Olawunmi of Wumat Cakes advises practitioners to always upgrade knowledge - ITREALMS

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Aremu Olawunmi, Chief Executive of Wumat Cakes and Events Ikorodu, Lagos State, is a passionate cake maker. She spoke with ITREALMS’ GBEMI OMOTOSO, advising practitioners to always upgrade their knowledge.

 Excerpts:

What brought you into cake industry?
Smiles...Passion! I developed passion for Cake making right from my secondary school days.

Scientists discover oxidants aren’t always ‘bad’ for heart

ITRealms:

A group of scientists funded by the British Heart Foundation have discovered that oxidants, which have historically been blamed for heart disease, have a vital role at ensuring the heart pumps blood around the body effectively, reports ITRealms.

The discovery by researchers working collaboratively in Manchester and London, ITRealms gathered, opens up the potential for new treatments thereby offering hope for potential new treatments for high blood pressure and heart failure.

Also, ITRealms reports that the researchers now hope to develop drugs based on their discovery that could lower blood pressure and treat conditions caused by the heart not pumping properly, including certain forms of heart failure.

The study, published, Tuesday in Nature Communications, found that when the heart relaxes oxidants are released which activate an enzyme called Protein Kinase G (PKG), in a process called oxidation. The oxidation of PKG helps to ensure the amount of blood entering the heart is the same as the amount pumped out. This is vital in the functioning of a healthy heart.

However, when the researchers looked at the hearts of mice with a form of PKG that cannot be oxidised, they found that their hearts did not fill with blood properly and that their heart function was compromised.

The findings in the heart were complemented by BHF-funded research on arteries published recently in Science Signaling. The BHF researchers found activation of PKG by oxidants is also critical for the way arteries sense high blood pressure and then relax.

The researchers, led by BHF Research Fellow Dr Adam Greenstein from The University of Manchester, found that when arteries sense high blood pressure inside them they generate oxidants which activate PKG. The activation of PKG in response to pressure then relaxes the arteries. In mice with PKG that cannot be oxidised, the arteries constricted more strongly and this caused high blood pressure.

The scientists believe that dysregulation of the activation of PKG may occur in several cardiovascular diseases. They now hope to develop drugs which can mimic the oxidant-induced relaxation of the heart and arteries, to treat patients with problems in the way their hearts fill and pump blood around the body. This may also be valuable in lowering blood pressure.

“Our research supports the really exciting concept that oxidants, traditionally viewed as ‘the bad guys of the cardiovascular system,’ are increasingly appreciated as integral to normal heart and arterial function," said Dr Adam Greenstein of The University of Manchester, who is an author on both papers. “This ties in with lots of misinformation about commercially available antioxidants and heart disease which takes focus off the real risk factors, such as weight, cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking.”

“These new papers demonstrate just how important PKG is in the regulation of the heart and blood vessels," said Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research. “The studies provide strong evidence that new drugs which target PKG activation are likely to be useful in patients suffering with heart failure or with high blood pressure.”

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Tonto Dikeh’s sermon 'Happiness doesn’t come by materialism'

ITRealms:

Controversial actress and director, Tonto Dikeh has urged her fans to always give more than they receive, saying that happiness is not quantified by materialism, reports ITRealms.

Tonto in a likely Monday sermon on her Instagram page, told fans that everyone wants to be happy in life, acknowledging that happiness is not quantified by materialism.

According to her, this much she learnt in her cause of life journey.

“I used to think that when I have a nice car and a lot of money I would be happy. Yet on my journey I have met hundreds of people with all of these things, yet none of the happiness,” she said.

Admonishing that if anyone’s bank balance exceeds sense of purpose or the only purpose is to work towards achieving a greater bank balance, then you are likely to struggle in finding happiness.

“Appreciate what you have, gaining more won't make you happy if you aren't happy with what you already have,” she said, stressing that they should endeavor to live in the moment, and askew videoing of everything you see, instead, take it in whilst it is happening, then relive the memories forever.

“You were there but looking at a phone screen...? Give more than you receive, be it your time, money, gifts, love and laughs. When you give someone your best, the best comes out of you. Stop worrying about your future! Your future is going to happen, it is yours to happen to. If you want something then work towards it, but make sure you are happy on the way there,” Tonto advised.

She emphasized that every human will die someday, so concentrate on the living.

“Don't practice escapism because you are unhappy with your reality, be real, keep level headed and make sense of your life,” she said.

Tonto further said that being high or drunk all the time is a problem, nobody wants to be ill or crazy or both! 

“Life is a journey not a destination, you never want to get too comfortable, comfort is where you put on weight, get slow, become bored. I'm not saying throw yourself out of a plane, but you should try to do something that scares you now and again,” she said.

Insisting that people should not worry too much on what other people are doing, because “they are on their own journeys, enjoy yours, try not to compare your behind the scenes life to someone else's highlight reel.”

Tonto went on to advise fans to uphold what is in their hearts and heads because they shine brighter “than what's on your wrist and neck.” 

Above all, Tonto advised fans to love their work, because “this will be a big part of your life.”

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