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Wishing for a better tomorrow

Auditory verbal therapy centre launched:

Imagine... If you were given one chance to fulfil your desires what would you like to wish for? Wealth? Power? A holiday filled with fun and luxury? All of these suggestions sound tempting but think... Picture a world of silence...A life without sound or communication.


Give him a chance to live his dream

There are thousands of people: infants, children, adolescents, middle aged and elderly fellow human beings who are not fortunate to possess the gift of speech and hearing. Such individuals forced into a life of isolation sparked the dream of setting a new centre to aid the hearing impaired - WISH (Wickramarachchi Institute of Speech and Hearing), an auditory verbal therapy centre.


Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education speaks at the launch

Wickramarachchi Opticians was established in 1976 with the aim of providing high-quality yet affordable life care products to the public in the fields of ophthalmology and audiology. Its first market offering was the Danavox hearing aid, coupled with electro medical and audiology equipment.

The company had been the first in the region to introduce the digital programmable hearing aids as well as the Cochlear implantable hearing solution invented by Graeme Clark. They have also performed more then 50 successful surgeries up to date.

They also spearhead a social responsibility initiative in collaboration with a charity called the ‘Sunflower village’, which possesses both audiological and political departments. Through this project over 5000 children have received spectacles and digital hearing aids from Siemens and over 87,000 spectacles were donated to victims of the tsunami along with Australia’s funding. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, J.M.Wickramarachchi and Co. launched WISH on January 30.


The staff of J.M. Wickramarachchi and Co.

WISH was initiated along with the Warren Estabrooks centre and was fully equipped with state of the art technology and internationally acclaimed techniques in therapy. Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha was the chief guest at the launch while Warren Estabrooks, president of WE Listen International was guest of honour.

“We hope to help the hearing impaired to speak and hear better as well as conduct education, research and audiological assessment with regards to speech and hearing. The centre is mainly aimed towards children who are hearing impaired and need help with their education.

We hope to train teams from the Government to assist hearing impaired adults and children together with the Ministry of Social Services and Education,” Mihira Wickramarachchi, CEO of J.M. Wickramarachchi and Co. said.


Warren Estabrooks, president of WE Listen International and other distinguished guests opens WISH

“We are affiliated to the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) too. My wish is to ensure that all hearing impaired children in the island have access to develop themselves into well rounded individuals and enable them to enjoy the facilities towards this path.”

Speaking at the launch Minister Premajayantha said that the Ministry had held a national symposium with the participation of specialists in the field and NGOs and hope to start a training institute to train teachers in the field of special education.

Wickramarachchi’s future goal is to open a company that will produce audiological supporting equipment to cut down cost as well as continue to help raise standards in audiology.

Pictures by Palitha Gunasena


British research:

Couch potato lifestyle may speed up ageing

Being a couch potato in your free time could make you a decade older biologically than someone who is physically active, according to a major study of people’s “chromosomal clocks” by British researchers.

Researchers at St Thomas’ Hospital in London measured the lengths of telomeres, the DNA that bookends our chromosomes, in the white blood cells of 2,401 twins, and found that people who did not exercise in their spare time had shorter telomeres than very active people, New Scientist reported Tuesday on its website.
Telomeres shorten each time a cell divides, and when they become too short a cell can no longer divide, so telomeres act as a kind of timer counting down our biological age.

The researchers found that on average, the least active (getting just 16 minutes exercise a week) had telomeres 200 base pairs shorter than the most active (exercising 3 hours a week), which translates into them being about 10 years older biologically.

The researchers, whose previous study showed that smoking and obesity can shorten telomere length by the equivalent of 10 years, found that exercise and telomere length were linked independently of whether people smoked or were overweight.

Accounting for whether or not participants had a chronic disease (possibly making them sedentary) did not change the findings either, suggesting that other factors linked with an inactive lifestyle affect biological age, they said.

One of those factors seems to be psychological stress, which could translate into oxidative stress, a source of free radicals that can cause DNA mutations and shorten telomere length.

According to the researchers, although exercise can alleviate such stress, it only seems to help with cellular ageing if done in people’s leisure time.

Slogging away in manual jobs, on the other hand, tends to have the opposite effect and can shorten telomeres because of “the psychological stress of being in the lower social pecking order,” according to leading researcher Tim Spector.

Telomere length can be inherited, but even after analyzing a subgroup of twin pairs, who share both genetics and upbringing, “the twin who was doing more exercise had longer telomeres - on average, an 88 base pair difference,” Spector said.

Spector said that whether having shorter telomeres means a person dies younger is unproven, but the person is “more likely to have age-related diseases,” such as Alzheimer’s. Nevertheless, although telomere length cannot be restored, it may be possible to slow down the process by starting to exercise, he added. Xinhua


SLMA Guidelines To Researchers on Science & Health Communication To The Media

The SLMA (Sri Lanka Medical Association) has issued a booklet to research scientists on science and health on the guidelines they should follow in communicating with the media.

The booklet compiled by Dr. Waruna Gunatilake (Chairperson Media Committee SLMA) is available at the SLMA Office at Wijerama Mawatha.

The SLMA Media Committee comprise the following doctors:

Ruvaiz Haniffa, Ananda Wijewickrama, Chandana Attapattu, N. Ganeshanathan, I.L.K. Jayaratne, B.M.H. Anupama Banneheke, W.A.V.H. Pallewela, N.K. Gunawardena.

Jayarani Tennekoon, Chandani Kumari, Nadeera Wijesekera.

 


Medex Colombo 2008

The Colombo Medical Faculty which is renowned for its immense contribution towards the nations health care system is organizing an exhibition of national magnitude that would undoubtedly exalt the health standards of our country.

It is scheduled from March 26 to April 1 at the BMICH. Even though the nations health indices boast of levels found in developed countries, it is an open secret that there are pivotal areas that need immediate awareness and resolutions.

The ultimate goal of MEDEX Colombo 2008 is structured in a way that would enlighten the masses about common ailments, medical myths important medical procedures and normal medical physiology.

Participants will learn through “hands on” experience the “must know” medical protocols that would followed in life and death situations.

Medex Colombo 2008 hopes to raise awareness of many fascinating aspects of the medical field such as Intensive Care Unit. Other latest technology break through in Cancer and Heart diseases etc. through real life displays and activities.

Special interviews on Sri Lanka’s most common illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, updates on the current diseases the world is facing, such as “Bird flu” will be conducted.

The quest towards individual health awareness will not be compete without acquiring a fundamental knowledge on the important structures and functions of the human body. This would be displayed by a vast array of specimens for the participants to all for themselves have the body works.

Medex Colombo 2008 is an event that has long been awaited. It is an opportunity for all Sri Lankans to improve their health and well being, which will ultimately help us to achieve our national goal to be a strong and active nation.


Asian diet over Western diet for good health

One out of every four deaths in the United States is due to cancer. Nutrition is one of the important factors involved in reducing risk for cancer. Soyfoods fit the dietary guidelines for reducing cancer risk, and they also contain anti-carcinogens which may prove to be protective.

In the United States, cancer is the second leading cause of death. Lifestyle factors are important in the etiology of the disease. Cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, and poor diet all contribute to cancer risk. Scientific evidence indicates that one third of cancer deaths in the United States are due to dietary factors.

Epidemiological studies show that populations which consume a typical Asian diet have lower incidences of breast, prostate, and colon cancers than those consuming a Western diet. The Asian diet includes mostly plant foods, including legumes, fruits, and vegetables, and is low in fat. The Japanese have the highest consumption of soyfoods.

On the other hand, the typical Western diet includes large amounts of animal foods, is lower in fibre and complex carbohydrates, and is high in fat. Soyfoods are dietary staples in the Orient, but are not commonly included in the Western diet.

Japan has a very low incidence of hormone-dependent cancers. The mortality rate from breast and prostate cancers in Japan is about one-fourth that of the United States.

There is evidence that suggests the difference in cancer rates is not due to genetics, but rather to diet. Migration studies have shown that when Asians move to the Untied States and adopt a Western diet, they ultimately have the same cancer incidence as Americans.

The American Cancer Society has created guidelines designed to help reduce the risk for cancer. Their recommendations include:

* Choose most of the foods you eat from plant sources

* Limit your intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources

Soyfoods fit these guidelines for a health-promoting diet. Soybeans contain high quality protein, and make an excellent substitute for animal foods. Soyfoods and soy products are amazingly versatile, and can easily be incorporated into a varied diet.

Because of the trends seen in the epidemiological studies, case-control studies have been conducted to find out whether there may be a relationship between the consumption of soyfoods and decreased cancer risk.

A study of dietary intakes and breast cancer showed that in premenopausal women, high intakes of animal protein were associated with increased risk, while high intakes of soyfoods were associated with decreased risk.

Other long-term studies have noted an inverse association between regular consumption of miso soup and breast cancer risk in premenopausal women. This association has not been shown in postmenopausal women.

In Hawaii, a long-term study of 8,000 men of Japanese ancestry showed that men who ate tofu daily were only one-third as likely to get prostate cancer as those who ate tofu once a week or less.

Other case-control studies conducted in Asia have shown an association between regular consumption of tofu or other soyfoods and a 66 per cent to 80 per cent decreased risk for rectal cancer.

Anti-carcinogens: Soybeans in Soybeans contain five classes of compounds which have been identified as anti-carcinogens. These include isoflavones, saponins, phytates, protease inhibitors, and phytosterols.

Most of these substances can be found in many different plant foods, but soy is the only significant dietary source of isoflavones. Soy isoflavones, especially genistein, have been the subject of a tremendous amount of cancer research.

Soy and health


The Chiang Mai Declaration on Dengue

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in a communication on what future action is planned in dealing with the dengue and the DHF (Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever) referring to the Chiang Mai Declaration on Dengue says that the participants at this conference held in 2002 agreed and committed themselves to the following.

* Endorse the WHO global strategy

* Work for increased political commitment and resources

* Promote partnerships involving both the private and public sectors.

* Build and reinforce health systems for surveillance, treatment, prevention and control

* Develop new and improved tools and strategies for prevention and control.

The UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) has prioritized research activities to:

* Develop and evaluate improved diagnostic methods for early detection.

* Accelerate the development and evaluation of dengue vaccines.

* Support mosquito control studies.

* Promote the establishment of research networks using the web-based Dengue Net Surveillance System.


Laughter is the best medicine

A dermatologist was once interviewed by a journalist as to why he chose that particular field of medicine. The dermatologist replied,

“It is for three good reasons.

First: Nobody will ring your doorbell at 12 midnight to say there is a bad patient.

Second: Nobody will die of it.

The third and the most important reason is that you can’t cure it for ever.”

Sent by:

H.M. Gunatilake, Hospital Secretary, Base Hospital, Marawila.

 

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