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Party Drugs Likely Help Spread HIV Infections

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A recent survey in the US has revealed that the increasing use of party drugs such as the stimulant “ice” (a methamphetamine) may be the cause behind escalating HIV-infections among gay men.

Although the study does not confirm that these party drugs are the direct causes of HIV infections, constantly increasing trends cannot be ignored.
Methamphetamine that is used in these drugs stimulates the male libido and enables them to stay awake for hours and have marathon sex sessions. And, a higher rate of risky sexual behavior is likely to lead to higher HIV infection rates.

In addition to drug use, many infected men have also confirmed that they either met their sex partners in a club or used the services provided on the Internet to arrange for anonymous sex partners. This also increases the risk of HIV infection.


Source: AAP (7/24/07)

Low Cholesterol May Increase Cancer Risk

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According to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, use of cholesterol-lowering drugs or statins may increase the risk of developing cancer in patients.

Statins are commonly prescribed to heart patients because they help in lowering the level of cholesterol in blood.

During the analysis, 13 statin clinical trials were performed on 41,000 patients. The results indicated a higher rate of a newly-diagnosed cancer in low-cholesterol patients than high-cholesterol patients.

Although, in comparison to high cholesterol patients one additional case of cancer was found in low-cholesterol patients, researchers are still not sure about a direct link between statin use and increased cancer risk.

HIV Infection Risk Much Lower for Circumcised Men

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Uncircumcised men are more than twice as likely to to contract HIV from an infected female partner, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), because the skin cells in the foreskin are particularly susceptible to the HIV virus.

Circumcision reduced the risk of contracting HIV by about 60 percent, a far greater result than the 30% reduction targeted by an AIDS vaccine.

At an AIDS conference in Sidney, Australia, Robert Bailey, an epidemiology professor at the University of Illinois, urged international health agencies to promote male circumcision as an effective means to lower the rate of HIV infections.

In March, 2007, the World Health Organization issued a statement urging males to get circumcised for health reasons.

However, the organization stressed that circumcision does not protect from HIV, and says that “men should still use condoms and take other precautions such as abstinence, delaying the start of sexual activity and reducing the number of sexual partners.”

References: AP (7/24/07)

A Soft-Drink a Day Increases Heart Disease Risk Factors

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Adults who drink at least one soft drink per day are 30% more likely to develop new-onset diabetes or have low levels of good cholesterol.

A recent study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association reports that drinking at least one soft drink a day of a diet or regular soft drink are at greater risk for heart disease than those who don’t. The study was conducted on 3,500 middle aged men and women. The study found that soft-drink consumers are more likely to develop matabolic syndrome, a combination of
a combination of factors like high blood pressure and elevated triglycerides — are more likely to suffer diabetes and heart disease.

Adults who consume at least one soft drink a day are more likely to develop risk factors for heart disease than those who don’t, even if the beverage is diet, according to a study published today in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Researchers studying about 3,500 middle-aged men and women as part of a larger, long-term heart study found an association between daily soft drink consumption and an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

The American Heart Association defines metabolic syndrome as:

  • Abdominal obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen)
  • Atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders — high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol — that foster plaque buildups in artery walls)
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (the body can’t properly use insulin or blood sugar)
  • Prothrombotic state (e.g., high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor–1 in the blood)
  • Proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated C-reactive protein in the blood)

    • Metabolic syndrome is a growing problem in America, where an estimated 50 million people exhibit symptoms and have greater risk of coronary heart disease and other diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls.

Novartis’ Diabetes Drug Galvus Closer to Approval in EU

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Novartis’ diabetes drug, Galvus, is one step closer to approval in the European Union after an EU advisory committee issued a positive opinion on the drug.

Galvus is a once-daily oral medicine for patients with type 2 diabetes. The company reports that Galvus significantly reduced blood sugar levels in people age 65 and older without the increased risk of side effects that often limits more aggressive treatment in these patients.
Galvus is awaiting FDA approval in the United States, where the agency has twice delayed approval of Galvus pending further data to show that skin lesions and kidney impairments seen in an earlier animal study have not occurred in humans.
A similar drug called Januvia is marketed by Merck, and was approved by the FDA in October 2006.
Recommendations by the European Committee for Human Medicinal Products usually lead to approval of the drug for sale in all the European Union countries, and Novartis indicated that it expects a final decision within the next 90 days.

High Res Heart CT Scans Risk for Patients

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With more and more technologies becoming available, doctors are finding that they must increasingly weigh the side effects of testing procedures.

After gaining FDA approval in 2004, CT angiography, a high resolution scan of the heart for blocked arteries, has been much more widely used. However, there is a risk–especially to younger people, as these scans expose patients to 20 times the amount of radiation as a mammogram.

Researchers reported that a CT angiography should be used sparingly, especially on young women, who have a 1-in-143 chance of developing cancer after just one high resolution CT scan.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Asbestos in New York Steam Blast

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A steam pipe blast that injured dozens of people in downtown Manhattan spewed debris that contained asbestos particles, according to New York City’s Department of Emergency Management. The department says they found asbestos in six of ten samples taken.

"People who may (have come) into contact with the steam or debris should take a shower and place their clothes in plastic bags for cleaning or disposal," the statement said.

The blast resulted in dozens of injuries, and at least one death.

Asbestos is a very dangerous material that can cause a form of cancer called mesothelioma.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust by handling clothes of those who work in such an environment. Home renovation and demolition may also expose people to asbestos dust.

Treatment Options for Menopause-related Hot Flashes

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There are numerous treatment options for menopause-related hot flashes, from pharmaceutical drugs, to alternative therapies and exercise.
Hormones might not be safe for everyone, and some supplements may not be safe or effective.

Since supplements are not widely tested or regulated by the FDA, it is more difficult to determine their effectiveness.

Alternative therapies, such as black cohosh or Chinese herbs are widely used, and some have been shown to have a positive placebo effect. However, researchers have shown that using black cohosh, for example, is not effective.

Other pharmaceutical drugs, such as Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) have been found to significantly reduce hot flashes in women with menopause, though these anti-depression drugs have not been approved by the FDA for treatment of menopause symptoms

(Drugs such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxitene (Paxil) and venlafaxine (Effexor) have all been found to help relieve menopause symptoms.

Several studies have shown that women who exercise regularly have fewer hot flashes, likely due to increased endorphin production.

Source: ABC News/KGO (1/3/07)