Convertibles 'bad for the ears'

Top down driving can be too noisy Driving a convertible car can seriously damage your ears, experts have warned. Cruising with the top down at speeds of 50-70mph (80-112km/h) exposes the ears to sound levels sometimes nearing those made by a pneumatic drill, they argue. Long or repeated exposure to this noise of the engine, road, traffic and wind could cause permanent hearing loss, a US meeting of ENT experts was told. Researchers said convertible drivers should consider wearing some form of ear protection, as motorcyclists do. The research has been published in the journal Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. In the study, noise levels immediately to the left and right of the driver were measured while travelling at different speeds. At 50, 60 and 70 miles per hour, the noise reached between 88 and 90 decibels - higher than the generally agreed 85 decibel threshold level at which permanent hearing damage becomes a risk. Noise levels A quiet room at night - 20 decibels An ordinary spoken conversation - 60 decibels A busy street - 70 decibels Shouting - 80 decibels A pneumatic drill - 110 decibels Aircraft taking off - 130 decibels Source: The Royal National Institute for Deaf People The researchers repeated the test with a range of convertibles, on the same stretch of motorway, outside of rush hour, and found the same noise levels - around 90 decibels, with a high of 99 decibels. But they also found motorists can cut the noise by rolling up the windows when driving with the top down. This simple measure cut the level to 82 decibels. Experts warned that the damage to hearing builds up gradually and the effects may not be noticed until years later, when it is too late. Dr Mark Downs, of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, said: "Noise-induced hearing loss is frequently preventable. "Regular exposure to noise levels of 88-90 decibels when driving a convertible for several hours a day can lead to permanent hearing loss over time. "By winding up the windows or wearing basic ear protection, such as earplugs, drivers of convertibles can still enjoy driving whilst protecting their hearing."

How clean is your keyboard?

Computer keyboards can host more harmful bacteria than an average toilet seat.

Kerina Fitzgerald from Duston in Northampton works in a call centre. She feels ill after catching an ear infection from shared use of a telephone head set. She understands the seriousness of cleaning your work station effectively to protect yourself at work.

"I've been working for my company for over five years and never caught an infection before. I would eat my lunch at my desk not knowing the risk I was opening myself to. Then after catching an ear infection we are now issued with individual head sets to prevent this from happening again."

"I now make sure I always wipe down my keyboard before I use it and am a lot more careful."

Jimoh sitting at computer desk

A computing magazine 'Which' turned the microscope on over 30 keyboards in a typical office and found some had harmful bacteria that could put their users at high risk of becoming ill. In one case, a microbiologist recommended the removal of a keyboard as it had 150 times the pass limit of bacteria, and was five times filthier than a toilet seat that was swabbed.

The germs found could cause food poisoning symptoms such as diarrhoea and other stomach upsets. The main cause of a bug-infested keyboard is eating lunch at desks and poor personal hygiene, such as dodging the hand washing basin after going to the toilet.

Despite the obvious health hazard of a dirty keyboard, how often people clean their computers varies widely. One in ten people say they never clean their keyboard with a further 20 per cent admitting to never cleaning their mouse.

What can you do to prevent your computer from becoming a health hazard?

• Before you start cleaning, shut down the computer and unplug it.
• Gently wipe surfaces with a soft, lint-free cloth. Lightly dampen (not wet) the cloth with a small amount of water or an approved computer cleaning fluid.
• Unplug your keyboard, turn it upside down and shake out any loose dust and food crumbs inside. Disinfect the surface with alcohol wipes.
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a rubber or brush nozzle on exterior surfaces and vents.
• Headphones can be used by multiple people and can spread germs or even head lice. Wipe them with a damp cloth.

Tiny magnets used in anti-cancer gene therapy

LONDON (Reuters) - Tiny magnets have been used to deliver anti-cancer gene therapy in mice in a development that could make the treatment much more effective, scientists said on Thursday.

The idea behind gene therapy is to replace faulty genes. But the approach has had mixed success because of the difficulty of getting genes to the right part of the body.

One option has been to use viruses to carry genes but this risks triggering an immune system reaction.

Now British researchers think they may have cracked the problem.

By inserting magnetic nanoparticles into monocytes -- a type of white blood cell -- and injecting them into the bloodstream, they have been able to guide them around the body using an external magnet.

Using this technique, many more cells armed with anti-cancer genes reached and invaded malignant tumors, Claire Lewis of the University of Sheffield and colleagues reported in the journal Gene Therapy.

"The use of nanoparticles to enhance the uptake of therapeutically armed cells by tumors could herald a new era in gene therapy -- one in which delivery of the gene therapy vector to the diseased site is much more effective," Lewis said.

The new approach could also be used to deliver therapeutic genes to treat other conditions like arthritic joints or heart disease, she believes.

Clinical trials on humans, however, are still some way off.

Tests so far have involved treating tumors just under the skin of mice. The real goal is to attack tumors deep inside the body, which are normally the most serious.

"We're going to have to extend existing magnetic resonance, or MRI, technology to create a magnetic gradient over a deep tissue like the liver," Lewis said in a telephone interview.

Her team is also looking at the ability of magnetic targeting to deliver a variety of different cancer-fighting genes, including ones which could stop the spread of tumors to other parts of the body.

Gene therapy has been much hyped over the years as a treatment for cancer and other diseases where DNA is known to play a central role but scientists have run into a series of technical and safety problems.

In one trial in 1999 a patient died and in other cases children have developed leukemia as a result of such treatment.

"We would hope that this will be safer because we are using a natural mechanism in the body and patients' own white blood cells to deliver the gene therapy," Lewis said. "We're simply amplifying that with this magnetic approach."

Vitamin E linked to lung cancer

Vitamin E

High vitamin E doses were found to increase risk

Taking high doses of vitamin E supplements can increase the risk of lung cancer, research suggests.
The US study of 77,000 people found taking 400 milligrams per day long-term increased cancer risk by 28% - with smokers at particular risk.

It follows warnings about similar risks of excessive beta-carotene use.

Writing in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, an expert said people should get their vitamins from fruit and veg.


The jury's still very much out on whether vitamin and mineral supplements can affect cancer risk
Henry Scowcroft, Cancer Research UK

Dr Tim Byers, from the University of Colorado, said a healthy, balanced diet meant people took in a whole range of beneficial nutrients and minerals, which might help to reduce cancer risk.

The researchers followed people aged between 50 and 76 for four years and looked at their average daily use of vitamin C and folic acid, and vitamin E supplements.

Over the course of the study, 521 people developed lung cancer.

Smoking, family history and age all had unsurprisingly strong links to cancer risk.

And while neither vitamin C or folic acid use had any effect on lung cancer risk, vitamin E use did.

The researchers extrapolated their findings, and concluded that over a decade, there was an additional 7% increase in risk for every 100 milligrams taken per day.

The vitamin E trend was most prominent among smokers, but was not confined to them.

Vitamin E is known to be an antioxidant - protecting cells from molecules called free radicals.

But the US researchers speculate that, in high doses, it may also act as a pro-oxidant - causing oxidation and therefore damage to cells.

'Toxic effects'
Dr Christopher Slatore of the University of Washington in Seattle, who led the study, said: "In contrast to the often assumed benefits or at least lack of harm, supplemental vitamin E was associated with a small increased risk of lung cancer.

"Future studies may focus on other components of fruits and vegetables that may explain the decreased risk of cancer that has been associated with fruit and vegetables.

"Meanwhile, our results should prompt clinicians to counsel patients that these supplements are unlikely to reduce the risk of lung cancer and may be detrimental."

But Henry Scowcroft, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "The jury's still very much out on whether vitamin and mineral supplements can affect cancer risk.

"Some studies suggest a benefit, but many others show no effect and some, like this one, suggest they may even increase risk."

He added: "Research repeatedly shows that a healthy, balanced diet can reduce your risk of some cancers while giving you all the vitamins you need.

"Quitting smoking remains the most effective way to avoid many cancers. There's no diet, or vitamin supplement, that could ever counter the toxic effects of cigarette smoke."

In 2002 a Finnish study of 29,000 male smokers found taking beta-carotene - which is converted into vitamin A in the body - was linked to an 18% increased risk of developing lung cancer

Vitamins 'may shorten your life'

Could they be doing more harm than good?

Research has suggested certain vitamin supplements do not extend life and could even lead to a premature death.

A review of 67 studies found "no convincing evidence" that antioxidant supplements cut the risk of dying.

Scientists at Copenhagen University said vitamins A and E could interfere with the body's natural defences.

"Even more, beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E seem to increase mortality," according to the review by the respected Cochrane Collaboration.

The research involved selecting various studies from 817 on beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium which the team felt were the most likely to fairly reflect the impact of the supplements on reducing mortality.

It has been thought that these supplements may be able to prevent damage to the body's tissues called "oxidative stress" by eliminating the molecules called "free radicals" which are said to cause it.

This damage has been implicated in several major diseases including cancer and heart disease.

'Just eat well'

The trials involved 233,000 people who were either sick or were healthy and taking supplements for disease prevention.

VITAL VITAMIN FACTS Vitamin A: Found in: Oily fish, eggs and liver; Good for: Thought to boost immune system, and help skin, sight and sperm formation Vitamin C: Found in: Many fruit and vegetables; Good for: Helps heal wounds and assists the body in absorbing iron, may boost the immune system Vitamin E: Found in: Vegetable oils, seeds and nuts; Good for: May help boost circulation and keep elderly people active Beta-carotene: Found in: Vegetables that are reddish-orange in colour; Good for: May boost vision and keep the mind sharp Selenium: Found in: Butter, nuts, liver and fish; Good for: May boost the immune system How many take vitamins? Between 10-20% of people in the West How much is the global market worth? About $2.5bn (£1.3bn)

After various factors were taken into account and a further 20 studies excluded, the researchers linked vitamin A supplements to a 16% increased risk of dying, beta-carotene to a 7% increased risk and vitamin E to a 4% increased risk.

Vitamin C did not appear to have any effect one way or the other, and the team said more work was needed into this supplement - as well as into selenium.

In conclusion, "we found no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary or secondary prevention," they said.

It was unclear exactly why the supplements could have this effect, but the team speculated that they could interfere with how the body works: beta-carotene, for instance, is thought to change the way a body uses fats.

The Department of Health said people should try to get the vitamins they need from their diet, and avoid taking large doses of supplements - a market which is worth over £330m in the UK.

"There is a need to exercise caution in the use of high doses of purified supplements of vitamins, including antioxidant vitamins, and minerals," a spokesperson said.

"Their impact on long-term health may not have been fully established and they cannot be assumed to be without risk."

A 'stitch-up'

But the Health Supplements Information Service, which is funded by the association which represents those who sell supplements, said many people were simply not able to get everything they needed from their diet.

Dr Rosemary Leonard's advice on vitamins

"For the millions who are not able to do that, vitamins can be a useful supplement and they should not stop taking them," said spokeswoman Pamela Mason.

Another nutritionist who has formulated supplements described the review as a "stitch-up", arguing it only looked at studies which examined the effect they had on reducing mortality, rather than other advantages.

"Antioxidants are not meant to be magic bullets and should not be expected to undo a lifetime of unhealthy habits," said Patrick Holford.

"But when used properly, in combination with eating a healthy diet full of fruit and vegetables, getting plenty of exercise and not smoking, antioxidant supplements can play an important role in maintaining and promoting overall health."

Vitamin supplements help and are not a substitute -Joel Kosminsky, London

'Miracle baby' is feted in India

There's even talk of a temple being built in Lali's honour

They're calling her the miracle baby.

Barely a month old, baby Lali was born with a rare condition which has given her two faces.

It's called Craniofacial Duplication and she has two sets of eyes, noses and lips.

In the village where she was born, close to the edge of Delhi, her condition has made her an object of fascination and reverence.

'Blessed'

"When I first saw her, I was scared. It's natural," her father, Vinod Singh, tells me.

"But now I feel I'm blessed."

Doctors have told him them that despite having two faces Lali is healthy and normal.

She is able to drink milk through either mouth and breathe normally.

Mr Singh is a poor farm worker. At his mud and brick house at the end of a narrow dusty lane, a neighbour applies a fresh coat of paint to his front door.

We just want to enjoy time with our first born child Vinod Singh

Inside, he stands surrounded by villagers, some sitting on sturdy hessian cots, others smoking pipes.

For the past few days, people have been lining up to see his daughter.

Many of them bring offerings of money, believing that Lali has special powers.

"When you see something unnatural, it can only be the miracle of God," says Jatinder Nagar, a neighbour who's taken on the self-appointed role of tour guide.

"It's something so magical that we believe that she's a goddess. We regard her as one."

Uncomfortable

Eighty-year-old Ballabh Saini is a grandmother and respected as a village elder.

But even she bows her head in reverence.

"She has brought us fame and she is blessed," she tells me.

"So many people have been coming to see her - travelling long distances on cars, motorbikes, horse-drawn carts."

But all this is making Vinod Singh increasingly uncomfortable and upset.

"She's my daughter. I don't want any more of this. I'm fed up," he says, throwing up his hands in despair.

But he's up against centuries of superstition.

Faced with something they're unable to comprehend, the villagers believe she is the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess.

There's even talk of a temple being built in her honour.

Her new found status is lost on Lali, as she lies cradled in her grandfather's arms.

Doctors in Delhi say there is no possibility of separating her head.

But they do want to carry out more medical tests to determine if her internal organs are normal.

But her parents won't allow them.

"What is the need? As far as we are concerned she's like any other child," says Vinod Singh.

"We just want to enjoy time with our first-born child."

Beware of Bottled water

Urgent Matter - all females (wives, daughters, girlfriends etc) must be warned about bottled water!!!

Bottled water in cars leads to Breast Cancer!!!!

This is how Sheryl Crow got breast cancer. She was on the Ellen show and said this same exact thing. This has been identified as the most common cause of the high levels in breast cancer, especially in Australia.

A friend whose mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, the Doctor told her: " Women should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car".

The doctor said that the heat and the plastic of the bottle have certain chemicals that lead to breast cancer. So please be careful and do not drink bottled water that has been left in a car, and pass this on to all women in your life.

This information is the kind we need to know and be aware and just might save us!! The heat causes toxins from the plastic to leak into the water and they have found these toxin in breast tissues.

So instead; Use a stainless steel Canteen or a glass bottle when you can!!!

PLEASE INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THIS MATTER

- BP SUJEEWON M.D

Dangerous (Do not drink Coka-Cola and eat MENTOS together)

In Brazil, last week a little boy died when eating
Mentos and drinking Coca-Cola.

A similar case happened, in Brazil, a year before.
In order to see any reactions of these 2 products
which caused the death of the 2 Boys, a group
of people decided to do an experiment.

Now see what happens when adding Mentos to
Coca Cola!!! The pictures show the results.

So be careful with your Menthos and your Coke!!!

- BP SUJEEWON

Anaesthetic drug 'numbs memory'

Bad memories can be difficult to endure

Low doses of a commonly-used anaesthetic could prevent the formation of painful memories, say researchers.

The University of California scientists found that sevoflurane gas stopped patients remembering "emotive" images, New Scientist magazine reported.

Scans showed it interfered with signals between two key areas of the brain.

It is hoped the work could eventually help eradicate rare instances of anaesthetised patients remembering the full horrors of their surgery.

This study reports the discovery of an agent and method for blocking human emotional memory University of California researchers

While anaesthetic drugs are mainly used to make patients fall unconscious before operations, their effects on the body are frequently far more complex.

The Californian researchers, writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were investigating the outcome of much lower doses of the gas than those used prior to surgery.

They treated their volunteers either with the anaesthetic, or a placebo gas, and then showed them a series of photographs.

Some of these had everyday content, such as a cup of coffee, while others had images designed to provoke a far more powerful emotional response, such as a bloody severed human hand.

One week later, the volunteers were asked to recall as many of the images as they could.

Those given the dummy gas remembered approximately 29% of the powerful images, and 12% of the others.

However, those who had received sevoflurane could remember just 5% of the "emotive" images and 10% of the others.

Brain scans revealed that the gas appeared to interfere with impulses between the amygdala and hippocampus, areas of the brain known for their involvement in the processing of emotion and memory.

"This study reports the discovery of an agent and method for blocking human emotional memory," the researchers wrote.

They added that understanding how drugs could stop this happening might provide clues to "intraoperative awareness" - rare instances in which the memory-disrupting qualities of anaesthetic drugs fail and patients can recall the experience of undergoing surgery.

Awake during operations

While this suggested that the gas could prevent the acquisition of new memories following painful events, it does not point to any effect on pre-existing memories, good or bad.

Dr Anthony Absalom, from Cambridge University, said that other anaesthetic drugs had been found to interfere with memory formation.

"If a patient is having an uncomfortable or distressing procedure but not a general anaesthetic, sedative drugs not only make them more relaxed, but help them not to remember it afterwards.

"The same is true in intensive care settings, where patients can spend long periods with tubes into their lungs."

He said that it was unlikely that anaesthetic drugs could interfere with memories that had already been formed.

However, he agreed that it could improve understanding of what happens when patients claim to remember operations even though they have been fully asleep.

"Approximately one in 5,000 patients reports remembering details of operations, and it's a struggle to understand why - but this kind of research might help," he said.

Benefits of Eating Fruits and Vegetables - Vitamins

Vitamins

Eating a wide variety of fruit and vegetables means you're more likely to get all the vitamins and minerals you need. But what are vitamins - and why are they so important to your good health?

• Vitamins are organic substances - this means

they're found in plants and animals.

• Most vitamins can't be made by your body,

so they must be sourced from your diet.Vitamin D
and the B vitamin niacin are exceptions to this.

• Nutritionists have divided vitamins into two groups:

fat-soluble and water-soluble.

• The fat-soluble vitamins - A, D, E and K -

are transported through your body by fat.
They can also be stored in your fat and
liver cells for a limited period of time.

• The water-soluble vitamins - B and C -

are absorbed by and transported through your body in water.
They need to be eaten every day, as you can't store them for
any length of time.

Fat-soluble vitamins

Vitamin	Why important?	Where found?	Daily Recommendation
Vitamin A	It looks after your eyes, the lining of your nose, throat and lungs, and your skin cells.	Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, red chillies, tomatoes, 'orange' fruits, such as apricots and mango, and dark green leafy vegetables.	600µg for females, 700µg for males.
Vitamin D	It helps your body to absorb calcium, needed to ensure strong bones and teeth.	The most important source is the sun, but it's also found in tiny amounts in dairy products, cod liver oil and oily fish.	No recommendations as sunlight is the main source.
Vitamin E	It fights free radicals - unbalanced molecules that can cause damage to your cells. It also contributes to the healthy condition of your skin.	Vegetables, poultry, fish, fortified breakfast cereals, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds.	Up to 4mg for adult males and up to 3mg for adult females is considered a safe intake.
Vitamin K	It helps your body to make a number of proteins, one of which helps your blood to clot.	Dark green leafy vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and asparagus. It's also found in soya oil and margarine.	1µg for every kg of body weight is considered a safe intake for both men and women.

Water-soluble vitamins

Vitamin	Why important?	Where found?	Daily recommendation
B-complex Vitamins	They help you to metabolise your food and help your blood cells to form and flow.	Green vegetables, wholegrains, meat, such as liver, kidneys, pork, beef and lamb, vegetable extracts, nuts and fortified breakfast cereals.	Eight vitamins make up the B-complex family: B1 (Thiamin) - Adult male, 0.9mg. Adult female, 0.8mg. B2 (Riboflavin - Adult male, 1.3mg. Adult female, 1.1mg. B3 (Niacin) - Adult male, 17mg. Adult female, 13mg. B5 (Pantothenic Acid) - 3 to 7mg is considered a safe intake for both sexes. B6 (Pyridoxine) - Adult male, 1.4mg. Adult female, 1.2mg. B9 (Folate) - 200 mcg for both adult males and females. B12 (Cobalamin) Biotin - 10-20 µg is considered a safe intake for both sexes. - 1.5 µg for both adult males and females.
Vitamin C	It helps your body to produce collagen (important for skin and bone structure) and to absorb iron.	A wide variety of vegetables and fruit, including spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, citrus fruit and potatoes.	40mg for both adult male and female.

Cup of tea may help boost memory

Dr Okello has high hopes for his research

Drinking regular cups of tea could help improve your memory, research suggests.

A team from Newcastle University found green and black tea inhibited the activity of key enzymes in the brain associated with memory.

The researchers hope their findings, published in Phytotherapy Research, may lead to the development of a new treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

They say tea appears to have the same effect as drugs specifically designed to combat the condition.

Alzheimer's disease is associated with a reduced level of a chemical called acetylcholine in the brain.

In lab tests, the Newcastle team found that both green and black tea inhibited the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which breaks down this key chemical.

They also found both teas inhibited the activity of a second enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), which has been discovered in protein deposits found in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's.

Green tea went one step further in that it obstructed the activity of beta-secretase, which plays a role in the production of protein deposits in the brain which are associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The scientists also found that it continued to have its inhibitive effect for a week, whereas black tea's enzyme-inhibiting properties lasted for only one day.

Drugs work same way

There is no cure for Alzheimer's but it is possible to slow the development of the disease.

Drugs currently on the market hinder the activity of AChE, and others are being developed which scientists hope will inhibit the activity of BuChE and beta-secretase.

However, many of the drugs currently available, such as donepezil, have unpleasant side effects and the medical profession is keen to find alternatives.

The Newcastle University researchers are now seeking funding to carry out further tests on green tea, which they hope will include clinical trials.

Their aim is to work towards the development of a medicinal tea which is specifically aimed at Alzheimer's sufferers.

The next step is to find out exactly which components of green tea inhibit the activity of the enzymes AChE, BuChE and beta-secretase.

Lead researcher Dr Ed Okello said: "Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's, tea could potentially be another weapon in the armoury which is used to treat this disease and slow down its development.

"It would be wonderful if our work could help improve the quality of life for millions of sufferers and their carers.

"Our findings are particularly exciting as tea is already a very popular drink, it is inexpensive, and there do not seem to be any adverse side effects when it is consumed.

"Still, we expect it will be several years until we are able to produce anything marketable."

Professor Clive Ballard, director of research, Alzheimer's Society, said: "This interesting research builds on previous evidence that suggests that green tea may be beneficial due to anti-oxidant properties.

"Certainly the effect on the cholinesterase enzyme (the target of current anti-dementia drugs such as Aricept) and beta-secretase (an enzyme which is important in the build up of plaques) is very exciting and requires further investigation."

Black tea - traditional English breakfast tea - is derived from the same plant as green tea, Camellia sinensis, but has a different taste and appearance because it is fermented.

Black tea 'soothes away stress'

Black tea - As Anti-Stress

The easy way to relax

Scientists have evidence behind what many tea drinkers already know - a regular cuppa can help you recover more quickly from everyday life stresses.

The study of black tea - instead of green or herbal varieties - found it helps cut levels of the stress hormone cortisol circulating in the blood.

They found people who drank tea were able to de-stress more quickly than those who drank a tea substitute.

The University College London study is in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Slow recovery following acute stress has been associated with a greater risk of chronic illnesses such as coronary heart disease Professor Andrew Steptoe

In the study, 75 young male regular tea drinkers were split into two groups and monitored for six weeks.

They all gave up their normal tea, coffee and caffeinated beverages, and then one group was given a fruit-flavoured caffeinated tea mixture made up of the constituents of an average cup of black tea.

The other group was given a caffeinated placebo identical in taste, but devoid of the active tea ingredients.

Stressful tasks

All drinks were tea-coloured, but were designed to mask some of the normal sensory cues associated with tea drinking (such as smell, taste and familiarity of the brew).

This was designed to eliminate confounding factors such as the 'comforting' effect of drinking a cup of tea.

Both groups were subjected to challenging tasks, while their cortisol, blood pressure, blood platelet and self-rated levels of stress were measured.

In one task, volunteers were exposed to one of three stressful situations (threat of unemployment, a shop-lifting accusation or an incident in a nursing home), where they had to prepare a verbal response and argue their case in front of a camera.

The tasks triggered substantial increases in blood pressure, heart rate and subjective stress ratings in both of the groups.

However, 50 minutes after the task, cortisol levels had dropped by an average of 47% in the tea-drinking group compared with 27% in the fake tea group.

Blood platelet activation - linked to blood clotting and the risk of heart attacks - was also lower in the tea drinkers.

In addition, this group reported a greater degree of relaxation in the recovery period after the task.

Complex drink

Researcher Professor Andrew Steptoe said: "Drinking tea has traditionally been associated with stress relief, and many people believe that drinking tea helps them relax after facing the stresses of everyday life.

"However, scientific evidence for the relaxing properties of tea is quite limited."

Professor Steptoe said it was unclear what ingredients in tea were responsible.

He said it was very complex, and ingredients such as catechins, polyphenols, flavonoids and amino acids had all been found to affect neurotransmitters in the brain.

Nevertheless, the study suggests that drinking black tea may speed up our recovery from the daily stresses in life.

"Although it does not appear to reduce the actual levels of stress we experience, tea does seem to have a greater effect in bringing stress hormone levels back to normal.

"This has important health implications because slow recovery following acute stress has been associated with a greater risk of chronic illnesses such as coronary heart disease."

'Six-way' kidney transplant first

The transplants are carried out at once to stop donors backing out US doctors have carried out what is believed to be the world's first simultaneous six-way kidney transplant. Six recipients received organs from six donors in operations at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland. The procedure was made possible after an altruistic donor - neither a friend nor relative of any of the six patients - was found to match one of them. Five patients had a willing donor whose kidney was incompatible with theirs, but it did match another in the group. We want to spread the word about this sort of group surgery and living organ donation Jeanne Heise Recipient This meant that suddenly, there were six people who could receive an organ. The operations were carried out simultaneously to make sure no-one backed out after their loved one had received a kidney. "All 12 are doing great, the six kidneys are working well," said Dr Robert Montgomery, director of the transplant centre at the Johns Hopkins hospital. Team effort The hospital has been one of the pioneers of this system which matches up several groups of people at one time. It aims to circumvent the problem of altruistic donors ending up in arbitrary allocation systems where only a single patient's needs are served. The hospital has been carrying out these simultaneous transplants for three years: in 2005, the first triple procedure was performed, a year later, the first five-way. Nearly 100 medical professionals were needed to make the complex series of transplants possible, from immunogeneticists to hinder rejection to psychologists. If all goes to plan, each patient can expect their new kidney to last for as long as 20 years. Recipient Jeanne Heise, whose husband donated to another patient, said more people should know about the system. "The waiting list for a kidney is very long and too many people die while waiting," she said. "With this group procedure, more and more people can beat kidney disease and live long productive lives." The UK has so far carried out only two-way transplants, with the most recent - the third - just this week. The prospect of three-way transplants is currently being examined. A spokesman for UK transplant welcomed the news that the US had achieved a six-way procedure, but said the organisation and logistics required for such a process meant it was still a "very long way off" for the UK.

Brain scan 'can read your mind'

Brain scan 'can read your mind'

An fMRI scan of the brain

The researchers used scans of the brain to predict decisions
Brain scans have been developed which it is claimed can predict what a person is about to do.

German, British and Japanese scientists were able to "read minds" using sophisticated functional magnetic imaging (fMRI) and computer programs.

Current Biology reported people were asked to think about adding or subtracting - scientists were able to read intentions in 70% of cases.

A UK expert advised caution, but said such technologies would develop.


We shouldn't go overboard about the power of these technologies at the moment
Professor Colin Blakemore, Medical Research Council

Such techniques could be used to help people who are paralysed - there are already some steps being taken towards helping people using computer-assisted prosthetic devices linked to computers.

But this research might also allow abstract thoughts and intentions to be read.

It may even be possible to carry out instructions such as "send email" simply by thinking them - with a scanner picking up the wish and translating it in a way that the computer can act on.

'Spatial pattern'

The researchers, led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, in Leipzig, asked people to hold their mathematical decision in their minds until they were shown two numbers on a computer screen.

The fMRI scans monitored brain activity for the few seconds they were thinking about their sum, and it was on this information that the scientists made their predictions.

The researchers used a method called "multivariate pattern recognition".

A computer is programmed to recognise characteristic activation patterns in the brain that typically occur in association with specific thoughts.

Once this computer has been "trained" it can be used to predict the decisions of subjects solely from their brain activity alone.

Dr John-Dylan Haynes, who led the research, said: "It has been previously assumed that freely selected plans might be stored in the middle regions of the prefrontal cortex, whereas plans following external instructions could be stored on the surface of the brain.

"We were able to confirm this theory in our experiments."

He added: "The experiments show that intentions are not encoded in single neurons but in a whole spatial pattern of brain activity."

It appears regions towards the front of the brain store the intention until it is executed, whereas regions further back take over when subjects become active and start doing the calculation.

Professor Colin Blakemore, director of the Medical Research Council, said: "We shouldn't go overboard about the power of these technologies at the moment.

"But what you can be absolutely sure of is that these will continue to roll out and we will have more and more ability to probe people's intentions, minds, background thoughts, hopes and emotions."

He added: "Some of that is extremely desirable, because it will help with diagnosis, education and so on, but we need to be thinking the ethical issues through.

"It adds a whole new gloss to personal medical data and how it can be used."

Dog-owners 'lead healthier lives'

If you want to live a healthier life get a dog, research suggests.

The companionship offered by many pets is thought to be good for you, but the benefits of owning a dog outstrip those of cat owners, the study says.

A psychologist from Queen's University, Belfast, said dog owners tended to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Writing in the British Journal of Health Psychology, she says that regular 'walkies' may partly explain the difference.

Dr Deborah Wells reviewed dozens of earlier research papers which looked at the health benefits of pet ownership.

In some cases, the social support offered by an animal is greater than the support than another human could offer Dr June McNicholas Health psychologist

She confirmed that pet owners tended in general to be healthier than the average member of the population.

However, her research suggested that dog ownership produced more positive influence than cat ownership.

As well as lower blood pressure and cholesterol, she said dog-owners suffered fewer minor ailments and serious medical problems.

There was also the suggestion that dogs could aid recovery from serious illnesses such as heart attacks, and act as 'early warning' to detect an approaching epileptic seizure.

Stress-busting

Dr Wells said the precise reason for the benefits was not totally clear.

"It is possible that dogs can directly promote our well-being by buffering us from stress, one of the major risk factors associated with ill-health.

"The ownership of a dog can also lead to increases in physical activity and facilitate the development of social contacts, which may enhance both physiological and psychological human health in a more indirect manner."

Dr June McNicholas, a health psychologist who has specialised on research into the health effects of pet ownership said that an important reason for the improved health of dog-owners was not just the exercise received while taking it for walks, but the opportunity for social contact with other dog-owners.

She said: "For older people, an animal can fulfil the 'need to be needed', perhaps after children have left home.

"In some cases, the social support offered by an animal is greater than the support than another human could offer."

Lung cancer vaccine to be tested

A large-scale trial to test a vaccine against the most common form of lung cancer has been launched.

More than 1,300 patients worldwide will help test Stimuvax, which in preliminary trials substantially increased survival time for many.

There were more than 37,000 people diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK in 2003, and death rates remain high.

The vaccine works by stimulating the body's own immune system to attack cancer cells.

It is aimed at the non-small cell type of lung cancer, which accounts for four-fifths of cases in the UK.

Currently, patients receive combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Targeted vaccines are an exciting approach that could potentially offer new treatment options for major types of cancer Dr Keith Blundy Cancer Research Technology

Half of the people taking part in the worldwide trial will get this treatment, plus the vaccine, while the other half will get just the treatment, and a dummy vaccine called a placebo, so that scientists can compare survival in the two groups.

The vaccine was developed following research funded by Cancer Research UK, and the technology was licensed to be developed by Canadian biotech firm Biomira.

Dr Keith Blundy, chief operating officer of Cancer Research Technology, the charity's commercial arm, said: "Targeted vaccines are an exciting approach that could potentially offer new treatment options for major types of cancer."

Other researchers are looking at the potential for the same vaccine to tackle other types of cancer.

It works by priming the body's immune system to attack a chemical called MUC-1, which is found only on the surface of cancer cells.

Once this has happened, the body should be able to destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected.

Survival time 'increased'

Smaller-scale trials, involving 171 patients who had responded to conventional treatment, suggested that the vaccine might be helping some patients in their fight against the cancer.

Again, half the patients received normal treatment plus the vaccine, half got treatment and a dummy vaccine.

The patients were then monitored as they returned for check-ups over the next few years.

In the placebo group, half the patients survived 13 months or longer. In the vaccine group, half survived 30 months or longer.

If these large-scale trials yield similarly positive results, the vaccine could eventually be made more widely available to lung cancer patients.

Harpal Kumar, the chief operating officer of Cancer Research UK, said: "The 'translation' of basic research into patient benefit is the major focus of our work and we hope that new ventures will lead to many more such drugs entering trials in the future."

Stomach drugs 'may weaken bones'

Hip fractures are more common among the elderly

Long-term use of some of the most common drugs prescribed to tackle stomach acid problems may be weakening people's bones.

Researchers found a significantly increased risk of hip fracture among UK patients taking 'proton pump inhibitors' for more than a year.

They said doctors should consider the risk when prescribing such drugs.

The University of Pennsylvania study findings appear in the Journal of the American Association.

Millions of people in the UK take drugs such as omeprazole, frequently on a continuous basis, and they are even available directly from pharmacies.

Physicians should be aware of this potential association when considering PPI therapy Researchers at University of Pennsylvania Medical School

Some research has already suggested that taking the drugs could interfere with the body's ability to absorb calcium to keep bones strong.

The Jama study looked at a large group of records from the UK General Practice Research Database. All the people involved were aged over 50, and some had been taking proton pump inhibitors (PPI).

The researchers found that people who had been taking the drugs for more than a year - not an uncommon scenario - had a 44% greater risk of suffering a hip fracture.

Taking the drugs for even longer seemed to increase the risk yet further.

Fall can be fatal

Hip fracture is one of the most significant causes of severe disability in older people - up to one in five people who suffer a fracture following a fall die within 12 months.

The costs to the NHS of hip fractures are also huge, not only immediately afterwards but in the cost of emergency hip replacement operations.

The researchers said that while the link between increased risk and taking the medication appeared clear, it was possible that the type, general health and age of patients taking regular PPI medication might contribute to the difference in some way.

They wrote: "Physicians should be aware of this potential association when considering PPI therapy and should use the lowest effective dose for patients with appropriate indications."

Research 'overdue'

They also suggested doctors should make sure that elderly patients took calcium supplements alongside the drugs to try to lower the risk.

Since 2004, omeprazole has been available directly from UK chemists without prescription, although at a lower than the normal prescribed dose, and, accompanied by guidelines which recommend it only for short periods.

Dr Denise Hansford, a senior lecturer in pharmacy at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, said that research into how patients fared under this reclassification was 'overdue'.

She added that so far, her research had suggested relatively few patients were taking advantage of the new arrangements to obtain proton pump inhibitors.

'Long way short'

Ken McColl, a professor of gastroenterology at Glasgow University, said that the study did not prove that the drugs were the cause.

He pointed out that many people with arthritis and other joint problems - who were already more prone to hip fractures - would be taking large doses of painkillers known to cause acid indigestion.

He added that they would therefore would be more likely to be taking the proton pump inhibitor drugs to deal with it.

Although the study authors had adjusted their results to take account of this, he said, there was still the possibility that the results could be skewed.

"While this raises some interesting issues." he said, "it is a long way short of proving that PPIs are causing this."