(IANS) Researchers have found that people suffering from restless legs syndrome, which causes uncomfortable sensations in the limbs, have reduced function in an area of the brain important for controlling movement.
Preliminary results from a new study at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) suggest that such people have up to 80 percent less function in this brain region compared to healthy people.
"This is a disorder that is thought to affect one in 20 people, and can severely affect quality of life, but we still don't know very much about it," says Kay Double, associate professor of neuroscience.
"This study is helping us understand what happens in the brain to cause these symptoms, which will help us find better treatments," she says, according to a NeuRA statement.
Restless legs syndrome is a disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in the limbs. It often flares up at night and disturbs sleep. It tends to run in families.
The NeuRA study is using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for changes in the structure and function of the brain.
"This is the first time that anyone has looked for these type of changes in people with restless legs syndrome," says Double.
"If we can understand what is happening in the brain, we will be one step closer to helping the thousands with restless legs get a better night's sleep and lead a better quality of life."
2006/11/29 6:53:38 Payal Rohatgi experienced a first-time wardrobe malfunction on stage when in Kolkatta recently. Says she on the near disaster, "I was on stage to perform the O Sikandar track when I heard this noise that seemed so familiar."
Payal realised in seconds that it was the zipper of her blouse opening at her back. Not the one to run off, Payal modified her steps and made an exit, only to re-enter after moments ensuring that the zipper was in place and safety pins harnessed the outfit as well. "It was a near escape," smiles Payal. Interestingly, the audiences thought it was a part of choregraphy and lauded the exit and re-entry as well.
2011/10/24 5:50:46 (IANS) Scientists have pinned down a culprit that allows brain tumours to survive and grow.
An international team identified the key role played by kynurenine, by-product of the metabolism of amino acid tryptophan, in brain tumour growth, the journal Nature reports.
The discovery offers hope of new drug treatment for gliomas -- the most common and aggressive type of brain tumour in both adults and children. The survival time of patients is less than a year.
Gilles Guillemin, an associate professor with the University of New South Wales, said the breakthrough could potentially lead to viable therapeutics for a range of conditions.
These conditions include Alzheimer's disease, motor neuron diseases, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, according to a New South Wales statement.
An oral drug able to block enzymes leading to kynurenine production has been developed. It could potentially be available for clinical trials within a few years, Guillemin said.
2011/10/4 4:07:57 Being stressed for lengthy periods can actually shrink the brain and cause dementia, new research says.
Types of stress linked to the condition include those suffered by people in loveless marriages, dead end jobs and post traumatic situations.
Chemicals called corticosteroids, released during prolonged stress, can kill off brain cells if concentrations remain high over long periods, says the study.
Corticosteroids help the body in "fight or flight" situations - suppressing the immune system and increasing the amount of sugar in the bloodstream.
The hippocampus, a brain part related to memory, is particularly susceptible - which leads doctors to believe stress may lead to dementia, the Daily Mail reports.
The discovery initially came about from doctors treating bosses of Wall Street firms for post traumatic stress after 9/11 attacks.
Brain scans showed the hippocampus of each of the executives had shrunk to the size of those of elderly people suffering from dementia.
"The sample size is too small to draw conclusions but the implication is that stress had affected the hippocampus," said T. Byram Karasu, professor of psychiatry at New York's Albert Einstein College of Medicine. (IANS)
2011/10/17 2:47:37 With six more deaths, Japanese encephalitis, a brain infection, has killed 68 children in Bihar's Gaya district in the last 50 days, an official said Monday.
Six more children died in the last three days at the Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital (ANMCH), about 100 km from here, hospital deputy superintendent N.K. Paswan said.
"About 50 children are still battling for life in the hospital," he said. Most children belong to Mahadalit families -- the poorest of the poor in the state.
A three-member team of doctors from New Delhi visited the hospital Sunday and discussed the measures taken to check the spread of the disease, district civil surgeon Dilip Kumar said.
The first encephalitis-related death in the district was reported Aug 23.
Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain resulting either from a viral infection or when the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks brain tissue.
The children reported high fever, followed by bouts of unconsciousness and convulsions.
According to ANMCH paediatrics head A.K. Ravi, most of the children who died were from rural areas of Gaya and neighbouring districts.
He said more than till date 306 children with suspected encephalitis have been admitted for treatment.
Suspected encephalitis in Gaya killed 46 children in 2009, 49 in 2008 and 29 in 2007, a district official said. (IANS)
The people in Hyderabad will wake up and will feel restless for the paperboy to deliver their morning paper. However their wait will be futile as the newspaper vendors have decided not to sell newspapers tomorrow – September 29 in support of the Sakalajanula Samme
2011/10/20 11:10:18 Female sex hormone estrogen regulates appetite and body weight, while insufficient estrogen receptors in brain parts may lead to obesity.
The findings are potentially important for millions of postmenopausal women, many of whom have decided against hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).
"Estrogen has a profound effect on metabolism," said Deborah Clegg, associate professor of internal medicine and senior study author, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
"We hadn't previously thought of sex hormones as being critical regulators of food intake and body weight," added Clegg, reports the journal Cell Metabolism.
The researchers relied upon a mouse study, which is the first to show that estrogen, acting through two hypothalamic neural (cell) centres in the brain, keeps female body weight in check by regulating hunger and energy expenditure, according to a Texas statement.
The hypothalamus is a very small, but extremely important brain part involved in temperature regulation, control of food and water intake, sexual behaviour and reproduction, control of daily cycles in physiological state and behaviour and mediation of emotional responses.
Female mice lacking estrogen receptor alpha - a molecule that sends estrogen signals to neurons - became obese and developed related diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Similar results were not seen in male mice, although researchers suspect other unknown estrogen receptor sites in the brain play a similar role in regulating metabolism for males as well.
The study could lead to new HRTs in which estrogen is delivered to specific parts of the brain that regulate body weight, thereby avoiding the risks associated with full-body estrogen delivery, such as breast cancer and stroke.
2006/10/12 13:24:58 They knock you down with their drop-dead gorgeous looks. And they make a mega audience beeline just to watch them strut through the screen in one of those leg revealing designers.
Yes, they are the Bollywood leading ladies with the best legs in the business and they when come down flaunting it, they leave viewers with more than a few heavy breaths. Here they go:
Amrita Arora
Amrita Arora has no qualms in shedding inhibitions. But Amrita prefers to preserve much more than she sheds.
What’s the need to join the rat pack, when you look so sensational just with your bare legs.
Aishwarya Rai
Talk about being deft on the leg side and you have a model picture in Aishwarya Rai. She can capture any designer’s imagination with those striking legs.
And though she takes off little, she makes you visualize the beauty she keeps graciously hidden.
Shilpa Shetty
She is stunning and she is beautiful. Though she made her debut in Bollywood way back in the early 90’s, it wasn’t until the turn of the millennium that Shilpa got her due recognition in Bollywood.
And a big credit for that goes to her hourglass figure and silken, long legs. Without a shred of doubt, Shilpa is still among the most gorgeous legs in showbiz.
Mallika Sherawat
The wild Mallika looks wilder when she appears with her bare tall legs. The ‘Pyaar Ke Side Effects’ gal looks more leggy in those bikini poses.
And sex goddess Mallika can be alluring enough with just her sexy legs, oomph factors not counted.
Bipasha Basu
Bengali lass Bipasha Basu sitting pretty with her legs folded nicely is among the best parts of any of her films. The thunder of her thighs and grandeur of her openness is just matchless.
If you feel provoked, blame yourself. Bips’ bare legs and their exquisite beauty can often do that.
Celina Jaitley
If you’re wondering why beautiful ladies’ sex quotient is so dependent on her legs, Celina Jaitely can easily give you a see-and-feel lesson.
The former Miss India has a fabulous waist but her legs can create more ripples in male minds.
Celina is one, who knows to showcase what she has, and she does that with great style and poise.
Preity Zinta
Alright, so the dimple outdoes every other feature of this graceful woman, yet the bustle she creates dancing in those short skirts is quite a watch.
And when she mixes up the leg show with some chic moves vis-a-vis ‘Salaam Namaste’, you know why Preity is rated so highly by choreographers and filmmakers.
Here’s to the anti-anorexic band of actresses, led by none other than Preity Zinta.
Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor is one lady who doesn’t need to overstate her sex appeal to stir up a roar in the audience. Bebo has a fabulous body but she seldom flaunts it.
Her rock solid performances are usually enough to sell her films, but we have seen glimpses of those gorgeous legs in films like ‘Bewafaa’ and ’36, China Town’.
That she shows off her legs only to the requirement of the role makes it all the more graceful.
Esha Deol
It all began with producer Aditya Chopra’s insistence that Esha must look authentic and get into the skin of the character she played in ‘Dhoom’.
Esha lost all that baby fat and what came through were a pair of perfectly chiselled thighs which we got to see ample of in her recent releases ‘Dus’ and ‘Kaal’. Self-confessedly among her most prized assets, Esha is undoubtedly among the fittest, most toned legs in Bollywood.
Urmila Matondkar:
It’s well documented that Urmila’s bikini babe act in ‘Rangeela’ launched her into the big league in Bollywood.
And though short in size she may be, Urmi is the one who made the bikini show all the rage in Bollywood. She loves the ‘sexy’ image associated with her and never better represented than with Urmi grooving along with her smooth, bare legs.
2011/9/24 4:31:52 Jagjit Singh's Bollywood colleagues like singers Sonu Niigaam and Shreya Ghoshal as well as friends like actors Amitabh Bachchan and Anupam Kher have wished a speedy recovery for the ghazal maestro, who is critical after undergoing surgery for brain haemorrhage at a Mumbai hospital.
The 70-year-old singer was operated at the Lilavati Hospital Friday, when he was scheduled to sing with Pakistani ghazal king Ghulam Ali at a concert.
Get well soon wishes started pouring in on microblogging site Twitter ever since, with melody queen Lata Mangeshkar being one of the first to react to the news. Here's what some of the celebrities tweeted:
Lata Mangeshkar: mujhe abhi pata chala hai ki hum sab ke priya ghazal singer Jagjit Singhji ko brain hemorrhage hua hai aur woh hospital me hai, main ishwar se prarthana karti hu ki wo jald acche ho jaaye, aur aap sab bhi unke liye prarthana kijiye... (I have just come to know that our favourite ghazal singer Jagjit Singhji had a brain hemorrhage and he is in hospital. I will pray for his fast recovery and all of you should also pray for him.)
Amitabh Bachchan: Came to know from Lata-ji's tweet, famous ghazal singer Jagjit Singh has had a brain haemorrhage. Prayers for all to be well... Jagjit Singh that great ghazal singer is critical with brain haemorrhage... speedy recovery! Jagjit Singh - the man with the silken voice; smooth and endearing in all his ghazal renditions.
Akshay Kumar: God knows what's wrong with this world, now ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh suffers from brain haemorrhage. Sending him good wishes and praying for his well being.
Mahesh Bhatt: "Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho", a song from "Arth" sung by Jagjit Singh echoes in my heart as I read the news of him being hospitalized.
Anupam Kher: My prayers for Jagjit Singh, the best ghazal singer of our country. May his health be fine soon.
Sonu Niigaam: We'll all pray for Jagjitji. We want his royal voice to grace our planet for many more years. God bless him and save him.
Shreya Ghoshal: Jagjit Singh uncle in critical condition. I am praying constantly for his recovery. Very sad abt Jagjit uncle's health... Hope he becomes fine soonest.
Sophie Choudry: Shocked to hear Jagjitji has had a brain haemorrhage. Just met him two weeks ago. He was full of life as always! Adore him! May all be well. Prayers.
Vishal Dadlani: Prayers for Jagjit Singh saab.
Aftab Shivdasani: Let's all pray for Jagjit Singhji's health... He is critical at Lilavati hospital... May god oversee this and allow mercy to him. (IANS)
Devotees have raised strong objection over Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif wearing a skirt to Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti's shrine at Ajmer, over 140 km from here.
Many have objected to Katrina wearing western outfits inside the shrine, which did not cover her legs completely, when a large number of people were offering their prayers.
'The shrine members should not have allowed Katrina to keep part of her legs uncovered,' said Iqbal, a pilgrim.
The actor was in the shrine with her co-star Rishi Kapoor to shoot for producer-director Vipul Shah's 'Namaste London'.
There was also a commotion when several people jostled with each other to get a glimpse of the stars.
The silence maintained by Anjuman secretary Sayed Mohin Hussain Chisti over the issue is being objected by others.
Anjuman is a representative body of Khadims, who are workers of the shrine and claim to be descendants of the Sufi saint. It is alleged the film was being shot in his presence and he did not object.
'Due to the presence of large number of people, I could not see the dress worn by Katrina,' said Chisti. 'I was at a distance and it looked to me as if she was wearing a full dress,' he added.
According to tradition, women offering prayers in the shrine must have their head, hands and legs covered.
There are several stars who just appear in one song in films. Generally, they would be sizzling numbers. Popular anchor Udayabhanu, is reportedly shaking her legs for one such item song in 'Apadamokkulavadu' directed and produced by Posani Krishnamurali on the banner of Aman International with Nagababu as hero. The film runs with farmers' problems in its backdrop. Nagababu is playing the role of a farmers' leader.
The song in which Udayabhanu danced would be amidst the villains. Presently the shooting of the film is going on a brisk pace. Another item song would also be canned for the film very soon and another heroine is likely to dance in that song. Asmita, Srinivas, Saikumar, Sana, AVS, Chalapati Rao are in the cast. Music is by Lenina Choudary, camera is by Raja.
Tollywood fat boy Krishnudu is now shaking legs with hot babe Rithika at Bangkok city for their upcoming movie ‘Naaku Oka Loverundhi.’
K. Ram Venky is directing this movie. He said that, they have canned four songs on the lead pair at Pattaya and Bangkok cities. With this the shooting of the film is completed and post production works is in progress. He said the music scored by Radha Krishnan would be the highlight of their movie. The audio of this movie will be released before end of this month and the movie in the next month. K. Suresh babu is producing this movie under Sri Siva Parvathi Combines banner.
MS Narayana, Ali, Suresh, Sivannarayana, Munna Venu, Master Bharath, Anath, Prithvi Dhanaraj, Gundu Hanumantha Rao, Raghu and some others have played important roles in this movie.
Camera: SD John; Music: KM.Radha Krishnan; Choreography: Nikson; Story and Dialogues: T. Raghava; Lyrics: Peddhada Murthy and Lakshmi Bhoopal; Editing: MR Varma; Art: Krishna Maya.
2011/9/10 11:45:46 Patna, Sep 10 (IANS) Suspected encephalitis, a brain infection, killed five children in Bihar's Gaya district, taking the death toll in the state due to the disease to 16, an official said Saturday.
The five children died in the last 24 hours at Anugrah Narain Medical College and Hospital in Gaya, about 100 km from here, said a district health official. Nine children earlier died of suspected encephalitis.
The children reported high fever, followed by bouts of unconsciousness and convulsions.
Ajay Kishor Ravi, head of the hospital's child department, said that till date nearly 50 children with suspected encephalitis were admitted for treatment. "Most of the children were from rural areas of Gaya and neighbouring districts," he said.
"More than half a dozen children are battling for life," he said.
Bihar Health Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said measures were being taken to check the spread of the disease.
A district administration official in Gaya told IANS by telephone that suspected encephalitis hit Gaya in 2009, 2007 and 2005 and killed dozens of children.
Kate Hudson graces the cover of a magazine’s Most Beautiful issue.
But, the 29-year-old actress insists she doesn’t pay much attention to her looks and would rather spend time with her four-year-old son Ryder than treat herself to a manicure.
She said, “I even got to the point where I started waxing my own legs because I don’t have the time. I’d rather be home with Ryder sitting there waxing my legs. I haven’t gotten a facial in a million years. I don’t do those kinds of things. And when I do, I always think, ‘I should do this more often.’”
Jessica Alba – who is also featured in the issue with her fiance Cash Warren – revealed expecting her first child has made her feel like a teenager again.
She said, “Pregnancy is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you. I have a glow. Everything in my face is puffed up. I have the face of a teenager! I feel like I’m 16 again.” Other stars to make the list are Eva Longoria and her husband Tony Parker, Mary J Blige, Salma Hayek, Christina Applegate, Julianne Moore, Isla Fisher and the cast of hit US TV show Gossip Girl.
The prime accused in Paritala Ravi murder case Maddela Cheruvu Suri has been shot from a close range by three unidentified persons, while he is alighting from his car at Navodaya Colony at Yousuf Guda in Hyderabad. The incident takes place around 5.30 pm today. Suri’s followers immediately rushed him to Apollo Hospital, where he was put on ventilator in ICCU. The doctors who attend him told the media that, there are no chances of his survival, since his brain is not reciprocating to their treatment. He is in coma and his heart is also not functioning properly. He sustains five bullet injuries in chest, stomach, and in the head from rear side of his ears. Doctors said that, he is badly bleeding from his nose and couldn’t stop it until now. Since, his brain is not functioning properly, his pulse rate and BP also drastically fall down, which makes the case further complicated.
Suri was released on bail 8 months ago. He was traveling from Sanath Nagar to Yousuf Guda in his own car accompanied by his followers. One of his close aide and the eye witness in this incident Bhanu, who also said to be traveling along with him in the same car has disappeared from the location soon after the incident takes place.
2006/9/20 7:12:47 Krishna and his leela's is now being brought forward to the viewers in an animated film 'Krishna' and the post production of this film is on. Aman Khan who directed this film in Hindi, is presently being made on MJM Movie Makers Banner which is presented by P Mahesh Babu and is brought to the viewers by S Madhukar in Telugu. This film in not purely made for children but also the every body will be attracted to this film for two hours 'Krishna' said the producer. Aman khan who has put two years of restless hard work and has made this animated film. Six songs for this film has been written by Veturi. The film will be released shortly.
Mumbai, Oct 10 (IANS) Renowned singer Jagjit Singh, known as much for his ghazals and bhajans as for his work in Hindi cinema, died here Monday after a brain haemorrhage. He was 70.
Jagjit Singh had been in hospital for several weeks.
2011/9/13 7:49:39 Former Karnataka Minister and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy and other accused arrested in the Obulapuram Mining case might undergo brain-mapping and polygraph tests.
According to CBI Joint Director VV Laxminarayana, the agency might seek court’s permission to conduct brain-mapping and polygraph tests on Gali Janardhan Reddy, if found necessary. However, he said besides the court’s permission Janardhan Reddy and other accused would be required to give their consent for the same.
Talking to reporters after the Special CBI Court granted seven-day CBI custody to Janardhan Reddy and Obulapuram Mining Corporation managing director BV Srinivas Reddy on Tuesday, Laxminarayana appealed to the media to observe restraint until the probing agency completes its investigation into the case of illegal mining of iron ore.
Stating that the investigation agency would question both the accused in connection with indiscriminate mining, violating all rules and regulations, Laxminarayana appealed to media to observe restraint till completion of grilling. “It will be difficult for us to provide security to witnesses and other accused due to the intervention of media and others,” he said.
Laxminarayana said that the agency would question other people based on the information given by Janardhan Reddy and Srinivas Reddy. He also said that the agency would seek the extension of their, if required. (INN)
A verry little baby violated by father in Bangalore :Shameful day
2012/4/9 11:30:20 A nonhuman shameful torture, a three-month-old baby is fighting for her life in a Bangalore hospital by her own father. The father was arrested, beaten his daughter as he wanted a son. Baby Afreen has a disjointed neck, smoke burns on the face and a haemorrhage to the brain. The 3 months old has already seen the uglier side of her little life. On Sunday, she was admitted to paedeatric intensive care after being allegedly beaten up by her father Umar Farooq in Bangalore. "I saw that she was having fits on Friday morning and there were marks on Afreen's body. We took her to the hospital and after the scan, we realised that she was beaten up," said Reshma Bhanu, mother of Baby Afreen. The Bangalore police say Umar repeatedly abused the baby girl because he wanted a son instead. They've booked him for domestic violence and attempt to murder, besides dowry harassment. "I am really concerned and Afreen's case is only the tip of the iceberg. Why is there no immediate response mechanism?" said Nina P Nayak, chairperson, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child. Baby Afreen has been discharged from the ICU to a paedeatric ward. Doctors at the government Vanivilas Hospital now say she will need several weeks to recover. "They recognised there is a haemotama below the skull and between the brain matter and skull. The baby was kept in the ICU and ventilator. Now the baby has been removed from the ICU," said Dr Some Gowda, Medical Superintendent, Vanivilas Hospital. Doctors looking after Baby Afreen say that she is out of risk but the question is what happens to the infant after she comes out of the hospital? Will her 19-year-old mother be able to protect her and provide a safe future? After all, there have been at least two other attempts by the father to eliminate the child.
Leading Bollywood actor Salman Khan is to have surgery in the United States to correct a facial nerve disorder that leaves him in excruciating pain, he said in an article published on Friday.
The 45-year-old star of blockbuster films like 'Dabangg' (Fearless) wrote in the Hindustan Times newspaper that he had been prescribed strong medication to alleviate the symptoms, which first began four years ago.
But the drugs were ineffective and he has been in constant agony for the last year, leaving him unable to eat or drink anything cold.
"The pain is a bit too much now. So I'm going to the US to get it fixed," he wrote in the English-language daily.
"Now, we're getting down to something we should have done a long time ago -- taking care of it."
Doctors diagnosed Khan with trigeminal neuralgia, a nerve disorder caused by pressure on the nerve carrying sensations from the brain to the face, leading to stabbing or electric shock-like pain.
Khan said that tests, including an MRI scan, also identified an aneurysm, which caused a swelling of the blood vessels in the brain.
"That has a chance of bleeding and could be fatal. But they're just scaring me," he added.
Trigeminal neuralgia is thought to be associated with ageing. Pain is localised in one part of the face, usually the eye, cheek or jaw and can make everyday tasks like eating or brushing teeth excruciating.
With pain in his jaw, it once took him 90 minutes to eat an omelette, Khan said.
Tests had determined the condition was caused by veins wrapped around the nerve, he added.
The surgery means he will miss the release of his new film "Bodyguard" on August 31, which also stars Kareena Kapoor.
2011/10/10 1:14:04 Famous Gajal singer Padma Vibhushan Jagjeeth Singh, who was ailing with brain-hammerage since last few days, died at Lelavati Hospital in Mumbai on Monday morning. He was born on February 8th 1941. He has sung hundreds of Gajal songs in Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu and Nepali languages.
(IANS) Researchers have found that people suffering from restless legs syndrome, which causes uncomfortable sensations in the limbs, have reduced function in an area of the brain important for controlling movement.
(IANS) Scientists have pinned down a culprit that allows brain tumours to survive and grow.
Being stressed for lengthy periods can actually shrink the brain and cause dementia, new research says.
Female sex hormone estrogen regulates appetite and body weight, while insufficient estrogen receptors in brain parts may lead to obesity.
Jagjit Singh's Bollywood colleagues like singers Sonu Niigaam and Shreya Ghoshal as well as friends like actors Amitabh Bachchan and Anupam Kher have wished a speedy recovery for the ghazal maestro, who is critical after undergoing surgery for brain haemorrhage at a Mumbai hospital.
Former Karnataka Minister and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy and other accused arrested in the Obulapuram Mining case might undergo brain-mapping and polygraph tests.
