The type of bacteria that cancer patients harbour in the gut might affect their odds of responding to certain treatments, two early studies hint.

These trillions of bacteria and other microbes that live in the human intestines are referred to as the “microbiome”.

The research, in humans and mice, adds to evidence that gut bacteria play a key role in the immune system.

Freeing up the immune system

Both studies looked at whether there’s a link between patients’ gut bacteria and their responses to newer cancer drugs called PD-1 inhibitors. The drugs, which include Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Opdivo (nivolumab), work by freeing up the immune system to attack cancer cells.

The drugs are approved for several cancers, including advanced cases of melanoma, lung, bladder and stomach cancers.

In one study, researchers focused on 112 patients with advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The investigators found that those who’d responded to PD-1 therapy tended to have a gut “microbiome” that was distinct from those of patients who did not respond.

The new research appears in Science.

Those who’d responded generally had more diversity in their bacteria, plus higher concentrations of common bacteria called Ruminococcus and Faecalibacterium.

Still, the researchers said the findings do not prove that those bacteria improve the odds of doing well on PD-1 therapy, and stressed that it’s too soon to make recommendations to cancer patients – including whether they should take “probiotic” supplements.

Diversity of gut bacteria

“Only a clinical trial can show that. This needs to be tested,” said senior researcher Dr Jennifer Wargo, an associate professor at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

However, the findings build on evidence of a “clear link between the gut microbiome and immune function,” she said.

Studies have found that the diversity of those bugs – particularly in the gut – is linked to the risks of various health conditions, including those related to immune function.

According to a previous Health24 article, analysing the composition of people’s collection of gut bacteria can also help improve identification of those who are at risk for, or already have, colon cancer.

In general, studies have found, the more diversity in the gut microbiome, the better.

Wargo’s study involved a group of melanoma patients who’d responded to a PD-1 inhibitor – meaning their cancer had stabilised or regressed for at least six months – and a group that did not respond.

Gut bacteria transplanted

Overall, the responders showed an “abundance” of Ruminococcus and Faecalibacterium. In contrast, the non-responders had a high concentration of Bacteroidales bacteria.

To test whether the microbes might have a direct influence on treatment response, the researchers transplanted gut bacteria from the patients into lab mice.

Those animals also responded better to PD-1 therapy, versus mice that had transplants from non-responding patients, according to the report.

In the second study, French researchers focused on 249 patients treated with a PD-1 inhibitor for lung, kidney or urinary tract cancers. Just over one-quarter had taken antibiotics to treat an infection shortly before or after starting PD-1 treatment. (Antibiotics are drugs that kill bacteria).

Overall, those antibiotic patients had lower survival odds. Plus, 69% of patients who responded to PD-1 treatment had detectable amounts of bacteria called Akkermansia muciniphila, versus 34% of patients who did not respond.

It all raises “exciting possibilities,” Wargo said. Namely, could manipulating the gut microbiome improve the chances of responding to cancer treatment?

But there are plenty of unanswered questions. For one, “We don’t really know what constitutes a ‘favourable’ microbiome,” Wargo noted. So there is no way to tell cancer patients whether any probiotic might benefit them.

Tailoring treatment

In fact, she said, if patients were to take a random supplement, it might end up causing harm. In addition, there also needs to be more research into gut bacteria and responses to other cancer therapies, Wargo added.

Dr Nikhil Khushalani specialises in treating skin cancer at Moffitt Cancer Center, in Tampa, Florida. He cautioned that the study findings are a “first step”, but also a “very intriguing” one.

Khushalani said the findings raise the possibility of testing patients’ stool samples to see who has a greater likelihood of responding to PD-1 therapy. “That could help us in truly tailoring treatment,” he suggested.

Then there’s the possibility of actually altering patients’ microbiomes – whether through probiotics or even faecal transplants, Khushalani added.

Like Wargo, he cautioned patients against self-treating with probiotics, given the unknowns.

“But that could be where we’re heading,” Khushalani said. “Hopefully, this will open the door to even more research in this arena.”

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As you might have overheard in the locker room, trying to have sex as many times as possible in one day is a thing. In pursuit of orgasmic pleasure, couples brave chafing, exhaustion, and dehydration – all in the name of setting a personal record (or just really enjoying sex).

Naturally, we wondered how many times ambitious couples had actually done the deed in the span of one day and how those steamy marathons panned out. So we asked a few people to give us their PBs – in bed. Prepare to slow clap.

Read more: The Best Sex Positions for Every Penis Size

1.“My man and I shacked up for the big snowstorm in New York City a few weekends ago. On that Saturday, we couldn’t really go out and do anything, so we started with morning sex and decided to have a ‘bed day.’ We alternated between boning, eating non-perishables, and watching TV. We did it six times in about 12 hours.” – Brenda F.

2. “I think we went four rounds, but I didn’t get off every time. I also think I was super-dehydrated, which is probably why I couldn’t finish. We had to drink a lot of fluids and use a lot of lube. Still, it was lots of fun.” – Jared M.

3. “I had some very hot sex with this guy I just started seeing, and we came up with the idea to get it on as many times as we could in 24 hours. We went four times and probably could have done more, but at a certain point it just becomes uncomfortable, physically. Oh, and it’s tiring, too.” – Hilary P.

4. “When you’re a teenager who has just discovered sex, you want to do it as much as you possibly can. His parents were out of town for the weekend, and we just went at it all over the place, including in his hot tub. When I sneezed the next day, my vagina hurt.” – Brittany T.

Read more: 10 Annoying Things You Do During Sex

5. “When I was on a beach trip with a bunch of friends, I hooked up with a female friend the first night. I came very quickly, which was embarrassing. But then a few nights later, I got really drunk on cheap beer, and we hooked up again. We ended up having sex three more times that night and once in the morning.” – Rob A.

6. “When my wife and I were on our honeymoon, we were supposed to go snorkeling and hiking, but the weather was terrible. Instead of getting upset, my wife just suggested that we have sex as many times as we could. The record was five times in one day.” – Zack N.

7. “I was doing ‘Netflix and Chill’ before it had a name. In college, I went over to a guy’s apartment and we spent the whole day having sex and watching movies. We had sex four times, but there were multiple orgasms during one of the sessions.” – Cara D.

8. “I had sex with my wife seven times in a row, and let me tell you something: It wasn’t as fun as I thought it would be. We were trying to have our first kid, and she was keeping track of her ovulation. On one of the peak days, she made me call in sick to work and then have sex with her all day. It was a lot, and my penis started to hurt and feel raw. That was the most times we did it in one day.” – Brandon E.

Related: The Best Tricks For Lasting Longer In Bed

9. “I’ve only ever had sex twice in one day. I feel like that’s enough for me. I don’t want to do it so many times in such a short period that I quit appreciating how awesome sex is.” – Nate A.

10. “After being with my boyfriend for about three years, he went on this study abroad trip to France. I went to visit him for a weekend and we had sex four times in one day. It took a big chunk of time out of doing touristy things, but oh well!” – Meredith L.

^{This article was originally published in Men’s Health}

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“I don’t truly know where this rule came from,” says Dana Hunnes, PhD, MPH, RD, senior dietitian at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and adjunct assistant professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, noting that there’s nothing magical about 6pm.

And honestly, who is even home from work – let alone sitting at the kitchen table – by 6pm?

The clock-weight connection

That being said, while the body doesn’t fiendishly stockpile food as fat when the clock strikes 6pm, eating at night is linked to weight gain. 

And limiting late-night eating has been shown to result in weight loss, too. This is likely because no one gets out of bed in the middle of the night to raid the refrigerator for kale.

Read more: 3 ways to curb your late-night cravings

“People are eating a bag of chips, sweets or other potentially high-calorie foods,” says Hunnes. So eliminating late-night eating often results in eating healthier. 

Case in point: When Brigham Young University researchers had 29 young men stop eating between 7pm and 6am for two weeks, they lost an average of about half a kilo.

When they were allowed to eat at night for the following two weeks, they gained 0.6kg back. 

This all came down to calories: When the guys cut out nighttime snacking, they reduced their daily intake by an average of 996 kilojoules.

Hungry at night? Do this

A lot of late-night munching is mindless, which isn’t helping either. Mindless eating is consistently linked to overeating and weight gain. 

But if you’re legitimately hungry in the evening or even late at night, don’t be afraid to eat. You should never push through hunger pangs because of what the clock says.

That philosophy doesn’t really work for weight-loss and it fosters an unhealthy relationship with food. 

Instead, reach for foods like produce, whole grains or lean proteins, says Hunnes.

And keep portions on the small side – you can always go back for seconds if you’re still hungry.

Read more: The 4 worst and best things to eat before bed

If late-night hunger is a pretty typical occurrence for you, you’re probably not eating enough during the first half of the day. 

“Instead of thinking about not eating in the evening, focus on fuelling well all day long,” says dietitian Anna Rossinoff, RD, and co-founder of Eat with Zest.

“Clients tell me that they try to cut back on calories throughout the day, but they get home from work and find themselves eating out of control,” says Rossinoff.

Your body doesn’t really know what time it is, but it does know when it’s deprived of fuel, she says. 

Your move: Start your day off with a hearty breakfast containing about 20g of protein. Follow that with another protein-rich balanced meal every three to four hours, says Rossinoff.

“If you end up eating after 6pm, don’t sweat it,” she says. “But, if you fuel yourself adequately all day long, you probably won’t be nearly as hungry at night,” she says.

Read more: Here’s the eating schedule you should follow for optimal health

This article was originally published on www.mh.co.za

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Families who refuse to look after mentally ill relatives, stigmatisation of the issue by communities, minimal patient visits and a shortage of water are plaguing the running of the Hayani Specialised Psychiatric Hospital, outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo.

Mental Health Month

Acting CEO of the hospital, Robert Lavhelani said, “We have the challenge of families who just come here and dump their mentally ill siblings. They never bother to visit again to monitor their progress. Some of the patients have been living here for years without their family having ever visited them.”

Lavhelani was speaking during a recent celebration hosted at the hospital to celebrate Mental Health Month.

He said that families who neglect mentally ill patients fuel the stigma against mental health.

“We have managed to track down some of the families of patients who have been with us for many years. But when we try to re-unite them, the families swear and insult us, saying that they have nothing to do with people who are mentally ill.”

Shortage of running water

“These are some of the things which negatively affect the work we are doing with our patients. Families must also play their part for us to end the stigma around mental illness,” he said.

Hayani is the only hospital in Vhembe able to accommodate all patients suffering from mental illnesses.

The hospital, which is situated at Makwarela township, also faces a shortage of running water.

Lavhelani said they have been trying to raise the issue with the Vhembe District Municipality for “quite some time now”.

Mashudu Netshifhefhe, a former patient at the hospital, said the stigma associated with mental illness made it difficult for patients to cope when they were finally discharged from hospital.

Mental illness can be treated

“Life becomes even harder when people know that you have a mental illness. They treat you like a dog and even your closest family members distance themselves from you. Some people, when they see you, they run for their lives,” said Netshifhefhe.

He has been living with bipolar for more than 10 years. He was diagnosed after he was retrenched from work.

“People need to be taught that a mental illness is like any other disease and can be treated if the patient takes their medication correctly. We need support from society, friends and family members for us to be well. We did not choose to have all these mental illnesses. And those who do not have supportive family members must join churches when they are discharged, as pastors will never discriminate against them but will support them to be better individuals,” added Netshifhefhe. – Health-e News.

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Ndivhuwo Mukwevho

World Stroke Day is celebrated to raise awareness of an often fatal experience. Strokes can, however, be avoided. 

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, 10 people in South Africa have a stroke every hour. In addition, one in three South Africans suffers from high blood pressure, which is a major risk for stroke.

Suzan’s story

A stroke can literally be described as a “brain attack”, where the blood flow to the brain is temporarily cut off or limited. This causes a lack of vital oxygen and nutrients to the brain, causing cells to die within minutes.

Although not all strokes result in death, they can change lives forever. In 2010, Suzan Raphuti-Letsoalo from Atteridgeville, Pretoria, suffered a haemorrhagic stroke following the birth of her youngest child.

She spent close to a month in a coma. When she woke up, she was unable to walk, use her arms or speak. The former social worker and mother of three suddenly had to face drastic changes in her life.

As if taking care of a newborn baby wasn’t challenging enough, she also had to relearn to walk and talk during that time. She underwent intense rehabilitation – and to the great surprise of her doctors she recovered. The fact that she regained her speech and movement was a pure miracle.

Suzan was unable to return to work after her ordeal, but made use of the few resources she had to create a support system for other stroke survivors in her area.

“To me, after this ordeal, stroke is everybody’s issue right now,” says Suzan. “It’s not only an issue for stroke survivors and their families – a stroke can attack everybody and it knows no age.”

Know your numbers

Suzan’s support group is called Stroke Tamara, and aims to teach people about the dangers of a stroke and the importance of acting quickly in an emergency. In the lead-up to World Stroke Day, Stroke Tamara partnered with Angels Initiative to create and raise awareness of stroke at the Bara taxi rank in Johannesburg.

Here, people are receiving information about strokes – they can also get tested for high blood pressure, which is one of the main risk factors for stroke.

“Know your numbers – your blood pressure, your glucose levels,” says Dr Shanil Naidoo from the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. He says if you know that you have high blood pressure for example, you will know that you are at high risk of having a stroke and can do something about it. 

Prof Feroza Motara, Head of Emergency Medicine at the University of Witwatersrand, states that the Angels Initiative was adopted to raise awareness of stroke, not only for World Stroke Day, but to improve treatment, facilities and the capability of handling acute strokes in general.

“Ordinary citizens are essentially the ‘first responders’ when a stroke occurs. If they are able to act with certainty and speed to secure emergency treatment, we can save many lives and reduce the severity of long-term damage,” she said. 

Lower your risk

You can lower your risk for a stroke by taking the following measures:

• Follow a balanced lifestyle: eat healthy and exercise regularly.
• Get your blood pressure and blood sugar tested regularly.
• Cut out salt.
• Consume alcohol sparingly and quit smoking. 

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Marelize Wilke