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Diabetes drug improves metabolic changes associated with HIV combination therapy

Use of an oral antidiabetes medication produced significant improvement in a group of patients with HIV lipodsytrophy, a syndrome involving the redistribution of fat and other metabolic changes in those receiving combination drug therapy for HIV infection.

20 May 2004

Dietary supplement reduces body fat mass in overweight adults by as much as nine percent

A study to be published in the June issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concludes that the dietary supplement, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), reduces body fat mass in overweight, but otherwise healthy, adults by as much as nine percent.

20 May 2004

Study has important implications for African Americans who suffer from high blood pressure

A new study has important implications for the millions of African Americans who suffer from high blood pressure. The study, AADVANCE, shows Diovan HCT(R) (valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide) lowers blood pressure in African Americans to aggressive recommended target blood pressure goals as effectively as amlodipine.

20 May 2004

Causes of hepatitis and potential therapies that may improve care presented in study

Hepatitis, a potentially serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver, is a major problem worldwide. Hepatitis A is generally food-borne, while hepatitis B and C spread primarily through parenteral or sexual routes. Hepatitis B and C can be life-long, potentially deadly chronic infections.

19 May 2004

Accurate and effective new methods for diagnosis of Inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases collectively cause significant lifestyle sacrifices and suffering and millions of dollars in related health care costs every year, partially due to a lack of effective diagnostic procedures and therapies. In new studies presented today at Digestive Disease Week in New Orleans, researchers show evidence of accurate and effective new methods for diagnosis, as well as improved treatment options, for sufferers of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s diseases.

19 May 2004

Dark chocolate and cocoa may help arterial stiffness

“This is the first study to investigate whether chocolate has any favorable effects on cardiovascular function in healthy subjects,” says Charalambos Vlachopoulos, MD, of the Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. “We found dark chocolate improves endothelial function and decreases arterial stiffness in healthy young adults.”

19 May 2004

Influenza vaccine does provide protection against influenza in most asthma patients taking inhaled steroids

The influenza vaccine protected asthma patients who use inhaled steroids against type A flu, although its protection against type B flu was significantly reduced in those taking high doses of inhaled steroids, said a researcher from Baylor College of Medicine in a recent publication.

15 May 2004

Signs of liver disease also improve in conjunction with alterations to gut flora

Some cirrhotic patients develop brain dysfunction, called hepatic encephalopathy, which causes deficits in behavior, intelligence, consciousness and neuromuscular function.

14 May 2004

Research into placebo effect among Parkinson’s patients

Parkinson’s disease patients who thought they had received a transplant of human neurons into their brains—but who actually hadn’t—reported an improved quality of life one year later.

14 May 2004

Largest study comparing leading hepatitis C treatments

Medical centers, hospitals, clinics and other treatment sites across the country are actively enrolling Americans with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a nationwide study that will for the first time determine which of the two FDA-approved pegylated interferon therapy regimens offers patients the best chance to eliminate the virus.

14 May 2004

Physicians perceive overactive bladder as a normal part of aging when in fact it is a treatable medical condition

Nearly half of people with symptoms of overactive bladder had to initiate multiple conversations with their doctor before receiving a diagnosis or treatment, according to a national survey of more than 500 people with symptoms of overactive bladder. Furthermore, only 15 percent of those surveyed said their doctors had ever initiated a discussion about overactive bladder symptoms.

12 May 2004

Small, frequent doses of caffeine best strategy for staying awake

Caffeine is the world's most widely-used stimulant yet, scientists still do not know exactly how it staves off sleep. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and other institutions have now discovered that caffeine works by thwarting one of two interacting physiological systems that govern the human sleep-wake cycle.

11 May 2004

$Trial of a drug derived from the puffer fish for treatment of refractory cancer pain$

Trial of a drug derived from the puffer fish for treatment of refractory cancer pain

Investigators involved in the pivotal clinical trial of TectinTM enrolled and dosed the first of up to 150 patients that will participate in the study. It is one of the largest Canadian clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a drug for treatment of medically refractory cancer pain, and will take place in up to 25 treatment centres across Canada.

11 May 2004

New studies on the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis and the treatment of prostatitis

Antimicrobials Ineffective in Treating Chronic Prostatitis / Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/PPS): Though the traditional means of treating men with CP/PPS, use of antibiotics and alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers (tamsulosin and ciprofloxacin) did not lead to significant change after six and 12 weeks of treatment.

10 May 2004

Study shows Chromium Picolinate and Biotin Combination significantly lowers coronary risk factors in people with Type 2 Diabetes

Results of a new double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical study show that daily nutritional supplementation with a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin (marketed as Diachromeä) significantly improved coronary risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes.

6 May 2004

Study finds malaria drug does not affect the ability of airline crew to perform their duties

Results from a new study presented today at the 75th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) in Anchorage, USA, suggest that MalaroneTM (atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride) would not be expected to affect the ability of pilots and cabin crew to perform their duties while on an aircraft.

6 May 2004

Experimental sleep drug eszopiclone helps elderly to sleep better

Older people with insomnia slept better and longer after taking an experimental sleep medication, according to research at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

6 May 2004

New guidelines for using new antiepileptic drugs to treat epilepsy

The number of drugs available to treat epilepsy have more than doubled in the last decade. The American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society have assembled the top experts in the field to evaluate the available data of 1,462 research articles in order to create a guideline for the treatment of epilepsy with the new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).

6 May 2004

Ritalin drug used to treat hyperactive children boosts the potency of Parkinson's drug levodopa

A well-known drug used to treat hyperactive children boosts the potency of another drug that reduces Parkinson's disease symptoms, an Oregon Health & Science University study has found.

6 May 2004

Female testosterone patch significantly increased satisfying sexual activity and desire

Data from a landmark Phase III safety and efficacy study of 562 women showed treatment with an investigational female testosterone patch significantly increased satisfying sexual activity and desire in patients with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), who previously had both ovaries removed. HSDD is defined as a lack of sexual desire that causes a woman personal distress.

6 May 2004

Placebo News and Research

Diabetes drug improves metabolic changes associated with HIV combination therapy

Dietary supplement reduces body fat mass in overweight adults by as much as nine percent

Study has important implications for African Americans who suffer from high blood pressure

Causes of hepatitis and potential therapies that may improve care presented in study

Accurate and effective new methods for diagnosis of Inflammatory bowel diseases

Dark chocolate and cocoa may help arterial stiffness

Influenza vaccine does provide protection against influenza in most asthma patients taking inhaled steroids

Signs of liver disease also improve in conjunction with alterations to gut flora

Research into placebo effect among Parkinson’s patients

Largest study comparing leading hepatitis C treatments

Physicians perceive overactive bladder as a normal part of aging when in fact it is a treatable medical condition

Small, frequent doses of caffeine best strategy for staying awake

Trial of a drug derived from the puffer fish for treatment of refractory cancer pain

New studies on the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis and the treatment of prostatitis

Study shows Chromium Picolinate and Biotin Combination significantly lowers coronary risk factors in people with Type 2 Diabetes

Study finds malaria drug does not affect the ability of airline crew to perform their duties

Experimental sleep drug eszopiclone helps elderly to sleep better

New guidelines for using new antiepileptic drugs to treat epilepsy

Ritalin drug used to treat hyperactive children boosts the potency of Parkinson's drug levodopa

Female testosterone patch significantly increased satisfying sexual activity and desire

Exploring the intersection of biology and proteomics

Unlocking the Secrets of Multiple Sclerosis Progression: Brain-Immune Cell Communication

Passing on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Health risks for male offspring of women with PCOS

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