Month: September 2014

Fat people fail to recognise abnormal weight

If you are fat, chances are that you would underestimate the size of your kids and vice versa, says a study.

Fat people fail to recognise abnormal weight

People of normal weight make this mistake less often. “The failure to recognise abnormal weight occurs more often among overweight or obese mothers and children,” said lead author Tracy Paul from the Weill-Cornell Medical College in the US.

“Children of obese mothers often also underestimate adult size, suggesting that tolerance of being overweight is common among children exposed to obese parents,” Paul added. Many parents of obese children do not try to prevent their children from becoming obese because they simply fail to recognise abnormal weight.

The researcher queried 253 mothers and their children about their perceptions of what healthy and ideal body sizes are. The researchers found that 71.4 percent of obese adults and 35.1 percent of overweight adults underestimated size, compared to 8.6 percent of people of normal weight.

Among overweight and obese children, 86.3 percent and 62.3 percent respectively think they weigh less than they actually do, versus 14.9 percent of children of normal weight. Mothers of overweight children had a particularly poor showing.

Eighty percent of them underestimated their child’s weight, compared to 7.1 percent of mothers with normal weight children and 23.1 percent of mothers with obese offspring. Children with obese mothers, too, found weight difficult to judge, with the vast majority of them incorrectly classifying an adult’s size. “This is worrying, as flawed weight perception impedes one’s ability to recognise obesity and its risks as a personal health issue,” Paul noted.

The study appeared in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Source: the news

Even healthy people carry viruses in their bodies!

On an average, healthy individuals carry about five types of viruses in their bodies and the same viruses that make us sick can take up residence in and on the human body without provoking a sneeze, cough or other troublesome symptom, says a significant study.

Even healthy people carry viruses in their bodies!

“Lots of people have asked whether there is a viral counterpart (to bacterial flora) and we have not had a clear answer. But now we know there is a normal viral flora and it is rich and complex,” said study co-author Gregory Storch from the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. In 102 healthy young adults aged 18 to 40, researchers sampled five body habitats: nose, skin, mouth, stool and vagina.

At least one virus was detected in 92 percent of the people sampled and some individuals harboured 10 to 15 viruses. Analyzing the samples, scientists found seven families of viruses, including strains of the herpes virus that are not sexually transmitted. Strains of papillomavirus were found in about 75 percent of skin samples and 50 percent of samples from the nose.

Not surprisingly, the vagina was dominated by papillomaviruses with 38 percent of female subjects them.  Some of the women harboured certain high-risk strains that increase the risk of cervical cancer. Adenovirus, the virus that cause the common cold and pneumonia, also was common at many sites in the body. It is possible that some of the viruses the researchers uncovered were latent infections acquired years ago.

“But many viruses were found in body secretions where the presence of a virus is an indicator of an active infection. Dormant or latent viruses hide in cells, not in body fluids such as saliva or nasal secretions,” added lead author Kristine M. Wylie, an instructor of paediatrics.

According to researchers, it is very important to know what viruses are present in a person without causing a problem and what viruses could be responsible for serious illnesses that need medical attention.

The study appeared online in the journal BioMed Central Biology.

Source: business standard

Study: Viral Infection in Nose Can Trigger Middle Ear Infection

Middle ear infections, which affect more than 85 per cent of children under the age of 3, can be triggered by a viral infection in the nose rather than solely by a bacterial infection, according to researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre.

By simultaneously infecting the nose with a flu virus and a bacterium that is one of the leading causes of ear infections in children, the researchers found that the flu virus inflamed the nasal tissue and significantly increased both the number of bacteria and their propensity to travel through the Eustachian tube and infect the middle ear.

The study is published in the American Society for Microbiology’s journal Infection and Immunity.

“Every individual has bacteria in the nose that most of the time doesn’t cause problems,” said the study’s lead author, W Edward Swords, professor of microbiology and immunology at Wake Forest Baptist. “However, under certain conditions those bacteria can migrate to the middle ear and cause an ear infection, and now we have a better understanding of how and why that happens.”

The bacterium used in the animal study, Streptococcus pneumoniae, is known to exist in the noses of children in two phases, one relatively invasive and the other relatively benign. The more invasive phase is more frequently found in the infected ears of children. However, the study indicated that the flu virus promoted bacterial growth and ear infection regardless of which phase of the bacterium was present in the nose.

“These findings suggest that a flu infection modifies the response of the immune system to this particular bacterium, enabling even the type that has previously been considered benign to infect the middle ear,” Swords said.

Source: india medical times

To cancel out soda consumption, take 12,000 steps a day: study

Drinking a lot of soda packed with high-fructose corn syrup is, of course, not a healthy choice—but its ill effects aren’t so hard to fight. A study’s recommendation: Walk more.

To cancel out soda consumption, take 12,000 steps a day

In a study out this month, a researcher had two groups of students take in 75 grams of fructose daily, corresponding to a typical American eating style.

At the same time, she called on the students to cut their intake of calories not from fructose, helping them to avoid gaining weight. Each group spent a week moving twice as much as usual, amounting to about 12,000 steps, or 6 miles, per day.

Each group also spent a week moving half as much as they usually would. The low-movement week led to a significant decrease in healthiness, including a huge boost in inflammation indicators and heightened amounts of unwanted lipoproteins.

Tests even showed traits associated with the approach of diabetes. But the week of extra activity largely washed away the negative consequences of high fructose consumption.

“I don’t want people to consider these results as a license to eat badly,” the researcher tells the Times. Instead, her message is: “If you are going to regularly consume fructose, be sure to get up and move around.”

Source: fox news

Rare respiratory illness sends hundreds of kids in U.S. to hospital

Hundreds of children in the U.S. Midwest have been sent to hospital after falling sick with what’s thought to be a rare respiratory virus.

Symptoms resemble the common cold, but doctors say enterovirus D 68 seems to be sending more children to intensive care than a typical virus, particularly those with a history of asthma.

“It has been associated with clusters of respiratory viral illness, so that piece was well known,” Dr. Mary Ann Jackson, division director for infectious diseases at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., told NBC News. “But the clusters that have been seen in the past and reported have been small clusters of maybe, say, 25, 30 patients, and we were seeing that many patients in a day.”

More than 300 cases of the respiratory illness have been reported at Children’s Mercy Hospital, and 15 per cent of those children needed treatment with intensive care, said the Missouri Department of Health.

Hospitals in St. Louis are also seeing a spike in pediatric respiratory illnesses, the department said, without providing specifics.

The virus can cause mild cold-like symptoms, but this summer’s cases are unusually severe, said Mark Pallansch, director of the viral diseases division at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It’s not highly unusual, but we’re trying to understand what happened this year in terms of these noticeable and much larger clusters of severe respiratory disease,” Pallansch said Monday.

Other states that have contacted CDC for help investigating clusters of enterovirus:

  • Missouri.
    Colorado
    North Carolina
    Georgia
    Ohio
    Iowa
    Illinois
    Kansas
    Oklahoma
    Kentucky
    Doctors say enterovirus infections often occur in summer and fall, but are often mild or lead to no symptoms.

Most children recover without lasting problems.

Warning signs include diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory illnesses, high fever, red rash and irritability.

Officials are working to confirm the type of virus. Human enterovirus was first isolated in 1962.

There is no vaccine or antiviral therapy available.

In Canada, there have been 82 cases of this enterovirus in the last 15 years, but they haven’t always reported, said Dr. Caroline Quach, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Quach said, as with flu or cold bugs, keeping surfaces and toys clean and hand-washing are the best ways to prevent a case of enterovirus.

Source : cbc news

Nuts & Your Health: What to Know

Once viewed by some as a food too high in calories to enjoy on a regular basis, nuts are getting new respect.

Nuts & Your Health What to Know

Two recent studies have touted the benefits of nuts for blood sugar control. One, published in Diabetes Care, found that eating pistachio nuts daily may help people at risk of getting diabetes control their blood sugar. A second, published in PLOS One, found that tree nuts — including almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, and pecans, among others — may improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.

These are only a couple of many recent studies that point to the health benefits of eating nuts in moderation. What are some of the top health benefits of nuts, as found in recent research?

Aside from helping with blood sugar, nuts have been linked with improving heart health and helping with weight control. A study from last year even suggested that eating nuts of any type may help you live longer.

Doctors have known about the heart-health benefits for a while, says Christine Rosenbloom, PhD, RDN. She’s a professor emerita of nutrition at Georgia State University and a nutrition consultant. The value of nuts to lower cholesterol has also been acknowledged, says Jessica Crandall, RDN. She’s the director for outpatient nutritional counseling at Sodexo Denver Wellness and Nutrition.

What’s more, researchers from Purdue University found that nuts are not linked with weight gain, despite their relatively high calorie count. An ounce of nuts has 160-200 calories, depending on the type.

What are the “good things” in nuts, and how do these substances work in our bodies?

The protein in nuts can help keep blood sugar stable, Crandall says. The fiber helps with weight control, partly by helping us feel full. Some say the ”crunch” value also adds to a feeling of fullness.

Nuts are about 80% fat, but mostly ”good” unsaturated fats. Other good stuff in nuts includes magnesium (which helps maintain the calcium-potassium balance in your body), folate (critical for a healthy brain), and vitamin E (to maintain a healthy circulatory system). They also have arginine, an amino acid that’s needed to make nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels.

Plus, nuts can improve insulin sensitivity, which lowers diabetes risk, research has shown.

Are some nuts better or healthier than others?

“I think they are all healthy,” Rosenbloom says. “All are similar in protein, fiber, and fat [content].”

Still, she says, some nuts are higher in certain nutrients than others. For instance, almonds are the best source of vitamin E, she says. Cashews are a good source of magnesium, and pistachios are rich in the phytonutrients important to eye health, she says. “Eating a variety of the different kinds will give you all those benefits

Source: webmd

India ranks among top 3 medical tourism destinations in Asia

India is placed among the top three medical tourism destinations in Asia, mainly due to the low cost of treatment, quality healthcare infrastructure and availability of highly-skilled doctors, says a study.

India ranks among top 3 medical tourism destinations in Asia

“Within Asia, India, Thailand and Singapore are the three countries that receive maximum medical tourists owing to low cost of treatment, quality healthcare infrastructure, and availability of highly-skilled doctors.

“These three countries together accounted for about 60 per cent of the total Asian revenue in 2012,” the report Medical Value Travel in India by KPMG and Ficci said.

The research was conducted in India and other Asian countries and interviewed public sector stakeholders and domestic company heads or CEOs of renowned hospitals between July and August 2014. Estimated at $78.6 billion as of 2012, the sector has emerged as one of the largest sectors in India and is poised to grow at an annual rate of 15 per cent to reach about USD 158.2 billion by 2017, it said. It pointed out that Asian countries have introduced various marketing strategies to attract medical tourists.

In the past few years, Asia has taken the lead as one of the most preferred destination for medical value travel. Primary growth levers in this regard include low priced treatment options, availability of variety of treatments, improved infrastructure in terms of healthcare facilities and attractive locations for spending time after treatment. While Thailand positions itself as a dual purpose destination for both medical and economic holiday with an attractive location, Singapore promotes itself as a destination for fine quality in medical treatment.

India is known mostly for its cost-effective medical treatments along with high standards in cardiology, orthopaedics, nephrology, oncology and neuro surgery, it said.

The country is also known for its alternative treatment options such as yoga and ayurveda, it said.

Source: The Times of India

Kids living in megacities likelier to risk brain damage from air pollution

A new study has recently revealed that kids living in megacities are more prone to brain damage from air pollution.

Researchers from University of Montana revealed that children living in megacities are at increased risk for brain inflammation and neurodegenerative changes, including Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

Kids living in megacities likelier to risk brain damage from air pollution

The study found when air particulate matter and their components such as metals are inhaled or swallowed, they pass through damaged barriers, including respiratory, gastrointestinal and the blood-brain barriers and can result in long-lasting harmful effects.

Researchers compared 58 serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from a control group living in a low-pollution city and matched them by age, gender, socioeconomic status, education and education levels achieved by their parents to 81 children living in Mexico City.

The results found that the children living in Mexico City had significantly higher serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of autoantibodies against key tight-junction and neural proteins, as well as combustion-related metals.

The breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and the presence of autoantibodies to important brain proteins would contribute to the neuroinflammation observed in urban children and raises the question of what role air pollution plays in a 400 percent increase of MS cases in Mexico City, making it one of the main diagnoses for neurology referrals.

Once there’s a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier, not only would particulate matter enter the body but it also opens the door to harmful neurotoxins, bacteria and viruses.

While the study focused on children living in Mexico City, others living in cities where there are alarming levels of air pollution such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia-Wilmington, New York City, Salt Lake City, hicago, Tokyo, Mumbai, New Delhi or Shanghai, among others, also face major health risks. In the U.S. alone, 200 million people live in areas where pollutants such as ozone and fine particulate matter exceed the standards

Source: ani news

Myth or fact: Is Hibiscus the new drug to cure diabetes naturally?

Diabetes has become a common disease these days just like any other whacky flu, cough and cold. Life is certainly not easy for a diabetic as one has to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout, since there is no cure for the disease.

Is Hibiscus the new drug to cure diabetes naturally

Offering a new hope to diabetics, researchers at Assam’s Tezpur University and West Bengal’s Visva-Bharati University have derived that natural extracts from a particular species of the hibiscus plant can help in curing diabetes.

Researchers collected samples of hibiscus leaves from North-East region and conducted tests on diabetic rats. The results showed that a phytochemical (plant-derived compound) from the leaves of Sthalpadma or land-lotus (scientifically known as Hibiscus mutabilis and commonly called Confederate rose) restore insulin levels better.

Samir Bhattacharya, emeritus professor, School of Life Sciences (Zoology Department) at Visva-Bharati in Shantiniketan was quoted saying to a news agency: “We found that ferulic acid (FRL), belonging to the polyphenols, extracted from leaves of the plant, has the potential to be a better therapeutic agent for diabetes”.

According to the World Health Organisation, there are about 346 million people worldwide with diabetes, with more than 80% of deaths occurring in developing countries. India has nearly 63 million diabetic patients, with the situation becoming grimmer mainly because of the sedentary lifestyle prevailing across key metros and big cities aggravating the situation. According to a study conducted by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the number of Indians suffering from this malicious disease is expected to cross the 100 million mark by 2030.

Source: India vision

Developing Global medical tourism destination Dubai

UAE-headquartered hospitality company, TIME Hotels Management, has announced the latest in a series of property management contract deals with the signing of a new five-star hotel located just a few minutes from the city’s medical services hub – Dubai Healthcare City.

Developing Global medical tourism destination Dubai and TIME Hotel Management

Part of the group’s ambitious regional development programme, the latest announcement comes hot on the heels of news of its first Egypt resort property in the popular Red Sea tourist destination of Sahl Hasheesh, close to Hurghada.

The 277-room TIME Royal Hotel will occupy a prime position off the Sheikh Rashid Road with easy access to popular luxury retail hub, Wafi Mall, and a 10-minute drive from Dubai International Airport.

Under development by Awtad Investment Company the AED200 million hotel is set to open in 2016 and will offer guests a choice of two restaurants, a coffee shop, fully-equipped gymnasium, swimming pool, spa and 684-square metres of state-of-the-art meeting space.

“The new Wafi location will complement our existing properties which are located at opposite ends of the city in Barsha/TECOM and Al Qusais, and will also add much-needed room stock to the Oud Metha area which is home to Dubai Healthcare City,” said Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels.

“Dubai plans to position the emirate as a global medical tourism destination by 2020 with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) targeting 500,000 medical tourists with expected revenues of AED2.6 billion. To support this ambitious strategy it is imperative that Oud Metha’s hospitality capacity is enhanced as the area is currently underserviced in terms of hotel rooms,” he added.

The DHA is targeting a broad spectrum of treatment-seeking visitors including nationals from the GCC countries and South Asian medical tourists, which, according to Awadalla, is a fit with TIME Hotels’ own sales and marketing strategy.

“We will also add more value to the market with two rooms per floor at our new Wafi property specifically designed to be handicap-accessible; which is a first for the city and a unique selling point for the promotion of Dubai as a leading destination for medical tourism,” he said.

The hotel will also be wheelchair friendly with ramps sited throughout its major public areas and with adapted elevator access.

TIME Royal Hotel’s convenient location along one of the city’s main thoroughfares also makes it a good option for guests needing to be within a short drive of the embassies district, Dubai’s financial hub and major leisure attractions such as Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the historic Dubai Creek.

“The addition of Wafi will boost our collection of UAE hotels and hotel apartments to eight properties, and with a pipeline of five further properties in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Egypt, we are on target to reach our goal of 13 properties by 2016,” remarked Awadalla.

Source: etn