Month: March 2014

Girl with Multiple Sclerosis among fastest young runners in US

Kayla Montgomery is an 18-year-old distance runner who won the North Carolina state title last month and whose time (10 minutes, 43 seconds to run the 3,200 meters) ranks her among the nation’s elite in her age group

Kayla has accomplished all that despite a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis three years ago. The reason is In fact, the disease may have actually helped her as a runner.

Because MS “blocks nerve signals from Montgomery’s legs to her brain, particularly as her body temperature increases, she can move at steady speeds that cause other runners pain she cannot sense…” Kayla can continue running even as her legs go numb, but the flip side is that she will stumble and fall once she loses momentum or stops, explains the Winston-Salem Journal in an earlier profile.

Which is why teammates or a coach are always there to catch her at the finish line. “When I finish, it feels like there’s nothing underneath me,” says Kayla, who has accepted a scholarship to Tennessee’s Lipscomb University in the fall.

Unfair advantage? Maybe, but “it’s beautiful to watch her run,” says her coach a doctor who suggests it might be dangerous for a runner to be oblivious to pain.

Source: fox news

Meat and cheese may be as bad as smoking

Researchers have found that eating a diet rich in animal proteins during middle age makes you four times more likely to die of cancer than someone with a low-protein diet — a mortality risk factor comparable to smoking.

“There’s a misconception that because we all eat, understanding nutrition is simple. But the question is not whether a certain diet allows you to do well for three days, but can it help you survive to be 100?” said corresponding author Valter Longo, Edna M. Jones Professor of Biogerontology at the USC Davis School of Gerontology and director of the USC Longevity Institute.

Not only is excessive protein consumption linked to a dramatic rise in cancer mortality, but middle-aged people who eat lots of proteins from animal sources — including meat, milk and cheese — are also more susceptible to early death in general, revealed the study published today in Cell Metabolism. Protein-lovers were 74 percent more likely to die of any cause within the study period than their more low-protein counterparts. They were also several times more likely to die of diabetes.

But how much protein one should eat has long been a controversial topic — muddled by the popularity of protein-heavy diets such as Paleo and Atkins. Before this study, researchers had never shown a definitive correlation between high-protein consumption and mortality risk.

Rather than look at adulthood as one monolithic phase of life, as other researchers have done, the latest study considers how biology changes as we age and how decisions in middle life may play out across the human life span.

In other words, what’s good for you at one age may be damaging at another. Protein controls the growth hormone IGF-I, which helps our bodies grow but has been linked to cancer susceptibility. Levels of IGF-I drop off dramatically after age 65, leading to potential frailty and muscle loss. The study shows that while high-protein intake during middle age is very harmful, it is protective for older adults: those over 65 who ate a moderate- or high-protein diet were less susceptible to disease.

The latest paper draws from Longo’s past research on IGF-I, including on an Ecuadorian cohort that seemed to have little cancer or diabetes susceptibility because of a genetic mutation that lowered levels of IGF-I; the members of the cohort were all less than 5-feet tall.

“The research shows that a low-protein diet in middle age is useful for preventing cancer and overall mortality, through a process that involves regulating IGF-I and possibly insulin levels,” said co-author Eileen Crimmins, holder of the AARP Chair in Gerontology at USC. “However, we also propose that at older ages, it may be important to avoid a low-protein diet to allow the maintenance of healthy weight and protection from frailty.”

Crucially, the researchers found that plant-based proteins, such as those from beans, did not seem to have the same mortality effects as animal proteins. Rates of cancer and death also did not seem to be affected by controlling for carbohydrate or fat consumption, suggesting that animal protein is the main culprit.

“The majority of Americans are eating about twice as much proteins as they should, and it seems that the best change would be to lower the daily intake of all proteins but especially animal-derived proteins,” Longo said. “But don’t get extreme in cutting out protein; you can go from protected to malnourished very quickly.”

Source: USC news

 

Nearly 3 Million Americans Living With Hepatitis C

More than 2.7 million Americans are currently infected with liver-damaging hepatitis C, federal officials say, and one expert believes that number could be even higher.

These individuals are at much higher risk for liver disease, liver cancer and other chronic health issues, experts note. And although there are treatments available that can rid the body of the virus, many Americans remain unaware that they are even infected, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The long-term consequences of not diagnosing and treating hepatitis C are dire: Experts say more people in the United States now die from infection with hepatitis C than from HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The new survey of U.S. households, which took place between 2003 and 2010, found the number of people living with hepatitis C has actually fallen by 500,000 since 2000. The researchers cautioned, however, that the number might only be the result of more people in an aging population dying from the infection.

In addition to estimating how many people in the United States are living with hepatitis C, the researchers also investigated risk factors for the virus. The risk factors they identified are the same as those identified in previous years, including intravenous drug use and receiving a blood transfusion before 1992.

One expert said the CDC survey might be missing even more infected people, however.

“Millions of U.S. residents are infected with chronic hepatitis C,” said Dr. David Bernstein, chief of the division of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. “[But] our methods of estimating the true prevalence of the disease is flawed. All [federal government] reports underestimate the true prevalence of hepatitis C infection as they do not include the homeless or the incarcerated — two large populations with a high prevalence of hepatitis C infection.”

The survey, published March 3 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, also showed that only about half of those infected with hepatitis C reported having one of the major risk factors for infection. So screening patients based only on their transfusion history or intravenous drug use might not help spot those living with the condition, the researchers said.

Because Baby Boomers are six times more likely to be infected with hepatitis C, the CDC now recommends one-time screening for those born between 1945 and 1965.

In the meantime, the advent of powerful new medications that can rid the body of hepatitis C gives room for optimism, another expert said.

“There is an ongoing, exciting sea change in the management of hepatitis C,” said Dr. Peter Malet, director of the Center for Liver Diseases at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. “Two new oral medications — sofosbuvir and simeprevir — were recently approved for treatment and several more are expected to be approved in 2015.”

“With expanded identification of patients with hepatitis C and easier to tolerate, more effective treatment, the illness and death from chronic hepatitis C can be sharply curtailed in the near future,” Malet said.

Source: webmd

Silk screws used to repair fractures

silk_screws

Screws made from 100% silk have been used to repair broken bones in research that could transform surgery.

US scientists say metal fixtures can potentially be replaced with plates and screws made from the natural fibre, which will eventually dissolve in the body.

So far the technique has only been tested on rodents. Silk was once used to make sutures, but more recently has been used in modern medical implants.

In the new research, a team of medical engineers at Tufts University, Massachusetts, made screws from medical grade silk using specially designed moulds. The silk material can be cut to different sizes on a machine.

The screws were implanted into the hind limbs of rats, where they functioned successfully for four to eight weeks.

By the end of the study, the silk had started to dissolve. The low stiffness of silk, which is similar to that of bone, and its ability to break down in the body, make it a promising bioengineering material compared with traditional metal plates and screws, the researchers say.

Lead researcher Dr David Kaplan said “The future is very exciting. We envision a whole set of orthopaedic devices for repair based on this – from plates and screws to almost any kind of device you can think of where you don’t want hardware left in the body.”

He added: “They don’t interfere with X-rays, they don’t set off alarms and they don’t cause sensitivity to cold.”

Recently, German researchers coated silicone breast implants with a thin layer of bioengineered silk proteins.

Preclinical studies suggest the coating reduces or prevents painful reactions.

The new research is published in the journal, Nature Communications.

Source: BBC news

FDA Approves Drug for Older Women Experiencing Painful Sex

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug to treat postmenopausal women who experience pain during sex, the agency announced Tuesday.

The drug Osphena (ospemifene) mimics the effects of estrogen on vaginal tissue, which can become thinner, drier and more fragile from menopause. The pill, taken with food once a day, makes vaginal tissue thicker and less fragile to reduce pain during sex (called dyspareunia).

“Dyspareunia is among the problems most frequently reported by postmenopausal women,” said Dr. Victoria Kusiak, deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in an FDA news release. “Osphena provides an additional treatment option for women seeking relief.”

The safety and effectiveness of Osphena was established in three clinical studies involving nearly 1,900 postmenopausal women with signs of vulvar and vaginal atrophy, or thinning and fragile vaginal tissue.

Women were randomly assigned take either Osphena or a placebo. In the first two studies, those who took the drug for 12 weeks experienced significantly less pain during sex than the women in the placebo group.

Although a third study on Osphena found the drug is safe for long-term use, the FDA noted that the drug should be prescribed for the shortest duration needed.

Osphena can cause the lining of the uterus to thicken, which is abnormal for postmenopausal women, the FDA cautioned. Women should seek medical attention right away if they experience unusual bleeding since it could be a warning sign of uterine cancer.

The new drug can also increase women’s risk for stroke and deep vein thrombosis, but not as much as estrogen-alone therapy, the FDA advised. Other possible Osphena side effects include hot flashes, vaginal discharge, muscle spasms, genital discharge and excessive sweating.

Source: health

 

Passive smoking causes irreversible damage to kids’ arteries

smoking]

Exposure to second-hand smoke in childhood causes irreversible damage to children’s arteries – increasing their risk of heart attacks or strokes when they grow up, according to a large international study published on Wednesday.

The research, which lends weight to campaigns for smoking to be banned in private cars and homes, found passive smoking leads to a thickening of children’s artery walls, adding some 3.3 years to the age of blood vessels by adulthood.

“Exposure to passive smoke in childhood causes direct and irreversible damage to the structure of the arteries,” said Seana Gall, a researcher in cardiovascular epidemiology who led the study at the University of Tasmania.

She said parents, or even those thinking about becoming parents, should quit smoking – both to aid their own health and protect the future health of their children.

Smoking causes lung cancer, which is often fatal, and is the world’s biggest cause of premature death from chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

On top of the 6 million people a year killed by their own smoking, the World Health Organization (WHO) says another 600,000 die a year as a result of exposure to other peoples’ smoke – so-called second-hand or passive smoking.

Of the more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer, the WHO says – and creating 100 percent smoke-free environments is the only way to protect people fully.

About 40 percent of all children are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke at home, and almost a third of the deaths attributable to second-hand smoke are in children.

ARTERY WALLS

This latest study, published in the European Heart Journal, was the first to follow children through to adulthood to look at links between exposure to parents’ smoking and thickness of the innermost two layers of the arterial wall, known as carotid intima-media thickness (IMT).

Researchers from Finland and Australia looked at data from 2,401 people in Finland 1,375 people in Australia who were asked about their parents’ smoking habits. The scientists used ultrasound to measure the thickness of the children’s artery walls once they had reached adulthood.

The results showed that carotid IMT in adulthood was 0.015 millimeters thicker in those exposed to both parents smoking than in those whose parents did not smoke.

Gall said that while this was a “modest” increase, it was nonetheless an important extra and irreversible risk for suffering heart attacks or strokes later in life.

Since children of parents who smoke are also more likely to grow up to be smokers themselves, and more likely to be overweight, their heart health risks are often already raised, she said, and the second-hand smoke adds yet more risk.

The researchers said the findings showed reducing children’s exposure to smoke is a public health priority.

“Legislation can reduce passive smoke exposure, with restriction of smoking in public places reducing hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory disease,” they wrote, adding that banning smoking in cars with children in them would also have a significant positive effect.

The United States, Australia and Canada have already banned smoking in cars carrying children, and Britain said last month that it too would be introducing a ban soon.

Source: Reuters

10 Foods That Detox Your Body and Cleanse Your Liver

Here are 10 foods that detox your body and cleanse your liver. Think of your liver as an air filter. All the toxins we eat, drink and breathe in get clogged up in this hard-working organ. Even though our body has it’s own natural detoxification system, there is a lot we can do to give it a helping hand, largely by eating the right kinds of foods.

Most of the foods in the gallery contain a special protein called glutathione. Glutathione handcuffs toxins and drags them out of our body…quite effectively. Here’s the catch: this handcuffing process works best when foods are eaten raw. In fact, all of the foods listed here go from being a great source of glutathione to not containing any at all when they’re cooked.

If your body needs to get the yuck out, add Brussels sprouts to your diet today. Brussels sprouts are high in sulfur, which helps to remove toxins from the blood. Eating a serving or two of Brussels sprouts daily will help sponge out toxins – whether they’re environmental or dietary.These little sprouts also boost glucosinolate, an antioxidant that forces the liver to release enzymes that block damage.

Garlic:
A fresh bulb of garlic. Don’t have any in your kitchen right now? You should. Here’s why…garlic is loaded with sulfur, a mineral that helps rid the body of toxins. Garlic has also been shown to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Garlic has been used in the treatment of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and bacteria-related illnesses. Keep in mind, heating destroys many of the beneficial properties of garlic. If you can’t stomach raw garlic, you can find it in capsule form in most grocery of health food stores.

Dandelion

Yes, that’s a dandelion. While I don’t recommend pesticide, fertilizer-covered weeds to anyone, store-bought varieties are perfectly safe. If you can’t find dandelion leaves in your grocery store, opt for dandelion root tea instead. Dandelion root tea has been shown to rid the liver of toxins. Since our liver is responsible for breaking down fats, producing amino acids and generally filtering the gunk out – we need to take care of it. Dandelion root tea has a fairly bitter taste. I often brew a few cups of it, let it steep for a while, add lemon juice and sip on it all day.

carrots
Carrots are another food rich in glutathione, a protein that helps detoxify the liver. In addition to the detox properties, carrots contain good amounts of vitamin C, B6 and potassium. They also loaded with vitamin A and K, too! It’s best to eat these raw. Try with a side of guacamole, hummus or even mustard!

Raw tomatoes:
Raw tomatoes do a great job detoxifying the liver, containing 169 milligrams of glutathione per serving. The benefits don’t stop there. Tomatoes are famous for their lycopene content, which has been shown to protect against breast, skin and lung cancer. Eat tomatoes when they’re fresh. Try with a little balsamic vinegar and sea salt.

Grapefruit
Grapefruit contains just over 70 milligrams of liver cleansing glutathione. Grapefruits also contain a special kind of pectin that has been shown to lower cholesterol like no other pectin-containing food. One whole grapefruit is about 80 calories, so enjoy with a cup of cottage cheese or plain yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon and you’ve got a great breakfast.

Spinach
Popeye’s favorite, spinach, contains a whopping 166 milligrams of glutathione per serving when eaten raw. Cook it, and it all goes away. Spinach also contains twice as much energy-boosting iron as other leafy greens. Spinach has also gained a lot of attention as a cancer-fighter, too. Try a spinach salad today with a little olive oil and sea salt drizzled on top.

Walnuts
Walnuts detox the liver and feed the brain! A good source of glutathione and a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, a little bit of walnuts goes a long way. Why not sprinkle a few on your next spinach salad?

Avocados
Avocados are another fruit rich in glutathione. This green goddess is also a good source of monounsaturated fats and has been shown to lower cholesterol levels when eaten regularly.

Asparagus
In addition to being great for the liver, asparagus is a great vegetable to eat raw when you’re feeling bloated. Asparagus is a natural diuretic.

Source: chicagonow

Omelets With Roasted Vegetables and Feta

If you have roasted vegetables on hand an omelet is a wonderful vehicle for them. Omelets are so quick to make, and so satisfying, whether you make them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can cut up your roasted vegetables into slightly smaller pieces if you want a less chunky omelet.

Total time: About 2 minutes (plus the time it takes to roast the vegetables if you haven’t already done so)

For each omelet:

  • 2 eggs
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons milk
  • 2 teaspoons unsalted butter or extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup Roasted Winter Vegetable Medley
  • 1 tablespoon crumbled feta

1. Break eggs into a bowl and beat with a fork or a whisk until frothy. Whisk in salt and pepper to taste and 2 to 3 teaspoons milk.

2. Heat an 8-inch nonstick omelet pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons unsalted butter or olive oil. When butter stops foaming or oil feels hot when you hold your hand above it, pour eggs right into the middle of the pan, scraping every last bit into the pan with a rubber spatula. Swirl pan to distribute eggs evenly over the surface. Shake pan gently, tilting it slightly with one hand while lifting up edges of the omelet with the spatula in your other hand, to let eggs run underneath during first few minutes of cooking.

3. As soon as eggs are set on the bottom, spoon roasted vegetables over the middle of the egg “pancake” and sprinkle feta over vegetables. Jerk pan quickly away from you then back towards you so that the omelet folds over onto itself. If you don’t like your omelet runny in the middle, jerk pan again so that omelet folds over once more. Cook for 30 seconds to a minute longer. Tilt pan and roll omelet out onto a plate.

Yield: Serves 1

Advance preparation: The roasted vegetables will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator.

Nutritional information per serving: 317 calories; 23 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 402 milligrams cholesterol; 13 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 274 milligrams sodium (does not include salt to taste); 15 grams protein

Source: nytimes

 

Diet during pregnancy linked to preterm birth

A new study on diet and pregnancy suggests that what you eat when you are expecting is as important as what you don’t.

Women who ate plenty of fruits and vegetables and who tried to drink water instead of soft drinks were less likely to have premature babies than women who ate more “Western” diets, a big study in Norway has shown.

It wasn’t that women who ate pizza, tacos and sweets were more likely than average to have premature babies, the researchers found. It was that healthier eating lowered the risk by about 15 percent.

Dr Linda Englund-Ögge of Sweden’s Sahlgrenska Academy and colleagues studied a big database of 66,000 Norwegian women who are taking part in a larger study. One of the things they did was fill out a food diary while pregnant.

Englund-Ogge’s team classified their diets into three broad types: a “prudent” diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and not too much junk food; a “traditional” Nordic diet with boiled potatoes, fish and gravy; and a more typical modern “Western” diet with processed white flour, sweets and snacks.

“Our results indicate that increasing the intake of foods associated with a prudent dietary pattern is more important than totally excluding processed food, fast food, junk food, and snacks,” they wrote in their report, published in the British Medical Journal.

It makes sense, says Dr, Walter Willett, a nutrition expert at the Harvard School of Public Health who was not involved in the study. “It does fit with what we have learned about diet and pregnancy,” he told NBC News.

“Dietary pattern has been linked to a lower risk of diabetes. It has been linked to a lower risk of hypertension.” And high blood sugar and high blood pressure are both big risks in pregnancy that in turn contribute to the risk of pre-term birth.“Those are things that impair development of the fetus,” Willett said.

The U.S. infant mortality rate is higher than in most other developed countries at 6.14 infant deaths per 1,000 births. The average for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which groups developed countries, is around 4 per 100,000

Source: NBC news

Homegrown Herbal Remedies

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula—also known as pot marigold—is a centuries-old antifungal, antiseptic, wound-healing ally according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It’s the petals of these cheerful yellow and orange daisy-like flowers that lend skin-soothing properties to many natural cosmetics and diaper creams.

A freely reseeding annual that blooms all season long, Calendula makes a lovely addition to gardens with full sun. Harvest the petals fresh, or dry entire blooms—which close in the evening—before they’ve formed seeds.

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
Cilantro boasts a unique flavor you either love or hate. The leaves often garnish Mexican and Thai dishes, and the seeds—known as coriander—are a prime ingredient in Indian curries. Few think of this plant as a medicinal herb, but as noted in Phytotherapy Research, it’s a powerful digestive aid and cleansing agent capable of removing heavy metals and other toxic agents from the body.

Cilantro grows best in a cool, moist garden and will quickly bolt in hot weather. Look for slow bolt varieties from seed companies.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
This calming and uplifting perennial makes a pretty patch of bright green in the garden. The oils, tannins, and bitters in lemon balm’s fragrant leaves and flowers have a relaxing antispasmodic effect on the stomach and nervous system. When used topically, they help fight off viruses like herpes simplex according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Lemon balm is tasty and gentle enough for children when prepared in teas or tinctures with a glycerin base.

It’s a great plant to grow and use fresh, as the dried herb loses some potency after six months.

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
Familiar flavors in toothpaste and chewing gum, both spearmint and peppermint pack a powerfully refreshing zing. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reports that peppermint makes stronger medicine than its more culinary cousin. It readily relieves digestive discomforts like indigestion and vomiting when brewed as tea and soothes sore muscles in liniment recipes applied topically.

All mints spread rampantly in a moist garden, so consider growing each plant in its own large pot. Harvest leaves just before flowering. After that, they begin to taste bitter.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rosemary is the great reviver. This perennial woody herb stimulates energy and optimism and sharpens memory and concentration by bringing more oxygen to your brain, according to UMMC. It’s a wonderfully stimulating alternative to caffeine when you need that second wind!

A row of these long-lived and drought-tolerant plants makes a beautiful, bee-friendly, evergreen hedge. You may only need one plant in your garden, as a little bit goes a long way.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Give this handsome and stately biennial plenty of space, and stand back in wonder—the sturdy, yellow-flowered stem will emerge from within a rosette of thick, hairy leaves, reaching skyward nearly six feet! The leaves are commonly added to cough formulas, as mullein’s emollient and expectorant properties help heal bronchial respiratory infections. According to UMMC, a well-strained infusion of leaves alone will ease and loosen a stubborn cough.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
This groundcover’s delicate stems and tiny leaves belie the tremendous power attributed to it by Europeans in the Middle Ages. Many believed in the herb’s ability to heighten bravery and ward off nightmares and other detriments. Modern herbalists rely on the antibacterial and antiseptic properties of thyme’s oils to prevent winter colds and flu. Tannins in the plant also help relieve mild diarrhea according to Steven Foster and Rebecca L. Johnson, authors of Desk Reference for Nature’s Medicine. Many cultivars exist beyond the straight species, including sweet-tasting citrus varieties that are perfect tummy remedies for children.

Lavender (Lavandula)
Long recognized for its sweet perfume, lavender also boasts medical benefits as a nervine and mild antidepressant. UMMC suggests adding it to your bath to alleviate stress, tension, and insomnia. It’s also used in creams to treat sunburns and acne.

Woody lavender plants prefer hot, sunny, and dry environments. The fresh flowers are tasty in small doses when added to salads, honey, butter, lemonade, and even shortbread cookies. If you’re crafty, try sewing up an herbal heating pad or eye pillow with the fragrant dried flowers.

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Delicate, apple-scented chamomile demonstrates that mildness does not mean ineffectiveness. Primarily grown for its small, yellow-bellied flowers, NCCAM reports that chamomile is one of the best children’s herbs for treating colic, nervous stress, infections, and stomach disorders. In fact, it was chamomile tea that Peter Rabbit’s mother fixed for him after his stressful chase in Mr. McGregor’s garden!

Herbal Garden Allies
These easy-to-grow herbs bring health benefits to your garden as well as your family. Many attract beneficial insects, including bees, and help repel harmful pests from more sensitive plants nearby. Be sure to locate plants with their preferred conditions for light, water, and temperature in mind. For example, rosemary, lavender, and mullein thrive in warm, dry spots in full sun, while cilantro and mint prefer rich, moist areas with shade.

Source: health line