Author: IGIHE

High levels of exercise linked to nine years of less aging at the cellular level

{Despite their best efforts, no scientist has ever come close to stopping humans from aging. Even anti-aging creams can’t stop Old Father Time.}

But new research from Brigham Young University reveals you may be able to slow one type of aging — the kind that happens inside your cells. As long as you’re willing to sweat.

“Just because you’re 40, doesn’t mean you’re 40 years old biologically,” Tucker said. “We all know people that seem younger than their actual age. The more physically active we are, the less biological aging takes place in our bodies.”

The study, published in the medical journal Preventive Medicine, finds that people who have consistently high levels of physical activity have significantly longer telomeres than those who have sedentary lifestyles, as well as those who are moderately active.

Telomeres are the protein endcaps of our chromosomes. They’re like our biological clock and they’re extremely correlated with age; each time a cell replicates, we lose a tiny bit of the endcaps. Therefore, the older we get, the shorter our telomeres.

Exercise science professor Larry Tucker found adults with high physical activity levels have telomeres with a biological aging advantage of nine years over those who are sedentary, and a seven-year advantage compared to those who are moderately active. To be highly active, women had to engage in 30 minutes of jogging per day (40 minutes for men), five days a week.

“If you want to see a real difference in slowing your biological aging, it appears that a little exercise won’t cut it,” Tucker said. “You have to work out regularly at high levels.”

Tucker analyzed data from 5,823 adults who participated in the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, one of the few indexes that includes telomere length values for study subjects. The index also includes data for 62 activities participants might have engaged in over a 30-day window, which Tucker analyzed to calculate levels of physical activity.

His study found the shortest telomeres came from sedentary people — they had 140 base pairs of DNA less at the end of their telomeres than highly active folks. Surprisingly, he also found there was no significant difference in telomere length between those with low or moderate physical activity and the sedentary people.

Although the exact mechanism for how exercise preserves telomeres is unknown, Tucker said it may be tied to inflammation and oxidative stress. Previous studies have shown telomere length is closely related to those two factors and it is known that exercise can suppress inflammation and oxidative stress over time.

“We know that regular physical activity helps to reduce mortality and prolong life, and now we know part of that advantage may be due to the preservation of telomeres,” Tucker said.

Source:Science Daily

May 15, 2017
Gasabo youth tipped on crime prevention

{Fighting and preventing crimes is a shared responsibility, which the youth should actively be part of to ensure sustainable safety, security and development.
}

Young people should also engage in personal development ventures in order to be financially independent and secure a bright tomorrow.

The call was made by the Executive Secretary of Kacyiru Sector, Patrice Ndanga while addressing youth leaders in the sector.

“Whatever you invest today you will harvest in the near future, and security should be your investment priority,” said Ndanga.

He urged the young people to desist from acts of criminality such as consuming and selling illicit drugs, which eventually leads them into trouble like and financial loss.

He advised them to say no to drug abuse and instead concentrate on their studies and use the skills to develop themselves and their families.

Inspector of Police (IP) Theogene Mugabo, the District Community Liaisons Officer challenged the youth to rise up and drive the campaign against crimes and play a central role in crime prevention.

He shared with them community policing including with with the people, local leaders and security organs by reporting anything unlawful they witness.

He also enlightened them on human trafficking and urged them not to be carried away by promises from people, who would want to take them abroad, saying that these are some of the tricks traffickers use to sale people as property.

Source:Police

May 15, 2017
Marijuana use tied to poorer school performance

{When high school students started smoking marijuana regularly they were less likely to get good grades and want to pursue university, according to a new study from the University of Waterloo.}

The study, published in the Journal of School Health, found that when students started using marijuana at least once a month they were about four times more likely to skip class, two-to-four times less likely to complete their homework and value getting good grades, and about half as likely to achieve high grades, than when they had never used the drug.

The study also asked students the highest level of education they would like and expect to achieve. Results indicated that when students started smoking marijuana daily, their likelihood of reporting ambitions to pursue university, as opposed to stopping at high school or before, was about 50 per cent lower than when they had never used the drug.

“The findings support the importance of preventing and delaying the initiation of marijuana use among adolescents,” said Scott Leatherdale, a professor in the School of Public Health and Health Systems and head of COMPASS, the largest longitudinal study of substance use among youth. “More youth today use marijuana than cigarettes, yet public health prevention efforts lag behind those of alcohol and tobacco.”

The human brain actively develops until a person reaches their early twenties. Studies suggest that adults who smoked the drug regularly during adolescence exhibit reduced neural connectivity in regions responsible for memory, learning and inhibitions.

“We’ve seen reductions in the number of youth perceiving marijuana as harmful, yet they have greater vulnerability to adverse consequences,” said Karen Patte, a post-doctoral fellow and lead author of the paper. “We found that the more frequently students started using the drug, the greater their risk of poor school performance and engagement.”

The study also looked at the effects of alcohol use on academic aspirations and expectations. Unlike marijuana, students initiating regular alcohol use tended to report goals to pursue post-secondary education.

“Drinking has long been tied to university settings, which may make alcohol a more acceptable substance choice for students planning to attend university,” said Leatherdale. “All substances present risks to health and well-being. With marijuana legalization on the horizon, it’s critical we understand these risks in order to promote successful transitions into adulthood for our youth.”

Source:Science Daily

May 15, 2017
8 damaging thoughts that will only kill your self-confidence

Your thoughts can either lift you up or bring you down; positive thoughts will make you {act positively and negative thoughts will make you act negatively.}

There are some thoughts you shouldn’t harbour in your heart, and even when they come, you should wave them off, because negative thoughts are like termites; they’ll keep building gradually until they eat off the whole wood.

Never let these eight thoughts have a place in your heart.

{{1. “It’s too late”}}

It’s never too late until you say it’s too late; many people reach the peak of their careers and whatsoever they wanted to achieve at an old age, hence the name ‘late bloomers’; but the most important thing is that they bloomed. Believing that it’s already late to achieve greatness or attain a set goal will only kill your goal.

{{2. “I’m not good enough”}}

There’s only one you on this planet; no other version of you – no imitation, no photocopy – just you. Why then will you believe that you aren’t good enough?

Thinking you aren’t good enough will only kill the confidence you have in yourself.

{{3. “They won’t accept me”}}

You don’t need people to accept you; the only person you need is you and until you accept yourself, you’ll remain at a standstill.

{{4. “I hate my body”}}

Jim Rohn said – “Take care of your body; it’s the only place you have to live in.” If you hate the only body you have, how can you be successful in it. A lot of people have lost their confidence because they fail to appreciate their bodies.

{{5. “I can’t”}}

‘Can’t’ is a word that shouldn’t exist in your dictionary. The words that follow can’t include failure, impossible, unachievable – and these words are the opposite of success. If you must erase any word from your dictionary, it’s ‘can’t’. The moment you say you can’t, then you can’t.

{{6. “What will people say?”}}

Trying to please people and get their acceptance will not only make you stuck at a point, but it’ll also kill your confidence.

Care less about what people will say and think about you, and care more about where you are going to in life. Because people’s validation of you will only pull you down, and you don’t even need their validation to go up in the first place.

{{7. “I give up”}}

These three words is like putting the final nail on a coffin; never give up, because it’s only when you give up, that your journey ends. It’s like starting a long distance race and not finishing; it may be hard and tedious along the way, but the prize and glory at the end is usually worth it.

{{8. “Everyone is moving forward but me ”}}

Life isn’t a competition, so you should never use people’s pace and success to compare with yours. If you do this, you’ll never reach your desired heights. Putting your focus on other people wouldn’t only make you lose focus of your own journey, but will kill every belief you have in you.

Never give these thoughts a chance in your heart, because they’ll ruin your confidence, and once your confidence is lost, almost every other thing will be lost.

Source:Elcrema

May 15, 2017
Kagame speaks on correct information

{President Paul Kagame has said that he is accountable to the Rwandan people that entrusted him with enhancing national development and therefore it’s not mandatory to make an explanation whenever he makes changes in the management of national affairs and corporate institutions. }

The president was recently responding to a journalist’s question about the sweeping changes made in the management of RwandAir affairs yet on the outside the firm was flying with a steady curve of consistent growth.

To this, President Kagame replied: “Is it real? It is not to be questioned?”

“Rwandans gave me the responsibility of leading the country on their behalf. If I realize that a top leader whose appointment was approved by the cabinet is not productive as expected within agreed time frames, when benefits are not reaching citizens to desired extent, I have power and responsibly to replace him. We have neither time nor reason for discussions on such topic. Rwandans trusted me,” he added.

When asked about what he thinks about the assertion that some leaders in the country provide false reports over various reasons or unwilling to reveal the truth, Kagame replied that he has bitter medicine for it.

“I know that. But I have a solution. I require them to report activities and I am able to assess productivity. Statistics can’t lie. You can tell me whatever you want but the productivity of your deeds will reflect the truth. be a witness. For instance: The Minister of Health may tell me what he/she perceives as good for him/her knowing better that he/she will be audited child and maternal mortality statistics. This is the same with food security, water, electricity, schools among others. There are statistics and depictions indicating reforms to all. The most important is to know how to interpret them,” he said.

A Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on 5th April 2017 removed John Mirenge as the chief executive officer of national carrier RwandAir, replacing him with Col Chance Ndagano in an acting capacity. Other top executives were removed but there were no immediate reasons for the decision.

May 14, 2017
Ivory Coast: Soldiers cut off second city Bouaké

{Angry soldiers have blocked off access to Bouaké, the second largest city in the Ivory Coast, as a revolt over a pay dispute continues.}

One of the uprising’s leaders said the soldiers were “ready to fight” if attacked.
Sergeant Seydou Koné said they did not want to negotiate with anyone, according to Reuters news agency.

The unrest began after a spokesman for the soldiers announced on Thursday that they had dropped their pay demands.

In January, they forced the government into paying them about $8,000 (£6,200) each in bonuses to end a rebellion. They were due to receive a further payment this month and about 8,000 mutineers are unhappy that they were not consulted ahead of Thursday’s televised announcement.

Three former rebels from the country’s civil war era were wounded on Saturday after the mutinous soldiers opened fire in Bouaké to stop them staging their own protest, Sergeant Koné said.

There have also been reports of injuries after shooting in the northern city of Korhogo.

The military chief of staff, General Sékou Touré, had threatened “severe disciplinary sanctions” on Friday if the uprising did not end. Shops are closed and soldiers are patrolling and firing in the air in Bouaké, residents said.

The mutineers have also taken control of the city of Odienne, in the north, reports say.

On Friday, shots were fired in the air at military bases in Abidjan, Bondoukou in the east, Bouaké in the centre, and Korhogo. It is believed the mutineers were firing blanks.

In response, elite Republican Guard troops in Abidjan fired warning shots that pushed the mutineers back inside the military headquarters compound in Abidjan, Reuters reported. The situation in the city on Saturday was said to be calm.

Reacting to the spreading unrest, President Alassane Ouattara held an emergency meeting of the country’s security council.

The mutiny has raised fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Ivory Coast’s 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.

Many of the mutineers in January were thought to be former rebels who joined the army after the conflict.

Source:BBC

May 13, 2017
Relocation of firms delays rehabilitation of Gikondo

{The City of Kigali is working on a plan to start the long-awaited rehabilitation of the former Gikondo Industrial Park even as budget constraints continue to derail the relocation exercise for industrial businesses still operating in the area.}

The valley, which is designated as a wetland, was expected to be restored to its ecological status as soon as the relocation exercise, which started in 2013, is complete.

However, while 2016 was the final deadline set for the complete relocation of Gikondo industries to the new Kigali Special Economic Zone, a bulk of factories and industrial businesses are yet to vacate.

Meanwhile, Kigali City authorities said they will soon start turning the valley into a recreation site as part of the rehabilitation process as the remaining businesses plan to move.

“We shall do greening work on two hectares this year, and proceed with two hectares next year as we wait for all the industries to move,” said Parfait Busabizwa, Kigali City Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs.

According to trade and industry officials, so far, only nine heavy industries have fully moved from Gikondo to the Kigali Special Economic Zone. Another five industries are expected to follow when their premises are complete.

The factories include Tolirwa, Ameki Color, Tabarwanda, Rwanda Trading Company and Coffee Business Centre.

There are also a number of light factories and around 30 industries like garages and warehouses whose relocation timelines remain unclear.

The relocation exercise was expected to be complete by the end of last year to pave the way for rehabilitation activities.

While the government met the cost of putting up new facilities for heavy and light industries only, the other businesses such as garages and warehouses accepted to relocate on condition that they would also get compensated.

There are laws that prohibit building on wetlands or any other activity that could damage the ecosystem of that place. Having industrial businesses in Gikondo not only created an unsuitable working environment but also undermined the wetland.

But Mr Busabizwa said city officials were planning to meet with Trade, Industry and East African Community Affairs Ministry officials to agree on when the remaining businesses can move to pave the way for the rehabilitation.

He said Rwf100 million was set aside this year for greening the area as well as putting up recreational facilities including artificial lakes.

Source:The East African

May 13, 2017
Will vaccine help curb new Ebola outbreak in the DRC?

{Ebola has surfaced in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the first outbreak of the disease since the West African epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people before it came to an end 2 years ago. A vaccine proved its worth in the West African epidemic—which hit major cities—but it still is awaiting approval from regulatory agencies, and the DRC government has yet to request its use for this outbreak. }

According to a statement issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) today, nine suspected cases have been reported so far, and only one has been confirmed as Ebola. Three of the people have died. The outbreak began 22 April in the Likati Health Zone of the Bas Uele Province, which is in the northern region of the DRC that borders the Central African Republic. WHO notes that it “was informed” about the cluster of cases 9 May and the confirmation of the one case occurred 2 days later. The Washington Post reports that the confirmed case, the first victim, had to travel by motorbike across the large province to reach a hospital in Likati and that it took 10 days for his blood sample to reach Kinshasa. DRC has no roads that span the country and long-distance travel largely is restricted to river boats and private airplanes.

Marie-Paule Kieney, an assistant director general at WHO who played a central role during the West African epidemic, says Merck, the maker of the vaccine that appeared to work in a trial held in Guinea in 2015, is ready to provide the product if necessary. “Discussions are ongoing with the government on whether vaccination should be undertaken or not,” Kieney says. “The outbreak is very small, so it may be stopped through containment only.” Traditional “containment” efforts include isolating and confirming cases, providing protective gear for health care workers, using safe burial procedures, and educating the public about how to reduce their risks.

One person helping with the response who asked not to be identified said there are now 52 suspected cases—and deep frustration that a decision has yet to be made about whether to use the vaccine. “If it were up to me I’d already be using it,” the person says. “It’s hard to dream up a rationale for not using the vaccine as quickly as possible.”

Doctors Without Borders (MSF)— which led the initial health care response in West Africa—tomorrow plans to send 14 people to Likati, including doctors, nurses, logisticians, water and sanitation experts, health promoters, and an epidemiologist. An MSF statement explains that they will be joined by 10 people from the DRC’s Ministry of Health as well 15 tons of medical and logistical supplies sent by cargo plane from Kinshasa. A spokesperson did not know whether MSF had requested the vaccine for its team.

Plenty of the Merck vaccine exists, though its experimental status would require what’s known as an “Expanded Access” study protocol to be approved by regulatory bodies before it could be shipped to the DRC. WHO has some 10,000 doses in Geneva, Switzerland, leftover from the West Africa outbreak, sources tell ScienceInsider, and Merck has some 700,000 doses on ice in the United States.

At a meeting 25–27 April by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), the experts recommended that the Merck vaccine “be promptly deployed” if the strain known as Ebola Zaire—which is the virus in the DRC—surfaces. SAGE further suggested that Expanded Access study “be implemented promptly after the confirmation of a case” and that the vaccine be used in the same “ring vaccination” strategy that worked in Guinea, which gave shots to people (including health care workers) who were in close contact with each confirmed case.

The first documented Ebola outbreak, which occurred in 1976, hit Yambuku in the DRC. The country since has had six other outbreaks, and the worst one was contained with only 315 cases of the highly lethal disease.

Source:Science Mag

May 13, 2017
8 health benefits of mangoes

{Mangoes are great fruits. Not only do they taste great, they also have great nutritional value. Of course, some of us do know this, while some do not.}

I am going to show you some important benefits of MANGOES.

{{ACNE treatment }}

Mangoes are very effective in curing skin problems especially acne. Consuming mango will give you a fresh and glowing skin. But you can also treat acne at home with mango.

Mango aids in clearing the clogged pores of the skin, which are affected with acne. This is a very good home remedy for acne.

First, remove the mango pulp and put it on the acne. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water.

{{Can help keep diabetes away }}

People with high sugar level can also use mango to ward off early diabetes. Mango helps in moderating insulin levels in the blood. This is due to mangiferin, a substance with antidiabetic properties.

The home remedy involves boiling the tender mango leaves and soaking it overnight. The next morning, the decoction is filtered and taken.

{{Builds your appetite and helps you gain weight }}

Putting on some weight or eating much food can be a challenge for some. Well you could solve that issue with mangoes.

A normal-sized mango usually weighs about 200 g and contains 150 kcal combined with 28 g of carbohydrates, protein and negligible amount of fat.

Eating mango along with milk will help you gain weight.

This home remedy can play a role of a strong natural appetite stimulant, thus useful in treating anorexia.

{{Toothache relief }}

You can make a good toothpaste with dried mango seeds. It also strengthens the gums and helps in curing pyorrhoea.

Also chew tender leaves to avoid bleeding in the gums and reducing pain from toothache. A tooth powder can be made from burnt mango leaves, which also relieves toothache

{{They make the treatment of bilious disorders }}

Bilious disorders are problems associated with the liver or bile secretions. The liver plays an important role in the body, so any disorder affecting it can be harmful.

The acids present in green mangoes enhance the secretion of bile and act as intestinal antiseptic. Consuming green mangoes daily with honey and pepper will help in treating biliousness.

{{They are helpful in the treatment of heat stroke}}

Heat stroke is a common problem in the summer. A herbal remedy prepared with mango can be used to hydrate the body and cure heat stroke.

To prepare this remedy, unripe mangoes are steamed and boiled with sugar and salt, it is a nice remedy for heat exhaustion and heat stroke in summer.

{{They keep Anaemia out }}

Mangoes are extremely rich in iron. This makes them a superb fruit for preventing anemia and improving blood production.

{{They help keep pile away }}

If you want to keep piles off from you, then you must boil tender raw mango with tamarind leaves and eat. Alternatively, grind mango seeds and mix with buttermilk. When taken twice a day it helps people with piles.

Source:Elcrema

May 13, 2017
Seven suspected drug dealers arrested

{Seven people including three women have been arrested separately trafficking narcotic drugs into the country.
}

The women were arrested on Wednesday in Rubavu District.

Police spokesperson for the Western Province, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Theobald Kanamugire identified the three women as Aisha Uwamahoro, Chantal Uwamahoro, and Ange Uwimana.

“We had information of women who conceal cannabis in pumpkins. That same day, we had also received information of a woman, who was using the same trick to traffic the drugs, and that’s how we managed to arrest Aisha Uwamahoro at a common border with the Democratic Republic of Congo trafficking 239 pellets of cannabis in pumpkins,” CIP Kanamugire said.

“Both Ange Uwimana and Chantal Uwamahoro were also arrested in Byahi Cell with about 40 kilogrammes of cannabis,” he added.

“Due to partnership with the people through community policing, we easily detect and arrest drug dealers, and tricks they use,” he noted.

“We know all their tricks others transport drugs as personal luggage while others wrap the same on their bodies, in bicycle tyres and food items.” he said

Meanwhile, four other suspects were Kirehe and Gatsibo districts.

One of them, Sylvester Hagenimana was arrested in Gatore sector in Kirehe with 31 Kilograms of the cannabis.

Others, Theogene Maniragaba 26, Sandrine Nikuze 24, and Fabien Jyamubandi 27 currently detained at Kigabiro police station with over 600 rolls of cannabis.

Article 594 of the Rwandan Penal Code also states that, any person who, unlawfully, makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances within the country, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of between Rwf500, 000 and Rwf5 million.

Source:Police

May 13, 2017