offspring

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Putting 3 year old son in washing machine as punishment....

French boy, three, dies after father 'puts him in washing machine and turns it on as punishment for throwing nursery classmate's drawing down toilet'

  • 'I felt his heart beat for the last time and then he died'
By Tim Finan

Last updated at 7:52 AM on 29th November 2011

A 33-year-old man has been charged with murder after allegedly killing his three-year-old son by locking him in a washing machine and turning it on.

Christophe Champenois, from Meaux, near Paris, allegedly stripped Bastien naked and shut him in the machine to punish him for a prank at nursery school - throwing a classmate's drawing down a toilet.

He is then said to have run the cold cycle wash for a few minutes at their house, in the village of Germigny-l'Eveque.

Christophe Champenois, 33, allegedly killed his three-year-old son Bastien (above) by locking him in a washing machine and turning it on
Christophe Champenois, 33, allegedly killed his three-year-old son Bastien (above) by locking him in a washing machine and turning it on 

The child, whom neighbours described as blond and angelic, died of head injuries on Friday night, French police said.
His mother Charlene, 25, recovered him from the machine, according to Le Parisien newspaper.
 
She then ran to her neighbour, known only as Alice, and told her that Bastien had 'fallen down the stairs'.
Alice told Le Parisien: 'I picked him up and his limbs were as loose as those of a rag doll.

The house in Germigny-l'Eveque, Meaux, near Paris where Bastien Champenois died
The family house in Germigny-l'Eveque, Meaux, near Paris where Bastien Champenois died

'I felt his heart beat for the last time and then he died.' 

Bastien's five-year-old sister, Maud, told Alice's husband that it was not the first time the boy's father had put him in the washing machine as punishment.

Neighbours told the newspaper that the boy had been repeatedly abused - by being locked up for hours in a cupboard and also by being left on a window sill for hours wrapped in a blanket. 


Flowers left outside the property where Bastien lived his short life
Flowers left outside the property where Bastien lived his short life

'Bastien was an unwanted child', claimed Evelyne, his grandmother.

'On the day he was born, his father was out drinking and when I told him he had a son, he said that he didn't want him.' 

A judge in Meaux placed unemployed Champenois under investigation for murdering his child and charged his wife, a mother of seven, with failing to prevent a crime and failing to assist a person in danger. 

Both were placed in custody and their surviving children taken into care.

 

Friday, December 16, 2011

Paracetamol is a safe and effective painkiller when used correctly.....

Young mother, 20, dies after taking 'a few extra paracetamol' to help cope with breast surgery pain

  • One in four with paracetamol-induced liver damage have taken a 'staggered overdose'
  • Desiree had emergency liver transplant to try and save her but her body rejected the organ
By Tammy Hughes

Last updated at 1:22 PM on 15th December 2011

A young mother died from liver failure following routine surgery after she took 'a few extra tablets' of paracetamol each day to cope with the pain.


Desiree Phillips, 20, had a number of benign lumps on her breast removed earlier this year.

Doctors prescribed antibiotics and over-the-counter paracetamol to help her cope with the discomfort.

Accidental overdose: Desiree Phillips died after taking extra paracetamol tablets to help her cope with pain following surgery to remove a benign breast lump
Accidental overdose: Desiree Phillips died after taking extra paracetamol tablets to help her cope with pain following surgery to remove a benign breast lump

Her family suspected she was taking just ‘a few extra tablets’ a day before she was admitted to hospital with a failing liver nine days after the operation.

The single mother, from Llanelli, South Wales, endured a week of excruciating pain and a liver transplant. But she died at Birmingham Queen Elizabeth hospital on August 26.

Her grandfather Des Phillips and mother Ayshea spoke of their shock and sorrow.
Mr Phillips, 58, a chef, said: ‘She must have been taking a few extra tablets than the recommended eight a day. She seemed fine to us, then out of the blue her boyfriend found her stretched out on the sofa. 

‘When we heard she was at hospital we never expected she might die. People don’t realise that an extra two over a period of time can harm your liver if you keep taking that over two to three weeks.’

He added:'We have lost part of our heart, losing her like this.'

Warning: Doctors have told people to beware of a staggered overdose of paracetamol, which is where they take an extra couple of tablets each day over a longer period
Warning: Doctors have told people to beware of a staggered overdose of paracetamol, which is where they take an extra couple of tablets each day over a longer period

By the time Desiree arrived at hospital, her liver failure was irreversible. 

Liver failure can result in a potentially fatal build-up of fluid in the brain.

Mr Phillips said: ‘They said she should have a liver transplant straight away but her body rejected the new organ.’

Although an inquest is yet to be held, Desiree’s family is keen for action to be taken to try to prevent similar tragedies.

Mr Phillips said: ‘If a painkiller is that dangerous, it should be prescribed. Cigarettes have a label saying “smoking kills” but paracetamol packets don’t look dangerous.’

Desiree’s family said her one-year-old son Jayden is now being cared for by his father Simon Dewi-Jones. 


Desiree’s mother Ayshea, 38, added: ‘Jayden doesn’t deserve to be growing up without a mum because of this.’

The 20-year-old's funeral was held at Llanelli Crematorium yesterday.
Dr Kenneth Simpson, of the Scottish Liver Transplantation Unit, who led a study on paracetamol-induced liver injury in 663 patients, says 161 of them had taken a ‘staggered overdose’ – taking one or two too many over several days. 

‘Those who’ve taken a staggered overdose do worse, paradoxically, than the people who’ve tried to kill themselves,’ said Dr Simpson.

A Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency spokesman said: ‘Paracetamol is a safe and effective painkiller when used correctly and when dosage recommendations are followed.

‘Every pack has a warning about overdose and instructions not to take more than eight tablets in any 24-hour period.’

Pay attention to scratches...

It was just a small scratch from a cat - but six days later my heart stopped

By David Hurst

Last updated at 10:41 PM on 12th December 2011

A week after Jon Taylor was scratched by his mother-in-law’s cat he was undergoing emergency surgery — and given just 48 hours to live.


Bacteria from the claw had entered his bloodstream, triggering septicaemia.
Jon recalls: ‘I was in the kitchen when the cat jumped from our oven on to my foot and left two 6cm scratches. After putting TCP and a bandage on, I thought nothing more of it.’

In fact, the break in his skin had allowed a strain of streptococcus bacterium from the cat’s claw into Jon’s bloodstream.

It multiplied, settling on the aortic valve in his heart — which controls the flow of blood around the rest of the body. 


Two days later Jon, 44, thought he was coming down with flu. The day after that, he felt so ill he took to his bed. 


‘I’m usually resilient — but I was surprised at how much this “flu” had knocked me for six,’ says Jon, who lives with his wife Stephanie and their three children near Okehampton, Devon.

The next night he was woken by a pulsating pain in his left ring finger — by the next morning it was swollen and had turned purple. 

Even then, market wholesaler Jon wasn’t unduly concerned, thinking he might have damaged it at work. But swellings like this, away from the original site of injury, is a typical symptom of septicaemia (or blood poisoning). 


Septicaemia occurs when bacteria multiply in the blood, causing widespread inflammation that damages vital organs. If not treated promptly, septic shock can develop, where bacterial toxins cause blood pressure to plummet. 

Eventually, the organs start to fail, and it results in death in more than half of patients. 

Bacteria can enter the bloodstream via open surgery and tooth abscesses, as well as burns — and scratches.

The doctor told Jon he had just 48 hours to live
The doctor told Jon he had just 48 hours to live

‘I still didn’t think my symptoms were anything to do with the scratches, as they looked like they were healing,’ says Jon.
‘But six days after being scratched, I was jaundiced and very unwell. I had a raging fever and was very weak.’
His family became so concerned they called an ambulance and Jon was rushed to hospital.
‘By this point I was drifting in and out of consciousness, and my memory of being admitted is hazy,’ he says. 


Jon was taken to intensive care, where tests showed his heart, lungs, liver and kidney were about to fail — at one stage his heart stopped beating for a few seconds and had to be restarted.
 
He was told his aortic valve needed replacing. 


Jon says: ‘The doctor didn’t mess about, he told me if I didn’t have the surgery, I’d be dead in 48 hours. My wife was terrified and even in my state I was pretty frightened.’


It is important to pay attention to scratches, no matter how small, advises Dr Suranjith Seneviratne, an immunologist at the Royal Free Hospital, London. 


An infected scratch will usually start to look red and infected, and the lymph node will start to swell near the wound after ten days. This will be followed by fever, fatigue, headaches and, in some cases, a loss of appetite, enlarged spleen and sore throat. 


Worryingly, Dr Seneviratne adds: ‘A scratch can look like it’s healing, but the bacteria could have travelled to another site. Symptoms can often be seen away from the scratch, because of the incubation period — usually a few days — as the bacteria multiply and divide.’


The bacteria can settle on the heart, liver, brain, kidney and lungs, with those with a low immune system — such as the elderly, babies or someone with an existing illness such as cancer or diabetes — being most at risk. 
 
Certain medications can suppress the immune system, including chemotherapy and  steroids (used for conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis).
‘With otherwise healthy people, normally their immune system would kill off the bacteria,’ says Dr Seneviratne.

Jon had been diagnosed with a heart murmur in his mid-30s, caused by a weak valve, and doctors believe that bacteria from the cat’s claw had settled on this weak spot.


It is important to pay attention to scratches, no matter how small
It is important to pay attention to scratches, no matter how small

After his operation, Jon was given six weeks of intravenous antibiotics — but it took a further 11 months until he was fit enough to return to work.


It’s not just animal scratches that can cause problems — so, too, can splinters or thorns.

Debbie Penwill, who runs a livery stable, developed a bacterial infection after scratching herself at a wedding reception.

‘Someone messing about lobbed a chair cushion that was backed by a thin piece of wood,’ says Debbie, 29, from Tavistock, Devon.

‘It hit me between my ankle and knee, causing a painful bump and scratch just a couple of millimetres long. It didn’t look deep, so I didn’t wash it and thought nothing more of it.’


But six days after the wedding in September, she woke up with a rash all over her body.
‘I’d had a flu-like virus a few weeks before and put it down to that.
‘But the next day the rash was really red and I was sick. I went to the local hospital where one doctor said it could be scarlet fever, but his colleague said it wasn’t.’


She was given moisturising cream, as her skin felt dry. But that night she couldn’t sleep because of the pain. ‘It was like I’d been dragged through stinging nettles — itchy and burning. I was scared as I didn’t have a clue what it was.’


At 4am she went to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
‘I had a blood test and nine different  doctors had a look at me. They decided it wasn’t an allergy, but they still didn’t know what it was.’ 


Debbie was sent home with steroid tablets and some other skin creams.
In a couple of days the rash had calmed down, but then it merged into purple and black patches — which she later discovered was due to bacterial toxins circulating in her body. 


Debbie’s skin became sore and tender for a few days.
‘I felt like a 90-year-old, as I was in pain when I walked and could barely get out of bed,’ she says.


Debbie saw another doctor after about three weeks, and by then  her symptoms were a faded rash. A blood test showed she’d had the streptococcus bacteria. 


It must have entered her bloodstream through the small scratch — the rash was scarlatina, a bacterial illness linked to scarlet fever. It develops only if someone is susceptible to the toxins produced by the streptococcus bacteria.


‘I had to take three weeks off work, and as I’m self-employed I lost a lot of money,’ she says.

‘My skin is still peeling nine weeks later. But I’m just glad to know what it was. I’ll definitely clean any scratches from now on.’

THE DANGER SIGNS OF SEPTICAEMIA

If a scratch becomes swollen, hot or inflamed and you start getting chills or a fever, seek immediate medical attention as this could mean it is infected.

‘The dirtier and deeper the scratch the more likely there will be an infection,’ explains Hilary Longhurst, consultant immunologist at St  Bartholomew’s Hospital, London.

‘The classic case we might see is the old lady doing her roses who gets a thorn scratch after putting manure down.’ 


She adds: ‘With septicaemia, look out for hot swelling, pain, feeling unwell, or swollen lymph glands near the scratch. If it’s not improving go to your doctor or A&E immediately.

‘Depending on its severity, oral or intravenous antibiotics will usually clear up an infection, but the sooner it’s caught the better.’


Sunday, December 11, 2011

Eating white bread and pasta could increase risk of breast cancer returning in patients

  • Starch-rich diet linked to new tumours developing
  • Refined carbohydrates, such as white breads and white pasta, contain more starch than whole grains
By Sadie Whitelocks

Last updated at 5:02 PM on 9th December 2011
Eating cereal, bread and potatoes may boost the risk of breast cancer recurrence say scientists
Eating cereal, bread and potatoes may boost the risk of breast cancer recurrence say scientists

Eating plenty of cereal, bread and potatoes may boost the risk of breast cancer recurring in survivors, say scientists. 

A study found that former sufferers who followed a starch-rich diet were more likely to develop tumours compared to those who reduced their intake.

Researchers are unable to explain the trend but it is believed that increased insulin levels, sparked by refined carbohydrates, could stimulate the growth of cancerous cells.

A team from University of California, San Diego, studied the diets of 2,651 breast cancer survivors over 12 months.


They found that carbohydrates in general - especially starches - were linked to the risk of new tumours developing.


The rate of recurrence was 14.2 per cent among women who increased their starch intake while it was 9.7 per cent for those who decreased their consumption.

Lead researcher Jennifer Emond said: 'The results show that it's not just overall carbohydrates, but particularly starch. 

'Women who increased their starch intake over one year were at a much likelier risk for recurring.'
 
At the start, the women's carbohydrate intake was 233g per day. 


Women whose cancer recurred increased their carbohydrate by 2.3g per day during the first year, while those who did not see a recurrence reduced their intake by 2.7g.

Carbohydrates are the most important fuel for muscles, and an essential energy source for the brain and central nervous system, but some can be healthier than others.

Refined carbohydrates, such as white breads and white pasta, contain more starch than whole grains. 


Professor Emond added: 'We didn't pinpoint the exact foods.'

Marji McCullough from the American Cancer Society said the findings, presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in Texas, are important for breast cancer survivors who want to know know how to lower their risk of recurrence.

However she added that it is too early to advise making dietary changes and further research is need. 

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Campaign said, 'This study suggests that reducing starch consumption could possibly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

'However, it is too early to make dietary recommendations based on these results and we therefore welcome further investigations into this interesting area.

'While the overall risk of developing the disease can be reduced with some adjustments to diet, a reduction in alcohol consumption and not smoking, the causes of breast cancer are complex with the biggest risk factors being gender, age and genetics.'

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK affecting about 46,000 women every year.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Most people in the UK are killed by five diseases -

Most people in the UK are killed by five diseases - here are some tips to avoid them

By Doctor Sarah Brewer

Last updated at 9:59 PM on 24th September 2011

We all have to go somehow. And last year 493,242 Britons died of various causes. The majority were due to heart disease and more than a quarter were as a result of various forms of cancer.
But behind these sad statistics is another story: yes, we all die of something, but how soon it happens and what gets us in the end is, to some extent, down to our lifestyle.
So what are Britain’s most common killers, and how can we avoid them? Here is my practical guide.



Heart Disease

Most common: Heart attack, 70,196


Why does it kill? When cells in the heart die, the muscle cannot pump blood around the body. Without a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood, the body dies.


Will it happen to me? The risk of suffering a heart attack can be as high as one in three. A family history of heart disease also raises the risk of developing it. Heart attacks are most common in men over the age of 45 and women over the age of 55.

How to avoid it: Give up smoking – you are five times more likely to have a heart attack in your 30s and 40s if you smoke. Lose excess weight and eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and less salt. Eat oily fish or take a fish-oil supplement rich in omega 3 oils – studies have shown that taking just 1g of long-chain fish oils (EPA and DHA) daily reduces the risk of suffering a heart attack by 45 per cent. Control stress levels – excess stress can increase blood pressure by the equivalent of carrying an extra 44 lb in weight or gaining an additional 20 years in age. Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day.

What to look for: A heart attack can be difficult to distinguish from angina (the body’s warning sign that it is close to suffering a heart attack). Both are due to lack of oxygen reaching the heart muscle. A heart attack usually occurs after physical activity and symptoms can be vague. Fatigue, an urgent need to empty the bowels and chest discomfort as opposed to intense pain can all be the beginnings of a heart attack. Angina usually fades after rest but heart-attack symptoms will steadily worsen.

Stop: You are five more times likely to have a heart attack in your 30s and 40s if you smoke
Stop: You are five more times likely to have a heart attack in your 30s and 40s if you smoke

Cancer

Most common: Throat and lung, 29,977

Why does it kill? Cancers develop when a single cell starts to divide repeatedly, producing abnormal copies of itself, rather than dividing occasionally just to replace worn-out cells. If the immune system does not destroy these cells, they continue to reproduce and invade surrounding tissues. Cancers usually kill because they can impair the function of the organ or tissue they are growing on.

Will it happen to me? Cancer can occur at any age and results from poorly understood interactions between genes, environment and lifestyle. But if you smoke, the chance of developing cancer – particularly throat and lung – is almost 100 per cent; otherwise you stand a one in three chance. The risk is higher if there is a family history of the disease.

How to avoid it: At least 40 per cent of cancers can be prevented by lifestyle changes. Not smoking (again!),  controlling alcohol use, sun exposure and weight, eating nutrient-rich fruit and vegetables, regular exercise, reducing intake of air pollution (such as using a mask if you cycle in a city regularly) as well as making sure you are not exposed to toxic chemicals in the workplace will help. Get checked for sexually transmitted diseases as some, such as hepatitis and the HPV virus (genital warts), have been linked to certain cancers. 

What to look for: Cancer symptoms are usually specific to the area affected, but never ignore a lump, changes in bowel habits, urinary difficulties, recurrent heartburn, a nagging cough or shortness of breath, recurrent discomfort in a specific place, sudden and inexplicable weight or blood loss.

Dementia

Most common: Alzheimer’s disease, 6,757

Why does it kill? A form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease causes brain cells to deteriorate, but more specifically because there is an accumulation of protein both inside and outside of the brain cells that attacks the nerves, cells and neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain).

Will it happen to me? As with all forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s does have a hereditary component. Smokers are also much more prone. 

How to avoid it: Folic acid (Vitamin B9) has been shown to protect against the disease but the most important thing is to keep challenging yourself mentally – with brain cells, it really is a case of using them or losing them. Omega 3 supplements have also been shown to prevent dementia.

What to look for: The same symptoms as other forms of dementia – mood swings, and difficulty thinking, speaking, remembering and making judgments. 


Dose up: Folic Acid will help prevent Dementia but the most important thing is to keep challenging yourself mentally
Dose up: Folic Acid will help prevent Dementia but the most important thing is to keep challenging yourself mentally

Digestive Disease

Most common: Liver failure, 7,503

Why does it kill? The liver is responsible for filtering toxins, regulating blood production and producing bile to digest food. As liver disease sets in, liver cells are replaced by scar tissue (cirrhosis). When this happens, the liver cannot function and toxins build up in the body. This can slow blood-clotting by 50 per cent. 

Will it happen to me? The liver is a very resilient organ, and even if 75 per cent of it is removed it will usually grow back. Women are more prone to  liver disease than men. The chances of developing the disease is one in 109 in the UK.

How to avoid it: Avoid ingesting too much of substances that damage the liver, such as alcohol and painkillers. Get tested for hepatitis if you think you may be at risk of having contracted it (if you have engaged in unprotected sex or have been contaminated with hepatitis-positive blood).

What to look for: Tenderness in the upper right abdomen, jaundice (yellow whites of the eyes or skin), intense itchiness, easy bruising and bleeding. Red spider veins on the torso, red palms of hands and gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts) can also be symptomatic of an underlying liver problem.




Diabetes

Why does it kill? If the pancreas does not produce enough of a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or the body does not make effective use of the insulin (type 2 diabetes), high glucose levels build up in the body. Poorly  managed glucose levels trigger heart disease, poor circulation, blindness and leg ulcers that are prone to infection. 

Will it happen to me? Having a father with type 2 diabetes makes the chances of developing the disease one in 40. If both parents suffer, the chances increase to one in 20. Adults of Asian origin are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and should be vigilant in maintaining a healthy weight. 

How to avoid it: Eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. People who are prone to developing type 2 diabetes tend to store fat around their middle. A man is at highest risk of developing the condition once his waist size has reached 40in. For a woman, it’s 35in. Studies have shown that losing 22 lb can reduce the overall risk of a premature diabetes-related death by up to 30 per cent. Bringing blood pressure down to  normal levels can reduce your risk of diabetic death by 32 per cent, stroke by 44 per cent and heart failure by 56 per cent.

What to look for: A raised blood sugar level – get checked regularly by your doctor if you are at risk.

Death: A Survival Guide – 100 Ways To Die And How To Avoid Them, by Dr Sarah Brewer, is published by Quercus Publishing Plc at £9.99.


Einstein

Socrates

Confucious

 

blogger templates 3 columns | Make Money Online