Month: August 2007

Categories
News on Health & Science

Stem Cell Therapy Newsletter.

Theravitae trumpets cardiomyopathy treatment success :
Millions of cardiomyopathy patients have been told their future lies in drugs or, rarely, a transplant as they await an otherwise certain death. This is no longer true as Theravitae s VesCell therapy is giving them a new, more active and longer life.
BANGKOK, Thailand, 24 August 2007  VesCell, the world’s leading adult stem cell product for heart patients is transforming the lives of dilated cardiomyopathy patients. These patients are gaining a new lease on life and leading more active and energetic lives with fewer distressing symptoms such as shortness of breath.

Theravitae is determined to lay to rest the myth that all severely ill heart patients can look forward to is a gradual decline in the quality of life, suffering, dependence on a cocktail of drugs and an early death. The more patients can demonstrate clinically measurable improvements the more the medical establishment will be forced to face the fact that objective measures do not lie.

Citing Amy Banner, a young wife and mother with cardiomyopathy from Spokane,Washington, Theravitae believes its therapy has measurable clinical benefits that can only be attributed to stem cell therapy. Just one month after receiving VesCell in Bangkok Heart Hospital Amy had her first follow-up appointment with her hometown cardiologist to learn the following clinical results.

Firstly, the report on her Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) as recorded by her pacemaker. These contractions are like an extra heartbeat coming from an irritable area in the struggling ventricles and indicate rhythm disturbances. Prior to stem cell therapy Amy was experiencing some 35,000 uncomfortable PVCs a month. In the last month she recorded only 2200. No wonder I am feeling so good! she said.  This alone made it all worthwhile and now I don’t even notice them they are so mild, or maybe they are happening in my sleep.

Secondly, Amy’s cardiologist told her that her heart had shrunk from 8.7cm to 8cm and that as the left ventricle shrunk further her Ejection Fraction, which measures the ability of the ventricle to pump blood to her body, would rise further as efficiency increased.

Thirdly, Amy had a BNP blood test which measures a secretion in the ventricle indicating the degree of heart failure. From a dangerous level of 3000 she was told it now was 190  almost in the normal range.

For Amy the clinical measurements just added weight to how she was feeling. The bottom line is that I feel great. I have way more energy. My mom is no longer doing my housework and laundry for me. I can walk and play with my seven-year old daughter. Everything is running along very smoothly,  she said. Prior to stem cell therapy Amy could do little and as she deteriorated even small things like taking a shower or washing her hair became more of a challenge.

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Source:Vescell <pr@theravitae.com>

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Positive thinking

A Magical Potion

Morning Dew :
The world awakens each day from its nightly slumber, transformed by a sparkling layer of morning dew on the grass, on flower petals and leaves, on cars and car windows. These glistening droplets last only a little while, an integral part of what imbues the early morning with its aura of magic. If we sleep too late, we miss the magnificent display of sunlight playing upon an infinite amount of tiny crystal balls. To step onto the dew-covered grass is to anoint our feet with a form of water that comes only once a day for a short time, a rarefied gift of the night air that will soon evaporate in the full light of the sun. If we inhale slowly and consciously enough, it is almost as if we are drinking in this magical elixir formed in the boundary between darkness and light.

In one myth, morning dew is believed to be tears from heaven, and in another, the droplets are poured from the vessel of the goddess of dawn. When we see the earth draped with these shimmering drops, it is easy to imagine fairies bathing in the water, or a sky god weeping from a longing to be closer to his beloved earth goddess. Seeing the sparkling beauty of the earth emerging from darkness, we may understand this longing in terms of our own gratitude; how blessed we are to be here.

Perhaps heaven really does long to be here on earth, and perhaps that is why we are here—as conduits between the divine and the earthbound. As we drink the morning dew in with our eyes, our skin, our breath, it is easy to imagine that it really is a magical potion, a gift from heaven, a reminder of our true purpose, and a daily opportunity to be transformed.

Source: Daily Om

Categories
Positive thinking

Exploring An Alternate Universe

What Makes People Tick?
All people have their own way of being in the world. It is easiest to comprehend this basic yet profound fact when we consider that every human being on the planet occupies a distinct role in the universe. We grow up in different environments, affected by a unique range of influences. The preferences, values, and beliefs we embrace are frequently related intimately to our origins. And the need to individualize our experiences is instinctive, as doing so enables us to cope when we must face challenges on our own. Consequently, each of us has developed a perspective that is uniquely ours. Interacting peacefully and constructively with people from all walks of life is a matter of first understanding where they are coming from. Then we can adjust our expectations so that we avoid making undue assumptions about what they are about.

In the face of emerging interpersonal conflict, it is easy to assume that others are being difficult, unreasonable, or stubborn. We are apt to grow frustrated when someone in our environment does not share our opinions or feel compelled to support us in our endeavors. It is likely that the individual or individuals before us may simply possess differing notions with regard to what is and what is not important in this life. We can ease the tension that exists between us by reaffirming our belief in the fundamental right of all beings to determine their own destinies. To foster a harmonious relationship, we need to do our best to relate to the unique universes they inhabit. And as we discover what makes them tick, our ability to find a mode of interaction that is pleasing to both of us is enhanced.

When there are barriers keeping you from connecting with someone else, think of questions you can ask them to gain a more thorough understanding of their point of view. You may discover that in addition to the differences in perspective dividing you, they are subject to insecurities and other personal issues that influence their way of seeing the world. It is likely that you will never fully grasp the myriad complexities embodied by humanity, but you can go a long way toward encouraging mutually satisfying relations by reaching out to others in the spirit of sympathetic comprehension.

Source:Daily Om

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Health Quaries

Some Health Questions And Answers

Q: I have a paunch. How can I reduce it?….CLICK & SEE

A: Spot reduction of a paunch alone is not possible. You have to attempt all-round weight reduction and toning exercises. This can be done with a judicious combination of diet and exercise. Either alone will work only in the short term.

Men tend to accumulate weight around their middle. It will probably be the first place you gain weight and the last place you lose it. The risk factors associated with a paunch are diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. In men the risk increases once the waist measurement crosses 102 cm.

No surgery
Q: My eight-year-old son has frequent attacks of tonsillitis when the weather changes or if he drinks or eats refrigerated things. The doctor says I should wait and not have them operated. Is that correct?

A: Years ago many children had their tonsils removed as they were considered a useless troublesome organ. Today, we know that the tonsils filter out harmful viruses and bacteria and prevent them from entering the body and causing disease. Surgery is seldom necessary. It is recommended if there are seven or more episodes of tonsillitis in one year, the swollen tonsils interfere with breathing or swallowing, or an abscess develops in the tonsils.

Infection occurs with bacteria and viruses. These are usually spread with close contact. The number of infections increases when the child starts school. The refrigerator probably has little to do with the frequent attacks.

The tonsils tend to decrease in size as the child grows older. Waiting and watching instead of rushing into surgery seems like a sensible option. Your doctor is right.

Safe period
Q: We are a newly married couple and do not want children. My wife dislikes condoms and refuses to take the pill. My friend advised natural family planning and the safe days. I was too embarrassed to find out the details. How do we go about it?

A: First, you have to calculate the length of your wife’s menstrual cycle. This can vary in different women and can be anywhere from 26 to 45 days. The first day of bleeding is taken as day one.

Pregnancy occurs if there is sexual intercourse around the time the egg is released. This is usually 14 days before the next period starts. The safe period is thus seven days before and seven days after menstruation. It is not a very reliable method though.

Some couples practice coitus interruptus. In this method, ejaculation takes place outside the vagina.

Medication and sterility
Q: My wife and I have been trying to have a baby for the last 20 years. She is now nearing 40. She has had two miscarriages in the past. I was given methotrexate on and off for my medical condition of psoariasis. I now think this may be the cause of our problem.

A: Gonadotoxins are substances that interfere with sperm formation and quality. They may be chemicals, medication (both prescription and non-prescription), tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. The severity and reversibility of the problem depend on the duration and amount of exposure. Methotrexate is one of the medicines that can do this if taken long term.

Consult a reproductive medicine unit in a hospital near you. They will be able to work with your physician to determine the best course of action.

Memory loss
Q: I am preparing very hard for my exams. My marks used to be very good. Now the more I study the less I remember. My marks are decreasing. All these late nights are making me irritable.

A: Sleep deprivation leads to memory loss, irritability and a decline in reasoning. All the three would work against good academic performance.

Most people need around eight hours of sleep a day. Your brain automatically knows how tired you are. If you are consistently using an alarm clock to wake up, it means that you are forcing your brain to function when it is not ready. This decreases efficiency and impairs memory.

Perhaps your marks will be better if you put in 30 minutes of physical activity a day and also got rid of your alarm clock.

Source:The Telegraph (Kolkata, India)

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News on Health & Science

Kids’ Fear of New Food is Hereditary

NEW YORK: UK researchers have provided an explanation for why some children hate to try new foods — it’s in the genes.

In a large study of twins, which included both identical and fraternal twin pairs, Dr Lucy J Cooke of University College London and her colleagues found that nearly 80% of children’s tendency to avoid unfamiliar foods was inherited.

“Parents can be reassured that their child’s reluctance to try new foods is not simply the result of poor parental feeding practices, but it is partly in the genes,” Cooke and her team write.

And, they add, repeatedly offering foods to children can make the foods more familiar, and eventually even liked.
Both humans and other animals show a reluctance to try new foods, known scientifically as ‘food neophobia’. This avoidance may have had an evolutionary advantage in preventing exposure to potentially toxic foods, the researchers note in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

“In the modern environment where foods are generally safe to eat, neophobia appears principally to have an adverse effect on food choices, particularly on intake of foods and vegetables,” they say. But these findings do not mean that parenting is unimportant in these behaviours.

Source: The Times Of India

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