Category: Health

{If you want to live longer, there are certain habits you need to ditch. It’s never too late to ditch these habits and start healthy habits.}

{{1. Smoking }}

If you want to live longer then you need to stop smoking. Smoking can rob you of a decade of your life so why don’t you quit today?

{{2. Holding a grudge
}}

If you want to live longer then you have to learn to forgive. Holding a grudge increases your stress hormones with negative effects on your immune system, heart and metabolism. Is holding a grudge really worth it?

{{3. Poor quality sleep }}

Poor quality sleep would reduce your lifespan so you need to sleep well if you want to live longer. A good night’s sleep can help you ward off heart disease, stress and depression.

{{4. Processed foods }}

You need to stop eating mainly processed foods if you want to live longer. You are more at risk of having diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and hypertension when you consume mainly processed foods.

{{5. Bad relationships }}

Bad relationships can leave you in a negative frame of mind and put you at risk of depression. Having good relationships and staying social would help you live longer.

{{6. Stress }}

Stress should be avoided if you want to live long as too much stress may shorten your lifespan. Try to de-stress by relaxing more so you would live longer.

{{7. Not exercising}}

Exercise is important if you really want to live longer. A 2011 study found that just 15 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each day helps you live longer.

{Various studies have shown that about 25 percent of people with type 2 diabetes don’t even know they have it. This is really sad because the longer you go without controlling diabetes, the greater your risk for heart disease, kidney disease and other serious complications.}

Below are 7 silent signs you might have diabetes

{{1. You urinate more }}

Pay attention to how often you urinate daily because it could signal whether you have diabetes or not. If you find yourself urinating more often especially at night, you could have diabetes.

{{2. You get thirsty more often }}

Another silent sign that reveals if you have diabetes is how often you get thirsty. If you find yourself getting thirstier than usual, it could signal you have diabetes.

{{3. Weight loss }}

I know you might be surprised weight loss is among the signs considering the fact that being overweight is a risk factor for diabetes. The weight loss comes from water and calories lost from excessive urination.

{{4. You are always tired}}

Being tired always is another sign that reveals you might have diabetes. If you notice frequent tiredness, please don’t forget to see a doctor.

{{5. You get moody easily}}

If you notice yourself getting moody easily, it could just be a sign that you have diabetes. Your blood sugar being out of control can make you get moody easily.

{{6. Cuts take longer to heal}}

If you notice your cuts take longer to heal, it could just be a sign you have diabetes. The high sugar levels disrupts the immune system making your cuts heal more slowly.

{{7. Reoccurring yeast and urinary tract infections }}

If you have reoccurring yeast and urinary tract infections, it could signal you have diabetes. High levels of sugar in the urine can make your privates become a breeding ground for the bacteria that cause these infections.

{In recent years there has been increasing medical interest in correcting teeth that do not touch perfectly in order to prevent problems such as jaw pain, gaps between teeth and crowding. Now, a new study carried out by Spanish researchers has concluded that dental occlusion is also related to the control of posture and balance.}

Although it is a technical term, ‘dental occlusion’ is increasingly on the minds of many patients following a routine visit to the dentist. Doctor’s offices diagnose problems related to a bad bite such as a shifted midline, gaps between teeth, crowding, crossbites and missing teeth.

Dental occlusion is simply the contact made between the top and bottom teeth when closing the mouth. Teeth may be perfectly aligned or they may present alterations with varying levels of severity.

Two new studies, carried out in collaboration between the Department of Physiology at the University of Barcelona (Spain) and the University of Innsbruck (Austria), have confirmed a less obvious relationship between an imperfect bite and postural control.

Another aspect to be highlighted is that although this relationship may seem statistically weak, it grows stronger when a person experiences fatigue or when instability is a factor.

“When there is a malocclusion, it is classified according to scientifically established criteria. What is relevant in the study is that malocclusions have also been associated with different motor and physiological alterations,” explains Sonia Julià-Sánchez to Sinc, the main author of the studies and a researcher at the Catalan university.

Both studies, whose results have been published in Motor Control and Neuroscience Letters, provide conclusive data which show that postural control is improved -both in static and dynamic equilibrium- when different malocclusions are corrected by positioning the jaw in a neutral position.

This relationship is not as obvious in everyday static conditions, although there may be conditions associated with pathologies, such as obesity, that worsen the body’s instability, thus decreasing postural control and increasing the risk of falls.

This relationship in athletes can play a crucial role in how well they ultimately perform as well as in the prevention of injuries such as sprains, strains and fractures caused by unexpected instability as fatigue increases and motor control capacity decreases.

“Therefore, it would be helpful for both the general population and athletes to consider correcting dental occlusions to improve postural control and thus prevent possible falls and instability due to a lack of motor system response,” adds Julià-Sánchez.

A reciprocal influence

“Postural control is the result of a complex system that includes different sensory and motor elements arising from visual, somatosensory and vestibular information,” explains the expert.

In recent years there has been increasing scientific interest in the relationship between the stomatognathic system (the set of organs and tissues that allow us to eat, talk, chew, swallow and smile) and postural control.

The link may have a neurophysiological explanation. There is a reciprocal influence between the trigeminal nerve and the vestibular nucleus ‑which are responsible for the masticatory function and balance control, respectively‑ as well as between the muscles of mastication and of the neck.

This influence would explain why dental malocclusions negatively affect postural control. Up until now, however, there was no conclusive research.

“The main problem stems from the fact that the majority of these studies had statically assessed balance under conditions of total stability, which in practice has little actual application in the control of posture while in action,” points out Julià-Sánchez.

The first study took into account the type of dental occlusion as well as whether there had been previous orthodontic treatment. The results showed that alterations in alignment of the teeth were related to poorer control of static balance.

The second study assessed the type of dental occlusion, control of posture and physical fatigue in order to analyze a possible relationship among these factors. The analysis demonstrated that balance improved when malocclusions were corrected, and that the latter had a greater impact on postural control when subjects were fatigued than when they were rested.

“When the subjects were tired their balance was worse under both stable and unstable conditions. Under static conditions, the factor that had the greatest impact on imbalance was fatigue. In contrast, a significant relationship between exhaustion and dental occlusion was observed under conditions of maximum instability,” concluded Julià-Sánchez.

{University of Florida researchers have identified a patient in Haiti with a serious mosquito-borne illness that has never before been reported in the Caribbean nation.}

Known as “Mayaro virus,” it is closely related to chikungunya virus and was first isolated in Trinidad in 1954. Most reported cases, however, have been confined to small outbreaks in the Amazon. Whether this case signals the start of a new outbreak in the Caribbean region is currently unknown.

“While current attention has been focused on the Zika virus, the finding of yet another mosquito-borne virus which may be starting to circulate in the Caribbean is of concern,” said Glenn Morris, M.D., M.P.H., director of the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute. “Hopefully we will not see the same massive epidemics that we saw with chikungunya, dengue and now Zika. However, these findings underscore the fact that there are additional viruses ‘waiting in the wings’ that may pose threats in the future, and for which we need to be watching.”

The case was identified from a blood sample taken in January 2015 from an 8-year-old boy in rural Haiti. The patient had a fever and abdominal pain but no rash or conjunctivitis. Because faculty from the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute were in the region during and after the 2014 chikungunya outbreak, plasma samples were obtained from febrile children and analyzed for the presence of chikungunya virus RNA using a genetic identification technique known as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

The plasma samples, which were examined by UF’s Maha Elbadry, Ph.D., in Gressier, Haiti, were then sent to EPI for additional virology and molecular analyses, focusing on the detection of chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses. Dengue virus was detected in the patient, in addition to a “new” virus that was subsequently identified as Mayaro.

“The virus we detected is genetically different from the ones that have been described recently in Brazil, and we don’t know yet if it is unique to Haiti or if it is a recombinant strain from different types of Mayaro viruses,” said John Lednicky, Ph.D., an associate professor in the environmental and global health department at the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions and the study’s lead author.

The findings were published online Aug. 26 in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The symptoms of Mayaro fever are similar to those of chikungunya fever: fever, joint pain, muscle pain and rashes. Abdominal pain is also a feature of Mayaro fever, however, and joint pain can last longer.

{Stress is a 21st century problem that have taken many lives, deteriorated the health of many, led to depression and caused all manners of damages to a person’s mental, physical, sexual and emotional life.}

However, there are some simple ways of fighting stress.

{{1. He a pet }}

Research has found that animal-assisted therapy can provide powerful benefits that will help ease stress, which will help lower blood pressure and ease anxiety and depression.

Having a dog as pet can be beneficial, as they tend to have better relationships with human and make one happier.

{{2. Smile more }}

Faking a smile can send a message to your brain that you are happy, and then make you happy.

Smiling produces physiological and psychological benefits that would help you fight stress.

{{3. Read a book }}

Losing yourself in a great piece of literature, inspirational book or any of your favourite books can help take you away from the stress and worries of the moment, and just help you relax and make you feel better.

{{4. Housework and exercise }}

This is counter-intuitive, but getting busy can help you ease off stress, and getting your body in shape can also boost the release of hormones that’ll make you happier.

These 4 tips are easy ways to beat stress

{Study of genetic microcephaly in mice may reveal insights into Zika-based microcephaly.}

Microcephaly is a rare disorder that stunts brain development in utero, resulting in an abnormally small head. The Zika virus is one environmental cause of this devastating condition, but genetic defects can cause microcephaly, too. A new Duke University study examining three genetic causes of microcephaly in mice suggests one common mechanism through which the disorder could arise.

Scheduled to appear Sept. 12 in PLOS Genetics, the study offers a new window into early, critical stages of brain development, and may improve understanding of the diverse causes of microcephaly and other neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.

“We’re excited about this study because, by stepping back and looking at the basic mechanistic routes to microcephaly, we hope to understand how Zika infection causes microcephaly,” said the study’s senior investigator Debra Silver, an assistant professor of molecular genetics and microbiology at the Duke University School of Medicine.

In the new study, Hanqian Mao, a graduate student in Silver’s lab, created three mouse models of microcephaly by cutting the levels of each of three genes — Magoh, Rbm8a and Eif4a3 — by half during a critical time in brain development. All three types of mice developed a smaller cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for memory and thought.

Then, Mao screened for any changes in mRNA and protein levels that could also contribute to the underdeveloped brains. One change that stood out involved a protein called p53, which accumulated in each of the mutant brains. The group hypothesized that too much p53 could cause developing cells to die.

To test the involvement of p53 in microcephaly, Duke postdoctoral fellow John McMahon suppressed it in each of the three types of mice. By blocking p53 at a crucial point in development, the team was able to trigger the brains to partially or fully recover to normal size, suggesting that p53 or its signaling partners might be considered as new therapeutic targets for microcephaly.

“What we don’t know yet is exactly how our microcephaly-causing genes are regulating p53 and other changes in the brain, and that’s going to be the next big question,” Silver said.

The genes Magoh, Rbm8a and Eif4a3 are related to one another in that they bind together on specific spots on RNA and affect its processing to become protein. Although the triad is expressed in every cell of the body, it is more abundant in brain tissue.

“Our results suggest that the molecular complex is a master regulator of cortical development, because it’s regulating critical genes in stem cells, which must divide and then start making neurons,” said Silver, who is also a member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences.

“If you have problems at this early stage, you don’t get enough stem cells. And then the stem cells themselves can’t go on to make neurons. That’s where you get microcephaly,” Silver added.

Importantly, disruptions in the genes Rbm8a and Eif43 have already been linked to human cases of intellectual disability, and Rbm8a has been associated with microcephaly and autism in people.

“That’s another reason that identifying the downstream molecules of these genes is really important,” Silver said, adding that her team has some of the only mouse models in which it is possible explore those questions.

Next the group is interested in exploring whether microcephaly caused by Zika shares mechanisms with genetic cases of the disorder. They are now conducting preliminary studies in a developing Zika mouse model. “We’re well set up in the lab to ask how the Zika virus can shape brain development relevant to microcephaly,” Silver said.

{Researchers from Northwestern University in Illinois claim to have discovered what mothers seeking to have a male child should do.}

The researchers claim women hoping to give birth to boys should make sure they get a proper breakfast.

A study by the researchers which was also published in the journal Biodemography And Social Biology suggest that mothers who skip breakfast around the time they conceive only have 45 percent likelihood of having a male child compared to the usual 51 percent.

The researchers claim this could be down to lower levels of glucose in the blood, affecting male foetuses more than female.

The researchers looked at data from over 700,000 women in the US and found that if they missed morning meals early in pregnancy, it tipped the ratio the ratio of male to female births from the usual 51-49.

Previous researches have also found that in times of disaster – such as earthquakes, floods and wars – fewer boys are born than girls.

{What you eat, how you eat it and when you eat it would go a long way in every aspect of your life. That is your mental health, sexual health, the health of your organs and every part of your body is affected by what you eat; that’s why it’s required to eat healthy.}

There are certain foods that can help many aspects of our lives and improve our health in general; these foods are a must for everyone.

{{1. Avocados }}

The avocado is one of the healthiest foods out there that would benefit your cardiovascular functions and sexual health as well. It’s been researched that men with heart related diseases are twice as much likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Avocados are rich in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fats, making them very healthy for your hearts.

2. Carrots

Carrots have multiple functions they perform in the body. They aren’t only good for your eyes but for your brain as well. They are packed with a powerful antioxidant beta-carotene, and also alpha-carotene and lutein. Carrots have been researched to help prevent cancer, slow down aging, improve vision, and even lower the risk of heart diseases. A 2010 study published in the journal Nutrition found carrots have high levels of luteolin which help reduces age-related memory deficits.

3. Seafood

Sea foods like oysters are one of the best known aphrodisiac, and are good for your sexual health. They are healthy for the heart and one of the best sources of libido-boosting zinc.

4. Fish

Never joke with your fish; they are packed with powerful antioxidants as well as the essential Fatty Acid Omega-3 which can help improve brain health and memory functions, and they also help promote healthy heart functions.

5. Oats

Oats are one of the healthiest foods that exist today. They are rich in beta-glucan, an antioxidant which helps boost immunity. Eating oats would help boost your immunity levels, against herpes, common cold and influenza especially.

6. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are another vegetable that are essential to human health. They contain the antioxidant lycopene which helps protect against free radical that causes damage to the cells. They reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. They also contain an important nutrient choline, which helps sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory functions.

{{7. Yoghurt }}

Yoghurts are another example of foods that help boost immunity. They contain probiotics, a healthy bacteria which help keep the intestinal tracts free off germs. They are also effective in boosting immunity levels.

8. Almonds

Almonds are also another food that acts as a sexual stimulant. They are rich in several trace minerals which help boost fertility, reproduction, enhance libido and improve the sexual health.

The importance of these aforementioned foods is non-negotiable, and would help many aspects of your life.

{Genetic surgery is far away for humans — Optimism concerning application of genetic experiments to improve mankind is unwarranted now, a Canadian pediatrician told the Third International Congress of Human Genetics meeting in Chicago…. Although striking and sometimes controversial experiments in genetic surgery have in fact been performed in multicellular systems, he explained, public demand seems likely to outstrip scientific resources for the treat}ment of many forms of genetic disease. — Science News, September 24, 1966

{{UPDATE}}

Things are looking up for “genetic surgery.” Gene therapy has been around since the 1980s, but researchers have recently developed more precise gene-editing tools, including one that sent a child’s leukemia into remission in 2015. Scientists are most excited about a molecular scalpel known as CRISPR/Cas9 that cuts and manipulates DNA (SN: 9/3/16, p. 22). Researchers are optimistic about the tool’s potential to treat several diseases, but it may be a while before CRISPR is widely used.