Warwick Students Compete to Win $1 mn to Help Slum Dwellers in India

A team of five students from Russia, India, Bahrain, Canada and the UK are competing to win USD1 million of funding for their social enterprise to help slums in Mumbai in the Hult Prize Global Challenge, a competition judged by former USA President Bill Clinton.

The full-time MBA students from Warwick Business School are aiming to address the main issues that urban slum dwellers, one stage from the very bottom of the pyramid, face on a day to day basis.

The team consists of Supriya Mundra, of Mumbia in India, Mohamed Matar, of Manama in Bahrain, Adam Lawrence, of Solihull, Birmingham in the UK, Nikolay Samoylov, of Moscow in Russia, and Jane Kwong, of Vancouver in Canada.

They have prepared a short video to describe their comprehensive solution, which styles itself on a “smartphone” concept. The winning video is the one that gets the most “Likes” on and the team are using every channel they know to raise awareness of their solution to the problem.

The solution takes parts of existing solutions that are inefficient and do not work together, and brings them all together under one umbrella. The FEED model comprehensively addresses empowerment through education, renewable energy solutions, distribution and waste management problems simultaneously.

The team strongly believe their idea could make a huge difference to the lives of 100 million people in India and beyond – over 1 billion people worldwide live in slums which is unthinkable in this day and age.

The Warwick team narrowly lost out to Hult San Francisco in the previous round of the Hult Global Challenge, where they competed at the Hult Campus in San Francisco against 45 other world-leading business schools and universities, and defeated the likes of Harvard, Berkeley and Stanford en route to the final four.

“Even though the Warwick MBA by full-time study is a challenging undertaking, we strongly believe that it’s crucial to apply our learning to try and help those less fortunate than ourselves,” said Lawrence, 34, who previously worked as a property developer.

“We firmly grasped the opportunity to help the millions of people living in urban slums worldwide with both hands.”

Only one team progresses to the Global Finals in New York in September and the team are thankful for the support they have received from Warwick Business School.

Team leader is Indian Mundra, who has first-hand experience of the difficulties faced in urban slums and experience in strategy consulting.Lawrence has a background in economics and property; Kwong is an operations and human resources practitioner; Mr Matar is a chartered financial analyst; and Nikolay Samoylov is an energy professional.

More Than 80 Pct of Healthy Indians Are #VitaminD Deficient

We might live in a country full of sunshine but Indians are still deprived of the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D – which is wrongly called so – is a pro-hormone that influences the expression of more than 200 genes in human body. Nearly every tissue in the human body has receptors of Vitamin D, be it brain, heart, skin, kidney, pancreas etc. Any deficiency of Vitamin D in the human body is bound to affect normal functioning of all organs having Vitamin D receptors.

Vitamin D deficiency is fast becoming a global and National Health Concern. It is estimated that around 80 percent of the Indian population has Vitamin D levels less than normal. However, the bigger concern is that the population at large is not even aware of Vitamin D deficiency and its consequences.

One of India’s leading diabetologist, Dr Banshi Saboo, Founder of Diabetes Foundation of India, said, “Earlier Vitamin D was thought to be responsible for maintaining calcium homeostasis to prevent osteoporosis and maintain bone health. But, in the past decade research has established the strong association of Vitamin D deficiency in diabetes, immunity, asthma, TB, high blood pressure, neuro-muscular function, etc.“

Dr Saboo further added, “Low level of Vitamin D is associated with higher incidence of type 2 diabetes and correcting Vitamin D deficiency improves insulin sensitivity and helps in better management of hyperglycaemia. Also Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with high incidence of type 1 diabetes.”

As the mother is the sole source of vitamin D substrate for her developing foetus, vitamin D status is very important during pregnancy. Maternal deficiency of vitamin D is linked with abnormal foetal growth and gestational diabetes.

Sunscreen lotions, staying indoors, clothing habits, pollution and minimal exposure to direct sun light (during the period of 10 am to 3 pm) are the major reasons of such widespread deficiency in the Indian population.

The eminent endocrinologist from Mumbai, Dr Manoj Chadha said that Vitamin D deficiency has no defined signs or symptoms. “People who complain of back pains, unexplained muscle pains, general fatigue are the most likely to be Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency can be easily corrected by Vitamin D supplementation or some lifestyle changes. In a Vitamin D deficient person, oral 60,000 I.U per week for 8 weeks followed by maintenance dose of 60,000 I.U per month is a reasonably safe method to correct the deficiency.”

Although there are few major studies carried out in India to determine the optimum (sufficient) levels of serum Vitamin D 25(OH) D to be maintained to prevent chronic ailments, globally there is a consensus that Vitamin D deficiency is defined as serum 25(OH) D levels less than 20 ng/ml and insufficiency as serum 25(OH) D less than 30 ng/ml. Whereas serum 25(OH) D levels above 30 ng/ml is found to be sufficient.

Given the fact that Vitamin D receptors are present in various organs and tissues of the human body, maintaining Vitamin D levels in blood above 30 ng/ml may ensure normal functioning of the body organs and protect many from the suffering from chronic ailments.

Go Bananas for Good Skin

Bananas are so delicious, bright in color, and taste good with a variety of foods! Did you also know bananas are great for your skin? Since ancient times, they have helped cure people of skin-irritating bug bites and are ideal for soothing irritated and rash-like skin. Read on to learn some great things bananas can do for your skin:

Bananas can soothe even the most sensitive skin so as long as you are not allergic to bananas, you are safe!

Bananas are high in potassium, which is beneficial in fighting acne. Mash up a banana and apply directly to your skin. Doing so will suffocate the bacteria in your skin cells, forcing breakouts from acne to heal more quickly.

Bananas have many anti-bacterial properties which can reduce swelling and infections from other skin issues, including Psoriasis, Eczema, and painful bug bites as described earlier.

Use the inside peel of the banana and gently rub on your clean skin as an awesome exfoliating treatment! Doing so will soothe and heal your skin from other irritating skin conditions.

This yummy fruit is packed with nutrients and antioxidants like Vitamin C which when applied to the skin (even the peel), can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Blood flow will circulate better and collagen production will be boosted.

Make sure you eat a banana a day too! Your body will benefit from all the nutrients like Potassium and Vitamin C and your digestive tract will function better.

Who knew bananas could be so good for the skin? Now you do! Throw one in your purse or backpack on your way to school or work and enjoy it as a mid-day snack! Great burst to your energy and your skin will be beautiful too!

Venezuelan President Chavez Dead

 

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela died on Tuesday due to complications following cancer operation, Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced. Chavez was at the helm of his country for 14 years. Nicolas Maduro, a close Chavez ally, became Venezuelan vice president about two years ago, after doctors diagnosed Chavez with cancer in June, 2011. He endured four operations and courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Days before his death Chavez returned to Caracas from Havana, where he was under treatment after last surgery in December 2012.

Leaders of Russia, Cuba, Latin American countries, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have sent their condolence messages to the people of Venezuela. Venezuela. Cuba and several other regional countries have declared state mourning on Chavez’s death.

The situation in Venezuela after President Chavez’s death and ‘despite a painful shock’ is normal, Foreign Minister Elias Jaua declared. Elections of a new president are to be held within 30 days. After Chavez’s death, Nicolas Maduro has taken over the charge of acting president.

Guide to Excellent #Health and #Fitness I Exercise Fitness #Yoga Gym #Calorie Chart and #Stress Management

STAMINA EXERCISES

Walking: Excellent cardiovascular benefits for the advanced age groups.. Should be done briskly with swinging of the arms. Comfortable shoes must be worn. May be done morning or evening for 30-60 minutes.

Jogging: Suitable for younger age group below 50 years. 30 minutes is all that is required and may be done continuously, or jog and walk in between when fatigued. The pace of jogging is equal to that of a brisk walkrun on soft or grassy surface. Wear comfortable clothes and breathe freely.

Swimming: For those who know how to swim, 20 minutes of continuous swimming is sufficient. Alternately swim the length of a pool 10-20 metres, rest at the end for 30 seconds, swim back. 10 such lengths is good. Use any stroke you know. They are all of almost equal cardiovascular and muscular benefit.

Cycling: For any age group. Minimum time 45-60 minutes of continuous controlled fast cycling. Cycling up slopes gives added benefit. Ordinary cycles are good enough and indoor stationary exercycles may also be used at low resistance for 45 minutes.

Games: For the fitter younger age group. Get fit first before playing games such as squash, badminton, tennis, handball, basketball, football etc.. Warm up before the games. 30-45 minutes of the game is sufficient. Weekend or once a week games must be avoided unless other fitness programmes are done on other days. Play within your capacity.

STRENGTH EXERCISES

Strength Exercises: Improve muscular strength with 10-20 repetitions of each of these movements.

MOBILITY EXERCISES

BACK EXERCISES

YOGA

a) Yoga should preferably be done under expert supervision 2-3 times per week.
b) In case you know Yoga, we suggest that the following ‘asanas’ be included in your programme.
c) Each Yogasana is repeated 2-3 times except serial Nos. 1, 14 & 15.
d) Persons with back problems should avoid serial Nos. 2, 4, 10 & 12.
e) Persons with Cardiac problems, HBP, etc. should avoid serial 4 and 5.
f) This programme will not only keep you fit, but is also beneficial for those persons who have high B.P., respiratory problem, mental strain, head – aches, digestive ailments, back problems, joint problems, etc.

STANDARD YOGASANAS

1.  Stand warm up for Pawan Muktasana series.
2.  Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutation) Effect – on full body including heart and circulation.
3. Ardh-halasana (30, 60, 90 degrees, double leg raises) Effect – on abdomen, legs, back reproductive organs.
4. Sarbangasana (Shoulder stand) Effect – on brain, nervous system, thyroid, circulation.
5.  Halasana (Plough pose) Effect – on spine, nervous system, back, lungs.
6.  Matsyasana (Fish pose) Effect – on chest, neck, thyroid, lungs.
7.  Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) Effect – on lower back, reproductive organs, lungs, spine, chest, abdominal organs.
8. Salabhasana, (Locust pose) Effect – an buttocks, legs, hips, constipation, gas, digestion, etc.
9. Dhanurasana (Bow pose) Effect – on abdomen, digestion, legs, back.
10.  Naukasana (Boat pose) (V sit-ups) Effect – on spine, abdomen, chest, etc.
11.  Bakrasana (Half spinal twist) Effect – on spine, fat on waist, gas, digestive organs.
12.  Paschmottasana (Sitting toe touch) or Padahasatasana (Standing toe touch) Effect – on digestion, spine, legs.
13.  Trikonasana (Triangle) Effect – on spinal nerves, waist, digestion.
14.  Pranayama (Deep breathing) 10 rounds each. a) Anulome / Vilome – alternate nostril breathing, and b) Kapalbhatti.. – belly breathing Effect – on lungs and respiratory system.
15.  Shavasana (Corpse pose) – as often as required. Effect – on physical / mental relaxation.

YOGASANAS

GYM EXERCISES / WEIGHT TRAINING

Weight training is basically for strengthening and building up the muscles. An all-round programme must have some stretching and cardio-vascular exercises as well. In addition, weight training loads the bones thereby strengthening and protecting against osteoporosis. The points to keep in mind in weight training are as follows:

1. The ideal weight training schedule is on alternate days i.e. 3 days a week with a complete rest on weekends.
2. The systems of training different muscle groups on different days, may be good for competitive sportsmen. The best system for non-competitive sportsmen is to exercise the entire body in each session. The major muscle groups are: Upper body – Shoulders, Arms, Chest and Lower body – Back, Abdomen, Legs.
3. Suppleness and stamina can also be built up through weight training by following a body builder-type schedule. Weights are also used to stretch muscles, build muscular endurance and cardiovascular stamina by repeating each exercise by using lighter weights with more repetitions.
4. If repetition are too easy, the weight used is too little. And in case it is not possible to complete the repetitions, it means the weight carried is too heavy.
5. A repetition is one complete exercise movement from the starting point to finish and then back again to the starting point. A set is a group of repetitions of the same exercise. Therefore, for the upper body 8 repetitions is one set. For the lower body, 15 repetitions forms one set.
6. We prescribe three sets of exercises for each muscle group. However, several systems of weight training prescribe different repetitions as well as different sets.

Nutrition and Calorie Management:

Generally speaking, our daily food intake must comprise a balanced diet of 1500-2000k calories with fibre (above 75 gm) and low fat (below 30 gm). Consult your nutritionist for specific advice.

Micro – Nutrients:
The guide to healthy eating pyramid provides you a balanced diet, with ample vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. The therapeutic benefit of these micro-nutrients are explained below.

STRESS MANAGEMENT
Stress has existed from the time of Early Man but has now become an omnipresent phenomenon in the life of ‘Modern Man’. It has pervaded all layers of life. Stress is the bio-psycho-social response of the body to a demand, mental or physical. Stress is an arousal response the body makes, when a situation is perceived as being stressful. The impact of this arousal affects emotional as well as cognitive thinking. The impact is seen in behavioral and physiological change.. When stress is long term and chronic it leads to chronic psychosomatic ailments. While there is an undeniable link between stress and illness, optimal stress is a prerequisite for success in every task. Stress is the wind beneath your wings pushing you towards achievement. If stress can trigger off psychosomatic ailments in those living in the fast track, it can be a trigger even to those who suffer from monotony, boredom or frustration. It is therefore very essential to bring a balance between too much and too little stress.
The first step in managing stress is to develop a stress-free personality. A high self-esteem, assertive behavior and a positive attitude help in building a stress-free perception. It also helps to focus on areas where control and change are possible. Locate the source of stress and use a problem solving approach to deal with it step by step. All stress you can understand. Some you can change. Some you may have little control over. You may then need to change your attitude and response towards these stressors. Thereby reducing stress. Any exercise programme done regularly utilizes the body’s stress hormones. Exercise not only makes the body fit, but also acclimatizes the heart and lungs to increased activity, as in stressful situations. Relaxation and meditation techniques result in calming brain waves, and reducing the effects of stress. This is especially effective with stressrelated ailments such as Hypertension, Headaches, Digestive ailments, Cardiac ailments, Sleep problems to name just a few. Stress may be an irritant in your life or it may be a factor of passive existence.
Change of perspective will help change this stress to an active, rewarding life. One of the best gifts of nature is sleep. Daily sleep of 6 – 8 hours helps in relaxation and repair of the body and mind. It provides sufficient time for deep – NREM and dream REM sleep restoring physical and mental health. Stress may be an irritant in your life or it may be a factor of passive existence. Change of perspective will help change this stress to an active, rewarding life. One of the best gifts of nature is sleep. Daily sleep of 6 to 8 hours helps in relaxation and repair of the body and mind. It provides sufficient time for deep – NREM and dream REM sleep restoring physical and mental health.

• Use some of these stress defense mechanisms & optimize your stress.
• Quality time for family will ensure that you have a retreat called home.
• Plan your career well, it will give you challenge, satisfaction & security.
• An assertive personality is responsible to self & others. Learn this skill.
• Communication is the key to relationship building. Listen better and your conflicts will slowly dissolve.
• Develop a sense of humor. Learn to laugh at life, its paradoxes and at yourself.
• Plan a little idleness & quietness each day. You will be able to recharge.
• Exercise is arousal and relaxation is the opposite. Yet both are necessary on a daily basis. Practice both.
• Sleep well and you will have renewed energy to face the next day’s Stresses.
• Plan your time well. You only have 24 /hours a day and many important areas to fit in. A simple formula for time & stress management. You could personalize it to suit your needs. Remember you can’t delete any activity or reduce time for health factors.

know your HIV status within 15 minutes by a mobile device

An American Scientist has developed an innovative way to detect the HIV-infection status by just a finger prick blood and testing it on through a hand held mobile device within 15 minutes, 10 times faster than ELISA technique, a broadly used diagnostic technique. It also consumed as little power as a mobile phone.

According to a recently online published study in ‘Clinical Chemistry‘, a professor at Columbia Engineering has developed an innovative hand held device ‘lab-on-a-chip’ that not only checks a patient’s HIV status with just a finger prick, but also synchronize the results automatically with Pathological Lab’s benchmark Test.

With this Samuel K. Sia, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia Engineering, has described a major advance towards providing people in remote areas of the world with laboratory-quality diagnostic services traditionally available only in centralized health care settings.

The device was field-tested in Rwanda by a collaborative team from the Sia lab and ICAP at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health.

“We’ve built a handheld mobile device that can perform laboratory-quality HIV testing, and do it in just 15 minutes and on finger-pricked whole blood,” Sia said.

“And, unlike current HIV rapid tests, our device can pick up positive samples normally missed by lateral flow tests, and automatically synchronize the test results with patient health records across the globe using both the cell phone and satellite networks,” he claimed.

Sia collaborated with Claros Diagnostics (a company he co-founded, now called OPKO Diagnostics) to develop a pioneering strategy for an integrated microfluidic-based diagnostic device-the mChip-that can perform complex laboratory assays, and do so with such simplicity that these tests can easily be carried out anywhere, including in resource-limited settings, at a very low cost.

This new technology, which combines cell phone and satellite communication technologies with fluid miniaturization techniques for performing all essential ELISA functions, could lead to diagnosis and treatment for HIV-infected people who, because they cannot get to centralized health care centers, do not get tested or treated.

Working with ICAP, OPKO, the Rwandan Ministry of Health, and Rwandan collaborators at Muhima Hospital and two health clinics-Projet San Francisco and Projet Ubuzima, Sia and his team assessed the device’s ability to perform HIV testing and then synchronized results in real time with the patients’ electronic health records. They successfully tested over 200 serum, plasma, and whole blood samples, all collected in Rwanda.

The mobile device also successfully transmitted all whole-blood test results from a Rwandan clinic to a medical records database stored on the cloud. The device produced results in agreement with a leading ELISA test, including detection of weakly positive samples that were missed by existing rapid tests.

The study was recently published online in Clinical Chemistry, and in the print April 2013 issue.

–With ANI Inputs–

Happiness is reachable, no matter how long it lasts..!!One of the best mail I have ever seen….!!

   

The girl in the picture is Katie Kirkpatrick, she is 21 . Next to her, her fiancé, Nick, 23.
The picture was taken shortly before their wedding ceremony, held on January 11, 2005 in the US .
Katie has terminal cancer and spend hours a day receiving medication.
In the picture, Nick is waiting for her on one of the many sessions of chemo to end.

In spite of all the pain, organ failures, and morphine shots, Katie is going along with her wedding and took care
of every detail. The dress had to be adjusted a few times due to her constant weight loss

An unusual accessory at the party was the oxygen tube that Katie used throughout the ceremony and reception as well.
The other couple in the picture are Nick’s parents. Excited to see their son marrying his high school sweetheart.

Katie, in her wheelchair with the oxygen tube , listening to a song from her husband and friends

At the reception, katie had to take a few rests. The pain did not allow her to stand for long periods

Katie died five days after her wedding day. Watching a woman so ill and weak getting married and with a smile on her face makes us think….. Happiness is reachable, no matter how long it lasts .
We should stop making our lives complicated.

Kovai [COIMBATORE] to soon have milk bank

Claimed to be a first-of-its-kind initiative, a city hospital will collect mother’s milk and store the donor’s excess milk in a bank to protect premature infants from potentially deadly illnesses.

The immature intestines of premature babies make them incapable of digesting any milk other than human milk and, in several cases, the mothers finds it difficult to lactate post-delivery.

 According to Dr S. Ramakrishnan, chief neon­atologist at Women’s Centre, “They are at risk of infection if they are not fed with mother’s milk and have to be on IV fluids. As the infants are at a significant risk of infection on formula milk, the milk of mothers who volunteer to donate their excess milk is banked for the benefit of the vulnerable babies.”

 Feeding these babies with human milk (either mother’s own or donor bank milk) is a natural way of reducing the risk of serious, life-threatening infections, said neonatologist, Dr B. Karthik, adding that the milk expressed out of the donor mother would be screened and stored at minus 20 degrees and donated to underweight babies.

 The milk will help babies who weigh less than 1,500 gm or less than 1,000 gm or sick babies where the mother is unable to produce sufficient milk during the course of the neonatal stay.

All the donated milk is pasteurised at 62.5 degrees C for 30 minutes to make the milk extra safe.

It can be used for six months with periodic testing of the stored samples to ensure it is germ-free, he later explained.

DC | Vidyasree Dharmaraj

Related articles

• Why Some Premature Infants Develop Fatal Condition (medicalnewstoday.com)

Best Quit-Smoking Tips Ever

No. 1: Know Why You Want to Quit

So you want to quit smoking, but do you know why? “Because it’s bad for you” isn’t good enough. To get motivated, you need a powerful, personal reason to quit. Maybe you want to protect your family from secondhand smoke. Maybe the thought of lung cancer frightens you. Or maybe you’’d like to look and feel younger. Choose a reason that is strong enough to outweigh the urge to light up.

No. 2: Don’t Go Cold Turkey

It may be tempting to toss your cigarettes and declare you’ve quit, plain and simple. But going cold turkey isn’t easy to do. Ninety-five percent of people who try to stop smoking without therapy or medication end up relapsing. The reason is that nicotine is addictive. The brain becomes used to having nicotine and craves it. In its absence, the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal occur.

No. 3: Try Nicotine-Replacement Therapy

When you stop smoking, nicotine withdrawal may make you feel frustrated, depressed, restless, or irritable. The craving for “just one drag” may be overwhelming. Nicotine-replacement therapy can help reduce these feelings. Studies suggest nicotine gum, lozenges, and patches can help double your chances of quitting successfully when used with an intensive behavioral program. But using these products while smoking is generally not recommended.

No. 4: Ask About Prescription Pills

To ease nicotine withdrawal without using products that contain nicotine, ask your doctor about prescription medications. There are pills that help reduce cravings by affecting chemicals in the brain. They may also make smoking less satisfying if you do pick up a cigarette. Other drugs can help reduce troubling withdrawal symptoms, such as depression or inability to concentrate.

No. 5: Don’t Go It Alone

Tell your friends, family, and co-workers that you’re trying to quit. Their encouragement could make the difference. You may also want to join a support group or talk to a counselor. Behavioral therapy is a type of counseling that helps you identify and stick to quit-smoking strategies. Combine behavioral therapy with nicotine replacement products and/or medication to boost your odds of success.

No. 6: Manage Stress

One reason people smoke is that the nicotine helps them relax. Once you quit, you’ll need another way to cope with stress. Try getting regular massages, listening to relaxing music, or learning yoga or

tai chi. If possible, avoid stressful situations during the first few weeks after you stop smoking.

No. 7: Avoid Alcohol, Other Triggers

Certain activities may boost your urge to smoke. Alcohol is one of the most common triggers, so try to drink less when you first quit. If coffee is a trigger, switch to tea for a few weeks. And if you usually smoke after meals, find something else to do instead, like brushing your teeth or chewing gum.

No. 8: Clean House

Once you’ve smoked your last cigarette, toss all of your ashtrays and lighters. Wash any clothes that smell like smoke and clean your carpets, draperies, and upholstery. Use air fresheners to help rid your home of that familiar scent. You don’t want to see or smell anything that reminds you of smoking.

No. 9: Try and Try Again

It’s very common to have a relapse. Many smokers try several times before giving up cigarettes for good. Examine the emotions and circumstances that lead to your relapse. Use it as an opportunity to reaffirm your commitment to quitting. Once you’ve made the decision to try again, set a “quit date” within the next month.

No. 10: Get Moving

Physical activity can help reduce nicotine cravings and ease some withdrawal symptoms. When you want to reach for a cigarette, put on your inline skates or jogging shoes instead. Even mild exercise is helpful, such as walking the dog or pulling weeds in the garden. The extra calories you burn will also ward off weight gain as you quit smoking.

No. 11: Eat Fruits and Veggies

Don’t try to diet while giving up cigarettes — too much deprivation is bound to backfire. Instead, focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. A Duke University study suggests these foods make cigarettes taste terrible. This gives you a leg up in fighting your cravings while providing disease-fighting nutrients.

No. 12: Choose Your Reward

In addition to the tremendous health benefits, one of the perks of giving up cigarettes is all the money you will save. Reward yourself by spending part of it on something fun.

No. 13: Do It for Your Health

There’s more than the monetary reward to consider. Smoking cessation has immediate health benefits. It lowers your blood pressure and reduces your pulse after only 20 minutes. Within a day,  the carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal. Within two weeks to three months, your risk of a heart attack decreases and your lungs begin to function better. Long-term benefits include a reduced risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and other cancers.

The World’s Oldest Dental Filling Was Made of Beeswax

The discovery of a 6,500-year-old piece of beeswax provides insight into the origins of dentistry.

Beeswax placed on top of this cracked tooth may be the earliest example of therapeutic dentistry. (PLoS One)

In a paper published this week in PLoS One, a multidisciplinary group at Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy reports that an analysis of a human jaw found over a century ago in Slovenia shows evidence for what may be the earliest case of a therapeutic filling in human history.

The jawbone belongs to what would have been a man in his late twenties who lived during the Neolithic period. A vertical crack on his left canine had exposed some of the inner enamel and tissues within the tooth called dentin. To patch the problem, somebody — it’s not clear whether the procedure was done before or after the man died — stuffed the hole with beeswax. Given the degree of dental damage, researchers who examined the jaw believe it would’ve been pretty painful, and that the beeswax was used to reduce discomfort in the tooth.

The remains were unearthed over 100 years ago, but the filling managed to escape notice until now — possible nobody knew to look for it. Examples of ancient dentistry are extremely rare. In any case, after discovering the filling, scientists used carbon dating to find out how old the beeswax was, and even created a digital 3D model of the original tooth.

All images courtesy PLoS One

Brain Fung