Archive for February, 2009

Calories Count When It Comes To Weight Loss

You’ve heard the names before: Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers. For years companies have been enticing people to buy into their methods. Each one promises that their approach is the one that will finally help you shed those pounds.

A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicates that the diet someone chooses is largely irrelevant. The finding of this controlled study, the largest ever conducted on weight-loss methods, is that the key element in losing weight is counting calories.

The study consisted of 800 overweight adults from Boston and Baton Rouge who were divided into four groups. Each group was assigned a different diet that reduced calories using different combinations of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Participants also received either group or individual counseling.

After two years, each of the four groups had lost and regained roughly the same amount of weight. Overall, weight loss was modest with an average of 13 pounds at the six month mark and 9 pounds after two years. Most participants reverted to some of their old eating habits after a year.

The study shows that there really is no single diet that is the answer to weight loss. “It really does cut through the hype,” said Dr. Frank M. Sacks, the study’s lead author and a professor at Harvard. “It gives people lots of flexibility to pick a diet that they can stick with.  The effect of any particular diet group is minuscule, but the effect of individual behavior is humongous.”

New Drug may improve conditions in MS

Multiple Sclerosis (abbreviated as MS) is a chronic progressive disease of central nervous system where, myelin sheath - insulating covering of neuron is lost. It is believed to be auto immune dysfunction where immune system of the body attacks its own central nervous system. Often problems experienced are with respect to mobility and numbness, problems in speech and vision, weakness, loss of muscle coordination and bladder control. These patients are coupled with treatment and Physiotherapy.

Recent ground breaking trial report as published in Lancet, British Medical Journal that Fampridine has shown better results as compared to placebo in patients with MS. An extensive clinical trial was carried out in the late stage of Phase III, where 301 patients were involved between age 18 - 70 years for a period of over 14 weeks. Study drug – Fampridine was compared with placebo (similar looking medication with no active drug) in the trial and end points were tested in a timed 25-foot walk. Fampridine trial and drug was sponsored by Acorda Therapeutics.

Trial was divided into two controlled groups, one receiving study medication – Fampridine and other Placebo. Both the groups were given respective medication twice a day for 14 days. Patients were evaluated on the basis of walking speed after 2, 6, 10 and finally 14 weeks. Endpoint was to determine walking speed as the evaluation criteria for the study drug. Fampridine not only showed better results in walking speed but also showed significant increase in muscle strength.

In the last three out of four assessments, 35% of patients showed significant improvement in the controlled group of Fampridine as compared to only 8% of patients receiving placebo. Studies are still to be carried out for evaluating other effects of drug like visual function, strength and endurance. As mentioned by Andrew Goodman of the University of Rochester Medical Center that possible side-effects for the drug may include seizure and may increase in a dose dependent way. Before prescribing the medication, doctor has to evaluate the possible side effects of drugs after considering the condition of the patient.

MS is a frightening and lethal disease of central nervous system; it is believed that more that 2.5 million people have this disease. US Surveys report that 400,000 – 500,000 people in US are suffering from MS and out of which 64 – 85 % of them consider walking as the most challenging part. Occurrences of the disease have increased in modern times. In the available treatment options it is important to select the best suited for the disease stage and individual conditions. Any research that helps patient’s mobility and improve quality of life would be a great boon for the patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Ed McMahon in a fight for his life with pneumonia

Entertainer Ed McMahon, who will turn 86 next week, has been hospitalized with pneumonia and other undisclosed ailments for almost a month, according to a spokesperson for McMahon. He’s currently in the intensive care unit at an undisclosed hospital, and seems to only be taking a turn for the worse.

McMahon, who was sidekick to Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show” for thirty years and hosted “Star Search” has also been reported to have bone cancer, although those reports have not been confirmed as of yet. McMahon has claimed that he and his wife become sick due to toxic mold in their house that also killed their dog, Muffin. He also suffered a broken neck from a fall a couple of years ago, which left him unable to work and with two spine surgeries under his belt.

Ed McMahon has become well-known in recent years as the spokesperson for Publishers Clearing House and a pitch person for Budweiser Beer, among other companies. He was also the long-time co-host of the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon for muscular dystrophy.

Howard Bragman, the Hollywood publicist, will not confirm which hospital is treating Ed McMahon, only that it is not the Cedars- Sinai Medical Center.

Tom Brady marries supermodel Gisele Bundchen

Which high profile athlete finally married his supermodel girlfriend? If you said Tom Brady then you are correct; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady married his girlfriend supermodel Gisele Bundchen on Thursday February 26, 2009. The couple starting dating in 2006 after Tom Brady broke up with his girlfriend actress Bridget Moynahan who is the mother of his one year old son John Edward Thomas Moynahan.

The wedding took place in Santa Monica at a church called the St. Monica Catholic Church. Gisele Bundchen is from the country of Brazil; she is twenty eight years old and works for IMG Models. Tom Brady is thirty one years old and spent most of the 2008 NFL season at home because he was injured at the beginning of the season. He injured his left knee and needed surgery to fix the injury so he was listed as being on injury reserve.

The couple is very well known; the paparazzi are always snapping photographs of them together; there have been rumors all over the Internet about when and where Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen would finally get married. Now, the suspense is finally over and the rumors can finally be put to rest.

We should all congratulate the couple on their nuptials; being married changes your life especially when you are married and live a very public life. Many celebrity marriages fail because of the paparazzi and break up rumors so couples have to be vigilant and try to keep their marriage private and out of the media spotlight.

Drink Coffee, Prevent Cancer

While green leafy vegetables and exercise are commonly thought of as good cancer prevention practices, they have never been the most popular. An unexpected tool in the fight against cancer has arrived, and it was right under our noses. New research is showing that coffee, something pretty much everyone enjoys, is helping prevent skin cancer.

Coffee is the newest, and probably most popular cancer prevention method. There is no doubting the significance of coffee in modern life; coffee shops have become as popular as supermarkets, and they are notorious as being some of the hippest hangouts for young and old adults alike. However, while most citizens probably think they’re merely using that morning cup of coffee to cope with sleepiness, or that afternoon latte to gain a mental edge, they are actually defending their skin from cancer.

New studies show that caffeine interrupts a protein which in turn causes skin cells damaged by ultraviolet rays to self destruct. It is worth noting that only damaged, cancerous skin cells are done away with, and healthy ones are left in their original state. Skin creams may soon be available with a very obvious active ingredient: caffeine.

It is not recommended that people increase their current consumption of coffee since the effects are rather minor. However, it is a valid reason to make that daily run to your local coffee shop.

Medicine used for baldness may prevent Prostate Cancer

Abnormal and malignant growth of cells in prostate gland can lead to Prostate cancer (or Adenocarcinoma). It is the second most common cancer and found only in men. Higher levels of hormone (especially Androgens) can be of high risk and may induce growth of tumor cells. Other factors may include age, hereditary (or genetic), diet, obesity, smoking or infection and inflammation of prostate gland.

Recent guidelines published by American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Urological Association reveal that common drug, Finasteride, used in male baldness is effective in preventing Prostate cancer. Guidelines also recommend a daily dose of Finasteride for the male above age 55. It is believed that high doses of Finasteride acts by interfering male hormones which fuel the growth of cancerous cell. They also shrink enlarged prostate gland and hence reducing the risk of prostate cancer.

Finasteride and other drugs in the same class have shown side effects like impotency or lower sex drive, but it is always better to evaluate risk is to benefit ratio. Since prostate cancer is seen more common in older men it is advised to consult doctor and health care physician to discuss if Finasteride can be good for them.

Study shows calories not diet important for weight loss

A new study suggests that when comparing different diets weight loss doesn’t depend on which types of food are eliminated as long as calories are cut.

The new two-year study was financed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the Nation Institutes of Health. Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Barton Rouge conducted the research of over eight hundred dieters whose success was monitored for two years. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The overweight subjects were all placed on one of four different kinds of diets including two different low-fat diets and two plans higher in fat. All participants were also encouraged to attend weight-loss counseling sessions and a keep a food diary online. The dieters were also given exercise goals of only about 90 minutes a week since the study was focused on the affects of dieting.

The researchers found that on average in a six months period of time all the dieters lost about 13 pounds, and after two years they kept off an average of 9 pounds no matter which diet they were on. The researchers concluded it doesn’t matter how much fat or carbohydrates are cut from the diet as long as calorie intake is reduced.

According to information found on the Center for Disease Control’s website at cdc.gov the prevalence of obesity in the US continues to be a serious health concern for adults, children and adolescents.

Diabetes Doubles risk of Postpartum Depression

Researchers have found that women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from depression during and in the months after their pregnancy than non-diabetics.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 15 percent of women with diabetes suffered from depression during or after their pregnancy. Only 8 percent of women without diabetes suffered from depression during or after their pregnancy. According to a study co-author Bernard Harlow, from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, even diabetics who did not suffer from depression during their pregnancy had higher odds of becoming depressed within a year of giving birth.

Although researchers were not able to determine how many of the women involved in the study had a history of depression before they became pregnant, Harlow theorized that diabetes triggers hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy that can lead to depression.”The stress associated with managing [diabetes and pregnancy] at the same time can contribute to it as well,” said Harlow.

Diabetes and depression have been linked in the past but no study has managed to sort out the connection between the two. Depression can be hard to identify because many of the symptoms are commonly suffered by new mothers.

More than 11,000 Medicaid recipients in New Jersey participated in this study.

Eat Less to lose Weight: Seriously

In a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, it was concluded its not what you eat but how much thats important to lose weight. Researchers evaluated four diets on 811 men and women over a two year period. Two of the diets were low in fat namely 20% of calories and two were higher 40% of calories from fat. All of the diets were heart healthy rich in fruits and vegetables and wholegrain’s and low in saturated fat less than 8%.

Importantly the participants attended both individual and group weight loss sessions with registered dietitians and completed an online food diary. They were encouraged to exercise 90 min a week and received an individualized calorie goal.
After the 2 year study they had kept of an average of 9lb and had lost 1-3 inches off their waist lines. The ones who had atended over 2/3 of the sessions had done better losing an average of 13 lb.
It was also thought that those following the diet with a higher protein content would feel fuller but this was not the case.

The take home for this land mark study is it doesn’t really matter what diet you wish to follow. As long it is balanced and you are eating less of it. It also shows that support and an individualized approach is a key factor for long term success. It is worth looking up a dietitian in your area for one on one support.

Men Urged To Take Drug To Prevent Prostate Cancer

A drug on the market for reducing benign prostatic hyperplasia is now being touted by experts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Urological Association to decrease a man’s chances of prostatic cancer by 25% according to a May 2008 study. The drug Finasteride, also known as Proscar, has shown significant improvement in men over 55 of contracting prostate cancer. The problem is the drug is very costly at $2-3 a pill and some health insurance companies do not recognize it as a drug for helping elarged prostate. The drug in small doses is also prescribed for male pattern baldness and this may have something to do with the insurance companies reluctance to pay for the drug as it is also used for cosmetic purposes.

Finasteride has a few side effects such as erectile dysfunction and has been linked with depression and incontinence. Experts believe the benefits far out weigh the side effects in lowering a man’s risk for prostate cancer. But the question of having an otherwise healthy individual take a drug is something each person would have to answer on their own. The cost and side effects may not be worth it. But if there is a family history of prostate cancer in one’s family, taking the drug could help you feel like you are doing something to help prevent it happening to you.