For the first time, scientists used the gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 in an attempt to treat an HIV patient in China. The patient showed improvements after the procedure and did not experience side effects.

The scientists at Peking University in Beijing utilized CRISPR to delete the gene called CCR5 from stem cells in a donated bone marrow. CCR5 is known for contributing to HIV infection.

A 27-year-old patient diagnosed with AIDS and acute lymphoblastic leukemia received the transplant. Doctors said the new and modified bone marrow should help treat his cancer and eliminate HIV.

"After being edited, the cells -- and the blood cells they produce -- have the ability to resist HIV infection," lead scientist Deng Hongkui told CNN.

The patient went under the knife for the bone marrow transplant in 2017. In early 2019, scientists said the man's acute lymphoblastic leukemia was in complete remission.

The stem cells with the editedCCR5 gene also stayed in his system 19 months after the procedure. The team published the results in The New England Journal of Medicine.

However, the new cells did not completely eliminatethe HIV virus. Scientists said the patient lacked enough amounts of stem cells to treat the disease.

Cells in the transplanted bone marrow carried only 5 percent to 8 percent of the edited CCR5. But it might not be a major problem for future experiments since enhancing the gene editing technique may improve outcomes, the scientists said.

"In the future, further improving the efficiency of gene-editing and optimizing the transplantation procedure should accelerate the transition to clinical applications," Deng said.

The initial study mainly aimed to test the safety and feasibility of using genetically-edited stem cells for AIDS treatment. Deng said one key finding is that the procedure did not cause any negative effect.

He added CRISPR has the potential to end blood-related diseases such as AIDS, sickle anemia, hemophilia and beta thalassemia.

Dengs team is not the first group to explore the use of CRISPR. China has been increasing its investment in the gene editing tool, which led to a number of first time experiments.

In 2016, the government announced biotechnology as part of its new Five-Year Plan. China is the first country to allow the use of CRISPR in humans and for the modification of nonviable human embryos.

CRISPR/Cas9 continues to provide scientists new ways to understand and fight previously untreatable diseases. Pixabay

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Scientists Use Gene Editing To Help HIV Patient Delete Disease In China - Medical Daily

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In the quest for the next cancer cure, few researchers bother to look back at the graveyard of failed medicines to figure out what went wrong.

The number of failures is staggering: 97 percent of the time that a new drug is tested in a clinical trial for a particular type of cancer, it never makes it to the market. That means the humans (and animals) who participate in these experiments risk their lives on treatments that end up in the dustbin.

Now, a new study helps explain why the rate of failure is so high: In the case of targeted cancer therapies a relatively new class of oncology drugs the medicines may not actually hit the targets researchers intended.

Targeted therapies in cancer work differently from traditional treatments, like chemotherapy. Theyre supposed to be aimed at the specific genes, proteins, or tissues cancer cells rely on to thrive. (Chemo, on the other hand, generally works on all cells that are rapidly dividing, regardless of whether theyre healthy or cancerous.)

The new study, published in Science Translational Medicine, used CRISPR the latest and most precise gene-editing tool available to examine whether 10 different drugs worked as researchers projected. In every case, the researchers found that they didnt.

When the papers authors removed the genes from the genomes of cancer cells that were supposed to be essential for cancer growth, the cells continued to grow. And when they applied the medicines each targeting one of six genes to the newly removed genes, the drugs killed the cancer cells anyway. In other words, even when the supposed target of the therapies was fully deleted, the drugs worked.

This suggests its possible that a big driver of cancer-drug failures in clinical studies is that the drugs dont actually work as drug developers intended.

I hope this paper will help people see the need to raise to bar in terms of how we choose and validate cancer drug targets, said William George Kaelin, a Harvard University professor of medicine who was not involved in the study.

The study should also be a wake-up call for drug developers: [They] should make sure their drugs stop working if the target protein has been genetically removed, said Nathanael Gray, a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute cancer biologist, who was also independent of the research.

The finding is definitely fascinating. But so is the story of why the researchers decided to run the study in the first place and use the latest gene-editing technology to reanalyze, and possibly debunk, previous findings in cancer clinical studies.

A few years ago, one of the papers authors Jason Sheltzer, a research fellow in cancer biology at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and his colleagues became interested in a gene called MELK, which is supposed to serve as a biomarker for aggressive breast cancer in patients with a poor prognosis. In the US, some 270,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2019, and nearly 42,000 women are likely to die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

The researchers started to tinker with the gene using CRISPR and found they couldnt reproduce many of the previous findings about MELK that had been uncovered using older gene-analyzing technologies, such as RNA interference. Namely, even when MELK was cut out, the breast cancer cells proliferated.

When a drug that was supposed to target MELK for breast cancer entered clinical studies, the researchers decided to use CRISPR again, this time to edit out the gene to see whether the drug still worked. We found the drug continued to kill breast cancer cells, regardless of whether the MELK it was targeting was present in the breast cancer genome, said Sheltzer.

This led Sheltzer and his colleagues to a big question: Had they just studied a uniquely bad cancer drug or did we stumble upon a bigger problem? he recalled. The extremely high failure rate [in cancer clinical trials] made us suspect there might be other instances of poorly designed drugs and poorly researched drug targets being tested in human patients.

Enter the new study. Sheltzer and his co-authors chose 10 drugs and drug targets that, like MELK, were at various stages of clinical development. They focused mainly on targets that had been discovered using RNA interference, again, a once-popular gene-analyzing technology that predated CRISPR. And they suspected that like MELK maybe itd been leading researchers down the wrong path.

In each case, they used CRISPR to cut out genes from the genomes of the cancer cells they were looking at genes thought to be essential for cancer growth. And they found that in every case, the drugs killed the cancer cells even though the gene that was supposed to be driving the cancer had been removed.

We wound up with 10 drugs that are potent anti-cancer agents. So we think that if we can figure out what these drugs actually do, we might be able to discover new cancer targets or we might be able to find patients who are more likely to respond, Sheltzer said.

Its also possible this kind of mistaken target helps explain why drugs fall short as they make their way through more and more rigorous stages of clinical studies.

But there could also be other explanations for the misfired targets. Sheltzer acknowledged that they chose medicines primarily discovered with RNA interference technology. And, Technology is always improving. So a lot of the drugs that are being tested in patients now were discovered and characterized five to 10 years ago. Its possible that targeted therapies, discovered more recently using newer genetic technologies, are more precise.

Both Kaelin and Gray shared a word of caution about the study: The researchers focused on targeted drugs that were already known to be problematic. As Kaelin put it, [They] picked drugs against targets where there was never, in my opinion, strong genetic data to support them. So, perhaps, cancer drugs with better-established targets would work as projected.

But Sheltzer says honing in on poor performers was part of the point of the study. A lot of cancer drugs get into clinical trials based on very weak genetic evidence, and when you carefully evaluate them, the rationale for targeting particular genes evaporates.

Either way, he and his colleagues hope the research inspires more analyses into why so many cancer drugs dont help patients. Research funding agencies are very interested in finding the next cure, Sheltzer argued, and they arent excited about this research into reproducibility and why some drugs fail. If we want to accelerate the quest for effective, new treatments, maybe they should be.

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Cancer treatment: drugs often fail in clinical studies. Heres a reason why. - Vox.com

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Cancer Cells Resort to Cannibalism To Survive Chemo

By consuming neighboring cancer cells, some cells have found a way to obtain the energy they need to remain alive and induce relapse after a course of chemotherapy is completed.

Published in:Journal of Cell Biology

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Bone Marrow May Be the Missing Piece of the Fertility Puzzle

Study shows that when an egg is fertilized, stem cells leave the bone marrow and travel via the bloodstream to the uterus, where they help transform the uterine lining for implantation.

Published in: PLOS Biology

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Alzheimer's Risk Gene Targets the Brain's Immune Cells

The most prevalent genetic risk factor of Alzheimer's disease (AD), apolipoprotein E4, impairs the function of human brain immune cells, microglia.

Published in: Stem Cell Reports

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Researchers Use CRISPR to Correct Mutation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Model

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare but devastating genetic disorder that causes muscle loss and physical impairments. Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have shown in a mouse study that the powerful gene editing technique known as CRISPR may provide the means for lifelong correction of the genetic mutation responsible for the disorder.

Published in: Molecular TherapyRead full story

Were the Neanderthals Wiped Out by a Common Childhood Illness?

The path to extinction for Neanderthals may well have been the most common and innocuous of childhood illnesses and the bane of every parent of young children chronic ear infections.

Published in:The Anatomical RecordRead full story

Failed drugs often are left on the shelf to gather dust. But sometimes, drugs can be dusted down and repurposed. In this article, we profile a new effort to bring drugs back from the dead and find solutions to conditions such as multiple sclerosis and chronic pain.

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A number of projects are underway to harness bioprinting to print functional human tissues, the first step to printing an entire organ. In this article, we take a closer look at three of these projects.

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TSE Explores Microplastics Detection Techniques

Astrocytes

Blood vessels and astrocytes in aging rat retina, confocal imaging, 40x. Blood vessels are shown in blue; astrocytes (supportive cells of the nervous system) are mostly in red. As organisms age, changes in astrocytes might contribute to disease and degeneration.

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7 Days in Science September 20, 2019 - Technology Networks

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Genomes of living organism like that of humans can be edited with the technique of CRISPR. Things that could only be imagines earlier can be made possible with this technique, such as reversing congenital conditions or killing off viruses. CRISPR has now found another application in which it equips materials to change their properties when nearby there are specific DNA sequences.

The research behind this technology was done by a team of scientists from MIT and Harvard who also developed multiple types of devices using the technology. These include an electronic circuit that reacts to DNA cues, a microfluidic device with a DNA sensor that activates a valve to open and close and also gels that release drugs. The idea is to deliver therapies, perform diagnostics, and many impossible tasks up till now; by the interaction between human body and a whole set of new smart materials.

With the help of proteins known as Cas enzymes, DNA can be cut by scientists in specific locations by using CRISPR. A single- stranded DNA was used by the scientists in this new research as a structural component or a control mechanism. This gave smart biological functionality to whatever material it is in.

They developed a polyethylene glycol gel containing DNA bound to encapsulated drug. Acrylamide gel with the DNA was also created by the team. An electronic circuit with another gel was also created by the team with idea of advancing the technique where the result was conductive when the DNA strands within it are intact. One of the next things the team is working on is to find a way to use the technology to deliver engineered bacteria to help treat conditions that are gastrointestinal.

Gaurang Tayloris an MD/MBA candidate at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Harvard Business School. He contributes regularly to CardioSource World News and Emergency Physicians Monthly. He is interested in developing scalable, tech-based solutions for medicine and education. He loves to share his knowledge and recent trends in the Healthcare Department by posting various articles. He has experience in medical device pathways and is passionate about understanding the human body.

Mail: gaurang.taylor@storyoffuture.com

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Biological Cues | CRISPR-Responsive Materials - Story of Future

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DURHAM Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a method to address failures in a promising anti-cancer drug, bringing together tools from genome engineering, protein engineering and biomaterials science to improve the efficacy, accuracy and longevity of certain cancer therapies.

Using a combination of CRISPR-based targeting, a protein depot that allows for sustained release of the drug and a highly potent binding system, the team showed that their new strategy could overcome three critical problems that limit the efficacy of many cancer drugs their limited potency, their quick elimination from the body, and the ability of cancer cells to develop resistance to the drug.

The research appeared online Sept. 4 in the journal Science Advances.

More than 20 years ago, researchers discovered that the protein drug TRAIL, short for TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, could effectively kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells at least, in the lab. TRAIL works by binding to specific protein receptors on cancer cells, ominously called death receptors, sending a signal that causes the cells to self-destruct. Although initial experiments showed the drug worked in a variety of cancer cell lines, including melanoma, lymphoma, pancreatic, prostate, lung, colon and breast cancer, TRAIL and similar drugs surprised researchers by showing limited success in clinical trials.

After more study, scientists pinpointed three reasons why the promising drug failed: TRAIL wasnt potent enough, the drug was being cleared from the body too quickly and some cancer cells were resistant to the therapy.

Duke engineers improve CRISPR genome editing with biomedical tails

Using a combination of three tools a highly potent protein drug, a depot that allows for sustained release of the drug, and CRISPR/Cas9 based gene editing to pinpoint the cause of resistance to the drug the Duke team, which included Mandana Manzari, a recent PhD graduate,Ashutosh Chilkoti, the chair of Duke biomedical engineering, andKris Wood, an assistant professor of pharmacology and cancer biology, demonstrated that their new strategy could provide a solution to these problems and give protein-based anti-cancer biologics like TRAIL that failed in the clinic a second chance.

The real significance of this research for me is the true cross-disciplinary nature of it, said Manzari, first author on the paper and now a post-doctoral researcher at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. This is really the first example Ive seen where were bringing in pharmacology, drug delivery, and genomics to pinpoint the exact circumstances that cause a biologic to fail and then develop solutions.

The first step of the process involved addressing TRAILs limited potency. Typically, cells have multiple death receptors, but a specific receptor called death receptor 5 (DR5) is more prevalent in certain cancer cells. TRAIL, a three-part protein, binds to DR5 and links three death receptors together, sending a signal for cells to self-destruct. TRAIL can also bind to other death receptors and decoy receptors on normal cells. A more potent drug would be specific for a given death receptor, like DR5 that is present on cancer cells, and link together larger numbers of the receptor on a cell surface to send a stronger death signal to the cancer cell.

Manzari produced a highly potent, six-part death receptor agonist (DRA) that could bind six death receptors together and indude a much stronger self-destruct signal.

Next, the team examined how to prevent the super-potent death receptor agonist from being cleared from the body too quickly. They genetically fused the DRA to a temperature-responsive protein called elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), which forms a gel-like depot within a room-temperature solution. After the solution is injected under the skin, it dissolves, releasing the DRA over a longer period of time.

Duke researchers: Single CRISPR treatment provides long-term benefits in mice

Finally, Chilkoti and Manzari partnered with Kris Wood to better understand what caused certain cells to resist death by TRAIL or death receptor agonist (DRA). The team systematically disabled various genes in the cancer cells using CRISPR/Cas9 until they could deduce which were responsible for TRAIL or DRA resistance. Then they selected drugs to target the proteins produced by those genes and paired them with the DRA slow-release depot.

This work opens another exciting avenue for targeting a critical cell death pathway in cancer, an area of increasing interest in the translational cancer therapeutics community, Wood said.

When we figured out the genes that drive resistance, we were able to map them to commercially-available drugs that could specifically target the proteins that come from those genes, said Manzari. It basically gave us a platform to figure out what drugs we can combine with the DRA in cases where this drug or other protein drugs dont work well to nip that resistance in the bud.

With their triple-whammy tool, the team was able to effectively overcome intrinsic resistance, repress tumor growth and extend survival in mice that were implanted with colorectal cancers from human patients that are highly resistant to treatment with TRAIL.

Now, the researchers are considering how they could apply this method to other protein and small-molecule drugs that face similar barriers that limit their effectiveness.

I think the thing that really sets this approach apart is designing each piece of the platform rationally to address a specific problem and bringing them all together holistically to solve three critical problems that limit not just TRAIL, but many new cancer therapies, Chilkoti said.

Typically the protein engineering is one platform, the ELP strategy is one platform and the genomic screen strategy is its own platform, Manzari said. This is a good example of true synergy of engineering, pharmacology, genomics and materials. People always talk about bringing those together, and this is a clear example of that.

(C) Duke University

This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (5R01EB007025-08, 5R01EB000188-12, 5R01GM061232-16, R01CA207083, and 5T32GM007105) and the Duke University BME/DCI Collaborative Grant.

CITATION: Genomically Informed Small Molecule Drugs Overcome Resistance to a Sustained Release Formulation of an Engineered Death Receptor Agonist in Patient-Derived Tumor Models, Mandana T. Manzari, Grace R. Anderson, Kevin H. Lin, Ryan S. Soderquist, Merve Cakir, Mitchell Zhang, Chandler E. Moore, Rachel N. Skelton, Mareva Fevre, Xinghai Li, Joseph J. Bellucci, Suzanne E. Wardell, Simone A. Costa, Kris C. Wood, Ashutosh Chilkoti. Science Advances, 2019. DOI 10.1126/sciadv.aaw9162

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Duke researchers utilize gene editing to improve cancer drugs' performance - WRAL Tech Wire

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September 18, 2019 Last night the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved apalutamide (Erleada) for the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive (aka, castration-sensitive) prostate cancer (mHSPC). Apalutamide has previously received FDA-approval for the treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC).

PCF funded the initial synthesis of apalutamide at UCLA by chemist Michael Jung, PhD, in collaboration with prostate cancer physician-scientist Charles Sawyers, MD (now at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center).

mHSPC refers to men whose prostate cancer has spread to areas of the body outside of the prostate itself, and who are responsive to testosterone-lowering agents. This may refer to men who have had prior surgery or radiation and recurred, or men who were initially diagnosed with disease that was already metastatic (outside the prostate). Patients who are hormone-sensitive may have previously received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for a certain amount of time, but their cancer has not yet developed resistance to ADT.

This approval is based on results from the randomized phase 3 TITAN clinical trial, which was presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ACSO) Annual Meeting, held in June, and published in the prestigious medical journal, The New England Journal of Medicine.

The TITAN trial, led by PCF-funded investigator Dr. Kim Chi, MD, of the Vancouver Prostate Centre, tested the addition of apalutamide versus placebo, to ADT in 1,052 men with mHSPC. Patients on this trial could have previously received ADT for no more than 6 months for mHSPC or no more than 3 years if used as adjuvant therapy for localized prostate cancer, and were not on ADT at the time of disease progression and trial enrollment. Patients could also have previously received docetaxel chemotherapy for no more than 6 cycles, and could not have progressed on that treatment.

Compared with a placebo, the addition of apalutamide to ADT significantly reduced the risk of death by 33%, and reduced the risk of radiographic disease progression (tumors growing on scans) or death (whichever came first) by 52%. Apalutamide also significantly delayed the average time to PSA progression, use of chemotherapy, and pain progression. Apalutamide was shown to prolong survival of patients with both low and high volume metastatic disease. The treatment combination of apalutamide and ADT was considered tolerable, and quality of life in patients receiving apalutamide was similar to those receiving placebo in addition to ADT. Adverse effects that were higher in patients receiving apalutamide vs placebo included rash (27% vs. 8.5% of patients), hypothyroidism (6.5% vs. 1.1% of patients), and fractures (6.3% vs. 4.6% of patients).

More information on this approval can be found here.

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BREAKING NEWS: FDA Approves Apalutamide (Erleada) for the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate c - Prostate Cancer Foundation

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New research was presented at ASTRO 2019, American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting, from September 15-18 in Chicago. The features below highlight some of the studies that emerged from the conference.

With survival of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer patients having improved remarkably over the past 2 decades, efforts are now being made to reduce long-term adverse effects of treatment in this population. Options include reducing chemotherapy, radiation, or both while hoping to maintain optimal outcomes. To test the validity of doing so, researchers assigned mostly non-smoking patients with low-risk human HPV-positive head and neck cancer to lower-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plus concurrent chemotherapy or IMRT alone. Rates of progression-free survival at 2 years were 90.5% in the combination group and 87.6% in the IMRT alone group. A pre-specified threshold for swallowing-related quality of life on the 100-point MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory was surpassed by both groups, with scores of 85.3 in the combination group and 81.8 in the IMRT along group; these scores were down 5.6 and 6.2 points from baseline, respectively. Local recurrence rates at 2 years were 3.3% in the combination group and 9.5% in the IMRT group, while distant metastasis rates were 4.0% and 2.1%, respectively.

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Although the standard of care for early-stage favorable Hodgkins lymphoma (HL) includes radiotherapy, small studies suggests that metabolic response assessment after two cycles of chemotherapy using FDG-PET (PET-2) can predict the individual outcome and PET-2 negativity might allow reducing the overall treatment intensity. To assess whether omitting consolidating radiation therapy in patients with negative PET-2 is feasible without loss of efficacy as determined by progression-free survival (PFS), researcher randomized adults with newly diagnosed, early-stage favorable HL to standard combined modality treatment (CMT) or PET-guided treatment, whereby radiation therapy was restricted to those with a positive PET after CMT. The researchers found that omitting radiotherapy worsened disease control. Rates of 5-year PFS were 93.4% in standard therapy group and 86.1% in the de-escalation group. However, estimated 5-year overall survival rates were about the same in both groups. Among PET-2-negative and -positive patients, estimated 5-year PFS rates were 93.2% and 88.1%, respectively. In early-stage favorable HL, radiation therapy cannot be safely omitted from standard CMT without a clinically relevant loss of tumor control in patients with negative PET-2, conclude the study authors.

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Prior research has raised concerns about the cosmetic outcomes associated with partial breast irradiation (PBI), with one study finding adverse cosmetic rates to be higher in those treated with PBI than in those treated with whole breast irradiation (WBI). To compare outcomes with PBI versus WBI in women who underwent lumpectomy, researchers asked these patients and their physicians to rate the cosmetic outcomes of the procedure on the treated breast (vs the untreated breast) as excellent, good, fair, or poor at baseline, 12 months post-treatment, and 3 year post-treatment. At 3 years, reports of total satisfaction were 81% in PBI group and 86% in the WBI, while rates of somewhat dissatisfied were 1% and 2%, respectively and less than 1% in both groups were totally dissatisfied with their treatment. Treating physicians rated outcomes as comparable at 12 months but thought them to be better for WBI at 3 years, while physicians blinded to the therapy who reviewed photos of the patients breasts rated outcomes as equivalent at both 1 and 3 years.

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Prior studies suggest that the addition of high doses of radiation to immunotherapy in some cases results in a therapeutic synergy in which some tumors not targeted by radiation will shrinkthe abscopal effect. To determine if adding a high dose of radiation in just a few fractions to a single site of disease could reinvigorate the immune response in patients who progress on immunotherapy, study investigators looked for the abscopal effect in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and at least two measurable tumors whose cancer progressed after pembrolizumab treatment. Among 50 patients who were immunotherapy-nave and began pembrolizumab when the trial started, 16 experienced disease progression and were treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and six had progressed on anti-PD-1 therapy at the time of enrollment in the trial and were immediately treated with SBRT. Of these 22 patients, 9.52% achieved a partial response that was sustained beyond 1 year and 47.62% achieved stable disease. Patients with elevated tumor infiltrating lymphocytes scores (2 or 3 on a 0-3 scale) showed improved progression-free survival compared with patients who had lower scores (0-1), with a mean of 215 versus 59 days, respectively.

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Men should be offered hormone therapy while undergoing salvage radiotherapy (SRT) following prostate cancer surgery and subsequent biochemical recurrence, according to current treatment guideline recommendations. However, such therapy has been associated with adverse events but no overall survival benefit in those treated with early SRT. Thus, researchers conducted a secondary analysis of the study on which the guideline recommendation is based to determine if a patients pre-SRT PSA level could serve as a prognostic and predictive biomarker of benefit or harm from anti-androgen therapy. While overall survival was significantly improved in men with a PSA greater than 1.5 ng/mL following hormone therapy, those with a PSA level below 1.5 ng/mL experienced no significant overall survival benefit. In fact, men with PSA levels of 0.6 ng/mL were nearly twice as likely to die from non-cancer causes with the addition of hormone therapy, and between three and four time more likely to experience a combination of severe cardiac events and neurologic issues.

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Conference Highlights: ASTRO 2019 - Physician's Weekly

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There's nothing more frustrating than waiting month after month for those two pink lines to pop up. Struggling with infertility can be a heartbreaking experience, but in many cases, the solution may be more simple than you realize.

One of the things that can affect your chances of getting pregnant is an imbalance of hormones. Now, you can take matters into your own hands by using an at-home hormone test to find out if your hormone levels are the source of the problem.

Here, experts give you a better understanding of the key hormones that can affect your fertility and explain how to have your levels tested.

While it's true that we have tons of different hormones coursing through our bodies, only a few come into play when we're trying to conceive. Below, we've listed some of the key fertility hormones you'll want to get familiar with if you suspect a hormone imbalance might be affecting your ability to get pregnant. The good news is, a hormone test will give you insight into these important hormones.

FSH is of the most important hormones for fertility, FSH or follicle-stimulating hormone is responsible for maintaining cycle regularity and producing healthy eggs.

LHor luteinizing hormone, may sound familiar; it's the hormone that's measured in at-home ovulation predictor kits (OPKs). LH is the hormone that tells your body to release an egg that's ready to be fertilized.

AMH, also called anti-Mullerian hormone, is responsible for maintaining the immature eggs your body has. If you come across a hormone test that measures your ovarian reserve, or how many eggs you have left, it's measuring AMH.

Progesteroneis a key player both in preparing the body for pregnancy and for helping a new pregnancy to continue. Often when a woman suffers repeated miscarriages, plummeting progesterone levels are the culprit.

Prolactin If you're thinking that this hormone is the one that handles milk production, you're correct! But it's also a key player in ensuring your cycle stays regular, which is essential when trying to conceive.

T3 and T4 Many women don't realize this, but these thyroid hormones have a major influence on the ability to get pregnant. In fact, Dr. Elena Villanueva with Modern Holistic Health, says, "The thyroid gland, female reproductive organs, and adrenal glands are intricately connected. If there is an issue with either the thyroid or the adrenals, becoming pregnant can be a challenge. The good news is a hormonal imbalance test for thyroid or adrenal dysfunction can reveal issues that can be easily fixed in most cases. Many women find that when their thyroid is brought back into healthy hormone range they easily become pregnant."

First, it's important to know that if your hormones are out of whack, it's not your fault, and you're not doing anything wrong.

"For better or worse, there are very few things we can do lifestyle-wise that negatively (or positively) impact hormone production and balance," says Dr. Emily Jungheim, a board certified reproductive endocrinologist and fertility expert at the Women & Infants Center in St. Louis, Missouri. "One lifestyle factor that can be important though is obesity. Extreme athletes can also have issues as low body fat can impact a woman's menstrual cycles and ovulation."

Medical conditions affecting the thyroid and adrenal glands can also affect hormones. In fact, the thyroid is so important to sustaining a healthy pregnancy that it's considered one of the biggest causes of hormone imbalance in women. Another is PCOS, which stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. PCOS is a condition that affects between 6% and 12% of women of childbearing age, according to theCDC. It's characterized by irregular cycles, excess male-pattern hair growth, and infertility.

Other causes of hormone imbalance include the following:

If you've been trying to conceive for more than a few months and you're otherwise healthy, it may be time to consider your hormone levels. Below is a list of symptoms that may indicate a hormone imbalance, courtesy of Dr. Villanueva.

If you've realized by now that fertility isn't exactly a one-size-fits-all thing, you're right! Each woman is different, which can make it tough to determine when it's time to take action. But in general, Dr. Jungheim suggests that if you haven't conceived after 6-12 months of trying (it's fine it keep it to only 6 months if you're over 35), your cycles are totally irregular and unpredictable, or if you have symptoms of PCOS or a thyroid condition, it's wise to get checked.

Another scenario where hormone testing totally makes sense? If you're planning to have your eggs frozen for later use. "An AMH level can be helpful in understanding how many oocytes one might expect to get during a banking cycle or during IVF," she says.

There are two basic methods: you can have your doctor order the tests and have your blood drawn at a lab, or you can try an at-home hormone testing kit. More and more women are turning to at-home testing solutions as a way to kick-start their fertility journey.

It used to be that in order to get a hormone blood test, couples would first have to endure months of not getting pregnant, then schedule a visit to a reproductive endocrinologist. Now, at-home hormone tests for women are allowing couples to take back control and present their findings to their doctor as a first step in determining whether they're dealing with an easily solvable hormone imbalance or something more serious.

Hormones can be measured in blood, hair, urine or saliva, and each at-home hormone test functions a little differently. There are benefits and drawbacks to each method; while a hormone blood test is the traditional method, saliva hormone testing is becoming a widely accepted way of testing, since it gives a better average over time by collecting several different samples of spit in a single day (gross, we know).

If you decide to try an at-home test, it's a good idea to discuss your findings with your own doctor, especially if anything unusual pops up. Not only will they want to add the information to your medical history, but they may want to perform their own tests to confirm. Due to the nature of their profession, doctors are natural skeptics of any at-home test.

"There are a number of at-home hormone tests. Some are reliable and some are not, but all should be confirmed and interpreted with a medical provider if someone is concerned about an underlying medical condition or if someone is struggling with fertility," says Dr. Jungheim. That's why we recommend using at-home hormone tests in conjunction with your doctor's care rather than in lieu of it.

Here are a few of the top hormone level tests you can buy to measure your hormones in the comfort of your own home:

Proovis an at-home hormone test that uses urine to detect levels of progesterone in the bloodstream. In a typical cycle, progesterone is a hormone that's released immediately after ovulation; it's critical for a healthy pregnancy to occur.

Everlywell hormone test for women measures many of the fertility hormones mentioned above, like estradiol, FSH, AMH and LH with a simple finger prick in the comfort of your home. Results are promptly reviewed by a board-certified physician.

Modern Fertility uses a simple but effective private dashboard to deliver results, this hormone test measures different hormones based on whether and what type of birth control you use. Testing can be performed at home or in a designated lab.

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Could a Hormonal Imbalance Be Affecting Your Fertility? Here's What You Need to Know - Yahoo Lifestyle

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Hormones are natural substances made by our glands in our body and the network of glands that make hormones is termed as endocrine systems. These hormones are carried through bloodstream and act as a messenger between one part to another part of our body. Hormone therapy is one of the major modalities of medical treatment for cancers which involves manipulation of the endocrine systems through exogenous administration of steroid hormones or drugs inhibiting or interrupting activities of specific hormones. Surgical removal of certain endocrine organs for instance oophorectomy can also be employed as a part of hormone therapy. In hormone therapy physician generally start with hormone receptor test that let caregivers to measure amount of cancer proteins or hormone receptors within a cancer tissue. By estimating the amount of hormones such as estrogen or progesterone the test either can be positive or negative. A positive test indicates growth of cancer cells with the help of hormones. In such cases physician divert the hormone therapy by blocking the interaction of hormones with the hormone receptor. Alternatively, in case of negative hormone receptor test which signifies null effect of hormones in growth and development of cancer cells other effective treatments can be rendered to cure cancer.

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A hormone therapy can be rendered either before or after a primary treatment. In case it is rendered before the primary treatment it is medically termed as neoadjuvant treatment which kills. Neoadjuvant treatments help to kill cancer cells and contribute to the effectiveness of the primary therapy. If hormone therapy is given after the primary cancer treatment, it is called adjuvant treatment. Adjuvant therapy is given to improve the chance of a cure. Now a day hormone therapy is widely used in treating breast and prostate cancer. In breast cancer the female hormone estrogen are primarily responsible for stimulating the growth and development of breast cancer cell in majority of cases. Recently in 2014, aromatase inhibitors such as Arimidex and Femara have been approved for treating breast cancers through hormone therapy. Apart from these FDA approved Zoladex Lupron can also be used in curing breast cancers through hormone therapy. In case of prostate cancer a variety of medications can be used as hormone therapy. Male hormones, such as testosterone, stimulate prostate cancer to grow. Hormone therapy is given to help stop hormone production and to block the activity of the male hormones. Some of the antiandrogens used as inhibitors of prostate cancer cell growth encompass flutamide, enzalutamide, bicalutamide, and nilutamide among others. some of the other cancers to which hormone therapy is gaining acceptance now a day include womb cancer, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer among others.

Major drivers to global cancer hormone therapy include rising incidences of cancer across globe. Statistically according to WHO cancer accounts for 8.2 million deaths in 2012 and it is estimated that annual cancer cases is expected to rise from 14 million in 2012 to 22 million by 2022. Rising awareness among physician and patients towards alternative cancer therapy processes such as target therapy, immunotherapy or hormone therapy is likely to uplift the market in forthcoming years. Side-effects associated with hormone therapy are major restraints to growth and acceptance of therapy. Some of the common side-effects associated with hormone therapy for cancer include nausea, vaginal spotting, irregular menstrual periods, skin rashes, loss of appetite, vaginal dryness, impotence and male breast enlargement among others.

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Prominent companies operating the global cancer hormone therapy market include AstraZeneca plc, Novartis International AG, Merck & co., QuatRx Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer, Inc. among others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. This report provides comprehensive analysis of Market growth drivers Factors limiting market growth Current market trends Market structure Market projections for upcoming years

This report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.

Reasons for Buying this Report This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments It provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segments

Note: Although care has been taken to maintain the highest levels of accuracy in TMRs reports, recent market/vendor-specific changes may take time to reflect in the analysis.

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Cancer Hormone Therapy Market 2019 By Demand Services, Developments, Advancements, Application, Platforms Types, Industry Growth Drivers and...

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CHICAGO Women with breast cancer who want to take advantage of the more convenient course of partial breast irradiation (PBI) can now rest assured they are not going to have worse cosmetic outcomes by foregoing whole breast irradiation (WBI). This is the conclusion from the final report from the pivotal phase 3 trial (RTOG 0413) that compared the two approaches.

"I think this trial has confirmed the ASTRO consensus statement" that describes the patient population that is suitable for PBI, commented lead author Julia White, MD, professor of radiation oncology at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"A good population for PBI includes women over the age of 50 who have stage 1 breast cancer that is hormone sensitive, who take endocrine therapy for it, as well as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients whose tumors are less than 2.5 cm in size," she said.

"These patients, who represent probably around 30,000 women a year, need to know that PBI is a good alternative for their cancer outcome and now, I don't think concern about cosmetic outcomes should be a barrier," she added.

White was speaking here at a press briefing at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting, where she presented the final report from this trial.

The NRG Oncology/NSABP B39-RTOG 0413 study involved more than 4000 women with stage 0, I, or II breast cancer who had undergone a lumpectomy and were randomly assigned to either WBI or PBI.

WBI was administered at a dose of 50 Gy at 2.0 Gy/fraction or 50.4 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction to the whole breast, followed by an optional boost to 60 Gy for 5 to 6 weeks.

Women assigned to the PBI arm received 10 fractions, twice a day, for 5 to 8 days at a dose of 34 Gy in 3.4 Gy fractions. PBI was delivered via interstitial brachytherapy or by mammosite balloon catheter or in a dose of 38.5 Gy in 3.85 Gy delivered in 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy.

Previously reported oncological outcomes from this trial showed that breast recurrence rates after PBI were within 1% of breast recurrence rates after WBI.

"The really good news was that 95% of all women had no recurrence out to 10 years," White added, "and the risk for distant metastases after each procedure was also pretty close at between 1% to 2% between the two approaches," she said.

At the ASTRO meeting, White presented results from a quality of life substudy that showed that cosmetic outcomes were equivalent between WBI and PBI as well.

In the substudy involving 900 women, breast cosmesis was assessed by the patients themselves, as well as by the accruing-site physician and by central review of digital photos by physicians blinded to the randomized treatment arm. Digital photos of the breasts were collected at baseline, and at 1 and 3 years after patients received either WBI or PBI.

The goal of the current substudy was to see if PBI induced changes in breast appearance that were equivalent to those induced by WBI as assessed by the 3 separate groups using the Global Cosmetic Score (GCS).

"Patients were stratified by chemotherapy use and no-chemotherapy use," the investigators noted. Just under half (47%) of the group had received chemotherapy.

Based on the patients' own assessment, changes in cosmetic outcomes at 36 months were equivalent for women who received WBI or PBI based on GCS scores in both chemotherapy recipients and nonchemotherapy recipients at 0.06 vs 0.04, respectively.

When the two groups were combined, change in cosmetic outcomes at 36 months were again equivalent at a GCS of 0.045, as White reported.

Judged by accruing-site physicians, change in the GCS again at 36 months was not quite equivalent in chemotherapy receipts who received PBI compared with WBI, and the same was true in nonchemotherapy recipients. In both groups, cosmetic outcomes were judged to be slightly worse following PBI compared with WBI, White reported.

However, when the two groups were combined, GCS changes were equivalent between PBI and WBI at a change in GCS score of 0.045, she observed.

When the digital photos were assessed by central reviewers, cosmetic outcomes were not equivalent among chemotherapy users, where PBI was deemed to be inferior to WBI.

However, the reverse was true for patients who did not undergo chemotherapy, among whom cosmetic outcomes in breasts treated with WBI were judged to be worse than they were for breasts treated with PBI.

Again, however, when the two groups were combined, cosmetic outcomes as assessed by central reviewers were felt to be equivalent for PBI and WBI, at a change in GCS of 0.028.

White also noted that there were no significant differences in mean changes in GCS as assessed by both patients and by digital photos reviewers at each time point that cosmesis was assessed during the study interval.

The only differences observed between mean changes in GCS at each time point of assessment were seen among accruing-site physicians who, at 36 months, rated changes in cosmetic outcomes at 0.43 for breasts treated with PBI vs 0.17 for breasts treated with WBI, which was statistically significant (P = .001).

On the other hand, patient satisfaction with cosmetic outcomes in those who had received chemotherapy, those who had not received chemotherapy, and the combination of the two groups were all equivalent between those who had undergone WBI and those who had received PBI.

"I think this is the link we were waiting for," White observed.

White noted that an earlier, similarly designed study referred to as the RAPID trial again demonstrated that the accelerated PBI regimen used in the trial was noninferior to WBI in preventing local recurrence, but there was an increase in late normal tissue toxicity and cosmetic outcomes were judged to be worse with PBI than with WBI.

"Thus, there was concern that women would have to sacrifice the appearance of their breast to undergo more convenient radiation," White said.

"But from our analysis, we feel pretty confident that from a patient perspective, there was no difference between treatment arms, and that one arm did not cause more change [in cosmetic outcomes] than the other," she concluded.

Commenting on the findings, Wendy Woodward, MD, professor of radiation oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, told the press briefing that the outstanding question at the time the RTOG 0413 trial was designed was whether there would be a similar detriment in cosmetic outcomes following PBI as was shown in the RAPID trial.

"Looking at the data very granularly, it is patient satisfaction and patient-reported outcomes that really matter and in this trial, [and these assessments] were completely equivalent," Woodward said.

"So I think this study is a cornerstone for highlighting that PBI is now standard of care for eligible patients and, ultimately, we will see these papers published and we will see practice change as PBI becomes a standard-of-care option," she concluded.

White disclosed travel expenses from IBA and Qfix. Woodward declared she has served as a consultant for Global Health International.

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2019 Annual Meeting: Abstract #5. Presented September 16, 2019.

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Cosmetic Outcomes Equal After Partial vs Whole Breast Radiation - Medscape

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A few weeks ago, a patient came to me complaining of nausea, muscle weakness and fatigue. Her urine was tea-colored despite drinking loads of water. A middle-aged woman, she seemed worried she had cancer or some deadly disease.

Her lab tests revealed significant liver dysfunction. But her symptoms were not due to liver cancer, hepatitis or other disease. It turned out she had liver toxicity from a green tea supplement that she'd heard was a "natural" way to lose weight.

When she stopped taking the supplement at my suggestion, her liver tests gradually normalized and she felt better over the course of a few weeks

I've seen the green tea issue in patients before and often witness the real-life pitfalls of eschewing traditional medicine, science and facts in favor of supplements, herbs and cleanses in the name of "natural" healing.

In an effort to be healthy, patients can easily become ensnared in the potential dangers of alternative medicine or homeopathy.

Let's be clear: Nature has a lot to offer patients.

The Greek physician Hippocrates is said to have reported on the use of St. Johnswort, a flowering plant, for mood disturbances in the 5th century BC Digoxin, a well-studied medicine used to treat heart failure, is derived from the foxglove plant.

Parkinson's patients are often commonly treated with the medication L-dopa, which comes from the plant Mucuna pruriens. Moreover, research repeatedly shows that consuming fruits and vegetables, getting adequate sleep and regular exercise, and spending time outdoors have myriad health benefits.

But nature isn't always so well-intended.

Spoiler alert: Arsenic, cyanide, asbestos and snake venom derive from nature. Refined sugar, a naturally occurring substance and one that lives in most Americans' pantries, is in large part responsible for our country's obesity epidemic. Simply because a substance comes from nature does not mean it is good for us.

An important key to health is using nature appropriately.

And in the case of my patient, she was able to lose weight when we made a clear plan to alter her basic human behaviors. Before she started taking the green tea extract, she was skipping breakfast, drinking the equivalent of two Venti coffees before noon, eating takeout meals for lunch, washing down her late-night dinner with two glasses of wine, sleeping restlessly, and spending too much time sitting and indoors.

Green tea extract was never going to be the quick fix that she - and other patients I have seen - had hoped. It may be attractive as a natural cure for extra body fat, but this promise has not been shown in any studies, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health.

The key to helping my patient was pretty basic: looking at her lifestyle, her stress, and creating some structure and accountability for important lifestyle changes.

While she wasn't able to eat like Gwyneth Paltrow would recommend (who can eat Pinterest-perfect meals like that as a mere mortal?), my patient took my advice to heart that she begin eating breakfast, packing healthy leftovers for lunch at work, cutting back the wine to weekends only, and getting more exercise on weekends.

As a result, she started sleeping better and feeling more energetic. Eventually, the weight started coming off, too.

Particular patients seem to be more susceptible to the lure of "naturopathic" medicine or homeopathy. Patients who have vague symptoms that do not fit tidily into a box, for example, are often the ones combing the Internet for answers to their health woes and spending hundreds of dollars on unproven and insufficiently regulated supplements and herbs.

According to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which included a comprehensive poll on the use of complementary health approaches by Americans, 17.7 percent of American adults had used a dietary supplement other than vitamins and minerals in the past year.

That number is probably larger now: The total sales of herbal and dietary supplements in the United States were estimated to be more than US$8 billion in 2017, the 15th consecutive year of sales growth, according to a market research report. And women were more likely than men to use these products as well as people with more education.

Scientific data is often not the reason patients are drawn to herbal or "natural" supplements, Harvard School of Public Health researchers said. Of supplements users surveyed in 2001, 72 percent said they would continue using supplements despite a negative government scientific study. Patients reported getting much information about herbs from family, friends, advertisements and the Internet.

My patients often consider herbal remedies to be free of side effects, but many "natural" products can lead to toxicity and can dangerously interact with prescription medications.

Compounding the problem is that herbal and dietary supplements are not subject to the same strict regulatory standards as prescription drugs. On its website, NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements says the products "are not required to be reviewed by the FDA for their safety before they are marketed because they are presumed to be safe based on their history of use by humans."

Last year, another patient came in to see me complaining of fatigue, joint pains and abdominal bloating. She had seen a naturopath for these symptoms, who told her she had "chronic Lyme" disease and gave her multiple rounds of antibiotics and a bag full of daily herbal supplements. She said she didn't feel any better.

When we met, she told me she was certain she had Lyme disease that wasn't being adequately treated. In fact, the antibiotics she had been given had only worsened her abdominal issues and caused a new problem: an intestinal infection that causes bad diarrhea.

After 10 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment, her diarrhea was gone but she was back to her tired and achy self. At my recommendation, she stopped the supplements, and her fatigue abated somewhat.

When we discussed her situation further, she revealed to me she suffered from a love-hate relationship with sugar.

Like many of my patients, when she was stressed out she binged on sugar. For most people, ingesting sugar provides a quick hit of the pleasure hormone dopamine, and for some people that rush of dopamine and the accompanying instantaneous boost of energy can become addicting.

The problem is that a high sugar load causes a surge in the hormone insulin, which then results in a sudden drop in blood sugar - which can promote fatigue, weakness and irritability, among other symptoms.

If consumed in excess over time, such dietary sugar can cause abdominal distress, bloating and joint aches. This is what was probably causing my patient's symptoms.

So we made a plan for her to not only cut back on sugar but also fill her diet with healthy stuff to get ahead of hunger and avoid binges. I also recommended she work with a therapist to deal with stress-eating. Her joint aches went away and her energy improved after about two weeks, and she continues to see a therapist for stress-eating issues.

Food - and added support to use it properly - was the fix.

Symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, joint pains and irregular bowel movements are some of the most common complaints I see in my office. They can be challenging for physicians to figure out, largely because they require careful and attentive listening by the doctor.

And since more than 40 percent of patients do not tell their doctors about their use of complementary or alternative medicine (including 25 percent who takesupplements and/or herbs), physicians can be bewildered when trying to pin down a root cause for a patient's complaints.

Indeed, these patients are not easily diagnosed after a single lab test - and they are not easily fixed with a supplement.

Occasionally, it takes time with the patient, careful attention to the patient's story, and asking the right questions to get to the bottom of the problem. Often, the solution is right under our nose.

Nature is indeed wonderful, but it doesn't always come in a pill.

Lucy McBride is an internist based in the District.

2019 The Washington Post

This article was originally published by The Washington Post.

Original post:
A Doctor Explains The True Risk of 'Natural' Treatments Like Green Tea Supplements - ScienceAlert

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

How many times has your doctor said, we will get some blood tests and you are handed a piece of paper that looks like a foreign language or a menu from another country. Often we blindly take the paper order go to the lab and let them take tubes of blood out of us, with many concerned that all their blood will be gone.

I thought we would take a few minutes and discuss common blood tests, what to expect, what tests should you have, and what is new and exciting in blood testing.

First a little trivia for you, the average sized adult has about 1.5 gallons of blood in their body, that comes out to 12 pints of blood. Blood is made from within our bones, the kidney will actually secrete a hormone to tell the body it is time to make more blood. The average age of a blood cell is 120 days after which point it is removed from circulation by the spleen. The spleen acts a recycling plant by keeping the important parts of the red blood cell to be used again. For those of you who donate blood, the blood you donate is totally replaced in your body within 4- 8 weeks. For a simple blood draw of a few tubes of blood, that blood is replaced within days and makes no impact on your total blood volume.

When we say blood, it is often used as a generic word. Our blood actually is a lot more than red blood cells. It can be broken down to red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets. Each portion of our blood has important roles. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs, White blood cells fight infections and act as a major portion of our immune system, platelets stop bleeding from advancing and plasma carries other factors needed to clot blood. When the blood is clotted we are left with serum which contains, lipids, electrolytes, hormones, proteins and antibodies to list a few.

You may notice when the tech is drawing your blood that they are using tubes with different color tops. The reason for this is that the tubes are treated with chemicals to make sure that the component you are measuring will be accurate. For example, if the tube has no chemicals in the tube, the blood will clot as it should, however if we are looking at components that allow the blood to clot we dont want them all used up, or if we want to count red blood cells we cant count them if they are all clotted and clumped together. So next time you have blood drawn watch as they change tubes and look for the different colors. You will now know why they do that.

So when you hear you are going to have blood tests it is important to understand exactly what they are testing for. The tests are done for many reasons and are specific for the indication being tested for. For example if we are concerned about an infection we will often do a White Blood cell count. We do this because when the body is under stress from an infection it will produce more white Blood cells to help fight the infection, so our WBC count will go up and give the doctor an idea as to how severe the bacterial infection is. What is unique is that viral infections actually cause the WBC count to drop in many cases as the virus impacts the production of WBCs for a short time.

Doctors will order blood tests that give them specific information to a condition that they are concerned about. What about when you are having a physical and the doctor orders basic tests, what are they looking for? The doctor at this time is looking at your body as a whole and not honing in on any specific disorder. In these cases he is essentially doing the same as your car dealer does with their multipoint inspection.

Lets go over the most common tests your doctor may order and what the doctor is checking with each.

1.Comprehensive metabolic Panel- this is a panel of tests that may include close to 30 different tests. These tests will give a snapshot of your kidney function, your liver function, your gall bladder function, your nutritional status, diabetes and your cholesterol. They can do all of these tests out of a simple tube of blood. They will ask you to fast for this as some portions of your cholesterol as well as your blood sugar will be impacted with any recent food intake.2.Complete blood count- this test will look at your White Blood cells, including the number of WBCs as well as what type of white blood cells. Red Blood cells are counted as well including both number of red blood cells but also sizes of the red blood cells. It will also look at how many platelets we have, which is important for blood clotting. These tests are not only signals of general health but also for leukemia, anemia and iron deficiency.3.Lipid Panel- this test looks at our cholesterol and takes it beyond just a total value for our cholesterol. The test breaks it down into our good cholesterol- HDL, our bad Cholesterol LDL and our very bad cholesterol- VLDL. HDL is good cholesterol as it removes harmful material from our blood. The bad cholesterols are bad because they need to blockage in our arteries.4.Hemoglobin A1c- we discussed how eating can impact your blood sugar level for a period of time while the body reacts to the intake. Patients with diabetes work to keep their blood sugar level in a tight range by checking their sugars throughout the day with finger sticks to check the glucose levels. This test will give an idea of a sugar range that your body has been in for the past 120 days as it measures how much sugar is in the Red Blood Cells which circulate for 120 days. This gives the doctor and the patient a better idea as to how well their blood sugar is doing for a long period of time5.Thyroid Function we dont discuss the thyroid much, that small gland that sits in our neck and is the powerhouse for our energy. If the thyroid is working well our energy level is where we need it. When it is not functioning at the right level, often low level, or hypo thyroid, we feel sluggish, fatigued and sometimes depressed. When it is working too much or hyperthyroid our heart may race, we may feel anxious and we may struggle to keep on weight.

These are just a few of the common tests that a physician may order as part of your checkup. It is important that you understand why a test is being done, when you will get the results back and who will explain them to you. Also you want to know how the results compare with your previous tests as slight changes may show a trend that needs more evaluation , intervention or possibly medication. It is good to have your own copy of your test results, with the electronic health record these are often available to you on your phone, in some cases as soon as the test is completed. For some individuals this is good as they know the goal for their diabetes or cholesterol, for others it is not great as many jump to conclusions after seeing a single blood test and then running off to Google the results. Abnormal results should be discussed with your physician or nursing staff, this should include a discussion of what the results mean, what you need to do, and what is the follow up on this abnormal result.

What is on the horizon for blood tests- some very exciting news

There are a few new blood tests worth discussing, three were reported recently.

ABBOTT Concussion blood test

2 weeks ago, Abbott reported the results of a study that showed their blood test for concussions could detect a concussion even when it was not noted on CT Scan. The blood test looks for proteins that are only found in the brain unless there is damage to the brain which allows it to be found in circulating blood stream. The test can be done in real time and takes about 15 minutes to get results, even on the sidelines of a football game or in the ER following some trauma. This test is very important as it may give a definitive answer to the question of a concussion. This information is very important as the current concussion testing is not completely accurate. An accurate diagnosis is key as removing the individual from activities that may result in another concussion is very necessary to minimize long term effects. This study showed that the test was much more accurate than any cognitive and physical exam screening and was also more exact than a CT scan. The test is not commercially available in the US yet but is expected to be soon.

This is important as a study out last week shows that repetitive mild impact to head is causing damage to the blood vessels in the brain. The study reports that repetitive impacts to the head not necessarily the big concussive blows are likely to changes to the micro vessels that deliver blood to our brain. If this blood test can identify those individuals as well we may see a much safer and accurate way to prevent the long term effects of concussions

CANCER SEEK

Cancer SEEK is a blood test that we have discussed in the past. It is a blood test that is being developed to identify 8 cancers from a single tube of blood. Essentially a liquid biopsy. The test will look for known DNA fragments from cancers that would be circulating in the blood stream. What is more interesting is the cancers this test may be able to identify. The current list includes Breast, lung, colon, ovarian, liver, stomach and pancreatic. As you look at this list, imagine that the test is perfected to a point where it can identify the cancer before traditional ways of testing, identify it earlier and more accurately.

The list includes some cancers that when identified are beyond the option for successful treatment. Lung cancer, ovarian cancer and pancreatic cancer comes to mind. Think about being able to eliminate the need for mammograms or colonoscopies to diagnose those two common cancers. The current stand is that this test will complement the current screening tools

Is this futuristic or is it something we will see soon? It may be here sooner than we think. It is currently in a large study and earlier studies have shown it to be quite good. The study that came out last year showed it to be quite accurate for ovarian, liver, pancreas, stomach and esophageal cancer, each of these very important as there are currently no screening test for each of these. The proposed price for this test is $500, which is a very appealing price for both patients and insurers. The ability to identify these cancers early will be lifesaving and game changing. Look for more information on this as well as the ability to potentially participate in a clinical trial, as they work to perfect this test.

LIFESPAN Blood Test

The other test is a bit more controversial, a group of researchers in Europe, are looking to design a blood test that could predict your lifespan as you age. The study is taking data from close to 45,000 individuals aged 18-109. During the follow up period 5,500 of the individuals had passed away. The researchers then looked at biomarkers in the blood and took that data to see if they could create a scoring system that would predict when a person might die. The researchers identified 14 different biomarkers in the blood, when some were found at low levels the chance of death was high, while other biomarkers when found at higher levels were associated with a lower chance of death. The data is being reviewed to see if levels could predict within a timeframe what the future life expectancy would be.

This obviously will be met with resistance from ethical view from a psychological view and from a healthcare utilization view. The concern about rationing health care would be raised quickly, along with utilization. If someone had this test and the results showed a predictive score that the patient would die within 5-10 years what would we do differently? Would we not do some surgery, would we not use expensive medications, would we give limited resources to an individual who had a better score. Would individuals make other life changing decisions based on the knowledge that they have a high chance of dying within the next 5 years. Many may argue that this is good information and that if we can predict our life span why wouldnt we want to know. It would allow us to make choices on work life balance, allow us to make financial decisions, and family and friend decisions.

Probably the biggest issue as this research is more publically available, would be can we change our lifestyle to change these biomarkers and improve or extend our lives. Would we start to track things we never thought were important, like our levels of leucine or valine. Would we find medications that could lower inflammation should be used as regularly as statin drugs are now.

There will be more to come on this study and how its results will be used in routine care in the future.

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Dr. Kevin Most: Blood Tests - WGN Radio - Chicago

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Pregnancy test is an indicative marker test for determination of pregnancy, which measures the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine samples. The hCG hormone is present in the human body only during pregnancy, which makes it possible for the test to provide accurate results. Various types of pregnancy tests are available in the market, the common one being the home pregnancy test (HPT), which offers benefits of pregnancy testing at home, without the need to visit a physician or gynecologist. Recent technological advancements in home pregnancy test have led to the emergence of digital pregnancy test kits. These test kits offer quick results in a digital format (pregnant / not pregnant) which eliminates the need for interpretation of results by the women, thereby improving accuracy of the test.

Rise in awareness among general population regarding pregnancy test kits and increase in pregnancy rates among women in emerging countries have boosted the adoption of pregnancy test kits globally. Conventional pregnancy test kits, including strip test kits and cup test kits, offer symbolic results of the test (lines or color code format), which need to be interpreted by the user. This increases chances of human error while interpretation of results. Digital pregnancy test kits have eliminated this possibility by offering a digital response (in yes or no format). These distinct benefits of digital pregnancy test kits over the conventional ones have propelled the adoption of digital pregnancy test kits in the global market, thereby driving the consumption and subsequent growth of the product in the global market during the forecast period. Moreover, incorporation of new technologies in the digital pregnancy test kits, such as indication of the pregnancy month of the woman, has been another major factor eliminating the undesired need to undergo ultrasound scans, thus reducing the health care cost of the patient and driving the adoption of these kits in the global market. However, higher price of digital pregnancy test kits than that of conventional ones, along with their unavailability in the emerging countries, is anticipated to restrain the growth of the global digital pregnancy test kits market in 2018.

The global digital pregnancy test kits market can be segmented into product type, distribution channel, and region. Based on product type, the global market can be divided into kits with week indicator and kits without week indicator. Based on distribution channel, the global digital pregnancy test kits market can be classified into institutional sales and retail sales. The institutional sales segment can further be categorized into maternity centers, gynecology clinics, and others. The retail sales segment can be bifurcated into hospital pharmacies, online pharmacies, and retail pharmacies & drug stores.

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In terms of region, the global digital pregnancy test kits market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America dominated the digital pregnancy test kits market in 2017, and was closely followed by Europe, in terms of revenue. Rise in adoption of new and advanced test kits owing to higher awareness among people regarding pregnancy test kits and adequate reimbursement policies for digital pregnancy test kits in the U.S., Canada, and European countries are some of the major factors contributing toward the prominent share of these regions in the global market. Asia Pacific is projected to register a comparatively higher CAGR from 2018 to 2026, owing to higher pregnancy rate in emerging countries, such as China, India, and other Southeast Asian countries and rising adoption of digital pregnancy test kits in these countries.

Key players operating in the global digital pregnancy test kits market include SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Gregory Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc., and Sugentech, Inc.

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.

The study is a source of reliable data on: Market segments and sub-segments Market trends and dynamics Supply and demand Market size Current trends/opportunities/challenges Competitive landscape Technological breakthroughs Value chain and stakeholder analysis

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The regional analysis covers: North America (U.S. and Canada) Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others) Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia) Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand) Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)

The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.

A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.

Highlights of the report: A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market Important changes in market dynamics Market segmentation up to the second or third level Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments Market shares and strategies of key players Emerging niche segments and regional markets An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market

Note:Although care has been taken to maintain the highest levels of accuracy in TMRs reports, recent market/vendor-specific changes may take time to reflect in the analysis.

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Digital Pregnancy Test Kits Market: Strategic Analysis to Understand the Competitive Outlook of the Industry, 2026 - ScoopJunction

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Cushing disease is caused by tumour in the pituitary gland which leads to excessive secretion of a hormone called adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH), which in turn leads to increasing levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands and helps the body to deal with injury or infection. Increasing levels of cortisol increases the blood sugar and can even cause diabetes mellitus. However the disease is also caused due to excess production of hypothalamus corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) which stimulates the synthesis of cortisol by the adrenal glands. The condition is named after Harvey Cushing, the doctor who first identified the disease in 1912. Cushing disease results in Cushing syndrome. Cushing syndrome is a group of signs and symptoms developed due to prolonged exposure to cortisol. Signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome includes hypertension, abdominal obesity, muscle weakness, headache, fragile skin, acne, thin arms and legs, red stretch marks on stomach, fluid retention or swelling, excess body and facial hair, weight gain, acne, buffalo hump, tiredness, fatigue, brittle bones, low back pain, moon shaped face etc. Symptoms vary from individual to individual depending upon the disease duration, age and gender of the patient. Disease diagnosis is done by measuring levels of cortisol in patients urine, saliva or blood. For confirming the diagnosis, a blood test for ACTH is performed. The first-line treatment of the disease is through surgical resection of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma, however disease management is also done through medications, Cushing disease treatment market comprises of the drugs designed for lowering the level of cortisol in the body. Thus patients suffering from Cushing disease are prescribed medications such as ketoconazole, mitotane, aminoglutethimide metyrapone, mifepristone, etomidate and pasireotide.

Cushings disease treatment market revenue is growing with a stable growth rate, this is attributed to increasing number of pipeline drugs. Also increasing interest of pharmaceutical companies to develop Cushing disease drugs is a major factor contributing to the revenue growth of Cushing disease treatment market over the forecast period. Current and emerging players focuses on physician education and awareness regarding availability of different drugs for curing Cushing disease, thus increasing the referral speeds, time to diagnosis and volume of diagnosed Cushing disease individuals. Growing healthcare expenditure and increasing awareness regarding Cushing syndrome aids in the revenue growth of Cushings disease treatment market. Increasing number of new product launches also drives the market for Cushings disease Treatment devices. However availability of alternative therapies for curing Cushing syndrome is expected to hamper the growth of the Cushings disease treatment market over the forecast period.

The Cushings disease Treatment market is segment based on the product type, technology type and end user

Cushings disease Treatment market is segmented into following types:

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By Drug Type Ketoconazole Mitotane Aminoglutethimide Metyrapone Mifepristone Etomidate Pasireotide

By End User Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Drug Stores Clinics e-Commerce/Online Pharmacies

Cushings disease treatment market revenue is expected to grow at a good growth rate, over the forecast period. The market is anticipated to perform well in the near future due to increasing awareness regarding the condition. Also the market is anticipated to grow with a fastest CAGR over the forecast period, attributed to increasing investment in R&D and increasing number of new product launches which is estimated to drive the revenue growth of Cushings disease treatment market over the forecast period.

Depending on geographic region, the Cushings disease treatment market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East & Africa (MEA).

North America is occupying the largest regional market share in the global Cushings disease treatment market owing to the presence of more number of market players, high awareness levels regarding Cushing syndrome. Healthcare expenditure and relatively larger number of R&D exercises pertaining to drug manufacturing and marketing activities in the region. Also Europe is expected to perform well in the near future due to increasing prevalence of the condition in the region.

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Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR because of increase in the number of people showing the symptoms of Cushing syndrome, thus boosting the market growth of Cushings disease treatment market throughout the forecast period.

Some players of Cushings disease Treatment market includes CORCEPT THERAPEUTICS, HRA Pharma, Strongbridge Biopharma plc, Novartis AG, etc. However there are numerous companies producing branded generics for Cushing disease. The companies in Cushings disease treatment market are increasingly engaged in strategic partnerships, collaborations and promotional activities to capture a greater pie of market share.

The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.

The report covers exhaustive analysis on: Market Segments Market Dynamics Market Size Supply & Demand Current Trends/Issues/Challenges Competition & Companies involved Technology Value Chain

Regional analysis includes North America (U.S., Canada) Latin America (Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Rest of Latin America) Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K., Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe) Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, Rest of APAC) Middle East and Africa (Rest of MEA, S. Africa)

The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.

Report Highlights: Detailed overview of parent market Changing market dynamics in the industry In-depth market segmentation Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value Recent industry trends and developments Competitive landscape Strategies of key players and products offered Potential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growth A neutral perspective on market performance Must-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint.

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Cushings Disease Treatment Market Size & Share Expanding Across The Globe By 2025 - Rapid News Network

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

On a recent episode of his Friday evening talk show, Bill Maher proposed that society combat obesity by body-shaming overweight individuals. He argued that fat shaming doesnt need to end, it needs to make a comeback to deter people from overeating.

Obesity is a national epidemic that is placing a significant burden on our health care system. Nearly 40% of Americans are considered obese, costing upwards of US$150 billion dollars per year in health costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To individuals who are not obese, it can be easy to assume that overeating is strictly a failure of willpower and discipline. However, evidence shows that body-shaming and weight discrimination are misguided approaches, and often make the problem worse. Moreover, there are multiple biological forces underlying appetite and metabolism that may be beyond a persons full control.

I am a molecular biologist with interests in the root causes of human behavior. As the author of the book, Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are, I have done extensive research into the biological forces that conspire to shape human personality and behavior, including the factors influencing our diet and tendency to overeat.

Maher tried to support his argument with the claim that being fat isnt a birth defect. This is not necessarily true. Some people are born with genetic variations in hormonal systems that regulate hunger and satiety. Leptin, for instance, is a hormone that tells the brain when the stomach is full. People born with leptin deficiency cannot sense when they are full and frequently overeat. Other genes linked to energy metabolism, food cravings and the brains reward response have been found to be driving factors in overeating and weight gain.

There is also growing evidence that several health conditions, including obesity, may arise from how the environment in the uterus affects the development of the fetus. A 2014 study at the University of Denver showed that prenatal maternal stress influences childhood obesity. Why should children be shamed for their mothers stress during pregnancy?

There is compelling data that the microbes in our intestines, part of our microbiome, may influence our food cravings and the tendency to overeat. Microbiologist Jeffrey Gordon at Washington University has conducted pioneering studies charting differences in the bacterial species inhabiting the guts of lean versus obese people.

Gordon and his team also transplanted intestinal bacteria from lean or obese people into the guts of mice. For the study, the intestinal bacteria were harvested from identical twins in which one was obese and the other lean. The result: While gut bacteria from the lean twin kept mice lean, gut bacteria from the obese twin led to obesity in the mouse. These findings provide evidence that the types of microbes in our gut influence our metabolism and contribute to our weight.

It is also well-established that certain medications, like steroids, alter metabolism and fat deposition, leading to weight gain. Brain injury and tumors can also induce overeating and obesity. While these causes of obesity are less common, I think it is unfair to make assumptions that obese individuals are in full control of their behavior.

Body-shaming is not only ineffective but frequently backfires. In a 2013 study, researchers at Florida State University revealed that people subjected to weight discrimination were three times more likely to remain obese. A year later, researchers at University College London added more supporting evidence; rather than helping people lose weight, weight discrimination promotes weight gain.

Most recently, a 2019 study showed that weight discrimination significantly contributed to an overall health decline in all participants. In addition to weight gain, multiple studies have shown that body-shaming also harms psychological health, frequently leading to depression.

There are more effective, not to mention more compassionate, ways to help those struggling with obesity. As British physician Stephen ORahilly has written, The growing evidence that humans can be genetically hardwired to become severely obese should eventually lead to a more widespread realization that morbid obesity is a disease requiring further scientific research, rather than a failure of willpower requiring sanctimonious moral opprobrium.

Bill Sullivan, Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University.

then let us make a small request. AlterNet is increasing its original reporting, edited by The Nations Joshua Holland, with a focus on 2020 election coverage. Weve also launched a weekly podcast, Weve Got Issues, focusing on the issues, not Donald Trumps tweets. Unlike other news outlets, weve decided to make our AlterNet 2020 coverage free to all. But we need your ongoing support to continue what we do.

AlterNet is independent. You wont find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of white nationalism, to spotlighting the overlooked struggles of the working poor, AlterNet continues to speak truth to power. As newspapers close, America needs voices like AlterNets to be sure no one is forgotten.

We need your support to keep producing quality journalism. As Silicon Valley absorbs more and more advertising dollars, ads dont pay what they used to. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure AlterNet remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to AlterNet, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.

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Heres why Bill Maher is wrong about fat-shaming - AlterNet

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Dr. Patricia Coughlin, sole owner of Good Karma Dispensary, has applied for a dispensary facility license in Brentwood, Missouri. Like the other 2,300 applications, she awaits licensing results from the state. Coughlin is one of over 1,000 applicants applying to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Missouri.

The 83-year-old has lived in St. Louis her entire life. She was a registered nurse for 44 years and a social worker for 39 years. She has her doctorate in social work. Dr. Coughlin is a captain in the United States Army Nurse Corps; a former professor at Washington University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Maryville University; and even formerly hosted a local radio show.

I believe that my unique background, combined with my extensive knowledge in the area of medical marijuana will be to serve my dispensary clients well, Dr. Coughlin told Greenway Magazine. As a senior, I intend to focus quite a bit on the more mature population that does not feel comfortable with many of the stereotypical associations of marijuana. I believe it is important to promote the message that medical marijuana is an acceptable alternative to traditional pharmacology, and I hope my messages will help to de-stigmatize medical marijuana.

She said her reason for applying for a facility license comes down to her first-hand accounts of the needs of the aging community and a need for alternative treatment options.

My main reason for applying for a dispensary license is that I see first hand every day the significant need in the aging community for a healthier alternative to dangerous prescription medications to treat: sleep problems and insomnia, loss of appetite, chronic pain from age-related conditions, depression, and the agitation and other symptoms related to Alzheimers, Dr. Coughlin said. The aging population, in my opinion, is the most needlessly over-medicated and is in dire need of alternatives.

A way she plans for her dispensary to serve aging patients better is by offering a VIP Service where her or another nurse will meet in-home with families and patients to discuss treatment.

I will work in conjunction with the patients physician and healthcare team to determine the best course of medical marijuana treatment, Dr. Coughlin said. I will follow up weekly with family members to assess progress, changes, and any concerns as well as to personally deliver the product to the family/patient and assist with teaching and training on side effects, symptoms, etc.

Dr. Coughlins dispensary also plans to make specific offerings for fellow veterans, including discounts and outreach. She will be providing lectures and visiting support groups touting the benefits of medical marijuana to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions unique to veterans.

Her outreach will further extend into the healthcare industry, where she plans to capitalize on her almost 50 years of nursing experience. She will also be providing workshops and seminars for counselors, social workers, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists to increase regional education for medical marijuana treatment for mental illness.

Her experience and multi-faceted outreach strategy is one that Dr. Coughlin hopes will make her application stand out.

Outside of her care experience, Dr. Coughlin founded the Magdala Foundation, the first halfway house for female offenders in the United States, for which former St. Louis Mayor A.J. Cervantes awarded her the key to the City.

Additionally, she co-founded The PMS Center, one of the first facilities of its kind in the country to treat women suffering from PMS and other hormone-related conditions. She emerged early on as an expert in PMS and bio-identical hormones, appearing on several national television shows. She volunteers as a counselor at Birthright Crisis Pregnancy Counseling and she is on the Board of Missouri Right to Life.

Her dispensary proposal, of which she is the sole owner and funder, has been welcomed by the City of Brentwood and local residents.

Dr. Coughlin is an active longtime member of the St. Louis Arch Diocese and a longtime serial entrepreneur. She is the mother of five professional adults and grandmother to 15, all living in the St. Louis area.

Continued here:
Longtime St. Louis nurse says Good Karma is about 'healthier alternatives' - Greenway

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) is one of the fastest andeasiest ways to lose weight up to 3lbs per day for the first week. Nowadays,this protocol of weight loss has become popular among those who search for thequickest weight loss products out there in the market. HCG is a kind of hormonethat can be found in the placenta of pregnant women. In her pregnant period,the production of this hormone increases at its highest level. It sends themessage of a woman not to menstruate.

In comparison to other weight loss products in the market, HCG works faster. Thats why; its demand is on the rise at present. It is available as a form of sprays, drops, and injections. By eliminating cravings and controlling hunger for foods, HCG drops help you to lose weight according to your need.

It is also called an ultra-low-calorie diet which allows itsuser to consume only 500 calories per day as long as he or she is on this dietplan. As HCG helps to boost metabolism in your body, it works as a weight-losssupplement all without making you hungry.

If somebody takes the HGC diet plan and can keep stickduring this plan, he or she can lose 5 to 40 pounds or more. In the first week,you may end up losing nearly 3 to 4 pounds if it is your first time. And youhave to continue this diet plan (3 or 6 weeks) until it finishes following thediet plan. If you think that you have already burnt enough fat and fail tofollow the extreme diet plan, you will end up gaining more weight.

HCG, a very low-calorie diet comes up with three main stages you need to follow strictly. These include loading phase, weight loss phase, and maintenance phase. All three stages are equally important to observe. If you fail to maintain any of them, you will end up gaining some extra weight.

This is the phase where you are permitted to takehigh-calorie and high-fat foods just for two days after starting the HCG dietplan to lose weight.

This is the most crucial phase you have to followappropriately without making any mistake. Along with taking HCG, it will allowyou to choose only 500 calories each day for 3 to 6 weeks. You can have twomeals per day- lunch and dinner. You may think that this extreme diet plan willleave you to make hungry. HCG diet plan will not allow you to crave or make youhungry for foods.

In this phase, you can increase food intake and stopconsuming HCG. It does not mean that you can eat as much as you wish. For thenext three weeks, you have to avoid sugar and starch to maintain the phase.Otherwise, you will gain weight fast indeed.

Phase 3 should be the most crucial part of the HCG diet plan. Some people regain their weight during phase 3 because they start consuming sugar and starch randomly. To maintain the weight you have achieved during the diet plan, you have to eat foods that are recommended for phase 3. You should also be aware of including new food items into your diet. Instead, you can gain 2 pounds of weight more if you do not follow the instruction during this phase.

If you aim to lose weight within the shortest possible time,there is no alternative to HCG. Yes, it is a solid diet plan because itsinstructions are rigorous but concise. If you can follow all itsrecommendations while taking this extreme diet plan, you are sure to burn yourextra fat up to 40 pounds or even more.

Its beginning is faster than the later phases. At thebeginning of any diet plan for weight loss, all you lose is water from yourbody. You can eat fats as well as healthy foods you like once you have finishedthe diet plan. But you have to make sure that you are not overeating.

Losing extra weight is beneficial for your body. It iseasier to perform actions of your day to day life if you are not too bulky.Everyone under the sun wants to have a good appearance. But doing things toofast also leave you with some side effects.

So, it would be wise to consult with your physician beforetaking any diet plan. Your doctor knows it very well whether your body is up tothe mark to continue with the extreme-low diet plan, HCG. If it does not suityou, you will have some health conditions including headaches, depression, orfatigue.

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How much weight can you lose on the HCG diet? - VIVA GLAM MAGAZINE - vivaglammagazine.com

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Steroids can be defined as a kind of natural or synthetic chemical compounds that can be produced naturally in the body as well as artificially in the laboratories.

Steroids help the cells, tissues, and organs to function properly and they are also used to treat various medical conditions. The two primary sorts of steroids are corticosteroids and anabolic-androgenic steroids which is also called anabolic steroids.

To decide which steroids are legal is a tricky one. The term legal steroids is a catch-all for muscle-gaining supplements that are not considered illegal. Legal steroids are also called Multi Ingredient Pre-Exercise Supplements (MIPS) and Over-The-Counter (OTC) health supplements.

These health supplements are intended to help with weight-lifting, developing muscles, and improve performance and stamina of athletes. Anabolic-androgenic steroids are engineered (artificial) renditions of the male sex hormone testosterone.

Medical practitioners prescribe these hormone enhancing steroids to individuals who have muscle atrophy or problems in producing enough testosterone. However, numerous reports and cases have come to light where athletes and bodybuilders have been found to use these steroids unlawfully to boost performance or grow muscles.

There are two sorts of steroids present inside the body. The adrenal organ situated over the kidney in our body produces corticosteroids. These hormones comprise of aldosterone, which plays a vital role in controlling the concentration of sodium in the body, and cortisol, which acts as the bodys stress reaction framework to reduce inflammation.

Corticosteroids are prescribed by medical practitioners to treat illnesses like asthma, bowel ailment, rheumatoid joint inflammation, and a number of ailments.

Anabolic or anabolic-androgenic steroids are produced artificially that copies characteristics of the male hormone testosterone in its capacity to build muscle tissue and in the development of the features of male secondary sex. Different types of medical conditions such as hypogonadism, osteoporosis, malnutrition, anemia, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), and breast cancer.

Corticosteroids are used as medicines that help combat inflammation in our body. These steroids are made in laboratories and perform just like the cortisol hormone that is produced inside our body. Cortisol or corticosteroids like the drug prednisone prevent our immune system from producing inflammation-causing substances.

Corticosteroids medically help treat conditions that cause swelling and irritation. They also help ease side effects of asthma, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid inflammation of joints, skin conditions like dermatitis, short-term treatment of allergic reactions like poison ivy rash, lupus vulgaris or lupus erythematosus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

Regular intake of high doses of corticosteroids for quite a while can cause severe symptoms like osteoporosis, impedes the development in children, and also cause adrenal deficiency which is a deadly condition where the bodys stress reaction capacity stops it can no longer respond to illnesses or surgical procedures.

Other long-term effects of taking corticosteroids include eye problems like cataract, loss of muscle strength, and also a higher possibility of suffering from diabetes.

The anabolic or androgenic steroids are artificially composed to mimic the characteristics of testosterone hormone that is produced in the testicles and ovaries.

The androgenic compound of the testosterone hormone is associated with building up the male sex attributes, while the anabolic part is engaged with expanding the volume of body tissue by accelerating protein generation. The pituitary organ, situated at the base of the cerebrum, manages testosterone generation and hormone discharge.

Medical practitioners might advise the use of anabolic and androgenic steroids as prescription drugs for individuals whose body is not capable of producing enough hormone which is why they might need hormone supplements.

The anabolic steroids are recommended by medicinal services providers as legal prescription drugs, yet this type of medications is frequently mishandled and illegally consumed escalate performance of athletes and also develop physical appearance like muscle building.

At the point when utilized in a well-sustained body, anabolic steroids will cause weight gain to encourage an expansion in muscular tissues.

While anabolic steroids may have positive impacts when taken under the supervision of a physician, they have numerous severe and at times irreversible reactions. These reactions are caused because of the unusually abnormal accumulation of testosterone in the body and may result in hypertension, raised cholesterol levels, liver ailments, cardiovascular illness, skin inflammation, hair loss, and certain behavioral syndrome. The anabolic steroids are available in many different types.

Some copy the activities of testosterone, while others cause the body to create abundance testosterone by meddling with the typical hormone-producing system in the body.

No matter what the purpose of these steroids are, the excessive amount of testosterone-induced in the body always ends up in affecting the normal functioning of cells and organs in the body.

Anabolic steroids are usually prescribed to be taken orally or injected in the muscles, especially for individuals whose body does not produce enough testosterone. Medical practitioners also recommend them to individuals who have lost muscle strength due to chronic health conditions like cancer and AIDS. AIDS, and other wellbeing conditions.

High doses of anabolic steroids taken for a long time can harm our liver, kidneys, and heart. It can also cause heart failure and swelling of the heart because of extreme fluid retention. These medications can likewise raise the level of LDL cholesterol, which can cause strokes or heart attacks in individuals of any age.

Conclusion

It is safe to say that steroids irrespective of their legalities are never the best answer for growing muscles or keeping the body fit. They can cause many harmful reactions that may compromise the state of our wellbeing in the long haul.

Steroids are drugs that cause strong reactions in the body, and they can cause cataracts or illnesses of bones like osteopenia. Therefore, it is always ideal to concentrate on manageable, sound approaches to build muscles and remain fit.

This will not only prevent any additional physical and mental damage due to the dependence on synthetic chemicals to enhance physical stamina but also allow the cells and organs of our body to function normally.

Read more:
What Are Steroids and Are They Legal? - The Vistek

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

NEW YORK A recent pilot study of Pfizer's PARP inhibitor talazoparib (Talzenna) suggests that it might work as a neoadjuvant treatment for women with triple negative breast cancer and BRCA germline mutations.

Pfizer is conducting its own Phase II trial, results of which are still likely more than a year away, but the pilot, conducted by researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center, showed promising results.

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Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Post menopause is the period occurred after menopause followed by various syndromes like vaginal dryness, hot flashes, etc. During this period level of estrogen and progestin falls significantly leading to even serious complications like osteoporosis. The worldwide market for Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy is gaining moment substantially. This rising demand for Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy is due to increasing level of awareness about menopausal symptoms and its treatment. Another factor is growing population of post-menopausal women. Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy includes replenishment of body level of estrogen and progestin hormones in women through external intake of hormones. Thus, it help in treating the menopausal symptoms. It decreases the symptoms like vaginal dryness, hot flashes, disturbed sleep, night sweats and etc. The Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy helps in prevention of osteoporosis and hot flashes caused due to depletion of estrogen and progestin level in body. The Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy comprises of natural as well as synthetic estrogens. In order to enhance the menopausal treatment, it is also given in combination with progesterone.

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The treatment for post menopausal syndrome is generally treated with sequential or continuous schedules through various doses of estrogen, progestin or combination of both. Despite of existing controversy and confusion about the safety profile of the postmenopausal hormone therapy, the market for the postmenopausal hormone therapy has recorded positive inclining growth due to growing demand. The development of postmenopausal hormone therapy with respect to driving demand leads to introduction of highly safe treatment options to patients which include development of novel drug delivery system like vaginal estrogen drugs and transdermal estrogen patches. Low dose postmenopausal hormone therapy are used in order to address the backdrop caused due to safety issues. The non-hormonal treatment has comparatively least efficacy to produce optimum results, hence the postmenopausal hormone therapy market is observed to grow significantly.

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However, the major retarding factors to the market include the affordability to the therapy. The cost for postmenopausal hormone therapy approximately revolves around US$ 10,000 per annum, and thus incurring a major burden on the patients pocket. Thus the population from developing and under developed countries faces a challenge of affordability for the postmenopausal hormone therapy. The post treatment risk of cervical cancer and coronary disease are another restraining factors for the market. Approved recognition of the products related to postmenopausal hormone therapy in compounding pharmacies particularly from developed countries is another deterring factor. However the opportunity for the market is the introduction of the product targeting the cardiovascular disease prevention.

The Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy market can be segmented by product, by therapy, by dosage form, by route of administration, by end-user and by geography. In the terms of product, the postmenopausal hormone therapy is classified into patches, tablets, creams, suppositories, and injections. The tablet formulation comprises the largest market share of the total postmenopausal hormone therapy market. However, due to growing concern of safety and long-term therapy the market for the patches are growing at much faster compound annual growth rate. Based on the therapy, the market is segmented into individual progestin, estrogen and combination therapies. The majority of market is occupied by estrogen therapy across the world.

Based on the route of administration, the postmenopausal hormone therapy market is classified into oral, topical and subcutaneous implants. Due to high safety, oral administration has been the preferred choice of option for the patient. However, introduction of novel drug delivery system has driven the market for topical and subcutaneous products as well. In the terms of end-user, the target population are the women suffering from menopause. However, the treatment is influenced by the physician/ gynecologist, the target end-users are hospitals and specialty clinics.

Geographically, North America occupies the largest market share followed by other developed region like Europe. The United States accounts for a major share of the global market. The high awareness level and high purchasing power in this region led the market of postmenopausal hormone therapy for expansion significantly. However, the same factor of affordability has restrained the markets in developing regions. Despite of this, Asia Pacific has shown striking increase in its growth rate for the postmenopausal hormone therapy market. Rising population, increase in disposable income, and increase in awareness level are some key factors driving the Asia Pacific Market. Due to this factors, the Asian market is observing high number of new entrants compared to those in developed regions.

The Major players reported in the market include Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Inc., Bayer Pharma AG, Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk A/S, Orion Pharma AB, Pfizer, Inc., Meda pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and TherapeuticsMD, Inc., etc

Link:
Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy Market to Surge at a Robust Pace by 2024 - Market Reporter

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Report Title: 2019-2024 Global and Regional Endocrine Testing Industry Production, Sales and Consumption Status and Prospects Professional Market Research Report

Endocrine Testing Market research report gives detailed information of major players like manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, traders, customers, investors and etc. Endocrine Testing market Report presents a professional and deep analysis on the present state of Endocrine Testing Market that Includes major types, major applications, Data type include capacity, production, market share, price, revenue, cost, gross, gross margin, growth rate, consumption, import, export and etc. Industry chain, manufacturing process, cost structure, marketing channel are also analyzed in this report.

Overview Of Endocrine Testing Market:

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Report further studies the Endocrine Testing market development status and future trend across the world. Also, it splits Endocrine Testing market by type and by applications to fully and deeply research and reveal market profile and prospects.

Segmentations Analysis:

Top Key Players:Abbott Laboratories, AdnaGen, Beckman Coulter/Danaher, Biomedical Diagnostics, BioMerieux, Bio-Rad, Dako, DiaSorin, Eiken, Fujirebio, Instrumentation Laboratory, Kyowa Medex, Matritech, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Roche, Siemens, Sysmex, Thermo Fisher, Tosoh, Wako, Wallac/PE

By TestEstradiol (E2) Test, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Test, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Test, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) Test, Progesterone Test, Testosterone Test, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test, Others (Gastrin, Thymosin, Secretin, etc.)

By TechnologyTandem Mass spectrometry, Immunoassay (Enzyme immunoassays, Radioimmunoassays (RIA)) Technologies, Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibody Technologies, Sensor (Electrochemical, Biosensors, etc.) Technologies, Clinical Chemistry Technologies, Others (Liquid Chromatography + Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)

By End UserHospitals, Commercial Laboratories, Ambulatory Care Centers, Home Based Tests, Physician Offices.

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Endocrine Testing Market report covers the manufacturers data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.

Geographically, this report is segmented into severalkey regions, with sales, revenue, market share and growth Rate of Endocrine Testing in these regions, from 2014 to 2024, covering

The Endocrine Testing market report provides answers to the following key questions:

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Detailed TOC of 2019-2024Global and Regional Endocrine Testing Industry Production, Sales and Consumption Status and Prospects Professional Market Research Report

Chapter 1 Industry Overview

Chapter 2 Production Market Analysis

Chapter 3 Sales Market Analysis

Chapter 4 Consumption Market Analysis

Chapter 5 Production, Sales and Consumption Market Comparison Analysis

Chapter 6 Major Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Analysis

Chapter 7 Major Type Analysis

Chapter 8 Major Application Analysis

Chapter 9 Industry Chain Analysis

9.2 Manufacturing Analysis

9.3 Industry Chain Structure Analysis

Chapter 10 Global and Regional Market Forecast

10.2 Sales Market Forecast

10.3 Consumption Market Forecast

Chapter 11 Major Manufacturers Analysis

11.1 Company 3

11.2 Company 2

11.3 Company 3

Chapter 12 New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis

Continued.

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Endocrine Testing Market Report 2019 to 2024 With Top Countries Data : Growth, Provides Analysis on Supply, Market Size, Import and Export,...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Health and fitness expertJillian Michaelsis opening up about struggling with the hormonal disorder PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) as a teenager.

PCOS is common, affecting 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, according to theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Women with PCOS can have irregular menstrual cycles and higher levels of the male hormone androgen, according to theMayo Clinic. The condition can also cause women to develop ovariancysts.

Michaels learned she had PCOS at 15 years old in an incredibly painful way. I discovered it because I had a cyst burst on one of my ovaries, Michaels shares with Yahoo Lifestyle. She was in so much pain that her mother thought Michaels appendix was bursting. Michaels was rushed to the emergency room where doctors discovered it was a cyst that had burst.

Her doctor suggested she go on birth control pills a common treatment for PCOS that helpsregulate periodsand lower androgen levels. But Michaels didnt want to take the medication.

She continued to develop cysts. When she was 21 years old, Michaels experienced a burst cyst yet again, which was her wakeup call. And then I began to try to understand it, she says, referring to the condition. Instead of throwing more drugs at the problem, I looked at why does the problem exists.

She found out that PCOS is linked to insulin resistance. In fact, according to theCleveland Clinic, insulin resistance is one of the root physiological imbalances in most, if not all, PCOS.

By changing her diet, Michaels thought she could sensitize her body to insulin. No fake sugars, no processed sugars, no processed grains things that drive insulin to the roof, she says. And over time, I pretty much had the situation under control. Her lifestyle changes had a dramatic impact on her health. I havent had an issue in about 20 years, she says. Its about eating right, working out, and eating clean. A lot of chemicals that are in our food wreak havoc on your endocrine system.

However, Michaels clarifies one thing about her choice not to take birth control pills to help her PCOS back when she was a teenager: Im not saying if your doctor puts you on a birth control pill, say no, she says. Im just saying for me personally, I was able to manage the situation with lifestyle.

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Jillian Michaels shares how changing her diet helped her PCOS: I havent had an issue in about 20 years - Yahoo Lifestyle

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

New research suggests that women who take birth control pills are at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), even after controlling for weight, family history of type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, and smoking.

The study, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Barcelona, Spain, on September 16, 2019, also showed that women who go through puberty and menopause later have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

RELATED: Hormones and Your Health: An Essential Guide

These findings support earlier research on the protective value of longer exposure to ones own sex hormones, says Stephanie S. Faubion, MD, the medical director of the North American Menopause Society and the director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Womens Health in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Faubion was not involved in this research. These results may help clinicians identify women with greater risk for diabetes in whom more aggressive lifestyle modification may be needed, says Dr. Faubion.

The research, set to be published in the journal Diabetologia, looked at 83,799 French women from the E3N prospective cohort study who were followed between 1992 and 2014. Through the use of computer modeling, scientists were able to adjust for type 2 diabetes risk factors such as smoking, age, physical activity, family history, blood pressure, education level, and socioeconomic status in order to find out how different hormonal factors impact a womans risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

RELATED: Quiz: Are You At Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?

There were several factors that were associated with a lower risk of developing T2D, including:

These findings are consistent with those of the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) trials, which suggested reduced risk of diabetes in women using menopausal hormone therapy, saysFaubion. In that large-scale long-term study, researchers found that women taking estrogen plus progestin reduced their risk for developing T2D by 14 to 19 percent.

RELATED: Later Menopause Linked to Better Memory, Study Shows

There are different theories on why estrogen might help reduce the risk of diabetes, says Sopio Tatulashvili, MD, an endocrinologist at Avicenne Hospital, Bobigny, France, and the lead author of the research. Pancreatic islet cells, important in regulating insulin secretion and glucose metabolism, contain estrogen receptors.It is hypothesized that when estradiol (a form of estrogen) interacts with those receptors it can help with the survival and stability of islet cells and in stimulating insulin synthesis, which aids glucose metabolism. This could make developing diabetes less likely, says Dr. Tatulashvili.

Estrogen also seems to increase insulin sensitivity and our muscles ability to efficiently metabolize glucose, which would also make the progression to diabetes less likely, she adds.

RELATED: The Possible Benefits of Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes and Other Health Conditions

Its not surprising that women who have less exposure to their own sex hormones have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, says Faubion. We see this same effect with other chronic diseases, especially if estrogen is lost early as in the case of early or premature menopause, says Faubion. Research has established a clear link to early loss of hormones (early or premature menopause-ovaries removed early) and accelerated aging and development of chronic diseases, including increased risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia and even early death, says Faubion, who coauthored research on the potential long-term health consequences of early menopause.

A study published in Diabetologia in October 2017 found that women who had natural menopause at an earlier age (age 44 or younger) were at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

RELATED: 10 Ways to Beat Menopausal Belly Fat

The study also found that the use of birth control pills at least once was associated with a 33 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with women who had never used them. Risk induced by oral contraceptives could lead to personalized advice for young women at risk of developing T2D, such as those with a family history of diabetes, those who are overweight or obese, or those with polycystic ovary syndrome, said the authors.

Its not clear why birth control pills could increase risk, but it may potentially relate to the progestogen component of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP), and so risk may vary based on type of progestogen found in the OCP, says Faubion. In any event, women should not alter their decision-making regarding their contraceptive method based on these results, she added.

RELATED: The Best and Worst Birth Control Options

Tatulashvili agrees there is no clear explanation why contraceptive pill use is associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Another hypothesis is that birth control pills can lead to higher than normal estradiol levels, which could cause insulin resistance in the liver or a reduction in the efficiency of glucose use and transport in muscle cells, says Tatulashvili.

More research is needed on the influence of each type and exposure of contraceptive agents before translating these findings into clinical practice and prevention strategies, says Tatulashvili.

Originally posted here:
Diabetes Risk Is Related to Hormones in Women - Everyday Health

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The Ballston building that used to house canceled chef Mike Isabellas Pepita is changing from a cantina that used to deliver toxins to customers livers into an anti-aging and wellness center that injects toxins directly into peoples faces. ARLnow reports that D.C.-based Javan Wellness, which offers services including botox, dermal fillers, IV hydration, and hormone replacement therapy, is targeting an October opening in the space at 4000 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington.

Pepita was part of a complex of three Mike Isabella Concepts restaurants in Arlington that closed earlier than expected in December following a bankruptcy filing amid a scandal stemming from allegations of sexual harassment that a former MIC manager brought against Isabella and his deputies. The Mexican restaurant opened in 2015.

Many of Isabellas former properties are still stagnant, and the companys assets have all been auctioned off in pieces. New York-based Urbanspace has taken over the Isabella Eatery in Tysons Galleria, bringing in an impressive collection of D.C. area chefs but running into its own lawsuit drama. The Hilton Brothers are putting a French bistro into the former Requin Brasserie, the first Isabella restaurant to close, in Virginias Mosaic District development. [ARLnow]

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A Former Mike Isabella Restaurant in Ballston Will Now Serve Botox Instead of Margaritas - Eater DC

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A Bangor clinic that has long provided abortions and other health services for women will soon offer its first birth control procedure for men.

In October, a nurse practitioner at the Mabel Wadsworth Center will begin performing vasectomies on men as well as on transgender women as part of its growing mission to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of all genders and identities, according to Executive Director Andrea Irwin.

Weve seen a lot of folks come in with an unintended pregnancy and their partner is waiting to get a vasectomy, Irwin said. Weve heard its hard to get into places [for the procedure], so it made sense to look into offering it. And as a provider that serves a lot of trans clients, we want to serve trans women in a place thats open and affirming.

Irwin said that the new offering will advance the clinics bedrock feminist mission by forcing sexual partners to bear more of the responsibility for preventing pregnancy.

By offering vasectomies, the group also hopes to bring in a new funding stream to support its core mission of offering abortions, as it has been doing since 1994, and other services such as birth control and pregnancy and STD testing.

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that blocks sperm from leaving the bodies of men and transgender women by snipping and sealing the tubes connecting their testicles to their urethral opening, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Although vasectomies can be reversed, health professionals generally urge patients to view it as a permanent procedure that they should only pursue if they want to give up the ability to induce a pregnancy.

At the Mabel Wadsworth Center, the operation will generally require three appointments: an initial consultation, the procedure itself and a followup visit. The nonprofit organization will accept MaineCare or private health insurance for the service, and patients who are paying out of pocket may qualify for discounts depending on their income level.

Patients whose annual income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level that level works out to $18,735 for an individual in 2019, according to HealthCare.gov will be able to pay $525 for the vasectomy. Thats the same price the center charges anyone for an abortion.

The out-of-pocket cost for other patients seeking a vasectomy would be $750 if their income is at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level $31,225 for an individual and $1,000 for everyone else.

Those numbers could change as the center begins to see how much reimbursement it collects from patients with insurance, Irwin said.

We want to send the message that everyone deserves access to reproductive health care, regardless of gender identity, where they live, their income level, she said.

Maines two other abortion providers, Maine Family Planning and Planned Parenthood, do not currently offer vasectomies at their locations in the Pine Tree State, according to their websites.

While vasectomies will be the first birth control service available to men at the Mabel Wadsworth Center, the clinic has begun offering STD testing and treatment to men in recent years. As it branches out, it has also begun offering hormone therapy for transgender people, prenatal care and mental health counseling.

It recently hired a nurse practitioner to serve as the centers clinical director, according to Irwin. It also now employs an advocate who can help connect patients to resources such as MaineCare, the states version of Medicaid.

Irwin said that a combination of grant funding and the states expansion of Medicaid under Gov. Janet Mills has helped the Mabel Wadsworth Center afford to start its new programs.

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Bangor's longstanding abortion provider will soon offer vasectomies - Bangor Daily News

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith