Eyelid marks warn of heart attack

Yellow markings on the eyelids are a sign of increased risk of heart attack and other illnesses, say researchers in Denmark.

A study published on the BMJ website showed patients with xanthelasmata were 48% more likely to have a heart attack.

Xanthelasmata, which are mostly made up of cholesterol, could be a sign of other fatty build-ups in the body.

Cardiologists said the findings could be used by doctors to help diagnose at-risk patients.

The research team at the Herlev Hospital in Denmark started following 12,745 people in the 1970s.

At the start of the study, 4.4% of patients had xanthelasmata.

Yellow alert

Thirty three years later, 1,872 had had a heart attack, 3,699 had developed heart disease and 8,507 had died - and the data showed that those with the yellow markings around the eyes were at greatest risk.

Those with the markings were 48% more likely to have a heart attack, 39% more likely to have developed heart disease and 14% more likely to have died during the study.

The authors believe patients with xanthelasmata may be more likely to deposit cholesterol around the body.

A build up of fatty material in the walls of arteries - known as atherosclerosis - leads to stroke and heart attack.

For both men and women in several age groups, the data said there was a one in five chance of developing heart disease in the next decade if the patient had xanthelasmata.

The authors said such patients were "generally considered to be at high risk" and should have "lifestyle changes and treatment to reduce [bad] cholesterol."

However they warned that: "Today, most people with xanthelasmata are seen by dermatologists, when they want their xanthelasmata removed for cosmetic reasons.

"Some of these people may not have been managed according to their increased risk of cardiovascular disease."

A review of the study, by US cardiologists Antonio Fernandez and Paul Thompson, concluded that: "Xanthelasmata could be used by general clinicians to help identify people at higher risk of cardiovascular disease."

Judy O'Sullivan, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "There are many different techniques to predict someone's risk of developing heart disease in the future, none of which are perfect. The most important thing is that any one of these techniques is used in the first place."

Coffee shown to reduce risk of skin cancer

Coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer by helping kill off damaged cells that could otherwise turn into tumours, according to a US study published on Monday.

The findings indicate that moderate caffeine drinking, or perhaps even applying coffee to the skin, could be useful in warding off non-melanoma cancer, the most commonly diagnosed of all skin cancers.

Using mice that had been genetically altered to suppress a protein enzyme called ATR, researchers showed that the mice were able to fend off cancer even when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Previous studies have suggested that drinking about a cup of caffeinated coffee per day has the effect of suppressing ATR and triggering the die-off of cells harmed by UV rays.

The altered mice eventually did develop cancer, but three weeks later than normal mice, according to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

After 19 weeks of ultraviolet light exposure, the engineered mice showed 69 percent fewer tumours and four times fewer invasive tumours than the control group.

However, the protective effects only went so far. After 34 weeks of UV exposure, all the mice developed tumours.

"Eventually, if you treat them long enough, the mice will develop cancer so it is not 100 percent protection forever," Allan Conney, one of the study's authors, told AFP.

"Really, with almost any carcinogen, eventually all the animals will develop tumours," added Conney, who is director of the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Conney and his team were able to confirm their hypothesis that caffeine - when consumed or applied to the skin - works by inhibiting ATR. Now they say more studies are needed to see how it may work on humans.

"We want to see whether caffeine has an effect in people when you give it topically," he said.

"Caffeine might become a weapon in prevention because it inhibits ATR and also acts as a sunscreen and directly absorbs damaging UV light."

Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the United States, with more than one million new cases each year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Non-melanoma types of skin cancer, including basal cell and squamous cell types, are the most commonly diagnosed and are often treatable if detected early.

Previous studies have shown coffee drinkers tend to have fewer incidences of breast, uterine, prostate and colon cancers, but the beneficial effects are not seen in people who drink decaffeinated coffee.

What is tuberculosis?

TB most commonly affects the lungs, but can affect almost any part of the body. It can be spread when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks and another person breathes in the bacteria. However, prolonged contact is usually needed for infection to occur.

Some people develop a minor infection, which then settles as their immune system fights it and evidence is only found later incidentally as a scar on a chest x-ray. For others, active TB flares up many years after the initial infection. If the initial infection isn't fought off, it can progress to serious ongoing infection a few weeks after the first contact.

Tuberculosis symptoms

Initially, there may be no symptoms. When symptoms develop, they will vary depending on which part of the body is affected. However, they commonly include:

• A persistent cough, usually for more than three weeks - it may be dry to start with and progress to blood-streaked sputum
• Night sweats for weeks or months
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• High temperature
• Shortness of breath.
  

  Tuberculosis causes

  It's estimated that one-third of the world's population is infected with the bacteria that causes TB. Each year about nine million people develop the disease and up to nearly two million people worldwide are killed by it. Figures from the Health Protection Agency show there were 8,417 cases in the UK in 2007.

  Anyone can get TB. People at greater risk of developing it include:

• Children and older people
• Smokers
• Those living in overcrowded conditions
• Those who have a poor diet
• People with HIV
• The homeless
• Those who have a weakened immune system because of other medical conditions, such as diabetes, or because of other medical therapy, such as immuno-suppressant medication

Tuberculosis treatments

TB is difficult to treat - normal antibiotics don't kill TB bacteria. Combinations of several special antibiotics treat the infection in the majority of cases. These must be taken for long periods, usually at least six months, to avoid becoming ill with TB again and developing a drug-resistant form of the disease.

Even with treatment, some people develop long-term complications from infection.

Travellers to countries where TB is prevalent are at greater risk. A vaccine is available, which is offered to those at high risk of contracting the disease. Check with your doctor whether your travel plans put you at risk of TB and discuss possible vaccination.

Express Bus From Sungai Petani .

Sungai Petani express bus terminal located at Jalan Kuala Ketill and Jalan Market, near to Sungai Petani intercity train station.

Address of Terminal:

STATE		LOCATION		TERMINAL ADDRESS
KEDAH		SUNGAI PETANI		JALAN KUALA KETIL, SUNGAI PETANI EXPRESS BUS TERMINAL

Express buses depart from this terminal:

SUNGAI PETANI
OPERATOR:				KONSORTIUM TRANSNASIONAL BERHAD
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KOTA BHARU		10.15AM		RM29.80		RM22.40
				10.45PM		RM29.80		RM22.40
		IPOH		4.15PM		RM16.90		RM12.60
				10.15PM		RM16.90		RM12.60
		KUALA KANGSAR		2.15PM		RM12.30		RM9.30
				7.30PM		RM12.30		RM9.30
		LUMUT		2.15PM		RM22.90		RM17.20
				7.30PM		RM22.90		RM17.20
		TELUK INTAN		4.15PM		RM24.50		RM18.30
				9.15PM		RM24.50		RM18.30
		KUALA LUMPUR		9.30AM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				11.00AM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				1.45PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				4.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				6.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				11.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				11.59PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
		SEREMBAN		11.30AM		RM39.60		RM29.70
				11.15PM		RM39.60		RM29.70
		MELAKA		11.30AM		RM46.30		RM34.80
				11.15PM		RM46.30		RM34.80
		JERTEH		11.15PM		RM37.30		RM28.00
		KUALA TERENGANNU		11.15PM		RM46.30		RM34.80
		KAJANG		1.45PM		RM42.90		RM32.20
OPERATOR:				PLUSLINER
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KUALA LUMPUR		10.00AM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				12.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				2.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				4.00PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
				11.30PM		RM36.00		RM27.00
		PUTRAJAYA		2.00PM		RM38.30		RM28.70
		PUCHONG TESCO		2.00PM		RM37.40		RM28.00
OPERATOR:				SUPERNICE EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		NORMAL FARE		ONLINE FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KUALA LUMPUR		9.30AM		RM35.00		RM30.00
				11.15AM		RM33.00		NA
				12.00PM		RM35.00		RM30.00
				1.30PM		RM35.00		NA
				3.00PM		RM35.00		RM30.00
				3.30PM		RM35.00		NA
				4.30PM		RM35.00		NA
				10.45PM		RM35.00		NA
				12.30AM		RM35.00		NA
		KLANG		11.15AM		RM35.00		RM32.00
				12.00PM		RM37.00		NA
				3.00PM		RM37.00		RM32.00
				10.45PM		RM37.00		NA
		SHAH ALAM		11.15AM		RM35.00		RM32.00
				12.00PM		RM37.00		NA
				3.00PM		RM37.00		RM32.00
				10.45PM		RM37.00		NA
		KAJANG		11.00AM		RM37.00		NA
				3.30PM		RM37.00		NA
		SEREMBAN		9.30AM		RM37.00		NA
				11.00AM		RM37.00		NA
				9.30PM		RM37.00		NA
				10.30PM		RM37.00		NA
		MELAKA		10.30PM		RM43.00		RM37.00
		MUAR		10.30PM		RM60.00		RM53.00
		BATU PAHAT		10.30PM		RM60.00		RM53.00
		JOHOR BAHRU		9.30AM		RM65.00		NA
				7.00PM		RM65.00		NA
				8.30PM		RM65.00		NA
				9.00PM		RM65.00		NA
				10.30PM		RM65.00		NA
		SINGAPORE		7.00PM		RM65.00		NA
				8.30PM		RM65.00		NA
				9.00PM		RM65.00		NA
OPERATOR:				CEPAT EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		ALOR SETAR		4.30AM		RM5.10		RM3.80
				6.00AM		RM4.90		RM3.70
		BUKIT KAYU HITAM		4.30AM		RM8.70		RM6.50
				5.30AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
				6.00AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
		BATU PAHAT		10.30PM		RM54.30		RM40.80
		BALING		10.30PM		RM19.50		RM14.60
		BUTTERWORTH		12.30PM		RM3.90		RM2.90
				10.15PM		RM3.90		RM2.90
				10.30PM		RM3.90		RM2.90
		DUNGUN		10.30PM		RM52.00		RM39.00
		IPOH		12.30PM		RM16.80		RM12.60
				10.15PM		RM16.80		RM12.60
				10.30PM		RM16.80		RM12.60
		JELI		10.30PM		RM28.50		RM21.40
		JERTEH		10.30PM		RM39.80		RM29.80
		KUALA TERENGGANU		10.30PM		RM42.00		RM31.50
		KOTA TINGGI		10.15PM		RM68.00		RM34.00
		KUALA LUMPUR		12.30PM		RM34.20		RM25.60
				10.15PM		RM34.20		RM25.60
				10.30PM		RM34.20		RM25.60
		KANGAR		5.30AM		RM16.80		RM12.60
		KEMAMAN		10.30PM		RM60.00		RM45.00
		KLUANG		10.15PM		RM55.00		RM41.00
		KUANTAN		10.30PM		RM66.80		RM50.10
		MELAKA		12.30PM		RM46.30		RM34.70
				10.15PM		RM46.30		RM34.70
				10.30PM		RM46.30		RM34.70
		MERSING		10.15PM		RM68.00		RM51.00
		MUAR		10.30PM		RM54.30		RM40.80
		PONTIAN		10.30PM		RM60.60		RM45.50
		SEGAMAT		12.30PM		RM56.80		RM42.60
				10.15PM		RM56.80		RM42.60
				10.30PM		RM56.80		RM42.60
		SEREMBAN		12.30PM		RM39.60		RM29.60
				10.15PM		RM39.60		RM29.60
				10.30PM		RM39.60		RM29.60
OPERATOR:				MAJU EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		ALOR SETAR		6.30AM		RM8.70		RM6.90
		BUKIT KAYU HITAM		6.30AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
		KANGAR		6.30AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
		KUALA PERLIS		6.30AM		RM9.00		RM6.80
		KLANG		5.00PM		RM31.50		RM23.65
		SHAH ALAM		5.00PM		RM32.20		RM24.15
OPERATOR:				MARALINER
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		ALOR SETAR		11.00AM		RM5.60		RM4.00
		PARIT BUNTAR		9.15AM		RM7.30		RM5.50
				3.15PM		RM7.30		RM5.50
				5.30PM		RM7.30		RM5.50
		IPOH		9.15AM		RM16.90		RM12.50
				3.15PM		RM16.90		RM12.50
				5.30PM		RM16.90		RM12.50
		KUALA LUMPUR		10.00AM		RM34.00		RM25.50
				11.15AM		RM34.00		RM25.50
				5.15PM		RM34.00		RM25.50
				7.15PM		RM34.00		RM25.50
OPERATOR:				UTAMA EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KUANTAN		8.00PM		RM54.20		RM40.70
				8.30PM		RM54.20		RM40.70
		TEMERLOH		8.00PM		RM43.50		RM32.60
				8.30PM		RM43.50		RM32.60
OPERATOR:				SANI EXPRESS
DEPARTING FROM		DESTINATION		TIME		ADULT FARE		CHILDREN FARE
SUNGAI PETANI		KUALA LUMPUR		11.00PM		RM37.00		RM28.00
		KLANG		11.00PM		RM40.00		RM30.00
		SHAH ALAM		11.00PM		RM40.00

GALLSTONES

What are gallstones?

Gallstones are lumps of solid material that form in the gall bladder - the reservoir for bile. Most are the size of peas, but they can be as large as pebbles. Gallstones can be found in the gall bladder itself, or in the bile duct that connects the gall bladder to the small intestine.

Gallstones are made of cholesterol, bile pigments or calcium, or a combination of these.

Gallstones symptoms

Often gallstones don't cause symptoms, but if one partially or completely blocks the normal flow of bile it may cause an attack of biliary colic, with upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

These episodes are normally brief and typically follow a fatty meal, which causes the gall bladder to contract.

Stones that continue to block the drainage of bile can cause inflammation or infection of the gall bladder and bile ducts, jaundice and acute pancreatitis.

Causes of gallstones

Many people will develop gallstones. Overweight people over 40, pregnant women and women in general are all more likely to develop them. They're also more common in people of Asian and European origin.

Eating a high-fat diet makes gallstones more likely to form.

Gallstones treatments

Eating a low-fat diet and maintaining an ideal weight may help to prevent the formation of gallstones.

Occasionally they pass out into the intestines on their own, especially if they're small. Treatment is only needed if gallstones are causing problems.

Complementary therapies may be tried to help remove gallstones, but there's little evidence they do any good.

Medical (non-surgical) treatments include a drug to dissolve the gallstones (ursodeoxycholic acid) and ultrasonic shockwaves, called lithotripsy, to break down the stones within the body so they can pass out on their own. These are suitable for about one in five patients, but there may be side-effects and the stones may simply form again.

There are various different surgical options:

• Operating through an endoscope, a telescope into the gut. The stones may be broken down within the gall bladder and removed
• Removal of stones and gall bladder (cholecystectomy) - this is the most reliable treatment. As with all operations, there are risks and complications, but these are steadily reducing as techniques improve

Cholecystectomy may be done as an open operation through a cut in the abdomen, or a closed or minimally invasive operation via an endoscope put through a tiny cut in the abdominal wall. There used to be concern about the safety of this type of surgery, but in skilled hands it's now as safe as open surgery and is how most cholecystectomies are done in the UK.

After gall bladder surgery

It used to be thought people adapted quickly to the loss of a gall bladder, but there may be problems. Some patients still have symptoms, albeit much milder. Others have problems with bile refluxing into the stomach and gullet, causing severe indigestion.

There may also be reduced absorption of fat resulting in diarrhoea. This usually - but not always

Rapid growth of high-speed rail in China

CHINA only opened its high-speed rail service to passengers four years ago, but it now boasts the world's biggest network, with more than 8,300km of track - a figure that is growing rapidly.

Trains are by far the most popular form of long-distance transport in the country of more than 1.3 billion people where, despite three decades of blistering economic growth, air travel remains far too expensive for most people.

China recorded more than 1.68 billion passenger trips on its network in 2010, dwarfing the 248 million airline passenger journeys in the same period.

The vast country's 91,000km rail network carries hundreds of millions of people every year and stretches from the eastern metropolis of Shanghai to the remote Tibetan plateau.

In recent years, the government has invested heavily in high-speed train links as it strives to meet the growing demands on the transport system.

Last year, government spending on the high-speed railway surpassed 700 billion yuan (S$132 billion), and China is now home to around half the world's high-speed tracks.

Cracks appear in China's economic model

AS THE United States and Europe struggle with debt crises, China's economy appears in robust health, but analysts say its growth model is too dependent on investment and cannot be sustained.

Sitting on foreign exchange reserves worth nearly US$3.2 trillion (S$3.9 trillion) and with breakneck growth of 9.5 per cent in the second quarter, the world's second largest economy appears to have breezed through the global financial crisis.

'Clearly China is becoming a larger percentage of the world economy and its growth rate is higher than the developed world,' said Fraser Howie, co-author of Red Capitalism: the Fragile Financial Foundation of China's Extraordinary Rise.

'It is becoming stronger as a result of that but I would argue that much of that strength is misleading,' he told AFP.

When the global economic crisis hit its huge export industry in 2008-9, China unleashed a torrent of credit to finance new highways, high-speed railways and real-estate projects, in a bid to stimulate domestic demand.

Now, experts warn China's growth has become too reliant on investment.