A new phone app detects ear infections in children

Researchers have created a new smartphone app, which can detect fluid behind the eardrum by using a piece of paper, the phone's microphone and a speaker.

According to the study, infection in ear occurs when fluid builds up in the middle ear behind the eardrum.

This build-up is also common in another condition called otitis media with effusion. Any kind of fluid build-up can be painful and make it hard for children to hear, which can be especially detrimental when they are learning to talk.

These conditions are hard to diagnose because they have vague symptoms. Sometimes children tug on their ears or have fevers, and sometimes there are no symptoms. In addition, young children may not be able to describe where are they feeling hurt.

Now, with the invention of new Smartphone app parents can detect fluid behind the eardrum.
The Smartphone makes a series of soft audible chirps into the ear through a small paper funnel and, depending on the way the chirps are reflected back to the phone, the app determines the likelihood of fluid present with a probability of detection of 85 per cent.

This is on par with current methods used by specialists to detect fluid in the middle ear, which involve specialized tools that use acoustics or a puff of air.

"Designing an accurate screening tool on something as ubiquitous as a Smartphone can be game-changing for parents as well as health care providers in resource-limited regions. A key advantage of our technology is that it does not require any additional hardware other than a piece of paper and a software app running on the smartphone," said co-author of the study.

Once diagnosed, ear infections can be easily treated with observation or antibiotics, and persistent fluid can be monitored or drained by a doctor to relieve symptoms of pain or hearing loss. A quick screening at home could help parents decide whether or not they need to take their child to the doctor.

This app works by sending sounds into the ear and measuring how those sound waves change as they bounce off the eardrum.

"It's like tapping a wine glass. Depending on how much liquid is in it, you get different sounds. Using machine learning on these sounds, we can detect the presence of liquid, "said co-first author.

Because the researchers want parents to be able to use this technology at home, the team trained parents on how to use the system on their own children. Parents and doctors folded paper funnels, tested 25 ears and compared the results. Both parents and doctors successfully detected the six fluid-filled ears.

The team also tested the algorithm on a variety of smartphones and used different types of paper to make the funnel. The results were consistent regardless of phone or paper type.

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TIPS TO REDUCE ANXIETY

Living with anxiety can be really stressful. To beat anxiety, one need not go to expensive spa or rush to a doctor. Here are some simple ways to over come anxiety.

1) Meditation- doing meditation for about 15 minutes, help to relieve one of their anxiety. Meditation daily changes the neural pathways pf the brain, making it more flexible to stress.It is simple to do meditation- sit in a relaxed posture, with closed eyes, one can say their favourite prayer or keep reciting the name of their favourite deity.

2) Deep breathing- Sit straight with closed eyes, at first learn to breathe slowly and exhale, being aware of your breaths. Keep your hands on your abdomen, when you take deep breath, your abdomen should expand, hold for a few seconds and exhale through your mouth. Relax and repeat this process a few times, you'll find yourself relaxed, this lowers your blood pressure. This breathing technique can be done when also feels breathless, fear.

3) Have a hearty laugh- laughing loud is one of the best ways to reduce stress and anxiety. When we laugh aloud, endorphins are released, which elevates our mood by reducing the cortisol levels or our stress hormones.

4) Have a confidante- It is always best to talk to someone when we're stressed, as it not only distracts us, we also speak our heart out, it makes us more relaxed. Once our heart feels lighter, by speaking out, we feel more relaxed.

5) Know your stress triggers- when one feels anxious, try to find the cause, then reason out in your mind. Give yourself affirmation that all will be fine, this affirmation itself will make us more relaxed. Learn the physical symptoms during attack, when you get used to the symptoms, the mind does not send signal to the brain. 

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.

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Scientists decode our inability to maintain eye-to-eye contact while talking

Have you ever thought why it is difficult to maintain eye-to-eye contact when you talk to someone? Well scientists have decoded human beings’ inability to hold someone’s gaze while talking.

According to scientists, maintaining eye contact while thinking of words is too demanding a task for the brain. This may be an answer to why we sometimes find it difficult to maintain eye contact while talking. 

Sometimes, when you break an eye contact with the other person, it indicates that you are bored with the conversation. But, researchers have found that it may be because we try to keep our brains from overloading.

Experiments to learn more about how the phenomenon works were carried out by the researchers from the Kyoto University in Japan.
About 26 volunteers participated in a common word-association game. A person was shown a noun and was asked to immediately reply with a connected verb. While some words were easy, some were difficult.

The participants were asked to interact with a face on a computer that sometimes looked away. At the same time, they played the game with those different types of easy and difficult words.

The responses were then compared to the words with how long it took a volunteer to respond and their tendency to break eye contact, ‘Medical Xpress’ reported.

It was found that the participants were likely to take more time when responding to harder words, but not as much time when they broke eye contact. This indicates that the dual task of maintaining eye contact while also racking the brain for a word to meet the request is just too demanding, researchers said.

The brain pushes for breaking eye contact so it can focus on finding a word that will fulfill the obligation. The study was published in the journal Cognition.

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Key protein can offer fresh cure for depression

The identification of a key protein responsible for reducing the number of new brain cells can offer a fresh avenue for treating depression, a new study has found. 

Research  has revealed how stress hormones reduce the number of new brain cells - a process considered to be linked to depression. 

The researchers identified a key protein responsible for this process and successfully used a drug compound to block the effect, offering a potential new avenue for drug discovery and treatment. 

Depression is a common mental disorder worldwide affecting more than 350 million people of all ages. 

The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2030, depression will be the leading cause of the global burden of disease. 

In India, a study in 2011 found that around nine per cent of people reported having an extended period of depression within their lifetime and nearly 36 per cent had suffered from a major depressive episode (MDE). 

Treatment for depression involves either medication or talking therapy, or usually a combination of both. 

Current anti-depressant medication is only successful in treating depression in about 50-65 percent of cases and fewer than half of those affected worldwide receive such treatment. 

Depression and successful anti-depressant treatment is associated with changes in a process called neurogenesis - the ability of the adult brain to continue to produce new brain cells. 

"With as much as half of all depressed patients failing to improve with currently available medication, developing new, more effective anti-depressants is a priority," said a lead author of the paper. 

"In order to do this, we need to understand the abnormal mechanisms that we can target. Our study shows the importance of conducting research on cellular models, animal models and clinical samples, all under one roof in order to better facilitate the translation of laboratory findings to patient benefit," he said. 

In the study, the multi-disciplinary team of researchers studied cellular and animal models before confirming their findings in human blood samples. 

"Because a reduction of neurogenesis is considered part of the process leading to depression, targeting the molecular pathways that regulate this process may be a promising therapeutic strategy."

20 sleep disorders one should avoid

Everyone needs quality sleep every single night, but lifestyle choices and hurdles make sleep disorders more common than good sleep. 

This poor sleeping pattern has serious repercussions on our health, and the first thing we notice is unhealthy weight gain or weight loss, low concentration, and mood swings. 

If you have trouble sleeping almost every day and this lack of sleep is affecting your day-to-day routine, then you may be suffering from one of the many (and most common) sleep disorders. You will be surprised to know that there are many more sleep disorders than just insomnia and sleep apnoea  Today, we help you learn about these various sleep disorders and their symptoms, so that you can take action and treat these conditions before they take a toll on your life. 

 1: Sleep bruxism 

Sleep bruxism is most commonly known as teeth grinding. Here the sufferer clenches or grinds their teeth while sleeping. The real cause of this sleep disorder is still unknown, but stress, tension, suppressed anger or misalignments of the teeth do lead to this problem. 

This sleep disorder is though not that serious, but if this problem continues for a long time then, it can lead to jaw disorders, damaged teeth and various other mouth problems. Simple treatments are given to correct the problem generally, such as a mouth guard or therapy. 

 2: Sleep apnoea 

Sleep apnoea is a serious, life-threatening and a very common sleep disorder. This problem temporarily stops the sufferers breathing during sleep. This temporary halt is due to the blockage of the upper airways. This sleep disorder, can lead to interruption in your sleep due to many awakenings each hour. 

The effect of this sleep makes the sufferer exhausted, irritated and lowers work productivity during the day. The common symptoms of sleep apnoea are loud snoring, frequent pauses in breathing or gasping during sleep and waking up un-refreshed no matter how much time you spent sleeping. 

If you suspect you or your loved one is suffering with this sleep disorder, then speak to your doctor. The other simple treatment to treat this sleep disorder is losing weight, elevating the head of the bed and sleeping on your side. 

 3: Perpetual jet lag 

Jet lag occurs when the body's inner clock is out of synchronization with time signals it receives from the environment. Time signals include meal times, sunrise and sunset, and daily cycles of rest and activity. This disorder happens due to rapid transitions across multiple time-zones. The risk is very high with nocturnal shift work employees who transfer to night shifts. The common symptoms of jet lag are feeling of irritability, insomnia, indigestion and general disorientation 

The effect of jet lag on people is not immediate; apparently it may take a couple of days for this disorder to catch up. 

 4: Sleep eating 

This problem is a sleep disorder, as well as an eating disorder. The consequences of this disorder can be very severe if the sufferer has any health problems like diabetes or food allergies. This disorder involves eating of high-calorie foods over a very short time and without the sleeper's knowledge. 

 5: Rapid eye movement behavior disorder 

Rapid eye movement (REM) behaviour disorder is a sleep disorder characterized by the loss of standard voluntary muscle during REM sleep. Here the patient physically acts out often vivid, unpleasant dream with abnormal vocal sounds and movements during rapid eye movement sleep. 

REM behaviour sleep disorder can cause serious injury to either the patient or their bed partners. REM can be dangerous as it is associated with other neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease and dementia. 

 6: Sleep walking 

Sleep walking is pretty harmless but it can be serious when a sleepwalker gets into a car and goes for a ride. Many a times the person who sleepwalks will not remember walking, but may wake up speaking clumsily. Sleep walking is usually caused by an underlying problem, such as seizures, sleep apnoea or arrhythmias. 

 7: Frequent urination 

Waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom is such a common problem. As we get older, our bodies' ability to hold fluids for long periods reduces and this causes sleep deprivation in many adults. 

The best approach to deal with this problem is by noting down how often you are waking up. If you wake up quite often, then go and see your doctor, because the cause for your sleep deprivation due to frequent urination can be an over-active bladder or urinary tract infections. 

You can also treat this sleep disorder by taking simple steps like avoiding liquids for three hours before bedtime, lowering the consumption of tea and coffee and avoiding foods with high liquid content like soups for dinner. 

 8: Restless leg syndrome 

In this sleep disorder, the sufferer faces an almost irresistible urge to move legs or arms. This urge occurs usually when the sufferer is resting or lying down due to some uncomfortable, painful or aching situations. 

The common signs and symptoms of this syndrome includes: painful feelings deep within legs which comes along with a strong urge to move them. Repetitive cramping of the legs also occurs during sleep. The painful sensations temporarily get better when the sufferer moves, stretches or massages that area 

 9: Advanced sleep phase disorder 

Advanced sleep phase syndrome is a disorder in which the major sleeping affair is advanced in relation to the desired clock time. The body of the patient sets a certain time and this makes the patient go to sleep in the evening and wake up early in the morning. The common symptoms are compelling evening sleepiness, an early sleep onset, and an awakening that is earlier than desired. 

10: Narcolepsy 

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that usually begins during adolescence and is distinguished by excessive daytime sleepiness with the occurrence of sleep attacks. Narcolepsy can be genetic, or can occur in the absence of any family history as well. 

The symptoms of narcolepsy that may or may not be present are: cataplexy - sudden loss of muscle tone, sleep paralysis and hypnogogic hallucinations. The treatment of narcolepsy requires a mixture of behavioral modification and drug therapy. 

11: Sleep paralysis 

Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs between the two phases of wakefulness and sleep. Its common symptoms are not being able to speak or move for a few minutes or seconds. At times a sufferer can even feel pressure or a sense of choking. It is mostly accompanied with other sleep disorders like narcolepsy. 

12: Kleine-Levin syndrome 

Kleine-Levin syndrome or sleeping beauty syndrome is a sleeping disorder characterized by recurring periods of excessive amounts of sleeping and eating. The sufferer can even sleep for days, it sounds cool, but it can be very disastrous. When the patient wakes up, it seems his entire world is changed and he acts childish due to confusion, disorientation, lack of energy and lack of emotions. Most are bedridden, tired, and uncommunicative even when awake. The sufferer's life is completely out of focus and they are hypertensive to noise and light. They lose interest in food, games and their favourite hobbies. Affected individuals may go for a period of weeks, months or even years without experiencing any symptoms, and then they reappear with little warning. 

13: Adult bedwetting 

There are two types of adult bed-wetting  Primary nocturnal enuresis occurs when an adult never conquers simple childhood bed-wetting associated with potty training. The other is called adult onset secondary enuresis, which begins well into adulthood. 

This condition can be genetic, but a variety of factors, including diabetes, can also be at the root of the problem. Increased production of urine during sleep can lead to adult bed-wetting. 

14: Night terrors 

A night terror is a sleep disorder described by tremendous terror and a temporary incapability to regain full consciousness. The patient wakes up suddenly from slow-wave sleep. This is usually accompanied by out of breath, complaining, or screaming. It is often impossible to fully awaken the person, and after the event the patient usually settles back to sleep without waking. 

A night terror can rarely be recalled by the patient. Night terrors are different from nightmares. Often times it can be extremely dangerous for the person, for it can cause trauma, and can even hurt someone. 

15: Hypersomnia 

The disorder is made up of phases of cruel sleepiness. These periods of sleep can last for up to hours, days or even weeks. Before a person is hit with a hypersomnia attack, the patient suffers with flu like symptoms present and a long-term headache. The attack itself can cause a person to gain weight and sweat abundantly. Menstrual-Related Hypersomnia also occurs due to hormonal imbalances. 

16: Snoring 

Not all snoring is sleep apnoea  Snoring can cause severe sleep disorder to the sufferer as well to the person sleeping next to the sufferer. Snoring is the vibration of respiratory systems and the resulting sound is caused due to blocked air movement during breathing while sleeping. In some cases the sound may be soft, but in other cases, it can be loud and horrible. 

Snoring during sleep may be a sign, or first alarm, of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The only way to reduce this problem is by losing weight, changing your sleeping position and avoiding alcohol and other sedatives. 

17: Shift work sleep disorder 

It is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder that occurs when your work schedule and your biological clock are out of sync. Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterized by insomnia and excessive sleepiness affecting people whose work hours overlap with the typical sleep period. 

There are numerous shift work schedules, and they may be permanent, intermittent, or rotating; consequently, the manifestations of SWSD are quite variable. Simple ways to treat this sleep disorder is by taking regular breaks and regulating your sleep-wake cycle by increasing light exposure at work. 

18: Sexsomnia 

Sleep sex, or sexsomnia, is a situation in which a person will connect in sexual acts while still asleep. The symptoms of sexsomnia include fondling, heterosexual and homosexual intercourse, masturbation, and oral sex. Sometimes without the sleeper's knowledge, they even get into serious crimes like sexual assaults or even rape. 

It is difficult for sexsomniacs to recollect what they did last night. Sexsomnia is also a symptom which occurs in other sleep disorders like sleep apnea and night terrors. This sleep disorder is mostly activated by stress, physical touch by their bed partners and excessive consumption of alcohol. 

19: Sleep talking 

The symptoms of sleep talking can range from gibberish talks to long time sophisticated symptoms. Sleep talking can also be the symptom of another sleep disorder like REM or sleep terrors. Treatment isn't usually necessary—unless it's bothering your sleep partner. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule is the best treatment or solution to mild sufferers. 

20: Insomnia 

People suffering from insomnia either have difficulty in sleep initiation, sleep continuation or both. It is a highly prevalent sleep disorder and can be transitional or primary. Transitional insomnia is a sleep disturbance caused due to stressful life circumstances and resolves once the stress is taken care of. 

Primary insomnia is poorly understood, long-term and is difficult to treat. Insomnia has an adverse impact on your mood, attention and concentration. Lifestyle changes and psychological treatments can help treat this condition.