Which component of blood is responsible for clotting?

When there is bleeding, platelets, tiny cellular elements in the blood become sticky due to a chemical reaction. They begin to adhere to the wall of blood vessels at the bleeding location, forming a blood clot.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is caused by Human immunedeficiency virus (HIV). This virus affects the immune system, making individual susceptible to infections and tumours.

Glaucoma is a condition where pressure inside the eye increases due to a build-up of excess fluid. I fleft untreated, this pressure can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve which could eventually lead to blindness.Statistics show that one in eight persons in India above the age of 40 years is either suffering from glaucoma or is at the risk of the disease.

Doing water exercises such as swimming, reduces impact on the joints. Swimming also helps in stabilizing and supporting joints and maintaining bone density. This helps avoide osteoporosis.

Coconut water controls blood sugar levels, provides energy, helps in digestion and increases metabolism. Coconut water is completely fat free. The increased metabolic rate could help in keeping body weight in control.

3D digital mammography can be used to detect early breast cancer. In a digital mammography, the radiologists alter the contrast, magnify specific areas of interest with characterisation of the breast lesions. Analogue mammography method is more painful and fails to detect cancer in 30% to 50% of the cases. It is also less efficient in detecting cancer occurring in women with radiographically dense breasts.

Considerable laboratory evidence from chemical, cell culture and animal studies indicates that antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent the development of cancer.Peanuts contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that is shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Researchers from the Northwestern University, Illinois, have discovered that Nanodiamonds, which measure between two and eight millionths of a millimetre across, can be used to deliver chemotherapy drugs. Nanodiamonds have unusual properties that allow their surfaces to attach to a wide range of compounds, including those used to fight cancer. In an experiment, when mice affected with liver and breast cancers were treated with nanodiamond complexes, the therapy agents remained in their circulation for 10 times longer than non-treated animals. Nanodiamonds had no negative effect on the white blood cell count, an important measure of the strength of the immune system.

Edinburgh University researchers have found that levels of the protein known as 11BetaHSD1 determine the shape of the body. Healthier fat, linked to lower levels of the protein, tends to be stored around the hips and is used more safely by the body as a source of energy. The study found out that levels of 11BetaHSD1 are linked to unhealthy fat tissues.

Acute radiation syndrome can be defined as short-term health problems that people face when they are exposed to nuclear radiation. The effects of radiation vary depending on the intensity of nuclear exposure. Diarrhea, Nausea and Vomiting are usually seen within 1 to 2 hours of exposure to 600–1000 rad (6–10 Gy).