Computer Professional’s Pain and the Remedy

Image by Extra Ketchup via FlickrIn the world of information madness, computer professionals have to sit glued to their chairs for longer time. They usually get pain in neck, back and wrist. This occurs due to ill positioning of computer; unsuitable chair and table; and long hours of non-stop work. Drugs may not give permanent relief.
They may follow certain tips to remain free from pain.

• The monitor should be positioned in such a manner so that the screen remains in a line with the eyes. That will decrease the neck pain.
• Chair and table must be befitting to each other, so that

1. Elbows rest on the hand of chair and key board remain at the same level. The person can type comfortably resting his elbows on the hand of chair.
2. The mouse also needs to remain in the same level. A padding of sort should be there on the mouse pad so that the wrist comfortably rests on that.
3. The height of chair and table be so adjusted that the person when sit straight on the chair, eyes remain in the line of screen.
4. The chair needs to have back rest and fit to the normal curve of back.
5. The knees should remain bent at 90 degrees, back of knee remaining a little outside from the edge of chair, while feet touching the ground.
6. The hands of chair should pass inside the table top.

Besides these after working for one hour, one may get up for 10 minutes; move his neck, back and walk a few steps to relax the joints.
Suggested reading at HealthDay sit properly at computer

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Oral Contraceptives with Added Folate

FDA has approved addition of folate to oral contraceptives with an intent to decrease some birth defects in their babies. This is levomefolate calcium.

Amplify’d from www.medscape.com

FDA Approves Oral Contraceptive Containing Folate

September 24, 2010 — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved an oral contraceptive — the first of its kind — that is intended both to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk for neural tube defects in newborns if and when users of the pill give birth.

The approval is based on the already-approved oral contraceptive drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Yaz, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals), which contains the same doses of estrogen and progestin.

Like Yaz, Beyaz is approved for:

Preventing pregnancy Treating symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in women who choose to prevent pregnancy with an oral contraceptive Treating moderate acne vulgaris in women at least 14 years old who desire an oral contraceptive for birth control

More information about today's FDA announcement is available on the agency's Web site. Read more at www.medscape.com

 

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How to Prevent Bed Wetting in Children

It is common in younger children up to to 3 to 4 years of age to wet bed at night. Sometimes older children also do the same. Commonly this is seen as there is no bladder control that is acquired as the central nervous system matures.

Most of the times, it is without any organic cause. Bed wetting may be seen in children with neurological deficits of various nature.
Many times the parents denounce them and do not hesitate to abuse, even in presence of relatives and neighbors. That makes the things worse.
The better way to tackle it is, by;

• Not abusing the child.
• Not giving the child any beverages like tea or coffee.
• Restricting fluid intake after the night meal and at least one hour before sleeping.
• Encouraging the child to go to toilet before sleeping.
• Arousing the child at night sometime toward the time of bed wetting and taking him/her to toilet
• Praising the child for bed wetting free day
These simple practices are needed to tackle the situation.

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Consumer Rights in Health Insurance in America: Affordable Care Act

Below is the gist of health insurance reforms and consumer rights declared in America. It seems to be more consumer friendly and eases the treatment. Perhaps, India should look in this line.

Amplify’d from www.healthcare.gov

A New Day for American Consumers

September 23, 2010 represents a new day for American consumers in our health care system.  This is the day that a series of new rights, benefits, and protections under the Affordable Care Act Affordable Care Act The comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010. The law was enacted in two parts: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010 and was amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act on March 30, 2010. The name “Affordable Care Act” is used to refer to the final, amended version of the law.   begin to bring to an end some of the worst abuses of the insurance industry. Combined, these new will put consumers, not insurance companies, in charge of their health care.  Below is a brief summary of the new restrictions for insurance companies and new rights for consumers beginning to take effect:

nsurers Will No Longer Be Able To:

Deny coverage to kids with pre-existing conditions. Health plans cannot limit or deny benefits or deny coverage for a child younger than age 19 simply because the child has a pre-existing condition like asthma. Put lifetime limits on benefits. Health plans can no longer put a lifetime dollar limit on the benefits of people with costly conditions like cancer Cancel your policy without proving fraud. Health plans can’t retroactively cancel insurance coverage – often at the time you need it most - solely because you or your employer made an honest mistake on your insurance application. Deny claims without a chance for appeal. In new health plans, you now have the right to demand that your health plan reconsider a decision to deny payment for a test or treatment. That also includes an external appeal to an independent reviewer.

Consumers in New Health Plans Will Be Able to:

Receive cost-free preventive services. New health plans must give you access to recommended preventive services such as screenings, vaccinations and counseling without any out-of-pocket costs to you. Keep young adults on a parent’s plan until age 26. If your health plan covers children, you can now most likely add or keep your children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old if they don’t have coverage on the job. Choose a primary care doctor, ob/gyn and pediatrician. New health plans must let you choose the primary care doctor or pediatrician you want from your health plan’s provider network and let you see an OB-GYN doctor without needing a referral from another doctor. Use the nearest emergency room without penalty. New health plans can’t require you to get prior approval before seeking emergency room services from a provider or hospital outside your plan’s network – and they can’t require higher copayments or co-insurance for out-of-network emergency room services. Read more at www.healthcare.gov

 

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Malaria and HIV Followed Same Path to Reach Human?

Image via Wikiped

The scientists say that malaria might have followed the same path to human being as AIDS did; from gorillas. Future plan to eradicate malaria need to safe guard its return from gorillas.

Amplify’d from www.reuters.com.

Malaria comes courtesy of gorillas, DNA study shows

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Malaria appears to have jumped to humans from gorillas, and the parasite may have spread globally from a single gorilla to a single human, researchers reported on Wednesday.

Slutsker said the parasite may not necessarily have spread to people from apes via a mosquito. It can also be spread by direct blood transfer -- perhaps while a gorilla was being butchered for food. Many experts believe this is how HIV first spread to humans. Read more at www.reuters.com

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Offline Message While Dailling to Connect Broadband over PPPOE

Image via WikipediaA message, "Offline" received after dialing DSL over PPPOE while trying to connect to BSNL service of Internet is noticed.
In this case a search in made to find the LAN icon in the notification area of task bar; right corner of the window. That was missing.
This tells something wrong in network connectivity. To correct the problem one has to go the control panel of computer from start; left lower corner of task bar. There 'network and internet connection has to be clicked'; after that;'Internet connectivity'.
There LAN connection has to be seen, which might have been disabled. If it has been disabled inadvertently, right click over that and clicking enable option solves the problem.

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Pot Belly Not Good for Health of Blood Vessels

Pot belly due to accumulation of intra-abdominal fat causes endothelial dysfunction. Long standing weight gain from visceral fat may lead to dysfunction of coronary blood vessels predisposing the person to heart diseases.

Amplify’d from www.mayoclinic.org

Even Modest Weight Gain Can Harm Blood Vessels, Mayo Researchers Find

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers found that healthy young people who put on as little as 9 pounds of fat, specifically in the abdomen, are at risk for developing endothelial cell dysfunction. Endothelial cells line the blood vessels and control the ability of the vessels to expand and contract.

"Endothelial dysfunction has long been associated with an increased risk for coronary artery disease and cardiovascular events," says Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. "Gaining a few pounds in college, on a cruise, or over the holidays is considered harmless, but it can have cardiovascular implications, especially if the weight is gained in the abdomen."

Among those who gained weight in their abdomens (known as visceral fat), even though their blood pressure remained healthy, researchers found that the regulation of blood flow through their arm arteries was impaired due to endothelial dysfunction. Once the volunteers lost the weight, the blood flow recovered. Blood flow regulation was unchanged in the weight-maintainers and was less affected among those who gained weight evenly throughout their bodies.

"Physicians should know that the location of fat is important. Greater attention should be given to the circumference of a patient's waistline, not just their body mass index (BMI)." BMI is a formula that uses height and weight to estimate body fat and associated health risks. Read more at www.mayoclinic.org

 

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EDA Approved Fractional Laser Therapy for Actinic Keratosis and Other Lesions

Actinic Keratosis (AK) is a form of damage to skin from long standing exposure to UV rays. This is mostly seen in equatorial region of earth in white people; common in Australians. These are scaly freckles on reddish base, range from a few millimeters to a few centimeters in size, mostly over the exposed surfaces of body; bald scalp, forehead, face, ear and forearm etc.
Before treatmantAfter treatment
It may regress completely, remains unchanged or progress to skin cancer. Cancer conversion rate ranges from 0.1% to 10%. Around 65% are squamous cell carcinoma and 36% are basal cell carcinoma. Furthermore, risk of progression of actinic keratosis to squamous cell carcinoma was 0.60% at 1 year and 2.57% at 4 years; whereas that of basal cell carcinoma was 0.48% at 1 year and 1.97 at 4 years; found in one study.
Other disfiguring lesions those may be found on body especially on face are wrinkles around eyes, acne scars, surgical scars; pigmented lesions e.g. age spots, sun spots and melasma.
Medical management begins with educating the patient to limit sun exposure. Patients should be cautioned to avoid sun exposure from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm as much as possible. They also must wear adequate sunscreens and protective clothing daily.
Medical therapy has the advantage of being able to treat large areas with many lesions. The disadvantages of medical therapies include lengthy courses of treatment with irritation and discomfort. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 4 medications for the treatment of actinic keratoses. These are topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5% and 3.75% imiquimod cream, topical diclofenac gel, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) with topical delta-aminolevulinic acid.
Recently, indications cleared by the FDA for the fractional laser system, a 1550-nm Erbium laser; include skin resurfacing procedures such as wrinkles, acne scars, surgical scars; and pigmented lesions, such as age spots, sun spots, actinic keratosis, and melasma.

FDA clearance for use of laser therapy was based on data from a 6-month multicenter study of 21 patients with actinic keratosis, each of whom underwent a series of 2 to 4 Thulium laser treatments, spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. Results showed that the regimen yielded a mean 83.5% decrease in AK lesions on the face and other regions such as the arms, hands, and chest. Improvements in skin texture and pigmentation were also observed; no adverse events were reported.
Potential adverse events those may be noticed are prolonged redness, swelling, blistering, scarring, infection, hyper-pigmentation, herpes reactivation, and acne flare-up.

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Genetically Modified Salmon in Offing

Genetically modified salmon, appears to be safe. Let us wait for the FDA's announcement.

Amplify’d from www.cbsnews.com

Modified Salmon: Miracle Food or "Frankenfish"?

The Food and Drug Administration hears both arguments Monday when it begins a two-day meeting on whether to approve the marketing of the genetically engineered fish, which would be the first such animal approved for human consumption. The agency has already said the salmon, which grows twice as fast as conventional salmon, is as safe to eat as the traditional variety.

Approval of the salmon would open the door for a variety of other genetically engineered animals, including an environmentally friendly pig that is being developed in Canada or cattle that are resistant to mad cow disease.

Genetic engineering is already widely used for crops, but the government until now has not considered allowing the consumption of modified animals. Although the potential benefits - and profits - are huge, many individuals have qualms about manipulating the genetic code of other living creatures.

Genetically engineered - or GE - animals are not clones, which the FDA has already said are safe to eat. Clones are copies of an animal. With GE animals, their DNA has been altered to produce a desirable characteristic.

In the case of the salmon, AquaBounty has added a growth hormone from a Chinook salmon that allows the fish to produce their growth hormone all year long. The engineers were able to keep the hormone active by using another gene from an eel-like fish called an ocean pout that acts like an on switch for the hormone, according to the company. Conventional salmon only produce the growth hormone some of the time. Read more at www.cbsnews.com

 

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Indoor Tanning Devices can be Dangerous

Indoor tanning devices can contribute to melanoma and other skin cancers.

Amplify’d from www.hhs.gov

HHS HealthBeat (September 20, 2010) Tanning after summer From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat. Damaging your skin can be a year-round activity. As summer sun fades and we head toward fall, people might head toward tanning salons as a way to keep the glow going. Skin cancer experts say that’s a bad idea. At the National Cancer Institute, dermatologist John DiGiovanna points out the dangers of indoor tanning: "The World Health Organization has declared indoor tanning devices as carcinogenic. And the risk now we know holds true regardless of when individuals start – whether they start at a young age or an adult age." (12 seconds) Skin cancer is the nation’s most common form of cancer. And while the two most common types of skin cancer are highly curable, the third – melanoma – can be very hard to control unless it is caught early. Learn more at hhs.gov. HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss. Last revised: September, 18 2010 Read more at www.hhs.gov

 

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Pegloticase Approved by FDA for Gout

Article first published as A New Gout Drug Pegloticase Approved by FDA on Technorati.





Gout, as we know is a very painful arthritic condition, involving in majority of cases the joint that joins great toe to the foot, called first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. Later on, it affects other joints in an ascending manner, though not always. It is due to excessive amount of metabolite called uric acid in the circulation, derived from the metabolism of purine, a type of nuclear protein.
Uric acids are needle shaped crystals that gets deposited in the covering membrane of some joints and cause inflammation there, giving rise to painful reddish swelling called as gouty tophi. Aspiration of joint material for monosodium urate is confirmatory for the disease. Blood level more than 7.6 mgs% in male and more than 6 mgs% in female are indicative of the disease. But, disease may be found in a lower blood level of uric acid.
Gout, apart from joints; affect heart, kidneys and gall bladder etc. in long standing untreated cases. It is associated with diabetes and obesity. Some 3% of affected people do not respond to the conventional drugs like allopurinol and feboxostat. A new drug pegloticase, approved by FDA is an enzyme that acts on the uric acid to degrade it to harmless chemical that is excreted in urine.
Pegloticase is administered intravenously in every two weeks. It gives relief to majority of non-responders to the conventional drugs. It is not fully safe, as produces severe allergic reaction in about one fourth of cases during a trial; say the scientists. It may produce gout flare, nausea, injection site bruising, irritation of the nasal passages, constipation, chest pain and vomiting.
Physicians are also have been warned to be cautious in administering pegloticase to patients with congestive heart failure, because the drug was not studied in this patient population. They also have been advised to keep steroid and antihistaminic ready; or consider prior administration to reduce the allergic reactions.
It is perhaps better to keep this drug reserved for the non-responders to conventional drugs, rather than to go for its routine use.

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Combined Computer Activity and Moderate Exercise Keeps Away Forgetfulness

Frequently, it is said that long hour of computer activity gives rise to health problems, particularly diseases out of sedentary lifestyle. Those include obesity, diabetes, heart problem and neck pain etc.
It is reported from Mayo clinic that combined computer and physical activity lessens the chance of getting mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Moderate physical activity includes brisk walking or biking. This was published in US HHS HealthBeat on September 16, 2010. The researcher was Yonas Geda from Mayo Clinic. He was examining 926 people ages 70 through 90.

People with some forgetfulness can use a variety of techniques that may help them stay healthy and maintain their memory and mental skills. Here are some tips that can help to keep memory sharp:
•    Plan tasks, make “to do” list, and use memory aids like notes and calendars. Some people find they remember things better if they mentally connect them to other meaningful things, such as a familiar name, song, book, or TV show.
•    Develop interests or hobbies and stay involved in activities that can help both the mind and body.
•    Engage in physical activity and exercise. Several studies have associated exercise (such as walking) with better brain function, although more research is needed to say for sure whether exercise can help to maintain brain function or prevent or delay symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
•    Limit alcohol use. Although some studies suggest that moderate alcohol use has health benefits, heavy or binge drinking over time can cause memory loss and permanent brain damage.
•    Find activities, such as exercise or a hobby, to relieve feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression. If these feelings last for a long time, talk with your doctor.

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Hayfever sufferers, know your enemy: Scanning Electron Microscope pictures of grains of pollen - Telegraph

Hayfever an allergic disorder for which pollen are responsible. Here is very nice pictures of pollen caught under electron microscope.

Hayfever sufferers, know your enemy: Scanning Electron Microscope pictures of grains of pollen - Telegraph

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Risks from By-Products of Swimming Pool Disinfectants

Swimming pool disinfectants like chlorine react with urine and cosmetics to produce harmful substances that may have health risk; the researchers say. At the same time swimming is not discouraged. Adequate precaution in this aspect is advised to follow in order to protect pool hygiene.

Amplify’d from www.medscape.com

Swimming Pool Chemicals May Carry Cancer Risk

September 15, 2010 — Swimming in indoor pools may result in respiratory effects and induce DNA damage that could lead to cancer, according to new research that examined the impact of byproducts of pool disinfection.

But the researchers emphasize they are not suggesting anyone get out of the pool. "We do not say stop swimming," says researcher Manolis Kogevinas, MD, PhD, professor of epidemiology at the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona. "We should keep a clear message that swimmers should keep swimming."

The research findings, he tells WebMD, are a message to the industry that ''the positive effects of swimming could be increased by reducing the chemicals."

''We have been doing research on chemicals in water -- not swimming pools [specifically] -- for quite some time," Kogevinas says. More recently, he and his colleagues have focused more intently on indoor swimming pool water. "Chemicals are produced when you put chlorine in water," he says. Chlorine reacts, for instance, to urine, cosmetics, and other substances typically found in swimming pools.

The researchers wanted to characterize these disinfection byproducts, or DBPs, in an indoor pool environment. Other studies have linked DBP exposure in drinking water to a risk of bladder cancer and other problems.

Kogevinas suggests that people who swim in indoor pools follow rules, such as not urinating in the pool and showering before swimming. Read more at www.medscape.com

 

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Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertensiom (DASH)

DASH, acronym for dietary approach to stop hypertension is being supported by many.

Amplify’d from www.hhs.gov

HHS HealthBeat (September 15, 2010) DASH to lower heart risk Listen to Tip Interested? Take the Next Step From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat. Changing the way you eat may lower your risk of heart attack, and the DASH diet could do it. The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy, and eating less fat, red meat and sweets. At Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, researchers measured changes in blood pressure in 436 people whose blood pressure was high or close to it. The researchers also computed the estimated 10-year risk of heart disease. Johns Hopkins’ Nisa Maruthur: "Those assigned to the DASH diet experienced an 18 percent greater reduction in estimated heart disease risk, compared to those who were assigned to the typical American diet."  (8 seconds) The study in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes was supported by the National Institutes of Health. Learn more at hhs.gov. HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss. Last revised: September, 14 2010 Read more at www.hhs.gov

 

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Diseases Those Point to GI Cancer Susceptibility

Cancer is Curable

medTitans - Diseases Those Point to GI Cancer Susceptibility

Article first published as Diseases Associated with Gastrointestinal and Extra-Intestinal Cancers on Technorati.

There are certain diseases which are treated as alerts for physicians to go deep in search of gastrointestinal cancers, those may exist or likely to develop in future. These can be a group of diseases or conglomerate of symptoms, called as syndromes in a sufferers who are mostly genetically susceptible.
Those can be;

• Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the sixth most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Histologically, approximately 90% of esophagus cancer cases are squamous cell carcinoma. It is frequently found in smokers and alcoholics; and is associated with ingestion of hot food and less intake of fruits and vegetables.
  A hereditary disease clearly associated with it is tylosis. Tylosis is characterized by a group of symptoms to be termed as a syndrome; most common manifestations being palmar-plantar keratoderma (PPK). Here, there is increased abnormal thickening of skin of palms and soles with formation of callosities in the pressure points. Oral leukoplakia, a thickening of cheek mucosa and esophageal mucosal thickening may accompany PPK.
  
• Barrett’s esophagus, often manifests as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a precursor of cancer esophagus.
  
• Breast carcinoma suppressor gene (BRCA) and esophageal cancer; it has been seen that mutation in BRCA gene, which is a predisposing factor for cancer breast; also associated with cancer esophagus.
  
• Lynch syndrome; otherwise called hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) accounts for 2-7% of all colorectal cancers is associated with cancers of endometrium of uterus, ovary, stomach, hepato-billiary system, pancreas, small bowel, brain and urinary system. It develops due to an autosomal dominant mutation in at least one of the DNA mismatch repair genes. As these mutations are highly penetrant, multiple generations of a family are frequently affected by cancer.
• Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome is associated with hereditary pancreatic cancer and syndromes like Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and familial breast cancer syndrome.About 5% of pancreatic cancer in US is hereditary.
• Peutz-Jogher syndrome (PJS); characterized by polyps in the gastrointestinal tract, mucocutaneous melanin pigmentation and various neoplasms. It is also associated with cancer breast; cervix and endometrium of uterus. The incidence of cancer among the patients suffering with PJS has been estimated to be 15-fold higher than the incidence of cancer in the general population. PJS presents with characteristic flat, pigmented, freckle-like cutaneous lesions mainly on the lower lip, perioral area, buccal mucosa, periorbital area and eyelids.
• Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is characterized by large number of polyps in the colon and rectum, that accounts for 1% on all colorectal carcinomas. It presents sometime in second decade of life with predominant symptoms like rectal bleeding, anemia and cancer of rectum and/or colon. FAP may present with some extraintestinal manifestations like bone tumors called osteomas, dental abnormalities (unerupted teeth, congenital absence of one or more teeth, supernumerary teeth, dentigerous cysts and odontomas), congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE), desmoid tumors, and extracolonic cancers (thyroid, liver, bile ducts and central nervous system).
• Familial (GIST) gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are most often associated with oncogenic mutations of the KIT gene. GIST though rare is associated with neurofibromatosis; a disease where multiple firm and irregular skin nodules appear in the body.
• Familial gastric cancer, cancer of stomach, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer and other germline genetic gastric cancer are associated cancer elsewhere in the GI tract; so also, pancreatic cancers and hereditary pancreatitis.
  
• Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) and diffuse gastritis are associated with cancer of stomach. H. Pylori, a comma shaped bacillus infects stomach, mainly in areas of poor sanitation; and manifests the symptoms of acid peptic disease.
  

In these cases of hereditary diseases care should be taken to analyze the existence of different combinations of other cancers, so that early diagnosis and treatment is possible. Other diseases having links with GI cancers should be watched carefully for the same reason.

Cancer Esophagus

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Creating Touch Sensation in Robot

They have come up with technology touch sensation for artificial skin. It can sense sitting of a butterfly. It may actually be helpful for people with artificial limb. But, technology to connect to the human nervous system is yet to develop.

Amplify’d from www.reuters.com

Artificial "skin" materials can sense pressure

CHICAGO (Reuters) - New artificial "skin" fashioned out of flexible semiconductor materials can sense touch, making it possible to create robots with a grip delicate enough to hold an egg, yet strong enough to grasp the frying pan, U.S. researchers said on Sunday.

Javey's team found a way to make ultra tiny "nanowires" from an alloy of silicon and germanium. Wires of this material were formed on the outside of a cylindrical drum, which was then rolled onto a sticky film, depositing the wires in a uniform pattern.

Sheets of this semiconductor film were then coated with a layer of pressure-sensitive rubber. Tests of the material showed it was able to detect a range of force, from typing on a keyboard to holding an object.

A second team led by Zhenan Bao, a chemical engineer at Stanford University in California, used a different approach, making a material so sensitive it can detect the weight of a butterfly resting on it.

Bao's sensors were made by sandwiching a precisely molded, highly elastic rubber layer between two electrodes in a regular grid of tiny pyramids.

"We molded it into some kind of microstructure to incorporate some air pockets," Bao said in a telephone interview. "If we introduce air pockets, then these rubber pieces can bounce back."

When this material is stretched, the artificial skin measures the change in electrical activity. "The change in the thickness of the material is converted into an electrical signal," she said.

Eventually, the teams hope artificial skin could be used to restore the sense of touch in people with prosthetic limbs, but scientists will first need a better understanding of how to integrate the system's sensors with the human nervous system. Read more at www.reuters.com

 

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Essentials About Mammogram

 Mammogram is a low dose X-Rays imaging to know about the health of breast in female. These are of two types, screening and diagnostic. Screening mammography is employed when the person is apparently healthy and diagnostic, when performed over a patient having breast related complains.

Normal Mammogram

Screening mammography is advised after 40 years of age and may be done in two yearly interval. Recently there is war over mammography regarding the schedule. However, it is pertinent to undergo screening mammography after self examination of breast and in consultation with personal physician.

• it is better to avoid mammography when the breast is swollen, apparently a week before and/or after periods.
• On the day of mammography avoid using cosmetics over the area or other things that may cast shadow in mammogram.
• Wear proper clothing, so that test can be taken up with minimal discomfort of taking out of dresses.
• Keep adequate hydration.
• Never be worried, it does not give pain; only a little discomfort of pressure of two plates those keep breast in place and flat.

Most of the screening tests yield negative result for cancer. It is said that if 1000 cases of mammography is taken 920 are negative; 80 are suspicious and after further examination 4 are cancers.
Newer modalities of tests to detect cancer of breast are coming up;

• Molecular breast imaging (MBI), less radiation in comparison to standard mammogram.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); suitable for bulky or dense breasts
• Ultrasonogram (USG).and
• Position emission tomography (PET) and PETCT, mostly done in cases of recurrences. 

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CA Esophagus.wmv

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Computer Vulnerability from Adobe Reader

Adobe, famous for PDF reader warns of computer vulnerability. They are finding solutions to it.

We do not know, the status of other open source PDF readers such as Foxit and Evince.

Amplify’d from news.cnet.com

Adobe warns of zero-day hole in Reader, Acrobat

Adobe on Wednesday warned of a zero-day hole in Reader and Acrobat that is reportedly being exploited in the wild.

The critical vulnerability is in Adobe Reader 9.3.4 and earlier versions for Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX, and Adobe Acrobat 9.3.4 and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh, according to the security advisory. The hole could allow an attacker to take control of an affected computer and potentially affects millions of computers using the Adobe software, which is the most popular PDF (portable document format) viewer.

The company said it is evaluating the schedule for releasing a security update to resolve the issue.

Adobe learned of the issue on Tuesday, according to a company statement. Read more at news.cnet.com

 

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Repeated Hand Washing for Preventing Flu

Repeated hand washing and sanitizing with alcohol based solution is a good practice to prevent flu especially in College/University hostels.

Amplify’d from www.nlm.nih.gov

College Students Reminded to Wash Their Hands

Making good hygiene a habit can help stop spread of flu at school, expert says

Kathryn Hutchinson, executive director of health and wellness at St. John's University, pointed out that the first thing students should do, ideally before leaving home, is to discuss the option of getting a flu vaccine with their parents and physician. This may help alleviate any anxiety students have about whether or not to get the shot.

Beyond taking that step, Hutchinson encourages students to arrive at school armed and ready to keep their hands clean and maintain a sanitary environment. That means stocking a supply of soap, as well as cleaning supplies to wipe down desks, sinks, computer keyboards and any other shared surfaces.

Frequent handwashing is a must, and hand sanitizers are useful when washing is impractical. But, Hutchinson stressed, sharing glassware, utensils and personal items such as toiletries (razors, toothbrushes, combs) is definitely not a good idea.

One good way to keep from spreading germs is to practice "cough etiquette" -- in other words cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, throw away any used tissues immediately, and wash your hands as soon as possible.

Overall, Hutchinson said, most students will find that the usual recommendations -- an exercise routine, a healthy diet and adequate sleep -- are the keys to staying healthy, as well as reducing their stress. But if and when health problems arise, she advises students to contact a health care professional immediately. Read more at www.nlm.nih.gov

 

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Shoes Help to Burn Calorie

The type of shoes help to burn calorie, tone up and shape up the wearer; it is claimed. Somebody may try it.

Amplify’d from timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Shoes to shape your butt? No extra benefit from toners

NEW YORK: Call them toners, shapers, or rocker bottoms, those exercise shoes with the distinctive thick, rounded soles are flying off the shelves and onto the feet of even the most clodhopper-averse walkers.

Toning shoes use curved soles and extra padding to alter the wearer's walking gait, purportedly engaging seldom-used muscles, increasing blood flow and reducing stress to the lower back.

So ACE commissioned a small study at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, to compare three brands of toning shoes to normal running shoes, using two groups of 12 active female participants. "

The results were remarkably consistent," Bryant said. "All individuals burned the same number of calories, all activated the same muscles. There was no significant difference between the two groups." Read more at timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Medicated Intrauterine Devices for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

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Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as menstrual bleeding more that 80 ml/cycle. More than that may have many adverse events on health of woman. Menstrual bleedings without nay organic cause may be treated with Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.

Amplify’d from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system or medroxyprogesterone for heavy menstrual bleeding: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system and oral medroxyprogesterone acetate in the treatment of idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding.

METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, controlled study, women aged 18 years or older with heavy menstrual bleeding (menstrual blood loss 80 mL or more per cycle) were randomly assigned to six cycles of treatment with either levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system or oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (10 mg daily for 10 days beginning on day 16 of each cycle). The primary efficacy variables were the absolute change in menstrual blood loss from baseline to end of study and the proportion of women with successful treatment (defined as menstrual blood loss less than 80 mL and a 50% or greater reduction in menstrual blood loss from baseline).

RESULTS: Of 807 women screened, 165 were randomly assigned to treatment (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system n=82, oral medroxyprogesterone acetate n=83). At the end of the study, the absolute reduction in median menstrual blood loss was significantly greater in the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system group (-128.8 mL, range -393.6 to +1242.2 mL) than in the medroxyprogesterone acetate arm (-17.8 mL, range -271.5 to +78.6 mL, P < .001), and the proportion of women with successful treatment was significantly higher for the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (84.8%) than for medroxyprogesterone acetate (22.2%, P < .001).

CONCLUSION: In women with idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding, the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system reduces menstrual blood loss more effectively and has a higher likelihood of treatment success than oral medroxyprogesterone acetate. Read more at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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