Health News

Diet and exercise improves osteoarthritis pain

Diet and exercise improves osteoarthritis pain

When compared with the exercise group, the diet and exercise group had less knee pain, better function, faster walking speed, and better physical health-related quality of life.

Eighteen months of intensive diet and exercise together lead to less knee pain and better function among overweight and obese adults with knee osteoarthritis, new research has revealed.

Stephen P. Messier, Ph.D., of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, and colleagues conducted a study to determine whether a 10% or greater reduction in body weight induced by diet, with or without exercise, would reduce joint loading and inflammation and improve clinical outcomes more than exercise alone. The study included 454 overweight and obese older community-dwelling adults (age 55 years or older with a body mass index of 27-41) with pain and radiographic knee OA. The interventions consisted of intensive diet-induced weight loss plus exercise, intensive diet-induced weight loss, or exercise. It was found that average weight loss was greater in the diet and exercise group and the diet group compared with the exercise group. When compared with the exercise group, the diet and exercise group had less knee pain, better function, faster walking speed, and better physical health-related quality of life. The study found that participants in the diet and exercise and diet groups had greater reductions in Interleukin 6 (a measure of inflammation) levels than those in the exercise group, and those in the diet group had greater reductions in knee compressive force than those in the exercise group. Researchers said the findings from this trial suggested that intensive weight loss may have both anti-inflammatory and biomechanical benefits; when combining weight loss with exercise, patients can safely achieve a mean long-term weight loss of more than 10%, with an associated improvement in symptoms greater than with either intervention alone. The study is published in journal JAMA. Source: http://www.dnaindia.com

Mobile phones, towers do not cause cancer’

The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) Friday rubbished reports that radiation emitted from cell phones and their towers cause cancer.

“Radiation from mobiles and mobile towers pose no threat to the health or cause cancer as it is commonly believed,” DMA president Anil Agarwal said at a press conference here.

“The radiation waves are too weak too cause such a deadly disease and moreover there are no empirical findings to establish that mobile tower radiation causes cancer or any such disease,” he said, adding the medical experts from the DMA have come to this conclusion after reviewing the study done by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO conducted a research where they had consulted 4,50,000 cell phone users in the past 13 years, but had not been able to provide support for any relationship between the emission of radiation from mobile phones and cancer, said P. Ramakrishna, a consultant on electro-magnetic fields (EMF).

Even the study done by US’ National Cancer Institute shows no increased risk for brain tumors from cell phone use, he added.

Source: http://www.sify.com/news/

Rapid rise in dengue cases, three deaths in Delhi

There have also been three confirmed deaths and seven suspected deaths, as per an official Friday.

“There has been a total of 1,729 cases and three have died from the vector-borne disease,” said municipal health officer N.K. Yadav.

Of the total cases, 1,698 patients are from Delhi and 31 belong to adjoining states.

The north, south and east corporations reported 837, 408 and 368 cases, respectively.

The victims who have succumbed to the virus and been confirmed by municipal authorities are Phool Singh, 47 of west Delhi’s Ashok Nagar, Priyanka Shankar, 21 of north Delhi’s Pratap Nagar and Priya Jha, 6 of south Delhi’s Okhla.

Source: Zee News

Antibodies in shark may prevent growth of breast cancer

Antibodies in shark may prevent growth of breast cancer

A TYPE of antibody found only in the blood of sharks could help tackle breast cancer, scientists have said.

It is thought that the unique IgNAR antibodies could be used to prevent the growth of cancer cells and research into them could lead to the development of new drugs to fight one of the most common forms of the disease.

Biologists from the University of Aberdeen have been awarded 200,000 pounds ($345,660) by Scottish cancer research charity the Association for International Cancer Research (AICR) to carry out a three-year study.

Their work will focus on two molecules, HER2 and HER3, found on the surface of cancer cells which, when they pair-up, are responsible for signaling cancer cells to grow and divide.

Potentially, IgNAR antibodies could be used to stop these molecules from working and sending the signal.

“IgNAR antibodies are interesting because they bind to targets, such as viruses or parasites, in a very different way to the antibodies found in humans,” said Dr Helen Dooley who is from the university’s School of Biological Sciences and will lead the study.

“They can do this because their attachment region is very small and so can fit into spaces that human antibodies cannot.

“We believe we can exploit the novel binding of IgNAR and use it to stop HER2 and HER3 molecules from working, and prompting cancer cells to grow and divide.”

Very high levels of HER2 are found on the surface of cancer cells in women who have HER2-positive breast cancer, this affects around a quarter of women with breast cancer.

While HER2-positive breast cancer can be treated with drugs but resistance to this successful treatment is a growing problem.

“With the funding from AICR we can begin to explore the potential of IgNAR as a future treatment for breast cancer,” Dooley said.

“This is only the first step in a very long process but if our hypothesis holds true we hope to develop new anti-cancer drugs based upon these unique shark antibodies.”
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/sci-tech/antibodies-in-shark-blood-may-be-able-to-prevent-growth-of-breast-cancer/story-fn5fsgyc-1226727945467#ixzz2gAT8Jweb

 

 

New 3D printed toothbrushes clean mouth in 6 seconds

New 3D printed toothbrushes clean mouth in 6 seconds

Engineers have invented a new kind of toothbrush that is tailor-made to fit into a person’s mouth.

According to Blizzident’s makers, the toothbrush cleans teeth completely within six seconds, though independent studies are yet to verify the claims.

To make the brush, the dentists take teeth’s digital scan then the makers use it to find out the optimal placement of 600 bristles by simulating biting and chewing movements.

The bristles look like normal bristles but are much finer and have been tapered to reach under the gumline better.

The makers print the brush with 3D printing. They use the dental scan to create a computer aided design (CAD) model of the brush that is then converted into a 3D object using stereolithography – a method in which liquid plastic is created into the shape with an ultraviolet laser, Fox News reported.

The bristles are then painstakingly attached to this object.

To use Blizzident, a person has to bite down on it and grind their teeth for about six seconds.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com

Eating fish and nuts do not boost thinking skills

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish such as salmon and in nuts, may not help improve thinking skills, a new study has revealed.

“There has been a lot of interest in omega-3s as a way to prevent or delay cognitive decline, but unfortunately our study did not find a protective effect in older women. In addition, most randomized trials of omega-3 supplements have not found an effect,” study author Eric Ammann, MS, of the University of Iowa in Iowa City, said.

However, the researchers did not recommend that people change their diet based on these results.

The study involved 2,157 women age 65 to 80 who were enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative clinical trials of hormone therapy. The women were given annual tests of thinking and memory skills for an average of six years. Blood tests were taken to measure the amount of omega-3s in the participants’ blood before the start of the study.

The researchers found no difference between the women with high and low levels of omega-3s in the blood at the time of the first memory tests. There was also no difference between the two groups in how fast their thinking skills declined over time.

The study is published in journal Neurology.

Source: http://www.newstrackindia.com

Simple blood test diagnoses Parkinson’s disease

A new research report appearing in the December issue of the FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org) shows how scientists from the United Kingdom have developed a simple blood test to detect Parkinson’s disease even at the earliest stages. The test is possible because scientists found a substance in the blood, called “phosphorylated alpha-synuclein,” which is common in people with Parkinson’s disease, and then developed a way to identify its presence in our blood.

“A blood test for Parkinson’s disease would mean you could find out if a person was in danger of getting the disease, before the symptoms started,” said David Allsop, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences and the School of Health and Medicine at the University of Lancaster, in Lancaster, UK. “This would help the development of medicines that could protect the brain, which would be better for the quality of life and future health of older people.”

To develop the blood test for Parkinson’s disease, Allsop and colleagues studied a group of people diagnosed with the disease and a second group of healthy people of a similar age. Blood samples from each group were analyzed to determine the levels of phosphorylated alpha-synuclein present. They found those with Parkinson’s disease had increased levels of the substance. Based upon these findings, researchers developed a blood test that detects the presence of phosphorylated alpha-synuclein, which could allow for diagnosis of the disease well before symptoms appear but when brain damage has already begun to occur.

“When most people think of Parkinson’s disease, they think of the outward symptoms, such as involuntary movements,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal, “but many people with Parkinson’s also develop neurological problems that may be more difficult to detect right away. Having a blood test not only helps doctors rule out other possible causes of the outward symptoms, but it also allows for early detection which can help patients and their caregivers prepare for the possibility of the mental, emotional, and behavioral problems that the disease can cause.”

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org

5 Cooking Mistakes That Pack on Pounds

It’s no tip that grill dishes are installed with dark mixture and calories. That’s because home-cooked dishes are a good thought for anyone examination their weight. Conquering a kitchen is a good initial step, though if we haven’t eaten out in months and a scale still won’t budge, it competence be time to take a closer demeanour during your cooking habits. Below a few mistakes that could be derailing your weight-loss plans.

Using too most oil
yes, olive oil is a ‘good’ fat. But a kitchen tack is also crazy-dense calorie correct – a singular tablespoon clocks in during 120 calories. That might not sound like a lot, though if you’re not profitable attention, it’s easy to use as most as 3 times that amount. Sticking to that singular tablespoon stipend can be generally tough with vegetables, given they tend to catch oil quickly. A useful trick, lightly steam your veggies (or protein) to prepare them by before adding them to a stir-fry.

Estimating portion sizes
We all know a significance of portion control, though during a finish of a prolonged day, holding a time to magnitude any part out can seem painfully time consuming. Instead, we eyeball portion sizes – a use that could potentially supplement hundreds of dark calories to an differently healthy meal. Avoid profitable a cost for weeknight indolence by holding a time to unequivocally learn what healthy portions of grains, fish and produce demeanour like.

Being a worker to a recipe
If we miss certainty in a kitchen, it’s tantalizing to follow recipes to a T. But by blindly adhering to a part list, you’re blank out on profitable opportunities to make healthy tweaks. For example, if a recipe calls for one crater of cream, try substituting half of that with greek yogurt, or even pureed avocado. This simple swap cuts calories and fat but sacrificing on hardness or taste.

Snacking while we prep
Resisting a titillate to taste-test while prepping your food can seem impossible, generally when you’re starving. And while a small snacking never killed anyone, a handful of walnuts here and a cut of avocado there can unequivocally supplement up. To equivocate ruining your ardour (and your meal) try nipping resin or sipping a potion of  sparkling H2O while we cook. Still munching? Time for some tough love: for each punch we take, put a small reduction on your plate.

Leaving leftovers adult for grabs
Picture this: cooking was delicious, you’re absolutely full and we know we should be satisfied. That is, until we go to do a dishes, and a pot of pasta on a stove starts job your name. Preempt a incentive to go in for a second assisting by putting leftovers divided as shortly as possible. In this case, that aged proverb binds loyal – out of sight, out of mind.

Source: http://phucanpc.com/4155/5-cooking-mistakes-that-pack-on-the-pounds/

Bionic Man: Controls Artificial Leg with his Thoughts

For the first time ever, doctors have developed an artificial leg that is controlled by the person’s thoughts. And it happened here at the Rehabilitation Institute Of Chicago (RIC).

“So I move my leg out, push the toes down and bring my toes back up,” said Zac Vawter, the first man in the nation to have a so-called bionic leg.

He is able to make these movements just like people with a fully functioning leg do: With his thoughts.

In 2009, Vawter lost his right leg from above the knee down in a motorcycle accident. His bionic leg allows him to bend his knee and move his ankle. “It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s neat. It’s intuitive. It puts energy into me walking and moving around.” With a regular prosthetic leg, movement like this isn’t possible.

So how does this all work?

Two nerves in Vawter’s leg were rewired to his hamstring muscle.  Those nerves communicate with the sensors inside the prosthetic leg socket. The sensors send a message to a computer. “So when he thinks about straightening or bending his knee, this computer can detect that and tell the knee to bend or to straighten,” Dr. Annie Simon, Biomedical Engineer at the RIC.

A team, headed by Dr. Levi Hargrove, spent four years perfecting the technology Vawter is using. “He’s giving back so much,” Hargrove said. “He’s taken a less than ideal situation and made the most of it and he’s helping potentially, millions of people.”

Vawter, a software engineer, knew about RIC’s bionic research. He never thought one day, that technology would be used to help him walk.

“RIC is really pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with prosthetics and it’s exciting to contribute to that and to help them push forward into new areas of research,” Vawter said.

RIC research is funded through an $8 million grant from the U.S. Army with a goal of creating better prosthetic limbs.

More than 1,200 soldiers have had lower limb amputations from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Source: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/09/25/bionic-man-amputee-controls-artificial-leg-with-thoughts/

Baby Sunscreen Recall: Revealed Microbial Contamination

The number one selling sunscreen in the U.S. natural markets, W.S. Badger Company, has voluntarily recalled 30,000 of its baby and kids’ sunscreen lotions because of potential disease-causing bacteria.

On Monday, the New Hampshire company announced in a press release that it is recalling all lots of its 4-oz. SPF 30 Baby Sunscreen Lotion and one lot of its 4-oz. SPF 30 Kids Sunscreen Lotion (lot # 3164A) due to three types of microbial contamination: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida parapsilosis, and Acremonium fungi.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Pseudomonas is one of the most common pathogens that typically develops in people in the hospital and/or with weakened immune systems. Healthy people can be exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, especially after exposure to water. In children, ear infections and skin rashes may occur.

A Candida parapsilosis infection is typically caused by a yeast and mainly affects children, infants, and those with a weak immune system. Acremonium fungus is a slow-growing mold that may lead to opportunistic infections, such as herpes simplex, lymphoma, and pneumonia.

Badger Founder and CEO Bill Whyte explained that the voluntarily recall came after doing a routine re-testing of the organic children’s products. “All of these lots passed the required microbiological and comprehensive challenge testing prior to sale. It was during routine re-testing that we discovered that the preservative system in several lots had been compromised,” Whyte said in the press release.

Source: Medical daily.com