The West Australian government has orders an independent audit

into management of state housing tenants after the skeletal remains of an elderly man were discovered in a unit up to two years after his death.

Seventy-five-year-old Robert Roll’s corpse went undetected until July 7, despite neighbours urging housing department officials to check on him.

Housing Minister Troy Buswell said he was not satisfied with the explanation provided by the Department of Housing, whose records incorrectly stated that Mr Roll’s home had been inspected in 2010.

“The information I received contained discrepancies in regard to the last contact the department had with Mr Roll, and my main concern is that the department’s systems showed that an inspection was undertaken in 2010, when an inspection did not actually occur,” Mr Buswell said.

“Whether this was caused due to human error or improper actions, we need to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

“The audit will examine the circumstances around the discovery of Mr Roll’s body, as well as the department’s tenancy management actions throughout the history of Mr Rolls’ tenancy.

“It will also look at the actions taken to identify and test safety devices in Mr Roll’s unit, and overall tenancy management at the complex at 601 Wellington Street.”

The audit will also consider the extent to which the department has implemented the recommendations of the Auditor General’s 2010 report into the fitting and maintenance of safety devices, records systems and procedures such as property inspections.

“While the department is finalising a report on its own response to the Auditor General’s report, it seems logical to have an independent body also scrutinise this response, particularly when we are engaging someone to look at similar issues relating to Mr Roll’s case,” he said.

“I expect the audit will identify any key concerns or weaknesses in the department’s management of Mr Roll’s tenancy and any continuing issues around systems and procedures, with recommendations as to how these may be improved.”

The audit will be undertaken by KPMG. It will commence this month and is expected to take eight weeks.

Police said last month that it appeared Mr Roll had cancer and died of natural causes. A report has been prepared for the WA coroner.

They have since established Mr Roll was a former boilermaker, believed to be from Newcastle in England’s north but had moved to Australia several decades ago.

Residents in the same apartment block began to grow concerned when Mr Roll’s mail began piling up.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

GARLIC IS A NATURAL MUST HAVE FOR PREVENTION OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a form of a degenerative arthritis characterized by a functional or structural failure of one or more of the joints of the body. It is the most common form of arthritis and also a common disease among people all throughout the world in all population groups. However, several factors like age, gender, genetics, behavioral influences and ethnicity play a role in osteoarthritis risk.

It occurs equally among men and women; however, women tend to develop the symptoms of the disorder earlier than men. This often happens in women older than 45 years. Ligaments, which bind joints together, tend to become less elastic as people age, that’s why 70 to 90% of people 75 years old and up are the ones most commonly affected by osteoarthritis.

Even after years of research, no one has truly been able to define the root cause of OA. It still remains a mystery as to why particular joints are affected by osteoarthritis even if it has not suffered any injury. However, one primary cause of osteoarthritis is aging. As people age, the protein makeup of the cartilage of the joints slowly degenerate and deteriorate. In advanced cases, there is a total loss of the cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints that causes friction. Continuous use of worn joints can irritate the cartilage that causes joint pains and even limitation of joint mobility. Not only elderly people are in danger, but also athletes and laborers, may develop osteoarthritis in their later years.

In the United Kingdom, osteoarthritis is one of the most popular type of osteoarthritis in adults affecting almost 8 million people, where women are most prone to develop the condition compared to men. It affects the spine, knees and hips in the elderly and middle-aged people, causing pains and disability.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis vary from patient to patient. Daily activities and movements become more and more difficult as signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis develop. Some of them are as follows:

• Pain in the affected area
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Limitation of mobility (in severe cases)

The only difference of osteoarthritis among other types of arthritis is that it does not affect any organ of the body, only joint pains with repetitive use. There can be swelling and creaking of the affected joints (crepitus). However, for severe cases, the cartilage cushion is completely lost and pain during rest and in motion is experienced, therefore limiting a person’s mobility.

Garlic against hip osteoarthritis

A relationship between body weight and osteoarthritis has been previously recognized, and although it is not completely understood yet, studies have been conducted in order to find out if dietary patterns could probably have a certain effect on the development and prevention of the condition. A study of researchers at the King’s College London and University of East Anglia also found out that women who consume a diet rich in allium, such as vegetables in the form of leeks, onions, and garlic, have lower incidence of cases of hip osteoarthritis. The study was published in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders . Professor Ian Clark of University of East Anglia said that with further work and studies, this may open up a possibility of treating future cases of osteoarthritis with diet or dietary supplements.

The study of the research team involved looking at 1000 healthy female twins with no symptoms of osteoarthritis. They monitored the twins’ diet patterns, and later discovered early signs of osteoarthritis in the participants’ spine, knees and hips. They found out that those who consume a healthy diet, especially with allium rich garlic, had fewer incidence of hip osteoarthritis.

Furthermore, another research was conducted on the compounds in garlic and found out that it contains diallyl disulphide which decreases the amounts of enzymes that causes damage to the cartilage. The lead author of the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London, Dr. Frances Williams, said that these findings may pave the way for future osteoarthritis treatment as well as aid in the prevention of hip osteoarthritis. The study was funded by Arthritis Research UK, the Wellcome Trust and Dunhill Medical Trust.

Health Benefits of Garlic

We all think that garlic’s only use is to add flavor to our meals. It may be, but that’s not all. Garlic is widely known as a “cure-all” herb because of the wide range of health benefits it gives our body. While consuming garlic has been associated with foul breaths, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages of garlic consumption.

Benefits of garlic are listed as follows:

• It can help in the normalization of body functions.
• Garlic can help stimulate white blood cells that strengthen the immune system.
• It also helps the person avoid cardiovascular diseases. It has been known for its effects on people with high blood pressure which is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack and diabetes.
• It helps in the treatment and management of patients with tuberculosis; as a lung decongestant; those with weak digestion; inhibits tumor-formation and platelets clumping; fights off influenza virus; prevent vaginal infection; in the management of nicotine poisoning as well as in diabetes mellitus.

Aside from pure garlic, garlic supplement may also do the job. The Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract™ is a great choice for garlic supplements since it gives the benefit of promoting cholesterol health and healthy cardiovascular function without the odor and discomforts that other garlic supplement brings. I am using Kyolic and I highly recommend the use of this brand.

Natural Means to Prevent Osteoarthritis

Everything in our body starts and ends with proper diet, nutrition and exercise. The best way to avoid osteoarthritis is by being cautious and careful of our daily diet and by keeping the body healthy and fit.

Exercising and taking proper diet, especially calcium, may reduce the risk of osteoarthritis. Make sure that the daily intake of food consists of the proper nutrients that one needs – not too much and not too less. It is observed that people who consume a healthy diet are less affected by this condition.

Taking proper precaution of the body while young, especially when indulging in hard physical activities, is the best way to avoid osteoarthritis. The daily intake of healthy foods must be coupled with the proper amount of exercise to help exercise the body’s muscles, without straining it too much. If continuous pain is experienced, consult the doctor as soon as possible, after all, early treatment and prevention is still the best way to prevent it from developing.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

The bone destroying disease Osteoarthritis is one of the many types of arthritis that causes degeneration of the joints significantly affecting a person’s quality of life.  It is oftentimes characterized by joint stiffness, swelling in the affected area and pain.   The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases said that osteoarthritis is perhaps one of the most frequently-occurring forms of arthritis – the others being rheumatoid arthritis and gout – that affects approximately 27 million people, aged 25 or more, in the United States alone.

What is Osteoarthritis?

For many years, medical experts have devoted time, effort and money in order to determine the exact cause of osteoarthritis.  Sadly, the answers remain elusive. The damage in osteoarthritis starts at the cartilage – a tough connective tissue that is found in between joints as well as in other areas of the body such as the larynx and the outer ear – which is supposed to act as a “cushion” in order to prevent the end of two bones from rubbing unto each other. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage between the joints loses its elasticity and then degenerates.  In time, the cartilage may thin out, or disappear altogether, causing bones to rub unto each other leading to extreme pain.

The following factors may lead to the development of osteoarthritis:

• Medical experts have discovered that genes, or heredity, can actually make a person more predisposed to develop osteoarthritis.  A particular gene is responsible for collagen production.  Collagen is an important protein component in cartilage.  Abnormality in the gene may lead to premature degradation of cartilage which may cause osteoarthritis.
• Obesity puts on excessive amounts of pressure in the joints because of the excess weight, which may cause strain. The joints that are responsible in weight-bearing, such as the hip, knee and ankle joints, are the ones that are most commonly affected.
• Being inactive for long periods may cause the joints to become stiff, dysfunctional and painful because muscles around the joint can weaken with inactivity.
• On the other hand, overuse of the joints, or continuously exposing them to extreme, high-impact activities can cause repetitive strains and stresses. This may also lead to joint injuries.
• It is said that the main cause of osteoarthritis is wear-and-tear.  In old age, the joints have been exposed to too much activity since childhood and this puts the person at increased risk for osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis can be debilitating.  It can significantly affect a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living sometimes causing the patient to lose independence.  Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Pain
• Joint stiffness
• Nodules in the fingers
• Tenderness in the joints
• Swelling
• Crepitus (crackling sound upon joint movement)
• Difficulty in movement

A Study on Osteoarthritis

The effects of osteoarthritis can be devastating.  This propels people, especially those who are in the field of medicine, to continuously look for ways to prevent the onset of the condition or to somehow slow its progression.

In line with this, a group of researchers enrolled 132 participants (66 men and 99 women whose ages ranged from 45 to 55) in the National Institutes of Health Osteoarthritis Initiative who have not exhibited signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis but whose risk for developing osteoarthritis of the knee is high.  In addition, 33 body mass index- and age-matched controls were also included in the study.

Basing on the participant’s response to the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire, they were divided into three strength training and exercise levels.  The strength training groups were divided as to how often they performed these exercises:  none at all, minimal only and frequently.  The exercise levels were composed of sedentary, light and moderate to strenuous. Also, analysis was made on knee-bending activities.

What the Study Revealed

According to the senior author of the study, Dr. Thomas M. Link, the results revealed that joining in high impact activities like running for more than an hour daily, thrice a week or more, is linked to more cartilage degeneration and can potentially increase the risk for osteoarthritis development.  On one hand, participating in light exercise and avoiding repeated knee-bending activities can protect a person from osteoarthritis. Dr. Link is from San Francisco’s University of California, a chief of musculoskeletal imaging and a professor of radiology.

The participants were asked to undergo MRI exams, which showed that the group who engaged in light exercises and those with minimal strength training had the healthiest cartilage in the knee, as compared to the participants who either had frequent or no strength training at all. Women who indulged in moderate to strenuous exercises and did strength training were also linked to increased water content and degenerated collagen in their knees. A co-author of the study, Keegan K. Novis, B.S., R.N., said that the results suggests that performing moderate to strenuous exercises can speed up the degeneration of cartilage, putting women at a higher risk for osteoarthritis.

Moreover, the findings also indicated that doing knee-bending activities frequently, like climbing up more than 10 flights of stairs per day, squatting or kneeling for a minimum of 30 minutes daily, or lifting objects that weighs more than 25 pound, were linked to cartilage abnormalities and higher water content.

Conclusion

The researchers suggested that performing light exercises, like frequent walking and swimming, is a much safer choice in order to help maintain healthy cartilage and, of course, healthy joints.

How to Promote Healthy Joints Naturally

You probably have heard this many times already, but nevertheless, I’ll say it again: healthy eating helps promote a healthy body.  Contrary to what some people say, taking medications does not cure everything.  Aside from the expenses, you are also in danger of adverse effects that it can bring.  How about going for what is natural? You could start with making the decision to eat healthy, and eat foods that will help promote healthy joints.  Here are some of them:

• Glucosamine is a compound that produces glycosaminoglycan which is needed for healthy cartilage.  Some of the foods that are rich in glucosamine include sweet almond oil, crab shells, lobster shells and shrimp shells.

• Manganese is a mineral that helps build healthy cartilage. This supports the function of glucosamine inside the body.  Examples of food sources of manganese are nuts, green leafy vegetables, seafoods, whole grain breads and beans.

• Omega-3 Fatty acids exert anti-inflammatory effects that helps ease swelling and pain associated with osteoarthritis.  Top food sources for Omega-3 Fatty Acids are egg yolks, walnuts, flax seeds, cod liver oil, and salmon.

• Vitamin C helps the body in forming collagen which is a protein found in cartilage, tendons and bones.  Examples are kiwi fruit, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, papaya, potatoes, peaches, nectarines, lychees, raspberries, grapefruit, guava, black currant, orange, lemon, cabbage, cauliflower, and many more.
• Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha
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Building Better Bones One Glass at a Time

It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  But sometimes, numbers can be just as illustrative, especially when those numbers refer to devastating medical conditions.  Follow the numbers and you’ll see what I mean:

25 –billion dollars is the estimated cost of osteoporosis-related fractures by 2025

10 – million people in the U.S have osteoporosis

34 – million people in the U.S. have low bone mass

24 – percent of people over the age of 50 who sustain a hip fracture go on to die within a year of their fracture

80 – percent of osteoporosis cases are women

5 – times more osteoporosis-related hospital visits in 2010 compared to 2000 (2000:  1.3 million; 2010:  6.3 million)

These numbers are a stark reminder that osteoporosis isn’t going away any time soon.  But why?  Why with our vast medical know-how and resources are osteoporosis cases increasing?

Well, when you consider the panoply of ways one can increase their risk for this brittle bone disease, the answer becomes clearer.  From conditions we can’t control (e.g. gender, older age, family history), to errors in judgment (e.g. smoking, sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption), it seems that everything we do increases our osteoporosis risk.

But I’m of the belief that if we can’t change something, there’s no use in worrying about it.  And a lot of the things that increase our risk for osteoporosis are unavoidable. What we should worry about – and therefore change – are our behaviors and how they contribute to osteoporosis.  Because a significant chunk of the behaviors that increase our risk are what we put in our mouths.

A Tomato Juice a Day Keeps Osteoporosis at Bay?

You gotta hand it to Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.  Brillat-Savarin wasn’t a particularly noteworthy lawyer back in the 17th century, except for the time in which he wrote this:  “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.”

In modern day parlance, that translates to what we know as “You are what you eat.” Now, I very much doubt Brillat-Savarin had osteoporosis in mind when he wrote this, but he might as well have, because that axiom can be applied to one’s osteoporosis risk.

According to a 2006 study conducted by Tufts University researchers, women who drank cola regularly were far more likely to have lower bone mineral density than those women who didn’t drink cola.

The Tufts University researchers conducted a survey of 2,500 people whose average age was 60.  And, quite simply, as lead researcher Katherine Tucker writes in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “The more cola women drank, the lower their bone mineral density was.”

A disappointing finding, no doubt, for fans of the fizz.  But take heart and replace that can of fizzle with a glass of sizzle.

“The glass of sizzle” of which I speak is tomato juice, for a group of Torontonian researchers have found it to be osteoporosis-preventive.

University of Toronto researchers supplied four groups of middle-aged women (between 50 and 60) with varying doses of lycopene, the chemical component in tomatoes that’s much ballyhooed for its salubriousness (i.e. one group received a lycopene supplement, another received a glass of tomato juice with naturally occurring lycopene).  The only group that didn’t receive a dose of lycopene was the group taking the placebo (they didn’t know this, of course).

The researchers took blood samples from the participants every month of the four-month study.  Every month showed blood-serum level improvements, but especially at the four-month mark.  Because at that point not only did the participants’ blood-serum levels improve, but their antioxidant capacity increased as well.  Further, their oxidative stress parameters decreased.

Tucker’s findings can be found in thejournal Osteoporosis International.

Other Ways to Increase Bone Density

Tomato juice is an acquired taste, so it’s understandable if you’re not hot to trot for downing some tomato juice.  If you do, though, I’d recommend steering clear of store-bought tomato juice.  They’re exceptionally high in sodium and don’t taste nearly as good as freshly squeezed tomatoes do.  You’ll need to add some unrefined sea salt to taste, just don’t overdo it (about one teaspoon of salt should be added for every four cups of tomato juice).  Lots of healthy recipes can be found online.

But if you’re not hog-wild about the idea of drinking a glass of tomato juice every day, there are other foods you can eat to help decrease your risk for osteoporosis.  And you guessed it: calcium-fortified foods are best.

Fortunately, calcium-rich foods aren’t hard to find.  Plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and proteins are chock-full of this bone-building vitamin.  Here are three of the top calcium providers by food group:

Vegetables

It’s the battle of the “b’s” when it comes to vegetables, as bok choy  (one cup=158 mg), Brussels sprouts (56 mg), and butternut squash (84 mg) are all “A’s” for calcium content.

Fruits

In the fruit category, it’s not the size of the fruit that matters for calcium content, as bite-size offerings like Blackcurrants (one cup=62 mg), dates (57 mg) and blackberries (42 mg) have the highest yield.

Protein

Not surprisingly, dairy sources of protein are the highest in calcium, with cheddar cheese as the runaway leader (one cup=815 mg), followed by cottage cheese (103 mg) and cream cheese (one cup=83 mg).  But if you tend to avoid dairy because of its high saturated fat content, perch (3.5 oz.=102 mg), pollock (77 mg) and sardines (3382 mg) are worthy replacements (Caution:  If you’re one of the few Americans who actually enjoy sardines, eat them sparingly.  They’re almost as saturated with sodium as store bought tomato juice is:  a whopping 505 mg for every 3.5 ounces eaten!).

Nuts, Seeds, Grains

The almighty almond takes top billing in this combined category, boasting 75 milligrams of calcium for every ounce eaten (approximately 23 whole almonds); the ancient but underused high-protein grain amaranth is the runner-up with 47 milligrams (i.e. Amaranth is used in only 40 food products on the market today), and brazil nuts’ 45 milligrams of calcium (per ounce) round out the top three.

By working any of these bone-building foods into your diet consistently, you’re giving your bones the structural integrity they need to stay strong for as long as possible.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

Beating Bone Marrow Cancer

Hematologists Boost Immune

Response in Bone-Marrow

Transplant Patients

March 1, 2006 — To lessen the impact of chemotherapy on bone marrow cancer patients, hematologists are recruiting the patients’ own immune systems to help. White blood cells are extracted before a bone marrow transplant, treated to up their activity, and injected back after chemotherapy. Doctors hope to test technique on other patients with immune deficiencies, including HIV.

BALTIMORE–A heavy dose of chemo takes a huge toll on cancer patients’ bodies, making them weak and prone to infection. Now, a new, life-saving therapy is helping some cancer patients win the war against a deadly disease.

Having bone marrow cancer hasn’t slowed down Todd Ewell, but the chemotherapy to fight the disease stopped him in his tracks. “It’s kind of like if you had the worst flu in your life for about six weeks straight,” he says.

The body’s immune system takes a beating from chemotherapy. Patients can’t fight off infection or disease, but Todd’s body fought back, thanks to a new immune-boosting therapy.

Aaron Rapoport, a hematologist and oncologist at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center in Baltimore, says, “What we’re seeking to do is to harness the power of the patient’s own immune system.”

Before a bone marrow transplant, hematologists collect a patient’s own immune cells, then activate, or turn on, the cells in a lab. The enhanced cells are injected back into the patient, along with a pneumonia vaccine, jump-starting the immune system. “It will be better able to respond to infections and also be better able to attack and eliminate cancer cells that may remain,” Dr. Rapoport tells DBIS.

The new therapy worked wonders for Todd. “It’s going fantastic. It’s almost like it never happened.” His cancer is in complete remission, and now he’s focused on rebuilding his life cancer free.

Doctors are hopeful the new therapy could be tested and used to treat other people with compromised immune systems liked HIV patients and the elderly.

Regenerative body parts in the works

A Canadian researcher is hoping that within ten years, people will be able to regrow tendons, spinal cords or heart valves lost to injury or disease. Dr. Brian Amsden, a chemical engineering professor from Queen’s University, is developing a technique wherein cells from a patient’s body would be placed on a polymer prosthetic that stimulates cell growth. After the cells had established themselves sufficiently, the prosthetic would be implanted in the patient’s body. The polymer would then biodegrade, leaving behind nothing but the patient’s own tissue. Read More

Sourced and published by henry Sapiecha

The Body Part

That Wants You To Go Green

Your knees love it when you go green. We don’t mean environmentally green, although they appreciate it when you take the stairs and when you take your bike for a spin instead of the car (strong leg muscles keep your joints healthy). We mean eating green. Filling your meals with this color can go a long way to preventing arthritis. Here’s what to reach for:

Leafy greens. A killer, flavor-filled salad or side dish could mean one less knee replacement surgery in the world. The vitamin K in leafy greens — think cabbage, spinach and Swiss chard, for starters — reduces your risk of joint damage. People who have the highest levels of K are less likely to develop the bone spurs and cartilage damage that are common in osteoarthritis. (A word of caution: If you’re on a blood thinner, check with your doctor about whether K is safe for you.) Leaves just not your thing? No problem. Broccoli and asparagus make tasty alternatives.

Green tea. Potent compounds in green tea — EGCG and ECG — may help battle cartilage and collagen destruction in arthritic joints. The EGCG and ECG found in green tea are powerful flavonoids known as catechins. These particular flavonoids fight inflammation and some of the underlying mechanisms that mess with knees in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Bonus: Sipping it before you do that knee-preserving workout may help you burn fat faster.

Chlorophyl is a powerful antidote for cellular regeneration.

It can be obtained from your local chemist or drug store cheaply.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 19th October 2009