Muhammad Ali's Daughter Champions Fight Against Parkinson's Disease

By Barbara Bronson Gray
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- At 71, boxing legend Muhammad Ali -- the only three-time World Heavyweight Champion -- continues to fight his most challenging opponent ever: Parkinson's disease. And according to his daughter, he's still facing life straight on.

"This is the man who when he was fighting would say 'I'm going to knock the other guy out in five,'" said Maryum (May May) Ali. "That personality translates to how he deals with Parkinson's. No one's really been that confident as an athlete, and that's how he is with the disease."

May May is Ali's first child. Married four times, the former champion has six other daughters and two sons.

Thinking back, May May believes Ali was showing signs of Parkinson's in his second-to-last fight, a few years before his 1984 diagnosis. "You lose your [sense of] smell, get constipation issues," she said. "Most people have those non-motor symptoms first. But no one knew that back then."

Initially, in 1981, Ali was told he had a form of the condition that would not progress, May May said. But it did. As time went by, Ali learned how to manage the symptoms of his disease. He took his medications a couple of hours before working out, and he saw a neurologist who specialized in movement disorders, she explained.

Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which result from the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, according to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The four primary symptoms of Parkinson's are trembling in the hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; stiffness of the limbs and trunk; slowness of movement; and impaired balance and coordination. As the disease progresses, patients may have difficulty walking, talking or completing other simple tasks. In the United States, about 500,000 people have the disease.

"Don't wait until you can't walk down the hallway to get the right advice. You may be able to slow the progression of the disease," May May advised. "Make it your business to know everything you can about what it is that's affecting your life." She also encourages people with Parkinson's to work with a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders.

Committed to raising people's understanding of the disease, May May, 44, has supported the Parkinson Alliance as a spokesperson since 2002. This includes helping publicize its annual Unity Walk, which was held Saturday in New York's Central Park. She also works as a program manager in Los Angeles' gang reduction and youth development program. Divorced, with no children, she said she's committed to helping others and is also studying organizational management at Antioch University.

While some promising new approaches to treating Parkinson's loom on the horizon, researchers say the condition is still poorly understood.

"We have no solid theory of what causes Parkinson's disease," said James Beck, director of research for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. "We still know so little about the disease. A lot of basic science needs to be funded."

Beck said the drugs available now are designed to help reduce disease symptoms but don't attack their cause. Late-stage clinical trials are looking at what role so-called "A2A receptor antagonists" might play in reducing movement problems. Scientists are also testing possible gene therapy and stem cell applications, and looking at mutations in cell proteins associated with Parkinson's to understand what part they might play. They're also looking at what role, if any, the immune system might have in fighting development of the disease, he explained.

"There's a lot of hope for people with Parkinson's disease -- and progress is being made -- but it needs to be measured hope," Beck said.

Ali, now in the later stages of Parkinson's, has 24-hour care. His personality hasn't changed and "there's no doom and gloom with him," said May May. "He'll look at you, nod his head, and sometimes he can talk a bit, depending on the time of day and when he last took his medications."

Ali flies to his homes in Arizona, Kentucky and Michigan, and loves going to baseball games, May May said. "He's still enjoying life."

"As for spending time with my Dad, I enjoy his company still," she added.

Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: Maryum (May May) Ali, Los Angeles, Calif.; James C. Beck, Ph.D., director of research, Parkinson's Disease Foundation, New York City, and adjunct assistant professor, department of physiology and neuroscience, New York University

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How Estrogen May Help Prevent Urinary Tract Infections After Menopause

Laboratory study suggests vaginal supplementation would benefit some women

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- Estrogen treatment delivered vaginally may help prevent repeat urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women, new laboratory research suggests.

Urinary tract infections are common among women, with one-quarter experiencing recurring infections. And age-related changes increase the likelihood of these infections developing after menopause, when estrogen production plummets.

Until now, taking antibiotics prophylactically -- to ward off recurrent urinary tract infections -- has been the gold standard for these women, said Thomas Hannan, a research instructor in pathology and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "But antibiotic resistance is increasing, and some women are resistant to everything we have," Hannan said. "We need other options. We need non-antibiotic options."

This study, published in the June 19 issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine, "suggests a more holistic approach by changing the way women respond to bacteria," said Hannan, co-author of an editorial accompanying the study in the journal.

The results support the use of vaginal estrogen as a preventive measure for postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections, he wrote in the editorial.

Working in the laboratory and with animal models, the researchers identified a number of ways that estrogen -- the female sex hormone -- helps keep recurrent urinary tract infections at bay.

"This study presents some underlying mechanisms for the beneficial effect of [topical estrogen formulations] after menopause and supports the application of estrogen in postmenopausal women suffering from recurrent UTIs," wrote the study's authors, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

About half of all women will experience at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetime, according to the study. For about 25 percent of these women, the infection will come back again within six months.

Low estrogen levels have previously been linked to recurrent infections, and the new study sought to identify exactly how estrogen might affect a woman's risk of recurrent urinary tract infections.

For the study, the researchers used human cells from postmenopausal women who had used supplemental vaginal estrogen for two weeks. They also worked with mice that were given bacteria that would cause urinary tract infections like those in humans.

They found that estrogen encourages production of natural antimicrobial substances in the bladder. The hormone also makes the urinary tract tissue stronger by closing the gaps between cells that line the bladder. By gluing these gaps together, estrogen makes it harder for bacteria to penetrate the deeper layers of the bladder wall, the study authors said.

Estrogen also helps prevent too many cells from shedding from the top layers of the bladder wall.

"Normally, there's an innate response to infection and some cells die -- sort of taking one for the team -- and then these cells shed," Hannan said. "But shedding too much could allow bacteria to get into the deeper tissue, so this exfoliation is a double-edged sword."

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Low-Dose 'Pill' Linked to Pain During Orgasm, Study Finds

Women on low-estrogen formulations report more pain overall, and during sex

By Kathleen Doheny

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Women taking birth control pills with lower amounts of estrogen -- a commonly prescribed contraceptive -- may be at higher risk for chronic pelvic pain and pain during orgasm, according to new research.

A study of nearly 1,000 women found that women on the lower-dose oral contraceptives were more likely than those on the standard dose (with higher estrogen levels), or those not on the pill, to report pelvic pain.

"In our practice, we have seen a lot of this anecdotally," said Dr. Nirit Rosenblum, assistant professor of urology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, a specialist in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.

To investigate the potential link further, she compared pain symptoms of women on low-dose birth control pills with those not on pills and those on standard doses.

She is scheduled to present the findings Tuesday at the American Urological Association's annual meeting in San Diego, but acknowledged additional research is needed to understand the association.

For her study, Rosenblum defined low-dose birth control pills as those that contain less than 20 micrograms (mcg) of synthetic estrogen. (The name often includes the word "lo.") Those that have 20 mcg or more are "standard" or normal dose.

When natural estrogen production declines at menopause, women can begin to experience pelvic pain, Rosenblum said.

To see if low-estrogen birth control pills might mimic those effects, she evaluated the online survey responses of 932 women, aged 18 to 39, associated with two large universities. Women with a history of pelvic pain, the painful pelvic condition endometriosis or any who were pregnant were excluded from the study.

Women reported if they were on the pill or not and which dose pill. Of the 327 women taking birth control pills, about half used a low-dose pill. The other 605 women did not take the pill.

The women answered questions about pain. Twenty-seven percent of those on a low-dose pill had pelvic pain symptoms or reported chronic pelvic pain compared to 17.5 percent of those not on the pill.

Those on normal-dose pills were less likely to have pelvic pain overall than those not on the pill, she found.

Low-dose pill users were twice as likely to report pain during or after orgasm than those not on the pill: 25 percent versus 12 percent. Those on higher-dose pills reported no difference in pain at sexual climax than those not using birth control pills.

Dr. Christopher Payne, a professor of urology at Stanford University School of Medicine and director of its division of female urology, said the information could be helpful. However, "I don't know if we can draw any conclusions from this," he added.

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Support me everyone please! You guys will be my motivation if you support me I will support you! Keep in your limits and lets lose weight and get fit and toned together!! :)

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Longer Wait for Mammogram After Benign Breast Biopsy May Be Warranted

By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Women who have a breast biopsy that turns out to be benign are typically told to undergo another imaging test, such as a mammogram, in six to 12 months. Now, a new study suggests that the longer interval might be better.

Researchers who followed women who had benign breast biopsies say having that test less than a year later finds few cancers and is a drain on health care dollars.

''Doing a follow-up imaging study six months after a benign needle breast biopsy has a low likelihood of finding breast cancer at the biopsy site," said study author Dr. Andrea Barrio, an attending breast surgeon at Bryn Mawr Hospital, in Pennsylvania.

Most of these women, she said, can wait longer than six months before repeating the mammogram, ultrasound or MRI.

Dr. Demitra Manjoros, a breast fellow at Bryn Mawr, is due to present the research Thursday at the American Society of Breast Surgeons' annual meeting, in Chicago.

A biopsy is done after an abnormality is found on an imaging test such as a mammogram. The standard of care is to perform an image-guided needle biopsy, Barrio said.

"However, when you do a needle biopsy, you only sample the lesion or abnormality, instead of removing it," she said.

So, the follow-up imaging was suggested. Under current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, the repeat imaging is recommended six to 12 months after a benign breast biopsy.

"In my practice, I perceived that this short-term imaging did not seem to add anything to the care of the patient," Barrio said.

So, she launched the study, focusing on 337 women who had benign biopsies and met one other criterion: Their pathologic findings explained the finding on the image. Researchers then looked to see if the interval for repeat imaging made a difference in finding cancer.

Of the 337 women, 169 had imaging repeated less than 12 months after their benign biopsy result. Another 101 had no documented imaging test repeated. And another 67 had repeat imaging 12 months or later after the biopsy.

Of the 169, just one breast cancer was identified. Of the 67 who had repeat imaging at 12 months, no malignancies were found.

The cost of detecting a missing cancer with the shorter interval follow-up was nearly $193,000 in this group.

The study findings support a policy of discontinuing repeat testing less than 12 months after such a benign finding, Barrio said.

The findings don't mean no one should have shorter-term imaging follow up, Barrio said. While in general, routine short-term repeat imaging after such a benign biopsy is not needed, she said, "I'm not saying nobody should do it."

"Certain women would require six months follow-up," she said. For instance, a woman whose initial imaging findings were vague or not specific might be advised to get repeat imaging in less than a year, she said.

A breast cancer expert commented on the new research.

The study is sound, said Dr. Laura Kruper, director of the Cooper Finkel Women's Health Center and co-director of the breast cancer program at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif.

"I think most women would be fine having repeat imaging in 12 months," she said, "but it should be done on a selective basis." A doctor must take the whole patient into account, she said, weighing such factors as family history and a woman's views of the testing intervals.

"There are some patients who are going to be so nervous waiting a year," Kruper said.

The data and conclusions of research presented at medical meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: Andrea Barrio, M.D., attending breast surgeon, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, Pa.; Laura Kruper, M.D., director, Cooper Finkel Women's Health Center, and co-director, breast cancer program, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, Calif.; May 2, 2013, presentation, American Society of Breast Surgeons annual meeting, Chicago

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Adam Lambert arrives at the Bootsy Bellows night club in Los Angeles

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HIV and Food: Key Principles for Your Diet

HIV, Diet, and Weight: What Counts webmd.ads.adSeedCall = function() { var self = this; var defer = new jQuery.Deferred(); // need a set a 1 second timeout here to resolve it if the ad call hangs // if we get to 1 seconds, resolve the deferred object self.adSeedCallTimeout = setTimeout(function(){ defer.resolve(); webmd.debug('timeout happened'); },1000); // grabs pageview id out of global scope and makes sure it exists as we need to pass it to ads in that case var pageviewId = window.s_pageview_id || ''; // save out the PB iFrame URL as we need to clean it up var iframeURLOutOfPB = '//as.webmd.com/html.ng/transactionID=1619389025&tile=715433552&tug=&pug=__&site=2&affiliate=20&hcent=919&scent=962&pos=5200&xpg=1624&sec=&au1=&au2=&uri=%2fhiv-aids%2ffeatures%2fhiv-and-diet&artid=091e9c5e80cdf153&inst=0&leaf=&cc=10&tmg=&bc=_b24_diet_food_&mcent=µ=¶ms.styles=json01&pvid=' + pageviewId; // remove the ampersands. This regex is cleaner than trying to drop it into an element and all that, as all we want it to replace the &'s var cleanIframeURL = iframeURLOutOfPB.replace(/&/g, '&'); // using require instead of webmd.load as we will eventually depracate webmd.load require([cleanIframeURL], function(){ // if you get here before the timeout, kill it clearTimeout(self.adSeedCallTimeout); // go ahead and resolve the deferred object. We will wait for lotame defer to be done, if it exists though // that allows us to make sure the lotame audience values are in the ads_perm cookie (or timeout occurred) // // if the ad call took forever and the deferred object was already resolved with the timeout, that is ok // because of deferred functionality, it will not be resolved again. Thanks jQuery if(webmd.object.get('webmd.lotame.defer')) { webmd.lotame.defer.done( function(){ defer.resolve(); } ); } else { defer.resolve(); } webmd.debug('actual seed call came back'); } ); return defer.promise(); } webmd.ads.adSeedCallPromise = webmd.ads.adSeedCall(); // self executing function for scope (function(){ // grabs pageview id out of global scope and makes sure it exists as we need to pass it to ads in that case var pageviewId = window.s_pageview_id || ''; var iframeURLOutOfPB = '//as.webmd.com/html.ng/transactionID=1619389025&tile=715433552&tug=&pug=__&site=2&affiliate=20&hcent=919&scent=962&pos=101&xpg=1624&sec=&au1=&au2=&uri=%2fhiv-aids%2ffeatures%2fhiv-and-diet&artid=091e9c5e80cdf153&inst=0&leaf=&segm=0&cc=10&tmg=&bc=_b24_diet_food_&mcent=µ=&pvid=' + pageviewId; var cleanIframeURL = iframeURLOutOfPB.replace(/&/g, '&'); // here we will use some of the ad params in the XSL to populate webmd.ads.params // we could move to use this param object to create ads instead of the URL above, but that will require a fundemental // change to webmd.ads, as the refresh function takes the "src" tag instead of individual params // something to look into as far as the future webmd.ads.params = { 'affiliate':'20', 'hcent':'919', 'scent':'962', 'xpg':'1624', /* leaf is all weird coming out of the XSL so we have to do this hack to it */ 'leaf':'&leaf='.replace(/&leaf=/, ''), 'site':'2', 'transactionID':'1619389025', 'tile':'715433552' } var ad = { adLocation:'banner', adURL:cleanIframeURL, trans:'1619389025', tile:'715433552', pos:'101' }; // check to make sure this seed call functionality exists, if it does, dooo it if(webmd.object.exists('webmd.ads.handleAdSeedCall')) { webmd.ads.handleAdSeedCall(ad); } })(); Skip to content Enter Search Keywords. Use the arrow keys to navigate suggestions. Health A-Z

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Track your way to weight loss success Manage your family's vaccinations Join the conversation See more benefits Sign Up Why WebMD? My WebMD Show Menu My Tools My WebMD Pages My Account Sign Out FacebookTwitterPinterest WebMD Home Sexual Health Center HIV & AIDS Health Center HIV & AIDS Feature Stories Email a Friend Print Article if (pf_param == "true") {printElements();} HIV & AIDS Health Center Tools & ResourcesTop Myths About HIV & AIDS History of HIV/AIDS Living With AIDS HIV: Diagnosis and TreatmentAdvances in HIV TreatmentPreventing HIV With a Vaccine? webmd.m.share.init(); Font Size A A A webmd.m.fontSizer.init(); HIV and Your Diet: Countering Weight Loss ByR. Morgan Griffin
WebMD Feature Reviewed byBrunilda Nazario, MD

Most people with HIV don't need a special diet. But if you're feeling sick and having symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, or weight loss, you may need some changes to what and how you eat.

Losing too much weight can be serious. Without good nutrition, you may get sicker.

Recommended Related to HIV/AIDS Understanding HIV/AIDS -- the Basics

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) isn't a disease in itself; rather, AIDS is a condition that develops when a person's body has been weakened by HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus). HIV is found in blood and sexual fluids and spreads mainly through unprotected sexual contact and the sharing of hypodermic needles and equipment.When a person becomes infected with HIV, it damages his or her immune system, leading to immunodeficiency; the immune system can no longer fight off common...

Read the Understanding HIV/AIDS -- the Basics article > >

"Good nutrition is very important for people with HIV," says Brad Hare, MD, director of the HIV/AIDS clinic at San Francisco General Hospital. Without a healthy diet, your body will have a harder time recovering and fighting off infections.

When HIV Makes You Lose Weight

Unwanted weight loss related to HIV is less common than it once was, but it still happens. HIV itself -- as well as related problems and treatments -- can cause it. It's more common in people with untreated or severe disease, an infection, or a high viral load, which is a high concentration of the virus in the blood.

When you have HIV, things that can cause you to lose weight include:

The HIV virus itself. HIV drugs, which dull your appetite, make food taste bad, or make it harder for your body to absorb nutrients.  Symptoms like nausea and mouth sores can make eating unpleasant. Diarrhea and other digestive problems can make it harder to take in nutrients from foods. Exhaustion can slow you down, keep you from grocery shopping, and limit your ability to prepare healthy meals.  If you have advanced disease, high levels of HIV virus in your blood, or other infections, you may need more calories. 9 Solutions to Explore

Talk to your doctor or a nutritionist who specializes in working with people who have HIV about how to get the nutrients you need. Possible solutions include:

More calories. If your doctor decides that you're just not getting enough calories, increase them. A dietitian or nutritionist can advise you on the best ways to do this -- for example, nutritional supplement drinks or energy bars. Smaller meals. Big meals are more likely to make you feel sick. So instead of three meals a day, try more smaller meals or frequent snacks. Milder foods. If nausea or diarrhea is a problem, shifting to milder foods can help, says Kimberly Dong, RD, a dietitian at Tufts University School of Medicine. "Avoid anything that's spicy or acidic, like citrus fruits,” she says. Cut back on greasy, fatty foods, and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Softer foods. If you have infected gums or teeth, eating can hurt. "Switch to soft and bland foods," Dong says. Medication. Treatments like medications and hormone therapy may also help with your appetite and nausea. More fiber. If diarrhea is a problem, Dong says adding fiber and drinking more water can help. Exercise. Doing some gentle exercise could help boost your appetite. Using weights or resistance exercises to buildmuscles can help you stay strong. Good company. Making meals pleasant can help you eat more. Eat with friends and family whenever you can. Getting assistance. If exhaustion is a problem, lean on friends and family. "See if you can get family to help you cook and shop," Dong says. Ask them to prepare dishes like lasagna and casseroles that are easy to freeze and heat up when needed. View Article Sources

SOURCES:

John G. Bartlett, MD, professor of medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; director,Johns Hopkins AIDS service.

Kimberly Dong, RD, Tufts University School of Medicine.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: "Special Eating Needs for People Living with HIV/AIDS."

Brad Hare, MD, director, HIV/AIDS Clinic, San Francisco General Hospital; associate professor of medicine, University of California San Francisco.

Tufts Nutrition Infection Unit: "Unintentional Weight Loss/Wasting."

University of California San Francisco HIVInsite: "Diet and Nutrition."

Christine A. Wanke, MD, associate chair, professor of medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, department of public health and community medicine; director, division of nutrition and infection; director, division of nutrition and infection, Tufts University School of Medicine.

Reviewed on June 18, 2013 © 2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. #url_reference {display: none};#url_reference { display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10px; }#logo_rdr img { visibility: visible; }.titleBar_rdr .titleBarMiddle_fmt { padding-top: 1.5em !important;} Top Picks Slideshow: Top Myths About HIV and AIDS How to Stay Healthy With HIV Teen Sex: Help Your Teen Resist Peer Pressure Video: The Right Way to Use a Condom HIV: Are You At Risk for Dementia? HIV-Related Skin Conditions HIV & AIDS Health Home News Reference Videos HIV/AIDS Community Medications Find a Doctor HIV & AIDS Guide 1 Overview & Facts 2 Symptoms & Types 3 Diagnosis & Tests 4 Treatment & Care 5 Living & Managing 6 Support & Resources Related to HIV & AIDS Crisis Assistance Hepatitis HIV Myths and Facts Molluscum contagiosum Neuropathy Opportunistic Infections Other STDs Safe Sex Sexual Conditions More Related Topics // self executing function for scope (function(){ // grabs pageview id out of global scope and makes sure it exists as we need to pass it to ads in that case var pageviewId = window.s_pageview_id || ''; var iframeURLOutOfPB = '//as.webmd.com/html.ng/transactionID=1619389025&tile=715433552&tug=&pug=__&site=2&affiliate=20&hcent=919&scent=962&pos=113&xpg=1624&sec=&au1=&au2=&uri=%2fhiv-aids%2ffeatures%2fhiv-and-diet&artid=091e9c5e80cdf153&inst=0&leaf=&segm=0&cc=10&tmg=&bc=_b24_diet_food_&mcent=µ=&pvid=' + pageviewId; var cleanIframeURL = iframeURLOutOfPB.replace(/&/g, '&'); var ad = { adLocation:'left', adURL:cleanIframeURL, trans:'1619389025', tile:'715433552', pos:'113' }; // check to make sure this seed call functionality exists, if it does, dooo it if(webmd.object.exists('webmd.ads.handleAdSeedCall')) { webmd.ads.handleAdSeedCall(ad); } })(); Today on WebMD Slideshow Top Myths About HIV and AIDS Feature HIV: Are You at Risk?   Feature HIV: Warning Signs, Tests, and Diagnosis Slideshow History of HIV/AIDS   // self executing function for scope (function(){ // grabs pageview id out of global scope and makes sure it exists as we need to pass it to ads in that case var pageviewId = window.s_pageview_id || ''; var iframeURLOutOfPB = '//as.webmd.com/html.ng/transactionID=1619389025&tile=715433552&tug=&pug=__&site=2&affiliate=20&hcent=919&scent=962&pos=121&xpg=1624&sec=&au1=&au2=&uri=%2fhiv-aids%2ffeatures%2fhiv-and-diet&artid=091e9c5e80cdf153&inst=0&leaf=&segm=0&cc=10&tmg=&bc=_b24_diet_food_&mcent=µ=&pvid=' + pageviewId; var cleanIframeURL = iframeURLOutOfPB.replace(/&/g, '&'); var ad = { adLocation:'right', adURL:cleanIframeURL, trans:'1619389025', tile:'715433552', pos:'121' }; // check to make sure this seed call functionality exists, if it does, dooo it if(webmd.object.exists('webmd.ads.handleAdSeedCall')) { webmd.ads.handleAdSeedCall(ad); } })(); Slideshow Another STD to Know: Hepatitis Slideshow Symptoms of STDs   Feature The Truth About HIV Treatment Feature HIV Stigma: Dealing With Discrimination   Feature Side Effects of HIV Treatment Feature HIV/AIDS Cure? FAQ   Video Fast HIV Screening Video HIV Test for Early Detection   Subscribe to WebMD Newsletters

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Gene Studies Could Point to New Alzheimer's Treatments

THURSDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- Insight into genes that play a key role in disrupting immune system pathways in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease could offer a potential target for new drugs against the disease, two new studies show.

"Defining the precise steps of the inflammatory response crucial to causing Alzheimer's disease has been elusive. We are pleased to discover these novel insights into that process," Bin Zhang, lead author of one of the studies and an associate professor of genetics and genomic sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, said in a school news release.

In the study, Zhang's team analyzed brain tissue samples from deceased Alzheimer's patients, as well as healthy people who had died. By measuring the activity level of thousands of genes in these tissue samples, the team identified which gene networks are disrupted in diseased brains.

Specifically, their analysis pinpointed the important role of a gene expressed in immune cells called microglia, which clean up debris and destroy pathogens in the brain.

This gene, called TYROBP, is overactive in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and plays a major role in disrupting the activity of many other genes that control microglia activation, according to the study, which was published April 25 in the journal Cell.

"As a next step, we will evaluate drugs that impact [this] pathway as potential therapies for the disease," Zhang said. "This discovery enables us to design more specific compounds that target these key steps precisely, in contrast to existing anti-inflammatory drugs that may be less ideal for hitting this target."

Another study, published online April 25 in the journal Neuron, may have uncovered another genetic clue to Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers looked at brain samples from deceased Alzheimer's patients and found that higher activity of a gene called CD33 in microglia was linked to higher levels of the beta-amyloid protein plaques that have long been associated with Alzheimer's disease.

In their experiments with mice, switching off CD33 activity seemed to help microglia sweep away the plaques.

"Our findings suggest that pharmaceutical inactivation of CD33 represents a potentially powerful new therapy for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, and perhaps other neurodegenerative disorders," senior study author Rudolph Tanzi, of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, said in a journal news release.

Another expert said the findings from both studies may help advance research.

"We have known for a long time that Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the presence of excessive inflammation in the brain," said Philippe Marambaud, an investigator at the Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y.

"The role of this inflammatory response in the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease, however, remains unclear," he said. "These two studies ... provide concordant evidence that the immune cells microglia actively participate in this disease process."

-- Robert Preidt
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: Philippe Marambaud, Ph.D., investigator, Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, N.Y.; Cell, news release, April 25, 2013; Neuron,news release, April 25, 2013; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, news release, April 25, 2013

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Knee Replacement Often Beneficial for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study

Patients did as well as those with osteoarthritis, but same did not hold true for hip replacement

By Maureen Salamon

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- The common belief that rheumatoid arthritis patients don't benefit from knee replacement surgery as much as those with the more common osteoarthritis has been challenged by the findings from a pair of studies by New York City scientists.

Researchers from the Hospital for Special Surgery also found, however, that rheumatoid arthritis patients who underwent a total hip replacement didn't fare as well as those with osteoarthritis, though they did experience improvements in pain and function.

"One thing that we can clearly pull out of this research is that the levels of pain and function among those with rheumatoid arthritis were so much worse preoperatively at the point they approached joint replacement," explained rheumatologist Dr. Susan Goodman, the lead author of both studies. "They may be postponing or not getting to surgery until they're really in a much worse state. Perhaps that's one of the explanations for the results . . . perhaps it's their generalized disease. We really just don't know yet."

Goodman presented the research last week at the European League Against Rheumatism's annual meeting in Madrid, Spain. Research presented at scientific conferences has typically not been peer-reviewed or published and is considered preliminary.

Affecting one of every five adults, along with 300,000 children, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Osteoarthritis, the most prevalent form, progressively breaks down cartilage in the joints due to wear and tear, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease marked by inflammation of the membranes surrounding joints. Along with bringing chronic pain, both types can result in joint destruction.

Historically, rheumatoid arthritis patients have had worse outcomes after joint replacement surgeries than osteoarthritis patients, according to the study authors, but more effective drugs developed over the last two decades have helped them to better control their disease.

In the first study, Goodman and her team analyzed joint replacement registry data to identify 178 rheumatoid arthritis patients and more than 5,200 osteoarthritis patients who underwent knee replacement surgery. Though rheumatoid arthritis patients had worse pain and function before surgery, patients in both groups had similar satisfaction rates after surgery.

The second study compared outcomes of 202 rheumatoid arthritis patients and more than 5,800 osteoarthritis patients who underwent hip replacement, finding that those with rheumatoid arthritis started out with worse function before surgery and also had worse pain and function scores after surgery. However, rheumatoid arthritis patients were as likely as those with osteoarthritis to experience an overall improvement after hip replacement, though the gains didn't erase the disparity between the two groups.

"The advice to rheumatoid arthritis patients is, really, that you will have significant pain relief [from joint replacement surgery]," Goodman said. "It is an area that needs more study. We're looking forward to assessing more rheumatoid-specific factors."

The research, which looked at participants with active rheumatoid arthritis, is consistent with what Dr. Olivia Ghaw, an assistant professor of medicine in rheumatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, sees in her practice.

But Ghaw said she felt the study's two-year follow-up period was perhaps not long enough to confirm if the joint replacement outcomes remained positive for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

"For some of my patients, if their joint is severely destructed, I still do recommend joint replacement," she said. "Ideally, we would love to get their underlying disease under better control. If we can bring their inflammation down, perhaps they can have better results with joint replacement."

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Jared Leto and mystery woman out in Paris

Is this your new girlfriend, Jared Leto? We snapped the star with a mystery lady out in the Le Marais area of Paris over the weekend. 

ELIGIBLE BACHELORS 

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swimming and weight loss

Someone told me that you can't lose weight from swimming but couldn't explain further.  I don't think it makes any sense-- you're moving, how can you not be burning calories?  My friend responded, "Oh yes! I've heard that too!" and even though it seems ridiculous, I'm worried. 

I often swim a kilometer and a half in 40 minutes and used to do two and a half in a session. Did she think that because I'm obese, I just splash around and call that swimming?

Is there any truth to this?

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How to Talk to Your Child About ADHD

Talking with your child about his ADHD isn't always easy. But it's important to do, and it goes better if you keep it productive and positive.

"I have two children with ADHD, so I can speak from experience here," says Terry Dickson, MD, director of the Behavioral Medicine Clinic of NW Michigan, and an ADHD coach. "The reason why you need to talk about your child's ADHD with him directly is because you want them to be involved, to understand, and to be on board."

These eight tips will help you talk about it.

When you find out your child has ADHD, that's the time to start communicating with them about it.

"It's never too early to start talking with your child about his ADHD," says Patricia Collins, PhD, director of the Psychoeducational Clinic at North Carolina State University.

You'll talk about it many times as your child grows and develops. Start having those talks as early as possible.

A good approach is to help your child understand what ADHD means, what it doesn't mean, and how to be successful at school and in life. What you say should be appropriate for their age.

"You need to help your child feel special, and like he is part of the plan," Dickinson says. "He should feel like he is involved."

Help him understand that ADHD has nothing to do with his intelligence or his ability, and it's not a flaw, Dickson says.

"It should be a time when you are unlikely to be interrupted," Collins says.

Try to pick a time when your child isn't eager to do something else, like playing outside or before dinner or bed. 

Leave some time for follow-up, so you're available to the child after the conversation is over if he has extra questions.

Many other people have ADHD, too, and everyone with ADHD can be successful. 

Give your child examples of people who have or had ADHD that they might know, like Walt Disney, Michael Phelps, and designer Tommy Hilfiger. 

Let your child know they are special and they can succeed as well as anyone else.

Talk to your doctor, reach out to advocacy groups, and find support groups in your area. 

"One of the best things you can do is talk to other parents who already have experience with ADHD about what they've learned," Collins says.

"Focus on their strengths, what they do well, and praise their accomplishments," Dickinson says. 

"Whether its sports, arts, or dance, they can pursue their interests and do well with your support."

"Kids can't take the easy way out by blaming their setbacks on their ADHD," Collins says. 

"Parents need to help their child understand that ADHD is not a reason to not turn in homework, to not try their hardest, or to give up."

Don't be surprised if your child doesn't respond immediately or seems uninterested, Collins says. 

It takes some children, particularly younger ones, some time for new information to make sense, or for them to know what questions to ask.

"One conversation is just the beginning," Dickinson says. 

"Keep the dialogue going, talk about school, their friends, homework, extracurricular activities, and keep a positive attitude."

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Rachel Zoe at a park with Rodger and Skyler Berman in Los Angeles

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Health Highlights: June 19, 2013

Natura Pet Products is recalling a wide range of dry pet foods and treats due to possible salmonella contamination.

The recall covers all of the following products with expiration dates prior to June 10, 2014: Innova Dry dog and cat food and biscuits/bars/treats; EVO dry dog, cat and ferret food and biscuits/bars/treats; California Natural dry dog and cat foods and biscuits/bars/treats; Healthwise dry dog and cat foods; Karma dry dog foods; Mother Nature biscuits/bars/treats.

Salmonella can cause illness in pets that eat contaminated products and in people who handle the products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. There haven't been any reports of pet or human illnesses related to the recalled products.

The Natura pet food and treats were sold in bags at veterinary clinics, select pet stores, and online in the United States and Canada. People with the recalled products should throw them out.

For more information or to ask for a product replacement or refund, call Natura toll-free at 800-224-6123.

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