Donor organs are put on ice until they are transplanted in order to slow their metabolism, but the process often damages the organs, rendering them unusable. A new technology out of Britain promises to revolutionize the transplant process by circulating red blood cells through donated organs, allowing them to remain warm until they can be transplanted. Livers, for example, function normally while in the machine, regain color and produce bile. While livers must be transplanted within 12 hours of extraction under current methods, the technology can preserve them outside the human body for at least 24 hours.

Scientists are currently conducting a clinical trial at the liver transplant center at King’s College Hospital in the UK. There they have connected donated human livers to the new device, which raises their temperature to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Oxygenated red blood cells are then circulated through the livers’ capillaries and the organs function normally while attached to the machine. Using this process, two livers were successfully transplanted into study participants last month.

“These first clinical cases confirm that we can support human livers outside the body, keep them alive and functioning on our machine and then, hours later, successfully transplant them into a patient,” said one of the machine’s inventors, Oxford engineering professor Constantin Coussious. “The device is the very first completely automated liver perfusion device of its kind: the organ is perfused with oxygenated red blood cells at normal body temperature, just as it would be inside the body, and can for example be observed making bile, which makes it an extraordinary feat of engineering.”

Cousious said watching the machine work, when a cold grey liver grew flushed with color once attached and began functioning as it would in the body, was “astounding.

“What was even more astounding was to see the same liver transplanted into a patient who is now walking around.”

While the two pilot transplants only preserved the livers for as long as 10 hours, researchers have conducted other experiments on the machine that preserved functioning organs for as long as 24 hours. The additional time allotted to surgeons would open up new options for transplant patients.

“There is always huge pressure to get a donated liver to the right person within a very short space of time,” said King’s’ College Hospital consultant liver transplant surgeon Wayel Jassem, who performed the pilot operations. “For the first time, we now have a device that is designed specifically to give us extra time to test the liver, to help maximize the chances of the recipient having a successful outcome. This technology has the potential to be hugely significant, and could make more livers available for transplant, and in turn save lives.”

The initial King’s College Hospital trial of 20 patients is currently underway, with almost double on the waiting list. Additional trials involving 300 patients will also be conducted to test the technology against conventional treatments and gauge how well the device improves poor-quality organs. Ultimately, the Oxford team believes the technology could lead to double the number of transplants in the future, not only involving the liver, but also pancreas, kidney, bowel and lungs.

“It went up but, frankly, not as much as we expected or hoped that it would,” Jacobson said. “Here we have this effective vaccine against a terrible disease and the public has the wrong view of it.”

HPV includes a family of sexually-transmitted viruses that have been linked to cancers off the cervix head and neck, as well as genital warts. The virus is passed through genital contact—in both vaginal and anal sex—but can also be passed during oral sex. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends boys and girls receive a series of three vaccines before becoming sexually active so they have time to develop immunity. The first HPV vaccines were licensed in 2006, with strong evidence supporting the vaccine’s safety. But seven years later, many parents still express safety concerns, even though doctors recommend the vaccine.

Vanderbilt University’s William Shaffner says doctors need to begin vaccination discussions with parents earlier.

“Pediatricians are letting it go in the early teens years and bringing it up only later,” he told MedPage Today. “Then we’re missing some teens because they tend not to see the doctor as frequently in the late teens as they do around 11, 12, ansd 13.

“Pediatricians really need to continue to vaccine advocates,” Shaffner added.

In fact, according to the National Immunization Survey for Teens that was provided to parents from 2008 to 2010, HPV-vaccine safety concerns actually rose during the study period. While 4.5 percent of parents who opted against HPV vaccinations cited safety concerns in 2008, the number grew to 16.4 percent by 2010.

“We thought perhaps many parents would think the HPV vaccine would give kids permission to have sex, and therefore not allow their children to get it. But that wasn’t it,” explained the University of Oklahoma’s Paul Darden, who led a study on the parental surveys. “They seemed to be skeptical of its safety, which is odd, because it’s shown to be effective with few side effects. We have a vaccine that protects against cancer. Why not vaccinate your child? I don’t get it.”

A good deal of concern still focuses on a link between the HPV vaccine and teen promiscuity, however. But a 2012 Kaiser Permanente study of 1,200 girls in Georgia found no different in pregnancy or STD rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated girls. Still, 11 percent of parents surveyed in 2010 said the vaccination was unnecessary because their children were not yet sexually active. Expert claim such beliefs are just another example of the public’s misunderstanding of HPV and the vaccine.

“For the most part, almost every child becomes an adult who then has sexual activity,” Jacobson said. “Frankly, for parents to look at me and say, ‘My children won’t have sex and my children’s grandchildren won’t have sex’ just doesn’t make any sense.”

“Patients at particular risk for developing this condition include those with known risk factors such as existing QT interval prolongation, low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower-than-normal heart rate, or use of certain drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias,” the FDA said in a drug safety communication. “FDA has issued a (warning) as a result of our review of a study by medical researchers, as well as another study by a manufacturer of the drug, that assessed the potential for azithromycin to cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart.”

But patients outside of the affected class need not panic about cardiovascular side effects. The increased risk identified in the study were tiny, as in 47 deaths for every 1 million patients who took azithromycin tiny. That breaks down to one death for every 21,276 courses. It would take 291 years to take that many courses of the drug if taken continuously.

Of course the risk is slightly higher for patients in at-risk categories such as the aged and those already diagnosed with heart rhythm abnormalities and heart disease. The study found one additional death for every 4,100 courses of azithromycin prescribed to patients in the highest-risk categories. But that also mean there was really only one extra death for every 110,000 courses taken by low-risk patients.

Azithromycin, or more commonly known as “Z-Pak,” is often prescribed as a five-day regimen to treat bacterial infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, sore throats and ear infections. Because of its convenience, patients often request a Z-pack for ailments such as a cold that antibiotics are unlikely to help. Overuse of azithromycin can lead to antibiotic resistance, and is a much greater danger to patients than the tiny risk of fatal heart abnormalities.

Pfizer, one of the major manufacturers of azithromycin, says the potential risks of the antibiotics have been “well established” and that it has updated the label on Zithromax, in accordance with the FDA, to inform doctors and patients. According to the company, the drug has been on the market for 20 years and “continues to be an effective treatment option for patients all over the globe suffering from many types of bacterial infections.”

“Our hope is that in places where HIV is running rampant, people could use this gel as a preventive measure to stop the initial infection,” said Joshua Hood, an instructor in medicine at Washington University.

Bee products have been used to cure ailments for hundreds of years, if not longer. Bees are considered master chemists of the animal kingdom, as almost every product associated with them offers some sort of benefit. Honey, for example, can not only be used as a sweet food product, but is also a great treatment for burns and wounds due to its high sugar concentration and natural antibacterial qualities. Likewise, royal jelly—the queen bee’s food source—is a great antioxidant, source of amino acid and antibiotic. People even use bee stings in the form of apitherapy to treat auto immune diseases, arthritis, gout and multiple sclerosis.

The same type of bee venom used in apitherapy contains the potent toxin studied by the Washington University professors. The potent toxin melittin pokes holes in the protective envelop surrounding HIV, as well as other viruses, thereby destroying it. The discovery varies from other HIV treatments in that it attacks the virus’ structure, preventing the infection. Other treatments aim to inhibit HIV’s ability to replicate, but do little to stop initial infection.

“We are attacking an inherent physical property of HIV,” Hood said. “Theoretically, there isn’t any way for the virus to adapt to that. The virus has to have a protective coat, a double-layered membrane that covers the virus.”

The scientists hope their discovery will lead to the development of a vaginal gel that may prevent the spread of HIV. But Hood also believes the finding eventually lead to therapies for existing HIV infections, particularly for those that are drug-resistant.

“The basic particle that we are using in these experiments was developed many years ago as an artificial blood product,” Hood said. “It didn’t work very well for delivering oxygen, but it circulates safely in the body and gives us a nice platform that we can adapt to fight different kinds of infections.”

According to the paper’s senior author, Samuel Wickline, melittin can also be used to kill tumor cells. And other viruses, such as hepatitis B and C, rely on the same protective envelope as HIV, and therefore could also be targeted by melittin.

The new virus—like SARS—causes fever, cough and breathing problems. Victims have also presented with kidney failure. Unlike the SARS outbreak of 2003, the new virus does not appear to spread rapidly. When SARS first presented 10 years ago in China, it infected 8,000 victims worldwide within a matter of months, killing about 800 people. Although the new virus looks very similar to SARS, experts first believed it to be zoonotic—spread to people from animals.

The majority of the cases have occurred in the Middle East, although a recent cluster of cases in the UK now provides evidence of human-to-human transmission, as well. Three cases within one family were identified in January and February. The index patient—a 60-year-old man who had recently traveled to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia—developed respiratory symptoms Jan. 24 before returning to the UK Jan. 28. He was hospitalized Jan. 31, as another male in his household grew symptomatic Feb. 6 and died from the illness. A third family member, an adult female, developed symptoms Feb. 5 after contact with the index patient in the hospital. Fortunately, she recovered within two weeks. The index patient remains under intensive care.

Based on the recent cluster, the CDC is advising anyone who develops severe acute lower respiratory illness within 10 days of traveling from the Arabian Peninsula or neighboring countries to be evaluated by a physician using its guidelines. The same caution is extended to anyone who develops symptoms after close contact with a person who has traveled to the Middle East. The CDC will test specimens for the coronavirus.

With precautions in place, the CDC, WHO and other health experts have yet to discover the origin of the virus. Genetic sequencing shows it is closely related to the coronavirus found in bats, but a link has not been confirmed. Still, when the virus was discovered last year, coronavirus expert Ralph Baric, an associate research professor at the University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill, said the possibility it originated in large animal populations present in the Middle East is a logical one. He recommended biologists begin testing samples from animals in the region, particularly camels and goats. Baric also told CBS News the virus could have been spread to humans by bats in the area, especially since the two known infections occurred several months apart.

Another infectious disease expert, Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota, agreed the transmission could have originated from bats. He advised CBS, however, that if bats had passed the virus to humans after being infected by another animal species, the more complex chain of transmission could put those infected in more jeopardy since the further a virus evolves the deadlier it can become.

“The greatest possibility of evil in self-medication is the use of too small doses so that instead of clearing up infection the microbes are educated to resist penicillin and a host of penicillin-fast organisms is bred out which can be passed to other individuals and from them to others until they reach someone who gets a septicaemia or pneumonia which penicillin cannot save,” Fleming told the New York Times in 1945.

But, as often is the case in human society, his warnings went unheeded. And now, some 68 years later, the World Health Organization predicts medicine is on the verge of a post-antibiotic era due to the onslaught of resistant microbes.

“Some experts say we are moving back to the pre-antibiotic era. No. This will be a post-antibiotic era. In terms of new replacement antibiotics, the pipeline is virtually dry,” WHO director general Margaret Chan said at a 2012 conference on combating antimicrobial resistance. “A post-antibiotic era means, in effect, an end to modern medicine as we know it. Things as common as strep throat or a child’s scratched knee could once again kill.”

The surge in antibiotic-resistant “super bugs” can be blamed on a variety of factors. Bacteria have been around for more than 3 billion years, and therefore have a keen ability to adapt to environmental changes. Because they often reproduce within minutes, those adaptations occur quickly. Often a patient doesn’t complete his or her full regimen of antibiotics, and therefore not all the bacteria are killed, leaving those remaining able to adapt to the drug prescribed. Likewise, doctors prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily—especially for colds, ear infections and other viral infections—leaving the body susceptible to resistant bacteria. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, 6 to 8 million unnecessary courses of antibiotics are prescribed each year to treat ear infections alone.

The phenomenon is nothing new. In fact, as early as the 1950s, resistant infections were reported. But during the early days of antibiotics, new drugs were developed frequently to counter any bacterial adaptations. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. According to many experts, if drug manufacturers were to invest in new antibiotics, a future infectious catastrophe could be avoided. But they simply aren’t interested.

“Over the past two decades there has been a discovery void around antibiotics, meaning diseases have evolved faster than the drugs to treat them,” England’s chief medical officer Sallie Davies recently said. “Antimicrobial resistance poses a catastrophic threat. If we don’t act now, any one of us could go into hospital in 20 years for minor surgery and die because of an ordinary infection that can’t be treated by antibiotics.”

In fact, the last time a new class of antibiotics was introduced was 1987. That’s 26 years without any new drugs, while 19,000 people are dying each year in the U.S. alone from MRSA—more than HIV and AIDS. Sally says drug companies need encouragement because antibiotics are not profitable to them.

“We haven’t as a society globally incentivized making antibiotics. It’s quite simple—if they make something to treat high blood pressure or diabetes and it works, we will use it on our patients every day,” Sally said. “Whereas antibiotics will only be used for a week or two when they’re needed, and then they have a limited life span because of resistance developing anyway.”

But as we wait for such incentives and developments to take their course, we, as a society, must take action to try and lessen the spread of superbug. Stop demanding antibiotics for every cough and sniffle, and take your full regiment as prescribed when they are needed. Let the doctors be the doctors rather than our personal prescription dispensaries.

“At a time of multiple calamities in the world, we cannot allow the loss of essential antimicrobials, essential cures for many millions of people, to become the next global crisis,” said Chan.

Osteoporosis literally means bone that is porous. Bones that are affected by osteoporosis become weaker and very brittle, and are susceptible to being easily fractured. Osteoporosis often occurs as a result of deficiencies of calcium. In women, it can also occur due to bone loss that is associated with menopause. Both men and women can be affected by osteoporosis, however, women are more prone to fractures. In the early stages of osteoporosis, there are usually no noticeable symptoms. When osteoporosis has advanced, you become at increased risk of fractures of the hips, spine and wrists, and may experience back pain. Severe osteoporosis can alsocause spinal deformities (kyphosis) and height loss as a result of a collapse vertebrae in the spine.

Medications for Osteoporosis

Bisphosphonates are drugs that prevent or slow down the break down process of bone. People who take bisphosphonates lose less bone mass but continue to build new bone, which gradually results in an increase in bone density. Some bisphosphonate medications also have calcium or vitamin D supplements added to them. Because bisphosphonates remain in bone for a long time, they usually continue to have beneficial effects for years after a patient stops taking them. The medication Recast is an IV form of bisphosphonate which only requires administration once each year to treat osteoporosis.

Calcitonin is another drug that prevents bone resorption. It is available as an injection or nasal spray. Calcitonin is a hormone that is naturally found in the body, where it has a role in regulating bone metabolism and the levels of calcium in bone. It is used to treat women with osteoporosis who are 5 years or more post menopause.

Raloxifene is a medication that is part of a class of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). It mimics the effects of estrogen. Normally, estrogen plays a role in maintaining bone density in the body, and raloxifene has the same effect. It is occasionally used instead of hormone therapy in the treatment of women with osteoporosis.

Post menopausal women with osteoporosis also have the option of using hormone therapy, which is a combination of estrogen and progesterone. As already mentioned, estrogen helps to maintain bone density, and when estrogen levels fall following menopause, bone loses this protection. Hormone therapy aims to restore the protective effect of estrogen and prevent the loss of bone density. This treatment is available as a pill or a patch.

Another medication available for both men and women is Teriparatide, which is a parathyroid hormone that works by slowing bone loss as well as increasing the production of new bone. This is a type of drug is known as an anabolic drug, as it promotes the synthesis of new bone. It is administered as a daily injection for a maximum of 2 years.

Non-medicative treatment of osteoporosis

Proper nutrition and dietary modifications can be helpful in he treatment of people with osteoporosis. Ensuring good nutrition in the diet provides nutrients to help form and maintain bone. Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed in the diet can be beneficial for improving bone health and strength. Diets should have a good intake of calcium and vitamin D, which can be obtained from food sources or supplements. Foods that provide a good source of calcium include dairy products such as cheese, milk, and yoghurt, leafy green vegetables such as spinach, tofu, and salmon. Individuals with osteoporosis should also stop smoking and limit their intake of alcohol, as they have been found to negatively affect bone.

Exercise is also an important way of preventing and treating osteoporosis. Exercise helps improve bone health, as well as increase muscle strength, balance and coordination. Particularly, weight-bearing exercises are recommended, such as walking, jogging, and dancing. Other beneficial exercises include strength training and balance activities. However, individuals with osteoporosis should avoid exercises that involve a risk of falling, or high impact exercises that may result in fractures.

redness and swelling that occurs. There is a plethora of information that should be included when educating others about this condition, to make sure nothing important is left out, included below is some of the most pertinent psoriasis information that will shed some light and bring about a deeper understanding about the condition.

What does it look like?

Most people who suffer from psoriasis experience patches of thick skin in a reddish color that is sometimes covered with scales that are silver. These patches often itch or feel sore to the touch. These patches are usually found on the elbows, knees, legs, scalp, palms, soles of the feet or whatever part of a person’s body that is prone to dryness.

Who can get Psoriasis?

Anyone can get this skin condition. It occurs in both men and women at the same rate. More often then not it is genetic and there is a family history of the occurrence of psoriasis. It tends to occur more often in adults than in children.

What causes it?

One of the most important pieces of psoriasis information is trying to pinpoint exactly what causes it and the extremity of the breakouts. Like most conditions, it begins in the immune system. The white blood cells that are often called T cells are triggered by mistake. They then become over active and cause the immune system to overreact. This is what leads to the swelling of the skin and the occurrence of breakouts. Many of those who suffer from psoriasis notice that sometimes their breakouts are much better than others. There are certain factors that should be taken into account that often contribute to this. The occurrence of stress, infections, changes in the weather as well as specific medications.

How can you tell if you have psoriasis?

Unfortunately, according to most psoriasis information, doctors sometimes have a hard time diagnosing psoriasis because it often looks like so many other skin conditions. If a doctor can not be certain it is psoriasis upon looking at the rashes, they may need to take a sample of the skin and study it underneath a microscope, in order to determine that it is psoriasis.

How is psoriasis treated?

The treatment protocol for psoriasis depends on many different factors. While 1 and 50 people in the United States has the condition, the severity of it differs. Some people barely experience any huge amount of redness or itchiness, while others have giant sores that make it uncomfortable to carry on with day to day life. The many different ways to treat psoriasis include topical treatment, light therapy, and systematic treatment.

For those who have a more mild case of psoriasis, topical treatments are recommended. Topical treatments such as creams and ointments can help soothe the skin, unclog pores, offer itch and pain relief, help reduce skin turnover and inflammation. Light therapy uses an ultraviolet light to treat the occurrence of psoriasis. Systematic treatment is usually reserved for those who have extreme cases of psoriasis. It is when a patient is prescribed medication for their psoriasis or takes it as a shot. Also, combination therapy is recommended if none of the above treatment options seems to be working.

Is it contagious?

This is one of the most important pieces of psoriasis information. So many people are worried about whether or not this skin condition is contagious and the answer is: no, it is not. There is no way that you can “catch” psoriasis from another person who has it. The legions obviously don’t look great and may alarm some people, but it is important to know that they are not open wounds or infections.

Those who suffer from psoriasis may feel alone and they may feel like others do not understand their condition. It is so important that the facts regarding psoriasis information is plentiful and that those who suffer from it, as well as their friends and family, realize the truths that are associated with the skin condition. There are numerous ways to treat this condition and it is something that can also improve with time. If you or someone you know is suffering from psoriasis, please do not put off getting the proper treatment and help.

Because there is no known cure for mesothelioma and the mortality rate is essentially 100 percent, most treatments are considered palliative, the latter of which means they are focused on relieving the symptoms of the disease and preventing the patient’s suffering as much as possible, rather than curing the disease itself. The high mortality rate associated with mesothelioma is due in part to the fact that it is rarely diagnosed in its early stages when therapy would likely have good results. In certain cases, the disease does not present itself until 30 or more years after the initial exposure to asbestos occurred. Because the cancer is usually only discovered after it has begun to metastasize, it is imperative to begin treatment immediately upon diagnosis. The following are some of the most common treatments for all types of mesothelioma:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that involves the use of specific combinations of drugs. Such medications are usually injected into a vein, although in certain cases they are given orally. The drugs are typically administered on a daily or weekly basis while the patient is spending time in a hospital. After discharge, certain types of chemotherapy may be given on an outpatient basis. The goal of this particular mesothelioma treatment is to put the cancer into remission, and thus prolong the patient’s life.
Radiotherapy
During radiotherapy, malignant tumors are destroyed through radiation. Radiation can be administered internally or externally, and the type of treatment the doctor recommends will depend on where the tumors are located. Radiation therapy can be used as the patient’s sole form of treatment or it can be given in conjunction with other therapies or procedures. Both chemotherapy and radiation have certain side effects, but due to advancements in medical technology, these effects are much less severe than they were even a decade ago.
Surgical Procedures
Surgery is sometimes recommended in an attempt to remove the cancer from the patient’s body. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, surgical procedures are not regarded by the medical community as a cure, but rather a treatment that is aimed at prolonging remissions when they occur.
Additonal Mesothelioma Treatment Options
As previously mentioned, mesothelioma treatments are palliative rather than curative in nature and some additional palliative measures include procedures such as draining pleural or peritoneal fluid from one’s chest or abdomen. These treatments often make mesothelioma patients significantly more comfortable, as the weight of the aforementioned fluid is eliminated. The procedure can be performed in one of two ways, which are pleurodesis or pleuroperitoneal shunting. The latter is a catheter that is used to drain the buildup of fluid from the pleural or peritoneal cavities. Pleurodesis on the other hand is a preventative treatment that focuses on stopping the fluid build up before it reaches a significant level.
New Advancements in the Pharmaceutical World
The United States Food and Drug Administration has recently approved new medications for mesothelioma patients. These drugs are in a unique class, as they have the ability to bind to the surface of the cancer cells, which in turn triggers a response in the patient’s immune system. Ideally, the person’s immune system will then recognize the malignant cells as invaders and fight to eradicate them from his or her body.
Alternative and Complementary Treatment Options
Complementary and alternative mesothelioma treatment options may also be pursued by certain patients. These may include acupuncture, biofeedback, nutritional counseling and visualization. While these should never be used to replace conventional medical options, some physicians recommend holistic therapies in conjunction with traditional treatments in order to bring the most comfort possible to the patient. Because advancements in medical technology and pharmacology are being made every day, mesothelioma patients should not give up hope that a cure will be found for this devastating illness. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos and suspects they may be having symptoms of this disease should speak to a qualified physician immediately about mesothelioma treatment options.

The painful symptoms of gout are caused by the buildup of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid eventually crystallizes, and deposits itself in the body – in joints, tendons, and tissues. Pain, swelling and inflammation then begin to surround these areas of crystal deposits, and cause the symptoms of gout.

Gout can be treated with steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – known as NSAIDs, and colchine. In certain patients, these treatments for gout can relieve the signs and symptoms.  Allopurinol and probenecid are also used to treat long-term sufferers of gout. All of these treatments can provide gout relief; however do have varying side effects. If you’re experiencing symptoms of gout, check with your doctor to see if any of these treatment options might provide you with some relief.

The most common cause of gout is lifestyle related. Specifically, gout can be caused by diet. If you’re experiencing gout symptoms, or think you may be at risk, it’s important to modify your diet and the foods you eat accordingly. Gout is often referred to as “the disease of kings”, or “rich man’s disease”, because the richer the diet, the more likely one is to develop gout.

Hyperuricemia is the underlying cause of gout. Roughly 10% of individuals with experience Hyperuricemia at some point in their lives.  The degree to which Hyperuricemia exists is what determines risk for gout. Dietary causes of Hyperuricemia and gout are a high consumption of alcohol, fructose, sweetened drinks, meats and seafood. The consumption of coffee, vitamin C and dairy appear to decrease the risk of gout.

Since diet plays a role in gout, eating foods and meals high in dairy and Vitamin C can be healthy. And avoiding eating too much meat, too much fat, too much sugar, too much alcohol and too many artificial sweeteners is a good idea. Try healthy recipes that involve lots of vegetables, and little fat and sugar. Changing your diet, and the foods you eat can have a big impact on your chances of getting gout, and your ability to manage and treat gout symptoms.