Have you ever heard, “Don’t mind Steven, he’s just going through the change of life?” That’s right — “he,” not “she.” According to some researchers, the idea may not be so far-fetched.
‘Male Menopause’ Research
The concept of a “male menopause” and the need for hormone replacement therapy as a treatment is still highly controversial, but you wouldn’t know that from one doctor’s attempt to recruit men for his study. Jerald Bain, MD, set out to find 100 subjects to participate in his study — 900 volunteered for the chance to get a male hormone pill for what ailed them. Read more…
• Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood and kidneys. The immune system normally protects the body against viruses, bacteria and other foreign material. In an autoimmune disease, like lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself.
• Lupus is NOT infectious, rare, or cancerous. Read more…
A new blood test introduced in New Zealand could help predict the risk of miscarriage in women.
Australian fertility expert and deputy medical director of Repromed Adelaide, Dr Kelton Tremellen, says the first Australian research on Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels links a low level of this hormone with an increased risk of miscarriage.
“This link is especially apparent in young women aged under 35 years. An AMH test will give some women who have experienced recurrent miscarriage vital information on why this is occurring,” he says.
“It will also forewarn others that they may be more at risk of miscarriage, so their expectations can be managed, and they can exercise more caution.” Read more…
A new drug derived from Magnolia tree appears to help better control the potentially dangerous complications of bleeding and clot formation during procedures to open blocked coronary arteries.
Results of the Phase II study of the drug, provisionally known as SCH 530348, by researchers at the Duke Clinical Research Institute in the US, appear in the March issue of The Lancet. An international Phase III study is now under way. Read more…
Diabetes is a serious disease. It happens when your blood levels of glucose, a form of sugar, are too high. Diabetes can lead to dangerous health problems. The good news is that high glucose levels can be managed to help control the disease and prevent or delay future problems.
Our bodies change the foods we eat into glucose. Glucose travels through the bloodstream to “fuel” or feed our cells. Insulin is a hormone that helps our bodies use glucose for energy. People with diabetes either do not make insulin, do not use insulin properly, or both. This means they have too much glucose (sugar) in their blood. As a result, they often feel tired, hungry, or thirsty; they may lose weight, urinate often, or have trouble with their eyes. In time, the high levels of this form of sugar in the blood (glucose) can hurt their eyes, kidneys, and nerves. It can also cause heart disease, strokes and even the need to remove all or part of a limb (amputation). Read more…
