Global patronage for mosquito trap seen

By GABRIEL S. MABUTAS

April 28, 2011, 3:13pm

MANILA, Philippines — A mosquito expert has expressed optimism that the government-developed Ovicidal Larvicidal mosquito Trap (OLTrap) will eventually draw patronage from the global community, saying its non-toxicity has made it the best mosquito killer developed so far all over the world.

Dr. Lilia Delas Llagas, one of the most prominent entomologists in the country, said the OLTrap – which has so far proven its acceptability to the World Health Organization (WHO), has great potentials of being adopted internationally as a major tool in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, considering its non-toxic nature.

“As far as I know, this is the first time that we do have an organic substance that can be used locally and globally for larvicidal and ovicidal mosquito killer. (Therefore) it has the greatest potential for local and international consumption,” she said.

Delas Llagas said other countries tried to develop mosquito traps to reduce its population, but ended up using synthetic substances.

“We are proud to say that the country’s very own is non-toxic,” she said.

Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo said the OLTrap has already proven its trapping and killing efficacy many times in both laboratory and field testing.

He said that based on their testing in certain areas before the partial rollout of the OLTrap, the technology, if properly applied, has the capacity to kill 80 percent of mosquitoes in an area, and stunt the remaining 20 percent.

Delas Llagas said that though the technology appears to have been developed and rendered in so short a time, it has gone through rigid testing, and was based on extensive studies.

“It is not a product of illusion, but one of hard work with proven efficacy of attracting and killing mosquitoes, and reducing their population,” he said.

Montejo said seven days from the installation of OLTrap in an area, reduction in mosquito populations could already be felt.

Two months after the start of OLTrap installations, he said, there would be a significant reduction in the population.

“The national rollout of the OL Mosquito trap is our immediate response to prevent and control the deadly dengue disease. The ovicidal and larvicidal mosquito trap is our low-cost yet effective device designed to reduce the population of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes by attracting and killing their eggs in a simple but effective science-based solution,” Montejo said

So far, the DoST and the Department of Health have already distributed the OLTraps to the high risk areas in Leyte and Cagayan Valley through their regional offices and the local government units concerned.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Eating less salt doesn't cut heart risks: study

May 4, 2011, 12:20pm

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who ate lots of salt were not more likely to get high blood pressure, and were less likely to die of heart disease than those with a low salt intake, in a new European study.

The findings "certainly do not support the current recommendation to lower salt intake in the general population," study author Dr. Jan Staessen, of the University of Leuven in Belgium, told Reuters Health.

Current salt guidelines, including those released by the U.S. government in January, are based on data from short-term studies of people who volunteered to be assigned to a low-salt or high-salt diet, Staessen said.

The U.S. guidelines recommend that Americans consume less than 2,300 milligrams of salt daily - 1,500 mg in certain people who are more at risk for high blood pressure or heart disease.

While previous trials suggested a blood pressure benefit with lower salt intake, research has yet to show whether that translates into better overall heart health in the wider population.

The researchers used data from two different studies, incorporating a total of about 3,700 Europeans who had their salt consumption measured through urine samples at the start of the studies. Staessen and his colleagues broke the participants up into three groups: those with highest and lowest salt intakes, and those with average intake.

None of the participants had heart disease at the outset, and two thirds had normal blood pressure. They were followed for an average of 8 years, during which researchers determined how many of them were diagnosed with heart disease, and in a smaller group, how many got high blood pressure.

The findings are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The chance of getting heart and blood vessel diseases did not differ in the three groups. However, participants with the lowest salt intake had the highest rate of death from heart disease during the follow up (4 percent), and people who ate the most salt had the lowest (less than 1 percent).

Across all three salt-intake groups, about one in four study participants who started out with normal blood pressure were diagnosed with high blood pressure during follow up.

The researchers did find that one measure of blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, increased as salt intake increased over time - but the change was very small, so it may not be important to health outcomes, Staessen said.

Reducing salt may still be a good idea for people who already have high blood pressure or who have had heart problems in the past, he added, but the study found no evidence that dietary salt causes those conditions to arise.

"It's clear that one should be very careful in advocating generalized reduction in sodium intake in the population at large," Staessen said. "There might be some benefits, but there might also be some adverse effects."

Dr. Hillel Cohen, an epidemiologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, told Reuters Health that when restaurants or food companies put less salt in their products, they may put in other potentially harmful products to make up for the lost taste, or as preservatives.

Consumers shouldn't change their salt-eating behavior based on the limited studies that have tried to determine the link between sodium and heart risks, added Cohen, who was not involved in the current research.

The authors caution that their analysis included only white Europeans, and so the results may not translate to people of other ethnicities.

SOURCE: bit.ly/hwxtTL JAMA, online May 3, 2011.

Is lauat the new, natural solution to falling hair?

By Marge C. Enriquez

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

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Thanks to a doctor-entrepreneur, Pinoys now have a homegrown shampoo that might just save their locks

BEFORE THE trend in organic personal care products, neurosurgeon-turned-entrepreneuer Rainier Villanueva had already formulated a shampoo that took on the Pinoy problem of hair fall.

Villanueva obtained his medical degree from the Far Eastern University and took up residency at the AFP Medical Center. While traveling in the west, he noted the growing concern for natural cosmetics as an alternative to synthetic-based products that posed possible health risks.

“I’m also a pharmacist. I wanted to work with herbs that have a cosmetic application. I went into the cosmetic industry because in times of crises, food and personal care products thrive,” he said.

Villanueva pointed out that 70 percent of the falling hair problems were due to the petrolatum-based ingredients in shampoos and hair conditioners. Sulfates or cleansing agents and chemical preservatives such as parabens are harsh and potentially toxic to the body. The hair and scalp conditions are aggravated by chemical treatments and stress.

Young people getting bald

“Before you reach 40, genetics should not influence the state of your hair. Young people are getting bald because of these external factors,” he said.

He observed that women in the Visayas and Mindanao would use lauat (Litsea glutinosae) bark and leaves to revitalize their hair. On the other hand, women from Luzon favored gugo (Entada phaseoloides) for their shampoo.

Villanueva combined lauat or Indian laurel and gugo into a hair-care product called Lauat HairTreatment Shampoo in 1988. The business started out as a backyard operation. Back then, it was easier to introduce organic products in such outlets as Mercury and SM. At the onset, he observed that Lauat was selling in the upmarket outlets of the drugstores. By word of mouth, people saw the effectivity of the product.

“Based on a study by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), gugo prevents falling hair because it stimulates micro circulation in the blood vessels. The more the blood flows in the scalp, the more nourishment it gets. Lawat contains essential fatty acids. It’s food for the scalp, and rejuvenates the hair follicles. The synergy of these two ingredients make Lauat shampoo effective,” said Villanueva.

Research also shows that the saponin, the chemical compound that gives the soapy lather in lawat, contains anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant elements. Saponin also protects the scalp from free radicals that block the skin cells’ ability to work properly.

In 2005, Villanueva organized a study to substantiate if the regular use of Lauat Hair Treatment Shampoo would control hair fall after frequent usage.

Conducted by Dr. Marielle Favorito, the study was conducted over a five-week period. At the start, the subjects’ fallen hair (what fell after combing using their own shampoos) was kept in ziplock bags. Every week the hair strands that fell after the shampoos were collected.

Five-week study

Every day they reported to the research center to be shampooed using Lauat. Of the 178 subjects who initially joined, 98 respondents completed the five-week tests. The subjects were largely female, between the ages of 10 and 84, most in the 13-29 age group.

In the first shampoo, the average number of hair strands collected was 28.5. Some reported losing only two strands, others as much as 282. The people over 60 reported as having more fallen hair. Men had more falling hair—an average of 45 strands. The female subjects, between the ages of 30 and 39, reported more hair loss.

After the first week of daily shampooing with Lauat, the average number of hair strands accumulated was 14, or a 48 percent decrease. After three weeks of daily use, there was a 73 percent drop. After 28 days, the hair strands gathered were down to 89 percent of initial hair fall.

Eventually, multinational brands came out with their own hair-fall shampoos and conditioners. “We can’t compete with the big companies in terms of advertising. We believe that if you have a good product, the customer will patronize it because it is true to its claims,” says Villanueva.

The doctor-businessman has just formed a company dedicated to the research on the effectivity of plants for cosmetic uses.

Trouble with chlorinated water

By EDUARDO GONZALES, MD

April 26, 2011, 10:30am

Q: We recently got connected to Maynilad. After many years of buying dirty water from delivery trucks, we finally have potable water coming out off our faucets. I know Maynilad water is potable, but does it not contain chlorine? I think I read somewhere that drinking chlorinated water carries some health risks? Is this true? --Enrico P., Las Pinas City

A: Yes, Maynilad chlorinates water as part of its process for making its water potable. Chlorine is perhaps the most commonly used disinfectant worldwide. At its usual concentration in drinking water (two to three parts per million), chlorine is very effective in killing most disease-causing or pathogenic microorganisms—bacteria, viruses and parasites including protozoa—except for a few hardy species (e.g., the protozoa cryptosporidium).

Up to now, most public health experts still say that chlorination of water intended for human consumption is the cheapest, most effective and safest way to prevent life-threatening waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever and amebiasis. Indeed, chlorination of drinking water, which started early this century, has been regarded as one of the greatest advances in public health ever.

Aside from destroying pathogens, chlorine has other benefits. It controls the growth of microorganisms, fungi and algae in water reservoirs and pipes, and in the process, it keeps water pipes patent. It likewise neutralizes the taste and odor of algae and decaying vegetation, making drinking water more palatable. It also eliminates obnoxious gases and compounds like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from water.

But you are right. Drinking chlorinated water carries some health risks. Chlorination of drinking water has been previously regarded as completely safe, but recent scientific evidence proves otherwise. For example, some epidemiologic studies have indicated that long-term (i.e., 15 years or more) drinking of chlorinated water increases the risk of developing cancer of the colon and urinary bladder.

Actually, it is not chlorine, per se, that is hazardous to health. Rather, it is the by-products that are generated by the chlorination process. Chlorination by-products, often referred to as disinfection by-products (DPBs), are chemical substances that are produced when chlorine reacts with certain organic substances in water during the disinfection process. There are several kinds of these chemicals but the most studied are the trihalomethanes of which the most prevalent is chloroform. Other common DPBs are bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane, bromoform, chloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid and dichloroacetonitrile.

In animal experiments that employ mostly rats and mice, chloroform has been shown to produce liver and kidney tumors; while the other DPBs have been variously associated with liver and kidney tumors and damage,  tumors of the intestines, damage to the nervous system and some reproductive abnormalities.

Incidentally, the animal experiments on DPBs used doses that are much higher than those present in drinking water. Also, the mechanism of tumor formation in mice and rats are considerably different from that in humans. Nevertheless, the potential health hazard arising from DPBs in humans can’t simply be written off.

Despite the apparent health hazards that accompany chlorination of drinking water however, to discontinue this practice would be foolhardy, at least until an equally effective and cheap, yet safer, alternative process has been developed.

At present, there are substances and devices available in the market that can remove DPBs or the organic substances that serve as precursor of DPBs from chlorinated drinking water. One of the cheapest among these is activated carbon which removes chloroform and other DPBs. Thus, if you filter your tap water with a device or filter that contains activated carbon, this will surely reduce your health risks from DPBs.

(Email inquiries on health matters to: medical_notes@yahoo.com)

Natural quick fixes for common problems

By Cory Quirino

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

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Out of medicines? Try these remedies for headaches, fungal infection and indigestion

PICTURE THIS scenario. You are in the middle of your vacation. Away from home, you are nowhere near your medicine cabinet. The emergency travel medical kit you brought along is empty. That’s because you shared it with your travel companions while failing to keep some for yourself. What do you do?

Here are some common everyday remedies to ease your discomfort.

Headaches

This could be caused by lack of sleep, menstrual problems, emotional and mental stress, indigestion, nutritional deficiency and food allergies or toxicity. Any condition of the nose/sinuses, ears, eyes, and teeth, as well as stroke, high blood pressure, and head injuries, could cause headaches.

As you can see, a headache is a symptom of many diseases. But let’s rule out one basic cause: dehydration.

1. Take 2 glasses of water right away. Chances are, you may just be dehydrated.

2. Maybe your sodium level is down. Try taking ¼ tsp of sea (rock) salt. Its natural sodium and minerals can neutralize a headache. Melt on your tongue, and then follow with two glasses of clean water.

3. If you suspect it’s your sinusitis acting up again, get amedium syringe (minus the needle, of course). In a cup of lukewarm water, add a pinch of sea salt. Do a nasal flush by filling up the syringe with the saline solution, then gently push the liquid in one nostril and out the other. Repeat with the other nostril.

Salt is a disinfectant, and the solution will flush out any hidden toxins in your nasal passages. The result? Unclogged sinuses. In addition, protect your eyes from glaring lights, as your sensitivity is heightened when experiencing a sinusitis attack.

Drink:

•Celery tea—Grate a stalk of fresh celery, add to hot water, and strain. Celery is a relaxant.

•Peppermint tea—For headaches due to indigestion, take one cup.

•Ginger tea—Especially good for menstrual problems. Grate a portion of fresh ginger, mix with hot water, strain, and sip slowly.

Fungus

Any yeast or mold in your body will multiply when you drink too much wine or beer (yeast abounds in the wine-making process), wear tight underwear in very hot weather, overload with sugar, are highly stressed, eat too much mushrooms, or have a diet high in refined carbohydrates (like cakes, pastries, etc.).

A fungal infection is a sign that your immune system is not functioning at its best.

What to do:

1. Drink garlic capsules (two to three times daily) or add more garlic to your diet. If the fungal infection is on your skin, apply sliced garlic directly on the affected area, but only after you have applied a thin film of oil (olive, coconut, sesame, vegetable). Leave on for 5 minutes, then rinse.

2. Combine the infection fighters—onion, potato and cabbage. Mince a portion of these vegetables and make into a poultice. Add garlic if you wish. Wrap with a handkerchief and leave overnight. Don’t forget to add a little bit of oil on the skin.

3. If you have vaginitis, which can be caused by a fungal or bacterial infection or hormonal imbalance (due to menopause), mix ¼ tsp apple cider vinegar and two cups of warm water. With a needle-less syringe, gently lace the mixture into your vagina. This becomes a vaginal implant. Leave on for 20-30 minutes. You will experience relief almost instantly. The apple cider restores the natural acidic environment within and removes any toxins. Do this until the itching stops.

Indigestion

Gas, bloating and pain are all part of abdominal discomforts. You could be suffering from heartburn and indigestion due to stomach acids coming back up into the esophagus. The burning sensation in the chest may even travel to your neck and face.

1. Do not lie down. This will worsen the situation.

2. Eat nothing for two hours. Lessen your intake of anything oily and hard to digest, like meats and innards. If the problem persists and the pain continues, see a doctor immediately.

•Potato antacid—Blend one whole potato in a blender, and mix with ¼ cup of water. Drink slowly, or eat a large chunk of raw potato.

•Chamomile mint tea—This calms the stomach. Sip slowly and relax.

•Baking soda—Mix ¼ tsp in a cup of warm water. Sip slowly.

•Beauty mask: Mash half a ripe avocado. Add 2 tbsp milk and ¼ tsp honey. Apply to the face for a rich, moisturizing antibacterial mask. Leave on for 10 minutes. Whatever is left, you can eat as a nutrient-rich snack!

Affirm today: “My life is more victorious each day!”

Love and light!

The benefits of exercise

By Dr. Gary S. Sy

April 12, 2011, 10:20pm

MANILA, Philippines – People who exercise are stronger and have greater endurance than people who do not. Exercise has a lot of benefits. Research has shown that exercise protects against coronary heart disease. Part of this protection comes from improvement in the heart's pumping action; a person who is physically fit pumps more blood with each heartbeat and is able to sustain demanding physical exertion at a lower heart rate than someone who is out of shape.

Regular, moderate exercise improves your capacity for endurance, meaning you will be able to walk (or swim or bike) farther as you continue to work out. Exercise lowers the blood pressure - a clear benefit since high blood pressure is associated with both heart disease and stroke. Exercise also burns up fat, controls weight, lowers your harmful cholesterol level, and raises your good cholesterol level.

Research has also shown that people who are physically active are less susceptible to the type of diabetes that develops in adulthood (type II diabetes).

Anyone who has been confined to bed for more than a few days knows that his or her muscles and bones become weak. This occurs because the kidneys in large quantities excrete the minerals in the bones during long periods of immobility. Exercise, however, builds up the strength of bones by stimulating bone-building cells to create new bone.

Research has shown that an exercise at all ages improves bone strength. This is especially important for women after they reach menopause, when a lack of the hormone estrogen may lead to osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of the bone). Exercise will help build up the bones to help protect against fractures in the future. Finally, exercise makes people feel good. People who exercise regularly feel healthy and are less likely to become depressed.

Joints:

Joints that are exercised regularly stay flexible and healthy. Regular exercise will benefit the muscles that work the joints and the ligaments that support the joints. Brisk walking, and swimming are good exercises to help keep your joints moving smoothly.

Heart, lungs, and arteries:

Regular, moderate exercise will make your heart and lungs stronger and more resilient. Although exercise may not decrease the amount of fat deposits laid down in arteries, it may increase HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol), widen the arteries, and make complete blockage, such as that from a clot, less likely.

Muscles:

Because the muscles that move the legs are among the largest muscles in the body, activities that exercise your legs, such as brisk walking, bicycling, and aerobic dancing, is excellent ways to place healthy demands on your heart and lungs and help improve fitness.

Sports:

Gymnastics combines strength, endurance, and flexibility, resulting in high level of physical fitness. Other sports such as running require simply endurance.

Choosing a good exercise program:

The best exercise is exercise that you will enjoy and will do regularly. These recommendations are based on guidelines that apply to most people.

1. Exercise throughout the day for a total of 30 minutes, at least 5 days every week. You do not need to do the exercise in one session. Exercise moderately. If you begin to get dizzy or nauseated, or if you feel any pain, stop what you are doing. These are signs that you are overdoing it. Always do warm-up, stretching exercises before the main exercise session and cooling down, stretching exercise at the end.

2. Choose types of exercise that you enjoy and that you can fit into schedule. Consider brisk walking, bicycling, or swimming. Many people find that bicycling or brisk walking to and from work, or walking up stairs instead of taking the elevator, fits nicely into their everyday routines. The goal is to develop a habit of integrating physical activity into your life, so that you look forward to your chosen activity.

3. Do not attempt to get into shape too rapidly. Start slowly, exercising just hard enough to become aware that you feel mild strain, and increase your efforts gradually over the first 4 weeks. If you are out of condition, avoid vigorous exercise that can demand unhealthy sudden burst of strength and energy. Carefully choose your activities in terms of your capacity.

Before you exercise:

Healthy people of any age can generally increase their routine physical activity with very little risk. An increase in an activity you normally do such as walking, does not require a medical examination. If you belong to one of the following groups, however, it may be wise to call your physician for advice before you begin an exercise program:

* People over 50 years of age, or those over 40 who have had little or no exercise since early adulthood.

* Heavy smokers (those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day).

* People who are overweight.

* People under medical treatment or supervision for a long-term health problem such as high blood pressure, heart, lung, kidney disease or diabetes.

Warm-up:

It is important to warm up for at least 10 minutes immediately before exercising. Slowly stretching your muscles helps increase blood flow and can help prevent injury to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Try to stretch all the major muscle groups (your chest, abdomen, shoulders, arms, and legs) before starting your exercise. Begin your warm-up gradually, stretching slowly and carefully. Notice how your body feels, being careful not to overstretch. Never bounce or jerk your body while warming up. If your activity is walking, start slowly and gradually accelerate to your preferred pace. Work on some stretching after you have been walking for several minutes. Stretching will improve your flexibility. After exercising, be sure to cool down.

Cooling down:

Cooling down is just as important as warming up because it helps prevent muscle cramps and muscle injury, and it helps blood return to the heart. Always stop exercising slowly and gradually; never stop exercising suddenly. After a long run, for example, gradually slow down to a walk, continue walking for several minutes. Massaging your muscles after cooling down will help your blood circulate well.

When to stop exercising:

No matter how physically fit you are, or how long you may have been playing a particular sport, never ignore certain warning symptoms of over-exercise.

The following warning symptoms are potentially serious, and might mean you are having a heart attack or a medical emergency. If you injure yourself, stop what you are doing. Do not continue with the exercise. You won't "work through" the pain; you can make the damage worse. If you feel that the injury might be serious, do not take chances, consult your physician for advice.

Stop exercising right away if you have any of these symptoms:

* Chest pain or chest pressure.

* Pain in your neck, jaw or running down your left arm.

* Heart palpitations.

* Dizziness or light-headedness.

* Nausea.

* Blurred vision.

* Severe breathlessness.

* Feeling of faint or fainting.

Consult your physician immediately.

Source: Manila Bulletin