Health related information and news from around the world.

• You should turn the child on his side so that the secretions in the mouth, the saliva, can run out rather than running back into the windpipe;• You should loosen clothing around the neck so that it does not further impair the child’s breathing;• You should clear things from around him, so that when the clonic, jerking phase of the seizure starts, the child does not bang himself against a chair leg or sharp edges of a table.• You should, if possible, put a soft object, such as a pillow or a shirt, under his head so that his head does not bang against the floor.This tonic phase seems to last a long time, but in reality it rarely lasts more than thirty seconds to a minute or so.The next phase of a big seizure is the clonic phase in which the muscles jerk rhythmically. This is the violent phase of a seizure. There is nothing you can or should do during this phase, either. Restraining the child does not help, because the jerks continue anyway. Unless the patient is jerking against some sort of hard object, he will not hurt himself. You can gently support the child on the floor, but you cannot stop the jerking. The jerking is not hurting the child; he will not remember it. But it is very frustrating for the observer, particularly a parent, to stand by and just watch.The jerking (clonic) phase of the seizure usually will last up to several minutes. In an unusual seizure, the clonic phase may last five or (rarely) ten minutes—what seems a lifetime.*49\208\8*

Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death for women, killing nearly 14,000 in 2000. Because its symptoms are often nonspecific (vague feelings of stomach bloating, digestive irregularities, unusual amounts of gas or stomachaches), it often goes undiagnosed in its early stages. The most common sign is enlargement of the abdomen (or a feeling of bloating) in women over the age of 40. Other symptoms include vague digestive disturbances, such as gas and stomachaches that persist and cannot be explained.The risk for ovarian cancer increases with age, with the highest rates found in women in their 60s. Women who have never had children are twice as likely to develop ovarian cancer as are those who have. This is because the main risk factor appears to be exposure to the reproductive hormone estrogen. Women who have multiple pregnancies or use oral contraceptives, both of which inhibit estrogen, are at lower risk. In addition, having one or more primary relatives (mother, sisters, and grandmothers) who have had the disease appears to increase individual risk. With the exception of Japan, the highest incidence rates are reported in the industrialized countries of the world. New research indicates that mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes may increase risks.
PreventionA pivotal Yale University study indicated that diet may also play a role in ovarian cancer. Researchers found that when comparing 450 Canadian women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer with 564 demographically similar, healthy women, the women without ovarian cancer had a diet lower in saturated fat. For every 10 grams of saturated fat a woman ate per day, her risk of ovarian cancer rose 20 percent. Conversely, women who lowered their saturated fat consumption by 10 grams a day experienced a 20 percent drop in risk. Every 10 grams of vegetable fiber (but not fruit or cereal fiber) added to a woman’s daily menu lowered her risk by 37 percent. The study also found that each full-term pregnancy lowered risk by about 20 percent and each year of oral contraceptive use lowered it by 5 to 10 percent. So, should you go out and get pregnant or start taking birth control pills to reduce risk? Probably not. Although isolated studies provide useful information that may lead to definitive results when combined with similar findings from other studies, when considered alone, they do not make for scientific certainty. However, such results, particularly when combined with cardiovascular risks and other health risks, may provide yet another reason to hold the fat – or at least cut down on your overall intake.To protect yourself, annual thorough pelvic examinations are important. Pap tests, although useful in detecting cervical cancer, do not reveal ovarian cancer. Women over the age of 40 should have a cancer-related checkup every year. Transvaginal ultrasound and a tumor marker, CA125, may assist in diagnosis but are not recommended for routine screening. If you have any of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and they persist, see your doctor. If they continue to persist, get a second opinion.*26/277/5*

Hives are the response of the skin to sensitivity to some foreign protein substance. Hives are swellings, like long blisters, filled with a yellowish fluid which may come on any part of the body. Most frequently they appear on the legs, the back of the neck, the buttocks, and outer surface of the thighs. Like other forms of allergy the tendency to hives seems to run in families.
Among the foods most commonly associated with hives are shellfish, strawberries, and eggs. Light, heat, cold, the sun’s rays, insect bites, contact with moths, nettles, and caterpillars and many similar contacts may result in the appearance of these itching eruptions in the skin. Following emotional upsets people with a tendency to hives may have attacks. The skin in such cases may be so sensitive that blisters or a white line may develop simply from stroking the skin, a condition called “dermographia.”
The chief effort towards treatment of urticaria is directed towards finding the cause and removing the patient from contact with it. Obviously a saline laxative will wash the offending substance out of the bowel. The injection of adrenalin or epinephrine has been shown valuable. More recently the antihistaminic drugs like pyribenzamine, benadryl, neohetramine and others have been proved almost specific against urticaria and other forms of sensitization. The itching can be stopped by washing with baking soda solution, or by applying a calamine lotion with one per cent of menthol or phenol.
*7/318/5*

During the first two weeks after conception the embryo is fixed in its position in the uterus. The placenta, which is the organ that transfers nutrients from the maternal circulation to the fetus, is well developed early in pregnancy. During the second to eighth weeks there is a rapid development of the skeleton and the organs so that the tiny fetus is a clearly distinguishable human being. By the twelfth week the fetus still weighs only about 30 gm.
The total weight gain during pregnancy should average about 11 kg (24 lb). The weight gain throughout pregnancy should be gradual and steady. During the first trimester a total gain of 0.65 to 1.4 kg (1.4 to 3.0 lb) is normal; for the second and third trimesters a weekly gain of 350 gm (0.8 lb) should be expected.
The weight gain is accounted for in part as follows: fetus, 3300 gm (71/2 lb); uterus, 900 gm (2 lb); placenta and membranes, 1450 gm (3 lb); breast tissue, 900 gm; increase in blood volume, 1500 gm. In addition there are considerable stores of protein, fat, calcium, and phosphorus in preparation for delivery and lactation.
*2/234/5*

There have been articles in newspapers stating that swimming may not result in fat loss because the body’s natural tendency in the water is to float—and fat is your flotation device. Fat floats and muscle sinks. Some also believe that fat helps to insulate your body in cold water. Intellectually this makes sense, but if you have fat to lose, you’ll lose it swimming. For my clients who are convinced that swimming isn’t a good exercise, I have them look at photos of Olympic swimmers. They may have a little more body fat than runners or bikers, but they are lean and fit.
Can I say it one more time? Exercise is the only way to guarantee a permanent change in your fat and muscle physiology. Exercise is the key to transforming your fat-storing body into a fat-burning body. Exercise is the most important strategy to outsmart your female fat cells. Ninety percent of all people who have never had a weight problem exercise regularly—and 90 percent of all people who have lost weight and kept it off exercise regularly. What more can I say?
*146\250\8*

BACH FLOWER THERAPY has been founded equally effective in case of animals and even in plants.
Mechthild Scheffer has given the following 3 combinations as very useful to gardeners. 10 drops from the stock bottle of each are added to a big watering can for spraying on plants.
(1) Growth Combination :
(a) VINE helps to break through the hard seed shell.
(b) HORN BEAM provides additional energy for the effort of growth.
(c) OLIVE overcomes the exhaustion caused by germination & growth.
(2) Garden Combination :
(a) CRAB APPLE for pests of all kinds.
(b) WALNUT for transition from one growth phase to next.
(c) RESCUE REMEDY for all environmental purposes.
(3) Cut Flowers Combination :
(a) WALNUT for change of environment
(b) WILD ROSE for heads hanging down apathetically especially in winter.
(c) RESCUE REMEDY for all environmental factors.
*9\308\8*

Your doctor will almost certainly prescribe one of these before trying any other medication. Each has some individual side-effects inEdit addition to those already mentioned which are common to all the drugs, but only a small proportion of people develop these individual side-effects. You will see that the drug you take has two or even more names. The first name given here is the drug’s chemical name. The name (or names) given in brackets is its trade name — the drug manufacturer’s ‘own-brand’ version of the drug. Sometimes several drug companies produce their own version of a drug. Usually there is no difference between any of these brands, but it is usually best to stick to one version of a drug if you have found that it suits you.
Whatever drug you are given, you will probably be prescribed a small dose to start with, which will gradually be increased if you suffer no side-effects.
CARBAMAZEPINE (TEGRETOL)
Carbamazepine is one of the best-known and most widely-used anticonvulsants. Most doctors believe that it has the fewest side-effects, and it is thought to be the safest drug for women who are pregnant. So it is the drug your doctor is most likely to try first.
Its main uses are in complex partial seizures and generalized tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures, during pregnancy and in people who are depressed, as it tends to brighten mood.
Probably the best preparation to take is Tegretol Retard – this is a slow-release form of the drug, which means you may need only one dose during each 24 hours, at night.
Possible side-effects
Rash If you develop a rash, your doctor will probably keep you on a low dose of the drug for a while and the chances are that the rash will disappear. A very few people develop a rash so severe that the drug has to be stopped.
A low white blood cell count These cells are the ones which fight infection, and so a low white cell count means that you may be more likely to develop infections. If your white cell count continues to drop your doctor will lower the dose, and some doctors prefer to take patients off the drug. However, my own view is that it
is not necessary to withdraw the drug altogether unless the white count does not rise when the dose of the drug is reduced.
Water retention, sometimes with swollen ankles and puffy face This happens because carbamazepine affects the hormone which controls water excretion by the kidneys. This can result in a low – sometimes a very low – blood sodium level. In your three or six-monthly check up your doctor should always measure your blood sodium level. Usually even if you have a very low sodium level it will come back towards normal if the dose of carbamazepine is slightly reduced. However, occasionally this does not occur and then the drug has to be discontinued.
Blocks the action of the thyroid gland Your thyroid may be tested from time to time to check that this is not happening.
Reduces the action of other drugs This is because carbamazepine causes the liver (which is the organ responsible for breaking down most other drugs) to produce more enzymes and so become more active. If you take the contraceptive pill, for example, it will be broken down more rapidly, and in order for it to be effective you will need to take a higher dose.
Toxic side-effects
(These indicate that the dose you are taking is too high.) Poor balance, double vision and tiredness.
When to avoid
Carbamazepine should not be taken if you have any liver damage, or have responded badly to the drug in the past. Carbamazepine may also be unsuitable if you have some form of heart disease.
PHENYTOIN (EPANUTIN)Phenytoin is a good anticonvulsant, but is a drug which is unpopular at the moment because of its unpleasant side-effects. It is used to control grand mal seizures, and complex partial seizures.
Phenytoin is a drug which is difficult to make up properly. Epanutin is the product of the drug company which was the first to produce this drug. Others have copied them, but not always so successfully. Not long ago, for example, the Australian government decided to save money and recommended the use of cheaper brands of phenytoin. Unfortunately, these different products had different absorption rates, and in consequence many people developed severe seizures. The government finally had to allow the prescription of Epanutin again.
So although there are other, cheaper brands of phenytoin on the market, I would always advise that you stick to Epanutin and make sure that your doctor prescribes it by name.
Possible side-effects
Rashes
Slows you down
Drowsiness
Roughens facial features
Swollen gums
Excessive hairiness
Tingling in fingers and toes (Peripheral neuritis)
Leaches calcium from bones
In high doses, reduces action of other drugs Like Carbamazepine, phenytoin makes the liver more active and produce more enzymes. The contraceptive pill, for example, may be less effective because it is destroyed more rapidly. In this instance you would have to take a stronger dose of the pill to get the full contraceptive effect.
Toxic side-effects
(These indicate that the dose you are taking is too high.) Rapid, jerky eye movements (nystagmus), disturbed balance, tremor. Most importantly, if too high a dose is given, phenytoin stops acting as an anticonvulsant and can actually induce seizures.
Double or blurred vision and headaches sometimes occur and, rarely, phenytoin can cause severe confusion and the inability to think clearly. But these side-effects are rare, and usually only happen in someone who has taken the drug for a very long time. If they do occur, see your doctor who will probably withdraw the drug.
When to avoid
Phenytoin should be avoided if you are pregnant, and not taken if you have any liver damage or suffer from osteoporosis (weakness of the bones).
SODIUM VALPROATE (EPILIM)
This is a useful drug for controlling generalized seizures (both grand mal, and absence seizures) and myoclonic jerks. It is also the drug most often given to prevent febrile convulsions in susceptible children. Sodium valproate has a short half-life (see p.44), so it may need to be taken three times a day to be effective. However, you will probably be given the ‘Epilim Chrono’ form. This is a slow-release preparation which you will probably only need to take once a day (although some patients like to take it twice a day). It is so much more convenient that I no longer prescribe ordinary valproate any more.
Sodium valproate interacts with another commonly prescribed drug, lamotrigine, preventing its breakdown. In effect, this means that too much lamotrigine will accumulate in the blood. So if you are taking both drugs your doctor will want to check your serum level of lamotrigine regularly to make sure it is not too high.
Possible side-effects
Hair loss If you take sodium valproate it is worth looking at your comb after you have combed your hair to see if you seem to be losing more hair than usual. Hair loss is sometimes dose-dependent; as sodium valproate is a good drug, it is usually worth trying a lower dosage before stopping the drug completely. If you do continue with the drug, the hair loss may become so bad that you will need to wear a wig, and when finally you do stop the drug and your hair grows back, it is likely to be of a different colour and finer texture.
Change in colour and texture of hair This is usually associated with hair loss, although it can occur on its own. Again a reduction of drug dosage may help.
Tremor This is a difficult side-effect to treat as it is seldom dose-dependent (although it can be a toxic symptom, due to too high a dose). I have found that if tremor occurs then it is best to withdraw the drug rather than to persevere with lower dosages.
Weight gain This is one of the most difficult side-effects to deal with. Most people are upset when they put on too much weight, and weight gain is particularly distressing for adolescents, who are, even in the best of circumstances, very self-conscious about the way they look. Unfortunately sodium valproate is usually very effective in this age group and very widely used. In my experience, weight gain cannot be avoided simply by reducing the dose of the drug. If it is very troublesome a change of drug is the only satisfactory solution.
Toxic side-effects
(These indicate that the dose you are taking is too high.) Poor balance, double vision, tiredness and tremor. Very occasionally, sodium valproate can have a serious effect on blood clotting. Children given the drug will be watched carefully as, rarely, it can cause liver damage in a very special group of young children.
When to avoid
Sodium valproate should be avoided if possible during pregnancy, or if you have ever had liver damage. It should be taken with care with phenobarbitone or primidone, as the combination can make you very frowsy. If you do become pregnant while taking sodium valproate, you should certainly discuss this with your doctor.
ETHOSUXIMIDE (ZARONTIN)
Ethosuximide is an alternative to sodium valproate as the drug of first choice to control absence seizures (petit mal). Both drugs are probably equally effective, but sodium valproate has the advantage that it controls generalized seizures too, so if you suffer both types of seizure, sodium valproate is probably the drug you will be given.
Possible side-effects
These are few. The most likely are:
Nausea
Dizziness
Headache
Drowsiness
Very rarely adults may also experience hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices when no one is there) or suffer depression.
When to avoid
Ethosuximide should not be used during pregnancy, if you are breast-feeding or if you have ever had liver or kidney damage.
*25\193\2*

Both Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous hold meetings of recovering addicts and alcoholics – sometimes in church halls, sometimes in hospitals or clinics, occasionally in homes or social-service offices. Just wherever the rent is cheap!
If you decide you want their help, all you have to do is ring their number and they will put local members in touch with you, or tell you where the nearest meeting is.
Meetings vary in format, but a fairly typical NA meeting will usually have a secretary who runs the meeting, and a speaker. Often this speaker will say something about his addiction and how he recovered from it. Other NA members then join in, perhaps adding their comments or telling something about their own experience. Newcomers are not expected to speak at the meeting – though if they want to, they can. Alcoholic’s Anonymous meetings are run in the same way.
Starting your own NA meeting-You can start your own Narcotics Anonymous meeting. All you need to do is to contact NA headquarters and they will help with advice.
It’s probably best to start a new meeting with the help of another recovering addict. If you have been to local AA meetings and have met an AA member who used to use drugs as well as drink, ask if he or she will help. Many AA members have a history, if not of illegal drugs, then of being dependent on prescribed drugs like tranquillisers.
You should look out for a sympathetic member who is sober and can give support. If possible, it should be somebody who has been sober for at least a year.

*61\116\2*

Many addicts and alcoholics have difficulty in relaxing in the first months of their recovery. For years they have sedated their bodies with drugs and alcohol, and when these are no longer available they find it difficult to use natural methods of relaxation. Tranquilliser addicts in particular suffer from the inability to relax.
Exercise is probably the best natural method of ensuring relaxation. A healthy body, which is tired out by exercises, relaxes naturally. Sleep often comes easily at the end of a day which has included some physical activity.
Be sensible. Tranquilliser addicts need to take extra care not to overdo things in the first weeks of coming off the drug. Tranquillisers are a muscle relaxant, and the muscles take time to adjust to a drug-free body. Heavy effort or violent exercise can easily send the muscles into painful spasm in the first few weeks. All exercise should be started gently, and gradually worked up.
As well as jogging, tennis and other games, many people enjoy gymnasium work-outs and aerobic dancing. Gymnasiums and health clubs often have saunas, massage and Jacuzzis, which will help you unwind. Then there are the familiar activities of biking, marathon running, gardening or riding. Swimming seems particularly effective in promoting relaxation.
Various organisations put out relaxation tapes, which are worth trying. In some communities there are group relaxation or exercise classes. Yoga classes may help too.

*105\116\2*

Oncogenes (literally ‘cancer genes’) were first discovered in the genetic material of viruses that are capable of causing cancers in animals. As the powerful tools of biology were applied to these viruses it became clear that particular genes within them were responsible for altering the cells in the animals that were infected. Although this finding was of great scientific importance, it was initially felt not to be central to the understanding of cancer in humans because viruses are unusual, and often only indirect, causes of cancer in man. The immediate importance of oncogenes in human cancer became clear with the discovery that most of the virus oncogenes had very close relatives that were present in the normal human cell. Moreover, these seem to be very important genes and there are close similarities between these genes in man and in other animals, including mice. When a particular kind of gene occurs in many, many species, this usually means that this type of gene is carrying out a very important function and that it has been conserved for that purpose by each species.
Oncogenes are present in normal cells where they do not cause cancer. In this situation they are called proto-oncogenes. The immediate question was: how do they cause cancer when a virus infects an animal cell? The answer lies in an alteration in the level of activity and the type of activity of such genes. It became clear that although these oncogenes would normally influence the control of cellular proliferation and differentiation in a beneficial and appropriate way, if they were altered so that the sequence of their DNA was slightly different, or if they became overactive because too many copies were present, or if they moved to the wrong part of the genetic material of the cell, then their activity would be disordered. This could result in disordered proliferation and hence contribute to the development of a cancer. Many dozens of oncogenes have now been discovered and it appears very likely that many of them are important in the cause of human cancer. This does not mean that the cancers in humans arise as a result of virus infection. Alterations in these genes can occur as a result of a number of processes and, once they are altered, they can contribute to the formation of the cancer. The virus link with cancer in animals allowed us to discover oncogenes. Overactivity and altered activity of an oncogene is commonly found in many human cancers although the same oncogene may not be altered in all cancers of one organ. Disorder of an oncogene is likely to be one or more of the steps in the creation of a fully fledged cancer and several powerful examples of this are now known for common cancers, including lung cancer and cancer of the bowel.
Each oncogene is now usually given a brief name derived from the virus in which it was first found or from some other feature of its description. The three-letter name is typical and important examples are ras, myc and sis.
We have referred to oncogenes as important elements controlling the behaviour of a cell and, in particular, its proliferation. How do they do this? The answers are still uncertain but many important clues are being revealed and this field of cancer research is one of those developing most rapidly. The functions of different oncogenes may be very different from each other but most of them seem to be involved in the process by which factors control the proliferation of cells.
Thus some oncogenes may provide the genetic information which leads to the manufacture of substances (receptors) on the surface of cells which receive signals instructing that cell to multiply. Some oncogenes may code for the substances within the cell that transmit signals from the surface into the nucleus of the cell where most of the genetic control is occurring. Other oncogenes code for factors which are attached to the nucleus or contained within it which presumably act as the final pathway by which the signals are transmitted into the important control centres. Yet others may actually code for the signalling substances themselves (usually called growth factors). Alterations at any one of these points can result in the wrong message being transferred into the cell telling it to continue proliferating when a normal cell would be switched off, resting and without potential to cause any harm. Alterations in the oncogenes which are responsible for each of these stages in the process of signalling into the cell can therefore contribute to the development of cancer.
*8\194\4*