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2008-05-03

Researchers claim high blood pressure not only reduces the risk of developing migraine, but also lowers the incidence of chronic pain. According to a study published in Neurology, a 50 percent lower risk of developing headaches is reported in individuals with high pulse pressure, the index showing the difference between diastolic and systolic pressure. Trondheim University scientists also say that patients with high systolic pressure are also less prone to headaches and migraines. The Norwegian scientists, however, advised against individuals giving up their hypertension medication because of their high blood pressure, noting that the condition is associated with life threatening complications. Findings of the current study contradict previous data which suggests a higher incidence of migraines and other types of headaches among individuals suffering from high blood pressure. > SNM/ MS/ Apr-17/ 16:20 BST

2008-05-03

Acupuncture can help Migraine sufferers

The pain that headache and migraine sufferers endure can impact every aspect of their lives. Acupuncture can offer powerful relief without the side effects that prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause. Researchers from University of Padua have recently reported that traditional Chinese acupuncture can help alleviate migraine attacks. Findings showed true acupuncture can prevent migraine attacks even in individuals resistant to standard medication. According to the article published in the Headache journal, compared to sham acupuncture, performing acupuncture in the same way as ancient Chinese is more effective in treating migraine pain. Italian scientists say acupuncture prevents migraine by altering nerve signals or affecting neurotransmitters released in the central nervous system. The ancient Chinese maintained specific acupuncture points on the skin are connected to internal pathways conducting the energy circulating in the body, and stimulating these points with a fine needle promotes the healthy energy flow.

2005-05-03

Stem cells bring new hope for osteoarthritis

Stem cells offer a potential way to repair cartilage damaged by osteoarthritis, say scientists. They have identified a type of stem cell which can be transformed into cartilage cells known as chondrocytes. In theory, it should be possible to create new chondrocytes in sufficient numbers to achieve a real therapeutic effect for osteoarthritis patients. The Cardiff University work was presented to the UK National Stem Cell Network Annual Science Meeting. Osteoarthritis occurs when changes in the make-up of the body's cartilage causes joints to fail to work properly. At its worse it can bring about the break-up of cartilage, causing the ends of the bones in the joint to rub against each other. This results in severe pain and deformation of the joint. One current treatment for younger patients is to harvest cartilage cells from neighbouring healthy cartilage and transplant them into the damaged area. Unfortunately, only a limited number of cells can be generated.

2008-05-03

An orange a day helps protect the knee joint against osteoarthritis

Australian scientists suggest that the high amount of vitamin C found in oranges helps protect the knee joint against osteoarthritis. According to a new study, orange and yellow fruits rich in vitamin C and betacryptoxanthin (an antioxidant) protect the joints against the damaging effects of inflammation. Alfred hospital scientists suggest that taking 200 mg of vitamin C per day, equivalent to about one orange, prevents early bone damage in knee joints. Osteoarthritis is a painful and crippling disease affecting a large number of people; the condition is caused by the wear and tear of the cartilage tissue within the joints. Such patients most commonly use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve their pain, but using these forms of medication is associated with adverse effects. Some experts believe consuming the infusion of nettles, curry, green tea, chilies, rosehips and ginger can also help alleviate the disabling pain.

2008-05-03

The blind may regain eyesight soon

Scientists invent a 'bionic eye' to help return rudimentary vision to individuals who have become blind due to retinitis pigmentosa. The bionic eye, also known as Argus II, benefits from a camera mounted on a pair of glasses to capture pictures. It then transmits a wireless signal to an ultra-thin electronic receiver and electrode panel implanted in the retina. The electrodes stimulate the remaining retinal nerves and transmit the moving images along the optic nerve to the brain. This process enables patients to discriminate rudimentary images of motion as light and dark outlines. London's Moorfields Eye Hospital researchers have implanted the artificial eye in two men suffering from the hereditary disease. The two Britons are among 15 patients to be provided with the artificial retinas as part of a three-year international trial. Scientists report that the patients are able to see in the form of light and dark outlines and so they are optimistic that the technique can be used to restore a basic level of vision. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of inherited diseases causing retinal degeneration. The death of photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) leads to a gradual vision loss in individuals suffering from the disease.

2008-05-03

Diarrhea breaks out in country with rising temperature

The diarrhea situation in the country has worsened day by day with the rising temperature. The International Center for Diarrhea Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), a special research center and hospital for diarrhea patients in Dhaka, has received hundreds of diarrhea patients over the last week. An official of ICDDR,B, said on Friday they received 418 diarrhea patients on Thursday. ''221 diarrhea patients have been admitted to our hospital till 3 pm. today,'' she said. She said that usually more children are affected by diarrhea, but this year more adult diarrhea patients were admitted to the hospital. The official said the high temperature is the reason behind the breakout of the diarrhea, as the weather has become hotter since the beginning of April. Most of the diarrhea patients are from the lower-income group. They have to work hard in the high temperature and can not maintain quality food, and also have no access for safe water causing dehydration, which is leading to diarrhea.

2010-06-27

3 more new varieties of juicy mangoes

Regional Horticulture Research Station (RHRS) at Chapainawabganj has evolved three more new varieties of mangoes.

At a farmers' training programme the RHRS scientists formally released those among the mango growers on June 17.

The varieties are BARI Aam6, 7 and 8.

The speakers at the function said, Chapainawabganj being the largest mango growing district has more than 16 lakh mango trees on 2,300 hectares of land.

The mangoes produced in the district meeting yearly demand in the country aslo deserve export to other countries, they added.

The newly released mangoes are regularly bearing and tasty, they said.

According to authorities, BARI Aam 6,7 and 8 were actually released in October last year. As that was not mango season, they formally released them this month.

With the latest three, the scientists of RHRS in the last 17 years of research have evolved seven new verities of mangoes.

Among those, two varieties belong to kancha mitha (sweet and sour) varieties, two local varieties, one American colour variety and the rest two of hybrid varieties.

There are at least 350 local varieties in the country and most of them grow in Chapainawabganj district, scientists said.

An evaluation committee from Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) comprising breeders, horticulturists and entomologists and pathologists tested and evaluated the seven mango varieties before being formally released.

According to Dr Shafiqul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer of RHRS, the team in their evaluation counted different qualities of the mangoes including regularity in bearing, shape, colour, size, taste, yield and resistance to disease and insects. He said that the station selected 22 varieties of mangoes from a national level mango fair held at the RHRS in 1993 and started research on them.

The seven varieties of mangoes released by RHRS ar