Why Colon Cancer Is Rising In Nigeria

Doctors treating colorectal cancer in Nigeria have raised the alarm over the rising number of Nigerians coming down with the disease. The doctors under the auspices of the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN) disclosed that more Nigerians above 40 years were coming down with colorectal cancer, blaming the development on the lack of periodic screening to detect the disease early since colon cancer usually don’t have symptoms.
Also, lending his voice to the alert, President of SOGHIN, Prof. Musa Borodo, urged Nigerians to imbibe the habit of periodic screening, especially for colon cancer, which he said was becoming a huge burden in Nigeria especially among people above 40. Bodoro and his colleagues spoke at the opening day of SOGHIN 2016 Conference, which started with a workshop on modern technology and surgical skills at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital ( LUTH).
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly two–thirds of annual mortality worldwide is attributable to non–communicable diseases (NCDs), with 70 per cent estimated to occur in low and middle income countries (LMIC).
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is said to account for over 600, 000 deaths annually. Similarly, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that CRC is the 5th most common cancer in sub Saharan Africa.
According to the president of SOGHIN, diseases such as CRC, liver cancer, helicobacter pyloris and other infections that occur in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are usually not easy to detect when looking out for signs and symptoms. Even when the symptoms are obvious, it’s often too late to treat, he added. Bodoro said that was the situation in hospitals at the moment and doctors treating GI diseases were disturbed about this development.

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New Technic Lowers Blood Pressure At No Cost

At a time of recession when households are faced with difficult choices and challenges, the possibility of developing high blood pressure, HBP, surely increases. Going by the findings of a new study, fully relaxing your body and mind for a few minutes a day could lower your blood pressure by about 10 points or more, at no cost and with no side effects.
The new research was conducted by doctors at Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
The technique developed by Dr. Herbert Benson is called “the relaxation response” and indicated that 32 per cent of those who volunteered to experiment with it were able to eliminate one blood pressure medication and still keep their blood pressure under control, compared with 14 per cent in another group that focused on lifestyle changes to help reduce blood pressure.
Blood pressure is the force that a wave of blood propelled from the heart exerts on the arteries.
It is measured at two points; each measurement is recorded in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Systolic pressure gauges the pressure in the arteries at systole, the instant when the heart contracts and pushes a wave of blood along the arterial tree. It is the top number of a blood pressure reading.
On its part, the diastolic pressure reflects the pressure during diastole, the brief period of relaxation between beats. It is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading. The report, titled “Relax your way to lower blood pressure”, is contained in the latest edition of Health beat, a publication of the Harvard Medical School.
The report reads: “The easiest way to lower blood pressure is by popping a pill. It takes just a few seconds and you are finished.
But pills cost money and often have side effects. Fully relaxing your body and your mind for a few minutes a day could lower your systolic blood pressure (the top number of a blood pressure reading) by 10 points or more—at no cost, and with no side effects.”

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10 Strategies To Prevent Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer for men (excluding skin cancer), but the good news is that there are things you can do to stop it from happening to you.

1. Eat your G-BOMBS. G-BOMBS (greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries and seeds) have powerful anti-cancer effects. Cruciferous vegetables (greens like broccoli, kale, bok choy, arugula, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, plus cauliflower, radish and more) contain phytochemicals that stimulate the body to detoxify carcinogens, and higher cruciferous vegetable intake is associated with lower prostate cancer risk. Men who consume three or more half-cup servings of cruciferous vegetables per week are 41 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer.
2. Reduce consumption of meat, eggs and dairy. It is widely recognized that a high consumption of animal protein has been linked to a greater risk of prostate cancer. Greater consumption of meat, poultry and fish is associated with higher blood level of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), which is positively correlated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. There is substantial evidence indicating that men who avoid dairy products are at a lower risk for prostate cancer. One study that spanned 41 countries reported a strong correlation between per capita milk consumption and prostate cancer deaths. For prostate health, avoid or limit animal products to two or fewer servings per week. Plant protein, however is protective—legumes and minimally processed soy products, are associated with decreased risk of prostate cancer.

3. Eat lots of tomatoes, especially cooked. A review of several studies revealed that those who consumed the most tomato-based foods reduced their total risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent and their risk of advanced prostate cancer by 50 percent. Lycopene, which is abundant especially in cooked tomatoes, is believed to be primarily responsible for this benefit. The lycopene in cooked tomatoes is more bioavailable than in raw tomatoes. Tomatoes are extremely nutrient-dense, containing a variety of other protective phytochemicals, such as flavonoids and antioxidant vitamins.

4. Eat plenty of yellow and orange vegetables. In studies, the greater the consumption of carotenoid-rich yellow and orange vegetables, including carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, winter squash and corn, the lower the number of people with prostate cancer.

5. Confirm adequate vitamin D levels with a blood test. Insufficient vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of several cancers, including prostate cancer. The safest way to obtain vitamin D is through supplements. Aim for a vitamin D blood level (25(OH)D) between 30 and 45 ng/ml.

6. Do not rely on PSA screening as a method of “early detection” to prevent prostate cancer. About 70 per cent of men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) do not actually have cancer. Many scientists think that PSA screening does not reduce prostate cancer-related deaths.

7. Avoid supplemental folic acid. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate (one of the B vitamins), and is included in most multivitamins. Similar to breast cancer, folic acid supplementation has been associated with increased risk of prostate cancer, whereas food folate is associated with decreased risk. Get natural folate from green vegetables and beans instead of synthetic folic acid from supplements.

8. Avoid fried foods. Potential dietary carcinogens form in foods when high heat cooking methods, such as frying or grilling, are used. Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed in meats, aldehydes are produced in oils and acrylamide is formed in starchy foods and coatings. One study evaluated frequent (once a week or more) consumption of certain fried foods in relation to prostate cancer risk; French fries, fried chicken, fried fish and doughnuts were associated with increased risk.

9. Exercise at least 3 hours a week. Exercise, particularly endurance-type exercise such as walking, running, cycling and swimming, are effective forms of disease protection.

10. Supplement with a conservative amount of zinc. Zinc has been shown in scientific studies to suppress tumor growth and induce prostate cancer cell death. There is evidence that adequate levels of zinc are protective, while deficiency and excess may promote prostate cancer.

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How Environmental Factors Fuel Male Infertility - Prof Oluyemi Akinloye

Nigeria and other countries of the world have continued to witness a sharp rise in male infertility. Unfortunately in some cases, their causes are not known. A Professor of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, CMUL, Prof Oluyemi Akinloye says several men can not achieve their desire to impregnate their female partners due to reasons beyond their control.

“Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system, defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse," He said. Akinloye linked involuntary male infertility to hormonal disturbances, environmental factors such as diet and toxic elements, genetic aberrations, improper medical waste disposal by healthcare workers, exposure to environmental pollutants, human activities like occupational factors and climate change. The Professor of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis while presenting his Inaugural Lecture entitled: “The Nigerian Milieu and Genetic Diversity: The Case for Personalised Medicine”, said despite these multi faceted factors, male infertility in Nigeria has suffered significant neglect in reproductive health. Noting that too much attention was being paid to female infertility factors, than that of their male counterparts, he said: "In Nigeria, the male factor contribution to infertility is estimated to be about 54 per cent, based on semen analysis and globally, the male contribution to infertility among couples has been estimated to be about 33 per cent.” 

Akinloye who accused the scientific and medical communities of paying more attention to female factors than that of their male counterpart, identified one of the factors that have contributed significantly to low sperm count and other abnormalities as exposure to heavy metals or toxic elements. “Two of such metals are cadmium and lead and they are in the Nigerian environment. In Nigeria, the burning of fossil fuels such as coal or oil accounts for their gross contamination of food chain and environments," he stated.

He affirmed that studies have shown that half of the cases of human male infertility of unknown causes may be attributable to various environmental and occupational exposures. He maintained that environmental discharge of cadmium due to use of petroleum products in addition to exposure to cadmium via contaminated food or paper, cosmetic remedies put many Nigerians at high risk of cadmium. “Cigarette smoking is also contributing significantly to Cadmium environmental pollution,” he added. He further called for strict implementation of law prohibiting smoking in public places adding that unwilling exposure to second -hand smoke is high in Nigeria and high level of cadmium had been reported as the possible cause of azoospermia, (complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate) in smokers. Continuing, he lamented the effect of lead on the reproductive health of the population, particularly pregnant women where it has been found to cause miscarriage, prematurity, low birth weight and problems with development during childhood. Akinloye said concentration of lead in blood is associated with a decrease in sperm count, sperm volume, sperm motility and morphological alterations.

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Malaria Outbreak: 382 Hospitalised, 48 Die In Sokoto

An outbreak of malaria has claimed no fewer than 48 lives in the Gandu area of Sokoto North Local Government of Sokoto State in the last one month. The Officer in Charge of Kofar Kade Clinic, Mrs Rabi Ahmed-Gandi, disclosed this in Sokoto on Friday when she received the second consignment of free anti-malarial drugs from the State Government. She said: “These deaths were recorded out of the 382 patients who were hospitalised in the hospital during the period under review. The problem had hitherto reached an epidemic level, although it has subsided now.” She attributed the problem to the contamination of the environment sequel to the prevalence of toxic refuse heaps. Ahmed commended the state government for its swift intervention, saying that it has helped to stabilise the ugly situation. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Balarabe Kakale, said that the state government had provided essential drugs and medicament to the area. Kakale further said that health personnel have also been dispatched to the affected area to augment the staffers at the clinic.

He said: “The Ministry has also commenced a fumigation exercise against mosquitoes. In the same vein, sanitary inspectors have been deployed to the affected areas to help in the clean up. They are also conducting social mobilization campaigns on the need for the residents to ensure environmental and personal hygiene. We are also partnering with the Ministry of Environment and the State Environmental Protection Agency, to team up and evacuate the killer-heaps of refuse.”

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Recurrent Miscarriages Could Be Genetical

Recurrent miscarriages in the first three months of pregnancy in some women could be a result of genetic mutation. This is the findings of a new study published in the ‘Royal Society Journal Open Biology’. The Royal Society Journal Open Biology reported that mutations in the FOXD1 gene could be responsible for half of miscarriages while the other half could be tied to infections, hormonal balance or immune problems. Miscarriage, also known as spontaneous abortion and pregnancy loss, is the natural death of an embryo or foetus before it is able to survive independently.
Some use the cut-off of 20 weeks of gestation after which foetal death is known as a stillbirth. The most common symptoms of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding with or without pain. However, recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is the occurrence of two or more pregnancy losses in the initial 13 weeks of gestation and affects one or two in every 100 pregnancies. According to the study, the mutation of FOXD1 was first discovered in laboratory mice.
Five hundred and fifty women, who had been affected by RSA, were examined to find out if they had mutations of the same gene. Two hundred and seventy-one non- RSA patients were used as control for comparative analysis.
The researchers discovered that a majority of women with RSA possessed the gene mutation of FOXD1. However, findings from the control group led scientists to believe that the gene could have protective abilities when in its normal state:
“Our results have also shown that FOXD1 is possibly a new molecular actor modulating pregnancy maintenance, with mutations associated with ER in mice and RSA in humans".
 Human fertility, like most biological processes in mammals, is assumed to be the result of subtle interaction of gene variants located in different genomic regions, having a quantitative effect and thus called QTL for quantitative trait loci. The Medical Daily reported that FOXD1 isn’t the first gene linked to early pregnancy loss. The MTHFR gene is an enzyme that is involved in amino acid metabolism in the body.
Common mutations in this gene can affect how a person’s body processes homocysteine, an amino acid found in the blood. Women with MTHFR gene mutations are more likely to have elevated levels of homocysteine — a potential risk factor for miscarriages. These mutations can also lead to a decreased ability to metabolize folic acid and other B vitamins.

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