Cholesterol Drugs Might Boost Kidney Cancer Survival

Study finds statin medications tied to lower death risk after nearly 4 years of follow-up

By Robert Preidt

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) -- Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs that are taken by millions of Americans might also improve survival from a type of kidney cancer called renal cell carcinoma, a new study suggests.

Statins -- drugs such as Crestor, Lipitor, Pravachol and Zocor -- have anti-inflammatory and cell self-destruction properties, and previous research has shown that these drugs may lower the risk of developing some types of cancer. The new research, presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association in San Diego, suggests that the drugs might fight kidney cancer.

"Given that one in four Americans over 45 years of age take a statin and renal cell carcinoma occurs most often in men ages 50 to 70, it may be prudent to prospectively evaluate if statins protect against [cancer] progression," study author Dr. Scott Eggener, an associate professor of urologic oncology at the University of Chicago, said in a meeting press release.

One expert not connected to the study wasn't surprised by the findings.

"The use of statins has shown promise in previous studies with reducing overall cancer-related mortality," said Dr. Michael Palese, an associate professor of urology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City. He added that certain characteristics of renal cell carcinomas might render statins "beneficial" for patients.

In the study, Eggener's team reviewed data from more than 900 patients who had surgery for renal cell carcinoma between 1995 and 2010. After an average follow-up period approaching four years, statin use was associated with a reduced risk of cancer progression, the team reported.

Over three years, 10 percent of the patients who took statins died of their cancer, compared with 17 percent of those who did not take this type of drug.

After accounting for other factors, the researchers concluded that statin use was independently associated with both improved overall survival and disease-specific survival.

Another expert said the finding echoes those seen in other studies involving cancer patients.

"Last year in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Danish researchers studied 13 different cancers and found that in all types, the use of statins was associated with longer cancer specific survival," said Dr. Manish Vira, director of the fellowship program in urologic oncology at North Shore-LIJ's Arthur Smith Institute for Urology in Lake Success, N.Y.

But he stressed that the data so far come from observational trials, which can prove an association but not a cause-and-effect relationship between statin use and improved survival.

"Given the current data and known cardiovascular protective effects of statins, certainly it seems prudent to design clinical trials to study the potential of statin therapy in breast, colon, prostate and now kidney cancer treatment," Vira said.

Studies presented at medical meetings are typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

View the original article here

Body dysmorphia--all of a sudden?

Lately I've been feeling I look "normal" or not as thin as I was before (like compared to a month or two ago) even though I've hardly gained any weight in the past month and in fact I think my weight has slipped by a couple of pounds in the last week or so. My main problem is with my arms. I don't feel fat; it's just that I see myself as bigger even though my weight hasn't changed/dropped a little. Why am I getting (mild) body dysmorphia all of a sudden? How to deal with or get rid of it? 

View the original article here

FDA Warns Pregnant Women About Migraine Drugs

Medicines containing valproate linked to lower IQs in children, agency says

By Robert Preidt

HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, May 6 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnant women who struggle with migraine headaches should never use medicines containing the ingredient valproate because they can lower the IQ scores of their children, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday.

The new warning will be included on the labels of medicines that contain valproate. These medicines already carry a boxed warning about fetal risk, including birth defects. Valproate products include valproate sodium (Depacon); divalproex sodium (Depakote, Depakote CP, and Depakote ER); valproic acid (Depakene and Stavzor); and their generic versions.

"Valproate medications should never be used in pregnant women for the prevention of migraine headaches because we have even more data now that show the risks to the children outweigh any treatment benefits for this use," Dr. Russell Katz, director of the division of neurology products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in an agency news release.

Valproate medicines have several FDA-approved uses including: prevention of migraines, treatment of epileptic seizures and treatment of bipolar disorder.

This new warning was issued after a study found that children whose mothers took valproate drugs to protect against epilepsy during pregnancy scored eight to 11 points lower on IQ tests at age 6 than children who were exposed to other antiepileptic drugs in the womb.

It's not known if there's a specific time during pregnancy when valproate can result in decreased IQ in children. The women in the study took the antiepileptic valproate drugs throughout their pregnancies, the FDA said.

Valproate may have some value in treating bipolar disorder and epileptic seizures in pregnant women, but should only be taken if other medications have failed to control the symptoms or are otherwise unacceptable, according to the agency.

The FDA also said that:

Women who can become pregnant should not use valproate unless it is essential to managing their medical condition.Women of childbearing age taking valproate products should use effective birth control.Women who are pregnant or who become pregnant while taking valproate medications should talk to their health-care professional immediately. Women should not stop taking their medication without talking to their health-care professional because stopping treatment suddenly can cause serious and life-threatening medical problems for the woman or the fetus.

View the original article here

Thom Evans and Jessica Lowndes leave the CASIO party in London

Kelly Brook's ex Thom Evans looked pleased as punch as he was spotted out and about with his new girlfriend, Jessica Lowndes. The two celebrated the first anniversary of CASIO's Covent Garden store in London last night.

SHOCKING A-LIST SPLITS

View the original article here

Need Help with Cardio

I'm having some trouble with my cardio, I can't seem to go as long as I usually do. What I do for cardio is I go on an elliptical machine, crank up the resistance, and go at about a medium pace. I can barely go up to ten minutes now, I used to be able to go twenty or thirty.

The reason I can't go much further is because I start feeling sick to my stomach. Are there any tips for me to stop feeling or power through that, or is feeling sick my body telling me that I really need to stop?

Any advice would be great, thanks.

View the original article here

Reducing Respiratory Virus in Preemies Lessens Wheezing: Study

But preventing respiratory synctial virus comes with a hefty price tag

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Many pre-term babies suffer recurrent episodes of wheezing. Now, researchers say a common infection is a likely culprit and they may be able to prevent the breathing problems.

Wheezing episodes in late pre-term babies often are caused by infection with the respiratory synctial virus (RSV), the researchers said. And they've found that injections of an expensive RSV medication can prevent the virus -- and the wheezing.

A study of more than 400 babies born late pre-term (between 33 and 35 weeks' gestation) found that days with wheezing dropped by more than 60 percent among those who received injections of palivizumab during RSV season. The effect lasted even after treatment ended.

"In pre-term babies, RSV illnesses seem to be a risk factor for wheezing, and this treatment reduced that risk," said Dr. Robert Lemanske Jr., a professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in Madison. Lemanske wrote an editorial accompanying the new study, which was published May 9 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

RSV is a global health threat in the first year of life and the second leading cause of death after malaria, said study lead author Dr. Louis Bont, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands.

"The risk of hospitalization for RSV bronchiolitis in otherwise healthy late pre-term [babies] is 5 percent," Bont said. "For other pre-terms, it is higher. About half of all otherwise healthy late pre-terms develop wheezing illness."

RSV-related wheezing reduces quality of life, and it has been linked to the development of asthma, Bont said. It's not yet clear if using palivizumab to prevent RSV will lower rates of asthma, he added.

RSV season lasts about four to five months during the fall, winter or spring, but the exact timing in the United States varies by region, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no vaccine for the virus, which causes only mild symptoms in adults and older children.

The study was funded by Abbott Laboratories and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development. Abbott markets palivizumab in some foreign countries.

The researchers set out to determine if RSV was the cause of wheezing illness during the first year of life. Studying 429 babies in the Netherlands, they randomly assigned half to receive a monthly injection of palivizumab during RSV season. The other half received a placebo drug.

The babies in the treatment group had 61 percent fewer days of wheezing during the first year of life. This led the researchers to conclude that RSV is a likely contributor to wheezing illness in this group of children.

View the original article here

What is your motivation?

Personally i never thought to post on here until now, and i really don't know why... I would love to hear some of the motivations out there, as just losing weight isn't really much of a motivation (or an interesting one).What got you into the get healthy mindset? Id be happy to start with mine.                          I've had weight problems for most of my life.  Around 14 i was tipping the scales at 300 pounds. I managed to lose a boat load around 16 and never really got bigger than 230. I had a gut and man boobies, but i was decently strong (i was a roofer for a while) and always thought to myself, hey, i'm not even close to what i used to be so i'm happy.  This changed very recently, though it has been a culmination of events since age 18. Hmm it's very difficult to say what i want to next without using a massive amount of expletives, because it drives me up a wall to think about it... Since age 18 I've dated 4 women for at least 4 months or longer, the longest being 2 years. All four women cheated on me. Now the first three i always thought, meh whatever, they told me and we broke up... the latest one however (of about 6 months) struck me hard. I had been working as a security guard, which unfortunately packed on a few pounds, and the only way for a full 40 hour week was to work mostly over nights. One night at work i was talking to her and mentioned i was gonna stop by at her house in the morning with her favorite coffee. she was ecstatic and agreed that would be awesome... awesome it was not. I get to her house and upon entering her room, what do i see? another guy laying in bed with her both starting to wake up. Needless to say i was livid, especially when he had the nerve to ask "who the f are you?" to which i replied "im her boyfriend, now before i get myself an assault and battery charge you might wanna get the f up and get the f out!" (i think back to that moment alot, how i had the control to not beat this persons face in is amazing)... i see a condom wrapper on the nightstand and after some tense talking, i walked out. a few days later i get a teary call, with the i miss yous, and i'm sorrys and blah blah blah. Needless to say im a trusting idiot, not to mention this girl was my best friend for years before dating her. so we get back together... not three days after, i show up to her house again, and with a quick kiss she says shes gotta pick up her brother. She leaves through the front door instead of the garage door, which is closer,and i hear her brother upstairs which i find beyond odd. so i head outside to smoke a cig and who do i see... the same guy! i start getting beyond mad and this time im not gonna let this kid get away, she tells him to get into the car. which he does, but the entire time me and her are talking, hes just staring at me smiling this grimy little smile. After all is said and done, i ask her why would she do this to me? why lie, why keep my around? She tells me its cause im the sweetest guy around, she loved me for the caring and sensitivity i have... what i got out of it was  she wanted me around to be the emotional part of a relationship... she then admit's that she doesn't find me attractive anymore, i'm to fat, shes just not into me sexually (apparently she wants a beyond underweight dude, i would put this other guy at about 6'1'' 150 lbs, not to mention i saw track marks the first go around) I haven't talked to her since then. and despite her being my best friend for the longest time i'm not sure i could. My trust, the most important thing in the world to me was shattered twice. So after this long winded sad story what's my motivation? The day after the second time i started a workout regimen, and started using this site to help count calories. I don't ever wanna feel the way i did those 2 nights again.  I have a charming personality or so im told (i'm known as mr. fantastic because of my habit of say "im fantastic" when asked how i am, despite how i may really feel) I found out personality isn't enough anymore or so it seems. I figure if i can add a decent body and healthy lifestyle with it, i might just have enough to have this never happen again. Or at the very least if it does (im sure it will im only 22) i can laugh it off and think to myself, well that was a waist of my time, her loss! Currently i'm down from 230 to 218 with a goal of 175 in mind.My diet is whatever is in the pantry that seems healthier than the rest, lots of tuna in water. o and no soda at all since i joined, just water... my workout involves 1 day of strenuous body weight exercises followed by a day of a few miles walking my dog or light shadow boxing, sunday usually an off day. the pounds are melting off, my boobs are turning to pecs and i can already feel differences in how my pants and shorts fit. The best part is, i can honestly say i feel great, and even better i can really say, Her loss!

View the original article here