Head Lines About Health and Staying Healthy

Is Telemedicine the Future of Healthcare?

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:33:00 +0000

Although there are still several issues to be resolved, it is evident that developments in telemedicine will be a part of the future of healthcare, especially in rural areas. Telemedicine would give patients in underserved areas access to a consulting specialist through interactive video transmissions. However, as well as working out all of the technical aspects, payment issues, malpractice liability and licensing requirements must be addressed.

For rural areas, telemedicine will solve many of the problems concerning a lack of specialists to consult on a variety of patient cases. Patients who must be referred to another physician may normally have to travel several miles. With telemedicine, these patients have to go no further than their local doctor's or physician assistant's office.

The Konawa Community Health Center in Southeast Oklahoma has taken telemedicine on the road. They have a van equipped with the latest telemedicine equipment and staffed with a PA, nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurse and a medical secretary. The van travels 40 to 60 miles to nine surrounding communities, three times a week. The mobile clinic was established after Konawa won the first telemedicine grant offered by Southwestern Bell Telephone in the amount of $50,000.

This type of program is needed in states like Oklahoma, which has 30% fewer physicians per 1,000 residents than the national average. From the van, images of the patient's skin lesions and ENT tissue can be sent to the consulting physician via electronic dermascope, otoscope, and ophthalmoscope that operate with a 20-power video camera microscope. Other equipment in the van includes a cellular telephone, fax modem, copier and two examining rooms. There is also a laboratory where a variety of tests can be performed including urinalysis, pregnancy tests and hematocrits. Electrocardiogram strips and lab reports can be sent by fax modem.

While telemedicine may be the answer to dealing with the problems of providing healthcare in underserved areas, its ultimate success may depend on how payment issues are resolved. The most important discussion regarding payment policy is whether the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) will allow telemedicine services to be paid for under Medicare. The actions of the HCFA are usually a good indicator of how other payors will approach the issue. William England, project officer for telemedicine research for HCFA believes that Medicare won�t pay for telemedicine because the program has never covered anything but in-person consultation. England believes that a government study researching the effectiveness of electronic consultation will take at least five years.

Electronically mediated consultations with the patient, including interactive consultations where a primary care practitioner and a specialist confer about a patient by interactive video, are currently not covered under Medicare. Electronically mediated interaction is not covered when it replaces direct, personal contact. Those who are against payment for video consultation compare them to telephone consultations, which are not covered by Medicare. Others say that the specialist should receive the normal amount for traditional consultations while payment for the primary care practitioner would depend on the level of involvement. Also still to be determined is whether telemedicine is safe and effective for all specialty applications and the level of documentation necessary to assure the service was provided appropriately.

The question of the safety and effectiveness of telemedicine leads to the issue of malpractice liability. Although payment issues are an important factor, the problem of malpractice liability could be the biggest obstacle to the overall implementation of telemedicine. The public perception may be that a consultation via video is inadequate and the consulting physician would be working with incomplete data. Establishing technical standards and videotaping the entire consultation would limit liability. Policies must also be put in place to protect the patient's right to privacy, as medical records are electronically transmitted.

Another problem facing proponents of telemedicine is that of state licensing requirements. The current state licensure system requires that physicians practicing telemedicine be licensed in every state in which they practice. This is a hindrance to physicians who want to provide telemedicine consultations to citizens residing in other states. The easiest way to resolve this may be to consider the patient as the one being electronically transported rather than the physician. Five states, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Nevada, currently block interstate telemedicine. At least 20 other states are considering similar legislation. Since consultations conducted over state lines are a form of interstate commerce, they could become a concern of the Federal Trade Commission; although they have shown no signs of involvement.

Nationally recognized multi-specialty clinics, such as the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, are delaying plans for telemedicine expansion primarily due to liability and state licensing issues. On the bright side for consumers, there is on-going discussion concerning creating a model state telemedicine license that, if adopted by each state, would allow interstate electronic consultation.

Patient privacy is another issue facing telemedicine. State rules governing privacy often conflict with each other. Many believe that the possibility for confusion concerning state regulations is a real dilemma.

Intrastate telemedicine programs, however, are flourishing. There are currently 50 interactive programs in the United States, up from only three in 1991 and twice as many as last year. Where there are still several aspects of telemedicine to be worked out, the benefits to rural areas are worth continuing the discussions. Telemedicine can provide underserved areas with access to quality healthcare that may not otherwise be available. Bioethics, such as Arthur Caplan at the University of Pennsylvania, believe that the socio-economic barriers facing telemedicine may take 20 years to overcome.

nutritions for teens

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:32:00 +0000

Nutrition Know How

What you eat has a life long effect on your health and well-being. To look and feel good, you have to eat adequate amounts of the proper foods. Many teenagers don't always choose the food that is best for their health. They may not want to eat what the rest of the family is eating or they may eat poorly at school, although the food at the school cafeteria is required by law in the United States to meet certain nutritional standards, you may not be eating their food.

Nutrition... Nutrition... Nutrition... Adults are always talking about good nutrition and eating the right foods. Isn't it enough to eat the things that we enjoy eating? Not necessarily, unless you like eating foods rich in vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. Sounds boring? It doesn't have to be. If you are going to eat well you have to take some of the initiative and responsibility for what you eat. You'll be doing your family a big favor as well as learning how to take care of yourself.

Nutrients build your body and allow it to function. Each nutrient has at least one specific job, and no other nutrient can cover for any of the others. Because you need many different nutrients to stay healthy, you have to eat a wide variety of foods in order to get all of them. If you stick to just one or two favorite foods, you'll run short of the nutrients you must have to stay well.

A lot of the foods that we like to eat don't have much nutritional value. These foods are referred to as "junk food" = empty calories, because while they provide calories that can be turned into energy, they don't provide much else in the way of things our bodies can use.

There are six types of nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. In simple terms, nutrients are the chemicals that your body gets from food. If your body gets the right fuel, just like a car, it will run smoother. Nutrients in food allow your body to break down the food you eat into energy so can use function. When you go for a run, swim a few laps, or even talk on the phone you are using energy that your body has produced. When you are taking a test, you're using brain power, which is really energy that is coming from the food you had last night for dinner and this morning for breakfast. One nutrition key is to never skip breakfast, especially the morning of tests. Your body has not received energy for more than 12 - 15 hours and will not be able to function at its peak without that boost you get from food.

Protein
Every single cell in your body is made up of protein. Hair and fingernails consist of fibers of protein called keratin. Collagen is the protein that strengthens your skin, blood vessels, bones and teeth. Even your muscles are held together by the protein fibers called myosin and actin. In fact, about one-fifth of your body weight is protein. Every chemical reaction that takes place in your body -- that is a lot -- is dependent on proteins. These important nutrients help us build new cells and repair damaged body tissue. Because your tissues are constantly being destroyed and rebuilt, and because unlike carbohydrates your body has no means to store protein, you must make sure you get enough of this important nutrient to keep all your vital processes functioning. During digestion, large molecules of protein are broken down into smaller, simpler units called amino acids. The body requires 22 amino acids in specific patterns to make human protein and thus do its necessary functions. Your body can produce all but nine of these amino acids. The nine that can not be produced are called essential amino acids because they must be supplied by your diet. In order for your body to properly use proteins, all of the essential amino acids must be present in your system. A food that contains all the essential amino acids is called a complete protein. Examples of foods high in protein include: meats, fish, lentils, nuts, dairy products such as cheese or yogurt and beans.

Carbohydrates
Most of our energy comes from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are chemical compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They provide us with calories which can be converted into energy. There are two types of carbohydrates: simple, which are sugars, or complex, which are starches. It's a good idea to try to eat more complex carbohydrates because your body get longer sustained energy from these foods. Examples of complex carbohydrates include: potatoes, pasta, bread, rice, lentils, cereals and fruits and vegetables. Compare these to the simple carbohydrates such as cookies, candy bars and other sugar foods which provide a quick jolt of energy, but then leave your body craving more. These simple carbohydrates are known as "empty calories" because they lack vitamins, minerals, fiber or anything of value to your system.

Fats
While too much fat is bad for your health, we do need some to survive. By cutting down on your fat intake you can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or cancer, not to mention staying in better physical shape and maintaining a healthy weight. There are three types of fat: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Saturated fats are the worst type because they raise the cholesterol level in your blood, which can lead to heart disease. The more saturated the fat is, the more solid it will appear at room temperature. This includes animal products such as butter, cheese, milk and meats. Monounsaturated fats are the types in nuts and fruit and polyunsaturated fats are found in oils. If you are trying to reduce the fat content in your diet, try broiling rather than frying your food, use skim milk rather than whole milk, use low-fat salad dressing or yogurt, and cut down on red meats.

Fiber
Okay, you are right, there is no nutritional value in fiber. But we do know that fiber absorbs water, helping both keeping away hunger pangs and to keep the colon healthy by allowing bowel movements to be regular. softer and easier to pass. Fiber has an important role in protecting us from certain diseases, such as heart disease, high blood cholesterol, some cancers and bowel conditions. It also can keep us leaner (people who eat a lot of fiber are less likely to be overweight). Fiber is present in the cell walls of all plants, but is NOT found in any food obtained from animals. It can be found in all foods of plant origin like fruits, vegetables and nuts. It is also found in unrefined breads, cereals, brown rice, corn kernels and beans. Cellulose and pectin, found in all stringy vegetables and apples (and other fruit) cannot be digested, but they are important as roughage.

Water
Our bodies are about two-thirds water, and we need to ensure that we keep up this balance in order to remain healthy. That's why it is recommended that you drink at least eight glasses of water every day. This will keep all your organs hydrated so that they can function properly, and water also helps to flush toxins and other impurities out of your body. Water serves many other crucial functions including: respiration, digestion, metabolism, body temperature regulation and excretion. Water is also responsible for dissolving and transporting nutrients through the body. Only oxygen is more important to sustaining human life than water. So, drink a tall glass of water and stay healthy!

From Your Plate, Not a Pill

Sure you can buy vitamins and minerals in bottles, but the best source of them is from the foods you eat. Since different foods have different vitamins, the best way to make sure you're covered is to eat a variety of foods everyday. Here is another time when "Pyramid Power" comes in handy. Remember, lots from the bottom, less from the middle, and a little from the top. This should ensure a healthy diet that will keep you full of energy and healthy. If your life is very, very hectic, a vitamin supplement can help make up for what you may be lacking in your fast-paced life. There are other times too when a vitamin supplement is necessary, like when you are healing from surgery or a wound. So, vitamins from a bottle are important at times and for many medical conditions.

Teen Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:27:00 +0000

How bad is the problem?

The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually.
Nearly four in 10 young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20—nearly one million a year.2 Eight in ten of these pregnancies are unintended3 and 79 percent are to unmarried teens.
The teen birth rate has declined slowly but steadily from 1991 to 2000 with an overall decline of 22 percent for those aged 15 to 19. These recent declines reverse the 24-percent rise in the teenage birth rate from 1986 to 1991. The largest decline since 1991 by race was for black women. The birth rate for black teens aged 15 to 19 fell 31 percent between 1991 to 2000. Hispanic teen birth rates declined 12 percent between 1994 and 2000. The rates of both Hispanics and blacks, however, remain higher than for other groups. Hispanic teens now have the highest teenage birth rates. Most teenagers giving birth before 1980 were married whereas most teens giving birth today are unmarried.
The younger a teenaged girl is when she has sex for the first time, the more likely she is to have had unwanted or non-voluntary sex. Close to four in ten girls who had first intercourse at 13 or 14 report it was either non-voluntary or unwanted.
Who suffers the consequences?
Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school, (only one-third receive a high school diploma)7 and more likely to end up on welfare (nearly 80 percent of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare).
The children of teenage mothers have lower birth weights9, are more likely to perform poorly in school10, and are at greater risk of abuse and neglect.
The sons of teen mothers are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison while teen daughters are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers themselves.
What helps prevent teen pregnancy?
The primary reason that teenage girls who have never had intercourse give for abstaining from sex is that having sex would be against their religious or moral values. Other reasons cited include desire to avoid pregnancy, fear of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), and not having met the appropriate partner.13 Three of four girls and over half of boys report that girls who have sex do so because their boyfriends want them to.
Teenagers who have strong emotional attachments to their parents are much less likely to become sexually active at an early age.
Most people say teens should remain abstinent but should have access to contraception. Ninety-five percent of adults in the United States—and 85 percent of teenagers—think it important that school-aged children and teenagers be given a strong message from society that they should abstain from sex until they are out of high school. Almost 60 percent of adults also think that sexually active teenagers should have access to contraception.
Contraceptive use among sexually active teens has increased but remains inconsistent. Three-quarters of teens use some method of contraception (usually a condom) the first time they have sex.17 A sexually active teen who does not use contraception has a 90 percent chance of pregnancy within one year.
Parents rate high among many teens as trustworthy and preferred information sources on birth control. One in two teens say they "trust" their parents most for reliable and complete information about birth control, only 12 percent say a friend.
Teens who have been raised by both parents (biological or adoptive) from birth, have lower probabilities of having sex than teens who grew up in any other family situation. At age 16, 22 percent of girls from intact families and 44 percent of other girls have had sex at least once.20 Similarly, teens from intact, two-parent families are less likely to give birth in their teens than girls from other family backgrounds.
When should I talk to my child about sex?
Before they make you a grandparent. One of every 3 girls has had sex by age 16, 2 out of 3 by age 18. Two of 3 boys have had sex by age 18.
Surprise: Your teen wants to hear from you. Seven of ten teens interviewed said that they were ready to listen to things parents thought they were not ready to hear.23 When asked about the reasons why teenage girls have babies, 78 percent of white and 70 percent of African-American teenagers reported that lack of communication between a girl and her parents is often a reason teenage girls have babies.

Air Travel Concerns

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:51:00 +0000

Jet Lag

Jet lag is caused by traveling at great speeds over many time zones. This unbalances the "circadian rhythms," or biological clock, which is set by the pineal gland (a tiny organ in the brain). Eye cells send light and darkness messages to this gland, which releases melatonin (a sleep-inducing hormone) in response to darkness. Thus, abrupt changes in time zones can upset melatonin production, which ultimately unbalances the body's sleep-wake cycle. These biological functions, combined with travel-related physical and emotional stress, cause jet lag.

Common symptoms of jet lag include headaches, irritability, upset stomach, sleeplessness, gastric discomfort, chills and inability to concentrate. Symptoms may be worse if you are traveling west to east (away from the sun), because light helps to preserve the body's equilibrium. Travel from east to west (to an earlier time zone) results in fewer jet lag symptoms, and traveling northward or southward does not affect the body's circadian rhythms at all.

Experts say it takes one day for every time zone crossed to recover from jet lag symptoms. For example, if you cross six time zones, it will take six days to feel like your old self again. Although there are many methods for minimizing jet lag, it is impossible to eliminate it entirely.

One suggested method of minimizing jet lag effects is to drink plenty of water before, during and after the flight. Some doctors recommend that you drink two eight-ounce glasses of water right before departure. Dehydration is highly possible during airplane travel, due to dry cabin air. It results in diminished blood flow to your muscles, reduced kidney functions and fatigue, all of which induce jet lag. You can prevent dehydration by drinking one liter of water for every six hours of flight in addition to beverages you drink with meals. Even if you may not be thirsty, it is important to drink water on a regular basis throughout the flight, because the body's thirst mechanism does not warn you early about dehydration.

Researchers are now looking into "light therapy," which is a method of re-adjusting the body's inner clock by controlling exposure to natural and artificial light. One step in this strategy is to expose yourself to daylight as soon as possible once you arrive at your destination. Researchers also advise that you turn on your overhead light during your flight when it is daylight at your destination and turn off your light, or wear an eyeshade, when it is night there.

A second strategy is to try to reset the body's clock through the use of food. Many airlines have started serving their meals according to the destination's time zone. However, the "jet lag diet," another food strategy once thought to play an important role in minimizing the effects of jet lag, has been proven ineffective. (The Argonne jet lag diet consisted of eating certain foods at specific times in given amounts beginning three days before departure. A controlled study by the U.S. Army indicated that travelers practicing the jet lag diet actually fared worse than the "non-dieting" group.)

Another recent research strategy uses melatonin capsules as a possible method of combating jet lag fatigue. The capsules, which consist of concentrated amounts of melatonin, have been found to be successful in reducing fatigue when taken according to the destination's nighttime schedule.

Aside from "scientific" methods, you can take a number of simple steps to improve your ability to ward off jet lag. Physical conditioning during the two to three weeks before your trip can help increase your stamina and thereby reduce the fatigue caused by travel-related stress. And according to reports from airline crews, it is helpful to take non-stop flights and to schedule your departing flight in the morning, when you are most ready for a full day's worth of activities.

In addition, following a few simple "do's and don'ts" can help:

* Don't smoke, drink large amounts of alcohol, or take unnecessary medication while in flight.
* Do get a decent night's sleep before your flight.
* Do try to get some sleep during long flights.
* Do exercise while on board the plane by stretching, walking about the cabin, and doing fitness exercises in your chair (like squeezing a tennis ball for seven counts and then releasing).

Much of the stiffness and the uncomfortable, dazed feeling following a flight is simply the result of sitting inactively for long periods of time. You may want to ask airline representatives if they can provide a brochure for in-flight exercises.

Finally, limiting your activities the first day after your arrival will yield more hours of fun and productivity in the end.

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Flying with a Head Cold

A head cold can cause problems during air travel. Swollen mucous membranes can prevent pressure between the airplane cabin and your sinuses or inner ear from equalizing, sometimes resulting in pain during ascent and especially descent. Further, permanent ear or sinus damage can result.

Children with conditions which may cause "blocked ears," such as allergies or serious colds, should postpone air travel until their symptoms diminish. In general, avoid traveling with sick children or those who have been exposed to communicable diseases.

While your safest course of action with any head cold is to postpone your flight until your condition clears up, flying is particularly inadvisable when you have a high fever or ear or sinus pain. See a doctor if these symptoms appear or if you have an urgent reason for travel and you aren't sure if you should postpone your flight because of your condition. Your physician can counsel you on the advisability of travel and prescribe medications to help clear up your condition. Antibiotics may be necessary, and decongestants can be helpful.

If you must travel with a cold, use a decongestant and/or nasal spray before takeoff. If you have a long flight, check the label on your decongestant and time your doses so you will be able to take the decongestant about an hour before landing. Nasal sprays are best repeated right before descent.

Antihistamines are the most effective decongestants, but they can also cause drowsiness. Avoid driving after your flight if you have taken an antihistamine. If you are pregnant or have special problems, consult your physician before taking any medication.

[Top]
Flying with Children

Collapsible umbrella-type strollers are a convenient way to transport your small child or infant through airports. Lightweight, mesh storage bags that clip onto the back of the stroller can provide some portable storage space. Most airlines allow passengers to carry umbrella strollers on board for storage in the garment closet, but it's a good idea to check your carrier's policy ahead of time.

Fares and regulations for infants and small children vary, so check with your travel agent or airline for current information. If you plan to use an infant safety seat, it must be FAA-approved, and it may not be used at emergency exits or in the rows directly in front of or behind them. If you have not reserved a seat for your child and you bring a safety seat aboard in the hope that an empty seat will be available, you may be disappointed. In that case, the flight attendant will stow the safety seat for you.

It's a good idea to remember that unless you do purchase a separate ticket for your child, you will most likely be allowed only one carry-on bag. This may make it difficult to pack enough supplies for both you and your child, especially if it is a long flight.

Travel agents can supply you with a chart depicting your aircraft's seating arrangement. Some considerations when reserving seats will help you, your child, and your fellow travelers remain comfortable on board the aircraft. Bassinets can sometimes be reserved on international flights. Most are placed at bulkhead seats. Bulkhead seating provides more space in front of the passenger, but has a drawback - since there is no under-seat storage, infant feeding and changing supplies will be in the overhead bin, rather than at your arm's reach. If the airline allows, you may be able to use an umbrella stroller as infant seating during flight in the extra space in front of bulkhead seats.

Infants may be more comfortable seated away from the galley areas, which can be noisy during meal services. Young children will disrupt fewer fellow passengers if they are seated close to the washrooms, in aisle seats.

Adults who frequently accompany children on international flights recommend avoiding Monday and Friday flights, which are often crowded with business travelers. Mid-week flights are usually less crowded and may lend an atmosphere more conducive to the child's needs.

Aircraft cabins can be chilly, so include warm clothing in the hand luggage you carry on board. Some passengers experience slight swelling of their hands and feet during flight. If you remove your child's shoes during flight, it may be uncomfortable for the child when you put the shoes back on.

Although special meals for toddlers and children can be ordered in advance through many airlines, it is important to carry an adequate meal supply for infants. Carry enough supplies for a possible 24-hour delay, since unanticipated delays are not uncommon and may be lengthy in international travel.

Some airlines have formula and baby food on board, but travelers should not assume supplies will be available. Always call at least one day in advance to arrange meals for infants and small children. This allows the airline enough time to get supplies on board the plane, or if they do not prepare meals for small children or infants, it will allow you enough time to obtain the necessary supplies.

Airlines frequently prohibit flight attendants from mixing formulas for passengers, which makes ready-to-eat preparations most convenient. Also keep in mind that airline attendants are prohibited from serving you during take-offs and landings, so be sure to keep all necessary baby supplies close at hand. It's also a good idea to check with the airline before departure to see if they will have diaper wipes or bottle warming and cooling capabilities.

Children are generally not prone to motion sickness during flight, but they may experience discomfort during ascent and descent. In children, the ducts linking the middle ear and the nasal cavity are narrow, making it difficult for air pressure in the ears and nose to equalize when cabin pressure changes. Since frequent swallowing helps equalize air pressure, it's a good idea to bottle- or breast-feed infants during takeoffs and landings. If this is inconvenient, you can stimulate swallowing by placing drops of water on the infant's tongue with a plastic eyedropper. Small children should drink liquids or chew crackers or cookies. Avoid gum or small, hard candies, since unexpected turbulence could cause choking. Also keep in mind that turbulence can cause hot beverages to spill, so avoid them if you are holding a child in your lap.

LASSA VIRUS

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:30:00 +0000

Lassa Virus is a member of the arenaviridae and is found primarily in rural Sub-Saharan regions of western Africa. It causes multi-organ febrile infection and is frequently fatal if untreated. Exact pathalogical mechanisms are largely unknown. Immunogenic properities are unclear. A vaccine has been developed and if unvaccinated it can be treated by ribavirin.
Detection / Laboratory Diagnostics

Lassa virus is isolated from blood or serum during the febrile phase of the disease up to 14 days postonset. Viral antigen can be detected by ELISA in acute cases, but becomes negative when antibodies become detectable. Severe cases of Lassa Fever result in death before antibody production. Antibodies (IgM, IgG) to Lassa are assayed by IFA or ELISA. Viral RNA can be detected by the third day of hospitalization by reverse transcriptase PCR. Primers used have been designed to well conserved regions (between isolates from different areas of Africa) of the S RNA segment coding for viral glycoprotiens.

Lassa virus is rated as Biosafety Level IV containment by the CDC. Live virus can be inactivated by -radiation. Viral proteins have been expressed in the Bacculovirus system under the polyhedrin promoter and have shown similar antigenicity to the live virus.

Properties of Virion

arenaviridae family; pleomorphic in shape; spheroidal
bisegmented, probably 2 filamentous helical nucleocapsids per envelope ; replication in cytoplasm, budding at plasma membrane, encorporating host ribosomes by chance
surface projection spikes (10nm) evenly distibuted
virion composed of 2% nucleic acid, genomic and non-viral - ssRNA, bipartite, ambisense
each virion contains multiple segments of genome, not in equimolar proportions
sequence at 3' term largely complimentary to similar region at 5'
genome organized into L (7.2kb) and S segment (3.4kb)
S encodes nucleocapsid and glycoprotein (GP) precursor
GP posttranslationally modified to GP1, GP2 ( assembled to form tetrameric virion spike
GP1: interacts with viral receptors; recognized by neutralizing antibodies of host
GP2: promotes acid dependent (pH 4.5 - 5.5) membrane fusion for viral ent

Epidemiology

Lassa virus was first described in Lassa, a village of northern Nigeria, in the central region of Africa. Small outbreaks have occurred in Zorzor, Liberia, and various other parts of Nigeria. Serological evidence of human infection have been documented in Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Sierra Leone and Zaire. The virus is largely confined to West Africa, but there have been incidences where the virus has been introduced outside of Africa mainly through health care workers.

The natural reservoir of Lassa is Mastomys natalensis, a rodent prevalent throughout Africa south of the Sahara. In this rodent, Lassa causes a chronic, inapparent infection with persistent viremia. Lassa is excreted from the rat through urine and saliva. While nosocomial spread (aerosols) are rare for most arenaviridae, Lassa can be spread through aerosols or contact. Reservoir hosts are congenitally transmitted, and horizontal transmission to uninfected rats are through the mentioned secretions. Humans are primarily infected by eating an infected rat, or by eating food contaminated with rat excretions. Infection is also possible through the inhalation of dried infecte urine. Low levels of sanitation and the high prevalence of the natural reservoir favor promote the spread of Lassa virus. The most efficient mechanism of infection is by a rodent bite.

Reported cases do not favor a particular sex, and both children and adults can be infected, with a lower incidence in children. Interhuman transmission of arenaviridae is rare except in the case of Lassa. Person to person transmission is mainly via direct contact, and is possible through contamination of skin breaks with infected blood, and aerosol spreads. Hospitals and dispensaries are ideal environments for the spread of Lassa, and the worst epidemics documented have occurred in these places. As the virus is present in bodily secretions such as urine, salive, and semen, it can be spread through sexual contact.

The number of cases of Lassa fever annually is esimated at 200000 - 400000 cases with several thousand fatal. Overall mortality among hospital cases is about 15%. In untreated cases, mortalility rises to 60%. Mortality is 2-3x higher in pregnant/post portum women, and pregnancies invariably end in abortion/neonatal death. In endemic areas such as Sierra Leone, antibodies to the virus in the population may reach 40%, and overall mortality is <2%,>

Viral Treatment

Summary

treated effectively with ribavirin
ribavirin is an IMP dehydrogenase inhibitor
treatment best if iniated within first six days of fever
major side effect is anemia
human trials completed

Lassa viral infection can be treated by 1--Dribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide, virazole, better known as ribavirin This drug, and many similar derivatives, are broad spectrum antiviral agents and trials in monkeys have shown that the drug does increase their survival rate when infected. Ribavirin acts as an inosinate (IMP) dehydrogenase inhibitor. IMP cannot be converted to XMP, due to the irreversibe competetive inhibition of ribavirin, which is very similar in structure to IMP. Blocking the IMP to XMP conversion severely reduces the levels of GMP, GDP and GTP, which effectively suppresses viral RNA synthesis This drug attacks a host system that the virus is dependent upon, in turn meaning that the host is affected. Indeed, the monkey trials showed that there was anemia as red blood cells were not produced. However, when the use of the drug was discontinued the anemia disappeared.

A human trial was conducted in Sierra Leone by the CDC. After serum tests of infected individuals were completed, observation of their recovery led to the establishment of three categories. These categories were minimal risk, having a low mortality rate, medium and high risk with mortality rates of 55% and 76% respectively. If ribavirin was administered for ten days, commencing within the first six days of fever onset, the mortality rates dropped to 5% and 9% for the medium and high risk groups. However, if the drug therapy was started seven days or more after fever onset, the mortality rates were 26% and 47%. Further tests with Lassa convalescent plasma did not significantly reduce the mortality rate, either alone or with ribavirin. The side effect of anemia noted in monkeys was again present. The use of an oral form of ribavirin, which can be stored at room temperature, was suggested as the reduction of mortality was significant.

Blood Transfusion Guidelines for International Travelers

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:27:00 +0000

There is growing public awareness of the AIDS epidemic, and a resulting concern about acquiring the AIDS virus through blood transfusions. Systematic screening of blood donations is not yet feasible in all developing countries. Requests have been made by persons planning international travels, to have their own blood, or blood from their home country, available to them in case of urgent need. These requests raise logistic, technical and ethical issues which are not easy to resolve. Ultimately, the safety of blood for such persons will depend upon the quality of blood transfusion services in the host country. The strengthening of these services is of the highest priority. While efforts are being made to achieve this end, other approaches are also needed.

Basic Principles:

Unexpected, emergency blood transfusion is rarely required. It is needed only in situations of massive hemorrhage like severe trauma, gynecologic and obstetric emergency, or gastrointestinal bleeding.
In many cases, resuscitation can be achieved by use of colloid or crystalloid plasma expanders instead of blood.
Blood transfusion is not free of risk, even in the best of conditions. In most developing countries, the risk is increased by limited technical resources for screening blood donors for HIV infection and other diseases transmissible by blood.
The international shipment of blood for transfusion is practical only when handled by agreement between two responsible organizations, such as national blood transfusion services. This mechanism is not useful for emergency needs of individual patients and should not be attempted by private individuals or organizations not operating recognized blood programs.

Therefore:

There are no medical indications for travelers to take blood with them from their home country.
The limited storage period of blood and the need for special equipment negate the feasibility of independent blood banking for individual travelers or small groups.
Blood should be transfused only when absolutely indicated. This applies even more forcefully in those countries where screening of blood for transmissible diseases is not yet widely performed.

Proposed Options:

When urgent resuscitation is necessary, the use of plasma expanders rather than blood should always be considered.
In case of emergency need of blood, use of plasma expanders and urgent evacuation home may be the actions of choice.
When blood transfusion cannot be avoided, the attending physician should make every effort to ensure that the blood has been screened for transmissible diseases, including HIV.
International travelers should:

take active steps to minimize the risk of injury;

establish a plan for dealing with medical emergencies;

support the development within countries of safe and adequate blood supplies

1 Out of 3 Kids Take Multivitamins in The World

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:12:00 +0000

While new research suggests more than one of three of children in the United States take dietary supplements -- mainly in the form of multivitamins and multiminerals -- some doctors question the perceived benefits of these supplements.
The new study, published in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, suggests that many parents may believe that multivitamins provide children with extra nutrients they might not be getting in their everyday diets.
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However, there is no solid evidence that taking a multivitamin improves a child's health.
Dr. David Katz, associate professor of Public Health at Yale University School of Medicine, notes that a recent consensus conference held by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) "concluded that we don't know if multivitamins or minerals do any good."
In the current research, NIH scientists analyzed data from the 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which includes information on more than 10,000 children ages 18 or younger.
They found that over 30 percent of children take dietary supplements regularly. Most children only take one supplement, most likely containing some combination of vitamins A, C or D, as well as calcium and iron.
Harmless...but Possibly Useless?
Most medical experts agree that there is no evidence to suggest that children who take multivitamins encounter any negative consequences from ingesting high levels of nutrients.
"In general, I have a favorable view of judicious nutrient supplementation because our ancestors, eating a natural diet of nutrient-rich, calorie-dilute foods, consumed much higher levels of many nutrients than we do today," said Katz. "A supplement can help make up the difference."
However, there are no proven benefits either for the average child. Katz explains that most studies on supplement use have been disappointing.
"On a strictly evidence-based platform, we can't say what [nutrients] are too much, too little, or just right, since we don't know what health effects these supplements are having," he said.
It is important that children get the right amounts of nutrients for growth and development, but taking multivitamin pills may not be the best way.
"How nutrients act in foods, in concert with other nutrients, may differ markedly from how they behave in isolation," said Katz. "Some supplements have tried to address this by keeping nutrients in their native combinations -- a product called Juice Plus, made from fruits and vegetables, is an example."
A Downward Trend
Researchers found that supplement use was lowest among infants, increased in young children and then declined again in adolescents. Children aged 4 to 6 were most likely to take supplements.
And although dietary supplement use has increased among adults over the years, it has remained relatively constant among teenagers, and it has declined in children. About 50 percent of children took supplements in the 1970s, compared to about 30 percent today.
Part of the reason for this decline among children is due to improved infant formulas, which are now fortified with nutrients such as iron and vitamin D.
"The most common supplement user since 1970 were infants, but with the Infant Formula Act providing needed nutrients, it appears this practice is in decline," said Dr. George Blackburn, associate professor of surgery and nutrition at Harvard Medical School.
Researchers also found that supplement use is much more common in health-conscious households. White children in higher-income families are more likely to use supplements compared to black children in lower-income families without health insurance.
And children who watch a lot of television or who live in households where people smoke are less likely to take multivitamins.
"What it means is educated, empowered parents believe nutritional supplements will enhance the health of their children," said Katz. "Of course, we have no real evidence this is so."
Better Safe Than Sorry?
So why do large numbers of parents continue to give their children supplements?
"This is clearly a case where the public has decided that an absence of evidence is not the same as evidence of absence," said Katz. "The view prevails that nutrients in pill form can be good for us.
"This paper shows that parents are willing to put that conviction where their children's mouths are."
For some children, however, taking a multivitamin pill is recommended. Researchers found that children who are skinny are more likely to be given supplements than their chubbier peers. For these children, a multivitamin can improve their health, suggests Katz.
"The one thing that I can most readily endorse is that the lightest children get supplements," he said. "That is logical, if not of proven benefit."
But authors of the article note that even if this is no proven benefit, it is still important for pediatricians and dieticians to take the extra nutrients into account -- especially since individual and national-level estimates of nutrient intake rarely account for them.
"To truly assess the nutrient status and estimate the potential health risks of U.S. children, we must include nutrient intakes from dietary supplements as well as from food," the authors write.
Selecting the Right Supplement
For parents considering a multivitamin for their child, the best advice is to talk to your pediatrician.
"The Pediatric Society says get your nutrients from food, including fortified food/functional food, leaving supplements to special needs children determined by pediatricians," Blackburn said. "Parent advice varies between infant, child and teenager. It would not be good for supplement to replace healthy food as the focus of nutrition among infant, children and adolescents."
Katz agrees. "The real issue here is that nutrient fortification does not make junk food wholesome. A vitamin is a supplement to a healthful diet, and should never be seen as a substitute for it."

By CARLA WILLIAMS

ABC News Medical Unit

Birth control pills heart-safe for older women

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:44:00 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Taking modern formulations of oral contraceptives won't boost the likelihood of having a heart attack for women in their 30s and 40s, according to the first study to focus specifically on women in this age group.
"It's important to know that the pill is safe in this age group because the frequency of use is increasing," Dr. Karen L. Margolis of HealthPartners Research Foundation in Minneapolis, the study's lead author, told Reuters Health. More older women are using oral contraceptives for birth control, she noted, and the pill can also be helpful in easing early menopausal symptoms.
Previous research on the pill and heart attack risk, most of it decades old, had looked chiefly at younger women, Margolis noted. Some studies had suggested an increased risk of heart attack, but most were done in the 1970s and 1980s, when oral contraceptives contained more estrogen. Based on this research, many doctors advised women who smoked cigarettes to stop taking the pill after age 35.
However, today's birth control pills have less estrogen and contain different progestin formulations, Margolis noted. "There's reason to believe that the modern form of the pill is probably safer for the heart."
To provide a more current picture of risks associated with the pill, Margolis and her team analyzed data on 48,321 women participating in the Swedish Women's Lifestyle and Health Cohort Study. The women were 30 to 49 years old when the study began, in 1990-1991, and were followed for an average of 11 years.
During follow-up, 190 of the women had non-fatal heart attacks, while 24 died of a heart attack, the team reports in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility.
Women who were using the birth control pill when they enrolled in the study, or had used it in the past, were at no increased risk of having a heart attack compared to women who never used oral contraceptives.
However, the researchers did find that women whose doctors had advised them to stop using the pill were at 40 percent increased risk of a heart attack. This "is likely due to physicians having more detailed information than our questionnaires to assess cardiovascular risk rather than to a causal role of oral contraceptives," Margolis and her team write.
"This study I think does demonstrate in general the safety of taking the pill for women in their 30s and 40s as far as heart attack risks go," Margolis concluded.
SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, August 2007.

Caffeine content in sodas varies widely

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:50:00 +0000

Citrus-flavored drinks often have higher content than most popular colas

Looking for a quick pick-me-up to get through a long afternoon? Forget that cola. A fizzy citrus drink could provide even more of a boost.A new study shows that citrus-flavored sodas often have a higher caffeine content than the most popular colas. The research also found that caffeine content can vary widely from brand to brand, and even within a brand.The researchers -- along with consumer advocates -- say labels on packaging should give the caffeine content to help buyers make informed choices. While most cans and bottles of soda don't give caffeine amounts, some national brand beverage companies are already heading in that direction.
BaltimoreSun

Smoke rebel faces battle for pub

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 11:38:00 +0000

Nick Hogan, the Bolton licensee who faces court for breaking the smoking ban is also facing a battle to stay in charge of his pub. Hogan is the licensee and leaseholder of the Swan and Barristers, however his pub's freehold may be bought by a new owner, Darren Miller. According to the Bolton News, Miller is planning to stop Hogan’s customers from smoking and says he will remove Hogan if necessary. Miller, who takes control on September 21, told the paper: "I have exchanged contracts and no matter what Nick Hogan says, he won't be there then. There are two courses of action open to him and if he takes the wrong one, he could end up with nothing. "The Swan is the only pub in Bolton town centre that has a really nice outdoor smoking area, and we intend on improving on that. We certainly won't be allowing smoking." Hogan, who faces court on September 14, responded: "I haven't agreed to sell any part of my interest in The Swan. I own the lease and am the licensee of both The Swan and Barristers and I'm not going to relinquish any of them. I've been made an offer, which I've refused and I won't relinquish my interests.."
Source: Morning Advertiser,

Link: http://tinyurl.com/2vm7lr

Smoking may Lead to Early Onset of Menopause

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 02:16:00 +0000

Regular smoking can lead to early onset of menopause, Norwegian scientists say.

Menopause is marked by the end of menstruation and occurs at the average age of 50. Symptoms include hot flushes, insomnia and mood swings. Smoking is already known for damaging many organs of the body. It causes 87 percent of lung cancer deaths. It is also responsible for many other cancers and health problems. University of Oslo studied 2,123 women and found that women who smoke are 59 percent more likely than non-smokers to get menopause before the age of 45 years, which puts them at an increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. For the heaviest smokers, the risk of early menopause was nearly doubled, reported the online edition of the Daily Mail. "The earlier a woman stops smoking, the more protection she derives with respect to an early onset of menopause," research leader Thea Mikkelsen said. Source-IANSLIN/C

Calcium and Vitamin D Intake Lowers the Risk of Breast Cancer Before Menopause

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 02:14:00 +0000

A new study has found that women who consume higher amounts of calcium and vitamin D may have a lower risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer.

As a part of the study, researchers led by Jennifer Lin, Ph.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, assessed 10,578 premenopausal and 20,909 postmenopausal women age 45 and older who were part of the Women's Health Study. At the beginning of the study (in 1993 or 1995), the women completed a questionnaire about their medical history and lifestyle, plus a food frequency questionnaire that detailed how often they consumed certain foods, beverages and supplements during the previous year. Every six months during the first year and then every year after that, participants returned follow-up questionnaires indicating whether they had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The researchers noted that over an average of 10 years of follow-up, 276 premenopausal women and 743 postmenopausal women developed breast cancer. They also found that taking Calcium and vitamin D was moderately associated with a lower risk of breast cancer before but not after menopause. The inverse associated in premenopausal women appeared more pronounced for more aggressive breast tumours. "A possible explanation for the evident difference by menopause status may be related to the joint relationship among calcium, vitamin D and insulinlike growth factors (IGFs)," the authors state. "In vitro studies have suggested that calcium and vitamin D exert anticarcinogenic effects on breast cancer cells expressing high levels of IGF-1 and IGF binding protein 3. Calcium, vitamin D and IGF binding protein 3 have been shown in vitro to interact with each other in promoting growth inhibition in breast cancer cells," they say.

Edward N. Brandt Jr., a Leader on AIDS, Dies at 74

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 15:04:00 +0000

Dr. Edward N. Brandt Jr., who oversaw the nation’s initial response to AIDS as the top-ranking doctor in the government in the early 1980s, died Aug. 25 at his home in Oklahoma City. He was 74
University of Oklahoma
Dr. Edward N. Brandt Jr.
The cause was lung cancer, his son, Edward III, said.
Dr. Brandt, who also eventually led several medical schools and a university, became assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and acting surgeon general of the Public Health Service in 1981, when doctors were discovering AIDS. At the time, its cause was unknown, and it was regarded as inevitably fatal.
Soon, many AIDS activists and health officials criticized the Reagan administration as being slow to investigate and find effective therapies for the disease, which has now infected an estimated 65 million people worldwide, killing 25 million of them.
In 1983, Dr. Brandt said that investigating the disease had become “the No. 1 priority” of the Public Health Service. At the time, only 1,450 AIDS cases had been reported.
Dr. Brandt, coming to his government job as a medical school administrator, found himself in a difficult position. While AIDS was his first priority, it was not for the rest of the Reagan administration, whose policy was to cut costs. But as a physician, Dr. Brandt knew that scientists needed money to study AIDS, although money alone would not suffice.
Dr. Brandt maintained a public position that the government was spending enough money on AIDS and other diseases. But he worked internally and with great difficulty to try to overcome bureaucratic and political obstacles to allocating more money for AIDS.
For example, the Reagan administration set out to eliminate 700 jobs at what is now known as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the federal agency responsible for investigating and tracking AIDS and other infectious diseases.
William H. Foege, the agency’s director at the time, said in an interview Wednesday that “Ed Brandt continually fought on the inside” to reduce the number of staff and budget cuts.
Dr. Brandt was also instrumental in finding a way for the disease control centers to build a maximum security laboratory, which the agency needed to investigate a growing number of dangerous microbes, but which the Reagan administration had blocked, Dr. Foege said.
In addition to his medical degree, Dr. Brandt had a Ph.D. in mathematics, and he used that training in his various jobs, so it was not easy to fool him with numbers, Dr. Foege said. Yet Dr. Brandt drew widespread criticism for making an overly optimistic prediction for when an AIDS vaccine would be available.
At a news conference in 1984, Dr. Brandt’s boss, Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret M. Heckler, announced that scientists at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., had discovered the AIDS virus. But she gave little credit to Dr. Luc Montagnier’s team from the Pasteur Institute in Paris, which had also discovered the virus.
Ms. Heckler also said that an AIDS vaccine would be tested in two years and Dr. Brandt said he was optimistic that a marketable one would be available in three years, or 1987.
When reporters said that Dr. Montagnier had told them it would take 5 to 10 years, Dr. Brandt stood by his three-year prediction.
Now experts say that making an AIDS vaccine is far more complex than originally believed. Any vaccine is years away from being licensed and might protect a much smaller proportion of recipients than other standard immunizations.
Edward Newman Brandt Jr. was born in Oklahoma City on July 3, 1933. He earned his undergraduate, medical and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s from Oklahoma State University.
After training in internal medicine at the University of Oklahoma, he joined its medical faculty in 1961, teaching preventive medicine and eventually becoming associate dean and associate director of the medical center. In 1970, he moved to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where he eventually became executive dean.
From 1977 to 1981, Dr. Brandt was in Austin as vice chancellor of health affairs for the University of Texas System.
Dr. Vivian Pinn, who directs the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health, said Dr. Brandt was also recognized as “the godfather of women’s health” for his efforts as assistant secretary of health and human services to encourage more study of the issue. “He was instrumental in promoting the careers of many people, especially women in science and women’s health,” Dr. Pinn said.
After leaving his job as assistant secretary of health in 1984, Dr. Brandt became president of the University of Maryland at Baltimore. In 1989, he returned to the University of Oklahoma as executive dean and, though officially retired, continued working and teaching until shortly before his death.
Surviving him are his father, Edward Sr., and stepmother, Patricia; his wife of 54 years, the former Patricia Lawson; three sons, Patrick J., of Dallas, Edward III, of Dallas, and Rex C., of Clinton, Iowa; a sister, Jennifer Wessel of Dallas; a brother, Carlin, of Austin, and seven grandchildren.

Which Medical Tests Do You Need?

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 15:00:00 +0000

Are you one of the tens of thousands of people who procrastinate when it comes to your health? You know you really need to go for that (pick one) mammogram, colonoscopy, bone density scan - but you never get around to scheduling it. And instead of taking action, you just get more and more worried about it. The Saturday Early Show asked an expert, Dr. David Prince of New York's Montefiore Medical Center, to help sort through all the recommendations in order to come up with a wellness plan. Prior to taping the segment, he answered some questions from our producer.

THE SATURDAY EARLY SHOW: WHY ARE ROUTINE HEALTH SCREENINGS SO IMPORTANT IN THE FIRST PLACE? Dr. Prince: For most of the diseases we're going to talk about screening for, many patients wouldn't have any symptoms at all to alert them that there was a problem. So routine screening allows you to make a diagnosis before symptoms arise and early enough to actually be able to do something about it. Let me just say that some of these recommendations we're going to talk about, the timing will vary from physician to physician. These are general guidelines, but you and your doctor can come up with a unique plan for you depending your risk factors and lifestyle.

THE FIRST TEST WE WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT IS A BREAST EXAM AND MAMMOGRAPHY. According to the American Cancer Society, women in their 20s and 30s should have a breast exam in the doctor's office every three years, women over 40, every year. And as for mammograms, you may remember there's been some recent controversy over this one. According to the American Cancer Society, women over 40 should have yearly mammograms; some doctors believe in low-risk women, they may be able to hold off until 50.

WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING? The American Cancer Society suggests that all women should have a Pap smear within three years of having their first sexual intercourse, but no later than age 21 and every 1-to-2 years after that. At age 30, women who are at low risk, who have had three normal PAP smears in a row, can be screened every three years. Women at higher risk, such as those with multiple sexual partners, smokers, women with HIV, should continue to be screened every year. And women who receive the new Gardasil vaccine to protect against cervical cancer should continue to get routine Pap smears.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU GET SCREENED FOR COLORECTAL CANCER? Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., so screening is very important for both men and women. We talked to the American College of Gastroenterology who says that all people over 50, with no family history of the disease, should get a colonoscopy every 10 years OR a sigmoidoscopy along tests to look for blood in the stool every 5 years. People with a family history of colon cancer or other risk factors should begin screening with a colonoscopy by age 40.

THE LAST CANCER SCREENING WE WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT IS PROSTATE CANCER. The American Cancer Society recommends that all men over 50 have a digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test every single year. Men at higher risk for prostate cancer, such as African-American men and men with a family history, should begin screening sooner. Prostate cancer screening has been somewhat controversial over the past few years because there's been some debate over the accuracy and effectiveness of screening. So the most important thing is to have a frank discussion with your doctor about the pros and cons of early detection and come up with a plan that works for the both of you.

HOW ABOUT SCREENING FOR OSTEOPOROSIS? There are a number of things women can do to reduce their risk for osteoporosis including increasing their intake of calcium and Vitamin D and doing weight-bearing exercises. The National Osteoporosis Foundation suggests that all women over 65 get a baseline bone mineral density test -- women with a family history should get one sooner
CBS

Secondhand smoke may kill 2 million in China

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:13:00 +0000

WASHINGTON - Nearly 2 million older people alive today in China are likely to die from emphysema and other chronic lung diseases caused by second-hand smoke, researchers predicted on Thursday.
Their estimates are part of a series of studies showing that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is far more common than had been recognized around the world and will present a serious problem for health officials.
COPD includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis and some types of serious chronic asthma. Smoking is by far the leading cause.

The Claim: Swallowed Gum Takes a Long Time to Digest

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:09:00 +0000

For generations, parents have told their children never to swallow chewing gum, lest it sit undigested for days, weeks or even years.
This is, for the most part, an old wives’ tale. Swallowed chewing gum typically passes through the digestive tract without harm and is eliminated at the same rate as other foods.
But rare complications can occur. The medical literature contains several case reports of people, mostly small children, who developed intestinal obstructions because they had a habit of swallowing their gum. A 1998 study in the journal Pediatrics, for example, described three children who came to a clinic with intestinal pain, constipation and other symptoms, and were found to have small masses of chewing gum in their guts. One was a 4-year-old boy who “always swallowed his gum after chewing five to seven pieces each day.” Another was a 4-year-old girl.
Three other studies, including one in The American Journal of Diseases of Children, describe similar cases. In most, the young patients were fine after removal of the obstructions. The phenomenon is rare, the studies noted. But they might also serve as a cautionary tale for the parents of small children, particularly those with a strong fondness for gum.

See a Lie Inside the Brain

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:07:00 +0000

Who needs Pinocchio's nose to find a lie? The FMRI scan on the right detects a brain processing a false statement; the less colorful brain on the left corresponds to someone in the middle of a truthful statement. (ABC)
http://abcnews.go.com

Toys "R" Us Recalls Coloring Cases

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:05:00 +0000

Toys "R" Us has recalled 27,000 crayon and paint sets made in China because the packaging of the wooden box contains lead, as does some of the watercolor paint within, company and government officials said Thursday.
No injuries have been reported from the use of the Imaginarium Wooden Coloring Cases, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The case includes crayons, pastels, colored pencils, fiber pens, paintbrush, pencil, water colors, palette, white paint, ruler and pencil sharpener in a light tan wooden carrying case. The case measures about 14 inches high by 19 inches wide.
Toys "R" Us sold the case nationwide from October 2006 through this month for about $20.
Consumers are asked to take the products away from children and return them to the nearest "Toys "R" Us store for store credit, the CPSC said.
The recall follows Mattel Inc.'s July recall of 19 million Chinese-made toys, including dolls, cars and action figures. Some of the items were contaminated with lead paint. Others had small magnets that children might swallow.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Study Finds Some Children Being Misdiagnosed with Asthma

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:03:00 +0000

It's believed that six million American children suffer from asthma. However, new research shows that some children who have been diagnosed with condition may actually suffer from a vocal cord affliction.
Doctors at Columbus Children's Hospital believe that at least some children diagnosed with asthma may actually suffer from vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), a sudden, abnormal narrowing of the vocal cords during inhalation causing obstruction of the airflow, and characterized by a noise that can mimic the sound of wheezing.
A VCD attack can easily be mistaken for an asthma attack though it does not respond to asthma medications, according to the findings published in the July issue of Pediatric Pulmonology.
Researchers performed a clinical research study in the hospital's emergency department to try to identify adolescents who had findings suggestive of VCD compared to an acute asthma attack.
The year-long study, conducted between Feb. 2005 and Feb. 2006, included patients 12- to 21-years-old who suffered from acute episodes of respiratory distress.
“Both asthma and VCD are very common, and emergency departments across the country are seeing more and more kids with these kinds of symptoms,” said Dr. Karen McCoy, chief of Pulmonology at Columbus Children’s Hospital and a faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, in a news release. “While they may appear similar to parents, the conditions act differently and must be treated differently. It is important that parents, coaches and family doctors are aware of the differences.”
/**/

According to the study, 12 of the 17 adolescents seen by the hospital over the study period for difficulty breathing, but with high to normal oxygen levels, were found to have evidence of VCD. This led to a change in the therapy for these patients.
Doctors used a method called spirometry to help differentiate VCD from asthma attacks.
“Our study suggests that if more emergency departments made use of the spirometry test, it could cut down on the number of kids who are misdiagnosed and potentially hospitalized,” said Muffy Chrysler, a co-author on the study and an asthma coordinator in Respiratory Care at Columbus Children’s Hospital.
http://www.foxnews.com/

Cancer Society Focuses Its Ads on the Uninsured

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:57:00 +0000

ATLANTA, Aug. 30 — In a stark departure from past practice, the American Cancer Society plans to devote its entire $15 million advertising budget this year not to smoking cessation or colorectal screening but to the consequences of inadequate health coverage.
The campaign was born of the group’s frustration that cancer rates are not dropping as rapidly as hoped, and of recent research linking a lack of insurance to delays in detecting malignancies.
Though the advertisements are nonpartisan and pointedly avoid specific prescriptions, they are intended to intensify the political focus on an issue that is already receiving considerable attention from presidential candidates in both parties.
The society’s advertisements are unique, say experts in both philanthropy and advertising, in that disease-fighting charities traditionally limit their public appeals to narrower aspects of prevention or education.
But the leaders of several such organizations, including the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the Alzheimers Association, said they applauded the campaign’s message that progress against chronic disease would be halting until the country fixed its health care system.
As in the past, the heart association is using its advertising dollars these days to promote more rigorous exercise and healthier diets. The most recent cancer society campaign encouraged screening for colon cancer, including a memorable commercial in which a diner plucked — and then ate — a lima bean polyp from the intestinal tract he had carved in his mashed potatoes.
But John R. Seffrin, the chief executive of the cancer society, which is based here, said his organization had concluded that advances in prevention and research would have little lasting impact if Americans could not afford cancer screening and treatment.
“I believe, if we don’t fix the health care system, that lack of access will be a bigger cancer killer than tobacco,” Mr. Seffrin said in an interview. “The ultimate control of cancer is as much a public policy issue as it is a medical and scientific issue.”
The two 60-second television commercials that form the spine of the campaign make that point.
One features images of uninsured cancer patients, appearing hollow and fearful. “This is what a health care crisis looks like to the American Cancer Society,” the narrator begins. “We’re making progress, but it’s not enough if people don’t have access to the care that could save their lives.”
The other commercial depicts a young mother whose family has gone into debt because her insurance did not fully cover her cancer treatment. “Is the choice between caring for yourself and caring for your family really a choice?” the narrator asks.
Census figures released this week show that the number and percentage of people in the United States without health insurance rose last year, to 47 million and 15.8 percent. A 2003 study estimated that one of every 10 cancer patients was uninsured.
Other surveys have found that one of every four families afflicted by cancer, which is projected to kill 560,000 Americans this year, is effectively impoverished by the fight, including one of every five with insurance.
The cancer society plans to buy time on network and cable channels from Sept. 17 to Thanksgiving, said Greg Donaldson, the group’s vice president for corporate communications. There will also be advertisements in magazines and on Web sites.
With nearly $1 billion in revenues, the cancer society is the wealthiest of its peers and has spent about $15 million annually on advertising since 1999. By comparison, Geico, the automobile insurer with the “Caveman” advertisements, spent about $14 million on network advertising in the first quarter of 2007, according to TNS Media Intelligence, a tracking firm.
Advertising about the health insurance crisis is not uncommon among more broadly based medical organizations and other interest groups.
Last week, the American Medical Association kicked off a three-year campaign called “Voice for the Uninsured” that will begin with $5 million in advertising in early primary states. AARP, in conjunction with the Business Roundtable and the Service Employees International Union, recently began a similar effort called “Divided We Fail.”
This year, the cancer society formed a collaborative with the heart, diabetes and Alzheimers associations, as well as AARP, to promote awareness of the health access problem. The group adopted as common principles that all Americans deserve quality, affordable health care with transparent costs.

http://www.nytimes.com/

Secret Of Life ; Health

noreply@blogger.com (Safa) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 03:45:00 +0000

Life is mean Health, we can't do anything without health
Everythink start and end with this "Health"...