Welcome to GiftedHands Blog: May 2015

Sunday, May 31, 2015

MC Galaxy – “I Charge N3.5m For Shows”

South South singer, MC Galaxy has claimed that he receives and charges as high as N3.5m for shows.

The Adebayor family drama doesn’t seem like it’s going to end soon.

The Award winning writer from Nigeria, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has blamed herself for the kidnap of her father, earlier in May 2015.

Data collected by the Washington Post newspaper suggests that the number of people shot by US police is twice as high as official figures claim. The paper said that during the first five months of this year, 385 people – more than two a day – were killed. The number of black people was disproportionately high among the victims, especially unarmed ones. BBC reports:

A young lady has emerged on Instagram professing her undying love for the Omo Baba Olowo star.

New information has come to light on the alleged son of Buhari who was present at the inauguration ceremony.

World superstar legendary Pop-star’s adorable Neverland ranch hits the market for one hundred million US Dollars but potential buyers are reportedly being warned about the house being haunted by the singer’s ghost.

Famous and pretty Nollywood star, Angela Okorie revealed in a new interview how her death rumor boasted her career.

Famous dance-hall act, Timaya has confirmed reports that he is expecting another child from his baby mama just a few months after his first child turned 3.

Refugees from Burundi who fled the ongoing violence and political tension sail on a boat to reach MV Liemba, a ship freighted by the United Nations at the Kagunga landing base on the shores of Lake Tanganyika near Kigoma in Tanzania,

African leaders began talks in Tanzania on Sunday in their second summit in a month aimed at restoring peace in Burundi, which has been hit by violent protests over the president’s plan to run for a third term.Reuters reports:

_83333100_dfb58314-38e9-4b8e-ad86-d09f34828fd0

Egypt has begun demolishing the headquarters of the now-dissolved party of former President, Hosni Mubarak. The building in Cairo near Tahrir Square was torched in the 2011 uprising that toppled Mubarak. Demolition workers also began tearing down an office block that was once the centre of state bureaucracy. Egypt’s government approved the move in April and said that the land would be given to the neighbouring Egyptian Museum. BBC was there:

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is the victim of a conspiracy from “behind the scenes”, his daughter has told the BBC amid the corruption crisis gripping world football. “Nobody is without fault but (…) he’s not the person who is taking money,” Corinne Blatter said. Her comments come as key Fifa officials face a string of bribery charges. BBC reports:

Former Delaware Attorney General, Beau Biden, the son of US Vice-President Joe Biden, has died of brain cancer. The 46-year-old was taken to hospital earlier this month at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre, near Washington. BBC has more:

A U.S. Marine is fighting to overturn her conviction after she refused to remove a Bible verse from her work station.
A religious liberty law firm has filed an appeal on behalf of the marine after she was prosecuted for refusing to remove the Bible verse, which was attached to her computer. Lance Corporal Monifa Sterling was convicted in a court martial after she did not follow the order to remove the small paper with writings of the Bible from her computer. Worldwideweirdnews has more:

Torz Reynolds had been dating Stuart “Chopper” May for two years, and she was so loved-up that she had a tattoo featuring his name on her arm that said “Chopper’s Bitch”. When he told her he was moving to Alaska to start a dream job, Torz did what any supportive girlfriend would do and saw him off at the airport in a tearful separation. Scoop reports:

As a pet owner, there are certain health dangers you and your family face. One woman says she wishes she had known these dangers before she went blind. She said, “I woke up one day and I couldn’t see out of my left eye,” said Janese Walters. “I looked in the mirror and I thought I had pink eye or something.” Without any warning signs, the vision in Walters’ left eye went dark. Toledonewsnow reports:

Seen from afar, Marc Schneider’s artworks look like black and white photographs, but as you approach them, you can see the images are made up of thousands of metal screws. Oddity Central reports:

A California student shared pictures of a flyer posted by apartment management reminding “African American residents” to “keep conversation volume down.” Instagram user teyent_thequeenb posted photos and a video to her account showing signs in her building’s two elevators at Toscana Apartment Homes that purport to have been posted by management. UPI reports:

No Man Can Handle Me Apart From My Husband – Omotola

Omotola Jalade Ekehinde has opened up on her decision to get married at the early age of 18. When asked by Vanguard if she would have gotten married to another man later ,had she not married her hubby early, she said

I don’t think so, because I don’t think there is any man that can handle me apart from my husband. Not because I am a bad person, it is because I am a very strong personality. I can understand why a lot of female artistes find it very difficult to find the right person.

Tonto Dikeh never gets tired of telling us her life story, but I bet must of us are tired of hearing it.

What do you get when the two most controversial female celebrities in the continent clash?

We never knew the veteran DJ had such a grown up daughter, and she’s pretty too.

Definitely the best decision of his career so far, brother to Don Jazzy and Mavin artiste — D’Prince, has revealed why he had to change his style of music.

The daughter of Buhari captured the eyes of many when she first appeared on Twitter, Korede Bello on the other hand won the hearts of girls nationwide with his trademark wink.

Goodluck Jonathan has left the presidential seat, now Etcetera has someone new to write about.

The failed singer turned critic, has written in what he feels President Muhammadu Buhari needs to do urgently.

Read below: –

This 86-Year-Old Woman Has Been Living On Luxury Cruise Ship For Seven Years

4ed86aa0-a0dd-11e4-b631-1307e685ee4b_ht_mama_lee_kab_150120_4x3_608

For most of us a cruise around the world aboard a luxury ship is nothing but a fantasy, but for Lee Wachtstetter it’s everyday life. The 86-year-old has been living on the Crystal Serenity cruise ship for the last seven years, hardly ever setting foot on dry land.

Extended breastfeeding is highly unusual in today’s world, which is why 6-year-old Amina’s case is making headlines. At age 52, her mother – belly dancing expert and human rights activist Maha Al Musa – is one of the oldest women in the world to be breastfeeding. Scoop has more:

Last Friday in Calabar, Cross River state, a young man, now on the run, stabbed a girl in her early twenties simply identified as Queen to death over a mobile phone at Nelson Mandela street by Target road, Calabar South LGA. CrossRiverWatch reports:

A father and a son got married in Pennsylvania, after living together as a couple for more than 50 years. Bill Novak and Norman MacArthur, both 70, vacated an adoption and instead became a married couple. Novak and MacArthur originally went through the adoption process for estate planning after being unable to marry in the state.

According to Scoop,

A 49-year-old Los Angeles, USA, father of 10, Titus McDonalds, who said he was having marital problems and decided to experiment with some prostitutes for a party, was shocked to his bone marrow when the two call girls he ordered turned out to be two of his daughters who had left home some years earlier. Read more from Street Gist:

A teenager in Illinois, who was arrested on charges of robbery, is eating metal and leather inside his prison cell, the defendant’s lawyer told a court. Worldwideweirdnews has more:

The former Kennis Music singer, Jaywon has opened up different issues on his life, as he embarks on his European tour in the next few days.

Do you still remember Gospel rapper BOUQUI, well the rapper has been off the radar for a very long time.

President Buhari’s Handsome Son, Yusuf Shows Off His Beautiful Girlfriend | PHOTO

Yesterday, Nigerian twitter went agog when photos of Buhari’s son, Yusuf surfaced online and a fierce debate was on as to why Buhari didn’t reveal his son to Nigerians before going to the 2015 polls.

Some people believed Buhari’s son would have further improved Buhari’s election result while some ladies were practically drooling over him.

He performed yesterday at President Buhari’s Inauguration gala at the Aso Rock villa and got to pose with the President’s beautiful daughters, more photos below…

EU, Burundi’s Catholic Church Pull Out From Observing Elections

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini arrives to the Eastern Partnership Summit session in Riga, Latvia, May 22, 2015. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

The European Union and Burundi’s influential Roman Catholic Church on Thursday pulled out from observing elections in the African country, saying that next month’s vote cannot be fair because of daily unrest and a crackdown on media. Reuters have more:

China’s top court said it has executed a primary school teacher found guilty of defiling or sexually abusing 26 girls. Li Jishun had committed the crimes between 2011 and 2012 while teaching at a village school in Gansu province. He preyed on pupils aged 4 to 11 who were “young and timid”, according to a statement by the Supreme People’s Court reported by local media. BBC has more:

Transport officials in Washington DC have blocked plans by an American free speech pressure group to have a controversial cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad displayed on the subway. The American Freedom Defense Initiative wanted to display the cartoon, which won first prize at an event in Texas. BBChas more:

The 209 members of Fifa are to vote for their new president at a congress in Zurich, as football’s world governing body faces a major corruption scandal. Sepp Blatter, the favourite, is seeking a fifth term. He is being challenged by Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan. BBC has more:

The newest celebrity mum, veteran Nollywood actress and producer — Uche Jombo Rodriguez has just given birth to a baby boy with her husband Kenny Rodriguez in America.

There are inauguration ceremonies happening all around Nigeria at the moment, not just Abuja.

Superstar singer, Chris Brown seems to be in a deep phase of his life at the moment.

She might be talented but the name of her dad would always hunt her.

PDP Chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode, has done something most men his age stopped doing long ago.

Outgoing Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola, who was close to majority of the celebrities in the state, especially Olamide; has left office.

Rapper Eva is just so cute

Foods with Anti-Cancer Properties

Vaccines have been developed for many diseases. Unfortunately, there are no established ways to prevent cancer. It is believed that seventy percent of the cancers are related to one’s lifestyle and can be avoided if one develops a healthy diet and lifestyle pattern.

While we know more about what not to eat to avoid the risk of developing cancer, there is an urgent need to understand that including certain foods in the diet has a direct and positive effect on cancer prevention efforts. These foods are also effective in fighting the disease and improving the effect of medication in people already battling the condition.
The best cancer prevention foods that are also the best foods that fight cancer are:

Garlic: It is an excellent and powerful neutralizer of free radicals and thus helps in cancer prevention. It is specifically protective against the cancers of the stomach and colon. According to the Iowa Women’s Health Study (USA – Steinmetz 1994), garlic provides protection against cancer in general and specifically lowers the risk of developing colon cancer. Garlic also regulates blood sugar levels and reduces insulin production, which in turn prevents the growth of tumors.

Tomato: A compound called lycopene is abundant in tomatoes and is known to provide protection against cell damage. Eating around 10 portions of tomato in a week can lower the risk of prostate cancer by as much as 18 percent. Lycopene obtained from tomato juice and tomato puree is more effective in comparison to that received from raw tomato.

Carrots: Carrots are packed with powerful cancer-busting agents. They contain carotenoids that have anti-cancer properties and are effective against cervical, bladder, colon and breast cancer, especially among menopausal women. Cooked carrots are 25 percent more effective than raw carrots. To get the most from these roots, make sure that you cook them whole to prevent nutrient loss.

Cruciferous Vegetables: Vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower containphytonutrients and flavonoids, which constrain the metabolism of carcinogens (agents that can cause cancer). They are also known to stimulate the production of detoxification enzymes in the body. Cruciferous vegetables are known to lower the risk of lung, prostate, bladder and stomach cancer.

Sea Food: Consumption of oily fish is linked with reduced risk of certain cancers like prostate, breast, colon and oesophageal cancer. Fish cooked in a healthy way provides great protection against tumors. Cold water fish are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and taking three servings of fish in a week show beneficial results.

Legumes: Dried beans, split beans, peas, peanuts and lentils are excellent sources of fiber, protein and folate (a B vitamin). Folate containing foods are known to provide protection against pancreatic cancer. These foods get their cancer fighting properties due to the presence of substances like lignans, saponinsand superior antioxidants. Legumes are also rich in resistant starch and improve the health of colon cells while providing them protection against cancer.

Furthermore, below are tips that help in improving one’s everyday diet and lifestyle:

It is important to choose the fats (that are a part of one’s diet) wisely and maintain an averagehealthy intake of fat in one’s everyday meals.
Consider replacing regular cooking oil with olive oil.
Avoid red, organ and processed meats.
Filter drinking water to avoid unnecessary chemicals that might have made their way into the water supply system.
Exercise acts as a catalyst to the diet, make sure you remain active in as many ways as possible to let the good cancer fighting foods work for you.

Healthy Lunchbox

Among the many tasks that a mother struggles to complete everyday, there is one that is most important and perhaps the most challenging; I call it ‘The Lunch Box Experiment’. Children are extreme food critics who eat with their eyes.

Nutrition is nowhere on a child’s agenda, they eat what they find eye-catching. However, a mother knows the importance of nutrition during the formative years and so is mostly troubled with making a decision about the foods that are not only nutritious, but also appealing enough to motivate the child to eat.

Time might be an issue during the heavily packed mornings, but a creatively designed lunchbox is always welcomed by children. A sandwich, for example, might look repetitive and can be turned down by a child, unless it has a different stuffing, shape, colour or packing every time. Choosing from a variety of foods is also critical. Repeated use of the same ingredients becomes boring and children develop aversions to them. Include foods with different colour, texture, shape, aroma and flavour. This may be achieved by combining foods from different food groups like pulses, cereals, dairy, fruits and vegetables.

Simple ready to eat hand snacks are a convenient option. One important consideration is that food should remain safe and appetising after several hours of storage. Too soggy and too dry foods are a big NO on any child’s food list.

Here are suggestions for a healthy lunchbox:
Fruits: Seasonal fruits are best and can be used in a variety of ways. Dried fruits are concentrated nutrient sources and are quite filling. You may also try dry fruit bars and porridges.

Dairy – Fruit yogurt, fruit custard or just a simple milk based recipe is a great lunchbox option.

Vegetables – Sautéed vegetable sticks with flavoured dips and sauces are a good stake. You may want to cut the vegetables in different shapes and prepare interesting recipes with them. Combining different vegetables gives interesting colours to a lunchbox meal and attracts the child. If your child is not comfortable with vegetables then try using a vegetable puree to make other dishes like pancakes or homemade cookies.

Fillings – Cheese, tuna, sliced eggs, grated vegetables like carrot or lettuce, cuts of meat etc., are great fillings that can transform a simple recipe into a tempting one. Pancakes, sandwiches or rolls, all get a new definition with different fillings.

Breads – Consider a variety of breads and maintain a variation in their use. Sandwiches might not interest children all the time. Try using rolls, bagels, fruit loaves, muffins, crumpets or corn thins.

While it is important to be careful about what goes into the lunchbox, the material and design of the lunch box itself is very important. Choose an insulated lunch box that is made with food grade material. It should be just big enough to keep the foods in different compartments but not too big to make it difficult for the child to carry or operate. The ease of cleaning is most important and should be taken very seriously while choosing the lunch box or the food that goes into it.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

You may remember the classic malar rash or the butterfly rash on the cheeks and nasal bridge of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), although not typically seen these days in all SLE patients. SLE is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disease that follows a relapsing and remitting course.

Ten quick facts to know about SLE:

SLE affects women more than men by about 90%, and more so in women of childbearing age.
It is chronic autoimmune disease: autoantibody response to nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens is seen.
It can affect almost any organ in the body - skin, kidneys, joints, blood cells, nervous system, and heart.
The specific cause of SLE is unknown. Several multiple factors such as genetic, ethnic, immunoregulatory, hormonal and environmental factors are known to play a role.
SLE runs in families and occurs in twins by higher preponderance.
Cigarette smoking and silica dust predispose the development of SLE.
Breastfeeding decreases the chances of SLE.
Pre-existing photosensitivity increases the skin manifestations of SLE.
The classic presentation is a triad of fever, joint pain and rash.
The involvement of kidneys is present in almost all the cases and should be looked into.

Symptoms of SLE:
The presentation of SLE can vary ranging from an indolent to a fulminant course.
In the indolent variety, the constitutional symptoms of fever, fatigue, joint pains are the only symptoms that mimic any other common viral illnesses.
The more fulminant course presents with failure of the kidneys, seizures, lung dysfunction and cardiac abnormalities.
The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) group revised and validated the ACR (American College of Rheumatology) SLE classification criteria in 2012. Accordingly, a person is said to be having SLE if it is a case of biopsy-proven lupus nephritis with ANA or anti-dsDNA antibodies or if four of the diagnostic criteria, including at least 1 clinical and 1 immunologic criterion are present.

ACR criteria for SLE:
Four of the eleven criteria would be present in the diagnosis of SLE:

Serositis
Oral ulcers
Arthritis
Photosensitivity
Blood disorders
Renal involvement
Antinuclear antibodies
Immunologic phenomena (Eg: dsDNA; anti-Smith [Sm] antibodies)
Neurologic disorder
Malar rash
Discoid rash

International statistics
The prevalence of SLE varies in various parts of the world. The highest prevalence is reported in Italy, Spain, and the UK. There appears to be a genetic and environmental trigger to its high prevalence in Africans in the UK, while it does not affect the native residents of Africa.
Natural history of the disease is heterogeneous. It can be present in a person for years without any clinical symptoms. It can manifest itself acutely with the typical features in a 20-year-old woman. It can occur through acute kidney failure. The affected individual often goes through various periods of relapse and remission.

Drug induced SLE: A considerable number of drugs are known to cause SLE with definite association seen with Chlorpromazine, Hydralazine, and Isoniazid.

How to differentiate between disease activity and damage index?
The indicators available are:

Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM)
Lupus Activity Index (LAI)
European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM)
British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG) Index

Prognosis: Currently, the average 10-year survival rate in SLE is more than 90%; 15-year survival rate is around 80%.

What should you be aware of about SLE?

Adhere to treatment medications and follow-up appointments
Seek medical care for new symptoms such as fever
Keep the lipids and blood pressure levels within normal range to prevent risk of coronary artery disease
Avoid exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet light
Quit smoking
Carefully plan pregnancies

What are the auto-antibody tests done in SLE?

ANA
Anti-dsDNA
Anti-Sm
Anti-SSA or anti-SSB
Anti-RNP
Anti-cardiolipin
Lupus anticoagulant
Anti-histone (Anti-histone antibodies are specific for drug induced lupus)

Radiological studies in SLE:

X-ray of the joints usually shows non-erosive arthritis with osteopenia.
Lung x-rays and CT scans usually demonstrate pleural inflammation, pneumonitis and pleural effusion.
Echocardiography is used to assess pericardial effusion and endocarditis.
Brain MRI would be required in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms to look for white matter changes and vasculitis.
Arthrocentesis and lumbar puncture may be needed at times.
Renal Biopsy is one of the most important and diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of SLE. It is used to confirm the presence of lupus nephritis, to aid in the classification of SLE, and to guide in therapeutic decisions. The histopathological grading of the extent of renal involvement is according to the International Society of Nephrology 2003 Revised Classification of SLE Nephritis.

Management of SLE:

Biologic DMARD therapy: Belimumab, a monoclonal antibody, has been found to reduce the disease’s activity and flares. It was approved by the US FDA in March 2011 for use in SLE with standard therapies.
Rituximab is used for standard therapy and for patient during the refractory period of the disease. It has an off-label indication in SLE. Anti- CD4OL or CTLA 41g are other biologics that are used in trials.
Antimalarial hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is commonly used for the suppression and treatment of SLE.
NSAIDs provide symptomatic relief for joints pain, fever and headache.
DMARDS (Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) immunomodulators, such as Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, Azathioprine, Mycophenolate, lower the auto-immune activity by decreasing the proliferation of immune cells.

The habitude of being aware of the condition of SLE, its triggers, aggravating and relieving factors, and the ability to be compliant with its medications and follow ups will help an SLE patient lead a sustainably better quality of life.

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Friday, May 29, 2015

Thursday, May 28, 2015