One in 10 Men in The World Have Erectile Dysfunction

One in 10 men in the world have erectile dysfunction and about 70% of men suffer episodes of erectile dysfunction at some time during their lives. Smokers have a higher risk of erectile dysfunction. Men who smoke more than 1 pack per day have a 50% higher risk of impotency than nonsmokers the same age. The likelihood of erectile dysfunction increases with age: 39% at age 40, 65% over the age of 65. There are many underlying physical and psychological causes of erectile dysfunction. Reduced blood flow to the penis and nerve damage are the most common physical causes.

How Should Influenza in Patients With Asthma Be Treated

Patients with asthma who have suspected or confirmed influenza should be strongly considered for antiviral medications because of their increased risk of developing a complication of influenza, said researchers from American Academy of Allergy Asthma&Immunology. Data from randomized controlled trials for antiviral medications for patients with asthma are limited; 1 trial demonstrated a decreased risk of asthma exacerbation (defined by changes in peak flow) in the oseltamivir group compared with placebo but did not meet its primary endpoint of demonstrating a difference in time to freedom from illness. Patients with asthma who present with concerning signs and symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection and suspected influenza should be treated with antiviral medication even if more than 48 hours have elapsed since symptoms started. In addition, patients with asthma should be treated for asthma exacerbation per their personalized written asthma action plan. Complications of influenza infection such as bacterial pneumonia should be considered. Evaluation of fatal pediatric 2009 H1N1 influenza cases found Staphylococcus aureus to be the most common bacteria isolated (including some cases of methicillin-resistant S aureus).

Antiviral medication choice depends on the influenza strain type and resistance patterns. Strain type can be obtained directly from test results (if the RT-PCR technique is used) or can be estimated by community surveillance reports. Seasonal influenza A H1N1-type (not 2009 H1N1) is resistant to oseltamivir, whereas type A H3N2-type is not. The influenza type B strain that circulated in the 2008 to 2009 season was susceptible to oseltamivir. Two of the type A strains that circulated most in the 2008 to 2009 season are expected to circulate in the 2009 to 2010 season and are included in the 2009 to 2010 seasonal influenza vaccine. Current recommendations are based on 2008 to 2009 season circulation and resistance data and will be updated when additional data become available. Oseltamivir is recommended for influenza B, influenza A H3N2-like, and 2009 H1N1. Zanamivir or a combination of rimantadine and oseltamivir is recommended for influenza A seasonal H1N1-like because of oseltamivir resistance. If the chosen testing method does not distinguish between influenza A strains, a
combination of oseltamivir and rimantadine is recommended for patients with asthma. If novel H1N1 influenza is the dominant circulating strain and antiviral resistance does not emerge, oseltami- vir may become the recommended antiviral for strains that cannot be confirmed. Zanamivir is active against all currently circulating influenza strains but should be used cautiously in patients with asthma because of case reports of severe bronchospasm.
Oseltamivir is the preferred antiviral medication for pregnant patients and children <7.> Patients with asthma who are not vaccinated against influenza at the time of diagnosis should be offered vaccination with TIV (for seasonal or 2009 H1N1) along with antiviral treatment.
Those with fever should not be vaccinated until the fever resolves.


Conclusions and key points for patients with asthma:

• Vaccinate with seasonal and 2009 H1N1 TIV unless there is a strong contraindication such as current febrile illness or Guillain-Barre´ syndrome within 6 weeks of previous influenza vaccination.
  

• Patients with asthma concerned about influenza vaccine allergy (including a convincing clinical history of egg allergy) should be evaluated by an allergist/immunologist.
  

• Consider whether testing for influenza will change treatment recommendations; when testing, strongly consider the RT-PCR testing method.
  

• Treat asthma patients with antiviral medications based on circulating strains and resistance patterns.
  

Half of U.S. Citizens Test Positive to Allergens

54.6% of all U.S. citizens test positive to one or more allergens, according to American Academy of Allergy Asthma&Immunology. Allergic diseases affect about 50 million Americans. Allergic rhinitis affects between 10% and 30% of all adults and as many as 40% of children. The prevalence of rhinitis is around 35% in Europe and Australasia, according to the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Allergic Rhinitis is estimated to affect approximately 60 million people in the United States, and its prevalence is increasing. Approximately 12% of Americans under 45 years old have symptoms of chronic sinusitis.

About 27% of children who have a food allergy also have eczema or a skin allergy. Atopic dermatitis affects between 10% and 20% of children and 1% to 3% of adults. Kids with a food allergy are two to four times more likely to have conditions such as asthma and other allergies. Food allergies affect about 6% of children under the age of three. “Food allergies are becoming increasingly common today,” said Margaret Fox, UEA’s School of Medicine Health Policy and Practice.

300 Million People Worldwide Suffer From Asthma

About 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma and 250,000 annual deaths are attributed to the disease, according to American Academy of Allergy Asthma&Immunology. It is estimated that the number of people with asthma will grow by more than 100 million by 2025. 11% of asthma cases are caused by workplace conditions, such as exposure to fumes, gases or dust. About 70% of asthmatics also have allergies. Approximately 40% of children who have asthmatic parents will develop asthma. Asthma increases the odds of healthcare use in obese people by 33%.

A recent study shows that swimming aids asthma symptoms in children. "Unlike other sports, swimming is unlikely to provoke asthma attacks. In addition to improving asthma, swimming promotes normal physical and psychological development, such as increasing lung volume, developing good breathing techniques and improving general fitness," said lead author, Wang Jeng-Shing from the Taipei Medical University.

Drugs Approved by FDA in 2009 for Cardiology and Vascular Disease

Drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale in the United States:

Adcirca (tadalafil); Eli Lilly; For the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Approved May 2009. Adcirca (tadalafil) is an oral inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), the enzyme responsible for the degradation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Adcirca is supplied as a 20 mg tablet for oral administration. The recommended initial dose of the drug is 40 mg (two 20 mg tablets) taken once daily with or without food.

Adverse events associated with the use of Adcirca may include headache, dyspepsia, myalgia, nausea, back pain, nasopharyngitis, flushing, respiratory tract infection, pain in extremity.

Atryn (antithrombin recombinant lyophilized powder for reconstitution); GTC BioTherapeutics; For the prevention of peri-operative and peri-partum thromboembolic events. Approved January 2009. Atryn is a recombinant antithrombin. Recombinant antithrombin is produced by recombinant DNA technology using genetically engineered goats. The amino acid sequence of recombinant antithrombin is identical to that of human plasma-derived antithrombin. Antithrombin plays a central role in the regulation of hemostasis and is the principal inhibitor of thrombin and Factor Xa5, the serine proteases that play pivotal roles in blood coagulation. Antithrombin neutralizes the activity of thrombin and Factor Xa by forming a complex which is rapidly removed from the circulation.

Adverse events associated with the use of Atryn may include intra-abdominal hemorrhage, application site pruritus, feeling hot, non-cardiac chest pain, hepatic enzyme abnormal, hemarthrosis hematuria, hematoma.

Eficient (prasugrel); Eli Lilly; for the prevention of thrombotic cardiovascular complications in acute coronary syndromes. Approved July 2009. Efient (prasugrel) works by reducing the tendency of platelets, the blood particles responsible for clotting, from sticking or clumping together. Prasugrel blocks a specific receptor on the platelet surface, P2Y12 adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and prevents platelets from clumping, which can result in clogged arteries and may lead to heart attack.

Adverse events associated with the use of Efient may include TIMI major or minor bleeding, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia/hyperlipidemia, headache, back pain, dyspnea, nausea, dizziness.

Livalo (pitavastatin); Kowa Company; For the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia and mixed dyslipidemia. Approved August 2009. Livalo is a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Livalo is specifically indicated as an adjunctive therapy to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), triglycerides (TG), and to increase HDL-C in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. Livalo is supplied as a tablet (1, 2 and 4 mg) for oral administration. The recommended initial dose of the drug is 2 mg and the maximum dose is 4 mg. After initiation or upon titration of Livalo, lipid levels should be analyzed after 4 weeks and the dosage adjusted accordingly.

Adverse events associated with the use of Livalo may include back pain, constipation, diarrhea, myalgia, pain in extremity.

Multaq (dronedarone); Sanofi-aventis; For the treatment of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Approved July 2009. Multaq (dronedarone) is a benzofuran derivative with antiarrhythmic properties belonging to all four Vaughan-Williams classes. Multaq is specifically indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL), with a recent episode of AF/AFL and associated cardiovascular risk factors who are in sinus rhythm or who will be cardioverted. Multaq is supplied as a 400mg tablet designed for oral administration. The recommended initial dose of the drug is 400 mg twice daily, once in the morning with a meal and once in the evening with a meal.

Adverse events associated with the use of Multaq may include diarrhea, asthenic conditions, nausea, skin infections, abdominal pain, bradycardia.

Tyvaso (treprostinil); United Therapeutics; For the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Approved July 2009. Tyvaso is a prostacyclin analogue. It directs vasodilation of pulmonary and systemic arterial vascular beds and inhibits platelet aggregation. Tyvaso is specifically indicated to increase walk distance in patients with WHO Group I pulmonary arterial hypertension and NYHA Class III symptoms. Tyvaso is suppled as a solution designed for oral inhalation. Tyvaso should be dosed in 4 separate, equally spaced treatment sessions per day, during waking hours. The treatment sessions should be approximately 4 hours apart.

Adverse events associated with the use of Tyvaso may include cough, headache, throat irritation, nausea, flushing, syncope.

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You Can Prevent Pre-Diabetes!

Blood glucose levels higher than normal tells you that you may have pre-diabetes. Managing your blood glucose in this stage can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from ever developing.

30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity and 5-10% reduction in body weight produce a 58% reduction in diabetes. There are 57 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes, according to American Diabetes Association.

How can you be shure you have pre-diabetes

There are two different tests your doctor can use to determine whether you have pre-diabetes: the fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) or the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). If your blood glucose lever is abnormal following the FPG, you have impaired fasting glucose (IFG). If your blood glucose level is abnormal following the OGGT, you have impaired glucose tolerance. (...)

• Diabetes affects 246 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 380 million by 2025.


• Each year a further 7 million people develop diabetes.


• Each year 3,8 million death are attributable to diabetes.


• Every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes-related causes, sais a report of International Diabetes Federation.
  

Stem cells may repair damaged hearts

Hearts that have suffered a heart attack may be repaired by using stem cells derived from the patient's own, according to scientists at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh who have shown success using human skeletal muscle cells to treat a mouse model of myocardial infarction.

The transplanted stem cells stimulated the growth of new blood vessels in the heart and reduced the formation of scar tissue at the injury site and thereby dramatically improved the function of the injured left ventricule of the heart.

"This study confirms our belief that this novel population of steam cells discovered in our laboratory holds tremendous promise for the future of regenerative medicine", said Dr. Johhny Huard, who is also the Henry J. Mankin Professor and vice chair for Musculoskeletal Cellular Therapeutics in the Department of Ortopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Stem cells from muscle tissue could also be used for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a horrible disease that affects one in every 3,500 boys, caused by a lack of the protein dystrophin.