Two Questions To Ask About Bird Flu Vaccines

Two Questions To Ask About Bird Flu Vaccines
Two Questions To Ask About Bird Flu Vaccines

The results of a government-funded study show that very high doses of an avian influenza vaccine, supplied by Sanofi-Aventis, are needed to produce an immune response that should guard against the virus. 54% of the volunteers received two shots of 90 micrograms each, 28 days apart. A typical flu shot is 15 micrograms.

Based on the requirements seen in the study, the U.S. government’s current stockpile of vaccines would provide enough for only about four million people, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases.

The problem isn’t just a matter of dosage. It is also a matter of production. Flu vaccines are produced using hen’s eggs,a 50-year old technology, if it can be called that. Automated machines inject hundreds of thousands of eggs, then an 11-day waiting period begins while the eggs incubate, brewing viruses that are then killed and bottled. To produce millions of the the final product takes about six months.

Then there’s the question no one seems to be asking: if we plan to rely upon chicken eggs to incubate an H5N1 virus, how do we know the H5N1 virus won’t kill the eggs? H5N1 already kills chickens. Shouldn’t we assume it also kills a high percentage of chicken eggs? Sanofi-Aventis is spending $150 million of its own money building a new vaccine-making plant based on the theory that H5N1 won’t kill the eggs. By the way, eggs have to be ordered many months in advance for this antiquated process.

And where does Sanofi-Aventis plan to get all these egg-laying chickens anyway? Millions of chickens have been slaughtered worldwide already and a pre-pandemic scenario could kill off whole U.S. chicken farms at once.

However, there is a new vaccine technology on the horizon. It’s called cell-based vaccine. Giant vats of living cells, such as dog kidney cells, multiply and then are inoculated with the virus. There are two companies already in the marketplace, one in Holland, one in Germany, but the technology won’t be widely available for years. The FDA must review the entire method before any equipment can be imported to the U.S.

Clearly, the U.S. has waited for a new virus to come along to spur vaccine research. We may have waited too long. H5N1 isn’t waiting. It’s figuring out how to mutate into human-to-human transmission. In fact, the rate of mutation is alarming. Dr. Robert Webster, Ph.D., Member, St. Jude Faculty Rose Marie Thomas Chair, calls H5N1 “the most frightening virus I’ve ever seen in 40 years of research.”

If you and your family are counting on a vaccine to protect you against H5N1 (Avian Influenza), don’t bet on it. There are still too many unanswered questions and too many risks.

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Therapy And Treatment No Longer Tabu

Therapy And Treatment No Longer Tabu
Therapy And Treatment No Longer Tabu

A keystone of one of television’s most popular series is the practice of therapy in HBO’s The Sopranos. The Sopranos manages to address the biases and benefits of therapy and treatment while also combining clear-cut, unavoidable realities as to its effectiveness and the reasons why it seems to be everywhere.

Just like on the show, therapy has long been thought of as untrustworthy, the refuge of the weak, practiced by money grabbing pseudo doctors who offer little more than an extensive and hard to comprehend vocabulary. As society finds that it is spending less and less time on the struggle for the basics necessary to life, however, the more therapy has become a part of our social fabric.

Therapy is mow common practice for the individual as well as within relationships. The Sopranos is not the only show to find a huge market among those interested in the practice of therapy, as anyone who has seen the latest daytime television ratings can attest to. The Dr. Phil show has made a huge cultural impact on nothing more than one man’s practice of therapeutical processes.

One of the main strengths of therapy is the fact that no matter how small the problem seems, it always helps to talk about it. It is true that disturbed individuals commonly benefit and are required to receive therapy and treatment, and in part this is the cause for much of the reason for the cultural vilification of the process. More and more people, however, are beginning to realize that going to therapy doesn’t mean they have the makings of a sociopath or a horrible marriage. It just gives them a chance to discuss area in their lives that they might be struggling with, and a qualified therapist is equipped to point the discussions in the right direction and offer solutions to immediate as well as potential problems.

As with any treatment, therapy needs to be approached with caution. Therapists who are not properly qualified can do much more damage to a person than they had before going in. Always take care to confirm a therapist’s credentials and record before signing up for sessions.

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Treat That Oral Thrush Now

Treat That Oral Thrush Now
Treat That Oral Thrush Now

These days there are many kinds of diseases that are just dismissed by people as if they are not important. Discoloration, spots or rashes in any part of the bodies are deemed as irregularities but are not really candidates for urgent treatment. One such occurrence that can turn into diseases is oral thrush. Some people may not even know that what they or their loved ones have is oral thrush but oral thrush and all other kinds of thrush can spread to other parts of the body not originally affected if not treated.

Oral thrush is usually described as white to cream colored or yellow spots in certain areas of the mouth. These spots are also slightly raised so it can be felt as a small bump. People who have oral thrush normally feel no pain in the area underneath the spots and might even have the urge to scratch it off. If you scrape off the said spots, they leave small wounds that bleed slightly.

The earlier description is true in most cases but for adults, thrush can also cause an uncomfortable burning sensation in the mouth and throat. Some of the causes of thrush for adults include the simple of reason to stress or an even deeper problem that is an underlying disorder.

Oral thrush treatments for infants should include a period of waiting may be appropriate. It is highly advisable to go to the doctor. During the early stages, it is not really a life and death situation but start to worry when the condition does not resolve in two weeks in which case an oral thrust treatment from a doctor will come in handy. As for preventive oral thrush treatment or tips, it is a must to always sterilize bottle nipples or pacifiers and to wash, in hot and soapy water, toys that baby frequently chews on.

On the other hand oral thrush treatments for adults though largely similar to infants have some factors that are not really applicable to infants. The older victims of thrush are capable of trying to investigate for themselves the condition that caused the thrush and do something about it. They can actually do a sort of preventive oral thrush treatments or procedures to avoid the thrush from recurring. As soon as the condition that caused the oral thrush has been treated then the thrush itself can be cured.

Oral thrush treatment usually consists of anti-fungal medicines in the form of pastilles that are sucked or oral suspensions that are held in the mouth before swallowing. If unfortunately complications occur then oral thrush treatment that is systematic should be applied. This can be in the form of dosage of anti-fungal tablets or if advanced form of oral thrush treatment is needed then maybe through injection.

As in any disease, the important thing is early detection and being pro-active about the entire case at hand. There will always be that period of observation for cases like thrush but it should not last very long. The key really is to never ever hesitate to see your doctor for oral thrush treatment. Others may think that thrush is something that over the counter drugs can cure so there is no use to go to the doctor. Then again as mentioned, in the earlier paragraphs, the doctor has to see you to assess if what you have is a plain thrush or is a manifestation of something else.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR’S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

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Insomnia Tips

Insomnia Tips
Insomnia Tips

Insomnia is a very common complaint among older adults. The condition affects more than 70 million Americans. Some symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, difficulty with early morning awakening, or not feeling rested by a “good night’s sleep.” Occasionally, insomnia lasts for a short time and can be easily managed. Other times it is a chronic condition, lasting more than six months. This chronic insomnia is more troublesome and can affect work, social relationships, and health. Many people with insomnia are also diagnosed with other conditions such as depression, anxiety, allergies, or pain.

Insomnia treatment begins with what is known as “sleep hygiene.” This includes regular sleep and wake times. You should avoid eating, drinking, or exercising before bedtime. The room should be cool, comfortable, and dark.

Philosophy of Sleep Hygiene

1. keep a regular sleep schedule

2. exercise regularly but avoid exercise before bed

3. go to bed when sleepy

4. do relaxing and enjoyable activities before bed

5. keep the bedroom quiet and comfortable

6. do not eat a large evening meal

7. if you are not sleeping within 20 minutes, get up and return to bed when you are sleepy

8. if you must take a nap, limit it to 30 minutes

9. avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine

10. have your pharmacist check your medications for stimulating drugs

If the “sleep hygiene” methods are not working, then it may me necessary to begin using medication.

If you are still having difficulty getting a good night’s sleep, you should talk to your pharmacist or doctor. The cause of your insomnia will need to be determined and you may need medication to help you sleep. Even if medication is used for insomnia, “sleep hygiene” principles should still be followed and can provide added benefit.

The best medication should act quickly and for a short period of time. This eliminates the “hangover effect” some people experience.

There are many other products that might be used for insomnia. Melatonin has been shown to be helpful in treating insomnia due to melatonin deficiency in elderly patients. It may also improve sleep quality but probably will not increase the length of sleep time. Kava kava and valerian root are also commonly used for the treatment of insomnia. Kava kava has not been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic insomnia. It is also known to be potentially dangerous to the liver. Valerian root may be helpful in helping one get to sleep as well as improving the quality of sleep.

There are a number of treatment options available for the treatment and management of insomnia. It is important to diagnose and attempt to treat the root or underlying cause first. After that, the practice known as “sleep hygiene” should be practiced. If “sleep hygiene” is not effective, then the use of prescription medication may be warranted.

The cheapest treatment is, of course, “sleep hygiene.” If you try this approach and are unsuccessful, I would recommend over-the-counter diphenhydramine, while still practicing “sleep hygiene.” There are many different types available. The next step would be to visit your doctor for a prescription. As is my usual recommendation, begin with the lowest priced medication.

For insomnia treatment, I would recommend trazodone first. Trazodone represents approximately 40% of all insomnia prescriptions. It is very cheap at less than $10 a month. If that is ineffective, go with temazepam. It is also very popular and cheap. It is, however, a controlled substance which means there is a possibility of addiction.

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What Is Ear Surgery

What Is Ear Surgery
What Is Ear Surgery

Ear surgery, also called otoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to improve the appearance of prominent or protruding ears. It is one of the few cosmetic surgeries that can be performed on children, since an individual’s ears typically stop growing by age five. Children and adults with severely protruding ears are often the subject of persistent teasing by their peers, resulting in psychological stress and mental anguish. Ear Surgery can eliminate this problem by pinning protruding ears back so they lie closer to the head. In fact, it is recommended that children with severely protruding ears undergo otoplasty at a very young age so the problem can be corrected before any teasing begins. Young children also tend to recover faster than do adults, making it an ideal time to perform the surgery.

Most ear surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis, although some doctors prefer to keep children overnight for extra monitoring. The surgery itself is usually only one to two hours long, depending on the complexity of the procedure. General anesthetic is recommended for young children. Older children and adults will generally undergo otoplasty with just a local anesthetic to numb the ear and the surrounding tissue. A two to three inch long incision is made in the natural crease just behind the ear to hide the incision from view. This exposes the underlying cartilage, a soft pliable tissue that gives the ear its unique shape. Depending on the extent of the protrusion, the doctor will either weaken the cartilage and bend it into its new shape or remove excess cartilage to achieve the desired results. The cartilage is secured using permanent sutures to keep it from moving back into its natural shape. Once the cartilage is secure, the incision is closed and sewn back up.

Following the surgery, patients wear a thick, tight dressing to cover and protect their ears. After a few days, a more lightweight bandage can be used. Ear surgery patients may find they experience mild to moderate discomfort during the first several days of the healing process, but this pain can be easily controlled by over the counter medications such as Tylenol or through a doctor-prescribed prescription pain reliever. Recovering patients may find it difficult to sleep initially, since many people rest their head on their ears while sleeping. A soft pillow may help to alleviate some of this discomfort. Sutures are removed approximately one week after the procedure, assuming the surgeon did not use dissolvable sutures.

Complications arising from ear surgery are rare, but like any surgery otoplasty is not completely risk free. Your surgeon will discuss potential side-effects of the procedure with you in advance of the day of your surgery so you are aware of what to expert post-surgery, and so you have realistic expectations of the procedure. Complications may include nerve damage that results in a temporary loss of sensation in the ears, scarring, infection, a localized reaction to the sutures used, or asymmetry of the ears.

Individuals interested in learning more about ear surgery and how it can improve their appearance should make an appointment with a plastic surgeon with strong track record of successful otoplasty experience.

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Open Your Eyes To Healthy Vision

Open Your Eyes To Healthy Vision
Open Your Eyes To Healthy Vision

Most people consider vision their most valued sense yet many of us take our eyesight for granted and hardly think twice about what it would be like to lose our vision. Every day I sit with patients whose vision is threatened by age-related macular degeneration, a devastating condition that is also called AMD. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 60, and affects more than 15 million people in the U.S. More than 1.6 million people have advanced AMD, which can jeopardize the ability to read, drive, watch TV and even recognize family and friends’ faces. But thanks to recent medical advancements, patients now have better chances at preserving vision and slowing vision loss than ever before.

Dry and Wet AMD

There are two forms of AMD, dry and wet. Dry AMD is more common, accounting for 90 percent of AMD cases, but it accounts for only 10 percent of the severe vision loss caused by AMD. Dry AMD is characterized by the development of yellow-white deposits underneath your retina, known as drusen. In the early stages of AMD, you may see a blurred spot in the center of your vision. Over time, dry AMD may develop into wet AMD, the more serious form of the disease. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels that are weak start to grow and often leak blood and fluid in the back of the eye, which is why the disease is called wet. The blood and fluid can cause the macula (the central part of the retina, responsible for central vision) to become distorted and scarred, which harms and blurs central vision. Wet AMD can develop rapidly, often leading to severe vision loss in the affected eye within months.

Most cases of wet AMD begin as dry AMD, so it’s important to know if you are at risk for wet AMD so you can monitor your vision and catch wet AMD early. Unfortunately, patients often seek care for wet AMD too late. Recent studies suggest that the earlier wet AMD is caught and treated, the better vision outcomes may be.

Help Protect Your Eyesight

Because early treatment for wet AMD may garner the best results, it’s important to monitor for changes in vision and if you’re over the age of 60, you should schedule regular eye exams with your eye doctor. If you’re diagnosed with dry AMD and are told that you are at risk for developing the wet form, your doctor may give you a simple self-monitoring tool called an Amsler grid, which is a convenient way to help monitor your vision at home. The Amsler grid only takes about two minutes to test both eyes separately (with reading glasses if you have them) and should be used daily. Post the grid at eye level either on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror-or somewhere easy to remember, so it becomes part of your daily routine. Catching wet AMD early is critical, so if you notice any changes in your vision, such as blurriness or wavy lines on the Amsler grid, you should immediately make an appointment with your eye doctor.

Treating Wet AMD

Recently, wet AMD patients have benefited from major scientific advancements in treatment. Just a few years ago, laser therapies were the only available treatments and they were only appropriate for a small amount of people with the condition.

Today, a drug called Macugen (pegaptanib sodium injection) is available and was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to treat all types of wet AMD and is proven to preserve vision over the long term by slowing vision loss.

The Amsler grid is a simple self-monitoring grid that people at risk for wet AMD can use every day at home. More information about AMD and free Amsler grids are available by visiting www.my eyehealth.org or calling (866) 702-EYES (3937).

MACUGEN is indicated for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Important safety information

MACUGEN is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections or with known hypersensitivity to pegaptanib sodium or any other excipient in this product.

Safety or efficacy of MACUGEN beyond 2 years has not been demonstrated.

Intravitreal injections including those with MACUGEN have been associated with endophthalmitis. Proper aseptic injection technique-which includes use of sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum (or equivalent)-should always be utilized when administering MACUGEN. In addition, patients should be monitored during the week following the injection to permit early treatment, should an infection occur.

Increases in intraocular pressure (IOP) have been seen within 30 minutes of injection with MACUGEN. Therefore, IOP as well as the perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored and managed appropriately.

Serious adverse events related to the injection procedure occurring in

Most frequently reported adverse events in patients treated for up to 2 years were anterior chamber inflammation, blurred vision, cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, corneal edema, eye discharge, eye irritation, eye pain, hypertension, increased IOP, ocular discomfort, punctate keratitis, reduced visual acuity, visual disturbance, vitreous floaters, and vitreous opacities. These events occurred in approximately 10% to 40% of patients.

Rare cases of anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid reactions, including angioedema, have been reported in postmarketing experience following the intravitreal administration procedure.

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Remedies For Colic

Remedies For Colic
Remedies For Colic

Any parent will tell you that colic is one of the most excruciating experiences of early parenthood. The baby cries as if in dire pain, and there just seems to be nothing for a parent to do. A baby is suspected to have colic if, around the age of three weeks, the baby starts crying inconsolably for hours at a time. The condition is termed ‘colic’ because it was assumed that babies were crying due to stomach pain. Doctors are no longer sure that a stomach ache causes colic, but the term continues to be in use.

The first step is to ascertain the cause of distress. Newborn babies often cry because of hunger, earache, wetness or cold. If these factors can be safely ruled out, crying can be attributed to the mysterious colic. Sometimes little tummies do not agree with the protein in traditional baby formula or from a mother’s milk. After consulting your doctor, change the formula. Switch to a soy-based formula. Even in breastfed babies, an excess of cows’ milk products in the mother’s diet can cause tummy aches. Root vegetables and highly acidic food products like chocolates, tomatoes, or grapefruit in the mother’s diet can also upset the stomach of a feeding infant. Gas producing food like broccoli, cabbage, onions, cauliflower, peppers, and citrus fruits may all become suspect at such a time. Your doctor may advise you to go on an exclusion diet for some time. Most newborns outgrow their sensitivity to food and become naturally vigorous and robust within three to six months.

If the baby is being breastfed, it is necessary to feed on demand. The evening hours see a decline in production of milk. Feeding the baby often during these hours will ensure an abundant supply of milk. If the baby is being bottle-fed, care must be taken to hold the bottle properly, so that there is no swallowing of air. Patting the baby gently on the back after each feeding is another effective method of releasing gas. With the increasing incidences of cot deaths, doctors advise parents to put their babies to sleep on their back. However sometimes babies with colic like to lie on their stomachs. This is safe, so long as you are awake and vigilant.

Doctors sometimes attribute colic to maternal stress. It’s only natural for mothers to get stressed when little babies cry until they are red in the face. But babies are very sensitive to stress and a mother whose nerves are frayed cannot calm a distressed baby. At such a time, mothers should get extra help and spend some time away from the scene. Take a warm bath or go for a stroll.

Traditionally, colicky babies have been fed with gripe water approximately half an hour before feeding. But these products should be checked for their ingredients. Some may contain artificial ingredients and preservatives. Sensitive digestive systems of colicky infants can definitely do without such irritants.

A warm aromatherapy bath calms and soothes the baby. Add a few drops of lavender to warm bath water and gently massage the tummy. This will help relieve painfully trapped gas. Babies also like to be in water.

Small babies need a lot of warmth and security. Swaddling the baby in warm clothes and holding it against the steady soothing rhythm of a parent’s heartbeat can sometimes soothe the baby’s pain. Walking, rocking, and repetitive movements also have a calming effect. Applying gentle pressure on the abdomen will help relieve stomach ache. This position is known as the ‘colic hold.’

Finally, remember colic is a stage in the growth of your baby. This too will pass.

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