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A new study published in the Journal of
Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry finds that Prozac, a
commonly prescribed antidepressant, may be an agent in slowing
down the disease process of the relapsing remitting form of multiple
sclerosis (Buy lasix without prescription MS).
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system
attacks the central nervous system. In the relapsing remitting form,
new symptoms occur in discrete attacks.
A team of researchers led by J P Mostert (Department of Neurology,
University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen,
Groningen, The Netherlands) conducted a double-blind,
placebo-controlled, exploratory analysis of 40 patients
with the relapsing
remitting form of MS. For a period of 24 weeks, half of the sample was
treated with 20 mg daily of fluoxetine
(Prozac) while the other half received a placebo. To measure the
activity of MS, detailed magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the
participants’ brains were completed every four weeks. The researchers
focused on areas of neurological inflammation that would indicate
active disease.
Of the 40 initial patients, 19 participants in each group finished the
study. The main finding was that the patients who were treated with
Prozac had fewer new areas of inflammation than those treated with
placebo. The researchers were able to detect the effects just after
eight weeks - the same amount of time that it takes for selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI) drugs such as Prozac to begin relieving depression.
Specifically, the group given placebo had an average of over five new
areas affected with inflammation compared to just less than two areas
in the Prozac group. Twenty-five percent of scans from Prozac-treated
patients and forty percent of placebo-treated patients depicted new
areas of inflammation. Almost two out of three patients in the Prozac
group had no new inflammation areas during the last 16 weeks of
treatment, whereas only about 25% of patients in the placebo group had
no new areas.
Although this was a small-scale study and a larger sample size is
required to increase the robustness of results, the authors conclude
that, "Results of our exploratory trial are sufficiently encouraging to
justify further studies with fluoxetine in patients with MS. Higher
doses of fluoxetine and combination treatment with immunomodulatory
drugs should be considered."
Effects of fluoxetine on disease activity in relapsing
multiple sclerosis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory
study
J P Mostert, F Admiraal-Behloul, J M Hoogduin, J Luyendijk, D J
Heersema, M A van Buchem, J De Keyser
Journal of Neurology
Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. (2008)
doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2007.139345
Click
Here to See Article Online
Written by: Peter M Crosta
View drug information on Prozac Weekly.
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers have found that rare mutations in three genes contribute to blood pressure variation in the general population.
The scientists had previously shown that mutations in the three "salt handling" genes cause several rare diseases that are characterized by low blood pressure. By sequencing DNA samples obtained from 3,125 people who are participating in the Framingham Heart Study, the researchers identified new functional mutations in these three genes that are likely to be carried by an estimated 100 million people worldwide.
The Framingham Heart Study was begun in 1948 in an effort to identify common factors or characteristics that contribute to cardiovascular disease by following its development over a long period of time in a large group of participants who had not yet developed overt symptoms of cardiovascular disease or suffered a heart attack or stroke.
"We find that about two percent of the population has mutations in at least one of these three genes - although all of the identified mutations are individually very rare," said senior author Richard P. Lifton, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute researcher at Yale University School of Medicine. "Mutation carriers have reduced blood pressure, with a 60 percent reduction in the risk of hypertension at age 60."
The findings, reported in the April 6, 2008, edition of the journal Nature Genetics, are important because they yield tantalizing new evidence about why some people seem to be less susceptible to developing high blood pressure, a condition that affects a billion people worldwide and contributes significantly to heart and kidney disease, and stroke.
What’s more, by identifying the role played by rare genetic mutations in governing how the kidney regulates salt, the researchers have devised a general approach that may be broadly applicable to uncovering the genetic architecture of common conditions such as hypertension.
"This new study, for the first time, extends the findings from patients with rare Mendelian traits to the general population. The findings suggest that independently rare mutations that alter salt handling by the kidneys collectively account for a substantial fraction of the general population’s variability in disease susceptibility," said Lifton.
Lifton noted that there are probably about 100 million people worldwide who carry the mutations and are thus protected from hypertension. "The mutations we have identified have clinically meaningful effects to individual patients and suggest that independently rare mutations will collectively account for a substantial fraction of the population’s variability in disease susceptibility," he said.
The researchers started by examining variations in three genes known to cause rare recessive diseases characterized by large reductions in blood pressure. The analysis was conducted on "salt handling" genes isolated from people involved in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), which is directed by Daniel Levy of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Levy is a co-author of the Nature Genetics report. Co-first authors Weizhen Ji and Jia Ni Foo are at Yale University School of Medicine.
Lifton’s team zeroed in on the three salt-regulating genes — NCCT, NKCC2 and ROMK — which his group had previously linked to rare but serious human diseases, including Gitelman and Bartter syndromes. Both are conditions characterized by inherited low blood pressure caused by recessive mutations, where two defective copies of a gene are at play.
Salt handing is an essential function of the kidneys. Our kidneys process more than three pounds of salt per day, and genetic mutations that raise or lower the ability of the organ to absorb and process salt can manifest themselves in higher or lower blood pressure.
Lifton’s group has searched worldwide for patients with very high or very low blood pressure due to mutations in single genes. Such patients are often identified through family histories of extreme blood pressure. To date, his group has found a score of gene mutations that lower or raise blood pressure, including those that cause the extreme low blood pressure found in patients with Gitelman and Bartter syndromes.
"We used knowledge of the spectrum of mutations that cause Gitelman and Bartter syndromes to sort among the hundreds of sequence changes we observed to identify those that are either known or highly likely to alter the function of the (gene) encoded proteins," Lifton explained.
By sequencing each of the three genes obtained from DNA samples from 3,125 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, and doing additional biochemical, genetic and genomic analysis, the HHMI team found functional mutations in one of the genes in at least 1 of every 64 of the study’s participants sampled.
"The results show that nearly 2 percent of the FHS cohort has a defective copy of one of these three genes," Lifton said. "Unlike patients with Gitelman and Bartter syndromes, these subjects have only one defective copy, not two."
Lifton’s group then tracked the influence of the mutation on blood pressure in FHS subjects aged 40-60, a time of life when hypertension manifests itself and can pose serious health risks.
"We found that these mutation carriers have a 60 percent reduction in their risk of developing hypertension" and have significantly lower blood pressure than those who do not have mutations," Lifton said. The influence of the mutation, he added, approximates effects achieved with drugs used to lower blood pressure.
The practical upshot of the new work, according to Lifton, could be potential new drugs to mimic the effects of the mutation by selectively inhibiting a single gene or several genes.
In addition, the study more broadly underscores the value of genetic analysis — resequencing of genes and genomes to ferret out functional mutations — for understanding individual risk of disease.
"Buy generic cialis A major question about the genetic underpinnings of hypertension and other common diseases has been whether these are accounted for by common or rare DNA variations," said Lifton. "Our study demonstrates the role of rare variation, showing that effects of rare mutations in these three genes cause relatively large effects, with clinically significant effects in individual patients. These findings suggest that much of the variation in common disease risk for hypertension and other diseases will be accounted for by rare (genetic) variants."
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Source: Jim Keeley
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
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The beauty of budding plants and bouquet of aromas are sources of satisfaction for many gardeners. For allergy sufferers, though, gardening can be as much a chore as pursuit of passion.
Pollen from trees, shrub and grasses can cause an onslaught of allergy symptoms, including sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion and in some cases, an asthma attack.
But sensitive people can take a few simple steps to minimize their risk of exposure to bothersome allergens, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
"Gardening outside during times of high pollen counts puts patients at risk for severe allergic symptoms," said Warren Filley, MD, FAAAAI, an Oklahoma City allergist/immunologist and a long-time horticulturalist who suffers from allergies. "Avoidance measures, as well as the use of medications and allergy immunotherapy, can make the difference between having fun in the garden and being miserable."
An allergist/immunologist can help determine what plant species are causing an allergic reaction and advise on the best times of day or season to work in the garden. For example, pollen levels are typically lower on rainy, cloudy and windless days. Immunotherapy (allergy shots), medications and other treatments can also help reduce symptoms.
People with allergies can also trim irritation by carefully choosing the plants they include in their landscaping or garden.
Certain flowers, trees and grasses are naturally better suited for the gardens of allergic people. They are less likely to produce bothersome pollen and will still add color and variety to the garden.
These include:
- Cacti
- Cherry
- Dahlia
- Daisy
- Geranium
- Iris
- Magnolia
- Rose
- Snapdragon
- Tulip
In general, highly-allergenic plants to avoid include:
- Ash
- Cedar
- Cottonwood
- Oak
- Maple
- Pine
- Saltgrass
- Timothy
The best way to determine which plants will trigger reactions is through skin testing at an allergist/immunologist’s office. An allergist/immunologist can help patients develop strategies to avoid troublesome plants and pollen and can prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms.
Other tips to consider
Whenever working around plants likely to cause an allergic reaction, avoid touching your eyes or face. You may also consider wearing a mask to reduce the amount of pollen spores that you breathe in. Wear gloves and long sleeves and pants to minimize skin contact with allergens. Leave gardening tools and clothing - such as gloves and shoes - outside to avoid bringing allergens indoors. Shower immediately after gardening or doing other yard work.
Consult with an allergist/immunologist
Contact an allergist/immunologist to identify specific causes of allergic reactions or to get information on treatment options and tips to reduce allergen exposure. Buy acomplia without prescription An allergist/immunologist is the best qualified medical professional to manage the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of allergies and asthma. To find an allergist/immunologist near you, visit the AAAAI Web site at www.aaaai.org.
The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Allergy/immunology specialists are pediatric or internal medicine physicians who have elected an additional two years of training to become specialized in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunologic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,500 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
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Contrary to long-held assumptions, high-salt diets may not increase the risk of death, according to investigators from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. They reached their conclusion after examining dietary intake among a nationally representative sample of adults in the U.S. The Einstein researchers actually observed a significantly increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with lower sodium diets. They report their findings in the advance online edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
The researchers analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), which was conducted by the federal government among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. These data were then compared against death records that had been collected by the government through the year 2000. generic clomid online buy The sample of approximately 8,700 represented American adults who were over 30 years of age at the time of the baseline survey (1988-1994) and were not on a special low-salt diet.
After adjusting for known CVD risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes and blood pressure, the one-fourth of the sample who reported consuming the lowest amount of sodium were found to be 80% more likely to die from CVD compared to the one-fourth of the sample consuming the highest level of sodium. The risk for death from any cause appeared 24% greater for those consuming lower salt, but this latter difference was not quite large enough to dismiss the role of chance.
"Our findings suggest that for the general adult population, higher sodium is very unlikely to be independently associated with higher risk of death from CVD or all other causes of death," says Dr. Hillel W. Cohen, lead author of the study and associate professor of epidemiology and population health at Einstein.
Since the first NHANES survey in the early 1970s, data from NHANES have been used extensively to describe patterns of nutrition and health in the U.S. The results from this current study are consistent with findings reported previously from two earlier NHANES surveys. While the federal government currently repeats NHANES surveys every two years, NHANES III is the latest available survey that can be compared with later death records.
Since NHANES III was an observational study and not a clinical trial, no definite conclusions about cause and effect were possible, says Dr. Cohen. "However, our findings do again raise questions about the usefulness or evensafety of universal recommendations for lower salt diets for all individuals, regardless of their blood pressure status or other health characteristics," he cautions.
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Other Einstein researchers on the study were Dr. Susan M. Hailpern and Dr. Michael H. Alderman.
Source: Karen Gardner
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
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Older Puerto Ricans have higher rates of depression than other Hispanics living in the United States, according to a new study by researchers at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Institute for Aging Research (IFAR).
Nearly 7 percent of Puerto Ricans, who make up 11 percent of the Hispanics 65 and older in the U.S., suffer from major depression, compared to Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans, and Hispanics from Central and South America. Only 2.8 percent of Mexican Americans (46.7 percent of the older Hispanic population) and 2.5 percent of Cuban Americans (13 percent) suffer from major depression.
"Generic levitra pills no prescription We found the prevalence of depression across Hispanic groups in the United States to be highest in Puerto Ricans, even though this was the smallest group," the researchers wrote in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences.
Funded in part by the National Institute on Aging, the study was conducted by IFAR scientists Frances M. Yang, Ph.D., and Richard N. Jones, Sc.D., along with Yamileth Cazorla-Lancaster of the University of North Texas School of Public Health.
The researchers examined differences in the levels of depressive symptoms and the presence of depression in 759 Hispanics over the age of 59. Data was obtained from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study and its Asset of Health Dynamics of the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study.
The heterogeneity of Hispanics living in the U.S underscores the complexity of investigating intragroup differences in mental health. Generalizing findings from one particular Hispanic group to all Hispanic groups, the researchers say, may not accurately reflect the burden of health in specific Hispanic groups.
"Our findings support the hypothesis that the assumption of homogeneity of the prevalence of depression across Hispanic groups is not tenable," says Dr. Yang, a research assistant scientist at IFAR who specializes in the mental health of older adults. "Furthermore, Puerto Ricans experienced a significantly higher number of depressive symptoms and prevalence of depression than did the three Hispanic groups in the study."
Yang and her colleagues say that further research is needed to determine Puerto Ricans’ exposure to factors that account for higher prevalence of depression than other Hispanic groups and whites living in the U.S.
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Scientists at the Institute for Aging Research conduct rigorous medical and social studies, leading the way in developing strategies for maximizing individuals’ strength, vigor and physical well-being, as well as their cognitive and functional independence, in late life. Hebrew SeniorLife is a 100+-year-old organization committed to maximizing quality of life of seniors through an integrated network of housing, health care, research and teaching programs, serving more than 3,500 seniors annually in the Greater Boston area.
Source: Scott Edwards
Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research
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