Health (General) – Weekly Newsletter for March 1-7, 2011

Chris Christie defends Michelle Obama’s obesity campaign

NEW YORK – Even though US First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign against obesity was mocked by Sarah Palin and some conservatives, Republicans Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee have sided with her.

During separate morning news programs, Christie, 48, who is the Governor of New Jersey, and Huckabee, 55, who is the former Governor of Arkansas, defended …. Read the original article  : Chris Christie defends Michelle Obama’s obesity campaign.

Fish oil fights weight loss from chemotherapy

TORONTO – Supplementing diet with fish oil may prevent muscle and weight loss that commonly occurs in cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy.

The process can cause cancer patients to lose muscle mass and become malnourished, leading to fatigue, a decreased quality of life and shorter survival.
Researchers believe that supplementing the diet with … Read more : Fish oil fights weight loss from chemotherapy.

Genetic fault that causes rare self-healing skin cancer identified

LONDON – Researchers have identified a key genetic fault that causes a rare skin cancer to spread and then spontaneously heal itself.

The identification of this rare cancer, known as multiple self-healing squamous epithelioma (MSSE) or Ferguson-Smith disease, could pave the way for new drugs to treat other types of the disease, scientists have claimed.

According to …. Original source  : Genetic fault that causes rare self-healing skin cancer identified.

Scientists isolate gene in self-healing skin cancer

LONDON – Scientists have isolated a gene involved in a rare, self-healing skin cancer, which could open the way to newer treatments for other types of cancers.

The multiple self-healing squamous epithelioma (MSSE) skin cancer grows rapidly but then a few weeks later, heals on its own.
Faults in the gene TGFBR1 is … Original source on Gaea Times at : Scientists isolate gene in self-healing skin cancer.

Obesity adds at least 5 yrs to your joints’ age: Survey

LONDON – A new UK survey has claimed that some people have joints that look like they are more than a decade older than they are.

The study found overweight as being a major factor and suggested that obese people add at least five years to their joint age, reports the Daily Express.

Yet one in five, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Obesity adds at least 5 yrs to your joints’ age: Survey.

Placebos can work both ways

LONDON – Poor expectations of treatment can override all the effect of a potent pain-relieving drug, a brain imaging study has shown.

Conversely, positive expectations of treatment doubles the natural physiological or biochemical effect of the opioid (world’s oldest known) drugs among healthy volunteers.
The study of the placebo effect and its opposite — the [..] Read the original article: here.

Mother’s sweet tooth bad for girls, not for boys

LONDON – A mother’s sweet tooth affect girls more than boys, especially when the baby is in the womb.

Excess sugar can block nutrients from reaching female foetuses and affecting them. But male foetuses seem to be be least affected, say researchers from the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
Tests on … Original article on : Mother’s sweet tooth bad for girls, not for boys.

Yoga retreats becoming popular world over

NEVADA – Yoga retreats, some charging as much as 4495 dollars, are becoming popular world over.

Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in Queensland (Australia) is said to be a destination to soothe your soul and may cost up to 4265 dollars for seven days. Semperviva Yoga Holidays in Kythira (Greece), besides twice-a-day yoga, also offer sunrise meditation. Krista … Original article on : Yoga retreats becoming popular world over.

Hour of daytime sleep can lower blood pressure

WASHINGTON – Even an hour of sleep in daytime could help lower blood pressure after mental stress, researchers say.

A study conducted by Ryan Brindle and Sarah Conklin from the Allegheny College in the US, found that participants who slept 45 minutes in daytime had lower average blood pressure after stress than those who did …. Read the original article  : here.

Pregnant women in China to be tested for HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B

NEW DELHI – Pregnant women across China will receive free screenings for HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis B, and if they test positive, they will be treated at hospitals to prevent them from transmitting the diseases to their children.

“This is the first nationwide health policy meant mainly to prevent such infections from spreading from mothers to … Read more : Pregnant women in China to be tested for HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B.

Two-thirds elderly Americans face hearing loss: Study

WASHINGTON – About two-thirds of Americans aged 70 and above suffer from hearing loss, a study says.

The study, conducted by the Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging, has found that black Americans seem to have a protective cover against this loss.
The findings were published online in the Journal …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Two-thirds elderly Americans face hearing loss: Study.

Gut bacteria exerts control over others organs too

LONDON – Gut bacteria may not just be helping digest food but could be exerting some control over the metabolic functions of other organs like the liver, says a new study.

These findings offer new understanding of the symbiotic relationship between humans and their gut microbes and how changes to the microbiota (microbial flora harboured …. Source article  : Gut bacteria exerts control over others organs too.

More men likely to feel the blues

WASHINGTON – More men are likely to feel the blues as the century progresses, a new study says.

“Compared to women, many men attach a great importance to their roles as providers and protectors of their families,” says study author Boadie Dunlop of Emory University in the US.
“Failure to fulfil the role …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : More men likely to feel the blues.

Daytime nap is good for your heart: Study

WASHINGTON – Grabbing an hour’s sleep during the day could have cardiovascular benefits, according to a new study.

The study by Ryan Brindle and Sarah Conklin, from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania looked at the effect of a daytime nap on cardiovascular recovery following a stress test and found that those participants who slept for at least … Read more >>.

Smoking during pregnancy may cause heart defects in infants

WASHINGTON – Children born to pregnant women who have been smoking in the first three months of their pregnancy may suffer from heart defects, a study has found.

The study conducted by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has found that women who smoke in the first trimester face a 20 to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Smoking during pregnancy may cause heart defects in infants.

Anti-HIV vaginal gel deemed safe for rectal use too

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that a change in the formulation of tenofovir gel, an anti-HIV gel developed for vaginal use, may make it safer for rectal use as well.

Researchers from the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) found that the ‘new’ gel was less harmful to the lining of the rectum than the original …. Source  : Anti-HIV vaginal gel deemed safe for rectal use too.

Indian vaccine to save 250 million lives in Africa

ACCRA – A new India-made vaccine against meningitis is to be administered to nearly 250 million children and adults in sub-Saharan Africa, thanks to a joint campaign by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and PATH, an NGO.

MenAfriVac has been produced by the Serum Institute of India and is to be administered to those in … Read more : Indian vaccine to save 250 million lives in Africa.

Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to higher BP

WASHINGTON – A new study has revealed that soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages such as fruit drinks are associated with higher blood pressure levels in adults.

In the International Study of Macro/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP), for every extra sugar-sweetened beverage drunk per day participants on average had significantly higher systolic blood pressure by 1.6 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to higher BP.

Dead bones give clues to heal back pain

LONDON – The bones of people long dead could be the key to healing chronic back pain, says a new research.

It is combining the latest computer modelling techniques with archaeology and anthropology, developed by the Universities of Leeds and Bristol in the UK.
Researchers there are analysing spines from up to 40 … Read : Dead bones give clues to heal back pain.

Binge drinking? Blame it on your genes

WASHINGTON – Two genes that seem to trigger binge drinking have been identified, potentially paving the way to better treatments for excessive alcohol consumption.

Researchers found that manipulating two brain receptors, GABA receptor and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), “caused profound reduction” of binge drinking for two weeks in rodents that had been engineered to … Read more >>>.

Most men unaware of blood test for prostate cancer, finds charity

LONDON – A charity has found that majority of men are unaware of a blood test described as the “first line of defence” against the disease.

The Prostate Cancer Charity is worried that men are effectively being denied access to the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

Under current NHS guidelines, men over the age of 50 have … Original article on : Most men unaware of blood test for prostate cancer, finds charity.