Plaintain fibre may fight Crohn's Disease

A new plantain-based food product could help to treat patients with Crohn's disease, a condition that causes chronic inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.

Figures suggest that about one in 800 people in the UK are affected by Crohn's disease, which is characterised by diarrhoea, bleeding and abdominal pain.

Now, scientists are conducting clinical trials to see whether a medical food containing fibres from plantains - a close relative of the banana - could help patients to remain in remission.

Previous research has shown that people with Crohn's disease tend to have elevated levels of a certain type of E. coli bacteria, which they are unable to fight off effectively.

Plaintain soluble figures have been found to prevent E. coli from penetrating the gut wall and causing chronic inflammation.

Professor Jonathan Rhodes, from the Liverpool Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), revealed: 'Dietary factors and the increased numbers of E. coli in the intestine of Crohn's patients suggested to us that there could be a link between the food that we eat and the transportation of bacteria in the body.'

Peter Laing, head of research and development at biotechnology company Provexis, added: 'In partnership with the BRC, we are hopeful that this new medical food, containing soluble plantain fibres, could help halt the progression of the disease and prevent it from returning.'

A recent study, published in the journal Genome Research, showed that vitamin D has a significant impact on the activity of many genes, including ones associated with Crohn's disease and type-1 diabetes.
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Salt on your salad Sir?

Salad may seem like a healthy option at lunchtime, but a new survey suggests that many salad and pasta bowls in supermarkets, high-street cafes and fast-food chains contain surprisingly high levels of salt.

Experts at Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) are warning that a single salad meal could provide over half of an adult's maximum recommended daily intake of salt.

The campaign group surveyed 270 salad and pasta bowls and found that one in ten contained more salt than a Big Mac.

For instance, EAT Spicy Crayfish Noodles contain 3.51g salt per portion, while Pret's Super (Duper) Humous Salad with French Dressing contains 3.2g - a significant chunk out of the maximum recommended allowance of 6g.

The Cash research also revealed that just 22 per cent of 'healthy' branded ranges qualified for a 'green' traffic light label.

Katharine Jenner, campaign manager at Cash, noted that many people choose salad when they are watching their waistline.

'Given the healthy image of salads, it's surprising to find that they contain such high levels of unnecessary salt,' she commented.

Cash chairman Professor Graham MacGregor, from the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, described the levels of salt in most of the surveyed salads as 'absurd'.

He pointed out: 'Clearly the manufacturers still have a long way to go if we are to reduce our salt intake to 6g a day and save the maximum number of lives.'

Commenting on the findings, the British Heart Foundation's Victoria Taylor explained that eating a diet high in salt can increase a person's risk of raised blood pressure, which is linked to heart disease and stroke.

She added that products need to be clearly labelled 'so that people know what's really in the food they buy'.
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Holidaymakers urged to get correct jabs

UK holidaymakers have been reminded to get any recommended vaccinations before jetting off to exotic destinations.

The warning comes as Indonesian tourist hotspot Bali continues to battle an ongoing epidemic of rabies.

Stray dogs are common on the island and there have been 77 reported human exposures to rabies since August 2008.

Tourists planning to visit Bali, or indeed any other exotic location, are being urged to visit their GP surgery, travel health clinic or pharmacy for up-to-date guidance.

This should be done between six and eight weeks before every overseas trip so that there is time to organise any necessary vaccinations.

Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth, GP, travel health author and spokeswoman for the '8 Weeks To Go' campaign, said that 55,000 people die from rabies each year, even though it can be prevented through vaccination.

'I can't stress enough the importance of seeking reliable, up-to-date, expert advice from a GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic/pharmacy before travelling overseas,' she advised.

'It is important to remember that it's not only long-haul destinations that pose health risks. Even countries only a few hours away have very different health risks to the UK.'

Meanwhile, nurse and travel health expert Cate Riley advised holidaymakers to be prepared in case they are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal.

She advised: 'Take a sterile medical pack including syringes and needles, as medical and hygiene standards may differ to those in the UK - in some parts of the world hospitals may re-use needles.'
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New non-emergency NHS number

A new phone number for people needing non-emergency medical care is being trialled in the north-east of England.

Patients in the region can now dial 111 if they want health advice, information about out-of-hours GPs, walk-in centres, emergency dentists and 24-hour chemists.

The free 24-hour service is being trialled by NHS County Durham and Darlington primary care trusts and is designed to relieve pressure on the 999 service, although people in need of emergency care should still contact the latter.

The new service should be used 'if you need help quickly and can't wait for an appointment with your GP or don't know who to call'.

'If we think you need an ambulance, we will send one immediately - just as if you had originally dialled 999,' the service adds.

Professor Stephen Singleton, medical director of NHS North East, said that the new 111 number should 'improve access to urgent healthcare for local people'.

'By better understanding what people really need from different local services, 111 will enable the commissioning of more effective and productive health care,' he claimed.

'Most importantly it will help improve efficiency across the whole healthcare system by reducing unnecessary waste and making sure people get access to the right service, first time.'

Jo Webber, director of the Ambulance Service Network, said that the scheme could transform patient care.

"This number will be the vital missing piece in the jigsaw of providing much more joined-up urgent and emergency services," she claimed.

'It will bring together GPs in and out of hours care, walk-in and urgent care centres, minor injuries units, social care and mental health services and community nursing teams.'

The non-emergency service will also be trialled in Nottingham, Lincolnshire and Luton later this year.
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Lunchtime sun may put you at risk

Workers who dash outside on their lunch breaks to soak up the sun's rays could be putting their skin at risk, experts have warned.

Research by Tesco Bank's health insurance team suggests that just one in ten people apply suncream before going outdoors at lunchtime.

This means that 90 per cent fail to protect their skin during the hottest part of the day.

The survey also found that the average office worker eats their lunch outside three or four times a week if the weather is nice enough, with one in six admitting that they often succumb to sunburn.

Jeremy Sutton, head of health insurance at Tesco Bank, told the Daily Mail: 'We all enjoy time away from our desks at lunchtime during the summer months.

'While the sun is out, it's important to highlight the risk of spending long periods of time in the sun without protection at home as well as abroad.'

Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign urges people to be particularly careful about protecting their skin between the hours of 11am and 3pm.

This is because the sun's UV rays are strongest during the middle of the day.
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Sunbed users should protect eyes

People who use sunbeds have been reminded to protect their eyes, as the devices can cause long-term problems and growths.

Users are advised to wear protective goggles or shades, but not everyone pays attention to the warning, instead choosing to simply shut their eyes.

Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric adviser to the College of Optometrists, noted that the college does not advocate the use of sunbeds.

However, she said: 'If you do use them it is important to ensure that you always use protective eye wear - as you would wear sunglasses when outside - to safeguard your eyes from UV rays.

'The skin on the eyelid is very thin and delicate so it's vital to protect this area from UV rays.'

Dr Blakeney warned that failure to wear goggles or specially designed 'winkies' while using a sunbed can lead to benign eye growths called pterygium, as well as vision loss in later life.

The warning comes just days after a new Australian study provided further evidence of a link between sunbeds and skin cancer.

Scientists found that young people who use sunbeds increase their risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 41 per cent.
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Statins not a guarantee against heart disease

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs should not be seen as a quick and easy way to reduce the risk of heart disease, a leading heart expert has said.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, made the remarks after an editorial in the American Journal of Cardiology considered whether statins could be used to 'neutralise the cardiovascular risk of unhealthy dietary choices'.

The professor commented that the idea of erasing the harmful effects of eating junk food by taking a statin tablet should not be taken literally.

'A junk-food diet has a wealth of unhealthy consequences beyond raising cholesterol,' he pointed out.

'It can cause high blood pressure through too much salt, or obesity through eating meals loaded with calories. These are all risk factors for life-threatening health problems such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes and stroke.'

The American Journal of Cardiology editorial was written by scientists at the International Centre for Circulatory Health at Imperial College London.

The authors claimed that the provision of statins in junk-food outlets 'might be a rational modern means to offset the cardiovascular risk'.
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Child asthma peak in September

Hospital admissions for asthma among under-16s appear to peak in September, new figures show.

Provisional data from the NHS Information Centre indicate that child hospital admissions for asthma exceeded the monthly average for the year by 58 per cent in September 2009.

The figures mirror the pattern seen in 2008, when September saw a 102 per cent increase compared to the monthly average.

Tim Straughan, chief executive of the NHS Information Centre, said: 'Although provisional, these figures provide a useful insight at a national level into the admissions passing through our hospital doors in England.

'These figures appear to highlight September as a hotspot for asthma admissions among our very young children, which may prompt possible investigation as to why this may be.'

Erica Evans, head nurse at Asthma UK, pointed out that the September peak coincides with the start of the new school year.

She suggested that a number of factors may be involved, such as the spread of colds and viruses, stress, and children failing to take their regular preventer medicine over the summer holidays.

'It's essential that parents and school staff work together during the school year to make sure that asthma is well-managed and to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions for the condition,' Ms Evans advised.
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New NHS guidance for food allergies in children

A new set of draft clinical guidelines on food allergies in children and young people has been published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The guidelines are designed to support GPs and other health professionals in recognising the signs and symptoms of food allergy.

They state that a food allergy should be considered if a child has one or more of a number of signs and symptoms, including skin conditions, respiratory complaints, gastrointestinal problems or anaphylaxis.

Youngsters who do not respond to treatment for atopic eczema, gastro-intestinal reflux disease and chronic constipation should also be assessed for a food allergy.

In the event of a suspected allergy, doctors should take a thorough clinical history, including a family history of allergies, assessment of symptoms and feeding history as an infant.

Dr Judith Richardson, associate director of the NICE Centre for Clinical Practice, commented: 'Food allergies in children are becoming more common, therefore it is important that there are appropriate, evidence-based approaches in treating those with this condition.'

NICE is now consulting on its draft guidelines and will be accepting responses until September 6th, before publishing final guidance in January 2011.

Researchers at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital recently launched a large trial to see whether daily doses of peanut flour, starting at about 1mg and gradually increasing over time, can help children to overcome potentially fatal peanut allergies.
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Malaria risk for Britons visiting relatives overseas

Four-fifths of malaria cases in the UK involve residents who have travelled abroad to visit friends and family, new figures show.

Statistics published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) indicate that 584 out of 722 cases (81 per cent) involving travellers from the UK occurred in people who had visited friends and family overseas.

The vast majority of cases affected people who had visited or arrived from African countries.

Public health minister Anne Milton revealed that malaria is one of the most common causes of death from infectious disease across the world.

'Although deaths from it in the UK are rare, it is a significant public health risk for UK travellers,' she warned.

'Whatever reason people have for their trip to a country where malaria is common, I urge them to talk to their doctor before they leave to make sure they are fully protected with the right tablets and are aware of the signs and symptoms.'

HPA figures show that, on average, almost 1,600 cases of malaria have occurred each year in the UK between 2005 and 2009.

The agency has recently published a new leaflet providing information on malaria for people travelling overseas, which can be downloaded from the HPA website.
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High-heeled shoes bad for your hips and knees

Wearing high-heeled shoes alters a woman's posture and places up to 25 per cent more pressure on her knee and hip joints, experts have warned.

Lorraine Jones, a podiatrist at the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, revealed that people who regularly wear high heels may increase their risk of leg, knee and back pain.

They may also face an elevated risk of osteoarthritis and corns.

She advised: 'Ideally, high heels should be a 'special occasion' shoe, but if you do wear them on a regular basis make sure you do daily calf muscle stretches and try to slip on a pair of trainers for your commute.'

Ms Jones also recommended wearing shoes that provide cushioning and support, preferably with a comfortable heel and wide toe box.

Her comments were made after a masters student at Iowa State University in the US showed that prolonged wearing of high heels can contribute to joint degeneration and osteoarthritis of the knee.

This occurs when the cartilage covering the ends of the bones in the knee wears away, causing the surfaces of the joint to become damaged.
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Meningitis risk may be increased by gene

An individual's susceptibility to meningitis may be influenced by their genes, research suggests.

Scientists at Imperial College London and the Genome Institute of Singapore have identified genetic differences that appear to make some people more prone to developing meningitis and septicaemia, while others gain natural immunity.

Their study, which is published in the journal Nature Genetics, looked at more than 6,000 individuals and suggests that some people's genetic makeup makes them less able to attack meningococcal bacteria.

The research team compared genetic material from 1,500 people with meningococcal meningitis and more than 5,000 healthy volunteers.

Analysis revealed that those who had suffered from the disease tended to have variations in a number of genes involved in the immune response to bacteria.

Professor Michael Levin, from the department of paediatrics at Imperial College London, revealed that the majority of people have come into contact with the meningitis bacteria at some point, yet just one in 40,000 fall ill.

'Our study set out to understand what causes this small group of people to become very ill whilst others remain immune,' he explained. 'Our findings provide the strongest evidence so far that there are genetic factors that lead to people developing meningitis.'

Steve Dayman, chief executive of Meningitis UK, said that the finding could aid the search for an effective vaccine against meningococcal disease.

'We welcome the breakthrough and hope it will take us even closer to eradicating the disease and saving thousands of lives in the future,' he added.
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Tongue piercing may cause gaps in teeth

People who get their tongue pierced may increase their risk of gapped teeth, new research suggests.

A team at the University of Buffalo in the US found that individuals can force a gap to develop between their teeth by repeatedly playing with their tongue stud.

Commenting on the findings, which are published in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, lead researcher Dr Sawsan Tabbaa explained: 'It is a basic tenet of orthodontic that force, over time, moves teeth.

'It makes perfect sense that constant pushing of the stud against the teeth - every day with no break - will move them or drive them apart.'

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, urged people to consider the study findings before getting their tongue pierced.

He pointed out that the temptation to play with the stud is 'very high' and that doing so could lead to 'hundreds of pounds worth of corrective treatment'.

The expert also warned that tongue piercings increase the risk of chipped teeth and infection.
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Large waist linked to greater risk of death

People with a large waistline have a heightened risk of dying young, a study has found.

Researchers at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta found that those with a large waist circumference were more likely to die from any cause over a nine-year period than those with a smaller waist.

Previous research has revealed links between having a large waist circumference and inflammation, type-2 diabetes, abnormal cholesterol levels and heart disease.

It is thought that fat tissue around the organs in the abdomen is more dangerous than that found under the skin.

Writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the study authors observed: 'The reason for the stronger association between waist circumference and mortality among women with low BMI in our study is unclear.

'Future detailed analyses of the relationship between waist circumference and visceral adipose tissue or measures of insulin resistance within categories of BMI could identify biological reasons for potential differences in the strength of the association between waist circumference and mortality.'

The research team examined data on 48,500 men and 56,343 women, aged 50 and older.

Between 1997 and 2006, a total of 9,315 of the men and 5,332 of the women died.

Researchers found that those with very large waists (120cm or larger in men and 110cm or larger in women) were about twice as likely to die as those with small waists.

The study authors said that clinical guidelines may need to be updated to reflect the fact that people with a high waist circumference may be at increased risk, even if they are deemed to have a 'normal' weight.
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Public urged to be aware of carbon monoxide dangers

People should keep an eye out for the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, health experts have said.

The warning comes after two teenage boys died in a holiday apartment in Northern Ireland, supposedly from carbon monoxide fumes.

Dr Anne Wilson, health protection consultant at the Public Health Agency, commented: 'Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal and can also cause long-term health problems if victims are exposed to low doses over a long period of time.

'The signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often mistaken for other illnesses, such as food poisoning or flu - the symptoms can be similar to flu but without a raised temperature.'

Signs and symptoms to look out for include headaches, nausea and vomiting, exhaustion, drowsiness, dizziness, palpitations, chest pain and collapse.

Dr Wilson urged people to look out for these signs and said that anyone with concerns should turn off all appliances, go outside and seek medical help.

Children, students, elderly people, pregnant women and those with heart or breathing problems are particularly at risk, although anyone can be affected.
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