World Breastfeeding Week - 1 to 7 August 2011

With a goal to boost the health of infants worldwide and encourage mothers to breastfeed, nearly 120 countries around the world celebrate World Breastfeeding Week from 1-7 August every year.

Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.

“Losing a child is a parent’s worst nightmare, especially when it can be avoided. Why let this happen when you can protect the health of your child simply by breastfeeding him or her?” asked Dr RK Agarwal, a paediatrician.

The World Health Organisation declared the first week of August as World Breastfeeding Week in a bid to ensure that children are not denied of the right to live simply because of lack of awareness on the part of the care takers.

Breastfeeding is known to reduce deaths among children aged below 5 by 13%.

According to statistics, out of 27 million babies born in India each year, close to 1.2 million babies do not get past the first one month. This is due to poor neonatal care and malnutrition which are the main reasons for infant mortality in India.

One million infant lives can be saved by just breast feeding in the 1st Hour following the birth of the child. If mothers and families comprehend the benefits of breast feeding for six months, it can save the lives of 250,000 babies annually.

Celebrate health with nutritious and delicious tomatoes

Tomatoes are now hot-favourites thanks to the much-talked about Tomato Festival in Spain as shown in the 2011 Bollywood movie Zindagi Milegi Na Dobaara.

They’ve been doing it in Spain since about 1945. Every August, tens of thousands of people flock to the town of Buñol to chuck tomatoes at each other. This weekend, July 31, the tradition is starting in Minnesota.

Let's talk tomatoes. The market is seeing lots of tomatoes. The amount of tomatoes, as well as the number of varieties, is remarkable. You can get green ones (fried green tomatoes), ripe red ones, yellow ones, heirloom varieties, all kinds of curry tomatoes and even yellow Romas.

A Research Proves that the fresh tomatoes be an effective alternative to drugs in decrease cholesterol, control blood pressure and stop heart disease.

Tomatoes have high levels of lycopene, with half a litre of tomato juice taken daily, or 50 grams of tomato paste, providing protection against heart disease, according to an Adelaide statement.

Lycopene is better absorbed in processed and cooked tomatoes or tomato paste rather than fresh tomatoes. As a supplement, lycopene is available in soft gelatine capsules or tablets.

WHO report - India named world's most depressed nation

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization, India has the highest rate of major depression in the world.

The World Health Organization has released the findings of a survey that reveals India has the largest number of people who suffer from depression at some point in their lives.

The study, ‘Cross-national epidemiology of DSM-IV major depressive episode,’ based on interviews of nearly 90,000 subjects across 18 countries with different income levels, was published in the peer-reviewed journal BMC Medicine by Biomed Central.

The US, China, Japan, India, Brazil, Mexico, Ukraine and Spain, Germany, Lebanon, Mexico, and South Africa were included in the study.

Major Depressive Episode (MDE) is characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration, besides feeling depressed.

Lowest prevalence of MDE was in China (12%). The average age of depression in India is 31.9 years compared to 18.8 years in China, and 22.7 years in the US.

Test on newborn babies believed to help predict teen trouble

The health test conducted on babies minutes after they are born may help detect whether a child will have trouble in school as a teenager, a new study has claimed.

The study appears in the August issue of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Babies who get low scores on a test of heart, lung and brain function given just a few minutes after birth may be more likely to need special education as teenagers, suggests this new study from Sweden.

Researchers looked at 877,000 Swedish children and compared their school grades and graduation rates when they were teenagers with their Apgar scores and post-birth health. The Apgar test is a 10-point scale, and much research has shown that it reliably predicts how much medical care a newborn will need.

The researchers found that there is a relationship between having an Apgar score below 7 and having cognitive deficits later in life. They say better understanding the relationship may provide insights into what early problems might cause those deficits.

The Apgar system has been used in the delivery room since it was devised by American Dr Virginia Apgar in 1952.

The test is commonly used as a basis for looking at the long-term implications of a baby's health.

This is largest ever study to look at the link between cognitive ability in teenagers and the Apgar test.

'Humanized' Mice to help Scientists in Drug Tests

A graduate student from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a way to grow humanized liver cells inside mice and thereby potentially increasing the accuracy of drug tests conducted on the animals.

Although scientists commonly use mice for biomedical research, they are not always helpful for pharmaceutical testing. Because mouse livers react to drugs differently than human livers, they often can’t be used to predict whether a potential drug will be toxic to people.

The unique physiology of the human liver means that the toxicity of some candidate drugs is not picked up during preclinical tests in animals. But mice implanted with miniature human livers can mimic the ways in which the human body breaks down chemical compounds, to help spot potential problems before drugs are tested in humans.

To create this artificial liver, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US cultured human liver cells, called hepatocytes, in a controlled environment with other factors, such as mouse skin cells.

They then implanted the liver under the skin or inside the body cavity of mice, successfully recreating many of the functions of a human liver.

Previous efforts to create such humanized mice have involved injecting human cells into mice with damaged livers. As the human cells repair the damage, they take up residence the liver, but the process takes months to complete and the resulting livers contain a variable proportion of human cells. The new technique takes just a couple of weeks, making it easier for scientists to spot potential toxic side effects of drugs in animal models before moving to human trials, saving money and possibly avoiding unexpected health problems in clinical trials, the authors argue.

HIV drugs believed to boost protection

HIV drugs can be used to boost protection against HIV as well as treating symptoms after infection, research suggests.

In what is being hailed as a major advance in the battle against AIDS, two studies in Africa have shown that a daily pill containing either one or two anti-HIV drugs can reduce transmission of the virus by as much as three-quarters among heterosexual couples.

The World Health Organization said the studies could have "enormous impact" in preventing HIV transmission.

Roughly 33 million people worldwide have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and live in Africa and Asia where medicines to treat the virus must be affordable in order for those who have little funds to buy the drugs.

The findings were revealed in the run-up to an AIDS conference in Rome.

Sweets and Chocolates good for kids, study says

Sounds like it goes against everything we have been taught about good nutrition but researchers say that eating sweets may stop children from getting fat.

A new study has revealed that the consumption of sweets and chocolates by children has a favorable outcome, as it could prevent them from getting obese later in life.

Researchers have found that youngsters who regularly eat chocolate bars and other sugary treats are significantly less likely to be overweight or obese than those who do not, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

The study, reported in journal Food & Nutrition Research, found that weight, body mass index and waist circumference were lower for sweet eaters compared to non-eaters.

In addition, the study, conducted at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, found that cardiovascular risk factors were also lesser in sugar sweet consumers.

Genitoplasty in Indore, MP govt asked to probe

Taking cognisance of a newspaper report about several hospitals and clinics in Indore performing surgeries on baby girls to change their sex, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked the State government of Madhya Pradesh to undertake an investigation with a team of doctors, known for high professional competence and ethical standards.

Girls are being 'converted' into boys in Indore - by the hundreds every year - at ages where they cannot give their consent for this life-changing operation.

This shocking, unprecedented trend, catering to the fetish for a son, is unfolding at conservative Indore's well-known clinics and hospitals on children who are 1-5 years old.

The procedure, called genitoplasty, is recommended only for those children whose internal organs don’t match their external genitalia (for instance, someone who has male internal organs but female genitals and female hormone).

Women's and children's rights campaigners denounced the practice as a 'social madness' that made a 'mockery of women in India.'

NCPCR has sought a detailed report within 15 days, giving facts, figures and circumstances of the cases, list of doctors/hospitals practising genitoplasty and action taken or contemplated against them.

It also wants to know the measures taken by the Madhya Pradesh government at the State/district and local level in terms of publicity/awareness campaign against the adverse effects of sex change operations as well as female foeticide and infanticide.

It has asked the government why measures to create awareness against preference for a male child have been ineffective.

Alerted by the newspaper report that hundreds of girl children in Indore are being operated on to turn them into boys, the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Madhya Pradesh health department on Sunday (27-June-2011) recommended measures to ensure that parents hankering for male children don’t exploit such ‘corrective’ surgeries with the help of corrupt doctors.

Genitoplasty experts of Indore say each of them have turned 200-300 girls into 'boys' so far. The low cost of surgery (Rs 1.5 lakh), relatively easy and unobtrusive ways of getting it done and vague laws are even attracting parents from Delhi and Mumbai.

Parents play role in teens drinking

A new report has suggested that parents having a regular gin and tonic or bottle of wine in the home are more likely to see their children becoming binge drinkers.

Children who see their parents drunk are twice as likely to regularly get drunk themselves, a survey of young teenagers has suggested.

A new 91 page report released this week by The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, United Kingdom delves deeper into this issue.

Youths who are left unsupervised are also more likely to drink, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report found.

Researchers for Ipsos Mori questioned 5,700 teenagers in England and found one in four 13- to 14-year-olds had been drunk more than once, compared to just over half of children (52 per cent) aged 15 to 16.

The most common age for a first drink was 12 to 13 and this was usually within the setting of a special occasion and in the company of an adult.

The survey found that in Year 9, students were drinking mainly alcopops, beer or lager. By Year 11, they were also drinking spirits or liqueurs.

Too much coffee may lead to hallucinations

Coffee may benefit health in some ways, but beware. Drinking too many cups of coffee could bring on hallucinations.

Stressed people who consume five cups of coffee per day to deal with stress can exhibit signs of hallucination, according to a La Trobe University study.

The new study conducted by researchers from La Trobe University in Melbourne suggests that drinking over five cups of coffee a day could lead to hallucinations.

Hallucinations are false perceptions that an individual has that do not exist. For example, a person may hear, see or smell things that are not there.

In an experiment, volunteers who had consumed 'high levels' of caffeine thought they were listening to Bing Crosby singing White Christmas even though the song was not being played.

The researchers described caffeine as 'the most commonly used psychoactive drug'.

The team from the university's School of Psychological Sciences found that five cups of coffee a day was enough to trigger this.

Prof Simon Crowe from the School of Psychological Sciences, who examined the effect of stress and caffeine on 92 participants, found stressed people who had consumed about 200mg of caffeine during the day were more likely to imagine hearing things.

In an office environment, a caffeinated worker would be on edge and not correctly interpret situations, says Crowe.

Professor Crowe added: "Caution needs to be exercised with the use of this overtly 'safe' drug."

Good news for Superstar fans!

In an astounding display of the global fan following that the Superstar enjoys, Rajini fans from across 13 countries held a simultaneous prayer recently for his wellbeing.

Rajini fans can rejoice now. Rajinikanth is currently in Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre in Singapore and his condition has improved. He has responded well to treatment and no longer needs dialysis.

Ever since the Superstar first got admitted to a hospital in late April, his legions of fans have found different ways of seeking divine intervention for their hero’s good health.

Dialysis procedure being performed on Superstar Rajinikanth at the Mount Elizbaeth Medical Centre in Singapore has been stopped, as doctors found his health condition fast returning to normalcy.

Passive Smoking and its effects

Passive smoking is the inhalation of smoke, called secondhand smoke (SHS) or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), from tobacco products used by others. It occurs when tobacco smoke permeates any environment, causing its inhalation by people within that environment.

Scientific evidence shows that exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke causes disease, disability, and death.

Bars, restaurants, sporting events, concerts, and social gatherings, public places where drinks and food are served is where passive smoking commonly occurs.

While laws are in place banning smoking in public and workplaces, many non-smokers are exposed to a large amount of passive smoke in their own homes, or in the homes of family and friends. Smoke tends to linger in the air for hours, especially in enclosed spaces.

Even when the smoker goes out, smoke residues stick to the clothes and skin of those who smoke exposing children, specifically infants and toddlers to them.

Risks and Effects

Epidemiological studies have revealed that non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk for many of the health problems associated with direct smoking.

Most of the passive smoking risks are similar to those associated with actually smoking a cigarette, pipe or cigar. Inhaling secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in nonsmoking adults.

Secondhand smoke is associated with disease and premature death in nonsmoking adults and children. Exposure to secondhand smoke irritates the airways and has immediate harmful effects on a person’s heart and blood vessels. It may increase the risk of heart disease by an estimated 25 to 30 percent.

The victims of passive smoking pay the price for others’ harmful activities, sometimes the direct smokers being their own family members. 40 percent children, 35 percent women and 33 percent are exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke. Half the deaths caused by passive smoking are those of women, the other half include both children and men.

Passive smokers face an equal risk of the dangerous results of smoking which can also be fatal. Almost 35 percent of the passive smokers are children.

Infants born to mothers who have smoked during pregnancy are lighter and shorter compared to infants of non-smoking mothers.

Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, and more severe asthma. Being exposed to secondhand smoke slows the growth of children’s lungs and can cause them to cough, wheeze, and feel breathless.

A new study, led by researchers at Nottingham University, has revealed that pregnant non-smokers who breathe in the second-hand smoke of other people are at an increased risk of delivering stillborn babies or babies with defects.

The study found passive smoking increased the risk of still birth by almost one-quarter (23 per cent) and was linked to a 13 per cent increased risk of congenital birth defects.

The findings underline the importance of discouraging expectant fathers from smoking around their pregnant partners and warning women of the potential dangers of second-hand smoke both pre-conception and during pregnancy.

Green Tea May Help Fight Autoimmune Disease

A compound in green tea has a powerful ability to increase the number of "regulatory T cells" that play a key role in immune function, US researchers say.

A new study led by researchers at Oregon State University suggests drinking green tea may boost immunity against infections and autoimmunity.

Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue.

Those researchers have discovered that one of the beneficial compounds found in green tea has a powerful ability to fight autoimmune disease.

They found that the compound increases the number of ‘regulatory T cells’ that play a key role in immune function.

This may be one of the underlying mechanisms for the health benefits of green tea, which has attracted wide interest for its ability to help control inflammation, improve immune function and prevent cancer.

The findings have been published in Immunology Letters.

Cellphones may cause cancer: WHO

Talking on the cellphone may possibly lead to a malignant form of brain cancer, the World Health Organization has said.

Radiation from cellphone handsets is “possibly carcinogenic to humans” and may cause glioma, a type of brain cancer, says the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from handsets is greater than that from phone towers and base stations, Robert Baan , the senior scientist in charge of the International Agency for Research on Cancer report on the subject, said on a conference call with reporters. The fields are "possibly" carcinogenic, the same category as diesel fuel, chloroform and working as a firefighter, according to the IARC, based in Lyon, France, which classifies cancer risks.

The cell phone-cancer link has been strongly debated for over a decade, but scientists had so far maintained that there is no indelible proof to nail electromagnetic radiation as the culprit.

The working group of 31 scientists from 14 countries met for seven days last month to study exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phones, radar, microwaves and radio, television and wireless signals. By classifying cancer risks, the IARC aims to provide scientific advice to government authorities

Rajnikanth fine, recovering well: Dhanush

There is good news for superstar Rajinikanth's fans. He is responding well to treatment and is in good health.

Actor Rajnikanth, now being treated at a hospital in Singapore, is fine and recovering well, his son-in-law and actor Dhanush said on Tuesday.

"He (Rajnikanth) is recovering well. He is doing fine. He is responding well to the treatment," he told reporters in Chennai.

"Doctors have found out the root cause of his (Rajnikanth’s) trouble. It is something that can be reversed," Dhanush said.

The superstar is being treated at Singapore's top hospital, the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre.

Dhanush dismissed as a joke reports that the actor required a kidney transplantation.

"There is no kidney transplant. It’s a joke."

Gujarat Govt goes online to warn people of tobacco hazards

According to latest reports, 80% males and 40% females take tobacco in different forms in India and roughly 50,00000 children get habituated to tobacco every year in the country.

In India 10 lakh deaths occur every year due to consumption of tobacco. The death toll is projected to reach more than 8 million by the end of the century if the current trend continues.

Gujarat is known as one of the states in the country for the highest use and production of tobacco and its product.

Gujarat Health Minister Jayanarayan Vyas announced 'Tobacco Free Gujarat' campaign. The campaign will cover all 26 districts of the state and a fund of Rs. 3 crores had been allotted for the year 2011-12.

Giving an overview of the activities carried out under the government tobacco control programme, Vyas said that a pilot project is on in Sabarkantha and Vadodara districts since 2008, while another project 'Smoke-free Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar', has been initiated in 2009.

Vyas also launched a website (ctcph.com) as a part of the campaign, to spread information about the deadly products and its effects.. "This year, we have allotted Rs 3 crore under the programme to cover all the 26 districts and seven municipal corporations," said Vyas.

Five vans with flying squads facilitating the awareness campaigns as well as for implementation of laws against tobacco consumption in public places will also be deployed.

The flying squads will include a police sub-inspector along with health officials and the vans will start functioning in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar from May 31, which marks the 'World No-Tobacco Day'.

At the launch of the website for tobacco control, minister of health and family welfare, Jaynarayan Vyas, said the fight against tobacco is more critical than even the war against terrorism.

The minister also said that the health department is carrying out a research in consultation with the agriculture department to provide alternative cash crops to farmers growing tobacco.

Sleep tight with snooze foods

There's some science behind the old wives' tale that a glass of warm milk can help you sleep better at night. Researchers claim that what you eat is directly related to how you sleep.

Researchers say, "The chemical Tryptophan present in certain foods, is the raw material that the brain uses to release sleep-inducing hormones - Serotonin and Melatonin. Adequate serotonin levels promote deep, restorative sleep."

Tryptophan is one of the 20 standard amino acids, as well as an essential amino acid in the human diet.

Tryptophan is the precursor to Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain, which is deficient in depression, and naturally enhances sleep.

The wonderful effect that tryptophan has on both mood and sleep may be because the body naturally converts tryptophan into both serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin levels affects mood and melatonin affects sleep.

Tryptophan is a routine constituent of most protein-based foods or dietary proteins.

Foods like milk, yogurt, banana, cherries, fish, nuts, flaxseed, oatmeal, honey, turkey, soy, chamomile tea, wholewheat bread, and leafy vegetables, are rich in Tryptophan.

Also, magnesium (found in wheat bran, almonds, cashews, kelp and brewer's yeast) and vitamin B6 and B12 (found in wheat germ, sunflower seeds and oil, and tuna) are sleepfriendly nutrients and should be incorporated in a day's meal.

Want to curb binge drinking? Try fish oil..!

Consuming foods rich in Omega 3 may have a positive effect on individuals with alcohol problems and psychiatric disorders, scientists have said.

Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine recently released a study that finds omega-3 fatty acids may improve depression and help people overcome alcohol abuse, Science Daily reports.

Fish oil has been hailed as wonder treatment for diseases like autism and dementia, now scientists have claimed that it could also help tackle binge drinking.

Investigators used a stress-sensitive mouse model of bipolar disorder to study the dietary influence of fatty acid DHA.

The scientists, who made the discovery by chance while studying whether fish oil had any benefit for bipolar disorder, found that it "normalised" the behaviour of mice with the condition.

"They (the mice) are not depressed and when subjected to stress they do not become manic," lead author Dr Alexander Niculescu was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

However, an unexpected finding of the research was that the fatty acid also reduced the desire for alcohol, Dr Niculescu said.

Superstar Rajini in ICU in Singapore hospital, health condition stable

South Indian superstar Rajinikanth was admitted to Mount Elizabeth centre in Singapore which is one of the best hospitals in Asia.

Tamil superstar Rajnikanth, who was flown in here from Chennai for treatment, has been admitted to intensive care unit of the city-state's Mount Elizabeth Hospital and is stated to be in a stable condition.

The 61-year-old actor is in stable condition, the Channel News Asia reported Saturday night quoting Dhanush, national-award-winning Kollywood actor and the mega star's son-in-law.

Earlier, when the Superstar was admitted in a private hospital in Chennai for treatment, a lot of rumours did the rounds on his health condition.

Rajni's audio message

With incessant media speculation over his health with each passing day, and with rumours giving different versions on a daily basis, his fans were thrown into a state of tension and confusion. Meanwhile, Rajini’s friends and well-wishers throughout the globe were praying and conducting special poojas for the actor’s speedy recovery. In the midst of all this, came the much-loved actor’s voice, sounding a reassuring note.

Apparently, Rajinikanth sounded low due to constant medication, but his inimitable style remained intact while addressing his fans and well-wishers. Soundarya released the recorded voice message by Rajinikanth late at night (27-May-2011). It was taken just before leaving for Singapore. Rajini, in a frail voice but with his characteristic laugh said, “Kannugala! I am Rajinikanth speaking. I am an actor paid for my work. But the love and care you shower on me is abundant. With all your prayers and God’s blessings, I will come back soon from Singapore and meet all of you with my head held high.”

Bipolar mood swings can be predicted

It is possible to predict future mood swings in bipolar people by monitoring their thoughts and behaviour. People with bipolar disorder suffer from extreme mood swings that veer between moments of emotional highs and euphoria to deep depression.

Manic depression (as it used to be known) has never been discussed so avidly. Consequently, ways to manage the disorder have become ever more high profile.

Last month Reuters reported that actress Catherine Zeta Jones had been treated for bipolar II disorder after the stress of husband Michael Douglas’s battle with advanced throat cancer. The news caused many to wonder what this illness was all about.

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness marked by sharp mood swings and erratic behaviour while bipolar II is a milder form of the disorder and is marked by less manic “up” moods but more depressive episodes.

The elevated moods are clinically referred to as mania or, if milder, hypomania. The current term "bipolar disorder" is of fairly recent origin and refers to the cycling between high and low episodes (poles).

The disorder has been subdivided into bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymia, and other types, based on the nature and severity of mood episodes experienced; the range is often described as the bipolar spectrum.

The primary line of treatment tends to be pharmacotherapy or the use of medications to help stabilise these mood states. Along with pharmacotherapy, using psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic models to guide treatment helps in dealing with the illness, the effect it has upon the individual and the families.

A glimpse into a few lives lived between the extremes of elation and depression reveal the simple yet often dismissed truth about bipolar disease: that it is still possible to live on, and live well.

Researchers followed 50 British patients with bipolar disorder for a month, studying how they think and act. Individuals who believed extreme things about their moods - for example, that their moods were completely out of their own control or that they had to keep active all the time to prevent becoming a failure - developed more mood problems in a month's time, it was found. In contrast, people with bipolar disorder who could let their moods pass as a normal reaction to stress or knew they could manage their mood fared well a month later.

The findings are encouraging for talking therapies - such as CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) - that aim to help patients to talk about their moods and change their thinking about them.