Washington, Oct 22 (ANI): Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, U.K. have found that it may be possible to identify cervical cancer in its early stages by using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a special vaginal coil, a technique to measure the movement of water within tissue.

The new technique provides better imaging of smaller tumours and may also improve surgical options when fertility-sparing procedures are being considered.

"Small lesions are often difficult to image, but imaging their full extent is important in surgical planning," said study author Nandita deSouza, F.R.C.R., professor and co-director of the Cancer Research UK Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research Group at The Institute of Cancer Research in London, U.K.

"By adding this technique to image the diffusion, or movement, of water within tissue, we can improve the accuracy of detecting small tumours."

In the 22-month study period, 59 women, ages 24 to 83, were accepted for inclusion into the study and placed into two groups.

Group 1 consisted of 20 women awaiting biopsies due to abnormal cervical tissue development at screening and 18 women who had invasive cervical cancer confirmed by biopsy. Group 2 consisted of 21 women in whom it was necessary to evaluate the presence of the invasive disease.

The patients underwent high-resolution MRI with the addition of a ring coil inserted into the vagina and positioned around the cervix. The coil was designed specifically to image the cervix and enabled measurement of diffusion of water within the tissue cells.

The researchers found that the diffusion of water was reduced in cancerous tissue compared to normal tissue.

"Measurement of water diffusion enabled us to differentiate cervical cancers from the normal glandular lining of the cervix," deSouza said.

"Use of these measurements in conjunction with conventional MRI makes detection of early stage cervical cancer easier. I am hopeful that this technique will be used routinely in the future in patients with suspected small tumours," deSouza said.

The study is being published in the November issue of Radiology. (ANI)

London, Oct 21 (ANI): Want to shed those extra pounds and look 10 years younger? Well, guess what, your desire has just been fulfilled, all thanks to a British nutritionist and his ultimate diet.

Brainchild of nutritionist Carina Norris, the ultimate anti-ageing diet will not only help you shift 10lbs but will also take10 years off your face without using any of those anti-ageing lotions.

"Food is a great way to ward off wrinkles and boost energy levels. If you choose wisely, your weekly shop can be an effective anti-ager, as well as helping to boost your health and keep you slim," The Mirror quoted Norris as saying.

The anti-ageing diet suggests:

Tuck into oily fish

New York skin doctor Dr Nicholas Perricone, the diet guru of Hollywood stars including Kim Cattrall and Heidi Klum, encourages his patients to eat plenty of oily fish because the essential fats found in them provide skin-loving antioxidants and mop up the free radicals that can cause wrinkles and prematurely aged skin.

The best sources of this essential fatty acid include salmon, mackerel, fresh tuna steaks and sardines. The high protein content of oily fish also helps keep skin firm - and has the added bonus of keeping you slim.

Drink up

Water has been named as the biggest anti-ager. Essential for good health and good looks, water plumps up the skin and flushes out the toxins that cause a dull complexion and wrinkles.

And dieticians claim room temperature water is best, but there are plenty of other "liquid-facelifts" like Soya milk are also helpful in speeding up the production of collagen - the "building bricks" of skin. Also recommended is Vitabiotics Well woman drink, which is full of folic acid, cranberries and evening primrose oil.

Get a fruity facelift

Gorge on fruits if you want to look younger. The best anti-ageing fruit is kiwi fruit - one of the richest sources of vitamin C, which is fantastic for skin because it helps build collagen and mops up ageing toxins.

Also recommended are Avocados, as they are jam-packed with vitamins A and E, which are very effective at fighting wrinkles. One can even add a portion of berries every day, as they're full of antioxidants called phytochemicals. Lastly, try some prunes and raisins.

Skin-loving carbs

Get your daily dose of Carbohydrates for getting that younger looking skin. Porridge oats are a great way to start the day and look younger.

Oats contain high levels of a mineral called silicic acid that plumps up the cells in skin, creating a youthful bounce. It also slows down the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Multigrain bread, full of selenium, instead of white bread may act as a saviour preserving the elasticity in your skin.

Age-busting superfoods

(1) Almonds - They're packed full of omega-3 fats and protein, which help skin repair itself. Plus they're a great source of vitamin E, which studies show can prevent wrinkles. Have a small handful every afternoon.

(2) Olive oil - Scientists found that people living in hot countries with fewer wrinkles all had high intakes of olive oil. Swap vegetable oil for olive oil, or drizzle it cold on salads

(3) Adzuki beans - These are a great source of zinc, a mineral that helps your skin repair itself. Studies show zinc can also help with acne. Buy them canned from the supermarket and add them to salads and stir-fries.

(4) Apricots - They're full of lutein, an antioxidant that helps fight off the ageing effects of the sun. Snack on them between meals, or slice them fresh on your porridge.

(5) Spinach - Like apricots, spinach is also a fantastic source of lutein, which wards off sun damage and ageing sunspots. Add a handful to a stir-fry or use in place of lettuce in salads.

(6) Tomatoes - Their magic ingredient is lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. As well as reducing the risk of certain cancers, lycopene also protects the skin against sun damage and keeps it looking younger. Slice them up in your sarnies or add them to salads.

(7) Broccoli - It's great for fighting free radicals in the body. Free radicals are harmful substances found in the environment, such as pollution, which age us. Anything that mops up free radicals, like broccoli, is great at keeping skin young. Chop them up and add to stirfries, curries and even lasagne.

(8) Red wine - It boosts circulation to the skin, plus it's full of antioxidants. Enjoy a small glass of red a few nights a week. (ANI)

Washington, Oct 21 (ANI): While researchers have known for many years that past oral contraceptive use significantly lowers the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers later in life, a new study in monkeys may shed light on the mechanism behind the cancer-protective effect of the treatment.

While studying the effect of post-menopausal dietary soy consumption on estrogen metabolism in cynomolgus monkeys, researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine discovered that monkeys who had been given birth control earlier in life had a reduced amount of estrogen excreted in their urine.

The discovery was particularly remarkable because it was found three years after oral contraceptive treatment was stopped, roughly the equivalent of a decade of life in a human.

This new observation in monkeys may have put researchers one step closer to understanding why past oral contraceptive use dramatically lowers the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers later in life.

Past oral contraceptive use appears to result in a long-term change in the way the monkeys' bodies process hormones.

While researchers don't yet understand the precise mechanism by which hormone levels are being affected, they do know that both the level of estrogen in the blood and the amount of estrogen being excreted in urine are lowered with past oral contraceptive use, which may mean that the oral contraceptive use is somehow leading to a diminished synthesis of estrogen.

"Hormone exposure has long been known to be important in cancer risk. These effects are robust, and we believe this discovery could be translated fairly quickly into a study in women. If our results are confirmed to also occur in women, they could change the way we look at oral contraceptives and cancer risk," said J. Mark Cline, D.V.M., Ph.D., and senior researcher on the project.

The research was done in collaboration with Xia Xu, Ph.D., and Timothy Veenstra, Ph.D. at Science Applications International Corporation-Frederick, Inc., in Frederick, Md., who have developed novel methods for analysis of urinary estrogens.

The study appears in this month's issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. (ANI)

Guwahati, Oct 21 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil today said that there is an urgent need for augmenting medical institutions in the country.

Laying the foundation stone of the Tezpur Medical College in Sonitpur district of Assam, Patil said the country has at present 271 medical colleges out of which about 31,000 medical graduates pass out every year.

"The healthcare professionals form the backbone of the medical system in the country. Enough number of skilled medical personnel is essential for making affordable medical facilities available to all," she added.

Patil said the education system in our country should not only to produce capable doctors but also sensitize them to national efforts to provide healthcare to all.

Appreciating the Indian Medical Association for their effort to adopt six hundred villages under its project for taking medical fraternity to the villages, Patil said 75 per cent of our medical facilities are located in urban centres while 70 per cent of our population lives in villages where medical facilities are limited.

The President said doctors should have a sense of compassion and maintain the highest standards of medical ethics.

Assam Governor Shiv Charan Mathur, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, State Assembly Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai and Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma were also present on the occasion.

The new medical college to be built in 35 acres of land at Tumuki area, near Tezpur at a cost of around 160 crore rupees, is targeted to be completed by the year 2011.

The Tezpur Medical will be built by the Assam Government at a cost of around 160 crore rupees at Tumuki village, 20 kilometers away from Tezpur.

This will be the fifth medical college in Assam. The State Government has allocated 35 acres of land in Tumuki to set up the medical college.

Later, President Patil is scheduled address a Sainik Sanmilan at Gajraj Corps Headquarters in Tezpur.

After spending three days in Assam, the President will proceed to Meghalaya on Wednesday, where she is expected to attend the centenary celebration of the Laban Bengali Girls Higher Secondary School.

The President will also inaugurate the Baljek Airport in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. (ANI)