August 11, 2012 Clippings

Sleeping on stomach triggers erotic dreams

People who sleep on their stomach are significantly more likely to have racy dreams compared to those dozing off in other positions, a new study has revealed.

Participants reported feeling sensations related to 'sex' and 'persecution' more frequently than anyone else.

Among the other racy motifs that dreamt up were 'being tied up', 'being locked up' and 'unable to move'.

Lead author Calvin Kai-Ching Yu from Shue Yan University in Hong Kong said that the increase in sexual thoughts could be because people don''t get as much air when they sleep on their stomach, so their mind was imagining being constricted when you sleep.

For the study he spoke to 670 students, two-thirds of whom were female, and asked them to fill out surveys about their dreams.

The details included how often they occurred, how intense they were and what were the themes that came up.

He also asked them to write down their sleeping posture, how often they slept on their sides, face down or face up.

Among the other ideas that came to people who slept on their front most frequently was 'erotomania', which is when a person believes they have a secret admirer, often a famous person.

"This study provides the evidence that dream experiences, and in particular dream content, can be influenced by body posture during sleep," the Daily Mail quoted Kai-Ching Yu as saying.

"I believe that the brain during sleep is not at all totally detached from the external world, and stimuli, including those stemming from the environment, are probably incorporated into dream content more often than people observe or are aware of.

"The unconscious brains of the dreamers try to make sense, and even make use of, the external stimuli," he added.

The study was recently published in the journal Dreaming.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

11.08.2012

Common Dietary Myths in India

Zee Research Group busts out some common dietary myths by top dieticians of India.

Myth 1: Milk is a complete food.

People think that milk is a complete food, but actually it is not so, milk has calcium and some amount of protein and carbohydrate. If somebody is relying only on milk, then the person will definitely suffer from deficiencies. (Dr. Shikha Sharma, medical doctor and wellness expert) Milk lacks iron and Vitamin –C. (Daljit Kaur, senior dietician at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi)

Myth 2: People think that almonds have cholesterol.

There is no reality to this fact. Any plant product will not have cholesterol. All animal products like paneer, ghee, eggs, meat, and chicken have cholesterol. (Dr. Shikha Sharma, medical doctor and wellness expert) It doesn’t have any cholesterol, as it contains Omega 3 fatty acid and it is actually very good for heart. (Daljit Kaur, senior dietician, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi)

Myth 3: Curd should not be taken at night or if a person is suffering from cold.

This is absolutely not genuine as curd can be taken at any time if taken at room temperature. (Daljit Kaur, senior dietician, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi). Curd is a predigested food and it is better to have curd if suffering from cold as it would be better utilised by the body and it would it be digested easily.( Sunita Roy Chowdhury, senior dietician ,Rockland Hospital, Delhi)

Myth 4: Consumption of water only leads to the dilution of urine.

One should drink lots and lots of water as it not only dilutes the urine but it also removes toxins from the body. It is extremely necessary for the normal functioning of the body as each and every cell in the body needs water. (Sunita Roy Chowdhury, senior dietician ,Rockland Hospital, Delhi). Over drinking of any drink is bad. But of course, Indians should drink more and more water as Indians perspire a lot because of the climatic conditions. (Daljit Kaur, senior dietician ,Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi)

Myth 5: Eating rice at night makes you gain weight.

It is partially right. If one happens to eat white rice at night it leads to retention of water in the body which leads to swelling of the body and also those who are sensitive to carbohydrates if they consume rice at night it might lead to weight gain but it would happen gradually.( Dr. Shikha Sharma, medical doctor and wellness expert). It is extremely necessary for one to note how to burn one’s calorie. It is advisable to consume fewer calories at night, but one can remove the starch and can consume rice. (Sunita Roy Chowdhury, senior dietician ,Rockland Hospital, Delhi)

Source: www.dnaindia.com           

11.08.2012

You create your opportunities by asking for them

Patty Hansen

August 10, 2012 Clippings

Delhi HC directs MCI to finalise rural health course curriculum within six weeks

The Delhi High Court directed the Medical Council of India (MCI) to finalise within six weeks the curriculum for starting a three-and-half years course for non-MBBS physicians to practise medicine in rural health centres. Justice Rajiv Shakdher said that on failing to finalise the curriculum of Bachelor of Rural Health Care (BRHC), the MCI secretary shall remain personally present during the next hearing Oct 18. Filing a contempt petition, petitioner Meenakshi Gautam said that on Nov 10, 2010, the court ordered the MCI to start by March 2011 the BRHC course but no action was taken.

Senior counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Gautam, complained that the delay in starting the course was leading to a serious situation where people in rural areas were being deprived of healthcare facilities. The central government submitted before the court that it was ready to start the course, but was still waiting for the MCI to finalise the curriculum. The petition said: “The court had given the MCI two months’ time to finalise the curriculum and syllabus of the primary healthcare practitioner course…A further period of two months was given to the ministry of health and family welfare for the enforcement of the same.” ”The Medical Council of India apparently opposed the course in 2011 and was not willing to notify it,” the petition alleged.

The delay has been caused by the medical community’s reservations against the course. The rural health course is a government initiative to address the skewed healthcare services scenario in the country.

Source: http://health.india.com

10.08.2012

Now potato juice could treat heartburn and ulcers

Next time you shun potatoes think twice. A new study has found that potato juice could treat ulcers. Potatos are packed with unique anti- bacterial properties which help in curing ulcers sooner. A Manchester University microbiology team now hopes the compound, dubbed ‘potato juice’ could go into production as a daily diet supplement. Inspiration came as one of the department’s scientists tucked into a spud for Sunday lunch.It led to the discovery of a key molecule which could both cure and prevent the bacteria that lives in the stomach and causes stomach ulcers and heartburn.

Uniquely, unlike with anti-biotics, the gut bug cannot develop resistance to the ‘potato juice’ which also does not cause any side-effects. Scientists even carried out the test on different types of potatoes — discovering that Maris Piper and King Edward varieties worked the best. The process to extract the as yet unnamed molecule has now been patented, with hopes it could one day be sold as a supplement similar to pro-biotic yoghurt drinks.

Ian Roberts, professor of microbiology, who worked on the discovery, said: “When I first heard about the idea of using potatoes to treat stomach ulcers I have to admit I was a bit sceptical. But on another level I wasn’t surprised – a lot of botanical products have very interesting compounds and we just have to find them.” “We see this ‘potato juice’ as a preventative measure to stop stomach ulcers developing that people would take as part of a healthy lifestyle. It could be a huge market if we can get it developed,” added Roberts.

Source: http://health.india.com

10.08.2012

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet

Jean Jacques Rousseau

August 9, 2012 Clippings

Does junk food make your kids dumb?

Junk food may be causing a decrease in your child’s IQ. A new study has found that babies and infants fed junkfood has a reduced IQ as compared to babies who were fed healthy food. The study, looked at the link between the eating habits of children at six months, 15 months and two years, and their IQ at eight years of age.

The study of more than 7,000 children compared a range of dietary patterns, including traditional and contemporary home-prepared food, ready-prepared baby foods, breastfeeding and junk foods. “Diet supplies the nutrients needed for the development of brain tissues in the first two years of life, and the aim of this study was to look at what impact diet would have on children’s IQs,” said Smithers.

“We found that children who were breastfed at six months and had a healthy diet regularly including foods such as legumes, cheese, fruit and vegetables at 15 and 24 months, had an IQ up to two points higher by age eight,” said Smithers. “Those children who had a diet regularly involving biscuits, chocolate, sweets, soft drinks and chips in the first two years of life had IQs up to two points lower by age eight. We also found some negative impact on IQ from ready-prepared baby foods given at six months, but some positive associations when given at 24 months,” she added.

Source: http://health.india.com

09.08.2012

Telling lies bad for health

Honesty is the best policy after all! Researchers have found that telling fewer lies can improve your physical and mental health.

A study found that people experienced about four fewer mental health complaints such as feeling tense or sad by telling three fewer lies in a 10-week period.

They also had three fewer physical problems - including sore throats and headaches, the Daily Mail reported on Wednesday.

A total of 110 people, their age ranging from 18 to 71, took part in the study conducted by the University of Notre Dame researchers.

About half the participants were instructed to stop telling lies during the study. The other half served as a control group that received no special instructions about lying.

Results showed the link between less lying and better health was significantly stronger for participants in the no-lie group.

They experienced four fewer mental health complaints and three fewer physical problems - after telling three fewer lies.

Source: www.dnaindia.com

09.08.2012

On birthday, 41-yr-old gets new lung

Jayshree Mehta’s 41st birthday on July 11 was lucky for the Vile Parle resident as she got a lung donor on that day to become the first Indian to undergo lung transplant in India.

She is the sixth patient in the last 50 years to undergo lung transplant in India, but is the first Indian, as the others were all foreigners. Jayshree had been suffering from lung fibrosis, a progressive disease for the past eight years, and was living on an external supply of oxygen.

Parag Mehta, Jayshree’s husband, said, “Since she was diagnosed eight years ago, we had been following up with the doctor for every possible treatment. For the last one and a half years, she was completely dependent on oxygen cylinders.”

The first ray of hope for the family came in the first week of July this year, when they got a call for a probable donor. “She was quite excited. We came to hospital only to realise that the donor family backed out. Jayshree was shattered. Before leaving the hospital, she told the doctor that she wanted to get operated by July 11 (her birthday),” Parag added.

Miraculously, they got a donor call on the same day. Dr Jnanesh Thacker, lung transplant surgeon at PD Hinduja Hospital, said, “It was no less than a miracle. I came to know about the donor that matched with Jayshree’s lung size requirement at 2pm on July 11.”

The surgery started at 7pm and went on for 12 hours. The doctors performed a single lung transplant of the right lung.“She has been recovering well. We will keep her on strong anti-rejection drugs so that her body doesn’t reject the new organ. She will also require physiotherapy and a rehabilitation therapy, after which she will be discharged,” added Dr Thacker.

Source: www.dnaindia.com

09.08.2012

Learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow

Albert Einstein

August 7, 2012 Clippings

Imagine a world without malaria – Aussie docs are working on it!

Researchers have made a major breakthrough in the quest for a vaccine against malaria, which causes over a million deaths every year. The findings show that people who develop immunity to malaria develop antibodies that primarily target a protein known as PfEMP1, which is produced by Plasmodium falciparum, causing most cases of malaria. James Beeson, professor and senior study author at the Burnet Institute, Australia’s largest virology and communicable disease research centre, said that these findings are a major advance towards developing an effective vaccine, the Journal of Clinical Investigation reports.

These findings unlock the mystery of which malaria proteins, known as variant surface antigens (VSAs), could be targeted by an effective vaccine to achieve immunity to malaria, according to a Burnet statement.

“A vaccine against malaria is urgently needed to reduce this disease globally and currently there is no licensed malaria vaccine available. The new findings support the idea that a vaccine could be developed that stimulates the immune system so that it specifically mounts a strong response (or attack) against the PfEMP1 protein that malaria produces,” said Beeson.

Study co-author, Jo-Anne Chan said the findings also showed that when the immune system attacks other proteins that malaria produces, this is not as effective in protecting people. This emphasises that the immune system has to ‘get it right’ in order to fight malaria infection effectively.

Malaria is caused by a parasite that infects human red blood cells and replicates within them. While inside these cells, malaria parasites produce specific proteins that enable infected cells to stick and clog-up blood vessels in the body.

This clogging can occur in organs such as the brain and lungs, and the placenta in pregnant women, and causes severe illness and death.

Source: http://health.india.com

07.08.2012

Mothers have sharper memories after childbirth

A new study has found that after childbirth, mothers could remember many more things with much more ease. The study showed that mothers performed better in tests regarding the ability to perceive and remember information about their surroundings compared with those who didn’t have children. Melissa Santiago from Carlos Albizu University in Miami, US, who led the study, said the findings negate the belief that women experience a decline in memory and cognitive function after they have children. “You don’t have to feel that because you have kids, your memory isn’t the same,” she said.

Previous studies on the topic have had mixed results: some showed motherhood hurts cognition, and others showed the opposite. Santiago analysed information from 35 first-time mothers whose children were aged 10 to 24 months, and 35 women who had never been pregnant. To test such memory, the women were shown a paper containing six symbols for 10 seconds, and then asked to draw what they remembered. This task was repeated several times. The first time women were shown the paper, both groups remembered about the same amount, according to the Daily Mail.

On the second and third occasions, mothers performed better than those without children, indicating that the mothers garnered more information each time than the other women. Later, the women were shown a variety of different symbols and asked to remember which ones were present on the earlier task. Again, the mothers displayed a better memory. In pregnancy, many physiological changes happen to the body, and previous research has suggested the brain even shrinks up to five percent.

It returns to its normal size six months after childbirth, and during this time of re-growth, the brain may re-map itself in a way that is responsible for the memory changes seen in the study, Santiago said. These findings would be presented at a meeting of the American Psychological Association in the US.

Source: http://health.india.com

07.08.2012

People living near sea 'healthier'

People, who live on the English coast have better health compared to people who live inland, a new survey has revealed.

According to researchers, living in areas such as Skegness, St Ives or Scarborough had been linked to a "small, but significant" improvement in health.

Lower stress and more opportunities to exercise have been suggested as possible explanations.

The researchers had looked at data from 48 million people in England from the 2001 census.

They compared how close people had been to the bracing sea air and their answer to a question about their own health.

The study had been conducted by the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Exeter.

It found that people living less than 1 km from the sea had been more likely to say that they were in "good health" than people living further away.

The effect had been small but the researchers said that when magnified across 48 million people, it could have a large impact on public health.

Lead researcher Dr Ben Wheeler said that loads of explanations had been suggested, although they had not yet been tested.

"One of the most obvious is the opportunity for physical activity or being more motivated to go for a walk along the coast," the BBC quoted Wheeler as saying.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

07.08.2012

No one can build his security upon the nobleness of another person

Willa Cather 

August 6, 2012 Clippings

Tuberculosis ups diabetes risk

A recent study suggests that people who have been afflicted with tuberculosis are often affected with diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes in persons with TB is almost double that of the general populace. A survey of 827 respondents registered with Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) five centres in Tamil Nadu found that one-fourth of them suffered from diabetes.

“Diabetics who suffer tuberculosis are easily diagnosed for the condition but the reverse is not true. Many persons with TB who become diabetic are unaware of their condition and they do not respond well to TB drugs. When TB relapses, it is a serious threat as these people can transmit the infection,” Dr Vishwanathan said.

“In countries where TB is prevalent, people with diabetes are at three times the risk of acquiring the infectious disease,” he added.

Dr Vishwanathan suggested that all those being treated for TB be screened for diabetes, as early diagnosis will help manage both diseases. “The government has a national programme for control of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke (NPCDS). The RNTCP should be integrated with the NPCDS so that everyone who has TB is also screened for diabetes,” he added.

Source: http://health.india.com

07.08.2012

Pupils with strong hearts and lungs `score better grades`

Having a healthy heart and lungs may be one of the most important factors for middle school students to make good grades in math and reading, a new study has revealed.

“Cardiorespiratory fitness was the only factor that we consistently found to have an impact on both boys’ and girls’ grades on reading and math tests,” said study co-author Trent A. Petrie, PhD, professor of psychology and director of the Center for Sport Psychology at the University of North Texas.

“This provides more evidence that schools need to re-examine any policies that have limited students’ involvement in physical education classes,” Petrie said.

The researchers gathered data at five Texas middle schools from 1,211 students, of whom 54 percent were female with an average age of about 12. Overall, the group was 57 percent white.

While previous studies have found links between being physically fit and improved academic performance, this study also examined several other potential influences, including self-esteem and social support. It also took into account the students’ socio-economic status and their self-reported academic ability, Petrie said.

In addition to cardio respiratory fitness, social support was related to better reading scores among boys, according to the study.

It defined social support as reliable help from family and friends to solve problems or deal with emotions. For girls, having a larger body mass index was the only factor other than cardio respiratory fitness that predicted better reading scores. For boys and girls, cardio respiratory fitness was the only factor related to their performance on the math tests.

“The finding that a larger body mass index for girls was related to better performance on the reading exam may seem counterintuitive, however past studies have found being overweight was not as important for understanding boys and girls performances on tests as was their level of physical fitness,” Petrie said.

From one to five months before the students were to take annual standardized reading and math tests, they answered questions about their level of physical activity, and how they viewed their academic ability, self-esteem and social support.

The findings were presented at the American Psychological Association’s 120th Annual Convention.

Source: www.dnaindia.com

07.08.2012

What we learn with pleasure we never forget

Alfred Mercier

August 4, 2012 Clippings

Now, deadly fumes to reverse heart diseases

Scientists may have hit upon a unique method to open up clogged arteries and reverse heart disease - using toxic chemicals in vehicle exhaust fumes for the purpose.

Ian Megson, 44, professor from the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI) and his team are working on the use of toxic chemicals carbon monoxide and nitric oxide to widen blood vessels and prevent blood clots.

Megson said releasing the normally poisonous toxins into the heart in miniscule amounts blocks the body's ability to clot and relaxes arteries, dilating them and permitting more blood to flow through.

The treatment is hoped to benefit patients suffering from heart attacks and strokes and was developed by fine-tuning machines used to measure car exhaust emissions in garages, the Daily Mail reported.

The experiments, which aim to successfully deliver the gases and measure their impact, are being carried out by chemists at St. Andrews University and Megson's team at the UHI using pig hearts.

Megson said: "We are the first to do this. We are using chemical amounts one million times smaller than that released in car exhaust fumes, so very tiny quantities, which when delivered to a specific area can have a beneficial impact on the patient. It is at a very early stage in development but has huge potential."

"Carbon monoxide and nitric oxide are found in car exhaust fumes but they are also found in the body in very small amounts. Each of the gases has a beneficial effect and we believe that delivering them all at the same time could have an even greater impact and we think the organic frameworks are a way to do that," added Megson.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

04.08.2012

Indian Olympians urge parents to get drops to keep India ‘polio-free’

With WHO declaring India a ‘polio-free’ nation, Indian Olympians have appealed to all parents to get their children vaccinated on time. This move is to wipe out the disease from the root. “This Close”, a polio eradication campaign by Rotary, involves more than a dozen Indian Olympic athletes including members of the boxing, weightlifting and wrestling teams.

As per Rotary, India is on the brink of wiping out polio, all that is needed is a “strong push” to root it out once and for all and Olympics is the apt platform to spread this message. Wrestler Sushil Kumar, in a message from London, appealed to parents to get their children vaccinated on time. “In 1988, 500 children were getting affected by polio in India every day. Today, our country is reaching steadily toward eradication of polio. We need your help to win this fight,” he said. “Polio vaccine can save a child from polio paralysis. Let us ensure that children are not paralysed by giving them the vital drops,” said boxer Vijender Singh in his message.

Rotary International is a partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative comprising of WHO, UNICEF and Rotary. India was removed from WHO’s polio endemic list on Feb 25 this year after completing over a year without reporting any case of polio. After achieving the milestone of non-polio endemic nation, India needs to maintain the status for another two years to be certified polio-free by the WHO.

India’s anti-polio drive has been lauded all over the world. From being one of the highest polio stricken countries in the 60s and 70s the country’s efforts involving personalities like Amitabh Bachchan has really helped wipe out the disease.

Source: http://health.india.com

04.08.2012

Failure is not the only punishment for laziness; there is also the success of others

Jules Renard

August 3, 2012 Clippings

Sister gives brother an irreplaceable Rakhi gift – one of her kidneys!

This Rakshabandhan Asha gave her brother a literally unique gift; one of her kidneys.  34 year old Asha donated one of her kidneys to her brother Sriniwas Thakur at the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad, on Thursday. Thakur, a resident of Faridabad, had high blood pressure for a long time and the problem was recently diagnosed as kidney failure. When doctors advised a kidney transplant, Asha offered to donate hers, said doctors.

“Both recipient and donor are doing fine and are on the road to recovery. Asha gave her elder brother a new lease of life by donating her kidney, a vital organ,” said Dr Jitender Kumar, one of the operating surgeons.

In kidney transplantation, one of the patient’s failed kidneys is replaced with a working one. In India, only relatives are allowed to donate organs. Cadaver donation is allowed but is particularly rare because very few people make the arrangement to donate their organs while alive.

Around 1.5 lakh Indians suffer from kidney failure every year. “However, only 5,000 get a transplant due to lack of available organs,” said an expert.  ”While Spain has 35.1 organ donors per million, Britain 27, USA 26, Canada 14, and Australia 11, India has only 0.08 donors per million,” the expert added.

Source: http://health.india.com

03.08.2012