Health

CT scans are sometimes used to identify conditions associated with an increased tumour risk.
LONDON: CT scans, commonly used in medical imaging, may increase the risk of brain tumours, a study has found.
The use of computed tomography (CT) scans has increased dramatically over the last two decades. CT scans greatly improve diagnostic capabilities, which in turn improve clinical outcomes.
However, they deliver higher radiation doses, and can especially affect children who are more susceptible to radiation-related malignancies than adults, researchers said.
The most common malignancies caused by radioactivity among children and young adults are leukaemia and brain tumours.
Researchers from Netherlands Cancer Institute evaluated leukaemia and brain tumour risks following exposure to radiation from CT scans in childhood.
For a group of 168,394 Dutch children who received one or more CT scans between 1979 and 2012, researchers obtained cancer incidence and vital status by record linkage.
They surveyed all Dutch hospital-based radiology departments to ascertain eligibility and participation. In the Netherlands, paediatric CT scans are only performed in hospitals.
Overall cancer incidence was 1.5 times higher than expected. For all brain tumours combined, and for malignant and nonmalignant brain tumours separately, dose-response relationships were observed with radiation dose to the brain.
Relative risks increased to between two and four for the highest dose category. The researchers observed no association for leukaemia. Radiation doses to the bone marrow, where leukaemia originates, were low.
They caution that this pattern of excess cancer risk may be partly due to confounding by indication because the incidence of brain tumours was higher in the cohort than in the general population.
CT scans are sometimes used to identify conditions associated with an increased tumour risk; the reason these children had CT scans may be associated with their risk of developing cancer.
“Epidemiological studies of cancer risks from low doses of medical radiation are challenging, said the study’s principal investigator, Michael Hauptmann, from Netherlands Cancer Institute.
“Our careful evaluation of the data and evidence from other studies indicate that CT-related radiation exposure increases brain tumour risk,” said Hauptmann.

Medicine side effects: In a significant research conclusion, scientists have developed a new technique wherein medicines will target specific needs of patients.
Side effects of medicines may soon be a thing of the past. A new technique for precisely targeting molecules within cells is paving the way for safer medicines that are free of side effects. Researcher J. Julius Zhu and his colleagues have developed a way to manipulate molecules from compartment to compartment within individual cells.
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The same molecules do different things depending on their location, the researchers determined. By manipulating the molecules, scientists can determine exactly which locations to target while avoiding locations that would cause harmful side effects. “The problem with side effects is caused because you just could not distinguish the molecules doing different things in the same cell,” said Zhu. “If you blocked a molecule, you blocked it regardless of what it was doing. And that usually has unwanted side effects. Almost every drug that can treat diseases has side effects, either major or minor, but usually they always have something,” he added.
Until now, drugs have targeted molecules in a very general way. If a molecule was thought to be harmful, researchers might try to develop a drug to block it entirely. But Zhu’s new work highlights the downside of that approach. A molecule might be causing problems because of what it’s doing in one part of the cell, but, at the same time, that same molecule is doing something entirely different in other parts. So shutting it down entirely would be like trying to solve the problem of traffic congestion by banning cars.
Now, rather than crudely trying to block a molecule regardless of its many functions, doctors can target a specific molecule doing a specific thing in a specific location. That adds a new level of precision to the concept of precision medicine – medicine tailored exactly to a patient’s needs. Zhu and his team of researchers think the technique will be useful for many different diseases, but especially for cancers and neurological conditions such as autism and Alzheimer’s.
Those, in particular, will benefit from a better understanding of what molecules at what locations would make good targets. The technique will also speed up the development of new treatments by letting researchers more quickly understand what molecules are doing and which should be targeted. “The idea [behind the technique] is actually very simple,” Zhu added. The study appears in the Neuron journal.

An improvement in cerebral oxygen delivery and neurovascular function might provide a physiological link between oxygen therapy and a reduced risk of dementia.
Administering additional oxygen improves the function of the brain’s blood vessels in dementia patients suffering with lung disease, finds a study.
Research has shown that individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at a higher risk of dementia. This could be due to lower brain oxygen levels as a result of problems with blood supply from blood vessels in the brain.
The study, published in Experimental Physiology, proved that oxygen therapy improves cerebral oxygen delivery and neurovascular function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
This improvement in cerebral oxygen delivery and neurovascular function might provide a physiological link between oxygen therapy and a reduced risk of cerebrovascular disease like stroke, mild cognitive impairment and dementia, in COPD.
In the study, the team, including Ryan L. Hoiland, from the University of British Columbia, used ultrasound to view and measure blood flow in the brain in patients at rest, before and during delivery of this additional oxygen. Oxygen was delivered through the nasal passage for 20-30 minutes.
They also tested the link between brain activity and blood flow in the brain. Participants began this test with their eyes shut, having to open them to read a standardised text.
Pairing these ultrasound measures with a measurement of blood oxygen levels allowed authors to estimate how much oxygen delivery to the brain increased during the reading test.
The research team found that blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain was significantly increased during reading. This was due to blood vessels in the brain becoming dilated in response to the greater oxygen demand when the brain was active.
However, this study does not indicate the influence of long term oxygen therapy on the function of blood vessels in the brain, the researchers noted.

Causes, symptoms and cure for PCOS: Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a lifestyle related disease and that can be cured by making small changes. Most importantly, experts say, patients should eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
If you have been noticing excessive hair growth on your body and are confused by what could possibly be the reason for this sudden change, one possibility is that you could be suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). All over the world, around 20% women have PCOS, a hormonal disorder which affects their menstrual cycle and whether or not they can have children.
PCOS is characterised by a hormonal imbalance in the female body where androgen (male hormones) levels are raised. The ovaries make more androgens than usual. High levels of these hormones affect the development and release of eggs for ovulation. Improper or absent ovulation in PCOS patients thus disrupts a woman’s menstrual cycle and leads to infertility.
“The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but research suggests that several factors, including genetics, could play a role. Women with PCOS are more likely to have a mother or sister with PCOS,” says Dr. Rajalaxmi Walavalkar, who is a Delhi-based consultant for IVF and reproductive surgery at the Cocoon Fertility.
“The symptoms of PCOS can vary from woman to woman. Infrequent, absent, or irregular menstrual periods are common. Women with PCOS generally tend to put on extra weight. Weight gain and acne occur due to increased male hormone (testosterone) produced by the ovaries. Hirsutism which is increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach or back occurs because of the same reason,” explains Dr. Walavalkar.
Obesity and infertility aside, women with PCOS are also at an increased risk of diabetes mellitus, depression, hypertension and heart disease.
But how does one manage or avoid PCOS? PCOS is largely a lifestyle related disease and needs to be tackled by making healthy lifestyle changes which includes healthy eating habits, regular exercise and maintaining a stress-free environment.
Weight loss
Many women with PCOS are overweight or obese, which can cause long term health problems such as metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea etc. Weight loss helps in reducing insulin resistance, which in turn helps with ovulation process. Losing 10% of your body fat could be enough to improve symptoms. However, weight loss with PCOS is extra challenging. You can help manage your PCOS by eating healthy and exercising regularly to keep your weight in check.
Supportive medications
“PCOS leads to insulin resistance and hence is treated with metformin. Metformin affects the way insulin controls blood glucose and lowers testosterone production. It slows the growth of abnormal hair and, after a few months of use, may help ovulation to return,” says Dr Anagha Karkhanis, an IVF specialist based in Delhi.
Healthy eating and hydration
It is important to eat low carb snacks/foods throughout the day and never skip a meal. Limit binge eating. It also helps to maintain hydration levels well and therefore drink more water.
Regular exercise
“Exercise helps lower insulin levels and regulates the fat burning hormones (gherlin and leptin) in the body. Interval training and aerobic exercises are beneficial for PCOS patients,” advises Dr Anagha.
Remaining stress-free
Stress may worsen symptoms of PCOS. It is therefore important to remain stress-free. Behavioural training and change in attitudes can remarkably decrease stress levels. Yoga and meditation can also help.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common health problem during pregnancy. But, if untreated, it can lead to complications for both the mother and the child. Here’s everything you need to know about its symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Gestational diabetes is a common problem faced by many women during pregnancy, where they develop a resistance to insulin and have high blood sugar during pregnancy. It tends to occur around the 24th week of pregnancy, and becomes normal after the pregnancy is over.
Why it happens
“The condition arises because the action of insulin is blocked, probably by hormones produced by placenta (an organ that connects the developing baby to the wall of the uterus and provides nutrition),” says Dr Roshani Gadge, Diabetologist consultant, GadgeDiabetes Centre, Mumbai.
The symptoms may vary from excessive weight gain to frequent urination, excessive thirst, fatigue, and mood swings. However, these symptoms are not specific to gestational diabetics and are also common for non-diabetic mothers. “The most common cause is obesity and overeating, but these women already may be pre-diabetic, and the stress of pregnancy unmasks the condition,” says Dr Anil Bhoraskar, senior diabetologist, SL Raheja Hospital, Mumbai.
Because of the confusing nature of the symptoms, screening tests are the best way to detect it. “Most pregnant women are tested between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy,” says Dr Gadge.
As a precautionary measure, Dr Bhoraskar recommends that women who desire to become pregnant should undergo a complete evaluation of their heath, be it blood pressure levels, lipids, and waist circumference to rule out pre-diabetes. “If you are pre-diabetic, you need special attention. You should alter your diet plan to incorporate heathy options and increase physical fitness,” he says.
How to treat it
The treatment options for gestational diabetes include regular monitoring of blood sugar at specific times or after a meal with a glucometer, ensuring blood sugar levels are strictly within specified limits with help of a well-balanced diet (should include proteins, minerals, vitamins, Omega 3 fats, and folates). Regular exercise can also help to control glucose levels.
“Initially, blood sugar can be controlled only with Metformin and no other oral agents. Later on, insulin is to be administered as required, which may be around 4-5 times a day,” says Dr Bhoraskar. As the pregnancy progresses, insulin requirements may change and insulin doses may need to be re-adjusted.
Gestational diabetes usually develops later in the pregnancy, so the immediate risk to the baby is not as severe as for those whose mother had diabetes before pregnancy (pre-gestational diabetes). But uncontrolled gestational diabetes can have serious consequences for both the mother and the baby.
Poorly managed glucose during pregnancy can lead to a significantly larger-than-average baby (foetal macrosomia), which makes normal birth difficult and risky. “The newborn remains at risk for shoulder injury and breathing problems. There also exists the risk of pre-eclampsia, a condition where high blood pressure threatens the health (and is some cases the life) of the mother and her baby,” says Dr Gadge.
While gestational diabetes in mothers normally disappears after birth, it can increase the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes in later years. “Almost 20% of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus develop Type-2 diabetes mellitus, and all the complications of vascular disease,” says Dr Bhoraskar.
Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes also have a higher lifetime risk of obesity and developing type 2 diabetes, if they lead a sedentary lifestyle, explains Dr Gadge.

The study, published in the journal Genes and Development, suggests that an analysis of gene activity in human SCLC tumours reveals an unexpected activity pattern in around 20% of samples.
Researchers have identified a new kind of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) that may pave the way for developing personalised medicine approaches to target this previously unnoticed form of the disease.
According to the researchers, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery enable only 6% of patients to survive five years from the time of their diagnosis and about 10 to 15% of all lung cancers are SCLC.
The study, published in the journal Genes and Development, suggests that an analysis of gene activity in human SCLC tumours reveals an unexpected activity pattern in around 20% of samples.
The researchers also found a paucity of neuroendocrine markers in pulmonary neuroendocrine cells – a cell type thought to be the source of SCLC. To characterise this minority of cells, the research team used a method they developed that employs the gene-editing tool CRISPR to screen for specific proteins that are critical to the growth of various human cancer cell lines, including SCLC lines.
Using this ‘CRISPR screen’, the team found that a transcription factor called POU2F3 is expressed exclusively in the minority of SCLC tumours with low levels of neuroendocrine markers.
It turns out that this variant form of SCLC tumours are derived from a separate class of rare cells called tuft cells, the researchers said.
“We were using the CRISPR screen to discover new vulnerabilities in this disease that we didn’t know about before. The surprise is that in the process, we discovered a new form of lung cancer,” said lead author Christopher Vakoc from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in the US.
Developing drugs that specifically target the function of POU2F3 may be particularly effective in the subset of patients with tumours that express high levels of this transcription factor, the researchers noted.

Ageing, combined with a high-fat and high-sugar diet, can result in increased inflammation and may contribute to the early development of Alzheimer’s disease, says a new study.
While ageing is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, a new study shows that obesity during middle age may contribute to the early development of the brain disorder, termed as the most common form of dementia. The results showed that ageing, combined with a high-fat and high-sugar diet, results in increased inflammation and stress in the hippocampus (responsible for long-term memory) and prefrontal cortex (responsible for complex cognitive, emotional and behavioural function).
Both the brain regions are thought to be involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.The study also revealed that certain areas of the brain respond differently to risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s. “These results add to our basic understanding of the pathways involved in the early progression of (Alzheimer’s) pathogenesis and demonstrate the negative effects of a HFS (high fat-sucrose) diet on both the prefrontal cortex and hippocampal regions,” said researcher Rebecca EK MacPherson, from the Brock University in Ontario, Canada.
Here are some of the other effects of such diets:
* Researchers at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston found that eating a typical Western high-fat diet, such as cheeseburgers and fries, could make prostate cancer more aggressive and cause them to spread.
* A study done by the University of Surrey in England shows that even healthy men had increased levels of fat in their blood and fat stored in their livers after they consumed a high sugar diet. “Our findings provide new evidence that consuming high amounts of sugar can alter your fat metabolism in ways that could increase your risk of cardiovascular disease,” said Bruce Griffin, professor of nutritional metabolism at the University of Surrey in England.
* Experts also say that a diet that is high on sugar can lead to mood swings, acne, high blood pressure, and cavities.

Watermelons have a high glycemic index and are a source of carbohydrates, which is why diabetics need to be careful how much they consume.
Delhi : Watermelon is known to be the favourite fruit of many people, but if you are a diabetic, you are bound to ask whether it is safe for you. We don’t want our favourite fruit to end up increasing our blood sugar levels right?
The watermelon belongs to the gourd family, and has good nutritional value and is a great source of lycopene, which reduces your risk of cancer and heart disease.
So considering that it has a high glycemic index and is a source of carbohydrates, should it be avoided by diabetics?
“Watermelon is a fruit with high water and fibre content. However, people living with diabetes should consider in what proportion the fruit must be eaten. This is because watermelon has a glycemic index (GI) of 72 per 100 g serving. Those with diabetes should usually think twice before consuming any foods with a GI of 70 or more. Large quantities may cause blood sugar levels to rise considerably,” says Anshika Gupta, who is a diabetes educator on the app BeatO, and is based out of Delhi.
So how much watermelon is good for those with diabetes?
“As watermelon is 70-80% water, it’s glycemic load is low (2 per 100gm). People with diabetes can consume 150-200 gm watermelon at one time. It will give you around 15 gm of carbohydrate,” explains Gupta.
For the rest, it is important that they understand the various benefits that watermelon has to offer.
“Watermelons are composed of 92% water and are rich in a variety of nutrients such as vitamins A, B6 and C, lycopene, antioxidants, and amino acids. It also has decent quantities of potassium and is very low in sodium. Antioxidants help prevent any damage to the body and amino acids are required as the basic building blocks for protein synthesis. Lycopene is beneficial for heart and bone health and helps prevents prostate cancer,” says Anuj Vats, a Delhi-based nutritionist at Shvas the Body Architecture.

The data also indicated strong overlap between anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Scientists have found that some psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may be genetic, whereas neurological disorders like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, appeared more distinct.
The study indicated that psychiatric disorders are likely to have important similarities at a molecular level, which current diagnostic categories do not reflect.
“This work is starting to re-shape how we think about disorders of the brain. If we can uncover the genetic influences and patterns of overlap between different disorders, then we might be able to better understand the root causes of these conditions — and potentially identify specific mechanisms appropriate for tailored treatments,” said lead co-senior author, Ben Neale from Stanley Centre at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Massachusetts.
In the study published in the journal Science, the team measured the amount of genetic overlap across the disorders using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of 265,218 patients and 784,643 controls.
They also examined the relationships between brain disorders and 17 physical or cognitive measures, such as years of education, from 1,191,588 individuals.
The results showed widespread genetic overlap across different types of psychiatric disorders, particularly between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia.
The data also indicated strong overlap between anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as between OCD and Tourette syndrome.
Conversely, neurological disorders except migraine, which was genetically correlated to ADHD, major depressive disorder, and Tourette syndrome, appeared to be distinct.
Further, they noted that genetic factors predisposing individuals to certain psychiatric disorders — namely anorexia, autism, bipolar, and OCD – were significantly correlated with factors associated with higher childhood cognitive measures, including more years of education and college attainment.
“We were surprised that genetic factors of some neurological diseases, normally associated with the elderly, were negatively linked to genetic factors affecting early cognitive measures. It was also surprising that the genetic factors related to many psychiatric disorders were positively correlated with educational attainment,” said first author, Verneri Anttila from the varsity.

Survivors of childhood cancer may soon have a new wireless device to monitor possible heart dysfunction.
Scientists have designed a novel wireless device which may accurately detect heart dysfunction in children who have survived cancer. Childhood cancer survivors are advised to undergo screening for the detection of heart dysfunction because of known anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.
However, screening with echocardiography — the standard of care for monitoring heart function — can be highly variable and limited. Another alternative is cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, which is expensive and is not widely accessible.
In the study, the team tested Vivio — a prototype handheld instrument which collects pulse waves and phonocardiogram data from the carotid artery. The results showed that the device was accurate and it displayed a low false-negative rate as compared to CMR imaging. “This study is the first step in thinking about new paradigms of long-term monitoring and care delivery for cancer survivors who are at risk for severe and life-threatening health conditions,” said Saro Armenian, Director at City of Hope National Medical Centre in California.
The study, published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, involved data from 191 patients exposed to anthracycline chemotherapy. The data of the participants was collected using Vivio which then streamed wirelessly to a compatible device such as a smart phone or e-tablet. This mobile health platform negates the need for result interpretation and allows for real-time monitoring of heart health, explained Armenian.
However, the author said that Vivio is not currently intended to replace echocardiography or CMR imaging. “One possible implementation of Vivio could be for preliminary screening,” Armenian explained.