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Mediterranean Diet Reduces Asthma Risks in Children; 'Burger Diet' Increases the Risks
 A combination of researchers from Germany, Spain and the University of London have reported that children (8 to 12 years old) who eat what is known as the 'Mediterranean' diet have a much lower risk of developing asthma.
The research, recently published in the journal 'Thorax', looked at the diets of around 50,000 children from 20 different countries and found that diet is actually associated with wheeze and asthma (but not with allergic sensitisation) in children.
The study looked at results from 1995 to 2005, with cross-sectional studies in 29 centres in 20 countries. Parental questionnaires were used to collect information on allergic diseases and exposure factors.
The results showed that fruit intake was associated with a low prevalence of current wheeze in all countries, whilst the consumption of fish in affluent countries and of cooked green vegetables in non-affluent countries was associated with a lower prevalence of current wheeze.
The overall results showed that more frequent consumption of fruit, vegetables and fish was associated with a lower lifetime prevalence of asthma, whereas high burger consumption was associated with higher lifetime asthma prevalence.
Thorax 2010;65:516-522 doi:10.1136/thx.2009.128256
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Olive Oil (Mediterranean Diet) Found to Lessen Risk of Breast Cancer Re-occurrence
Researchers at The Miriam Hospital have studied the effects of weight loss in helping breast cancer survivors and have found that Olive Oil (as used in the 'Mediterranean Diet') can help to produce a greater weight loss in breast cancer survivors - than those on a more traditional low fat diet.
Particularly in post menopausal women, weight gain during cancer treatment or excess weight at the start of treatment is associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence.
This study looked at breast cancer survivors on the low - fat diet recommended by the US National Cancer Institute against a group on the 'Mediterranean' type diet (a plant-based olive oil diet). Both were 1,500 calories.
80% of the latter group lost more than 5% of their weight - compared with 31% for the former group. And, to the surprise of the researchers, after trying both diets, most women chose to stick with the higher fat olive oil diet, saying they found the food more appetising, accessible and affordable. Read more here
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Meditation Reduces the Impact of Pain
 Researchers from the University of Manchester have reported that people who meditate regularly find pain less unpleasant because their brains anticipate the pain less. The researchers studied people who were into meditation. Some of them had only been doing it for some months, whilst others had been doing it for years. They found that in the more experienced meditators, certain areas of their brains were less active as they exhibited a greater anticipation of pain and that their experience of the pain differed from non-meditators. Chief researcher Dr Christopher Brown said, "Meditation is becoming increasingly popular as a way to treat chronic illness such as the pain caused by arthritis. Recently, a mental health charity called for meditation to be routinely available on the NHS to treat depression, which occurs in up to 50% of people with chronic pain. However, scientists have only just started to look into how meditation might reduce the emotional impact of pain."
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 A Patient Safety Congress in Birmingham (UK) heard from the head of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) that there needs to be an improvement in the reporting of medical errors in primary care. Although there has been an increase in incident reporting across the board in the UK, less than 1%of the total number of reports made to the agency came from general practice.
Dr Warner said that one in 15 hospital admissions is drug related and preventable, and 11% of all prescriptions contain an error.
He claimed that the key barriers to reporting by GPs might be "fear of reprisals, lack of trust, cultural beliefs, loss of job or reputation, and not knowing who to report to or how."
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The British Medical Journal (BMJ) Criticises the World Health Organisation (WHO) Over It's 'Conflict of Interests with the Drug Companies' in Its Handling of the Multi Million Dollar Swine Flu Scare
The main problem with the direction that the WHO set down for Governments and countries to follow in the recent Swine Flu Pandemic is that the 'guidelines' were established by "experts" who were in the pay of two of the leading drug companies (GSK and Roche), says the BMJ.
The WHO kept these affiliations secret - against its own rules - and allowed Governments worldwide to spend $ billions on the rushed-through vaccines that came out of these guidelines.
Much of this vaccination mountain is still in stock, as yet unused (and getting closer to its 'use-by' dates) while the WHO still refuses to identify the committee members involved with the drug companies. Read more here
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The World Health Organisation has maintained its swine flu pandemic alert, as its chief, Margaret Chan explained that 'following advice from a panel of scientists' (see above) fresh cases are expected in the next few weeks as the southern hemisphere enters its Flu season.
The Caribbean and South Asia are currently the most active areas for the illness.
Swine Flu is reported to have killed around 18,000 people and affected some 214 countries and territories since it emerged in Mexico in April 2009, according to WHO data.
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 A report from the Clinical Cancer Research Groups in Leeds has studied the effects that an extract found in sponges has on women with advanced breast cancer and found that it extended the life of those it was trialled on. The research focused on women with locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (762) who already received extensive standard therapy, and found that its use extended life by around 2.5 months. The synthetic compound used is eribulin mesylate, which is the mesylate salt of a synthetic analogue of halichondrin B, a substance derived from a marine sponge (Lissodendoryx sp.) . It is already known that eribulin - through its binding action - has a potential to make tumours regress. Read more here Back to top |
 A recent study in the journal Hypertension found that a low-fat dairy diet may help reduce the risk of high blood pressure in middle-aged women. Having followed around 29,000 women over 45 for ten years, the study looked at those who later developed high blood pressure and found that those who ate no dairy, or 'full-fat' dairy products were both at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure. The researchers could give no reasons why this should be the case, although both vitamin D and calcium - when taken in foods - also showed the same effects.
Source: Wang L, Manson JE, Buring JE, et al.
Dietary Intake of Dairy Products, Calcium, and Vitamin D and the Risk of Hypertension in Middle-Aged and Older Women. Hypertension. February, 2008.
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 A study undertaken in Denmark and reported in the journal 'Eating Behaviours' examined the medical records of over 2,200 people.
Of these 8% were classified as 'nocturnal eaters' - and they ended up losing more teeth than normal eaters.
Dental experts point to the fact that if you eat at night you re-inforce the negative impact of eating acidic and sugary food and drinks because the food stays in your mouth longer because your mouth is driest at night - as your saliva flow dries up.
Lead author Dr Jennifer Lundgren says; "Practitioners should be aware of the oral health implications of nocturnal eating, increase screening and oral health education efforts among nocturnal eaters and make treatment referrals when appropriate."
Eating Behaviors; Volume 11, Issue 2, April 2010, Pages 92-98
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 And in a separate study in Sweden researchers looked at sets of male and female twins and their eating patterns and discovered that males were more likely to develop into 'Night Eaters', whilst females tended more towards 'Binge Eating'.
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 A study by the Mayo Clinic, presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, shows that an extract of green tea appears to reduce the number of leukemia cells in patients with cancer (chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) The study focused on the major component of green tea - epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) - and was the third phase of testing that the Mayo Clinic has put this green tea extract through in the last 8 years. It was first tested in the laboratory where it was found to reduce the survival of CLL leukemic cells. This was followed by a successful Phase I clinical trial - and now this Phase II trial.
Lead author, Tait Shanafelt, M.D., said: "Although only a comparative phase III trial can determine whether EGCG can delay progression of CLL, the benefits we have seen in most CLL patients who use the chemical suggest that it has modest clinical activity and may be useful for stabilizing this form of leukemia, potentially slowing it down."Read more here |
Four Cups of Tea a Day Reduces Risks of Ovarian Cancer
Research from Australia indicates that drinking more than four cups of tea a day may reduce the risks of ovarian cancer. The researchers say that this applies to Black, Green, or Herbal teas although they believe that Green tea is the 'healthiest'.
The study was undertaken amongst 2,700 women (half of whom had ovarian cancer) and the results of their tea consumption compared.
Read more here
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 Researchers from the University of Rochester (New York) have looked at the role a natural compound with pain-killing, anti-inflammatory and sleep regulating effects plays in acupuncture. The compound - adenosine - was found to reduce discomfort in acupuncture in mice who already had normal levels of the compound; in those with no adenosine the acupuncture had no effect; adenosine reduced discomfort even when there was no acupuncture; during - and immediately after acupuncture adenosine levels in the tissues around the needles was 24 times greater than before treatment started.
Lead researcher, Maiken Nedergaard, explained, "In this work, we provide information about one physical mechanism through which acupuncture reduces pain in the body."
In the paper published in the journal 'Nature Neuroscience', the researchers go on to explain that once they recognised the role adenosine played in acupuncture, they went on to research the effects of acupuncture with a cancer drug whose action is known to make it harder for tissues to get rid of adenosine.
They found that using this compound with the acupuncture boosted the effects of the treatment - nearly tripling the accumulation of adenosine in the muscles and more than tripling the length of time the treatment was effective. Read more here |
ADHD Linked to Pesticide Use?
A study just published in the journal Pediatrics has looked at the links between ADHD and pesticides.
The results of a urinary check showed that children with higher urinary dialkyl phosphate concentrations,especially dimethyl alkylphosphate (DMAP) concentrations, weremore likely to be diagnosed as having ADHD.
These findings support the hypothesis that organophosphate exposure,at levels common among US children, may contribute to ADHD prevalence.
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New Doctors Raise levels of 'Medication Error' Deaths
 A new study from the University of California (San Diego)in the US has found that 'drug errors' in hospitals peak every July - at a time when new medical residents are first recruited.
The report suggests that this is the most dangerous time for patients in US hospitals. The researchers looked at death certificates citing 'medication error' as cause of death - from 1979 through to 2006 - and found that these fatal errors spiked by 10% overall in July - but only in places where there was a teaching hospital.
Read more here
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Low Heartburn Coffee?
 Researchers in Vienna have discovered a way to produce coffee that will not cause any gastrointestinal discomfort.
They have found a chemical in coffee that actually inhibits acid production in the stomach.
Read more here
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Greetings!
Here's the latest breaking news on the most recent developments in Complementary and Natural Healthcare research - across the field.
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Latest Complementary Medicine and Natural Healthcare World News
'OBESE' BMI IN THE UNDER 40'S - IS NOT UNHEALTHY
A study from Ohio State University, examining
the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and illness suggests that a BMI of 30 or above, a
signal of obesity according to federal health standards in the US, does not
translate into current illness among adults under age 40.
In addition, researchers found that across
all age groups studied, from 25 to 70 years, there was little difference in the
current health status in normal-weight vs. overweight people based on the
medications they took.
Evidence of the Perceived Benefit of CAM for Back Pain
According to a recent analysis of the 2002
National Health Interview Survey, approximately 6 percent of U.S. adults used
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat their back pain during
the previous year. The data from this analysis, published in the Journal of the American Board of
Family Medicine, also revealed that a majority (60 percent) of
survey respondents who used the most common CAM therapies for back pain
perceived "a great deal" of benefit.
Nut Consumption Linked to Reduced Risk for Heart Disease
With a mean daily consumption of 67 g of nuts reductions were achieved
for 'totalcholesterol concentration': LDL cholesterol concentration; and ratio of totalcholesterol
concentration to HDL-C, with the conclusion that nut consumption improves blood
lipid levels in a dose-related manner, particularly among subjects
with higherLDL-C or with lower BMI.
Vitamin D absorption increases when taken with large meals
A
recent study concludes that taking vitamin D with the largest meal improves
absorption and results in about a 50% increase in serum levels of 25(OH)D
levels achieved.
Depression linked to low vitamin D levels in older women
Women with low vitamin D levels, compared
with those with higher levels experiencedincreases in CES-D scores
of 2.1 (P = 0.02) and 2.2 (P = 0.04)points higher at,
respectively, 3- and 6-yr follow-up. Womenwith low vitamin D
(Vit-D) had also significantly higher risk of developing depressive
mood over the follow-up (hazard ratio= 2.0; 95% confidence interval
= 1.2-3.2; P = 0.005).
Male Antelopes Trick Females Into Having Sex
Scientists have caught male topi antelopes in the act of faking fear in front of females in heat
as a way to improve their chances of having sex.
The male antelopes, observed in southwest
Kenya, send a false signal that a predator is nearby only when females in heat
are in their territories. When the females react to the signal, they remain in
the territory long enough for some males to fit in a quick mating opportunity.
Flaxseed May Help Fight Ovarian Cancer
A recent
study from the University of Illinois shows a significant reduction in ovarian cancer
amongst hens when given a 10% flaxseed supplementation for 1 year.
Compound found in Broccoli May Combat Breast Cancer
A study
from the University of Michigan and Ohio State has shown that a compound found
naturally in broccoli - sulforaphane - inhibits breast cancers and down regulates
the Wnt/β-catenin self-renewal pathway.
An assessment of the extent of Aflatoxin - induced Liver Cancer
Aflatoxin is a contaminant produced by the fungi Aspergillus
flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus in maize and nuts and is a known
human liver carcinogen. This study reviewed the 550,000-600,000 new HCC cases
worldwide each year, and found that about 25,200-155,000 may be attributable to
aflatoxin exposure. Most cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and
China where populations suffer from both high HBV prevalence and largely
uncontrolled aflatoxin exposure in food.
Eating Pecans Has a Positive Effect on Motor Neuron Degenaration
Eating about a handful of pecans each day may play a role in protecting
the nervous system, according to a new animal study published in the current
issue of Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research.
Previous Global Health News:
WHO issues warning about corruption of drug industry
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently issued
a fact sheet warning about the corruption and unethical practices that are
endemic to every step of the business. US$ 4.1 trillion is spent globally on
health services each year3 with US$ 750 billion spent in the global
pharmaceuticals market4. However, 10 to 25% of public procurement spending
(including on pharmaceuticals) is lost to corrupt practices.
AstraZeneca Settles Drug Marketing Lawsuit for $520M
AstraZeneca has settled a case and agreed to pay
$520 million after federal investigations into its marketing practices for a
schizophrenia drug, Seroquel.
Mexico City Air Pollution Adversely Affects the Hearts of Young People
A post-mortem study of the hearts of 21 young
people in Mexico City has found that the heart begins to show the adverse
effects of air pollution at a young age and that tiny bits of inactivated bacteria
that hitch a ride on pollutants may make the problem worse.
The study is part of a growing body of research
showing that air pollution can damage the heart and lead to increased risk of
heart disease and heart attacks. But this study contrasted two different areas
of the same city, showing that different types of pollutants can produce
different effects.
Preventable Hospital Deaths Can Be Reduced by Encouraging Error Reporting
Creating a learning-oriented culture within
hospitals and carried out by charge nurses and leaders at the point of care is
a key to patient safety.
Getting back on the bike, post cancer
As a two-time survivor of cancer, Melanie Keats is
convinced that being a fit and active person is what saved her life. The key to
recovery and a good quality of life, she believes, is early intervention, right
in the hospital. With the help of a grant by the Canadian Foundation for
Innovation (CFI) and matching funds through Nova Scotia Research and Innovation
Trust, she wants to get kids on bikes: having races, smashing vehicles and
steering through congested corridors at breakneck speeds. So to speak. The
bikes power video-games; pedaling controls the action on the screen.
Congressman sneaks anti-vitamin amendment into Wall Street reform bill
Of all the sneaky tactics practiced in Washington
D.C., this recent action by Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) is one of the most
insidious: While no one was looking, he injected amendment language into the
Wall Street Reform and Consumer...
Protein Loss In The Urine Harmful For People With High Blood Pressure
Healthy people with high blood pressure who excrete
a slight excess of protein in the urine raise their risk of developing kidney
and heart complications.
Tail-end of swine flu boom lifts Glaxo Q1 profits
Bumper sales of swine flu vaccine boosted
GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK.L) first-quarter earnings per share 17 percent, more
than expected, but the rest of 2010 may be tougher as H1N1 business wanes.
Swine flu cost in Wales revealed by health minister
The cost of swine flu in Wales stands at £35m,
according to official figures. The cost to the Welsh Assembly Government is
disclosed in a letter from Health Minister Edwina Hart to the finance
committee. The figure is well below a worst-case prediction of £80m, made before
the outbreak's scale became clear. But the real cost could be higher as a £60m
contingency fund earmarked for a flu pandemic has been used to ease NHS
pressures, including swine flu costs.
Arrests prompt questions about oversight of Prince's charities
Clarence House aides had access to accounts of
complementary health foundation that has received £1m in public funding. A man
understood to have been a former senior employee at one of Prince Charles's
charities has been arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering. Royal
aides were last night facing fresh questions about their oversight of one of
Prince Charles's most prominent charities, following two arrests on suspicion
of fraud and money laundering at the Foundation for Integrated Health.
Sources close to the charity, which campaigns for
the wider application of complementary medicine in the National Health Service,
said the charity's board and Clarence House both faced scrutiny of how an
official, who has since resigned, could allegedly defraud it of up to £300,000.
Study Supports Link Between IBD Symptoms, Stress
Individuals who suffer from irritable bowel disease
have long believed that their symptoms are affected by their levels of stress.
Until recently, there has been little scientific evidence to support that
opinion. The results of a study that analyzed factors which caused a worsening
of IBD symptoms appeared in the April 6, 2010 issue of the American Journal of
Gastroenterology. Charles N. Bernstein, M.D., and a team of researchers
surveyed participants every three months for one year. A total of 552
participants who were chosen from a population based IBD research study
completed the trial. Following a baseline survey, the researchers kept track of
the participants' use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs,
antibiotics, occurrence of infections, major life events, moods, and perceived
stress. At the same time, the incidence of IBD symptoms was assessed and rated.
The participants were categorized according to their incidence of symptoms. The
categories included having a flare, having no flare, or remaining active.
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The Evidence YOU Need!
Complementary & Alternative Medicine: The Scientific Verdict on what Really Works, written by Dr Steve Bratman and edited by Jayney Goddard is an enormous collection of scientific trials across the field of Complementary Medicine and Natural HealthCare. Jayney Goddard says: "In order to edit Dr Bratman's excellent work I had to look at the results of over 10,000 trials - the vast majority of which were RCTs. It was painstaking work but a very useful addition to the current literature in the complementary medical field. This book makes those thousands of trials accessible to all readers with even a basic understanding of the tenets of complementary medicine. It is, however, particularly useful to CAM practitioners and students and also to conventional medics who would like to know more about the evidence base for CAM."
Price £20.00 + P&P
Available from The CMA or by calling us on 0845 129 8434
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What is The CMA?
As you probably know, The Complementary Medical Association is one of the world's largest Professional Membership bodies for highly qualified Complementary Medical Practitioners, CAM Students and Training Colleges. However, there is so much more to us than that - More . . . | |
Why Don't Doctors Report Medical Errors? 
Four Cups of Tea a Day Reduces Risks of 
