Welcome to Clínica Verde
Thanks for stopping by – we appreciate your interest in our work. Clínica Verde is creating an environmentally sustainable prototype for a health clinic in Nicaragua that can be replicated throughout the world.
This nonprofit effort joins experienced professionals in the areas of healthcare and the built environment to address and combat the problems related to health among the impoverished. Our work is twofold: to respond to the health needs of the community while designing a structure for clinical care that incorporates the highest possible standard in sustainable building practices and good design.
We are guided by the belief that everything we do and produce as a response to poverty and human suffering should acknowledge the dignity and potential of all life while demonstrating respect for the shared resources of our world.
The architect William McDonough wrote that "design is a signal of intention." In that sense, the design of the clinic prototype should signal love and respect, a shared sense of responsibility and awareness. It should manifest an intention rooted in our faith of interconnectedness and interdependency. It is a powerful opportunity to express gratitude and hope in the world.
Clinica Verde
27 January, 2011
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Support Group | Cancers
Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the myeloid line of cells in the bone marrow - the abnormal cells proliferate and slow down the production of normal blood cells.
Join our online support group for acute myeloid leukemia to meet others dealing with the condition and people who can help.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Support Group | Cancers
Join our online support group for acute myeloid leukemia to meet others dealing with the condition and people who can help.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Support Group | Cancers
Experiencing Pain As Music – New Frontiers Of Pain Relief
The discovery of a gene, possibly crucial to pain relief, opens up new vistas of treatment, enabling us to experience pain as music.
For the gene seems to be involved in cross-sensory activation, a phenomenon known as synesthesia. It is a condition that leads to sensations of one kind being perceived as another - like words or numbers perceived as colours – say number 7 as the colour yellow – or colours heard as music.
The discovery was a result of Australian-Austrian collaboration. Dr Greg Neely of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, led the project with Professor Josef Penninger, while at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. The research was published in a recent issue of Cell.
Experiencing Pain As Music – New Frontiers Of Pain Relief
For the gene seems to be involved in cross-sensory activation, a phenomenon known as synesthesia. It is a condition that leads to sensations of one kind being perceived as another - like words or numbers perceived as colours – say number 7 as the colour yellow – or colours heard as music.
The discovery was a result of Australian-Austrian collaboration. Dr Greg Neely of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, led the project with Professor Josef Penninger, while at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. The research was published in a recent issue of Cell.
Experiencing Pain As Music – New Frontiers Of Pain Relief
25 January, 2011
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation through the Ascending Aorta: An Alternative Option for No-Access Patients
a surgical video presentation from Dr. Robert Bauernschmitt
Avoiding Medication Mistakes
Taking the wrong medication or the wrong dose can be an easy mistake to make. It can also be life threatening. In this Consumer Update video, FDA Drug Safety Expert, Cindi Fitzpatrick, R.N., provides tips on avoiding medication mistakes.
Source:FDA
Avoiding Drug Interactions
There are three main types of drug interactions: drugs with food and beverages, drugs with dietary supplements, and drugs with other drugs. In this Consumer Update video, Shiew-Mei Huang, Ph.D., Deputy Director of FDA's Office of Clinical Pharmacology, provides tips on how to avoid harmful drug interactions.
Courtesy:FDA
24 January, 2011
NSTA Learning Center
Welcome to Your Professional Development
The Learning Center is NSTA's e-professional development (PD) portal to help you address your classroom needs and busy schedule. You can gain access to more than 5,900 different resources, of which over 1,800 are free. A suite of practical tools such as My Library, My PD Record, and My PD Plan and Portfolio help you organize and document your PD growth. Create your free account and watch the overview.Full-Body CT Scans - What You Need to Know
Using a technology that "takes a look" at people's insides and promises early warnings of cancer, cardiac disease, and other abnormalities, clinics and medical imaging facilities nationwide are touting a new service for health-conscious people: "Whole-body CT screening." This typically involves scanning the body from the chin to below the hips with a form of X-ray imaging that produces cross-sectional images.
The technology used is called "X-ray computed tomography" (CT), sometimes referred to as "computerized axial tomography" (CAT). A number of different types of X-ray CT systems are being promoted for various types of screening. For example, "multi-slice" CT (MSCT) and "electron beam" CT (EBCT) - also called "electron beam tomography" (EBT) - are X-ray CT systems that produce images rapidly and are often promoted for screening the buildup of calcium in arteries of the heart.
CT, MSCT and EBCT all use X-rays to produce images representing "slices" of the body - like the slices of a loaf of bread. Each image slice corresponds to a wafer-thin section which can be viewed to reveal body structures in great detail.
CT is recognized as an invaluable medical tool for the diagnosis of disease, trauma, or abnormality in patients with signs or symptoms of disease. It's also used for planning, guiding, and monitoring therapy. What's new is that CT is being marketed as a preventive or proactive health care measure to healthy individuals who have no symptoms of disease.
No Proven Benefits for Healthy People
Taking preventive action, finding unsuspected disease, uncovering problems while they are treatable, these all sound great, almost too good to be true! In fact, at this time the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knows of no scientific evidence demonstrating that whole-body scanning of individuals without symptoms provides more benefit than harm to people being screened. The FDA is responsible for assuring the safety and effectiveness of such medical devices, and it prohibits manufacturers of CT systems to promote their use for whole-body screening of asymptomatic people. The FDA, however, does not regulate practitioners and they may choose to use a device for any use they deem appropriate.
Compared to most other diagnostic X-ray procedures, CT scans result in relatively high radiation exposure. The risks associated with such exposure are greatly outweighed by the benefits of diagnostic and therapeutic CT. However, for whole-body CT screening of asymptomatic people, the benefits are questionable:
- Can it effectively differentiate between healthy people and those who have a hidden disease?
- Do suspicious findings lead to additional invasive testing or treatments that produce additional risk with little benefit?
- Does a "normal" finding guarantee good health?
Many people don't realize that getting a whole body CT screening exam won't necessarily give them the "peace of mind" they are hoping for, or the information that would allow them to prevent a health problem. An abnormal finding, for example, may not be a serious one, and a normal finding may be inaccurate. CT scans, like other medical procedures, will miss some conditions, and "false" leads can prompt further, unnecessary testing.
Points to consider if you are thinking of having a whole-body screening:
- Whole-body CT screening has not been demonstrated to meet generally accepted criteria for an effective screening procedure.
- Medical professional societies have not endorsed whole-body CT scanning for individuals without symptoms.
- CT screening of high-risk individuals for specific diseases such as lung cancer or colon cancer is currently being studied.
- The radiation from a CT scan may be associated with a very small increase in the possibility of developing cancer later in a person's life.
- The FDA provides additional information regarding whole-body CT screening on its Computed Tomography (CT) Web site.
FDA's Recommendation:
Before having a CT screening procedure, carefully investigate and consider the potential risks and benefits and discuss them with your physician.
Source:FDA
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Support Group | Genetic and Metabolic
ADHD is the most studied childhood psychiatric disorder. Children affected by this condition have problems at home and school and also while interacting with their fellow students and peers.
A child with ADHD needs your special care, and also understanding of his peers and educators. If you’re looking for help, this support group is the place to be.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Support Group | Genetic and Metabolic
Mechanism Underlying Deafness Identified
Molecular mechanism fundamental to deafness has been revealed by scientists. Mutation of a specific microRNA called miR-96 known to cause human deafness.
The discovery by researchers at the University of Sheffield could provide the basis for treating progressive hearing loss and deafness.
The discovery by researchers at the University of Sheffield could provide the basis for treating progressive hearing loss and deafness.
The research team, led by Dr Walter Marcotti, Royal Society University Research Fellow from the University's Department of Biomedical Science, in collaboration with Professor Karen Steel at the Sanger Institute in Cambridge, discovered that the mutation in miR-96 prevents development of the auditory sensory hair cells. These cells are located in the inner ear and are essential for encoding sound as electrical signals that are then sent to the brain.
The research was based on studies of mice, which do not normally hear until about 12 days after birth. Prior to this age their immature hair cells must execute a precise genetic program that regulates the development of distinct types of sensory hair cell, namely inner and outer hair cells.
The research teams found that in a strain of mice called diminuendo - which carry a single base mutation in the miR-96 gene - hair cell development is arrested around birth.
Click on the link below to read more:
Mechanism Underlying Deafness Identified
courtesy:MedIndia
22 January, 2011
NIH scientists identify possible gene target for treating a form of lymphoma
Researchers have identified a mutation in a gene that could lead to targeted therapies for certain lymphoma patients whose cure rates are currently poor. Mutation of the MYD88 gene was found to be one of the most frequent genetic abnormalities in a form of cancer known as diffuse large B cell lymphoma. MYD88 encodes a protein that is crucial for the normal immune response to invading microorganisms. New experiments show a mutation in the MYD88 protein sequence can cause uncontrolled cellular signaling, leading to survival of malignant cells. The study, led by researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, appeared online in Nature, Dec. 22, 2010.
Single mutations, or more often, combinations of gene mutations, can lead to the development of cancers such as lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the blood that arises from infection-fighting white blood cells. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is the most common form of this disease. There are three subtypes of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, of which the activated B cell-like (ABC) form has the poorest three-year survival outcome of 40 percent.
Louis M. Staudt, M.D., Ph.D., Metabolism Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, and colleagues, have worked to identify proteins that play a role in the development of the ABC subtype because these proteins may provide targets to improve the treatment of patients with this form of lymphoma. To identify these critical proteins, the researchers performed a genetic screen in which thousands of genes were inactivated. They found that ABC lymphoma cells were killed when they inactivated the genes encoding MYD88 and IRAK1, another cell signaling protein that works with MYD88.
The scientists then looked for genetic mutations that might explain why the ABC lymphoma cells were so dependent upon MYD88. Sequencing of the MYD88 gene in 382 lymphoma biopsy samples revealed that 29 percent of ABC lymphoma samples had the same mutation, which altered a single amino acid in the MYD88 protein, but this mutation was rare or absent in other lymphoma subtypes. The mutant form of MYD88 sustained the survival of the ABC lymphoma cells but the non-mutated version did not, suggesting that mutations in the MYD88 gene could play an important role in the development of ABC diffuse large B cell lymphomas.
To understand how MYD88 might promote ABC lymphoma cell survival, the researchers examined proteins that interact with MYD88 in the lymphoma cells. The mutant form of MYD88 spontaneously assembled a protein complex that included IRAK1, identified in the genetic screen, and a related protein, IRAK4. In this protein complex, IRAK4 functioned as an enzyme to modify IRAK1, which was required for the mutant MYD88 protein to promote lymphoma cell survival. This particular finding may have direct therapeutic implications since pharmaceutical companies are developing IRAK4 inhibitors for use in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, according to the scientists.
“We believe the results of this study may provide a method to identify patients with the ABC subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma whose tumors may depend upon MYD88 signaling and who may therefore benefit from therapies targeting IRAK4 alone or in combination with agents targeting other regulatory pathways that sustain the survival of these lymphoma cells,” said Staudt.
NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
Reference: Ngo VN, et al., Oncogenically active MYD88 mutations in human lymphoma, Nature, DOI: 10.1038/nature09671.
Source:NIH
21 January, 2011
Your Aging Eyes How You See as Time Goes By…
Your Aging Eyes
How You See as Time Goes By
You may barely notice the changes at first. Maybe you’ve found yourself reaching more often for your glasses to see up close. You might have trouble adjusting to glaring lights or reading when the light is dim. You may even have put on blue socks thinking they were black. These are some of the normal changes to your eyes and vision as you age.
As more Americans head toward retirement and beyond, scientists expect the number of people with age-related eye problems to rise dramatically. You can’t prevent all age-related changes to your eyes. But you can take steps to protect your vision and reduce your risk for serious eye disease in the future. Effective treatments are now available for many disorders that may lead to blindness or visual impairment. You can also learn how to make the most of the vision you have.
“Vision impairment and blindness are among the top 5 causes of disability in older adults,” says Dr. Cynthia Owsley, an eye researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Vision changes can make it difficult to perform everyday activities, such as reading the mail, shopping, cooking, walking safely and driving. “Losing your vision may not be life-threatening, but it certainly affects your quality of life,” Owsley says.
The clear, curved lens at the front of your eye may be one of the first parts of your body to show signs of age. The lens bends to focus light and form images on the retina at the back of your eye. This flexibility lets you see at different distances—up close or far away. But the lens hardens with age. The change may begin as early as your 20s, but it can come so gradually it may take decades to notice.
Eventually, age-related stiffening and clouding of the lens affects just about everyone. You’ll have trouble focusing on up-close objects, a condition called presbyopia. Anyone over age 35 is at risk for presbyopia.
“You might find you’re holding your book farther away to read it. You might even start thinking your arms just aren’t long enough,” says Dr. Emily Chew, a clinical researcher at NIH’s National Eye Institute. “A good and simple treatment for presbyopia is reading glasses.”
Cloudy areas in the lens, called cataracts, are another common eye problem that comes with age. More than 22 million Americans have cataracts. By age 80, more than half of us will have had them. Some cataracts stay small and have little effect on eyesight, but others become large and interfere with vision. Symptoms include blurriness, difficulty seeing well at night, lights that seem too bright and faded color vision. There are no specific steps to prevent cataracts, but tobacco use and exposure to sunlight raise your risk of developing them. Cataract surgery is a safe and common treatment that can restore good vision.
20 January, 2011
FDA is asking drug manufacturers to limit the strength of acetaminophen in prescription drug products
[1-13-2011] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is asking drug manufacturers to limit the strength of acetaminophen in prescription drug products, which are predominantly combinations of acetaminophen and opioids. This action will limit the amount of acetaminophen in these products to 325 mg per tablet, capsule, or other dosage unit, making these products safer for patients.
In addition, a Boxed Warning highlighting the potential for severe liver injury and a Warninghighlighting the potential for allergic reactions (e.g., swelling of the face, mouth, and throat, difficulty breathing, itching, or rash) are being added to the label of all prescription drug products that contain acetaminophen.
These actions will help to reduce the risk of severe liver injury and allergic reactions associated with acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen is widely and effectively used in both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products to reduce pain and fever. It is one of the most commonly-used drugs in the United States. Examples of prescription products that contain acetaminophen include hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), and oxycodone with acetaminophen (Tylox, Percocet).
OTC products containing acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) are not affected by this action. Information about the potential for liver injury is already required on the label for OTC products containing acetaminophen. FDA is continuing to evaluate ways to reduce the risk of acetaminophen related liver injury from OTC products. Additional safety measures relating to OTC acetaminophen products will be taken through separate action, such as a rulemaking as part of the ongoing OTC monograph proceeding for internal analgesic drug products.
Additional Information for Patients
- Acetaminophen-containing prescription products are safe and effective when used as directed, though all medications carry some risks.
- Do not stop taking your prescription pain medicine unless told to do so by your healthcare professional.
- Carefully read all labels for prescription and OTC medicines and ask the pharmacist if your prescription pain medicine contains acetaminophen.
- Do not take more than one product that contains acetaminophen at any given time.
- Do not take more of an acetaminophen-containing medicine than directed.
- Do not drink alcohol when taking medicines that contain acetaminophen.
- Stop taking your medication and seek medical help immediately if you:
- Think you have taken more acetaminophen than directed or
- Experience allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, mouth, and throat, difficulty breathing, itching, or rash.
Additional Information for Healthcare Professionals
The maximum amount of acetaminophen in a prescription tablet, capsule, or other dosage unit will be limited to 325 mg. However, the total number of tablets or capsules that may be prescribed and the time intervals at which they may be prescribed will not change as a result of the lower amount of acetaminophen. For example, for a product that previously contained 500 mg of acetaminophen with an opioid and was prescribed as 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours, once reformulated to contain 325 mg of acetaminophen, the dosing instructions can remain unchanged.
- Advise patients not to exceed the acetaminophen maximum total daily dose (4 grams/day).
- Severe liver injury, including cases of acute liver failure resulting in liver transplant and death, has been reported with the use of acetaminophen.
- Educate patients about the importance of reading all prescription and OTC labels to ensure they are not taking multiple acetaminophen-containing products.
- Advise patients not to drink alcohol while taking acetaminophen-containing medications.
- Rare cases of anaphylaxis and other hypersensitivity reactions have occurred with the use of acetaminophen.
- Advise patients to seek medical help immediately if they have taken more acetaminophen than directed or experience swelling of the face, mouth, and throat, difficulty breathing, itching, and rash.
- Report adverse events to FDA's MedWatch program using the information in the "Contact Us" box at the bottom of the page.
A number of studies have tried to answer the question of how common liver injury is in relation to the use of acetaminophen. Although many questions remain about the full scope of the problem, the following examples indicate what is known about the extent of liver failure cases reported in the medical literature and clearly indicates a reason for concern:
Gene variants predict treatment success for alcoholism medication
NIH-supported study demonstrates the promise of personalized medicine
The effectiveness of an experimental treatment for alcoholism depends on the genetic makeup of individuals who receive it, according to a new study supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health. A report of the findings appears online in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
"This study represents an important milestone in the search for personalized treatments for alcohol dependence," says NIAAA Acting Director Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D.
Researchers led by Bankole Johnson, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, conducted a controlled trial to determine if the medication ondansetron could reduce problem drinking, in alcohol-dependent individuals. Ondansetron is currently used to treat nausea and vomiting, often following chemotherapy. It works by blocking receptors for the brain chemical serotonin.
The current study extends the researchers’ previous work on the role the brain’s serotonin system plays in alcohol misuse. Serotonin mediates many processes in the brain, including the rewarding effects of alcohol. Dr. Johnson’s group has shown that variations in the gene that encodes the serotonin transporter, a protein that regulates the concentration of serotonin between nerve cells, can significantly influence drinking intensity. Specifically, serotonin transporter variants designated as LL and TT have been associated with more severe drinking problems. The researchers have also reported that ondansetron may be an effective therapy for some people with alcoholism.
In this study, Dr. Johnson and his colleagues performed genetic analyses to determine which serotonin transporter gene variants were carried by each subject, then randomly assigned each subject to treatment regimens with ondansetron or placebo.
The researchers found that, for subjects with the LL genotype, those receiving ondansetron reduced their average number of daily drinks to less than five, while those receiving placebo continued to have five or more drinks per day. LL subjects who received ondansetron also had significantly more days of abstinence, relative to those who received placebo. Ondansetron’s effects were even more pronounced among individuals who possessed both the LL and TT gene variants, while subjects who lacked the LL variant showed no improvement with ondansetron.
"By being able to do genetic screening beforehand, clinicians can eliminate a great deal of the trial and error approach to prescribing medicine," says Dr. Johnson. "Personalized medicine allows them to better predict a successful treatment option."
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health, is the primary U.S. agency for conducting and supporting research on the causes, consequences, prevention, and treatment of alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and alcohol problems. NIAAA also disseminates research findings to general, professional, and academic audiences. Additional alcohol research information and publications are available at www.niaaa.nih.gov.
Source:NIH
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
19 January, 2011
Glucose Testing Devices
What does this test do?
This is a home-use test kit to measure blood sugar (glucose) in your blood.
What is glucose? Glucose is blood sugar that your body uses as a source of energy. Unless you have diabetes, you body regulates the amount of glucose in your blood. People with diabetes have poorly-controlled blood glucose.
What type of test is this? This is a quantitative test -- you find out the amount of glucose present in your sample.
Why should you do this test? You should do this test if you have diabetes and you need to monitor your blood sugar (glucose) levels. You can use the results to help you
- determine your daily adjustments in treatment,
- know if you have dangerously high or low levels of glucose, and
- understand how your diet and exercise change your glucose levels.
The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (1993) showed that good glucose control using home monitors led to fewer complications.
How often should you test your glucose? Follow your doctor's recommendations about how often you test your glucose. You may need to test yourself several times each day to determine adjustments in your treatment.
What should your glucose levels be? Your fasting blood glucose level (after not eating for 8-10 hours) should be lower than 126 mg/dL. Your blood glucose level immediately after eating should be lower than 200 mg/dL.
How accurate is this test? The accuracy of this test depends on many factors including:
- the quality of your meter.
- the quality of your test strips.
- how well you do the test.
- your hematocrit (the amount of red blood cells in the blood). If you have a high hematocrit, you may test low for blood glucose. Or, if you have a low hematocrit, you may test high for glucose. If you know your hematocrit is low or high, discuss with your health care provider how it may affect your glucose testing.
- interfering substances (some substances, such as Vitamin C and uric acid, may interfere with your glucose testing). Check the package insert for your meter and test strips to find out what substances may affect the testing accuracy.
- Altitude, temperature, and humidity (high altitude, low and high temperatures, and humidity can cause unpredictable effects on glucose results). Check the meter and test strip package inserts for more information. Store and handle the meter and strips according to instructions.
How do you do this test? Before you self-monitor your blood glucose, you must read and understand the instructions for your meter. In general, you prick your finger with a lancet to get a drop of blood. Place the blood on a disposable "test strip" that is coated with chemicals that react with glucose. Then place the test strip in your meter. Some meters measure the amount of electricity that passes through the test strip. Others measure how much light reflects from it. In the U.S. meters report results in milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood or mg/dl.
You can get information about your meter and test strips from several different sources including the toll free number in the user manual or the manufacturer's web site. If you have an urgent problem, always contact your healthcare provider or a local emergency room for advice.
How do you choose a Glucose Meter? You can purchase more than 25 different types of meters. They differ in several ways including
- amount of blood needed for each test
- how easy it is to use
- pain associated with using the product
- accuracy
- testing speed
- overall size
- ability to store test results in memory
- cost of the meter
- cost of the test strips used
- doctor's recommendation
- technical support provided by the manufacturer
- special features such as automatic timing, error codes, large display screen, or spoken instructions or results
Talk to your health care practitioner about glucose meters and how to use them.
How do you compare your home test glucose values with the laboratory values? Most home blood glucose meters in the U.S. measure glucose in whole blood. Most lab tests, in contrast, measure glucose in plasma. Plasma is blood without the cells. A lab test of your blood glucose will be about 10-15% higher than the value given by your meter. Look at the instructions for your meter to find out if it gives its results as "whole blood" or "plasma equivalent." Many meters now sold give values that are "plasma equivalent," which means they can be compared more directly to lab test values.
Should you use generic or "third party" test strips? You may choose test strips that are made by a different company than the one that made meter. Sometimes, generic test strips are cheaper. If you choose generic test strips
- make sure the generic strips will work with your meter. Check the label of the test strips to make sure they will work with the make and model of your meter. Just because the generic test strip looks like it will work does not mean that it will work.
- watch for inconsistent results. If you get poor results, try strips made or recommended by the maker of your meter until you again get consistent results.
How can you check your meter's performance? There are three ways to make sure your meter works properly:
- Use liquid control solution
- every time you open a new container of test strips
- occasionally as you use the container of test strips
- whenever you get unusual results
- Use electronic checks. Every time you turn on your meter, it does an electronic check. If it detects a problem it will give you an error code. Look in your owner's manual to see what the error codes mean and how to fix the problem.
- Compare your meter with a laboratory meter. Take your meter with you to your next appointment with your health care provider. Ask your provider to watch your technique to make sure you are using the meter correctly. Ask your healthcare provider have your blood tested with a routine laboratory method. If the values you obtain on your glucose meter match the laboratory values, then your meter is working well and you are using good technique.
What should you do if your meter malfunctions? If your meter malfunctions, you should tell your health care professional and the company that made your meter and strips.
Can you test blood glucose from sites other than your fingers? Some new meters allow you to test blood from the base of your thumb, upper arm, forearm, thigh, or calf. If your glucose changes rapidly, these other sites may not give you accurate results. You should probably use your fingers to get your blood for testing if any of the following applies
- you have just taken insulin
- you think your blood sugar is low
- you are not aware of symptoms when you become hypoglycemic
- the site results do not agree with the way you feel
- you have just eaten
- you have just exercised
- you are ill
- you are under stress
Source:U S FDA
17 January, 2011
DiagnosisPro-Extending your options,Supporting your decisions..
- Covering over 15,000 disease manifestations such as symptoms, labs, ECG, X-ray, CT-Scan, MRI, Ultrasound, pathology, microbiology results and more.
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- Designed for physicians by physicians to enhance quality of care and prevent diagnostic errors.
- Detailed disease information for more than 7000 diseases.
- Disease comparison tool to compare any two diseases side by side.
16 January, 2011
Common painkillers increase heart risk
A new study has associated common painkillers to increased risk of heart problems.
The drugs include traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) as well as new generation anti-inflammatory drugs, known as COX-2 inhibitors.
NSAIDs have been the cornerstone of managing pain in patients with osteoarthritis and other painful conditions.
So researchers in Switzerland performed a comprehensive analysis of all randomised controlled trials comparing any NSAID with other NSAIDs or placebo.
They included 31 trials and 116,429 patients taking seven different drugs (naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, celecoxib, etoricoxib, rofecoxib, lumiracoxib) or placebo to provide a more reliable estimate of the cardiovascular risks of these drugs than previous studies.
Overall, the number of harmful outcomes that could be compared for placebo versus treatment was low.
In 29 trials there was a total of 554 heart attacks; in 26 trials there were 377 strokes, and in 28 trials there were 676 deaths. So the absolute risk of cardiovascular problems among people taking painkillers was low, but the researchers did find that, relative to placebo, the drugs carried important risks.
For instance, compared with placebo, rofecoxib and lumiracoxib were associated with twice the risk of heart attack, while ibuprofen was associated with more than three times the risk of stroke.
Etoricoxib and diclofenac were associated with the highest risk of cardiovascular death.
Naproxen appeared least harmful in terms of cardiovascular safety among the seven analysed preparations.
Source: The Times of India
14 January, 2011
Medical Degree in Rural India
The Central government in India has introduced the Bachelor of Rural Medicine and Surgery (BRMS), a medical degree that could be obtained in three and a half years.
The course makes it possible for students from rural areas to become a part of the medical cadre and serve a urgent need in India’s rural areas.
The course makes it possible for students from rural areas to become a part of the medical cadre and serve a urgent need in India’s rural areas.
The decision to introduce the medical course was taken in Hyderabad at the two-day health ministers’ meet, chaired by the Union minister of health and family welfare, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Read more:
source:MedIndia
NIDA Researchers Discover A New Mechanism Underlying Cocaine Addiction
For Release January 7, 2010
Study Offers Promise for Medication Development
Researchers have identified a key epigenetic mechanism in the brain that helps explain cocaine's addictiveness, according to research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health.
The study, published in the January issue of the journal Science, shows how cocaine affects an epigenetic process (a process capable of influencing gene expression without changing a gene's sequence) called histone methylation. These epigenetic changes in the brain's pleasure circuits, which are also the first impacted by chronic cocaine exposure, likely contribute to an acquired preference for cocaine.
"This fundamental discovery advances our understanding of how cocaine addiction works," said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "Although more research will be required, these findings have identified a key new player in the molecular cascade triggered by repeated cocaine exposure, and thus a potential novel target for the development of addiction medications."
Researchers gave one group of young mice repeated doses of cocaine and another group repeated doses of saline with a final dose of cocaine to determine how the effects of chronic cocaine exposure differed from one-time exposure. The study confirms that one of the mechanisms by which cocaine alters the reward pathway is by repressing G9A, a histone demethylating enzyme that plays a critical role in epigenetic control of gene expression.
As previously observed, animals exposed to chronic cocaine displayed dramatic alterations in gene expression as well as a strong preference for cocaine. For the first time, the authors were also able to show that by experimentally reversing the cocaine induced repression of G9a, they could block the changes in gene expression and inhibit the enhanced preference for cocaine.
"The more complete picture that we have today of the genetic and epigenetic processes triggered by chronic cocaine give us a better understanding of the broader principles governing biochemical regulation in the brain which will help us identify not only additional pathways involved but potentially new therapeutic approaches," said Dr. Eric J. Nestler, study investigator and director of the Brain Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to inform policy and improve practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at www.drugabuse.gov.
Source:NIDA
13 January, 2011
12 January, 2011
Study Warns Heart Attack Risk From Common Painkillers
Over-the-counter painkillers, used for treating inflammation, can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, according toan analysis of the evidence published on bmj.com today.
The drugs include traditional non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) as well as new generation anti-inflammatorydrugs, known as COX-2 inhibitors.
courtesy:Medindia
click on the link to read more
Study Warns Heart Attack Risk From Common Painkillers
11 January, 2011
Statins-Do-More-Harm-Than-Good-in-Stroke-Patients
Statin treatment for patients with a history of bleeding within the brain, may increase the risk of having another such stroke, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the May print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.The benefits of statins for reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke are well established, but more widespread use of statin therapy remains controversial, according to background information in the article. "A particular subgroup of patients for whom the advisability of statin use is unclear are those at high risk for intracerebral hemorrhage," or a stroke caused by bleeding within the brain, the authors write. "The reason for added concern is the increased incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage observed among subjects randomized to statin therapy in a clinical trial of secondary stroke prevention."
read more:please click the link below
http://www.medindia.net/news/Statins-Do-More-Harm-Than-Good-in-Stroke-Patients-Study-79296-1.htm
read more:please click the link below
http://www.medindia.net/news/Statins-Do-More-Harm-Than-Good-in-Stroke-Patients-Study-79296-1.htm
Milestone In Fight Against Deadly Disease
Scientists at Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (Seattle BioMed) and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have reached a major milestone in the effort to wipe out some of the most lethal diseases on the planet. As leaders of two large structural genomics centers, they've experimentally determined 500 three-dimensional protein structures from a number of bacterial and protozoan pathogens, which could potentially lead to new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics to combat deadly infectious diseases. Some of the structures solved by the centers come from well-known, headline-grabbing organisms, like the H1N1 flu virus. Portraits of these protein structures, ranging from the plague, cholera and rabies to H1N1 can been seen on the websites http://www.csgid.org and http://www.ssgcid.org.
read more:click the link below
Milestone In Fight Against Deadly Disease
read more:click the link below
Milestone In Fight Against Deadly Disease
Can Predatory Bacteria Succeed Where Antibiotics Fail?
There are predators in the bacterial world that consume other bacteria, much as predators attack prey in the animal world. A team led by researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Dental School suggests that some of these predator microbes might be put to work against disease-causing bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics. Their findings have been published online by the Journal of Applied Microbiology.
read more:click on link below
Can Predatory Bacteria Succeed Where Antibiotics Fail?
read more:click on link below
Can Predatory Bacteria Succeed Where Antibiotics Fail?
VIB-K.U.Leuven Scientists Clear The Way To Alternative Anti-Angiogenic Cancer Therapy
Scientists attached to VIB and K.U.Leuven have succeeded in decoding a potential new anti-cancer mechanism. The researchers discovered that normalizing abnormal tumor blood vessels through HRG (histidine-rich glycoprotein) prevents metastasis of tumor cells and enhances chemotherapy efficiency.
In tumors, vessels formation is disturbed, leading to inefficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and
VIB-K.U.Leuven Scientists Clear The Way To Alternative Anti-Angiogenic Cancer Therapy
In tumors, vessels formation is disturbed, leading to inefficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and
VIB-K.U.Leuven Scientists Clear The Way To Alternative Anti-Angiogenic Cancer Therapy
10 January, 2011
Brain Tumor Origin Discovered
A group of researchers have discovered the type of cell that is at the origin of brain tumors known as oligodendrogliomas, which are a type of glioma. Glioma is a category that defines the most common type of malignant brain tumor.
Investigators found that the tumor originates in and spreads through cells known as glial progenitor cells - cells that are often referred to as "daughter" cells of stem cells.
Read more: Brain Tumor Origin Discovered http://www.medindia.net/news/Brain-Tumor-Origin-Discovered-79249-1.htm#ixzz1AcSMhXSjBrain Tumor Origin Discovered
Investigators found that the tumor originates in and spreads through cells known as glial progenitor cells - cells that are often referred to as "daughter" cells of stem cells.
Read more: Brain Tumor Origin Discovered http://www.medindia.net/news/Brain-Tumor-Origin-Discovered-79249-1.htm#ixzz1AcSMhXSjBrain Tumor Origin Discovered
09 January, 2011
ObalaFoundation-focus on improving health care access and optimizing use of current resources.
Obala foundation is an IRS code 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization that began as a forum for addressing what many have appreciated as the vast healthcare and resource gap between sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the known world. With 140 million people, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country. In 2006 two physicians at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston surveying the Nigerian healthcare system found that whereas healthcare infrastructure remains underdeveloped, there is a concurrent epidemic of resource under-utilization that compounds the disadvantage. It is to address some these challenges, that Obala Foundation dedicates itself. There are many things that make Nigeria a challenging place to engage. However if only for the sheer number of people that stands to be affected by successful policy interventions, it would be almost irresponsible for any proponent of “global health” to ignore this country where 90% of the population subsists on less than two dollars per day.ObalaFoundation.Org: Home
07 January, 2011
FDA-Approved Treatments for Alzheimer’s
Source:www.alz.org
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are five prescription drugs approved by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat its symptoms.
Donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine and tacrine are called cholinesterase inhibitors.
Memanatine is classified as an uncompetitive low-to-moderate affinity N-methyl-D-aspartate
(NMDA) receptor antagonist. Both types of drugs help manage symptoms, but work in
different ways.
Understanding available treatment options can help you and your loved one cope with
symptoms and improve quality of life. Here is more detailed information about the FDAapproved drugs
Cholinesterase inhibitors
What are cholinesterase inhibitors?
Cholinesterase inhibitors are prescribed to treat symptoms related to memory, thinking,
language, judgment and other thought processes. Three different cholinesterase inhibitors are
commonly prescribed:
• Donepezil (marketed under the brand name Aricept), which is approved to treat all
stages of Alzheimer’s disease
• Galantamine (marketed under the brand name Razadyne), also approved for mild to
moderate stages.
• Rivastigmine (marketed under the brand name Exelon), approved for mild to
moderate Alzheimer’s
Tacrine (Cognex), the first cholinesterase inhibitor, was approved in 1993 but is rarely
prescribed today because of associated side effects, including possible liver damage.
How do cholinesterase inhibitors work?
Cholinesterase inhibitors work by increasing levels of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger
involved in memory, judgment and other thought processes. Here’s how: Certain brain cells
release acetylcholine, which helps deliver messages to other cells. After a message reaches the
05 January, 2011
INFLUENZA A (H1N1)
FACTS SHEET – INFLUENZA A (H1N1)
• What is influenza – A(H1N1)
Influenza – A (H1N1) (earlier know as swine flu) is a new influenza virus causing
illness in people. First detected in Mexico in April, 2009, it has spread to many
countries in the World. Swine flu is basically a misnomer. This was originally
referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the
genes in this new virus were very similar to those found in pigs in North America.
Further on, it has been found that this new virus has gene segments from the
swine, avian and human flu virus genes. The scientists calls this a ‘quadruple
reassortant” virus and hence this new (novel) virus is christened “influenza-A
(H1N1) virus.”
• Influenza A(H1N1) outbreak
It is causing
04 January, 2011
03 January, 2011
02 January, 2011
01 January, 2011
Prevention and Management of Influenza A (H1N1)
Document by NDMA, Govt. of India, 01-5-2009
Introduction
Mexican Flu also named as Influenza A detected first time in Mexico is caused by
H1N1 virus. WHO has already declared the disease as alert level to phase 5, one
step short of full fledged pandemic. With current movements of the population,
our country may not remain free from the disease. Therefore preventive measures
are required in place so that virus does not reach to our country, through carrier or
patient. Even if it reaches preventive measures for the containment will be taken
against the spread of virus. Following guidelines are prepared on the basis of
best practices being followed in the affected countries on the advice of WHO and
CDC Atlanta. These guidelines also include recommendations of “International
Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness beyond Health” held on 21 and 22 Apr
2008 organized by NDMA.
I. Prevention
a. Active surveillance by medical screening at Air ports, Sea ports and
International land entry points is required.
b. All persons coming from affected countries and showing symptoms of
influenza will be screened. Teams of trained doctors and para medical
staff need to be placed at air port, sea ports and at land entry points of our
neighboring countries for medical screening of passengers arriving from
the influenza affected countries.
c. A standard format will be used for the screening purposes across the
country. During the screening doctors must look for the symptoms of
fever, cough, sore throat, head-ache, nasal discharge, sneezing, chills and
fatigue. Some cases may have diarrhea and vomiting as well. Passengers
having these symptoms must be quarantined and their nasopharyngeal
swab should be taken. Passengers having possible symptoms indicating
flu need to be quarantined at least for three days, their samples will be
taken and sent for virus identification to the designated bio-safety
laboratories (BSL). Adequate sample collection kit and Personal
Protective Equipments (PPE) will be placed for the sampling. All medical
teams will observe universal safety measures.
d. Nasal and Throat swab taking: Both nose and throat swabs will be taken
and placed into a bottle of viral transport medium, using swabs preferably
with a plastic shaft. The staff members taking the swabs should wear a face mask, plastic apron and gloves. All lab staff taking swab must be
trained for correct procedures of sample taking.
e. Strict Quarantine: Passengers travelling from affected countries and
those showing flu like symptoms will be placed under strict quarantine for
a period of minimum three days and will only be cleared after receiving a
negative report for H1N1 virus.
II. Hospital Preparedness:
a. All hospital in the major cities will be earmarked to create capacities to
isolate these patients during quarantine period. All doctors, para-medical
staffs, nurses, laboratory technicians and other staff likely to come in
contact with suspected person will use personal protective equipment
(PPE). Adequate stock of PPE consisting of face masks, gloves and
protective disposable suits with goggles will be kept for the use of hospital
staff. Similar measures shall also be taken for international air ports, major
hospitals in major cities and laboratories. Plans should also be prepared to
cater for large number of patients that may come at the pandemic phase.
Such capacity can be surged by discharging cold surgery and chronic
cases. Wards for H1N1 influenza patients will be isolated to prevent the
infection to the other patients. Medical team treating H1N1 influenza cases
in hospital are required to use FFP3 standard mask (International
Standard).
b. Chemoprophylaxis: Those in close
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