Beat symptoms

Follow these survival tips from ACAAI:

Beat symptoms to the punch: Get a jump start on ragweed allergy symptoms by taking allergy medications in advance, beginning the first or second week in August.

Beware of other allergies that increase suffering: If you're allergic to dogs, cats or dust mites you may be even more susceptible to ragweed allergy. New research suggests these allergies "prime" the system, making hay fever suffering even worse. The solution? Get treated for allergies year-round, which will make hay fever easier to tolerate.

Avoid peak exposure time: To reduce exposure during peak pollen levels, avoid scheduling outdoor activities between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. when ragweed pollen counts are highest.

Sidestep yard work: Hay fever sufferers should avoid mowing the lawn and raking leaves, two activities that stir up pollen. If you must mow or rake, or are doing other outside activities, such as gardening, wear a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved N95 respirator mask.

Grab some shade(s): Use style to your allergy advantage. Wear glasses or sunglasses that fit close to your face to keep pollen from irritating your eyes.

Steer clear of irritants: Reduce your exposure to air pollutants, such as cigarette smoke, insecticides, fertilizers, gasoline fumes, fresh paint and tar, which can worsen your symptoms.

Those who suspect they have hay fever or other allergies should get tested by an allergist a doctor who is expert in diagnosing and treating allergies and asthma.

Source: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)

Use of acetaminophen in 13- and 14 year old increased risk of asthma symptoms

New evidence linking the use of acetaminophen to development of asthma and eczema  suggests that even monthly use of the drug in adolescents may more than double risk of asthma in adolescents compared to those who used none at all; yearly use was associated with a 50 percent increase in the risk of asthma.

The research results will be published online on the American Thoracic Society's Web site ahead of the print edition of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine .

"This study has identified that the reported use of acetaminophen in 13- and 14 year old adolescent children was associated with an exposure-dependent increased risk of asthma symptoms," said study first author Richard Beasley, M.D., professor of medicine, at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand on behalf of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).

As part of the ISAAC program, two written questionnaires and one video questionnaire were administered to more than 300,000 13- and 14 year old children in 113 centers throughout 50 countries, asking them to quantify their use of acetaminophen (none, "medium" - at least once in the last year, or "high" - at least once in the last month) and their asthma, eczema and allergy symptoms.

There was a significant association between acetaminophen use and risk of asthma and eczema. For medium users the risk of asthma 43 percent higher than non-users; high users had 2.51 times the risk of non-users. Similarly, the risk of rhinoconjunctivitis (allergic nasal congestion) was 38 percent higher for medium users and 2.39 times as great for high users compared to non-users. For eczema, the relative risks were 31 percent and 99 percent respectively.

As this was a cross-sectional study, causality could not be determined. However, there is mounting evidence that suggests a causal link.

A longitudinal study on a small population in Ethiopia that examined the risk of asthma and allergies associated with acetaminophen use elucidated a temporal relationship between acetaminophen usage and the development of asthma and allergy symptoms, lending greater evidence to the possibility that acetaminophen usage may indeed cause the increased risk. This study will also be published online in advance of publication of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Moreover, in an earlier study from the United States, 13 and 14-year-old children with asthma were randomized to take either acetaminophen or ibuprofen after a febrile illness. For those whose illness was respiratory, there was an increased risk of a subsequent outpatient visit for asthma.

There are a number of biologically plausible explanations for how acetaminophen might increase risk of asthma and allergy. Acetaminophen may have a systemic inflammatory effect, possibly increasing oxygen stress resulting from the depletion of glutathione-dependent enzymes, which may in turn lead to enhanced TH2 allergic immune responses. Furthermore, acetaminophen may suppress the immune response to, and prolong the symptomatic illness from, rhinovirus infections, which are a common cause of severe asthma exacerbations in childhood.

Given the increased risk associated with acetaminophen usage, Dr. Beasley and colleagues calculated that the population attributable risks - the percentage of cases that might be avoided if the risk factor were to be eliminated - were indicative of a remarkable impact from acetaminophen usage.

"The overall population attributable risks for current symptoms of severe asthma were around 40 percent, suggesting that if the associations were causal, they would be of major public health significance," said Dr. Beasley. "Randomized controlled trials are now urgently required to investigate this relationship further and to guide the use of antipyretics, not only in children but in pregnancy and adult life."

Is the one-site skinfold test really accurate?

Is the one-site skinfold test really accurate?
With all the high tech fat testing gizmos available these days, you might wonder if
skinfold testing is really accurate – especially a one-site skinfold test. I have to
admit, the first time I saw an Accu measure, I thought the little plastic thingy was
a piece of junk. I didn't see how it could possibly come close to comparing to my
$450 "Skyndex I" digital caliper we use at our health clubs (with a four-site
measurement). It wasn't until I used the Accu Measure myself and had hundreds
of my clients use it (who didn't have any other options for testing), that I began to
appreciate the value of this simple instrument.
What I discovered is that there's definitely a learning curve and you may get wildly
inconsistent measurements when you first start using the Accu measure. But after
you master the technique, you will get measurements with uncanny accuracy and
consistency (and it's consistency that really matters, not "accuracy.")
For example, the first time you measure your illiac crest (hip bone) skinfold, taking
three measurements in a row, you might get readings of 14 mm, then 17 mm
Then 9 mm, etc. This shows very poor accuracy because you're a beginner and
you're unfamiliar with proper "skinfold pinching" technique and site location using
anatomical landmarks.
Don't worry. Everything is difficult the first time, and practice makes perfect - so
practice! For the first week, measure yourself every day – for practice purposes,
not for progress reporting purposes (because you won't see much difference in
body fat from day to day). Within that first week, your technique will improve
dramatically. You'll see measurements more like this: 14 mm, 13 mm, and 15
mm. Each skinfold in this example is only one millimeter apart, indicating that your
accuracy has improved (you can average those three numbers to 14 mm as your
official measurement, by the way).
Within two or three weeks of practicing, you'll have excellent accuracy. You know
you have the technique perfected when you get three of three or at least two of
three measurements identical. For example: 13 mm, 13 mm, 13 mm, or 13 mm,
13 mm, 14 mm.
During the sometimes frustrating learning stages, it will make you feel better to
know this: When I was in college learning body composition testing in exercise
physiology lab and then again in ACSM certification workshops, our instructors and
professors told us that it takes 100 tests on 100 different subjects before you are a
"proficient expert" at testing. So stick with it. (And keep that in mind if you choose
to have someone else measure you).
Even if you have access to a fitness professional, personal trainer or exercise
physiologist to measure you with a multiple site skinfold test, the accuracy will only
be as good as the tester's experience and testing technique. The technique of
skinfold testing is not accurate or inaccurate per se –the person doing the testing
is accurate or inaccurate. So... you might as well become an accurate tester
yourself, right?

VitoSlim Best Herbal pill to increase metabolism

VitoSlim ™ is an all-natural diet supplement including 100% pure thermogenic extracts. This slimming pill helps in maximum weight loss in the shortest space of time possible.

Why Are Antioxidants Important in Cancer Prevention?

Why Are Antioxidants Important in Cancer Prevention?
Vitamin C, carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, vitamin E, selenium,
copper, zinc, and manganese are very important factors in normal anti-
oxidant activities. These factors then become very important in cancer
prevention as many cancers begin with free-radical damage to key cell
components, such as DNA. All of these factors can be found to some
degree in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, which probably is
a primary reason why people eating a diet rich in these natural foods are
at a lower risk of most cancers. Furthermore, people eating a diet rich in
fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes tend to eat less fat and exer-
cise more frequently. Whether there is a need for antioxidant supplemen-
tation is the subject of much debate.
  Cytoxan is a chemotherapy drug used for the treatment of cancer.
Hydrea is used in the treatment of certain cancers.

Antioxidants can lower the risk of cancer development by inactivat-
ing harmful free radicals.

Not Clothes

It's Atoms and Molecules That Make the Man,
Not Clothes
What Is the Most Basic Composition of Our Body?
Let's say that we had access to fancy laboratory equipment capable of
determining the most fundamental composition of an object. If we used
this equipment to assess a man or woman it would spit out some interest-
ing data on our most basic level of composition—elements. Elements are
substances that cannot be broken down into other substances. Scientists
have determined that there are one hundred or so of these elements in
nature. Some of the more recognizable elements include carbon, oxygen,
hydrogen, nitrogen , iron, zinc , copper, potassium, and calcium. All of the
elements known to exist can be found on the periodic table of elements,
which we have all come across at one point or another in our schooling.
(the periodic table of elements is included as Appendix A in case you feel
the need for another peek.) Now, imagine that everything that you can
think of is merely a skillful combination of these same elements. This
includes cars, boats, buildings, clouds, oceans, trees, and of course our
body. In fact, our body employs about twenty-seven of the elements as
displayed in Table 1.1 and Appendix A.

Nature cure

Nature cure is a constructive method of treatment which aims at removing the basic cause of
disease through the rational use of the elements freely available in nature. It is not only a system
of healing, but also a way of life, in tune with the internal vital forces or natural elements
comprising the human body. It is a complete revolution in the art and science of living.
Although the term ' naturopathy' is of relatively recent origin, the philosophical basis and several
of the methods of nature cure treatments are ancient. It was practised in ancient Egypt, Greece
and Rome. Hippocrates, the father of medicine ( 460-357 B.C.) strongly advocated it. India, it
appears, was much further advanced in older days in natural healing system than other
countries of the world. There are references in India's ancient sacred books about the extensive
use of nature's excellent healing agents such as air, earth, water and sun. The Great Baths of
the Indus Valley civilisation as discovered at Mohenjodaro in old Sind testifies to the use of water
for curative purposes in ancient India.
The modern methods of nature cure originated in Germany in 1822, when Vincent Priessnitz
established the first hydropathic establishment there. With his great success in water cure, the
idea of drugless healing spread throughout the civilised world and many medical practitioners
throughout the civilised world and many medical practitioners from America and other countries
became his enthusiastic students and disciples. These students subsequently enlarged and
developed the various methods of natural healing in their own way. The whole mass of
knowledge was later collected under one name, Naturopathy. The credit for the name
Naturopathy goes to Dr. Benedict Lust ( 1872 - 1945), and hence he is called the Father of
Naturopathy.

THE ORIGINS OF THE CALORIE THEORY

THE ORIGINS OF THE CALORIE THEORY

In 1930 two American doctors, Newburgh and Johnson, of the University of Michigan, suggested in one of their papers that "obesity results from a diettoo high in calories, rather than from any metabolic deficiency". Their study on energy balance was based on very limited data and, above all, had been conducted over too short a period to deserve serious scientific acceptance. This did not prevent their study from being immediately and widely acclaimed as irrefutable scientific truth, and it has been treated as "gospel" ever since.

A few years later, however, Newburgh and Johnson, concerned at the publicity which had been given to their discovery, somewhat hesitantly published some serious reservations they had concerning their previous findings. These went entirely unnoticed. Their initial theory was already integrated into the syllabus of most Western medical schools, and there it remains to this day.

vitamin D

BACKGROUND: The role of vitamin D in the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes is well known within the field of dermatology. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the role that vitamin D and the vitamin D receptor play in the hair cycle and assess how this can be clinically applied to the treatment of hair disorders. METHODS: A MEDLINE search (1955-July 2009) was preformed to find relevant articles pertaining to vitamin D, the vitamin D receptor, and hair loss. RESULTS: The vitamin D receptor, independent of vitamin D, plays an important role in hair cycling, specifically anagen initiation. The role of vitamin D in hair follicle cycling is not as well understood. LIMITATIONS: The review is broad and there are limited human studies available to date. CONCLUSION: Additional studies to evaluate the role of vitamin D in the hair cycle should be done. Treatments that up regulate the vitamin D receptor may be successful in treating hair disorders and are a potential area of further study.

The medicinal qualities of pineapple

The medicinal qualities of pineapple are recognized in many traditions in South America, China and Southeast Asia. These qualities are attributed to bromelain, a 95%-mixture of proteases. Medicinal qualities of bromelain include anti-inflammatory , anti-thrombotic, fibrinolytic and anti-cancer functions . Existing evidence derived from clinical observations as well as from mouse- and cell-based models suggests that bromelain acts systemically, affecting multiple cellular and molecular targets. In recent years, studies have shown that bromelain has the capacity to modulate key pathways that support malignancy. It is now possible to suggest that the anti-cancer activity of bromelain consists in the direct impact on cancer cells and their micro-environment, as well as in the modulation of immune, inflammatory and haemostatic systems. This review will summarize existing data relevant to bromelain's anti-cancer activity and will suggest mechanisms which account for bromelain's effect, in the light of research involving non-cancer models. The review will also identify specific new research questions that will need to be addressed in order for a full assessment of bromelain-based anti-cancer therapy .

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Safety concerns have reduced the number of women on hormone replacement therapy,

Flaxseed for Menopausal Discomfort

Safety concerns have reduced the number of women on hormone replacement therapy, but flaxseed is rich in phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) that can take the heat out of hot flashes. At Laval University in Quebec, Canada, researchers gave 25 menopausal women HRT or flaxseed (1.4 ounces per day, mixed into food). After six months, flaxseed relieved hot flashes as effectively as HRT.

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VITAMIN B6 (Pyridoxine) Needed to produce hydrochloric acid

VITAMIN B6 (Pyridoxine) Needed to produce hydrochloric acid. Aids in absorption of fats, and protein. Mildly diuretic, helps prevent kidney stones. Helpful in treating allergies, arthritis, and asthma. HERBAL SOURCES: Alfalfa, catnip, oat straw.

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Echinacea Interactions with Drugs

Interactions 

Most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested for interactions with other herbs, supplements, drugs, or foods. The interactions listed below are based on reports in scientific publications, laboratory experiments, or traditional use. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy
Echinacea  Interactions  with Drugs

Natural medicine practitioners sometimes caution that echinacea may lead to liver inflammation. There is not clear information from laboratory or human studies in this area. Nonetheless, caution should be used when combining echinacea by mouth with other medications that can harm the liver. Examples of such agents include anabolic steroids, amiodarone, methotrexate, acetaminophen (Tylenol®), and antifungal medications taken by mouth (such as ketoconazole). Echinacea may affect the way certain drugs are broken down by the liver.

In theory, echinacea's ability to stimulate the immune system may interfere with drugs that suppress the immune system (including azathioprine, cyclosporine, and steroids such as prednisone). Because clear human studies are lacking, people taking these drugs should consult a healthcare professional or pharmacist before using echinacea.

Based on one vague case report, taking echinacea along with amoxicillin may cause life-threatening reactions. However, the details of this case are not very clear.

Early information suggests that the use of echinacea with econazole nitrate cream (Spectazole®) on the skin may lower the frequency of vaginal yeast infections after treatment.

Many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol, and may cause nausea or vomiting when taken with metronidazole (Flagyl®) or disulfiram (Antabuse®).

Echinacea may also interact with anesthetics, antineoplastics, and caffeine. However, these potential interactions are not fully understood.

Exposures to the tobacco smoke

Old tobacco smoke does more than simply make a room smell stale — it can leave cancer-causing toxins behind, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

They found cancer-causing agents called tobacco-specific nitrosamines stick to a variety of surfaces, where they can get into dust or be picked up on the fingers. Children and infants are the most likely to pick them up, the team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California reported.

"These findings raise concerns about exposures to the tobacco smoke residue that has been recently dubbed 'third-hand smoke'," the researchers wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

They suggested a good clean-up could help remove these potentially harmful chemicals and said their findings suggest other airborne toxins may also be found on surfaces.

"TSNAs (tobacco-specific nitrosamines) are among the most broadly acting and potent carcinogens present in unburned tobacco and tobacco smoke ," Berkeley chemist Hugo Destaillats, who worked on the study, said in a statement.

"The burning of tobacco releases nicotine in the form of a vapor that adsorbs strongly onto indoor surfaces, such as walls, floors, carpeting, drapes and furniture. Nicotine can persist on those materials for days, weeks and even months."


The nicotine combines with another common compound called nitrous acid to form tobacco-specific nitrosamines or TSNAs, Destaillats and colleagues found.

Unvented gas appliances are the main source of nitrous acid indoors, and vehicle engines emit it too.

The researchers did laboratory tests with cigarette smoke, and also tested a 45-year-old pickup truck driven by a heavy smoker. The TSNA compound formed quickly if nitrous acids were around — notably in the truck compartment but also in rooms where cigarette smoke wafted.

It would be easy to ingest this new compound, they said, calling it "an unappreciated health hazard."

"Because of their frequent contact with surfaces and dust, infants and children are particularly at risk," they wrote.

"Nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco smoke, has until now been considered to be non-toxic in the strictest sense of the term," Kamlesh Asotra of the University of California's Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, which paid for the study, said in a statement.

"What we see in this study is that the reactions of residual nicotine with nitrous acid at surface interfaces are a potential cancer hazard, and these results may be just the tip of the iceberg."

James Pankow, who also worked on the study, said it may raise questions about the safety of electronic cigarettes , or " e-cigarettes ." which produce a nicotine vapor but not smoke .

The researchers said regulators who have cracked down on second-hand smoke with smoking bans may decide to consider policies on third-hand smoke .

The vaccine fights the herpes simplex 2 virus (HSV2)

Worried that your partner has genital herpes? Well, a new approach to a herpes vaccine might rid you of any such troubles.

The vaccine fights the herpes simplex 2 virus (HSV2), which coexists with the humans it infects for long periods, only rarely causing bouts of sores, reports New Scientist.

The vaccine achieves this feat by suppressing its host's immune system, and this has meant attempts to use the virus itself as a vaccine have failed.

Now researchers at BioVex in Woburn, Massachusetts, have produced a vaccine by deleting five of the virus's genes.

"We hope this will unmask the virus to the human immune system," said Robert Coffin, chief executive of BioVex.

The altered virus neither causes disease nor suppresses our immune system.

The researchers found that animals that had been injected with the altered virus did not develop symptoms when exposed to normal HSV2.

BioVex will now begin clinical trials of the vaccine in London.

Coffin said that a vaccine would initially be offered to the sexual partners of people who carry genital herpes, and wider vaccination may also be a possibility.

http://www.medindia.net/news/New-Vaccine-for-Genital-Herpes-Shows-Promise-66302-1.htm


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