Essential Oil from Piper leaves can cure gastritis

Gastritis is a disease that quite disturbing. The disease is often treated with drugs containing antacids. In severe conditions, the Proton-pump inhibitor drugs used to treat these disorders. Gastritis is a disease caused by an inflammation of the stomach. Inflammation is often caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. Several psychological factors can also increase the excretion of gastric acid so that aggravate symptoms of gastritis. In South America, piper leaves is used as natural remedy to cure gastritis. Whether the essential oil from piper leaves can cure gastritis?

Some researchers from Spain, Italy and Brazil do research to prove the benefits of essential oil from piper leaves. They extract the leaves of piper to know how piper can treat gastric ulcers. Apparently, essential oil of piper leaves extract does have some activity that can inhibit gastric ulcer. Piper leaves extract may inhibit inflammation through inhibition of myeloperoxidase activity. Piper leaves extract can also inhibit gastric acid excretion through a proton-pump inhibition. Inhibitory activity of gastric acid excretion was similar to the workings of a proton-pump inhibitor drugs. In addition, the piper leaves extract was also able to overcome the main problems in gastritis, that is Helicobacter pilory infection. Piper leaves extract has the antibiotic effects that can kill Helicobacter pilory.

Piper leaf extract contains flavanoid, nervogenic acid, geranylbenzoat, phytosterols and phytol. Phyotosterols have a strong effect in inhibiting myeloperoxidase. The substance inhibits the release of myeloperoxidase from leukocytes. Flavanoid can also have inhibitory activity of myeloperoxidase but not as strong as phytosterols. Flavanoid in piper leaves extract is very helpful in treating gastritis because it can function as proton-pump inhibitor. Some substances contained in extracts of leaves of piper can also kill Helicobacter pilory through several mechanisms. This is very useful for overcome cases of antibiotic resistance.

High Dose Vitamin C 1000 mg Prevent and Treat Common Cold?

Season's erratic lately made a lot of people affected by common cold. My friends are also many who suffer from the flu. The disease which often caused by rhinovirus is indeed very disturbing activities. A lot of friends put up a facebook status associated with the disease symptoms such as fever, runny nose, etc. Some health products also take advantage of this opportunity. These products offer health supplements that contain vitamin C 1000 mg. No half-hearted, they dare to say that consumption of high doses of vitamin C can prevent and treat colds. In fact, some drinks containing 1000 mg of ascorbic acid suggesting that we take vitamin supplements three times daily. Do we really need vitamin C 1000 mg daily? Does high-dose vitamin C good for our health?

Treatment for common cold mainly to relieve symptoms. Nasal decongestan and paracetamol is very useful in relieving nasal congestion and fever. Sometimes, anti-flu drugs also contains anti histamine for allergic reactions which are also frequently accompanies with the common cold. Antibiotics should be avoided in the treatment of cold. Some studies mention that the use of antibiotics are not useful in handling the cold. Irrational use of antibiotics in the treatment of flu in fact increase bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Vitamin C is believed to be useful in the treatment of common cold. Vitamin C had been shown to boost immunity. The U.S. Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends that we consume the vitamin C of about 75-90 mg / day. Smokers need additional vitamin C 35 mg / day higher. However, some commercial products so excited in the community suggest that taking vitamin C with doses much higher than recommended doses. In fact, they suggested that we should increase the intake of vitamin C to 3 x 1000 mg/day when we get the flu. Whether the increased intake of vitamin C at the time we feel flu-like symptoms would be useful?

Some researchers from the University of Wyoming interested in study this phenomenon. They were to study literature from several studies on vitamin C to determine the role of vitamin C in treating the common cold. Consumption of vitamin C 200 mg / day on a regular basis can reduce the duration of cold symptoms. However, regular consumption of vitamin C supplements did not prevent a cold. Regular consumption of vitamin C also does not reduce severity. What about the increased consumption of vitamin C at the time we get the cold? Apparently, this is also not useful. Increased intake of vitamin C at the time we begin to feel flu-like symptoms did not reduce the duration and severity of disease. Vitamin C is water-soluble vitamins. Thus, vitamin C with very high doses will not be absorbed because it will happen saturation levels of vitamin C in blood. Excessive vitamin C will only be removed through the urine and are thought to cause kidney stones. Some studies also mention that consumption of vitamin C more than 2000 mg/day can cause adverse effects on the gastrointestinal system and tooth erosion because this vitamin is a acid substance.

Then, how many doses of vitamin C, which should we eat regularly? Some studies mention that we should consume approximately vitamin C 200 mg/day. Consumption of vitamin C more than 500 mg / day is not recommended. To understand why we need vitamin C with this dose, we need to know the pharmacokinetics of vitamin C. Check out this blog continues ..

References:

Giunta, J. L., 1993. Dental erosion resulting from chewable vitamin C tablets. Journal of the American Dental Association, 107, 253–256.

Goldenring, J., 2007. Vitamin C and colds. VeriMed Healthcare Network. Retrieved September 7, 2007, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/
002145.htm

Heimer, K.A., Hart, A.M., Martin, L.G., 2009. Examining the evidence for the use of vitamin C in the prophylaxis and treatment of the common cold. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 21, 295-300

Coffee increased risk of Cardiovascular Disease, still a controversy

Coffee is widely consumed beverages in the world, especially in Indonesia. Coronary heart disease is now also one cause of death in the world. Two of these are often linked. Many people said coffee causes heart disease. This has become very interesting questions to be investigated. Some research on the relationship of coffee and heart disease was mostly done since several decades ago. However, until now, the effect of coffee on heart health is still a controversy.

Number of substances contained in coffee drinks has caused both beneficial effects and adverse effects on human health. Some adverse effects caused by the presence of diterpene and caffeine contained in coffee. Coffee contains two kinds of diterpene, they are cafestol and kahweol. In vitro studies showed that these two substances increased serum cholesterol. Normally, when cells need cholesterol, LDL receptor would be activated to bind to the LDL then brought cholesterol from outside the cell to enter the cell. However, diterpene inhibit the activity of LDL receptors so that the LDL accumulate in the circulation and cause an increase in serum cholesterol. Increased serum cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis, risk factor for coronary heart disease. Besides diterpenes, substances that cause adverse effects is caffeine. Although several studies have shown that caffeine has beneficial effects for health, Animal studies indicate that caffeine may damage and disrupt kidney function. Several epidemiology studies also show that caffeine could increase blood pressure. Caffeine increased levels of several stress hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. The increase of stress hormones causes increased blood pressure.

On the other hand, coffee also contains many polyphenols which are antioxidants. Polyphenols which is widely available in coffee is chlorogenic acid (CGA). Several studies have shown that CGA has antioxidants activities that can prevent LDL oxidation, protects endothelial, reducing free radicals, and lower glucose levels. Possibly, the antioxidant activity offset adverse effects of some substances contained in coffee. This can be seen from several studies showing an increase in blood pressure due to cola consumption but no association between coffee consumption and blood pressure. Coffee and cola, both contain caffeine. However, cola does not contain polyphenols, while coffee contains many polyphenols.

Some research suggests that the effect of coffee on the heart varies greatly among individuals. It is caused by genetic factors. This resulted in differences in metabolism of the substances contained in coffee. Different effects could also be caused due to differences in ways of processing coffee. Different coffee processing causes differences in yields of substances contained in coffee.

Some meta-analysis showed that there was no relationship between coffee consumption and increased risk of coronary heart disease. Several cohort studies even show that coffee consumption can reduce the risk of heart disease in women. No studies that answer why the effect of coffee on the heart is also influenced by gender. Possibly, these different effects caused by different habits between men and women. Generally, a person who is very fond of drinking coffee also has a habit of smoking. Smoking habits are more often committed by men than by women. In fact, smoking is usually associated with several unhealthy lifestyles such as lack of exercise and physical activity. So, we must maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent heart disease.

References:

Bonita JS, Mandarano M, Shuta D, Vinson J. Coffee and cardiovascularnext term disease: In vitro, cellular, animal, and human studies. Nutritional Pharmacology 2007; 55(3): 187-198

Wu J, Ho SC, Zhou C, Ling W, Chen W, Wang C, Chen Y. Coffee consumption and risk of coronary heart diseases: A meta-analysis of 21 prospective cohort studies. International Journal of Cardiology 2009; 137: 216-225.

Coffee prevent diabetes

Coffee is beverages that often accompany us at night. When we are sleepy, we often drink coffee to make us stay awake and keep warm. While we're relaxing with friends, we are not rarely drink coffee to warm the atmosphere. Now, drink beverages containing caffeine is very often associated with several diseases such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, neurological disease, kidney stones, diabetic, and several other diseases. Is that myth true? Some studies even prove the health benefits of coffee consumption. Coffee can reduce risk of diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease that is strongly influenced by lifestyle. Many factors affect that disease. Research in Netherlands showed that coffee consumption is inversely proportional to the risk of diabetes. The study was strengthened by studies conducted in Finland. Research involving more than 16,000 Finnish people are proving that people who drink coffee have a lower risk of diabetes than people who do not drink coffee. How coffee can prevent diabetes?

Coffee contains about 11 mg of magnesium per 100 g of dried coffee. These substances may increase insulin sensitivity so that the work of insulin in regulating blood glucose levels become more effective.

Apart from the content of Magnesium, coffee can also lower blood glucose because it contains chlorogenic acid. These substances can inhibit the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase. The enzyme is an enzyme that plays a role in breakdown glycogen into glucose. Inhibitions on this enzyme can inhibit the increase of blood glucose levels. Chlorogenic acid is an antioxidant polyphenol. Beside inhibition of glycogenolysis enzymes, antioxidants can also maintain blood glucose levels by inhibiting the absorption of glucose in intestines. But, unfortunately, roasting in processing coffee beans reduce the content of chlorogenic acid.

The content of caffeine is in coffee also play a role in preventing diabetes. Caffeine stimulates the insulin-producing cells in pancreas. This stimulation is very useful for people who are at risk of type 2 diabetes. Just like magnesium, caffeine may also increase insulin sensitivity.

To prevent diabetes, coffee consumption was also not helpful if not accompanied by a healthy lifestyle. As we know, diabetes is influenced by many factors especially the lifestyle. Sedentary life style is one of the risk of diabetes. Therefore, regular exercise will be very useful to prevent this disease. In addition, we also need to adjust our diet. If we consume too many carbohydrates and sugars, it can also be a risk for developing diabetes.

If diabetes can be prevented with coffee consumption, what about other diseases like heart disease and hypertension? Is that true that coffee increases the risk of heart disease and hypertension?

References
Tuomilehto J, Hu G, Bidel S, Lindström J, Jousilahti P. Coffee Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among Middle-aged Finnish Men and Women. JAMA. 2004;291:1213-1219.
Van Dam RM, Feskens EJ. Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lancet. 2002;360:1477-1478

Eggplant, delicious and healthy, rich in antioxidant

Eggplant, cucumber-shaped fruit is more often used as a vegetable. In the past, I really do not like vegetables that contain eggplant because this fruit becomes mushy when boiled with other vegetables. In addition, eggplant taste less delicious when used as a vegetable stew. On campus, there are small shops that sell fried eggplant. At first, I am less sure about this food. Then, I tried. How taste the fried eggplant?

It turns out, fried eggplant is very crispy. In addition to crisp, eggplant is also more delicious than fried potatoes because it feels more springy. It feels more delicious snack when eaten with ketchup or hot sauce. Crispy fried eggplant is also easy to make. Last night I cooked crispy fried eggplant at home to be enjoyed as a snack while playing games. You can search for crispy fried eggplant recipes in culinary sites.

Besides can be cooked into a tasty snack, the eggplant was also very beneficial for health. This fruit contains many polyphenols such as phenolic acids and flavonols. Polyphenols are antioxidants which have many health benefits. These substances can prevent bad effects caused by the bad cholesterol (LDL). As antioxidants, polyphenols can prevent hypercholesterolemia because these substances can prevent mutation of apo-B100. Apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 is a substance that helps the uptake of LDL. If exposed to apo B-100 mutation, the uptake of LDL from the blood will decrease resulting in hypercholesterolemia.

Tea can cause anemia. Is that true?

Tea is a daily drink that has many benefits. This beverage contains antioxidants that are beneficial for health. Some studies also have shown that tea can prevent some diseases such as osteoporosis. However, some articles also mentioned that tea can cause anemia. Is that true?

Apparently, tea was able to inhibit absorption of iron. Tea contains tannin. These substances can bind to non-heme iron to form iron-tannate complexes that can not be absorbed by our body. In the other form, heme iron can not be bound by tannin so that heme iron absorption is not affected by the presence of tannin substances.

Therefore, tea is not recommended to be drunk by people who are dependent on the source of iron from vegetables, milk, or iron supplements. Vegetables, milk, and iron supplements contain iron in the form of non-heme iron. Tea can cause anemia because it inhibit absorbtion of non heme iron. Infants and children who can not eat meat, should not drink tea after a meal. Iron needs of infants depends heavily on vegetables, milk and supplements. People who are undergoing treatment with iron supplements is also not advisable to drink tea after taking medicine. Drinking tea after meals is also must be avoided by vegetarians because source of iron from the vegetables will be difficult to be absorbed if it bound by tannin substances. What about us who ate meat? We do not need to worry for tea after a meal. Existing iron in meat is heme iron form so that iron absorption is not affected by tea drinking.

Tamarind beneficial for health, is a myth?

Tamarind beneficial for health, is a myth? Last night, I ate tamarind candy that does not sleepy in the journey. Candy is indeed eliminate the sleep during the trip. Content of glucose can overcome drowsiness due to one reason for drowsiness is lack of glucose supply in the brain. Is tamarind helpful? This question arose when I woke up this morning. Then, I opened medical journal about tamarind health benefits.

Research carried out several researchers from Bangladesh proved that tamarind is beneficial for our health. Researchers examined the effect of tamarind on blood pressure, weight, and lipid profiles in 30 adults who become subjects in the study. 15 of whom were given a dose of tamarind extract 15 mg / kg body weight for 4 weeks. Body weigth, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, trygliseride measured before and after the experiment performed.

Apparently, tamarind taken for 4 weeks is really useful. Although no decrease in body weight and systolic blood pressure, subjects who consumed tamarind decreased diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. This is very beneficial because LDL cholesterol is bad cholesterol that can clog arteries and cause coronary heart disease. Thus, consumption of tamarind on a regular basis can prevent the increase in bad cholesterol, prevent disease hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis disease. This natural medicine can not effect rapidly like synthetic drugs. Natural medicines such as tamarind is useful in the long run.

In this study, tamarind can not lose weight, but our ancestors drank turmeric tamarind to lose weight. Is this a myth?

Role of the port health office in the implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR)

The scope of International Health Regulations (IHR) implementation in the field is divided into 2, which is extraordinary events in the country (A) and extraordinary international events (B). In public health, port health offices play a role in keeping the public from disease transmission that comes from outside the country, keeping people who will travel abroad to avoid being exposed to diseases endemic in the destination area, as well as keeping the port office is not a source of disease.
In keeping the people of Indonesia do not get the disease from foreign entrants, the port office monitoring the ships come, both passenger and freighter. Port health offices always follow the progression of the disease throughout the world through Weekly Endemic Report (WER). The ships that come are checked whether coming from countries that are endemic to certain diseases. The port health office is also written in the ship's state of health. There are several forms containing about health in the ship, as if there was a sick passenger, if any passengers who died, and other important points. Before the ship reached port, the port office staff will also visit the ship to inspect the ship, whether passenger, goods on ships, and ship's general condition. The officer will check the health of the passengers. The goods on the ship also examined whether there are harmful material. General state of the ship was also checked to see if the ship free from vectors of disease vectors such as rats, mosquitoes, and others. After the examination is complete, the ship is considered free from disease or not. If the ship is free from disease, then the ship has been certified free from disease, then the ship may continue loading and unloading activities. However, if ship is suspected of carrying disease, ship will be quarantined then disinfected, while passenger and crew referred to the referral hospitals.
Port health office also plays a role in protecting the citizens of Indonesia who wanted to travel abroad. Health Office will check whether these people are getting immunizations and prophylaxis to avoid contracting the disease while abroad. Port health office also provides immunizations and medicines. If immunization or drug supplies run out, the port health office will assist residents in seeking immunization or drug. It's all done so that citizens will travel abroad already have enough immunity to avoid contracting the disease when he travels abroad. Person's immunization status will be recorded in the International certificate of Vaccination.
Port health office also plays a role in maintaining the health of the port society. Do not let the office became a source of disease for the community around. In carrying out its role, Port Health Office periodically monitor environmental conditions. Ranging from control of water to control the vectors that could potentially spread the disease. Port health officials periodically to control the water with a tool, to know the pH of the water, contents of chemical substances in water and Chloride content in the water. The port officials also periodically monitor and control animals that have the potential to spread disease, such as mosquitoes, flies, rats, and fleas. The officers regularly check the foods in the port environment. However, in reality, the food inspection is done in certain circumstances, for example, there are incidents of food poisoning or even if there is the president and officials will visit.

Turmeric Tamarind, fantastic pain relief from the Ancestral

Long years ago, Curcuma domestica, which known as turmeric, often found in the yard. However, today we can not easily find these medicinal plants. The plant is very much beneficial. We can use its rhizome as food supplements and as medicine. We can also use the leaves as a vegetable. Substances contained in the rhizome are proved to have many health benefits.

Rhizomes of Curcuma domestica plants contain many curcuminoid compounds. This compound is an active substance that can be used as herbal medicine. There are three types curcuminoid contained in turmeric, they are curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and besdemethoxycurcumin. Curcumin is a compound that has antioxidant activity that is more powerful than the other two compounds. Meanwhile, besdemethoxycurcumin can inhibit the release of bile acids that make us feel full. This compound neutralizes the effect of curcumin which is able to increase our appetite.

Recently, the researchers looked turmeric to be used as a pain relief. Several studies have shown that curcuminoid in turmeric can reduce pain. Curcuminoid effect as a pain relief is not inferior when compared with the analgesic effects of some synthetic drugs such as peroxicam, an analgesic from the group Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammation Drug (NSAID). Several studies have shown that there was no significant difference between the pain reduction effects of NSAIDs and Curcuma. In fact, curcuminoid have more action points than NSAIDs in reducing pain. If NSAIDs relieve pain by inhibiting cyclooxigenase enzyme, curcuminoid can act more than that. Curcuminoid reduce pain through lipooxigenase and cyclooxigenase inhibition, inhibition of TNF-alpha production, and antioxidant properties which can reduce inflammation.

Analgesic from NSAID group had some terrible side effects. One side effect of NSAIDs is stomach bleeding. The effect is very frightening because it is hidden effects. Most people who consume NSAIDs do not feel the symptoms of stomach bleeding. However, when they examined more deeply, there are some bleeding in their stomach. In addition, NSAIDs also have adverse effects on the liver. This can be seen from the increase in some liver enzymes like ALT and AST after the consumption of NSAIDs.

Unlike the NSAIDs that cause side effects in the stomach and liver. Curcuminoid has a beneficial effect for stomach and liver. This secondary metabolites from Curcuma domestica does not cause stomach bleeding. This active substance is precisely to protect the stomach by inhibiting the growth of bacteria Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that causes injury to the stomach. Curcuma also proven can protect liver cells from damage.

Long before the existence of studies on Curcuma, our ancestors already use turmeric as a pain relief drugs. Turmeric tamarind is used to reduce pain during menstruation period, which medically termed as dysmenorrhea. Why turmeric is taken together with the tamarind? In addition to creating a more delicious taste, it has the benefit of tamarind. Curcuminoid is a volatile substance. This substance is stable when it is in an acidic environment. The acidic environment generated by the tamarind will stabilize curcuminoid tamarind contained in turmeric. Tamarind also has the anesthetic effect that further increased the benefits of turmeric as a pain relief.

Are serum S100B proteins on patients with TBI important to be studied?

Traumatic brain injury is a lot of tragedies happened and major contributing cause of death and permanent disability. Each year, an estimated 0.3% to 0.5% of the world population suffered head injuries. Each year, from 1.4 million people affected by head injuries in the United States, 50,000 of them died, 235,000 people had to hospitalization, and 1.1 million should be treated in the emergency room. In fact, the productive age group between 15 to 24 years is the highest risk group.

According to Summers, et al (2009), motor vehicle accidents are the second largest cause of traumatic brain injury incidence in the United States in the year 1995 to 2001. Along with the progress of transportation, the incidence of head injuries also increased. According to the news from the department of health, the number of road accidents in 2003 reached 13,399 events with the number of deaths reached 9865 people, 6142 people suffered severe injuries and 8694 minor injuries. With data on average every day events occurred 40 traffic accidents that resulted in 30 people died. The majority of these accident victims also include the productive age group, i.e. between 15 to 40 years. The number of incidents of traffic accidents also continues to increase. Based on data from depkominfo, the number of accident cases in 2008 reached 18,000 and increased to 19,000 cases in 2009.

Traumatic brain injury is one of the many diseases that cause losses. More than a thousand people had to undergo hospitalization for head injuries. The number of people with head injuries ranked first of all hospitalized patients in RSCM. According to Wijarnaka Y (2005), traumatic brain injury is also the second ranked cause of hospitalization in Hospital Nursing Nugroho in the first quarter of 2005. Traumatic brain injury cases fall into 3 major cases most often handled in RSUP Dr. Sardjito (BNS, vol 4 No. 2 77-93, Feb 2003). During the years 2006, 1924 patients or 4.5% of the 28,609 patients who come in IRD RSUP Dr. Sardjito come because of traffic accidents. In fact, from the mortality data for the year 2006, from 194 patients who died, 44.9% caused by head injuries. Patients who died of head injuries were 81% a severe traumatic brain injury.

The high mortality rate, especially head injuries in severe traumatic brain injury patients, rapid treatment is necessary and appropriate in handling traumatic brain injury cases. The handling traumatic brain injury is determined by the type and degree of severity of head injuries. So far, the degree of severity of traumatic brain injury is determined by clinical examination and investigation. Investigations which have been used to determine the degree of severity of traumatic brain injury is the Computed Tomography scan (CT scan). However, the availability of CT-scan is very limited because the price is relatively expensive. In addition, a CT-scan was also considered less practical because it requires mobilization of the patient. This will be difficult if there are conditions that do not allow for mobilization. Because of the problems above, a CT-scan is not routinely done in the series.

Recently, examination of S100B protein was proposed to assess the degree of severity of head injuries. S100B proteins are protein in the cytoplasm and are involved in the regulation of several processes such as cell differentiation, progression, and cell cycle. This protein is a glial specific protein and is expressed primarily by astrocyte. In adult humans, this protein increased due to nervous system injury. This makes S100B protein can be used as a potential clinical marker.

S100B protein is released after brain injury and increased concentration in cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, the increases in permeability of BBB (Blood Brain Barrier) causes these proteins are released into the bloodstream so that levels are elevated in plasma / serum. (Willoughby et al, 2004 and Stocchetti, 2005).

As a biomarker, these proteins can be measured from serum or plasma both arteries and veins, are not affected by hemolysis, is stable within a few hours before the examination, has a sensitivity and high specificity to brain injury, is not affected gender and age, rapidly detected in the serum, and concentration indicates the extent of damaged tissue. . This protein positively correlated with the degree of head trauma and negatively with clinical output. This makes it a potential clinical marker (Korfias et al, 2006).

In several studies of protein S100B correlated with the degree of brain injury caused by encephalopathy for sepsis, central nervous system depression because respiratory depression by an overdose of benzodiazepines, extensive brain damage due to head injuries in autopsy cases, a long time that cardiac surgery causes hypoxia and depression central nervous system, and hypoxia in neonates.

Compared with CT scan, examination S100B protein is more practical because it does not require mobilization of the patient. S100B examination is also relatively more expensive than CT scan. Besides being invasive, examination of this protein is also very possible to be done in a serial examination.

Kinetics of serum S100B protein is very important to know because it can be used to determine when the right time inspection in monitoring disease progression, and to determine if the severity of the disease has been proven in a study. In addition, examination of serum S100B protein can also be used to monitor therapy and a series can be used to determine the prognosis of patients with head injuries. In cases of severe traumatic brain injury is expected kinetics information can be used optimally because of the need to handle these cases quickly and accurately.

How tea can prevent osteoporosis?

Tea is beverages that accompany every food we eat. Sometimes, tea is a refreshing beverage opener when we got up early. This drink is also a loyal friend when we're tired or relaxed. Tea is also a heated atmosphere while we chatted with the family. Did you know that our habit of tea drinking is a lot of benefit? It turned out that tea can protect us from one of the most feared disease of post-menopausal women, namely osteoporosis. Tea has been medically proven to prevent osteoporosis, a disease which reduces bone density.

Some institutions have published several medical journals about how tea can prevent osteoporosis. In 2000, American Society for Clinical Nutrition published their findings on the effects of tea on bone density. The study was conducted to the elderly woman in Cambridge, United Kingdom. In 2003, American Journal of Epidemiology has published a journal that strengthens the previous findings. Object of research on this discovery is more extensive. The study involved a larger object. Both men and women involved in this research. Some ethnic is also involved in this study. In addition to the effects of drinking tea, the researchers also compared the amount of tea to drink with bone density.

The study showed that the increase in bone density associated with the level of tea consumption. People, who drink tea as much as 4 cups or more, will have an increase in bone density higher than those who drank about 2-3 cups of tea. So was what happened to the people who drink about 2-3 cups of tea a day. They have denser bones than nondaily tea drinkers. So, more and more consumption of tea will increase bone density.

Then how the mechanisms of tea in increasing bone density thus preventing osteoporosis? Actually tea contains beneficial substances or harmful bone density.

Tea also contains caffeine, a substance in coffee that has adverse effects on bone density. Although the caffeine content of the tea leaf is higher (2-3 percent vs.1 percent) compared with that of roasted coffee, tea is diluted more than coffee for drinking. The average caffeine content of a tea beverage in the United States is about 30-45 mg / cup, while that of a coffee beverage is about 60-129 mg / cup. Thus, adverse effects of caffeine from tea on bone density less than coffee.

Beneficial effects of tea on bone density obtained from isoflavanoid content. Besides being an antioxidant, isoflavanoid also has the effect of estrogen. The hormone estrogen is a hormone that has a function in maintaining bone density. Post-menopausal women have high risk for osteoporosis because of decreased estrogen production. Isoflavanoid can function as estrogen replacement can prevent osteoporosis. Besides containing flavonoids, tea also contains catechins. These substances can stimulate the cells which responsible for repairing bone cells. This substance stimulates the cells through estrogen receptors.

Tea not only contains substances that stimulate repair function of bone cells. These drinks also contain fluoride. As we know, this substance is a substance that serves to strengthen bones and teeth.

Apparently, the tea can prevent osteoporosis through various mechanisms. Content of substances in tea are beneficial for maintaining bone density. In addition to preventing osteoporosis, these substances would also have many other benefits such as preventing cancer. In fact, there are several studies that show that tea extracts have the effect of antibiotics and antifungal. One topic that is often discussed is the effect of tea tree oil to treat toenail fungus.

Compared soft drink drinking culture, tea drinking culture would have been better. Let us preserve the culture of tea drinking to stay healthy!

Swimming can prevent and treat cancer?

Can swimming prevent and treat cancer? Based on statistics, cancer is the second largest cause of death in the U.S. after heart disease. In the year 2006, 559.888 die from this disease. Malignancy in the prostate, female breast, and lung cancer occupying the top three most widely attacked U.S. population. From these three malignancies, lung cancer is a disease that causes the most deaths.

Besides being the largest cause of death, cancer is a disease that also cost quite a lot. To treat cancer, chemical treatment, radiation, and even surgical treatment are required. Many cancer patients are trapped by the expensive cost of cancer treatment.

Expensive cancer treatments make researchers interested to seek alternative treatment for this disease even more affordable. In May 2009, researchers from Norway published a study that gives new hope in the field of cancer treatment. They prove that the swimming training inhibits the growth of tumor cells in mice. In fact, the size of tumors in mice trained to swim can be reduced by 64% compared to the size of tumors in mice that were not trained to swim.

In this study, researchers injected tumor cells into mice. Then, the mice were split into two groups. One group was given swim training 5 times a week for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the size and weight of tumors from both groups were compared.

From this research, we expect a controlled physical activity such as swimming can be a new approach in preventing cancer and improving the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Let's swim to keep our health.

Alcohol can save patient with brain injury?

Brain injury is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, especially in children and young adults. In the U.S., every year there are approximately 1.4 million cases of brain injury, 50 thousand people were dead. One of the largest causes of brain injury was traffic accidents. Alcohol is a major risk factor for accidents. Approximately 30% to 50% of all patients admitted to the hospital were still under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred.

Although it was clear that alcohol is responsible for the occurrence of brain injury, there is still much controversy about how the influence of alcohol to cure patients suffering from brain injury. Several animal studies reported that alcohol worsens the patient's condition. However, there are also studies that estimate that alcohol has a protective effect on the nerve. In 2006, several doctors from the University of Toronto examined the relationship between alcohol and mortality in patients with Severe Traumatic Head Injury.

The results of this study are surprising. In patients who have low levels of alcohol in his blood, it has advantages over those who do not consume alcohol. However, in patients who have high alcohol levels, mortality also increased.

This research is still has many weaknesses. There are some biases, such as starting time bias, comorbidities, time of injury. Alcohol is metabolized quickly. Therefore, patients with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) greater than 0 at the time of injury may be misclassified as having a BAC of 0 at admission because the alcohol in their blood may be eliminated via metabolism. The researcher minimized this bias by only including patients who arrived directly from the scene of injury. On average, patients arrived at our institution within 1 hour after injury.

Time of injury also biases our results. Alcohol-associated trauma tends to occur during the night and on weekends. Investigators have observed an association between after-hours and weekend hospitalization, and increased mortality. It is presumed that this effect is secondary to the presence of fewer staff, the absence of more experienced staff, and larger relative workloads during these times.

Brain injury is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, especially in children and young adults. In the U.S., every year there are approximately 1.4 million cases of brain injury, 50 thousand people were dead. One of the largest causes of brain injury was traffic accidents. Alcohol is a major risk factor for accidents. Approximately 30% to 50% of all patients admitted to the hospital were still under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred.

Although it was clear that alcohol is responsible for the occurrence of brain injury, there is still much controversy about how the influence of alcohol to cure patients suffering from brain injury. Several animal studies reported that alcohol worsens the patient's condition. However, there are also studies that estimate that alcohol has a protective effect on the nerve. In 2006, several doctors from the University of Toronto examined the relationship between alcohol and mortality in patients with Severe Traumatic Head Injury.

The results of this study are surprising. In patients who have low levels of alcohol in his blood, it has advantages over those who do not consume alcohol. However, in patients who have high alcohol levels, mortality also increased.

This research is still has many weaknesses. There are some biases, such as starting time bias, comorbidities, time of injury. Alcohol is metabolized quickly. Therefore, patients with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) greater than 0 at the time of injury may be misclassified as having a BAC of 0 at admission because the alcohol in their blood may be eliminated via metabolism. The researcher minimized this bias by only including patients who arrived directly from the scene of injury. On average, patients arrived at our institution within 1 hour after injury.

Time of injury also biases our results. Alcohol-associated trauma tends to occur during the night and on weekends. Investigators have observed an association between after-hours and weekend hospitalization, and increased mortality. It is presumed that this effect is secondary to the presence of fewer staff, the absence of more experienced staff, and larger relative workloads during these times.

Perhaps alcohol-based resuscitation fluids have a role in rescuing patients with severe head injuries. But, we better avoid head trauma in particular by avoiding alcohol consumption. Instead of spending money to consume alcohol, we'd better learn seo (in Indonesian means belajar seo) to be able to seduce a beautiful girl dressed in sexy bikinis.

Reference:
Homer C. N. Tien, MD, et al. Association Between Alcohol and Mortality in Patients With Severe Traumatic Head Injury. Arch Surg. 2006;141:1185-1191.

How can we have a terrifying dream?

Today I was very curious about why we often experience terrifying dreams when we are stressed and preoccupied. I also opened high-wire, the site that provides many medical journals. Here is a quote from one of the journals that explain why we can have nightmares.

Studies have shown that various limbic structures are differentially active during dreaming. Maquet et al. used positron emission tomography (PET) and statistical parametric mapping to ascertain which structures are active during REM sleep. Using 30 healthy, right-handed males, they demonstrated that, over three nights of observed sleep, the hippocampus was relatively inactive, whereas the cingulate gyrus and, especially, the amygdaloid complex demonstrated increased cerebral blood flow and elevated EEG activity. Braun et al. also used PET data, with 10 healthy male subjects, to determine that limbic and paralimbic structures are highly active during REM sleep. Amygdalofugal pathways to the right parietal operculum, entorhinal cortex, thalamic nuclei, dorsal mesencephalon, and pontine tegmentum were also found to be activated during REM sleep. These areas, in addition to the visual association cortices, were suggested to function as a "closed unit" during REM sleep.

In terms of general limbic function, the hippocampus appears to be responsible for the processing of "cool," episodic, explicit experiences, whereas the amygdala is active during emotional activity that is often implicit and tied to conditional fear and aggression responses. It appears that the amygdala and its connections with the hypothalamus and lower brainstem areas become engaged when an individual is under stress. This limbic structure also facilitates the organism's efficiency in processing threatening information and quickly initiates response mechanisms to successfully avoid threat. In other words, the "hot" emotional processing system that is activated during waking hours to assist in the detection of threat is also highly active during REM sleep.

From these quotations, we may conclude that the hippocampus will be activated when we're relaxed and having a pleasant experience. In contrast, the amygdala would be activated when we are in a distressed condition. It turned out that the amygdala activation was still continuing when we're asleep. This is what causes terrifying dreams.


So, how to stop a terrifying dream? Maybe we need to stop dreaming and start action, so we are not afraid anymore!

Should we be afraid of leprosy?

If we hear the word "leprosy", it struck some terrible things in our minds. We will imagine a highly contagious disease disgusting. We are afraid to close with a leper because we are afraid of contracting. We also could have imagined would undermine leprosy sufferers until the patient's fingers off by itself which also occurs in diabetic patients.

Our fear of leprosy is excessive. Leprosy is an infectious skin disease. Transmission of leprosy can be through many ways such as through touch as well even through the bacteria that we breathe. However, among other infectious diseases, leprosy is a disease that most low-level transmission.

Some skin diseases journal stated that "from 100 people who are exposed to the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, there are only 5 people will have leprosy germs in his body. From the 5 people who carry the leprosy bacteria, only 3 people will contract leprosy but is still in the mild stage. Two of them will suffer light leprosy which will heal by itself. Only one person will suffer severe leprosy that requires medical treatment.

Leprosy is not easily transmitted through skin contact such as shaking hands. Transmission of leprosy requires intensive skin contact. However, I have not found a journal that mentions a period of skin contact can transmit leprosy.