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46

Study Tour Local / Bangladesh a key source market for medical tourism

« on: May 27, 2018, 09:42:41 AM »

CEMS Global says at the opening of expos on health tourism.

There are some countries which largely depend on Bangladesh for medical tourists and selling health service related equipment, experts said yesterday.

To cash in on the growing demand from Bangladesh's rising mid-income people, some hospitals of India, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia have either opened their liaison offices or hooked clients through their consultants in Bangladesh, they said.

They were addressing the opening of three exhibitions—11th Meditex Bangladesh, International Health Tourism and Services Expo and 4th Bangladesh Clinical Lab Expo— organised by CEMS Global at International Convention City Bashundhara.

“On an average 1,000 Bangladeshis go to India daily to take treatment,” Padam Vanish, director of Indian consultancy firm VAP Global, said after opening the shows. Some 120 companies from 18 countries, including Japan, Korea, Germany, China, Taiwan, Italy and France, have set up 170 stalls in the fairs.

Most of the people have no idea about the hospitals and doctors they need to meet in India for treatment, Vanish said.

“For this reason, we opened an office in Dhaka three months ago to provide Bangladeshis with information.”

“On an average 100 people visit our Dhaka office every day to know about hospitals and doctors in India,” Vanish said.

VAP Global has already established connections with around 80 hospitals in India, where it refers patients and talks on behalf of them, he said.

Apollo Hospitals of India has opened its local office in Dhaka to provide services to Bangladeshi patients who want to go to its medical institute in Chennai.

Noerita Mahmood Farin, customer relationship officer of Health Connect at Apollo Hospitals India, said around 150 patients come to their office everyday to get information about treatment and appointment of physicians in India.

A recent report on health services found that one in every three foreign patients in Indian hospitals hailed from Bangladesh.

Rahbar A Anwar, managing director of NCH Consumer Healthcare Ltd, said Bangladeshis going to Malaysia for treatment is a new trend.

“Now Malaysia gets on an average 10,000 medical tourists every year,” said Anwar. He claimed medical cost in Malaysia is quite cheaper than that of Thailand and Singapore.

Mid-income people prefer India and higher mid-income people prefer Thailand and Singapore, he said.

Earlier, Zahid Maleque, state minister for health and family welfare, asked doctors, hospitals and lab owners to stop harassing patients in the name of diagnosis.

“I request medical businesses to reduce costs and make it reasonable for all,” he said.

The state minister said private hospitals should import sophisticated medical equipment to identify diseases correctly and ensure quality treatment.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Mehrun N Islam, managing director of CEMS Global. Lawmaker Salima Begum and Priti Chakrabarty, director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, were also present.

47

Fashion / When Chocolate is actually good for you!

« on: May 27, 2018, 09:33:01 AM »

In a world full of bad news, here's a piece of news to take to the heart and all the way to the store nearest to you. Chocolate is good for health! Surprisingly enough there are facts to prove just that. The main ingredient used to make chocolate is cocoa and it has biologically active phenolic compounds, which have a significant impact on aging, stress management and blood pressure maintenance. These benefits have, to some extent, changed the perception of many people, everywhere.


A prime example of the negative relation between chocolate and stress is that, most people like to indulge themselves in a chocolate or two or maybe five whenever they feel pressured or stressed. Research conducted on 30 adults who had high levels of stress at the very beginning, showed a significant drop in their stress level after having chocolate every day for a month. So, a chocolate bar a day can really keep the anxiety away. To be more specific, dark chocolate works much better than milk chocolate.

One very big reason for signs of aging on the face is exposure to ultra violet radiation. Cocoa beans have a much higher level of antioxidants than many other types of food, and this high level of antioxidant can help reduce inflammations caused by the UV ray of the sun. Not only that, eating chocolate can help moisturise the skin, which can, in turn, help by reducing the appearance of wrinkles on the skin. However, it is very important to keep in mind that only dark chocolate has a high level of antioxidants and when the cocoa is used to make normal milk chocolate, a lot of the skin treating benefits are filtered away.

Chocolate containing 50 to 70 percent cocoa bean can also help regulate blood pressure. Many types of research have been conducted to study the relation between people with high blood pressure and eating chocolate. Almost all of the participants saw that their blood pressure went down to normal after having chocolate for 2 weeks. Not just that, cocoa also seems to have other heart related properties. Upon research, it was found that along with a reduction in blood pressure, there was a slight decline in bad cholesterol and a significant rise in good cholesterol. It might end up being the heart's favorite treat.

On top of all these, experts are out to find if chocolate can actually help fight cancer. As it contains an antioxidant called flavanol, it may be useful in treating cancer. However, the jury is still out on that one.

Throughout most of life, many people have only heard how bad chocolate can be for health, but thanks to new research, it seems chocolates may have another different story to tell us after all.

48

Headache / Ramadan headaches and acidity

« on: May 27, 2018, 09:19:52 AM »

When prepping for the month of Ramadan, people consider things like grocery shopping, prayers, eventual shopping for Eid, and so on, but it escapes the thought of most people to prepare their body as well. After all, you don't exactly run a marathon right after waking up in the morning. There are preparations required for this month, especially for those of us who face challenges arising from the act of fasting itself. The two major complaints that you'll hear about most are headaches and gastroesophageal reflux disease, or more commonly known as acidity or heartburn. Planning iftar meals does not necessarily have to revolve around the status of your tummy, in fact being a common problem, here are a few ways to gear up before acidity attacks you this Ramadan:

 Drink Hot Water: What with being in the middle of summer, and fasting for long hours, you'd think that this is the last thing you should do, but shockingly, warm or hot water helps more than cold water when fasting. Pro trip; avoid drinking water in large quantities as that fools you stomach into thinking its full and starts the digestion process, leading to acidity. Drink from a small glass in order to know how much you are drinking.

 Cold Beverages: Break your fast with something fizzy or cold milk (without sugar) to prevent acid attacks and burning sensations to the stomach, respectively. You also can't go wrong with the Bengali favourite sherbet.

 Coconut water: A natural beverage that aids with acidity, coconut water is a good alternative to cold beverages. It fights against dehydration with its electrolyte content as well as maintaining the pH levels of your stomach, and it also flushes toxins from the body.

Eat a lot of bananas: Aside from fibre, it contains a lot of potassium that helps prevent and fight against acidity and maintain the pH balance of the entire body.

 Avoid citrus fruits: Go easy on fruits like oranges, pineapples, or any other citrus fruits because excessive amounts of Vitamin C will lead to acidity. These fruits can also cause problems of acidity when fasting. Try some mangoes or watermelon instead.

Headaches are another thorn for some during Ramadan, especially when paired with the summer heat. It's so common that this is probably something you hear about most. While you are free to use balms for some relief, its best to nip this problem in the bud. So here are a few ways to prevent and reduce episodes of headaches in this blistering heat:
 Drink lots of fluids: One of the most common reasons for headaches when fasting is due to dehydration and the only way to resolve it is by increasing fluid intake, however, to avoid acidity, take it in small quantities over a longer period of time if you do not want to deal with the wrath of acidity while trying to cure that headache.

 Cut back caffeine-based drinks: Other than their diuretic effects, they also cause withdrawal, which is linked to headaches. Limit your tea/coffee intake to decrease the amount of water lost from the body. If you cannot do without it, try having your coffee/tea at sehri instead.

 Pack up on complex carbs: Since you will be fasting all day, what you need is a consistent supply of energy to carry you through the day. For that to happen, switch to food with complex carbohydrates that release sugar slowly into the blood stream. Switch to brown rice, oatmeal, yoghurt, vegetables, multigrain cereals that contain barley, wheat bread, quinoa, pumpkin etc.

 Regulate your sleep cycles: A very common practice during Ramadan is to stay up all night until sehri, and then go to sleep. Getting in sufficient REM cycles is key to reducing symptoms of fatigue that can lead to headaches. Try to get in a few solid hours of sleep between sehri and iftar. Remember 7 is the lucky number!

49

Heart / Importance of fish for heart health stressed

« on: May 26, 2018, 09:53:52 AM »

A new scientific advisory published on Thursday has reiterated the American Heart Association's recommendation that eating fish twice a week is good for heart health.


A new review from the American Heart Association recommends eating fish twice a week to improve heart health. Photo: AFP Relaxnews


Published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, the new advisory also supports findings from many other recent studies that have also shown that a diet rich in fish could be beneficial for health.

"Since the last advisory on eating fish was issued by the Association in 2002, scientific studies have further established the beneficial effects of eating seafood rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, especially when it replaces less healthy foods such as meats that are high in artery-clogging saturated fat," said Eric B Rimm, Sc.D., chair of the American Heart Association writing group and professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

After reviewing recent research, nutrition experts concluded that eating two 3.5-ounce servings of non-fried fish or about ¾ cup of flaked fish every week could help reduce the risk of heart failure, coronary heart disease, cardiac arrest and the most common type of stroke (ischemic).

Oily fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines or albacore tuna, are particularly beneficial notes the advisory.

Previous studies have also suggested that omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial for improving IQ scores and sleep in children, reducing asthma risk in children, and boosting brain health as we age.

Although a previous advisory published by the American Heart Association noted that omega-3 fish oil supplements are not recommended for preventing clinical cardiovascular disease because of a lack of scientific evidence, many studies have shown that the supplements are beneficial for other health conditions including reducing the risk of allergies and asthma, and improving the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

The review also looked at studies on mercury in fish. Although mercury is found in most seafood it is more prevalent in large fish such as shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, bigeye tuna, marlin and orange roughy.

The team concluded that although mercury may be associated with serious neurological problems in newborns, there is not enough existing research to suggest that mercury contamination has a negative effect on an adult's risk of heart disease.

They also added that the benefits of eating fish substantially outweigh any risks from mercury, especially if a variety of seafood is consumed.

50

Food / A Healthy Guide to Deshi Iftar

« on: May 24, 2018, 12:48:55 PM »

Ramadan is here, and wouldn't you know it, its smack dab in the middle of summer. Observing Ramadan during the scorching heat of a Bangladeshi summer calls for a pure stomach cleansing alongside spiritual cleansing.



Admit it. We all just adore an elaborate spread of chhola, peyaju, beguni and kebabs galore, the top traditional items that we simply cannot imagine having an iftar without. But before you prepare to feast upon all these foods in all their delectable oily glory, here's some food for thought:

A long day of fasting causes your body to lose water. Your body needs to rehydrate fast and gain energy from the food and drinks you are about to consume. So it's a good idea to not only eat and drink enough, but also to do that right.

KNOW THY FOOD
Oily and deep fried foods will slow down your metabolism and may make you feel constipated after the meal. Going overboard with creamy and sugary delights will also be likely to increase your weight. On the other hand, foods that contain too much salt tend to stimulate thirst so it will be wise to avoid them.

The best iftar menu to set for this summer would be one filled with low-fat, fluid-rich and fibre-rich items such as fresh fruits, veggies, soups/stews and drinks.

While there's no topping a bowlful of 'doi-chira' as a nutritious side dish to your daily iftar, here are a few traditional soups and drinks with a healthy twist for this Ramadan.

SOUPS OF SALVATION
Soups, as we know them, are traditionally based on broths and/or contain pulses or starchy foods. In many Arabian countries, they are served a light fluidic dish that helps to rehydrate the body quickly. Most soups are not only easy and affordable to make, but they also taste delicious and make you feel full easily.

Haleem, for instance, is a deshi and homely lentil soup that we love to break our fast with. Lowering the proportion of meat in it and toning down on the spices can give it the right balance of proteins, carbs, vitamins and fibres. Oats and chicken haleem (which is cooked by replacing the usual ingredients with oats and chicken) is another slick and healthy alternative to the traditional haleem. Other common soups include clear chicken, vegetable and corn soups. Besides this, fresh tomato soup is very beneficial for those who have diabetes or cardiac problems.

In addition to soups, a plateful of fresh salad is also an excellent and healthy side dish for iftar. Besides regular salads, you can make a tasty 'fruit chaat' out of fresh fruits (apples, kiwis, oranges, papayas, etc.) with a hint of garam masala and lime juice in it. It will help to reactivate your taste buds and enhance your appetite.   

DRINKS TO (NOT) DIE FOR
There are a number of ways to revamp most traditional drinks to make them healthier (and tastier). Dates are well-known to be rich in sugars, vitamins, iron and fibers and also help digestion. Blend some milk with a handful of dates with bananas and add a dash of powdered cinnamon to have a chilled banana-date smoothie. You can try making a similar date smoothie with pomegranate pearls too.   

Summer is the prime season for 'kaacha aam' (raw/green mangoes). A simple green mango-mint juice will cool down your stomach and make you feel refreshed instantly! While the green mango acts as a catalyst to speed up digestion, the mint juice reduces fatigue and fights various common ailments.

Now that you have the food guidelines in mind, make sure to get some light exercise or go for a short walk to balance your food intake with your daily activities throughout Ramadan.

51

Kidneys / Oral antibiotics associated with increased risk for kidney stones

« on: May 24, 2018, 09:31:20 AM »

Use of five classes of antibiotics is associated with increased risk for nephrolithiasis (kidney stone), suggests a case-control study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Using UK healthcare databases, researchers matched 26,000 patients with nephrolithiasis to 260,000 control patients and compared their use of antibiotics in the 3 to 12 months before diagnosis.

After multivariable adjustment, use of sulfas, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, nitrofurantoin/methenamine, and broad-spectrum penicillins was associated with higher risk for nephrolithiasis, compared with nonuse. Children had the largest increase in risk. In an analysis of different time windows of antibiotic exposure, the risk remained elevated for 3 to 5 years after exposure for all but broad-spectrum penicillins.

The authors speculate that antibiotic-induced alteration of the gut microbiome could change macro-nutrient metabolism, thus leading to kidney stones. They note that they could not exclude direct antibiotic crystallization in the kidney.

52

Science Discussion Forum / NASA captures images of strong solar flares

« on: May 24, 2018, 09:24:07 AM »

This animation shows both the X2.2 and the X9.3 flares that the Sun emitted on Sept. 6, 2017. The imagery was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and shows light in the 131 angstrom wavelength. Photo: NASA/Goddard/SDO

Two high-intensity solar flares were emitted Wednesday, the second of which was the most intense recorded since the start of this sun cycle in December 2008, NASA said.

These radiation flares, which can disrupt communications satellites, GPS and power grids by reaching the upper Earth atmosphere, were detected and captured by the US Space Agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), these so-called category X eruptions disrupted high-frequency radio communications for one hour on the Earth's side facing the sun and low-frequency communications used in navigation.

The two eruptions occurred in an active region of the sun where an eruption of average intensity occurred on September 4. The current cycle of the sun, which began in December 2008, saw the intensity of solar activity decline sharply, opening the way to the "solar minimum."

Solar cycles last on average eleven years. At the end of the active phase, these eruptions become increasingly rare but still can be powerful.

Solar storms result from an accumulation of magnetic energy in some places.

These jets of ionized matter are projected -- at high speed into and beyond the crown of the sun -- hundreds of thousands of kilometers outward.

53

Life Style / ভালো থাকুন মাইগ্রেনের ব্যথা: কী খাবেন, কী খাবেন না

« on: May 23, 2018, 01:36:42 PM »

মাইগ্রেনের ব্যথা অনেকের কোনো কোনো দিনকে অসহ্য করে তোলে। মাথার কোনো এক পাশে প্রচণ্ড ব্যথা, বমি ভাব বা বমি, চোখে ঝাপসা দেখা ইত্যাদি সমস্যা এ সময় মানুষকে প্রায় শয্যাশায়ী করে ফেলে। মাইগ্রেনের ব্যথার আকস্মিক আক্রমণের জন্য কিছু বিষয় কাজ করে। এর মধ্যে রয়েছে কিছু খাবারদাবার, যা এই ব্যথাকে বাড়িয়ে দেয়।

অপর্যাপ্ত পানি পানের কারণে সৃষ্ট ডিহাইড্রেশন বা পানিশূন্যতা এবং দীর্ঘ সময় না খেয়ে থাকার কারণে রক্তে শর্করা কমে যাওয়া মাইগ্রেনের ব্যথাকে আমন্ত্রণ জানায়। এ ছাড়া নিয়াসিন ও ভিটামিন বি কমপ্লেক্সের অভাব ঘটলে এবং রক্তস্বল্পতার কারণেও মাথাব্যথা বাড়ে।

ব্যথার তীব্রতা কমাতে ট্রিপটোফেন-জাতীয় খাবার বেশ সুফল বয়ে আনে। লাল চাল, খেজুর, কিশমিশ, দুধ, দই, ডিম, শিম, বাদাম, ডুমুর, সবুজ ও কমলা রঙের সবজি, কলাসহ নানা ধরনের ফল নিয়মিত খাওয়া উচিত তাঁদের। ভেষজ চা, বিশেষ করে আদা-চা ও পুদিনা-চা মাথাব্যথা কমাতে সাহায্য করবে।

কিছু খাবার মাইগ্রেনের রোগীদের জন্য পরিত্যাজ্য। যেমন: চকলেট, পাউরুটি, কেক পেস্ট্রি, রং দেওয়া খাবার, সংরক্ষিত খাবার, আচার বা সস ও ময়দা-চিনির খাবার। মনোসোডিয়াম গ্লুটামেট বা টেস্টিং সল্ট ব্যথা বাড়ায়।
আখতারুন নাহার, পুষ্টিবিদhttp://paimages.prothom-alo.com/contents/cache/images/640x360x1/uploads/media/2017/11/25/942627fb1a6a8794969a338e34ec3764-5a187f24d05a8.gif?jadewits_media_id=1077176

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Technology News / শুক্রাণু-ডিম্বাণু ছাড়াই ভ্রূণ তৈরি হল গবেষণাগারে!

« on: May 10, 2018, 05:11:12 PM »

শুক্রাণু ও ডিম্বাণু ছাড়াই ইঁদুরের শরীর থেকে দু’ধরনের স্টেম সেল নিয়ে গবেষণাগারেই ভ্রূণ তৈরির প্রাথমিক ধাপ সম্পন্ন করেছেন নেদারল্যান্ডসের মাস্ত্রিচ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের গবেষকেরা। পুরোপুরি সফল না হলেও বিজ্ঞানীরা আশাবাদী, ভবিষ্যতে বন্ধ্যত্বের চিকিৎসার ক্ষেত্রে পদ্ধতিটিকে কাজে লাগানো যাবে। তারা আরো জানাচ্ছেন, আগামী তিন বছরের মধ্যেই ইঁদুরের পূর্ণাঙ্গ ভ্রূণ তৈরি করা হয়তো সম্ভব।
 
যদি শুক্রাণু-ডিম্বাণু ছাড়া ইঁদুরের ভ্রূণ তৈরি করা যায়, তা হলে পরীক্ষাগারে মানুষের ভ্রূণ তৈরি সম্ভব কি না- বিজ্ঞানীরা সেই সম্ভাবনা পুরোপুরি উড়িয়ে দেননি। যদিও কৃত্রিমভাবে মানুষ সৃষ্টি এবং একই মানুষের অনেকগুলো প্রতিরূপ তৈরির কথা নিয়ে নীতিগত সমস্যা দেখা দিয়েছে।

জানা গেছে, ইঁদুরের শরীর থেকে একেবারে প্রাথমিক পর্যায়ের দু’ধরনের স্টেম সেল নিয়েছিলেন বিজ্ঞানীরা। এই জাতীয় কোষগুলি থেকে সব অঙ্গপ্রত্যঙ্গ তৈরি সম্ভব। দেখা যায়, ওই কোষগুলি মিলিত হয়ে তৈরি করেছে ভ্রূণেরই একটি প্রাথমিক চেহারা। জীববিদ্যার ভাষায় যাকে বলে ‘ব্লাস্টোসিস্ট’। সেই ব্লাস্টোসিস্টকে স্ত্রী-ইঁদুরের গর্ভে স্থাপন করা হয়। শুক্রাণু-ডিম্বাণুর নিষেকে তৈরি সাড়ে তিন দিন বয়সী একটি স্বাভাবিক ভ্রূণ থাকলে মাতৃজঠরে যা যা পরিবর্তন ঘটার কথা, এ ক্ষেত্রেও ঠিক তেমনই ঘটেছিল। তবে পুরোপুরি সফল হয়নি সেই প্রতিস্থাপন। তবু তাতেই আশার আলো দেখেছেন গবেষকেরা।

গবেষক দলের প্রধান মাস্ত্রিচ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের অধ্যাপক নিকোলাস রিভরন বলেছেন, ‘প্রায় সত্যিকারের ব্লাস্টোসিস্টের মতোই হচ্ছিল ব্যাপারটা। যদিও কোষগুলো খুব একটা সুবিন্যস্ত ছিল না। আশা করছি, আগামী তিন বছরে সেটা তৈরি করতে পারব। এই প্রথম গবেষণাগারে স্টেম সেল থেকে ভ্রূণ, নাড়ি সবটাই তৈরির পথে হেঁটেছিলাম আমরা।’ তবে নিকোলাস জানিয়ে দিয়েছেন, ‘এই পদ্ধতি মানুষের উপরে প্রয়োগে আমার বিশ্বাস নেই। মানুষ ক্লোন করা সম্পূর্ণ নিষিদ্ধ।’
 
ইত্তেফাক/সেতু
http://www.ittefaq.com.bd/science-and-tech/2018/05/06/156146.html