Breast Cancer

11 day cure for some breast cancers discovered

Published by:

The “surprise” findings were shared at the European Breast Cancer Conference. This cure would lead a new era of breast cancer treatment where some women would not have to go pain staking chemotherapy at all.

11-day-breast-cancer-cure-discovered

The drug that targets a specific weakness found in every one in ten breast cancers was tested on 257 women. The test was conducted to study the effect of the drug on cancer however in a surprise result it completely removed the cancer in some cases.

The drug known as Herceptin targets a a protein that fuels the growth of breast cancer in some cases. Herceptin penetrates inside the cell to kill the protein HER2.

11% cancers were completely removed and another 17% were reduced from 1-3 cm to less tham 5 mm. Study was conducted at NHS hospitals in Manchester.

Although there is a risk of HER2 cancer to return the drug, after further testing, may eliminate the need of chemotherapy for some women.

Vaccine

measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine

Published by:

What is measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine?

Measles, mumps, and rubella are serious diseases caused by viruses. They are spread from person to person through the air.

Measles virus can cause minor symptoms such as skin rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, or mild fever. It can also cause more serious symptoms such as ear infection, pneumonia, seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.

Mumps virus causes fever, headache, and swollen glands, but more serious symptoms include hearing loss, and painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries. Mumps can cause breathing problems or meningitis, and these infections can be fatal.

Rubella virus (also called German Measles) causes skin rash, mild fever, and joint pain. Becoming infected with rubella during pregnancy can result in a miscarriage or serious birth defects.

The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is used to help prevent these diseases in children and adults.

This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the virus or protein from the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is for use in children between the ages of 12 months and 6 years old, and in adults who have never received the vaccine or had the diseases.

Like any vaccine, the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.

What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given to a child who is 12 to 15 month old. The booster shots are then given between 4 and 6 years of age. At least 28 days (4 weeks) should pass between the first and second doses of this vaccine.

Adults born after 1956 should receive at least one MMR vaccination if they have never had the diseases or received an MMR vaccine during their lifetime.

Your booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor’s instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

Be sure to receive all recommended doses of this vaccine. You may not be fully protected against disease if you do not receive the full series.

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.

You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with measles, mumps, or rubella is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving this vaccine?

You should not receive this vaccine if you are allergic to:

  • eggs;
  • gelatin;
  • neomycin (Mycifradin, Neo-Fradin, Neo-Tab); or
  • if you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing measles, mumps, or rubella.

You should also not receive this vaccine if you have:

  • a chronic disease such as asthma or other breathing disorder, diabetes, kidney disease, or blood cell disorders such as anemia;
  • severe immune suppression caused by disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS), or by receiving certain medicines such as steroids, chemotherapy or radiation; or
  • if you are pregnant.

If you have any of these other conditions, your vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all:

  • thrombocytopenia purpura (easy bruising or bleeding);
  • active tuberculosis infection;
  • a history of seizures;
  • a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);
  • a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments;
  • if you have received an immune globulin or other blood product within the past year; or
  • if you have received a previous MMR vaccine within the past 28 days (4 weeks).

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.

You should not receive a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine if you are pregnant. Wait until after your child is born to receive the vaccine.

Avoid becoming pregnant for at least 3 months after receiving a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.

Do not receive this vaccine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is this vaccine given?

This vaccine is given as an injection under the skin. You will receive this injection in a doctor’s office or clinic setting.

The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given to a child who is 12 to 15 month old. The booster shots are then given between 4 and 6 years of age. At least 28 days (4 weeks) should pass between the first and second doses of this vaccine.

Adults born after 1956 should receive at least one MMR vaccination if they have never had the diseases or received an MMR vaccine during their lifetime.

Your booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor’s instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor’s instructions about how much of this medicine to take.

It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring if you have a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

This vaccine can cause false results on a skin test for tuberculosis for up to 6 weeks. Tell any doctor who treats you if you have received a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine within the past 4 to 6 weeks.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor if you will miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

Be sure to receive all recommended doses of this vaccine. You may not be fully protected if you do not receive the full series.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid before or after receiving this vaccine?

Do not receive a “live” vaccine for at least 4 weeks after you have received the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.

This vaccine side effects

You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with measles, mumps, or rubella is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • problems with hearing or vision;
  • extreme drowsiness, fainting;
  • easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
  • seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
  • high fever (within a few hours or a few days after the vaccine).

Less serious side effects include:

  • redness, pain, swelling, or a lump where the shot was given;
  • headache, dizziness;
  • low fever;
  • joint or muscle pain; or
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Mumps Prophylaxis:

0.5 mL, subcutaneously, once

Usual Adult Dose for Rubella Prophylaxis:

0.5 mL, subcutaneously, once

Usual Adult Dose for Measles Prophylaxis:

0.5 mL, subcutaneously, once

Usual Pediatric Dose for Mumps Prophylaxis:

12 months of age and older:
0.5 mL, subcutaneously, once

Comments:
-Primary vaccination is recommended at 12 to 15 months.
-Revaccination is recommended prior to elementary school entry.
-Children vaccinated when younger than 12 months should receive another dose at 12 to 15 months of age, as well as revaccination before school entry.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Rubella Prophylaxis:

12 months of age and older:
0.5 mL, subcutaneously, once

Comments:
-Primary vaccination is recommended at 12 to 15 months.
-Revaccination is recommended prior to elementary school entry.
-Children vaccinated when younger than 12 months should receive another dose at 12 to 15 months of age, as well as revaccination before school entry.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Measles Prophylaxis:

12 months of age and older:
0.5 mL, subcutaneously, once

Comments:
-Primary vaccination is recommended at 12 to 15 months.
-Revaccination is recommended prior to elementary school entry.
-Children vaccinated when younger than 12 months should receive another dose at 12 to 15 months of age, as well as revaccination before school entry.

What other drugs will affect measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine?

Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines you have recently received.

Also tell the doctor if you have recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:

  • an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
  • medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), etanercept (Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
  • medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection, such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).

If you are using any of these medications, you may not be able to receive the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Other Diseases

7 Facts About Vegan Protein Powder That Will Blow Your Mind

Published by:

If you are reading this, chances are you’re curious about what exactly vegan protein powder is/means and trust me, you are not alone! The vegan diet which once was categorized as “weird” has transformed into an extremely popular trend. If you have been to the grocery store lately, you will likely have noticed a lot of products lining the shelves that associate with the healthier eating movement. In fact, more folks have jumped on the vegan bandwagon than ever before! You can now conveniently get vegan cheese, vegan desserts, vegan pizza, you name it from your local grocery store. All in the name of vegan diets!

Recently, vegan protein powders have started to hit the shelves of grocery stores around the nation & for good reason. Vegan proteins have been overlooked and kept a secret from main stream products in America for years! I’m so passionate about plant-based proteins and helping educate people on the amazing benefits they provide that I’ve development my own vegan protein powder brand called Powerootz.

For those of you who are the verge of transitioning to vegan protein powder, or maybe your just looking for a “better” vegan option, I’ve compiled this list of facts that will leave you absolutely mind blown!

1. Plants are actually proteins disguised as “ fruits & veggies”!

We’ve all read the periodic table at least once in our lives and know that we are supposed to consume fruits & vegetables because they provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your bod. But what they didn’t teach you in elementary school is that deep down inside many plants are secretly natural proteins! So when it comes to vegan protein sources there are actually a ton of options available to you.

Let’s start with what vegan proteins actually are! Protein for vegans are sources of protein derived from plant based materials. In simple terms…it’s plant protein! Vegan protein is not only plant based, but usually all natural. All Natural protein powder is always the best alternative to non-plant based protein because of many many many reasons that I will point out as you read along!

“…Vegan protein is not only plant based, but usually all natural…”

2. Yes, Vegan Protein Powder is a complete protein! 

That nasty rumor that went flying around in the early 2000’s claiming that vegan or vegetarian diets/supplements were unhealthy due to lack of complete proteins was total B.S. and here is why.

The term “complete protein” refers to amino acids, the building blocks of protein. There are 20 different amino acids that can form a protein, and nine that the body can’t product on it’s own. These are called essential/amino acids—we need to eat them because we can’t make them ourselves.  In order to be considered “complete,” a protein must contain all nine of these essential amino acids in roughly equal amounts.

So yes, it’s true that meat and eggs are the easiest source of complete protein because you get all 9 essential amino acids from 1 ingredient. But they aren’t necessarily the healthiest. These proteins often come with saturated fats, high cholesterol, dense calories & many times hard on the digestive system.

Athletes from all walks of life embrace the consumption of excess protein under the assumption that more is better. Many companies (and entire industries) have gone to great lengths to convince the public that they need to seek out high protein foods and consume as much animal protein as possible, without any consideration of the health consequences that accompany excess consumption. The “vegans are unhealthy” rumor is just another way protein supplements companies squeeze their way into the diets of citizens everywhere, through the unwarranted fear that we won’t get enough of this specific nutrient.

What they don’t often advertise, is the human body does not need every essential amino acid in every bite of food in every meal they eat; we only need a sufficient amount of each amino acid every day.

“…the human body does not need every essential amino acid in every bite of food in every meal they eat; we only need a sufficient amount of each amino acid every day…”

That being said, with the plant-based powders found in Powerootz, including peanut & raw pea protein (complete proteins) your body is provided with such a wide variety of amino acid profiles that you are getting all of your amino acids you need in a single serving… Not to mention, it’s WAY healthier!

3. Vegan protein could save your life.

There’s a huge scam taking place in the American psychology. We are being told that animal protein is healthy and required on a daily basis for optimum health. The lies being shouted from the FDA rooftops are downright scandalous! What the meat industry doesn’t want you to know is that animal protein is directly linked to the development of cancer! Yes cancer! Don’t take my word for it though! See for yourself by watching “Forks Over Knives” or reading “The China Study.”

“…animal protein is directly linked to the development of cancer…”

If there is one thing in the fitness industry that is as common as weight training, it is the use of protein powder supplements. The powders of choice among mainstream bodybuilders & consumers worldwide are whey and casein, which are proteins derived from cow’s milk.

The dairy industry is a multi-billion dollar machine with a forecasted 494 billion in sales in 2015 alone! They are terrified that you will find out that their products will ruin your health!

According to Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s book The China Study, His findings show that when casein is consumed in large quantities, cancer cells increase in size, and when there is a cessation in consumption of casein, cancer tumor cells recede. It has also been proven that elevated levels of animal protein can cause kidney damage, liver problems, kidney stones, excess fat gain, contribute to the damaging of the lining of artery walls, lead to plaque build up in arteries, result in lethargy, diminish bone density, and cause a host of other health problems including prostate cancer.

“…when casein is consumed in large quantities, cancer cells increase in size, and when there is a cessation in consumption of casein, cancer tumor cells recede…”

A good example is the bodybuilding industry. Though bodybuilders exercise more than the average person, the rate of non-vegan bodybuilders suffering from diet-related health problemsis often more common than the general American public falling ill to diet-related diseases. I wonder what the culprit is…can you say animal protein!

“…the rate of non-vegan bodybuilders suffering from diet-related health problems is often more common than the general American public falling ill to diet-related diseases…”

According to Prostate.net , The American Heart Association does not recommend high animal protein diets, which are low in fruits, vegetables, and fiber. A better plan for your heart and your prostate is to trade red meat for plant-based protein and to eat a well-rounded diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Even if you don’t choose Powerootz, I highly recommend that you use another vegan protein powder as they completely eliminate the risks that casein and whey produce!

4. Vegan protein supercharges your recovery rate!

If there’s one thing that all gym rats will agree on it’s a good recovery meal after exercise. The problem is that most post workout protein shakes and meals are centered only on the concept of replenishing fluids, carbs, and protein.

I mean this is a start, but what about the rest of your bodies needs after a ground pounding workout?! That’s where vegan protein steals the lead once again with it’s unique advantage over the competition!

“…what about the rest of your bodies needs after a ground pounding workout?!…”

Vegan protein doesn’t just meet the carbs, electrolytes, and protein needs of the body in recovery mode… Vegan proteins, like Powerootz, supercharges recovery with powerful superfoods that fight inflammation, provide minerals for bone strength, rejuvenate joints with natural silicas, and feed starving cells with macro, micro, and trace elements.

“…Vegan proteins often supercharge recovery with powerful superfoods that fight inflammation, provide minerals for bone strength, rejuvenate joints with natural silicas, and feed starving cells with macro, micro, and trace elements…”

True recovery isn’t just about your muscles, it’s about the vitality and restoration of the whole body! With a whole body approach to recovery, vegan protein will give you an edge that you never thought possible! I don’t know about you guys but a lightning fast recovery is a huge plus when your trying to keep up with a busy schedule!

“…True recovery isn’t just about your muscles, it’s about the vitality and restoration of the whole body!…”

5. Vegans can be bodybuilders too

There’s a secret to bodybuilding that most people have no idea about! A huge misconception is that vegans can’t be bodybuilders but rather bony bodies. I think that most of us would agree that if vegan protein won’t allow you to be a ripped beast at the gym then it would be quite pointless. Fortunately, vegan protein can get you ripped…and I mean RIPPED! If you ask vegan celebrity and 2009 Mr Natural Universe, Billy Simmonds, he would tell you to jump on the vegan bandwagon for some serious muscles! The guy is a vegan beast! Most importantly, he built those godly muscles with vegan protein. You can see a list of more vegan athletes that make vegan bodybuilding look shameless here.

“…vegan protein can get you ripped…”

Vegan protein is exactly what it reads. Protein. If it’s a complete protein, whether it comes from plants or meat, it doesn’t matter. It’s still all the building blocks your body needs to build some head turning muscles.

6. Vegan Protein actually makes you smarter!

You wouldn’t believe how much of your brain is being destroyed by most popular brands of protein such as Gold Standard! One of the best kept secrets in the protein powder industry is its content of toxic artificial sweeteners and flavor enhancers! And I mean lots of them! They use artificial sweeteners and synthetic flavor enhancers because they are dirt cheap and positively addictive.

“…One of the best kept secrets in the protein powder industry is its content of toxic artificial sweeteners and flavor enhancers…”

Can I just take a moment to say that I am seriously disgusted that protein companies would consciously poison it’s customers for profit…seriously people??? Pathetic…

Artificial sweeteners cause permanent brain damage and are known excitotoxins! Excitotoxins are defined as “a class of chemicals (usually amino acids) that overstimulate neuron receptors. Neuron receptors allow brain cells to communicate with each other, but when they’re exposed to excitotoxins, they fire impulses at such a rapid rate that they become exhausted.” This results in cell death! You can’t grow back brain cells people!

“…Artificial sweeteners cause permanent brain damage and are known excitotoxins…”

Artificial sweeteners not only dumb you down with brain toxicity, but also escort a host of other serious health problems into your life! Links to artificial sweeteners are made for “fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, tinnitus, joint pain, inexplicable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus, and various cancers.”

“Links to artificial sweeteners are made for “fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, tinnitus, joint pain, inexplicable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus, and various cancers.”

At this point how could you ever consider touching a non-vegan protein again? Fortunately, your brain and body have a fighting chance with plant based vegan protein! Powerootz, along with almost every ethical vegan protein company, uses natural sugar or natural sugar substitutes like stevia or agave inulin. These are healthy and proven safe.

Vegan protein companies are usually centered around health and have a major consideration for its customers well being. Just another reason why vegan protein is unbelievably better for your body!

“Vegan protein companies are usually centered around health and have a major consideration for its customers well being”

Always check the label no matter what protein you buy to make sure you don’t see Aspartame,Sucralose, Ace K, Acesulfame Potassium, or MSG. Be safe, and look up those weird ingredients that you don’t recognize! Self education is a part of accountability for your health!

7. Vegan Protein Shakes Taste AMAZING!

When you’re drinking protein drinks like every day of the week you know that it needs to taste better than chalk. I don’t know about you guys but nothing kills my workout high like a nasty protein shake!

I admit it can be real tricky finding a really tasty protein drink that’s also super healthy at times. That’s why I made Powerootz Superfood Protein in two flavors that will rock your world! I know I have some peanut butter and chocolate lovers out there and believe me I’m one of them! That’s why I kitchen crafted the best tasting peanut butter and chocolate flavored protein possible!  If your not a peanut butter fan, then I also recommend sun warrior chocolate protein or Vega protein.  They are two other brands that taste pretty good!  No matter what brand, flavor, or company you choose to supplement your protein needs, just make sure its vegan and you will be well on you way to better health!

Well the secrets out about vegan protein, and your 7 facts closer to that healthy beautiful vegan body baby!

Other Diseases

Scientists confirm second, more intense form of Lyme disease

Published by:

A second bacteria, found in ticks in the Midwest, adds nausea, vomiting, double-vision, and a Dalmatian-like rash to already-known symptoms of Lyme disease.

ATLANTA, Feb. 9 (UPI) — Scientists at the Mayo Clinic and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified a second tick-borne bacteria that causes Lyme disease, according to a new report.

The bacteria, Borrelia mayonii, was identified in ticks in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota after scientists tested six people there thought to have Lyme disease despite differences in their symptoms.

Although several types of bacteria are known to cause the disease in other parts of the world, Borrelia burgdorferi was, until now, the only one known to infect humans in North America.

Lyme disease can cause fever, headache, rash and neck pain within days of infection, and causes arthritis within weeks, though the new infection may also include nausea, vomiting, diffuse rashes instead of the the well-known single “bull’s-eye” rash, and a higher concentration of bacteria in the blood.

Current tests and treatment are effective against the new form of the disease, the CDC said in a press release.

About 3 percent of black-legged ticks carry the new species of bacteria, while scientists said the older species can be found in 30 to 40 percent of black-legged ticks, which can carry both forms of the bacteria. Each year, 300,000 people are infected with Lyme disease, 96 percent of whom live in the Northeast and Midwest,according to the CDC.

“At this time there is no evidence that B. mayonii is present outside of the Upper Midwest,” Dr. Jeannine Petersen, a researcher at the CDC, told CBS News. “However, people who live in areas where black-legged ticks are common should continue to take precautions.”

Researchers involved in the study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, have tested more than 100,000 Lyme disease specimens from patients collected between 2003 and 2014.

Among these, Mayo Clinic researchers found six with bacteria different from the other patients, who also reported different symptoms. Five had fever when they sought treatment, four had a diffuse rash, three had neurological symptoms that included difficulty being woken and vision disturbances, and another had pain and swelling in the knee.

Scientists at Mayo and the CDC analyzed DNA sequences from the bacteria, finding they were a different species than typically causes Lyme disease in the United States. The new species was found among 9,000 blood samples from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota residents thought to have Lyme disease between 2012 and 2014.

Mayo Clinic and CDC started a large study of tick-borne disease in 2015 to test more than 30,000 clinical specimens from patients with tick-borne diseases. The continued research seems even more important because the second form of Lyme disease had not been found in thousands of samples collected before 2013.

“Maybe it infected woodchucks and no one ever tested them,” Dr. Bobbi Pritt, a researcher at the Mayo Clinic, told NPR. “But what we can say is, it’s a species that no one has ever described before and it’s clearly infecting patients.”

HIV

CNN News: HIV no longer considered death sentence

Published by:

Justin Goforth was just a 26-year-old nursing student when he had unprotected sex with another man and, as a result, got the diagnosis that changed his life.

“I started to feel like I had the flu — aches, pains, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, that kind of thing — and so I went to my doctor … we did a viral load test, which was rare back then … and he called me and said, you know, it came back (HIV) positive.”

It was 1992. Goforth’s doctor immediately sent him to the National Institutes of Health, where research was being done, but treatment options were, at the time, still few.

Patients were being treated with AZT, the first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1987 to treat HIV/AIDS in the United States — by then known for its serious, even life-threatening side effects.

The reality of the diagnosis set in.

Justin Goforth

Justin Goforth

“I was so sick,” Goforth says. “I was sitting silently and crying because of my circumstance … and the nurse came over and was trying to console me, I believe, and said … ‘Because you were just infected, you may have, you know, six or eight years before you die.’

“I think she was trying to cheer me up,” he says. “Didn’t work very well, but that’s just a good commentary on where we were at the time”

Bill Gates: Where to put the smart money to end AIDS

That was then, but what does it mean to have HIV today, after years of research and advances in treatment?

“It means likely you can have a normal lifespan and have a similar life to someone who does not have HIV,” says Dr. Ray Martins, chief medical officer at Whitman-Walker Health in Washington, which provides health care services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

“For people who had to deal with the medications and stuff from the ’80s and ’90s, it was a bit of a rough road there, so figuring out the virus and the medications that would work effectively with the least side effects, it took a while,” Martins says. “But now we’re at the point where we have three options for one pill, once-a-day regimens with very little side effects.”

In 1981, when the virus was discovered, being HIV-positive was considered a death sentence. For most patients today, it’s a chronic disease, much like diabetes or heart disease.

Goforth is a perfect example. He has been living with the disease for 21 years and today is a healthy 47-year-old.

Instead of the difficult treatment regimen he was on back then. which included some 40 pills five times a day with “horrific” side effects, he now takes five pills twice a day “with virtually no side effects,” he says.

For the last 7½ years, Goforth, who is a registered nurse, has worked at Whitman-Walker in a variety of positions, including director of nursing and in case management.

He sees potentially thousands of patients each year, and has personally delivered the same news he got two decades ago to more than 200 patients. But he tells them living with HIV today means that you can be healthy, thrive and live a normal lifespan without complications.

“You can go to your doctor two, three times a year, get some tests done and make sure everything’s on track, and then just live the rest of your life as you would,” he says. “Follow your dreams … have your career, your family, or whatever it is that you’d like to do with your life, and that is the truth of where we are.”

Today’s science, he said, supports that.

Interactive: World AIDS Day 2013

“We are at a place that we actually have the tools we need to stop the epidemic and then just get to a point where we’re just taking care of the people who have HIV throughout their life,” he says.

“But because of how horrible the first 10, 20 years of this (epidemic) was, we have collectively this culture of what it means to be infected and affected by HIV that still is this huge block, this huge barrier for people understanding that they can get into care and they can be OK and that it’s not something to be afraid of.”

About 1.1 million Americans live with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But because of improved treatments, they’re living longer and their quality of life is better.

“If a person is HIV infected today, it is important that they put themselves under the care of a physician experienced in caring for HIV-infected individuals,” says Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. “Depending on the stage of infection, it is highly likely that it will be recommended that the person begin antiretroviral therapy (ART).”

ART is a combination of at least three antiretroviral drugs that prevents the virus from replicating. It can also help reduce virus transmission.

Unlike years ago, when effective treatments were not available, HIV patients now benefit significantly from ART, Fauci says.

“These drugs are highly effective in suppressing HIV replication and, if taken as directed, can result in the HIV-infected individual having an almost normal lifespan without experiencing serious illness related to their HIV infection.”

And so, on this 25th World AIDS Day, Goforth has mixed emotions.

It’s a day that, in the past, has been incredibly sad and traumatic for him. Now, he says, he has tremendous hope.

“I see the freight train being slowed down so that we can turn it around,” he says. “Even five, six years ago, I’m not sure that I could have said that I had the hope that that was going to happen, but I think we’re at that point we’re at a really historical moment with this.”

Each November in advance of World AIDS Day, POZ, an award winning magazine started in 1994 to provide education and information for people living with and affected by the disease, names its “POZ 100″ — HIV-positive people who are unsung heroes in the fight against AIDS, and committed to ending the epidemic.

Vitiligo

‘Now I’m happy in my second skin’ What’s Reason?

Published by:

Vitiligo causes white patches to appear on the skin and affects one in 100 people, but the condition can be helped. Barbara Lantin reports

From her twenties onwards, Maxine Whitton became so used to being stared at wherever she went that she developed various strategies to deal with strangers. To small children who pointed, horrified, at the white patches on her chocolate brown skin, she would smile encouragingly and suggest that they touch her to reassure themselves.

When an American man crossed a room shouting: “Hey, lady, what is this?” as he grabbed her arm in front of 50 others, she lapsed into scientific language, explaining that in the skin condition vitiligo, epidermal melanocytes (pigment-producing skin cells) stop functioning, causing white shapes to appear.

“People are frightened by vitiligo,” says Whitton, 64, a retired academic librarian and French teacher from east London and former chairman of the Vitiligo Society. “They are not being nasty, but they feel they have the right to intrude. If they don’t have the courage to ask you what is wrong, they just stare. They look at you as if you are a leper. Sometimes, you sense them recoil when they accidentally touch you.”

Not surprisingly, Whitton, who lost about 60 per cent of her body colour to vitiligo and “looked like a panda”, began to cover up. “I had nothing in my wardrobe with short sleeves – even my summer clothes. We stopped going on beach holidays, even though I love the sea. I never went anywhere without my make-up, which took about 20 minutes to apply. If somebody came to the front door before I had put it on, I wouldn’t open it.”

For many years, people with vitiligo were told that no help was available other than camouflage make-up, and although many sufferers and some GPs still believe this, it is no longer the case. Repigmentation is possible, as Whitton has proved.

Although most noticeable in people with dark skin, vitiligo affects one person in 100, across all racial, ethnic and national groups. The world’s best-known sufferer is said to be Michael Jackson, who claims he lost so much of his skin colour that he had the rest depigmented to match. About 40 per cent of those affected have a relative with the condition, but factors other than genetics, such as stress, hormonal fluctuations, injury and chemicals, also play a part.

The average age of onset is around 20, though it can start at any time and often appears in childhood. Thought by most experts to be an auto-immune disorder, vitiligo does not affect general health, though sufferers must protect themselves from the sun, as the depigmented patches have no protection against solar rays and burn easily. The main effects are, however, psychological.

Progress of the condition is unpredictable. Some people develop one white patch that never spreads. More commonly, other patches develop and increase in size. The usual sites are the hands, the armpits and groin and around the eyes, mouth and genitals. Sometimes, patches will repigment and disappear for no apparent reason. Understandably, patients can become preoccupied with the condition, obsessively looking for new marks or measuring existing ones to see if they have grown.

The unwelcome curiosity Whitton experienced adds to patients’ misery. Among people from parts of Asia, vitiligo is associated (quite wrongly) with leprosy, and the resultant prejudice can affect every aspect of a sufferer’s life, including job and marriage prospects. Some avoid having children for fear of passing the condition on. The psychological effects of vitiligo are not related to the severity of the condition.

“Somebody with a small patch can find it much more difficult to live with than another person whose body is completely covered,” says Carl Walker, a research fellow in psychology at London Metropolitan University, who has just completed a study on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on vitiligo patients.

“For some people, the condition presents no problems at all. In other cases, the patient’s body image is so poor that it causes sexual and relationship problems and prevents them from communicating openly with their partners.”

Walker found that CBT, in which patients were given various strategies to counter bad feelings they had about themselves, significantly improved their general mental health, body image, self-esteem and quality of life. Counselling alone did not have the same effect.

Whitton, who underwent nine months of therapy, believes it should be an integral part of any treatment protocol for people with skin disease. “I was told to look in the mirror without wearing make-up and tell myself that although I had vitiligo, it was only a part of me and that I wasn’t hideous. It gave me a sense of perspective and taught me to accept my appearance.

“The first time I went out without make-up, I was shaking like a leaf. I got to my destination and burst into tears. I couldn’t stop sobbing. Then I had this feeling of euphoria. I had left the house for the first time in 25 years without my make-up and nobody had said anything. The sky had not fallen in.”

Although managing the condition is important, what most sufferers want is repigmentation. A decade ago, there was little treatment on offer and patients were told to get on with their lives.

“Since then, there has been a lot of research and some people have repigmented,” says Nerys Roberts, consultant paediatric dermatologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital. “There is certainly hope now, but most patients don’t bother going to their GP because they have a family history of the condition and their relatives were told that nothing could be done. Those that do get to their GP may be told the same, even though it is no longer true.”

Delay can reduce the chances of successful treatment. One of the most significant findings has been that vitiligo needs to be treated when the disease is active and, ideally, in its early stages. Children respond better than adults.

“It is an inflammatory disease and going in with anti-inflammatories when nothing is happening is like entering a battlefield after all the soldiers have been killed,” says Dr Roberts. “Treatment needs to take place during the battle itself.”

The first treatment usually involves strong corticosteroid creams. Light therapy has been used for many years: narrow-band UVB radiation is replacing the traditional UVA lamps. Success rates for UVB are high, with 75 per cent of patients repigmenting and holding on to the restored colour.

Some patients have repigmented by using regular low doses of UVB light, together with a cream known as PC-KUS that is applied all over the body. Great claims have been made for this treatment, developed in Germany by Prof Karin Schallreuter of Bradford University but not available on the NHS. A controlled trial was a failure, but advocates of this approach claim that the formula of the cream used in the trial was incorrect.

Maxine Whitton is among Dr Schallreuter’s successes. Using the cream and light therapy three times a week for four years, she has regained about 90 per cent of her skin colour. But although amazed and delighted by this success, Whitton says that her attitude to her vitiligo has changed, mainly as a result of psychotherapy. “If I lost my colour again, I cannot say I would not care, but whatever happens, I am happy in my skin now. I know who I am and vitiligo doesn’t change that.”

We need fake tans on NHS’

Brigit Cunningham, a public relations executive from West Sussex, has found a new way to disguise her vitiligo – self-tan. Ninety per cent of her skin is covered in vitiligo patches, which have turned her once-bronzed complexion an anaemic white. She feels particularly self-conscious about her appearance in the summer when her depigmented skin burns easily and will not tan.

Two years ago, Cunningham, 43, discovered St Tropez self-tan, and she now has a full body application – it takes an hour and costs £40 – each month of the summer at a local beauty salon.

“It has revolutionised my feelings about myself and gives me a sense of psychological wellbeing,” she says. “I would use it all the time if I could afford it.”

Cunningham, whose 13-year-old daughter Freya also has vitiligo, believes self-tans should be available to sufferers on the National Health Service, as camouflage make-up and sunscreen are at present.

“The psycho-social effects of vitiligo can be awful,” she says. “When Freya was small, we used to tell her that her patches were kisses from the sun and she felt special, but she has been teased in the past and she has become more self-conscious as she gets older.

“She is quite badly affected on her stomach, so if she wants to wear cropped tops this summer, I expect we will have to let her have a St Tropez treatment, too. She already uses a high factor sun cream, which we get on prescription, and it seems very unfair that we should have to pay to cover up the effects of a medical condition.”

Anxiety Disorder

Good News for Anxiety Sufferers Read Now

Published by:

Many people suffer from anxiety, with varying degrees of severity. The good news is that anxiety is
controllable. Learning control takes practice, patience, resolve, counseling, and oftentimes medical help.
A counselor/therapist who specializes in anxiety can help the anxiety sufferer to control anxiety by a variety


of methods. Some of the methods to control anxiety are listed below:

1) Getting control of negative, self-destructive thoughts and substituting helpful, positive thoughts. For
example: (Destructive) “Everybody must like me, or else there is something wrong with me.”  (Positive,
helpful substitute) “Some people will like me; others may not. That’s ok. My job is to treat others with
respect and enjoy the people who like me.”  The therapist’s job is to help the client identify, over time, all
awareness.

2) Another example of a negative self-destructive thought: “I have failed so many challenges in the past,
so I am doomed to fail always.” (Positive substitution) “I have failed in some areas and have succeeded
in others. I can learn from past failures, and I can apply this insight to be successful in the present and
future.”

3) Another anxiety strategy is to learn how to cope with everyday stress and also traumatic stress. The
therapist can help the client to develop stress management strategies and to learn how to consistently
apply these strategies to his/her life situation.

4) The therapist can help the client with obsessive worrying through such techniques as catching
themselves when they are obsessing and the client is taught not to indulge the same worry over and
over. As you can imagine, this is easier said than done. It takes practice and lots of coaching by the
therapist.

5) Many clients can benefit from seeing a physician who may prescribe low-dose anti-anxiety medicine to
be used in the early stages of treatment while the client is learning to master the techniques described
above. Medicine can be especially helpful with obsessive thinking and panic attacks.

The experience of anxiety can make the sufferer feel helpless. It is important to remember that help is
available and that anxiety can be controlled.

brain injury

Good news: New hope for victims of traumatic brain injury

Published by:

Every year, nearly two million people in the United States suffer traumatic brain injury (TBI), the leading cause of brain damage and permanent disabilities that include motor dysfunction, psychological disorders, and memory loss. Current rehabilitation programs help patients but often achieve limited success.

Now Dr. Shai Efrati and Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob of Tel Aviv University’s Sagol School of Neuroscience have proven that it is possible to repair brains and improve the quality of life for TBI victims, even years after the occurrence of the injury.

In an article published in PLoS ONE, Dr. Efrati, Prof. Ben Jacob, and their collaborators present evidence that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) should repair chronically impaired brain functions and significantly improve the quality of life of mild TBI patients. The new findings challenge the often-dismissive stand of the US Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the medical community at large, and offer new hope where there was none.

The research trial

The trial included 56 participants who had suffered mild traumatic brain injury one to five years earlier and were still bothered by headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and other cognitive impairments. The patients’ symptoms were no longer improving prior to the trial.

The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One received two months of HBOT treatment while the other, the control group, was not treated at all. The latter group then received two months of treatment following the first control period. The treatments, administered at the Institute of Hyperbaric Medicine at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, headed by Dr. Efrati, consisted of 40 one-hour sessions, administered five times a week over two months, in a high pressure chamber, breathing 100% oxygen and experiencing a pressure of 1.5 atmospheres, the pressure experienced when diving under water to a depth of 5 meters. The patients’ brain functions and quality of life were then assessed by computerized evaluations and compared with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans.

Persuasive confirmation

In both groups, the hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions led to significant improvements in tests of cognitive function and quality of life. No significant improvements occurred by the end of the period of non-treatment in the control group. Analysis of brain imaging showed significantly increased neuronal activity after a two-month period of HBOT treatment compared to the control periods of non-treatment.

“What makes the results even more persuasive is the remarkable agreement between the cognitive function restoration and the changes in brain functionality as detected by the SPECT scans,” explained Prof. Ben-Jacob. “The results demonstrate that neuroplasticity can be activated for months and years after acute brain injury.”

“But most important, patients experienced improvements such as memory restoration and renewed use of language,” Dr. Efrati said. “These changes can make a world of difference in daily life, helping patients regain their independence, go to work, and integrate back into society.”

The regeneration process following brain injury involves complex processes, such as building new blood vessels and rebuilding connections between neurons, and requires much energy.

“This is where HBOT treatment can help,” said Dr. Efrati. “The elevated oxygen levels during treatment supply the necessary energy for facilitating the healing process.”

The findings offer new hope for millions of traumatic brain injury patients, including thousands of veterans wounded in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. The researchers call for additional larger scale, multi-center clinical studies to further confirm the findings and determine the most effective and personalized treatment protocols. But since the hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the only treatment proven to heal TBI patients, the researchers say that the medical community and the US Armed Forces should permit the victims of TBI benefit from the new hope right now, rather than waiting until additional studies are completed.

fibrosis

FDA approves new treatment for cystic fibrosis read now

Published by:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first drug for cystic fibrosis directed at treating the cause of the disease in people who have two copies of a specific mutation.

Orkambi (lumacaftor 200 mg/ivacaftor 125 mg) is now approved to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients 12 years and older, who have the F508del mutation, which causes the production of an abnormal protein that disrupts how water and chloride are transported in the body. Having two copies of this mutation (one inherited from each parent) is the leading cause of CF.

“The FDA encourages manufacturers to develop new and innovative treatments for serious rare diseases like cystic fibrosis,” said John Jenkins, M.D., director of the Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval significantly broadens the availability of targeted treatments for the specific defects that cause cystic fibrosis.”

Orkambi received FDA’s breakthrough therapy designation because the sponsor demonstrated through preliminary clinical evidence that the drug may offer a substantial improvement over available therapies. The FDA also reviewed Orkambi under the priority review program. A priority review is conducted over six months, or less, instead of the standard 10 months, and is employed for drugs that may offer significant improvement in safety or effectiveness in treatment over available therapy in a serious disease or condition.

In addition, the FDA granted Orkambi orphan drug designation because it treats cystic fibrosis, a rare disease. Orphan drug designation provides financial incentives, like clinical trial tax credits, user fee waivers, and eligibility for market exclusivity to promote rare disease drug development.

CF is a serious genetic disorder that results in the formation of thick mucus that builds up in the lungs, digestive tract and other parts of the body leading to severe respiratory and digestive problems, as well as other complications such as infections and diabetes.

CF, which affects about 30,000 people in the United States, is the most common fatal genetic disease in Caucasians. The F508del mutation is the most common cause of CF. People who have two copies of the F508del mutation, one inherited from each parent, account for approximately half of the CF population in the U.S.

The safety and efficacy of Orkambi was studied in two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials of 1,108 participants with CF who were 12 years and older with the F508del mutation. In both studies, participants with CF who took Orkambi, two pills taken every 12 hours, demonstrated improved lung function compared to those who took placebo.

The efficacy and safety of Orkambi have not been established in patients with CF other than those with the F508del mutation. If a patient’s genotype is unknown, an FDA cleared CF mutation test should be used to detect the presence of the F508del mutation on both alleles of the CFTR gene.

The most common side effects of Orkambi include shortness of breath, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, diarrhea, and rash. Women who took Orkambi also had increased menstrual abnormalities such as increased bleeding.

Orkambi is made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Boston.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Dementia

‘Microbes identified as dementia cause’ – new hope for cure

Published by:

New treatments for dementia patients could be a major step nearer after a group of influential scientists identified microbes as a cause.

An editorial in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease brings together evidence linking microbes – a virus and two kinds of bacteria – to the development of the illness.

The authors are calling for more research into the area, including clinical trials of antimicrobial drugs as potential Alzheimer’s treatments.

The editorial claims are based on substantial published evidence implicating the microbes – a virus and two specific types of bacteria – in the cause of the degenerative illness.

However scientists say the work has been largely ignored or dismissed as controversial, despite the absence of evidence to the contrary.

It is hoped the findings set out in the editorial could also have implications on the future treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other progressive neurological conditions.

Researchers say the opposition to microbe theories is similar to hostility see some years ago against studies which showed viruses cause certain types of cancer and bacterium causes stomach ulcers, which eventually proved to be correct, leading to new treatments.

Scientists also say the research into the microbe cause of Alzheimer’s can no longer be ignored.

One of the editorial’s authors is Professor Douglas Kell, of Manchester University’s School of Chemistry, who says supposedly sterile red blood cells were seen to contain dormant microbes, which also has implications for blood transfusions.

He said: “We are saying there is incontrovertible evidence that Alzheimer’s Disease has a dormant microbial component, and that this can be woken up by iron dysregulation.

“Removing this iron will slow down or prevent cognitive degeneration – we can’t keep ignoring all of the evidence.”

Professor Resia Pretorius, of the University of Pretoria in South Africa, who also worked on the editorial, said “The microbial presence in blood may also play a fundamental role as causative agent of systemic inflammation, which is a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease – particularly, the bacterial cell wall component and endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide. “

Dr James Pickett, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society said: “A large number of different microbes including viruses, bacteria and fungi have been found in the brains of older people – but there do appear to be more of them in the brains of people who have died with Alzheimer’s disease.

“While these observations are interesting and warrant further research, there is currently insufficient evidence to tell us that microbes are responsible for causing Alzheimer’s disease in the vast majority of cases.

“We would like to reassure people that there remains no convincing evidence that Alzheimer’s disease is contagious or can be passed from person to person like a virus.

“Given the enormous global impact of dementia, there is intense interest from the research community to understand all the potential contributing factors.

“We welcome research that explores all possible avenues and have committed £100 million over the next decade to more fully understand the causes of dementia and to improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the condition.”

Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 850,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia. And in less than 10 years a million people will be living with dementia.