quality health

更年期综合征

许多妇女都欢迎更年期的到来，因为它意味着她们不再受月经的困

扰并且无需再避孕。此外饱受偏头痛之苦的妇女到了更年期，症状

也会较轻微、发作次数较少。

　　然而对某些妇女而言，这段时期却象征老化的开始，以及女性

体质和性能力的减退，因此让她们倍感压力

更年期综合征有办法改善吗？

　　在西医方面，也有多采取雌激素补充配合，来对付雌激素减少

所带来的不适症，或者是自律神经调整剂、精神安定剂等来治疗。

目前采用人参、当归、甘草、熟地、白芍、知母、五味子等中

药的配伍来调理更年期综合征，效果可是备受注目

除了接受调理治疗外，无论是医生或医师都会强调要要保持乐

观、愉快的情绪，加强身体锻炼，以提高和协调大脑皮层与神经系

统的兴奋性，充分发挥身体潜能，使人精力充沛，生活充满活力。

　　另外要注意饮食营养，多选择富含维他命B、钙质、纤维等的食

物，少吃盐，避免酒、咖啡、浓茶等饮料。迈入更年期的妇女，可

以在饮食方面做调养，来改善更年期的不适症状。

　　最基本的，如有频尿现象，应避免睡前补充大量水分，并少喝

具利尿性质的啤酒与含咖啡因的饮料。如有盗汗现象，就应注意水

分的补充

更年期综合征

　　更年期综合征有那些表现呢？

　　一般可以分为四方面：

1精神方面：

　　由于卵巢机能衰弱引起的分泌异常，也导致了自律神经受到影

响，出现易怒、失眠、焦虑、忧郁等情绪变化。

2神经血管控制失调

　　自律神经受影响的另一明显症状是“热潮红”，突然身体感觉一

股燥热往脸部、颈部、胸部冲，几秒钟就消退，随着有心悸、盗汗

；而且这些症状也可能在睡觉时出现，扰人清梦，影响生活品质。

3皮肤及阴道、尿道表皮萎缩

　　皮下组织及水分减少，失去光泽，也就是许多女性担心的青春

美丽不再。另外，阴道表皮萎缩引起退化性阴道炎，容易有阴道痒

、刺痛、性交疼痛等现象。尿道表皮萎缩则可引起无菌性尿道炎及

频尿、尿失禁等。

4月经异常

　　经期变得很不规则，月经量变成很多或很少，最后终于停经。

　　此外，一些更年期前女性比较少患的疾病和失调症，现在开始

会造成威胁了，例如在50岁之前，心脏病的患者主要是男性，而现

在女性的发病率则和男性的一样高。另外，骨质疏松症和骨折也成

了更年期后妇女的一大隐忧。

　　这些生理及心理上的不适，因个人体质及营养的差异，而有程

度上的不同。其实，只要注意认真调理，善待自己的身体，就能预

防更年期综合征的发生 (file c7 James)

Arteries 40 Years Older Than Their Real Age

Scientists from Cambridge University, UK, have found that people with advanced heart disease have arteries with the DNA damage of people 40 years older. In other words, the arteries of a patient with advanced heart disease are biologically 40 years older than the patient. The scientists found evidence of telomere damage in the smooth muscle cells of diseased blood vessels.

Fatherhood May Alter the Brain

Researchers say the structure of the brain is different in marmoset dads vs. non-dads. They also found that the brains of fathers were more receptive to a hormone linked to learning

link paternal parenting to physical and chemical changes in the brain of any primate

Marmoset fathers, unlike many other male mammals, are very involved in offspring care

Hantavirus

Ahmedabad - A health warning has been issued in Gujarat’s flood-ravaged Surat city following two deaths due to suspected Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Hantavirus spreads through rat urine, droppings or saliva and affects the kidneys, lungs, pulmonary system or the heart.

The warning was issued late Wednesday and people have been asked to take precautions and avoid large gatherings since the possibility of contracting the virus is high.

Blood vessels problem ?

动脉血压波形图

中风风险很高，到了25岁左右就可能会中风

这种诊断方法比纯粹测量血压，来得更准确

即使两个人的血压指数是一样的，但他们的血压波形图却可能不同。一些人在接受身体检查时血压正常，不久后却突然中风，这可能和他们的血压波形有关。

也可以从病人的血压波形图，分析病人是否有水肿、糖尿病、睡眠障碍等问题。

血压波形图非常有用，也能够直接让病人看到他们改善生活习惯所带来的健康影响。有个年轻烟客来看病，我让他看了他吸烟前后的血压波形图，吸短短半小时的烟，就足以让血压波形恶化，而要恢复正常，得等上6个小时。他看了后，立刻决定戒烟

typhoid

Typhoid is caused by a bacterium that can enter our bodies when we consume food and water contaminated by faeces or urine of patients and those carrying the bacteria. Flies may also transmit the bacteria on to foods which we then consume

mumps warning for students

Mumps is a viral infection of the salivary glands. It's spread through coughing, sneezing and saliva.

Symptoms include the swelling of the glands closest to the jaw -- hence the name "mumps." In addition, most patients with mumps have a fever with a headache and muscle aches. In severe cases, mumps can case deafness, a miscarriage in women or sterility in men.

Rise of Renewable Energy

Solar cells, wind turbines and biofuels are poised to become major energy sources.

economic growth continues to boost the demand for energy--more coal for powering new factories, more oil for fueling new cars, more natural gas for heating new homes--carbon emissions will keep climbing despite the introduction of more energy-efficient vehicles, buildings and appliances. To counter the alarming trend of global warming, the U.S. and other countries must make a major commitment to developing renewable energy sources that generate little or no carbon. Renewable energy technologies were suddenly and briefly fashionable three decades ago in response to the oil embargoes of the 1970s, but the interest and support were not sustained. In recent years, however, dramatic improvements in the performance and affordability of solar cells, wind turbines and biofuels--ethanol and other fuels derived from plants--have paved the way for mass commercialization. In addition to their environmental benefits, renewable sources promise to enhance America's energy security by reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels from other nations. What is more, high and wildly fluctuating prices for oil and natural gas have made renewable alternatives more appealing.

Climate Repair

Arctic shipping lanes would count as one of the more benign effects of accelerated climate change. The repercussions of melting glaciers, disruptions in the Gulf Stream and record heat waves edge toward the apocalyptic: floods, pestilence, hurricanes, droughts--even itchier cases of poison ivy. Month after month, reports mount of the deleterious effects of rising carbon levels. One recent study chronicled threats to coral and other marine organisms, another a big upswing in major wildfires in the western U.S. that have resulted because of warming.

胖婴

妈妈在怀孕时，如果体重过度增加，有可能使到她的孩子也超重

母亲怀孕时体重过度增加，会导致妊娠糖尿病，并因此使到婴儿的胰岛素水平上升。

胰岛素对控制食物摄取量的下丘脑发挥作用，提高婴儿的食欲，使到孩子在成长过程中容易超重，并且增加患上高血压、糖尿病等疾病的风险

Gene test ? for family member with breast cancer

( those found before age 45 try to help family member to have genetic test for mutation..BRCA1 and 2)
****

Mutations in BRCA2 were slightly more common in black women (2.6 percent) than in white women (2.1 percent).

This is one of the first studies to look at the prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in black women. "The lack of research has led to the impression that it's more of a problem for Caucasian women," said lead investigator Kathleen E. Malone, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle. "Our study shows that the overall frequency of mutations is generally similar across these two races, and so, at the very least, clinicians and women who are African-American should be thinking about this to the same extent as Caucasian women."

The researchers also looked at factors which predicted whether a woman carried one of the mutations. The strongest predictors of carrying a BRCA1 mutation were being diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45 or having a relative diagnosed before the age of 45, or ovarian cancer in a relative as well as having Jewish ancestry.

Early age at diagnosis in the patient or in relatives was a predictor of BRCA2 mutation status.

This information is critical for identifying which women might benefit from genetic testing.

Herceptin Effective in Breast Cancer Cells With Low HER-2 Levels

monoclonal antibody Herceptin (trastuzumab) used in combination with certain cancer chemotherapies effectively treats breast cancer tumors that produce low or undetectable amounts of the HER-2 oncogene

new treatment for Breast cancer

Breast cancer drugs get approval

Aug 11 2006

Breast cancer drugs hailed as a breakthrough in treatment

have been given final draft approval by the Government's

health watchdog.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

(Nice) issued a final draft appraisal on the use of three

types of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women with

early breast cancer.

The drugs reduce the risk of tumours spreading following

surgery and could benefit thousands of women with hormone

receptor positive early breast cancer.

They are Arimidex (anastrozole), Femara (letrozole) and

Aromasin (exemestane) and will be available on the NHS

alongside the "gold standard" drug tamoxifen.

The inhibitors stop the natural production of oestrogen -

the hormone that is responsible for the growth and

recurrence of many breast cancers.

A 2004 study, co-ordinated by Cancer Research UK, found

that patients who switched from tamoxifen to Aromasin

halfway through treatment reduced the risk of the disease

returning by a third.

In June, the landmark Intergroup Exemestane Study also

found that switching to Aromasin cut the risk of death by

17% compared with remaining on tamoxifen. The results were

for those women who had already completed two to three

years of tamoxifen therapy.

A trial with Arimidex immediately after surgery showed an

extra 26% cut in cancer recurrence on top of the 50%

reduction provided by tamoxifen. Femara has also been shown

to be more effective than tamoxifen in a number of studies.

The Government has made clear that doctors should not wait

for Nice guidance to complete all its stages before

prescribing such drugs to women.

file c2

Global heat

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics show that more than 160 individuals have died due to the heat wave that occurred in California. The study’s main aim is to track the rising temperature to these illness and deaths which would aid in the establishing of new policy and treatment modalities to combat global warming and its associated deaths in the future. There is a sudden increase in the number of heat caused illness such as asthma

新法培育出 人体胚胎干细胞株

国际昨天宣布培植出8条全新的人体胚胎干细胞株，今年底就可以供应给世界各地的科研人员使用。

　　ES Cell国际的突破在于这些人体胚胎干细胞株是以非动物细胞培植，而且也遵照药品生产质量管理规范。这个消息也刊登在《自然》科学期刊上。

就干细胞研究而言，这项发展具有巨大的意义。我们希望有更多研究员使用研究级人体胚胎干细胞株，因为人体胚胎干细胞株的细胞疗法将更容易从实验室转移到临床用途。

when to screen and how frequent

A recent analysis of HINTS 2005 data found that 57 percent of American women are unaware that they should receive mammograms to screen for breast cancer beginning at age 40. The survey also revealed more positive results: three-quarters of women reported that their health care providers had recommended mammograms, and 74 percent reported having received a mammogram within the recommended timeframe.

A larger majority of women are unaware that they did not need a Pap test every year to screen for cervical cancer; current general guidelines advise women to get Pap tests at least once every three years. A large proportion of women -- 87 percent of those who had ever received a Pap test -- said they did so as part of an annual exam. Another finding was that 61 percent of women surveyed had never heard of human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes most cases of cervical cancer.

While there are several different tests available to screen for colorectal cancer, including fecal occult blood tests (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy, 40 percent of HINTS respondents could not name one when asked. Additionally, 54 percent did know that screening for colorectal cancer is recommended for men and women age 50 or older, according to general recommendations. Knowledge of different screening options is important; research shows that being offered a choice may improve the chance that people get screened and that they continue to get screened as recommended.

颈椎骨刺的治疗与预防

由于年龄的增长，颈椎骨间的椎间盘会失去水分，逐渐失去弹性，不但使得颈关节不稳定，也会导致椎骨边缘产生骨质化及关节韧带的增生，形成骨刺。这些增生的 骨头、韧带及不稳定的颈椎关节，都可能压迫到颈椎腔内的脊髓或颈椎骨间的脊神经根出口，造成病症。

压迫到颈椎脊神经根通路时(Radiculopathy)，患者会感到后颈部强烈而锐利的疼痛，而且常往下延伸至肩部及手臂，咳嗽会使得疼痛加剧。颈、肩、手臂会酸麻，甚至虚弱无力

平时做好保健可避免其过早发生。保健方法如下：

　　1. 平日少提重物。

　　2. 避免颈部过度运动，如：仰头、低头、转头。

　　3. 同一姿势不可维持过久，如长久低头工作。

　　4. 多做转肩、耸肩运动，可促进颈部血液循环。

good result to treatment

Estrogen receptor status really refers to whether or not a cancer cell has the estrogen receptor on it.

Estrogen is just a protein that's found in the female body. The way they interact is that estrogen would be circulating in the bloodstream, and when it encounters its own receptor, it will bind to it. In breast cancer cells that have the estrogen receptor, otherwise known as estrogen receptor-positive, that leads to the growth of the breast cancer cells. So in a sense, the estrogen binds to the estrogen receptor and acts, in a sense, like food for the breast cancer cell. It stimulates it to grow.

Estrogen receptor-negative tumors do not possess the estrogen receptor, which is simply a protein on their surface, and thus, we believe, do not depend on the female hormone estrogen for their growth.