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A doctor has put a question mark on the belief that women can't
conceive after menopause, when he performed an ovarian tissue transplant
on an infertile cancer patient, who went on to conceive naturally. The
breakthrough by Brussels university professor Jacques Donnez, which
emerged at a fertility conference in Berlin, has left many surprised.
"I wouldn't recommend it for non-emergency cases now but if I found
out there was a 30 percent pregnancy success rate, as with IVF, why
not," The Sun quoted Dr Kutluk Oktay of New York's Cornell University
as saying. The 25-year-old lymph cancer patient had slices of ovarian
tissue removed before having chemo and radiotherapy treatment, which
rendered her infertile and 'post-menopausal'. The tissue, which was
frozen and stored, was successfully grafted back into her body after
the treatment. Four months later her periods resumed and now she is
expecting a baby girl through normal sex. Though the transplant has
revolutionized the medical world, at the same time it has also raised
concerns of misuse of the technique by menopausal women trying to "defeat
nature". 10 minutes of exercise can keep depression at bay (Go To Top) Washington: The July issue of Mayo Clinic HealthSource says that even 10 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise can uplift your mood and help ward depression. Researchers now believe that regular exercise has the capability to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, stress, fatigue, self-doubt and hopelessness. The multiple benefits of exercise, as enumerated by the researchers: Improved confidence: If you can accomplish even a modest exercise goal, it is easier to take the next positive step. Positive distraction: Physical activity shifts attention away from unpleasant or unhelpful thoughts. Improved self-esteem: Improving your fitness or shedding a few pounds helps you feel better about yourself and gives immense confidence. Positive pairings: The experience of physical activity like breathing changes, sweating, increased pulse can mimic the signs of anxiety or panic disorders. Associating something positive with these symptoms can teach you not to live in fear of them. Positive coping skills: Physical activity also helps to manage your mood swings and conditions like Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS). June 25, 2004 Human breast milk can effectively treat warts (Go To Top) London:
A cream containing an ingredient of human breast milk appears to
be an effective treatment for warts. Common warts, which usually appear
on the hands and feet, are caused by infection of the epidermal layer
of the skin with human papillomavirus (HPV). The preparation called
'Hamlet' has been created by Swedish scientists and it has been shown
to dramatically reduce and often completely vanish the stubborn warts.
Hamlet contains an ingredient that collects in the core of wart cells
and triggers them towards self-destruction. Details of the trial using
the cream are published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The
researchers from Lund University hope that their findings may eventually
provide the basis not just for a treatment for common warts, but for
more serious conditions like cancer as well. A spoonful of sprouts can keep cancer at bay (Go To Top) London:
Latest research by Professor Ian Rowland and Chris Gill of the University
of Ulster has shown that a few forkfuls of sprouted vegetables could
keep cancer at bay. Professor Rowland's research is to be published
this summer in the journal 'Cancer Epidemiology- Biomarkers and Prevention'.
The findings were presented at Bio-Ireland 2004, a major all Ireland
biotechnology conference being held at the University's of Ulster's
Coleraine campus from June 20-22. According to the researchers, eating
just over 100 grams of tasty sprouted vegetables every day for a fortnight
has been shown to have clear protective effects against DNA damage in
human blood cells. "DNA damage is associated with cancer risk. Sources
of DNA damage include diet-related carcinogens, and bodily processes
like oxidative stress and the raw sprouts protect against this kind
of damage," said Rowland. "And just a portion- 113 grams per day of
a mix of broccoli, radish, alfalfa and clover sprouts was enough in
our tests to show the protective effect," added Rowland. The top 20 fruits and veggies to beat diseases revealed! (Go To Top) Washington: A new study conducted by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revealed that veggies such as artichokes and beans are among a growing variety of foods found to contain surprisingly high levels of disease-fighting compounds. The researchers found that Russet potatoes, pecans and even cinnamon are all excellent, although lesser-known, sources of antioxidants, which are thought to fight cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's. According to Ronald L. Prior, the lead author of the study, "The bottom line is the same: eat more fruits and veggies. This study confirms that those foods are full of benefits, particularly those with higher levels of antioxidants. Nuts and spices are also good sources." The new study analyzed antioxidant levels in over 100 different foods, including fruits and vegetables and includes data on spices and nuts for the first time. Among the fruits, vegetables and nuts analyzed, each food was measured for antioxidant concentration as well as antioxidant capacity per serving size. Cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries ranked highest among the fruits studied. Beans, artichokes and Russet potatoes were tops among the vegetables. Pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts ranked highest in the nut category. Spices such as ground cloves, ground cinnamon and oregano were the highest in antioxidant content. Prior says that the data should prove useful for consumers seeking to include more antioxidants in their diet. But he cautions that total antioxidant capacity of the foods does not necessarily reflect their potential health benefit, which depends on how they are absorbed and utilized in the body. Best Sources Of Food Antioxidants: Top 20 Fruits, Vegetables And Nuts (As Measured By Total Antioxidant Capacity Per Serving Size): 1 Small Red Bean (dried) Half cup 13727 2 Wild blueberry 1 cup 13427 3 Red kidney bean (dried) Half cup 13259 4 Pinto bean Half cup 11864 5 Blueberry (cultivated) 1 cup 9019 6 Cranberry 1 cup (whole) 8983 7 Artichoke (cooked) 1 cup (hearts) 7904 8 Blackberry 1 cup 7701 9 Prune Half cup 7291 10 Raspberry 1 cup 6058 11 Strawberry 1 cup 5938 12 Red Delicious apple One 5900 13 Granny Smith apple One 5381 14 Pecan 1 ounce 5095 15 Sweet cherry 1 cup 4873 16 Black plum One 4844 17 Russet potato (cooked) One 4649 18 Black bean (dried) Half cup 4181 19 Plum One 4118 20 Gala apple One 3903 June 17, 2004 Now, a new wonder pill to lower your BP (Go To Top) London:
Doctors in London have discovered a new pill that could drastically
reduce the number of deaths caused by heart-disease and strokes. According
to The Sun, the pill, Valsartan, brought down high blood pressure to
the lowest levels ever achieved during medical trials. The drug, created
by doctors at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, was administered to 15,000
patients and reduced blood pressure from 138 to 70 in two-thirds of
the patients. "This could have a major positive impact on the survival
of UK patients," said a source. Washing your chicken before cooking can lead to food poisoning (Go To Top) London:
Eight out of 10 meat eaters could be at risk of facing food poisoning
by unnecessarily washing chicken under the tap as part of the cooking
process. Britain's Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has warned that rinsing
may seem like a sensible and hygienic thing to do, but it could also
spread bacteria to nearby surfaces and foods. Food safety experts have
said that rinsing poultry is unnecessary because the cooking process
kills food poisoning bacteria. In fact, rinsing the bird under the tap
actually splashes any bacteria on the bird into nearby taps, kitchen
surfaces and foods. Martin Paterson, deputy director general of the
Food and Drink Federation said, "Spreading germs when preparing food
is easily done; but also easily prevented. "Our survey shows that some
messages are hitting home but there is still much to be done. Often
we think we're doing the right thing by wiping or rinsing away germs,
but more often than not, this isn't doing the job, and we could be unwittingly
putting ourselves at risk of food poisoning," added Paterson. Meanwhile,
the Food Standards Agency (FSA) also echoed the FDF's advice. It warned,
"Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you have
touched raw chicken or meat and before you touch anything else." "Wash
chopping boards and knives that have been used with raw chicken or meat
before you use them with other foods. Never let raw chicken or meat
touch other food, store raw chicken and meat on the bottom shelf of
the fridge where it can't touch or drip onto other foods and don't put
raw chicken or meat next to cooked food on the grill or barbecue," added
FSA. Non-aspirin drug stalls prostate cancer progression (Go To Top) Washington:
Early results from a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Medicine study may determine if new drug called Cox-2 inhibitors
may benefit men suffering from recurrent prostate cancer. Cox-2 is a
new non-aspirin pain medicine that is now widely prescribed for arthritis
symptoms. The new findings demonstrate that Cox-2 inhibitors may have
anti- tumor effects on prostate cancer and may slow the progression
of the disease in men whose PSA blood tests indicate the cancer's recurrence.
There is no effective treatment options currently for the estimated
50,000 men who annually develop the first signs of cancer recurrence
known as biochemical relapse. "If the PSA test points to a recurrence,
the good news is it gives us a lead time of up to seven years. The bad
news is we don't have anything appropriate and effective to offer at
this early stage of recurrence. The use of chemotherapy in prostate
cancer has been typically disappointing in these patients when viewed
in terms of efficacy and toxicity," said Dr. Raj S. Pruthi, lead author
of the study. "The vast majority of patients are simply watched expectantly
until they develop clinical symptoms of disease or metastatic disease
body at which time we begin hormonal therapy. Therapeutic alternatives
that are simple, non-toxic and efficacious clearly need to be identified,"
added Pruthi. Pruthi said that Cox-2 inhibitors may represent the needed
alternative. While the precise molecular mechanisms for Cox-2's effect
on tumor growth remain unclear, increased gene expression of Cox-2 in
tumor cells has been linked with decreased programmed cell death, increased
tumor invasiveness, suppressed immune function and angiogenesis and
blood vessel growth. Cox-2 inhibitors have been shown to have anti-tumor
activities in human colon, breast, lung and prostate cancer tissues
in the laboratory. "We think Cox-2 inhibitors may help delay or prevent
disease progression in men with recurrent prostate cancer after definitive
radiation therapy or surgery and thereby help extend the time until
hormonal therapy is needed," concluded Pruthi. Mathematician claims solving greatest unsolved math problem (Go To Top) Washington: A Purdue University mathematician has staked a claim to solving the Riemann hypothesis, said to be the greatest unsolved problem in mathematics. According to Purdue News, Louis De Branges de Bourcia has posted a 23-page paper detailing his attempt at a proof on his university Web page. The spirited competition to prove the hypothesis carries a one million dollar prize for the person who accomplishes it first. "I invite other mathematicians to examine my efforts. While I will eventually submit my proof for formal publication, due to the circumstances I felt it necessary to post the work on the Internet immediately," De Branges said. The Riemann hypothesis is a highly complex theory about the nature of prime numbers that has stymied mathematicians since 1859. Bernhard Riemann published a conjecture about how prime numbers were distributed among other numbers in 1859. He labored over his own theory until his death in 1866, but was ultimately unable to prove it. De Branges latest efforts have neither been peer reviewed nor accepted for publication. Acccording to Leonard Lipshitz, head of Purdue's mathematics department, "De Branges' work deserves attention from the mathematics community. It will obviously take time to verify his work, but I hope that anyone with the necessary background will read his paper so that a useful discussion of its merits can follow." June 9, 2004 World's largest prime number discovered (Go To Top) London:
A mathematics enthusiast has discovered the largest prime number
with over seven million digits using his desktop computer. According
to the New Scientist, Josh Findley, a native of Seattle in US, contributed
his 2.4Ghz Pentium PC's spare processing power to a distributed computing
project called the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS). The
new number is the 41st Mersenne prime to have been found and can be
represented as 224,036,583. Findley's computer spent 14 days analysing
the number before reporting the find. Two independent GIMPS members
then verified the find, using five days on a 16-CPU cluster in France
and 11 days on a server in Canada. "I'm still surprised. Even after
five years running GIMPS on my computers, I didn't expect to find a
new Mersenne prime," Findley was quoted as saying. The discovery comes
just six months after GIMPS announced the discovery of the last enormous
Mersenne prime, which had a million fewer digits. The progress takes
the project close to finding the first 10 million-digit prime number. Genetic mutation behind sudden death syndrome revealed (Go To Top) Washington:
A new study has defined a previously undescribed inherited cardiac
arrhythmia syndrome that can lead to sudden death and can strike young
and seemingly healthy people. Published in this week's issue of Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences, the study observed a gene called
ankyrin-B, which encodes a protein that coordinates ion channels and
transporters and thus regulates the flow of ions in and out of heart
muscle cells, which in turn controls the beating of the heart. The researchers
discovered four new mutations on a specific gene that encodes for Ankyrin-B,
a protein within heart muscle cells. After screening a group of 664
heart patients from the U.S. and Europe for mutations in the Ankyrin-B
gene, the researchers found eight patients with the four new mutations.
According to The Duke Med News, it was found that Ankyrin-B mutations
are more common than previously suspected. So researchers are now advocating
that all family members of patients with sudden cardiac death should
undergo genetic testing. "We now have a new class of arrhythmias that
had in the past been grouped with the Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) class
of arrhythmias. We can now say that the new syndrome is completely separate
and distinct," said Van Bennett, HHMI investigator and biologist at
the Duke University Medical Center, who also led the research. scientists
however are optimistic that beta-blockers should be quite effective
in controlling the irregular heartbeats. Therefore, treatment should
not be a problem if the mutation is discovered in time. Mystery behind early morning heart attacks uncovered (Go To Top) Washington:
Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered a daily reduction in the
flexibility of blood vessels, which may help explain why heart attacks
and strokes occur most frequently in the early morning hours. The findings
are published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
"The human body maintains a balance of blood pressure and blood flow
by expanding or contracting blood vessels. Much of this expansion is
directed by a layer of cells called the endothelium, which lines the
blood vessels. Risks of sudden death, heart attack and stroke are 30
to 50 percent higher in the early morning hours, so we wanted to determine
whether the endothelium's effects are diminished in the morning," said
Virend Somers, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist and lead author of the study.
The study examined the blood vessel expansion caused by the endothelium
in 30 normal, healthy volunteers who were non-smokers. Measurements
were taken at bedtime, and then at 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. "Doctors have
known for years that the morning hours are prime time for cardiovascular
events such as heart attacks, sudden death and stroke, but the reasons
are unclear. These latest findings may provide clues to the clustering.
In fact, the early morning function of the blood vessels in healthy
young subjects approaches the levels seen in smokers and diabetic people,"
said Somers. "We are not sure yet how these changes relate to people
with cardiovascular disease, but this reduced morning function of the
endothelium may be among triggers that could cause an event. We will
continue to explore the underlying mechanisms," he added. |
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