HHAL MEDICAL NEWS JUNE08

New Study Shows BENICAR(R) (olmesartan Medoxomil) Reverses Blood Vessel 
                                    Damage Independent Of Blood Pressure Lowering

A new study published in the current Journal of the American Society of Hypertension demonstrates that the hypertension treatment olmesartan medoxomil was effective in reversing the narrowing of the arteries that occurs in patients with hypertension. The study, titled VIOS (Vascular Improvement with Olmesartan medoxomil Study) was a one-year, exploratory study that evaluated the effects of an angiotensin receptor blocker (olmesartan medoxomil) vs. a beta-blocker (atenolol) on vascular function and structure in patients with Stage 1 hypertension, independent of the blood pressure lowering effects of these agents.(1)

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111474

Big Breakfast Helped Women Lose Weight

 Researchers from Venezuela and the US found that women who
                                    had a big breakfast packed with carbohydrates and protein, and then followed a low carbohydrate, low calorie diet for the
                                    rest of the day, were more successful at losing weight and keeping the weight off than women on strict low carbohydrate diets.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111734 

Obesity
                                    Battle Aided By Red Wine's Resveratrol

"Resveratrol has anti-obesity properties
                                    by exerting its effects directly on the fat cells," Fischer-Posovszky said. "Thus, resveratrol might help to prevent
                                    development of obesity or might be suited to treating obesity."

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111604.php

Efficacy of Rosuvastatin (5 mg and 10 mg) Twice a Week in Patients Intolerant to Daily Statins

In conclusion, rosuvastatin twice weekly reduced total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides and was well tolerated, but determining long-term tolerability requires more prolonged treatment.

http://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(08)00358-5/fulltext

Aliskiren Helps Improve Albuminuria in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy

CONCLUSIONS: Aliskiren may have renoprotective effects that are independent of its blood-pressure-lowering effect in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and nephropathy who are receiving the recommended renoprotective treatment. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00097955 [ClinicalTrials.gov].). Copyright 2008 Massachusetts Medical Society.

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/358/23/2433

Fish, Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Reduce Macular Degeneration

Consumption of fish twice or more per week and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration, but the meta-analysis which led to this observation was based on very limited studies, according to a report published in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=523935&contextCategoryId=40130

Red Yeast Rice Extract Shows Heart Benefits

Long-term use of an extract of red yeast rice in patients with a previous myocardial infarction and average low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly reduced the recurrence of coronary events, according to research published in the June 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology. http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=523941&contextCategoryId=40130

More Olive Oil, Please: Mediterranean Diet and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with lower diabetes risk.

A Mediterranean diet — which includes high intake of fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids derived from vegetable fat (especially olive oil), low intake of saturated fatty acids, and moderate alcohol intake — lowers risk for nonfatal myocardial infarction and for death due to coronary heart disease. Limited evidence suggests that this diet also can prevent type 2 diabetes. To further investigate this issue, Spanish researchers conducted a prospective cohort study that involved more than 13,000 university graduates without diabetes at baseline. Dietary habits were tracked using validated food-frequency questionnaires; participants were classified as having low, moderate, or high adherence to a Mediterranean diet.

Thirty-three participants developed type 2 diabetes during a median follow-up of 4.4 years. Compared with low dietary adherence, high adherence was associated with an 83% reduced lower risk for developing diabetes, and moderate adherence was associated with a 60% lower risk (adjusted for various demographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables). Both results were statistically significant.

Comment: A Mediterranean diet improves glycemic control and lipid profiles; therefore, this type of diet likely lowers risk for developing type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, as the authors point out, a Mediterranean diet is highly palatable and should appeal to patients and clinicians alike.

— Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine June 12, 200

Novel Testosterone Gel Significantly Improves Insulin Sensitivity And

 Sexual Function In Hypogonadal Men With Type 2 Diabetes And Metabolic

                                    Syndrome

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111670

Long-Term Risk Of Death In Men Appears To Be Increased By Low

 Testosterone

Men
                                    with low testosterone levels had more than 2.5 times greater risk of dying during the next 10 years compared to men with higher
                                    testosterone, the study found. This difference was not explained by age, smoking, alcohol intake, level of physical activity,
                                    or increased waist circumference (a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease),

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111755 

Older
                                    Men With Low Testosterone Benefit From Testosterone Replacement

Testosterone deficiency becomes more
                                    common with age, occurring in 18 percent of 70-year-olds, said a coauthor of both studies, Farid Saad, PhD, of Berlin-headquartered
                                    Bayer Schering Pharma. Low testosterone levels are linked to the metabolic syndrome - a cluster of metabolic risk factors
                                    that increase the chances of developing heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes - and other health problems, including
                                    loss of bone and muscle mass, depression, and decreased libido.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111751

New Subset Analysis Of AndroGel(R) Data Highlights Efficacy - Regardless Of BMI

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111665

Relationship Between Serum Testosterone and Cardiovascular Risk Profile in the General Population

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/168/12/1350?ct

Relationship Between Low Levels of Anabolic Hormones and 6-Year Mortality in Older Men

Conclusions  Age-associated decline in anabolic hormone levels is a strong independent predictor of mortality in older men. Having multiple hormonal deficiencies rather than a deficiency in a single anabolic hormone is a robust biomarker of health status in older persons.

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/167/20/2249

Controling Risk Factors Reduces Risk Of Stroke By 42 Percent

Results of a new analysis of the Treating to New Targets (TNT) study show that intensive low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol-lowering in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) whose systolic blood pressure was less than 140 mmHg reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke and resuscitated cardiac arrest, by 42 percent compared with less intensive LDL lowering and uncontrolled blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=112276

Coronary Artery Calcification Compared With Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in the Prediction of Cardiovascular Disease Incidence

Conclusion  Although whether and how to clinically use bioimaging tests of subclinical atherosclerosis remains a topic of debate, this study found that CAC score is a better predictor of subsequent CVD events than carotid IMT.

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/168/12/1333?ct

Carotid bruits as a prognostic indicator of cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis.

patients with carotid bruits were significantly more likely than those without bruits to experience MIs (3.69 vs. 1.86 per 100 patient-years) or cardiovascular death (2.85 vs. 1.11 per 100 patient-years

http://us.f812.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?Search=&Idx=0&YY=52464&y5beta=yes&y5beta=yes&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18468542?dopt=Abstract

PET Imaging Detects Early, 'Silent Heart' Stage Of Disease
                                    In

 Asymptomatic Diabetic Patients

As many as 50 percent of all cardiac deaths
                                    due to disease in the heart's vessels occur in individuals with no prior history or symptoms of heart disease. In addition,
                                    standard coronary risk factors may fail to explain up to 50 percent of cardiovascular events. Now, researchers using positron
                                    emission tomography (PET) are able to see changes in coronary blood vessels, offering hope that those at risk can receive
                                    earlier treatment and prolong life.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111601 

Coffee Drinkers
                                    May Live Longer

A
                                    new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine has good news for coffee drinkers: Regular coffee drinking (up
                                    to 6 cups per day) is not associated with increased deaths in either men or women. In fact, both caffeinated and decaffeinated
                                    coffee consumption is associated with a somewhat smaller rate of death from heart disease.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111598 

Obesity-Related Cancer On The Rise

 According to the June issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter,
                                    an estimated 14 percent of cancer deaths in older men and 20 percent in older women can be attributed to excess body fat.
                                    It's not fully understood why excess body fat increases the risk of cancer.

Theories include:

Insulin -- Obesity and inactivity generally lead to higher levels of insulin circulating
                                    in the blood. Excess insulin is believed to fuel the growth of cancer cells. In addition, it increases circulating levels
                                    of other hormones that likely play a role in cancer development and growth, such as estrogen.

Estrogen -- Adding to insulin's influence on estrogen levels, fat tissue also produces this hormone. Estrogen
                                    levels are 50 percent to 100 percent higher in postmenopausal women who are overweight versus those who are lean. It's
                                    believed that this alteration increases the risk of estrogen-sensitive cancers such as certain types of breast cancers.

Immune system -- Excess fat is thought to release proteins that may suppress
                                    the immune system and increase inflammation. Both may play a role in cancer development and progression

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111697

Vitamin D Linked To Colon
                                    Cancer Survival

Patients diagnosed with colon cancer who had abundant vitamin D in their blood were
                                    less likely to die during a follow-up period than those who were deficient in the vitamin, according to a new study by scientists
                                    at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=112020

Independent Association of Low Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Levels With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality

Conclusions  Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels are independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. A causal relationship has yet to be proved by intervention trials using vitamin D.

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/168/12/1340?lookupType=volpage&vol=168&fp=1340&view=short

Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Myocardial Infarction Risk

Men with low levels of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D are more likely to have a myocardial infarction, even when other coronary artery disease risk factors are taken into account, according to the results of a study published in the June 9 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine

Conclusion  Low levels of 25(OH)D are associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction in a graded manner, even after controlling for factors known to be associated with coronary artery disease.

http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/content/printContentPopup.jsp?id=523181

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/168/11/1174?ct

Bright Light Can Help Treat Dementia Symptoms

Melatonin should only be used together with light to reap benefits and avoid adverse effects

Resynchronizing patients' circadian rhythms with light and melatonin has a "modest benefit" on their dementia symptoms, reports JAMA.

Dutch researchers studied some 190 residents of 12 group-care facilities for a mean of 15 months. Most residents were women, and most had dementia. The facilities were randomized to install either bright or regular lighting in their common living rooms, and patients were randomized to receive daily melatonin or placebo.

Bright lighting reduced cognitive deficits, depressive symptoms, and functional deficits. Melatonin had an adverse effect on mood and withdrawn behavior; however, the effect was ameliorated when patients received both melatonin and exposure to bright lighting.

Writing in Journal Watch Psychiatry, Peter Roy-Byrne observes that "most improvements were comparable in size to what would be expected for a marketed medication." He concludes: "Light plus melatonin could improve quality of life in this highly vulnerable population at a modest cost."

http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/content/printContentPopup.jsp?id=523025

The Myth of Heart-Protective B Vitamins

Women's Health  

Supplemental folic acid and B vitamins did not prevent adverse cardiovascular events among women with or at high risk for heart disease.

Albert CM et al. JAMA 2008 May 7; 299:2027

DASHing Toward Reduced CHD Risk

Women's Health

Close adherence to the DASH diet was associated with significantly reduced risk for stroke and coronary heart disease.

Fung TT et al. Arch Intern Med 2008 Apr 14; 168:713

Sudden Hearing Loss May Be an Early Warning Sign of Stroke

Adults with sudden sensorineural hearing loss may be at increased risk for stroke, according to a study in Stroke.

Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, investigators identified some 1400 adults who were hospitalized for sudden hearing loss and nearly 5700 age-matched controls hospitalized for appendectomy. Over the next 5 years, stroke occurred in 13% of hearing loss patients and 8% of controls. After adjustment for factors including sex and comorbid conditions, hearing loss patients remained at significantly elevated risk for stroke (hazard ratio, 1.6).

The authors recommend that all patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss undergo complete examinations in an effort to identify those who may be at increased risk for future stroke.

Stroke article

Rhythm vs. Rate Control in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure

The primary outcome of cardiovascular death did not significantly differ by treatment group.

 Roy D et al. N Engl J Med 2008 Jun 19; 358:2667

Cain ME and Curtis AB. N Engl J Med 2008 Jun 19; 358:2725

Hazards of Warfarin Plus Antiplatelet Therapy

In U.S. and European studies, treatment with warfarin plus antiplatelet agents was associated with serious bleeding episodes.

 Rogacka R et al. J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2008 Feb 1; 1:56

       An increasing diabetes risk

The strong independent association between the level of normal fasting plasma glucose and the incidence of diabetes after controlling for other risk factors suggests that diabetes risk increases as fasting plasma glucose levels increase, even within the currently accepted normal range. The American Journal of Medicine (6/2008)

    http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(08)00231-3/fulltext

Study: Low-fat, low-sugar diet can protect women's health

Women who eat a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains but low in saturated fats and sugar have a lower risk of premature death or death from cardiovascular disease, research from the Nurse's Health Study reveals. A Western diet heavy on red and processed meats, french fries, sweets and refined grains was linked to a 22% higher risk of death from heart disease, a 21% higher risk of death from all causes and a 16% higher risk of death from cancer, the Circulation study found. HealthDay News (6/23)

http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=616773

Report cites surge in cases of drug-resistant hypertension

Hypertension has developed resistance to existing drugs and has become increasingly difficult to treat, according to a report from the American Heart Association in the journal Hypertension. By analyzing studies of patients with high blood pressure, an AHA panel concluded that 20% to 30% could not manage their condition with three or more medicines, even when used exactly as specified. The New York Times (6/24)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/health/research/24bloo.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=health&adxnnlx=1214741396-2/BQU70rqXodlNoErVeXIA&oref=slogin

CDC: Americans with Diabetes Increase by More Than 3 Million in 2 Years

Diabetes is diagnosed in 18 million people and undiagnosed in 6 million.

Among adults, the condition has increased in both sexes and in all age groups; it now occurs in about 11% of people aged 20 or older and 23% aged 60 or older.

The diabetes rate is highest in Native Americans/Alaska natives, 16%; followed by blacks, 12%; Latinos, 10%; Asian Americans, 8%; and whites, 7%.

Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2006.

The direct medical costs of diabetes in 2007 were $116 billion.

CDC press release (Free)

National Diabetes Fact Sheet (Free PDF)

http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080624.htm

Current pharmacologic treatment of dementia: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?view_id=1&doc_id=12290

High-fiber dietary supplementation improved constipation symptoms in women with pelvic floor disorders.

Gradually increased fiber intake with a goal of reaching 28 g daily improve constipation symptoms.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18378750?dopt=Abstract

Researchers Link Memory Loss To Poor Diet

Study showed the link : memory loss to a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111907

Grape Seed Extract May Reduce Cognitive Decline Associated With

                                    Alzheimer's Disease

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfriendlynews.php?newsid=111763

Potential
                                    New Role For Red Grape Seeds In Treatment Of Alzheimer's

 Disease

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111694.php

Memory
                                    Performance And Hot Flashes Linked

Women in midlife underreport the number
                                    of hot flashes that they experience by more than 40 percent, and these hot flashes are linked to poor verbal memory, according
                                    to a study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111558.php

Insomnia Linked To High Blood Pressure

 Insomniacs who sleep
                                    fewer than five hours a night are five times more likely to suffer hypertension than people who sleep well, according to a
                                    major study that highlights the growing concerns over links between sleep problems and serious illness.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112213.php