Health Fitness

For years, it's been the perfect excuse for secret admirers to steal a kiss with the object of their desire.

But research suggests mistletoe could do much more than just ignite Christmas passions.

Scientists have found an extract of the plant could help to fight bowel cancer, which affects 37,500 a year in the UK.

Patients who had the mistletoe treatment regularly injected into their blood had fewer side-effects from toxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy and survived longer than those who did not.

The extract is thought to help the body's immune system fight tumours and speed up the disposal of toxic 'debris' left by chemotherapy.

Researchers led by Professor Kurt Zanker from the German Institute of Immunology and Experimental Oncology, concluded: 'The results suggest convincing evidence that there is a significant benefit from treatment with mistletoe extract.'

The scientists treated 429 cancer patients with the mistletoe jab and compared them with 375 receiving conventional care.

The results, published in the journal of The Society For Integrative Oncology, showed only 19 per cent of those in the mistletoe group suffered side-effects from toxic treatments, compared to 48 per cent in the other group.

They were also 32 per cent more likely to still be alive five years after starting therapy.

DM

 Nursing caries (previously known as Baby Bottle Syndrome or Baby Bottle Caries) are fast becoming one of the most common paediatric dental problems.

The main symptom of this syndrome is the rotting of the top four primary (baby) teeth. This happens because the baby or toddler who at this stage has teeth goes to sleep with a bottle of milk, fruit juice or sugar-containing liquid (for example tea with sugar) or falls asleep at the breast or with a sweetened dummy.

Plaque bacteria produce acid when sugar is ingested. While the child is sleeping, the flow of saliva and the frequency of swallowing diminish, allowing the fluid in the bottle to accumulate around the teeth.

The plaque bacteria on the teeth then utilises the sugar as a form of energy, and during this process acid is produced as a by-product. It is this acid that will decalcify the teeth, and not the sugar itself.

As the decalsification progresses, cavities are formed. The milk also sours in the mouth and this further contributes to the development of caries.

When your baby drinks, the fluid is sucked through the front teeth. These top four teeth are most vulnerable to decay (the back and bottom teeth are protected by the tongue). The eye teeth (canines) and top molars can also be affected in severe cases.

When a child has nursing caries, the primary tooth has to be restored under general anaesthetic. If it is not detected timeously, the caries will worsen and the primary tooth might have to be removed.

This could have implications for the development of permanent teeth - milk teeth are important because they guard the space for permanent teeth. Loss of this space can result in orthodontic problems. Feeding and speech development could also be affected.

 The good news is that nursing caries can be prevented. Follow these steps:

    * Let the baby finish drinking before you lay him/her down to sleep. If the baby insists on a bottle, only give clean water.
    * Do not add sugar or honey to the liquid.
    * Avoid fluids that contain acid, such as fruit juice. If your baby already goes to sleep with a bottle of juice, wean the baby by gradually diluting the juice with water.
    * Try to switch your baby from a bottle to a cup before the age of one. Do not use a cup with a spout or bottles with nozzles (such as Energade bottles) as these have the same effect as a bottle.
    * Do not dip dummies in sweetened substances - this will also cause decay.
    * Always clean the baby's teeth before bedtime by using a moist cloth and wiping the teeth. Plaque is a soft, sticky substance that can be rubbed off easily. As the baby gets older, introduce the use of a special baby toothbrush.

H24

Long-term sobriety can improve balance problems in alcoholics, but they may not be able to regain full stability while standing, a new study has found.

"With sobriety, gait and balance become stable. However, even with prolonged sobriety, people with long-term chronic alcohol dependence can have difficulty in standing upright. Their balance can be marked by sway that exceeds what most of us experience while standing still in one place, especially with feet together and hands down by one's side, that is, without use of natural stabilising factors," study corresponding author Edith V. Sullivan, professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, said in a news release.

Alcohol-related brain injury

This lack of stability - the result of alcohol-related brain injury - can increase the risk of fall-related injury and death, the study authors noted.

Sullivan and colleagues tested postural sway in 34 alcoholic men, 15 alcoholic women, 22 control men and 29 control women.

"Results show the sway paths of alcoholics are longer and cover a wider area than those of controls for a given time," Sullivan said. "However, it is important to note that the standing stability of sober alcoholics can be improved by using stabilising factors. These factors can include simple aids like turning a light on in a dark room, touching a banister while walking down a flight of stairs, or walking or standing with feet apart rather than with ankles close together."

H24

Dermatologists have discovered yet another gender inequity: women develop more and deeper wrinkles around their mouths as they age than men do.

The disadvantage had long been suspected, but a new study provides "irrefutable scientific evidence," said Dr Foad Nahai, a plastic surgeon practicing in Atlanta and editor-in-chief of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

The authors of the paper believe they even know why women suffer more in this department.

"The gender differences were most probably due to the amount of appendages [hair follicles, sebaceous glands] and the connections between the skin and muscle of the lips," explained senior study author Dr Moshe Kon, head of the department of plastic, reconstructive and hand surgery at University Medical Centre Utrecht in the Netherlands.

Fewer sweat glands

"We had always had the impression that male skin doesn't age as rapidly as female skin," said Nahai. "What we didn't know, and this study points out, is that one of the reasons that lines are deeper in women is because they have fewer sweat or sebaceous glands, the glands that make the oil that keeps our skin feeling soft ... So women are producing less oil, which is protective and keeps the skin smoother."

Previous studies had not focused in on differences between men and women in the perioral area of the face, meaning the region around the mouth.

Women undergo more procedures

Women tend to go for procedures to remedy such wrinkles more often than men, although it hadn't been clear if women were just worried about how they looked or if their wrinkles were actually worse.

The authors studied the skin around the upper lip in both male and female cadavers, as well as reconstructions of those areas.

Several key differences between men and women emerged: women had fewer sweat glands around the mouth than men; women had fewer blood vessels so less blood flow to that region; the muscles around the mouth are closer to the skin than in men, which may pull the skin in tighter, causing wrinkles; and, although the number of hair follicles were about the same in both genders, men had more sweat glands per hair follicle, again contributing to more relaxed skin throughout aging.

Hormones

Hormones also seem to play a role in women's dermatologic aging process.

"A lot of gender differences in health and disease are related to estrogens," said Dr Seth Thaller, chief of plastic surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in the US.

For instance, oestrogens promote healing, meaning that women tend to heal from wounds faster. And postmenopausal women have reduced blood flow, again contributing to lines and furrows. And they experience a decrease in the fat (sebum) secreted by sweat glands.

Meanwhile, women on hormone replacement therapy have been reported to have fewer wrinkles than those not taking the hormones.

Ageing

Something the authors did not mention were changes in the bone, which also contribute to more severe aging, said Dr Jessie Cheung, associate director of cosmetic dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Centre in New York City.

"As you age, your jaw bone actually gets resorbed slowly so the bone shrinks down. That contributes a lot. The skin is going to get saggy because there's no scaffolding holding it up like a tent," she said.

Tissue also gets thinner as people age.

Many existing cosmetic procedures, including fat transfers, can remedy some of these changes, Cheung added.

But, said Nahai, "the best thing anyone can do to keep their skin young is avoid smoking and avoid the sun, and keep it moist. Use moisturisers and use skin creams."

H24

Tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world after water. Among all varieties of tea - black, green, white, oolong, red, herbal - which one offers the most health benefits?

Benefits of Tea

Numerous studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer properties of antioxidant polyphenols. Some studies have suggested that tea's polyphenols may reduce the risk of gastric, esophageal and skin cancers, if one consumes 4 to 6 cups daily. Another study showed that just 2 cups of tea may lower the risk of ovarian cancer by 46 percent in women. Other studies have found that polyphenols help prevent blood clotting and lower cholesterol levels. One Japanese study found that green tea lowers death rates from heart disease.

Tea: Black, Green, White or Oolong?

Black, green, white, and oolong teas derive their leaves from a warm-weather evergreen tree known as Camellia sinensis. The leaves from this tree contain polyphenols. The more processing tea leaves undergo, the darker they will turn. Green tea and white tea are the least processed tea. They are simply steamed quickly. According to Dr. Doug Balentine, Director of Nutrition Health with Lipton, white tea is derived from the young new leaves from the Camellia plant in early spring. These young leaves contain no chlorophyll, so they are silvery white. Black and oolong teas are partially dried, crushed and fermented. As we have mentioned before, regardless of the processing method, black, green, white and oolong teas all contain polyphenols. In fact, tea ranks as high as or higher than many fruits and vegetables in the ORAC score, a score that measures antioxidant potential of plant-based foods.

What about Herbal Tea and Red Rooibos Tea?

Herbal tea is not derived from the leaves of the Camellia plant and so does not have the particular health-promoting properties. Indeed, most herbal teas in the market are NOT tea at all. They are only infusions made with herbs, flowers, roots, spices or other parts of some plants. The proper term for this type of beverage is "tisane."

The recently popular South African red Rooibos tea also falls within the herbal tea or tisane category. "Red Rooibos tea is not really tea as it is not derived from the Camellia plant," Dr. Balentine said. They may not contain the same beneficial flavonoid compounds as found in black and green teas. In fact, Dr. Balentine said that "no scientific evidence yet has shown the health benefits of red Rooibos tea."

Although tisane does not contain as any polyphenols, it does promote other various health qualities such as relaxation and calming effects.

Tea: Caffeine content

According to the American Dietetic Association, a cup of tea contains an average of 40 mg of caffeine, compared to 85 mg as found in a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

What about Decaf Tea?

We do not know whether decaf teas have the same polyphenols, and thus the same health benefits. It is not yet known if removing caffeine also removes polyphenols in the decaffeinating process.

The Bottom Line

Tea is a healthy beverage offering many health benefits (if you skip the cream and sugar). Brew your tea for at least 3 - 5 minutes to bring out the beneficial polyphenols. Enjoy the aroma of tea!

Also beware of bottled green tea beverages, like Enviga, that claim to help lose weight! No solid scientific evidence has proven its efficacy in burning calories.

HC

A single injection of a local anaesthetic may be enough to tackle hot flushes, a symptom that can affect millions of menopausal women, as well as breast cancer patients.

Results from a small pilot study showed that patients experienced an 80 per cent reduction in their symptoms two weeks after the treatment. However, researchers believe it could provide relief for months.

Now a larger clinical trial is under way at Northwestern University in the U.S., comparing the benefits of the injection with a placebo injection of saline.

Hot flushes are common during the menopause. A rise in skin temperature in the face and upper body causes the blood vessels just under the skin to dilate, leading to the characteristic 'flushed' look as well as a feeling of intense heat and sweating.

This can last for several minutes, and can occur several times an hour and during the night.

The exact cause of hot flushes is not known. One theory is that it's down to a malfunction of the heat control in the brain, possibly as a result of the changes in hormone levels that occur around menopause.

Hot flushes can also occur as a result of some cancer treatments - again, largely because of the effects of changing hormone levels.

They often have a significant impact on a woman's quality of life, disrupting sleep and leading to fatigue and irritability during the day - they are one of the most common reasons why women seek HRT (hormonal replacement therapy).

But treatment isn't suitable for everyone - particularly cancer patients. It has also been linked to a number of health problems, including a higher risk of blood clots and cardiovascular disease.

The new treatment involves injecting local anaesthetic into the sympathetic nervous system, a collection of nerves located adjacent to the spinal column.

Brain and nerve cells communicate with each other by releasing and picking up chemicals called neurotransmitters. These control sweating, heart rate and other body functions such as movement of food.

These neurotransmitters are also involved in sending pain messages, which is why injections into the sympathetic nervous system are used to treat chronic pain.

However, it's thought that one of these neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, is also involved in hot flushes.

Some research has shown that women who suffer hot flushes have higher levels of norepinephrine.

In the trial, the anaesthetic is injected in these nerves in the neck to block the transfer of this neurotransmitter. A previous study at the University of Pennsylvania has shown that the block can be effective.

All 15 women on the trial experienced a drop in hot flushes for two weeks of at least 80 per cent.

In the new trial, 40 women suffering hot flushes as a result of the menopause or cancer treatment will have the treatment.

injection takes about 30 seconds to complete and is not painful. If the symptoms return, women can, if necessary, have a second injection three months after the first.

'This trial is just beginning, so we don't know whether this approach could be used to help women with hot flushes as a side effect of breast cancer treatment,' says Julia Frater, senior cancer information nurse at Cancer Research UK.

'This can be difficult to deal with, so it's important to find ways to overcome them.'

• Folic acid, a supplement used in pregnancy to lower the risk of birth defects, may also help treat hot flushes.

New research shows that six out of ten menopausal women saw an improvement.

It's thought folic acid reduces levels of the brain chemical norepinephrine and increases levels of serotonin, both believed to have a role in the induction of the condition.

In the trial - carried out by the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust and the University of Alexandria, Egypt - 46 women took a folic acid supplement or a placebo daily for four weeks.

Improvement was reported by 65 per cent, and by 16 per cent of the placebo group.

Two weeks after stopping the tablets, hot flushes recurred in all women.

DM

If you’ve always thought that red wine leaves you feeling worse the morning after than white, then you were right - and scientists have proved it.

A study has found the severity of a hangover is affected by the colour of the alcohol being drunk, with darker drinks the worst offenders. So over-indulging on richly toned whisky will mean more of a headache than too many vodkas.

However, researchers at Brown University, New England, found that those who drank white wine or vodka - even if they felt better - performed just as badly at work the next morning as those suffering because of whisky or red wine.

The study, to be published in journal Alcohol: Clinical And Experimental Research, concluded that dark drinks contained more chemical by-products than lighter ones.

Bourbon - an American whisky - had 37 times more chemicals than vodka. These included the solvent acetone, oils and tannin. The harmful by products, called congeners, are part of the reason people feel sick after a night of heavy drinking.

Professor Damaris Rohsenow, of Brown University, said: ‘While the alcohol alone is enough to make many people feel sick the next day, these toxic natural substances can add to the ill effects as our body reacts to them.’

Researchers tested 95 men and women who were healthy, heavy drinkers to participate in the study. They drank bourbon or vodka to get them to the same point of drunkenness and then they were tested the following morning for their reaction time and feelings after drinking both types of liquor.

Some of the participants were given a non-alcoholic placebo for comparison.

Prof Rohsenow added: 'While alcohol in the beverage did increase how hung over people reported feeling the next morning compared to drinking a placebo, bourbon made people feel even worse than vodka did.

'Alcohol in the beverage did make people do worse when they needed to pay attention for a continuous period of time while making rapid accurate choices but they did no worse after bourbon than after vodka.

'Therefore while people felt worse they did not perform worse after bourbon than after vodka.'

Prof Rohsenow said people who were hungover were worse drivers but did not think they were doing badly behind the wheel.

DM

Cancer patients who used a cannabis mouth spray had their pain levels reduced by a third, researchers said today.

The cannabis-based spray, like a mouth freshener, was used on 177 patients by researchers from Edinburgh University.

They found that it reduced pain levels by 30 per cent in a group of cancer patients, all in the Edinburgh area, who had not been helped by morphine or other medicines.

The spray was developed so that it did not affect the mental state of patients in the way that using cannabis would.

The researchers said their findings, reported in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, did not justify smoking cannabis as this could increase the risk of cancer.

They said the spray works by activating molecules in the body called cannabinoid receptors which can stop nerve signals being sent to the brain from the site of pain.

A cannabis extract spray called Savitex is already being prescribed as pain relief for multiple sclerosis patients.

Edinburgh University's Professor Marie Fallon said: 'These early results are very promising and demonstrate that cannabis-based medicines may deliver effective treatment for people with severe pain.

'Prescription of these drugs can be very useful in combating debilitating pain, but it is important to understand the difference between their medical and recreational use.'

The Class B substance is the most widely used illegal drug in Britain. However, cannabis use has been linked to a wide range of mental health problems.

In August a study showed that even one-off users of cannabis show signs of behaviour linked to schizophrenia, with half of those tested having an 'acute psychotic reaction'. The drug also affects coordination and concentration levels.

DM

It's a problem as old as man - well, actually as old as man's first-born son, but it still seems that parents are in the dark about it. This article discusses primary nocturnal enuresis (NE), i.e. bedwetting in a child that has never been dry for more than six months.

Secondary NE, in which previous bedtime control is lost, is usually due to a stressful event or condition, but the chances of it being due to an organic condition like bladder infection or diabetes is higher than in the case of primary NE.

NE is defined as unwanted urination at night by children past the age when voluntary control of urination could be expected (six years).

Common condition

It is present in 30% of normal children at age four years, 10% at age six, 3% at age 12 and 1% at age 18.

NE is more common in boys and tends to run in families. If both parents suffered from NE, the child has a 70% chance of being a bedwetter and a 44% chance if only one parent suffered from NE.

The cause of NE isn't fully understood and an underlying organic cause like bladder infection is diagnosed in only one to two percent of cases. Most children will "outgrow" NE at a rate of 15% per year if no treatment is given.

In spite of the fact that it will go away by itself, it is still very important to try and stop the bedwetting as fast as possible. NE usually occurs at the critical stage of a child's life when he or she is establishing relationships with peers and siblings. These relationships are critical for social development and will strongly affect a child's self-image. If handled incorrectly, NE can lead to poor scholastic performance and antisocial behaviour.

The golden rules of NE

    * Parents have to remember that NE is a treatable medical problem just like the flu. When treating the flu, we treat the symptoms and give the body a chance to take care of the rest. It works the same with NE. The child should also be made aware of this and the fact that there are many other children suffering from the same problem.
    * Never punish or scold the child when he or she wets the bed. The child has no control over the situation and scolding will increase his or her anxiety and worsen the problem.
    * Involve the child in the treatment and let him or her take responsibility for it. Let them help remake the bed and put on dry clothes themselves.
    * You can ignore the bedwetting, but never ignore the child.
    * Don't keep the child from participating in normal overnight activities like sleepovers, camps and family vacations. There are ways to protect your child from embarrassment without preventing them participating in these normal activities. You can have them take an extra set of pyjamas and their own sleeping bag. They will feel safe in the knowledge that if they have an "accident" no-one will know of it as there will be no wet bedding as evidence. This alone will reduce the chance of having an "accident" substantially.
    * Be patient! It can take some time to get better and relapses are common.
    * Medical treatment is available, but it isn't the only option. The best results are achieved by a combination of motivational counselling and medicine.

"Running is a tremendous impact sport," Williamson says, "yet people put a big goal on the calendar and then just start running. They'll run for a few days and feel good, so they jack up the intensity, volume, or both, which frequently leads to overuse injuries."

"One of our key goals is to maintain an injury-free state," he says. "To run a 5K, or any competitive distance, you need to build up to it." To accomplish this, Williamson created a program that incorporates running, walking, and cross-training, as well as weekly drills to perfect form and improve efficiency.

Quick Tip: Consistency is key to enjoyable running. Have a plan and train regularly for best results.

Training Glossary

Run/walk: Builds run volume (another way of saying how long or far you can run without needing to stop and rest) by alternating intervals of running with intervals of "recovery" walking. To do it: After warming up, run for three minutes, then walk for two; repeat for the full time prescribed. After a recovery day, repeat the sequence. As this gets easier, gradually increase the length of the running interval and/or decrease the walking interval. A typical progression might be: 3/2 run/walk; 4/1 run/walk; 5/1 run/walk; 6/2 run/walk; 6/1 run/walk; etc. As you progress, your goal is to shorten the recovery time and increase the total volume of running time. If using a heart-rate monitor, stay in the 50 to 96 percent range (of the average heart rate from the eight-minute run test); if using RPE, aim for a six or seven.

Elliptical trainer workout: A low-impact cardiovascular workout that continues to develop increased fitness on recovery (or non-running) days. "Cross-training helps you stay mentally fresh, as well as working muscle groups you don't normally use," Williamson says. Do it for the time prescribed at an RPE of five to seven. If you don't have access to an elliptical machine, cycling, swimming, rowing, and skiing are all great ways to boost your heart rate and give your mind and body a break from running.

Basic skip: A drill designed to improve running mechanics and emphasize proper form. To do it, perform an exaggerated skipping motion for the time indicated, focusing on the following aspects:

• Foot strike: how and where your foot hits the ground. "You want your foot to land directly beneath your center of gravity, or your belly button," Williamson explains. If you strain to plant your foot far out in front of you, it stresses the leg muscles and bones and could lead to pain or injury.

• Knee drive: how you use your legs to propel yourself forward. "Concentrate on bringing your thigh up to parallel with the ground, and leaving the lower half of your leg relaxed," Williamson instructs.

• Arm swing: how you use your arms to propel yourself forward. Bend your arms at 90-degree angles, and swing them so that your upper arms do not go higher than parallel to the ground. Avoid swinging your arms across the midline of your body.

Skip kicks: Designed to improve running mechanics and agility. Perform a traditional skipping motion, hopping on each foot twice to a "one-two" beat. As you move forward, kick your front foot out until your leg is almost parallel with the ground on the second half ("two") of the beat. Bring it down, and repeat on the other side. "This reinforces proper foot strike and a quick transition from the heel to the ball of the foot when you're running," Williamson says.

Strides: A drill designed to activate fast-twitch muscle fibers (which power explosive moves and develop speed). To do it: Find a flat, preferably grassy area, and run for 30 to 60 seconds at a moderate pace. Focus on mechanics, including foot strike, knee drive, and arm swing. Jog back to the starting point, and repeat for the time indicated.

Endurance walk: Builds size and strength in slow-twitch muscle fibers (the ones that power endurance or distance exercise). "This is essentially a recovery day," Williamson explains. "It gets you out, keeps you moving, and increases blood flow to your legs so you can recover more quickly for the next day's workout." To do it: Walk at a moderate pace without exceeding 88 percent of your average heart rate from the eight-minute run test. If using the rpe scale, aim for a six.

Foundation run: Builds run volume by eliminating recovery periods. To do it: Run for the prescribed amount of time at 50 to 88 percent of your average heart rate (from the eight-minute run test) or aim for an RPE of six or seven. If your heart rate becomes too high, simply back off the intensity. "The great thing about training with a heart-rate monitor is that it forces you to take it easy," Williamson explains.

Fartlek intervals: Increase leg speed and teach the body to tolerate and clear lactic acid (a byproduct produced by your muscles during a workout that can contribute to soreness and fatigue). To do them: After warming up for the prescribed amount of time, pick up your pace until your heart rate is between 98 and 108 percent of your average heart rate from the eight-minute run test. (The equivalent of an RPE of eight or nine.) Sustain that pace for two minutes, then resume your endurance pace for one recovery minute. Repeat sequence three times. Follow with the remaining time indicated in the day's foundation run.

ONE READER TRIED IT:

Felice Geoghegan is no stranger to running around. The 41-year-old mom spends her days juggling work, managing household responsibilities, and coordinating the schedules of her four active daughters. While she may live life at a race pace, Geoghegan wanted to really run―a 5K, to be exact. We decided to put her in touch with Derick Williamson of Carmichael Training Systems.

"My husband is an avid triathlete, and all of my daughters play sports, so I'm really motivated," Geoghegan explained. "I've participated in a few 5k [3.1-mile] races, but each time I've had to run and walk. My goal is to run the entire distance and improve on my 10.5-minute miles."

Geoghegan, who lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, hits the gym three times a week for a workout of strength training (mostly lower body) and cardio (on elliptical machine or treadmill). She found a 5k race just 10 weeks away―and was eager to start training for it.

After 10 weeks of training, Geoghegan completed her 5K race in 32 minutes, 15 seconds―and came in fourth in her age group. "The course was really hilly, so I'm letting myself off the hook for not finishing in less than 30 minutes," she says with a laugh.

Geoghegan admits the challenging terrain plus race-day nerves had her momentarily questioning her ability. "But as soon as I began running, I just got into that rhythm," she says. "I had the confidence from all of my training that I could do it, and I did!" Will she stick with it? No doubt. In fact, four weeks later, Geoghegan completed an 8.15-mile race, crossing the finish line nearly 20 minutes before her goal time of two hours. We'd say she's off and running.

CL