Eating charred meat may increase risk of pancreatic cancer

LOS ANGELES (Xinhua) :- Eating burned or charred meat may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer a new study has found.

Meat-eaters who preferred their steak very well done were almost 60 percent more likely to get pancreatic cancer compared to those who ate steak less well done or did not eat steak, according to the study presented Tuesday at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Denver.

In the study, researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (UMSPH) analysed data on the meat intake, preferred cooking methods and doneness preferences of nearly 63, 000 participants taking part in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Multi-Center Screening Trial. Over the course of nine years, 208 developed pancreatic cancer.

Researchers then estimated carcinogen intake based on overall meat consumption and doneness preferences. Those with highest intake had 70 percent higher risk than those with the lowest intake according to the study.

Frying, grilling or barbecuing meat to the point of charring can form carcinogens, which do not form when meat is baked or stewed, explained Kristin Anderson, an associate professor at the UMSPH.

Anderson suggesting cooking meat thoroughly enough to kill bacteria but avoiding charring. The precursors of cancer-causing compounds can also be reduced by microwaving the meat for a few minutes and pouring off the juices before cooking it on the grill.

"We cannot say with absolute certainty that the risk is increased due to carcinogens formed in burned meat" Anderson said. "However those who enjoy either fried or barbecued meat should consider turning down the heat or cutting off burned portions when it's finished."

Source :- Eating charred meat may increase risk of pancreatic cancer

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Eat tart cherries, reduce risk of heart diseases

Washington (IANS): Eating just one and a half servings of tart cherries could boost your antioxidant activity and cut risk factors for heart diseases, says the latest research.

The University of Michigan (U-M) study found that healthy adults who ate a cup and a half of frozen cherries had increased levels of antioxidants, specifically five different anthocyanins, natural antioxidants that give cherries their distinctive colour.

Twelve healthy adults, aged 18 to 25 years, were randomly assigned to eat either one and a half cups or three cups of frozen tart cherries.

Researchers tested participants' blood and urine after they ate the cherries and found increased antioxidant activity for up to 12 hours after eating cherries.

"This study documents for the first time that the antioxidants in tart cherries do make it into the human bloodstream and is coupled with increased antioxidant activity that could have a positive impact," said Sara L. Warber, principal study investigator.

"And, while more research is needed, what's really great is that a reasonable amount of cherries could potentially deliver benefits, like reducing risk factors for heart disease and inflammation."

Previous animal studies have linked cherries and cherry compounds to important benefits, including helping to lower risk factors for heart disease and impacting inflammation.

Warber's colleagues at the U-M have previously shown in animals that cherry-enriched diets can lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce triglycerides, an unhealthy type of blood fat 2, said an U-M release.

Other benefits of cherries found in animal studies include a 14 percent lower body weight and less "belly fat," the type linked with increased heart disease risk and type 2 diabetes.

These findings were presented at the 2009 Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans.

Source :- Eat tart cherries, reduce risk of heart diseases

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Drug firms may exceed growth targets

Mumbai:- Despite forex losses and currency fluctuations impacting profitability, leading Indian drug companies such as Cipla, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Wockhardt are likely to exceed revenue growth targets set for financial year 2008-09.

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories which is celebrating its 25th year of inception, had targeted 25 per cent growth in revenues for 2008-09. In the first three quarters, the Rs 5,000-crore company recorded revenue growth of 25 per cent, 30 per cent and 49 per cent respectively, despite heavy losses in the first quarter.

According to analysts, the company is likely to have a good showing in the last quarter with about 20 per cent growth, thanks to good revenues from sumatriptan succinate, an authorised generic version of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)’s Imitrex. The company launched the product in November last year, with exclusive sales opportunity for six months.

“The Indian companies would continue to benefit on the top line front from the 25 per cent rupee depreciation as compared to the last quarter of the previous year. On the operating front, margins are expected to contract for most companies,” said a Angel Broking analysis, led by analyst Sarabjit Kaur Nagra.

Another company that has performed beyond expectations is Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, India’s largest drug company in terms of market capitalisation. Sun Pharma gave a guidance of 18-20 per cent growth in revenues for 2008-09, but it has already recorded 50 per cent growth in net sales to Rs 3,137.9 crore for the first nine months, from Rs 2099.4 crore in the same period in 2007-08. Net profit was also up at Rs 1422.9 crore, up by 86 per cent, compared to the same period last year.

Analysts feel Sun Pharma’s performance in the fourth quarter will be affected due to diminishing sales for pantoprazole and production issues with Caraco, its US subsidiary. “Sun Pharma numbers should see sequential moderation, as sales of pantaprazol have come down and Caraco base business continues to decline,” said a CLSA report.

“In the first nine months, we have exceeded our guidance with basic business, without considering one-time opportunity revenues and other additional income,” said a Sun Pharma spokesperson.

According to a Religare Hichens Harrison earning estimate, second largest domestic drug maker Cipla’s March quarter sales are expected to go up by over 23 per cent to Rs 1,383.1 crore on year on year basis and profit after tax to grow by 60.2 per cent to Rs 253.3 crore on year on year basis.

Total sales for Cipla grew 26.4 per cent to Rs 3,785 crore for the nine months, but PAT was down by 1.2 per cent to Rs 521 crore, impacted by currency fluctuation losses. Motilal Oswal estimates Cipla’s revenues to grow 22 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2008-09. Analyst firm Prabhudas Lilladher had estimated Cipla’s revenues to grow 24 per cent, with a 9.3 per cent growth in net profit for 2008-09. Angel Broking’s estimate was an overall 10.4 per cent growth in PAT for Cipla for 2008-09.

Lupin Ltd, another top five Indian drug company, also had better than industry average performance in the first nine months. The company, which was growing at over 30 per cent in the last four years, maintained 38 per cent growth in turnover and 49 per cent growth in profits in the first nine months of 2008-09. “We should continue that momentum in this quarter. We anticipate to grow by at least 25 per cent in the next year,” said Kamal K Sharma, managing director, Lupin.

Even the debt ridden Wockhardt Ltd is outperforming its past business growth. Revenues increased by 40 per cent to Rs 2644.2 crore for the nine months ended in calendar year 2008.
However, its net profit was down by 21 per cent due to financing cost and exchange fluctuation on foreign currency borrowings. “Our growth will continue to outperform industry average in the coming years and for the last two quarters. Currency fluctuation losses and debt is a temporary phenomenon which we will address through restructuring our debts,” Wockhardt chairman Habil Khorakiwala said in a recent interview.

Motilal Oswal estimates that excluding upsides from patent challenges, forex losses and acquisitions, sales of major drug companies will grow over 20 per cent and Profit After Tax (PAT) by 17.6 per cent for the fourth quarter. Top-line growth for mid-cap generic companies will be about 33 per cent and for contract manufacturing specialist companies, growth will be about 18 per cent. However, on a reported basis, PAT is likely to decline by 63.2 per cent without making these adjustments.

Source :- Drug firms may exceed growth targets

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Doctor connects with hospice patients

After spending 30 years as an oral surgeon Dr. Rick Hilsabeck could have taken the easy route in retirement.

He could have kicked off his shoes and put his toes in the sand somewhere.

Instead he stepped up his volunteering, and put himself in some of the most difficult, emotional situations — helping people in the final days of their lives.

"I retired but I didn't retire from life," Hilsabeck says simply.

His work as a support person for terminally ill hospice patients so impressed the program's volunteer coordinator that she nominated him for this year's Health Care Volunteer Award, which he has won.

"Rick has spent countless hours providing support to the terminally ill hospice patients in their home environment. He provides the one-on-one connection so critical in supporting all aspects of the hospice philosophy of care" said nominator Mary Betters, volunteer coordinator at ThedaCare At Home Hospice.

She praised Hilsabeck's "gift of humor and nonjudgmental presence," both of which made ill patients and their families at ease during a difficult time of life.

Hilsabeck also volunteers as a surgeon at the Tri-County Community Dental Clinic, a free clinic for those who cannot afford dental care, and donates hours to the South African Medical Project, which sends dental and medical supplies to needy countries.

But his efforts with the hospice are what garnered him the honor.

Hilsabeck underplays his role. "I'm honored to receive the award, but I didn't go into this to gain attention," he said. "If my story propels someone else into volunteering, I'm happy."

He found out about hospice care when his wife, Diane, volunteered in another hospice. "She said they had a big need for men, for starters, but also men who would go into people's homes."

Having life experience, helping raise six sons and taking care of his parents in their declining years gave him a perspective he said he didn't have as a young man.

"I wasn't as sensitive to the needs of the elderly. You become more sensitive when you're older yourself," he said, though he's still only 62. "When you're dealing with a family and a dying person, you can't put on any airs. They know when you're sincere and when you're saying something that comes from the heart."

Hilsabeck said he's honored to share personal time with hospice patients, and is grateful he can make a difference. The impact of the job became clear to him while attending a young hospice patient's funeral recently.

"The mother of the patient who died came up to me and told me my presence was important at the end. She said it made their experience more tolerable," he said. "It was very humbling."

Source:- Doctor connects with hospice patients

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Deficient regulation helps medical malpractices thrive

CHANDIGARH:- When it comes to matters of life and death the private medical industry is shockingly devoid of any regulation. Private nursing homes - about 150 of them exist in the Tricity - are not accountable to any authority as they are not registered. So is the case with privately-run clinics and hospitals.

In case a patient has been fleeced or receives deficient services there is nothing much he could do, except for moving the consumer court. Facing this medical dead end, a Canadian citizen recently approached the UT director, health services to complain against a Sector-27 dentist who, he alleged had not only ripped him off, but also provided wrong treatment. “The patient had undergone a dental procedure in the city. However, his problem recurred as soon as he reached Delhi, where he consulted a dentist again. He was told that the Chandigarh doctor had fleeced him as he had paid Rs 45,000 for a treatment that was not even proper,” said director, health services, MS Bains.

Acting on the grievance, the health department tried to locate the doctor, who had already shut down his clinic. “This is the limitation of non-registration of nursing homes. Though doctors are registered to start a practice, their clinic can be run by anyone who has not been found guilty according to medical regulations,” added Bains.

This unhealthy trend is reflected in Mohali and Panchkula. “There are around 30 private nursing homes in Chandigarh,” said president of nursing homes association, UT, RS Bedi. According to officials, Mohali and Panchkula have approximately 60 of these medical centres each.

Though the health department has drafted and sent a proposal for registration to Union government, it can proceed only when the same is okayed. “Our department was working on empanelling private clinics and nursing homes so that treatment could be provided at the doorstep, and at government rates. When the Centre asked for a list of registered clinics, we informed the government that due to lack of any regulatory authority, we did not have the database,” Bains added.

Why is registration important?

It will ensure that private medical centres also follow the norms decided by Medical Council of India. For instance, a clinic meant for 10 admissions will be prohibited against having more indoor patients. Regulation becomes simpler with director health services of the area authorized to take necessary action against the clinic that breaches MCI norms. Importantly rates can be kept under a check.

Source :- Deficient regulation helps medical malpractices thrive

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Mediterranean diet is best for your heart

Toronto (IANS): A study by an Indian-origin Canadian researcher has established that the Mediterranean diet is the best for the health of your heart.

High on plant foods, vegetables, fresh fruit and nuts, and low on red meat, wine and dairy products, the Mediterranean diet has long been considered to be the best for cardiovascular health.

But now a comprehensive study by Sonia Anand of McMaster University near here has established that vegetables, nuts, monounsaturated fatty acids and "overall healthy dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet" are best for reducing the risk of heart disease. Anand and her team of researchers evaluated about 200 dietary studies of the past 60 years in the US, Europe and Asia to find their link to coronary heart disease (CHD).

Titled 'A Systematic Review of the Evidence Supporting a Causal Link Between Dietary Factors and Coronary Heart Disease' their study also found that glycemic load of foods and trans fatty acids are equally harmful for heart.

"The study concludes there are certain food groups or dietary patterns, that are beneficial, including vegetables, nuts, monounsaturated fatty acids, and overall 'healthy' dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet" Anand was quoted as saying in a university statement Tuesday.

"We hope our comprehensive review will clarify healthy and harmful foods as related to heart disease for the general public," she said. "Concluding there is strong evidence that certain dietary patterns, or food groups which are clearly beneficial or harmful, is an easy message for health professionals to send to the general public," added the Indian-origin professor.

According to her, their ground-breaking study will encourage health professionals and dieticians to disseminate information to the public "in a less factual and more people-friendly manner." However Anand had a word of precaution, saying that more research needs to be done to back their conclusions.

"What we have demonstrated is that, for some food groups and nutrients, there has been relatively weak information. Even though one study may be positive, there may be three others that are negative or conflicting. We really need to look at the totality of the evidence in the field before promoting something to the public at large," she said.

Source :- Mediterranean diet is best for your heart

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A life-changer:- Cosmetic dentistry touted for contributions to individuals' social and emotional health

Dr. Carol Waldman says she is in the business of improving her patients' lives, one mouth at a time.

The Toronto-based dentist says she focuses her practice on cosmetic dentistry because ``it's wonderful. When your job is done, people who were afraid to smile are always smiling. You really change people's lives.''

Improving those smiles involves a variety of treatments ranging from whitening the teeth to restorative work that includes porcelain veneers or crowns and bonding or dental implants and even additions to gum tissue.

Treatments, says Waldman, are ``tailor-made for each person. You do as little as you can to provide as much bang for the buck as possible and not be invasive. Implant dentistry is the most expensive, but over the course of a lifetime, it is not expensive.''

The dollar count can be high for any of the procedures, depending on the problem and the degree of transformation required.

Costs vary with specific dentists and the province of operation, but generally range from a relatively low $100 for an initial consultation and $250 to $500 for a round of teeth whitening (about double this for laser whitening) to $1,000 or more per tooth for veneers, porcelain crowns and other restorative work. As most dental insurance is primarily directed toward covering a portion of treatments defined as medically necessary, individuals usually take the hit for the full cost.

However, patients happy with their enhanced smiles frequently say their new look is priceless or call to thank him, says Ottawa dentist Dr. Charles Kamel, pointing out the value of people being comfortable with their appearance.

``Esthetic dentistry is a very emotional form of dentistry,'' he says. ``You can change someone's self-perception in as short a time as one appointment. It creates confidence, gives people a different outlook on themselves and, therefore, a greater possibility of success.''

He paints a verbal picture of ``a beautiful woman who has a large space between her front teeth. No matter what the rest of the package is, when she smiles, she has a big hole. And the perception of beauty is driven by society.''

A dental procedure such as bonding can close the gap and transform her appearance immediately, he says. And the dramatic change in her physical appearance can have a profound effect on her self-perception and other people's reactions to her.

You're not just treating teeth, says Kamel, ``you're treating the person. Take the degree of tooth exposure, for example. Straight white teeth covered by the upper lip are not going to be noticed. Gums, the clothes that go on the teeth, have a big part in esthetic dentistry. Just adding some gum tissue, can make teeth look better. When we do treatment planning, we are looking at the whole face and we are looking at what the person wants. Some people want to be very subtle. Others want to be seen the minute they walk in.''

Dr. Gordon Chee of the Aesthetic Dental Studio in Calgary also says that this field of dentistry is ``most rewarding in terms of improving patients' self-esteem and self- confidence.'' He emphasizes that ``the medical and esthetic go hand in hand. Sometimes, people's teeth are quite damaged because of bite problems, chipped teeth and so on. So you deal with their dental health first, then the appearance later to ensure the longevity of what you are putting in their mouths. That way, you really make a difference to people's lives.''

Waldman agrees, ``Health comes first. Deal with structural integrity before cosmetics. I am a firm believer that veneers are for teeth that are discoloured, broken down or heavily filled but not for teeth that are in the wrong place. If a tooth is in the wrong place, I would strongly recommend that the patient has orthodontics first to correct the position of the tooth and then sees whether it needs cosmetic or restorative work after that.''

While Fredericton dentist Dr. Deborah Stymiest, the Canadian Dental Association's first female president, is in accord with the philosophy that ``good esthetics contribute to emotional and social well-being,'' the primary focus of her practice is on general dentistry and the mouth as ``the window to the body that reflects overall health.''

``When your teeth are healthy and you are without pain, you feel more at ease and smile more readily,'' she says. ``Teeth whitening and porcelain veneers are very popular today, and public perception certainly favours a bright, white smile, but teeth don't have to be perfectly white to be healthy and attractive.''

OPTIONAL SIDEBAR:- Procedures

Dental bonding

In dental bonding a composite plastic resin is applied to the teeth. Bonding can be used to restore decayed or chipped teeth or to improve the appearance of teeth e.g. by closing gaps between teeth.

Dental implants

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth through surgery that fixes the replacement for the tooth into the jawbone. A titanium post (the implant) is used to anchor the false tooth. Some offices do computer-guided implants.

Porcelain crowns

A crown or cap is fitted on top of a reduced natural tooth. Porcelain crowns (unlike metal crowns) are indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Porcelain veneers

To create porcelain veneers, laboratory-processed porcelain is bonded to the surface of the tooth. The seal formed between the border of the tooth and the porcelain veneer prevents bacteria from penetrating the tooth's surface.

Whitening

Whitening procedures range from the use of whitening toothpastes and strips at home to the application of peroxide gels or laser beams by a dentist. Whitening/bleaching usually requires applications twice a year, depending on such factors as diet.

Keeping those pearly whites white

* Avoid red wine, coffee, tea and sodas that contain caffeine.

* Avoid acidic foods that can erode tooth enamel.

* Avoid excessive fluoride consumption. Too much fluoride can cause white stains.

* Do not smoke. (Nicotine leaves yellow and brown stains.)

* Do not grind your teeth. Teeth grinding can cause cracks that may have dark edges.

Source :- A life-changer:- Cosmetic dentistry touted for contributions to individuals' social and emotional health

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Protein reverses damage caused by heart attack

Washington (IANS): A protein produced by the heart during its development in the embryo reverses damage caused by a heart attack.

The protein molecule Thymosin beta-4 (TB4) has been found to encourage new growth and repair damaged heart cells in mice, within 24 hours after it is injected.

“This molecule has the potential to reprogramme cells in the body to get them to do what you want them to do,” said J. Michael DiMaio, associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern (UT-S) and senior author of the study.

Tremendous progress has been made to counter the damaging effects of heart attacks but mammalian hearts are incapable of repairing themselves following damage.

They are also limited in their ability to form new blood vessels. Earlier studies demonstrated that TB4 is expressed in the embryonic heart and stimulates cardiac vessels to form. It was therefore thought that introduction of TB4 might activate new vessel growth in the adult heart.

In this study, researchers found that TB4 initiates capillary tube formation of adult coronary endothelial cells (thin layer of cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels) in tissue culture.

The molecule also encourages cardiac regeneration by inhibiting death in heart cells after an injury such as a heart attack and by stimulating new vessel growth, said an UT-S release.

“We observed that by injecting this protein systemically, (in a manner that affects an entire system) there was increased cardiac function after a heart attack,” said Ildiko Bock-Marquette, assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at UT-S and the study's lead author.

The study will appear in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology.

Source :- Protein reverses damage caused by heart attack

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Tooth decay in children burden on hospitals

Guardian News Service

Poor are far more likely to need treatment - Peak age for extractions owing to caries is just five.

Increasing numbers of young children in the UK particularly from poor areas are being taken into hospital to have rotten teeth removed according to research by academics published on Friday.

While children's teeth are in general better than in the past owing to fluoride toothpaste and fluoride in the water supply in some areas there has been a worrying rise in serious problems chiefly among the most deprived.

More than 470,000 children needed hospital admission for treatment relating to their teeth between 1997 and 2006, according to the research by the Peninsula dental school in Exeter and the UCL Eastman dental institute in London.

Since some children were admitted more than once - one girl had teeth pulled out on seven separate occasions over the nine-year period - there were a total of 517,885 "episodes of care". Half of these were for tooth decay (dental caries) and 80% resulted in extraction.

Experts are concerned by the steady increase in the figures - a 66% rise in extractions for caries over the nine years - and point out that in most cases the child would have been subjected to a general anaesthetic which is at best unpleasant and at worst can be life-threatening. The peak age for extractions owing to rotten teeth was five.

"The findings of our study are very worrying," said David Moles, professor of oral health services research at the Peninsula dental school in southern England.

"If rates of caries and other dental infection are steady why is there such a marked increase in the number of children being admitted to hospital for dental treatment? And why is it that more and more children are being electively admitted to hospital for extractions? Clearly these questions need to be answered in order to cut the number of admissions, improve dental care for children and ultimately reduce the financial burden to the UK health service (NHS)."

The study found a huge difference in the chances of being admitted to hospital to have a tooth extracted between children in affluent areas and in socially deprived areas. Twice as many treatments were provided to children in the most deprived sector of society compared with those from the most affluent.

Children in more affluent areas were 33% less likely to become a dental care emergency than those living in more deprived areas, and they were 75% less likely to develop caries than their less well-off counterparts.

Dr Paul Ashley, head of paediatric dentistry at the UCL Eastman dental institute, said: "Two aspects of the study are particularly worrying - the rise in the number of general anaesthetics being given to children, and the widening gulf in dental health between social classes.

"General anaesthetic can be fatal to children which is why post-2000 the administration of general anaesthetic to children was moved from the primary care sector to secondary care, where there is back-up should anything go wrong.

"Priority must be given to research that examines the reasons why the issues highlighted by our study occur, and this is to be our next step."

Source :- Tooth decay in children burden on hospitals

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Free Dental Health Screenings

NYU College of Dentistry and ABC7 Team Up to Provide Free Dental Screenings April 15, 16, 17

Adults and children of all ages are invited to take advantage of the free screenings.

No appointments are necessary. For more information the public should call 1.866.698.0264

Free dental health screenings for adults and children including:-

• oral cancer screenings
• vouchers for free comprehensive dental examinations
• free toothbrushes and other oral healthcare products free "toothprints" an impression of your child's bite which captures DNA for purposes of identification
• Vouchers for free dental sealants and free custom-made mouth guards for youngsters and adolescents
  

Screening hours are Wednesday and Thursday April 15 and 16 9am to 7pm and Friday April 17 9 am to 4 pm. No appointments are necessary.

Address :- NYU College of Dentistry 345 East 24th Street (corner of First Avenue)

Source :- Free Dental Health Screenings

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Open House for Dental Services

It is a renovation that Muskingum County Health Commissioner Corey Hamilton says is long due.

The Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department unveiled the dental clinic expansion project this afternoon.

"We've recently renovated our building to utilize our space a little more effectively. By renovating we were able to pick up some additional meeting space and we were able to pick up some additional office space as well in the same square footage that we had before " says Hamilton.

The health department is now expanding its dental services to counties outside of Muskingum County by partnering with the Muskingum Valley Health Centers. Hamilton says it will allow the health department to better serve the community and now it has the needed equipment and staff to pair with that too.

"We have expanded from 3 treatment rooms to 8 treatment rooms. So we're going to have a lot more space available to serve people who have dental needs and because we were able to do that we have renewed our relationship with Ohio State University Dental College and are participating again in the Ohio Project which floats through dental students in their fourth year through our clinic for a two week internship, " says Hamilton.

Hamilton says the expansion is expected to bring more patients in. It will allow more patients to be seen on a daily basis as well.

Source :- Open House for Dental Services

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Stonehouse dentist pioneering teeth straightening

STONEHOUSE :- based HRS Dentalcare is now using a pioneering system for straightening teeth that does not involve the dreaded drill and has been proven to show results in just six weeks.

Dr Neil Harris principal of the private cosmetic practice in Ebley Road, is one of the only dentists in the county certified to fit the removable Inman Aligner.

First developed in 2000 by American dental technician Don Inman, the device consists of a thin clear acrylic band that stretches across the teeth and is barely visible to the eye.

It is also cheaper, more comfortable and less imposing than conventional wire braces, which can take up to two years to work and are permanently fixed to your teeth.

"I am really excited about being able to provide treatment with the Inman Aligner," said Dr Harris.

"In most cases we can create straight, white teeth without having to use the drill in any way.

"When you discuss straightening teeth with braces that take a couple of years to work most patients are not very enthusiastic.

"However, when you talk about a removable brace that is barely visible, no extractions and straight teeth in a couple of months they can immediately see the benefits.

In order to ensure his patients are catered for as much as possible during visits, Dr Harris has also recently installed a state of the art audio system throughout the practice, which allows patients to listen to anything they like while receiving treatment.

The system is linked directly to an Internet music site which means the choice of songs is endless.

"The new audio system has been given a fantastic response by the patients," added Dr Harris.

"So far we have had choices ranging from Mozart to Black Sabbath.

"We are always looking for ways to improve our customer service experience and this is another way we have added to this."

Source :- Stonehouse dentist pioneering teeth straightening

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New Oxford research on Alzheimer risk to young adults

London (PTI) :- Young adults with a genetic variant that raises their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease show changes in their brain activity decades before any symptoms might arise according to a new brain imaging study by scientists from the University of Oxford and Imperial College London.

The results may support the idea that the brain’s memory function may gradually wear itself out in those who go on to develop Alzheimer’s.

The research published in the journal proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides clues as to why certain people develop Alzheimer’s disease and it may be a step towards a diagnostic test that identifies individuals at risk.

The APOE4 genetic variant is found in about a quarter of the population.

Not everyone who carries the variant will go on to develop Alzheimer’s but people who inherit one copy of APOE4 have up to four times the normal risk of developing the late-onset variety of the disease. People who have two copies have around ten times the normal risk.

The researchers behind the study stress that most carriers of APOE4 will not go on to develop Alzheimer’s and carriers should not be alarmed by the study’s findings.

The study used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) carried out at the University of Oxford to compare activity inside the brains of 36 volunteers, with 18 carrying at least one copy of the APOE4 gene and 18 non-carriers acting as controls.

All the volunteers in the study were aged between 20 and 35 and all performed normally on tasks designed to test their cognitive skills.

The researchers looked at how the volunteers’ brains behaved while they were resting and also while they were performing a memory-related task. Even when the APOE4 carriers were resting, the researchers could see that carriers and non-carriers each had distinct patterns of brain activity. The fMRI scans showed visible differences in how the hippocampus was relating to the rest of the brain.

The researchers will now carry out a similar study of patients with mild cognitive impairment to explore how these differences in patterns of brain activity in young people may be associated with later changes.

Source :- New Oxford research on Alzheimer risk to young adults

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SSMS students receive dental screenings

SILVER SPRINGS - During the month of February, Silver Stage Middle School and HAWC Silver Stage Dental Center teamed up to offer National Children's Dental Health Month and provided free fluoride varnishings and a free dental exam to students.

SSMS administration said in a press release, "We would like to send a big warm Coyote 'thank you' to Dr. Clyde Nelson, dentist, Milena Cummings, dental coordinator, and dental assistants Sara Hurt, Chris Faddis and Carolina Lozano-Duran for doing an outstanding job."

The free dental screening was provided through a collaboration of the Churchill, Lyon, Pershing, and Storey Counties' Regional Oral Health Coalition and the HAWC Silver Stage Dental Center.

As a result, 94 students received fluoride varnish treatments and 99 students received a free dental exam.

"It was quite impressive to see the way Dr. Nelson's team, along with Laura Webb, Registered Dental Hygienist and Chair of the Oral Health Coalition and Debbie Aquino, coalition secretary, worked together to make it a pleasant and occasionally fun experience for the students of SSMS," read the press release.

Students learned why dental care is important to students. And youngsters were made aware that toothaches may cause a student to have difficulty concentrating on their schoolwork.

They also learned routine dental care helps identify early treatment needs and provides opportunities for preventive services, plus early treatment and preventive care is cheaper and much less painful than waiting until extensive dental repairs are needed.

In addition, students learned oral health is directly related to the health of the rest of the body. For instance, many diseases and/or their treatments can negatively affect one's oral health and poor oral health can hinder the control of some other diseases such as diabetes.

"In addition, changes in the mouth often are the first signs of problems elsewhere in the body, such as infectious disease, immune disorders, nutritional deficiencies and cancer" the press release said. As Former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop was quoted in the release "You are not healthy without good oral health."

In closing, the release said, "We are lucky to have the HAWC Silver Stage Dental Center right here in our community."

Source :- SSMS students receive dental screenings

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Free Dental Services For Niagara Children

In celebration of April 2009 being National Dental Health Month, Niagara Region Public Health is pleased to announce the expansion of the Children in Need of Treatment (CINOT) Program which now reaches children up to age 17. The program previously covered children from birth to age 13.

The Children in Need of Treatment program, funded by the Ministry of Health Promotion, provides free dental services to children whose parents have no dental coverage and cannot afford the cost of urgent dental care.

The Children in Need of Treatment program includes dental care services such as:

* fillings,
* extractions,
* sedation,
* and preventive dental care.

To promote the expansion of the services to teens, most secondary schools will receive a visit from Niagara Region Public Health during April. During this visit, a registered dental hygienist will be available to perform a quick dental screening on any interested students. Students whose parents are eligible for the program will be given information on the Children in Need of Treatment program and will be asked to visit a participating dentist.

"Anytime a service is expanded to promote dental health it is certainly welcomed and we are pleased to expand services to improve the dental health of children and adolescents in Niagara," states Stephanie Gordon, Manager, Niagara Region Public Health.

This new program is aimed at improving oral health of Ontario families and their children, where an inability to pay may prevent access to urgent dental care and required dental services.

Source :- Free Dental Services For Niagara Children

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