Insidermedicine in 60 - June 26, 2008

From Washington - Most general anesthetics used during surgery can increase the likelihood of discomfort when the patient wakes up. Researchers discovered that most general anesthetics stimulate sensory nerves throughout the body, which causes irritation and contributes to the pain felt by patients upon awakening, as well as to a lingering over-sensitization of pain pathways in the nervous system.

From New York - Turmeric, a spice that can be found in many curries, is showing promise in the prevention of diabetes. Researchers have found that mice that were fed turmeric were less susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes, and also showed reduced inflammation in fat tissue and liver compared to untreated mice. Turmeric is also being studied as a potential treatment for pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and Alzheimer's.

And finally, from Calgary - The rate of caesarean section in Canada has reached a record high, with one in four babies being delivered in this way. Key factors driving this increase include the growing proportion of overweight mothers and older first-time mothers, as well as the emerging trend of elective C-sections. While C-sections are relatively safe, they do carry a higher risk of complications than normal childbirth and should only be sought in cases of medical necessity.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• medicine
• anesthesia
• surgery
• pain
• turmeric
• curry
• india
• asia
• spice
• diabetes
• pancreas
• cancer
• curcumin
• ceasarean
• pregnancy