Tomatoes are 'stroke preventers'

A diet rich in tomatoes may reduce the risk of having a stroke, according to researchers in Finland.

They were investigating the impact of lycopene - a bright red chemical found in tomatoes, peppers and water-melons.

A study of 1,031 men, published in the journal Neurology, showed those with the most lycopene in their bloodstream were the least likely to have a stroke.

The Stroke Association called for more research into why lycopene seemed to have this effect.

The levels of lycopene in the blood were assessed at the beginning of the study, which then followed the men for the next 12 years.

They were split into four groups based on the amount of lycopene in their blood. There were 25 strokes in the 258 men in the low lycopene group and 11 strokes out of the 259 men in the high lycopene group.

The study said the risk of stroke was cut by 55% by having a diet rich in lycopene.

'Major reduction'

 
Dr Jouni Karppi, from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, said: "This study adds to the evidence that a diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of stroke.

"The results support the recommendation that people get more than five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which would likely lead to a major reduction in the number of strokes worldwide, according to previous research."

He said lycopene acted as an antioxidant, reduced inflammation and prevented blood clotting.

Dr Clare Walton, from the Stroke Association, said: "This study suggests that an antioxidant which is found in foods such as tomatoes, red peppers and water-melons could help to lower our stroke risk.

"However, this research should not deter people from eating other types of fruit and vegetables as they all have health benefits and remain an important part of a staple diet.

"More research is needed to help us understand why the particular antioxidant found in vegetables such as tomatoes could help keep our stroke risk down."

Surprising Results in New Anxiety Study

"New England Researchers have revealed 1 surprising new all-natural compound for anxiety relief."

D o you feel anxious and on edge? Do you shy away from meeting new people? Are these feelings of avoidance causing you to hide from the world? You're not alone. Over 40 million Americans report feelings of anxiety; that's over 18% of the adult population.

However, recent studies have reached some surprising conclusions about what causes anxiety in the first place.

Previously, there had been a great debate over nature vs. nurture. Is it the bills piling up and the overbearing boss, or are you just a naturally "high-strung" person? Everyone is born with a natural hard-wired response to stress and anxiety. But like any other mechanism, it has its flaws. If one moving part goes wrong, the entire system can spin out of control.

In prehistoric times, we needed this heightened level of awareness and caution with danger lurking around every corner. But in modern times, this same survival mechanism that is meant to protect you can make you feel nervous and anxious for no reason. How many times have you said to yourself, "There is nothing to be nervous about," but the anxiety is still there and you can't help feeling this way?
New England researchers agree that it is not your fault. These researchers have pinpointed the cause of anxiety to a shortage of GABA and serotonin compounds in your body. GABA and serotonin are nature's natural anxiety and stress relievers.

But there is an even greater problem. So many of these 40 million Americans who are plagued by anxiety turn to prescription medication. They are trying to solve a natural problem with chemicals.
This new research says that you don't have to change your body's chemistry and open yourself up to harmful side effects or even addiction. You can treat this problem in an easy and inexpensive way that does not involve uncomfortable doctor visits or awkward therapy sessions.
Over the last 18 months, researchers in an FDA-certified laboratory in New York have been perfecting how the three safest and most potent herbs to fight anxiety can be combined into one natural compound.

It's called A2X, and here's how it works.

Three natural herbs in the A2X formula work together to aid your body's natural defense against anxiety. Ashwagandha, L-Theanine and Passion Flower have been clinically proven to boost GABA and serotonin levels in the human body. The result? You're more relaxed. Worries don't seem as big. Anxiety disappears. And over time, A2X helps to calm your body's natural response to anxiety so you can feel like yourself again.

Studies have shown that these natural ingredients can stimulate the production of GABA and serotonin in your body so worry goes away and you feel calm and anxiety-free. And best of all was A2X's safety rating. There were no reported side effects.


How good is prescription medication if the side effects are worse than your original problem? A2X was created to be not only effective but also safe for long-term use with no side effects. A2X is made in a GMP-certified, FDA-approved laboratory in New York to ensure the highest standards of safety.
The entire A2X compound fits into two pills with low-dosage, high-efficiency ingredients for immediate relief. Taken daily, your body will safely absorb A2X's natural ingredients and help you feel calm and relaxed each and every day.

Soda industry: Vending machines will show calories

NEW YORK (AP) — As criticism over sugary sodas intensifies, Coke, Pepsi and Dr Pepper are rolling out new vending machines that display just how many calories are in their drinks.

The machines will let customers see the calorie counts for drinks before making a purchase. They will launch in Chicago and San Antonio municipal buildings in 2013 before rolling out nationally.

The American Beverage Association, which represents Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo Inc. and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc., said Monday that the machines will increase the availability of lower-calorie drinks and remind consumers to consider alternatives with messages such as "Try a Low-Calorie Beverage."

A 12-ounce can of regular soda typically has about 140 calories and 40 grams of high-fructose corn syrup. Most diet sodas, which are sweetened with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, have zero calories.

Starting next year, Coca-Cola says its vending machines in the two cities will feature calorie information for each beverage choice. The Atlanta-based company notes that it already provides calorie information on the front of its drinks rather than just on the nutrition panel on the back.

The move comes as the soda industry has come under increasing fire for fueling obesity rates. Last month, New York City approved a plan to prohibit the sale of sugary drinks over 16 ounces in the city's restaurants, movie theaters and stadiums. The beverage industry aggressively fought the measure, saying it takes away customer choice.

Soft drink makers are also dealing with shifting consumer habits. On a per capita basis, soda consumption in the U.S. has been declining since 1998, according to the industry tracker Beverage Digest. The decline is partly the result of the growing number of beverage options, such as flavored waters, bottled teas and sports drinks.

As a result, Coke, Pepsi and Dr Pepper are focusing on developing more diet drinks, as well as expanding into other types of drinks to reduce their reliance on sodas.

Alzheimer's drug 'slows memory loss by a third'

A new Alzheimer’s drug could dramatically slow the pace of memory loss in those with the disease, it was revealed on Monday. 

Combined results from two trials shows the drug, called solanezumab, slows the speed of mental decline by a third in those with mild disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, with about 500,000 people in Britain suffering from it.

Despite enormous investment in experimental treatments, only a handful of drugs to tackle the degenerative brain disease have been approved. These drugs are effective at alleviating some of the symptoms but they do not tackle the underlying cause of disease.

Now Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical firm, has announced results for its new drug, which works to help clear the protein ‘plaques’ thought to cause Alzheimer’s.

Combined results from two trials showed that it slowed the pace of cognitive decline by 34 per cent, over an 18-month period, compared to those given a placebo.

The results were presented on Monday at a meeting of the American Neurological Association in Boston, Massachusetts.

Rachelle Doody, professor of neurology at Baylor College of Medicine, who was involved in the research, described the finding as “encouraging”.

She said: “These results represent an important step for the medical, academic, and scientific communities in understanding brain amyloid as a target of Alzheimer’s disease therapies.”

The result was obtained by combining data from two individual trials, which each contained about 1,000 people.

In August the firm and patients’ groups were left bitterly disappointed after results from the two parallel trials were released.

Each trial indicated the drug did have an effect - but the results were as strong as hoped. They suggested a dim future for the eagerly anticipated drug.

The new analysis is therefore a welcome boost for those with the disease.

However, it is still unclear whether Eli Lilly will apply to drugs regulators in the US and Europe to get solanezumab approved.

The drug also appears to increase the angina, with incidence of the heart condition being 1.1 per cent in those given solanezumab, compared to 0.2 per cent in the placebo group.

A spokesman for Eli Lilly said: “Next steps for solanezumab will be determined after discussions with regulators.”

Dr Mike Hutton, Eli Lilly's chief scientific officer for neurodegeneration, said: "This is so exciting because the amyloid hypothesis has been around for 20 years, and I think this is the first evidecne that targeting the amyloid cascade can slow the progression of disease.

"There are lots of drugs in the pipeline that tackle this, being developed by Eli Lilly and other companies."

Dr Eric Karran, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, welcomed the research and said it indicated the drug would be of most use if given early.

He said: "We knew when the results of this trial were first announced that, despite the overall negative outcome, the drug did seem to show positive trends for some patients.

"The fact that the benefits appear to be for those people with mild forms of Alzheimer’s suggests that solanezumab may only have an effect when given early in the disease process.

“The drug aims to stop a protein called amyloid from building in the brain, but we know this can start to happen years before symptoms develop.

"Studies of anti-amyloid drugs like solanezumab in people with pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s are being planned, and the results from these trials could be very interesting."

Eating fish in pregnancy may protect child from ADHD

High levels of mercury during pregnancy may increase the risk of children with ADHD, a study has found, while eating fish reduces chances of the disorder.

Researchers found that women with the highest levels of mercury were between 40 per cent and 70 per cent more likely to have children showing symptoms of ADHD eight years later.

The authors, from Boston University, in America, said that the primary source of mercury was from eating fish.

However, children born to women who ate more than two portions of fish per week were 60 per cent less likely to have attention and hyperactivity symptoms.

This showed the 'difficulties of balancing the benefits of fish intake with the detriments of low-level mercury exposure in developing dietary recommendations in pregnancy, the researchers said.

It may be that women with the highest levels of mercury were consuming fish high in the heavy metal, such as swordfish, shark and marlin, where as most women ate fish with relatively low levels such as sardines and mackerel.

Other experts suggested that the women may have been exposed to another source of mercury.

Experts praised the research for being rigorous and said it added important information about mercury in the environment.

It is the first time that eating fish in pregnancy has been linked to a lower risk of ADHD in children.

 It is thought up to 12 per cent of children could suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and links have already been made with women smoking and being exposed to lead during pregnancy.

The researchers took hair samples of 421 mothers around the time of giving birth, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and asked them about their consumption of fish while pregnant. Then eight years later they assessed the children for signs of ADHD.

They found that one microgram of mercury per gram of hair or more was associated with a rise in the likelihood of the child having ADHD symptoms. This was a level slightly lower than the current recommended safe limit, the team wrote in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Jean Golding, Professor of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology at University of Bristol, said: “This is an important paper that should be considered carefully.

"For me the most important take home message is that a mother eating more than 2 helpings of fish a week appears to reduce the risk of hyperactivity in her child by a considerable amount.

"The other message is that high levels of mercury in the mother have some adverse consequences for the child's behaviour – but this must imply that it is not the mercury from seafood that is the culprit. This is a complex field, but important to untangle.

“Meanwhile the take home message for pregnant mothers is that eating fish is good for the future behaviour of her child.”

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency, said: “We’re aware of the paper which needs to be considered alongside the existing literature on this issue.

"The European Food Safety Authority is currently reviewing the risks to health from mercury and methylmercury and is expected to publish its preliminary opinion later this year. "The FSA’s advice remains that risks from mercury in fish are mainly an issue for pregnant women and women who intend to become pregnant.

 "This is because of the possible risks to the developing nervous system of the unborn child. Our advice is that pregnant women and women intending to become pregnant shouldn’t eat more than four medium-sized cans or two fresh tuna steaks per week. They should also avoid shark, marlin and swordfish.”

The dark side of liquid nitrogen cocktails

One moment Gaby Scanlon was out with her friends celebrating her 18th birthday in a wine bar in Lancaster city centre, showing off the watch she’d been given. The next, she was in Lancaster Royal Infirmary, having her stomach removed.

There are plenty of sixth-formers who wake up feeling the worse for wear after celebrating this milestone, but Gaby’s horrendous incident was not because she had drunk too much. It was because of what she had drunk: liquid nitrogen.

The police and the bar owners are still trying to work out exactly what happened, and there is no suggestion that anyone has broken any laws. However, Gaby’s accident has thrown the spotlight on the increasingly sophisticated world of cocktail bars. The era of simple piña coladas and vodka tonics has been replaced by molecular mixology, where foams, sprays, jellies and smoking drinks have become all the rage. Martini glasses and highballs are now passé – shots are drunk out of test tubes, gin and elderflower tonics served out of steaming tea pots.

“It really took off about two or three years ago, and the dry-ice effect is exciting,” says Tatiana Mercer, who runs a bar blog, BarChick. “It’s brought the sense of theatre into bars, in the way that Heston Blumenthal did with restaurants. But I had no idea it was potentially dangerous.”

Gaby’s night out was at a pretty basic bar in the university town. Famed for its generous portions of nachos, even this hang-out has taken up the trend of liquid nitrogen, a chemical many of us will remember from childhood science lessons – being handled by a diffident teacher wearing goggles.

Prostate cancer 'barcode' tests

A blood test that reads genetic results like a barcode can pick out the most aggressive prostate cancers, say experts.

The test, which looks at the signature pattern of genes switched on and off in blood cells triggered by the tumour, can sort the "tigers" from the "pussycats".

 London's Institute of Cancer Research trialled the test in 94 patients.

The findings are published in the Lancet Oncology medical journal.

Prostate cancer is a very diverse disease - some people live with it for years without symptoms, but for others it can be aggressive and life-threatening.

Currently, doctors take a small sample of the tumour - a biopsy - to examine under a microscope to get a better idea of how dangerous it is.

Experts hope that ultimately the barcode blood test could be used to make a more accurate estimation.

In the study, the scientists were able to split the patients into four groups based on the results of the barcode test. One of these groups fared far worse, surviving for significantly less time than the other patients.

The researchers then confirmed their findings in another 70 US patients with advanced cancer, which revealed that nine genes could accurately spot who had the least chance of survival.
Patients with this "bad" gene signature survived for an average of nine months compared with 21 months for those without it.

US researchers at the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre have also been testing a similar prostate cancer blood test.

Their six-gene test could split patients into high and low risk groups.

Prof Malcolm Mason, of Cancer Research UK, said: "These are important results.

"Not only do they point to a group of patients with advanced prostate cancer who do particularly badly, and who therefore may need different forms of treatment, but they also point to the possible role of the immune system in influencing how a cancer might behave.

"If the present results are borne out in further studies, we may have a new way of selecting the right treatments for the right patients."

Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK, accounting for almost a quarter of male cancers.

Each year, nearly 35,000 men are diagnosed and more than 10,000 die from the disease.