DIY health checks

When the National Health Service (NHS) was established in 1944, it promised us free healthcare from the cradle to the grave. But today, with the NHS ready to do a Roman Empire and collapse under the pressure of its own weight and crippling debt, it’s time we took matters into our own hands.
The market in home health testing kits has rocketed recently, and it’s not just your common or garden pregnancy tests we’re talking about. Tests for sexually transmitted diseases and other conditions such as bowel cancer and diabetes are available over the counter – pretty handy in these times when getting an appointment with your GP isn’t as easy as it should be. While some doctors aren’t entirely happy with the increase in do-it-yourself health tests (their concern is that we might not be competent enough to carry out the test properly ourselves or could fail to understand the results) they are all relatively simple to use, and they make it easy for us to check our bodies for signs of serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions. Of course, there are things you should be checking yourself for regularly that don’t require any kit, such as lumps in your breast or testicles, but for a growing number of illnesses and conditions there is a simple test you can do yourself, all of which you can buy at either a chemist or online.

Bowel cancer
It’s estimated that around 6% of us will suffer from bowel cancer at some point in our lives, usually well into adulthood, and the disease is the second most deadly form of cancer after lung cancer, with around 50% of cases proving fatal. However, if the condition is caught early, this number falls considerably to 10%. One of the earliest symptoms of bowel cancer is blood in the stools and there are many easy to use take home tests that will tell you almost instantly if this is something you need to worry about. While examining your stools is something you’d only normally expect to see Dr Gillian McKeith doing on television, it’s something we should all do regularly. If you do see blood in your stools, don’t panic, it could be a number of conditions, from bowel cancer to haemorrhoids, but you should go and see your GP straight away to find out exactly what is causing it.
Click here to read more about bowel cancer and its symptoms

Diabetes
Diabetes, a condition where a person’s blood sugar level is higher than normal, affects 1.6 million people in the UK. This number has increased rapidly in recent years due to the massive rise in overweight and obese people in the UK, and the charity Diabetes UK estimates that there are 1 million undiagnosed diabetics in the country, a shocking statistic. Unhealthy diets, obesity and lack of exercise are the main factors contributing to diabetes, and if you’re concerned that you could be suffering from the condition, it’s important that you diagnose yourself using one of the many cheap, simple tests that take as little as 60 seconds to carry out and which can be bought at any good pharmacist. If you don’t, it’s worth noting that illnesses such as heart disease, eye damage and hardening of the arteries can occur if the condition is not managed.
Click here to read more about diabetes

Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease, affecting about 1 in 20 people, mainly young adults, and is sometimes referred to as the ‘silent epidemic’, so-called because it rarely presents any symptoms. There is indeed an epidemic of Chlamydia in the UK at the moment, with cases of infections having doubled in the last six years and an estimated 10% of women under 25 carrying the disease without knowing. Again, simple tests can be carried out in the comfort of your own home, and, requiring only a test kit and urine sample, you can find out almost instantly whether or not you need to seek further medical help to treat the condition. The tests search for the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis, and if detected the condition is easily treatable using antibiotics. If undetected, it can damage the reproductive system in women, which is why it’s the commonest cause of infertility.
Click here to read more about chlamydia

Fertility
Starting a family can be the most exciting time for any couple, but it can also lead to heartache if one person in the relationship discovers that they are infertile. There are a number of tests that can either measure the levels of motile sperm (the type that can swim) in men or the levels of follicle stimulating hormone in woman (rising levels of this are associated with reduced fertility), but a product recently launched by Boots has made determining your fertility levels easier than it’s ever been. The Fertell fertility test will tell a woman in 30 minutes and a man in 75 minutes if they are capable of having children. This one-step product was a particular landmark as it effectively told women, by counting how many healthy eggs they had remaining in their ovaries, how long they had left to start a family, something that is particularly useful to career women, as a woman’s fertility starts to decline when she reaches 30.
Click here to read more about infertility

Blood pressure
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects 10 million people in the UK – that’s one in six of us. Blood pressure depends upon how forcefully the heart pumps blood around your body and how narrowed your arteries are, and hypertension occurs when blood is forced through the arteries at an increased pressure. One of the problems with high blood pressure is that it very rarely presents symptoms and in most cases the causes are unknown (though smoking, alcohol and obesity are contributory factors), but the consequences of leaving it untreated can be disastrous. This means that many people who have the condition are unaware that they are at increased risk of blood clots, kidney disease and heart attacks. It is therefore essential that adults over 40 check their blood pressure regularly, and with numerous take-home blood pressure monitors on the market, doing this at home is a straight-forward process.
Click here to read more about high blood pressure

Cholesterol
High cholesterol, or hypercholesterolaemia, is one of the major contributing factors of coronary heart disease, the number one killer in the UK and most developed countries. Cholesterol is one of the body’s fats, or lipids, and is an important building block in the structure of cells and are also used to make hormones and produce energy. Cholesterol level in the blood depends to some extent on what you eat and having too much can lead to the hardening and narrowing of arteries. There is both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol, and while the good kind protects the body against diseases of the arteries, the bad kind contributes to it, so it is the discrepancy between levels of the two in the body that determine the risk of heart problems. Home health tests will be able to measure the levels of both in your body and tell you if you are at risk. Meanwhile, eat a low fat diet and exercise to raise the level of good cholesterol in your bloodstream.
Click here to read more about high cholesterol levels

Prostate disorders
Not a lot of men know where their prostate is, or what it does, but particularly with older men disorders of the prostate gland can serious threaten their health. Prostate cancer, for example, is a big killer in men aged between 45 and 70, and any man in this age group should test their prostate regularly. The prostate makes and secretes prostatic fluid, one of the five fluids that make up semen. With prostate cancer, cells in the prostate start to grow out of a normal pattern and do not from into normal prostate tissue, instead turning into groups of cells, or tumours, which can then dislodge and cause tumours in other parts of the body. The likelihood of successful treatment of prostate cancer and other prostate disorders increase considerably with early diagnosis, and a quick test with a prostate screening kit will identify levels of prostate specific antigen – a chemical that appears in the bloodstream in high levels when the prostate is enlarged or cancerous - in the bloodstream and will either rule out any disorders or tell you that you need to seek medical attention.
Click here to read more about checking for prostate cancer





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Anti-cancer superfoods

Anti-cancer superfoods

The World Cancer Research Fund estimates that around 35 per cent, and possibly as many as 70 per cent, of cancers are linked to dietary factors. Learn how to reduce your risk with the right foods

The list of dietary influences on cancers is long. Diets low in fruits and vegetables are factors in many cancers, those high in salt contribute to stomach cancers and those too high in calories overall can promote hormone cancers such as breast. Smoked and burned foods, such as those cooked on barbecues, are significantly linked to many cancers. And regular alcohol intake is strongly linked to increased breast cancer risk in younger (premenopausal) women. Additionally, smoking remains one of the biggest killers as a trigger of lung cancer.

But the good news is that while some foods, and chemicals in foods, have cancer-promoting, or carcinogenic effects, many more foods have very positive effects on the initiation and progress of cancer. They have strong anti-cancer effects that have been identified in countless research papers.

So next time you go to the supermarket, make a point of adding the following foods to your basket. By eating these foods on a regular basis you can significantly reduce your statistical risk of developing a number of types of cancer.

Broccoli
Effective against: most cancers
Works because: the slightly bitter flavour of broccoli (and its cousins Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower) is the reason for the impressive track record these vegetables have in deterring cancer. The bitter chemicals isothiocyanates and glucosinolates actually interfere with cancer progression and deactivate harmful oestrogens associated with hormonal cancers such as breast and ovarian cancers.

Garlic
Effective against: stomach, colon and most cancers
Works because: the smelly compounds in garlic are potent anti-cancer agents. All of the onion family, including leeks and shallots, contain these compounds but garlic is the most rich. Trials have shown that chemically induced cancers can be interrupted by the active compounds formed from allicin from garlic. To get the most out of garlic chop the clove and leave it to `mature' in the air for 15 minutes, and then use it in your cooking. Heating prior to this 'maturation time' by air neutralises the important compounds.

Tofu
Effective against: breast, ovarian and prostate cancers
Works because: the isoflavones the soya bean contains have a gently oestrogen-mimicking effect in the human body. This helps to block the effects of more aggressive oestrogens, both natural and those from environmental chemicals from sources such as plastics and pesticides. This has the effect of limiting the risk of hormone-linked cancers in both women and men. Tofu may be more effective than other soya products or soya supplements as it has been fermented and so some potentially negative compounds are neutralised. The Japanese and Chinese who eat tofu regularly have low risks of these cancers.

Oily fish
Effective against: colon, prostate and breast cancers
Works because: the omega-3 fatty acids have a profound effect on cell metabolism and communication. These fatty acids also act as anti-inflammatory agents, which may be a reason for their influence on colon cancer. When the diet is higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the omega-3s, it also limits the intake and the effects of saturated fats, which are linked to increased risk of some cancers.

Green tea
Effective against: most cancers
Works because: the active compound in green tea, EGCG (epigalocatechin-3-gallate) is believed to be one of the strongest antimutagenic compounds found in plants - this means it has the effect of stopping damage at a genetic level. It can also stop tumours forming their own blood supply network. Trials suggest that fairly high intakes are needed, around 10 cups a day, so replacing all hot drinks with green tea could have a beneficial effect, but only one cup a day might not. Green tea is much lower in caffeine than black tea or coffee and so is easier on sleep patterns as well.

Wholegrain cereals
Effective against: colon and breast cancers.
Works because: The fibre in whole grains, from cereals and wholemeal bread, are important for gut and hormonal health. The fibre gives the colon something `to work with' and also promotes good bowel bacteria. Fibre is also important in eliminating excess oestrogens. Fibre-rich cereals include bran flakes, porridge oats and muesli, though it is best to choose low-salt and low-sugar versions.

Tomato puree
Effective against: prostate and breast cancers
Works because: the active compound in tomatoes is lycopene, one of the most potent free-radical scavengers, and seems to affect the activity of free-radicals created by tumours. Interestingly, the significant effects found against prostate and breast cancers are observed in cooked and processed tomato products, rather than raw tomatoes. This is because lycopene is made more absorbable by processing and so tomato juice, puree and canned tomatoes are most effective. It is even better to include a little olive oil when cooking with or consuming these because the oil increases absorption further.

Live yoghurt
Effective against: colon and breast cancers
Works because: the beneficial bacteria found in live yoghurt promotes gut health and improves the performance of the immune system. Regular yoghurt intake has been shown to increase levels of immune anti-cancer compounds such as interferon and natural killer cells. Because elimination of oestrogens happens in the colon, the health of the colon directly affects the development of breast cancer.

Oranges and carrots
Effective against: lung cancer particularly, and most cancers in general Works because: they are rich, respectively, in vitamin C and beta-carotene. All fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and many are rich in these two compounds. These water-soluble antioxidants are important at protecting lung tissue, which is a very water-rich environment. High blood levels of these antioxidants are linked to much-reduced levels of lung, and other, cancers. However taking beta-carotene in supplement form may be ill-advised for smokers as trials have shown higher mortality levels, probably as smokers' lungs already have advanced damage. A diet high in fruits and vegetables is highly protective against lung cancer and even in countries where smoking is more prevalent, such as Greece and Spain, fruits and vegetables seem to be protective.

Linseeds (also called flax seeds)
Effective against: breast and colon cancers
Works because: the lignans they contain are gelatinous fibres which are highly protective against hormonal cancers. They convert in the bowel, in the presence of beneficial bacteria (see yoghurt above) to even more potent compounds which block the effects of oestrogen. Additionally, like all fibres, they have a positive effect on bowel health - indeed one of the most effective remedies against constipation is to take one or two teaspoons of linseeds pre-soaked for 30 minutes in water or fruit juice. They are also particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Suzannah Olivier is a nutritionist and the author of many books including The Breast Cancer Prevention and Recovery Diet (Penguin £9.99). Her latest book is Food Medicine (Robinson £9.99) Visit Suzannah's website www.healthandnutrition.co.uk

Get support, information and advice from other women coping with cancer on the Cancer Support board

The top ten super foods

All foods, even battered Mars bars, have some nutritional value. But there are 10 that are so beneficial to your health they are known as 'super foods'. Check them out here:

Immune boost' to fight cancer

Scientists say they have found a way to boost the body's immune system which could also help stave off cancer.

The Mayo Clinic team were inspired by what they observed among healthcare workers accidentally exposed to HIV and who then received anti-viral treatment.

These workers remained healthy and free of HIV. The therapy dramatically increased the number of immune cells the body made to fight the infection.

The drugs could help people fight off cancer in a similar way, they believe. ------------------

Giving Oxygen May Do More Harm Than Good, New Report Shows

KINGSTON, ON -- July 11, 2005 -- Doctors and paramedics who give their patients oxygen – the most commonly administered "drug" in the world – may be doing more harm than good, a Queen's University researcher contends.

And although there's a simple solution – adding carbon dioxide to the mix – it isn't being used by most Canadian hospitals and emergency services networks, says Dr. Steve Iscoe, a respiratory physiologist. This has implications for treating a number of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, difficult labour and delivery, and wound healing.

Dr. Iscoe's commentary, based on his own and other researchers' findings, is published in the July issue of CHEST, the Cardiopulmonary and Critical Care Journal. Co-author of the article is Dr. Joseph Fisher, from the Toronto General Hospital's Department of Anesthesia.

"Pure oxygen can reduce blood flow to organs and tissues by increasing ventilation," Dr. Iscoe explains. "The increase in ventilation, which is almost never considered, 'blows off' carbon dioxide, and this fall constricts blood vessels. When carbon dioxide is added, however, the blood vessels dilate, increasing blood flow and causing more oxygen to reach tissues in key areas like the brain and heart."

Researchers in the early 1900s observed that breathing pure oxygen increased ventilation and lowered carbon dioxide levels. Based on their observations, several tried adding carbon dioxide and claimed success in resuscitating people and infants and treating carbon monoxide poisoning.

But the practice of using expired air – even before it was known to contain carbon dioxide – dates back much further. The use of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on infants was recorded in a 1754 book by Benjamin Pugh, A Treatise of Midwifery, and there are biblical references to the custom. Yet modern medical texts do not mention that inhalation of oxygen decreases carbon dioxide levels and the effects on blood flow; consequently it is not part of standard practice.

"It's puzzling that a simple idea like this has received so little attention from clinicians," says Dr. Iscoe. Although there has been some concern about the possibility of patients receiving too much carbon dioxide (which can cause discomfort), he points out that new designs for oxygen masks allow precise monitoring of levels delivered or, in fail-safe mode, prevent inhalation of carbon dioxide. One can even use the patient's own expired carbon dioxide, the researcher adds.

"The reduction in oxygen delivery to the fetus, the brain, the heart, and other body tissues that might be induced by oxygen administration is, as this paper points out, largely unrecognized even by respirologists such as myself," says Dr. Peter Macklem, professor emeritus of medicine at McGill University and 1999 recipient of the prestigious Gairdner Foundation Wightman Award for outstanding leadership in medicine and medical science.

"If we respirologists are unaware, then internists, surgeons, obstetricians, pediatricians and family physicians who are at the front line of treatment for most of the clinical conditions they describe are unlikely to be better informed," Dr. Macklem continues. "The magnitude of the risk now needs to be quantified by appropriate clinical trials. While it will take a few years before we will know for sure, the wisest course of action in the interim is to administer low concentrations of carbon dioxide along with oxygen therapy."

Among the areas where Drs. Iscoe and Fisher see particular benefits for patients from improved oxygen delivery are:

- heart attack;
- stroke;
- carbon monoxide poisoning;
- wound healing in hospitals, where drug-resistant infections are on the rise;
- cerebral blood flow to fetuses during difficult birth procedures; and
- treating foot ulcers and gangrene in people with type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Iscoe hopes to evaluate the promise of the new technique in a study of diabetic patients. As the incidence of obesity rises, diabetes is expected to affect a growing number of people and exert increasing demands on the health care system.

"I think it's incumbent on health professionals to consider carbon dioxide when administering oxygen, since we know that carbon dioxide levels control blood flow to so many parts of the body," Dr. Iscoe says. "We should look at carbon dioxide not as an enemy, but as an ally."

Funding for Dr. Iscoe's research comes from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Canadian Lung Association and Ontario Thoracic Society, and from the Wm. M. Spear Foundation and the R.K. Start Memorial Fund.


SOURCE: Queen's University

Possible new treatment target for epilepsy

03 Jul 2005

New research suggests novel treatment targets for the most common form of childhood epilepsy - with the potential to have fewer side effects than traditional therapy. The findings from Wake Forest University School of Medicine are reported today in the July issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology.

Through studies in animals, the researchers learned more about the possible brain pathways involved in absence, or petit mal, seizures and tested a drug that revealed a potential new target for blocking seizures before they spread.

"Many current therapies act on the entire nervous system and can have such side effects as sleep disruptions, dizziness and increased risk of developmental side effects," said Georgia Alexander, who with Dwayne Godwin, Ph.D., co-authored the new study. "Because this treatment blocks the pathway that may cause the spread of seizures, it could be more effective and have fewer side effects."

Absence seizures, which are most common in children between 6 and 12, get their name because during the seizure the child seems to be temporarily unconscious of his or her surroundings. Although they last only a few seconds, the seizures can occur hundreds of times a day and can dramatically impact learning and development.-----------------------

Scientists Say Sunshine May Prevent Cancer

Put Away the Sunblock? Scientists Say Moderate Amounts of Sunshine May Prevent Cancer
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE
The Associated Press

May. 21, 2005 - Scientists are excited about a vitamin again. But unlike fads that sizzled and fizzled, the evidence this time is strong and keeps growing. If it bears out, it will challenge one of medicine's most fundamental beliefs: that people need to coat themselves with sunscreen whenever they're in the sun.

Doing that may actually contribute to far more cancer deaths than it prevents, some researchers think.

The vitamin is D, nicknamed the "sunshine vitamin" because the skin makes it from ultraviolet rays. Sunscreen blocks its production, but dermatologists and health agencies have long preached that such lotions are needed to prevent skin cancer.

Now some scientists are questioning that advice.

The reason is that vitamin D increasingly seems important for preventing and even treating many types of cancer. In the last three months alone, four separate studies found it helped protect against lymphoma and cancers of the prostate, lung and, ironically, the skin. The strongest evidence is for colon cancer.

Many people aren't getting enough vitamin D. It's hard to do from food and fortified milk alone, and supplements are problematic.

So the thinking is this: Even if too much sun leads to skin cancer, which is rarely deadly, too little sun may be worse.

No one is suggesting that people fry on a beach. But many scientists believe that "safe sun" 15 minutes or so a few times a week without sunscreen is not only possible but helpful to health.

One is Dr. Edward Giovannucci, a Harvard University professor of medicine and nutrition who laid out his case in a keynote lecture at a recent American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Anaheim, Calif.

His research suggests that vitamin D might help prevent 30 deaths for each one caused by skin cancer.

"I would challenge anyone to find an area or nutrient or any factor that has such consistent anti-cancer benefits as vitamin D," Giovannucci told the cancer scientists. "The data are really quite remarkable."

The talk so impressed the American Cancer Society's chief epidemiologist, Dr. Michael Thun, that the society is reviewing its sun protection guidelines. "There is now intriguing evidence that vitamin D may have a role in the prevention as well as treatment of certain cancers," Thun said.

Even some dermatologists may be coming around. "I find the evidence to be mounting and increasingly compelling," said Dr. Allan Halpern, dermatology chief at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, who advises several cancer groups.

The dilemma, he said, is a lack of consensus on how much vitamin D is needed or the best way to get it.

No source is ideal. Even if sunshine were to be recommended, the amount needed would depend on the season, time of day, where a person lives, skin color and other factors. Thun and others worry that folks might overdo it.

"People tend to go overboard with even a hint of encouragement to get more sun exposure," Thun said, adding that he'd prefer people get more of the nutrient from food or pills.

But this is difficult. Vitamin D occurs naturally in salmon, tuna and other oily fish, and is routinely added to milk. However, diet accounts for very little of the vitamin D circulating in blood, Giovannucci said.

Supplements contain the nutrient, but most use an old form D-2 that is far less potent than the more desirable D-3. Multivitamins typically contain only small amounts of D-2 and include vitamin A, which offsets many of D's benefits.

As a result, pills might not raise vitamin D levels much at all.

Government advisers can't even agree on an RDA, or recommended daily allowance for vitamin D. Instead, they say "adequate intake" is 200 international units a day up to age 50, 400 IUs for ages 50 to 70, and 600 IUs for people over 70.

Many scientists think adults need 1,000 IUs a day. Giovannucci's research suggests 1,500 IUs might be needed to significantly curb cancer.

How vitamin D may do this is still under study, but there are lots of reasons to think it can:

Several studies observing large groups of people found that those with higher vitamin D levels also had lower rates of cancer. For some of these studies, doctors had blood samples to measure vitamin D, making the findings particularly strong. Even so, these studies aren't the gold standard of medical research a comparison over many years of a large group of people who were given the vitamin with a large group who didn't take it. In the past, the best research has deflated health claims involving other nutrients, including vitamin E and beta carotene.

Lab and animal studies show that vitamin D stifles abnormal cell growth, helps cells die when they are supposed to, and curbs formation of blood vessels that feed tumors.

Cancer is more common in the elderly, and the skin makes less vitamin D as people age.

Blacks have higher rates of cancer than whites and more pigment in their skin, which prevents them from making much vitamin D.

Vitamin D gets trapped in fat, so obese people have lower blood levels of D. They also have higher rates of cancer.

Diabetics, too, are prone to cancer, and their damaged kidneys have trouble converting vitamin D into a form the body can use.

People in the northeastern United States and northerly regions of the globe like Scandinavia have higher cancer rates than those who get more sunshine year-round.

During short winter days, the sun's rays come in at too oblique an angle to spur the skin

to make vitamin D. That is why nutrition experts think vitamin D-3 supplements may be especially helpful during winter, and for dark-skinned people all the time.

But too much of the pill variety can cause a dangerous buildup of calcium in the body. The government says 2,000 IUs is the upper daily limit for anyone over a year old.

On the other hand, D from sunshine has no such limit. It's almost impossible to overdose when getting it this way. However, it is possible to get skin cancer. And this is where the dermatology establishment and Dr. Michael Holick part company.

Thirty years ago, Holick helped make the landmark discovery of how vitamin D works. Until last year, he was chief of endocrinology, nutrition and diabetes and a professor of dermatology at Boston University. Then he published a book, "The UV Advantage," urging people to get enough sunlight to make vitamin D.

"I am advocating common sense," not prolonged sunbathing or tanning salons, Holick said.

Skin cancer is rarely fatal, he notes. The most deadly form, melanoma, accounts for only 7,770 of the 570,280 cancer deaths expected to occur in the United States this year.

More than 1 million milder forms of skin cancer will occur, and these are the ones tied to chronic or prolonged suntanning.

Repeated sunburns especially in childhood and among redheads and very fair-skinned people have been linked to melanoma, but there is no credible scientific evidence that moderate sun exposure causes it, Holick contends.

"The problem has been that the American Academy of Dermatology has been unchallenged for 20 years," he says. "They have brainwashed the public at every level."

The head of Holick's department, Dr. Barbara Gilchrest, called his book an embarrassment and stripped him of his dermatology professorship, although he kept his other posts.

She also faulted his industry ties. Holick said the school has received $150,000 in grants from the Indoor Tanning Association for his research, far less than the consulting deals and grants that other scientists routinely take from drug companies.

In fact, industry has spent money attacking him. One such statement from the Sun Safety Alliance, funded in part by Coppertone and drug store chains, declared that "sunning to prevent vitamin D deficiency is like smoking to combat anxiety."

Earlier this month, the dermatology academy launched a "Don't Seek the Sun" campaign calling any advice to get sun "irresponsible." It quoted Dr. Vincent DeLeo, a Columbia University dermatologist, as saying: "Under no circumstances should anyone be misled into thinking that natural sunlight or tanning beds are better sources of vitamin D than foods or nutritional supplements."

That opinion is hardly unanimous, though, even among dermatologists.

"The statement that 'no sun exposure is good' I don't think is correct anymore," said Dr. Henry Lim, chairman of dermatology at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit and an academy vice president.

Some wonder if vitamin D may turn out to be like another vitamin, folate. High intake of it was once thought to be important mostly for pregnant women, to prevent birth defects. However, since food makers began adding extra folate to flour in 1998, heart disease, stroke, blood pressure, colon cancer and osteoporosis have all fallen, suggesting the general public may have been folate-deficient after all.

With vitamin D, "some people believe that it is a partial deficiency that increases the cancer risk," said Hector DeLuca, a University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemist who did landmark studies on the nutrient.

About a dozen major studies are under way to test vitamin D's ability to ward off cancer, said Dr. Peter Greenwald, chief of cancer prevention for the National Cancer Institute. Several others are testing its potential to treat the disease. Two recent studies reported encouraging signs in prostate and lung cancer.

As for sunshine, experts recommend moderation until more evidence is in hand.

"The skin can handle it, just like the liver can handle alcohol," said Dr. James Leyden,

professor emeritus of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, who has consulted for sunscreen makers.

"I like to have wine with dinner, but I don't think I should drink four bottles a day."

On the Net:

Government information:

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp

Study Finds Direct Association Between Cardiovascular Disease and Periodontal Bacteria

BETHESDA, MD -- February 8, 2005 -- Researchers report this week that older adults who have higher proportions of four periodontal-disease-causing bacteria inhabiting their mouths also tend to have thicker carotid arteries, a strong predictor of stroke and heart attack. The study, published in the current issue of the journal Circulation, was supported by four agencies of the National Institutes of Health. According to the authors, these data mark the first report of a direct association between cardiovascular disease and bacteria involved in periodontal disease, inflammation of the gums that affects to varying degrees an estimated 200 million Americans. But the researchers say the findings are not proof that the bacteria cause cardiovascular disease, directly or indirectly. "What was interesting to us was the specificity of the association," said Moïse Desvarieux, M. D., Ph. D., the study's lead author and an infectious disease epidemiologist at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the University of Minnesota. "These same four bacteria were there, they were always there in the analysis, and the relationship seems to be pretty much, with one exception, limited to them." Desvarieux stressed that although the new data further illuminate a long-standing scientific issue, they shed little light on the broader public health question related to cardiovascular disease. The 657 people in the study had their oral bacteria and carotid thickness evaluated at the same point in time. So Desvarieux said, "It's impossible to know which comes first, the periodontal disease or thickening of the carotid artery." The answer to that question is fundamental to establishing causality--in this case, whether chronic inflammation or infection could have led to the atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries. He and his colleagues noted that the public health information could come soon. "We will re-examine the participants in less than three years, and, at that point, we can better evaluate the progression of the atherosclerosis and, hopefully, begin to establish a time frame underlying the diseases," said Ralph Sacco, M.D., M.S., associate chair of Neurology, professor of Neurology and Epidemiology, and the director of the Stroke and Critical Care Division of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also is an author on the paper. The idea that oral bacteria shed from chronic gum infections, enter the circulatory system, and possibly contribute to diseases of the heart and other body organs once was widely accepted in medicine. The concept, known as the "focal infection theory," fell out of fashion by the 1940s, then resurfaced four decades later with the publication of new data proposing a link. Since then, a major sticking point in advancing the research has been simply how to pursue the hypothesis. Lacking the scientific tools to track oral bacteria in the body over several decades to determine if they directly trigger heart disease, most previous studies pursued indirect evidence. These included various measures of oral and cardiovascular health, which researchers then extrapolated to the influence of the oral pathogens. Conspicuously missing from the debate has been a large, well-designed study that in some way directly evaluates the role of the oral pathogens themselves. To fill this void, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research launched the Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study (INVEST), a multi-disciplinary endeavor whose principal investigator is Dr. Desvarieux. The study, which is the source of the paper published this week in Circulation, will monitor the oral and cardiovascular health of a large, racially mixed group of people. All enrollees in the study live in a northern section of Manhattan in New York City and are age 55 or older. Participants are also members of the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS), a prospective cohort study supported by NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Dr. Sacco is principal investigator of the companion NOMAS study. "Although more than 600 bacteria have been shown to colonize the mouth, each person tends to carry different proportions of these microbes," said Panos N. Papapanou, D.D.S, Ph.D., an author on the paper and professor and chair of the Section of Oral and Diagnostics Sciences and director of the Division of Periodontics at Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery. He noted that only a subset of bacteria tend to be dominant in dental plaque. "We wanted to know during the baseline examination of the participants whether it was true that the greater the proportion of so-called 'bad' bacteria in the mouth, the higher the likelihood of a thickened carotid artery," added Papapanou, whose laboratory performed the periodontal microbiological analysis. To get their answer, Desvarieux and colleagues collected on average seven dental plaque samples from a total of 657 older adults enrolled in INVEST who had not lost their teeth. The samples, taken from predetermined sites in the mouth, both diseased and healthy, were measured for 11 oral bacteria, including four bacteria widely regarded to be involved in causing periodontal disease: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola. The other seven bacteria served as controls, as their role in periodontal disease was either neutral or has not yet been established. Then, to evaluate their cardiovascular health, the participants received a carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measurement and provided a blood sample to determine their C-reactive protein levels. C-reactive protein has been reported to be elevated in people with periodontal disease, and recent studies found that testing for this protein may be predictive of developing heart disease. Controlling for several risk factors that might skew their data - such as smoking and diabetes, both of which are independently associated with these conditions - the scientists found the higher the levels of these periodontal-disease-causing bacteria, the more likely people were to have thicker carotid arteries. Interestingly, they noted no association between IMT, the periodontal pathogens, and C-reactive protein levels, suggesting the protein is involved in another cardiovascular disease pathway. Next, the scientists wondered whether the broad association might be due to the four pathogens involved in causing periodontal disease, which combined accounted for only 23 percent of the bacteria in dental plaque. If so, the finding would provide added specificity to strengthen the case for the association. "After re-analyzing the data, we found, with the exception of an oral bacterium called Micromonas micros, the relationship was limited to these four established oral pathogens," said David Jacobs, Ph. D., another author and a professor in the Division of Epidemiology at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. "In other words, it was exactly what we hypothesized," said Desvarieux. However, he cautioned, "It now becomes crucial to follow the participants over time and see whether these baseline findings hold up and further translate into clinical disease." The study was supported by the NIH's National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and National Center for Research Resources. SOURCE: NIH/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Crohn's disease

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract and it can involve any part of it - from the mouth to the anus. It typically affects the terminal ileum as well as demarcated areas of large bowel, with other areas of the bowel being relatively unaffected. It is often associated with auto-immune disorders outside the bowel, such as aphthous stomatitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Crohn's disease should not be confused with a non-progressive and non-degenerative digestive disorder called irritable bowel syndrome. IBS is not an autoimmune disease. Ulcerative colitis is a sibling autoimmune disease to Crohn's but only impacts the colon while Crohn's can impact any part of the digestive tract. Furthermore, Crohn's tends to impact multiple layers of the bowel lining which can lead to many additional and hard to treat complications.------Read online

The Mystery Behind the Silence: Typical Presentation of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Introduction

Recently, the category of neurodevelopmental disorders referred to as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has been receiving increased attention from professional and lay audiences. Questions about prevalence, effective interventions, and approaches for screening and diagnosis have been raised concerning these conditions, which are also referred to as pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). The ASDs include several disorders that share a range of impairments in the areas of communication development, social relationships, and repetitive and restricted behavioral patterns. The prototypical ASD is autistic disorder, which, according to the criteria defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision,[1] includes delay in language development and usage, problems in social relatedness, and marked restricted and repetitive behavioral patterns. Autistic disorder is associated with mental retardation in the majority of cases. Asperger's disorder is defined as a condition in which language development is normal, but social interaction is impaired, and interests are narrow and repetitive as with autistic disorder. Most people with Asperger's disorder are higher-functioning, and many demonstrate intellectual ability in the normal range. Other ASDs include PDD not otherwise specified (PDD NOS), childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), and Rett's syndrome. Children with PDD NOS have many features of autistic disorder but do not meet full criteria for the diagnosis. Children with CDD have apparently normal development for the first 2 years or longer followed by a prominent regression in skills in most areas with a course of worsening severity. Rett's syndrome is a highly genetic disorder in girls that is characterized by unique motor behaviors, microcephaly, and gradual regression in skills beginning in early childhood.-----continued online

Potential seen in adult stem cells

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Australian scientists have found that stem cells taken from adults could have the same life-saving potential as those taken from embryos, a discovery that could potentially end the contentious debate over embryonic research.

The results from the four-year project, at Australia's Griffith University in Queensland, show that adult stem cells harvested from the nose can be grown into virtually any kind of cell in the human body.

Until now it has been thought that adult stem cells could only develop into different cell types of their own tissue, unlike embryonic stem cells which can turn into any body cell type.

Griffith University researcher Professor Alan Mackay-Sim said the study showed that olfactory stem cells could develop into heart cells, liver cells, kidney cells, muscle cells, brain cells and nerve cells. In addition the olfactory stem cells did not have the problems of rejection or forming tumors as is common with embryonic stem cells.

"Our experiments have shown adult stem cells isolated from the olfactory mucosa have the ability to develop into many different cell types if they are given the right chemical or cellular environment, Professor Mackay-Sim said, in research published on the Internet.

"These adult olfactory stem cells appear to have the same ability as embryonic stem cells in giving rise to many different cell types but have the advantage that they can be obtained from all individuals, even older people who might be most in need of stem cell therapies. Stem cells obtained and transplanted into the same person would not be rejected by the immune system," he said.

Professor Mackay-Sim said olfactory stem cells can be taken from small pieces of tissue taken from the nose under local anaesthetic, and are relatively easy to grow and multiply in the lab.

"We can multiply them from small samples into millions of cells and these cells can then be directed to turn into different types of cells. These attributes make them good candidates for cell transplantation therapies and tissue reconstruction," Professor Mackay-Sim said.

"Their other big advantage over embryonic stem cells is their potential for autologous therapies in which a patient's own cells are removed from the nose, grown and multiplied in a dish and transplanted back into the same patient which overcomes the issue of immune rejection or related immune-suppressing drug therapies," he said.

The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, told The Australian newspaper that the research could provide a possible solution to the moral debate over embryonic research and said he would refer it to the Vatican.

The Catholic Church provided Aust. $50,000 ($39,000) in funding for the Griffith University project.

TIAs Occur Hours or Days Before a Stroke

TIAs Occur Hours or Days Before a Stroke



NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 07 - Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) typically occur just hours or days before a stroke, leaving a small window for preventive efforts, according to a report in the March 8th issue of Neurology.

"We have known for some time that TIAs are often a precursor to a major stroke," lead author Dr. Peter M. Rothwell, from Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford, UK, said in a statement. "What we haven't been able to determine is how urgently patients must be assessed following a TIA in order to receive the most effective preventive treatment."

Dr. Rothwell's team analyzed data from 549 ischemic stroke patients with a preceding TIA who participated in one of two population-based studies or one of two randomized trials.

The authors found little variation between the studies in the timing of stroke following TIA. Seventeen percent of TIAs occurred on the day of the stroke, 9% on the previous day, and 43% at some time during the preceding week.

The researchers were unable to identify any patient characteristics or vascular risk factors that predicted which patients would have a short interval between TIA and stroke.

"This study indicates that the timing of a TIA is critical, and the most effective treatments should be initiated within hours of a TIA in order to prevent a major attack," Dr. Rothwell concluded.

Neurology 2005;64:817-820.
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs
)A temporary blockage of the blood supply to the brain caused by a blood clot and usually lasting ten minutes or less, during which dizziness, blurring of vision, numbness on one side of the body, and other symptoms of a stroke may occur. Also called ministroke.

Google Desktop searches:

Here’s a quick one: Google has taken its Desktop Search Tool out of beta and released a final version.

Improvements include natively supporting non Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, for example, and no longer indexes password-protected files. The release version of Google Desktop Search also gives users the option of indexing secure Web pages. The tool can now search the contents of Adobe PDF, music, and video files, the company says.

Attention Deficit

Preschoolers’ motivation, temperament relate to attention skills, study finds
Categories:

* ADHD: Children
* ADHD: Medications
* Brain Development
* ADHD
* ADHD: Education

“The findings from this study suggest problems that arise from attention
difficulties are not limited to difficulty with concentration and sitting still,
but are related to how children approach challenging or new situations,” said
Chang. “Clearly, it is the case that much more needs to be understood about the
nature and implications of having an attention problem.”

Continue reading: Preschoolers’ motivation, temperament relate to attention skills, study finds

22/12/04 - Health section

Aromatherapy oils could kill deadly superbug

Essential oils normally used in aromatherapy could be used to kill deadly MRSA bacteria, scientists say.

In tests carried out at the University of Manchester, three essential oils killed MRSA and e.coli bacteria within two minutes of contact.

Researchers believe the oils - chemical compounds found in aromatic plants - could be blended into soaps and shampoos to eradicate the spread of superbugs.

Revolutionary discovery

Peter Warn, from the University's faculty of medicine, who worked on the research, said the findings could help save lives.

He said: "We believe that our discovery could revolutionise the fight to combat MRSA and other superbugs but we need to carry out a trial and to do that we need a small amount of funding, around £30,000.

"We are having problems finding this funding because essential oils cannot be patented as they are naturally occurring, so few drug companies are interested in our work as they do not see it as commercially viable.

"Obviously we find this very frustrating as we believe our findings could help to stamp out MRSA and save lives."

The researchers tested 40 essential oils against ten of the most deadly bacteria and fungi.

Two of the oils killed MRSA and e.coli almost instantly, while a third was found to act over a longer period of time.

This means that any soaps made by blending the three oils would be effective through a course of treatment.

'Enormous benefit'

Jacqui Stringer, clinical leader of complementary therapies at Christie Hospital in Manchester, instigated the oils research.

She said: "Our research shows a very practical application which could be of enormous benefit to the NHS and its patients.

"The reason essential oils are so effective is because they are made up of a complex mixture of chemical compounds which the MRSA and other superbug bacteria finds difficult to resist.

"The problem with current treatments is that they are made of single compounds which MRSA relatively quickly becomes resistant to, so treatment is only successful in around 50% of cases."

She added: "While a wide range of products currently exist to help prevent the spread of MRSA these are often unpleasant for patients as their application can cause skin irritation.

"MRSA is often carried inside the nose which means that patients often have to insert treatments up their nostrils, whereas these essential oils can simply be inhaled to prevent the patient being at risk."


Find this story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=331698&in_page_id=1774
©2005 Associated New Media

Carotenoids May Protect Against Prostate Cancer

Reuters Health Information 2005. © 2005 Reuters Ltd.
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.

By David Douglas

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 24 - Dietary lycopene and other carotenoids may be protective against prostate cancer, Australian and Chinese researchers report in the March 1st issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

This is the first time such findings have been reported in an Asian population, investigator Dr. Andy H. Lee told Reuters Health. The findings confirm those of other studies that have identified lycopene as a protective agent against some types of cancers.

Dr. Lee, of Curtin University of Technology, Perth, and colleagues note that there is a lack of evidence in Asian countries on the possible benefits of dietary carotenoids. Among reasons is the low incidence of prostate cancer.

To investigate further, the researchers conducted a case-control study in southeast China. Involved were 130 patients with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate, and 274 controls. The controls were hospital inpatients without prostate cancer or malignant diseases.

The subjects were interviewed about food consumption and a variety of other matters. After adjustment for factors including, age, total fat and caloric intake as well as a family history of prostate cancer, diet appeared to have an influence.

The risk of prostate cancer declined with increasing consumption of lycopene, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and other carotenoids. Consumption of foods including tomatoes, spinach and citrus fruits was also inversely associated with cancer risk.

In particular, compared to those with the lowest intake of lycopene, those with the highest had an odds ratio for prostate cancer of 0.18. Corresponding odds ratios were 0.43 for alpha-carotene, 0.34 for beta-carotene, 0.15 for beta-cryptoxanthin and 0.02 for lutein and zeaxanthine.

The researchers call for further studies to establish whether these benefits are associated with whole foods or pure carotenoids. However, they conclude that "carotenoids in vegetables and fruits may be inversely related to prostate carcinogenesis among Chinese men."

Int J Cancer 2005;113:1010-1014.

Herbal Remedy as Good as Drug for Depression: Study

LONDON (Reuters) - An extract of the herbal remedy St. John's wort is as effective as a commonly prescribed drug for people with moderate-to-severe depression, researchers reported this week Friday.

They compared the extract called WS 5570, which is made by the German company Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, and the antidepressant paroxetine sold by GlaxoSmithKline Plc under the brand name Paxil or Seroxat.

St. John's wort is also known as hypericum perforatum. ...................................

St. John's Wort as Effective as Paroxetine for Major Depression

Feb 10 - Extract of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) is at least as effective as paroxetine (Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline) for the treatment of moderate to severe major depression, while being better tolerated, Germany investigators report in the British Medical Journal, published online on February 10.

Dr. Meinhard Kieser, at Dr Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals in Karlsruhe, and his associates enrolled outpatients in 21 clinics. All scored 22 points or higher on the 17-item Hamilton depression scale. A total of 125 were randomly assigned to hypericum extract WS 5570 300 mg t.i.d. and 126 to paroxetine 20 mg q.d. Doses were doubled after 2 weeks if depression score had not improved by at least 20%.

After 42 days, Hamilton depression scores declined by 14.4 points in the hypericum group and 11.4 points in the paroxetine group (corresponding to decreases of 57% and 45%, respectively), a difference that the authors call "clinically relevant."

Responder rates were 70% and 60%, respectively, and remission rates were 50% and 35%. The authors observed differences favoring hypericum in secondary measures, including Montgomery-Asperg depression rating scale, Beck depression inventory and clinical global impressions.

During the trial, there were 172 adverse events reported in 55% of those in the hypericum group, and 269 reported by 76% in the paroxetine group.

"Our results support the use of hypericum extract WS 5570 as an alternative to standard antidepressants in moderate to severe depression, especially as it is well tolerated," Dr. Kieser's group concludes.

BMJ 2005.

Red wine boosts good cholesterol

Now we all have the perfect excuse to crack open a bottle of red wine after a long hard day
- a glass of red wine increases good cholesterol and lowers levels of a blood-clotting chemical.

New research shows that a daily glass of red wine for four weeks increases HDL or good cholesterol by up to 16 per cent, and reduces the amount of the clotting compound fibrinogen by up to 15 per cent.

And the research shows that it's the alcohol in the wine that provides the beneficial effects. No similar effects were found among people taking the same amount of red grape extract.

Although red wine has been linked to health benefits, especially for the heart, it's not been known how the effects are achieved. Antioxidants and other non-alcoholic compounds have been suggested, but the new research points to alcohol itself.

In the research at the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Copenhagen, men and women aged 30 to 74, were given either 300ml of red wine a day, or red grape extract or water for a month, after which their cholesterol and fibrinogen levels were measured.

The levels of good cholesterol went up by between 11 and 16 per cent in the wine drinkers, and the amount of fibrinogen went down by eight to 15 per cent.

HDL cholesterol is considered good because a high level of it seems to protect against heart problemspossibly because it carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver. Fibrinogen is a bloodclotting agent and high levels are associated with an increased risk of heart problems.

"Moderate red wine consumption for four weeks is associated with desirable changes in HDL and fibrinogen compared with drinking water with or without red grape extract.

"The impact of wine on the cardiovascular risk factors thus seems primarily explained by an alcoholic effect," say the researchers.

Other research has shown that while red wine may be protective, other forms of alcohol are not. That, say the researchers, may be explained by other lifestyle differences between people who favour different kinds of drink.


Find this story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=336208&in_page_id=1774
©2005 Associated New Media

the Mail online | Women & family | All you need to know about flu: "All you need to know about flu"
The winter months invariably bring a range of nasties with them. As the weather gets colder, our immune systems appear more vulnerable and colds and infection soon take hold.

Flu is one of the main illnesses to peak in winter, and it can be one of the more dangerous, too. It's infectious and in some circumstances, fatal, especially for the young, elderly and those with chronic conditions, such as asthma.

Here we take an in-depth look at what flu is and the best ways of avoiding, and treating it.

Reduced salt intake cuts heart disease risk

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/std/mHead2.gif



26/01/05 - Diet & fitness section

Reduced salt intake cuts heart disease risk

Older people could immediately cut the risk of suffering a stroke or a heart attack by reducing their salt intake, campaigners have claimed.

At least 26 million people in Britain regularly consume more than the recommended 6g of salt a day for an adult.

Eating too much salt can raise blood pressure but the danger generally increases with age.

Pressure group Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) has calculated over 60-year-olds could slash the chances of a stoke by up to 31% and a heart attack by 24% within days if they reduced their salt consumption to the 6g a day maximum.

Greater risks

It based the figures on papers published in two journals, one on a salt reduction trial in older people and the other looking at the relationship between blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. CASH plans to highlight the issue in its latest Salt Awareness Day tomorrow.

Salt manufacturers responded by claiming a recent study in Germany had shown a low-salt diet could be dangerous for older people.

One of the biggest complaints of health groups is that food manufacturers generally list sodium rather than salt on packets.

Shoppers need to multiply the sodium content by 2.5 to find the salt level.

A survey conducted by CASH of over 50-year-olds found that 63% were unaware that salt contains sodium or got the quantities wrong.

A further 69% of the 103 people questioned in September last year said the labelling of sodium was "incomprehensible"."

Graham MacGregor, chairman of CASH and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at St George's Hospital, London, said: "Older people will have dramatic reductions in strokes and heart attacks if they cut their salt intakes to the recommended levels.

"They are at greater risks and will have immediate and larger falls in blood pressure."

Prof MacGregor analysed the results of 23 patients referred to the blood pressure unit at St George's with hypertension, all of whom claimed to be cutting down on salt or ate none at all.

Just three of the group actually consumed less than 6g a day and one man had a reading of 23.7g.

Food industry targets

The Food Standards Agency say men consume an average of 11g of salt a day - equivalent to almost two level teaspoons - and while women have around 8.1g.

Around 75% of salt in diets comes from processed food with bread, breakfast cereals and biscuits among the worst culprits.

Peter Sherratt, general secretary of the Salt Manufacturers Association, said: "CASH has never acknowledged the fact that there are many experts who totally disagree with it on the suggested link between salt and blood pressure.

"This latest advice carries potential risk for older people. If they suffer from high blood pressure, they should consult their doctors rather than follow what CASH suggests is an 'immediate' cure.

Martin Paterson, deputy director general of the Food and Drink Federation, said: "UK food and drink manufacturers are committed to encouraging consumers to improve their own health through a balanced diet and active lifestyle.

"The industry has already made great strides in reducing the amount of salt in a wide range of processed foods, published a guide to help consumers understand more about salt and is committed to encouraging all its members to provide 'salt equivalent' on labelling as well as the legally required sodium information."


Find this story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/dietfitness.html?in_article_id=335467&in_page_id=1798
©2005 Associated New Media

Scented pillows help pre-met infants breathe!:

Sydney, Jan 9 : Vanilla-scented pillows could reduce the incidence of life-threatening respiratory difficulties in premature babies, a new study has found.

Pre-mature babies are often at risk of apnoea, a condition where they stop breathing for no apparent reason. Doctors believe the babies' immature respiratory centres means that they sometimes forget to breathe, particularly when they are sleeping.

Usually the condition is treated with drugs, but doctors at a hospital in Strasbourg, France, found that where drug treatment didn't work, a dab of vanilla essence on the pillows of the newborns reduced apnoea by 36 per cent on average in 12 out of 14 infants.

Researchers discover why olive oil lessens breast cancer risk:

: "Researchers discover why olive oil lessens breast cancer risk:"
Washington, Jan 10 : A team of researchers from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, have revealed why Mediterranean diets, which include a lot of olive oil, reduces breast cancer risk in women.

The study, which has been published in the "Annals of Oncology" also found evidence that oleic acid, which is found in olive oil, may have a future role in treatment.

MedicineNet

Taking a trip to the doctor is not a fun thing to do unless you have some sort of fetish for pain and bad news. While all doctor visits don’t have to be horrible, the anxiety that is expended while you wait for the verdict is enough to make anyone go crazy. Some people think the answer is to just avoid going to the doctor altogether, but that usually leads to more problems than you originally planned for. If you’re starting to get that funny feeling that something is haywire in your body, you can do some research before you head to the Doc. One site that acts like a medical textbook is MedicineNet.
I'm no health expert, but this site appears to provide some comprehensive information on most anything that could ail you. If you're experiencing curious symptoms that you'd like to identify, the site lets you choose what you're going through, and will then give you suggestions about what the problem may be. You can also learn more about any type of disease that you or a friend may have. So many medications are on the market, and MedicineNet will help you figure out what does what. One of the biggest problems we peasants have to deal with is the inability to understand medical terms. Kiss this problem goodbye, because the site also has a dictionary that you can refer to in times of need. When you get that icky feeling inside, find out what the cause is with this Web site.

the Mail online | Health | Revolutionary implants help injured children smile again: "Doctors are putting smiles back on the faces of seriously injured and deformed children with the help of a revolutionary new implant to help rebuild their looks."

New Clinical Guidelines Advise When to Treat Flat Feet in Children

CHICAGO, IL -- December 29, 2004 -- Are flat feet in children naturally corrected with age or does the condition require medical attention to prevent further foot problems" To help physicians and parents learn answers to this question and others, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) has released new clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric flatfoot.

According to co-author James Thomas, DPM, FACFAS, University of Alabama Birmingham, the bottom-line advice for parents from the new guidelines is to observe your child's gait regularly, with and without shoes, for signs of flattened arches and seek medical attention if the child complains of foot or leg pain or shows a sudden lack of interest in physical activities.

The guidelines appear in the current issue of the Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery and offer physicians diagnostic and treatment pathways to follow when evaluating pediatric flatfoot patients. "Recommendations in the guidelines will help foot and ankle surgeons, primary care doctors and parents differentiate various types of flatfoot conditions in children and make appropriate choices on treatment options," said Thomas.

Thomas added that a flattened arch is common in young children and usually is an isolated condition known as flexible flatfoot, in which the foot is flat when standing and returns to a normal arch in non weight-bearing positions. According to the ACFAS guidelines, most children with flexible flatfoot have no clinical symptoms other than the flattened arch and the disorder follows "a natural history of improvement over time."

"When parents notice flattened arches in their children they often don't know if the problem requires medical attention," Thomas noted. "Much of the time, treatment isn't required for pediatric flatfoot unless the child has pain in the foot or leg. So parents and their pediatricians should monitor children with flat feet for signs of progression, such as the onset or worsening of pain and possible adjustments in gait to compensate for it," he explained.

Further, the guidelines advise that if a child's flatfoot condition doesn't improve by the age of 10 (the age the arch should be fully developed), a foot and ankle surgeon should be consulted for exact diagnosis of the problem and appropriate treatment.

When medical treatment is required for flexible flatfoot, the ACFAS guidelines recommend first-line therapy that may include activity modifications or limitations, stretching exercises, shoe orthotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. If the patient's response to initial treatment is unsatisfactory, a variety of surgical procedures can be considered to relieve pain and improve foot function.

Another less common and more serious type of pediatric flatfoot covered in the guidelines is rigid flatfoot. This condition is somewhat rare and usually inherited. As the name implies, the arch is rigid and flat, with or without weight bearing, and there is limited motion in the foot. Normally associated with an underlying structural abnormality or deformity, rigid flatfoot requires diagnosis and treatment by a foot and ankle surgeon. Surgery often is required in these cases to correct underlying structural deformities.

For further information follow these links
Flexible Flatfoot
Painful Progressive Flatfoot (Tibialis Posterior Tendinitis)

Successful Migraine Management

Successful Migraine Management

Certain clinical features of headache (associated symptoms, frequency, severity, and degree of disability) are considered highly sensitive for diagnosis of migraine. According to evidence-based guidelines, matching migraine treatment to headache characteristics and degree of disability can improve clinical outcomes. Ineffective treatment can lead to medication overuse, which has been linked to progression of migraine disorder. This article presents practical, reliable treatment strategies, including appropriate use of acute-care and preventive medications.

Brain Inflammation Found in Autism

NEW YORK, NY -- November 15, 2004 -- Inflammation in the brain is clearly a feature of autism, according to a new study published November 15, 2004, in online edition of Annals of Neurology (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/ana), the scientific journal of the American Neurological Association. The researchers found strong evidence that certain immune system components that promote inflammation are consistently activated in people with autism.

"These findings reinforce the theory that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism, although it is not yet clear whether it is destructive or beneficial, or both, to the developing brain," said senior author Carlos A. Pardo-Villamizar, M.D., at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

Autism is a disorder of the developing brain that appears in early childhood. It is estimated to afflict between 2 and 5 of every 1000 children and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Children with autism have difficulties in social interaction and communication and may show repetitive behaviors and have unusual attachments to objects or routines.

Autism has a strong genetic component, and in some families, autism tends to be more prevalent. In identical twins with autism both are usually affected. However, the number of children with autism appears to be increasing more than expected for a genetic disorder. This suggests to scientists that genetic abnormalities require the influence of other factors to cause the disorder. Birth complications, toxins, diet, and viruses and other pathogens have been suggested, though there is no strong evidence for any of these.

In recent years, there have been scientific hints of immune system irregularities in children with autism, but not all studies have confirmed this. Pardo and his colleagues sought a more definitive answer by looking not at the immune system overall, but at immune components inside the relatively sealed environment of the nervous system.

Led by first author Diana L. Vargas, MD, a post-doctoral fellow working in Pardo's laboratory, the researchers examined brain tissue from 11 people with autism, aged 5 to 44 years, who had died of accidents or injuries.

Compared with normal control brains, the brains of the people with autism featured immune system activation and inflammation in the brain.

"This ongoing inflammatory process was present in different areas of the brain and produced by cells known as microglia and astroglia," said Pardo.

When the researchers measured brain levels of immune system proteins called cytokines and chemokines, they found abnormal patterns consistent with inflammation.

"The pattern of cellular and protein findings indicate that they are part of the 'innate' immune system in the brain, and do not appear to be caused by immune abnormalities from outside the brain," said Pardo.

The findings in the brain tissue were corroborated by studies of cerebrospinal fluid obtained from six children with autism (ages 5 to 12 years), in which cytokines that promote inflammation were found to be elevated.

It is conceivable that signs of inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid could one day be used to diagnose autism, or even that doctors could treat inflammation to prevent or combat autism, however this is still speculative, according to Andrew W. Zimmerman, a pediatric neurologist at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute in Baltimore and co-author of the paper. For one thing, it is possible that the inflammation represents the brain's efforts to combat some other process damaging to brain cells.

"These findings open new possibilities for understanding the dynamic changes that occur in the brain of autistic patients during childhood and adulthood. Although they may lend themselves to development of new medical treatments for autism, much more research would be needed to establish the validity of this approach," said Pardo.

Among the next steps in this line of research, Pardo and colleagues are studying how the genetic background of patients and families may influence the development of immunological reactions in the brain that confer susceptibility to autism.


SOURCE: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Edheads - Virtual Knee Surgery - Total Knee Replacement - TKR
Virtual Knee Surgery: Take on the role of the Surgeon throughout a total knee replacement surgery. There is a Flash presentation that you can perform - and photos of an actual knee replacement operation (not for the weak of stomach).

Concepts of Accountatbility
On 1st May 2001 Professor Malcolm Hooper and Sally Montague produced a paper entitled “Concerns about the forthcoming UK Chief Medical Officer’s Report on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), notably the intention to advise clinicians that only limited investigations are necessary”

CNN.com - Study: Leukemia pill�has 86 percent remission rate - Dec 5, 2004
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- A next-generation leukemia pill designed to help patients not cured by the successful drug Gleevec works even better than doctors had hoped, researchers said Sunday.

The new drug, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb put 86 percent of patients who tried it into remission -- meaning signs of their cancer disappeared, the researchers said.

5 Foods to Boost Your Health - Trustworthy, Physician-Reviewed Information from WebMD: "What if you could make a conscious effort to add five healthy foods to your plate and make an improvement in your longevity?

The key, say some researchers, is to outsmart your body, which, as you age, is busy half-forming or damaging your cells, rather than creating healthy new cells resistant to cancer, rapid aging, and other ills. These cells are damaged by 'free radicals,' a very reactive and unstable atom or groups of atoms with an odd, unpaired number of electrons. When free radicals bang into DNA in your cells, they can damage it, leading to bad cell behavior such as cancer."

News - Short-Term Non-Hormonal Treatment Options for Hot Flushes
While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may continue to play a role in managing menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, many women are seeking alternative therapies out of concern of increased health risks reported by the Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study Follow-up (HERS II) and the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

The New York Times > Science > New Tools to Help Patients Reclaim Damaged Senses: "New Tools to Help Patients Reclaim Damaged Senses"

Prostate Health
The Prostate Health Web Site Editorial Board is composed of academic urologist, private prcatice urologists, prominent primary care physicians, as well as radiologists. It is out hope that this site will inform, educate and stimulate discussions. All records will be kept private and confidential.

BBC NEWS | Health | Newborn babies feed on themselves
Babies survive the period immediately after birth by feeding on the content of their own cells, research suggests.

CBC.ca - Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Database -
Canada’s Adverse Drug Reaction Database uses data collected from 1965 to Sept. 30, 2003, and contains information from all adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports currently held in Health Canada's CADRIS database.

The Origin of AIDS & HIV, and the First Cases of AIDS
Over the last few years many have worn the ribbons but few have any idea what is going on in AIDS research, that HIV and AIDS are now seen as two distinct problems or that we now know the disease probably first appeared in the 1930's but science dealt with the symptoms, not the cause.

And it began when people started eating infected monkeys.

I don't know how to break it to those that think pork and shellfish are wrong to eat- I would say judging by the results- eating monkeys is far more dangerous.

Anyway, check out the site as a whole. You'll learn how the AIDS stats are come up with, and facts. Not internet rumor mongering- although to be fair- they do mention some of the more popular whacko theories- like AIDS being man made and such rubbish.

RedNova - Laboratory Mice Produce Human Antibodies: "For a small biopharmaceutical firm that has yet to get a drug on the market, Medarex Inc. has been keeping some impressive company. Top pharmaceutical and biotech firms, from Johnson & Johnson to Amgen Inc., have been signing deals with Medarex to use its genetically engineered mice as they seek to develop new drugs. The doctored mice have the rare ability to produce human antibodies, which can help fight disease just as natural antibodies do."

Entrez PubMed
PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine, includes over 15 million citations for biomedical articles back to the 1950's. These citations are from MEDLINE and additional life science journals. PubMed includes links to many sites providing full text articles and other related resources.
Great site for searching.

Assemble pictures and they spring to life!
"I enjoy every minute with this challenging game. Every level is not one, but three challenges! The first challenge is to solve each level, which is both fun and frustrating. Then there are two more challenges waiting for me: Can I make it in fewer moves to earn silver or even gold? And this is only playing in puzzle mode!"
Get Jig Jag! Gold Now - it's risk-free with our 2 Month Unconditional Full Refund Guarantee. Buy it, and if you're not totally happy, keep it and we'll give you your money back. The only risk is if you don't buy it you'll never know how much fun you missed out on!

Mediterranean Diet Improves Survival in ElderlySept. 21, 2004 — Among 70- to 90-year-olds, adherence to a Mediterranean diet and healthful lifestyle is associated with a more than 50% lower rate of all-cause and cause-specific mortality, according to the results of a cohort study published in the Sept. 22 issue of JAMA.

Practice Parameters: Evaluation of the Newer Antiepileptic Drugs: "panel assembled by the American Academy of Neurology compiled these two practice parameters as clinical practice guidelines on the use of seven of the eight antiepileptic drugs approved for use in the U.S. between 1993 and 2000: gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine, oxcarbazepine, levetiracetam, and zonisamide. (The eighth, felbamate, was reviewed previously because of idiosyncratic systemic reactions not shared by the others; Epilepsia 1999; 40:803.) The panel systematically reviewed studies relevant to newly diagnosed and to medically refractory epilepsy, focusing on controlled clinical trials."

EU Could Face Flu Crisis -- Health Commissioner: "AMSTERDAM (Reuters) Sept 17 - The European Union could face a 21st century flu crisis killing millions of people if human and animal viruses were to converge, the bloc's health commissioner warned on Friday"

Wisconsin Medical Society - Savant Articles: "Savant Syndrome: Articles"

Statins May Be Particularly Useful in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: "Statins May Be Particularly Useful in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sept 16 - Treatment with pravastatin reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with or at risk for heart disease and concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a report in the September 21st issue of Circulation"

Urinary, Bowel, Sexual Problems Persist Long After Localized Prostate...: "NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sept 14 - Treatment-specific complications relating to urinary, bowel, and sexual function persist 5 years after radical prostatectomy (RP) or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for clinically localized prostate cancer, results of a study in the September 15th Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicate."

Erythromycin Plus Antihypertensives Increase Risk of Sudden...
Sept. 9, 2004 — Oral erythromycin alone doubles the risk of sudden cardiac death, but when combined with the antihypertensives diltiazem or verapamil, the risk rises fivefold, according to the results of a study published in the Sept. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Turmeric May Protect Against Leukemia

Birth Defect Risk Seen Higher With Older Epilepsy Drugs

The community is spreading the word about Firefox. Millions of people are already using Firefox and helping us chip away at Internet Explorer's marketshare. More than 80,000 websites already link to the Firefox page, with an additional 200,000 linking to mozilla.org. The buzz about Firefox was too hot for the blogosphere and has consumed the mainstream press: this month alone, Firefox has been declared officially "Wired" (IE? "Expired"), USA Today is recommending that its readers use Firefox, and Walt Mossberg, perhaps the most influential tech writer in the US, is telling Wall Street Journal readers that, if you're worried about security, Firefox is a good way to go.

PLEASE NOTE--I have been using this browser now for many months and it does everything AND more that you will ever need in your browser.ITS FANTASTIC
Tony

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS and the BRAIN: "Many of us are puzzled by the phenomenal increase in the number of children who have ADD, ADHD, learning struggles, and problems with behavior. We have seen a threefold increase in the use of Ritalin and antidepressants in children. As a special education teacher in the public schools, and as a consultant to private schools and homeschool parents, I have seen this dramatic increase in bright, wonderful, struggling children. In a class I was recently teaching to students in elementary, secondary, and special education in a Denver area college, the discussion centered on why we are seeing this population grow so rapidly. Maybe you have been wondering about this, too."

Essential Fatty Acids Shown To Improve Performance in Children With ADHD and Dyslexia
n the February issue of Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, researchers A. Richardson and B. Puri reported the results of their pilot study on the effects of essential fatty-acid supplementation on 41 learning-disabled boys and girls (aged 8-12) with symptoms of dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

MSNBC - Are you an adult with ADHD?: "Evelyn Green was in her mid-30s when doctors told her that her young son, Perry, had attention deficit disorder. The real surprise came, however, when she began to research the condition. She recognized not only the 7-year-old boy's inattentive and disorganized behavior: She saw herself."

- More Useful Everyday
Converting Epilepsy Polytherapy to Monotherapy Step by Step

The cannabis-like compound may dampen delusional experiences, despite the links between cannabis and psychosis.

Pediatric | Pediatrics - Virtual Children's Hospital: A digital library of pediatric health information

Virtual Hospital: A digital library of health information

Adding Hormonal Therapy to RT Improves Survival in Prostate...

Imperial College London - Rheumatoid arthritis researchers receive Crafoord Prize from King of Sweden: "Gold medals will be awarded to two researchers from Imperial College by the King of Sweden on Monday for their work leading to new treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.

Professors Ravinder Maini and Marc Feldmann, both of the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Division, Imperial College School of Medicine, will receive the Crafoord Prize on 18 September at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences."

Atorvastatin May Be Helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis

une 21, 2004 — Atorvastatin has a modest but clinically apparent benefit for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the results of a randomized trial published in the June 19 issue of The Lancet. The commentator suggests that these results support its use for this indication.

"HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A) reductase inhibitors (statins) mediate clinically significant vascular risk reduction in patients without inflammatory disease and might have immunomodulatory function," write Iain B. McInnes, MRCP, PhD, and colleagues from the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, University of Glasgow in the U.K. "Statins therefore have a plausible bioactivity profile in vitro and in vivo that makes them possible therapeutic agents in rheumatoid arthritis to target both vascular risk and synovial inflammation."

In this trial, 116 patients with RA were randomized to receive 40 mg daily of either atorvastatin or placebo in addition to disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy.

At six months, change in Disease Activity Score (DAS28) improved on atorvastatin (-0.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.75 to -0.25) compared with placebo (0.03; 95% CI, -0.23 to 0.28; difference between groups, -0.52; 95% CI, -0.87 to -0.17; P = .004). In the atorvastatin group, 18 (31%) of 58 patients achieved the coprimary endpoint of DAS28-European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response, as did six (10%) of 58 in the placebo group (odds ratio, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.42-10.72; P = .006).

Compared with placebo, C-reactive protein (CRP) decreased by 50% in the atorvastatin group (P < .001), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) decreased by 28% (P = .005). Swollen joint count also decreased more in the atorvastatin group (-2.69 vs. -0.53; mean difference, -2.16; 95% CI, -3.67 to -0.64; P = .006). Both groups had similar frequency of adverse events.

Study limitations include the heterogeneous background of DMARD use, which allowed the possibility of statin-DMARD interactions that could confound outcomes, more patients receiving methotrexate in the atorvastatin group, small study group, and direct effects of statins on hepatic CRP synthesis, which could exaggerate the impression of disease modification.

"Although not indicative for first line use, this effect of atorvastatin could prove beneficial in the context of DMARD combination design, in which a statin offers both vascular protective and adjunctive immune modulatory potential," the authors write. "Whereas existing DMARD therapy might partly reverse vascular risk, our findings suggest that statins can work to reduce traditional and novel vascular risk factors."

Some of the authors report various financial arrangements with Pfizer.

In an accompanying commentary, Lars Klareskog, MD, PhD, and Anders Hamsten, MD, PhD, FRCP, from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden note caveats that should be considered before statins can be recommended for RA in clinical practice. The observed efficacy in this study was marginal compared with both conventional DMARDs and novel biological compounds. The effects of statins on the immune and inflammatory systems are still unknown, and there are no long-term safety data on patients with inflammatory diseases.

"Although of limited size and short-term, their findings support the use of atorvastatin, and presumably of other statins, to prevent cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis," the editorialists write. "Needless to say, more work is needed to define the long-term effects on inflammatory diseases and cardiovascular comorbidities, and to expand the basic understanding of how various statins affect the immune system."

Lancet. 2004;363:2011-2012, 2015-2021

Guideline 48: Management of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

HoustonChronicle.com - Shrimp shells help save soldiers' lives: "Shrimp shells help save soldiers' lives
Pentagon pays millions for new, better bandages made from a carb found in seafood
By JOHN W. GONZALEZ
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

FORT SAM HOUSTON -- 'Do not eat,' the package clearly states, even though the contents are usually found in seafood."

Screening Approach Eradicates MRSA in UK Orthopedic Ward: "NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 16 - An infection control strategy referred to as 'ring fencing' has been effective in eradicating MRSA and reducing postoperative infections in an orthopedic ward, according to UK researchers. Moreover, the team believes that its applicability could extend to any elective surgery ward."

MRSA Strains Spreading Outside US Hospitals
WASHINGTON (Reuters) Jul 14 - Community strains of MRSA are affecting athletes, prisoners and small children in growing numbers across the United States, infectious disease experts said on Wednesday.

University of Chicago Hospitals: University of Chicago scientists pinpoint cellular cause of SIDS: "University of Chicago researchers may have found a crucial clue to understanding and ultimately eliminating sudden infant death syndrome, the leading cause of post-neonatal mortality in the United States. Approximately 3,000 infants die each year from the disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Center for the Study of Autism
Asperger's syndrome was first described by a German doctor, Hans Asperger, in 1944 (one year after Leo Kanner's first paper on autism). In his paper, Dr. Asperger discussed individuals who exhibited many idiosyncratic, odd-like behaviors (see description below).

Management of Dyslipidemia in Adults - May 1, 1998 - American Academy of Family Physicians
The importance of treating dyslipidemias based on cardiovascular risk factors is highlighted by the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. The first step in evaluation is to exclude secondary causes of hyperlipidemia. Assessment of the patient's risk for coronary heart disease helps determine which treatment should be initiated and how often lipid analysis should be performed

Platelet-Leukocyte Aggregation May Put Migraine Patients at Risk for Stroke
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jun 22 - Migraine is known to be an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke. In a new study, researchers have discovered a possible link at the cellular level for the two conditions.

Tears could unmask SARS mystery! - News Details, Webindia123.com: "Tears could unmask SARS mystery!
London | June 21, 2004 2:44:37 PM IST

Tears could help provide a breakthrough in finding an effective diagnosis for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
According to a study in British Journal of Ophthalmology, this highly infectious respiratory virus has been found in tears ,which suggests ,that analysing tears could help researchers unravel many mysteries associated with the virus including the unrecognised source of its spread."

Autism Probably Not Caused by Single Factor

Coverage of Urinary Incontinence Treatment

Fish Oil Inhibits Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia