Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the online petition:

    "A Petition for International Investigation Committee on Ariel
Sharon's crimes against humanity"

hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
service, at:

    http://www.PetitionOnline.com/warcrime/

I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might
agree, too.  If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and
consider
signing yourself.

Best wishes,

HEALTH MINISTRY REVIEWING DENTAL CLINIC NEEDS, SAYS AL MIDFA
ARAB HEALTH 2002 OPENS TO MINISTERIAL PRAISE


Release date: January 26, 2002.

UAE Minister of Health, His Excellency Hamad AbdulRahman Al Midfa,
today inaugurated the first annual showing of Arab Health – the
Middle East's premier hospital, medical equipment and services
exhibition – which began a four-day run at the Dubai World Trade
Centre.

Touring the show, which covers five DWTC halls and features 16
national pavilions and over 600 exhibitors from 45 countries, the
Minister praised the decision of organisers IIR Exhibitions to run
the show yearly saying it is a vital educational tool for medical
professionals to up-date themselves on latest industry developments.

And the Minister went on to say that the Federal Authority is
currently reviewing its dental clinic needs as part of its ongoing
commitment to providing excellence in healthcare.

"We are in the process of reviewing and renewing equipment in our
dental clinics. The Ministry is always seeking to update its systems
and services and this exhibition plays a vital role in the
procurement process.

"With the pace of change in the medical sector, we need an annual
showcase to ensure we are always fully cogniscant of the latest
healthcare technology."






Arab Health opening – 2

And the Minister, who was accompanied on the VIP opening tour by Dr.
Hirschler, the Secretary of State for Hessen in Germany, Mr Spitzner,
Secretary of State for Bavaria and His Excellency John Thwaites,
Deputy Premier and State Health Minister for Australia's state of
Victoria, whose states all have pavilions at Arab Health, stopped to
receive a brief on a new needle-less injection being launched at the
show by Rosch AG of Germany.

"I predict great success regionwide for this product which will be
extremely useful for diabetes sufferers," said the Minister.

The product, which has its Middle East debut at Arab Health, is being
presented to UAE Health Ministry official tomorrow, according to Dr.
Omar Mourad, General Manager, Bur Juman Pharmaceutical Companies, the
Middle East agent for the `Injex' product.

"There is a very high incidence of diabetes in the Middle East with
latest research showing it affects 24% of the UAE population and 12%
of the total GCC population," said Dr. Mourad. "We are hoping our
presentation to the Ministry will result in `Injex' being used
throughout Federal clinics."

Dr. Mourad added that the product had got off to a good regionwide
reception with 500 sets already sold in the UAE and 1,200 across the
Middle East."

Arab Health is officially supported by the UAE Ministry of Health
and, for the first time, is held under the patronage of His Highness
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE
Minister for Finance and Industry and President, Department of Health
and Medical Services, Government of Dubai.

Also for the first time, the show features three segment-specific
industry arenas, Pharmacy, the only Middle East event dedicated to
pharmacists, general practitioners and hospital medical staff, Arab
Dentistry and Medlab, for laboratory and biotechnology products.

Arab Health opening – 3

"All have been well received by the various disciplines and appear to
have a great future as vertical sections are becoming increasingly
popular with professionals who can be directed to their area of
expertise and hence maximise the value of their visit," said John
Hassett, Exhibitions Director, IIR Exhibitions.

Of the 16 national pavilions at Arab Health 2002, Germany with 100
exhibitors is the largest and has the support of four individual
Federal States – Saxony, Bavaria, Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz –
followed by the UK with 63 and Italy with 56.

Australia and Finland have their first national pavilions at the show
while the Korean pavilion, with 28 companies, is double the size of
its 2001 Arab Health showing and represents the country's largest-
ever turnout for a Dubai exhibition.

Arab Health 2002 also features a seven discipline conference
programme, including a ground-breaking E-health services summit with
experts from the USA, UK, Germany and Jordan outlining how the
Internet can revolutionise Middle East healthcare.

Over 35 speakers from 10 countries are addressing the conference
programme, devoted to a range of specialities, including radiology,
hospital management, ophthalmology, dentistry and surgery.

Meanwhile, IIR Exhibitions has announced a new exhibition catering to
the international health care services industry. The part trade, part
public show, will be a separate exhibition running alongside Arab
Health 2003, which will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from
January 26-29 next year.

For further information: Malcolm Ward, Arab Health press office:
Phone +9714 308 65 14; fax: +9714 308 65 31.

Or Barbara Saunders, MCS/Action, PO Box 20970, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates. Tel: +9714 3452126; fax: +9714 3460926
Email: barbara@...
Or visit the show online at: www.arabhealthonline.com

The 12th Annual TheMHS Conference, "There's No Health Without Mental
Health", is to be held at the Sydney Convention Centre
Sydney, NSW, Australia.
From 20th to the 22nd of August, 2002.
TheMHS Conference


TheMHS Conference
PO Box 192
Balmain NSW Australia
Phone: +61 2 9926 6057
Fax: +61 2 9926 7078
Email: enquiries@...
Web: www.themhs.org

Objective  To develop consensus-based recommendations for measures to
be taken by medical and public health professionals following the use
of anthrax as a biological weapon against a civilian population.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n18/ffull/jst80027.html

1999 American Medical Association. All rights reserved

Iran Association of Medical Physics
c/o Dr Azim Arbabi
Medical Physics Department
Shahid Beheshti Med Sci Univ
PO Box 17115-137, Tehran
Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education
PO Box 9383, Jomhouri Crossing
Hafez St, Tehran 11365
Iran
Tel: +98 676 675
Fax: +98 671 714
University of Tehran Cancer Institute
PO Box 13145-158
Tehran
Iran
Tel: +98 21 641 95 37
Fax: +98 21 642 86 55

Infant and child mortality in Yemen
by Ahmed al-Barakani and Ahmed Abd al-Rub
(Yemen Times, 4.1.99)
http://www.yementimes.com/99/iss01/health.htm


Sexual Health
Looking after your sexual health means thinking carefully about life
choices. You need to be as clear as possible about what you want from
a relationship and remember - it's your decision!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/womens/sexual.shtml


If you or somebody you know is an addict you may find it useful to
visit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/addictions/


The men's health statistics don't read too well. Men have higher
fatality rates than women for all 15 leading causes of death, and die
on average 6 years younger. But a man's early demise is not
inevitable. The BBC Men's Health site is your guide to living a
longer, healthier and more fulfilling life.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/mens/


HIV conviction could increase infections, warn experts
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991577


"Global" HIV vaccine a step closer
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991505

New Scan Test Helps Detection of Down's Syndrome
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011115/sc/health_downs_dc_1.html

The World's No.1 Science & Technology News Service
Brain scans can reveal liars
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991543

Double mutant gene eliminates malaria risk
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991566


The Society for Neuroscience November 2001
http://www.newscientist.com/conferences/


Aim of the Biostatistics Unit
" To advance understanding of the cause, natural history and
treatment of disease, and to evaluate public health strategies,
through the development of statistical methods and their application
to the design, analysis and interpretation of biomedical studies. "
http://www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/

Dear Members

We are now creating a worldwide database of pharmaceutical, biotech,
agrochemical and medical devices companies.  The database will remain
free.  Eventually it will be a downloadable search box which everyone
can have in their computer.

We have covered some countries so far.  If you find a mistake, or an
omission, we would be very grateful.  You can find the database at:
http://www.pharma-lexicon.com
and go to Companies links page.

We would be grateful for any feedback towards this free service.

Yours sincerely

Christian Nordqvist

Dear Members

If you would like to have a search engine in your computer that has
every biotech, pharma, medical and agrochem abbreviation as well as
access to the world's largest database of scientific articles (40
milllion of them) you can.  Go to:

www.pharma-lexicon.com

and download the free search engine.  You can have it in your own
computer.

Best regards

Christian Nordqvist
cnordqvist2000@...

Dear Readers

There is a new scientific journal which has the potential to lead all
others.  Here is some information about it which I pasted below.

New Journal that Will Lead All Others
http://www.thescientificworld.com/publications/journal.asp?uid=&bid=
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL offers a single unified environment for the
publication of all high-quality science drawn from over a hundred
scientific domains within the life, biomedical and environmental
sciences. Research work submitted for publication is peer-reviewed by
prominent Principal and Associate Editors and a network of leading
scientists acting as referees. TheScientificWorldJOURNAL accommodates
original scientific articles, reviews, methods & protocols,
conference proceedings, and databases.

Covered in Biological Abstracts and BIOSIS Previews, Chemical
Abstracts, and Aquatic Sciences & Fisheries Abstracts.
Alongside the current dramatic scientific progress in the life
sciences, similar advances are occurring in the generation,
distribution and management of scientific information. Critical to
these advances are innovative methods of publishing that meet today's
needs of authors, readers and their organizations.
http://www.thescientificworld.com/publications/journal.asp?uid=&bid=

TheScientificWorld (ISSN 1532-2246) is a new concept journal that
takes full consequence of these advances. The journal is not 'print
first, electronic second' . It has an editorial concept and structure
designed to capture the benefits of the internet - unhampered by
restrictions of print and offering immediate global dissemination. It
retains the essential criteria for peer-review and quality, while
exploring the new and linked information needed by scientists of
today.

The journal offers a single unified environment for the publication
of all high-quality peer-reviewed science drawn from over a hundred
networked scientific domains within the life, biomedical and
environmental sciences. Research work submitted for publication is
overseen for quality and topicality by prominent Principal and
Associate Editors and Editorial Boards of leading scientists acting
as referees (see list of Principal and Associate Editors. Upon
acceptance, all published research is made immediately available to
the worldwide scientific community through TheScientificWorld website.

The i-PUBLISH Author Services
i-Publish is the online author services of TheScientificWorld
journal. Scientists publish for free; there are no page charges or
fees for color, and there are no restrictions on the length of
submissions. The i-PUBLISH service accommodates a variety of
publication types, including original scientific articles, critical
reviews, methods & protocols, conference proceedings, themed
collections, datasets and databases.

We offer rigorous peer-review by leading scientists, publication to
high standards of electronic production, and permanent archiving of
all papers. All published papers are citable and referenced within
the current scientific literature through major abstracting and
indexing services.

Reader Services
For readers, we offer free searching and abstracts, immediate free
alerts to articles of interest, and the purchase of single articles
without a need for subscription.
i-PUBLISH content is linked to our sciBASE service that contains the
majority of the world's scientific journals available on a single
article basis and powered through our relationships with our partner
publishers and other secondary sources of scientific literature.
http://www.thescientificworld.com/publications/journal.asp?uid=&bid=

For more information contact:
jreilly@...

Yours sincerely

Christian Nordqvist

Dear Members

We have now completed the list of all pharmaceutical abbreviations.
We are now struggling to complete the list of all medical and
agrochemical abbreviations and acronyms.  At the moment we are adding
about 400 new entries a day thanks to contributions from
professionals from around the world.

We would welcome your contribution. Please come and search for two or
three abbreviations – if you find one is missing or wrong we would
love to hear from you.
www.pharma-lexicon.com

We aim to have 40,000 entries by the end of this month.  The list
will always be free for everyone to use.

Many thanks from our input team.

Christian Nordqvist
Pharma-lexicon International
http://www.pharma-lexicon.com
83 Filsham Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea
East Sussex TN380PE
Tel: 01424 434208
Email: christian@...

Dubai Medical Laboratory use MEDLAB at Arab Health 2002 to accelerate
their expansion plans

As medical facilities come under increasing pressure to expand the
number and type of test profiles performed as well as reducing costs,
the outsourcing of  some laboratory services is growing. Dubai
Medical Laboratory (DML) is one such company who are benefiting from
this trend.

Established in 1982 DML is the first ever private laboratory
providing support to over 300 clinics and medical institutions
throughout the UAE. With a fully equipped facility currently worth
over $2 million, DML runs over 300 tests a day offering a full range
of computerized services that are fast and highly accurate.

DML first exhibited at Arab Health in 2001 using the exhibition as a
launchpad for their services. As a result of their participation they
have since witnessed a substantial growth in the reach of their
market penetration, which now includes Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Their
decision to participate in the MEDLAB element of Arab Health 2002,
being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 26th to the 29th
January 2002 is to build upon this growth and further increase their
client list.

Setting the standards for clinical laboratories in the UAE, DML is
now pioneering the first ever online facility by which Doctors can
access results of tests 24 hours a day. "Although we are currently in
the planning stages at this point, we hope to be able to provide
Doctors with the resources to access all of their test results
through our website" said Mohammed Taiseer Al Babbili, Medical Lab
Representative, Dubai Medical Laboratory.
"The DML website is currently offering a comprehensive round up of
all the tests we perform which is a valuable resource for medical
institutions throughout the Middle East.  We wanted to develop this
site to expand on our customer delivery by having password protected
access available to Doctors. This way the patient benefits as the
results are available 24 hours a day thus facilitating a faster
delivery" DML has confirmed that it views the forthcoming MEDLAB
element of the forthcoming Arab Health 2002 exhibition, as the ideal
platform from which to demonstrate this new online facility to the
regions leading healthcare professionals.

"With so many different nationalities living in this region we find
that there are so many different diseases and ailments as well as the
perpetual new test requirements and investigations" said Al
Babbili "For example, in recent months we have seen an increase in
the number of thalassemia tests being carried out as a result of
government initiative to promote awareness of this disease" said Al
Babbili. "In addition Doctors are requesting more tests for
osteoporosis and hormone related issues as they strive to keep
abreast of the continually increasing number of new diseases"

Dubai Medical Laboratory is also working on expansion plans for an
additional Laboratory that will deal specifically with highly
specialized test such as AIDS, HIV and Hepatitis. This laboratory is
expected to be completed by the end of the year. Meanwhile, that DML
has recently invested in a new area,  that of allergies which now
provides a full allergy programme that gives fast and accurate
results for a number of tests. To find out more about DML and other
exhibitors taking part in Arab Health 2002, please contact the
organizers on 971 4 3365161 or visit the website at
www.arabhealthonline.com

___________________________________end_______________________________
For further information, please contact Elaine Nettleton, PR Manager
Tel: 971 4 3365161         Fax: 971 4 3360137         Email:
enettleton@...

Dear Members

We have now completed the list of all pharmaceutical abbreviations.
We are now struggling to complete the list of all medical and
agrochemical abbreviations and acronyms.  At the moment we are adding
about 400 new entries a day thanks to contributions from healthcare
professionals from around the world.

We would welcome your contribution. Please come and search for two or
three abbreviations – if you find one is missing or wrong we would
love to hear from you.
www.pharma-lexicon.com

We aim to have 30,000 entries by the end of this month.  The list
will always be free for everyone to use.

Many thanks from our input team.

Christian Nordqvist
Pharma-lexicon International
http://www.pharma-lexicon.com
83 Filsham Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea
East Sussex TN380PE
Tel: 01424 434208
Email: christian@...

Dear Members

I would like to thank everyone who sent us new biotech, medical and
pharma abbreviations and acronyms over the last couple of weeks.  We
have managed to add nearly two thousand new abbreviations during this
period.
www.pharma-lexicon.com

Please continue sending us new medical, pharma, biotech abbreviations
and associations abbreviations.  We could never have done this
project without the help of all of you.

Best Regards

Christian Nordqvist and our hardworking data input team.
Christian@...
www.pharma-lexicon.com

Black Seed !

عرف المصريون القدماء نبات حبة البركة، ولكن لم يعرف على وجه التحديد كيف
استخدموه في حياتهم اليومية، وكانوا يعرفونها باسم "شنتت"، إلا أن اكتشاف
زيت هذا النبات ضمن مقتنيات أحد ملوكهم يدل بصورة قاطعة على مدى أهمية
هذا النبات في هذه الفترة.

http://www.islamonline.net/arabic/science/2000/10/Article9.shtml

لحياة أكثر صحة نقدم هذه الخدمة التي لا تعد بديلا عن زيارة الطبيب المختص ولا
تتضمن وصف العقاقير إلا في أضيق نطاق


http://www.islamonline.net/Health/Arabic/browse.asp


Direct Links to Suppliers
http://www.medicsindex.org/pharco.htm
http://www.blackseed.com

American scientists claim to have found the answer to frequent
fillings - a material that heals cavities.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1507000/1507380.stm

Woman wants brother's IVF baby
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1510000/1510514.stm


Natural Immune Enhancer
A combination of Black Seed and Garlic. Research shows that Black
Seed, popularly known as "the seed of blessing", improves T-
Lymphocyte subsets, while both herbs show improvement of Natural
Killer Cell activity.
http://www.blackseed.com/products.htm

A blend of Ginger and Thyme. Unlike synthetic pharmaceutical
tranquilizers, these two natural herbs achieve their tranquilizing
effect without sedating the body, and instead have an energizing
effect.
http://www.blackseed.com/products.htm

MENOPAUSE

When a woman goes through menopause, her body stops making eggs, her
menstrual cycles end, and she can no longer get pregnant or give
birth. Menopause comes to every woman, arriving for most between age
40 and 54.
http://www.health.com/wynks/MenopauseWYNK2000-MAL/

Dear Readers

We have just completed the largest online database of medical and
pharmaceutical abbreviations and acronyms in the world.  We now have
27,000 entries.  If you go to our search box and type in FDA you will
immediately get Food and Drugs Administration.
www.pharma-lexicon.com

Please come and try to catch us out!  See if you have an abbreviation
we have not included.  If you do have one we would love to hear about
it.

We are now trying to complete our database of
medical/pharma/healthcare associations and their website addresses.
We have most of the associations (90%) but do not know many of their
website addresses - we would welcome your help.

We are a non-profit making organisation.

Yours sincerely
Christian Nordqvist
christian@...
www.pharma-lexicon.com

MAJOR EXHIBITION SET FOR DUBLIN !


NURSING, MIDWIFERY, HEALTHCARE & RECRUITMENT EXHIBITION

26TH & 27TH SEPTEMBER 2001
ROYAL DUBLIN SHOWGROUND

Probably the biggest exhibition of it`s kind in Ireland!

The two day event is proving to be of great interest to Ireland`s
Nursing and Midwifery professionals in addition to students of
Nursing and Midwifery.
There is free entry to all Healthcare professionals, Nurses and
Midwives.
Nursing and Midwifery students are very welcome and the event
organisers are offering free travel arrangements to and from the
exhibition, from all over Ireland, for all student Nurses, in parties
of 10 or more.

The event is in two parts , a Nurse recruitment exhibition with a
record number of NHS Hospitals from all over the UK, Health boards
and H&SS Hospitals from Ireland, recruitment agencies from Ireland,
the UK, the States and Australia so far.

From an educational and career point of view there is also a parallel
educational seminar programme over the two days, with specialist
Nursing topics being addressed by accredited speakers.
Topics so far arranged are:
Trauma Scoring and the Glasgow Coma Scale,
Ectopic Pregnancy,
Advanced Life Support,
ECG Rhythm Regognition,
Diabetes and Diabetic Ketoacidosis,
Chest X-Ray interpretation,
How to interpret Blood Gas,
Mental Health

for copies of the Magasine and Advertising information at the
Exhibition please contact Medicsindex webmaster at
medicsindex@...
or Directly for the attention of Mr. GEORGE CRAIG
george.craig@...

Test that can rule out heart damage within six hours of admission to
an emergency department.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1494000/1494175.stm

Iron supplements could be the answer to a cough that plagues many
heart patients.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1494000/1494970.stm

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says
many people with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are missing out on
some important treatments because they are not being diagnosed early
enough. Dr. Helene Gayle is director of the CDC's National Center
HIV, STD and TB Prevention. CNN's Daryn Kagan spoke with Dr. Gayle
Thursday about the importance of early diagnosis of HIV.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/conditions/08/16/helene.gayle.cnna/inde
x.html


Depression Can Make It Tougher to Stop Smoking
June 20, 2001 -- Smokers with a history of depression may have an
especially difficult time kicking the tobacco habit, according to a
study in the June 16 issue of Lancet. The findings confirm a long-
held and distressing suspicion -- that reaching for a cigarette may
be an especially toxic way that some depressed individuals self-
medicate their symptoms.
http://my.webmd.com/condition_center_content/smk/article/1728.81812


For Those Trying to Quit, Antidepressant Shows Promise
May 22, 2001 -- If you're a smoker, you already know you should quit.
You've probably tried, at least once. Maybe you wore a patch or
chewed nicotine gum. You suffered cravings, mood swings, and weight
gain -- only to break down and light up again.
http://my.webmd.com/condition_center_content/smk/article/1728.80151


Please feel free to update your profile at MedicsIndex, by sending
your clinic profile to medicsindex@... our team will notify you
with your New web address within one week from receipt of your email.
(Offer applies to Medics – Medical Doctors only).

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
medicsindex group:

Are Doctors Able to influence the
opinions of the Decision makers with
regards to the on-going violence and
instability in the Middle Eastern
Region, including Kuwait – Iraq –
Palestine?

   o YES
   o NO


To vote, please visit the following web page:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/medicsindex/polls

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

RIGHT TO ACCESS MORE INFORMATION !

Patient Education

Contraception pamphlets
Especially for Teens pamphlets
Gynecologic Problems pamphlets
Labor, Delivery & Postpartum Care pamphlets
Physiology and Sexuality pamphlets
Pregnancy pamphlets
Special Procedures pamphlets
Women's Health pamphlets
Complete Set of Pamphlets
Patient Education Videos
Other Patient Education Resources
Planning Your Pregnancy and Birth, Third Edition
ACOG Booklets

Professional Publications
ACOG Guidelines
ACOG Journals
ACOG Series
Coding Resources
CREOG Educational Materials
Essential Resources for Your Library
For the Practicing Physician
Outpatient Encounter Forms
Personalized Encounter Forms
Patient Records
Precis Publications

http://www.medicsindex.org/publicationIndex.htm

ACOG Update (Audiotape Subscription)
Adolescent Sexuality Speaker's Package

Audiotape from ACOG
Case List Summary Software

CD-ROM Packages
Domestic Violence Speaker's Package

Surgical Videos — Genitourinary—Diagnosis and Management
Surgical Videos — Hysterectomy

Surgical Videos — Laparoscopy/Endoscopy
Surgical Videos — Obstetrics

Surgical Videos — Other Operative Gynecology Procedures
Surgical Videos — Rectovaginal


Contact medicsindex@... for furhter information about any item
listed above.

medicsindex@...

September 2001

27-30 September-SAUDI HEALTHCARE-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "The 11th
Anniversary of Saudi Arabia's International Medical, Dental,
Pharmaceutical, Scientific Equipment & Labware Exhibition &
Symposium." Contact:  Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions, P.O. Box
40740, Jeddah 21511, Saudi Arabia, Tel:  966-2-654-6384 Fax:  966-2-
654-6853, E-mail: Jeddah:  acejedxpos@....  E-mail: London:
ace.xpos@....

Post-Polio Syndrome Threat

Up to 20 million polio survivors could be at risk of developing
further disabilities decades after their original illness.

A report by a voluntary health agency in the United States says that
the little understood post-polio syndrome (PPS) could mean that
individuals will need wheelchairs and ventilators for the rest of
their lives. Science In Action reports.
more at :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/sci_tech/highlights/010615_postpolio.shtml

طبيبة اردنية: 4.5 من النساء الأردنيات يعانين من ترقق العظام
نقص السكر لدى المولود يسبب الشلل المخي

Read more topics at http://www.albawaba.com/health/index.php3?lang=a


'Ice baths' help stroke patients

A cheaper, generic form of the widely-used anti-depressant Prozac
goes on sale in the United States - at a much-reduced price.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/default.stm

Post message: medicsindex@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe:  medicsindex-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe:  medicsindex-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner:  medicsindex-owner@yahoogroups.com

By Colette Bouchez
HealthScoutNews Reporter

MONDAY, July 23 (HealthScoutNews) -- While you're munching on that
apple a day to keep to the doctor away, think about wolfing down a
banana as well: High-potassium foods, like bananas, may lower your
risk of stroke.

Researchers from Tulane University found that folks with a low
dietary intake of potassium are up to 28 percent more likely to have
a stroke than those who include potassium-rich fruits and vegetables
in their daily diet.

"Our study examined the association between potassium in the diet and
subsequent risk of stroke…and those who had the lowest
[potassium]
intake were shown to be at increased risk, while those who consumed
more did not have this same elevated risk," says Lydia Bazzano, the
lead study author and an epidemiologist at Tulane University School
of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

According to the study, low intake was defined as less than 1,500 mg
of potassium daily. The recommended daily intake is about 2,300 mg,
and the average American eats around 2,500 mg every day. A banana,
one of the highest sources, has about 400 mg of potassium, as does a
glass of orange juice, a cup of cantaloupe or a baked potato.

Although no one is sure exactly how potassium protects against
stroke, many believe a link to blood pressure is key. Indeed, studies
show that potassium can relax blood vessels, which cuts the risk of
high blood pressure, and it also helps remove sodium from the blood,
according to stroke expert Dr. Mitchell Elkind.

"People who are taking in more potassium are getting rid of more
sodium, which in turn is lowering their blood pressure. And it is
probably the lowered blood pressure that in the end is reducing the
risk of stroke," says Elkind, a neurologist at Columbia Presbyterian
Medical Center.

What made this study particularly interesting, however, was that
potassium appeared to also offer protective effects to those whose
blood pressure was normal.

"The statistical methods we used [in analyzing study results]
suggested an independent effect," says Bazzano.

Although Elkind believes potassium may have played a role, he doesn't
believe it tells the whole story.

"It seems that the people in the study who ate more potassium also
were more active; they had less hypertension, less diabetes, less of
the other factors that increase the risk of stroke. So their higher
intake of potassium could simply be a reflection of a healthier
lifestyle overall that, in turn, may be the real underlying factor in
the reduced risk of stroke," he says.

The observational study included 9,800 American men and women who
were originally part of the National Health Examination Survey
(NHANES I) Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. The study relied on a 24-
hour dietary recall, in which participants were asked to remember
both their total caloric intake and the foods they ate. Using medical
records and death certificates, the researchers obtained information
on both stroke and cardiovascular disease among the participants. The
original NHANES I began in 1971, and various follow-ups are
continuing.

Over the course of this 19-year follow-up, 927 of the participants
had a stroke, while 1,847 developed some form of heart disease. When
this data was compared to the dietary information provided during the
study, the relationship between stroke and potassium was noted.

"Participants who consumed the least amount of potassium per day
[less than 1,500 mg] were at increased risk of stroke, while those
who consumed more than that level did not show an elevated risk,"
says Bazzano.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Bazzano adds, low potassium diets have
been found most commonly in the south, particularly among African-
Americans living in the south -- a group that has among the highest
risk of stroke.

The Tulane study is in the July issue of the American Heart
Association journal, Stroke.

Because the research focused solely on dietary intake of potassium,
it couldn't tell anything about how protective potassium supplements
were -- and doctors warn not to try supplements without medical
supervision.

"Excess potassium is excreted in the urine if one has healthy
kidneys, but even healthy kidneys can be overwhelmed. And potassium
[in very high doses] can be toxic to the heart…so it is important
to
have supervision, if potassium is to be supplemented in pill form,"
cautions Bazzano.

Elkind concurs: "This study does provide some interesting information
that may one day lead to use of potassium supplements. But from what
we know now, it would be premature to tell people to use potassium
supplements to prevent stroke -- I would not recommend it routinely."

What To Do

"At this point, what we would recommend people do is eat a diet rich
in fruits and vegetables high in potassium, along with a low-fat, low-
sodium diet," says Elkind, who believes these are the dietary factors
that can decrease your risk of stroke.

Bazzano agrees: "While dietary change is a simple solution, it can be
difficult to implement and stick to. But we believe that increasing
foods high in potassium will be very effective in reducing the risk
of stroke."
http://www.healthscoutnews.com/072301banana.htm

Is it safe?
Daily consumption of 2,000 to 6,000 milligrams of potassium is a safe
range for the general population.
http://www.indiadiets.com/foods/food_nutrients/Minerals/Potassium.htm

Read About the Late Alerts for Drugs here
http://www.safetyalerts.com/rcls/category/drug.htm

'Prescription for change' is a free monthly ezine for doctors   who
want to live   more fulfilling lives. If you want to discover ways
to close the gap between how your life is and how you'd like it to
be, you will find ways to do so in the ezine.   Contributions - news,
short articles, questions are all welcome. Please send your
challenges, comments and answers to the monthly 'What do you
prescribe?' question.

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There is an e-mail group `Synergise' for  doctors to share
experiences and compare  the way to cope with the problems.
To subscribe please e-mail: synergise-subscribe@...

Susan E. Kersley, MB BCh  BA M.Ed, Life Coach
+44 (0) 1736 810 079
susan@...
www.thedoctorscoach.co.uk

An eating plan known to lower blood pressure also significantly lowers
blood cholesterol levels, according to results of a study supported by the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National
Institutes of Health. Scientists have found that the DASH (Dietary
Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet significantly reduces the levels of
total cholesterol and of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad"
cholesterol.

Compared to those on a control diet, which reflected a typical
American's eating habits, individuals on the DASH eating plan reduced
on average their levels of total cholesterol by 13.7 mg/dL or 7.3 percent,
and their levels of LDL cholesterol by 10.7 mg/dL or 9 percent. The
findings are published in the July 2001 issue of the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition.

"Studies have proven the DASH diet to be beneficial for individuals with
high blood pressure or those wishing to - read more please go to ..

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/new/press/01-06-21.htm

Throughout its history, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
(NHLBI) has been a leader in conducting and supporting research to
alleviate the health disparities that exist between various segments of
the U.S. population, and its outstanding efforts in this area have been
publically recognized in Congressional hearings. Projects with a strong
minority component have been initiated so that comparisons may be
made between various populations. These projects have produced a
wealth of information that enable identification of health disparities and
provide clues about their causes.

In addition, research programs that focus exclusively on minority health
issues have been given high priority. They address diagnosis, treatment,
and prevention of diseases, conditions, and risk factors that
disproportionately affect minorities, including high blood pressure,
coronary heart disease, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, asthma,
sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, sickle cell disease, and Cooley's anemia.

Through its education programs, the NHLBI disseminates health-related
information to physicians, health care professionals, patients, and the
general public. Strong emphasis is placed on outreach to minority
populations using culturally sensitive, innovative approaches, such as
church-based interventions to reach a large segment of the black
community.

The NHLBI actively recruits minority individuals into its training and
career development programs with particular emphasis on members of
racial/ethnic groups that are currently underrepresented in the research
enterprise.

Since FY 1991, the Institute has had procedures in place to ensure full
compliance with the NIH Policy on Inclusion of Minorities and Women in
Research. As a result, all NHLBI-supported research that involves human
subjects includes minorities, with the exception of a very few projects
for which a strong justification for limiting the diversity of the study
population exists.

I. Research

A. Development and Progression of Disease

click here for more
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/docs/plandisp.htm

The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research
Centre (KFSH&RC) will host a Symposium entitled
"Cancer 2001," with emphasis on breast cancer and
lymphoid neoplasia,
from 15 - 17 October 2001 (28 Rajab - 01 Shaban 1422),
in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The main objective in holding this symposium is not only to
  acquaint participants with the latest advances in our basic
understanding of cancer, but also to demonstrate how the
rapid translation of this fundamental knowledge from the
bench to the bedside promises to revolutionize the management
of the disease. Specific topics to be addressed include:
translational studies, pathology, epidemiology, therapy, nursing issues,
  and medical ethics of human subjects research.


This symposium is made possible with the collaboration of a number of
international organizations and institutions which includes, but not
limited to, the following:

The Arab American Cancer Foundation
Institut Gustave Roussy
International Network for
Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR)
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Union Internationale Contre Le Cancer (UICC)

Visit our site at :
http://rc.kfshrc.edu.sa/cancer2001.htm

Contact :
Sylvia Kawa, Symposium Coordinator
MBC-03 / The Research Centre
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre
PO Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
Tel: (966) 1 464-7272 ext 32907 / Fax: (966) 1 442-7854
Email: kawa@...