Playgroups 'cut leukaemia risk'

Childhood leukaemia is linked to infection

Children who attend daycare or playgroups cut their risk of the most common type of childhood leukaemia by around 30%, a study estimates.

Researchers reviewed 14 studies involving nearly 20,000 children, of which 6,000 developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

It is thought early infections may help the body fight off the disease.
The University of California, Berkeley study will be presented to a leukaemia conference in London.

Leukaemia is the most common cancer found in children in the industrialised world, affecting about one in 2,000 youngsters.

ALL accounts for more than 80% of leukaemia cases among children, and most often occurs in those aged between two and five. Scientists believe that for most types of childhood leukaemia to develop, there must first be a genetic mutation in the womb, followed by a second trigger - such as an infection - during childhood.

However, it is also thought that contracting some childhood infections - which are often readily spread in environments such as playgroups where children are in close contact with each other - may prime the immune system against leukemia.

Conversely, if the immune system is not challenged in early life, this is thought to raise the risk of an inappropriate response to subsequent infections, making the development of leukaemia more likely.

Fosamax drug 'risks heart'

Women who take the drug Fosamax for osteoporosis may be at an increased risk of developing an irregular heartbeat, a US study suggests.

Researchers have linked the drug - widely prescribed in the UK to stop bone-thinning in older women - to a condition known as atrial fibrillation.

This is not necessarily serious, but can in some cases lead to a stroke.

But the Archives of Internal Medicine study concluded for most women the drug's benefits outweighed the risks.
It is not the first research to examine a link between Merck's Fosamax - whose generic name is alendronate - and atrial fibrillation, but its suggestion that the drug may increase the risk by 86% is higher than previous findings - although it is a smaller study.

In the UK, about one in 200 people aged 50-60 have atrial fibrillation, and the risk increases to about one in ten people by the age of 90.

In many cases it has no symptoms, but it can make the blood clot - which can in turn cause an embolic stroke.

Blind Man Suddenly Sees Again

by Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

DUBUQUE - Doctors aren't quite sure how it happened, but a Dubuque man can see clearly after being blind in one eye for more than a decade.

It happened after a trip to the chiropractor.

Twelve years ago Doug Harkey's left eye suddenly stopped working. "I woke up one day and I didn't have vision in one eye."

And as quickly as he lost sight, he got it back.

Harkey said, "he just did his normal adjustment and, voila!

After a routine visit to Chiropractor Tim Stackis, Harkey says a miracle happened.

"My blind eye starting watering after I left there and it watered for 45 minutes straight. It started making my good eye water. I went to wipe my right eye and I could see out my left again."

Doctor Stackis said the bones in the Harkey's neck were out of alignment.

Stackis said, "That interferes with the messages and energy the brain sends down to the rest of the body."

Harkey now has the depth perception he'd been missing, just what he needs as he's about to walk down the aisle with his fiancée next month.

Harkey’s Fiancée, Gina Connolly said, "I'm not use to him not running into things or stepping on our feet."

Doctor Stackis and Harkey were both surprised by what happened.
Harkey said, "He has miracle hands, I guess."

Was it a miracle? Harkey’s not sure how to explain it, he’s just glad it happened.

Harkey says his eye doctor says with the help of corrective lenses he will be able to almost perfectly out of both eyes.

It's Chiropractic - It's SAFE!!

Usage of paracetamol and development of allergy and asthma

A number of studies have suggested that intake of paracetamol during pregnancy and during the first months of life is associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma.

We aimed to determine the association between paracetamol usage during pregnancy and the first 6 months of life, and childhood allergy (i.e. positive skin prick tests), allergic asthma, and asthma, using a matched patient-sibling study comparing patients with allergic asthma with their healthy siblings without any symptoms of allergic diseases.

Usage of paracetamol during pregnancy was associated with allergic asthma.

Usage of paracetamol between birth and 6 months of age, and between 4 and 6 months of age, was also found to be associated with non-allergic asthma.

Usage of paracetamol during pregnancy and during the early months of life may play a role in the development of allergic and non-allergic asthma in children.

Omega 3 - How Our Food Manufacturers Distort Omega 3 Labeling

Food Manufacturers’ Misleading Labeling

It is incredibly disturbing our food manufacturers disregard the harm caused to American health and what is more disturbing, they seek permission to and it is given. The medical discovery is specific - our need for Omega 3 fish oil, not more Omega 3 ALA. And the trusting, unsuspecting American who hasn't the time to delve into the research rushes to purchase Omega 3 products believing they are helping their health. From Omega 3 eggs, Omega 3 bread, and now Omega 3 meats, the addition of Omega 3 in their product is more plant derived ALA, the undisputed culprit. Little did they know they just added harmful Omega 3 ALA.

Center for Science In The Public Interest (CSPI)

Research shows that omega-3s found only in fish and some plants are "good" fatty acids, and help prevent heart disease. But the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says consumers are being hoodwinked when it comes to omega-3 eggs. These egg producers, egged on by their trade association, is brazenly putting omega-3 claims in big print on the front of the labels, knowing that that is a buzzword that will attract people” says Michael Jacobson of the CSPI.

On Thursday the organization called on the FDA to enforce its own regulations and stop the egg industry from using what it calls misleading labels and advertising. "It's like using filtered cigarettes to prevent cancer. It ain't gonna happen. These eggs are loaded with cholesterol, which promotes heart disease," Jacobson claims.

It's not just economic fraud, which it is, but it is a serious health problem," Jacobson argues”. (cbsnewshealthwatch)

The egg industry isn’t the only culprit of economic fraud. It is rampant throughout the food manufacturing industry and we’re being hood-winked. And the FDA and the USDA, the watch dogs for American health, tightly bound to the food manufacturers allows this to continue. Michael Jacobson calls it economic fraud – my feelings run more to injustice, unethical, and the single most damaging mislabeling of foods ever in American history. And now it’s meats, too.

To see the complete article: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/37763

Daily caffeine 'protects brain'

The easy way to neutralise cholesterol?

Coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body, research suggests.
The drink has already been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's Disease, and a study by a US team for the Journal of Neuroinflammation may explain why.

A vital barrier between the brain and the main blood supply of rabbits fed a fat-rich diet was protected in those given a caffeine supplement.

UK experts said it was the "best evidence yet" of coffee's benefits.

"Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilise the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders"
Dr Jonathan Geiger, University of North Dakota

The "blood brain barrier" is a filter which protects the central nervous system from potentially harmful chemicals carried around in the rest of the bloodstream.

Other studies have shown that high levels of cholesterol in the blood can make this barrier "leaky".

Alzheimer's researchers suggest this makes the brain vulnerable to damage which can trigger or contribute to the condition.
The University of North Dakota study used the equivalent to just one daily cup of coffee in their experiments on rabbits.
After 12 weeks of a high-cholesterol diet, the blood brain barrier in those given caffeine was far more intact than in those given no caffeine.

'Safe drug'
"Caffeine appears to block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky," said Dr Jonathan Geiger, who led the study.

"High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, perhaps by compromising the protective nature of the blood brain barrier.

"Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilise the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders."

A spokesman for the Alzheimer's Disease Society said that the study shed "important light" on why previous research had showed benefits for drinking coffee.

"This is the best evidence yet that caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee a day can help protect the brain against cholesterol.
"In addition to its effect on the vascular system, elevated cholesterol levels also cause problems with the blood brain barrier.

"This barrier, which protects the brain from toxins and infections, is less efficient prior to brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease or strokes."

She called for more research into whether the same effect could be seen in humans.

Medication 'worsens Alzheimer's

Medication 'worsens Alzheimer's'

Anti-psychotic drugs commonly given to Alzheimer's patients often make their condition worse, a UK study suggests.
Neuroleptics provided no benefit for patients with mild behavioural problems, but were associated with a marked deterioration in verbal skills.

The research focused on 165 people with advanced Alzheimer's who were living in nursing homes in four British cities.
Up to 60% of Alzheimer's patients in nursing homes are given the drugs to control behaviour such as aggression.
The study appears in the journal Public Libary of Science Medicine.

CASE STUDY
Rita Clark's husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's seven years ago.
Rita, from Cleveland, said: "My husband developed a range of side effects while receiving anti-psychotic drugs.
"Since the drugs have been withdrawn, the side effects have gone and he generally seems much better and more settled.
"I'm not saying it's the same for everyone, but in my husband's case, withdrawing the drugs has led to a clear improvement in his quality of life."

The researchers, from Kings College London and the Universities of Oxford and Newcastle, found the drugs offered no long-term benefit for most patients with mild symptoms of disturbed behaviour.
But just six months of treatment was enough for patients to show a marked deterioration in their verbal fluency.
Further preliminary analysis already under way on the data suggests the use of neuroleptics may also increase death rates.
The research focused on patients living in nursing homes in Oxfordshire, Newcastle, Edinburgh and London.
All patients had been taking neuroleptics for three months. They either continued on the same medication for a further 12 months, or took a dummy pill.

Lead researcher Professor Clive Ballard, said: "It is very clear that even over a six-month period of treatment, there is no benefit from neuroleptics in treating the behaviour in people with Alzheimer's disease when the symptoms are mild.
"For people with more severe behavioural symptoms, balancing the potential benefits against adverse effects is more difficult."
Rebecca Wood, of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "These results are deeply troubling and highlight the urgent need to develop better treatments."

The trust says that neuroleptics should only continue to be prescribed long-term to dementia patients with severe behavioural problems, and then only as a last resort when non-drug methods have been tried and have failed.
Stroke risk

Neil Hunt, of the Alzheimer's Society, said previous research had also shown that anti-psychotic drugs raised the risk of stroke and death for people with dementia.

"This widespread overprescription to people with dementia must stop," he said.

"It is time we stop wasting money giving people drug treatments with no benefit and start investing in good quality dementia care."

It is estimated that 700,000 people are affected by dementia in the UK, a figure that will double in the next 30 years.
A report into the use of anti-psychotics in care homes is due to be published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia this month.

The neuroleptics which came under analysis in the study were thioridazine (Melleril), chlorpromazine (Largactil), haloperidol (Serenace), trifluoperazine (Stelazine) and risperidone (Risperdal).