Allergy for a Lifetime?

Turmeric Extract Cream Decreases Signs of Aging

Red Ginseng Root Extract Mixed with Torilus Fructus and Corni Fructus Improves Facial Wrinkes

Red Ginseng Root Extract Mixed with Torilus Fructus and Corni Fructus Improves Facial Wrinkes and Increases Type I Procollagen Synthesis in Human Skin: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study (See News 2)

Greater Risk for Kidney Stones in Gastric Bypass Surgery Patients

Clinical Approaches to Preserve beta-Cell Function in Diabetes

FDA Approves Botox for Muscle Spasms

Foot Pain: An Approach to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

Systematic Approach to Hair Loss in Women

Diagnosing Joint Pain in Older People

Allergy Immunotherapy Tablet May Be Clinically Effective in Children

Offspring of Psychiatric ill Parents at Risk for Mental Disorders

Cancers Rarely Missed by Upper GI Endoscopy Exams

FDA Panel to Evaluate Effects of Menthol Flavored Cigarettes

Delay of Solid Foods in Infant Diet May Increase Risk for Allergies

Esophageal Cancer Risk Still High After Antireflux Surgery

Glaucoma Medication Use May be Linked to Reduced Likelihood of Death

U.S. Government Broadens Definition of Human Embryonic Stem Cell

Low Vitamin D and Asthma Severity in Adults

Neck Pain More Common than Nausea in Migraine

Review of Diagnosis and Management of Red Eye in Primary Care

Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Adults

Selenium Poisoning From Liquid Dietary Supplement

Study Drug SB-509 Shows Muscle Improvement in ALS Patients

Study Drug SB-509 Shows Muscle Improvement in ALS Patients - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common neurodegenerative disease of the motor nervous system. A recent phase 2 study conducted by Sangamo BioSciences Inc. has shown in preliminary results that (ALS) patients  taking experimental drug SB-509, had improved muscle function after 4 months based on manual testing.

Intravitreal Bevacizumab (Avastin) for Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion: 12-month Results of a Prospective Clinical Trial: The

Analysis on the Effect of Acupuncture in Treating Cervical Spondylosis with Different Syndrome Type

Transdermal Nicotine Patch Use for 24 Weeks May Improve Abstinence

Air Quality Improvement and the Prevalence of Frequent Ear Infections in Children

The Potential Therapeutic Effect of Melatonin in Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease

Hormone Therapy May Reduce Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Benefit Vascular Effect in Type 2 Diabetes

Link Between Autism and MMR Vaccine Study Retracted by Lancet

Calcium Channel Blockers May Protect Against Risk of Parkinson’s Disease

Antimalarial Agents May Increase Survival in Lupus Patients

See News 2

Daily Blueberry Juice May Improve Memory in Elderly Adults

New Cancers Predicted Due to Increased CT Use

Dietary Soy May Decrease the Mortality and Recurrence

Green Tea Consumption May Decrease Risk of Lung Cancer

January 2010 - A recent Taiwanese study from Chung Shan Medical University presented at the (American Association for Cancer Research-International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer; Prospects for Personalized Prevention and Therapy) in California, suggests that the consumption of green tea may reduce the risk for lung cancer, especially in subjects who smoke cigarettes. (See News section)

Egg Yolks and Reduced Risk of Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

A recent study published in the Amer. J Clin Nutr 2009; 90:1272-1279, suggest that regular egg yolk consumption may reduce the risk of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), by increasing macular pigment concentrations. (See News 2 section) 

FDA Panel Recommends Approval of Zavesca in Treatment of Niemann-Pick Type C Disease

January 2010 – A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended approval of oral Zavesca (Actelion Ltd) for the treatment of Niemann-Pick type C disease (NP-C), a rare condition that often leads to death in patients in their teens after fat accumulation in their organs. (See News 2)

FDA Approval of Capsaicin Non-Narcotic Pain Patch for Postherpatic Neuralgia

 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved Capsaicin 8% dermal patch (Qutenza, Lohmann Therapy Systems AD, marketed by NeurogesX Inc.) for pain associated with postherpatic neuralgia (PHN). Capsaicin is a non-narcotic drug, with a decreased risk of drowsiness or drug interactions than narcotic pain medications, providing up to 12 weeks of localized pain relief per application. (See News 2) 

Amer.Acad.Neurology Study Recommends Against TENS in Chronic Low Back Pain

American Acad. Of Neurology Recommends Against TENS for Chronic Low-Back Pain The American Academy of Neurology in a recent evidence based review published in Neurology Dec 2009, concluded that transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) should not be recommended for use in treatment of chronic low back pain, but that TENS may be considered for treatment of diabetic neuropathy.(see News)

Late Stage Lung Cancer Study Ended by Pfizer

December 29 - Pfizer Inc. recently ended a late-stage lung cancer study of its study drug figitumumab after analysis revealed the unlikely end result of meeting the main study goal of improvement in overall survival (see News section).

Sanofi Pasteur Recalls 800,000 Doses of Pediatric H1N1 Vaccine

High Intake Coffee, Tea, and Decaf Coffee May Reduce Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Important Differeces Between Legius Syndrome and Neurofibromatosis Type 1

A recent research study in the November 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA: 302: 2111-2118:2009), points out the importance in identifying the differences between Neurofibromatosis type 1 and Legius syndrome. (See full story in News section)

Objections to New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines by Several Professional Socities

The new recommendations for breast cancer screening issued November 17^th in the Annals of Internal Medicine 151: 716-726: 727-737, 750-752 (abstract), by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has raised several objections from several professional organizations. The American Cancer Society announced that they continue to recommend mammography screening annually for women 40 to 49 years of age. Using an evidence review, the USPSTF guidelines were updated and recommended against routine mammography screening for women before the age of 50 years, and suggested that screening should end at the age of 74 years, with recommendations of changing screening intervals from 1 year to 2 year exams. Additionally the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American College of Radiology (ACR), along with several other expert professional groups recommended that clinicians and patients should continue to follow the earlier guidelines. (see more in News 2 section)

Intensive Treatment of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis with Methotrexate

A recent study in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases suggests that intensive treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis with methotrexante (MTX) may be more effective despite possible adverse events versus conventional treatment, and that benefits may outweigh risks of adverse events..Ann Rheum Dis. Published online July 5, 2009. (see News 2 section)

Flaxseed May Reduce Cholesterol Levels

New Tretment Guideline Updated for H1N1 Influenza Virus

The World Health Organization (WHO) released updated treatment guidelines for H1N1 influenza, urging clinicians to administer antiviral medications to patients that are in the “at-risk groups” with flu symptoms, pneumonia, and uncomplicated influenza-like illness, that either worsens or fails to improve within 72 hours.  To date 41.6 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have become available, with 94 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine being distributed, and 114 million total doses  expected to be distributed by the end of this year.

Increased Risk of Stroke with Herpes Zoster Virus Attack

A new study in Stroke from the Taipei Medical University Hospital in Taiwan suggests that the risk of stroke, ischemic or hemorrhagic, is increased by 30% post herpes zoster attack. That risk increased even higher up to 4-fold, if the attack involves the eye (herpes zoster ophthalmicus). Herpes zoster infection or “shingles”, has been suggested in studies since the 1970’s as well, to have an increased risk for vasculopathy and stroke syndrome. This study examined the exact risk and frequency of stroke, post herpes zoster attack.

Systemic (Bevacizumab) Avastin in Macular Degeneration Treatment

Systemic drug therapy with bevacizumab (Avastin) from Genentech has been reported in the British J. Ophthalmology 93:914-919:2009, by German investigators to be effective in some patients with exudative neovascular age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The results were reportedly comparable to those with conventional intravitreal injections.

Decreased Sleep Patterns May Increase Risk of Diabetes

Obesity Links to Cancer

According to recent estimates released by the American Institute for Cancer Research, as many as 100,000 cases of cancer could be prevented if Americans just get rid of their excess body fat. The estimates suggest that we don’t only have to worry about diabetes, heart disease and joint problems due to obesity, but that being overweight and obesity may be associated with more than 6% of all the estimated 1.6 million cancer cases that are diagnosed in the U.S. per year. (see News 2)

Diet and Depression

Seasonal Flu Vaccination Benefits to Pregnant Mothers

Recent studies presented at the Annual Meeting of Infectious Diseases Society of America showed that the immunization of pregnant women for seasonal flu benefits the mother, infant, and even the fetus. Maternal influenza vaccination reduced the rates of prematurity, low birth-weights, and hospitalization of infants due to flu.(See news section).

Voluntary Recall of Liquid Glucose Hexokinase Reagent Kits to monitor Blood Glucose Levels

The FDA announced for a voluntary recall of the Liquid Glucose Hexokinase Reagent Kits (Pointe Scientific, Inc.) catalog number G7517 because the reagents were found to fail linearity at glucose values above 200mg/dL, resulting in inaccurate glucose values above these values. The FDA announced that all test results from the use of the kits in all sizes with the catalog number G7517 should be considered questionable. The Lot numbers included in the alert are: 823901, 826801, 829401, 831502, 814301, and 820502, all expiring dates of May 2010.(See news section for more details)

High Dose Vitamin D Supplementation May Reduce Falls in Elderly Subjects

A recent meta-analysis study from the British Medical Journal suggests that high-dose Vitamin D supplementation may help reduce the incidence of elderly falling.

New Promising Drug Treatment for Systemic Lupus Erythematosis

New recent study results on a promising new pharmaceutical treatment drug for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) was presented at the American College of Rheumatology. The drug, Belimumab (Benlysta), was reported by investigators to have positive clinical improvements and safety profiles for patients with SLE in the study.This is the first new biologic drug up for FDA approval in more than 5o years for SLE, so this is a major advancement as an additional option of treatment for patients with the disease. 

Retinal Implants