Exercise Training is Beneficial to Heart Failure Patients

Posted on January 8, 2011 by wngai
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In an effort to determine the effect of exercise training on clinical events and the quality of life in patient with systolic heart failure, a group of researchers reviewed all the clinical trials that were published up to January 2008 and were conducted to compare the effect of exercise training and usual care in heart failure patients. 

They identified nineteen randomized controlled clinical trials with a total of 3,647 patients, the majority of whom were male, low-to-medium risk, and New York Heart Association class II-III with a left ventricular ejection fraction of <40%. 

They found that exercise therapy reduced heart failure-related hospitalizations by 38% and improved the quality of life. 

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Tramadol might Increase Suicide Risk

Posted on January 8, 2011 by wngai
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday that it has added the warning label of suicide risk to tramadol hydrochloride (Ultram) and tramadol hydrochloride/acetaminophen (Ultracet).  Ultram and Ultracet are opioid analgesic used for moderate to severe pain (such as cancer and arthritis pain).

The revised labels instruct doctors not to prescribe tramadol to patients who are suicidal or addiction-prone, and to be careful when prescribing the medications to patients who

1)      use alcohol excessively,

2)      suffer from emotional disturbance or depression,

3)      take tranquilizers or antidepressants. 

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FDA Approves Gardasil for Prevention of Anal Cancer

Posted on January 8, 2011 by wngai
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Anal cancers are generally uncommon, but the incidence is increasing, especially among high-risk groups such as gay men.  In the US, about 5,300 new cases of anal cancer are diagnosed each year, and HPVs account for 90% of the cases. 

On December 22, 2010, FDA approved Gardasil, the recombinant HPV (human papillomavirus quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) vaccine made by Merck & Co., for the prevention of anal cancer caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in patients aged 9 to 26 years. 

The vaccine is already approved for the prevention of cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers, as well as for the prevention of precancerous lesions caused HPVs. It is also approved for prophylaxis against genital warts associated with HPVs 6 and 11 in both males and females. 

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Grow Your Hair Back with Chinese Herbal Medicine

Posted on December 23, 2010 by wngai
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Rogaine (Minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) are the 2 most popular western medicines to treat hair loss.  However, not all patients respond to these medicines and some patients might develop unwarranted side-effects such as libido and dermatological reactions.  For those patients, Chinese Medicine might be the appropriate solution. 

According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine, the main causes of hair loss and “greying” is due to the lack of blood supplying essential nutrients to the head.  The lack of blood supply is, in turn is due to poor kidney functions and lack of blood storage inside the liver.  Kidney and liver are 2 key organs which are involved in the development and storage of blood and other nutrients. 

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How to Get Rid of Toddlers Cough when Cough Syrup does not Work?

Posted on December 23, 2010 by wngai
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Infants and toddlers have narrow airways and are prone to cough when they have bronchitis or respiratory infections. 

The most common symptoms associated with bronchitis or respiratory infections are cough that comes with phlegm.  It is important to distinguish bronchitis from respiratory bacteria infections (usually associated with greenish or yellowish sputum) since the later condition requires antibiotics treatment. 

For infants and toddlers who have acute or chronic bronchitis, physicians usually prescribe short term bronchodilators such as montelukast sodium (Singular) and salbutamol (Ventolin).  However, there are times when infants or toddlers do not respond to those medicine. 

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Physical Activity and Risk of Breast Cancer Among Postmenopausal Women

Posted on December 22, 2010 by wngai
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Physical activity has many health benefits, including weight loss and maintenance, improved insulin sensitivity and improved lipid profile.  

An analysis, which was based on the Nurses’Health Study, reported that moderate physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. 

The study involved 95,396 postmenopausal women and was followed for 20years. 

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Chocolate can Prevent Heart-Failure

Posted on December 22, 2010 by wngai
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Although many studies have reported intake chocolate, especially flavanol-rich dark chocolate, can improve blood pressure and provide other cardiovascular benefits, a new study suggested chocolate can reduce the risk of heart failure. 

The results came from the Swedish Mammography Cohort, which looked at the effect of foods, activity levels, body dimensions on the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Over a nine year period, women who took a one to three servings of chocolate per month had a 26% reduce in the risk of heart failure while those who took one or two servings per week had a 32% reduction in heart failure. 

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Bevacizumab Beneficial in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma?

Posted on December 22, 2010 by wngai
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A large study of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme suggests that the addition of bevacizumab (Avastin) and irinotecan (Camptosar) to standard chemoradiation can extend survival (progression and overall survival) by 6 months. 

Bevacizumab (Avastin) is an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor and irinotecan (Camptosar) is a topoisomerase inhibitor that prevents DNA replication.  Chemoradiation refers to temozolomide (Temodar)-based chemotherapy and radiation. 

The study included 125 patients who have new diagnosed grade 4 malignant glioblastoma multiforme.  Patients were treated in 2 phases.  

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Afatinib Extend Time to Tumor Progression in Advanced Lung Cancer

Posted on December 22, 2010 by wngai
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Currently, no treatment exists for lung cancer patients with epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) mutation who have failed tyrosine kinase inhibitors, getifinib (Iressa) or erlotinib (Tarceva). 

However, an investigational drug, afatinib (BIBW 2992), was recently found to increase progression-free survival and tumor shrinkage in this group of patients. 

In the LUX-Lung 1 study, 585 nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutation and with stage IIIB/IV adenocarcinoma of the lung were randomized to receive the experimental compound, afatinib, plus best supportive care or placebo plus best supportive care.  

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Aspirin Can Prevent From Several Common Cancers

Posted on December 22, 2010 by wngai
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If you are taking aspirin to prevent heart attack, you should be glad to know that you might also be protected from a variety of cancers.  

According to a new study published in Lancet, taking aspirin over a long period of time can cut the risk of dying from a variety of cancers.  The protective effect also increases with age. 

The study, involving 25,570 patients, was originally designed to evaluate the effect of aspirin to prevent heart attacks.  After a follow-up of 20 years, the researchers showed a 21 reduction in deaths due to cancers in patients who had taken aspirin.  

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