MEDICAL TIPS & CLUES
1st to 15th
January – 2009
MANY ELDERLY CAN IMPROVE
THEIR WALKING ABILITY: Most people in their 50s and older who are having difficulty
walking will not get worse over the next 2 years, and many will actually
improve, new research shows. Doctors from Chicago showed that at least 25% of
people with reported problems in walking had improved over 2 years and another
40% stayed stable. Efforts to exercise regularly and stop smoking were the most
helpful.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_73286.html.
LIPONORM: In the largest study to
date, treatment with a statin (Atorvastatin) drug was found to reduce new cases
of Alzheimer's disease. The analysis included 6992 subjects, 55 years old or
older, who were free of dementia when examined between 1990 and 1993. During
follow-up until 2005, statin (Atorvastatin) users had a significant 43% reduced
risk of Alzheimer's disease compared with those who never used statins.
Haag
MDM et al. Journal of Neurology,
Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2009; 80: 13-17.
AZIBEST: Single dose Azithromycin
(1000 mg) is highly effective in non gonoccocal urethritis, 87% in symptomatic
cases and 100% in asymptomatic cases, whether chlamydial or non chlamydial. An
alternate regimen of 500 mg day 1 followed by 250 mg daily for 4 days is also
recommended with 95% effectiveness especially in mycoplasma infection.
Takahashi
S et al: J Infect Chemother 2008; 14: 409-412.
(16TH -
31ST) JANUARY 2009
SIMPLE EXERCISE KEEPS BRAIN AT TOP OF
ITS GAME: A
study of Canadian women older than 65 found that those who took part in regular
aerobic activity had cognitive function scores 10 percent higher than their
peers who did not exercise. The active women also had lower blood pressure (at
rest and during exercise) and better vascular responses in the brain,
suggesting that better blood flow aids the ability to think.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_74029.html.
EXTACEF-i: Blood culture proven cases of typhoid
(enteric fever) in Rajasthan showed 100% response to Ceftriaxone and 100%
continued in vitro sensitivity.
Saharan
G et al. J Indian Med Assoc 2008; 106: 528-532.
DICLOTAL GEL: Topical
diclofenac significantly reduced pain and morning stiffness and improved
physical function and patient global assessment without major adverse effects
reported in patients with Osteoarthritis of the knee; and provided significant
pain relief in patients with sports and soft tissue injuries involving the
ankle, knee or shoulder.
Banning
M. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2008; 9: 2921-2929.
(1st
- 15th FEBRUARY 2009)
COFFEE DRINKERS SHOW LOWER
DEMENTIA RISK: Among 1,400 Finnish adults
followed for 20 years, those who drank three to five cups of coffee per day in
middle-age were two-thirds less likely than non-drinkers to develop dementia,
including Alzheimer's disease. They also have lower incidence of Parkinson's
disease, certain cancers and diabetes.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_74956.html
VEBA: Growing
girls have better muscle power with Vitamin D. Jumping strength was measured in
young adolescent girls and those with normal levels of Vitamin D in their blood
did significantly better than girls with Vit D deficiency. February is Vitamin
D awareness month. Sunshine and a good supplement can help with good muscle
strength.
Ward
KA et al: J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;94:559-63.
LIPONORM: Taking statins faithfully lengthens
life. The study examined over 200 000 patients enrolled in an HMO in Israel who
started on Statins. Patients achieved benefit with statins whether or not they
had coronary heart disease and patients with and without heart problems had 45%
reduction in mortality if they had regularly taken statins.
Shalev
V et al: Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:260-8
(15th
-28th FEBRUARY 2009)
STROKE RISK
REDUCED BY GREEN, BLACK TEA: Drinking at least three cups
of green or black tea a day can significantly reduce the risk of stroke by 21
%. The study results were applicable only to tea made from Camellia sinensis,
either green or black. For three cups a day, the risk falls by 21 percent;
follow that with another three cups and the risk drops another 21 percent. The
Unilever Lipton Institute of Tea funded this study.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/140000.php.
LIPONORM: Use of statins (Atorvastatin) in women resulted in reduced
risk of gallbladder surgery by 18%. The reduction could be even more depending
on the duration of usage. Statins reduce biliary cholesterol secretion as part
of their action.
Tsai CJ et al.:
Gastroenterology. 2009 Jan 24.
MEGO-XL: People with heart disease who take high doses of B vitamins
are less likely to suffer from stroke, especially if they are under age 70.
Taking a daily dose of 2.5 milligrams of folic acid, 50 milligrams of vitamin
B6 and 1 milligram of vitamin B12 reduced the risk of stroke by 25% and the
risk of recurrent stroke as well.
Gustavo Saposnik et al.
Conference proceedings International Conference on Stroke 2009 #99.
(1st
– 15th) MARCH 2009
WATCHING FACES IMPROVES YOUR HEARING: Even
people with normal hearing apparently combine lip reading information to the
sounds they hear, research at Baylor University confirms. This is helpful when
ambient noises, such as in a crowded restaurant or noisy workplaces are
present, our natural ability to lip read fills in the blanks.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/140960.php.
VEBA-PLUS: High
dietary intake of calcium may reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. The
women with the highest intake (averaged 1,881 milligrams) of calcium per day
experienced a 23 percent lower risk of colon cancer than those women with
lowest intake (averaged 494 milligrams daily).
Park
Y et al. Arch Intern Med. 2009; 169: 391-401.
MEGO-XL: Taking Folic Acid and vitamin B6 and
B12 may help women preserve their eyesight as they age. Among 5,205 women 40
and older, those who had been randomly assigned to take the vitamin combo were
35 percent less likely to develop macular degeneration (AMD) that is the
leading cause of vision loss among older US adults.
Christen
WG et al. Arch Intern Med. 2009; 169: 335-341.
(15TH-31ST)
MARCH 2009
YELLOW
MOONG DAL PEA PROTEIN FIGHTS BLOOD PRESSURE AND KIDNEY DISEASE: New
research from Canada has found natural remedies in the common garden pea or
yellow moong dal as it is called in India, may become available as a supplement
powder or pill for kidney and blood pressure benefits.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/143262.php.
PROMOTIONAL CLUES:
MEGO-XL: Vitamin B12 reduced the
chances of brain shrinkage, which is linked to reduced mental abilities, in
older age. Recently Vitamin B12 deficiency is a recognized public health
problem, particularly among older people, so increasing B12 intake could help
to reduce the problem.
Vogiatzoglou
A et al. Neurology 2008 71: 826-832.
AZIBEST: Azithromycin has already
been established as a superior treatment for whooping cough, now it is also
being recommended for prophylaxis. For whooping cough prophylaxis, researchers
compared Erythromycin (qid for 14 days) to Azithromycin (od for 5 days) and
found higher patient compliance with Azithromycin (57% vs 93%) due to higher GI
side effects in the erythromycin group.
Devasia
RA et al. Am J Med Sci 2009; 337: 176-178.
(1ST
– 15TH) APRIL 2009
BROCCOLI MAY
WARD OFF SERIOUS STOMACH AILMENTS: Broccoli
and its sprouts contains a chemical called sulforaphane. This chemical directly
acts on the stomach to reduce harmful ulcer causing bacteria. Thus eating
broccoli and broccoli sprouts helps reduce the incidence of stomach ulcers.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82565.html.
PROMOTIONAL CLUES:
AZIBEST: Azithromycin is a useful
antibiotic in patients who have GERD or in ICU patients to protect the lungs
against acid reflux. Azithromycin has shown a protective effect on acid reflux
and bile reflux by over 50% and even reduced reflux events to one third.
Beneficial effects are thought to be from promoting faster forward motility and
faster stomach emptying.
Mertens
V et al. Dig Dis Sci 2009 Feb 25.
BLUMOX: Amoxycillin continues to be
the mainstain of eradicating helicobacter stomach infection in many regimens. A
meta analysis has found high success rates for concomitant protocols and
eradication rates of over 89% overall and over 92% in specific protocols.
Essa
AS et al: Helicobacter. 2009;14:109-118.
(15th
– 30th) APRIL 2009
VEGETARIANS LESS LIKELY TO DEVELOP
CANCER THAN MEAT EATERS:
Researchers from Oxford, UK followed
61000 people over 12 years and found a lower incidence of cancers of the
stomach, bladder and blood in vegetarians. Vegetarians are 12 per cent less
likely to develop cancer than meat eaters, according to new research published
in the British Journal of Cancer.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156341.php.
AZIBEST: Pneumonia
in childhood is still a major problem addressed by WHO. A new report from CDC
doctors in Atlanta Georgia and WHO indicates that Azithromycin, a macrolide
antibiotic is in the forefront of recommended treatments for non severe
pneumonia in children over the age of 3 years.
Grant
GB et al. Lancet Infect Dis 2009; 9: 185-196.
LOSTAT AND ANGICAM: Combination
treatment of blood pressure is gaining popularity with calcium channel blocker
and ARB providing helpful benefits and lower incidence of adverse drug effects.
Furthermore, ARBs confer stroke protection, renal protection, and tolerability
similar to placebo, without dose-related symptomatic and metabolic AEs, while
CCBs are beneficial in reducing stroke and treating angina pain and reduced
coronary blood flow.
Oparil
et al. Postgrad Med 2009; 121: 25-39.
(1ST
– 15TH) MAY 2009
SAVING YOUR
VISION THROUGH FISH, FRUIT AND GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES: Older adults who eat diets rich in citrus fruits,
leafy greens and fish oil, but low in "glycemic index," have a lower
risk of age-related vision loss. Helpful nutrients include fish rich in omega-3
fatty acids, or foods high in vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and the coloring
pigment antioxidants found in broccoli, spinach, other leafy green vegetables,
as well as egg yolks.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_84243.html
PROMOTIONAL CLUES:
MEGO-XL: Folic
Acid Reduces Infant Heart Defects. Since the mandatory addition of folic acid
to flour, pasta and other grain products took effect in Canada more than a
decade ago, fewer babies have been born with congenital heart defects. Folic
acid has been shown to reduce brain and spine birth defects. Folic Acid
supplementation in food or vitamins is beneficial for women of child bearing
age and in pregnancy.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_84167.html
LIPONORM: Cardiologists
at an American Heart Association in Washington, D.C reported that the risk of
death or major heart problems was halved for people suffering life-threatening
episodes of acute coronary syndrome who received Atorvastatin, compared to
those who didn’t. The group that received statins showed a two thirds reduction
in angina.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83690.html
(15TH-31ST)
MAY 2009
DRINKING TOO MUCH COLA CAN LEAD TO MUSCLE PARALYSIS: Researchers in Greece found out mild weakness to
profound muscle paralysis can be due to excessive cola consumption (2-3 litter
/ day). High consumption of cola drinks is already associated with problems of
diabetes, tooth problems and loss of bone strength, but now weakness of muscles
due to decreased potassium could also occur.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150656.php.
PROMOTIONAL CLUES:
MEGO-XL and VEBA: Women
dancers, ballerinas and professional athletes can have nutritional deficiencies,
menstrual problems, problems related to blood vessels and reduced bone density.
Supplementing folic acid improves their blood flow and vessel functions.
Supplementation of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and zinc improves their bone
and blood vessel health.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090530094456.htm.
LIPONORM: People with type 2 diabetes develop problems with
blood vessel stiffness due to cholesterol deposits and plaque and this leads to
decreased circulation in limbs, brain, heart and kidney. Atorvastatin restores
artery function in people with type 2 diabetes even if they have normal
cholesterol levels to begin with.
Mukherjee S et al. J Indian Med Assoc. 2008; 106: 716-719
(1ST
– 15TH) JUNE 2009
CHOCOLATE
MILK MAY BE GOOD FOR SPORTS PLAYERS: Low fat chocolate milk after
a vigorous work out can help to replenish muscle energy stores and also helps
in reducing muscle damage - compared to when they drank the carbohydrate
beverage. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152240.php.
ANGICAM:
Analysis
conducted in the US and Europe showed that Amlodipine, a long acting calcium
channel blocker provided greater protection against stroke and myocardial
infarction compared to other classes of antihypertensive drugs.
de
Portu S et al. J Med Econ 2009; 12: 60-68.
ANTIBAN: In a study of over 21000 patients treated with heart
stent at a centre in the Netherlands, it was found that among those who got a
stent thrombosis, there was a high risk (36 times more) for patients who had no
clopidogrel at the time of stent or had discontinued clopidogrel within 1 to 6
months later (5 times the risk) or 6 months after the stent (6 times the risk).
Van
Werkum JW et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009; 53: 1399-1409.
(15TH
– 30TH) JUNE 2009
MOM’S
BREAST MILK PROTECTS BABY’S INTESTINE: Scientists at Queen Mary
Hospital London, have discovered a unique ingredient in breast milk that can
repair Baby’s intestine. Babies have never had food or drink and have a
delicate gut. The special ingredient called PSTI is found in the first few days
after birth and goes and causes the cells in the intestine to move across
damaged areas and repair it. This helps prepare the baby for the future
feedings and nourishment needed for good health.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090629200754.htm
PROMOTIONAL CLUES
DOLOSTAT
AND TIZPA: Tizanidine and aceclofenac individually have shown
efficacy in the treatment of low back pain. Doctors in Mumbai studied the
combination over individual drug alone and found good tolerability and even
higher response of symptoms. Combination of the 2 drugs over a 7 day period
delivered improved spine flexion, better night relief and improved movement
with the combination delivering increased numbers in the excellent to good
response category.
Pareek
A et al: Eur Spine J. 2009 May 7.
LEK: Multidrug
resistant tuberculosis is a growing problem particularly in India. Levofloxacin
applicable as treatment for such patients with extended, acute or progressing
disease or those who have large and multiple cavities in the lungs. It provides
significant clinical improvement and if necessary allows to prepare the patient
in a short period for surgical operation.
(No
authors listed): Antibiot Khimioter. 2009;54:31-7.
(1st
– 15th) JULY 2009
MOM’S
BREAST MILK PROTECTS BABY’S INTESTINE: Scientists at Queen Mary
Hospital London, have discovered a unique ingredient in breast milk that can
repair Baby’s intestine. The special ingredient called PSTI (pancreatic Secretory
Trypsin Inhibitor) is found in the first few days after birth and goes and
causes the cells in the intestine to move across damaged areas and repair it.
This helps prepare the baby for the future feedings and nourishment needed for
good health.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090629200754.htm.
PROMOTIONAL CLUES
DOLOSTAT
AND TIZPA: Tizanidine and aceclofenac individually have shown
efficacy in the treatment of low back pain. Doctors in Mumbai studied the
combination over individual drug alone and found good tolerability and even
higher response of symptoms. Combination of the 2 drugs over a 7 day period
delivered improved spine flexion, better night relief and improved movement
with the combination delivering increased numbers in the excellent to good
response category.
Pareek
A et al. Eur Spine J 2009 May 7.
LEK: Multidrug
resistant tuberculosis is a growing problem particularly in India. Levofloxacin
applicable as treatment for such patients with extended, acute or progressing
disease or those who have large and multiple cavities in the lungs. It provides
significant clinical improvement and if necessary allows to prepare the patient
in a short period for surgical operation.
(No
authors listed): Antibiot Khimioter. 2009; 54: 31-37.
(15TH-
31ST) JULY 2009
TOOTH
DECAY, BLEEDING GUMS CAN BE A SIGN OF BIGGER HEALTH PROBLEMS: Tooth
and gum problems could reflect a whole lot more than simply problems in the
mouth. Tooth decay and gum disease can be because of higher refined carbo
intake, which is also associated with other health problems such as diabetes.
But the larger problem is that mouth infection can be a sign for body wide
inflammation that is also associated with heart and blood vessel disease.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_87405.html.
PROMOTIONAL CLUES:
K-PIO: Pioglitazone
was evaluated for beneficial effects on artery stiffness in diabetic patients.
Compared to other drugs, including insulin, and only diet and exercise, only
Pioglitazone resulted in beneficial reduction in artery stiffness when
evaluated over four and half years.
Harashima
et al. Metabolism 2009; 58: 739-745.
MEGO-XL: vegetarian diets can also be associated with B12
deficiency which is associated with chronic fatigue problems, anemia and nerve
weakness and higher level of homocysteine, which is harmful to heart and blood
vessel. B12 in diet and providing supplements can help avoid risk of
B12 deficiency, fatigue and anemia and improve health benefits on
heart and blood vessels.
Elmadafa
I et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2009; 89: 1693S-1698S.
(1ST
– 15TH) AUGUST 2009
CHRONIC TV
WATCHING MOST HARMFUL SEDENTARY ACTIVITY: Children show rise in blood pressure from watching
more than one and half hour to 5 hours of TV per day, both in obese and in
normal weight children, which may be compounded by the content of the TV shows
as well as salty or fatty foods consumed while watching TV.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914450,00.html.
LIPONORM: Diabetic patients are at high risk for heart problems
and vessels problems related to high cholesterol. Patients already on Gemfibrozil
type drugs, switching to Atorvastatin for 6 months had greater impact on
reducing total cholesterol and LDL-C by 90% compared to 51% with fibrates.
Meas T et al. Eur J Intern Med 2009; 20:
197-200.
Ome-PPI: An open study on reflux esophagitis was conducted at
102 hospitals in Japan, comparing Omeprazole with Famotidine. Overall symptom
improvement within 2 weeks was superior for Omeprazole at over 75% compared to
41% for Famotidine. Omeprazole was also superior to Famotidine for reduction of
epigastric pain and feeling of fullness in addition to reflux symptoms.
Kusunoki H et al. J Gastroenterol
2009; 261-270.