Zouk Surgical

Patients with one of the most common genetic defects called, hereditary hemochromatosis are at an increased risk of stroke, according to a study conducted by the researchers.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is an inherited disorder that causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. As a result, toxic levels in the liver go higher, increasing patient’s susceptibility to liver cancer, cirrhosis, etc.

During the course of study, researchers focused their attention on the two variants of hemochromatosis gene, namely H63D and C282Y and concluded that risk of stroke in patients with an extra copy of the H63D was almost double. Throwing more light on H63D gene Borge G. Nordestgaard, from Herlev University Hospital in Denmark said that previous studies have also linked H63D to brain diseases like alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson disease, cerebrovascular disease, etc.

However, researchers themselves are not very sure about the way this gene works; therefore, they are planning to move further with their study. As the following words of Nordestgaard reveal:

Further research is needed to determine why this gene appears to cause such a significant increased risk of stroke, since our data suggest plaque build-up in the arteries and iron overload are not to blame.

Image credit: Brown

Via: Eureka Alert

Angioplasty is normally considered a boon for patients with heart diseases. However, a new study by the American Cardiology Meeting in the United States has come out raising questions on its reliability, after it was found not saving lives from heart attacks.

Before reaching this conclusion, researches studied a group of almost 2,300 patients with stable heart disease. During this period, all patients were given drugs to lower cholesterol and blood pressure level in order to improve their cardiovascular health.

Finally, these researchers concluded that there were similar rates of deaths, heart attack, stroke and hospitalization among those treated with drugs and those getting an artery-clearing angioplasty. No doubt, patients with angioplasty had slightly better relief from chest pain but that was just temporary.

On the basis of these findings, researchers are believing that in patients with stable heart disease priority should be given to medication than angioplasty. Giving somewhat similar view Bill Boden, chief of cardiology at Buffalo General Hospital said:

The results demonstrate that two treatments are not always better than one.

Image credit: South Coast

Via: ABC

It’s commonly said that heart patients should not include fat in their diet. According to new research of American Heart Association, patients with heart trouble should adopt a mediterranean-style diet that should have “healthy” fats.

In a conference at an American College of Cardiology, doctors suggested that patient on
Low fat diet and Mediterranean –style diet can minimize the risk of suffering another heart attack, a stroke, death or other heart problem compared with heart patients eating in the usual way.
“Both diets are prudent choices” for people at high risk of heart disease, said Dr. Katherine Tuttle of Providence Medical Research Center and Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash. Patient should take saturated fat and cholesterol that should be less than 200 milligrams a day. The Mediterranean dieters were allowed to intake 40 percent of calories, with the extra coming from healthier monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and foods like olive oil, avocados and especially fish.
The fish is recommended three to five times per week because it has omega-3 fatty acids that is good for heart.
Research:
The study was done on 202 people who had suffered heart attacks in the previous six weeks. 50 were on low-fat diet and fifty one followed and 51 on the Mediterranean diet. Both group has receive individual diet counseling sessions n the first month and six group sessions over the next two years. All were prescribed standard heart care drugs like aspirin, beta blockers and statins to lower cholesterol.
Results (After four years):
• 83 percent of those on the low-fat or Mediterranean diets had survived without any further heart attack or stroke
• Cholesterol levels improved
Doctor Katherine Tuttle recommends using olive oil instead of margarine or butter.
Dr. Steven Nissen, a Cleveland Clinic heart specialist and president of the College of Cardiology who had no role in the study, said the study gave an important choice to people who want to reduce their risk.

Via

Don’t curb your feelings when next time you stumble upon a big bar of dark chocolate, eating a modest amount will do nothing but benefit your blood vessels.

A small clinical study showed that dark chocolate improves the function of blood vessels. Dr. Valentine Yanchou Njike of Yale Prevention Research Center, a co-investigator of the study says:

In this sample of healthy adults, dark chocolate ingestion over a short period of time was shown to significantly improve (blood vessel) function.

A study was done on 45 people over a period of six weeks in which they were given 8 ounces (227 grams) of cocoa without sugar, cocoa with sugar or a placebo each day.

In the test, the FMD(flow mediated dilation)- upper arm artery’s ability to relax and expand to accommodate increased blood flow, was measured before and after daily cocoa or placebo consumption, using a high-frequency ultrasound.

The result of the 39 subjects who completed the test showed an increase in the FDA, though a slight variation was recorded depending on the chocolate form they consumed. The ones who ate chocolate without sugar showed a 2.4% increase, those who had it with sugar gained 1.5% and the placebo group registered a 0.8% increase.

Though the researchers say that the findings are clear, yet they have called for higher studies on this issue. The findings of the research was presented at the annual American College of Cardiology scientific meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr Nikje said:

While the findings from this study do not suggest that people should start eating more chocolate as part of their daily routine, it does suggest that we pay more attention to how dark chocolate and other flavonoid-rich foods might offer cardiovascular benefits.

Source.

  Sheyla at the orphanage 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Cusco, Peru - Sheila Wolfson, coordinator / translator: Rosa Maria and I were very impressed with the bright, cheerful and clean social areas in the orphanage as well as the lovely dormitory rooms organized by age groups. These children, although separated from their “birth” families, truly had a family at the home.

  Jhon waiting for surgery 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Cusco, Peru - Sheila Wolfson, coordinator / translator:  Jhon, age 1½, was also there for a cleft palate repair, an optimal age for the surgery to be done since he would just be developing speech.