Breakfast first

Researchers who looked at the scientific evidence on breakfast and nutrition in children found kids who eat breakfast have better nutritional profiles than kids who skip the morning meal. They are also less likely to be overweight, even though they consume more calories overall, and they have better memories, test grades, and school attendance.

"Parents should be encouraged to provide breakfast for their children or explore the availability of a school breakfast program," write the authors, who were led by investigators from the University of Florida and University of Minnesota. "We advocate consumption of a healthful breakfast on a daily basis consisting of a variety of foods, especially high-fiber and nutrient-rich whole grains, fruits, and dairy products."

Nigerian doctor claims Aids cure

A Nigerian doctor claims to have found a cure for the virus that leads to Aids. Jeremiah Abalaka, of the Medicrest Specialist Hospital in Gwagwalada, developed the 'cure' from the blood of HIV positive patients.

He claims to have invented both a preventative vaccine, to stop people from becoming HIV positive, and a therapeutic vaccine, to cure those already infected. Abalaka, whose claims have been published in the scientific journal Vaccine, claims to have 'cured' 20 people who were formerly HIV positive. He then tested the vaccine on about 300 HIV-negative people and says none has yet developed the infection, as far as he knows.

His work has caused huge controversy in Nigeria, causing wrangles between Abalaka and the Nigerian ministry of health. "I have successfully developed safe, preventive and curative vaccines against HIV," Abalaka told New Scientist. "I would like to see the world looking into my work to confirm or refute it." But Saladin Osmanov, acting co-ordinator of the joint World Health Organization/UNAIDS HIV vaccine initiative, warned that Abalaka's vaccine had not been independently reviewed by experts.

Source: Ananova

29 Sep 04

Microwaving hearts could be way forward

Microwaving the heart may soon become a routine treatment for heart rhythm disorders, according to researchers. Australian scientists say the technique is safer and more accurate than other methods, reports the BBC.

The microwave device cooks abnormal areas of the heart to 55C to block abnormal rhythms from being conducted. The research of the University of Technology team from Sydney, Australia, is published in the Chemistry and Industry Magazine.

In the UK, heart rhythm disorders are commonly treated with radio frequency ablation - a procedure used to selectively destroy areas of heart tissue, again by heating them. But radio frequency waves produce shallow lesions and the temperatures used can be very high. This can cause blood clots to form which can lead to complications such as stroke.

Hank Chui and his team hope microwave therapy could soon be used as a stand-alone treatment. Microwaves produce deeper lesions than radio frequency waves and are easier to control and pinpoint for maximum effectiveness, they explain. "This is exactly the same as the way a microwave oven heats meat. The difference is that the microwave exposure area is controlled much more strictly and localised heating is ensured and monitored," said Mr Chui.

What about men? Do media ideals affect them?

The images are everywhere -- buffed, chiseled, stacked. Whatever you call it, today’s men are seeing more of these images than ever before. Stacey Tantleff-Dunn, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at University of Central Florida in Orlando, says, “We see an increase in advertising and so many more messages directed at men and how they can improve their appearance.”

In fact, the average man sees at least 25 appearance-related commercials each day. But what kind of impact do those ads have? Professor Tantleff-Dunn conducted a study to find out. She showed 16 commercials to two groups of men. One group viewed ads that featured muscular, bare-chested men. The other group viewed ads with average-looking men. “Men who were exposed to images of the so-called ideal male became more depressed and significantly more dissatisfied with their own muscles,” Tantleff-Dunn says.

So even after a brief exposure, media images had a huge impact. “We are finally recognizing that men are as vulnerable to some of these messages as women have been for so long.”

Source: Ivanhoe.