Friday, 31 January 2020

Coronavirus: In quarantine after being repatriated from China

British man, Matt Raw sent this video from his accommodation at Arrowe Park Hospital after he was flown out of Wuhan. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: how quarantine has fought disease through the ages

From a plague-struck village to Wuhan today, quarantine has helped curb outbreaks for centuries. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

The British citizens trying to flee China

UK nationals are being evacuated from China as the country tries to deal with a coronavirus outbreak. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Why are we catching more diseases from animals?

Climate change is shifting our relationship with the animal kingdom and helping diseases evolve. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Thursday, 30 January 2020

Coronavirus declared global health emergency by WHO

The World Health Organization says efforts must be made to stop the virus spreading to vulnerable countries. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Artificial intelligence-created medicine to be used on humans for first time

A British start-up has developed a new drug much more quickly than traditional methods by using AI. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: What it does to the body

Chinese doctors detail the impact the new coronavirus has on patients. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Death toll rises as virus spreads to every Chinese region

The death toll now stands at 170 and there are 7,711 confirmed cases within China. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Scientists race to develop a vaccine

US researchers are already working on a vaccine against the new virus that has emerged in China. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Wednesday, 29 January 2020

Lungs 'magically' heal damage from smoking

The effect has even been seen in people who had smoked for 40 years. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Ambulance service: 'Waiting system beyond a joke'

In the East Midlands one in eight emergency calls takes an ambulance more than an hour to respond. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Australia plans island quarantine as foreigners leave Wuhan

Hundreds of foreigners fly out of Wuhan, as Australia announces a Christmas Island quarantine plan. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Gay body shaming pressure 'led to severe heart failure'

Some gay men are turning to tummy tucks and steroids to feel accepted in their community. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Tuesday, 28 January 2020

Anti-depressant spray not recommended on NHS

A fast acting ketamine-like anti-depressant spray is rejected by health watchdog NICE. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Hong Kong to slash border travel as virus spreads

It wants to drastically reduce visits from mainland China, where the death toll has reached 106. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Death toll climbs to 106 as China tightens measures

Transport restrictions have been further tightened, with some cities suspending public transport. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Concerns over new 'menopause delay' procedure

Its long-term safety and success remains untested - but some women have already paid at least £6,000. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Can anyone call themself a therapist or a counsellor?

BBC reporter Jordan Dunbar investigates the lack of regulation around private therapy and counselling. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Monday, 27 January 2020

Prostate overtakes breast as 'most common cancer'

Experts say more men are getting tested, which explains the rise in diagnoses in England. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Airlift for Britons trapped in China 'under review'

The UK government says a total of 52 tests have proved negative for the new strain of coronavirus. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Calls for 'virginity repair' surgery to be banned

Women are being shamed into the procedure out of fear of being outcast or even killed. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Sunday, 26 January 2020

'Postnatal depression doesn't only affect mums'

Viren Swami struggled after his son was born and wants all new dads to have a mental health check. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Friday, 24 January 2020

Football 'not just a game' for devoted fans

Study finds football fans can experience 'dangerous' levels of stress that could put them at risk of a heart attack. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Devoted football fans experience 'dangerous' levels of stress

This can put strain on the heart and is particularly marked during a defeat, a study suggests. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

China coronavirus: The lessons learned from the Sars outbreak

Almost two decades after Sars, a new mystery virus puts China back in the global spotlight. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: World Health Organisation on China response

The Western Pacific regional director says the country now has “stronger capacity” to deal with infectious outbreaks. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

What's the difference between pandemic and epidemic?

Concerns are growing that the recently-detected coronavirus may spread. Dr Rosalind Eggo explains. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Thursday, 23 January 2020

China coronavirus: Fears infections will rise as hundreds of millions travel

With hundreds of millions set to travel, China tries to corral the deadly virus in Hubei province. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: British passenger 'wasn't sure' he could get out of Wuhan

British passenger describes the journey from the virus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan after the spread of coronavirus. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Anxiety rises as Chinese city goes into lockdown

Authorities suspend outbound planes, trains and public transport in the city of 11 million people. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Can wearing masks stop the spread of viruses?

Surgical masks have been used to prevent illness in China for decades. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Wednesday, 22 January 2020

Scientists discover 'why stress turns hair white'

Acute stress damages stem cells that control hair and skin colour, a study suggests. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Wuhan: Virus-hit Chinese city to shut public transport

Wuhan, a city of nearly 9m people, is to temporarily shut public transport amid the outbreak. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Coronavirus: Chinese officials advise against travel to Wuhan

China has said that it is now at the "most critical stage" of prevention and control of the new virus. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Cardiff hospital trials cooling patients after cardiac arrest

Andrew Barnett is backing a trial at a hospital a year after he nearly died while playing football. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

China coronavirus: What we know so far

The BBC's online health editor explains what we know about the coronavirus. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Mental health: How to spot if you are suffering 'burnout'

Nerina Ramlakhan explains the four signs of burnout that people can exhibit, due to stress at work. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Tuesday, 21 January 2020

New China virus: US announces first case

Nearly 300 people have been infected in the coronavirus outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, China. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

‘I used gender transition as a form of escape’

Richard Hoskins says he was not properly assessed, and his transition was a reaction to having lost three children. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

New China virus: 'Wash your hands, be honest with your doctors'

A public health expert gives advice on how to try and avoid infection from the new China virus. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

HPV puts 'strain' on sex and dating

Changes to smear tests will mean more HPV diagnoses but there is concern over myths about the virus. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Being born with no smell: 'I don't know what food tastes like'

Only around 5% of the population suffer from a smell disorder, but it doesn't just affect your nose. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

NHS faces huge clinical negligence legal fees bill

Doctors' groups say the current system is not fit for purpose and requires "fundamental" reform. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Sperm donations from dead men should be allowed, study says

Research suggests the method could help curb a growing shortage of UK donations. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Call to tax 'hidden' sugar in pre-mixed alcoholic drinks

Some cans of spirits and cocktails sold in shops and supermarkets contain eight teaspoons of sugar. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

New China virus: Fourth person dies as human-to-human transfer confirmed

Authorities say two cases of infection in Guangdong were a result of human-to-human transmission. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Monday, 20 January 2020

Immune discovery 'may treat all cancer'

Research is at an early stage but scientists said it had huge potential for destroying cancers. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

New China virus: Your questions answered

Are airports screening arrivals? Can the virus affect anyone who has travelled to China recently? via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

China coronavirus: Number of cases jumps as virus spreads to new cities

More than 100 cases of the respiratory illness are confirmed in Wuhan, Beijing and Shenzhen. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Sunday, 19 January 2020

New coronavirus 'preventable and controllable', China says

The virus emerged in December, two people have died and it has been detected in three countries. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Friday, 17 January 2020

Newcastle children talk mental health thanks to puppets

The show is touring schools and is being used to spot early signs of issues. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Fake drugs: How bad is Africa’s counterfeit medicine problem?

Seven African countries are meeting in Togo to tackle the issue of fake drugs. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

A snapshot of what it’s like to be autistic or dyspraxic

Exceptional Individuals is showing employers how to make their work environment neurodiverse friendly. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Thursday, 16 January 2020

Utah condom campaign halted over racy packaging

The US state was to distribute 100,000 condoms for free as part of an HIV-prevention campaign. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

'Alarming' one in five deaths due to sepsis

The most detailed study of sepsis shows it is a much bigger problem than previously thought. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Dementia: Does heading a football cause the disease?

Concerns are growing that heading a football may increase the risk of players developing dementia. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Lyme disease like 'waking with a hangover' every day

A engineer forced to quit work hopes pop star Justin Bieber will raise awareness of the condition. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Wednesday, 15 January 2020

'The reality is I shouldn't be here - it's a miracle'

‘You, Me and the Big C’ presenter Deborah James tells 5 Live she is currently ‘free’ of cancer. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Miscarriage can lead to 'long-term post-traumatic stress'

One in six women is still suffering nine months after they lose their baby, research suggests. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Hernia mesh implants used 'with no clinical evidence'

The devices cut into tissue and nerves, leaving some unable to walk, work or care for their children. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Tuesday, 14 January 2020

'Miracle baby' born after womb transplant

Benjamin is only the second child in the US to be born through the procedure. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Monday, 13 January 2020

NHS to pioneer cholesterol-busting jab

Thousands of lives could be saved by a new heart disease drug, experts say. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) for 1,800 foods

Glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) values determined in subjects with normal glucose tolerance: 2008: 58-page PDF from Diabetes Care 2008 Dec; 31(12): 2281-2283. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc08-1239

https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/diacare/suppl/2008/09/18/dc08-1239.DC1/TableA1_1.pdf

References:

https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/31/12/2281.figures-only
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/glycemic-index-and-glycemic-load-for-100-foods via CasesBlog - Medical and Health Blog More READ

Languages affected differently by brain disease

English and Italian speakers with dementia struggled in different ways with their native tongue. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

'My ability to see depends on men giving blood'

Jo Daniels is urging more men to donate blood, after figures showed a gender imbalance. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Tafida Raqeeb: Brain-damaged girl in High Court case out of intensive care

The Italian hospital treating Tafida Raqeeb says she has managed to breath without help for an hour. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Sunday, 12 January 2020

Living with ADHD: 'I have the brain of Einstein and the attention span of a toddler'

Stuart, who has ADHD, says he has "the brain of Einstein and the attention span of a two year old". via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Friday, 10 January 2020

Fatty tongues could be main driver of sleep apnoea

Fat lost from the tongue was the reason for improvements in a sleep apnoea weight loss study. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

More men needed to donate blood 'high in iron'

Men make up 40% of blood donors and their blood contains more iron than women's. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Mystery Chinese virus: How worried should we be?

More than 50 people have been infected with a newly discovered virus. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Thursday, 9 January 2020

Thousands on waiting lists for gender identity clinics

Andrea Halliley is one of thousands on waiting lists for NHS gender identity clinics in England. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Healthy habits 'deliver extra disease-free decade'

Women and men can ward off cancer, heart problems and diabetes, a US study finds. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Running and mental health: 'I couldn't see a way past depression until I ran'

Jerry has completed five half marathons. But at one point she "couldn't see a way out" of depression. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Wednesday, 8 January 2020

Scottish project tackles pills' 'environmental impact'

Experts in the Highlands and Glasgow want to prevent lifesaving medicines harming the environment. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Does music make exercise more effective?

Trust Me I'm a Doctor looks at whether moving to a fast beat improves the effects of activity. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Tuesday, 7 January 2020

Running marathon cuts years off 'artery age'

Training for a first marathon delivers more elastic arteries and lower blood pressure, experts say. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Ex-footballers urged to sign up for early dementia tests

Former Norwich City player Iwan Roberts is taking part in a study to track brain health into old age. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

The autistic Russian teenager amazing the art world

Markus is a 13-year-old Russian artist with autism and epilepsy. His work sells for thousands of dollars. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Monday, 6 January 2020

Brain 'shrinks' if children neglected

Adopted children who had been suffered deprivation in Romanian orphanages had smaller brains than others. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Caring for two-year-old with unique ageing condition

Isla is thought to be the only person in the world with the condition, that accelerates the ageing of cells. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Sunken chest syndrome: 'I'm being strangled inside'

Kerry Van Der Merwe has been fighting to be allowed surgery for a condition that baffles many GPs. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Former Thai monk meditates 'up to 50 times a day'

Pom is a former Thai monk who has mastered the art of meditation. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Sunday, 5 January 2020

China pneumonia: Sars ruled out as dozens fall ill in Wuhan

A mysterious illness is not caused by the virus that killed hundreds in 2002-03, officials said. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Saturday, 4 January 2020

'Some men think women shouldn't be in the gym'

The world's second "naturally" strongest woman says more women should get involved in weightlifting. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Age of carers is 'looming crisis' for adult care

The increasing age of carers looking after adults with learning disabilities is a "looming crisis", a study claims. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Friday, 3 January 2020

China pneumonia outbreak: Mystery virus probed in Wuhan

Some 44 people have been infected in the central city of Wuhan, officials say. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Intermittent metabolic switching (IMS) via fasting: is it for you and how to do it?

Intermittent metabolic switching (IMS) via fasting is getting mainstream, spearheaded by an all-positive NEJM review published on Christmas Day 2019: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1905136

The article is ranked at the 99th percentile compared to other NEJM articles as of 01-02-2020, https://www.nejm.org/doi/metrics/10.1056/NEJMra1905136#social_media

Fasting is an example of hormesis. Hormesis is a term used by toxicologists to refer to a biphasic dose–response to an environmental agent: 1. a low dose stimulation or beneficial effect, 2. a high dose inhibitory or toxic effect. In the fields of biology and medicine hormesis is defined as an adaptive response of cells and organisms to a moderate (usually intermittent) stress. Examples include exercise, dietary energy restriction and exposures to low doses of certain phytochemicals. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18162444

Intermittent metabolic switching (IMS) causes beneficial effects via a three-step process, illustrated below.



Effects of Fasting, Intermittent metabolic switching (IMS) (click to enlarge the image).

Fasting first causes the use of the glucose from the liver as a source of energy, produced via gluconeogenesis from glycogen from the stores in the liver. The glycogen is exhausted after 10-14 hours, then the glucose to ketone switch via ketogenesis is activated. The body fat releases fatty acids which the liver uses to makes ketones. This is illustrated in figure 2 here: https://www.pnas.org/content/111/47/16647, https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/111/47/16647/F2.large.jpg

The metabolic processes and the roles of the different organs are shown in figure 2 here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-017-0013-z/figures/2

Biochemical pathways involved in the metabolic switch are shown in figure 1 here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5913738/figure/F1/

Signalling pathways by which neurons respond to the metabolic switch during fasting and exercise, shown in figure 2 here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5913738/figure/F2/

Examples of effects of intermittent fasting on different organ systems are shown in figure 3 here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5411330/figure/F3/

Mark P. Mattson has reviewed hormetic plant chemicals here, see the figures: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5841445/

Challenging oneself intermittently could improve health.

Fasting causes the following effects:

Increased: ketones, autophagy, DNA repair, mitochondrial stress, antioxidant defenses/sirtuins, neurotrophic factors - BDNF/cognition, increased parasympathetic tone/HRV

Decreased: glucose, insulin, IGF-1, mTOR/RAS/protooncogenes, protein synthesis, cholesterol, CRP, TNF, heart rate, BP, temperature

The recovery (eating) leads to ketone to glucose switch:

Increased: glucose, insulin, mTOR, protein synthesis, mitochondrial biogenesis. The reward: cell growth/CNS synaptic plasticity/neurogenesis, structural/functional tissue remodelling

Decreased: ketones, autophagy

3 meals plus snacks is abnormal eating pattern form evolutionary perspective (multiple glucose spikes, no ketones). See figure
1 here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5411330/figure/F1

The intermittent metabolic switching (IMS) leads to long term adaptation:

Increased: insulin sensitivity, HRV. Healthier lipid profile and gut microbiome

Decreased: abdominal fat, inflammation (CRP), blood pressure

The long term reward includes a resilience of cells/organs to stress - metabolic, oxidative, ischemic, proteotoxic stress, enhanced cognition, mood, ANS function.

The adaptive responses of major organ systems to intermittent fasting are shown in figure 2 here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3946160/figure/F2/

Neural circuits and cellular signaling pathways that mediate adaptive responses of the brain to fasting are shown in figure 4 here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3946160/figure/F4/?report=objectonly

A model for how intermittent metabolic switching may optimize brain performance and increase resistance to injury and disease, shown in figure 3 here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5913738/figure/F3/

Patterns of daily and weekly food consumption, shown in figure 3 here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4250148/figure/fig03/

Mark Mattson recommended 5:2 diet with restricted time eating. 5:2 implies eating over a 6-hour time frame for 5 days, followed by 2 days of fasting. Fasting is defined as eating 50 calories per day, not water fasting. Mark Mattson advocates for this approach to be continued indefinitely, see figure 4 here: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1905136

Valter Longo proposed a fasting mimicking diet (FMD) which consists of low calories meals for 5 days, followed by a longevity diet, which is mostly plant-based diet. The fasting mimicking diet is eaten between every month to every 6 months based on the risk factors present in the patient. The fasting mimicking diet (Prolon) is available for purchased from Valter Longo's company and costs approximately $230 dollars for 5 days.

Most of the researchers involved in intermittent metabolic switching (IMS) via fasting are so convinced by the findings that they follow some fasting protocol or another. Discuss with your physician before trying fasting.

References:

Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Health, Aging, and Disease | NEJM https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1905136#.Xg5Cpc_K93s.twitter

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18162444

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18162444

https://www.pnas.org/content/111/47/16647

https://www.ihmc.us/stemtalk/episode007/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-017-0013-z#Fig2

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5841445/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4267452/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5411330/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3946160/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5913738/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4346441/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5783752/

via CasesBlog - Medical and Health Blog More READ

Testicular cancer: 'Kinder' chemotherapy is 'just as effective'

Doctors say the number of cycles of chemotherapy can be halved without increasing risk of a relapse. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..

Could relatives of measles virus jump from animals to us?

A group of viruses, of which measles is one, are adept at jumping to species barrier. via BBC News - Health Read More Here..