What causes coronary heart disease?

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is arguably the the UK's biggest killer. CHD develops when the blood supply to the muscles and tissues of the heart becomes obstructed by the build-up of fatty materials inside the walls of the coronary arteries.

What is coronary heart disease?

Your heart is a pump the size of a fist that sends oxygen-rich blood around your body. The blood travels to the organs of your body through blood vessels known as arteries, and returns to the heart through veins.

Your heart needs its own blood supply to keep working. Heart disease occurs when the arteries that carry this blood, known as coronary arteries, start to become blocked by a build-up of fatty deposits.

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How common is CHD?

• CHD causes round 74,000 deaths each year. That's an average of 200 people every day
• In the UK, there are an estimated 2.3 million people living with the condition
• About one in six men and one in nine women die from the disease
• Death rates are highest in Scotland and northern England
• In the past couple of decades, deaths from CHD have nearly halved due to better treatments

Source: British Heart Foundation

The inner lining of the coronary arteries gradually becomes furred with a thick, porridge-like sludge of substances, known as plaques, and formed from cholesterol. This clogging-up process is known as atherosclerosis.

The plaques narrow the arteries and reduce the space through which blood can flow. They can also block nutrients being delivered to the artery walls, which means the arteries lose their elasticity. In turn, this can lead to high blood pressure, which also increases the risk of heart disease. This same process goes on in the arteries throughout the body, and can lead to high blood pressure which puts further strain on the heart.

If your arteries are partially blocked you can experience angina - severe chest pains that can spread across your upper body - as your heart struggles to keep beating on a restricted supply of oxygen. You are also at greater risk of a heart attack.

Some people have a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis due to genetic factors - one clue to this is a family history of heart disease in middle-age. Lifestyle factors that increase the risk include an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, diabetes, high blood pressure and, most importantly, smoking.

However, in the past couple of decades deaths from coronary heart disease have nearly halved, thanks to better treatments.

What happens during a heart attack?

A heart attack happens when one of the coronary arteries becomes completely blocked. This usually happens when a plaque, which is already narrowing an artery, cracks or splits open. This triggers the formation of a blood clot around the plaque, and it is this blood clot that then completely blocks the artery.

With their supply of oxygen completely blocked, the heart muscle and tissue supplied by that artery start to die. Emergency medical intervention is needed to unblock the artery and restore blood flow. This may consist of treatment with drugs to dissolve the clot or thrombus, or a small operation done through the skin and blood vessels to open up the blocked artery.

The outcome of a heart attack hinges on the amount of the muscle that dies before it is corrected. The smaller the area affected, the greater the chance of survival and recovery.

While a heart attack will always cause some permanent damage, some areas may be able to recover if they are not deprived of blood for too long. The sooner a heart attack is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chance of recovery.

Other heart diseases

Other diseases that commonly affect the heart include:

• Chronic heart failure - CHD is one of the main causes of heart failure. It affects around one million people in the UK, and many more have it but haven't been formally diagnosed. Here, the heart doesn't works effectively as a pump, and fluid gathers in the lower limbs and lungs. This causes a variety of symptoms and significantly reduces quality of life.
• Infection - bacterial infections such as endocarditis are much rarer these days thanks to antibiotics, but can damage the valves of the heart as well as other tissues. Viral infections can damage the heart muscle leading to heart failure, or cause abnormal heart rhythms.
• Congenital heart disease - a number of defects can develop in the heart as a baby grows in the womb. One example is a hole in the heart, also known as a septal defect. Congenital heart disease may cause abnormal blood flow and put excessive strain on the infant's heart after it has been born.
• Cardiomyopathy - a disease of the heart muscle that can occur for different reasons, including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, viral infection, high alcohol intake and thyroid disease.
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Nutrition 'must be a global priority', say researchers

Malnutrition is responsible for 45% of the global deaths of children under the age of five, research published in the Lancet medical journal suggests.

Poor nutrition leads to the deaths of about 3.1 million under-fives annually, it says.

An international team reviewed different causes of malnutrition in pregnancy and childhood.

They say the first 1,000 days of life - from conception to two years - have lasting consequences for health.

Malnutrition - which includes being overweight or obese as well as under-nourished - also has an economic impact.

According to a recent United Nations report, malnutrition is estimated to cost the world $3.5tn (£2.3tn) - or $500 for every person - in healthcare and lost productivity.

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“Start Quote

If maternal and child nutrition can be optimised, the benefits will accrue and extend over generations, which is why we must work together now to seize this opportunity.”

Dr Richard HortonThe Lancer

A team led by Prof Robert Black, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, US, reviewed evidence on maternal and child under-nutrition and obesity in low-income and middle-income countries since 2008.

The team also assessed national and international progress on nutrition programmes.

Prof Black and colleagues say while some progress has been made in recent years, they estimate that more than 165 million children were affected by stunting (low height for age) and 50 million by wasting (low weight for height) in 2011.

An estimated 900,000 lives could be saved in 34 countries if 10 proven nutritional interventions were scaled-up to 90% of the world, they say.

"The nutritional consequences of the months during pregnancy and the conditions during the first two years of life have very important consequences for mortality and for adult chronic disease," Prof Black told BBC News.

"The early nutritional deficit results in developmental consequences for the individual and that has implications for their ability to succeed in school and ultimately in society to have the most productive jobs."

The researchers warn that countries will not break out of poverty unless nutrition becomes a global priority.

Dr Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of the Lancet, said: "If maternal and child nutrition can be optimised, the benefits will accrue and extend over generations, which is why we must work together now to seize this opportunity."

Experts working in development are gathering in London this weekend for a summit on nutrition hosted by the UK and Brazilian governments.

This will be followed by the annual summit of leaders from the G8 countries.

The Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign is calling for $1bn per year in additional aid money to be spend on malnutrition by 2015.

Enough Food for Everyone IF spokesperson Anita Tiessen said:

"These new figures confirm our worst fears - that hundreds of thousands more children are dying from malnutrition than we previously thought.

"We have made incredible progress in tackling child deaths around the world, but malnutrition remains the Achilles' heel in our efforts to prevent millions of needless deaths each year. We must urgently prioritise tackling hunger if we are to continue the progress we have made."

READMORE:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22779656

HIV inner shell structure revealed

Researchers have for the first time unravelled the complex structure of the inner protein shell of HIV.

The US team, reporting in Nature, also worked out exactly how all the components of the shell or 'capsid' fit together at the atomic level.

Until now the exact structure had proved elusive because of the capsid's large size and irregular shape.

The finding opens the way for new types of drugs, the researchers from the University of Pittsburgh said.

It was already known that the capsid, which sits inside the outer membrane of the virus, was a cone-shaped shell made up of protein sub-units in a lattice formation.

But because it is huge, asymmetrical and non-uniform, standard techniques for working out the structure had proved ineffective.

Computer model of HIV capsid structure

The team used advanced imaging techniques and a supercomputer to calculate how the 1,300 proteins which make up the cone-shaped capsid fit together.

Critical interactions

The process revealed critical interactions between molecules in areas that are necessary for the shell's assembly and stability.

These potential vulnerabilities in the protective coat of the viral genome could be exploited by scientists designing new drugs to tackle the problem of HIV resistance, the researchers explained.

Study leader Dr Peijun Zhang, associate professor in structural biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine said: "The capsid is critically important for HIV replication, so knowing its structure in detail could lead us to new drugs that can treat or prevent the infection.

"The capsid has to remain intact to protect the HIV genome and get it into the human cell, but once inside, it has to come apart to release its content so that the virus can replicate.

"Developing drugs that cause capsid dysfunction by preventing its assembly or disassembly might stop the virus from reproducing."

She added that the fast mutation rate of HIV made drug resistance a big problem.

"This approach has the potential to be a powerful alternative to our current HIV therapies, which work by targeting certain enzymes."

Prof Simon Lovell, a structural biologist at the University of Manchester, said not only had the researchers managed to achieve something that was very difficult, they had also found some really interesting results.

"The big problem with HIV is that it evolves so quickly that any drug you use you get drug resistance which is why we use a multi-drug cocktail.

"This is another target, another thing we can go after to develop a new class of drugs to work alongside the existing class.

READMORE:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22708437

Common painkillers 'pose heart risk

Two common painkillers, ibuprofen and diclofenac, can slightly increase the risk of heart problems if taken in high doses for a long time, data suggests.

People with severe arthritis often take the drugs, which also calm inflammation, to go about daily life.

The researchers said some patients would deem the risk acceptable, but they should be given the choice.

A study, published in the Lancet, showed the drugs posed even greater risks for smokers and the overweight.

The risks have been reported before, but a team of researchers at the University of Oxford analysed the issue in unprecedented detail in order to help patients make an informed choice.

The group investigated more than 353,000 patient records from 639 separate clinical trials to assess the impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

They looked at high-dose prescriptions levels, rather than over-the-counter pain relief, of 150mg diclofenac or 2,400mg ibuprofen each day.

They showed that for every 1,000 people taking the drugs there would be three additional heart attacks, four more cases of heart failure and one death as well cases of stomach bleeding - every year as a result of taking the drugs.

So the number of heart attacks would increase from eight per 1,000 people per year normally, to 11 per 1,000 people per year with the drugs.

"Three per thousand per year sounds like it is quite a low risk, but the judgement has to be made by patients," said lead researcher Prof Colin Baigent.

He added: "So if you're a patient and you go and sit in front of your doctor and discuss it, you are the one who should be making the judgement about whether three per thousand per year is worth it to allow you, potentially, to go about your daily life."

He said this should not concern people taking a short course of these drugs, for example for headaches.

However, he did warn that those already at risk of heart problems would be at even greater risk as a result of the high-dose drugs.

High blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking all increase the risk of heart problems.

Prof Baigent said: "The higher your risk of heart disease, the higher your risk of a complication. Roughly speaking, if you've got double the risk of heart disease, then the risk of having a heart attack is roughly doubled."

He said patients should consider ways to reduce their risk, which could include statins for some patients.

Alternative

A similar drug called rofecoxib (known as Vioxx), was voluntarily taken off the market by its manufacturer in 2004 after similar concerns were raised.

There are more than 17 million prescriptions of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the UK each year. Two thirds are either ibuprofen or diclofenac.

A third drug, naproxen, had lower risks of heart complications in the study and some doctors are prescribing this to higher-risk patients.

The drug does a similar job to aspirin by stopping the blood from clotting although this also increases the odds of a stomach bleed.

Prof Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK, said the drugs were a "lifeline" for millions of people with arthritis and were "extremely effective in relieving pain".

He added: "However, because of their potential side-effects, in particular the increased risk of cardiovascular complications which has been known for a number of years, there is an urgent need to find alternatives that are as effective, but safer."

Prof Donald Singer, member of the British Pharmacological Society and from the University of Warwick, said: "The findings underscore a key point for patients and prescribers - powerful drugs may have serious harmful effects.

"It is therefore important for prescribers to take into account these risks and ensure patients are fully informed about the medicines they are taking."

READMORE:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22694858

Gene clues for testicular cancer, heart defect

PARIS: Separate studies of the human genome have found tantalising clues to the inherited causes of testicular cancer and non-inherited causes of congenital heart disease, journals reported on Sunday.

University of Pennsylvania researchers looked at the DNA of more than 13,000 men, comparing the DNA code of those with testicular cancer -- the commonest form of cancer diagnosed among young men today -- against men who were otherwise healthy.

They found four new variants that increase the risk of this disease, bringing the tally of known mutations to 17, according to research reported in Nature Genetics.

Meanwhile, investigators at the Yale School of Medicine found a clutch of gene mutations, absent in parents but found in their offspring, which account for at least 10 percent of cases of severe congenital heart disease, a birth defect that afflicts nearly one percent of babies.

"Most interestingly, the set of genes mutated in congenital heart disease unexpectedly overlapped with genes and pathways mutated in autism," said Richard Lifton, a professor of genetics.

"These findings suggest there may be common pathways that underlie a wide range of common congenital diseases."

The study appears in the journal Nature.

Genomics is one of the fastest-moving areas of medical research.

Identifying genetic signatures associated with disease opens up the prospect of DNA tests to identify people most at risk. They also throw open avenues of research to block or reverse the disease. (AFP)

 READMORE:http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-100719-Gene-clues-for-testicular-cancer,-heart-defect

Embryonic stem cells: Advance in medical human cloning

Human cloning has been used to produce early embryos, marking a "significant step" for medicine, say US scientists.

The cloned embryos were used as a source of stem cells, which can make new heart muscle, bone, brain tissue or any other type of cell in the body.

The study, published in the journal Cell, used methods like those that produced Dolly the sheep in the UK.

However, researchers say other sources of stem cells may be easier, cheaper and less controversial.

Stem cells are one of the great hopes for medicine. Being able to create new tissue might be able to heal the damage caused by a heart attack or repair a severed spinal cord.

There are already trials taking place using stem cells taken from donated embryos to restore people's sight.

However, these donated cells do not match the patient so they would be rejected by the body. Cloning bypasses this problem.

The technique used - somatic cell nuclear transfer - has been well-known since Dolly the sheep became the first mammal to be cloned, in 1996.

However, researchers have struggled to reproduce the feat in people. The egg does start dividing, but never goes past the 6-12 cell stage.Skin cells were taken from an adult and the genetic information was placed inside a donor egg which had been stripped of its own DNA. Electricity was used to encourage the egg to develop into an embryo.

'Real deal'

A South Korean scientist, Hwang Woo-suk, did claim to have created stem cells from cloned human embryos, but was found to have faked the evidence.

Now a team at the Oregon Health and Science University have developed the embryo to the blastocyst stage - around 150 cells - which is enough to provide a source of embryonic stem cells.

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Cloned babies?

Could scientists fully clone a person? It's an interesting question that emerges from this research.

These researchers have certainly developed a cloned embryo further than anyone else.

But producing a five-day-old embryo is a world away from a woman giving birth to the first human clone.

The embryo would need to be implanted as per IVF, but primate research shows that things often go wrong before the clone is born.

Prof Robin Lovell-Badge of the UK National Institute for Medical Research said: "It is an unsafe procedure in animals and it will similarly be an unsafe procedure in humans. For this reason alone it should not be attempted."

It would also be illegal is some countries, such as the UK, which differentiate between "therapeutic" and "reproductive" cloning.

Dr Shoukhrat Mitalipov said: "A thorough examination of the stem cells derived through this technique demonstrated their ability to convert just like normal embryonic stem cells, into several different cell types, including nerve cells, liver cells and heart cells.

"While there is much work to be done in developing safe and effective stem cell treatments, we believe this is a significant step forward in developing the cells that could be used in regenerative medicine."

Chris Mason, a professor of regenerative medicine at University College London, said this looked like "the real deal".

"They've done the same as the Wright brothers really. They've looked around at where are all the best bits of how to do this from different groups all over the place and basically amalgamated it.

"The Wright brothers took off and this has actually managed to make embryonic stem cells."

The ethical rival

Embryonic stem cell research has repeatedly raised ethical concerns and human eggs are a scarce resource. This has led researchers to an alternative route to stem cells.

The technique takes the same sample of skin cells but converts them using proteins to "induced pluripotent" stem cells.

However, there are still questions about the quality of stem cells produced using this method compared with embryonic stem cells.

Prof Mason said the field was leaning towards induced pluripotent stem cells: "It has got a lot of momentum behind it, a lot of funding and a lot of powerful people now."

Dr Lyle Armstrong at Newcastle University said that the study "without doubt" marked an advance for the field.

But he warned: "Ultimately, the costs of somatic cell nuclear transfer-based methods for making stem cells could be prohibitive."

Dr David King, from the campaign group Human Genetics Alert, warned that: "Scientists have finally delivered the baby that would-be human cloners have been waiting for: a method for reliably creating cloned human embryos.

"This makes it imperative that we create an international legal ban on human cloning before any more research like this takes place. It is irresponsible in the extreme to have published this research."

READMORE:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22540374

the "soda rivers

NEW YORK: A New York judge blocked mayor Michael Bloomberg's planned ban on giant sodas, dealing a setback to his public health agenda just hours before curbs on selling such drinks were due to begin.

Judge Milton Tingling ruled that measures to restrict soda servings to a maximum of 16 ounces (470 millilitres) in restaurants and other venues, were "arbitrary and capricious," and he was barring the plan "permanently."

Bloomberg has made health issues a key plank of his administration, banning smoking in restaurants, bars and other public places. He quickly denounced the judge's decision on sodas as "clearly wrong," and said the city would appeal.

"I am trying to do what is right to save lives. Obesity kills," a visibly angry Bloomberg told reporters, noting that 5,000 New Yorkers and 70,000 US citizens would fall victim to the disease this year.

"Sugary drinks are a leading cause of obesity. We have a responsibility as human beings to do something, to save each other," he added.

But Bloomberg's super-sized soda ban, which would have been a first for a US city, sparked frenzied debate, with petitions and media campaigns from both sides.

Some supported Bloomberg's arguments, emphasizing that 30 years ago the average soda serving was just six ounces, but that these days, it's not rare to see young Americans with giant fizzy drinks of more than a liter (33 ounces).

Opinion polls over the summer indicated that a majority of New Yorkers opposed the limited ban, with some suggesting the mayor was impinging on civil liberties and others arguing the rules would not be effective.

Industry lobby groups led by the American Beverage Association (ABA) and the National Restaurant Association took the court action that led to Monday's judgment, and they praised the decision.

"The court ruling provides a sigh of relief to New Yorkers and thousands of small businesses in New York City that would have been harmed by this arbitrary and unpopular ban," the ABA said in a statement.

As well as the thousands who die each year from obesity-linked problems, one in eight adult New Yorkers has diabetes, which can be aggravated by sugar consumption, and studies have shown that sodas, which often cost less than bottled water, are a contributing factor.

"Remember, for many years, the standard soda size was six ounces -- not 16, it was six, then it was 12 ounces -- and people thought that was huge. Then it became 16, then 20 ounces," Bloomberg said.

"We believe it's reasonable to draw a line -- and it's responsible to draw a line right now," he added.

The New York Board of Health approved the measures last September and they were due to come into force on Tuesday in restaurants and places of public entertainment, such as stadiums.

In a boost for the soda limits, the newly-built basketball stadium for the Brooklyn Nets had said it would immediately adopt the rules.

But under the measures put forward by the city there was nothing to stop people from buying as much soda as they like by refilling smaller containers.

Also, the ban did not extend to drinks sold in supermarkets or any dairy or fruit drinks, many of which also contain huge quantities of sugar.

Diet and alcoholic drinks were also exempted under the city's plan.

"The exclusion of all alcoholic beverages from the ban is completely irrational. Beer and soda have nearly the same calories per ounce," the legal complaint said.

And "the application of the ban to some business establishments but not others is arbitrary and capricious," it argued.

Bloomberg previously acknowledged that the plan would fall short of ending over-consumption of sugary drinks, but he said the disappearance of mega-sized cups would at least make people more aware of what they were consuming. (AFP)

READMORE:http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-91837-US-judge-undoes-New-York-ban-on-giant-fizzy-drinks-

Less sleep leads to more eating, weight gain

WASHINGTON: Sleeping a mere five hours a night during a work week with unlimited access to snacks isn't good for your waistline.

A study, led by the University of Colorado at Boulder, found that participants gained nearly one kilogram when put in such a situation.

Previous studies have shown that a lack of shut-eye can lead to the packing on of kilos but the reasons for the extra weight were unclear, according to the authors of the latest research.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the newest findings show that, while staying awake longer did indeed require more energy, the extra calories burned were more than offset by the amount of food the study participants consumed.

"Just getting less sleep, by itself, is not going to lead to weight gain," said Kenneth Wright, director of CU-Boulder's Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory that lead the study. "But when people get insufficient sleep, it leads them to eat more than they actually need."

The researchers monitored 16 young, lean and healthy men and women who lived for two weeks at the University of Colorado Hospital, which has a "sleep suite."

They measured how much energy participants used by keeping tabs on the amount of oxygen they breathed in and the amount of carbon dioxide they exhaled.

After all participants spent the first three days with the opportunity to sleep nine hours a night and eating controlled meals meant to maintain their weight, they were split into two groups.

The first group then spent five days with only five hours during which to sleep, while the other group spent those days with nine hours during which to rest.

After the first five days, the groups switched. In both groups, participants were offered larger meals and access to snacks that included ice cream and potato chips but also healthier options such as fruit and yoghurt.

On average, those who slept for up to five hours a night burned five per cent more energy than those who snoozed up to nine hours. However, those with less shut-eye also consumed six per cent more calories.

Those getting less rest tended to eat smaller breakfasts but binged on after-dinner snacks, according to the researchers.

In fact, the late-night food intake totaled more in calories than individual meals, they said.

The authors of the study also found that men and women responded differently to having access to unrestricted amounts of food.

While both males and females put on weight when only allowed to sleep five hours, men gained - even with "adequate" rest - when they could eat as much as they desired. Women, however, maintained their weight when they had "adequate" sleep, no matter how much food was at their disposal.

A separate study out last month said sleep deficit - even just a week's worth -- can have damaging effects on our genes.

Lack of adequate shut-eye had already been linked to conditions from heart disease and cognitive impairment to obesity. (AFP)

READMOR:http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-91833-Less-sleep-leads-to-more-eating,-weight-gai

Breast milk delivery launched by Midland blood bikes

A charity motorbike breast milk delivery service has been launched to help premature babies.

Midland Freewheelers Emergency Rider Voluntary Service began transporting donated breast milk for babies at Birmingham Women's Hospital on Monday.

The milk is given to sick or premature babies when breast milk cannot be provided by their mother.

The service has about 25 volunteer bikers who transport blood and medical supplies free of charge to hospitals.

It is the first time the charity has delivered milk.

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Milk banks

• The Birmingham Milk Bank was developed by Dr Mary Crosse at Sorrento Hospital, Moseley
• It celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2010
• Donor mothers give surplus milk, which is screened and pasteurised
• There are 17 human milk banks in the UK

Dr Gemma Holder, of Birmingham Women's Hospital, said illness, insufficient supply or separation from the baby could affect a mother's ability to supply breast milk.

Breast milk from a network of donors is used instead as it helps improve the immune system and fight off infections.

She said the milk was "vital to help save the lives of sick or premature babies".

Dr Holder added: "Now we're in partnership with the blood bike charity it means we are able to rely on a swift and constant delivery of the much-needed milk."

Ray Hart, of Midland Freewheelers Blood Bikes, said: "It is vitally important that sick and premature babies get the best possible start in life; our service will enable us to deliver supplies of life-saving breast milk from mother to hospital quickly and efficiently."

He said the charity was appealing for more business sponsors to keep the service free of charge "to help the cash-strapped NHS save money".

READMORE:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-21653444

threats from Europe's alien invasion

Invasive alien species pose a greater risk to Europe's biodiversity, economy and human health than previously thought, a report has concluded.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has compiled a list of 28 invaders that highlight the range of threats facing ecosystems in the continent.

Non-native species, such as food crops, can also be beneficial, the study adds.

The reports have been published ahead of a high-level meeting at the European Parliament to discuss the issue.

It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 non-native species in Europe, of which at least 15% are deemed to be "invasive", which are organisms that are known to have negative ecological or economic impacts.

Invasive alien species (IAS) are considered to be one of the main threats to biodiversity, explains EEA executive director Prof Jacqueline McGlade.

"In many areas, ecosystems are weakened by pollution, climate change and [habitat] fragmentation," she says.

"Alien species invasions are a growing pressure on the natural world, which are extremely difficult to reverse."

Japanese knotweed

The report, The Impact of Invasive Alien Species in Europe, lists the various impacts.

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• Alien invasion hits the UK

"Competition, predation and transmission of diseases between alien and native species are frequent and can pose a major threat to native species," the authors observe.

"Alien species may also affect ecosystem services, which in turn can have an impact on human wellbeing."

One species whose spread and impact has been well documented is Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica).

It can reach 4m in height, growing up to 30cm in a day. Its powerful root system can reach depths of three metres into the soil and spread up to 20m, making it almost impossible to eradicate once it becomes established.

The report says the plant forms dense stands and squeezes out other plant species and outcompetes native plants, resulting in a botanical "monoculture".

The publication adds: "The rhizome system of knotweeds can seriously damage infrastructure, such as buildings, river bank stabilisations and water channels, railway tracks and roads, and construction land.

"By disrupting the integrity of flood defence structures, the risk of flooding is increased."

The Asian tiger mosquito is a more direct threat

An IAS that poses a direct threat to human health is the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which has been linked to the transmission of more than 20 human pathogens, including yellow fever and dengue.

The species is an "aggressive daytime‑biting insect" and its distribution has spread rapidly in western and southern Europe over the past two decades.

On Thursday, Czech MEP Pavel Poc is hosting an event at the European Parliament in Brussels that will look at ways to tackle the threat posed by IAS.

Organised by conservation groups IUCN and Birdlife, the high-level debate at the European Parliament in Brussels will consider measures that could be taken within the EU policy framework to mitigate the present and future threats from invasive alien species.

The EEA report warns that, given the increase in both goods and people moving around the globe, the "number and impact of harmful IAS in Europe may grow significantly in the future".

It adds that changes to the climate may provide opportunities for IAS to proliferate and spread.

"In this situation, some IAS might initiate complex, unpredictable cascades of effects," it warns.

The EEA suggests that the best way to tackle the threats posed by invasive species was through a "combination of preventative measures, early detection and rapid response to incursions, with permanent management only as the last option".

READMORE:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21509016

Lenses found to 'cure colour-blindness'

Scientists say they have invented spectacle lenses that cure red-green colour blindness, which affects some women and one in every 10 men.

The Oxy-Iso lenses were designed by an American research institute to allow medics to spot bruising and veins that are difficult to see.

Tests suggest they can help to enhance reds and greens in the colour-blind.

But they could not be worn by drivers, because they reduce the ability to perceive yellows and blues.

Theoretical neurobiologist Mark Changizi, who developed the glasses with Oxy-Iso lenses, believes human colour vision "evolved above and beyond that found in other mammals... allowing us to sense colour-signals on the skin, including blushes, blanches, as well as sensing health".

"So the Oxy-Iso filter concentrates its enhancement exactly where red-green colour-blind folk are deficient," he said.

Daniel Bor, a colour-blind neuroscientist at the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science at the University of Sussex, said they made red colours appear very vibrant.

But he had some reservations, because they also made yellow light invisible.

"My daughter's baby monitor has some yellow lights on it and I couldn't see them at all," he said.

READMORE:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21367584