Water:Melon Can Prevent Obesity, Diabetes : Experts

 Despite popular belief that watermelon is made up of only water and sugar, watermelon is actually considered a nutrient dense food, a food that provides a high amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for a low amount of calories. Watermelons have become synonymous with summer and picnics, and for good reason. Their refreshing quality and sweet taste help to combat the heat and also provide a guilt-free, low maintenance dessert for kids and adults alike to enjoy.
 Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions. Many studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant foods like watermelon decreases the risk of obesity and overall mortality, diabetes, heart disease and promotes a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy, overall lower weight.
  The risks for developing asthma are lower in people who consume a high amount of certain nutrients. One of these nutrients is vitamin C, found in many fruits and vegetables including watermelon. A study published by the American Journal of Hypertension found that watermelon extract supplementation reduced ankle blood pressure, brachial blood pressure and carotid wave reflection in obese middle-aged adults with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension and that watermelon extract improved arterial function.
  As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C as well as other antioxidants, watermelon can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. Lycopene intake has been linked with a decreased risk of prostate cancer prevention in several studies. Watermelon, because of its water and fiber content, helps to prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract.
 Made up of 92% water and full of important electrolytes, watermelon is a great snack to have on hand during the hot months to prevent dehydration. Choline is a very important and versatile nutrient in watermelon that aids our body in 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.
 Watermelon and watermelon juice have been shown to reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery time following exercise in athletes. Researchers believe this is likely do to the amino acid L-citrulline contained in watermelon. Watermelon is also great for your skin because it contains vitamin A, a nutrient required for sebum production that keeps hair moisturized. Vitamin A is also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair.
 One cup of diced watermelon (152 grams) contains 43 calories, 0 grams of fat, 2 milligrams of sodium, 11 grams of carbohydrate (including 9 grams of sugar) and 1 gram of fiber. One cup of watermelon will provide 17% of vitamin A, 21% of vitamin C, 2% of iron and 1% of calcium needs for the day. Watermelon also contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, choline, lycopene and betaine.
Look for a watermelon that is firm, heavy and symmetrical without soft spots or bruising. Place diced watermelon and a few ice cubes in a blender for a cold refreshing treat that's perfect for rehydrating after exercise or a day in the sun. Jazz up a boring salad by adding watermelon, mint and fresh mozzarella to a bed of spinach leaves. Drizzle with balsamic.
 It is the total diet or overall eating pattern that is most important in disease prevention and achieving good health. It is better to eat a diet with variety than to concentrate on individual foods as the key to good health. Have you enjoyed reading about the potential health benefits of watermelon? It would be wise to consider using watermelon as your "snacks," especially during hot seasons.
 Watermelon is easily available in almost every part of the world. Even in Asia and Africa, where it is not grown by pizzant farmers for their daily diets, Watermelon could be found in cities. Over the years, Watermelon has come to be the much needed fruit that is almost equivalent to water in terms of helping the body to regain water after a hot exposure.

Read More

New Vaccine For Syphilis Finaly Discoverd

A s part of global efforts to tackle syphilis, scientists have come up with new discoveries that would make a vaccine that would possibly prevent the disease

According to findings, the UConn Health researchers have identified exterior proteins on the bacteria that could serve as vaccine targets for syphilis disease. Although, Syphilis is hard to study because, unlike many disease causing bacteria, it cannot be grown in a laboratory dish or in mice.

Besides humans, the only animal commonly found in laboratories that is susceptible to syphilis is the rabbit.

But rabbits clear syphilis infections quickly, so the researchers plan to regularly infect new rabbits to maintain a strain of Treponema pallidum, the syphilis-causing bacteria to pave the way for achieving the vaccine. The study is published in the 12 June issue of ‘mBio,’ a bimonthly peer-reviewed open access scientific journal published by the American Society for Microbiology in association with the American Academy of Microbiology.

UConn Health is a renowned biomedical research centre, specialising in genetics, ageing, orthopaedics and neurology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

 Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can have very serious complications when left untreated, but it is simple to cure with the right treatment and symptoms of secondary syphilis include skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. Spread by sexual contact, syphilis disease starts as a painless sore — typically on the genitals, rectum or mouth. Similarly, it spreads from person to person via skin or mucous membrane contact with these sores. In spite of global efforts to eradicate it, syphilis is on the ris

Although, until now, most health agencies focused on treating infected people and their sex partners, which has so far limited that approach considering that many partners do not turn up for treatment, thereby jeopardising the efforts to reduce syphilis spread. However, the new discoveries may produce a vaccine that could tackle the disease, is widely seen as an effort in the right direction.

Read More

Boys Born To Older Women May Have Heart Disease At Old Age : Study

Scientists at the University of Alberta in Canada, have alerted that boys born to older women were more likely to develop Cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Also, the researchers said in animal experiments, males born to older female rats, equivalent in age to a woman of 35, had weaker hearts and blood vessels.

To this end, future studies, will look into whether or not the findings were true in humans, said Professor Davidge, adding that a particular focus would be the role of the placenta.

The findings of the new study were published in the ‘Journal of Physiology’. Although, previous studies had shown that delaying motherhood was already known to increase the risk of complications in pregnancy. However, going by the new research, scientists have found that the growing trend of putting careers ahead of starting a family could have an even bigger impact on future generations than feared. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels.

They include coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina, myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack), among others. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Fertility in women starts to decrease at age 32 years and becomes more rapid after age 37 years. Women become less fertile as they age because they begin life with a fixed number of eggs in their ovaries, which begins t decreases as they grow older including diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes.

The research team said the new study demonstrated that postponing parenthood makes offspring more prone to cardiovascular disease as adults. However, female offspring did not suffer the same effect. Lead researcher Professor Professor Sandra Davidge Sandra said: “This research is important because it improves our understanding of the impact of giving birth at an older age.”

Read More

How Tomatoes Prevent Cancer, Other Diseases

Whether you refer to tomato as a fruit or a vegetable, there is no doubt that a tomato is a nutrient-dense, super-food that most people should be eating more of. The tomato has been referred to as a "functional food," a food that goes beyond providing just basic
The benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds, including tomatoes, are infinite. As plant food heart disease, diabetes, and cancer goes down. High fruit and vegetable intake is also associated with healthy skin and hair, increased energy and lower weight. Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables significantly decreases the risk of obesity and overall mortality.
As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C and other antioxidants, tomatoes can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. Lycopene has been linked with prostate cancer prevention in several studies. According to John Erdman, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of the department of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois, "There's very good, strong, epidemiological support for increased consumption of tomato products and lower incidence of prostate cancer.
 Among younger men, diets rich in beta-carotene may play a protective role against prostate cancer, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health's Department of Nutrition. Beta-carotene consumption has been shown to have an inverse association with the development of colon cancer in the Japanese population. High fiber intakes from tomatoes  are associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer.
 The fiber, potassium, vitamin C and chlorine content in tomatoes 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.
 In one study, those who consumed 4069 mg of potassium per day had a 49 percent lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease compared with those who consumed less potassium (about 1000 mg per day). High potassium intakes are also associated with a reduced risk of stroke, protection against loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density and reduction in the formation of kidney stones. 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 cup of cherry tomatoes provides about 2 grams of fiber and potassium.
 Collagen, the skins support system, is reliant on vitamin C as an essential nutrient that works in our body as an antioxidant to help prevent damage caused by the sun, pollution and smoke, smooth wrinkles and improve overall skin texture. Eating foods that are high in water content and fiber like tomatoes can help to keep you hydrated and your bowel movements regular. Fiber is essential for minimizing constipation and adding bulk to the stool.
 Adequate folic acid intake is essential for pregnant women to protect against neural tube defects in infants. The folic acid in tomatoes may also help with depression by preventing an excess of homocysteine from forming in the body, which can prevent blood and other nutrients from reaching the brain. Excess homocysteine interferes with the production of the feel-good hormones serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate not only mood, but sleep and appetite as well.
  One medium tomato (approximately 123 grams) provides 22 calories, 0 grams of fat, 5 grams of carbohydrate (including 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of sugar) and 1 gram of protein. Alpha-lipoic acid helps the body to convert glucose into energy. Some evidence suggests that alpha-lipoic acid can aid in blood glucose control, improve vasodilation and protect against retinopathy in diabetic patients and may even help preserve brain and nerve tissue.
  Lycopene is the antioxidant that gives tomatoes their rich red color. Tomatoes account for 80 percent of lycopene consumption. Choline is an important nutrient found in tomatoes 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.

Read More

How Ignorance Of Dementia Is Wrecking Lives In Nigeria

The habit of viewing memory loss in elderly persons as part of  the normal aging process, as  well as ignoring forgetfulness in younger individuals, is wrecking many lives and worsening cases of dementia.

Dementia is a disease characterized with a progressive deterioration in the cognitive (thinking, reasoning, knowledge), personality and intellectual functions of an individual, and is associated with decline in activities of normal daily living of conscious patients. 

“Most people don’t come to us until the situation is bad ,” said Dr. Aishatu Yusaha’u Armiya’u a Consultant Psychiatrist with the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). “By the time patients get to the hospital, they have started hallucinating and behaving aggressively.  At the end of the day, they are left for the psychiatrists, and a lot of them have either high blood pressure or diabetes. ” 

According to Dr  Salisu Abullahi Balarabe , a consultant neurologist, at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, UDUTH , Sokoto , the most serious misconception people have about the disease  is  that there is no point doing anything about it since it is an aging process or that the person is just misbehaving.

How ignorance about dementia wrecks lives

He noted that this increases the rate at which the person progresses from mild to severe form of the disease.

 Dr Balarabe said that if an old man begins to abuse people, the usual thinking is that he is just becoming unnecessarily difficult. He added that it is always good for the community and especially family members to know that  dementia is a disease just as malaria, and  typhoid to mention a few.

“Whatever you do in the hospital setting may not really be compared with when a care giver really understands what it takes to care for a patient with dementia. For instance, if you are caring for someone and he is always crying, and depression sets in, it would even be much more disastrous to  his life than the dementia the person has,” he added.

Mrs Susana Jurbe , 50,  said when her 76-year-old mother started exhibiting forgetfulness, and lost track of time in 2015 , the family mistook it for the normal aging process. 

Jurbe explained that her mother started wandering about, and would realize after sometime and return home. “She also developed high blood pressure and diabetes so when we took her to JUTH, she was given drugs but they also referred us to the Psychiatrist unit and they told us that the symptoms of forgetfulness and hallucinations was an illness.”

Jurbe who takes her mother to the hospital for routine checks once in two months said the medical experts usually asked her a bunch of questions including if she knew who she (Jurbe) was, who her sister is, and what period of the day it was.

Hajara said her sister, Hauwa might have been a lot better today if  her family knew it was  dementia when the problem started in 2011. Then Hauwa was 19 and got involved in accident where a fuel tanker consumed several lives on her way from school. Months after, she became highly forgetful. But her family kept her at home since there was no obvious injury. By the time medical assistance was sought, it was late.

Signs of dementia

A consultant psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr Taiwo Oduguwa said old age comes with forgetfulness and that if someone is forgetful but still behaves and functions normally, that can be regarded as normal. But, if it is persistent, such that the person doesn’t remember the area or streets close to their residential address that is a sign.

Aside forgetfulness, the individual may have change of behavior, says Dr  Salisu Abullahi Balarabe, of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, UDUTH , Sokoto,   “like  if someone who is known to be very calm , starts  becoming aggressive , he may be losing control and that is a sign of early stage dementia.”

 He said others signs a person may be developing dementia, includes when a person begins to forget words, instead of mentioning the name of a thing, he or she begins to describe it.

In advanced stages, he stated that a person has problem recognizing familiar faces and remembering the names of their children, close friends, and relatives.

In addition, Dr  Balarabe  said  by the time a person is not taking subconsciously landmarks that would help him have an  idea of how he should go to a place, that is also a sign of dementia,  noting that when it reaches the  severe stage ,the person  does not know where  the toilet or  bathroom is located in his or her own house.

The medical expert said other signs involves someone repeatedly asking you of something that you just informed him of during discussion.

Prevalence

Out of all psychiatric cases, dementia accounts for 22.4 percent , said Dr Taiwo Oduguwa, a consultant psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. 

Also  a four-year (2007-2011) review of the mental health services rendered to 938 clients aged 60 years and above at a Lagos based mental health treatment facility , carried out by some psychiatrists showed that 216 of them representing 36.7%  were diagnosed of dementia  while 5.5%  (that is 56 persons) had Alzheimer’s dementia , (a type of dementia). 

Also, a clinical psychologist, and head of Department of Clinical Psychology Department at the Neuro Psychiatric Hospital , Kaduna, Oguizu J. Okechukwu, said about three out of  every 100 mentally ill patients that come to the hospital were dementia cases from their observations.

The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer disease.Dr Agbir Terkura Michael a consultant psychiatrist, with the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) explained that it is a neuro- degeneration in the brain, that is the brain deteriorates with age, and it usually happens after the age of 65 or during old age .Those who have parents or siblings with Alzheimer disease are predisposed to having the disorder. 

Borno State Commissioner of Health , Dr. Haruna Mshelia, said the exact prevalence rate of  dementia in the state was not known because it requires an extensive research, and that has not been conducted yet,  “In advanced countries where many people live for as long as 100 years in considerable comfort, the chances of people  getting dementia are less than what obtains in the developing countries like ours,” he said.

 Causes, and those at risk of the disease

 Dr Musbahu Rabi’u, a consultant neurologist at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano said some of the common diseases that could lead to dementia include severe malaria, chronic meningitis, HIV, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, renal failure, brain injury as well as aging.

Dr Adebimpe Alder, a psychiatrist with the Melville Healthcare Resources, a mental health facility in Abuja said brain injuries sustained during bomb blasts, communal attacks and by military personnel predisposes to the disease.

Excessive use of tobacco, unhealthy diet as well as illnesses like depression and social isolation could also pose a risk, Dr. Aishatu Yusaha’u Armiya’u a Consultant Psychiatrist with the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) said. 

Clinical psychologist and head of Clinical Psychology Department at the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna,Oguizu J. Okechukwu , added that dementia could also be caused by deficiencies of vitamins like folic acid, B-Complex in the brain, and by substance abuse like cocaine, marijuana, and cigarettes, among others. 

The Medical experts said most people with dementia  were not born with it, and that it could also be as a result of  traumatic causes such as an injury to the head, a gunshot, accident or even rigorous exercises such as punch syndrome associated with boxing.

 “If the head is being punched severally as it is with boxers, they are predisposed,” Dr. Agbir Terkura Michael said. 

According to Dr Taiwo Oduguwa,  HIV in a person which has led to AIDs can also cause dementia . In addition he said chronic alcoholic use, and lots of losses like money , or family members can  cause depression which later leads to dementia. 

Can dementia be prevented? 

People have to modify their lifestyle as a preventive measure against dementia.

 “It is important to reduce intake of alcohol or any  psycho-active substances, and engage in regular exercise,” says Dr. Agbir Terkura Michael. 

He said persons who are diabetic and hypertensive should control their blood sugar and pressure and also engage in social activities such as supportive clubs, Ludo games. “It helps people keep their brain functioning well. Chess, dancing and reading throughout people’s life span is also very important in keeping a mental balance. Regular writing too prevents dementia to certain levels as it tasks the brain to think while writing.”

Another preventive measure is through the use of non-steroidal inflammatory drugs and studies have shown that they are quite effective ,”  Dr Balarabe of UDUTH explained.

Link between dementia and HIV

Medical experts said HIV infection is associated with  dementia and that is why part of the clinical presentation of HIV, is AIDS dementia complex.

Dr Adebimpe Alder, a psychiatrist with the Melville Healthcare Resources, a mental health facility in Abuja said as HIV progresses, at the end stages one gets a bit degenerated and starts to forget things, “it affects your communication and overall daily life activities,” she added.

Daily Trust reports that in Kano, HIV infected persons who are not receiving anti-retroviral therapy constitute 23% of recorded cases of dementia.

Dr Musbahu Rabi’u, attributed the prevalence to the depletion in their immune system which predisposes them to various chronic infections that eventually metamorphose into progressive loss of memory.

Treatment

There is no absolute cure for dementia but that there are drugs to manage it, according Oguizu J. Okechukwu,  a clinical psychologist  adding, “We also use cognitive training, as there is always a deficiency in cognitive functions like thinking, reasoning, retrieving information and a lot more.”

Dr Taiwo Oduguwa , a consultant psychiatrist said treatment involves  giving drugs that delay or slow down the progression of the disease. So that instead of it progressing like three years, it prolongs the period to five or 15 years. “The person can live long after being diagnosed with dementia but the sad part is, such a person will be a shadow of his or her former self.” 

Does dementia lead to death?

The clinical psychologist, Oguizu Okechukwu said when the brain shrinks to a level that it can no longer function,  the person will die, though this can take some time . “The patient usually dies in dementia,” he said. 

What families of sufferers should know and how to cope

Dr Balarabe of the UDUTH said understanding is what a person suffering from dementia requires the most from family members, saying they could be demoralized or  psychologically  unhappy, when they don’t get it.

He said it is quite challenging taking care of a person with dementia especially at the advanced stage  and that there is need for the family member or care giver to make sacrifices not just on medical bills but on time given to the affected individual.

Oguizu J. Okechukwu,  clinical psychologist,  advised family of sufferers to take patients to a psychiatric hospital where there are mental health professionals comprising  psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, medical social workers, among others.

People staying with a dementia patient for a period of time can develop anxiety, become irritable and even get high BP, said Dr. Aishatu Yusaha’u Armiya’u , so they need to be psycho-educated and monitored closely. There should be two or three persons caring for a dementia patient so that there can be shifts, she advised.  Dr Taiwo Oduguwa said when two old couples are living together and one has dementia, they need the assistance of two caregivers. “Mama cannot take care of papa, the house, go to the market to buy things, cook and do all sorts of things.”

The mental health experts said that caregivers should always engage sufferers in physical and social activities, in order to slow the progressive deterioration in their health.

Read More

Human Trials On HIV Vaccine To Begin Soon

As part of global efforts to tackle the spread of HIV, a human trial of an experimental HIV vaccine, is set to begin in the second half of 2019. According to the findings of a new study published  in the journal; ‘Nature Medicine,’ part of the aims of the human trial was to refine the vaccine, boost its potency and ultimately produce a version that’s suitable for testing in people. According to researchers at the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which conducted the study, the vaccine, in an earlier study protected animals from dozens of strains of HIV.
The vaccine targeted a vulnerable site on HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and triggered antibody production in mice, guinea pigs and monkeys, they noted in the study led by Peter Kwong and Dr. John Mascola, of the NIAID Vaccine Research Centre.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a subgroup of retrovirus) that causes HIV infection and over time, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). While HIV kills or damages the body’s immune system cells, AIDS is the most advanced stage of the infection. HIV continues to be a major global public health issue. In 2016, an estimated 36.7 million people were living with HIV (including 1.8 million children).

Since the start of the epidemic, an estimated 78 million people had become infected with HIV and 35 million people had died of AIDS-related illnesses, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In 2016 alone, one million people died of AIDS-related illnesses. The vast majority of people living with HIV were located in low and middle income countries, with an estimated 25.5 million living in sub-Saharan Africa. Also, Nigeria currently ranks the second largest with HIV epidemic in the world, with 3.4 million living with the virus. Similarly, it has the highest cases of HIV-positive children in the world.
However, the ‘Newsmax- Health’ quoted NIAID Director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, as saying the scientists in the new study, used their detailed knowledge of the structure of HIV to find an unusual site of vulnerability on the virus and design a novel and potentially powerful vaccine. “This elegant study is a potentially important step forward in the ongoing quest to develop a safe and effective HIV vaccine,” he added

Read More