Taiwan culls 6,000 more geese to curb bird flu outbreak

(ATimes) TAIPEI: Taiwan on Tuesday slaughtered nearly 6,000 geese after 14 more farms were confirmed to have been infected in the latest outbreak of avian influenza that has led to the culling of more than 140,000 birds.
The confirmation brought to 21 the total number of farms infected by the outbreak since last week — all in the south — according to the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine.

The slaughter of the 5,830 geese at three farms in Chiayi county began late Monday night and was completed early Tuesday.

Further culls are expected as authorities adopt stringent measures to eliminate a new variant of the H5N2 and H5N8 strains, both discovered for the first time on the island.

“In order to swiftly wipe out the new disease, as long as the samples collected from any farm are confirmed as the H5 virus and the death rates there are high, all the poultry in the farm will be destroyed immediately,” agriculture minister Chen Bao-ji told reporters.

“I can say for sure that within the next month the number of infected farms will keep growing.”

More than 140,000 birds have been slaughtered since the first outbreak was confirmed at a chicken farm in Pingtung County, where 122,000 chickens were destroyed last week.

Taiwan has reported several outbreaks of H5N2 but has no recorded cases of the potentially deadly H5N1 strain, although authorities said pet birds smuggled from China tested positive for the strain in 2005 and 2012.

Source: AFP

Two-thirds of cancer cases due to bad luck: Study

GNN/Life & Style/ISLAMABAD: The majority of cancer cases can be explained by “bad luck” rather than the result of environmental factors and inherited genes, a U.S. study said.
The study, published in the journal Science, found that two-thirds of adult cancer incidence across tissues might be caused by random mutations that occur in dividing healthy stem cells, Xinhua reported.

The findings, based on a statistical model that quantified how much of three factors — bad luck, the environment and heredity — contribute to cancer development, might help researchers design more effective prevention strategies for different cancer types.

“Changing our lifestyle and habits will be a huge help in preventing certain cancers, but this may not be as effective for a variety of others,” said coauthor Cristian Tomasetti, assistant professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We should focus more resources on finding ways to detect such cancers at early, curable stages.”

In the new study, researchers analyzed published data on stem cell divisions in 31 different human tissues and compared the data to the lifetime incidence of cancer in those tissues.

They determined the correlation between the total number of stem cell divisions and cancer risk to be 0.804.

“Our study shows, in general, that a change in the number of stem cell divisions in a tissue type is highly correlated with a change in the incidence of cancer in that same tissue,” said coauthor Bert Vogelstein, professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

“We found that the types of cancer that had higher risk than predicted by the number of stem cell divisions were precisely the ones you’d expect, including lung cancer, which is linked to smoking; skin cancer, linked to sun exposure; and forms of cancers associated with hereditary syndromes,” said Vogelstein.

APP

Laundry soap pods dangerous for young kids: study

GNN - WASHINGTON- Laundry detergent pods could be dangerous for young children, researchers warned Monday, as reports grow of kids under six swallowing the capsules in the United States.

The detergent pods — on US shelves since 2010 — are just the right size for a single load of laundry, eliminating the need to measure out a liquid or powder.

More than 17,000 incidents from 2012 and 2013 were reported to US poison control centers of children under six being exposed to the detergent chemicals — equivalent to one child every hour — according to the new study.

“Laundry detergent pods are small, colorful, and may look like candy or juice to a young child,” said co-author Marcel Casavant, toxicology chief at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center.

“It can take just a few seconds for children to grab them, break them open, and swallow the toxic chemicals they contain, or get the chemicals in their eyes.”

In one case, the child died, while some 769 children were hospitalized, a rate of more than one a day.

Two-thirds of the cases were among toddlers — children just one or two years old.

Children who put the capsules in their mouths can quickly swallow a large quantity of concentrated chemicals, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital researchers warned.

Nearly half the children, 48 percent, vomited after ingesting the detergent, the study found.

Other effects included coughing or choking, eye pain, drowsiness and pinkeye.

Most of the detergent capsules are sold in clear, easy-to-open containers. One manufacturer last year switched to an opaque package with an additional latch and a warning label, but the study authors said this was not enough.

“It is not clear that any laundry detergent pods currently available are truly child resistant; a national safety standard is needed to make sure that all pod makers adopt safer packaging and labeling,” said senior author Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

He urged households with young children to use traditional detergent.

SOURCE: AFP, AIP

Related articles

• Laundry pods pose serious poisoning risk to young children, study finds (foxnews.com)
• Parents warned over laundry capsule poisoning risks (telegraph.co.uk)

Psychiatric society to observe World Mental Health Day

#GNN #PESHAWAR: #World Mental #Health Day 2014 is being observed here on Thursday with the theme of “Living with Schizophrenia” a major mental illness, which affects the thinking, feelings and behavioral faculties of the individuals suffering this illness.

This was stated by Professor Dr Sayed Mohammad Sultan, head Department of Psychiatry, Khyber Medical College (KMC) and Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Peshawar. He is also the president of Pakistan Psychiatric Society and SAARC Psychiatric Federation. He was flanked by Dr Bashir Ahmad, Psychiatrist, KTH, Peshawar.

Professor Dr Sayed Mohammad Sultan said that if the illness left untreated or even if treatment is delayed, schizophrenia can result in a major mental, social and occupational handicap, resulting in a tremendous amount of burden on the family and on the society.

The people with mental illness and their families are victims of domestic violence, abuse, discrimination and stigmatization. It is for this reason that World Health Organization (WHO) has dedicated this day to Schizophrenia to create robust awareness about the illness.

The senior psychiatrist said that in the country there is alarming increase in the incidence of mental illness due to a persistent wave of violence, political turmoil and frequent changes in the social fabric and family disintegration. As a result of this a range of psychiatric disorders have been reported such as depression, substance and alcohol misuse, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

WHO recently reported that one in four people meet criteria for psychiatric problem at some point in their lives.

He said that epidemiological studies carried out in Pakistan have shown that 34% of the general population suffers from anxiety and depression, in addition to 1% population suffering from schizophrenia.

The prevalence of severe mental retardation in children between 3 years and 9 years of age has been estimated at 0.5%.

Due to lack of facilities, shortage of mental health professionals and lack of awareness, majority do not receive treatment for mental illness.

He said that Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends that there should be one psychiatrist for a population of 10,000. In Pakistan there about 400 psychiatrists and 3000 beds in state-run hospital.

As part of public awareness initiative, the Department of Psychiatry, KTH in collaboration with print and electronic media to increase awareness about psychiatric illness and encourage community participation in care of mentally ill people.

For bringing improvement in psychiatric services, Pakistan Psychiatric Society recommended the provision of psychiatric services not only at district and tehsil level but to incorporate psychiatric services in the primary health care as well.

The society has also demanded the implementation of Mental Health Act in its true spirit to facilitate and help psychiatric patients, establishment of sub-specialties of child psychiatry, old age psychiatry
and forensic psychiatry.

The society also called for the introducing of evaluation system of behavioural sciences and clinical psychiatry in all medical and dental colleges of the province.

Source: GNN, APP, AIP

Schools re-open after Eid holidays with thin attendance

#GNN #KARACHI: #Schools across the city were re-opened Thursday after five day Eid holidays with many of the students not turning up as they perhaps had preferred to be back to their classes from early next week.

Heads of may educational institutions said this was expected as many of the students had left for their home towns to celebrate the festival while there was also many who or their parents thought it better to wait for a few more days.

“There is a rampant impression among many of the parents that academic activities, after any interval, would resume to its optimum from Monday, the first day of the next week, only,” said Mrs. Mukhtar Khan, headmistress of a local government school.

The school head said that parents are repeatedly reminded that classes would duly begin from the first working day as announced by the government yet this really dose not matter to them.

In reply to a question, she said teachers be they from government schools or from private institutions necessarily resume their duties more out of fear for deductions of their salary and also want to avoid any negative remark in their annual conduct reports.

Interestingly, some of the private schools have found out a way to end the practice, said Mussarat Jahan Arshad, head of a chain of a reputable schools.

“As usual this time also we had our Eid Milan Party which most of the kids do not want to miss and compel their parents to ensure their presence in the activity,” she said.

It was thus of no surprise to see many of the children attired in their eid dress, carrying one or the other of their favorite dishes going towards their schools with all excitement written large on their faces.

Source: APP, AIP

AIOU to receive its admissions’ form till October 15 with late fee

#GNN #ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will receive the admissions’ form of its Matric to Ph.D level programs with late fee charges for the Semester Autumn, till October 15.

The candidates around the country could submit their admission forms with late fee charges till October 15 at all the countrywide branches of Bank Al-Falah, Habib Bank Ltd, First Women Bank and Allied Bank and at the nominated branches of National Bank of Pakistan and Muslim Commercial Bank.

The late fee charges are Rs 100 for matriculation, Rs 200 for PTC, intermediate and graduation, and Rs 500 for bachelor of education and master’s programmes, a news release issued here Thursday said.

AIOU has already been approved special fee concession for those candidates who residing in flood-affected areas and for the IDPs, in this connection, all Regional Directors have been advised to propagate the fee concession decision in all the affected areas.

The University has already been set-up points for sale of admission forms at its main campus in Islamabad and at its 44-Regional Campuses and 122-Coordinating Offices across the country to facilitate the students at their door-steps.

Ph.D, MS/M.Phil, M.Sc (Statistics), COL (MBA/MPA) and LLM/MS Shari’ah have been offered on merit basis. All those interested for admissions in these programs should send their admission form directly to their concerned departments without admission fee according to the procedures laid down in the prospectus.

There will be no requirement of NTS-GAT (General/Subject) for admission in Ph.D and MS/M.Phil programs, however entry test will be conducted by the concerned department.

Continuing admission forms have already been dispatched to all the continuing students, however, if somehow any of student has not received the said admission form, he/she can download the same from the AIOU website www.aiou.edu.pk and deposit in any designated bank branch with late fee charges till October 15.

Further detail about admissions for the Semester Autumn, 2014 can be obtained from Information Management Unit, Admission Department at Ph. No.051-9057151, information about Teacher Training Programmes on 051-9057426, Secondary Programmes on 051-9057431, Higher Secondary on 051-9057432, Bachelor Programmes on 051-9057435 while for further information of the Postgraduate Programmes on 051-9057422.

Source: GNN, APP, AIP, GA

7 Best Natural Sweeteners

#GNN - 7 Best Natural Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners may not have any calories, but that's about all they have going for them.

Many have a hollow, saccharine taste, and they play havoc with your weight, appetite, and general wellbeing, making them just as bad as the sugar you're trying to replace.
So now's the time to ditch them completely, and turn to nature instead, with these seven amazingly tasty and surprisingly healthy natural sweeteners.You don't have to rely on artificial sweeteners in your coffee to give up sugar (REX)

Stevia

The latest sugar-free saviour, this 100 per cent natural, zero calorie sweetener made from a South American plant seems to have it all. Far from being just another healthy alternative to sugar, it can lead to reduced blood pressure, improved heart health, and a generally improved quality of life, according to a Chinese study published in Clinical Therapeutics.

In its powdered form stevia is extremely sweet so you need far smaller quantities than sugar. If you find the taste to be over the top look for the extract in its milder liquid offering.Stevia plants are being cultivated for its use to replace sugar

Yacon syrup

South Americans have been using the Yacon plant for its medicinal purposes for centuries, and now scientists have discovered that the plant’s syrup is one of the healthiest natural sweeteners out there.
In a study published in Clinical Nutrition, Yacon syrup was shown to accelerate weight loss, reduce constipation, and lower cholesterol. The health secret behind Yacon syrup is its high level of fructooligosaccharides, which boost the development of good bacteria in your intestine.

Rapadura sugar

When you hear that it’s the pure juice extracted from sugarcane, you could be forgiven for thinking that Rapadura sugar would be bad for you. Thankfully for the sweet-tooths amongst you, the opposite is true.
A single serving of Rapadura on your cereal in the morning will provide up to 1,000mg of potassium and 110mg of calcium, which both improve bone health and cardiovascular functionality.
Rapadura also retains a healthy balance of fructose, sucrose and glucose, which means it’s much easier for the body to digest it and use it as energy compared to regular sugar.

Date sugar

Most healthy sweeteners out there claim to have antioxidant qualities, but a 2009 study at the Biochemistry Department of Virginia Tech found that wasn’t quite the case, with only two of twelve observed sweeteners displaying antioxidant levels higher than regular sugar.

Date sugar, a powder made from dehydrated dates, ranked highest, with 600 times the antioxidant level of sugar. Date sugar is also packed with essential minerals including iron and calcium, and because it’s so sweet you can get away with using around half the amount when compared to sugar.

Blackstrap molassesBlackstrap molasses can offer an alternative to sugar (REX)

While date sugar came out on top as the undisputed antioxidant king in the Virginia Tech study, blackstrap molasses came in at a close second, providing nearly 30 per cent of your daily recommended amount of antioxidants in one tablespoon.

As a by-product of the sugarcane refinement process, blackstrap molasses retains the majority of the nutritional content removed by refinement, including high levels of iron, calcium, selenium and vitamin B6.

Monk fruit extract

As the name suggests, monk fruit was originally cultivated by holy men in China and Thailand around 800 years ago, who used it for its healing powers. Monk fruit is unique in that its sweetness is not actually caused by sugars, but instead by a rare type of antioxidant compound called mogroside that gives a sweet taste and the added bonus of strengthening the immune system.

The extract form of monk fruit has only recently been popularised, so make sure you opt for the 100 per cent natural version, as there are some brand name versions that combine the extract with artificial sweeteners.

Tagatose

Found in milk and some cheeses, tagatose is a natural sweetener with half the calories of sugar, and practically the same levels of sweetness. One of the newer sweeteners on the scene, tagatose has become increasingly popular in health food circles because it doesn’t leave an unpleasant aftertaste like many natural sweeteners do.

That’s not to say it’s just a good choice because of its taste though. Research published in the Journal of Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism found that tagatose helps to balance blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, and increase weight loss and levels of high-density lipoprotein (‘good cholesterol’) amongst obese people.