Hopper's cancer is terminal

LOS ANGELES - FAMED US actor Dennis Hopper, who starred in such cinematic classics as Easy Rider and Apocalypse Now, is dying of cancer, his lawyer said in court documents out on Thursday.

Attorney Joseph Mannis said that Hopper was too weak to be questioned by his wife's attorney in a bitter ongoing divorce settlement, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday and obtained by KTLA television on Thursday.

However Hopper, 73, will still attend a ceremony in his honour for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The court filing said his physician David Agus found that Hopper weighs less than 100 pounds (45 kg) as he battles prostate cancer.

The star of 1969's iconic 'Easy Rider' had been undergoing treatment at the University of Southern California, and cancelled public appearances late last year when his condition was announced.

Hopper has appeared in several classic films during a career spanning more than half a century. A notable early role came in the James Dean hit Rebel Without a Cause in 1955, later appearing in the 1979's Vietnam war film Apocalypse Now and director David Lynch's cult mystery movie Blue Velvet (1986). -- AFP

Lesser deaths at busy hospitals

BOSTON - WANT to survive a heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia? Go to a busy hospital.

Researchers reported on Wednesday that patients suffering from the three common health problems were less likely to die when treated in hospitals that frequently handle those illnesses.

Pneumonia patients treated at larger-volume hospitals were 5 per cent less likely to die in the first month than patients treated at hospitals that handled few cases. The death rate for heart failure was 9 per cent lower for busy hospitals and 11 per cent lower for heart attacks.

Dr. Joseph Ross of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and colleagues studied Medicare claim data from 2004 through 2006 for their study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. They found that once a hospital annually treated 610 patients for a heart attack, 500 for heart failure or 210 for pneumonia, patients had the lowest risk of dying, at least during the first 30 days.

Teaching hospitals generally needed fewer patients to attain a lower risk of death, they discovered. 'There are small-volume hospitals that are doing well, and large volume hospitals that aren't,' Dr. Ross said in a telephone interview. But in general, hospitals that treat the fewest patients were the riskiest.

'Clearly our small-volume hospitals need to be lifted up a bit,' Dr. Ross said. One solution may be to help them do things the way larger-volume facilities do, so their success rates will improve. Previous studies have shown that patients who receive surgery or other procedures do better if they are treated by doctors with the most experience. -- REUTERS

Teen missing, feared drowned

A TEENAGER is missing and feared drowned after he slipped and fell into a canal at Potong Pasir Avenue 3 yesterday.

Mr Al-Hasif Hamid, 19, is believed to have been attempting to retrieve a soccer ball that had fallen into the canal.

But he lost his footing on the ground, made slippery from a rain storm, and fell into the water.

The police received a call at 5pm yesterday that a person had fallen into a canal.

Friends of the teenager told The Straits Times that he had been playing street soccer at a nearby street soccer court before the accident.

Muhammad Ammeraz, 16, who played street soccer with Mr Al-Hasif regularly, told The Straits Times that his friend did not know how to swim.

[SOURCE: http://www.straitstimes.com]

Injured cyclist dies

ONE of two cyclists knocked down in Clementi on Sunday night by a suspected drink-driver died in hospital yesterday from head injuries.

Freelance writer Benjamin Mok Chee Kong, 35, never regained consciousness after the accident.

The 62-year-old suspect, a general practitioner, could be facing more trouble as he is under investigation for a hit-and-run offence.

The Straits Times understands that he had left the scene after the accident, and returned later. He was arrested and is currently out on bail.

Mr Mok and his friend, Mr Bertram Leong Poh Meng, 22, a chef, had been out on a routine cycling trip on Sunday night.

The two of them were initially in a group of six, but were with just one other friend when cycling along Clementi Road. They were headed towards Upper Bukit Timah Road for supper when the accident happened.

[SOURCE: http://www.straitstimes.com]

Family first, then insurance

Most Singaporeans will first consider another adult member of the household to help with expenses if the breadwinner should die or become unable to work. Insurance would then be the second preferred option, while getting support from other relatives is a distant third, according to a NUS Business School survey.

In times of need, less than one in 10 Singaporeans will consider sending at least one of their school-going children out to work. These figures are considerably lower than those for other places such as Vietnam, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. Half of the Singaporeans surveyed would also adopt to continue the family line, depending on circumstances.

Eight thousand adults in eight Asian countries were polled.

[SOURCE: http://www.todayonline.com]

Battle of bulge just got tougher

CHICAGO - WOMEN need to get at least an hour a day of moderate exercise if they hope to ward off the creep of extra pounds that comes with aging, US researchers said on Tuesday.

The weekly total of 420 minutes is nearly triple the 150 minutes of moderate daily exercise currently recommended by US health officials and illustrates the challenge American women face in maintaining a healthy weight.

Winning that war will require individuals to make changes in their daily routines - like walking or biking to work - but it may also take a shift in policy to make it easier for people in fit exercise into their lives, researchers said.

Two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, and adding about US$150 billion (S$210 billion) a year to US healthcare costs. 'From a public health perspective, it would be better to prevent the weight gain in the first place,' said I-Min Lee of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, whose study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Lee said there is ample research on people who are already overweight, but little on how to prevent weight gain as people grow older.

Current US exercise recommendations differ, with 2008 guidelines recommending 150 minutes of moderate exercise - brisk walking, gardening, ballroom dancing - as a way to improve overall health, and a 2002 report by the Institute of Medicine, one of the National Academies of Sciences, recommending an hour a day. If people exercise vigorously, by running or cycling hard, for instance, less time is needed to get the same benefits. -- REUTERS

Food for thought

AT MEALTIMES, you may make a conscious effort to go for waist-friendly and heart-healthy foods. But did you know that your dietary decisions can also influence how your brain works?

Like the body, a nutritious diet can do wonders for the brain by enhancing brain power and improving memory, said Ms Shweta Sharma, a nutritionist in private practice. Ms Sharma spoke on the topic last week at an event organised by the Women's Initiative for Ageing Successfully (Wings).

In particular, breakfast (see box for nutritious breakfast suggestions) is the most important meal of the day, said Ms Sharma. It helps rev up the brain first thing in the morning.

"After a full night of fasting, our brain needs a fresh supply of glucose - the basic brain fuel - to start functioning properly. A healthy breakfast ensures that the brain gets this kick-start every morning, resulting in better concentration and memory during the day," she explained.

The best bet for proper brain function is a well-balanced diet, said Ms Sharma. But there are certain nutrients which can specifically help keep your mental health in tip-top condition.

Brain fuel

Instead of refined carbohydrates such as white rice and bread, opt for complex carbs from whole grains and unrefined cereals, advised Ms Sharma. They ensure a slow and steady release of energy for the brain.

And because much of the brain's cell structure is composed of fats, she added, it is good to include a good dose of it in your diet. But this is not to say you should pack your diet with fried foods that contain bad fats, or trans and saturated fats.

Opt for healthy fat - unsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6, which may be able to reduce incidence of dementia, said Dr Reshma A Merchant, head of General Medicine and geriatrician at National University Hospital. They can be found in fish oils, flaxseed oil, nuts, soy, corn oil and sunflower oil.

And as folate and vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with memory decline, be sure to include these nutrients into your meals, added Dr Reshma. Folate are found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, beans, peas and fruits (such as citrus varieties), while vitamin B12 can be found in shellfish, eggs and fish.

Ms Sharma said that foods laden with antioxidants - grape juice, berries, walnuts, strawberries and tea - can help to reduce oxidation and inflammation in brain, thus improving communication between neurons and enhance brain activity.

Use it or lose it

According to Dr Reshma, the brain has the ability to continuously "remodel" itself, even in old age. "The brain is capable of producing new neurons (connections within the brain cells) well into old age, but probably at a slower pace."

However, she added that a brain-healthy diet alone is insufficient.

"There are many other things that will boost the neuronal connection in the brain, such as physical activity, build up of problem-solving skills and education," she said. "Older people who participate in complex mental activities showed diminished cognitive decline and lower risk of Alzheimer's Disease."

Active learning includes reading, writing, attending workshops, taking up classes to learn computing skills or programming, playing mahjong and puzzles.

A wholesome breakfast

An ideal breakfast that can rev up your mental prowess should include light but nutritious foods that are high in protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and have the right carbohydrates. Nutritionist Shweta Sharma suggests the following:

Wholegrain cereal with low-fat milk or yogurt. Add fresh fruits and nuts to power your brain and body with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Wholegrain toast with low-fat cheese or cheese spread. Add sliced tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce leaves to make your breakfast nutrient dense.

Wholegrain toast with cooked beans. Make the breakfast wholesome with a glass of 100-per-cent fruit juice or fresh fruits.

Wholegrain toast with low fat meats is also a healthy breakfast option. Choose from tuna or salmon with a low-fat spread on the toast.

Choose wholegrain flour when making pancakes for breakfast, and avoid sugar-rich jams or spreads on these pancakes. Add fresh fruit and milk to the meal.

[SOURCE: http://www.todayonline.com]