood glucose
levels explained the beneficial impact of carbohydrates on memory in elderly
people.In the present study, however, people performed better on memory tests
after consuming carbohydrate, fat and protein drinks of equal calories
compared to a placebo with no food energy, regardless of the drinks' effects
on blood glucose levels.
The positive results occurred in verbal recall tests administered 15 minutes
after the participants - 11 males and 11 females, aged 61 to 79 - consumed
each type of drink.'Other memory tests involving attention and non-verbal
tasks showed variable effects, he says, suggesting that specific types of food
energy enhance specific aspects of brian function.Further research is
necessary to unravel the unique connections between each nutrient and brain
region involved in memory, according to researchers.
--- Hobbies prevent dementia
Medindia Health News January 5, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading, socialising, the arts and sport all reduce the risk of Alzheimer's
disease, according to a new study. High education and career attainment has
already been associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. Now it seems
that leisure activities, too, protect against cognitive decline as we age.
Researchers at Cleavland University, have been studying 1,000 people aged 60
or older, free of dementia at the start. They asked the participants about
their intellectual, social and sporting pursuits and then recorded who
developed dementia over the next seven years.
Those with a high degree of leisure activity were 20 per cent less likely to
develop dementia. There was an additional eight per cent risk reduction for
each leisure activity reported. Intellectual activity - reading, learning a
language, taking classes - were linked to the biggest risk reduction, but
socialising and sport were good too.
----- Hope For Stiff-Person Syndrome
Medindia Health News January 5, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At present, there is no cure for stiff-person syndrome, a disease marked by
high levels of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), an enzyme
involved in the production of a movement-regulating neurotransmitter. Patients
are usually treated with Valium (diazepam), which is only mildly successful at
controlling symptoms. While the cause of stiff-person syndrome is unknown,
doctors had suspected that it may be an autoimmune disorder.
About 1 in every million people has the disorder, though it is often
misdiagnosed and may be more common than recognized. Up to 65% of patients
cannot perform daily tasks because of total-body stiffness or frequent falls.
Some patients rely on walkers or wheelchairs while others are completely
bedridden. Exposure to noise, touch or emotional distress can set off muscle
spasms, and some patients are afraid to leave their house because of the
spasms.
High doses of antibodies may help relieve the muscle rigidity and spasms
associated with stiff-person syndrome. Patients who had infusions of immune
globulin - a collection of antibodies derived from donor blood for 3 months
were able to walk more easily, fell down less often, and reported improvements
in their ability to perform work-related and household tasks.
The Findings indicate that intravenous immune globulin is safe, well
tolerated, and effective for stiff-person syndrome and significantly improves
patients' ability to perform the activities of daily living and thus, their
quality of life. While the treatment had no major side effects, it is
expensive, costing more than $10,000 a month.
--- Gene Therapy For Cystic Fibrosis
Medindia Health News January 4, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease in which the body's mucus becomes so
thick and sticky that it prevents normal functioning. Treatment with new
antibiotics now allows many children to reach adulthood, but there is no cure.
New research is moving us slightly closer to a treatment for cystic fibrosis
that modifies the abnormal gene that causes the disease.
Working with mice, scientists have restored key chemicals in cells to levels
that should ease symptoms of the fatal disease. Still, it's too early to know
whether the same technique will work in people. In this study, scientists at
the University of Iowa used a harmless virus to carry a corrected genetic
information into the gene associated with cystic fibrosis. These
"corrected" cells then were able to process a normal version of a
protein that helps regulate mucus in the body.
Although the results were encouraging, researcher John F. Engelhardt notes the
experiment must be modified before it can be tried in people. Another virus
"carrier" must be found because the one used in the mouse
experiments doesn't easily enter human cells. Also, it's important to remember
that the mouse experiment did not cure cystic fibrosis, but it did show
promise of easing symptoms.
----- New drug may stop alopecia
Medindia Health News January 4, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Researchers have derived a new gel to reduce the hair loss due to
chemotherapy, which is one of the distressing side effects of the treatment of
cancer. The pharmaceutical company Glaxo Wellcome has formulated a gel which
which contains a drug known as GW8510, helped to prevent hair loss in rats
subjected to chemotherapy.
Lead researcher Stephen Davis said the gel completely prevented hair loss in
half of the rats that subsequently underwent chemotherapy. No side effects
were detected and the drug did not interfere with the cancer-killing effects
of the treatment.
Hair falls out because chemotherapy drugs aim to kill rapidly dividing cancer
cells but also hit the cells surrounding hair follicles that divide quickly.
The gel works by inhibiting the action of an enzyme involved in cell division.
By applying GW8510 directly to the scalp, the drug does not enter the
bloodstream and affects only the hair cells and not the cancer cells.
-----
Discovery of bone gene
Medindia Health News January 4, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to researchers- a gene mutation causing high bone density, which
could open the way to new osteoporosis treatments. Bone is a dynamic material,
which is being formed and destroyed all the time. When the bone loss side of
the equation predominates, you are at risk of osteoporosis. But researchers at
Texas University have been studying a family with unusually high bone density
- the opposite of what happens in osteoporosis. They now report upon the gene
that drives this process.
This family seems to have a higher set point for bone than the general
population - bone is formed faster than it is destroyed. Discovering the gene
involved may result in a new generation of osteoporosis drugs. Current
treatments focus on preventing further bone loss - but it is difficult to
encourage the body to build more bone, only if it is possible.
---] Low cholestrol,low behaviour
Medindia Health News January 3, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Researchers have found that low blood cholestrol may stimulate impulsive and
extreme behaviour that may result in people dying from harming themselves. A
team from St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, compared 75 patients admitted to the
hospital with self-attained injuries, including drug overdoses, with
psychiatric patients and patients not suffering from any mental health
problems.
The patients were rated on their level of depression, impulsivity and suicidal
intent. It was found that cholesterol levels in the patients who had
deliberately harmed themselves were significantly low when comapred to the
other patients. Cholesterol levels were also low in all patients who were
rated as being impulsive.
Lead researcher Dr Malcolm Garland said cholesterol was linked to the
transmission of serotonin, an important brain chemical responsible for the
control of mood and emotion. "Cholesterol is an extremely important
component of the brain, especially of the nerve cell membranes," he said.
"It makes sense that if you have got a high or low level of cholestrol
that might influence the way the nerve cells work." Dr Garland said
impulsivity stimulated by low cholesterol levels could be responsible for many
types of dangerous behavior.
--- Hormone replacement therapy helps women
Medindia Health News January 3, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Women who take hormone replacement therapy appear to restore their cognitive
function better as they age. The evidence on whether hormone replacement
therapy (HRT) can protect against dementia is conflicting - some studies do
believe while others have failed to demonstrate benefit.A new report, from
researchers, is therefore of especial interest. They followed a group of over
1,000 women from different countries for a few years - assessing them with the
State Exam, which measures cognitive performance.
The women also gave information on their use of HRT. It appeared that lifetime
use of HRT did benefit cognitive function - especially in older women. The
main limitation of this study is that 90 per cent of the women were members of
the Common Church, a religion that forbids tobacco and alcohol. We can't be
sure the cognitive benefit wasn't due, at least in part, to this lifestyle.
But other studies of HRT and cognition are underway and should help clarify
the situation, say the researchers.
-- Good News For Women With Gestational Diabetes
Medindia Health News January 3, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When an expectant woman has diabetes during her pregnancy, the special form of
the disease, called gestational diabetes, puts both mother and her baby at
risk. Moms can develop high blood pressure or preeclampsia. Their newborns are
at risk for lung problems and occasionally die. To keep blood sugar under
control, some women need to take a lot of insulin, especially if they are
older or overweight. Now that task may get easier.
Researchers in Australia and New Zealand found that implanted insulin pump
therapy helped women with severe gestational diabetes.The study was fairly
small. 30 women used the implanted pumps out of 251 women with gestational
diabetes. But researchers note that such pumps are often used successfully by
pregnant women who've had type 1 diabetes since childhood. Now, it appears,
there's a second, larger group of women who can benefit from the technology.
In fact, pump therapy controlled hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, better
than insulin shots, and none of the mothers suffered an episode of low blood
sugar. Their babies' health was comparable to infants born to mothers with
less severe gestational diabetes.
----- Creatine Helps Strengthen Older Men
Medindia Health News January 2, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Creatine supplements are often used by body builders, and there's some
evidence they help increase muscle mass. Could these supplements help maintain
muscle in older people? One new study indicates the answer is yes. Researchers
at the University of Saskatchewan studied 33 men aged 60 to 84 who had similar
lifestyles and muscle tone. All the men began the same weight training
program. Half were given creatine and half were given placebos. Creatine is
produced by the body and contributes to muscle growth, but our natural levels
decline as we get older.
At the end of the 12-week study, the elderly men who exercised and took
creatine had more leg strength, endurance, power, and lean tissue mass than
the men who just exercised. The study did not look at how long the benefits
lasted or whether people would need to keep taking creatine supplements
indefinitely.
The news is promising for all of us as we age. Most of us, of course, have no
desire to be geriatric body builders. But increased muscle mass and strength
would help us maintain our independence well into old age.
-----
Invest on gym memberships
Medindia Health News January 2, 2002
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Your attention please!! You will most probably get more benefit from investing
in gymnasium membership and a exercise personal trainer than buying an
machine. According to researchers at the Cleavland University it is better to
exercise at home or in the gym thatn to buy a machine Exercise machines are
often advertised in a misleading way. For instance, they may need careful
adjusting before they fit to your body, and you may need to learn certain
skills - such as how to isolate a group of muscles - before gaining any
benefit.
Hyped up advertisements about abdomen trimmer or tummy trimmer misguide people
to buy. According to Professor Rozario one gets better results from spending
the money on gym membership instead, and hiring a trainer for a few sessions
to learn correct exercise technique. Motivate yourself by working with a
friend or buying a new outfit that is just a little snug - then see if you can
trim yourself down to fit into it. If you do want to get a machine, keep it
simple and go for an exercise bike or treadmill. Both give a good
cardiovascular workout and they're easy enough to use properly.
------ Hypothyroidism can affect babies
Medindia Health News January 2, 2002
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Researchers from UK say that, babies of mother's with hypothyroidism are
likely to have a low IQ. The thyroid gland secretes hormones which control
metabolism, growth and development. Symptoms hypothyroidism include tiredness,
dry skin and weight gain.
Children born with an underactive thyroid gland can suffer learning
difficulties. Pregnant women with the condition are more prone to a
potentially life-threatening condition called pre-eclampsia and to have their
babies prematurely. Because foetuses' thyroid glands do not kick into action
until the middle trimester of pregnancy, they are reliant on their mother in
the early stages.
The researchers from the Foundation for Blood Research in Scarborough, Maine,
say even when pregnant women have a mildly underactive thyroid gland and show
no symptoms, IQ can be affected. The researchers, led by Dr James Ludwik,
studied children aged six to ten and compared those born to 124 women with a
normal thyroid gland with children born to 62 women with an underactive gland.
Some 22% of the children whose mothers had an underactive thyroid had IQs of
80 or lower. The researchers say: "Hypothyroidism in pregnant women can
adversely affect their child's subsequent performance on neuropsychological
tests. "
------
Early puberty more resistance
Medindia Health News January 1, 2002
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A recent study has found that early puberty and late menopause have better
chances of surviving a broken hip.Broken hips are a common symptom of
osteoporosis, or brittle bone disease. Most women who sustain a hip fracture
survive, but sometimes death can occur as a result.
Researchers in Norway sought to investigate the impact a woman's reproductive
variables, such as age when her periods start, age when she first has a child
and age at which the menopause started, on deaths from hip fractures. They
studied 54,000 women over a period of 31 years. Of these, 465 died as a result
of a hip fracture in the course of the study.
Those whose first period was separated from their menopause by less than 30
years were twice as likely to die from the fracture than those with 38 years
or more between the two. Those who had their first child when they were over
the age of 35 also had a lower risk of a fatal hip fracture.
The researchers, led by Dr Bjarne Jacobsen of the University of Tromso, said
that women with more reproductive years are exposed to oestrogens for longer
and this maintains bone strength.However, they added that it might be possible
to avoid fractures by having a first child later in life.
--- No link between blood groups and prostate cancer
Medindia Health News January 1, 2002
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Men with blood group A are not likely to get prostate cancer than men with
other blood groups, despite popular belief. According to some medical writers,
your blood group affects your health. In particular, men with blood group A
are supposed to be more likely to develop prostate cancer and to get more
aggressive forms of the disease. Hence it may be of big concern for men who
have type A, but not confirmed as yet.
Researchers at the Institute for Complementary Medicine in California checked
the blood group of 200 men who had had a prostatectomy at the State Hospital.
They find that men with type A are no more likely to get cancer. And when they
looked at the stage of the cancers, they also learned that type A men did not
have more aggressive tumours. So men can be reassured on that count. There are
more risk factors for prostate cancer which are yet to be confirmed.
---- Higher Risk of Asthma in children with autoimmune disease
Medindia Health News January 1, 2002
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A new study has found that children with some autoimmune diseases have an
increased risk of asthma. In the study, Dr. Jukka Kero of
Ruprecht-Karls-University at Heidelberg in Germany and colleagueslooked at
health records for all children born in Finland in 1987, including more than
60,000 youngsters.The team checked the prevalence of asthma in children with
three autoimmune conditions : celiac disease, type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid
arthritis.
Celiac disease is an inherited inability to digest the wheat protein gluten.
It can lead to digestive problems, muscle wasting and lethargy. Rheumatoid
arthritis is a debilitating condition in which the immune system attacks the
tissue lining the joints. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the insulin-producing
cells of the pancreas are destroyed, making it necessary for a person to take
injections of the blood-sugar-regulating hormone.
Kero and colleagues found that 25% of children with celiac disease had asthma,
compared with about 3% of children without celiac disease. While 10% of
children with rheumatoid arthritis also had asthma, only 3% of children
without rheumatoid arthritis did. Asthma was also more common among children
with type 1 diabetes than among those who did not have this condition, but the
difference was not statistically significant.
