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AID'S fighting vaginal gel in development
"ATLANTA – An experimental vaginal gel has shown some promise in preventing infection from the AIDS virus — the first study to offer hope that a microbicide may soon join the medical arsenal in the international battle against HIV, scientists announced Monday.
The results were not conclusive in this preliminary study, but they were welcome news considering the failure of other similar products. The multi-country study suggests a gel made by Massachusetts-based Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc. cut HIV infection to a slight degree, a researcher said Monday at a medical conference.
Scientists have been trying to develop gels and other microbicides for women to use as protection in parts of the world where their partners may refuse to use condoms.
"This is the first study that now shows we have a promising candidate," said Salim Abdool Karim, the South African researcher who presented the results.
About 3,100 women participated in the study, which was designed mainly to test whether it was safe. The women were divided into four groups. One-quarter of them used the Indevus gel, which is supposed to block the AIDS virus from attaching to certain white blood cells.
Another quarter were put on a gel made by Baltimore-based ReProtect Inc. The rest were given a placebo gel, or no gel at all.
All the women were counseled to have their partners use condoms. The study was done in South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the United States, and was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Researchers found that women who used the Indevus-made gel had a 30 percent lower rate of HIV infection than the other women in the study. But the difference was not statistically significant, meaning the results could have occurred by chance.
Health officials say larger studies are needed to better assess effectiveness. Such a study of the Indevus gel, involving 9,400 African women, is to conclude in August.
The results were presented at a medical conference on retroviruses in Montreal."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090209/ap_on_he_me/med_anti_aids_gel
Update
Dont you just hate when people start a blog but never update it? Well, no worries as new material will be coming soon.
Fibromyalgia
Photo courtersy of Earthpod.com
A relative was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and although I had heard the term in passing, I never really new what it was.
And recently it seems to be spoken of in great detail whether in medical journals or commercials that advertise treatments, so I decided to take a closer look.
According to medscape.com: Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome that occurs predominantly in women and is marked by generalized pain, multiple defined tender points, fatigue, disturbed and nonrestorative sleep, and numerous other somatic complaints.
Fibromyalgia largely overlaps with other syndromes, such as Chronic Fatigue syndrome, Irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular joint pain. and multiple other regional pain syndromes, all of which feature symptoms that remain unexplained after usual clinical and laboratory assessment and all of which are related to, but not fully dependent on, depression and anxiety.
So does that clear things up for you? No? Me either. I mean as I try to categorize it, I need to know if it's bacterial or viral and is it hereditary? It would even help me more if I knew what could cause it. The fact is, the medical community does not have many of the answers I seek. According to medscape.com, Despite extensive research, no structural pathology has been identified in muscles or other tissues. Although psychological factors associated with chronic distress appear to be important for the development of fibromyalgia in many patients, abundant evidence now indicates that pain in fibromyalgia reflects abnormal pain processing in the central nervous system (i.e., central sensitivity). Clinically, fibromyalgia syndrome is best viewed from a biopsychosocial perspective encompassing multiple variables that contribute to chronic pain and fatigue.
Well, that helps a little but it still sucks because I need to figure this thing out.
Oh well, lets move on to the symptoms. Pain is the hallmark of fibromyalgia. The pain extends from the skeleton and is confined in muscles and muscle-tendon connections in the neck, shoulders, hips, and extremities. And the pain is not one that can be ignored. The pain is usually accompanied by stiffness. Other symptoms include Fatigue and sleep disturbances, Irritable bowel syndrome, Headaches and facial pain, Heightened sensitivity, Difficulty concentrating , Mood changes, Chest pain, Dry eyes, skin and mouth , Painful menstrual periods , Dizziness and Anxiety .
It was once thought that depression caused fibromyalgia pain, but now that it is a bit more understood, studies show that clinical depression can deepen a patients experience of pain. I also feel that because it is hard to diagnose (there is no single laboratory test that confirms it) that people who have it become frustrated as it takes numerous trips to the doctor's office and numerous blood tests and x-ray's to basically rule out other diseases before a doctor will consider performing a pressure point exam, and with this along with the medical tests and medical history make a diagnosis.
Is there a cure? Unfortunately no. Like most afflictions, the symptoms are treated rather than a course of treatment that offers a cure given. Analgesics and Pregabalin are prescribed for pain, Antidepressants to help promote sleep and Muscle relaxants to treat muscle pain and spasms. The mayo clinic also offers these treatments that are considered "alternative", Acupuncture, Chiropractic care, Massage therapy and Osteopathy.
Suggested lifestyle changes include Reduce stress , Get enough sleep, Exercise regularly, Pace yourself , and Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
On the other end of the treatment spectrum is holistic or herbal medicines, and holisticonline.com offers these herbal treatments:
St. John's wort is a natural antidepressant and influences the adrenal gland hormones to help relieve stress. St. John's wort affects nerves and is effective for sharp, shooting nerve pains. It also has antiviral properties. (Caution: Do not take if you are taking conventional antidepressants.) Choose a standardized extract containing 0.3 percent hypericin and take 300 milligrams three times daily.
Siberian ginseng is an energizing herb that can help resolve the fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. Choose a standardized extract containing 0.5 percent eleutheroside E and take 100 milligrams twice daily, one-half hour before breakfast and lunch. After two weeks, you can gradually increase the dosage as needed. After six weeks, take one week off, then take the herb for another six weeks.
Turmeric helps to reduce pain and inflammation. Take 400 to 500 milligrams three times daily.
Cayenne, echinacea, goldenseal, astralagus, myrrh and chaparral boost the immune system and improve circulation. Combine them as a tea or tincture, It may be helpful to mix it with juice for better taste.
Calendula taken orally in high doses has a positive effect in reversing symptoms of fibromyalgia.
A combination of burdock, slippery elm, sheep sorrel and Turkish rhubarb was shown good results in improving fibromyalgia.
Garlic is useful for detoxification and to enhance immune system function. Take 5,000 mcg of standardized allicin three times daily. Kyolic, aged garlic is preferred.
Ginkgo biloba improves circulation and brain function.
Devil's claw root is a natural anti- inflammatory used to treat rheumatic disorders. Take one 400 mg devil's claw root tablet daily.
Willow bark has anti-inflammatory properties and works as a painkiller.
Passion flower, valerian and hops teas have sedating and muscle- relaxant properties.
Dong quai is good for fleeting muscle and joint pains, especially if they are worse in damp conditions. Take 1 capsule daily. For women only.
Licorice root acts in the body like cortisone, but without the harmful side-effects.
Milk thistle extract, artichoke, turmeric and dandelion supports liver function.
Dandelion reduces frequency and intensity of pain and strengthens the connective tissue. Take 1 tbsp. juice or 1 cup tea twice daily for four to six weeks.
Dandelion reduces frequency and intensity of pain and strengthens the connective tissue. Take 1 tbsp. juice or 1 cup tea twice daily for four to six weeks.
Black walnut aid in removing parasites.
Paud'arco, taken in tea or tablet form, is good for treating candida infection.
Skullcap and valerian root improve sleep. Teas brewed from burdock root, dandelion, and red clover promote healing by cleansing the bloodstream and enhancing immune function. Combine or alternate these herbal teas, and drink 4 to 6 cups daily.
Topical applications of cayenne (capsicum) powder mixed with wintergreen oil can help relieve muscle pain. Cayenne contains capsaicin, a substance that appears to inhibit the release of neurotransmitters responsible for communicating pain sensations. Use 1 part cayenne powder to 3 parts wintergreen oil. Cayenne can also be taken orally, in capsule form.
Licorice root supports the glandular system. Caution: If overused, licorice can elevate blood pressure. Do not use this herb on a daily basis for more than seven days in a row. Avoid it if you have high blood pressure.
Pine-bark and grape-seed extracts are natural anti-inflammatories that help to ease pain. Take 50 milligrams of either two to three times daily.
Ginger Tea. Ginger is a good alternative to aspirin to relieve minor aches and pains. Steep 1 teaspoon of the grated root in 8 ounces of hot water for 10 minutes. Strain. Add honey for taste, if you like. Alternatively, take 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of powdered ginger a day in capsule form with food.
Are you feeling backed up?
I have been curious about colon irrigation for a while....I mean until I watched a series of instructional videos on expert village.
I'm not sure what I thought happened during a session......but it sure was not this.
I'm not sure what I thought happened during a session......but it sure was not this.
Okay putting the intrusion of that sacred area aside for second, it is a good idea to have your colon cleansed in some way.
It makes sense that the things we ingest do not always evacuate their premises...I mean the colon , even though it's smooth, does look like it would have nooks and crannies based on how it is arranged in our bodies, and there a lots of places for waste to get caught up.
It also makes sense that with it clogged up the nutrients we are supposed to absorb from the foods we eat never make it to where they are supposed to go.
So here are a few helpful tips for those planning to try it according to about.com:
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Consult your primary care provider before having a colonic. People with certain conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe hemorrhoids, blood vessel disease, congestive heart failure, heart disease, severe anemia, abdominal hernia, gastrointestinal cancer, recent colon surgery, diverticular disease and intestinal tumors should not have a colonic.
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Pregnant women should not have a colonic as it may stimulate uterine contractions.
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Although infrequent, complications may include perforation of the abdominal wall, electrolyte imbalance, and heart failure caused by excessive absorption of water.
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Refrain from eating prior to a session.
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After a colonic, the client is usually encouraged to take supplements containing friendly colon bacteria, called probiotics.
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And if any of you have had this procedure or know someone who has...feel free to share.
Are you depressed?
I will fully explore depression in a later post, but I ran across this video that explains what may be going on behind the scenes that could attribute to a bout of depression.
The reason I find it interesting is because there is an argument as to whether there are any biological reasons for depression, or if depressed people can just "snap out of it" without the use of medication.
Read more »
The reason I find it interesting is because there is an argument as to whether there are any biological reasons for depression, or if depressed people can just "snap out of it" without the use of medication.
Two sets of DNA in one person?
A while back I was watching one of my favorite channels "TLC", and I viewed a documentary called "I am my own twin".
It's about people who where shocked to find out that they were chimeric.
Basically a chimeric person is one who was supposed to be a fraternal twin. Of course fraternal twins are are the result of two eggs are fertilized with two sperm. But instead of both eggs developing separately, they fuse very early in development, and then develop as one person.
It was first that thought that chimeric's would have some sort of visual clue's like skin in different shades, or two different color eyes, but the medical community is finding out that this is not always the case.
There is also a condition called Mosaic where there is a slight variation cell to cell with DNA. As I understand it, with chimeric's there is a certain area where all the cells have a different set of DNA. For instance everywhere else in the body may have one set of DNA, but but if a sample is taken from hair, it may contain a completely different set of DNA than say the saliva.
I find this very interesting because how would one know that they are chimeric? And has anyone ever been found not guilty of a crime because the DNA sample retrieved did not come from the same organ as the sample left at a crime scene? And what about paternity tests? Surely some of those many men on the Maury Povitch show are chimeric...right?
I hope more research is done on chimeric's because there seems to be a lot more to be learned.
Your thoughts?
Strange body facts
I came across this article on AOL.com that touches on some strange (and sometimes yucky) facts about the body.
Is eating boogers bad for you?
"Lung specialist, Dr. Friedrich Bischinger, has been quoted as saying "With the finger, you can get to places you just can't reach with a handkerchief, keeping your nose far cleaner. And eating the dry remains of what you pull out is a great way of strengthening the immune system." However, many doctors disagree. Our fingers are covered in germs and bacteria from touching things like doorknobs, restrooms and phones. If you then use that germ-covered finger to pick your nose, you risk transferring all those germs in to you body. So, if you want to reduce your germ intake, keep that finger to yourself. "
Well, I don't have to worry because I have not eaten a booger since childhood. And if anyone Say's differently they are lying.....unless they have on me video....then I am sure I can come up with a reasonable explanation if I need too.
What did people use to wipe their bums before toilet paper was invented?
"Before modern toilet paper was introduced by Joseph Gayetty in 1857, Americans were stuck using corn cobs or mussel shells. Wealthy Romans used a salt-water soaked sponge tied to the end of a stick to get a clean behind, while the Vikings were fans of leftover sheeps' wool. Coconut shells were the bottom cleansers for Hawaiians, the French used bidets and the Japanese used wooden sticks. "
I will never look at a cob of corn the same way.....
Do bugs live in eyelashes?
"You may have guessed the answer is yes. By the time you are an adult, microscopic, wormlike mites called demodex mites, have made a home in the roots of our eyelashes. If you pull out an eyelash and check under a microscope or magnifying glass you may get a glimpse of these tiny creatures. "
Hmmmm....they should have to pay rent.....
Is it possible for a spider to live inside your ear?
"It's not a common occurrence, but small spiders sometimes make a home in your ear. For example, a Greek woman in Athens complained of headaches and a sharp pain in her ear when riding around on her motorbike. Upon examination, her doctor uncovered a spider's web and then a spider. He added that the spider probably enjoyed its stay in her ear because the temperature was ideal for it. "
I knew there was a reason I never heard my mother telling me to clean my room when I was a teenager...there must have been a spider in my ear!!
Why do certain people attract mosquitoes?
"The mosquito is usually attracted to a person by scent and temperature, but sometimes also by looks. Just like gentlemen, mosquitoes prefer blonds. It's possible that blonds are simply more noticeable to mosquitoes than brunettes."
Note to self....stay away from the blond hair dye.
What are eyebrows for?
"They are certainly expressive, but they also serve to help keep water out of our eyes when we're sweating or walking through the rain. It's especially important to keep sweat out of your eyes because the salt in your sweat can make your eyes sting. In the 1700s, upper-class men and women would shave their natural eyebrows off and glue on fake ones -- made from mouse skin -- on to their brows. "
Well....I guess some women have upgraded from gluing fake eyebrows on, to just drawing them on with an eyebrow pencil. Although....I don't think a pencil keeps the sweat out.
How do astronauts poo in space?
"Buzz Aldrin became the first man to poo on the moon in 1969. He collected his waste in a bag, but because of zero gravity, the contents would often escape during the disposal process and fly around the shuttle. To curb this issue, astronauts ate very little fiber to prevent them from pooing very often. Modern astronaut toilets work like a vacuum cleaner. In order to use the toilet the astronauts must strap themselves to the toilet seat and then turn on a powerful fan. A suction hole then slides open and the poo is sucked away to be stored, and then disposed. "
HaHaHa.......no comment because I am waaaayyyy too mature...(snickers)
Is it safe to drink your own urine?
"Since urine is 95 percent water mixed in with some salt, vitamins, hormones and disease-fighting antibodies, it probably won't do you much harm. However, our kidneys work to remove toxins from the body, so it follows that drinking the product from the kidneys would reintroduce these waste products in to our bodies. "
Well that clears things up....I mean I was just about to try it!!
Read more »
Is eating boogers bad for you?
"Lung specialist, Dr. Friedrich Bischinger, has been quoted as saying "With the finger, you can get to places you just can't reach with a handkerchief, keeping your nose far cleaner. And eating the dry remains of what you pull out is a great way of strengthening the immune system." However, many doctors disagree. Our fingers are covered in germs and bacteria from touching things like doorknobs, restrooms and phones. If you then use that germ-covered finger to pick your nose, you risk transferring all those germs in to you body. So, if you want to reduce your germ intake, keep that finger to yourself. "
Well, I don't have to worry because I have not eaten a booger since childhood. And if anyone Say's differently they are lying.....unless they have on me video....then I am sure I can come up with a reasonable explanation if I need too.
What did people use to wipe their bums before toilet paper was invented?
"Before modern toilet paper was introduced by Joseph Gayetty in 1857, Americans were stuck using corn cobs or mussel shells. Wealthy Romans used a salt-water soaked sponge tied to the end of a stick to get a clean behind, while the Vikings were fans of leftover sheeps' wool. Coconut shells were the bottom cleansers for Hawaiians, the French used bidets and the Japanese used wooden sticks. "
I will never look at a cob of corn the same way.....
Do bugs live in eyelashes?
"You may have guessed the answer is yes. By the time you are an adult, microscopic, wormlike mites called demodex mites, have made a home in the roots of our eyelashes. If you pull out an eyelash and check under a microscope or magnifying glass you may get a glimpse of these tiny creatures. "
Hmmmm....they should have to pay rent.....
Is it possible for a spider to live inside your ear?
"It's not a common occurrence, but small spiders sometimes make a home in your ear. For example, a Greek woman in Athens complained of headaches and a sharp pain in her ear when riding around on her motorbike. Upon examination, her doctor uncovered a spider's web and then a spider. He added that the spider probably enjoyed its stay in her ear because the temperature was ideal for it. "
I knew there was a reason I never heard my mother telling me to clean my room when I was a teenager...there must have been a spider in my ear!!
Why do certain people attract mosquitoes?
"The mosquito is usually attracted to a person by scent and temperature, but sometimes also by looks. Just like gentlemen, mosquitoes prefer blonds. It's possible that blonds are simply more noticeable to mosquitoes than brunettes."
Note to self....stay away from the blond hair dye.
What are eyebrows for?
"They are certainly expressive, but they also serve to help keep water out of our eyes when we're sweating or walking through the rain. It's especially important to keep sweat out of your eyes because the salt in your sweat can make your eyes sting. In the 1700s, upper-class men and women would shave their natural eyebrows off and glue on fake ones -- made from mouse skin -- on to their brows. "
Well....I guess some women have upgraded from gluing fake eyebrows on, to just drawing them on with an eyebrow pencil. Although....I don't think a pencil keeps the sweat out.
How do astronauts poo in space?
"Buzz Aldrin became the first man to poo on the moon in 1969. He collected his waste in a bag, but because of zero gravity, the contents would often escape during the disposal process and fly around the shuttle. To curb this issue, astronauts ate very little fiber to prevent them from pooing very often. Modern astronaut toilets work like a vacuum cleaner. In order to use the toilet the astronauts must strap themselves to the toilet seat and then turn on a powerful fan. A suction hole then slides open and the poo is sucked away to be stored, and then disposed. "
HaHaHa.......no comment because I am waaaayyyy too mature...(snickers)
Is it safe to drink your own urine?
"Since urine is 95 percent water mixed in with some salt, vitamins, hormones and disease-fighting antibodies, it probably won't do you much harm. However, our kidneys work to remove toxins from the body, so it follows that drinking the product from the kidneys would reintroduce these waste products in to our bodies. "
Well that clears things up....I mean I was just about to try it!!
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