‘Brain Exercises’ May Delay Memory Decline In Dementia
‘Brain Exercises’ May Delay Memory Decline In Dementia says a study published in the Journal “Neurology”. This is the official medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging followed 488 patients (ages 75-85) for about 5 years.
The researchers found that for every additional activity a person participated in, the onset of rapid memory loss was delayed by 0.18 years, that’s about 2 months. They looked at activity levels in these individuals for brain training activities like reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing board or card games, having group discussions, and playing music. Patients who engaged in these activities tend to have a much slower progression in memory loss: infact “The point of accelerated decline was delayed by 1.29 years for the person who participated in 11 activities per week compared to the person who participated in only four activities per week,” said study author Charles B. Hall, PhD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY.
Popularity: 19% [?]
CDC Use of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine
The CDC has just released Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2009 for the Use of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine. The vaccine is expected to become available in October, but the CDC wants to let healthcare providers know early on who should be vaccinated. Here’s a summary of the recommendations from the CDC:
This report provides recommendations by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of vaccine against infection with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. Information on vaccination for seasonal influenza has been published previously (CDC. Prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP], 2009. MMWR 2009;58[No. RR-8]). Vaccines against novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have not yet been licensed; however, licensed vaccine is expected to be available by mid-October 2009. On July 29, 2009, ACIP reviewed epidemiologic and clinical data to determine which population groups should be targeted initially for vaccination. ACIP also considered the projected vaccine supply likely to be available when vaccine is first available and the expected increase in vaccine availability during the following 6 months. These recommendations are intended to provide vaccination programs and providers with information to assist in planning and to alert providers and the public about target groups comprising an estimated 159 million persons who are recommended to be first to receive influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine. The guiding principle of these recommendations is to vaccinate as many persons as possible as quickly as possible. Vaccination efforts should begin as soon as vaccine is available. State and local health officials and vaccination providers should make decisions about vaccine administration and distribution in accordance with state and local conditions. Highlights of these recommendations include 1) the identification of five initial target groups for vaccination efforts (pregnant women, persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months, health-care and emergency medical services personnel, children and young adults aged 6 months–24 years, and persons aged 25–64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications), 2) establishment of priority for a subset of persons within the initial target groups in the event that initial vaccine availability is unable to meet demand, and 3) guidance on use of vaccine in other adult population groups as vaccine availability increases. Vaccination and health-care providers should be alert to announcements and additional information from state and local health departments and CDC concerning vaccination against novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. Additional information is available from state and local health departments and from CDC’s influenza website (http://www.cdc.gov/flu).
Popularity: 30% [?]
FDA Launches New Center for Tobacco Products
The FDA Launches New Center for Tobacco Products in an effort to save thousands of people dying yearly from the consequences of smoking.
Here are excerpts from the FDA press release: “The Center will oversee the implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act signed by President Obama in June 2009. The FDA’s responsibilities under the law include setting performance standards, reviewing premarket applications for new and modified risk tobacco products, and establishing and enforcing advertising and promotion restrictions.
Lawrence Deyton, M.D. M.S.P.H., an expert on veterans’ health issues, public health, tobacco use, and a clinical professor of medicine and health policy at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, will serve as the Center’s first director.”
“The FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, located on the FDA’s White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Md., will use the best available science to guide the development and implementation of effective public health strategies to reduce the burden of illness and death caused by tobacco products.”
Popularity: 13% [?]
The FDA has Approved Saphris to Treat Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
The FDA today Approved Saphris (asenapine) to Treat Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder are two disabling psychiatric disorders which affects millions of people around the world.
Here’s a statement from the FDA website:
The efficacy of Saphris in treating schizophrenia was studied in three short-term placebo-controlled and active-drug controlled clinical trials. In two of the trials Saphris demonstrated superior efficacy compared to an inactive pill (placebo) in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia.
The efficacy of Saphris in the treatment of bipolar disorder was studied in two short-term placebo-controlled and active-drug controlled clinical trials in which Saphris was shown to be superior to placebo in treating symptoms of bipolar disorder.
The most common adverse reactions reported by patients in clinical trials being treated for schizophrenia with Saphris were the inability to sit still or remain motionless (akathisia), decreased oral sensitivity (oral hypoesthesia) and drowsiness (somnolence).
The most common adverse reactions reported by patients in clinical trials using Saphris to treat bipolar disorder were drowsiness, dizziness, movement disorders other than akathisia and weight increase.
Saphris is manufactured by Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, N.J.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Eating Chocolate cuts death rate in heart attack survivors
Eating Chocolate cuts death rate in heart attack survivors. These are the results of a study published by Imre Janszky of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The study experts tracked 1,169 non-diabetic men and women, 45-to-70 years old, in Stockholm County during the early 1990s from the time they were hospitalised with their first-ever heart attack. They found that both men and women in this study group benefitted greatly from eating chocolate.
Janszky and collegues beleive that chocolate contains beneficial bioactive compounds and antioxidants could hold the key here.
“It seems that antioxidants in cocoa are a likely candidate” for explaining the live-saving properties, he told AFP in an exchange of e-mails.
Antioxidants are compounds that protect against so-called free radicals, molecules which accumulate in the body over time that can damage cells and are thought to play a role in heart disease, cancer and the aging process.
So eating some chocolate may not be all that bad. It will be interesting to see if we can get similar results for people who have not yet had a heart attack.
Popularity: 23% [?]
FDA Approves New Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Livalo (pitavastatin)
The FDA today Approved the New Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Livalo (pitavastatin). The drug is produced by Kowa Research Institute (KRI) based in Morrisville, NC and Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. (KPA), a privately-held specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Montgomery, AL.
Livalo is expected to have the same side effect profile like many other so-called Statin drugs. Pitavastatin has been in use in several Asian countries for some time now.
Livalo is indicated for the treatment of high cholesterol in patients with increased risk for heart disease due to their cholesterol profile.
Here’s a statement from the FDA:
Livalo was approved on the basis of five clinical trials comparing its efficacy and safety to that of three currently marketed statins.
The most frequently reported adverse reactions from taking Livalo were muscle pain, back pain, joint pain and constipation.
Popularity: 33% [?]
New HIV strain from gorillas discovered in woman from Cameroon in West Africa
A new strain of HIV has been discovered in woman from Cameroon in West Africa. This strain is different from all the other strains already documented by the scientific community. This strain does appear to be similar to other strains found in wild gorillas. This patient currently lives in France after moving from Cameroon. She appears to have been infected back in 2004, but does not have any signs and symptoms of AIDS.
Researchers do not yet know how widespread this strain is, but it may have already infected a lot of people in this region. The full article will be published in the journal Nature Medicine tomorrow.
Popularity: 15% [?]
FDA asked US Marshalls to seize Skin Sanitizers, Protectants Made by Clarcon Biological Chemical Laboratory Inc.
The US Marshalls have seized Skin Sanitizers, Protectants Made by Clarcon Biological Chemical Laboratory Inc at the request of the FDA. This is to protect the public from any harm. The products were noted to contain high numbers of bacteria that can make users of these products sick after using them. Inspections conducted recently by the FDA uncovers high amounts of disease-causing bacteria in these products. Clarcon voluntarily recalled them.
Here’s the offical statement from the FDA:
‘“The FDA is committed to taking enforcement action against firms that do not manufacture drugs in accordance with our current good manufacturing practice requirements,” said Deborah M. Autor, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Office of Compliance. “We will remain vigilant in our efforts to protect consumers from defective products.”
Clarcon produced and distributed over 800,000 bottles of these products in multiple regions of the country since 2007. Consumers should not use any Clarcon products and should dispose of them in their household trash.’
The products include: Citrushield Lotion
Dermasentials DermaBarrier
Dermassentials by Clarcon Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer
Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment
Skin Shield Restaurant
Skin Shield Industrial
Skin Shield Beauty Salon Lotion
Total Skin Care Beauty
Total Skin Care Work
Popularity: 100% [?]
FDA Approves ONGLYZA™ (saxagliptin), a new drug for diabetes
The US FDA has approved ONGLYZA™ (saxagliptin), a new diabetes drug. Onglyza is produced and marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co together with AstraZenica, two drug giants.
Onglyza is in the same family as Januvia and is expected to be used by diabetes patients as an add-on to drugs like Metformin, glypizide etc, or can be used alone along with diet and execise. The companies expect to make anywhere from $300-1000 million on this drug anually. The FDA website has the full approval press release.
Let’s see if this is going to help a lot of diabetic patients.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Conjoined twins born with one body in JAKARTA Indonesia
A mother in Jakarta Indonesia has just delivered conjoined twins born with one body. The twins appear to share most vital organs and can therefore not be seperated. Delivery was by C-section. It’s not clear what their chances of survival are. Six specialits doctors were on hand for the delivery and the final verdict from them was that they cannot be seperated. The twins share a lot of vital organs, but have two heads, 2 hearts and 2 lungs. Let’s all pray for them. The original story is in The Jakarta Post.
Popularity: 12% [?]