Vitamin D...

Could the sun save your children from depression? Exposure to vitamin D can lower risk of mental health problems

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:11 AM on 20th January 2012

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Children with low levels of  vitamin D are more likely to  suffer from depression, claim scientists.
Those with the highest levels of the ‘sunshine vitamin’ have a  10 per cent lower risk of developing the mental health problem.
The findings come from the Children of the 90s research project run by the University of Bristol.

Children can boost their vitamin D levels by eating oily fish like tuna and having exposure to sunlight 

The study looked at vitamin D levels in more than 2,700 children when they were aged nine and 13. Those with the lowest levels of vitamin D were more likely to show signs of depression.

Children with higher levels were also more likely to show a decline in depressive symptoms in their teenage years.

Vitamin D is mainly made by the action of sunlight on the skin, although it can also be found in oily fish, such as tuna.

The study investigated levels of two forms of the vitamin – D2 and D3 – and found the strongest anti-depression link with D3.

Tuna steak: Oily fish is a good source of vitamin D

Lead researcher Dr Anna-Maija Tolppanen, of Bristol University’s school of social and community medicine, said further research is needed before a change in medical practice could be recommended.

Although vitamin D is found in oily fish, and is routinely added to milk, diet accounts for very little of the nutrient that actually makes it into the bloodstream.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2088876/Exposure-vitamin-D-lower-risk-mental-health-problems.html#ixzz1k71EKTjv

Messy desks in the office.....

Messy desks in the office can actually lead employees to think more clearly, say researchers

• Being surrounded by mess forces people to 'simplify' thoughts
• People make clear, simple choices at messy desks
• Effect works less on liberals, who are less worried about mess

By Rob Waugh

Last updated at 8:53 AM on 19th January 2012

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Albert Einstein at his desk: The German researchers found, in a series of linked studies, that people tended to think more clearly when surrounded by mess, as they are forced to 'simplify' their thoughts to cope

Managers and office busybodies might be keen on a clean desk - but it seems that in terms of productivity, they could have it all wrong. 

A messy desk can actually lead people towards clearer thinking, say researchers from Germany. 


The researchers found in a series of linked studies - using a messy desk and a messy shop front - that people actually thought more clearly when all around was chaos, as they sought to simplify the tasks at hand. 


Visual and mental clutter forces human beings to focus and think more clearly.
Famous thinkers and writers such as Albert Einstein (pictured) and Roald Dahl have been notorious for their untidy desks. 

'Messy desks may not be as detrimental as they appear to be, as the problem-solving approaches they seem to cause can boost work efficiency or enhance employees' creativity in problem solving,' say the authors. 


Oddly, the effect seems to work most on conservatives - political liberals are less liable to be worried about mess in the first place, say the researchers. 


'Business and government managers often promote 'clean desk' policies to avoid disorganized offices and messy desks, for the purpose of boosting work efficiency and productivity,' write lead Jia Liu of the University of Groningen in a paper published in the Journal of Consumer Research. 


'This practice is based on the conventional wisdom that a disorganized and messy environment can clutter one's mind and complicate one's judgments.'
'However, not all evidence supports this conventional link between a messy environment and a messy mind.'

Roald Dahl at work in his cluttered shed: Researchers found that cluttered desks actually help people to focus on the task at hand

 

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The scientists tested people's response in various 'messy' environments - including a messy shop front, a disorganized desk, and even a work environment where a language task 'reminded' people of messiness. 


The authors found in the series of six studies tended towards simplicity in their thinking. 

The researchers found in a series of linked studies - using a messy desk and a messy shop front - that people actually thought more clearly when all around was chaos, as they sought to simplify the tasks at hand

'They categorized products in a simpler manner, were willing to pay more for a t-shirt that depicts a simple-looking picture, and sought less variety in their choices,' said the researchers.


Oddly, the effect seems to be more profound dependent on your politics - because liberals, say the researchers, are generally less concerned about being disorganised.


'Specifically, conservatives, when confronted with a messy environment (compared to a clean environment), were willing to pay more for a t-shirt with a simple-looking picture. Liberals' willingness to pay for this shirt was not affected by messiness,' the authors explain.
 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2088359/Messy-desks-office-actually-lead-employees-think-clearly-say-researchers.html#ixzz1k1ImdmcO

Widow dies on operating table......

Widow dies on operating table when surgeon tries to remove liver instead of her kidney

• Amy Francis underwent surgery for kidney cancer
• Trainee loses confidence during operation
• Liver ruptures causing death
• Hospital admits to error

By Sadie Whitelocks

Last updated at 8:06 PM on 12th January 2012

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Amy Francis underwent surgery to remove a cancerous kidney but died after surgeons removed the wrong organ

A widow died on an operating table after a surgeon tried to remove the wrong organ, an inquest heard today.

Amy Francis, 77, underwent keyhole surgery to remove a cancerous right kidney last July.

But during the operation at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, her liver ruptured as it was mistakenly pulled out and, despite desperate efforts to save her, she died of internal bleeding.

Consultant urologist Dr Adam Carter, admitted to the error and highlighted that as a result of the death, a modified operating procedure had been communicated 'worldwide'.
Her son Alan, 52, praised Dr Carter for his honesty and the  hospital for 'owning up' early.

Following the hearing he said: 'We appreciated Mr Carter’s honesty and him coming along here today and hope that we can put it all behind us now.

'I think that it was the honesty that saved the hospital. If we thought that they had not answered our questions it would have been different. 


'This was an honest mistake.'

Retired accountant, Mrs Francis, was diagnosed with kidney cancer and was due to be treated after she had recovered from the routine surgery.

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But during the operation Dr Carter allowed a trainee, who had never performed the procedure before, to locate and remove the organ.

As the trainee wasn't confident enough to remove the organ Dr Carter was forced to take over, and during the changeover confusion occurred.

When he attempted to remove the kidney he was immediately told by the anesthetist that the patient’s blood pressure was dropping and he realised his mistake.

Consultant urologist Dr Adam Carter, admitted to the fatal error during an operation performed at the Royal Gwent Hospital 

Two senior surgeons were called to the scene and every effort was made to save Mrs Francis, but they were unsuccessful.

David Bowen, the coroner for Gwent, said: 'Whilst undergoing keyhole surgery for the necessary removal of the cancerous kidney, Mrs Francis’s liver was ruptured when it was mistakenly and unintentionally identified as the kidney and was catastrophically torn and damaged, resulting in death.'

Dr Carter said he had carried out the procedure 20 times since the death without a problem.

Son Alan said before the inquest finished: 'We accept the decision and we also accept that Mr Carter and his team acted in good faith to prolong my mother’s life.


'We also appreciated his honesty and wish him well for the future and hope he goes on to do other successful operations.'


Over the last 40 years, the number of cases of kidney cancer has doubled in men and risen by 130 per cent in women, a trend which is believed to be linked to rising obesity figures.


There were 3638 new cases diagnosed in men and 2118 new cases diagnosed in woman in England during 2007.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2085779/Widow-dies-operating-table-surgeon-tries-remove-liver-instead-kidney.html#ixzz1jRvOIOVC

A sausage a day could lead to cancer...

A sausage a day could lead to cancer: Pancreatic cancer warning over processed meat

By Sophie Borland

Last updated at 10:18 AM on 13th January 2012

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Eating one sausage a day or two rashers of bacon raises the risk of pancreatic cancer by a fifth, according to research.

Scientists have found that even relatively small amounts of processed meat increase the chance of developing this deadly illness.

Pancreatic cancer is called ‘the silent killer’ because it often does not produce symptoms in early stages.

Health fears: Scientists say even one sausage a day can raise the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by nearly 20 per cent

Even when it does, the symptoms are often vague – such as back pain, loss of appetite and weight loss.

By the time the disease is diagnosed it is often too late and, because of this, it has one of the worst survival rates of all cancers and only 3 per cent of patients live beyond five years.

Little is known about its causes other than that smoking, excess alcohol and being overweight all seem to contribute.

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Now scientists in Sweden have found that eating just 50g of processed meat a day raises the likelihood by 19 per cent.

This is equivalent to a few slices of ham or salami, a hot dog or sausage or two slices of bacon.

Eating 100g a day – a small burger – increases the risk by 38 per cent while 150g a day raises it by 57 per cent. 


Ordinary red meat such as joints or steaks increases a man’s chance of getting the cancer, but not a woman’s.

But the risk posed by eating meat was substantially lower than for smoking, which was found to increase the likelihood of pancreatic cancer by 74 per cent.

Still hungry? Eating 100g a day - the amount found in a small burger - increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by 38 per cent 

The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, analysed the results of 11 other studies involving 6,000 patients with pancreatic cancer.

There is already widespread evidence that red and processed meat may trigger bowel cancer. 

For this reason the Government last year published guidelines advising the public to limit their consumption to 500g of red and processed meat a week.

Professor Susanna Larsson, of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm said: ‘Pancreatic cancer has poor survival rates. 

‘So it’s important to understand what can increase the risk of this disease.’
Just over 8,000 Britons are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2085889/Pancreatic-cancer-warning-Processed-meat-day-raises-risk.html#ixzz1jLne7LJT

The harmful bacteria......

The harmful bacteria responsible for food poisoning and breathing problems hiding in our homes

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 8:46 PM on 28th July 2010

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Bathroom seals, fridges, kitchen towels and kettle handles are prime spots in the home for harbouring harmful bacteria, according to a report.

Tests found a range of bacteria and mould – including E.coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus and penicillin – linked to food poisoning, diarrhoea and breathing problems.

Experts from the Hygiene Council took swabs from 20 homes in nine countries worldwide.

Worrying: Harmful bacteria such as this sample of E.coli which can cause food poisoning and other health problems are found in the home

The UK samples revealed 80 per cent of bathroom seals were heavily contaminated.

The second dirtiest site was inside fridges, with 35 per cent of samples unsatisfactory and 15 per cent heavily contaminated.

Cloth kitchen towels were also a source of contamination, with 20 per cent being unsatisfactory.

And kettle handles appeared to be dirtier than computer keyboards - 22 per cent failed bacterial tests compared with 19 per cent of keyboards.

The study also found penicillin mould in 80 per cent of fridge interiors and on 70 per cent of bathroom seals.

Hygiene Council chairman John Oxford, a professor of virology at Barts and the London School of Medicine, said: ‘In some samples, we are not talking about ten microbes, we are talking about 10million.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1298469/The-harmful-bacteria-responsible-food-poisoning-breathing-problems-hiding-homes.html#ixzz1iyn3sQHo

A heartbreaking story...

Desperate mother has baby induced early so she can meet her dying 10-year-old sister

• Loss of little Katy's smile alerted her mother to spectre of illness
• Baby Scarlet brings the cancer-stricken schoolgirl happiness
• Family seek radical help from Australia to save their daughter

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 2:15 AM on 7th January 2012

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Me and my little sister: Katy Holmes cuddles baby Scarlet, the baby her mother delivered early so that she could meet her before she succumbs to an inoperable terminal brain tumour

A heavily pregnant mother took the heartbreaking decision to induce her child early so that her unborn daughter could meet her dying older sister.

Paula Holmes, from Penwortham, near Preston, Lancashire, asked doctors to deliver baby Scarlet three weeks early to allow cancer-stricken Katy the chance to meet her little sister.

Katy, 10, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in October and as her condition deteriorated Paula and husband David were afraid she would not meet the new addition to their family.

Paula said: 'The realisation that I was pregnant and that Katy might not get to see the baby was terrifying. My consultant agreed to do it without hesitation.'

And she added: 'Katy loves Scarlet, and seems to have a special way with her. All we have to do is put Scarlet in her arms and she starts smiling.'

Until a few weeks before her diagnosis Katy had been a happy and healthy child, but it was a mother's instinct that led Paula to take Katy to the family doctor.


As Paula and David watched a normally beaming Katy receive a school certificate they immediately noticed that something was amiss with their usually smiling little girl.

Paula added: 'Katy is the type of child who always has a smile on her face, and has a happy nature.


'But when the headteacher gave her the certificate, she did not smile or even flinch. She just looked sad, which was really out of character.

'My mother’s instinct sent alarm bells ringing, and I knew there was something seriously wrong.

'I took Katy straight to the GP and said, ‘You’re going to think I’m mad, but I am really worried as Katy isn’t smiling anymore’.'

Katy first began to mention that she had been suffering from blurred vision and headaches shortly after starting Year Six at St Mary Magdalene's Primary School as head girl.

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Paula explained: 'We have a history of headaches in the family, so did not suspect anything abnormal. But we took Katy to the GP straight away just in case.

“The doctor thought it could be migraines, and asked us to keep a week-long diary of Katy’s headaches.

Support: Katy, centre, with baby Scarlet and sister Charley, 8, from left, mother Paula, brother Craig, 19, brother Lee, 24, dad David and sister Kelly, 27. 

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

PUPILS from Katy’s school and family and friends have been fund-raising so that she could draw up a wishlist of things she would like to do.
Her requests have been modest and although it has been possible to grant them she has not been well enough to take part.


Paula explains: 'St Mary Magdalene School have been absolutely fantastic, and pupils have had non-uniform days, bingo nights, cake stalls and all sorts of fund-raising events for Katy.
'Family and friends have done so much, too, and the community has really pulled together. Katy has never been extravagant, and appreciates the small things in life.


'When we asked her what she wanted more than anything, she asked to go to the Trafford Centre in Manchester to see the lights. But she wasn’t even well enough to do this.


'Other things she wanted was to go on a husky dog sleigh ride, go to the Sandcastle Water Park in Blackpool and to go to Beamish.
'She also really wanted to go to see The Lion King in London, and The Wish Foundation arranged for her to do this, but again, she was too ill and couldn’t go.

“But just days later, we had the school assembly, and the lack of a smile made me head straight back to the doctors.”
Katy was sent to the Royal Preston Hospital for a CT scan ordered by her GP and it came back clear.


The little girl then left for a few days on a school trip but when she returned a teacher expressed concern that while taking a photograph of Katy she had noticed that something didn't seem right with one of her eyes.

Paula rushed her daughter to A&E where doctors performed an MRI scan revealing a brain tumour.

Further investigation revealed that the tumour was embedded in the brain stem which was why it had not appeared on the first scan.

It was after the schoolgirl had been sent to the Royal Manchester Childrens' Hospital that the family were told the devastating news that because of the type of cancer and its location the tumour was inoperable and that the only course of treatment was radiotherapy.

Katy was given between six and nine months to live.

David said: 'It is the worst and most aggressive type of brain tumour there is.'


The self-employed upholsterer added: 'To be told our daughter had it, and that it couldn’t be operated on, was the worst news we could have heard.'

The family have not told Katy that the condition is terminal.


Her parents have been told three times times that they should say their goodbyes but Katy has pulled through on each occasion.


She is now being cared for at Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire.


The family are now pursuing their last hope by trying to contact Dr Charles Teo in Australia who is known for making bold medical decisions.


Paula says: 'We are utterly desperate now, and need whatever help we can get. We feel totally helpless as Katy’s life ebbs away.


'Our beautiful daughter is fighting and astounding medics, so we owe it to her to do everything humanly possible to help her fight.

'If this was a war, and Katy was sent to fight, as a mother I would be right in front of her, protecting her from oncoming troops.

'It is no different now, except I don’t actually know what I can do, or how to do it.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2083090/Desperate-mother-baby-induced-early-meet-dying-10-year-old-sister.html#ixzz1iyOiaEzd

Nurse with poor staffing levels...

Nurse who laughed as woman gave birth to stillborn child banned from working at troubled health trust

• Terrai Mutasa treated Allyson Childs with 'contempt' during her ordeal
• Nursing and Midwifery Council will now assess her competency to practise

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 8:40 PM on 3rd January 2012

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A midwife who treated a woman with 'contempt' as she gave birth to a stillborn baby has been sacked from the troubled health trust where she worked.


Terrai Mutasa laughed at Allyson Childs for requesting painkillers amid the trauma of her labour and while doctors fought in vain to resuscitate 9lb 10oz Layla-Grace, who had been born with the umbilical cord around her neck.

In response to her request for a Caesarean at Queen's Hospital in Romford, the midwife allegedly said: 'Do you think that won't hurt? Believe me it will.' 

Digusted: Allyson Childs, pictured with partner Steve and daughters Danielle and Lucie-Louise, was treated with 'contempt' by a midwife while giving birth to a stillborn baby

Ms Childs said: 'I am angry and disgusted. I've been let down massively by the hospital. I want a full inquiry. No woman should have to go through what I did.'

Queen's Hospital has apologised to Ms Childs over this and a further complaint about the 'insensitive conduct' of an unnamed nurse who sent Ms Childs 'rude' texts hounding her to return medical files.

The trust running Queen's is under fire over its maternity care after five women died in 18 months. 


Complaints against Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust rose by a third from 2009 to 2010.

'Massively let down': The maternity unit at Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex, where Ms Childs suffered her traumatic birth on September 24

Ms Childs claimed that during the traumatic birth Ms Mutasa treated her contemptuously. 


Ms Childs further claims Ms Mutasa told her mother to 'find the scissors' to cut the umbilical cord during the birth on September 24.


An internal report also reveals the hospital added to the family's distress by losing Layla-Grace's pink bib. Queen's apologised for this and for leaving the body in a bloodstained cot.

The hospital's chief executive Averil Dongworth met Ms Childs and her partner Steve, 25 - who await the results of a post-mortem examination - and told them she was 'moved and saddened' by their experience.

She said in a statement: 'I offered Ms Childs and her family our sincere apologies. We will not tolerate poor standards of care.

'The midwife involved in Miss Child’s care is no longer working at the trust.'


Ms Mutasa was referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which will probe her competency to practise.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2081806/Nurse-Terrai-Mutasa-laughed-woman-gave-birth-stillborn-child-sacked.html#ixzz1iVVLCpQF

Fish boots blood flow to the brain...

Fish could cut risk of dementia as it boosts blood flow to the brain

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 3:54 AM on 25th October 2011

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Eating fish may boost blood flow to the brain which could stave off dementia in later life, researchers have discovered.

The health benefits of a diet rich in omega-3, a fatty acid found in oily fish, have long been suspected, and the findings of two studies into its effects on young people suggest that it can improve reaction times in 18-35 year olds as well as reducing levels of mental fatigue after they perform tough tasks. 


Although the results suggest that, contrary to popular belief, taking omega-3 or fish oil supplements may not have an impact on the mental performance of young adults, the researchers at Northumbria University say the increased blood flow to the brain it caused could be important for older people. 

Delicious: Not only is fish tasty it could also help fight dementia because it is rich in Omega-3

Lead researcher Dr Philippa Jackson said: ‘These findings could have implications for mental function later on in life. The evidence suggests that regularly eating oily fish may prevent cognitive decline and dementia, and increased blood flow to the brain may be a mechanism by which this occurs.

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'If we can pinpoint both the behavioural and brain blood flow effects of this fatty acid in older healthy people, then the benefits for those with mental degenerative conditions associated with normal ageing could be that much greater.'
Researchers now plan to conduct a study on omega-3 use in people aged 50-70.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2053066/Fish-cut-risk-dementia-boosts-blood-flow-brain.html#ixzz1iPOjiH3z

Instead of 80mg, the baby was given 500mg...a FATAL dose of antibiotics

'Their mistake took my boy away': Family search for answers after baby, 6 months, given a fatal dose of antibiotics

Last updated at 5:41 AM on 27th October 2011

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A six-month-old baby has died in hospital after medical staff mistakenly gave him an adult dose of antibiotics.

The baby boy, who death was yesterday ruled an accident, fell into a coma shortly after arriving at the emergency room of a hospital in Brooklyn, New York.


Amaan Ahmmad was brought in with a high temperature on Friday, and doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia. relatives said.

Tragic: Six-month-old baby Amaan Ahmmad who was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday fell into a coma and died on Tuesday. Family say he was given an overdose of antibiotics 

Mother Ummay Sultana said her son was still well enough to play when he arrived at the hospital. She told NY1: 'He was a pretty, good boy.
'He never since he born, he never had vomiting, fever, nothing. This is the first time he got sick.
'When he went to the hospital, he was playing with me.'

Cousin Jhora Akther told the New York Daily News. 'We love this baby.
'Oh, my God. It's just so messed up. His life was over in a second. I just can't believe it.'

The baby's parents brought him to Brookdale University Hospital on Friday when they realised he was ill, Akther said.

As there were no hospital beds available the baby was put on an IV antibiotic drip, while still in his stroller.

 

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But immediately after starting the drip, containing the antibiotic Zithromax, the tiny baby reacted badly.

'He turned blue,' Akther said. 'Not even a second. The medicine went in, and he is finished.'


The baby went into a coma and was on a life support machine until Tuesday.


The cousin said the baby was given 500 mg of the antibiotic, but she was later told that the appropriate dose was 80 mg.

Devastated: Mother Ummay Sultana said her son Amaan Ahmmad was still well enough to play when he arrived at the hospital. 

Child: The baby boy fell into a coma shortly after arriving at the emergency room of a hospital in Brooklyn, New York. 

The nurse who administered the lethal dose has been sacked, relatives told the Daily News. Hospital officials did not confirm this version of events.


'We are investigating the circumstances of this tragic incident and express our condolences to the Ahmmad family,' spokeswoman Ruth Richman said in a statement.

Loving: Father Amain Ahmmad is originally from Bangladesh 

Mistake : Relatives said the baby was given 500 mg of the antibiotic, but were later told that the appropriate dose was 80 mg.

'Someone's mistake took him away,' Akther said. 'I can't accept that. In America, that's unacceptable.'

Amaan's parents, Ummay Sultana and Amain, are originally from Bangladesh.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054004/Family-accuse-hospital-giving-baby-pneumonia-fatal-antibiotics-overdose.html#ixzz1iDfwFY00