Globe Health Tours News

May 30: Following vegan diet that includes fruits and vegetables that are rich in fibre and healthier fats will help to protect against type-two diabetes according to a study. As part of the study nearly 14,000 Spanish volunteers were questioned about their eating habit and studied for a period of four years to find the development of the symptoms. The findings of the research hinted that 83% of the people who followed vegan diet have low risk of type-2 diabetes. The results of the study were published in British Medical Journal.

People living in Crete, Greece and southern Italy follow Mediterranean diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables normally cooked in olive oil and washed with glass of red wine. Regular exercise is part of their routine lifestyle. Modern studies consider Mediterranean diet as the ideal diet to keep the heart healthy. The link between obesity and the chances of developing diabetes has already been proven. Olive oil is found to control blood sugar level and minimise blood pressure.

While UK experts consider this study as not comprehensive. Dr Iain Frame from Diabetes UK opined that the questionnaire format did not try to bring out accurate results. He also added that even though the research findings point to the benefits of Mediterranean diet in reducing diabetes risk, there is need for detailed study in order to get a clear picture.

Diabetes UK suggests people to follow healthy food habit that is less in fat, sugar and salt; and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Indulging in any kind of physical activities will also help to keep the diabetes risk at bay.

Meanwhile a spokesman of the British Nutrition Foundation commented that different elements of the diet will combine together to make a difference. But the study doesn’t allow us to find exactly what kind of diet is having beneficial effect. The Mediterranean diet is high in fibre rich fruits and vegetables and saturated fat, which will help to reduce the risk of diabetes. Olive oil is the main ingredient of the diet, when highly consumed it is found to gain control over blood glucose and reduce inflammation, it will help to prevent the development of diabetes right from the early stage.

More specific studies will add more clarity to the health benefits of following Mediterranean lifestyle.

May 29: Researches on several topics are conducted all over the world for the betterment of human existence. Animals are mainly used for experiments to confirm the outcome of the research. Pros and cons are often raised over the period of years on the experiments on animals. On this backdrop a world expert on primates, Dr Jane Goodall has asked Europe to find an alternative to keep animals away from these experiments.

Dr Goodall was addressing a meeting in Brussels and she called for more initiatives to find an alternative to using animals for experiments. Her comments came at the apt moment as the EU directive on the protection of animals used for research that dates back to 1986 is to be revised soon. In the EU alone nearly 11 million animals are used for experiments each year in a regulated manner.

According to the version of scientists using animals for research cannot be avoided as it is effective in finding solution to health related problems that arise in humans. Dr Goodall was addressing an event organised by animal rights campaigners and a group of Euro MPs. She also presented a 150,000-signature petition that supports her call.

While the Dr Hadwen Trust, a non-animal medical research body in the UK has asked the EU to form a centre of excellence in non-animal research. Wendy Higgins, the spokeswoman of the trust said: “Industrial and academic researches have expressed their discontent over using animals for research purposes.”

Meanwhile the EU’s Directive 86/609/EEC put forth certain level of control on using animals for experimental purposes. It suggests that the experiments “shall be performed solely by competent authorised persons or under the direct responsibility of such a person”.

It further adds that the experiment “shall not be performed if another scientifically satisfactory method of obtaining the result sought, not entailing the use of an animal, is reasonably and practicably available”.

Finding an alternative way to substitute animals in research is the ideal way to bring permanent solution to this issue.

May 28: Persons who suffer from stoke related speech problems are left isolated after they get discharged from hospital as according to the campaigners. The NHS through its community support groups led by stroke specialists is helping those with communication problems to regain confidence.

The government showed its willingness to invest more funds to improve service offered by the community support groups. The number of stroke victims is increasing rapidly and one third of the survivors suffer from communication disability as a result of it, this will make the survivors feel depressed.

Only the victims who lost their speaking ability need long term help. The communication support therapy lend by NHS is helping those people to get back to normal life to a certain extent. Through their initiatives they help the patients to improve their speech or learn basic sign language to enable them to communicate easily.

The Stroke Association runs most of the services on behalf of the NHS, found that only 12% of those with severe communication difficulties are utilising the services provided by the NHS. In England just 1,300 people are getting the service. According to charity’s report the situation is better in Scotland and Wales but there is need for improvement.

While commenting on this Joe Korner of the Stroke Association opined that, “Communication is the vital need whether it is through speech or signs, the ability to interact with others is essential. Depriving of this ability will make stroke victims feel low.”

Meanwhile the Department of Health said that proper investment will be made to enhance the counselling and support services to reach more people who are in need.

May 27: A study conducted by the researchers at the Imperial College London has tried to reveal the link between gum disease and cancer risk. As part of the study the research team considered the health record of 50,000 men and opined that the immune system weakness might be the reason for both illnesses. The British Dental Association also stressed the need for regular check-ups.

Most of the Britons are found to suffer from some kind of gum problem caused by bacterial attack and this problem is more prevalent among smokers. The new research has revealed that even among non-smokers the gum disease could be considered as the bigger risk of cancer.

The research team was led by Dr Dominique Michaud who led the research opined that, “The long lasting gum disease might be the clear indication of weakening immune system and that makes the person vulnerable to both periodontal disease and hematological cancers. The bacteria from the gum might have the ability to cause cancer in the tissues of mouth or throat when swallowed.”

He further added that, “Only more researches on this topic will bring a clear picture about the real depth of the issue. Now it is premature for the patients with periodontal diseases to check for cancer symptoms it is advisable to consult a dentist for this purpose.”

While commenting on this a spokesman of the British Dental Association said: “Dentists were trained to spot cancer in the mouth they were becoming more aware about the impact of gum health in determining overall health of a person. They are capable of referring patients when they come across serious gum disease in otherwise healthy patients.”

This research has far-reaching significance as it hints about the possibility of gum disease to develop into cancer threat.

May 26: A genetic study will help to know more about the reason behind alcohol related cancer. The reason for some habitual drinkers getting affected by cancer while most others do not has remained as a riddle for a long time. The European study tries to find a solution for that, they have found two gene variants that protects against mouth and throat cancers.

The findings of the research were published in Nature Genetics. According to the study people who have those genes will acquire the ability to break down alcohol into less harmful chemicals. While Cancer Research UK suggested that reducing the consumption of alcohol is the effective way to prevent cancer.

The research team was led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France; they considered 9000 cases of people of similar age group and lifestyle who are with or without mouth or throat cancer symptoms.

The researchers found that more than seven out of ten people, who are treated for mouth cancer, drank more than the recommended limit of alcohol along with smoking that is known risk factor for oesophageal cancer. Earlier research had found that a particular gene named ADH will help to get rid of risks posed by cancer.

While commenting on this Hazel Nunn of Cancer Research UK said: “It is an interesting study, but further research is needed to get a clear picture about the role played by these gene variants in developing cancer. The best practical advice to minimise the risk of mouth, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus is to quit smoking and consume less alcohol.”

Drinking habit is also considered as one of the main reasons for breast, bowel and liver cancer.

May 24: Researchers are inching closer to develop a targeted vaccine that can effectively kill the cancer creating cells. UK researchers have identified a protein on immune cells that are attached to the immune system and are capable of restricting the tumour. The vaccine will convey the message to the immune system to fight against the invading cancer cells.

The findings of the research are published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. This research will boost the cancer research for developing targeted cancer vaccines in the future. For over three decades scientists are searching for proteins on dendritic cells. According to the research team at London Research institute the vaccines carrying a foreign molecule from a cancer cell could be targeted to the dendritic cells that would encourage the immune system to attack the cancer causing cells. Using the same method HIV or malaria could be treated.

The lead of the study Dr Caetano Reis e Sousa opined that his team had spotted out a particular protein named DNGR-1 that could be used to transfer such vaccine to the dentritic cell. The vaccines will trigger the immune cells known as T cells that are capable of attacking dangerous foreign molecules like those found on pathogens. Dendritic cells are like messengers that hint T cells who to attack.

He further added that, “Vaccines will have a sample of the offending molecule and will transfer to DNGR-1 on the dendritic cells that will offer the molecules to the armies of T cells and instruct them to attack.”

The findings of the research will simplify the cancer treatment as it will help to understand and develop targeted cancer vaccines in the future.

May 23: A research conducted by the Harward university researchers has found that changing meal times will help a great deal to help travellers to recover from jet lag. The detailed study conducted on mice has found that the brain has a second “feeding clock” that monitors meal-times.

When one eat less the feeding clock gains control over the master clock that keeps the animal wakeful until the need for food is fulfilled. The finding of the research was published in the journal Science and it suggests that shift workers and long distance travellers can make use of this to avoid tiredness.

There is a powerful master clock in our brain known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus that controls the daily sleep cycles, behaviour and metabolism. The symptoms of jet lag can be effectively controlled and makes it lot more manageable.

While commenting on this Dr Neil Stanley of Norwich University Hospital opined that the disruption of the “circadian” rhythms is found to be connected with neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, heart disease, depression and insomnia. The Harward team has tried to find the relationship between “circadian” clock and “feeding” clock and its relationship with our eating patterns.”

The lead researcher of the study Clifford Saper said: “Frequent travellers and shift workers can make use of the feeding clock to adapt to changes in time zones and night-time schedules that make them feel groggy and jet-lagged.”

The research findings will benefit those people who used to travel frequently and work in unsociable hours of the day. The symptoms will not disappear completely but that can be managed to a certain extent.

May 22: In future students in schools and colleges will be tested for using brain improving drugs prior to their exams. The Academy of Medical Sciences opined that even healthy people use the drugs for diseases like Alzheimer’s to enhance their alertness and memory. Like athletes urine drug tests will be conducted in children if the issue get worse.

As an attempt to study the use of psychoactive drugs and its impact on brain function the academy set up a working group in the year 2006 that is led by Sir Gabriel Horn, the neuroscience expert at the Cambridge University. Experts also suggest that regulations are needed to check the unfair advantage in exams with the help of memory enhancing drugs.

Researchers have found that many of the addictive drugs and some behavioural addictions including gambling will gain control over neural circuits in a particular region of the brain. The genes that make the brain vulnerable to mental illness have also been identified. Experts who contacted the focus group among the public during their research said the research has made limited progress in drug treatment.

They also added that the most of the medicines used for curing drug addiction fails to cure it completely, but they only try to replace the substance with less addictive and hazardous ones. The group report also suggest that the vaccines could be developed to neutralise addiction, more investment and better co-ordination between industry and government is needed to make that feasible. The researchers also focus on developing better brain enhancing drugs or cognitive enhancers to fulfil this purpose.

UK alone spends £15bn in social and economic costs in connection with drug addiction. An average of one among 10 persons is expected to suffer mental illness. On this backdrop this research deserves far reaching significance.

May 21: While commenting on this the chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter said: “Fruit smoothies are more preferred by people now-a-days this is due to its health related benefits and inimitable taste. Fruit smoothies have high level of sugar and acid that pose threat to the teeth. This particular research had tried to find the link between dental problems and an array of health issues like heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes.

On the other hand, a survey conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation and the company Oral B among 1000 people has found 30% of people opined that fruit smoothies are actually good for the teeth.

Dr Carter further added that, “Fruit smoothies will encourage the habit of consuming more fruits. High concentration of sugar and acids in smoothies are capable of damaging the teeth if sipped throughout the day. Constant sipping of the juice will make the protective enamel to erode and creates pain and sensitivity, which leads to tooth decay.”

To get rid of the attack dentists advice to brush teeth before drinking fruit juice, as it will protect the teeth from damaging effect of the acid. Brushing soon after drinking is not recommended as the enamel will be weakened by the acid contained in the fruit juice.

May 20: Increase in the use of pesticides is doing lot of harm for both the soil and the farmers. People who consume those agricultural products that are produced using artificial pesticides are also getting affected by them. A study conducted in India has revealed that direct expose to pesticides could have damaged the DNA of farming communities, which is considered as the reason for the increased rate of cancer among them.

The research was conducted by the scientists at Patiala University in Punjab state. They tracked a group of farmers for several months. Concerns are being raised for several years about the potential health risks posed by pesticides. This new study has found that the pesticide exposure has altered the DNA of farmers in Punjab making them vulnerable to cancer.

While commenting on this professor Satbir Kaur opined that, “The study eliminated other factors like age, smoking habit and alcohol consumption that were considered as the probable reason for alteration in the building blocks of genes as a result of pesticide sprays. We found major changes in the DNA that makes them more prone to cancer risks.”

Meanwhile Salil Singhal of the Crop Care Federation of India questioned the reliability of the research findings and also said that there are no pesticides in use today that could cause cancer. Farmers use spray only few times each season.

Promoting harmless natural pesticides and using natural fertilisers are the ideal way to find a comprehensive solution to this issue.