Kidney Damage Another Consequence of Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids, taken by some athletes to build muscle and strength, can cause kidney disease, new research suggests.

Doctors haven't previously realized that the steroids, which are known to cause many health problems, also can seriously harm the kidneys.

In the new study, Dr. Leal Herlitz, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, and her colleagues studied 10 bodybuilders who were long-time users of steroids. The patients had begun to leak protein into their urine and had lost kidney function. The findings were scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology, held Oct. 27 to Nov. 1 in San Diego.

Tests showed that all but one of the bodybuilders developed a kidney-scarring condition known as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

According to the researchers, the condition develops when the kidneys are overworked. The kidney scarring in the study patients was worse than is sometimes seen in morbidly obese people, the study authors noted in a news release from the American Society of Nephrology.

However, there was some good news: Except for one, who went on to develop end-stage kidney failure and needed dialysis, the kidneys of the bodybuilders improved when they stopped taking the steroids, although one patient relapsed upon taking steroids again.

The researchers suspect that rapidly increasing muscle mass puts a lot of strain on kidneys, and the steroids themselves can be toxic to the organs.

"Athletes who use anabolic steroids and the doctors caring for them need to be aware of the potentially serious risks to the kidney," Herlitz said in the news release.

Source:http://health.usnews.com/

Fructose May Raise Blood Pressure

Here's a new reason to put down that sugary soft drink: Research suggests that a diet high in fructose, a common sweetener, boosts the risk of high blood pressure.

High-fructose corn syrup is found in many processed foods and beverages. Americans consume 30 percent more fructose now than 20 years ago, and researchers have linked higher fructose consumption to the growing obesity epidemic. But scientists weren't sure if a connection existed between fructose consumption and high blood pressure.

In a new study, Dr. Diana Jalal, of the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center, and colleagues studied 4,528 adults without a history of high blood pressure. They examined their fructose intake and found that those who consumed more than 74 grams of fructose per day -- that's the equivalent of the amount in 2.5 sweetened soft drinks -- boosted their risk of high blood pressure by 28 percent to 87 percent, depending on the level of hypertension.

"These results indicate that high fructose intake in the form of added sugars is significantly and independently associated with higher blood pressure levels in the U.S. adult population with no previous history of hypertension," the study authors wrote, adding that future research is needed to determine if lowering fructose intake will also lower blood pressure.

The study findings were scheduled to be presented at the American Society of Nephrology's annual meeting, held Oct. 27 to Nov. 1 in San Diego.

Source:http://health.usnews.com

The fungus-fighting powers of pumpkin

There is more to pumpkin than the good ol' pie! The awesome food, besides being abundant in nutritious goodness, has long been recognized as a natural medicine cabinet in many countries.

Past studies have hinted that pumpkin could offer antibacterial benefits. The researchers have now discovered that the skin of pumpkins have fungus fighting powers that can stifle infections in adults and infants.

Kyung-Soo Hahm, Yoonkyung Park and their colleagues from Chosun University Research Center for Proteineous Materials in Korea had been studying natural antibiotics that have the potential to overcome antimicrobial resistance.

Examination of antifungal protein

The researchers investigated the infection fighting capacity of pumpkin. They isolated antifungal protein from pumpkin rind to examine whether it could stall the growth of microbes.

The skins of the pumpkins were first homogenized in extraction buffer, then washed and ultra-filtered. The extract was then tested for antimicrobial against both pathogenic bacteria and yeast.

The scientists focused on Candida albicans, a Diploid fungus that causes genital yeast infections in adults and diaper rash in infants, and other health problems.

Observations by researchers

In the cell culture experiments, the researchers found that one protein had "powerful effects" when restricting the growth of candida albicans. Also the protein exhibited no toxic effects, was heat stable, and indicated a 'potent' antifungal ability.

In addition, the protein also blocked the growth of many fungi that harm important plant crops and hence could be useful as an agricultural fungicide.

The study has been published in the current issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication.

Other health benefits of pumpkin

Most parts of the pumpkin are edible,the flesh, the seeds, and the flowers. Beyond using the flesh for a pumpkin pie or roasting the seeds for nibbling, the health benefits of vegetable are often overlooked.

The vegetable is low in calories, rich in potassium, magnesium and iron and its bright orange flesh is loaded with the antioxidant beta -carotenes that fight free radicals.

The flesh and seeds are packed with vitamins; vitamin A (for eyes, skin and hair), vitamin E (for skin and heart, and general immune system)

Source:www.themedguru.com

Cell phone emissions weaken bones - Report

Health researchers have warned that wearing a cell phone on one's belt could lead to decreased bone density in the area of the pelvis that is commonly used for bone grafts. This is contained in a new research report on the health effects of electro-magnetic emissions from cell phone carried out by Dr. Tolga Atay and colleagues of Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. The report was published on www.consumeraffairs.co and in The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery on October 26.

For years health researchers have suggested extensive cell phone use can increase the risk of brain tumours over time, particularly in children. Even though findings have not been conclusive, the World Health Organisation and individual scientists have called for precaution in the use of cell phones.

The bone weakening effect of cell phone use is a new discovery and the researchers admitted that the findings were preliminary. But they have still warned that "it would be better to keep mobile phones as far as possible from our body during our daily lives."

"With long-term exposure, electro-magnetic fields from cell phones could weaken the bone, potentially affecting the outcomes of surgical procedures using bone grafts," the report said. This is consistent with recent similar reports, which said that the effect of electro-magnetic emissions from cell phones could take 50 years to manifest.

The report said the researchers measured bone density at the upper rims of the pelvis in 150 men who were cell phone users and carried their phones on their belts. They had all used cell phones for an average of six years.

The measurements were performed using a technique called dual x-ray absorptiometry- the same test used to measure bone density in patients with osteoporosis and other bone diseases.

The report said bone density was compared on the side where the men wore their phones (the right side in 122 men and the left side in 28) versus the opposite side and the results showed a slight reduction in iliac wing bone density on the side where the men carried their phones.

The report said the results raise the possibility that bone density could be adversely affected by electro-magnetic fields emitted by cell phones.

It said previous studies using low frequencies of 15 to 52 MHz, evaluated the use of electro-magnetic fields as a treatment to increase bone density in osteoporosis, but the men in the new study carried cell phones with frequencies of 900 to 1,800 MHz.

Source:www.ghananewsagency.org

Obesity Hampers The Effect Of Anti-Hypertension & Anti-Cholesterol Drug

According to a new study, obesity hampers the effect of anti-hypertension and anti-cholesterol drugs. It is a well-known fact that obesity shares a close relationship with hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol – all the three which trigger cardiovascular diseases.

The lifestyle of obese persons suffering from such medical conditions should be manipulated so that rates of morbidity and mortality can be reduced.

Vineet Bhan of the University of Toronto sought to determine whether “there were differences in reaching guideline-recommended targets for BP and cholesterol levels, according to body mass index (BMI-height to weight ratio) in individuals deemed at high risk for heart disease and stroke”.

"These high risk patients frequently do not reach their blood pressure and cholesterol targets," says Bhan. "The goal of our study was to see if obesity could be a factor."

The study was conducted on 7,357 high risk patients suffering from coronary artery disease, cerebro-vascular disease, diabetes plus additional cardiovascular risk factors from across nine Canadian provinces.

This observational study, based on two outpatient registries, took place from 2001 to 2004, recruiting 95 percent of the patients from family physician offices. The registries were led by senior study co-author Shaun Goodman, and coordinated by the Canadian Heart Research Centre.

"Although a direct cause-and-effect relationship cannot be proven, our data would suggest that pharmacologic (drug) treatment alone without achieving optimal weight may not be adequate," says senior author, Andrew Yan.

"This is a potentially important message to get across to clinicians, especially primary care physicians who are on the front line managing these high risk patients in the long term."

These findings were presented at the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress.

Source:www.india-server.com

PCB issues strict warning to hospitals

The Pollution Control Board (PCB) has decided to close down hospitals, including government hospitals, which are not handling and disposing bio medical and hospital waste properly. This was announced by PCB chairman S.D. Jayaprasad, at a press meet on the sidelines of a national seminar on Hospital and Biomedical Waste Management the other day.

“Only 2,500 hospitals in the State manage hospital waste in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Pollution Control Board. The deadline for taking action against the hospitals which are not handling the bio medical waste in a scientific manner ended in 2002,’’ he added. When asked whether this was a decision of the government, Jayaprasad said this was the decision of the Board.

“Hospitals create solid and liquid waste. In Palakkad, there is a plant to dump the solid bio medical waste. This is the only plant in Kerala to dispose such waste. The discussions at the seminar indicate that Kerala is an utter failure in hospital waste management,’’ he said.

“Unsafe disposal of syringes is a major cause of the spreading of communicable diseases all over the world,’’ said Air Marshal Lalji Varma, founding president of Indian Society of Hospital Waste Management (ISHWM) while presenting a paper on Sharps waste management’ in the seminar on Tuesday.

In India, 16 million children are born every year. As many as 48 million people need injections in a year. People have a tendency to go for an injection even for minor diseases. This must be discouraged, he added. Learning and giving awareness about waste management, implementing non-burn technology, usage of glass syringes etc are the solutions to control the sharps waste in a hospital. Sharps waste is just one percentage of the total waste of a hospital. But it is harmful to the society. Safe disposal of such wastes and giving security to such waste handlers are still problematic, said Lalji.

Source:www.expressbuzz.com

Docs negligence ruled out in Nellore vision loss cases

The catastrophic cataract surgery that cost four people vision in one eye at Bollineni Eye Hospital in Nellore was being termed as an unfortunate incident and not a case of doctors' negligence.

Sudhakar Reddy, who was part of a four-member doctors' team sent by the state government to study the cause of infection, on Tuesday ruled out doctors' negligence and said a complete report would be submitted to the government in 3-4 days.

A team headed by Motilal visited the eye hospital and took samples of the instruments, solutions and drugs used during the surgery. Earlier, a five-member team headed by DM&HO Chandrasekhar Reddy submitted a report to district collector K Ramgopal. The team observed that contamination of drugs and lack of sterilisation during the surgeries could have led to the infection in the eyes. It sent the samples to the Institute of Preventive Medicine, Hyderabad, for further investigations. The tissue fluid of the patients has also been sent for tests.

Meanwhile, sources said a bacterium, `Pseudomonas aeruginosa,' might have spread the infection. Eight others who were undergoing treatment at Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai to overcome the infection and salvage the eye have chances of regaining vision, sources said.

"It is definitely not a case of negligence or carelessness on the part of the doctors. It is unfortunate that these patients had developed infection. Infection during cataract surgeries is common and, in most cases, the body's immunity is sufficient to fight the germs," explained Dr S S Badrinath, head of medical research, Sankara Nethralaya.

"However, in the case of the four patients, the microbial load was extremely high, and hence, we had to remove the eyeballs to avoid the infection spreading to the brain," he stated. The origin of infection was probably from a single source, he said and added other patients have been put on strong antibiotics.

An eye surgeon said investigation at the site of the cataract surgery would throw more light. "It is difficult to say what exactly went wrong and whether the infection had set in during surgery or after it," he said. Another doctor, who operated upon the patients, said once the bacteria enters the eye it would spread fast and affect the retina's function.

Sources said while samples from the patients revealed the presence of the same strain of pseudomonas bacteria, researchers at the hospital's laboratory are performing DNA sequencing on the microbes to zero in on the exact source that caused the infection.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Plagued with H1N1? Forget the Flu Vaccine, Try Vitamin C

There should be no doubt the vaccine is safe for healthy people as trials have demonstrated. The majority of the citizens do not want H1N1 largely because they believe the drug is not safe. Their concern is in a sense justified because it actually remains unknown whether the h1n1 flu is safe for those who have medical conditions and pregnant women because trial conducted thus far involved only healthy individuals.

The efficacy of the vaccine is another issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the h1n1 vaccine is made in the same way other seasonal flu vaccines are made each year. Because of this, CDC health officials said the safety and efficacy should be the similar if not the same to that of seasonal flu. But seasonal flu often does not match the circulating virus strain and thus the efficacy is often not as high as thought.

In any case, no matter you have received flu vaccines for seasonal flu and or H1N1, make sure that you take high doses of C and vitamin D because these health supplements have proved effective in preventing and treating colds and flu.

The following is an article about a study showing that high doses of vitamin C help colds and flu:

One study suggests that you may be better off taking mega doses of vitamin C during the winter to prevent and even treat flu, including h1n1 flu regardless of your immunization status.

The study published in Oct 1999 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, found that taking 1000 milligrams of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, reduced flu and cold symptoms compared to use of pain relievers and decongestants.

Gorton HC and Jarvis K, whose affiliation was unknown (from the abstract of the report) enlisted 463 students, aged 18 and 30, as controls and 252 students in the same age group as test subjects.

They tracked the number of reports of cold and flu symptoms among the test subjects in 1991 and reports of similar symptoms among the controls in 1990. The controls were treated with pain relievers and decongestants while the test subjects were given 1000 mg each hour for the first six hours of reporting symptoms; then three times each day for the next three days.

The researchers found that reported flu and cold symptoms in the test group decreased 85 percent, compared with the control group.

They concluded that mega doses of vitamin C administered before and after the appearance of cold and flu symptoms relieved and prevented said symptoms.

This is not the only study that has concluded that taking high doses of vitamin C prevents and helps victims of the flu and colds. Vitamin C has been known to boost one's immunity against these illnesses.

Those who bet their winter on the seasonal flu and or h1n1 flu vaccine need to remember that these vaccines are often not as effective as thought. Chances are very good that if you get the vaccine you will still get the flu. So do not forget to take high doses of vitamin C in the winter. Another, possibly more effective, supplement you can enlist to protect against flu is Vitamin D, in high doses.

Source:www.foodconsumer.com

Antibody that can fix internal bleeds discovered

Scientists at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) say they have discovered an antibody that could minimise the major internal bleeding seen in traumas like bullet wounds and car crashes.

They have discovered that a protein called histone is responsible for much of the damage. They say they have found a specific type of antibody that can block the ability of histone to cause damage. This could lead to new ways to treat diseases and serious injuries.

'Life threatening'

Writing in the journal, Nature Medicine, the OMRF researchers found that when mice had a bad blood stream infection (sepsis), their blood contained high levels of histones.

The histone protein normally sits in the nucleus of a cell, packed around the strands of DNA. It regulates the DNA, causing it to fold and form the characteristic double helix.

When the cell is damaged by injury or disease, the histone is released into the blood system where it begins to kill the lining of blood vessels, causing damage, the OMRF researchers said. This, they believe, results in uncontrolled internal bleeding and fluid build-up in the tissues, which are life threatening.

Mouse antibody

Marc Monestier, a colleague at Temple University in Philadelphia, had already discovered a specific type of antibody known as a monoclonal antibody that could block the histones.

It had been observed that patients with auto-immune diseases make antibodies to the proteins in their cell nuclei but it was not known why.

This antibody came from a mouse with an auto-immune disease. The OMRF team have tested the antibody in mice with sepsis and it does stop the toxic effects of the histones and they recover, the researchers say.

They now want to test it in primates and eventually humans.

Dr Esmon said histones were similar in all mammals because they were such basic building blocks. So a mouse antibody should work equally well in a human.

Dr Stephen Prescott, president of OMRF, said: "These findings offer some clues as to why people suffering from one traumatic injury often experience a catastrophic 'cascade' of secondary traumatic events. If we can figure out how to control the initial injury, perhaps that will stop the domino effect that so often follows."

Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk

India declares itself free from bird flu

India has declared itself free from the notifiable Avian Influenza (H5N1). The notification was issued to the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) on October 22.

A country can declare itself free from birdflu, if there is no outbreak for three months. With the declaration, the country can hope to revive its poultry trade. India notified the outbreak of Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Assam (18 epicentres), West Bengal (11) and Sikkim (1) between November 2008 and May 2009.

‘No further outbreak’

The last outbreak in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal was notified on May 27, 2009. There has since been no further outbreak.

The control measures adopted included stamping out the entire poultry population, including destruction of eggs, feed, litters and other infected materials, in a radius of 3-5 km around each location, restrictions on the movement of poultry and poultry products to and from the area of outbreak, disinfection and cleaning up of infected premises. The final disinfection process was completed on June 8, 2009.

Surveillance was carried out throughout the country as per Article 2.7.12.4 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2008). Surveillance around the area of outbreak since the completion of the operation (including culling, disinfection and clean-up) and surveillance in the rest of the country has shown no evidence of the presence of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1).

Surveillance

It is, however, emphasised that the surveillance against Avian Influenza will have to be continued throughout the country, especially in vulnerable areas bordering the infected countries and in areas visited by migratory birds.

In a communication to the States, the Union government has said the declaration should not lead the States into complacency and they must maintain vigil against the disease.

Source:www.hindu.com

Surgery Potentially Best Option For Severe Migraine Headaches

In newly released research, 79 migraine sufferers were followed for at least five years after having undergone detection of migraine "trigger sites" and surgery. The new data finds promising outcomes for treating trigger sites surgically for migraine headaches resulting in elimination of pain for those afflicted with the condition.

Since the surgery, 10 of the 79 patients required additional surgeries for newly detected trigger sites and were eliminated from the final analysis. Sixty-one of the remaining 69 patients (88 percent) have maintained the initial positive response to the surgery. Twenty patients (29 percent) reported elimination of migraines entirely, 41 patients (59 percent) noticed a significant decrease, and only eight patients (11 percent) experienced less than 50 percent improvement or no change.

This new data provides strong evidence that surgical manipulation of one or more migraine trigger sites can successfully eliminate (cure) or reduce the frequency, duration, and/or intensity of migraine headaches with lasting results.

Bahman Guyuron, MD, Chairman of Plastic Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and an internationally recognized leader in the field of plastic surgery, will present new five-year research data that could potentially reveal a cure for migraine headaches on October 24, 2009, at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons annual meeting in Seattle.

"Migraine headaches are extremely disabling and this surgical option offers hope for migraine sufferers," says Dr. Guyuron. "Combined with the previous studies, this new five-year data has provided strong evidence that severe migraine headaches and their painful symptoms can be successfully treated with surgery with lasting results."

The impetus behind Dr. Guyuron's eight migraine headache research projects was his observation close to a decade ago that many patients who had undergone forehead rejuvenation noticed a disappearance in migraine symptoms following surgery.

For patients who suffer frontal migraine headaches, Dr. Guyuron removes the corrugator supercilii (frowning) muscle group in the forehead that is suspected to be a trigger point for headaches, compressing nerves and causing nerve inflammation. Temple migraine headaches are treated by removing a small branch of the trigeminal nerve. For those patients who suffer from occipital (back of the head) migraine headaches, a small piece of muscle encasing the nerve is removed and replace with a soft tissue flap. When the headaches are located behind eyes and are triggered by weather change, he works on the nose septum and surrounding structures. Dr. Guyruon has performed more than 1,000 of these procedures on more than 450 patients, since each patient has 2.5 trigger sites in average. Analysis of more recent results demonstrates a significantly higher elimination rate.

Source:www.sciencedaily.com

Botox shot relieves chronic pain

Botox is more than just a solution to beat wrinkles. It can even be used as a pain medication to fight Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Researchers have found that a jab of botox can relieve chronic pain. Figures revealed that almost 5 to 26 people out of every 100,000 have their lives significantly disrupted by some form of chronic pain.

Traditionally, treatments for the nervous system-based pain disorder have included massage, physiotherapy, stretching and strengthening exercises, and heat/cold therapy. But, despite this, many patients often continue to experience disruptive pain.

The study found that injecting Botox into the area affected by pain provides significant pain control. In the study, eight patients suffering from severe pain received an average of nine injections - one every four weeks.

All of patients reported a significant improvement (31.25 percent) in their daily pain control that was maintained for up to 17 months. The study was presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Mobile phones 'may be linked to cancer'

Heavy mobile phones users face a higher risk of developing cancers, according to a landmark international study overseen by the WHO.

According to The Daily Telegraph newspaper, the decade-long investigation overseen by the World Health Organisation will publish evidence that heavy users face a higher risk of developing brain tumours later in life.

Even though the conclusion of the research will be revealed only later this year, a preliminary breakdown of the results found a "significantly increased risk" of some brain tumours "related to use of mobile phones for a period of 10 years or more" in some studies, the report in the British daily said.

The conclusion of the 20 million pounds study, while not definitive, will undermine assurances that the devices are safe.

Several countries, notably France, have started strengthening warnings in this regard and American politicians are urgently investigating the risks.

Source:www.ptinews.com

Orexigen obesity drug shows added benefits-studies

Nearly half of patients who completed 56 weeks of treatment with Orexigen Therapeutics Inc's (OREX.O: Quote, Profile, Research) experimental obesity treatment, Contrave, lost at least 10 percent of their weight in a late-stage study and the drug also appeared to help cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

The drug demonstrated an even greater improvement in non- weight loss measures in patients considered to be at high risk of heart disease, according to data released on Saturday.

That data included all patients who began the studies, even those who discontinued the medicine at any point. The data presented Saturday included only those who completed 56 weeks of treatment, which the company called "a more clinically relevant number."

Study Results:

• 34.5 to 48.2% of patients lose at least 10% of weight
• 17.2 to 23% of patients lose at least 15% of weight
• Triglycerides significantly lowered lower in high risk group
• Blood Sugar Level significantly lowered lower in high risk group

Source: http://in.reuters.com