Curcumin, an ingredient commonly found in yellow curry, is being viewed as a promising disease-fighter. Scientists are working on developing nano-sized capsules containing the curry ingredient in an effort to improve its absorption and effectiveness in the body.
Curcumin is a potent antioxidant found in the Indian spice called turmeric.
The research team is developing nano-size capsule that would boost the body''s uptake of curcumin and help fight several diseases.
Trials are underway to test its safety and effectiveness in fighting colon cancer, psoriasis, and Alzheimer''s disease.
The digestive juice in the gastrointestinal tract quickly destroys curcumin so that little actually gets into the blood.
It is already known that encapsulating insulin and certain other drugs into structures called liposomes can boost absorption.
The scientists prepared the liposomes encapsulating curcumin and fed them to laboratory rats.
They found that encapsulating more than quadrupled absorption of curcumin, and also boosted antioxidant levels in the blood.
The researchers said that encapsulating process could be an answer to the problem of increasing curcumin''s absorption in the digestive environment of the gastrointestinal tract.
The study appears in ACS'' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication.
Showing posts with label medical report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medical report. Show all posts
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Surgery in Chandigarh hospital telecast live to Paris
A team of cardiologists at a private hospital in this union territory Thursday conducted a surgery, which was telecast live to the Indo-European Course on Revascularization (IECR) at Paris.
Doctors at Mukat Hospital performed the surgery that was broadcast live during the third edition of IECR, going on at Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris.
"Mukat is the only hospital in this region that was selected for live telecast of this surgery during the international cardiac meeting," Ravi Inder Singla, medical director of the hospital, told reporters Thursday.
"It is a great honour for us. The participants of the conference not only saw the intricacies of surgery but also interacted and discussed various points with our doctors during the operation," he said.
The surgery was performed on a 59-year-old patient suffering from severe angina while walking or exercising.
"The patient had undergone bypass surgery in 1997. It was found that out of three bypass grafts he had received, one was totally closed while other two had more than 95 percent blockages. We decided to open up blockages in these grafts so as to restore blood flow to heart," said Sudheer Saxena, who led the team of doctors.
"The surgery was quite successful and we are hoping for a quick recovery of the patient," said Saxena, who had till date performed more than 10,000 diagnostic and over
5,000 coronary angioplasty procedures.
Ranjan Mathai, India's ambassador to France, inaugurated the IECR conference in Paris that was aimed to discuss and analyse the latest developments in the field of interventional cardiology.
"Besides the top cardiologists from India and Europe, over 1,000 cardiologists from the US, South America, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh participated in this conference," said the spokesperson of MukatHospital.
Doctors at Mukat Hospital performed the surgery that was broadcast live during the third edition of IECR, going on at Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris.
"Mukat is the only hospital in this region that was selected for live telecast of this surgery during the international cardiac meeting," Ravi Inder Singla, medical director of the hospital, told reporters Thursday.
"It is a great honour for us. The participants of the conference not only saw the intricacies of surgery but also interacted and discussed various points with our doctors during the operation," he said.
The surgery was performed on a 59-year-old patient suffering from severe angina while walking or exercising.
"The patient had undergone bypass surgery in 1997. It was found that out of three bypass grafts he had received, one was totally closed while other two had more than 95 percent blockages. We decided to open up blockages in these grafts so as to restore blood flow to heart," said Sudheer Saxena, who led the team of doctors.
"The surgery was quite successful and we are hoping for a quick recovery of the patient," said Saxena, who had till date performed more than 10,000 diagnostic and over
5,000 coronary angioplasty procedures.
Ranjan Mathai, India's ambassador to France, inaugurated the IECR conference in Paris that was aimed to discuss and analyse the latest developments in the field of interventional cardiology.
"Besides the top cardiologists from India and Europe, over 1,000 cardiologists from the US, South America, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh participated in this conference," said the spokesperson of MukatHospital.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Intake of vegetables during pregnancy may prevent diabetes in unborn child
The need to eat healthy food during pregnancy for the health of unborn child is a well established fact. Recent study has shown that intake of vegetables during pregnancy can reduce the risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the child. During type 1 diabetes, certain cells in the pancreas fail to produce insulin hence leading to insulin deficiency.
The recent study was based on the data collected from 6,000 five-year-olds. Children who are at higher risk of developing type-1 diabetes generally have high level of antibodies in blood, which attack insulin-producing cells.
Data analysis indicated that three percent children had high levels of antibodies or completely developed type 1 diabetes at the age of five.
The risk of developing type-1 diabetes was double in children whose mother’s consumption of green vegetables was very low. Children whose mother had green vegetables daily during pregnancy had lowest risk of type-1 diabetes.
Researcher and clinical nutritionist Hilde Brekke from Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden said that this is the first study to show a link between vegetable intakeduring pregnancy and the risk of the child subsequently developing type-1 diabetes.
The recent study was based on the data collected from 6,000 five-year-olds. Children who are at higher risk of developing type-1 diabetes generally have high level of antibodies in blood, which attack insulin-producing cells.
Data analysis indicated that three percent children had high levels of antibodies or completely developed type 1 diabetes at the age of five.
The risk of developing type-1 diabetes was double in children whose mother’s consumption of green vegetables was very low. Children whose mother had green vegetables daily during pregnancy had lowest risk of type-1 diabetes.
Researcher and clinical nutritionist Hilde Brekke from Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden said that this is the first study to show a link between vegetable intakeduring pregnancy and the risk of the child subsequently developing type-1 diabetes.
Mother's Dieting Might Lead to Eating Disorders in Daughter - Survey
A recent survey of over 500 teenagers conducted by Sugar Magazine revealed that daughters of mothers who diet are two times more prone to developing an eating disorder. Out of the teenage girls included, nearly 6% had an eating disorder at the average age of 14. This number rose to 10% for girls who were aware that their mothers were dieting.
Almost 4 out of every 10 young women admitted that their mothers acted as a definite influence on their self perception, while nearly two thirds had, over the years, heard their mothers complain relentlessly about their own weight.
"Every single issue of Sugar magazine features fashion modeled by 'regular' girls, with difference body sizes and shapes, to prove all bodies are gorgeous when they're well fed and exercised. But it stands to reason that a girl's 'thinheritance' - the attitude to food and body-shape she is exposed to day-after-day in her home - is going to be more powerful than anything we can print in a magazine", shared Annabel Brog, editor of Sugar.
If survey figures are to be believed, 51% of the girls who participated admitted to dieting most of the time, while almost 8 out of every 10 were constantly worried about their current weight. An ugly, shocking truth that was revealed by the Sugar survey was that every 1 in 5 girls admitted to have been criticized by family members about their weight. Also, nearly 1 in 3 young women revealed that they had been called derogatory names like "elephant" and "beast" by some relative.
Almost 4 out of every 10 young women admitted that their mothers acted as a definite influence on their self perception, while nearly two thirds had, over the years, heard their mothers complain relentlessly about their own weight.
"Every single issue of Sugar magazine features fashion modeled by 'regular' girls, with difference body sizes and shapes, to prove all bodies are gorgeous when they're well fed and exercised. But it stands to reason that a girl's 'thinheritance' - the attitude to food and body-shape she is exposed to day-after-day in her home - is going to be more powerful than anything we can print in a magazine", shared Annabel Brog, editor of Sugar.
If survey figures are to be believed, 51% of the girls who participated admitted to dieting most of the time, while almost 8 out of every 10 were constantly worried about their current weight. An ugly, shocking truth that was revealed by the Sugar survey was that every 1 in 5 girls admitted to have been criticized by family members about their weight. Also, nearly 1 in 3 young women revealed that they had been called derogatory names like "elephant" and "beast" by some relative.
Pumpkin Skin Effective in Fighting Dangerous Germs - Research
Pumpkin recently made a place for itself in the list of vegetables which offer therapeutic benefits after a research confirmed that proteins in the vegetable's skin have the potential to kill many germs which cause infection. In what is being pegged as one of the year's most interesting finds, the study said thatpumpkin skin can effectively fight even drug resistant germs, including a fungus which currently attacks million of Americans each year.
Conducted in South Korea's Chosun University, the study confirmed that one protein found in the skin of Pumpkin was unusually effective in killing and curbing the growth of Candid albicans, without any toxic side-effects. C. Albicans has been held responsible for causing conditions such as vaginal infections, diaper rashes and many other health problems.
The study has been published in the latest issue of the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, and authored by Kyung-Soo Hahm and Yoonkyung Park.Pumpkin has long been used in folk medicine in many countries, and the latest find will help the medicinal properties of the vegetable be known far and wide.
Gulping sugary soft drinks can give you Hypertension
Recent study has shown that high intake of fructose can increase chances of developing hypertension. Fructose is a common sweetener that is found in a wide range of food and drink products like fruit juices, soft drinks, bakery products, and candy.
For the study, research team led by Dr Diana Jalal, from University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center studied data collected from 4,528 Americans 18 years of age or older. The study subjects had no history of hypertension.
The fructose intake of study subjects was calculated by questioning them about their food and drink intake. Then their blood pressure was checked.
Data analysis indicated that study subjects who consumed 74 grams of fructose or drank 2.5 sugary soft drinks per day had higher risk of developing hypertension. It was found that consumption of 74 grams per day of fructose led to a 28%, 36%, and 87% higher risk for blood pressure levels of 135/85, 140/90, and 160/100 mmHg.
Dr Diana Jalal said: "These results indicate that high fructose intake in the form of added sugars is significantly and independently associated with higher blood pressure levels in the US adult population with no previous history of hypertension."
?3 Injection can Cure Snoring - British Doctor
ENT Hadi Al-Jassim and his team of consultant are offering a treatment for snoring which is both quick and very cost effective. A genuine alternative to the otherwise painful surgery which many are forced to undertake for snoring, this treatment employs a simple administration of a ?3 injection into the roof of the mouth.
The procedure, which takes less than two minutes, works by hardening the soft tissues at the back of the mouth which vibrate and produce the noise while sleeping. Dr. Al-Jassim, who, along with his team of consultants, is the only one offering this treatment in Britain, explains, "Theinjection is cheap for the NHS to use and it is effective. I am delighted with the treatment because, until this, there has been no effective treatment other than surgery".
The treatment, formally known as Snoreplasty, can help people stop snoring for up-to a year. While some people find one dose enough for nearly a year, some other might need theinjection more often. It is safe to administer it as many as three times a year.
Snoring is a problem faced by many people, and made worse if the snorer is overweight. Figure say that nearly 15 billion Britons snore, a problem which can now be taken care of by a simpleinjection.
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