May 19, 2012

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Genetically modified salmon may be introduced

Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar, Taken thru glas,...
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One of the biggest trending in health and food over the past decade has been a steady shift toward organic and non-genetically modified foods. It’s no surprise, really. Genetically modified foods slowly crept onto menus while most diners were unaware. When was the last time a home chef requested a genetically modified tomato or lettuce covered in pesticides?

Of course, ‘frankenfoods’ aren’t confined to vegetables. Food scientists have tinkered with meats and poultry as well. In September 2010, genetically modified salmon were introduced, spurring a backlash against ‘frankenfish.’ The modified fish, introduced by a company called AquaBounty Technologies, is essentially an Atlantic salmon that contains a growth horomone from the pacific Chinook Salmon which causes the frankenfish to grow much quicker and larger. AquaBounty claims the fish are as safe to eat as farmed purebred Atlantic salmon, and the FDA agreed, approving them for market. Of course, farmed fish have already come under fire as damaging to the seas and unusually high in toxic chemicals.

One concern is that the genetically modified fish could escape their ‘farms’ and decimate stocks of unmodified fish. Some chefs and consumers fear eating genetically modified flesh may have detrimental health effects. Still others worry that the oversized modified salmon will lead to an even more obese nation of eaters. At this juncture, the exact details of the fish’s specifications are protected by law as confidential information. Once the modified salmon hits market, independent researchers will be able to learn more about its nutritional content and what risks it may pose in terms of human consumption.

It appears that genetically modified foods may be near a high-water mark. Time will tell just how safe they are for consumption, but these foods may never get the chance. The growing movement for clear labeling could force food giants to serve fresh, unadulterated foods that consumers typically prefer.

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What to do when your child has a fever

AURORA, CO - JULY 28: Two-month-old Karina, t...
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Serious illness is every parent’s worst fear, and when a child develops a fever it can cause even the best-informed parent to worry. Fortunately, most cases of fever are not serious, and will pass with simple care at home. If your child develops a fever, your goal should be to ensure he or she is adequately hydrated, and that the fever drops under 102* Fahrenheit.

Start by obtaining your child’s temperature using an accurate thermometer. Newer digital models are best. Most children display accurate temperatures under their tongues, but a rectal reading may be necessary with infants.

The best medicine to treat fever in children is Acetaminophen, a drug found in children’s Tylenol. You can also try ibuprofen, which is sold in the children’s version of Motrin and Advil. Don’t give your child ibuprofen if you suspect they might have chicken pox, however. Avoid the use of aspirin to treat a child’s fever.

Keep your child from becoming dehydrated by ensuring they drink plenty of fluids. The old hospital adage about clear fluids being best still holds true today. Water, orange juice, brothy soups, etc. are all effective at promoting hydration. Stay away from sugary or caffeinated drinks like soda or fruit punch.

While your child is recovered from their fever, you can try to make them a little more comfortable. A sponge bath in warm water can help them feel better, and generally has a positive impact on a fever. Children can be easily poisoned by alcohol — so don’t try the once popular folk remedy of rubbing alcohol on a child’s skin in the bath!

Remember, if a fever does not improve following treatment, it could be a symptom of a more serious disorder. If your child’s temperature drops, yet they remain ill, you may need to bring them to the hospital.

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The dangers of sleep deprivation

Main health effects of sleep deprivation (See ...
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Science has long known the benefits of a good night’s rest, but recent research shows that sleep deprivation can be even more dangerous than previously suspected. Sleep deprivation can cause numerous ill effects, reducing concentration, causing attention lapses, weight gain, and poor mood. Extended sleep deprivation has been shown to be fatal to lab animals.

Perhaps the most well known side effect of going without sleep is difficulty in concentrating or focusing on a task. Attention deficits caused by lack of sleep can turn deadly depending on the situation. Sleep-deprived drivers, for instance, cause thousands of accidents in the US each year. Some fatal plane crashes have been attributed to sleepy pilots, and it’s been suggested that a captain running on too little rest caused even the infamous Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska. Patients are even sent to the hospital occasionally for severe sleep deprivation.

Lack of sleep can also cause the impairment of ability, even when operators are paying attention. A landmark Australian study conducted in 2000 found that drivers who got behind the wheel after being awake for more than 17 hours were as dangerous as driving drunk.

An interesting phenomena that takes place in people running on low sleep is called ‘microsleep.’ Humans, as well as some lab animals, actually unconsciously sleep for brief periods of approximately 3-4 seconds. Microsleepers aren’t even aware they’re dozing off, which is what makes it such a dangerous scenario.

Finally, lack of sleep can also cause weight gain – somewhat ironic given how many people wake up early to hit the gym. Studies with rats have found that being awake for too long causes a hormone imbalance that leads to weight gain. The same hormone issues can also cause rats to improperly metabolize food.

In our 24-hour society, there can be enormous pressure to stay awake and do “just one more thing.” In reality, we’re at our most effective and enjoyable when we’re well rested and alert.

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Why popular people get the flu first

Each time flu season arrives, a fresh wave of victims incubates the virus and spread it among their family and friends. Yet, there is one common thread between the first people to fall ill from influenza each year: they’re unusually popular. It’s a fact long acknowledged by the hospital medicine community, but rarely considered by the general public. Why is it that popular people tend to catch the flu first?

A 2009 Harvard University study solved this mystery by tracking students at the New Haven, Conn. school during fall’s flu season. The researchers randomly sampled two groups of varying popularity and measured who became ill.

One clear cause of influenza in popular students was their high level of social connectedness. Because these students came into contact with a greater number of possible vectors, they had much more opportunity to become ill. The study drew clear links between popularity and likeliness to develop flu – the popular crowd became sick about twice as often.

This information is more than just trivia – these patterns hold much value to the medical community studying the outbreaks of viruses. Knowing who is likely to catch a bug first helps researchers track the sources of such frightening illnesses as the H1N1 “swine flu” and SARS. Discovering the patterns that influence who gets sick helps identify the easiest way to quarantine diseases and keep as many people safe as possible.

In addition, researchers suggested paying particular attention to social hubs in areas where a viral outbreak may take place. By inoculating the popular people likely to spread a virus, medics can inoculate an entire population much more quickly and expeditiously, without bringing everyone into the hospital. In the 1960s, most contagious disease experts thought it was necessary to vaccinate entire populations to stop the spread of an illness. Now, we know it’s only necessary to vaccinate those likely to act as a vector themselves.

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Is forgetfulness just a part of growing old?

CHICAGO - OCTOBER 06: Doses of H1N1 influenza...
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Forgetfulness has long been assumed to be a standard part of getting old. Yet a 2009 study conducted by Chicago’s Rush University medical center dispels that assumption and suggests that loss of memory may be caused only by disease, and not any inherent part of aging.

The Ross study followed 350 elderly nuns and priests in the Catholic Church over a period of 13 years. Researchers tested their memory with assignments asking them to recall specific names, numbers, lists and word recollection tests. After the death of study participants, researchers examined their brains and found some startling conclusions.

Of the participants who suffered from memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, lesions were found blocking the flow of blood through small passages within the brain. The lesions also restricted the passage of essential proteins to the brain. The patients with the most severely diminished memories had, on average, the most lesions. In particular, patients who had suffered strokes were found to have about twice as many lesions as those who died with their memories largely intact. The healthiest patients who performed best at the memory tests were found to have very few lesions at the time of their death.

Of course, this means that forgetfulness is not a necessary complication of old age, but rather an additional, old age-related disease. The study may have significant implications for hospital medicine, as it suggests that it may be possible to treat dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and forgetfulness in general by finding a way to treat and reduce lesions within the brain. It also provides a possible window into accurately measuring the severity of an illness causing memory loss.

Diseases of aging are some of the most mysterious, frightening and under-researched around, and with waves of baby boomers becoming elderly this research provides important insight on how to stay health into old age.

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Boys will be boys but does it affect the economy?

Sauder School of Business
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Testosterone can be the driving force behind many leaders’ accomplishments – pushing man to land on the moon and build nations through expansion. In the business world, however, a 2010 study conducted by the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business finds that testosterone is not always an advantage. In fact, they suggest, CEOs driven by testosterone are likely to pursue initiates based on ego and prestige rather than what creates the most value for shareholders.

The Sauder School’s economists looked at hundreds of business deals – typically mergers and acquisitions, and the demographics of the major players in the deals to determine the effect of testosterone in the business world. The researchers argue that testosterone-driven business decisions are “dominance-seeking behaviors” just like those displayed by wild animals competing over a mate. In the corporate world, these behaviors are not likely to have a position effect, but rather to derail possible deals for everyone.

The researchers found that in cases where two companies were headed by younger CEOs with higher testosterone levels were more likely to expand aggressively through acquisitions and also dealt poorly with negotiations. Instead of gradually compromising through counter-offers, these companies tended to withdraw bids completely after being rebuffed.

The researchers also found a correlation between high-testosterone leaders and the financial crisis which struck in the fall of 2008. Alpha males with raging hormones would have been more likely to ignore fundamental market instabilities and charge on into risky projects solely to gratify their egos, the Sauder School study suggests.
One solution proposed by the paper’s authors was to have greater council and oversight of potential business deals proposed by hotshot CEOs. By bringing in industry veterans or women, the researchers suggest, cooler heads may prevail and find a way to put together a deal.

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What to expect when you receive an organ

The rapporteurs of the week
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Organ transplants are an absolute wonder of modern medicine. It’s both exciting and extremely nerve-wracking to await a new organ, but some simple measures can take the unknown out of the process.

When you first arrive at the hospital after a match has been found, expect to undergo some final tests before the transplant operation takes place. You should have a suitcase packed up and ready to go as soon as you hear that a potential match is in the works. Time is not on your side when it comes to organ transplants, as most organs deteriorate quickly after being removed from the donor.

Just prior to surgery, the hospital will give you medicine to help prepare your system for the new organ. The most common drugs are called corticosteroids, and you should be aware they can cause some side effects. The most common ones are agitation and hallucinations. Those sound scary, but are only temporary effects and will pass as soon as you’re off the drugs. Corticosteroids are not the same as the anti-rejection drugs you will take later.

It’s a good idea to have a support person to help you through the process. Brief a family member or friend on your condition, and ask them to pack a suit case as well. They can accompany you to the hospital and coach you through the transplant if you loose track of details in the rush that precipitates the operation.

Depending on the organ you receive, you will have to stay in the hospital a certain amount of time after the operation. During this time, you’ll receive another course of medication to prevent your body from rejecting the new organ. Heart and lung transplants tend to require longer stays and more intensive drugs, whereas more minor organs, such as a kidney won’t have you in the hospital as long.

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Heart patients see shorter hospital stays

Members of the Heart Failure team and AHA leaders
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According to a Medicare study released in 2007, patients in the hospital for heart failure are now released an average of three days sooner than in 1993. Since heart failure continues to be a leading cause of death, this advance in treatment affects thousands of patients each year. Experts warn, however, its too soon to say whether the shorter hospital stays are due to better care, or a Medicare system that rewards hospitals for pushing for prompt discharge.

The study considered over 7 million patients between 1993 and 2006 in hospitals across the nation. It further found that the initial in-hospital death rate declined nearly 50 percent – from over 8 percent to about 4 percent. While those numbers were encouraging, they are tempered by statistics that show patients discharged earlier were more likely to both die after discharge and to be readmitted to either a hospital or nursing home. Deaths after discharge also rose about 50 percent, from 4 to 6 percent. Hospital readmissions rose by a slower rate, from 17 to 20 percent. However, where in 1993 only 13 percent of heart failure patients were discharged to nursing homes, 20 percent of patients were transferred to such facilities in 2006.

Experts suggest this study may indicate that some patients aren’t given the proper information to manage their aftercare post-discharge, leading to the higher death rates.

Immediately after the findings were released, the American College of Cardiology launched a nationwide campaign in more than 700 hospitals. The goal of this campaign is to improve aftercare and reduce hospital readmissions of heart failure patients by 25 percent in 2013. It’s an ambitious goal that will ultimately serve many benefits. By improving aftercare for heart patients, the ACC aims to both increase quality of life and reduce stress on hospitals so they can more effectively treat a full range of patients.

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Tennessee Drug Treatment Programs can Help With Prescription Drug Abuse

Novamoxin Prescription Drug - Amoxicillin Trih...
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At times in our lives, keeping our bodies and minds healthy can involve taking prescription or over the counter medications. For most people, this is the only reason to take these drugs, to stay healthy. Unfortunately, for a growing number of people, this is not the only reason to obtain and take these drugs. Many people today are abusing prescription as well as over the counter medications.

Some may be wondering why a person would take a prescription drug not mandated by a doctor. There are many reasons that some consider this practice. First, many people feel, mistakenly, that if a doctor prescribed it or if it’s easy to get over the counter, it can’t be that bad for you. Often times, just reading the possible side effects can prove this to be an incorrect theory. Many prescription drugs that we have available to us today are extremely dangerous and should only be taken in certain instances. Another reason that prescription drug abuse is on the rise is because many feel that since it may have been obtained legally at one point, it is perfectly fine and legal for them to take the prescription how and when they choose. Again, this is a false conclusion. It is actually illegal for a person to take a prescribed or over the counter medication for reasons other than its stated or prescribed purpose. It is also illegal to share your drugs with someone to whom they were not originally prescribed.

Though obtaining prescription drugs is extremely easy, abusing these drugs is extremely dangerous. If you are searching for help with a prescription drug related problem, Tennessee Drug Treatment programs may be something for you to look into. They will be able to help you identify the problem and start on the road to recovery.

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Recovery Clinic Care

Recovery clinics provide assistance with the treatment of injuries, surgeries, addictions and mental illness. Treatment options are available for inpatient or outpatient care. The type of care chosen can depend of several factors.

Inpatient Care

Inpatient care refers to treatment that is provided on an around-the-clock basis. Patients are housed at a live-facility. Meals are provided as well as counseling and activities. Inpatient care removes an individual from outside influences that may affect her recovery or well being and allows for more treatment time and options. This is useful in instances of detoxification for drug-recovery patients or when a person has become injurious to herself. For individuals who have seriously injured themselves or who have had surgery, inpatient care sees to their basic needs and the healing process. Some inpatient facilities provide individual housing with amenities such as a pool, spa and tennis courts.

Outpatient Care

Outpatient care occurs when patients do not live at a treatment facility but go to it on a scheduled basis. Outpatient care is useful for individuals who work, attend school or have other outside obligations they must be physically present for. Patients of outpatient care may attend a facility daily or a couple of times a week for a few hours each time.

Deciding Factors

The decision to choose inpatient or outpatient care can be based on a few factors. The most determining factor is which type of care is best for the patient’s recovery. In cases of individuals affected by injury or surgery, inpatient care may be necessary to assist them with simple activities such as meals and using the bathroom. For individuals suffering from drug or alcohol addictions, detoxification in an inpatient environment may be best. This can prevent them from temptations at home that may cause a relapse. Since inpatient treatment provides full-time care for patients, the cost is usually much higher. This is often a deciding factor in what type of care is chosen. Insurance coverage will also affect this, as some policies may only cover a portion or limited amount of care.

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