Health: 2007

Humans May Stay Young For 400 Years

'In principle, if you understand the mechanisms of keeping things repaired, you could keep things going indefinitely,' says Cynthia Kenyon, biochemist at the University of California at San Francisco. In her lab she has increased the life span of tiny worms called Caenorhabditis elegans up to six times their normal lifespan by suppressing a single gene. This regulator gene, named daf-2, in combination with other genes, appears to control an entire cluster of genes that direct aging not only in worms, but in similar genetic pathways in flies, mice and, possibly humans. This is the equivalent of people living for 400 years, and the good news is that the worms stay young for most of their extended lifespans.

Diet it seems is a major contributory factor.An experiment with the worms proves that sugar turns on a genetic sequence that increases the amount of insulin produced by an organism, which in turn causes the body to demand more sugar. This increases damage to cells in the body, speeding up the slow degradation of cells that contribute to aging. Red wine and green tea have been shown to help repair cells and contribute to an increased lifespan.

The most significant finding is that the worms remained vigorous till until the very end of their extended lives. In human terms it would mean that a person would remain young for decades, growing old very slowly. It also suggests a radical new method for treating maladies of aging such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's and some cancers, which might be put off or eliminated if youth is extended. 'Age is the single largest risk factor for an enormous number of diseases,' says Kenyon. 'So if you can essentially postpone aging, then you can have beneficial effects on a whole wide range of disease.'

When asked whether it was possible to be immortal Kenyon says 'I think it might be possible. I'll tell you why. You can think about the life span of a cell being the integral of two vectors in a sense, the force of destruction and the force of prevention, maintenance and repair. In most animals the force of destruction has still got the edge. But why not bump up the genes just a little bit, the maintenance genes. All you have to do is have the maintenance level a little higher. It doesn't have to be much higher. It just has to be a little higher, so that it counterbalances the force of destruction. And don't forget, the germ lineage is immortal. So it's possible at least in principle.'

Energy Drinks Should Be Used With Care

Energy drinks are carbonated beverages containing high amounts of caffeine, sugar and usually some additives such as vitamins, amino acids like taurine and herbal stimulants such as guarana.They are specifically targeted at young people in the age group of 18 to 30 years.They are meant to be used as stimulants.Whatever be the combination of ingredients in a particular brand, caffeine is invariably the central ingredient.Each drink contains about 80mg. of caffeine, about the same as in a cup of coffee or in two cups of tea.Some brands contain caffeine in much higher quantities.It is an expanding market in the US and the total sales of all the brands put together is almost $4billion.The most popular brand currently is the Red Bull Energy drink.Although energy drinks sound healthy and are safe for most people experts warn that there could be risks associated with their consumption for some people.

Some of the brands contain very large amounts of caffeine.Individual responses to caffeine vary and people who are sensitive to it may experience discomfort such as anxiety, palpitations and difficulty sleeping.People with a heart condition should avoid such drinks as caffeine is a stimulant and may cause palpitations.Then again energy drinks contain ingredients which sort of boost the effects of caffeine.The exact action of these substances has not been studied so far and possible side effects have not been fully documented.

Energy drinks are often mixed with alcohol to enhance the 'feel good' buzz.Researchers have found that energy drinks combined with alcohol reduced several alcohol related symptoms such as headaches,dryness of the mouth etc.This may induce people to drink more which may be bad for health.Moreover caffeine causes dehydration which may delay the metabolizing of alcohol by the body.

It must be remembered that energy drinks are not sports drinks.Caffeine in energy drinks promotes dehydration which must be avoided during periods of strenuous physical activity.Sports drinks on the other hand are supposed to do the exact opposite and keep the body hydrated.

Evidence is clearly emerging that energy drinks may be unsafe for some people.It is advisable not to give these drinks to children below ten years of age,pregnant women and people with a heart condition.Even young people should closely watch the effect they have on their mood and behavior.In case any change is noticed it may be advisable to consult a doctor.

Feeling Depressed?Just Take A Walk.

Is there something you can do to help control your clinical depression besides popping pills? The good news is that there is, for almost 20 million Americans who suffer from this illness every year. The problem of depression is more serious than people think because most of the sufferers either do not receive any treatment or only partial treatment.This is because they may be either unaware of their problem, or even if they are aware they may avoid admitting it to their Doctor because of the stigma attached to it.

Latest studies have found that regular moderate exercise is as effective in fighting depression as regular medical treatment. Studies conducted on individuals found that those who engaged in group exercise benefited to almost the same extent as as those who took medical treatment.Those who exercised alone or at home also showed improvement, but to a lesser extent.Those given a placebo showed a markedly lower degree of improvement.

So how much should you exercise?Research suggests that about half an hours' moderate exercise a day, six day's a week, can significantly improve symptoms of depression.Even shorter periods of activity of as little as 10 to 15 minutes a day can lead to improvement.

The reasons why exercise helps are both physical as well as psychological.Exercise boosts the level of mood elevating chemicals, releases tension in muscles, leads to better quality of sleep and reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

The psychological benefits of exercise are that it increases your self confidence.It even makes you feel better about your appearance and increases your self esteem.It also helps in distracting a person from unpleasant thoughts.Regular exercise in a group promotes social interaction and a feeling of security.It encourages a person to push himself harder and may also be safer for people with a medical condition like heart disease.

Starting an exercise routine is not as hard as it seems.The trick is to start with a moderate exercise program.Talk to your Doctor for guidance and support and also identify the form of physical activity you enjoy the most.Just walking your kid to the school bus stop may be enough.Above all don't consider it to be a burden but something that is pleasant and enjoyable.

The advantages of exercise over other forms of treatment are many.It is very cheap compared to medication or a visit to a psychiatrist.It doesn't cause sexual dysfunction or have other potentially fatal side effects when combined with other drugs.In fact it has positive effects on your cardiovascular health and your waistline!

So the next time you have the blues, just take a walk.There is a word of caution though.If your depression persists seek medical help at once. Exercise is not meant to replace the medical treatment of depression.

Skin Care-How To Prevent Wrinkles

Wrinkles are a natural result of the skin's loss of elasticity as it ages.but some behaviors can speed up the process and cause wrinkles prematurely.They are more noticeable on the face, neck and hands.Aging is accompanied by the decreased ability of the body to produce collagen, a protein that is responsible for the integrity of the top layer of the skin and thus leads to a thinning of the skin.Wrinkles usually start where collagen loss is the most.Skin around the eyelids,jaw and neck is naturally thin and this is prone to aging first.

Although there are many treatments in the market none of them can turn the clock back too far and none of them are without risks.Many skin products that claim to reduce wrinkles and prevent aging skin generally consist of static chemicals that 'prop up' the skin temporarily or give it a more appealing appearance.

Nevertheless cosmetics if properly applied can be surprisingly effective in camouflaging the signs of aging skin.Cosmetic therapies include face lifts, laser resurfacing, non-ablative laser-resurfacing and implantation.Products are also available for damaged skin.Alpha hydroxy acids facilitate the shedding of dead skin cells.

Some simple precautions can help delay the aging of your skin.The sun is the biggest enemy of the skin.Excessive exposure to sunlight should be avoided.It is the Ultra Violet (UV) radiations which are the main culprit.Clouds and haze do not protect you and in some cases may actually increase UV intensity.This is because UV intensity depends on the angle of the sun and not on heat or brightness.If you go out in the sun remember to use sunscreens and sunblocks.Wearing sun protective clothing is very important.The use of hats and sunglasses also helps.Excessive exposure to artificial tanning devices should also be avoided.

An active and healthy lifestyle ensures health to all body parts, including our skin.It improves blood circulation,detoxifies the skin and keeps it young and glowing.

Remember to eat a healthy balanced diet which is rich in vitamins and drink plenty of fluids.This protects the collagen and prevents premature aging.

Smoking harms the skin immensely.Quit smoking if you want to look young longer.Getting that eight hours of beauty sleep is also a good idea.

Remember that the skin is a living and breathing tissue.It needs regular care and maintenance.With proper healthy activities and some care you can keep it fresh and young for a long time.

List of health problems because of obesity

Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem, but it can lead to a lot of health problems and complications. The health problems associated with obesity are diabetes, heart diseases, arthritis, stroke, liver disease, gall stones etc.

Obesity is because of eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activities to burn those calories. Excess calories are deposited in the body as fat.

Obesity increases the risk of several health problems like high blood pressure, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, gout, gallstones, colon cancer, sleep apnea and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

High blood pressure: Blood vessels carry blood from heart to different organs of the body and back to heart. The blood vessels have thick but elastic walls for proper flow of blood. Decrease in elasticity of blood vessel wall increases pressure on blood passing through these vessels. Obesity decreases elasticity of blood vessels causing increase in blood pressure.

Diabetes in obesity: Insulin is required for entry of carbohydrate into cells from the blood. The carbohydrate in cell is utilized for energy production by the cells. Excess deposition of fat in the body causes insulin resistance, because of which, insulin cannot perform its function and sugar cannot enter into cells and remain in blood. This leads to diabetes or high blood sugar. High sugar in blood leads to complications in various organs like kidney, eyes, blood vessel, and heart.

Atherosclerosis or fatty deposits in blood vessels: Obesity is associated with increase in levels of bad cholesterol in blood. Increase cholesterol in blood causes atherosclerosis or deposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. Atherosclerosis reduces the elasticity of blood vessels, narrows blood vessels and decreases blood flow through these vessels. All these changes lead to increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Heart diseases: Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood to heart muscles. Atherosclerosis or fatty deposits in coronary arteries in obesity decreases blood supply to heart muscles. Decreased oxygen supply and blood flow to heart can cause angina (chest pain) and complete blockage of blood flow to heart can cause heart attack.

Stroke or paralysis: Atherosclerosis in arteries of brain can reduce blood supply to the brain. This decrease in blood flow can result in stroke or paralysis.

Arthritis: Obesity and overweight increases the load on the joints such as the knee, hip and lower back, which can cause the breakdown of cartilage in the joint. Cartilage is a cushion like structure in a joint required for smooth movement of joints. Breakdown of cartilage in obesity results in joint pain and stiffness and other features of osteoarthritis.

Gout: A type of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in joints. Obesity is associated with increased accumulation of these solid crystal-like masses in joints, which causes inflammation and pain.

Sleep apnea: Overweight and excess fat around neck causes narrowing of airways and leads to sleep apnea. In sleep apnea, person snores heavily and stops breathing for short periods, which results in frequent awakening at night.

Fatty liver disease: Obesity increases the risk of developing liver disease called fatty liver disease due to accumulation of fat in liver.

Gallbladder disease and gallstones: Obesity increases cholesterol deposition in gall bladder, which can lead to formation of gallstones.

So, obesity can lead to a lot of health problems and other complications.

Beauty care - 7 beauty tips

Let's talk about inner beauty care. True beauty begins from the inside out. Outer beauty will only appear when you’ve practiced beauty within.

Knowing how and what to eat, can make a huge difference in how you feel. Improper eating habits can cause depression, overweight, illness and an overall lethargy.

Change your eating and exercising habits. You can do this. Do not try to change everything at once, unless you are just one of those rare individuals that can do that.

Beauty care starts with our diet. Diet does not mean just losing weight. Diet means the food you put in your daily eating habits.

1)A rule of thumb for eating habits are...don't eat more calories than you consume. Don't go one single day without doing something extra and physical for at least 30 minutes per day. This can be three ten minute walks. Or 30 minutes of vigorous aerobics, or 12 minutes of weight lifting and 18 minutes of walking.

2) Water, you need water. Try to add at least 4 more glasses of water to your daily diet. The rule of thumb for water is 8 glasses per day; and one extra for every ten pounds overweight you are.

3) Fats, you need to know about fats. There are different kinds of fats. Some fats are better for you than others. A rule of thumb on fats is, stay away from hydrogenated fats. These are fats that solidify. They are in store bought cakes, cookies, crackers, chips and even in bran muffins. Read the labels.

Choose fats that are polyunsaturated or fats such as olive oil. And, eat some fish to get some omega-3 fats. Carbohydrates - Are your immediate fuel source. An average is about 55 percent of your diet in carbohydrates. So, a rule of thumb is, figure your protein grams, get around 25% fat per day, and the rest would be in carbohydrates. The heavier you are, the more protein you need the less carbohydrates you will need.

Fats - try not to exceed more than 25 percent fat in your daily diet. 30 is fine, too. That does not mean you can't have a junk food fast food hamburger... it just means that if you do eat that 55 percent fat burger that you are going to have to cut down on other fat filled foods for the rest of the day to balance it out.

4) Fiber - work up to getting 25 grams of Fiber per day

5) Protein - averages about 20 percent. Divide weight by 2.2 and multiply that by .8 to get the kilograms. For men it is averages as one gram per each kilogram of weight. So, a man would divide their weight in pounds 2.2 then multiply that by .10

7) Add bran to your cereals for extra fiber. Do add it in your baking. You need to balance your diet with vegetables and fruits, too. Try adding different colors to your plate. Maybe an orange yam, and some green beans, to add color. The more variety of food colors, bring more variety of vitamins. Eat more raw foods.

Remember, exchange things, add things, and do it gradually and remember, live all things in life in moderation and soon you will be bouncy and vibrant and well on your way to living BEAUTIFULLY!

Beauty care - 7 beauty tips

Let's talk about inner beauty care. True beauty begins from the inside out. Outer beauty will only appear when you’ve practiced beauty within.

Knowing how and what to eat, can make a huge difference in how you feel. Improper eating habits can cause depression, overweight, illness and an overall lethargy.

Change your eating and exercising habits. You can do this. Do not try to change everything at once, unless you are just one of those rare individuals that can do that.

Beauty care starts with our diet. Diet does not mean just losing weight. Diet means the food you put in your daily eating habits.

2) Water, you need water. Try to add at least 4 more glasses of water to your daily diet. The rule of thumb for water is 8 glasses per day; and one extra for every ten pounds overweight you are.

4) Fiber - work up to getting 25 grams of Fiber per day

Remember, exchange things, add things, and do it gradually and remember, live all things in life in moderation and soon you will be bouncy and vibrant and well on your way to living BEAUTIFULLY!

Dietary supplements: Do you need them?

Do you need to take dietary supplements? The answer depends on your eating and lifestyle habits and some factors beyond your control, such as your age. Dietary supplements may be appropriate if:

You don't eat well. If you eat less than five total servings of fruits and vegetables daily, it may be difficult to get all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Also, if you eat only one or two times a day, you may be limiting the number and variety of servings you eat from the various food groups.
You're a vegetarian. If you're a vegetarian, you may not consume enough calcium, iron, zinc and vitamins B-12 and D. You can get these nutrients naturally from nonmeat sources, such as fortified soy products, green leafy vegetables, legumes, whole-grain products and nuts. If you aren't able to regularly consume these foods, dietary supplements may be necessary.
You consume less than 1,200 calories a day. Low-calorie diets limit the types and amounts of foods you eat and, in turn, the types and amounts of nutrients you receive. Unless monitored by a doctor, a low-calorie diet isn't usually recommended.
You have a medical condition that affects how your body absorbs, uses or excretes nutrients. If your diet has limited variety because of food allergies or intolerance to certain foods, such as dairy products, you may benefit from a dietary supplement. Also, if you have a disease of your liver, gallbladder, intestines or pancreas, or if you've had surgery on your digestive tract, you may not be able to digest and absorb nutrients properly. In such cases, your doctor may recommend that you take dietary supplements.
You're a postmenopausal woman. After menopause, women experience a sudden drop in estrogen levels, which increases bone loss. To keep bones strong and to decrease bone loss, you need calcium as well as vitamin D — the vitamin essential for absorbing calcium. Women who don't obtain enough calcium and vitamin D through foods could benefit from taking a calcium supplement with vitamin D.
You're a woman who has heavy menstrual bleeding. If you have heavy menstrual bleeding, you may need additional iron to replace the iron depleted by blood loss. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, a condition in which blood is low in hemoglobin, the substance which carries oxygen to tissues.
You're pregnant or trying to become pregnant. During this time, you need more of certain nutrients, especially calcium, folate and iron. Folate is needed very early in pregnancy to help protect your baby against neural tube birth defects, such as incomplete closure of the spine (spina bifida). Iron helps prevent fatigue by helping you make the red blood cells necessary to deliver oxygen to you and your baby. Your doctor can recommend a dietary supplement. It's important to start taking a supplement before becoming pregnant.
You smoke. Tobacco decreases the absorption of many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate, magnesium and calcium. But dietary supplements won't make up for the major health risks caused by smoking. The safest option is to avoid all tobacco products.
You drink excessively. Long-term excessive alcohol consumption can impair the digestion and absorption of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B-1, iron, zinc, magnesium and folate. In addition, you may substitute alcohol for food, resulting in a diet lacking in essential nutrients. Excessive drinking is defined as more than two drinks a day for men under age 65 and more than one drink a day for men over 65 and women. Taking dietary supplements, however, won't make up for the major health risks caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

If you're generally healthy and eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and lean meats, you don't likely need dietary supplements.

But if you seek assurance that you're getting all the vitamins and minerals you need and you don't mind the added expense and daily routine of taking a pill, taking a standard vitamin and mineral supplement with about 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for the various vitamins and minerals is generally fine. It's always a good idea, however, to talk with your doctor, as he or she knows your history and specific situation best.

A Look At The Children's Health Insurance Bill

Last week the House approved a major expansion of the children's health insurance program. The bill aims to expand the children's health program by $48 billion over the next five years. The proposed source of finance is an increase in tobacco taxes and cuts in payments to Medicare providers.

The bill was opposed by the Republicans as it seeks to cut subsidies to the private insurance companies who manage the Medicare plans. These Medicare plans are very popular in rural America.

The passage of the Bill has made both the Republicans and the Democrats happy. While for the Democrats it is a victory, being able to implement what they have been wanting to for a long time, the Republicans are grinning from ear to ear because they feel that a cut in the popular Medicare program will eventually cost the Democrats the control of the House. However, the Democrats have been quite smart. They plan to increase aid to poor Medicare beneficiaries and also put in place a plan for preventive health care that would make it less expensive for seniors.

While a tobacco tax is popular it has one major shortcoming. With the number of smokers declining the source of funding lacks stability and would ultimately shift the financial burden onto others. An increase in taxes is also likely to further increase the cost of smoking and cause a further decline in the number of smokers, and the downward spiral may accelerate.

But given the importance of the program the Government will simply have to find a sustainable way of funding it.

Tips for Acne Scar Skin Care

Like it or not, there are only a few fortunate people on the planet who have gone without acne their whole lives. For the rest of us mere mortals, acne has been a problem at one time or another; and for some of us, that same problematic acne left us with scars. Thanks to technology and research, however, there are now many different acne scar skin care techniques that can help us cover up and totally lose the scars.

Make no mistake: most acne scar skin care remedies and techniques are expensive, and they need to be undertaken for a long period of time before any results can emerge. Before you can understand how acne scar skin care works, however, you need to know about acne first and what can cause scarring.

Acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is caused by the clogging of skin pores by dirt, debris, or dried skin cells. This clogging causes pimples to form, creating the well-known cystic acne that is common in teenagers or persons with hormonal imbalances. The underlying cause of acne vulgaris has yet to be determined, however: some doctors and scientists propose that fluctuating hormonal levels contribute to acne, while others surmise that acne vulgaris is genetic in nature and can be inherited from one's parents.

Whatever the cause of acne, dermatologists will always caution you to refrain from touching your face, removing the pimples yourself, and, more crudely, "popping your zits". This is because any manual force not exerted by medically-approved means can cause acne scars to form.

Types of acne scars

In general, there are two types of acne scars, the pigmented scars and the pitted ones. Pigmented scars can be red or brown in color, and appear after the pimple has disappeared. Although they can be unseemly to look at, they can disappear after treatment, or they can vanish on their own after a few weeks or months.

On the other hand, pitted scars occur when damage is done to the skin tissue beneath the acne. Such scars look like indentations on the skin, and are often referred to as pockmarks. Both kinds of acne scars have their own methods for removal or concealment.

Acne scar skin care for pigmented scars involves using lotions or creams that have whitening compounds. Such compounds can remove the pigment from the scar and even out one's pigmentation. For instance, exfoliating agents such as glycolic acid or alpha-hydroxy acids can remove dead skin cells from the area so that new skin can immediately be regenerated.

Acne scar skin care is a little more complicated for pitted scars, as these scars are difficult to erase. Some dermatologists can inject protein stimulators that can induce skin cells to form the important proteins elastin and collagen. Once the cells surrounding the scars start producing these proteins, the skin can be plumper, and the depth of the scars can be made shallower, further reducing their pockmarked appearance.

Laser therapy

Laser treatments can also be used to combat acne scarring. Ablative laser treatment, for instance, burns scar tissue off from the surface of the skin, which stimulates the underlying skin to tighten. Such a technique injures the skin and exposes underlying tissue, so that people undergoing ablative laser treatment have to likewise be protected from infection. Moreover, because laser therapy can be painful, doctors apply anesthetics to the skin before undertaking any laser procedure.

On the other hand, non-ablative laser treatment can induce changes in the underlying skin tissue without doing injury to the epidermis, or the surface of the skin. Such laser therapy is relatively fast: this time, it heats up the oil glands in the skin, preventing acne from forming; it also tightens the underlying skin, so that scarring will be less visible. Another type of laser therapy makes use of the yellow pulse dye laser, a machine that operates using yellow light. Yellow light treats keloids, and can flatten or reduce inflammation of raised scars.

Fat transplant

There are other options for acne scar skin care. A dermatologist may offer to inject the scar, or plump it up, with filler substances such as bovine collagen. Fat can also be transplanted from other parts of the patient's body and into the acne scar. Some dermatologists may also recommend creams or lotions that can plump the skin temporarily and remove any sign of wrinkles, acne scar depressions, or age lines. There are also excision and incision techniques that can be carried out on irregularly-shaped acne scars.

There are still many methods of acne scar skin care. If you have acne scars, always consult with a dermatologist first and talk about what options are available for your case. With the right acne scar skin care, you can have smoother, fairer skin in no time at all.

Sugar is the key to the nicotine rush according to new research

Smoking and blood sugar levels are highly interrelated – nicotine causes the body to release satisfying levels of sugar into the bloodstream far faster than eating can, which explains its appetite-inhibiting effects. The results of low blood sugar levels in a quitting nicotine addict are also responsible for some of the most difficult withdrawal symptoms. Now it has been discovered that sugar is also a key element in the chemical reaction that causes a smoker to feel “high”. When nicotine molecules are received by neurotransmitter membranes, it’s sugar molecules that then act as a sort of hinge to open a gate in the cell membrane and send the "nicotine rush" nerve signal onward.

When nicotine binds to a neuron, how does the cell know to send the signal that announces a smoker’s "high"? As with other questions involving good sensations, the answer appears to be sugar.

A USC study appearing with a commentary in Nature Neuroscience online proposes a role for sugar as the hinge that opens a gate in the cell membrane and brings news of nicotine’s arrival.

Structural biologist Raymond Stevens of The Scripps Research Institute, who was not involved in the study, called it “a landmark accomplishment for the fields of structural biology and neuronal cell signaling.”

Besides substance addiction, Stevens pointed to epilepsy, schizophrenia and depression as targets for improved drugs that could result from the study’s findings.

The study provides the first detailed look at part of the mouse nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), one in a large and important group of molecules, known as ion channel proteins, that allow signals to pass between neurons.

The results reveal an important role for the sugar molecules in such proteins.

“Our studies fill a major gap in the field and set a new paradigm,” said Lin Chen, associate professor of molecular and computational biology in USC College and co-corresponding author with Zuo-Zhong Wang, associate professor of cell and neurobiology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Many existing theories, which do not consider sugar’s role, are probably incomplete, Chen said.

The debate over how signals pass from the outside of a cell to the inside is a long-standing one.

Some researchers had suggested that when a chemical such as nicotine binds to an ion channel protein on the cell surface, the protein starts a “conformational wave” that propagates a signal through the protein body to the cell membrane, Chen said.

But the molecular basis of such a wave in nAChR or any other protein has not been clearly established.

Instead, the Chen and Wang groups’ study of crystal structure suggested a simple mechanical role for sugar molecules attached to the surface of the receptor.

“They serve as the link between the neurotransmitter binding site and the membrane region where the gate is located,” Chen said.

“The sugar is kind of like a hinge. It’s pulling the door open and closed.”

Cutting the sugar chains stopped the gate’s operation: “The sugar is critical, in my opinion”, said Chen.

The researchers also found a water molecule deep in the receptor’s core – significant because proteins normally are filled with hydrophobic (water repellent) matter that helps the structure hold its shape according to Chen.

The water molecule may enable the receptor to alter its shape in counterbalance to the bending hinge.

Previously studied “homologs” of nAChR – proteins that share its structure but not its signaling function – are entirely hydrophobic, Chen said, supporting the theory that the buried water molecule plays a functional role.

Chen called the group’s Nature Neuroscience study “one of the few times that you felt that you connected the dots.”

The study also represents a tour de force of protein crystallography. Homologs of nAChR had been studied at the atomic scale, but not the receptor itself. One problem, solved by Wang’s laboratory, was the challenge of isolating large quantities of the nAChR protein in a suitable form.

“Many prestigious institutions and laboratories in the world have experienced tremendous difficulties for over two decades in getting a protein sample amenable for high-resolution studies of the structure,” Wang said.

Cosma Dellisanti, research associate in molecular and computational biology at USC, was first author. The other co-authors were Yun Yao of the Keck School and James Stroud of UCLA.

Funding for the research came from the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the National Institutes of Health.

Cannabis 'raises psychosis risk'

Cannabis users are 40% more likely than non-users to suffer a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia, say UK experts.

A team from Bristol University, writing in the Lancet, said young people needed to be made aware of the dangers, which they said increased with heavier use.

In an additional article, experts said up to 800 schizophrenia cases a year in the UK could be linked to cannabis use.

The Bristol team looked at 35 studies on the drug and mental health, but one expert urged caution over their study.

The Bristol team said the most frequent users of cannabis had twice the risk of non-users of developing psychotic illnesses.

But the evidence for a link with depression and anxiety was less clear, they said.

Public awareness

The authors said the risk to any individual of getting schizophrenia remained low overall, but because cannabis use was so common, they estimated it could be a factor in 14% of psychotic problems among young adults in the UK.

However, they said they could not rule out the possibility that people at a higher risk of mental illness were more likely to use the drug.

Study author, Professor Glyn Lewis, professor of psychiatric epidemiology, said: "It is possible that the people who use cannabis might have other characteristics that themselves increase risk of psychotic illness.

"However, all the studies have found an association and it seems appropriate to warn members of the public about the possible risk."

He added he would particularly advise users who were developing mental health problems or who had a family history of psychotic illness to quit using the drug.

In an accompanying editorial, Danish researchers said the figures presented in the research translated to about 800 potentially avoidable cases of schizophrenia a year in the UK among 15- to 34-year-olds.

Cabinet confessions

There are an estimated 2m regular users of cannabis in the UK.

Cannabis is currently a class C drug, having been downgraded from class B in 2004 - a move that made possession of the drug a largely non-arrestable offence.

However, earlier this month, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a consultation on reclassifying cannabis as class B, amid reports that more potent strains such as "skunk" are becoming widely available.

In the following days a string of Cabinet ministers, including Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Chancellor Alistair Darling and Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, admitted having smoked cannabis when they were younger.

Professor Robin Murray, professor of psychiatry at London's Institute of Psychiatry, said of the Bristol study: "The studies they looked at were done in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

"One of the questions they can't address is whether the risk is higher with the more concentrated skunk forms of cannabis, which are now widely available."

'Daily tragedy'

But Professor Leslie Iverson, from the University of Oxford, said there was still no conclusive evidence that cannabis use causes psychotic illness.

"Their prediction that 14% of psychotic outcomes in young adults in the UK may be due to cannabis use is not supported by the fact that the incidence of schizophrenia has not shown any significant change in the past 30 years."

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE, said: "This analysis should act as a serious warning of the dangers of regular or heavy cannabis use."

She added: "The headlines are not scaremongering but reflect a daily, and preventable, tragedy."

Health Secrets of Vitamin A Which You Must Know

Vitamin A or Retinol is a fat-soluble vitamin and plays an important role in vision, development and maintenance of healthy skin, hair, mucous membranes; immune functions; and reproduction. Vitamin A or retinol, helps your eyes to adjust to light alteration when you come in from outside and also helps keep your eyes, skin and mucous membranes moist.

Vitamin A is essential for the utilization of protein and the production of testosterone and other development factors.

Vitamin A is found in any of these forms:
* Retinol
* Other retinoids - retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and compounds of similar nature.
* Carotenoids - organic pigments that are naturally found in plants.

What is the Daily requirement of Vitamin A
Quantity of the amount of vitamin A is measured in retinol activity equivalents (RAE).

The suggested daily requirement for vitamin A is 700 RAE (retinol activity equivalent) per day for women and 900 RAE per day for men. But the requirements may be different from one person to another. The requirements may differ for growing children, during puberty, and for women who are pregnant or lactating; therefore, it is necessary to consult doctor for differences.

What are the Benefits of Vitamin A
1) Vitamin A supports healthy surface linings of the eyes and the respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts.
2) It Helps the skin and mucous membranes function as a barrier to bacteria and viruses.
3) It can also help boost the power of your white blood cells
4) It also keeps the mucus membranes, like the ones in your nose, moist.

Food sources of Vitamin A
Eating a range of foods that include vitamin A (and carotenes) is the finest method to get a sufficient amount.

Alcohol, coffee, or excessive iron can all reduce the body's supply of Vitamin A. But, the good information is that vitamin A is readily obtainable from numerous food sources.

Vitamin A can be obtained from food in two dissimilar forms -

1. Pro-vitamin A (also called beta-carotene). This is obtained from plant sources. It is mostly found in fruits and vegetables.
2. Pre-formed vitamin A (also called retinol or retinal) . This is obtained through animal sources. Main sources consist of liver, whole milk, and some equipped food products.

The top most vitamin A-rich foods consist of:
1) Sweet potato
2) Mango
3) Carrots
4) Spinach
5) Dried apricots
6) Cantaloupe
7) Egg yolk
8) Milk
9) Mozzarella cheese
10) Liver

Skimmed milk is often equipped with vitamin A because it is removed from milk with the fat.

What can happen with vitamin A deficiency?
1) Night blindness is one of the first Vitamin A Deficiency symptom
2) Vitamin A deficiency reduces the capability to fight infections, such as pneumonia.
3) Vitamin A Deficiency may increase a child's threat of developing respiratory infections, diarrhea, decreased growth rate and slow bone development.

Vegans who do not consume eggs and dairy foods need pro vitamin A carotenoids to fulfill their requirement for vitamin A. They should include at least of five servings of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet and habitually choose dark green leafy vegetables and orange and yellow fruits to fulfill suggested amounts of vitamin A.

Storage of Vitamin A
Vitamins are simply destroyed during food preparation and storage.

1) To get the maximum vitamin possible from food, refrigerate and store milk and grains away from strong light.
2) To retain vitamin A try to supply fruits and vegetables raw whenever possible.
3) Steam vegetables, roast or bake meats in place of frying.
4) If you take vitamin supplements, keep them at room temperature in a dry place that is moisture free.

Vitamin A Overdose
Overdose of vitamin A cause tiredness, sluggishness, severe headache, vomiting, peeling of skin and hair loss.

Research recommends that having more than an average of 1.5mg per day of vitamin A over a lot of years may affect bones and make them more liable to fracture when grow older.

Older people, especially women, are already at danger of osteoporosis. This is where bone compactness reduces and so the risk of fractures grows.

If pregnant, having overdose of Vitamin A can harm your unborn baby. Therefore, if you are pregnant or thinking of having a baby, you should avoid eating liver products because these are very high in vitamin A quantity.

Ten Health Tips To Make You Live Extra 10 Years

Most of us are interested in living as long as we can, and at the same time increasing the quality of our lives. There are lots of methods that claim to help prolong life, but the most reliable way of increasing your lifespan is without a doubt, healthy living. Here our a few suggestions on how to have a healthier life.

1. Sleep! The benefits of proper sleep have often been researched, studied and reported. We are all different, but our need for adequate sleep is basically the same. Despite many people thinking they can get along with less sleep than others, this lack of sleep adds up and is linked to many health issues and their consequences. The average person needs about eight hours of sleep per night, although the timing and quality of such sleep also plays an important role.

2. Exercise! Keeping your body in shape is a sure way to increase your overall health, stay in shape, and consequentially reduce health risks associated to being overweight. An hour of daily exercise is recommended, but if your schedule doesn’t allow it, try to fit in at least four hours per week.

3. Eat right! To a certain extent, you are what you eat! Choosing what you eat carefully and avoiding fatty foods will help prevent health risks. Maintaining a balanced diet is vital to a healthy lifestyle. Plan healthy meals and avoid unnecessary snacking in between.

4. Relax! Stress is a very common word these days! The pace of our lives is constantly increasing and it is highly important that we find ways to reduce the stress levels that are built up daily. Find what works for you, whether it’s a hot bath, a night out with friends, or a walk down a deserted beach; getting rid of stress is crucial to your health.

5. Love! Believe it or not, love is linked to health. Those who love are less prone to several diseases and health problems. Whether you love a companion, your kids, grandkids, friends or a pet, it truly is the thought that counts when it comes to feelings of love.

6. Don’t smoke and try to avoid hanging around smokers. The negative consequences of cigarettes are well known be most of us. If you are a smoker, do your best to quit, and avoid hanging around friends who smoke.

7. Alcohol! Although a small amount of wine daily can be beneficial to your health, too much alcohol can have the opposite effect and drastic consequences. Moderation is the key.

8. Sunscreen! The sun is directly linked to aging, wearing protective clothing and adequate sunscreen when outdoors is extremely important. A glamorous tan may look good for a while, but the lack of one can help you live a lot longer.

9. Water! Drinking enough water is vital to staying healthy and to keep your body in running order. The quality of the water you drink is also very important.

10. Be happy! Happiness is vital to your health. A negative or bitter outlook on life is linked to several diseases. By thinking happy thoughts and wishing others well, we can help keep a positive mindset and be cheerful despite the adversities that constantly threaten to bring us down.

New Acne Treatments For A New Generation

Acne is a reality many of us have to go through at least once in our lives. Sometimes, acne thankfully ends at the end of puberty; for a few unfortunate others, acne can extend into adulthood, and can be even more difficult to treat as the years pass. With a lot of research into the causes of acne, new treatment regimens are discovered every year, and new acne treatments are more readily available and are becoming less expensive to undertake.

Depending on what you want to have treated, and depending on the severity of your acne case, these new acne treatments can help you overcome your acne problems. And, no matter what these treatments are, you must always consult with a dermatologist before undertaking them. Moreover, you must go to a licensed dermatologist regularly to have your acne checked and assessed, before, during, and after the specified treatment. If you have a particularly stubborn or difficult-to-treat case of acne, new treatment regimens may not be enough to help you out, and you might need to supplement your treatments with time-tested methods.

Dermatologists acknowledge that new acne treatments do not completely make old treatments unnecessary or outdated. For instance, some new treatment methods involve stripping away the upper portion of the skin, or the epidermis, and revealing the young, often incompletely developed, and painfully raw skin underneath. This can be a dangerous procedure without antibiotics, as the exposed skin can serve as an avenue for microbes to enter and cause infection. Dermatologists have been recommending oral antibiotics for decades in order to keep infections at bay.

Using birth control pills

Dermatologists also acknowledge that the underlying cause of most acne is hormonal, so that no amount of invasive and expensive new acne treatments can be effective without some molecular assistance. Some dermatologists therefore recommend birth control pills to stabilize the levels of estrogen and progesterone in women with acne. Fluctuations in the levels of these hormones can cause acne, so birth control pills can help add to the good effects of above-the-skin treatments.

A new treatment regimen involves the use of acids that can both prevent acne scarring and remove the acne cysts themselves. For instance, a solution with mandelic and malic acids can treat skins that are prone to acne, and with effects similar to glycolic or citric acid. Mandelic acid is a natural anti-bacterial that can kill the underlying cause of most acne: bacteria. Mandelic acid can also absorb oils that can clog pores, and it can control the release of oil from oil glands beneath the skin. Malic acid, on the other hand, can keep the skin naturally hydrated without making it release oils.

Light therapy for acne

To combat more severe forms of cysts and scars due to acne, new treatment regimens have been formulated that involve the use of different frequencies of light. For instance, blue and red light therapy involves the use of light set at a particular frequency, through bulbs or lasers, to reduce the number and severity of acne lesions. Light therapy is designed to destroy the bacteria that cause acne, and light therapy treatment has so far been shown to be highly effective. However, as this technology is relatively new, it can be very expensive.

Working along the lines of light therapy is photodynamic therapy, which makes use of high energy blue or violet light to destroy the bacteria that cause acne. This therapy, however, has still not been studied in great detail, so great care should likewise be taken when it is used.

Laser treatments

Another treatment regimen involves the use of lasers to remove acne and reduce the scars that acne leave behind. In general, laser treatment burns out the follicle sac in which hairs grow, and in which acne begins to form. A laser will also burn out the oil glands that produce pore-clogging oils. Lastly, the laser will induce the acne-causing bacteria to form oxygen molecules. Because acne-causing bacteria thrives in an environment without oxygen, and is killed in the presence of it, laser therapy should remove acne-causing bacteria completely.

These are only a few new acne treatments that are now available on the market. For more information, do as much research as you can on acne treatments, and be updated on the latest news about treatments that have already been approved for general use. Moreover, talk to your dermatologist regularly and consult on these new treatments. As you have more options available to you, it will be more probable that your acne case will be resolved much faster.

Affordable Health Insurance

As health insurance costs are increasing we have to take more responsibility for our health insurance coverage. With health insurance cost rising health insurance companies are constantly coming out with new health insurance plans. New plans offer you flexibility to customize your own health insurance plan. Most health plans in the past were pre packaged health insurance plans and we ended up paying for things we never use. We know that car insurance offers us flexibility to where you can pick your limits deductibles and the types of coverage that you want. It seemed that with health insurance it took at while for health insurance companies to realize that is how they can stay competitive. The world of five dollar co pays and no deductible plans are over. Most of us and our parents come from the world where large companies paid for their health insurance plans. Large companies do have advantage of numbers; more people are part of the group the more insurance companies are competing for their business.

First I want to address or health insurance quote shopping. If you are looking for some great deal a plan that covers everything for small monthly premium you are going to get scammed. Health insurance prices are health insurance prices no matter what insurance company you go with. The main difference how insurance companies compete with offering more affordable health insurance rates is by being more creative in their plan design. Stays away from “good deals” in health insurance, chances are the plans are not going to cover anything when you have claim. Then you will end up with bills from the hospital and your health insurance premiums.

Health insurance companies like Assurant Health underwritten by Time Insurance offer health insurance plans where you design your own plan. It is one of the only large reputable health insurance companies to offer customizable health plans. They offer five plan designs two of them are Health Savings Account qualified health plans and the other health plans are your standard PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). What makes Assurant Health unique is that every type of plan give you opportunity to customize that plan by choosing co-pay or no co-pay option, choice of deductible, prescription drug coverage deductible, dental discount plan or dental insurance and some plan specific options. If you are looking for simple to use and simple to understand HSA account plans, Assurant is one of the first companies to offer HSA plans.

When designing your own health insurance plan keep in mind of your previous health insurance usage. Choosing deductible for your health insurance plans will make the largest difference in your monthly price. Keep in mind in most cases deductible applies only to when you are hospitalized. That meant when you are admitted to the hospital. Most health insurance plans will cover you doctor visits, physical exams, prescriptions drugs and your lab work with a co-pay before you meet the deductible. If you choose a high deductible plan and something does happen to you that you end up in the hospital for something major and you do not have money at the time to cover your deductible. Every hospital will work with you by offering you payment methods. This way you can take as much time to pay off that deductible. Therefore it does not make any sense in most cases not choosing a plan with high deductible. Get health plans with high deductible and you are going to save thousands on your health insurance. Some companies like Assurant Health offer you option to where if you choose a health plans with deductible of thirty five hundred of higher you automatically qualify for two year rate guarantee. Save money monthly and avoid rate increased. Just with little knowledge and understanding of how health insurance works you save thousands with the health coverage that you need.

Excessive Weight Problem - Deep Insight

Obesity in its progressive form, has taken hold of many lives. Very few people can honestly say that no one in their family is overweight. What makes this disease so widespread?

Be it a brother, a sister, an uncle, aunt, cousin, nephew, niece, grandparent, parent, son, daughter, yourself, etc., someone in almost every family is simply fat; and not just fat, obese. It didn’t happen overnight, either. Society wasn’t always haunted by obesity. This overweight condition gradually made her way into our modern day world and has now become mainstream and chronic for many people. The contributing factors to this global overweight problem are many and complex. The list of factors could take pages to fill in; however, here are just a few of the more intense factors:

1. Overeating (the most obvious cause of obesity)
Now overeating doesn’t necessarily imply eating too much. Overeating simply means that you are consuming more calories than you can possibly burn in a day. It is the calories and not the food that creates obesity. You can realistically stuff yourself all day with low calorie foods and not gain a single pound. There are also different types of calories. Calories from fat burn off much slower than calories from carbohydrates. But be careful because calories from carbs do turn into fat if they are not burned off fast enough.

2. Genetics
Unfortunately, when it comes to obesity and being overweight, not all of us were created equal. Our metabolisms are very different from one another. Some of us burn fat very easily and some of us don’t. It is important to identify where our bodies fit in. Being genetically prone to being overweight doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t live healthy lives. It just means we might have to be a little more disciplined and possibly have to make certain sacrifices that others don’t have to make, in order to avoid obesity. Some of the greatest bodies out there belong to people that are genetically prone to being overweight. They have simply decided that they aren’t going to let their genetic condition make them overweight and have instead used it as a motivating force in their favor.

3. Environment (Where you live, your socioeconomic status, and your cultural background)
Technology has made life easier for most of us but it has also been a contributing factor of obesity. People in rich first world countries are more prone to being overweight than those in the third world. Why? Several reasons. We use a car to drive two blocks. We eat high calorie fast foods and microwave dinners. We even use a drive through to get them. People in third world countries don’t have these options. Cars are a luxury only the elite can afford. Drive-thrus are almost non existent. People don’t walk or run for the sake of exercise. They simply walk because they have to get from point A to point B or they ride a bike. This type of behavior forces even the genetically prone to being overweight to burn off high amounts of calories. Many of these people are forced to eat low calorie foods because that’s the only food they have, making obesity very limited in these countries. Why? Because of people’s behavior; no matter how unintentional they may be.

4. Behavior (Our actions and our will power contribute to obesity)
Overweight people behave a certain way. We may possibly suffer from low self esteem. Many times we allow our environment to control the way we live. When that environment makes everything easy, physical activity is greatly reduced and we become obese and overweight. There is a great article about dependence between the problem of excessive weight and people activity types, and also some evidence revealing thee crucial role of behavior, not genetics, in people's getting overweight.

If we are able to modify our behavior (i.e. eating habits, physical activity, determination, the love we have for ourselves, etc.) we will be able to control any of the other factors that contribute to obesity and overweight conditions.

Behavior, not Genetics, is accused in obesity claim

Though it is widely believed that genetics play a major role on obesity and overweight conditions, a recent study has determined that the current data we have available does not support this belief.

The study conducted by American College of Sports Medicine claims that the human genotype has not really changed over the past few decades. Furthermore, the study claims that conditions such as dietary induced thermo genesis, defects in a resting metabolic rate, substrate metabolism, etc., can not be attributed to genetics because the data does not support these findings.

According to the study, it has been a change in global behavior and not genetics which has contributed to the worldwide overweight condition which has prevailed over the past few decades.

Global Obesity Cannot Be Attributed to Excess Food Intake Either

The study proved, through national surveys, that current day caloric intake isn't really higher than it was a few decades ago. People aren't really eating more now than they were a few years back. In fact, all of the surveys that were analyzed determined that there has been either a slight decline or a slight increase in total caloric intake but nothing major. This has led the researchers to believe that people have become overweight and obese mainly because they are simply exerting less physical activity.

Declining Physical Activity as the Major Contributor to Obesity and Overweight

Technology has automated most of the activities that previously required physical movement. The need for both home and work related physical activity has dramatically declined. The energy expenditure which was necessary for daily living has been greatly reduced; or so claims the study. This means that people are taking in approximately the same amount of food that they were consuming a few years ago but they are simply not burning it off. All of these unused calories are contributing to obesity.

Solutions for the Overweight and Obese

From the above findings we can honestly say that there are only two possible solutions for global obesity. Current day people realistically need fewer calories than they did a few years back so they must either eat less or supplement the loss of work and home related physical activity with a simple exercise routine. Anyway, jogging in the morning is much nicer then consuming diet pills to fix the problem when it comes to your doorstep. Think about it!

To eat or not to eat? It depends on what you gonna do about it!

The United States Department of Agriculture (more commonly known as the USDA) has determined that there is no “one size fits all” plan when it comes to recommending the appropriate caloric intake requirements for individuals. Calories affect each of us differently. Many factors, including sex, age, physical activity levels, genetics, etc., influence the amount of calories we personally need.

Though it is probably impossible to determine (with 100 percent accuracy) the specific caloric intake needs of every individual person without actual medical testing, caloric intake needs can be estimated using a variety of factors.

Most diet related sites will simply tell you that weight gain occurs when we consume more calories than those we burn off. That’s easy enough to understand. So if this is a true fact, then the opposite is also true. If we consume less calories than those we burn off then we will lose weight. Great start! But how do we determine these figures?

How in the world do we know how much we’ve burned off? Most diet sites will tell you that the average person needs anywhere from 2000 to 3000 calories. That’s a pretty big range. How do you know which side of the caloric scale you need to lean towards? The FDA’s MyPyramid program established a food intake pattern table that will help us accurately estimate caloric needs.

They have divided people into two mayor groups: Males and Females. Both the male and female groups are divided into 3 subcategories:

Sedentary People (moderate physical activity of less than 30 minutes a day)
Moderately Active People (moderate physical activity ranges from 30 to 60 minutes a day)
Active People. (daily physical activity surpasses 60 minutes)

Each of these 3 categories was further divided by ages. The average caloric intake needs for each category was calculated by age. For minors it was calculated yearly starting from age 2 to 18. According to the MyPyramid list, adult caloric needs only change about every 5 years. So you will have the same caloric need from age 21 to 25, from 26 to 30….from 45 to 50, etc.

So according to the USDA, a 32 year old sedentary male needs 2,400 calories for his daily activities. If he were moderately active he would need 2,600 calories and if he was very active he would need around 3,000 calories.

A sedentary woman of the same age would need 1,800 calories. If her physical activity becomes moderately active she would need 2,000 calories. An active 32 year old woman needs 2,200 calories to remain healthy.

Once we know how many calories we actually need we can then begin working on other areas that will allow us to loose weight. We can determine the amount of physical activity that would be appropriate for our goals and the type of diets we should undertake etc., but all of this should be done when appropriate caloric consumption needs have been established.

Cancer Caused By Environmental Toxins

More and more people now believe that cancer can be caused by environmental toxins. On the other hand, others say that the causal-effect relationship between cancer and the environment can be hard to prove. Still, there is no denying that cancer cases are on the rise. You would most likely know of someone who has developed cancer. And cancer can strike at any part of the body and spread rapidly throughout.

Most conventional doctors believe strongly that genes are the causes of cancer. A common question that a doctor may ask during a diagnosis is whether anyone in your family has it as well. He is less likely to explore the possibility of environmental toxins causing cancer in you or your family member. Yet, it is very possible that even if cancer genes can be inherited, there can still be environmental toxins causing cancer to hit multiple family members.

You just need to think about the fact that most of the cancer patients in your family probably grew up in the same environment and are exposed to the same toxic materials or the same polluted air. So, even though it seems genetic, it may also be environmental. There have been studies conducted to support this alternative point of view.

A study in 2002 reported that women in San Francisco, California had a 1 in 22 chance of developing breast cancer in the 1940's. That risk was increased to 1 in 8 in 2002. What was interesting was that since the 1940's, the number of factories and cars and other pollutants in California rose dramatically.

That same year in 2002, a man named Basil Seggos uncovered a huge oil slick in Greenpoint, in the area of New York City. After some research, Mr. Seggos found that there were several places in Greenpoint where more people were contracting all types of cancer than average. In Greenpoint, at least, it was obvious to Mr. Seggos and many of his supporters that environmental toxins caused cancer.

The cases mentioned are not isolated incidents. There have been various reports on environmental toxins causing cancer over the years. Many of them were released by independent groups of activists and scientists. There are many cases that also go unreported. Unfortunately, the U.S. government and most other governments are reluctant to admit that the problem exists. Critics point out that the governments lose billions of dollars should they do so, as they are well supported by the big companies who contributed to the environmental pollution.

This being the case, you need to be aware about the surrounding toxicity of your environment. You need to know that you can be exposed to a well known cancer causing chemical called benzene.It may not just be your home but may be your workplace that has benzene or similar cancer-causing substances.

Toxins also come from cigarette smoke, gasoline, paint and laundry products. You can make a choice about the products that you use. There is no denying that if you constantly exposed yourself to a toxic environment, you are bound to fall ill. In the most severe case, you develop cancer.

On your own, consider cancer prevention by doing some natural body cleansing. You can assist your body in the regular removal of the toxic overload, acquired through diet or your environment. Additionally, be aware of your legal rights. Consult field experts if you need to. For all you know, you or your family member may be entitled to compensation payments from negligent employers or even the government.

10 Things To Avoid When Losing Weight

Losing weight and dieting is never easy. Actually, it is one of the hardest things for some people to do. Here's 10 things to avoid that could make you shatter your diet and start eating. Avoid all of these like plague if you want to be successful.

1. Avoid rushing into the strictest diet you can find.

This is a common mistake. Many people, in desperation, decide to follow a super-strict diet and that usually leads to failure. Don't rush into any diet that may be too strict for you. If you don't have any dieting experience and are not 100% sure you can stick with the diet, choose another one.

2. Avoid losing touch with reality.

You can't realistically expect things to happen over night. When choosing your goal, start small, but be prepared to go far. If you hear someone saying that he lost a large number of pounds in a short time, don't make it your goal to match his performance. Diet results are different from one person to another.

3. Avoid going to the gym every day.

Another common mistake is to use the excitement of the first days to hit the gym every day. This won't help you at all. Your body needs time to heal and expand the muscles after each work-out and going to the gym every day interferes with this natural process. A week of non-stop training could never offset ten or twenty years of couch potato lifestyle anyway.

4. Avoid getting tough on calories.

We all know that cutting down on calories is one of the foundations of all diets, but be careful about it. Cut down on too many calories and your body will start storing anything it possibly can. This is not a good way to lose weight.

5. Avoid skipping meals.

Many people reason that foregoing meal or two is going to help them lose weight faster. They don't understand that dieting is all about eating the right food and not starving yourself.

6. Avoid daily weight checks.

Everybody is eager to see the results of their efforts in the form of pounds lost, but you should not let this drive you to checking your weight everyday. The daily fluctuations of your weight will soon have you depressed and ready to quit dieting. This is something you want to avoid at all costs.

7. Avoid letting emotions hamper your diet goals.

Aside from the eagerness that drives people to check their weight every day, there are other emotions that influence dieting. If you know you're used to reaching out for ice-cream or snacks when you are bored, frustrated or angry, then you should deal with these issues and not allow them to come between you and your purpose.

8. Avoid refusing to get help.

Not everyone was born with iron will and nerves of steel. There are times when you may need help or advice. Don't hesitate to ask friends or professionals for it. Please dont try to solve all your problems alone.

9. Avoid denying yourself your favourite foods.

Treats are a great way of raising your determination and willpower. Diets are methods of food control. They should not hold you hostage. So what, if you eat something you said you wouldn't once in a while, especially if it's one of your favorite foods? If these treats are not indulged in frequently, they won't make any difference in the long run.

10. Avoid relying too much in your own willpower.

Use your head too. If you need to know how much you actually eat, write down everything you are eating and go over the list with a fine-toothed comb for things that should not be there. Sometimes hunger creeps up on you and makes you eat things that you shouldn't be eating. If you stay honest with yourself and keep a clear head as you go, you'll be fine.

Limited Capacity Is Seen in Flu Defenses

More than a year after President Bush unveiled a plan for coping with a pandemic flu outbreak, the federal government still has limited capacity to detect a disease outbreak and track its progress across the country.

The government has also decided that it will not close the borders if a pandemic flu outbreak occurs somewhere in the world.

“The reality is that there are tremendous challenges to sealing our borders to begin with,” said Dr. Rajeev Venkayya, special assistant to the president for biodefense. “Secondly, we believe that if a pandemic virus emerges anywhere in the globe, it is inevitable that it will arrive here in the U.S. irrespective of the actions we take at the borders.”

The government will try to limit the number of arriving people who might be infected with the virus and detain those suspected of harboring the virus, Dr. Venkayya said. But it will also try to allow the flow of goods and people across the border to continue, he said.

In the coming weeks, officials will release the government’s priority list detailing who will get the first lots of flu vaccines in the event of an outbreak. Plans to coordinate with state and local governments about when to close schools are also still in the works, they said.

These updates were delivered Tuesday in a White House briefing on the government’s progress in preparing the nation for an outbreak of a deadly infectious disease. Top officials emphasized that significant planning and investment decisions had already been made, including a $1 billion investment in finding new ways to manufacture flu vaccines.

But, Dr. Venkayya said, “there is much work that remains to be done.”

Also Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that it had released $897 million to states for emergency preparedness efforts. The money includes $175 million for pandemic flu preparedness.

A nationwide surveillance system to track the progress of an outbreak as it moves around the world and across the country still needs considerable work, officials said.

“Just to be brutally honest, we have a lot of trouble determining when we have an outbreak of disease in a community here in the U.S.,” Dr. Venkayya said. “We need to have uniform biosurveillance capability to prepare not only for a pandemic, but any outbreak of infectious disease.”

The nation also has little extra capacity in its hospitals and other health care facilities to deal with a huge surge in need that would accompany a mass disease outbreak, Dr. Venkayya said. And the government has little ability to ensure that during an outbreak, when many workers would stay home, limited Internet capacity would go to essential work and not to children playing video games, officials said.

Eighty-six percent of the tasks that were to be completed this year under the president’s flu plan have been finished, officials said. The remaining 14 percent of those should be done by the end of the year, Dr. Venkayya said.

A significant remaining challenge, officials said, is that the country has grown tired of pandemic flu warnings. They emphasized that the planning would help prepare for any disease outbreak, whether from natural causes or a terrorist attack.

Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit organization dedicated to disease prevention, praised the administration’s flu preparations.

“This report demonstrates that the federal government has made major strides in preparedness for a pandemic,” Mr. Levi said. “But as the administration also recognizes, there is still a long way to go before all levels of government and all sectors of society are fully prepared.”

The Four Pillars of Health

These are the big picture items.

1. Maintain your sense of control over your own life.
This doesn't mean being a control freak - trying to control others. It means having a good sense of what you are able to do to stay healthy and create the life you want.

2. Maintain good networks.

The better your friends and networks the more likely you are to be happy and healthy.

Doing these first two will mean that you have a good chance of handling stress, which is the cause of much illness.

3. Get some exercise.

Exercise regulates appetite and helps with weight control.

Aerobic exercise (deep breathing for more than twenty minutes) helps keep you heart and lungs healthy. You are less likely to die of a heart attack.

It doesn't need to be very hard. There is no evidence that elite athletes live longer than people who are normally healthy. Aim for a half hour a day that makes you breath more deeply. This is technically 70% of maximal heart rate. If you estimate what it is for you to "do a seven" (where zero is lying down and ten is running flat out) this is usually a pretty good guide.

4. Eat healthily

Eat until you feel 70% full. Wait 20 minutes until you eat any more. It seems to take this long for us to know whether we are satisfied.

Emphasise fruit and vegetables in your diet. (This is for those who eat in the usual way.) There is some evidence that organically grown may be healthier.

Cook at home when you can. You are more likely to eat less processed food and so you will avoid the preservatives and added fats and sugars that are so much a part of packaged food.

Facial paralysis treatment hailed

US surgeons have announced they have succeeded in partially re-animating the faces of patients with severe long-term facial paralysis using a new technique.

The new procedure, which involves the transfer of tendons within the face, has been performed on 15 patients.

Those affected by facial paralysis often lose voluntary movement of muscles on one side of their face.

The Johns Hopkins University surgeons believe their system marks significant progress in treating the condition.

They claim it is simpler, more effective and the surgery less traumatic than traditional methods.

'Immediate effect'

Facial paralysis can have many causes - from trauma caused by an accident to tumours to strokes.

The result is not only deformity, but also often severe speech problems.

When tackled early, various operative techniques such as nerve grafts can now be used to restore movement.

However, surgery has been less successful on those with long-term paralysis, and it is in this area that surgeons at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine say they have made significant progress.

The new surgical technique, called temporalis tendon transfer, sounds gruesome.

A major muscle on the side of the head is severed at the point it joins the jawbone and stretched across the head to attach with mouth muscles, before a relating tendon is then also stretched and reconfigured.

The lead surgeon, Dr Patrick J Byrne, says the results in the 15 patients who have so far undergone the procedure, have been deemed good to excellent, with facial symmetry and speech improved with immediate effect.

"This particular technique address two aspects... the one being improving facial symmetry, the other being the return of a smile," he says.

"When we tighten the muscle around the mouth and along the cheek, we find it helps not only with oral competence - their ability to control their mouth - but it also helps with their speech - they have less of the air escape - they're able to generate better articulation."

Dr Byrne claims the technique is simpler, more effective and the surgery less traumatic than the temporalis sling technique which has been traditionally offered in the past to patients with long-term facial paralysis.

He is also claiming the results of surgery will be easier to predict than with other methods used to date.

Hunger 'links asthma and obesity'

The protein may increase appetite as well as inflaming the lungs

Researchers say they may have worked out why the obese are more prone to asthma than those of normal weight.

The link between the two conditions is well-established, but the relationship is ill-understood.

Now scientists at King's College London say they have pinned down a protein which contributes to inflammation of the lungs as well as increasing hunger.

The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences said further research was now needed.

Mechanism mystery

The researchers investigated molecules produced by Th2 cells - specialised cells belonging to the immune system which can inflame the lungs and contribute to the development of asthma.

But these cells also produce a protein known as PMCH which is known to increase appetite.

"These findings may provide a mechanistic link between allergic inflammation, asthma and obesity," the researchers wrote.

Several European and American studies have found a link between obesity and asthma which cannot be explained by weight gain brought on by the inactivity asthma encourages. In many cases, the obesity precedes the asthma.

One study of 330,000 patients published earlier this year found that for every normal weight person with asthma, there were 1.5 who were overweight or obese.

The latter category effectively ran a 50% greater risk of developing the condition.

However, people with asthma are not always obese, so the lead researcher of this latest study, Dr David Cousins, said further investigation was needed into possible genetic variations of PMCH, the gene known to boost appetite.

Dr David Haslam of the National Obesity Forum said that from the obesity perspective, the research was interesting although as yet there were no therapeutic implications.

"Working out the mechanisms, the links between diseases is important, and it adds to the growing body of evidence which gives obesity some form of genetic basis."

Once-rare skin cancer type on the rise in US

A type of skin cancer that was rare three decades ago has surged in the United States , a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found.

The cancer known as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma became increasingly more common in the United States in the decades between 1973 and 2002, according to a study in the July issue of Archives of Dermatology, which is part of JAMA.

"The overall incidence increased each decade, was higher among blacks than whites and among men than women, increased substantially with age, and varied geographically," wrote the authors.

They say the cause is as yet unknown, but added the results of their study were alarming.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma can develop when cells of the lymph system (called T lymphocytes) become cancerous and affect the skin. It spreads slowly and can cause red patches on the skin. It is treatable but not curable.

A total 4,783 cases were identified in the 30-year period. That amounts to a rate of 6.4 per million persons and a total of 0.14 percent of all cancers and 3.9 percent of non-Hodgkins lymphomas, the data showed.

But the results varied across the country.

"The geographic differences in incidence are substantial even after controlling for race," said the study led by Vincent Criscione and Martin Weinstock of the VA Medical Center, Rhode Island Hospital, and Brown University , Providence, Rhode Island .

Access to doctors and other social-economic indicators such as levels of income and education appeared to affect the numbers of reported cases, the study found.

San Francisco in California reported the highest rise in the cases with 9.7 for every million among white and 10.8 for every million among African-Americans.

Iowa counted the lowest incidence with a rate of 3.7 per million for the whol population.

Rats back on the menu in southern China

Rats are back on the menu in southern China , after traders there capitalised on an outbreak of the rodents in neighbouring Hunan province, according to various state press reports.

According to a report Saturday in the Information Times from Guangzhou , trucks full of mice were seen arriving late at night and sold to a wild animal market in the city district of Baiyun.

During the SARS epidemic, which began in southern China in 2003, authorities banned the sale of many wild animals including rats amid fear that the deadly disease could be contracted from contaminated meat.

Although the scientific community is not in agreement over whether certain animals can spread the disease, vendors in China are no longer allowed to sell wild animals.

After its emergence in Guangdong province, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome quickly spread globally to infect more than 8,000 people and kill more than 800, including 349 people in China.

Officials in Hunan -- where floods have sparked a plague of two billion rats after water submerged their holes -- denied the newspaper's undercover report.

One official quoted by the Beijing Times on Sunday dismissed the report, saying it was far too difficult to catch rats alive, while their relatively small size meant there was little meat on the bone.

But rats are regarded as a traditional delicacy in southern China, and some believe that their flesh is more nutritious than pork or chicken.

A rat was fetching for between 40 to 50 yuan (5.2 to 6.5 US dollars) and reports said they could be found in Guangdong's cities of Fanyu, Zhaoqing, Dongguan and Hanhai.

Earlier this year China's media also reported that civet cats were routinely finding their way back onto Guangdong dinner tables.

Brain target for stress disorder

Blocking a molecule in the brain may "cure" post-traumatic stress disorder, according to US researchers.

They showed that inhibiting a specific enzyme removed fear in mice and report to journal Nature Neuroscience that the finding may lead to new treatments.

Around a third of people may suffer PTSD after an exceptionally traumatic event, such as a terrorist attack or a natural disaster.

Experts said it was early days but the findings were worth exploring further.

There is currently no treatment for PTSD although antidepressants and sleeping pills can help with the symptoms, which include flashbacks, anger, anxiety and depression.

Professor Li-Huei Tsai and colleagues in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department at MIT looked at the effects of an enzyme called Cdk5 in the brains of genetically engineered mice which had been given mild foot shocks.

When re-exposed to the same environment but without the shocks, mice in whom the researchers had increased levels of Cdk5 activity had difficulty letting go - or extinguishing - the memory of the foot shock and continued to freeze in fear.

But in mice whose Cdk5 activity was blocked, the bad memory of the shocks disappeared when the mice learned that they no longer needed to fear the environment where the foot shocks had occurred.

The enzyme activity was modified in the hippocampus - the brain's centre for storing memories.

Traumatic experience

Emotional disorders such as post-traumatic stress and panic attacks stem from the inability of the brain to stop experiencing the fear associated with a specific incident or series of incidents.

A study conducted by the US Army in 2004 found that one in eight soldiers returning from Iraq reported symptoms of PTSD.

The National Institute of Clinical and Health Excellence estimate five in 100 men and 10 in 100 women in the UK will get PTSD in their lifetime.

In guidance published in 2005 NICE said the condition was under-recognised in the NHS and better screening and treatment was needed.

Professor Tsai said: "This data points to a promising therapeutic avenue to treat emotional disorders and raises hope for patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or phobia."

Dr Jonathan Bisson, senior lecturer in psychiatry at the University of Cardiff and co-chair of the NICE guideline group said the finding was "potentially a significant advance".

He added: "Translation of them into an effective treatment for PTSD is a long way off, and may not be possible.

"But the results are consistent with current theories on the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms and it is an area very worthy of further investigation."

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