Excessive Alcohol Intake May Reduce Female Fertility

Women who drink 14 or more servings of alcohol (excessive alcohol consumption) a week are likely to have an 18 per cent decrease in their fertility.
According to these findings in a paper published by The BMJ, low to moderate intake of alcohol, defined as one to seven servings a week, seemed to have no effect on women’s fertility, nor did the type of alcoholic beverage consumed.
However, the researchers suggested that couples should abstain from alcohol during their fertile window until a pregnancy is ruled out, because the foetus may be particularly vulnerable to alcohol during the first few weeks after conception.
“Total abstinence may however, not be necessary to maximise conception rates because if alcohol is consumed moderately, it seems that this may not affect fertility,” said Annie Britton from University College London.
In Nigeria, infertility is common. It is estimated that one in four couples may experience delay in achieving conception. Infertility is often thought of as a female concern, but in fact, in a third of cases it is because of male problems, such as a low sperm count, erectile dysfunction, and problems ejaculating, among others. Other factors that may play a part include age – female fertility declines sharply after the age of 35 Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), gynaecological problems such as previous ectopic pregnancy or having had more than one miscarriage, medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, and thyroid and bowel diseases, lifestyle factors such as stress, being overweight or underweight, and smoking.
According to official guidelines in several countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), United States (U.S) and Denmark, women trying to become pregnant should abstain from alcohol consumption, the science daily reported. But, the extent to which alcohol intake affects female fertility is unclear.
“However, it would be wise to avoid binge drinking, both for the potential disruption to menstrual cycles and also for the potential harm to a baby during early pregnancy,” Britton added.
“If a couple is experiencing difficulty in conceiving, it makes sense for both partners to cut down on their alcohol intake,” Britton noted in the paper published by The BMJ. The study included 6,120 female Danish residents, aged 21 to 45 years to examine the association between pre-conception alcohol consumption and time to pregnancy. The study assessed overall alcohol consumption, as well as intake of specific types of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits.Story By JOHNSON OKPUSA OBASI

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OTC Drugs May Increase Heart Disease Risks

A new scientific report from the American Heart Association has found that many common drugs overthe- counter (OTC) medications can cause or worsen heart problems.
To this end, the study authors have suggested that healthcare providers should talk to heart failure patients during every visit about all prescription and over-the-counter medications they are taking, as well as nutritional supplements and herbs.
These are the findings of a new American Heart Association (AHA) report published in the advocacy organisation’s journal ‘Circulation’. Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalisation for seniors, and the average heart failure patient takes an average of seven prescription medications per day, according to the AHA.
A third of heart failure patients also take herbal supplements, two thirds take vitamins, and seven out of eight use over-thecounter medications.
The study found that wide range of over-thecounter drugs which raises the risk of heart problems include antacid for heartburn, ibuprofen for a headache, an overthe- counter allergy remedy, among others.
Similarly, the study found that even herbal products can interact negatively with heart medications. So, it is important for patients to tell doctors about everything they are taking, according to the AHA report’s authors.
“Since many of the drugs heart failure patients are taking are prescribed for conditions such as cancer, neurological conditions or infections, it is crucial but difficult for healthcare providers to reconcile whether a medication is interacting with heart failure drugs or making heart failure worse,” said Robert L. Page II, a co-author of the report and professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of Colorado Hospital.
To lower patient risks, the AHA has compiled a comprehensive guide to prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and complementary and alternative medicine products that can worsen heart failure.
According to the report, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including commonly used painkillers such as ibuprofen, can trigger or worsen heart failure by causing sodium and fluid retention and making diuretic medications less effective.
“Over-the-counter medications that treat acid reflux often contain significant amounts of sodium, which can boost blood pressure and is usually restricted in patients with heart failure and those on low-salt diets.
“Certain OTC medications that knock down allergy and cold symptoms (including antihistamines and decongestants) — for example, those containing pseudoephedrine or similar components — may cause increases in heart rate or blood pressure that could exacerbate some cardiac conditions.”
They may also contain sodium, the report added. According to the United States (U.S) Food and Drug Administration risk-assessment reports, the commonly used nutritional supplements and alternative medicines were generally far safer than prescription medications. But some can cause or worsen heart failure when taken with cardiovascular medications.
Among them: Products containing ephedra (which raises blood pressure) and others that can interfere with heart failure medication, including St. John’s wort, ginseng, hawthorn, danshen, and green tea. According to the AHA, such medications and remedies can cause problems by being toxic to heart muscle cells or changing how the heart muscle contracts, interacts with medications used to treat heart failure, so that some of their benefits are lost and contains more sodium than advised for patients with heart failure.

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The Link Between Obesity and Multiple Cancers - New Study

An international team of researchers has raised the alarm over newly found dangers inherent in excess weight, saying they have identified eight additional types of cancer linked to excess weight and obesity. According to the findings, published yesterday in ‘The New England Journal of Medicine’,  the cancers are stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, ovary, meningioma (a type of brain tumour), thyroid cancer and the blood cancer multiple myeloma.
To this end, the data suggested limiting weight gains over the decades, adding that it could help to reduce the risk of these cancers. Obesity is a condition where a person has accumulated so much body fat that it could have a negative effect on their health.
If a person’s bodyweight is at least 20 per cent higher than it should be, he or she is considered obese. If the Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 25 and 29.9, the person is considered overweight.
The study is based on a review of more than 1,000 studies of excess weight and cancer risk analysed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Agency for Cancer on Research (IARC), based in France.
Reacting to the development, a Cancer Prevention Expert, Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, who chaired the IARC Working Group, said, “The burden of cancer due to being overweight or obese is more extensive than what has been assumed.
“Many of the newly identified cancers linked to excess weight haven’t been on people’s radar screens as having a weight component.”
Science daily reported that the findings could have a significant bearing on the global population. Worldwide, an estimated 640 million adults and 110 million children are obese, including one-third of adults and children in the United States. In 2002, the same group of cancer researchers found sufficient evidence linking excess weight to higher risks of cancers of the colon, esophagus, kidney, breast and uterus.
“Lifestyle factors such as eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising, in addition to not smoking, can have a significant impact on reducing cancer risk,” Colditz said. “Public health efforts to combat cancer should focus on these things that people have some control over.”
“But losing weight is hard for many people,” he added. “Rather than getting discouraged and giving up, those struggling to take off weight could instead focus on avoiding more weight gain.
In Nigeria, obesity is fast becoming a challenge for elite living in the cities. this is due to the lifestyle of the people involved, most of whom are from the upper rung of the society.

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The Relationship Between Breastfeeding And A Premature Child`s IQ

Premature babies, who predominantly receive their nutrition from breastfeeding, have higher intelligent quotients (IQs) in later life than those who did not. Paediatrics have alerted parents and care givers on the positive impact of breast milk to child development while showing that premature babies, who are breastfed during their first month have higher intelligent quotients (IQs) later in life.
They disclosed this in a study that is published in ‘The Journal of Paediatrics’. According to the researchers, the infants have been found to have larger volumes of certain brain regions at term equivalent and have better IQs, academic achievement, working memory and motor function. Breastfeeding or nursing is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman’s breast.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding begin within the first hour of a baby’s life and be allowed as often and as much as the baby wants.
The world body similarly advocates that babies should be breastfed exclusively for six months after which both complementary feeding would be continued with breastfeeding thereafter until the child is weaned.
Reacting to the study, Researcher Mandy Brown Belfort said: “Many mothers of preterm babies have difficulty providing breast milk for their babies, and we need to work hard to ensure that these mothers have the best possible support systems in place to maximise their ability to meet their own feeding goals. It is also important to note that there are so many factors that influence a baby’s development, with breast milk being just one.”
This information was subsequently cross referenced with data related to regional brain volumes measured by MRI scans at each baby’s term equivalent age and again at seven years old.
They conducted further analysis on cognitive capabilities, including IQ, reading, maths, attention, working memory, language and visual perception. The researchers followed 180 premature infants from birth until they turned seven. They identified babies which had received breast milk as more than 50 per cent of their nutritional intake from birth to 28 days of life.
This information was subsequently cross referenced with data related to regional brain volumes measured by MRI scans at each baby’s term equivalent age and again at seven years old. Story By JOHNSON OKPUSA OBASI

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New Discovery Raises Hope For Childless Couples

As the number of people with infertility continues to rise globally, scientists have developed a ‘potent’ new fertility treatment said to be cheaper and less invasive than Invitro Vertilisation (IVF). IVF is the long established process of fertilisation by manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish, and then transferring the embryo to the uterus.
It increases the likelihood of a couple being able to have a child.
However, going by the new findings, Australian and Belgian scientists have discovered how to improve a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant, using a less invasive and cheaper alternative.
The new method, which has already undergone pre-clinical testing, uses growth factors to enhance an existing fertility treatment known as in-vitro maturation (IVM).
The results show improved egg quality and a 50 per cent increase in embryos, with minimal use of drugs.
Researchers said the advance has ‘significant implications’ for fertility treatment worldwide.
Infertility is a common problem in Nigeria. It is estimated that one in four couples may have difficulty achieving conception. Standard in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) requires women to take Follicle Stimulating Hormones (FSH) to stimulate egg cell growth before they are removed from the ovary.
In the IVM process, eggs are removed from the ovaries when they are still immature.
They are then matured in the laboratory before being fertilised. The difference between IVM and conventional in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is that the eggs are immature when they are collected. This means the woman does not need to take as many drugs before the eggs can be collected as she might if using conventional IVF, when mature eggs ar. Story By JOHNSON OKPUSA OBASI

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Lassa Fever Kills Doctor In Delta State

Lassa fever has once again staged a come-back as the Delta State Ministry of Health has confirmed a medical doctor dead and 32 other contacts on surveillance following the reported case of disease . The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, in a statement on Monday in Asaba, said that the state recorded one death from Lassa fever after a medical doctor in the state died from the disease. “On Aug. 18, 2016, one case of Lassa fever was reported in Delta State. The confirmed case was a medical doctor resident in Asaba who hailed from Anambra State. “He was first admitted in a private Hospital in the state and was later referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State. The patient’s condition deteriorated and he died after three hours on admission,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner said that blood sample earlier collected from the victim was confirmed to be positive for Lassa fever after laboratory analysis at the Institute of Lassa Fever, Irrua in Edo State. He also disclosed that following the incident, the state government took immediate action to forestall the spread of the disease by shutting down the late doctor’s hospital in Umuaji quarters in Asaba. “Following the discovery, we also ensured that the hospital where he was treated at Bonsaac area was also shut down and fumigated. His wife’s blood sample was taken and tested at the Institute of Lassa fever; it, however, came back negative. So far, a total of 32 persons have been placed on surveillance; These include 11 persons from the immediate family of the deceased. Eighteen persons at the private Hospital where the patient was first admitted and 3 other persons who made contact with the deceased,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner also disclosed that two local government Disease Surveillance Officers in Oshimili South and Oshimili North were actively involved as part of the state response team. “The Surveillance Officers have been monitoring the temperature of those under surveillance and this will be done for a period of 21 days.

·  Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of 2-21 days duration 

·  The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faces, especially those of rats.

·  Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in hospitals lacking adequate infection prevent and control measures  By JOHNSON OKPUSA OBASI

The Delta State Ministry of Health has confirmed one person dead and 32 others on surveillance following the reported case of Lassa fever. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, in a statement on Monday in Asaba, said that the state recorded one death from Lassa fever after a medical doctor in the state died from the disease. “On Aug. 18, 2016, one case of Lassa fever was reported in Delta State. The confirmed case was a medical doctor resident in Asaba who hailed from Anambra State. “He was first admitted in a private Hospital in the state and was later referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State. “The patient’s condition deteriorated and he died after three hours on admission,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner said that blood sample earlier collected from the victim was confirmed to be positive for Lassa fever after laboratory analysis at the Institute of Lassa Fever, Irrua in Edo State. He also disclosed that following the incident, the state government took immediate action to forestall the spread of the disease by shutting down the late doctor’s hospital in Umuaji quarters in Asaba. “Following the discovery, we also ensured that the hospital where he was treated at Bonsaac area was also shut down and fumigated. “His wife’s blood sample was taken and tested at the Institute of Lassa fever; it, however, came back negative. “So far, a total of 32 persons have been placed on surveillance; These include 11 persons from the immediate family of the deceased. “Eighteen persons at the private Hospital where the patient was first admitted and 3 other persons who made contact with the deceased,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner also disclosed that two local government Disease Surveillance Officers in Oshimili South and Oshimili North were actively involved as part of the state response team. “The Surveillance Officers have been monitoring the temperature of those under surveillance and this will be done for a period of 21 days. “The State Lassa Fever Response Team has been reactivated while sensitisation of health workers in the state is ongoing.’’ Azinge said the health workers were being sensitised to the need for preventive measures when managing infectious cases. According to him, the ministry has also embarked on awareness creation through the mass media, to enlighten the public on the mode of transmission of the disease and the preventive measures, to forestall its spread. The commissioner also said that prevention materials had been sent the various local governments prone to high-risk disease outbreak in the state. “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), non-contact thermometers and other items have been distributed to the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in all of the 25 local governments by the state Ministry of Health. “The drug, Rivabirin has been procured for immediate case management while the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Medical Association in Delta have been contacted and are collaborating with us,’’ he said. The commissioner gave assurance that the situation was under control and appealed to the public not to panic.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/lassa-fever-kills-doctor-delta-32-others-surveillance/

The Delta State Ministry of Health has confirmed one person dead and 32 others on surveillance following the reported case of Lassa fever. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, in a statement on Monday in Asaba, said that the state recorded one death from Lassa fever after a medical doctor in the state died from the disease. “On Aug. 18, 2016, one case of Lassa fever was reported in Delta State. The confirmed case was a medical doctor resident in Asaba who hailed from Anambra State. “He was first admitted in a private Hospital in the state and was later referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State. “The patient’s condition deteriorated and he died after three hours on admission,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner said that blood sample earlier collected from the victim was confirmed to be positive for Lassa fever after laboratory analysis at the Institute of Lassa Fever, Irrua in Edo State. He also disclosed that following the incident, the state government took immediate action to forestall the spread of the disease by shutting down the late doctor’s hospital in Umuaji quarters in Asaba. “Following the discovery, we also ensured that the hospital where he was treated at Bonsaac area was also shut down and fumigated. “His wife’s blood sample was taken and tested at the Institute of Lassa fever; it, however, came back negative. “So far, a total of 32 persons have been placed on surveillance; These include 11 persons from the immediate family of the deceased. “Eighteen persons at the private Hospital where the patient was first admitted and 3 other persons who made contact with the deceased,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner also disclosed that two local government Disease Surveillance Officers in Oshimili South and Oshimili North were actively involved as part of the state response team. “The Surveillance Officers have been monitoring the temperature of those under surveillance and this will be done for a period of 21 days. “The State Lassa Fever Response Team has been reactivated while sensitisation of health workers in the state is ongoing.’’ Azinge said the health workers were being sensitised to the need for preventive measures when managing infectious cases. According to him, the ministry has also embarked on awareness creation through the mass media, to enlighten the public on the mode of transmission of the disease and the preventive measures, to forestall its spread. The commissioner also said that prevention materials had been sent the various local governments prone to high-risk disease outbreak in the state. “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), non-contact thermometers and other items have been distributed to the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in all of the 25 local governments by the state Ministry of Health. “The drug, Rivabirin has been procured for immediate case management while the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Medical Association in Delta have been contacted and are collaborating with us,’’ he said. The commissioner gave assurance that the situation was under control and appealed to the public not to panic.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/lassa-fever-kills-doctor-delta-32-others-surveillance/

The Delta State Ministry of Health has confirmed one person dead and 32 others on surveillance following the reported case of Lassa fever. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, in a statement on Monday in Asaba, said that the state recorded one death from Lassa fever after a medical doctor in the state died from the disease. “On Aug. 18, 2016, one case of Lassa fever was reported in Delta State. The confirmed case was a medical doctor resident in Asaba who hailed from Anambra State. “He was first admitted in a private Hospital in the state and was later referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State. “The patient’s condition deteriorated and he died after three hours on admission,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner said that blood sample earlier collected from the victim was confirmed to be positive for Lassa fever after laboratory analysis at the Institute of Lassa Fever, Irrua in Edo State. He also disclosed that following the incident, the state government took immediate action to forestall the spread of the disease by shutting down the late doctor’s hospital in Umuaji quarters in Asaba. “Following the discovery, we also ensured that the hospital where he was treated at Bonsaac area was also shut down and fumigated. “His wife’s blood sample was taken and tested at the Institute of Lassa fever; it, however, came back negative. “So far, a total of 32 persons have been placed on surveillance; These include 11 persons from the immediate family of the deceased. “Eighteen persons at the private Hospital where the patient was first admitted and 3 other persons who made contact with the deceased,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner also disclosed that two local government Disease Surveillance Officers in Oshimili South and Oshimili North were actively involved as part of the state response team. “The Surveillance Officers have been monitoring the temperature of those under surveillance and this will be done for a period of 21 days. “The State Lassa Fever Response Team has been reactivated while sensitisation of health workers in the state is ongoing.’’ Azinge said the health workers were being sensitised to the need for preventive measures when managing infectious cases. According to him, the ministry has also embarked on awareness creation through the mass media, to enlighten the public on the mode of transmission of the disease and the preventive measures, to forestall its spread. The commissioner also said that prevention materials had been sent the various local governments prone to high-risk disease outbreak in the state. “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), non-contact thermometers and other items have been distributed to the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in all of the 25 local governments by the state Ministry of Health. “The drug, Rivabirin has been procured for immediate case management while the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Medical Association in Delta have been contacted and are collaborating with us,’’ he said. The commissioner gave assurance that the situation was under control and appealed to the public not to panic.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/lassa-fever-kills-doctor-delta-32-others-surveillance/

The Delta State Ministry of Health has confirmed one person dead and 32 others on surveillance following the reported case of Lassa fever. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, in a statement on Monday in Asaba, said that the state recorded one death from Lassa fever after a medical doctor in the state died from the disease. “On Aug. 18, 2016, one case of Lassa fever was reported in Delta State. The confirmed case was a medical doctor resident in Asaba who hailed from Anambra State. “He was first admitted in a private Hospital in the state and was later referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State. “The patient’s condition deteriorated and he died after three hours on admission,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner said that blood sample earlier collected from the victim was confirmed to be positive for Lassa fever after laboratory analysis at the Institute of Lassa Fever, Irrua in Edo State. He also disclosed that following the incident, the state government took immediate action to forestall the spread of the disease by shutting down the late doctor’s hospital in Umuaji quarters in Asaba. “Following the discovery, we also ensured that the hospital where he was treated at Bonsaac area was also shut down and fumigated. “His wife’s blood sample was taken and tested at the Institute of Lassa fever; it, however, came back negative. “So far, a total of 32 persons have been placed on surveillance; These include 11 persons from the immediate family of the deceased. “Eighteen persons at the private Hospital where the patient was first admitted and 3 other persons who made contact with the deceased,’’ Azinge said. The commissioner also disclosed that two local government Disease Surveillance Officers in Oshimili South and Oshimili North were actively involved as part of the state response team. “The Surveillance Officers have been monitoring the temperature of those under surveillance and this will be done for a period of 21 days. “The State Lassa Fever Response Team has been reactivated while sensitisation of health workers in the state is ongoing.’’ Azinge said the health workers were being sensitised to the need for preventive measures when managing infectious cases. According to him, the ministry has also embarked on awareness creation through the mass media, to enlighten the public on the mode of transmission of the disease and the preventive measures, to forestall its spread. The commissioner also said that prevention materials had been sent the various local governments prone to high-risk disease outbreak in the state. “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), non-contact thermometers and other items have been distributed to the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in all of the 25 local governments by the state Ministry of Health. “The drug, Rivabirin has been procured for immediate case management while the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Medical Association in Delta have been contacted and are collaborating with us,’’ he said. The commissioner gave assurance that the situation was under control and appealed to the public not to panic.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/lassa-fever-kills-doctor-delta-32-others-surveillance/

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