‘Radiation knife’ cuts through tumours where conventional surgery fails

London, May 20 : Scientists have come up with a revolutionary new tool, called a gamma knife, which uses radio waves to treat life-threatening tumours that could not be removed through conventional surgery.

The gamma knife would utilise radio waves to help surgeons operate on growths inside the head and neck.

It would help in the treatment of cancer patients who were told that their tumour could not be treated.

The tool can also relieve pressure from tumours pressing on nerves inside patients’ heads, thereby helping save their sight and hearing.

However, the technique is not available to patients with non-cancerous tumours posing danger to vital blood vessels in the head, or to those whose cancer has spread to the brain.

While this knife cannot relieve a patient from cancerous tumours in the brain, it does help in increasing longevity. However, for those having dangerous but non-cancerous growths near blood vessels and glands it can surely be helpful in saving life.

For the treatment, the patient’s head is locked in a metal frame and then the researchers take scans for locating the tumour and finally they target gamma radiation beams at the exact site. The surgeon then continues with the procedure without any damage to the surrounding tissue.

The best part about this two-hour long operation is that it is painless and mostly does away with a general anaesthetic. And as it does no involve open surgery, it will help the patients to recover speedily.

Not only does it help in the treatment of tumours in the head and neck, but the technique may also help in treating defects in blood vessels that can cause seizures and headaches.

The scientists are already trying to develop ways to establish the effectiveness of gamma knife surgery in epilepsy, nerve disorders that cause severe pain in the face and head and in movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

"In the coming years GKS will undoubtedly have a great deal to offer many patients whose conditions were previously untreatable, or else could only be partially or inadequately treated," The Telegraph quoted Phil Blackburn, of the Royal London and St Bartholomew's hospitals and the London Radiosurgical Centre, as saying.

Healthy living habits can prevent of various types of cancer

An international research once again emphasized the importance of healthy living style in prevention of various types of cancer. Earlier studies have also shown importance of healthy diet and exercises on different types of cancer. Recent findings indicated that healthy diets, more exercise and controlling weight could also prevent more than 40 percent of colon and breast cancer cases in some countries.

For recent study, 23 experts analyzed the incidence of 12 common cancers across the world and data on diet, exercise and weight. Data analysis revealed that healthier living can prevent 43 percent of colon cancer cases and 42 percent of breast cancer cases in Britain, and 45 percent of bowel cancer and 38 percent of breast cancer cases in the United States.

Lead researcher, Michael Marmot, the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, said: "At the time of publication, roughly 11 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer and nearly eight million people die from cancer each year."

He added: "However, cancer is mostly preventable."

How to stay healthy – the Barbie way

As Barbie gears up to celebrate her 50th birthday, an American researcher weighs in on what the doll with hourglass curves did to boost her health.

At 11½-inches, Barbie, who turns 50 on March 9, has had more careers than most of people have clothes.

According to Cindy Haines, M. D., a family doctor and clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University, she's a poster child for what happens when you take good care of yourself.

"While Barbie probably has been blessed with good genes, she has obviously paid attention to her health and focused ahead to do what she can to prevent health problems. You can tell that she's an excellent patient and puts a health at the top of her priority list," Haines said.

"Having been a tennis player, aerobics instructor, equestrian, lifeguard, ballet dancer, and gymnast, Barbie loves to exercise and has washboard abs and a tiny waist to prove it. She knows that regular, weight bearing activity is one of the best things you can do to keep your bones strong and stave off osteoporosis," the expert added.

Barbie's been a McDonald's cashier, candy saleswoman and a soda fountain waitress, but likely rejects most food sold on the job, Haines said.

"She probably loves the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits and vegetables that contain a high ratio of antioxidants to combat aging. Because she watches what she eats and exercises, her cholesterol levels likely are on target, and she probably doesn't have to take medication," the expert said.

Barbie may enjoy an occasional cocktail now and then, Haines said. And she's never smoked.

"You can tell because her skin is nice and firm, she has long luxurious hair and bright, white teeth. And on the inside, I suspect her heart is strong, her arteries plaque-free and her lungs are clear," she said.

Although Barbie never married and had children, she's surrounded herself with loved ones.

"Numerous studies show that staying socially connected and living up to your potential can help ward off dementia, so Barbie is doing what she can to stay mentally healthy," Haines said.

Barbie might have received a little plastic surgery or cosmetic assist to help her defy gravity and look her best, Haines acknowledged.

"She may have had some fillers. There are definitely things you can do to make slight tweaks in your appearance," she said. (

Frog’s immune system is key in fight against killer virus

Scientists have discovered how changes to a frog's immune system may be the key to beating a viral infection which is devastating frog populations across the UK.

Communities of common frogs (Rana temporaria) are being struck down by a foreign virus which is estimated to be killing tens of thousands of frogs in the UK each year.

When it strikes garden ponds, the surrounding lawn becomes strewn with dead frogs, some with skin ulcers so severe they reduce limbs to stumps, others with internal bleeding.

The virus, called Ranavirus, has invaded the home counties around London, and is now spreading north and west.

Now, Dr Amber Teacher has described how the frogs' immune system has responded to the virus.

Working with her fellow scientists at Queen Mary, University of London and experts at the Institute of Zoology, she studied ponds where Ranavirus deaths are occurring year after year, and consistently found changes to a gene called the MHC, which codes for a major part of the frog''s immune system.

"It seems, as Darwin would have predicted, that the plucky surviving frogs have passed on to their descendants an immune system which is better tuned to the new threat," said Dr Teacher.

Teacher also found that the frogs' immune systems are simpler than many other animals, including humans, who have several MHC genes doing a similar job.

"This discovery has helped identify the point in our evolutionary history when this multiplication of genes occurred. With luck, even the frog's simpler system will be sufficient to win their battle," she said.

According to Teacher's colleague Professor Richard Nichols, from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences,"From a scientific point of view, we could learn as much about the fight against viruses, whether the frogs succumb or they don't; but from a personal point of view, I hope these changes are the first signs that the frogs getting the upper hand over the virus."

Air pollution affects lung function in kids with asthma

A new study has revealed that inner-city kids with asthma experience adverse health effects from air pollutants even when air pollution levels are within the current air quality standards.

The findings are based on a study, which analysed the short-term effects of outdoor pollution levels on asthma symptoms and lung function in children.

For the study, researchers used data from the NIAID Inner-City Asthma Study (ICAS) and examined 861 kids with persistent asthma, aged 5 to 12 years, living in low-income areas in seven U. S. inner-city communities.

For two years, the researchers monitored the kids’ asthma symptoms, breathing function, school absences, and obtained daily outdoor pollution measurements from the EPA’s Aerometric Information Retrieval System on a regular basis.

Every six months, researchers tested lung function twice daily over a two-week period. They also asked the kids’ parents for their observations of their children’s symptoms.

Following the analysis, researchers found that children had significantly decreased lung function following exposure to higher concentrations of the air pollutants sulfur dioxide, airborne fine particles, and nitrogen dioxide.

They also found that higher nitrogen dioxide levels and higher levels of fine particles also were associated with school absences related to asthma, and higher nitrogen dioxide levels were associated with more asthma symptoms.

Since nitrogen dioxide is derived mainly from motor vehicle exhaust, the study provides evidence that car emissions might be causing adverse respiratory health effects in these urban children who have asthma.

Researchers report that inner-city children with asthma experience adverse health effects from air pollutants even when air pollution levels are within the current air quality standards of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The findings of the study raise questions about the current air quality standards and suggest that part of overall asthma management for children living in inner cities may need to include efforts to reduce exposure to air pollutants.

Rotator cuff repair surgery provides long-term pain relief, improves shoulder functions

A rotator cuff repair surgery can help significantly reduce pain and improve shoulder functions, even after a tear recurrence, according to a new study.

Rotator cuff tears occur due to traumatic events like a fall or wear and tear over a period of time, something that is more common in athletes.

The study, to be presented at the 2009 American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine Specialty Day in Las Vegas, evaluated a group of 15 patients about eight years after they received rotator cuff repair.

"We initially tested the patients at three years after their surgery and found that those with a recurrence of a tear were doing well," says lead author Dr. Christopher Dodson, of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City where 839 rotator cuff repairs were preformed last year.

"The study analyzed whether having the original surgery produced any long-term benefits for the patient," he adds.

At an average of eight years after surgery, 15 patients completed four assessment surveys, of which 11 were re-examined with ultrasound testing.

The researchers observed that those who with recurrent rotator cuff defects were still better off in terms of pain, function, and strength than they were before the rotator cuff was originally repaired.

They also found that the recurrent tears grew in size, but remained painless and did not affect function.

According to them, none of the patients had needed further treatment or surgery, and none experienced any persistent shoulder pain.

"Our obvious concern for patients who have a recurrent rotator cuff defect after surgical repair is that symptoms may recur over time. Our study concluded that the patient will experience long-term benefit from surgery and remain asymptomatic, even if a recurrent defect is present. This is encouraging for both the surgeon and the patient undergoing rotator cuff repair," say the authors.

Two glasses of milk a day can help prevent Alzheimer''s

Just two glasses of milk a day can help prevent Alzheimer's disease in old age, suggests a new study.

University of Oxford researchers have identified a vitamin that is believed to cut neurological damage to the brain that can lead to dementia.

They have found that older adults with low levels of the vitamin B12 suffer twice as much shrinkage of the brain as those with higher levels of the vitamin in their bodies.

The researchers suggest that increasing vitamin B12 intake in elderly could help slow cognitive decline.

Professor David Smith, from the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing, said drinking just two glasses of milk a day would be enough to increase levels of vitamin B12 to an adequate level.

"Our study shows that consuming around half a litre of milk or more per day, and it can be skimmed milk, could take someone who has marginal levels of B12 into the safe range. But even drinking just two glasses a day can protect against having low levels," the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

While meat contain some of the highest levels of the vitamin B12, it was poorly absorbed by the body when eaten.

Professor Smith, along with scientists from Oslo University and Bergen University, in Norway, found the highest levels of vitamin B12 absorbed by the body came from milk, despite having lower B12 concentrations than meat.

The study showed that around 55 per cent of the vitamin in milk entered the blood stream.

"In meat, B12 can be tightly bound to protein and this bond has to be broken down by acid in the stomach before the body can use it," said Smith.

"Older people have lower levels of acid and so it is much harder for them to get B12 from certain foods. In milk, the binding is readily reversible," he added.

During the study, brain scans of patients who have a vitamin B12 deficiency have revealed that they suffer more brain loss, or atrophy, than those with higher intake of the vitamin.

"We are currently preparing to unmask a two-year trial of 180 people over the age of 70 with memory problems, who were either given Vitamin B12 or a placebo," he said.

"We have been taking volumetric MRI scans to look at whether the vitamin treatment has slowed down the atrophy in the brain," he added.

The research is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

New incision-free procedure raises hope for severe acid reflux patients

Washington, Mar 1: Patients with severe, chronic acid reflux disease have been offered a new hope - a unique incision-free procedure called TIF, or transoral incisionless fundoplication.

Chronic GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a painful heartburn caused when stomach acid breaks through what is supposed to be a one-way valve - the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) - and reverses into the esophagus.

GERD can raise the risk of cancer of the esophagus, and can cause damage due to inhalation of stomach acid.

While most patients are prescribed a daily medication, it is sometimes ineffective. In addition, new research indicates that continued drug therapy might cause calcium depletion, contributing to osteoporosis.

"Drug therapy, when it works, is simply masking an underlying anatomic defect. The TIF procedure corrects the source of the problem by repairing the faulty lower esophageal sphincter in order to keep stomach acid where it belongs," says Dr. Marc Bessler, director of laparoscopic surgery and director of the Center for Obesity Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, and assistant professor of surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes less than an hour.

The clinician inserts a specially-designed device through the patient''s mouth and into the stomach, just below the gastroesophageal junction, where tissue is molded to create a new valve.

"In most cases, the result is an elimination of reflux, with research showing that 80 percent of patients treated no longer need to take daily medications," says Dr. Peter D. Stevens, director of endoscopy, director of interventional endoscopy and medical director of the scarless surgery program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, and associate professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

"Because there are no incisions, the TIF procedure is more comfortable for the patient than the traditional open or laparoscopic approach, with a shorter hospital stay, improved recovery, and reduced risk of complications compared with open or laparoscopic surgery," adds Dr. Stevens.

"Unlike prior endoscopic treatments for reflux, the molding of the flap valve that holds back acid is expected to be much more robust and effective," the expert added.

Protein that provides ‘innate defense mechanism’ against HIV identified

Scientists have made a major breakthrough in AIDS research by identifying a protein, called CAML (calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand), that inhibits the release of HIV-1 virus from human cells, thus aiding in the fight against HIV by finding new treatments.

It’s long been known that a majority of human cells carry a factor that controls the discharge of virus particles. However, it is now that the research team

from Emory University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and Mayo Medical School has identified CAML as the cellular protein that inhibits the release of HIV particles.

Usually, CAML hinders a very late step in the virus lifecycle, which results in the retention of HIV particles on the membrane of the cell. The virus has an inbuilt mechanism to cancel out CAML, by the action of the viral Vpu protein.

In the absence of Vpu, HIV particles are not cut off from the plasma membrane, but accumulate by a protein bound at the cell surface.

After depleting CAML in human cells in the laboratory, the researchers found that Vpu was not needed anymore for felicitating smooth exit of HIV-1 particles from the cell. After expressing

When they expressed CAML in cell types usually permitting particles to exit freely, they found that the particles remained attached to the cell surface.

"This research is important because it identifies CAML as an innate defense mechanism against HIV. We are continuing to work on the mechanism that Vpu uses to counteract CAML and on defining exactly how CAML leads to virus particle retention on the infected cell membrane. We hope this will lead us to new treatments," Nature quoted senior author Paul Spearman, professor of pediatrics (infectious diseases)