Health (General) – Weekly Newsletter for January 3-10, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Obesity begins in babies as young as 9 months old: Study
WASHINGTON – If you think that children are part of the obesity epidemic, then here’s something you should know.
A new study has revealed that obesity can begin in babies as young as nine months old.
“With the consistent evidence that the percent of overweight children has steadily increased over the past decade, we weren’t surprised …. Source : Gaea News Network.
TB patients ‘more prone to lung cancer’
WASHINGTON – A new study has provided compelling evidence of increased lung cancer risk among people with tuberculosis.
Scientists at China Medical University and Hospital in Taiwan randomly selected 1 million patients covered under the country’s National Health Insurance program.
All patients aged 20 years and older with a new diagnosis of tuberculosis between 1998 and 2000 …. Source article on Gaea Times at : TB patients ‘more prone to lung cancer’.
Use of morning after pill worries pharmacists
LONDON – British pharmacists fear that many women are risking their health by using the morning after pill after unprotected sex.
A poll in Britain has found that one-fifth of women used the emergency contraceptive last year.
The Co-Operative Pharmacy conducted the survey on 3,000 people and found that 20 percent of women aged …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Use of morning after pill worries pharmacists.
Healthy women see themselves fat in mirror
LONDON – Despite their healthy weight, 17 percent of women in a survey described themselves as “fat” – with almost as many saying they felt “down” when they looked in the mirror.
Only one out of 17 such women actually considered herself “slim”.
To her husband and her friends, a woman looks happy, …. Read the original article : Healthy women see themselves fat in mirror.
World’s heaviest man became ‘foodie’ to heal broken heart
LONDON – Paul Mason, the world’s heaviest man who recently lost 127 kilogram after undergoing life-saving gastric bypass surgery, said he went on a massive eating binge after the love of his life dumped him.
The Herald Sun quoted 50-year-old Mason, who earlier weighed as much …. Original article on Gaea Times at : World’s heaviest man became ‘foodie’ to heal broken heart.
Online self-diagnosis poses a health risk
LONDON – People relying on medical websites are risking their health because many fail to check whether the information online is factually correct.
Record numbers are expected to log on for health advice this week, with British health sites likely to receive 40 million hits, according to Bupa Health.
The Bupa Health Pulse survey, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Online self-diagnosis poses a health risk.
A shocking way to stop embarrassing frequent leaks
LONDON – Stimulating the leg with an electric current can ease the urge to empty the bladder all too frequently, a study shows.
The research has found that the technique helped 70 percent of women with an overactive bladder and more than halved the frequency of their symptoms.
The condition is caused by the …. Source article on Gaea Times at : A shocking way to stop embarrassing frequent leaks.
Diet of nuts ‘makes you pile on the pounds’
LONDON – Dieters who snack on nuts, seeds or dried fruit could actually be putting on weight, rather than losing it, say researchers.
The study, carried out by the SupermarketOwnBrandGuide website, has found that nuts and seeds often contain unhealthy amounts of saturated fat and dried fruit is usually high in sugar, reports the Daily Mail.
Just [..] Read the original article: here.
Healthy habits in youth linked to better cholesterol levels in adulthood
WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that adopting healthy habits in youth is associated with more favourable cholesterol levels in adulthood.
Costan G. Magnussen, of University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia, and University of Turku, Finland, and colleagues studied 539 young adults.
Participants had their cholesterol and triglyceride levels measured in 1985 when they were age …. Original article on Gaea Times at : Healthy habits in youth linked to better cholesterol levels in adulthood.
Physiotherapists’ group welcomes creation of jobs in Kashmir
NEW DELHI – The Indian Association of Physiotherapists Monday welcomed an announcement by the Jammu and Kashmir government for creation of over 100 posts for physiotherapists in the state.
“Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) welcomes this initial step taken by the state government and would do its best to ensure that the implementation happens … Read more >>>.
Rabindra Sangeet exponent Suchitra Mitra dead (Second Lead)
KOLKATA – Rabindra Sangeet legend Suchitra Mitra, whose songs enthralled music lovers for six decades, died at her South Kolkata residence here Monday following cardiac arrest, family sources said. She was 86, and is survived by a son.
The end came around 1.30 p.m. while she was having lunch, plunging the state into gloom as … Original article on : Rabindra Sangeet exponent Suchitra Mitra dead (Second Lead).
Britain’s swine flu patients take up hospital beds for kids
LONDON – Seriously ill babies and children are being forced to travel to different places across Britain as intensive care beds have been allotted to swine flu patients.
Only 15 of the country’s 320 intensive care beds for infants are said to have been made free, according to the Daily Express.
There have been reports … Original article on : Britain’s swine flu patients take up hospital beds for kids.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy’s Treatment Revealed
SAN FRANCISCO (GaeaTimes.com)- The National Academy of Sciences conducted a latest research, that revealed Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), can be treated by injecting a natural human protein, namely Biglycan. This experiment was conducted on a mice with the same disease and its reports were published on December 27.
According to medical reports, one out of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy’s Treatment Revealed.
World’s heaviest man loses 127 kg following gastric bypass surgery
LONDON – Paul Mason, world’s heaviest man who has recently undergone a life-saving gastric bypass surgery, has celebrated his success by making a rare trip from his home in Ipswich, Suffolk after losing an incredible 127 kg of weight in just a year.
The Daily Mail quoted 49-year-old Mason, who earlier weighted as much as 381 …. Source article on Gaea Times at : World’s heaviest man loses 127 kg following gastric bypass surgery.
Obesity ups death risk for swine flu patients
WASHINGTON – Extreme obesity upped the death risk for those infected with H1N1 or swine flu in 2009, a study shows.
Researchers co-related extreme obesity with a nearly three-fold increased odds of death from swine flu.
Half of Californians older than 20 years hospitalised with the flu were obese, reports the journal Clinical Infectious … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Obesity ups death risk for swine flu patients.
Double dose of chicken pox vaccine more effective
WASHINGTON – Two doses of the chicken pox vaccine are more effective than one, researchers have found.
The odds of developing the infection were lower in children who had received two doses of the vaccine compared with those who had received only one.
In a study, Eugene D.Shapiro, professor in pediatrics at Yale …. Read the original article : Double dose of chicken pox vaccine more effective.
Bhopal junior doctors end strike
BHOPAL – Junior doctors in two city hospitals ended their strike late Tuesday evening after expressing satisfaction at security arrangements in their hospital and assurance by the health department for round-the-clock security in the area.
Representatives of the striking doctors announced they are calling off the strike and will return to work from Wednesday.
The … Read more »»».
UAE babies to be insured free of charge
Abu Dhabi, Jan 4 (IANS/WAM) A child born in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after Jan 1, 2011, may be insured free of charge by the state-run insurance company if the child’s mother also has an insurance plan.
The National Health Insurance Company – Daman – announced that a newborn whose mother is insured will …. Source article : UAE babies to be insured free of charge.
Bhopal junior doctors to continue strike
BHOPAL – Junior doctors in two city hospitals announced Tuesday that their strike, demanding protection inside the hospital, will continue indefinitely after talks with the health minister failed.
The junior doctors of Sultania and Hamidia Medical College hospitals have been on strike following abuse and threats to Sultania doctors Sunday by attendants after … Original source on Gaea Times at : Bhopal junior doctors to continue strike.
Indian call centres should deal with British health data: Official
LONDON – Health information about Britons should be handed over to Indian call centres to save money, as offices in Delhi and Pune deal with such work at a “fraction” of the British cost, a top official has said.
John Neilson, head of the government-backed National Health Service (NHS) Shared Business Services, said the move … Read more »».
Vitamin D deficiencies linked to onset of autoimmune lung disease
WASHINGTON – Vitamin D deficiency could be linked to the development and severity of certain autoimmune lung diseases, according to a new study.
Brent Kinder, MD, UC Health pulmonologist, director of the Interstitial Lung Disease Center at the University of Cincinnati and lead investigator on the study, says vitamin D deficiencies have been found to affect …. Original article : Vitamin D deficiencies linked to onset of autoimmune lung disease.
Health tourism to get industry status in Haryana
CHANDIGARH – Health tourism will now be given the status of industry in Haryana and projects with over Rs.100 crore (Rs.1 billion) investment will qualify for the applicable incentives, the government announced Tuesday.
“The Haryana government has decided to promote health tourism. Such projects involving an investment of Rs.100 crore (Rs.1 billion) and above would …. Original source : Health tourism to get industry status in Haryana.
UK accused of “covering up” G8’s failure to cut tuberculosis death toll in South Asia
LONDON – Three Bangladeshi experts have reportedly accused Britain of “covering up” the G8’s failure to reduce tuberculosis death toll in south Asia.he Guardian quoted the experts as saying that Britain’s strategy against the disease was aimed at preventing its spread to the west, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : UK accused of “covering up” G8’s failure to cut tuberculosis death toll in South Asia.
MMR scare was ‘deliberate fraud’: British Medical Journal
LONDON – The British Medical Journal has declared that an infamous article in Lancet last year that linked the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to a new combined disorder of bowel problems and autism, was in fact, a ‘hoax’.
The BMJ reviewed the transcript of the General …. Source : Gaea News Network.
John Edwards’s name appears nowhere in his late wife’s will
WASHINGTON – Elizabeth Edwards, who lost her 6-year battle with breast cancer on Dec. 7, left estranged hubby John Edwards out of her will.
The late author/health care activist left everything to her children and made not a single mention of her philandering husband John in the will, reports the Politico.
In a last will and testament …. Source article : John Edwards’s name appears nowhere in his late wife’s will.
Health benefits of organic onions, carrots overestimated: Study
WASHINGTON – Organically grown onions, carrots, and potatoes generally do not have higher levels of healthful antioxidants and related substances than vegetables grown with traditional fertilizers and pesticides, say scientists.
In the study, Pia Knuthsen and colleagues point out that there are many reasons to pay a premium for organic food products.
The most important reasons …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Health benefits of organic onions, carrots overestimated: Study.
Green tea ‘fights dementia and cancer’
WASHINGTON – A new research by scientists at Newcastle University has suggested that regularly drinking green tea could protect the brain against developing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
The study also suggested that this ancient Chinese remedy could play a vital role in protecting the body against cancer.
Led by Dr Ed Okello, the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Green tea ‘fights dementia and cancer’.
Exercise ‘cuts death risk for men with prostate cancer’
WASHINGTON – Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of overall mortality and of death due to prostate cancer, a new study has found.Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and University of California, San Francisco also found that men who did more vigorous activity had the lowest risk of dying from the … Read more »».
Healthcare firms eye choppers as air ambulances
NEW DELHI – In keeping with global trends, helicopters are now being eyed as air ambulances to provide emergency medical aid and ferry patients to hospitals across India.
A beginning has been made with Delhi-based OSS Air Management acquiring two AugustaWestland AW-109’s for starting the first helicopter ambulance service in Bangalore by the middle of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Healthcare firms eye choppers as air ambulances.
Apollo to set up 12 new hospitals
NEW DELHI – Major healthcare chain Apollo Hospitals will invest nearly Rs.1,000 crore for setting up 12 new hospitals across the country over the next two years.
Named “Apollo Reach”, the hospitals will be set up in small cities.
We will be investing Rs.80-100 crore per hospital in class-II and class-III cities across … Read more >>.
Dozen government hospitals to come up in capital
NEW DELHI – The Delhi government will be setting up over a dozen new hospitals in the city within the next few years to cater to the increasing medical needs of the citizens.
At present, the national capital has 38 state-run government hospitals with 7,510 beds. The aim is to increase the number of beds …. Source article : Dozen government hospitals to come up in capital.
British women compensated over faulty contraceptive
LONDON – Britain’s healthcare administration has paid 200,000 pounds ($312,000) in compensation to a group of women after they became pregnant or were injured while using a contraceptive device, a media report said Wednesday.
The National Health Service (NHS) has received over 1,000 complaints about Implanon, a plastic implant that is injected under a woman’s …. Original article : British women compensated over faulty contraceptive.
Soldiers with positive outlook ‘less likely to suffer health problems’
WASHINGTON – Soldiers with a positive outlook in the most traumatic situations are less likely to suffer health problems such as anxiety and depression, a research team led by Michigan State University has found.
The study could have implications for …. Source : Gaea News Network.
Tomatoes ‘contain nutrient that prevents vascular diseases’
WASHINGTON – Scientists in Japan have discovered that tomatoes contain a nutrient, which could tackle the onset of vascular diseases.
The research has revealed that an extracted compound, 9-oxo-octadecadienoic, has anti-dyslipidemic affects.
The team led by Dr Teruo Kawada, from Kyoto University, Japan, focused their …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Tomatoes ‘contain nutrient that prevents vascular diseases’.
Patna Zoo animals enjoy protein-rich diet to beat wintry chill
PATNA – With temperatures dipping across the country, animals in Patna Zoo are being given proteins and mineral in their diet.
Ajit Kumar, a veterinary doctor, said it is essential for wild animals like tigers and leopards to consume good quantities of milk and meats in their diet.
“The authorities are providing a rich diet to … Read more »».
Western diet linked to increased risk of breast cancer
WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered that elevated fat and cholesterol levels found in a typical American-style diet play an important role in the growth and spread of breast cancer.
Researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson examined the role of fat and cholesterol in breast cancer development using a mouse model.
The results showed that mice fed …. Original source : Western diet linked to increased risk of breast cancer.
Obama’s doctor coming up with new hospital in Kolkata
KOLKATA – A Kolkata-born doctor, who is part of the medical team that treats US President Barack Obama, has decided to do his bit for his native place by setting up a super-speciality liver research and treatment centre here.
“I am planning to set up one of the best liver research and treatment centres in …. Source : Gaea News Network.
Tripura launches ‘at birth vaccination’ for Hepatitis B
AGARTALA – Hoping to stem the incidence of Hepatitis B, the Tripura government Friday introduced ‘at birth vaccination’, based on the China model that attained 99.98 percent success in curbing the disease.
“The ambitious ‘at birth Hepatitis B vaccination’ programme would be carried out in all health centres in Tripura to make the northeastern state …. Original article : Tripura launches ‘at birth vaccination’ for Hepatitis B.
Towel removed from woman’s bowel after three years
RAIPUR – Doctors in a Chhattisgarh town relieved a woman of three years of severe stomach pain after they removed a towel stuck inside her bowel after she deliverd by caesarean section, her husband said Friday.
The towel was taken out of 30-year-old Sabnam Praveen Wednesday by a team of surgeons led by Neeraj Sindey …. Read the original article : here.
Now, ‘intelligent’ wrapping that will tell you when food’s going bad!
LONDON – British scientists have created an intelligent food wrapping that changes colour if the contents are going bad.
The smart plastic packaging has the ability to detect when meat, fish or salad leaves have passed their use-by date or have been left out of the fridge for too long.
It also alerts householders if sealed packaging …. Source : Gaea News Network.
Jet lag key to tackling malaria parasites: Study
LONDON – A new research has suggested that the malaria-causing parasite is poor at spreading the disease if it is jet lagged.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh ‘jet lagged’ the parasites by inserting them into mice whose body clocks were different to their own 24-hour cycle.
They found malaria was only half as effective at causing … Read more >>.
Outdated blood testing contributes to HIV among thalassemic kids
NEW DELHI – Hundreds of thalassemic children get infected with HIV-AIDS every year during crucial blood transfusions as most blood banks, including the Indian Red Cross, are not equipped with an advanced blood testing facility that can detect the virus accurately and in a short time, say experts.
Over 12,000 thalassemic children are born in …. Source : Outdated blood testing contributes to HIV among thalassemic kids.
Weight-loss surgery benefits women more
WASHINGTON – In a new study, researchers found that women who underwent gastric band surgery to lose weight reported significant improvements in urinary function and quality of life after the operation.
However, men undergoing the procedure did not enjoy the same significant urinary function improvements as the women. They also reported that erectile function was slightly …. Source article : Weight-loss surgery benefits women more.
2,000 kids died of hunger in Guatemala last year
Guatemala City, Jan 8 (IANS/EFE) Over 2,000 children under the age of five years died in Guatemala during the first 10 months of 2010 as a consequence of illnesses caused by malnutrition, an official report said.
The report made public Friday is based on statistics of the Epidemiology Center of the health ministry covering …. Source article : 2,000 kids died of hunger in Guatemala last year.
Minister urges diaspora to assist in health care
NEW DELHI – Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi Friday urged the Indian diaspora to partner with the government in making health care facilities more accessible.
“Delivery of quality health care services to every nook and corner of the country is a big challenge for government agencies,” Trivedi said at the 9th Pravasi Bharatiya …. Source : Minister urges diaspora to assist in health care.
Indian, Australian experts working on new cancer treatment
SYDNEY – A team of Indian and Australian researchers is developing new tools for improved identification and treatment of cancer.
Wei Duan, associate professor at Deakin University, who led the Australian team, said the project looked into newer methods, using nano-therapeutics and molecular diagnostics, for detection and treatment of human cancers.
Nano-therapeutics is the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Indian, Australian experts working on new cancer treatment.
Britain gives last year’s vaccines to flu hit people
LONDON – British physicians have started giving patients doses of last year’s leftover swine flu vaccine to try to overcome the present shortage, as the toll from this winter’s outbreak rose to 50 people.
The department of health approved the move Thursday, but the opposition Labour said it was further evidence of ministers being “slow … Read : Britain gives last year’s vaccines to flu hit people.
Haryana to have medical college in Kalpana Chawla’s memory
CHANDIGARH – A new medical college will be set up in the memory of astronaut Kalpana Chawla in her home town Karnal, the Haryana government said Friday.
“The medical college to be set up over an area of 35 acres would have a 50-seat college upgradable to 100 seats. It will also have a 400-bedded … Read more »»».
Smoking fatalities set to triple in China
BEIJING – Deaths from smoking in China will triple to 3.5 million annually by 2030 and lost productivity from smoking-related health problems will hamper the country’s economic growth, say experts.
China’s state-owned tobacco industry is hindering anti-smoking measures, experts have warned in the report titled Tobacco Control and the Future of China.
“As the health …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Smoking fatalities set to triple in China.
Bike test accurate key to Parkinson’s diagnosis
LONDON – Researchers have found that the ability to ride a bicycle is way cheaper and more precise in diagnosing Parkinson’s than a battery of tests.
Neurologists from Parkinson Centre, the Netherlands, wrote to the Lancet journal that those with standard Parkinson’s were more likely to still be able to ride a bike, whereas … Read more >>>.
Second-hand TV exposure linked to eating disorders
WASHINGTON – For parents anxious about the negative influence of TV on their children, here’s another worry – having friends who watch a lot of TV can be even more damaging to a teen’s body image.
A new study suggests that indirect media exposure, i.e. having friends who watch a lot of TV might be …. Source : Second-hand TV exposure linked to eating disorders.
Beware of quacks, says Delhi Medical Council
NEW DELHI – Cautioning against fake doctors, the Delhi Medical Council Sunday issued advertisements in leading dailies saying that the advice of quacks may worsen illnesses and any information on them should be given to the council for immediate action.
“Do you know you may even lose your life if you get treated by quacks? … Read : Beware of quacks, says Delhi Medical Council.
Secret Service officer visits UFC fighter Volkmann over ‘fight to Obama’ comment
WASHINGTON – Secret Service has reportedly visited Jacob Volkmann, a UFC fighter, after he said that he wanted to fight President Obama because he disagreed with his health care policy.
According to the New York Daily News, after an unknown source reported the 30-year-old Minnesota-based fighter’s remarks to the Secret Service, an officer was sent to … Read : Secret Service officer visits UFC fighter Volkmann over ‘fight to Obama’ comment.
Overseas Indian doctors ready to help India
NEW DELHI – Around 300,000 doctors of Indian origin are working abroad and they are willing to help the Indian government in a variety of ways, a leading Britain-based doctor said.
“Indian doctors abroad are keen to work in a variety of ways, including voluntary work, support in collaborative research and medical education,” Doctor Ramesh …. Source article on Gaea Times at : Overseas Indian doctors ready to help India.
‘Vedanta and yoga perfect match for certain American values’
CHICAGO – There has always been a pervasive but undocumented feeling that Indian philosophy, as manifest in Vedanta on the intellectual plain and yoga on the physical plain, has very significantly influenced the West in general and America in particular. That feeling now finds a meticulously constructed scholastic endorsement in the form of an important … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : ‘Vedanta and yoga perfect match for certain American values’.
No smokers in Britain by 2050: Report
LONDON – As smoking rates continue to fall in Britain, there could be no smokers left in the country in the next 30 to 50 years, a media report said Saturday.
Citigroup analyst Adam Spielman says research shows there may be almost no smokers in 30 to 50 years’ time.
Data used by the investment … Read more >>>.
Grape compound increases beneficial fat hormone
WASHINGTON – A compound in grapes displays antioxidant and other positive properties. Now, a new study has described a novel way in which resveratrol exerts these beneficial health effects.
Resveratrol stimulates the expression of adiponectin, a hormone derived from cells that manufacture and store fat, the team found.
Adiponectin has a wide range of beneficial effects … Read : Grape compound increases beneficial fat hormone.