Health News

Fruit flies may harbor dementia cure

Researchers have taken a significant step forward in unraveling the mechanisms of Pavlovian conditioning and understanding this will help understand how memories form and, ultimately, provide better treatments to improve memory in all ages.

“Memory is essential to our daily function and is also central to our sense of self. To a large degree, we are the sum of our experiences. When memories can no longer be retrieved or we have difficulty in forming new memories, the effects are frequently tragic. In the future, our work will enable us to have a better understanding of how human memories form,” Gregg Roman, an associate professor of biology and biochemistry at University of Houston’s said.

Roman along with his team studied the brains of fruit flies (Drosophila). Within the fly brain, Roman said, there are nerve cells that play a role in olfactory learning and memory.

Roman said they found that these particular nerve cells- the gamma lobe neurons of the mushroom bodies in the insect brain- are activated by odours. Training the flies to associate an odour with an electric shock changed how these cells responded to odours by developing a modification in gamma lobe neuron activity, known as a memory trace.

They found that training caused the gamma lobe neurons to be more weakly activated by odours that were not paired with an electric shock, while the odours paired with electric shock maintained a strong activation of these neurons. Thus, the gamma lobe neurons responded more strongly to the trained odour than to the untrained odour.

The team also showed that a specific protein – the heterotrimeric G(o) protein – is naturally involved in inhibiting gamma lobe neurons.

Roman said removing the activity of this protein only within the gamma lobe neurons resulted in a loss of the memory trace and, thus, poor learning. Therefore, inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters from these neurons through the actions of the G(o) protein is key to forming the memory trace and associative memories.

The significance of using fruit flies is that while their brain structure is much simpler with far fewer neurons, the mushroom body is analogous to the perirhinal cortex in humans, which serves the same function of sensory integration and learning.

The study was published in journal Current Biology.

Times of India

Obesity Linked With Hearing Loss

Obesity is associated with a higher risk for hearing loss, according to a new study in the American Journal of Medicine.

 On the other hand, greater levels of physical activity are associated with a lower risk for hearing loss, found researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

“We often think of hearing loss as an inevitable part of the aging process, but these findings provide evidence that potentially modifiable risk factors, such as maintaining a healthy weight and staying physically active, may help in the prevention of hearing loss or delay its progression,” study researcher Sharon Curhan, M.D., Sc.M., of the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said in a statement.

More than 68,000 women who were part of the Nurses’ Health Study II were included in the study; their physical activity, body mass index, waist circumference and hearing loss were tracked from 1989 and 2009.

Researchers found associations between higher body mass index and waist circumference and hearing loss. Specifically, women who had a body mass index of 30 to 34 (indicative of obesity) had a 17 percent higher risk of hearing loss, compared with women who had a BMI lower than 25 (normal weight is indicated by a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9, while overweight is indicated by a BMI of 25 to 29.9). And people with a BMI of 40 or greater had a 25 percent higher risk of hearing loss.

Women with a waist circumference of 80 to 88 centimeters had an 11 percent higher risk of hearing loss compared with women with a waist circumference less than 71 centimeters. And women with a waist circumference greater than 88 centimeters had a 27 percent higher risk of hearing loss.

Meanwhile, exercise seemed to decrease risk for hearing loss. Women who were the most physically active in the study had a 17 percent lower risk of hearing loss than women who were the least physically active. And it didn’t even have to be especially strenuous activity: Researchers found that walking just two hours or more a week lowered hearing loss risk 15 percent more than walking less than an hour a week.

While the study only showed an association between hearing loss and obesity, this isn’t the first time the two have been linked. A study published earlier this year in the journal The Laryngoscope showed that obese teens have a nearly doubled risk of one-sided low-frequency hearing loss, compared to their peers of normal weight. The researchers of that study speculated that a potential reason for this association is inflammation from obesity; other potential reasons include Type 2 diabetes or heart disease from obesity, which could then lead to hearing loss.

Source: Huffington post

Caraway Seed Health Benefits

Botanically called Carum carvi, caraway is a biennial plant, which belongs to the family Apiaceae. Some of the health benefits of caraway seeds are listed as under:

Caraway seeds lowers the concentration of LDL cholesterol, by preventing its re-absorption in the colon. As such, caraway seeds help in preventing a variety of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and artery congestion.

Caraway seeds also help relieve the symptoms of bronchitis.

  • It is a rich source of anti-oxidant compounds including carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin
  • These compounds negate the effect of free radicals produced as a result of biochemical reactions, thereby preventing the formation and proliferation of cancer cells.
  • On account of its detoxifying properties, it also helps in lowering the pace of aging. It helps in reducing the signs of aging like fine lines, patches on skin, dark spots and wrinkles.
  • They help boost immunity. It prevents the exhaustion of T-cells, which in turn prevents the strain on the immune system, thereby strengthening it and preventing against infections and diseases.
  • Help in improving the texture of the skin on account of its rich Vitamin E content.
  • They have a strong and pungent odor. As such, the seeds may be chewed to get rid of the bad breath as well as the insipid or bland taste in the mouth.
  • Also serves as a tonic for pregnant women.

They are a potent emmenagogue. The seeds regulate the menstrual cycle and regularize your periods. They also help reduce pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) like pain in lower abdomen, bloating and water retention in the body, nausea, and loss of appetite, among others.

Enhances eyesight and also improves skin and hair texture.

Prevent impotency in males by stimulating sperm production.

They are a potent carminative, which help clear up cough and phlegm from the respiratory tract and relieves congestion.

They have proven effective for lactating mothers by promoting milk secretion. Lactating women may consume caraway seeds in honey to enhance milk production for the health of the baby.

Promote the activity of glands, thereby maintaining the overall physiology of the body.

Regulate the function of kidneys, cleaning the body waste materials and toxins.

Its seed extract may also be used in the treatment of scabies.

It may also be deployed to cure ear infections and pain.

The seeds are a potent antiseptic agent, which prevents and cure infections.

It is also effective in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and inflammation of joints.

They may also be used to cure severe headache and migraine.

Usage of caraway seeds is an effective remedy to cure toothache and other oral afflictions.

Caraway seeds may be used as a flavoring agent in the kitchen. It may be used in sausages as well as meat preparations.

Digestive Health:

Caraway seeds are widely used to cure various digestive disorders including irritable bowel syndrome. It promotes digestion and thereby prevents indigestion and other causes of stomach afflictions. It adds bulk to the food on account of its rich dietary fiber content, which regulates bowel movement and prevents constipation. Caraway seeds may also be used as antihelmintic to remove helminthes like hook worms from the intestinal tract. It also eases dyspepsia and hysteria. Caraway seeds may also be used as appetizers.

It may be used to make caraway tea to cure gas and flatulence. It also helps prevent colic disorders.

Information & Facts:

Some of the basic information & facts about caraway seeds are as follows:

Caraway is also called Persian cumin and meridian fennel, and is a native of Asia, North Africa and Europe. The plant is cultivated annually in colder regions, while it is cultivated as a biennial plant in temperate regions. The plant grows well in warm and well-drained soil.

The caraway plant grows up to a height of 50-60 cms and bears thread-like, finely divided and feathery leaves.

They are actually fruits, which are crescent-shaped, bearing ridges. Caraway seeds (fruits) bear five ridges per seed; ridges are pale in color and texture.

It contains volatile oil, which contains chemical substances like limonene, carvone, pinen, carveol, thujone, furfurol and cumuninic aldehyde.

Some of the vital minerals present in them are iron, calcium, copper, manganese, potassium, zinc, selenium and magnesium.

Its seeds are a rich source of certain vitamins including Vitamin A, Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

It has a warm and peppery aroma and as such, it is widely used in culinary preparations, especially Mediterranean and European cooking.

It may be used as infusion, poultice and tincture.

Some of the caraway seed supplements are anise, fennel and cumin.

Side Effects Of Caraway Seeds

There is no scientific evidence on the side-effects of caraway seeds, and they are generally known to have positive effects on health. However, high dose of caraway seeds may lead to kidney and liver afflictions, attributed to the content of volatile oils.

Source: diet health club

Sip red wine for healthy heart, brain

Drinking red wine can help protect the heart, and it may boost brain power too.

According to beauty magnate Liz Earle, creator of Liz Earle Beauty Company, drinking red wine in moderation may prevent blood clots and strokes, and hence keep the heart healthy.

The drink can even help in warding off certain cancers including colon and prostate, reports contactmusic.com.

A glass of red wine contains high amounts of antioxidants which not only help our cells fight against free radical damage, but also increase cholesterol levels in a positive way. It also contains procyanidins which help reduce blood pressure and protect against hardening of the arteries.

Earle also said that red wine may boost brain power, especially for older women.

But keep your intake to a glass or two, not a whole bottle!

Source: The new Indian Express

Ophthalmologist G. N. Rao honoured by US institute

Hyderabad, Nov 26 (IANS) The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) honored eminent ophthalmologist Gullapalli N. Rao with its outstanding humanitarian service award, said a statement here Tuesday.

G. N. Rao is the founder and chairman of L.V. Prasad Eye Institute. This award was bestowed on him in recognition of the eye care delivery model he created with the institute and his contributions to prevention of blindness globally.

The award was presented to Rao on Nov 17, at the AAO’s annual meeting in New Orleans, said the statement.

LVPEI’s model of eye care, represented by a pyramid, emphasizes the creation of sustainable permanent facilities within communities, staffed and managed by locally trained human resources, and linked effectively with successively higher levels of care.

Rao was also earlier the recipient of international prevention of blindness award of the Academy.

The L.V. Prasad Eye Institute was established in 1986-87 here as a not-for-profit comprehensive eye care institution.

Source: Sify

Garlic may help protect babies from pathogens in baby formula

A new study has revealed that garlic is good for your baby, as two compounds derived from garlic may help kill contaminants in baby formula.

The study from the University of British Columbia has found that the compounds, diallyl sulfide and ajoene, can significantly reduce the contamination risk of Cronobacter sakazakii in the production of dry infant formula powder.

“A trace dose of these two compounds is extremely effective in killing C. sakazakii in the food manufacturing process. They have the potential to eliminate the pathogen before it ever reaches the consumer,” corresponding author Xiaonan Lu from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, said.

C. sakazakii is a food borne pathogen that is sometimes present in dry infant formula powder and other fortified foods. C. sakazakii infection is rare, but often fatal for infants. It can poison a baby’s bloodstream and lead to life-threatening cases of meningitis.

According to Lu, the garlic compounds could be used to prevent C. sakazakii contamination on food contact surfaces and in every step of food production- from processing, packaging and delivery.

Lu said that pipes used in the manufacturing of milk products are typically cleaned with chemicals like chlorine, but these garlic compounds are a natural alternative.

The study is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Source: ANI

Sugary drinks may up uterine cancer risk

Postmenopausal women who consume sugar-sweetened drinks are at a higher risk of developing cancer of the endometrium – the lining of the uterus – a new study has warned.

Researchers found that postmenopausal women who reported the highest intake of sugar-sweetened beverages had a 78 per cent increased risk for estrogen-dependent type I endometrial cancer (the most common type of this disease).

This association was found in a dose-dependent manner: the more sugar-sweetened beverages a woman drank, the higher her risk.

“Although ours is the first study to show this relationship, it is not surprising to see that women who drank more sugar-sweetened beverages had a higher risk of estrogen-dependent type I endometrial cancer but not estrogen-independent type II endometrial cancer,” said researcher Maki Inoue-Choi.

“Other studies have shown increasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has parallelled the increase in obesity,” said Inoue-Choi, who led the study as a research associate in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

“Obese women tend to have higher levels of estrogens and insulin than women of normal weight. Increased levels of estrogens and insulin are established risk factors for endometrial cancer,” said Inoue-Choi.

Inoue-Choi and colleagues used data from 23,039 postmenopausal women who reported dietary intake, demographic information, and medical history in 1986, prior to the cancer diagnosis, as part of the Iowa Women’s Health Study.

Dietary intake was assessed using the Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), which asked study participants to report intake frequency of 127 food items in the previous 12 months.

Between 1986 and 2010, 506 type I and 89 type II endometrial cancers were recorded among the women Inoue-Choi and colleagues studied.

They did not find any association between type I or type II endometrial cancers and consumption of sugar-free soft drinks, sweets/baked goods, and starch.

Source: Indian Express

 

Home remedies to get rid of tanning

As Indians, we are constantly worried about tanning. Understanding the process of tanning is important to prevent it and treat it in the future. So, instead of opting for the expensive de-tan or fairness facials, you could try using some natural methods to get rid of the tan. Here are three natural ways to do so. But before that, let’s understand a few basics of why does our skin tan.

Why do we tan?

It‘s simple, tanning is your body’s way of protecting your internal organs from damage brought on due to exposure to UV rays of the sun. Known to cause serious conditions such as cancer, UV rays are extremely dangerous to our internal organs as well. To help keep them from entering the body, our skin produces a pigment called melanin. On exposure to the sun, the skin automatically sends this pigment to the surface to help fight off the damage – the greater the sun exposure, the darker the melanin turns. This is because the sunlight breaks down the melanin leading to it getting oxidized and darkening the skin.

Why do some people tan more than others?

The amount and degree of darkness of melanin present in one’s body is determined by one’s genes. For example, people who are genetically fair, will have lesser and lighter melanin than darker people for whom the amount and color of melanin will change. What further worsens the situation is the fact that different people have different types of skin (varying in thickness and sensitivity); this again is a deciding factor for the amount of tanning.

How can home remedies help?

Lemon and glycerin face pack: This is a bleaching, blemish removal and skin softening pack. It can be made and stored for about three weeks. All you have to do is take about five tablespoons of glycerin and add the juice of one lemon to it. Make sure the consistency of the solution is not too thin. Now, apply this on your face – avoiding the areas around your eyes – and neck every night after washing your face with your regular face wash. Leave on for about half-an-hour and wash off with cold water. Make sure you gently pat dry. This pack gives best results when left on overnight. It will not dry and stretch your skin and will make your face glow the next morning.  You can even apply this pack on your hands and legs to get rid of tanning on them. Use this pack on a daily basis to see considerable difference in about one week.

Besan bleaching face pack: This is a scrub and facial glow pack all rolled into one. Take about two tablespoons of besan, add a pinch of haldi (the type that is used for application and not for cooking), a few drops of lemon juice and some milk (if you have very dry skin). You can add crushed orange peel to the mix for an added scrub effect. If you don’t have orange peel, use crushed masoor or moong ki daal to the mix. Now, mix all the ingredients and  make it a paste by adding cool rose water. Apply this paste all over your face and neck, carefully avoiding the areas around your eyes. Allow this to remain on the face till it dries up partially. Once dry, wet your hands and pat the areas that have dried out. This will make the area soft. Now, gently scrub your face and then wash away. This pack will give you glowing and supple skin. Continue doing this on a daily basis for a week to notice considerable difference.

Multani mitti and aloe vera face pack: This pack is great to soothe irritated and tanned skin. The aloe vera present helps to heal acne, remove blemishes, and soothe irritated skin. The multani mitti helps unclog pores and makes the skin glow. To make this pack, mix a few spoons of multani mitti with a tablespoon of aloe vera paste or juice. Add a pinch of haldiand make it a smooth paste. Add chilled rose water to dilute the pack. Apply this on your face and neck leave on for about fifteen minutes or till it dries. Pat with a wet hand to loosen the dried portions and scrub the face in gentle circular motions. Wash your face with cool water and pat dry. Use this face pack twice a week for desired results

Finally, while home remedies may seem a bit messy and time consuming, it is the best way to rid you of the tan without the side-effects of chemicals. Plus, it is much lighter on the pocket.

Source: health India

4 birth defects that could affect your oral health

It is likely that you have seen kids with a cleft in the lip sometimes continuing into the palate (or roof of your mouth) or tooth/teeth missing from birth. Well, these are what are called congenital anomalies or birth defects. In this post, we see how such defects often lead to oral health problems. Treatment in such cases is complex and involves multiple specialities in dentistry.

Congenital defect #1: Cleft lip and/or palate

Cleft lip and/or palate are the most common birth defects of the mouth. Cleft lip occurs when the two structures or processes that make up the lip do not fuse completely before birth. When the two developmental plates of the skull that form the roof of the mouth (hard palate) fail to join completely cleft palate is formed. Clefts lead to a gap or opening in the lip and palate. In cleft palate there is a direct connection between the mouth and the nose.

What problems can this cause?

Cleft lip and cleft palate can cause problems with sucking, swallowing, speech and socialization.

There could be a risk of aspiration (food going from the mouth to the nose and/or respiratory tract).

Teeth may be missing, deformed or displaced. This could cause adjoining teeth to move into the space causing improper bite, irregular gaps between teeth and difficulty in chewing etc.

Soft tissue folds and irregularities in the palate or roof of the mouth can increase the risk of gum disease.

 

Congenital defect #2: Congenital absence of teeth or anodontia.

This is a condition is which some or all of the teeth are missing by birth.

What problems can this cause?

Partially missing teeth can create huge gaps into which opposite and adjacent teeth move. This causes improper bite which can lead to excessive teeth wear, injury to the supporting structures (periodontium) of the teeth and loss of bone around the teeth. Misaligned teeth can also make it harder to clean them thereby causing decay and gum disease.

Congenital defect #3: Tongue tie or Ankyloglossia.

Here the tongue is literally ‘stuck’ or ‘tied’ to the floor of the mouth.

What problems can this cause?

Ankyloglossia can cause swallowing and speech difficulty.It may also make maintaining oral hygiene difficult giving rise to gum disease, cavities etc.

Congenital defect #4: Congenital enamel hypoplasia or Amelogenesis Imperfecta

Amelogenesis imperfecta is a genetic disorder in which there is underdevelopment of tooth enamel causing it to be unusually thin, discoloured, pitted and fragile. Rarely, it may be associated with abnormally enlarged gums which make oral hygiene difficult.

What problems can this cause?

This condition causes teeth to be prone to rapid wear and breakage. Thin enamel increases the sensitivity of the teeth to temperature changes. There is increased risk for teeth decay. When associated with gum enlargement, it can cause bad breath as well as discomfort when chewing or talking.

Source: News India

Warning labels on cigarette packets could stop millions from smoking

Researchers suggest that the US would have several million fewer smokers if graphic warning labels similar to those introduced in Canada nearly a decade ago were imposed on cigarette packs.

The Canadian labels led to a 2.9 to 4.7 percentage point drop in smoking rates — which would mean 5.3 to 8.6 million fewer smokers in the U.S. if the same result were obtained, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Waterloo.

The researchers used statistical methods to compare smoking rates in the U.S. and Canada for a nine-year period before and after the graphic warning labels were introduced in Canada. The price of cigarettes was factored into the analyses.

The study found the “regulatory impact analysis” used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to gauge the effectiveness of Canada’s graphic warning labels to be inaccurate.

The FDA had estimated only a 0.088 percentage point reduction in smoking rates after graphic warning labels were mandated in Canada.

Jidong Huang, research specialist at UIC’s Institute for Health Research and Policy and lead author of the new study, said when he and his collaborators corrected the FDA’s methodological flaws and took into account the purchase prices paid by smokers, they found that graphic warning labels reduce cigarette-smoking prevalence at much higher rates.

Graphic warning labels on cigarette packages have been implemented in more than 40 countries, but not in the US.

In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gave the FDA authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution and marketing of tobacco products, including requiring prominent warning labels for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.

However, the tobacco industry challenged the FDA’s requirement for graphic warning labels, and a US Court of Appeals ruled that the federal agency lacked evidence that graphic warning images would reduce the number of Americans who smoke.

Studies had shown that such labels increase knowledge of the harmful effects of tobacco products, motivate smokers to attempt quitting, and decrease relapse rates among smokers who have quit, but not whether they reduce overall smoking rates.

The UIC and University of Waterloo researchers hope the new study will provide support for a revised FDA proposal to require graphic warnings.

The findings are published online in the journal Tobacco Control.

Source: DNA India