Prostate Cancer Symptoms Tips What is prostate cancer symptoms? We have tips about prostate cancer symptoms

Ω

Best Available Evidence Links Cell Phone Use to Brain Tumors

The highest-quality research data available suggests that long-term exposure to microwaves from cellular phones may lead to an increased risk of brain tumors, reports a paper in the November/December issue of Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.

Although debate continues, independent studies with long-term follow-up strongly suggest an increased risk of brain tumors related to the use of cellular or cordless phones. "We conclude that the current standard of exposure to microwave during mobile phone use is not safe for long-term exposure and needs to be revised," conclude the study authors, led by R.B. Dubey of Apeejay College of Engineering, Sohna, Gurgaon, India.

Brain Tumor Risk May Double after 10 Years of Cell Phone Use

There is increasing public concern about the potential cancer risks from microwave emissions related to wireless phones—not only cellular phones and base stations (transmission tower antennae), but also home cordless phones. Some studies have reported that long-term wireless phone users have increased rates of brain tumors, including malignant gliomas and benign acoustic neuromas. However, other studies have found no association.

To gain insight into the controversy, Dubey and colleagues performed an in-depth analysis of research on the health risks associated with microwave exposure from wireless phones. To date, only eleven published studies have provided data on the risk of developing brain tumors in long-term cell phone users—ten years or longer.
The largest data source was a series of studies called the Interphone studies, which were largely funded by the wireless communications industry. Based on data from thirteen countries, the Interphone studies concluded that cell phone exposure did not increase the risk of brain tumors. In addition to possible bias associated with industry funding, the studies had some important flaws, including relatively short durations of cell phone use.

However, an independent series of studies led by Swedish cancer specialist Dr. Lennart Hardell reached a different conclusion. Dr. Hardell's studies included more patients who had used a cell phone for ten years or longer and were performed without financial support from the wireless industry. The findings suggested that the more hours of cellular phone use over time, the higher the risk of developing brain tumors. Risk also increased along with the level of power from the wireless device, years since first use, total exposure, and younger age when starting wireless phone use.

Based on an analysis of pooled data from different studies, researchers write, "[L]ong-term cell phone usage can approximately double the risk of developing a glioma or acoustic neuroma in the more exposed brain hemisphere"—that is, on the side where the user typically holds the phone to the ear. That conclusion is consistent even with data on the long-term cell phone users from the Interphone studies.

It's unclear exactly how exposure to microwave radiation from cell phones may increase brain cancer risk. However, studies have shown that the cell signal is absorbed up to two inches in the adult skull. There is special concern about the risks in younger age groups, as cell phone signals penetrate much deeper into the brain in children.
Further studies are needed to definitively determine the risk of brain cancer and other health effects related to long-term use. Meanwhile, Dr. Dubey and coauthors suggest some steps that cell phone users can take to reduce exposure. These include limiting the number and length of calls, restricting children's cell phone use, communicating by text instead of voice, and wearing an "air tube" headset (not a regular wired headset) rather than holding the phone to the ear.

The researchers also urge adoption of newer phones and other technologies to reduce exposure, and call for government action to revise standards for microwave exposure. "The precautionary principle clearly applies in this case, since the problem is possible but not certain and low cost ameliorating actions are easily implemented by industry," Dubey and coauthors conclude. "With over 3 billion people using cell phones and with children among the heaviest users, it is time for governments to mandate precautionary measures to protect their citizens."

Disease also known as Lima beans yellow beans is due to eating beans and broad beans or smell the smell of pollen and bean induced acute anemia, jaundice and hemoglobinuria as the main clinical manifestations of the disease. More than 90% occurring in men, and most found in children under age 5. In the southwest, south, east and north China have been found all over, in the Guangdong, Sichuan, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi to the most.

Erythrocyte glucose -6-- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) has a genetic defect in the consumption of fresh green beans or bean pollen exposure occurs after both acute hemolytic anemia - bean disease. Pathogenic mechanisms are not yet very clear, but the genetic defects known to have sensitive red blood cells, a factor in the case of beans, caused by acute intravascular hemolysis.

[Clinical manifestations]
Early aversion to cold, fever, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, anorexia, abdominal pain, followed by jaundice, anemia, hemoglobin in urine, urine color was soy sauce, then fever, fatigue fatigue increased, sustainable 3 days or so. And hemolytic anemia occur at the same time, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain increased, hepatomegaly, abnormal liver function, approximately 50% of patients with splenomegaly. Seen severe cases coma, convulsions and acute renal failure, if the aid is often less than 1 to 2 days at death.

[Diagnostic Methods]
1. Are eating beans green beans or inhalation of pollen history.
2. Clinical features:
① incubation period of several hours to 48 hours.
② performance poisoning: early aversion to cold, fever, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, anorexia, abdominal pain, followed by jaundice, anemia, hemoglobin in urine, urine color was soy sauce, then fever, fatigue fatigue increased, sustainable 3 around June.
③ The check: methemoglobin reduction test (MHb) to restore normal rates of> 75% (colorimetric method), broad bean MHb reduction rate in patients with 31% to 74% (genetic heterozygotes), with reduction rate "30% (pure zygosity); blood corpuscles with denatured globin (He Enzi bodies) can be more than 5% (normal is 0 to 0.28%).

)

VWD von Willebrand referred to is second only to the most common hemophilia hereditary hemorrhagic disease. Childhood that is characterized by hemorrhagic tendency, prolonged bleeding time and factor Ⅷ content reduced. VWD is the lack of high molecular weight factor Ⅷ part, that Ⅷ R due. 1 Ⅷ R is autosomal, and Ⅷ: C is the X chromosome inherited.

Typical VWD only factor Ⅷ related antigen (Ⅷ R: Ag) that Ⅷ R antigen part of the activity decreased, and the factor Ⅷ Rui Situo enzyme cofactor (Ⅷ R: RCOF) reduced or lack of, and Ⅷ: C also reduced, but the extent as severe hemophilia. Ⅷ R: Ag and Ⅷ R: RCOF is between platelets and vascular endothelial and platelet adhesion between the important factor, is induced platelet aggregation from Rui Situo enzyme cofactor, since the lack of von Willebrand The factors that platelet adhesion and aggregation function has obstacles, prolonged bleeding time.

Von Willebrand mode of inheritance is autosomal dominant inheritance, individual subtypes of recessive inheritance. Incidence of both men and women, parents can pass, and some parents may be no bleeding patients. Von Willebrand more bleeding tendency in childhood, adulthood, only a small number of patients to clinical symptoms. Von Willebrand typical symptoms of bleeding in hemophilia similar, but lesser extent, but there are more serious. Condition can be mitigated with age.

Von Willebrand medicine is a "hyperlipidemia" Consumption "category. Its pathogenesis and hemophilia similar.

[Clinical manifestations of von Willebrand]
1. Have a family history: in line with autosomal dominant inheritance, which both men and women to the disease, both parents can be inherited. 2. Hemorrhagic tendency: a mucous membrane, subcutaneous bleeding, or menorrhagia, severe bleeding after surgery with or without history of a small number of joint, muscle bleeding, but generally no joint deformity.

[Von Willebrand diagnosis is based on]
(A) with or without family history, have a family history consistent with autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance.
(B) clinical there mucosa, skin, visceral bleeding, or menorrhagia history of trauma, surgery with or without abnormal bleeding history, a small number of patients can the relevant section of cavity, muscle or other parts of the bleeding.
(C) of the laboratory examination can help diagnose
1. Platelet morphology and count properly.
2. Prolonged bleeding or aspirin tolerance test was positive.
3. Platelet adhesion test extended or normal.
4. Activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged or normal.
5.vWF factor antigen (vWF: Ag) to reduce or normal.
6. Ⅷ coagulation factor activity (Ⅷ: C) reduced or normal.
7. Must exclude platelet dysfunction disease.

Ω

Male heart bypass patients who drank light to moderate amounts of alcohol daily were less likely to require additional heart procedures or suffer a heart attack or stroke, compared to non-drinking patients.
However, bypass patients whose hearts didn’t pump blood effectively and women were more likely to require additional procedures or have a heart attack or stroke after their surgery.
CHICAGO, Nov. 14, 2010 — Light to moderate alcohol consumption (about two to three drinks daily) among male coronary artery bypass patients was associated with 25 percent fewer subsequent cardiovascular procedures, heart attacks, strokes and death compared to non-drinkers, in a study presented at the American Heart’s Association’s Scientific Sessions 2010.

However, bypass patients with left ventricular dysfunction who were moderate to heavy drinkers (more than six drinks daily) were twice as likely to have subsequent cardiovascular deaths compared to non-drinkers.

“The benefit of light amounts of alcohol consumption has been documented in healthy individuals, but our analysis showed a benefit from light alcohol intake in post-coronary bypass patients,” said Umberto Benedetto, M.D., Ph.D. at the University of Rome La Sapienza in Italy. “However, our analysis indicated that alcohol consumption is not advisable in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. No adverse correlation was found between moderate alcohol consumption and any medication.”

Light to moderate alcohol consumption was defined as five to 30 grams of alcohol daily; moderate to heavy was defined as more than 60 grams daily.

Researchers used a standard questionnaire to compare alcohol consumption in 1,021 patients who underwent heart bypass and reviewed subsequent bypass procedures, heart attacks, strokes and cardiac deaths during the following 3 1/2 years. Patients consuming about two drinks daily had fewer cardiovascular events when compared to abstainers.

Moreover, moderate to heavy alcohol consumption (about four drinks daily) by patients with left ventricular problems was associated with significantly greater risk of dying.

Results of the study need to be confirmed over a longer follow-up period, with more patients and controls, Benedetto said.

The American Heart Association does not recommend people start consuming alcohol to prevent heart disease because too much alcohol can raise blood pressure and have other negative effects. For those who already drink alcohol, the association recommends women limit themselves to a drink a day and men limit themselves to two drinks per day.

Co-authors are: Giovanni Melina, M.D., Ph.D.; Davide Sansone, M.D.; Roberta Di Bartolomeo, M.D.; Emiliano Angeloni, M.D.; Simone Refice, M.D.; Ivan Stigliano, M.D.; Antonino Roscitano, M.D.; Tommaso Hinna Danesi, M.D.; and Riccardo Sinatra, M.D.

ALSO SEE
Abstract 18681 Regular moderate drinking among women associated with greater survival
Regular moderate alcohol consumption – two to four drinks daily – in mid-life may yield a small but significant increase of overall health status in women who survive into old age.

The researchers prospectively reviewed data from the Nurses’ Health Study in almost 14,000 individuals who survived to 70 years or older.

After adjusting for issues such as smoking, weight and physical activity, moderate alcohol use was associated with an 11 to 26 percent increase in survival odds.

The odds were also better for the nurses who drank regularly rather than those who drank sporadically or engaged in periodic binge drinking. Women who drank regularly rather than binging had a 28 percent increased survival odds if they drank three to six days a week and a 22 percent increased survival odds if they drank everyday — compared to 7 percent for those who
drank once or twice a week.

Abstract 19870 Low dose alcohol appears to decrease risk of stroke in women.
Researchers, who studied alcohol consumption and strokes in the Nurses’ Health Study database of over 84,000 nurses followed for more than 20 years, found that women who drank less than 15 grams of alcohol/day (approximately one drink/day) had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who did not drink.

Ω

Women who report having high job strain have a 40 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and the need for procedures to open blocked arteries, compared to those with low job strain, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2010.

In addition, job insecurity – fear of losing one's job – was associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, increased cholesterol and excess body weight. However, it'snot directly associated with heart attacks, stroke, invasive heart procedures or cardiovascular death, researchers said.

Job strain, a form of psychological stress, is defined as having a demanding job, but little to no decision-making authority or opportunities to use one's creative or individual skills.

"Our study indicates that there are both immediate and long-term clinically documented cardiovascular health effects of job strain in women," said Michelle A. Albert, M.D., M.P.H., the study's senior author and associate physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass. "Your job can positively and negatively affect health, making it important to pay attention to the stresses of your job as part of your total health package."

Researchers analyzed job strain in 17,415 healthy women who participated in the landmark Women's Health Study. The women were primarily Caucasian health professionals, average age 57 who provided information about heart disease risk factors, job strain and job insecurity. They were followed for more than 10 years to track the development of cardiovascular disease. Researchers used a standard questionnaire to evaluate job strain and job insecurity with statements such as: "My job requires working very fast." "My job requires working very hard." "I am free from competing demands that others make."

The 40 percent higher risks for women who reported high job strain included heart attacks, ischemic strokes, coronary artery bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty and death. The increased risk of heart attack was about 88 percent, while the risk of bypass surgery or invasive procedure was about 43 percent.

"Women in jobs characterized by high demands and low control, as well as jobs with high demands but a high sense of control are at higher risk for heart disease long term," said Natalie Slopen, Sc.D., lead researcher and a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University Center on the Developing Child in Boston.

Previous research on the effects of job strain has focused on men and had a more restricted set of cardiovascular conditions. "From a public health perspective, it's crucial for employers, potential patients, as well as government and hospitals entities to monitor perceived employee job strain and initiate programs to alleviate job strain and perhaps positively impact prevention of heart disease," Albert said.

Ω

Low levels of vitamin D, the essential nutrient obtained from milk, fortified cereals and exposure to sunlight, doubles the risk of stroke in whites, but not in blacks, according to a new report by researchers at Johns Hopkins.

Stroke is the nation's third leading cause of death, killing more than 140,000 Americans annually and temporarily or permanently disabling over half a million when there is a loss of blood flow to the brain.

Researchers say their findings, to be presented Nov. 15 at the American Heart Association's (AHA) annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago, back up evidence from earlier work at Johns Hopkins linking vitamin D deficiency to higher rates of death, heart disease and peripheral artery disease in adults.

The Hopkins team says its results fail to explain why African Americans, who are more likely to be vitamin D deficient due to their darker skin pigmentation's ability to block the sun's rays, also suffer from higher rates of stroke. Of the 176 study participants known to have died from stroke within a 14-year period, 116 were white and 60 were black. Still, African Americans had a 65 percent greater likelihood of suffering such a severe bleeding in or interruption of blood flow to the brain than whites, when age, other risk factors for stroke, and vitamin D deficiency were factored into their analysis.

"Higher numbers for hypertension and diabetes definitely explain some of the excess risk for stroke in blacks compared to whites, but not this much risk," says study co-lead investigator and preventive cardiologist Erin Michos, M.D., M.H.S., an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Heart and Vascular Institute. "Something else is surely behind this problem. However, don't blame vitamin D deficits for the higher number of strokes in blacks."

Nearly 8,000 initially healthy men and women of both races were involved in the latest analysis, part of a larger, ongoing national health survey, in which the researchers compared the risk of death from stroke between those with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D to those with higher amounts. Among them, 6.6 percent of whites and 32.3 percent of blacks had severely low blood levels of vitamin D, which the experts say is less than 15 nanograms per milliliter.

"It may be that blacks have adapted over the generations to vitamin D deficiency, so we are not going to see any compounding effects with stroke," says Michos, who notes that African Americans have adapted elsewhere to low levels of the bone-strengthening vitamin, with fewer incidents of bone fracture and greater overall bone density than seen in Caucasians.

"In blacks, we may not need to raise vitamin D levels to the same level as in whites to minimize their risk of stroke" says Michos, who emphasizes that clinical trials are needed to verify that supplements actually do prevent heart attacks and stroke. In her practice, she says, she monitors her patients' levels of the key nutrient as part of routine blood work while also testing for other known risk factors for heart disease and stroke, including blood pressure, glucose and lipid levels.

Michos cautions that the number of fatal strokes recorded in blacks may not have been statistically sufficient to find a relationship with vitamin D deficits. And she points out that the study only assessed information on deaths from stroke, not the more common "brain incidents" of stroke, which are usually non-fatal, or even mini-strokes, whose symptoms typically dissipate in a day or so. She says the team's next steps will be to evaluate cognitive brain function as well as non-fatal and transient strokes and any possible tie-ins to nutrient deficiency.

Besides helping to keep bones healthy, vitamin D plays an essential role in preventing abnormal cell growth, and in bolstering the body's immune system. The hormone-like nutrient also controls blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, essential chemicals in the body. Shortages of vitamin D have also been tied to increased rates of breast cancer and depression in the elderly.

Michos recommends that people maintain good vitamin D levels by eating diets rich in such fish as salmon and tuna, consuming vitamin-D fortified dairy products, and taking vitamin D supplements. She also promotes brief exposure daily to the sun's vitamin D-producing ultraviolet light. And to those concerned about the cancer risks linked to too much time spent in the sun, she says as little as 10 to 15 minutes of daily exposure is enough during the summer months.

If vitamin supplements are used, Michos says that daily doses between 1,000 and 2,000 international units are generally safe and beneficial for most people, but that people with the severe vitamin D deficits may need higher doses under close supervision by their physician to avoid possible risk of toxicity.

The U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM) previously suggested that an adequate daily intake of vitamin D is between 200 and 600 international units. However, Michos argues that this may be woefully inadequate for most people to raise their vitamin D blood levels to a healthy 30 nanograms per milliliter. The IOM has set up an expert panel to review its vitamin D guidelines, with new recommendations expected by the end of the year. Previous results from the same nationwide survey showed that 41 percent of men and 53 percent of women have unhealthy amounts of vitamin D, with nutrient levels below 28 nanograms per milliliter.

Ω

Ω

People who take regular exercise could reduce their risk of developing around two dozen physical and mental health conditions - including some cancers and dementia - and slow down how quickly their body deteriorates as they age.

An extensive research review, published in the December issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice, says that apart from not smoking, being physically active is the most powerful lifestyle choice any individual can make to improve their health.

Physiotherapist and lecturer Leslie Alford from the University of East Anglia reviewed 40 papers covering the latest international research published between 2006 and 2010.

"The literature reviewed shows that how long people live and how healthy they are depends on a complex mix of factors, including their lifestyle, where they live and even luck" says Mr Alford. "Individuals have an element of control over some of these factors, including obesity, diet, smoking and physical activity.

"Although the focus of my study was on men's health, the messages on physical activity are relevant to both sexes and all age groups."

Health benefits identified by the review include:

• Regular moderate to intense physical activity is associated with decreased risk of coronary heart disease and ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke.
• A growing body of evidence suggests that increasing physical activity can also reduce the risk of certain types of cancers, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, depression, obesity and high blood pressure.
• Evidence of the beneficial effects of physical activity in the primary prevention and management of cancer is growing and there is an association between higher levels of physical activity and lower cancer death rates.
• Research has found that walking or cycling for at least an half-an-hour a day is associated with a reduction in cancer and that when this is increased to an hour cancer incidence falls by 16 per cent.
• Evidence is mixed when it comes to specific cancers. Research has shown a strong relationship between increased physical activity and reduced colon cancer in both sexes. And men who are more active at work - not just sitting at a desk - have lower rates of prostate cancer.
• Other cancer studies show that physical activity after diagnosis can aid recovery and improve outcomes.
• Studies have also shown that men who are physically active are less likely to experience erection problems.
• There is growing evidence that physical activity could decrease the risk of dementia in the elderly.

Recommendations identified by the review include:

• Healthy adults aged between 18 and 65 should aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking, five days a week. And people who undertake more vigorous intensity exercise, such as jogging, should aim for 20 minutes three days a week.
• Healthy adults should aim for two strength-training sessions a week that work with the body's major muscle groups.
• Older people can benefit from exercise that helps to maintain their balance and flexibility.
• People who are physically active should continue to exercise even when they become middle aged or elderly and those who aren't should increase their physical activity.
• Not smoking and following a healthy diet is also important.


"Ideally, to gain maximum health benefits people should exercise, not smoke, eat a healthy diet and have a body mass index of less than 25" says Mr Alford. "The more of these healthy traits an individual has, the less likely they are to develop a range of chronic disorders. Even if people can't give up smoking and maintain a healthy weight, they can still gain health benefits from increasing the amount of regular exercise they take.

"Physical inactivity results in widespread pathophysiological changes to our bodies. It appears that our bodies have evolved to function optimally on a certain level of physically activity that many of us simply do not achieve in our modern, sedentary lifestyles.

"What is clear from the research is that men and women of all ages should be encouraged to be more physically active for the sake of their long-term health."

#