Cat food recalled for low levels of essential nutrient

The J.M. Smucker Company has announced a limited voluntary recall on 20 canned cat food products from the brands 9Lives, EverPet and Special Kitty because the products may have harmfully low levels of thiamine (vitamin B1). Cats with low thiamine in their diets may be at risk of developing a deficiency, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency include gastrointestinal or neurological issues, as well as decreased appetite, salivation and weight loss. Neurological signs can occur in advanced cases and may include wobbling walking…

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Even low levels of manganese can cause manganism

Welders exposed to airborne manganese at estimated levels set under federal safety standards can also develop neurological problems like Parkinson’s disease and the current safety standards may not adequately protect workers from the dangers of the job, a new research has found. According to a study published in the journal Neurology, the more welders are exposed to manganese-containing welding fumes, faster the workers’ signs and symptoms worsen. “We found that chronic exposure to manganese-containing welding fumes is associated with progressive neurological symptoms such as slow movement and difficulty in speaking,”…

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Low thyroid linked to negative reproductive health of women

Low thyroid functioning may be directly linked to negative impact on women’s reproductive health, medical experts here said on Monday. According to them, Hypothyroidism — when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone — is more common a cause for infertility and miscarriage in women than most of them realize. “Thyroid disorders are very common during pregnancy. Over 25 per cent women develop hypothyroidism during the 6th week. Secretion of thyroid hormone is important for both placental and foetal development and the level needs to increase by 50 per…

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Risk to Human from Bird Flu Sub-Type H5N8 is Low: Government

The risk to human population from avian influenza sub-type H5N8 is “low” but the government has issued advisories to states and Union Territories to minimise bird-human interface as a matter of “abundant caution”, Rajya Sabha was informed today. Outbreak of bird flu was first reported on October 18 among wild birds in National Zoological Park in Delhi and since then samples from Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab and Haryana have been tested positive at Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD). Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh…

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US Smoking Hits Record Low, But Cancer Deaths Still High

The number of Americans who smoke has dropped to a record low, but 40 per cent of cancer cases in the country are still linked to tobacco use, a US government report has found. A report released this week by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that each year between 2009 and 2013, about 660,000 people in the US were diagnosed with, and about 343,000 people died from a cancer related to tobacco use, Xinhua news agency reported. The agency noted that smoking does not just…

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Low Vitamin D Levels May up Bladder Cancer Risk

Individuals with Vitamin D deficiency can be at an increased risk of developing bladder cancer, a study has warned. Vitamin D, which is produced by the body through exposure to sunshine, helps the body control calcium and phosphate levels. It can also be obtained from food sources such as fatty fish and egg yolks. According to previous studies, Vitamin D deficiency causes health problems including cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, autoimmune conditions, and cancer. In the study, the researchers looked at the cells that line the bladder, known as transitional epithelial…

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