Thursday, December 31, 2009

Secret to married bliss, the wife is always right!

. Thursday, December 31, 2009
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Liu Fuben and his wife Shi Jihui are the world`s oldest still living married couple. And they`ve revealed the secret of 85 years of married bliss - the wife is always right!

Fuben, 95, and Jihui, 100, spoke after registering their claim with the Guinness Book of Records.

Liu said: "We are still very much in love and always will be. As to the secret of a long marriage - avoid arguments like the plague and remember the golden rule - she`s always right."

His wife Shi added: "It`s true I am but that doesn`t stop him doing what he wants anyway."

The Beijing couple had an arranged marriage when they were very young as was common in China at that time. Liu was only ten at the time and Shi 15, reports The Telegraph.

Shi added: "I suppose being older meant I could bully him a bit and train him to be a good husband. They say you can`t teach an old dog new tricks so get them while they are young.

"In our village at that time, men used to marry at a very young age while the wife should be a several years older than the man so she can better take care of the family and be more mature."

The couple`s son Liu Shuxi, 64, said: "They still really love each other."

"My mother takes very good care of my father still," Liu said.

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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Do all men watch sexually explicit material?

. Wednesday, December 30, 2009
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Naturally all blokes don`t watch pornography, but when scientists recently launched a search in Canada for men who had never looked at such sexually explicit material -- believe it or not, they couldn`t find any.

In fact, an international team was conducting a study comparing the views of men in their 20s who had never been exposed to pornography with regular users. But, their project stumbled at the first hurdle when they failed to find a single man who had not been seen it.

"We started our research seeking men in their 20s who had never consumed pornography. We couldn`t find any," The Daily Telegraph quoted the team`s leader Prof Simon Louis Lajeunesse as saying.

Although hampered in its original aim, the study examined the habits of those young men who used pornography -- which would appear to be all of them.

The team interviewed 20 heterosexual male university students who consumed pornography, and found on average, they first watched pornography when they were 10 years old.

Around 90 percent of consumption was on the internet, while 10 percent of material came from video stores. Single men watched pornography for an average of 40 minutes, three times a week, while those in relationships watched it 1.7 times a week for around 20 minutes.

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Women find fitting into older jeans better than sex!

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Women in the UK find fitting into an old pair of jeans better than sex, says a study.

More than a quarter of surveyed confessed they stored a pair of "trophy" jeans they used to fit into.

As many as 35 per cent said they kept the pair hoping they would slim down and get into them again, reports the Scotsman.

And when quizzed how would trying them on again make them feel, 29.1 per cent rated it would be better than sex.

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Rush to a dentist for an HIV test!

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American dentists are now offering saliva tests that can detect HIV within minutes.

"The surprise factor is you are offering this," the New York Post quoted Dr. Catrise Austin, who has tested some 100 patients for HIV at her Midtown clinic, since July this year, as saying.

She added: "The topic of HIV can be uncomfortable for some, so we decided we would talk about it with patients in a matter-of-fact way, the way we talk about cavities and gum disease."

Testing for HIV is simple: a patient’s upper and lower gums are swiped with a 15dollar OraQuick Advance kit.

In 20 minutes, the swab changes colours to show if the result is positive or negative.

New York is now funding dental HIV tests at Metropolitan Hospital, Harlem Hospital, Jacobi Medical Center and some small community dental clinics.

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Couples healthier than singles

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Marital status plays a vital role in helping people cope with disability and health shocks in economic terms, says a new report.

University of British Columbia (UBC) economists Giovanni Gallipoli and Laura Turner found that in marriages, "main-earners" (husbands) tend to transfer income and compensate "second-earners" (wives).

The second-earners, in turn, provide conditional time and care in periods of need (such as illness and disability of main-earner).

Gallipoli and Turner based their findings on data from the Canadian Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID).

The researchers also find that the relative value of marriage changes in different ways for men and women as they age. Marriages become more stable the longer the couple is together, and uncertainty is resolved.

"Low-risk" marriages, where the main-earner is in a low-risk health state, are more stable and encounter less renegotiation and termination of marital contracts at every stage of the life-cycle.

Men who are at high risk of receiving health and disability shocks value marriage early in life, when they are poor in both assets and work experience, says a UBC release.

As these husbands age, their gains from marriage decrease as "buffer stocks" of human capital and assets are accumulated and they become more likely to trigger a renegotiation of the marital contract.

These later renegotiations are referred to by the authors as a "midlife crisis."

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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Sex for one night does not affect the psyche

. Tuesday, December 29, 2009
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casual sex does not put young people at increased risk of any mental condition, according to therapists, University of Minnesota / USA /. Although the study focused on the psychological impact of such relationship, doctors warn that we should not forget about the physical risk “sex for one night”.

The review was conducted among 1 thousand 311 sexually active young people with an average age of 20 years, which surveyed about their intimate life and emotional state, said AMI-TASS. In 55% of sexual partner was a man with whom the young people met in a long time, 25% – fiance / fiancee or spouse. Far fewer respondents reported that their most recent sexual partner / in 12% of cases / in their lives was an acquaintance, but not close, while in 8% – just a casual acquaintance. The men reported casual sexual relations twice as often as young women.

While in psychiatry has long considered the question of potential harm neromanticheskih sex between casual acquaintances in his youth, physicians found no differences in psychological well-being among young people, who long ago met with his companion / companion of life and were faithful to him / her, and those who adhered to casual or short-term sexual relationships. Despite the findings, experts still tend to believe that we should not forget about the educational programs aimed at sexual education of youth.

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Childhood tobacco smoke exposure leads to emphysema

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Kids who are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke at home tend to develop early emphysema in adulthood, according to researchers at Columbia University''s Mailman School of Public Health.

The finding suggests that the lungs may not recover completely from the effects of early-life exposures to tobacco smoke (ETS).

The population-based research is the first to examine the association of childhood ETS with early emphysema by CT scan in non-smokers.

Almost fifty percent of the participants in this large multiethnic cohort had at least one regular cigarette smoker in their childhood home. Participants with more childhood ETS exposure had more emphysema-like lung pixels— an average of 20 pct of scan pixels were emphysema-like for those who lived with two or more smokers as a child, compared with 18 pct for those who lived with one regular smoker, or 17% for those who said that they did not live with a regular inside smoker as a child.

The researchers studied CT scans of 1,781 non-smokers without clinical cardiovascular disease recruited from six communities in the United States, including northern Manhattan and the Bronx, New York.

Those reporting childhood ETS exposure were somewhat younger, with an average age of 61; were more likely to be non- Hispanic white; and less likely to have been born outside the United States.

"We were able to detect a difference on CT scans between the lungs of participants who lived with a smoker as a child and those who did not. Some known harmful effects of tobacco smoke are short term, and this new research suggests that effects of tobacco smoke on the lungs may also persist for decades," observed Dr. Gina Lovasi.

Previous studies have found evidence that childhood ETS exposure affects perinatal and childhood health outcomes, and that adult exposure may affect adult respiratory health outcomes, including lung function and respiratory symptoms.

Although childhood ETS was not associated with adult lung function in this healthy population, this does not contradict the results for early emphysema, since airflow obstruction and anatomic damage are theoretically and clinically distinguishable.

"However, emphysema may be a more sensitive measure of damage compared with lung function in this relatively healthy cohort," said Lovasi.

"The association between childhood ETS and early emphysema among participants whose mothers did not smoke, suggests that the effect we are detecting is for smoke exposure in the home during childhood rather than in utero exposure alone," she added.

The study is published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

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Lingerie gets men's pulses racing!

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Women's lingerie gets male shoppers' pulses racing, a new study has revealed.

But, when it comes to women, it's the sight of sparkly evening dresses or a glamorous pair of shoes that do the trick.

The study, which was conducted by Debenhams in a bid to establish in which department customers get the most enthusiastic, used monitor devices to track the heart rates of 1,000 shoppers, reports The Daily Express.

And the study of customers aged 20 to 40 revealed stark differences between what gets the pulses racing for the two sexes.

Lingerie topped the list of goods that boosted men's heart rates, followed by high-tech TVs and sound systems.

Debenhams spokesman Ed Watson said: "It seems men enjoy buying something special for their loved ones."

Said Watson: "Women appear to embark upon an emotional roller-coaster when they step into a shop, with heart rate peaks throughout the experience. The shopping climax comes late for men รข€“ it's all about closing the deal at the till."

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Sore throat could be a sign of something worse: Scientists

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Sore throat, or pharyngitis, could be a sign of something worse, say scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Currently, physicians are taught to suspect group A streptococcal bacteria as the primary cause of pharyngitis.

However, new findings suggest that physicians also should look for the presence of bacteria called Fusobacterium necrophorum when treating sore throat in young adults and adolescents that worsens or is strep-negative.

"F. necrophorum, which only has been recognized as a potential cause of pharyngitis in adolescents and young adults in the past five years, may cause up to 10 percent of sore throat in those 15-24 years of age," Science Daily quoted Robert Centor, professor of internal medicine, associate dean of medicine at UAB and the paper''s lead author, as saying.

"More important, F. necrophorum is associated with a rare but life-threatening complication called Lemierre syndrome," Centor added.

Lemierre syndrome mostly affects adolescents and young adults and rarely is seen in pre-adolescents. It begins with a sore throat, followed by an infected jugular vein after four to five days. Abscesses in other parts of the body may occur.

Group A strep also is associated with a serious complication – rheumatic fever – but the incidence rate of Lemierre syndrome following exposure to F. necrophorum is much higher and associated with greater morbidity and mortality.

"The risk of Lemierre syndrome exceeds the risk of acute rheumatic fever, which is the classic reason that physicians worry about sore throats," said Centor.

Centor said that clinicians should expand their diagnostic process for adolescents and young adults with sore throat to consider F. necrophorum, especially if the sore throat does not improve within three to five days.

He said that physicians need to be aware of the red flags that might indicate Lemierre syndrome, including unilateral neck swelling, rigors, night sweats or high fevers.

Aggressive treatment with antibiotics such as a combination of penicillin and metronidazole or with clindamycin alone is appropriate. Centor said he hopes this analysis will lead to better diagnostic tests for the presence of F. necrophorum.

The study has been published Dec. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Monday, December 28, 2009

Disciplined meal and exercises can prevent diabetes

. Monday, December 28, 2009
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Maintaining timely eating habits, and a disciplined lifestyle can help Indian prevent Diabetes, especially the type II that is prevalent in the country.

"So just by managing and disciplining the meals coupled with compulsory exercise at least for few minutes everyday , it is possible to prevent the so called disease complications," Director, diabetes endocrine Nutrition Management and Research studies, Prof H B Chandalia told media here.

Refined carbohydrates such as those found in white bread, white rice and soft drinks including sports drinks should be completely avoided as they all breakdown rapidly in the human system which means after eating and drinking the sugar in the blood rises quickly to high levels, Chandalia said.

"Since the current lifestyle, elevated stress levels and fierce competition hardly gives time to focus on our diet, but everyone should realise that the managing the body metabolism is more important for leading a healthy life than anything else," he said.

The researcher said that considering the fact that a diabetic patient has a lot of restriction, there is a definite absence of optimum nutrition.

Foods with complex carbohydrates that break down more slowly such as whole grains, vegetables and beans will not only have less impact on the sugar levels in the blood making nutrition a part of diabetics lifestyle but also be most compliance with a nutritious diet, Chandalia added.

On meal management and exercises, Dr Farhad Zangeneh, assistant clinical professor of Medicine of George Washington University, said there is an increasing tendency of doubling of weight in rest of the world while it is trebling in Gulf countries.

"Diabetes is not a disease and is simply the bad eating habits and in large quantities in frequent intervals thus burdening the system," he said.

In US even children are facing the obese syndrome. There is gestational diabetes in pregnant women all over the world, as doctors recommend bed rest and rich food during pregnancy, he said.

Zangeneh also said there was a large deficiency of vitamin
B-12 and Vitamin D in diabetic patients and population in general due to various reasons.

As natural Vitamin D (from the Sunlight) is not available to the people adequately, people should be going for supplementary forms, he said.

On the meal replacement, Zangeneh said it was important to take meals rich in minerals and microelements and completely avoid soft drinks and fruit juices. Instead have one serving of fruits so that there will be slow release of carbohydrate into the system, the doctor said.

Chandalia said that in a survey conducted in South Mumbai school, his institute found the 11 per cent ratio of obesity.

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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Poor quality condoms irk sex workers!

. Sunday, December 27, 2009
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The government will look into the concerns raised by sex workers of the red-light area here regarding the health problems resulting from "poor quality" of free condoms supplied to them.

Sex workers in the national capital`s infamous Garstin Bastion (GB) Road have alleged that free condoms provided to them by different NGOs supplied by the Government are causing itching and other similar problems.

These male contraceptives are distributed free of cost through non-government organisations and NACO to prevent sex-workers from being infected by sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.

The sex workers have told PTI that they are planning to take the matter to the Government and will hold demonstration if the issue was not resolved to their satisfaction.

"Condoms given to us are really of very bad quality. We do not feel like using them. Irritation and other infections are some of common side effects," said Sunita, a sex worker.

When contacted, Joint Secretary at National AIDS Control Organisation Aradhana Johri said the department has not received any complaint regarding the health problems resulting
from the use of condom.

"But as you have brought the issue to our notice, we will direct the concerned officials to immediately look into the matter and submit their report," Johri said.

Johri also said that all the free condoms distributed meet the standards.

Kanta, another worker and owner of a brothel in the area said, "Condoms even get ruptured and make us susceptible to various sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS."

Radhika, a worker at a brothel said, "It is really irritating to use these condoms. There is always a danger of the condoms getting burst. We prefer to use a good quality product and bear the expenditure on our own."

There are about 116 brothels at the GB road in which about 5,000 women from across the country and some from neighbouring countries work.

NACO distributes about 220 crore free condoms annually across the country with the help of state AIDS control societies and voluntary groups to curb the spread of HIV.

"It is true that sex workers are given bad quality condoms. I have also written to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and apprised him of the problem. Government has assured us to look into the issue but we will again press the issue," said Khairati Lal Bhola, President, Bhartiya Patita Uddhar Sabha, an NGO working for the upliftment of the sex workers.

Indian Council of Medical Research scientist S Mokkapati said, "Condoms without quality result in various STD including
HIV AIDS and generate other psychological problems."

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Planets' movement can set off tremors: Study

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Scientists have discovered that even faint gravitational tug of the sun and moon can set off tremors deep underground, confirming the thousands of years old belief of astrologers.

The American researchers, who studied the San Andreas Fault - the infamous crack in the ground which triggered the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, found the same gravitational tugs that create tides, also trigger small tremors that originate around 15 miles below the ground.

The report, which will come in print in journal Nature, said, although the pull of planetary objects is too weak to set off a full blown quake but the findings suggest that they could set in motion a chain of events, leading to devastation on the surface, the Daily Mail said.

Dr Roland Burgmann, a professor of earth and planetary science at University of California, Berkeley, said: "Tremors seem to be extremely sensitive to minute stress changes".

"Seismic waves from the other side of the planet triggered tremors off the coast of Washington state after the Sumatra earthquake last year, while the Denali earthquake in 2002 triggered tremors on a number of faults in California," Burgmann said.

"Now we also see that tides - the daily lunar and solar tides - very strongly modulate tremors".

American earthquake experts compared records of 2,000 small tremors in the Parkfield region 170 miles north west of Los Angeles with the movement of the sun and moon over eight years.

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New method to cure high BP developed in UK

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Offering hope to hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from high blood pressure, scientists here have developed a revolutionary procedure to effectively cure the condition under an hour.

The new procedure, called renal sympathetic-nerve ablation, involves inserting a wire into a blood vessel close to the kidneys to burn through nerves which carry signals that stimulate high blood pressure, media reported today.

It disrupts signals from the brain telling the kidneys to keep blood pressure raised. Initial tests suggest it can be effective within three months.

Anthony Henry, 68, a retired chef from Stratford in east London, became the first person in Britain to have the operation.

About 15 million people in Britain suffer from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, with as many as half of those cases undiagnosed.

About one in ten sufferers cannot control the condition with medication or cannot tolerate the drugs, leaving them at greater risk.

Hundreds of thousands of people face a lifetime on medication to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke or kidney failure.

Claiming it as the most exciting development in the field in the last 50 years, doctors said they could treat the condition with a simple procedure in under an hour.

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Saturday, December 26, 2009

Daily sex `helps improve sperm quality`

. Saturday, December 26, 2009
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Having sex every day improves men`s sperm quality, an Australian study has revealed.

In a study of men with fertility problems, researchers found that daily ejaculation for a week cut the amount of DNA damage seen in sperm samples.

"All that we knew was that intercourse on the day of ovulation offered the highest chance of pregnancy, but we did not know what was the best advice for the period leading up to ovulation or egg retrieval for IVF," Dr David Greening, an obstetrician and gynaecologist with sub specialist training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Sydney IVF, Wollongong, Australia, said.

"I thought that frequent ejaculation might be a physiological mechanism to improve sperm DNA damage, while maintaining semen levels within the normal, fertile range," he added.

To investigate this hypothesis, Greening studied 118 men who had higher than normal sperm DNA damage as indicated by a DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI).

Men who had a more than 15 percent of their sperm damaged were eligible for the trial. At Sydney IVF, sperm DNA damage is defined as less than 15 percent DFI for excellent quality sperm, 15-24 percent DFI for good, 25-29 percent DFI for fair and more than 29 percent DFI for poor quality; but other laboratories can have slightly different ranges.

The men were instructed to ejaculate daily for seven days, and no other treatment or lifestyle changes were suggested. Before they started, levels of DNA damage ranged between 15 percent and 98 percent DFI, with an average 34 percent DFI when measured after three days` abstinence.

When the men`s sperm was re-assessed on the seventh day, Greening found that 81 percent men had an average 12 percent decrease in their sperm DNA damage, while 19 percent men and an average increase in damage of nearly 10 percent. The average for the whole group dropped to 26 percent DFI.

"Although the mean average was 26 percent which is in the `fair` range for sperm quality, this included 18 percent of men whose sperm DNA damage increased as well as those whose DNA damage decreased," Greening said.

"Amongst the men whose damage decreased, their average dropped by 12 percent to just under 23 percent DFI, which puts them in the `good` range. Also, more men moved into the `good` range and out of the `poor` or `fair` range. These changes were substantial and statistically highly significant.

"In addition, we found that although frequent ejaculation decreased semen volume and sperm concentrations, it did not compromise sperm motility and, in fact, this rose slightly but significantly.

"Further research is required to see whether the improvement in these men`s sperm quality translates into better pregnancy rates, but other, previous studies have shown the relationship between sperm DNA damage and pregnancy rates," he added.

Greening said he thought the reason why sperm quality improved with frequent ejaculation was because the sperm had a shorter exposure in the testicular ducts and epididymis to reactive oxygen species - very small molecules, high levels of which can damage cells.

"The remainder of the men who had an increase in DFI might have a different explanation for their sperm DNA damage," he said.

The study has been presented at the 25th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam.

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Scientists restore eye sight by stem cell treatment

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In yet another medical achievement, British scientists have restored eyesight of a partially blind person using pioneering stem cell treatment.

Eye surgeons at the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI), has almost completely restored the vision of Russell Turnbull who was blinded in one eye by a chemical attack.

The attack, which badly burned and scarred Russell (38) as he intervened to stop a fight, left him with permanent blurred sight and pain whenever he blinked.

Now, however, his sight has been almost fully restored thanks to the new technique in which doctors regrown the outside membrane of his cornea from stem cells taken from his healthy eye.

According to the article published in journal Stem Cells, the new operation involved cutting away a millimetre squared section of his left eye completed with stem cells and growing it to 400 times that size in the laboratory.

The outer skin of the eye is then stitched onto the badly damaged cornea in place of the damaged membrane.

"Corneal cloudiness has been estimated to cause blindness in eight million people worldwide each year, Dr Francisco Figueiredo, Consultant Eye Surgeon at NESCI team, who co-led the project was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

"The stem cell treatment option is aimed at total cure rather than symptom relief only. This new treatment will alleviate patient suffering and remove the need for long term multiple medications as well as returning the patient to functional and social independence."

Dr Sajjad Ahmad, who developed the Newcastle method for culturing limbal stem cells, said "This study shows that stem cell research conducted in the laboratory can have a major impact on the quality of life of patients with corneal disease".

He said, "This work has been a team effort involving stem cell researchers and hospital doctors working together effectively."

A larger study involving 24 new patients is currently underway with funding from the UK's Medical Research Council.

Turnbull, a storeman, said: "The operation was a complete success and I now have my sight back. This really has given me my life back."

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Caller tunes reflect your state of mind

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When I questioned my friend Rohan why his caller tune rang to the song of Tum jo mil gaye ho, to ye lagataa hain… he admitted that with this tune he wanted to show his love for his college classmate Sheryl. On the other hand the caller tune Donon ne kiyaa thaa pyaar magar mujhe yaad raha tu bhool gayi confirmed that my neighbour had just broken up and was going through a low phase.

With a wide range of caller tune options being made available, technology has indeed changed the way we greet our callers.

Unknowingly and unintentionally, the choice of our caller tune does reflect a lot about our inward, temperamental, emotional and mental state of mind. In short, it serves as a blueprint of our personality.

Caller tunes not only reflect an individuals likes and dislikes but also their inward reflections.

However, individuals do play mind games with caller tunes, admits Rahul who broke off with his girlfriend recently. His caller tune goes Tum aa gaye ho noor aa gaya hai. Rahul says, in the unlikely event that his girl friend calls him back he does not want to show her that he is affected in any way. On the contrary he wants her to keep guessing with his caller tune. Then, there are individuals who don't like the idea of paying monthly user fee for a caller tune, which they never hear at all.

As a matter of fact, even telecom providers keep enhancing their caller tune collection.

Whatever might be the reason but the growing popularity of caller tunes have witnessed a mark improvement in the business for telecom providers.

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Friday, December 25, 2009

Now, no amputation to cure breast Cancers

. Friday, December 25, 2009
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A Goa-based doctor has invented a technology that can save women from amputating their Cancer-infested breasts.

"The treatment, known as the Targeted Intraoperative Radiotherapy (TARGIT), can cure the fatal diseas in just 25 minutes," Dr Jayant Vaidya, who is currently placed in UK, said.

TARGIT treats the tumour by delivering radiotherapy within the breast. The patient can go home the same day the surgery is conducted, he said.

Vaidya, who began his research during his stint at Tata Memorial hospital in Mumbai, later perceived it in University College at London.

Vaidya has also worked on Intrabeam machine used for brain treatment. "The machine was developed for application on breast in 1996-98," he said.

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Syndiastic` therapy could treat sexual dysfunction in men

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Underlining an important new development in German sex therapy- a form of the internationally familiar "couples" therapy called "syndiastic" therapy-scientists have found a solution for treating sexual dysfunction in men.

Modern, couple-oriented treatment for male sexual dysfunction takes the psychosocial aspects of sex into account, as well as focussing on the purely physical aspects of the problem.

The importance of this biopsychosocial approach, whether one looks at disorders of desire, arousal or orgasm, is supported by intercultural comparisons, among other data.

But sexual dysfunction can also arise as a consequence of a variety of diseases and their treatments, such as depression or diabetes, or can even be an early warning sign of serious physical illness such as heart disease.

Thus, there is a need for an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on both medical and psychological techniques and insights.

Thus, urologist Dirk Rosing and coauthors present an overview of current thinking and practice in the area of male sexual dysfunction.

They used research on prostate cancer to highlight the "syndiastic" therapy.

Questionnaire surveys to men with prostate cancer show that while the importance of the genital aspects of sexuality decreased in importance following radical surgery, the relationship and physical intimacy remained as important as before.

"Syndiastic" sex therapy was introduced in Germany in 2004, and focussed for the first time explicitly on fundamental psychosocial needs, in a wider way, rather than purely on sexual function itself.

Coming from Aristotle`s dictionary, meaning a disposition to "live in pairs" or "belonging," this approach differs importantly from some other somatic or psychological treatments, which focus mainly on restoring sexual function.

Instead, it aims to broaden the understanding of sexuality, extend the range of physical experience, and improve overall satisfaction within the relationship.

The study has been published in Deutsches Arzteblatt International.

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Elderly people 'over-treated' for high blood pressure: Study

. Thursday, December 24, 2009
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The treatment for high blood pressure in elderly patients have been too aggressive that may do them more harm than good, says a new research.

After examining available data of blood pressure patients aged 80 and more in the UK, scientists at Cochrane Collaboration found that the octogenarians are being given too many drugs and in too large doses.

The guidelines in the UK and the US recommend that people over 80 should receive the same blood pressure treatment as people of any other age. This means using combinations of drugs to reach a target blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg.

But Dr James Wright, head of the Cochrane research group, said: "Clinicians should change what they are presently doing and move towards a more conservative approach for the over 80s. I have done so with my patients."

His review of existing studies, including data from two new trials which looked specifically at the effect of blood pressure drugs in this age group, found little evidence that aggressive treatment saves more lives, the BBC reported.

Although fewer patients died of strokes, the total number of deaths from all causes was unchanged.

Based on the findings, Wright suggested a target blood pressure of 150/80 mmHg is more sensible, and said doctors should not be worried if only half of their most elderly patients achieve it.

The only trial that found a significant reduction in overall mortality was the most conservative in terms of number of drugs and dose of drugs allowed.

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Teenage sex ruins career prospects

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Boys and girls who lose their virginity before the age of 16 start thinking of themselves as adults and prefer to go to work than spend three years at college, finds a new study.

The six-year study of more than 5,000 pupils aged 14 to 18, by academics at the University of Glasgow, found that even after allowing for pregnancy, class and social background, there were still more school dropouts among those who lost their virginity earlier.

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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Indian surgeons, Oz aid give Iraqi boy new life

. Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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Undertaking a rare and complicated brain surgery, doctors at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi have saved the life of a 14-year-old Iraqi student. The expensive surgery was funded by Iraqi Christians in Australia, doctors said here Tuesday.

"It was a very complicated operation. The planning and execution of the surgery was very, very complex and we had not handled such a case till this boy came in," Pranav Kumar, a leading neurosurgeon at the hospital, told.

Ahmed Hashmi from Iraq was brought to Apollo hospital with a large aneurysm in one of four main arteries in the brain. He had already suffered a stroke, resulting in slurred speech and weakness of right side of his body.

"To stop any further risk, the diseased artery had to be blocked immediately. However, the preliminary tests revealed that the brain could not have tolerated closure of this abnormal artery," Pranav Kumar added.

Shahin Nooreyezdan, a member of the team of doctors who treated Ahmed, said: "Though brain is a very small part of the body, it needs at least 20 percent of the total blood supply. But this problem was obstructing blood flow to his brain. The aneurysm was like a ticking time-bomb, capable of bursting anytime and causing massive brain haemorrhage."

"Had it been left untreated, Ahmed's life span would have been very short," added Hash Rastogi, another senior doctor at Apollo.

The surgery was carried out in two steps - on Dec 4 and Dec 11. The entire expenses of the surgery -Rs.1.4 million - were met by Iraqi Christians based in Australia.

"In stage one of the treatment, a delicate bypass surgery was carried out on his brain successfully. In this operation, a small artery from his face was connected to one of the fine arteries in the brain. This resumed blood supply to brain," Nooreyezdan said.

"A week later, we successfully blocked the abnormal artery. "The treatment has defused the time bomb, which Ahmed was carrying in his brain," Rastogi added.

Wearing a green hospital dress, holding a gift pack and a chocolate, Ahmed was happy. "I have suffered a lot and thank God I am out of it now. I thank all my doctors for giving me a new"He is out of danger. But, he needs to take care against any head injury in future," he said.

Ahmed, whose father is dead, belongs to a poor family. After he was diagnosed with the disease and Iraqi doctors were not in a condition to cure him, his sister contacted a foundation in Australia on the internet and requested help.

"This is how Ahmed got the funding and now you can see him smiling," said Walid M. Albakili, another doctor and research fellow in charge of Gulf and Arab region. life."

"I have already missed my school for six months and am eager to get back soon," said the 14-year-old who wishes to see Taj Mahal before leaving Delhi for his homeland.

Pranav Kumar said that the boy is now almost fit and in two weeks he will be ready to leave for Iraq.

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Men prefer less leggy girls

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Women had got it all wrong all this while – a new study says men prefer girls a little less leggy.

In the search to find the most attractive legs, UK researchers asked more than 1000 men and women to rate a series of images of female bodies, reports The Courier Mail.

In each image the legs had been made shorter or longer, to alter the leg-to-body ratio, but the overall height remained the same.

The men interviewed were asked which pictures they liked the most while the women were asked to predict the men's thoughts.

While most women surveyed thought men lusted after longer legs, the University of Westminster research found men preferred women of average height - where their legs accounted for half of their overall height.

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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Men`s guide on how to spot single women!

. Tuesday, December 22, 2009
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Wondering how to discover if the women you are interested in is single? A news channel has come up with several hints.

- She`s full of eye contact

If her eye contact is darting all over the room as if looking for potential mates, you may be able to approach her because usually people who are already in a relationship don`t bother to look around much.

- She`s making eye contact with you and smiling

Eye contact is usually one of the first signs of interest, and if she`s making intense eye contact with you from across the bar, then chances are she wants you to head on over and give her a try.

- She`s talking to every guy in the bar

If you see her talking to many guys from a distance, it may mean that she`s open to conversation.

- She looks at other couples with sadness

If you`re observing her from afar and you notice her looking at other couples, she could be longing for the days when she was once also attached.

- Her body language says it all

Body language says a lot about a person. If she`s not single, then chances are she won`t be twirling her hair and touching other men ever so casually. Try to observe what her body language is saying:

- Arms crossed, standing back: "Get away or I`ll kick my heel in your face."

Touches your arm or leg subtly, or her own arm (she wants you to touch her): "Let`s keep talking."

- She`s a chatterbox

If you start talking to a woman you work with, for example, and in one conversation she tells you that she has a dog named Max, does a lot of cooking, goes to the gym every week, and takes art lessons, chances are she doesn`t have a man to come home to.

- Out with the girls... again

Single women tend to go out and have fun with their girlfriends. If you see the same girl out with her friends more than once at the same bar, within a short period of time, chances are she`s solo.

- She dances with other men

If the two of you frequent the same club and she`s often seen dancing with different men (but you know she came with the same group of female friends she always comes with), it`s likely that she`s dancing to her own tune, unless her and her boyfriend have a very "open" relationship.

- She`s overly friendly

Generally women who are not single tend to be less friendly with other men. If you notice that a woman is very sweet and friendly with most men she encounters, it`s possible that she`s single.

- Spot a Single Woman With Stealth

You can always find out whether a woman is single by approaching her and asking for her number; she may say she already has a boyfriend, and whether or not that`s true is a toss up - but it`s always worth a try.

Although it`s difficult to directly approach a woman, you can use the aforementioned hints as clues to her status.

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Why limb bones weaken with age?

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In a development that could help treat bone fragility or osteoporosis, scientists in the UK found the reason why our skull remains tough as compared to the bones in our arms and legs as we age.

Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, have uncovered fundamental differences between the bone which makes up the skull and the bones in our limbs, which they believe could hold the key to tackling bone weakness and fractures.

Lead author, Dr Simon Rawlinson explained: "This research is exciting because it tells us why our skulls remain so tough as we age compared to the bones in our arms and legs".

"Now we understand this phenomenon better, we also understand osteoporosis better. And this has opened up many new lines of research into how the disease could be treated or even prevented," Rawlinson said.

People who develop osteoporosis have fragile bones which are prone to breaking. The condition becomes more common as we age, especially in post-menopausal women when levels of estrogen fall dramatically. In the over 50s it affects half of all women and a fifth of all men.

It is well known that bones in the arms and legs become weak and vulnerable to breaks when they are not maintained by weight bearing exercise, however skull bone that bears almost no weight remains particularly resistant to breaking but the new research, published in journal Plos One, offers an explanation for this phenomenon for the first time.

The researchers say that their new understanding of the differences between the two types of bone could lead to new ways to treat or prevent osteoporosis.

The team wanted to understand why the skull bones are resistant to bone thinning as they age, even in post-menopausal women and to investigate this, they looked in detail at rat bone cells from the skull and compared them with cells from limb bone.

They found differences between the appearance of the cells and how they behaved in the lab and also noticed that treating the cells with estrogen had a far greater effect on the cells from the limb bone.

Because the differences are so profound, they believed that they were set very early on in life -- probably when the bones are still forming in the womb.

The researchers also made a detailed genetic study of the two types of bone cell. They looked at which genes were active in the two types of cell and found a startling level of difference between the two.

They found a total of 1236 -- around four percent of the genome -- were showing different levels of activity in the two types of bone cell.

Among these they found a number of genes which are known to be involved in the process of forming healthy bones.

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Monday, December 21, 2009

German scientists implant chip, enabling blind man to see

. Monday, December 21, 2009
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German doctors have implanted a special microchip in the retina of a blind Finnish man, enabling him to see, the news magazine Der Spiegel reported on Saturday on its website.

The 1,500-pixel sensor chip can mimic the electrical signals sent by a healthy eye through the nervous system to the brain.

The patient, 45, who was identified only by his first name, Miika, was able to orient himself by sight and read letters of the alphabet, according to the magazine.

The device, developed by the German company Retina Implant, was inserted at the University of Tuebingen medical school.

But under university science ethics rules, the experimental device had to be removed several weeks later.

"Miika showed that with an aid we can give people enough sight that they are no longer legally blind," Eberhart Zrenner, head of the team, was quoted saying. The implant fitted into the retina in a four-hour operation was just three millimetres across.

Zrenner said he would give about two dozen blind people the power of sight next year. Retina Implant's website said electrical power for the chip will be supplied wirelessly by high-frequency radiation.

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A sweet way to keep the wrinkles away

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Two of the world`s biggest confectionery and cosmetics giants have joined hands to develop a sugar-coated tablet that they say can dramatically slow down ageing of the skin.
The anti-wrinkle sweetie, developed by Nestle and L`Oreal, the world`s biggest cosmetics company, uses a compound found in tomatoes to promote the regeneration of new skin cells and protect old ones from damage, The Sunday Times reported.

Called Inneov Fermete, the product of nutritional and dermatological science - a cosmeceutical - is already available in parts of Europe and South America.

Patricia Manissier, head of research and development at Inneov, a L`Oreal/Nestle joint venture, said: "We have done a lot of research which shows this product works and now we`re looking for ways of improving it.

"We know that good nutrition can prevent the skin from ageing and that there are clear links between certain nutrients and skin health."

The pill is based on lycopene, the red carotene pigment found in tomatoes, combining with a form of vitamin C and isoflavone chemicals extracted from soya bean.

The paper said one drawback is the cost - the new drug will cost about £25 for a 10-day supply. In addition, manufacturers say women may not notice a difference for three months.

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Saturday, December 19, 2009

Is your child watching po-rn?

. Saturday, December 19, 2009
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ChildrenSex was a hot online search topic for children in 2009, according to findings released by Internet security specialty firm Norton.

While the top three search terms for Internet users under the age of 18 were YouTube, Google, and Facebook, the words "porn" and "sex" took the next two positions, based on data from Symantec-owned Norton.

"These terms should raise a red flag to parents if they haven't had 'The Talk' with their children about content that may not be appropriate for kids," Symantec said in a release.

Boys' top 25 searches centered on social networking, games, shopping, and "adult terms," according to Norton. Girls were also interested in online social networking websites, but their top 25 searches leaned more toward music, movies, celebrities, and television shows.

The findings were derived from 14.6 million searches conducted between February 2 and December 4 by users of a free OnlineFamily.Norton service that parents can use to filter or monitor their children's Internet use.

"When it comes to online threats, parents need to be concerned about more than just their child running into inappropriate content," said Norton Internet safety advocate Marian Merritt.

"What makes OnlineFamily.Norton unique is that it gives parents insight into kids' online activities and what interests them most so that parents can ensure they have a discussion with them about topics they're curious about, as well as protect them from cyberthreats."

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Friday, December 18, 2009

Christmas: How to avoid over-eating

. Friday, December 18, 2009
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.Is that last crumb of chocolate cake too tempting? Are cookies a must-have even after you have had a sumptuous Christmas lunch? Do you always get up groaning from the dinner table, asking around for digestive pill and living the rest of the year under a sense of guilt of having not done enough to get that ‘perfect figure’?

You have a little gastronomic problem here, dear friend, and some tips can help you enjoy your festival meals better without a worry on your mind:

1. Eat a decent breakfast: Don’t starve yourself for the big meal, it’s a bad idea for your system. Nutritionists suggest you must always take small meals, so that the body has enough time and energy to break it all down. It’s best to have a base, moreover, on which you can build the rest of the meal!

2. Drink: Drink water before a meal. One or two glasses. You could also go for the appetiser soup.

3. Watch your plate: Fight temptation, that’s what Jesus did. You can always go for the second serving and no, it is not impolite. What is outright uncivilised is making a mountain of cakes, tarts, cookies, turkey, chicken breasts…

4. Refuse second helping: You read that right. Once you had your plate, don’t just agree to the gracious host offering you a second serving. It’s not impolite, but surely less sophisticated!

5. Go for carbs: Face it, carbohydrates are filling. Just a little bit of cheese and crackers or cereal with low-fat yogurt won’t harm you and will prevent you from eating more than you can manage.

6. Salad spree: Veggies are good- for your body and for your hunger. However, don’t fill up with cheesy salads: go for carrot or celery sticks, salads and fruits first.

7. Keep friends around: Festivals are time to bond, not hog! Keep good company that keeps your attention away from pastries and on to some sizzler of a topic.

8. Eat slowly: Chew slooooowly. Remember mom breathing down this mantra down your food filled throats. It’s true that if you chew the food properly and slowly, you tend to digest the food properly. And of course you get to savour every bite.

9. Imagine getting fat: Keep the image that you fear for yourself in your mind’s eye even as you eye the next morsel. It will stop you from over-eating ASAP.

10. Exercise: It’s tough to exercise when you are rustling up new ways to welcome guests. But do take a break of 20 minutes everyday to keep this festival fat-free. It will tone your body, make you eat at the right time and you need not dread having another love-handle at every treat.

11. Plan: Yes, even if you want to not over-eat, plan in advance. If you don’t plan when you will bring in the Santa in the party or prepare the kebabs as drinks catch on, you will not be left with much time to have a meal. End result: you will fast initially but eat double in whatever few minutes you are able to squeeze out for yourself.

12. Be happy: Remember it is ‘merry’ Christmas. Don’t get upset if the champagne isn’t there, you can always have some soda on ice with juice and lemon shots. If you are someone who eats more when they are upset, then festive season is the time for you to be alert for mood swings.

13. Favourite dish can be cooked anytime: Don’t succumb to the pressure that you won’t get cranberry sauce or rum balls again at any other time in the year. Remembering that most of all the dishes on table are available on other days will help you relax.

14. Forgive but don’t forget: Don’t go on a guilt trip if you still end up having more. It is okay, it is Christmas after all. Forgive yourself. But don’t forget the cramps and belching so that you can avoid over-eating in the next holiday.



Don’t binge on drinks

Do you see tipsy trees after a hearty session of laughs and liquor? Holidays are a season when booze flows freely and friends encourage for ‘one more round’ even after having had enough pegs. Drinking like a fish is a more serious problem, as it puts your life in danger immediate and long-term. Here are a few tips on how to walk out straight from a good party.

1. Know your limit and follow it: Most regular drinkers know how much they can hold. Even if it is holiday season, it doesn’t give you the freedom to overdo it and land in trouble.

2. Eat before drink: Having some solids down there before drinking helps prevent blood absorb alcohol quickly. So go for some sweet & sour meatballs or kebabs, cheese bits or grills. Lip smacking, too.

3. Drink milk: Don’t twist your nose like that. Milk is really healthy. But that’s not the reason we advise you to have it before a session of drinks. Milk forms a protective lining on the stomach and prevents easy absorption of alcohol.

4. Drink water: Avoid pure alcohol shots. Mix soda and water to your drink- will give it volume as well. Keep aspirin and water handy.

5. Go light: For one evening, forget serious drinks. Go for variants of Vodka and Gin instead of heavy brandy and rum. Avoid too much of Red wine- it produces worst chemicals leading to hangovers.

6. Avoid smoking: Don’t mix smoking with drinking. It constricts your lungs. Take breaks between drinking and don’t indulge in smoking during the break.

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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Marriage cuts down risk of depression

. Thursday, December 17, 2009
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.Getting married is good for the well being of both men and women, cutting down risks of depression, anxiety and substance abuse, says a new study.

The study was based on a survey of 34,493 people from 15 countries.

Conversely, ending marriage through separation, divorce or being widowed, is associated with much higher risks of mental disorders in both genders; particularly substance abuse for women and depression for men.

The wide-ranging study, led by clinical psychologist Kate Scott from the University of Otago in New Zealand is based on the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys across developing and developed countries in the past decade.

"There have been a number of international studies about the impact of marriage on the mental health of men and women and this is quite a controversial area because of the gender politics involved," says Scott.

"But what makes this investigation unique and more robust is the sample is so large and across so many countries and the fact that we have data not only on depression, which has been much studied in the past, but also on anxiety and substance use disorders," she says.

"In addition we were able to look at what happens to mental health in marriage, both in comparison with never getting married, and with ending marriage."

"One of the more important findings is that in recent years it has been asserted that marriage is better for men than for women in terms of mental health. This study does not agree with that position," Scott says.

"We found that compared to never getting married, getting married is good for both men and women in terms of most mental health disorders."

This study was recently published in Psychological Medicine.

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Social service can improve brain functions

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A new study has found that participating in social service activities can significantly improve brain functions of older adults.

The research team from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health showed that volunteer service, such as tutoring children, can help older adults delay or reverse declining brain function and enhance their quality of life.

They found that seniors participating in a youth mentoring program called Experience Corps- designed to both benefit children and older adults’ health- made gains in key brain regions that support cognitive abilities important to planning and organizing one’s daily life.

"We found that participating in Experience Corps resulted in improvements in cognitive functioning and this was associated with significant changes in brain activation patterns,” said lead investigator Michelle C. Carlson, PhD, associate professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of Mental Health and Center on Aging and Health.

“Essentially the intervention improved brain and cognitive function in these older adults," she added.

During the study, researchers followed 17 women aged 65 and older. Half participated in existing Experience Corps programs in Baltimore schools, while the other half were wait-listed to enroll in Experience Corps the following year.

“While the results of this study are preliminary, they hold promise for enhancing and maintaining brain reserve in later life, particularly among sedentary individuals who may benefit most urgently from behavioural interventions like Experience Corps,” said Carlson.

“This study suggests that new kinds of roles for older adults in our aging society can be designed as win-win-for addressing important societal needs, such as our children’s success, and simultaneously the health and well-being of the older volunteers themselves,” said senior author Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH, dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Woman craves sex 24/7 after car crash

. Wednesday, December 16, 2009
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The accident damaged a nerve in her pelvis which controls desire, leaving it permanently switched on

A mother has told how her life has become "unbearable" after a car crash injury left her with a medical condition giving her an insatiable libido.

Joleen Baughman (39) was hurt in a collision two years ago, which damaged a nerve in her pelvis which controls desire, leaving it permanently switched on.

She now becomes sexually aroused by the slightest movement while sitting, bending over, or even simply walking across a room.

The mother-of-two from New Mexico, USA, said, "It's unbearable. Just my clothes rubbing against me gets me so aroused I can hardly think straight. It's very embarrassing and it's impossible to concentrate."

Baughman has been diagnosed with a rare condition called Restless Genital Syndrome, or Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome.

In the accident in April 2007, Joleen was in a pickup truck with her husband Brian (39), a plumber, when a man high on drugs crashed into them head on.

The ophthalmologist, who had just recovered from brain surgery, suffered severe injuries including a broken spine, and was in hospital for several weeks. Six months later, she began suffering the unexpected side effect.

"I started getting these intense sexual urges. They would come out of nowhere and completely engulf me.

It would last for most of the day. I was really shocked because normally I have practically no sex drive at all," she saidInitially she and her husband of 20 years were pleased about her new-found sex drive.

She added, "Brian was ecstatic. He was like, 'Wow for once in our marriage, she is the one who wants all the sex'."

But she soon discovered that having sex could not cure her urges and that it started becoming painful.

"We would have sex once and I would feel no release at all," she said. "So we would go again and then it would start really hurting but I would still want sex, even more than before.

If my husband managed to go for a third time it would be agony, but I would still feel no release."

Not Psychological

She sought medical help and was told that her condition was triggered by damage to her pudendal nerve, a nerve in the pelvis, close to the genitalia.

"I was very relieved to find out my condition was not psychological," she said. "For a while I thought I was going crazy or that it was somehow my fault.

"I think a lot of people go through those thoughts with this condition. Being aroused pretty much 24 hours a day is exhausting."

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Website to trace missing people

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It is a small start to trace people who have gone missing.

The state government plans to design a website with details of missing people. It will have their photographs and will be accessible to all police stations, state Home Minister R.R. Patil said in the state legislative council on Tuesday.

Responding to a calling attention motion raised by the Shiv Sena’s Kiran Pawaskar, Patil said it would be helpful to police stations, particularly the railway and bus stand police outposts to get information to trace missing people.

Patil admitted that the number of missing children in the state, particularly in Mumbai, had risen sharply. There are around 3,800 to 4,000 children reported missing from Mumbai every year. Of them, on an average at least 300 children are never found.

The state government will launch a special drive across the state, particularly in Mumbai, to detect cases in which children are employed, forced into begging or used for other purposes.

Earlier, the Mumbai police had launched such a drive that helped the state to discourage exploitation of children.
More than 13,000 children were freed from the clutches of employers during the drive.

The proposed drive will be undertaken with the help of non-government organisations.

Patil said the government has already set up a special cell in the state police department to trace missing people and to detect cases of child labour.

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Casual sex doesn't cause psychological damage

. Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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Casual sex does not cause emotional or psychological damage in young people, says a new study.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that young adults engaging in casual sexual encounters do not appear to be at increased risk for harmful psychological outcomes as compared to sexually active young adults in more committed relationships.

While this study focused on the psychological impact, researchers warned that the physical risks of casual sex should not be overlooked.

Study author Marla E. Eisenberg and colleagues used data from Project Eating Among Teens (EAT), an ongoing study that assessed a diverse sample of 1,311 sexually active young adults.

From 2003-2004, 574 males and 737 females in Minnesota with a mean age of 20.5 were surveyed regarding sexual behaviours and emotional well-being.

Of the sexually active respondents, 55 percent reported that their last sexual partner was an exclusive dating partner followed by 25 percent whose most recent partner was a fiancรƒ©e, spouse, or life partner.

Much lower percentages reported that their last sexual partner was a close but not exclusive partner (12 percent) or a casual acquaintance (8 percent). Over twice as many males as females reported that their last partner was casual.

Although there has been speculation in public discourse that sexual encounters outside a committed romantic relationship may be emotionally damaging for young people, this study found no differences in the psychological well being of young adults who had a casual sexual partner verses a more committed partner.

"While the findings from this study show that young adults engaging in casual sexual encounters do not appear to be at increased risk for harmful psychological outcomes compared to those in more committed relationships, this should not minimize the legitimate threats to physical well-being associated with casual sexual relationships, and the need for such messages in sexuality education programs and other interventions with young adults," Eisenberg said.

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More alcohol ups risk of breast cancer recurrence

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Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption may trigger increased risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Post-menopausal or overweight women may be most susceptible to the effects of alcohol on recurrence, said the study conducted by Marilyn L Kwan, Kaiser Permanente research scientist.

"Women previously diagnosed with breast cancer should consider limiting their consumption of alcohol to less than three drinks per week...," says Kwan.

Kwan and colleagues examined the effects of alcohol on cancer recurrence and mortality in the Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) Study.

LACE is a prospective study of 1,897 early-stage breast cancer survivors diagnosed with early-stage invasive breast cancer between 1997 and 2000.

The researchers recruited participants from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Cancer Registry. Information on wine, beer and liquor consumption was documented via questionnaires.

Each year, participants also filled out information on health outcomes, including recurrence of breast cancer, which was then verified by their medical records.

After eight years of follow-up, Kwan and colleagues found 349 breast cancer recurrences and 332 deaths.

Among drinkers (50 percent of participants), wine was the most popular choice of alcohol (90 percent), followed by liquor (43 percent) then beer (36 percent). Increased risk of cancer recurrence was most predominant among those who consumed two or more glasses of wine per day.

The increased risk of recurrence appeared to be greater among participants who were postmenopausal and overweight or obese, and was present regardless of type of alcohol, says a Kaiser Permanente release.

These findings were presented at the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held from December 9-13

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People who look young `live longer`

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Are you a baby face? Well, then chances are high that you will live to a ripe old age, says a new study.
Researchers, led by Professor Kaare Christensen of the University of Southern Denmark, have carried out the study and found that people who look young for their age are likely to enjoy a longer life.

For the study, the researchers tested the belief that a person`s perceived age gives a general indication of his health.

They looked at twins to see whether perceived age -- basically how old others think you are -- is linked with survival, as well as important age-related traits such as physical functioning and brainpower.

The researchers also examined evidence relating to chromosomes and DNA and their effect on longevity. But in the end, it seems, the best method of research was simply a long hard look in the mirror, a news daily reported.

"It`s probably easy to explain because people who`ve had a tougher life are more likely to die early -- and their life is reflected in their face," Professor Christensen was quoted as saying.

In fact, the research started back in spring 2001, when 1,826 Danish twins aged 70 years and over underwent physical and cognitive tests and had their faces photographed.

Three groups of assessors rated the perceived age of the twins from the photographs.

The assessors did not know the age range of the twins, and each twin of a pair had their age assessed on different days. Death records were then used to track the survival of the twins over a seven-year period.

Perceived age was significantly associated with survival, even after adjusting for chronological age, sex, and the environment in which each pair of twins grew up. And, the bigger the difference in perceived age within a twin pair, the more likely it was that the olderlooking twin died first.

The researchers also investigated whether longevity was linked to the length of telomeres, which are tiny `caps` on the ends of chromosomes that protect the strands of DNA from inflammation and other ageing processes.

Longer telomeres are a sign of being biologically younger and also of being healthier, but they dismissed the telomere tests as complicated.

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Monday, December 14, 2009

Online sex service booming in Malaysia

. Monday, December 14, 2009
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Sex services are said to be on a staggering rise in Malaysia with operators setting up more websites to advocate their businesses.
The websites reportedly hold information and pictures of around 1,000 sex workers from Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia, between the age bracket of 17 and 35.

According to Guang Ming Daily, all transactions, usually between RM180 and RM2,400 for a maximum of six hours, were made online, reports a news daily.

An additional "overnight" price was charged beyond six hours while the company of underaged girls and Caucasians sex workers was apparently available on special request with a higher price.

Penang Timur Laut OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid revealed several prostitution websites had been identified that were considered to be the work of local vice syndicates.

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New genes for lung disease discovered

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An international team of scientists have discovered five genetic variants that are associated with the health of the human lung.

The research by an international consortium of 96 scientists from 63 centres in Europe and Australia sheds new light on the molecular basis of lung diseases.

The new findings provide hope for better treatment of lung diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. In the past, it has been difficult to develop new treatments because the molecular pathways that affect the health of the lung were not completely understood.

It is hoped the new pathways discovered could in the future be targeted by drugs.

The ground-breaking research involved a genetic study of 2.5 million sites across the human genome involving samples from 20,000 people across the world. The consortium was led by Dr Martin Tobin from the University of Leicester and Professor Ian Hall from The University of Nottingham.

The research published in Nature Genetics represents a significant advance because it is for the first time that these five common genetic variations have been definitely linked with lung function.

The scientists said, "This work is important because until now we have known very little about the genetic factors that determine an individual's lung function.

By identifying the genes important in determining lung function, we can start to unravel the underlying mechanisms which control both lung development and lung damage. This will lead to a better understanding of diseases such as COPD and asthma. Crucially, it could open up new opportunities to manage and treat patients with lung conditions".

The authors added, "A large reduction in lung function occurs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects around 1 in 10 adults above the age of 40 and is thought to be the fourth most common cause of death worldwide.

Smoking is the major risk factor for development of COPD. Lung function and COPD cluster within families, indicating that variations in genes also predispose individuals to reduced lung function.

The scientists of the SpiroMeta consortium compared genetic variants at each of 2.5 million sites across the human genome in over 20,000 individuals of European ancestry with their lung function measures.

In five different locations in the human genome, genetic variants resulted in alterations in lung function.

The scientists showed that these were real findings by checking the effects of the same variants in over 33,000 additional individuals. They also compared their results to those of a second consortium, CHARGE, which has published a paper in the same issue of the journal.

The scientists emphasise that they do not expect these findings to lead to immediately to genetic tests to predict who will develop lung disease.

What is more important, they say, is that the findings will help understand the underlying causes of lung diseases and thus may indicate new ways of treating the condition.

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Sunday, December 13, 2009

Italy to ban breast enlargement for girls under 18

. Sunday, December 13, 2009
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With a number of operations going wrong, Italy is to soon ban breast enlargement or other plastic surgery for girls under the age of 18, officials said.

According to the latest figures, more than 10,000 teenage girls had surgery in 2008 -- with many of them getting the operation as a gift from their parents. Now the government would introduce a legislation which will make it illegal for females under 18 to have plastic surgery.

In fact, the authorities want to clamp down on the growing number of cases where unauthorised and authorized surgeons have caused problems with botched operations or sub- standard silicon implants.

Francesca Martini, an undersecretary within Italy's welfare ministry, said that the government wanted an official
register of surgeons qualified to perform plastic surgery drawn up.

"This legislation is primarily aimed at the growing number of girls under 18 who have breast enhancement surgery
purely for fashion reasons and have no idea of risks involved.

"Far too many adolescent girls are unaware of the fact that there are risks with this type of surgery and it should
not be used purely for fashion and looks. At the moment we've a Wild West, cowboy style system of plastic surgery for young women and this must stop," she told The Daily Telegraph.

Francesco D'Andrea, of the Italian Society of Plastic Surgeons, welcomed the proposed move: "Banning under 18's from having the surgery is also a good idea because these girls are just too young to be operated on. Some surgeons have no idea what they are doing and create huge risks."

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Lingerie gets men’s pulses racing

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Women’s lingerie gets male shoppers’ pulses racing, a new study has revealed.

But, when it comes to women, it’s the sight of sparkly evening dresses or a glamorous pair of shoes that do the trick.

The study, which was conducted by Debenhams in a bid to establish in which department customers get the most enthusiastic, used monitor devices to track the heart rates of 1,000 shoppers, reports The Daily Express.

And the study of customers aged 20 to 40 revealed stark differences between what gets the pulses racing for the two sexes.

Lingerie topped the list of goods that boosted men’s heart rates, followed by high-tech TVs and sound systems.

Debenhams spokesman Ed Watson said: “It seems men enjoy buying something special for their loved ones.”

Said Watson: “Women appear to embark upon an emotional roller-coaster when they step into a shop, with heart rate peaks throughout the experience. The shopping climax comes late for men – it’s all about closing the deal at the till.”

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