Doctors Can Remove Your Kidney Stones Upto Disustrus Level From Gall Bladder
remove kidney stones

NEW DELHI: Over 830 stones were removed from the gallbladder of a 60-year-old woman at a hospital in Delhi, doctors said today. The patient, suspected to be suffering from a cancerous tumour, had also been experiencing intermittent bouts of fever and was advised to go for an ultrasound and CT scan.

A team of specialists at Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh performed a two-hour laparoscopic procedure on the patient in January to remove her gallbladder.

“The patient’s gallbladder was extremely inflamed and had grown six times its original size. As per plan, this was a laparoscopic surgery wherein her gallbladder would be removed,” said Amit Javed, consultant, gastrointestinal surgery, at Fortis Hospital.

“However, after its removal, when we opened the gallbladder to look at what was inside before sending it for biopsy, to our astonishment, we found several hundred small and large gall stones inside it. In total, there were 838 gallstones,” Mr Javed said.
Gallstones cause inflammation of gall bladder, severe pain and symptoms of indigestion and complications like blockage of the bile duct, leading to jaundice, severe infection, and pancreatitis. They are also commonly found in patients with gall bladder cancer.

“The only remedy to both gallstones as well as cancer of the gallbladder is complete removal of the organ. Gallstones are masses formed abnormally in the gall bladder or bile ducts from bile pigments, cholesterol, and calcium salts.

“Gallstones can also develop when there is too much cholesterol in the bile secreted by the liver. The incidents of gallbladder cancer in North and Central India are very high, and commoner in women. Northern India is much more prone to gallbladder cancer than South India,” said Mahipal Bhanot, Facility Director at the hospital.

Having Less Glucose And More Fat May Also Leads To Diabetes – Health
less glucose

HOUSTON: Making muscles burn more fat and less glucose may increase exercise endurance but simultaneously cause diabetes, a new study has warned.

Mouse muscles use glucose (carbohydrate) as fuel when the animals are awake and active and switch to fat (lipid) when they are asleep.

Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in the US discovered that disrupting this natural cycle may lead to diabetes but, surprisingly, also can enhance exercise endurance.

The switch is controlled by a molecule called histone deacetylase 3 or HDAC3. This finding opens the possibility of selecting the right time to exercise for losing body fat but also raises the concern of using HDAC inhibitors as doping drugs for endurance exercise.

“How the muscle uses glucose is regulated by its internal circadian clock that anticipates the level of its activity during the day and at night,” said Zheng Sun from Baylor.

“The circadian clock works by turning certain genes on and off as the 24-hour cycle progresses. HDAC3 is a key connection between the circadian clock and gene expression,” said Sun.

“Our previous work showed that HDAC3 helps the liver alternate between producing glucose and producing lipid. In this work, we studied how HDAC3 controls the use of different fuels in skeletal muscle,” Sun added.

Skeletal muscles, the voluntary muscles, are important in the control of blood glucose in the body. They consume most of the glucose and if they develop insulin resistance and consequently are not able to use glucose, then diabetes likely will develop.

To study the role of HDAC3 in mouse skeletal muscle, Sun and colleagues genetically engineered laboratory mice to deplete HDAC3 only in the skeletal muscles.

some important nutrition tips
Then they compared these knocked out mice with normal mice regarding how their muscles burn fuel.

When normal mice eat, their blood sugar increases and insulin is released, which stimulates muscles to take in and use glucose as fuel.

“When the knocked out mice ate, their blood sugar increased and insulin was released just fine, but their muscles refused to take in and use glucose. Lacking HDAC3 made the mice insulin resistant and more prone to develop diabetes,” Sun said.

“Yet, when the HDAC3-knocked out mice ran on a treadmill, they showed superior endurance, which was intriguing because diabetes is usually associated with poor muscle performance.

Glucose is the main fuel of muscle, so if a condition limits the use of glucose, the expectation is low performance in endurance exercises,” Sun added.

Researchers studied what fueled the HDAC3-knocked out mice’s stellar performance using metabolomics approaches and found that their muscles break down more amino acids.

This changed the muscles’ preference from glucose to lipids and allowed them to burn lipid very efficiently.

This explains the high endurance, because the body carries a much larger energy reservoir in the form of lipid than carbohydrate.

The study appears in the journal Nature Medicine.

Beat Bloating tips by float belly – health tips
beat bloatingYou’d love to have a flat belly for the party tonight, but thanks to one too many sodas or that basket of tortilla chips, zipping your pants is a real struggle. Abdominal bloating not only looks bad but can also cause physical discomfort. The good news? Experts say stomach bloating is a condition you can avoid pretty easily.
We’re not talking about extra pounds of stomach fat here. We’re talking about the temporary abdominal distention that plagues most everyone from time to time. Michael Jensen, MD, an endocrinologist and obesity researcher at Mayo Clinic, says unless your stomach bloating is caused by a medical condition such as liver or heart disease, the only real cause is intestinal gas – not “water weight.”

womens torso

“It is a myth that bloating in the stomach is from fluid accumulation in healthy adults, because the abdomen is not a place where fluids accumulate first,” Jensen says. “Instead, you would see it in your feet or ankles as long as you are upright.”

So what causes gas to accumulate and wreak havoc on how you feel and look? Here are answers from experts plus their stomach-slimming advice.

1. Avoid Constipation.

Too little fiber, fluids, and physical activity can lead to constipation, which can result in bloating, Jensen says.

To avoid this, eat a diet high in fiber (25 grams per day for women and 38 for men) from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Also, drink plenty of fluids (aim for 6-8 glasses a day) and aim for physical activity for at least 30 minutes, five times a week.

If you’re eating a low-fiber diet, gradually bump up the fiber level, making sure you also drink plenty of fluids for better tolerance.

2. Rule Out Wheat Allergies or Lactose Intolerance.

Food allergies and intolerances can cause gas and bloating. But these need to be confirmed by your doctor. Many people self-diagnose these conditions and unnecessarily eliminate healthy dairy and whole grains from their diets. If you suspect you have an allergy or intolerance, see your doctor for tests.

You may benefit from reducing the amount of the suspected food or eating it with other foods. In the case of dairy, it can help to choose aged cheeses and yogurts, which are lower in lactose.

3. Don’t Eat Too Fast.

Eating quickly and not chewing your food well can cause air swallowing that leads to bloating, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, author of The Flexitarian Diet.

So slow down and enjoy your food. Your meals should last at least 30 minutes. Also, keep in mind that digestion begins in the mouth and you can decrease bloating just by chewing your food more, Blatner says.

There’s another benefit to slowing things down. When you take your time to thoroughly chew and taste your food, your snack or meal becomes more satisfying. And studies have shown that if you eat more slowly, you may end up eating less.

4. Don’t Overdo Carbonated Drinks.

The fizz in carbonated drinks (even diet ones) can cause gas to get trapped in your belly, Blatner says.

Instead, drink water flavored with lemon, lime, or cucumber. Or just reduce the number of fizzy drinks you consume each day. Try some peppermint tea for a soothing beverage that may help reduce bloat.


5. Don’t Overdo Chewing Gum.

Chewing gum can also lead to swallowing air, which can cause bloating.

If you’ve got a gum habit, alternate chewing gum with sucking on a piece of hard candy or eating a healthy, high-fiber snack like fruit, vegetables, or lower-fat popcorn.

6. Watch Out for Sugar-Free Foods.

“Many of my patients suffer from bloating because they consume too much sugar alcohol in artificially sweetened foods and drinks,” Blatner says. And that can lead to bloating.

Experts recommend consuming no more than 2 or 3 servings of artificially sweetened foods and drinks per day.

7. Limit Sodium.

Highly processed foods tend to be high in sodium and low in fiber, both of which can contribute to that bloated feeling, Jensen says.

Get in the habit of reading food labels, Blatner advises. When buying processed, canned, or frozen foods, shoot for no more than 500 mg of

sodium per serving in any product — or a total of 1,500 to 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Look for labels that say “sodium free,” “low sodium,” or “very

8. Go Slow with Beans and Gassy Vegetables.

If you’re not used to eating beans, they can cause that gassy feeling. So can the cruciferous family of vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower.

That doesn’t mean you should give up on these super-nutritious, high-fiber vegetables.

“Don’t be nervous about beans,” Blatner says. “Just work them into your diet slowly until your body adjusts to the compounds that can initially cause gas.”

Or, you can take an anti-gas product, which can help reduce gas from beans or vegetables.

9. Eat Smaller Meals More Often

Instead of three big meals per day, try eating smaller meals more often. This can keep you free of the bloated feeling that often follows large meals (think Thanksgiving). Eating more frequently can also help control blood sugar and manage hunger.

So go for five to six small meals each day, but make sure the quantity of food and calories are proportionate to your needs. To create a daily meal plan that includes the recommended amounts of all major nutrients, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate web site.


10. Try Anti-Bloating Foods and Drinks.

A few studies suggest that peppermint tea, ginger, pineapple, parsley, and yogurts containing probiotics (“good” bacteria) may help reduce bloating.

“These are safe foods that are good for you when used appropriately, so why not try them and see if they help you de-bloat?” Blatner says.

A Final Word About Stomach Fat

Experts agree that you shouldn’t fast, skip meals, or use laxatives or water pills to help you de-bloat or lose weight.

If you’re looking to flatten your belly for the long term, there’s no substitute for losing a few pounds, Jensen says.

“For most everyone, when you lose total body fat, your body reduces belly fat preferentially,” he says. “Even though people lose weight differently, there is a little more lost in the abdominal region than elsewhere.”

Experts also say that doing ab exercises all day long won’t get rid of the excess belly. Although you can’t necessarily spot reduce, you can strengthen abdominal muscles with routines like Pilates and exercise ball workouts. And, stronger muscles can help your belly appear flatter.

“Toning and strengthening the abdominal muscles can help you look less fat [and] improve your appearance, muscle tone, and posture, which is also very good for your back,” Jensen says.

Important Tips Keep Healthy Pragnancy – Baby
healthy pragnancy tips

Being pregnant with your first child is an incredibly magical and transformative experience. In reality, if you don’t know what to expect, it can be hard to find useful pregnancy tips.

Young mothers will do anything for their unborn child, but the best course of action isn’t always straightforward. While doctors recommend plenty of supplements and prenatal vitamins, there are simple things you can do every day to give your baby a fighting chance.

How Your Body Changes During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the greatest feat our bodies can go through. At any rate, as your baby grows inside you, your body has to change and grow to make room for him/her.

Super-sore breasts
Headaches
Constipation
Faintness and dizziness
Frequent urination
Bulging veins on your hands and feet
Nosebleeds
Flushed and plump skin
Feeling bloated
Blurry vision
Second trimester:
Feeling clumsier (shift in your center of gravity)
Increased feeling of happiness
Skin darkening — around your nipples, areolas, navel, armpits and inner thighs
Skin tags and growths
Butterflies in your belly
Stomach rumblings or indigestion
Swelling in your lower abdomen
Pregnant belly “pops”
Sharp pains in your hip, abdomen or groin
Dizziness and lightheadedness
Lower blood pressure
Low energy
Anemia
Low libido
Sore ribs as your rib cage expands to make room for your ever-growing uterus
Third trimester:

Musculoskeletal pain
Trouble sleeping
Shortness of breath
Leaky breasts (colostrum)
Itchy skin
Sciatica
Urine leakage
Heartburn
Increased appetite
Nausea
Braxton Hicks contractions
Lumpy breasts
If you experience anything abnormal during your pregnancy or if your body doesn’t quite feel right, cal your doctor right away and don’t take any chances.

Having A Healthy Pregnancy

In order to grow and deliver a healthy baby, you have to be healthy yourself.

Growing babies require plenty of energy and large sums of vitamins and minerals to develop properly. Hence, it’s important to watch what you eat throughout the pregnancy process.

Since giving birth is a very physical feat, it’s a good idea to stay fit and flexible to prepare yourself. Exercising will also loosen up tight muscles and provide some relief from pregnancy back pain (3).

Plus, being stressed can trigger a miscarriage or other complications since your body can’t sustain life while you’re in fight-or-flight mode. This includes impaired brain development (4).

To find out how to have a healthy pregnancy, follow these prenatal care tips.

21 Pregnancy Tips

These pregnancy tips will help yoachieveve good health and feel as comfortable as possible.

1. Adjust Your Sleeping Position

As your baby grows and your body adjusts, it can be difficult to feel comfortable, especially at night.

Sleeping on your back can put extra stress on your body and baby, especially when it some to our breathing. Sleeping on your belly isn’t comfortable either (5).

While you can get away with just about any position in the first semester, you should exclusively sleep on your left side during the third trimester (6).

First of all, the side-sleep position keeps your spine straight to reduce back pain and increases nutrient and blood flow to the placenta. Better yet, use a pregnancy pillow to make you as comfortable as possible and offer support to your knees, abdomen, and back. You might also find comfort by sleeping in the fetal position.

If you need to, feel free to nap to get all the rest your body needs before your child comes into the world.

2. Prenatal Exercise
Exercise is essential for a great pregnancy and birth. It’s actually very safe to exercise while pregnant. In fact, it will help you control your weight, improve circulation, boost your mood, and give you a good night’s sleep. It’s also a great way to relieve muscle pain and increase endurance you’re the birthing process.

Try to get at least 30 minutes of pilates, yoga, walking, or a mild workout every day. Before trying another exercise, talk to your doctor to make sure you don’t overdo it.

3. Write up a Birth Plan
As your pregnancy progresses, giving birth can feel daunting. But if you plan it out in advance, it can help take some of the edge off. Writing your birthing plan will allow you to feel more in control of the situation and keep you and your family on the same page.

Here are a few things to consider in your birth plan (7):

Who you want present, including children or siblings of the baby
Procedures you want to avoid
What positions you prefer for labor and delivery
Special clothing you’d like to wear
Whether you want music or a special focal point
Whether you want pain medications, and what kind
What to do if complications arise
4. Practice Kegels
In short, Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to support your bladder, bowels, uterus, and vagina.

According to the Baby Center: “Kegels may help keep hemorrhoids at bay and possibly speed healing after an episiotomy or tear during childbirth because they improve circulation to your rectal and vaginal area.” (8)

These exercises can also prevent pregnancy-related urinary stress incontinence,

Here’s how to do Kegels them right:

Start with an empty bladder.
Pretend that you’re trying to stop yourself from passing gas and interrupt the flow of urine at the same time – it’s a sensation of squeezing and lifting.
If you’re not sure you’ve got it, one way to check is by inserting a clean finger into your vagina then doing a Kegel. If you feel pressure around your finger, you’re on the right track.
Hold the pressure for 10 seconds and release for another 10.
Practice any time of the day, while you’re on the couch or sitting at your desk.
5. Track Your Weight Gain
The saying goes “you’re eating for two”, but it’s not exactly true. According to Web MD “The average pregnant woman needs only about 300 healthy calories more a day than she did before she was pregnant.” (9) Of course, you will experience weight gain during pregnancy.

How much pregnancy weight you should gain depends on your body type before getting pregnant:

Average weight mother weight gain: 25 to 35 pounds
Underweight moms: 28-40 pounds
Overweight pregnant women: 15-25 pounds
And here’s how the weight gets distributed:

Baby: 8 pounds
Placenta: 2-3 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 2-3 pounds
Breast tissue: 2-3 pounds
Blood supply: 4 pounds
Stored fat for delivery and breastfeeding: 5-9 pounds
Larger uterus: 2-5 pounds
6. Change Your Shoes
As your belly grows and your center of gravity changes, your feet take on extra pressure. This extra stress can make your arches fall, which flattens out your feet. Pregnancy also causes edema, which makes your feet and ankles swell.

As such, your favorite shoes probably won’t fit as they should, so replace them for comfortable, flat shoes.

7. Skip The Sauna
Being too warm is a bad idea for pregnant women. In fact, a body temperature of 101º F and above during the first trimester can increase your risk of birth defects (10). If you want to head to the sauna, visit one with low-temperature options and speak to your doctor first.

8. Eat Folate-Rich Foods
Any doctor will tell you that folate (folic acid) is essential for fetal development and red blood cell formation. During pregnancy, you’ll have to increase your intake of the vitamin by 200 mcg daily (11).

Foods high in folic acid include beans, peas, yeast, soybean, spinach, artichoke, and asparagus.

9. Cut Caffeine
Simply put, caffeine can worsen your baby’s kicks and punches. Additionally, as a stimulant and a diuretic, caffeine increases your risk of dehydration. Caffeine addiction can also lead to “birth defects, premature labor, preterm delivery, reduced fertility, and increase the risk of low-birth weight offspring and other reproductive problems.”(12)

If quitting caffeine is too hard, wean off the chocolate and coffee and stay below 150 mg – 300 mg of caffeine daily.

10. Stretch your Legs Before Bed
Nighttime leg cramps are all-to-common during the second and third trimester. You can prevent them by stretching your calf and foot before bed every night (13).

Here’s how to do a great stretching routine:

To start, stand at arm’s length from a wall, place your hands on the wall in front of you and move your right foot behind your left foot.
Slowly bend your left leg forward, keeping your right knee straight and your right heel on the floor.
Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds, being careful to keep your back straight and your hips forward.
Don’t rotate your feet inward or outward and avoid pointing your toes.
Switch legs and repeat.
Afterward, meditate or do some bedtime yoga.
11. Indulge in Omega-3s
Fish doesn’t appear on most pregnancy diets, but it should. “In a study of almost 12,000 pregnant women, children born to those who ate less than two servings of fish a week didn’t do as well on tests of intelligence, behavior, and development as children born to mothers who ate fish at least twice a week.,” reports the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (14).

That’s because fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for proper brain function and development. To get all the benefits of omega-3s, eat up to 12 ounces weekly of shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, catfish, and other low-mercury fish. You can also try vegetarian food high in omega 3. On the other hand, stay away from shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish.

12. Stay Away from Soft Cheeses and Lunch Meat
Some foods may contain bacteria and additives that can hurt your baby.

To stay safe, don’t eat:

Soft cheeses like feta, Brie, and goat cheese
Uncooked or undercooked meats or fish
Lunch meats and hot dogs
13. Protect Your Skin
Your skin is more sensitive to the sun when pregnant. This means that you’ll be prone to burning and chloasma (skin discoloration). Above all, protect your skin with an all-natural sunscreen, wide hat and cover-up, and moisturize with organic skin care. You’ll also want to avoid going outside during peak sun hours for healthy skin throughout your pregnancy.

14. Fly During your Second Trimester
Ah, the age-old question: can you fly while pregnant?

According to the Mayo Clinic, flying while pregnant is safest during your second trimester, after morning sickness has subsided. At this time, your fetus is well implanted and growing steadily, ensuring that you won’t suffer from early complications (15).

You can also travel early into the third trimester, as long as it’s before the 36th week. Before flying pregnant, speak to your doctor, check with your airline, stay hydrated, and walk regularly to promote circulation.

15. Indulge in Some of your Cravings
We all know what it’s like to be craving sweets. But, sometimes, cravings are your body’s way of saying that it needs specific nutrients. To make your growing child has all he/she needs, cave in once in a while.

16. Know When To Ask For Help
Your body will communicate with you if there’s anything wrong with your baby. Luckily, with early intervention, many of these complications can be handled quickly and remedied.

Call your doctor if you (16):

Have signs of preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition, such as
sudden swelling of your face, hands, or feet, visual problems (such as dimness or blurring) or severe headache.
Have pain, cramping, or fever with bleeding from the vagina.
Pass some tissue from the uterus.
Think or know you have a fever.
Vomit more than 3 times a day or are too nauseated to eat or drink, especially if you also have fever or pain.
Have an increase or gush of fluid from your vagina. It is possible to mistake a leak of amniotic fluid for a problem with bladder control.
Have any vaginal bleeding or an increase in your usual amount of vaginal discharge.
Experience pelvic pain that doesn’t get better or go away.
Itch all over your body (usually in the evenings at first, then throughout the day as well) with or without dark urine, pale stools, or yellowing of skin or eyes.
Experience painful or frequent urination or urine that is cloudy, foul-smelling, or bloody.
Feel unusually weak.
17. Treat Yourself
Pregnancy can be rough, as your muscle ache, your moods change expectantly, and your bladder gets full faster. To stay cool through it all, treat yourself with little relaxing activities every day. Take a nice warm bath, drink some calming peppermint or chamomile tea, and enjoy some pampering “me” time.

18. Get Out The Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a great way to hydrate your skin as it expands to accommodate your growing belly. Better yet, this habit will help prevent stretch marks and help your skin bounce back after giving birth.

19. Go Swimming
Swimming creates a weightless environment to stretch your muscles, ligaments, and joints. Also, the sport relieves aches and pains and keeps you active.

20. Stay Away From Toxins
To avoid exposing your unborn child to toxic chemicals, stop using chemical cleaning solutions and avoid paint fumes. You can also use natural remedies for common ailments and tell your general practitioner that you’re pregnant to avoid x-rays and other questionable treatments.

It’s also important to stay away from (17):

Alcohol
Androgens and testosterone derivatives, such as danazol
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as enalapril and captopril
Coumarin derivatives, such as warfarin
Carbamazepine
Folic acid antagonists, methotrexate, aminopterin
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
Lead
Lithium
Organic mercury
Phenytoin
Streptomycin and kanamycin
Tetracycline
Trimethadione (no longer available in the U.S.) and paramethadione
Valproic acid
Vitamin A and its derivatives, such as isotretinoin, etretinate, retinoids
Fertilizers and pesticides
Oral contraceptives
Nail polish
21. Try a Pregnancy Massage
Getting a prenatal massage “can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health,” says the American Pregnancy Association (18).

A maternity massage can also increase blood and lymph flow, fight nerve pain, and reduce swelling. Just be sure to visit a certified massage therapist familiar with prenatal massage. She should not use any juniper, rosemary, and clary sage essential oils during the massage.

To stay healthy throughout your pregnancy, make sure to follow these pregnancy tips, go to all your doctor’s appointments, and listen to your body throughout. Don’t push yourself too hard, especially during your first trimester. Most of all, stay calm and relaxed as much as possible. It’ll all pay off once you have your newborn in your arms!

Health – High Cholesterol Level May Cause Bone Loss
cholesterol-level-high

SYDNEY: High cholesterol, which is a known factor for the decrease in heart health may harm more than our cardiovascular systems and lead to bone loss, say researchers including one of Indian-origin.

The new research conducted using animal models suggests that high levels of cholesterol can trigger mitochondrial oxidative stress on cartilage cells — connective tissue — causing them to die.

This may ultimately lead to the development of osteoarthritis — a type of arthritis that occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of bones wears down, said Indira Prasadam, a researcher at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.

For the study, Ms Prasadam and her team used two different animal models to mimic human hypercholesterolemia.

The first was a mouse model that had an altered gene called Apolipoprotein E that made the animals hypercholesteremic.

The other was a rat model, and the animals were fed a high-cholesterol diet, causing diet-induced hypercholesterolemia.
Both models were fed a high-cholesterol diet or control normal diet, after which they underwent a surgery that mimics knee injuries in people and was designed to bring on osteoarthritis.

Both the mice and the rats that were subjected to surgery and fed with high-cholesterol diets showed more severe osteoarthritis development than seen in the normal diet group.

However, when both the mice and the rats were exposed to the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin and mitochondrion-targeted antioxidants, the development of osteoarthritis was markedly decreased in relation to the untreated groups.

This study tested the potential therapeutic role of mitochondria targeting antioxidants in high-cholesterol-induced osteoarthritis, the researchers said.

“Our team has already begun working alongside dieticians to try to educate the public about healthy eating and how to keep cholesterol levels at a manageable level that won’t damage joints,” Ms Prasadam said.

The research was published online in The FASEB Journal.

Prevent Eye Problem by Decreasing E-Cigarette
e-cigrette

Storing e-cigarette liquid next to eye drops caused one woman to mix them up, leading to slight eye damage that could have been much worse, Scottish doctors report.

Since the bottles looked similar at a glance, and the nicotine-laced liquid carried no warnings about the harm of contact with the eyes, the authors of a case report in JAMA Opthalmology say e-cigarette users should be aware of this risk.

The researchers describe a patient in her 50s who presented to the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology at Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow with eye irritation. She had recently been prescribed antibiotic drops for bacterial conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, and stored these next to her e-cig refill liquid in her bathroom cupboard.

When she mistakenly dripped e-cig liquid in her eye she immediately experienced pain, redness and blurred vision. She flushed the eye with water and went to emergency eye services. According to chemical tests, her e-cig liquid had a pH of 6, more acidic than tears, which usually have a pH of about 7.0 to 7.3.

By the time the woman was tested in the hospital, her eye pH was 7.0, which the doctors credited to her having rinsed her eye immediately. Her cornea was stained but there was no damage to the delicate epithelial cells of the eye.

The researchers did not find any other reported cases of people putting e-cigarette liquid in their eyes, but there have been similar accidents with nail glue or olbas oil, which is used to remedy nasal congestion, they write.

“There have been increasing reports of severe ocular injury (including globe rupture) from e-cigarette explosions, both in the eye literature and in the mainstream media,” said coauthor David Lockington of Gartnavel General Hospital. “As far as we know, inadvertent administration of E-Cig liquid to the eye instead of eyedrops has not been previously reported in the ophthalmic journals,” he said by email.
In this case, the patient only experienced superficial ocular surface damage, which resolved with treatment, he said.

“Our patient had a good outcome from this unfortunate incident, with no long term damage to her ocular surface or vision, because she immediately washed out her eye as soon as she realized her mistake, and so limited the potential damage,” Lockington said.

Emergency management of any chemical injury to the eye is immediate irrigation and to seek help, he said.

“This is a disturbing report, and it is fortunate that it happened in a bathroom where she had access to running water,” said biochemist Irina Stepanov of Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, who was not involved in the report.

Though the similarly shaped bottles were misleading, regardless of their shape, medical products like antibiotic drops should be stored away from any potentially similar products like nail glue, Lockington said.

“There is no warning information on the side of these e-cig liquid bottles or in the product information regarding the potential danger of a chemical injury to the eyes, or the emergency treatment,” he said. “This is an oversight which should be addressed by the industry.”
© Thomson Reuters 2016

Why Doctors Feel Risk About HIV Infection Ups Tuberculosis
hiv

LONDON: Researchers have found that the HIV virus increases the potency of the tuberculosis bacterium (Mtb) by affecting a central function of the immune system.

In most people who are exposed to tuberculosis infection, the immune defence deals with the bacteria by enclosing them in a special scar tissue. In this condition the tuberculosis is said to be “latent”. Around 10 per cent of those with latent tuberculosis go on to develop active disease.

“The risk of infection progressing to active tuberculosis is around 30 times higher for people who are HIV-positive. But the reason for this has not been known at the cellular level,” said lead researcher Robert Blomgran from Linkoping University in Sweden.

The new study, published in the American Journal of Pathology, describes how the researchers looked in more detail at what happens in one particular type of immune cell, known as dendritic cells.

These play an important role in the immune defence. Dendritic cells break down tuberculosis bacteria and other foreign microorganisms, and display the bacteria fragments at the cell surface.

Other cells of the immune system, in particular T-cells, recognise the fragments and bind to them.
The dendritic cell then activates the T-cell such that it can kill the tuberculosis bacteria efficiently.

In this way, dendritic cells act as a communication link between the innate immune defence and the specific immune defence, of which the T-cells are part.

The researchers infected human dendritic cells with both Mtb and the HIV virus. They showed that co-infection reduced the ability of the dendritic cells to present foreign molecules to the immune defence.

They also had a lower capacity to activate tuberculosis-specific T-cells than was the case when the dendritic cells were infected with Mtb alone.

“We have now shown that HIV has a clear effect also on the innate immune defence, in particular the dendritic cells, which link the innate and the adaptive immune defences,” Blomgran said.