Month: August 2013

11 year old who had a lung transplant will have another surgery

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Sarah Murnaghan, the 11-year-old Pennsylvania girl who received new lungs and undergoes surgery to cure acid reflux problem

Sarah Murnaghan, the 11-year-old Pennsylvania girl who received new lungs after a court battle allowed her to be included on the adult transplant list, is taking another step towards recovery.

On Wednesday, Murnaghan, who suffers from cystic fibrosis (CF), will undergo surgery to correct acid reflux problem, her mother stated in Facebook page.

Janet Murnaghan said in her post that acid reflux is common among CF patients.

“Since before transplant our team has told us that post transplant Sarah would need a surgery called a fundoplication. “We are anxious (Mom and Sarah) to have her go back to surgery, but thankful she is strong enough to do so. Please keep Sarah in your prayers especially tomorrow.”

Since receiving a second lung transplant in June after her first transplant failed, Murnaghan’s condition has been steadily improving. Also  Murnaghan celebrated her 11th birthday on August 7 surrounded by family and friends at the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, where she remains under close observation.

 

Biocon in Bangalore introduces new drug to treat Skin Disease

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Biocon – A research center in Bangalore launches drug for Skin disease

Biocon – India’s leading biotechnology company has launched a new drug to treat a skin disease called psoriasis. This condition takes place when the immune system mistakes a normal skin cells as a pathogen.

“Psoriasis is a common disease which affects 3% of the world population and which 2% of population affects India approximately 1.2 billion people. The global psoriasis market size is estimated to cross $8 billion by 2016,” the company said in a statement here on Sunday.

“The drug is an outcome of our path-breaking research and will bring a paradigm shift in the management of skin disorder. The molecule has potential to treat multiple auto-immune diseases and make a difference to a larger patient population worldwide,” Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said in the statement.

An infusion drug to treat psoriasis, Alzuma will be manufactured after regulatory clearances

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Skin Disease – Psoriasis

“With a unique mechanism, the drug offers safety profile compared to other therapies, and has a long remission period with low opportunistic infection rate,” Shaw said.

The new drug also demonstrated pre-clinical and post-clinical evidence in treating other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

“We are committed to address the unmet need of patients suffering from psoriasis through the new drug, which has better safety and efficacy profile to patients with longer remission periods and lower infection rates,” said Biocon president (marketing) Rakesh Bamzai in the statement.

Walnuts health benefits and their Nutrition facts:

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Walnuts known as the “brain food” rich in omega-3 fatty acids and helpful in the treatment of type diabetes-2

Walnuts are known for their crunchy and nutritious value; the walnuts will boost your immune system and improves metabolism and cardiovascular health. Walnuts have plenty of health benefits and have rich source of vitamins and minerals which are essential for a healthy life.

Health Benefits of Walnuts:

  1. Walnut health benefits are good for heart and circulatory system as they are rich in nutrition. They help maintain proper blood compositions, balance in inflammation-regulating molecules and blood vessel.
  2. Often known as the “brain food” because its nutrients are important to the brain. Walnut nutrition has the capability to enter into the cell membranes of the brain and allow the waste products to exit from the cells, due to the high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids.
  3. Walnut nutrition is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). These acids enhance cardiovascular functions, including blood pressure. These acids also prevent heart attacks and have fewer chances for blood clot in arteries.
  4. Walnut nutrition also decreases abdominal adiposit

  5. http://www.walnut.net.au/Resources/Pictures/walnuts_image.jpg

    Inside the walnut

6. Also walnut health benefits include high number of antioxidants. This property of walnuts helps in lowering chronic oxidative stress, and the anti-inflammatory properties reduce the risk of chronic inflammation, thus lead to cancer development; so, regular intake of walnuts will prevent prostrate and breast cancer.

7. Regular intake of walnuts is helpful in the treatment of type diabetes-2 as it maintain blood sugar levels and insulin metabolism.

8. The anti-inflammatory properties of walnuts are helpful in protecting bone health. These are further effective in curing conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis and eczema.

Breast Feeding a bliss- world breast feeding day

 

Breast milk is the best and it is acknowledged widely as the best food for babies because this milk contains complete nutrients and helps the infants’ growth, immunity and development. WHO and UNICEF suggests breast milk should be given within one hour of birth and continues up to at least 6 months

‘Colostrums’, the yellowish, sticky breast milk produced at the end of pregnancy, is recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) as the perfect food for the newborn.

However, in these times, mothers, particularly working women’s, don’t urge their newborns to their hectic schedules.

But, many infants do not get possible feeding. According to WHO, only about 38% of infants getting breast feed. But In India, 41% mothers initiate early breastfeeding, reported by NGO.

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) was first celebrated in 1992 by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and it is now followed over 174 countries worldwide and this becomes an annual celebration which is being held from 1st to 7th August every year with the goal to promote breastfeeding.

 

Benefits of breastfeeding:

Studies have proven a number of health benefits such as:

1. Breastfed kids have more immunity and they are resistant to diseases.

 
2. Early initiation of breastfeeding, within one hour of birth, keeps the infant from acquiring infections and reduces newborn mortality. The mortality risk due to diarrhea and other infections can increase infants who are either partially breastfed or not at all breastfed.
 
3. Adults who were breastfed as babies they don’t have a chance of getting overweight /obese.
 
4. Breastfed kids are less likely to life juvenile diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and cancer before the age of 15.
 
5. Breastfeeding protects against Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most commonly diagnosed neurobehavioral condition in children and teens.
 
6. Breastfeeding moms are less likely to get osteoporosis later in life; breastfeeding also reduces the risk of ovarian, uterine and breast cancer.
 
7. Breastfeeding helps mothers lose weight gained during pregnancy and can also reduce stress level and risk of postpartum depression.
 
 
8. New research has linked breastfeeding with kids’ intelligence. Breastfeeding has also economic advantages as you do not need to spend money to buy formula. It also helps avoid medical bills later as it helps equip the infant to fight off disease and infection.

Breast cancer in men is on the rise

A study found that male breast cancer is on the rise, with a 25% increase over the 25 years from 1973 to 1988. But it’s still rare.

 
Researchers at the University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center report on the survey of the disease covering more than 2,500 cases. Sometimes the breasts can become quite large. This can be caused by medications, heavy alcohol use, weight gain, or marijuana use.
The researchers say it`s important that men should be more aware of possibility that they may get

breast cancer, the study shows the incidence of the disease is up from 0.86 to 1.08 cases per 100,000 men over the last 25 years. Also they compared with 380,000 cases of female patients. Male patients tended to be somewhat older than female patients when diagnosed with the disease. They were also more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage.

This is somewhat ironic, for it is easier to detect a breast tumor in a man.
But men may think that such tumors arise from a common benign condition. The medical term called gynecomastia (enlargement of both breast usually not called cancer)

The most common breast tumor among males is invasive ductal carcinoma, which accounts for 93.4 per cent of cases. Men are also more likely to have estrogen-positive tumors, which mean they could benefit from tamoxifen treatment.

The survival rates for male and female breast cancers are similar, although the tumors may differ somewhat in their biology
.

Antioxidants do not improve women’s Fertility

Antioxidants taken by woman do not improve fertility or chances of getting pregnant, a Medical News reported.

The researchers from The Cochrane Library, the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discovered that women who took oral antioxidants were no more likely to conceive than those who took a folic acid supplement.

Around a quarter of couples planning a baby are thought to have difficulty conceiving. Women undergoing fertility treatment often take dietary supplements, including antioxidants, to try to increase their chances of becoming pregnant. The researchers analysed data from 28 trials involving a total of 3,548 women attending fertility clinics.

However, many antioxidant supplements taken to improve fertility are unregulated and there is limited evidence on their safety and effects.

The researchers reached their conclusions based on a study of 3,548 women undergoing fertility treatments. A variety of antioxidants were taken by the women studied, including:

  1. OctatronR,
  2. Multiple micronutrients and Fertility Blend
  3. N-acetylcysteine
  4. Melatonin
  5. L-arginine
  6. Vitamin E
  7. Myo-inositol
  8. Vitamin C
  9. Vitamin D and Calcium
  10. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

The results show no significant increase in women becoming pregnant when taking antioxidants compared to those taking placebos or being given standard treatment, including folic acid.

A diabetes pill – metformin may have anti-ageing effects

US scientists have conducted an experiment with mice and found that diabetes drugs may have anti ageing effects if it is given in low doses otherwise It will be toxic.

Scientists believe the drug, metformin, will minimize the effects of calorie restriction. Taking a low calorie diet is thought to promote healthy ageing, BBC reported.

Rafael de Cabo of the National Institute on Ageing in Baltimore, US, said calorie restriction in experimental animals has shown to increase their lifespan. However, in the human study were unclear, the researchers said.

Metformin is a widely prescribed medicine for type-2 diabetes, which occurs mainly in people above the age of 40. It is also used to treat metabolic syndrome, a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Earlier work has shown that metformin can extend the lifespan of simple organisms like worms, but studies in flies and mammals have given conflicting evidence.
The scientists gave one of two different doses of metformin to middle-aged male mice and found that lower doses increased lifespan by about five percent, and also delayed the onset of age-associated diseases.

But they said the higher dose of metformin was toxic and reduced the lifespan of mice, BBC reported.

De Cabo said further studies were needed to determine if metformin has any effect on human health and lifespan.

Indian doctors discharge baby with swollen head

Doctors on 2nd August discharged a one-year-old Indian baby named Roona Begum who underwent several surgeries to correct a rare disorder that caused baby’s head to nearly double in size, a neurosurgeon told AFP.

Roona Begum endured several surgical procedures at a hospital near New Delhi in which doctors notify drain fluid from the baby’s head and conducts a life-saving operation and dramatically reduce the size of the skull.

“Roona’s health has improved significantly and she is fit to travel,” neurosurgeon Sandeep Vaishya said.

Roona was born with hydrocephalus, a potentially fatal condition that causes cerebrospinal fluid to build up on the brain.

Before Surgery

This condition makes the baby’s head to swell to a circumference of 94 centimeters (37 inches), putting pressure on the brain and which is impossible for the baby to sit upright or crawl.

After many surgeries and procedures the baby’s skull shrank to 58 centimeters conducted between April and July at the hospital run by the private Fortis Healthcare group.

Vaishya, who heads the hospital’s neurosurgery unit, said he expected the baby’s head to shrink further after conducting a final surgery in about six months’ time.

After Surgery

“When she came here, she was almost immobile. Now, she is moving her head from side to side easily, it shows that her neck muscles are already getting stronger,” he said.

“The next big step will be for her to sit up.”Neurologically as well the baby shows several signs of improvement. She can see better, her limb movements are much better,” he added.

Roona’s parents were too poor to pay for treatment, but publication of pictures taken by an AFP photographer at their home in the remote northeastern state of Tripura prompted the hospital to offer to treat the baby for free.

The photographs also triggered an outpouring of support worldwide with prospective donors contacting AFP and other news organizations, enquiring how they could contribute to a fund for her treatment.

Bird Poop Facials may be the latest craze at NYC spa

Want to do something for your face treat your face. with bird poop poultice at NYC Spa

Are you shocked, Bird poop for beauty?

The bird feces are used in facials at a luxury spa. This is the traditional Japanese treatment in which Asian nightingale excrements are used. These are then mixed with rice bran for which clients drop $180 a pop.

More than 100 women and men go into the Shizuka New York skin care salon, every month to get the treatment, which keeps the face more softly and smooth using an enzyme in the poop to gently exfoliate the skin.

Shizuka Bernstein, owner of the spa. She is a native by Tokyo and married to an American, has been offering this treatment and she named as Geisha Facial for about five years.

“I try to bring Japanese beauty secrets to the United States,” says Bernstein, who learned the treatment from her mother.

The Geisha Facial poop treatment, this is rarely used in the United States, but it is more familiar in Japan, where it was first used in the 1600s by actors and geishas.

“That’s why Japanese grandmothers have beautiful complexions,” says Duke Klauck, owner of the Ten Thousand Waves health spa in Santa Fe, N.M., offers a Nightingale Facial for $129.

Manhattan and Mari Miyoshi tried this treatment for the first time. The treatment begins with steam and softens the skin. Cream is applied. And then comes what Bernstein calls “the nightingale part.”

She pours the cream-colored poop, dried and finely ground, into a bowl, mixing it with the rice bran using a small spatula. She applies the potion to Miyoshi’s face with a brush, rubbing it in with her hands.

“This smells like toasted rice,” Miyoshi says. After about five minutes, it comes off with a foaming cleanser and Miyoshi’s face is draped in a warm, wet towel bathed in lavender and geranium essences. Finally with a green-tea collagen mask.

Dr. Michele Green, a Manhattan cosmetic dermatologist, says that while the nightingale facial “definitely has some rejuvenating effect

A common misconception is that any old bird poop, even from pigeons, is used. Bernstein says only droppings from birds of the nightingale species are used because they live on seeds, producing the natural enzyme that is the active ingredient.

Cosmetic Surgery subtracts years but doesn’t makes beauty

A research stated that patients who had undergone facial cosmetic surgery experienced three years younger, than they did before their operations. However, they can subtract only their years and were not rated as looking any more attractive or beauty. A face-lift or eyelid lift may make you look slightly younger but not attractive, a new study suggests.

The researchers also tried to notify and research about the improvements in attractiveness after surgery, which are often subjective.  Dr. A. Joshua Zimm, of the Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Institute of North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System said “Patients come to us because they want to look younger and look refreshed,”. Then he added that “We typically avoid telling patients, ‘we’re going to make you look X amount younger'” or more attractive, and we don’t want to create false or unrealistic expectations Zimm said. ”

The researchers hope that this new study will show a significant difference in attractiveness before and after surgery. And because the study focused on plastic surgery for aging, it excluded patients who’d had nose jobs or non-surgical lip or winkle injections, the researchers said.

The researchers examined with the raters by showing their photos of 49 patient’s aged between 42 and 73 that had undergone facial cosmetic surgery. The raters were asked to guess the age of the person in the photo, and rate that person’s attractiveness on a scale of 1 to 10. When looking at before-surgery photos, raters estimated patients to be 2.1 years younger than their actual age. When looking at after-surgery photos, raters estimated 5.2 years younger than the actual age, meaning the surgery took about three years off of the patients’ perceived age.

Most participants were given attractiveness scores between 4 and 6, and there was no difference between scores before and after the surgery.

Face-lift and neck lift procedures or additional eyelid surgery takes about seven years off a person’s age. The new study may have found a smaller difference in perceived age before and after surgery because this research included patients who’d had less extensive surgery, such as eyelid surgery alone or a brow lift alone, the researchers said.

To be included in the new study, patients had to have photographs on file that were taken at least six months after their surgery. This may have excluded some patients who were very happy with their results and did not come back to the doctor, Zimmsaid.