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A swine flu outbreak occurred in Mexico and the United States in April 2009 and spread rapidly around the world by human-to human transmission. The new type A H1N1 influenza virus is unlike any that had been previously isolated [1, 2], judging from the first data released in May. It is a messy combination of sequences from bird, human and swine flu virus lineages from North America and Eurasia. A senior virologist based in Canberra, Australia, told the press he thought that the virus could have been created in the laboratory and released by accident [3]. Some even suggest it was made intentionally as a bioweapon [4], while others blame the intensive livestock industry and extensive trafficking of love animals over long distances, which provide plenty of opportunity for generating exotic recombinants [5]. But what worries the public most is the mass vaccination programmes governments are putting in place to combat the emerging pandemic, which could well be worse than the pandemic itself.
Australia's top doctors body says junk food ads should be barred from peak children's TV viewing times, as research shows the super-sized health benefits the move would deliver.
A study conducted at Melbourne's Deakin University found banning the ads would lead to a 1.4 per cent - or more than half a kilogram - reduction in weight of the average Australian child. It would also result in a saving of $300 million which the government would otherwise face in obesity-related health costs.
"While the Food and Grocery Council may be in denial, every parent knows that junk food advertising to children at any time of the day undermines efforts to encourage healthy eating habits," Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Dr Andrew Pesce said.
A study conducted at Melbourne's Deakin University found banning the ads would lead to a 1.4 per cent - or more than half a kilogram - reduction in weight of the average Australian child. It would also result in a saving of $300 million which the government would otherwise face in obesity-related health costs.
"While the Food and Grocery Council may be in denial, every parent knows that junk food advertising to children at any time of the day undermines efforts to encourage healthy eating habits," Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Dr Andrew Pesce said.
Tofu is touted for its health benefits, but also may pose health risks, says a Hawaii scientist.
A Hawaii study shows a significant statistical relationship between two or more servings of tofu a week and "accelerated brain aging" and even an association with Alzheimer's disease, says Dr. Lon White.
The Pacific Health Research Institute researcher urged caution at a recent conference in Washington as scientists from around the world discussed the role of soy products in the prevention and treatment of disease.
The symposium was sponsored by giant soybean growing and processing firms such as Archer Daniels Midland and DuPont.
A Hawaii study shows a significant statistical relationship between two or more servings of tofu a week and "accelerated brain aging" and even an association with Alzheimer's disease, says Dr. Lon White.
The Pacific Health Research Institute researcher urged caution at a recent conference in Washington as scientists from around the world discussed the role of soy products in the prevention and treatment of disease.
The symposium was sponsored by giant soybean growing and processing firms such as Archer Daniels Midland and DuPont.
Commercials for beer, wine and spirits tend to pop up more frequently on TV when teens are watching, a new study finds.
The study tracked 600,000 national cable ads in the U.S. between 2001 and 2006. It found that when more youth aged 12 to 20 were watching, alcohol ads increased.
For every one percentage point increase in teen viewership, there was a seven per cent increase in beer commercials, a 16 per cent jump in ads for spirits and a 22 per cent rise in ads for alcohol refreshers - drinks that contain alcohol but are heavily flavoured to taste like juice or pop.
The study tracked 600,000 national cable ads in the U.S. between 2001 and 2006. It found that when more youth aged 12 to 20 were watching, alcohol ads increased.
For every one percentage point increase in teen viewership, there was a seven per cent increase in beer commercials, a 16 per cent jump in ads for spirits and a 22 per cent rise in ads for alcohol refreshers - drinks that contain alcohol but are heavily flavoured to taste like juice or pop.
In boardrooms, classrooms, bedrooms and the playing field, we all recognize the classic signs of a "Type A" personality. And most of us know that these hard-chargers seem to be at higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
But who has ever heard of the Type D personality? Depending on whom you ask, D stands for distressed. Or it follows sequentially from Type A; Type B (A's opposite - laid-back, cooperative, slow to anger); Type C (a martyr - compliant, eager to please, and prone to hopelessness and depression; studies have shown Type Cs to be vulnerable to cancer and other malfunctions of the immune system).
In any event, Type Ds are notable for negative thinking, worrying, suppressed anger and a tendency to respond to stress by withdrawal and denial. They stew. They simmer. They blame themselves - and others.
But who has ever heard of the Type D personality? Depending on whom you ask, D stands for distressed. Or it follows sequentially from Type A; Type B (A's opposite - laid-back, cooperative, slow to anger); Type C (a martyr - compliant, eager to please, and prone to hopelessness and depression; studies have shown Type Cs to be vulnerable to cancer and other malfunctions of the immune system).
In any event, Type Ds are notable for negative thinking, worrying, suppressed anger and a tendency to respond to stress by withdrawal and denial. They stew. They simmer. They blame themselves - and others.
Tamiflu and Relenza are key to fighting the flu virus. But medical authorities warn: Use only when needed, and use them correctly.
Indiscriminate use of antiviral medications to prevent and treat influenza could ease the way for drug-resistant strains of the novel H1N1 virus, or swine flu, to emerge, public health officials warn -- making the fight against a pandemic that much harder.
Already, a handful of cases of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 have been reported this summer, and there is no shortage of examples of misuse of the antiviral medications, experts say.
People often fail to complete a full course of the drug, according to a recent British report -- a scenario also likely to be occurring in the U.S. and one that encourages resistance. Stockpiling is rife, and some U.S. summer camps have given Tamiflu prophylactically to healthy kids and staff, and have even told campers to bring the drug to camp. Experts anticipate more problems in the fall as children return to school and normal flu season draws nearer.
Indiscriminate use of antiviral medications to prevent and treat influenza could ease the way for drug-resistant strains of the novel H1N1 virus, or swine flu, to emerge, public health officials warn -- making the fight against a pandemic that much harder.
Already, a handful of cases of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 have been reported this summer, and there is no shortage of examples of misuse of the antiviral medications, experts say.
People often fail to complete a full course of the drug, according to a recent British report -- a scenario also likely to be occurring in the U.S. and one that encourages resistance. Stockpiling is rife, and some U.S. summer camps have given Tamiflu prophylactically to healthy kids and staff, and have even told campers to bring the drug to camp. Experts anticipate more problems in the fall as children return to school and normal flu season draws nearer.
Eating fish caught in the Great Lakes has been linked to diabetes through a chemical byproduct of the pesticide DDT, a new U.S. study finds.
Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked boat captains in the Great Lakes for 15 year, the Chicago Tribune reports. The study found captains who ate more fish were more likely to have in their bodies DDE, a byproduct of DDT, and the researchers found a link between DDE and diabetes.
Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked boat captains in the Great Lakes for 15 year, the Chicago Tribune reports. The study found captains who ate more fish were more likely to have in their bodies DDE, a byproduct of DDT, and the researchers found a link between DDE and diabetes.
It might not come much as a surprise that the average U.S. gamer is now 35 years old - studies commissioned by the Entertainment Software Association have confirmed this over the past few years - but 2006 research recently unveiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims video game players were more likely to be overweight, depressed and introverted.
Led by researcher James Weaver, this study focused on a random sampling of 552 adults, aged 19 to 90, from the Seattle-Tacoma area. Roughly 45 percent, or 249 people, were found to be video game players, with men accounting for 56 percent of this sampling.
The men who played games weighed more, on average, than the non-gamers, while the women were found to have greater levels of depression and had overall poorer health.
Led by researcher James Weaver, this study focused on a random sampling of 552 adults, aged 19 to 90, from the Seattle-Tacoma area. Roughly 45 percent, or 249 people, were found to be video game players, with men accounting for 56 percent of this sampling.
The men who played games weighed more, on average, than the non-gamers, while the women were found to have greater levels of depression and had overall poorer health.
A brief overview of common herbs and spices in functional foods
Many are aware of some of the health promoting properties of certain herbs and spices. The challenge is to get them into our daily diets.
One way is to consume "functional foods."
Functional food or medicinal food is any food product claimed to have a health-promoting and/or disease-preventing property beyond the basic nutritional function of supplying nutrients.
Although there is not yet any consensus on an exact definition of the term, at least not in the United States, superfoods is one term used to describe food products and dietary supplement powders, drinks, and bars containing such special health-promoting ingredients.
Some common superfoods more easily found are cinnamon, licorice, milk thistle, marigold, and turmeric.
Many are aware of some of the health promoting properties of certain herbs and spices. The challenge is to get them into our daily diets.
One way is to consume "functional foods."
Functional food or medicinal food is any food product claimed to have a health-promoting and/or disease-preventing property beyond the basic nutritional function of supplying nutrients.
Although there is not yet any consensus on an exact definition of the term, at least not in the United States, superfoods is one term used to describe food products and dietary supplement powders, drinks, and bars containing such special health-promoting ingredients.
Some common superfoods more easily found are cinnamon, licorice, milk thistle, marigold, and turmeric.
Japanese research group led by Professor Junichi Nabekura in National Institute for Physiological Sciences, NIPS, Japan, found that, after cerebral stroke in one side of the mouse brain, another side of the brain rewires its neural circuits to recuperate from damaged neural function. The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) supported this study.
They report their finding in Journal of Neuroscience, on August 12, 2009.
The research group investigated how neural circuits rearrange themselves after cerebral strokes by using two-photon laser microscopy in vivo. In a specific period after strokes in the right side of the mouse brain, namely one to two weeks after strokes, the left side of the brain rearranged its neural circuits actively. After three to four weeks, the left side of the brain became to receive sensory information from the left leg that is usually received by the right side of the brain.
In conclusion, the stroke in the right side of the brain activated the rearrangement of the neural circuits in the left side of the brain, and then these rearrangements helped to recuperate from stroke-induced damaged neural function.
They report their finding in Journal of Neuroscience, on August 12, 2009.
The research group investigated how neural circuits rearrange themselves after cerebral strokes by using two-photon laser microscopy in vivo. In a specific period after strokes in the right side of the mouse brain, namely one to two weeks after strokes, the left side of the brain rearranged its neural circuits actively. After three to four weeks, the left side of the brain became to receive sensory information from the left leg that is usually received by the right side of the brain.
In conclusion, the stroke in the right side of the brain activated the rearrangement of the neural circuits in the left side of the brain, and then these rearrangements helped to recuperate from stroke-induced damaged neural function.
