Unhealthy lifestyle doubles stroke risk

Combined effect of health behaviors and risk of first ever stroke in 20,040 men and women over 11 years’ follow-up in Norfolk cohort of European Prospective Investigation of Cancer. – People who lead unhealthy lifestyles are more than twice as likely to suffer a stroke than those who eat and drink sensibly, don’t smoke, and take regular exercise, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

Mediterranean diet improves cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease

Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) may protect from Alzheimer disease (AD). Its association with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been explored and proved in this study. – Eating a Mediterranean diet appears to be associated with less risk of mild cognitive impairment-a stage between normal aging and dementia-or of transitioning from mild cognitive impairment into Alzheimer’s disease.

Public private partnership in health sector

Health Minister invites diaspora to join in developing healthcare – Indian Health Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss has called for public-private partnership in health sector to meet the gap between supply and demand.

Concerns over healthcare expressed by VP Hamid Ansari, India

I wish to appeal to the students graduating today to ponder over their professional role and the societal expectation of them — Hamid Ansari, Indian Vice President. – The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari appealed to the graduating medical students to ponder over their professional role and societal expectation and called upon them to perform the inherent public duties of their medical profession even as they pursue their careers in the private sector.

Eating less important to stop weight gain

Trying to eat less becomes more important to fend off middle-age weight gain – Lots of experts disagree over the seemingly obvious notion of keeping weight off by trying to eat less ? a debate that centers on whether the practice backfires, leading to binging and weight gain.

Vitamins C and E and beta carotene may not reduce cancer risk

Vitamins C and E and beta carotene again fail to reduce cancer risk in randomized controlled trial – Women who took beta carotene or vitamin C or E or a combination of the supplements had a similar risk of cancer as women who did not take the supplements, according to data from a randomized controlled trial in the December 30 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Grape seed extract may cure leukemia

Grape seed extract kills laboratory leukemia cells, proving value of natural compounds. – An extract from grape seeds forces laboratory leukemia cells to commit cell suicide, according to researchers from the University of Kentucky. They found that within 24 hours, 76 percent of leukemia cells had died after being exposed to the extract.

Genetic disease recreated in lab

US researchers watched genetic diseases unfolding in the laboratory after finding a way to make large numbers of affected cells. – When neurons started dying in Clive Svendsen’s lab dishes, he couldn’t have been more pleased. The dying cells ? the same type lost in patients with the devastating neurological disease spinal muscular atrophy ? confirmed that the University of Wisconsin-Madison stem cell biologist had recreated the hallmarks of a genetic disorder in the lab, using stem cells derived from a patient.

Low glycemic diet better for type 2 diabetes patients

In patients with type 2 diabetes, 6-month treatment with a low?glycemic index diet resulted in moderately lower HbA1c levels compared with a high?cereal fiber diet. – Persons with type 2 diabetes who had a diet high in low-glycemic foods such as nuts, beans and lentils had greater improvement in glycemic control and risk factors for coronary heart disease than persons on a diet with an emphasis on high-cereal fiber, according to a study in the December 17 issue of JAMA.

Healthy diet may cut risk of breast cancer recurrence

Diet loaded with fruits, vegetables and fiber may cut risk of breast cancer recurrence in women without hot flashes. – A secondary analysis of a large, multicenter clinical trial has shown that a diet loaded with fruits, vegetables and fiber and somewhat lower in fat compared to standard federal dietary recommendations cuts the risk of recurrence in a subgroup of early-stage breast cancer survivors ? women who didn’t have hot flashes ? by approximately 31 percent.

Health Newstrack