Virtual colonoscopy as effective as traditional one: study

WASHINGTON : Virtual colonoscopies, done with scanners that create a three-dimensional image of the intestinal wall, are just as effective in detecting advanced polyps as the more invasive traditional colonoscopy, a study released on Thursday found.

The University of Wisconsin Medical School study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, compared virtual colonoscopies of 3,120 adults with an average age of 57, and the traditional colonoscopies of 3,163 adults with an average age of 58.

The latter exam is routinely recommended in patients over 50 years of age to locate intestinal polyps and removing them, aiming to stop the spread of cancer as colon cancer is among the deadliest forms of the disease. In the United States alone it kills 55,000 people a year.

Traditional colonoscopies are normally performed under general anaesthetic, with a thin flexible tube called a colonoscope inserted through the anus to explore the intestines.

Biopsies and many abnormal growths can be taken out during the procedure which requires the patient to first drink four liters of liquid.

Virtual colonoscopy requires some injection of air. The removal of any polyps found requires a separate procedure.

The study found almost the same number of advanced neoplasms (over 6 mm): 123 with virtual colonoscopy and 121 with the traditional procedure. - AFP/de

Poor eyesight an indication of poor health

POOR eyesight could be linked to higher death rates, says a new study.
Reflecting a trend in Australia, Britain and the United States, a new study among Chinese in Singapore's Tanjong Pagar district has shown that those with poor vision are about three times more likely to die than those with good eyesight.

The study, conducted over a seven-year period, found that mortality rates were higher regardless of other underlying health conditions. It tracked Singaporeans aged 30 to 79 years from 1996.

Associate Director Wong Tien Yin of the Singapore Eye Research Institute, at the Singapore National Eye Centre, who spearheaded the the study, said the findings showed that poor eyesight was not to be taken in isolation.

'People tend to underestimate the impact of visual impairment, but this shows it's a marker for poorer overall health, and isn't just for ophthalmologists to be concerned about,' said Dr Wong.

Previous studies on visual acuity and its link to mortality have been carried out in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. Although the link was noted in all countries, the correlation was strongest in Singapore.

Fun Phrase !

You might like it. This is hilarious... ..even an Englishman could not construct sentences using numeric, which is exclusive only to Malaysians and Singaporeans.

Ah Lek was asked to make a sentence using 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Not only did he do it 1 to 10, he did it again from 10 back to 1. This is what he came up with.....

1 day I go 2 climb a 3 outside a house to peep. But the couple saw me, so I panic and 4 down. The man rushed out and wanted to 5 with me.. I ran until I fell 6 and threw up. So I go into 7 -eleven and grabbed some 8 to throw at him. Then I took a 9 and try to stab at him. 10 God he run away.

10 I put the 9 back and pay for the 8 and left 7-eleven. Next day I called my boss and told him I was 6 . He said 5 , tomorrow also no need to come back 4 work. He also asked me to go climb a 3 and jump down. I don't understand. I am so nice 2 him but I don't know what he 1.