The following are some of the possible health problems they could be facing.

Bone problems

As a major dietary source of easily absorbed calcium, milk is essential to developing healthy bones. So when children fail to get their significant supply of calcium from milk, they could suffer from rickets early on, or from osteoporosis later in life.

Rickets is a bone disease caused by a lack of calcium and vitamin D. Children’s bones become soft and bow-shaped. With weaker bones, bone fractures are more likely to occur as a result.

Several studies have also linked adult osteoporotic fractures to low milk consumption during childhood, simply because children get much of their calcium supply from it.

Malnutrition

We know that milk is an excellent source of nutrition for children. Take milk away from the diet, and children may fail to get their share of those nutrients. If these nutrients, specifically protein and vitamin A, are not obtained from other dietary sources, we could have a malnourished child in our hands.

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) usually affects children in developing countries who do not consume enough calories or protein. Children with PEM may suffer from wasting disorders such as hair loss, loose and wrinkled skin, edema (organ swelling especially if the child is severely deficient in protein) and starvation resulting to muscle wasting. If not alleviated, PEM can lead to permanent organ damage.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is another major form of malnutrition in the country. It is commonly due to inadequate dietary intake of vitamin A rich foods. Poor growth, lowered resistance to infection, night blindness and rough, scaly skin afflict those with VAD.

According to the 2003 National Nutrition Survey, 40.1 percent of Filipino children have low levels of vitamin A, up from 38 percent in 1998.

The worse news is that VAD can be deadly if not cured. The Department of Health estimates that at least 25,000 children die prematurely from the deficiency every year.

VAD also predisposes children to night blindness or nyctalopia. Children with nyctalopia have defective or reduced vision in the dark or in dimly lit places, especially after coming from bright light.

Thankfully, preventing these ailments is not difficult. Just keep kids nourished with a well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and of course, milk.

Source: Philippine Star

Vitamin E even appeared to raise the risk of bleeding strokes, a danger seen in at least one earlier study.

Besides questioning whether vitamins help, “we have to worry about potential harm,” said Barbara Howard, a nutrition scientist at MedStar Research Institute of Hyattsville, Maryland.

She has no role in the research but reviewed and discussed it at an American Heart Association conference. Results also were published online by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Male smokers taking vitamin E had a higher rate of bleeding strokes in a previous study, and several others found no benefit for heart health.

As for vitamin C, some research suggests it may aid cancer, not fight it. A previous study in women at high risk of heart problems found it did not prevent heart attacks.

Few long-term studies have been done. The new one is the Physicians Health Study, led by Drs. Howard Sesso and J. Michael Gaziano of Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

It involved 14,641 male doctors, 50 or older, including five percent who had heart disease at the time the study started in 1997.

They were put into four groups and given either vitamin E, vitamin C, both, or dummy pills. The dose of E was 400 international units every other day; C was 500 milligrams daily.

After an average of eight years, no difference was seen in the rates of heart attack, stroke or heart-related deaths among the groups.

However, 39 men taking E suffered bleeding strokes versus only 23 of the others, which works out to a 74-percent greater risk for vitamin-takers.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and several vitamin makers. Results were so clear that they would be unlikely to change if the study were done in women, minorities, or with different formulations of the vitamins, Howard said.

“In these hard economic times, maybe we can save some money by not buying these supplements,” she said.

A second study found that vitamins B-12 and B-9 (folic acid) did not prevent heart disease either, supporting the results of previous trials.

That study involved more than 12,000 heart attack survivors and was led by Dr. Jane Armitage of the University of Oxford in England.

Source: Philippine Star

YOU’RE out of denial now. Yes, the hurt in the knees hasn’t really been going away even on a diet of pain pills. And yes, you’ve have just about enough of the incapacitation and the boredom.

In fact, you’ve been rightly proactive about the whole thing. Regular visits to the orthopedic specialist confirmed the worsening osteoarthritis of the knee. It’s been three years of enduring the pain but you’ve been a good patient. You took the medicine (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and much later, the COX-2 inhibitors) and the food supplements (glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate). You even managed to lose a few pounds, on the recommendation of the doctor that lessening the load on the knees might ease some of the suffering.

Yet the pain remained.

The reality check came in the form of weight-bearing X-rays of the knees. They showed clearly that the knees were indeed worn out. Standing in front of the mirror was no less encouraging. You don’t remember ever being bow-legged and yet now, the left knee is as crooked as a tradpol’s intentions. Acquired bow-leggedness may mean that the inner side of the knee has begun to collapse from the arthritic process.

And now you’ve made, in a manner of speaking, the great leap forward. You’ve agreed to a total knee replacement. In this major operation, the ends of the diseased knee (the lower end of the thigh bone and the upper end of the leg bone) are cut and shaved to fit artificial parts. The prosthesis is a combination of super alloy (cobalt chrome) and plastic (UHMWPE or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene). A grout (bone cement or polymethylmethacrylate) fixes the prosthesis to the bone and allows early weight bearing and walking.

Preparing for surgery. It’s essential to review your own medical history. Do you know your blood type? Do you have allergies to food or drugs? Do you have other conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes? Have you had major surgery in the past and did you have problems? These are some questions the answers to which clarify the level of risk, if any, that you have. Before surgery, you need a medical clearance from your favorite internist. Laboratory tests like a full blood count, fasting blood sugar, electrolytes, and urinalysis and official readings of your chest film and EKG are some bases for getting that clearance. Without it, your surgeon won’t be able to operate. The surgeon will need to know that your body, not only your mind, is also prepared to undergo the two to three-hour procedure. You may also want to meet the anesthesiologist and discuss not only the type of anesthesia for the operation but also pain control after surgery.

Your doctor’s secretary will have you reserve a hospital room. The type of room – ward, semi-private, or private depends on your budget. If you have medical insurance, there will be preconditions on the length of hospital stay and other matters with direct bearing on expenses. These must all be ironed out before admission.

The day before surgery. This checklist may help:

Take a shower to decrease infection risk; don’t shave the area to be operated on. If needed, it will be done for you; remove make-up, lipstick, or nail polish; do bring personal care items such as toothbrush, denture case, contact lens case, etc.; don’t bring valuables; don’t take alcohol or eat heavily before admission; and bring favorite slippers, shoes, and clothes for physical therapy after surgery.

The amount of preparation that you put into your operation determines whether you’ll be miserable or comfortable in the hospital. These actions will show that you are in charge. A smooth recovery has become a foregone conclusion.

Billboard. The 59th Annual Convention of the Philippine Orthopedic Association (POA) will be held from Nov. 19-22, 2008 at Hotel Sofitel, the former Westin Philippine Plaza. This year’s theme is: “Moving UP: The Upper Extremity in Trauma and Arthroplasty” as explained by POA President Dr. Francisco P. Altarejos. All interested individuals, orthopedic fellows and residents – please check out the POA website http://www.philortho.org

Fact/Factoid. Eating hot and spicy foods or liquids can cause hiccups. (Yahoo! Health).

Source: Manila Bulletin

Breast cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer. Although some men can be afflicted with the disease, more women suffer from it, with an estimated one million cases diagnosed worldwide each year. For almost half or 500,000 individuals, the ailment will eventually prove fatal. Fortunately, however, increasing awareness about the disease has led to earlier detection and treatment, subsequently resulting in lower mortality rates. Improved medical treatments for breast cancer have also been developed, leading to remission and cure. However, early detection remains a key factor towards increasing the chances for survival.

We were recently introduced to a technology that ostensibly helps in detecting the earliest stages of breast cancer. Called Medical Digital Thermal Imaging or MDITI, the technology works based on the principle that abnormal cell growth in cancer results in increased cellular activity that consequently generates heat. Through infrared scanning, MDITI generates a thermogram or graphical map of body temperature. The abnormal temperature changes will then pinpoint “hot spots” that can indicate degeneration of an organ, or the growth of a cyst or tumor.

“MDITI’s accuracy is comparable to mammography,” says Dr. Roderick Tan. He explains that while a mammogram has an accuracy rate of 84 percent, MDITI’s accuracy is 83 percent in detecting cancers that are already growing or established in the breast. “The difference between the two technologies is that during pre-cancerous stages, only MDITI can screen for spots at risk of developing into breast cancer at more than 90-percent accuracy.”

Although mammograms and ultrasound are able to detect the presence of benign or malignant cysts, they cannot detect pre-cystic activity when there is abnormal blood vessel growth and function that can eventually lead to cysts and cancer. Simply put, these standard diagnostic procedures are able to show the fully formed mass, but cannot detect it while it is still being formed.

Who should go for examination? Dr. Tan says that MDITI is recommended for all women, especially those with a family history of breast cancer, and women whose diets and lifestyle put them at greater risk. “Through a multimodal approach that employs clinical examination coupled with mammography and MDITI, 95 percent of early-stage cancers can be detected. The rates of false positive results and missed cancerous masses are also decreased.”

Furthermore, an abnormal MDITI result is 10 times more significant as a future risk, and a persistent abnormal result carries 22 times greater risk for breast cancer.

The best part about MDITI is that it is a quick, non-invasive and pain-free procedure. It uses no chemicals or radiation, there are no needles, and there is no physical contact through squeezing or pressing. The simple 20-minute procedure can be done as often as possible with no harmful side effects. However, the MDITI procedure requires two or more visits, especially for those not yet diagnosed with cancer. The first visit is to establish a baseline that will serve as a point of reference for subsequent examinations.

Says Dr. Tan, “Additionally, MDITI enables the physician to screen, evaluate, monitor, and document a large number of injuries and conditions, including soft tissue injuries and sensory/autonomic nerve fiber dysfunction. It has been extensively used in the USA, Europe, and different parts of Asia for the past 20 years in the clinical fields of rheumatology, neurology, physiotherapy, chiropractic, sports medicine, oncology, pediatrics, orthopedics, and many others.”
* * *

The MDITI procedure is available at the HealthQuest Research clinic of Dr. Roderick Tan, Unit 1009, Tycoon Center, Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Call 706-3876 or 09178168707

Source: Philippine Star

Okay, oil right, we received some e-mails as a rejoinder to Dr. Jun Respicio’s absorbing piece on canola oil, where he separated fat, er, fact from fiction and dwelt on the good, the bad, and the oily. For instance, one anxious reader wanted to know what oil we use for cooking before she makes the dramatic shift from canola oil because she did not want to be jumping from the frying pan into the fire (figuratively speaking, of course). Another housewife asked which is the best bet when it comes to cooking oil. Here’s an e-mail to answer the latter query:

I enjoyed reading your article on canola oil in the Nov. 4 issue of Philippine STAR. I am the son of the late Dr. Conrado Dayrit and have been doing research on the chemical aspects of VCO (virgin coconut oil). This research is funded by DOST. I am quite familiar with the issues regarding vegetable oils, including the tropical fats scare, polyunsaturated fats, the American Soya Association lobby, and canola oil. Let me share with you some thoughts on canola oil. Actually, canola oil is being genetically engineered not only to remove the erucic acid content, but to boost its lauric acid content to levels beyond that in coconut oil. This is significant to us for two reasons:

1) While I am not opposed as a matter of scientific principle to GMOs, GMO food products certainly have their concerns. In this case, the consumer no longer knows what s/he is getting because the composition of the canola oil has been changing. I am sure that the canola oil of 15 years ago was not the same as the canola oil of today. This can be dangerous.

2) This is an example of double standard or doublespeak by developed countries against developing countries. Even as they badmouth coconut oil (which is a high lauric product) for being high in “saturated fats,” they develop their own high lauric product.There’s a lot of political and economic bullying in the international food industry. Unfortunately, our coconut has been at the receiving end of this for over 50 years now. We have to keep our faith in our own coconut. While there’s no such thing as the perfect food (it’s always good to have diversity in one’s diet), I believe that coconut ranks as one of the best. It’s our challenge to prove this and to convince people of it.
— Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit
Dean, School of Science & Engineering
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Ateneo de Manila University

Loyola Heights, Quezon City

Source: Philippine Star

HONG KONG — Hong Kong mother Shirley Lo stocked her refrigerator with soymilk and switched to buying imported chocolates for her son after melamine was found in baby formula and milk products in China.

But when eggs from China tested positive for melamine in Hong Kong late last month, she threw up her hands in despair.

“It’s horrifying,” Ms. Lo said. “It’s clear it has gone into basic foods and into our food chain. My son has been trying to comfort me, saying he must be very strong because his body must be full of this stuff and yet he is not sick.”

The discovery of melamine in eggs as well as in baby formula, milk products, biscuits, chocolates and other foodstuffs containing milk derivatives confirms what experts have long suspected — that the chemical is deeply embedded in the human food chain.

And it’s not just melamine. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury which can cause brain damage, as well as cadmium, a compound used in batteries, pesticides and antibiotics are all present in the human food chain.

China is a major transgressor as carcinogenic chemicals are regularly used as food coloring agents or as preservatives, experts say.

“In China, food safety is not a concern and all sorts of things like Sudan red, Malachite green are added in food, so food contamination is widespread,” said Peter Yu, a professor of biology and chemical technology at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

“We also have environmental contamination from pesticides, formaldehyde [to kill bacteria],” Mr. Yu said, citing the use of Malachite green, a carcinogenic agent, that in 2006 was found in fish from China. It had been added to eradicate fungal disease in the fish.

Leading food manufacturers regularly test their ingredients and final products for many of these contaminants, but experts say it’s impossible to keep up with all the foreign compounds that land up on the dinner table, especially in China where regulation is lax and difficult to enforce.

In the wake of the melamine scandal, China is reviewing a tougher draft food safety law following criticism from the United Nations for its sluggish response to the tainted milk scandal.

Human food chain

The melamine saga has surprised even some food producers, who say they find it hard to keep up with strange additives that are added to food. Melamine, for example, was added to baby formula to cheat protein level tests.

“How did we come up with cadmium or heavy metals? Because we know they would kill people. That’s why we test for them. But we didn’t know melamine would even be in food,” said a manager who works for a major foreign food producer with factories in China.

“We never had melamine in our specifications (contaminants to look out for). If it is melamine today, it will be something else tomorrow. We can’t possibly test for every toxin in the world,” said the manager, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

Tens of thousands of children in China have fallen ill with kidney problems in recent months, and at least four have died, after being fed infant formula that was later found to have been mixed with melamine.

Subsequent tests found melamine in a variety of Chinese-made products from milk and chocolate bars to yoghurt and other products exported around the world, leading to items being pulled from shop shelves and massive recalls.

But with the discovery of melamine in eggs, apparently due to contaminated feed given to chickens, the chemical appears to be far more entrenched in the human food chain than first thought.

Melamine and its derivatives are widely used in animal feed and pesticides in China but no one knows how harmful they can be to people after prolonged exposure.

Hong Kong imposed a cap on melamine in September to no more than 2.5 milligrams per kilogram, while food meant for children under 3 and lactating mothers should be no more than 1 mg per kg.

Experts say the limits are arbitrary and called for more tests and science when imposing safety limits.

“The limits are derived from animal studies but we don’t know what our exposure is. What if we are accumulating more than is safe?” said Chan King-ming, biochemistry professor at the Chinese University.

“There should be surveys to find out what foods have melamine and their concentrations. Then we know how serious it is.”

A World Health Organization (WHO) official said this week some of the affected children in China, most of whom are believed to be under the age of 3, have “crystals” in their kidneys. Some might need surgery to avoid potentially deadly kidney failure.

Melamine tests

In Hong Kong, parents have thronged public clinics to get their children tested for melamine by laboratories that analyze urine samples with sophisticated spectrometers.

“Melamine is not soluble. But if it is very concentrated as in the case of these Chinese kids [whose diet was mostly formula], it forms into crystals,” said Allen Chan, associate professor of chemical pathology at the Chinese University.

Permanent liver damage can be caused when crystals suddenly form into large numbers of tubules in the kidneys of children that have consumed melamine, causing chronic kidney failure and requiring dialysis and even kidney transplants later on in life.

The WHO plans to make a detailed assessment of the risks of long-term consumption of melamine. It has asked China to provide information for a meeting of experts in December.

Anthony Hazzard, WHO’s regional adviser for food safety, said experts needed information on the levels of melamine detected in the affected children, details on length of exposure and treatment and the age groups of the worst affected children.

“We understand that they will participate and provide data so we don’t, at this moment, fear any cover up… so we expect full cooperation,” he told Reuters in an interview.

Melamine contamination is the latest in a long list of food scandals involving China. Experts say it is a wake up call for governments to strictly enforce food safety laws and for food producers and manufacturers to tighten quality control.

“The ethics lie in the businesses. They must make sure their supply chains are supplying ingredients that are safe. The role of government is to enforce and ensure companies are implementing good manufacturing and hygienic practices,” Mr. Hazzard said.

Source: Business World

The St. Francis Shangri-La Place may be the perfect place to live for today’s generation who leads very full, very active, and sometimes very stressful lifestyles.

“We’re making it easy and convenient for our homeowners to develop a holistic and balanced lifestyle,” says lawyer Andy Bautista, president of Shang Properties, developers of The St. Francis Shangri-La Place. “The clubhouse and fully equipped gym are practically at the residents’ doorstep, so working out is just an elevator ride away.”

The gym will have a wide range of top-of-the-line equipment from LifeFitness, with almost 50 different machines, so users do not have to wait long for their turn, a common complaint about huge fitness establishments.

Large and spacious at over 420 square meters, the gym can accommodate 50 people simultaneously working out at any given time, using the latest technology in treadmills, cross trainers, recumbent and upright bikes and rowers, to name a few. Other features are an aerobics room, sauna and steam baths, spa, male and female changing rooms and lockers, as well as hot and cold Jacuzzis, adult and children’s swimming pools.

Built at a cost of over P200 million, the two-level St. Francis clubhouse occupies a total area of over 5,000 square meters, and is a further enhancement to the Shangri-La Place integrated community, making it possible to keep a healthy lifestyle while living in the most luxurious and convenient premises. Its amenities are suitable for parties and offer family recreation like karaoke and music room, game hall with a billiard table, podium garden, barbecue area, outdoor picnic area, jogging path, wisdom corner, and videogame room. On the same level where the gym is located, there is also a table tennis room and a children’s play area so that couples can spend quality time by keeping fit together, secure in the knowledge that their kids are safe and enjoying themselves in the next room.

The St. Francis Shangri-La Place is strategically located at the heart of the bustling Ortigas district. Its prime location gives unit owners access to the five-star services of the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel and Shangri-La Plaza Mall’s wide range of upscale shopping choices, entertainment venues, and dining options.

The twin 60-storey residential hi-rise will be ready for occupancy starting January 2009.

For more information, call 634-5678, 634-8111 and 634-8080. Visit the St. Francis Shangri-La Place showroom located at Level 1, Shangri-La Plaza annex, Edsa corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City or e-mail sales@thestfrancistowers.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Property consultants will be ready to assist for reservations and inquiries.

Source: Philippine Star

After conducting workshops in Dubai last month, Australian senior Buteyko practitioner Jac Vidgen returns to the Philippines to conduct the workshops in Manila.

Developed through more than 40 years of research, the Buteyko Method has been found by scientific trials in Canada, Australia, Scotland and New Zealand to be a highly effective tool for the dramatic relief of breathing-related conditions, which subsequently strengthens the immune function, reduces stress, and improves overall well-being. It can also enhance the practice of yoga and other forms of meditation.

Free two-hour introductory lectures are set on Monday, Nov. 10, 7-9 p.m. at PhilDHRRA Partnership Center, 59 C. Salvador St. (left off B. Gonzales, Katipunan Avenue), Loyola Heights, Quezon City, and on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at In Touch Community Service, 48-A McKinley Road, Forbes Park (Holy Trinity Church compound across San Antonio Plaza), Makati City. During the actual workshops consisting of five two-hour sessions, Vidgen will teach children and adults special breathing exercises and share an understanding of how breathing relates to sleeping, eating, exercise, postural and lifestyle habits without intruding much on one’s daily routine.

For more information, call 893-1893 (Anny) or 09196356060; e-mail jacvid@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or log on to www.buteykoasia.com.

Source: Philippine Star

Everyone has germs. Our bodies are covered with germs that help us to stay healthy. In addition to the germs that are usually present on our skin (resident germs), we also pick up germs from contact with other persons or objects in the environment. These types of germs, called transient germs, are much easier to pick up and transfer. In this way, they can cause you, or others, to get sick.

Although people usually think that germs are spread through the air, the fact is that germs are most easily spread through hand contact. One of the best ways to stop the spread of germs is to wash or to decontaminate your hands. Hand hygiene is the newest term to describe washing or decontaminating hands. Practicing good hand hygiene is the single most important thing we can do to stop the spread of infection.

Washing hands helps to physically remove germs by friction, and to rinse them down the drain. Decontaminating hands reduces the amount of germs present on hands through the use of special alcohol-containing preparations (hand rubs), in the form of gels, rinses or foams.

While alcohol-containing preparations reduce germs on your hands, they cannot remove visible soil or contamination. It is always important to wash hands any time they are visibly dirty. Alcohol-based preparations are a very effective way to decontaminate hands, if they are used appropriately. Here are some practical tips on:

How To Wash Your Hands The Right Way

• If using a cloth towel to dry hands, have it close at hand before you start to wash.
• Wet hands with water.

• Apply soap to hands — lotion soap is best; germs can live on bar soap, but if used, it should be stored on a rack between uses.

• Rub hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds (say the ABCs or sing Row, row, row your boat to make sure you’ve washed long enough).

• Cover all surface of hands, fingers, and thumbs.
• Rinse hands well to remove soap residue.

• Dry hands gently using soft paper towels; if cloth towels, remember that damp towels may harbor germs.
• Use towel to turn off faucet.

When To Wash Your Hands

Children and adults should wash with plain or antimicrobial soap:
• When hands are visibly dirty.
• Before you eat.
• Before you prepare food items.
• After touching raw meats like chicken or beef.

• After contact with body fluids like blood, urine or vomit.
• After changing infant or adult diapers.
• After touching animals and pets.

How To Use Alcohol Hand Rubs
• Apply product to palm of one hand.
• Rub hands together.
• Cover all surfaces of hands and fingers.
• Rub until hands are dry.

• When using alcohol hand rubs, you have used enough (about 1/2 teaspoon) if it takes 25-30 seconds to dry on your hands.

When To Use Alcohol Hand Rubs

• For routine cleaning of hands anytime they are not visibly dirty.

• If you have contact with contaminated objects in the environment.

• Before and after you care for or have contact with someone who is very sick, very old or very young.

• After touching other persons’ intact skin (shaking hands, holding hands, especially when the other person has a cold or other illness).
• Whenever you want to decontaminate hands.

My hands are dry — won’t alcohol sting or make them drier?

• Choose alcohol hand rubs containing 60-95 percent alcohol, listed as ingredients isopropyl, ethanol or n-propanol.

• Choose alcohol hand rubs with one to three percent glycerol or other skin-conditioning agents, as emollients.

• Emollients are added to alcohol hand rubs to restore moisture to the skin.

• Alcohol-based hand rubs, rinses or gels containing emollients cause much less skin irritation and dryness than plain or antimicrobial soaps.

• It is not necessary, or recommended, to routinely wash hands after application of alcohol-based hand rubs.

• Do not wipe off alcohol hand rubs. Let hands air dry.

• Use of antimicrobial hand wipes is considered equivalent to hand washing; but they are not as effective in killing germs as using alcohol hand rubs.

• When used on dry or chafed skin, alcohol may cause a temporary stinging effect, but if products are chosen carefully, the chance of this is decreased.

Your Skin

The skin is a barrier to protect the body from exposure to harmful irritants and disease-causing germs. Healthy skin is “intact” skin. This means that the skin is free from nicks, cuts, scrapes, cracks, and rashes. Skin damage decreases the skin’s ability to act as a protective barrier. Dry skin is susceptible to damage. Some factors that contribute to dry skin are the cold weather, being older than 30, having poor nutrition or dietary needs that are not met, some medications and medical conditions, and exposure to irritating chemicals.

It is important to prevent dry skin. Germs can attach more easily to dry skin, and open areas may allow entry of germs into our bodies. In spite of many factors beyond our control, some choices may help to keep your skin barrier intact:
• Wear gloves and warm clothing when it is cold.
• Wash hands with warm, not hot, water.
• Pat skin dry, rather than rubbing.

• Wear protective gloves when handling chemicals or cleaning agents.

• Choose hand hygiene products that are dermatologist-tested for mildness.

• Use hand moisturizers often, preferably when skin is damp.
• Avoid leaving soap on hands, as it dries the skin.

A Note About Fingernails

Thousands of germs can survive under and around the fingernails. Be sure to clean areas under fingernails if they are visibly dirty, and pay special attention to these areas when you wash or use alcohol hand rubs for cleaning hands. Freshly applied nail polish does not increase the number of germs present, but chipped nail polish may harbor germs. Persons with artificial nails are more likely to have more germs under and around nails than those who do not wear them.

It’s Everyone’s Responsibility

Yes, hand hygiene is a healthy habit for anyone, whether you are at home, at work or in the hospital. Here are a few reasons why hand hygiene is so important: Germs are everywhere. Sick people get infections easier. Infections may require admission to a hospital or can keep patients in the hospital longer.

But the important thing to remember is this: Even healthy people can spread germs. So make good hand hygiene a healthy habit for you and your loved ones.

Source: Philippine Star

Men, like women, also have to go through some changes as they reach their prime. Sadly, most men will prefer to go through these changes in silence. They will definitely not brag about how they are beginning to have trouble urinating.

Problems in urination among men are telltale signs of enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate is a walnut sized gland beside the rectum that secretes fluid that is a component of semen. The prostate surrounds the uretha (the canal that empties urine from the urinary bladder), so when it enlarges, it causes urination problems, such as:

* Frequent urination, especially at night
* Difficulty starting urination
* Weak or interrupted urine flow;
* Feeling that some urine is retained in the bladder.

While prostate enlargement is just a simple inconvenience, one form of prostate enlargement can be deadly: prostate cancer. Fortunately, prostate cancer is compatible with a long, productive life when treated promptly.

Effective treatment starts with early detection. Have a digital rectal examination (wherein the doctor inserts a glove finger into the rectum to feel if the adjacent prostate is enlarged) every year beginning at age 50. Men with a strong family history of cancer should begin testing at age 45. A blood test called Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is also part of screening. Once prostate cancer is suspected, a prostate biopsy is performed.

There are several choices of therapy for prostate cancer, the choice depending on the stage of the disease. Surgical removal of the prostate, or prostatectomy,is a common treatment. The surgeon can make an incision through the abdomen or the perineum, or the surgeon may use a laparoscope that is inserted through a 1-cm incision.

Radiation therapy is an effective non-surgical method wherein radiation kills the cancer cells. Radiation from a linear accelerator is targeted to the cancer to kill cancer cells. Radiotherapy may be used for both early and late prostate cancers, as well as bone spread (metastasis). To make sure that radiation exposure to healthy organs is minimized, a technique called Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) may be used. IMRT is a more precise form of 3D conformal radiotherapy that uses a multileaf collimator (MLC) which splits radiation into beamlets. The arrangement and intensify of the beamlets are varied to conform to the size and shape of the tumor. This minimizes bothersome side effects caused by normal organs (the rectum and bladder) being exposed to unnecessary radiation.

Branchytherapy is another form of radiation therapy for prostate cancer that delivers the radioactive source close to the tumor. There are two types of brachytherapy implants used: permanent or temporary. In the first type, small radioactive seeds are placed permanently into the tumor using ultrasound-guided needles through the skin of the perineum.

High-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is a temporary type of brachytherapy, which involves placing CT-guided needles into the prostate gland. A series of radioactive substances are then delivered through the needles. Four treatments are usually given over three days. After each treatment, the radioactive pellet is automatically retracted back to the brachytherapy machine. When the complete dose of radiation is delivered, the needles are removed. The short period it takes for every treatment (lasting 15-20 minutes) is possible because of the high radiation dose rate.

The St. Luke’s Department of Radiation Oncology is a part of the St. Luke’s Cancer Institute, which offers a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care. Its state-of-the-art radiotherapy technology is complemented with a caring team of specialists composed of radiation oncologists, medical physicists and radiologic technologists. The department will conducting a postgraduate course for doctors, with the theme, “Gaining the Upper Hand Using Cutting-edge Technology,” on September 15, 2007 at the 2nd Floor Conference Room of St. Luke’s Main Building. The topic is the multidisciplinary approach to the management of tumors of the lung, brain, prostate, nasopharynx and others. Registration is free for the first 50pre registrants.

Source: Philippine Star