Revolution in Cardiology - Soon, a stent that will vanish from the heart

After cardiologists clear a blocked artery of the heart, they usually insert a metal tube called stent to prevent recurrence. They may soon replace the metallic device with a mesh, which would be absorbed by the body in two years after restoring the blood flow.


Interventional cardiologists at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai presented before reporters on Tuesday, two patients on whom the drug-coated absorbable stent has been tried a fortnight ago. The patients, two men aged 68 and 70, are medically fit, the doctors said. The treatment is part of the last leg of a clinical trial being conducted at more than 100 centres across the world. Once pronounced a success, the stent would be available in the market.

The stent used in the trial has been made of materials used to make absorbable sutures and implants. The anti-cancer drug coat on the stent prevents the artery from clotting up. By two years, the stent degrades into water and carbon dioxide. By then the artery gains the strength to function independently as any other artery. Patients who get these absorbable stents are likely to be taken off blood thinning medicines which other patients with metal stents will have to take life long.


"This is another revolution in cardiology. If the trial succeeds, this stent is likely to replace all the existing ones," said consultant cardiologist Dr Sai Satish, consultant interventional cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, who is a part of the trial. During the earlier trials, the device was found to be effective in treating heart diseases. It was absorbed into the walls of the patients' arteries, with no clots reported after three years.


It is estimated that at least six million people in India have cardiovascular diseases. Blocks in the blood vessels reduce supply to heart muscles increasing risks of heart attacks. To avoid surgery, since early 1980s, cardiologists insert a collapsed balloon mounted on a thin wire, balloon catheter, into the blocked artery. The balloon is inflated to crush the blocks. It is then withdrawn.


From the early 1990s doctors started inserting metal stents inside the artery to prevent further blocks. They reduced the recurrence by 20%, but sometimes cells grew over the stents and blocked arteries again. Then came drug-eluting stents in the early 2000s which prevented regrowth.


"Drug-eluting stents have been proven safe, but the presence of a metal in the body makes doctors anxious. It is good to have a device that can be absorbed after it does its job," said Dr Mathew Samuel Kalarickal, director and head of interventional cardiology.


The product has been approved for marketing in Europe, but it is yet to be made commercial. The manufacturers said it would be available in Europe next year and in India in 2013. As a part of the clinical trial over 100 institutes from all the over the world including six centres from India will implant the stent free of cost. Of these two hospitals Apollo Hospitals and Madras Medical Mission are from Chennai. Others include Escorts Heart Research Institute in Delhi, SGPGI in Lucknow, Care Hospital in Hyderabad and SAL Hospital in Ahmedabad.
                                                                                      The Times of India 

Cancer Treatment: EAT FRUIT on empty stomach

EATING FRUIT

* We all think eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it up and popping it into our mouths. It's not that easy. It's important to know how and  when to eat fruit. *
What's the correct way to eat fruit?
  IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUIT AFTER A MEAL! FRUIT SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.  
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Eating fruit like that plays a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities..
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FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.

Let's say you eat two slices of bread, then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it's prevented from doing so.
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In the meantime, the whole meal 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.
Eat your fruit on an  empty stomach, or before your meal! You've heard people complain: Every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. This will not happen if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas. Hence, you bloat! 
Graying hair , balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes - all of these will NOT happen if you eat fruit on an empty stomach. *
There's no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruit becomes alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruit, you have the Secret of Beauty, Longevity, Health, Energy, Happiness and normal weight.
When you need to drink fruit juice drink only  freshfruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't drink juice that has been heated. Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at all. You get  only the taste... Cooking destroys all of the vitamins. 
Eating a whole fruit is etter than drinking the juice. If you should drink the 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 your body. Eat fruit and drink fruit juice for just 3 days, and you will be surprised when your friends say how radiant you look! 
KIWI:

   Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange! 

AN  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 risk 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 free radicals.  
EATING 2 - 4 ORANGES

Oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones, and reduce 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. Also a key source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon: 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, good for your eyes..
Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer!

Can u believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this applies to you. It's nice to have a cold drink after a meal, however, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you've just consumed, which

slows 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

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. 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're asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Be careful, and be aware. The more we know, the better our chance to survive.