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UNC will soon test new flu drug

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Jana
on November 12, 2009
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Around 6 patients at UNC Hospitals will be asked to test a new flu drug that has revealed positive results in treating severe cases but is currently still under investigation.

Although the clinical trial is about to begin, the anti-viral drug, Peramivir, was given an emergency O.K. towards the end of October by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for hospitalized patients who are unable to take approved flu drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza.

Even if they don’t won’t to take part in the clinical trial, patients at UNC Hospitals will be able to get the new drug if they need it. Dr. Christopher Hurt, an infectious disease doctor and the site’s principal investigator, says that there will only be around six patients enrolled in the trial.

The drug, Peramivir, which was created by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, is nearing government approval in Japan and has been through two sets of clinical trials in the United States.

Robert Bennett, executive director of business development and investor relations for BioCryst, says Peramivir works on the same principal as Tamiflu and Relenza by blocking an enzyme in flu viruses allowing it to multiply and spread. Because it is delivered in an intravenous drip, it is only being developed for hospital settings. Tamiflu comes as a pill and Relenza comes in the form of a nasal spray and both are available to patients through pharmacies as prescription drugs.

Dr. Christopher Hurt claims that the main advantage of Peramivir is when there are serious situations when the patient is too sick to swallow pills or is on a respirator and can’t inhale a drug. Also, he said, an intravenous method usually enters the bloodstream faster.

Study finds at least 1 in 5 kids lack vitamin D

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Jana
on October 26, 2009
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A new study has found that around 20 percent of children ages 1 to 11 are lacking in vitamin D. These kids could be vulnerable to several different types of health problems such as weak bones.

A rougher estimate claims that an astounding 90 percent of black children and 80 percent of Hispanic kids in that age range could be deficient in vitamin D. Lead author of the new analysis and a researcher at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital in Boston, Dr. Jonathan Mansbach, says these percentages are a definite call for action.

These current findings build on the already existing mountain of evidence concerning vitamin D deficiency in children, teens and adults. The latest studies indicate that vitamin D could even prevent dangerous diseases like diabetes and some cancers.

It is still not known if low levels of vitamin D can lead to disease or if higher levels can prevent it. This is still a developing sector of research. Doctors are different in their suggestions on this subject and most are anticipating guidance from the Institute of Medicine report on vitamin D that is due sometime next year. This institute is a government advisory group that sets dietary standards.

This new analysis is the earliest assessment of different vitamin D levels in children ranging in age from 1 to 11. It was released online October 26 by the journal of Pediatrics. Earlier studies in the journal this year discovered that low levels were widespread in U.S. teens and revealed that kids with scant levels had elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels and were often overweight. Data for this analysis was taken from a 2001-06 government health survey of almost 3,000 children who had blood tests which measured vitamin D levels.

Going by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ cutoff for healthy vitamin D levels, it was found that 64 million children – about 20 percent of kids that age – have blood levels of vitamin D that are too low. The most compelling evidence about the effects of low levels of vitamin D, taken from a Pediatrics editorial, reveals that rickets can occur. This is a bone disease that was common around 100 years ago and sometimes still happens. The good news, according to the editorial, is that rickets can be treated and prevented with 400 units each day of vitamin D.

Children can get 400 units of vitamin D daily by drinking four cups of fortified milk or eating plenty of fish. The problem is that most children don’t do this. Also, the body makes it’s own vitamin D by being outdoors, but we all know that too many children are not spending enough time outdoors. This is one explanation for why low vitamin D levels are found in children living in colder areas and also in children with darker skin, which does not absorb as much sunlight as lighter skin.

Protection from swine flu vaccine not likely to kick in until Thanksgiving

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Jana
on September 1, 2009
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Unfortunately, according to health officials, it won’t be until around Thanksgiving when a substantial amount of Americans, who have received the swine flu vaccine, will be protected.

By mid-October, around 50 million doses of vaccine are predicted to be available. That will only begin the vaccination process for those who get their first doses right away. The whole process will take approximately five or more weeks.

Why is this? Well, health officials think that most people will need two shots, which will be spaced three weeks apart, and it will take a week or so after the second dose before the immunity will kick in. That makes five or six weeks for the whole course of action.

This said, massive amounts of Americans will not be completely immunized until Thanksgiving, claims the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

For the most part, the swine flu has ended up being not much more threatening than the seasonal flu. Government experts believe that it might soon develop into an additional variety of the flu, and even be added to the seasonal flu calendar – with vaccinations in the fall and suffered from in the winter.

Drink before, during and after your workout

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Jana
on June 30, 2009
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Now that summer is here, it is even more important to stay hydrated. This is especially true when it comes to working out. At least two quarts of water a day are recommended for the average person. and even more may be needed to keep you from getting dehydrated depending on your size and fitness level, temperature, and humidity.

When you exercise, your body sweats to keep you from overheating, but if the salts, fluids and electrolytes are not replaced, the body cannot cool itself. This can lead to cramps, dehydration or heat exhaustion. If this happens, your symptoms may include cool, moist skin, a fast but weak pulse, and quick, shallow breathing. If heat exhaustion is not treated, it can lead to heatstroke, which is a life-threatening condition that needs immediate medical care.

When you are working out, don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water. According to experts, you should drink about 7 to 10 ounces of water every 10 to 20 minutes when you exercise for less than an hour. Consider drinking a sports drink if your workout lasts longer. Sports drinks are designed to not only keep you hydrated but to help you maintain your blood’s electrolyte balance and give your working muscles fuel. The Journal of Physiology has found that high-carb sports drinks might even make your workout better.

 Athletes performed better on stationary bikes after they rinsed with a high-carb drink than they did after they drank saccharin-flavored water according to  researchers at the University of Birmingham in England. Carbohydrates in the sport drinks are believed to be what made the difference. These carbohydrates make contact with the receptors in the mouth, which may send signals to the brain to improve exercise performance.

The researchers were able to identify the regions of the brain that the sports drinks activated by using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The scans indicate that the drinks trigger areas that help control pleasure and motor control. Our brain sees this exercise as less intense, so we can work harder. Artificially sweetened drinks not have the same positive effect.

Try different sport drinks to find the best one for you. Some people use water to weaken the taste or decrease the carbohydrate intake, which will help reduce calories. Remember to hydrate before, during and after your workout.