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An hypocaloric diet is never the solution !!!

Here is the scientifical reason:

First of all, It is necessary to understand the mechanism of the adipocytes:

The adipocyte plays a critical role in energy balance.
Adipose tissue growth involves an increase in adipocyte size and the formation of new adipocytes from precursor cells. For the last 20 years, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of adipocyte differentiation have been extensively studied using preadipocyte culture systems. Committed preadipocytes undergo growth arrest and subsequent terminal differentiation into adipocytes.

This is accompanied by a dramatic increase in expression of adipocyte genes including adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and lipid-metabolizing enzymes. Characterization of regulatory regions of adipose-specific genes has led to the identification of the transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), which play a key role in the complex transcriptional cascade during adipocyte differentiation. Growth and differentiation of preadipocytes is controlled by communication between individual cells or between cells and the extracellular environment. Various hormones and growth factors that affect adipocyte differentiation in a positive or negative manner have been identified. In addition, components involved in cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions such as preadipocyte factor-1 and extracellular matrix proteins are also pivotal in regulating the differentiation process. Identification of these molecules has yielded clues to the biochemical pathways that ultimately result in transcriptional activation via PPAR-gamma and C/EBP. Studies on the regulation of the these transcription factors and the mode of action of various agents that influence adipocyte differentiation will reveal the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying adipose tissue development.

by PATRICK BEAUFAY

A social marketing campaign urging gay and bisexual men in San Francisco to get checked for syphilis has been linked to an increase in syphilis tests.

Cartoons advocating the tests were placed in a gay newspaper, and poster-sized reproductions were posted on the streets, on bus shelters, on Webs sites and in gay bars.

The researchers, led by Katherine Ahrens of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, conducted two surveys — one at six months and one at 2.5 years after the campaign had begun. Gay and bisexual men were asked whether they were aware of the cartoons and about their sexual health.

Ahrens and colleagues found the men who were aware of the cartoons were more likely than those unaware to have been tested recently for syphilis and to have greater knowledge about it. This effect was sustained for almost three years, according to evaluations published in PLoS Medicine.

“The social marketing campaign was effective in augmenting syphilis testing and increasing syphilis awareness and knowledge in the San Francisco gay and bisexual community,” say the authors. “This effect might have contributed to decreased syphilis incidence in 2005.”

Edmonton, Canada (ots/PRNewswire) - Isotechnika Inc. (TSX: ISA) announced today that the Company has enrolled its first patient in a pivotal Phase III European/Canadian clinical trial for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis with its lead immunosuppressive drug, ISA247.

The Phase III European/Canadian psoriasis trial (ESSENCE trial) will be performed at thirty-six clinical centres in Canada, Germany, and Poland involving a total of 500 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. The 24-week trial will be conducted as a randomised, orally administered placebo and cyclosporine controlled study with 300 patients receiving ISA247 (0.4 mg/kg twice daily), 100 patients receiving cyclosporine (1.5 mg/kg twice daily), and 100 patients receiving placebo. In an effort to maximise the benefit to patients randomised to the placebo group, those patients will be administered the ISA247 0.4 mg/kg twice daily dose subsequent to the first 12 weeks of the trial.

To determine successful completion of the trial, the following parameters will be measured; Static Physician’s Global Assessment (SPGA) scores, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores and kidney function.

“Enrolling our first patient prior to year-end should facilitate us achieving our psoriasis development timelines,” stated Dr. Randall Yatscoff, Isotechnika’s President & CEO. “We are confident that ISA247 will continue to demonstrate a strong safety and efficacy profile when directly compared to cyclosporine.”

About Isotechnika Inc.

Isotechnika Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Drawing upon its expertise in medicinal chemistry and immunology, the Company is focused on the discovery and development of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics that are safer than currently available treatments. Its entrepreneurial management and world-class team of scientists are building a pipeline of immunosuppressive drug candidates for treatment of autoimmune diseases and for use in the prevention of organ rejection in transplantation. Isotechnika looks to become the leader in development of immunosuppressant therapies.

Isotechnika’s lead compound, ISA247 has completed an extension protocol of a Canadian Phase III human clinical trial for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis and a North American Phase IIb human clinical trial for the prevention of kidney graft rejection. The Company also has an additional immunosuppressive compound in its drug pipeline, TAFA93 which successfully completed Phase I clinical trials.

Isotechnika Inc. is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISA. More information on Isotechnika can be found at www.isotechnika.com.

Partnerships with Isotechnika Inc.

Isotechnika Inc. signed a collaboration agreement with Hoffman La Roche on April 9, 2002, which licensed the worldwide rights to develop and commercialise ISA247 for all transplant indications.

On September 30, 2005, Isotechnika Inc. entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Atrium Medical Corporation for the use of ISA247 and TAFA93 specifically with drug eluting devices for the non-systemic treatment of vascular, cardiovascular, target vessel and tissue disorders.

Isotechnika Inc. and Cellgate Inc. signed an option agreement on April 25, 2006, granting Isotechnika the option to obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialise conjugates consisting of Cellgate’s patented transporter technology for the topical delivery of ISA247 in patients suffering from mild to moderate psoriasis.

On May 25, 2006, Isotechnika Inc. signed an agreement with Lux Biosciences, Inc. of Jersey City, New Jersey granting Lux Biosciences worldwide rights to develop and commercialise Isotechnika’s lead drug, ISA247 for the treatment and prophylaxis of all ophthalmic diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, including the Company’s belief as to the potential of its products, the Company’s expectations regarding the issuance of additional patents and the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the ability to economically manufacture its products, the potential of its products, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company’s ability to successfully commercialise its products, the ability of the Company to defend its patents from infringement by third parties, and the risk that the Company’s patents may be subsequently shown to be invalid or infringe the patents of others. Investors should consult the Company’s quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Overweight and obese women have a lower risk of breast cancer prior to menopause, researchers said on Monday in a finding they said both puzzles them and contradicts conventional wisdom.

The researchers admitted they do not know why the extra pounds (kg) may protect premenopausal women from breast cancer, but noted obesity actually greatly boosts breast cancer risk after menopause, when the disease more often is diagnosed.

“It is so puzzling. And it is not a good public health message,” said Karin Michels, associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and lead researcher in the study.

“I don’t want women to use this as an excuse to be overweight. Therefore, it’s even more important for us to find out what the mechanisms are. I mean, the last thing we want is, in this day and age, to advise people to gain weight,” Michels said in a telephone interview.

The findings, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, were based on medical data from 113,130 premenopausal registered nurses tracked from 1989 to 2003. During that time, 1,398 cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed.

Women with a body mass index (a weight-for-height scale) of 30 or above — considered obese by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — had a 19 percent lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer than women in a normal weight range (body mass index between 20 and 22.4), the study found.

The lower risk was especially evident in young adults. Those with a body mass index at age 18 of 27.5 or higher, which makes them overweight or obese, had a 43 percent lower risk of breast cancer before menopause than women of normal weight at the same age.

Being overweight is linked to a broad range of health risks. The World Health Organization describes obesity as a growing problem in high-income nations as well as increasing numbers of low- and middle-income nations.

OVULATION FACTORS

Michels said some experts had suspected the reduced premenopausal breast cancer risk was the result of these women not ovulating as much due to their larger body size.

Some overweight women have irregular or long menstrual cycles, or develop a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome in which ovaries malfunction. These are linked to disruptions in ovulation that lower levels of certain hormones.

The suspicion had been that these lower hormone levels might explain the diminished breast cancer risk. But the researchers weighed these factors and concluded that they did not appear to be the cause.

“Now we’re back to square one in trying to explain with which kind of mechanisms a larger body size might protect women from breast cancer,” Michels said, adding she plans further research.

She speculated the findings might be explained by the fact that obese women are less likely to be screened for breast cancer, and that is harder to detect tumors in these women.

“If we just detect the cancer later and therefore delay the time of diagnosis of the cancer into their post-menopausal years, then that might be an explanation,” Michels said.

Michels said the link between weight and breast cancer risk varies by age. High weight at birth and then after menopause is linked to a heightened risk, while high weight in young adulthood is associated with a reduced risk, she said.

Source: Yahoo News

BOSTON — Eleven thousand women under age 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer each year — a small but significant percentage of the overall cancer population. One doctor is reaching out to help young patients deal with the cancer.

Cynthia Shelton is enjoying a rare moment of relaxation. The 35-year-old single mom works full-time and is in the Army Reserves. Two years ago, she also found out she had breast cancer. “I had just got divorced a couple of months before I found out, so it was a bad year all around,” Shelton said.

Suddenly, questions like would she date again and could she — or should she — have more children became more complicated. “I was afraid that breast cancer would run genetically in a female,” Shelton explained.

Breast Cancer Specialist Ann Partridge, M.D., from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, helps young women like Shelton cope with their diagnosis. “Younger women, in general, have a harder time finding one another to discuss the issues related to their breast cancer and treatment,” Dr. Partridge said.

Those issues include premature menopause, emotional issues, such as dating with one breast or scars, and preserving fertility. Options include freezing eggs, freezing ovarian tissue, and in-vitro fertilization. Dr. Partridge continued, “The only technique that has been actually shown to work is the IVF prior to chemotherapy.” But there is good news. “To date, there is no evidence that having a pregnancy after a diagnosis of breast cancer increases the risk that a breast cancer would return.”

Dr. Partridge’s passion comes from the experience of her friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 30. “She was initially told, ‘Oh, you have nothing to worry about, you’re too young to get breast cancer.’” She urges young women to never tolerate such a response if they notice lumps or a skin change.

Dr. Partridge works closely with the Young Survival Coalition, a network of young breast cancer survivors. The non-profit group advocates for more studies about young women and breast cancer, educates young women about detecting cancer, and brings together survivors to talk about some of their unique issues.

By: Ivanhoe Newswire

cancer in women at high risk for the disease.

New research finds the chemical compound in RU486 prevented tumors from growing in mice that were genetically engineered to carry the BRCA1 breast cancer gene.

RU486, or mifepristone, blocks the production of the hormone progesterone, and this anti-progesterone effect could have prevented the growth of tumors in these mice, the authors speculated. RU486 aborts a pregnancy via the same mechanism.

Still, all this is a far cry from recommending RU486 as breast cancer therapy in people, experts cautioned.

“It’s an interesting observation,” said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System, in Baton Rouge, La. “It’s basically showing that this particular agent can change some of the mammary function, but it’s a real leap to say that it may be useful in cancer prevention.”

The study appears in the Dec. 1 issue of Science.

Genes can greatly influence breast cancer risk. Experts have long known that women with mutations in the BRCA1 gene are at a much higher risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer. The mutations mainly affect hormone-responsive tissues, although experts have been unclear as to why.

For this study, researchers studied mice that carried the mutated form of BRCA1, causing them to be highly susceptible to breast cancer.

As it turned out, the mice’s mammary epithelial cells accumulated high levels of progesterone receptors and then divided and proliferated at an abnormally rapid rate.

However, Mice treated with RU486 did not develop breast tumors by the time they reached 1 year of age. On the other hand, untreated mice developed tumors by eight months.

Progesterone may encourage the proliferation of mammary cells that carry a breast cancer gene, the researchers said.

Although the study was done in mice, the same mechanism occurs in human cells, said study author Eva Lee, a professor of developmental and cell biology and biological chemistry at the University of California, Irvine.

She speculated that clinicians may one day be able to use progesterone-blocking compounds to prevent breast cancer in women with a genetic predisposition.

But RU486 may not be the best candidate, however.

“It is the most widely available anti-progesterone drug,” Lee said. “We are currently testing a more specific anti-progesterone drug to see whether it has the same effect and if that’s proven, we’ll go to a small clinical trial to see if that anti-progesterone is effective in a high-risk population.”

by: HealthDay .

The wait is over. Women who want silicone breast implants can now have them — thanks to the lifting of a 14-year ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The implants were taken off the market in 1992 after some women complained that they leaked silicone into their bodies and caused serious health problems. Several extensive studies have since been conducted in and outside the United States, and some doctors say claims the implants are harmful have not been proven.

“Essentially, they found through fairly exhaustive studies that the new generation silicone implants are safe for people,” said Dr. Peter Butler, a plastic surgeon with Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery in Gulf Breeze. “The main factor is that leaking does not cause tissue problems —— simply put, we don’t want silicone leaking into our systems.”

Butler and his partner, Dr. Jocelyn Leveque, both certified plastic surgeons, have been involved in a four-year U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study, which began in 1997. The agency appointed the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct the study, which was underwritten by two California companies, Allergan Medical and Mentor Medical, manufacturers of the gel-based silicone implants.

Both doctors have enrolled some of their patients in the study, and each patient will be followed for at least 10 years.

“To date, Dr. Leveque has used silicone implants in 99 of her patients; I have used the implants in 73 cases in Pensacola,” Butler said. Before then, Butler practiced in North Carolina. So far, he said none of their patients has experienced any problems.

When the implants were taken off the market, women were concerned that leaking silicon implants were causing a number of diseases. At the time, the doctors said, there was no research to disprove the claims. But new studies have found that the gel implants are much more cohesive and are safe for use.

This is good news for Jan Carlo, one of Butler’s patients, who is also part of the study. Four months ago, Carlo, 50, was fitted with the implants following gastric bypass surgery. But not before doing some personal research.

“When you have surgery, you lose a lot of breast volume,” said Carlo, a registered nurse. “I knew the silicone implants were more natural feeling and looking. I feel comfortable making the decision to have them.”

Still, the FDA will continue to monitor the products and is requiring each company to conduct follow-up studies. Both companies are expected to track about 40,000 women for 10 years after they receive implants. The agency said package labeling should alert women who opt for the silicone implant to consider these factors as well:

· Breast implants are not lifetime devices, and a woman will likely need additional surgeries on her breast at least once over her lifetime.

· Many of the changes to a woman’s breast following implementation are irreversible.

· Rupture of a silicone gel-filled breast implant is most often silent, which means that usually neither the woman nor her surgeon will know that her implants have ruptured.

· A woman will need regular screening MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) exams over her lifetime to determine if a rupture has occurred; a woman should have her first MRI three years after the initial implant surgery and every two years thereafter. The cost of MRI screening over a women’s lifetime may exceed the cost of her initial surgery and may not be covered by medical insurance. And if the implant rupture is noted on an MRI, the implant should be removed and replaced, if needed.

“FDA has reviewed an extensive amount of data from clinical trials of women studied for up to four years, as well as a wealth of other information, to determine the benefits and risks of these products,” said Dr. Daniel Schultz, FDA director, Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “The extensive body of scientific evidence provides reasonable assurance of the benefits and risks of these devices. This information is available in the product labeling and will enable women and their physicians to make informed decisions.”

by: Pensacola News Journal

Two unpublicized meetings happened about the proposed initiative to bring condoms to the residence halls about three weeks ago, Residence Hall Association President Justin Ginter said.

Ginter was not able to attend the meetings, but he said the Interim Chief Diversity Officer Roger Worthington moderated both.

Ginter said the meetings were held to get a “cross-section” of people, especially because the people at the first public meeting were overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal.

Worthington was unavailable for comment.

The initiative, originally sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, proposed providing free condoms and sexual health information in restrooms and common areas of residence halls.

Deaton halted the plan in mid-October, with the reasoning that he wanted more discussion about the plan.

Deaton has declined to state what the next step will be after holding one public forum.

In addition, a forum to discus the plan was held for student staff members of the residence halls at 5 p.m. on Monday.

“(Residential Life Director Frankie Minor) wanted to make sure their voices were heard,” Ginter said.

RHA is compiling letters from several organizations in support of the proposal.

Ginter said RHA would present Deaton with the letters in late January or early February, unless he has rescinded his decision.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs conducted the first meeting, but was unavailable for comment.

Representatives from RHA, the Missouri Students Association, the Legion of Black Collegians and Sexual Health Advocacy Peer Education also spoke at the first meeting, which was held in early November.

By Roseann Moring,

Watching what you eat and getting regular exercise are important to your health. And this advice is especially important if you’re a cancer survivor according to a new report.

If you’re a cancer survivor, living a healthy lifestyle should be a top priority.

“Our message to cancer survivors, absolutely, is eating well, being active is really important to get you through cancer treatment and certainly as you look forward to that life beyond cancer,” Colleen Doyle of the American Cancer Society said.

The American Cancer Society’s new report finds that a healthy lifestyle will help patients feel better during treatment, and could reduce their risk of cancer coming back.

“There is much more evidence that being overweight, as a cancer survivor, has some really bad effects,” Doyle said. “In particular for breast cancer survivors, breast cancer survivors who are overweight at diagnosis or have gained weight after diagnosis are more likely to have cancer occurrence and also are more likely to die of that cancer.”

The cancer society’s best advice:

“Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, eat a lot of whole grains, breads, cereals, pastas, cut back on high-fat meat, high-fat dairy products,” Doyle said. “Watch the amount of saturated fats you eat. These are the same type of things we tell anybody that is trying to improve their health and reduce their risk of chronic disease.”

Justin Timberlake may think he brought “Sexyback,” but sexy never left the college campus.

Whether you’re in the classic make-grandma-happy relationship or had a casual romp after a night at the Street, it is not hard to believe that many Princetonians are sexually active. So how effectively is University Health Services (UHS) aiding those students in making critical decisions, dealing with unplanned consequences and properly maintaining their sexual health?

According to a survey done by Trojan, at least, the University is doing a pretty good job. In 2005, out of 100 different private and public schools, Princeton ranked sixth with a 3.4 GPA on its “Sexual Health” report card. Yale topped the list, while Stanford ranked fourth and Duke eighth.

Trojan gave a letter grade to every school in the following categories: condom advice and availability, HIV and STI testing, sexual assault counseling and services, contraception advice and availability, advice column or Q-and-A feature for sexual issues or relationships; counseling service, peer counseling, campus events, and other outreach. Princeton received an “A” in every category except two “C”s in HIV and STI testing and the advice column section.

The most common STIs on college campuses are genital warts, chlamydia and herpes. UHS treats genital warts most often, according to the website of women’s and men’s health services. This STI is spread through skin-to-skin contact, but 80 percent of women and men show no traceable signs, according to UHS. The infection is caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). The warts can be removed by topical creams or gels prescribed by a doctor, freezing them with cryotherapy or using an acidic chemical.

When the vaccine for a different HPV, the one that causes cervical cancer, hit the market for consumer use in June 2006 after gaining approval from the FDA, UHS embraced the medical marvel, and the vaccination is currently available to students. While some insurance companies are considering covering the vaccination, the Student Health Plan currently does not cover the $402 treatment, which is administered in three shots over the course of six months.

Despite the cost, students are generally supportive of UHS offering the new HPV vaccine. “If you are sexually active, then I think you should get it,” said Paige Floyd ‘10. The vaccine has been recommended for girls between the ages of 11 and 26. “It’s a good thing for people to be aware of, even if they aren’t sexually active,” added Karen Jeng ‘08.

By: Naomi Nix