Adapted from What’s Your Dosha, Baby? by Lisa Marie Coffey (Marlowe and Company, 2004).
Here is a great tool to try when you’re feeling unbalanced: first, take the fun quiz to determine your dosha, or life-energy type, then see which fragrances will help you to stay calm and energized, serene and stable. The answers may surprise you, but they are based on a potent combination of ancient Hindu Ayurvedic wisdom and aromatherapy science. Continue Reading >>
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Showing posts with label blood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blood. Show all posts
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Air Pollution Linked to Blood Clots in Legs
(HealthDay News) -- Long-term exposure to the tiny, dirty particles in polluted air seems to increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis, which are blood clots in the thighs or legs, an Italian study finds.
"It is well-established that air pollution causes myocardial infarction [heart attack] and stroke," said Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, who led the study while at the Harvard School of Public Health. "This is the first time that anyone has connected air pollution with deep vein thrombosis."
Previous studies have suggested such a connection, said Baccarelli, who is now an assistant professor of environmental health at the University of Milan. "Several studies in animal models and in humans have shown that particulate matter, inhaled into the lungs, causes inflammation in the lungs," he said. "The inflammation can expand the cell body, so that the incidence of coagulation is increased."
Coagulation is the formation of clots that can block blood vessels.
Baccarelli and his colleagues assessed the effect of air polluted with particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter -- about one-40th the width of a human hair. Such particles come from the exhaust of vehicles, especially those with diesel engines, and burning of fossil fuels, the researchers said.
The scientists compared the exposure to such pollution on 870 residents of the Lombardy region of Italy who had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, and 1,210 residents who did not have deep vein thrombosis. The researchers used the average concentration of particulate matter measured by monitors at 53 sites.
Compensating for other environmental and health factors, the researchers found that the risk of deep vein thrombosis increased by 70 percent for every increase in particulate matter of 10 micrograms per square meter. Tests showed that the blood of people more exposed to such pollution took less time to form clots.
"This makes a very strong case that air pollution is connected to deep vein thrombosis," said Dr. Robert D. Brook, an assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, who wrote an accompanying editorial in the journal.
"But it is a first study and a single study," he added, "and I would be cautious about making generalizations and drawing conclusions on the basis of one study."
Still, "the results are very positive," Brook said. "Even if they are overestimating the effect, the effect, which is relatively so robust, is there. But how strong it is requires further studies."
"If future studies corroborate their findings and address some of the limitations, it may be proven that the actual totality of the health burden posed by air pollution, already known to be tremendous, may be even greater than anticipated," Brook said.
Baccarelli agreed with Brook's assessment, saying, "clearly the finding needs to be confirmed in additional studies."
"We are working on that," he said. "We are seeking additional populations in which the same link between air pollution and deep vein thrombosis can be evaluated. We also hope that some of our colleagues elsewhere will be pushed to conduct other studies."
The findings are published in the May 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
More information
Learn more about the health risks of air pollution from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
"It is well-established that air pollution causes myocardial infarction [heart attack] and stroke," said Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, who led the study while at the Harvard School of Public Health. "This is the first time that anyone has connected air pollution with deep vein thrombosis."
Previous studies have suggested such a connection, said Baccarelli, who is now an assistant professor of environmental health at the University of Milan. "Several studies in animal models and in humans have shown that particulate matter, inhaled into the lungs, causes inflammation in the lungs," he said. "The inflammation can expand the cell body, so that the incidence of coagulation is increased."
Coagulation is the formation of clots that can block blood vessels.
Baccarelli and his colleagues assessed the effect of air polluted with particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter -- about one-40th the width of a human hair. Such particles come from the exhaust of vehicles, especially those with diesel engines, and burning of fossil fuels, the researchers said.
The scientists compared the exposure to such pollution on 870 residents of the Lombardy region of Italy who had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, and 1,210 residents who did not have deep vein thrombosis. The researchers used the average concentration of particulate matter measured by monitors at 53 sites.
Compensating for other environmental and health factors, the researchers found that the risk of deep vein thrombosis increased by 70 percent for every increase in particulate matter of 10 micrograms per square meter. Tests showed that the blood of people more exposed to such pollution took less time to form clots.
"This makes a very strong case that air pollution is connected to deep vein thrombosis," said Dr. Robert D. Brook, an assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, who wrote an accompanying editorial in the journal.
"But it is a first study and a single study," he added, "and I would be cautious about making generalizations and drawing conclusions on the basis of one study."
Still, "the results are very positive," Brook said. "Even if they are overestimating the effect, the effect, which is relatively so robust, is there. But how strong it is requires further studies."
"If future studies corroborate their findings and address some of the limitations, it may be proven that the actual totality of the health burden posed by air pollution, already known to be tremendous, may be even greater than anticipated," Brook said.
Baccarelli agreed with Brook's assessment, saying, "clearly the finding needs to be confirmed in additional studies."
"We are working on that," he said. "We are seeking additional populations in which the same link between air pollution and deep vein thrombosis can be evaluated. We also hope that some of our colleagues elsewhere will be pushed to conduct other studies."
The findings are published in the May 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
More information
Learn more about the health risks of air pollution from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Metabolic Syndrome Triggered by Overeating, Not Obesity
(HealthDay News) -- Overeating, not the obesity it causes, is the actual cause of metabolic syndrome, suggests a study with mice by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.Metabolic syndrome is a collection of health factors that increase the risk of developing insulin resistance, fatty liver, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
This study was among the first to propose that weight gain is an early symptom, not a direct cause, of metabolic syndrome, the researchers said.
"Most people today think that obesity itself causes metabolic syndrome," senior author Dr. Roger Unger, professor of internal medicine, said in a prepared statement. "We're ingrained to think obesity is the cause of all health problems, when, in fact, it is the spillover of fat into organs other than fat cells that damages these organs, such as the heart and the liver. Depositing fatty molecules in fat cells where they belong actually delays that harmful spillover."
In this study, Under and his colleagues compared normal mice to mice that were genetically altered to prevent their fat cells from expanding. Both groups of mice were overfed.
The normal mice got fat but didn't develop signs of metabolic syndrome until after about seven weeks of overeating. The genetically altered mice stayed slim but became seriously ill within a few weeks and displayed evidence of severe heart problems and major increases in blood sugar levels eight weeks before minimal heart problems developed in the normal mice, the researchers said.
The genetically altered mice showed significant damage to heart cells and to the insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas. They also got sick quicker, because the extra calories they consumed weren't stored in fat cells, but rather in other tissues, the researchers said.
The study was published online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The exact cause of metabolic syndrome, which affects about 50 million Americans, is unknown, but lack of exercise and obesity have been tagged as the primary underlying contributors to the development of the condition, according to background information in the study.
More information
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about metabolic syndrome.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Cure Diabetes mellitus (Madhumeha)
According to Ayurveda, the consideration of a patient’s lifestyle, age, type of work, psychosocial needs and willpower is important in a management plan.The latter includes the necessary panchakarmas (cleansing methods), herbal formulas, a healthy meal plan, and regular blood sugar monitoring. A physician needs to evaluate the plan at each visit and make necessary […]
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Marma Points - Location and related Symptoms
ARM1. Wrist injuries, inflammations, stiff finger joints, stomach problems.
2. Wrist injuries, inflammations, stiff finger joints, heart problems.
3. Wrist injuries, inflammations, stiff finger joints, wrist pain.
4. Wrist injuries, inflammations, stiff finger joints, wrist pain.
5. Wrist injuries, inflammations, mental problems.
6. Tennis Elbow, stiff elbow.
7. Tennis Elbow, stiff elbow, Metabolic problems, liver, spleen, pancreas & gall bladder problems.
8. Cramps in upper arm.
9. Poor circulation of blood to hand, muscle cramps.
10. Poor circulation of blood to hand, muscle cramps.
11. Pain in neck & shoulder, shoulder weakness, frozen shoulder, numbness in hands, difficulty in finger movements.
more information about Marma Points:
Monday, March 10, 2008
AyurGold-Maintain Optimal Blood Chemistry for Good Health
Blood chemistry is regulated by negative feedback in order to keep the body in homeostasis (optimal equilibrium). The levels of glucose in the blood are monitored by the cells in the pancreas.
If the blood glucose level falls to dangerous levels (caused by very heavy exercise or lack of food for extended periods), some pancreas cells release glucagon, a hormone that acts on liver cells to increase blood glucose levels.
Stored glycogen is converted into glucose by a process called glycogenolysis. The glucose is then released into the bloodstream, increasing blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar levels are also increased by "stress" hormones such as adrenalin, steroids, infections, trauma, and the ingestion of food. When levels of blood sugar rise, whether as a result of glycogen conversion, or from the digestion of a meal, a different hormone is released from beta cells found in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
This hormone, insulin, causes the liver to convert more glucose into glycogen. This process is called glycogenesis and it forces about two-thirds of body cells (primarily muscle and fat tissue cells) to take up glucose from the blood, thereby decreasing blood sugar levels. A breakdown in body homeostasis can lead to dangerously high or low blood sugar levels.
This can become a chronic condition leading to the onset of diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, in 1985, an estimated 30 million people worldwide had diabetes. By 1995, this number shot up to 135 million. The latest WHO estimate for the number of people with diabetes worldwide is 177 million. This will increase to at least 300 million by 2025.
The number of deaths attributed to diabetes is likely to be around 4 million. These projections take into account the fact that there will be more people in the world due to population growth and that there will be more elderly people due to population aging.
They also account for urbanization - the fact that people are moving from rural areas to cities, particularly in developing countries. This migration affects the number of people who are likely to have diabetes, because people living in cities of developing countries tend to be less physically active and have higher levels of obesity than people in rural areas.
In fact, current trends in obesity suggest that these projections are conservative and that the increase in the prevalence of diabetes may be even greater. In developing countries, people in the middle and most productive years of their lives are particularly affected by diabetes.
In these countries, three-quarters of all people with diabetes are under 65 years old and 25% of all adults with diabetes are younger than 44. In developed countries, more than half of all people with diabetes are older than 65, and only 8% of adults with diabetes are younger than 44. Because of its chronic nature, the severity of its complications, and the means required to control it, diabetes is a costly disease, not only for the affected individuals and the families involved, but also for the health authorities.
Studies in India estimate that, for a low-income Indian family, as much as 25% of family income may be devoted to diabetes care. For families in the USA, the corresponding figure is 10%. The total healthcare cost of a person with diabetes in the USA is between two and three times those for people without the condition.
A recent analysis of healthcare expenditure in the Western Pacific region has shown that 16% of hospital expenditure was spent on people afflicted with diabetes. In the Republic of the Marshall Islands, this figure was 25%. The cost of diabetes affects everyone, everywhere, but they are not only a financial problem. Intangible costs (pain, anxiety, inconvenience, and generally lower quality of life) also have great impact on the lives of patients and their families and are the most difficult to quantify.
Direct costs to individuals and their families include medical care, drugs, insulin, and other supplies. Patients may also have to bear other personal costs, such as increased payments for health and life insurance. Recent treatment cost estimates for Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico were US $3.9 billion, US $0.8 billion and US $2.0 billion, respectively.
Each of these is an annual figure and is rising as prevalence of diabetes increases. For most countries, the largest portion of diabetes expenditure is cost of hospital admissions for the treatment of long-term complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and foot problems.
Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to irregular blood chemistry in the body. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills provide only fleeting, inconsistent results.
Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda applies the inherent principles of nature to help maintain optimum health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.
India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations to address the root cause of irregular blood chemistry, while strengthening your body and overall well-being.
India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries' old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men and women overcome their health concerns through safe and natural means.
Results: The precise combination of ingredients in AyurGold along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your blood chemistry concerns!
more information:
http://www.india-herbs.com/aff/dreddyclinic/ayurgold
If the blood glucose level falls to dangerous levels (caused by very heavy exercise or lack of food for extended periods), some pancreas cells release glucagon, a hormone that acts on liver cells to increase blood glucose levels.
Stored glycogen is converted into glucose by a process called glycogenolysis. The glucose is then released into the bloodstream, increasing blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar levels are also increased by "stress" hormones such as adrenalin, steroids, infections, trauma, and the ingestion of food. When levels of blood sugar rise, whether as a result of glycogen conversion, or from the digestion of a meal, a different hormone is released from beta cells found in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
This hormone, insulin, causes the liver to convert more glucose into glycogen. This process is called glycogenesis and it forces about two-thirds of body cells (primarily muscle and fat tissue cells) to take up glucose from the blood, thereby decreasing blood sugar levels. A breakdown in body homeostasis can lead to dangerously high or low blood sugar levels.
This can become a chronic condition leading to the onset of diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, in 1985, an estimated 30 million people worldwide had diabetes. By 1995, this number shot up to 135 million. The latest WHO estimate for the number of people with diabetes worldwide is 177 million. This will increase to at least 300 million by 2025.
The number of deaths attributed to diabetes is likely to be around 4 million. These projections take into account the fact that there will be more people in the world due to population growth and that there will be more elderly people due to population aging.
They also account for urbanization - the fact that people are moving from rural areas to cities, particularly in developing countries. This migration affects the number of people who are likely to have diabetes, because people living in cities of developing countries tend to be less physically active and have higher levels of obesity than people in rural areas.
In fact, current trends in obesity suggest that these projections are conservative and that the increase in the prevalence of diabetes may be even greater. In developing countries, people in the middle and most productive years of their lives are particularly affected by diabetes.
In these countries, three-quarters of all people with diabetes are under 65 years old and 25% of all adults with diabetes are younger than 44. In developed countries, more than half of all people with diabetes are older than 65, and only 8% of adults with diabetes are younger than 44. Because of its chronic nature, the severity of its complications, and the means required to control it, diabetes is a costly disease, not only for the affected individuals and the families involved, but also for the health authorities.
Studies in India estimate that, for a low-income Indian family, as much as 25% of family income may be devoted to diabetes care. For families in the USA, the corresponding figure is 10%. The total healthcare cost of a person with diabetes in the USA is between two and three times those for people without the condition.
A recent analysis of healthcare expenditure in the Western Pacific region has shown that 16% of hospital expenditure was spent on people afflicted with diabetes. In the Republic of the Marshall Islands, this figure was 25%. The cost of diabetes affects everyone, everywhere, but they are not only a financial problem. Intangible costs (pain, anxiety, inconvenience, and generally lower quality of life) also have great impact on the lives of patients and their families and are the most difficult to quantify.
Direct costs to individuals and their families include medical care, drugs, insulin, and other supplies. Patients may also have to bear other personal costs, such as increased payments for health and life insurance. Recent treatment cost estimates for Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico were US $3.9 billion, US $0.8 billion and US $2.0 billion, respectively.
Each of these is an annual figure and is rising as prevalence of diabetes increases. For most countries, the largest portion of diabetes expenditure is cost of hospital admissions for the treatment of long-term complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and foot problems.
Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to irregular blood chemistry in the body. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills provide only fleeting, inconsistent results.
Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda applies the inherent principles of nature to help maintain optimum health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.
India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations to address the root cause of irregular blood chemistry, while strengthening your body and overall well-being.
India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries' old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men and women overcome their health concerns through safe and natural means.
Results: The precise combination of ingredients in AyurGold along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your blood chemistry concerns!
more information:
http://www.india-herbs.com/aff/dreddyclinic/ayurgold
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Ignition Locks Prevent Repeat DWI Offenses
(HealthDay News) -- Breath-testing devices that prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver's blood alcohol level exceeds a preset limit can dramatically reduce more DWI offenses among first-time offenders, a new study shows.
First offenders with "interlock" devices installed on their cars were 60 percent less likely to have a repeat offense than those who did not use the devices, according to findings published in the current issue of Traffic Injury Prevention.
"This study on first-time offenders reinforces prior studies on this issue that show a 65 percent reduction in drunk driving while interlocks are installed," Paul Marques, of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, said in a prepared statement.
The findings may help resolve questions about whether interlocks work as well with first-time offenders as with repeat offenders. Two earlier studies had questioned their effect, but the researchers noted that in those studies, only a small proportion of those required to install the interlocks actually did.
In the new study, researchers examined the records of 1,461 first-time DWI offenders in New Mexico who had interlocks installed in their vehicles and compared them with 17,562 first-time offenders in the state who didn't use the devices. The two groups were matched by age, gender and blood alcohol concentration at the time of arrest.
"The average first offender has driven drunk many times before he or she was arrested. The big risk difference is between non-offenders and first offenders. The risk difference between first offenders and repeat offenders is small by comparison," Marques said.
This research -- funded in part by the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic organization that focuses on health and health-care issues -- also cited possible economic benefits to vehicle interlocks.
One device cost the offender $2.25 per day, leading the authors to estimate that for every dollar spent on interlocks for first offenders, the public saves $3 in damage and destruction caused by DWI crashes.
"Interlocks present an opportunity to help change behavior rather than simply punishing or incarcerating the offender," Marques said. "It's not enough to revoke a license -- 75 percent of all people with revoked licenses drive anyway -- but you don't want to sentence an entire family to poverty if they're dependent on that driver getting to and from his or her job. By installing an interlock, the risk that the DWI offender poses is controlled, and interlocks become a public benefit."
Only about 10 percent of arrested DWIs nationally are ordered a period of interlock-controlled driving, Marques said. Four states mandate interlocks for first DWI offenses: New Mexico, Louisiana, Arizona and Illinois (effective in 2009).
More information
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers has more about preventing alcohol abuse.
First offenders with "interlock" devices installed on their cars were 60 percent less likely to have a repeat offense than those who did not use the devices, according to findings published in the current issue of Traffic Injury Prevention.
"This study on first-time offenders reinforces prior studies on this issue that show a 65 percent reduction in drunk driving while interlocks are installed," Paul Marques, of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, said in a prepared statement.
The findings may help resolve questions about whether interlocks work as well with first-time offenders as with repeat offenders. Two earlier studies had questioned their effect, but the researchers noted that in those studies, only a small proportion of those required to install the interlocks actually did.
In the new study, researchers examined the records of 1,461 first-time DWI offenders in New Mexico who had interlocks installed in their vehicles and compared them with 17,562 first-time offenders in the state who didn't use the devices. The two groups were matched by age, gender and blood alcohol concentration at the time of arrest.
"The average first offender has driven drunk many times before he or she was arrested. The big risk difference is between non-offenders and first offenders. The risk difference between first offenders and repeat offenders is small by comparison," Marques said.
This research -- funded in part by the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic organization that focuses on health and health-care issues -- also cited possible economic benefits to vehicle interlocks.
One device cost the offender $2.25 per day, leading the authors to estimate that for every dollar spent on interlocks for first offenders, the public saves $3 in damage and destruction caused by DWI crashes.
"Interlocks present an opportunity to help change behavior rather than simply punishing or incarcerating the offender," Marques said. "It's not enough to revoke a license -- 75 percent of all people with revoked licenses drive anyway -- but you don't want to sentence an entire family to poverty if they're dependent on that driver getting to and from his or her job. By installing an interlock, the risk that the DWI offender poses is controlled, and interlocks become a public benefit."
Only about 10 percent of arrested DWIs nationally are ordered a period of interlock-controlled driving, Marques said. Four states mandate interlocks for first DWI offenses: New Mexico, Louisiana, Arizona and Illinois (effective in 2009).
More information
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers has more about preventing alcohol abuse.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Baseline Exam Is Key to Eye Health
(HealthDay News) -- Even people with no signs or risk factors for eye disease can suffer vision loss and need to get baseline eye exams at age 40, says the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
The reminder is part of the academy's EyeSmart campaign to mark Save Your Vision Month in February.
"Many eye diseases progress without any warning sings," Dr. Stephanie Marioneaux, a clinical correspondent for the AAO, said in a prepared statement. "Gradual changes in vision can affect your ability to function independently and have confidence in your abilities. One of the hardest adjustments a person can make is adapting to life with permanent vision loss. That is why nothing replaces a comprehensive baseline eye exam."
Based on the findings from the initial screening, an ophthalmologist will create a schedule for follow-up eye exams.
People of any age who have symptoms of eye disease or at high risk due to family history, diabetes or high blood pressure should consult with their ophthalmologist to determine how often they should have their eyes checked, the AAO recommends.
By 2020, 43 million Americans will be at significant risk for vision loss or blindness due to age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. That's a more than 50 percent increase over the current number of Americans with such vision-threatening diseases.
But many Americans are unconcerned about the risk of vision loss. Only 23 percent of Americans are very concerned about losing their vision, while most feel weight gain or joint or back pain are greater worries than vision loss, according to an AAO survey conducted for its EyeSmart campaign.
"Unfortunately, millions of people with suffer significant vision loss and blindness because they don't know the risks. That is why the academy launched the EyeSmart campaign, because knowing your risks can save your sight," Marioneaux said.
More information
The U.S. National Eye Institute has more about eye disease risk.
The reminder is part of the academy's EyeSmart campaign to mark Save Your Vision Month in February.
"Many eye diseases progress without any warning sings," Dr. Stephanie Marioneaux, a clinical correspondent for the AAO, said in a prepared statement. "Gradual changes in vision can affect your ability to function independently and have confidence in your abilities. One of the hardest adjustments a person can make is adapting to life with permanent vision loss. That is why nothing replaces a comprehensive baseline eye exam."
Based on the findings from the initial screening, an ophthalmologist will create a schedule for follow-up eye exams.
People of any age who have symptoms of eye disease or at high risk due to family history, diabetes or high blood pressure should consult with their ophthalmologist to determine how often they should have their eyes checked, the AAO recommends.
By 2020, 43 million Americans will be at significant risk for vision loss or blindness due to age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. That's a more than 50 percent increase over the current number of Americans with such vision-threatening diseases.
But many Americans are unconcerned about the risk of vision loss. Only 23 percent of Americans are very concerned about losing their vision, while most feel weight gain or joint or back pain are greater worries than vision loss, according to an AAO survey conducted for its EyeSmart campaign.
"Unfortunately, millions of people with suffer significant vision loss and blindness because they don't know the risks. That is why the academy launched the EyeSmart campaign, because knowing your risks can save your sight," Marioneaux said.
More information
The U.S. National Eye Institute has more about eye disease risk.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Test Detects Sensitivity to HIV Drug
(HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that an expensive blood test could help a small minority of HIV patients discover whether they should avoid a common AIDS drug that can sometimes cause serious side effects.
The test detects sensitivity to the medication abacavir by checking to see if a patient's genetic makeup is linked to poor reactions to the medicine.
"This is very important news in relation to the great hopes from the work with the Human Genome Project," said Magnus Ingelman-Sundberg, a professor at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, who wrote a commentary about the research. The genome project aims to analyze the genetic blueprint of humans.
At issue is the AIDS drug abacavir, also known by the brand name Ziagen, which is found in compound drugs known as Trizivir and Epzicom. The drug is known as a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and works by preventing the AIDS virus from going through the motions of multiplying.
About 8 percent of patients suffer from hypersensitivity to the drug, said study author Simon Mallal, a researcher at Murdoch University & Royal Perth Hospital in Australia. His report on the results is published in the Feb. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The problems typically occur within the first six weeks that patients use the drug, he added.
According to the study, the side effects include fever, rash, gastrointestinal symptoms and other problems.
By testing patients for a genetic trait that was found in 5.6 percent of 1,956 female and male patients, the researchers found they could spot potential cases of sensitivity to abacavir.
The test's use could allow doctors to do a better job of personalizing drugs for individual patients, Mallal noted.
The study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of the drug, and several researchers reported receiving funding from the company. Mallal is the sole shareholder of a company that is trying to get a patent for a test for the genetic trait.
Rowena Johnston, vice president of research for amfAR, The Foundation For AIDS Research, said it remains to be seen if the test will be cost-effective.
According to Mallal, the test could potentially cost $100 to $150 in the United States. Ingelman-Sundberg, the Swedish researcher, put the cost at about $200.
"On the more favorable side, we certainly need more effective ways to predict who will tolerate which drugs or combinations better or worse," Johnston said. Patients who have side effects on drugs often don't bother to take them, which can make their bodies develop immunity to medications, she said.
"This might be one start towards building a battery of tests that could predict who will do well on which antiretrovirals," she said. "But I think more research could provide tools that are easy to implement and might ultimately help patients achieve high adherence so they can take full advantage of the ability of antiretroviral therapy to prolong life."
More information
Learn more about abacavir from the National Institutes of Health.
The test detects sensitivity to the medication abacavir by checking to see if a patient's genetic makeup is linked to poor reactions to the medicine.
"This is very important news in relation to the great hopes from the work with the Human Genome Project," said Magnus Ingelman-Sundberg, a professor at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, who wrote a commentary about the research. The genome project aims to analyze the genetic blueprint of humans.
At issue is the AIDS drug abacavir, also known by the brand name Ziagen, which is found in compound drugs known as Trizivir and Epzicom. The drug is known as a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and works by preventing the AIDS virus from going through the motions of multiplying.
About 8 percent of patients suffer from hypersensitivity to the drug, said study author Simon Mallal, a researcher at Murdoch University & Royal Perth Hospital in Australia. His report on the results is published in the Feb. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The problems typically occur within the first six weeks that patients use the drug, he added.
According to the study, the side effects include fever, rash, gastrointestinal symptoms and other problems.
By testing patients for a genetic trait that was found in 5.6 percent of 1,956 female and male patients, the researchers found they could spot potential cases of sensitivity to abacavir.
The test's use could allow doctors to do a better job of personalizing drugs for individual patients, Mallal noted.
The study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of the drug, and several researchers reported receiving funding from the company. Mallal is the sole shareholder of a company that is trying to get a patent for a test for the genetic trait.
Rowena Johnston, vice president of research for amfAR, The Foundation For AIDS Research, said it remains to be seen if the test will be cost-effective.
According to Mallal, the test could potentially cost $100 to $150 in the United States. Ingelman-Sundberg, the Swedish researcher, put the cost at about $200.
"On the more favorable side, we certainly need more effective ways to predict who will tolerate which drugs or combinations better or worse," Johnston said. Patients who have side effects on drugs often don't bother to take them, which can make their bodies develop immunity to medications, she said.
"This might be one start towards building a battery of tests that could predict who will do well on which antiretrovirals," she said. "But I think more research could provide tools that are easy to implement and might ultimately help patients achieve high adherence so they can take full advantage of the ability of antiretroviral therapy to prolong life."
More information
Learn more about abacavir from the National Institutes of Health.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Diabetes Group Backs Low-Carb Diets
(HealthDay News) -- For the first time, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has come out in support of low-carbohydrate diets for people with diabetes who want to manage their weight.
The ADA voiced its support of low-calorie or low-carbohydrate diets in its newly published 2008 clinical practice recommendations.
The recommendations are intended to help physicians guide their patients in diabetes prevention and management.
The ADA estimates that more than 20 million children and adults are living with diabetes in the United States. However, about one-third of those people have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed, according to the association.
Prior to the release of the 2008 recommendations, the ADA did not support low-carbohydrate diets for diabetes management due to a lack of evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness.
Whether a person can stick with a diet is more important than the diet's theme, according to the association. Low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diets are equally effective in helping people lose weight over a year. However, the recommendations do also include guidelines for monitoring the lipid profiles and kidney health of people who choose a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet.
The recommendations continue to support sustained, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity for people who are overweight, obese, living with diabetes or at risk for becoming diabetic.
"The risks of overweight and obesity are well-known. We recognize that people are looking for realistic ways to lose weight," Ann Albright, president of health care and education for the ADA, said in a prepared statement. "The evidence is clear that both low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie restricted diets result in similar weight loss at one year. We're not endorsing either of these weight-loss plans over any other method of losing weight. What we want health-care providers to know is that it's important for patients to choose a plan that works for them, and that the health-care team support their patients' weight-loss efforts and provide appropriate monitoring of patients' health."
Being overweight and physically inactive both increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the ADA. Being overweight or obese also make the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes more difficult. The 2008 recommendations state that all adults who are overweight and have an additional risk factor for diabetes should be tested for diabetes or pre-diabetes.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who have pre-diabetes can avoid diabetes if they lose 7 percent of their body weight and get more than 150 minutes of activity a week.
Developing and maintaining a disaster kit for diabetes self-management is also included in the new recommendations, along with revised guidelines for care of diabetes in older adults.
More information
To learn more about diabetes, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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The ADA voiced its support of low-calorie or low-carbohydrate diets in its newly published 2008 clinical practice recommendations.
The recommendations are intended to help physicians guide their patients in diabetes prevention and management.
The ADA estimates that more than 20 million children and adults are living with diabetes in the United States. However, about one-third of those people have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed, according to the association.
Prior to the release of the 2008 recommendations, the ADA did not support low-carbohydrate diets for diabetes management due to a lack of evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness.
Whether a person can stick with a diet is more important than the diet's theme, according to the association. Low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diets are equally effective in helping people lose weight over a year. However, the recommendations do also include guidelines for monitoring the lipid profiles and kidney health of people who choose a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet.
The recommendations continue to support sustained, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity for people who are overweight, obese, living with diabetes or at risk for becoming diabetic.
"The risks of overweight and obesity are well-known. We recognize that people are looking for realistic ways to lose weight," Ann Albright, president of health care and education for the ADA, said in a prepared statement. "The evidence is clear that both low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie restricted diets result in similar weight loss at one year. We're not endorsing either of these weight-loss plans over any other method of losing weight. What we want health-care providers to know is that it's important for patients to choose a plan that works for them, and that the health-care team support their patients' weight-loss efforts and provide appropriate monitoring of patients' health."
Being overweight and physically inactive both increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the ADA. Being overweight or obese also make the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes more difficult. The 2008 recommendations state that all adults who are overweight and have an additional risk factor for diabetes should be tested for diabetes or pre-diabetes.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who have pre-diabetes can avoid diabetes if they lose 7 percent of their body weight and get more than 150 minutes of activity a week.
Developing and maintaining a disaster kit for diabetes self-management is also included in the new recommendations, along with revised guidelines for care of diabetes in older adults.
More information
To learn more about diabetes, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
more discussion: Forum
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Thursday, December 27, 2007
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Radiancio is a natural supplement geared towards optimizing and enhancing the appearance and condition of your hair, nails, and skin while strengthening the body and overall well-being.
It will help you: Increase Keratin Formation. Enhance Collagen Synthesis. Reduce Elastin Breakdown. Improve Cellular Regeneration. Reduce Formation of Sebum. Clear Pores and Eradicate Acne. Renew Confidence and Esteem. Radiancio is a product of: 5000 years of Ayurvedic wisdom. Modern testing and research.
Breakthrough encapsulation technique. Laboratory-controlled potency. Doctor-approved, carefully calibrated formula. http://www.radiancio.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic
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Try a Proprietary Formula for Health And Beauty based on Ayurveda - the Oldest and Most Holistic, Comprehensive Medical System Available.
If you want to maximize your beauty and eliminate dull and fatigued looking skin tone, acne, dry and lackluster hair, or weak and cracking nails, there is proven help available. India's men and women have been reaping the powerful benefits of Ayurveda for the past 5,000 years!
Radiancio is a natural supplement geared towards optimizing and enhancing the appearance and condition of your hair, nails, and skin while strengthening the body and overall well-being.
It will help you: Increase Keratin Formation. Enhance Collagen Synthesis. Reduce Elastin Breakdown. Improve Cellular Regeneration. Reduce Formation of Sebum. Clear Pores and Eradicate Acne. Renew Confidence and Esteem. Radiancio is a product of: 5000 years of Ayurvedic wisdom. Modern testing and research.
Breakthrough encapsulation technique. Laboratory-controlled potency. Doctor-approved, carefully calibrated formula. http://www.radiancio.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic
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Sunday, December 23, 2007
School Salad Bar Boosts Kids' Fruit, Veggie Intake
(HealthDay News) -- Simply adding a salad bar to the school lunch room helps elementary school students eat significantly more fruits and vegetables, U.S. researchers say.
The University of California, Los Angeles, study included 337 children in grades 2 through 5 at three L.A. area schools. The children were interviewed before and after their schools started offering a lunch salad bar.
The frequency of the students' fruit and vegetable consumption increased from 2.97 times a day to 4.09 times a day after introduction of the lunch salad bar. There was also a considerable decline in the amount of cholesterol, saturated fat and total fat consumed by the children.
The study, published in the December issue of the journal Public Health Nutrition, included nutrition education for the students.
"One of the major contributing factors to the high rate of overweight children in the United States is that they do not consume the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables," lead author Dr. Wendy Slusser, assistant professor of pediatrics at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA and the UCLA School of Public Health, said in a prepared statement.
"Increasing the availability and accessibility to healthy foods is one way to improve children's diets. In turn, this sets up opportunities for kids to have repeated exposure to healthy food and positively impact their choices," she said.
"The salad bar program showed us that children will indeed eat more fruits and vegetables if offered in an appetizing and accessible manner. Future studies should evaluate parent education with school lunch menu changes, as well as why boys are less likely to eat from the salad bar at lunch than girls," Slusser said.
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about healthy eating for children.
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The University of California, Los Angeles, study included 337 children in grades 2 through 5 at three L.A. area schools. The children were interviewed before and after their schools started offering a lunch salad bar.
The frequency of the students' fruit and vegetable consumption increased from 2.97 times a day to 4.09 times a day after introduction of the lunch salad bar. There was also a considerable decline in the amount of cholesterol, saturated fat and total fat consumed by the children.
The study, published in the December issue of the journal Public Health Nutrition, included nutrition education for the students.
"One of the major contributing factors to the high rate of overweight children in the United States is that they do not consume the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables," lead author Dr. Wendy Slusser, assistant professor of pediatrics at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA and the UCLA School of Public Health, said in a prepared statement.
"Increasing the availability and accessibility to healthy foods is one way to improve children's diets. In turn, this sets up opportunities for kids to have repeated exposure to healthy food and positively impact their choices," she said.
"The salad bar program showed us that children will indeed eat more fruits and vegetables if offered in an appetizing and accessible manner. Future studies should evaluate parent education with school lunch menu changes, as well as why boys are less likely to eat from the salad bar at lunch than girls," Slusser said.
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about healthy eating for children.
more discussion: Forum
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Thursday, December 20, 2007
Standard Hepatitis B Treatment Bested by Newcomer
(HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that a newer medication approved for treating hepatitis B is more effective than the standard treatment, lamivudine.
Additionally, the Chinese scientists found that a significantly smaller number of people developed resistance to the newer drug, known as telbivudine (Tyzeka, Sebivo).
The study, which is published in the Dec. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, found that about 8 percent more people responded to telbivudine than lamivudine, and the risk of resistance was at least halved for people taking telbivudine.
"The multiple therapeutic choices now available for hepatitis B will enhance the ability of clinicians to maintain long-term control of HBV replication, ultimately improving clinical outcomes for more patients. These results support telbivudine as an effective therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis B," the study authors wrote.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver. It can be spread in many ways, including through the exchange of blood and other bodily fluids when having sex, from sharing needles, or from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As many as one third of people infected have no symptoms, according to the CDC. When symptoms do occur, they may include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and joint pain. For most people, the infection is transient, lasting no more than six months or so. However, the infection can become chronic. This occurs in only about 6 percent of people over 5 who are infected with the hepatitis B virus, in about 30 percent of infected children between 1 and 5 years old, and in as many as 90 percent of babies who are infected with the virus. Chronic hepatitis B can cause scarring of the liver, which can lead to liver cancer or liver failure.
The goal of treatment is to keep levels of the hepatitis B virus as low as possible. Even if hepatitis B levels become so low that they're undetectable, long-term treatment is still required to prevent recurrence. People with hepatitis B are tested to see if they are positive or negative for E-antigens. A positive result on the E-antigen test often indicates a stronger infection, according to the Hepatitis B Foundation. Someone with a positive result is referred to as HBeAg-positive.
While there are several treatment options available to suppress the virus, one problem is that people can develop resistance to these drugs. Two new drugs, entecavir (Baraclude) and telbivudine, have been approved to treat hepatitis B since 2005.
The current study looked at how effective telbivudine is compared to the standard first-line treatment, lamivudine.
The researchers randomly assigned 1,370 people with chronic hepatitis B to receive either 600 milligrams of telbivudine or 100 milligrams of lamivudine once daily.
After a year of treatment, 75.3 percent of HBeAg-positive people taking telbivudine showed a therapeutic response versus 67 percent of those on lamivudine. In HBeAg-negative people, 64.7 percent of those on telbivudine had a response compared to 56.3 percent of those on lamivudine.
The number of study volunteers who had undetectable levels of hepatitis B virus by the end of the treatment year were much greater for those on telbivudine. In HBeAg-positive people, 60 percent achieved undetectable levels on telbivudine versus 40.4 percent for those taking lamivudine. For HBeAg-negative study participants, telbivudine brought viral levels down to undetectable for 88.3 percent compared to 71.4 percent for lamivudine. Telbivudine also got those viral levels down about five to six weeks faster, on average, than lamivudine.
Resistance developed in 5 percent of HBeAg-positive people taking telbivudine and in 11 percent of those on lamivudine. For those who were HBeAg-negative, the rates of resistance were 2.3 percent for those on telbivudine and 10.7 percent for those on lamivudine.
According to the study's authors, both medications have a similar side effect profile, and no significant differences were found in the current study volunteers.
"Telbivudine seems to work and be safe. It seems to have shown a better therapeutic and histological response," said Dr. Marc Siegel, an internist at New York University Medical Center.
"It decreases the risk of cirrhosis. It's well-tolerated, and it prevents the progression of hepatitis B better than the standard treatment right now," said Siegel.
The study authors pointed out that telbivudine hasn't yet been compared to the other new hepatitis B medication, entecavir, in a randomized clinical trial. Entecavir has also been shown to be more effective than lamivudine and creates less resistance as well.
More information
To learn more about available treatments for hepatitis B, visit the Hepatitis B Foundation.
Additionally, the Chinese scientists found that a significantly smaller number of people developed resistance to the newer drug, known as telbivudine (Tyzeka, Sebivo).
The study, which is published in the Dec. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, found that about 8 percent more people responded to telbivudine than lamivudine, and the risk of resistance was at least halved for people taking telbivudine.
"The multiple therapeutic choices now available for hepatitis B will enhance the ability of clinicians to maintain long-term control of HBV replication, ultimately improving clinical outcomes for more patients. These results support telbivudine as an effective therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis B," the study authors wrote.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver. It can be spread in many ways, including through the exchange of blood and other bodily fluids when having sex, from sharing needles, or from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As many as one third of people infected have no symptoms, according to the CDC. When symptoms do occur, they may include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and joint pain. For most people, the infection is transient, lasting no more than six months or so. However, the infection can become chronic. This occurs in only about 6 percent of people over 5 who are infected with the hepatitis B virus, in about 30 percent of infected children between 1 and 5 years old, and in as many as 90 percent of babies who are infected with the virus. Chronic hepatitis B can cause scarring of the liver, which can lead to liver cancer or liver failure.
The goal of treatment is to keep levels of the hepatitis B virus as low as possible. Even if hepatitis B levels become so low that they're undetectable, long-term treatment is still required to prevent recurrence. People with hepatitis B are tested to see if they are positive or negative for E-antigens. A positive result on the E-antigen test often indicates a stronger infection, according to the Hepatitis B Foundation. Someone with a positive result is referred to as HBeAg-positive.
While there are several treatment options available to suppress the virus, one problem is that people can develop resistance to these drugs. Two new drugs, entecavir (Baraclude) and telbivudine, have been approved to treat hepatitis B since 2005.
The current study looked at how effective telbivudine is compared to the standard first-line treatment, lamivudine.
The researchers randomly assigned 1,370 people with chronic hepatitis B to receive either 600 milligrams of telbivudine or 100 milligrams of lamivudine once daily.
After a year of treatment, 75.3 percent of HBeAg-positive people taking telbivudine showed a therapeutic response versus 67 percent of those on lamivudine. In HBeAg-negative people, 64.7 percent of those on telbivudine had a response compared to 56.3 percent of those on lamivudine.
The number of study volunteers who had undetectable levels of hepatitis B virus by the end of the treatment year were much greater for those on telbivudine. In HBeAg-positive people, 60 percent achieved undetectable levels on telbivudine versus 40.4 percent for those taking lamivudine. For HBeAg-negative study participants, telbivudine brought viral levels down to undetectable for 88.3 percent compared to 71.4 percent for lamivudine. Telbivudine also got those viral levels down about five to six weeks faster, on average, than lamivudine.
Resistance developed in 5 percent of HBeAg-positive people taking telbivudine and in 11 percent of those on lamivudine. For those who were HBeAg-negative, the rates of resistance were 2.3 percent for those on telbivudine and 10.7 percent for those on lamivudine.
According to the study's authors, both medications have a similar side effect profile, and no significant differences were found in the current study volunteers.
"Telbivudine seems to work and be safe. It seems to have shown a better therapeutic and histological response," said Dr. Marc Siegel, an internist at New York University Medical Center.
"It decreases the risk of cirrhosis. It's well-tolerated, and it prevents the progression of hepatitis B better than the standard treatment right now," said Siegel.
The study authors pointed out that telbivudine hasn't yet been compared to the other new hepatitis B medication, entecavir, in a randomized clinical trial. Entecavir has also been shown to be more effective than lamivudine and creates less resistance as well.
More information
To learn more about available treatments for hepatitis B, visit the Hepatitis B Foundation.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Health Tip: Cuticle Care
(HealthDay News) - The tearing of a hangnail, or other cuts and tears in the sensitive skin around the fingernails or toenails, can trigger an infection.
Here are suggestions reduce your risk, courtesy of the University of Michigan Health System:
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Here are suggestions reduce your risk, courtesy of the University of Michigan Health System:
- Do not pick at your nails and avoid cutting the cuticles.
- Push cuticles back from the nail gently, using a sterile instrument.
- Never pull a hangnail.
- Wear gloves if you are performing an activity that may cut or scratch your fingers.
- See your doctor about a diabetes screening if you get frequent nail infections.
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Friday, December 14, 2007
Menopause May Be Unique to Humans
(HealthDay News) -- Scientists have found no evidence that female chimpanzees go through menopause in the way that human females do -- even though their ability to reproduce tends to taper off at a similar age.
"When we look at the healthiest individuals, it looks like chimpanzees may actually be reproducing better than humans in their forties," researcher Melissa Emery Thompson, of Harvard University, said in a prepared statement. "The oldest chimpanzee known to give birth in the wild is estimated to have been 55. She began reproductive cycling again shortly before her death at the age of 63."
Thompson's team analyzed fertility rate data on female chimpanzees in the wild. They found that they, like humans, have declining birth rates after the age of 40. This suggests that the "biological clock" in humans has been relatively preserved over the course of evolution, the study authors said.
However, unlike humans, female chimpanzee fertility tends to decline along with their survival odds. Healthy females maintain high birth rates late into life.
"The adaptive significance of human menopause, or post-reproductive life span, is still debated. This study provides greater evolutionary context to this debate," Thompson and her colleagues wrote.
These findings in chimpanzees, along with recent findings in wild gorillas and orangutans, indicate that "menopause is not part of the life cycle of living apes but has been uniquely derived in the human lineage."
The study is published in the Dec. 13 issue of the journal Current Biology.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about menopause.
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"When we look at the healthiest individuals, it looks like chimpanzees may actually be reproducing better than humans in their forties," researcher Melissa Emery Thompson, of Harvard University, said in a prepared statement. "The oldest chimpanzee known to give birth in the wild is estimated to have been 55. She began reproductive cycling again shortly before her death at the age of 63."
Thompson's team analyzed fertility rate data on female chimpanzees in the wild. They found that they, like humans, have declining birth rates after the age of 40. This suggests that the "biological clock" in humans has been relatively preserved over the course of evolution, the study authors said.
However, unlike humans, female chimpanzee fertility tends to decline along with their survival odds. Healthy females maintain high birth rates late into life.
"The adaptive significance of human menopause, or post-reproductive life span, is still debated. This study provides greater evolutionary context to this debate," Thompson and her colleagues wrote.
These findings in chimpanzees, along with recent findings in wild gorillas and orangutans, indicate that "menopause is not part of the life cycle of living apes but has been uniquely derived in the human lineage."
The study is published in the Dec. 13 issue of the journal Current Biology.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about menopause.
more discussion: Forum
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Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Drug Combo With Antibiotic May Slow MS Progression
(HealthDay News) -- Combining an antibiotic with a medication currently used to treat multiple sclerosis may slow progression of the disease, according to researchers at the Louisiana State Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.
Their study included 15 patients (average age 44.5) with relapsing-remitting MS who'd been taking interferon for at least six months and were experiencing symptoms and developing new brain lesions.
For four months, the patients took 100 milligrams daily of the antibiotic doxycycline in addition to their interferon therapy. During the study, they had monthly neurological examinations, MRI brain scans and blood work.
At the end of the four months, 60 percent of the patients had a more than 25 percent reduction in the number of brain lesions. Patients also had lower disability scores. One patient relapsed.
Side effects were mild and included only the known side effects of the two drugs individually, rather than side effects caused by combining the two medications, the researchers said.
The study, funded by Biogen Idec Inc., was posted online Dec. 10 and will be published in the February 2008 print issue of the Archives of Neurology.
"There is a growing interest in combination therapy in patients with MS to stabilize the clinical course, reduce the rate of clinical relapses and decelerate the progressive course of the underlying pathologic mechanism," the study authors wrote. "Overall, data from this cohort suggest that the treatment combination of oral doxycycline and interferon beta-1a may be safe and effective in some patients with MS; however, further controlled clinical trials are warranted to demonstrate safety and efficacy in a larger patient population."
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about multiple sclerosis.
Their study included 15 patients (average age 44.5) with relapsing-remitting MS who'd been taking interferon for at least six months and were experiencing symptoms and developing new brain lesions.
For four months, the patients took 100 milligrams daily of the antibiotic doxycycline in addition to their interferon therapy. During the study, they had monthly neurological examinations, MRI brain scans and blood work.
At the end of the four months, 60 percent of the patients had a more than 25 percent reduction in the number of brain lesions. Patients also had lower disability scores. One patient relapsed.
Side effects were mild and included only the known side effects of the two drugs individually, rather than side effects caused by combining the two medications, the researchers said.
The study, funded by Biogen Idec Inc., was posted online Dec. 10 and will be published in the February 2008 print issue of the Archives of Neurology.
"There is a growing interest in combination therapy in patients with MS to stabilize the clinical course, reduce the rate of clinical relapses and decelerate the progressive course of the underlying pathologic mechanism," the study authors wrote. "Overall, data from this cohort suggest that the treatment combination of oral doxycycline and interferon beta-1a may be safe and effective in some patients with MS; however, further controlled clinical trials are warranted to demonstrate safety and efficacy in a larger patient population."
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about multiple sclerosis.
Friday, December 07, 2007
New Kind of Stem Cells Reverse Sickle Cell Anemia
(HealthDay News) --Scientists have succeeded in using cells virtually identical to embryonic stem cells to "correct" sickle cell anemia in mice.
The breakthrough was made possible by another advance announced barely two weeks ago that scientists had created "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells from human skin cells. These iPS cells are very similar, although not exactly identical, to embryonic stem cells. The process bypasses the need to use embryos, and thus circumvents many of the ethical complications surrounding this type of research.
The first research announcement had left open the question of whether iPS cells could actually be used for therapeutic purposes.
That question has now been at least partially answered by this latest report.
"This study is important as a proof of principle that these iPS cells can be used to correct mutations," said Dr. Jacob Hanna, lead author of the study, which is published in the Dec. 6 online issue of Science Express.
Hanna is a postdoctoral fellow in Rudolf Jaenisch's laboratory at The Whitehead Institute in Boston.
"It's very fascinating that they're using these reprogrammed cells to make hematopoietic cells [which can produce different blood and immune cells] to then treat the genetic defect in these mice," said Paul Sanberg, director of the University of South Florida Center for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they have the capacity to develop into virtually any cell type in the body. The hope is that such cells may one day yield treatments or cures for diseases such as diabetes, liver failure, spinal injury, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease.
However, harvesting embryonic stem cells involves destroying a viable embryo, stirring much political debate. In the United States, embryonic stem cell research has been severely limited since August 2001, when President George W. Bush placed limits on federal funding of the field and restricted the number of embryonic stem cell lines that could be used.
Since that time, researchers have been racing to find other sources of viable stem cells -- iPS cells are one outcome of that race.
For this study, Hanna and his colleagues used a process similar to the one revealed two weeks ago, taking skin cells from the tails of mice with sickle cell anemia and using them to produce iPS cells. The researchers then replaced the mutated gene with a healthy gene in the new cells.
Once the iPS cells had differentiated into hematopoietic stem cells, they were reintroduced into the mice, where they began to produce healthy blood cells.
Some 10 percent of the human population, mostly blacks, carry the mutation for sickle cell anemia. The exact mutation is well known, as is the protocol for differentiating embryonic stem cells into precursors of bone marrow adult stem cells, making the condition well-suited to study.
In sickle cell anemia, red blood cells become sickle-shaped and can't move easily through the blood vessels.
Although exciting, the process is still fraught with potential danger.
The procedure to turn skin cells into iPS cells could lead to cancer (although none of the mice in this study showed any evidence of tumors). Also, the healthy genes were introduced into the mice via retroviruses, which can introduce other problems.
"Now the major question in the field is can you make iPSs with a safer method, that don't use retroviruses, because viruses can integrate into the DNA and activate dangerous genes or silence necessary genes," Hanna explained.
"I like the fact that they're saying this is a first step, because they're using retroviruses, and they have to show that this is a safe approach," added Sanberg.
More information
Learn more about stem cells at the International Society for Stem Cell Research.
The breakthrough was made possible by another advance announced barely two weeks ago that scientists had created "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells from human skin cells. These iPS cells are very similar, although not exactly identical, to embryonic stem cells. The process bypasses the need to use embryos, and thus circumvents many of the ethical complications surrounding this type of research.
The first research announcement had left open the question of whether iPS cells could actually be used for therapeutic purposes.
That question has now been at least partially answered by this latest report.
"This study is important as a proof of principle that these iPS cells can be used to correct mutations," said Dr. Jacob Hanna, lead author of the study, which is published in the Dec. 6 online issue of Science Express.
Hanna is a postdoctoral fellow in Rudolf Jaenisch's laboratory at The Whitehead Institute in Boston.
"It's very fascinating that they're using these reprogrammed cells to make hematopoietic cells [which can produce different blood and immune cells] to then treat the genetic defect in these mice," said Paul Sanberg, director of the University of South Florida Center for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they have the capacity to develop into virtually any cell type in the body. The hope is that such cells may one day yield treatments or cures for diseases such as diabetes, liver failure, spinal injury, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease.
However, harvesting embryonic stem cells involves destroying a viable embryo, stirring much political debate. In the United States, embryonic stem cell research has been severely limited since August 2001, when President George W. Bush placed limits on federal funding of the field and restricted the number of embryonic stem cell lines that could be used.
Since that time, researchers have been racing to find other sources of viable stem cells -- iPS cells are one outcome of that race.
For this study, Hanna and his colleagues used a process similar to the one revealed two weeks ago, taking skin cells from the tails of mice with sickle cell anemia and using them to produce iPS cells. The researchers then replaced the mutated gene with a healthy gene in the new cells.
Once the iPS cells had differentiated into hematopoietic stem cells, they were reintroduced into the mice, where they began to produce healthy blood cells.
Some 10 percent of the human population, mostly blacks, carry the mutation for sickle cell anemia. The exact mutation is well known, as is the protocol for differentiating embryonic stem cells into precursors of bone marrow adult stem cells, making the condition well-suited to study.
In sickle cell anemia, red blood cells become sickle-shaped and can't move easily through the blood vessels.
Although exciting, the process is still fraught with potential danger.
The procedure to turn skin cells into iPS cells could lead to cancer (although none of the mice in this study showed any evidence of tumors). Also, the healthy genes were introduced into the mice via retroviruses, which can introduce other problems.
"Now the major question in the field is can you make iPSs with a safer method, that don't use retroviruses, because viruses can integrate into the DNA and activate dangerous genes or silence necessary genes," Hanna explained.
"I like the fact that they're saying this is a first step, because they're using retroviruses, and they have to show that this is a safe approach," added Sanberg.
More information
Learn more about stem cells at the International Society for Stem Cell Research.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Mini Strokes: Major Health Threats
(HealthDay News) -- Doctors call them transient ischemic attacks, but they're more commonly known as "mini-strokes."
But make no mistake -- they can be deadly.
What's worse, many people who suffer such an attack rarely seek medical help. Just one in 10 people who experienced symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) sought the proper emergency care, a recent study published in the journal Stroke found.
Urgent care is critical, because some people who suffer TIAs will have a major stroke as soon as a day or two after the mini-stroke.
"People need urgent medical attention not for the symptoms that have passed but for what might be coming. Many people don't have a TIA before they have a stroke, so, in a sense, it's fortunate to have one. Now you have a chance to intervene," said Dr. Keith Siller, medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Care Center at New York University Medical Center
.
A transient ischemic attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is temporarily blocked. When this occurs, symptoms come on suddenly and last anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. Symptoms may include:
But make no mistake -- they can be deadly.
What's worse, many people who suffer such an attack rarely seek medical help. Just one in 10 people who experienced symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) sought the proper emergency care, a recent study published in the journal Stroke found.
Urgent care is critical, because some people who suffer TIAs will have a major stroke as soon as a day or two after the mini-stroke.
"People need urgent medical attention not for the symptoms that have passed but for what might be coming. Many people don't have a TIA before they have a stroke, so, in a sense, it's fortunate to have one. Now you have a chance to intervene," said Dr. Keith Siller, medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Care Center at New York University Medical Center
.
A transient ischemic attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is temporarily blocked. When this occurs, symptoms come on suddenly and last anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. Symptoms may include:
- Sudden loss of speech or the ability to understand others.
- Rapid onset of weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially if it occurs on only one side of the body.
- Sudden loss of, or change in, vision that may occur in one or both eyes.
- Sudden difficulty walking or maintaining balance.
One thing you may not feel with a stroke is pain.
"Pain is not the right thing to look for in stroke," said Dr. Christian Schumacher, a neurologist at the Stern Stroke Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "People expect that like a heart attack, which is often painful, that stroke will cause pain. But stroke symptoms are, in most cases, without pain."
One exception, Siller added, is what's known as a hemorrhagic stroke. In this instance, you would likely experience a sudden, severe, unexplained headache. If you have such a headache or any of the above symptoms, Siller said, you should get to the hospital immediately.
Unfortunately, not many people realize the need for urgent care. In the Stroke study, British researchers surveyed 241 people who had experienced a transient ischemic attack. Just 44.4 percent sought medical care within a few hours of experiencing TIA symptoms, and only 10 percent sought any emergency medical care for their symptoms.
Another 44 percent waited longer than a day after their symptoms to seek care. People who had symptoms that lasted more than one hour -- and those with motor symptoms, such as difficulty walking -- were more likely to seek care. If the TIA symptoms occurred on a weekend, people were more likely to delay seeking treatment.
People "want to wait until they feel better, and most TIAs get better within an hour. If it gets better, people just think, 'Oh, that was weird,' and then they may call their doctor later," Schumacher said.
Or, they may just forget the symptoms altogether, Siller said. "When symptoms are gone, and they feel better, people forget. But, it's a misconception that if it went away, it doesn't mean anything," he said.
"Although TIA is called a mini-stroke; it's like having a real stroke. It's a warning sign for a major disabling stroke," Schumacher said.
Getting to the hospital as soon as possible after TIA or stroke symptoms begin is critical. The reason: Clot-busting drugs that can spare you many of stroke's worst effects -- including paralysis -- have to be administered within several hours after the onset of symptoms to be effective, Siller explained.
"If you wait, we can't do as much to help you," he said.
Siller also recommends discussing your risk factors with your physician. The most common risk factor for stroke is a past history of a stroke or a TIA. People with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and those with heart disease also have an increased risk of stroke, making it even more important for them to act quickly if they have any TIA symptoms.
More information
The American Heart Association has more on transient ischemic attacks.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Kama Yogi
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more discussion: Forum
· Addiction Forum · Ask the Doctors Forum · Ayurveda Forum · Ayurvedic & Thai Herbs Forum · Colon Cleansing Forum · Dental Forum · Diabetes Forum · Diet Forum · General Cleansing Forum · Hepatitis A, B. C Forum · Integrated Medicine Forum · Live Blood Analysis Forum · Ozone-Oxygen-Forum · pH - Alkaline - Acidity Forum · Weight Loss Forum
"The healthy life has three main pillars - a balanced diet, mental hygiene, and a healthy not allowed life. " Kama Yogi's Powerful Techniques Give Significant, Invigorating, and Enduring Results! If you want to enjoy extraordinary not allowed and reduced chance of low not allowed drive and lack of vigor, vitality, and raw sexual energy, there is proven help available. India's men and women have been reaping the powerful benefits of YOGA for the past 5,000 years!
The 63-page Kama Yogi eBook with 165 color photographs offers a set of ancient spiritual practices geared towards the attainment of sexual vigor, improved vitality, and increased libido.
It will help you: Intensify Your Orgasms. Elevate Your not allowed Drive. Enhance Your Sexual Pleasure. Harden & Prolong Your Erections. Acquire Flexibility for Lovemaking. Satisfy Desires & Be Fulfilled. Kama Yogi is a product of: 5000 years of Yogic wisdom. Tantra and Kundalini principles. Proven Yoga postures. Time-tested Meditation techniques. Focus on physical & spiritual sexuality.
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more discussion: Forum
· Addiction Forum · Ask the Doctors Forum · Ayurveda Forum · Ayurvedic & Thai Herbs Forum · Colon Cleansing Forum · Dental Forum · Diabetes Forum · Diet Forum · General Cleansing Forum · Hepatitis A, B. C Forum · Integrated Medicine Forum · Live Blood Analysis Forum · Ozone-Oxygen-Forum · pH - Alkaline - Acidity Forum · Weight Loss Forum
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Cardiofy
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