KSRealityBites

High normal blood-sugar detrimentals your brain!

2013-03-01T01:00:00.000+05:30

According to a study, high blood-sugar levels are known to be detrimental to the brain, but even levels that are on the upper end of the normal range may be harmful. In this study, people whose blood-sugar levels were on the high end of the normal range - not high enough to be categorized as having diabetes or prediabetes were more likely to have brain shrinkage in certain areas compared with people with lower blood-sugar levels.

The study researcher Nicolas Cherbiun, of Australian National University in Canberra said, "Numerous studies have shown a link between Type 2 diabetes & brain shrinkage & dementia, but we haven't known much about whether people with blood sugar on the high end of normal experience these same effects. These findings suggest that even for people who do not have diabetes, blood-sugar levels could have an impact on brain health. More research is needed, but these findings may lead us to re-evaluate the concept of normal blood-sugar levels, & the definition of diabetes."

The study involved 249 people ages 60 to 64, who's blood-sugar levels were in the normal range as defined by the World Health Organization. These participants had brain scans at the start od the study, & again an average of four years later. The study was published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

FDA warns not to use codeine in kids after tonsil surgery!

2013-02-28T00:00:00.000+05:30

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) cautioned on 20th February that Codeine can kill some children when it is used to help with pain after tonsil & adenoid surgery, & it shouldn't be used any more! They said it was adding a strong warning, called a boxed warning, to the label of the drug, & also will warn that it is not to be used in certain patients - especially children after tonsil or adenoid surgery.

According to the FDA's statement - "Health care professionals should prescribe an alternate analgesic for post-operative pain control in children who are undergoing tonsillectomy &/or adenoidectomy. Codeine should not be used for pain in children following these procedures." Last year, the FDA said it was investigating the deaths of three children. They died after getting their tonsils or adenoids removed, & had been given codeine to ease the pain. Codeine is turned into morphine in the liver, & morphine can suppress breathing.

"Many of the cases of serious adverse events or death occurred in children with obstructive sleep apnea who received codeine after a tonsillectomy &/or adenoidectomy," the FDA said. The children appeared to have metabolisms that naturally converted codeine to morphine at an unusually high rate - meaning they got a higher-than-expected dose of the drug once the body processed it.

"Since these children already had underlying breathing problems, they may have been particularly sensitive to the breathing difficulties that can result when codeine is converted in the body to high levels of morphine. However, this contraindication applies to all children undergoing tonsillectomy &/or adenoidectomy because it's not easy to determine which children might be ultra-rapid metabolizers of codeine," the FDA says.

The FDA says between one & seven percent of people are "ultra-rapid metabolizers," but people of North African, Ethiopian, Greek & African-American descent are especially likely to be. The FDA also says that parents should call 911 if their children have been given codeine & show any of these signs:

Disorientation or confusion.
Blueness on the lips or around the mouth.
Unusual sleepiness, such as being difficult to wake up.
Labored or noisy breathing, such as breathing shallowly with a "sighing" pattern of breathing or deep breaths separated by abnormally long pauses.

Irritating people affects your mind!

2013-01-15T00:00:00.000+05:30

A recent study has suggested that irritating people can affect your mind! The researchers discovered that being in the company of annoying people slows the pace of mind that it moves normally. Past researchers in this context had shown that race or physical similarity can influence brain processes.

Accordingly researchers from the University of Southern California took some Jews men & split them into two groups. The first group was presented as neo-Nazis, with the aim of making them disliked & the second group was presented as likable & open-minded. The research found that when the men viewed someone they disliked, the right ventral premotor cortex, the part of the brain that otherwise activates in 'mirroring' was observed to be of a different pattern of activity for the disliked men as compared to the likeable ones.

'Mirroring' affect is the reaction of the brain by watching movement of someone else. Interestingly, being around someone you don't like can make your mind think that the person is moving more slowly than they actually are. Further, the difference was only spotted when the annoying person was physically around. But there was no difference in brain activity when the men watched videos of the people they disliked.

Mona Sobhani, lead author of the paper said that 'Even something as basic as how we process visual stimuli of a movement is modulated by social factors, such as our interpersonal relationships & social group membership.' From the outcome of the research it can be ascertained that social affects perception of a social being.

Beware: Kissing spreads a disease!

2013-01-04T23:00:00.000+05:30

Stay away from kissing! Yes, a latest research has found that kissing enhances the threat of spreading a viral disease called "Mono", which is basically known as the "Kissing Disease". The research was conducted in US.

The study that was conducted by the researchers of the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis, in the US took the case of around 546 college students & found that deep kissing is the most probable reason for the development of the kissing disease in human being. The respondents included freshman to elderly persons.

The "Mono" disease is spread through contact with an infected person's saliva. So it is most obvious that by deep kissing only the saliva of a human being gets transferred to another. The "Kissing Disease" is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It can also be spread through coughing, sneezing or by sharing a glass or food utensil with someone.

The study researchers tested all the subjects' blood samples for antibodies against the Epstein Barr virus & found that about 63% of the students tested positive for the antibodies. Doctors diagnosed 66 of the students with "Mono".

The researchers also worked on other factors of the respondents such as diet, rate of exercise they do & the level of stress, but finally it was brought out that kissing was the prime reason for development of the "Mono" disease. Symptoms of the "Kissing Disease" include sore throat, fatigue, headache, fever decreased appetite & swollen lymph glands, especially in the neck. The findings of this study were published in 'MyHealthNewsDaily'. Finally, all we want is to be healthy. So "Beware of Kissing Anyone!"

Natural substance in apple peel reduces obesity!

2013-01-02T05:00:00.000+05:30

A recent study conducted by the researchers at the University of Iowa, in the United States, claims that a natural substance found in apple peel may help reduce obesity & its associated health problems. The waxy compound in apple peel known as ursolic acid actually said to increase the amount of muscle & brown fat, the two tissues recognized for their calorie-burning properties which eventually leads to reduce obesity.

The research team included Steven Kunkel, Christopher Elmore, Kale Bongers, Scott Ebert, Daniel Fox, Steven Bullard & Michael Dyle who studied mice on a high-fat diet over a period of several weeks. They took some mice & kept them on a high-fat diet including apple & after some weeks found that the compound increased skeletal muscle & reduced obesity.

The increase in muscle is very good at burning calories. Hence the increased muscle in ursolic acid-treated mice may be sufficient to explain how the compound reduces obesity - they advocated. Again, the researchers were surprised to see that it also increased brown fat, a fantastic calorie burner. Increase in brown fat may also help protect against obesity. The findings of the study were published in the journal PLoS ONE & the study was led by Christopher Adams, associate professor of internal medicine.

About brown fat, until now the researchers were of the belief that only infants had brown fat, which then disappeared during childhood but the latest imaging techniques have shown that adults also retain a very small amount of the substance mostly in the neck & between the shoulder blades. Some studies have linked increased levels of brown fat with lower levels of obesity leading to the suggestion that brown fat may be helpful in preventing obesity & diabetes.

Nasal spray to prevent heart disease!

2012-04-25T17:33:00.000+05:30

According to a study, researchers have suggested that a nasal spray to prevent heart disease could be on the market in five years that could remove fat in arteries which actually elevates the risk of heart attacks!

The researchers of the Lund University in Sweden went through an experiment to find a way to combat with the heart disease. They applied a certain vaccine on some mice & found that it could diminish plaque by sixty to seventy percent. Using the same vaccine a trial on 144 heart disease sufferers is in progress in the US & Canada. The vaccine can either be injected to the body or it can be used as a nasal spray. The same vaccine has not been named yet & it is hoped that it could be licensed within five years.

Once the vaccine is used as a nasal spray it will stimulate the body's immune system to restrain the production of antibodies which are responsible for increase of fatty deposits in arteries called plaque. These fatty deposits or plaques put strain on the heart by tightening the arteries & forcing it to pump far harder. Researchers found that the new treatment was much more effective in removing fat from arteries than the established methods but it is equally true that the vaccine will be much costlier!

Taller women more prone to Ovarian Cancer!

2012-04-22T16:24:00.000+05:30

A recent study has revealed that increase in height & weight of women would have resulted in ovarian cancer frequency increasing by 3% per decade!

The Oxford University based Collaborative Group on Epidemiological Studies of Ovarian Cancer along with around 100 internationally accredited researchers analyzed individual data of 25,157 women with Ovarian Cancer & 81,311 women without Ovarian Cancer of 47 epidemiological studies from 14 countries & almost all the relevant data available worldwide & reached to the conclusion.

They studied factors like increase in height, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), menopausal status, smoking, alcohol consumption, having first degree relatives with Ovarian or Breast Cancer, use of oral contraceptives, use of menopausal hormone therapy etc. & found that for every 5cm increase in height a noteworthy increase in the risk of developing Ovarian Cancer is present. But the remaining factors were silent towards the risk. Besides height, the researchers also marked enhancement of risk of Ovarian Cancer with the change of BMI. However, for BMI, the risks depended on whether women had ever taken menopausal hormone therapy.

The study also observed that besides increase in height & BMI, no other factors like women's age, year of birth, society, education, family history of Ovarian Cancer or Breast Cancer, menopausal status, hysterectomy were responsible to increase the risk of Ovarian Cancer.

Kids are advised to avoid intake of soft drinks daily!

2012-04-18T00:00:00.000+05:30

A new study has suggested that kids should not take soft drinks on regular basis! Kids are advised to avoid intake of soft drinks on regular basis as they may develop heart ailments & high blood pressure in their future.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported that researchers from the Westmead Millennium Insttute for Medical Research from the University of Sydney have advised children to limit their daily dose of consumption of soft drinks as they have found that the children who drank one or more soft drinks each day be likely to have narrower arteries (on their eyes). Narrowing of the arteries is a clear symptom of a future cardiovascular complains.

This latest study has confirmed the findings of an earlier research of 2007 which was conducted on people who drank soda every day. It had concluded that those who drank every day, including the diet soda, were more likely to develop heart disease. The website 'WebMD' cited diction of Ramachadran Vasan, the lead author of the study that even a single soda per day is enough to increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome up to 50%. This recent study was conducted on about 2,000 kids aged 12-years & was an extension of another research project.

50% Cancer cases can be prevented!

2012-04-15T14:37:00.000+05:30

A latest study has claimed that 50% of the Cancer cases can be prevented! Interestingly, this research has given stress to the preventive measures rather than treatment. The report was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine claim that the society itself possesses the required knowledge to prevent Cancer! Graham Colditz, the study lead author who is also an epidemiologist at the Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri stressed on exercising, balanced diet & abstaining from smoking as the key ways to prevent Cancer.

The study has described smoking to be the chief reason for Cancer. It gives the statistics that about one third of the Cancer cases in US are due to smoking. The research also prescribes some vaccination like the vaccination against cancer-causing viruses such as the human papilloma virus can do well but still it's true that treatments focus only on a single organ but behavioral changes reduce Cancer plus death rates from many chronic diseases.

The research study also says that humans are impatient & this characteristic itself is an obstacle to Cancer prevention. Crime & pollution, poor public transportation, lack of open fields for play & exercise & absence of nearby supermarkets for fresh obstructs the adoption of a perfect lifestyle which actually leads to the risk of Cancer in many cases. Along with the other medical preventions the study has also prescribed for a policy change to provide all a perfect atmosphere & lifestyle to throw away Cancer & other diseases.

Invention of gel that checks growth of beard!

2012-04-12T13:34:00.000+05:30

How about if you get to know the growth of your beard? Shaving could soon be a thing of the past! Thanks to a fresh study performed by the scientists from the University of Pennsylvenia who claim that they have discovered a gel that can check growth of beard!

Yes, it's true! Even ladies can also take benefit of it as it also works on legs. It would bring a great relief to everybody if it does really works as both men & women need to spend a huge amount of money to get their hair removed. It is estimated that on an average a woman spends not less than 12,000 pounds in her lifetime to get silky smooth skin & for men even the situation is almost the same as he also needs to expend a few bucks on shaving.

The team from the University of Pennsylvenia found that a drug widely used to treat viral infections of the eye helped stop the growth of unwanted hair when it was added to a rub-on gel on some people during the experiment. When the combination was applied on a man, it was observed that the product checked his facial hair to grow up to six weeks.

The common reason of excessive hair growth in women is the presence of more male hormone/androgen in her which can be termed as polycystic ovarian syndrome. All in all if this study eventually brings out a permanent solution to the unwanted hair growth, then a new era is sure to evolve in the fashion world!

Lack of sleep affects employees performance!

2012-04-08T16:00:00.000+05:30

A latest survey by the industry body Assocham says that the sleepless night, which is caused by extended working hours & high-stress level, affect the employees' performance at workplace! The chamber conducted a survey among people, who are working in sectors like Information Technology, Energy, Telecom & Consumer durables in major cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai & Chennai.

While observing the World Health Day on April 7, the chamber said that 78% of employees of the above mentioned sectors used to sleep less than six hours at night, which lead to depression & fatigue, which further affect their performances at the workplace.

D S Rawat, Assocham Secretary General said that less sleep leads to fatigue, physical discomfort, irritation, stress & depression, which pose as a biggest hindrance to their success. The survey showed that maximum numbers of insomnia cases were reported in major cities. Among the cities, the capital Delhi ranks first followed by Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh & Chennai.

However, the chamber did not mention that the survey was conducted on how many respondents. The study said that most of the respondents complained of obesity. The poor & hectic lifestyle causes hypertension, stress & depression. About 40% of corporate employees were found not exercising on daily basis. So to drain stress, depression & hypertension like problems regular exercise is a must which may be a simple stretch out to common yoga positions.

Above all in order to keep your performance well better than the best, all you need to do is not to skip your sleep which is a must for every human being plus you should give your brain a little rest (at least six hours is a must) in order to improve your performance on top so that you could concentrate very well on your work.

Dirt exposure improves children immune system!

2012-04-07T18:28:00.000+05:30

We all know about the most common childhood practice, i.e., playing with the dirt. Yes, this exposure to dirt has got an advantage according to a research study. Recently researchers have discovered its curative characteristics. They claim that exposing kids to dirt could stimulate their immune system to help prevent allergies!

Researchers of Brigham & Women's Hospital (BWH) have found the concept of 'Hygiene Hypothesis' to be true through their experiment. 'Hygiene Hypothesis' is the perception of exposing infants to germs to increase immunity in him. The researchers took two groups of mice, the first group consisting of completely germ-free mice & the second group with those, that are living in a normal environment with microbes.

The researchers studied the immune system of both the group of mice & observed that the 'germ-free mice' had exaggerated inflammation of the lungs & colon resembling asthma & colitis caused by the hyperactivity of a certain class or immune cells. They also marked that exposing the germ-free mice t microbes during their first weeks of life only led to immune system issues, but not when exposed later in the adult life. Hence, we can assume that the concept that we are discussing is basically meat for children not for adults.

Richard Blumberg, chief for the BWH Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endoscopy & the study author, working for Dennis Kasper, also the director of BWH Channing Lab said, "These studies show the critical importance of proper immune conditioning bymicrobes during the earliest periods of life." Although hygiene decreases our exposure to harmful bacteria it also limits our exposure to beneficial micro-organisms. Hence it will not be wrong to say that the more sterile the environment a child lives in, the higher the risk he will develop allergies or an immune problem in his lifetime!

Obese people are advised against taking sleeping pills!

2012-04-01T15:52:00.000+05:30

A new study suggests that obese people should not take sleeping pills as they are likely to meet death by intake of sleeping pills on regular basis. Even though, the obese patients are prone to insomnia, in most cases they are advised by the physicians to take sleeping pills. However, this new study said that the intake of pills may cause death to the patients.

This study was presented at the annual American Heart Association's Epidemiology & Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity & Metabolism 2012 Scientific Sessions in San Diego. The study shows that one person among the obese patients dies each year in every 100 people who were prescribed sleeping pills. Hence it becomes essential to know the link between taking of sleeping pill & death risk in the obese patients. In this nexus, Dr. Langer, a family physician & epidemiologist with the Jackson Hole Center for Preventive Medicine in Jackson said, "The associations between sleeping pills & increased mortality were present, & relatively stronger, even in people aged 18 to 54."

Daniel Kripke, M.D., a psychiatrist with Scripps Clinic's Viterbi Family Sleep Center in San Diego & co-author of the original study also confirmed the fact that obese patients appear particularly vulnerable, perhaps through interaction with sleep apnea.

The study was published online in the journal BMJ Open last February. It was conducted on almost 40,000 patients. It showed that death is more frequent in men who take sleeping pills as compared to women. The ratio is 1:2 for woman & man respectively. The study further revealed that eight of the most commonly used hypnotic drugs zolpidem & temazepam are associated with increased risk of death.

In an attempt to provide an alternative to sleeping pills, Lawrence E. Kline, D.O., medical director of the Viterbi Family Sleep Center advised that patients can avail a good sleep by developing habits such as sticking to a sleep schedule, creating a bedtime ritual & keeping the bedroom comfortable & favorable to sleep.

Surefire tips to protect your skin in summer!

2012-03-21T15:27:00.000+05:30

Summer is the season which we need to take care of our skin very carefully. We do feel stressed out a lot of times during this season due to scorching hot weather. So inorder to take a lite from this season, people plan for outdoor activities like going on a vacation with family or friends also some prefer to attend music carnivals.

Most probably people try to spend loads of time outdoors absorbing the sun. But there are some most important things that you should ponder before its too late. The first & foremost is your skin because due to the strong rays of the sun your skin may damage. Avoid the sun during the times from around 11 am to 3 pm as the sun is at its peak moment. Try to sit in the shade.

There are few simple yet useful tips to take care of your skin during summer inorder to show of great skin & take care of it at the same time. Here are five surerfire tips to protect your skin in summer.

Wake up early in the morning & do some relaxing exercises like yoga as its very important to start your day with fresh relaxed body. Praticing pranayam daily can fetch your body get protected from heat.

Apply sunscreen lotions of SPF protections. It should be applied 20-30 minutes before the sun exposure. Reapply every two hours; Always reapply after swimming, exercise or excessive sweating. Women should wear makeup with SPF coverage as it protects their skin from harsh sun rays. Also wearing lip balm with SPF protecion is vital in summer as the skin of lips is delicate & thin which needs to be kept.

Remember to protect your eyes with good quality sunglasses with UV protection, preferably the bigger ones or the wrap around sunglasses will also protect more of your face. Carry umbrella or cap to protect your hair getting damaged from the sun.

Wear close weave cotton clothing in the sun. Closer weave gaments such as cotton T-shirts is beneficial as it givs better protection, whereas loose weave fabrics like cheesecloth, don't give very much protection at all. Wear long sleeves & trousers & a hat that shades your face as well as neck.

Drink plenty of water & fresh juices. Fruit is low in fat plus it contains the best source of glucose to maintain your blood sugar levels correctly, plenty of water-soluble fiber, & all the antioxidants that prevent cancer & slow down the ageing process. It's high in magnesium, which helps your muscles relax, & this in turn helps you cope with stress. Consume fruit in the morning, as this is when the body steps up its elimination function.

Hope you all will follow these above five surefire tips inorder to keep your skin free from getting damaged from the summer season. Leaving you all with lots of wishes to take care of yourselves, family & friends.

World's first cloned goat!

2012-03-16T19:40:00.000+05:30

You might have known about many researches on cloning but this one is among the tough ones! Six scientists & three researchers from the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science & Technology (SKUAST) have created a clone of the Pashmina, a rare Himalayan goat after three years of difficult study.

The cloning is first of its kind in the world. This female laboratory goat has been named as 'Noori', which means light in the local dialect & Arabia. Noorie took birth on March 9, 2012 & it has gained a weight of 500 grams & is now in good health condition.

Dr Riyaz Ahmad Shah of SKUAST's department of Animal Biotechnology & the lead researcher of this study said, "This is a great scientific achievement in the field of veterinary sciences. This is the first cloned Pashmina goat in the world. This scientific development is very much important for economic development of the state."

Kashmiri woolen wearing or products are a major source of income for the residents of this hilly state. Most of the family's main source of income is to sell Kashmir woolen wearing. Pashmina wool, drawn from the Pashmina goats is the main item to make these wearing. Hence, this cloning would provide a huge opportunity to get the Pashmina wool. Pashmina goats have started to become a rare species, this artificial creation of the animal would support business.

Dr. Shah also hopes to clone for other threatened species in the coming days. He was a part of the team at the National Diary Research Institute, Karnal which had first cloned a buffalo calf, 'Garima' in 2009. India has again proved that it is not lagging behind any other developed country. May it be veterinary science, technology or laboratory creation of living organisms, the country has proved in every sphere!

Kids snoring leads to behavioral problems!

2012-03-10T20:22:00.000+05:30

A recent study has suggested that kids who snore during sleeping, have a notably higher chance of developing behavioral issues when they are older. This particular research was published in the journal Pediatrics. In this experimental study, the cases of about 11,000 kids ranging from the age group 0 to 7 were studied.

The researchers found that in such cases about 40 to 100 percent kids are likely to develop neuro-behavioral problems by the age of 7. The scientists observed that snoring (by the kids) decreases Oxygen levels & increases percentage of Carbon dioxide in the brain, which results in the interruption of the restorative processes of sleep or in other words it imbalances various brain chemicals which eventually leads to the behavioral problems like hyperactivity & conduct issues after some years.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in young children is most common during their first year after birth. As per reports provided by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Health & Neck Surgery, about one in ten children snore regularly & 2% to 4% kids have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleeping abnormality. When someone breathes with abnormal pauses during sleeping it's called apnea. Actually the pause in breathing is known as apnea.

Does recession makes people slimmer?

2012-03-08T19:22:00.000+05:30

As the financial recession of 2007 had brought great economic disaster to every household, a recent study has suggested one of it's positive aspects. This recent study has found that the people, who had become overweight before, halved in 3 years' time following this economic crisis!

The Arizona Stat University researcher compiled data of around 350,000 adults across the United States. Their height & weight was measured to determine the BMI (Body Mass Index). BMI is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's height & weight. The person having a BMI score of 30 or above is termed obese & if the same is within 25 to 30, he/she is considered as overweight as per the norms provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In an earlier research, it was found that people from the lower income group gain more weight because they take cheaper foods but with higher calories, like takeaways & pre-packaged meals. Hence it was normally expected that when every family faced an economic scarcity, they should gain weight. But this new research found that people became slimmer as an effect of the recession irrespective of their income.

Women's sexual problems behind migraines!

2012-03-04T11:35:00.000+05:30

A new study has found that there is a possible link between migraines, headaches & sexual issues in women. A migraine headache is a severe pain felt on one or both sides of the head. Besides pain, one may have nausea & vomiting, & be very sensitive to light & sound in migraine.

The study was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The study involved 100 women with migraines & headaches & kept them in observation for three months. Finally the researchers found that 90% of women with migraines & tension-type headaches also have sexual problems & 29% of these women are stressed about their sex lives.

In this experiment the women treated for primary headaches were found to dispaly a high rate of sexual symptoms & distress compared to the other group. It was also found that both migraine & tension-type headache were associated with sexual pain & Hypoactive Sexual Sesire Disorder (HSDD), but women with Chronic Tension-Type Headache (CTTH) seem to be more prone to develop sexual distress. The researchers said, "Women treated for primary headaches were found to display a hiugh rate of sexual symptoms & distress."

Healthy lifestyle lowers middle-age cardiac risk!

2012-03-01T07:55:00.000+05:30

A new study says that maintaining a healthy lifestyle from your twenties into your forties may spell lower cardiovascular risk in mid-age! Kiang Liu, study co-author & professor of preventive medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, says that the problem is few adults can maintain ideal cardiovascular health factors as they age.

According to the journal Circulation reports, Liu said "Many middle-aged adults develop unhealthy diets, gin weight & aren't as physically active. Such lifestyles, of course, lead to cholesterol & high blood pressure, diabetes & elevated cardiovascular risk." He said, "In this study, even people with a family history of heart problems were able to have a low cardiovascular disease risk profile if they started living a healthy lifestyle when they were young." According to a statement of Feinberg School, Liu added that "This supports the notion that lifestyle may play a more prominent role than genetics."

The majority of people who maintained five healthy lifestyle factors from young adulthood including a lean body mass index (BMI) or height to weight ratio, no excess alcohol intake, no smoking, a healthy diet & regular physical activity were able to remain in this low-risk category in their middle-aged years.

Reversing Alzheimer's gene 'blockade' restores memory!

2012-02-29T20:17:00.000+05:30

A latest research says that an enzyme overproduced in the brains of Alzheimer's patients creates a blockade that shuts off genes necessary to form new memories. Furthermore, by inhibiting that enzyme in mice, the researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were able to reverse Alzheimer's symptoms.

According to the Journal Nature reports, the findings suggests that drugs targeting the enzyme, known as HDAC2, which could be a promising new approach to treating the disease, which affects 5.4 million Americans alone. The number of Alzheimer's victims worldwide is expected to double every 20 years, & President Barack Obama recently set a target date of 2005 to find an effective treatment, according to an MIT statement.

Li-Huei Tsai, director of the Picower Institute for Learning & Memory at MIT, who led the MIT research team, says that HDAC2 inhibitors could achieve that goal, though it would likely take at least 10 years to develop & test such drugs.

Li-Huei also said, "I would strongly advocate for an active program to develop agents that can contain HDAC2 activity. The disease is so devastating & affects so many people, so I would encourage more people to think about this."

Cold air is not good for heart patients!

2012-02-26T19:22:00.000+05:30

Did you know cold air is not good for heart patients? Cold air is bad for heart patients especially when they are undertaking physical activity, since they are unable to cope with the higher oxygen demanded by the body! Lawrence I. Sinoway, professor of medicine & director of the Heart & Vascular Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, said that this study can help us understand why cold air is such a trigger for coronary events.

Breathing cold air during exercise can cause uneven oxygen distribution throughout the heart. But a healthy body generally corrects for this problem & redistributes blood flow, making sure the heart continues to function properly. According to the Journal of Applied Physiology & American Journal of Physiology, Heart & Circulatory Physiology report, Sinoway said, "In people with heart problems, such as coronary artery disease, this may not be the case."

According to Penn State statement, Sinoway said, "If you're doing some type of isometric work & you're breathing cold air, your heart is doing more work as it's consuming more oxygen." Isometric work includes such as shovelling snow & carrying a briefcase or laptop bag. The heart works harder when exerted in cold temperatures & the number of deaths due to cardiac arrest peaks during the winter.

Matthew D. Muller, postdoctoral fellow at the Heart & Vascular Institute, Penn State College of Medicine said, "There are two different things going on here, one is demand & the other supply. We thought that oxygen demand in the heart would be higher with cold-air breathing & we also thought that oxygen supply would be a little bit impaired, & that's generally what we found."

Procedure that busts growth of deadly brain tumor cells!

2012-02-07T03:26:00.000+05:30

A latest study says that a novel non-invasive procedure called Tumor Treating Fields (TTF) that inhibits the growth of tumor is offering hope to thousands of affected people. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) happens to be the nastiest & the most common brain tumor, affecting ten thousand patients in the United States alone every year!

On the average, a patient with GBM survives less than fifteen months with optimal treatment & only three to five months without additional effective treatment. The TTF procedure, which disrupts rapid cell division exhibited by cancer cells with the help of alternating electrical fields, may provide physicians with a fourth treatment option in addition to surgery, radiation therapy & chemotherapy.

The director of Neuro-Oncology at University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Centre, Mr. Santosh Kesari said, "Patients with recurrent GBM present a significant treatment challenge." According to a University statement, Kesari said, "The initial clinical research for the approval trial demonstrated that, compared to patients who were treated with chemotherapy, patients treated with NovoTTF achieved comparable survival times, had fewer side-effects & reported improved quality of life."

TTFs inhibit tumor growth by causing cancerous cells to die. It is delivered using non-invasive, insulated transducer arrays (electrodes) that are placed directly on the skin in the region of the tumor. The hat-like collection of electrodes connects to a portable device which is slightly thicker than a laptop & weighs about six pounds. The device sends a low intensity, alternating electric field into the tumor which prevents the cells from dividing & spreading & also causes cancer cells to die.

The most commonly reported side-effect from NovoTTF is a mild-to-moderate scalp rash, beneath the electrodes. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved device is intended as an alternative to standard medical therapy for GBM after surgical & radiation options 've been exhausted.

New formula of cube root found by an Indian mathematician!

2012-02-06T15:22:00.000+05:30

From many centuries since the evolution of mathematics, we've studied many formulas & till today we know many interesting mathematical formulas. One among those formulas is very well known formula of cube root. Is there a new way to calculate a number's cubed root? It has eluded experts for centuries, but now an Indian, following in the footsteps of Aryabhatt, one of the first line of great mathematician-astronomers from the classical age of Indian mathematics & Indian astronomy, claims to 've worked out a simple formula to find any number's cube root.

Mr. Nirbhay Singh Nahar, a retired chemical engineer & an amateur mathematician, claims he has found a formula that will help students & applied engineers to work out the cube roots of any number in a short time. Nahar has developed an algorithm to calculate the cube root of any number. Given an equation stating y = x³, Nahar's method would solve for x = y^1/3 without the need to refine repeated approximations.

Nahar, who retired as an engineer from Hindustan Salts Ltd at Sambhar (Rajasthan), confidently said, "Give me any number - even, odd, decimals, a fraction...& I'll give you the cube root using a simple calculator to just add & subtract within a minute & a half. We do've methods & patterns, but no formula at the moment. Even the tables give cube roots of 1 to 1,000, not of fractions or of numbers beyond 1,000 for which people 've to use scientific calculators."

It's been four years, thousands of sums, a lot of painstaking research & total devotion led him to develop the formula which he has now copyrighted. "I'm willing to be scrutinised & investigated by anyone in the world, & to demonstrate but I'll not disclose the formula till it's patented because I want the credit for my work to go to India, my country," Nahar proudly added.

Nahar, who sent his findings to research journals but got no response, said he'll soon write to the Prime Minister requesting him to arrange a meeting between him & the world's top mathematicians. "Only when I get recognition for my formula named NAHNO (Nah stands for Nahar & NO for number) will I disclose my formula," said Nahar.

The cube root of a number is a figure, which multiplied by itself thrice gives the larger number. Many complex & multi-staged methods are available to crack cube roots, but they are time-consuming & cumbersome. On a standard calculator, one has to go through half a dozen steps before getting the answer.

Mathematicians down the ages've all tried to get a simple formula which gives a precise answer, but it has eluded'em. While Newton's formula arrives at an approximation, Nahar claims his formula leads to direct & perfect value, & without approximation.

Nahar said, "So far no one has been able to do it. Cube roots are a very complicated game. People 've been coming out with solutions. But in 5,000 years no one has been able to discover a workable formula for cube roots. My formula will make history & add to India's mathematical genius."

Mathematics is not his profession nor did he take any formal training in the discipline. He stumbled on the idea while helping his grandchildren with their homework. "It was me & the complicated arithmetic sums. In six months I found the formula which does not require use of scientific calculators," said Nahar.

Nahar said he had read both Western & Vedic mathematics & consulted all authorities on the subject. If proved right, he'll follow in the illustrious footsteps of 5th century mathematician Aryabhatta, who was known for his work in astronomy, arithmetic, algebra & trigonometry. It's said that his book helped European mathematicians learn how to calculate the areas of triangles, volumes of spheres as well square & cube roots.

Heart failure linked to loss of cerebral grey matter!

2012-02-04T18:32:00.000+05:30

SYDNEY: A latest study reveals that heart failure may also linked to loss of cerebral grey matter & impaired cognitive functions which involves all aspects of perception, thinking, reasoning & remembering.

A cross-sectional study of 155 adults consisting of 64 controls who had no heart disease, 35 with heart failure & 56 with ischaemic heart disease was used to show evidence of cognitive impairment & cerebral grey matter (GM) loss.

Osvaldo Almeida, professor of geriatric psychiatry at the University of Western Australia, said magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allowed the examination of the impact of both heart failure & ischaemic heart disease (reduced blood supply) on cerebral grey matter, this was reported by European Heart Journal.

A University statement quoted Almeida as saying that MRI was used to assess differences in the volume of GM in different parts of the brain. "It showed that people with heart failure display more widespread & extensive brain changes than adults with ischaemic heart disease." Prof. Almeida said "It could be possible that patients with heart failure have trouble following complex management strategies, & therefore, treatment messages should be simple & clear."

According to Almeida, "The findings show that heart failure could also affect emotions & mental activity. Health professionals & patients need to be aware that problems caused by heart disease aren't limited to the heart." The paper states that depression & cognitive impairment are the most frequent mental health problems among people with heart failure.

Scientists bypass stem cells to create nervous system cells!

2012-02-01T16:35:00.000+05:30

Scientists bypass stem cells to create nervous system cells! Yes, Scientists 've successfully converted mouse skin cells directed into cells that become the three main parts of the nervous system, bypassing the stem cell stage, throwing up many new possibilities in the medical world. This particular study is a substantial advance over the previous paper in that it transforms the skin cells into neutral precursor cells, as opposed to neurons.

While neural precursor cells can differentiate into neurons, they can also become the two other main cell types in the nervous system: astrocytes & oligodendrocytes. The finding is an extension of a nervous study by the same group from the Stanford University School of Medicine, showing that mouse & human skin cells can be turned into functional neurons or brain cells.

According to the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the multiple successes of the direct conversion method overrides the idea that pluripotency is necessary for a cells to transform from one type to another. Pluripotency is nothing but the ability of stem cells to become nearly any cell.

According to a Stanford statement, Marius Wernig, a study co-author & assistant professor of pathology & member of Stanford's Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, says "We are thrilled about the prospects for potential medical use of these stem cells."

Beside their greater versatility, the newly derived neural precursor cells offer another advantage over neurrons because they can be cultivated in large numbers in the lab, a feature critical for their long-term usefulness in transplantation or drug screening. Wernig, who co-authored the study with graduate student Ernesto Lujan said "We've shown the cells can integrate into a mouse brain & produce a missing protein important for the conduction of electrical signal by the neurons."