Laboratory study is called preliminary, but promising

MONDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Green tea, already touted for its cardiovascular and anticancer benefits, may also help ease the inflammation and pain of rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.
The study was conducted in the laboratory, and its findings are preliminary, stressed lead researcher Salah-uddin Ahmed, an investigator at the University of Michigan Health System, in Ann Arbor.
"It's too early" to fully recommend green tea to ease rheumatoid arthritis, he said, but the study "is a starting point."
Ahmed was scheduled to present the research Sunday at the Experimental Biology meeting, in Washington, D.C.
For the study, Ahmed isolated cells called synovial fibroblasts from the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These cells form a lining of tissue surrounding the capsule of the joints.
In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, this lining is inflamed, leading to long-term joint damage and chronic pain. About 2.1 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation.
Ahmed's team next cultured these cells and exposed them to the active ingredient in green tea, a compound named epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Next, the cells were stimulated with a protein of the immune system known to play a role in causing joint degradation in rheumatoid arthritis. The protein is called cytokine interleukin-1 beta or IL-1B.
"IL-1B is a major player in mediating cartilage degradation," Ahmed explained.
In an earlier study, Ahmed's team found that fibroblasts pretreated with EGCG and then stimulated with cytokine IL-1B were better able to block IL-1B's ability to produce damaging proteins and enzymes. Those proteins and enzymes can infiltrate the joints and cause the cartilage breakdown seen in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
In the more recent study, the researchers focused on whether EGCG had the ability to block the activity of two potent molecules, IL-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), which also play a role in breaking down bone in an RA joint.
The two molecules were suppressed by the EGCG, Ahmed's team found. While he said it is difficult to quantify exactly the effect of the suppression, the EGCG "blocked them significantly," he said.
EGCG also blocked the production of prostaglandin E2, another compound that can cause joint inflammation.
One expert said the new green tea study was intriguing. "This study is very specific," said Stephen Hsu, an associate professor of dentistry, molecular medicine and genetics at the medical College of Georgia in Augusta.
In his own research, Hsu has found that green tea may help protect against certain autoimmune diseases, in which the body triggers an immune response, basically attacking its own cells. Hsu studied EGCG's effect in helping to inhibit an autoimmune disorder known as Sjogren's syndrome, in which the salivary glands are affected, and in lupus, in which the skin is affected.
The new research by Ahmed is one of the first to focus on rheumatoid arthritis and green tea, Hsu said. If it bears out, it could be good news for rheumatoid arthritis patients, perhaps offering them a non-drug option to keep pain under control, he said.
Ahmed cautioned that it's too soon to advise rheumatoid arthritis patients to drink green tea. On the other hand, drinking green tea certainly wouldn't hurt, he said, since it is known to have many health benefits and no known side effects.
He said people might want to try drinking three or four 8-ounce cups of green tea per day. "Try different brands," he suggested. The flavors may taste slightly different. "Drink it continuously throughout the day," he said, to keep blood levels more constant.
And you might want to consider popping some tart cherries along with that tea, according to another study presented at the same meeting.
In the study, conducted by another team of University of Michigan researchers, powdered tart cherries appeared to lower total cholesterol and blood sugar and help the body handle fat and sugar -- at least in animals.
More information
To learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, visit the Arthritis Foundation.

Is “Healthy Soda” an Oxymoron?

Soda is a multi-billion dollar industry in this country, but despite huge sales, its image has suffered in recent years. Diet offerings have been plagued by artificial sweetener woes—from myths of brain tumors to some legitimate health concerns. And the versions sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup have fared no better. In a report issued in 1998, the nutrition advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest famously dubbed soda “liquid candy.” Subsequently, protests by parents and nutrition advocates have lobbied to get soda machines banned from high-school cafeterias, and fast-food chains like McDonald’s have expanded their drink options to include healthier choices like bottled water or milk.
So what’s a soda manufacturer to do in order to stay in the game? Coke and Pepsi seem to think the answer lies in adding vitamins to soft drinks—turning your fizzy afternoon indulgence into a “health” food. This month, Coke is set to launch Diet Coke Plus, a zero-calorie cola with a sprinkling of nutrients mixed in. According to the company, one 8-ounce serving of the soda will provide 15 percent of the daily value (DV) of niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, and 10 percent of the DV for zinc and magnesium. And in the fall, Pepsi will roll out Tava, a line of zero-calorie sparkling beverages in flavors like Tropical Berry Blend and Passion Fruit Lime. Each 8-ounce serving of Tava will deliver 10 percent of the DV of vitamins B3, B6 and E.
“The biggest thing in every industry right now is health and wellness,” says Lynn Dornblaser, director of Mintel Custom Solutions, a market research firm. “Even companies that never had that as a primary focus are now trying to adapt their product lines to fit what’s important today.”
But can a soda ever really make the leap from junk food to health food? “Probably it’s just marketing,” says Kristine Clark, director of sports nutrition at Penn State University and a registered dietitian. The small amounts of nutrients in such sodas probably aren’t enough to make much difference in the average American diet. “Let’s hope no one is using these products to meet their nutritional needs,” says Clark.
The ever-growing category of natural sodas has been promoting health claims for several years, and has lured drinkers away from more conventional carbonated beverages or turned the health conscious into first-time soda drinkers. Brands like Izze, Santa Cruz Organics and Blue Sky contain real fruit juice, organic sugar as well as, in some case, vitamins. “The success of natural sodas—and especially of fortified bottled waters—may have spurred the more traditional companies to move in a similar direction,” says Dornblaser.
While trend-watchers speculate on whether or not consumers will swallow the health claims of Coke’s and Pepsi’s new sodas, nutritionists remain sanguine. “If you’re drinking these because of their nutrients, that’s not a valid reason, but if you’re going to be drinking soda anyway, you’re at least getting something extra,” says Clark. “Just don’t kid yourself that soda is a health drink.”

Health Highlights: April 26, 2007

Congress Should Limit TV Violence: FCC
Texas Governor's HPV Vaccine Order Rejected
Pull Shrek Exercise Ads for Children, Group Says
U.S. Army Testing Equipment to Check Soldiers for Brain Injuries
Texas Company Stops Illegal Production and Sale of Drugs
Primary-Care Doctor Visits Less Costly
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:
Congress Should Limit TV Violence: FCC
The U.S. Congress should legislate limits on TV violence in order to better protect children since voluntary parental controls aren't working, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said in a report released Wednesday.
The FCC said this kind of regulation is needed because research shows that extended exposure to TV violence can lead to more aggressive behavior in kids, The Washington Post reported.
V-chip blocking technology is only partially effective in screening violent content, said the FCC, which produced the report at the request of 39 lawmakers. The report will be used as a basis to draft legislation, said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.).
"Clearly, steps should be taken to protect children from excessively violent programming. Some might say such action is long overdue," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said in a prepared statement.
Giving the government the power to determine what's acceptable for TV concerns some groups, however.
"The job of policing TV for children is one for parents, not the government," Caroline Fredrickson, director of the American Civil Liberty Union's legislative office in Washington, D.C., told the Post. "The government isn't capable of making distinctions about what's violent or gratuitous."
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Texas Governor's HPV Vaccine Order Rejected
Texas Governor Rick Perry's order requiring sixth-grade girls to get the human papillomavirus virus (HPV) vaccine was rejected Wednesday by Texas lawmakers, who sent the governor a bill that would block, for at least four years, officials from requiring girls to get the vaccine.
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer.
After Perry issued his executive order in February, prominent legislators vowed to overturn the order because they said the vaccine was too new to force on Texas families, the Associated Press reported. The order was to have taken effect in September 2008.
Perry has 10 days to sign or veto the bill passed by the legislature. Even if he does veto it, lawmakers have the two-thirds majority vote in both chambers needed to override the veto.
The vaccine, which protects against four HPV strains, was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in girls and women ages 9 to 26.
To date, about 20 states have introduced bills to require girls to get the vaccine, the AP reported. Critics charge that making the vaccine mandatory promotes promiscuity and infringes on parents' rights.
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Pull Shrek Exercise Ads for Children, Group Says
The animated character Shrek should no longer be used in U.S. Health & Human Services (HHS) public service TV commercials that encourage children to get more exercise, says the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.
The Harvard University-based child advocacy group said the animated green ogre is no longer an appropriate spokesperson for healthier lifestyles for youngsters. That's because promotions tied to the May 18 release of the Shrek the Third film also include a number of high-calorie or high-sugar foods, USA Today reported.
"The food industry and the government can't have it both ways. Either (Shrek's) a pitchman for junk food or a spokesman for health and well-being. Those are mutually exclusive roles," said Susan Linn, co-founder of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.
In the public service ads, which started airing in February, Shrek encourages children to: "Get up and play an hour a day." The ads are popular with children and it would be a mistake to drop them, said Penelope Royall, a deputy assistant secretary for health at HHS.
However, the ads will not air from early next month until 30 days after the end of the new film's run "because we're not in the business of promoting movies," HHS spokesman Bill Hall told USA Today.
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U.S. Army Testing Equipment to Check Soldiers for Brain Injuries
In an effort to better identify hard-to-diagnose brain injuries in soldiers, the U.S. Army says it will soon begin testing new neuroimaging equipment, the Associated Press reported.
A new scanning camera that uses gamma rays and radioisotopes is expected to arrive within two weeks, said Col. John Cho, commander of the Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Colo.
Soldiers who've already been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury will be used to test the equipment and its effectiveness. The findings will be given to an Army review board, the AP reported.
Thousands of U.S. soldiers have suffered brain injuries in the Iraq War. A recent study at Fort Carson found that 2,932 (18 percent) of 13,400 troops who'd been to Iraq had suffered at least some degree of brain damage after being hit by blasts caused by improvised explosive devices.
Some critics have accused the Army of not doing enough to diagnose soldiers with brain damage.
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Texas Company Stops Illegal Production and Sale of Drugs
A Texas-based company has agreed to stop the illegal manufacture and distribution of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
The agreement applies to PharmaFab Inc., its subsidiary PFab LP, and two company officials -- Mark Tengler, PharmaFab's president, and Russ McMahen, PFab's vice president of scientific affairs.
The products made by the company are illegal because they aren't made according to the required current good manufacturing practice and they may lack FDA approval.
PharmaFab made and distributed more than 100 different prescription and over-the-counter drug products, including ulcer treatments, cough and cold products, and postpartum hemorrhage products, the FDA said.
The unapproved drugs made by the company included: De-Congestine Sustained Release Capsules; GFN 1200/DM 60/PSE 60 Extended-Release Tablets; Rhinacon A Tablets; Sudal 12 Chewable Tablets; Histex PD 12 Suspension; Atuss HX CIII; Ergotrate Tablets; and Hyoscyamine Sulfate Time-Release Capsules.
Consumers who have used any PharmaFab products should talk with their doctor, the FDA said.
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Primary-Care Doctor Visits Less Costly
In 2004, primary-care doctors (general practice, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatricians) accounted for nearly half of all 967.3 million doctor visits in the United States, but totaled only 30 percent of the $152 billion spent on office-based doctor care.
The remaining 70 percent of the $152 billion was spent on specialty care, says the latest News and Numbers from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
The agency also found that the average cost of a visit to the doctor's office was $155, but there were wide variations depending on the type of doctor. The average cost for primary-care doctors was about $100, compared with $232 for a cardiologist, $210 for an orthopedist, and $206 for an ophthalmologist.
Other findings:
Private insurance paid for 48 percent of doctor office visits, Medicare paid for 21 percent, and 14 percent was paid out-of-pocket by patients and families.
On average, patients paid 20 percent of total expenses out-of-pocket when seeing a primary-care doctor, compared with 16 percent for an orthopedist visit, 13 percent for a cardiologist visit, and about 25 percent when seeing dermatologists, psychiatrists and ophthalmologists.

Tainted Pet Food Found in Hogs in Several States

TUESDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- Contaminated pet food, the focus of a massive nationwide recall last month, has been fed to hogs in at least five states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday.
Ten pet food manufacturers sent unusable dog and cat food containing the toxic chemical melamine to hog producers in California, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and possibly Ohio, FDA officials announced during a late afternoon press conference. Contaminated pet food was also sent to one chicken farm in Missouri, the officials added.
"Hogs that have been fed salvage pet food in North Carolina, South Carolina and California were tested, and levels of melamine were detected in their urine," Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, FDA's director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters at the teleconference.
Whether any of the contaminated meat has entered the U.S. food supply isn't known, Sundlof added. But all the hogs at the farms have been quarantined, he said.
In addition, he said, the FDA has begun to test several types of imported protein supplements used both in human and pet food for the presence of melamine, a chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers.
The imported melamine found in dog and cat food was apparently used to boost the protein content of the foods, and has sickened and killed an unknown number of animals.
"The FDA will begin testing a variety of protein ingredients in finished products commonly found in the U.S. food and feed supply for the presence of melamine," Sundlof said. The agency will focus on newly imported products as well as products already in the country, he added.
Products to be tested include wheat gluten, rice protein concentrate, corn gluten, corn meal, soy protein and rice bran, Sundlof said. Other products may be added to the list later.
These ingredients are used widely in human foods, Dr. David Acheson, FDA's chief medical officer at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, told reporters. "Things like breads, pastas, cereals, pizza dough, energy bars and protein shakes," he added.
However, he said, "At this time there is no indication that melamine has been added to ingredients other than those used in the pet food."
Melamine was first found in pet foods manufactured by the Canadian company Menu Foods, which began its recall March 16 with moist dog and cat foods made with melamine-contaminated wheat gluten from China.
The recall has since expanded to other pet food manufacturers and other pet food ingredients, including the imported rice protein concentrate and corn gluten.
On Tuesday, however, Sundlof also announced that in addition to melamine, the FDA has now found cyanuric acid in the rice protein concentrate used for the pet food.
Like melamine, cyanuric acid is a chemical that can be used to boost the apparent protein content of foods but is normally used as a stabilizer in outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs.
"We are testing for that compound as well," Sundlof said.
The pet food recall has gotten the attention of the U.S. Congress, and two senators have asked the FDA to be more forthcoming in disclosing information about the companies involved in importing pet food ingredients.
In a letter to the FDA, Democratic Senators Richard Durbin of Illinois and Maria Cantwell of Washington state asked the agency to reveal the names of all importers of the contaminated rice protein concentrate, which was first recalled last week by Wilbur-Ellis Co. of San Francisco, and the names of the companies that received the shipments.
"We have learned that in addition to Wilbur-Ellis, a second United States company imported a shipment of rice protein from China that is also likely to be contaminated with melamine," the senators wrote. "We request the FDA identify this second importer as well as those manufacturers to which it may have sold the contaminated product."
The FDA confirmed at Tuesday afternoon's teleconference that another company also imported rice protein concentrate from the same Chinese company as Wilbur-Ellis, but the agency continued to refused to identify the U.S. company.
On Monday, however, China finally gave U.S. regulators permission to enter the country to investigate whether Chinese suppliers had exported contaminated pet food ingredients to the United States this year, The New York Times reported.
Previously, China had barred FDA representatives from entering the country despite evidence that the contaminant in the U.S. pet food supply came from Chinese exporters of wheat gluten and other animal feed ingredients, the Times said.
Meanwhile, another manufacturer, SmartPak of Plymouth, Mass., announced that it has recalled its LiveSmart Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice Dog Food, which it said could contain contaminated rice protein concentrate.
More information
For more information on pet food, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Bowel Disease, Nerve Problems Linked

MONDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are at especially high risk for carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve ailments, a new study finds.
"We found that those with inflammatory bowel disease were more than six times more likely to also have a disorder called sensorimotor polyneuropathy, a nerve disease that can cause weakness, pain, and numbness," said Dr. Francisco De Assis Gondim, professor of neurology at the Federal University of Ceara in Brazil.
"Those with bowel disease were also four times more likely to develop symptoms in the spectrum of a nerve disease called small fiber neuropathy, which causes pain and lack of feeling in the feet," he added. People with IBD were also four times as likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome compared to individuals without the bowel ailment.
All of these conditions were "more common in women with bowel disease than in men," Gondim added.
The findings were expected to be presented at this week's annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, in Boston.
IBD affects more than 600,000 Americans, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The name applies to a group of disorders, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, in which the intestines are inflamed. Symptoms can include abdominal cramps and pain, weight loss, diarrhea and bleeding from the intestine.
In the study, the researchers compared 103 people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis to 51 people with other digestive disorders, including chronic heartburn, gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome.
Irritable bowel syndrome affects mainly the large intestine and causes constipation, diarrhea, or both at different times.
Gondim's team gave everyone a standard neurological evaluation, including testing for nerve problems.
They discovered that people with IBD were much more likely to develop a variety of nerve conditions compared to people in other groups.
The exact link between bowel and nerve disorders remains unclear.
"This should be analyzed carefully, because in many patients, I could diagnose other medical conditions which could have at least contributed to the development of nerve damage, like diabetes, glucose intolerance, vitamin deficiencies, hypothyroidism," Gondim said. But, "in many patients, we have no explanation (other than IBD), which may suggest that there is an undiagnosed nutritional deficiency or ongoing immune-mediated nerve damage."
It's not known yet, Gondim said, how all these factors may interact to affect the course of the IBD.
Another expert called the research "an important study." Dr. Dawn Eliashiv, director of neurophysiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, said the finding "exemplified the fact that when we are dealing with patients, we cannot overlook that GI disorders affect many systems."
"Patients with IBD may have vitamin B12 deficiency or vitamin E deficiency," Eliashiv noted, "which may cause numbness, instability of gait or balance problems."
Hopefully, the study will raise awareness among physicians about the possibility of neurological complications occurring alongside IBD, she said.
Eliashiv and Gondim agreed on their advice to those with IBD: Anyone with the condition who also has numbness or pain in the hands or feet should seek medical attention. If they have balance problems or weakness, they also need to consult their doctor.
The study was supported by grants from the Federal University of Ceara and the Brazilian Ministry of Health.
More information
To learn more about IBD, visit the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Harnessing Tai Chi's Quiet Strength for Health

SUNDAY, April 22(HealthDay News) -- Is your chi not flowing right?
Whether or not you subscribe to the theory that the mind and body contain this mysterious, potentially healing force, the ancient martial art known as Tai Chi can still help bring health and fitness into line, experts say.
What's more, unlike more strenuous physical activities, Tai Chi's slow, balanced movements "are very accessible to older adults or patient populations that may have some physical limitations," said Dr. Michael Irwin, a professor of psychiatry and a researcher at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, part of the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine. He's conducted much research on the health benefits of the practice.
He defined Tai Chi, which originated centuries ago in China, as "a series of slow-moving movements that have a meditative quality, incorporating both physical movement as well as meditation."
Practitioners, who swear by Tai Chi's ability to calm body and soul, often talk about chi and the discipline's ability to restore a yin-yang physiological balance to this "life energy." Irwin said there's currently no way to scientifically validate these theories, "but I'm not bothered by that, because there are lots of things in the world that we do not understand because we do not yet have a way to measure them."
He and other researchers have been able to compare the health of Tai Chi devotees against that of more sedentary types, however. Using a standard "Medical Outcomes Scale," researchers have shown "that there are robust improvements in physical function -- simple things like being able to carry groceries, walk, go up stairs," Irwin said.
That's because Tai Chi, while seemingly slow, is surprisingly good exercise. "There are a number of studies on Tai Chi and its aerobic effects that show that metabolism increases, and there's physical conditioning over time," Irwin said.
Benefits extend to other areas, as well. A much-publicized study this year from Emory University in Atlanta found that Tai Chi helped elderly practitioners reduce their risk for potentially lethal falls. Irwin's own work at UCLA found that Tai Chi reduced older people's risk for the immune disorder shingles. Another UCLA study, to be published soon in the journal Gerontology, showed that it boosted the function of the sympathetic nervous system, which has long been tied to good cardiovascular health.
According to Irwin, no one has yet done a study on Tai Chi's effect on depression, although two UCLA studies did note significant improvements in mood in non-depressed people who took up the practice.
Sean Vasaitis is a graduate student at the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore and a Tai Chi instructor. He said the martial art isn't "magic" but is, in fact, rooted in balance and physics.
"Understanding that helps you develop and do what you're doing correctly," he said. Typical classes run about 45 minutes to an hour, he said, but can vary in quality.
Vasaitis offered up a few tips for beginners on finding a good class:
Consider your goals. Tai Chi can be a way to boost mental and physical fitness, but it can also be an effective method of self-defense, where practitioners use their skills to "throw" opponents.
Sit in on a few classes. "It can be difficult to distinguish good and bad Tai-Chi," he said, so a little investigation helps. Some classes are very structured and demand certain tests and uniforms, while others are more informal. "Students should find a class that suits their personality best," Vasaitis said.
Look for "hands-on" training. Instructors should do more than just model the correct movements. "The really specific body structures that give Tai Chi its benefits are hard to get unless someone takes you through it, physically putting you into that proper position," he said.
Don't be intimidated. Vasaitis said he's seen college athletes have as much trouble -- and success -- in getting Tai Chi moves down as nursing-home residents. "Everyone starts out on the same page," he said, but most will soon learn and enjoy the discipline.
Most people will also gain real health benefits, Vasaitis said.
"I have students who say it's helped their blood pressure, their balance got better, they now get around better," he said. "For younger people, too, their energy level tends to be higher after Tai Chi. I always feel a lot better."
Need more convincing? A study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggested that Tai Chi may help prevent the painful skin condition shingles.
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles found that older people who performed the slow, graceful movements of Tai Chi had a stronger immune system response against the virus that causes shingles than those who only received health education, the Associated Press reported.

Researchers Test Treatments for Painful Mouth Ulcers

FRIDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- The drug pentoxifylline offers only limited benefit for treating one form of mouth ulcers, while a cream commonly used to treat eczema appears effective in treating another kind, according to two studies published in the April issue of the journal Archives of Dermatology.
In the first study, British researchers at the University of Sheffield found that pentoxifylline provided limited benefit to patients with mouth ulcers due to recurrent aphthous stomatitis, which is characterized by recurring mouth ulcers in otherwise healthy people. The condition affects about 20 percent of the population.
The 60-day study included 26 people, average age 33, who took either one 400-milligram tablet of pentoxifylline three times a day or three placebo pills per day.
"Patients taking pentoxifylline had less pain and reported smaller and fewer ulcers compared with baseline," the study authors wrote. "Patients taking placebo reported no improvement in these variables. Patients taking pentoxifylline also reported more ulcer-free days than those taking placebo. However, the differences were small and, with the exception of median ulcer size, did not reach statistical significance."
Sixty days after they stopped taking the drug, all patients reported ulcers similar to those they had before the start of the trial. Dizziness, headaches, stomach upset, and increased heart rate were among the side effects reported by those who took the drug.
"Pentoxifylline did not prevent the ulcer episodes from occurring or result in a long-term cure. Thus, given the potential for significant adverse effects and the small benefits of the drug demonstrated in this clinical trial, we cannot recommend pentoxifylline as the drug of first choice for treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, although it may have a second-line role in the management of patients unresponsive to other treatments or as an adjunct to other treatments," the researchers concluded.
The second study found that one percent pimecrolimus cream was effective against oral erosive lichen planus, a severe inflammatory condition that causes painful mouth ulcers. People with the condition, which affects about one percent of the population, may even lose weight because of the mouth pain they experience when eating.
The study, by French researchers at the University of Nice, included six patients who applied pimecrolimus cream on mouth sores twice a day for four weeks and six patients who applied a placebo cream without any active ingredient.
The patients were assessed at the start of the study and again at 14 and 28 days. After 28 days, the average clinical score in the pimecrolimus group decreased from 6.83 to 3.33 and from 4.67 to 3.33 in the placebo group. There were few side effects in either group.
"In the pimecrolimus group, all the patients but one reported a moderate to important improvement of their symptoms and were satisfied by the treatment. This improvement was observed from the first week of treatment, usually within the first two days, and most notably, patients reported less pain when eating," the study authors wrote.
However, all the patients who improved during the study had a relapse within a month after treatment.
Larger studies are needed to better evaluate the safety and efficacy of pimecrolimus cream compared to other treatments, the authors wrote.
More information
The MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia has more about mouth ulcers

Unhealthy Young Adults Are Harming Their Hearts

FRIDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- Young adults who smoke, are overweight, and have higher-than-optimal blood pressure, LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood sugar levels are nearly three times as likely to develop calcium deposits in their heart arteries over the next 15 years compared to healthier individuals, researchers say.
Coronary calcium is a strong predictor of heart disease.
The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study began in 1985 by measuring heart disease risk factors in more than 5,100 black and white adults, ages 18 to 30, in Birmingham, Ala., Chicago, Minneapolis, and Oakland, Calif. The participants were then followed for 15 years.
The study, by researchers at the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), is in the April 17 online issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and is expected to be published in the April 24 print issue.
"These findings remind us that we should begin assessing our heart disease risk as early as possible, with a focus on prevention," Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel, NHLBI director, said in a prepared statement.
"All the risk factors we assessed are modifiable. Young adults who achieve and maintain optimal risk factor levels early on could enter middle age with healthy hearts," she said.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about heart disease risk factors.

Marijuana Compound May Fight Lung Cancer

TUESDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- While smoking marijuana is never good for the lungs, the active ingredient in pot may help fight lung cancer, new research shows.
Harvard University researchers have found that, in both laboratory and mouse studies, delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cuts tumor growth in half in common lung cancer while impeding the cancer's ability to spread.
The compound "seems to have a suppressive effect on certain lines of cancer cells," explained Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
According to the researchers, THC fights lung cancer by curbing epidermal growth factor (EGF), a molecule that promotes the growth and spread of particularly aggressive non-small cell lung cancers. "It seems to go to (EGF) receptor sites on cells and inhibit growth," said Horovitz, who was not involved in the study.
The findings are preliminary, however, and other outside experts urged caution.
"It's an interesting laboratory study (but) you have to have enough additional animal studies to make sure the effect is reproducible and to make sure that there are no overt toxic effects," said Dr. Norman Edelman, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. "It's a little more than tantalizing because it's a compound that we know has been in humans and has not caused major problems."
The findings were to be presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Los Angeles.
Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the world. Lung tumors that over-produce the EGF receptor tend to be extra-aggressive and don't respond well to chemotherapy.
THC is the main active ingredient of Cannabis sativa --marijuana. It has been shown to inhibit tumor growth in cancer, but specific information on its action against lung cancer has so far been limited.
In the new study, the researchers first showed that two different lung cancer lines, as well as samples from patient lung tumors, produced the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2.
Endocannabinoids -- cannabinoids produced naturally in the body -- are thought to have an effect on pain, anxiety and inflammation when they bind to cannabinoid receptors.
Next, the researchers injected standard doses of THC into mice implanted with human lung cancer cells. After three weeks of treatment, tumors shrank by about 50 percent in animals treated with THC, compared to those in an untreated control group, the researchers reported.
The findings may shed light on a question that has been puzzling Horovitz: Why hasn't there been a spike in lung cancer in the generation that smoked a lot of marijuana in the 1960s.
"I find it fascinating, wondering if the reasons we're not seeing this spike is that THC inhibits lung cancer cells," he said. "It would be very ironic, although you certainly wouldn't tell somebody who smoked cigarettes to add marijuana."
A second set of findings presented at AACR suggested that a viral-based gene therapy could target both primary and distant tumors, while ignoring healthy cells.
When injected into 15 mice with prostate cancer, this "smart bomb" therapy eliminated all signs of cancer -- effectively curing the rodents. Researchers at Columbia University, in New York City, said the therapy also worked in animals with breast cancer and melanomas.
And in a third hopeful trial reported at the meeting, German researchers at University Children's Hospital, in Ulm, said they've used measles viruses to treat brain tumors. In mouse experiments, the virus attached to the tumor from the inside out, the team said.
More information
For more on lung cancer, head to the American Lung Association.

Tasty Treatments for Diabetics

An estimated seven percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, which in recent years has been linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, due to insulin resistance in the brain. While there's no cure for diabetes yet, doctors say maintaining a proper diet is one key to controlling the condition. Taking advantage of natural compounds in foods is an alternative to prescription drugs, says Richard A. Anderson, lead scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, M.D. "We shouldn't be relying on drugs if we can alleviate or prevent diabetes simply by changing our eating habits."
Food Fixes
Add these sugar-stompers to your shopping list:
Tea: Chemicals known as polyphenols found in black, green, and oolong teas boost insulin activity.
Cinnamon: Less than half a teaspoon daily increases sugar metabolism in fat cells.
Buckwheat: Traditionally used to make soba noodles, buckwheat contains chemical compounds that reduce blood sugar levels.
Cherries: Contain chemicals called anthocyanins that increase insulin production.
Guava: Extracts from apple guavas lower blood-sugar levels.
Cocoa: Decreases insulin resistance.

Spring Allergies

Ah, springtime. The sun shines and the bees buzz. And for millions of Americans, it’s time to lock every window, blast the AC and hope that the wonderful spring air—and all the pollen it carries—never makes its way indoors.
Hay fever does not require hay, and there’s no fever.
Known by the white coats as seasonal allergic rhinitis, or pollenosis, hay fever is the immune system’s exaggerated response to pollen or to mold spores—both otherwise innocuous intruders. Not everyone gets hay fever, but the one in four Americans who do, they experience inflammation and irritation of the nasal passages and upper respiratory system. The end result is a miserable combination of sneezing, loose mucus and itchy eyes, nose and throat. In an especially cruel twist, lethargy and drowsiness is often coupled with insomnia.
You can learn whether it’s a bad pollen day before you step outside.
The National Allergy Bureau tracks pollen and mold counts all around the country. To track the density of these allergens in your area, see the regularly updated NAB report here.
Allergic reactions do not change every seven years.
That’s an old wives’ tale. You can become allergic at any time in your life. Most people peak in their teens or early 20s. Children frequently develop allergies at a young age, though their condition may improve as they reach adolescence (suggesting that hormones play a role). Because allergic reactions are disproportionate responses of the immune system, it’s not uncommon for symptoms to wane as people age and the immune system gradually becomes less reactive.
Pollen probably won’t kill you.
Unlike the severe, or anaphylactic, response experienced by people with strong allergies to foods or insect bites, pollen allergies are very rarely life-threatening. However, asthmatics and other people with compromised respiratory systems are warned to take precautions when pollen counts are high. An allergic reaction to pollen or mold spores can trigger an asthma attack.
When you just can’t take it, medicine can help.
Over-the-counter remedies provide adequate relief for many sufferers. Most prescribed antihistamines will provide the same degree of effectiveness as OTCs, but for longer duration and without the side effects (e.g., drowsiness, dry mouth). Some doctors will prescribe corticosteroids in the form of a nasal spray; like other steroids, these meds fight symptoms by reducing inflammation. For people whose allergies severely impact their quality of living, immunotherapy is often recommended. In this three- to five-year process, patients receive injections of the allergens they’re sensitive to, with the goal of eventually desensitizing the immune system. It’s an effective treatment; in time, about 75 percent of patients see a reduction or even eradication of allergy symptoms, without any medication.

Ancient Hindu healing draws beauty tourists

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) -- Ayurveda, an ancient Hindu healing method, has seen a resurgence as India vies for a share of the lucrative Asian medical-tourism market by offering traditional massages and beauty treatments to wealthy tourists.
Past the glass doors of the spa at Indian Hotels' Taj Wellington Mews, is a softly lit ayurveda room with a brass-edged, wooden treatment platform dotted with flowers.
In the corner is an idol of Dhanavantari, the Hindu god of health, garlanded with flowers and lit by an oil lamp.
Therapists in cotton sarees pray to Dhanavantari before each ayurveda session, from a basic head massage to an intense detox scrub and wrap, that can last from 45 minutes to five-and-a-half hours and are priced at 950 rupees ($21) to 10,000 rupees.
"We get a mix of people: those that are familiar with ayurveda, as well as those who are just curious and want to give it a try," said Silvia Mot, manager at the Taj spa in Mumbai.
Ayurveda ('ayu' means life and 'veda' knowledge in Sanskrit) is an ancient Hindu system of holistic healing with herbs, metals and minerals that are believed to have therapeutic benefits.
Traditional practitioners have always abounded, and now a growing interest in natural therapies is boosting ancient methods like ayurveda, homeopathy and siddha, which uses minerals.
Also, India, like Thailand, Singapore and other countries in the region, is pushing for a share of Asia's medical tourism market which is forecast to grow almost four times in value to $2.3 billion by 2012.
The push is coming via luxury hospitals for foreigners and wealthy locals staffed by highly-trained doctors such as Apollo Hospitals, which offers low-priced surgeries -- from cardiac to plastic -- along with guided tours.
But the revival of more traditional remedies through treatment centers and beauty products is also seen as a potentially lucrative drawcard for tourists as well as locals becoming increasingly affluent from India's economic transition.
Pharmacies and shops carry a range of over-the-counter herbal and ayurvedic products containing combinations of herbs, spices, flowers and fruits such as saffron, basil and green apple.
Their products -- ranging from face packs to throat lozenges and medications to treat hair loss, diabetes and skin disease -- generate a big chunk of the estimated $200 to $300 million alternative therapy market in India's burgeoning beauty industry.
Myth to modern
Ayurveda combines religion and philosophy with science to bring balance to the three doshas -- vata, pitta and kapha -- elements of the human body similar to the Latin humors.
Ayurveda's origins are rooted in mythology and religious texts. The Hindu god of creation, Brahma, regarded as the fount of knowledge, is believed to have passed on knowledge of ayurveda to Daksh Prajapati, the father of goddess Parvati.
Another legend has it that sage Bharadwaj went to heaven to seek knowledge. Ayurveda texts, written by ancient physicians dating back more than 2,000 years, are still followed by practitioners.
The practice can also be traced to Atharva Veda, a sacred Hindu text. Passed on by sages, it was developed into a school of medicine with eight specialties, including pediatrics and psychiatry, and taught in the ancient universities of Takshila and Nalanda.
Ayurveda declined with the growth of modern medicine during the British rule but it is thriving again, particularly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the south where home medicine chests contain ayurvedic pain balms and digestives alongside modern medications. India has even contested a move by some Western companies to patent the use and healing properties of herbs like neem, turmeric and "ashwagandha" or Indian ginseng, which are used from everything from treating acne and wounds to aiding digestion.
The modern Indian market for alternative therapies is estimated at $200-$300 million, and is dominated by hundreds of traditional practitioners and small firms that peddle creams, syrups and pills in unmarked jars or wrapped in paper.
Analysts say premium ayurvedic and herbal products can grow quickly, helped by specialty stores and spas and large firms.
Lever, which picked ayurveda as a new growth engine, has more than 40 Ayush ayurveda centers that offer ayurveda therapies, yoga and meditation classes and is adding two more every month.
"Especially at the top end, consumers are concerned about issues such as hygiene and safety, and are more trusting of well-known companies," said the Lever spokesman.
There have been warnings in North America and Britain about the high content of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic in ayurvedic products, which are not as strictly controlled as Western medicines.
Still, foreign firms are keen to get a foothold in the market as interest grows in Eastern philosophies and treatments.
L'Oreal recently said it was looking to buy a small Indian ayurveda brand to launch a worldwide foray in ayurveda.
But Milind Sarwate, chief financial officer of consumer goods maker Marico, which owns the premium Sundari ayurvedic line in the United States, said it may be hard to apply Western standards and quality control to these traditional therapies and their natural ingredients.
"You can't put a barcode on every amla (gooseberry) or ensure standards of every root from a Jharkhand (eastern India) forest."
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Flu Vaccine Grown in Insect Cells Called a Promising Alternative

TUESDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- The latest buzz in flu vaccine development could be the use of an insect-cell-based vaccine, rather than egg-based immunizations, to speed up production and maintain effectiveness, particularly in the case of a pandemic flu outbreak.
An experimental vaccine was tested in about 300 people and produced an immune response strong enough to fight off the flu, while only causing minimal side effects, such as pain at the site of the injection, researchers reported in the April 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
"All currently licensed influenza vaccines in the United States are produced in embryonic hen's eggs," wrote the study authors, from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, the University of Rochester and the University of Virginia. The authors also pointed out that "eggs require specialized manufacturing facilities and could be difficult to scale up rapidly in response to an emerging need such as a pandemic."
Each year, as many as 20 percent of the American population gets infected with the flu virus, resulting in about 200,000 hospitalizations annually. More than 35,000 Americans die each year from complications of the flu, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The influenza vaccine is the only known way to try to prevent the flu.
But, as the authors pointed out, developing a vaccine from eggs can be difficult. Millions and millions of eggs have to be kept at the right temperature, and flu viruses don't always grow well in eggs. Also, people who are allergic to eggs can't use egg-based vaccines.
But, one of the biggest difficulties stemming from the use of egg-based vaccines is the time it takes to manufacture these immunizations.
"It takes about six to nine months to make a batch, so you have to anticipate what will be the emerging flu strains almost a year ahead of time," explained Dr. Marc Siegel, an internist at New York University Medical Center and author of Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic.
"One advantage of this new vaccine technology -- assuming that it's clinically useful -- is that it would allow you to choose what the emerging strain is much closer to when it is actually emerging," he said.
The new vaccine, currently called FluB1OK, is produced by Protein Sciences Corp. of Meriden, Conn. A virus that normally infects insects called baculovirus and cells from caterpillars are used to manufacture the vaccine.
For this study, which was funded by Protein Sciences Corp., the researchers compared a placebo to two different versions of the new vaccine. One contained 75 micrograms of the vaccine, the other 135 micrograms. The actual vaccines were designed to protect against three strains of flu that were expected to be most active during the 2004-05 flu season, when the study was conducted.
One hundred and fifty-four people received a placebo injection, while 153 received the smaller dose of vaccine, and another 153 received the largest dose.
The vaccine was well-tolerated. Pain around the injection site was the most commonly reported "adverse event."
More important, no one who received the largest vaccine dose contracted the flu, compared to almost 5 percent of those who received a placebo and slightly more than 1 percent of those on the smaller dose of vaccine.
"In this study, (the new vaccine) was safe and immunogenic in a healthy adult population," wrote the study authors.
"This is a very promising, but early, finding," said Siegel, who added that "we need more studies that look at non egg-based technologies."
More information
To learn more about influenza, read this flu fact sheet from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Coffee Lovers, Smokers at Lower Parkinson's Risk

MONDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) -- Could smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee protect you from Parkinson's disease?
That's the startling suggestion of a new U.S. study of families that also found NSAID use has no impact on the disease risk.
Previous studies have reported that consuming caffeine, smoking and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen may help prevent Parkinson's disease, according to background information in the study. But there's been little family-based research done to examine these links.
The new study, led by researcher Dana B. Hancock of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., included 356 Parkinson's patients (averaging about 66 years of age) and 317 of their family members (averaging almost 64 years of age).
The people with Parkinson's disease were 44 percent less likely to report ever smoking and 70 percent less likely to report current smoking compared with unaffected relatives, the study authors found.
"Increasing intensity of coffee drinking was inversely associated with Parkinson's disease," they added. "Increasing dosage and intensity of total caffeine consumption were also inversely associated, with high dosage presenting a significant inverse association with Parkinson's disease."
The study found no link between NSAID use and Parkinson's disease.
The findings are published in the April issue of the journal Archives of Neurology.
It's not known how smoking or caffeine consumption may help reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
"Given the complexity of Parkinson's disease, these environmental factors likely do not exert their effects in isolation, thus highlighting the importance of gene-environment interactions in determining Parkinson's disease susceptibility," the study authors wrote. "Smoking and caffeine possibly modify genetic effects in families with Parkinson's disease and should be considered as effect modifiers in candidate gene studies for Parkinson's disease."
More information
We Move has more about Parkinson's disease.

What Teen Social Skills Tell Us

BALTIMORE (Johns Hopkins) - Want to know what's really going on with teen-agers? Watch how they interact — or don't — with other people.
Most people know that such common warning signs as dropping out of school or getting into trouble with the law can alert society to a teen's state of mind, or even signal the presence of a psychiatric disorder. But Johns Hopkins researchers think that problems can be identified and treated much sooner, by observing how teens relate to others in a variety of social settings.
"Girls and boys who have depression and anxiety, and often those things go together, are likely to not be doing the normal things that teen-agers do. Not getting along with their peers, staying alone a lot, not engaged in organizations," says Hopkins clinical psychologist Dr. Anne Riley, who led a study of nearly 300 teen-agers. Dr. Riley says the persistence of social isolation can help parents tell the difference between a psychiatric disorder and normal teen-age moodiness. Copyright 1998 The Johns Hopkins University. All rights reserved.
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'Age management' is a controversial new medical focus

Visit CNN.com/Health in coming days to read more on dietary supplements and human growth hormone.
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Clothia Roussell draws inspiration from the prophets. "I've read in the Bible how we're supposed to live to see 120, and those prophets lived to be 400 or 500 years old," said the 49-year-old homemaker.
"My husband and I, we're both looking forward to living a long, healthy life," she said. Last fall, Roussell and her husband Michael, 47, who owns a commercial construction business in Fayetteville, Georgia, began seeing Dr. Ana Casas, who calls herself a specialist in "age management." It's one of the fastest-growing trends in American medicine.
The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), which was founded in 1993 to support research on extending life and treating age-related disease, claims 19,000 members in 90 countries. Membership has nearly doubled in the past five years. The Business Communications Company Research firm says the U.S. market for anti-aging products is worth $45.5 billion and growing nearly 10 percent a year.
On its Web site, A4M refers to "the arcane, outmoded stance that aging is natural and inevitable" and says "the disablities associated with normal aging are caused by physiological dysfunction." That attitude is controversial.
The American Medical Association does not consider anti-aging an official specialty. Unlike Casas, who is board-certified in internal medicine and was an assistant professor at Dartmouth Medical School, many anti-aging practitioners are not certified in traditional fields. Robert Goldman and Ronald Klatz, the co-founders of A4M, are osteopathic physicians who were once ordered by the state of Illinois to stop identifying themselves as MDs.
Some observers say the whole field is an expensive hoax. "There is no such thing as anti-aging medicine," huffs Jay Olshansky, a sociologist at the University of Illinois who studies medicine and longevity. "As long as humans have existed, we have always desired to live longer. Every society, every religion, every culture. Of course, they all failed at dramatic life extension." Olshansky was slapped with a $120 million dollar defamation lawsuit by A4M after he accused the organization of promoting quackery. He countersued and both sides eventually agreed to drop their cases.
After meeting Dr. Casas, the Roussells started taking more than three dozen dietary supplements and began a serious diet based mostly on "good" carbohydrates and small helpings of fish, nuts, fruits and legumes. They also received an "exercise prescription" from Casas' business partner Lee Haney, an eight-time Mr. Olympia.
Casas' patients don't waste time in waiting rooms. She not only shares her cell phone number with them, but sits down every afternoon to answer e-mails. A medical technician makes house calls every three months to collect blood samples. The personalized attention isn't cheap. An initial consultation costs $2,250 and patients pay $995 every six months for unlimited consultations. Add anywhere from $200 to $500 a month for blood work and supplements, and it gets pricey. Most costs are not covered by insurance.
Another patient is John Smith, a blunt-talking former Marine. Smith says he considers most doctors to be "quacks," but praises Casas' boundless willingness to answer questions. "Our first meeting was scheduled for three hours, and we ended up talking for four and a half hours," says Smith, 64. "So many doctors are so rushed that you don't get any feeling of getting real attention. They throw you a pill, and run."
Casas herself is a refugee from what she disparagingly calls insurance-based medicine. "Your typical internist may have 4,000 patients. I've decided to limit myself to 400," she says. "Before, I would see a patient for maybe 10 minutes at a time. Now, I usually know as much about them as they know about themselves."
It's true that some anti-aging therapies fly in the face of traditional advice. Some doctors talk of measuring a physiological age -- as opposed to a chronological age -- even though the concept is dubious. "The only way I can tell your age is by looking at your birth certificate," says Dr. Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute of Aging at Albert Einstein Medical School in the Bronx. "There is no test I can give you which will tell me, with any precision, exactly how old you are." Besides that, many patients take dozens of supplements, even though published studies have found few benefits. And then there's the aggressive use of hormone therapy. Many anti-aging doctors use a liberal definition of "hormone deficiency" in order to prescribe human growth hormone, which mainstream physicians say should generally be reserved for children with growth problems.
Dr. Casas, who says she prescribes growth hormone for only a handful of patients, says the focus should be on more mainstream aspects of the practice. "Age management is preventive medicine," says Casas. "You want to live as long as you can, with the highest quality of life possible."
Clothia Roussell said the effects of the program were apparent right away. "It was not subtle. My son came to visit and said, 'wow, Mom, you're getting younger.' "We'll be seeing Dr. Casas for the next 75 years," she added with a gleaming smile. Why settle for less? A growing number of patients, at least those who can afford it, can't think of any reason not to.
Caleb Hellerman is a producer with CNN Medical News.

Cleaning Products Pose Child Poison Dangers

SATURDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- Little hands can latch on to hazardous, even poisonous cleaning products around the home, so the Soap and Detergent Association is offering 10 safety tips to help protect young children.
Parents and other adults should:
Thoroughly check your home to ensure that it's safe for children.
Install childproof locks on cabinets that house cleaning supplies. Never assume a cabinet is too high for a curious child.
Keep all household products in their original packaging, which includes first-aid information in the event of accidental exposure or ingestion of the product.
Read and follow the directions on the product label.
Don't leave cleaning buckets with liquid in them unattended. If a child falls into a bucket, it may not tip over, and the child could drown in even a small amount of liquid.
Schedule house cleaning during "down times," when children are having a nap or on a play date or at school.
Take out only the amount of cleaning product you need for the job you're doing at the moment. Keep the rest securely stored until you need it.
Immediately clean up any spillage.
Avoid distractions or interruptions when children are present while you're cleaning. If you need to answer the door, take the child with you. If the phone rings, let the answering machine get the call.
Post the Poison Control Center phone number (1-800-222-1222) by every phone in your home and save the number on your cell phone.

Herbal Remedies for Your Condition

Author: Eliza Maledevic
Indeed, the use of herbal remedies is growing in numbers nowadays. There are a lot of people who are truly concern about their health and are growing number of information they can get to satisfy their needs.

Indeed, the use of herbal remedies is growing in numbers nowadays. There are a lot of people who are truly concern about their health and are growing number of information they can get to satisfy their needs.There are actually a lot of shops out there that sell herbal remedies. Even online, you can purchase herbal remedies. There are many websites who offers herbal remedies. But how sure are you that you are buying the right one for your condition? And are you sure that that you are buying with the right dealers?Actually, 1/3 of patients use herbal remedies for their conditions. Many of these people do not tell their doctors that they are using herbal remedies for their conditions.Maybe this is just part of forgetfulness or it can be because they are ashamed with their doctors or maybe because they thought that their doctor will disapprove the use of herbal remedies for their condition. You see, they will not disapprove it, actually at some point they will approve herbal remedies. They may even advise you to use herbal remedies for your condition. They even use herbal remedies themselves.You see, there are many different herbal remedies available nowadays, also with different forms and preparations. So before you actually use herbal remedies, you have to be well informed about it. You have to bear in mind that when researching for herbal remedies and gaining information and details, you have to be extra careful when you are relying on the information given to you. You can use the expertise of herbalists that are professional and well respected.If you are going to research for information online, you have to make sure that you are getting an up to date, precise and correct information. In getting the necessary information about herbal remedy for your condition, never get information from your friends and family, because they may have conditions that are far from yours, which is too risky for you.You see, there are truly lots of herbal remedies, each have their own cure and each can be use with different illnesses. So in looking for herbal remedies for your condition, you have to make sure that it is the right one for your condition.Yes, herbal remedies can help you with your condition; it can actually cure it or even prevent it. Herbal remedies are even safe, effective and with no side effects. But of course, you have to make sure that you are using the right herbal remedy for your condition, in order to make sure that you will be curing your condition properly.In buying herbal remedies, you have to make sure you are buying the right now, and not just throwing your money with the wrong ones, so you have to make sure that you are having the right information and it can be much help to seek the advice of herbalist.If would be better if you go to a professional herbalist and tell her or him your condition, in order for you to be given the advice for the right herbal remedy that you should take with your condition. You see the herbalist know and have the knowledge of the preparations regarding your condition, so she or he can give you that right herbal remedy.

Mediterranean Diet Protects Kids From Allergies: Study

THURSDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) -- A Mediterranean-style diet loaded with fruits, vegetables and nuts may help prevent allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms in youngsters, a British study suggests.
Researchers at the National Heart and Lung Institute, London, looked at almost 700 children, ages 7 to 18, on the Greek island of Crete. Their parents filled out questionnaires on their children's eating habits and on their allergy and asthma symptoms.
Eight out of 10 children in the study ate fresh fruit and more than two-thirds of them ate fresh vegetables, at least twice a day. Diet appeared to have the strongest protective effect against allergic rhinitis but also helped protect children against asthma and skin allergies, the study found.
Children who ate nuts at least three times a week were also less likely to wheeze. The researchers noted that nuts are rich in vitamin E, which protects against cellular damage caused by free radicals. Nuts also contain high levels of magnesium, which may protect against asthma and improve lung power.
The study also found that a daily diet of oranges, apples, and tomatoes protected children against wheezing and allergic rhinitis. Grapes appeared to be especially effective in preventing wheezing and allergic rhinitis. Red grape skins contain high levels of antioxidants and a potent polyphenol called resveratrol, which is known to reduce inflammatory activity, the researchers said.
They also found that eating lots of margarine doubled the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis.
The study was published in the journal Thorax.

10 Foods Tough to Digest

Fried chicken nuggets

Anytime you take a food, dip it in batter and then deep fry it, you turn it into something that can be a bit hard on the gut. Fried foods inevitably are greasy and high in fat, both of which spell trouble for the stomach. If you already suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, greasy foods are especially problematic and can cause symptoms like nausea and diarrhea, says Tara Gidus, a dietitian in Orlando, Fla. To make a healthier version, take frozen chicken nuggets (or use your own breadcrumb batter on chicken breasts) and bake them rather than frying.

The advice to forgo fried for flavorful alternatives is also helpful for other traditionally greasy snacks, like potato chips. To get the crunchy, salty sensation of chips without the unfortunate side effects, look for baked versions of potato chips or switch to low- or no-fat snacks like pretzels, air-popped popcorn or soy crisps.

By Sally Wadyka for MSN Health & Fitness

10 Options in Treating Mesothelioma

Author: Paul Wilson
As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the progression of the disease, the age as well as state of health of the patient.

As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the progression of the disease, the age as well as state of health of the patient.
It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease who will decide on the line of treatment. The disease is difficult to treat and in most cases the prognosis is poor. Treatment options include:
1. If the diagnosis is done in the early stages surgery may be recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. This means thoracoscopy, VATS or video assisted thoracic surgery, mediastinoscopy (used for staging), or laproscopy. Often, doctors will advise palliative procedures like chest tube drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis, pleuroperitonial shunt, or pleurectomy, which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than the disease.
2. Radiation is prescribed aggressively for mesothelioma patients and is often given in combination with surgery or in order to control symptoms, palliatively. Research on using radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in progress as traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding healthy tissue.
3. Chemotherapy is an option and around 12-20% of patients respond to the drugs. Anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells and prevent their spread. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not considered to be curative. The aim is to prevent spread of the disease; shrink the tumor prior to surgery, known as neoadjuvant therapy; to annihilate any remains of the tumor in the body post surgery; and to relieve pain and other discomfort, palliative chemotherapy. Experts recommend prescribing premetrexed along with cisplastin. These drugs have shown positive results and this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by surgery.
4. Biological therapy using interleukin 2.
5. Immunotherapy where the body’s own immune system is stimulated to fight the disease. Biological response modifiers, BRMs, are used in treatment. These enhance the functions of the immune system; regulate metabolic reactions that promote growth of cancers; alter cancer cell division; block or reverse processes that lead to formation of cancers; and prevent spread of cancer.
6. Gene therapy, where attempts are made to correct the gene sequence that causes the cancer. This is of two kinds, replacement gene therapy and knockout gene therapy.
7. Administration of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug.
8. Photodynamic treatment where a photosensitive medication is activated using a laser. This is done during the surgical removal of cancerous tissues.
9. Draining of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity followed by introduction of medications into the cavity to prevent fluid accumulation is done for patients who have uncontrolled fluid accumulation and intense discomfort stemming from it.
10. Combination therapy or Trimodal therapy which means surgery accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.
Often, complementary medicines are also used. Termed to be holistic this kind of treatment focuses on a patient’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.
In the case of Mesothelioma which is untreatable one can opt for clinical trials of new treatments that are in progress in several research laboratories and centers. The best advice on the line of treatment would be that recommended by the oncologist or physician

Two Medications Treat Migraine Better Than One

TUESDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Combining two commonly used medications can provide faster, long-lasting relief of migraine pain than using either drug alone, concludes a new study.
The study compared the use of a new combination pill that includes sumatriptan (brand name Imitrex) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) to use of either drug alone and to a placebo for moderate to severe migraines.
The researchers found that the combination therapy provided headache relief within two hours for as many as 65 percent of the study volunteers compared to about 28 percent for placebo. Up to 55 percent reported that Imitrex alone provided relief, while as many as 44 percent felt that naproxen gave them relief from their headache.
"The combination product is superior to the individual products alone," explained study author, Dr. Jan Lewis Brandes, a neurologist with the Nashville Neuroscience Group and an assistant clinical professor of neurology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn. "It really targets more of what's happening in the brain during migraine. Sumatriptan works to constrict the blood vessels and interrupt pain, while naproxen works on the inflammatory process."
Results of the study are in the April 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Funding was provided by pharmaceutical manufacturers Pozen and Glaxo SmithKline.
While both medications included in the combination pill have already received government approval, the new combination must also be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lewis Brandes said the FDA is reviewing data on the medication and may make a decision by August 2007. If approved, the combination will likely be sold under the brand name Trexima.
Almost 30 million Americans suffer from migraines, according to the National Headache Foundation. Migraines may cause headache pain -- often just on one side of the head, visual disturbances, sensitivity to light, and nausea and vomiting. Migraines may last hours or even days.
While the introduction of medications known as triptans -- including sumatriptan -- has improved migraine management, some people still don't get relief, according to background information in the article.
And, according to Lewis Brandes, and another headache expert, Dr. Wade Cooper, director of the St. John's Health Chronic Headache and Migraine Institute in Madison Heights, Mich., many headache experts already recommend a combination of medications to combat migraine pain.
The current study included almost 3,000 people between 18 and 65 who suffer from migraines. The study participants, who were recruited at 118 clinics across the United States, were randomly assigned to one of four groups: the combination therapy (a single pill containing 85 milligrams sumatriptan and 500 milligrams naproxen sodium); 500 milligrams naproxen sodium (Aleve) alone; 85 milligrams sumatriptan (Imitrex) alone; or a placebo. They were told to take the medication when their migraine pain was moderate to severe in intensity.
More people reported short-term relief from headache pain and lessened sensitivity to lights and sounds on the combination therapy than on either drug alone or for the placebo. At 24 hours, results were similar, with more people on the combination therapy reporting sustained headache relief -- as many as 48 percent -- versus up to 35 percent on sumatriptan, 30 percent on naproxen sodium and 18 percent on placebo.
Because the combination drug would only be used on an as-needed basis, Lewis Brandes said she's not overly concerned that the medication would cause any of the gastrointestinal side effects, such as stomach bleeding, that can occur with long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as naproxen.
"We didn't see any real increase in GI symptoms," said Lewis Brandes, who did add that she wouldn't prescribe this medication for someone with a history of ulcers.
The bottom line, according to Cooper, is that "when you combine naproxen with Imitrex, it not only tends to help it be more effective, it may help Imitrex work faster."
And that may be the real benefit of this combination, said Lewis Brandes. She said a lot of times, people with migraines try to ride them out and wait to take their medications. However, if you wait too long before taking a triptan medication, it doesn't work as well, she explained. But, when combined with naproxen, it appears to be effective even when people wait to take their medication.

Keep Out of Reach of Children

News of the arrest of a Massachusetts couple accused of overdosing their 4-year-old daughter with psychiatric medication reignited a long-standing debate about whether young children with suspected mental illnesses should be treated with drugs.
Rebecca Riley had been taking a cocktail of psychiatric medications since age 2 1/2, when she was first diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder. Many aspects of Rebecca’s case are unusual; her bipolar diagnosis is considered outside the norms of psychiatric care and her over-medication points to parental child abuse and neglect. But the tragedy raises serious questions about if and when kids with relatively common conditions like ADHD should be medicated, and highlights the public’s unease with the practice—especially when it comes to more seemingly grown-up mental disorders of bipolar and schizophrenia.
Parents face an anguished decision when a doctor recommends drug therapy for their troubled child. Many psychiatric drugs haven’t been adequately tested in children, the appropriate dosage is often unknown, and side effects can be serious. The decision of whether to medicate often comes down to a leap of faith. Parents must assess their own parenting beliefs, deal with societal pressure and come to terms with treating their child for conditions that can’t be diagnosed unequivocally—say, via a blood test.
But before this, a diagnosis must be made—and this is an equally controversial area. Some experts question the wisdom of labeling young children when behaviors almost by definition are erratic and young minds are still developing. Young kids, and especially toddlers, have mood swings. They can throw tantrums, be wildly happy and be withdrawn and downcast all within the span of an hour. It’s hard to know where usual child or adolescent behavior ends and illness begins, and some experts believe diagnoses like bipolar disorder in children are simply inappropriate.
“The younger the child is, the more humble the clinician should be about diagnoses,” says Dr. Ken Duckworth, medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “We just don’t know enough about the brain to know what¹s really going on.”
Moreover, parents and doctors need to consider these diagnoses in light of treatment options, which, for certain disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can have serious side effects and unknown long-term effects in children.
According to Dr. Jess Shatkin, Director of Training and Education at the NYU Child Study Center, only about 20 percent of psychiatric medicines have been tested in kids. And that’s unlikely to change for one obvious reason: People don’t want their children in scientific experiments.
Yet ADHD and bipolar diagnoses in children are on the rise. A recent study estimates that bipolar disorder diagnoses increased almost sevenfold between 1990 and 2000. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report estimated that 7 percent of elementary school children have been diagnosed with ADHD.
Myriad financial and social pressures on schools, parents, doctors and teachers converge to create situations in which the first line of treatment for disorders like ADHD is drug therapy rather than more conservative options, such as behavior modification.

Build a Better Breakfast

Before your next "well-balanced" breakfast of oatmeal and fresh blueberries, ask yourself this: Where's the protein and fat? After all, with the exception of eggs and sausage, typical breakfast foods—cereal, fruit, toast, pastries, and juice—provide you with almost nothing but carbohydrates, often in the form of sugar. And that means most morning meals are highly unbalanced.
Now most men already know they need high-quality protein—the kind found in meat, eggs, and dairy—to nourish and build muscle. But fat's important at your morning meal, too. That's because, along with protein, it slows the absorption of carbohydrates into your bloodstream, providing you with a steady supply of energy—instead of a quick sugar rush (often followed by a sugar crash).
And by keeping you full longer, this protein/fat combo can also help shrink your midsection. In a recent study, Louisiana State University researchers found that when people had eggs for breakfast, they ate 250 fewer calories during the rest of the day than when they had a bagel instead.
Of course, you don't need a magazine article to tell you how to make scrambled eggs. So here are six new ways you can fill your belly, feed your muscles, and energize your body first thing in the morning.
Almond-Pecan Waffles
These high-protein waffles are courtesy of Mary Dan Eades, M.D., author of Protein Power. (Check out her recipe-packed blog at proteinpower.com.) To boost the protein and fat while dialing back the carbs, she recommends a combination of pecans, whey-protein powder, and almond flour, which is a high-fiber, low-starch alternative to wheat flour.
You can make almond flour by chopping slivered almonds in a food processor, or you can purchase it preground at http://www.bobsredmill.com/. (For all the recipes found here, choose a protein powder that's nearly all protein—that is, one that contains little carbohydrates or fat—such as Designer Whey Protein or Optimum Nutrition 100 Percent Whey.)
1 c almond flour
1/4c finely chopped pecans
1/2c whey-protein powder
1 tsp baking powder
4 oz regular cream cheese, softened
6 eggs
1/4c heavy cream
While your waffle iron preheats, combine the almond flour, pecans, whey-protein powder, and baking powder in a small bowl. In another bowl, whisk the cream cheese and two eggs until smooth. Add the remaining eggs one at a time and whisk thoroughly after each. Mix in the cream, then stir in the dry ingredients. Spoon about 1/3 cup batter onto the hot waffle iron and cook for about 3 minutes, until golden brown. Top with sugar-free syrup, peanut butter, or fresh fruit. Or let them cool, place in a ziplock bag, and freeze. When you're ready to eat one, just pop it in the toaster.
Makes about six 7-inch waffles
Per waffle: 382 calories, 27 grams (g) protein, 12 g carbohydrates (3 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 29 g fat (9 g saturated)
Toast with Tuna
Think of it this way: You're simply trading the high-sugar jelly you normally use on toast for high-protein tuna salad. It's easy to make ahead of time, and by tweaking the conventional recipe to include cranberries, Men's Health resident chef Matt Goulding has added a hint of jellylike sweetness.
1 6 oz can solid white tuna
2 Tbsp dried cranberries, roughly chopped
1/4 yellow onion, minced
1 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix all the ingredients together. Serve a scoop on a piece of toasted whole-grain bread. Makes 2 servings
Per serving (on a slice of whole-grain toast): 230 calories, 22 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates (6 g fiber, 9 g sugar), 6 g fat (1 g saturated)

Berry High-Protein Yogurt
With this recipe from Dr. Eades, you control the ingredients, the manufacturer doesn't. And that means you can ensure it's free of hard-to-avoid high-fructose corn syrup, while having nearly triple the protein of most ready-to-eat yogurts.
16oz plain yogurt
2c fresh or frozen unsweetened mixed berries
4 scoops (about 80 g) vanilla or strawberry whey-protein powder
2 packets Splenda (optional)
Line a 2-cup mesh strainer with a paper coffee filter and place it over a mixing bowl. Fill the filter with the yogurt, cover with a clean cloth or waxed paper, and set the bowl (with strainer inside) in the refrigerator for several hours. Much of the liquid from the yogurt will drain into the bowl, resulting in thicker yogurt. In a blender, puree the berries along with the whey-protein powder and Splenda. Once the yogurt has drained, place it in a large bowl and stir in the berry puree.
Serve in 1-cup portions and store for up to 3 days. Makes 4 cups
Per cup: 198 calories, 23 g protein, 17 g carbohydrates (3 g fiber, 13 g sugar), 6 g fat (3 g saturated)
Mocha Custard
A 12-ounce Frappuccino contains 44 g sugar and a hefty dose of caffeine, but hardly any nutrients. And really, should you ever spend four bucks on a glorified cup o' joe? Instead, try this custard alternative from Dr. Eades. It'll provide you with a jolt of java, a 21 g infusion of protein, and a hefty dose of coconut fat, which contains a healthy type of saturated fat (called lauric acid) that studies have shown boosts immunity.
1 14 1/2 oz can premium coconut milk (Look for it in the ethnic-foods section of your grocery store.)
2 c strong coffee (regular or decaf)
3 eggs, beaten
3 scoops (about 60 g) chocolate whey-protein powder
4 packets Splenda
Pinch of salt
In a saucepan, combine the coconut milk, coffee, beaten eggs, whey-protein powder, Splenda, and salt; whisk to mix well. Gently cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken and lightly coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat, pour into a covered pitcher, and cool quickly by placing the pitcher into an ice-water bath until it's half submerged.
Serve chilled in 1-cup portions for a quick breakfast. Or blend it with crushed ice until smooth and thick for a frozen mocha treat. Makes 4 cups
Per cup: 326 calories, 21 g protein, 5 g carbohydrates (0 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 27 g fat (21 g saturated)

Laugh your way to stress relief

Whether you peal with giggles while re-enacting the most hysterical moments of a Monty Python movie or twitter away at the highbrow humor of a New Yorker cartoon, studies have shown that your laugh will do you good. Laughter helps you deal with a variety of maladies, including the stresses of daily life.
The benefits of a belly laugh
Laughter's benefits on your health are no joke. A sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data are mounting about the things that laughter can do.
Short-term benefitsA good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body, beginning with your face. Laughter can:
Stimulate your organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
Activate your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
Soothe tension and tummy aches. Laughter can also ease digestion and stimulate circulation, which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.
Long-term effectsLaughter isn't only good for a quick pick-me-up, though. It's also good for you over the long haul. Laughter may:
Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can impact your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses. In fact, in one study, people with cancer who watched a humorous video showed less stress and an increase in a particular cell activity that's beneficial in fighting diseases such as HIV and cancer.
Relieve pain. Research increasingly shows that laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make difficult situations a little bit easier. One study of nurses who work in emergency rooms found that nurses who use humor in dealing with their patients and co-workers experience greater job satisfaction and feelings of personal accomplishment than do those who remain dour during their shifts.
How to have — or gain — a sense of humor
Are you afraid you have an underdeveloped — or nonexistent — funny bone? Developing or refining your own particular sense of humor may be easier than you think.
Put humor on your horizon. Find a few simple items, such as photos or comic strips, that elicit a chuckle from you or others. Then hang them at home, in your office or even on the visor of your car.
Laugh and the world laughs with you. Develop a sense of humor about your own situation and watch your stress begin to fade away.
Think positive. Look for the positive or the humorous in every situation and surround yourself with others who do the same.
Knock-knock. Browse through your local bookstore or library's selection of joke books and get a few rib-ticklers in your repertoire that you can share with friends.
Know what isn't funny. Don't laugh at the expense of others. Some forms of humor are not appropriate. Use your best judgment to discern a good joke from a bad, or hurtful, one.
Laughter is the best medicine
Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you've had your hearty chuckle, take stock of how you're feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That's the natural wonder of laughing at work.