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Anxiety Treatment News: Anxiety Help for Fears and Phobias

Anxiety Help for Fears and Phobias

Looking for anxiety help? If you struggle with panic attacks, chronic worry, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, phobias or obsessive compulsive disorder, here’s help that’s practical and powerful.

Anxiety disorders are generally very treatable, but when you experience one, you probably find it hard to overcome. The reason is that, while you have the ability to recover, anxiety literally Tricks you into using methods which make your fears worse rather than better.

This is the most natural thing in the world. Anxiety often feels like something that has invaded your life, something you have to resist and oppose. However, the worst problems come from our efforts to resist and remove anxiety, rather than from the anxiety itself.

People don’t get fooled by this trick entirely on their own. All too often, well meaning friends, doctors, and therapists get fooled by it as well, and unwittingly suggest methods to their patients which make the situation worse.

For instance, there’s a well publicized technique called “thought stopping”, in which snapping a rubber band against your wrist is supposed to help rid you of anxious thoughts. This is not the kind of anxiety help you need! It doesn’t work, because the more you tell yourself not to think something, the more you’ll think about it.

If you want a quick demonstration right now, take two minutes and don’t think about dancing elephants.

See what I mean? Don’t even think about thought stopping!

When anxiety Tricks you, you get fooled into using recovery methods which actually make your fears stronger and more persistent. The more you fight an anxiety disorder, the more it grows. It’s like putting out fires with gasoline.

People who struggle with chronic anxiety often say “the harder I try, the worse it gets”. This scares them, and makes them think they can’t recover. What it really means is they’ve been using methods that made it worse, and they need new methods.

Here on this site, you’ll find anxiety help that works. I’ll show you the anxiety treatment methods I’ve used in Chicago to help people overcome fears, phobias, and panic attacks for the last 20 years. You can use these therapy methods to outsmart the Anxiety Trick and achieve your own recovery from anxiety disorders.

Anxious, Fatigued or Depressed? Pills, Exercise or Diet Shouldn’t Top Your List of Treatments

Anxious, fatigued or depressed? You are not alone — one in five Americans is popping pills for these issues — but pills, exercise or diet shouldn’t top your list of treatments, says Bay Area author, founder of OwningPink.com and integrative medicine physician Dr. Lissa Rankin.

“What if I told you the medical profession has it all backwards?” Dr Rankin asked in her recent TEDx Talk.

“We’re suffering from an epidemic that modern medicine has no idea what to do with. People suffering from this epidemic are fatigued, anxious, depressed and suffering from vague physical symptoms…”

At a time when one in five Americans is taking prescription medication for these maladies, there is no question that there is an epidemic happening, and even more so among women.

According to a report from MedCo, a pharmacy benefit manager, one out of every four women has a prescription for some form of mental health medication.

In fact, these medications are the most widely prescribed of all medications here in the U.S. according to a Wall Street Journal article:
Psychiatric medications are among the most widely prescribed and biggest-selling class of drugs in the U.S. In 2010, Americans spent $16.1 billion on antipsychotics to treat depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, $11.6 billion on antidepressants and $7.2 billion on treatment for ADHD, according to IMS Health, which tracks prescription-drug sales.

Statistics like these make me wonder whether our ideals about “mental health” might not just be skewed. They also make Dr. Rankin’s claim that she has a better solution all the more interesting. In fact, she says she has already had success in diagnosing the root cause of why her patients are depressed and anxious. She uses a wellness paradigm she calls the Whole Health Cairn, which helps patients evaluate their whole health in a paradigm-shifting way.

According to Dr. Rankin:
Cold, hard scientific evidence in reputable medical journals clearly proves that to be truly healthy both mentally and physically, it’s not enough to eat right, exercise, sleep eight hours a night, see your doctor for regular check-ups and take your medicine. This is why my Marin County integrative medicine practice was full of well-intentioned health nuts who were still depressed, anxious and sick.
When asked in an interview about her thoughts on antidepressants, she told me:
At least 75 percent and in some studies, up to 100 percent, of the effect of anti-depressants has been proven to be attributable to the placebo effect — which I believe is good news. This means that the potent cocktail of hope, positive belief, the support of a medical practitioner who cares and the physiological self-healing mechanisms that get triggered by the body when it wants to heal, are ever-powerful. Some studies even suggest that placebos work when the patient knows it’s a sugar pill. So why do we need the pill? Sure, every doctor will report some case studies where it’s truly a biochemical process, and once the biochemical disorder is reversed pharmaceutically, everything else falls into place. But I’d argue that most of the time, even if there is a biochemical component, it’s not purely biochemical.

This is shocking to me as one of the “25 percenters.” My Zoloft saved me from a bone-crushing bout of postpartum depression and I can assure you it wasn’t a placebo effect. I was sure Zoloft would not work for me. I had read those reports, but with three children to care for I was willing to try anything. For my family’s sake and with much grumbling, I resorted to popping my blue pill.

I remember the day I noticed it was working.

Another friend of mine also says she knows exactly when her antidepressants kicked in. She was driving in a busy mall parking lot, rushing to make a return with two yipping dogs in her car, when someone rudely rushed into the parking spot she had been waiting for. She says, she thought to her self, “Oh well” and kept looking. Then she stopped her car in shock. This kind of thing would have normally led to obscenities being screamed out the window, at the least.

So, we may be the exceptions to those reports of the placebo effect, however, could we be helped more by Dr. Rankin’s approach? Would looking at the whole of my life and figuring out my root cause eliminate my need for the little blue Zoloft pill I am terrified to stop taking?

To this Dr. Rankin says, “Patients know their bodies better than any doctor. If the patient tells me taking psychiatric medications is what they need in order to heal, I’m all for it. I’m just not a fan of treating every negative emotional state or vague physical symptom with psychiatric medications to the exclusion of helping patients diagnose and treat what’s underlying the depression or anxiety.”

According to Rankin, to know for sure whether or not I indeed “need” my Zoloft, I would need to look at my whole life — love life, professional life, creativity expression, spirituality, sexuality and see if there is anything out of balance. Once diagnosed and “the root cause underlying depression or anxiety” was found, her next step is “helping patients create an intuitively-driven, patient guided step-by-step action plan aimed at healing what is out of balance.”

The number one question she asks patients is: “What do you need in order to heal?”

And the answers they give are often shocking. Such as:

• I need to leave my husband.

• I need to move to Santa Fe.

• I need to finish my novel.

• I need to hire a nanny.

• I need to eat a vegan diet.

• I need to switch careers.

• I need to quit drinking.

According to Dr. Rankin, “Once the patient makes the diagnosis and writes ‘the prescription,’ the challenge lies in implementing the changes necessary to heal from the core.”

But not all doctors agree. One psychiatrist I spoke to about this subject wasn’t sold on Dr. Rankin’s approach, saying that “she’s simply presenting a PowerPoint of the obvious.”

“Yes, doctor, we would all prefer ‘healthy relationships, healthy professional lives, creative expression,’ but what interrupts that? It’s not so easy to simply talk/wish/guilt/’whatever’ ourselves into ‘changing.'”

But Dr. Rankin says she has had success with her program, as paradoxically simplistic and difficult as it may be.

One of her patients credits Dr. Rankin with newfound energy and relief from both malaise and physical illness, saying:

“When I first came to Lissa I had a myriad of mysterious medical maladies and zero mojo. I had invested six years of my life into various medical tests, treatments and failed plans of action… I (now) have boundless energy… and never have I been so happy.”

According to Dr. Rankin, “You can medicate someone all you want, but unless you’re helping her heal what underlies her depression or anxiety, you’re just putting a sad Band-aid on her soul, and the results will be limited.”

Well, I’m not quite ready to tear off my sad little band-aid, but I am happy to know there is an alternative for the growing number of pill poppers like me.

Fearless Youth: Prozac Extinguishes Anxiety by Rejuvenating the Brain

Once adult lab mice learn to associate a particular stimulus—a sound, a flash of light—with the pain of an electric shock, they don’t easily forget it, even when researchers stop the shocks. But a new study in the December 23 issue of Science shows that the antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine) gives mice the youthful brain plasticity they need to learn that a once-threatening stimulus is now benign. The research may help explain why a combination of therapy and antidepressants is more effective at treating depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than either drugs or therapy alone. Antidepressants may prime the adult brain to rewire faulty circuits during therapy.

Nina Karpova, Eero Castrén and their colleagues at the University of Helsinki’s Neuroscience Center created and extinguished fearful behaviors in mice. First, Castrén placed mice in a cage and repeatedly played a tone just before electrically shocking their feet. Soon the animals froze in fear whenever they heard the tone, at which point Castrén put them through “extinction training.” He moved the mice to a different cage and played the same tone again. This time there was no electric shock.

Researchers have previously shown that young mice less than three weeks old quickly learn that the tone is no longer a herald of danger and stop freezing in fear. But adult mice are harder to put at ease. Even if the adults become less fearful during extinction training, their relaxation is not permanent—a week later the tone turns them into statues again.

In Castrén’s study, adult mice that took fluoxetine while they went through extinction training behaved much like young mice—they lost their fear much faster than mice that were not taking the drug, and their anxiety did not return. In contrast, mice that were given fluoxetine but never went through extinction training remained anxious.

Castrén makes an analogy between these findings and the consensus that antidepressants in combination with therapy are almost always more effective than either antidepressants or therapy alone. Scientists know what most antidepressants do at the molecular level—they change the amounts of neurotransmitters in the spaces between neurons, for instance—but how these changes treat depression remains an open question. Research has not supported the idea that antidepressants treat depression simply by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain. More recently, researchers have hypothesized that depression kills neurons whereas antidepressants like Prozac encourage new neural growth in the brain. Castrén’s study suggests Prozac returns regions of the brain to an immature state in which neurons make or break more connections with one another than is typical of the adult brain. In other words, Prozac increases brain plasticity.

Castrén looked for characteristic electrical and molecular signs of plasticity in the brains of mice that received fluoxetine and in those that did not. Specifically, Castrén looked in the amygdala at neural circuits responsible for fear responses. He found that fluoxetine increased levels of a cell-adhesion molecule associated with young neurons and decreased the levels of a transporter protein associated with adult neurons. He also found greater changes in membrane potential in neurons from the brains of mice that had learned to relax. These neurons were also better at synchronizing their communication through a process called long-term potentiation, which is crucial for learning and memory.

“We know that a combination of antidepressant treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy has better effects than either of these treatments alone, but the neurobiological basis is not known,” Castrén says. “We show a possible mechanism is bringing the network into a more immature and plastic state.”

Pain Management News: Ohio attorney general: Last pain management clinic closed down in county hit hard by addiction

Ohio attorney general: Last pain management clinic closed down in county hit hard by addiction

The last pain medication clinic in a southern Ohio county plagued by painkiller addictions and overdose deaths was shut down Tuesday, the Ohio attorney general announced Tuesday.

Greater Medical Advance in Wheelersburg, with just one doctor, doled out 14,000 prescriptions in nine months, Attorney General Mike DeWine said in announcing the closure and four indictments.

“At one point there was over a dozen pill mills in Scioto County,” DeWine said in a phone interview. “As of this morning, there are zero. So we’re very happy about that.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration has said the southern Ohio county is one of the worst places in the country for painkiller abuse.

Tuesday’s announcement came the same day the first defendant in another so-called pill mill case pleaded guilty to illegally shuttling painkiller prescriptions to pharmacists willing to fill them.

James Sadler pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of diverting controlled substances at a hearing in federal court in Cincinnati. Sadler is free on his own recognizance. His attorney did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday.

A 2010 indictment against Sadler and other operators of Ohio Medical and Pain Management in Waverly alleged that in some cases, customers traveled more than 200 miles round trip to be treated at the southern Ohio clinic.

In the Wheelersburg case, a county grand jury indicted four people with charges including engaging in corrupt activity, drug trafficking and drug possession, DeWine’s office said.

The clinic’s doctor, Victor Georgescu, and its operator, George Adkins, were each charged with engaging in corrupt activity, conspiracy to engage in corrupt activity, funding drug trafficking and permitting drug abuse, according to DeWine. Georgescu was arrested in Centerville in suburban Dayton on Tuesday.

Georgescu and Adkins were not booked into the county jail by early afternoon and information about their attorneys was not immediately available. A message was left at the clinic for Georgescu; a home listing for Adkins was not functioning.

Stopping the abuse of powerful prescription painkillers has become a top priority for Ohio officials.

In 2007, drug overdoses, led by an increase in prescription painkiller addictions, surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in Ohio. It’s a trend also seen in several other states.

In May, Gov. John Kasich signed into law a bill cracking down on pain management clinics, dubbed pill mills by their critics and blamed by health officials for contributing to hundreds of overdose deaths in Ohio each year.

The law requires the State Board of Pharmacy for the first time to license pain clinics as distributors of dangerous drugs.

The law also puts limits on how many pills a doctor could dispense directly at a clinic and tries to reduce the illegal distribution of prescription painkillers by creating a statewide system for collecting unused supplies of the narcotics.

The DEA has recently suspended the prescription-writing powers of physicians in a part of southern Ohio plagued by painkiller abuse.

More than 1,300 people died from accidental drug overdoses in 2009 in Ohio, according to the most recent data from the Ohio Department of Health. The number of fatal overdoses has more than quadrupled from 1999, when the state recorded 327 accidental deaths, according to the department.

The numbers are particularly bad in Scioto County in Appalachia, where high unemployment rates and a profusion of pill mills have led to growing addiction rates.

2011 Consensus Panel Issues New Guidelines for Intrathecal Pain Management

A panel of experts has recommended changes to the guidelines used to determine treatment via intrathecal administration for patients suffering from severe chronic pain. The 2011 Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference (PACC) brought together a group of national leaders in chronic pain management for the purpose of updating their current algorithm to standardize decision-making among providers and improving the technical quality of care in chronic pain.

The 2011 PACC guidelines for management of nociceptive and neuropathic chronic pain by intrathecal drug delivery recommended ziconotide, among other drugs, as a first-line intrathecal treatment. The panel recognized that ziconotide should be titrated in a low and slow manner. Ziconotide was also recommended by the 2011 group as the preferred option for intrathecal administration compared to opioids when there is a concern for recurrent granuloma. [please see important safety information and product indication at the end of this release]

The expert panel recommendation was based on an extensive literature search and an expansive survey with more than 15,000 clinicians worldwide since the last update in 2007. The panel also reviewed changes in the FDA status of medications and their combined clinical expertise to inform their recommendations

“The Consensus Conference was convened to review the importance of drug selection in patient outcomes; to review issues concerning granuloma detection, prevention and treatment; to consider trialing methods and candidates and to consider best practices to reduce morbidity and mortality,” said Tim Deer, MD, president and CEO, The Center for Pain Relief and Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Charleston, WV.

The expert panel of 29 clinicians and the faculty of the North American Neuromodulation Society was convened by Tim Deer, MD, Joshua Prager, MD, MS, Center for the Rehabilitation of Pain Syndromes (CRPS) at UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; and Robert Levy, MD, PhD, Northwestern, University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. The results were presented during the North American Neuromodulation Society Annual Meeting, Dec. 8-11, in Las Vegas, NV.

“The importance of selecting the best drug options for intraspinal drug delivery to treat those in severe pain cannot be understated,” added Deer. “We must continue to keep all our colleagues informed of the best treatment practices in pain management and routinely evaluate treatments and patient data. Best clinical practices, experience, data and overall better patient outcomes will remain at the core of the Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference.”

Neck and Shoulder Massage Device Poses Strangulation Risk, Agency Says

The FDA has issued a new warning to consumers against the use of a massage device called the ShoulderFlex Massager, which was recalled earlier this year after it was blamed for causing at least one death.

According to the FDA, the distributor, King International, has gone out of business since the firm recalled the massagers on Aug. 31, 2011, and many stores that sell the device may not be aware it is dangerous.

Likewise, the FDA says many people who purchased the massager may be unaware that it is dangerous and that King International’s 800 number established for the recall has been out of service.

The ShoulderFlex Massager is a personal massage device sold in retail stores, via catalogs, and over the Internet. It is intended to provide a deep-tissue massage to the neck, shoulders, and back area, while lying down.

But the FDA says hair, clothing, and jewelry can become entangled in the device and cause serious injury or death from strangulation.

There have been reports of one death and one near-death, due to strangulation, associated with the use of the ShoulderFlex Massager.

“The ShoulderFlex Massager poses serious risks,” Steve Silverman of the FDA says in a news release.

Silverman, director of the FDA’s Office of Compliance in its Center for Devices and Radiological Health, says, “consumers should stop using this device, health care providers should not recommend it to their patients, and businesses should stop distributing and selling the device.”

The FDA says it discovered during a recent compliance audit that King International had gone out of business and that it had not followed through with recall procedures.

The FDA warning includes a recommendation to “safely dispose” of the massagers. It says the massage fingers should be removed and disposed of separately from the device, and the power supply disposed of separately, as well.

Alternative Medicine News: San Jose Alternative Medicine Specialist Eternal Health Wellness Center Offers Seminar for Staying Healthy

San Jose Alternative Medicine Specialist Eternal Health Wellness Center Offers Seminar for Staying Healthy

Eternal Health Wellness Center will offer a seminar for staying healthy on Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.

Dr. Quli Zhou, L.A.C., M.S. will be conducting a seminar at Eternal Health Wellness Center, a San Jose alternative medicine provider, on Dec. 19 at 6:00 p.m. presenting information about staying healthy through Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM).

Dr. Zhou, a licensed Acupuncturist, has 25 years of experience in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She will discuss the real causes of swine flu, and how to use practical methods such as eating certain foods, adjusting one’s lifestyle and pressing energizing points to keep one’s body in perfect balance and remain healthy.

Dr. Zhou will also teach about relieving stress and pain, increasing energy, balancing hormones, reducing weight, feeling better and staying healthy.

“If you read the stories on H1N1 influence written by the mainstream media, you might incorrectly think there’s only one anti-viral drug in the world. Actually, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used effectively to prevent and treat flu for thousands of years. Many herbs have the effect of being anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Or just simply use acupressure points to strengthen your own immune system to keep yourself from getting sick,” said Dr. Zhou.

“That’s astonishing to hear,” continues Dr. Zhou, “because the world is full of anti-viral medicine found in tens of thousands of different plants. Culinary herbs like thyme, sage and rosemary are anti-viral. Berries and sprouts are anti-viral. Garlic, ginger and onions are anti-viral. You can’t walk through a grocery store without walking past a hundred or more anti-viral medicines made by Mother Nature. Tamiflu is made from the star anise herb that’s been used for over 5,000 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine? TCM maintains that the flow of Qi energy determines the health of an individual. If there is abundant, smoothly flowing Qi, they are in good health and strong immunity. If they are ill, it is because of a blockage or interruption in the Qi flow. Some of the compounds have been used for centuries in TCM to fight the effects of colds and flu.”

“The seminar on Dec. 19 will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., and the cost is $15.00. Refreshments will be served. Empower your own healing! Bring a friend, and both you and your guest are free,” said Dr. Zhou.

Eternal Health Wellness Center offers free consultation and testing, a $125 value, plus the first 10 callers receive a full beam ray light treatment. They also offer free pulse diagnosis from 5 to 6pm.

Studying alternative medicine with taxpayer dollars

Thanks to a $374,000 taxpayer-funded grant, we now know that inhaling lemon and lavender scents doesn’t do a lot for our ability to heal a wound. With $666,000 in federal research money, scientists examined whether distant prayer could heal AIDS. It could not.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, also helped pay scientists to study whether squirting brewed coffee into someone’s intestines can help treat pancreatic cancer (a $406,000 grant) and whether massage makes people with advanced cancer feel better ($1.25 million). The coffee enemas did not help. The massage did.

NCCAM has also invested in studies of various forms of energy healing, including one based on the ideas of a self-described “healer, clairvoyant and medicine woman” who says her children inspired her to learn to read auras. The cost for that was $104,000.

A small, little-known branch of the National Institutes of Health, NCCAM was launched a dozen years ago to study alternative treatments used by the public but not accepted by mainstream medicine. Since its birth, the center has spent $1.4 billion, most of it on research.

A Chicago Tribune examination of hundreds of NCCAM grants, dozens of scientific papers, 12 years of NCCAM documents and advisory council meeting minutes found that the center had spent millions of taxpayer dollars on studies with questionable grounding in science. The cancer treatment involving coffee enemas was based on an idea from the early 1900s, and patients who chose to undergo the risky regimen lived an average of just four more months.

The spending comes as competition for public research money is fierce and expected to get fiercer, with funding for the NIH expected to plateau and even drop in coming years.

“Some of these treatments were just distinctly made up out of people’s imaginations,” said Dr. Wallace Sampson, clinical professor emeritus of medicine at Stanford University. “We don’t take public money and invest it in projects that are just made up out of people’s imaginations.”

“Lots of good science and good scientists are going unfunded,” said Dr. David Gorski, a breast cancer researcher at Wayne State University, who has been a vocal critic of NCCAM. “How can we justify wasting money on something like this when there are so many other things that are much more plausible and much more likely to result in real benefit?”

The director of the center and other advocates say it is worthwhile to use taxpayer dollars to study certain alternative treatments.

“They deserve scientific attention,” said NCCAM Director Dr. Josephine Briggs, who noted that the center’s $128-million annual allotment amounts to less than half a percent of the total NIH budget.

Briggs, a respected NIH researcher and physician who has headed NCCAM for nearly four years, said in an interview that she is dedicated to evidence-based medicine and that the center, under her leadership, is committed to rigorous scientific studies.

The center’s recently adopted strategic plan focuses on studies of supplements and other natural products along with the effect of “mind and body” therapies like yoga, massage and acupuncture on pain and other symptoms. In fiscal years 2008-11, NCCAM funded more than $140 million in grants involving mind-and-body therapies, including $33 million for pain research in fiscal 2011.

The new strategic plan “reflects real change or an evolution in our mission,” Briggs said. “We are not your grandmother’s NCCAM.”

Studies of energy healing or distant prayer probably would not get funded by NCCAM today, she said.

Yet many mind-and-body treatments that are being studied, like qigong and acupuncture, also involve the purported manipulation of a universal energy or life force, sometimes called qi — metaphysical concepts unproved by science and incompatible with the modern Western understanding of how the body works.

In an email, Briggs wrote that it wasn’t necessary to invoke qi or other ancient concepts to study therapies that may benefit people with chronic pain, a significant health problem.

NCCAM’s continuing interest in acupuncture comes even though many of its studies have found that acupuncture and similar therapies work no better than a placebo treatment at easing symptoms like pain and fatigue.

Responsible alternative medicine

Trine Tsouderos’ article on NCCAM is off base. Applying rigorous research to evaluate therapies that are widely used but not a part of mainstream medicine is not only a wise use of resources; it is also good science and essential for providing optimal clinical care.

Many people suffer from ailments, such as chronic pain, for which our conventional medicines do not provide significant help, and they seek relief from therapies such as acupuncture. Lab research and studies using the latest high tech imaging such as fMRI and pet-scans, funded by NCCAM and others, have resulted in a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of acupuncture, showing that it releases endorphins and other neurotransmitters that are the brain’s natural painkillers. NCCAM’s support of large clinical trials, such as one our team conducted and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, has shown acupuncture to be more effective than sham acupuncture and conventional care alone for relieving pain and improving function among sufferers of knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, their support of the Cochrane Collaboration (an international organization dedicated to evaluating all medical therapies) an independent nonprofit organization that conducts reviews of clinical trials) Complementary Medicine Field has meant that data has been pooled from research studies worldwide, indicating acupuncture, while not a panacea for all problems, is safe and effective for a number of pain-related conditions including headaches, osteoarthritis and chronic back pain.

Allergies Treatment News: Peanut Allergies: Breakthrough Could Improve Diagnoses

Peanut Allergies: Breakthrough Could Improve Diagnoses

“Caution: This product may contain nuts.” It’s an increasingly common warning on food labels of all kinds, given the recent heightened awareness of the dangers of nut allergies. Roughly three million Americans suffer from peanut allergies; yet current diagnostic methods don’t detect every case. New findings by University of Virginia scientists, however, may allow for the development of more sensitive diagnostic tools and a better understanding of nut allergies.

The study, “Structural and Immunologic Characterization of Ara h 1, a Major Peanut Allergen,” appeared in the November 11 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Rethinking the Proteins
In the study, researchers determined that the emerging cutting-edge use of a recombinant, or artificially produced, protein in diagnostic tests may not be a suitable replacement for the natural protein Ara h 1, one of the major peanut allergens. This new insight will be critical in the effort to accurately diagnose peanut allergies and better understand their mechanisms.

“In allergy diagnostics, using a recombinant protein is thought to reveal more consistent results, as they are more homogenous than natural proteins. Individual protein molecules purified from a natural source show much more variation at a molecular level from one another,” says Wladek Minor, PhD, professor of molecular physiology and biological physics in the UVA School of Medicine and study co-leader.

“However, people are exposed to allergens from natural sources, not recombinant protein,” he continues, “and people develop antibodies to different fragments of natural allergens. If there is a significant difference between a natural source and the recombinant allergen used for allergy diagnosis, the recombinant allergen is not a good replacement in the test, because different types of allergies can be overlooked.”

In their analysis, researchers also found strong similarities in the structure of the Ara h 1 protein and those of other plant-seed proteins, which could help explain why patients with peanut allergies frequently also have allergies to tree nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and cashews.

Allergy Detection Could Save Lives
For children and adults who suffer from these serious allergies, accurate and early detection is critical. Allergic reactions to peanuts and tree nuts are the number-one cause of food-induced anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that develops rapidly after consumption. Armed with an accurate diagnosis, however, allergy sufferers can learn to avoid certain foods and equip themselves with a portable injection of epinephrine, the lifesaving treatment for anaphylaxis.

The team’s next steps in their research will be to determine exactly why peanut-allergic patients are often allergic to tree nuts as well, and to explain why peanut and tree-nut allergies are extremely difficult to outgrow, usually lasting a lifetime.

In addition to Minor, the international research team included Maksymilian Chruszcz, a member of Minor’s UVA research group; Soheila Maleki, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Heimo Breiteneder, from the Medical University of Vienna. The multidisciplinary study included structural, bioinformatics, and immunological research on Ara h 1. Some methodology used in the project was developed as part of the NIH Protein Structure Initiative, and in particular the New York Structural Genomics Consortium.

Your guide to seasonal allergies

Ah, December! The month when the temperatures finally dip below 100 degrees and many of us prepare for the season by rushing out to stores, cash and credit cards in hand, looking for those perfect items for the tree.

Unfortunately, the season is allergy season, the items are antihistamines and decongestants, and the tree is the mountain cedar — a (sadly) drought-resistant evergreen that produces the pollen that makes many of us miserable from mid-month to late February.

The first time a particular type of pollen travels across your nasal membrane or through your lungs, your body kicks into gear and develops allergic antibodies to that pollen trigger, says Dr. Jackee Kayser, pediatric allergist at ‘Specially for Children and Dell Children’s Medical Center. When your body encounters the pollen trigger again, your immune system is waiting with the pre-formed antibodies. Histamine and other mediators head into a battle of overreaction, causing the classic allergic and even asthmatic symptoms.

Kayser says some research suggests that the immune system has to be exposed to at least two allergy seasons in order to produce an allergic reaction, which could explain why some people who have lived here for years without symptoms might suddenly find themselves affected.

Summertime’s grasses and fall’s ragweed join winter’s mountain cedar and spring’s oak pollen in testing our love for Central Texas, not to mention the molds and dust present year-round. Mountain cedar can be a bad pollen for patients, but not necessarily the worst, Kayser says, recalling an oak pollen season a few years ago when we were all driving around with the allergen covering our cars.

Prevention is the first step to battling seasonal allergies. Keep windows and doors closed. Launder pillowcases frequently, because pollen can collect in hair and be transferred to pillowcases to be breathed in throughout the night.

But once the telltale signs appear, the first step in treatment is determining whether you have a seasonal allergy or the common cold. Nasal congestion or runny nose can occur in both conditions, Kayser says, as can headaches.

One way to rule out a seasonal allergy is to remember that “cedar fever” is a misnomer. “A fever should not really accompany an allergic flare,” Kayser says. If you’re a generally allergic person and your allergy medication provides no relief, that can be another sign that allergens are not to blame.

Allergies can cause fatigue, because sufferers often don’t sleep well. But severe, flulike body aches should not result from allergies. “True muscle aches makes me concerned that there’s something else going on,” Kayser says.

It can be confusing. That’s why she recommends that patients consult an allergist. Hypersensitivity skin testing is one way to find out which environmental triggers or pollens, if any, are the cause of allergic symptoms.

Kayser usually starts with the skin prick device, which she calls “a very friendly, little device” that precludes the use of needles. A bit of the allergen is placed on the patient’s skin. Fifteen minutes later, both the bump and redness it produces are measured. Those results determine the patient’s sensitivity to that particular allergen. Once that’s known, a course of treatment can be prescribed.

In addition to prescription solutions, “nasal saline rinses and neti pots are a fantastic, nonpharmacological, therapeutic way to approach allergies,” Kayser says. In fact, she often recommends that patients use these systems before applying nasal sprays so that the sprays aren’t blocked by all of the mucus that’s being produced.

“In patients that really have significant disease, it’s usually not the sole option, but it’s a fantastic addition to helping with allergies.”

Kayser says that when patients find the typical nasal sprays and oral antihistamines ineffective (or their side effects unbearable), allergy shots help decrease sensitivity to allergens.

“It definitely is something that patients have to want to do, because it does require weekly participation for quite a while and it is a shot,” she explains. “But we know it works. If patients are just miserable and their allergy medications are not working, there’s an option out there.”

And there are other new options on the horizon.

Kayser says there is a lot of research on oral immunotherapy — popular in Europe — taking place here. Formulations containing small amounts of the problem allergen are placed under the tongue, where the substances can be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Although the practice has not yet been adopted as an effective therapy by the United States medical community, homeopathic remedies such as Cedar Allergy Mix can be found locally at People’s Pharmacy. It comes in drop, spray and tablet form and contains allergic agents in homeopathic dosages.

Health Care News: Court schedules week of health care arguments

Court schedules week of health care arguments

The Supreme Court has announced that it will use an entire week’s worth of argument time to decide the constitutionality of President Barack Obama’s historic health care overhaul.

The high court announced Monday that it will hear health care arguments on March 26th, 27th and 28th..

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aims to provide health insurance to more than 30 million previously uninsured Americans

Justices will hear arguments on Monday the 26th over whether court action is premature because no one yet has paid a fine for not participating in the overhaul. Tuesday’s arguments will be over whether Congress overstepped its authority with the law. Finally, on Wednesday justices will hear whether the rest of the law can take effect even if the health insurance mandate is unconstitutional.

Rotech Healthcare Inc. Announces Acquisition of Home Medical Businesses

Rotech Healthcare Inc. ROHI
+5.17% , one of the largest
providers of home medical equipment and related products and services, announced today its acquisition of three home medical entities. The acquired businesses are Best Care HHC Acquisition Company LLC, NeighborCare Home Medical Equipment of Maryland, LLC and NeighborCare Home Medical Equipment, LLC.

Rotech anticipates that these acquisitions will contribute approximately $11 million in projected annual revenue in 2012.

“We expect the acquisition of these NeighborCare home medical entities to have a positive impact on Rotech’s financial performance in 2012 and beyond, as well as to expand our presence in the Philadelphia, Baltimore and other East Coast markets,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Philip Carter.

About Rotech Healthcare Inc.

Rotech Healthcare Inc. is one of the largest providers of home medical equipment and related products and services in the United States, with a comprehensive offering of respiratory therapy and durable home medical equipment and related services. The Company provides home medical equipment and related products and services principally to older patients with breathing disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), which include chronic bronchitis, emphysema, obstructive sleep apnea and other cardiopulmonary disorders. The Company provides equipment and services in 48 states through approximately 425 operating locations located primarily in non-urban markets.

CMS selects 32 final Pioneer ACOs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced the final list of 32 Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) to start in the new year. CMS estimates that care coordination between hospitals, physicians and other care givers under the Pioneer ACO model could save Medicare up to $1.1 billion.

Among the list are Banner Health Network in Arizona, Dartmouth-Hitchcock ACO in New Hampshire and Eastern Vermont, Monarch Healthcare in Orange County, Calif., as well as Beth Israel Deaconess Physician Organization, Partners Healthcare and Steward Health Care System, all in Massachusetts. CMS chose 32 out of a pool of competitive applicants through a lengthy and open process, according to CMS.

“Pioneer ACOs are leaders in our work to provide better care and reduce health care costs,” said Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “We are excited that so many innovative systems are participating in this exciting initiative – and there are many other ways that health care providers can get involved and help improve care for patients.”

As the forerunner to the Medicare Shared Savings Program, the Pioneer ACO model will allow those organizations and individual providers that already are experienced in coordinating care to reap the benefits earlier and more of them. These groups will move more rapidly from a Shared Savings model to a population-based payment model, according to the press release. Differing from the Medicare Shared Savings Program, starting in year three of the initiative, those organizations that have earned savings during the first two years will be eligible to move to a population-based payment arrangement and full risk arrangement that can continue through an optional fourth and fifth year.

“We know that health care providers are at different stages in their work to improve care and reduce costs,” said Marilyn Tavenner, acting Administrator of CMS. “That’s why we’ve developed a menu of options for Medicare to meet doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers where they are, and begin the conversation of how to enhance the care they are offering to people with Medicare.”

The first performance period of the Pioneer ACO model will start Jan. 1, 2012.

Dental Care Today: Tooth Decay Higher in Rural Alaska

Tooth Decay Higher in Rural Alaska

According to a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services children in rural Alaska are 4.5 times more likely to have severe cavities compared to the national average.

Officials say the two leading factors associated with tooth decay in both kids baby and adult teeth are the lack of water fluoridation and drinking sugary drinks, like soda.

This finding is based on an investigation conducted in 2008 by the CDC and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services on childhood dental health in rural Alaska.

The findings also found that children age’s 4 to 5 year olds on villages without fluoridation have a tooth decay rate 2.6 times higher than in villages with fluoridation.

Doctor Tom Hennessy of CDC recommends that villages with water systems set up for fluoridation to have it added to their water. For those villages without running water he says, parents can be sure their kids use toothpaste with fluoride or to have health care providers apply fluoride directly onto their teeth.

Improving dental care

The provincial government hopes to put the bite on dental decay.
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Beginning this fall, preschool children and schoolage children as well as preand post-natal moms in a number of health regions will have increased access to preventive dental care.

Initially, the program will be implemented in schools in those health regions with the greatest need. These include Athabasca, Keewatin Yatthe, Mamawetan Churchill River, Prince Albert/Parkland, Prairie North, Regina Qu’Appelle and Saskatoon Health Regions.

The program will expand to the province’s remaining health regions early in 2012.

“Oral disease is preventable, yet each year approximately 1,800 children under the age of five undergo dental surgery in hospital under general anaesthetic,” Health Minister Don McMorris noted in a news release. “We have committed funding of $1.4 million, through the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative, to improve children’s oral health and reduce the need for surgery by increasing access to dental care, prevention and education.”

The initiative will focus on disease prevention and health promotion and target early childhood tooth decay in at-risk populations. Services will include oral health assessments, referral and followup, fluoride varnish and dental sealants. Oral health assessments will be provided to all preschool children in the province.

Children from six months of age to five years, who are at risk of early childhood tooth decay, will be given two fluoride varnish applications a year. Dental sealants will be offered in a phased-in approach to students attending schools with populations at risk.

Dr. Moira McKinnon, the province’s chief medical health officer, said studies show good oral health can prevent chronic heart disease, diabetes and obesity and reduce infections that can cause severe illness or be life-threatening.

She said evidence shows that poor oral health results in a poor diet and is more conducive to chronic disease.

Cancers of various parts of the mouth, such as the tongue or lip, can also occur when teeth aren’t healthy.

“Healthy teeth are important for the overall health and well-being of an individual for their lifetime and it starts in childhood,” she said.

The enhanced services will include consultations with pre and post-natal mothers to promote good oral health and ensure a healthy pregnancy and healthy development of their baby’s teeth. “It ends up being a good social environment to discuss health issues, but also to create peer support,” McKinnon said.

Dental care should begin right from infancy

Whether you’re a parent, guardian or grandparent, having children means you stay busy and dental health can be easily overlooked due to daily chores. Caring for children’s oral hygiene from birth before the visible growth of teeth is vital.

“Start your child on the way to healthy oral regime even before the appearance of the first baby tooth”, says Dr Ashutosh Sharma BDS, MDS, Specialist Dentist (Paedodontist), Aster Medical Centre, Dubai.

According to Dr Sharma, dental care begins right from infancy, where parents should ensure that the baby’s gums are gently cleaned with soft wet cloth after every feed to prevent any possible bacterial infection. Once the child develops teeth, it is recommended that the teeth are cleaned with a soft toothbrush after every meal.

The oral cavity is a fertile ground for bacteria which thrives mostly on sugar. The bacterial interactions in the oral cavity also generate acidic components that could be harmful to the teeth. “In my practice, I have often seen good dental hygiene is neglected by parents as we often do not understand the damage the acidic formations can do to a child’s teeth. If a regular habit of brushing the teeth is not nurtured among kids, these acidic formations can create cavities across the dental rows which can lead to tooth decay and dental erosion, which would require treatment at a later stage,” the doctor says.

Children’s teeth have thinner enamel than adult teeth and are more susceptible to the bacteria that cause decay. Decay in a baby’s tooth is swift and destructive; it quickly penetrates the enamel, then the dentin, and then infects the nerve.

Dr Sharma says that eatables which contain a high content of sugar, like chocolates, play a large role in dental decay and cavities. “Chocolates will remain ever popular among kids. However, it is very important for the health of their teeth that kids are not given sweets in excess. While we do not believe in denying the child of their favourite treats, we always recommend parents to introduce their children to a balanced diet.” Dr Sharma says.

Feeding infants in bottles can also trigger dental problems, particularly if the kid is allowed to sleep with the feeding bottle in his mouth. Babies should also be discouraged from sucking their thumbs, which is a habit they often pick up in infancy, but must be cut out by the time the child turns one.

“Forming a good routine of brushing teeth twice daily and cleaning them after every meal, regular check-ups with the dentist and a good diet helps in good dental hygiene. With simple care from an early stage, parents can easily ensure a lifetime of happy teeth for their children,” the doctor says.

Metro Dentists Offer Free Dental Care to Those in Need

Foster said with the tough economy, more people are being forced to do without preventive dental care because they can’t afford it.

“¿There is a tremendous need in the community for dental service – people who are out of jobs, people who don’t have insurance,” said the dentist. “It’s just another way to help out and provide some care to people that desperately need it.”

That’s why, for the second year, the Blue Springs dentist is participating in Dentistry from the Heart. He, along with six other community dentists, a slew of dental hygienists and a handful of volunteers will offer free dental work to anyone who needs it during an all-day event Saturday.

“We had a lot of people last year who just wanted a front tooth fixed so they could feel good about applying for a job,” said Dr. Foster.

Over the last ten years, dentistry from the heart has provides $6 million in free dental services to more than 60,000 patients all over the country.

“We’re doing this because we want to help people out,” said the dentist. “We really enjoy being able to do this event to take a day out of our life every year give it away to other people.”

Last year his Blue Springs office spread healthy smiles to 100 people. This year he hopes to do that for at least 101.

Dr. Foster will offer free dental care this Sat., Sept. 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at his Blue Springs office at 2150 Northwest South Outer Road. Services are for adults only on a first come, first serve basis. Because the line get long early, his staff recommend that you line up before 8 a.m. For complete details, call: 816-463-9529.

In you can’t make it to Saturday’s event, there are other metro dentists who participate in the Dentistry from the Heart program. Just visit the ‘Events’ page of the site from a list of upcoming free dental days.

Additionally, some health departments and dental universities offer free or reduced cost dental care. Contact your local health department for more information.

Acne Treatment News: Sanofi aims for acne vaccine in new pact

Sanofi aims for acne vaccine in new pact

Lured by the $3 billion acne treatment market, Sanofi Pasteur has inked a collaboration deal with with the University of California, San Diego to develop an immunological approach to fighting the skin condition.

Current treatments for acne use benzoyl peroxide and oral or topical antibiotics, which the company notes can disrupt the skin’s balance and lead to more resistant forms of the bacteria. The collaboration will attempt to develop a vaccine that will neutralize Propionibacterium acnes factors in inflammation. Financial details of the two-year agreement weren’t disclosed.

“This opportunity could provide an immunotherapeutic product with significant benefits and a novel mechanism of action to address an unmet medical need,” noted Dr. Elias Zerhouni, president of Global R&D, in a release. “This investigational vaccine and treatment may lead to a better solution for the many who suffer from this skin disease.”

Quick Homemade Acne Remedies

Acne is a common skin condition millions struggle with. In order to eliminate zits from our complexion, it is highly recommended to experiment with a few delicate still efficient cleansing techniques.

Using natural ingredients is one way of sparing our complexion from damages caused by chemicals. If you’re ready to make the first step towards a skin-friendly beauty regime, take a closer peek at the quick homemade acne remedies.

Oatmeal

Heal your damaged complexion with the help of oatmeal. This natural ingredient has a fabulous cleansing power and can help you remove dirt and free radicals from the depth of skin layers. Apply cooked oatmeal on the affected spots or the whole face and leave the treatment on for 15 minutes. Finally rinse off your face with cold water to close the pores.

Apple Cider Vinegar

It can be a real disaster when a huge zit ruins your party look. In order to soothe the inflammation and reduce swelling use apple cider vinegar.

This natural ingredient has an anti-bacterial effect and can normalize the pH level of your skin. Use a cotton ball to rub a tiny amount of apple cider vinegar into your pimples. Leave the treatment on for 10-12 minutes and finally rinse it off with tepid water.

Cucumber Peel

Use cucumber peel to reduce the inflammation of your skin affected by acne. Rub the juicy peel into your pores and leave the treatment on overnight. In the morning rinse off the treatment with cold water. The dazzling result of your beauty session will be visible right away.

Cinnamon Powder and Lime Juice

Combine a few organic ingredients to prepare soothing facials. In a medium bowl mix cinnamon powder with a tiny amount of lime juice. After you’ve obtained the ideal texture, apply the paste on your zits. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes. Then you can wash the mixture off with tepid water. Citrus fruits and cinnamon have a fabulous anti-inflammatory effect.
Mint Juice and Papaya Juice

Get rid of pimples with the most efficient natural treatment. Mix in a medium bowl 3 tbs of mint juice and the same amount of papaya juice. Use a cotton ball to apply the lotion on your zits. Leave the facial on for 10-12 minutes. Give your pores time to absorb the healing potion. Finish up cleansing your complexion by rinsing off the treatment with warm water.

Lime Juice and Rose Water

Work with organic ingredients which have the power to penetrate into the deepest skin layers and heal your skin from various infections. In a bowl mix 2 tsp of rose water with 2 tsp of lime juice. Apply the lotion on your pimples and give 20 minutes for the facial to exercise its magical effect. When the time is up you can wash off the mixture with lukewarm water.

Introducing X Out(TM) – a New One-Step Anti-Hassle, Anti-Breakout Wash-In Treatment Designed Specifically for Teens

The makers of Proactiv®, America’s No. 1 acne system, announce the debut of X Out(TM), a Wash-In Treatment designed specifically for teens. The new, one-step X Out(TM) acne treatment, is a Wash-In delivery system, designed to wash powerful, acne fighting medicine into the pores and leave it behind to treat blemishes and help kill the bacteria that causes breakouts. X Out(TM) helps banish existing pimples while nourishing skin with a unique moisturizing complex that helps leave the skin feeling smooth and looking healthy. And because it’s tailored to today’s digital- savvy teens, X Out(TM) is the first acne brand with its own entertainment channel to help teens time the suggested two minute wash time. The X Out(TM) Wash-In Treatment is exclusively available at XOut.com or by calling (800) 996-1971.

“Proactiv has been a leader in acne prevention and treatment for more than 15 years,” said Seth Radwell, Chief Marketing Officer of Guthy-Renker, LLC, the company that markets Proactiv®. “We recognized that we saw an unmet need in the skincare market – some teens need a simple, one-step solution that makes it easy for them to get proven acne treating medicine into their pores to fight acne. Proactiv® revolutionized how acne was treated with the introduction of the 3-step system, and, now with the introduction of X Out(TM) it brings the next big thing – an easy to use Wash-In treatment that addresses the needs of some teens’ who won’t or can’t use a multi-step system.”

No more hassle, no more drama – X Out(TM) incorporates a built-in compliance measure to help teens recognize the recommended two minute wash time for best results and to achieve clear skin. Each bottle of X Out(TM) Wash-In Treatment has a QR code that teens can scan with their Smartphones to be automatically directed to the X Out(TM) Daily Distraction (dd.xout.com), where a new two-minute video will be available each day. Whether it’s a video full of fashion tips, sports tricks or straight-up comedy, X Out(TM) teens will be ahead of the class, with continuously updated video content selected just for them, exclusive access to the Daily Distraction and most importantly, blemish-free skin!

The X Out(TM) Wash-In Treatment contains the proven acne fighting power of benzoyl peroxide (8.5%) along with smooth beads to help exfoliate dead skin cells. X Out(TM) is dermatologist tested, non-comedogenic and is paraben and sulfate-free, so it’s suitable for all skin types. X Out(TM) can also be used as a spot treatment by dabbing a small amount on a pimple, or as a 10-minute treatment mask.

Diabetes Mellitus News: Diabetes Mellitus Cases Hit 366 Million

Diabetes Mellitus Cases Hit 366 Million

The number of people now living with diabetes mellitus has reached 36 million, healthcare experts said at a United Nations meeting Tuesday. According to Reuters, the disease kills one person every seven seconds and poses a “massive challenge” to global healthcare systems.

Of these millions of cases, most have diabetes Type 2—one that is linked to a poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise. The problem is spreading as more and more people worldwide begin to adopt Western lifestyles.

The disease, once contracted, causes diabetics to have inadequate blood sugar control, leading to heart disease and stroke, damage to the kidneys and nerves, and even blindness. According to Reuters, worldwide deaths from diabetes now number at about 4.6 million every year.

“The IDF’s latest Atlas data are proof indeed that diabetes is a massive challenge the world can no longer afford to ignore,” said IDF President Jean Claude Mbanya. “In 2011, one person is dying from diabetes every seven seconds.”

Mbanya recommended more research that would seek to find a way to strengthen global health systems in dealing with the disease. Older classes of diabetes drugs are becoming available, also helping diabetics worldwide manage their condition in a more cost-effective manner.

According to IMS Health, global sales of diabetes medication totaled $35 billion last year alone. By 2015, that number could be $48 billion.

Onglyza reduces blood sugar levels: study

Pharmaceutical companies Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca have announced results from an investigational phase 3b clinical study of use of Onglyza (saxagliptin) in diabetic patients.

The study was based on the addition of Onglyza (saxagliptin) 5mg to ongoing insulin therapy (with or without metformin) to maintain reductions in blood sugar levels (glycosylated hemoglobin levels, or HbA1c) in adult patients with type 2 diabetes compared to the addition of placebo (with or without metformin) from 24 to 52 weeks.
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These results, presented at the 47th European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, are from an extension of a 24-week trial, the results of which were presented at the 71st American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions in San Diego, CA in June 2011.

In the 52-week analysis, change from baseline in HbA1c in patients taking Onglyza 5 mg added to insulin was -0.75% compared to -0.38% for those taking placebo added to insulin, a statement from the company said.

There was also a greater increase from baseline mean daily insulin dose in patients who received placebo compared to patients who received Onglyza 5 mg.

It is unknown whether increased insulin doses by patients in the placebo group could have affected the magnitude of differences seen between the two treatment groups in the efficacy analyses, it said.

The proportion of patients in each treatment group who experienced at least one adverse event over the 52-week treatment period was similar. The most common events included hypoglycemia, urinary tract infection, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache and bronchitis.

“Since many patients with type 2 diabetes will eventually require insulin, it is important to assess a compound’s ability to be used in combination with insulin to manage blood glucose control over the long term,” said Anthony Barnett, MD, University of Birmingham and Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and principal investigator of the study.

“This is the first longer-term study to report that Onglyza 5 mg, used with insulin, maintains improvement in glucose control over 24 to 52 weeks in adult patients with type 2 diabetes”, he said.

In Europe, Onglyza is indicated as a once-daily 5 mg oral tablet dose in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycemic control – in combination with metformin.

When metformin alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycemic control; in combination with a sulphonylurea, when sulphonylurea alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycemic control in patients for whom use of metformin is considered inappropriate; or in combination with a thiazolidinedione, when the thiazolidinedione alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycemic control in patients for whom use of a thiazolidinedione is considered appropriate.

Onglyza is currently not indicated in combination with insulin therapy, the statement said.

In the United States, Onglyza is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glycemic) control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in multiple clinical settings.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Risk Reduced By Regular Exercise: Study

Diabetes mellitus type 2 may be largely preventable, after new research has shown that physical inactivity has a direct impact on a person’s ability to control their blood sugar levels.

University of Missouri researchers showed that after just three days of limiting their physical activity, participants had significantly impaired post-meal glucose control.

However, these changes were reversed after just moderate exercise, Medical Daily reports.

Lead author John Thyfault said, “A single bout of moderate exercise can improve the way the body maintains glucose homeostasis (blood glucose regulation) and reduce post-prandial glucose.”

But he warned that “becoming inactive for a short period of time quickly disrupts glucose homeostasis.”

“This study shows that physical activity directly impacts health issues that are preventable,” Thyfault said, reports Medical Daily.

“Even in the short term, reducing daily activity and ceasing regular exercise causes acute changes in the body associated with diabetes that can occur before weight gain and the development of obesity,” he said.

Due to escalating type 2 diabetes rates, he added that more needs to be done to prevent the condition.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 79 million people in the U.S. suffer from prediabetes.

The condition, which often develops into type 2 diabetes, is characterized by abnormal glucose levels.

The findings suggest that encouraging people to become more physically active may be a good starting point, Medical Daily reports.

“It is recommended that people take about 10,000 steps each day. Recent evidence shows that most Americans are only taking about half of that, or 5,000 steps a day,” Thyfault said.

“This chronic inactivity leads to impaired glucose control and increases the risk of developing diabetes,” he pointed out, Medical Daily reports.

The study, “Lowering Physical Activity Impairs Glycemic Control in Healthy Volunteers,” will be published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Arthritis Treatment News: Novartis’ childhood arthritis drug study achieves primary goal

Novartis’ childhood arthritis drug study achieves primary goal

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) announced Friday its phase 3 trial for its ACZ885 drug for the treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) has achieved its primary endpoint.

The phase 3, four-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 84 children and young adults suffering from SJIA. Each patient was treated with either a single dose of ACZ885, or a placebo.

At the end of the four-week study, 83.7% of patients in the ACZ885 drug group experienced at least a 30% improvement in symptoms, versus 9.8% of patients in the placebo group. Meanwhile, 32.6% of patients in the drug group experienced 100% improvement in symptoms, versus none in the placebo group.

The primary endpoint was a 30% improvement in at least three of the following six variables, the company said: physician’s assessment of disease activity, parent/patient assessment of overall well-being, functional ability, number of joints with active arthritis, number of joints with limited range of motion, and a laboratory measure of the C-reactive protein, an inflammatory agent.

“These data suggest that ACZ885 could become an important treatment option for children living with SJIA, the most difficult-to-treat and severe form of juvenile arthritis, potentially transforming their lives,” said one of the study’s investigators, Professor Pierre Quartier.

“ACZ885 provided rapid and long-lasting symptom relief by targeting interleukin-1 beta, a key inflammatory mediator of the disease.”

Affecting one in every 100,000 children, SJIA is characterized by inflammation affecting the whole body, including most joints. Other symptoms include potentially life-long and recurrent arthritis flares, which can involve skin rash, daily spiking fevers, joint pain, and swelling.

The ACZ885 drug works by inhibiting IL-1 beta, the excessive production of which causes certain inflammatory diseases, like SJIA.

Novartis said its second phase 3 trial of ACZ885, which will determine if the drug can extend the time between arthritic flares and reduce or eliminate corticosteroid use, is ongoing, with results expected to be presented later this year.

Arthritis: What’s truth and what’s myth?

Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis — you probably know that’s an old wives’ tale. Though it could injure ligaments around the joints and lead to weaker grips, there’s no proof every pop puts you one step closer to arthritis — specifically osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) develops when the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones in your joints breaks down. The bones then begin to rub against one another, causing pain. OA is the most common form of arthritis, but there’s no cure, so the more you know, the better. Here are three more misconceptions about OA:
Myth: Arthritis is a natural part of aging.
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Yes, it usually appears after age 45. And yes, the older you are, the more wear and tear you have. But not every older adult develops osteoarthritis. Obesity is also a major risk factor — more weight means more stress on lower body joints.
Myth: Meds should be your first line of treatment.

Reduce pain and improve joint function — that’s the goal of osteoarthritis treatment, and medications (from over-the-counter acetaminophen to prescription pain pills) certainly help. But according to the Arthritis Foundation, simply moving your body is the best medicine for OA, and it’s an effective first step. Gentle exercises, such as walking or swimming, help strengthen muscles and bones, increase flexibility and make joints more stable. That’ll also help you lose weight, which will further reduce joint strain.

Myth: Supplements cure joint pain.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are two that are reputed to battle osteoarthritis, but an analysis of 10 studies showed these supplements don’t do much to relieve pain associated with knee and hip OA. Another supplement that probably doesn’t work: vitamin D. It has been suggested it can help treat knee OA, but it does not appear to lessen the symptoms or slow its progression.

TNF Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Boosts Skin Cancer Risk

Treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors appears to increase their risk of developing skin cancer, a new review of prior research indicates.

However, TNF inhibitors, which include infliximab (Remicade), adalimunab (Humira), and etanercept (Enbrel), do not appear to boost the risk for developing other forms of cancer, the researchers added.

The findings stem from an analysis of 21 previous studies conducted between 1998 and 2010, as well as eight study summaries that had been presented at research conferences during the same timeframe. All the studies had focused on the potential for cancer risk in association with the use of standard TNF inhibitors.

“This systematic review and meta analysis provides reassurance to physicians and patients that the treatment of [rheumatoid arthritis] with TNF inhibitors does not increase the risk of malignancy, particularly lymphoma,” the French study team said in a news release from Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, which published the report in its current online issue.

“However, it does appear to increase the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma,” added the French team, led by Prof. Xavier Mariette from Paris-Sud University’s rheumatology service in Ile de France.

The authors noted that RA has previously been shown to increase the risk for developing certain types of cancer, including both lung cancer and lymphoma, while decreasing the risk for other cancers, including bowel and breast.

However, the question of TNF inhibitor treatments as a cancer risk has remained a subject of debate.

All told, the current review looked at a collection of studies involving more than 40,000 patients who had been exposed to nearly 150,000 years of TNF inhibitor drugs.

Seven of the studies indicated no notable risk increase for any type of cancer associated with the use of TNF meds. Another two long-term studies similarly suggested that while RA patients who had previously had cancer faced a higher likelihood for a second bout, TNF treatments alone posed no additional cancer risk.

But four other studies collectively demonstrated that TNF inhibitors boosted the risk for non-melanoma skin cancer by 45 percent. And another two studies suggested that the RA treatment raised the specific risk for developing melanoma by nearly 80 percent.

Dr. W. Hayes Wilson, chief of rheumatology at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, said the findings should help guide physicians on potential RA treatment complications.

“I don’t think this is particularly surprising, given that there’s long been a concern about cancer risk in the back of our minds,” he noted. “And, in fac,t this is somewhat reassuring on the front of solid cancers that there’s nothing to be alarmed about.”

“But while we can perhaps now put aside our worries about other types of cancers, this does give us some indication that we need to be vigilant when it comes to skin cancer,” Wilson added. “And we certainly need to have a high index of suspicion if a patient has a skin abnormality, and make certain that they see their dermatologist.”

Dr. Gott: Ancient treatment uses bees to control pain

Dear Dr. Gott: Do you have any information on “bee sting therapy” for the chronic pain of fibromyalgia?

Dear Reader: This therapy dates back more than 3,000 years in China and involves placing live bees on strategic pressure points of a patient’s body. It is similar to the needles used in acupuncture, but in this instance, the therapy uses stingers to control the pain of diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis, shingles, lupus, herniated discs, MS, diabetes and fibromyalgia. The treatment relies mainly on the poison of the bees, which can help blood circulation, ease pain and reduce inflammation.

Following a sting, adrenal glands produce cortisol, a natural hormone with anti-inflammatory properties. Supposedly the therapy jump-starts the immune system to trigger the production of endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller. Some specialists think a characteristic of the venom is the presence of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, which help heal conditions involving nerve disorders.

Most research and studies have been directed toward managing multiple sclerosis, but that field is expanding to include arthritis and numerous arthritis-related disorders. Of importance is that up to 5 percent of our population is allergic to bees; therefore, patients seeking to use this therapy must always be tested first.

One downside is that some patients simply can’t endure the injections because of the pain involved.

This therapy that has been around for more than 3,000 years is still in its infancy in the United States, and because insufficient research has been documented, the jury is out on whether it is the answer to a more pain-free existence for fibromyalgia and arthritis sufferers.

Dear Dr. Gott: Ever since I was young, I’ve drunk more than others. I’m now in my mid-40s, and it’s not uncommon for me to drink more than a gallon of liquids a day. Almost all of it is water.

There are times now before I go to bed when my mouth gets dry, and I’m thirsty. I know some of my meds cause dry mouth. I have been tested for diabetes because doctors want to rule it out as soon as they hear how much I drink. My blood work is always good, and I wonder if my dry mouth is anything to be concerned about.

Dear Reader: The urge to drink excessive fluids has many potential possibilities other than the diabetes. Heart, liver or kidney failure, specific drugs such as diuretics and anticholinergics, psychogenic polydipsia (excessive thirst), diabetes insipidus (a condition in which the kidneys are unable to conserve water) are a few possibilities. You should eliminate salt from your diet and avoid foods high in sodium.

I recommend you make an appointment with your physician and request additional lab testing to possibly include a CBC with differential, serum calcium level and perhaps more based on your medical history.

Pain Management News: New treatment offers relief without medicine

New LUMEDX Chest Pain Management Solution Bridges Cardiology and Emergency Medicine

LUMEDX Corporation, a leading provider of fully integrated, cloud-powered cardiovascular imaging and information systems (CVIS), announced the release of the HealthView Chest Pain Management solution. HealthView Chest Pain Management makes pre-hospital electrocardiographs (ECGs/EKGs) instantaneously available to cardiologists for interpretation–and simultaneous comparison with prior ECGs, laboratory information and other patient data. By integrating current and historical information into a single view, the HealthView Chest Pain Management system bridges cardiac and emergency medicine, and transforms emergency cardiac care.

“Chest pain is the cause of about 12 million ED visits a year in the United States,” said LUMEDX Vice President of Strategic Products Praveen Lobo. “The stakes in chest pain management are very high–high for the hospital and high for the patient. For example, it’s very costly to activate a cath lab when a patient presenting symptoms does not, in fact, need a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Resources are wasted. And of course it’s far more costly–and dangerous–to discharge a patient who needs a PCI. So getting the ECG and other clinical information in front of a cardiologist as soon as possible is crucial for successful outcomes and a successful hospital.”

Designed using American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association acute coronary syndrome (ACS) management guidelines, HealthView Chest Pain enables systematic, organized clinical pathways for STEMI, NSTEMI and low-risk chest pain patients. The institution of systematic clinical pathways resolves key problems in the coordination and delivery of care in this high-risk area of medicine.

The HealthView Chest Pain Management solution:

– Integrates pre-hospital ECGs, lab results and other clinical information into a single dashboard view–accessible anytime, anywhere via Web PC, Mac or iPhone.

– Seamlessly connects the ED with the cardiovascular service line for improved patient care.

– Facilitates timely and fully informed decision-making; helps reduce door-to-balloon times and length of stay.

– Enables systematic, best-practice clinical pathways for STEMI, NSTEMI and low-risk chest pain patients.

– Supports registry participation and QI efforts; allows easy monitoring of AMI Core Measures.

– Minimizes malpractice, RAC audit and other risks; maximizes revenue opportunity.

Newark Chiropractic Center Announces Acupuncture Treatment for Pain Management

Newark Pain and Rehab Center has announced that the chiropractor offers acupuncture for pain management. Acupuncture is a non-invasive, natural treatment used to relieve chronic pain following sports injuries, auto injuries and work injuries. Based on an ancient Chinese healing art, acupuncture uses thin needles to stimulate the nerves, muscles and connective tissues in the body. Scientific studies suggest that this stimulation increase blood flow and prompts the body to release natural painkillers, which may relieve arm pain, neck pain and back pain. Newark Pain and Rehab Center serves the Newark, East Orange, Ironbound and Irvington communities.

Dr. Vincent Saraceno, a chiropractor in Newark, has announced that his practice, Newark Pain and Rehab Center, offers acupuncture as a treatment for arm pain, back pain and other chronic pain conditions.

Medical acupuncture for pain management is based on the traditional Chinese healing art of using thin needles to stimulate pressure points in the body. Western science has adapted this treatment for pain relief and now uses therapy to naturally manage pain, boost immune function and improve wellness.

“Acupuncture is an important complement to chiropractic treatments,” said Dr. Saraceno. “I frequently recommend this care to patients who are struggling with back pain and arm pain following an accident. By targeting pressure points on the body, this treatment naturally relieves pain while promoting internal healing.”

Scientific research suggests that the act of inserting a thin needle into a pressure point stimulates nerves, muscles and connective tissue. This stimulation may increase blood flow and prompt your body to release natural painkillers, including neurotransmitters and hormones. These chemicals are known to dull pain, boost the immune system and regulate the body’s functions.

Dr. Saraceno typically combines treatments with other non-invasive techniques, including adjustment and spinal decompression. This combination of care is part of his ‘whole body’ approach to wellness and the natural management of pain.

“Traditional medical treatments rely on prescription painkillers to cover up pain. While medication can temporarily relieve back pain and arm pain, it cannot correct the underlying problem,” said Dr. Saraceno. “Non-invasive treatments like spinal decompression and physical therapy, in conjunction with acupuncture, can restore alignment to the musculoskeletal system and even prevent future occurrences of sciatica in patients without relying on painkillers or invasive surgery.”

Dr. Saraceno and the Newark Pain and Rehab Center provides care for the Newark, East Orange, Ironbound and Irvington communities. In addition to acupuncture, services include chiropractic adjustment, spinal decompression, physical therapy and safe manipulation under anesthesia. Dr. Saraceno also provides general wellness counseling and lifestyle advice to his patients.

“My goal is to help every patient live a full, active and healthy life,” said Dr. Saraceno. “I strive to help every patient find meaningful pain relief through natural wellness treatments.”

New treatment offers relief without medicine

The latest in pain management doesn’t come in a pill. And while it uses a needle, that needle is not full of medicine.

Dry needling is a new procedure offered at Redmond Regional Medical Center’s Rehab Center.

Michael Shin, a doctor of physical therapy, first learned of dry needling while he was a student at North Georgia College & State University. In the past two months, he has seen about 100 patients who look to the procedure for pain relief.

Earlier this year, the Georgia Legislature approved the use of dry needling as part of the Georgia Physical Therapy Practice Act under House Bill 145.

Even though it may seem similar to Chinese acupuncture, Shin is quick to point out that it is not related in any way.

“Dry needling is an integrative therapeutic modality for soft tissue dysfunction,” Shin said.

“This treatment technique is used to address painful conditions that are related to small contractures in muscles, called trigger points. Dry needling is a minimally invasive procedure in which a monofilament needle is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a trigger point,” Shin said.

The procedure works because inserting a needle into a trigger point can cause favorable biomechanical, neurological and mechanical changes.

“These changes help to eliminate the trigger point and any associated pain by decreasing inflammation and modulating response of sensory nerve fibers to pain,” Shin said.

A variety of conditions can be treated with dry needling, Shin said, including lower back and neck pain, shoulder and arm pain (tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and impingement), hip and leg pain (sciatica, muscle strain and calf tightness/spasm), foot (ankle sprain, Achilles tendonitis and plantar fascitis), headache and jaw pain.

Some of the patients referred to him “have chronic pain, and they have tried everything,” Shin said.

After the treatments, most patients feel soreness that can last from a few hours to a few days, and as with all treatments involving a needle, there is a risk for infection.

Shin uses a single-packed disposable and sterile needle during treatment to prevent infection.

DJO Global Launches the Empi Active Knee System to Manage Knee Pain

DJO Global, Inc., (“DJO” or the “Company”) a leading provider of medical device solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management, today announced the launch of the Empi Active(TM) Knee TENS System to treat knee pain, a condition which may affect more than 19 million Americans. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) uses comfortable electrical stimulation to inhibit pain signals from reaching the brain thus effectively blocking the pain sensation.

The Empi Active Knee, with predetermined electrode placement built into a specialized wrap, delivers a proprietary TENS waveform to the knee to manage acute, chronic and arthritic pain while minimizing interruption of daily activities. The technology delivers a similar physiologic response as pain medication, but without the possible negative side effects from chronic use of medication. Approximately 250 million drug prescriptions for pain medications are written every year in the U.S.

Dr. Melisa Estes, a physiatrist and board certified pain medicine physician, reported, “I find that the Empi Active device can be helpful in decreasing the amount of pain medications that a patient may take. I also find it very useful for patients who have difficulty tolerating usual medications such as muscle relaxants or non steroidal anti-inflammatories.”

“Chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis, tendonitis and other conditions is an obstacle to maintaining healthy and active lifestyles and often leads to prolonged inactivity that can create other, more serious health consequences,” said Mike Mogul, president and chief executive officer of DJO Global. “With our broad portfolio of orthopedic preventative and rehabilitative products, DJO is uniquely positioned to help these patients.”

The Empi Active Knee System follows DJO Global’s success with its 2010 release of Empi Active Back, which uses the same proprietary TENS waveform technology to target back pain. Back pain affects approximately 65 million Americans and is the second most common reason people visit a doctor. Similar to the Empi Active Back, primary care physicians, orthopedic surgeons, pain specialists, rheumatologists and physical therapists can better manage their patients’ knee pain without disrupting their daily activities.