World of Health

A breakthrough in diagnosing Alzheimer’s has come to light after researchers have discovered new ways of detecting the disease.

Researchers claim the debilitating brain disease could possibly be detected through testing fluid taken from the spine. Tests so far have been proving hopeful and accuracy levels have been as high as 100 percent. The spinal test comes along at the same time scanning machine that can be used to detect amyloid plaques developing in the brain.

Alzheimer’s has only been fully diagnosed after death until now. Further studies into the disease have now shown that the disease can be detected earlier and researchers hope this will lead to cures for the disease.

Researchers say that once Alzheimer’s has started to destroy brain cells it becomes difficult to do anything to stop the disease, but now there are hundreds of drugs being tested to help this.

An effect profile of various preparations of insulin, or insulin analogues after subcutaneous injection.  In insulin therapy, different insulin preparations are used. The most important and longest-used method of administration is injection More recently, a drug that can be inhaled has been tested and is now on the market.

Oral insulin has been ineffective, because the protein chains are degraded in the gastrointestinal tract of the body’s own enzymes before they can be effective, but there are developments that include changing insulin molecules into nanoparticles and then the undigested insulin is injected into the bloodstream.

In the past there have been attempts to use insulin in the context of so-called insulin shock treatments for people with mental illnesses. This procedure is no longer practiced today, however.

Insulin is on the list of banned doping substances because it is abused in several areas.  Since insulin counteracts the decreased glucose uptake of somatotropin in the muscle cells, it is often used to compensate for this unwanted side effect, see also anabolic.  Other applications are to promote the filling of glycogen stores in endurance athletes and support the building of muscle mass.

In March 2008, the nurse Colin Norris in Newcastle was sentenced to a prison term of 30 years because he killed four of his patients by injecting them with high doses of insulin.

UK patients turn away from NHS to medical tourism

2.65 million Britons have recently been or are planning to go abroad for medical treatment. The most common elective surgery procedures for outbound UK patients include hip replacements, knee replacements and cataract removal.

Most medical tourists go abroad to avoid paying for treatment not available on the NHS. However, if they previously had private medical cover they could have had these procedures done at no extra cost in the UK.

Without medical insurance, paying for a hip replacement privately in the UK can cost as much as £10,000. Abroad, the procedure itself will cost patients upwards of £3,000. However, the costs of having surgery abroad can add thousands onto this price if complications occur.

The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic, excessive bleeding or developing deep vein thrombosis, chances of which are greatly increased by long-haul flights.

Specific complications of hip replacement can include infection, joint dislocation, hip fracture, unstable joints and nerve damage. Last year, five patients died in NHS hospitals from NDM-1, a new superbug which is thought to have been imported by British health tourists who had surgery in India and in Pakistan.

In addition, on return to the UK, the NHS would not treat minor problems or long term problems related to the surgery.

An alternative option to medical tourism is to compare health insurance quotes. The average health insurance premium for a 30 year old is around £30 a month, totalling only £360 a year.

An average health insurance premium for a 65 year old is around £70 a month, totalling only £840 a year, perhaps lower with a discount scheme.

People with private medical insurance will receive that hip replacement without extra cost, in a private hospital of their choice, with a consultant of their choice.

Any complications will be fully covered, and they will be treated in a private room with excellent facilities. That £840 could also pay for cancer drugs too expensive for use on the NHS.

Dr Richard Theo, of health insurance comparison site ActiveQuote.com, said: “India, one of the most popular destinations for medical tourists, has 6 physicians, 13 nurses, and 9 hospital beds for every 10,000 patients.

“In contrast, the UK has 27 physicians, 103 nurses and 34 hospital beds for every 10,000 patients. Health conscious patients should compare medical insurance quotes and take advantage of our excellent private healthcare system”.

The British birthrate is rocketing, but a warning has come from the Royal College of Midwives that parts of England are potentially facing a dangerously high shortage of midwives. The shortfalls vary significantly between areas and the East of England and the East Midlands need another 41% more midwives the RCM has warned, and these shortages could put mothers and babies at risk.

Yorkshire has experienced a 20% rise in birthrates in the past decade, leaving the county needing a further 370 midwives. The College says that in total, England needed a further 4700 midwives to cope with the increasing pressures, which include a growing number of older and obese pregnant women. It also criticised the PM, David Cameron, for apparently abandoning his pre-election promise to recruit another 3000 midwives.

Cathy Warwick, the general secretary of the RCM, has said that these shortfalls and the fact the complex births are increasing is threatening the quality and safety of maternity care. She said that far too many maternity units in England are under resourced and under staffed to meet the demands placed on them.

She added that she was deeply frustrated that there was absolutely no action coming from the government for remedy the problem. The regional manager of the college, Jeanne Tarrant, has said that more investment and action are needed, and needed now. Without serious investment and attention she has real fears that services in certain regions are going to be really struggling to cope.

A report has revealed that half of all NHS hospitals and nursing homes are failing in their objective of giving their patients safe and effective treatments. The CQC, Care and Quality Commission, has found that only 51% of all nursing homes, and the same percentage of nursing homes, were completely compliant with the standard that calls for safe, appropriate and effective care for the patients.

.The watchdog for health and social care are moderately concerned about 26 % of hospitals in the NHS, and had major concerns about 7%. In the analysis it made of care in the year 2011/12, the regulator found that 61% of nursing homes and 62% of hospitals were meeting the required standards for safely handling medicines. However, 29% of the former and 28% of the latter where failing to meet the nutritional needs of their patients.

It did say though that the NHS has made significant progress in reducing the mixed sex wards and also praised their efforts in tackling the superbugs. Dame Jo Williams, the chairwoman of CQC, has said that this report paints a valuable picture of the access people have to the care services, the control and choices they have when using these services and also the quality of care that’s provided.

She also said that in the next few years we would all see that the landscape of care was changing, and that they were committed to maintain the focus in the compliance of NHS hospitals and nursing homes in meeting the essential standards set for both quality and safety.

Meningitis Awareness Week

Meningitis Awareness Week will this year take place between the 19^th and 25^th September. To tie in with this, a new video has been launched online which supports the MRF, Meningitis Research Foundation, campaign called ‘Counting the Cost of Meningitis’, which calls for support for vaccinations against both meningitis and septicaemia, (meningitis.org/sign)

The MRF is petitioning the Government to ensure that widespread and preventative treatments of these diseases are implemented at the first possible opportunity, which will reduce the lifelong impact of suffering from meningitis and septicaemia.  This new video explains how valuable every signature is, and encourages people to sign up to the MRF petition. The goal is to achieve 10,000 signatures, and only takes a second.

If you are wondering why you should sign, you should really be asking yourself why shouldn’t you. The lifelong costs of surviving septicaemia and meningitis have been closely examined by the MRF as part of their ‘Counting the Cost of Meningitis’ campaign, which is a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the lifelong impact of both diseases using two case studies which are fictional.

Prevention is an awful lot more cost effective than treatments, so the MRF are urging the Government to start persuing the earliest implementation possible of the vaccines that will prevent the diseases developing.

Peter, who was 18 months old when he was struck down with septicaemia which left him with multiple amputations and behavioural difficulties. Total lifelong costs of supporting Peter up to age 70 are £2,833,374.

Emma, who was three years old when she became ill with meningitis which left her brain damaged, deaf and partially blind. Total lifelong costs of supporting Emma up to age 50 are £3,507,664.

These illnesses have far-reaching consequences with survivors facing an on-going need for specialist medical care as well as additional educational and financial support running into millions of pounds.

Christopher Head, Chief Executive of MRF said: “’Counting the Cost of Meningitis’ shows how those who survive can struggle to come to terms with the impact of these horrific diseases which change lives forever. Our campaign makes practical recommendations to Government to reduce the burden of disease through vaccination in the UK. Vaccination provides peace of mind across the country and we are urging everyone across the UK to sign our online petition at www.meningitis.org/sign.”

The first wholly accessible brain tumour tissue bank in the UK is to be launched on September 20^th, thanks to the amazing fundraising efforts of one of the brains trust’s most ardent supporters, Anita Smith. The tissue bank will be housed in Glasgow at the Southern General Hospital and will be the first of its kind that will act as a repository of all kinds of clinical info for all the academic, scientific and commercial UK researchers.

This effectively means that for the first time ever, a researcher from any organisation, irrespective of its location, will have direct access to tissue to test for things such as genetic links, the sensitivity to chemotherapy and for the identification of key markers that will, hopefully, increase future patient’s treatment options.

Anita Smith has done all her fundraising in memory of her daughter Charlotte, who died aged 16 from an aggressive brain tumour in 2008. It is her sterling work that has made this project a reality and she has spoken about the tissue bank. She said that this unique brain tumour tissue bank would allow a better translation of the complicated science to turn it into treatments for patients like Charlotte.

She added that they were thrilled that through their fundraising, along with the support of Brains Trust, that they were able to leave a legacy on behalf of Charlotte that would help future generations of British brain tumour patients.

Professor Anthony Chalmers, Chair of Clinical Oncology at the University of Glasgow, and the project lead, says, “We hope this resource will transform research into brain tumours and serve as a source of material for researchers in the community throughout the UK. The heterogeneity (lack of uniformity) of brain tumours means that we need to understand the challenges and possibilities of personalised medicine – this brain tumour tissue bank is one step on our way to achieving this.”

Brainstrust director, Helen Bulbeck, adds, “By choosing to invest the money that Anita Smith and her amazing ‘Charlotte Smith Fund of Hope’ has raised into the tissue bank, this unique resource will give patients across the UK an even better chance in the future of specific treatments for their brain tumour.

As there is no structured research base currently in existence for brain tumours, despite brain cancer killing more children than any other illness, all efforts to bring together research options are vital. We really look forward to working closely with the University of Glasgow and the Southern General Hospital as this project develops. We will be monitoring the outcomes of the tissue bank closely and will continue to distribute news as we receive it.”

Research into cancer treatments is a continual and ongoing process and the hope of an effective cure is the wish of every cancer research technologist. Recent research has highlighted the healing possibilities of an autumn flower, the crocus and researchers will start clinical trials with a new treatment derived from this flower. Cancerous tumours will be targeted specifically in the trials.

This new chemical treatment, known as colchicine, was used in the successful treatment of mice suffering from a number of different types of cancer. In most cases the cancer was completely eliminated.

The research has been carried out by a team from The Institute for Cancer Therapeutics, ICT, from Bradford University and the results published in the Cancer Research journal. The results have also been presented at the British Science Festival, held in Bradford.

The Autumn crocus, also known as naked lady and meadow saffron, had been used in early times for the treatment of inflammation. It contains a powerful chemical, colchicine, which has strong medicinal properties as well as cancer fighting agents. Colchicine is toxic to cancer but it is also harmful to other body tissue so its use has been limited until now.

The colchicine molecule has now been altered by the ICT researchers and it now remains inactive in the body until it reaches the tumour. Once it makes contact with the tumour, the chemical reactivates and causes the blood vessels feeding the tumor to break up, thereby starving the tumour.

Tumours produce enzymes which break down healthy cells around it. In this way the tumour spreads. The adapted colchicine molecule contains a protein that renders it harmless. The tumour enzyme attacks this protein and eradicates it thereby activating the colchicine and the starvation process of the cancer cells begins.

The drug will only be active in the tumour and will not damage any normal tissue. It may be possible to treat cancers with hardly any side effects to the body as the enzyme needed to activate the poisonous colchicines is only produced in solid tumours. Whenever the enzyme is produced the drug is activated.

The results of this research are most encouraging and only one dose of colchicine produced a very positive response. All the mice responded to the treatment and the majority of them were cured of cancer. Researchers hope the clinical testing at St. James Hospital  will commence within the next 12 to 18 months.

In an interview, Bradford University Spokesman, Professor Patterson, stated that caution should be exercised as everything done to date has been carried out in the laboratory but he is nonetheless optimistic about the treatment opportunities. The project is at an early stage but the results look promising.

It would be a revolution for the sun protection industry, a pill that could protect the skin and eyes from the harmful effect of the suns UV rays, which cause sunburn. A recent scientific study has discovered the way that coral shields itself from these rays. Scientists believe this discovery could make a sun protection pill a reality.

A compound is close to being produced by scientists and should be available within the next five years. The pill will have to be prescription only as taking too much of the pill can be harmful to the body. Additionally some exposure to UV rays is essential for humans as this is how our bodies produce vitamin D – which makes our body have strong bones.

Coral survives because it has algae living inside it, this algae is the key to how to coral protects itself from the sun’s rays. The project is being run by Kings College London, with funding from the taxpayer, and is headed by Dr Paul Long who has said, “What we have discovered is that the algae make the sun protecting compounds, which the coral then takes and converts into a substance that will protect both organisms from the rays.

“We also found that when a fish would eat the coral, they would also become resistant to the sun’s rays. It is this that makes us think that if we can manufacture the compound and give it to humans it will have the same effect as was had on the fish. We should be able to begin testing within two years. Early testing will involve the compound being tested on human skin samples that we will obtain from cosmetic surgeons.”

The team worked with coral samples from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. They would harvest samples at night and then expose them to sunlight in the day so they could see how the sun protection compound is produced by the coral.

Dr Long has also said, “Our goal is to make a pill that, once taken, will provide sun protection to the whole of the body. We will, of course, have to conduct extensive testing before any such pill could be released, so it will be five years before anything could enter the market.”

This discovery could not only benefit people but crops could be genetically engineered to be resistant to the sun. This could boost world food production as temperate crops that survive only with little sun exposure could be grown in tropical regions. Long has said of this possibility, “This could allow for high yield crops with high nutritional values to be grown in parts of the developing world.”

An Advertising feature

It’s increasingly clear that natural skin care – indeed, reducing the number of chemicals we use, both in our food or on our faces – is the most healthy & sustainable lifestyle that any of us can choose. But it can feel tough to make the transition. The natural approach still has a reputation for being messier, less efficient.

It is a lifestyle change, for sure. Natural beauty is about more than switching ingredients & slapping avocado pulp on your face once a week. Drinking more water really does improve my complexion. After I quit smoking, I stopped looking exhausted & grey within a fortnight. If I fall off my healthy eating wagon & spend a few days snarfling cheese, caffeine & sugar, my skin quickly tells me to stop – by getting sore, flakey & oily within 48 hours.

Once you’ve taken care of yourself naturally for a while, though, you begin to recognise that it’s far easier to stay healthy than it is to constantly compensate for self-neglect with endless product experiments & an ever more complicated beauty regime. Don’t roll your eyes – I still go out & party. But your body reacts much more elastically to a night of gin & tonic (or whatever) if you’re filling it with water & veg the rest of the week, & not forcing it to process unnecessary toxins that don’t actually feel much fun at all, if you’re completely honest with yourself.

You also start to notice that the healthier your routine, the fewer blemishes you get. It’s tougher if you’ve any sort of scarring (although even that will benefit from constant rehydration, plenty of vitamins & using products that don’t make it worse by drying your skin or blocking your pores) but for many people, this healthy new complexion brings greater confidence & requires less foundation. This means less frequent scrubbing & cleansing, giving your skin the chance to stay balanced & take care of itself for longer.

Some products will still be necessary, of course, especially if you enjoy dressing up & wearing makeup, but it’s increasingly easy to find decent, affordable skincare cleanser & moisturiser with natural ingredients. When you need a deeper cleanse, it’s actually good fun & really easy to knock a facemask together from kitchen ingredients.

My favourite recipe is:

Oats, banana, yoghurt & honey facemask

which I use once or twice a month. My pores are immediately smaller & my skin feels fresh & healthy straight afterwards. The next day, I usually get a couple of whiteheads where any pimples or infections were brewing.

For one average-sized face, use:

2 teaspoons of porridge oats

Quarter of a ripe banana

2 teaspoons of natural yoghurt

1 teaspoon of runny honey

Stir them together gently to form a smooth paste with ingredients evenly distributed throughout.

Tie your hair back! You don’t have to wash your face first, but it works best if you do. Don’t moisturise, & you definitely shouldn’t be wearing makeup for this.

Smooth the mixture over your face & relax until it’s nearly dry, but not tight or crispy.

NB: the oaty bits can sometimes fall off while the mask is drying. They wash out of fabric, but getting them off soft furnishings can be tedious.

When it’s time to remove the mask, soak a face cloth in warm water & just hold it against your face to soften the mixture, which can then be wiped gently away without over-scrubbing your skin.

Oats reduce inflammation, soothe dry itchy skin & are completely hypoallergenic.

Bananas are packed with minerals & antioxidants, & also reduces inflammation.

Yoghurt contains lactic acids & enzymes that smooth & soothe the skin.

Honey is anti-bacterial, moisturising & great at absorbing impurities from the skin.

You can use any combination of these ingredients as a facemask.