Scientists Discover Possible Cure For Parkinson Disease

Scientists might have found a way to treat Parkinson’s disease by generating “dopamine neurons”, according to an article published in Nature Biotechnology.

The study, though at an early stage, found that brain cells can be reprogrammed to replace those that are destroyed by Parkinson’s, offering a new approach to solving the longtime medical problem.

Scientists conducted tests in mice with Parkinson-like symptoms, and found that the therapy seemed to ease the condition.
They noted that more studies need to be done before related tests can be conducted on humans.



People with Parkinson’s lack dopamine due to the loss of brain cells that make it.

The disease has afflicted numerous patients in various ways, from muscle rigidity and walking difficulties, to hallucinations and delusions.

For a long time, doctors have been able to manage the symptoms but could not treat the cause.
Scientists have been actively looking for different ways to lessen the symptoms and treat the disease.

GREATER consumption of fresh fruit has been associated with a lower incidence of diabetes, as well as reduced occurrence of complications in people with diabetes. Fruits and vegetables Researchers found that people who reported elevated consumption of fresh fruit had a lower associated risk of developing diabetes which corresponds to an estimated 0.2 per cent reduction in the absolute risk of diabetes over 5 years. In people with diabetes, higher consumption of fresh fruit was associated with a lower risk of mortality corresponding to an absolute decrease in risk of 1.9 per cent at 5 years, and with lower risks of microvascular and macrovascular complications. In addition to the health benefits of consuming fresh fruit, Du and colleagues emphasize the value of their findings for Asian populations where fruit consumption is commonly restricted in people with diabetes. The main limitation of this observational study is that the effects of fruit consumption can be difficult to distinguish from those of participants’ other dietary and behavioural characteristics.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/consumption-fresh-fruits-reduces-diabetes-risk/

Read More

It Is Safe To Drink Fanta And Sprite In Nigeria - Health Ministry

The Federal Ministry of Health has clarified the position of Fanta and Sprite, certifying both drinks as safe for consumers.

This development arises from the recent court judgement on a case filed by Fijabi Holdings versus Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), both joined as a nominal party.

The court had ordered NAFDAC to order NBC to issue a mandatory warning on its Fanta and Sprite products, stating that the contents should not be taken with Vitamin C in order to avoid poisoning

According to the statement signed by Akinola Boade, Director of Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, the findings of the Ministry’s investigation revealed that both Benzoic acid and Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are ingredients approved by International Food Safety regulators and used in many food and beverage products around the world.

On whether the levels of additives introduced as preservatives are within specification or not, the statement revealed: “Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the organ established by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) to set internationally recognised standards, codes of practice, guidelines relating to foods, food production, and food safety.

“In the case of Benzoic acid, the standard set by Codex was 600mg/kg until recently reviewed to 250mg/kg and adopted in 2016 (CODEX STAN 192–1995 revised 2015 and 2016); with reference to the Codex standard and other relevant documents, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as the standard setting body in Nigeria in consultation with technical experts and relevant stakeholders elaborated the standard of benzoic acid in soft drinks to be at 250mg/kg based on the national climatic and storage conditions – this standard has been in existence since 1997 and revised in 2008 (NIS 217:2008)

“The levels of benzoic acid in Fanta (1 batch) and Sprite (2 batches) presented by the claimant in the court are 188.64mg/kg, 201.06mg/kg and 161.5mg/kg respectively; these levels are in compliance with both the Codex and Nigeria Industrial Standards.”

The statement also clarifies that the Coca-Cola products manufactured in Nigeria are safe for consumption in view of the following reasons: “Risk assessment was conducted to ascertain maximum limits of food additives acceptable in foods; this takes into consideration the environmental, storage and distribution conditions as well as the shelf life of food products; NAFDAC and SON regularly monitor the manufacturing practices of food industries and conduct laboratory analysis to ascertain continuous compliance with required national standards; there was a routine inspection conducted at Nigeria Bottling Company by NAFDAC officers in December 2016 which was satisfactory.”

There has been widespread public fear that Fanta and Sprite produced by NBC Nigeria failed the UK benzoic test and therefore harmful to consumers. But the statement from the health ministry also clarified the difference between the standard of Fanta and Sprite in Nigeria and United Kingdom.

According to the statement, “with reference to the Codex standards, each country or region is permitted to adapt a standard/limit based on country-specific scientific evidence such as environmental, storage and distribution conditions; benzoic acid as a preservative prevents the growth of microorganisms which thrive more at higher climatic temperatures like in Nigeria.

“Due to the different environmental conditions obtainable in the UK, the standard for benzoic acid was set at a lower limit of 150mg/kg while in Nigeria it was set at 250mg/kg even below that of Codex (as at time of production of that batch; Codex limit was 600mgkg); and Food products being imported into a country must comply with the relevant standards of the destination country.”

The statement also revealed that NAFDAC has processes in place to ensure products imported into the country are evaluated to ascertain compliance with required Nigeria Industrial Standards. “The claimant did not obtain NAFDAC certification before export, otherwise, he would have been advised on the required standard of the destination country,” said the ministry in the statement.

“In view of the above, we would like to advise all Nigerians to take medicines with potable water. This would help to prevent unexpected drug-food interactions. For the benefit of the health of all Nigerians, all bottling companies are encouraged to insert advisory warnings on all products as necessary,” the Federal Ministry of Health advised.

The Honourable Minister of Health had summoned a meeting of the Department of Food and Drug Services, Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to address the issues raised by the judgement.

Read More

Plantan Or Banana: Which Should You Have?

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.

Read More

Clot-buster Treatment Raises Hope For Stroke Patients

An alternative treatment for strokes, mechanical thrombectomy, which can bring patients ‘back to life’ on the operating table is now available. The revolutionary technique, which is already used across the United Kingdom, UK works for more people and is far more effective than Orthodox.  The procedure involves carefully removing the devastating blood clots which cause strokes from deep within the brain using a three-foot long wire.

Until now, doctors have mainly used drugs to dissolve the blood clots – but the chemicals can have severe side effects, and do not work at all in about 15 per cent of patients with the most severe strokes.

A stroke is when poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding.

They result in part of the brain not functioning properly. Patients treated with the new procedure have an 80 to 90 per cent chance of success, compared with 30 per cent using clot-busting drugs.

A study published in the ‘Lancet’ last year showed 50 per cent of people treated this way had shown neurological recovery within 24 hours, compared to just 21 per cent treated with clotbusting drugs. The treatment has until now been given to only 600 patients a year at a handful of hospitals across England.

However, Chief Executive of the NHS England, Simon Stevens, announced its use would be expanded to 24 hospitals.

Doctors at St George’s Hospital in South London, which has been trialling the technique since 2010, have reported patients who were completely paralysed by a stroke entirely recovered as soon as they received the treatment. Dr. Joe Leyon, an interventional neuroradiologist at St George’s, said last year: “It’s fair to say they have been brought back to life when they get these functions back in a moment.’

Crucially, it has to be used within six hours of the stroke to be effective, and until now, St George’s has been the only hospital to offer the treatment 24/7. Mr Stevens said the new services are to be phased in later this year, with an additional 1,000 patients set to benefit in the first year. Health Education England will also start training more highly-skilled interventional radiologists to carry out the technique, the report stated.

The technique involves a wire stent, which is a small mesh tube. It is fed through an artery in the groin up to the brain, where it grabs the clot and removes it entirely.

Read More

How Oranges Prevent A Host Of Diseases

"An Apple a day keeps the doctor away", so goes the popular saying. However, more and more people are beginning to realize that equally true is the same " An orange a day keeps the doctor away". There are thousands of reasons why eating an orange a day is a good idea; they are low in calories but full of nutrients, they promote clear, healthy skin and can help to lower our risk for many diseases and conditions as part of an overall healthy and varied diet. Orange trees are the most cultivated fruit trees in the world.

One medium orange (approximately 154 grams) contains 80 calories, 0 grams of fat, 250 milligrams of potassium, 19 grams of carbohydrate (14 grams of sugar and 3 grams of dietary fiber) as well as 1 gram of protein. One orange provides 130 percent of your vitamin C needs for the day, 2 percent of vitamin A needs, 6 percent of calcium and 0 percent of iron.

Oranges also contain thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, selenium and copper. Because of their high vitamin C content (over twice the daily need) oranges are associated with boosting the immune system. Oranges also contain choline, zeaxanthin, and carotenoids. Choline is an important nutrient found in oranges that helps with sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory. Choline also helps to maintain the structure of cellular membranes, aids in the transmission of nerve impulses, assists in the absorption of fat and reduces chronic inflammation.

Maintaining a low sodium intake is essential to lowering blood pressure, however increasing potassium intake may be just as important because of its vasodilation effects. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, fewer than 2 percent of US adults meet the daily 4700 mg recommendation.

Also of note, a high potassium intake is associated with a 20 percent decreased risk of dying from all causes.

According to the American Heart Association, eating higher amounts of a compound found in citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit may lower ischemic stroke risk for women. Those who ate the highest amounts of citrus had a 19 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke than women who consumed the least. According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, consuming bananas, oranges and orange juice in the first two years of life may reduce the risk of developing childhood leukemia.

As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C, oranges can also help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. While an adequate vitamin C intake is necessary and very beneficial as an antioxidant, the amount necessary to consume for therapeutic purposes for cancer is beyond oral intake. High fiber intakes from fruits and vegetables are associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer.

The fiber, potassium, vitamin C and choline content in oranges all support heart health. An increase in potassium intake along with a decrease in sodium intake is the most important dietary change that a person can make to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, according to Mark Houston, M.D, M.S, an associate clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School and director of the Hypertension Institute at St. Thomas Hospital in Tennessee.

Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels. One medium orange provides about 3 grams of fiber. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 21-25 g/day for women and 30-38 g/day for men. The antioxidant vitamin C, when eaten in its natural form (as in an orange) or applied topically, can help to fight skin damage caused by the sun and pollution, reduce wrinkles and improve overall skin texture.

Oranges should be picked at their peak of ripeness because unlike some other fruits, they do not ripen or improve in quality after being picked. Oranges should be stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. While it is hard to find good fruits and vegetables in the winter, it is the perfect time to buy citrus. Winter is the peak season for oranges and other citrus fruits. There are many different types of oranges available such as navel, mandarin, cara cara, blood oranges, Valencia and Seville oranges just to name a few.

High potassium foods such as oranges and bananas should be consumed in moderation when taking beta-blockers. Consuming too much potassium can be harmful for those whose kidneys are not fully functional. If your kidneys are unable to remove excess potassium from the blood, it could be fatal. Those with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) may experience an increase in symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation when consuming highly acidic foods such as citrus fruit. However, individual reactions vary.

Read More

"There Is No Meningitis In Lagos" - Health Commissioner

There is no case of meningitis in Lagos State, Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris said yesterday.
Reacting to the claim of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that two persons have died of the disease in the state, Idris described the report as “false and misleading”, adding that it can create “unnecessary panic among residents”.
The commissioner said: “The report carried by some newspapers and online platforms is untrue and does not represent the reality of the situation in Lagos State as at today.
For the avoidance of doubt, there are two main types of meningitis. The epidemic prone meningitis which is referred to as Cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM) is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria Meningitis and its occurrence is seasonal or cyclical depending on the level of herd immunity and climatic conditions.
“The second type of meningitis is Non-Epidemic Meningitis. This type of meningitis is usually caused by a virus or other bacteria, but not by Neisseria Meningitis. The Non-epidemic meningitis occurs without any seasonal pattern or periodicity.”
He said the two deaths from the suspected nine cases of meningitis at Massey Street Children Hospital reported by the Disease Surveillance Notification Officer at Lagos Island Local Government in Week 13 of this year were not confirmed to be caused by CSM.
The nine cases, he said, presented with clinical features of meningitis, but laboratory tests proved that they were either due to Haemophilus influenza or Streptococcus pneumoniae and not Neisseria meningitis.
His ministry, the commissioner said, was also notified last week of a three-year-old boy presenting clinically as meningitis at a registered private facility in Lagos but the laboratory investigations did not confirm CSM.
“The blood culture yielded no growth but the urine culture yielded Klebsiella and not meningococcus.  The patient is already responding to treatment. None of these cases presented with a history of recent travel to any area with an outbreak of meningitis and neither were visits from such areas recorded with the aforementioned cases,” he said.
Idris reiterated the government’s resolve to prevent and control the spread of the epidemic, urging the public to support such efforts by reporting suspected cases to public health facilities or by calling these lines: 08037170614, 08023169485.
The commissioner stressed the need for high standard of personal and environmental hygiene, such as washing of hands with soap and water frequently, avoiding direct contact with the discharges from an infected person and covering of mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing to prevent contracting the disease.

“It is strongly advised for people to avoid overcrowding in living quarters, provide cross ventilation in sleeping and work-rooms and other places where many people come together and get vaccinated with CSM vaccine when you are travelling to areas where meningitis outbreaks have been reported”, he added.
Health workers, he said, had been placed on alert on the disease and surveillance teams consisting of epidemiologists and are also intensifying their surveillance and monitoring activities.

Idris added: “Health workers are also advised to avoid close and prolonged contacts with suspected and probable cases of CSM, ensure proper disposal of respiratory and throat secretions of cases, report suspected or probable cases and observe universal precaution and make use of personal protective equipment when in contact with such cases. There is no need to panic. We will continue with our surveillance activities, constantly review our records and brief the public from time to time”.

Read More