High blood pressure linked to lower risk of Alzheimer's

People genetically predisposed to have high blood pressure may be at lower risk for Alzheimer s disease, according to a new study, though the researchers say this association is likely down to antihypertensive medication rather than the condition itself. Researchers found people genetically predisposed to have high blood pressure may be at lower risk of Alzheimer s, though antihypertensive drugs may be a likely driver rather than the condition itself. Study co-author John Kauwe, associate professor of biology at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, and colleagues publish their findings in the journal PLOS Medicine. In the US, it is estimated that around 5.3 million people of all ages have Alzheimer s disease - the most common form of dementia - with the number of cases expected to rise by 40% over the next 10 years. Alzheimer s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the US, with around 700,000 people aged 65 and older expected to die of the disease this year. About Proscar (Finasteride) with no Rx It is the only cause of death in the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed. Prof. About Female Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) without prescription Kauwe and colleagues note that researchers are currently working to identify risk factors for Alzheimer s, particularly ones that can be modified. About Cardizem (Diltiazem) with free Rx "If such risk factors exist," they add, "it might be possible to limit the predicted increase in future Alzheimer s disease cases." Antihypertensive drugs should be investigated for Alzheimer s prevention With the aim of identifying modifiable Alzheimer s risk factors in their study, the team analyzed data from the Alzheimer s Disease Genetics Consortium and the International Genomics of Alzheimer s Project, involving 17,008 people with Alzheimer s and 37,154 people without the condition. The researchers used a "supercomputer" to analyze the genomes of each participant, looking for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) - common genetic variations - that may be associated with potentially modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer s, such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking. "This is to date the most authoritative paper looking at causal relationships between Alzheimer s disease and these potentially modifiable factors," says Prof. Bisacodyl with free prescription Kauwe. About Lincocin (Lincomycin) with free Rx "In terms of the number of samples, it can t get bigger at this point." The team found that people who were genetically predisposed to have high systolic blood pressure were at lower risk for developing Alzheimer s, compared with people who did not have a genetic predisposition for high blood pressure. The researchers also found that individuals with genetically predisposed high blood pressure were much more likely to be using antihypertensive medication, causing the researchers to speculate it may be the use of these drugs rather than high blood pressure itself that drives this association. Prof. Buy Fertility online Kauwe adds: "It s likely that this protective effect is coming from antihypertensive drugs. http://doctoranswers.wordpress.com These drugs are already FDA [Food and Drug Administration] approved. We need to take a serious look at them for Alzheimer s prevention." Since high blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the team warns against raising blood pressure as a preventive strategy for Alzheimer s, "yet these findings offer intriguing etiological insight," they add. The researchers also identified a weak link between smoking quantity and lower risk of Alzheimer s, though they note further studies are required to gain a better understanding of this association. "Such analyses would address the causality of smoking as a risk factor, and offer valuable insight into nicotine s role in the etiology of Alzheimer s disease," they explain. "Since smoking is a major cause of global disease burden, increasing knowledge of the role of nicotine in the etiology of Alzheimer s disease may prove to be the more actionable insight." Earlier this month, Medical News Today reported on a study in which researchers discovered a blood protein that could predict an individual s risk of Alzheimer s. Written by Honor Whiteman

Fast, accurate Ebola test shows promise in trials

According to a new study published in The Lancet, the new ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test from Corgenix can accurately diagnose the presence of Ebola virus in a patient within minutes. For health workers to currently diagnose the presence of Ebola virus, a full vial of venous blood must be shipped to a laboratory with a high level of both biosafety and staff expertise. For health workers to currently diagnose the presence of Ebola virus, a full vial of venous blood must be shipped to a laboratory with a high level of both biosafety and staff expertise. About Omnicef (Cefdinir) with free Rx There, the blood sample is tested using a method called real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Indocin (Indomethacin) with no Rx However, RT-PCR is a slow and complex test that comes with attached risks for the health care workers responsible for the collection, transportation and testing of the blood. About Coversyl (Perindopril) without prescription The complexity and slow turnaround for this diagnostic have been blamed for delaying success in containing the epidemic. Dr. About Beepen VK without Rx Nira Pollock, senior author and associate medical director of the Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory at Boston Children s Hospital, MA, says that because the laboratory results from the test can take days to return: "Delays like this result not only in the failure to diagnose and treat Ebola-infected patients, but also in individuals without Ebola being admitted to holding units where they may be subsequently infected with the virus." By contrast, Dr. Buy Micardis (Telmisartan) with no Rx Pollock says that the new ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test is capable of detecting Ebola virus in just a drop of blood tested at a bedside. New test and benchmark test put head-to-head The accuracy of the new test was compared in the study with the benchmark RT-PCR test. Buy Echinacea Combos online The study used both tests to diagnose 106 suspected Ebola patients who were admitted to two treatment centers in Sierra Leone during February 2015. http://webmdhelper.wordpress.com Both tests were also performed on 284 samples in the laboratory. The new test confirmed all of the positive cases that were diagnosed in both the point-of-care patients and laboratory blood samples using the RT-PCR test. Dr. Jana Broadhurst, from Partners In Health, the nongovernmental, US-based organization who supported the treatment centers, says: "This test could have an immediate impact on patient care and infection control by reliably detecting patients well into their illness who are likely to be highly infectious. Earlier test results would improve triage of patients, enabling staff to focus on those most likely to have Ebola, and reducing the opportunity for infection of non-Ebola suspects. Although the RDT requires refrigeration, this is already available in many health centers in endemic areas, particularly those that store vaccines and other medical products." Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, from Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, MA, writes in a linked comment that the study validates the accuracy of the ReEBOV test. "Earlier test results would improve triage of patients," she writes, "enabling staff to focus on those most likely to have Ebola, and reducing the opportunity for infection of non-Ebola suspects. " Earlier this week, we looked at a report published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases that suggested confusion between malaria and Ebola symptoms has contributed to around 74,000 fewer reported cases of malaria than expected in Guinea. The report authors believe this level of misdiagnosis will cause the number of deaths from malaria in the country this year to exceed the total number of Ebola deaths. Written by David McNamee

Global AIDS efforts must improve or infections and deaths will increase

A report from the UNAIDS and Lancet Commission has stated that efforts to stop new HIV infections and improve access to antiretroviral treatment must intensify over the next 5 years, or else deaths from AIDS will increase globally. The Commission state that only a massive and rapid expansion of a comprehensive AIDS response by 2020 can achieve the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. "We have to act now. Mellaril (Thioridazine) with no prescription The next 5 years provide a fragile window of opportunity to fast-track the response and end the AIDS epidemic by 2030," says Michel Sidib e, co-convenor of the Commission and executive director of UNAIDS. Lodine (Etodolac) with free prescription "If we don t, the human and financial consequences will be catastrophic." The UNAIDS and Lancet Commission is a collaboration between political leaders, health and medical experts, scientists, activists and private sector representatives aiming to ensure that lessons learned in the AIDS response usher in a new era of sustainable development. According to the Commission, in 2013, the number of new HIV infections had fallen by 38% since 2001 to 2.1 million, and the number of AIDS-related deaths had fallen by 35% since 2005 to 1.5 million. Despite the progress that has been made, however, the report demonstrates that the rate of HIV infection is not falling fast enough. "We must face hard truths - if the current rate of new HIV infections continues, merely sustaining the major efforts we already have in place will not be enough to stop deaths from AIDS increasing within 5 years in many countries," says lead author Prof. Benemid (Probenecid) with no Rx Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK. He states that although expanding sustainable access to treatment is important, we will not be able to "treat ourselves out of the AIDS epidemic." "We must also reinvigorate HIV prevention efforts, particularly among populations at highest risk, while removing legal and societal discrimination," he adds. The need to step up the AIDS response means many countries will need to increase their funding for HIV treatment. Buy Aviane without prescription However, in low-income countries with high HIV burdens, international solidarity and support will be required for this to happen. One finding of the report is that sustaining current HIV treatment and prevention programs in the most affected African countries from 2014 to 2030 would cost up to 2% of their GDP along with at least a third of their total health expenditure. About Pamelor (Nortriptyline) without Rx In many countries, such financial support is impossible without international assistance. The report outlines seven key recommendations The report finds that it is not just those in low-income countries who are vulnerable, however. Buy D-Alpha online The Commission identifies a need to ensure people in middle-income countries, and particularly those in marginalized groups, are not left behind. Some countries have become complacent in their response to AIDS, the report states, and some HIV epidemics that have previously been stable or in a steady decline are now beginning to reverse with reports of new HIV infections rising. http://doctorconsult.wordpress.com Resurgent epidemics have been noted among men who have sex with men in parts of North America, Western Europe and Asia. The Commission make seven key recommendations concerning future responses to AIDS: Get serious about HIV prevention and continue to expand access to treatment Ramp up and fully fund AIDS efforts efficiently, with an emphasis on sustainability Demand strong accountability, transparency and better data Invest in research and innovation in all aspects of the AIDS response Reinforce leadership and engagement of people living with HIV, giving them a greater voice Find new ways to uphold human rights and address criminalization, decriminalization and stigma Promote more inclusive and coherent AIDS and health governance. If the response to AIDS is accelerated adequately over the next 5 years, the Commission believe that as well as greatly reducing HIV transmission and AIDS-related deaths, incidence of mother-to-child transmission could be eliminated by 2030. Although the authors found that the AIDS response needs to improve, there are lessons that can be learned from it and applied to future global health crises. "The movement created by the AIDS response is unprecedented - a system of checks and balances from a people-centered approach is one that more global health institutions should adopt," says Lancet editor-in-chief Dr. Richard Horton. "Identifying multi-sectoral stakeholders early will save time and money by ensuring the best solutions reach the right people." Whether the fight against AIDS can be won is no longer a question that the experts are asking. Rather, they are wondering will it be won and, if so, when? "The answers to these questions will eventually depend on the decisions made by leaders and institutions at all different levels, in all sectors and parts of society, and on the personal choices people make in their private lives," the Commission conclude. Recently, Medical News Today reported on research claiming to have made "a leap forward" in attempts to develop a vaccine against HIV. Written by James McIntosh

Experts call for dropping of total fat intake limits

Ahead of the publication of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, researchers have called for the US government to drop recommended restrictions on total fat consumption. The researchers state that healthful fats such as those found in nuts, vegetable oils and fish can protect against illnesses such as cardiovascular disease. The paper, published in JAMA is written by Dr. Buy Kamagra (Sildenafil Citrate) with free Rx Dariush Mozaffarian from the Friedman School of Nutritional Science & Policy at Tufts University and Dr. Neggram (Nalidixic Acid) with no Rx David Ludwig from the Boston Children s Hospital. In the paper, the researchers discuss one of the new recommendations made by the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee (GDAC), an independent group of scientists tasked with reviewing existing scientific and medical research on nutrition. A lot of recent debate has centered around the GDAC s recommendations that a diet higher in plant-based foods is better for the environment than one based more on meat and that taxing sugary snacks and drinks could improve diets. Buy Sumycin (Tetracycline) without Rx In their paper, however, the researchers focus on a recommendation that may be receiving less attention. For the first time since 1980, the technical report of the GDAC did not include a recommendation for the restriction of total fat consumption. About Asiviral without Rx "We wanted the emphasis to be on fat quality rather than total fat, because the evidence really emphasizes that saturated fat is the driver of risk rather than total fat intake," says Barbara Millen, chair of the DGAC. Dr. About Prograf (Tacrolimus) with no Rx Mozaffarian supports this, stating that placing limits on total fat intake has no basis and leads to poor decisions from both industry and consumers: "Modern evidence clearly shows that eating more foods rich in healthful fats like nuts, vegetable oils, and fish have protective effects, particularly for cardiovascular disease. Buy Cleansers online Other fat-rich foods, like whole milk and cheese, appear pretty neutral; while many low-fat foods, like low-fat deli meats, fat-free salad dressing, and baked potato chips, are no better and often even worse than full-fat alternatives. http://doctorconsult.wordpress.com It s the food that matters, not its fat content." When the dietary guidelines began to recommend low-fat diets, the consumption of low-fat and non-fat products increased. These foods often contain refined grains and added sugars that are associated with increased metabolic dysfunction and obesity. "Lifting the restriction on total fat would clear the way for restaurants and industry to reformulate products containing more healthful fats and fewer refined grains and added sugars," says Dr. Ludwig. 2015 Dietary Guidelines For Americans: a critical opportunity Alongside dropping restrictions on total fat consumption from the dietary guidelines, Dr. Mozaffarian and Dr. Ludwig call for the limit on fat intake to be lifted by numerous government agencies and food programs. One such program is the National School Lunch program that recently banned whole milk from its menus while retaining sugar-sweetened non-fat milk. Other targets include the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who regulate food package labeling and issue diet advice to families and children respectively. "From agriculture to food producers to school cafeterias to restaurants, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans serve as a beacon for countless dietary choices in the public and private sector," states Dr. Mozaffarian. "With obesity and chronic disease impacting public health so deeply, we can t miss this critical opportunity to improve the food supply." Not everyone agrees with this viewpoint, however. Lisa Moskovitz, a registered dietitian, told Yahoo Health removing restrictions on total fat consumption might not automatically lead consumers to follow balanced, healthy diets. "If there are no guidelines on how much fat they should be eating, there is a chance that they will eat more fat and, as a result, consume less high-fiber, whole-grain carbohydrates and muscle-preserving lean proteins," she warns. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will refer to the DGAC report when drawing up the final 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines are due to be published toward the end of the year. "The USDA and HHS must use the 2015 guidelines to send the message that limiting total fat provides no benefits and actually leads to confusion and bad dietary choices," Dr. Mozaffarian concludes. A research letter published in JAMA recently revealed that more than two-thirds of Americans are estimated to be either overweight or obese. Written by James McIntosh

Blood test for early stage pancreatic cancer looks promising

A study that successfully differentiated patients with pancreatic cancer from those with another pancreatic disease using a new biomarker, could lead to a blood test that detects pancreatic cancer early enough for curative surgery to be feasible. If pancreatic cancer is spotted early, surgery that boosts chance of survival is more feasible. Pancreatic cancer has a very poor survival rate and ranks fourth as a leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, where around 46,000 people a year are diagnosed with the disease. One reason the disease is so deadly is because by the time it is diagnosed, the tumor is too advanced for surgery to be an option - only about 15% of patients qualify for curative surgery. However, if pancreatic cancer is spotted early, surgery that boosts chance of survival is more feasible, say researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In their study the team shows how a protein released by cancer cells into the bloodstream could be used to screen for early pancreatic cancer. Cancer cells release the protein - which is coded by the gene glypican-1 (GPC1) - in small virus-sized particles called exomes. Buy Kamagra (Sildenafil Citrate) with free Rx The exomes contain a mixture of DNA, RNA and proteins. Blood test looks for cancer exomes For the study, the team devised a blood test that looks for exomes enriched with the glypican-1 protein - these cancer exomes are called GPC1+ crExos. A blood test based on these cancer exomes was able successfully to differentiate patients with pancreatic cancer from patients with another chronic pancreatic disease. It passed both measures of a successful diagnostic test with top marks: specificity (correctly identifying patients with a disease) and sensitivity (correctly ruling out those without the disease), as senior author Raghu Kalluri, a professor in cancer biology, explains: "GPC1+ crExos were detected in small amounts of serum from about 250 patients with pancreatic cancer with absolute specificity and sensitivity, importantly distinguishing patients with chronic pancreatitis from those with early- and late-stage pancreatic cancer." Prof. Neggram (Nalidixic Acid) with no Rx Kalluri says levels of the cancer exomes were significantly lower in patients after they had their tumors removed. Cancer exomes could be a more reliable screen than circulating tumor cells The study also examined samples from breast cancer patients and found - like the pancreatic cancer patients - they also showed high levels of the GPC1+ crExos. Prof. Buy Sumycin (Tetracycline) without Rx Kalluri notes that these protein-enriched exomes can be detected in blood samples that have been kept frozen for nearly 30 years. About Asiviral without Rx You can t do this with circulating tumor cells (CTCs) - they require large amounts of fresh blood, he says. He explains that these cancer exomes could also be useful in other ways: "DNA, RNA and proteins can be isolated from cancer exosomes isolated from stored specimen for further genetic and biological analyses. About Prograf (Tacrolimus) with no Rx Therefore, cancer exosomes are not just a biomarker but isolating them provides a trove of cancer-specific information." The team suggests cancer exomes appear to be a more reliable way to screen for pancreatic cancer than using the more common CA 19-9 biomarker test. Buy Cleansers online Using the cancer exome test, they found precancerous lesions in mice bred to develop pancreatic cancer before they could be spotted on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). http://doctorconsult.wordpress.com Prof. Kalluri says because they carry cancer-specific genetic material, the protein-enriched exomes could potentially enhance the specificity of MRI or CT scans, and concludes: "Studies comparing stage of disease with outcome following surgery suggest that death rates for pancreatic cancer would be reduced if the disease were diagnosed at an earlier stage. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for informative early detection of pancreatic cancer and in designing potential curative surgical options." As well as the MD Anderson Cancer Center, The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, and the National Cancer Institute (part of the by the National Institutes of Health) provided funds for the study. Earlier this year, Medical News Today reported a genome study that said pancreatic cancer splits into four types, depending on the type of DNA shuffling seen in the disease. The researchers termed the subtypes: stable, locally rearranged, scattered and unstable. Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

Guinea up to 62% of malaria cases 'overlooked during Ebola epidemic'

Rising numbers of malaria deaths in Guinea have "greatly exceeded" the total number of deaths caused by Ebola, a new report finds, which suggests that the Ebola epidemic may have led to 74,000 extra untreated cases of malaria in the country. Around 74,000 fewer malaria cases than were expected were treated at Guinea s health facilities in 2014 - a fall of 62%, in comparison with the years before the Ebola epidemic. The report, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, is the first systematic analysis of the use of outpatient health care in a country affected by the Ebola epidemic. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey of 60 public health facilities in the areas of Guinea most affected by Ebola. About Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine Hcl) with free Rx They found that around 74,000 fewer malaria cases than were expected were treated at Guinea s health facilities in 2014 - a fall of 62%, in comparison with the years before the Ebola epidemic. The consequence of this fall in treatment, write the authors, is that the number of deaths caused by malaria will exceed the total number of Ebola deaths. Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) with free Rx The number of deaths from malaria this year in Guinea was reported to be 2,444 as of June 14th, 2015. The authors of the report say the main problem is that the early symptoms of malaria and Ebola are so similar - they both manifest in fever, headaches and body aches. Endep (Amitriptyline) with free prescription "Malaria is one of the main causes of fever and health facilities visits in Guinea," explains lead author Dr. About Apcalis with no prescription Mateusz Plucinski from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "but our data suggest that since the start of the Ebola epidemic people with fevers have avoided clinics for fear of contracting Ebola or being sent to an Ebola treatment center." The report also reveals that outpatient visits among the surveyed health facilities fell by 11%, while outpatient attendance fell by 42% in the most Ebola-affected areas. Decreases in malaria treatment correlated most strongly with third wave of Ebola epidemic Before and after the Ebola crisis, the number of patients receiving oral drugs for malaria fell by 24%, with an accompanying drop of 30% for prescription of injectable malaria treatments. Among the districts of Guinea most badly affected by the third wave of the epidemic in August 2014, decreases in malaria treatment were even greater. Seroquel (Quetiapine) with free prescription However, even districts that were unaffected by Ebola saw significant reductions in the number of patients who received treatments for malaria. In terms of active health workers, before the Ebola epidemic hit Guinea, 98% of health workers in the country were actively working. Buy Children's Allergy online However, this figure fell to just 74% after Ebola, with the percentage of health workers actively treating malaria cases falling to 48% after Ebola. http://doctorconsult.wordpress.com By contrast, during the same period, there was an increase from 63% to 96% in health care workers treating malaria cases in Ebola-free districts of Guinea. These regions unaffected by Ebola also saw an increase from 78% to 95% in the proportion of operational community health workers. Dr. Plucinski comments: "Untreated malaria cases lead to rising malaria death rates and more cases of fever in the community. This puts extra pressure on an already overburdened health system owing to a greater number of suspected Ebola cases requiring triage and isolation at treatment centers. Malaria control efforts and care delivery must be kept on track during an Ebola epidemic so that progress made in malaria control is not jeopardized and Ebola outbreak response is not impeded." In December 2014, Medical News Today reported on a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) that the "fragile" gains in controlling malaria were in danger of being jeopardized in the response to the Ebola crisis. Written by David McNamee

Over two-thirds of Americans estimated to be overweight, obese

New estimates have revealed the extent of one of the biggest public health problems facing the US, as a research letter reports that more than two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese. Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased in the US, the researchers state. The authors of the research letter, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, are Dr. About Desyrel (Trazodone) Graham A. About Robaxin (Methocarbamol) with no prescription Colditz and Lin Yang of the Washington University School of Medicine, St. Buy Prometrium (Progesterone) Louis, MO. Their paper describes an analysis of the most recent data taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2007-12) to calculate the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Researchers had conducted a similar study around 20 years ago, analyzing data taken from 1988-1994 to work out the chronic disease burden associated with body mass index (BMI). About Amiodar without Rx The findings of that study were used to inform clinical practice and prevention strategies. "Compared with 1988-1994, the distribution of the population s weight status has increased in the past 20 years," write the authors of the new research letter. Buy Super Pack () "The rising trends in overweight and obesity warrant timely attention from health policy and health care system decision makers." In the new analysis, overweight was defined as a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9. Buy Calcium Combinations online Obesity was defined as a BMI of 30.0 and above and was divided into three different classes. http://doctorconsult.wordpress.com BMIs of 30.0-34.9 were defined as class 1, BMIs of 35.0-39.9 were class 2 and BMIs of 40 and above were class 3. Data were obtained for 15,208 men and women aged 25 and above in a sample representative of over 188 million adults. The researchers estimated that around 36.3 million men (39.96%) and 28.9 million women (29.74%) were overweight, with around 31.8 million men (35.04%) and 35.9 million women (36.84%) obese. These findings make alarming reading when considering that overweight and obesity are associated with numerous chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. There is also a financial cost to the problem; the American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that obesity costs $190 billion each year in weight-related medical bills. Strategies to reduce modifiable risk factors are recommended Such is the scale of the problem that a Gallup Poll conducted in November 2013 found that obesity was considered to be the third most urgent health problem facing the US, behind cost and access but ahead of cancer and heart diseases, the two leading causes of death in the country. Dr. Donna H. Ryan - professor and associate executive director for clinical research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge - suggests a number of possible triggers for the obesity epidemic. These suggestions include changes to sleep patterns, increased availability of food and more sedentary lifestyles fueled by the decreased physical demands of many jobs and increased "screen time" with the use of televisions, computers and smartphones. "Population-based strategies helping to reduce modifiable risk factors such as physical environment interventions, enhancing primary care efforts to prevent and treat obesity, and altering societal norms of behavior are required," state the authors. Dr. Ryan believes that society must learn to treat obesity as a disease rather than a consequence of a lack of willpower, becoming more accepting of people with the condition: "If you have not had a friend, family member or colleague who has struggled with their weight and particularly if you haven t tried to lose weight yourself, then it s easy for you to ascribe negative stereotypical traits to overweight and obese people. It s a lot like alcohol and drug addiction. Our society is more accepting of these conditions as a disease and less so for obesity." Previously, Medical News Today reported on a study finding that stepping on the scales daily and tracking the results on a chart is an effective way of losing weight and keeping it off. Written by James McIntosh

Smartphones 'can interfere with implanted cardiac devices'

A new study recommends that people with cardiac devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators should be wary of smartphones, stating that close proximity to the phones can potentially disrupt functioning or cause painful shocks. Electromagnetic interference from smartphones can cause implantable cardioverter defibrillators to deliver a painful shock to the user, according to researchers. The research is being presented at the joint meeting of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and Cardiostim, taking place in Milan, Italy. "Pacemakers can mistakenly detect electromagnetic interference (EMI) from smartphones as a cardiac signal, causing them to briefly stop working," reports study author Dr. Buy Cialis Soft (Tadalafil) with free Rx Carsten Lennerz, of the German Heart Center in Munich, Germany. Tadalis Sx (Tadalafil) with no prescription "This leads to a pause in the cardiac rhythm of the pacing dependent patient and may result in syncope." These cardiac devices are used widely. About Viagra Flavored (Sildenafil Citrate) with no Rx According to a previous study, around 2.9 million patients received permanent pacemakers in the US between 1993 and 2009. Buy Alesse with no Rx Pacemakers are not the only cardiac device found to be affected by smartphones, however. "For implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), the external signal mimics a life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmia, leading the ICD to deliver a painful shock," Dr. Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) with no Rx Lennerz adds. For the study, researchers investigated whether the recommended safety distance of 15-20 centimeters between pacemakers or ICDs and mobile phones was still relevant with the latest models of cardiac devices and smartphones. The current recommendations made by device manufacturers and institutions such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were made in light of studies conducted around 10 years ago that focused on pacemakers. Buy Blemish - Scar Treatment online Since these studies, technology on both sides has changed greatly. To investigate, 308 participants - 147 with pacemakers and 161 with ICDs - were exposed to EMI from three modern smartphones that were in turn positioned on the skin directly above where the cardiac devices were implanted. The researchers analyzed the effects of each part of the standard act of calling a smartphone - connecting, ringing, talking and disconnecting - on the cardiac devices. http://doctorconsult.wordpress.com The calls were made using different network standards at both maximum transmission power and at 50 Hz, a frequency previously identified as one that can influence implanted cardiac devices. Interference is uncommon but can occur Over 3,400 tests were performed, with electrocardiograms recorded continuously to track potential interference. Out of the 308 patients tested, just one (0.3% of participants) was affected by the EMI produced by the smartphones. The patient was using an MRI-compatible ICD that misinterpreted EMI produced by two of the three common smartphones when operating on two of the three networks (GSM and UMTS) as intracardiac signals. Despite how infrequently the study found EMI to affect the performance of the cardiac devices, the researchers believe that it is enough for current safety recommendations to be kept and followed. "Interference between smartphones and cardiac devices is uncommon but can occur so the current recommendations on keeping a safe distance should be upheld," concludes Dr. Lennerz. "Interestingly, the device influenced by EMI in our study was MRI-compatible, which shows that these devices are also susceptible." "Patients with a cardiac device can use a smartphone, but they should not place it directly over the cardiac device," advises study author Prof. Christof Kolb. "That means not storing it in a pocket above the cardiac device. They should also hold their smartphone to the ear opposite to the side of the device implant." A separate study presented at the meeting found that the EMI from high voltage power lines - 230 Kilovolts (kV) and more - could also be problematic to people using cardiac devices. The researchers exposed 21 pacemakers and 19 ICDs to electrical fields of up to 20 kV/m in a laboratory. The researchers found that pacemakers in bipolar mode with nominal settings were unaffected by EMI up to 8.6 kV/m and ICDs programmed to nominal parameters were unaffected up to 2.9 kV/m. However, pacemakers with higher sensitivity levels or in unipolar mode were far more susceptible to EMI, with the threshold level as low as 1.5 kV/m in some of these devices. "There is no significant concern for patients with pacemakers programmed in the usual configuration," states study author Dr. Katia Dyrda, a cardiologist at the University of Montreal, Canada. "For the minority of patients with devices in unipolar mode or with very sensitive settings, counseling should be given at implantation or at medical follow-up." Written by James McIntosh

Investigator-Sponsored Trial Evaluating Biothera’s Imprime PGG in Relapsed Indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

EAGAN, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biothera today announced that patient dosing has begun in an investigator-sponsored phase 2 trial of its investigational cancer immunotherapy, Imprime PGG, in combination with rituximab (Rituxan®) for relapsed indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). Avodart (Dutasteride) The trial is being conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute under the direction of Caron A. Viagra Gold (Sildenafil Citrate + L-Arginine + Giseng + Vitamin B6 + Folic Acid) with no prescription Jacobson, M.D., Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School. “Rituximab, as a targeted immunotherapy for CD20-positive malignancies, offered a major breakthrough, particularly in the treatment of indolent B-cell lymphomas, given its single agent efficacy and tolerability,” said Dr. Uroxatral (Alfuzosin) Jacobson. About Adalat with free prescription “Imprime PGG, in combination with rituximab, is expected to recruit neutrophils to the malignant B cells thus offering an additional mechanism of anti-tumor immunologic attack without expected increased toxicity.” Biothera recently presented the latest results of a phase 1/2 study of high risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) annual meeting. Viagra with Dapoxetine (Sildenafil with Dapoxetine) with no Rx The combination of Imprime PGG and the monoclonal antibodies rituximab and alemtuzumab achieved responses in 13 of 14 (93%) patients, including nine (64%) complete responses, meaning blood tests found no trace of cancer. Buy Asthma online The most common adverse events on the combination treatment were anemia, rash and neutropenia. http://doctorconsult.wordpress.com Overall, the addition of Imprime PGG to rituximab and alemtuzumab was safe and well tolerated. ASCO poster: A Phase (Ph) 1/2 Trial of Rituximab (RX), Imprime PGG (IP), and Alemtuzumab (AL) in the Early Treatment of Patients (Pts) with High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). “Imprime PGG’s unique mechanism of action has significant therapeutic potential for a broad range of cancer indications, including those with high unmet medical needs such as relapsed/refractory NHL,” said Ada Braun, M.D., Ph.D., Biothera Chief Medical Officer. “Biothera values opportunities for academic partnerships like this investigator-sponsored study that have the potential to drive meaningful advances in cancer immunotherapy.” NHL Study DesignThe phase 2 open label, single-arm study at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will enroll 25 patients to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Imprime PGG in combination with rituximab in relapsed/refractory indolent B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Imprime PGG will be administered intravenously at a dose of 4mg/kg weekly for 4 weeks. Rituximab will be administered intravenously per institutional standards concurrently at a dose of 375mg/m2 weekly for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint of the trial is overall response rate. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival and duration of response. In addition, researchers will perform correlative laboratory studies using on-treatment peripheral blood samples and post-treatment tumor samples to further assess Imprime PGG’s effects on biomarkers and on the tumor. About BiotheraBiothera is a privately held biotechnology company developing Imprime PGG, a late clinical stage immunotherapeutic drug candidate that modulates key immune cells to recognize and kill cancer. Proof of concept has been established from single-arm and randomized Phase 2 studies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Studies are ongoing in metastatic colorectal cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In addition, new research shows that Imprime PGG elicits a coordinated immune response that involves both innate and adaptive immunity. More information is available at .biothera.com/pharma or follow us on Twitter.

Colorectal cancer cells reverted to normal functioning cells in lab

Correcting disruption to a tumor suppressor gene in mice has successfully coaxed colorectal cancer cells back into normal functioning cells. Gene silencing triggered a cancer-like response (left); reactivation restored normal cell division (right). Advair Diskus (Fluticasone-Salmeterol) with no prescription Picture credit: Kevin P. About Zetia (Ezetimibe) with no prescription O Rourke The tumor suppressor gene known as adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is thought to have been affected by inactivating mutations in "the vast majority" of colorectal tumors, the researchers publishing in the journal Cell say. They found that restoring normal levels of the human colorectal cancer gene in mice stopped tumor growth and re-established normal intestinal function within just 4 days. According to information from the CDC, colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the US, with 135,260 people receiving the diagnosis in 2011. Buy Cialis (Tadalafil) The authors of the study say: "APC mutant colorectal cancer cells account for more than 600,000 deaths annually worldwide." While their scientific findings are early, the potential reach is illustrated by senior author Scott Lowe, PhD, of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, NY: "Treatment regimes for advanced colorectal cancer involve combination chemotherapies that are toxic and largely ineffective, yet have remained the backbone of therapy over the last decade." "Remarkably," say the researchers, tumors were eliminated within 2 weeks of the gene reactivation, and there were no signs of cancer a number of months later. Proof of principle - that restoring the function of a single tumor suppressor gene can lead to tumor regression - is established by this laboratory work. About Accu-Chek without prescription It opens avenues for the development of effective cancer treatments. Do the gene mutations maintain the cancer as well as initiate it? Although the inactivating mutations were thought to initiate colorectal cancer, it was not clear whether APC inactivation also played a role in tumor maintenance, which is what the team set out to test. "We wanted to know whether correcting the disruption of APC in established cancers would be enough to stop tumor growth and induce regression," says first author Lukas Dow, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medical College, also in NYC. Lowe and his team needed to overcome an experimental challenge in answering this question. Buy Zestoretic (Lisinopril / Hydrochlorothiazide) with free Rx Excess gene activity can often be triggered by attempts to restore function to lost or mutated genes in cancer cells. To overcome this effect on normal cells, the team used a genetic technique that would precisely and reversibly disrupt APC activity in a new mouse model of colorectal cancer. Consistent with previous findings, APC suppression in the animals activated the WNT signaling pathway, which is known to control cell proliferation, migration and survival. When APC was reactivated in the laboratory models: WNT signaling returned to normal levels Tumor cells stopped proliferating Intestinal cells recovered normal function. Within 2 weeks, tumors regressed and disappeared, or reintegrated into normal tissue - and there were no signs of cancer within a 6-month follow-up. The scientists also found their approach was effective in mice with malignant colorectal cancer tumors containing Kras and p53 mutations - these are found in about half of colorectal tumors in humans, they say. Although APC reactivation is unlikely to be relevant to other types of cancer, the experimental technique may have broad implications. "The concept of identifying tumor-specific driving mutations is a major focus of many laboratories around the world," Dr. Buy Allergies online Dow says. http://doctorconsult.wordpress.com "If we can define which types of mutations and changes are the critical events driving tumor growth, we will be better equipped to identify the most appropriate treatments for individual cancers." There is some work to do before the laboratory work finds clinical relevance. "It is currently impractical to directly restore APC function in patients with colorectal cancer," Dr. Lowe says, "and past evidence suggests that completely blocking WNT signaling would likely be severely toxic to normal intestinal cells." "However, our findings suggest that small molecules aimed at modulating, but not blocking, the WNT pathway might achieve similar effects to APC reactivation. "Further work will be critical to determine whether WNT inhibition or similar approaches would provide long-term therapeutic value in the clinic." Written by Markus MacGill