Bone Marrow Transplant May Prevent Heart Disease

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Male Infertility Could Lead To Testicular Cancer - Experts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Senator Adeleke Did Not Died Of Food Poisoning - Pathologist

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

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

The autopsy report was marked Exhibit CE2.

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Tomatoes May Slow Down Stomach Cancer - New Study

Scientists have alerted that tomatoes can slow down stomach cancer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Ebola: Nigeria Intensifies Screening At Airports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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