Neanderthal Gene Variants Increase Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Five variants of a lipid transporter gene associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes among Mexicans and other Latin Americans are also seen in a Neanderthal genome sequence, according to a study from the Slim Initiative in Genomic Medicine for the Americas (SIGMA) Type 2 Diabetes Consortium, published online December 25 in Nature.

The same disease may derive predominantly from different gene variants in different populations. The goal of SIGMA is to discover the genomic underpinnings of the doubled prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Mexican and other Latin American populations compared with the US non-Hispanic white population.

The SIGMA researchers, who are from the United States and Mexico, evaluated 9.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genomes of 3848 Mexicans and other Latin Americans who have type 2 diabetes and 4366 individuals from the same populations who do not.

The genome-wide association study confirmed earlier findings of 2 risk loci (TCF7L2 and KCNQ1) and identified a new risk locus in a region of 2 solute carrier genes, SLC16A11 andSLC16A13 (P = 3.9 × 10−13; odds ratio, 1.29). The association was stronger in younger, leaner people with diabetes and was replicated in independent samples (P = 1.1 × 10−4; odds ratio, 1.20).

The genome region that influences diabetes risk has 4 amino acid substitutions and 1 silent mutation, all in SLC16A11. The researchers call the 5 linked gene variants the " '5 SNP' haplotype." Each copy elevates risk by about 20%, so a homozygote would have a 40% elevation in risk. The haplotype "would be expected to contribute to the higher burden of type 2 diabetes in Mexican and Latin American populations," the researchers write.

The 5 SNP haplotype is common among people with recent Native American ancestry (50% frequency), but less so in East Asians (~10%) and rare in modern European and most African genomes. However, when the degree to which the haplotype differs from wild-type suggested an ancient origin, the researchers analyzed a Neanderthal genome and found the same 5 SNP haplotype. Most modern human populations have 1% to 4% of DNA from Neanderthals; sub-Saharan Africans have none.

To analyze the protein's normal function, the researchers expressed the gene in HeLa cells and observed an altered lipid metabolism: increases in levels of triacylglycerol and diacylglycerols and decreases in cholesterol ester, lysophosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin. The gene is normally expressed in liver cells.

Previous studies have associated accumulation of intracellular lipids and serum increases in triacylglycerol with increased risk for future insulin resistance and development of type 2 diabetes.

In addition to contributing to understanding the etiology of diabetes in Mexican and other Latin American populations, the identification of the 5 SNP haplotype may improve risk assessment and provide new drug targets. The study underscores the importance of identifying risk genes in understudied populations to expand knowledge of the pathophysiology of a disease.

More: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/818369?src=rss

New pen-like device to repair broken bone

Doctors may soon be able to 'draw' new bone, skin and muscle on to patients, after scientists created a pen-like device that can apply human cells directly on to seriously injured people.

The device contains stem cells and growth factors and will give surgeons greater control over where the materials are deposited.

It will also reduce the time the patient is in surgery by delivering live cells and growth factors directly to the site of injury, accelerating the regeneration of functional bone and cartilage, scientists said.

The device developed at the University of Wollongong (UOW) will eliminate the need to harvest cartilage and grow it for weeks in a lab.

The Bio Pen works similar to 3D printing methods by delivering cell material inside a bio-polymer such as alginate, a seaweed extract, protected by a second, outer layer of gel material.

The two layers of gel are combined in the pen head as it is extruded onto the bone surface and the surgeon 'draws' with the ink to fill in the damaged bone section.

A low powered ultra-violet light source is fixed to the device that solidifies the inks during dispensing, providing protection for the embedded cells while they are built up layer-by-layer to construct a 3D scaffold in the wound site.

Once the cells are 'drawn' onto the surgery site they will multiply, become differentiated into nerve cells, muscle cells or bone cells and will eventually turn from individual cells into a thriving community of cells in the form of a functioning a tissue, such as nerves, or a muscle.

The device can also be seeded with growth factors or other drugs to assist regrowth and recovery, while the hand-held design allows for precision in theatre and ease of transportation.

The BioPen prototype was designed and built using the 3D printing equipment in the labs at Wollongong and was handed over to clinical partners at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, led by Professor Peter Choong, who will work on optimising the cell material for use in clinical trials.

"This type of treatment may be suitable for repairing acutely damaged bone and cartilage, for example from sporting or motor vehicle injuries," Choong, Director of Orthopaedics at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne said.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/new-penlike-device-to-repair-broken-bone/1212008/0

Motor excitability helps predict working memory

Researchers have claimed that humans with a high motor excitability have a better working memory than humans with a low excitability.

In the study, that included 188 healthy young subjects, the scientists were able to show that subjects with a high motor excitability had increased working memory performance as compared to subjects with a low excitability.

By measuring the excitability of the motor cortex, conclusions can be drawn as to the excitability of other cortical areas, Nathalie Schicktanz, doctoral student and first author of the study, said.

The results might also have important clinical implications, as working memory deficits are a component of many neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In a next step, the scientists plan to study the relation between neuronal excitability and memory on a molecular level.

The study is part of a project lead by Prof. Dominique de Quervain and Prof. Andreas Papassotiropoulos. The project uses transcranial magnetic stimulation to study the cognitive functions in humans. The goal is to identify the neurobiological and molecular mechanisms of human memory. (ANI)

More: http://www.aninews.in/newsdetail9/story147098/motor-excitability-helps-predict-working-memory.html

Obesity may make kids stressed

Obesity may make children more stressed-out as compared to their normal-weight peers, a new study has found.

Overweight children naturally produce higher levels of a key stress hormone than other youngsters, researchers said. The body produces the hormone cortisol when a person experiences stress, researchers said.

When a person faces frequent stress, cortisol and other stress hormones build up in the blood and, over time, can cause serious health problems.

Researchers measured cortisol in scalp hair, which reflects long-term exposure and has been proposed to be a bio-marker for stress. The study is the first to show obese children have chronically elevated levels of cortisol.

"We were surprised to find obese children, as young as age 8, already had elevated cortisol levels," said one of the study's authors, Erica van den Akker, from Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

"By analysing children's scalp hair, we were able to confirm high cortisol levels persisted over time," said van den Akker.

The observational case-control study analysed hair samples from 20 obese children and 20 normal weight children to measure long-term cortisol levels. Each group included 15 girls and 5 boys between the ages of 8 and 12.

Obese subjects had an average cortisol concentration of 25 pg/mg in their scalp hair, compared to an average concentration of 17 pg/mg in the normal weight group.

The hormone concentrations found in hair reflect cortisol exposure over the course of about one month. "Because this study took an observational approach, more research will determine the cause of this phenomenon," van den Akker said.

"We do not know whether obese children actually experience more psychological stress or if their bodies handle stress hormones differently. Answering these key questions will improve our understanding of childhood obesity and may change the way we treat it," said van den Akker.

The study was published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/obesity-may-make-kids-stressed/1210236/0

Some females do die for males!

In some species, mothers apparently live just so as to produced the male's progeny. And die soon after giving birth.

In what has been described as a shocking discovery, a team of researchers studying the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) roundworm found that the presence of the male sperm and seminal fluid cause female worms to shrivel and die after giving birth.

"The demise of the female appears to benefit the male worm by removing her from the mating pool for other males," said the Princeton University researchers.

The researchers found that male sperm and seminal fluid trigger pathways that cause females to dehydrate, prematurely age and die.


"Their lifespans are cut by about a third to a half," said senior author Coleen Murphy, an associate professor of molecular biology at the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics.

"Males compete to have their genomes propagated, and this often occurs at the expense of the female," Murphy added. The study is the first to document body shrinkage and identify the underlying biological pathways, Murphy said.

The C. elegans roundworm is commonly used in research because many of its genetic pathways are similar to those of humans.

"That these pathways can be hijacked and run in reverse in a simple organism might suggest that that could also happen in more complex organisms," said Murphy. "So the work can help us understand male-female interactions and how they influence female longevity and reproduction."

Males, however, require females if they are to pass on their genes to future generations. Once inseminated, the female can give birth to hundreds of progeny, and these offspring do not require maternal care after they are born. Killing off the mother makes her unavailable to mate with other males, giving a genetic advantage to the father.

The researchers found that the lethal effect occurred not only in the C. elegans but also in other types of worms from the Caenorhabditis genus that are not hermaphroditic.

"The fact that it is conserved in true male-female species, not just hermaphrodites, suggests that it is an important, conserved biological mechanism," Murphy said.

The findings of the research have been published in the journal Science.

More: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/375935/some-females-do-die-males.html

First cross-sectional, multi-city study carried out in India related to thyroid dysfunction

Abbott India announced today the New Delhi results from a study assessing the prevalence of hypothyroidism in India that was published in the July 2013 issue of the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

The Thyroid Epidemiological Study team was led by Dr. A. G Unnikrishnan, Principal Investigator and CEO and Endocrinologist, Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune; Dr. Raj Kumar Lalwani, New Delhi Investigator and

Consultant Physician – PG Medical Centre, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi; and other researchers [1]. This study initiated by Abbott is India’s first cross-sectional multi-city study to quantify prevalence of thyroid dysfunctions in the post iodization phase in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Goa, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

Key Findings from the Study:

Hypothyroidism is highly prevalent amongst the surveyed population across India with one out of ten people being diagnosed with the condition.

Hypothyroidism was found to be a common form of thyroid dysfunction affecting 10.95% of the study population in India. The older population (above the age of 35 years) seemed to be at higher risk of hypothyroidism than the younger population (13.11% vs. 7.53%).

Of the 5360 people screened for thyroid disorders in India, more than one fourth (26.79%) were from Delhi. Delhi formed the biggest sample size for the nationwide study. Over 11% of the study population from Delhi reported hypothyroidism and one third of them were not aware of their disease.

Women were three times more likely to be affected by hypothyroidism than men (15.86% vs. 5.02%), especially those in the 46-54age group.

Hypertension (20.4%) and diabetes mellitus (16.2%) were the other common diseases observed in the study population.

Undetected cases from study population are significantly higher in Delhi (3.97%) as compared to other major cities like Mumbai (2.86%) and Chennai (2.09%)

Approximately 22% of the study population in Delhi had anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies [TPO] positivity, an established autoimmune marker pointing toward a steady risk of thyroid disorders.

About 9.61% of the study population from Delhi had mild thyroid failure; these cases may progress to hypothyroidism in future.

Dr. A. G Unnikrishnan, Principal Investigator of the study and CEO and Endocrinologist, Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune says “The study assessed the nationwide prevalence of thyroid disorder, particularly hypothyroidism, in adults residing in various cities that represent diverse geographic origin, occupation, socio-economic status and food habits. Many patients were diagnosed with hypothyroidism for the first time during the study. Screening for thyroid disorders is therefore essential for early detection, treatment and management of the disease. Since women are more affected than men, it poses major health issues to women. Tiredness, weight gain, hair loss, menstrual irregularities, decreased fertility and depression are symptoms that are observed in women with hypothyroidism.”

Dr. Raj Kumar Lalwani, New Delhi Investigator and Consultant Physician – PG Medical Centre, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi says, “Over 11% of the study population was diagnosed of hypothyroidism and one third of hypothyroid cases were not aware of their disease. Undetected cases are significantly higher in Delhi (3.97%) as compared to other major cities like Mumbai (2.86%) and Chennai (2.09%). About 9.61% of population from Delhi had mild thyroid failure; these cases may progress to hypothyroidism in future. Approximately 22% of the study population tested positive for anti-TPO antibodies putting them at a higher risk of developing thyroid disorder in the future.”

Globally, thyroid disorders continue to be common yet one of the most under-diagnosed and neglected chronic health conditions. These disorders impair normal functioning of the thyroid gland causing abnormal production of hormones leading to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in the developed world is estimated to be about 4-5%. [2]

If left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause elevated cholesterol levels, an increase in blood pressure, an increased rate of cardiovascular complications, decreased fertility, and depression; and in pregnant women, placental abnormalities and increased risks for the baby’s well-being. These symptoms are often confused with other disorders, thus making thyroid disorders one of the most underdiagnosed disorders in India. Like diabetes, there is no permanent cure for most forms of thyroid disorders, but with medication and precise treatment, thyroid disorders can be controlled and patients can live normal lives.

Rehan A. Khan, Managing Director, Abbott India, said “The city-specific epidemiological study has helped get a true picture of the evolving profile of thyroid disorders in the post iodization phase in India. By partnering with various stakeholders, Abbott is seeking to advance understanding, increase awareness and support proper diagnosis of thyroid disorders in our country.”

About the Thyroid Epidemiological Study

The study assessed the nationwide prevalence of thyroid disorder, particularly hypothyroidism, in adults residing in various cities that represent diverse geographic origin, occupation, socio-economic status and food habits.

All men or women (residing in that area for at least 5 years) aged 18 years or over, were invited to participate in a general health checkup. More than 5,000 participants took part, giving a target population that constituted 0.01% of the total population of the eight cities, according to 2001 national census data. Willing participants signed a written informed consent. Participants were excluded if they were pregnant, or had any acute or chronic systemic illnesses as judged by the study investigator.

The study was approved by a Central Ethics Committee (CEC) and carried out in accordance with the approved protocol, principles of Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practices. It was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry India (registration no: CTRI/2011/11/002180).

Thyroid abnormalities were diagnosed by measuring the status of thyroid hormones - serum FT3, FT4 and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH].

Hypothyroidism, commonly categorized under the cluster of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs), is a common health issue in India, as it is worldwide. Since the time India adopted the universal salt iodization program in 1983, there has been a decline in goiter prevalence in several parts of the country which were endemic in the pre-iodization period. With a majority of households (83.2% urban and 66.1% rural) now consuming adequate iodized salt, India is supposedly undergoing a transition from iodine deficiency to sufficiency state (WHO 2004).[4,5,6] A recent review of studies conducted in the post-iodization phase gives some indication of the corresponding change in the thyroid status of the Indian population, and thyroid disorders seem to be increasing despite India being an iodine sufficient country now.

More: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/first-crosssectional-multicity-study-carried-out-in-india-related-to-thyroid-dysfunction-/1209961/0

Anxiety may show few

Anxiety may show few physical effects, but anxiety increases the risk of a stroke, according to American Heart Assn. research. People with heightened anxiety had a 33% higher stroke risk than those with normal levels of anxiety. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems, and stroke is the No. 4 cause of death in the U.S.

Read More At Investor's Business Daily: http://news.investors.com/122013-683812-anxiety-may-show-few.htm#ixzz2o5CiaIwM

10 pc urban Indians deficient on thyroid hormone: Research

One in every 10 urban Indians is deficient on an essential thyroid hormone, which may silently trigger several diseases among adults, suggests a new research.

A study, conducted on more than 5,300 individuals in eight cities, including Delhi and Bangalore, found 10.95 per cent prevalence of hypothyroidism among adults.

The disorder is linked to several diseases like diabetes, heart disease and infertility.

Moreover, almost 8 per cent of the people screened for the study have sub-clinical thyroid deficiency and stand a chance of developing symptoms later in their lives.


Almost one-third of hypothyroid patients were unaware of their conditions and detected for the first time. Women were three times more prone than men, particularly in the age group of 46-55 years, says the study published in a recent issue of “Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism”.

“There have been no nationwide study on the prevalence of hypothyroidism in India, either in the pre or post-iodization periods.

A large, cross-sectional, comprehensive study was required to provide a true picture of the evolving profile of thyroid disorders across the country as India is in the post-iodization era,” A G Unnikrishnan, lead author of the study and chief executive officer of Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune, said.

Iodine deficiency due to insufficient intake of dietary iodine is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide. To counter this, India adopted an universal salt iodization programme in 1983.

But, after three decades, thyroid deficiency continues to be widely prevalent, triggering many other diseases.

“We have an estimated 62 million diabetic and 42 million hypothyroidism patients. Without controlling thyroid problem, diabetes and heart diseases cannot be controlled,” said R K Lalwani, a private doctor associated with Max Hospital, who carried out the Delhi leg of the study.

Delhi statistics were similar to the national trend as 11 per cent people were found short in thyroid level and sub-clinical hypothyroidism was seen in 9.61 per cent people.
The prevalence was marginally less in Bangalore (thyroid deficiency 9.23 per cent) and very high (21 per cent) in Kolkata.

Though India is in the post-iodization phase, the study suggests that prevalence of hypothyroidism in adults is high on a national scale.

Unfortunately, no prevalence data exists on the occurrence of hypothyroidism among adults in the pre-iodization phase.

Globally, thyroid disorders continue to be common yet one of the most under-diagnosed health conditions.

If left untreated, it can cause a host of diseases besides affecting a baby's wellbeing in a pregnant woman.

More: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/375689/10-pc-urban-indians-deficient.html

Canadian experts skeptical of new blood pressure guidelines

Potential new blood pressure guidelines published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association are making waves in the field of cardiovascular medicine: Some Canadian experts are worried that the news could confuse patients and lead to an increase in heart attacks and stroke.

The widely held threshold for a person to be diagnosed with high blood pressure is 140 over 90. People with this blood pressure reading or higher are advised to change their diet and lifestyle habits and possibly initiate drug therapy to lower the pressure on the heart.

But for adults 60 years and older, the panel of American experts who wrote the paper recommended a higher threshold – 150 over 90 – as more reasonable, based on evidence that few additional benefits come with more aggressive treatment.

Canadian hypertension expert Dr. Ernesto Schiffrin said he expects to be fielding many patient queries on the recommendation.

When looking at the over-60 demographic, he says the JAMA authors, led by Paul James of the University of Iowa, didn’t take into account the broad range of risk factors many patients have in addition to high blood pressure.

“They didn’t consider that many patients, after age 60, have elevated cholesterol, they may be smokers, they may be overweight or obese. For those patients, perhaps a majority of patients above age 60, recommending blood pressures under 150 may be under-treating them,” says Schiffrin, who works at the Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.

And since Canada has been doing a good job of treating hypertension, Schiffrin says it would be a shame for physicians to take the American advice and risk having patients with blood pressure between 140 and 150 over 90 suffer heart attacks or strokes.

Canadians already have rigorous evidence-based guidelines updated annually by the non-profit organization Hypertension Canada, Schriffin says. According to Hypertension Canada, almost six million people in Canada – that’s about 1 in 5 adults – live with hypertension. And rising blood pressure over the long term is known to cause atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which is a major risk for premature death (before the age of 65), according to Hypertension Canada.

Schiffrin says the Canadian guidelines do include a recommendation aimed at those “rare individuals,” who don’t exhibit other risk factors: 160 over 100.

“There are very few people who have elevated blood pressure and no additional risk factors,” says Schiffrin, who is also the Canada Research Chair in hypertension and vascular research at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and a professor in the department of medicine at McGill University.

Furthermore, there is also a Canadian age-based recommendation for people over 80 which takes into account the fact that we all experience rising blood pressure as we age: less than 150 systolic (at that age, the systolic pressure – which occurs when your heart contracts rather than the diastolic, when the heart is relaxed – is the key measure physicians look at.)

Still, some experts say allowing more wiggle room in the blood pressure measurements of those 60 and older may be an idea worth exploring. Dr. Peter Liu, the scientific director of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, says the spotlight on this “grey area” in hypertension treatment highlights if not a change, the need for individualized treatment.

“As we get older our blood pressure increases – this is just part of the aging process. If that’s the only thing that you have, then trying to bring down blood pressure may not be realistic or necessary.”

While the JAMA paper didn’t mention side-effects, Liu says for some patients, the side effects of blood pressure medications may outweigh the benefits. Side effects can include swelling of the legs and dizziness, which could lead to falls.

Adding to the guideline controversy is the fact that the panel who wrote the recommendations is acting independently, after being relieved of their duties by their sponsoring body, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), one of the National Institutes of Health government agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This June, NIH discontinued the project, looking to other organizations such as the American Heart Association to create guidelines instead.

Liu says despite the fuss south of the border, all physicians and cardiologists would do well not to get too caught up in the numbers.

“At the end of the day, guidelines are guidelines. At the patient-doctor-interaction level you want to personalize these things for the patient.”

More: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/canadian-experts-skeptical-of-new-blood-pressure-guidelines/article16061997/

Gene discovery offers clues to reverse balding

Scientists have identified a complex network of genes that control the cycles of hair growth, a finding that may offer ways to reverse baldness and receding hairline.

Researchers from the University of Southern California have described some of the factors that determine when hair grows, when it stops growing and when it falls out.

Krzysztof Kobielak, Eve Kandyba and colleagues focused on stem cells located in hair follicles (hfSCs), which can regenerate hair follicles as well as skin.

These hfSCs are governed by the signalling pathways BMP and Wnt - which are groups of molecules that work together to control cell functions, including the cycles of hair growth.

The research focuses on how the gene Wnt7b activates hair growth. Without Wnt7b, hair is much shorter, scientists said.

The research identified a complex network of genes - including the Wnt and BMP signalling pathways - controlling the cycles of hair growth.

Reduced BMP signalling and increased Wnt signalling activate hair growth. The inverse - increased BMP signalling and decreased Wnt signalling - keeps the hfSCs in a resting state, scientists said.

Further research clarified the workings of the BMP signalling pathway by examining the function of two key proteins, called Smad1 and Smad5.

These proteins transmit the signals necessary for regulating hair stem cells during new growth.

"Collectively, these new discoveries advance basic science and, more importantly, might translate into novel therapeutics for various human diseases," said Kobielak.

"Since BMP signalling has a key regulatory role in maintaining the stability of different types of adult stem cell populations, the implication for future therapies might be potentially much broader than baldness and could include skin regeneration for burn patients and skin cancer," Kobielak said.

The findings were published in the journals Stem Cells and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/gene-discovery-offers-clues-to-reverse-balding/1209560/

Smoking can alter your genes: Study

Smoking can cause changes in several genes, increasing the risk of developing cancer and diabetes, a new study has found.

Researchers from Uppsala University and Uppsala Clinical Research Center in Sweden found that smoking affects genes which increase the risk for cancer and diabetes, or are important for the immune response or sperm quality.

They examined how the genes are changed in smokers and users of non-smoke tobacco. The study identified a large number of genes that were altered in smokers but found no such effect of non-smoke tobacco.

“This means that the epigenetic modifications are likely not caused by substances in the tobacco, but by the hundreds of different elements that are formed when the tobacco is burnt,” said Asa Johansson, researcher at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University and Uppsala Clinical Research Center, who led the study.

“Our results therefore indicate that the increased disease risk associated with smoking is partly a caused by epigenetic changes. “A better understanding of the molecular mechanism behind diseases and reduced body function might lead to improved drugs and therapies in the future,” said Johansson.

It has been previously known that smokers have an increased risk of developing diabetes and many types of cancer, and have a reduced immune defence and lower sperm quality.

More: http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/LoaSUOAKUN3ltPfbEC9awK/Smoking-can-alter-your-genes-Study.html

Five reasons why antidepressants are bad for you

Using antidepressants may help in treating major depressive disorder and other mental illnesses such anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, etc. However, various studies have shown that these medications can also have significant side effects and dangers.

Some side effects may get vanished after the first few weeks of drug treatments, but others continue and may even get worse.

Here are five reasons why antidepressants are not good for your health based on different studies and research:

Weight issues: Weight issues are one factor common among antidepressants. Some patients may report weight gain, others report weight loss depending on the types of drug they take.

Sexual health: One of the common side effects is decreased interest in sex, failure to reach orgasm and erectile dysfunction. Sexual side-effects are common with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

Sperm: According to a 2009 study, more than 40 percent of the 35 healthy participants who took the SSRI paroxetine (Paxil) for four weeks had sperm with fragmented DNA, which could affect fertility. Therefore, men are advised to consult their doctors about antidepressants.

Bones health: While some studies have linked SSRIs with lower bone density and more hip fractures in older people, other studies differ with the findings.

Suicide: The link between antidepressants use and suicide risk is unsure and hence, it remains the target of medical research. Some studies have associated some antidepressants with increased risk of suicide in some patients, especially youth.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/five-reasons-why-antidepressants-are-bad-for-you_25589.html

E-cigarettes 'may not' cut heart disease risk

A new research has revealed that nicotine, which is the major addictive substance in cigarette smoke, contributes to smokers' higher risk of developing atherosclerosis, the primary cause of heart attacks.

Chi-Ming Hai from Brown University said the findings suggested that e-cigarettes, the battery-powered devices that deliver nicotine in steam without the carcinogenic agents of tobacco smoke, may not significantly reduce smokers' risk for heart disease.

Dr. Hai's research on human and rat vascular smooth muscle cells provides evidence of a link between nicotine and atherosclerosis.

In Dr. Hai's experiments, nicotine appeared to drive the formation of a kind of cellular drill called podosome rosettes, which are members of the invadosome family, consisting of invadopodia, podosomes and podosome rosettes.

These specialized cell surface assemblies degrade and penetrate the tissue during cell invasion.

Dr. Hai subjected rat and primary human vascular smooth muscle cells to prolonged (six hours) nicotine treatment, enabling the cells to form podosome rosettes in response to Protein Kinase C (PKC) activation, which controls protein phosphorylation in signal transduction cascades.

The podosome rosettes set the scene for global extracellular matrix degradation and internalization. PKC activation alone, that is, without nicotine treatment, could induce the formation of podosomes in the rat muscle cells, accompanied by focal extracellular matrix degradation.

Matrigel-coated transwell experiments indicated that nicotine treatment and PKC activation worked synergistically to enhance invasiveness in the primary human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Inclusion of alpha-bungarotoxin, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, or cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, during nicotine treatment abolished nicotine-induced podosome rosette formation in the rat cells, suggesting that signalling through the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and synthesis of new proteins are required for podosome rosette formation.

The study was presented at the American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/E-cigarettes-may-not-cut-heart-disease-risk/articleshow/27470033.cms

Add nuts to your diet for sake of health, longevity

Nuts to you! No, that’s not an insult. It’s a recommendation to add nuts to your diet for the sake of health and longevity.

Consistent evidence for the health benefits of nuts has been accumulating since the early 1990s. Frequent nut consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of major chronic diseases, including heart and blood vessel disorders and Type 2 diabetes.

The newest and most convincing findings, reported last month in The New England Journal of Medicine, come from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which together have followed nearly 119,000 women and men for decades. Both studies repeatedly recorded what the participants ate and analysed their diets in relation to the causes of death among the 27,429 people who died since the studies began.

The more often nuts were consumed, the less likely participants were to die of cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease, and not because nut eaters succumbed to other diseases. Their death rate from any cause was lower during the years they were followed. (The nuts in question were pistachios, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, peanuts and walnuts.)

I know what you’re thinking: Aren’t nuts fattening? Yes, an ounce of nuts has 160 to 200 calories, nearly 80 per cent from fat.

But in study after study, the more often people ate nuts, the leaner they tended to be.

For example, in a Mediterranean study that tracked the effect of nut consumption on weight gain over the course of 28 months, frequent nut consumers gained less weight than those who never ate nuts, and were 43 per cent less likely to become overweight or obese.

How is that possible? First, nuts may be taking the place of other high-calorie snacks, like chips, cookies and candy. And nut eaters may be less likely to snack, period; the fat, fiber and protein in nuts suppresses hunger between meals.

Second, the body may treat calories from nuts differently from those in other high-carbohydrate foods. Third, nut eaters may pursue a healthier lifestyle and burn more calories through exercise.

And not just tree nuts. The new study found that peanuts were also linked to a reduced death rate and lower risk of chronic disease.

Thus, all nuts are powerhouses of biologically active substances, most of which are known to protect and promote health. Penny M Kris-Etherton, a professor of nutrition at Penn State who has studied the effects of nuts on heart disease, describes them as “complex plant foods that are not only rich sources of unsaturated fat but also contain several nonfat constituents”, including protein, fibre, plant sterols that can lower cholesterol, and micronutrients like copper and magnesium.

Every one of these substances has been shown to ward off one disease or another. The fat content of nuts alone could account for their ability to support heart health. Nuts have less cholesterol-raising saturated fat than olive oil. On average, 62 per cent of the fat in nuts is monounsaturated, the kind that supports healthy levels of protective HDL cholesterol and does not raise blood levels of harmful LDL cholesterol.

Most nuts, and especially almonds, are good sources of vitamin E, an antioxidant. The nurses’ study has linked tree nuts to a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer. In both the nurses’ and health professionals’ studies, eating nuts more than five times a week was associated with a 25 per cent to 30 per cent lower risk of needing gallbladder surgery.

More: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/add-nuts-to-your-diet-for-sake-of-health-longevity/1207606/0

Why young Mumbaikars are rushing to ortho clinics

Why are Mumbaikars as young as 30 queueing up at ortho clinics with joint pain?

Make hay while the sun shines carries a literal meaning for Bandra entrepreneur Preet Motwani. She gets out every morning at 8.15 am to soak in an hour of bright sunlight. It wasn't like this nine months ago. The 35-year-old was fighting time to get her eight-year-old ready for school before heading to her interiors store in Andheri.

But a sever stomach infection she contracted in January, that she overcame with a light, nutritious diet and medication, left her weak, irritable and lethargic. "I was experiencing excruciating pain and spasms in my neck, which travelled down my shoulders and spine," says Motwani. This lasted a month before she decided to visit a doctor who suggested she get her Vitamin D3 and B12 levels tested. While her B12 reserves were sufficient, Motwani's Vitamin D level stood at 12.20 ng/ml, way below the normal range of 30 to 100 ng/ml). "The deficiency was responsible for the pain that was a result of weakened bones," she says. Other than the mandatory hour of sunshine, Vitamin D supplements and physiotherapy have seen her through the year.

Age dropping
Mumbai's orthopaedics and physiotherapists have reported a rise in the cases of poor bone healthcompounded by muscle weakness, as in Motwani's case. Orthopaedic surgeon and head of orthopaedics at Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Dr Pradeep Bhosale, says the situation has worsened in the last five years. "Most female patients also complain of pain in the heels, irritability and short temper," says the doctor, who sees four such cases a week. Across the city in Bandra, physiotherapist Dr Poonam Bajaj treats 30 odd patients a day, teaching them exercises that will rid them of joint and muscle pain. Medically, they use the term osteopenia or the lack of bone density mineral to describe such cases. It's a step before osteoporosis, a condition that refers to the degeneration of bones. The thinning of bones due to ageing is a natural process. Most adults reach their peak bone mass density (BMD) at 30, after which there is a gradual bone mass loss that kicks in. In fact, by middle age, the body reabsorbs existing bone cells faster than new bone cells are made, resulting in minerals, mass, and structure loss, leaving bones weaker. Brittle bones are more susceptible to fractures.

Doctors say, owing to a poor lifestyle most people don't end up reaching their peak BMD at 30. This is why they are noticing more cases of weak bones in patients in their 20s because they haven't built their reserves.

Lack of Vitamin D is the biggest culprit, with orthopaedics calling it India's 'urban epidemic'. Dr Ameet Pispati, consulting orthopaedic surgeon at Jaslok and Bhatia Hospitals, explains, "The bone has a trabecular network. Think of it as a honeycomb. Its main source of constitution are Vitamin D and calcium. They are the lime and cement of the bone's building structure." If a person is deficient in either of these, the network's foundations are affected, leaving him more prone to pain and fracture.

What's wrong?
Doctors are not ruling out poor posture, sedentary lifestyle, and high impact workouts without warming up as factors, too. Likewise, lack of exercise, high stress, excessive smoking and drinking, a poor diet, an overdose of caffeine and colas (they increase calcium excretion and reduce absorption) and hormonal imbalances are contributors, too.

Women are especially vulnerable since they have a lower peak BMD to begin with. Besides, loss of bone mass tends to speed up as hormonal changes kick in with menopause.

Dr Fixit
The easiest and cheapest remedy, experts will tell you, is to expose yourself to morning sunlight for 40 minutes every day. Playing tennis, jogging, dancing and climbing stairs together with the right diet (see box) helps slow down bone loss. "It easier to prevent bone weakness than treat it. Once bones are weakened, it is a longterm uphill battle," says Dr Pispati.

Feed your bones
Where to get your calcium from
Dietician and fitness expert Sheela Tanna suggests dairy products (milk, ghee, yoghurt and cheese). Go for eggs, dark green leafy vegetables and soyabean.

Replace the junk food
High sugar and fat intake leads to bone weakening. Since fast foods are deficient in calcium, Vitamin C and zinc, all necessary for bone maintenance. Instead of snacking on chips and farsan, eat fruits like orange, guava and sweet lime, rich Vitamin C. Have khakra and bread or rotis made from whole grains.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Why-young-Mumbaikars-are-rushing-to-ortho-clinics/articleshow/27348564.cms

How humans take difficult decisions decoded

Heads or tails? Random fluctuations in the brain determine how we make decisions when faced with two equally appealing options, scientists say.

An emerging field of study known as neuroeconomics is combining the economists' insights with scientific study of the brain to learn more about decision-making processes and how they can go awry.

"Neuroeconomics is not only helpful for the development of better economic theory, it is also relevant from a clinical point of view," said ..


Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/27123351.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Chances of conceiving through IVF 'dwindle' after age 37

A new University of Aberdeen study has found that age can increase the risk of IVF failure in women in their mid-30s, and specifically from the age 37.

For the study, researchers examined data from 121,744 British women, who had undergone their first cycle of IVF between 2000 and 2007, the BBC reported.

The findings showed that expecting women aged 38-39 were 43 percent more likely to have a miscarriage than women aged 18-34, and women aged 40-42 were almost twice as likely to lose the baby as the younger age group.

Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya, of the Reproductive Medicine team at the university, said that the IVF treatment comprises a number of key steps, and they found that influence of age is sustained at each stage of the process.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/chances-of-conceiving-through-ivf-dwindle-after-age-37_25465.html

Scientists create candy that prevents tooth decay

Yes you heard it right! For all the people who love to indulge in sweet treat, here’s a good news. Now you don’t have to get worried about tooth decay because of eating candies because scientists have developed a new 'sugar-free' candy that reduces the amount of cavity-causing bacteria on the teeth.

This candy which has been developed by Christine Lang of the Berlin biotech firm contains dead bacteria that bind to the bacteria most likely to cause cavities.

According to results, subjects who ate the candy had reduced levels of "bad" bacteria in their mouths. After eating, bacteria attached to the surface of the teeth release an acid that dissolves the tooth enamel, leading to cavities.

The strain of bacteria most likely to cause cavities is mutans streptococci. Another type of bacteria Lactobacillus paracasei, found in kefir, reduces levels of mutans streptococci and decreases the number of cavities .A sugar on the surface of L. paracasei binds with mutans streptococci. Lang and her team think that by binding with mutans streptococci, L. paracasei prevents mutans streptococci from reattaching to teeth.

Lang and her team then developed a sugar-free candy containing heat-killed samples of the bacteria to test whether Lactobacillus paracasei could reduce cavities.

Out of 60 volunteers, one third ate candies with one milligram of L. paracasei, one third ate candies with two milligrams and one third ate candies that tasted the same, but contained no bacteria.

Each of the subjects ate five candies over a one and half day period. At the end of the experiment, about three fourths of the volunteers who'd eaten candies with bacteria had significantly lower levels of mutans streptococci in their saliva than they'd had the day before. Subjects who consumed candies with two milligrams of bacteria experienced a reduction in mutans streptococci levels after eating the first candy.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/scientists-create-candy-that-prevents-tooth-decay_25490.html

Global Burden of Dementia Underestimated: Report

New figures show an estimated 44 million people worldwide now have dementia, up from 35 million in 2010, and that number will reach 76 million in 2030, and 135 million by 2050.

The new estimates are a "staggering" increase of 17% over figures published in 2009, Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) said in a Policy Brief for heads of government released this week, ahead of the first G8 Dementia Summit, which will take place in London, United Kingdom, on December 11.

The current burden and future impact of the dementia epidemic have been "underestimated, particularly for the Asia East and Sub-Saharan African regions," the brief says. It notes that the global burden will soon shift to poorer countries. By 2050, 71% of all people with dementia will live in low or middle income countries, the ADI predicts.

"At the eve of the G8 Dementia Summit in London, UK, it is not just the G8 countries, but all nations, that must commit to a sustained increase in dementia research," ADI executive director Marc Wortmann said in a statement.

"The governments of the world's richest nations are focusing today upon dementia. This is a global problem that is, increasingly, impacting on developing countries with limited resources and little time to develop comprehensive systems of social protection, health and social care," added Martin Prince, from King's College London and author of the Policy Brief.

Most Governments "Woefully Unprepared"

"While we all hope for advances in treatment that could blunt the impact of the coming epidemic, we need to agree now to work together to close the diagnosis and treatment gap. Nobody should be left without access to support and care," Prince said.

As reported previously by Medscape Medical News, the World Alzheimer's Report 2011 put the economic cost of dementia at $604 billion annually, or 1% of global gross domestic product. These costs will escalate at least proportionally with numbers affected, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, the ADI warns in the Policy Brief.

How to provide long-term care for patients with dementia must be a public health priority, the ADI says. The World Alzheimer's Report 2013 called on governments around the world to make dementia caregiving a priority by implementing national plans and by initiating urgent national debates on this issue.

However, most governments are "woefully unprepared" for the dementia epidemic, the Brief warns. To date, only 13 of 193 World Health Organization countries have national dementia plans in place.

The US National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease announced in 2012 calls on the government and private sector to intensify efforts to treat or prevent Alzheimer's and related dementias and to improve care and services.

This Policy Brief emphasizes that dementia is a "global epidemic, which demands a global solution," Matthew Baumgart, senior director of public policy at the Alzheimer's Association, which is a member of ADI, told Medscape Medical News.

"However, Alzheimer's disease and dementia are in a similar place to HIV and cancer 20 to 30 years ago, when fear, ignorance and stigma prevailed. But history shows major diseases can be made manageable, even preventable, with sufficient political will and research investment," Baumgart said. "We stopped polio. We've found ways to treat heart disease, and can now prevent, treat, and even cure many kinds of cancer."

"The G8 Dementia Summit," he added, "is an auspicious opportunity to make Alzheimer's and dementia research a global priority, and to promote increased global cooperation and coordination. Collaboration is needed between countries, companies, advocacy groups, people with dementia and their families, and the public to demand and discover answers to this monumental problem. By accelerating these alliances, the G8 summit has the potential to be a key milestone and turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and dementia."

According to the ADI, "best estimates" are that 10% of dementia cases may be avoided by improvements in public health. "Campaigns that target smoking, underactivity, obesity, hypertension and diabetes should be prioritised as well as education and other cognitive enhancement," the brief advises.

More: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/817387?src=rss

Cervical cancer: Know all about the top cancer-killer among Indian women

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix or cancer of the entrance to the uterus (womb). It can also be defined as a type of cancer that happens in the cells of the cervix. Cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

What causes cervical cancer and how you get the disease?

Cervical cancer affects mostly women over the age of 30. It is believed that cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus or HPV. The disease can be contracted through sexual contact with someone who has it.

While there are different types of the HPV virus, not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Some of them cause genital warts, but other types may not show any symptoms.

About 132,000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in India yearly

Gravely, the disease kills more women in India than any other countries in the world. Cervical cancer affects approximately 132,000 Indian women annually, of which an astounding 72,000 die, according to the Cervical Cancer-Free Coalition.

Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer may include - vaginal bleeding during sex, pelvic pain or pain during intercourse, change in menstrual cycle, bleeding in-between periods, post-menopausal bleeding, vaginal discharge tinged with blood that may have a foul odour.

Diagnosis:

Treating cervical cancer is more likely to be successful if detected in its earliest stages. The American Cancer Society advises that all women should begin cervical cancer screening at age 21. It recommends that women aged 21 to 29, should have a Pap test every three years. Women who are age 30 or older should have a Pap test combined with an HPV test every five years till age 65 or just a Pap test every three years.

According to the Society, though the Pap smear is not foolproof in screening, it has been “more successful than any other test in preventing a cancer”. The Pap smear is available in several laboratories in Indian cities nowadays.

Treatment

Treatment differs depending on stage of cancer and other health problems you may have. Treatment choices may include:

Surgery- Surgery is performed to remove the uterus (hysterectomy) in the early stages of cervical cancer.

A simple hysterectomy is a surgical process to remove the cervix and the uterus.

A radical hysterectomy involves surgical removal of the cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and lymph nodes in the area.

If you have a hysterectomy, you won’t become pregnant. But, hysterectomy isn’t always needed if cancer is detected very early.

Radiation- In this therapy, high dose of X-rays is used to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumours. It is a standard treatment for many types of cancer and may be used in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, or hormonal therapy.

Chemotherapy- It is the use of drugs/medicine to kill cancer cells. Certain chemotherapy drugs may lead to infertility as well as cause early menopause in premenopausal women.

Prevention:

You can reduce your risk of getting cervical cancer by following the tips below:

1. Have regular Pap test screening

2. Get HPV vaccine

3. Do not smoke or if you do then quit smoking

4. Avoid having multiple sexual partners

5. Use condoms

6. Avoid all intimate sexual contact with anyone who has symptoms of STIs (sexually transmitted infections).

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/diseases/cervical-cancer-know-all-about-the-top-cancer-killer-among-indian-women_25429.html