Festival Miami HEAT

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The Miami HEAT Charitable Fund raised more than $ 500,000 during the 16th. Annual Family Festival held on Sunday April 7 in Plot B behind the AmericanAirlines Arena. Offered by Carnival Cruise Lines, the event benefited SafeSpace, the Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Guardian Angels, the Miami Coalition for a Safe & Drug-Free Community and has been the most successful in terms of ticket sales and money raised in its history of 16 years .

The Annual Family Festival Miami HEAT, which is one of the largest charitable funds Miami HEAT year, is a sort of interactive carnival with a specific topic for which HEAT players, coaches, celebrities and families unite for a day to have fun, be with family and eat. The Festival includes a food extravaganza with the best restaurants and chefs across South Florida. Families enjoy many activities with HEAT players, coaches and their families, making the occasion a memorable experience for guests of all ages.

This year the “Festival of the Future” included the entire HEAT team and coaches, with a special appearance by DJ Irie, the HEAT Dancers, Burnie the mascot, sand presenter Dale, Television presenter and reporter HEAT Jason Jackson court, Golden Oldies, HEAT Banana Man, live music from Nick Aquilino, meals of the 45 best restaurants in South Florida, a silent auction and more.

Futuristic Elements Festival astronauts were ice cream, sun glasses the space age, activities like Space Race through the solar system and entertainment as the Canal of the Space Shuttle and Rocket Rascal.

A time traveler with a computer water jet delivered a check for $ 503.860 to HEAT players on stage by the robot Tagi.

About the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund
The Miami HEAT Charitable Fund was established in 1997 and is comprised of the Miami HEAT players, coaches, wives and staff members. Establishing a presence in South Florida, the “family” HEAT has been able to generate much needed funds through fundraising programs for the betterment of families at risk. The main beneficiaries of this event are the Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Guardian Angels, who support the Holtz Center for children with serious health problems, SafeSpace, a shelter for women and children victims of domestic violence, the Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug- Free Community, a grassroots organization committed to reducing the problems of drug abuse, addiction and social problems directly related and Home Strong, which provides help, support and honors members of the U.S. armed forces.

Health and Environment News

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The Socialist Group in Congress want Spain identify and prevent environmental risks to health through a joint work plan between the Ministries of Health and Environment.

To this end presented a proposition of law in the Congress of Deputies in recalling that the World Health Organization, in its report for EuropHealth and Environment Newse, warns that 20 100 deaths may be preventable with a appropriate environmental intervention.

In its preamble states that it is known that the level of health in a particular environment is determined by four factors: human biology, the environment, living habits and health services.

After the brunt of lifestyle habits (43%), environmental conditions are the second determinant of human health with 19% in our environment.

This, says the parliamentary group, requires public authorities to incorporate the public health component in environmental management in general and specific programs of environmental quality in the most sensitive areas such as water, air pollution or contamination soil.

Thus, in its proposal, also urges the Government to instruct the Carlos III Health Institute to prepare the report on this matter, given the functions, knowledge and experience available to the public body.

News about health risk from electrical appliances can cause symptoms in people suggestible

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News about health risk from electrical appliances can cause symptoms in people suggestibleSpecifically, this paper argues that the information published in the media on substances that may be harmful to health can make these symptoms develop citizens reporting on “although there is no objective reason for it.”

Thus, the expectation of negative effects “can increase the chances of suffering” they explain. The experts, who say that because it means “to be more responsible to warn of health risks”, indicate that this phenomenon is known as “electromagnetic hypersensitivity”.

To reach this conclusion, researchers have studied at King’s College London (United Kingdom) to 147 people through MRI. After that, and provide the viewing of documentaries about health risks, have found that in 54 percent of them, the brain regions responsible for pain processing “were activated.”

According to the study’s lead author and member of the German university, Dr. Michael Witthöft, this process occurs “by the so-called nocebo effect”. He explains that “the mere anticipation of a possible injury can actually trigger pain or disorders, the opposite of the analgesic effects.”

As for symptoms that may actually produce electromagnetic devices, they can be “headaches, dizziness, burning or tingling sensation in the skin,” he says. They are triggered in the same way “in those exposed and those that have been sugestionadas” he concludes.

Identified four new genetic risk factors for testicular cancer

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Identified four new genetic risk factors for testicular cancerThe analysis of the genomes of more than 13,000 men has identified four new genetic variants associated with increased risk of testicular cancer, the most commonly diagnosed in young men. The results of this meta-analysis have been published in Nature Genetics.

According to the study authors, from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (USA), the discovery of these genetic variants, “errors” of the chromosome, as it were, ultimately, could help researchers better understand what men are at high risk and to ensure early detection and prevention of disease. This brings the number of genomic regions associated with testicular cancer to 17, including eight newly reported in another study in this issue of the journal Nature Genetics.

“As we continue with a wider network, identify additional genetic risk factors that point to new mechanisms for the disease,” said Katherine L. Nathanson. According to the coordinator of the work, certain chromosomal regions, which we call loci are linked with testicular cancer susceptibility and “represent a promising way to stratify patients into risk groups for a disease that is highly heritable know.”

Leveraging three genome-wide association studies (GWAS, its acronym in English), the researchers, including Peter A. Kanetsky, associate professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, analyzed 931 affected individuals and 1,975 controls and confirmed the results in an additional 3,211 men with prostate cancer and 7,591 controls.

Meta-analysis

The meta-analysis revealed that the risk of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) was significantly associated with markers in four loci, 4q22, 7q22, 17q22 and 16q22.3, none of which has been identified in other cancers. Additionally, these loci pose a higher risk that most of the other loci identified for some common cancers, such as breast and prostate cancers. Testicular cancer is relatively rare, however, the incidence rate has doubled in the past 40 years. It is also highly heritable, so that if a man has a parent or a child with testicular cancer, has a risk of four to six times more to develop it compared to one with no family history, increasing from eight to ten times the risk if the man has a brother with testicular cancer.

Given this, researchers continue to investigate the genetic variants and their association with cancer. In 2009, Nathanson and his colleagues discovered a variation around two genes, KITLG and SPRY4, which was found to be associated with an increased risk of testicular cancer. The two variants were first striking genetic risk factors found for this disease at that time and since then, several variants have been discovered, but only through individual GWAS.

Chromosomes

The team also explains how the variants associated with an increased risk of cancer are the same genes associated with chromosome segregation. The variants are also found near genes important for the development of germ cells and these data strongly support the idea that testicular cancer is a disorder of germ cell development and maturation. “TGCT is unique in that many loci that are very good biological candidate because of its role in the development of male germ cells, concludes Nathanson. Interruptions in the development of male germ cells leading to tumorigenesis and, presumably, also to infertility.

Identify a key gene in childhood scoliosis

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Identify a key gene in childhood scoliosisResearchers at the RIKEN Center (Japan) have identified the first gene associated with idiopathic scoliosis. The gene is involved in the growth and development of the spine during childhood, concludes his research, published in the journal Nature Genetics.

The adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the disease of pediatric skeleton most common, affecting approximately 2 percent of school-age children. Its causes are still largely unknown and orthopedic treatment and surgery are the only options for treatment, but many clinical and genetic studies suggest a contribution of genetic factors.

Chromosome 6

To understand the causes and development of scoliosis, doctors Ikuyo Kou and Shiro Ikegawa and his team have sought to identify genes that are associated with susceptibility to develop the condition. By analyzing the genome of 1,819 Japanese individuals suffering from scoliosis and compared with 25,939 Japanese individuals, the team identified a gene associated with susceptibility to develop scoliosis on chromosome 6, an association that was repeated in the Chinese Han and Caucasian populations.

Investigators show that the susceptibility gene, GPR126, is highly expressed in cartilage and its removal causes stunting and bone tissue formation in the developing vertebral column, plus it also is known to play a role in the height and length of the human trunk.

“Our finding suggests the interesting possibility that GPR126 can affect the susceptibility of infantile idiopathic scoliosis as to height through abnormal development of the spine and growth, ‘the authors, who see a need for more research to elucidate the way that alterations in the gene increase the risk of infantile idiopathic scoliosis.

The nocebo effect health news

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The nocebo effect health newsDuring the last decade, the German psychologist Michael Witthöft is trying a new type of patient. People with electromagnetic hypersensitivity that fears of waves emanating technological devices are practically everywhere.

They experience headaches, fatigue, stress or lack of sleep, among other ailments.

The symptoms are real, but how true is its effect? Witthöft warns that in most cases it is a nocebo effect, fueled by the news that appears on the dangers of edge devices.

The nocebo effect would become the dark side of placebo. Causes worsening of symptoms of a disease by the expectation of possible negative consequences.

The news in the media about alleged substances harmful to health are suggestible people to develop symptoms of a disease when there is no reason for it. This is the conclusion Witthöft study published in the journal Psychosomatic Research.

“We found that a placebo effect reversed, known as nocebo, may be involved in this hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields from day to day,” explains the BBC specialist Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany.

‘If you expect negative or harmful consequences of radiation-like Wi-Fi devices or cell phones-are more likely to pay more attention to your body and feel sensations and reactions that can be attributed to exposure, “he added.

The effects of news

For their research, Witthöft recruited 150 volunteers and divided them into two groups. To one he showed a BBC documentary which warned of the potential damage associated with cell phones and Wi-Fi signals, while the other looked a report on Internet security and cellular data.

Then each participant was taken to a small room with ‘Wi-Fi amplified’ and were asked to press a button with the symbol that characterizes the wireless connection and to wait 15 minutes.

Actually they were not exposed to any radiation, but the reactions surprised the researcher. For most individuals who watched the documentary, being in a room with these characteristics they caused a tingling in the fingers, hands and feet, pressure in the head, stomach pain and trouble concentrating.

In fact, two of the volunteers left the room before they finished the 15 minutes.

Negative cycles

Witthöft attributed this reaction to some people tend to get caught in cycles of negative reinforcement. Develop a hyperactive which leads to notice more symptoms.

Some particularly sensitive people come to miss work or tend to withdraw from their social circle, and in some extreme cases, move to remote areas to escape all electronic equipment.

“However, the evidence shows that those affected are unable to detect if you really have been exposed to electromagnetic fields. In fact, their reactions are the same regardless of whether they were exposed to real or fake fields, “added the specialist.

To Witthöft, the study shows that the news about potential health hazards, which in some cases may have little scientific evidence, have a significant effect on the health of much of the population. ‘Currently we can not determine how tabloid has to be news to activate this nocebo effect’.

The psychologist explains that people’s comments on credibility may also influence the reaction of hypersensitive people. ‘If a doctor believes in the dangers of cell wave exposure you talked about, you can somatizarlo’.

Anxiety is also an important factor when suffering the nocebo effect. The more anxious are the people, the symptoms are more pronounced.

Mariela Castro, gay rights directive, congratulates Uruguay

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X health serviceThe director of the National Center for Sex Education (Cenesex), Mariela Castro, commended Uruguay for approving gay marriage this week and said he will exercise his authority as deputy for the recognition of homosexual unions in Cuba.

“We congratulate other Latin American country that has achieved,” the official said on Friday during a press conference in which he recalled that Argentina had also “very advanced legislation” in the matter.

The expert, who is also the daughter of current President Raul Castro, was from last February Member of Popular Power, Cuban Parliament, where, he said, will boost awareness of the need to update the laws governing family and marriage.

“Many lawyers in Cuba say that the trend of couples towards marriage will not, but towards consensual union because when the triumph of the Revolution (1959) acquired consensual couples the same rights and opportunities as marriages,” said Castro.

“But I think if we are talking about equal opportunities for same-sex couples should have the same as heterosexuals,” said the expert, who from the Cenesex gave visibility to the issue of gay, lesbian and transgender.

The work of the institution even managed reassignment operations for transgender people to be incorporated into health services – already achieved 19 – while working on other issues such as education, gender violence and supports legal consulting for the population .

Castro said the task of Cenesex and his staff is now as deputy to push through a new Family Code that would allow homosexuals recognition of their union, a first step towards achieving marriage then it would require a Constitutional amendment.

The idea of ​​a new Family Code was already present since last year, when a project was presented to the Assembly, but failed to approval.

According to Castro even there yet “obstacles” to be overcome, but trust that education and awareness of MPs – Parliament was renewed in more than half in February – to achieve the goal.

A method to detect opioid allergies

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A method to detect opioid allergiesAllergens and antigens are substances That produces allergies or any hypersensitivity reaction in people Who Have Previously been in contact and are susceptible to them. Patients with allergies to plant products like pollen, nuts and fruits are very common, but, until recently, nobody had thought of hypersensitivity to other biological products: drugs: such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin. This issue was out in September 2008 by a research team in the Hospital Rio Hortega in Valladolid, Spain, que’ve delved Into This new line of work for the last five years Obtaining significant results.

As we were Reported by Alicia Armentia allergist, who, in 2012, presented in a scientific breakthrough this session in the Palace of the Nursery (Royal Academy of Medicine and Surgery, Valladolid). As DiCYT Was Told, Before This study started in 2008, drugs Have Been Considered a product triggering various toxic effects, “nothing related to immune-based hypersensivity”.

Working hand in hand with Researchers from the Department of Toxicology of the Hospital Rio Hortega, the Civic Association to Aid Drug Dependence (Aclad), an association for aid to drug dependence, the Basque Country University and the Department for Allergies, the team You Develop a project sponsored by the Junta de Castilla y León, the local governance body, in order to determine Whether drug abusers “have antibodies to drugs, That is, if toxic problems and doing lot Also produces measurable antibodies”.

The research team designed a series of experiments and worked with two groups of patients: (a) people with allergies presenting at the Hospital, “Because this group is the most likely to to be sensitive to animal, vegetable or any kind of product, and ( b) drug-dependent patients who Volunteered for the study.

“We found samples of the drugs that Could be affecting, the patients, is The most consumed cannabis, cocaine and heroin are but Also used. Authorization was Granted to us in order to research on cannabis and cocaine; Regarding heroin, we are handling its source: opium seeds, since allergenic proteins are Most Important over toxic elements; Contain seeds entertained by the proteome, That is, every producing the plant protein “Dr. Armentia states.

A Simple and Inexpensive Method

Thanks to the trials using the samples on the two groups, Researchers Have Been Able to design and patent “a simple and inexpensive method to discover antibodies to opioids”. This is of major Importance since opioids are very Anesthetics used in medicine as in surgeries and as analgesics. “In some cases, They are not Widely used Because of the severe allergic reactions They produce. With the method info we have designed, based on simpler technology: an immunoassay, we are Able to detect antibodies to opioids, cannabis and cocaine. ”

This means we are overcoming Limitations in current techniques, allow to measure only That These Drugs When consumed recently, “Whereas if a person gets sensitized to drugs, antibodies can be Measured for many years, and we would Be Able to Know If That patient has been in Contact with Those drugs, que has legal and forensic Consequences, as well as being useful to alert at-risk patients who are to undergo surgery in order to change the anesthetic, an application we are currently using, “she UNDERLINES.

At the present times, the project is progressing and Researchers have improved a new technique based on proteomics, “an allergen molecular analysis technique used to determine not only the source of the allergy, but the specific epitope, the smallest portion of an allergen That May trigger the immune reaction. ” Furthermore, Researchers have applied for the European patent and They expect it to be exportable to the United States.

The main goal is to Consider drugs, other than toxic agents, “Able to produce immune substances reactions as, for example, wasp venom, a toxic substance Able to kill an allergic person”. Thanks to this technique, “we will Be Able to Prevent Such severe adverse reactions”. There is a Spanish patent, a month ago, They applied for the European patent That Can be used in all EU countries and, possibly, in the United States.

A Problem on the Increase

Even When the National Drug Survey (Domestic Drug Survey) shows a drop in consumption levels, the number of related-emergency patients increases. Regarding cannabis, “these admissions have Multiplied ten-fold for the last years”; Whereas in cocaine, “they have Increased from 20 to 70%.” “We Realized These figures can not be Justified by a mere toxic reaction, there had to be a more severe response Increasing the number of patients”, as we were Told by Dr. Armentia. Also Stated That She smoker urban and younger people are increasingly suffering from allergies, Because “they get more sensitized to allergens, and drugs are allergens Considered.”