Environmental toxins may take a toll on newborns Study Says Pollutants May Affect Boys

A medical study conducted among 1,000 children born in a Navi Mumbai hospital could be an indicator of the growing effect of environmental toxins on the human reproductive system.      The study, which was presented at the 24th congress of the European Society for Paediatric Urology in Genoa, Italy, on Friday, showed there is a growing incidence of genital abnormality among boys possibly because of the increasing exposure to endocrine disruptor chemicals. Known as phthalates and bisphenol-A, these chemicals are used in plastic bottles, food wraps, cosmetics, toys, etc. Experts say chemicals in pesticides, painkillers and cigarettes too can disrupt the hormone system.      The study was conducted by Dr Arbinder Singal, a paediatric urologist with MGM Hospital in Vashi. His team checked 1,154 children on first or second day of birth for genital abnormalities, but 1,148 were included in the study.      An increase in incidence of male reproductive disorders has been noted all over the world, said Singal. "Such disorders are thought to be the result of chemical exposure that interfere with the sex hormones during development and sex differentiation which happens during 8 to 12 weeks of foetal development,'' he said.      The Navi Mumbai study noticed an alarming increase, almost 200%, in the incidence of undescended testicles. "We found almost 5% of the fullterm newborn male babies had undescended testes,'' he told TOI. The male hormone, testosterone, is produced in the testicles, which are two ovalshaped male sex organs located inside a small sac called the scrotum that is located under the penis. The last study in India done in 1972 showed an incidence of 1.6%. "If we include milder forms of undescended testes, the incidence may be as high as 8.7%,'' he added.      In 70% of the cases, testes descend within the first few months of life. But what is worrying is that 30% will need surgical correction. "An extrapolation of our results suggest that about 7 lakh babies would be born in India with undescended testes. Even if there is natural correction in 70% of the children by 6 months of age, there would still be 2.1 lakh babies every year who will need surgery for the condition in India,'' he added. If this condition is not treated, it could lead to fertility problems, torsion and cancer formation.      The team also found a high incidence of hypospadias, a condition in which the "peehole" isn't aligned with the opening of the penis. "We calculated the incidence at almost 1 in every 126 male babies. Extrapolating this data, over 1 lakh babies will be born with hypospadias in India,'' he said.      Senior paediatric surgeon Dr Santosh Karmakar said the incidence of undescended testes does seem high. "However, further studies are required to authoritatively say that environmental toxins are the main reason,'' he said. Another doctor said the high incidence could be the result of better detection rates.      Dr Vijay Yewale, a Navi Mumbai-based paediatrician who will the next president of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, said, "If one looks at previous studies, this incidence is very high. It clearly shows that there is a hormonal influence, but we need to follow up and study these patients.''      Dr Singal said his results should serve as a wake-up call on environmental pollution. "All vegetables and fruits which come to our markets in metros have some exposure to chemicals and it's worrisome to think what we will see coming up in next few years,'' he added.

Get some ginger in your diet

Ginger is one of the popular medicinal herbs used in traditional Chinese medicines and Ayurveda for centuries. Some people call it a plant directly from the Garden of Eden. Though this piece of information may be a matter of faith, there's hardly any doubt about the health benefits of ginger.  PREVENTS MOTION SICKNESS: It is believed that having some fresh ginger before taking a flight can prevent motion sickness.  CONTROLS BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS: Some health experts ask diabetes patients to drink ginger tea early in the morning. It helps to control blood sugar levels.  ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES: Ginger is a source of potent anti-inflammatory compounds known as gingerols. They aid in alleviating the symptoms of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  RELIEVES STOMACH PROBLEMS: Ginger is ideal for relieving stomach aches, stomach cramps and other digestive problems and aids in digestion. In fact, some Japanese researchers found that gingerols present in ginger block vomit reflex.  BOOSTS IMMUNITY: Consuming a little bit of fresh ginger daily boosts your immunity.  FOR MORNING SICKNESS: Ginger is known to be effective in providing relief from morning sickness, showing a 75% success rate in somehealth studies.  BLOOD CIRCULATION: Ginger contains minerals like zinc, chromium and magnesium that help optimum blood circulation in the body.  PREVENTS COLON CANCER: A health study conducted at the University of Minnesota, US, showed that ginger might slow down the growth rate of colorectal cancer cells.  PROTECTS CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH: Consuming ginger regularly is said to reduce levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. It also lowers the risk of stroke and heart attacks by improving blood circulation and elevating levels of high-density lipoproteins.  RELIEVES HEADACHES AND MIGRAINE: Chewing a piece of fresh ginger for about 30 minutes is believed to relieve headaches and migraine.  RELIEVES COLD AND FLU: Ginger contains antiviral and antifungal properties as well. So, the next time you catch catch a flu or cold, prepare some ginger tea to seek relief from throat and nose congestion.  ANTIHISTAMINE PROPERTIES: Ginger contains antihistamine properties, which makes it ideal to treat allergies.  FIGHTS BAD THROAT: Ginger aids in eroding itchiness of the throat. Sip a cup of ginger tea thrice a day.

Video game can help cure ‘lazy eye’ in adults

Toronto: Researchers have found that a popular puzzle video game could help improve vision in adult amblyopia, commonly known as 'lazy eye'. 

    A research team led by Dr Robert Hess from McGill University and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Canada examined the potential of treating amblyopic adults using the video game Tetris, which involves connecting different shaped blocks as they fall to the ground. 
    They found that by distributing information between the two eyes in a complementary fashion, the video game trains both eyes to work together, which is counter to previous treatments for the disorder. 
    This provides direct evidence that alleviating suppression of the weaker eye, by forcing both eyes to cooperate, increases the level of plasticity in the brain and allows the amblyopic brain to relearn, researchers said. 
    Amblyopia is caused by poor processing in the brain, which results in suppression of the weaker eye by the stronger eye. Previous treatments for the disorder, which have focused largely on covering the stronger eye in order to force the weaker eye to work, have proven only partially successful in children and have been ineffective in adults. 
    "The key to improving vision for adults, who currently have no other treatment options, was to set up conditions that would enable the two eyes to cooperate for the first time in a given task," said Hess, senior author of the paper. PTI

NOT JUST A PLAY TOOL

And the cider takes it all Explore the magic of apple cider vinegar that is known for its weight-loss effects

 It's not just another vinegar. Apple cider vinegar, which is obtained from the fermentation of apple juice, seem to be favoured as a health aid for weight loss and other circulatory health problems. No side-effects have been reported from consuming it. 

    The apple cider vinegar is rich in minerals, vitamins and other substances. It contains vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin, A, vitamin P, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and vitamin B6. Among the many beneficial minerals and vitamins in it, it also provides apple pectin, which aids healthy diet. 
    Consuming cider vinegar for weight loss is a practice that is claimed to have started in ancient Egypt. It helped to detoxify liver, sped up the metabolism, burnt calories and reduced appetite. 
    Such is its popularity that it is also available in the forms of tablets and pills. But that's not all — the magical apple cider vinegar (ACV) has otherhealth benefits, too. 
BLOOD PRESSURE 
>> The potassium in ACV, along with other substances, makes the blood thinner and is helpful in controlling blood pressure. 
CHOLESTEROL CONTROL 
>> The fibre in ACV helps to absorb fats and cholesterol by expelling them from the body as waste materials. 
DIABETES 
>> The dietary fibre in it also helps control the glucose levels in the blood. 
ARTHRITIC PAINS 
>> Arthritis is usually caused by the gathering of metabolic toxic waste in the tissues. ACV helps to speed up metabolism and throws out the toxic wastes from the tissues. 
STRONG BONES 
>> Minerals like manganese, calcium, magnesium, silicon and iron develop bone mass and make them stronger. 
FUNGAL INFECTIONS 
>> ACV is useful in treating fungal infections like Candida, which is caused by imbalance of acid levels in the body. Making a solution of ACV in warm water and douching can help to reduce the symptoms. 
FLU AND COLD 
>> ACV treats flu and chest congestion. Applying it with pepper on the chest can help relieve some of the congestion. Add a few drops of ACV to water and gargle with it — it will soothe a sore throat. 
DIGESTION 
>> Apple cider vinegar has the ability to prevent food poisoning as well. It helps to ease constipation as well as stop diarrhoea.

HOW TO DRINK APPLE CIDER VINEGAR? 
Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in water and drink it before every meal. But remember to drink it in moderation. Regular drinking of ACV can have a deteriorating effect on your teeth enamel and turn it yellow.

Power-packed pistachios Here’s why you should include this dry fruit in your diet

Nobody is a stranger to pistachios, one of the popular nuts often used in many desserts. Botanically they belong to Anacardiaceae family, of the genus pistacia. Besides being tasty, they have numerous health benefits, too.  HEALTHY BLOOD AND IMMUNITY  Pistachios are a great source of Vitamin B6 that is essential for the production of haemoglobin, which in turn supplies oxygen to the cells, also increasing the amount of oxygen supplied. Vitamin B6 is also great for fostering immunity, production of red and white blood cells, maintaining healthy spleen and lymph nodes. In fact, a deficiency of Vitamin B6 lowers the body's ability to fight infections.  BEAUTIFUL SKIN  Enrich your skin with properties of Vitamin E present in pistachios, as they protect the skin from damage due to premature aging, UV rays and skin cancer.  HEALTHY VISION  Maintain healthy vision by eating pistachios as they contain two carotenoids, zeaxanthin and lutein rarely found in nuts. These carotenoids offer protection in the form of antioxidants that curb damage from free radicals. Also, pistachios have been linked to lowering the risk of developing macular degeneration.  BENEFICIAL FOR  DIABETICS  Pistachios contain a good source of phosphorus — about 60% of the daily recommendation. It's beneficial for glucose tolerance and breaking down proteins into amino acids. Therefore, diabetic individuals can benefit by eating a handful of this dry fruit.  GOOD FOR  CHOLESTEROL  This dry fruit is said to reduce bad cholesterol, LDL, and increase good      cholesterol, HDL, in the body. This      in turn helps reduce the      risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Bite into a juicy watermelon

With the unrelenting heat bearing down on the city, what better way to cool down than to bite into a juicy watermelon? Not only does this fruit taste great but it also has a host of health benefits... 

    Watermelons are packed with vitamin A (good for the eyes), vitamin C (boosts immunity, repairs wounds and promotes healthy teeth and gums) and vitamin B6 (improves brain function and converts protein to energy.) 
    Rich in anti-oxidants, they are low in calories and make for a perfect health drink. Watermelons comprise 92% water and are devoid of fat and cholesterol. And because of their high water content, they also tend to make you feel full faster. 
    While buying watermelons, look out for those which are firm and slightly symmetrical. Keep an eye out for cuts. A slightly yellowish tinge on one side indicates that the watermelon is packed with juice and is sweet. 
    The fruit is also packed with potassium, which is known to improve muscle and nerve function. It also reduces inflammation, which contributes to asthma, diabetes, colon cancer and arthritis.

Eat right for a good sleep Read on to know what nutrients you need to add to your diet for a peaceful nightly nap

Anew study has, for the first time, shown that certain nutrients may play an underlying role in short and long sleep duration, and that people who report eating a large variety of foods — an indicator of an overall healthy diet — had the healthiest sleep patterns.  ABOUT THE STUDY  Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania analysed data from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which includes demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related questions.  Findings  Food variety was highest in normal sleepers and lowest in very short sleepers. Differences across groups were found for many types of nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The authors found that total caloric intake varied across groups. Short sleepers consumed the maximum calories, followed by normal sleepers. They were followed by very short sleepers who were followed by long sleepers.  PS: The finding is important, as it is known that short sleep duration is associated with weight gain, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  SHORT SLEEP >>  Experts suggest that short sleep is an  issue when the body doesn't get enough  of water along with the following: 1 Vitamin C: Good sources of vitamin C include strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, lemons, papaya, black currant, kiwi and bell peppers. An adequate amount of Vitamin C is also known to build a strong immune system and helps fight diseases. 2 Selenium: Found in nuts, meat and shellfish, Selenium is a trace mineral important for all body functions and is vital for immunity. Non-vegetarian sources of selenium are tuna, sardines, oysters, shrimps, clams, chicken, turkey, beef, liver, lamb, pork and eggs. Vegetarian sources include nuts, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, onions, wheatgerm, barley, brown rice and oats. PS: Lutein and Zeaxanthin are two of the most abundant carotenoids      found in green leafys. Scientists say how our bodies react to these chemicals can cause bad sleep disturbances.  VERY SHORT SLEEP >>  It has been found that very short sleep was associated with less consumption of the following: 1 Water: Constituting 70 to 75% of the total body weight, it is required for all the bodily functions such as digestion, metabolism, transport and removal of toxins from the body. 2 Lycopene: It is found in red and orange  coloured fruits and vegetables. Tomato, pink  grapefruit, watermelon and guava have the highest content of Lycopene. A powerful antioxidant, it prevents free radical formation in the body. It also prevents oxidation of LDL cholesterol, thereby preventing plaque deposition and narrowing of arteries. 3 Total carbohydrates: Our bodies  need a good balance of simple carbs and complex  carbs. While simple carbs release sugar in the blood immediately, complex carbs release energy slowly, as they have to be broken down to simple units before they are finally absorbed into the bloodstream. Glucose and sugar are examples of simple carbs, while wheat and other foods that contain starch and fibre come under complex carbs. A good mix of carbs make for a rich source of antioxidants and phytonutrients that protect the body against disease. A small bowl of porridge before going to bed is a great idea to get some good sleep. Both milk and oats contain the amino acid Tryptophan, which helps induce good sleep.  LONG SLEEP >>  According to the study,  long sleep is associated  with less intake of total  carbohydrates and other  nutrients like: 1 Theobromine: It is found in tea and chocolate. In fact, it is present in all cocoa products. Though it is a heart stimulant increasing heart beat, it also dilates blood vessel to lower the pressure. 2 Decanoic acid: A saturated fat, it is found in mother's milk, dairy products, nuts, seeds and their oils. It is good for the heart and helps reduce total cholesterol. Its antibacterial properties also help fight gastritis. 3 Choline: Found in eggs and fatty meats that includes beef, liver, fish, crabs, eggs, cauliflower, tofu, almonds, peanut butter and Navy beans, it contributes to the structure of our cell membranes. It protects the liver from fat deposits and damage, and also offers protection against cardiovascular disease. — With inputs from Dr Purwa Duggal and Dr Nupur Krishnan

EMOTIONAL BLOCKADE Blind spot: Men can’t read women’s eyes

New York: There may be some truth in women accusing men of not understanding them! Men have trouble reading women's emotions from their eyes, according to a new study. The study found that men had twice as much trouble deciphering women's emotions from images of their eyes compared with those of men. 

    Parts of the male brain tied to emotion also didn't activate as strongly when the men looked at women's eyes. A few studies in men have suggested they have trouble "mind-reading" and guessing what women are thinking and feeling. 
    To see whether men really did have trouble reading women's emotions, Boris Schiffer, a researcher at the LWL University Hospital in Bochum, Germany and his team put 22 men between the ages of 21 and 52in a functional MRI scanner, which uses blood flow to measure brain activity. They then asked the men to look at images of 36 pairs of eyes, half from men and half from women, and guess the emotion the people felt. 
    The men then chose which of two words, such as distrustful or terrified, best described the eyes' emotion. The eye photographs depicted positive, neutral, and negative emotions. 
    Men took longer and had more trouble correctly guessing emotion from women's eyes. In addition, their brains showed different activation when looking at men versus women's eyes. Men's amygdala — a brain region tied to emotions, empathy and fear — activated more strongly in response to men's eyes. In addition, other brain regions tied to emotion didn't activate as much when the men looked at women's eyes. 
    The findings suggest men are worse at reading women's emotions. This "theory of mind" is one of the foundations for empathy, so the deficit could lead men to have less empathy for women relative to men, researchers said. While men could be culturally conditioned to pay less attention to women's emotional cues, their response may be tied to humans' evolutionary past "As men were more involved in hunting and fights, it would have been important for them to be able to predict and foresee the intentions and actions of their male rivals," the researchers said. PTI

Apple-shaped body ups risk of kidney disease

London: People with apple-shaped bodies are more prone to serious kidney diseases, a study published in American Society of Nephrology has found. 

    Indians mostly have such physical features with concentration of fat around abdomen. The study said people with such body types suffer from higher blood pressure in their kidneys than those with pearshaped bodies. This could lead to increased risk of developing kidney diseases later in life. The study said such individuals may benefit from treatments that reduce kidney blood pressure. 
    Such mechanisms underlying this risk were not well understood. To study the issue, Arjan Kwakernaak from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands looked for links between waist-tohip ratio, which reflects central body fat distribution, and kidney measures in 315 individuals with an average body mass index of 24.9 kg/m2, considered normal weight. Higher waist-to-hip ratios were associated with lower kidney function, lower kidney blood flow, and higher blood pressure within the kidneys.

Egg white helps control high blood pressure

Scientists reported new evidence today that a component of egg whites – already popular as a substitute for whole eggs among health-conscious consumers concerned about cholesterol in the yolk – mayhaveanotherbeneficialeffectinreducing blood pressure.

    "Our research suggests that there may be another reason to call it 'the incredible, edible egg,'"saidstudyleaderZhipengYuofJilinUniversity. "We have evidence from the laboratory that a substance in egg white – it's a peptide, oneofthebuildingblocksofproteins–reduces blood pressure about as much as a low dose of Captopril, a high-blood-pressure drug." 
    Egg white has a powerful ability to inhibit or block the action of angiotensin-convertingenzyme (ACE), a substance produced in the body that raises blood pressure. 
    Yu noted that the research was done with a version of the peptide that was heated to almost 200 degrees Fahrenheit during preparation–lessthanthetemperaturestypicallyused to cook eggs. He cited evidence from other research, however, that egg whites may retain their beneficial effects on blood pressure after cooking.

NEW TOOL ‘Breathprint’ to end blood & urine tests?

London: Exhaled breath carries a molecular 'breathprint' unique to each individual, which may be used as a more convenient tool to diagnose disease, replacing the conventional blood and urine tests, researchers say.      Doctors routinely have blood and urine analysed in order to obtain hints for infectious and metabolic diseases, to diagnose cancer and organ failure, and to check the dose of medication, based on compounds present in these body fluids.      Researchers at ETH Zurich and at the University Hospital Zurich now propose to extend such analyses to breath, and in particular to take advantage of modern high-resolution analytical methods that can provide real-time information on the chemical composition of exhaled breath.      The scientists developed an instrument-based version of a principle by which doctors draw conclusions about the health state of a patient based on the smell of the exhaled breath.      It is also known that trained dogs and rats can distinguish the smell of thebreath of people suffering from certain variants of cancer. In these cases the entire smell of the patient's exhaled breath is gauged, which can give rise to bias.      The scientists, led by Renato Zenobi, professor at the Laboratory for Organic Chemistry, aim at eliminating this bias and identifying the chemical compounds in breath. Like this, doctors should be able to use specific compounds, which are present in breath, for diagnosis. PTI

Radiation therapy new cancer cure It Puts Disease In Remission In Mice

Washington: Scientists have developed a new form of radiation therapy that successfully put cancer into remission in mice, without producing harmful side-effects of conventional chemo and radiation cancer therapies. Scientists from the University of Missouri found that mice treated with the radiation therapy showed no signs of cancer afterwards.      "Since the 1930s, scientists have sought success with a cancer treatment known as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT)," said lead researcher professor M Frederick Hawthorne.      "Our team at MU's International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine finally found the way to make BNCT work by taking advantage of a cancer cell's biology with nanochemistry," Hawthorne said.      Cancer cells grow faster than normal cells and in the process absorb more materials than normal cells. Hawthorne's team took advantage of that fact by getting cancer cells to take in and store a boron chemical designed by Hawthorne.      When those boron-infused cancer cells were exposed to neutrons, a subatomic particle, the boron atom shattered and selectively tore apart the cancer cells, sparing neighbouring healthy cells. The physical properties of boron made Hawthorne's technique possible. A particular form of boron will split when it captures a neutron and release lithium, helium and energy. Like pool balls careening around a billiards table, the helium and lithium atoms penetrate the cancer cell and destroy it from the inside without harming surrounding tissues.      "The technique worked excellently in mice. We are ready to move on to trials in larger animals, then people. However, before we can start treating humans, we will need to build suitable equipment and facilities. When it is built, MU will have the first radiation therapy of this kind in the world," Hawthorne said. PTI

HAIRY CONCERN Baldness increases heart disease risk

London: A British study has for the first time linked male pattern baldness with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.      The study found that men who had lost most of their hair were a third more likely (32%) to develop coronary artery disease than their peers who retained a full head of hair.      The risk has been found to be greatest for those with a thinning crown rather than receding hairline, it says, with chances of heart disease highest among those for who are balding in on the top/crown of the head rather than at the front.      The study published in the British Medical Journal trawled the Medline and the Cochrane Library databases for research published on male pattern baldness and coronary heart disease and came up with six studies which met all the eligibility criteria and so were included in the analysis. All had been published between 1993 and 2008, and involved just under 40,000 men.      Three of the studies were cohort studies — meaning that the health of balding men was tracked for at least 11 years. The analysis was confined to men under the age of 55 years but a similar pattern emerged. Bald or extensively balding men were 44% more likely to develop coronary artery disease.      Analysis of the other three studies showed balding men were 70% more likely to have heart disease and those in younger age groups were 84% more likely to do so.      Three studies assessed the degree of baldness using a validated scale (Hamilton scale). Analysis indicated that the risk of coronary artery disease depended on baldness severity but only if this was on the top/crown of the head or vertex.      Explanations for the reasons behind the association vary but include the possibility that baldness may indicate insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes; a state of chronic inflammation; or increased sensitivity to testosterone, all of which are involved directly or indirectly in promoting heart disease.

Long work hours ups heart disease risk

Working more than eight hours a day raises the risk of heart ailments by 80 per cent, say researchers     The warning follows analysis of 12 studies dating back as far as 1958, involving 22,000 people from around the world. The analysis found that those who worked for more than the traditional eight hours had a 40 to 80 per cent greater chance of heart disease.      The study was conducted by scientists at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Lead researcher Marianna Virtanen said the effects could be due to "prolonged exposure to stress". Other triggers could be poor eating habits and lack of exercise due to restricted leisure time. In 2009, the same team discovered that long working hours increased the risk of dementia later in life. The effect was similar in magnitude to that of smoking. Middle-aged workers putting in 55 hours or more a week, had poorer brain function than those clocking up no more than 40 hours. IANS TIRED OF WORK? Stress and long work hours can be harmful for your heart and increase chances of a heart ailment