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Catherine

 

Catherine Hemenway, L.Ac.Spiritgate Acupuncture ClinicTucson, AZ

 

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Monday, June 09, 2003 4:53 PM

[pa-l] JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE, JUNE 2003 NEWS

Hi All,See these abstracts, sent by JASON UNWIN to the TCM List.I have edited them slightly and sorted them alphabetically.Phil>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>THE JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE, JUNE 2003 NEWS NEWS from The Journal of summarises recent research in AP & Chinese medicine, as well as diet, lifestyle, exercise, relaxation & meditation & other miscellaneous subjects. Much of this information will help practitioners to accurately inform patients of the benefits or risks of lifestyle choices & give informed answers to patients’ questions, aid in the practice of preventive medicine & help practitioners take care of their own health. AP & COLONOSCOPY In order to determine whether AP can reduce the discomfort & anxiety of colonoscopy, 30 patients were randomly assigned to receive AP, sham AP, or no AP. Patients were asked to report on their pain sensations when the endoscope reached four scheduled positions, & their requests for analgesia (midazolam) were recorded. A verbal rating scale was used to assess patient’s satisfaction with the level of sedation achieved. Midazolam was required in three patients (30%) in the true AP group, 8 (80%) in the sham group, & 9 (90%) in the control group. 6 patients (60%) in the AP group reported optimum acceptance of colonoscopy compared with only one (10%) in the sham group & none in the control group. The study concludes that AP can decrease the demand for sedative drugs during colonoscopy by reducing discomfort & anxiety of the patient & help avoid the adverse effects of pharmacological sedation. (Am J Gastroenterol 2003 Feb; 98(2): 312-6). AP & CYSTITIS In an ongoing study of the effects of AP on women with recurrent cystitis, an analysis of the relationship of TCM pattern differentiation to benefit showed best results in the KI Yang/Qi Xu group. Of the 18 women in this group 78% were free of attacks during a 6-month period, compared to 43% in a SP Yang/Qi Xu group, 44% in the LV Qi Stasis group, & 17% in a non-treated control group. (Presented by T Alraek at the 9th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care 4-6 December 2002). AP AIDS OPIATE DETOXIFICATION Rapid Opiate Detoxification (ROD) is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for substance abuse but is associated with severe withdrawal symptoms. In a study to determine if AP could reduce these symptoms, 40 adult males addicted to opioids & scheduled for ROD by naloxone were randomly divided into AP & control groups. Body AP was performed on three consecutive days immediately before induction of ROD in the AP group, while the control group received no AP. Severity of withdrawal symptoms in both groups were assessed by Clinical Institute Narcotic Assessment (CINA). After induction of ROD, CINA score increased significantly in both groups, but the rise was significantly lower in AP group, indicating that body AP can reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms associated with rapid opiate detoxification. (Acta Anaesthesiol Sin 2002 Dec; 40(4) :173-7). AP ANAESTHESIA In order to evaluate the effectiveness of AP anaesthesia in inguinal hernia repair, twelve patients receiving surgery were given electro-AP anaesthesia. Supplementary local anaesthetic was given when required. Four (33%) patients had satisfactory analgesic effect throughout the operation without need for additional medication, & 8 (67%) patients experienced mild discomfort during the operation requiring 1-4 ml of 1% lignocaine injection. Blood pressure & HT rate were stable during the procedure. All patients were able to sit up & resume their diet immediately post-operatively. All but one were discharged on the day after the surgery, with no early or late complications reported. Most patients were satisfied with the analgesic effect of AP anaesthesia. AP anaesthesia was shown to reduce the amount of local anaesthetic required, & thus the associated potential complications, & inhibit gastrointestinal upset. (ANZ J Surg 2003 Mar; 73(3) :125-7). AP & COLORECTAL CANCER Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute are recruiting patients for a study to find out if AP can relieve symptoms & improve quality of life for people with advanced, terminal colorectal cancer. The study, supported by a $1.2 million grant from the US National Institutes of Health, will include 170 people recruited over 4 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups to receive (1) true AP at points associated with emotional well-being, (2) sham AP at non-points, or (3) standard cancer care without AP. The final stages of terminal colorectal cancer may involve pain, appetite loss, shortness of breath, nausea & vomiting. AP FOR CATS & DOGS The last few years has seen a steady increase in the number of Chinese people seeking AP for their pets, according to reports from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the China Agricultural University. With greater prosperity, the shrinking of the extended family & changing attitudes to animals, pet ownership has been increasing. However in a country where wages may only amount to several hundred yuan a month, the cost of around 100 yuan (US$12) can be prohibitive. & with many people in rural areas still eating dogs, not everyone is converted. AP FOR UVEITIS Uveitis, an inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, causes pain, blurred vision and, left untreated, may lead to blindness. Researchers at the University of Vienna ophthalmology & uveitis departments treated 5 patients with recurrent uveitis by AP. All patients reported a decrease of pain & increased visual acuity, laser measurement showed decreased inflammation & the period until the next attack was extended by >6 months. (Presented at the 9th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care 4-6 December 2002). ALLIUM VEGETABLES & PROSTATE CANCER High consumption of allium vegetables (garlic, scallions/spring onions, chives, leeks etc) appears to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, according to a study of 238 prostate cancer subjects & 471 controls in China who were interviewed on their intake of 122 food items. Garlic & spring onions appeared to offer the greatest benefits. Allium vegetables have been shown in the laboratory to have antitumour effects (J Natl Cancer Inst 2002:94(21) :1648-1651). ANALGESICS & HYPERTENSION A study of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs (NSAIDs) taken by >80,000 female nurses over a 2-year period has found that those who took NSAIDs for 22 days or more/month had an 86% increased rate of developing hypertension. The researchers concluded that a substantial proportion of hypertension in the US might be due to the regular use of analgesics. (Archives of Internal Medicine Vol. 162:2204-08). AND NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS It’s official. Smokers get less Parkinson’s disease, & now it seems coffee drinking can help protect against it as well. A recent systematic review & meta-analysis has found that current smokers have a 60% reduction in risk compared with those who have never smoked, whilst there is a 30% reduction in risk for coffee drinkers compared with non-drinkers. It is suspected that substances present in coffee & tobacco can improve the health of dopaminergic systems. Several small studies have also suggested that Parkinson’s sufferers tend to exhibit traits such as inflexibility, cautiousness, & lack of novelty seeking even before they have developed symptoms. (BMJ 2003; 326:561-562). ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of pneumonia, meningitis & middle-ear infections in the developed world & may cause >1 million childhood deaths/year in developing countries. Antibiotic resistance has been developing in S. pneumoniae & has reached substantial resistance to penicillin & erythromycin. New studies have now predicted that strains resistant to both antibiotics will increase from 8.6% in 1996 to an estimated 40.6% in 2004. The authors of the study say that continued intensive efforts to reduce antibiotic use are essential & point out that although Scandinavia has a much lower per capita use of antibiotics than most countries, there is no evidence of poorer medical outcomes or more infections. (Nature Medicine April 2003 Volume 9 Number 4 pp 390-392). ARNICA STUDY A small randomised trial has found that homoeopathic arnica failed to show any advantage compared with placebo in reducing postoperative pain, bruising, & swelling in patients having elective hand surgery. 64 adults having elective surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group took three tablets of high potency (30C) homoeopathic arnica for 7 days before surgery & for 14 days afterwards; the second group took three tablets of low potency (6C) arnica at the same frequency; the third group took placebo tablets over the same time period. Results showed no differences between the three groups in pain, bruising, swelling or use of analgesics at four days after surgery (Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 2003; 96:60-5). ASPIRIN & CANCER Two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine have shown a clear benefit from low doses of aspirin in reducing the frequency of new colorectal polyps, including malignant polyps. A further Italian study published in the British Journal of Cancer found that long term use of aspirin dramatically reduced the incidence of tumours of the mouth, throat, & oesophagus. (New England Journal of Medicine (2003:348; 883-90 & 891-9), British Journal of Cancer (2003; 88:672-4), reported in BMJ 2003; 326:565). Meanwhile the World Health Organisation has predicted a doubling of the current world-wide incidence of 10 million new cancers/year by the year 2020, pointing to current levels of smoking, an ageing population & increasing adoption of an unhealthy Western lifestyle. Cancer in developed countries is currently more than twice that in developing countries. Tobacco use is considered the most important avoidable world-wide cancer risk, with around 100 million people dying from tobacco-associated disease in the 20th century. 50% of all regular smokers are killed by the habit & 25% die prematurely before the age of 70. (BMJ 2003; 326:728). AURICULAR THERAPY PROMOTES SLEEP A study carried out by researchers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Nursing & Hong Kong Baptists’ University has found that auricular therapy using magnetic pearls is the most effective in promoting sleep in older people. 120 participants over the age of 60 were randomly allocated to receive auricular therapy using either Dengxincao (Ma Junci Effusi), Wangbuliuxing (S Vaccariae Segetalis) or magnetic pearls. The first two groups acted as controls. 7 Earpoints (Shenmen, KI, HT, Subcortex, Occiput, SP, LV) were selected for a treatment course of 3 weeks. There were significant differences among all 3 groups in terms of nocturnal sleep time & sleep efficiency, with further significant improvement in the sleep behaviour observed in the magnetic pearl group. The paper concludes that auricular therapy using magnetic pearls is an effective means of improving the quantity & quality of sleep in the elderly. (American Journal of Vol. 30, No. 4, 429-449). AUSTRALIAN SUPPLEMENTS SCANDAL The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration suspended the licence of Pan Pharmaceuticals for 6 months yesterday after serious safety breaches & ordered one of the biggest product recalls in Australian history. Consumers have been urged not to take 219 medicines manufactured by Pan, which controls 70% of the Australian market in vitamins & supplements & exports to other countries. Pan also makes some conventional over-the-counter medicines. Pan was found to have illegally substituted ingredients (including substituting beef cartilage for shark cartilage), manipulated test results & engaged in substandard manufacturing processes. Pan was initially investigated after a batch of its Travacal travel sickness drug led to 19 hospitalisations. The fallout from the withdrawal of the bulk of Australia’s supplements is expected to lead to job losses & business closures throughout the industry. BLACK COHOSH & BREAST CANCER A study carried out at Yale University’s School of Medicine has raised concerns that black cohosh (Actaea racemosa & Cimicifuga racemosa), a herb commonly used to treat menopausal symptoms, could be dangerous for women having treatment for breast cancer. Many women diagnosed with breast cancer use the herb as an alternative to HRT, but are now being advised by doctors to stop taking it after studies on laboratory-grown breast cancer cells, found that black cohosh seemed to increase the toxicity of the breast cancer chemotherapy drugs Taxotere & Adriamycin. BOYS & GIRLS Males are more fragile & vulnerable than females, at least as far as birth is concerned, since more male babies die in the womb or at birth than females. Nature though has come up with a clever scheme to even things out. September & November are the most fertile months for humans, possibly because babies conceived at this time are destined to be born in warmer months when food is more plentiful, & new research has established that babies born in these months are more likely to be male. By contrast more female babies are conceived during the months March to May. (Hum. Reprod 2003 18:885-887). BREAKFAST LIKE A KING An old English saying goes “Breakfast like a king, lunch like a merchant & sup like a pauper ”, whilst the Jewish equivalent is “Eat your breakfast alone, share your lunch with a friend & give your supper to your enemy ”. Now a report given at the American Heart Association’s 43rd Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology & Prevention suggests that people who eat breakfast are significantly less likely to be obese & suffer from diabetes than those who usually do not. The study found that obesity & insulin resistance syndrome rates were 35-50% lower among people who ate breakfast every day. CAM IN AUSTRALIA The Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia is asking the Australian government to make $A2.7 million available to fund research into complementary medicine as a way of reducing the nation’s rising health care costs. The Council’s president Dr. Ian Brighthope says that most medical research is currently driven & funded by the pharmaceutical industry. “200 million dollars from the Government goes to pharmaceutical research & they’re already subsidising the pharmaceutical industry to the tune of $5bn/year, ” he said ((Australian Broadcasting Corporation. CANNABIS HAS HUGE POTENTIAL Cannabis, the third most popular recreational drug after alcohol & tobacco, could be the source of a wide range of new drugs, with growing evidence that its compounds may protect the brain against the damaging effects of ageing. Although the drug distorts perception & affects short-term memory, it may also delay the effects of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntingdon’s & motor neurone diseases & stroke. Scientists from London’s Institute of Neurology say the “huge potential ” of some 60 cannabis compounds is emerging, as understanding of its biological & pharmacological properties improves. “We are only just beginning to appreciate the huge therapeutic potential of this family of compounds ”. Scientists have discovered an endogenous system of cannabinoid receptors, similar to the opioid system, to which cannabis compounds bind. Just as endorphins are the body’s natural equivalent of heroin, a fatty acid called anandamide (Sanskrit for “inner bliss ”) is the natural equivalent of cannabis. By manipulating cannabis compounds, a new range of drugs could help treat epilepsy, anxiety, depression, insomnia, & ironically, drug-addiction, as well as neurodegenerative diseases. (Lancet Neurology, Vol. 2, No. 5, 01 May 2003). CANNABIS MEDICINE ON SALE The first cannabis-based prescription medicines for >30 years are likely to be available in UK high street chemists this year. GW Pharmaceuticals, which was licensed by the Home Office to carry out clinical research trials on cannabis, has submitted an extremely positive report to the medicines control agency before final approval. The drug company has been testing an under-the-tongue spray in trials involving about 350 patients. The spray has reportedly been effective in treating multiple sclerosis, helping to reduce nerve damage pain & sleep disturbance. Additional trials are currently being undertaken into the use of cannabis in cancer pain & spinal cord injury. The cannabis-derived medicines do not contain the active substance found in recreational cannabis & so patients taking the new drugs will not become intoxicated. CATS, RATS & TOXOPLASMA GONDII Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasite that is spread in cat faeces & is also found in about 35% of rats & 30-60% of the human population. The rats usually contract the infection from eating cat faeces, & it penetrates every organ of the rat’s body, & especially the brain where it forms cysts & then lies dormant. In new research from Oxford University it has been found that rats infected with the parasite are less cautious & less afraid of novelty. As a result they are more likely to be caught & eaten by cats, in which the parasite can then spring to life again. It has been believed that the parasite does not cause problems in humans unless the immune system is compromised, for example in immunosuppression due to Aids or chemotherapy & there is some initial research that has found hyperactivity & low IQ in children with high Toxoplasma levels (BBC News online). However research carried out at the University of Prague suggests there may be greater problems resulting from toxoplasma in humans. Examination of traffic accident victims, found that people with latent toxoplasmosis were 2.7 times more likely to be involved in a car accident, whether as driver or pedestrian (BMC Infectious Diseases 2002 2:11). CHINESE MEDICINE MARKET According to Singapore’s Straits Times, China is rapidly losing its status as the centre of Chinese medicine production. The world-wide market is worth around 16bn US dollars & is growing at an annual rate of 300%. However, China now only produces around 10% of this market, its position having been eroded by Japan, South Korea, the US & Europe. In 2001, while China registered a trade surplus of US$238 million for Chinese herbs, its patent Chinese medicines ran up a deficit of US$390 million. This is because foreign countries import large quantities of herbs from China to manufacture their own brands of Chinese medicines, a big portion of which find their way back into the Chinese market. This situation is not likely to be helped by the fact that under World Trade Organisation regulations China must slash import tariffs for medicine by 60% next year. Unimpressive packaging, inept promotion & an absence of laws for governing the production of medicines are blamed for the situation. CHINESE REMEDY FOR COLD SORES Scientists may have successfully extracted a powerful drug for cold sores from a traditional Chinese herb. The herb, Prunella vulgaris (Xiakucao/Self-heal spike), is found in China, Europe, Britain & North America. Traditional herbalists have long used it to treat sores & lumps in the mouth & throat -as well as for treating blood pressure & painful eyes. Now tests have shown it can treat the cold sore virus, herpes simplex. Speaking to a conference of the American Society for Microbiology in Washington DC, USA, researchers said that animals treated with a cream made with a compound extracted from the plant showed a “significant ” reduction in the number of herpes sores. Acyclovir is currently the main anti-herpes drug but many strains are now becoming resistant to it. The extract from the herb works differently to acyclovir & so could become a powerful new anti-herpes drug. (American Society for Microbiology Press Release 19 May 2003) COFFEE & PREGNANCY Danish research into 18,478 pregnant women booked for delivery at Aarhus University Hospital during 1989-96 found that those who drank >7 cups of coffee/d during pregnancy had a 300% greater risk of stillbirth compared with women who did not drink coffee. The risk was 80% greater in those who drank 4-7 cups/d (BMJ 2003; 326:420). COST OF THE COMMON COLD A nationwide telephone survey of US households extrapolated to the entire US population, found approximately 500 million occurrences of common cold/year with costs totalling $40bn annually (visits to physicians, working days’ lost, prescription & over-the counter-medicines etc). This makes the common cold more expensive to treat than many other diseases including asthma & CHD. The survey found that 72% of those polled reported getting an average of 2.5 colds/year. (Arch Intern Med. 2003; 163:487-494). CYCLING & BREAST CANCER Researchers from the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg have announced the results of a study showing that regular cycling (3h/week) appears to reduce the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women by a third (34%), with the benefits of cycling appearing to increase the more women did. The use of bicycles for transport as well as recreation is relatively common in Germany, but it is not clear whether there is a unique protective effect associated with cycling as opposed to other exercise & sport (Am J Epidemiol 2003; 157:121-130). From a Chinese medicine point of view however, it is possible that the smooth, relaxed & circular motion of cycling could have a special effect on breast disease, in view of the intimate relationship between the breasts & the LV. DANGERS OF PLASTICS? Bisphenol A (BPA), of which 2bn pounds is produced in the US every year, goes into the making of the omnipresent polycarbonate plastic -used for clear plastic baby bottles, food & drink containers & the lining of most food & drink cans. A recent article in Current Biology reported that mice exposed to very low levels of bisphenol A (BPA) show highly significant increases in two types of chromosomal aberrations in the developing mouse eggs, which go through almost identical processes of maturation as human eggs. In human eggs, such abnormalities are the leading cause of miscarriage, mental retardation, & congenital defects such as Down’s syndrome. The American Plastics Council has rejected the findings on various grounds, particularly citing research funded by the chemical industry, in which 8,000 Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a diet containing bisphenol A at levels that went much higher than those to which the mice were exposed. No evidence of reproductive or developmental effects was found at any environmentally relevant dose. However, the Sprague-Dawley strain of rat has been shown in several published articles to be insensitive to BPA, indeed it is the only rat known to be unresponsive to BPA. Something of a coincidence then that this rat was used to test BPA. (Thanks to Chemical & Engineering News { HYPERLINK "http://pubs.acs.org/cen/today/april29.html" }http://pubs.acs.org/cen/today/april29.html). DECLINE IN CAM USE IN UK There was some evidence of a decline in demand for alternative healthcare in 2002, a year in which a third of consumers polled had used alternative therapies or products in the past year compared to well over half in a similar survey in 1998. Women are twice as likely to use alternative medicines as men but those visiting an alternative therapist are equally divided between men & women. 13% of the UK prefer to use alternative medicines whenever possible with popularity peaking in the 35-44 age group. The total market value for the alternative medicine sector is estimated at £1.6bn, with 30% of the population having tried a therapy at least once & 20% regularly using complementary medicine. The most popular alternative remedies are herbs at nearly 20% & aromatherapy/massage at 13% with AP the least used at just 2%. (The Alternative Healthcare Market Assessment Report by Key Note). DEQI OR NOT DEQI An Australian study was designed to test both site specificity (i.e. the ’reality’ of AP points) & the effect of needle manipulation. 13 volunteers completed a randomised, dual blind (subject & assessor) test in which the subject’s pressure pain threshold (PPT) was measured at 10 sites (points & non-points) before & after deep needling of either Hegu LI04 or a non-point on the medial side of the second metacarpal. Significant increases in PPT were observed in the 10 sites after needling Hegu LI04 with manipulation, compared to only one site when it was needled without manipulation. Needling the non-point led to significant increases in PPT at 6 sites when the needle was manipulated & at no sites when no manipulation was used. Finally an inactive laser control produced no significant changes in PPT. The results show first of all that needle manipulation is a key factor in reducing pain, & that effective manipulation appears to be more important than accurate point location, but that accurate location plus manipulation produces the best results. The fact that needling Hegu LI04 produced a similar rise in PPT at a variety of sites including points on the SI, ST & other Channels & on non-Channel sites, is read by the study authors as challenging both the neural segmental & TCM Channel theories, although given the status of Hegu LI04 as one of the “Four Gates ” used for pain anywhere in the body, this may not be an appropriate conclusion. (Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2003): 11-21). DIET & RA 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who followed a 4-week very low fat vegan diet experienced significant reduction in all RA measures except duration of morning stiffness. (J Altern Complement Med 2002; 8(1) :71-5). DIETARY FIBRE & BOWEL CANCER A study of the dietary habits of 519,978 Europeans suggests that an approximate doubling of total dietary fibre intake could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 40%. The study was funded by a consortium including Cancer Research UK, the Medical Research Council (MRC) & the European Commission. The individuals studied, who are taking part in the EPIC study recruited from 10 European countries, completed a dietary questionnaire in 1992-98 & were followed up for cancer incidence. Those who ate the most fibre rich food had the lowest incidence of LI cancer, while those with least fibre in their diets had the most cases of the disease. A fibre rich diet was defined as 35g/d . That equates to 7 portions of fruit & vegetables/d plus 5 slices of wholemeal bread. The research found that cereals were the main source of fibre in Netherlands, Germany, Sweden & Denmark, vegetables in France & the UK, & fruit in Italy & Spain. Although a separate team from US National Cancer Institute, who examined 45,000 women over 3 decades, failed to produce similar evidence, the European team has suggested that studies that do not show a protective effect from eating fibre may be sampling people whose fibre intake is not sufficiently high to produce a positive effect. (Lancet 2003; 361:1496-501). EPHEDRA IN TROUBLE AGAIN The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is calling for labels on ephedra products, warning of the risk of HT attack, stroke & even death. This follows the death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler, which is being linked to ephedra, & news that the 2001 death of Minnesota Viking Korey Stringer may have been linked to the herbal supplement as well. The FDA has some evidence of at least 100 ephedra-related deaths & has further warned 24 companies that promote ephedra to athletes & bodybuilders that there is no scientific evidence that ephedra helps athletic performance. Data collected by the American Association of Poison Control Centres, suggests that ephedra accounted for 64% of all adverse reactions involving herbs, even though it is found in fewer than 1% of all herbal products sold. Critics of the FDA’s focus on potential dangers of supplements however point out that while there were 1,214 adverse events reported in 2002, the Journal of the America Medical Association has reported that prescription medications kill >100,000 people/year, & that >2,000,000 hospitalised patients suffer serious drug reactions each year. FINGER LENGTH In previous NEWS we reported that a long ring finger compared to the index finger in men is a good predictor of success at sports & a high sperm count, whilst in women it may be linked to homosexuality, since length of ring finger reflects testosterone levels in the womb early in pregnancy at a time when the brain & cardiovascular system are developing. Now a study by psychologists has indicated that people with the smallest differences between the length of their index finger & ring finger have a more symmetrical face, which has long been considered a key to attractiveness. This would seem to imply that you can’t be both good-looking & gay, or good at sports & procreating, but then you can’t have everything. (British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference 2003). FISH, WOMEN & DIABETES Regular consumption of fish can significantly reduce the risk of CHD among diabetic women, according to a study of 5103 diabetic women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study. The study, which began in 1976, registered over 120,000 nurses who completed a detailed health & lifestyle questionnaire that is updated every two years. It is known that omega-3 fatty acids from fish can improve HT & blood vessel function, decrease blood triglyceride levels & reduce blood clot formation, although it was not previously known whether diabetic women would benefit from these effects. The more fish the diabetic women in the study consumed, the greater was the apparent benefit, with a 30% reduced risk in those who ate fish once/week, rising to 64% in those who ate fish >4 times/week. (Circulation 2003; 107:1852). FIVE TO NINE The US National Cancer Institute has upped its recommendations on fruit & vegetable consumption from 5-9 servings/d , even though only 23% of adults eat at least 5 servings of fruit & vegetables/d & >33% of the US population eats only 1-2 servings. The institute said that for every additional serving of fruit & vegetables eaten regularly, a person lowers their risk for CHD by 4%. Women who ate 7-10 servings of fruits & vegetables/d lowered their risk of HT attack by 40%. In other studies, fruit & vegetable consumption has been shown to lower blood pressure. (BMJ 2003; 326:1003). GINGER FOR NAUSEA IN PREGNANCY A small double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial has demonstrated the benefits of ginger syrup against placebo for reducing symptoms of nausea & vomiting of pregnancy. Subjects in the study group took 1g of ginger syrup (undetectable by taste) mixed with honey & water, whilst the placebo group took a water, honey & lemon oil syrup. After 9 days, 10/13 (77%) of the study group reported at least a 4 point improvement in the nausea scale, as against only 2/10 (20%) in the placebo group. 8/12 (67%) women in the study group who were vomiting daily at the beginning of the study stopped vomiting by day 6, compared to only 2/10 (20%) in the placebo group. (Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine vol. 8, no. 5, 89-91).GINKGO BILOBA Two studies have revealed potential benefits from Ginkgo Biloba extract Egb 761. In the first, 99 patients with impaired vision due to senile dry macular degeneration were given either 240mg/d or 60mg/d for 6 months. Marked improvement of vision was observed in both groups after 4 weeks, with more pronounced improvements in the larger dose group. (Wien Med Wochenschr 2002; 152:423-6). In the second study, the potential care-cost savings of prescribing Egb 761 to dementia patients found that those who took the extract showed delayed growth of dependency & need of care. The most benefit was observed when treatment was started early, & in cases of Alzheimer’s dementia. For every month in which the transition from small/moderate care to considerable/very considerable care can be delayed, there is a saving of 812 euros. (Wien Med Wochenschr 2002; 152:427-31). GINSENG & MEMORY IN DEMENTIA A small study has indicated that ginseng may improve memory in patients suffering from stroke-induced dementia. 40 patients (average age 67) with mild to moderate vascular dementia following small strokes were randomly selected to receive either a tablet of extract of Renshen (Rx Ginseng) & Sanqi (Rx Pseudoginseng) (25 patients) 3 times/d , or the drug Duxil (15 patients). Participants took a variety of memory tests before the study began & at the end of the 12-weeks when the total memory scores of the ginseng patients were found to be significantly higher than for the group taking Duxil. (American Stroke Association’s 28th International Stroke Conference, 2003). GLAUCOMA MEDICATION & ASTHMA Topical beta-blockers are the most commonly prescribed drugs in the UK for glaucoma. A new study has found that glaucoma patients are twice as likely to be given asthma medication within 6 months of starting to use topical beta-blockers, as those who did not use them, & suggest that in the elderly with no threat to their eyesight within their expected lifetime, this medication should not be used. (BMJ 2002; 325:1396-1397). GREEN TEA & ARTHRITIS Researchers at the University of Sheffield have found that two compounds found in green tea can help prevent osteoarthritis by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage. Green tea, first discovered in China nearly 5,000 years ago, has long been thought to be beneficial to health. The Arthritis Research Campaign, which partly funded the research, said the initial results were promising. A spokeswoman said: “These findings are of great interest, & although further research needs to be done, in the mean time people should drink green tea as it’s not going to do them any harm -and may in fact do them a lot of good. ”(BBC News 15 February, 2003) GREEN TEA & SKIN Dr. Stephen Hsu, a cell biologist in the Medical College of Georgia Department of Oral Biology, previously helped determine that polyphenols in green tea help eliminate free radicals, which can cause cancer by altering DNA, & can safeguard healthy cells while promoting the death of cancer cells. Now he reports that EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), the most abundant green tea polyphenol, can reactivate dying skin cells. Dr. Hsu believes this may lead to potential benefits for skin conditions such aphthous ulcers, psoriasis, rosascea, wrinkles & wounds. (J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2003). GREEN TEA PREVENTS OVARIAN CANCER In an Australian study of 254 Chinese patients with epithelial ovarian cancer & 652 healthy controls, it was found that the risk of ovarian cancer declined both with the more green tea they drank & the length of time they had been drinking tea, with those drinking tea daily having only 39% of the risk (compared to non tea drinkers) & those who had drunk tea for >30 years having a 23% risk. (Cancer Epidemio Biomarkers Prev 2002; 11:713-18). HIP FRACTURES It is known that a high calcium intake increases bone density, but long-term studies do not confirm that this results in reduced hip fractures, & it is further known that any possible benefits of calcium supplementation diminish if it is discontinued. A new study from the Harvard Medical School has examined the relative benefits of milk consumption & calcium & vitamin D supplementation, analysing data from 72,337 postmenopausal nurses who were followed for 18 years. During this time 603 (0.8%) of the nurses experienced a hip fracture. The researchers found no significant protective effect from a high daily intake of milk or calcium from food or supplements but did observe that women who consumed >500 IU (12.5 ug)/d of vitamin D from food or supplements had a 37% lower risk of hip fracture than women whose daily vitamin D intake was <140 IU (3.5 ug). Around 60% of the women in the survey had vitamin D intakes below those recommended by the Food & Nutrition Board (400 IU for women between the ages of 51 & 70 years & 600 IU for women older than 70 years). They also pointed out that the quantity of vitamin D produced by exposure to sunlight decreases significantly with age (due to thinning of the skin) & the use of sun creams. They concluded that women should ensure an adequate daily intake of vitamin D either through the use of supplements or through increased consumption of dark fish such as swordfish, salmon, mackerel or sardines. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 77, February 2003, pp. 504-11). HOW SWEET The World Health Organisation (WHO) has provoked an angry response from US sugar producers after it recommended that people should limit their sugar intake to 10% of daily calories, in response to a world-wide epidemic of obesity. The producers deny that sugar intake is related to obesity, & claim that sugar intake can rise to 25% of daily calories without injuring health. The US Sugar Association says it will “exercise every avenue available to expose the dubious nature ” of the WHO report on diet & nutrition. This apparently includes pressurising the US government to withhold its $406m annual funding of the WHO. Given the close relationship of the US food industry to George Bush, the threat is being taken seriously by the WHO, who nevertheless have refused to alter its recommendations. HOW TOXIC IS TOXIC? An article published in Nature has questioned whether potential toxins such as mercury, lead & dioxins are really as dangerous as believed. The researchers from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst suggest that there are levels below which potential poisons are beneficial, for example they say that in small amounts dioxins can reduce tumour growth in some animals (Nature 421, 691-321, 2003). HRT & DIABETES Women with diabetes who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) suffer an increased risk of death from all causes & CHD. Danish researchers examined the association between hormone replacement therapy & ischaemic CHD, HT attack, & total number of deaths among 13,084 postmenopausal women. They found a significantly increased risk of death from all causes & ischaemic CHD among women with diabetes who took HRT (BMJ 2003; 326:426). INHALED STEROIDS & ASTHMA A reduction in doses of inhaled steroids in patients with chronic asthma can reduce the risk of side effects without compromising asthma control. A study of 259 patients in Scotland with chronic stable asthma, who were being treated with high dose inhaled corticosteroids found that those who reduced their medication dose by 50% showed no significant difference in the rate of asthma exacerbations or asthma events compared to a control who remained on a higher dose. Inhaled corticosteroids are associated with a number of dose related side effects including bruising, cataracts, & glaucoma, say the authors. (BMJ 2003; 326:1115). KISSING As everyone knows, going to kiss someone & bumping noses instead can be embarrassing. Luckily it happens less often than it might, since twice as many people turn their head to the right when approaching for a kiss as to the left, & when two right turners meet, all goes smoothly. This is the result of dogged research by neuroscientist Onur Güntürkün, who has skulked around at airports, railway stations, parks & beaches, watching people kiss, ignoring pecks on cheeks & concentrating only on proper kisses. Right-sided preference (right foot, eye & ear) is also spread about 2:1 in the population compared to left. (Nature 421, 711, 2003). LANWEI AS A TEST FOR APPENDICITIS Although acute appendicitis is the most frequent cause of acute abdomen in western countries, many people who receive surgery turn out not to have had appendicitis. For this reason, tests that accurately confirm the diagnosis are still being sought. The AP point Lanweixue (MLE13), located approximately 2 cun distal to Zusanli ST36, is commonly used to treat acute appendicitis & is frequently found to be tender on palpation in cases of. appendicitis. To determine if its tenderness was an accurate confirmation of acute appendicitis, the point was examined presurgically for tenderness in 116 nonanesthetised patients admitted to hospital for suspected appendicitis & the results compared with those of histological diagnosis. The study found that although tenderness at Lanwei sign is a good predictor of true appendicitis, when Lanwei is not tender, the probability of appendicitis may nevertheless be relatively high. Because of this low negative predictive value, the Lanwei sign is not therefore suitable for reducing negative laparatomy rates. (Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2002 Dec; 9(6) :338-45). LAUGHING AT DIABETES A small Japanese study has found that people with type 2 diabetes are better able to process sugar & have a smaller rise in post-meal blood glucose if they watch a comedy show compared to listening to a monotonous & humourless lecture. (Diabetes Care 2003; 26:1651-1652) LEMON BALM Lemon balm (Melissa Officinalis) can improve memory & boost feelings of calmness, according to researchers at Northumbria University in England. When they gave capsules of dried lemon balm to 20 volunteers, they found that it increased the activity of acetylcholine in the brain, a chemical messenger linked to memory & reduced in Alzheimer’s sufferers. No change was observed in the volunteers’ working memory ((remembering events of the day), but secondary memory (the facility of learning, storing & retrieving information) was improved. The researchers also found that a mixture of caffeine, glucose, guarana, ginseng & ginkgo could improve memory & attention. (Proceedings of the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference 2003). LICORICE & PREGNANCY Heavy licorice consumption appears to increase the risk of preterm birth. In 2000-2001, data from 95 Finnish women who delivered preterm singletons were compared with controls who delivered babies of normal gestational age in the same hospital. Glycyrrhizin intake was calculated from questionnaires containing detailed items on licorice consumption & grouped into 3 levels: low (<250 mg/week), moderate (250-499 mg/week), & heavy (500 mg/week). Heavy consumption was associated with a >2-fold increased risk of preterm (<37 weeks) delivery with an even greater association with preterm delivery at <34 weeks. (Am J Epidemiol 2002; 156:803-805). MAGGOTS & ULCERS Up to 15% of diabetes patients develop non-healing ulcers of the foot, & of these up to 25% will lead to amputation. Now a University of California study has found that maggot therapy is significantly more effective than conventional therapy (topical antimicrobials & frequent dressing changes) in removing necrotic tissue & allowing growth of healthy tissue. In the maggot therapy, disinfected fly larvae were placed on the wound for periods up to 48h 1-2 times/week. The researchers conclude that maggot therapy should now be considered as a first treatment option. (Diabetes Care Vol. 26, February 2003, pp. 446-51). MALE INFERTILITY Trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical widely used in industrial settings & present in ground water supplies, has been found in the semen of infertile male mechanics. TCE is used extensively in the motor & metal industries as a de-greasing agent, & is also found in adhesives, lubricants, paints, varnishes, paint strippers, pesticides, spot removers & rug cleaning fluids. The US National Toxicology Program has estimated that 3.5 million workers are exposed to the chemical, which has also been linked to LV, KI & LU damage. (Drug Metab Dispos 2003 31:306-311). MANUAL THERAPY WINS FOR NECK PAIN A Dutch study which compared the comparative cost & effectiveness of (a) manual therapy, (b) physiotherapy, & © general practitioner care for the treatment of neck pain, has found manual therapy to be both the most effective & the cheapest (total $402) compared to $1297 for physiotherapy & $1379 for general practitioner care. In terms of effectiveness, the manual therapy group experienced a faster improvement than the physiotherapy group & the general practitioner care group up to 26 weeks, but the differences were negligible at follow-up (52 weeks). (BMJ 2003; 326:911). MEDITATION A University of Wisconsin-Madison research team has found that a short program in mindfulness meditation produced lasting positive changes in both the brain & the function of the immune system. Participants in the study were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group (25 subjects) attended a weekly class & one 7-hour retreat & were asked to practise mediation for 1 hour/d , 6 days/week, for 8 weeks. A 16-member control group did not receive meditation training until after the study was completed. At the end of the study, the meditation group showed an increase of activation in the left frontal region of the brain, an area related to positivity & optimism. To additionally assess the effects of meditation on the immune system, all study participants received a ‘flu vaccine at the end of the 8th week & were then tested for antibody production at 4 & 8 weeks subsequent to the vaccination. Whilst both groups had as expected developed increased antibodies, the meditation group had a significantly larger increase than the controls, at both measurements. MEDITERRANEAN DIET & RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who switched to the “Mediterranean diet ” regimen for 3 months showed a significant reduction in clinical symptoms, with the diet appearing to decrease disease activity in patients who have stable & modestly active RA. The Mediterranean diet used olive & canola oils as a primary source of fat, & was high in fish, poultry, fruit, vegetables, & legumes, & low in red meat & high fat dairy products. The patients on the Mediterranean diet lost 3 kg in weight, & their cholesterol levels fell after only 3 weeks. After 6 weeks on the diet their index of inflammatory activity started to fall & at 12 weeks, both physical function & vitality had also improved, & 9 out of 14 variables changed for the better. There was no evidence of any changes in a control group following their normal diet. (Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2003; 62:208-14). MEN SWEAT, WOMEN RELAX It appears that the smell of male sweat has a relaxing effect on women, & is able to reduce stress & even affect the menstrual cycle. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania collected samples of underarm sweat from men who had refrained from using deodorant for four weeks. The extracts were then blended & applied to the upper lips of 18 women, aged 25-45 who believed they were helping to test alcohol, perfume or lemon floor wax. Asked to rate their moods for the next 6h, the women reported brighter moods & less tension. Although there was no reporting of heightened sexual arousal, blood analyses showed a rise in levels of luteinising hormone typically seen before ovulation. (Biol Reprod 2003; 10. 1095/biolreprod. 102. 008268). MIGRAINE – DEPRESSION LINK US researchers have identified a relationship between migraine & major depression, with each disorder increasing the risk for subsequent development of the other. The researchers from the University of Michigan found that the risk of first-onset migraine in people with pre-existing major depression was 3 times higher than in those with no history of major depression. In addition, the risk of first-onset major depression in people with pre-existing migraine was >5 times higher than in people with no history of headaches. The researchers believe that understanding the nature of the major depression-migraine link could potentially provide clues to the aetiology of both disorders. The news of this finding will come as no surprise to practitioners of TCM who have understood this aetiology for hundreds of years. (Neurology 2003; 60:1308-1312). MONKS HABITS Cambodia’s Buddhist monks trying to give up smoking have proved surprisingly adept at kicking the habit, campaigners say. Around 1,000 saffron-robed monks were asked to quit smoking in a bid to encourage Cambodians to follow suit. After 12 months, only 13% have lit up. Around 33% of monks & 67% of the male population smoke cigarettes in Cambodia. The guinea-pig monks even took saliva tests to prove they were not lying about not smoking. Only two were cheating. For the rest, the secret of their success was put down to manyh of meditation. MORE ON ACRYLAMIDE As we reported in NEWS 70, the dramatic discovery of high levels of acrylamide, a known carcinogen in animals, in a range of fried & baked goods (cooked at above 120 °C) caused extreme concern among the world health community. Now a study has found that high levels of acrylamide in foods such as chips, crisps, & bread do not seem to raise the risk of cancers of the LI, BL, & KI. A Swedish study has compared the diets of 987 patients with cancers of the LI, BL, & KI with those of 538 healthy people, & no increased risk of cancer of the LI, BL, or KI in high consumers of 14 different food items with a high or moderate acrylamide content was found. In fact high amounts of acrylamide were associated with a reduced risk of LI cancer, possibly because foods high in acrylamide are also high in fibre, which may reduce the risk of the disease (British Journal of Cancer 2003:88, 84-9). NEW VITAMIN Japanese scientists have discovered a new type of B vitamin that plays an important role in fertility in mice & is expected to have a similar function in humans. The vitamin pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), is the first new vitamin to be discovered since 1948. The best source of PQQ discovered so far is “natto ”, a pungent Japanese dish of fermented soybeans. Other foods rich in the substance include parsley, green tea, green peppers, kiwi fruit & papaya. NICOTINE IS BASICALLY HARMLESS According to nicotine researchers (Dr. Ernest Groman, head of the Nicotine Institute in Vienna & Professor Karl Fagerström, the nicotine research pioneer from Sweden), although nicotine causes dependence, it does not have an adverse effect on mental or motor performance, can enhance the performance of some bodily functions, can reduce stress, does not cause cancer & does not lead to a HT attack. They conclude that the legal requirements for nicotine products should be revised in order to facilitate forms of nicotine consumption that carry less risk for humans than smoking cigarettes. (Wiener Klinische Wochenzeitschrift 2003:115/5-6). In response, in a letter to the journal, the Swedish research scientist Dr Ramström pointed out that in Sweden, where oral smoke-free tobacco products are consumed by 21% of the male population, there is an especially low rate of LU cancer. OBESITY EPIDEMIC SPREADS TO ASIA Throughout Asia there has been a significant increase in the consumption of fats & energy dense foods with a concurrent reduction in physical activity. School surveys in Indian cities have shown that 30% of adolescents from India’s higher economic groups are overweight, whilst in Sri Lanka 14% of urban schoolchildren are overweight, 67% of whom are from families with high incomes. Whilst cereal production has soared in India, the cultivation of pulses, fruits, & vegetables has stagnated & Indian nutritionists say the consumption of fruits & vegetables in India is abysmally low. A national survey in Malaysia found that 20% of adults are overweight & 6% obese, whilst a Malaysian study of 12,000 children showed that 80% of their leisure time was spent watching television or on indoor games. (BMJ 2003; 326:515). Meanwhile young people in Britain, especially girls, are getting bigger around the waist. Large waist circumference is linked to a greater risk of disorders such as diabetes & high cholesterol. In 1997, 28% of boys & 38% of girls were defined as overweight (compared to 9% for both sexes in 1977-87), with 14% of boys & 17% of girls defined as obese compared to 3% in 1977-87. (BMJ 2003; 326:624). ORGANICALLY GROWN FOOD WINS Fruits & vegetables grown organically show significantly higher levels of antioxidants than conventionally grown foods, according to a study of corn, strawberries & marionberries carried out at the University of California. The research suggests that pesticides & herbicides reduce the production of flavonoids – phenolic compounds that have potent antioxidant activity & are produced in plants as a defence against environmental stressors, such as insects or competing plants. When herbicides & pesticides are used in conventional agriculture, these natural safeguards are no longer needed. Organically grown corn showed levels of antioxidants 58.5% higher than conventionally grown corn & the equivalent figures were close to 50% for marionberries & 19% for strawberries. (J. Agric. Food Chem, 51 (5), 1237 -1241, 2003). OVERDOSING ON VITAMINS Some vitamin & mineral supplements can be bad for you if you take too many for too long, the UK Food Standards Agency has cautioned. High levels of the supplement chromium picolinate may cause cancer, & other common vitamins & minerals could be dangerous for long-term use. It suggests that 10 mg/d or less of chromium in forms other than chromium picolinate is safe. The FSA said >1000 mg/d of vitamin C, 1500 mg/d of calcium or 17 mg of iron can cause abdominal pain & diarrhoea in some people, although the symptoms disappear after the supplements are no longer taken. The agency advised against taking >10 mg of vitamin B6/d unless under medical care. Beta-carotene, an antioxidant found in orange & yellow fruits & vegetables, could cause irreversible harmful effects to smokers if taken long term & in high doses, it said. Manganese could be dangerous for older people over an extended period of time, it said, while nicotinic acid, zinc & phosphoros may also be harmful in high doses long-term. ({ HYPERLINK "http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk" }http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk) QINGHAO IN AFRICA The World Health Organisation (WHO) is about to provide technical support to Tanzania for the commercial production of a Qinghao (Hb Artemisiae Apiaceae) based medicine for the treatment of malaria, with the hope of making the drug affordable to those in dire need. The raw plant is currently exported to Europe for processing into anti-malarial medicines, which are then imported by African countries & sold at a cost far beyond the means of those in need. Local production of the plant could mean a drop from the current $6-7/dose to $2/dose. The WHO will also provide the country with pure arteminisinin & dihydro-artemisinin to serve as reference substances so as to guarantee the quality of local production. The indigenous variety of Artemisia annua is 10-15 times more potent than the varieties found in China & Thailand. SARS IN HONG KONG Overwhelming support from Hong Kong citizens & Chinese medicine doctors for traditional medicine to be combined with western medicine in the treatment of SARS was voiced recently on the HKSAR government radio show. This followed radio coverage of the anti-SARS committee of Baptist University’s reports of the recovery of SARS patients in a week after using a combination of TCM decoction & injection & western medicine. Doctors of western medicine in Hong Kong’s hospitals have had to abandon their opposition to the use of TCM in the hospitals, & the Hong Kong government has announced that hospitals will start administering traditional medicine to SARS patients after it was revealed that up to 20% of patients in Hongkong are not responding to the cocktail of anti-viral drug ribavirin & steroids, & the death rate has now risen >10%. Meanwhile SARS fears have boosted sales of traditional Tibetan medicines believed to strengthen of the human immune system. According to the sales manager at the Tibetan Medicine Plant in Lhasa, sales of Changjie pills (made from a wide variety of medicinal plants) have tripled since the outbreak. SARS: CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE PREVENTION PRESCRIPTIONS The University of Hong Kong, School of , has devised two herbal formulas for prevention of SARS. They say the staff at their clinics have been taking these herbal teas for >1 month & so far, none has been infected. 1. Prescription for general use Banlangen (Rx Isatidis/Baphicacanthi) 12g, Jinyinhua (Fl Lonicerae Japonicae) 15g, Lianqiao (Fr Forsythiae Suspensae) 15g, Yiyiren (S Coicis Lachryma-Jobi) 15g, Taizishen (Rx Pseudostellariae Heterophyllae) 15g, Baizhu (Rz Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 15g, Gancao (Rx Glycyrrhizae Uralensis) 9g. 2. Prescription for those with weak constitution with dampness Huoxiang (Hb Agastaches/Pogostemi) 15g, Peilan (Hb Eupatorii Fortunei) 9g, Jinyinhua (Fl Lonicerae Japonicae) 12g, Lianqiao (Fr Forsythiae Suspensae) 12g, Sangye (Fm Mori Albae) 15g, Banlangen (Rx Isatidis/Baphicacanthi) 9g, Processed Baizhu (Rz Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 15g, Yiyiren (S Coicis Lachryma-Jobi) 18g, Taizishen (Rx Pseudostellariae Heterophyllae) 18g, Gancao (Rx Glycyrrhizae Uralensis) 9g. Meanwhile the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Hospital Authority has decided to hand out instant Chinese medicine crystal powder researched by the Chinese University of Hong Kong to the public hospitals’ front--line medical staff to enable them to guard against atypical pneumonia. So far, 4.2 million packets of the powder have been manufactured by the university, sufficient for about 3,000 front-line medical staff. SECONDHAND SMOKE & KIDS A study of data from the Third National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey of 3531 children aged 4-11 years, found a significantly higher rate of tooth decay in the baby teeth of those exposed to second-hand smoke (passive smoking) compared to those who were not. The study found no similar association between second-hand smoke exposure & cavities in permanent teeth (JAMA. 2003; 289:1258-1264). SEE THE LIGHT Researchers found that men who were exposed to an hour of bright light before sunrise experienced an increase in luteinising hormone (LH), a hormone produced in the brain’s pituitary gland, which influences reproductive hormones in both men & women. The small study involved awakening 11 men at 5.00 am & exposing them to either a bright light of 150 watts or a low-wattage red light. Those exposed to the bright light showed a 69% increase in LH levels. Increases in LH in men drive up testosterone levels, which has several potential health benefits including alleviating depression, improving libido, & muscle building & strengthening. A previous study had shown that when women with long & irregular menstrual cycles were exposed to bright light, the cycles regularised, which also seemed to be related to increases in LH. The researchers didn’t mention whether being rudely woken up at five in the morning & having a bright light shone on them increased the men’s levels of aggression. (Neuroscience Letters 2003; 341:25-28). SEROTONIN & SUN Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) has been believed to be due to low serotonin levels in the brains of sufferers due to lack of sunlight in winter months, & bright light therapy has been used for some time to treat SAD. However analysis of the blood & cerebrospinal fluid of SAD patients has failed to confirm the presence of abnormally low serotonin levels. A new Australian experiment has provided evidence that backs up this theory & explains why most humans simply feel better when the sun is shining. Testing blood flowing to & from the brain of 101 healthy male volunteers & comparing brain production of serotonin with mean atmospheric pressure, total rainfall, highest & lowest temperatures, & h of bright sunlight during the day, it was found that only bright sunlight affected serotonin levels, & participants who were tested on a bright day produced 8 times more serotonin than on a dull day. The effect of sunlight on brain serotonin production was immediate (The Lancet Vol. 360, December 7, 2002, pp. 1840-42). SESAME OIL & BLOOD PRESSURE Apart from being simply delicious, a new study shows that consuming sesame oil can reduce high blood pressure & lower the amount of medication needed to treat hypertension. Patients who took an average of 35g of sesame oil/d for 60 days found their systolic blood pressure levels dropping from 166 to 134, & their diastolic blood pressure levels from 101 to 85. They were also taking significantly less antihypertensive medication (nifedipine). (XVth Scientific Meeting of the Inter-American Society of Hypertension in San Antonio, 2003). SHAVING, STROKE, HEART DISEASE Men who do not need to shave daily are significantly more likely to suffer strokes, according to the Caerphilly Study, which has monitored 2,438 men aged between 45 & 59 in the Welsh town of Caerphilly for the last 20 years. The men who shaved less frequently were shorter, less likely to be married, had a lower frequency of orgasm, were more susceptible to HT attacks & angina & had a greater rate of death. Researchers believe the link is down to levels of the hormone testosterone, which controls the rate of stubble growth (Am. J. Epidemiol 2003 157: 234-238). SLEEP & CONSTITUTION Sleep researchers have found significant differences in the behaviour of the Circadian pacemaker in short & long sleepers. The study examined melatonin & cortisol levels as well as body temperature during sleep in 10 healthy long sleepers (habitually 9h sleep/night) & 14 healthy short sleepers (habitually <6h/night). The long sleepers demonstrated a significantly longer period of high melatonin levels & a longer period of low body temperature, whilst the peak cortisol level was reached later (9 am) than in short sleepers (6:30 am). The researchers concluded that the body’s internal pacemaker, which governs sleep duration, is genetically programmed to stabilise an individual’s sleep duration to prevent sleep deprivation, & this is likely to make it difficult to change sleep patterns, thus accounting for the known harmful effects of night work. (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 88, January 2003, pp. 24-25). SLEEP & THE HEART It appears that both sleeping too little & sleeping too much may affect the rate of CHD, at least in women. It is known that short-term sleep deprivation is associated with increases in cortisol & cholesterol levels, & increases in sympathetic tone & hypertension, & a new study carried out at the Harvard School of Public Health in Massachusetts & the Department of Medicine in Vancouver, British Columbia, decided to investigate the relationship between chronic sleep deprivation & CHD in women. 71,617 women enrolled in the nurses’ health study were asked to count the length of time they slept on average & were followed up for 10 years. Compared to an 8h average, women who slept 5h or less had a 1.45 times greater relative risk for CHD, reducing to 1.18 for 6h or less, & 1.09 for 7h. The risk then rose again to 1.38 for those who slept 8h or more. According to recent poll, only 37% of Americans get 8h sleep/night, & 31% get 6h or less (Archives of Internal Medicine 2003; 163:205-9). SMOKING & IMPOTENCE Men who smoke >20 cigarettes/d , have a 60% higher risk of erectile dysfunction than men who have never smoked, & although the risk is reduced with less smoking, it is higher than for non-smokers. The effects are independent of factors that are known to affect erectile function such as blood pressure, serum cholesterol, & diabetes. It is believed that it is the atherosclerotic affect of smoking, with its associated restriction of blood flow, which leads to erectile dysfunction. Of the 4,764 Chinese men (average age 47) involved in the study, 14.6% experienced erectile dysfunction. It appeared from the study that the rate of erectile dysfunction was as high in former smokers as in current smokers, although the number of former smokers in the study was low enough to cast doubt on this finding. (American Heart Association’s 43rd Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology & Prevention. ST. JOHN’S WORT The US federal government has launched a new 4-year study into the safety & effectiveness of St. John’s wort. The $4 million study will focus on the treatment of minor depression for which it is thought to be especially effective. A previous trial reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association found St John’s wort to be no more effective than placebo in the treatment of moderate to severe depression, but then the same study found Zoloft (sertraline) to be similarly ineffective, suggesting faults in the study. Sales of St John’ wort in the US amount to around $105 million/year. ({ HYPERLINK "http://www.nimh.nih.gov" }http://www.nimh.nih.gov). SURGERY WITHOUT ANAESTHESIA When Dr. Michael Seidman was told he needed knee surgery following an accident, he decided to forego the anaesthetic, using hypnosis & AP to relieve the pain. Dr. Seidman was awake through the 2-h invasive surgery, & although he had a stand-by anaesthetist in case of problems, he managed without. He was able to return to work 2 days after the surgery. TEA & IMMUNITY A study carried out at Brigham & Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School has indicated the mechanism by which tea is able to help fight infections. Immune T cells in the body are can recognise antigens such as those found in tumour cells, bacteria, parasites & fungi, & then stimulate the production of antibodies to fight infection. Once exposed to antigens, the T cells remember them when exposed again, thus developing immunity. Now similar antigens have been found in tea, & the researchers discovered that the tea antigens tea were able to prime the T cells to remember how to respond to subsequent antigens, even when the source of the antigens was bacterial, thus helping to provide natural resistance. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). TEENAGERS, EXERCISE & DIABETES Overweight & unfit adolescents (14-18 years) may have lower insulin resistance, an early sign of diabetes. The researchers found that insulin sensitivity was highest among white girls & lowest among black girls, & that in general boys had higher cardiovascular fitness than girls, as well as a lower percentage of body fat. After controlling for race & gender, it was found that higher cardiovascular fitness & lower body fat were independently associated with greater insulin sensitivity. The study authors recommend at least an hour of sweat-inducing exercise/d for adolescents. (American Heart Association’s 43rd Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology & Prevention 2003). THE SAN PEOPLE WIN RIGHTS OVER DIET HERB For generations the indigenous San people of South Africa have used Hoodia, a desert-growing herb, to suppress hunger on long desert treks. Unbeknownst to them, a South African laboratory, the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), patented the herb under the name of P57 & licensed it to Phytopharm plc, who subsequently subleased it to the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Phytopharm announced that the San people had died out, whereas in fact 100,000 of them live in the Kalahari desert. When the San found out about the patent, they launched a legal battle, which they have now won. They will receive 8% of payments currently being made to the CSIR whilst P57 undergoes trials by Pfizer, & will receive 6% of the royalties paid to CSIR when the drug becomes commercially available. “The unhappiness is over, ” said San council chairman Petrus Vaalbooi.. THIGH LENGTH Now we’ve all stopped looking at our fingers, we can start to measure our thighs. New research suggests that people with short upper legs are more likely to have glucose intolerance or diabetes, suggesting that factors influencing growth in the womb & during childhood may contribute to these tendencies. (American Heart Association’s 43rd Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology & Prevention 2003). UNHAPPY DOCTORS Doctors exhibit higher levels of psychological disturbance than people in equivalent professional occupations, according to a study in the British Medical Journal They found that health problems ranged from anxiety through emotional exhaustion to clinical depression, substance misuse & suicide. Depression, alcoholism, & anxiety disorders were the most common. The major factors for psychological disturbance in junior to senior grades appear to be the long hours worked, the high workload, the pressure of work, & their effect on doctors’ personal lives, whilst, a poor organisational culture within the heath services means that doctors are often reluctant to seek help. (BMJ 2003; 326:S97). US LIFE EXPECTANCY Life expectancy in the United States reached record levels in 2001 with an average of 77.2 years. For men, life expectancy averaged 74.4 years, & for women, 79.8 years. Record high life expectancies were observed for white men & for both black men & women. The study revealed an overall continued reduction in death rates from CHD, cancer & stroke, yet health disparities disproportionately affecting certain racial & ethnic groups were still found. (Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2001, CDC’s National Centre for Health Statistics. VITAMIN D & FRACTURES IN THE ELDERLY Over a period of 5 years, researchers sent either a capsule containing 100,000 IU vitamin D3 or a placebo to 2,686 people aged 65-85 years & asked the participants to take the capsule immediately & record fractures or major illnesses. The vitamin D treatment group had a 22% lower rate for first fracture at any site & a 33% lower rate for a fracture occurring in common osteoporotic sites (hip, wrist or forearm, or vertebrae). (BMJ 2003; 326:469). WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION Britain’s Royal Society has issued an urgent warning about the health & environmental consequences of the depleted uranium (DU) used in many of the munitions fired in Iraq as evidence builds that DU causes genetic damage. According to the Society “It is highly unsatisfactory to deploy a large amount of material that is weakly radioactive & chemically toxic without knowing how much soldiers & civilians have been exposed to it. ” Along with the United Nations Environment Programme it has called for a scientific assessment of sites struck with depleted uranium weapons, the immediate distribution of guidelines to minimise the risk of exposure, & the need to clean up remnants. The UN Environment Programme states “The intensive use of depleted uranium weapons has likely caused environmental contamination of as yet unknown levels or consequences. ” The Programme has recently discovered leaching of depleted uranium into the water supply in Bosnia, 7 years after the conflict there. The British Ministry of Defence insists that the effects of depleted uranium are strictly localised but has nevertheless approved testing of all troops that served in Iraq. Depleted uranium is 1.7 times denser than lead, making it more effective at penetrating heavy armour, such as a modern tank. When it hits a tank at high speed it bursts into flames, burning up all the oxygen & asphyxiating or burning the tank crew. When it disintegrates it showers toxic & weakly radioactive dust & fragments over a wide area. The tiny aerosolised particles <5 microns in diameter are easily inhalable into LU, or may penetrate wounds. Environmentally it can concentrate in the food chain & contaminate water. Tests on rats found DU can disperse throughout the body & accumulate in the bones, muscles, KI & LV. More recent tests have shown that human bone cells exposed to DU suffer both immediate & delayed genetic damage. It also appears that tiny amounts of DU cause more genetic cell damage than its toxicity or radioactivity can explain, & it is now thought that these two factors synergistically create an 8-fold increase in cell damage. The Royal Society estimates that 340 tonnes of depleted uranium were fired in the 1991 Gulf war & paediatricians in the Iraqi town of Basra report an increase of 6-12 times in the incidence of childhood leukaemia & cancer, & the incidence of congenital malformations has doubled in the exposed populations in Iraq where these weapons were used. Among them are babies born with only one eye or missing all or part of their brain. US veterans exposed to depleted uranium are reported, by at least one medical researcher, to be excreting uranium in their urine a decade later. Other reports indicate it is being excreted in their semen. Can we be reassured by UK defence minister Geoff Hoon’s assurance that there is “not the slightest scientific evidence ” to suggest that depleted uranium leaves a poisonous residue? (Thanks to Ian Sample & Nic Fleming in The Guardian 17. 4. 03, Helen Caldicott, & BMJ 2003; 326:952). 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