13 March, 2013

Junk food in pregnancy puts child's health at risk

A new study has shed light on why a healthy diet during pregnancy is critical to the future health of your children.

The study found that pregnant mothers who consume junkfood actually cause changes in the development of the opioid signaling pathway in the brains of their unborn children, resulting in the babies being less sensitive to opioids, which are released upon consumption of foods that are high in fat and sugar.

In turn, these children, born with a higher "tolerance" to junk food need to eat more of it to achieve a "feel good" response. "The results of this research will ultimately allow us to better inform pregnant women about the lasting effect their diet has on the development of their child's lifelong good preferences and risk of metabolic disease," said Beverly Muhlhausler, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the FOODplus Research Centre at the School of Agriculture Food and Wine at The University of Adelaide in Adelaide, Australia.

"Hopefully, this will encourage mothers to make healthier diet choices which will lead to healthier children," he added.

To make this discovery, Muhlausler and colleagues studied the pups of two groups of rats, one of which had been fed a normal rat food and the other which had been fed a range of human "junk foods" during pregnancy and lactation.

After weaning, the pups were given daily injections of an opioid receptor blocker, which blocks opioid signaling. Blocking opioid signaling lowers the intake of fat and sugar by preventing the release of dopamine.

Results showed that the opioid receptor blocker was less effective at reducing fat and sugar intake in the pups of the junk food fed mothers, suggesting that the opioid signaling pathway in these offspring is less sensitive than for pups whose mothers are eating a standard rat feed.

The research has been published in the March 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

13.03.2013

Delaying stenting can help heart attack patients: Research

Delaying in placing a stent - a meshtube placed in artery to improve blood flow - in patients who have suffered a 'high risk' heart attack could aid their recovery, a new research has claimed. The usual procedure in patients who have suffered a ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 'heart attack in which the coronary artery is totally blocked' and who are at risk of 'no reflow' is to immediately insert a stent to reopen the blocked artery.

But, a study by Professor Colin Berry and colleagues at the University of Glasgow and the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, presented to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) on March 9, found deferring stenting in such cases was beneficial.

A STEMI heart attack occurs when the coronary artery is totally blocked resulting in prolonged interruption to the blood supply if not treated promptly. 'No-reflow' is a phenomenon where, although blood flow through the blocked artery is restored, blood still cannot return to the oxygen-starved area of the heart.

About 40 per cent of people who have had a STEMI heart attack are at risk of 'no reflow.'

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the Chief Scientist Office of NHS Scotland, involved 101 patients who had suffered a STEMI heart attack and were at high risk of 'no reflow.'

In one group of patients the researchers inserted a stent straight away, and in the other stenting was delayed. Prof Berry, of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital said, "we are really excited about the potential clinical impact of our trial results."

The evidence suggests that no-reflow and thrombotic events were reduced with deferred stenting. Deferred stenting means there is a period of time where a healing process of sorts can take place. When the stent placement is deferred, it is placed in better circumstances.

However, bigger trials with a lengthier follow-up of patients would be needed before there is a change in clinical practice.

Source: www.indianexpress.com

13.03.2013

Winning isn't getting ahead of others. It's getting ahead of yourself

Roger Staubach