Hot food in
plastic plates cause kidney stones
Plastic plates are a favourite of
parents and picnic-goers the world over, but new research suggests that eating
hot meals on melamine crockery could actually be
harmful to health.
Taiwanese researchers have found that hot temperatures increase the amount of melamine we are exposed to - and this can increase the risk of kidney stones, the Daily Mail reported.
They studied two groups of people who ate piping hot noodle soup. One group ate from melamine bowls, the other from ceramic bowls. Urine samples were collected before the meal, and every two hours for 12 hours following the meal.
Taiwanese researchers have found that hot temperatures increase the amount of melamine we are exposed to - and this can increase the risk of kidney stones, the Daily Mail reported.
They studied two groups of people who ate piping hot noodle soup. One group ate from melamine bowls, the other from ceramic bowls. Urine samples were collected before the meal, and every two hours for 12 hours following the meal.
Three weeks later, the volunteers consumed the same kind of soup but the type of bowl they used was reversed. Urine samples were collected again.
Total melamine levels in urine for 12 hours after eating the soup was 8.35 micrograms when the participants ate out of the melamine bowls versus about 1.3 micrograms when they ate out of ceramic bowls.
Lead researcher by Chia-Fang Wu, of Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan, said: "Melamine tableware may release large amounts of melamine when used to serve high-temperature foods."
He noted that both higher temperatures (from hot soups, for example) or more acidic foods can encourage melamine to contaminate food, especially in older or low-quality kitchenware.
But he added that the amount of melamine released into food and beverages from melamine tableware varies by brand, so the results of this study of one brand may not be generalised to other brands. However the results suggest it is advisable to serve hot food on ceramic crockery, to be on the safe side.
They added that it's not yet clear what effect all of this might have on human health. However, prior studies have linked chronic, low-dose melamine exposures to an increased risk for kidney stones in both children and adults, the researchers said.
Studies of melamine toxicity in animals indicate that ingestion can cause kidney stones, kidney damage and may induce cancer.
The study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.
28.01.2013
Leprosy
rates decline in Delhi
Leprosy has been eliminated from the national capital as a public health
problem, Delhi Health Minister A.K. Walia said Thursday after a considerable
drop in the prevalence rate of the disease.
The rate has declined from 4.5 cases per 10,000 population in 2001, to 0.8 cases at present, Walia said.
The rate has declined from 4.5 cases per 10,000 population in 2001, to 0.8 cases at present, Walia said.
"As per World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, when the number of leprosy patients come down below one case per 10,000 populations, the disease is said to have been eliminated as a public health problem," he said.
"It can be said that leprosy has been eliminated from the capital city as a public health problem," he said.
In the national capital alone 1,340 patients are taking treatment for leprosy from various healthcare institutions. Apart from them 1,602 from other states and country like Nepal take treatment in Delhi hospitals.
"Many patients come to Delhi for leprosy treatment because multi-drug therapy, which is very effective against mycobacterium leprae, is available here," the minister said.
Leprosy is a disease caused by the bacteria mycobacterium leprae and it affects mainly the skin and nerves. The symptoms appear very slowly, taking on an average two to five years to manifest.
Apart from this, Delhi government is also increasing the financial aid for leprosy patients who are undergoing reconstructive surgery, so that their families can be supported better.
"The health department of the Delhi government is enhancing the amount of financial support given to leprosy patients undergoing reconstructive surgery from Rs.5,000 to Rs.8,000 from April this year," Walia said.
The minister also inaugurated a reconstructive surgery facility for correction of claw-hand and foot-drop at Guru Gobind Singh Hospital in west Delhi.
28.01.2013
Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of
enthusiasm
Winston Churchill
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