World Kidney Day 2017: 8 Risk Factors that Could Cause Kidney Disease

Highlights

• 9th March marks World Kidney Day, which is a global campaign
• It aims to spread awareness about kidney diseases
• This year the theme highlights obesity and how it leads to kidney ailment

9th March marks World Kidney Day, which is a global campaign that aims to spread awareness about kidney diseases, their preventive measures and the importance to maintaining healthy kidneys. This year the theme highlights obesity and how it leads to kidney ailments. Obesity is one of the major health concerns affecting millions and millions of people worldwide. Obesity is not just about being overweight, but it is one of the main reasons that cause other health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, heart ailments, fatty liver, osteoarthritis and even kidney ailments. Kidney is an essential organ in the body. Its primary role is to remove toxins and excess fluids from the body through urine, and also maintain a good balance of body salts and other chemicals. It is also involved in controlling the production of red blood cells and regulating blood pressure.

So how do we prevent kidney failure? Here are some pointers -

1. Obesity is a Lead Cause

Obesity is becoming a growing worldwide epidemic, and is expected to affect more people in the years to come. One's lifestyle habits, particularly sedentary lifestyle, are adversely impacting health. According to researchers and authors of the study - Obesity and Kidney Disease: Hidden Consequences of the Epidemic, "Obesity is one of the strongest risk factors for new-onset chronic kidney disease, and also for nephrolithiasis and for kidney cancer."

As stated on the official website of the campaign, "A growing body of evidence indicates that obesity is also a potent risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). People who are overweight or obese have 2 to 7 more chances of developing ESRD compared to those of normal weight. Obesity may lead to CKD both indirectly by increasing type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, and also by causing direct kidney damage by increasing the workload of the kidneys and other mechanisms."

According to several Indian population-based studies, the number of Indians suffering from chronic kidney ailments has doubled in the past 15 years, and at present 17 in every hundred citizens suffer from some form of kidney disease. And it's not just restricted to adults. Nearly one-fifth of severely obese teens have poor kidney function.

2. Cut Down on Red Meat

According to a study done by National University of Singapore, they found that participants who ate the largest amount of red meat had about 40 percent greater risk of developing kidney failure compared with people consuming the lowest amounts of meat. "Our findings suggest that individuals can still maintain their protein intake unless their kidney function has been severely compromised. However, to reduce the risk of end-stage renal disease, it is best to eat red meat in moderation," said the lead author of the study Woon-Puay Koh.

3. Good Sleep Time is Crucial

According to a study done Brigham and Women's Hospital, shorter sleep duration can lead to a more rapid decline in kidney function. Many of the body's processes follow a natural daily rhythm or so-called circadian clock that is based on regular sleep-wake cycles. The study found that kidney function may be compromised when this natural cycle is disrupted.

4. Hypertension Ups Risk

About 20 per cent of India's youth suffer from hypertension which makes them 40 percent more vulnerable to kidney damage and cardiac arrest. There is little understanding in the country of hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, which usually does not cause symptoms but gradually affects various body parts. "As many youngsters do not get to know that they are hypertensive they continue with their sedentary lifestyle," said Gireesh Manwani, Senior Consultant (Internal Medicine), Saroj Super Speciality Hospital. "This slowly and steadily damages the kidneys and heart apart from giving rise to various other problems; it could even be fatal."

5. Say No to Junk Food

According to a study by Anglia Ruskin University in Britain, a diet that relies mostly on junk food or processed food may cause long-term damage to the kidneys and trigger diabetes. "Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes both induce changes in glucose transport in the kidney but junk food or a diet high in fat causes changes that are very similar to those found in Type 2 diabetes," said Havovi Chichger, lead author of the study.

6. Cut Down on Sugar

Dr. Anshul Jai Bharat, a Delhi-based Nutritionist, says, "Most processed food products contain too much sugar, so when it goes to your system it leads to hormonal imbalance and also your blood profile changes. High consumption of these empty calories can cause obesity and diabetes - diseases that directly impact the functioning of your kidneys. You can treat yourself to your favourite dessert or a fast food burger sometimes as long as it does not replace your daily balanced diet."

7. Keep a Check on Phosphorous Intake

Health experts and doctors have issued a warning against excess phosphorous in the human body claiming that it may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease where the phosphate levels in the body shoot up to abnormally high levels. According to them, muscle cramps, numbness, tingling, bone or joint pain and rash are all the symptoms of hyperphosphatemia and people who experience them quite often should consult a doctor at the earliest. Foods that should be strictly avoided, or at least consumed in moderation include soft drinks, chocolates, tinned milk and processed meat," suggests Neerja Jain who works in Nephrology department at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital.

8. Pollution is to Blame As Well

According to a study by George Institute for Global Health, climate change may be accelerating the rate of chronic kidney disease caused by dehydration and heat stress. The research paper, published in Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), suggests that a condition called heat stress nephropathy may represent a disease of neglected populations but one that may emerge as a major cause of poor kidney health in the near future.

Novel blood test may detect, locate cancer early

NEW YORK: Scientists have developed a new blood test to detect cancer and locate where in the body the tumour is growing, an advance way to eliminate the need for invasive surgical procedures like biopsies.

Cancer blood tests work by screening for DNA released by dying tumour cells and detect traces of tumour DNA in the blood of cancer patients.

However, these do not indicate where the tumour resides.

"Knowing the tumour's location is critical for effective early detection," said Kun Zhang, professor at the University of California-San Diego in the US.

When a tumour starts to take over a part of the body, it competes with normal cells for nutrients and space, killing them off in the process.

As normal cells die, they release their DNA into the bloodstream, and that DNA could be used to identify the affected tissue, the researchers said.

The new method screens for a particular DNA signature called CpG methylation haplotypes.

Each tissue in the body can be identified by its unique signature of methylation haplotypes.

If we integrate both cancer cell and other cells signals we could actually determine the presence or absence of a tumour, and where it is growing, Zhang explained.

For the study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, the team put together a database of the complete CpG methylation patterns of 10 different normal tissues -- liver, intestine, colon, lung, brain, kidney, pancreas, spleen, stomach and blood.

They also analysed tumour samples and blood samples from cancer patients and looked for signals of the cancer markers and the tissue-specific methylation patterns.

The test works like a dual authentication process -- the combination of both signals above a statistical cutoff -- is required to assign a positive match, the researchers noted.

Karnataka records 274 H1N1 cases in just 7 days; 7 dead

BENGALURU: There has been a sudden and worrisome increase in the number of H1N1 cases in Karnataka from February 24, with at least 274 persons testing positive for the disease. The spike in the cases was for the observed period of February 24 to March 2. The state has recorded seven deaths since January.

According to data from the Karnataka health and family welfare department, the state has reported 344 H1N1cases from January 1 to February 23 this year. The total so far this year is 618 -a sixth of the 2015 tally of 3,565 cases and more than five times the 2016 figure of 110.

Experts acknowledged the big numbers, and explained it as an index of high awareness among people about the disease. More and more people are undergoing stringent medical tests for H1N1 -a welcome sign in preventing the spread of the disease. TOI wrote about the rising number of cases on February 24. Doctors admitted it was a challenge to keep infection at bay. Dr Sunil Karanth, chairman of critical-care services, Mani pal Hospitals, said the onset of summer would ebb the number of cases. "Swine flu is a largely winter disease. During winter, the virus mutates and affects more people," he said. Dr Rini Banerjee, a consultant for infectious diseases at Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, said, "Unlike dengue and chikungunya, the monsoon has no correlation with H1N1. The virus will weaken in the summer. Reports of H1N1cases from across the state are an index of increased awareness among people, and indicate that proper testing processes are in place."

Besides genetic mutation, doc tors attribute the spurt in cases to environmental conditions. "Inability to withstand heat, congestion in cities, and a congenial envi ronment for the virus to spread are the other reasons," said Dr Ashok SN, consultant for medicine, St Martha's Hospital.

Dr Banerjee said that informing people about symptoms was vital to curbing swine flu. "Doctors should encourage patients to undergo tests if they show symptoms of H1N1. If anyone has a high-degree fever, sore threat, dry cough, she should get tested for H1N1," she added.

A general practitioner said children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with diabetes were more vulnerable to swine flu, owing to their low immunity level. "Law-enforcement agencies and the public health department officials should work closely, and monitor poultry markets to prevent the disease from spreading further," he said.

Dr Ashok said cleanliness and a nutritious diet could help check the spread of swine flu.

About 1.7 Million Children Die Each Year Due To Pollution: WHO

Our environment plays a crucial role in our health and well-being. While we may take advantage of mother nature and not pay heed to all her gifts for us, it is only us in the end who are going to suffer. Take air pollution for instance. It is becoming a serious threat to our well-being, killing millions every year. As per a shocking report released by World Health Organization, it was revealed that environmental pollutants lead to the death of up to 1.7 million children under five, each year. The report is especially alarming as causes of these deaths include mundane and often neglected factors like lack of sanitation, poor hygiene practices and unsafe water, and also injuries. The report, which released on Monday, also stated that outdoor and indoor air pollution, including second hand smoke can also lead to an increased risk of pneumonia during childhood, as well chronic respiratory chronic respiratory diseases like asthma for the rest of their lives.

Margaret Chan, the director general of WHO, remarked that exposure to a polluted environment can prove to be a "deadly" deal particularly for young children. "Their developing organs and immune systems, and smaller bodies and airways, make them especially vulnerable to dirty air and water" she added.

Increased risk of heart diseases, stroke and cancer on exposure to air pollutants, were amongst the other risks highlighted in the report.

The statistics are a cause of distress to the entire world, which is struggling each day to cut down on the levels of pollution. Environmentalists and scientists across the globe are spending days and nights to come up with measures in curtailing the rise of pollution. The report also came in with handy precautionary measures.

The most common causes of child death like malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia can be prevented by measures like using insecticide-treated bed nets, better access to clean water and clean cooking fuels. Removing pests and mould from housing, reduced use of lead paints, good nutrition and sanitation in schools, and an enhanced urban planning accommodating more free space and greenery in concrete-packed cities are other potential pollution control measures suggested in the report

Inputs from IANS

Pre-pregnancy stress level may lead to eczema in future child

Every woman, planning to take a step forward in life to embrace motherhood, do not stress yourself!

A Southampton research show, infants, whose mothers felt stressed before they fell pregnant, had a higher risk of eczema the age of 12 months. The study from the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, is the first to link preconception maternal stress to the risk of atopic eczema in the child.

The researchers believe the findings support the concept that eczema partly originates as a baby develops in the womb and could reveal ways of reducing the risk of the skin condition.

The research, published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy, assessed the stress levels of women recruited to the Southampton Women's Survey before they were pregnant. They were asked to report how stressed they were in their daily lives. A sub-group was asked about their psychological wellbeing.

Around 3,000 babies, born into the Survey, were then assessed for eczema at ages six and 12 months. Dr Sarah El-Heis, the study's lead researcher from the University of Southampton, comments, "We know that maternal stress can release certain hormones that can have an effect on the baby's immune response, leading to an increased risk in conditions like eczema."

"More than one in six women of the mothers in the Southampton Women's Survey reported that stress affected their health 'quite a lot' or 'extremely' - our analyses showed that their infants had a 20 percent higher likelihood of developing atopic eczema at age 12 months when compared with the remainder of the study cohort. The findings also showed that stress and low mood experienced closer to the time of conception may have a greater impact on the risk offspring atopic eczema."

The research showed similar findings of an increased risk of infant eczema for the women who reported psychological distress before they became pregnant. The associations were robust to adjustment for other influences, including a history of eczema in the mother, smoking during pregnancy and infant gestational age, sex and breastfeeding duration.

Professor Keith Godfrey, director of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre in Nutrition, added, "Previous research has linked low maternal mood after delivery with an increased risk of eczema in the infant, but the new research showed no association between postnatal mood and eczema after taking account of preconception stress. More research is needed to investigate this interesting association, but the findings are further evidence of the influence preconception maternal health and wellbeing has on infants."

(With DC inputs)

Prostate cancer news: THESE factors are putting you at risk of the disease

THE RISK of developing prostate cancer is higher among men who are overweight and obese - but there are also other factors which can increase the chance of being affected by the disease.

Experts have revealed nearly 70 per cent of men in the UK do not know that being overweight is a risk factor for prostate cancer.

Scientists have revealed strong evidence for a link between excess body fat and an increased risk of 11 cancers - which includes cancer of the prostate.

Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer - which kills more than 11,250 men each year. 

Experts at BMI Healthcare have revealed more than half - 52 per cent - of men aren’t aware a family history is also a risk factor for the cancer.

Just under half - 42 per cent don’t know that age also plays a part in the incidence, mortality, and survival rates of the cancer.

According to the new figures, an overwhelming 97 percent of men in the UK don’t know that being tall affects your risk of prostate cancer development.

Research has previously revealed greater height is positively associated with prostate cancer risk.

The figures reveal 87 per cent don’t know the impact of your ethnicity on prostate cancer risk - black men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men, which experts believe is genetic.

Researchers also found 86 percent aren’t aware that taking anabolic steroids is a risk factor. Some people take the anabolic steroids to help build muscles.

Other people take them to improve how they perform at sports, such as sprinting and cycling.

John Beatty, Consultant Urologist at BMI Healthcare said: “Prostate cancer is a cancer of the ageing male and is the most common non-skin cancer in men over 70 but can occur at an earlier age.

Men who have fathers, brothers or grandparents with prostate cancer may be at increased risk especially if they developed prostate cancer at a young age.

Afro-Caribbean and black men may also have an increased risk

Prostate cancer: Men on steroids can increase their risk of prostate cancer.

A spokesman for BMI healthcare said: The research reveals the concerning lack of knowledge around the warning signs of prostate cancer.

Over half of men don’t know that having difficulty emptying your bladder could indicate a tumour, 43 percent of men don’t realise that blood in the urine or semen could be a symptom, and 43 percent of men also aren’t aware that having to pass urine more frequently could be a sign. 

Having the sudden urge to have to empty your bladder is not known to be a symptom of prostate cancer by 67 per cent of men, and similarly over half (52 percent) wouldn’t think having to get up in the night more frequently than normal to empty their bladder was anything to worry about.

The 2017 study assessed 818 men in the UK, highlighting the degree of awareness of prostate cancer symptoms.

WHO Lists 12 Deadly Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and the Urgent Need for New Drugs

Highlights

• WHO published the first-ever list of antibiotic-resistant pathogens
• It included 12 families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat
• The most critical group of all includes multi-drug resistant bacteria

There are all sorts of diseases in the world, and every once in a while comes a certain 'microorganism' which creates havoc in the form of dangerous diseases like Ebola, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, and the like. Scientists have time and again come up with effective antibiotics to control the diseases and save lives, but the shocking part is that each year these microbes come back twice as more potent and resistant to the antibiotics. As such it is a constant struggle to reinvent and find effective cures. In such cases, intensive research is the only thing that can save lives as scientists discover more characteristics and behaviour of the triggers.

Recently, WHO published the first-ever list of antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens" that included 12 families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health. The intention was to spread awareness, as well as guide and promote research and development of new antibiotics. There is a serious concern on the growing global resistance to antimicrobial medicines.

What Did the List Include?

According to the global health body, the list is divided into three categories according to the urgency of need for new antibiotics: critical, high and medium priority.

"The most critical group of all includes multi-drug resistant bacteria that pose a particular threat in hospitals, nursing homes, and among patients whose care requires devices such as ventilators and blood catheters. They include Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and various Enterobacteriaceae (including Klebsiella, E. coli, Serratia, and Proteus)," said a WHO statement.

It said that all the bacteria can cause severe and often deadly infections such as bloodstream infections and pneumonia.

"These bacteria have become resistant to a large number of antibiotics, including carbapenems and third generation cephalosporins - the best available antibiotics for treating multi-drug resistant bacteria," said the report.

High- Medium Priority Type

The second tier includes antibiotics of high priority - for Enterococcus faecium, which is vancomycin-resistant; Staphylococcus aureus, which is methicillin-resistant; Helicobacter pylori, which is clarithromycin-resistant; Campylobacter spp, which is fluoroquinolone-resistant; Salmonellae, which is fluoroquinolone-resistant; and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which is cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone-resistant.

The third tier includes medium priority antibiotics for Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is penicillin-non-susceptible; Haemophilus influenzae, which is ampicillin-resistant; and Shigella spp, which is fluoroquinolone-resistant.

"This list is a new tool to ensure research and development responds to urgent public health needs," said WHO's Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Innovation Marie-Paule Kieny in the statement.

Evelina Tacconelli, Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Tubingen and a major contributor to the list, said, "New antibiotics targeting this priority list of pathogens will help to reduce deaths due to resistant infections around the world.

"Waiting any longer will cause further public health problems and dramatically impact on patient care."

Inputs from IANS

7.5% Indians suffer from mental disorders: WHO report

Not only do 56 million Indians -- or 4.5% of India's population -- suffer from depression at this moment, another 38 million Indians suffer from anxiety disorders. Thus, according to the latest World Health Organisation report on depression released on Thursday, almost 7.5% of Indians suffer from major or minor mental disorders that require expert intervention.

The WHO report states that depressive disorders are characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness, and poor concentration. Anxiety disorders refer to a group of mental disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear, including generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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The WHO prevalence report underlines what Indian psychiatrists have been saying: the burden of depression cannot be ignored. In October 2016, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru released a mental health survey that said that the incidence of depression is roughly one in every 20 Indians or 5% of the population.

Worldwide, the prevalence of depression increased by 18% from 2005 to 2015. At present, there are 322 million people with depression in the world. "Nearly half of these people live in the South-East Asia Region and Western Pacific Region, reflecting the relatively larger populations of those two regions (which include India and China, for example),'' said the WHO report.

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Although there are known, effective treatments for depression, fewer than half of those affected in the world (in many countries, fewer than 10%) receive such treatments, added the WHO report. Barriers to effective care include lack of resources, dearth of trained health-care providers, and social stigma associated with mental disorders. India, for instance, has less than 4,000 psychiatrists to treat its mentally ill people.

The WHO report also said that inaccurate assessment was another barrier to effective care. "In countries of all income levels, people who are depressed are often not correctly diagnosed, and others who do not have the disorder are too often misdiagnosed and prescribed anti-depressants,'' it added.