Washington, Aug 29 (ANI): HIV-infected patients are at a significantly higher risk of bone fractures, according to new study to be published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM).

Prior studies have indicated reduced bone density in HIV-infected patients, but little was known whether fracture risk increased in this population," said Dr. Steven Grinspoon, M.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and lead author of the study.

"These data are the first to suggest that there is a clinically significant increase in bone fractures among HIV-infected patients, using data from a large healthcare system," he added.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from the Partners HealthCare System, which includes two primary hospitals, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

They studied fracture diagnoses from 1996 to 2008 in 8,525 HIV-infected patients and more than 2 million non HIV-infected patients. Dr. Grinspoon and his colleagues found that overall fracture prevalence increased more than 60 percent in HIV-infected patients versus non HIV-infected patients.

The data in this study showed HIV-infected patients had a significantly higher prevalence of vertebral, hip, wrist, and combined fractures compare to non HIV-infected patients.

Within both sexes, fracture prevalence was higher in HIV-infected patients for the majority of sites assessed, across age categories.

Dr. Grinspoon said the study found the relative difference in fracture prevalence between HIV-infected patients and non HIV-infected patients increases with age for both sexes.

Therefore, as the HIV-infected population ages, reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk may become an even greater problem.

"HIV patients with risk for low bone density should be assessed and potentially treated to prevent fractures," said Dr. Grinspoon.

"Further research is needed into the mechanisms of bone loss in this population," added Dr. Grinspoon. (ANI)

Sydney, Aug 29 (ANI): Milk may help fight cancer, according to a group of researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide.

The researchers are currently exploring the role of cow's milk in preventing bowel cancer through a research.

The university has said it is expecting to have clear evidence by the end of the year on the role milk could play in boosting the anti-cancer properties of a natural trace element, selenium.

In a human trial, the cancer expert Graeme Young is testing the benefit of selenium when delivered through cow's milk compared with other forms of the dietary supplement.

Previous trials had confirmed that selenium in milk could lift levels of selenium in the blood.

Professor Young said the chemical and yeast-based forms of selenium available over-the-counter had varying degrees of absorption and effect on the body.

"So those forms of selenium will differ in their capacity to change someone's antioxidant status and capacity to prevent cancer," Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying.

"It just so happens that when you feed selenium to cows and they produce selenium-enriched milk, the selenium seems to be in a chemical form that is both highly absorbable into the body and also more effective in terms of preventing cancer," he added.

The study involves 20 people. Researchers are comparing the milk form of selenium with a yeast form and looking at how readily they are absorbed. (ANI)

London, Aug 29 (ANI): A heated car seat may keep your bottom warm and toasty on a cold night, but the extra 'luxury' might be silently frying your chances of becoming a father, says a new study.

Scientists warn that the seats could damage sperm production by raising men's temperature to unhealthy levels.

An optimal temperature of between 35 and 36 degree Celsius is needed to produce healthy sperm. This is one reason why the testicles hang outside the main part of the body.

To test whether heated car seats might be raising scrotal temperatures above this threshold, Andreas Jung at the University of Giessen in Germany and his colleagues fitted temperature sensors to the scrotums of 30 healthy men, who then sat on a heated car seat for 90 minutes.

An hour in, and scrotal temperature had already risen to an average of 37.3 degree Celsius, with a maximum temperature in one man of 39.7 degree Celsius. Men who sat on unheated car seats reached an average scrotal temperature of just 36.7 degree Celsius, reports New Scientist.

Although that's only a slight increase due to the heated seats, Jung notes that it may nevertheless be enough to damage the sperm production process.

Sitting in a car for long periods of time, even without a heated seat, is already known to raise scrotal temperatures. And previous research suggests that couples take longer to conceive if the man drives for more than 3 hours a day.

The team did not test the effect of the heated seat on sperm quality or quantity. (ANI)

Washington, August 29 (ANI): Researchers at the Queen's University Belfast have come up with a solution to the world's worst case of ongoing mass poisoning by creating a new low-cost technology to provide arsenic-free water to millions of people in South Asia, who are currently exposed to high levels of the poison in groundwater.

Currently, over 70 million people in Eastern India and Bangladesh, experience involuntary arsenic exposure from consuming water and rice; the main staple food in the region. his includes farmers who have to use contaminated groundwater from minor irrigation schemes.

It is estimated that for every random sample of 100 people in the Bengal Delta, at least one person will be near death as a result of arsenic poisoning, while five in 100 will be experiencing other symptoms.

Now, leading an international team, Queen's researchers have developed a trial plant in Kasimpore, near Calcutta, which offers chemical-free groundwater treatment technology to rural communities for all their drinking and farming needs.

The technology is based on recharging a part of the groundwater, after aeration, into a subterranean aquifer (permeable rock) able to hold water. Increased levels of oxygen in the groundwater slow down the arsenic release from the soil.

At higher dissolved oxygen levels, soil micro organisms, as well as iron and manganese, reduce the dissolved arsenic level significantly.

According to Dr Bhaskar Sen Gupta of Queen's, co-ordinator of the project, arsenic poisoning is behind many instances of ill-health in Southern Asia, including a rising number of cancer cases.

Developing a low cost method of decontaminating ground water that is laced with high levels of arsenic is a key challenge for sustainable agriculture there.

"While there are some techniques available for treating relatively small quantities of water, there has, until now, been no viable technology available for decontaminating groundwater on a large scale that can ensure safe irrigation and potable water supply," said Dr Gupta.

"This project developed by Queen's is the only method which is eco-friendly, easy to use and deliverable to the rural community user at an affordable cost," he added.

"From its inception we have had the vital support of Indian-based stakeholders, such as village councils and local financial institutions. This has been vital as they are the authorities who monitor the water supply and distribution in rural areas and provide micro-credit to the local farmers," explained Dr Sen Gupta.

"With their help, we now have a solution which is transferable to many areas in need across Asia," he added.

The new plant will be maintained and operated by local village technicians. (ANI)