A question staring hard at most professionals and even normal people is whether it is destiny or lifestyle that makes us fat? Attempting to answer this query is a team from the Newcastle University, which has revealed that childhood genetic code could signify the chances of a person turning obese.

With many reports suggesting a range of health effects being passed on from the mother to the child, there is no question why obesity could not be one of the inherited factors. Influences of variables like depression, smoking, anti-depressant medications, BPA exposure and more during pregnancy are all cited to be carried forward to the unborn child.

"We were looking at the epigenetic patterns, the regulatory marks on genes. In this research we found a link between those found at birth and differences in body composition in children when they were nine. This suggests that our DNA could be marked before birth and these marks could predict our later body composition," shared Professor Caroline Relton, senior lecturer in epigenetic epidemiology at Newcastle University, lead author.

In terms of the present trial, the team located certain genes that manifested different sequences of expression in obese and normal weight children. This extensive study examined pregnant women and their children after birth. The kids were inspected for many years to understand how specific genes influenced their body compositions.

Though a relation between childhood obesity and genes during birth was established, the scientists asserted that further studies are required to affirm the findings. Experts essentially aimed to understand if changes in epigenetic factors could spur obesity.

The third leading cause for blindness in India, glaucoma is a scourge afflicting a large section of the population irrespective of their age. According to WHO estimates, almost 60.5 million people are blind because of glaucoma. In India, 2.5 per cent of the population, which is about 11.9 million, are afflicted with glaucoma. In South India, almost 90 per cent of the people who suffer from glaucoma have no idea of this disease due to lack of awareness of warning symptoms and regular medical checkups.

Known to be a serious affliction, glaucoma arises because of an elevation in pressure inside the eye caused by a build-up of excess fluid. However, an ophthalmologist says that if this silent killer is left untreated, this disease can permanently impair vision by causing irreversible damage to the optic nerves and eventually, blindness.

Dr Sirish Nelivigi, head of the department, Glaucoma, Nethradhama Hospitals says, "Glaucoma is the most common cause for blindness after cataract but unlike cataract, it is irreversible. This is a burden not only to the family, but also to the society. The only way to tackle this is through regular eye-checkups and screening tests."

Incidentally, a large number of people with glaucoma still remain undiagnosed. Glaucoma which results in peripheral vision loss, and is a dangerous eye condition because it gradually progresses without obvious symptoms . It can affect any age group, including newborns, infants, children and elderly. Blindness from glaucoma is irreversible. However, early detection is the key to preserving vision. Glaucoma is the largest cause of bilateral blindness, second only to the cataract.

Scientists claim to have identified a genetic manipulation that can boost the growth of brain cells linked to learning.

A team at the University of Texas has found that deleting the Nf1 gene in mice increases the development of neurons in the brain during ageing, which in turn, enhances the effect of anti depressant drugs.

"The significant implication of this work is that enhancing neurogenesis sensitises mice to antidepressants meaning they needed lower doses of the drugs to affect mood and also appears to have anti depressive and anti-anxiety effects of its own that continue over time," said Dr Luis Parada, a team member.

Just as in people, mice produce new neurons throughout adulthood, although the rate declines with age and stress, said Dr Parada.

In their research, the scientists used a sophisticated process to delete the gene that codes for the Nf1 protein only in the brains of mice, while production in other tissues continued normally.

After showing that mice lacking Nf1 protein in the brain had greater neurogenesis than controls, they administered behavioural tests designed to mimic situations that would
spark a subdued mood or anxiety, such as observing grooming behaviour in response to a small splash of sugar water.

The scientists found that the test group mice formed more neurons over time compared to controls, and that young mice lacking the Nf1 protein required much lower amounts of
anti depressants to counteract the effects of stress.

Behavioural differences between the groups persisted at three months, six months and nine months. "Older mice lacking the protein responded as if they`d been taking antidepressants all their lives.

"In summary, this work suggests that activating neural precursor cells could directly improve depression and anxiety like behaviours, and it provides a proof regarding
feasibility of regulating behaviour via direct manipulation of adult neurogenesis," Dr Parada said.

In 2006, the first World Kidney Day was observed to create awareness among public regarding the importance of kidneys in relation to overall health and also reduce the impact of kidney-related disorders worldwide.

Since then, the second Thursday of March is observed as the World Kidney Day (WKD) in more than 100 countries.

The WKD is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor in the patients of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and needs to be carefully monitored.

High blood pressure results in increased stress on blood vessels throughout the body - including those in the kidneys.

This has an adverse effect on renal function, as the kidneys become unable to properly filter waste products from the blood.

High blood pressure is one of the few symptoms and causes of chronic kidney disease.

The kidneys - among other things - play a key role in keeping a person's blood pressure in a healthy state and blood pressure, in turn, can affect the health of the kidneys.

The concern is enhanced by the emerging evidence that CKDs are not only a problem on their own but are also a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and are a deadly complication of diabetes mellitus.

This necessitates constant monitoring for renal complications.

Diabetes is the epidemic of the 21st century.

Worldwide, over 240 million people suffer from diabetes and the figure is expected to reach 380 million by 2025.

Indeed, a third of people suffering from diabetes are affected by diabetic nephropathy.

The incidences of Diabetes Mellitus are on the rise and India has become the diabetic capital of the world and Kerala is that of the country.

The predicted increase in the number of patients with end-stage renal diseases in developed countries, where regular renal replacement therapy programmes are available, poses the risk that health care resources are inadequate to guarantee full coverage of dialysis expenses.

In developing countries, there are very few chances of needy getting renal replacement therapy, now or in the future.

Achieving optimum blood sugar and blood pressure control can significantly reduce the risk of needing dialysis or experiencing a heart attack or a stroke.

Aluva District Hospital's Community Dialysis Centre, which was an initiative of the government, has done 5500 quality dialysis so far.

At present, the centre has twelve donated units and owning to the long waiting list, the centre is going on an expansion programme to increase the capacity by 10 more units.

The centre is in desperate need of sponsorships.

Awareness classes on blood and organ donation are held twice a week.

Arthritis sufferers have 40% higher risk of developing erratic heartbeat which can trigger heart attacks and death, warn researchers.

The researchers believe the inflammation of joints in arthritis may cause irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, besides formation of blood clots and stroke.

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to strike between the ages of 40 and 70 years and is more common amongst women than men. It is the result of the immune system attacking cells lining the joints, making them swollen, stiff and very painful, reported online journal BMJ.com.

Copenhagen University scientists studied more than four million people of whom 18,250 had rheumatoid arthritis over a period of five years, and found those afflicted were 40% at higher risk of atrial fibrillation and 30% higher risk of strokes than the general public.

In a group of 1,000 normal patients, six would likely suffer from atrial fibrillation in any given year while 5.7 would be likely to have a stroke.

However, amongst a group of 1,000 rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, eight would be expected to have atrial fibrillation while 7.6 would be likely to have a stroke.

"Inflammation plays a central role in rheumatoid arthritis and in the disease process of many other related conditions, so it's not surprising that it may also play a role in the development of atrial fibrillation," said Michael Ehrenstein of Arthritis Research, Britain.