Smoking During Pregnancy Could Lead To Early Puberty In Children

Scientists in Denmark said if a mother smoked during pregnancy, there is a risk of her children going into puberty earlier.

The findings of a major study from Aarhus University in Demark, has linked mother’s smoking during pregnancy together with when her children enter puberty. The study is published in the international journal ‘American Journal of Epidemiology’. One of the researchers behind the study Nis Brix and a PhD student, said, “We found that children of mothers who had smoked more than ten cigarettes a day during pregnancy, on average entered puberty three to six months earlier than the children of non-smokers.”

The study is one of the largest puberty studies worldwide, and the results are based on the survey “Better health for generations” from the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark. For many girls in the developed world, puberty is coming earlier than ever before, with studies showing that, on average, puberty is now starting for girls at around 10 years old – at least five years earlier than a century ago.

Puberty starts on average in girls between ages eight and13 and in boys between ages nine and 14. Doctors diagnose early puberty when this normal process starts early and continues to progress through growth spurts and bone maturation, usually for reasons we don’t understand. Girls who show significant signs of puberty and its progression before age seven and boys before age nine are considered precocious. About one out of 5,000 children are affected. A total of 15,819 pregnant women and their children participated in the study.

Nis Brix said: “Early puberty can be associated with an increased risk of a number of diseases as an adult, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer,” adding that together with his colleagues, he is working to identify the causes of puberty to be able to prevent it occurring.

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Eating Vegetbles Could Prevent Macular Degeneration - Experts

Researchers in Australia said eating vegetable nitrates, found mainly in green leafy vegetables and beetroot, could help reduce consumers’ risk of developing early-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

According to findings of the study at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Sydney, people who ate between 100 to 142 mgs of vegetable nitrates each day had a 35 per cent lower risk of developing early AMD than people who ate less than 69mgs of vegetable nitrates each day

To this end, the lead Re searcher, Associate Professor Bamini Gopinath, from the Westmead Institute and the University of Sydney, said the confirmation of this finding could necessitate incorporating a range of foods rich in dietary nitrates including green leafy vegetables and beetroot as a simple strategy to reduce the risk of early macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD), is a medical condition, which may result in blurred or no vision in the centre of the visual field. It is due to damage to the macula of the retina. Gopinath said the link between vegetable nitrates and macular degeneration could have important implications.

“Essentially, we found that people who ate 100 to 142 mgs of vegetable nitrates every day had a reduced risk of developing early signs of macular degeneration compared with people who ate fewer nitrates. Spinach has approximately 20mg of nitrate per 100g, while beetroot has nearly 15mg of nitrate per 100g. The team interviewed more than 2,000 Australian adults, aged over 49 and followed them over a 15-year period. Age is the strongest known risk factor and the disease is more likely to occur after the age of 50.

There is currently no cure for the disease. The research compiled data from the Blue Mountains Eye Study, a benchmark population-based study that started in 1992. It is one of the world’s largest epidemiology studies, measuring diet and lifestyle factors against health outcomes and a range of chronic diseases. Gopinath added: “Our research aims to understand why eye diseases occur, as well as the genetic and environmental conditions that may threaten vision.”

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Chinese Drugs With Human Flesh In Nigeria - The Truth, The Half Truth

New facts have begun to emerge over the existence of Chinese drugs containing human flesh in the Nigerian market.it will be recalled that a couple of weeks ago, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON)  confirmed that a Chinese drug in Nigeria markets contains human flesh.
SON made the confirmation when it received a letter sent by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on the unnamed Chinese drug reported to be made from human flesh.
The Intelligence Agency had alerted several relevant agencies including SON, National Agency for Food Drugs and Administration Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigerian Customs Service on the Chinese drug in circulation.
Efforts made by  to verify the name of the drug were not successful, as several calls and messages got no response.
It was not the first time that drugs from fetuses and human flesh have filtered into markets. In 2011, Chinese officials launched investigations into the production of drugs made from dead fetuses. The capsules were disguised as stamina boosters and some people believed them to be a panacea for disease.
Investigations also revealed that thousands of the same drugs were first confiscated in South Korea in 2012.

According to investigations by the NIA, the capsules were filled with powdered flesh from dead babies whose bodies were chopped into small pieces and dried on stoves before being turned into powder in North Eastern China.
“The South Korean Customs Service, on 30th September 2018 revealed that it has seized 2,751 Chinese drugs/capsules, containing human remains from foetus, infants and flesh imported into the country by some Chinese nationals,” NIA said in a statement.
“The manufacturers claim that the drugs/capsules can boost stamina, cure cancer, diabetes and some other terminal diseases.”
“The capsules were smuggled in suitcases and through international mail.”
The agency revealed that South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety indicated that 18.7 billion viruses, including hepatitis B virus were found in the capsules.
It also stressed that the making of the human remain drugs and consuming them are crimes against humanity, which can also lead to serious health challenges.
The Nigeria government agency then called on other health related agencies to enlighten Nigerians to be cautious of such drugs.
“However, it is important for all relevant health regulatory agencies in Nigeria especially the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, NDLEA and SON to sensitize Nigerians of this development and warn them of the inherent dangers of patronizing drugs imported from China.”
“The Customs Service, NIPOST and other mail delivery services should also step up monitoring of cargoes and packages with drugs imported into Nigeria.”

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Vitamin D Deficency May Cause Lung Cancer

Scientists from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, United States (US) said low levels of Vitamin D were associated with an increased risk of a disease that causes lung inflammation and scarring.

To this end, an Associate Director of Preventive Cardiology at the Johns Hopkins University’s Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Dr. Erin Michos said that adequate levels of Vitamin D may be important for lung health.

According to the findings of a new study published in the ‘Journal of Nutrition’, lower than normal blood levels of vitamin D were associated with an increased risk of early signs of interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Michos, who is study leader said: “We might now consider adding vitamin D deficiency to the list of factors involved in disease processes, along with the known ILD risk factors such as environmental toxins and smoking.”

Interstitial lung disease may be caused by long-term exposure to hazardous materials, such as asbestos or coal dust, or it can be caused by an auto-immune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Once lung scarring occurs, it’s generally irreversible.

Symptoms include a dry cough. Shortness of breath can occur either at rest or after exertion and treatment depends on the underlying cause but often includes steroids.

 The researchers reviewed medical data collected on more than 6,000 adults over 10 years.

Michos said: “We knew that the activated Vitamin D hormone has anti-inflammatory properties and helps regulate the immune system, which goes awry in ILD.”
According to him, there was also evidence in the literature that vitamin D plays a role in obstructive lung diseases such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and we now found that the association exists with this scarring form of lung disease, too.”

COPD is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. This disease is characterised by increasing breathlessness.

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High Salt Intake Could Lead To Early Death : Researchers

Eating foods that are high in salt is known to contribute to high blood pressure ; and now, new findings has  shown that it is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. According to a new study published in the ‘International Journal of Epidemiology,’ there is a direct linear relationship between increased sodium chloride (salt) intake and increased risk of death.
Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston (BWH), United States (US) and their colleagues carried out the study. Too much sodium consumption can increase blood pressure and cause the body to hold onto fluid. On its part, high blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems.
Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as those that affect the muscles of the heart, valves or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.

Previous studies shows that high salt intake increases blood pressure, which could lead to heart disease, while high potassium intake could help relax blood vessels and excrete the sodium and decrease blood pressure. Although, it is hard to measure how much sodium a person has consumed, a biostatistician in the Department of Medicine at BWH. Nancy Cook, ScD, said the study team used multiple measures to get a more accurate picture of participants salt intake.

Sodium intake can be measured using a spot test to determine how much salt has been excreted in a person’s urine sample. However, sodium levels in urine can fluctuate throughout the day so an accurate measure of a person’s sodium intake on a given day requires a full 24-hour sample.
In addition, sodium consumption may change from day to day, meaning that the best way to get a full picture of sodium intake is to take samples on multiple days, the ‘science daily’ reported. According to the report, “The gold-standard method showed a direct linear relationship between increased sodium intake and increased risk of death.”
Similarly, “The team found that the Kawasaki formula suggested a J-shaped curve, which would imply that both low levels and high levels of sodium consumption were associated with increased mortality.”

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How To Eliminate Mosquitoes Without Using Pesticides

According to a recent study, controlling the mosquitoes at the larval stage may be the best strategy to reduce their population.
In  the study published in the journal ‘PLOS ONE,’ introducing hungry minnows — small freshwater fish — into bodies of water where mosquitoes breed, can dramatically decrease the number of adult mosquitoes, especially those capable of carrying the West Nile disease, the virus of which is spread by infected mosquitoes.

Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito-borne blood disease caused by a Plasmodium parasite.It is transmitted to humans through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.

Once an infected mosquito bites a human, the parasites multiply in the host’s liver before infecting and destroying red blood cells.
Nigeria suffers the world’s greatest malaria burden, with approximately 51 million cases and 207,000 deaths reported annually (approximately 30 per cent of the total malaria burden in Africa), while 97 per cent of the total population is at risk of malaria infection.

Although, the use of insecticides remain one of the most effective ways to get rid of mosquitoes as well as other flying and crawling insects, researchers have found a cheap and pesticide-free way to combat mosquito populations. However, previous studies show that pesticides are poisons and, unfortunately, they can harm more than just the ‘pests’ at which they are targeted. They are toxic, and exposure to pesticides can not only cause a number of health effects, but is linked to a range of serious illnesses and diseases in humans, from respiratory problems to cancer.

The research team introduced minnow fish into ten treatment reservoirs and also monitored an additional six non-treated reservoirs, ‘The HealthSite’ reported.

 The findings showed that treatment ponds suppressed levels of mosquito larva over each season compared to controls with a model-predicted 114 per cent decrease in larva density within treatment ponds.

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Sickle Cell In Nigeria : What You Need To Know

In Nigeria, over 150,000 children are born annually with symptomatic sickle cell anaemia, 1-in-4 people are healthy carriers of the disease.
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited disease in which the red blood cells in your body are shaped in sickles with jagged edges as opposed to smooth ovals or discs.
People with SCD have red blood cells that contain mostly haemoglobin S, an abnormal type of haemoglobin. The most common form of SCD is sickle cell anaemia.
Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Now if you suffer from sickle cell, your red blood cells are deformed and weak. So not only do they deliver less oxygen to the body’s tissues, but they also can get stuck and break off into little pieces in your vessels.
Symptoms
Symptoms begin to emanate around four to six months. This may result in a number of health problems with the baby such as attacks of pain (otherwise known as “sickle-cell crisis”), anaemia, swelling in the hands and feet, bacterial infections, and stroke. It can also cause lung issues, bone deterioration, asthma, hypertension, gallstones, stroke and even death. In general, symptoms can be mild for some and severe for others.
Myths
As with any disease, myths and misperceptions are inevitable and these often make it more difficult for those affected to obtain the care and support they need.
Patients Usually Die In Childhood
In the past, babies that were born with SCD had very little chances of making it to their teenage years, talk more of adulthood, but this doesn’t hold water anymore as medical advancements have brought blood therapies to the fore, which has helped to increase life expectancy of sufferers by decades. In fact, Alhaja Laguda, a sickle cell disease survivor will be 93 by November 1st, 2018.
Sickle cell disorders affect patient’s intelligence
Myth! Children with sickle cell disorders can always attend school and participate fully in normal activities. Only that the class teachers should know of the diagnosis and understand the limitations sickle can impose on a child.

Sickle cell disease is infectious
Myth! Sickle Cell disease is a genetically inherited condition (passed down from parent to child). For a child to inherit SCD, both parents must carry the sickle cell trait (or have the disease), and each must pass the sickle cell gene to the child.
No Cure
This was true in the past but not anymore SCD patients can go for a transplant. According to a report in 2012, around 25 people woman in Chicago, have received a blood marrow transplant in hopes of being cured of SCD. And so far around 85 percent of those people have been successful in ridding themselves of the disease.
Sickle Cell and Genetics / Prevention
To have sickle cell, both of your parents must have the gene. If they do, with each pregnancy there is a 25 percent chance of having a baby with SCD. There is also a 25 percent chance of their child not having sickle cell and not being a carrier. But there is a 50 percent chance of having a baby who is a carrier with sickle cell trait but doesn’t have SCD.
If you carry the sickle cell trait, seeing a genetic counsellor before trying to conceive can help you understand your risk of having a child with sickle cell anaemia. He or she can also explain possible treatments, preventive measures and reproductive options.

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Two Months Of Stress Could Damage A Man's Fertility

Just two months of stress may damage a man’s sperm and slash his chances of having children, a new study suggests. Israeli scientists found men are 47 per cent more likely to have swimmers with weak motility if they are under intense pressure.
Weak motility – known to be affected by lifestyle choices – makes it less likely that the sperm will successfully fertilise an egg.

The findings were derived from 11,000 sperm samples, including those of adults exposed to ‘regular rocket warning sirens’ in the Gaza Strip.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva led the study.
They analysed 10,535 sperm samples donated by men during periods in Israel deemed ‘unstressful’ between 2009 and 2017.
These were then compared to 659 samples from men take up to two months after fierce military battles between Israel and Gaza.
The men had an average age of 32, which, according to figures, is the average age for first time fathers in the United Kingdom (UK).
Even though the findings related to just those living in conflict zones, the researchers argued they could apply to any mental stress.
Study author, Dr Eliahu Levitas, said: “This study shows that prolonged stress can have an effect on sperm quality.
“Mental stress is known to have an adverse effect on fertility, but there is little research on the impact of stress on sperm quality.”
The findings were presented at the International Summit on Assisted Reproduction and Genetics in Tel Aviv.

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How Too Much Excercise Damages Gut Functions

A New research has suggested that excessive strenuous exercise may lead to gut damage.
“The stress response of prolonged vigorous exercise shuts down gut function,” said lead author Ricardo Costa, a senior researcher with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at Monash University in Australia.

“The redistribution of blood flow away from the gut and towards working muscles creates gut cell injury that may lead to cell death, leaky gut, and systemic immune responses due to intestinal bacteria entering general circulation,” Costa added.

Researchers observed that the risk of gut injury and impaired function seems to increase along with the intensity and duration of exercise.
The problem is dubbed “exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome.” The researchers reviewed eight previously done studies that looked at this issue.

Two hours appears to be the threshold, the researchers said. After two hours of continuous endurance exercise when 60 per cent of an individual’s maximum intensity level is reached, gut damage may occur. Costa said that examples of such exercise are running and cycling.

He said heat stress appears to be an exacerbating factor. People with a predisposition to gut diseases or disorders may be more susceptible to such exercise-related health problems, he added.

Dr. Elena Ivanina is a senior gastroenterology fellow at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She wasn’t involved with this research but reviewed the study. She said that normal blood flow to the gut keeps cells oxygenated and healthy to ensure appropriate metabolism and function.—

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Plantain : Natures Pack Of Energy

 Plantains, also known as plátanos, are closely related cultivars of fruit or dessert banana. In general, they are treated as vegetables in the kitchen much like fellow tropical produces such as potatoes, taro, breadfruit, yam, sweet potatoes, etc. Indeed, plátano are one of the staple sources of carbohydrates for larger populations. Plantain is so rich that it is consumed in almost every part of the world.
 Plantain is quite different from dessert banana, being taller and larger and more drought tolerant. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that develops from the underground rhizome. Like bananas, it too flourishes well under tropical moisture-rich, humid low-lying farmlands. At maturity, the rhizome gives rise to flower (inflorescence) that is carried up along its smooth, elongated, un-branched stem, piercing through the center of pseudo-stem, finally emerging out at the top in between its leafy clusters.

 Plantain relatively has more calories weight for weight than that in the table bananas. 100 g plantain holds about 122 calories, while dessert banana has only 89 calories. Indeed, they are very reliable sources of starch and energy; ensuring food security for millions of inhabitants worldwide. It contains 2.3 g of dietary fiber per 100 g (6% of DRA per 100 g). Adequate amount of dietary-fiber in the food helps normal bowel movements, thereby reducing constipation problems.
Fresh plátanos have more vitamin C than bananas. 100 g provide 18.4 mg or 31% of daily required levels of this vitamin. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals. However, boiling and cooking destroys much of this vitamin in plantains. Plantains carry more vitamin A than bananas. 100 g fresh ripe plantains contain 1127 IU or 37.5% of daily required levels of this vitamin.
As in bananas, they too are rich sources of B-complex vitamins, particularly high in vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine). Pyridoxine is an important B-complex vitamin that has a beneficial role in the treatment of neuritis, anemia, and to decrease homocystine (one of the causative factors for coronary artery disease (CHD) and stroke episodes) levels in the body. In addition, the fruit contains moderate levels of folates, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin.
 They also provide adequate levels of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorous. Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role as well. Fresh plantains have more potassium than bananas. 100 g fruit provides 499 mg of potassium (358 mg per 100 g for bananas). Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure, countering negative effects of sodium.

At maturity, plantains are generally harvested unripe and right away carried to the market for sale. Look for firm, mature, deep green, well-formed plantains that feel heavy in hand. Do not buy overripe, damaged, split fruits, as they stay poor. Once at home, store them open at room temperature for up to 4-5 days. Once ripen, plantains too, like bananas, are very fragile and show signs of decay in short time span.
 Plantains are inedible raw and should be eaten only after cooked. To prepare, just wash the raw fruit in cold water and mop dry using paper cloth. Using a paring knife, trim either ends. Then, cut the fruit into short lengths, split the skin superficially along the ridge and peel the skin gently away from the flesh to get firm flesh inside. Oftentimes, the whole fruit may be barbequed with its skin. Otherwise, its peeled flesh may be cut into thin slices, grated, chunks treated much like potatoes in many traditional African and West-Indian cuisine.
 Plantains make delicious savory recipes, used in place of potatoes in grills, mashed, bake, or fries. In South-Indian Kerala state, plantain chips (vaazhakka upperi) seasoned with salt and pepper, is a popular snack. Tostones (plátano, fried twice), prepared in a similar way are again a popular snacks in the Caribbean and Latin Americas. Its flower head (inflorescence) and interior icicle-white, tender stem (vazhai thandu in Malayalam) too are eaten in various kinds of recipes in South-Asian regions.

Sopa de plátano is a popular Caribbean soup preparation that used green platanos, garlic, cilantro, and cheese. Mashed plantain served with fried onions is a national breakfast dish of Dominican Republic. Mashed platanos are served with rice, eggs, beans, poultry, fish, etc., in these regions. In some African communities, plantain is pounded into a form in which it is eaten with stews or soups such as egusi soup or okro soup.

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