Controlling Blood Sugar Levels

Published online July 16 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, the Hopkins team found that Metformin, first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1995 (and sold as Glucophage, Riomet and Fortamet), not only controlled blood sugar levels but also was less likely to cause weight gain and more likely than others to lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood.

Researchers say these health benefits are important because they can potentially ward off heart disease and other life-threatening consequence from diabetes. More than 15 million Americans have type 2 diabetes.

In what is believed to be the largest drug comparison of its kind, the scientists showed that all of the commonly used oral medications worked much the same at lowering and controlling blood sugar levels, and were equally safe. But Metformin stood out because it offered the same level of effectiveness without lowering glucose measurements too much, and it did so for a lower price.

Suggested Reading: To read more visit ScienceDaily.com

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Medicare and Social Security Today

Medicare's present-value infinite-horizon unfunded obligation of $74.3 trillion is nearly five times Social Security's $15.6 trillion. Together, they total $89.9 trillion.

Not comfortable with the infinite-horizon calculations? Then focus just on the $40.6 trillion in present-value unfunded obligations for Medicare and Social Security for the next 75 years.

Keep in mind, however, that $40.6 trillion is more than three times last year's gross domestic product; 220 percent higher than the total market capitalization ($12.7 trillion as of March 31) of America's 500 biggest corporations; nearly five times the national debt ($8.8 trillion); eight times the publicly held debt ($5 trillion); and nearly 75 percent of the total net worth of U.S. households and nonprofit organizations ($56.2 trillion).

Read more at Recommended Reading: NCPA Daily Policy Digest

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Tomatoes - Prostate, Ovarian, Gastric, and Pancreatic Cancers

The latest FDA review found only a small of evidence for an association between eating tomatoes and a decreased risk of certain cancers, according to an article published online July 10 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The reviewers found no evidence that tomatoes reduced the risk of lung, colorectal, breast, cervical, or endometrial cancer. However, there was very limited evidence for associations between tomato consumption and reduced risk of prostate, ovarian, gastric, and pancreatic cancers.(JNCI)

Several studies have reported an association between the consumption of tomatoes or lycopene, an antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red hue, and a decreased risk of some cancers, particularly prostate cancer. In order for foods and dietary supplements to be labeled with such health claims, the FDA must review and approve these claims based on the available scientific evidence.

A November 2005 evaluation of the scientific evidence linking tomatoes or tomato-based foods, lycopene, and reduced cancer risk found no evidence that tomatoes reduced the risk of lung, colorectal, breast, cervical, or endometrial cancer.

However, there was very limited evidence for associations between tomato consumption and reduced risk of prostate, ovarian, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. Based on this assessment, the FDA decided to allow qualified health claims for a very limited association between tomatoes and these four cancers. Their analysis found no credible evidence that lycopene, either in food or in a dietary supplement, was associated with reduced risk of any of the cancers evaluated.

For prostate cancer, for example, the FDA issued this statement: “Very limited and preliminary scientific research suggests that eating one-half to one cup of tomatoes and/or tomato sauce a week may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. [The] FDA concludes that there is little scientific evidence supporting this claim.” Yet we also know that not enough studies have actually been completed and the FDA really should keep an open study on this topic.

Have you ever cooked tomatoes in an old metal pot? The pot looks brand new when you’re finished. The tomatoes eat away at all the gook on the sides of the pan that have been cooked into it for years. The American Cancer Society has done several studies of their own. One recent study suggests whole tomatoes offer better protection from prostate cancer than lycopene supplements alone. The research, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Vol. 95, No. 21: 1578-1586), found that rats fed tomato powder (including seeds and skins) had less risk of dying from prostate cancer than rats fed a diet containing only lycopene.

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Microsoft Computer Research aids in new study on HIV

A pioneering collaborative study has discovered how the HIV virus evades the human body's immune system. The study involved scientists from the British Columbia CFE in HIV/AIDS, a Massachusetts General Hospital and Microsoft Research and Los Alamos National Laboratory -- used highly computer-intensive, cutting-edge statistical research methods to investigate how the HIV virus mutates to escape the body's immune system.

Researcher’s effectively mapped sites within certain HIV genes where variations can improve the virus's ability to escape immune recognition, showing this is predictable based upon the HIV patient's individual HLA class 1 profile. "This is a novel and advanced description of how the human immune system attacks the virus, and how it responds" says Dr. Richard Harrigan, Director of the Centre's Research Laboratories and study co-author. "While we always knew the body attacks the virus and the virus changes to dodge pressure, we're now more exact in knowing how this happens in people."

Algorithms developed by David Heckerman, lead researcher of the Machine Learning and Applied Statistics Group at Microsoft Research and study co-author, and his team allowed for more in-depth analysis of the data sets. "We created the software tools to help researchers exploit the power of computing to more quickly and accurately identify the crucial elements of an effective HIV vaccine," said Heckerman.

Study results demonstrate that population-based approaches could complement smaller functional studies by providing a whole-gene or whole-virus picture of immune escape. "Moving forward, we'll be expanding our genetic research to other HIV genes. We'll also be investigating the role of drug therapy," says Harrigan.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Massachusetts General Hospital

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Herpes-HSV
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Abstinence and Genital Herpes

Abstinence is the only guaranteed method to prevent the transmission of genital herpes. Many people with genital herpes report that they avoid sex during outbreaks because the genital ulcers that signal an outbreak can be painful, taking the pleasure out of sexual relations. Other couples refrain from sexual relations because they don't want to transmit the herpes to their partners.

It makes sense, since there is more virus present on the genitalia during an outbreak than between outbreaks. Yet, if avoiding sex during outbreaks of genital herpes was really the best method to prevent getting herpes, then why do so many people have genital herpes?

We must remember that herpes simplex virus (HSV) can be present on the genitalia even in the absence of any signs or symptoms of an outbreak, even the most careful.

Couples can and do transmit the virus. This development is called asymptomatic viral shedding, and is well documented as the source of at least 80% of the cases of genital herpes transmission. Another method widely used to prevent genital herpes is the condom.

Condoms do reduce the risk of transmission of genital herpes and other sexually transmitted disease, and their use is widely recommended. However, it is also known that condoms can slip and/or even break. Condoms can only protect the skin that they cover. Many cases of herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted to/from skin not covered by the condom.

Despite the use of condoms and the avoiding sex, the chance of giving genital herpes to an uninfected partner has been estimated at 10% per year. The risk of a man transmitting to his female partner is far greater than the reverse. In fact, the females' chances of acquiring genital herpes are estimated at 30% each year.

If so many people have genital herpes and suffer little or no symptoms, why is it important to seek improvements in the prevention of genital herpes? First, the person who acquires genital herpes may suffer more severe and more frequent outbreaks than did the persons from whom they acquired HSV-2. For example, the man with genital herpes may only experience mild or even rare outbreaks. If he passes it to his wife, she may suffer painful genital ulcers for one to two weeks preceding each menstrual cycle.

Three antiviral drugs are approved to treat or suppress outbreaks of genital herpes: acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir. Most clinically apparent outbreaks can be prevented by taking one of these drugs daily. In addition, daily acyclovir reduces asymptomatic viral shedding by 95%.

The same is assumed to be true of the other two drugs, one of which, valacyclovir, is actually a more potent form of acyclovir. Since valacyclovir taken once daily prevents clinical outbreaks in most herpes patients and is believed to have a profound effect on reducing asymptomatic viral shedding, it should help prevent transmission to the uninfected person.

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