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08/12/2017

mediservice.in

06/12/2017

What will medicine be able to do with hearts?

If heart transplantation - 50 years after Christiaan Barnard carried out the first operation - has become routine, what exactly will medicine be capable of in the future?
Will we one day be able to build, or even grow, replacement hearts, or will surgeons be able to use genetically modified animal hearts in their place?
The pace of progress has been staggering.
Harefield Hospital heart and lung transplantation director Mr Andre Simon says: "I fell into the trap when I was 18 and I saw my first heart transplant. That was 1986.
"There were two surgeons. I could see them tying knots, and you couldn't see their fingers because they were so fast. It was weird, fantastic.
"It was the end of the 'cowboy' time in cardiac surgery. I remember coming into the office, and I was impressed by the fact that everything was full of cigarette butts and empty beer bottles.
"It was a completely different time. Things have changed.
"Overall, we are in a lot better position because we can do things we couldn't do - but we have also lost some of the necessary will to push limits."

05/12/2017

Beware! Your common blood pressure medicine may increase skin cancer risk

We knew that hydrochlorothiazide made the skin more vulnerable to damage from the Sun's UV rays, but what is new and also surprising is that long-term use of this blood pressure medicine leads to such a significant increase in the risk of skin cancer," said Anton Pottegard, Associate Professor at the University of Southern Denmark.

12/10/2017

5 Foods That Affect Your Mental Health

1. Sugar: When you consume too much sugar your blood glucose levels shoot up and the levels of a certain type pf protein that controls the growth of neurons and synapses declines. This makes your brain work at a sub-optimal level, making it more vulnerable to trigger depression.

2. Alcohol: Alcohol is known to exacerbate the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Alcohol affects the working of the central nervous system which is responsible for processing information received through our five senses. It is also a known fact that alcohol often acts as a depressant.

3. Hydrogenated oils and saturated fats: Processed or packaged foods usually contain hydrogenated oils, saturated fats and trans fats.They may clog the arteries and block blood flow to the brain, thus affecting the way it functions.

4. Foods with High Sodium: Extra sodium in your body can affect your neurological system and disrupt your emotions. It can damage your immune system and make you feel lethargic and fatigued.

5. Caffeine: Caffeine has a negative effect on sleep. Studies have shown that people who consume high amounts of tea, coffee or even energy drinks find it hard to sleep or stay asleep. Sleep is directly related to our mood and inadequate or disturbed sleep can mess with our mental health.

A balanced diet with all the foods groups and essential nutrients like proteins, fiber, carbs and healthy fats can really help in boosting your mental health.

10/10/2017

04/10/2017

How pancreatic tumors could help to fight diabetes

A new study analyzes rare tumors in which insulin-producing beta cells are produced in excess in order to find a "genetic recipe" for regenerating these cells. And the findings might change the current therapeutic practices for treating diabetes.

Beta cells play a crucial role in the development of diabetes. These tiny cells found in our pancreas produce insulin, and a loss of beta cells is known to be a cause of type 1 diabetes.

Additionally, recent studies have shown that beta cells also play a crucial role in the development of type 2 diabetes. For instance, a study that Medical News Today reported on found that the release of pro-inflammatory proteins kills off insulin-producing beta cells in the early stages of type 2 diabetes.

But the "problem" with beta cells, medically speaking, is that they replicate in early childhood but cease to proliferate after that.

New research, however, carried out by scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, NY, uncovers a "genomic recipe" for regenerating these key cells.

The study was led by Dr. Andrew Stewart, the director of the Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine, and the findings were published in the journal Nature Communications

27/09/2017

New blood test for heart attacks shows promise

Protein blood tests

Estimates suggest that more than two thirds of people who go to A&E with chest pain have not had a heart attack. Testing currently involves an electrocardiogram (ECG) that monitors the heart's rhythm and electrical activity.

Another test looks for high levels of a protein called troponin that is released during a heart attack. However, this needs to be repeated after 3 hours. Depending on the type of troponin test used, up to 85% of people may need to remain in hospital for further tests in order to rule out a heart attack.

In the journal Circulation, the researchers report on a new technique that measures levels of another protein called cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyC). This is more abundant than troponins and is released more rapidly after a heart attack. They say this new test can rule out a heart attack in a larger proportion of patients, and more quickly.

European trials

A comparison of troponin and cMyC tests was carried out on 1,954 patients who were admitted to hospital in several European countries because of chest pains.

The researchers report that the new test is better at ruling out a heart attack, particularly among those who come to A&E within 3 hours of developing symptoms.

'Promising'

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, says in a statement: "Big heart attacks are often easy to diagnose with an ECG but smaller heart attacks, which are more common and also life-threatening, are more challenging. The troponin test has been used for around 20 years and is currently the most powerful tool we have for diagnosing such heart attacks, but there is always room for improvement.

"These initial results with the cMyC test look very promising for patients, who could be more quickly diagnosed and treated or reassured and sent home. This test could also allow hospitals to save hundreds of thousands of pounds by freeing up valuable hospital beds."

The researchers say further work is needed before the new test can be recommended for routine use.

The British Cardiovascular Society describes the results so far as promising. President elect, Simon Ray, says in an emailed statement: "The blood test for cMyC is only used for research at the moment. A lot or further work will be required before it can be made part of routine care but it could potentially save a substantial amount of money for the NHS."

19/09/2017

Press These Points On Your Baby?s Feet To Soothe Their Pain For Better Sleep

18/09/2017

More Men Are Taking Antidepressants Than Ever Before

Do you pop a pill to beat the blues? If so, you’re not alone: More men are taking antidepressants than ever before, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

After combing through the numbers from 2011 to 2014—the most recent data available—the CDC found nearly 1 in 10 men reported taking antidepressant medication in the past month. That’s a 69 percent increase from 1999 to 2002, when only 5 percent of men reported taking antidepressants.

What’s more, 21 percent of men reported taking antidepressants for 10 years or more. While women were twice as likely to report taking antidepressants as men, there was no significant difference in how long both genders used the medication.

It’s worthy to note that nearly half of all antidepressant prescriptions are given out to treat conditions other than depression each year, according to one 2016 JAMA study. Physicians reported prescribing the pills for anxiety, pain, insomnia, and panic disorders, too.

But the scary part is, when looking at antidepressants as a depression treatment in men, it’s possible these numbers might not paint the whole picture. That’s because men deal with depression differently than women, and may not even be coming forward about their symptoms.

“Male depression sometimes manifests through the ‘male code’ that says you cannot show weakness, sadness, or vulnerability,” Fred Rabinowitz, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at California’s University of Redlands, told Men’s Health in December.

And depression in guys tends not to be as easily identifiable, either—so it’s possible that men might not identify what they’re feeling as depression. Symptoms of depression in men can show up as things like anger, impulsivity, and substance use, rather than just simply sadness or the blues. In fact, when researchers from the University of Michigan surveyed more than 5,600 men and women using symptoms of depression more common in men as the basis for diagnosis, 6 percent of men met the criteria compared to 22 percent of women. But when they used the traditional symptoms of depression, more women fit the criteria than men.

16/09/2017

5 Tooth Brushing Mistakes You Must Avoid

Mistake 1

The toothbrush comes in a variety of sizes. It’s important to choose a brush of the correct size to clean your teeth. If the brush is too big, it will be a strain to keep your mouth open. If it’s too small, then it will not clean your mouth effectively.

Mistake 2

Another common mistake is the wrong choice of bristles. Angled bristles are considered the best as they clean the teeth regardless of the position. Hard and stiff bristles can injure the gums, so opt for soft ones.

Another common mistake is the wrong choice of bristles. Angled bristles are considered the best as they clean the teeth regardless of the position. Hard and stiff bristles can injure the gums, so opt for soft ones.

Mistake 3

Ignorance about the brushing technique is another point to note. The correct technique is as below:

Align the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line
Use short, gentle strokes and move the toothbrush back and forth around your teeth
Brush circularly or vertically around the outer, inner and chewing surfaces of all your teeth
When done, brush your tongue to remove bacteria and prevent bad breath
Lastly, finish off by rinsing your mouth thoroughly.

Mistake 4

Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Although brushing thrice is preferred to neutralize bacterial growth and acidity generated by eating foods with lots of preservatives in them. The acidity from a can of coke can dissolve through the tooth in a single day when immersed in it.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Although brushing thrice is preferred to neutralize bacterial growth and acidity generated by eating foods with lots of preservatives in them. The acidity from a can of coke can dissolve through the tooth in a single day when immersed in it.

Mistake 5

Brushing teeth more than 3 times a day can lead to recession of gum line as well as erosion of enamel, which is the outer layer of the tooth.

15/09/2017

How to Treat Mouth Ulcers & Canker Sores Naturally

Canker Sores and Mouth ulcers can be really painful and difficult condition. It can make eating food and even drink water a very tough task for you. Your mouth can hurt while talking too. But often people wonder, that even after keeping the mouth clean and healthy eating habits we can get mouth ulcers.

The main factors that can cause mouth ulcers normally are dehydration, hyper acidity and eating spicy and salty foods. Drinking alcohol and smoking can also cause ulcers and canker sores in the oral cavity.

1 Mix the salt in the glass of water, and gargle your mouth with this mix.

2 Swish the salt water focusing on the problem area in the mouth.

3After gargling for 2 minutes, spit the mix out.

4 Now mix the lemon juice in a cup of warm water.

5 Again gargle your mouth with the lemon water and drink the water.

6 At the end apply some honey to the canker sores and ulcers.

7 Leave the honey in the mouth for 5 minutes.

8 Then swallow it.