Experts promote Ayurveda in Gulf

A number of eminent scholars of Ayurveda, the ancient medical science of India, have come to the UAE to popularise the age-old system that can cure chronic illnesses as well as modern day ailments, naturally.
The Indo-Arab Ayur Fest, started in Sharjah on Wednesday, also features a number of Ayurvedic doctors from India and the UAE, besides industry experts.“Ayur Fest, the industry-focused expo is conceived to promote Ayurveda which is the wealth and treasure of India in the Middle East region,” said Sripriyaa, director general of India Trade and Exhibition Centre (ITEC), Sharjah, which is hosting the event for the first time.Around 15 companies and state Ayurveda councils from India are displaying various Ayurvedic spas and resorts at the show. The exhibition will run for four days from 10am to 10pm, ending on Saturday. Seminars, workshops, deliberations by distinguished Ayurvedic experts will be held from 7pm to 9pm every day.The Ayurveda experts will deliver a series of talks on topics such as diabetes and Ayurveda, women healthcare through Ayurveda, autism and child care, back pain management in Ayurveda, obesity and hypertension management through Ayurveda, and Ayurveda for healthy living. The doctors will also be available for free consultation.Sripriyaa urged the businessmen and general public alike to make use of this opportunity where all the facilities from the rich Ayurveda stream are brought to the very doorstep for the benefit of the UAE residents.Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ahmed Al Midfa congratulated the ITEC team on its inaugural exhibition and for its innovative ideas and concepts in promoting the India-UAE trade relations.Consul General of India in Dubai Sanjay Verma applauded the efforts of the India Trade and Exhibition Centre and offered all the support of the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
“It is not just trade or investments but these exhibitions also foster stronger social and cultural relationship between the two great nations,” he said.
Source:Gulf Today

Laughter yoga: Making fun of life since ’95

“Laughter and yoga are a strange combination, because laughter is about spontaneity, and yoga is about control,” says 26-year-old Sameer Bhattacharya, summing up his feelings neatly when asked about this form of group therapy. But on the occasion of World Laughter Day, sceptics like Bhattacharya are in a minority.
Mumbai’s chapter of the International Laughter Yoga Club was begun by physician Madan Kataria in 1995.It was in March that year when Kataria, who was researching an article on the benefits of laughter, realised the “medical and social” benefits of laughter. So, instead of letting his findings disappear in an academic quagmire, he and his wife decided to apply his findings. At a garden in the Lokhandwala Complex, he started with four people a form of therapy that would, in time, result in more than 7,000 laughter clubs in the country, and 3,000 overseas.The exercises include the namaskar laughter, the kite laughter, the penguin laughter, the argument laughter, and many more.“People are initially very embarrassed to be partaking in this exercise,” explains Kataria. “But your body can’t differentiate between real and fake laughter. So the health benefits are still manifested.” The physician recounts the example of a 75-year-old man who, once he had experienced the benefits of laughter therapy, declared the first day at the laughter club to be his new birthday.This therapy finds its most avid fans amongst the elderly or people facing daily work stress. “As you get older, you forget to laugh,” says 48-year-old Siddharth Mahajan, a businessman. “At first, I felt so stupid laughing at nothing, and everyone was staring at me. But I kept coming back. The day would start on such a great note, no matter what happened at work after that, I remained calm.”On the other hand, some admit to not understanding the appeal. “I attended a class, for fun,” says college student Neha Gargotia. “I didn’t feel any different after the class. I much prefer physical yoga.” But Kataria maintains, “Only those are skeptics who haven’t made this therapy a part of their life. Laughter yoga is scientifically proven to be effective.”

Worst Time to Have a Heart Attack: Morning

Heart attacks that occur in the early morning may be more serious than those that occur later in the day, a new study suggests.

The results show that people who have heart attacks between 6 a.m. and noon have about 20 percent more damage to their heart tissue than those who have heart attacks at other times of the day.

Patients with more tissue damage after a heart attack are known to have a worse prognosis, including a greater risk of death.The findings suggest hospitals should be well-staffed in the early morning hours to attend to heart attack patients, said study researcher Borja Ibanez, of the National Centre for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) in Spain. A larger staff will help ensure the patient's coronary artery is opened as soon as possible, which will lead to a better prognosis for the patient, Ibanez said.

Coincidentally, previous research has also shown heart attacks are more likely to occur in the morning. The findings suggest "those individuals are also suffering from the worst amount of injury," said Martin Young, of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, who was not involved in the study.

The link between heart attack intensity and time of day suggests the body's internal clock, or circadian rhythm, is at play, the researchers speculate.

Morning heart attacks

Ibanez and his colleagues analyzed data from 811 heart attack patients admitted to the Hospital Clinico San Carlos in Madrid between 2003 and 2009. These patients suffered from what is known as ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) -- a type of heart attack in which the blood supply to the heart is blocked for prolonged period.

The researchers divided patients into four categories depending on when the heart attack had occurred.

Two hundred sixty-nine patients had their heart attacks between 6 a.m. and noon; 240 between noon and 6 p.m.; 161 occurred from 6 p.m. to midnight period; and 141 between midnight and 6 a.m.

The researchers examined the levels of certain enzymes released by the body during a heart attack to determine the extent of the tissue damage, or tissue that has died during the attack, also known as the infarct size.

Patients with the largest infarct size had their attack between 6 a.m. and noon. These patients had 21 percent higher levels of enzymes in their bodies than those whose attacks occurred at other times of the day.

Body clock

Every cell in the human body has its own internal clock (called circadian clocks) that allows it to tell what time of day it is, letting cells anticipate what's next, Young said.

"If these mechanisms go awry … the cells in the body might not necessarily be telling the right time of day," Young said.

If this happens, individuals may be more susceptible to stresses at certain times of the day and suffer from diseases, such as heart attack.

This may explain why night-shift workers are at an increased risk for a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease. "Their clocks are out of sync with the environment because of the way they lead their lives," Young said.

In addition, proteins in the heart muscle that follow a circadian rhythm may play a role in how the body responds to a heart attack. For instance, some proteins may be present in higher concentrations at certain times of the day, providing a protective effect against heart attacks, Ibanez said. At other times, the concentration of these proteins may be lower and may leave patients vulnerable. If researchers find out what these proteins are, they may be able to use them in therapies to protect against heart attacks, Ibanez said.

The results will be published in the journal Heart.

BYU researchers hope twins unlock AIDS mysteries

Researchers at Brigham Young University are trying to unlock some of the mysteries surrounding the virus that causes AIDS with a trio of studies addressing unusual cases involving a set of twins, a failed vaccine and a protein "stop sign."The twin identical baby boys received a tainted transfusion and both became HIV-positive a few years ago.Now, one of the twins has a near-normal immune system and pretty good health, while the other boy is five years behind him on the growth chart and has experienced a number of complications.That provocative difference became the foundation of one of the studies, as researchers led by BYU biology department chairman Keith Crandall try to figure out how the virus changed in each twin. They've been joined in the study by scientists at the National Cancer Institute.Crandall said there are competing theories about the differences in their clinical outcomes. One theory is that natural selection drives it, so the results should be similar. The other holds that random genetics plays a role and it therefore cannot be predicted.A second study focuses on an HIV vaccine scientists in Thailand were trying to develop that proved ineffective. Crandall said they hope samples from that case will help them learn more about how the virus evolved and whether vaccinations to guard against HIV show promise."I think the HIV community is still split in terms of how to pursue treatment against HIV infection," Crandall told the Deseret News."There is a strong camp that thinks vaccine is still the way to go. We need to do more intelligent vaccine design," carefully considering everything they've learned in other attempts to create a vaccine that works."Others say no way," he said. "The focus needs to be on drug therapy. But the virus tends to hide out in places where drugs can't get to them."The final study is led by Greg Burton, chairman of BYU's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Xueyuan Zho, a student at the University of Colorado's Health Sciences department. They confirmed an earlier report that a naturally occurring protein prevents HIV from multiplying. But they've gone further to explain how the protein works, not just what happens."The importance of this study is that we moved ahead from earlier research. The effect was known, but we showed the mechanism," Burton said.

Source:Associated Press

Astronomy Technique , a Way to Spot Melanoma

A University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of astronomy has come out with a telescope capable of evaluating skin blots which can turn cancerous. The idea struck Andy Sheinis, who was at high risk for melanoma, about 10 years ago, during a visit to the dermatologist.The technology used in his giant Keck Telescope is a low-cost and speedy way to sample the spectrum of light in every pixel of an image and build a three-dimensional “data cube.”
It is used in astronomy to tease information about the size and composition of celestial objects millions or billions of light years from Earth. The technology, Sheinis noted, can be compressed into a device the size of a camera and is now being integrated into a microscope at UW-Madison’s Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation (LOCI).
In the context of assessing moles for their potential to become cancerous, the method, in a single snapshot, captures a three dimensional image in anywhere from 90 to several hundred wavelengths of light. It is quick, noninvasive, inexpensive and holds clinical promise not only for identifying worrisome moles but also for accurately mapping their extent, which is critical information when it comes to surgically excising them.

Hundreds of Herbal Medicines will be banned in European Union

Hundreds of herbal medicines stand to be banned in Europe starting tomorrow due to new European Union rules that state that over-the-counter herbal medicines require medical licenses. The new rules kick into effect on May 1 and a large number of herbal medicines have not yet been granted license, raising fears that both the manufacturers and herbal remedy practitioners can be severely affected by the rules.Recent surveys have revealed that over a quarter of the population in Britain make use of some form of herbal medicines and health officials are afraid not only regarding the safety of the products, but also whether any negative reactions take place if combined with regular medicines.
Health officials across the EU hope that the new laws will now provide only high quality medications to the general public. “This EU directive and the registration scheme puts consumers in the driving seat so they can identify that a product meets assured standards on safety, quality and information about safe use”, Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) Richard Woodfield said.

Tips for busy people

You're finally earning a 6-digit salary, your career's on fast-track. It's tough but you're managing to squeeze in a 45-minute workout three times a week. You also ran your first marathon this year- and can't wait for the next.In this dream scenario, fit in a forever blinking Blackberry, everyday pressures and a working wife (that = work stress x 2) an increasing number of urban Indian couples are losing their sex lives to ambition and success. Here's how you can avoid the trap...Remember when you first had a steady girlfriend you couldn't keep your hands off? Your single mates envied your persistent public displays of affection and you'd gloat over those sneaky-quickies that followed. You hated parental restrictions for getting in the way of a five-minute under-the-shirt action and fantasised about a married life, minus the rules and packed with lust. You thought this lust would last forever, didn't you?Now picture this reality. You're home from a 12-hour workday and an hour-long commute to find her on a conference-call, making throatslitting gestures to her absent boss while you collapse in an exhausted heap on the couch. Forget your favourite wine, you're seriously thinking about drinking a glass of milk every night, you've been told it'll help you sleep. Sex? Shudder- you're almost praying for her to have a headache!It isn't an exaggeration to say the sex lives of urban couples is in crisis mode these days. Workplaces from hell, killer commutes, bills and loans, snarky colleagues and 24/7 cricket on ESPN, none of it is geared to make you feel sexy. You're not alone. According to a recent survey in the US by the National Sleep Foundation, one in four Americans who're married/living with someone say they're mostly too tired to have sex. "I would even say it's an epidemic," said Peter Fraenkel, a New York-based couples therapist, in an interview to CBS's 48 Hours. Another survey reports that nearly half of all married couples in the US have sex only between once and thrice a month.Yet, sex is a basic need and it's critical to a relationship-not to mention, it's a ton of fun! What you need, then, are ways to factor sex into your life without feeling you're ticking off another task on your bottomless to-do list. Start here!
1. Planning is underrated
Do you show up at airports without booking a flight? No. Leave hotel reservations on vacation to chance? No. Hell, do you show up at a client's without an appointment? Naah. Fact is, planning pays big dividends. Yet, when it comes to sex, planning is considered unexciting. What's really unexciting, however, is the 'spontaneous' sex you're never having but want to nonetheless.You don't have to detail every aspect of your sex lives ahead of time, but figuring out with your partner how often you both ideally want sex, then working towards making time for it, is hardly rocket science. There's no right and wrong frequency, just what works for the two of you. "My wife and I have been married five years and recently we found we simply weren't getting it on for weeks.She was tired or I was, or we had social commitments that exhausted us post-work. I panicked-I mean, I was barely 30 and it looked like my sex life was over! We talked it over and have made a zero-tolerance rule ever since-Friday nights are ours alone. We don't go to parties, events or anywhere else. The only time the rule is broken is if one of us is travelling on work, or if either's parents have anniversaries/birthdays," says Rohan Nadkarni, 31, a Mumbai-based commodities trader. "Friends made fun of us in the beginning and there was whining when we didn't show up at a pal's dinner or birthday, but over time everyone respects our choice. We go out to dinner or grab takeaways together-sometimes we'll stay in and cook, talk, open a bottle of wine. It's just the perfect, low-stress way to start a weekend. And most Fridays, we're having sex! Sure, we know it ahead of time. But that only makes it better when, Friday evening I'm driving home from work and I know what the evening-and the whole night- has in store," he laughs.Have kids? Make one day a week non-negotiable for the two of you, and ignore anyone who says otherwise. Kids who grow up with parents that act like a couple, not just 'mom-dad', are way likelier to have a positive view of relationships in the future.
2. Stay edgy
We've all heard the homily about sex being between the ears and not between the legs; that's as true today as it was when you first heard it. Sex is the outcome of attraction, and attraction isn't a cactus plant-it won't grow on air and water alone. It needs all the signs you first showed when you started dating-you stayed fit, dressed hot, laughed often, surprised her, flirted with her publicly, held her hand or put your arm around her waist. You played footsie under tables and had private jokes that no-one else got. You made out in the car and sometimes at parties in the dark. Your connection was intimate, naughty, urgent.Sure, the urgency will recede, and the need to impress won't be allconsuming. And that's a good thing, it spells the end of initial insecurities about each other. What isn't good? Losing the intimacy that went with it. You can have one without the other, though. Touch each other, m"I read something in a magazine once that sounded so simple, I didn't see how it could matter," reveals Sanjukta Shankar, 27, Gurgaon-based interior designer who's been dating boyfriend Amit Jindal, 30, for five years. "It said touch each other even when there's no need to; like, if I wanted my boyfriend to give me the car keys, for instance, I should reach into his pocket for them instead of asking. So I did; we were at this bar with friends, and I deliberately slid my hands into the back pocket of his jeans to ostensibly get the keys. You will not believe how his eyes widened," she grins. "He was far more 'aware' of me the rest of that evening." That awareness is what keeps you tuned into each other physically. 
ake certain gestures or conversations intimate instead of routine, and see how you can keep things simmering.
3. Sex-up the setting
If Arnab Goswami is the soundtrack to your bedroom encounters, it may explain why you're not in the mood very often. Sexy is a state of mind, even more so for women, who're very sensitive to atmosphere. No, that doesn't mean you turn into a sop with a frilly pink bedroom, but you certainly need to work at setting the tone for a relaxed, seductive space. A few small touches-chillout music, intimate lighting, a couple of candles-go a long way, with little effort.The bigger challenge? Keeping your bedroom a no-TV zone; ditto for laptops and other stress-inducing gadgets. As for the Blackberry? Keep it on silent and out of arm's reach post 10pm if you want to have any kind of sex life at all!
This isn't all psycho-babble. As early as 30 years ago, Alvin Toffler, legendary futurist, warned us of information overload in his bestselling book Future Shock. Arguing that the human brain has a fi nite ability to process information, he demonstrated that unless we consciously limit how much information we access every day, mental and physical stress are inevitable. And as research has repeatedly shown, the first thing to take a hit when stress strikes a couple's life? Sex!To prevent your sex life from becoming a victim of information overload, consciously turn your bedroom into a purely leisure zone.
4. Get creative
Half the battle is won when you can get your mind primed to think about sex often, despite a stressed-out, packed schedule. A trick that works? Turn it into a creativity game with your partner. Have a 'sexy' shelf/drawer (lockable, please, unless you'd like to give a nosy maid the shock treatment) in your bedroom to aid creativity: Start with a variety of condoms; lube; a silk scarf; erotic DVDs or even literature; a sex toy or two, if that works for you. Agree that each of you needs to add 'elements' to the shelf on a monthly basis; it'll keep you both thinking of creative things you can use in the bedroom, and put sex front-and-centre on the agenda."My girlfriend and I had great sex, but it was fairly typical," says Neeraj Dutt, 38, partner in a New Delhibased consulting fi rm. "Then, on a trip to Germany, I was transiting at Frankfurt airport and saw a 'naughty' shop. I strolled in out of curiosity and it was, of course, a fetishist's dream. The store attendants and other customers were so blase that it gave me the nerve to pick up a fun pair of handcuffs," he laughs. "To be honest, it's been three months and we haven't used them yet, but just bringing them home to Ritika (his girlfriend) has sparked things up hugely. We tease each other about how we'll use them; and who gets to go first."
The benefits aren't limited to the bedroom alone, though. "Sharing something quirky or intimate like this totally makes you closer, it's like a dirty secret only the two of you know," says Neeraj. "Ritika and I have this innuendo thing going on, sometimes even in company, all based on the handcuffs, except no-one else gets the jokes but us. It's sexy and fun, and I'm constantly amazed how one impulse buy has shaken things up so much for us.
"5. Quickies exist for a reason
Yes, we've always said sex is something to savour, to bring pleasure and intimacy to your lives. But when your choices are no sex or the instant version? The latter, every single time! You find time to have a shower, read the paper, watch the news or make a couple of quick calls to friends, don't you? Then you've got time for a quickie. And having a quickie doesn't mean one of you is always shortchanged-make a deal where you focus on your pleasure one time, hers the next.Tip: If sex is always the last thing slotted into your day, it'll invariably get struck off the list, because your body and mind are both typically drained by then. Morning sex, in-the-shower sex, beforedinner sex, got-to-go-out-and-buy-groceries sex; a quickie is great precisely because you can fit it in without needing large doses of time and intimacy. Take the hint and prioritise the act.
6 Make life simpler
Sometimes, the solution to being too busy or too tired for sex is simply to lessen the load. Sex isn't an add-on, something you fi t in after everything else is done. Instead, if mundane logistics are getting in the way of getting it on, cut some of them out and make your sex life the priority. Wife/girlfriend constantly tired because she gets home from work and hits the kitchen?Fix two nights a week to order takeaway and give her some downtime. Nephews and neices running riot all evening? Bribe a young cousin to come look after them while you whisk her off for a real 'date'. You head to the gym for a rigorous session every evening? Sacrilege, I know, but cut it down to four times a week and give yourself a breather. You'll be setting the sheets afire
Courtesy:Men's Health

In US North Carolina legislation affects homeopathy and naturopathy practitioners

According to the National Health Freedom's recent press release:

SB31, the North Carolina bill promoting criminal felony violations for practicing medicine without a license, that would jeopardize homeopaths, traditional naturopaths, herbalists and many other complementary and alternative health care practitioners, is still moving forward and awaits action on the floor of the House of Representatives.

As in many states, the legal definition of the practice of medicine includes most all healing acts, and it is illegal to practice without a medical license unless otherwise exempted. Here is part of the NC definition of the practice of medicine, which could be interpreted to mean that any citizen could be considered practicing medicine:

“c. Offering or undertaking to prevent or diagnose, correct, prescribe for, administer to, or treat in any manner or by any means, methods, or devices any disease, illness, pain, wound, fracture, infirmity, defect, or abnormal physical or mental condition of any individual, including the management of pregnancy or parturition .”  ( NC General Statutes § 90 1.1. Definitions, part (5) The practce of medicine or surgery (c).)

Licensing statutes also give a list of exemptions from criminal charges of unlicensed practice. Licensed professions are generally on the exemption lists, thus historically the rush for occupations to become licensed. However, there are many occupations in the health arena that do not pose a significant risk of harm to constitutionally warrant licensure, and have never been licensed by state governments for that reason. NHFA views those occupations as participating in inherent fundamental rights,

rather than a privilege to act, doled out by the government. However, in most states, if they are not licensed, such as homeopaths, herbalists, traditional naturopaths, and hundreds of other natural health professions, then they practice under the dark cloud of possibly being charged criminally with “practice of medicine without a license”. No injury or harm needs to be done before being charged, nor the use of the title “doctor”.

NHFA works to promote the remedy for these exemption laws: safe harbor exemption laws for a broad range of unlicensed practitioners. Eight states now have some form of a safe harbor law. When a licensing bill of any kind goes forward, including dietitians, naturopathic physicians, massage, etc, NHFA always checks to see if there is a clear exemption for those persons that are unlicensed and who still would like to practice in the public domain with non-invasive practices. If there are not exemptions, then we oppose the bill. We look at the definitions of practice in the bills, and the titles that are being asked to be taken out of the public domain.

NHFA has been supporting North Carolina Citizens for Healthcare Freedom’s opposition to SB 31 and also actively supports their ongoing efforts to get a safe harbor exemption passed for unlicensed practice so that they are not vulnerable to being charged with a misdemeanor. Now, if SB 31 passes, they could be charged with a felony. This makes the work for the safe harbor exemption to be even more important. One solution would be to amend SB 31 and attach the already existing safe harbor bill language to the moving bill. However, they need strong champions to do this.

Tai Chi Helps Improve Quality of Life in Heart Failure Patients

A new report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that people suffering from chronic heart failure can improve the quality of their life by regularly practicing Tai Chi.
Researchers from the Harvard Medical School conducted the study on 100 patients who were hospitalized with systolic heart failure. Half of the participants were part of the time-matched education group while the remaining half regularly practiced Tai Chi exercises for over a period of 12 weeks.
At the end of the study the researchers found that those who were involved in the tai chi group a marked improvement in the quality of life as well as showed increased confidence to perform certain exercise-related activities. “In conclusion, tai chi exercise, a multi-component mind-body training modality that is safe and has good rates of adherence, may provide value in improving daily exercise, quality of life, self-efficacy and mood in frail, deconditioned patients with systolic heart failure”, the researchers wrote. 
Source-Medindia
  

San Francisco mulls circumcision ban: Is procedure mutilation - or good medicine?

Has the time come to cut out circumcision? Pro-foreskin forces say so, and some in San Francisco say they've collected enough signatures to put a proposal to ban circumcision before voters.The proposal would make it a misdemeanor to perform circumcision on a male under the age of 18 within the city. Anyone who ignored the ban would face a $1,000 fine and a year in jail.Circumcision should be outlawed because "it's excruciatingly painful and permanently damaging surgery that's forced on men when they're at their weakest and most vulnerable," a leading proponent of the ban, 59-year-old Lloyd Schofeld, told Reuters.Since circumcision is a ritual practice for Jews and Muslims, some legal experts say such a ban might prove an unconstitutional infringement of religious freedom, Time reported. But others say religions don't get a "free pass."

What do doctors say?

The American Academy of Pediatricians says the procedure cuts both ways. In its official policy statement on circumcusion - issued in 1999 and reaffirmed in 2005 - the academy said the procedure has potential health benefits, including reduced risk bladder infections and transmission of HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases.

But the academy said there were potential downsides to the procedure, pointing to anecdotal reports that circumcision can reduce men's sexual sensation and clear evidence that it can be painful and lead to complications like bleeding and infections - and in rare instances, to partial or complete amputation of the penis.Given the pros and cons, the academy says "the procedure is not essential to the child's current well-being" and that "parents should determine what is in the best interest of the child."Eighty percent of American men are circumcised, the New York Times reported last year. But across the nation, fewer parents are choosing to circumcise their boys. In 2009, 32.5 percent of newborns in the U.S. were circumcised, down from 56 percent in 2006.Of the slide, Georganne Chapin, executive director of the Tarrytown, N.Y.-based anticircumcusion organization Intact America, told the Times, "Word has gotten out that it's not necessary, it's harmful, and it's painful."

Courtesy:CBSNews

Fish Livers Beneficial to Health

Fish livers have been confirmed to be a good source of polyunsaturated fat beneficial to health by researchers at the University of Almeria in Spain.
Anchovies are one of the fish whose livers contain the highest levels of these substances."The livers of edible fish are a good source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids  (LCPUFA), especially those in the omega 3 family, such as eicisapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)," said Jose Luis Guil-Guerrero, lead author of the study. 

These fatty acids are used to prevent and treat various complaints, such as some kinds of cancer, depression, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, behavioural problems and cardiovascular diseases.
The study focused on 12 kinds of fish that are commonly eaten in south eastern Spain, such as hake, shortfin mako and European pilchard. The livers of the great weever (Trachinus draco) and the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) were those that showed up the highest levels of LCPUFA.

 

Ruptured Eardrum from Cotton Swab

A ruptured eardrum could result from inserting a cotton swab in the ear, state researchers in a new study.
It also showed that in most cases the rupture heals on its own and surgery is only necessary for the most severe cases."In the past, many otolaryngyologists have wondered if surgery is really necessary to treat a ruptured eardrum. The results of this study show that 97 percent of cases healed on their own within two months, proving that most cases do not require surgery," said Ilaaf Darrat, an otolaryngologist at Henry Ford Hospital and co-author of the study. More than half of patients seen in otolaryngyology(ear, nose and throat) clinics, regardless of their primary complaint, admit to using cotton swabs to clean their ears. But if the cotton swab is pushed too far in the ear canal it can cause serious damage, including ruptured eardrum, also known as tymapnic membrane perforations (TMP).

 

AYUSH Doc stir in New Delhi

Recently AYUSH Docs had made a protest programme in Jantar Mantar New Delhi.

AYUSH  Doctors gathered in that stir under the aegis of AYUSHMA.
Secretary AYUSHMA Dr K.A.Sharma told that the protest was most successful event of this year which will put pressure on the Government  to fulfill the genuine demands of AYUSH doctors.A 11 point memorandum was also  given to the Union Minister of Health and Family welfare in this regard. 

Docs were demanding to announce AYUSH as a mainstream pathy of INDIA as the docs are serving at par as Allopathic Docs. 

China Set to Impose Smoking Ban in Public Places

China's health ministry to introduce smoking ban in public places with new regulations due to come into force on 1 May. The nationwide prohibition is designed to bring China -- which has more than 300 million smokers  roughly equal to the entire population of the United States -- more in line with health regulations in developed countries.But it faces a tough test. Tobacco use  is deeply ingrained in China, where offering a cigarette is a common greeting ritual. Lighting up in elevators or even hospital waiting rooms is routine and second-hand smoke is considered a serious health threat. "I don't think this ban on smoking  will have a big effect," Yang Lei, a 32-year-old Beijinger who has been smoking for four years, told AFP. "In China, when you are in a restaurant,people smoke even if there is a 'No Smoking' sign. When you eat with friends, few people ask others if it's OK to smoke and restaurant managers rarely stop clients who smoke."
Source:AFP
 
 

Higher Metabolic Rate Linked to Quicker Aging

Higher metabolic rates can predict early natural mortality, indicating that higher energy turnover may accelerate aging in humans, a new study has suggested.To investigate whether higher metabolic rate is associated with aging in humans, this study examined whether energy expenditure, measured in a metabolic chamber over 24 hours and during rest predicts natural mortality."We found that higher endogenous metabolic rate, that is how much energy the body uses for normal body functions, is risk factor for earlier mortality," said Reiner Jumpertz, of the National Institute o fDiabetes  and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Phoenix, Ariz., and lead author of the study. "This increased metabolic rate may lead to earlier organ damage (in effect accelerated aging) possibly by accumulation of toxic substances produced with the increase in energy turnover," Jumpertz added.


 

Weight-loss surgery can help diabetes disappear; new study suggests why

Weight-loss surgery could be a quick diabetes fix for some people, some studies have suggested, and now researchers are getting closer to an explanation as to why that might be the case. And it’s about much more than weight loss.  Researchers from Columbia University and Duke University studied two groups of obese diabetic patients at a hospital in New York. Ten people had a type of gastric bypass surgery that essentially reduces the size of the stomach, and 11 people were put on a strict diet. People in both groups lost from 22 to 26 pounds on average.Scientists measured and assessed the circulating amino acids and acylcarnitines in the blood of subjects -- animal studies have suggested they might be related to insulin resistance. (Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins; acylcarnitines are fatty acids that have bound to carnitine). And indeed they found a significant decrease in “branched chain” amino acids within one month among the patients who had weight-loss surgery. But even after two months, the patients on dietary intervention had very little or no change in branched-chain amino acids. This WebMD story offers a fuller portrait of the research. Essentially, the lower the concentration of branched-chain amino acids, the less insulin resistant the patients were, the researchers reported online Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine. They replicated their findings in a smaller group of obese patients at Duke and found the branched-chain amino-acid levels were still lower after six months among those who had gastric bypass surgery. In short, something about the surgery, not the weight loss itself, seems to be improving glycemic control -- and amino-acid levels appear to have a role. But it’s unclear if the amino acids cause lower resistance to insulin. Two cardiologists from Massachusetts General Hospital write in a related Perspective:“Further work is needed to establish whether the reduction in concentrations of circulating amino acids after weight loss is the cause or consequence of improvements in insulin sensitivity.”But, safe to say, the research adds to a growing consensus that the benefits of gastric bypass surgery need to be further explored.  
Courtesy:LA Times

In US Elderly face lack of geriatric specialists, new report warns

Doctors who specialize in aging are in short supply and their shortage will grow worse as the population ages in coming decades, a new report concludes.The report, published this month in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, warns that as the proportion of older adults spikes from 12% to a projected 20% by 2030, caring for 70 million people 65 and older and 10 million 85 and older will be a challenge.The report, published this month in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, warns that as the proportion of older adults spikes from 12% to a projected 20% by 2030, caring for 70 million people 65 and older and 10 million 85 and older will be a challenge.

Other types of health care providers will need to work in teams with the doctors to help coordinate patient care, according to the report.

"There are not going to be enough geriatricians," says physician Gregg Warshaw, an author of the report and chair of the division of geriatrics at the University of Cincinnati. Currently, he says, "80% of pediatric patients see pediatricians, while 80% of geriatric patients see primary care doctors or internists."

Earlier studies by physicians groups predicted 36,000 additional geriatricians will be needed by 2030. But the new report calls that "impossible and unrealistic." Fewer than 320 physicians entered geriatric medicine fellowship training from 2004 to 2008, the report said, noting a lack of geriatricians in some rural areas is acute.The authors call on policymakers and health care systems to change payments to reward team members other than physicians — such as nurses and social workers — and to improve training in care for the elderly.

 Physician Steven Counsell, director of geriatric medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, says one of the problems with current Medicare policy is "so much of the payment is based on the face-to-face visit between the doctor and patient."

Success stories involving teams of health care providers working in concert with geriatricians are good models for others to pursue, Counsell says. He helped create the Geriatric Resources for Assessment and Care of Elders (GRACE), which aligns low-income adults living in their homes with two medical teams.The support team includes a nurse practitioner and social worker who visit patients at home to assess their needs. Then a larger team, including a geriatrician, pharmacist and physical therapist, develop a care plan. The support team, rather than the doctor, follows the patient.A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association in November praised the program as one of the models that would be most effective and efficient in caring for the complex needs of older adults. GRACE saved money for the sickest (three to four chronic diseases). It decreased emergency room visits and lowered admission rates."In half a day, a geriatrician meeting with one team can impact 500 patients," Counsell says.

Courtesy:

By Janice Lloyd, USA TODAY