Walnuts Improve Bowel Cancer Survival

Scientists have said that eating nuts could reduce chances of dying from bowel cancer.

According to a new study conducted by researchers from the Dana- Farber Cancer Institute in Boston in the United States, U.S., colon cancer patients who regularly tuck into the healthy snack after their treatment have a 57 per cent lower risk of premature death. It also reduces the risk of the cancer returning by 42 per cent, the research adds.

Tree nuts – including almonds, pecans and walnuts – have the biggest benefits, while peanuts and peanut butter do not have any impact.

The researchers therefore advised that bowel cancer patients should enhance their survival prospects by upping their nut intake.

The findings which were released ahead of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago, also revealed that nut eaters have a 42 per cent lower risk of their cancer returning.



Walnuts belong to the tree nut family, along with Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, and pistachios. Each has its own unique nutritional profile. One-quarter cup of walnuts, for instance, provides more than 100 percent of the daily recommended value of plant-based omega-3 fats, along with high amounts of copper, manganese, molybdenum, and biotin. Some of the most exciting researches about walnuts go a long way to show how beneficial this gift of nature is to humanity.

Walnuts may help reduce not only the risk of prostate cancer, but breast cancer as well. In one study, mice that ate the human equivalent of 2.4 ounces of whole walnuts for 18 weeks had significantly smaller and slower-growing prostate tumors compared to the control group that consumed the same amount of fat but from other sources.

Overall the whole walnut diet reduced prostate cancer growth by 30 to 40 percent. According to another study on mice, the human equivalent of just two handfuls of walnuts a day cut breast cancer risk in half, and slowed tumor growth by 50 percent as well.

Walnuts contain the amino acid l-arginine, which offers multiple vascular benefits to people with heart disease, or those who have increased risk of heart disease due to multiple cardiac risk factors.

If you struggle with herpes, you may want to avoid or limit walnuts, as high levels of arginine can deplete the amino acid lysine, which can trigger herpes recurrences.

Walnuts also contain the plant-based omega-3 fat alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is anti-inflammatory and may prevent the formation of pathological blood clots. Research shows that people who eat a diet high in ALA are less likely to have a fatal heart attack and have a nearly 50 percent lower risk of sudden cardiac death. Eating just four walnuts a day has been shown to significantly raise blood levels of heart-healthy ALA, and walnut consumption supports healthful cholesterol levels.
 

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Why Cannabis May Help In The Treatment Of Epilepsy

A new study has found evidence that medicinal cannabis can reduce seizures in children with severe epilepsy.

According to the findings, a drug derived from cannabis offers hope for thousands of children living with untreatable epilepsy.

Cannabidiol, a medicine made out of cannabis but with the psycho-active elements removed, halved the seizures suffered by children with a severe form of the condition.

The study is published in the prestigious ‘New England Journal of Medicine’. Cannabidiol is one of at least 113 active cannabinoids identified in cannabis.

It is a major phytocannabinoid, accounting for up to 40 per cent of the plant’s extract. Cannabidiol was recently reclassified by the Victorian government to a schedule four substance, making it a legal prescription drug.

Study leader, Professor Helen Cross, consultant in paediatric neurology at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: “The results of this study are significant and provide us with firm evidence of the effectiveness of cannabidiol.

“This drug could make a considerable difference to children, who are living with Dravet syndrome and currently endure debilitating seizures.”

Cross said it could also be effective for children and adults with other forms of untreatable epilepsy, although this would have to be tested.

She said it could not be considered a ‘cure’ – because patients have to keep taking it every day for the benefits to last. According to her, one child she has treated has taken it for four years with no side effects.
And she stressed the drug is a pharmaceuticallydeveloped treatment – and parents should not be tempted to use cannabis oils available illegally online, or even cannabis itself, neither of which have the same effect.

The drug’s manufacturer, Cambridge-based GW Pharmaceuticals, which funded the trial, is to apply for a licence for the drug from the European Medicines Agency by the end of the year.

Study co-leader, Professor Orrin Devinsky, from New York University, added: “Cannabidiol should not be viewed as a panacea for epilepsy but for patients with especially severe forms who have not responded to numerous medications, these results provide hope that we may soon have another treatment option.”

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Childhood Obesity Could Lead To Depression In Adult Life

Being overweight during childhood triples the risk of developing depression in later life.

According to findings of a study by researchers at the VU University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, people who are overweight at the age of 8 or 13 are more at risk of depression than those who suffer weight problems in middle age.The scientists, who presented their findings at this year’s European Congress on Obesity, said: “Our findings suggested that some of the underlying mechanisms linking overweight or obesity to depression stem from childhood.”

Carrying excess weight throughout life quadruples chances of developing the mental health disorder, the research adds. The researchers suggested that childhood obesity may permanently damage self-esteem, resulting in depression later on.

One in three children in the United States, U.S. and the United Kingdom, UK, are overweight or obese, previous research has shown. In Nigeria also, overweight in children is a growing trend among kids and adolescents.

Overweight is having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is common especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary. Excess weight has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than one billion adults being either overweight globally or obese in 2003.

The researchers enlisted 889 people living in Reykjavik, Iceland, with an average age of 75. Study participants were assessed to determine whether they had symptoms of depression or if they had previously been diagnosed with the condition.

The researchers then looked at school records dating back almost seven decades to find out if the participants were overweight as children, defined as having a BMI between 25 and 29.9. Data revealing their weight at the age of 50 was gathered from a previous study with the same participants in Reykjavik.

Results revealed that carrying excess weight in childhood is a stronger predictor of depression later down the line than being overweight in middle age.

The findings showed being overweight at the age of eight or 13 more than triples the risk, while carrying excess weight throughout your life quadruples your chances of the mental health disorder.

Previous studies have shown that people who are obese are more likely to become depressed, but few have looked at the longterm influence of childhood obesity.

Scientists believe being overweight as a child may permanently damage selfesteem. Furthermore, the scientist said: “A shared genetic risk or low self-esteem, which is frequently associated with those who do not conform to the ideal body type, could be responsible.

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4.7 Million Nigerians At Risk of Type 2 Diabetes - Study

A study by researchers at Covenant University, Ota has suggested that Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – a chronic condition that affects metabolism of glucose in the body – now affects over 4.7 million Nigerians aged 20-79 years.

A statement by the institution’s Deputy Director, Media and Corporate Affairs Emmanuel Igban warned that the study showed that the disease will threaten more people without an effective public health response, higher public awareness and lifestyle changes, including healthy diets and physical activity.

The researchers found that 40 per cent of people with type 2 diabetes are undiagnosed, and that deaths occur in one 1 in five diabetes patients admitted to hospital with complications from the disease.

These complications can affect the heart, kidney, brain, eyes, blood vessels and nerves, according to the statement.

Over the last 30 years, type 2 diabetes has increased by 440 per cent to 4.7 million cases – or 5.7 per cent of all Nigerians.

This rate is up to three times higher than the neighbouring countries of Cote d’Ivoire (2.3 per cent), Ghana (1.9 per cent), and Senegal (1.8 per cent).

The researchers highlight how the understanding of type 2 diabetes in Nigeria and many African countries is hindered by shortfalls in routine health data, and how this hampers an effective response in various settings. They call for more research, especially in Northern Nigeria, where data is particularly scarce.

The lead researcher, Dr. Davies Adeloye, said: “The last nationwide survey of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria was conducted in 1997. Most findings reported on type 2 diabetes mellitus in Nigeria since then have been based on modelled estimates from neighbouring countries with relatively more detailed data on the disease.

“We have, therefore, systematically synthesised the best evidence on type 2 diabetes mellitus across all geo-political zones in Nigeria to guide relevant evidence-based public health and policy response in the health sector.”

Their findings have been published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open. A full copy of the research paper can be accessed at: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/

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Diet Pills Supplement Dangerous To Teenage Health

In the pressure to be thin and conform to societal pressures, teenagers are turning to diet pills that come with potentially dangerous side effects. Research findings shows that these supplements contain toxic chemicals that can wreak havoc on teenager’s hormones, growth and mental health, all while their body is still developing.

The new study shows that diet pills are unsafe for people of all ages, especially teenagers because the pills interfere with their systems and result in nutritional deficiencies, particularly of iron and calcium.

The study revealed that diet pills often contain ingredients such as phentermine, orlistat and sibutramine, substances that may keep the pounds away by messing with the body’s natural regulations but they come with a host of side effects, including increased heart rate, fainting, unusual bleeding and heart attacks.

The United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA, reported in 2009 that 69 different diet pills contained substances that could cause seizures and strokes.

Prescription weight loss pills or diet pills, are sometimes prescribed to a patient as an additional tool in the treatment for weight loss.

Weight loss pills are advertised as the quick solution in shedding pounds and obtaining the perfect figure and the promise of an instant fix has teenagers taking diet pills and disregarding the warnings of health experts against them.
 
Similarly, a study by the Canadian Pediatric Society in 2004 said: “In growing children and teenagers, even a marginal reduction in energy intake can be associated with growth deceleration.”

Experts have consistently warned of the threats diet pills can cause and in extreme cases, they can rip apart the stomach lining and even lead to death.

Reacting to the development, Dr. Lloyd D. Johnston, of the University of Michigan in the U.S. said when he first began analysing the use of diet pills among high schoolers, he found a common ingredient was linked to causing strokes.

Although it has been removed from pills since the 1980s, he said today’s pills are no less different in the risks they pose.

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Bone Marrow Transplant May Prevent Heart Disease

A review of three studies has shown that bone marrow transplants could prevent heart disease. These findings were presented at the conference of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions in New Orleans.

Stem cell therapy, the most common of which is bone marrow transplants, significantly improves exercise time and reduces mortality in people with severe chest pain.

Extreme chest pain, known as angina, is one of the key warning signs of heart disease. Stem cell therapy is thought to ease angina by improving blood flow.

Angina is a warning sign of heart disease and occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood. Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused when the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen- rich blood. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in the chest.

The discomfort also can occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like indigestion. But, angina is not a disease.

It is a symptom of an underlying heart problem, usually coronary heart disease (CHD). However, results from the reviews by the researchers from Duke University in North Carolina, revealed that stem cell therapy significantly improved patients ability to exercise at months three, six and 12.

The researchers conducted a review of three studies with a total of 226 patients suffering from severe angina. At 24 months, the risk of mortality in stem cell therapy-receiving patients was 2.6 per cent versus 11.8 per cent for those getting a placebo.

The risk of angina and cardiac events was the same between the two groups. Patients with severe angina often have few treatment options, resulting in them becoming severely debilitated, the researchers said.

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Male Infertility Could Lead To Testicular Cancer - Experts

Expert information reaching Nigeria Natural Health Online has it that poor sperm quality, which affects about one in every 10 men may lead to fertility problems as well as increase risk of developing testicular cancer.

These findings were contained in an article published in ‘The Conversation’ by Aleksander Giwercman, professor of reproductive medicine, Lund University in Sweden and Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman, associate professor in experimental urology at the same university.

According to the researchers, even if the men don’t develop testicular cancer, men with poor sperm quality tend to die younger than men who don’t have fertility problems.

Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system. It is not all lumps on the testicles that are tumours and not all tumours are cancer and testicular cancer is the most common malignant disease of young males. Couples who can’t achieve pregnancy usually go to fertility clinics for treatment.

At these clinics, emphasis was usually on deciding whether the couple needs assisted reproduction or not, and, if so, to choose between different methods – such as Invitro-Fertilisation (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), a fertility treatment that places sperm directly into the uterus or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a technique for IVF in which an individual sperm cell is introduced into an egg cell. In most cases, these treatments lead to pregnancy and a live birth.

So, the problem seems to be solved. But the researchers stated that if infertility is an early symptom of an underlying disease in the man, fertility clinics won’t pick it up. According to them, testicular cancer is easy to detect.

In men seeking treatment for fertility problems, a simple ultrasound scan of the testes can reveal early cancer, so a life-threatening tumour can be prevented and if, detected, 95 per cent of all cases can be cured.

But unfortunately, testicular ultrasound scans are rarely performed at fertility clinics as the focus tends to be on sperm numbers and which method of assisted reproduction to use.

Hence, ultrasound scan could pick up most cases of testicular cancer, they affirmed.

According to them, Giwercman and Lundberg Giwercman, testicular cancer was not the only threat to young infertile men’s health, serious health problems, such as metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, high blood sugar and obesity), Type 2 diabetes and loss of bone mass were also much more common conditions among infertile men.

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Senator Adeleke Did Not Died Of Food Poisoning - Pathologist

Contrary to speculation that the first executive governor of Osun State and serving senator, Isiaka Adeleke, died of food poison on April 23, fresh fact emerged yesterday that the deceased died of drug overdose.

A pathologist, who carried out an autopsy on the late senator’s body, Dr. Taiwo Sholaja, told a coroner’s inquest that no trace of poison was found in the body system of the deceased. Sholaja, while giving evidence before the coroner court headed by Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, said the autopsy carried out by him and two other pathologists from Ladoke Akintola University Hospital, Osogbo (LAUTECH), revealed that the late senator died of “aspiration of gastric content due to multiple drug overdose.”

The autopsy report was marked Exhibit CE2.

The pathologist, who was led in evidence by Mrs. Oyindamola Daramola, a LAUTECH Hospital’s Senior Legal Officer, explained that histology of the tissues from the body of the deceased was normal except from the heart, which showed hypertrophy and the liver showed alcoholic steato-hypatitis.

He, however, said that the autopsy carried out by him and his team was performed in the presence of the Divisional Officer of Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo, SP Ogunkanmi Gbemileke and two other pathologists from LAUTECH. In his evidence-in-chief, Sholaja said prior to the autopsy, he had gathered from a family member of the late senator, Mrs. Modupe Adeleke-Sani that the late politician had complained of pains on the knees and inability to sleep, following which some drugs were said to have been administered on him.

This, according to Sholaja, caused Adeleke’s death as discovered following the examination carried out on the deceased’s body that the drugs administered on him in excess quantity was the cause of his death. His breathing was blocked due to the drugs’ side effect, Sholaja said.

He went on: “Aspiration of the gastric content blocked his airwaves through depriving the body of oxygen which was also evident in the bluish discolouration shown on some parts of the deceased’s body.”


According to him, the used containers of the drugs administered on him had indicated that a banned drug, Analgin injection, as well as Diazepam injection, pentasozine injection, gentamicin and hydrocortisone drugs were given to him, which side effects included drowsiness, vomiting and cardiovascular collapse, had caused blockage of his breathing. Sholaja said no trace of poison and metal was, however, found in Adeleke’s body as examined.

He went on: “Death in this case was due to aspiration of gastric content, although the deceased had hypertensive heart disease which could have caused sudden death, but no evidence of such, either grossly or micro-scopically.

“It is known that excessive alcoholic intake may depress the central nervous system with the blunting of the gas influx.

This may also induce vomiting. “The deceased was deeply sedated and was given an overdose of analgesic; these drugs are known to cause central nervous system depression. “He apparently vomited and aspirated due to the deep sedation, so the aspiration of the gastric content blocked the airways, depriving the body of oxygen.

“This showed up in the body as stinge of colouration. This could cause vital seizure of the system.
“The toxicology report also showed abnormally high levels of alcohol, sedative and analgesic in the blood of the deceased.

“There was no trace of poison or heavy metals in the toxicology report. Nigeria police did the toxicology examination and the result was given to me on May 15, 2017.” SP Gbemileke and the officer in charge of Homicide, SP Etetah Moses, confirmed before the coroner that empty bottles and injections of the drugs given to the deceased were in police custody.

Meanwhile, Adeleke’s family had described the coroner as a ‘kangaroo, unholy and ungodly’, purposely set up by the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration to divert attention from the real cause of their benefactor’s death.

Speaking through the younger brother of the deceased, Dr. Deji Adeleke, the family described the panel as a conspiratorial move to distort fact on the real outcome of the autopsy. The deceased’s younger brother said that the family is considering all legal options available to address the unfortunate and unprofessional conduct exhibited by the medical practitioners in the matter.

He said: “We state that as at now, the family has not received the autopsy report and the family will not engage in speculations over its contents.

“However, it has come to the knowledge of the family that the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Prof. Akeem Lasisi, on May 15, 2017, appeared before the kangaroo inquest set up by the state government and gave evidence on the cause of death of Senator Adeleke, when neither the family had been briefed nor the autopsy report released.

“On May 9, 2017, the family requested for the autopsy report after the expiration of the agreed two weeks period for completion of same. The CMD who claimed to be away in Abuja at the time, confirmed that the autopsy report was ready and that a copy was ready with the Osun State Police Command, while another copy was with the Chief Pathologist at LAUTECH.

“Alarmed at such a position, the family queried why a copy of the autopsy report would be with the police command without any copy given to the family that ordered the autopsy in the first instance. The CMD now changed the story, saying that the autopsy was only conducted at the Nigeria Police Forensic Laboratory in Lagos.

“Unknown to the family, the CMD had already appeared and testified under oath before the state kangaroo inquest earlier the same day where he testified conclusively that the cause of the sudden of Senator Adeleke was as a result of “banned injection overdose” given to him, relying on 3rd party “hearsay” instead of forensic toxicology report.

The CMD deliberately did not disclose to the inquest that the autopsy report was not ready. “It is quite disheartening that we live in a country where some of our supposed professionals can be so easily compromised by their paymasters without any regard to the oath they swore to as medical health practitioners.

“The family has also noted with interest the contradictory testimonies at the Coroner’s Inquest as to whether Senator Isiaka Adeleke had anything to eat at the last party he attended and hosted by an Osun State APC chieftain.

“It is on record that based on the high level of unprofessional conduct already displayed by LAUTECH, the integrity of the “yet to be ready” autopsy must have been seriously compromised,” a family member stated.

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Tomatoes May Slow Down Stomach Cancer - New Study

Scientists have alerted that tomatoes can slow down stomach cancer.

This was one of the findings of a new study published in the ‘Journal of Cellular Physiology.’ The popular Mediterranean fruit inhibits cell growth when eaten in its entirety, researchers had found out.

The new findings could pave the way for studies focusing on preventing the condition as well as using diet to support conventional treatments, they said. Such results contradict previous research suggesting that just one chemical, lycopene, has cancer-fighting benefits.

Study author, Daniela Barone, from the Oncology Research Center of Mercogliano, Italy, said: ‘Tomatoes’ effects seem not related to specific components, such as lycopene, but rather suggest that tomatoes should be considered in their entirety.

The researchers analysed whole tomato extracts for their ability to tackle various features of gastric cancer.

Extracts were taken from the common varieties, San Marzano and Corbarino.

The results revealed that both extracts affected cancer cells’ ability to spread and develop as well as leading to their death. Such findings not only have implications for prevention, but may also pave the way for new treatments, the researchers said.

Another study author, Prof. Antonio Giordano, said: “Our results prompt further assessment of the potential use of specific nutrients not only in the cancer prevention setting, but also as a supportive strategy along with conventional therapies.”

Lycopene is a naturally occurring chemical that gives fruits and vegetables a red colour. Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, is fairly uncommon.

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Painkillers Could Cause Heart Attack Within One Week Of Use - Researchers

The way many people use painkillers seem to suggest that there is no risk involved, especially when such painkillers are prescribed by a doctor or a qualified pharmacist.

Yet, millions of people are increasing their risk of a heart attack just by taking painkillers, research reveals.

Experts say there is an added danger, even within the first week of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve pain.

The highest risk was found to be in the first month of taking the drugs and to those on a high daily dose.

Researchers from Canada, Finland and Germany analysed data on 450,000 people, including 61,460 who had suffered a heart attack, and urged doctors to consider the risks before giving the commonly prescribed drugs.
 

The team’s study, published in The BMJ medical journal, found that whether one uses the painkillers for longer than one month or shorter period, the risks are the same. 

It also found that the overall risk of a heart attack under the circumstances rose between 24 per cent and 58 per cent, compared with not using these drugs.

The authors said: “Given that the onset of risk of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) occurred in the first week and appeared greatest in the first month of treatment with higher doses, prescribers should consider the risks and benefits of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.”

Dr. Mike Knapton, of the British Heart Foundation, was alarmed by how quickly the risks set in.

He said: “Whether you’re prescribed ­painkillers or buy them, people must be made aware of the risk and alternative medication should be considered.”

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Ebola: Nigeria Intensifies Screening At Airports

Following the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, the Nigerian government has beefed up checks at its various airports.

The federal government also urged Nigerians to remain calm as it is committed to ensuring that the disease is not imported into the country.
 
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, spoke while inspecting thermal screening machines at the Port Health Stand of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

“We want to assure Nigerians that we have never stopped screening people, it has been going on at the international wing of all the airports in the country, although passengers may not have noticed it”, a statement by the ministry on Monday quoted Mr. Adewole as saying.

“There is no reason to panic, everything is under control. If there is a need to screen local passengers we would do that but for now we are concentrating on passengers on international travels,” he said.

The minister was at the airport to assess if the screening machines were functioning perfectly as Nigeria stepped up surveillance in detecting fever of any kind.

The country began health screening at international airports during the Ebola crisis of 2014, and the screening has continued since then.

Mr. Adewole urged the public to report any signs or symptoms of fever to the nearest health facility.


In his remarks the Director, Port Health Services, Hassan Garba, said that sophisticated thermal camera installed at the airport captures all arriving passengers with or without their knowledge, adding that anyone showing red on the camera would be quietly called aside for questioning.

The Minister directed that any passengers with fever arriving from a county where Ebola has been detected should be taken for further investigation.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an Ebola outbreak in the DRC on Friday, saying that at least one person had been confirmed dead due to the virus in the country’s north-east.

However, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, assured Nigerians of adequate surveillance at Nigerian airports following the outbreak of the disease.

In a statement on Monday, FAAN assured passengers and airport users of safety at the nation’s airports.
According to the agency’s spokesperson, Henrietta Yakubu, adequate measures have been put in place to checkmate the re-occurrence of any such outbreak in Nigeria.

Mrs. Yakubu emphasized that all measures adopted in 2014 to curtail the dreaded virus remain very much in place and have been fortified.

According to the statement, the Ebola Screening Points and detecting machines have been fully re-instated at Nigerian airports.

She also disclosed that the agency was also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health, through the Port Health Service, to reactivate the Ebola Awareness and Sensitization Campaign.

On Monday, the World Health Organization confirmed a second Ebola case in Congo.
“So far there are 19 suspect cases, including three deaths and two lab-confirmed cases,” a WHO spokesperson in Geneva said.

The first case was confirmed on Friday in Bas-Uele province in the north-east of the country.

But in its statement released in Lagos on Monday, FAAN said there was no outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria or at any Nigerian airport.

The agency, therefore, urged air passengers and airport users to go about their business activities without fear.

Nigeria was declared free of Ebola virus by the WHO in October 2014 and the country praised for its handling of the disease which caused about 4,500 deaths across West Africa.

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Ebola: Nigeria's Health Minister Orders Screening Of Fever Patients

Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has directed Nigerian health workers to screen haemorrhagic fever patients for Ebola.

This followed the outbreak of the disease in Congo.

In 2014, Nigeria recorded cases of the disease after a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, imported it into the country.

Ebola had ravaged Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, but it was eventually contained in the West African countries.

 

But last Friday, a case of the disease was confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement, Boade Akinola, spokesperson of the ministry of health, said the minister urged the public to observe high levels of personal hygiene and to report all cases of fever to the nearest health facility.

“The health minister directs all Nigerian health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion by screening all haemorrhagic fever patients for Ebola,” she said.

“Similarly, the minister encourages the public to observe a high level of personal hygiene, which includes regular hand washing and to also report all cases of fever to the nearest health facility.

“The federal government, in response to the announcement by the WHO on confirmed cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has directed port health officials to step up inspection activities and to report any sick person or suspects to ensure that Epidemiologists in the states conduct relevant tests.

“The symptoms to look out for include: fever, fatigue, weakness dizziness and muscle aches. Patients with more severe cases show bleeding under the skin, internal organs or even from bodily orifices like mouth, nose and ears.”

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Diets Rich In Vitamin D Reduces Risk Of Early Menopause

Indication has emerged that women can cut their risk of an early menopause by eating oily fish and eggs. This is according to a new study published in the ‘Journal of Clinical Nutrition.’ It said a high Vitamin D intake via food and supplements lowers the risk of early menopause by 17 per cent.

Vitamin D is thought to slow the ageing of women’s ovaries while calcium-rich foods make women 13 per cent less likely to suffer. Around one in 10 women go through menopause before the age of 45, increasing their risk of osteoporosis and heart disease and reducing their chances of conceiving.

Menopause is the time in most women’s lives when menstrual periods stop permanently and they are no longer able to bear children. Menopause typically occurs between 49 and 52 years of age.

Medical professionals often define menopause as having occurred when a woman had not had any vaginal bleeding for a year.

The main natural source of Vitamin D is sunlight; however, it also appears in oily fish, egg yolks and fortified cereals.

In the United States, where Vitamin D is added to milk and cheese, the researchers found that dairy products specifically cut the danger of an early menopause, but the effect may be limited elsewhere.

Additional studies were needed to see if Vitamin D supplements affect early menopause, the researchers concluded.

The new United States’ study, which involved Harvard University researchers, analysed 116, 430 female health workers over two decades.

Their diet was recorded in food questionnaires five times over that period, during which 2,041 women entered menopause.

The results revealed that among those who consumed the most Vitamin D, their risk of entering menopause was 17 per cent lower.

A high calcium intake reduced the risk by 13 per cent, which was thought to be due to cows’ milk containing menopause-delaying sex hormones.

These results were found after adjusting for other risk factors, such as weight and breastfeeding history.

According to the lead author, Alexandra Purdue- Smithe, from the University of Massachusetts; “Not only is early menopause associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and osteoporosis, it can also affect women’s chances of conceiving for years. “For example, a woman set to have her menopause when she is 43 could be struggling to conceive from the age of 33.


“Scientists are looking for anything that can reduce the risk of early menopause and things like diet, which can be easily altered, have wide-ranging implications for women.

“Women may reduce their risk of early menopause by eating foods rich in Vitamin D and Calcium, such as dairy foods and fatty fish.”

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Synthetic Retina Offers Hope For The Visually Impaired

A synthetic, soft tissue retina developed by an Oxford University student could offer fresh hope to visually-impaired people. this is contained in a study published in the journal, ‘Scientific Reports.’

A ‘science daily’ report stated that until now, all artificial retinal research had used only rigid, hard materials.

The retina is the lightsensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eyeball. Images that come through the eye’s lens are focused on the retina.

However, the new research by Vanessa Restrepo- Schild, a 24-year-old DPhil student and researcher at Oxford University, Department of Chemistry, was the first to successfully use biological, synthetic tissues, developed in a laboratory environment.

The study could revolutionise the bionic implant industry and the development of new, less invasive technologies that more closely resemble human body tissues, helping to treat degenerative eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP).


Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited, degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment due to the progressive degeneration of the rod photoreceptor cells in the retina. Just as photography depends on camera pixels reacting to light, vision relies on the retina performing the same function.

The retina sits at the back of the human eye and contains protein cells that convert light into electrical signals that travel through the nervous system, triggering a response from the brain, ultimately building a picture of the scene being viewed.

Restrepo-Schild led the team in the development of a new synthetic, double layered retina, which closely mimics the natural human retinal process. The retina replica consists of soft water droplets (hydrogels) and biological cell membrane proteins.

Designed like a camera, the cells act as pixels, detecting and reacting to light to create a grey scale image. The Colombian native said: “The synthetic material can generate electrical signals, which stimulate the neurons at the back of our eye just like the original retina.

The study’s findings showed that unlike existing artificial retinal implants, the cell-cultures were created from natural, biodegradable materials and do not contain foreign bodies or living entities.

In this way, the implant was less invasive than a mechanical devise, and was less likely to have an adverse reaction on the body.

Restrepo - Schild added: “The human eye is incredibly sensitive, which is why foreign bodies like metal retinal implants can be so damaging, leading to inflammation and/or scaring."

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Too Much Exercise Risky To Health – Study

Scientists have alerted the global community that long periods of intense exercise can change the composition of gut bacteria in humans, thereby posing danger to health.

According to a new study, which unveiled these, the prolonged exertion during intense exercise could trigger ‘leaky guy syndrome’ – a condition that could let harmful substances leak into the bloodstream.

The study is published ahead of print in the ‘American Journal of Physiology’ – Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.

The research looked at soldiers taking part in an intensive training programme and found that prolonged exercise caused the protective barrier in their guts to become permeable.

With the gut health and overall health believed to be strongly linked, intense  physiological stress could therefore raise the risks of many types of illnesses.

The new research is the first to investigate the response of gut microbiome – the term for the population of microbes in the intestine – during military training. It provides a stark warning for endurance athletes and military personnel.

“Most of us are aware that the bacteria in our gut play an important role in digestion.

Furthermore, they are known to aid the production of certain vitamins – such as vitamins B and K – and play a key role in immune function.

But increasingly, research is emerging showing how poor gut health is linked to conditions ranging from irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, obesity, childhood asthma, to colitis and colon cancer.”

The study is the first to investigate the response of gut microbiome – the term for the population of microbes in the intestine – during military training.

It looked at a group of 73 Norwegian Army soldiers taking part in a militarystyle cross country skiing training programme.

The group skied 31 miles (51 km) while carrying 99-pound (45 kg) packs, across four days. Before and after the training exercise, researchers collected blood and stool samples from the soldiers.

It was found that the microbiome and metabolites – the substance formed in or necessary for metabolism – in the soldiers’ blood and stool altered ‘significantly’ by the end of the aggressive training period.

Furthermore, sucralose excretion in their urine samples rose considerably, indicating an increase in intestinal permeability (IP).

According to a ‘mailonline’ report, scientists know that healthy intestines have a semi-permeable barrier, which acts as a defence to keep bacteria and other harmful substances out, while allowing healthy nutrients into the bloodstream.

It is thought that physical stress can increase IP, increasing the risk of inflammation, illness and symptoms such as diarrhoea.

The researchers wrote that intestinal microbiota appear to be one influencing factor in the gut’s response to physical stress.

“Our findings suggest that the intestinal microbiota may be one mediator of IP responses to severe physiologic stress, and that targeting the microbiota before stress exposure may be one strategy for maintaining IP.”

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Cotton Buds Dangerous To Children's Ears

Scientists have raised the alarm that more than 12, 000 children were left needing hospital treatment after using ear buds every year. According to the result of an American study, which unveiled this, 263, 000 children were sent to Accident and Emergency (A&E), after injuring themselves with ear buds over 20 years.

The research was published in ‘The Journal of Pediatrics.’ Previous research showed that in the United Kingdom (UK), close to 7, 000 people were treated for ear bud emergencies every year. According to hospital reports, injuries caused by the cotton buds include burst eardrums, loss of balance and total loss of hearing.

The ‘mailonline’ reports that majority of injuries occurred as a result of using cotton tip applicators to clean the ears (73 per cent), playing with cotton tip applicators (10 per cent), or children falling when they have cotton tip applicators in their ear (nine per cent). Seventy-seven per cent of the injuries occurred when the child was using the cotton tip applicator by themselves.

The most common injuries were foreign body sensation, the feeling of having something stuck in the ear, (30 per cent), perforated ear drum (25 per cent) and soft tissue injury (23 per cent). Foreign body sensation was the most common diagnosis among children aged eight to 17 years, while perforated ear drum was the most common among children younger than eight years of age.

Reacting to the development, Dr. Simon Baer, a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at Spire Sussex Hospital, said the best way to keep your ears clean was to leave them be.
 
But a small proportion of people produced excess earwax and should seek treatment, he added. “Nothing larger than an index finger should ever be put in the ear,” he said.

Speaking further, Baer said: “An injury that would lead to hospitalisation would be a perforated eardrum, which is when the bud causes a hole to appear in the eardrum. “One particular danger appears to be falling over with an ear bud in the ear. “Ear buds could also cause damage to the little bones in the ear.

These are known as the ossicles. “In very rare cases damage to the stirrup, one of the small ear bones can cause balance problems. “And in extremely rare cases, ear bud damage can lead to total loss of hearing.”

A new study conducted by Nationwide Children’s Hospital researchers found that more than a 21-year period from 1990 through 2010, 263,000 children were treated in the United States’ hospitals for ear bud-related injuries. That’s about 12,500 children every year or 34 injuries a day, according to a ‘mailonline’ report.

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Folic Acid Boosts Children’s IQ, Vocabulary – Study

Scientists said that children whose mothers take folic acid throughout their entire pregnancy are more emotionally stable than those who do not.

After the scientists from the University of Ulster in the United Kingdom, UK, carried out a study looking at the long term effects of taking the supplement, they found that the children whose mothers took the supplement the entire time had significantly higher levels of emotional intelligence and resilience and bigger vocabularies. These were disclosed at the annual conference of the British Psychological Society in Brighton.
 
The researchers carried out the study looking at the long term effects of taking the supplement. They gave supplements of folic acid – which is found naturally in green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, to 22 mothers while the other 19 took it just for the first three months, as recommended by National Institute For Health and Clinical Excellence,NICE, guidelines. After this, the mothers were given a placebo.

At present, expecting women are only recommended to take a supplement of 400 microgrammes of folic acid, for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The recommendation is to ensure proper development of the brain – and to prevent spina bifida. Emotional intelligence is the ability to control and express emotions and handle relationships with others.

Resilience is the ability to deal with problems in life. Folate, forms of which are known as folic acid and vitamin B9, is one of the B vitamins. Folic acid is used to treat anaemia caused by folic acid deficiency. It is also used as a supplement by women during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects, NTDs, in the baby. NTDs are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord.

They happen in the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant.

The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly. In spina bifida, the foetal spinal column doesn’t close completely. Over 50 countries use fortification of certain foods with folic acid as a measure to decrease the rate of NTDs in the population.

Long term supplementation is also associated with small reductions in the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Reacting to the new study, Dr. Tony Cassidy of the University of Ulster, said: “Given it has this positive effect, we wanted to know whether it would have a positive effect beyond three months.

“We found there was an advantage for children whose mothers had taken folic acid for verbal IQ and reasoning compared to those who did not take the folic acid.

“We were also looking at emotional intelligence and resilience. We found significant benefits for the children whose mothers took folic acid,’ he said.

He said that he expected that if further trials showed the same results, there would be a strong case for advising mothers to keep taking the folic acid at the recommended level after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

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Being Overweight Could Lead To Early Death - Study

Obesity has for long been blamed for health risks, including early death, scientists have also affirmed that being moderately overweight can also cut life expectancy.
 
Previous research had suggested having a body mass index (BMI) higher than the range considered a healthy weight, but not above the point, at which people are said to be obese, could in fact help people live longer.

A study of more than 100,000 adults by Danish researchers found people with the longest lifespan had a BMI in the ‘overweight’ category, not ‘healthy’ as might be expected.

However, the new research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine casts doubt on these findings, with being overweight associated with an increased mortality rate.

Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 or more, thus it includes pre-obesity defined as a BMI between 25 and 30 and obesity as defined by a BMI of 30 or more. Pre-obese and overweight, however, are often used interchangeably, thus giving overweight a common definition of a BMI of between 25 and 30.

There are, however, several other common ways to measure the amount of adiposity or fat present in an individual’s body. However, Assistant Professor of Global Health at Boston University, Andrew Stokes, who led the study, said people with a history of being overweight had a six per cent increased risk of death.

He called this rise ‘modest,’ but said the findings were still “extremely worrisome” because of the high number of overweight people in the United States. According to Stokes, the study confirmed that “there is no benefit of being overweight on risk of death, and indicate thatbeingoverweightisactually associated with an increased risk of dying.”

The Danish study looked at weights at one point in time, which couldhave meant people whowereonceoverweight, but had lost weight due to fatal illnesses were counted in the ‘healthy weight’ category, said Stokes, according to the report in the USA Today. Stokes and his team attempted to compensate for this by focusing on the maximum BMI in a 16-year period of 225,000 adults aged over 50.
Obesity is been linked to increased mortality rates from diseases, including heart disease, cancer and lung disease.

At a 2014 health conference, NHS England’s chief executive, Simon Stevens said: “Obesity is the new smoking, and it represents a slow-motion car crash in terms of avoidable illness and rising health care costs."

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Nigeria's Public Water Not Safe For Consumption - Survey

A Daily Trust independent water investigation reveals germs which are harmful to human health.
Water samples obtained from different locations in Abuja, Lagos and Kaduna indicated the presence of microbiological organisms that exceeded the maximum permissible level by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) limits.

Daily Trust had conducted an analysis of public water from seven states including Enugu, Plateau, Katsina and Kano states at different testing centres.

Water sample taken from Emeka Anyaoku Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja on Tuesday, April 4 and tested at the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna showed “20 cfu/100ml of Thermotolerant Coliform which exceeded the 0cfu/100ml maximum permissible level (mpl) by the WHO and the Nigerian Industrial Standard 554: 2007.”

Thermotolerant Coliform are the commonly used bacterial indicator for sanitary quality of water.
Also, the Total Coliform in the sample was 37cfu/ml, which exceeded the maximum permissible level of 10cfu/ml by the WHO and NSDWQ.

The American Public Health Association (19th Edition) was used in the testing while it showed some potential pathogenic (diseases causing) organisms from faecal and environmental origins.

The analysis signed by the institute’s head, Water Supply and Sanitation, Ahmed Salisu Hassan, and analysed by Agboola Irene Omolara, revealed that the values of faecal coliform and total coliforms indicator organisms are above the standard guideline values recommended for drinking water.

The source of disease causing organisms, according to the analysts, might be the water board treated water; dirty storage tank(s); inappropriate sample collection, sample handling, contaminated sample container; possible insanitary condition of surroundings leaking service pipe(s) and or combination of both.

According to the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS 554:2007) by NSDWQ, the health impact of drinking water that exceeded the maximum limits of Total Coliform Count and Thermotolerant Coliform include, “urinary tract infections, bacteraemia, diarrhoea, (one of the main cause of morbidity and mortality among children), acute renal failure and haemolytic anaemia.”

Dr. J. Abdulrasheed, a medical practitioner in Ilorin, Kwara State, corroborated the provisions of the Nigeria Industrial Standard stated above.

The result of water sample from Lagos taken from 26, Dairo Street, Ketu, also shows presence of germs, thereby not safe for human consumption.

“The water sample was found to be acidic. It had high aerobic mesophilic count, Coliform and Escherichia coli,” said Martins Etaduovie, the analyst from a private laboratory that conducted the analysis.

The analysis showed that there were 148CFU/ml counts of aerobic mesophilic organism which exceeded the 102 limit by the NIS 306:2008 for potable water used by the laboratory.

The Kaduna sample was collected from Babandodo Street, Kakuri, Kaduna South Local Government Area and from the result, the level of Thermotolerant Coliform and Coliform are too numerous to count, making it totally unsafe for human.

The test which was also carried out at the National Water Institute, Kaduna used the American Public Health Association (19th Edition) in the analysis and indicated total coliforms indicator organisms above the standard guideline recommended for drinking water.

The results for Abuja and Kaduna, however, showed the colour and appearance are at acceptable level, while the levels of chemical inorganic constituents are also good. The analysis also indicated that the sample had clear appearance, un-objectional colour and lower turbidity characteristics in comparison with the maximum permissible level recommended for drinking water, which signifies the water is aesthetically acceptable.

Also, the water, according to the analysis, will not lead to wastage of soap during cleansing and scale formation on hot water boilers due to lower concentration of hardness causing substances.

“The water board treated water will not lead to elevation of blood pressure due to very low concentration of salinity in comparison with the standard guideline value recommended for drinking water,” it reads.

The analysis from Kano and Katsina shows that the water is safe for drinking with the required level of constituents. However, the maximum permitted limits for Thermotolerant Coliform in the results from the two states read 10cfu/100ml instead of the 0cfu/100ml by the WHO and NSDWQ guidelines.

The Kano sample had 0.2cfu/100ml while Katsina had 0.31cfu/100ml.The sample from Kano, taken from Giginyu, Nasarawa Local Government Area, was submitted to the privately owned laboratory on April 12.

“Based on the analysis carried out, the result of all the parameters is within the WHO guide limit and the NSDWQ most probable limit. And therefore, the Water is safe for drinking,” Ilyasu Rabiu Isihak, the scientific officer of the private laboratory in Shagari Quarters, off Zoo Road, Kano used for the analysis said.

But the analysis showed that the maximum permissible levels of Thermotolerant Coliform to be 10cfu/100ml instead of 0cfu/100ml as recommended by the WHO and NSDWQ.

While making clarification via telephone, Mr. Isihak said, “I will wish to correct some writing, the coli (thermotolerant coliform) are unwanted because recent literatures have shown that should be unwanted contrary to what was indicated there,” he said.

He, however, said the water was still safe because, “the Thermotolerant Coliform was 0.2cfu/100ml as the sample from Kano while the sample from Katsina had 0.31cfu/100ml. which is less than 0.5 which is less than one. If you round off the number it is still zero, so the water is still safe for drinking.”

However, the sample from Enugu tested at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Zonal Office, Enugu showed that the sample taken from Edinburgh Road, Enugu was safe for drinking.

The result signed by the laboratory manager, Ogochukwu Ene, said the water was safe for drinking and other domestic or industrial activities.

The Total Coliform Count, E.coli and Enterococci are all at 0cfu.The sample was taken to the laboratory on April 4 and the result released on April 11.

The sample collected from British America Junction, off Murtala Mohammed Way, Jos, Plateau State was however free from harmful germs.

The sample collected on Thursday, April 20 was analysed at the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna met the WHO and NSDWQ maximum permissible level for all parameters.

The analyst, Samuel Joyce Yemisi, said the good quality treated water will require pipe leakage surveillance to ensure protection against contaminant flow.

“The treated water at British America Junction off Murtala Mohammed way is suitable for domestic supply since all the necessary parameters analysed are within the standard guideline recommended for drinking water.

“However, it is imperative to improve the total residual concentration due to possible pipe(s) leakage, protection against pathogenic contaminants flow and safeguarding health of the teaming population of the area,” the report was also signed by the Ahmed Saliu Hassan, the head, Water Supply and Sanitation at the institute.

Results can’t be generalised –FCT water board
The Director, Federal Capital Territory Water Board, Hudu Bello, said the board did not compromise standard, assuring that the all parameters are verified by professionals at the board before water was dispensed to the residents.

He said the microbiological organisms might have entered the water sampled while it was been taken at the point or through the container it was taken to the laboratory.

But Mr. Toyin Ishola, the water engineer, said what should be paramount to the public water handlers should be the safety of the water running at homes and not only at the treatment plants.

Bello however, said the analysis of the result from a point cannot be generalised on all other service points. “This is just a particular area, this is a localised issue which would not have been there if you had gone back the same day,” he said.

He said it could not have been from the treatment plant and if it was localised, the hygiene of the people around that place might have contributed to it, assuring that there could not have been contamination in other areas. This is a localised post treatment contamination which cannot be said to be true reflection of water from the board.

The source said the board does not allow any contamination and if any contamination was discovered through analysis, people are stopped from using the water while the board usually supply them water with water tankers until the cause was rectified.

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Non-O Blood Group Increases Heart Attack Risk

Scientists have alerted that people with a non-O blood group have a slightly increased risk of heart attack and stroke. According to findings in a new research presented at the European Society of Cardiology, scientists stated that this could be because higher levels of a blood-clotting protein are present in people with A, B and AB blood.


The findings could help doctors better understand who is at risk of developing heart disease, the researchers said.

A blood type (also called a blood group) is a classification of blood based on the presence and absence of antibodies and also based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs).

These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, or glycolipids, depending on the blood group system.

The new research analysed studies involving 1.3 million people and found that 15 in 1,000 people with a non-O blood group suffered a heart attack, compared to 14 in 1,000 people with blood group O.

Although the increase in risk was small, when applied to a whole population the numbers become more important. Previous research found that people with the rarest blood group – AB – were the most vulnerable, being 23 per cent more likely to suffer heart disease.

There are a number of factors which can increase the risk of heart disease, such as smoking, being overweight and leading an unhealthy lifestyle.

Which group an individual belongs to is determined by the genes inherited from both parents. Study author, Tessa Kole, from the University Medical Centre Groningen in the Netherlands, said more research was needed to work out the cause of the increased cardiovascular, CDV, risk in people with a non-O blood group. She stated that looking at the risk for each individual blood group would help.

She said: “In future, blood group should be considered in risk assessment for CDV prevention, together with cholesterol, age, sex and systolic blood pressure.”

People with blood group A – who are known to have higher cholesterol – may need a lower treatment threshold for high blood pressure, for example.

The analysis looked at coronary events in more than 770,000 people with a non-O blood group and more than 510,000 people with an O blood group.

Around 1.5 per cent in the first group and 1.4 per cent in the second experienced a heart attack or angina.

They also looked at CDV events in 708,000 people with non-O blood and 476,000 with O blood, which affected 2.5 per cent and 2.3 per cent of each group respectively.

When the researchers looked at fatal heart events, they found no major difference in risk between the O and non-O blood groups.

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Over 15 Million Nigerians Suffering From Asthma - Expert

Chief Medical Director of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Professor Etete Peters, has disclosed that over 15 million Nigerian are suffering from asthma caused by air pollution.

Professor Peters, who is also the President of Nigeria Thoracic Society, NTS, made the disclosure, in Uyo on the occasion of 2017 World Asthma Day.

He said that air pollution was an important trigger for asthma, adding that most common causes of air pollution in Nigeria include biomass fumes, cigarette smoke and motor vehicles exhaust. He explained that studies have shown that the environment has huge impact on asthma exacerbation whether from cigarette smoke or pollution within the atmosphere.

This he noted, underscores the theme of this year’s celebration, Asthma-Better Air, Better Breathing. ‘’We should wage war against cigarette smoking, provide services to help current smokers quit and prevent initiation of cigarette smoking in our population.

‘’Asthma is much more common than we think, we need to see health providers if we have any symptoms suggestive of asthma.” Professor Peters added that asthma could be well managed and person with a diagnosis can live a normal life.

“Its symptoms include recurrent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, which is worse when exercising or in the night and can be relaxed with bronchodilator.

“These symptoms escalate when the patient has acute illness, breathlessness, anxiiety, restlessness and a sweaty child turns bluish because there is insufficient oxygen in the blood.”

 ‘’The key to good health is to take medications as prescribed and avoid all known trigger and promptly seek medical treatment if symptoms persist despite taking prescribed medications.”

He disclosed that the Nigeria Thoracic Society, as an umbrella body of all professionals involved in respiratory care has over the years committed its self to regular and continuous update of its members and health workers in general on the management of airways diseases, including asthma.

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