Aspirin is known to lower risk for some cancers, and a new study led by a UC San Francisco scientist points to a possible explanation, with the discovery that aspirin slows the accumulation of DNA mutations in abnormal cells in at least one pre-cancerous condition....


"Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are commonly available and cost-effective medications, may exert cancer-preventing effects by lowering mutation rates," said Carlo Maley, PhD, a member of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and an expert on how cancers evolve in the body over time.

In the study, published June 13 in the online journal PLOS Genetics, Maley, working with gastroenterologist and geneticist Brian Reid, MD, PhD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, analyzed biopsy samples from 13 patients with a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett's esophagus who were tracked for six to 19 years. In an "observational crossover" study design, some patients started out taking daily aspirin for several years, and then stopped, while others started taking aspirin for the first time during observation. The goal was to track the rate of mutations in tissues sampled at different times.

The researchers found that biopsies taken while patients were on an aspirin had on average accumulated new mutations about 10 times more slowly than biopsies obtained during years when patients were not taking aspirin.

"This is the first study to measure genome-wide mutation rates of a pre-malignant tissue within patients for more than a decade, and the first to evaluate how aspirin affects those rates," Maley said.

Gender and ethnic distribution of study patients reflected the known demographics of esophageal cancer, which predominantly affects, white, middle-aged and elderly men, he said. Barrett's esophagus only occasionally progresses to esophageal cancer.

Cancers are known to accumulate mutations over time much more rapidly than normal tissue, and different mutations arise in different groups of cells within the same tumor. The acquisition of key mutations ultimately allows tumor cells to grow out of control, and diversity within a tumor may foster drug resistance, a phenomenon that is a major focus of Maley's research.

Maley plans to test a hypothesis that may explain the results -- that aspirin's lowering of mutation rates is due to the drug's effect of reducing inflammation. Inflammation, a response of the immune system, in recent years has been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Maley said that less inflammation may result in less production within pre-cancerous tissue of oxidants known to damage DNA, and may dampen growth-stimulating signaling.

For the duration of the study, the rate of accumulation of mutations measured in the biopsied tissue between time points was slow, even when patients were not taking aspirin, with the exception of one patient. While mutations accumulated at a steady rate, the vast majority of mutations arose before the abnormal tissue was first detected in the clinic, the researchers concluded.

These findings are consistent with the fact that although Barrett's esophagus is a significant risk factor for esophageal cancer, the vast majority of cases do not progress to cancer, Maley said.

In the one patient who later went on to develop cancer, a population of cellular "clones" with a great number of mutations emerged shortly before he started taking aspirin.

More studies are needed to further explore the link between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, mutation rates and the development of invasive cancer, Maley said. He plans to continue studying Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer, and to expand his research to investigate lung cancer.

Rather than aiming to kill the most tumor cells, it may be better to try to halt or slow growth and mutation. Current drug treatments for cancer may in many cases hasten the emergence of cancer that is more difficult to eradicate, according to Maley. The capability to mutate frequently allows tumors to become resistant to drug treatment, he said. A better-adapted mutant can begin to spin off a population of genetic clones that survives and grows, while poorly adapted tumor cells die off.

Additional authors from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center include Xiaohong Li, PhD, Carissa Sanchez, PhD, Patricia Galipeau, PhD, Thomas Paulson, PhD, Patricia Blount, PhD, Thomas Vaughan, PhD, and Cassandra Sather, PhD. Amitabh Srivastava, MD, and Robert Odze, MD, from Harvard University; Rumen Kostadinov, PhD, from the University of Pennsylvania; and Mary Kuhner, PhD from the University of Washington also were members of the research team and authors of the study.
more on http://healthbutton.blogspot.com/2013/06/aspirin-may-fight-cancer-by-slowing-dna.html

During Interview With John Mikel Obi after The Match Against Uruguay, He said Scoring unbelivable Goal AGainst Uruguay lift his spirit Beyond His Expectation.....


He also commend his co-team mate for their Team spirit....He said that he wish to Score more goal For Nigeria and Chelsea
What do you think about Mikel Wonderful Goal??
Comment below......
more on http://soccer-zonez.blogspot.com/2013/06/record-mikel-score-his-best-goal-ever.html

 Four suspected members of a cult group and a security man at a private polytechnic in Ekiti State have been arrested for allegedly gang-molesting a student of the institution.....
The take advantage of victim (name withheld), who is an ND 1 student of the polytechnic, told PUNCH Metro at the Ekiti State Police Command headquarters in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday that the suspects stormed her room, tied her up and took turn to take advantage of her.

The four suspected rapists are Kunle Aralepo 20, Oluwaseun Akomolafe, 23, who are ND II students of Business Administration and Kehinde Adeyemi and Ayo Olomola, who are on the run.

The victims added that one of the boys had asked her out and she refused.

She also accused one of the security men in the polytechnic, Mr. Seyi Adanbioje, of molesting her the same day at his residence.

The victim said the Chief Security Officer of the school directed Adanbioje to take her to police station to make an official report of the take advantage of case.

She said after leaving the station, the security man took her to his residence and also forcefully had sex with her.

The security man, however, denied molesting the female student. He explained that he granted the girl an "asylum" because she said she could not sleep alone in her house.

He said, "She could not sleep alone because she was afraid that those who had earlier take advantage ofd her might come back again."

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, who paraded the suspects, said police investigation had shown that take advantage of cases had been rampant at the institution.

He said the police were still probing such cases of take advantage of and why they were not reported to the police.

Babayemi said the police would thoroughly investigate the fresh take advantage of incident and allow justice to take its course.

The PPRO said, "A group of four young men namely, Aralepo Kunle, Akomolafe Oluwaseun (both ND II Business Administration students), Kehinde Adeyemi and Ayo Olomola, aka AY Bishop, who was expelled from the school in March for take advantage of went to the house of a female student of the polytechnic, broke her door to gain entry, tied her hands and legs and gang-take advantage ofd her.

"They also robbed her of her phone and the sum of N5,000.00. A security guard at the polytechnic, Seyi Adanbioje, 28, was also found to be part of the gangsters. He was told to take the girl to the police station and make a report but he took a detour to his house, where he also take advantage ofd the victim."

He said medical report confirmed that the victim was take advantage ofd.

In a similar case, the police said the proprietor of a private primary school, Mr. Ibitoye Babatunde, who was arrested for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old pupil of his school, had a case to answer.

Ajibade, who denied the accusation, said a man who saw him while entering into a bush to defecate demanded money from him and he threatened to deal with him if he refused.

He said he refused and the hoodlum raised the alarm which attracted a crowd.

But the PPRO said the medical report confirmed that the girl's hymen had been broken.

The police also paraded two commercial motorcyclists (okada riders), who were accused of molesting a young lady.

The PPRO said the suspect – Babatope and Oluwasusi Tope- gave the girl a free ride and took her to another place where she was take advantage ofd.

In a related development, the police also said that a 17-year-old boy had been arrested for defiling a three-year-old girl.
source http://insideschoolz.blogspot.com/2013/06/cultists-security-guard-take-advantage.html

Nigeria, like most other third world tropical countries, still suffers from malaria. According to the United States Embassy's Nigeria Malaria Fact Sheet, "malaria is a risk for 97 per cent of Nigeria's population and the remaining 3 per cent of the population live in the malaria-free highlands."


It adds that there are an estimated 100 million malaria cases with over 300, 000 deaths per year. To combat malaria, preventive campaigns have usually revolved around killing the vector, infected female anopheles mosquitoes, or preventing its bites.

 Use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN), Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), clean surroundings, mosquito coils, insecticide sprays and so forth has been on the top list.

Although mosquito coils are mostly meant for mosquito repelling, a large number of people use them as general insect repellent. It is not uncommon to find then in homes, shops and restaurants and other indoor places.

Despite the fact that they are reportedly effectively in repelling flies and other insects, recent research has shown that smoke emitted from one mosquito repellent coil is equivalent to those of 100 cigarettes.

 In a Malaysian study published in the journal, Environmental Health
 Perspective, entitled: "Mosquito Coil Emissions and Health Implications," it was discovered that the damage done to the lungs by one mosquito coil is equivalent to the damage done by 100 cigarettes.

According to the researchers, the smoke that is emitted by these mosquito coils may contain pollutants that can be of serious health concern, posing "significant acute and chronic risks."

 In the study, it was discovered that significant amounts of volatile organic compounds in it, including carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals), were found in the smoke from mosquito coils.

"Burning one mosquito coil released the same amount of particulate matter as burning 75-137 cigarettes would emit.

The amount of formaldehyde (an irritating carcinogen that effects many processes inside body) emission from one mosquito coil was as high as that emitted when 51 cigarettes are burnt," the researchers said.
source http://healthbutton.blogspot.com/2013/06/smoke-from-one-mosquito-coil-equals-100.html

Milk is natures’ most complete food as it contains over 400 nutrients with endless possibilities. Milk is not high in calories when it’s low fat, so don’t remove milk totally from your diet, but choose low fat milk since it contains all the nutrients found in full cream milk except for the fat...

Even as an adult, you need to drink milk, bit it is important to know that not all milks are the same. Fortifying milk with vitamins and minerals is a very delicate process, and the quality and quantity of the added nutrients have a direct effect on health.
Stating these facts, President Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, recommends regular drinking of milk because of its richness in calcium and importance for the bones.
“Milk contains more than nine essential nutrients necessary for good health, strong bones, energy and a stronger immune system,” she noted.
She spoke on World Milk Day, at a forum by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, noting that the 2013 theme: “Do More with Milk” is a central idea to communicate milk as an essential nutritional beverage for a healthy life style.
Mnam argued the importance of enabling Nigerians exchange knowledge on the various ways milk can be used. Nigerians are already versatile with conventional ways of using milk, hence the awareness is focused on the goodness of milk and education on other possible milk usages and their corresponding nutritional benefits.
World Milk Day was created by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to reflect on all the goodness that milk represents and its economic importance for rural areas and the food chain as a whole.
more on http://healthbutton.blogspot.com/2013/06/health-why-milk-is-good-for-you.html

Both men and women crave chocolate, but far more women than men experience chocolate cravings. Why do women crave chocolate more than men? Chocolate cravings may be linked to low blood sugar, stress or changing hormonal levels prior to a woman's menstrual cycle.....

Chocolate and Blood Sugar Levels
The sugar and caffeine in chocolate raise your blood sugar levels. Dark chocolate is low on the glycemic index, so it can even help stabilize blood sugar levels safely. One reason why many women and men sometimes crave chocolate is because their blood sugar levels have fallen and chocolate provides a hit of sugar for quick energy. If you find yourself feeling moody, irritable, shaky and fatigued, especially between meals, then your chocolate cravings may be the result of low blood sugar levels.
Chocolate and Serotonin Levels
Eating chocolate makes you feel good, because it increases levels of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of well-being and enhanced mood. Many women experience lowered serotonin levels in the 7 to 10 days prior to their menstrual periods, which is one reason why premenstrual women often have powerful cravings for chocolate.
High levels of stress can also make women and men crave chocolate, since increasing serotonin levels can also lead to significant reductions in anxiety. Chocolate is a popular comfort food. It is chosen by emotional eaters, since eating it can raise serotonin levels and help comfort eaters forget about emotional or other problems, low self-esteem or mildly depressed mood.
Chocolate and the Menstrual Cycle
Besides caffeine, fat and sugar, chocolate also contains important trace minerals, like magnesium, which may be deficient in women prior to and during their menstrual cycles. Changing hormonal levels prior to and during the menstrual cycle can inspire all kinds of food cravings, and chocolate is one of them. In fact, many women claim to crave nothing else.
Some researchers claim that chocolate cravings in menstruating women may be a cultural phenomenon. Studies have shown that American women are more likely to crave chocolate than women of other nationalities, perhaps because they're concerned about the high levels of sugar and fat in chocolate and therefore consider it an indulgence. Some experts believe that chocolate cravings in menstruating women may be largely psychological, since they feel that premenstrual symptoms give them a socially acceptable reason to eat chocolate, a high fat food.
Chocolate May Be Addictive
Some research has shown that chocolate contains the same alkaloid compounds that make alcohol addictive, so experts believe there may be some basis to consider chocolate physiologically addictive. It also contains a compound called anandamine, which, scientists believe, stimulates the brain in the same way as marijuana. However, there remains much debate in the medical community as to whether chocolate contains enough of these compounds to be truly addictive or psychoactive.
Chocolate is Just Plain Good
One last reason why women may crave chocolate is because it's good. Chocolate's taste and texture is delicious and unlike that of any other food, which may explain why many women crave it specifically.
more on http://healthbutton.blogspot.com/2013/06/why-do-women-love-chocolate-more-than.html

Do you know that waking up to urinate could actually decrease your productivity? This is what elderly persons who have difficulty sleeping may discover, especially if they find that their problems worsen if they have to get up in the middle of the night to urinate, according to new research....


The problem is known as nocturia, and according to the researchers, it has been linked not only to sleep disruptions but to "significant reductions" in both work productivity and leisure activity as well.

They polled 261 women and 385 men who suffer from the condition over a 14-day period, asking them about the impact it has on their ability to perform their work-related and other daily tasks.

 As it turns out, nocturia decreased on- the-job productivity by 24 percent and the ability to perform recreational activity by 34 percent.

A paper detailing the results of the research is published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine on March 15. Researchers also reported that more than half (54 percent) of all nighttime sleep disruptions were associated with the need to urinate, and that people who woke up remained awake an average of 11.5 percent longer on nights when they had to make a trip to the restroom.

 "Nocturia is a common problem affecting around a third of adults, but its burden is underestimated and it is often dismissed as being less serious than other chronic conditions in terms of impact on quality of life and societal costs.

Data show that nocturia negatively affects both sleep and daytime performance and its impact on work productivity is in line with many other chronic conditions.

Patients with nocturia should seek specific treatment for this debilitating condition. It is expected that proper treatment of insomnia might reduce the occurrence of nocturia.
source http://healthbutton.blogspot.com/2013/06/waking-up-at-night-to-urinate-could.html