EBOLA VIRUS: Breast Milk May Have Helped It Spread

The Ebola virus was transmitted by semen and breast milk during the latter stages of the outbreak in Sierra Leone, a new study shows.

Researchers from the United Kingdom identified several instances of unconventional transmission of the deadly disease, including a mother who may have passed it to her baby through breast-feeding. In another instance, an Ebola survivor sexually transmitted the virus a month after being released from quarantine.

Close contact with an infected individual is still by far the most common way for Ebola to spread, but this study supports previous research suggesting that the virus can persist in bodily fluids for a long time after recovery.

These unusual modes of transmission may have contributed to isolated flare-ups of infections towards the end of the epidemic.

The recent West African outbreak of Ebola, the largest in history, killed more than 11,000 people and infected more than 28,000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases were concentrated in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The study does not suggest that unconventional transmission of Ebola was more common than previously believed.

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HIGH FITNESS LEVEL REDUCES DIABETES RISK

A higher level of heart-lung fitness may reduce your risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, new research finds.

The study provides evidence to support the widely held belief that fitness is beneficial in reducing the risk for prediabetes/diabetes.

Specifically, an 8 percent to 11 percent higher fitness level reduced the risk of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes by 0.1 percent.

That higher level of fitness required either vigorous exercise for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or moderate exercise for 40 minutes a day, five days a week, the researchers said.

While higher levels of fitness were associated with only a small reduced risk of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes on an individual basis, the effect is significant in terms of the overall population, the study.

"As this benefit remained significant even when adjusting for BMI, exercise programs remain critically important for reducing the development of prediabetes and diabetes," the study authors concluded.

Read more on the benefits of exercise here.

Breast Cancer Risk Linked to Fatty Foods During Teen Years.

Teens who eat high amounts of saturated fats or low amounts of healthier mono- and polyunsaturated fats tend to have denser breasts 15 years later, new research suggests. Greater breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer.

While this study can't prove cause-and-effect, the researchers speculated that different fats may play different roles in breast tissue formation and maintenance. Teen years are a critical time for breast development.

The researchers found that higher intakes of unhealthy fats and lower intake of healthy fats during adolescence were associated with an increased risk of denser breasts. Experts and organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that a healthy diet should contain about 5 percent saturated fat.

Saturated fats come from beef, lamb, pork, poultry with skin, butter, cream, cheese and other whole or 2 percent dairy products, the AHA says. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are found in fatty fish, avocados, walnuts, olives and liquid vegetable oils, the AHA notes.

Women who ate the most saturated fat during adolescence got about 13 percent of total calories from saturated fat. These women had an average breast density of 21.5 percent, the study found. Women who ate the least saturated fat -- about 8 percent of total calories from fat -- had a breast density of 16.4 percent.

A similar difference was found for those who ate the lowest levels of healthy fats during the teen years compared to those who ate the highest levels. Eating more healthy fats was linked with less breast density, the study said.

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Grapefruits : Health benefits

Grapefruit is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour to semi-sweet taste. Some of the health benefits of grapes are:

Immune booster

Grape is a good source of Vitamin C which plays a role in immunity and helps neutralize free radicals in our body. Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells and may protect the integrity of immune cells.

Heart health

Vitamin C is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Kidney stones

citric acid, which is found in grapefruit, may deter stone formation and also break up small stones that are forming. The more citric acid in your urine, the more protected you may be from forming new kidney stones.

Cancer

Vitamin C and beta-carotene may lead to a reduced risk of oesophageal cancer. Red and pink grapefruit is one of the best sources for lycopene after tomatoes. Lycopene has been linked to a decreased risk of prostate cancer; reduce risk of stomach cancer and colon cancer.

Pregnancy health

Grape is a good source of folate, which is essential for pregnant women in order to prevent neural tube defects.

Antioxidants

Phenolic compounds act as antioxidants, which are molecules that safely interact with free radicals to stop the condition of oxidative stress is present in high concentration in grapes. Free radicals cause cell damage and disruption that can contribute to diseases. Vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant.

Hydration

Grapefruit is 91% water, so can help with hydration.

Digestion

The fibre and water in grapefruit can aid digestion and help relieve or prevent constipation.

Weight loss

Grapefruit is naturally high in fibre, which contributes to feelings of satiation which can prevent overeating. Fibre also helps stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing spikes that contribute to hunger." 

Cholesterol

Grapefruit contains pectin, a fibre that is can reduce LDL cholesterol levels and decrease triglycerides levels.

Skin, hair and wound healing

Vitamin C is essential throughout the wound-healing process, largely because it contributes toward collagen synthesis and development. Collagen is also essential for healthy skin and hair. Furthermore, vitamin A is known to promote healthy tissue growth, including in skin, and the high water content in cantaloupes helps keep skin moisturized and supple.

Eyesight

Vitamin A, of which grapefruit is a good source, is essential for good vision. 

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GESTATIONAL DIABETES LINKED TO INCREASED BABY FAT

Babies born to mothers who had gestational diabetes may be more likely to carry excess fat in early life, new research suggests.

At 2 months of age, the babies of mothers with gestational diabetes had 16 percent more body fat than babies of mothers without the disorder. This may have something to do with changes to metabolism in the womb or differences in the breast milk of the mothers.

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy (gestation). Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how your cells use sugar (glucose). Gestational diabetes causes high blood sugar that can affect your pregnancy and your baby's health.

Gestational diabetes is becoming more and more common, and babies born to these mothers are at increased risk of developing diabetes when they grow up. Therefore, we need to understand what effects maternal diabetes has on the baby.

This new study suggests diabetes in the mother can trigger changes in the baby at a very early stage.

BISPHENOL A (PLASTIC) : THE SILENT DESTROYER

BPA (Bisphenol A) is a chemical used in hardening polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins for more than 40 years. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles and eating utensils while Epoxy resins are used to coat the inside of metal products, such as food cans, bottle tops and water supply lines.

BPA is an unstable compound and is also lipophilic (fat-seeking), it can leach into food products, especially when heated. Once in food, BPA can move quickly into people — a particular concern for women of childbearing age and young children. 

More than 90% of us have BPA in our bodies right now. We get most of it by eating foods that have been in containers made with BPA. It's also possible to pick up BPA through air, dust, and water. Clearance of BPA from the body is quite rapid, with its urinary half-life on the order of hours to days. 

BPA has also been found in blood samples from developing foetuses and the surrounding amniotic fluid; it has also been measured in placental tissue and umbilical cord blood at birth, as well as in the urine of premature infants housed in neonatal ICUs.

That BPA is found so extensively in people, from prenatal to adult ages, is particularly impressive given the relatively short half-life of the chemical. This shows that all humans are at risk of BPA.

BPA EFFECTS:

• Increased risk to children. Some studies suggest that possible effects from BPA could be most pronounced in infants and young children. Their bodies are still developing and they are less efficient at eliminating substances from their systems.
• Heart problems: Two studies have found that adults with the highest levels of BPA in their bodies seem to have a higher incidence of heart problems
• Hormone disruptor: Experts believe that BPA could theoretically act like a hormone in the body, disrupting normal hormone levels and development in foetuses, babies, and children.
• Brain and behaviour problems: There is increased concern BPA’s possible effects on the brain and behaviour of infants and young children.
• Cancer: Some animal studies have shown a possible link between BPA exposure and a later increased risk of cancer.
• Other conditions. Some experts have looked into a connection between BPA exposure and many conditions -- obesity, diabetes, ADHD, and others. The evidence isn't strong enough to show a link.

LIMITING BPA EXPOSURE:

• Find products that are BPA-free. 
• Look for infant formula that is BPA-free.
• Choose non-plastic containers for food. Containers made of glass, porcelain, or stainless Steel does not contain BPA.
• Do not heat plastic that could contain BPA. Never use plastic in the microwave, since heat can cause BPA to leach out. For the same reason, never pour boiling water into a plastic bottle when making formula. Hand-wash plastic bottles, cups, and plates.
• Throw out any plastic products that are chipped or cracked. 
•  Use fewer canned foods and more fresh or frozen. Many canned foods still contain BPA in their linings.
• Avoid plastics with a 3 or a 7 recycle code on the bottom.    

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TRAMADOL: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Tramadol is an opioid-like pain drug used to treat moderately severe pain. It modifies the processing of pain signals between the nerves and the brain. However, it has several different targets in the nervous system—each imparting contributions to tramadol’s pain relieving and, sometimes, mood altering properties.

Two well-known effects of tramadol are considered to be the most relevant for its ability to relieve pain and encourage abuse. First, like heroin, codeine, and all other opiate analgesics, it binds to the opioid receptor. Second, it inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. This gives both the pain-relieving effects that patients need and, at higher doses, the euphoric (with the increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain) effects that abusers seek. For some individuals, these pleasant symptoms serve to reinforce a pattern of continued tramadol use.

Side Effects of Tramadol

Some potential side effects of tramadol include: Dizziness, Difficulty falling asleep, Headache, Constipation, Diarrhoea, Loss of appetite, Sweating, Dry mouth, Tremulousness, Nausea etc

Long-Term Effects of Tramadol

These effects may vary, but they often include:

• Tolerance: As the body adapts to tramadol's presence, users need larger doses of the drug to feel its painkilling and euphoric effects.
• Physical dependence: Along with tolerance, many users experience physical dependence if they use tramadol for a long period of time. Their bodies adapt to the presence of the drug, and soon require tramadol in order to function properly. If a dependent individual stops taking tramadol, they may become physically ill due to the onset of a withdrawal syndrome.
• Cognitive decline: Many opioid drugs are associated with cognitive impairment and slowed reaction times. Complex tasks may become more difficult with long-term use of tramadol, and users may present a danger to themselves or others when driving.

The side effects of tolerance and dependence may ultimately lead to a tramadol addiction.

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