Pen That Reduces Stress!

A pen that can detect short term stress in its user and further alleviate some of the stress has been designed by Industrial Design PhD student Miguel Bruns Alonso from the Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology. This pen also helps in reducing the heart rate of the user. During the study it was observed that when tensed people tend to play with their pens, therefore this ‘anti-stress pen’ detects when the user fidgets with it and stops him from doing so. Faster, jerkier movements associated with stress are detected by the motion sensors in the pen. At this point the internal electromagnets create counterweight effects which make the pen difficult to move, thus encouraging the user to slow down the movements.

During the research, Bruns found that those who were receiving feedback on their stress levels had a heart rate roughly 5% slower than those who received no feedback. Still, those with lower heart rates did not claim to feel any less stress.

Alonso said, “The conclusion to be drawn from this is that products which seek to reduce short-term stress should, preferably, intervene directly to modify that behavior, rather than warning the user about their stress levels, for instance. This could allow products to reduce stress in an unobtrusive way.” At present this pen is a prototype and not yet available for purchase.

Source http://www.medindia.net/news/Pen-That-Reduces-Stress-78371-1.htm

Ration packs saved $40,000: Vic inquest

Senior army officials recommended a Melbourne college feed students ration packs on cadet camps, saving the school almost $40,000, an inquest into the allergy death of a student has been told.

Scotch College teacher Tony Glover told the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Nathan Francis that ordering the ration packs would save costs and allow students to experience army life.

Nathan died after eating beef satay from a ration pack on a cadet camp in the Wombat State Forest on March 30, 2007, despite providing medical documents noting he had a peanut allergy and should avoid all nuts.

Mr Glover, the commander-in-chief of the cadet camp at the time, said senior defence personnel recommended the ration packs to the school, which subsequently requested the meals.

"Senior people in the cadet corps were insisting that we accepted ration packs," Mr Glover told the inquiry on Tuesday.

"And, therefore, because the food and rations were highly recommended by senior people in the army, there was no other reason for me to think otherwise."

Mr Glover said a colonel "strongly suggested we accept ration packs to cost save and to give the students more of an experience of army lifestyle".

He agreed with counsel for Nathan's parents, Paul O'Dwyer SC, that obtaining the packs free from the army saved $39,000.

But, he said, it was not just about saving money. It was to give students a taste of army life and to keep school fees down.

"It was important not to offload the expenses onto the parents who were already paying fees," Mr Glover said.

"It seemed sensible.

"I thought they were safe and appropriate."

The ration packs were banned from camps after the incident, the inquest heard.

Mr Glover agreed with coroner Audrey Jamieson that teachers were not required to eat the rations.

Mr Glover, who reached the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army and had been commander of the cadet camps since 1998, said he had never eaten from a ration pack.

He said he consumed a cooked meal on the Thursday night before Nathan's death.

People with allergies are barred from joining the army, the inquest also heard.

Scotch College has introduced a range of measures since the incident to better deal with students' allergies, including meeting with parents of affected students and requiring those pupils to supply their own food and cooking utensils, the inquest was told.

The inquiry is primarily examining the role of Scotch College and Ambulance Victoria response times in relation to Nathan's death.

An investigation into the role of the Australian Defence Force resulted last June in a Federal Court ruling that the army pay a $210,100 penalty over Nathan's death.

The inquest is continuing.

Source http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/ration-packs-saved-40000-vic-inquest-20101207-18nqr.html

Scans 'too expensive for cancer patients'

MEDICARE rebates for X-rays, MRIs and CT scans have not been adjusted for inflation for 13 years and some patients are paying thousands of dollars out of their own pockets.

The Gillard government is under pressure to remedy the problem in next year's budget.

An Access Economics report to be released this week shows the price Medicare pays for bulk-billed scans is $26 less than it costs to deliver the service. For non-bulk-billed services, the Medicare rebate is $53 less than it costs the practice to provide the service, the report shows.

To stay afloat, diagnostic imaging businesses have to charge non-bulk-billed patients an average $74 out-of-pocket expense to cross-subsidise losses they make on bulk-billed scans.

Some newer scans have out-of-pocket expenses as high as $400 or $800, and prolonged radiotherapy treatments can set back patients by up to $16,000.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon last year raised the Medicare rebates for bulk-billed services by 10 per cent after diagnostic imaging services in rural areas threatened to close down.

An inquiry called by Ms Roxon is due to report by the end of the year and the sector hopes the government will respond by indexing the Medicare rebates to inflation.

Economist Ian Harper, who carried out the Access Economics study, said the government's failure to index the Medicare rebates for inflation left the industry with a funding shortfall of $570 million.

Cancer Voices of Australia chairman Ian Roos said growing out-of-pocket expenses was a huge issue for breast-cancer patients.

Women with breast cancer had to find $8000 to pay for radiotherapy treatment before Medicare refunded them $6000.

Women in northeastern Victoria were having mastectomies because they could not afford radiotherapy treatment, he said.

Source http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/scans-too-expensive-for-cancer-patients/story-e6frg6nf-1225962956962

Fears mysterious illness will claim child

A Sunshine Coast father says he fears his daughter will succumb to the same mysterious illness that killed his son.

Andrew and Trudy Olive, from Mooloolah, lost their four-year old son Tom three months ago from an undiagnosed illness that saw his body turn on itself, destroying muscle tissue and leading to cardiac arrest.

Tom suffered six episodes in the two years leading up to his death, the last of which killed him.

His father Andrew said Tom's back ached in the short episodes and he couldn't walk; bladder problems also developed.

"He'd be perfect one day and then struck down for 12-24 hours," Mr Olive told AAP.

The family took Tom for numerous blood and urine tests.

Some showed raised levels of glycine and plasma, but they were in normal ranges and doctors weren't alarmed.

"To the doctors' surprise the blood test returned to normal within weeks," Mr Olive said.

"There was no indication that he was sick on his test results."

Later, the doctors also indicated the increased levels didn't play a part in Tom's death, Mr Olive said.

On the day Tom died, on August 25, he woke up complaining of a sore knee, the pain then spread to his elbow and his mouth.

He watched cartoons and ate toast, but within a few hours he suffered a heart attack and was gone.

"His body just turned on itself," Mr Olive said.

"It's not been confirmed what exactly caused it, if it was metabolic or genetic.

"There was extreme, catastrophic muscle damage.

"There was no muscle cells that were usable to be tested.

"How does a young boy die of a heart attack when he is healthy?"

Tom's autopsy results are yet to be released.

Queensland Health has sent a gene sample from Tom to France, where scientists will investigate if his LPIN1 gene has been mutated.

The mutation has been linked to only a handful of deaths in children under seven years, and if Tom is confirmed to have the mutation he could be the first victim in Australia.

Mr Olive said the family are now concerned their daughter, Laura, will also succumb to the same illness.

Like Tom, Laura also has high levels of glycine, plasma and an abnormal amount of amino acid in the urine, the last of which could indicate a metabolic disorder, chronic liver disease or a renal disorder.

"We're petrified," he said.

After months of requests to Queensland Health, and a letter to Minster for Health Paul Lucas, the family have finally secured an appointment on Sunday with a metabolic specialist, an offer that was never given to Tom.

"We're absolutely infuriated it's taken Queensland Health this long to respond," Mr Olive said.

"The illness is beyond the pediatric level, but specialists wouldn't engage us because there were no symptoms that were too concerning.

"Mother's intuition is a known medical fact, they didn't listen the first time, and we want them to listen this time."

Queensland Health said it would not comment on the case until the autopsy result is in.

The Olive family will spread Tom's ashes at Golden Beach on the Sunshine Coast on Christmas Day.

Source http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/fears-mysterious-illness-will-claim-child-20101125-188wn.html

Baby koala in stable condition, vets say

A baby koala shot about 15 times with a pellet gun has made a promising recovery overnight.

The joey, named Frodo, was found next to its dead mother, who was also shot several times, in an attack near Kenilworth in the Sunshine Coast hinterland a week ago.

About 15 pellets were found scattered in Frodo, including one lodged in her skull. Seven of them have since been removed in two operations but more remain in her intestines.

Frodo's condition was listed as critical with vets fearing she could die from lead poisoning from the remaining pellets.

But in a remarkable turnaround, they now say her prospects are looking good.

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital veterinarian Dr Amber Gillett says Frodo is moving around and eating.

"Frodo has made good improvement overnight and has started eating leaf on her own which is a positive sign for her future," Dr Gillett said on Thursday.

"Frodo is now much brighter and alert and is moving around well in the intensive care unit."

She said while her condition is stable, she still has a long road to full recovery.

"The wounds to the top of Frodo's head where one pellet was removed has been closed, and I am happy with how the wounds are healing," Dr Gillett said.

He said they will not do any more surgery to remove the remaining pellets for now.

Queensland police say they have some leads but are appealing for anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers.

Detective Sergeant Mike Ferling told reporters on Thursday that the case was far from going cold, but police are seeking public assistance.

"Someone out there in the community knows something about this offence," Det Sgt Ferling said.

"Someone was there or their associate or friend. We are really appealing for them to ring CrimeStoppers. It's all confidential."

He said the attack happened on a public road.

"The gravel road where the offence occurred is a public gravel road that links state forestry with freehold country," he said.

"It's used a lot by graziers and other persons."

The penalty for deliberately shooting a koala is a $225,000 fine or two years in prison.

The case is similar to another attack on a baby koala and his mother at Morayfield, north of Brisbane, in January.

That mother survived but the baby, named Doug, died despite efforts by vets to save him.

Source http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/baby-koala-in-stable-condition-vets-say-20101111-17pal.html

Junk food spared in health plan

THE Gillard government has ruled out a tax on junk food as part of its national preventative health strategy.

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard provided the assurance today after outlining a new preventative health agency which will be established in early 2011 if government legislation is passed by the parliament.

The agency will try and relieve pressure on Australian hospitals and encourage more healthy lifestyles.

Ms Gillard said today that “now was the right time for action” pointing towards the cost that preventable diseases were having on total health care expenditure.

"Today the parliament will debate legislation that will pave the way for the formation of the Australian national preventative health agency,” she said.

“The agency will work with governments and non government organisations to refocus and redouble the government’s efforts in reducing the rate of smoking an obesity and address alcohol and substance abuse,” she said.

Avoidable diseases account for about 20 per cent of total health care expenditure, while smoking alone costs $31.5 billion and kills 15,000 Australians annually.

The government says the bill is part of its $872.1 million commitment over six years towards the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health.

A sum of $17.6 million has been allocated to establish and run the centre if the legislation is passed and would become operational at the start of 2011.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the legislation had not yet received the support of the Liberal Opposition, but stressed Tony Abbott was clearly a “very keen advocate for maintaining health”.

“This is an opportunity for the health message he leads in his own life to be spread more widely,” she added.

“We would call on him to reconsider their support for this important piece of legislation.”

The agency will take responsibility for social marketing programs in relation to tobacco and obesity, a preventative health research fund and a preventative workforce audit and strategy.

Ms Gillard stressed that while the government had increased the excise on smoking, were introducing plain paper packaging for cigarettes and had increased the excise on alco-pops, there was no current plan to tax junk food.

“Specifically on the question of taxation of junk food we are not proposing to go down that path. Tax reform questions were dealt with by the Henry tax review”.

Source http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/junk-food-spared-in-health-plan/story-fn59niix-1225943783316

World first anti-vertigo implant

A US man was today due to become the first person in the world to have an anti-vertigo device implanted in his head.

Scientists from the University of Washington will insert a vestibular prosthesis into a 56-year-old Washington man’s head in a bid to stop the vomiting and dizziness caused by Meniere's disease - a balance disorder characterised by episodes of vertigo and tinnitus.

The device consists of a cochlear implant and processor made from a configuration of electrodes. The patient wears the processor behind the affected ear and activates it as an attack starts. The processor then wirelessly signals the implant device, which in turn transmits electrical impulses that will attempt to rewire the body’s balance centre.

Dr James Phillips, one of the clinicians who spent four years developing the device, said, "It's an override. It doesn't change what's happening in the ear, but it eliminates the symptoms while replacing the function of that ear until it recovers".

The disease affects hearing and balance with varying intensity and frequency but can be extremely debilitating. Its episodic attacks are thought to stem from the rupture of an inner-ear membrane. Surgery is often an effective option, but it typically causes the patient to sacrifice function in the affected ear to halt the vertigo.

A successful human trial could lead the implant to become the first-choice surgical intervention for Meniere's patients, Dr Phillips said, and spark collaboration with other researchers who are studying more widespread balance disorders.

Source http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/world-first-anti-vertigo-implant/story-e6frf7jx-1225942023334

Department contradicts minister on girls' safety

Victoria's Community Services Minister Lisa Neville is at the centre of a mounting controversy over the safety of three vulnerable young girls.

Ms Neville insists the youngsters are in good hands and all their carers are "in the clear", but her department has flatly contradicted her, acknowledging one of those carers is a known sex offender.

Last night the girls' grandmother told the ABC the Department of Human Services (DHS) had forgotten to extend a protection order over the children, who were in the care of their drug-affected mother.

But Ms Neville maintains that the three girls are safe and well despite her department's mistake.

The Minister says DHS carried out background checks on everyone who cares for the children regularly.

"Those checks are all clear," Ms Neville said.

But that directly contradicts the Minister's department.

The ABC has confirmed an extended family member who regularly cares for the girls is considered a sex offender by DHS.

Yesterday DHS said it had no record of any allegations against the man.

Today the ABC confirmed DHS has substantiated a sexual abuse allegation against him and the man has been deregistered as a foster carer as a result.

DHS says it has in place agreed protocols with the family to ensure the children are never left alone with the man.

The Opposition will push to urgently reconvene a parliamentary inquiry into child protection next week.

"The Government wouldn't have a clue if these children are safe," Opposition spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said.

There have been multiple, recent failures exposed in the department that cares for the state's most vulnerable.

"We need answers about why this is happening and what's going to happen in the future to make sure it doesn't happen again," Ms Wooldridge said.

The head of DHS says she will meet with the girls' grandmother to discuss the case.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/19/3042776.htm?site=melbourne

Cancer cluster fears for Harbour Bridge workers

The CFMEU says its members are concerned there may be a cancer cluster among workers who paint and maintain the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The union says its members met with the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) management today to raise concerns about the number of cancer cases among the workers on the bridge.

It says the RTA has agreed to investigate the issue and review current work practices.

The union is concerned lead paint could be causing cancer among riggers, painters, carpenters and crane operators.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/14/3038693.htm?section=justin

Hospital strike hits WA

Thousands of hospital support workers in Western Australia have staged a half-day strike over wages and concerns about plans to privatise hospital services.

Around 450 of the workers rallied at parliament house in Perth on Tuesday demanding the government raise its pay offer and assure them their jobs were not under threat.

The industrial action affected elective surgery at public hospitals, with several operations cancelled.

Up to 8000 cleaners, orderlies, catering staff, sterilisation technicians and other workers took part in the four-hour strike.

The WA government is offering the workers pay increases of 3.5 per cent per year over the next three years.

At Tuesday's rally an angry crowd shouted "Wake up, Colin" as they tried to get Premier Colin Barnett to come out and address them.

Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) Secretary Dave Kelly told reporters at the rally that the government's proposal included new staff being hired on temporary and fixed-term contracts.

"Our members are here today because they want to send a message to the Barnett government that they are not happy with the pay offer that's been made to them.

"And importantly they are not happy with the Barnett government's plan to privatise services in government hospitals."

Mr Kelly said the workers were sorry to cause hospital disruptions but they had no alternative but to take industrial action.

"Our members don't get rich working in a public hospital."

Mr Kelly said the action had been restricted to four hours to minimise disruption, but further action may be taken if the government failed to take notice.

Earlier in the day, Mr Barnett told reporters the strike would not help solve the dispute, and he hoped patients would not be put at risk.

"I would hope that cool heads prevail and a negotiated agreement could be reached."

The premier said the workers were not highly paid, but that was something the government wastrying to address over time and it could not be solved overnight.

Mr Barnett has said a mix of public and private service provision had long been a feature of WA's public hospital system.

When Health Minister Kim Hames briefly addressed Tuesday's rally he was booed as he promised to have a clear policy at the next election on the issue of privatisation.

Several people in the crowd shouted, "You won't be in government next time."

Opposition Leader Eric Ripper told the protesters that justice was on their side.

"In a rich state the government can afford to give you your fair share," he said.

Source http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/hospital-strike-hits-wa-20101012-16hlh.html

Pregnant women told to ignore drinking advice

Australian researchers are urging pregnant women to ignore a UK study that suggests drinking two units of alcohol a week will not affect child development.

The study of more than 11,000 five-year-olds found children born to light drinkers did not suffer from poor behavioural or intellectual growth.

It also found they scored higher on cognitive tests.

But Dr Lucy Burns from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre says the findings need to be researched further.

"I think the results probably should not be taken into account in a major way," Dr Burns said.

"At the moment we should just ignore these sorts of findings that suggest there might be some sort of benefit on the developing foetus until we have a lot more research in this particular area."

The UK study says women who have one or two alcoholic drinks a week during pregnancy do not harm their children's behavioural or intellectual development.

Researchers found pregnant women who drank up to a glass (175 millilitres) of wine, up to 50 millimetres of spirits or just under a pint of beer a week, did not affect their children.

But children whose mothers were heavy drinkers were more likely to be hyperactive and have behavioural and emotional problems than those whose mothers did not drink during pregnancy.

The results, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found no evidence to suggest the behavioural or intellectual development of children born to light drinkers was compromised.

Across the entire range of children of non-drinkers and drinkers, the study found boys were more likely than girls to have more developmental problems and also more likely to have behavioural issues, be hyperactive and have problems with peers.

Girls were more likely to have emotional problems.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/06/3031205.htm?section=world

Dogs will patrol SE Qld trains

Security dogs will patrol southeast Queensland's rail network as part of the state government's bid to crack down on crime.

Queensland Rail (QR) has employed private security company Securecorp to provide 11 dogs and dog handlers to patrol train stations, carparks and other QR property.

The 24-hour dog patrols started on Monday and are part of QR's annual $45 million program to boost security across the TransLink network.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan says the dogs are expected to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour such as damaging property or harassing others.

"I think people who are thinking about playing up ... are much less likely to do that if there is a security dog around," Ms Nolan said.

QR chief executive Paul Scurrah said the dogs won't be used to attack people but instead be an added security presence.

"They are muzzled but they can be unmuzzled if necessary," Mr Scurrah said.

"Predominantly they're there as a presence.

"We train all our security personnel to identify potential anti-social behaviour before it gets out of hand ... and having that extra security presence (dogs) will certainly help."

Ms Nolan said crime rates had remained stable despite rail patronage growing by 26 per cent since 2004.

She said there were 236 assaults on or adjacent to Queensland Rail property in 2008-09.

During this period Queensland Rail carried more than 60 million passengers.

Ten extra officers have also been added to the Queensland Police Service rail squad.

Source http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/dogs-will-patrol-se-qld-trains-20101004-1641z.html

IVF influences baby's sex: study

While the probability of having a boy varied depending on the type of technology used, there was no imbalance overall, say researchers

Australian researchers have shown that assisted reproductive technology influences male-female birth ratios.

Trends have been reported in the past, but often the statistics have been drawn by simply looking at individual clinics.

But a new study from the University of New South Wales has examined data on almost 13,400 babies born using single embryo transfer in Australia and New Zealand between 2002 and 2006.

The research appears today in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

For some assisted reproductive technologies (ART), boys accounted for 56 per cent of live births, while for other techniques boys accounted for 48 per cent.

The report's author, PhD candidate Jishan Dean, says while the probability of having a boy varied depending on the type of ART used, there was no imbalance overall.

"For each year, the sex ratio at birth is actually no different from whatever the general rates in Australia [are]," she said.

"But, if in the future, for example, most people want to have an ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), cleverly staged embryo transfer, that may cause the problem because that particular procedure would have less boys.

"On the other hand, if IVF blastocysts become the dominant type of treatment - that will create more boys."

Ms Dean said she believes the diagnosis of the different treatments will even out over time.

Sex selection

Ms Dean also warned people not to choose one type of treatment over the other depending on whether they want a boy or girl.

"I'm worried about that they are using this in the wrong way, because this research only gives you a probability and is not really giving you any guarantees," she said.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) bans deliberate sex selection.

But the study's co-author, Professor Michael Chapman, who is also a senior specialist with IVF Australia, says the new research may lead to sex selection tools

"That opens up the whole debate about social sex selection, which then I think NHMRC are about to review their current ethical guideline which says that it's banned in Australia," he said.

"But there is a significant community groundswell that it should be permitted since we have the technology."

Professor Chapman says the fertility treatments used at the moment will not have a significant impact on gender balance.

"IVF is 3.5 per cent of the birth rate in Australia and these results, where we've got a very high male birth rate in a particular group of patients, are merely a small proportion of those," he said.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/29/3025051.htm?site=sydney

Gillard promises to target suicide hotspots

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has promised rapid funding measures to make suicide hotspots around Australia more safe.

Ms Gillard told a lunch for Lifeline in Sydney that the Government would honour election commitments to mental health and suicide prevention services.

She paid tribute to mental health advocates and counselling services that have fostered public discussions of the issues.

"Mental illness is no less debilitating than sickness of the body and no less worthy of our care and concerns," she said.

"I'm determined that as a government and as a community we step up our efforts to address the scourge of mental illness, which too often ends in the devastating contemplation of suicide."

Ms Gillard says the Gap in eastern Sydney is one suicide hotspot where the Government will move quickly to fund works to improve safety.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/24/3021591.htm

Depression, heart disease combo most deadly

A new research suggests that the depression and heart disease combo is far more lethal than having either of these conditions in isolation.

Previous research has indicated that people, who are depressed, but otherwise healthy, are more likely to develop coronary heart disease, irrespective of what other risk factors they might have.

The authors have concluded their findings on just under 6,000 middle aged adults, whose mental and physical health were tracked for an average of five and a half years.

Around one in seven of the 6,000 (14.9pc) scored highly on a depressive symptom scale. And one in five (20pc) of those with established heart disease were depressed compared with one in seven (14pc) of those without heart problems.

During the five and a half year monitoring period, 170 people died. Heart attack or stroke accounted for 47 of these deaths.

Those with coronary heart disease alone were 67pc more likely to die of all causes, while those who were depressed, but otherwise healthy, were twice as likely to do so as those who had neither condition.

But those who were both depressed and had heart disease were almost five times as likely to die as their mentally and physically healthy peers.

After taking account of age and sex, and other relevant influential factors, the combination of depression and heart disease tripled the risk of death from all causes and quadrupled the risk of dying from a heart attack or a stroke.

The results emphasized the need for healthcare professionals to pay more attention to depression in their cardiac patients in the study.

Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Depression-heart-disease-combo-most-deadly/articleshow/6565435.cms

One person dies of swine flu in Chennai

Swine flu claimed one more life in Chennai on Friday morning. Four persons are currently in the special ward of the Government General Hospital, undergoing treatment.

The deceased, Mohanavelu Palanichamy (39), worked as a Assistant Public Relations Officer at the Secretariat.

Hospital authorities said Mohanavelu had been admitted to a private hospital in Triplicane and treated for viral infection for 10 days. He was discharged when his condition improved but a day later had to be readmitted with worsening symptoms to the same hospital where investigations revealed that he was infected with the H1N1 infection.

According to Dean J. Mohanasundaram, who met the press on Friday at the hospital, Mr. Mohanavelu was “admitted to a private hospital in Triplicane for complaints of cough, fever, breathlessness for 10 days and treated for viral infection”.

His chest x-ray showed bilateral fluffy opacities. “As the patient’s condition deteriorated and the oxygen saturation was low, he was intubated and put on a ventilator,” the Dean said. “In spite of this, his condition deteriorated and he was referred to the GH in a state of ET tube intubation and ambu bag ventilation for further management.”

The patient was started on Tamiflu, steroids, antibiotics and IV fluids.

“Despite our treatment and ventilator support, the patient’s condition deteriorated and he expired around 6.45 a.m. on Friday.”

The cause of death was registered as acute respiratory distress syndrome, bilateral bronchopneumonia — H1N1 infection and cardio respiratory arrest.

The dean, however, ruled out fears of an epidemic in the city and State and said a sufficient dosage of the nasal vaccine (costing Rs.160) and injection (Rs.300) were available in the State-run hospitals. To a question on the availability of the drug in private hospitals, he said there was enough supply of the medicines.

Medical teams have been despatched to Big Street in Triplicane to test persons in and around the deceased official’s home, said C. Veni, Medical Superintendent.

Source http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article625078.ece

Smoking Leads to Lung and Oral Cancers in India

Experts have come down heavily on smokers in the country.

Speaking at the inauguration of Apollo Hospitals’ special cancer detection program in association with Rotary Club of Madras Midtown, the hospital’s oncologist Dr Raja said that nearly all of the lung and oral cancer cases in the country are caused by smoking.

The chairperson of the Apollo Hospitals Group, Prathap C. Reddy added that more than eight lakh new cases of lung or oral cancer are being registered in the country each year with India accounting for 25 lakh people who are suffering from cancer.

Nearly 5.5 lakh people die due to cancer with diabetes and heart disease cases also on the rise. Dr Reddy went on to add that the hospital’s new cancer detection program could help in identifying the disease at an early stage and thousands of lives could be saved by early treatment.

Read more: http://www.medindia.net/news/Smoking-Leads-to-Lung-and-Oral-Cancers-in-India-73691-1.htm

Mushroom drug fights cancer patients anxiety

A 'magic mushroom' drug can improve the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer by reducing anxiety.

Research in the US has shown that one session with the drug, psilocybin, elevated mood and lessened anxiety in the patient group for up to six months.

Psilocybin is the key ingredient in 'magic mushrooms', and is classified as an illegal Class A drug in Britain, reports the Telegraph.

The drug has mind-altering effects including enhancement of colours and hallucinations, according to the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

Charles Grob, from the LA BioMed Research Institute in Los Angeles, California, said: 'We are working with a patient population that often does not respond well to conventional treatments.'

'Following their treatments with psilocybin, the patients and their families reported benefit from the use of this hallucinogen in reducing their anxiety,' said Grob.

'This study shows psilocybin can be administered safely, and that further investigation of hallucinogens should be pursued to determine their potential benefits,' said Grob.

The pilot study involving a group of volunteers aged 36 to 58 years, builds on work in the 1950s and 1960s which found that psychedelic drugs could benefit advanced-stage cancer patients, reducing anxiety and the need for pain medication.

The early research was abandoned in the 1970s after a legal clampdown on the recreational use of hallucinogenic drugs such as (lysergic acid diethylamide) LSD.

All of the current study volunteers had advanced cancers and were suffering from anxiety.

Participants were given either a psilocybin dose of 0.2 milligram per kg of body weight, or a placebo (simulated medical intervention) during two experimental sessions several weeks apart.

Their progress was monitored over the next six months using standard screening tests for measuring anxiety and depression.

The researchers wrote: 'Safe physiological and psychological responses were documented during treatment sessions. We also observed no adverse psychological effects from the treatment.'

Source http://sify.com/news/mushroom-drug-fights-cancer-patients-anxiety-news-international-kjhpEdcjfhe.html

Coffee's the secret to long life

Sipping a hot cup of coffee daily could give you more than a healthful lift of energy. The drink helps people live longer by warding off heart disease, a study has revealed.

Researchers at the University of Athens have carried out the study and found that drinking a cup of coffee everyday improves elasticity of the arteries, which can stave off heart disease, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

In fact, the researchers have based their findings on an analysis of 485 people with high blood pressure.

The subjects of the study were all aged between 65 and 100 and longterm inhabitants of Greek island of Ikaria. It is known as the "land of longevity" and a third of residents reach the age of 90.

Dr Christina Chrysohoou, who led the study, said there was conflicting evidence about the effect of coffee drinking on heart health, with some research showing it aggravated high blood pressure.

"But drinking coffee is a deeply embedded social tradition in Greek culture which made it imperative to probe on this island of 'high life-expectancy," she said.

In the study, the subjects' arteries were assessed for distensibility -- or elasticity. The 56 per cent who were moderate coffee drinkers consuming between one and two cups a day, had best arterial health, with their blood vessels behaving like those found in younger people.

Their arteries were more elastic than those measured in people who drank little or no coffee. Around one in 10 who drank three or more cups a day had the least elasticity.

Dr Chrysohoou said moderate coffee drinkers consumed 25-50ml of coffee a day. Typically they were drinking strong Greek coffee but other types might work as well.

She suggested that ingredients such as caffeine and antioxidants may partly improve arterial function by increasing the ability to take up nitric oxide, which is impaired in hypertensive patients.

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Coffees-the-secret-to-long-life/articleshow/6473917.cms

Swine Flu Death Toll in Orissa rises to 19

A five-year-old girl became the latest victim of Swine Flu in Orissa. Two more deaths reported on Sunday, taking the toll to 19. The 18th and 19th Swine Flu deaths were reported from Burla. Both victims were women.

Swab samples of the girl, who died in Cuttack, were later tested positive. The victim was identified as Tamisha Dabang. She hailed from Samitipada in Angul. She was first admitted to Cuttack Sishu Bhavan and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

One of the two women, who died at VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla, was pregnant. She gave birth to a dead infant a day before.She hailed from Sundargarh. The other woman was from Balangir.

The number of Swine Flu positive cases in Orissa has now gone up to 79. While 17 of them died of H1N1, 49 people have been discharged after treatment. Thirteen people are still being treated at various hospitals.

Source http://www.breakingnewsonline.net/odisha/3620-swine-flu-death-toll-in-orissa-rises-to-17.html

Swine flu toll rises to 14 in Orissa

Swine flu has claimed four more lives in Orissa, taking the total number of deaths due to the virus in the state to 14 this year, official sources said today.

Two women died at a private private hospitals here while the other two died at hospitals in Cuttack and Burla yesterday, they said.

Urging the people not to panic because of the fresh deaths, the state government said many swineflu patients had recovered after treatment while some were being treated.

Steps have been taken to ensure adequate supply of Tamiflu tablets and vaccines.

The state government had also launched an awareness campaign through advertisements in newspapers and television channels.

Source http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_swine-flu-toll-rises-to-14-in-orissa_1427971

Swine flu toll rises to 10 in Orissa

A woman died of swine flu in Bhubaneswar on Monday, taking the H1N1 toll since July to 10 in Orissa, an official said. "The latest victim of swine flu was a woman. She died early Monday in a private hospital," a senior state health official told IANS. At least three patients in Bhubaneswar on Sunday tested positive for swine flu, taking the total number of people infected by the virus since July to 62.

"Nineteen of them are undergoing treatment in various hospitals. The condition of all patients is stable," the official said.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Swine-flu-toll-rises-to-10-in-Orissa/Article1-590543.aspx

Woman in Kerala sells child for Rs 5,000

The police on Thursday arrested a woman who sold her newborn child through a broker at a leading government hospital here for a sum of Rs 5,000 and later came back to claim it.

The incident would not have come to light had Dr Lakshmipriya, a house surgeon of the hospital, not noticed a heated argument going on between a woman and a suspected broker near the hospital canteen. She immediately alerted the police who arrested the mother and the broker and secured the child back.

Police said that Ambika Kumari, native of Chadayamangalam in the neighbouring Kollam district had given birth to the infant four weeks ago at the SAT Hospital. According to the mother, it was a part-time sweeper of the hospital who made an offer to keep the child sensing her poor financial condition. “I was given Rs 5,000 for purchasing medicines and she took the child after intimidating me,’’ claimed Ambika.

However, when she returned to her native place, local people and relatives grew suspicious and threatened to inform the police. That was when she decided to claim back her child and approached the sweeper with whom she had the argument.

The medical college police arrived at the scene and arrested the mother for trying to sell her child. Curiously, the police let off the broker and didn’t bother to inquire about the buyer saying that the mother had not lodged a complaint.

Source http://www.deccanherald.com/content/90000/woman-kerala-sells-child-rs.html

Energy drink risks outweigh benefits

The number of energy drinks available over the counter is unlimited these days, but how beneficial are these drinks really?

"Energy drinks typically feature caffeine and a combination of other ingredients, including taurine, sucrose, guarana, ginseng, niacin, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin," says Stephanie Ballard from Nova Southeastern University.

"Caffeine has been consistently been observed to enhance aerobic performance, although its effects on anaerobic performance may vary," she added.

The impact of energy drinks on weight loss has different theories. Some data suggest that combined with exercise, they may lead to weight loss. However, other studies suggest that users may get addicted to caffeine, with increasing calorie-burn and weight loss.

However, being loaded with sugar, energy drinks may be contributing to the obesity epidemic alongside less caffeinated, sugary drinks like soda, warned Ballard.

"For the National Collegiate Athletic Association, athletes are considered to be doping if urinary caffeine is greater than 15 µg/mL, which is about the same as drinking eight cups of coffee, each containing 100 mg of caffeine," Ballard said.

Caffeine has been reported to cause insomnia, nervousness, arrhythmias, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and childbirth complication, gastrointestinal upset and death.

But small amounts can be safe and still boost performance.

"Caffeine in amounts of up to 6 mg/kg may produce benefits with low risk of adverse effects," she added.

Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/Energy-drink-risks-outweigh-benefits/articleshow/6329495.cms

No beds for dengue patients, says hospital

Residents of Jamia Nagar saw fogging machines for the first time this year on Monday even as the 300-bedded Holy Family Hospital put up boards at the emergency saying patients could not be admitted because the wards were full. On Monday, HT highlighted how Jamia Nagar, home to five lakh people, was reporting 40 dengue cases a day, twice the number of cases reported from across the city. More than 100 people suspected to be suffering from dengue arrived at local hospitals every day.

Most of the people suffering from dengue-like symptoms in the area visit Holy Family, as it is a bigger hospital with better facilities.

The hospital's casualty ward has been getting close to 50 patients with dengue-like symptoms every day for the past two weeks, and had already added 20 extra beds last week to accommodate dengue patients.

"Even after adding extra beds in the casualty as well as other wards, we still cannot accommodate the rush. As many as 80 per cent of the suspected cases test positive for dengue every day, so we are left with no choice but to refer them to nearby hospitals after administering the first-aide," said Dr Sanjeev Kumar, a senior resident in the department of medicine in the hospital.

The hospital is referring critical cases to nearby hospitals such as Apollo, Batra, Moolchand, Bansal, etc.

Two of the most affected localities are Abul Fazal Enclave part I and II and Batla house, where every family has a member down with high fever and other dengue-like symptoms.

Some of the families even have more than one member, mostly children, recuperating from the disease.

Officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCDs) health department visited the area on Monday.

"We have pulled resources from other zones. Eight hand-operated and two vehicle-mounted fogging machines are functioning," said N.K. Yadav, medical health officer, MCD.

Yadav said only a joint initiative would help curb the outbreak in the area. "We have zero participation from residents. I drained accumulated water from old coolers and broken buckets. Fogging will help for a day or two, but for long-term benefits, residents need to participate," said Yadav.

20 new cases of dengue were confirmed on Monday, taking the total number of people affected in Delhi to 254.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/No-beds-for-dengue-patients-says-hospital/Article1-587755.aspx

Insurance fraud: Indian-origin doctor jailed for 5 years

An Indian-origin cardiologist has been sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding the US government's Medicare scheme and other public and private health care insurance programmes of a whopping $13 million through false medical claims.

Sushil Sheth, a Chicago area physician, was sentenced on Wednesday by US District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer and ordered to begin serving the 60-month prison term in two months.

Fifty-year-old Sheth, who had already surrendered his medical licence, pleaded guilty a year ago to one count of health care fraud after being charged in January 2009.

He was also ordered to pay restitution totalling approximately $13 million and he agreed to forfeit property and funds worth more than $11.3 million that the government seized from him.

He had privileges at three unnamed area hospitals and lied thousands of times to Medicare and other insurers in order to receive millions of dollars for medical services he purportedly rendered to patients he never treated, according to a US department of Justice statement.

Sheth, whose business office was in Flossmoor, used the fraud proceeds to live a lavish lifestyle, purchasing a suburban mansion, property in Arizona, luxury automobiles and investing in various venture capital opportunities, it said.

"Health care fraud is one of the highest priorities of federal law enforcement. We will make every effort to recover any fraudulently obtained funds and to ensure that dishonest physicians and other medical providers do not profit from cheating Medicare and private insurers," Patrick J Fitzgerald, US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said.

Sheth admitted that he obtained approximately $13 million between January 2002 and July 2007, including approximately $8.3 million from Medicare and some $5 million from over 30 other public and private health care insurers in fraudulent reimbursement for the highest level of cardiac care when those services were not performed and then used the proceeds for his own benefit.

The Justice Department statement said Sheth used his hospital privileges to access and obtain information about patients without their knowledge or consent.

He then hired individuals to bill Medicare and other insurance providers for medical services that he purportedly rendered to patients whom he knew he never treated. Typically waiting almost a year after the treatment was purportedly provided, Sheth submitted more than 14,800 false claims for reimbursement for providing the highest level of cardiac care requiring hands-on treatment in an intensive care unit on multiple days during patients' hospital stays.

Sheth regularly submitted claims seeking payment that, when added together, had him providing more than 24 hours of medical services and treatment in a single day.

Federal agents searched Sheth's Burr Ridge home in June 2007 and seized more than 600 uncashed checks from various insurers totalling more than $6.7 million.

Source http://business.rediff.com/report/2010/aug/12/insurance-fraud-indian-origin-doctor-jailed-for-5-years.htm

Chennai hosts youth carnival to boost AIDS awareness

A folk performance held as part of the ‘Illavattam – Youth Carnival 2010’ in Chennai on Tuesday.

A three-day youth carnival has been organised in Chennai to spread AIDS awareness and sensitise masses about the deadly disease.

Pledging their solidarity with the people living with HIV, scores of people participated in the special 'Illavatam' (Youth Carnival) amid fanfare and exuberance.

In a bid to strengthen social amalgamation, the activists also held plays and musical shows with a 'humanist' approach and condemned the widespread practice of marginalisation and discrimination against the HIV infected people.

Hosted by the Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO), a spate of mesmerising cultural performances and breathtaking acrobatics were also held during the course of the inaugural session.

The organisers said the main objective behind the festival is to enlighten youngsters about HIV-AIDS and remove misconceptions and doubts that instigate fear with regard to the ailment.

"Specifically, this platform is used to give opportunity for the HIV infected people to come and express their status and mobilize support for people living with HIV-AIDS. There are also performances by them, lot of interactions and small group meetings," said A.J. Hariharan, Founder Secretary of the ICWO.

"This platform is to provide information, not to discriminate or isolate people living with HIV-AIDS," he added.

The event that began on Tuesday garnered a lot of support with the participation of the locals.

Exhibition matches of volleyball and football were also organised to spread AIDS awareness, while over 3,000 students from schools and colleges of the city actively presented their artistic skills in diverse competitions.

"In today's scenario, people are not even aware of the difference between HIV and AIDS. They are two different things and people are not aware of that. I think it will be good if they are educated on HIV," said Bharathi, a college student.

"This will be more beneficial because it is told through entertainment which reaches people very easily. I am very happy to be a part of this programme, and I am very happy to contribute a little bit for the eradication of AIDS," he added.

As per the report of the United Nations, over 5.7 million people in India are infected with HIV/AIDS. (ANI)

Source http://sify.com/news/chennai-hosts-youth-carnival-to-boost-aids-awareness-news-national-kilmafecjgj.html

Popeye encourages children to eat more vegetables, claims study

But now the cartoon sailor man’s impact on children’s eating habits has been recognised by scientific research.

Experts found that children who regularly watched Popeye scoffing spinach before his animated bouts with his arch-rival Bluto, doubled their vegetable intake.

The youngsters, aged four and five, ate four portions of vegetables a day after watching the cartoon hero compared to two before the study.

Professor Chutima Sirikulchayanonta, who led the research at Mahidol University in Bangkok, said: "We got the children planting vegetable seeds, taking part in fruit and vegetable tasting parties, cooking vegetable soup, and watching Popeye cartoons.”

Researchers said that the experiment, which also encouraged children to plant their own vegetables, led to the 26 volunteers taking more interest in eating healthily.

Prof Sirikulchayanonta added that Popeye did not influence an increase in the children’s fruit consumption, but that this was possibly because they already enjoyed plenty of fruit in their diet.

The findings of the study are published in journal Nutrition & Dietetics.

Research earlier this year found that sales of tinned spinach, like the kind eaten by Popeye, rose by 24 per cent last year to become one of Britain’s fastest selling canned vegetables.

Popeye, who was created by Elzie Crisler Segar for the Thimble Theatre comic strip and first appeared on screen in 1933, is credited with helping save the US spinach industry in the 1930s.

His influence in boosting sales among children was recognised by the spinach-growing community in Crystal City, Texas, who erected a statue of the fictional sailor in 1937.

Popeye has not regularly been seen on British television since The Popeye Show – the most recent incarnation of the cartoon – ended its run in 2004. The cartoons are still aired in Asia.

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/7933292/Popeye-encourages-children-to-eat-more-vegetables-claims-study.html

American gets Indian heart

When Ronald Lemmer wanted to come to India to get a heart transplant done, doctors in his native United States frowned and tried to discourage the 65-year-old man, saying that the Asian country did not have an efficient medical fraternity. He would not survive for sure, was the refrain.

But Lemmer and his wife took the “bold step”, and travelled down to South India. And, finally, when he underwent a heart transplant at the Apollo hospitals in this metro, the result was successful. The donor was a 36-year-old male from the outskirts of the city, who died in a road accident.

On Thursday, addressing the press, Lemmer said the first choice offered in America is an artificial heart. “The next option is to get a heart transplant, but for that you have to wait for another year-and-a-half or two: the queue for heart transplant recipients in my country is long,” he said.

The Lemmers decided not to wait for long. It was then that they read an article in the Forbes magazine about the optins of organ donation available in India. “It carried a reference to the Apollo hospital. That is how we came down here early this summer,” he said.

Dr Paul Ramesh, primary consultant cardiac surgeon, Apollo hospital, said the Indian laws did not permit its doctors to transplant a heart to a foreigner recipient till there is no other Indian recipient suiting the requirements available. Lemmer, who came to India in May, was registered at the transplant registry - and had to wait for three months till he got another heart.Doctors say Lemmer would be able to survive for the next ten to fifteen years, with the transplanted heart. The treatment at the Apollo hospital cost him $50,000.

He has earlier had a bypass surgery, an angioplasty with coronary stents and a pacemaker.

Source http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/american-gets-indian-heart/195873.html

Swine flu infection rate at 40%, alert sounded

National Institute of Virology (NIV) has advised people to be alert and take precautionary measures to ward off swine flu as the infection rate has risen to 40% now.

‘‘There has been a significant rise in the number of people suffering from the H1N1 influenza this year compared to 2009, when the rate was between 15% and 25%. However, it has already touched 40% now with a spurt in cases during the second wave. Precaution is the key to protection from the infection,’’ NIV director AC Mishra told TOI on Wednesday.

‘‘We, at the NIV, have been receiving about 200 throat swab samples from all over Maharashtra daily. Many of these are coming from far flung areas that remained unscathed last year. There has been an increase in the number of cases,’’ he said.

Elaborating, Mishra said, ‘‘The pandemic H1N1 virus has become a dominant strain now,’’ he said.

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Swine-flu-infection-rate-at-40-alert-sounded/articleshow/6258866.cms

Red wine can give you longer, better life

If you drink red wine then you can live longer. A new study states that red wine can help people live long.

According to the research, the secret lies in a popular plant extract called resveratrol, discovered in the skin of red grapes and red wine. In human beings it can restrain inflammation.

When embattled by pathogens like bacteria or fungi, resveratrol is formed naturally by various plants. Because of its anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant properties, the extract is already known to extend life in yeast and lower animals.

According to Husam Ghanim, research assistant professor of medicine, even insulin resistance can be helped by the compound.

The observation stated that free radicals were inhibited by resveratrol, damage in blood vessel lining could also be stopped by stopping unstable molecules known to result in oxidative tension and release proinflammatory factors into the blood stream.

Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, UB distinguished professor of medicine and senior author on the study, said, "The product we used has only 20 percent resveratrol, so it is possible that something else in the preparation is responsible for the positive effects."

Source http://topnews.net.nz/content/26750-red-wine-can-give-you-longer-better-life

Keep Your Heart Healthy to Slow Down Brain Aging

Want to slow down the aging process of your brain? Well, then start keeping you heart healthy, suggests a new study.

In the study, people whose hearts pumped less blood had brains that appeared older than the brains of those whose hearts pumped more blood.

Decreased cardiac index, the amount of blood that pumps from the heart in relation to a person's body size, was associated with decreased brain volume using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Researchers observed the link even in those participants who did not have cardiovascular disease, such as heart failure or coronary heart disease. As the brain ages, it begins to atrophy (shrink) and has less volume.

The decrease in brain volume is considered a sign of brain aging. More severe brain atrophy occurs in those with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease.

"The results are interesting in that they suggest cardiac index and brain health are related," said Angela L. Jefferson, the study's lead author and associate professor of neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine.

"The association cannot be attributed to cardiovascular disease because the relationship also was seen when we removed those participants with known cardiovascular disease from our analyses," Jefferson added.

In the observational study, which cannot establish cause and effect, researchers examined brain and heart MRI information on 1,504 participants of the decades-long Framingham Offspring Cohort who did not have a history of stroke
, transient ischemic attack or dementia. Participants were 34 to 84 years old and 54 percent were women.

Read more: http://www.medindia.net/news/Keep-Your-Heart-Healthy-to-Slow-Down-Brain-Aging-72216-1.htm#ixzz0vXRiEKB1

Northern India might have more H1N1 cases

Due to heavy rains in coming months, northern parts of India might have more cases of H1N1 viral infection in the second pandemic phase and the doctors may need to adopt a different strategy for treating such cases, a top public health official has said. "With Kerala experience, we are now advocating to all doctors across the country, especially in northern parts of India where good rainfall is expected in the coming months, should strictly follow government public health policies and use ABC management guidelines," Dr Amar Fettle, Chief Nodal Officer, H1N1 control programme, Kerala, said during the day-long seminar on 'Swine Flu H1N1--Flu Fears' held at Nair hospital yesterday. The northern states must be prepared with the 'surge' capacity -- to put the large number of patients -- and with the state-of-the-art labs for testing as well, he said. "Do not wait for the test results to start the treatment as it would be late for the patient.

If the symptoms are clear, immediately start start treating the cases for H1N1," Fettle said. Out of the 75 deaths during this second wave of H1N1 infection in the state of Kerala, 21 were pregnant women. "Therefore, we appeal to all gynaecologists also to follow the public health policies to save several pregnant women from dying," he said. The virus is more prevalent in the population in the second stage and so the treatment will begin even before the sample test results are available, unlike the first phase. "In the first phase, we had to adopt different methods like keeping a vigil at entry ports, keeping lot of isolation wards and sending all the samples for testing and then start the treatment. But the strategy now is to strictly follow the public health policy and start the treatment even before the test results are available," he told us. This will prevent any delay in treatment as each day is important for the patient to cope up with the virus. Source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/--Northern-India-might-have-more-H1N1-cases--/654949

How clean is your mobile phone?

You may like to throw your mobile phone after reading this, as a new study has found the average handset carries 18 time more potential harmful germs than a toilet's flush handle.

An analysis of handsets by British researchers found that almost a quarter of them were so dirty that they had up to 10 times an acceptable level of TVC bacteria.

TVC, or Total Viable Count, gives a quantitative idea about the presence of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and mold in a sample.

Elevated levels of TVC indicate poor personal hygiene and act as a breeding ground for other bugs.

One of the phones in the test had such high levels of bacteria that it could have given its owner a serious stomach upset, said the researchers who carried out the study for the 'Which?' magazine.

The findings from a sample of 30 phones suggest that 14.7 million of the 63 million mobiles in use in the UK today could be potential health hazards, they said.

Source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/how-clean-is-your-mobile-phone/652953/