Tap water chemicals can give you
food allergies
Food
allergies are rearing their head worldwide because of pesticides and chemicals
in tap water, says an immunological research. The study reported that high
levels of dichlorophenols, a chemical used in pesticides and to chlorinate
water, are tied to food allergies when found in the human body.
Symptoms
can range from a mild rash to a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.
‘Our research shows that high levels of dichlorophenol-containing pesticides
can possibly weaken food tolerance in some people, causing food allergy,’ said
study lead Elina Jerschow, assistant professor of medicine (allergy and
immunology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
‘This
chemical is commonly found in pesticides used by farmers and consumer insect
and weed control products, as well as tap water,’ added Jerschow, the journal
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports. A US National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006, involving 10,348 people, found that
2,548 had dichlorophenols measured in their urine and 2,211 were included into
the study.
Food
allergy was found in 411 of these participants, while 1,016 had an environmental
allergy, according to an Albert Einstein statement. Opting for bottled water
instead of tap water might seem to be a way to reduce the risk for developing
an allergy, according to the study such a change may not be successful.
‘Other
dichlorophenol sources, such as pesticide-treated fruits and vegetables, may
play a greater role in causing food allergy,’ said Jerschow. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an increase in food allergy of 18
percent was seen from 1997-2007. The most common food allergens are milk, eggs,
peanuts, wheat, tree nuts, soy, fish, and shellfish.
Source: http://health.india.com
04.12.2012
HIV+ men get care, women shunned: NARI study
Even as World AIDS Day was observed on Saturday, a recent
community-based qualitative study by researchers from National AIDS Research
Institute (NARI) pointed out that while People Living With HIV (PLHIV) prefer
home-based care over hospital treatments, men were likelier to get this care at
home while women were shunned by most families. In rare cases, where HIV
positive women did find some support, it was surprisingly the marital families
rather than natal homes who were more supportive. The study titled ‘Caring for
Caregivers of People Living with HIV in the family: A response to the HIV
pandemic from two urban slum communities in Pune’, was published in
internationally peer reviewed journal PloS One recently.
Principal investigator Dr Seema Sahay said the study involved 44
in-depth interviews with PLHIV and their caregivers.
“Nearly 50% of those interviewed preferred home-based care owing
to affordability, convenience and also stigma experienced in hospitals. In
majority of cases (75%), women were caregivers and even community expectations
for care rested on women,” said Sahay.
However, a strong gender bias emerged in care giving where
researchers observed that while women were primary caregivers, if they were HIV
positive, they in turn didn’t receive sufficient care. “If women were HIV+,
they were expected to manage their medicines, meals, household chores and even
care during illness. Some positive women from doing household chores to prevent
spreading infections and in some cases, not allowed to handle kids. Hence, most
women living with HIV preferred hospitals, simply for the care they would
receive,” said Sahay.
While the study expressed the need to take up interventions to
address the gender bias among family caregivers of PLHIV and need for
interventions to include both women and men as equal partners in care giving,
it also raised other vital concerns.
“Home based care is acceptable and affordable to people. However,
family caregivers expressed financial difficulties and there is need for them
to be supported from government and voluntary agencies in home-based income
generation. Also, caregivers feel depressed and expressed need for brief
respite from care giving and that they need occasional assistance in care
provision,” said Dr Ramesh Paranjpe, director, NARI.
The study brings out the gaps that could be plugged to make family
care institutions into important pillars for HIV care and treatment.
Source: www.dnaindia.com
04.12.2012
HIV infections in India
drop by 57%: UN report
The rate of new HIV infections in India has dropped by an
encouraging 57 per cent over the last decade thanks to increased domestic
spending towards the AIDS response. According to a new UN report, incidence of
new HIV infections has fallen by half across 25 countries.
Between 2001 and 2011, the rate of new HIV infections in India
dropped by 57% as the country scaled up services, the UNAIDS World Aids Day
report 2012 said.
Four countries that account for a large number of people living
with HIV in the region — India, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Thailand —
reduced new HIV infections by more than 50%. "Exceptional leadership is
coming from the world's fastest-growing emerging economies of Brazil, Russia,
India, China and South Africa (BRICS). Together, they contribute to more than
half of all domestic spending on AIDS in low and middle-income countries. Their
momentum is unparalleled, having increased domestic public spending by more
than 122% between 2006 and 2011," the report said.
China currently invests more than 80% domestically, and the
country has announced it will fully fund its AIDS response in the coming years.
India has committed to increase domestic funding to more than 90 per cent in
its next phase of the AIDS response.
"These fast growing economies have the potential to support
others in the region, as well as exert leadership and influence on the AIDS
response, both locally and globally," the report added.
Source: www.dnaindia.com
04.12.2012
It's
not who jumps the highest -- it's who wants it the most
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