Do you have pets at home, especially cats? If yes, here is an important piece of information for you!! It is true that cats are superb companions to many. There are many people who like to play with cats and their paws etc. Not many would be aware of the fact that we could get one disease through the cat scratches. Shocking isn’t it!! A zoonotic infection called Cat Scratch Disease or CSD caused by bacterium Bartonella Henselae could be transmitted through cat scratches, bites or through saliva from the infected cats. So, please be careful and take care. Those with CSD would show several symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever etc. This was mentioned by a Neurologist working in Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. In certain severe cases, the person could develop brain encephalopathy with symptoms like confusion, seizures, headaches etc. How can CSD affect brain health? Mostly, CSD affected persons would show mild symptoms only. Brain encephalopathy occurs when bacteria affect the brain. The person affected would have altered mental state and other severe symptoms. To manage the symptoms well, early diagnosis of CSD and prompt treatment would be essential. Prevention methods: Especially those with weak immunity must follow preventive measures. Kittens would carry Bartonella Henselae and rough play with kittens must be avoided. Maintaining good hygiene is very essential after playing with cats. In this regard, we must wash our hands well after handling cats and clean any scratches or bites etc. Never pick up stray kittens from roads etc. Finally, fleas on cats must be controlled as they can spread the disease. Medical attention: It is necessary that we must seek a doctor immediately if we get symptoms like persistent fever, swollen lymph nodes and neurological issues etc. Blood tests are done on the affected persons and antibiotics would be provided. Those with CSD can manage the symptoms at homes also by taking OTC medicines for pain relief. Warm compress can be applied to swollen lymph nodes. Note: There are less chances of getting CSD from indoor cats as the cats would get B. Henselae infection through fleas only.

How many of us are aware of what kiwi fruit is? A small oval shaped fruit with brown skin and loaded with many ingredients like fibres, antioxidants, vitamin C etc is kiwi fruit In Tamil it is known as Kiwi Pazham and it is a powerhouse of nutrients. It is native to China but developed in New Zealand. It is true that we can get numerous health benefits from eating this kiwi fruit. The health benefits are Boosts immunity: Not many would know that one kiwi fruit has got more vitamin C than orange. Kiwi fruit is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C.  By consuming this kiwi fruit, our immunity would get boosted and we would be able to avoid infections, diseases etc. Especially during changing weather, intake of this fruit would be superb. Helps digestion: The enzyme that is present in kiwi fruit is actinidin and this would break down proteins more efficiently. This would help in easier and smoother digestion. The fibre present in kiwi fruit would help in maintaining gut health. Point is that those persons who have indigestion must eat atleast one kiwi fruit daily. Good for heart health: For our lives to be normal, it is essential that we must have good heart health. In this regard, the intake of kiwi fruit would be superb for us. Being potassium rich, kiwi fruit would help in balancing sodium in the body and BP would get controlled. It has been brought to light that eating kiwi fruit would help us to prevent heart diseases. Good for skin: Collagen production would get supported by the presence of vitamin C in kiwi fruit. Our skin would be firm and glowing. The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles etc would get slowed down due to the presence of antioxidants in the kiwi fruit. Improves sleep quality: Many these days have insomnia or poor sleep. It is worthy to note that eating kiwi fruit would improve sleep quality. It must be noted that persons who suffer from restless nights must eat this fruit. Good for weight management:  Intake of kiwi fruit would help us to manage weight. Point is that we would feel full by eating kiw fruit and by this we would avoid eating unnecessarily. This would help p us to lose weight in a healthier manner.

Suppose there was a method that would hold a fractured bone together within a few minutes and that without the need of screws, plates etc, how would it be? Sound`s Unbelievable right!! For all these years, those persons who had broken bones would have felt severe pain and they would have stayed long in the hospitals for treatment etc. Moreover, healing would also have taken longer for them. Soon, these issues would not be there as the researchers have now found out a speedy fantastic solution in the form of bone glue. What is bone glue or bone-02? It is learnt that a research team in China led by Dr. Lin Xianfeng at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospitals have developed a Bone-02 an adhesive which was inspired by Oysters natural ability to attach to the wet surfaces. It is known that Oyster`s stick well even in the rough water filled conditions and based on this the China based researchers have developed a glue that can hold or bond broken bones. The specialty of this bone glue is that it is bio-absorbable, that is it is easily absorbed in the body as the healing progresses. As a result, there would be no need for a second surgery to remove the metal implants etc. About 150 patients with broken bones were tested with this glue and it was highly effective even under stress. It is worthy to note that this bone glue or Bone 02 worked in real surgeries rather than just lab tests. Potential advantages of this bone gel are It has been found out that this bone glue sets in just 2 to 3 minutes and due to this the operation times could become short. This bone glue would help the doctors to avoid metal plates, screws etc to fix the broken bones.  Hence, issues like complications of rejection, corrosion of the implant and infection would not be there. Finally, no subsequent surgery would be needed to remove the bone glue as it is bio-absorbable. By this, the patient body as well as money would be saved. Things which are not clear as of now: Point is that early results have been superb and encouraging but there are some questions that haven`t been answered. Long term durability is very important and there is a doubt regarding the effectiveness of this bone glue over several years. Just1 50 patients have been tested with this glue but to confirm its safety much broader studies would be required. It is also not clear now regarding the cost, manufacturing of glue and surgeons training etc. Point is that putting new glue for bone fixation means modifying procedures, ensuring supply and   training surgeons for correct use etc.

There is a food that is rich in fibres, rich in omega 3 fatty acids, a complete protein source, mineral enriched etc. This article is all about Chia seeds. Do you know what these are? The chia seeds have become stable in many diets and this has been brought to light by many television shows and Instagram feeds etc. Being both versatile and with high nutritional value, chia seeds have found their way into our everyday meals. Point is that smoothies and baked goods are prepared with chia seeds. Bitter fact is that not all foods could be eaten along with chia seeds. Don`t combine milkshakes and full at fairy with chia seeds: When mixed with liquids, chia seeds would form gel-like consistency. Truth is that those who have a sensitive gut would get a bloating/heavy feeling when chia seeds are consumed along with full- fat dairy. It was brought out by research study in 2013 that high fat foods would slow down digestion and this would make it hard for the body to process fibre present in the chia seeds. To keep the digestive system to function well, it is important to consume chia seeds and full-fat dairy separately. Don`t combine deep fried products with chia seeds: It was revealed by research study in 2021 that chia seeds when combined with deep fried products like pakoras and samosas etc would lead to discomfort, acidity etc. The reason for this is chia seeds would promote digestion but fried foods would slow down digestion. Don`t combine white rice with chia seeds: We could get a digestive imbalance when we eat chia seeds with white rice. Truth is that white rice is carbohydrate rich and has little fibres and chia seeds are full of fibres. There are chances of getting an upset stomach by eating this combination. Don`t combine alcohol with chia seeds: Our body would get dehydrated while chia seeds swell after absorbing water. We could get digestive issues like stomach cramps etc by eating this combination. Don`t combine bananas with chia seeds: What would happen if we eat soluble fibres in excess? We could get constipation and heaviness etc. So, please be careful and don`t eat these foods together. This has been mentioned by a research study in 2021. It is known that both bananas and chia seeds are rich in soluble fibres. Those with a sensitive gut must avoid consuming banana and chia seed smoothies every day. Don`t combine excess sugar with chia seeds: Those with a sensitive gut would find it uncomfortable if they eat excess sugar with chia seeds. Truth is that excess sugar can cause spikes in the blood sugar levels and chia seeds with fibres would clash with this spike. For best results, it is necessary to keep chia seeds with low sugary foods and not add to high sugary desserts etc. Don`t combine excess caffeine with chia seeds: We could get dehydrated when we consume caffeine heavy drinks. This is similar to alcohol intake. By combining excess caffeine with chia seeds, we could get acidity, stomach irritation etc. it must be noted that combining chia seeds with caffeine would be tough for the gut as chia seeds already add bulk. How to consume chia seeds? Firstly, we must soak chia seeds in water for 20 minutes minimum and then consume. It is important to start with small amounts (1 or 2 teaspoons) and then increase gradually. Combining chia seeds with yoghurt, frits would be superb. It is necessary to consume adequate amounts of water throughout the day to prevent bloating.