During the 2008 National STD Prevention Conference in Chicago , the researchers at ‘Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’ presented a paper pointing out to an alarming increase in large number of cases of teenaged girls and adolescent women being infected by sexually transmitted infections. It also stressed upon on addressing the prevention of these diseases as an important public health goal.

The paper was based on an investigation of data reported in the ‘2003-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey’ done among a sample of 14- to 19-year-old girl participants. It was found that approximately one-fourth of this population sample was infected by at least one of the sexually transmitted infections, the maximum number of instances reported in the case of human papillomavirus. Other major infections were reported for the infections like ‘Chlamydia Trachomatis’ and ‘Trichomonas Vaginalis’. A small chunk of this group was also had herpes simplex virus type II and the one infected by STD had more than one infections. It reported about 1 in 4 female adolescents being infected by at least one sexually transmitted infection.

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Zion health introduced the “Alozin Pain Relief Spray”, a topical spray to treatment pain. This has been considered as a revolutionary product as it claims to turn off the pain at the targeted area. Zion Health announced the release of this spray in San Francisco, California today.

It has been made out of a unique combination of minerals and potent herbs. This spray especially aids the people who have been suffering from any kind of pain either in their joints, or it may be a muscular pain and pain observed by arthritis. It provides a perfect solution for people who want to quit the pain reliving medicines and are looking for an alternative.

This topical spray when applied on the targeted areas. Simply penetrates the skin and distresses the nerves and the inflammation and thus relieves from the pain.

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A new study is on the way which would try to find out whether the standard approach to send a patient for “Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) only after the failure of clog-busting drugs after an hour or so or it should be observed on the routine basis to send the patients treated with the clog-busting drugs to a cardiac catheterization laboratory for follow-up PCI.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is considered to be the best treatment for heart attack. It works on a combination of catheter-mounted balloons and stents to restore blood flow to the heart after unblocking the coronary artery. However the requisite is that PCI has to be performed rapidly which only few hospitals can achieve. Only the hospitals with a cardiac catheterization laboratory on site meet the 90-minute treatment goal.

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David Kirby, an investigative journalist has recently posted an article bringing up an eye catching relationship between “Mitochondrial Dysfunction”, “Vaccines” and “Autism”. This was based on the minutes of the conference call held in the beginning of March, where all the federal vaccine safety officials were brought together to deal with all the apprehensions related to the above association between vaccines and autism.

Hannah, a nine year boy in Atlanta was reported to develop regressive autism after being administered with the vaccine. Doubts are rising regarding the vaccines now which in Hannah’s case worsened the conditions.

This has led to hope in parents of children who lost headway into autism after receiving vaccines that this report may help in creating an alert among the government health officials to seriously consider and act upon the link between vaccines and autism.

Kirby in his article defined ‘Mitochondria’ as the little powerhouses within each cell that convert food and oxygen into energy. It was one of the main topics discussed in the conference call held among the health officials.

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In one of the recent studies, “Puroast Low Acid Coffee” had claimed for carrying a great taste and also for providing relief from stomach problems caused by the morning brew. Further chemistry and consumer research were conducted to confirm its claims. “Puroast” has these relieving effects without being any extractions, substitutes or additives being mixed and moreover it utilizes a natural process to ensure the full-bodied taste.The chemistry research conducted at the ‘University of California’ found “Puroast” to contain less than half the acid as compared to all other commercial coffees. The survey conducted among the consumers show that nearly 90% of those tested experienced symptom relief after consuming “Puroast Low Acid Coffee”.

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Under the drive to address the wrong beliefs about “Emergency Contraception”, OBG Management has teamed up with” The Journal of Family” to publish “Emergency Contraception: When and how to use it”. This would be distributed as a supplementary copy to the February 2008 issues of journals like “OBG Management” and “The Journal of Family Practice”.The purpose of issuing this supplement is to increase awareness among the patients about emergency contraception. This would decrease the incidence of unintended pregnancy.

The supplement has been distributed among the clinicians. This would enable them to tackle the subject of emergency contraception more intelligently. They would be able to create awareness as most of the people are misinformed or uninformed about it. So this supplement would also serve as an excellent guide for clinicians to explain about its usage, when to take it and how it works.

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The “Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP)” is a community based exercise program which is more for recreation. Being non clinical in nature, it has been designed with activities focused at bring an improvement in the stamina as well as the health of the joints.

The experts in the field of physical therapy assert that the notion that people suffering from arthritis cannot exercise should be dealt more as a falsehood. A right exercise program can help in reducing pain in the joints, increases flexibility and encourages general wellbeing.

AFEP keeping these factors like pain, weariness and restricted activity among the patients of arthritis, designed this special exercise program for them.

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Ted Skup defines good health as “having a sense of well-being” in his recent book “Death, Taxes & Push-Ups”.  He claims that this book would act as a perfect guide to reach that goal.Ted Skup says that push-ups are emerging as a main choice among those who want to workout to achieve perfect harmony of mind, body, and spirit. He has termed his push-up routine “Horizontal Jogging” and wrote his book, “Death, Taxes, and Push-ups” after officially completing ten million push-ups himself.

“Push-up Revolution” has been initiated with this new book by Skup published by Abox Publishing. He says, “As a revolutionist, my nature draws me to challenge everything the fitness industry dishes out.”

Skup, an authority on push ups calls it to be the most explosive exercise on the earth. However, till now it has been perceived as a warm exercise.

Push ups are not only an exercise, but can also be adopted as complete exercise regime. It works well for all without any difference based on gender or age. Men, women and children can easily take up this exercise at any fitness level. Best part of this exercise is its simplicity and space freeness which everyone can adapt easily.

Fitness industry is slowly acknowledging the importance of push-ups. The claims and quick solutions offered by the fitness industry are failing slowly. Health experts across the world have now acknowledged that exercise and being physically active cannot be replaced by any short term or quick approach.

The best part is that unlike other exercise regimes, it doesn’t need any equipment or money. They are free and convenient. Push-ups fit well for people with tight budgets as well those who have busy schedules like executives.

Push-ups provide great upper body, low-cost exercise. They are a good exercise for those who want to tone up or gain strength but not too much mass. The best thing is that one is not required to go to gym to do them; it can be easily done at home. Space is not a problem with exercise regime.

Ted Skup hopes that the ‘push-ups revolutions’ will spread across the borders and will help everyone in the same way as it has helped him. Its inexpensive advantages would certainly attract every common person in order to maintain good health, he expects.

“Aurium Pharma” has introduced “RepHresh Vaginal Gel” in Canada.  It has been made to fight the vaginal odor, a subject often considered to be embarrassing.”Aurium Pharma” already enjoys reputation for outspokenness and an underlying aim to spread awareness among women about their feminine health in the US. It has been able to create a dialogue between women, the doctors and the media. This would help in bringing awareness and ease among the women who had been suffering from the embarrassing problem of vaginal odor.

The response RepHresh has been receiving clearly indicates that women are left with few options due to reluctance which women feel while discussing a sensitive subject like vaginal odor. Aurium Pharma has provided with an open public forum to discuss. Jenny says that if such forums are not available, women suffering from odor would keep thinking that there is something abnormal with them which are not true.

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Charles Ross and Jeffery Dattilo, two Vanderbilt vascular surgeons, are studying the “Embolic Protection with Flow Reversal”, a new technique for carotid artery stenting. This new technique reverses blood flow to ease the risk of stroke during the minimally invasive procedure.Dattilo and Ross, both assistant professors of Surgery, are leading this clinical study as the principal investigator and co-investigator, respectively. This study is specifically focused on testing the safety and efficiency of the “GORE Neuro Protection System”.

It has been conducted in selected centers in the United States and ‘Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute (VHVI)’ is one of those 30 sites which would be providing the patients, this new technique while undergoing the surgery with minimal invasive procedure.

During the first case study patients underwent the surgery for a block in carotid artery, the artery which supplies blood to the brain. The situation was grave as the block in the artery was located at the side of the neck, placing the patient at high risk for stroke. Blocks in the carotid artery are major cause of strokes. About 30% of strokes happen due to them.

Ross explained the significance of correction of carotid blockage as the risk of first-time and recurrent strokes could be reduced to a considerable extent.

The procedure involved insertion of a sheath or balloon system from the patient’s femoral artery in the groin into his carotid artery in the neck. After joining the system to the patient’s femoral vein, which contains a filter, the carotid balloons were inflated. This helped in reversing the flow of the blood naturally from the carotid artery to the low-pressure venous system, keeping it away from the blocked internal carotid artery and the brain. Blockage was treated then with balloon angioplasty and stenting.

Dattilo said that reversing the flow of the blood helps in filtering out of the system, all of the debris or fragments which have broken loose. This can be done with utmost safety by not letting it go towards the brain.  This system works well due to the physiology and hemodynamics of most people.

This technique can be seen as a major step in improving the safety of carotid artery stenting. It provides a major edge over the popular techniques like use of a miniscule basket above the blockage to function as a filter. Unlike these methods, this new system involves less changes of clogging of blood and can easily handle large volumes of plaque and debris, thereby reducing the risk of stroke to a minimum.

Besides this, surgeons are also testing the efficacy of other procedures like Carotid endarterectomy, second most commonly used procedure in removal of block. It is an open procedure in which the surgeon removes the plaque surgically.

Surgeons are evolving better ways to use these procedures most efficiently for the patients who are at high risk for complications.

“MedSurge Advances” has announced the availability of “Debut LipoFirm”, soon going to be displayed at the ASLMS Annual Conference in Kissimmee, FL. This can be simply seen as a breakthrough in the field of aesthetic medicine practice. This is a new ‘Laser Lipolysis Technology (LLT)’ designed for reducing fat selectively and tightening the skin.

“MedSurge Advances” is one of the top companies in health, providing aesthetic medicine products and services to physicians and it is one of the fastest growing private companies in America.

“LipoFirm” which is a newly distributed and marketed by MedSurge Advances makes use of ‘semi-conductor (diode) laser system’. It is manufactured by Osyris of Lille, France at the Lille University Hospital. A unique mathematical modeling approach has been utilized to develop this.

LipoFirm 980nm is a laser lipolysis device exclusively designed to disrupt adipocytes. It utilizes a controlled thermal effect for producing this disorder effect. This laser effect not only results in turning the fat into liquid but also causes skin retraction or tightening. So, this procedure emerges as an ideal method for administering treatment focused on the localized areas of fat. It can be easily used in combination with the conventional liposuction treatment under the circumstances of skin laxity being a challenge.

It can be effectively used to reduce fat deposits in the chin area, calf, knees, ankle, lower back and lower abdomen and back of arms.

Among the various benefits, one is that the patented 1 mm cannula brings out perfectly uniform results and requires the patients to go through only local tumescent anesthesia. Since it is a completely non surgical treatment which requires no incision and delivers results without bringing any discomfort to the patients, it can be simply seen as a perfect match to traditional liposuction. The best part is that it involves very less downtime.

The LipoFirm laser brings in use a 600 micron fiber. Since it is a thicker fiber, it results in reducing the danger of breakage to a considerable extent and consequentally physicians come across fewer procedural interruptions. In addition to this, the procedure also uses an integrated thermal imaging system. This imaging system provides an improved image of the tissue to the physicians during the course of performing procedures.

It has also integrated an auto-regulation temperature control which helps in preventing overheating of patient tissue during the treatment.

‘Smart Card Technology’ is an intrinsic part of this procedure. Physicians can switch over to additional procedures by simply changing the smart card and handpiece which provides a platform to physicians to upgrade easily. For an instance, during the procedure is on, the same laser system can easily switch from laser lipolysis to exovenous and endovenous treatments which are used to remove blue leg veins and great saphenous veins respectively.

The whole system can be easily transported as the 980 nm semi-conductor (diode) laser weighs only 15 kg and has a ten-year lifetime.

 Iomai Corporation strives to discover and develop vaccines and immune system stimulants which could be administered through a novel, needle-free technology called ‘Transcutaneous Immunization (TCI)’.It tried to establish that a single dose of pandemic influenza vaccine may meet the protection level. FDA recommends a pandemic vaccine which can achieve immune response levels considered protective in 70 percent or more of vaccine recipients.

It has recently announced its positive interim results of the trial among 500 subjects with the use of its immunostimulant adjuvant patch with an injected vaccine for H5N1 influenza.

The trial demonstrated a significant influence of lomai patch when it was used with a single dose of the 45-microgram H5N1 vaccine. It proved that this combination was sufficient to provide an immune response considered protective in 73 percent of those tested. This could be counted as a statistically significant improvement over those who received the H5N1 Influenza vaccine alone.

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“Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)” and “Fibromyalgia (FM)” are two disorders which share common symptoms like extreme fatigue, ache, sleep disorder, and chronic disorders. These are the two serious and devastating problems however they do not have any confirmed causative factors so very limited treatment options are available. They interfere with the day to day activities and affect women mostly in 30s and 40s.CFS and FM cause a kind of tired feeling which doesn’t go with bed rest and might last for years. Information about their causes is very confined so diagnostic tests and treatment is not available. Both of these are usually confused with each other as their symptoms are quite common.

However, Dr. Kent Holtorf, M.D., Medical Director of the ‘Holtorf Medical Group Center for Endocrine’ in Torrance, California, conducted an in-depth analysis of 50 published studies related to these syndromes. He found that these disorders interfere with the functioning of hypothalamic-pituitary and thus resulting in abnormal adrenal function. The review also showed that treatment could be administered for this adrenal dysfunction. This analysis has been recently published in the “Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. It also verified that ‘cortisol’ as part of a multi-system treatment brought noteworthy improvement in the symptoms.

Dr. Holtorf says that a well defined treatment protocol of early administration of cortisol could be of much help to “improve and reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.”

The ‘Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’ shared its results that millions of Americans suffer from these disorders however there are no accurate tests devised to detect them. It adds to the plight of the patients as there could be no clear path designed for the treatment.

A further study has been conducted which confirms Dr. Holtorf’s research. The conditions of 500 patients from his clinic were followed up, where ‘cortisol’ was administered as a part of the treatment. It was observed that after the fourth visit sizeable portion of patients displayed improvement in the symptoms. It also boosted energy levels and a general sense of well-being among the patients.

It has been recommended in the journal that the patients can take dose of 5 to 15 mg of ‘cortisol’ in a day. There have been no proven associated risks with this medication. “Cortisol treatment carries significantly less risk and a greater potential for benefit than treatments considered to be the standard of care for both conditions,” Dr. Holtorf explains.

“Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)” is a minimally invasive treatment for fibroid tumors in the uterus. Although fibroid tumors are not malignant, they may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pain in the pelvic region and pressure on the bladder or bowel. They may interfere with urinary frequency, induce pain during intercourse and can cause miscarriage and affects fertility too. However the treatment is only administered by interventional radiologists and the specialist physicians.

A recent study presented at the ‘Society of Interventional Radiology’s 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting’ however analyzed that only few women are aware of this treatment. They conducted a research among 105 patients in the Atlanta metro area and found that only 18 percent of the women were informed by their gynecologists about ‘uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)’. Most of them knew about it primarily through the Internet or any media advertisement. Only among rare cases, they got referrals from their gynecologists.

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Grapefruit juice could be a potential source of risky interactions if it is mixed with certain specific medications. Johns Hopkins Health Alerts has recently attempted for finding the reasons of such effects.According to this review, there are some medications which do not mix well with some specific foods. The grapefruits or the grapefruit juice is one of these. It may interact with adverse impacts if mixed with certain medications. Natural grapefruits normally contain substances which can cause activity of enzymes in the intestines and liver where the medications are processed. Such type of mix would in turn result in to risky increase of the drug level in blood.

Another risky interaction may also occur between the blood thinner ‘warfarin’ and ‘vitamin K’. This vitamin is present in several types of multi-vitamins and other supplements along with other sources. Medical effects of the ‘warfarin’ gets neutralized because of its mixing with vitamin K. it also causes high risk of blood clotting which is the main effect of ‘warfarin’.

Scientists have now been successful in identifying specific responsible chemical present in the grapefruit juice which is mainly causing the interaction on mixing. A recent research study showing such evidences has also been published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”.

“Furanocoumarins (FCs)” are the main responsible chemical compounds for such interaction, according to the scientists. It is actually a family of chemical compounds which when mixed with the grapefruit juice causes such interactive effects in human body. Scientists, in order to confirm their doubt, created grapefruit juice which was free from these FCs. This juice was then compared with the effects of the normal grapefruit juice with normal FCs.

Scientists analyzed the results of this study which involved volunteers who drank 8oz of whole grapefruit juice in addition to the administered dose of ‘felodipine’, a typical blood pressure medication. The blood concentration of felodipine was observed to be three fold higher in case of those who took 8oz of normal juice in comparison to those who took the FCs free grapefruit juice.

Scientists could conclude that the blood pressure was higher with normal juice intake and this could be a risk with low blood pressure. Researchers also feel that the findings would be further helpful in developing better understanding of drug-food interactions. Scientists further suggested that one should always follow the medication guidelines strictly preventing any chance of such drug-food interactions which could be fatal.

“Advanced Retinoblastoma” is one of the deadly cancers of eyes and affects children most. It becomes necessary very often to remove their eyes surgically. This enucleation can now be avoided with a new ‘interventional radiology treatment’.

This treatment is a result of specific research study concluded recently and presented at the 33^rd annual meeting of the “Society of Interventional Radiology”. Retinoblastoma begins in the retina and caused by a typical gene mutation occurring one in every fifteen to sixteen thousand births every year. This mutation of genes happen in single eye cell normally and slowly grows in to a tumor. Exact reason of this mutation is yet not known to the scientists. However, if not treated timely the tumor may spread to the brain also as the optic nerve is directly connected with brain. This is fatal in its nature for children.

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A recent study is conducted by ‘Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)’. As a part of this research which is related to patients’ oral health needs, scientists at the AGD have warned the people who consume energy drinks that they could be eventually dangerous to teeth. AGD is a professional association which comprises of more than 35,000 general dentists. Founded in 1952, it is considered to be the world’s second largest dental association where the dentists are committed to add to the updates and continuous research in the field of dentistry.

Looking at the rise of the consumption of energy drinks in the United States, it has been projected that by 2010, the energy drink industry would hit $10 billion. So, keeping this alarming rise in the consumption, AGD has conducted a study appearing in the November/December 2007 issue of “General Dentistry” has decided to look into the various reasons which could play such detrimental effects on the health of the teeth. …Click here to read more

“American Cancer Society” says that the “Colorectal Cancer” has been found the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and the third most common cancer among men and women in the U.S. mainly above 50 are hit by the disease and it has caused  an estimated 73,470 deaths in 2007 and 145,290 new cases have been reported.ACS expresses shock as only one third to one-half of the 70 million people eligible for screening in the U.S. ever get tested.

To mark March as the ‘Colon Cancer Awareness Month’, Detroit-based ‘EBT Heart & Body Imaging Clinic’ has recently introduced “Virtual Colonoscopy”, an advanced test supported by

‘new five-year colon screening guidelines’. It is a procedure that uses CT scanning technology to produce a three-dimensional fly-through of the entire colon with no sedation required. Patients can resume normal activity immediately after the procedure. It is one of the four recommended tests to screen for colon cancer

Dr. Marc Kahn, Medical Director of ‘EBT Heart & Body Imaging’ in Detroit says, “This is a major step forward and will soon provide a clinically proven alternative for millions each year who avoid the unpleasant traditional colonoscopy.” He further adds that by including virtual colonoscopy in the screening procedure can be counted as a new breakthrough in fight against the colon cancer.

The guidelines followed by the ‘American Cancer Society’ have been issued in coordination with the ‘American College of Radiology’ and the ‘U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer’. This special task force (STF) is a group which has representatives from the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The screening tests have been jointly based on consensus guidelines for colorectal cancer screening, which had made it one of the most acceptable screening tests.

Dr. Kahn further adds that this screening test has over time has proven itself effective enough to be included principally among the routine colon cancer screenings. So the third party payers, physicians and medical societies ought to fasten the reimbursement procedures so that thousands of people could be saved each year waiting for reimbursement of this valuable procedure. However it would take at least a year or two before it is considered to be covered by insurance.

Meals Matter Website Offers “Stress-Free Ways to Add Dairy Daily High Blood Pressure (hbp)” or “hypertension” means high pressure (tension) in the arteries and it is often known as silent killer as it might not have serious consequences in the beginning however it is associated with an increased risk of death and disability from heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and end-stage renal disease. It affects one in three adults.

Andrea Garen, M.A., R.D., project manager at ‘Dairy Council of California’ has good news for the patients suffering from high blood pressure, informs, ” Making small, simple changes over time, such as eating low-fat yogurt for breakfast or drinking milk with meals, can increase calcium and vitamin D intake in a sustainable way.”

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“Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network Inc. (ACORN)” is a unique network consisting of progressive community clinics working together to change how the pattern of the clinical trials could be better implemented. It was founded primarily as ‘The West Clinic’ in Memphis, Tennessee to address the inefficiencies of clinical research. It consists of a group of experts dealing with clinical research, oncology, data management, regulatory, information technology, business development etc.

 It has recently come with an announcement that it is going to include underserved communities like African Americans in. The number has increased to 32% from 20% since 2007.

 Lee S. Schwartzberg, MD, President of ACORN says that    “Community oncology clinics care for over 84% of the nation’s cancer patients”. These clinics have dramatically improved access to care including the underserved.

  According to the 2000 census, African Americans make up 12.9% of the US population; however they represent only 7.46% of all clinical trial participants down from 7.9%. The reason behind less participation of this sect of population is lack of awareness among them of the availability of such trials.

 NCI has also noticed that the physicians don’t discuss the availability of such facilities with these minority groups and there is lack of enough set ups providing such clinical trials to the patients.

 There has also been found a problem with the way these clinical trials have been designed. They are too meticulous and standardized and may not include many patients suffering from multiple problems which are more prevalent among the people belonging to the minority population. 

 Steve Coplon, CEO, has however shown determination to overcome these overcomes these hurdles by crafting a new user friendly model more relevant for these minority groups.  

 ACORN already provides patients to take advantage of hundred of leading- edge clinical trials for all major cancer disease types in other communities. They are now working upon increasing the participation of the minority in these clinical research operations.

 For promoting the participation, they have been spreading awareness the minority and they are trying to spread information about the research possibilities. They are being convinced that participating in the study would provide them with an opportunity to get monitored and receive the highest standard of health care.

 Dr. Schwartzberg stated,”Using Community Oncology as the vehicle, we are advancing the War on Cancer to all patient populations”. He says that it is in a manner consistent with the goals laid out in the “President’s Annual Report on Cancer.”