Health Newsletter:June 2007
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Contents |
[edit] Vision for Blind With Computer Chip
Physicians at the University of Tuebingen in Germany have been working under the leadership of Dr. Eberhard Zrenner for 11 years to develop computer technology which gives blind patients new possibilities. Computer chip technology has been researched by other teams in the past. The invention here is a computer chip with measures 3mm across and is thinner than a human hair. Due to its minuscule dimensions it can be implanted into the retina of the blind patient. The tiny device has 1,500 sensors which are converting light into electrical impulses. These sensors work like solar-powered cells, and they do not need power other than the light that comes in through the eye. The electrical impulses are then transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve. This invention is not future music. Seven patients-previously blind- had the super chip implanted in a pilot project. In the past they were unable to see anything, but thanks to the chip they are now able to see light and dark patches. Dr. Zrenner stresses the fact that the treatment works best for patients who were able to see in the past before they lost their vision, because the part of their brain that deals with vision is fully developed. The other condition is that the optic nerve must be intact. The implant costs around $30,000, which is about the same price as a trained guide dog.
The Medical Post, April 17, 2007, page 48
[edit] Lower Your Blood Pressure, Decrease Sodium
A lot of attention is being paid to trans fats and saturated fats, and consumers are encouraged to watch out for the low fat varieties of heart healthy fats in their food choices. Stricter regulations that require detailed listing of ingredients on food labels make it easier to be watchful, but cardiovascular health does not stop with the proper choices of low fat foods. A vast body of research has long pointed to the correlation of high sodium foods and high blood pressure. Several years back a January 2001 publication in the New England Journal of Medicine by Dr. Frank Sacks and other authors explains beneficial effects of reduced sodium intake and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet. Especially a Mediterranean-type diet with a low sodium intake (about 5.8 g of sodium chloride) lowers blood pressure substantially. Even a detailed nutritional list on a package label does not give the consumer the guarantee that salt content is always within healthy limits. Ironically the persons who are most at risk –in most those in the higher age group- also are the ones who will use the more convenient canned and packaged foods. Of those, soups are particularly high in sodium. Some examples follow, showing the percentage of daily value of sodium per serving:
Onion Soup Mix (Safeway): 65%
Vegetable Broth (Knorr): 33%
Bovril: 42%
Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce: 33%
Other products like processed meats (smoked ham) come in at 45% sodium, and even canned mixed beans can have as much as 33% of the required daily sodium. Fast foods in general are known to have significant sodium percentages. It doesn’t take much to exceed the daily recommendations, as other foods like butter, cheese and bread contain sodium, and the Calamata Olives that fit in seemingly well with a Mediterranean style meal also bring in 11% of sodium. An article in the U.K paper the”Independent”reported on March 1, 2007 that more than one third of the loaves of bread checked by the group Consensus Action on Salt and Health(CASH) “had up to 40% more salt than the recommended maximum set by the government watch dog”. The concern is that people in Great Britain take in ,on average, 11 grams of salt as opposed to the recommended 6grams. For the consumer it means to read labels carefully and use alternative means of seasoning. The salt shaker should not have its firm place on the dining table. Instead there is a mind-boggling array of spices that beckon from super market shelves, and fresh or dried herbs impart wonderful flavors to foods without the addition of salt.
The Medical Post, April 3, 2007, page 2
[edit] First Inhaled Insulin Approved
Diabetes patients have to be meticulous about controlling their condition, and close monitoring of blood sugars is of essence. Patients with type 1 diabetes require insulin, and some of the group that is suffering of type 2 diabetes also requires insulin on a regular basis. So far the only way to administer insulin has been by injection, and the new injectable devices have simplified the routine. The new Exubera inhaler has now been approved by Health Canada. For patients in the U.S. the FDA has approved Exubera in 2006. It is the first of its kind that may enable at least some diabetes patients to avoid injections altogether. The use is simple: the patient inhales a powdered air cloud containing insulin into the lungs with a deep, slow breath. Exubera is the result of a $1 billion drug development program. It may be one of the costliest programs ever initiated for any diabetes treatment. The safety and effectiveness of the medication have been studied in more than 2,500 adults with type 2 or type 1 diabetes for a duration averaging 20 month. The inhaled insulin proved to be as well tolerated and effective as the conventionally injected insulin. Some physicians have been concerned about the implications the inhaler could have on lung function. In clinical trials Exubera use was connected with a drop in lung function. It appears to reverse once patients discontinue the drug. As the population affected by diabetes is not only large but also growing fast with 2 million diabetics in Canada and one in three predicted to develop the disease of those born in 2000, new diabetes treatment is very much in the forefront. New inhalers are on the way, and so are transdermal and oral insulins.
The Medical Post, May 15, 2007, page 4
[edit] Zoledronate Reduces Fractures in Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects mostly postmenopausal women, but men in the higher age groups can also suffer of the condition. In many ways the disease is silent. Often it is a fall resulting in a fracture that points to the condition. Bone density assessment has been available, and it is advisable for any menopausal woman to have a baseline screening bone density test done. Preventative measures include sensible lifestyle choices. A calcium rich diet, exercise, normal weight and choosing not to smoke are benefits. Once osteoporosis has been diagnosed the physician may suggest a medication to improve bone density. The most threatening aspect of osteoporosis is the possibility of severe fractures, such as hip fractures that can leave the older patient in a disabled state. A three year double blind, placebo controlled study at the University of California in San Francisco has studied the effects of zoledronic acid(trade name Aclasta) in 7,736 women ages 65 to 89. Dr. Dennis Black PhD who headed the research reported that annual infusion of 5 mg zoledronic acid reduced the hip fracture risk by 41 % and vertebral fracture risk by 70%. The treatment group fared better in other aspects as well: they had significantly greater bone density increases than those patients who received placebo. All the patients also took 1,000mg to 1,500 mg calcium and 400 to 1,200 IU of vitamin D on a daily basis. Patients in the group receiving zoledronate were monitored for side effects. It was found that heart arrhythmias were more common (266 patients in the treatment group versus 203 patients in the placebo group. Also 50 women in the treatment group had serious atrial fibrillation, as opposed to 20 women in the group that received placebo (fake) medication. As with any medication, the benefit of zoledronic acid has to be carefully weighed with the risk of side effects.
The Medical Post, May 15, 2007, page 5
[edit] Lifting Weights Beneficial For All Ages
Too often weight lifting is seen as an activity that helps” young guys to get a bigger biceps for the beach”. The truth is that the benefits of lifting weights go far beyond body image, but they counteract obesity and risks that go along with it. Also the population group where the benefits are most striking are the elderly. One of the major concerns about aging is the loss of muscle mass and increased resistance of muscle to insulin action. The inability of the higher age group of insulin resistant patients to clear glucose is also made worse by the smaller muscle mass of the aged. It propels the pancreas to increase insulin, and at one point when the pancreas fails to release enough insulin the person will become diabetic. It is logical to prevent the onset of diabetes in the elderly by increasing muscle mass. To verify these ideas, Heidi Iglay and colleagues at Purdue University studied a group of 50 to 80 year old men and women. They received exercise training three times per week for duration of 14 weeks, each session lasting 1.25 hours. Included in the exercise among others were leg curls, chest press, shoulder raise, seated rowing. While body weight did not decrease in the participants, body fat decreased and lean body mass increased significantly. And waist/hip ratio declined. Even though the diet of the participating patients was rich in egg, meat and dairy protein, the total LDL (bad) cholesterol decreased and HDL cholesterol remained unchanged. This form of exercise may be suitable for individuals who cannot do aerobic activities like jogging or may have problems or infirmities of their knee and hip joints.
The Medical Post, May 15, 2007, page 21
