Health & Wellness

Male contraceptive pill 'step closer' after mice studies

Scientists believe they are a step closer in the difficult journey towards developing a male contraceptive pill, after successful studies in mice.

A contraceptive pill for women has been around for decades, but an equivalent for men has proved elusive.

A US study, published in the journal Cell, showed a drug could make mice temporarily infertile without hampering their sex drive.

Experts said the findings were "exciting", but needed tests in people.

It has been argued that the lack of a male contraceptive pill has contributed to the number of unplanned pregnancies.

One of the challenges is developing a drug which can cross over from the blood into the testes.

US researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Baylor College of Medicine were testing a drug called JQ1. It targets a protein which exists only in the testes and is critical for sperm production.

'Profound effects'

The testes of mice taking the drug began to shrink as they produced fewer sperm, which were also less mobile. Some were rendered infertile.

When the animals were no longer taking the drug they were able to have babies.

Continue reading the main story

This is an exciting report that could have major scientific and social impacts”

One of the researchers, Dr James Bradner said: "This compound produces a rapid and reversible decrease in sperm count and motility with profound effects on fertility.

"These findings suggest that a reversible, oral male contraceptive may be possible."

Researchers hope to be able to target the same protein in men, however, more tests will be needed to show whether the drug is both safe and effective in people.

Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, told the BBC there was a need for such a pill.

"To date, most of the trials have attempted to stop sperm production by manipulating the male hormone testosterone through the use of injections or implants.

"These approaches work reasonably well, but none have yet made it to routine use. So the door is wide open for someone to develop a novel drug that doesn't rely on hormones."

He said it should be fairly easy to test this latest approach in humans.

Prof Moira O'Bryan, the head of male infertility at Monash University in Australia, said: "This is an exciting report that could have major scientific and social impacts."

She added: "The strong similarity between sperm production in the mouse and the human suggest that a variation of JQ1 may ultimately result in a human contraceptive.

"Although there is undoubtedly an urgent need for additional contraceptive options, the path between this paper and a new product is likely to be long."(By James Gallagher - Health and science reporter, BBC News)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obesity hampers mathematical skills in school 

 OBESITY is not only the primary cause of many health problems. A new research found that it also hampers academic skills especially mathematics.

The study  was conducted on 6,250 children from kindergarten to fifth grade. Five times during that period, parents reported information on their families, teachers provided descriptions of the child’s emotional well-being and interpersonal skills, and children were given an academic test as well as weighed and measured.

Students who showed symptoms of obesity beginning in kindergarten were compared with children who were never obese, these students performed poorer  math tests beginning in the first grade.

The low performance on math exams persisted all the way through fifth grade. For boys whose obesity began later, like in third or fifth grade, there was no difference found in the performance on math tests. For girls who were found to become obese later on, the low performance in math was short-term.

Girls who were consistently obese appeared to have fewer social skills and this deficiency seemed to affect their math performance. Boys and girls who were consistently obese had more anxiety and appeared to be sadder and lonelier; such traits also affected their performance on math tests.

This make Sara Gable, a researcher and an associate professor at the University of Missouri’s Department of Nutrition and Exercise believe that obesity in the early years of school, especially obesity that persists across the elementary grades, can harm children’s social and emotional well-being and academic performance.

Parents are advised to help their children establish better habits. It is also important for the whole family to develop better diet and exercise routines. (redOrbit)

What to Do When You Are Depressed

The promotion that you were entitled to went to someone else. Either your toaster blew up or your cat died. Any which way you feel worthless. Do these ring a bell somewhere? So what should you do when you are utterly depressed? Let this article guide the depressed souls on how to keep the mind occupied and keep negative thoughts at bay.

1. Surf the Internet
Technology provides a gateway to entertainment and knowledge all within the confines of your comfort zone. With a host of existing sites dedicated to cater to a wide range of users, finding stuff to do online is not a difficult task. Try and disengage your mind from the negative thoughts and listen to music, or play games.

2. Watch Movies
When you are feeling sad, watching upbeat humorous movies helps make you feel better. So, the next time when you feel that your life cannot get any worse, you should watch a feel good film, for an instant dose of feel-good happiness.

3. Snack on a Bar of Chocolate
Studies have shown that dark chocolates help produce serotonin in the body. Serotonin is known to counter the effects of depression by stabilizing hormone levels. However, you should be careful not to over consume the chocolate. You do not want an added reason to be depressed about, right?

4. Take a Warm Bath
There’s nothing like the feel of warm scented water to get rid of negativity. The warmth from the bath will have a calming effect on the nerves and will soothe the body. The bath will leave you feeling fresh and positive.

5. Aromatherapy
When you are feeling blue, aromatherapy comes as the answer to this problem. Aromatherapy calms the senses by means of activating the olfactory sensations, using a host of aromatic oils. You can light a scented candle in a dark room, and lie down. Inhaling the rich smell of incense will provide the much needed relief.

6. Pamper Yourself
There is nothing more calming than a day spent at a spa to lift the curtain of blues. A spa treatment, which although a slightly expensive alternative, is proved to have cured depression. Massages with aromatic oils stimulate the body and mind, and drain the negative energy from the body.

7. Have Some Chicken Soup
Mothers all around the world deem this to be the ‘numero uno’ cure for all illnesses, mostly because of its nourishing and feel-good properties. There is nothing like a bowl of creamy, piping hot chicken soup to banish those depressing feelings.

There are numerous household ways to battle depression, but if one feels that their situation is out of control, they need to seek medical attention immediately. Depression is a curable condition. However, one needs proper medication to experience normal life once again.

How students can develop a ‘super memory’

For students to boost their memory especially during examinations, they should enjoy their studies and start a routine like reviewing first the subject that interests them the most.

In Chapter 14 of Eran Katz's latest book "Where Did Noah Park the Ark?," the author gives eight rules on how students could develop a super memory and become successful in their studies.

Rule 1: There are no rules. 

It is always up to the student to establish a good environment that will motivate/inspire him to excel and achieve. Given that each person is unique and has different qualities, each student also differs in their areas of interests, capabilities, and tempos that they will use to create their very own study habits.

Rule 2: There is no competition.

There is no quota. There are no limitations. Most students feel like comparing themselves with their classmates. According to Katz, this feeling is merely caused by a student's ego and competitive nature that generate competitive feelings with their classmates.

Rule 3: Choose your green times and don't study during your red times. 

In this rule, Katz describes how the brain works at its maximal strength which he refers to as the mind's "primetime." He also names the off-peak hours as "red time" and the peak hours as "green time" which are related to a student's biological cycle during the day, including body temperature, blood pressure, etc.

Rule 4: Study first class, not coach. 

In performing tasks, a student should know what's best for him. Katz explained that regardless of where a student decides to learn, he should learn to hide from all others.

Rule 5: Hide. 

A student must learn to hide from the things that might distract him during studying like cellphones. Without all the advanced technology available, a student will be able to fully focus and is in total control as he absorbs himself deeper into his books.

Rule 6: Take you Superman pill.

Secret motivators and sources of inspiration will be a student's Superman pill. May it be in the form of a prayer, a favorite shirt, or a lucky pen, these motivators can help a student psychologically and spiritually.

Rule 7: Get to know your teacher.

Katz noted that a teacher plays an important role in a student's life since he serves as the source of what a student has to know.

Rule 8: Don't be perfect.

Try to be the good student, not the perfect student. In doing, the student will reduce one's anxiety and not be obsessed to prove anything and suffer from unnecessary pressure.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Quick stress zapper

DOES your hectic lifestyle always get
you down? Stress is always behind the
most devastating illness. But stress
can sharpen one’s senses and mind.
Of course, too much stress is bad for
mental and physical health.

WebMd provide here quick techniques
of relaxation to balance everything.

* Breathe deeply.
Feeling stressed evokes tense, shallow
breathing, while calm is associated with
relaxed breathing. Turn tension into relaxation.
Change the way you breathe.

Let out a big sigh, dropping your chest,
and exhaling through gently pursed lips.
Imagine your low belly, or center, as a
deep, powerful place. Feel your breath
coming and going as your mind stays
focused there. Inhale, feeling your entire
belly, sides and lower back expand. Exhale,
sighing again as you drop your chest, and
feeling your belly, back and sides contract.
Repeat 10 times, relaxing more fully each
time.

* Look around you.
In a book of Dr. Claire Michaels Wheeler, Simple
Solutions to Stress, mindfulness is another form
of remedy, focusing on one activity at a time.
If you’re outdoors, enjoy the shape and colors
of flowers, hear a bird’s call or consider a tree.
In the mall, look at the details of a dress in
the window, examine a piece of jewelry and
focus on how it’s made, or window-shop for
furniture, checking out every detail of pattern
and style. As long as you can keep your mind
focused on something in the present, stress
will take a back seat.

* Drink hot tea.
If you’re a coffee-guzzler, consider going green.
Coffee raises levels of the notorious stress
hormone, cortisol, while green tea offers health
and beauty.

Chamomile tea is a traditional favorite for
calming the mind and reducing stress. And
black tea may be a stress-fighter. People
who drank regular black tea displayed lower
levels of cortisol, compared to those who
drank a placebo with the same amount of
caffeine.

* Picture something relaxing.
Is your mind too talkative to meditate? Try
creating a peaceful visualization, or ‘dreamscape’.
To start, simply visualize anything that keeps
your thoughts away from current tensions. It
could be a favorite vacation spot, a fantasy
island, or something ‘touchable’.

The idea is to take your mind off your stress,
and replace it with an image that evokes a
sense of calm. The more realistic your
daydream - in terms of colors, sights, sounds;
even touch and feel - the more relaxation
you’ll experience.

* Take a musical detour.
Music can calm the heartbeat and soothe the
soul. When the going gets rough, take a musical
stress detour by aligning your heartbeat with
the slow tempo of a relaxing song. And you
might want to make that a classical tune.
Research shows that listening to 30 minutes
of classical music may produce calming
effects equivalent to taking 10 mg of Valium.

* Take an attitude break.
Thirty seconds is enough time to shift your
heart’s rhythm from stressed to relaxed.
Engage your heart and your mind in positive
thinking. Start by envisioning anything that
triggers a positive feeling like your children,
your pet, your friends memento from a vacation.
Whatever it is, conjuring up the thought will
help slow breathing, relax tense muscles and
put a smile on your face. Creating a positive
emotional attitude can also calm and steady
your heart rhythm, contributing to feelings of
relaxation and peace.