tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10604894720260508602009-12-09T23:57:00.166-08:00Home - Health at largeHealth information blogMasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-21380864543134135362009-09-03T08:43:00.000-07:002009-09-03T08:45:50.573-07:00Painless face lift<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>Painless facelift</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Imagine, attaining a face lift, snug eye and neck contour, firmer jowl line, less noticeable skin discolouration and open pores, and super boost skin hydration and vitality -- all within the very first session of a Power Lift Facolift Series' facelift therapy.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Besides 100% safe, one experiences strengthening of the skin to reduce damages caused by the sun and a polluted environment.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Capture youthfulness with the Power 3nity Lift and Power Caviar 02 Lift therapies that</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">help restore youth to your skin and muscles, diminish the signs of ageing and revitalise</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">lethargic skin, so you look younger and more vibrant.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Experience smoother skin with noticeably reduced fine lines, and heightened cellular</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">activities like collagen and elastin production, while increasing density of muscle fibers to resist constant gravity pull -- just the way you were when you were younger.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"The Power 3nity Lift is simply amazing! The firmness of my facial muscle and skin has improved tremendously and it is safe," said 51-year-old Datin Michelle Tay, a satisfied customer.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Another 44-year-old Shirley Lim said, "Wow! The Power 3nity Lift has the ability to</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">restore youthfulness to my skin and tones my facial muscles.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"The therapy is truly relaxing and the results, satisfying. I was surprised to see the vast</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">improvement on the very first session."</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Facelift from London with clinical studies done in the United States</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Power 3nity Lift and Power Caviar 02 Lift are facelift therapies from London with clinical studies conducted in the United States.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Both facelift therapies have the ability to help slow signs of ageing and sun damage, making you appear younger than your biological age.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Possessing a regenerative effect, the therapies helps increase local metabolism of the skin and muscle tissue, resulting in effective retardation of early signs of ageing.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The Power 3nity Lift helps strengthen skin and facial muscles by boosting collagen,</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">elastin and muscle fiber pro- duction via accelerating cell metabolic rate.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Overall, the skin and muscles are strengthened and empowered to resist gravity pull and environmental stress, so you look more youthful, with a healthy glow. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Safe, effective and noninvasive</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Both the Power 3nity lift and Power Caviar 02 Lift are safe and non-invasive therapies and the results are prohealth, without the use of any form of laser or light therapy. injections or fillers. Power 3nity Lift and Power Caviar 02 Lift use a healing current that has been used in burn units and muscle healing units in hospitals, to help patients rebuild and heal tissues, while increasing collagen and elastin contents of the skin.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Unlike other therapies that promise to restore the youthfulness on the outer skin, Power 3nity Lift and Power Caviar 02 Lift not only helps bring back lustrous skin on the outside, they also energise the skin by encouraging cell regeneration by up to 500%, thus</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">creating more collagen, elastin and muscle fibers.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">It is like a 5D-year-old woman who not only looks 40; she also has skin that regenerates fast and functions more efficiently.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">A Power 3nity Lift facelift session consists six portions. The first is a Skin Refining</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">session that helps reduce fine lines and open pores. The second imparts oxygen and</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">enhance blood circulation to skin cells, which brings about a brightening effect and encourage healthier skin. The third and fourth portions lift, firm and strengthen the mus-</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">cles in the eye, face and neck area. The fifth part is Deep Lymph Drainage therapy that</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">helps reduce discolouration and scars in the safest and most natural way.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The six and last portion is Firming and Cell Regenerating Therapy. The therapy helps</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">increase skin firmness by encouraging the production of the collagen, elastin and muscle fibers and reduce the appearance of deep pitted scars and burrows.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The Perfector Power 3nity Lift and Power Caviar 02 Lift Therapy bridge the gap between cosmetic surgery and cosmeeeutical products. It is safe and the results are not</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">only dramatic, but also long lasting.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-2138086454313413536?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-55643445498532394112009-08-13T17:27:00.000-07:002009-08-13T17:28:24.438-07:00The flu and the common cold are both viral infections of the upper respiratory tract.<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>The right treatment</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The flu and the common cold are both viral infections of the upper respiratory tract. The influenza virus causes flu, whereas the rhinovirus sparks off the cold.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Many people do not know how to properly differentiate the flu and a cold. Initially, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. But though the cold can be a nuisance, one usually feels much worse off when down with the flu.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The initial symptoms for both are a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough. The</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">flu virus is more virulent and usually develops faster than a cold. It is usually also accompanied by high fever, fatigue and weakness, and muscle aches and pains,</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The primary objective in the treatment of flu and cold is to reduce the duration of the</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">symptoms and improve your quality of life. Fact is, strengthening the immune system</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">will help relieve a runny nose, sore throat and cough.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Now you can use a German herbal combination to shorten the duration of the flu and cold. Backed by 20 clinical papers, this product has been prescribed by German physicians for the last 50 years since it was developed by Erich Schaper and Albert Brummer. The unique blend of herbal extracts helps to activate the immune system, In doing so, the body's resistance increases and can ward off the flu and cold virus. Generally for colds, this product will assist recovery in one or two days while the flu usually takes longer, which is about three to five days to recover. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Prevention</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Flu may lead to secondary bacterial infection, and old people and children are especially susceptible individuals, Both these groups have weaker immune systems and the flu can prove to be fatal in young children, the elderly and those with underlying chronic illnesses.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Eat right and sleep tight: There are valid reasons why we should abide by this fairly general piece of advice. A poor diet and bad night's sleep can lower your immunity and make you more vulnerable to infections. Generally, it would do well for adults to settle with seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Older children and teenagers need between nine and ten hours every night. A balanced diet for most people emphasises fruits and vegetables, whole grains and small amounts of lean protein.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Regular exercise: Regular cardiovascular exercise such as walking, biking, aerobics boosts your immune system. Even if you do come down with the flu, there'll be less severe symptoms and you'll recover faster than those who aren't as fit. Apart from the flu vaccines and antivira] drugs, the multifunctional herbal combination from Germany may be taken to help cushion the flu attack. This was even used during the SAnS period in China to strengthen the immune system.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Limit air travel: Researchers say that the decreased numbers of air travel passengers during the fall of 2001 actually slowed the spread of the flu as well as delayed the start of the flu season by several weeks. Limit your air travel during the height of the holiday travel season, but if you must travel, this herbal product can help to protect you by reducing your risks of contracting any infection.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Avoid crowds during flu season: The flu spreads easily wherever people congregate, and this could mean childcare centres, schools, office buildings, auditoriums, even cruise ships. Avoid crowds wherever possible at the peak of the flu season and you reduce your chances of infection.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-5564344549853239411?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-72228693469714777842009-06-30T08:03:00.000-07:002009-06-30T08:09:16.733-07:00Get ready to be pampered<span style="font-size:130%;">Starting fromApr 8,m t3, the Curve - one of Malaysia's first pedestrlan~sed lifestyle shopping mall -will be transformed into the ultimate urban oasis dedicated entirely to beauty, health and relaxation.</span><p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">With a unique Zen theme, the Curve will oe decorated with a backdrop of healing stones, running water and plants to create a harmonious and calm ambience. The Health and Wellness Week will also showcase numerous methods for relaxing and healing that will fit any shopper's busy schedule, as well as information on health issues.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">At the Curve's Health and Wellness Week, shoppers will d scover the pleasures of special beauty and health treatments These treatments are being featured with the primary aim of promoting healthy living.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Madam Adele D. Flores, Centre Manager, the Curve, said, "In today's fast-paced society, most of us Jeedvery busy and demanding lifestyles which often lead tO our heaith being neglected. On this note. the Health and Wellness Week was conceptualised to create awareness on how to restore and sustain that health balance,</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Focusing on spiritual, physical and psychological elements, the Health and Wellness week will offer special promotions to enhance the quality of life for all shoppers. As our aim is to provide a unique and memorable shopping experience, the environment we have created here at the Centre Court provides an opportun ty for our. shoppers to soothe their senses" she continues.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">To make this possible, an array of outlets from the Curve will be showcasing a variety of products and services such as Ogawa, Fitness First. Jean Yip Hub,Jurlique, The Body Shop, Forest'secret and JoJoBa International.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Forest'secret will have a soothing hand and foot spa demonstration and shoppers will also receive a free Forest'secret product with every purchase of RM5O and above. On top of this, those who wish to start exercising can join Fitness First for free and enjoy a one-month free membership, as well as an opportunity to watch a Body Balance Demonstration and participate in yoga sessions.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Jurlique, a skin care company specialising in biodynamic beauty products will be providing free trials for ten-minute hand massages. Shoppers can also enjoy special “indulge Your Senses Facial and Body" promotions by spending RM88 onwards as well as lucky dips at their booth.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Those who are ooking for an affordable pamper ng exper ence w certa nly enjoy Jean Yip Hub's H -tech treatment at only RM48. Shoppers can choose among the Radiant Diamond Peel, FP Face Firm, PLT Skin rejuvenation, Slim up contouring for the full body or the Dermasonic treatment. Furthermore, shoppers can obtain glamorous hair and make-up tips suitable for day and night as well as a hair styling demonstration for both men and women.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Shoppers who are conscious about the environment will be able to return their empty bottles to The Body Shop for recycling during the who e month of April and receive a 10% discount on the same item. In addition, by spendingat any health, wellness and beauty outlet at the Curve, shoppers wil receive a massage pillow from Ogawa. Redemption period is from Apr 8 to 27.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Shoppers who purchase any of the JoJoBa International Spa package treatments will also receive an additional one for free.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">With all these and more at the Health and Wellness week the Curve is the deal avenue to practice active and healthy living.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-7222869346971477784?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-14904085252778097082009-05-03T09:00:00.000-07:002009-05-03T09:02:27.377-07:00Time to detox<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">ABLOATED tummy is not only uncomfortable but also affects your mood, appetite and confidence. It is not to be confused with being fat.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Belly fat is fatty ceils around your midsection and you can't get rid of it without proper diet and exercise. Stomach bloating is when the abdomen feels full and tight, even when you have just eaten a little.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">And the most common cause is irregular. digestion or putrefying waste in the colon that produces gas at a higher rate than normal</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">These accumulated waste and toxins, if not released, will build up and overburden a crucial part of your body's natural detoxi-fication system.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">In today's toxic world, our natural detoxi-fication process can easily become over-</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">whelmed, forcing toxins to flow back and re-circulate in our body system.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The most obvious source of toxins is of course from our food.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">No matter how vigilant you may be about your lifestyle, there are unlimited sources</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">from where toxins can be found.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">What's more, did you know that it takes about eight to 10 hours for food, after consumption, to reach our colon?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Our colon is made up of three parts: ascending, traverse and descending. It stores waste, reclaims water and maintains water balance in our body.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">It also breaks down remaining proteins from partially digested food entering from our small intestines.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">By the time the mass of a digested meal reaches the descending colon, the stool constitutes two parts water, undigested fibre and food products and one part of living and dead bacteria. "</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The bacteria breakdown some fibre for hour shment creating waste products, which in turn nourishes the colon's cell lining.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Our colon is the waste disposal system in our body. If this system gets clogged up, all</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">these waste flows back into our body as toxins.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Without enough fibre, stool cannot pass through the colon easily, Consequently, the stool becomes harder, making it more difficult to be excreted.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The longer faeces stay inside our body, the longer our exposure to putrefactive bacteria.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">This long intestinal transit time causes gut flora (good bacteria inside the colon) to function less efficiently and eventually gets overtaken by the harmful putrefactive bacteria.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Putrefying toxins in your colon contribute to the "sludge" in your intestines. This fermenting process also produces a lot of intestinal gas, which gives that discomfort feeling of bloated-hess.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Constipation and stomach bloating are symptoms you cannot ignore, even if it occurs occasionally, since it will lead to slow poisoning of our body system.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Doing a regular total body detoxification can help lighten the toxic overload in our body's natural detoxification system.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">That's why there's an ideal detoxifier, gentle enough to be enjoyed everyday, yet powerful enough to have a real impact on the way you feel.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Swiss-Formulated TruDtox is made from 100% organically-cultivated herbs, flora and teas traditionally known to aid dotoxifi-cation -- without any added laxatives.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">A natural and safe herbal cleanser, TruDtox gently cleanses pollutants from your body, helps rejuvenate normal functions of your body's detoxification organs and even supports thermo-genesis by burning excess fats,</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">It helps to flush away waste from your body without creating bowel dependency.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Regular detoxification brings long-lasting improvements to health by helping the body eliminate its toxin build-up and help strengthen the body's natural detoxificalion organs.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Take action today by doing total body detoxification regularly with TruDtox for a healthier and cleaner inside.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">TruDtox retails at RM29.50 and RM53.00 for a pack of 5s and los detox sessions and is available at leading pharmacies nationwide.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-1490408525277809708?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-82079654745213959322009-05-03T08:54:00.000-07:002009-05-03T08:56:42.987-07:00Understanding your skin<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ATTAINING beautiful skin is not a fantasy, even for those born with poorer genes. In fact, beautiful skin has become skincare's trend lately, receiving a lot more attention than just having good skin.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Good skin is essential in the society we live in, whether at work or play. Beautiful skin simply sums up beauty in totality.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Beautiful skin is the foundation of natural beauty," says Cindy Yeoh, a 20-something writer who takes care of her appearance. "Having dewy and fresh skin actually make you look younger. A plain girl is capable of looking beautiful when she has beautiful skin."</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">What causes skin ageing?.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Skin consists of three distinct layers -- the Epidermis (outer protective layer). Dermis (inner supporting layer) and the Subcutis layer (fatty tissue layer). The structural elements on the dermis layer are made up of an even pattern of collagen and elastin protein fibres embedded in a gel-like substance rich in moisture-binding polysaccharides. This even pattern ensures a healthy, well-moisture, smooth, supple and elastic skin structure with a radiant and even complexion. However, the pattern deteriorates on a daily basis due to the internal and external factor.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Approximately 90% of skin ageing is caused by external factors environment, lifestyle and UV damage, The signs of ageing are dehydration, fine lines & wrinkles. uneven skin tone, UV spots/pigmentation and.thinner skin.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Over time, the skin's essential supportive structure deteriorates and bundtes up in the lower part of the dermis, making it unable to support the upper epidermis layer. The skin becomes dry, fine lines & wrinkles are formed, dilated capillaries and pigmentation spots become more visible and the lack of elasticity makes skin more lax.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">To be more specific, skin ageing begins at 30 or even earlier depending on your lifestyle. So with so much going against our skin, how do we go about getting good and beautiful skin?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The answer lies in understanding your skin and nourishing it with potent nutrients.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Leading the world to beautiful skin Ferrosan, the world leading oral skin supplement has been helping women all over the world attain beautiful skin. With a presence in over 70 countries, this international brand from Denmark is a pioneer in the field of skincare</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">from within. The brand is committed to ensuring the name is recagnised as a benchmark for excellence, not only by loyal customers, but also by scientists, dermatologists, cosmetologists and aestheticlans worldwide.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Its marvellous effects are attributed to its patented and closely guarded Biomarine Complex, Rich in proteins and polysaccha-rides -- similar to those naturally found in skins' supportive tissues - it has been proven to improve the density, structure, quality andmoisture balance of skin.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Ferrosan's range of internal skincare products work so well because its' unique formulation is able to reach beneath the skin surface, the dermal layer, where skin ageing starts and where external skin creams cannot reach.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Fully aware that women in different age groups require different supplementation care</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">for their skin, Ferrosan, through its extensive research has produced three different products for three age groups, targeting specific problems that a generic supplement can-</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">not, making it the most comprehensive of internal skincare supplement.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Women in their mid 30s or those who live on the fast lane will benefit most from the</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ferrosan Plus range. A marked difference from other products on offer, Ferrosan Plus leads the field in bringing the two most potent anti-oxidants to its stable.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Specially bred and selected Lycopene and grape seed extract (LycoPhence GS have been added to the BioMarine Complex, with the final product scientifically tested to be effective. Together, these biological scavengers of free radicals work in synergy to improve and enhance the quality and structure of mature skin. While Bio Marine is clinically shown to improve, LycoPhence GS is scientifically proven to defend.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"It's easy to put out a food supplement in the market. But how sound is the science?"</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:130%;">asks Dr. Lange, who is today the Director of International Sales for Ferrosan.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Here at Ferrosan, we demand efficacy results on products. We are 100% scientifically tested to be effective."</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Beauty is simple and uncomplicated the Ferrosan way. Take two tablets from the Ferrosan Plus range daily and see visible results in two to three months, not only on the face, but all over the body.</span></p> <ul><li> <span style="font-size:130%;">Neutralises the process causing signs of ageing</span></li><li> <span style="font-size:130%;">Significantly improves skin's moisture balance</span></li><li> <span style="font-size:130%;">Visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles</span></li><li> <span style="font-size:130%;">Diminishes visibility of dilated capillaries and age spots</span></li><li> <span style="font-size:130%;">Leaves the skin with brighter more youthful and ever complexion</span></li><li> <span style="font-size:130%;">Helps shield and defend the vital structure elements of the skin against future degradation.</span></li></ul> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Beautiful skin is indeed attainable. Just ask the millions of women who have been using Ferrosan.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: normal;"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-8207965474521395932?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-85226109550436690342009-02-25T05:53:00.000-08:002009-02-25T05:59:59.849-08:00There are many qua|ities that make a good doctor, but you shouldalso remember to overrate experience.<span style="font-size:130%;">What makes a good doctor</span><br /><br />There are many qua|ities that make a good doctor, but you shouldalso remember to overrate experience.<br /><br />By Dr ALBERT LIM KOK HOOI<br /><br />A PROFESSOR of mine back in medical school, not otherwise distinguished for academic excellence or linguistic style, was credited with one wisecrack. That was his only claim to fame and glory. He denigrated a hoary colleague of his by saying, "That doctor has 40 years of experience. He has the same one year's experience repeated 40 times."<br /><br /> I think he has something there. Patients do overrate experience in a doctor. Of course experience counts for something. But it is far from everything. It is not even near the top of<br />the attributes of a doctor I look for. Certainly not when it is an unthinking experience that<br />is more of a slog and a plod than anything else.<br /><br /> When is experience important? It takes an experienced doctor to get a patient and his carets to come on board the team. It is pointless to prescribe an effective treatment when the patient is reluctant and resentful about taking it.<br /><br /> In a case where textbooks and journals are not helpful or available, the doctor will bring<br />his experience to bear. I suppose good bedside manners are honed by years of experience. A<br />surgeon will need to perform a particular operation several times before he is adept and<br />skilful at it. He climbs the "learning curve".<br /><br /> Surgery is of course much more than cutting and sewing. Two of my gurus, Bernard Fisher and Umberto Veronesi, are surgeons. They went far beyond operating on patients with breast cancer. They thought long and hard about the natural history of breast cancer.<br /><br /> Bernie is alive and well. He still lends his wisdom and advice to the current crop of breast oncologists. Umberto has passed on. We acknowledge the pioneering work he did on breast conserving surgery. We, who treat breast cancer, owe a debt of gratitude to these two.<br /><br /> Experience should be varied. Experience should leave us thinking. Experience should make us learn. However much experience a doctor may have, it is still limited to the minutes and hours of his practice and what his brain makes of it. That is so little and confining!<br /><br /> More important than an individual's experience is the pooled documented experience. Notes (well kept I hope) written by tens and hundreds of thousands of doctors are collected, collated and analysed. Articles are written about this invaluable collective experience and duly published.<br /><br /> Experience should be combined with wisdom, judgement and knowledge. Wisdom is something we have lost in our overloaded world of information.<br /><br /> I can tell you what wisdom is not. It is not information, it is not knowledge, it is not skills and it is certainly not experience. It is not measurable. I leave it to you in your infinite wisdom (ah-hem) to decide what wisdom is.<br /><br /> Judgement is equally difficult to calibrate.We also know it by its absence. Think of Bush,<br />Cheney and Rumsfeld. Think of the judgements handed down by the law courts. Think of a drunk driver. Wisdom and judgement are to be quietly reflected upon rather than shrieked about in a sanctimonious manner.<br /><br /> Knowledge is an easier customer. Medical knowledge and scientific knowledge are indispensable to a doctor. The more journals he reads, the less likely he is to shortchange a patient by giving outdated treatment.<br /><br /> The more seminars and conferences he attends, the more he learns of what his "cutting edge" colleagues are thinking about and doing. In many countries, doctors are tested every year on their knowledge and skills before their license to practise is renewed.<br /><br /> I will go one step further when speaking of a doctor's knowledge, skills and expertise. In my opinion every doctor must be well versed with statistics and mathematics. How else can he make sense of the articles in contemporary medical journals strewnwith hazard ratios, pvalues and confidence intervals?<br /><br /> Barack Obama was not elected because of his experience. The American people decided<br /> he had the wisdom and good judgement to lead them andthe world.<br /><br /> Alexander the Great conquered almost all of what was known of the western world in his early 30s.<br /><br /> Two thousand years ago, a wise, holy, politically-savvy man persuaded and preached and<br />pontificated. His influence on Western art, music and literature reverberates till today.<br /><br />And he did all that ~in his twenties and early thirties.<br /><br /> Emily Dickenson wrote beautiful and moving poems. She was a recluse in Amherst, Massachusettes, with a fertile imagination.<br /><br /> Shakespeare himself did not travel that much in Europe and Italy. His plays set in Italy<br />(The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, etc)<br />would make us think he lived and experienced the Italian way of life for decades.<br /><br /> The good doctor is well-mafinered, experienced, wise, creative, of good judgement and most of all, knowledgeable, scientific and mathematical.<br /><br /> Met any lately?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Dr Albert Lira Kok Hooi is a consultant oncologist. For further information, e-mail star-health@thestar.com.my. The views expressed are those of the writer and readers are advised to always consult expert advice before undertaking any changes to their lifestyles. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-8522610955043669034?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-46399438790729213602008-10-11T06:53:00.000-07:002008-10-11T06:54:03.347-07:00Discovering the subtleties beneath the skin of an everyday superfood<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>Red and good</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Discovering the subtleties beneath the skin of an everyday superfood.</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">TOMATOES are hailed as the new supeffood, able not just to combat cancer and cut cholesterol but also, it was revealed, to help keep skin youthful and protect against sunburn.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Although the health benefits of tomatoes are well established, the average Briton eats only 6kg of them a year, compared to the 36kg devoured by Italians.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The Brits are not known for adventurousness when it comes to tomatoes. I thought</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">that there were only four kinds round, plum, cherry, and the ones that come chopped in a can. So I'm astonished to find that there are more than 5,000 varieties in the world, and 5CI0 in Italy alone.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">I have come to Italy to learn the ave of eating them from Paolo Battistel, a consultant</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">who is being vaunted as Britain's first "tommelier".</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Growing up on a farm near Venice, tommelier Battiste[ learnt about tomatoes from his</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">maternal grandmother Maria, a formidable woman who grew them as a hobby. Every year she was determined to produce not only the earliest crop in their village but also the</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">biggest tomato.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Little Paolo began helping her from the age of four, and now, at 48, he is trouble shooting all over the globe and running specialist courses on cultivation at his tomato school near Lake Garda.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Like the grapes that go into wine, different tomatoes thrive in different types of soil and</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">with varying levels of sunlight.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Like most Italians, I prefer tomatoes t6be green and acidic, but the British love them</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">sweet and red."</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Today's four candidates all come from Sicily, which is known for pmducing some of</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Italy's best tomatoes the harsh growing conditions and high salinity of the water in the coastal farms yield fruits with a very intense taste,</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">A variety called Cikito is of particular interest to Battisteh it has three times the normal</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">levels of lycopene, the pigment that gives tomatoes their deep red colour, and also acts</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">as a powerful antioxidant, capable of mopping up free radicals, the harmful molecules linked to cancer.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Placing four different tomatoes in front of me, Battistel asks me to guess which one is</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cikito. He gives me a clue: "The more lycopene a tomato has, the redder it is both on the</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">flesh and on the inside."</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">At first, they all look alarmingly similar. But by placing them directly next to each other, I see that one is definitely a much deeper shade of red than the others, and point to it triumphantly.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Battistel teaches me how to taste a tomato. First, I must savour it with the tip of my tongue to assess its sweetness, then roll it around each side of my mouth to check the acidity. Finally, I must push it up against the roof of my mouth and smear it across my</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">palate to assess its "mealiness".</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">I am not quite sure I have got the hang of this, but it seems to boil down to whether the tomato is crunchy or soft and how easily it will blend with other ingredients if used in a sauce.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">A true tommefier would score each of thes attributes between one and 10, then plot them on a graph to depict the tomato's unique "fingerprint". Battistel lets me off lightly: all he asks me to do is say whether each tomato is sweet, acidic or mealy.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">With the napkin tied over my eyes as an impromptu blindfold, the tasting gets off to a</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">good start. As soon as Battistel loads the first unseen tomato into my mouth, a burst of</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">sweetness hits the tip of my tongue. This is going to be easy. "Sweet!" I say.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">I have similar success with tomatoes called Birikino and Caprese, though I falter on an</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">odd-looking green-and-red-striped specimen known as Zebrino,</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The test is not over yet. We must also see what these tomatoes taste like when they are</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">cooked. For this, Battistel prepares them with great care.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Those destined for pizza are cut lengthways, from stalk to bottom, so that they pmduce less juice and avoid making the dough soggy. Those to be served on bruschetta are chopped crossways, so that they add as much moisture to the toasted bread as possible.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Battistel tells me that his grandmother prayed throughout her life that she would die</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">tending her tomatoes, She got her wish when she passed away in her garden eight years</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ago, at the age of 93.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"It's how I would like to go, too," he says. Given that he eats some 90kg of this super-</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">food a year, his demise may be a very long way off yet. -@Telegraph Group Ltd,London</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-4639943879072921360?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-9680879982931013092008-10-11T06:46:00.000-07:002008-10-11T06:47:42.605-07:00Pfizer launches dual-mode therapy to block nicotine's effect in the brain.<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>Let's quit</b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Pfizer launches dual-mode therapy to block nicotine's effect in the brain.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">PFIZER Malaysia recently launched its new smoking cessation pill, varenicline, a</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">breakthrough non-nicotine oral medication. It has a novel mechanism of action which helps smokers quit smoking by providing dual benefits.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Varenidine is unique because it is specifically designed to partially activate the nicotinic receptor and reduce the severity of the smoker's craving and the withdrawal symptoms from nicotine.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Moreover, if a person smokes a cigarette while receiving treatment, it has the potential to diminish the sense of satisfaction associated with smoking.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">This assists the attempting quitter by helping prevent the cycle of nicotine dependence.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Nicotine dependence makes quitting smoking very difficult and is one of the main reasons many smokers do not succeed in their attempts to quit.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">When smokers inhale smoke from a cigarette, nicotine reaches the brain within seconds and binds to nicotinic receptors, which activates the reward pathway in brain circuitry. This stimulates the pleasure centre in the brain.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">However, the initial effects of pleasure recede quickly. The rewards-or pleasurable effects rein-force a smokers' physical dependence on the nicotine contained in cigarettes.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Smokers then become accustomed to certain levels of nicotine in their systems and a drop in these nicotine levels results in a cycle of craving and uncomfortable with-drawal.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Pfizer's discovery and development ofvamnicline demonstrates groundbreaking science leading to the first treatment aimed directly at smoking cessation," said Dr Wong</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Kok Seng. Medical Director, Pfizer Malaysia, Singapore and Bmnei. "Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and is a preventable cause of death. This innovahve</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">medication will now help many smokers end their nicotine dependence and enjoy healthier and happier lives."</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">In two identically designed varenicline studies, patients receiving a 12-week course of varenicline therapy ( lmg twice daily) nearly quadrupled the likelihood of quitting than those taking placebo and had nearly twice the likelihood of quitting than those patients taking buproprion (150rag twice daily).</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Varenicline also demonstrated a favourable safety and tolerability profile in studies of almost 4,000 smokers.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"These results suggest varenidine is a significant advancement in the management of smoking cessation," said Dr Wang. "It is never too late to quit smoking. People who quit smoking before the age of 50 have one-half the risk of dying of a smoking-related illness in the next 15 years compared to those who continue smoking. Smokers who are unable to quit on their own should consider seeking medical support and treatment."</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">In trials, vareuicline was generally well tolerated, with overall discontinuation rates similar to placebo. The most common side effects included nausea, vivid dreams, headaches and vomiting.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"As everyone knows, it is extremely difficult to quit smoking," said Dr Wang. "For example, less than 7% of smokers who try to quit on their own achieve more than one year of abstinence. In fact, most smokers begin smoking again within a few days of attempting to quit. It takes about five to seven attempts -with or without treatment - before the average smoker is able to quit."</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Because smokers need considerable support to successfully quit their dependency on nicotine, a support programme known as the Quitting Championship designed to help address behavioural components of smoking dependence will be made available to patients.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Recognising the need for greater awareness of the role of medical therapy in quitting smoking, Pfizer wil! also be making available to the public a Quitter's Guide, which provides information on the different options for smoking cessation therapy available in Malaysia.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Varenicline represents Pfizer's commitment towards working together for a healthier world through applying innovative science to improve the quality of life for patients," said Dr Wang.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Unlike other smoking cessatior solutions that work only on controlling the withdrawal symptoms, varenicline reduces craving and withdrawal symptoms as well as the smoker's sense of satisfaction derived from smoking.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Both nicotine and varenicline act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain, which is associated with nicotine dependence.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">However unlike nicotine, varenicline is a partial agonist of the receptors.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">References:</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">1. Conzales DH, Rennard SI, Billing CB, Reeves KR. A pooled analysis of varenicline, an a462 nicotinic receptor partial ogonist versus bupmpion for smoking cessation. Presented at Surety for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, February 2006.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">2. Jorenby DE, Hays ff, Rigotfi NA, et al, for the Varenidine Phase 3 Study Group. Efficacy of varenidine, an a462 nicotinic acetylcboline receptor partial agonist, vs placebo or sustained-release bupropion for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled triaIJAMA. 2006;296:56-63.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">3. Tonstad S, Hays JT, Jorenby DE, Reeves K. Billing 13, Gong J, Azoulay</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;">5. Smoking cessation efficacy and safety of an o462 nicotinic receptor partial agonist - results from varenidine in cessation therapy: optimizing results. Presented at American Heart Association, November 2005.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-968087998293101309?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-66499376648216140982008-08-10T07:50:00.000-07:002008-08-10T07:51:29.038-07:00A therapy that rides on radio and sound waves provides pain relief.<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>Sound relief</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>A therapy that rides on radio and sound waves provides pain relief.</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">They say that surgery should always be the last option. If there's a treatment out there that might offer you pain relief or even solve your physical problem, then by all means try that before you decide to go under the knife.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Given that premise, it would seem that Sonotron therapy is a viable option, especially</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">since it is non-invasive and drug-free. It combines pulsed radio and sound waves to</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">provide relief in certain arthritic and repetitive stress conditions. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Sonotron is touted to offer effective pain relief for complaints such as osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, cervical spondylosis, stiff neck and tennis elbow, and sports injuries that affect muscles and that cause tissue swelling, among other conditions.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The device looks like a hair-dryer and works by means of a "corona discharge beam"</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">that's produced when a low radio frequency of 430 kHz, pulsed at a low sound frequency of 1 kHz, is applied to an electrode located in a hand-held applicator.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The corona dischargebeam from the applicator is then directed on the problem area above the skin. It emits electro-magnetic energy and electrons beneficial to the patient.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The external treatment has no contact with the skin at all and at most, the patient may</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">feel a little heat.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The device was invented by Dr Alfonso DiMino in the United States in 1987. He</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">developed the Sonotron technology in the late 1970s while working on an industrial</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">application involving specialised electronic circuits.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Dr DiMino found that the device produced heat from the discharge. As an arthritis</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">sufferer himself, Dr DiMino tried it and folmd that it prParlv reduced nain.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Healing therapy</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Medical practitioner Dr Gertrude Kow, who' had a machine in her clinic since 2004, foun Sonotron therapy useful for patients who ha just had stitches, especially if they didn't want antibiotics.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Sonotron seems to promote faster healin and it's helpful for abrasions and diabetic fo</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">as well. It also helps abscesses by making them ripen faster or regress. The faster you</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">the treatment, the better. If you've had a bad knee for 10 years, for example, you can't</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">expect miracles.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Sonotron therapy also known to be useful for treating osteoarthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, tendinitis, sports injuries and other joint conditions." </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">There has been evidence of acceleral ed healing of wound in diabetics, burns, accident injuries and surgery with the the apy. While Sonotron therapy cannot remove degeneration at the cartilage of joints, it can reduce or eliminate further degeneration.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Interestingly, in his in-vitro experiments, Brian Thompson of the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States, found that he was able to repeatedly increase the</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">density of cartilage by applying Sonotron or his patients.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The energy emitted is equivalent to 1/60 the power of a typical electro-surgical unit in</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">widespread use today and the energy that is dissipated within the tissues is equivalent to</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">that of a pocket calculator, which means it is safe for use. In fact, the Radiation Protectior Unit of the Institute of Science and Forensic Medicine Department in Singapore has cert fied that no licences are required for the use of the device in the republic.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Sonotron works by converting free radica present in the cells of problem areas into</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">oxygen and water. This inner chemistry change promotes growth of tissues that results in the healinz of the oroblem area. scientists believe that free radicals excess is the cause of most clinical problems, hence the need to remove them from areas which are inflamed or injured.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>An alternative</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">While it's a therapy that is difficult to prove since you do not obtain results straightaway, these days medical professionals in the United States, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia are more receptive to complementary medicine like Sonotron therapy to treat patients with chronic pain without having to deal with the side-effects of painkillers or drugs.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"You have to bear in mind that Sonotron doesn't work as fast. [tell patients that if after</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">three or four sessions, they don't feel any better then they should try something else. it's not like a pill which you can pop and get immediate effect. Most patients who are wiliing to try Sonotmn are those who have been through other treatments and even surgery," says Dr Kow.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Some patients with illnesses that were thought to be too difficult and time-consuming to treat have come away with positive results. Proven safe even for children, Sonotron therapy has also hastened the rehabilitation of stroke patients, while asthmatics and those with sinusitis see improvements in their condition.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Sonotron therapy was introduced to Malaysia in 1994 by Panmedic Sdn Bhd. It is now used by more than 100 general practitioners and spedalists around the country as well as in rehabilitation and sports medicine. it is also available at some private and govemment hospitals, and the Malaysian Sports institute in Kuala Lumpur has a Sonotron machine to treat sports injuries.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Respite from pain</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">SURE, there are some days when we just don't feel like getting up from bed. But it can he frightening when you literally cannot get up,</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">One day in 2006, retiree Salamiah Ishak. 57, found that every effort she made to get up from a nap on the floor hurt so bad that she was stricken by fear.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">And when her husband Mohamad Yusof tried to pull her up, the pain reverberated to her spine and her arm felt like it was being ripped off.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"My whole body ached. When I finally managed to make my way to see a doctor in Sungai Petani, he couldn't find anything wrong and merely told me to lose weight," says Salamiah, who weighed 70kg at that time.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">She sought treatment from various specialists but none gave her a definite answer. Then a neurologist finally found, after an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), that she had a curvature in her spine and that a pinched nerve might be the cause of her pain.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"While that bit of news helped, it didn't solve the problem. Then I chanced upon a magazine that had a story on Sonotron. After the second therapy from a clinic in Petaling Jaya, the pain lessened considerably. For the past two years, I've had to sleep on a reclining chair as it's been almost impossible to get up from a horizontal position from the bed. When I recently went to Terengganu, I could sleep on the hotel bed and get up on my own," says Salamiah.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Her husband Mohamad Yusof, 58, who used to work with the Royal Malaysian Air force, was at first sceptical but was willing to try anything to help his wife's condition.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"It has worked for Salamiah and I've even tried it for my tennis elbow and an old knee injury.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"The real test came when I had to drive for eight hours to and from Terengganu. Before, I couldn't sit for long as my knee would hurt. This time, surprisingly, I handled the distance without any complaints," says Yusof.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"It has to do with your frame of mind and some might find it hard to accept this form of therapy.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"What's good is that there are no drugs involved and that's comforting especially since my wife has been on too much medication already."</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">A medical specialist (who declined to be named) says that drugs tend to have side effects when used over long periods. Painkillers may cause gastric and even renal failure in the long term.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"For one of my elderly female patients, I cut off all the medications and put her on Sonotrun therapy. Now, she can walk, and has left the old folks' home to stay with her family in her hometown," says the specialist who has had the Sonotron machine in his clinic for five years.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"I also treat elderly patients suffering osteoarthritis. One patient who was planning on having surgery for her back tried Sonotron as a last resort. After five times, she felt well enough to go back to work after being on no-pay leave for six months,"</span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-6649937664821614098?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-68274050046238172002008-08-10T07:37:00.000-07:002008-10-06T17:28:15.347-07:00Picky eaters can develop problems in growth and development, including social and academic performance<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>Trouble eating</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Picky eaters can develop problems in growth and development, including social and academic performance.</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Most mothers will agree that it is nerve-wracking when their child refuses to eat or is extremely fussy about food. Beside normal weight gain, meeting the nutritional needs of the child is the other main concern.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> “<span style="font-size:130%;">Probably the most universal complaint of parents is that their child is not eating the</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">food, or amount of food, offered," said Prof Dr Mauro Fisberg, paediatric nutritionist and head of the paediatrics department at Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Dr Fisberg was invited by PaediaSure Complete (Abbott Nutrition) to come to Kuala</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lumpur recently to share his expertise on the latest developments on picky eating and other feeding problems.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">An author of six books on children's eating disorders, Dr Fisberg said that in general,</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">paediatric clinics record about 10% to 25% of children as being picky eaters.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Picky eating is becoming a major concern because it can contribute to under-nutrition,</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">(thus) impairing children's growth and development which includes social and academic</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">performance as well," he said.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Studies have shown that picky eating can lead to growth complications, increased chronic illness and increased risk of developing eating disorders later in life.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">In some cases, picky eating may also cause short-term nutritional deficiencies and produce life-long implications such as social and emot ona problems including aversion</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">to touch, lethargy or lack of interest in playing or learning.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">There is no standard definition of picky eating but researchers typically examine a variety of factors, including nutrient intake composition, a veight of child, food volume </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">and duration of refusal.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">These childmn also tend to eat small amounts, prefer only selected foods such as carbohydrates or dairy products, avoid trying new foods and take a long time to eat their meals.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">There is usnally a combination of reasons for picky eating, including physiological factors such as appetite, genetics and growth, Psychological issues such as the struggle for autonomy, changing emotions and moods, and level of affection or adverse interaction between mother and child could also lead to the problem.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Children also go through picky eating phases.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"We do not know why a child who has been eating the same food for a fow months simply refuses to eat it the next day," said Dr Fisberg,</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">However, he said a majority of picky eaters take after examples set by their parents at home, as many studies indicate that food rejection is a learnt behaviour in almost all cases.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"However, contrary to what many people think, we cannot solve problems of poor appetite in a day or even a week," he said. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"It all starts with recognising that the child has a right to preferences and aversions, Forcing a child to eat what he does not like is not going to make things better. Make a list of his or her preferences and every week, add two new types of food," he advised.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Dr Fisberg said sometimes the use of oral supplements was important to maintain balanced nutrition in children.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Dr Pedro Alarcon, paediatric gastroenterc ogist and international medical director wit</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Abbott Nutrition, said a 2003 study conduc in Taiwan and the Philippines showed that nutritional supplementation increased not only the weight but also the height of children.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">The study was done on 92 children aged three to five who were classified as picky eaters. The children were separated into two groups and monitored for three months. One group only received nutritional counseing while the other, nutritional counselling combine with nutritional supplement.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">After 60 days, the second group of children recorded significant weight gain compareu to the first. Both groups also recorded increases in height.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"That was surprising for us too because we were only expecting weight gain," he said.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">In a year, said Dr Alarcon, a child roughly gains 3cm in height but the children in the study gained more than half of that within three months.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Overall, 28% of children in the second group developed upper respiratory infections</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">compared to 51% in the group which only received nutritional counselling.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Nutrition in the future will not only target, weight, height and less illness m children, but also more body immunity, brain development or even stronger gastrointestinal defence." said Dr Alarcon.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">In another study headed by Dr Fisberg in 2002 on children aged three to five. adding synbiotics (prebiotics and probiotics) to oral supplements showed that there were more sick days recorded in groups which did not take synbiotics. The period of the study was four months.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Paediatric oral supplementation should be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy when dealing with picky eating to prevent children from becoming undernourished." said Dr Alarcon.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Dr Fisberg said probably the most prescribed solution by doctors for picky eating is</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">appetite stimulants, mainly to avoid mothers forcing their children to eat.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"l would not recommend that because the stimulants probably work for one or two weeks only, after which the body will adapt to it," he said, adding that vitamin supplements should only be recommended if the child has a specific vitamin deficiency.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Dr Alareon added that picky eating in children below one year old is rare and thus should be checked to ensure there were no other health problems.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">After one year, a child may also develop some picky eating because that was when they achieve autonomy and have new habits and ability, hence become less interested in food, said Dr Fisberg, adding that weight gain may slow down at that time too.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Generally, when should patents be concerned that their child is having a picky eating problem?</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Usually one month is enough to rule out other possibilities such as medical problems</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">and to see if the picky eating problem is serious," said Dr Fisberg, who also anchors a television programme called Body Sciences on Oniversiry TV in San Paulo.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b>Positive reinforcement</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tips to cultivate healthy eating habits:</span></span></p> <ol><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Avoid distractions during mealtime.</span></span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Adopt a neutral attitude-do not pressure a child to eat.</span></span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Encourage appetite by limiting snacks and balancing food portions.</span></span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Limit duration of meal time.</span></span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Provide age-appropriate foods.</span></span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Introduce new foods to a child gradually and regularly.</span></span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Encourage children to eat independently-do not spoonfeed a child who is old enough to use utensils.</span></span></p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Allow children to make a mess when they eat.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"></p> </li></ol><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-6827405004623817200?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-55424879829862205262008-08-10T07:30:00.000-07:002008-08-10T07:32:47.922-07:00HPV infection is a major cause of cervical cancerHope in HPV vaccine<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />As HPV infection is a major cause of cervical cancer, vaccination offers the hope of a reduction in the incidence of this cancer.</span><br /><br /> Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection.<br /><br /> The HPV virus needs to infect cells in order to survive. Once inside a cell, it directs the cell to make copies of it and to infect other healthy cells. The infected cells eventually die and are shed from the body. When the virus is shed, it can infect another person.<br /><br /> There are different types of HPV. The low risk types, such as HPV6 and HPV11 cause benign genital and respiratory warts, while persistent infection with high-risk types such as HPV16 and HPV18 is associated with increased risk of high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), which is a precursor of cervical cancer.<br /><br /> The genital warts (condylomas) may appear on the outside or inside the reproductive tract. It can spread to nearby skin or to a sexual partner.<br /><br /> Genital warts are more likely to occur in people who have more than one sexual partner or whose sexual partner has more than one partner. Other reproductive tract infections are often associated with genital warts.<br /><br /> HPV is a major cause of cancer of the cervix. HPV infections by the high risk types are common in young sexually active women. Most clear spontaneously without ever causing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia while some develop a persistent infection.<br /><br /> Hence, cervical cancer can be considered a rare consequence of persistent infection with one or more high risk types, with other as yet undefined factors playing a role.<br /><br /> Studies suggest that HPV may also cause cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus, some cancers of the ompharynx (middle part of the throat that includes the base of the tongue and tonsils).<br /><br /> The more sexual partners a person has, the more likely he or she will get HPV infection. The vast majority of HPV infections go away without treatment. Certain factors like smoking, multiple sexual partners, having many children, oral contraceptive use and HIV infection are associated with an increase in the risk of developing cervical cancer.<br /><br /> As HPV may have no symptoms, it may be more common than is thought.<br /><br /> Most genital warts may appear within a few weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person or they may not appear at all<br /><br /> The warts are fiat, abnormal growths in the genital area including the cervix. Sometimes, the warts are extensive with a cauliflower-like appearance.<br /><br /> There is no published data on the disease burden of HPV infection in our country as HPV is not a notifiable infection.<br /><br /> However, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women here.<br /><br /> The National Cancer Register for 2003 shows the incidence in Peninsular Malaysia as 13.4 and 62.9 per 100,000 women in the age groups 15 to 49 and 50 to 69 years respectively.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> HPV vaccines</span><br /> Women who had previously been infected by a particular HPV type are unlikely to get re-infected by the same HPV type because of the antibodies produced.<br /> <br /> There are two types of HPV vaccines: a bivalent (HPV16 and HPV18) and a quadriva]ent vaccine (HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18).<br /><br /> Both vaccines provide protection against 70% of the HPV types that cause cervical cancer.<br /><br /> In addition, the quadrivalent vaccine provides protection against 90% of the HPV types that cause genital warts.<br /><br /> The vaccines do not provide protection against HPV types that a person has been exposed to.<br /><br /> However, a person who has had HPV may still benefit from the vaccine because most people are not infected with all the types of HPV contained in the vaccine.<br /><br /> The vaccines do not provide protection against other sexually transmitted infections (STI).<br /><br /> Information about some aspects of HPV vaccines is yet to be clarified. This includes the duration of protection although current data indicates that the protection after vaccination lasts at least five years.<br /><br /> The vaccines are given by injection in the upper arm. The second and third doses are given two and six months later.<br /><br /> The optimal age for HPV vaccination is between the age of nine and 26 years.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Effectiveness and safety</span><br /> The HPV vaccines are effective. Studies of both vaccines, to-date, have reported near 100% efficacy.<br /><br /> HPV vaccines are generally well tolerated and reactions are minimal. It is usually limited to some pain, swelling, itching and redness at the injection site, fever, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fainting.<br /><br /> Other side effects reported include swollen glands in the neck, armpit, or groin, headache, skin rashes, joint pain, aching muscles, unusual tiredness or weakness, and a general feeling of being unwell.<br /><br /> Allergic reactions have been reported. They include difficulty in breathing, wheezing and rashes. Some of these reactions are severe.<br /><br /> It is important to inform your doctor if you or your child has had an allergic reaction to the vaccine; has a bleeding disorder; is immunocompromised, such as with HPV infection; is pregnant or is planning to get pregnant, as the vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women; has a fever more than 37.8C; and is taking or intends to take any medicines including over the counter medicines.<br /><br /> HPV vaccination is no substitute for Pap smear screening. Those who have received HPV vaccines should continue Pap smear screening.<br /><br /> An abnormal Pap smear does not mean that a person has HPV infection or any other condition, including cancer.<br /><br /> It does mean that you have to be examined with a procedure called colposcopy. This involves using a magnifying instrument to look at the cervix, vagina, vulva and anus.<br /><br /> If there are areas that appear suspicious, a biopsy, in which a small sample of tissue is removed for microscopic examination, will be performed.<br /><br /> As HPV infection is a major cause of cervical cancer, vaccination offers the hope of a reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer.<br /><br /> However, other measures are needed to eradicate cervical cancer. They include widespread Pap smear screening and safe sexual practices.<br /><br /> One should also remember that HPV vaccines prevent HPV infections. It cannot be extrapolated to the prevention of cervical cancer as there are, apart from HPV infection, other as yet undefined factors playing a role in the genesis of cervical cancer.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-5542487982986220526?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-69979831676476327852008-08-10T07:21:00.000-07:002008-08-10T07:22:22.493-07:00More than skin deepMany unsuspecting consumers make the same mistake of buying laminate flooring without checking the quality of raw materials used in the finished product. While all laminated flooring look almost similar, they aren't exactly the same, for example, quality beyond the surface or design.<br /><br /> It is not easy to be discerning if you are unfamiliar with the product. Most buyers depend on the 'surface value' of the product (also referred to as 'skin') that gives you the<br />design and colour. So, how do you choose a good laminate flooring for your home, office or anywhere?<br /><br /> Ensure that the core-board (the heart) of the product is able to last as long as the surface. Like our body, the heart determines our lifespan. Laminate flooring should be able to stand daily and multiple mopping – squeezed dry.<br /><br /> Ensure that the d~cor layer is printed without heavy metal ink - though it is much cheaper, it is harmful to our health and fades after 2-3 years. A faded product will spoil your interior work.<br /><br /> Ensure that the overlay is of the right classification as claimed. Different grammage<br />overlay has different wear property. Eg. AC I classification wears off faster than AC 3.<br /><br /> Insist on a direct manufacturer's warranty card. This will at least protect your coverage<br />in case of product failure. Remember, warranties issued from a manufacturer outside the<br />country may not be practically enforced.<br /><br /> At Inovar, they are transparent with what they put into each component layer giving you a product that is now internationally recognisod as the best in terms of lifespan and<br />impression.<br /><br /> Today, with a decade of product research and development behind them, they have also developed the right coreboard that resists termites without using toxic termite chemicals. It is simply Usihg the right species of tropical hardwood fibre sourced locally from Sabah and Sarawak. They are so confident with their technology that every panel of Inovar floor comes with a lifetime termite warranty.<br /><br /> As a reputable manufacturer based on the outskirts of KL, they have carved a niche in<br />the international market with quality as their hallmark. Their material component quality<br />standards exceed all European and Japanese safety and health regulations. Their recent<br />achievement in the Brandlaurette Award for Best Brand in the laminate flooring category<br />testifies further to their high quality.<br /><br /> You can call their direct factory outlet at toll free number: 1 800 88 6166 for free consultation from their Floor Designers.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-6997983167647632785?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-91594520056879547722008-08-10T07:10:00.000-07:002008-08-10T07:15:48.854-07:00Every minute you walk can exten d your life by 2 minutes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/walking-787931.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/walking-787923.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Keep walking!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Every minute you walk can exten d your life by 2 minutes. </span><br /><br /> Most of us can walk - from the end of the parking lot, around the mall through the building at work, on the local high school track – but we don't. The average American<br />walks 1.4 miles a week. That's barely 1,000 feet a day.<br /><br /> Walking is a perfect exercise. It doesn't require special talent or equipment, it can be done at any age and doesn't require a particular pace.<br /><br /> The risk of injury is almost nonexistent. But few of us walk. Urban folk are thinner and walk more than rural residents. Odd? Not really.<br /><br /> Post-World War 11 suburban sprawl provided wonderful new places to live, but few con]munities included sidewalks, bike paths, public transportation or shopping centers that could be reached on foot.<br /><br /> Today, you can eat. bank and pick up medicine at drive-though windows. Our lack of exercise and extra weight may be a by-product of the suburbs we've built. In many parts of the country, community planners are trying to reverse this fiend.<br /><br /> Brisk walking at 3 to 4 miles per hour or 15 to 20 minutes a mile. Is a moderate-intensity activity that burns up to 100 calories a mile. Walking just 20 minutes a day can<br />help you lose 7 pounds in a year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Walking:</span><br /> - Burns calories<br /> - Build muscles<br /> - Builds bones<br /> - Prevents colds<br /> - Reduces the effects of aging<br /> - Increases mental sharpness<br /> - Lengthens your life<br /> Start with a daily 10-minute walk. Begin by walking leisurely for 2 minutes to help your heart rate adjust to the activity. Pick up your pace for 6 minutes, and slow down for the last two. As you become more fit. add more time and distance, beginning and ending the walk with a moderate pace.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Walking Tip:</span><br /> Walking on a treadmill is slightly different from walking outside, where there are natural ups and downs and wind resistance. Adding a 1% incline to your treadmill walk<br />brings you close to an outdoorwalk.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-9159452005687954772?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-79724308017454301602008-08-10T07:08:00.000-07:002008-08-10T07:09:31.087-07:00How prepared are airlines?Airline crew should have basic medical knowledge and training. There should he some form of medical kits.<br /><br /> The following British airline provide examples:<br /> Virgin - cabin crew with first-aid training; senior cabin crew are trained to use defibrillators. Access to MedLink.<br /><br /> BA - medical kits contain a "delivery pack" for births. Access to MedLink.<br /> easyJet - crew get medical training and are reassessed every 12 months. Two medical kits on each aircraft. Does not carry defibrillators.<br /><br /> Ryanair Said: "Ryanair's medical training and eqmpment complies withthe stringent safety regulations set by EASA, which apply to all European airlines." Declined to say what equipment is carried on board.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-7972430801745430160?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-6419849877972231512008-08-10T06:53:00.000-07:002008-08-10T07:01:16.600-07:00Doctor in the air<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/doctor_in_plane-753254.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/doctor_in_plane-753209.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Doctor in the air</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Is there a doctor on board? If you're feeling ill, recovering from an operation or pregnant, think before you fly. </span><br /> <br />Boarding a giant metal structure that flies can seem precarious at the best of times. But to need urgent medical attention suddenly at 35,000ft above the ground can be a terrifying experience.<br /><br /> Just ask Nicola Delemere, 31, from Scunthorpe. Her waters broke on a plane en route to Crete from Manchester in April.<br /><br /> With the help of air stewardess Carol Miller, Aide was born three months prematurely,<br />weighing only lib loz, while the plane was over Dusseldorf. His breathing was so poor<br />that the quick-thinking Miller had to use a drinking straw to inflate his lungs and then<br />perform mouth-to-mouth and heart massage until the diverted plane landed at Gatwick<br />(the Delemeres did not want any publicity about their son's birth until doctors consid-<br />ered his condition safe).<br /><br /> Little Aifie's mid-air drama had a happy ending. There was a less pleasant experience<br />for Paul Trinder, a businessman who had paid pounds 4,000 to travel first class with BA<br />from London to Delhi.<br /><br /> He woke up mid-flight to find a corpse sitting near him. The woman in her 70s had died after takeoff and crew had stowed the body in a seat.in order to give the grieving family some privacy.<br /><br /> "Medical incidents on aeroplanes are pretty common," says Dr Richard Dawood, who specialises in travel medicine. "I have been called upon on planes countless times, though luckily for nothing too serious."<br /><br /> Airlines say they do not publish specific numbers of medical incidents on board because the term covers everything from a dizzy spell to a heart attack. British Airways<br />estimates that it has between 40 and 50 serious emergencies that require a plane to be<br />diverted each yeau<br /><br /> "It's very rare for a complaint to be so serious that the plane has to be diverted." says<br />Dr Dawood. "And the provisions for medical emergencies are a lot better than they were<br />a few years ago. Defibrillators have only become the norm in the last decade."<br /><br /> Many airlines have started to use technology that allows them to speak to"telemedical"<br />centres on the ground. The biggest of these is MedLink, which is based in Arizona and used by nearly 80 airlines.<br /><br /> Their support staff can converse in 140 languages and are able to give expert medical<br />advice, as well as identify the nearest airports with hospitals close by.<br /><br /> But the level of medical apparatus on board varies from carrier to carrier. 'q'here is obviously going to be more equipment on a longhaul than a short-haul flight," says Dawood. "and you will probably be better cared for travelling on a premium airline than a budget oue."<br /><br /> Yet recently there have been disturbing cases that raise many questions. In September last year, a 25-year-old Italian woman died on a Ryanair flight from Venice after suffering a blood clot on the lungs: a doctor who tried to treat her claimed that there wasn't basic medical equipment on board (Ryanair say they are now reviewing their procedures).<br /><br /> And in 1995 one British doctor on a longhaul flight from Hong Kong had to operate on a woman with a collapsed lung with just a coat hanger, a water bottle and some Sellotape.<br /><br /> There is no law determining how much medical equipment a plane should carry, but<br />Dr Dawood says that airlines carry apparatus "because it's considered good practice, and<br />because nobodywants to be sued".<br /><br /> All cabin crew are now gwen basic first-aid instruction, with some airlines upping the<br />stakes considerably - for example, all Singapore Airlines' crew have been trained to deliver babies.<br /><br /> For those who are concerned about flying with medical conditions, a British Airways<br />spokesman says that "the phrase 'prevention is better than cure' applies".<br /><br /> The World Health Organisation recommends that you avoid flying if you have an ear, nose or sinus infection, or heart and lung conditions.<br /><br /> "Talk to your doctor if you have just had an operation, especially if it involved diagnostic use of gas as the cabin air pressure can cause it to expand. Anothercondition to watch out for is anaemia, as the decreased amount of oxygen in planes can cause hypoxia (a shortage of oxygen in the blood).<br /><br /> 'As for pregnant women, they should avoid flying after their 36th week. or 32nd if they are expecting twins."<br /><br /> Otherwise it's best to sit back. relax, enjoy your flight.., and be reassured: if you're on a<br />large commercial plane, Dr Dawood says that there is a high statistical chance of there being a doctor on board.<br /><br /> In fact, reflect on the luck of one Ryanair passenger who required treatment during a flight to Dublin. When crew appealed for help, 15 hands were raised. It turned out that a large group on board were doctors going on a golfing break and one of them. Dr Punit<br />Ramrakha, even happened to be Tony Blair's heart specialist.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-641984987797223151?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-57797723656625507222008-08-07T08:29:00.000-07:002008-08-07T08:32:09.979-07:00Lotus your way to good health<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Lotus your way to good health</span><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></div>Choose the right food sanitiser<br /><br /> There are many food sanitisers in the market today. As consumers, it is important to make the correct choice. Many sanitissrs claim to be able to infuse ozone into water. However, how effective the infusion process is rather debatable, as water and gas do not mix. Iris not easy to infuse gas into water in its original form.<br /><br /> So, how do you choose your food sanitiser?<br /><br /> Users have to beware of misleading endorsement claims, certifications and demonstrations. Many conventional systems claim to have approval and endorsements from international agencies. In some cases, the technology is approved, but not necessarily the system, which may not perform to EPA guidelines.<br /><br /> The Lotus Sanitising System from Giabo is registered and tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as evidenced by its EPA file number. It is among the first food sanitisers in the world to be so honoured. Lotus Ozonated water has been proven to be 99.9% effective at killing bacteria and sanitislag produce.<br /><br /> Another important aspect to consider is the " Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP),<br /> According to the EPA, sterilisation occurs only at 800 inV. This is r~easurable by ORP meter, Many conventional food sterilisers do not reach this level. The Lotus Sanitising System, however, can reach this level, and in a small amount of time. Furthermore, in the Lotus system, you can ensure that the entire bowl is ozonated due to the swirling action of the system, which ensures even distribution of ozone. In contrast, systems utilising a tube to infuse ozone into water can rssult in unequal distribution of ozone in the water. This means that only part of your food placed in the bowl is sanitised.<br /><br /> Inhaling ozone is detrimental to your health. Minimum infusion process between ozone and water can cause outgas, as most of the ozone generated from an inefficient infusion process can lead to the ozone escaping, thus increasing the level of ozone in the air. In the Lotus Sanitising System, the Oxyshield technology employed consists of safety features to eliminate this threat.<br /><br /> One thing to take into consideration is the unstable nature of ozone.<br /><br /> An open bowl infusion concept, therefore, may cause the ozone to be diffused by tem-<br />perature and humidity, which reduces the opportunity for it to be infused into the water,<br />In the Lotus Sanitising System, infusion takes place in the base unit, which is a controlled environment, to minimise diffusion of the ozone.<br /><br /> To top it off, the Lotus system also comes with a monitoring system to monitor and regulate performance and efficiency in every cycle to ensure your produce is 99.9% sanitised. If the produce is not fuliy sanitised, the system will indicate possible faults. This monitoring and regulating programme adheres to EPA guidelines.<br /><br /> It is, therefore, no surprise that the Lotus Sanitising System has been awarded the Best<br />Invention of The Year award in Time Magazine.<br /><br /> With the Lotus Sanitising System users can be assured of peace of mind, knowing that<br />their food is being fully sanitised in the interest of health.<br /><br /> Come see for yourself this Aug 7-10 at the Perfect Livin '09 exhibition held at the <a href="http://www.malaxi.com/Map_KLCC.htm">KL<br />Convention Centre</a> at booths 1034 to 1037.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-5779772365662550722?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-26071369108996571722008-08-05T08:57:00.000-07:002008-08-05T09:00:49.623-07:00Produce a chemical present - to a series of chronic diseases<span style="font-size:130%;">Missing element</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">our inability to produce a chemical present in every other primate may be linked to a series of chronic diseases.</span><br /><br /> What does it mean to be human? For most people, it all comes down to that extraordinary object between our ears, and how it blesses us with language, laughter and logic.<br /><br /> But not for Prof Ajit Varki, a doctor-cure-scientist who works in Califnmia. For him, being human is also about a single chemical that separates us from our closest relatives, and which could be linked to many of our most debilitating illnesses.<br /><br /> The story began in 1984, whenVarki was working at the University of California, San Diego. When treating a woman with bonemarrow failure, he injected her with horse serum, The treatment carried the risk of a side effect called "serum sickness", in which the patient's immune system launches an attack on a molecule present in the serum called Neu5Gc.<br /><br /> Sure enough, her skin erupted with an itchy red rash. Investigating further, Varki found that NeuSGc was foreign to humans, even though we carry a very similar version of the same molecule - which may be one reason why animal-to-human organ and tissue transplants do not work well.<br /><br /> But in recent years, he has come to believe that the implications of this molecular difference are much wider, He has built up a range of evidence that potentially links<br />Neu5Gc, a so-called sialic acid, to chronic disease. This is because the animal version is absorbed by humans as a result of eating red meat and milk products, and there is evidence that the body views it as an invader. Eating these foods could trigger inflammation and, over the long term, heart disease, certain :ancers and auto-immune illnesses. Jarki stresses, however, that "we lave not proven any link to disease, ust suggested that it is something o explore".<br /><br /> This sialic acid plays a number of roles: it helps us recognise cells and helps ceils stick together. It also helps regulate our immune response, which may influence the progression of diseases and even play a part in human evolution. Varki's team, along with Prof Elaine Muchmore of the University of California studied blood from chimps, bonobos, gorillas, orang utans and humans, and found that we ate the only primates whose bodies do not produce NeuSGc - although further research established that our Neanderthal cousins were missing this version of the sugar acid, too.<br /><br /> Instead, human (and Neanderthai) cells bristle with a sugar called Neo5Ac. The two molecules are identical, apart from onedittle detail: the ape molecule has a single extra oxygen atom. Because of the many different jobs this sugar does throughout the body, this one atom was the first example found of a fundamental genetic and biochemical difference between humans and our closest relatives,<br /><br /> Muchmore and Varki then found out why this oxygen atom is rfiissing: our molecule is the precursor of the animal version. Unlike chimpanzees and other great apes, humans lack a particular version of an enzyme that converts NeuSAc (or, to give it its full name, N-acetyl-neuraminie acid) into Neu5Gc. This tiny change could potentially explain some of the more unusual differences between humans and apes, Chimpanzees do not seem to suffer from heart disease, cancers, rheumatoid arthritis or bronchial asthma - common conditions in humans. Nor do they get sick from the human malaria parasite, which uses sialic add to latch on to our blood cells.<br /><br /> In recent studies, Varki's team has found tantalising evidence that this mysterious molecule could be exerting a wider effect on our health, through the substances we eat.<br />After testing a range of foods, they found the highest levels of Neu5Gc in red meat: up to 11,600 microgrammes could be absorbed from the recommended daily serving of beef, 5,100 from pork and 4,900 from lamb, The level in goat's cheese was 5,500, but fell to around 700 in milk and salmon. Cod, tuna, turkey and duck were in the 20s.<br /><br /> Given that food is broken down in the stomach, did eating animal tissue present the same dangers of provoking an immune attack as transplanting it? Following that great scientific tradition of self-experimentation, Varki, Muchmore and Pascal Gagneux ate pure NeuSGc to see what would happen. Not only did the foreign sugar show up in the body soon after earing, but tests also revealed that many people carry antibodies that react to Neu5Gc - a protective immune response, but one which could trigger damaging inflammation.<br /><br /> Varki's colleague - and wife -Pmf Nissi Varki then found that small amounts of NeuSGc were present in normal human tissue, probably as a result of long-term consumption. And as well as food, many biotherapeutic products made in animal cells and/or using animal materials were also contaminated with Neu5Gc.<br /><br /> This raised the fascinating possibility that anti-Neu5Gc antibodies are involved in auto-immunity. Auto-immune diseases, such as type-1 or juvenile diabetes and some types of arthritis, occur when the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. Chronic inflammation is also linked with cancer; intriguingly, the team found that NeuSGc was concentrated in turnouts, particularly those that spread throughout the body. This could aid detection of<br />such diseases, by getting scientists to look for the animal acid rather than the turnouts themselves. .<br /><br /> Some of this might sound familiar: several previous studies have linked ingestion of red meat to cancer and heart disease, and possibly to some other disorders involving inflammation, such as arthritis and lupus, gut these focused mostl) on the role of saturated fats, and on products that arise from cooking.<br /><br /> Varki, however, believes that his little molecular difference could also be to blame: NeuSGc elicits an immune reaction that might contribute to a whole spectrum of human-specific diseases. Although they have not proven this yet, the evidence is sufficiently compelling for his team to start work on ways to eliminate NeuSGc from the body.<br /><br /> But the question remains: why are humans unique among primates in not producing Neu5Gc? By study- ing the mutations in the enzyme that makes this molecular difference between apes and humans, Varki, along with Prof Naoyuki Takahata of the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in Kanagawa, Japan, estimates that the genetic change first appeared up to three million years ago, which coincides with the emergence of Homo erectus, the first of our ancestors to venture out of Africa.<br /><br /> At the time, life was nasty, brutish and short: any subtle but chronic effects of this foreign sugar would not be felt until old age, and Homo erectus did not survive that long. If the mutation that kept us producing NeuSAc rather than Neu5Gc helped shrug off a particular disease, it would have spread rapidly through the population. It is ironic that what may have protected our ancestors then could be responsible for much of the pain of their long-lived descendants.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-2607136910899657172?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-62842599873696052762008-08-05T08:07:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:28:07.325-07:00The 'brain fitness' programme market is booming, but does it work?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/brain_fitness-744771.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/brain_fitness-744758.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Chester Santos has been training his brain for seven years. At 32, he's not worried about losing his memory. He's taking advantage of a growing market in "brain fitness" spurred by ageing baby boomers.<br /><br /> Teenagers cramming for tests and people worried about "senior moments" can now turn to an explosion of brain-assisting video games such as Nintendo's Brain Age, puzzles that are said to ward off dementia such as Sudoku and crosswords, as well as online tips that claim to train the brain.<br /><br />Santos, the 2008 United States Memory Championship winner, can memorise a shuffled deck of cards in three minutes and learn 100 random words and 100 new names and faces in 15.<br /><br />"People are capable of doing so much more with their brains than they think is possible," says Santos, who recently quit his software job to teach his memory techniques full-fime.<br /><br />The brain fitness boom might seem counter-intuitive in an age when technology has eased memory stress: cell phones store numbers, GPS systems give directions, websites store passwords and e-mail<br />programmes automatically recall used addresses.<br /><br />Many boomers in the United States have watched their parents struggle with Alzheimers, and an estimated 10 million of them are now expected to develop the disease, according to a recent report from the Alzheimer's Association.<br /><br />"People are worried," says Dr John Hart Jr, medical science director of the Centre for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas. "You have a large group of the population getting to the age where they are sort of vulnerable to degenerative neurological diseases that seem to be prevalent."<br /><br /> Hart says tbere is "reasonable evidence" that challenging your brain by learning new things can stave off the cognitive decline that comes with ageing. But brain fitness programmes differ from traditional learning by focusing on drills for specific cognitive abilities, such as concentration and retaining information.<br /><br />Hart says there is no one brain "exercise" that is guaranteed to work for everyone.<br /><br />That hasn't stopped brain fitness pmgrammes from making claims. Posit Science says its computer- based programmes will "help you think faster, focus better and remember more."<br /><br />While some include a disclaimer, such as Cogmed Working Memory Training for kids and adults with attention deficits, many of the games do not.<br /><br />Some users say they feel the benefits. Sarah Schultz, 67, of Knoxville, Maryland, says she can think faster because of Lumosity, an online brain fitness programme that claims to "improve cognitive performance and maximise brain health through fun and engaging games." She has been doing the programme once a day for the past four months.<br /><br />"i feel more alert," she says. "It helps me to remember things, lists, names, faces. It really helps with recall."<br /><br />Even teenagers cramming for tests are turning to brain exercises. Raemon Matthews, a history teacher in New York City, uses some of the techniques in his curriculum and says he's seen a difference in his students' performance.<br /><br />Tony Dortino, who founded the USA Memory Championships more than a decade ago and teaches memory techniques, says people have the misperception that the drills are "some awful thing, where you have to sit there and stuff information into your head."<br /><br /> "It's not a matter of stuffing it into their heads," he says. "It's a matter of helping them organise it in a way that their brains will be able to retain."<br /><br /> For now, the brain fitness market is poised to grow. Hart's goals are more modest: he suggests people find something that is mentally challenging and fun and do it on a regular basis.<br /><br /> "I am hoping that in the future, you will be able to go a health care provider or other expert who will be able to give folks a brain physical" and prescribe the proper exercises, he says.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-6284259987369605276?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-69381300645124997702008-05-21T08:51:00.000-07:002008-05-21T09:09:30.475-07:00Avian influenza has spread and, while it has not reached pandemic proportions, constant vigilance is still crucial.Avian flu is in the news so much nowadays that some of us may have become desensitised to the urgency of the matter.<br /><br />When news about avian flu first broke in 1997, there was much concern when it revealed that the virus, having transmitted from chickens to humans, had infected 18 people and killed six. Then, things quieted down for a few years, until 2003 when avian flu made an appearance again and never went away.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">A health worker injecting a chicken with the bird flu vaccine in a poultry farm in China. The H5N1 (virus) may never become pandemic but, if it does, the catastrophic situation could be more than we can even imagine.</span><br /><br />According to Prof Malik Peiris, the avian flu problem has been progressively increasing. Peiris is the virologist who discovered the aetiological agent that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and has been involved with avian flu research. He is based in Hong Kong, but was in Kuala Lumpur recently to receive the Mahathir Science Award 2007, Malaysia’s most prestigious science award named in honour of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.<br /><br />During the SARS outbreak, Peiris led a team of researchers from the University of Hong Kong and Queen Mary’s Hospital who managed to identify the SARS coronavirus within weeks. That breakthrough, along with other measures, led to the successful control and containment of the outbreak.<br /><br />After the avian flu outbreak in 1997, Peiris subsequently became more interested in avian and animal influenza viruses and their danger to humans.<br /><br />“If you look at the geographical area that is affected, it is now bigger than it was two or three years ago,” said Peiris. “So if you look at that scale, at the poultry level, it is increasing. It is certainly not going to disappear. This is going to be entrenched, and we are not going to be able to get rid of it in the short term.”<br /><br />Fortunately for us, the efficiency of the virus infecting humans is still very low. Most of the time, people who are exposed to the virus are not infected. But Peiris identifies two levels to the problem. First, the huge poultry industry would mean that people’s livelihood, the country’s economy and human health would be affected. Second, the occasional transmission of the virus from poultry to humans, where the real danger is, if the transmissions are not monitored and controlled, and the virus is allowed to adapt and transfer between humans.<br /><br />“There are people who say, well, this virus has been here for 10 years, and it has not really done this, so it won’t happen,” said Peiris. “I think that is extremely dangerous. That was exactly the same situation with SARS. That virus was also probably in the animal reservoir for quite a long time.”<br />Prof Malik Peiris: ‘We really have to take it (bird flu) seriously, and take measures to see what can be done.’<br /><br />But Peiris pointed out that this doesn’t mean we should start panicking, nor should we be complacent about it.<br /><br />“On a risk-assessment basis, the H5N1 (virus) may never become pandemic,” said Peiris. “But the point is, if it does, the catastrophic situation could be more than we can even imagine. It definitely could be much worse than any of the past pandemics. We really have to take it seriously, and take measures to see what can be done.”<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;"><strong>Mutation </strong></span><br /><br />While there are claims that the virus is two mutations away from human-to-human transmission, and that it has learnt to infect humans more easily, Peiris dismissed these as “simplistic”.<br /><br />“It obviously requires a lot of adaptations, not just one or two,” Peiris explained. “A number of studies have shown that mixing the genes alone doesn’t do it. It requires a multi-step process. That’s probably why it hasn’t happened so far. But I think these rare events do happen, and we’d be very stupid not to take precautions.”<br /><br />Peiris warned that the problem is currently “grossly underestimated”. In countries where the virus is endemic, he said, much more poultry carry the virus than people imagine. Poultry enter the markets and are slaughtered, so it doesn’t seem as though they are dying from the virus. But the virus continues to circulate as farmers bring their cages to the markets, leave the poultry there, and return to their farms with the cages, unaware that those cages may have come into contact with the virus.<br /><br />“Once the virus gets in a market, it remains there almost forever,” said Peiris.<br /><br />He said countries such as Malaysia, Japan, North Korea and India have been successful in detecting the virus early and eradicating it, demonstrating the need to be alert at all times.<br /><br />Even during the lull between 1997 and 2003, virologists and researchers continued their surveillance and published papers on their findings, all the while aware that the virus was still lurking somewhere and was adapting.<br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Defence</span></strong> </span><br /><br />While the capacity for producing vaccines has increased, Peiris said the real challenge is in creating a vaccine that would protect against more than one strain of the H5 virus which is now diverse. The fact that we do not know which strain will become pandemic means there needs to be broad protection. Peiris said the newer vaccines that have come to clinical trials look promising, but there is also the problem of trying to produce enough in an emergency.<br /><br />This raises some tricky issues. We could wait for a pandemic before producing the vaccine, but chances are there would not be enough time because it takes months to scale up production. The second option, said Peiris, is to stockpile the vaccine in advance, but money could be wasted if a pandemic never happens.<br /><br />This would mean that an ideal situation where one could walk into a store and purchase the vaccine in an emergency would never be viable.<br /><br />“You can’t have a vaccine that is not regularly used sitting in the stores,” said Peiris. “For the next five years, it might not be used, and it will be out of date. I think the real possibility is to stockpile it in bulk at governmental level. So if the emergency comes, it can be quickly distributed.”<br /><br />Asked if there is a beacon of light in this seemingly hopeless situation, Peiris pointed to how SARS was successfully controlled, and that it was a great achievement of global collaboration.<br /><br />“I think the control of SARS was probably one of the greatest triumphs for global public health,” he said. “So things can be done, for sure. But we can’t sit back and assume that things will happen. It is actually planning, intervention, collaboration and all these things that made it happen.”<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-6938130064512499770?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-83286443865183904832008-05-06T06:07:00.000-07:002008-05-06T06:09:52.572-07:00Is lack of sleep bad for the brain?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/sleep-769159.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/sleep-769138.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >I need sleep<br /><br /></span>Is lack of sleep bad for the brain? Both nightshift work and chronic sleep deprivation increasingly are implicated in mental and cognitive problems.<br /><br /> AIzheimer's risk: Abnormal insulin levels (common in shift workers and sleep-deprived people) might increase the risk for certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, scientists at the University of Washington have found.<br />Normally, insulin acts on the brain to promote learning and memory. Insulin resistance, however, might cause inflammation in<br />the brain, a key process in the development of Alzheimer's.<br /><br /> learning: Proper alignment between sleep times and internal circadian time is crucial for optimal cognitive performance.<br /><br /> And numerous recent studies show learning is enhanced if it's followed followed by restorative sleep.<br /><br /> In other words, students who pull all-nighters studying for an exam are doing themselves more harm than good.<br /><br /> Mood: Even moderate changes in sleep times can have a big effect on mood. Diane Boivin of the Centre for Study and Treatment of Circadian Rhythms at Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal published research last year in the journal Sleep showing that serotonin levels - a key sub-stance for mood stability - are lower in shift workers than day workers.<br /><br /> Other studies have found that exposure to bright light in the morning can lift the moods of people with depression, and that prescribed periods of sleep deprivation can interrupt a bout of depression.<br /><br /> Bipolar disorder: Flawed circadian rhythms might be to blame for bipolar disorder. In a study published last year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center identified a gene that, if disrnpted, causes mice to behave as if they have bipolar disorder. Correcting the geue mutation could lead to a therapy for the illness, the scientists said.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-8328644386518390483?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-53994681732856378692008-05-06T06:03:00.000-07:002008-05-06T06:07:22.664-07:00Does circumcision help protect a man from developing a sexually transmitted disease ?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/Circumcision-730827.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/Circumcision-730813.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Circumcision against STDs?</span></span><br /><br />DOES circumcision help protect a man from developing a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?<br /><br /> A study analysed data on 499 men; 201 had been circumcised before age three. By age 32, 117 of the men reported that they'd had a sexually transmitted infection, most often genital warts, chlamydia or genital herpes. The infection rate was virtually the same - about 23%; - whether men had or had not been circumcised as a child.<br /><br /> Who may be affected? Men. In the United States, about 65% of all boy babies are circumcised, meaning the skin that covers the tip of the penis is surgically removed. The decision often is based on cultural or religious views or personal preference rather than medical necessity.<br /><br /> Caveats: Data on STDs came from questionnaires completed by the men. The authors wrote that other research has provided "compelling evidence" that circumcision lowers the risk of men's contracting H1V infectionm through sex with women.<br /><br /> You can find this study in the March issue of theJournal of Pediatrics. Learn more about circumcision at <a href="http://www.familydoctor.org/">www.familydoctor.org</a> and <a href="http://www.kidshealth.org/">www.kidshealth.org</a> (click "For Parents").<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-5399468173285637869?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-15475167747530733232008-05-06T05:59:00.000-07:002008-05-06T06:02:46.412-07:00BABIES born before they've been in the womb 37 weeks face a higher risk of complications very early in life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/baby-leg-752401.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/baby-leg-752393.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Being premature</span></span><br /><br />BABIES born before they've been in the womb 37 weeks face a higher risk of complications very early in life. as they grow up, though, do people born prematurely continue to exhibit differences from those carried full-term?<br /><br /> A study analysed data on more than a million people born in Norway during a 20-year period; about 5% were premature births.<br /><br /> The more premature the infants had been, the more likely they were to have died before turning one year old. Survival rates improved through late childhood but remained lower, by comparison, for those born prematurely.<br /><br /> As teens and young adults, those who'd been premature were more likely to have attained less than a high school education and less likely to have gone to college than those who'd been full-term babies.<br /><br /> Adults wbo'd been premature infants also were less likely to have had children of their own. And women who'd been premature were more likely, once pregnant, to have given birth prematurely than were women born at full term; prematurity did not affect men's chances of fathering a premature infant.<br /><br /> Who may be affected? People born prematurely. In the United States, more than 12% of babies are premature, a rate that has been steadily increasing over the past two decades.<br /><br /> Caveats: The cause of the premature births was not indicated. The findings might be different for babies born today, given medical and technological advances in the 40 years since the study began.<br /><br /> You can find this study in the March 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Learn more about premature births at <a href="http://www.nichd.nih.gov/womenshealth">www.nichd.nih.gov/womenshealth</a> (search for "preterm") and <a href="http://www.marchofdimes.com/">www.marchofdimes.com</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-1547516774753073323?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-51601059898466050512008-05-06T05:53:00.000-07:002008-05-21T09:19:07.995-07:00Tell your doctor - Hormonal dietary supplements might promote prostate cancer progression.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/Hormonal-784808.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/Hormonal-784786.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tell your doctor</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">Hormonal dietary supplements might promote prostate cancer progression.</span><br /><br />HORMONAL components in over-the-counter dietary supplements may promote the progression of prostate cancer and decrease the<br />effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered.<br /><br />The findings, which appeared in the most recent issue of Clinical Cancer Research, reaffirm that patients should inform their doctors about any herbal or hormonal dietary supplements they are taking or considering taking. The researchers also recommend that documentation of supplement usage become part of routine health assessments for all patients, particularly cancer patients.<br /><br />"Physicians need to ask their patients not only about the prescription drugs they may be taking, but - perhaps even more<br />importantly - about the over-the-counter drugs and supplements, which may have a profound impact on certain health conditions," said Dr Claus Roehrberu, chairman of urology at UT Southwestern and one of the study's authors.<br /><br />The researchers began their investigation when two patients being seen by UT Southwestern doctors developed aggressive prostate cancer within months of starting daily consumption of the same dietary supplement. Both men purchased the same product. one to develop stronger muscles and enhance sexual performance, the other to gain muscle.<br /><br />Dr Roehrborn, Dr Shahmkh Shariat, a resident in urology and the study's lead author, and their colleagues analysed the supplement, which is not named in the study. They found that the product's label listed ingredients that were not present, misrepreser/ted the concentrations of the ingredi- ents present and failed to list all the steroid hormones contained in the product.<br /><br />Hormone analysis revealed that the supplement contained testosterone and estradiol, a sex hotmone. Researchers then tested the effect of the product on human prostate cancer-cell lines. The product proved to be a more potent stimulator of cancercell growth than testosterone, Additionally, attempts to stop the cancer-cell growth with increasing concentrations of the anti -cancer drug bicalutamide proved to be futile.<br /><br />"Bicalutamide is an oral nonsteroidal anti-androgen used to treat prostate cancer," Dr Shariat said. "The fact that this supplement caused the drug to be less effective is very troubling."<br /><br />Based on the clinical data and cell culture experiments, the researchers filed an adverse event report with the Food and Drug Administration. The government agency in turn issued a warning letter to the manufacturers, which led to the removal of the product from the market.<br /><br />"Unlike prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the law does not require nutritional supplements to undergo pre-market<br />approval for safety and efficacy," Dr Shariat said. "The current FDA regulatory system provides little oversight or assurances that dietary supplements will have predictable pharmacological effects or even that product I`abels provide accurate information for consumers."<br /><br />The researchers SaY expanded research is needed co define the mechanism, safety ,and efficacy of common herbal and hormone dietary supplementS.<br /><br />"For most supplements efficacy is not established ifl randomised, controlled trials, wlaat is worse, safety is often equally poorly established," said Dr Roehthorn, who directs the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Center for Pediatric Urology.<br /><br />An estimated 42% to 69% of US adults use dietary supplements, at an estimated out-of-pocket expenditure of about US$34.4bil<br />(RMl13.5bil), according to published reports cited in the study.<br /><br />Individuals often use supplements because they believe these natural products are safe and drugfree. The sale of androgenic<br />steroids is exponentially increasing. In 2004, US expenditures on testosterone supplements were estimated to be US$425mil<br />(RM1,402.Smil),<br /><br />"Given that testosterone supplements are in high demand, there is significant concern that supplements, in addition to the one we evaluated, may pose an urgent human health risk," Dr Shariat said,<br /><br />Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston also contributed to the research.<br />Visit <a href="http://www.utsouthwestern.org/patientcarejmedicalservices/eaneer/urologic.html">http://www.utsouthwestern.org/patientcarejmedicalservices/eaneer/urologic.html</a> to learn more about UT Southwestern's clinical services in prostate cancer.- HealthNewsDigest<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-5160105989846605051?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-61872610973995898212008-05-04T02:12:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:26:47.204-07:00Programme uses acupuncture to treat addiction - Needle that addiction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/acupuncture-718447.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/acupuncture-718440.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Needle that addiction</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Programme uses acupuncture to treat addiction</span><br /><br />As New Age music fills the room, 19 men and women settle into four rows of plastic chairs. They swab their ears with alcohol towelettes and sit quietly.<br /><br />Slowly, another man and a woman move among the rows. With quiet precision, they insert five sharp needles into each oftbe people's ears. Nobody flinches when the needles hit the flesh. In fact, some of the men and women have tiny grins on their<br />faces.<br /><br />This is addiction treatment, Montgomery County, Maryland, style. These people are participating in a pilot programme that uses acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medical practice, to help treat addiction.<br /><br /> More than a dozen people a day are volunteering to be stuck with needles as part of the county's acudetux programme, which began in February.<br /><br /> Karlys Wright, 37, was one of the first to arrive for the early morning acudetox session. She said she almost didn't give acupuncture a try because she doesn't like needles. But in a brief time, she has become a fan of the New Age treatment.<br /><br />"I feel rejuvenated," the former administrative assistant from Rockville said. "1 don't know how to explain it."<br /><br /> In the fall, Montgomery County Council member Duchy Trachtenberg persuaded her colleagues to spend US$20,000 (RM66,000) on a pilot programme that would incorporate acupuncture into treatments for drug addiction. Acupuncture is used as a strategy to<br />calm and relax patients before they take part in other treatments, such as group therapy.<br /><br /> "It's cutting edge," she said, "there's no question about that."<br /><br /> The Chinese have used acupunctore for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, including chronic plan and infertility. Its use as a strategy for treating addiction is gaining popularity in communities across the country, Trachtenberg said. Prngrammes are in place from California to Virginia to Florida.<br /><br />The hard science behind acupuncture remains elusive. But those who run treatment programs say that, anecdotally, they see a marked change in the attitude of patients, who are calmer and more receptive to therapy.<br /><br />The Fairfax County, Virginia, programme has been in place since the late 1990s. Although the county has not done official research on the method, Larry Peacock, director of the Faiffax Detoxification Center, said patients say acupuncture has helped reduce their alcohol and drag cravings and made it easier for them to sleep.<br /><br /> "Qne of the things that we did and have seen is a reduction of incidents with clients arguing; the anxiousness and agitation levels are lowered," Peacock said.<br /><br /> Larry Gamble, manager of outpatient addiction services, behavioural health and crisis services for the Montgomery Department of Health and Human Services, says he initially had doubts but they evaporated after taking part in a session.<br /><br />"We've been amazed at how some of the dients have been able to slow themselves down and be more focused and be more open when they go into individual group therapy," he said. "Clients say they sleep better and feel less stressed."<br /><br />Researchers at the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine are conducting more than 100 studies examining the effect of acupuncture on a range of problems, including autism, hot flashes and obesity.<br /><br /> But there is still debate in the scientific community over acupunclure's 6ffectiveness as a treatment for some medical conditions, including drug addiction.<br /><br /> Acupuncture isn't-the only alternative therapy officials have used to help people in Montgomery's drug treatment programme. About four years ago, Gamble said, they also began offering meditation and yoga.<br /><br />Linda Washington, a psychiatric nurse and licensed psychotherapist, said patients who did acupuncture seemed to make quicker progress through therapy than those who did not.<br /><br />With music playing in the background, Washington and Dave Wurzel, a certified trainer with the National Acupuncture Detoxffication Association, slowly made their way around the room, In this particular form of acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, five needles are inserted in each of the clients' ears. At first glance, the needles look like straight pins, but they are thinner and more flexible.<br /><br /> Once the two completed their rounds, they dimmed the lights. After a while, the only sound was of music mixed with deep rhythmic breathing, The tranquility was broken only briefly when someone began to snore loudly.<br /><br /> The clients, some of whom are in detoxiflcation treatment by court order or are referred by social workers, are a mix of races, sexes and ages. Some are homeless: others are mentally ill. Some are hard-core drug users addicted to hemin or cocaine, Gamble said.<br /><br />Trachtenberg is optimistic that the one-year pilot will show positive results. She notes that larger counties, including Miami-Dade, Florida, have had success with the approach. In Miami-Dade, about 85% of the people in county treatment programmes do acupuncture.<br /><br />"Medicine has really changed in this county, and many people really are much more comfortable with an integrated approach to care," she said, "More and more Americans are using alternative therapies,"<br /><br />Wurzel, who trained the staff in Montgomery and is proprietor of the Chi Farm, said acupuncture is not a cure-all in itself but is designed to complement other types of addiction treatment,<br /><br />Oliver Oree, 51, recently retomed for his second session under the needle. He doesn't quite get the science behind the needles, but that's just fine - he's willing to take it on faith.<br /> Said Oree: "I don't know what it is or how it works, but I feel like a better person."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-6187261097399589821?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1060489472026050860.post-3414569944594366152008-05-04T02:00:00.000-07:002008-08-17T09:31:08.838-07:00Heath Ledger and Brokebock Mountain are names that ring a hell for many people<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/kidney-701217.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://health.malaxi.com/uploaded_images/kidney-701203.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">His legacy</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">One to be remembered: Father of Angiogenesis, Dr Judah Folkman -1933 to 2008.</span><br /><br />HEATH Ledger and Brokebock Mountain are names that ring a hell for many people who have been following the recent entertainment news.<br /><br /> Few would recognise, much less have heard of, Dr Judah Folkman.<br /><br /> Though both men died in the same month (January 2008) each event received a different level of publicity.<br /><br /> Quite often, for people who work hard behind the scenes, it takes a substantial amount of effort to be reeognised. Dr Folkman, a cancer treatment revolutionist, was one that contributed his greatest to mankind but remains unfamiliar to the majority of the six billion people on earth.<br /><br /> Dr Folkman was the founder and director of the vascular biology programme at the Children's Hospital in Boston and a professor of paediattic surgery and cell biology at Harvard Medical School, also in Boston.<br /><br /> He was very passionate about his work and many have said they were not surprised to hear that Folkman, 74, was working till the very end. He collapsed at the Denver International Airport on his way to a speaking engagement in Vancouver.<br /><br /> His departure is indeed a great lost not only to his family, but the world at large. Dr Folkman is sur-vived by his wife, Paula, with whom he lived in Brookline, Massachusetts, two daughters and a granddaughter (Hannah).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The early days</span><br /> Born in Cleveland in 1933, Moses judah Folkman was the son of a rabbi. He had a brother and a sister and, as a boy, started making house calls to the sick with his father.<br /> He began his medical career in high school in Bexley, Ohio, volunteering in a hospital laboratory at Ohio State University. This early calling led Dr Folkman to Ohio State University, where, by the end of his freshman year, he was performing surgery on dogs under the mentorship of Dr Robert Zollinger, then president of the American College of Surgeons.<br />The young Dr Folkman even designed a device to cool the liver during surgery without causing organ damage and then, he became coauthor on his first academic paper.<br />With this extraordinary achievement, he was accepted into Harvard Medical School at the age of 19. After graduating in 1957, Dr Folkman began his surgical residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital and served as chief resi-dent in surgery from 1964 to 1965.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Discovery of Angiogenesis Theory</span><br />In the midst of his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr Folkman was suddenly drafted into the Navy, assigned to do research on artificial blood at a facility in Bethesda, Maryland.<br />The assigned work was finished far earlier than expected, so Dr Folkman and a colleague, pathologist Fred Becker, had free time in the laboratory and decided to study tumour cells growiug in a special apparatus.<br /> Dr Folkman saw something unusual when their black melanoma cells only grew briefly. All the little tumours were exactly<br />the same size. He knew that this wasn't natural and something must have halted their growth at a maximum size.<br /> That initial observation led to years of experimenting, thinking, arguing, and exploring until he concluded that the tumours had all stopped growing because they couldn't get enough blood.<br /> As this research continued, Dr Folkman returned to his internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, and then began work at Boston City Hospital as a young surgeon.<br /> In 1967, when he was only 34, Dr Folkman was recruited to become chief of surgery at Children's Hospital. While serving as chief of surgery, he continued pursuing his research, believing that "angiogenesis" was the factor that made tumours grows larger.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">A lonely voice and a breakthrough</span><br />In the 1970s, Dr Folkman's team applied for their first grant based on the hypothesis of angiogenesis and its role in tumour development and growth.<br /> However, the reviewers at the National Cancer Institute turned them down. Dr Folkman never gave up pursuing his research. In subsequent years, as a result of a huge number of experiments, failures, breakthroughs, and insights, Dr Folkman and his colleagues were able to prove four major points:<br /> 1. Tumours do require blood to grow;<br /> 2. Turnouts do recruit the blood vessel systems that bring in fresh blood;<br /> 3. The recruiting mechanism involves hormone-like growth factors emitted by the tumour;<br /> 4. The body makes natural factors that can shut down abnormal blood vessel growth; a phenomenon that Dr Folkman named "anti-angiogenesis".<br /> The journey of discovering a new agent which could stop angiogenesis was not smooth sailing. The media troubled him with over-whelming publicity on his research. His innovative ideas drew attention, especially from reporters covering science and medicine.<br /> As a result, news stories often proclaimed his successes, and desperate patients quickly besieged their doctors seeking a new "cure" that didn't exist.<br /> The publicity problem became most extreme in May of 1998, when a New York Times reporter quoted Nobel-winning biologist James Watson as saying "Judah's going to cure cancer in two years."<br /> This placed tremendous pressure on Dr Folkman and his colleagues, especially when some of their antiangiogenic agents failed to deliver the exoected results.<br />The turning point came about five years ago, in 2003, when San Francisco's Geneutech lnc reported success with a drug they ca]led bevacizumab, an anti-angiogenesis agent which blocked the action of the stimulators of blood vessel growth.<br />Clinical trials showed that infusing regular doses of bevacizumab actually extended the lives of patients with colorectal cancer.<br />Since then, bevacizumab has been approved worldwide for use ir such patients. It has also been approved for breast cancer patients in the U5 and Europe, and is showing promising results against various solid tumour cancers.<br />Dr Folkman's tenacity and determination culminated it the breakthrough discovery that has changed the entire landscape of solid tumour cancer treatments.<br /> His efforts have helped thousand', afflicted with cancer and remain one of the most promising approaches in future cancer treatment development and management.<br /> His passion for results and his determination in pursuing the seemingly impossible have touched the lives of many colleagues and patients alike and earned the highest level of respect and reverence.<br /> "A bright light has dimmed at Children's Hospital and for the cancer-research world. May that light shine again and guide the way as others are inspired to continue Dr. Folkman's vision and research for a cure for cancer. This is truly what he would want," adds Jo-Ann Rose RN.<br /> "To honour his memory we should all follow his example - pursue your dreams, never give up. and believe in yourself. May his memory be eternal."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1060489472026050860-341456994459436615?l=health.malaxi.com%2Finformation.html' alt='' /></div>Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15658470498200234594noreply@blogger.com0