Health (General) – Newsletter for February 3, 2011

Consumers warned about herbal weight loss pill

LONDON – The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning against a weight loss pill sold over the internet and in Chinese medicine shops.

MHRA says anyone taking Herbal Flos Lonicerae (Herbal Xenicol) should stop immediately and contact a doctor, reports the BBC.

The warning comes after reports of side effects such as … Read more >>.

Government for alternative medicines like unani

ALIGARH – The Indian government is making efforts to integrate alternative systems of medicine like unani into the national health care structure, Minister of State for Health S. Gandhiselvan has said.

Inaugurating an international conference on Unani medicine at the Aligarh Muslim University Wednesday evening, Gandhiselvan urged the delegates to explore “how the unani system … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Government for alternative medicines like unani.

Smartphone squint causes premature wrinkles

LONDON – Wrinkles may be a sign of approaching middle age but younger women now have a reason to worry – the smartphone squint.

Many of them are developing premature wrinkles from staring at their smartphones, says London-based anti-ageing expert Jean-Louis Sebagh.
He said peering at a small screen causes facial strain, around and between … Original source on Gaea Times at : Smartphone squint causes premature wrinkles.

Software turns fuzzy x-rays, MRIs into coloured 3D pictures

LONDON – A special software called BodyViz converts fuzzy x-rays, MRIs and ultrasounds into full-colour 3D pictures.

Surgeons can visually slice away the layers to examine a patient’s anatomy and insert virtual instruments into the representation.
They can also adapt the images to suit their need such as using colour to enhance certain organs or …. Source  : Software turns fuzzy x-rays, MRIs into coloured 3D pictures.

Lab veins could revolutionise bypass surgery

LONDON – Human veins, grown for the first time in a lab, could revolutionise bypass surgery for thousands every year.

In a breakthrough, researchers created human blood vessels that last for a year or more in cold storage.
These blood vessels, which were mass-produced from donated human muscle tissue, could also help kidney patients dependent … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Lab veins could revolutionise bypass surgery.

In Uttar Pradesh bylanes, children help fight polio

MUZAFFARNAGAR – On any polio immunisation day, eight-year-old Ayad Hussain wakes up early, finishes his breakfast and by 7 a.m., along with a dozen other children, is on the city streets to motivate people to get their children vaccinated.

Ayad is among the thousands of children who are part of ‘bulawa tolis’ (calling groups) in … Original source on Gaea Times at : In Uttar Pradesh bylanes, children help fight polio.

‘Blackberry Botox’ for women staring too much at their smartphones!

LONDON – In what can be called a shocking revelation, many young women are developing premature wrinkles from staring at their smartphones.

Smartphone-related wrinkles are the latest condition that doctors attribute to overuse of technology.

Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh says that peering at a small screen causes your face to scrunch up, creating an area of tension …. Original article  : ‘Blackberry Botox’ for women staring too much at their smartphones!.