1 March, 2013

Signs of heart disease detected in newborns

Thickened arteries, the first signs of heart disease, are emerging in babies born to overweight mothers, says a new study.

The thickening of body's major artery, the aorta, which heralds heart disease, is independent of the child's birth weight.

It may explain how obese mums, who make up more than half the women of child bearing age in the developed world, could heighten their babies' subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease, suggest authors of the study, reports the journal Foetal and Neonatal Edition of Archives of Disease of Childhood.

A group of women, with an average age of 35 years, were included in the study when they were 16 weeks pregnant. Ten of the babies born were boys, and birth weights ranged from 1.85 kg to 4.31 kg, according to a Sydney University statement.

The abdominal aorta, which is the section of the artery extending down to the belly, was scanned in each newborn within seven days of birth to find out the thickness of the two innermost walls - the intima and media.

Intima-media thickness ranged from 0.65-0.97 mm, and was tied to the mother's weight. The higher a mum's weight, the greater was the baby's intima-media thickness, irrespective of how much the baby weighed at birth.

"The earliest physical signs of atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries) are present in the abdominal aorta, and aortic intima-media thickness is considered the best non-invasive measure of structural health of the vasculature in children," says Michael Skilton from the University of Sydney, who led the study.

This may explain how a mother being overweight might affect her child's subsequent risk of heart disease and stroke later in life, the study said.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

01.03.2013

Walking wards off stroke for women

Women who devote at least three hours to walking every week are more likely to ward off strokes than their inactive cousins, says a study.

"The message for the general population remains similar: regularly engaging in moderate recreational activity is good for your health," said Jose Maria Huerta of the Murcia Regional Health Authority in Spain, who led the study.

Women walking briskly for 210 minutes or more per week had a lower stroke risk than inactive women but also lower than those who cycled and did other higher-intensity workouts for a shorter amount of time, the journal Stroke reported.

Nearly 33,000 men and women answered a physical activity questionnaire given once in the mid-1990s as part of a larger European cancer project.

Huerta and his team divided participants by gender, exercise type and total time spent exercising each week, according to the Daily Mail.

During the 12-year follow-up period, a total of 442 strokes occurred among the men and women.

The results for women who were regular walkers translated to a 43 per cent reduction in stroke risk compared to the inactive group, Huerta said.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

01.03.2013

Simpletons talk of the past, wise men of the present and fools of the future

Napolon Bonaparte

28 February, 2013

Having sons may shorten mother's life-span: study

Producing sons is more stressful for mothers and could shorten their life spans, a study has suggested.

Researchers used demographic data from pre-industrial Finland to show, irrespective of access to resources, mothers but not fathers with many sons suffered from reduced survival, a media report said.

But this association reduced, as mothers got older, according to the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.

"Our results provide evidence that Finnish mothers traded long post-reproductive lifespan for giving birth to many sons," Dr Samuli Helle, of the University of Turku, said.

Previous studies have suggested sons are especially costly for the mother because they are, on average, born heavier and place more physical stress on the body.

"They also raise levels of testosterone in their mothers", which can age the immune system, making it is less able to defend the body.

Moreover sons need more care after birth. On the other hand daughters prolong mothers' lives by helping in tasks such as obtaining food and rearing younger siblings, at least in the traditional society studied.

Dr Helle' study found that women's post reproductive survival declined with the number of sons they gave birth to, regardless of the socio-economic status.But was age dependent. That is, the survival costs of the number of sons born decreased linearly as women aged.

However, the number of daughters born was not connected to women's lifespan and, in men, neither the number of sons nor daughters born were related to their survival, irrespective of their socioeconomic status.

Added Dr Helle: "Our results show producing sons shortened the post reproductive lifespan of Finnish women and this association deteriorated as mothers aged."

Source: www.indianexpress.com

28.02.2013

Over 360 mn people suffering hearing loss,half of them preventable: WHO

An estimated 360 million people in the world are suffering from hearing loss, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report prepared for International Ear Care Day (March 3) has said. WHO said one in three people over the age of 65, or a total of 165 million people worldwide, live with hearing loss, and another 32 million affected by hearing loss are children aged below 15.

About half of all cases of hearing loss are easily preventable while many can be treated through early diagnosis and suitable interventions such as surgically implanted hearing devices, said Shelly Chadha of the WHO Department of Prevention of Blindness and Deafness.

She, however, warned that the current production of hearing aids met less than 10 percent of the global need. ‘In developing countries, fewer than one out of 40 people who need a hearing aid have one,’ Chadha said.

WHO encouraged countries to develop programmes for preventing hearing loss within their primary health care systems including vaccinating children against infectious diseases such as measles, meningitis and mumps. It also recommended measures such as screening and treating syphilis in pregnant women, and early assessment and management of hearing loss in babies.

Source: http://health.india.com

28.02.2013

Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so

William Shakespeare

27 February, 2013

Indian women opt to freeze their eggs

Deepika Gupta, 35, a lawyer in a Delhi court, has been into a few relationships but has not been able to narrow down to Mr Right.  With her biological clock ticking fast and her wish to have her own children in the near future, she has now chosen to have her eggs frozen and have babies when she finds her companion.

Though a new concept in India, there is an increasing trend of working women - both single and married - who want to delay pregnancy to focus on their careers, going in for freezing eggs. It's scientifically called "oocyte freezing".

According to experts, with women getting more career-oriented and opting for late marriages, fertility could decline and their chances of having babies later too become difficult. But egg freezing offers them an option to have their biological children whenever they want.

"Many women are coming forward to preserve their fertility as either they don't want to have a child now or haven't found the right person. Every month we get four-five queries about egg freezing and one or two of them come in for the procedure," Shivani Sachdev Gour, director, Surrogacy Centre India (SCI) Healthcare, in Kailash Colony in south Delhi, said.

The right age for a woman to have children is before 30, after which the ovum quality slowly reduces. After the age of 37, it becomes really difficult for women to conceive naturally. Ovum is a mature egg ready for fertilization.

"Women aged between 30 and 35 years face problems in conceiving. Most of my customers are above the age of 35 and are generally single women or married women who are not ready to take a maternity break while their career is at its peak," Gour said.

The technique of egg freezing - where the ovum from a healthy woman is taken and stored for future use - was popular among higher income groups but career-oriented women are now becoming aware of it and coming forward for the procedure.

"Initially egg freezing was used for medical reasons where women suffering from diseases like cancer used to freeze their eggs before going in for chemotherapy, which affects the ovulation process. However, this technique is now being used for lifestyle reasons too," Gour said.

The process takes two-four weeks from injecting hormones to stimulate ovulation, egg retrieval and preservation at minus 196 degree Celsius for future use. Doctors said after egg freezing, a woman has also to go through the entire process of egg retrieval, banking and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in future.

The procedure costs around Rs.140,000-Rs.160,000 (about 2,500-3,000 USD). Gour said her clinic charges Rs. 30,000 (about 600 USD) annually for egg banking. The process is available only at a few places in the capital, including Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

27.02.2013

Fast food linked to asthma, eczema

Eating fast food thrice a week or more elevates the risk of asthma and eczema, while eating fruit with the same frequency provides a protective effect, says a study.

The findings of the research led by professor Innes Asher and Philippa Ellwood from the University of Auckland's department of paediatrics could have huge implications for public health.

Data was collected on more than 319,000 teenagers (13-14 years of age) from 107 centres in 51 countries, and more than 181,000 children (6-7 year-olds) from 64 centres in 31 countries, the respiratory journal Thorax reports.

All the participants were involved in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), a collaborative research project which has been led by Auckland for more than 20 years and now involves more than 100 countries and nearly two million children, making it the largest study of its kind, according to an Auckland statement.

The teenagers and their parents were quizzed about the prevalence of symptoms of asthma (wheeze), rhinoconjunctivitis (runny or blocked nose accompanied by itchy and watery eyes) and eczema, and about their weekly diet.

These included meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, pulses, cereals, bread and pasta, rice, butter, margarine, nuts, potatoes, milk, eggs, and fast food/burgers.

Participants were asked to assign their consumption of each of these foods to one of the following categories: never; occasionally; once or twice a week; three or more times a week.

After taking account of factors likely to influence results, the analysis showed that fast food was the only food type to show the same associations across both age groups, prompting the authors to suggest that "such consistency adds some weight to the possible causality of the relationship".

Source: www.timesofindia.com

27.02.2013

One gift creates appreciation, many gifts create expectation

Tony Bright

26 February, 2013

‘Don’t admit taking drugs before children’

Researchers warn that people who take drugs should never admit it in the presence of their children, or they might be tempted to experiment with narcotics themselves. Although previous studies may have suggested that parents should be open about their addiction to prevent their children from taking drugs themselves, the latest study shows the reverse is the case.

Jennifer Kam from the University of Illinois, US, based her findings that involved more than 500 high school kids. They were asked about chat with parents about alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana, the journal Human Communication Research reports. The report said that even when parents spoke about negative experiences; it increased the chances of their children also using drugs, according to the Telegraph.

However, children whose parents did not talk about drug use but delivered a strong anti-drug message were more likely to exhibit anti-drug attitudes themselves.

Kam adds: ‘Parents may want to reconsider whether they should talk to their children about times when they used substances in the past.’

Source: http://health.india.com

26.02.2013

Babies born through C-section likelier to get allergies!

Babies born through Caesarean surgery are five times more susceptible to allergies by the age of two years, a new study suggests. ‘This further advances the hygiene hypothesis that early childhood exposure to microorganisms affects the immune system’s development and the onset of allergies,’ says Christine Cole Johnson, head of the Henry Ford Department of Health Sciences, who led the study. ‘We believe a baby’s exposure to bacteria in the birth canal is a major influencer on the immune system,’ adds Johnson, according to a Henry Ford statement. Johnson says C-section (Caesarean) babies have a pattern of ‘at risk’ bugs in their gut that may make them more susceptible to developing the antibody Immunoglobulin E, or IgE, when exposed to allergens. IgE is linked to the development of allergies and asthma.

For the study, Henry Ford researchers sought to evaluate the role of early exposure to allergens and how this exposure affects the association between C-section and the development of IgE. Researchers enrolled 1,258 newborns from 2003-2007, and evaluated them at four age intervals – one month, six months, one year and two years. Data was collected from the baby’s umbilical cord and stool, blood samples from the baby’s mother and father, breast milk and household dust. The study was presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in San Antonio.

Source: http://health.india.com

26.02.2013

Expect nothing and accept everything and you will never be disappointed

Laurence Overmire

25 February, 2013

No polio cases reported in last nine years: Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu government today said the state has not reported a single polio case in the last nine years, as it prepares for the second round of Pulse Polio Campaign in which two lakh personnel would be employed.

In the first round of the polio campaign held on January 20 last year, 70.30 lakh children under the age of five years were administered with polio drops, state Public Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said, adding, the second round of the immunisation programme was scheduled to begin from tomorrow.

"Tamil Nadu has not reported any polio case for the past nine years. However, it is very much important to administer polio drops to all children during Pulse Polio Campaign in order to protect children from possible importation of Polio virus from other parts of the country/world," he said in a statement.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the second round, which involves administering drops to children covered in the first round also, he said, adding, 40,000 booths have been established across the state for this purpose.

Over 1,000 transit booths will be functioning in major bus stands, railway stations and airports during the campaign days to cover children on travel. These booths would function for three days, he said.

Further, 771 mobile teams will serve "remote and inaccessible areas", and about two lakh personnel from various government departments besides NGOs would be involved in the "mega campaign", he said.

Source: www.indianexpress.com

25.02.2013

Exercise can improve brain health

 

Exercise doesn't only strengthen your heart and muscles - it also helps increase brain power, say researchers.

Dozens of studies now show that aerobicexercise can increase the size of critical brain structures and improve cognition in children and older adults, according to University of Illinois psychology professor Art Kramer, a nationally recognized expert on the role of physical fitness on cognition.

"Populations throughout the industrialized world are becoming increasing sedentary as a result of the changing nature of work and leisure activities. As a result of these societal changes, increases in diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers are increasing. Physical activity serves to reduce susceptibility to these diseases," Kramer said.

"Increased physical activity also has direct, and relatively rapid effects on cognition and brain health," he added.

He noted that such results have been reported, over the course of several decades, in animal studies of physical activity.

Studies in humans, many conducted in Kramer's lab, also showed that regular exercise, such as walking three times per week, also increases brain power.

Kramer will present research from his own lab and others that demonstrates that older adults who participate in fitness training and physical activity benefit from significant improvements in their brain structure and function.

Kramer will discuss these brain-changing outcomes at a session of the 2013 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston on Feb. 16.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

25.02.2013

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future

Paul Boese

23 February, 2013

Over 60 million Indians have diabetes!

An estimated 61.3 million people in India suffer from diabetes, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Friday. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), factors responsible for the increase in non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, are unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, harmful use of alcohol, obesity and tobacco use, the minister said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. ‘The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 61.3 million persons aged 20 years and above in India had diabetes in 2011,’ Azad said.

The minister said the government launched a national programme for prevention of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke during the 11th five-year plan in 100 districts with the aim of prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, through awareness generation, behaviour and life-style changes.

The programme also provides for screening of persons above 30 years of age for diabetes and hypertension in various health care facilities like district hospitals, community health centres and sub-centres and their referral to higher facilities for appropriate management of these diseases, the minister said.

Source: http://health.india.com

23.02.2013

Your skin secretion can fight tuberculosis!

Our skin secretes an antibiotic called dermcidin, which could act as a potent weapon against tuberculosis (TB) and dangerous bugs, says a study. A team of researchers from the universities of Edinburgh, Goettingen, Tuebingen and Strasbourg have uncovered the compound’s atomic structure, helping them pinpoint for the first time what makes dermcidin such a powerful weapon against lethal pathogens. Although about 1,700 types of these natural antibiotics are known to exist, until now scientists did not have a detailed understanding of how they work, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports.

Ulrich Zachariae from Edinburgh’s School of Physics, who co-authored the study, said: “Antibiotics are not only available on prescription. Our own bodies produce efficient substances to fend off bacteria, fungi and viruses.” “Now that we know in detail how these natural antibiotics work, we can use this to help develop infection-fighting drugs that are more effective than conventional antibiotics,” Zachariae added, according to an Edinburgh statement.

Sweat spreads highly efficient antibiotics on to our skin, protecting us from dangerous bugs. If our skin gets injured by a small cut, a scratch, or the sting of a mosquito, antibiotic agents secreted in sweat glands, such as dermcidin, rapidly and efficiently kill invaders. These natural substances, known as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), are more effective in the long term than traditional antibiotics because germs are not capable of quickly developing resistance against them. The antimicrobials can attack the bugs’ Achilles’ heel – their cell wall, which cannot be modified quickly to resist attack. Because of this, AMPs have great potential to form a new generation of antibiotics.

Scientists knew for some time that dermcidin is activated in salty and slightly acidic sweat. The molecule then forms tiny channels perforating the cell membrane of bugs, which are stabilised by charged particles of zinc present in sweat. As a consequence, water and charged particles flow uncontrollably across the membrane, eventually killing the harmful microbes. The compound is active against many well-known pathogens such as TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or Staphylococcus aureus. Multi-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, in particular, have become an increasing threat for hospital patients.

Source: http://health.india.com

23.02.2013

He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass

George Herbert

22 February, 2013

Long, low intensity exercise more beneficial than short, intense workouts

When the amount of calories burned is the same, standing and walking for longer stretches could actually be better than high intensity exercise in improving cholesterol and preventing diabetes, researchers suggest.

Hans Savelberg and colleagues from Maastricht University, Netherlands recruited eighteen normal-weight 19 to 24-year-old participants for their study and asked them to follow three regimes.

In the first, participants were instructed to sit for 14 hours each day and not indulge in any form of exercise; the second regime required participants to sit for 13 hours each day and exercise vigorously for 1 hour; and in the third, participants substituted six hours of sitting with four of walking and two hours standing.

After each regime, the researchers tracked each participant''s insulin sensitivity and blood lipid levels, both of which can help identify metabolic conditions like diabetes and obesity.

The authors found that overall, when participants followed the strictly sedentary regimen they burned over the course of the day than in the other two routines, which were roughly the same. Cholesterol and lipid levels improved slightly when participants exercised vigorously for an hour each day, but improved significantly when participants were active for longer periods at low intensity

According to the study, being active simply by standing or walking for long periods of time significantly improved insulin levels compared to both a strictly sedentary lifestyle, and one in which participants were largely sedentary except for an hour of exercise each day.

The study concludes that when energy expenditure is equivalent, longer durations of low-intensity exercise may offer more benefits than shorter periods of intense activity.

The study was recently published in the open access journal PLOS ONE.

Source: www.indianexpress.com

22.02.2013

Your handbag is full of germs

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Your handbag not only stores your essential items, but also loads of germs

Hazard 1: Water bottles

Carrying a water bottle may seem to be sensible, but constantly drinking from a plastic bottle is not good for your health. Experts say unsafe chemicals like phthalates, present in the plastic, can mix with the water over time. And this can lead to hormone imbalances and fertility problems. The longer you use a plastic bottle, the more the concentration of harmful chemicals that gets seeped into the water.

Solution: Use a metal or glass bottle instead. While stainless steel or aluminium bottles will minimise the possibility of breakage, you can wrap glass bottles in a protective plastic or silicone bag.

Hazard 2: Your makeup

An average woman carries at least three to eight pieces of makeup in her handbag. And if one glance at your handbag reveals tons of lipgloss, mascaras, blushers, foundations, etc - it is time you sat down and discarded all the expired products. Makeup that is past its expiry date harbours bacteria. Mascaras, especially, should be used very carefully because they can harbour bacteria. The bacteria multiply in the dark, warm and moist environment of the mascara tube. Using this mascara can then lead to eye infections.

Solution: Throw out your mascara every six months and other products once they are past their expiry date. Keep your makeup brushes clean by washing them regularly and avoid sharing makeup.

Hazard 3: Used tissues and handkerchiefs

How many times have you kept a used tissue or a hanky in your handbag, only to tell yourself that you will soon discard it? Studies say the viruses that cause the common cold and cough can survive for a long time on these tissues. And each time you put your hand inside your bag, you inadvertantly spread germs.

Solution: After using a tissue, throw it out. If you keep a packet of tissues or wet wipes in your handbag, make sure it is sealed. As an added measure, wash your hands often and use a hand sanitiser.

Hazard 4: Cellphone

Studies say that our cellphones carry a host of bacteria. One study found that one out of every six phones were contaminated with faecal matter. Cellphones, unfortunately, travel with us wherever we go - all the while collecting harmful bacteria.

Solution: Keep your cellphone in a cover or a pouch and clean it with a soft cloth once a week.

A study revealed that handbags can carry thousands of bacteria that cause colds, coughs and even tummy upset.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

22.02.2013

Only through dedicated work does a man fulfill himself

William S. Carlson

21 February, 2013

More youth suffering spinal injuries

An increasing number of people in the 15-35 age group are suffering spinal injuries due to roadaccidents, doctors and officials said here on Tuesday.

"There is an urgent need to create awareness on spinal cord injuries as there has been an increase in the number of young people suffering from such injuries due to road accidents," Indian Spinal Injuries Centre chairman H.P.S. Ahluwalia said here.

He was speaking at an event organized by the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College and the Spinal Cord Society India to create awareness about spinal cord injuries.

In addition to injuries occurring due to accidents, secondary damages happen because of mishandling at the site of injury and later while shifting to the hospital, said experts.

According to the organisers, the event will reach out to over 2,000 college students and through them their families and friends, neighborhoods and society.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

21.02.2013

Five common health mistakes

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Using the mobile before bed

Why it's bad: Radiation from cellphones can cause insomnia and headaches, according to Swedish scientists. They found people who used their mobiles before bed took longer to reach the deep-sleep stages, essential for cell rejuvenation and repair. Simple solution: Use your landline for bedtime calls and don't keep your mobile on your bedside table, advises Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre.

Brushing teeth after meals

Why it's bad: "While you should brush teeth twice a day for two minutes, you shouldn't brush after meals," says Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation. "The sugar in food reacts with plaque to create acid, which softens tooth enamel — so brushing straight after meals can actually do more harm than good." Simple solution: "Wait an hour after eating and brush your teeth before you have breakfast as this will prevent dental erosion by coating the teeth with fluoride," advises Dr Carter. Chew sugar-free gum to freshen your breath after meals.

Worrying about your weight

Why it's bad: It's good to keep your weight at a healthy level, but obsessing about a few kilos won't do you any good. "Body mass index doesn't take into account the amount of muscle or where the fat is," says Dr David Haslam, the National Obesity Forum's clinical director. "Many athletes are classed as overweight when in fact they have a low amount of body fat. Some people may have a healthy BMI but have a lot of abdominal fat and be at serious risk of health problems." Simple solution: Concentrate on waist measurement instead and aim to keep it below 80cm, advises Dr Haslam. This reduces risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Carrying a heavy handbag

Why it's bad: Big bags are bad news. "Carrying a heavy load on one side causes an imbalance in the muscular structure, triggering neck, shoulder and back problems," warns Danny Williams, council member of the British Osteopathic Association. Simple solution: "Distribute weight across the body with a cross-body shoulder bag rather than carrying it on one shoulder," says Williams. Buy small bags.

Starting the day with warm water and lemon

Why it's bad: It may be a great detox but dentists say it's a mistake. "Hot water and lemon is corrosive to your teeth," warns Dr Mervyn Druian from The London Centre for Cosmetic Surgery. Simple solution: "It's better to drink peppermint tea as it works to strengthen tooth enamel," says Dr Druian.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

21.02.2013

Confidence is the result of hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication

Roger Staubach

20 February, 2013

Caffeine tied to low birth weight babies

Caffeine, the primary constituent of coffee has been found to be associated with low birth weight babies and may also prolong pregnancy, says a Swedish study.

A research team from the Norwegian Institute for Public Health, investigated the impact of maternal caffeine during pregnancy on babies, relying on information about mother's diet and birth details collected over 10 years.

After excluding women with medical and pregnancy-related conditions, nearly 60,000 pregnancies were included in the study. All sources of caffeine were monitored in the study: coffee, tea, fizzy drinks, as well as food including cocoa-containing cakes and deserts and chocolate, the journal BMC Medicine reports.

The World Health Organisation currently suggests a limit of 300mg per day during pregnancy but some countries recommend a limit of 200mg, which can be less than a single cup of coffee from some high street cafes.

Verena Sengpiel, from Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden, who led the project said: "Caffeine consumption is strongly correlated with smoking which is known to increase the risk for both pre-term delivery and the baby being small for gestational age at birth (SGA)."

However, "we found no association between either total caffeine or coffee caffeine and pre-term delivery but we did find an association between caffeine and SGA," added Sengpiel, according to a Sahlgrenska statement.

In fact, they found that caffeine from all sources reduced birth weight.

Caffeine from all sources extended pregnancy by five hours per 100 mg caffeine per day, but caffeine intake from coffee was tied to an even longer gestational length, eight hour extra for every 100 mg caffeine per day.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

20.02.2013

A new method to treat kidney failure

Patients undergoing dialysis can now benefit from a new procedure that removes additional toxins and may increase their longevity, says a study.

A technique that removes additional toxins during dialysis may prolong kidney failure patients' lives, said a clinical trial appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

In light of these results, the technique may become standard for dialysis patients, reports Science Daily.

Retrospective studies suggest that on-line hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF), which is different from standard dialysis, uses so-called high convective transport to remove additional substances over a wide range of sizes may reduce kidney failure patients' risk of dying prematurely compared with standard hemodialysis.

The findings by the team at Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain indicate that OL-HDF may indeed prolong kidney failure patients' lives compared with conventional hemodialysis.

"In view of this study's results, OL-HDF may become the first-line option in hemodialysis patients," said Francisco Maduell, who was part of the study team.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

20.02.2013

Dedication is not what others expect of you, it is what you can give to others