Malaria : Drug as effective in low doses

A new study finds that lower doses of the drug primaquine are as effective at preventing transmission of malaria as standard doses.

Primaquine targets the transmission stages of the malaria parasite, the gametocytes, and is considered an important tool for malaria elimination .

The new study, led by researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in the UK, is published in the latest online issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The findings are good news because there are not many drugs that target this stage of the disease, and unfortunately, at standard doses primaquine can reduce blood count in people with a red blood cell disorder caused by a deficiency in an enzyme called G6PD.

The inherited blood disorder is common in places where malaria is endemic and so has limited the use of primaquine in those areas.

Because of this side effect, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised that dosage of primaquine be reduced from 0.75 mg/kg to 0.25 mg/kg. However, until now, nobody had formally evaluated the effectiveness of the drug at lower doses. 

Lead author Dr. Alice Chi Eziefula, Wellcome Trust clinical research fellow at LSHTM, says:

"Until now, the use of primaquine was limited because of safety concerns, but lower doses had never been tested formally."

Half of standard dose just as effective

The study took place in Jinja, Uganda, where children without the red blood cell disorder were treated with a malaria drug either on its own or with one of three different doses of primaquine. 

The children were then monitored for 2 weeks to test their malaria gametocytes, and they were kept under observation for another 2 weeks. 

The resuls showed that a dose of 0.4 mg/kg of primaquine, or about half of the previously recommended (standard) dose, was as effective at reducing the transmission potential of individuals with malaria. 

Dr. Chi Eziefula says:

"More questions remain to be answered regarding the best operational strategy for the deployment of primaquine to block malaria transmission."

The next step is to evaluate the effectiveness of the current WHO-recommended 0.25 mg/kg dose of primaquine in people without the red blood cell disorder, and then to test the safety of such a dose in people with the blood disorder. 

Co-author Moses Kamya, a professor with the Infectious Disease Research Collaboration in Kampala, Uganda, says:

"This study provides important contemporary information that allows malaria control programmes in endemic countries in Africa to consider the use of primaquine as part of their efforts to deal with this killer disease."

Tips to choose scent for men

Your perfume speaks volumes about your style and personality. So read on to find out what they are. Fragrance aspiration: A scent is a blend of various notes and elements. And, each fragrance belongs to a certain family, like fruity, woody, natural, spice, etc. Find out to which fragrance family you belong the most. knowing the olfactory pyramid can help a lot in this!

Try and test: Before purchasing a scent, try a couple of them and then make your decision.

Give some time: After trying and testing, give it some time to see how it reacts with your body. Each scent creates different smell when it mixes with your body odour.

If, after an hour, you feel that you like the fragrance, then buy it.

Sotting the signs of serious illness

Headaches are extremely common and most of them aren't a cause for anxiety. Occasionally, though, a headache is a symptom of a serious illness, such as meningitis or a brain haemorrhage, and requires urgent medical attention. Tension headaches are the most common type. What are the causes?

About three out of four headaches are caused by tension in the scalp or neck muscles due to stress. Tension headaches tend to occur frequently and cause moderate pain, particularly at the back and front of the head. It's often described as a tight band encircling the head. Other common causes of headaches include hangovers, having irregular meals, long journeys, noise, a stuffy atmosphere, thundery weather, too much sleep, too much excitement, a fever, sinusitis and toothache.

A migraine is a one-sided severe headache with eye symptoms and possibly vomiting and can run in families. A severe headache with fever, a stiff neck and rash may be a sign of meningitis, a condition in which the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord become inflamed. 

A sudden headache that feels like a blow to the back of the head could be a subarachnoid haemorrhage, in which bleeding occurs between the membranes covering the brain. 

In elderly people, a headache with tenderness of the scalp or temple may be due to temporal arteritis, in which blood vessels in the head become inflamed. 

What might be done?

If your doctor suspects an underlying condition, you may require tests, such as CT scanning or MRI of your brain, and an opinion from a neurologist. 

What's the treatment?

The treatment depends on the cause of the headache. For example, a tension headache will usually clear up with rest and painkillers. Cluster headaches and migraines can be treated with drugs. Excess painkillers, especially those containing codeine, can actually cause a headache.

Foods to fight immunity in winter

Here are a couple of super-foods that will protect you from cold and flu this winterA diet rich in a variety of produce like lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy products along with adequate sleep, moderate exercise and minimal stress contribute to a well-functioning immune system and may promote a faster recovery if you come down with a cold or a flu. 

• Carrots: Packed with beta-carotene carrots make an excellent base for soups, stews and risotto. Rich in vitamin A, carrots help fight cold and flu and also protect you from infections which are very common during the colder months. 

• Green tea and chamomile tea: Green tea is a powerful antioxidant and has strong antiviral and antibacterial properties. Drinking approximately three to five cups of green tea a day keeps your immune system in check. Chamomile tea is also said to possess antioxidants that help fight against cold and flu during the winters.

• Mushrooms: Mushrooms are said to be immunity boosters. Mushrooms protect your system against cold and virus during winter. White mushrooms have significantly increased levels of natural killer cells - a vital component of the immune system.

• Garlic: Garlic is known to be the easiest home remedy to cure fever and cold. Western medicine has theorised that garlic has the ability to increase levels of enzymes that help the liver detoxify the blood that gives it special immune powers. Eating raw garlic provides maximum potency but if you cannot stomach the strong taste, you can have that cooked in food.

• Honey: Known to be the safest and the easiest way to cure cold and fever during winter. Honey is known for its anibacterial properties that help fight bacteria and virus. You can have honey every night before going to bed, or mix it in a cup of warm milk for added advantage.

Sex is not the secret to lasting love

Scientists have claimed that sex and having good communication can have a significant influence on relationships but factors like knowing partner's favourite pizza topping, being employed and ability to support yourself also matter. Scientists tested 2,201 participants, head to head, in seven "relationship competencies" that previous researchers had found to vital for promoting happiness in romantic relationships.

The researchers idea was to rank them in order of vitality to start building data on the aspects of relationships most important to keep them healthy.

The researchers, in addition to communication and conflict resolution, also looked out for love-making or romance, stress management, life skills, knowledge of partners and self-management to find the best predictors of relationship satisfaction. 

Couples were queried about their competency in these areas and then asked how satisfied they were in their relationships; the researchers then correlated each partner's strengths and weaknesses in each area with the relationship satisfaction of the person.

Couple, reporting communicating effectively, showed highest satisfaction with their relationships.

Study's lead author Robert Epstein, a professor of psychology at the University of the South Pacific, in Fiji, said that learning more about partner is also important for a successful relationship. Time Magazine reported.

He added that even more important was to know critical things like whether partner wants kids.

Ten information about Paracetamol

10 information about Paracetamol:

1. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. It is used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds and fevers.
2. Take this medicine exactly as directed on the label, or as  prescribed by doctor. An overdose of paracetamol can cause serious harm. The maximum amount of paracetamol for adults is 1000 mg per dose and 4000 mg per day.
3. Measure the liquid form of paracetamol with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. You may need to shake the liquid before each use.
4.  The paracetamol chewable tablet must be chewed thoroughly before you swallow it. Make sure your hands are dry when handling the paracetamol disintegrating tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.
5. To use the paracetamol effervescent granules, dissolve one packet of the granules in at least 4 ounces of water. Stir this mixture and drink all of it right away.
6. Do not take a paracetamol rectal suppository by mouth. Wash your hands before and after inserting the suppository. Try to empty your bowel and bladder just before using the paracetamol suppository. Avoid handling the suppository too long or it will melt in your hands.
7. For best results from the suppository, lie down and insert the suppository pointed tip first into the rectum. Hold in the suppository for a few minutes. It will melt quickly once inserted and you should feel little or no discomfort while holding it in. Avoid using the bathroom just after inserting the suppository. 
8. Before using paracetamol, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or a history of alcoholism Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages pr day or if you have had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis).
9. Before using paracetamol, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. This medication can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.
10. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen or paracetamol. Stop using paracetamol and call your doctor if you still have a fever after 3 days of use or if you have a skin rash, ongoing headache, or any redness or swelling.

A sprain in the neck - when to consult

A sudden impact from a car crash or a bad fall can lead to a neck sprain. If you have any of these symptoms mentioned by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, you should visit your doctor:

1. Neck pain, particularly pain at the back of the neck that worsens when you move.
2. Pain in the neck that becomes worse about a day after an injury.
3. Pain and muscle spasms in the upper area of the shoulder.
4. A headache that affects the back of the head.
5. A sore throat, feeling tired and irritable, or having trouble sleeping and concentrating.
6. Numb sensation in the hand or arm, or a tingling sensation or weak feeling affecting the arms.
7. Limited range of motion or stiffness in the neck.

Eat more nuts to cut risk of cancer and heart disease

Eat more nuts to cut risk of cancer and heart disease. Nut-eaters reduce their risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in the journal BMC Medicine.

The results suggested that people who eat more than three servings of nuts (1 serving - 28g or about an ounce ) a week had a 55% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 40% reduced risk of death from cancer.

With apple power, battle cancer and cut calories

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is certainly no exaggeration, for the mighty apple is indeed a storehouse of vitamins, minerals and many other valuable substances. In fact, apple consumption has been associated with reduced risk for a number of diseases including cancer, particularly lung cancer, as well as cardiovascular diseases, asthma and type 2 diabetes. Apples are rich in vitamin C and vitamin E, the content varying with the 7,000 known varieties. Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants, which help to build immunity. fight chronic diseases and slow down ageing.

Apples are also an excellent source of disease-fighting soluble fibre in the form of pectin. Its high pectin content helps lower cholesterol and acts as a laxative by bulking the stool and maintaining intestinal balance. Pectin also helps to bind toxic metals such as mercury and lead, and helps excrete them.

Cooked apples are known to relieve diarrhoea, dysentery and colitis. One large apple a day has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol levels by 8-11 percent.

The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body, which lowers the body's need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes. Apple pectin helps in gelling and it is this property which helps in making apple jams and jellies.

Apples and apple juice are rich in phytochemicals (plant chemicals) including flavonoids and polyphenols. Polyphenols such as tannins (tannic acid) are potent enemies of viruses particularly herpes simplex virus. Two polyphenols - phloridzin and phloretin xyloglucoside found in apples have not been found in any other fruit.

Not only are apples exceptionally rich in phenols, they also have the highest concentration of "free phenols", which means that they are more available for absorption into the blood stream. Quite impressively, the anti-oxidant capacity of approximately one apple is equivalent to about 1,500 mg of vitamin C (although one apple has only about 5mg of vitamin C). A recent study reported that risk of colorectal cancer was reduced by about 50 percent on intake of more than one apple a day.

3 Steps To Control Your Asthma

According to the World Health Organization, about 235 million people across the world suffer from asthma - a condition that is characterized by repeated attacks of breathlessness and a typical wheezing. It is a debilitating disease that has the potential to completely restrict the activities of the affected person; however, by following the 3 steps outlined below, it is certainly possible to control its progress and lead an active life.

Step 1 : Identify Your Triggers

Identifying the factors that trigger your asthma holds the key to managing this ailment. Some of the most common triggers include changes in weather, flu and cold, allergies to pollen, dust or pet hair, exercise, exposure to cigarette smoke and emotional stress. Find out specifically what sets off your asthma by maintaining a diary of your wheezing attacks and correlating it to these probable triggers.

Step 2 : Avoid Triggers

Work at avoiding triggers. Keep your home clean of dust by regular use of a vacuum cleaner. If you have pets, do not allow them to move all over the house; bar them from entering your bedroom. Keep away from people who smoke and practice deep breathing or meditation to keep your mind calm. During cold winters, make sure you stay warm enough and cover up when you go outdoors.

Step 3 : Use Medication Correctly 

The correct use of anti-asthmatic medication is one of the most important factors that determine how well you cope. Take your medication as prescribed, including the use of an inhaler for emergencies. Inhalation therapy is the method of choice to control asthma; overcome any psychological barriers you may have about this having addictive potential.

Keep in regular touch with your doctor; do not wait for symptoms to aggravate before asking for help.

Premature babies at higher risk of heart disease

Babies born prematurely may be at risk for structural heart abnormalities which can increase their odds of developing cardiovascular disease later in life, according to a new research. Researchers tracked 102 premature babies from birth into their 20s. Compared to 132 people born at full-term, the study showed that in adulthood, the right lower heart chamber- the right ventricle- in the former preemies' was smaller but heavier, with thicker walls and less pumping capacity.

Scientists Identify Gene That Worsens Breast Cancer

Scientists in Singapore have identified a gene which makes an aggressive form of breast cancer even worse, in a development which could lead to more effective drugs to treat it.

Patients with triple negative breast cancer, whose tumours have high levels of a gene called UBASH3B, are likely to have earlier relapses within three years of treatment.

Scientists at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) also said these patients' cancer is more virulent and spreads faster in the body.

Triple negative breast cancer gets its name because its tumours lack estrogen, progesterone and HER2, which are common in other types of cancer.

Sanitation facilities improve health reducing child deaths of Bangladesh

The public health index has marked a significant improvement with reduction in water-borne diseases and child deaths following laudable success in sanitation coverage throughout the country. The fact is globally recognised that there is no alternative to having good sanitation facilities for a nation to march forward towards the path of progress and prosperity. 

Sanitation status is directly linked to public health as well as human life ad the total sanitation system has emerged as an important development and policy issue at the national, regional ad global levels. According to health experts, poor sanitation system causes ill health to parents, especially to mothers, also affecting child health directly through spreading water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, jaundice, etc afflicting people in many ways.