HICAGO - A study in nearly half a million older men and women bolsters evidence that diets rich in calcium may help protect against some cancers.
The benefits were mostly associated with foods high in calcium, rather than calcium tablets.
Previous studies have produced conflicting results. The new research involved food questionnaires from participants and a follow-up check of records for cancer cases during the subsequent seven years. This research method is less rigorous than some previous but smaller studies.
But because of its huge size — 492,810 people and more than 50,000 cancers — the new study presents powerful evidence favoring the idea that calcium may somehow keep cells from becoming cancerous, said University of North Carolina nutrition expert John Anderson, who was not involved in the study.
The study was run jointly by the National Institutes of Health and AARP. The results appear in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine.
National Cancer Institute researcher Yikyung Park, the study's lead author, called the results strong but said more studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Duke University nutrition researcher Denise Snyder said the results support the idea that food rather than supplements is the best source for nutrients.
Participants were AARP members aged 50 to 71 who began the study in the mid-1990s. A total of 36,965 men and 16,605 women were later diagnosed with cancer. There were more than 10 different kinds of cancer, the most common being prostate, breast, lung and colorectal.
Compared with people who got little calcium, those who consumed the most had the lowest chances of getting colon cancer. Those in that highest category got on average 1,530 milligrams a day among men and 1,881 milligrams daily among women. The recommended amount for older people is 1,200 milligrams, and getting much more than that didn't result in any greater protection. Adults can get that amount from four cups of milk or calcium-fortified orange juice.
Men who got the most calcium from food were about 30 percent less likely to get cancer of the esophagus, about 20 percent less likely to get head and neck cancer and 16 percent less likely to get colon cancer, when compared to men who got low amounts of calcium.
Among women, those who got the most food-based calcium were 28 percent less likely to get colon cancer than low-calcium women.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Diet rich in calcium tied to lower cancer rate
Ending prostate test safe for most elderly men
Study: If PSA reading is low, stopping screening doesn't increase death risk
WASHINGTON - Most men over age 75 can safely discontinue screening for prostate cancer with the PSA blood test, although such screening may still benefit some older men, U.S. researchers said on Friday.
Use of the prostate-specific antigen blood test to screen for prostate cancer in elderly men has been controversial. A panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force last year urged doctors to stop screening men 75 and older.
The new findings involved 849 U.S. men taking part in a study of aging run by the National Institutes of Health.
For men over 75, not one died of prostate cancer if they had a PSA reading below 3 nanograms per milliliter. That represents at least two thirds of the population.
"For the overwhelming majority of men over age 75, discontinuing PSA screening is probably a very safe thing to do," Dr. H. Ballentine Carter of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, one of the researchers in the study appearing in the Journal of Urology, said in a telephone interview.
But for men with a PSA higher of 3 ng/ml, Carter said continued screening might be of value.
"What we found was that at any age, men with a PSA greater than 3, their risk of prostate cancer, and even an aggressive prostate cancer, during the remaining years of their life continues to increase," Carter said.
PSA is a protein produced by the prostate and its levels may shoot up when prostate tumors grow or spread. Higher PSA levels also can indicate a benign prostate enlargement.
Doctors consider PSA test results in deciding whether to order a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer.
Many prostate tumors are slow-growing and may take years if they ever are to become dangerous to a man. But other tumors can be aggressive and life-threatening.
From mnsbc.com
Old drug combination in TB fight
Two drugs already used for fighting other infections may help in the battle against drug-resistant tuberculosis, researchers say. The combination of clavulanate and meropenem was effective against 13 strains of the most drug resistant TB in the laboratory.
Clinical trials are now being planned by the US researchers, who reported their results in the Science journal.UK experts urged caution but said new TB treatments were desperately needed. It is thought one-third of the world's population is infected with TB - 10% of whom develop active disease. There is growing concern about extensively drug resistant disease - known as XDR-TB - against which first choice and at least one second choice treatments do not work.
The latest study revisits the effectiveness of beta-lactam antibiotics, the family which includes penicillin and is very widely used in the treatment of infection but has never been successful against TB.
This lack of effectiveness is largely because the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium contains a highly active enzyme which inactivates the antibiotics.
Combination
In the latest study, researchers looked at several combinations of one drug to stop the enzyme working and one beta-lactam antibiotic.
They found that clavulanate was the best enzyme inhibitor and meropenem, a fairly modern antibiotic, the best partner in potently killing different strains of TB.
Clinical trials are being planned later this year.
Professor John Blanchard, a biochemist from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, said the idea of using these drugs in tandem was not new but what they had done was carry out a detailed investigation into what combination may work against TB.
He explained that the drugs also seemed to work against TB in the non-active phase which is notoriously difficult to treat.
"The number of untreatable cases is increasing worldwide every year.
"We are excited about this because, with the caveat that this needs to be shown to be effective in controlled clinical trials, this would be the first new drug to be introduced in the treatment of TB in 40 years."
Professor Denis Mitchison, an expert in medical microbiology at St George's, University of London, said the theory of using a penicillin and clavulanate was not a new one but such combinations had not been sufficiently effective in the past.
"The use of merepenems is new and the combination now sounds effective, though there are already reports of rare resistant strains of other bacteria."
He urged caution about using the drug combination alone.
But he added: "The more drugs that can be used in the treatment of multidrug resistant and XDR-TB, the better."
Dr Ruth McNerney, a TB expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the drug combination needed to be tested in patients before any conclusions could be drawn.
"But we desperately need drugs for XDR-TB," she added.
From BBC News
Pusat Seks Ada di Kepala Anda
Mariyln Volker, Ed. D, terapis seks dari Miami Florida menyebutkan, satu bagian tubuh yang sangat penting peranannya dalam mensukseskan penis laki-laki bekerja maksimal adalah otak.
Di otak, hormon yang mengatur keseimbangan emosi terletak. Di otak pula reaksi dari sebuah peristiwa menjalani transit. Tanpa transit ini, emosi yang bereaksi tidak akan terolah. Akibatnya, hidup kita tanpa kendali.
Begitu pula dengan kerja penis. Bila otak tidak bekerja maksimal akibat stres dan tekanan berat, rangsangan seksual (di antaranya ketertarikan pada pasangan) tidak akan muncul dan terolah di otak. Akibatnya, gairah seksual menurun. Penis tidak akan bekerja maksimal. Ejakulasi dini, salah satu efeknya.
Sebab itu, jaga dan pelihara kesehatan otak Anda dengan beberapa tips berikut ini:
- Atur diri supaya tidak stress,
- Istirahat cukup,
- Olahraga teratur dan proporsional,
- Makan makanan bergizi, dan
- Selalu bergembira
Manfaat Yoga Untuk Seks
Manfaat yoga selain membuat Anda relaks dan tenang, dapat pula membantu Anda saat melakukan aktivitas seksual. Menurut Ellen Barrett, penulis buku Sexy Yoga, yoga membentuk tubuh yang kuat dan lentur sehingga membuat Anda mudah melakukan lebih banyak variasi gerakan atau posisi dalam bercinta. Masih belum percaya? Berikut adalah empat alasan lain mengapa Anda 'wajib' mengenal yoga.
Melancarkan Aliran Darah
Sama halnya jika Anda melakukan olahraga pada umumnya, yoga juga dapat melancarkan aliran darah. Pada posisi yoga tertentu, seperti posisi elang, gerakan tersebut langsung melatih otot panggul Anda dan melancarkan aliran darah pada bagian panggul. "Semakin sering Anda melatih otot ini, ruang gerak Anda akan semakin luas," ujar Becky Jeffers, Direktur Berman Centre for female sexual health and menopause manajement di Chicago. Menurut Becky, melatih otot panggul akan membantu Anda melakukan kontraksi dan relaksasi lebih kuat yang akhirnya membawa Anda pada pengalaman orgasme yang lebih lama.
Menumbuhkan Kepercayaan Diri
Ketika Anda melakukan gerakan-gerakan yoga, Anda melatih konsentrasi pikiran dan fokus Anda. Hal ini membuat Anda semakin fokus pada apa yang Anda lakukan. "Ketika Anda menerima diri sendiri, Anda akan tahu apa yang dibutuhkan untuk bisa menikmati aktivitas seksual bersama pasangan," ujar Becky lagi. Anda bisa mengkomunikasikan perasaan ini kepada pasangan saat Anda berdua melakukan aktivitas tersebut.
Mengurangi Rasa Sakit
Bagi beberapa perempuan yang aktif, terutama yang suka olahraga lari, otot pinggul dan paha yang tegang terkadang bisa menghambat aktivitas seks. Yoga membantu untuk merilekskan otot tersebut. "Otot panggul yang tegang dapat mempengaruhi bagaimana panggul itu berkontraksi saat Anda melakukan aktivitas seks," ujar Becky. Satu bagian otot yang tegang dapat mempengaruhi gerak otot lainnya sehingga orgasme pun tidak bisa maksimal dan permainan cinta Anda tidak bisa dinikmati secara maksimal.
Jadi, santai saja, dan biarkan semuanya mengalir, dan orgasme akan datang
Memberikan Sensasi "Lebih Hidup"
Gerakan segitiga dalam posisi duduk bersila dalam yoga menstimulasi cakra Anda. Menurut filosofi Timur, kehidupan seks diatur oleh beberapa cakra. Cakra adalah pusat energi yang mengitari tubuh Anda. "Ketika cakra Anda sehat dan bekerja baik, kehidupan seks Anda juga akan sehat dan memuaskan," tutur Becky. Tiga cakra paling berpengaruh pada aktivitas seks Anda adalah the root chakra (pada daerah perineum, area antara tulang vagina dan anus), the sacral chakra (bagian tengah perut bagian bawah), dan the heart chakra (bagian tengah dada). Gerakan-gerakan yoga membuat darah mengalir lancar menuju area-area sensitif tersebut dan membuka prana (semangat hidup) Anda. Hal tersebut akan membuat Anda lebih terbuka dan lebih bereksplorasi pada aktivitas seksual dan Anda menjadi pribadi yang lebih bahagia.
Sumber: CBN
Manfaat Mandi Bagi Kesehatan Tubuh
Mandi, Bikin Segar dan Sehat!
Menurut penelitian terbaru mandi ternyata tidak hanya baik untuk membersihkan tubuh dari kotoran dan menjauhkan stress, tapi mandi juga memiliki peranan penting meningkatkan sistem kekebalan, membantu kulit terhindar dari penyakit seperti eksema dan bahkan menyembuhkan masalah medis serius.
Sebuah studi yang diterbitkan dalam New England Journal of Medicine menunjukkan penderita diabetes yang menghabiskan hanya setengah jam berendam dalam bak air hangat dapat menurunkan tingkat gula darah sekitar 13 persen.
Penelitian terpisah di Jepang menunjukkan 10 menit berendam dalam air hangat dapat memperbaiki kesehatan jantung baik pria maupun wanita, membantu mereka menjalani test olahraga lebih baik dan mengurangi rasa sakit.
Apa manfaat mandi dan berapa lama anda sebaiknya mandi? Berikut beberapa petunjuk mandi asyik dan menyehatkan:
Mengeluarkan racun
Mandi air hangat sekitar 32-35 derajat Celsius membuka pori-pori yang dapat membantu mengeluarkan toksin. Mandi air hangat juga dapat membantu menurunkan tingkat gula darah, menyembuhkan sakit otot dan membantu menjaga usus besar bekerja dengan baik. Waktu yang dianjurkan selama 10-20 menit.
Stress
Jika anda benar-benar mengalami stress, mandi air dingin akan menjadi jawaban yang tepat. Temperatur yang dianjurkan sekitar 12-18 derajat Celsius. Mandi air dingin sangat baik meredakan ketegangan, sebaliknya dari air hangat karena mandi air dingin dapat mempersempit darah dan meningkatkan tingkat gula darah.
Eksema
Penyakit kulit tertentu seperti eksema, ruam atau gatal-gatal dengan menambahkan baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) ke dalam bak mandi dapat membuat perbedaan besar. Sodium bicarbonate bertindak sebagai antiseptik. Isi air dengan air hangat kuku, tambahkan kira-kira satu pound baking soda dan aduk sampai rata. Dianjurkan berendam selama 10-20 menit.
Infeksi
Infeksi yeast seperti sariawan dapat dibantu dengan menambahkan tiga atau empat cuka dari sari buah apel ke dalam bak mandi. Ini juga baik untuk mengeluarkan racun dari dalam tubuh karena cuka dapat menyeimbangkan kembali asam. Tambahkan pada air hangat dan berendam selama 15-20 menit.
Flu dan Sakit Kepala
Merendam kaki dalam air hangat dapat membantu menyembuhkan flu dan sakit kepala dan juga menyegarkan kembali kaki yang lelah. Masukan air hangat secukupnya dalam bak sampai menutupi kaki dan pergelangan kaki tambahkan beberapa tetes minyak seperti lavender, peppermint atau lemon. Setelah selesai basuh dengan air dingin. Lakukan selama 10-20 menit.
Insomnia
Merendam kaki dalam air dingin sangat baik bagi anda yang memiliki masalah insomnia atau mereka yang memiliki masalah tidur. Masukan kaki sampai kaki merasa dingin. Pengobatan ini juga berguna bagi kaki lelah, pendarahan hidung, flu dan sembelit.
Sirkulasi
Cobalah merendam kaki secara bergantian antara air hangat dan air dingin jika anda mengalami masalah sirkulasi. Mulai dengan merendam kaki selama satu atau dua menit dalam air hangat, kemudian 30 menit dalam air dingin. Cobalah lakukan selama 15 menit kemudian diselesaikan dengan air dingin.
