Diabetes & Memory! 

Memory impairments in diabetics                                                                                                       Back to top

A new study shows eating high glycemic index carbohydrates contributes to memory problems among people with diabetes. Researchers say the degree of glycemic control is related to cognitive performance in adults with type 2 diabetes. Researchers say the risk of dementia is nearly doubled in adults with type 2 diabetes. Researchers conducted a study to determine if carbohydrate consumption contributes to or exacerbates memory dysfunction. The study included 19 adults with type 2 diabetes. Each participant was tested after being fed one half bagel and white grape juice and also when he or she had not eaten anything. The tests focused on memory, specifically recalling word lists and information from a story. The tests were done 15 minutes after eating and again 30 minutes after eating. Researchers found, under fasting conditions, high blood sugar levels were associated with poor results on memory tests. Eating the carbohydrates improved the participants’ scores 15 minutes after eating, but impairments were seen again 30 minutes after eating. Researchers conclude poorer glycemic control in type 2 diabetes is associated with lower performance on memory tests

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, 2003;26:1961-1966

Proteomics in Prostate Cancer

Technology saves men from biopsies                                                                                                Back to top

Thousands of men suspected to have prostate cancer may ultimately be saved from needless biopsies with new technology. Proteomics shows the potential to detect numerous cancers and evaluate treatment. Proteomics is the technical name for the analysis of protein patterns in blood samples. Researchers examined blood samples from 154 men with PSA levels between 2.5 nanograms per milliliter and 15 nanograms per milliliter, or who had abnormal physical exams. These PSA scores generally place men at a higher than normal likelihood of having cancer. Approximately 30 percent of the men in the study who underwent biopsy developed cancer. Based on proteomic profiles, 67 percent of the men with negative biopsies would have avoided an unnecessary biopsy without any cancers being missed. Researchers hope proteomic pattern profiling can ultimately be used to determine which cancers need to be treated aggressively and which can be safely followed. They have also used the technique to distinguish ovarian cancer patients from healthy women.

SOURCE: Ivanhoe Newswire

Fish Against Alzheimer’s

Fish protects against alzheimer’s                                                                                                        Back to top

Eating fish just one time a week appears to be good for your health. A new study finds people who eat a fish meal once a week or more have a 60-percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers studied the dietary habits of 815 people between the ages of 65 and 94. They were asked about their consumption of four seafood items: tuna fish sandwich, fish sticks/fish cakes/fish sandwich, fresh fish as a main dish and shrimp/lobster/crab. During the length of the study, 131 people went on to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Those who ate a fish item once a week or more had a 60-percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared with those who rarely or never ate fish. The polyunsaturated fatty acids are thought to offer the protective effect. Researchers also say fish consumption is believed to reduce the risk of prostate, gastrointestinal tract and several other cancers.

SOURCE: Archives of Neurology, 2003;60:940-946

Music & Memory

Music help improve child's memory                                                                                                    Back to top

Mothers around the world will be pleased with a new study suggesting music lessons help improve a child’s memory skills. The study, conducted by researchers, indicates children with musical training have significantly better verbal memory than their peers without training. Researchers put 135 boys between ages 6 and 15 through a series of memory tests. The boys had to recall words from a list and perform a visual memory test from an image. Those with musical training recalled more words from the verbal list and picked up on more words over the course of three memory tests. After 30 minutes, those with training also recalled more words than their non-musical peers. The researchers saw no differences between the two groups when it came to the visual memory test. All of the participants had been playing instruments for one to five years. There was a direct relationship with the number of years of playing and the verbal memory skills. Children who had only been playing for one year were better than their peers who did not play. However, those children who played for five years were the best at verbal memory tests. The theory behind the findings is that musical training stimulates an area of the brain that is also responsible for recall.

SOURCE: Neuropsychology, July, 2003

Pediatric Constipation

New treatment for pediatric constipation                                                                                         Back to top

A recent study confirms the effectiveness of polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG) therapy, a treatment for chronic constipation in children. Researchers say PEG is a nontoxic and highly soluble compound that is minimally absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. This allows it to increase fecal water content and relieve constipation. Eighty-three children with constipation problems received PEG therapy for a minimum of three months. The average time of therapy was 8.7 months. PEG therapy was given in the form of powder dissolved in water or another beverage. Researchers report that 93 percent of the children liked the PEG solution. All 68 children who had tried other methods of treatment like milk of magnesia and mineral oil preferred the PEG solution. The side effects associated with PEG are minor. They include watery stools, bloating, thirst, fatigue, and nausea. However, researchers say none of the patients stopped treatment due to adverse effects, and were willing to continue PEG therapy. This study provides evidence that PEG is safe and effective for long-term relief of pediatric constipation and should be included in the therapeutic options offered to patients.

SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2003;157:661-664

 Life Expectancy

How to improve life expectancy?                                                                                                       Back to top

Eat better, exercise more, stop smoking -- they all sound simple, but can they really impact health? A new study shows removing some of these factors can significantly improve life expectancy worldwide. Researchers from several international centers combined efforts to determine the potential health gains of reducing risk factors for disease. They looked at 20 risk factors. Some of those include unsafe sex, alcohol use, unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene, indoor smoke, childhood sexual abuse, and vitamin deficiencies. They found 47 percent of premature deaths and 39 percent of total diseases around the world in 2000 resulted from a combination of risk factors. Some of the health problems that resulted were diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease and stroke. Researchers say removing the risks would increase life expectancy by an average of nine years, depending on the location. Study investigators believe this information can lead people to make improvements in their health. They say, “The implementation of affordable and effective prevention strategy should incorporate the interaction of major risks to health.”

SOURCE: The Lancet, 2003;362:271-280

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            Strength                                  200mg/5ml
            Dosage form                           Paediatric drop
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            Generic Name                          Salmeterol INN + Fluticasone BP 
            Strength                                   50 mcg + 250 mcg
            Dosage form                            Dry powder inhaler
            Therapeutic Category           Anti-asthmatic