How To Treat Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. It is also kno n as impotency.

Having erection trouble from time to time isn't necessarily a cause for concern. 

If erectile dysfunction can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems. 

Problems getting or keeping an erection can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease.

Sometimes, treating an underlying condition is enough to reverse erectile dysfunction. 

In other cases, medications or other direct treatments might be needed.

Symptoms

Erectile dysfunction symptoms might include persistent:

Trouble getting an erection

Trouble keeping an erection

Reduced sexual desire

Causes

Male sexual arousal is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. 

Erectile dysfunction can result from a problem with any of these.

Stress and mental health concerns can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.

Sometimes a combination of physical and psychological issues causes erectile dysfunction.

Common causes include:

Heart disease

Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)

High cholesterol

High blood pressure

Diabetes

Obesity

Various risk factors can contribute to erectile dysfunction, including:

Medical conditions, particularly diabetes or heart conditions. 

Tobacco use, which restricts blood flow to veins and arteries can cause chronic health conditions that lead to erectile dysfunction.

Prostate surgery or radiation treatment for cancer

Injuries, particularly if they damage the nerves or arteries that control erections.

Medications, including antidepressants, antihistamines and medications to treat high blood pressure, pain or prostate conditions

Psychological conditions, such as stress, anxiety or depression

Drug and alcohol use, especially if you're a long-term drug user or heavy drinker

Complications

Complications resulting from erectile dysfunction can include:

An unsatisfactory sex life

Stress or anxiety

Embarrassment or low self-esteem

Relationship problems

The inability to get your partner pregnant

Prevention

The best way to prevent erectile dysfunction is to make healthy lifestyle choices and to manage any existing health conditions.

Things To Do For Safety.

Stop smoking, limit or avoid alcohol, and don't use illegal drugs.

Exercise regularly.

Take steps to reduce stress.

Get help for anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns.

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Dangers Of Using Cotton Buds And Other Dangerous Items To Clean The Ears

Cotton buds break and damage the sensitive and delicate skin in the ear canal which can result in

• Bleeding 

• Irritation 

• Ear infections

. Ear drum damage

There is high risks in using cotton buds and other dangerous items to clean the ears.

Majority of the human traits have had different dangerous items which had been used to provide helpful alternatives for ear cleaning. 

It's important to create awareness to pass this information to people on safe ear cleaning practices and to protect the Ear. 

Inserting a cotton bud, the cover of a pen, pen, broom sticks, match sticks, bird feathers or any other object into the ear can damage the eardrum, ear canal or push the earwax deeper into the ear. 

If it's just cleaning, you can use medical grade olive oil or a warm damp cloth to clean your outer ear. 

If your ear canal is completely blocked, it is best to consult a professional doctor or ear specialist because the inner ear in particular is a delicate structure and will require a professional to remove any 'dirt' from it safely or recommend appropriate treatment. 

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Major Causes Of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is one of the leading cause of death globally, taking lives of estimated 17.9 million yearly. 

These diseases are group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels which also include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions. 

Over four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age.

The most important behavioural risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. 

The effects of behavioural risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity. 

These “intermediate risks factors” can be measured in primary care facilities and indicate an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other complications.

Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, eating more fruit and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Health policies that create conducive environment for making healthy choices affordable and available are essential for motivating people to adopt and sustain healthy behaviours.

Identifying those at highest risk of CVDs and ensuring they receive appropriate treatment can prevent premature deaths. 

Access to non-communicable disease medicines and basic health technologies in all primary health care facilities is essential to ensure that those in need receive treatment and counselling.

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New Analysis Confirms World To Experience Upsurge of Cholera Outbreak

Cholera still remains one of the dangerous disease in the human environment.

The inadequate cases reported to WHO in the previous years were more than double of those in 2021. 

Forty-four countries had reported cases, a 25% rise from the 35 countries that reported cases in 2021.

There were more outbreaks, but the outbreaks were larger than expected. 

Seven countries, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Nigeria, Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic have each reported over 10,000 confirmed cases. 

The larger the outbreak, the harder it is to place under control.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through contaminated Food and Water containing the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. 

It is closely linked to the lack of adequate safe water and sanitation, due to underdevelopment, poverty and conflict. 

Climate change is also a factor in this upsurge as extreme climate events like floods, droughts etc trigger new outbreaks and doubled the existing ones.

Current data for 2023 suggest that this global upsurge is continuing if not quickly addressed. 

Twenty-four countries are currently reporting active outbreaks, with some countries in the midst of acute crises.

The increased demand for cholera materials has been a challenge for disease control efforts globally. 

Since October 2022, the International Coordinating Group (ICG) has suspended the standard two-dose vaccination regimen in cholera outbreak response campaigns, using instead of a single-dose approach.    

WHO is supporting countries to respond to cholera outbreaks on an emergency footing through the strengthening of public health surveillance, case management, and prevention measures; providing essential medical supplies; coordinating field deployments with partners; and supporting risk communication and community engagement.

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Over 700 Million People With Untreated Hypertension

Total number of adults aged 30–79 years with hypertension has increased from 650 million to 1.28 billion in the last thirty years, according to the first comprehensive global analysis of trends in hypertension prevalence, detection, treatment and control.

Almost half of these people are not aware hypertension is living in them.

Hypertension significantly increases the risk of heart, brain and kidney diseases, and is one of the top causes of death and disease throughout the world. 

It can be easily detected through measuring your blood pressure, at home, office, health centre or anywhere by carrying a personal portable machine for measuring your Blood Pressure, and can often be treated effectively with medications that are low cost.

The study, conducted by a global network of physicians and researchers, covered the period 1990–2019. 

It used blood pressure measurement and treatment data from over 100 million people aged 30–79 years in 184 countries, together covering 99% of the global population, which makes it the most comprehensive review of global trends in hypertension to date.

By analysing this massive amount of data, the researchers found that there was little change in the overall rate of hypertension in the world from 1990 to 2019, but the burden has shifted from wealthy nations to low- and middle-income countries. 

The rate of hypertension has decreased in wealthy countries which now typically have some of the lowest rates but has increased in middle income countries.

As a result, Canada, Peru and Switzerland had among the lowest prevalence of hypertension in the world in 2019, while some of the highest rates were seen in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Paraguay for women and Hungary, Paraguay and Poland for men.

Although the percent of people who have hypertension has changed little since 1990, the number of people with hypertension doubled to 1.28 billion. 

This was primarily due to population growth and ageing. In 2019, over one billion people with hypertension (82% of all people with hypertension in the world) lived in low- and middle-income countries.

Study revealed significant gaps in diagnosis and treatment. 

About 580 million people with hypertension (41% of women and 51% of men) were unaware of their condition because they were never diagnosed.  

The study also indicated that more than half of people (53% of women and 62% of men) with hypertension, or a total 720 million people, were not receiving the treatment that they need. 

Blood pressure was controlled, which means medicines were effective in bringing blood pressure to normal ranges, in fewer than 1 in 4 women and 1 in 5 men with hypertension.

Professor Majid Ezzati, senior author of the study and Professor of Global Environmental Health at the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, said: 

“Nearly half a century after we started treating hypertension, which is easy to diagnose and treat with low-cost medicines, it is a public health failure that so many of the people with high blood pressure in the world are still not getting the treatment they need.”

Men and women in Canada, Iceland and the Republic of Korea were most likely to receive medication to effectively treat and control their hypertension, with more than 70% of those with hypertension receiving treatment in 2019. 

Comparatively, men and women in sub-Saharan Africa, central, south and south-east Asia, and Pacific Island nations are the least likely to be receiving medication. 

Treatment rates were below 25% for women, and 20% for men, in a number of countries in these regions, creating a massive global inequity in treatment.

Encouragingly, some middle-income countries have successfully scaled up treatment, and are now achieving better treatment and control rates than most high-income nations.

New WHO guideline for hypertension treatment

The ‘WHO Guideline for the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults’, also released today, provides new recommendations to help countries improve the management of hypertension.

Dr Taskeen Khan, of WHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, who led the guideline development, said: 

“The new global guideline on the treatment of hypertension, the first in 20 years, provides the most current and relevant evidence-based guidance on the initiation of medicines for hypertension in adults.”

The recommendations cover the level of blood pressure to start medication, what type of medicine or combination of medicines to use, the target blood pressure level, and how often to have follow-up checks on blood pressure. 

In addition, the guideline provides the basis for how physicians and other health workers can contribute to improving hypertension detection and management.

Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director of WHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases added: 

“The need to better manage hypertension cannot be exaggerated. 

By following the recommendations in this new guideline, increasing and improving access to blood pressure medication, identifying and treating comorbidities such as diabetes and pre-existing heart disease, promoting healthier diets and regular physical activity, and more strictly controlling tobacco products, countries will be able to save lives and reduce public health expenditures.”

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Methods To Detect Deadly Heart Condition Before Symptoms Show Up

Hypertrophic CardioMyopathy (HCM) is a condition that affects around 1 in 500 people. 

It causes the muscular walls of the heart to become thicker than normal, affecting how well the heart can pump blood around the body. 

It is a leading cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

Two cutting-edge heart scanning techniques: cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (cDTI), a type of MRI scan that shows how individual heart muscle cells are organised and packed together (the heart's microstructure), and cardiac MRI perfusion (perfusion CMR), which detects problems with the small blood vessels supplying the heart muscle (microvascular disease).

The scans showed that people with overt signs of HCM have very abnormal organisation of their heart muscle cells, and a high rate and severity of microvascular disease compared to healthy volunteers.

Crucially, the scans were also able to identify abnormal microstructure (muscle cell disorganisation) and microvascular disease in the people who had a problematic gene but no symptoms or muscle thickening. 

They found that 28% had defects in their blood supply, compared to healthy volunteers. 

This meant that doctors were able to more accurately spot the early signs of HCM developing in patient's hearts.

The first drug to slow HCM progression -- mavacamten -- has recently been approved for use in Europe and will allow doctors to reduce the severity of the disease once symptoms and muscle thickening have appeared. Genetic therapies are also in development which could prevent symptoms entirely by intercepting HCM development at an early stage.

Perfusion CMR is already being used in some clinics to help differentiate people with HCM from other causes of muscle thickening. 

The researchers think that these revolutionary new therapies, combined with cDTI and perfusion CMR scans, give doctors the best ever chance of treating people at risk of HCM early enough that the condition never develops.

Dr George Joy, who led the research with Professor James Moon and Dr Luis Lopes (all UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science), said: 

"The ability to detect early signs of HCM could be crucial in trials testing treatments aimed at preventing early disease from progressing or correcting genetic mutations. 

The scans could also enable treatment to start earlier than we previously thought possible.

"We now want to see if we can use the scans to identify which patients without symptoms or heart muscle thickening are most at risk of developing severe HCM and its life-changing complications. 

The information provided from scans could therefore help doctors make better decisions on how best to care for each patient."

Dr Luis Lopes (UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science), senior author of the study, said: "By linking advanced imaging to our cohort of HCM patients (and relatives) with extensive genetic testing, this study detected microstructural abnormalities in vivo in mutation carriers for the first time and was the first to compare these parameters in HCM patients with and without a causal mutation.

"The findings allow us to understand more about the early subclinical manifestations of this serious condition but also provide additional clinical tools for screening, monitoring and hopefully in the near future for therapeutic decision-making."

Source: University College London. 

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Bacterial Protein may contribute to reduced fertility, birth defects

After carrying out a research study, the results does not only broaden the understanding between the urogenital tract and human reproductive health, but has also broaden more insight on previous unidentified contribution of the human microbiota to genetic abnormalities,".

"The idea is to explore the mechanisms findings and their potential implications for preventing and treating chromosomal abnormalities and genetic diseases," said co-lead author Giovannino Silvestri, PhD, former Research Associate of Medicine in UMSOM's IHV.

The human microbiota is known to affect metabolism and susceptible to infectious diseases, immune system regulation, and more. 

One of these bacterial components, Mycoplasmas, have been linked to various cancers.

The research team has been studying one Mycoplasma protein, DnaK, which belongs to a family of proteins that safeguards other bacterial proteins against damage and aids in their folding when they are newly made, acting as a so-called 'chaperone.' 

However, while this protein is advantageous for bacteria, its effects on animal cells are less favorable. 

To this regard, the team had previously demonstrated that this DnaK is taken up by the body's cells and it interferes with key proteins involved in preserving DNA integrity and in cancer prevention, such as the tumor suppressor protein p53.

Latest study, researchers created mice that make the DnaK protein normally produced by the bacterium Mycoplasma fermentans. 

These mice with exposure to DnaK accrued genomic instability in which entire sections of the genome were duplicated or deleted, resulting in mice with varying numbers of copies of certain genes.

The team noticed that some of these mice from 3-5 weeks of age had problems with movement and coordination. 

They found that these mice have a deletion in the Grid2 gene, which in humans leads to the rare genetic disease known as spinocerebellar ataxia-18 (SCAR18) that causes delayed development of skilled movements and intellectual disabilities.

"Remarkably, this instance marks the first time a mouse model successfully recapitulated a human genetic disease de novo, showcasing this model's potential for further cancer biology research," said Dr. Zella.

More than a third of the female mice that made the DnaK protein were unable to get pregnant. Additionally, more than 20 percent of the pups born from moms with the DnaK protein had some sort of birth defect/deformity.

"The occurrences of genomic instability, in the form of increased number of copy number variations, could explain the decreased fertility and the increased instances of abnormally developed fetuses we observed upon DnaK exposure," said Dr. Gallo. 

"These data build upon our initial work which discovered the disruptive role of DnaK on key proteins involved in the proper repair of damaged DNA, which are also known to play a role in the onset of copy number variations. 

The ongoing commitment is to better understand the potential implications of these findings in cellular transformation and cancer."

UMSOM Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, who is also Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers 

Distinguished Professor, commended the work. "The researchers raise a significant question regarding whether DnaK can interfere with fetal development in humans. 

An important next step would be to investigate whether neutralizing either the bacteria or this protein could preserve fertility and prevent certain birth defects," he said.

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Healthy Diet, Reading, And Having Exercises Promote Reasoning In Kids

Reasoning in kids is key and very important in learning and also their daily activities. 

Recent study which was conducted at the University of Eastern Finland, stated to have improved the diet quality and reduced consumption of red meat, as well as increased time spent in reading and organised sports enhanced reasoning skills among children over the first two school years.

"Children with healthier eating habits showed greater cognitive development than other children.

Diet quality, lower red meat consumption, and higher low-fat dairy product intake were linked to better reasoning skills," says Doctoral Researcher Sehrish Naveed of the University of Eastern Finland.

Children who spent more time in reading and organised sports showed better reasoning skills than their peers. 

More time spent on a computer system and unsupervised leisure-time physical activity were associated with poorer reasoning skills.

"In the lives of growing children, diet and physical activity intervention is just one factor influencing lifestyle and reasoning skills. 

Based on research, investing in a healthy diet and encouraging children to read are beneficial for the development of reasoning skills among children.

Source:

Materials issued by University of Eastern Finland.

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Nigeria Records 1,074 Fresh COVID-19 Cases

 

Confirmed cases by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were recorded in over 13 states in the country’s COVID-19 update for January 1, 2021.

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Over 500 Covid-19 New Cases In Nigeria, Total Rising To 70,195

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed over 500 new cases of COVID-19 in the country.

It was disclosed through its verified website on Tuesday.

It was said that the over 500 new cases had taken the total number of infections in the country above 70,000.

The agency disclosed that it recorded an additional COVID-19-related death to take the total number of fatalities in the country to 1,182.

The new cases were recorded in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with Lagos retaining the highest figure of 219 cases.

Other states were Kaduna 52 cases, Kwara 19; Kano and Rivers 15 each; Sokoto 10; Enugu 9; and Gombe 8.

Plateau and Osun recorded 7 each; Anambra and Oyo, 5 each; Jigawa and Ogun, 4 each; Bauchi 2; Edo, 1; and the FCT, 168.

It noted that 163 patients were discharged across the country after recovering from the disease.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 550 cases recorded as of Dec. 9 represent the highest the country has recorded since Aug. 23, when 601 cases were reported.

The country’s highest daily COVID-19 cases was 745, recorded on June 19.

The NCDC said that till date, 70,195 cases had been confirmed, 65,110 cases discharged, and 1,182 deaths recorded in 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

It said that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC) activated at Level 3, continued to coordinate the national response activities.

It advised Nigerians to take responsibility and take steps that would help limit the spread of COVID-19 during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Limit all non-essential travel especially from high-risk countries.

“Limit person-to-person contact and always wear a face mask,” it advised.

NAN reports that the country has so far tested 817, 913 persons since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced on Feb. 27.

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Cities In England Could Be Forced Into Strict Coronavirus Lockdown

Health officials had announced  to Sky News that parts of London could be among dozens of areas at risk of a new pandaemic outbreak.

Parts of England could be placed back in lockdown within days, according to a report .

Sky News reported that the city of Bradford and some in London, including Brent and Harrow, could be returning to a lockdown.

Sources from Public Health England and the Department of Health told Sky that lockdown could be implemented in those areas in "just days."

It comes after multiple reports said 36 "at-risk" areas have been identified across England, where coronavirus cases are rising quickly, and which health officials are monitoring to determine if lockdown restrictions should be reimposed.

Leicester became the first city to return to local lockdown this week after a spike in coronavirus cases which has been partially linked to allegations that thousands of workers were forced to work secretly in factories at the height of the crisis even when they were sick.

The report cited concerns that the lockdowns could be linked to the fact that the uptick in cases could be linked to the fact there are high numbers of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people in those areas.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, confirmed in June that BAME people were dying "disproportionately" from the virus. Suggested reasons for the disparity include structural racism, housing conditions, housing conditions, and health inequality.

Leicester, Brent, and Harrow all have high numbers of overcrowded homes, Sky News reported.

The broadcaster suggests that the 36 at-risk areas are:

• Barking and Dagenham
• Brent
• Derbyshire
• Doncaster
• Ealing
• Enfield
• Gateshead
• Gloucestershire
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Haringey
• Harrow
• Havering
• Hounslow
• Isle of Wight
• Kensington and Chelsea
• Leicester (already in local lockdown)
• Medway
• Milton Keynes
• Plymouth
• Portsmouth
• Redbridge
• Redcar and Cleveland
• Richmond upon Thames
• Sandwell
• Slough
• Suffolk
• Sunderland
• Tower Hamlets
• Wakefield
• Walsall
• Wandsworth
• Westminster
• Wigan
• Wiltshire
• Windsor and Maidenhead
• York

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Beware On The Use Of Face Masks During Exercise

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against the use of face masks while exercising, saying masks may reduce the ability to breathe properly.

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Over 40 Health Workers Have Been Infected with COVID-19 in Plateau, 8 Dead

The Commissioner for Health in Plateau State, Dr. Nimkong Lar, had on Sunday, confirmed that 41 health workers had been infected with COVID-19 in the state, with eight deaths recorded.

The commissioner disclosed this at a press briefing in Jos on the update on government’s efforts at combating COVID-19 in the state.

 According to him, the state has over 320 confirmed cases of the virus out of the 4,076 tests carried out so far.

“We have received 3,471 results, with 605 pending. We have 99 in our isolation centres and 37 on home care,” Lar said.

The Chairman of the state COVID-19 Task Force, Gov. Simon Lalong, expressed worries over the increase in the number of cases in the state.

Lalong, who was represented by the Secretary of the task force, who is also the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Danladi Atu, said that government is redoubling its efforts across the state.

He said that the enforcement would be concentrated more on the six local government areas with the highest prevalence of the disease.

“Commencing from June 29, the enforcement teams will wage a robust action on defaulters, whether citizens or organisations, particularly in the six local governments, including Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Kanam and Kanke.

“This enforcement will go simultaneously with public education campaign by health educators to further enlighten the citizens on the dangers of the disease and what to do to be protected,” he said.

The governor said that the enlightenment, which would be in the metropolis and rural areas, was in collaboration with the officials of the National Orientation Agency stationed at the grassroots.

The exercise is not to stigmatise people living in those local governments but to contain the disease from spreading further within them.

Lalong called for the cooperation of residents in the vicinity for preventive guidelines towards their safety, urging them to imbibe another pattern of life in consonance with the COVID-19 social behaviour.

Also speaking at the briefing, the state House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Health, Hon. Nanbol Listick, attributed the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases to the attitude and conduct of the residents.

He, however, expressed worries that the closure of boundaries within the affected six local governments, their socio-economic activities and the cultural pattern had made them vulnerable.

“We may lockdown some local governments to contain further spread of the disease,” Listick said.T

Thelawmaker urged Plateau residents to engage health workers to get appropriate enlightenment on the disease to ensure their safety.

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There's High Tendency That Nigeria To Have Another Strain of The Lethal Viral Infection.

Scientists have reiterated that, as the new lethal COVID19 spreads, there is a higher chance of Nigeria to have another strain of the lethal viral infection.

A professor of virology and former Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Nigeria, Ede, Osun State, Oyewale Tomori, told PUNCH HealthWise that the more there is community spread of the virus, the higher the chance of virus mutation to form a new strain.

Prof. Tomori said, “The more the community spread, the higher the chance of virus mutation.”

Confirming that there are three strains of COVID-19 in Nigeria, Tomori said the strains, which are classified into A, B.1 and B2-1, represent importations from different parts of the world.

According to the virologist, studies principally conducted at the African Centre of Excellence for the Genomics of Infectious Disease at RUN, together with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control revealed that the first SARS-CoV-2 causing the COVID-19 disease isolated from the European traveller who introduced the disease to Nigeria is genetically related to the European virus, consistent with the known travel history of this case.

“These studies conclude that there have been various introductions of multiple lineages of COVID-19 virus into Nigeria.”

Tomori said that the Ede team found that four of Nigerian cases were patients infected with a mutant virus.

“Three of these patients presented with very severe disease. This mutation helps the virus to dominate the wild type and to evade immune interventions.”

Also, a professor of molecular biology and genomics and Director at ACEGID, Christian Happi said, “There are three strains of COVID-19 so far in Nigeria.

“There is a possibility that the strains can form a new strain that is peculiar to Nigeria.”

On the implication of having different strains, Happi said: “the implication is that the virus might become more diverse and it might have an implication in terms of diagnostics and therapeutic vaccines.”

Tomori, however, said it is difficult to say if the strains of the virus will affect the severity of COVID-19 cases or increase the number of deaths “as this is an unfolding scenario. As the disease spreads we are likely to see possible mutation of yet unknown lineal expressions.”

He said that with different strains of COVID-19, “there will be different clinical manifestations depending on the infecting virus strain.”

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There are More COVID19 Cases in The Country Daily - Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu

In recent critical roles played in by the federal government at the beginning of the lethal pandemic in Nigeria, the Federal government had declared lockdown and enforced curfew on citizens in order to curtail the spread of the virus.

Though after much engrossed trials, the lockdown gradually eased off, as the federal government sets up various guidelines for citizens to take responsibility of their lives, while the total lockdown eased off gradually. 

The President made this known publicly through a broadcast on democracy day, approving the ease on lockdown. 

President Muhammad Buhari had earlier mandated on the state government to decide on when to lift the lockdown in their various states.

But recently some state governors had declared a second lockdown in the state, the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who has pronounced a total lockdown on Bonny Local Governments Area and Onne Community in Eleme Local Government Areas, which commenced from June 21, 2020. 

He went further to announced to the residents that there would be a statewide second lockdown, if the virus continues to increase.

Earlier, the Director General, of the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control, (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, had warned citizens against the belief that, Covid-19 does not exist in Nigeria, pinpointing that there are more Covid-19 cases in the country than reported.

On the 25th of June 2020, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has confirmed 649 new cases of Covid-19 infections bringing the total number in the country to 22,020

The breakdown of the number of the new cases of COVID-19 recorded as at 25th June, 2020;

649 new cases of COVID19 in Nigeria; 

649 new cases of #COVID19;

Lagos-250, 

Oyo-100, 

Plateau-40

Delta-40

Abia-28

Kaduna-27

Ogun-22

Edo-20

Akwa Ibom-18

Kwara-17

FCT-17

Enugu-14

Niger-13

Adamawa-13

Bayelsa-7

Osun-6

Bauchi-6

Anambra-4

Gombe-3

Sokoto-2

Imo-1

Kano-1

22,020 cases

7,613 discharged

542 deaths

Considering the persistent increase in covid-19 as testified by the report of the NCDC above, there is a probability that the country may be heading for a second lockdown, as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on covid-19, Boss Mustapha has hinted in his daily press briefing in Abuja, stating that they would be monitoring developments nationwide in order to take informed decisions by the end of June, on the second phase of the lockdown and perhaps, designating from his statement, the second lockdown may begin from next month being July 2020.

However, there may be businesses that may be closed in the prospective of the second lockdown due to their nature, as most businesses, while in operation would have to involve a large number of people together, therefore the preventive measures provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will be violated.

Below are list of businesses that may be closed on the prospective of the second lockdown, prior to be on probability commencing in July 2020

Here are business that may closed on the prospective second lockdown

Commercial MotorcyclistS

Salons (Beauty and Barber's shop)

Financial Institutions

Bar Joints

Recreation and relaxation center

Cinemas

Stadiums

Your opinion will be much appreciated.

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Agency Warns Nigeria Of Polio Virus Spread

Polio is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. Children younger than age 5 are more likely to contract the virus than any other group.

The Executive Director, Dr Faisal Shuaib, spoke at a Zoom meeting to applaud the new status with donor partners and stakeholders in Abuja, Nigeria.

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Mutation of Coronavirus Is Significantly Increasing Its Ability To Infect

A very small genetic mutation in the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus circulating throughout Europe and United States significantly increases the virus’ ability to infect cells, lab experiments performed at Scripps Research shows.

“Viruses with this mutation were much more infectious than those without the mutation in the cell culture system been used,” says Scripps Research virologist Hyeryun Choe, PhD, senior author of the study.

The mutation had the effect of markedly increasing the number of functional spikes on the viral surface. 

Those spikes are what allow the virus to bind to and infect cells.

“The number or density of functional spikes on the virus is 4 or 5 times greater due to this mutation,” Choe says.

The spikes give the coronavirus its crown-like appearance and enable it to latch onto target cell receptors called ACE2. The mutation, called D614G, provides greater flexibility to the spike’s “backbone,” explains co-author Michael Farzan, PhD, co-chairman of the Scripps Research Department of Immunology and Microbiology.

More flexible spikes allow newly made viral particles to navigate the journey from producer cell to target cell fully intact, with less tendency to fall apart prematurely, he explains. 

“Our data are very clear, the virus becomes much more stable with the mutation,” Choe says.

There has been much debate about why COVID-19 outbreaks in Italy and New York have so quickly overwhelmed health systems, while early outbreaks in places like San Francisco and Washington state proved more readily managed, at least initially. Was it something about those communities and their response, or had the virus somehow changed?

All viruses acquire minute genetic changes as they reproduce and spread. Those changes rarely impact fitness or ability to compete. The SARS-CoV-2 variant that circulated in the earliest regional outbreaks lacked the D614G mutation now dominating in much of the world.

But was that because of the so-called “founder effect,” seen when a small number of variants fan out into a wide population, by chance? Choe and Farzan believe their biochemical experiments settle the question.

“There have been at least a dozen scientific papers talking about the predominance of this mutation,” Farzan says. “Are we just seeing a ‘founder effect?’ Our data nails it. It is not the founder effect.”

Choe and Farzan’s paper is titled “The D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reduces S1 shedding and increases infectivity.” Now undergoing peer review, it is being posted prior to publication to the pre-print site bioRxiv, and released early, amid news reports of its findings.

Choe and Farzan note that their research was performed using harmless viruses engineered to produce key coronavirus proteins. Whether the changes they observed also translate to increased transmissibility in the real world requires additional epidemiological studies, they note.

Encouragingly, the duo found that immune factors from the serum of infected people work equally well against engineered viruses both with and without the D614G mutation. That’s a hopeful sign that vaccine candidates in development will work against variants with or without that mutation, Choe says.

Choe and Farzan have studied coronaviruses for nearly 20 years, since the first outbreak of SARS, a similar virus. They were the first to discover in 2003 that SARS bound to the ACE2 receptor on cells. Others’ experiments have shown the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds the same ACE2 receptor.

But Farzan and Choe note a key structural difference between spike proteins on the first SARS virus and this new pandemic strain. With both, under an electron microscope, the spike has tripod shape, with its three segments bound together at a backbone-like scaffold. But SARS-CoV-2 is different. Its tripod is divided in two discreet segments, S1 and S2. 

Initially, this unusual feature produced unstable spikes, Farzan says. Only about a quarter of the hundreds of spikes on each SARS-CoV-2 virus maintain the structure they need to successfully infect a target cell. With the mutation, the tripod breaks much less frequently, meaning more of its spikes are fully functional, he says.

The addition of the D614G mutation means that the amino acid at that location is switched from aspartic acid to glycine. That renders it more bendable, Farzan says. Evidence of its success can be seen in the sequenced strains that scientists globally are contributing to databases including GenBank, the duo reports. In February, no sequences deposited to the GenBank database showed the D614G mutation. But by March, it appeared in 1 out of 4 samples. In May, it appeared in 70 percent of samples, Farzan says.

“Over time, it has figured out how to hold on better and not fall apart until it needs to,” Farzan says. “The virus has, under selection pressure, made itself more stable.”

It is still unknown whether this small mutation affects the severity of symptoms of infected people, or increases mortality, the scientists say. While ICU data from New York and elsewhere reports a preponderance of the new D614G variant, much more data, ideally under controlled studies, are needed, Choe says.

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Girl 10 Who Never feel Pain, Hunger

Olivia Farnsworth stunned medics when it was discovered that she has a rare chromosome condition stopping her from feeling hunger, fatigue or pain.

It is thought that she could be the only person in the world to exhibit such three symptoms at a go.

When she was diagnosed, the consultant geneticist told mum Niki Trepak, 32, she had never seen the disorder before which allows the youngster to go THREE DAYS without sleeping.

Olivia's mum knew her daughter was different since around nine months

Little Olivia's condition is described as chromosome 6 deletion but the mix of super-human abilities has never been reported before.

People with chromosome disorders suffer from missing or re-arranged genetic material - one common disorder being Down’s Syndrome.

Mum-of-five Ms Trepak, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said: "Doctors have called her the bionic girl, she's made of steel. She's got no sense of danger.

"She was dragged about 10 car lengths down the road. It was horrendous, I don't think it's something I will never get over.

"I was screaming and all my other children were screaming as she ran out.

"But Olivia was just like, 'What's going on?'. She just got up and started walking back to me. 

"Because of the impact she should have had severe injuries. She had a tyre mark on her chest. But her only injuries were she had no skin on her toe or her hip.

"The doctors think what saved her from injury was she didn't tense up."Full-time single mum Ms Trepak said she knew she was different to her other children, especially when she stopped napping during the day at nine-months-old.

She did not sleep and would make up excuses not to go to bed and the first time she ever yawned, her mum recalled, was when she started school.

Ms Trepak said: ”As a baby I always said she was made of steel as she never cried.

”I never thought she'd feel no pain, it was just a joke.

"I remember when she was at nursery, once day the rang me and told me she'd fallen and her bottom teeth had gone through her bottom lip.

"She had to have plastic surgery and when the surgeon was examining her, he was pulling her lip and she wasn't even flinching.

"He said to me, there's something not right about her."

Ms Trepak, also mum to Ella-Mae, 12, Bradlee, 10, Archie, six and four-year-old Poppy, said: "She had bad colic and her hair didn't grow. She had no hair until she was about four-and-a-half. 

“People called her a boy all the time."

Olivia who is 'conditioned' to eat is a happy child at home but can suffer from violent outbursts, her mum said.

She said: ”She doesn't let any of this affect her - because for her, she's normal. She's never experienced pain, or hunger, or tiredness.

"But it was such a battle for us to find out what was causing her symptoms. The doctors had no idea what could be wrong with her.

"To look at Olivia you don't know anything's wrong with her. I want people to know and to stop judging. I want to raise awareness or chromosome 6 problems."

Olivia and her mum have been supported by chromosome disorder support group Unique.

About one in 200 babies is born with a rare chromosome disorder but each one can be very different, making them exceptionally rare.

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WHO Warned The Virus May Become Endemic

Some scientists warn 'second wave' of infections inevitable.

Countries are gradually lifting the lockdowns put in place to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

Shops and businesses are reopening, students are returning to school, and some airlines have resumed operations.

But several countries have reported a resurgence in new infections as they gradually return to normalcy.

Iran's president threatened to reimpose restrictions after doctors recorded the highest total of daily cases.

Schools, museums and parks were closed in Seoul shortly after they reopened.

The World Health Organization recently warned the virus may become endemic, similar to HIV.

So how should we prepare to live with the virus? 

Source: Al Jazeera News

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Benefits Of Eating Fruit On Empty Stomach

 

A Doctor treats terminal ill cancer patients by an "un-orthodox" way and many patients recovered.

Before he used solar energy to clear the illnesses of his patients, he believes on natural healing in the body against illnesses. See his article below.

It is one of the strategies to heal cancer. 

As of late, my success rate in curing cancer is about 80%.

Cancer patients shouldn't die. The cure for cancer is already found - its in  the way we eat fruits.

It is whether you believe it or not.

I am sorry for the hundreds of cancer patients who die under the conventional treatments.

EATING FRUIT

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths.

It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and  *when*  to eat the fruits.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS!

FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH

If you eat fruits on empty stomach,  it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities. 

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.

Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit.

 

The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so due to the bread taken before the fruit.

In the meantime the whole meal  of bread & fruit  rots and ferments and turns to acid. 

The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

So please eat your fruits on an *empty  stomach* or before your meals !

You have heard people complaining :  

Every time I eat watermelon I burp,  when I eat durian my stomach bloats up,  when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc.. etc..

Actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach.

The fruit mixes with the putrefying of other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat !

Greying hair, balding, nervous outburst and dark circles under the eyes all these will *NOT*  happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. 

If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the  * SECRET *  of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

 

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only * fresh*  fruit juice,  NOT  from the cans, packs  or bottles.

Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. 

Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. 

You only get its taste.

Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice.

If you should drink the fresh fruit  juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. 

You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse or detoxify  your body. 

Just eat fruits and drink fresh  fruit juice throughout

the 3 days.

And you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look !

KIWI: 

Tiny but mighty. 

This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber.

Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE:

An apple a day keeps the doctor away? 

Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke. 

STRAWBERRY: 

Protective Fruit. 

Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging and free radicals. 

ORANGE : 

Sweetest medicine. 

Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer. 

WATERMELON: 

Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system.

They are also a key source of lycopene  the cancer fighting oxidant. 

Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium. 

GUAVA & PAPAYA: 

Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content.

Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation.

Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes. 

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Drinking COLD water or drinks after a meal = CANCER

Can you believe this ?

For those who like to drink cold water or  cold drinks,  this article is applicable to you. 

It is nice to have a cup of cold water or  cold drinks after a meal.

However, the cold water or drinks will solidify the oily stuff that you have just eaten.

 

It will slow down the digestion.

Once this  'sludge'  reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food.

It will line the intestine.

Very soon, this will turn into FATS and  lead  to CANCER !

 

It  is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks.

HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE : ( THIS IS NOT A JOKE! )

Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. 

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. 

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. 

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.

Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep.

Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

A cardiologist says: 

If everyone who gets by this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

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