Dr. John's Health Matters
Welcome to Dr. John's Health Matters blog.
The articles posted here are from various sources who are duly acknowledged. I would appreciate being immediately notified, if any copywritten material needs to be removed. This blog is not intended to replace the qualified advice of a licensed health practitioner. Readers should exercise their own judgment. Enjoy, subscribe, participate and tell others :)
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Posts tagged "infection"
Sunday, Aug 30th, 2009 ↓Aged skin found more prone to cancer →
Aug 30, 2009 (Presstv.com)—Deficiencies in mobilizing the cells responsible for defending the body contribute to the higher vulnerability of seniors to skin cancer and infection.
Previous studies had reported that defects in a type of immune cell known as T cells account for the reduced immunity and subsequently a higher risk of skin cancer in older individuals.
A new study, however, finds there is nothing wrong with the T cells in the elderly.
According to the study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the signals responsible for directing T cells to the right place is missing in this group.
“At the outset we thought it would be the cells responsible for combating infections that might be at fault, but the surprising thing was the T cells were fine but they couldn’t get into the skin - the signals were missing,” said lead researcher Arne Akbar.
As the skin is believed to be capable of sending the required signals when forced, by boosting the immune system in seniors scientists can help them fight infection and reduce their risk of skin cancer.
Scientists hope their findings will pave the way for the development of effective treatments for the reversible condition.
PKH/HGH
Using Cranberry Juice To Combat Urinary Tract Infections 'Inconclusive' →
Aug 25, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—Current clinical evidence for using cranberry juice to combat urinary tract infections is ‘unsatisfactory and inconclusive’, according to Raul Raz.
Not all medical problems require a state-of-the-art solution, and it would be nice to think that products from the corner shop could treat a widespread and uncomfortable ailment. Cranberry juice and related products have been touted as a simple solution for urinary tract infections, but Raul Raz, a member of F1000 Medicine, finds little to support this claim.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common complaint. Between 10% and 20% of women will suffer a UTI at least once, and a third of these will experience it recurrently. Some recent studies support the use of cranberry as a preventative, but Dr Raz, Director of Infectious Diseases at the Technion School of Medicine in Israel, and his associate Faculty Member, Hana Edelstein, advise the medical community that “cranberry should no longer be considered as an effective [preventative] for recurrent UTIs”.
Cranberry contains hundreds of compounds, and it has been difficult to determine which might be responsible for any therapeutic effect, hindering its adoption. Raz and Edelstein point to differences in clinical trial design and the lack of standardization for doses and formulation. There is a range of potential side-effects including stomach upsets and weight gain. Cranberry can also interact badly with other medicines such as Warfarin, commonly used to treat heart disease.
For full article, see link above.
Tags: cranberry urinary tract infection juice prevention therapeutic stomach upset interaction medication heart disease
Seizures up premature birth: Study →
Aug 24, 2009 (Presstv.com)—Women experiencing seizure attacks when pregnant are more likely to give birth to a premature or small infant, a new study finds.
Despite controversial studies regarding the impact of seizures on the newborn, the new study revealed that seizures are what contribute to the increased risk of complications in infants.
According to the study published in the Archives of Neurology, babies born to have low birth weight (weighing less than 2,500 grams) and be small for gestational age (having a birth weight below the 10th percentile for age).
Scientists claim seizures lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes through various mechanisms. Trauma caused by the attacks may rupture fetal membranes, increasing the risk of infection and early delivery.
Seizure attacks may also result in contractions in the uterus, leading to tension and acute injury, and subsequently to premature birth.
“Neonates born pre-term, of low birth weight and small for gestational age may be predisposed to diseases during infancy and later life, highlighting the significance of proper intervention strategies for prevention,” the authors stressed.
Scientists therefore urged physicians to control seizure attacks before pregnancy, improve sleep quality in women and teach them required strategies for coping with stress.
Tags: premature infant baby seizure mother small newborn complication birth weight pregnancy infection risk uterus tension injury sleep stress
Swine flu drug increases stroke risk →
Aug 19, 2009 (Presstv.com)—While Tamiflu is one of the most effective drugs in treating swine flu infection, a new report warns that the drug may increase the risk of stroke.
Previously, researchers had urged parents to avoid using the drug in their offspring as its risks outweighed the benefits. Nausea and nightmares were among the most frequent side effects reported in children.
According to the report recently released by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Tamiflu may interact with the blood-thinning medication warfarin, placing the individual at an increased risk of uncontrolled bleeding (INR rate).
A significant increase in the INR rate could consequently lead to the development of a hemorrhagic stroke.
Despite the fact that such a complication was never reported in performed clinical testing, the MHRA has received 418 reports of suspected adverse reactions including two deaths because of Tamiflu.
Some 12 of these reactions were related to warfarin interactions.
Warfarin is known to interact with a wide range of drugs and even some foods and drinks. Many of the consumers, therefore, are hospitalized due to increased INR rates while many others die.
“We have seen indications that INR rates could possibly rise due to interactions between warfarin and Tamiflu. However, flu-like illnesses have also been known to cause this, so at this stage it is difficult to know whether it is the interaction with Tamiflu or the underlying flu,” said a MHRA spokesman.
The government watchdog therefore warned physicians of the high risk of stroke in Tamiflu users, adding that they should ask the patients regarding the use of the blood-thinning drug before prescribing the anti-swine flu medicine.
Tags: flu treatment tamiflu swine h1n1 infection risk drug prescription stroke nausea nightmare blood thinning illness
Blueberry Leaves May Heal Hepatitis C →
Aug 15, 2009(NaturalNews.com) —Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease resulting from infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Although the infection can be mild and not even produce noticeable symptoms, once established in the body chronic hepatitis C infection can progress to fibrosis (when the liver is scarred), cirrhosis, liver failure and even liver cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the virus becomes persistent and chronically infects the liver in about 85 percent of those who contract HCV. Persistent infection is treated by western medicine with medications like peginterferon and ribavirin. And while it’s true these drugs can wipe out the infection, they are only effective about half the time and they can produce very severe, debilitating side effects. So people who aren’t cured by the drugs and who go on to develop cirrhosis or liver cancer may face death from the infection or require a liver transplant.
But now there’s another avenue of hope for the 270 to 300 million people who are infected with hepatitis C worldwide. Research just published in the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s Journal of Biochemistry (JVC) concludes a chemical found in blueberry leaves actually blocks the replication of the hepatitis C virus, shutting it down. This finding could open up a new and natural avenue for treating chronic HCV infections, according to scientist Hiroaki Kataoka and colleagues at the University of Miyazaki in Japan.
Because HCV is localized in the liver and can take two decades or more to develop into significant disease, Kataoka and colleagues reasoned a dietary supplement might help slow or stop disease progression over the years. They decided to screen around 300 different agricultural products for potential compounds that might be effective at suppressing HCV replication. The results? They uncovered a strong candidate for a natural HCV fighter — the leaves of the rabbit-eye blueberry, a plant native to the southeastern US.
For full aticle see link above.
Tags: blueberries cirrhosis liver virus cancer treatment hepatitis c infection supplement proanthocyandin
Durian is the Healing King of All Fruits →
Aug 8, 2009 (Naturalnews.com)—Durian is a little known fruit from Asia that has an extremely pungent smell and an amazingly sweet taste. The smell of the durian fruit is so bad that many hotels in the areas where durian grows will not allow their guests to have the fruit in their rooms. But those who brave the smell are quickly won over by its beautiful taste and amazing health benefits. Unlike most fruits the durian is left to fall from the tree as this is a sign that it is ripe to eat. People in the local villages of South East Asia, where the durian is most common, call it “The King of Fruits,” and they will clear the floor under the trees near to harvest time and then camp near them for up to two months just to make sure they get the fruit at its peak. This is a truly exceptional and healing fruit.
Traditionally the durian fruit was seen as a powerful aphrodisiac, while women would eat the ashes from burnt durian skins to help them recover after child birth. But concoctions made from the leaves of the durian tree were also used to help reduce swelling and cure skin disease. More recently nutritionists have claimed that the durian fruit can help lower cholesterol and cleanse the blood as well as cure jaundice and alleviate fevers.
Experts even say that you can rid yourself of yeast infections such as thrush through eating the durian fruit. This is because of the durian’s high iron content that helps the white blood cells in our body make specific chemicals that kill off the infection.
The durian is also packed with amino acids as well as Vitamins B, C and E and many people are even comparing the sweet custard like centre of the durian fruit to the goji berry for its high levels of anti oxidants. These anti oxidants help slow down the destruction of cells from free radicals such as pollution and smoking; in doing so, they decrease the effects of aging on the skin giving you a younger more refreshed look.
For full article see the link above.
Tags: fruit durian aphrodisiac swelling skin disease cholesterol blood cleanse jaundice fever yeast infection iron vittamin b c antioxidant aging prevention
Hepatitis Healing Power Of Blueberry Leaves →
Aug 7, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—A chemical found in blueberry leaves has shown a strong effect in blocking the replication of the Hepatitis C virus, opening up a new avenue for treating chronic HCV infections, which affect 200 million people worldwide and can eventually lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Among the areas of especially high Hepatitis C incidence is the Miyazaki prefecture of southern Japan, a trend that led Hiroaki Kataoka and colleagues at the University of Miyazaki and elsewhere in Japan on a search for better treatment options. Currently, there is no vaccine for HCV, and though a combination drug regimen can clear HCV infection, this treatment is only about 60% effective on average and poses risks of severe side effects.
Kataoka and colleagues believed that since HCV is localized in the liver and can take 20 years or more to develop into disease, a dietary supplement might help slow or stop disease progression. So they screened nearly 300 different agricultural products for potential compounds that suppress HCV replication and uncovered a strong candidate in the leaves of rabbit-eye blueberry (native to the southeastern US).
They purified the compound and identified it as proanthocyandin (a polyphenol similar to the beneficial chemicals found in grapes and wine). While proanthocyandin can be harmful, Kataoka and colleagues noted its effective concentration against HCV was 100 times less than the toxic threshold, and similar chemicals are found in many edible plants, suggesting it should be safe as a dietary supplement. In the meantime, the researchers now hope to explore the detailed mechanisms of how this chemical stops HCV replication.
Journal reference:
- Masahiko Takeshita, Yo-ichi Ishida, Ena Akamatsu, Yusuke Ohmori, Masayuki Sudoh, Hirofumi Uto, Hirohito Tsubouchi, and Hiroaki Kataoka. Proanthocyanidin from Blueberry Leaves Suppresses Expression of Subgenomic Hepatitis C Virus RNA. J. Biol. Chem., 2009; 284: 21165-21176 [link]
Tags: blueberry leaves leaf blocking hepatitis C virus infection liver cancer cirrhosis prevention supplement diet progression proanthocyandin polyphenol
Factors That Increase Death In Stroke Patients Ages 15 To 49 identified →
July 30, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—Heavy drinking, being 45 to 49 years old, type 1 diabetes or having a preceding infection are associated with more than twice the risk of death in stroke patients 15 to 49 years old, according to a Finnish study.
Furthermore, heart failure was associated with seven times the risk of death and active cancer malignancy with 16 times the risk of death in stroke patients.
The overall death rate is low in this age group, said Jukka Putaala, M.D., who led the study. Risk of death was 2.7 percent at one month, 4.7 percent at one year and 10.7 percent at five years with no difference based on gender.
For full article see link above.
Tags: risk death stroke alcohol drinking heavy diabetes infection heart failure cancer
Got Zinc? New Zinc Research Suggests Novel Therapeutic Targets →
July 30, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—Everyone knows that vitamins “from A to zinc” are important for good health. Now, a new research study in the August 2009 print issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that zinc may be pointing the way to new therapeutic targets for fighting infections. Specifically, scientists from Florida found that zinc not only supports healthy immune function, but increases activation of the cells (T cells) responsible for destroying viruses and bacteria.
“It has been shown that zinc supplementation significantly reduces the duration and severity of childhood diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, and incidence of malaria in zinc-deficient children,” said report co-author, Robert Cousins, Ph.D., who also is the director of the Center for Nutritional Sciences within the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida. “Age-related declines in immune function have also been related to zinc deficiency in the elderly.”
For full article see link above.
Tags: zinc supplement diarrhea respiratory infection malaria deficient immunity prevention virus baceria t cell
Stress Signals Link Pre-existing Sickness With Susceptibility To Bacterial Infection →
July 28, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—Mitochondrial diseases disrupt the power generating machinery within cells and increase a person’s susceptibility to bacterial infection, particularly in the lungs or respiratory tract. A new study published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, shows that infection with the pneumonia causing bacteria Legionella, is facilitated by an increased amount of a signaling protein that is associated with mitochondrial disease.
Patients with mitochondrial disease exhibit a wide range of symptoms including diabetes, blindness, deafness, stroke-like episodes, epilepsy, ataxia, muscle weakness and kidney disease. The metabolic abnormalities that cause these effects also induce a stress signal intended to help the body overcome its energy deficit. The stress-signal induces the production of more mitochondria, the energy generating ‘powerplants’ of the body, in the hopes that more mitochondria will result in a better power supply. Researchers now show that the stress-signal associated with mitochondrial disease facilitates the growth and reproduction of the lung-infecting bacteria, Legionella.
Cells with mitochondrial disease increase their production of a signaling protein called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), to promote the generation of more energy producing mitochondria. Infectious bacteria, like Legionella, target the mitochondria and might use them to supplement their own needs and survival requirements. By manipulating AMPK levels, scientists were able to directly influence the ability of bacteria to replicate inside of the single-celled organism, Dictyostelium.
For full article see link above.
Tags: stress susceptibility bacterial infection mitochondrial disease lung respiratory tract pneumonia legionella diabetes blind deaf stroke weakness epilepsy ataxia kidney dictyostelium
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Elderly Men Increase Risk of Falls →
July 10, 2009 (Medscape.com)— Community-dwelling, ambulatory men age 65 years and older with moderate or severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are at increased risk of falling, according to results of a large, prospective cohort study published in the July issue of BJU International.
“Understanding the links between LUTS and falls in men is a salient public health issue,” Dr. J. Kellogg Parsons, at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, and co-authors note. “The high prevalence of LUTS in older men underscores the relevance of this problem, particularly in an era of rapidly increasing male longevity.”
Dr. Parsons and his associates drew their data from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS), conducted at six academic medical centers in the US. Men were recruited through targeted mailings based on several databases. Eligibility criteria included age of 65 or older, the ability to walk without assistance from another person, and no cases of bilateral hip replacement.
For full medical article see link above.
Tags: urinary tract infection lower elderly men man risk fall LUTS symptom fracture walk
Fruit And Vegetable Intake In Pregnant Women Reduces Risk Of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection →
July 8, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—Boston University School of Medicine researchers (BUSM) have observed in a study of pregnant women that consumption of at least seven servings per day of fruits and vegetables moderately reduced the risk of developing an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). The BUSM study appears online in the journal Public Health Nutrition.
URTIs include the common cold and sinus infections, which can lead to lower respiratory problems, such as asthma or pneumonia. Even though the majority of URTIs are uncomplicated colds, identifying ways to prevent their occurrence is important because colds are the most common reason for school and work absences. Eating nutritious foods, especially fruits and vegetables, improves immunity but hadn’t previously been associated with reducing the risk of URTIs in pregnant women.
For full article see link above.
Tags: pregnancy fruit vegetable respiratory infection diet nutrition prevention infection asthma pneumonia antioxidant
MRSA Skin Infection Much More Likely in Those Infected With HIV →
July 7, 2009 (Medscape.com)—Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage and subsequent infection is significantly greater in asymptomatic and otherwise healthy HIV patients than it is in matched controls without HIV, researchers report in the July issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
“The most significant findings are the unexpected association between MRSA carriage and HIV infection and identification of mupirocin-resistant strains in this small controlled study,” senior investigator Dr. Barry N. Kreiswirth told Reuters Health.
For full medical article see link above.
CRP levels predict heart disease? →
July 2, 2009 (presstv.com)—While high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were long linked to cardiovascular diseases, a new study has rejected such an association.
Previous studies had reported high blood levels of CRP in individuals suffering from heart disease, indicating that the protein is released in the inflammatory process by which the immune system defends the body against disease or infection.
Physicians checked the blood levels of CRP while testing their patients for high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and high cholesterol levels as the risk factors of cardiac disease.
For full article see link above.
Tags: heart circulatory blood CRP protein disease inflammatory immunity infection diabetes smoking risk
Joint Replacement Patients With Diabetes Greatly Benefit From Controlled Glucose →
July 1, 20009 (Sciencedaily.com)—Diabetics undergoing total joint replacement often are at a higher risk of experiencing complications after surgery due to various pre-existing health conditions. According to a new study published in the July 2009 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), those complications are less likely to occur when a diabetic patient has glucose levels under control.
“We found that controlled glucose levels really do make a difference for the patient,” said study co-author Milford Marchant Jr., MD, an orthopaedic surgeon who conducted the study with colleagues of the Adult Reconstruction Section at Duke University Medical Center.”
For full article see link above.
