Tuesday 30 July 2013

Study Shows Diets Lacking Omega-3s Lead to Anxiety, Hyperactivity in Teens


Pittsburgh, PA (Scicasts) – Diets lacking omega-3 fatty acids―found in foods like wild fish, eggs, and grass-fed livestock―can have worsened effects over consecutive generations, especially affecting teens, according to a University of Pittsburgh study.

read at
http://scicasts.com/bio/6358-study-shows-diets-lacking-omega-3s-lead-to-anxiety-hyperactivity-in-teens



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Garlic an antifungal, garlic can also support your immune system, reduce cholesterol, and help control blood sugar levels.

garlic

Garlic is a proven antifungal . Research studies have shown that garlic is effective against pathogens like Candida. In addition to its use as an antifungal, garlic can support your immune system, reduce cholesterol, and help control blood sugar levels.
You can start taking garlic supplements once you have finished your cleanse and moved on to the strict anti-Candida diet. As always, it is better to take two or three antifungals at once to prevent the Candida from adapting, so you can use garlic in addition to other natural antifungals.

How does Garlic help with Candida overgrowth?

There is a wide range of scientific literature supporting the use of garlic as an antifungal. Much of this research is focused on Candida and similar pathogenic organisms. For example, a 1988 study (see the full text here) found that “the growth of Candida Albicans was found to be markedly inhibited by AGE [aqueous garlic extract]”. According to another article by Huntington College of Health Sciences, “Research has clearly shown that garlic has anticandidal activity, inhibiting both the growth and function of Candida Albicans”.
One of the key compounds in garlic is ajoene, a proven antifungal that has been shown to be effective against many fungal strains. Ajoene is formed from a compound named allicin and an enzyme named allinase. When these two natural compounds come into contact (by chopping the garlic, crushing it or by other means), they form an antibacterial agent named allicin, which then combines to form ajoene. Although this has proven antifungal properties, the exact mechanism by which this happens is not clear. As with other antifungals, scientists suspect that it works by disrupting the cells walls of the Candida yeast cells.
A major advantage of garlic is that it is so easy to include in your treatment plan. Garlic tablets, softgels and oils are widely available, and fresh garlic cloves make a tasty addition to many recipes. You can use garlic as a complement to your other antifungals without having to spend a great deal of money. To get the best results and prevent the Candida yeast from adapting to the treatment, it is best to take two or three antifungals at the same time.

How do you take Garlic?

Garlic products can be found in a number of different forms, in both your supermarket and your health food store. In your supermarket you will find items like fresh garlic cloves, garlic paste, crushed garlic, garlic flakes or garlic powder. Your health food store should stock garlic tablets and garlic oil.
Each type contains different levels of the active ingredients, so make sure to read the ingredients. Here is a basic run-down of the recommended dosage for each type:
  • Garlic cloves: 2 to 4 grams per day of fresh, minced garlic clove
  • Garlic Tablets: 600 to 900 mg daily, freeze-dried garlic standardized to 1.3% alliin or 0.6% allicin
  • Garlic Oil: 0.03 to 0.12 mL three times a day

Who should not take Garlic?

Although a natural remedy, concentrated garlic can still interact with other medicines, so always consult a health professional. Garlic has a blood-thinning property that can be very useful, but can also be dangerous to sufferers of hemophilia or platelet disorders, as well as pregnant women or patients about to undergo surgery.
Side effects from garlic include upset stomach, bloating, bad breath, body odor, and a stinging sensation on the skin from handling too much fresh or dried garlic. Handling garlic may also cause the appearance of skin lesions.
Other side effects that have been reported by those taking garlic supplements include headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aches, dizziness described as vertigo (namely, the room spinning), and allergies such as an asthmatic reaction or contact dermatitis (skin rash).
Some people may suffer a mild allergic reaction to concentrated garlic. Others may have an upset stomach, body odor, bad breath, headache, loss of appetite or fatigue. It may prompt a skin reaction, such as a stinging in the hands.

Monday 29 July 2013

Sanofi gets EU CHMP nod for a new formulation of Insuman for the treatment of type 1 diabetes


On 25 July 2013, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the addition of a new formulation to the marketing authorisation of the medicinal product Insuman. The new formulation, Insuman Implantable, is an insulin solution for infusion (400 IU/ml) that is delivered into the intra-peritoneal cavity via an implantable pump device (MiniMed). It has been developed as a replacement for another insulin product called Insuplant, which is no longer manufactured
read at
http://www.pharmaintellect.com/2013/07/sanofi-gets-eu-chmp-nod-for-new.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Pharmainvest+%28PharmaInvest%29
....

Sunday 28 July 2013

The Health Benefits of Ginger


The Health Benefits of Ginger

Firm Breast - Natural Ayurvedic Home Remedies


Firm Breast - Natural Ayurvedic Home Remedies video 2

To Avoid Root Canals, Teeth That Replace Themselves


VIDEO
 shows current procedure, to view check plugins and players for youtube

 recent dewvelopments

Stem-Cell Research Makes Progress in Quest to Avoid the Dreaded Drill
Advances in treating tooth decay may one day lead to an ability to restore tooth tissue – and to avoid root canals, according to scientists. Shirley Wang and Baylor College of Dentistry Professor of Biomedical Sciences Dr. Rena D'Souza join Lunch Break with details. Photo: Getty Images.
Could the days of the root canal, for decades the symbol of the most excruciating kind of minor surgery, finally be numbered?
Scientists have made advances in treating tooth decay that they hope will let them restore tooth tissue—and avoid the painful dental procedure. Several recent studies have demonstrated in animals that procedures involving tooth stem cells appear to regrow the critical, living tooth tissue known as pulp.
Treatments that prompt the body to regrow its own tissues and organs are known broadly as regenerative medicine. There is significant interest in figuring out how to implement this knowledge to help the many people with cavities and disease that lead to tooth loss.
 
In the U.S., half of kids have had at least one cavity by the time they are 15 years old and a quarter of adults over the age of 65 have lost all of their teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated $108 billion was spent on dental services in 2010, including elective and out-of-pocket care, according to the CDC.


Tooth decay arises when bacteria or infections overwhelm a tooth's natural repair process. If the culprit isn't reduced or eliminated, the damage can continue. If it erodes the hard, outer enamel and penetrates down inside the tooth, the infection eventually can kill the soft pulp tissue inside, prompting the need for either a root canal or removal of the tooth. Pulp is necessary to detecting sensation, including heat, cold and pressure, and contains the stem cells—undifferentiated cells that turn into specialized ones—that can regenerate tooth tissue.
Researchers from South Korea and Japan to the U.S. and United Kingdom have been working on how to coax stem cells into regenerating pulp. The process is still in its early stages, but if successful, it could mean a reduction or even elimination of the need for painful root canals.
 
While much of the work has shown promise in the lab and in early work in animals, including dogs, there have only been a few reports of experiments in humans.
The root-canal procedure involves cleaning out the infected and dead tissue in the root canal of the tooth, disinfecting the area and adding an impermeable seal to try to prevent further infection.
But the seal does not always prevent new infection. While the affected tooth remains in the mouth, it is essentially dead, which could impact functions like chewing. That also means no living nerves remain in the tooth to detect further decay or infection. Infection could subsequently spread to surrounding tissue without detection. An estimated 15.1 million root canals are performed in the U.S. annually, according to a 2005-06 survey by the American Dental Association, the most recent data available.
 
"The whole concept of going for pulp regeneration is that you will try and retain a vital tooth, a tooth that is alive," says Tony Smith, a professor in oral biology at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. "That means the tooth's natural defense mechanisms will still be there.
"I think we are really just at the opening stages of what is going to be a very exciting time, because we're moving away from traditional root-canal treatments."
Some scientists have focused on growing entirely new teeth. More are focused on trying to grow healthy new pulp inside the hard shell of tooth enamel, either by stimulating or encouraging stem cells or by better controlling the inflammation that goes on in the mouth in response to an infection.
Some of the challenges with making new teeth are generating not just the right tissue but also the right structure, as well as how to place the tooth or the new pulp in the mouth, according to Rena D'Souza, a professor of biomedical sciences at Baylor College of Dentistry. Beyond anti-inflammatory medication, options for tackling the infection while the new treatments work are limited. And, as with stem-cell research efforts with other body parts, successfully regenerating dental tissue in the lab or another animal doesn't mean it will work in a human body.
Dental stem cells can be harvested from the pulp tissue of the wisdom and other types of adult teeth, or baby teeth. They can produce both the hard tissues needed by the tooth, like bone, and soft tissues like the pulp, says Dr. D'Souza, a former president of the American Association for Dental Research who will become the dean of the University of Utah's School of Dental Medicine Aug. 1.
She and colleagues at Baylor and Rice University focused on regrowing pulp using a small protein hydrogel. The gelatin-like substance is injected into the tooth and serves as a base into which pulp cells, blood vessels and nerves grow.
In a study published in November, they were able to demonstrate pulp regeneration in human teeth in a lab. They will soon be testing hydrogel on live dogs. In addition, they are looking at the potential of the hydrogel to calm dental inflammation.
The hope with pulp regeneration is to improve the health of the tooth while minimizing the pain often associated with current treatments like the root canal—although under some circumstances a date with a drill will still be necessary, experts say.
Another approach is to extract pulp from teeth and separate out the stem cells, then transplant the stem cells with molecules that encourage their growth back into the tooth cavity. Research published last month by Japanese researchers on dog teeth showed this method appeared to be effective in stimulating the tissue around the transplanted cells to produce pulp tissue. The study was published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine.
Researchers are also focused on understanding how dental stem cells usually get the message from the tooth about when to regenerate pulp.
Dentin, a hard tissue that protects the pulp, is one critical element. When bacteria break it down, it releases molecules that stimulate the regeneration of tooth cells. The University of Birmingham's Dr. Smith and his team have identified a number of chemicals that transmit these signals and are working on figuring out a way to release these messengers therapeutically as another way to repair teeth.
At the University of Cardiff in Wales, Alastair Sloan, a professor of bone biology and tissue engineering at the School of Dentistry, is examining how the use of materials currently used to treat tooth decay may be able to prompt dentin to release additional proteins to aid growth.
Dr. D'Souza estimates that human clinical trials of the hydrogel strategy could begin as soon as two or three years from now and be available as a therapy within five years. Other researchers working on different methods estimate that human trials may take place within the decade.
Progress with regenerating other types of tooth tissue may mean the end of fillings one day as well. While pulp is used as a lining material to protect the crown and roots of the teeth, other researchers are studying whether other biological materials could be generated to withstand the mechanical forces that come from chewing and other functions.
None of these advanced techniques negate the need for simple hygiene. Brushing and flossing are always important, and not just for oral health, according to experts.
"If you have a healthy mouth it's indicative of a healthy body and vice versa," Dr. D'Souza says.

Saturday 27 July 2013

Warner Chilcott Announces FDA Approval of New Oral Contraceptive

DUBLIN, Ireland, July 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Warner Chilcott plc (Nasdaq:WCRX) today announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved LO MINASTRIN™ FE (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol chewable tablets, ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets) for the prevention of pregnancy. The Company is currently developing the commercial launch plans for LO MINASTRIN FE.http://www.pharmalive.com/fda-oks-warner-chilcotts-lo-minastrin-fe
 
 

Friday 26 July 2013

5 Must To Have Foods To Keep The Levels Of High Cholesterol Under Control

Picture
A condition called high cholesterol slowly creeps on you and you are unable to see its ill-effects until it becomes unbearable with spike to several complications such as diabetes, heart diseases and much more.

Other than just to pop up pills to keep the level of bad cholesterol or LDL under check, it is always a good choice to go for 5 must to have foods to keep the levels of high cholesterol under control. Thus, let’s go straight and see them.
  1. Oats- Oats are believed to have soluble fiber whose intake can easily lower the cholesterol level. Adding oatmeal every day at breakfast can lower your high cholesterol level.
  2. Beans- Similarly like oats beans are also especially rich in soluble fiber that can easily help your cholesterol level to keep low. Beans can also help to lose weight and makes one feel fuller as they take longer to digest.
  3. Nuts- Several studies all across have shown that nuts are a superb food choice when dealing with high cholesterol level as it can significantly lower your high LDL levels. What’s more, it is also a great option to keep your heart healthy.
  4. Stereos and Stalons rich foods- Foods rich in sterols and stallions can lower the cholesterol as they have the power to absorb cholesterol from foods. Always check food labels to see if they contain these substances.
  5. Fatty Fish- Are you a fish fan? If so, you are lucky as fish such as Salmon and Tuna possess Omega 3 fatty acids that can lower down the level of cholesterol. It would cut your intake of meat as it can increase cholesterol level and instead go for fish.
http://globalmedscanadadrugs.weebly.com/1/post/2013/07/5-must-to-have-foods-to-keep-the-levels-of-high-cholesterol-under-control.html
video on cholesterol reduction one more

Why Vertex Earnings Prospects Are So Bright

Why Vertex Earnings Prospects Are So Bright
Motley Fool
With few drugs targeting cystic fibrosis and almost half of patients suffering from the particular mutation that the study targeted, Vertex could well have identified a blockbuster in the space. Moreover, with an ongoing phase 3 trial of another ...

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/07/25/why-vertex-earnings-prospects-are-so-bright.aspx

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a couple of approved drugs, including its Kalydeco cystic fibrosis drug and its Incivek treatment for hepatitis C. But it also has some promising prospects in the development stage. With the company having reported some positive study results during the quarter, Vertex saw its shares soar as more investors got aboard the biotech's bandwagon. Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Vertex Pharmaceuticals over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report

Thursday 25 July 2013

Scripps Research Institute Scientists Find a Potential Cause of Parkinson’s Disease that Points to a New Therapeutic Strategy







 For a high-resolution image see: http://www.scripps.edu/news/press/
images/reed_steve/reed_steve.jpg

LA JOLLA, CA – July 24, 2013 – Biologists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have made a significant discovery that could lead to a new therapeutic strategy for Parkinson’s disease.
The findings, recently published online ahead of print in the journal Molecular and Cell Biology, focus on an enzyme known as parkin, whose absence causes an early-onset form of Parkinson’s disease. Precisely how the loss of this enzyme leads to the deaths of neurons has been unclear. But the TSRI researchers showed that parkin’s loss sharply reduces the level of another protein that normally helps protect neurons from stress.
 http://www.scripps.edu/news/press/2013/20130724reed.html

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Isis Phase II drug APOIIIRx slashes triglycerides by 64%


Isis Pharmaceuticals is "very encouraged" by a second set of mid-stage data for its heart drugAPOIIIRx, which shows that it can substantially slash levels of dangerous fats in the blood. 

In a 26-patient Phase II trial, patients with severely high levels of triglycerides taking Isis' drug alongside fibrates experienced 64% drop in triglycerides, and a 70% drop in apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III), a component of 'bad' low-density lipoprotein
read all at
.http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/13-07-23/Isis_PhII_drug_slashes_triglycerides_by_64.aspx

Tuesday 23 July 2013

New therapy for pancreatic cancer: Phase III clinical trial currently recruiting Australian patients


Currently there is a clinical trial that is recruiting patients from around the globe including sites across Australia. The trial is testing MM-398; a therapy that uses the latest in nanotechnology to deliver the chemotherapeutic agent irinotecan encased in a liposome to cancer patients.1 In particular this trial, named NAPOLI-1 (NAnoliPOsomaL Irinotecan) is recruiting patients with pancreatic cancer who have previously been treated with the chemotherapy agent gemcitabine unsuccessfully i.e. their disease has gone on to spread/progress despite this treatment.2,3
read all here

http://www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/news/new-therapy-for-pancreatic-cancer-phase-iii-clinical-trial-currently-recruiting-australian-patients/18708


irinotecan

Irinotecan (Camptosar, Pfizer; Campto, Yakult Honsha) is a drug used for the treatment of cancer.
Irinotecan prevents DNA from unwinding by inhibition of topoisomerase 1. In chemical terms, it is a semisynthetic analogue of the natural alkaloid camptothecin.
Its main use is in colon cancer, in particular, in combination with other chemotherapy agents. This includes the regimen FOLFIRI, which consists of infusional 5-fluorouracil,leucovorin, and irinotecan.
Irinotecan received accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 and full approval in 1998. During development, it was known as CPT-11.
Irinotecan is activated by hydrolysis to SN-38, an inhibitor of topoisomerase I. This is then inactivated by glucuronidation by uridine diphosphate glucoronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1). The inhibition of topoisomerase I by the active metabolite SN-38 eventually leads to inhibition of both DNA replication and transcription.


Merrimack currently has six oncology therapeutics in clinical development, multiple product candidates in preclinical development and an active Systems Biology-driven discovery effort. 
MM-398
(Nanotherapeutic)
  • Indication:
  • Description:
  • Target
  • Pancreatic Cancer (2nd line, 2 indications), Colorectal Cancer, Glioma
  • Nanotherapeutic
  • Encapsulated irinotecan
MM-398 is a nanotherapeutic consisting of the chemotherapuetic irinotecan, encapsulated in a liposomal sphere. MM-398 is designed to rely on the natural blood flow of the tumor to direct the therapy directly to the site of the cancer and minimize exposure to non-target cells.
MM-398 in the Clinic
MM-398 is being evaluated in clinical trials for its ability to treat tumors resistant to chemotherapy across multiple types of cancers, including pancreatic, lung, colorectal and glioma. The FDA and the European Medicines Agency granted MM-398 orphan drug designation in 2011 for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have previously failed treatment with the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. Our Phase 3 study, NAPOLI-1 (NAnoliPOsomaL Irinotecan), is currently underway.
posters
http://merrimackpharma.com/library/research/mm-398-preclinical-posters


Phase III prostate cancer trial for 'homing' injection shows improvements


Prostate cancer

Phase III prostate cancer trial for 'homing' injection shows improvements
A new treatment for advanced prostate cancer that homes-in on tumours to deliver a high-energy burst of radiation to cancer cells has shown significant benefits in a large scale clinical trial.
The trial of 921 patients showed that treatment with the radioactive Radium-223 gave men with late-stage prostate cancer an average extra of 15 weeks of life.http://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/newsphase-iii-prostate-cancer-trial-for-homing-injection-shows-benefit?WT.mc_id=DN_News

Monday 22 July 2013

Blood cancers – perifosine

An important target in cancer treatment is the serine/threonine specific protein kinase Akt, or protein kinase B. This kinase is involved in the pathway that prevents cell death, inhibiting apoptosis, and therefore inhibiting Akt may lead to cancer cell death.
One such compound is perifosine, discovered by Aeterna Zentaris and being developed by Keryx Biopharmaceuticals.1 Numerous clinical trials have been carried out in solid tumours, with varying success, and it failed a Phase III trial in colorectal cancer in 2012. However, it continues in trials for blood cancers such as lymphomas, where it shows promise.
In one Phase I/II trial, it was evaluated in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who had previously received bortezomib therapy.2 A total of 84 patients, three-quarters of whom were refractory to bortezomib, and half to both bortezomib and dexamethasone, were given 50mg/day of perifosine, plus 1.3mg/m2 bortezomib, and 20mg dexamethasone added if progression occurred. The overall response rate was 43% in the 73 evaluable patients – 65% in the bortezomib-relapsed group and 32% in bortezomib-refractory patients. It was generally well tolerated, with manageable gastrointestinal events and fatigue. The median progression-free survival was 6.4 months, and a median overall survival of 25 months – 22.5 months in those refractory to bortezomib.
Perifosine
- See more at: http://www.manufacturingchemist.com/technical/article_page/Blood_cancers__perifosine/88596

http://www.manufacturingchemist.com/technical/article_page/Blood_cancers__perifosine/88596#sthash.2bv5XjRe.dpuf

Anticancer agent – elacytarabin

Elacytarabine
Cytarabine is a cytosine derivative that is a common component of chemotherapy regimens for blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), and because it can cross the blood–brain barrier, it is useful in the treatment of central nervous system lymphomas. However, the response is variable, and resistance commonly develops via multiple mechanisms. Its activity is dependent on the intracellular concentrations of the active phosphorylated form, and one of the main mechanisms of resistance involves the deficiency of the transporter molecule hENT1 that carries it into the cells. As a result, Clavis Pharma developed a lipophilic ester derivative, elacytarabine, whose cellular uptake is not hENT1-dependent.1
- See more at:http://www.manufacturingchemist.com/technical/article_page/Anticancer_agent__elacytarabine/83035

 http://www.manufacturingchemist.com/technical/article_page/Anticancer_agent__elacytarabine/83035#sthash.bF8Vqa3M.dpuf

Fadrozole (marketed as Afema by Novartis) for the treatment of breast cancer.

 File:Fadrozole.png

Fadrozole (INN, marketed as Afema by Novartis) is an aromatase inhibitor[1] that has been introduced in Japan for the treatment of breast cancer.
It is selective.[2]


  1. Raats JI, Falkson G, Falkson HC (January 1992). "A study of fadrozole, a new aromatase inhibitor, in postmenopausal women with advanced metastatic breast cancer". J. Clin. Oncol. 10 (1): 111–6. PMID 1530798.
  2. Browne LJ, Gude C, Rodriguez H, Steele RE, Bhatnager A (February 1991). "Fadrozole hydrochloride: a potent, selective, nonsteroidal inhibitor of aromatase for the treatment of estrogen-dependent disease". J. Med. Chem. 34 (2): 725–36.doi:10.1021/jm00106a038. PMID 1825337.

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are a class of drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer and ovarian cancer inpostmenopausal women. AIs may also be used off-label to treat or prevent gynaecomastia in men.
Aromatase is the enzyme that synthesizes estrogen. As breast and ovarian cancers require estrogen to grow, AIs are taken to either block the production of estrogen or block the action of estrogen on receptors.

Types of AIs

There are 2 types of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) approved to treat breast cancer:
  • Irreversible steroidal inhibitors, such as exemestane (Aromasin), forms a permanent and deactivating bond with the aromatase enzyme.
  • Non-steroidal inhibitors, such as anastrozole (Arimidex), inhibit the synthesis of estrogen via reversible competition for the aromatase enzyme.


Aromatase inhibitors work by inhibiting the action of the enzyme aromatase, which converts androgens into estrogens by a process called aromatization. As breast tissue is stimulated by estrogens, decreasing their production is a way of suppressing recurrence of the breast tumor tissue. The main source of estrogen is the ovaries inpremenopausal women, while in post-menopausal women most of the body's estrogen is produced in peripheral tissues (outside the CNS), and also a few CNS sites in various regions within the brain. Estrogen is produced and acts locally in these tissues, but any circulating estrogen, which exerts systemic estrogenic effects in men and women, is the result of estrogen escaping local metabolism and spreading to the circulatory system.