Monthly Archive for August, 2010

Health officials advise everyone to get their flu shots this season

Published on August 23, 2010 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments

It will soon be that time again to roll up the old sleeves for our annual flu shot. Everyone is encouraged, by state health officials, to go get their flu shots to fight influenza this coming season.

The good news is that in contrast to last year, there is enough supply of the vaccine and it is not restricted to certain age groups. Anyone over 6 months old is urged to get the vaccine.

The main challenge during the 2009 epidemic of H1N1 flu (often called the swine flu), was getting enough vaccine made in time to get ahead of  the first surge of the illness, according to N.C. Health Director, Dr. Jeffrey Engel. He said, “This year, manufacturers are ahead of the curve, giving us plenty of time to get folks adequately protected for flu season.”

This year’s seasonal flu vaccine has already arrived at some doctors’ offices, health departments and pharmacies. It is now available in injectable and nasal spray formulas. The vaccine not only offers protection against the two flu strains predicted to be around this fall and winter, it will also protect against the H1N1 virus.

So that means that only one vaccination will be necessary for most of us. Like before, children who are under age 9 and have not been ever been vaccinated against the flu, will need to get two doses of the flu vaccine.

Remember that the seasonal flu is the most dangerous for very young children and the elderly. The weird thing about the H1N1 flu is that it seemed to affect middle-aged adults and young people. Estimations from the CDC indicate that more than 12,000 people died from H1N1 last year, which included more than 10,000 who were under 65 years old.

Engel said that “H1N1 has reminded us that influenza, no matter what strain, is a serious disease at any age,” and “even if you aren’t hospitalized, it can severely disrupt your life. A vaccination is safe and effective and the best way to prevent the flu.”

Researchers claim that test can predict Alzheimer’s

Published on August 23, 2010 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments

Researchers recently reported that a spinal fluid test can be 100 percent accurate in determining patients with substantial memory loss who will develop the dreaded disease known as Alzheimer’s.

The study appeared in the Archives of Neurology and is one of the many recent amazing findings concerning Alzheimer’s. Researchers are optimistic that being able to detect this disease early will usher in drugs that could slow or even stop the disease.

The study consisted of more than 300 patients who were in their 70s, 114 who had normal memories, 200 with some memory problems and 102 with Alzheimer’s disease.

Almost every person with Alzheimer’s had characteristic spinal fluid protein levels. About three fourths of the people with slight cognitive impairment, which is a memory restriction that can lead to Alzheimer’s, had Alzheimer’s-like spinal fluid proteins. Unfortunately, all of the patients who had the proteins, developed Alzheimer’s within five years.

FDA encouraged to withdraw breast cancer drug Avastin

Published on August 23, 2010 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments

After follow-up studies in July did not show benefits for patients, a panel of cancer experts announced that the government should take out its backing of Roche’s drug Avastin for breast cancer. The panel of experts from the Food and Drug Administration voted 12-1 in favor of removing the drug’s acceptance for use against breast cancer combined with chemotherapy treatment.

Even though it is not mandatory that the FDA take the advice of its panel, it often cooperates.

This negative vote is the very first upset for the popular drug that has accumulated approvals for around six forms of the disease. Avastin is also accepted for combating colon, kidney, lung and brain cancer. The ruling from the panel refers only to Avastin’s use to fight breast cancer.

If the FDA retracts the drug’s approval for breast cancer, doctors can still use the option to prescribe it “off-label”. This said, medical societies and hospitals usually follow FDA guidance, which influences prescribing patterns for thousands of U.S. physicians.

Last year, Avastin was Roche’s top-selling cancer drug with sales climbing to 5.9 billion.