Jan
01
2006

Face Transplants For Disfigured Patients

By | Cosmetic surgery, Health

Patients with severe burns to their face have been treated with skin transplants in order to help them cope with common body functions which the average person takes for granted, like opening and closing of eyelids or breathing. Patients have to undergo numerous skin grafts, where skin is transplanted from other body areas. The process can take years, as multiple surgeries are needed. Facial skin is also more tender and pliable, making it different from the type of skin in other areas of the body, and plastic surgeons are working to make the facial appearance of the patient less mask-like. The journey to recovery becomes a long and difficult one, which can be likened to an emotional roller coaster: there is surgery and the time to heal, after which more surgery is required.
The possibility of a face transplant sounded like a futuristic item till a short time ago, but French doctors have used new techniques to restore the facial features of a 38-year-old woman, whose face had been mauled by a dog. The partial transplant was done using the mouth, nose and chin of a brain dead donor.
Maria Siemionow, the director of plastic-surgery research at the Cleveland Clinic states, that facial transplant can only be considered as a treatment for severely disfigured patients who have exhausted all conventional options. The procedure itself remains controversial and risky. It involves harvesting the face from a brain-dead organ donor in a 4 to 6 hour surgery. In the following 10 to 15 hour procedure the face is draped over the bones and muscles of the recipient. Following surgery the transplant patients needs to take medication to prevent the rejection of the transplant. Even though the risk is not any different than the risk, which goes along with a kidney transplant, there is the possibility of transplant rejection and of side effects from immunosuppressants. Patients, who take this medication that will cost about $2000 per month, are more susceptible to infection, cancer, metabolic disorders, and liver and kidney damage. The psychological impact on the patient will also be significant, as there could be a feeling of having a different identity. Dr. James Zins, chairman for plastic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, insists that there are no races to be won and the approach to this new option should be methodical and slow.

Face Transplants For Disfigured Patients

Before and after face transplant

Not all potential candidates for the surgery are willing to take the risk of life-long immuno-suppressants and it is only a consideration for physical as well as psychologically suitable patients who are willing to take the risk of receiving a new face after devastating accidents.

Reference: December 12, 2005 issue of Newsweek, pages 60-61

Last edited December 6, 2012

Dec
01
2005

Jetlag Helped By Bright Lights and Melatonin

By | Health, Prevention

The effects of long distance travel can be unpleasant: once several time zones are crossed, people are struggling to adjust to a different wake-sleep pattern, and what is know as the “circadian rhythm” has to readjust.
Eating light meals, avoiding alcohol during travel and drinking plenty of water are the suggestions, which are frequently heard. The other suggestion for travelers is adjusting their sleep times before the trip, namely going to sleep one hour earlier for each hour of time difference when traveling east. This method alone is not always practical, especially when a sudden trip with time differences of more than 8 hours are involved.
Previous research has also shown that light box therapy works and that melatonin is a useful tool in people with jet lag.
Dr. Charmane Eastman (PhD) from Rush University Medical Center has authored a study that shows that light therapy in combination with melatonin works better than light therapy alone. Dr Eastman and colleagues studied 44 healthy adults who were divided into three groups. The first group received placebo (meaning” fake” pills), the second group took 0.5 mg melatonin, and the third group received 3.0 mg melatonin. All three groups were given three days of advancing sleep-dark period with a wake time one hour earlier each morning. They also got bright light on awakening, namely four 30-minute bright-light pulses alternating with 30 minutes of room light. There were significantly larger phase advancements with 0.5 mg or 3.0 mg of melatonin, as opposed to placebo. A slightly larger shift was obtained with the 3.0 mg dose of melatonin as compared to 0.5 mg, but this difference was too small to be statistically significant.
Jetlag Helped By Bright Lights and Melatonin

Jetlag Helped By Bright Lights and Melatonin

The researchers concluded, that afternoon melatonin, morning intermittent bright lights and a gradually advancing sleep schedule was able to advance the circadian rhythm almost an hour a day. It was also found, that the lower dose of melatonin would be adequate, and as melatonin is pretty harmless compared to most drugs prescribed, people should not be afraid to use it (even the higher dose) to cope with jet lag.

Reference: The Medical Post, November 22, 2005, page 49

Last edited December 6, 2012

Dec
01
2005

Hospital Cafeterias Need Healthier Food

By | Health, Nutrition, Prevention

Cafeterias and fast food restaurants have come under scrutiny for offering food choices that are not compatible with healthy living. In a place where healthcare is the prime concern, like in the cafeteria of a hospital, one should hope that promoting good health should be the norm.
A U.S. wide survey tells another story: hospitals are falling short of providing meals that are healthy and heart-friendly. There are some trends, such as the availability of fresh fruit and wholegrain products, but the overall picture points to an urgent need for improvement. The survey was conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM, for short). This advocacy group for ethical and preventive medicine distributed questionnaires, inquired about sample menus as well as recipes for one of the “healthiest menu items available from the hospital’s main eating establishment”. It turned out that sixty-two percent of the “healthiest entrée” choices derived more than 30% of calories from fat, and a few derived more than 50% of calories from fat.

Although at least 80% of responding hospitals offered wholegrain products, sugar-free snacks and fresh fruit, less than a third offered a daily salad bar. Artery-clogging fats in hospital food also prevailed. Fried chicken was the top selling item in 24% of the hospital cafeterias and hamburgers in 12% of the surveyed cafeterias. Other top sellers included pizza, enchiladas and meatloaf. Less than one third offered non-dairy options or soymilk.
The recommendations to promote more health conscious food were very much common-sense: food services should offer daily salad bars, use fresh rather than canned vegetables, incorporate organic ingredients and hearty vegetarian soups daily. Fatty or cholesterol-laden add-ons such as bacon, mayonnaise, croutons and sour cream should be optional. Beans should also be offered as well as healthy items from other countries’ cuisines.

Hospital Cafeterias Need Healthier Food

Hospital Cafeterias Need Healthier Food

In the meantime it is up to the consumer to be prudent in making the better choices. This may involve turning a cold shoulder to cafeteria food and seek healthier choices elsewhere. For the visitor it may mean that bringing a brown bag or a take-away with a salad would be more appropriate than bringing a bunch of flowers for a loved one in the hospital.

More on processed foods: https://www.askdrray.com/caution-processed-food-ahead/

Reference: The Medical Post, October 25, 2005, page 15

Last edited October 29, 2014

Nov
01
2005

More Is Not Always Better In Exercise

By | Fitness, Health, Men's Health, Stress management, Women’s Diseases

Physical activity and good nutrition are the keys for a healthy immune system. Dr. David Nieman, PhD, from the Appalachian State University of Boone, N.C. has found that exercise and nutrition play a strong role in boosting immunity. His past research showed that women who walked briskly for 30 to 45 minutes five days for 12 to 15 weeks had colds half as often as inactive women. This is true even for the aging population, where immunity tends to decline; some research has shown that fit elderly people have better-preserved immune systems.
It is tempting to conclude, that more exercise would lead to even better benefits, but the research results are quite different. Exercising for too long (beyond 90 minutes) appears to cause a steep drop in immune function that can last up to 24 hours. In the 1987 Los Angeles Marathon, Dr. Nieman surveyed 2,311 runners and found those who raced were six times more likely to get sick afterward compared with those who dropped out of the race for non-medical reasons. Runners who trained more than 96 km per week during the two months before a race doubled their chances for sickness compared with those who trained less than 36 km per week.
In lab tests on marathon runners who ran on a treadmill for 90 minutes to 3 hours at 80% aerobic capacity, the level of immune cells had decreased (neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, T cells and B cells). All these players in the immune system leave the blood and concentrate on the effort to do repairs and maintenance on the muscles. As a result the front line soldiers are unavailable for defense when viruses are present.

More Is Not Always Better In Exercise

More Is Not Always Better In Exercise

The best strategies for active as well as not-so-active individuals remain similar.
-Minimize life stresses-mental and emotional.
-Avoid over training and chronic fatigue.
-Curb exercise if you have a fever or systemic infection.
-Eat a well-balanced diet with adequate energy.

More about fitness: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/fitness/

Reference: The Medical Post, October 11, 2005, page 19

Last edited October 29, 2014

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Nov
01
2005

Pre-Conception Nutrition For Healthy Children

By | Health, Nutrition, obstetrics, Prevention, Vitamins and supplements

The importance for good maternal nutrition during pregnancy has been emphasized for a long time. Of course in this case it was up to the mom-to-be to avoid toxins, such as smoking and alcohol and to take prenatal supplements along with sensible nutrition. Enticing the women away from the excesses of the standard Western diet would yield handsome health benefits for the country. Dr. David Barker, a medical advisor to the British government pointed out, that this approach would reduce heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases in the mothers as well as in their offspring. This concept does not address all the aspects, which are important for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
For the past 20 years a group of around 20 British family physicians, obstetricians and researchers under the name of Foresight has been putting a program into practice, which identifies and addresses the health deficiencies in prospective parents. Almost all couples that followed the pre-conception program had previously experienced problems relating to conception, pregnancy and birth. In one follow-up study of 367 couples that followed the Foresight program from 1990 to 1992, 327(89%) of the women became pregnant and had healthy, well-developed babies. None of the babies suffered malformations and none was transferred to special care. Of the 367 couples, 217(59 %) had suffered from infertility (from 1 to 10 years) and 139 (38%) had histories from 1 to 5 previous miscarriages. Eleven (3%) had previously given birth to a stillborn child, 40 had small-for-date babies and 15 had already had a low birth weight baby (less than 2,500 g). Seven couples had a previous baby with malformations and three had lost a baby to sudden infant death.
In a larger follow-up study of 1,076 couples, almost all of whom had previous fertility or miscarriage problems, 846 conceived success rate of 78%, as reported by Belinda Barnes, who runs Foresight. There were four problem pregnancies, including one Down syndrome baby, two terminations and one child with an adhesion of the intestine, which was correctable. This is a complication rate of only 0.47 %.

Pre-Conception Nutrition For Healthy Children

Pre-Conception Nutrition For Healthy Children

As the complication rate in the general population amounts to 6.43%, the pre-conception program has only 1/7th of the complications, a strong indicator that a pre-conception program does make a difference.

More info about healthy nutrition: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/nutrition/

Reference: The Medical Post, September 27, 2005, page 33

Last edited October 29, 2014

Nov
01
2005

Exotic Mushrooms Best Source For Antioxidants

By | Health, Nutrition, Vitamins and supplements

Antioxidants provide powerful cellular protection, and several sources are available through food. One of them under the name ergothioneine was known to be available through food sources like wheat germ or chicken liver. The latter is not necessarily a popular choice for a lot of people! However, antioxidants are necessary to protect us from diseases like arthritis, Alzheimers disease and cancer.
Researchers at Penn State have better news in the meantime. Joy Dubost, who led the research team, stated in a recent press release, that exotic mushrooms like shiitake, oyster mushrooms, king oyster or maitake mushrooms contain up to 13 mg of the desirable antioxidant ergothioneine in a typical serving, about 40 times as much as wheat germ.
Consumers who are reluctant to try these varieties and are more used to Portobello mushrooms, crimini mushrooms (brown mushrooms) or even the ubiquitous white mushrooms, still get a good dose of up to 5 mg ergothioneine per serving.

Exotic Mushrooms Best Source For Antioxidants

Exotic Mushrooms Best Source For Antioxidants

Antioxidant levels do not decrease when the mushrooms are cooked.

More information about antioxidants, which  are explained in detail here: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/nutrition/vitamins-minerals-supplements/

Reference: The Medical Post, September 27, 2005, page 21

Last edited October 29, 2014

Oct
01
2005

Men Expected to Catch Up On Life Expectancy

By | Cancer, Health, Men's Health, Obesity, Stress management

Life expectancy between the sexes has always been different: females generally outlive males by several years, but close observation from the Office of Health Economics in Great Britain shows a shift in Life expectancy. Males have been catching up, and their life expectancy rates have been rising faster than those of females. There is still a difference for a boy born in 2002. He will have a life expectancy of 76 years, whereas his sister will live to age 81.

Researchers believe that the reason for the shift is lifestyle change in females. Many of them now face the same workplace stress that has been traditionally shouldered by males. Detrimental habits are also more common in females. Heavy drinking in young females has more than tripled in the last 17 years, and 10% of young females exceed the recommended drinking limit (compared to 12% males). Non-smoking campaigns are less successful in women. Males have cut their smoking habits. 51% smoked in 1974, and by 2002 only 28 % were smokers. Female smokers amounted to 41 % in 1974, but by 2002 there were still 26 % smokers. The results show most dramatically in cancer statistics. Since 1973 lung cancer rates in men have been reduced to half and the lung cancer survival rate has increased. In comparison lung cancer in females during the same time period has increased by 45%. As a result of sedentary lifestyles the body mass index has also shown an increase.

Men Expected to Catch Up On Life Expectancy

Men Expected to Catch Up On Life Expectancy

Estimates showed that by the year 2010, life expectancy will likely converge for both sexes at an age of 81.

Reference: BMJ 2005; 331:656 (24 September)

Last edited December 6, 2012

Oct
01
2005

Early Treatment For Stuttering Children Is Better

By | Health

Stuttering is a frustrating problem for kids and their parents, and about 5% of all preschoolers are found to stutter. The onset of the problem usually occurs between the ages 3 and 4. Opinions about intervention have been divided so far. Some voices called for early treatment, but there was no research to back up a better success rate. Others suggested that kids would outgrow the problem and it was early enough to seek treatment, if the stuttering persisted once the children were entering school.
Researchers tested a new behavioral program (the Lidcombe program) to establish whether early treatment intervention would show a better success rate as opposed to natural recovery. They conducted a study in which 54 children in the age group of 3 and 4 years were enrolled. All of them had a stuttering problem. 29 of them received the Lidcombe program, and 25 were a control group who did not receive the program.

At the end of the study the children of the control group had reduced their stuttering by 43 %, but only 15% had reached a minimum level of stuttering. The results of the children who had received the Lidcombe program were impressive: they had reduced their stuttering by 77%, and over half of them (52%) had reached a minimum level of stuttering.
The experts concluded that the Lidcombe approach is more successful than the normal discovery, and initiating the program early is crucial for the following reasons: it works best in preschoolers.

Early Treatment For Stuttering Children Is Better

Early Treatment For Stuttering Children Is Better

Also it is more beneficial to intervene early, as in school a child with a stuttering problem has to face frustration and social problems among classmates.

Reference: BMJ 2005; 331:659 (24 September)

Last edited December 6, 2012

Oct
01
2005

Olive Oil Combats Inflammation

By | Health, Nutrition, Prevention

The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have received a lot of positive press, and so far the benefits have been credited to fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as olive oil. It has been pointed out that the bioflavonoids in fruit and vegetables are the positive forces at work. Also, the monounsaturated fatty acids of olive oil are part of a heart healthy diet.
Researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Galveston, Texas have found yet another piece of evidence that olive oil has positive effects on heart health. They have found a natural occurring chemical in extra-virgin olive oil which they named oleocanthal. This substance is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, a so-called COX inhibitor. The pharmacological action is the same as in the anti-inflammatory ibuprofen.

Dr. Gary Beauchamp (PhD) stated, “Some of the health-related effects of the Mediterranean diet may be due to the anti-COX activity of oleocanthal from premium olive oils”.

More information about the concept of inflammation being at the root of many diseases: http://nethealthbook.com/about/overview/

Reference: The Medical Post, September13, 2005, page5

Olive Oil Combats Inflammation

Olive Oil Combats Inflammation

Last edited October 29, 2014

Sep
01
2005

Environmental Toxins Harmful For Generations To Come

By | Cancer, Health, Men's Health, Women’s Diseases

It is a known fact that exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
Investigators at the Center For Reproductive Biology of the University of Washington in Seattle examined the consequences of environmental toxins, which are also known as endocrine disruptors in their research. Dr. Michael K. Skinner led the study. The research team worked with rats, and they noticed that it was not only the first generation that was affected, but the effect persisted for as many as four generations later The substance they used in the experiment was either vinclozolin, an antiandrogenic compound commonly used as a pesticide in vineyards or methoxychlor, an estrogenic DDT replacement. Both pesticides are endocrine disruptors, as they interfere with the normal functioning of reproductive hormones. It was no surprise that ninety percent of male offspring that had been born to the exposed females had low sperm counts and reduced fertility.
The unexpected result showed up in the next generation. If these offspring were mated to unexposed females, they still had low sperm counts and reduced fertility. The effect persisted-completely unexpectedly- through all generations tested without further pesticide exposure. The researchers concluded that the toxins affected inheritance by altering patterns of DNA in the germ line. Genetic changes that are passed on for generations to come might play a role in more frequently occurring diseases such as breast cancer and prostate disease, as they may not be caused by genetic mutations.

Environmental Toxins Harmful For Generations To Come

Environmental Toxins Harmful For Generations To Come

This is also the first report that shows the menacing ability of an environmental factor to reprogram the germ line and promote a transgenerational disease pattern.

More information on environmental toxins: https://www.askdrray.com/protecting-yourself-from-environmental-toxins/

Reference: Parkhurst Exchange Volume 13,Number 6, August 2005, page 33

Last edited October 29, 2014