ARCHIVE PARENTING & HEALTHCARE

moving announcement

2009-12-10T08:00:00.000+08:00

Are we programmed to be financially illiterate?

2009-11-25T23:40:00.001+08:00

Do our schools mass produce graduates destined to work for someone else?

Being a role model to the children

2009-11-24T15:57:00.000+08:00

I lost my dad when I was 17 years old. That was in 1975.

During my younger days, before my dad passed away, I hardly remember how close I was with him. However, I knew he was very hardworking and always worked hard to provide us with food and shelter.

He and my uncle had built the house we lived in.

I am an engineer trained by Monash University but I had not built any house for my own staying!

Father to me was not well understood; he just provided food and shelter.

When I married my wife, and we had our first child in 1988, we were so happy and I tried to find ways to be a good father.

I read books about how a father should be. I attended classes on being a good father. I looked around for some good examples of a good father. I asked around about how a good father should be.

I learnt and I tried to be a good father to my children.

I want to be a good father to my children, and I want to share with them what I have, not just my wealth, my money, but most importantly my experiences as a person, my knowledge, my network of friends ….

I want to be sure they will strive to be good people, contribute well to society, and not become a liability to the nation.

How can I be sure?

There are so many temptations and so many deceptions out there.

I cannot be with them 24 hours a day. I cannot be sure of who they will meet.

I can just keep praying for them to be able to distinguish what is right from wrong, and how to say no to drug abuse, say no to gambling habits, say no to alcoholic abuses, say no to vanity ….

I have found that as a father I have to keep up with the trends that the children are exposed to and learn to understand them better, and how their peers influence them.

As a father, I will not just guide them but also encourage them to be self-reliant.

I try to teach them the value of money, wisdom of power and authority, to be humble but not shy, and be wise but not boastful.

I must be a role model for them.

courtesy | Peter Leow Cheen Chai

Pancreatitis, what pancreatitis?

2009-11-09T06:47:00.002+08:00

I was warded for 6 days at Hospital Kuala Krai and was discharged on Hari Raya eve. I had to fast for 5 days and five nights? Not really, on the third day I was allowed to consumed plain water, on the forth day - beverages and on the fifth - soft diet.

It was damn painful, I thought I was going to die. After day one, when I recovered , the specialist told me that I will be ok, he explained that he had “cut” of my “engine (no food in the stomach)” and will do so until I recovered and able to do so. If I survived the first day. I will survive, according to him 10 per cent die – before they can even put the “engine” off .

I survived on 6 bottles of common salt and dextrose drips per day, throughout my days in the hospital. I could take plain water - but only very little on the third day, I had diarrhea on that day. I thought this was what I had when I received my therapy in Telipot. It can’t be appendicitis. If Doc Aziz is still around, I could have asked him in person.

I met Yu Nah’s tapper at the Hospital, her menantu was there, he had a motorbike accident.

I was discharged at night and had to ask a doctor to help me take the prescription for me. When he handed me the pills, I had to ask, why are there 2 painkillers. This was his answer, the Tranadol is for your stomach but when you take them it was give you a headache and that’s when you need Paracetamol, both on PRN. Damned modern medicine! no wonder they gave them this definition, “a doctor is someone who gives you pills and at the end the pills kill you".

Below is a note on the subject from a Doctor, now practicing in the States and from my alma mater .

On a professional topic for a change!

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammation of the exocrine part of the pancreas (that organ abutting the backbone behind the stomach and what the chefs refer to as sweetbread). The pancreas has two functions. The exocrine part produces enzymes needed for digesting fat and protein; the other, the endocrine, produces insulin needed for regulating our sugar metabolism.

When the organ is inflamed, the cell wall becomes leaky and all those enzymes start to leak out and begin digesting your insides, hence the pain and damage. You are literally being digested or destroyed internally by your own enzymes!

Chronic pancreatitis is where the condition is chronic (that is over weeks, months or years). The mechanism and consequences are very different leading many to think that it is an entirely different clinical entity with different causes.

In America (West generally) the main causes of acute pancreatitis are alcohol and gallstones. Nobody knows what causes gallstones, and not all gallstones cause acute pancreatitis. Beyond the two, then we have rare causes, like hyperparathyroidism (hyperactivity of a small gland in the neck anatomically associated with but different from the thyroid gland), drugs, scorpion bites, and other "rare brids."

A Malay friend here had acute pancreatitis a few years ago and his doctors insisted that he was a "closet alcoholic." Knowing the friend well I suggested to him to suggest to his doctors to investigate for possible hyperparathyroidism. Indeed that was he had, and he had surgery that effectively cured the condition as well prevent further possible complications caused by the hyperparathyroidism (like kidney stones).

when I have a patient with acute pancreatitis, the immediate treatment is to maintain his metabolic stability; hence intravenous fluids, pain medications, antibiotics, etc. and give the pancreas a rest. So no eating for a few days. This will resolve most cases. Once that is resolved then investigate for the 'root cause" using CAT scans, ultrasounds, and ERCP (endoscopic examination). If a cause is found, then of course deal with it appropriately.

If no obvious cause, then seek the rare birds as mentioned above. Review the medications you are taking to make sure it is not a contributing factor.

Most acute pancreatitis will resolve. Nonetheless it is a serious disease and when there are complications (like necrotizing pancreatitis; necrotizing means death of tissues), then it is an even more serious and can be lethal. Generally you would require to be in ICU.

In my brief surgical practice in Malaysia I saw many cases of pancreatitis that have "weird" or rare causes including one caused by lupus, another caused by severe malnutrition, another a complication of kidney transplant, and a few of unknown causes that we lumped simply as "tropical pancreatitis."

Once you recover form acute pancreatitis the damage is such that you may have difficulty digesting foods especially those with high fat content; so avoid nasi lemak, rich rendang, kacang goreng. Alcohol is an absolute contraindication. We may not realize it but alcohol comes in many forms apart from the familiar ones in the bottle you get in the bar. Many cough syrups have alcohol base and they can trigger a pancreatitis attack if you so have been made predisposed by a previous attack.

Lastly, if the tissue damage is severe enough to affect the endocrine portion of the pancreas, then you may develop diabetes.

Transplant of both the exocrine and endocrine portions of the pancreas is now clinically feasible and done.

I trust this is helpful.
M. Bakri Musa, M.D.

Eating a diet high in processed food increases the risk of depression

2009-11-03T02:32:00.001+08:00

Those who ate the most whole foods had a 26% lower risk of future depression than those who at the least whole foods.

By contrast people with a diet high in processed food had a 58% higher risk of depression than those who ate very few processed foods. more > >

What is Arthritis?

2009-07-03T09:00:00.000+08:00

Dr. Holly Atkinson, Internal Medicine

Arthritis is a group of conditions that typically involve inflammation and pain in the joints. Arthritis typically develops where two or more bones meet, although it can affect other tissues in the body. Arthritis can lead to joint weakness and physical deformities that can interfere with even the most basic daily activities. Arthritis pain varies considerably in severity. It may come and go, which is called episodic pain, or it may be chronic, meaning you’ll feel it all the time.

How Does Arthritis Happen?

In most cases, arthritis is a natural part of aging, and develops over a lifetime of the use of our joints. In healthy joints, the ends of the bones are protected by cartilage, which is a tough smooth tissue that cushions the ends and allows them to glide smoothly across one another. The whole joint is surrounded by synovial fluid, which lubricates and delivers nutrients to the cartilage. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, develops when the cartilage wears away and the bone ends are left unprotected. They may rub together every time you move, which can cause pain. The edges of the joints may also develop dense spots and bumps called spurs. The ligaments, which are cord-like tissues that connect the bones to other structures around them, may also thicken, preventing movement.

Types of Arthritis

There are more than a hundred types of arthritis. Some of the more common types are as follows:

Osteoarthritis. This is by far the most common form of arthritis and caused by long-time use of the joint and surrounding tissue.

Arthritis Caused By Inflammation. Inflammation is part of the body’s natural healing process. But once the inflammatory process starts and doesn’t stop, cartilage and other tissues surrounding and connecting your bones are attacked. This leads to swelling, throbbing pain and sometimes deformities.

Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA. The inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis starts after the immune system turns on itself and attacks the body. It is not known why the body does this. It’s a called systemic condition, meaning that it affects tissue throughout the body, including the respiratory system, skin, blood vessels, nerves and eyes.
Gout. This type of arthritis develops as a result in a defect in body chemistry. People with gout form tiny, needle-shaped crystals in the joints, causing inflammation. That inflammation triggers attacks of severe pain that lasts from one to two weeks. Gout usually affects the toes, but can also occur in the feet, the hands and the wrists. During an attack, the area affected becomes swollen, hot and extremely tender. Gout usually affects men.
Ankylosing Spondylitis. This is a condition that mostly affects the spine. Inflammation causes the bones of the spine to grow together.
Lupus. This is a serious disorder in which blood vessels throughout the body are inflamed.
Scleroderma. This is a disease of the body’s connective tissue that causes a thickening and hardening of the skin.
Juvenile Arthritis. This can develop as early as infancy, and is a general term for all types of arthritis that occur in children.

Coping With Arthritis

The treatments for arthritis vary according to which type you have, which joints are affected, the intensity of the pain and how it affects your daily life. There is no cure for arthritis, but there are many things you can do to cope with the condition.

Lifestyle Choices

Practice Good Posture. This will help keep your bones and joints aligned. Walking is an easy way to improve posture.
Watch Your Weight. Your body weight has a large impact on the amount of stress on your muscles and bones. Excess fat cells also release chemicals that trigger inflammation.
Exercise. Activity will help to keep your weight under control, but don’t overdo it. If your body starts to hurt, you should stop. Swimming and the stationary bike are two great options since they are easier on the joints than weight-bearing exercises like walking or dancing.
Keep Moving & Stretch. To reduce stiffness, try to avoid sitting or standing in the same position for long periods of time. When writing or using your hands, give your hands a rest every 10 to 15 minutes. On long car trips, get out of the car. Stretch and move around at least once an hour. And when you’re picking up an object, bend your knees and squat while keeping your back straight.

Medication Options

Your doctor may suggest or prescribe medications to ease the pain and inflammation if lifestyle changes don’t help. These options include:

NSAIDs or Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. These target the enzyme active in joint inflammation and work to relieve pain. They are available over- the-counter. Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen.
Cox 2 Inhibitors. These are a prescription class of NSAIDs. These newer drugs are easier on your stomach, but may have side effects on your heart. Speak to your doctor about these risks.
DMARDs or Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs. If these are taken early enough, they can limit the amount of joint damage that occurs in rheumatic arthritis. They work to slow down the disease and prevent permanent joint damage. Because it can take weeks before they start to work, they’re often taken with NSAIDs or corticosteroids. Other forms of DMARDs include immunosuppresants and Tumor Necrosis Factor or TNF-blockers. Immunosuppressants act on your immune system to blunt the immune response, which drives the inflammatory process. However, by blunting the immune system, these drugs also leave you susceptible to infection.

There are several other new drugs recently approved by the FDA. Ask your doctor about the benefits and risks of these newer medications.

Other Treatment Options

Blood Filtering. This type of treatment removes the antibodies that can contribute to inflammation and pain.
Surgery. More severe cases of arthritis may require surgery that removes the joint lining, such as Arthroscopy and Synovectomy. A total joint replacement may also be recommended.
Complementary Approaches. Relaxation techniques like hypnosis, deep breathing and muscle relaxation may help ease arthritis pain. Many people also find relief through acupuncture, gentle forms of yoga and Tai Chi.
Dietary Supplements. Glucosamine and Chondroitin, the building blocks of cartilage, are popular supplements among people suffering from mild forms of arthritis. Studies have shown that some people with mild arthritis get some relief, with others experience no benefit.

While arthritis is a long term condition, there is much that you can do to live an active life. Work closely with your doctor to find the right combination of treatments for you.

WHO: Swine flu virus may face deadly mutation

2009-05-13T03:08:00.001+08:00

Tue, 12 May 2009

The conformation of new swine flu cases in different countries has caused WHO officials to announce the virus has the potential to cause a global pandemic.

In a Monday news briefing, acting WHO assistant director-general Keiji Fukuda said that it was too early to say whether the swine flu virus would cause a pandemic, adding that there is no sign of sustained person-to-person spread outside North America.

In a Tuesday statement, however, the WHO stressed that the new virus 'appears to be more contagious than seasonal influenza' and that nearly everyone in the world lacks immunity against the new disease.

The report added that the new H1N1 flu virus has the potential to unpredictably mutate into a more virulent form, resulting in a pandemic that may circle the globe in at least two or even three waves.

The Imperial College London had earlier reported that swine flu has a 'full pandemic potential' as it may infect one-third of the world's population in within the next six to nine months, adding that the new virus can infect one out of every three individuals who come into contact with an H1N1 patient.

British scientists also claimed that about 6,000 to 32,000 Mexicans are infected with the deadly virus; Mexican health officials, however, have only reported 2,059 cases of swine flu infection including 56 deaths in 29 of the country's 32 districts.

In the US, the second country attacked by the new strain of the H1N1 flu, the virus is spreading so fast that CDC officials have decided to stop counting individual cases as they are only 'confirming the tip of the iceberg'.

Statistics show that more than 2,600 confirmed swine flu cases, three deaths and 700 suspected cases have been reported in 43 US states.

Health officials have also stressed that the virus, which is 'circulating throughout the United States and is likely to be in every state', is relatively mild and may be troublesome only in those with an underlying disease.

WHO officials concluded that the impact of any pandemic varies in different countries, as it is mild in countries with strong health systems but becomes devastating in those with weak health systems which lack drugs and well-equipped hospitals.-PressTV

WHO: swine flu infects 29 countries

2009-05-12T01:43:00.002+08:00

Sun, 10 May 2009

Image of newly-identified H1N1 influenza virus obtained at the CDC Influenza Laboratory.

The World Health Organization announced Saturday that the H1N1 (swine) flu virus has spread to 29 countries and confirmed 3440 cases of infection.

The WHO said the latest infections are reported in Argentina, Panama, Australia and Japan.

Mexico has reported 1364 laboratory-confirmed human cases of infection, including 45 deaths. The United States has reported 1639 laboratory-confirmed human cases, including two deaths. Canada has reported 242 laboratory-confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Argentina (1), Australia (1), Austria (1), Brazil (6), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (12), Germany (11), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (7), Italy (6), Japan (3), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (5), Panama (2), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (88), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (34).

Early signs of influenza H1N1 are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. No vaccine has been developed to fight the fatal virus named H1N1, which has traveled to four continents.

The symptoms have been treated with antivirals. It is feared, however, that H1N1 might be resistant to antiviral medications.

The World Health Organization prepares for the production of a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, as the number of confirmed swine flu cases passes the 2,000 mark.

Yoghurt keeps postpartum obesity away

2009-05-11T01:52:00.001+08:00

While many women find weight loss after labor challenging, a new study says probiotic supplements can easily help them retain their figure.

Previous studies had linked taking probiotics, live bacteria or yeast dietary supplements, to improved digestion and intestinal health.

According to the study presented at the 17th European Congress on Obesity in Amsterdam, taking these supplements in the first trimester of pregnancy can lower the risk of post-partum central obesity.

Women who took probiotics during pregnancy were reported to have the lowest levels of central obesity and body fat percentage in the year after delivery.

These supplements not only modify the bacteria in the intestines but also influence adipose formation in the body through breaking down sugars and carbohydrates.

A probiotics-supplemented diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding is therefore considered as an economic, practical, and potentially safe method for reducing the risk of obesity after labor.

University of Turku researchers concluded that just one yoghurt cup a day is enough to help pregnant women control their weight.

Courtesy : PressTV - Sun, 10 May 2009

So Botox isn’t just a pretty face

2009-04-12T12:11:00.001+08:00

CLEVELAND, April 12, 2009 – NYT

Dr Mark Stillman, the director of the Centre for Headache and Pain at the Cleveland Clinic, has a treatment for people with frequent migraines: he injects Botox around the head and neck.

Dr Andrew Blitzer, the director of the Centre for Voice and Swallowing Disorders at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Centre in Manhattan, has an antidote for speech impediments caused by vocal cord problems: he injects Botox into the larynx.

Dr Fredric Brandt, a dermatologist in Manhattan and Coral Gables, Fla., has a novel procedure for oily skin and skin redness. You guessed it: Botox.

Over the last decade, Botox has become a synonym for the eradication of wrinkles, a kind of shorthand for the entire enterprise of cosmetic medicine. But now, with the popularisation of new medical uses, therapeutic applications of the drug are poised to outstrip the cosmetic treatment in both revenue and prominence.

In the hunt to discover the next blockbuster medical use for Botox, doctors have injected it experimentally into muscles and glands all over the body, making it medicine’s answer to duct tape.

According to recent medical journals, physicians have used it to treat chewing problems, swallowing problems, pelvic muscle spasms, drooling, hair loss, anal fissures and pain from missing limbs.

“We see it as a molecule that keeps on giving. As we understand it more, it gives us new ideas of how to use it,” says Dr Mitchell F. Brin, a neurologist who is the chief scientific officer for Botox at Allergan, the drug’s maker.

No other therapeutic agent “has so many demonstrated uses,” he says.

But some health advocates worry that doctors are widely adopting novel uses for Botox before federal guidance and rigorous clinical studies have established safe and effective dosages for the new treatments.

“It’s trial and error with a nerve poison,” says Dr Sidney M. Wolfe, the director of the health research group at Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group. Last year, the group petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to require a warning label for injectable toxins.

Botox is a purified form of botulinum toxin, a nerve poison produced by the bacteria that cause botulism, a disease that paralyses muscles and can be fatal. Injections of Botox act like minuscule poison darts that temporarily blunt chemical nerve signals to certain muscles or glands, reducing their activity.

The FDA. has approved Botox to treat four problems: eye muscle disorders, neck muscle disorders, excessive sweating – and that deadly age giveaway, eyebrow furrows. But Allergan, a $14.5 billion specialty pharmaceutical company, owns or has applied for patents on more than 90 uses for the drug.

Dr Brin of Allergan says Botox has a long safety track record – backed by 30 years of favourable research, studies on 11,000 people worldwide and 17 million treatments in the United States since 1994.

“That safety profile has enabled us to continue to explore the product in deeper parts of the body and in more novel areas,” Dr Brin says. Allergan does not promote unapproved uses of the drug, he says.

Botox was developed in the 1970s by Dr Alan Scott, an ophthalmologist in San Francisco who was searching for a cure for crossed eyes. He theorised that minute doses of a nerve poison used to weaken the muscles that pull crossed eyes inward could treat the malady, and he experimented with a variety of paralytic agents.

Then a biochemist who had isolated and purified a strain of botulinum toxin for potential military use as a biological weapon sent Dr Scott a sample. It worked.

Dr Scott named the new drug Oculinum. In 1989, the FDA. approved it to treat crossed eyes and twitching eyelids. Allergan bought Oculinum in 1991 for about $9 million, rebranding it Botox. When David E. I. Pyott became chief executive of the company in 1998, Botox had $90 million in annual sales. Last year, sales topped $1 billion.

“Nobody at Allergan understood how big a gold mine they were sitting on,” Pyott says.

Drug companies often rely on multiple products to fill their pipelines. But at Allergan, Botox became a virtual pipeline in and of itself after the arrival of Pyott, who recognised that it was a medication that could be serially reincarnated for other applications.

Doctors, who are permitted to use approved drugs in unapproved ways as they deem appropriate, were already using Botox off-label at the time on body parts other than eye muscles. Some physicians reported that patients had unexpected side effects – fewer headaches, for example, or smoother skin – after they had Botox.

Pyott invested heavily in expanding in-house research and encouraged doctors to formalise their anecdotal observations with published research.

He also recognised that some Americans would be willing to pay handsomely for injections that tempered wrinkles. To prove the efficacy of the drug, the company sponsored clinical trials to use Botox for cosmetic medical purposes and for other muscle disorders.

Over the last nine years, the FDA has approved Botox to treat neck muscle spasms and to hinder excessive sweating. The agency also approved the same drug, under the name Botox Cosmetic, to smooth forehead wrinkles.

Last year, Botox had worldwide sales of $1.3 billion, divided about equally between cosmetic and medical uses. Among botulinum toxins, Botox has an 83 per cent share of the market, Allergan said.

But, with competing toxins set to enter the American market, Allergan has positioned Botox for other medical uses. Pyott says he expects therapeutic sales of the drug to soon eclipse sales of Botox Cosmetic.

Health insurers sometimes cover medical uses of Botox; a treatment for a clenched jaw might cost $1,000 every three months, for example. But for cosmetic treatments, which dipped slightly at the end of last year, consumers must pay cash.

“The therapeutic will end up being bigger than the cosmetic even if the economy recovers because there are some big unmet medical needs there,” Pyott says.

In the next few months, the company is expecting federal approval to market the drug for stroke victims suffering from limb tightness or spasms.

Later this year, Allergan plans to seek approval to market the drug for chronic migraine headaches, Pyott said. He also said the company eventually plans to seek FDA approval to market Botox for benign enlarged prostate.

But many doctors are not waiting for federal sanction to inject Botox for these and other disorders. While Allergan doesn’t break down Botox sales, Gary Nachman, an analyst at Leerink Swann, an investment bank, estimates that perhaps as much as half of Botox sales already come from off-label uses.

“It’s the magic bullet,” says Nachman.

Botox is so widely adopted in medicine – and ingrained in popular culture – that some doctors don’t think that novel uses are experiments.

Several years ago, Dr Kamran Jafri, a facial surgeon in Manhattan, started injecting Botox just under the skin of the face, a technique that he says reduces pore size, blotchiness and oily skin.

“Dosing is by trial and error,” Dr Jafri says. “I don’t think it’s experimental because it’s a treatment I’ve been doing a lot and it’s been working.”

Such ad hoc uses of Botox are perfectly legal for doctors. But some medical professionals are concerned that doctors are experimenting with and adopting Botox therapy before clinical trials and government approval have established safe doses for new indications – and without definitive proof that the new treatments work.

While life-threatening complications following use of Botox and other botulinum toxins are rare, a few people have died after they were treated. In some cases, the toxin has spread from the injection site, causing serious swallowing and breathing problems. For example, several children with cerebral palsy died after receiving large doses in their limbs.

“It is possible to over-inject. This is a poison,” says Dr Frederick Burgess, the chief of anaesthesia at the VA Medical Centre in Providence, R.I. “Things can go wrong. It is rare, but it happens.”

Last year, Public Citizen petitioned the FDA, asking for a stronger warning on botulinum toxins that would emphasise the risk of diffusion from the injection site and the need for patients to seek immediate medical care for swallowing or breathing difficulties.

The Canadian health authority instituted such a labelling change earlier this year.

Pyott of Allergan says that there have been a few serious problems following Botox injections – but not necessarily directly caused by the drug. Some patients had serious illnesses prior to treatment, he said.

“Physicians have experimented with higher and higher doses,” Pyott says. “Like any drug, if you take too much, you can have side effects.”

The FDA is reviewing the safety of botulinum toxins, according to an agency press release. Last year, the agency also postponed approval of a new toxin called Dysport for use in neck muscle problems. The FDA asked the manufacturer to first develop a plan for communicating the risk of the drug to doctors and patients.

On Monday, the FDA is due to issue a decision on the cosmetic version of Dysport, called Reloxin.

Johnson & Johnson is also developing an anti-wrinkle injection called PureTox.

But industry analysts predicted that the FDA would postpone approving any new botulinum toxins until regulators have finalised a stronger warning label for all of the brands.

When Pyott arrived at Allergan, it specialised in eye-care pharmaceuticals. Over the last decade, he has turned it into the house that Botox built, expanding credibility for the drug in various medical specialties by buying complementary businesses.

To solidify Allergan’s dominance in appearance medicine, for example, the company spent $3.2 billion in 2006 to acquire Inamed, a leading maker of skin-plumping injections and breast implants. In preparation for the planned introduction of Botox as a treatment for headaches, overactive bladder and enlarged prostates, the company has also established itself in neurology and urology by developing or marketing other specialty drugs, Pyott says.

The possibility of lucrative new uses for Botox has not gone unnoticed. After rumours of a possible merger with GlaxoSmithKline last month, Allergan stock rose almost 24 per cent over the course of two days, to $48.95; it now trades at $47.47. Both companies declined to comment on merger rumours.

“This is a bad time to sell because they are not going to get rewarded for all of the wonderful stuff in the pipeline,” says Ronny Gal, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein. “I would stay independent for a couple of years.”

Gal says sales of Botox could double within the next five to seven years, provided that the FDA approves new major medical uses. One million people or more might seek Botox injections for chronic headaches, while the audience for benign enlarged prostate would be “practically every man over the age of 75,” Gal says.

Pyott has a master plan, meanwhile, to expand the Botox franchise even further. The company is developing new iterations of the drug intended to treat specific targets, such as pain receptors, without weakening muscles.

Allergan also owns or has applied for patents on dozens of other uses for its toxin, a move to pre-empt competitors from marketing their products for expanded uses.

“I feel a little bit like I am sitting with a beautiful vessel inside the harbour but I forgot to give you the map to where our mines are,” Pyott says of the Botox patents that he said were filed in different countries. “There could be a big bang when you hit one of our patents.”

But Gal, the analyst, devoted his Christmas vacation to unearthing about 90 patent applications worldwide by Allergan. These included Botox for sinus headache, fibromyalgia pain, ulcers, inner ear disorders and uterine problems as well as appearance treatments like “buttock deformity.”

Nevertheless, there are still a few ailments that Botox does not claim to solve. Botox doesn’t work on stuttering, for example, because it involves too many parts of the anatomy – including the lips, the larynx and the tongue, says Dr Brin of Allergan.

“Stuttering is too complicated,” Dr Brin says a little wistfully. “It didn’t pan out.”

Wristband to alert sun over-exposure

2009-04-08T05:24:00.000+08:00

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:31:30 GMT | PressTV

The increased rate of skin cancer among sunbathers prompts scientists to create a wristband to warn user against maximum sun exposure.

Excessive sun exposure is reported as the main trigger for DNA changes leading to melanoma, the most malignant type of skin cancer in 70 percent of sufferers.

The new bracelet-style product, which will enter the market in the upcoming months, turns pink when the sunbather is in danger of getting a sunburn.

The chemicals inside the band react to UV rays, changing in color from yellow to pink. Scientists believe the UV-driven reaction with the dye in the band acts as an "intelligent ink".

The band also notifies the user when it is necessary to reapply sunscreen. Like the skin, this band absorbs sunscreen and gradually turns brown when it is time to reapply sunscreen.

BRAF gene mutation has been recently identified as the first event in the cascade of genetic changes leading to melanoma.

Researchers are optimistic that by identifying the gene responsible for this cancer they can lower the incidence of sun over-exposure and in turn lower the rate of skin cancer and its complications.

Broccoli sprouts cut gastric cancer risk

2009-04-08T04:41:00.002+08:00

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:46:42 GMT | PressTV

Broccoli sprouts protect the stomach against a bacterial infection which causes conditions such as gastritis, ulcers and stomach cancer.

According to a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, eating 2 1/2 ounces of three-day-old broccoli sprouts every day for at least two months reduces the levels of H. pylori infection but does not prevent it.

H. pylori levels are reported to return to pre-treatment levels eight weeks after the individual stops eating the sprouts.

H. pylori is a known carcinogen and a major risk factor for stomach cancer; reducing the number of this microorganism can therefore lower the subsequent risk of cancer.

Sulforaphane, a compound with proven anticancer and antibiotic properties commonly found in broccoli, stimulates the body particularly the gastrointestinal tract to produce enzymes that protect the body against cell damage and inflammation.

Compared to broccoli heads, the sprouts are a richer source of sulforaphane.

Scientists concluded that a diet rich in broccoli sprouts can lower the risk of various types of cancer including esophageal, bladder, skin, lung, and gastric.

'Rocket fuel' found in US baby formula

2009-04-05T15:34:00.001+08:00

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:34:13 GMT | PressTV

While the contamination of baby formula is not unheard of, this is the first time that rocket fuel-tainted formula has been found in the US.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported trace levels of perchlorate -- a chemical used as the main ingredient in solid rocket fuel, fireworks, and road flares -- in certain brands of baby formula.

Authorities declined from saying which brands had been tested.

The report revealed that the cow milk-based formula contained more perchlorate than soymilk- and lactose-free cow milk-based formulas.

While the Environmental Protection Agency reports perchlorate levels are within the safe range, the report has caused public health concerns about the damage the compound can cause to the function of the thyroid.

Perchlorate can inhibit the thyroid gland's iodine uptake, interfering with fetal development, the study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology reports.

Reports indicating the presence of perchlorate in the water supplies of 35 states particularly near defense and aerospace sites have aggravated the condition.

Many believe American babies are at an increased risk, as they are not only exposed to the compound in baby formula but also in tap water.

Scientists believe to counteract the effects of perchlorate iodine must be added to formula and urge the government to set a stricter perchlorate health advisory level.

Male contraceptives to hit markets soon

2009-04-05T06:22:00.001+08:00

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:22:04 GMT | PressTV

The discovery of a new gene has raised hopes of producing a male contraceptive pill in the near future, to reduce unwanted pregnancies.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, mutations in the CATSPER1 gene, responsible for producing the protein needed for normal sperm movement, is linked with male infertility.

"Identification of targets such as the CATSPER1 gene that are involved in the fertility process and are specific for potentially minimizing the side effects of a drug targeting the protein's function, provide new targets for a pharmacological male contraceptive," the leader of the research team, Michael Hildebrand said.

Men treated with the antibodies designed to target the CATSPER1 protein were reported to have reduced fertility. As the sperm of these men were unable to fertilize eggs, scientists believe these antibiotics can be used to produce a male contraceptive.

They hope to use these findings to develop new infertility treatments.

Human body regenerates heart cells: Study

2009-04-04T03:26:00.001+08:00

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:25:29 GMT | PressTV

A study using Carbon-14 dating method has shown that human body can regenerate heart cells at a rate of about one percent a year.

Conducted by Sweden's Karolinska Institute researchers, the study has raised hopes for the artificial stimulation of the renewal process and reducing the need for transplants in future.

"It would be a way to try and help the heart to some self-help rather than transplanting new cells," Jonas Frisen of Sweden's Karolinska Institute said in a telephone interview.

"Taking advantage of the heart's own capacity to generate new cells either using pharmaceutical compounds or, if it is possible, by exercise or any other environmental factor."

Heart cells stop dividing early in life and although there are stem cells in the heart, its muscle just forms scar tissue and never fully regenerates.

Scientists also found that the rate at which our body regenerates heart cells slows by time reducing to half a percent a year by the age of 75, Reuters reported.

"If you exchange cells at this rate it means that even if you live a very long life you will not have exchanged more than 50 percent of your cells," said Frisen.

"So at any given time your heart is a mosaic of cells you carry with you from birth and cells that that have been added later to replace cells that have been lost during life."

According to the study reported in the journal Science, the heart's ability to regenerate cells could help find out whether people are susceptible to heart disease or not.

"We are interested in studying whether some heart diseases could potentially be caused by too low an ability to replace heart cells," said Frisen.

Energy drinks could be troublesome

2009-03-31T05:00:00.000+08:00

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:14:28 GMT | PressTV

Energy drinks are reported to be associated with potential health risks in individuals with heart diseases and high blood pressure.

According to a study published in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy, drinking two cans of popular energy drink increases the blood pressure as well as the heart rate.

Healthy individuals can tolerate the extra pressure imposed to their heart; the condition, however, may be life-threatening in those suffering from underlying heart-related problems.

Caffeine and taurine have direct impact on cardiac function; the high levels of these two non-essential amino acids are believed to be responsible for the increases in blood pressure and heart rate following the consumption of energy drinks.

Scientists therefore urge individuals with hypertension or heart disease to avoid drinking energy drinks.

Fish robots to detect water pollution

2009-03-23T00:31:00.000+08:00

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:24:54 GMT | PressTV

British scientists have developed a robot fish which can detect water pollution.

British scientists are slated to release into Spanish seas five carp-shaped fish robots which are capable of detecting water pollution.

Built by Essex University researchers, the 1.5-meter-long robots have an eight-hour battery and move like real fish.

They are equipped with chemical sensors which enable them to detect harmful contaminants such as leaks from vessels or underwater pipelines.

Costing $29,000 each, the robots swim at a maximum speed of about one meter per second, do not need remote controlling and transmit information using Wi-Fi technology.

The fish robots will navigate the Bay of Biscay at Gijon in northern Spain as part of a three-year joint project between the engineering consultancy BMT Group and Essex University.

"The hope is that this will prevent potentially hazardous discharges at sea as the leak would undoubtedly get worse over time if not located," AFP quoted Professor Huosheng Hu of Essex University as saying.

If the project is successful, the fish could also be used in rivers, lakes and seas across the world to prevent the spread of pollution.

Aluminum in water ups Alzheimer's risk

2009-03-09T18:00:00.002+08:00

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:07:56 GMT | PressTV

Preliminary research has revealed that an excessive intake of aluminum could increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

"Alzheimer's disease is a multifactorial disease, and aluminum concentrations in drinking water may have an effect on cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Virginie Rondeau, at the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale in Bordeaux, France.

The French researchers declared that higher levels of silica appear to decrease the risk by reducing the oral absorption of aluminum or by increasing the excretion of this metal.

"Further studies are needed to settle the debate over the link between aluminum or silica in drinking water and neurologic disorders and cognitive impairment," the research team added.

The findings of the study are published in the February 15 issue of The American Journal of Epidemiology.

Previous studies have shown that following a Mediterranean diet -- one rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil -- can help improve memory and tackle Alzheimer's disease.

From a separate study, scientists indicate that drinking apple juice might improve mental performance and subsequently tackle the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists are optimistic that their findings will help pave the way for developing new drugs to treat Alzheimer's.

Afghan women call for peace, justice

2009-03-08T08:08:00.000+08:00

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:08:15 GMT | PressTV

Afghan women have attended a ceremony in Kabul to mark the International Women's Day and call for peace and justice in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of women attended the ceremony which was held under the auspices of the UN on Sunday.

The event was also attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who condemned forced marriage and urged Afghan men not to marry off their daughters to men several decades older.

“It's very cruel that our traditions and social practices force girls to get married in their childhood or to make up for debts,” said President Karzai.

Forced marriages are a great concern in Afghanistan. Afghan girls are frequently married off to resolve disputes or to pay debts.

The Afghan government has reported over 10,000 cases of self-immolation by girls, who were trying to escape forced marriages and domestic violence in 2008.

Karzai also said that the reconciliation process is necessary to help eradicate mounting violence in the war-torn country that has reached a record level since the 2001 invasion.

The country's tumultuous situation is preventing girls from attending school. Girls account for 35 percent of Afghan students but their number has been decreasing due to attacks on girls' schools.

UN reports say the attacks have increased from 236 cases in 2007 to 293 in 2008.

“Violence against women in our country is increasing and we expect proper measures to be taken in this regard. This is not acceptable and we strongly condemn this,” an Afghan mother of two told a Press TV correspondent.

All you need to know: Nail care

2009-02-25T23:53:00.003+08:00

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, the nails hold clues to one's health and even personality. A substructure of the outer layer of the skin, nails are diagnostic tools providing the initial signal of the presence or onset of systemic diseases.

Nails are mainly composed of the protein keratin; when healthy they are smooth and without ridges and discoloration. Healthy nail beds - the skin on top of which the nail grows - are pink.

Nutritional deficiencies generally show up in the nails, causing them to easily chip, peel, crack or break. For instance, a lack of protein, folic acid and vitamin C causes hangnails while a lack of vitamin A and calcium causes dryness and brittleness.

Vitamin B deficiency causes fragility with horizontal and vertical ridges. Insufficient vitamin B12 intake leads to excessive dryness, rounded and curved nail ends and darkened nails.

Nails are not tools for picking, scraping, poking and prying. Protect your hands with cotton-lined gloves when doing housework

Iron deficiency causes spoon nails -- nails with a concave shape -- and vertical ridges while zinc deficiency can lead to the appearance of white spots on the nails.

Nails- Diagnostic tools

Nails separated from the nail bed (onycholysis)

While some nail conditions are harmless, changes or abnormalities in the nails often point to an underlying disorder before other symptoms begin to present themselves.

Thick nails may indicate the weakening of the vascular system, poor blood circulation or thyroid disease. Thick toenails, on the other hand, can be the result of fungal infection.

Red moons may indicate heart problems. When the moons turn slate blue it can be the sign of lung trouble or heavy metal poisoning -- such as silver poisoning.

White lines show possible heart disease, high fever or arsenic poisoning. White lines across the nails may indicate liver disease.

White-colored nails indicate possible liver or kidney disorders or anemia. White nails with pink tips are a sign of cirrhosis.

Yellow nails with elevation of the nail tips can signal an internal disorder before symptoms present themselves, such as lymphatic system problems, respiratory disorders, diabetes and liver disorders.

Vertical ridges indicate poor general health, poor nutrient absorption and iron deficiency. Horizontal ridges can be the result of severe stress. Ridges running up and down the nails can also indicate tendency to develop arthritis.

The development of bumps on the surface of the nails, a condition known as nail beading, is a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

Downward-curved nail ends may show heart, liver or respiratory problems.

Nail separated from the nail bed denote a thyroid disorder or local infection.

Healthy nails are smooth and without ridges and discoloration.

Brittle, soft, shiny nails without moons may indicate an overactive thyroid. Brittle nails also show iron deficiency, thyroid problems, impaired kidney function and circulation problems.

Tips for strong and healthy nails

Alfalfa, black cohosh, burdock rot, dandelion, gotu kola and yellow dock are rich in nail-strengthening minerals, such as silica, zinc and B vitamins. Horsetail is good for the flexibility of nails.

Borage seed, flaxseed, lemongrass, parsley, primrose and pumpkin seed are good sources of essential fatty acids.

Butcher's broom, chamomile, ginko biloba, rosemary, sassafras, and turmeric are good for circulation which nourishes the nails.

Avoid refined sugars and simple carbohydrates. Include plenty of quality proteins, grains, legumes, oatmeal, nuts and seeds in your diet.

Eat foods rich in silicon and sulfur, such as apples, cucumbers, grapes, garlic, asparagus, broccoli, sea vegetables, fish and onions. Include biotin-rich foods like soy, whole grains and liver in your diet.

Eggs, liver, green-leafy vegetables, poultry, almonds, avocados, beets, dates, lima beans, pumpkins, peaches, pears, prunes, and raisins are rich in iron.

Fresh carrot juice is rich in phosphorous and calcium and helps strengthen the nails.

Excessive intake of citrus fruits, salt and vinegar can cause a protein/ calcium imbalance that can affect nail health. Cuts and cracks in the nails may indicate a need for more liquids; therefore, drink plenty of water.

Helpful nail tips and remedies

Nail splitting

Like the skin, nails need moisture therefore applying hand cream each morning and evening can help prevent nails from drying out.

Nails are not tools for picking, scraping, poking and prying. Protect your hands with cotton-lined gloves when doing housework, as repeated immersion in water containing bleach or dishwashing liquid can cause the nails to split.

Soaking the nails in warm olive oil or cider vinegar for ten to twenty minutes a day can help strengthen them. Taking 2 tablespoons of wheat germ oil daily can help prevent splitting nails or hangnails.

Soak the nails before cutting them, as they are more likely to split and peel when they are dry.

Do not cut nails too short or wear shoes that are too tight, as this can result in ingrown nails or toenails.

Avoid cutting the cuticles as it may lead to infection; instead use baby oil or cream to gently push them back. Inflamed cuticles in diabetics often signal infection.

Discolored nails can be the result of prolonged illness, stress, nicotine, allergies, or diabetes. Green nails indicate bacterial or fungal infection between the nail and the nail bed. A mixture of equal parts of water and vinegar applied to the nails with a cotton swab can treat fungal infection.

Soak the nails before cutting them, as they are more likely to split and peel when they are dry.

To restore color and texture to brittle and yellowed nails, make a mixture of equal parts of honey, avocado oil and egg yolk, and add a pinch of salt. Rub the mixture into the nails and cuticles, and leave it on for half an hour before rinsing. If the treatment is repeated daily, results will begin to show in 2 weeks.

Use nail polish removers as little as possible, as they contain solvents that make the nails brittle. These solvents are also highly toxic and are absorbed through the skin. Use only oil-based nail polish removers containing acetate instead of acetone.

Do not use artificial nails, as they cause fungal infection of the fingernails in some cases and often destroy the underlying nail. The glue used in attaching these nails is also absorbed through the skin and is dangerous for the body.

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:54:13 GMT
By Hedieh Ghavidel, Press TV, Tehran

US woman gives birth to octuplets

2009-01-27T14:37:00.001+08:00

Octuplets mother Chukwu said
the new parents had much
to look forward t

A US woman has given birth to eight babies, becoming just the second person recorded in the US to have delivered a set of living octuplets.

The six boys and two girls, who were nine weeks premature, were delivered by caesarean section in the hospital in Los Angeles, California.

The babies, who weighed in at between 1.8lbs (820g) and 3.4lbs each, are all said to be doing well.

They were screaming and kicking around very vigorously, a doctor said.

The mother, whose identity has not been revealed, has asked that limited information be released about the births.

Medical team describe a 'successful' delivery

A hospital spokeswoman described the deliveries, which took place in the space of five minutes, as "truly amazing".

Three of the babies needed help breathing, but all were otherwise doing well, a doctor said.

The babies will be in incubators for at least six weeks and the mother is planning to breast feed them all, the hospital officials said.

'Just enjoy it' [read more]

Half of wounded Gaza children disabled

2009-01-27T10:52:00.007+08:00

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:35:52 GMT

A report shows more than half of the wounded children have been disabled due to Israeli attacks during the 23-day war against Gaza.

A report reveals that half of the Palestinian children wounded during the 23-day Israeli attacks on Gaza have been permanently disabled.

The report conducted by the Algerian Authority for Developing Health and Research says that 50 percent of the children wounded are now classified as disabled.

According to the UN figures, 460 Palestinian children were killed and 1,855 others were wounded during the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The study, which is based on the findings of an Algerian media team in Gaza, also found that almost 800,000 Palestinian children suffer from mental health disorders caused by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.

The report by the Algerian organization comes as the UN Children's Fund has announced that children are the main victims of the Israeli offensive into Gaza.

"Each day more children are being hurt, their small bodies wounded, their young lives shattered. This is tragic. This is unacceptable," said UNICEF executive director Ann Veneman in a statement.

UN special expert Richard Falk also said that '46 percent of all Gaza children' suffered from acute anemia and many others are dealing with hearing disorders, deafness as well as mental disorders.

Apart from the consequences of the 23-day war, the Israeli siege of Gaza has also put the lives of many children at stake. Children in the Gaza Strip are denied of basic rights, including access to food, medicine and health care.

All you need to know: Treating dry skin

2008-12-25T21:04:00.000+08:00

Fair-skinned individuals are more likely to have dry skin, especially as they age.

To have healthy skin, a balance of oil and moisture is crucial. Skin glands secrete oil, which lubricates the surface of the skin. Moisture is the water carried to skin cells through the blood stream. The water present in skin cells keeps them youthful-looking and healthy.

Skin cells need sufficient amounts of water along with enough oil to act as a shield and prevent the excess evaporation of moisture from the top layers of the skin.

There are two types of dry skin -- simple dry skin results from a lack of natural oils and is common among women under the age of 35; complex dry skin results from the lack of both oil and moisture and is usually associated with aging.

Characterized by fine lines, brown spots, discolorations, enlarged pores, and sagging skin, complex dry skin may also stem from the damage caused by prolonged sun exposure to skin proteins -- elastin, collagen and keratin.

Dry skin tends to be dull-looking and flaky and readily develops fine lines and wrinkles. Unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied, it usually feels tight and uncomfortable after washing.

Dry skin is most common on areas of the body that are exposed, such as the face and hands. Chapping and cracking especially in winter are signs of extremely dry and dehydrated skin.

Aloe vera has excellent soothing, healing and moisturizing properties.

Poor nutrition, cosmetics, excessive bathing with harsh soaps, and environmental factors -- including exposure to sun, wind and cold -- as well as chemicals can cause or aggravate dry skin. Vitamin A and B deficiencies can also contribute to the condition.

Most skins tend to become thinner and drier with age. Fair-skinned individuals are more likely to have dry skin, especially as they age.

Dry skin can also be the result of hormonal imbalance, underactive thyroid, diabetes, dermatitis, eczema and several hereditary skin conditions.

Diuretics, antispasmodics and antihistamines can also contribute to dry skin.

What to do to avoid having dry skin:

A balanced diet that includes fruits, grains, seeds, nuts, and vegetables --especially yellow and orange vegetables as they are high in beta-carotene a precursor of vitamin A -- can help prevent dry skin.

Coconut oil has skin-softening properties and prevents wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Include cod liver oil -- a good source for vitamins A and D -- in your diet. Vitamin A deficiency can cause the skin on the hands and feet to become scaly.

Sulfur helps keep the skin smooth and youthful; therefore, include in your diet plenty of sulfur-rich foods, such as onions, garlic eggs and asparagus.

To keep the skin hydrated, drink approximately 2 liters of water every day.

Try to avoid indulging in soft drinks, or eating sugar, chocolate, potato chips and other junk foods. Avoid fried foods and animal fats.

Try to avoid alcohol and caffeine as they have a diuretic effect and cause the body to lose fluids and essential minerals.

Avoid smoking and secondh and smoke. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, depriving the skin of the oxygen and nutrients it needs for good health. Smoking also involves the repetition of certain facial expressions which eventually turn into permanent wrinkles around the mouth. Smoking can also result in leathery skin.

By applying a facial mask once a week, dry cells can be removed from the skin surface, resulting in clearer and healthier-looking complexion.

Sun exposure can damage the skin and causes dryness, wrinkles, rashes and blisters. Stay out of the sun as much as possible. Always use a good sunscreen on all areas exposed to the sun.

To reduce the amount of moisture lost from the skin through evaporation, use a humidifier to humidify your environment -- particularly in winter.

Do not use very hot water when bathing or showering.

Remove dead skin cells from the face at least once a week with a loofa sponge and hot water.

To keep your skin from drying out, moisturize it after cleansing. Do not use solid, waxy moisturizing creams.

Remove dry surface skin cells and clarify the skin by using a facial mask once a week.

Fresh borage leaves have enlivening, revitalizing and nourishing properties.

Increase your water and essential fatty acid intake if your skin is dry and chapped. Lubricate and protect chapped areas from the elements.

Herbal tips for healthier skin:

Coco butter is a good skin cream which can help reduce wrinkles.

Coconut oil softens the skin and prevents wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Grapeseed oil has regenerative properties and helps control skin moisture. It is good for severe dry skin and reputedly reduces stretch marks.

RoseHip oil has regenerative properties. It helps prevent premature skin aging. It can be used to treat dry skin as well as for reducing wrinkles, stretch marks and skin discoloration.

Avocado oil is rich in Vitamin A and is beneficial for extremely dry skin.

A loofa sponge and hot water should be used to remove dead skin cells from the face at least once a week.

Castor oil is a traditional skin softener. To treat aggravated dry skin in winter, add ten drops of rosemary or sandalwood essential oil to half a cup of castor oil to make bath oil. Add one teaspoon of this mixture every time you bathe.

Sweet almond oil is rich in vitamins A and B and essential fatty acids. It is an excellent choice for softening the skin and treating eczema and dry skin.

Olive oil is an ideal moisturizing oil used for treating dry and chapped skin.

Topically applied aloe vera has excellent soothing, healing and moisturizing properties.

Calendula and comfrey have skin-softening properties. Comfrey can reduce redness and soothe irritated skin.

Avocado oil is rich in Vitamin A and is good for treating extremely dry skin.

Fresh borage leaves are considered to have enlivening, revitalizing and nourishing properties. To prepare borage tea, make an infusion of borage leaves and flowers in boiling water.

Chamomile tea can be used to soothe several skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema.

Spraying on Lavender water as a body mist throughout the day can help replenish lost moisture. To make lavender water, add a few drops of lavender essential oil to half a cup of distilled water or make an infusion of fresh lavender leaves and flowers.

courtesy : By Hedieh Ghavidel presstv, Tehran

1 daripada 4,000 bayi alami penyakit ganjil

2008-12-20T10:57:00.001+08:00

Rare Disorders

Rare disorders including those of genetic origin, are life threatening of chronically debilitating diseases which are of such low prevalence that special combined efforts are needed to address them. As a guide, low prevalence is taken as a prevalence of less than 1 per 4000 in the community.

WEB SITE : www.mrds.org.my

Penyakit ganjil atau "jarang dijumpai" kini melanda satu dalam 4,000 bayi yang dilahirkan di negara ini, kata penasihat penyakit genetik Hospital Universiti Malaya, Dr Juliana Lee.

Terdapat beribu-ribu jenis penyakit ganjil dan ubat untuk merawatnya sukar didapati atau terlalu mahal, tambahnya.

"Antara penyakit jarang jumpa ialah tulang rapuh, distrofi otot Duchenne (DMD), Sindrom Prader-Wille (PWS), dan penyakit metabolik," katanya kepada Bernama hari ini.

Beliau berkata penyakit jarang jumpa merupakan penyakit genetik yang boleh mengakibatkan kematian atau membantutkan pertumbuhan kanak-kanak daripada segi fizikal dan mental.

"Susahnya penyakit ini selalunya tidak dapat dikesan pada awal kelahiran.

"Ada penyakit yang hanya dapat dikesan setelah kanak-kanak itu berumur empat atau lima tahun, contohnya penyakit PWS, apabila kanak-kanak terbabit membesar dan mengalami defek pada otot dan fungsi badan yang lain, sehingga terpaksa menggunakan kerusi roda," Juliana dipetik berkata.

Menurut agensi berita itu lagi, dalam kebanyakan kes, ramai pesakit terutamanya kanak-kanak meninggal dunia akibat kelewatan mengesan penyakit dan mendapatkan rawatan yang sewajarnya.

Persatuan Penyakit Jarang Jumpa Malaysia (Malaysian Rare Disorders Society) berusaha meningkatkan kesedaran ibu bapa dan malah doktor agar lebih peka terhadap sebarang simptom ganjil pada bayi yang baru dilahirkan.

Presidennya Datuk Hatijah Ayob berkata persatuan itu ditubuhkan pada 2004 untuk mengumpulkan ibu bapa yang mengalami masalah menjaga bayi sedemikian yang memerlukan sokongan dan khidmat nasihat.

Orang ramai boleh melayari laman web www.mrds.org.my bagi mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.

Attention & Learning Disorders

2008-12-06T09:40:00.001+08:00

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sometimes called attention deficit disorder (ADD), involves hyperactivity, difficulty paying attention and a tendency to act impulsively. Learning disorders involve problems with writing, math or reading (the best known of which is dyslexia). Oppositional defiant disorder is a related condition in which children oppose authority.

ADHD: Fast Facts

Reviewed By: Steven A. King, M.D.

ADHD is an acronym for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
ADHD is a set of chronic conditions marked by an inability to pay attention, hyperactivity and a tendency to engage in impulsive acts.
Children with ADHD often struggle academically and may have difficulty establishing friendships and other relationships. As a result, they may develop poor self-esteem.
There are three different forms of ADHD that affect children: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive and combined.
Predominantly inattentive ADHD is marked by difficulty paying attention.
Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive ADHD is marked by difficulty controlling behavior.
Combined ADHD combines symptoms of the other two forms of ADHD.
Combined ADHD is the most common form of ADHD.
Between 3 and 5 percent of school-aged children - or about 2 million children in the United States - have ADHD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Boys are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, but the condition affects girls as well.
The exact cause of ADHD remains unknown.
Scientists now believe that changes in brain structure are a leading cause of ADHD.
Heredity also appears to play a role in the development of ADHD.
Poor parenting or disruptions at home or school cannot cause ADHD, although they may exacerbate the condition.
Diagnosis of AHD usually involves a variety of tests and interviews with parents, teachers and other adults who can describe the child's behavior.
Medications called psychostimulant drugs are the most common treatment for ADHD and appear to be extremely effective.
Psychotherapy is also helpful, particularly in children who are diagnosed with other disorders associated with ADHD.
Specialized learning techniques can help children with ADHD to perform better in school.
Parents can help their children to better deal with ADHD by providing additional structure to the child's life and making expectations clear.

Darwin's legacy

2008-11-03T07:15:00.000+08:00

Rights of a child

2008-10-31T02:09:00.000+08:00

Tobacco-based vaccine to treat cancer

2008-07-23T01:42:00.000+08:00

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:49:46

American scientists have suggested that a new tobacco-based cancer vaccine can help treat deadly malignancies in the near future.

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the drug improves the body's immune response, assisting it in fighting tumor cells.

Findings suggest that the drug has shown promising results in treating patients suffering from follicular B-cell lymphoma, a chronic and incurable disease, without any significant side effects.

In the new method, tumor-target genes were cloned from each patient and injected into a virus which naturally attacks tobacco plants. Thereafter, the tobacco plant becomes a 'protein production factor' for producing an antibody chemical.

The study shows that as tumoral cells have specific target genes, each plant can be used to make a personalized vaccine for different patients.

Stanford University Medical Center researchers believe that the vaccine is unsuitable for preventative purposes.

They said that compared to the animal-derived vaccines, the plant-based drug is more effective in improving immune responses and can also be produced quicker and cheaper without the common infection risks associated with animal cells.

PKH/HGH

More from BBC

Some Mothers do 've 'em - G6PD

2008-06-24T23:36:00.001+08:00

1. On Paracetemol (Calpol/Brufen)

Zachary Gassoumis came up with the following responses based primarily on two websites:

Substance to avoid

Drugs & Foodstuff to avoid

1) Paracetamol (a.k.a. acetaminophen) is a low-risk contraindicated substance. I have personally used it in the past without disastrous results, but you should try to avoid this and all other NSAIDs as much as possible.

2.Nuts

2) I have never read anything to suggest that nuts are unsafe. But take note that the peanut (a.k.a. groundnut) is actually a legume, not a nut, and is therefore contraindicated for people with G6PD deficiency.

3.Chocolate beans 4.Green beans 5.Chick peas 6.Lentils 7.Legumes

3-7) All legumes are contraindicated for G6PD deficients - see website below for a fairly comprehensive list.

Legumes etc

8. Vitamin C (or oranges/lemons)

8) Natural vitamin C as found in oranges and lemons is perfectly safe, but the synthetic form found in most vitamins (called ascorbic acid) is contraindicated.

9. Folic acid

9) The same is true for folic acid. The natural form (folate) is perfectly safe and found in fruits and vegetables (especially green leafy vegetables). The synthetic form, folic acid, can be hazardous to people with G6PD deficiency - just like most synthetic drugs.

Courtesy : Zachary Gassoumis

'MCKK should be in league of its own'

2008-06-23T01:35:00.000+08:00

the Malay College Kuala Kangsar - the Big School

"I am fully aware of the importance of quality, the importance of the education standard in the college be upgraded into world standard so that the tradition of churning out credible national leaders can be continued and the capacity to produce outstanding national heroes at the international arena can be realised," the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, said at the MCKK speech day and prize presentation. . . . . read more c/w comments.

Indian baby 'back from the dead'

2008-06-20T00:11:00.000+08:00

BBC News - Thursday, 19 June 2008

Dr Merchant said that the 30-year-old mother of the child - who was seven months pregnant - suffered life threatening convulsions and high blood pressure over the weekend, which required powerful medicines.

He said that that the doctors believed that the baby - who was limp at birth - had no heart beat and no pulse.

But later, when the effect of medicines wore off, Dr Merchant said that the baby "showed attempts to breathe". . . . full news.

Higher education loan no longer tied to savings account

2008-06-11T02:59:00.000+08:00

Tuesday June 10, 2008 MYT 10:04:40 PM – StarOnline

PETALING JAYA: The Government will not enforce the minimum savings requirement that was previously compulsory for anyone wanting to obtain a loan from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation.

Previously, parents needed to open a National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) account in order to qualify for the loan.

“To ease the burden on students wanting to obtain a study loan, the Government has decided that the ruling on compulsory savings would not be enforced this year.

“Those wanting to take a loan need only have a minimum of RM20 in their SSPN account to apply for the loan,” Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in a statement Tuesday.

Under the minimum savings ruling enforced on Jan 1 this year, parents with a monthly household income of less than RM2,000 must have deposited at least RM500 in their SSPN account to qualify for a loan.

Parents who earn more than RM2,000 monthly must have saved up at least RM3,000.

The SSPN was established in 2004 and was aimed at encouraging parents to save for their children’s education.

The main advantage of the SSPN was that the Government provided a matching grant of up to RM10,000 for parents who earned less than RM2,000 monthly.

Other benefits of the SSPN, which is administered by the corporation, included yearly dividends that were tax-exempt.

Be patient

2008-06-01T02:26:00.000+08:00

30-05-2008 10:56:15 AM

MY four-year-old daughter is an introvert. I notice she has problems making friends with other children.

She refuses to go to kindergarten. I have tried sending her to two different kindergartens and a social development class.

They were all futile attempts because she cried and was unco-operative, even though the teachers and kids were nice to her.

Two weeks ago, I sent her to a kindergarten which is within walking distance from our house. I thought she might feel more confident as home is just around the corner. But I was mistaken. After three days, she started crying and shouting. She refused to go to school.

I do not know how to encourage her to join a preschool and mix with other children. I would like her to be more sociable. When I take her to the playground, especially to the slide which she loves most, she will wait until all the other kids have left. Only then will she play on the slide. When other kids come over to join in, she would stop playing and stand by the corner quietly.

I am concerned about this negative behaviour that I see in her.

How do I encourage my daughter to socialise with other children? How do I influence her to love going to school? –

Concerned Mother

Parents worry when their children do not behave as expected. If the parents are extroverts, they may feel uneasy about their children's introvert behaviour. They do not understand why their children prefer to play alone and struggle to remain in groups.

Being shy is hardly a weakness in a child. Your daughter needs more time and patience to adjust in a group.

She may be more observant and cautious in a social setting. When a child is an introvert, she is turned off by large groups and prefers one-to-one contact. This does not mean that she will not learn to participate in group play. You can help her get used to being with other people by having her play with one child at a time.

Before sending her to kindergarten, survey the possibility of setting up play dates with children from her class.

Introverts tend to internalise their thoughts and intentions more than extroverts. They can be imaginative and have stimulating ideas. Unlike their extroverted peers, they don’t blurt out everything; they tend to share their ideas when the time is right for them. They are not anti-social.

To encourage your child to socialise, you must first respect and understand her need for time alone. She will not be the live wire of the group but her quiet nature can have a calming effect on others. Your good intentions can backfire if you constantly push her to play with others.

Accept her behaviour when she stands on the sideline and watch others play. She feels better when she knows you support her unconditionally.

Later when you are alone with her, ask her about her observations. The more she shares with you her findings, the more familiar she gets with the art of socialising.

She will know what are the expectations in a group and how she should behave to be accepted. This will help her to gain courage to join others at the next playground visit. Many four-year-olds find it difficult to transition from home to school. They worry about being away from home and having to deal with strangers.

They are afraid that they may never see their mum and dad again when they are away in school. They have to overcome this fear before they can be happy in school. Before enrolling in a school, take your daughter for a few visits. Let her indicate her readiness before you sign up. Do not be in a hurry to enrol her. Her perception is different from yours. Let her feel secure first before you send her off to school.

Courtesy : RUTH LIEW - mSTAR Online

Preventing Diabetes With Diet And Exercise

2008-05-29T19:16:00.000+08:00

In a Diabetes Special Issue of The Lancet, researchers demonstrate that group-based lifestyle interventions of diet and exercise for a period of six years may prevent or delay diabetes for up to 14 years following the intervention. It is not clear, however, that lifestyle interventions also reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.

There have been several major clinical trials in various countries that have demonstrated how people with impaired glucose tolerances can reduce their likelihood of diabetes due to lifestyle interventions. Researchers, though, still have questions regarding the length of time after intervention that the strategies remain effective. To investigate this issue, Professor Guangwei Li, (China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China), Dr Ping Zhang (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA), and colleagues conducted the China Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study (CDQDPOS) - analyzing 20 years of patient follow-up data.

The patients who participated in the study all had impaired glucose tolerance and came from 33 clinics in China. In 1986, the researchers randomly assigned the patients to one of three lifestyle intervention groups (diet, exercise, or diet and exercise) or to the control group. Over a period of six years (until 1992), the patients experienced active intervention, and a 2006 follow-up provided data that would be used to assess the interventions' long-term effects on main outcomes such as diabetes incidence, CVD incidence and mortality, and all-cause mortality.

During the active intervention period, the combined lifestyle intervention group had a 51% reduction in incidence of diabetes compared to participants in the control group. Over the whole 20-year period, this effect was reduced to 43%. Intervention participants had an average annual incidence of new diabetes diagnoses of 7%, compared an 11% rate for control participants. After 20 years, 80% of those in the intervention group had diabetes and 93% of the control group did; intervention group participants suffered 3.6 fewer years with the disease than control group participants. The researchers, however, did not find a significant difference between the intervention and control groups when measuring the rates of first CVD events, CVD mortality and all-cause mortality.

"This study has shown that, in Chinese people with impaired glucose tolerance, group-based interventions targeting lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise produce a durable and long-lasting reduction in incidence of type 2 diabetes...Since around 3 million excess deaths a year are attributable to diabetes worldwide, lifestyle interventions seem to be a justifiable public-health action both in developed and developing nations," conclude the authors.

Dr Jaana Lindström (National Public Health Institute, Helsinki and University of Helsinki, Finland) and Professor Matti Uusitupa (University of Kuopio, Finland) write in an accompanying editorial that, "We propose that lifestyle intervention should start much earlier, when people are normoglycaemic, to achieve true primary prevention of type 2 diabetes and its main consequence, cardiovascular disease. In this regard, both population-based strategies and those targeted at high-risk groups should be applied."

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet; Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 23 May 2008 - 0:00 PDT

81 recognized as suicide victims from overwork in 2007

2008-05-26T13:39:00.000+08:00

TOKYO — A record of 81 people were recognized as suicide victims due to mental disorders from overwork. . more.

Counseling Gaza's traumatized children

2008-05-24T16:53:00.000+08:00

As George Bush concludes his trip to the Middle East in another effort to revive talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Gaza, the small, overcrowded strip of land slides ever deeper into economic catastrophe. Another in The Guardian's film series about life in Gaza, multimedia reporter Clancy Chassay meets those counseling the area's traumatized children

India to America: Eat Less, Fatties

2008-05-16T04:47:00.000+08:00

Fast food is on the rise in Bangalore, where the economy is booming

Uriel Sinai / Getty Images

Bush's wording was perhaps simplistic, a point U.S. diplomats have been at pains to rectify as they try to dampen the food fight between the two countries. But Bush was not completely wrong, either. There's no doubt that China and India's growing middle classes are consuming more and different types of food. As people get richer they tend to eat more meat and dairy products, for instance, and that's exactly what's happening in China and India. . read more

Report Says Basic Medical Care Could Save Lives of 6 Million Children a Year

2008-05-08T11:54:00.000+08:00

By Douglas Bakshian Manila
06 May 2008

A new report says the lives of millions of young children could be saved each year if basic medical care and medicine are made available to the poor. Douglas Bakshian has more from Manila.

The report by the U.S. organization Save the Children says about 10 million children die every year from easily preventable and treatable diseases. About six million of those could be saved with basic services. . . . read more

Malaysia plans women travel curbs

2008-05-05T03:47:00.000+08:00

Page last updated at 11:57 GMT, Sunday, 4 May 2008 12:57 UK

The proposal has been criticised as impractical and regress

Women's groups in Malaysia have reacted angrily to proposed government restrictions on women travelling abroad on their own.

State media say the plan would require women to obtain written consent from their families or employers.

The Malaysian foreign minister said the move would prevent single women being used by gangs to smuggle drugs.

The proposal follows a review of criminal cases where women had been jailed abroad.

Outrage

Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said 90% of cases where Malaysian women had been jailed by foreign courts involved drugs.

He told the New Sunday Times newspaper that a compulsory letter of consent to travel alone would enable women's families to make sure they were not being tricked by drug smuggling gangs.

"Many of these women (who travel alone) leave the country on the pretext of work or attending courses and seminars," he said.

"With this declaration, we will know for sure where and for what she is travelling overseas," he said.

Women's groups have expressed outrage at the plan.

The National Council for Women's Organisations said it would infringe women's rights.

Another group, Sisters in Islam, said the proposal was totally ridiculous and regressive, and assumed that women were less capable than men of making their own decisions.

Campaigners have pointed out that letters of permission to travel would be very easy to forge.

In recent years the influence of hardline Islamic groups has been increasing in Malaysia, but it is unclear whether this proposal has any religious motive.

A Blood Test To Predict Menopause

2008-05-02T03:31:00.000+08:00

That's what scientists in the Netherlands have done. Reporting in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, they report that a simple blood test, for a hormone called anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), could help women predict when they will enter menopause, and therefore how to set their fertility timetable. "Predicting menopause itself might not be that interesting," admits Dr. Jeroen van Disseldorp, lead author of the study and a fertility specialist at University Medical Center Utrecht. "But menopause is associated with fertility. So, predicting menopause might become more and more important in the future as women continue to delay childbearing." . . . . . read more

Caffeine and Pregnancy: How Risky?

2008-04-30T21:45:00.000+08:00

A pregnant woman sips coffee at the office.

Several studies suggest a link between caffeine consumption and risk of miscarriage. But the cause and effect has never been clear: does caffeine increase a woman's risk of miscarrying, or do women who are already at low risk for miscarriage tend not to drink caffeine? . . . . read more

1 in 4 U.S. Toddlers Improperly Vaccinated

2008-04-30T01:54:00.000+08:00

"If children receive vaccines too close together or too early, they're not as likely to be protected, and if you have a lot of that, then you're more likely to have disease outbreaks," Luman said.

One reason for lack of strict adherence to the vaccine schedule may be a fading consciousness among today's parents of what these immunizations are protecting children against. Frenck said he remembers seeing a childhood friend in an iron lung, the result of polio.

"It scared me to death," he said. "Kids these days, and probably most adults, don't even known what an iron lung is -- and that's because of immunization." . . . . read more

Alternative medicine: Basil

2008-01-19T04:09:00.000+08:00

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:04:07
By Patricia Khashayar, MD., Press TV, Tehran

Since ancient times, basil has been used to treat diabetes, asthma, heart problems, inflammatory diseases and respiratory ailments.

Botanical: Ocymum basilicum
Family: N.O. Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Synonym: Basilic, basilikum, basilienkraut, tulsi, albahaca, sweet basil

Habitat:

It is native to warm, tropical climates such as Central Africa and Southeast Asia.

Description:

Basil is a perennial low-growing herb with light green, silky leaves. Its big white-colored flowers are arranged in terminal spikes.

There are over 60 varieties of basil, each with a specific flavor.

Part Used Medicinally:

Leafy tops.

Constituents:

Basil is an excellent source of dietary fiber, manganese, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and vitamin A, C and K.

It contains high concentrations of carotenoids like beta carotene which are converted to vitamin A in the body. Beta carotene has more benefits than vitamin A alone, and is known to be a powerful antioxidant.

The different scents of various basils are attributed to different essential oils.

Medicinal Uses:

Basil is a traditional treatment for headaches, coughs, diarrhea, constipation, warts, worms, and kidney malfunctions.

Basil has sedative, diuretic, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic and cough-relieving properties and is therefore used to treat coughs, colds, and pharyngeal inflammations.

It is also used as a remedy for chronic gastritis, stomachaches, bronchitis, fever and renal ailments.

Like other aromatic plants such as fennel and tarragon, basil contains estragole, a known carcinogen and teratogen.

Basil's flavonoids protect the cell structures as well as chromosomes against radiation, oxygen-based damage and unwanted bacterial growth.

Its essential oil is believed to be effective in treating special pathogenic bacterial species resistant to antibiotics.

Scientists suggest adding basil and thyme to foods particularly uncooked ones like salads, helps fight against Shigella and the diarrhea secondary to it.

The eugenol component of basil's volatile oils has cyclooxygenase inhibiting enzyme similar to anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

Basil is also a good source of magnesium, which promotes cardiovascular health. It relaxes muscles and blood vessels thereby improving blood flow. It also reduces the risk of irregular heart rhythms.

It can also help stress management.

Basil is a natural beta-carotene source and prevents blood vessel damage and cholesterol build-up. By slowing down the atherosclerosis process it prevents heart attacks and strokes.

Basil is a good remedy for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel conditions.

By enhancing insulin secretion basil leaves help control blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Basil leaf tea is good for fatigue, insomnia, seizure, painful menstruation and helps treat ringworms.

Fresh basil leaf extract is used to threat insect bites.

Gargling basil leaf tea will help relieve sore gums.

Basil seed has antibacterial and laxative effects.

Caution:

Diabetics should consult a physician before using basil.

Sweet basil oil has possible carcinogenic effects and should not be used.

PKH/HGH

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FDA: Cold Medicines Too Risky for Tots

2008-01-18T18:59:00.000+08:00

By LAURAN NEERGAARD

Updated 10 hours 21 minutes ago

(AP) - Parents may be left with only love and lots of liquid to give their sniffling babies and toddlers now that the government is declaring over-the-counter cough and cold medicines too risky for tots. The Food and Drug Administration was issuing that warning Thursday to parents of children under 2.

It's a move expected for months: Drug companies last October quit selling dozens of versions of nonprescription cold remedies targeted specifically to babies and toddlers. That month, the FDA's scientific advisers also voted that the drugs don't work in small children and shouldn't be used in preschoolers, either _ anyone under age 6.

The FDA still hasn't decided if OTC decongestants, antihistamines and cough suppressants are appropriate for older children, officials told The Associated Press. Expect a decision on that by spring, the deadline necessary to notify manufacturers before they begin production for next fall's cold season.

For now, FDA's first official ruling focuses on youngsters under 2, warning that "serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur."

FDA is worried that parents haven't gotten that message despite all the publicity last fall. They may still have infant-targeted drugs at home, or they may buy drugs meant for older children to give to tots instead, said Dr. Charles Ganley, FDA's nonprescription drugs chief.

"We still have a concern," Ganley said. "It falls out of people's consciousness. We're still in the middle of cold season right now."

Ganley was particularly struck by recent surveys that suggest many parents don't believe OTC remedies could pose a problem, especially if they've given them to an older child without harm.

Thursday's move is a good first step, said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Baltimore's health commissioner. He petitioned the FDA last year to end use of nonprescription cold remedies by children under 6, a move backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The reason: There's no evidence that these oral drugs actually ease cold symptoms in children so young _ some studies suggest they do no good at all. And while serious side effects are fairly rare, they do occur. Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year reported that more than 1,500 babies and toddlers wound up in emergency rooms over a two-year period because of the drugs.

"It's one thing if you're curing cancer, but we're talking about a self-limiting illness," said Sharfstein. "If there's really no evidence of benefit, you don't want to risk the rare problem. Then you're left with tragedy that you can't justify."

Specialists are back to recommending old-fashioned steps, such as plenty of fluids and rest, saline drops to loosen stuffy noses, and humidifiers while sleeping.

Why is this an issue now? Child versions of cold remedies came on the market decades ago, when scientists thought that what worked in adults would automatically work in children. Scientists today know that is not always the case.

In fact, FDA never formally allowed infant-targeted cold remedies in the first place; Ganley said they evolved through a legal loophole.

But the FDA is investigating an even bigger question: Are OTC cold remedies safe and effective for children under 12? The agency's advisers last fall called for no use just by the under-6 crowd, but did recommend more research to determine the medicines' effects in children overall.

The drug industry says these medicines are used 3.8 billion times a year in treating children's cough and cold symptoms and are safe for those over 2.

Health groups acknowledge that while low doses of cold medicine don't usually endanger an individual child, the bigger risk is unintentional overdose. For example, the same ingredients are in multiple products, so using more than one for different symptoms can quickly add up. Also, children's medicines are supposed to be measured with the dropper or measuring cap that comes with each product, not an inaccurate kitchen teaspoon.

An internal FDA working group has a February deadline to recommend to agency leaders any action for 2- to 11-year-olds, Ganley said. The goal is a spring announcement.

Meanwhile, the FDA's advice for children over 2:

_If you try these drugs, carefully follow label directions.

_Avoid giving a child more than one product. If you do, make sure they don't contain some of the same or similar ingredients.

_Understand that these drugs only treat symptoms. Colds are viruses, and the drugs will not make them go away any faster.

Twins separated at birth met and married

2008-01-16T20:16:00.000+08:00

LONDON (Reuters) - A couple discovered after they had married that they were twins who had been split up at birth and adopted by separate families, according to a member of Britain's House of Lords.

British peer David Alton recounted the story to parliament last month to support his argument that artificially conceived children should be told who their biological parents are.

Alton said he had heard the story of the separated twins from a High Court judge who had dealt with the case.

"This did not involve in vitro fertilization: It involved the normal birth of twins who were separated at birth and adopted by separate parents," said Alton, an independent member of the Lords. "They were never told that they were twins."

"They met later in life and felt an inevitable attraction, and the judge had to deal with the consequences of the marriage that they entered into and all the issues of their separation," he said.

"I suspect that it will be a matter of litigation in the future if we do not make information of this kind available to children who have been donor-conceived," he said.

Alton could not immediately be reached for comment and no further information was available about the twins or where they were from.

"I think it's a very tragic story for the people involved," said Pam Hodgkins, head of a group that helps adults affected by adoption.

"It is a lesson that we need to learn and apply to the situation of donor-conceived children," she told Sky News.

"Whilst ... nowadays it would be most unusual for siblings to be separated ... the risk of secrecy affecting the lives of people born as a result of egg and sperm donation is exactly the same as the risks that have affected adopted people in the past," she said.

(Reporting by Adrian Croft; Editing by Stephen Addison)

© Reuters 2008. All Rights Reserved.

ADHD: a childhood psychological disorder

2008-01-12T19:33:00.000+08:00

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a childhood psychological disorder characterized by persistent hyperactivity-impulsivity.

ADHD children are hyperactive; they have difficulty sitting still and controlling their physical activity. Their impulsiveness and lack of self-control creates annoyance and exhaustion which can cause many problems especially in school.

These children tend to encounter academic problems, because not only does their condition erode their ability to concentrate and focus on the tasks at hand, but it also wears down their capability to integrate in social and academic settings.

This may lead to inability to organize work and to pay attention to lessons. These children distract other children in class as well.

ADHD Children have a very low threshold for sensory stimuli such as noise, touch and visual cues. Over exposure to such cues can result in dramatic behavior changes including giddiness or aggressiveness.

About 4% of the general population is affected by ADHD; boys are six times more likely to be affected. ADHD reportedly continues into adulthood in approximately 40% to 60% of the cases.

ADHD and ADD (attention deficit disorder) are generally thought to be two different conditions, but in fact, they are interchangeably used to refer to the same condition.

Etiology

Although the exact cause of ADHD is still unclear, biological factors seem to constitute the root cause of the disorder. Brain chemical imbalances are responsible for the majority of the symptoms exhibited by an ADHD child.

Genetic predisposition is another risk factor for developing the disorder.

Close family members of ADHD children are at a four-fold higher risk of having this medical condition; the incidence of the disorder is also reportedly higher in identical twins compared with non-identical ones or siblings.

However, no scientific research has yet specified chromosomes contributing to the development of this condition has not yet been identified in any.

Antenatal or postnatal brain injuries altering cerebral function can also give rise to the ADHD symptoms. Furthermore, any exposure to drugs, alcohol or radiation during cerebral development phase of the fetus may cause ADHD.

Certain postnatal infectious diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis can affect the brain tissue and thereby changing the process by which the brain sends signals and, ultimately, result in the manifestation of these symptoms.

Food additives and refined sugar, lead poisoning and ineffective parenting are amongst other factors responsible for the development of ADHD symptoms.

Symptoms

Attention deficit disorder is the condition which surfaces before the age of seven and causes extensive disruption in school, social and family life.

ADHD symptoms are grouped into three major categories: hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention.

It may present itself as excessive fidgeting or squirming, difficulty in following instructions, shifting activities, uttering answers to questions, difficulty in maintaining attention, excessive talking, engaging in dangerous activities, inability to wait for ones turn, easily being distracted, and the inability to sit still.

There is a great likelihood that ADHD children experience a range of other nervous system disorders including learning disabilities, tic disorders (Tourrette's syndrome), motor control delays (reduced coordination), language difficulties, depression, autism, anxiety, conduct disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD), and oppositional-defiant disorder.

Diagnosis

There are no specific blood tests, brain activity exams, or scans for diagnosing ADHD. Diagnosis is primarily made based on the patient's symptoms.

Questionnaires completed by a child's teachers or parents are used to help the specialist decide whether or not the problematic behavior needs treatment.

Treatment

The parents of ADHD children should be assured that their child's condition is not their fault; they should also be told that these children are as capable as their peers and after receiving appropriate help they can lead successful, happy, and productive lives.

Successful medical treatment must be accompanied by non-drug approaches including supportive counseling and psychiatric or psychological help. In other words, ADHD treatment is a combination of medical therapy along with familial, educational, and social changes.

Low doses of psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) or dextroamphetamine are prescribed to alleviate the symptoms and filter out unnecessary distractions.

The drugs have shown an 80%effectiveness in ADHD children; they enable children to pay more attention, concentrate, and to be less impulsive.

Several minor side effects have been reported for these drugs; all of which can be controlled through adjusting the administered doses.

The major concern for the parents of ADHD children is that their children will become dependent on the drug and will not be able to lead a successful life without medication.

Researchers have found no evidence supporting any physical or psychological dependency following the use of such drugs.

Children with comorbid conditions or disorders, such as autism or depression, may require an alternative drug.

A variety of parental training methods such as effective child behavior management methods, classroom behavior modification methods, and academic intervention schemes (special educational placement), have all yielded positive results.

Furthermore, employing behavioral techniques such as behavior modification and cognitive behavioral therapy can bring dramatic improvements even in the absence of medical therapy.

Some studies suggest changing the regular diet can treat ADHD individuals; however, there is no reliable and strong scientific evidence to support of such claims.

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:53:52
By Said Pournaghash Ph.D.,
Press TV, Tehran -SP/PKH/HGH

Supplements 'raise death rate by 5%'

2008-01-03T15:56:00.000+08:00

by Nigel Hawkes, Health Editor

Vitamin pills commonly taken by millions of people are doing them more harm than good, an analysis of the evidence has concluded.

Three supplements — vitamins A and E and beta carotene — appear to increase death rates among those taking them. Vitamin C and selenium have no effect.

The results, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, suggest that money spent on vitamin supplements is wasted. In response, the British Heart Foundation said people should not take supplements but should concentrate instead on eating a healthy diet.

The new study is a meta-analysis; a procedure in which many earlier studies are collected together. It was carried out by a team led by Goran Bjelakovic, of Copenhagen University Hospital, and colleagues, using methods developed by the Cochrane Collaboration, the leading international group specialising in the analysis of what works in medicine.

Supporters of vitamin supplements, which are consumed regularly by up to ten million Britons, believe these can act as antioxidants, preventing highly active oxygen radicals in the body-damaging molecules such as cholesterol causing heart disease. The theory seemed plausible, and some initial trial results appeared to lend it support. But as better trials were done different results emerged. The Copenhagen team considered 68 randomised control trials, involving 232,606 people, and published by October 2005. Of these, they rate 47 trials as being of the best quality, with the rest more prone to bias of one sort or another.

Taking only the 47 low-bias trials, involving 180,938 people, they found that supplements as a whole increased the death rate by 5 per cent. When the supplements were taken separately, beta carotene increased death rates by 7 per cent, vitamin A by 16 per cent, and vitamin E by 4 per cent. Vitamin C gave contradictory results, but when given singly or in combination with other vitamins in good-quality trials, increased the death rate by 6 per cent.

Selenium was the only supplement to emerge with any credit. It appears to cut death rates by 10 per cent when given on its own or with other supplements in high-quality trials, but the result is not statistically significant. The team concludes: "Our findings contradict the findings of observational studies claiming that antioxidants improve health."

They say there are several possible explanations. One is that oxidative stress is not the cause of conditions such as heart disease for which it has been blamed, but may be a consequence of such conditions.

Alternatively, by eliminating free radicals we may interfere with essential defensive mechanisms. But the team adds that they examined only the use of synthetic vitamins, and their findings should not be translated to fruit and vegetables.

Ann Walker, of the Health Supplements Information Service, a body funded by the industry, said that the study combined the results of trials on two different classes of people: those with no known ill-health, and those already suffering from conditions such as heart disease. "The results of these mixed-sample metaanalyses are worthless," she said.

Ellen Mason, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "There are good scientific reasons for believing that antioxidant supplements might protect against heart disease but a number of clinical trials have failed to provide any robust evidence in favour of this"

Fleeing Somalia's fighting - 18 Dec 07

2008-01-01T09:59:00.000+08:00

Prenatal X-ray, no risk for kids

2007-12-31T02:21:00.000+08:00

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:30:17

Swedish scientists believe that prenatal exposure to diagnostic X-rays does not increase the overall risk of childhood brain tumors.

However, their study suggests abdominal radiography can raise the incidence of primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET).

According to the article published in the British Journal of Cancer, prenatal exposure does not raise any risk for high or low-grade astrocytoma, ependymoma, germ cell tumor, or other rare or incompletely specified tumors.

The study revealed PNET was the only malignancy associated with abdominal X-ray exposure; however, the association was not statistically significant. No effects were reported for non-abdominal X-rays.

Scientists concluded that neural stem cells are extra sensitive during their differentiation and that radiation-induced DNA damage could initiate malignant transformation, leading to the development of embryonic CNS tumors such as PNET.

PKH/HGH

Researchers challenge medical myths

2007-12-28T23:57:00.000+08:00

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 14:04:34

Reading in dim light won't damage your eyes and you don't need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy, a US study suggests.

A research was conducted by two American researchers Aaron Carroll and Rachel Vreeman on some common beliefs. They searched the archive for evidence to support the well-worn medical myths.

Despite frequent mentions of the need to drink eight glasses of water, they found no scientific basis for the claim, adding that a study published in the American Journal of Psychology has recorded the complete lack of evidence on the issue.

Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight

The majority of eye experts believe it is unlikely to do any permanent damage, but it may make you squint, blink more and have trouble focusing, the researchers said.

Shaving makes hair grow back faster or coarser

It has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair regrowth, studies say. But stubble lacks the finer taper of unshaven hair, giving the impression of coarseness.

Eating turkey makes you drowsy

It does contain an amino acid called tryptophan that is involved in sleep and mood control. But turkey has no more of the acid than chicken or beef. Eating lots of food and drink at Christmas are probably the real cause of sleepiness.

We use only 10 percent of our brains

This myth arose as early as 1907 but imaging shows no area of the brain is silent or completely inactive.

Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death

This idea may stem from ghoulish novels. The researchers said the skin dries out and retracts after death, giving the appearance of longer hair or nails.

CS/BGH

Women's rights in Islam and Iran

2007-12-10T17:02:00.000+08:00

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:12:51
By Maryam Torabi, Press TV, Tehran

Following is an exclusive interview with the head of the Iranian Parliament's Committee for Women and Family Affairs, Mrs. Fatemeh Alia, who is also an active member of the Majlis Cultural Commission.

Q. Islam encourages women to be active members of the society while considering them important pillars of families. Islam also places the central responsibility for the upbringing of children upon women. How can women in today's world balance family matters against social responsibilities?

A. Women can have social responsibilities without necessarily being employed. The society can greatly benefit from women who voluntarily take part in social activities and influence the culture, politics and economics of their country. What is important is that the position of the family as the main building block of the society should always be cherished.

When employed, women can benefit from features such as flextime and maternity leaves. They can also use technologies like the Internet to continue to work at home while caring for their families.

The main issue here is that the family, which is an abode where love and friendship rule, should never be transformed to a mere dwelling deficient in the spirit of companionship.

Q. Does such balance exist in the world today?

A. In most parts of the world, in the West in particular, women are merely objects of collective materialistic values. The notion of complete equality between men and women with no consideration for their biological and emotional differences has distanced women from their inborn nature.

Many women have traded in family values to be able to work. In the West, people are changing the laws of nature such that family values have been forgotten and even same-sex relationships are emerging.

The modern world seems to be greatly concerned about women and makes favorable promises to them. It promises them freedom from slavery, male-domination, and even the established institution of marriage, but what does it actually have in store? Nothing but exploitation, injustice, oppression, aggression, harassment, neurosis and indignity.

Q. What measures have been taken in Iran for women to be able to have an active role in the society while fulfilling their duties at home?

A. The Iranian Parliament (Majlis) has approved a series of rules to allow women to fulfill both their social and familial responsibilities and facilitate their active participation in Iran's social arena. We have passed an act increasing maternity leave from 4 months to 6 months. We have also reduced compulsory working hours for women, and working mothers have been entitled to compensation for working environments which don't provide kindergartens.

However, meager laws are not enough and the main factor lies within the assistance and encouragement that a woman receives from her family.

Q. One of the indices of sustainable development is the rate of employed women. What is Iran's viewpoint in this regard?

A. The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the employment of women from the viewpoint of Islam, which puts great importance on the family, as the main building block of the society and the major institution that can pass on a county's culture and ideology to the next generation.

In addition to women who have opted to work outside the home, many have chosen to continue professions as writers, translators or artists who, besides managing the household, pursue their dreams and passions professionally. This sort of work is not considered in the data pertaining to employment.

Another issue which is also a major index in the economy and development of every society is the domestic work that every woman engages in. Unpaid productive work such as domestic work and child care ought to be included in satellite national accounts and economic statistics.

Q. Can you please give us your viewpoint on the notion of equality between men and women that is propagated in today's world?

A. One cannot assume that equality always results in justice. We believe in justice, but justice is not always the same as equality.

Although men and women have been created equal in the eyes of God, they are not created alike and their differences require a different approach to their roles and responsibilities within the society. Men and women in Islam are not antagonists but separate entities created to complement and complete one another. Islam considers each sex unique in its own sphere of activity and allots significant roles best suited to each according to its own nature and needs.

According to Iranian law, therefore, the two sexes enjoy equal rights and the Qur'an differentiates among human beings only based on the quality of their deeds in this world.

Q. In a meeting with Iranian women, leader of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that Iran objects to the West's record on women's rights. In your opinion what does his comment mean?

A. The West has oppressed women and has not recognized their real rights according to their intrinsic nature and creation. We consider the manipulative treatment of women in the West as oppression against humanity and betrayal of women rights.

The West should be held accountable for degrading woman to mere means of promoting consumer goods and perpetual sexual slavery.

The Islamic culture challenges the West and demands that the status of women be restored to its rightful and dignified position.

Q. Can you please explain some of the shortcomings of The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)?

A. Iran is concerned about various issues of the mentioned convention. CEDAW undermines the traditional family structure which is much respected in our society. The preamble states, "A change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women in society and in the family is needed to achieve full equality between men and women." This requires states to "Modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices based on stereotyped roles for men and women."

This convention denies any distinctions between men and women. It defines discrimination in its own words as "any distinction on the basis of sex," in "any field". This is to say, it ignores differences between the roles, rights and obligations of men and women in the natural world.

The convention also states that governments should "ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health care services, including those related to family planning". This sort of rhetoric also includes open access to abortion services.

Abortion, of course, is only one of the contradictions between Islamic law and the Convention. Countries that have ratified CEDAW will also be obliged to welcome sexual relations out of wedlock, which Islam prohibits because of the harm it does to the society.

The Islamic tradition of hijab frees women from being perceived primarily as sexual instruments and helps cleanse the society of promiscuity. A healthy and vigorous society is considered essential in Islam for individuals to be able to nurture and develop their abilities.

Societies which promote women as sexual objects also have a horrendous rate of violence toward women. The wisdom behind this dress code is to minimize sexual enticement and degradation in society as much as possible for both men and women.

Regarding Islamic laws relating to inheritance, women have been granted the benefit of being completely entitled to their own property.

A woman receives a dowry at marriage and can choose to keep all of her inheritance for herself. She does receive less inheritance than her male sibling but this is due to the difference which derives from the obligation men have to support their wives financially, while the woman's share would be entirely at her own disposal.

Islam allows polygamy for men whereas there is no such law for women. Certain circumstances require such remedial laws to be introduced in the society. Due to conditions like war, the total number of women sometimes exceeds the number of men. At such times, the society must resolve the dilemma of caring for women who have the right of marriage, emotional support and welfare. In these circumstances polygamy is the only just solution.

MT/AA

POLITICS & LAPTOPS

2007-11-27T20:10:00.000+08:00

Politics 'stifling $100 laptop'

By Jonathan Fildes
Science and technology reporter, BBC News

The government of Nigeria is still assessing the scheme

Laptop in Nigeria

A lack of "big thinking" by politicians has stifled a scheme to distribute laptops to children in the developing world, a spokesman has said.

Walter Bender of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) said politicians were unwilling to commit because "change equals risk".

But, he said, there needed to be a "dramatic change" because education in many countries was "failing" children.

In an interview with the BBC, Nigeria's education minister questioned the need for laptops in poorly equipped schools.

Dr Igwe Aja-Nwachuku said: "What is the essence of introducing One Laptop per Child when they don't have seats to sit down and learn; when they don't have uniforms to go to school in, where they don't have facilities?"

"We are more interested in laying a very solid foundation for quality education which will be efficient, effective, accessible and affordable."

The previous government of Nigeria had committed to buying one million laptops.

Dr Aja-Nwachuku said he was now assessing OLPC alongside other schemes from Microsoft and Intel.

There is still a concerted misinformation campaign out there

Walter Bender, OLPC

"We are asking whether this is the most critical thing to drive education."

But speaking separately to BBC News, Professor Bender said: "We think that change has to be dramatic."

"You've got to be big, you've got to be bold. And what has happened is that there has been an effort to say 'don't take any risks - just do something small, something incremental'."

"It feels safe but by definition what you are ensuring is that nothing happens."

Winds of change

OLPC was started in 2002 by Nicholas Negroponte, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The laptops have been designed to cope with harsh conditions

It aims to put thousands of low-cost laptops, known as the XO, in the hands of children around the world.

The machines are planned to cost $100 and have been especially designed for use in remote and harsh environments where there is little access to electricity or the internet.

But getting the project off the ground has proved difficult.

Professor Negroponte has had high profile run-ins with major technology firms.

He told an audience at a Linux event: "if I am annoying Microsoft and Intel then I figure I am doing something right."

Microsoft head Bill Gates had questioned the XOs design, particularly the lack of hard drive and its "tiny screen".

But recently, the firm announced that it was working on a version of Windows XP that would run on the pared down machines.

The price will come down as the numbers go up. It will take time but it will happen

Walter Bender

"We are spending a non-trivial amount of money," Microsoft's Will Poole told Reuters.

Earlier this year, Professor Negroponte also accused Intel of selling its own cut-price laptop - the Classmate - below cost price to drive him out of markets. He said that Intel "should be ashamed of itself" and said its tactics had hurt his mission "enormously".

Within weeks it was announced that Intel had joined the board of OLPC amid speculation that the firm was unhappy about the XO using a processor from its main rival AMD.

'Small thinking'

Although these episodes now appear to be behind OLPC, Professor Bender said there was still an "aggressive" effort to undermine the charity.

"There is still a concerted misinformation campaign out there," he said.

Mr Bender said he would not speculate on who was behind the alleged campaign.

"Wherever it is coming from, it exists," he told BBC News.

But he said the main problem for OLPC was dealing with conservative politicians.

"Change equals risk especially for politicians. And we are certainly advocating change because the [education] system is failing these children," he said.

"It has not been that processor versus that processor or that operating system versus that operating system - it's been small thinking versus big thinking. That's really the issue," he said.

Sales target

Originally, the laptops were to be sold to governments in lots of one million for $100 apiece.

Over time, however, the project has dropped the minimum number of machines that can be ordered, leading some to speculate that governments were not buying into the scheme.

Factfile: XO laptop

The project also recently launched an initiative to allow citizens of North America to buy two machines at a time; one for themselves and one for a child in a developing country.

But Mr Bender said the shift was because of a better understanding of how to distribute smaller numbers cheaply and effectively, rather than a lack of orders.

"Part of it was our understanding of how the supply chain was going to work and having enough flexibility in the supply chain to make it work with a small number," he said.

"The big numbers were really about how you get this thing started not how you make it work in the long term.

"That was always going to be about supporting any good idea that comes along. And we've been able to get it started without the big top down numbers so we are off and running."

Developing tool

Since the scheme was first announced in 2002 there have been reports of several countries signing up to it.

Both Nigeria and Libya were reported to have ordered more than one million laptops.

Tests of the Xo are going on around the world

Other countries including Thailand and Pakistan had also placed orders, according to reports.

But recently, OLPC revealed it had just taken its first order for 100,000 of the machines, placed by the government of Uruguay.

"Uruguay is first then it will be Peru, Mexico, Ethiopia then we are going to be doing stuff in Haiti, Rwanda and Mongolia," said Mr Bender.

In addition, he said, OLPC had done a deal with Birmingham, Alabama, in the US, to provide the laptop for schools in the city.

"The numbers of countries where we have trials set up is also increasing," he said.

Tests were also going on in the Solomon Islands, Nepal and India, a country that had previously shunned the scheme.

The Indian Ministry of Education had previously dismissed the laptop as "pedagogically suspect", whilst the Education Secretary Sudeep Banerjee said the country needed "classrooms and teachers more urgently than fancy tools".

Tipping point

The first machines will cost almost double the $100 originally planned.

The high price has been blamed on the increasing cost of the raw materials for the components inside the XO. Each machine currently costs $188.

"The price will come down as the numbers go up. It will take time but it will happen," said Mr Bender.

The manufacturer of the laptop - Quanta - recently revealed it had started mass production of the machines, after a number of delays.

Previously, OLPC had said it needed three million orders to make production feasible.

Professor Negroponte said it was an important milestone that had been reached despite "all the naysayers".

"We're not turning back - we have passed the point of no return," said Mr Bender. "It is happening."

How the world's best performing schools systems come out on top. McKinsey & Co.

2007-11-27T19:43:00.000+08:00

From The Economist print edition

Oct 18th 2007

What works in education: the lessons according to McKinsey - How to be top

THE British government, says Sir Michael Barber, once an adviser to the former prime minister, Tony Blair, has changed pretty much every aspect of education policy in England and Wales, often more than once. "The funding of schools, the governance of schools, curriculum standards, assessment and testing, the role of local government, the role of national government, the range and nature of national agencies, schools admissions"—you name it, it's been changed and sometimes changed back. The only thing that hasn't changed has been the outcome. According to the National Foundation for Education Research, there had been (until recently) no measurable improvement in the standards of literacy and numeracy in primary schools for 50 years.

England and Wales are not alone. Australia has almost tripled education spending per student since 1970. No improvement. American spending has almost doubled since 1980 and class sizes are the lowest ever. Again, nothing. No matter what you do, it seems, standards refuse to budge (see chart). To misquote Woody Allen, those who can't do, teach; those who can't teach, run the schools.

Why bother, you might wonder. Nothing seems to matter. Yet something must. There are big variations in educational standards between countries. These have been measured and re-measured by the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) which has established, first, that the best performing countries do much better than the worst and, second, that the same countries head such league tables again and again: Canada, Finland, Japan, Singapore, South Korea.

Those findings raise what ought to be a fruitful question: what do the successful lot have in common? Yet the answer to that has proved surprisingly elusive. Not more money. Singapore spends less per student than most. Nor more study time. Finnish students begin school later, and study fewer hours, than in other rich countries.

Now, an organisation from outside the teaching fold—McKinsey, a consultancy that advises companies and governments—has boldly gone where educationalists have mostly never gone: into policy recommendations based on the PISA findings. Schools, it says you need to do three things: get the best teachers; get the best out of teachers; and step in when pupils start to lag behind. That may not sound exactly "first-of-its- kind" (which is how Andreas Schleicher, the OECD's head of education research, describes McKinsey's approach): schools surely do all this already? Actually, they don't. If these ideas were really taken seriously, they would change education radically.

Begin with hiring the best. There is no question that, as one South Korean official put it, "the quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers." Studies in Tennessee and Dallas have shown that, if you take pupils of average ability and give them to teachers deemed in the top fifth of the profession, they end up in the top 10% of student performers; if you give them to teachers from the bottom fifth, they end up at the bottom.

The quality of teachers affects student performance more than anything else. Yet most school systems do not go all out to get the best. The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce, a non-profit organisation, says America typically recruits teachers from the bottom third of college graduates. Washington, DC recently hired as chancellor for its public schools an alumna of an organisation called Teach for America, which seeks out top graduates and hires them to teach for two years. Both her appointment and the organisation caused a storm.

A bias against the brightest happens partly because of lack of money (governments fear they cannot afford them), and partly because other aims get in the way. Almost every rich country has sought to reduce class size lately. Yet all other things being equal, smaller classes mean more teachers for the same pot of money, producing lower salaries and lower professional status. That may explain the paradox that, after primary school, there seems little or no relationship between class size and educational achievement.

Asian values or good policy?

McKinsey argues that the best performing education systems nevertheless manage to attract the best. In Finland all new teachers must have a master's degree. South Korea recruits primary-school teachers from the top 5% of graduates, Singapore and Hong Kong from the top 30%.

They do this in a surprising way. You might think that schools should offer as much money as possible, seek to attract a large pool of applicants into teacher training and then pick the best. Not so, says McKinsey. If money were so important, then countries with the highest teacher salaries—Germany, Spain and Switzerland—would presumably be among the best. They aren't. In practice, the top performers pay no more than average salaries.

Nor do they try to encourage a big pool of trainees and select the most successful. Almost the opposite. Singapore screens candidates with a fine mesh before teacher training and accepts only the number for which there are places. Once in, candidates are employed by the education ministry and more or less guaranteed a job. Finland also limits the supply of teacher-training places to demand. In both countries, teaching is a high-status profession (because it is fiercely competitive) and there are generous funds for each trainee teacher (because there are few of them).

South Korea shows how the two systems produce different results. Its primary-school teachers have to pass a four-year undergraduate degree from one of only a dozen universities. Getting in requires top grades; places are rationed to match vacancies. In contrast, secondary-school teachers can get a diploma from any one of 350 colleges, with laxer selection criteria. This has produced an enormous glut of newly qualified secondary-school teachers—11 for each job at last count. As a result, secondary-school teaching is the lower status job in South Korea; everyone wants to be a primary-school teacher. The lesson seems to be that teacher training needs to be hard to get into, not easy.

Teaching the teachers

Having got good people, there is a temptation to shove them into classrooms and let them get on with it. For understandable reasons, teachers rarely get much training in their own classrooms (in contrast, doctors do a lot of training in hospital wards). But successful countries can still do much to overcome the difficulty.

Singapore provides teachers with 100 hours of training a year and appoints senior teachers to oversee professional development in each school. In Japan and Finland, groups of teachers visit each others' classrooms and plan lessons together. In Finland, they get an afternoon off a week for this. In Boston, which has one of America's most improved public-school systems, schedules are arranged so that those who teach the same subject have free classes together for common planning. This helps spread good ideas around. As one educator remarked, "when a brilliant American teacher retires, almost all of the lesson plans and practices that she has developed also retire. When a Japanese teacher retires, she leaves a legacy."

Lastly, the most successful countries are distinctive not just in whom they employ so things go right but in what they do when things go wrong, as they always do. For the past few years, almost all countries have begun to focus more attention on testing, the commonest way to check if standards are falling. McKinsey's research is neutral on the usefulness of this, pointing out that while Boston tests every student every year, Finland has largely dispensed with national examinations. Similarly, schools in New Zealand and England and Wales are tested every three or four years and the results published, whereas top-of-the-class Finland has no formal review and keeps the results of informal audits confidential.

But there is a pattern in what countries do once pupils and schools start to fail. The top performers intervene early and often. Finland has more special-education teachers devoted to laggards than anyone else—as many as one teacher in seven in some schools. In any given year, a third of pupils get one-on-one remedial lessons. Singapore provides extra classes for the bottom 20% of students and teachers are expected to stay behind—often for hours—after school to help students.

None of this is rocket science. Yet it goes against some of the unspoken assumptions of education policy. Scratch a teacher or an administrator (or a parent), and you often hear that it is impossible to get the best teachers without paying big salaries; that teachers in, say, Singapore have high status because of Confucian values; or that Asian pupils are well behaved and attentive for cultural reasons. McKinsey's conclusions seem more optimistic: getting good teachers depends on how you select and train them; teaching can become a career choice for top graduates without paying a fortune; and that, with the right policies, schools and pupils are not doomed to lag behind.

Source the economist

My Iraq: Child psychiatrist

2007-11-26T22:52:00.001+08:00

Dr Haidr says most Iraqis now deal with each other in an aggressive way

Dr Haidr al-Maliki was an army psychiatrist during Saddam Hussein's regime.

He now works as a child psychiatrist at Ab Ibn Rushed Hospital in Baghdad. He lives with his wife and four children.

There used to be about 80 psychiatrists in Iraq, now there are just 20 to 25.

And some of them will leave. Fifteen or so will eventually go to the UAE or to Jordan; it's difficult.

About a year ago, during Ramadan, four boys aged about 15 to 20 came into my private clinic, in front of my patient.

They asked "Are you Dr Haidr?" I said yes. And they shot me several times.

One bullet went into my right shoulder, another into my right arm. I am left with nerve injury and muscle atrophy.

Afterwards they told me I couldn't go to my clinic and that I had to leave the country. They didn't say why.

So, now I don't go out, I just stay at home. My own private jail.

During Saddam's regime we could take our families to the cinema.

Most Iraqi people ... show disturbed behaviour

I want to drink, I want to dance, I want to visit my friends. But I can't do anything. If I even think about going for a drink in my club 500m from my house, I will be killed.

Iraqi people are living in difficult times. Most of us have been exposed to aggression: attacks in the street, car bombings, kidnappings.

Most Iraqi people now deal with each other in an aggressive way; they show disturbed behaviour; they have lost their civility.

We don't know how to treat these problems really.

But I can't leave Iraq. If I and my friends leave, who will help our people?

Limitations of care

I was asked to open the child psychiatry centre in Ab Ibn Rushed hospital, but I have no training in children, really.

I read books and I try to help.

Most of the children are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, especially those who have been exposed to kidnapping.

Most of the children I see are bedwetting. They have disturbed behaviour or epilepsy.

We treat them with simple medication; it is very difficult.

Most of the families come here for help and sometimes we can do nothing for them, except offer support and advice.

Alternative medicine: Coriander

2007-11-08T09:16:00.000+08:00

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:20:28

By Patricia Khashayar, MD., Press TV, Tehran
Since ancient times, traditional Iranian medicine has used coriander seeds for treating anxiety and sleeping disorders like insomnia.

Botanical: Coriandrum sativum (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Umbelliferae
Synonym: Chinese Parsley, Cilantro, Dizzycorn, Japanese Parsley, kizbara

Habitat:

Coriander is probably native to the Middle East and southern Europe, but has also been known in Asia and the Orient for several millennia.

Description:

It is an annual plant with slender and branched stems. The lowest leaves are stalked and pinnate. The flowers are in shortly-stalked umbels, five to ten rays, pale mauve, almost white, delicately pretty. The seed clusters are very symmetrical and the seeds fall as soon as ripe.

Part Used Medicinally:

Fruits (so called seeds) and fresh leaves

Dried coriander leaves are mentioned in some versions of Georgian khmeli-suneli and the Iranian qorma herb mix.

Constituents:

Coriander fruit contains about 1 percent volatile oil, which is the active ingredient. It is pale yellow or colorless, and has a mild aromatic taste. The fruit contains malic acid, tannin and some fatty matter.

Medicinal Uses:

Coriander water is a carminative for windy colic. Oil extracted from its seed is an aromatic stimulant, a carminative (remedial in flatulence), an appetizer and a digesting stimulator. Recent studies have supported its use as a stomach soother for both adults and colicky babies.

Coriander seeds are also used as a diuretic by boiling equal amounts of coriander seed and cumin seed, then cooling and consuming the resulting liquid.

It is generally beneficial to the nervous system and believed to have anti seizure and anxiolytic effects

Inhalation of coriander is useful in treating sinusitis and colds. It is mainly used to mask foul tasting medicine, especially purgatives.

Coriander is believed to make individuals feel happy and is good for the heart.

Coriander cakes were once taken against 'St. Anthony's fire', or 'Rose' a severe streptococcal skin infection called 'erysipelas', which claimed many lives before the advent of antibiotics.

The herb is used to treat hemorrhoids, headache and swellings; the fruit in colic, hemorrhoids and conjunctivitis; the essential oil in colic, rheumatism and neuralgia; the seeds as a paste for mouth ulceration and as poultice for other ulcers.

Coriander is helpful in lowering serum lipids and glucose levels.
It is believed to be useful in treating benign prostate hyperplasia.

Cilantro and Coriander contain substances that kill meat-spoiling bacteria and fungi and prevent wound infections.

Preparation:

Inhalation of coriander seed 3 times a day added with drinking 2 cups of its infusion helps relieve headaches and treat sinusitis and earaches.

Having a teaspoon of coriander seed or regularly taking two capsules significantly lowers lipid levels.

Weak coriander tea may be given to children under the age 2 for colic.

Caution:

If used too freely, the seeds may cause amnesia and become narcotic. Eating too much raw coriander extract is lethal.

PKH/HGH

Gene 'links breastfeeding to IQ'

2007-11-07T03:21:00.000+08:00

The government advises breastfeeding for first six months

A single gene influences whether breastfeeding improves a child's intelligence, say London researchers.

Children with one version of the FADS2 gene scored seven points higher in IQ tests if they were breastfed.

But the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study found breastfeeding had no effect on the IQ of children with a different version.

The gene in question helps break down fatty acids from the diet, which have been linked with brain development.

Seven points difference is enough to put the child in the top third of the class, the researchers said.

In the past people have had different results about whether breastfeeding improves IQ and this would sort out the reason why

Professor Jean Golding

Some 90% of people carry the version of the gene which was associated with better IQ scores in breastfed children.

Researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, used data from two previous studies of breast-fed infants in Britain and New Zealand, which involved more than 3,000 children.

IQ was measured at various points between the ages of five and 13 years in the studies.

Previous studies on intelligence and breastfeeding have come up with conflicting results.

There has been some debate as to whether mothers who had more education or who were from more affluent backgrounds were more likely to breastfeed, skewing the results.

Nature versus nurture

Professor Terrie Moffitt, a co-author on the paper, said the findings gave a fresh perspective on the arguments by showing a physiological mechanism that could account for the difference between breastfed and bottle-fed babies.

HAVE YOUR SAY

More scare tactics! Breastfeeding isn't for every woman and in fact some babies get on better with a bottle.

Jacqueline Walton, Sawtry

Send us your comments

"The argument about intelligence has been about nature versus nurture for at least a century," she said.

"However, we have shown that in fact nature works via nurture to create better health outcomes."

Since the studies used in the analysis were done, manufacturers have begun to add fatty acids to formula milk but there have been inconsistent results on the benefits.

Belinda Phipps, of the National Childbirth Trust, said: "This shows for the majority of parents they can have a positive effect on their babies IQ by breastfeeding."

Catherine Collins, a dietician at St Georges Hospital in London and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, said the study highlighted the interaction between nutrition and genetics.

"In this study you have an effect that suggests that nature is more important that nurture.

"If nine out of 10 babies benefit, then that is a very good chance."

But she added the study did not specify how long babies were breastfed for and it may be that even breastfeeding for a short period may be beneficial for intelligence.

Professor Jean Golding, who founded the ALSPAC study set up in the 1990s to follow the development of thousands of children in the South West of England, said the results were fascinating and they would be doing a further study of the gene.

"In the past people have had different results about whether breastfeeding improves IQ and this would sort out the reason why," she said.

Europe child porn probe nets 92

2007-11-06T07:32:00.000+08:00

Some of the pornographic material was sold online

An investigation into a Europe-wide child pornography network has led to 92 arrests across eight countries, prosecutors say.

The network made videos of children being abused and sold them to 2,500 customers in 19 countries, says the European police force, Europol.

The films were mainly produced in Ukraine, Belgium and the Netherlands, and most of the victims were Ukrainian.

More than 40 of the arrests were made in Britain, European prosecutors say.

Police have seized thousands of computers, videos and photographs in their investigation - code named Operation Koala.

The investigation began in July 2006, when police in Australia found a video on the internet showing an adult abusing two young girls.

The girls were identified by police in Belgium and the offender, their father, was arrested.

He in turn led investigators to the producer of the video, an Italian man who operated in Belgium and the Netherlands but also owned a studio in Ukraine.

'Tailor made'

The names of 2,500 customers were recovered from his computer.

An analyst for Europol, Menno Hagemeijer, said the customers came from many different countries and all walks of life.

"We have identified schoolteachers, swimming instructors, lawyers, IT specialists," he said.

Mr Hagemeijer said the videos had been "tailor made", with customers ordering specific acts to be performed by specific children.

Twenty-three children aged between nine and 16 who were shown being abused have been identified. Twenty-one are from Ukraine and two from Belgium.

European prosecutors have stressed that the operation is continuing and there are likely to be further arrests.

Addressing the Fallout Of Newborn Screening

2007-11-04T07:22:00.000+08:00

Government and Researchers
Seek to Reduce False Positives,
Improve Physician Education
and Follow-Up for Families

By SHIRLEY S. WANG
October 30, 2007; Page D1

The recent adoption of widespread screening of newborns for congenital health problems is saving thousands of lives every year, identifying potentially deadly conditions in time to begin treatment. But now, health-care professionals recognize that success has highlighted glitches in the system.

UNINTENDED IMPACT

Some problems have cropped up with newborn screening:

• False Positives: Second and even third tests are sometimes needed to rule out false positives and confirm the diagnoses.

• Ill-Informed Doctors: Some pediatricians aren't familiar with the screened-for conditions, or where to find specialists for treatment.

• Lack of Follow-Up: States are only beginning to track patients to monitor the long- term impact of early diagnosis.

More screening has meant more potential for erroneous test results and misdiagnoses, causing needless angst for parents. Doctors and hospital officials, who must inform new parents about the screening process, are often ill-informed about the diseases that are screened for and how they are treated. And once a diagnosis is confirmed, families may get little follow-up as they struggle with the overwhelming rigors of caring for their sick infant.

To improve the screening process, health providers and government officials are starting to expand beyond the push for more screening to also address shortcomings in the entire system. Efforts include creating a national standard for assessing screening, in order to cut down on false positives. Genetics experts are developing an online map of specialists across the country to help families find treatment. And researchers and health officials are working to educate doctors about screening and create state registries to track the long-term impact of early diagnosis.

"We're trying to see the newborn screening as a system and not a lab test," says Rani Singh, associate professor and director of the Genetics Metabolic Nutrition Program at Emory University in Atlanta, which has been working in a collaborative of southern states to improve access to genetic services.

Newborn screening has grown exponentially over the past two years -- the result of years of effort by health experts and patient advocates. All 50 states now mandate the procedure, which involves pricking the heel of an infant before the baby leaves the hospital to obtain a few drops of blood for testing. As of July, nearly 90% of U.S. babies are tested for 21 of the 29 conditions recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics, compared with 38% in 2005, according to the March of Dimes.

The conditions, many of which are metabolic disorders that interfere with how the body breaks down and absorbs nutrients, are typically rare. With some, fewer than 1 in 10,000 are afflicted. But these conditions can have devastating consequences, including mental retardation, physical disabilities or even death within days of birth. Caught early, many of these diseases are treatable, and the children can live normal lives.

"Without a good screening program in place in a state, the rest doesn't happen," says Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes.

Yet problems can arise from the outset. For one thing, even the most accurate screening tests will identify some children as false positives. The likelihood that a test correctly identifies a case ranges from 10% to 45%, depending on the test and what score a state uses as its cutoff to define abnormal, says Brad Therrell, director of the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center, an Austin, Texas-based agency.

Hayward Genetics Center at Tulane University in New Orleans, for example, sees about seven false positives for every one baby with a true metabolic defect, according to director Hans Andersson.

To help make test results more accurate, groups of genetic experts across the country -- separated into seven "regional collaboratives" -- are carrying out a project to figure out what test cutoff scores best distinguish the true cases while minimizing false positives. The effort, funded by the Department of Health and Human Service's Health Resources and Services Administration, aims to establish a uniform cutoff score for each condition. Currently, variations in states' standards and testing procedures mean that a child who tests positive in one state might have tested negative if he or she had been born in another state.

Also, a number of medical centers that conduct "second-tier" tests to check results are getting inquiries from around the country about expanding the use of such tests before informing pediatricians or parents, according to Michael Watson, executive director of the American College of Medical Genetics, the nonprofit that puts out recommendations for screening. Second-tier tests are used by a limited number of states, either through their own state lab or contracted out to another laboratory such as the Mayo Clinic, but there are no formal national recommendations for their use yet.

Uncertainty over screening results, including false positives, can have a significant impact on families. Even when parents are later told initial results were wrong, they may still worry about their baby's health. Parents continue to take these babies more frequently to the doctor and the emergency room, according to a study that Susan Waisbren, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and colleagues published last year in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Many organizations, including the American College of Obstetrics, say they would like to get obstetricians more involved in educating parents earlier about newborn screening to head off unnecessary angst. ACOG's committee on genetics will be publishing an opinion at the end of the year urging obstetricians to be "proactive" and offer written, video or electronic materials to patients during pregnancy, says Anthony Gregg, chairman of the committee and associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

The aim is to convey the importance of screening results without creating undue panic -- since many conditions can be effectively treated. When Christena Neal of Hallsville, Texas, received a call from her pediatrician on a Friday afternoon last December, she says she fell apart. "I heard the panic in him, but he was trying to be calm," Ms. Neal said. Her three-week-old son Jesse David, the doctor said, had "something wrong with his blood."

"I hung up and started bawling," Ms. Neal said. "I was so afraid he would die."

Screening results indicated the boy -- nicknamed J.D. -- likely had the metabolic disorder known as MCAD (medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency), which prevents his body from breaking down certain kinds of fats for energy. Infants with this condition can die in just hours if they don't eat enough food that provides usable energy to keep their blood sugar normal. The Neals' pediatrician had never treated anyone with the condition before and had printed information about MCAD from the Internet.

Fortunately, J.D. was able to get an appointment with a specialist quickly, and was started on the treatment, a special low-fat formula, even before his diagnosis was confirmed. He is now a healthy 11-month-old.

J.D is a screening success story. Yet his family's journey illustrates how screening leads to a host of other struggles. Ms. Neal makes the hourlong trek with J.D. to the geneticist every three months, and she remains vigilant about feeding him like clockwork with nutritional supplements and special foods. She has had to rush him to the emergency room four times, and had to beseech a state senator in order to get Medicaid to cover the cost of his supplements.

To improve follow-up for children like J.D., HHS's Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center, and others would like to have states monitor patients' outcomes to better understand what happens if these rare conditions are caught early. A study of 35 states published this month in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that less than one-third of states surveyed collect long-term follow-up data, and the follow-up information varies tremendously. But some states, including California, and 16 pediatric metabolic centers in several Midwestern states have begun collecting this information, and more are starting or looking to do so, according to Cynthia Cameron, director of the Region 4 Genetics Collaborative.

Another difficulty in the follow-up process is that many pediatricians and primary-care doctors aren't familiar with these rare and complex diseases. To help better inform doctors, the American College of Medical Genetics' Web site offers a series of so-called ACT Sheets, which walk them through what to do when a baby screens positive for a rare condition, according to executive director Dr. Watson.

The group is also developing an online map of genetic specialists across the country so parents and doctors can search for treatment in their area. Dr. Watson says the map will be launched within six months.

Write to Shirley S. Wang at shirley.wang@wsj.com

Size Genetics

Cellcept may cause birth defects

2007-10-31T22:56:00.000+08:00

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:16:51

FDA has raised worrying concerns over the risk of birth defects and miscarriages following the use of Cellcept (mycophenolate mofetil).

According to AP, Cellcept made by Roche Holding of Switzerland, also lowers birth control hormone levels, which may reduce their effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.

FDA has warned that women of childbearing age should have a negative pregnancy test within a week of starting the drug, use effective contraceptives, and receive birth control counseling during the treatment course.

Previous studies revealed that Cellcept decreased the body's ability to protect against illness and infection, and increased the risk of developing lymph node tumors (lymphoma).

Cellcept is an immune system-suppressing drug used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients. It is also prescribed to lupus patients who can not tolerate chemotherapy.

source presstv

Pregnancy at Google

2007-10-21T04:15:00.000+08:00

Hello (I Love You)

2007-10-20T13:52:00.000+08:00

October -Breast Cancer Awareness

2007-10-20T01:16:00.000+08:00

Beastfeeding or Bust

2007-10-20T00:54:00.000+08:00

Dallas School Credits Parents With Student Success

2007-10-18T17:30:00.000+08:00

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Everywoman - Breast Cancer - 12 Oct 07

2007-10-14T09:51:00.000+08:00

Life in America : Abuses by the trustworthy

2007-10-11T08:29:00.000+08:00

2007-10-09T19:37:00.000+08:00

Soldiers Brain injuries

2007-10-09T18:17:00.000+08:00

Women with set of triplets

2007-09-01T20:38:00.000+08:00

Victoria and husband Tim with their three-year-old triplets

A woman in Ohio has given birth to her second set of triplets.

Victoria Lasita and her husband Tim conceived both sets naturally, without fertility treatments that increase the chance of multiple pregnancies.

"Holy smokes. Do you know what the odds of that are?" fertility expert Dr Glen Hofmann told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The chances of conceiving one set of triplets naturally were about one in 8,000, making the odds of having them twice far higher, he said.

Having triplets once did not affect the chances of having triplets a second time, added Dr Hofmann, medical director of the Bethesda Center for Reproductive Health and Fertility.

Casey Alexander was the first born at 1357 local time on Wednesday at just 4lb 2.5oz (about 1.9kg).

He was followed by Caden Bradley, at 4lb 13.5oz (about 2.2kg) and Carson Charles, at 4lb 9.5oz (just over 2kg).

You take what God gives you

Victoria Lasita

Their father, Tim, who witnessed the Caesarean birth, said: "Everybody seems to be doing well."

He said it was still too early to know when the babies will be ready to go home and join their older siblings, Jessica, Jillian and Brian, who will soon turn four.

The Lasitas have been married six years and have three grown children from previous marriages.

But they decided they'd like "one more" after the birth of the triplets.

"I guess we should have been more specific and said one more child, not one more set," Victoria said.

The Lasitas will be changing about 150 nappies a week for the new triplets.

Victoria said: "You take what God gives you. And this is what he's decided we can handle."

Triplets for woman with two wombs

Hannah's triplets were born from two eggs. Photo: SWNS

A UK woman with two wombs is believed to be the first in the world with the condition to give birth to triplets.

Hannah Kersey, 23, from Northam in Devon, had identical twins Ruby and Tilly, who were born from one womb, Grace, who was born from the other.

The girls had to stay in hospital for nine weeks after being born seven weeks early by Caesarean, but have now returned home to their parents.

The odds of having triplets from two wombs are about 25 million to one.

The chances of a woman with two wombs having twins or two separate births is estimated to be five million to one.

Against the odds

Only 70 women in the world are known to have been pregnant in two wombs, reports suggest.

The condition, which is actually called uterus didelphys, affects one in 1,000 women in the UK.

In Miss Kersey's case, the babies were conceived from two eggs - one in each womb - which were fertilised at the same time by two different sperm.

There are very few world firsts nowadays, but it may be one

Consultant Dr Simon Grant, who delivered the babies

One egg then divided, producing identical twins, while the other developed into a single baby.

Hannah and her partner Mick Faulkner said they were "over the moon" at how healthy and happy the girls are.

Hannah said: "They are three lovely and incredible children, all with very different personalities.

"Gracie seems to be the ringleader - maybe because she grew up in her own womb.

"Ruby is very laid back and quiet, happy to sit and watch what is happening around her.

WOMB ABNORMALITIES

Occur when the uterus fails to fuse normally during development

Vary in severity - sometimes the division extends into the vagina

Can cause fertility problems

"Tilly, who was the baby that struggled to survive inside me, is a real fighter, wanting to keep up with her sisters and not be left out."

Dr Simon Grant, a consultant at Southmead Hospital who delivered the babies, said: "There are very few world firsts nowadays, but it may be one."

Mr Ellis Downes, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Chase Farm Hospital in London, said: "It is quite amazing. Women with two wombs have conceived a baby in each womb before but never twins in one and a singleton in the other."

Leading expert Mr Peter Bowen-Simpkins added: "For a woman to spontaneously conceive and give birth in this way is a real rarity. They have been extremely fortunate."

Mr Richard Warren of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said most cases occur naturally, but the condition can run in families.

Hannah's mother and sister also have two wombs.

The Impact of Aerobics

2007-08-28T09:17:00.000+08:00

Health Risks in Plastics?

2007-08-09T16:34:00.000+08:00

Milk Formula Makers under fire in Asia

2007-08-08T18:42:00.000+08:00

Women of Hezbollah

2007-07-29T13:07:00.000+08:00

Find The School & Degree, that is right for you!

2007-07-19T21:15:00.000+08:00

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Turkish No to Sharia

2007-06-15T16:05:00.000+08:00

>>>>SNIP>>>Posted: 6.14pm Tuesday 24 July 2007 International SOCIALIST WORKER
Turkish voters deliver a blow to the military
by Ron Margulies in Istanbul

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) was re-elected on Sunday of last week with a thumping majority in the Turkish elections.
It is a landslide for the Islamist party that faced a concerted effort by Turkey’s powerful military to influence the outcome of the poll.
The AKP increased its share of the vote to 47 percent from 34 percent in the 2002 elections.

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=12557

HIJAB?

Contact Lens Solution Pulled After It Is Linked to Infection

2007-05-27T12:34:00.000+08:00

By LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN : Published: May 27, 2007

A contact lens solution manufacturer voluntarily withdrew one of its products yesterday after federal health officials said an investigation had linked it to a rare but potentially blinding eye infection.

Customers were advised to immediately stop using the solution, AMO Complete Moisture Plus Multi-Purpose Solution. The solution, used to clean and store soft contact lenses, is made by Advanced Medical Optics of Santa Ana, Calif.

Soft contact lens wearers who have the AMO solution were advised to discard all partially used or unopened bottles and switch to alternative products. They should also throw out their current contact lenses and the lens storage case because they may harbor an infection-causing amoeba, officials of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said.

The agency also advised people who have used the product to call an eye doctor if they have experienced eye pain or redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, the feeling of something in the eye or excessive tearing. The symptoms, which resemble those of other eye problems, can last weeks to months and vary among patients.

>>>>cut///quote: Foodconsumer.org

the Art of Non violence

2007-05-11T23:28:00.000+08:00

Its virtues and effectiveness,

Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K.Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, in his June 9 (My birthday) lecture at the University of Puerto Rico, shared the following story:

I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbors, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go the movies.

One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father asked me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced. When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, "I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and we will go home together."

After hurriedly completing my chores, I went straight to the nearest movie theatre. I got so engrossed in a John Wayne double-feature that I forgot the time. It was 5:30 before I remembered. By the time I ran to the garage and got the car and hurried to where my father was waiting for me, it was almost 6:00. He anxiously asked me, "Why were you late?" I was so ashamed of telling him I was watching a John Wayne western movie that I said, "The car wasn't ready, so I had to wait," not realizing that he had already called the garage.

When he caught me in the lie, he said: "There's something wrong in the way I brought you up that didn't give you the confidence to tell me the truth. In order to figure out where I went wrong with you, I'm going to walk home 18 miles and think about it." So, dressed in his suit and dress shoes, he began to walk home in the dark on mostly unpaved, unlit roads.

I couldn't leave him, so for five-and-a-half hours I drove behind him, watching my father go through this agony for a stupid lie that I uttered. I decided then and here that I was never going to lie again. I often think about that episode and wonder, if he had punished me the way we punish our children, whether I would have arned a lesson at all. I don't think so. I would have suffered the punishment and gone on doing the same thing. But this single non-violent action was so powerful that it is still as if it happened yesterday. That is the power of non-violence.

In case you have come across this in the internet, it was circulated numerous time before, let this one, courtesy of St Bull be a reminder to us all.

The Marriage (An-Nikah) From Islamic Perspectives

2007-05-07T17:44:00.000+08:00

An-Nikah - Mutual Agreement of Bride and Groom

Marriage (nikah) is a solemn and sacred social contract between bride and groom. This contract is a strong covenant (mithaqun Ghalithun) as expressed in Quran 4:21). The marriage contract in Islam is not a sacrament. It is revocable.

Both parties mutually agree and enter into this contract. Both bride and groom have the liberty to define various terms and conditions of their liking and make them a part of this contract.

Mahr

The marriage-gift (Mahr) is a divine injunction. The giving of mahr to the bride by the groom is an essential part of the contract.

'And give the women (on marriage) their mahr as a (nikah) free gift" (Quran 4:4)

Mahr is a token commitment of the husband's responsibility and may be paid in cash, property or movable objects to the bride herself. The amount of mahr is not legally specified, however, moderation according to the existing social norm is recommended. The mahr may be paid immediately to the bride at the time of marriage, or deferred to a later date, or a combination of both. The deferred mahr however, falls due in case of death or divorce.

One matrimonial party expresses 'ijab" willing consent to enter into marriage and the other party expresses 'qubul" acceptance of the responsibility in the assembly of marriage ceremony. The contract is written and signed by the bride and the groom and their two respective witnesses. This written marriage contract ("Aqd-Nikah) is then announced publicly.

Sermon

The assembly of nikah is addressed with a marriage sermon (khutba-tun-nikah) by the Muslim officiating the marriage. In marriage societies, customarily, a state appointed Muslim judge (Qadi) officiates the nikah ceremony and keeps the record of the marriage contract. However any trust worthy practicing Muslim can conduct the nikah ceremony, as Islam does not advocate priesthood. The documents of marriage contract/certificate are filed with the mosque (masjid) and local government for record.

Prophet Muhammad (S) made it his tradition (sunnah) to have marriage sermon delivered in the assembly to solemnize the marriage. The sermon invites the bride and the groom, as well as the participating guests in the assembly to a life of piety, mutual love, kindness, and social responsibility.

The Khutbah-tun-Nikah begins with the praise of Allah. His help and guidance is sought. The Muslim confession of faith that 'There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His servant and messenger" is declared. The three Quranic verses (Quran 4:1, 3:102, 33:70-71) and one Prophetic saying (hadith) form the main text of the marriage. This hadith is:

'By Allah! Among all of you I am the most God-fearing, and among you all, I am the supermost to save myself from the wrath of Allah, yet my state is that I observe prayer and sleep too. I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry woman also. And he who turns away from my Sunnah has no relation with me". (Bukhari)

The Muslim officiating the marriage ceremony concludes the ceremony with prayer (Dua) for bride, groom, their respective families, the local Muslim community, and the Muslim community at large (Ummah)

Marriage (nikah) is considered as an act of worship (ibadah). It is virtuous to conduct it in a Mosque keeping the ceremony simple. The marriage ceremony is a social as well as a religious activity. Islam advocates simplicity in ceremonies and celebrations.

Prophet Muhammad (S) considered simple weddings the best weddings:

'The best wedding is that upon which the least trouble and expense is bestowed". (Mishkat)

Primary Requirements
1) Mutual agreement (Ijab-O-Qubul) by the bride and the groom
2) Two adult and sane witnesses
3) Mahr (marriage-gift) to be paid by the groom to the bride either immediately (muajjal) or deferred (muakhkhar), or a combination of both

Secondary Requirements
1) Legal guardian (wakeel) representing the bride
2) Written marriage contract ("Aqd-Nikah) signed by the bride and the groom and witnesses by two adult and sane witnesses
3) Qadi (State appointed Muslim judge) or Ma'zoon (a responsible person officiating the marriage ceremony)
4) Khutba-tun-Nikah to solemnize the marriage

The Marriage Banquet (Walima)

After the consummation of the marriage, the groom holds a banquet called a walima. The relatives, neighbors, and friends are invited in order to make them aware of the marriage. Both rich and poor of the family and community are invited to the marriage feasts.

Prophet Muhammad (S) said:

'The worst of the feasts are those marriage feasts to which the rich are invited and the poor are left out". (Mishkat)

It is recommended that Muslims attend marriage ceremonies and marriage feasts upon invitation.

Prophet Muhammad (S) said:

"...and he who refuses to accept an invitation to a marriage feast, verily disobeys Allah and His Prophet". (Ahmad & Abu Dawood)

Excerpt from : Marriage and Family in Islam by Mohammad Mazhar Hussaini

Nulli Secondus – mssion 2010

2007-05-03T23:56:00.000+08:00

A thesis for betterment:

Speaking from the podium, the present HM announced his talk with the former HM. The mission is to have the school counted (translated from terbilang) among the best school in the country. Excellent in all fields – education, sports and co curricula, not just the known academic stuff. When we say school we refer to the general interest and will of all concerned parties, the parents, teachers and students. I recalled this tagline Nulli Secondus grilled into me by the then HM Mr.Nik Yusof.

The talk

Clearing the air:

I still have the interest to keep it that way. Hamzah 1 was the best in the district. Though I went to Hamzah 1, now I have 4 kids schooling here. In years 6, 4,3 and 1. I certainly want them all to be an all-rounder as other parents like their kids to be too. Having said all that, I do acknowledge the efforts and sacrifices made by our mostly lady teachers, a major player towards achieving year in and year out, a position of third or so in Machang- Pasir Puteh district. For the last couple of years the school have produced some 30 or so students with straight A’s at UPSR. I am certain that other parents are glad and equally cheerful too.

Take off value ( ToV ) :

There was a lot of talk on ToV at the recent PTA meeting, which attempted to elaborate and designed a scheme for the year 6 students in order to prepare them for the UPSR results and for the school to come up with the maximum numbers of students with straight A’s. These meetings have been like a ritual to the school. According to the PK1 the number of students with all A’s at year 5 entering into year 6 have been constantly around 4 or 5. Thus the ToV have been 4 or 5. I would like to draw this example That’s basically the quality cargo on the plane. As the plane took off into air, more drastic efforts is undertaken to ensure the cargo complies to the required quality. With all that put in place. The end product is normally approximately 30 straight A’s.

Tea after the talk

Comfort Zones :

We are getting similar result over several years. Are not putting efforts to improve? Starting with a ToV of 4 we managed to get around 7 or 8 times that figure at the end of the year. Are we in a comfort zone and very happy with keeping a position of third place in this district. Do we only put on that extra efforts in year 6, year after year? Have the same results with the same efforts. How can we change or improvise to make more straight A’s achiever? The method used so far only succeeded in producing that optimum numbers of straight A’s. If we want more A’s we have to improvised!

Interpreting the ToV database :

From the interpretation the ToV database , we can see that their numbers at the end of the day that make the total numbers of straights. We need to increase by 5 or 6 students per year with 5A’s ToV. This will make their total to 10, if the multiplier is 5, at the end of the day the number of students getting all A’s will be around 50 students. Thus for the UPSR year 2008 there are 50 straight A’s.

Needed a change :

We need to do these by targeting 5 students increment yearly. That may sound easy but certainly not simple. The emphasis will be all teachers at all level from standard 1 to 5 to play the active role. We need some changes by improvising the system to start early and have more ToV at the onset of the students’ UPSR.

Wanting a different result :

If we keep doing the same thing we will not get a different result, we will get the same result. The new HM name all the classes based on the name of planets. Perhaps I may draw his attention here about the man who derived the mathematical formula E=MC^2,he said many things on many aspects of life.

This sentence here is particularly relevant to us. “Madness is doing the same thing to get a different result.” We have to review and accordingly improved what have been done in the past.

Target Starting 2007 :

I would proposed that the school start making a target for the annual increment of the number. Some sort for a five year planned. Monitor and fire-fight by early next year.

The way ahead – Parents involvement & monitoring :

After the plans are made. The parents would be informed of the plans during the PTA (PIBG) Meeting. On top of that annually at least once a year say the early third quarter the parent are called to an open day, where they will be presented with their child report card. Here the teacher have the opportunity to highlight about the child like discipline problem, too playful in class and other behavioral traits other than be precise in the child problem like weak in Mathematics particularly fractions and decimals system.

This would allow the parent to take special attention to address those perceived weakness.

Relative Abundance Part 2

2007-01-29T01:48:00.000+08:00

At the bottom, there is a schedule of expenses for school start up. The places where the materials were procured were shops in Tanah Merah and Machang (by standards of locals here are termed as supermarkets) and the wet market of Machang in Kelantan, Malaysia.

The Tanah Merah Supermarket

Other expenses for the schooling kids are the fees. This term is an anomaly for there are no longer fees for primary and secondary schools in this country. Education is free up to that level. These are actually chargeable items by the school such as for notes and examination costs. It varies from school to school. Together with the exercise books that will come to approximately RM100.00

Pocket money have to be given to the kids too. Generally RM1.00 to 2.00 per day should suffice. RM2.00 is given on days with religious classes in the afternoon known as KAFA here (Kelas Agama Fardu Ain). These afternoon class can be 3 or 4 days a week.

Government Welfare Schemes

The Government have their welfare schemes for the less fortunate too. For example KWAPM (Kumpulan Amanah Pelajar Miskin – Poor Students Trust Fund) is given at RM150 per head. That will be enough to cover the fees and the stationeries. There are no scholarships for Primary School students. For Secondary School Students there is the Biasiswa Kecil Persekutuan - Federal Minor Scholarship which amounts to RM600.00 per annum.

For the less fortunate students at the Primary School there is a before class breakfast scheme which is known as Rancangan Makanan Tambahan Sekolah (RMTS)– Schools Food Supplement Program. In this Hamzah 2 Primary School about 25% of the students received this RMTS.

Inside PM's New Jet.

Welfare & the New Malay.

The former Prime Minister used to lament that these welfare schemes produces subsidy mentality among the Malays. He also did take every opportunity to hit at the dole system in United Kingdom that produces lazy British according to him, without revealing the compulsory minimum contribution imposed and the role played by National Insurance.

The mental revolution and the New Economic Policy aimed at restructuring society has ironically produces Malays that are not poor friendly and viewed poor Malays as troubling the society. With all that had been said, the local federal government representatives here in Kelantan took every opportunity to highlight the federal government hand outs of the state's money to the poor.

This scenario does not take place in say Selangor. Kelantan is the only opposition control state for the past 16 years and the Federal Government had been trying hard to deny any state government credibility, for the party that make up the State Government is not a member of the National Front, a coalition of many parties that formed the Federal Government.

PM's new RM 200million jet.

Last year when the State’s Public Universities (IPTS) was about to be opened there was a massive jam at the Hospital University Science Malaysia (HUSM) in Kubang Kerian. Parents from all over the state was waiting for hours to hear a Federal Minister delivered his speech before collecting some RM1500.00 of State’s money to assist their children to start up at the Universities. Many felt they were being blackmailed but they played to the fiddle. After all the RM1500 per student was an advance of their loan from Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Negara (National Higher Educational Fund), deductible in future. The organizers should have used the State Stadium, probably it would have been a much better and comfortable venue.

READ ABOUT THE RM200million new PM's jet.

For larger family relationship too, it seems that the member of a family that is least successful financially is normally marginalized. The role played by the “middle class” of the family is such that a situation is created where they will be in the good books of the more successful and resourceful members at the expense of marginalizing the least successful members of the family. Now the relationship among individuals have torn up the traditional cultural fabric of brotherly relationship and a new set of relationship based on the interest to have an opportunity for wealth and comfortable living is the new order of the day. This is the end result of the mental revolution of the post independence era of the early sixties.

It should be reminded of the less mentioned saying of Prophet Muhammad SAW that one of the signs of the nearness of the doom’s day is when the rich feel that the poor is troubling them and a burden to the society.

Comparative Expenses

2007-01-28T02:26:00.000+08:00

Making kids love School

2007-01-13T13:51:00.000+08:00

Hessa seems keen going to school. Unlike her previous year when she was enroll for Pra Sekolah ( Pre School ). Unlike my generation Pre School seems akin to compulsory now a days. By Malaysian law, primary school education is compulsory, parents could be dragged into the court of law if the failed to school their kids. As an extension to that, so is the Pre School enrolment.

In Malaysia nowadays every parent put their kid either in kindergarten which are privately owned and run. These are places for the haves. Those who went to these places are expected to shine above the rest. A cut above in syllabus, upbringing and sharper in English. To start well is the key word. Nobody want to be left behind at the starting block. For the have not, they would have to vie for one of those Pre School places at the school their kids will potentially go to.

Hessa eargerly posing for school

I had observed how my Minister of Home affairs managed my kids – going to school. It is quite a run out from the norm her father, reputed to have been, a hardcore disciplinarian. Records of achievement of his kids proved that he did well. I should say that her softly, softly approach did pretty well too. She is not the kind that pushes her kids to school. Her lacking in emphasis in discipline sometimes worry me. She took it easy even when the kids seems like refusing school on purpose.

Her style have been to progressively make the kids love school. Generally my kids have a bad start. In case of Hessa she had been sickly and had missed school on many occasion. At times I went to school to tell her teacher. Once her, teacher came to the house to know, why she is missing school. Her mum did well, she pampered her, follow her progress in reading and writing and make her felt she misses something for not going to school. It works. The fact that she misses school make her fond of what she would have acquired should she be there. She developed the interest in reading and writing on her own.

At the end of the day she reads and writes reasonably well for her age group before the actual school starts. Mostly importantly she looked prepared and wanting to go to school when it reopens for the recent academic year. I am always for kids to attend the Pre School. It introduces them to school proper observing those slightly older making their ways in school. It is like an orientation program to be accustomed with the ways of schooling proper.

Hessa, first day in class.

A reason that kids normally do not like schools is the way their peer groups behave towards each other. Some of these kids are not really bullies but they are rather harsh and brute. This may make some kids felt uncomfortable. The mum have too always lent their ears to stories from schools which their kids brought home. This is necessary for her to properly anticipate any un-homely and unfriendly atmosphere that developed. The kids may feel that they are bullied, and as such do not like school. When this situation developed the kid is like in a “do, you be damned” and “don’t you’ll be damned” situation. What I meant here is that the kid is faced with a problem of to live with it - will be suffering but to fight it, would leads to more unnecessary problems.

This is where the mum’s role normally comes into play. Whether telling their kids to make more friends or to be choosy of one or whatever. The worst case scenario may be to slow talk to the teacher concerned to change her sitting position, thus re-orientate or re-organize her peer and play groups. The gist of the matter is still to make the kid loves school, like the environment, love their lessons and like the knowledge. That is the best motivation that keeps them going to school and learning.