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Bone Drugs Tied to Esophageal Cancer Merck's popular osteoporosis drug Fosamax and other similar drugs may carry a risk for esophageal cancer, a Food and Drug Administration official said on Wednesday. Diane Wysowski of the FDA's division of drug risk asessment said researchers should check into potential links between so called bisphosphonate drugs and cancer. In a letter in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, Wysowski said since the initial marketing of Fosamax, known generically as alendronate, in 1995, the FDA has received 23 reports in which patients developed esophageal tumors. Typically, two years lapsed between the start of the drug and the development of esophageal cancer. Eight patients died, she reported. In Europe and Japan, 21 cases involving Fosamax have been logged, with another six instances where Procter & Gamble's Actonel or risedronate and Didronel or etidronate, and Roche's Boniva (ibandronate) may have been involved. Six of those people died. Esophagitis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the tube carrying food to the stomach, is already know to be a side effect of the drugs, which is why patients are instructed to remain upright for at least a half hour after taking them. In addition, Wysowski said, doctors should avoid prescribing the drugs to people with Barrett's esophagus, which is a change in the lining that leads to the stomach. It is often found in people with acid reflux disease and itself increases the risk of cancer. In November the FDA said that clinical trial data showed no overall risk of heart rhythm problems in patients taking bisphosphonates. However, the FDA also said it was aware of conflicting findings in other studies and was considering whether conducting further studies to investigate the risk were feasible. The drugs aim to treat bone-weakening osteoporosis by increasing bone mass. An estimated 10 million Americans, mostly women, have osteoporosis. Copyright Reuters |
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Daily Ibuprofen May Raise Heart Risks for Elderly They said the popular over-the-counter pain reliever was the only drug in the class that includes aspirin and other analgesics to raise the risk of serious heart disease — along with the now-withdrawn COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx. Merck and Co. Inc pulled Vioxx, known generically as rofecoxib, off the market in 2004 because studies showed it raised the risk of heart attack and stroke. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration now mandates a black-box warning on all COX-2 inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, which include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and other over-the-counter pain relievers. Dr. Daniel Solomon of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and colleagues said their findings showed most of these drugs are safe. "Our findings suggest that rofecoxib and ibuprofen are the only agents consistently associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease events among specific patient subgroups," Solomon said in a statement. "The fact that we did not observe a similar concentration in risk among subgroups of patients using many of the other agents may be of even greater relevance. These results should bolster physicians' and patients' confidence," he added. The mean age of the patients, nearly all white women, was 80. Vioxx users had the highest rates of heart attack, congestive heart failure and stroke, and naproxen users had the lowest, they found. Among patients who had survived at least one heart attack, Vioxx users had 9.4 more serious heart events per 100 people per year, and ibuprofen users 11.4 more such events, compared to nonusers. Solomon said the findings may apply only to elderly white women but they can help doctors and patients choose which drugs to take. Copyright Reuters |
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| THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAMINS Natural vitamins are those organic food substances which are found only in plants and animals, i.e., living things. The body is not able to synthesize or manufacture vitamins (although there are a few exceptions to this). Because of this, they must be supplied either directly in the diet, or by way of dietary supplements. Vitamins are vital if our body is to function normally. They are absolutely necessary for our growth, general-well being and vitality. Vitamins cannot be assimilated without ingesting food. This is why it is suggested that vitamins must be taken with a meal. They help to regulate the body's metabolism, assist in forming the bone and tissue, and help convert fat and carbohydrates. However, one must remember that vitamins cannot replace food. Vitamin A • Repair & growth of body tissues • Protects mucous membrane of mouth, throat, lungs and nose • Helps maintain smooth, disease-free skin • Counteracts night blindness. • Reduces risk of lung and certain types of oral cancers Vitamin B1 • Aids in digestion of carbohydrates • Essential to the normal working of the nervous system, heart and muscles • Stabilizes appetite • Promotes growth • Generates energy Vitamin B2 • Aids in formation of red blood cells and antibodies • Essential for carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism • Promotes general health • Necessary for the maintenance of good skin, nails, hair and good vision • Maintains cells respiration Vitamin B6 • Building blocks of protein • Necessary for synthesis and breakdown of amino acids • Promotes healthy skin • Aids in production of antibodies • Reduces muscle spasms and leg cramps • Helps maintain a proper balance of phosphorous and sodium Vitamin B12 • Prevents anaemia by helping in formation and regeneration of red blood cells • Necessary for fat, carbohydrate and protein metabolism • Increases energy • Promotes growth in children • Maintains healthy nervous system Niacinamide • Helps metabolize sugar, fat and protein • Reduces high blood pressure • Improves circulation • Reduces cholesterol level • Increases energy • Helps maintain healthy digestive system Panthothenic Acid • Aids in the utilization of vitamins • Helps in cell building • Aids in development of the central nervous system • Fights infections • Participates in release of energy from carbohydrates Biotin • Promotes healthy heart • Aids in the utilization of folic acid, protein, Vitamin B12 and Panthothenic Acid Folic Acid • Essential for the formation of red blood cells • Aids in the metabolism of amino acids • Necessary for the synthesis of DNA and RNA Inositol • Aids in breakdown of fats • Helps prevent thinning hair • Helps to reduce blood cholesterol levels • Necessary for the formation of lecithin Choline • Prevents fat from accumulating in the liver • Helps improve memory • Important in controlling cholesterol and fat build up • Facilitates movement of fats in cells • Important in nerve transmission Para Amino Benzoic Acid • Aids in formation of red blood cells • Contains sunscreen properties • Returns hair to its natural colour • Aids in the assimilation of Panthothenic Acid • Produces folic acid, this aiding healthy bacteria Vitamin C • Helps heal wounds, scar tissue and fractures • Essential for healthy bones, teeth and gums • Builds resistance to infection • Prevents scurvy • Gives strength to blood vessels • Aids in absorption of iron • Is essential for the synthesis of collagen Vitamin D • Required for bone and teeth formation • Improves absorption and utilization of Phosphorous and Calcium > • Maintains stable nervous system Vitamin E • Retards cellular aging because of oxygen • Alleviates fatigue by supplying oxygen • Prevents and dissolves blood clots • Helps in preventing sterility • Aids in bringing nourishment to cells |
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Dehydrated Tomatoes May Prevent Prostate Cancer New research suggests that one specific form of tomatoes — tomato paste made from dehydrated tomatoes — may have the ability to prevent prostate cancer. When mice were fed tomato paste plus FruHis, an organic carbohydrate found in dehydrated tomato products, and then injected with chemicals that cause prostate cancer, the tomato products stopped the development of cancer 90 percent of the time. “Processing of many edible plants through heating, grinding, mixing, or drying dramatically increases their nutritional value, including their cancer prevention potential,” said Valeri Mossine, Ph.D, research assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Missouri. “It appears that the greatest protective effect from tomatoes comes by rehydrating tomato powder into tomato paste.” When researchers added lycopene to FruHis and tested the mixture on cells in virto, cancer growth stopped more than 98 percent of the time! “Experiments like this suggest that a combination of FruHis and lycopene should be investigated as a potential therapeutic anti-tumor agent, not just a prevention strategy,” said Mossine. |
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All NSAIDs Cut Alzheimer’s Risk Aspirin and related painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs all seem to work equally well to cut a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, researchers said on Wednesday. The researchers examined data from six studies involving 13,499 people to gauge the protective effect from these commonly used drugs, called NSAIDs, on Alzheimer's risk. Over the course of the studies, 820 of the people in the studies developed the disease. Those who used NSAIDs, a class of pain-relieving drugs including aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brands) and naproxen (Aleve and other brands), collectively had a 23 percent lower risk for Alzheimer's in comparison to people who did not use these drugs. But even though different types of NSAIDs have different properties, they delivered essentially the same level of risk reduction, the researchers wrote in the journal Neurology. "When we looked at different sub-groups (of NSAIDs), we found no evidence that there was any difference in the reduction in risk," Peter Zandi of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore said in a telephone interview. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among older people, and researchers have been working to understand its causes and risk factors and ways to reduce a person's chance of developing it. It has been linked with inflammation, the process particularly targeted by NSAIDS. But they also have other, broad effects on the body. Researchers in the field have been cautioning people against taking these drugs specifically to ward of Alzheimer's until further studies are done to clarify the effects. Zandi noted that previous research has delivered inconsistent results on the question of whether these drugs offer any protection against Alzheimer's. © Thomson Reuters 2008. |
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Everyone’s heard these medical myths, and your mom (and maybe even your doctor!) may have been guilty of spreading a few of them:
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American Heart Association Urges "Hands-only" CPR in Emergencies Bystanders who see someone suddenly collapse should quickly give the person chest compressions even if they are not trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the American Heart Association said on Monday. The association urged people not to stand idly by because they do not think they know how to administer CPR while an adult stricken with sudden cardiac arrest is dying in front of them. In recommendations published in its journal Circulation, the group emphasized "hands-only" CPR -- a simple procedure that bystanders can perform without worrying about doing the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation part of CPR. "The thing that's killing people is inaction," said Dr. Michael Sayre of Ohio State University, who headed the association's team that drafted the new recommendations. Sayre said people not trained in CPR should do two things when they encounter an adult who has suddenly collapsed: first, call emergency services; and second, begin pushing "hard and fast" in the center of the person's chest. This is necessary to maintain vital blood flow, according to experts. Chest compressions should continue until emergency medical services responders arrive, Sayre said. "Today in the United States, less than a third of victims of sudden cardiac arrest get any form of CPR. Anything that would increase that is bound to save lives," Sayre said in a telephone interview. "We want the general public to know that even if they've never been trained, they can help victims of sudden cardiac arrest." In the minutes after an adult collapses, hands-only CPR -- without mouth-to-mouth rescue efforts -- is equivalent to conventional CPR in its life-saving value, Sayre said. All too often, no one at the scene does anything to help the victim of sudden cardiac arrest -- often because there is no one trained in CPR and other people are scared that they will do something to make the victim's condition worse. But considering the person's condition, Sayre said, "You can't make them any worse." "Hands-only" CPR is not advised for babies and children or for adults whose cardiac arrest is due to respiratory causes such as a drowning scenario or drug overdose, the group said. Conventional CPR is still a crucial skill to know and medical personnel should still perform it, the group said. Courtesy of Reuters |
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CA-125 Test: Tool Against Ovarian Cancer CA-125 is used to monitor therapy during treatment for ovarian cancer. CA-125 is also used to detect whether cancer has come back after treatment is complete. This test is sometimes used to follow high-risk women who have a family history of ovarian cancer but who do not yet have the disease. Cancer antigen 125 is a substance that is produced in the fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and the lining, the lining of the chest and abdominal cavities (the pleura and the peritoneum). The CA 125 test measures a sugar protein that may be released when cells are inflamed or damaged. CA 125 levels are usually measured by a blood test, but can also be detected in fluid from the abdominal and chest cavities. Levels under 35 kU/ml are considered normal.
Ovarian cancer cells may produce an excess of the sugar protein molecules, as may some other cancers, including cancer of the fallopian tube or endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus). Occasionally an elevated CA 125 test indicates other benign activity not associated with cancer, such as menstruation, pregnancy, or endometriosis. However, in early stage ovarian cancer, this molecule may not necessarily be released. Thus, the test is not an effective screening test. The CA 125 test may be used diagnostically in combination with other tests such as vaginal ultrasound, and can also be used to monitor the progress of patients with cancer: increasing levels may indicate a recurrence, while decreasing levels may indicate a response to treatment. Before a patient starts treatment for ovarian cancer, the physician may order a baseline CA-125 to compare against future measurements. During therapy, physicians use CA-125 testing at intervals to monitor response to therapy. CA-125 may also be measured periodically after therapy is completed. An increase in CA-125 may indicate that the cancer has returned. If CA-125 levels fall during therapy, this generally indicates that the cancer is responding to treatment. If CA-125 levels rise, the cancer may not be responding to therapy. High CA-125 levels after treatment is complete may indicate that the cancer has come back. Because CA-125 can be high in many normal or benign conditions (for example, pregnancy, menstruation, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease), it is not useful as a screening test in large populations. Note also that even subjects who have already undergone hysterectomy, experienced menopause or tubal ligation, still have a risk of developing ovarian cancer.
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Vitamin C Seen as Helpful in Preventing Chronic Lung Disease One of the largest studies of its kind in China reveals that vitamin C may help prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The results from three recent Western studies also suggest that vitamin C may lower the risk of obstructive emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and other forms of chronic lung disease. COPD is a major cause of death and disability in the US and other countries. Smoking greatly increases the risk of COPD. Since only about 15% of smokers develop the disease, however, other factors also appear to come into play. The new report details how a team of researchers studied a group of more than 3,000 people living in 69 rural counties in China. The researchers measured the subjects' lung function, tested levels of vitamin C in their blood, and gave them questionnaires that asked, among other things, whether they had breathing problems or had ever smoked. The researchers also analyzed the diets of about half of the group. Individuals who consumed a diet rich in vitamin C and who had relatively high levels of the vitamin in their blood, had better lung function, and consequently, a lower risk of COPD than those with lower intakes and blood levels of the vitamin. Among those with a vitamin C-rich diet, variations in dietary intake of other vitamins, including vitamins E and A, beta carotene and other carotenes, were not associated with variations in lung function. These findings provide support that the observed effect is more likely to be due to vitamin C per se, rather than due to other nutrients, noted the investigators. As for how much vitamin C is recommended, the study was unclear outside of showing that the higher the intake of vitamin C, the better the lung function. Those in the study averaged about 151 milligrams of vitamin C per day, about 50% more than the US average. The USDA suggests that most adults consume 60 mg of the vitamin daily. (From American Journal of Epidemiology 1998;148:594-599) Copyright © 1998 EGW Publications Reposted from www.heall.com
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Grapes are a staple on any fruit tray, whether at home or in restaurants. For sure, these fruits will be seen and enjoyed more during the Christmas season. Families and friends are bound to pass them around in many a holiday gathering. Yuletide tables will also be festooned with grapes, along with other fruits. Sharing their thoughts are these self-confessed grape fans:
Kids and adults alike love grapes for their sweet, crunchy, juiciness, and their "popability." But there are many more reasons to eat grapes than taste alone. Along with being rich in manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B1, potassium and vitamin B6, here is a sampling of the incredibly healthy aspects of grapes.
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OXYGEN AS CURE FOR PROBLEMATIC WOUNDS A Manila-based hospital recently launched its Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Unit (HBOT) for patients with problematic wounds. While ordinary everyday oxygen ( 21%) is sufficient to heal normal wounds, hard-healing wounds such as skin ulcers, diabetic wounds, serious burns, decompression illness, gas gangrene, severe blood loss anemia, radiation damage and crash injuries require higher levels of oxygen to help repair infected or damaged tissue. With HBOT, a person breathes 100% oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure. At higher pressures, more oxygen (up to 2000%) reach tissues that stimulate growth of new blood vessels. This promotes the healing of problematic wounds and helps treat certain types of infections (such as gangrene). It is the country’s most advanced hyperbaric monoplace system and is the same system used in the US. Using HBOT, these specialists can speed up wound healing and administer life-saving recompression treatment. |
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Avon Walk Against Breast Cancer
Around 2,500 individuals coming from the different sector of society participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer parading to the city thoroughfares and streets here in Baguio City last week Male breast cancer survivors' retired police Col. Romeo Licyayo of Baguio City and Dr. Apolinario Pilit of La Trinidad, Benguet. In a survey, one out of 100 individuals with breast cancer is male and only one out of one million is being afflicted with cancer. Breast Cancer survivor Retired police Col. Romeo Licyayo, 60, joins the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. A former member of the Police Regional Office – Cordillera and now fighting breast cancer. Dr. Apolonario Pilit, a former Health Officer of Mountain Province and now is fighting breast cancer. |
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For its 21st annual convention, which was held recently at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City, the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO) had for its theme: "The Power of 2: Integrating Biologics with Cytotoxics". The annual convention is considered one of the country's premier oncology forums where oncologists, specialists in cancer research, and health professionals involved in cancer care, study and review the latest innovations in the diagnosis and management of the disease. Leading experts and resource speakers also share and discuss the latest findings in medical research. Cytotoxic chemotherapy involves treatment with drugs that destroy rapidly growing cancer cells by stopping them from multiplying. However, healthy cells, especially those that divide quickly, can also be harmed, which causes side effects such as the loss of hair. But this is only temporary since these cells usually repair themselves after the chemo treatment. "Cytotoxics are like canons," Dr. Gracieux Fernando, PSMO past president, observed, "while biologics are like smart bombs. They are more targeted." Targeted cancer therapies use drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer. By focusing on molecular and cellular changes that are specific to cancer, they are less harmful to normal cells. Dr. Fernando adds that while cytotoxics kill cancer cells, biologics are not toxic and only lets the cancer cells "sleep". Dr. Fernando served as moderator of the press conference, sponsored by Schering-Plough, a worldwide research-based pharmaceutical company, which was held on the first day of the conference. The panel included: Dr. Gerardo H. Cornelio, PSMO president; Dr. Noemi L. Alsay Uy, overall chairman of the PSMO 21st annual convention; and Drs. Jasmin V. Reyes-Igama, Noemi Alsay Uy, Gerardo Cornelio, Belen Tamayo, Agnes Evangelista-Gorospe, Ellie May Belarmino-Villegas, And Jhade Peneyra. "Various drugs targeted against molecular changes have been developed and tested for clinical use in some malignancies," Dr. Uy noted in her message. "They demonstrate enhanced activity when used in combination with chemotherapy." Renowned speakers at the convention shared updated results of studies that have shown significant impact on patient survival. "The future of cancer treatment has reached its pinnacle with the integration of novel targeted agents and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy," Dr. Cornelio remarked. "This year's scientific program presents insights on what the future of oncology would be with the power of these two combinations in breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal malignancies and other tumor types. We have also included oncology nursing care and tumor vaccines in cancer prevention to complement our plenary sessions." The PSMO is a scientific and professional organization of leading oncologists committed to the advancement of medical oncology and its ethical and holistic practice. Dr. Cornelio presented PSMO's mission-vision and programs that are patient-oriented (more than the disease); a multidisciplinary approach to care and treatment; research-oriented and evidence-based approach; in collaboration with international/regional-global initiatives; continuing education of allied medical specialists in the care, detection and treatment options for cancer patients; as well as the education of the Filipino public through outreach programs on early detection, awareness, and cancer treatment. Early detection is key. The PSMO developed the following acronym, CAUTION US, for the 9 danger signs of cancer, as follows: C hange in bowel and bladder habits;
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Osteoporosis Society to Hold 9th Annual Scientific Meeting, Bone Density Course and Certification Exam Top The bone densitometry course will be conducted in conjuction with the prestigious International Society for Clinical Densiometry. The International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) is a multidisciplinary, nonprofit organization that provides a central resource for a number of scientific disciplines with an interest in the assessment of skeletal health. The Society was founded in June 1993 as the result of a meeting of a group who recognized the need to bring disciplines together for this single purpose. The Society was the first of its kind worldwide. Interested parties such as orthopedic doctors, surgeons, nurses, orthopedic technicians and other professionals involved in bone density testing, bone health, other muscoskeletal diseases and treatments, please call the OSPFI office at (632) 7252133 or (632) 749 9746 or you may write e-mail them at ospfi_secretariat@yahoo.com.ph |
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October 20 is National Osteoporosis Awareness Week Since its launch, the OSPFI has made progress in increasing awareness of osteoporosis in the Philippines |
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| 1st Liver Convention in the Philippines –Boy Diez Top The first ever medical convention on matters relating to the liver was spearheaded by the Hepatology Society of the Philippines or HSP. The event, which will be held from August 3 to 4, 2007 at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel, is meant to address the growing menace of liver disease in the country. The convention, with the theme “ Clinical Hepatology, From the Theory to Practice” will serve as HSP’s initial step as it embarks on further advancing and strengthening practice of Hepatology in the Philippines. A press briefing, sponsored by pharmaceutical giant Schering-Plough, gave members of the Philippine media insight into the background of HSP and the work that they have done in the area of detection, documentation, tracking and treatments of liver ailments. The Press Briefing Launching the HSP Awareness Campaign on Hepatitis B, C and other Liver Diseases was held on August 2, at the Ilustardo Restaurant. Of particular interest was Hepatitis B and C which are termed as the “silent killers” since these are almost always undetected by their otherwise healthy-looking carriers. Heading the panel during the press briefing was HSP President Dr. Erlinda Valdellon, M.D. who spoke about HSP, its beginnings, the advances they have made and the society’s vision of advocacy. On hand to answer the questions of the media was Dr. Eugene Schiff, Chief of the Hepatology Division and Director of the Center for Liver Diseases at the University of Miami. Dr. Schiff provided extensive information on the current state of liver ailments and the new modes of treatment not only in the US but in Europe and Asia as well. It is clear in the message of the resource speakers that the cycle of infection must be broken. The public must be informed of the various modes of transmission such as sex, food, intravenous, etc. Steps must be taken now to prevent the spread of Hepatitis whether it be A, B, C or D lest we end up with a generation of carriers of killer diseases. |
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Breastfeeding Advocates Help Protect Milk Code |
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PhilHealth Loses 4B in Fraudulent Claims Veronica Uy Reprinted from the Philippine Daily Inquirer Top MANILA, Philippines -- Some doctors and hospitals have defrauded the government’s Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) by as much as P4 billion in unnecessary or overpriced medical procedures since 1995, an official has disclosed to the Senate. |
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 Criminologists still debate whether the predominant cause is psychological, sociological, biological, or something else. Another barrier to progress is the fact that criminal violence is not a single condition, but rather a diverse set of afflictions.  . . . a separate adoption study . . . found that sons whose biological parents had a criminal record were four times as likely to have a serious criminal record, compared with those without familial criminality. "These distinctive patterns have been found in violent subjects of all races, age groups, and socioeconomic levels." |
Chemical Imbalances and Criminal Violence William J. Walsh, PhD, President, Health Research Institute Top For centuries, research aimed at reducing the incidence of criminal violence has largely failed. Literally hundreds of psychoanalytic techniques, behavior modification systems and experimental drug therapies have been attempted, and none has proven to be effective. The sad truth is that most violent criminals become recidivists, whether they participate in rehabilitation programs or not. Society simply doesn’t know how to address criminality among the population, and the national trend is toward longer sentences and increased application of the death penalty. The lack of progress in combating crime and violence has resulted from several factors. First and foremost, there is no clear understanding of the basic causes of violence and antisocial behavior. Criminologists still debate whether the predominant cause is psychological, sociological, biological, or something else. Another barrier to progress is the fact that criminal violence is not a single condition, but rather a diverse set of afflictions. The inadequacy of classification methods for separating criminals into appropriate groups has hindered progress over a century. A ray of hope has been provided by twin and adoption studios is Scandinavia, which present the first solid evidence of an inborn predisposition to criminality. Christiansen made a survey of nine twin-criminality studies.1 In these studies, identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins were compared with respect to "concordance" of criminality between the two groups. Wilson and Herrnstein2 pooled Christianses’s and other data and found identical twins to have concordance of 0.69, compared to only 0.33 for same-sex fraternal twins. This result clearly indicates a substantial genetic component in criminal behavior. Mednick et al.3 evaluated Scandinavian adoption records focusing on cases in which a biological parent or adoptive parent evidenced criminality. Their evaluation showed a strong relationship between criminality of biological parents and their sons. In a separate adoption study, Cloninger et al4 found that sons whose biological parents had a criminal record were four times as likely to have a serious criminal record, compared with those without familial criminality. This effect far exceeded the effects of environmental factors studied including adoptive parent criminality, child abuse, and poverty. The Health Research Institute has observed distinctive chemical imbalances in violent subjects5 and has developed the classification system6 based on hair chemistry as shown in the accompanying table.  Distinctive Chemical Imbalances Observed in Criminals The Type A and B patterns were discovered in a sibling experiment involving 24 pairs of brothers, ranging in age from 8 to 18 years. Each of the sibling pairs included an extremely delinquent, violent brother and a brother who was an "all-American boy" with no history of behavioral or academic problems. The violent siblings were found to possess the Type A or Type B imbalances whereas the controls did not. This result was confirmed in a field test involving 96 extremely violent persons and 96 nonviolent controls, the two groups balanced with respect to age, race, and socioeconomic level as a child. The accompanying figure displays these groupings. Subsequent testing of general delinquent populations revealed that C and D type hair-chemistry patterns (see the table) are common to persons exhibiting low-to-intermediate aggressiveness. Two recent double-blind experiments in California (with 90 and 198 subjects, respectively) have confirmed the high incidence of the A/B/C/D patterns in criminal populations and their low incidence in the general population. . . . subjects have been placed on individualized treatment programs to correct the specific chemical imbalances observed. These treatments . . . consist of vitamin, mineral, and amino acid supplements, together with dietary recommendations. The treatments are quite different for each body chemistry type, and great care must be taken in characterizing each subject. . . . surveys of parents, teachers, and counselors show that more than 75 percent of the treated subjects report a "significant improvement," with best results obtained with children. Confidential surveys of parents, teachers, and counselors show that more than 75 percent of the treated subjects report a "significant improvement," with best results obtained with children. Since this information is anecdotal, these treatments must be regarded as unproven until double-blind, controlled experiments measuring treatment effectiveness is done. The Health Research Institute plans to begin two such experiments in California in 1988. The "nature vs. nurture" debate still continues in the field of criminology. 1Christiansen, K.O., "A review of studies of criminology among twins," in S.A. Mednick and K. O. Christiansen (eds.), Biosocial Bases of Criminal Behavior, New York: Wiley, 1977. 2Wilson, J.Q., and R. J. Herrnstein, Crime and Human Nature, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1986, pp. 90-95. 3Mednick, S. A., W. F. Gabrielli Jr., and B. Hutchings, "Genetic influences in criminal convictions: Evidence from an adoption cohort," Science 224:891-94, 1984. 4Cloninger, C. R., S. Sigvardsson, M. Bohman, and A. L. von Knorring, "Predisposition to petty criminality in Swedish adoptees. II. cross-fostering analysis of gene-environment interaction," Archives of General Psychiatry 39:1242-47,1982. 5Raloff, J., "Locks – A key to violence?" Science News, 124:122-25, 1983. 6Walsh, W, J., "Chemical Classification of Violent Criminals," Report No. HRI-104-3, 37th Annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Diego, 1985. Article from NOHA NEWS, Vol. XIII, No. 2, Spring 1988, pages 3-4.
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Periodontal /Gum Disease by Boy Diez Top Periodontal disease is a general term for diseases of the gum and bones that hold teeth in place. Marami sa ating mga Pilipino ang mayroon nito pero hindi natin ito alam dahil sa kadalasan ay walang sakit na nararamdaman. Ang periodontal disease ay umaatake sa ilalim ng gum line kung saan ito nagtatago. Periodontal maladies must be addressed early para maiwasan ang pagmamaga at pagkabulok ng ngipin, gilagid at buto na pinagkakapitan ng ngipin. Importante ang magpa-checkup sa Dentista at least every six months. During the check-up, your Dentist will examine both your teeth and gums using an instrument called a periodontal probe. Sisilipin ng dentista ang pagitan ng mga ngipin at gilagid kung ang korte, kulay at kabuuan nito ay malusog. Kung may makikitang dipernsiya maaaring gamutin at linisin na ito kung hindi pa malalala. In times wherein special work must be undertaken, the dentist may refer you to a Periodontist. Ang Periodontist ay isang uri ng dentista na ang specialty ay gum at gum line diseases. Tayong mga Pilipino ay di masyadong nagbibigay ng kahalagahan sa ating dental health.May mga haka-haka ang mga Pinoy na ang mga dentista ay mahal sumingil, masakit an procedures o di kaya ay maari nilang magamot ang sarili nilang sakit sa pamamagitan ng home remedies. Kadalasan din, ang mga bata ay hinahayaang kumakain ng maraming matatamis at di pinagsisispilyo hanggang mabulok ang mga ngipin sa maling paniniwala na baby teeth lamang ang mga ito. Research by the American Dental Association has proven that the longer children keep their baby teeth, the healthier their permanent teeth and gums will be. Importante ang oral hygiene sa pamamagitan ng regular na check-ups at cleaning. Gumagamit ang Dentista ng manual scaler o ang makabagong Ultrasonic scaler upang matangal ang mga dumi at plaque sa tinatawag na periodontal pockets kung saan nakakapit ang ngipin. Kung hindi ito maaalis, mamaga ang gums at maaari itong pagmulan ng tooth decay at gum infections tulad ng gingivitis abscesses. If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, the dentist will prescribe medications. These may be tablets, mouthwashes or topical preparations or combined. Either way, sundin ng maigi ang payo ng inyong dentista lalo na pag ang gamot ay antibiotics. Sa mga panahon na ito na napakamura at napakarami ng mga pagkain na puno ng asukal at preservatives. Umiwas sa mga processed foods na ito. Piliin lamang ang mga natural at sariwang mga pagkain kung maaari at ugaliin ang mag-floss pagtapos mag sipilyo. Nakakatulong din ang paggamit ng antiseptic mouthwash. |
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Mouse Virus Linked to Breast Cancer Research Suggests Virus Spreads from Person to Person By Charlene Laino WebMD Medical News Top Dec. 14, 2006 (San Antonio) -- A virus that infects the common house mouse may cause more than one in three cases of breast cancer cancer in the U.S., researchers report. In Asia, however, the virus plays a very small role in causing the disease, says James F. Holland, MD, distinguished professor of neoplastic diseases at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York. "The human breast cancercancer virus may explain why breast cancer rates differ throughout the world," he tells WebMD. Holland reviewed recent research on the breast cancer virus at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. How Breast Cancer Virus Spreads Holland says the virus does not appear to be inherited from one's parents. Rather it is spread from person to person, like the common cold. That conclusion came from a study of more than 200 women with breast cancer. Researchers detected the virus in about 30% of tissue samples from their affected breast, but in only one sample of normal tissue from the unaffected breast. "If it was genetically transmitted, the virus would be present in both tissue samples," Holland explains. Michael Dosik, MD, a breast cancer specialist at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY, says that "while interesting, there's still a long way to go." "While the virus seems to be spread from person to person -- not genetically -- we need to figure out exactly how it is transmitted," he tells WebMD. Holland agrees. "It could be spread by sneezing or perhaps eating infected food, for example. We're testing many theories." Viruses and Breast Cancer Viruses are known to be involved in the development of several cancers, including cervical cancer cancer; previous studies suggested that a virus similar to the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is associated with breast cancer in humans. Holland says that other new research suggests that the human breast cancer virus is "a kissing cousin" of MMTV, "most likely caused by a mutation that occurred thousands of years ago." Other new work suggests that variations in breast cancer prevalence worldwide can be explained by the fact that the species of house mouse that carries that virus is more common in certain regions, he says. In North America, Europe, and Australia, where the species is common, the virus was detected in 30% to 40% of breast cancer tissue samples, he says. In Asia, where the species in rare, the picture is quite different. In Japan, only 12% of samples were infected. In Vietnam, less than 1% of samples tested positive. In that study, researchers tested 524 tissue samples from women treated for breast cancer in the U.S. and compared the results with breast cancer tumor samples from women treated for breast cancer in other countries. SOURCES: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Dec. 14-17, 2006. James F. Holland, MD, distinguished professor of neoplastic diseases, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York. Michael Dosik, MD, Stony Brook University, New York. |
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TEN BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS Top 1. Skipping Breakfast Studies show that people who skip breakfast experience lower blood sugar levels in the morning. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration. 2. Overeating Overeating causes hardening of the brain arteries resulting in diminished blood flow, leading to a decrease in mental power. 3. Smoking Smoking causes multiple brain shrinkage and may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 4. Excessive Sugar Consumption Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development. This is the reason why children who ingest too much sugar become hyper and can no longer think straight. A condition parents commonly refer to as a “sugar high” 5. Air Pollution The brain is the largest oxygen-consuming organ of the body. Inhaling polluted air not only decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, but also poisons it with carcinogens such as lead and Carbon Monoxide, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency and increased degradation of motor skills. 6. Sleep Deprivation Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells causing early brain function degradation such as memory loss and dementia in old age. 7. Sleeping with Your Head Covered Sleeping with your head covered, either with a blanket, covers or a pillow, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decreases the concentration of oxygen you breathe, thereby starving the brain. This habit is not only bad for the brain but to the body’s entire cardiovascular system as well. 8. Working Your Brain During an Illness Working hard or studying while abed with a sickness puts additional strain on one’s brain. If the body is sick, so will the brain be too. Medication will also affect brain function so rest is really important to protect one’s brain. 9. Lack of Stimulating Thoughts In studies made in Europe and the United States, seniors 65 years and older who did crossword puzzles and other thought-stimulating games and brain twisters, had a lower incidence of memory lapse and were just as sharp as people half their age. Thinking is the best way to “train our brain”. The lack of brain stimulating thoughts may cause brain shrinkage. 10. Talking Rarely Lack of interpersonal activity with peers or the lack of any form of contact with other people also promotes to the degradation of one’s brain matter. To better address this problem, people are advised to be more open, think positive and avoid being loners. Keeping in close contact with family and friends is practicing good mental hygiene. Better yet, try to maintain intellectual conversations with good natured people to promote the efficiency of your brain. |
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Smoking Associated With Increased Risk Of Tuberculosis |
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It’s Summer at Sore Eyes Season Nanaman! Boy Diez Top You wake up one warm morning na napakasakit at napakakati ng isa o pareho mong mga mata. You try opening your eyelids pero naninikit ang mga ito, parang may buhangin ang eyeball at masakit pag tumingin sa liwanag. Well, you just caught sore eyes. Sore eyes or Conjunctivitis, also known as sore eye, pink eye or red eye, is a general term referring to an irritation or infection of the membrane which covers the eye and the inside of the eyelid. Ang membrane o manipis na balat na ito ay tinatawag na conjunctiva. Madalas, ang sore eyes ay lumalabas pag summer dahil ang bacteria ay airborne at dumarami pag mainit ang panahon. Children are more prone to infection during summer dahil mas madalas silang outdoors, humahawak ng marumi at nakikipaglaro sa mga kaibigan nila. Because of this, mabilis ang transfer ng sakit through eye and hand contact. Maraming uri ng infectious Conjuctivitis and they continually mutate or evolve kaya’t hindi porke’t nagkaroon ka na ng sore eyes before ay immune ka na. On the contrary, there are bacteria that become immune to the antibiotics and anti-bacterials prescribed and can therefore, still infect a person who has had it before. Try not to let your children play on the dirt or with kids who are suspected carriers. Put off any intimate contact with loved ones who have it for the mean time. Ang pinaka simple at effective na paraan ay magdala lagi ng hand sanitizer. Keep the patient confined indoors to prevent passing it on to others. Hindi totoo na makukuha ang sore eyes sa tingin lang. Avoid sharing personal items like clothes, cosmetics, celphones, sunglasses etc. Any case ng sore eyes ay dapat ikonsulta agad sa duktor, particularly ones with mucous discharge that does not improve within 24 hours and if there is pain behind the eyeballs. There is a form of Conjuctivitis brought on by the sexually transmitted disease Chlamydia, kaya’t ang mga sexually active ay dapat mag-ingat. Don’t let sore eyes ruin your summer vacation. Practice common sense and observe proper hygiene at home or outside. Opthalmic preparations are almost always expensive so save yourself the pain and cost of getting sore eyes through prevention. Baka sa isang kusot mo lang ng mata ay isang lingo kang magdusa. For more practical information on the prevention and treatment of Infectious Conjuctivitis or Sore Eyes see the topic list of this site. |
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The Philippines Continues Promotion of Medical Tourism Top The Philippine Medical Tourism Program (PMTP), a private and public initiative in the Philippines continues to attract foreign clients to the Asian archipelago who are in need of medical care as well as health and wellness services packaged with sightseeing tours, vacations, and shopping. |
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