Eating Disorders in Teens

As a teen, we all have experienced trying to fit in with the crowd and worry at how others may think of us. On top of that, the display of emaciated models by the media has reinforced an inappropriate obsession that you have to be thin to be socially acceptable. For this reason, some of the adolescent population has resorted to dangerous methods of getting extremely skinny.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of becoming fat, deliberate starvation, and severe weight loss. People with this condition are totally absorbed with becoming thin as a result of a cultural obsession among teenage girls and young women. The disorder typically occurs in 1 out of 100 young women aged between 14 to 18 years of age. In the beginning, a person having anorexia nervosa may often deny their anxiety towards their body image. As the illness progresses, depression becomes apparent and the person may isolate herself from others.
Anorexia is very difficult to treat. About one quarter of those who suffer from it do not recover or may die due to starvation or complications such as cardiac arrest.

Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia is another eating disorder prevalent among teen marked by a morbid fear of getting fat resulting to binge eating followed by in appropriate behaviors to avoid weight gain such as purging (eliminating food by means of self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives, enemas, or emetics). It often begins as anorexia nervosa, although not always necessarily. Bulimia affects teenage girls and adult women between 16 to 30 years old.

A person with bulimia eats in larger than normal amounts of food in secret, and engages in self-induced vomiting or purging with laxatives. The binging-vomiting cycles occur occasionally in weeks, once or several times in a day. As a result, they may have severe dehydration and several illnesses due to lack of nutrition. Organ damage may soon ensue which could lead to death. Like anorexia, bulimia is also hard to treat. A person with bulimia should be recommended to a therapist or admitted in a hospital as necessary.

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All You Need to Know about Sinusitis

Sinusitis attacks approximately 37 million Americans each year. Despite how common the condition is, many people are not that aware of the proper way to deal with it, resulting in the condition growing worse. It seems that there are some factors that increase the risk of sinusitis, among which are: swelling of mucous membranes from a common cold, drainage ducts blockage, or other conditions that affect the immune system, such as medications which suppress one’s immunity response or conditions that cause a heightened risk of infection.

Children may also suffer from sinusitis, with allergies being a very common environmental factor that contribute to the occurrence. They are also greatly susceptible to the condition due to their exposure to other kids with illnesses either at school or day care. The use of pacifiers and drinking from bottles while lying in bed also contribute to the possibility of developing sinusitis, as is smoke in their direct environment. Meanwhile, for adults, the highest contributors are infections and smoking.

Acute sinusitis typically has the following symptoms: pressure or pain on the face, stuffiness in the nasal passages, nasal discharge, a loss of the sense of smell, and cough and congestion. Other symptoms may also include bad breath, fever, fatigue, and dental pain. The presence of two or more symptoms as well as that of a thick yellow or green discharge from the nose is a main way by which doctors diagnose acute sinusitis.

Meanwhile, chronic sinusitis happens when a person has suffered from the symptoms for at least 8 weeks, or longer. In addition to the above symptoms, he may also have pus in his nasal cavity, and a nasal discharge. He may also suffer from headaches and fatigue.

Generally, a doctor diagnoses sinusitis by checking your symptoms as well as giving you a physical examination, which, more often than not, includes the doctor’s feeling and even pressing your sinuses to check for tenderness. Some doctors may even tap your teeth to check if your paranasal sinus is inflamed. Other tests include a study of your mucus culture, a nasal endoscopy, some X-rays, testing for allergies, a CT scan of your sinuses, and blood work. A nasal endoscopy entails the use of a tube-like instrument that comes with tiny lights as well as cameras, and involves examining the interior of your nose and sinus drainage areas. It shows the doctor the accessible areas of your sinus pathways.

How do you treat sinusitis? Of course, the treatment will depend on the severity. For acute sinusitis, decongestants and steam inhalation may be sufficient. Over-the-counter nasal sprays or drops may also be very effective at relieving symptoms. Of course, they should not be used in excess of their recommended dosage of about 4 to 5 days, and they may even increase congestion. Some doctors give antibiotics for 10 to 14 days. When acute sinusitis is treated, the symptoms should disappear, resulting in antibiotics no longer being required.

Meanwhile, for chronic sinusitis, doctors may recommend a vaporizer. This is because warm and moist air is seen to alleviate congestion in the sinuses. Warm compresses may also help to alleviate pain in the sinuses and nose. Saline nose drops may also help, as they are very safe to be used at home. Decongestant sprays or drops may help in alleviating symptoms, but just like in acute conditions, they should not be overused. Antibiotics are also typically prescribed.

Sometimes, when the chronic condition is severe, doctors may prescribe oral steroids. Of course, this is usually only when there has been no relief from other medications. If there is bacterial infection, antibiotics will continue to be prescribed; but they would not help in a viral infection. Allergies may be treated with antihistamines, while antifungal drugs may help a fungal infection.

Typically, people suffering from sinusitis should try to make lifestyle adjustments, the top change being that of refraining from smoking, particularly when under treatment. There is no special diet required for the alleviation of sinusitis, although increasing fluid intake is highly recommended, as this helps in thinning the secretions. Overall, sinusitis is a simple problem that may be easily treated when proper prevention is taken for future issues.

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Onions, olive leaf can help tackle obesity

Melbourne: A biomedical professor has found onions, green tea and olive leaf extract can fight obesity and its related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and fatty liver, even when a high-fat and high-carbohydrate diet is indulged in.

Prof Lindsay Brown, from the University of Southern Queensland, tested a range of foods on rats that were being fed an unhealthy diet high in sugar and fat.

He found certain foods helped prevent the growth of inflammatory cells in the animals` fat pads, located in the abdomen, which take fat from the blood stream and store it.

Rats being fed food such as onions, green tea, olive leaf extract, purple carrots and chia seeds had a decreased number of fat cells and lost weight by the end of the study, despite maintaining a poor diet overall.

The rodents were also found with improved liver and heart function.

Brown said that the key message of his research was that people should "eat better rather than eat less".

Onions and olive leaf extract contain a flavonoid called rutin - also found in apples, tea and red wine - that Brown found reversed or prevented metabolic changes in rats fed the high-sugar, high-fat diet.

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Compound that halts poxvirus replication identified

Washington: Scientists have isolated a compound that inhibits poxviruses from replicating and causing infections such as smallpox, vaccinia and monkeypox.

Study co-author Ken Dower, post-doctoral fellow in the lab of John Connor, assistant professor of microbiology at the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), identified the compound, the Journal of Virology reports.


"The compound... forces the catastrophic failure of the normal virus amplification cycle... This can help us in developing new compounds that fight poxviruses infection," said Connor, according to a university statement.

Recent data shows that more and more people are being infected by monkeypox globally.

Utilising state-of-the-art screening, Dower and colleagues, including Scott Schaus, associate professor of chemistry, looked for compounds that could stop vaccinia from replicating inside human cells.

They discovered that the virus can enter the cell in the compound`s presence, but once inside, the compound inactivates an essential piece of virus machinery.

The researchers collaborated with the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) which then tested the efficacy of the chemical compound on the monkeypox virus.

Their experiments demonstrated this chemical compound has the ability to inhibit different varieties of poxviruses.

In 1979, successful vaccination efforts eradicated smallpox, a deadly poxvirus that killed hundreds of millions of people worldwide, according to the WHO.

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All You Need to Know about Sinusitis

Sinusitis attacks approximately 37 million Americans each year. Despite how common the condition is, many people are not that aware of the proper way to deal with it, resulting in the condition growing worse. It seems that there are some factors that increase the risk of sinusitis, among which are: swelling of mucous membranes from a common cold, drainage ducts blockage, or other conditions that affect the immune system, such as medications which suppress one’s immunity response or conditions that cause a heightened risk of infection.

Children may also suffer from sinusitis, with allergies being a very common environmental factor that contribute to the occurrence. They are also greatly susceptible to the condition due to their exposure to other kids with illnesses either at school or day care. The use of pacifiers and drinking from bottles while lying in bed also contribute to the possibility of developing sinusitis, as is smoke in their direct environment. Meanwhile, for adults, the highest contributors are infections and smoking.

Acute sinusitis typically has the following symptoms: pressure or pain on the face, stuffiness in the nasal passages, nasal discharge, a loss of the sense of smell, and cough and congestion. Other symptoms may also include bad breath, fever, fatigue, and dental pain. The presence of two or more symptoms as well as that of a thick yellow or green discharge from the nose is a main way by which doctors diagnose acute sinusitis.

Meanwhile, chronic sinusitis happens when a person has suffered from the symptoms for at least 8 weeks, or longer. In addition to the above symptoms, he may also have pus in his nasal cavity, and a nasal discharge. He may also suffer from headaches and fatigue.

Generally, a doctor diagnoses sinusitis by checking your symptoms as well as giving you a physical examination, which, more often than not, includes the doctor’s feeling and even pressing your sinuses to check for tenderness. Some doctors may even tap your teeth to check if your paranasal sinus is inflamed. Other tests include a study of your mucus culture, a nasal endoscopy, some X-rays, testing for allergies, a CT scan of your sinuses, and blood work. A nasal endoscopy entails the use of a tube-like instrument that comes with tiny lights as well as cameras, and involves examining the interior of your nose and sinus drainage areas. It shows the doctor the accessible areas of your sinus pathways.

How do you treat sinusitis? Of course, the treatment will depend on the severity. For acute sinusitis, decongestants and steam inhalation may be sufficient. Over-the-counter nasal sprays or drops may also be very effective at relieving symptoms. Of course, they should not be used in excess of their recommended dosage of about 4 to 5 days, and they may even increase congestion. Some doctors give antibiotics for 10 to 14 days. When acute sinusitis is treated, the symptoms should disappear, resulting in antibiotics no longer being required.

Meanwhile, for chronic sinusitis, doctors may recommend a vaporizer. This is because warm and moist air is seen to alleviate congestion in the sinuses. Warm compresses may also help to alleviate pain in the sinuses and nose. Saline nose drops may also help, as they are very safe to be used at home. Decongestant sprays or drops may help in alleviating symptoms, but just like in acute conditions, they should not be overused. Antibiotics are also typically prescribed.

Sometimes, when the chronic condition is severe, doctors may prescribe oral steroids. Of course, this is usually only when there has been no relief from other medications. If there is bacterial infection, antibiotics will continue to be prescribed; but they would not help in a viral infection. Allergies may be treated with antihistamines, while antifungal drugs may help a fungal infection.

Typically, people suffering from sinusitis should try to make lifestyle adjustments, the top change being that of refraining from smoking, particularly when under treatment. There is no special diet required for the alleviation of sinusitis, although increasing fluid intake is highly recommended, as this helps in thinning the secretions. Overall, sinusitis is a simple problem that may be easily treated when proper prevention is taken for future issues.

read more

Things to Know about Swimmer’s Ear

 Swimmer’s ear, as the name implies, will definitely bring to mind the uncomfortable feeling of having water left in your ear after leaving the pool. After all, as long as you are still in the pool, you have the option of splashing more water into your ear to get out whatever fluids that are stuck there, but after you hit the showers, you can tap and shake all you want but it still stays there. You may opt to just leave it be, and hope it comes out sooner or later.

However, swimmer’s ear does not only refer to the water that is retained in your ear following a swimming session. Instead, it is another name given to an infection in the outer ear canal. This canal runs from outside of your head into your eardrum. The infection is only so named because it is typically caused by water that is kept in your ear, as it creates a moist environment that encourages growth of bacteria. It can also come about when you put your fingers or cotton swabs into your ears, as these can damage the thin skin lining in the ear canal.

The medical term for swimmer’s ear is acute otitis externa, or external otitis. The main cause for this infection is the presence of bacteria attacking the skin inside a person’s ear canal. Eardrops are the most common treatment for this case. Prompt treatment is usually recommended, as it helps to prevent complications or a progressively serious infection.

What are the usual symptoms of swimmer’s ear? Generally, the symptoms would start off mildly, to the point that the patient may not even think much of them. However, if the infection is not treated or somehow spreads, the symptoms tend to get worse. Experts typically classify symptoms for swimmer’s ear as mild, moderate and advanced.

Mild symptoms include itching in the ear canal, a slight redness in the ear, mild discomfort that feels worse when the outer ear is pulled o the little bump in front of the ear is pushed. There may also be some drainage of an odourless, clear fluid. When the infection is untreated, the symptoms may progress to more intense itchiness and increasing pain. The redness in the ear may also become more pronounced, and fluid drainage may increase. Sometimes there may also be a discharge of pus. During moderate progression, the person may also feel some fullness inside the ear, as well as a partial blockage to hearing caused by swelling, debris, or fluids. This results in muffled or decreased auditory senses. If the infection still remains untreated, the advanced state of swimmer’s ear may include severe pain that can even radiate to the neck, face, or side of the head. This is also characterized by a complete blockage in the ear canal, as well as swelling or redness of the outer ear. The lymph nodes in the neck may also swell, and the patient may develop fever.

From these, it is therefore recommended that anyone suffering even from mild symptoms of swimmer’s ear should set an appointment with his ear doctor. If fever or severe pain comes on, it would be best to call the doctor right away or head right on to the emergency room.

What causes swimmer’s ear? Some people are actually more prone to it than others. The ears actually have protective mechanisms, among which is cerumen, or waxy substance secreted by the glands to protect the ears. Cerumen is highly acidic, and this helps discourage growth of bacteria. The ear canal also naturally slopes downward to help drain out excess fluid. Infection typically comes about when there is excess moisture in the ear, perhaps due to heavy perspiration, water kept in the ear or prolonged humid weather. Using cotton swabs or other objects to clean the ear also results in small breaks in the skin, and these are breeding grounds for bacteria.

With these in mind, the best way to prevent swimmer’s ear is to stay away from the above causes. That means making sure there is no excess water in the ears after swimming, as well as staying away from using anything that may cause breaks in the skin in your ear canal. If ever these do not work, just be sure to visit the doctor as soon as you experience symptoms in order to prevent worsening of the infection.

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Sunbed ban ‘could prevent 1 in 4 cases of skin cancer`

London: Banning sunbed use could prevent a quarter of cases of the most common form of skin cancer in the under-40s, a new research suggests.

The study from doctors at Yale University in the U.S. revealed that indoor tanning significantly increases the risk of basal cell carcinoma.

It found that sunbed users are 69 per cent more likely to develop BCC before the age of 40 than people who never use the tanning method.

The link was strongest among women, and the risk increased with years of sunbed use.

And that study concluded that avoiding sunbeds can prevent a quarter of all cases of ‘early onset’ BCC – when the disease occurs before the age of 40.

Among women, who are greater users of sunbeds, 43 per cent of cases could be avoided if sunbeds were banned.
Unlike other forms of skin cancer, such as malignant melanoma, BCC can be easily treated and survival rates stand at 98 per cent.

But since the 1970s cases have increased by 17 per cent, which is likely to be partly fuelled by sunbed use and holidays abroad.

And British doctors say they are seeing increasing numbers of youngsters with this type of cancer. In April, under-18s were banned from using sunbeds although they still remain popular and three million adults use them every year.

This Yale University study is the latest to show the damaging effects of sunbeds on the skin.

“We routinely see young women with skin cancer in our practice,” the Daily Mail quoted Dr David J. Leffell, professor of dermatology and surgery at Yale School of Medicine and author of the study as saying.

“In the past, this was extremely rare. But now in many cases the patients acknowledge their use of tanning parlours, and I think this study confirms the harmful nature of this activity,” he noted.

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New Delhi: People who want non-drug options for managing their high blood pressure are in for some good news: there are indeed some promising natural treatments to choose from.

"Right now we`re seeing a cultural shift where an increasing number of people want to avoid standard pharmaceuticals," said John Bisognano, professor of Medicine and director of Outpatient Cardiology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

"We`re also seeing a growing number of patients who require a large number of drugs to control their blood pressure and are looking for something else to help manage it."


Bisognano and Kevin Woolf, M.D., a cardiology fellow at the Medical Center, emphasize that all patients with hypertension should adhere to the low-salt DASH diet, which is high in fiber, low in fats and incorporates lots of fruits and vegetables, and follow an exercise and weight loss regimen.

Beyond these lifestyle modifications, a dietary supplement to help lower blood pressure is the antioxidant coenzyme Q10, which is also involved in energy production.

Woolf also found that potassium helps lower blood pressure, and there is evidence that increasing the amount of potassium we get through the foods we eat could carry some of the same mild benefits as taking supplements.

Those looking for herbal remedies can turn to mistletoe extract as a potential option, although it should be used with caution because it can be toxic at high doses. Hawthorn is another remedy that may offer a slight drop in blood pressure. However, steer clear of St. John`s wort, ephedra/ma huang, yohimbine and licorice - all of which can increase blood pressure.

The researchers also found that acupuncture reduces blood pressure compared to placebo in patients also taking anti-hypertensive medications. Other techniques that may provide some benefit include Zen Buddhist meditation and Qi Gong.

Two devices that patients can use in the comfort of their own homes are the RESPeRATE breathing device and the Zona Plus hand drip device. The RESPeRATE system uses a breath sensor and gives patients feedback through headphones to help them slow their breathing, which research suggests benefits blood pressure. Research indicates that 15 minutes of practice daily can result in a modest reduction in blood pressure.

The Zona Plus is a device that patients grip in either hand and perform multiple sets of squeezing at different levels in response to electronic cues. Bisognano says there is no good explanation as to why this works, but studies found the device decreased hypertension in patients using it three days a week for at least eight weeks.

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Meditation improves breast cancer survivors’ emotional well-being

Washington: Mindfulness-based meditation plays a vital role in improving breast cancer survivors’ health challenges, which they face after treatments, a new study has revealed.

Yaowarat Matchim, a former nursing doctoral student; Jane Armer, professor of nursing and Bob Stewart, professor emeritus of education and adjunct faculty in nursing, found that breast cancer survivors’ health improved after they learned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a type of mindfulness training that incorporates meditation, yoga and physical awareness.

“MBSR is another tool to enhance the lives of breast cancer survivors,” Armer said.

“Patients often are given a variety of options to reduce stress, but they should choose what works for them according to their lifestyles and belief systems.”

The MBSR program consists of group sessions throughout a period of eight to ten weeks. During the sessions, participants practice meditation skills, discuss how bodies respond to stress and learn coping techniques.

The researchers found that survivors who learned MBSR lowered their blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. In addition, participants’ mood improved, and their level of mindfulness increased after taking the class. Armer says, for best results, participants should continue MBSR after the class ends to maintain the positive effects.

“Mindfulness-based meditation, ideally, should be practiced every day or at least on a routine schedule,” Armer said. “MBSR teaches patients new ways of thinking that will give them short- and long-term benefits.”

Armer says the non-pharmaceutical approach works best as a complement to other treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

“Post diagnosis, breast cancer patients often feel like they have no control over their lives,” Armer said.

“Knowing that they can control something—such as meditation—and that it will improve their health, gives them hope that life will be normal again.”

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Gene that increases pancreatic cancer risk identified

Washington: A gene that increases the risk of pancreatic cancer has been identified, experts say.

Mutations in the ATM gene may increase the hereditary risk for pancreatic cancer, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University have found. The findings were published in the latest edition of the journal Cancer Discovery Thursday.


Pancreatic cancer is one of the most morbid cancers, with less than five percent of those diagnosed with the disease surviving to five years.

Approximately 10 percent of patients come from families with multiple cases of pancreatic cancer.

"There was significant reason to believe this clustering was due to genetics, but we had not, to this point, been able to find the causative genes that explained the cluster of pancreatic cancer for a majority of these families," Xinhua quoted lead author Alison Klein, associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, as saying.

Klein and colleagues identified ATM gene mutations in two kindreds with familial pancreatic cancer.

He said knowledge of the presence of the ATM gene could lead to better screening for pancreatic cancer, the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death.

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Lingonberries protect blood vessels of BP and diabetic patients

Washington: Ligonberry has a much higher antioxidant level in certain capacities than blueberries or raspberries, and it can help protect blood vessels of people who have hypertension or have diabetic damage from too much blood sugar, a Finland researcher has claimed.

“It doesn’t lower the blood pressure, but it stops the damage,” Fox News quoted Dr. Peter Bongiorno of Innersource Health as saying.

A native of Sweden, ligonberries are found on low, evergreen shrubs throughout the forests of Scandinavia.

These tart, red berries are much smaller and juicier than their distant cousin, the cranberry.

“Lingonberries contain very high levels of certain phytochemicals, which are brilliant antioxidants, and these are the protective qualities that are in the berry that confer to us,” Bongiorno noted.

“So the same way that these chemicals protect the sun’s radiation from damaging the small fruit, when we take them in, they also protect our bodies and protect us from excessive oxidation,” he added.

Antioxidants have been proven to play a role in helping to prevent diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and macular degeneration.

Given its growing popularity, Bongiorno predicted that Lingonberries would soon be available in juices, powders and in the frozen food section of local grocery store.

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Red meat lovers have more kidney cancer

New York: People who eat lots of red meat may have a higher risk of some types of kidney cancer, suggests a large US study.

Researchers found that middle-aged adults who ate the most red meat were 19 percent more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer than those who ate the least. A higher intake of chemicals found in grilled or barbecued meat was also linked to increased risk of the disease, they reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.


"Red meat is an important source for iron (and) it has protein," said Dr. Mohammed El-Faramawi, an epidemiologist from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, who has studied diet and kidney cancer risks but wasn`t involved in the new study.

"You should not stop eating red meat because there is an association between red meat and renal cancer," he told Reuters Health. Instead, eating a limited amount of meat while following dietary recommendations is a good idea, he said.

US guidelines call for limiting high-fat foods including processed meat, and instead eating more lean meat and poultry, seafood and nuts.

Eating red meat in large amounts -- even if it doesn`t necessarily lead to kidney cancer -- increases the risk of a host of health problems, such as plaque buildup in the arteries, El-Faramawi added.

Previous studies examining the link between red meat and kidney cancer arrived at mixed conclusions, according to Carrie Daniel, from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, and her colleagues.

To try to clear up that picture, they used data from a study of close to 500,000 U.S. adults age 50 and older, who were surveyed on their dietary habits, including meat consumption, and then followed for an average of nine years to track any new cancer diagnoses.

During that time, about 1,800 of them -- less than half a percent -- were diagnosed with kidney cancer.

On average, men in the study ate two or three ounces of red meat per day, compared to one or two ounces among women. Participants with the highest consumption of red meat -- about four ounces per day -- were 19 percent more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer than those who ate the smallest amount, less than one ounce per day.

That was after accounting for other aspects of diet and lifestyle that could have influenced cancer risks, such as age, race, fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking and drinking and other medical conditions including high blood pressure and diabetes.

When the researchers looked at the most common types of kidney cancers, they found that the association between red meat and cancer was stronger for so-called papillary cancers, but there was no effect for clear-cell kidney cancers.

People who ate the most well-done grilled and barbecued meat -- and therefore had the highest exposure to carcinogenic chemicals that come out of the cooking process -- also had an extra risk of kidney cancer compared to those who didn`t cook much meat that way.

The study doesn`t prove that eating red meat, or cooking it a certain way, causes kidney cancer. And, El-Faramawi pointed out, some people who eat lots of red meat won`t develop cancer, while others that hardly eat any will.

Daniel and her colleagues said more research is needed to figure out why red meat may be linked to some types of kidney cancers but not others.

But for now, meat-related cooking chemicals "can be reduced by avoiding direct exposure of meat to an open flame or a hot metal surface, reducing the cooking time, and using a microwave oven to partially cook meat before exposing it to high temperatures," Daniel told Reuters Health in an email.

"Our findings," she concluded, "support the dietary recommendations for cancer prevention currently put forth by the American Cancer Society -- limit intake of red and processed meats and prepare meat by cooking methods such as baking and broiling."

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Harnessing stem cells to prevent hearing loss

London: Scientists have set out to harness stem cells to overcome hearing loss associated with age.

Keele University researchers in North Staffordshire are attempting the growth of new cells in the ear that become lost and damaged with age.

Researchers found that in some cases hearing begins to decline when fibrocytes, cells in the inner ear which usually manage levels of potassium and sodium, start to degenerate.

Once these cells have died and no longer function correctly, other parts of the inner ear can become permanently damaged, causing greater hearing loss and possible deafness.

Dave Furness, from Keele University`s School of Life Sciences, has been working for three years to look into the causes of age-related hearing loss.

Now, Furness and his PhD student Jacqueline Tickle have begun the next phase of the research, which will explore whether replacement fibrocytes and fibrocyte stem cells can be successfully grown and implanted into the ear.

If successful, the research could pave the way towards the prevention of age-related hearing loss.

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Hypersensitive kids may develop OCD

Washington: Hypersensitivity in childhood and religiously following childhood rituals, like regular schedules for meal, bath, and bed times, could predict development of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the long run, a new study has revealed.

Prof. Reuven Dar of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Psychology, first suspected the link while working with OCD patients who reported sensitivity to touch and taste as children.

Now, in the first comprehensive study of its kind, Prof. Dar and his fellow researchers have established a direct correlation between sensory processing, the way the nervous system manages incoming sensory information and ritualistic and obsessive-compulsive behaviours.

The study suggests that when children experience heightened levels of sensitivity, they develop ritualistic behaviours to better cope with their environment. In the long term, this is one potential pathway to OCD.

Two studies were devised to map the connection between sensory processing, rituals, and OCD.

Results from both studies indicated a strong connection between compulsive tendencies and hypersensitivity.

In children, hypersensitivity was an indicator of ritualism, whereas in adults it was related to OCD symptoms.

As a whole, these findings provide preliminary support for the idea that such sensitivities are a precursor to OCD symptoms. When children are extremely sensitive to certain types of touch or smell, they can feel that they are being attacked, or that the environment is threatening them, Prof. Dar believes.

Ritualism could develop as a defence mechanism, helping these children to regain a sense of control, which is also a symptom of adults with OCD.

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Avastin disappoints against ovarian cancer

New York: Avastin, the blockbuster drug that just lost approval for treating breast cancer, now looks disappointing against ovarian cancer, too. Two studies found it did not improve survival for most of these patients and kept their disease from worsening for only a few months, with more side effects.

The Genentech drug won approval in Europe last week for advanced ovarian cancer. But its maker has no immediate plans to seek the same approval in the United States. After talking with the Food and Drug Administration, "we do not believe the data will support approval" although no final decision has been made, said Charlotte Arnold, a spokeswoman for Genentech, part of the Swiss company Roche.


Results of the studies are in Thursday`s New England Journal of Medicine.

In November, the FDA revoked Avastin`s approval for breast cancer because it did not meaningfully extend life and can have serious side effects. Without approval, doctors can prescribe the drug but insurers may not pay. Treatment with it can cost $100,000 a year.

Avastin can still be sold for some colon, lung, kidney and brain cancers. The new research was aimed at adding ovarian cancer to the list.

One study, led by Dr. Robert Burger of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, involved nearly 1,900 women with advanced ovarian cancer given one of three treatment combinations. The time until the disease got worse was a median of 10 months in those given just chemotherapy; adding Avastin improved that by just one to four months for the other two groups.

Survival was similar among the groups, and side effects were higher among those on Avastin — mostly high blood pressure but also some stomach and gut problems that needed treatment.

In the other study, led by researchers from England, more than 1,500 ovarian cancer patients were given chemo with or without Avastin. The drug kept cancer at bay just one to two months longer than chemo alone did, with more cases of high blood pressure. There was a trend toward improved survival for those on Avastin, but the difference was too small to say the drug was responsible.

Genentech helped pay for the studies and some of the researchers consult for the company.

Dr. Gary Lyman, a Duke University researcher who was on the FDA advisory panel that recommended revoking Avastin`s approval for breast cancer, wrote in an email that he agreed with the company`s decision not to seek approval for ovarian cancer.

"The situation is very similar" to the results in breast cancer, and approval is unlikely unless a biological marker or test can show which patients might benefit, he wrote.

About 220,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed each year around the world, and it causes 140,000 deaths. In the United States, the National Cancer Institute estimates 22,000 new cases and 15,000 deaths each year.

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Central, eastern India worst hit by vector borne diseases

New Delhi: States in central and eastern India have been the worst hit by malaria this year prompting the Health ministry to concentrate on these parts as its strategy to control the high incidence of vector borne diseases in 2012.

As part of its vector-borne-diseases control strategy, the ministry has decided to distribute 6.5 million long lasting insecticide net (LLIN) in these areas.


"A review of the vector-borne-diseases across the country for this year showed that states like Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and north-eastern states had reported high cases of malaria. Realising these as the problematic areas we have decided that for the year 2012 the high focus will be on these states," a Health ministry official said.

With over 2,50,000 people testing positive for malaria, Orissa topped the chart for reporting the highest number of malaria cases. This was followed by 95,000 cases reported from Chhattisgarh and over 61,000 registered in Madhya Pradesh.


"Earlier we used insecticide-treated nets (ITN) but now we are going for LLINs. These nets treated with insecticides disable and kill the vector mosquitoes which transmit malaria.

ITN needed to be re-treated regularly, while LLINs are designed to be effective without re-treatment for the life of the net," he said.

Malaria is a potentially life threatening parasitic disease caused by the infective bite of Anopheles mosquito.

The symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, vomiting and other flu-like symptoms. The parasite infects and destroys red blood cells resulting in easy fatigue-ability due to anemia, fits or convulsions and loss of consciousness.

Malaria in pregnancy poses a substantial risk to the mother, the fetus and the newborn infant.

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New ‘sensitive’ test may help diagnose heart attack within hours

Washington: A highly sensitive new test may soon enable quicker diagnosis of heart attack than is currently possible, a new study has suggested.

One of the most common reasons patients seek care in an emergency department is for acute chest pain.

“Early identification of individuals at high and intermediate risk for myocardial ischemia [insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle] is crucial because they benefit the most from early and aggressive treatment,” the researchers said.


“According to international consensus and task force definitions of myocardial infarction [(MI; heart attack], the diagnosis of MI is based mainly on an elevated cardiac troponin level exceeding the 99th percentile and demonstrating an increase or decrease over time,” they added.

Highly sensitive troponin assays have been developed recently that reliably assess troponin levels in more than 50 percent of the general population.

“The reliable detection of very low troponin concentrations using these new highly sensitive assays in the acute setting might pose a challenge in everyday clinical practice,” they said.

Till Keller, M.D., of the University Heart Center Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues evaluated the diagnostic performance of the newly developed highly sensitive troponin I (hsTnI) assay compared with a contemporary troponin I (cTnI) assay and their serial changes in the diagnosis of heart attack.

The study included a total of 1,818 patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (condition such as heart attack or angina) who were enrolled at chest pain units in Germany from 2007 to 2008. Twelve biomarkers including hsTnI and cTnI were measured on admission and after 3 and 6 hours.

Of the patients in the study, 413 (22.7 percent) had a final discharge diagnosis of acute MI. For discrimination of acute MI, both hsTnI and cTnI were superior to the other evaluated diagnostic biomarkers.

Using the 99th percentile cutoff, hsTnI on admission had a sensitivity of 82.3 percent and negative predictive value (NPV) of 94.7 percent; hsTnI determined after 3 hours had a sensitivity of 98.2 percent with NPV of 99.4 percent.

Compared with hsTnI, the cTnI assay (using the 99th percentile as cutoff) had comparable sensitivity and NPV: 79.4 percent sensitivity and 94.0 percent NPV on admission, and 98.2 percent sensitivity and 99.4 percent NPV after 3 hours.

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Obesity on rise in school children

The study by Fortis Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj found that school children are increasingly getting afflicted with diabetes, a life-style disorder that is not restricted to the adult population anymore.

Anoop Misra, the centre's chairman, said that nearly 9 percent of adolescents (between nine and 18 years) have abdominal obesity, which is directly linked to insulin resistance and diabetes.

The study found that around 70 percent of obese children are likely to be obese adults with increased susceptibility to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

"This implies that the diabetes epidemic India is facing right now is only going to magnify and life expectancy is likely to fall in the next 20 years," he said.

Misra said high intake of junk food and sedentary life-style patterns are the major contributors in making the young generation susceptible to Type 2 diabetes.

Around 68 per cent of urban children lead a sedentary lifestyle with hardly any outdoor physical activity. Urban children are habitual of eating food items rich in fat and sugar content, and somewhat swaying away from the traditional low-fat and healthy food items that are rich in fibre and micro-nutrients, adds Misra.

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Attention deficit disorder in adults

Formerly called attention deficit disorder, or ADD, the disorder can have a huge impact on a person's ability to function at work, home and with friends. The treatment is similar to the treatment for childhood ADHD, although adjustments may be made for adult physiology.

ADHD Symptoms
The basic symptoms of ADHD at any age are inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. In adults, the signs of ADHD manifest as restlessness, impulsive behavior, difficulty concentrating or focusing, disorganization, mood swings, outbursts of temper and difficulty in completing projects. The disorder may affect relationships and success at work. A diagnosis of adult ADHD requires symptoms that began to childhood, since the disorder doesn't spontaneously develop in adults.

Causes of ADHD
The specific cause of ADHD remains unknown, but there may be genetic factors involved. Brain changes may also be involved, since scans of the brain show different activity patterns in ADHD patients than in people without the disorder, according to MayoClinic. Environmental exposure to toxins during childhood or in the womb may also play a role.

ADHD Treatment
The main method of treatment involves using medication to control the symptoms of adult ADHD. Stimulants are commonly used by adults with the disorder, although some stimulants are only approved for use with children, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Antidepressants may also be used in cases where stimulants are ineffective or bring about too many side effects. Some medications may be inappropriate if the adult is on other medications or has certain health issues common in adults, such as high blood pressure.

Psychotherapy is another method of dealing with ADHD in adulthood, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, in which the therapist teaches organizational skills and specific methods of dealing with problem circumstances.

ADHD Complications
Individuals with untreated adult ADHD often have difficulty holding down a job and maintaining stable relationships. Adult ADHD sufferers are also at higher risk for other mental disorders including mood disorders, anxiety and personality disorders. People with adult ADHD also tend to get into more traffic accidents and are more likely to become involved in criminal activity.

Considerations when dealing with ADHD in adults
Many individuals with adult ADHD were never diagnosed as children and may be unaware that they have the disorder. Others who were diagnosed early may be able to better adjust to the disorder because they are already on a treatment plan. A few show mild symptoms and others just out-grow the disorder if the treatment is continued.

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Why are Anxiety Disorders becoming More Common?

Anxiety disorders used to be limited to certain personality types in the last generation. Referring to a chronic condition of being anxious over a prolonged period of time, the disorder can occur in many forms. The most commonly-publicised disorder is obsessive-compulsive disorder, although there are also other forms, such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and phobias.

Research has shown that currently, though, The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) estimates that there are over 40 million Americans who suffer from anxiety disorders, with the younger generations more likely to be affected than older ones.

Why is this so? Anxiety disorders are typically caused by extreme and consistent worry. Experts who have analyzed the conditions over the past few years are quick to point to the many traumatic experiences that have transpired: for example, the Census Bureau estimates that the American’s average income has dropped by close to 10 percent ever since the recession began in 2008. In fact, they believe that this financial crunch has had as much of a traumatic effect on Americans as the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. The difference, they say, was that the 9/11 attack caused fears of terrorist attacks, while the financial crisis has spurred an extended existential worry about the future.

Is it really that serious a cause of anxiety disorders? Clinical psychologists have found that pervious generations mainly focused on getting a good education, trusting that that would lead them to a good job. In contrast, the young generation of today are not only worried about the possibility of not finding a job, they also tend to be in more debt, while some of them are even working while studying, postponing studies, starting families while going to school, or doing a myriad of other multi-tasking that eventually leads to much stress.

This means that experts actually believe that these years are more ridden with anxiety than even the 1930s Great Depression. Professors who are studying the changes over the generations report that rates of anxiety have risen steadily since that time, through both good and bad economic periods.

Among the causes of the extreme changes in the culture that the United States has undergone since then is the constant refrain of telling the young ones they can be anything they want to be, including the big bank accounts, the big job titles, the perfect body, and so on and so on. This reportedly places a lot of pressure on their shoulders. Also, these things may not necessarily manifest right away, or at all, causing much anxiety about how hard a person needs to work to achieve them, while also causing a deep-setting fear of failure.

In addition to the seemingly unrealistic expectations that result in frustration, the constantly-changing world also has the tendency to give young people a sense of being left behind. Interestingly, even technology that is supposed to be beneficial is seen as a culprit behind heightened anxiety levels, as iPhones and laptop e-mail inboxes are constantly pinging.

Of course, anxiety that is experienced every so often is, just like stress, a natural part of life. The emotional reaction actually aids us in recognizing potential threats and dealing with them. When maintained at healthy levels, anxiety may actually help a person to become more focused, thus performing better. But when the anxiety levels blow out of proportion, the effect is usually counterproductive and even debilitating. Doctors generally judge anxiety as not being normal when it lasts over a period of days even after the stressful trigger has passed, or when it becomes a hindrance in some areas of an individual’s life.

If, therefore, the external factors are among those that cause the rise of anxiety disorders, how may they be dealt with? Experts believe that exercise plays a vital role in stress management, as does changes in one’s diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables reportedly improves one’s emotional well-being, as well as the reduction of intake of alcohol and caffeine. Interestingly, alcohol is typically hailed for its relaxing effects, but in the long run, it has been shown to have a link to depression. In the end, no matter what external factors may be at play, knowing how to deal with them will help reduce the possibility of an individual’s suffering from anxiety disorders. Stress management may be one way, although having a proper mindset of looking forward to a good future may prove to be much more effective in the long run.

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